Tonight - as we watch the fireworks and have a few drinks to bring in a new year - many will wonder what is in store for us in 2011.
Is the recession finally fading from the scene, or will disturbing events in Greece, Ireland and many other countries morph into a collapse of world finance ?
Will the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan ever end - or will the hostility between Israel and the Palestinians - and between Islam and the rest of the world - flare out of control and lead to world war three ?
On the home scene, will jobs become more plentiful - and will the cost of basics such as electricity, gas and water spin further out of reach ? And then there is the ever present threat of mortgage interest rates taking the roof from over our heads.
We live in a troubled world and there are fresh threats on every front. The world population is soaring past seven billion people - and there is a doubt that the food supply can accommodate that many . The science people claim that global warming will change the weather pattern and we can expect more droughts and severe storm activities.
It seems that 2011 paints a dismal future ahead, but we can gain some comfort from the fact that every new year down the long lane of history has been beset with potential problems - and we have survived them all !
Perhaps a truism from a past year sums it up well. " Life is not meant to be easy " !
Friday 31 December 2010
Thursday 30 December 2010
Water safety !
Swimming was once synonymous with Australian kids. Whether it was at the beach or in rivers or dams Aussie kids took to the water like proverbial ducks - but that is not the case any more.
The percentage of people who have not learned to swim is rising, and it is a well known fact that once a person leaves primary school as a non swimmer - the chances are that they will never learn to swim.
It seems that learn to swim classes are being dropped by more and more schools because it can not be fitted into their busy curriculum's - or in many cases cost is involved in using a swimming pool and this can not be afforded by parents.
Then there is the religious factor.
Many people who migrate to Australia come from land locked countries and belong to religions which forbid stripping down to a swimming costume. Not only is swimming an unfamiliar activity, there is a positive bias against learning to swim. This seems to be another reason schools are dropping swimming classes - to appease groups from a non swimming culture.
As a result, drowning figures in this country are steadily rising. If this situation is to be reversed we need to get swimming classes back into the school system - and we need positive action to convert religious leaders to the danger facing their flock in this water saturated land.
There is nothing wrong with teaching a kid wearing top to toe covering to swim. What is important is to ensure all kids are water safe !
The percentage of people who have not learned to swim is rising, and it is a well known fact that once a person leaves primary school as a non swimmer - the chances are that they will never learn to swim.
It seems that learn to swim classes are being dropped by more and more schools because it can not be fitted into their busy curriculum's - or in many cases cost is involved in using a swimming pool and this can not be afforded by parents.
Then there is the religious factor.
Many people who migrate to Australia come from land locked countries and belong to religions which forbid stripping down to a swimming costume. Not only is swimming an unfamiliar activity, there is a positive bias against learning to swim. This seems to be another reason schools are dropping swimming classes - to appease groups from a non swimming culture.
As a result, drowning figures in this country are steadily rising. If this situation is to be reversed we need to get swimming classes back into the school system - and we need positive action to convert religious leaders to the danger facing their flock in this water saturated land.
There is nothing wrong with teaching a kid wearing top to toe covering to swim. What is important is to ensure all kids are water safe !
Wednesday 29 December 2010
No escape !
We live in the " information age. " Laptop computers - Blackberries - Smartphones - and of course - emails keep us connected. Information portability has it's rewards, but there is also a downside !
What we do at our jobs earning a living is increasingly intruding into our private time - and in many cases it even follows us when we take our annual holidays.
Some employers take a reasonable attitude and try to insulate us from work when we are on leave. Others expect us to " be available " to deal with important matters, and then there are work colleagues who just carry on as if nothing has changed.
The smart thing to do would be to leave the Smartphone and the laptop at home when we go on leave, but that would offend some employers - who insist in maintaining contact to deal with emergencies. Closing down communications could even have promotion repercussions.
There is also the depressing knowledge that while we are spending time on the beach, back at the office the list of unanswered emails is reaching gigantic proportions - and will need urgent attention on our return.
It seems that communications is a double edged sword in this ever changing world. We have to learn to live with the insistent beep of an incoming email on a 24/7 basis until the day that we finally leave the office on retirement day.
But even then, can we really turn our backs on Facebook and Twitter ?
What we do at our jobs earning a living is increasingly intruding into our private time - and in many cases it even follows us when we take our annual holidays.
Some employers take a reasonable attitude and try to insulate us from work when we are on leave. Others expect us to " be available " to deal with important matters, and then there are work colleagues who just carry on as if nothing has changed.
The smart thing to do would be to leave the Smartphone and the laptop at home when we go on leave, but that would offend some employers - who insist in maintaining contact to deal with emergencies. Closing down communications could even have promotion repercussions.
There is also the depressing knowledge that while we are spending time on the beach, back at the office the list of unanswered emails is reaching gigantic proportions - and will need urgent attention on our return.
It seems that communications is a double edged sword in this ever changing world. We have to learn to live with the insistent beep of an incoming email on a 24/7 basis until the day that we finally leave the office on retirement day.
But even then, can we really turn our backs on Facebook and Twitter ?
Tuesday 28 December 2010
Changing times !
Just as the " corner store " has been displaced from most neighbourhoods by supermarket chains - the same thing is happening to the little stores that supplied our reading glasses.
Two aggressive discounters have established chains that offer not only heavily reduced prices, but additional pairs of spectacles with sun proofing qualities at no extra cost. The glasses they offer are usually within the refunds available from the health insurance industry.
Within the next year or so we are destined to see a culling of competition in this industry. The small independents can simply not compete because these majors have the clout to demand huge discounts from spectacle frame manufacturers - and as everyone knows - doing anything in bulk reduces costs.
It seems that the private spectacle industry is about to join the dwindling ranks of petrol stations, butchers, and hardware stores that have been forced to close their doors because of competition from " super stores ".
It's a sobering lesson from those about to leave school - and make a decision on their future employment. Movement in the market place is making much of traditional venue streams a " dead end " proposition !
Two aggressive discounters have established chains that offer not only heavily reduced prices, but additional pairs of spectacles with sun proofing qualities at no extra cost. The glasses they offer are usually within the refunds available from the health insurance industry.
Within the next year or so we are destined to see a culling of competition in this industry. The small independents can simply not compete because these majors have the clout to demand huge discounts from spectacle frame manufacturers - and as everyone knows - doing anything in bulk reduces costs.
It seems that the private spectacle industry is about to join the dwindling ranks of petrol stations, butchers, and hardware stores that have been forced to close their doors because of competition from " super stores ".
It's a sobering lesson from those about to leave school - and make a decision on their future employment. Movement in the market place is making much of traditional venue streams a " dead end " proposition !
Monday 27 December 2010
Those " other " boat people !
Australia has just spent over $ 500,000 deporting 119 Papua New Guineans who arrived by boat at Horn island - and demanded Australian citizenship. This - it seems - is another hangover from our past colonial era.
Papua New Guinea was originally colonised by Britain and Germany. The German part was forfeited to Britain after the first world war, and when Britain began to shed colonies after the second world war this island country was dumped on Australia. It gained independence in 1975.
The question seems to be whether during the time that Papua New Guinea was under Australian control it's people became Australian citizens. They were certainly subject to Australian laws - but their status is not clear.
The flotilla that set out to land in Australia and demand Australian citizenship claim that there was no referendum held to officially sever their ties to Australia, and that they therefore did not have a say in their country being granted independence.
This seems to be a murky can of worms that will eventually find it's way through the legal system. If the courts find for the people of Papua New Guinea then there is every chance of mass migration from that undeveloped land - to what must seem the utopia of Australia.
There is dispute as to how many people our land can hold - and maybe we will need to add a few million people from the land to our north to the official population census if the courts give this claim the nod.
It seems that those heading for Christmas island are not the only " boat people " seeking to make Australia their home !
Papua New Guinea was originally colonised by Britain and Germany. The German part was forfeited to Britain after the first world war, and when Britain began to shed colonies after the second world war this island country was dumped on Australia. It gained independence in 1975.
The question seems to be whether during the time that Papua New Guinea was under Australian control it's people became Australian citizens. They were certainly subject to Australian laws - but their status is not clear.
The flotilla that set out to land in Australia and demand Australian citizenship claim that there was no referendum held to officially sever their ties to Australia, and that they therefore did not have a say in their country being granted independence.
This seems to be a murky can of worms that will eventually find it's way through the legal system. If the courts find for the people of Papua New Guinea then there is every chance of mass migration from that undeveloped land - to what must seem the utopia of Australia.
There is dispute as to how many people our land can hold - and maybe we will need to add a few million people from the land to our north to the official population census if the courts give this claim the nod.
It seems that those heading for Christmas island are not the only " boat people " seeking to make Australia their home !
Sunday 26 December 2010
Sneaky tactics !
One of the good things to develop from the great recession was a more productive approach to gift buying. This year the retailers saw a huge jump in customers opting for gift cards - to allow the recipient to make a choice instead of being lumbered with unsuitable music, clothing or novelty items.
In the distant past gift cards were as good as money, but in recent times the retail industry has chosen to apply restrictions on how long they are valid. In most cases this is just twelve months. Once that fatal date is reached - the credit disappears.
It is a reasonable question to ask - why ?
What is the difference between a customer handing money over at the time of purchase and another customer pre-paying for the goods - and picking them up sometime in the future ? In both instances, the shopkeeper has the money in the till at precisely the same time.
It seems to be based on the fact that a percentage of gift cards get lost or forgotten, and are never presented for redemption. By placing a time limit the shopkeeper can avoid such cards suddenly appearing when relatives deal with a deceased estate or similar property search.
There have also been instances when gift cards have been refused as payment for goods price discounted in a sale. The legality of that ruse has yet to be tested, but it seems that many of the restrictions applied are simply bluff.
It is time that the law was made clear and both those selling and those giving gift cards had a clear understanding of what rules legally apply.
At the moment, the matter is untested !
In the distant past gift cards were as good as money, but in recent times the retail industry has chosen to apply restrictions on how long they are valid. In most cases this is just twelve months. Once that fatal date is reached - the credit disappears.
It is a reasonable question to ask - why ?
What is the difference between a customer handing money over at the time of purchase and another customer pre-paying for the goods - and picking them up sometime in the future ? In both instances, the shopkeeper has the money in the till at precisely the same time.
It seems to be based on the fact that a percentage of gift cards get lost or forgotten, and are never presented for redemption. By placing a time limit the shopkeeper can avoid such cards suddenly appearing when relatives deal with a deceased estate or similar property search.
There have also been instances when gift cards have been refused as payment for goods price discounted in a sale. The legality of that ruse has yet to be tested, but it seems that many of the restrictions applied are simply bluff.
It is time that the law was made clear and both those selling and those giving gift cards had a clear understanding of what rules legally apply.
At the moment, the matter is untested !
Saturday 25 December 2010
Our lucky country !
By world standards Australia is a rich country. The vast majority of it's citizens have a roof over their heads, access to electricity and a reliable water supply. There are charities that serve to make sure that those who can not provide food for themselves have access to regular meals.
Australia is no longer a solely Christian country. We are home now to a great many religions and yet Christmas is something that is celebrated here universally. Christmas day is a public holiday that all share - and the custom of gift giving is creeping into the lives of other faiths.
Unfortunately there is a small minority in most religions that seek to dominate - and aspire to force their particular religion on others. No religion seems to be free of this curse and over the centuries huge numbers of people have been put to slaughter in the holy name of religious ascendancy.
The guy who gets the blame - is God ! All sorts of excesses and every imaginable abomination is excused as " carrying out God's will ! "
We could be confused as to just which " God " these people are talking about because all the religions seem to have a certain amount of common ground - when all the dogma is excised and we get down to basics.
Unfortunately it seems to be a human trait that the two things that can never be discussed and agreed upon are - religion and politics !
Australia is no longer a solely Christian country. We are home now to a great many religions and yet Christmas is something that is celebrated here universally. Christmas day is a public holiday that all share - and the custom of gift giving is creeping into the lives of other faiths.
Unfortunately there is a small minority in most religions that seek to dominate - and aspire to force their particular religion on others. No religion seems to be free of this curse and over the centuries huge numbers of people have been put to slaughter in the holy name of religious ascendancy.
The guy who gets the blame - is God ! All sorts of excesses and every imaginable abomination is excused as " carrying out God's will ! "
We could be confused as to just which " God " these people are talking about because all the religions seem to have a certain amount of common ground - when all the dogma is excised and we get down to basics.
Unfortunately it seems to be a human trait that the two things that can never be discussed and agreed upon are - religion and politics !
Friday 24 December 2010
Duck and dodge !
Kristina Keneally's tactic to prorogue parliament is clearly designed to close down an enquiry into the partial privatisation of the state electricity industry.
This $ 5.3 billion deal is controversial on many counts. For a start, the sale price is hugely lower than the initial estimates of it's worth and it removes the price charged for this basic necessity from the public to the private sector.
There are conflicting opinions on whether the enquiry can legally continue, but in the eyes of many this will be seen as an attempt to hide disgraceful facts from the public prior to the March election.
A last, desperate attempt perhaps - because this government is so on the nose that defeat seems certain, so what further damage can an adverse report finding possibly deliver ?
It seems like an attempt to try and hold those final few safe Labor voting seats to at least preserve the rump of the party elite to form an opposition - and retain party leaders with their snouts in the gravy train.
For the next three months there will virtually be no government actively working the levers of power in this state. It will have withdrawn into it's inner fortress - to await the power of the people !
This $ 5.3 billion deal is controversial on many counts. For a start, the sale price is hugely lower than the initial estimates of it's worth and it removes the price charged for this basic necessity from the public to the private sector.
There are conflicting opinions on whether the enquiry can legally continue, but in the eyes of many this will be seen as an attempt to hide disgraceful facts from the public prior to the March election.
A last, desperate attempt perhaps - because this government is so on the nose that defeat seems certain, so what further damage can an adverse report finding possibly deliver ?
It seems like an attempt to try and hold those final few safe Labor voting seats to at least preserve the rump of the party elite to form an opposition - and retain party leaders with their snouts in the gravy train.
For the next three months there will virtually be no government actively working the levers of power in this state. It will have withdrawn into it's inner fortress - to await the power of the people !
Thursday 23 December 2010
James Hardie fiasco !
The courts have released the James Hardie directors from their fines and the restrictions on holding directorships - because of a small technicality, but at the same time they have confirmed that the firm remains " guilty as charged ".
It's about time our learned judges considered a few facts of life !
A company is an inert object. It has no capacity to make decisions - and therefore it's direction is entirely in the hands of those who direct it's activities. It is therefore impossible for a firm to take illegal action on it's own volition. It can only do that - at the instigation of those who control it.
Which raises an interesting question at law !
If the directors are innocent of any crime - but the company is guilty - how can that guilt be sustained if the company is unable to make any decision in it's own right ?
And if a crime has been committed, how can blame not be sheeted home to those who were in charge at that time ?
A conundrum that can only remain unanswered - which leads to a well known adage.
The law is an ass !
It's about time our learned judges considered a few facts of life !
A company is an inert object. It has no capacity to make decisions - and therefore it's direction is entirely in the hands of those who direct it's activities. It is therefore impossible for a firm to take illegal action on it's own volition. It can only do that - at the instigation of those who control it.
Which raises an interesting question at law !
If the directors are innocent of any crime - but the company is guilty - how can that guilt be sustained if the company is unable to make any decision in it's own right ?
And if a crime has been committed, how can blame not be sheeted home to those who were in charge at that time ?
A conundrum that can only remain unanswered - which leads to a well known adage.
The law is an ass !
Wednesday 22 December 2010
Mineral royalties - and tax !
As part of their income stream, the states impose royalties on minerals extracted from the ground by miners. Now this is under attack by the Federal government as part of it's new rental tax on our mineral wealth.
The royalties that mining companies pay serves as a credit against their tax liability on profits. The Federal government is seeking to impose a freeze - and in future will only credit these payments on the level that was in effect at May 2, 2010.
The Treasurer is looking to stop the states increasing their revenue stream by increasing royalties - in the sure knowledge that it will not hurt the miners because they will use it as a tax offset.
Queensland and West Australia are certain to cry foul and fight this imposition. In effect, it isolates their return from minerals to a level that will become increasingly uncompetitive as inflation bites over the coming decades. The Reserve bank has set a 3% limit as the yardstick against which it measures interest rate rises. Even if that 3% is met, the value of money decreases 3% annually as a result.
From the Federal point of view, allowing royalties to be a tax offset unchecked gives the states open slather to increase their revenue flow without protest from the mining companies - because the miners simply write it off against the money flow to the Federal tax man !
This will almost certainly result in the matter going to the high court for a decision. It all boils down to the basics of state and Federal taxes - and that is an interesting can of worms that defy even the best lawyers !
The royalties that mining companies pay serves as a credit against their tax liability on profits. The Federal government is seeking to impose a freeze - and in future will only credit these payments on the level that was in effect at May 2, 2010.
The Treasurer is looking to stop the states increasing their revenue stream by increasing royalties - in the sure knowledge that it will not hurt the miners because they will use it as a tax offset.
Queensland and West Australia are certain to cry foul and fight this imposition. In effect, it isolates their return from minerals to a level that will become increasingly uncompetitive as inflation bites over the coming decades. The Reserve bank has set a 3% limit as the yardstick against which it measures interest rate rises. Even if that 3% is met, the value of money decreases 3% annually as a result.
From the Federal point of view, allowing royalties to be a tax offset unchecked gives the states open slather to increase their revenue flow without protest from the mining companies - because the miners simply write it off against the money flow to the Federal tax man !
This will almost certainly result in the matter going to the high court for a decision. It all boils down to the basics of state and Federal taxes - and that is an interesting can of worms that defy even the best lawyers !
Tuesday 21 December 2010
Broadband cost structure !
The government has just released it's business plan for the roll out of the National Broadband Network ( NBN ) - and cynics will suggest that this be taken with a large grain of salt.
The commercial distributing companies will pay $ 24 a month, but they will charge consumers at least $ 56 a month for the most basic, low end service. Superior service levels will attract a much higher monthly charge.
The government is spending $ 35.9 billion to lay NBN across the nation and all the distributors will be doing is installing monitoring equipment to measure the use of each consumer - and for that they are going to charge over double their access cost !
We are not going to get Broadband tomorrow. The roll out completion will not happen until 2021 - and we would be unwise to think that figures projected that far into the future are any more than a figment of the imagination - but on the surface it looks like Broadband is going to be a very expensive option for users.
The sad thing is that it is going to be forced on consumers anyway. If the government is spending that sort of money they will not leave ADSL or wireless as an alternative. They claim that their figures return a margin of 7% to taxpayers - something to again take with that grain of salt.
The main problem is the vast chasm between what governments plan - and what they deliver. The NBN seemed like a very good idea when it was first mooted, but we live in a fast changing world and we live with incredibly fast changing technology.
Let us hope that before the 2021 roll out is complete the boffins have not made broadband redundant and moved on to another form of communication technology.
It is a brave soul that has faith in their crystal ball's future projections in this day and age !
The commercial distributing companies will pay $ 24 a month, but they will charge consumers at least $ 56 a month for the most basic, low end service. Superior service levels will attract a much higher monthly charge.
The government is spending $ 35.9 billion to lay NBN across the nation and all the distributors will be doing is installing monitoring equipment to measure the use of each consumer - and for that they are going to charge over double their access cost !
We are not going to get Broadband tomorrow. The roll out completion will not happen until 2021 - and we would be unwise to think that figures projected that far into the future are any more than a figment of the imagination - but on the surface it looks like Broadband is going to be a very expensive option for users.
The sad thing is that it is going to be forced on consumers anyway. If the government is spending that sort of money they will not leave ADSL or wireless as an alternative. They claim that their figures return a margin of 7% to taxpayers - something to again take with that grain of salt.
The main problem is the vast chasm between what governments plan - and what they deliver. The NBN seemed like a very good idea when it was first mooted, but we live in a fast changing world and we live with incredibly fast changing technology.
Let us hope that before the 2021 roll out is complete the boffins have not made broadband redundant and moved on to another form of communication technology.
It is a brave soul that has faith in their crystal ball's future projections in this day and age !
Monday 20 December 2010
Post office closures !
The new year will bring the closure of twenty-seven post offices across Australia. The steady erosion of letter traffic is making post offices unprofitable and this will be just the start of the demise of this service.
It seems that contraction is inevitable. At present, every town, suburb and village has it's post office, but a decade from now there will probably be only a central post office to service a large area - and even then profitability will not be guaranteed.
Efforts have been made to save the postal service by increasing it's range of services and the most spectacular is it's prominence as a bill paying centre, but even this is faltering as direct debit becomes more widely accepted.
All logic suggests that the post offices become a bank. We badly need a government owned bank to curb the excesses of the " big four bandit banks " and here we have the ideal existing network - in place and ready to offer service.
What is needed is for the Federal government to admit that selling the Commonwealth bank was a mistake - and the courage to redress that error and get back into the banking business to provide an independent alternative.
Whether that happens will be a test of government resolve. Unfortunately time is of the essence. The disintegration of the post office system has begun with those twenty-seven closures. Unless the government makes an immediate decision - and backs it with action - we will quickly pass the point of no return.
There is no other alternative - if this valuable service is to survive !
It seems that contraction is inevitable. At present, every town, suburb and village has it's post office, but a decade from now there will probably be only a central post office to service a large area - and even then profitability will not be guaranteed.
Efforts have been made to save the postal service by increasing it's range of services and the most spectacular is it's prominence as a bill paying centre, but even this is faltering as direct debit becomes more widely accepted.
All logic suggests that the post offices become a bank. We badly need a government owned bank to curb the excesses of the " big four bandit banks " and here we have the ideal existing network - in place and ready to offer service.
What is needed is for the Federal government to admit that selling the Commonwealth bank was a mistake - and the courage to redress that error and get back into the banking business to provide an independent alternative.
Whether that happens will be a test of government resolve. Unfortunately time is of the essence. The disintegration of the post office system has begun with those twenty-seven closures. Unless the government makes an immediate decision - and backs it with action - we will quickly pass the point of no return.
There is no other alternative - if this valuable service is to survive !
Sunday 19 December 2010
The duty free enigma !
The $ 1000 threshold at which Australian consumers can buy duty free on the Internet needs to be approached with caution. We are nearing the point when computer saturation makes just about every household a potential customer.
Myers and Harvey Norman are crying foul - and they do have a point !
Goods sold duty free must be at east ten percent cheaper than merchandise sold through conventional stores because it is not subject to the 10% GST, but there is much more involved in the costs equation.
The conventional store attracts custom by TV and newspaper advertising - and this is costly. In comparison, setting up a newsletter on the Internet can be achieved for a fraction of those prices - and the people processing the sales can be sourced in low income countries - avoiding the Australian wage system applied to those manning stores here.
The response of the government is to suggest Myers and Harvey Norman set up a similar direct sale operation - on the basis that if you can't beat them - join them !
That is a very dangerous suggestion. Both Myers and Harvey Norman are clever business people and if they set up a direct marketing deal they will most likely be successful - and that will mean a diminishing of their retail operations in our cities - and a reduction in their staffing arrangements.
It really boils down to a choice to be made by retail customers. Do we want to examine the goods before we buy and deal with an Australian sales person ? Or will we prefer to buy from a computer monitor image and click a mouse to make the sale from an anonymous person sitting at a computer several countries away ?
It isn't a level playing field if the local shop has to charge GST and pay Australian award wages - and the Internet shop pays no tax and can therefore seriously undercut the price of goods in Australia.
How we shop in the next decade will depend on the decisions about to be made !
Myers and Harvey Norman are crying foul - and they do have a point !
Goods sold duty free must be at east ten percent cheaper than merchandise sold through conventional stores because it is not subject to the 10% GST, but there is much more involved in the costs equation.
The conventional store attracts custom by TV and newspaper advertising - and this is costly. In comparison, setting up a newsletter on the Internet can be achieved for a fraction of those prices - and the people processing the sales can be sourced in low income countries - avoiding the Australian wage system applied to those manning stores here.
The response of the government is to suggest Myers and Harvey Norman set up a similar direct sale operation - on the basis that if you can't beat them - join them !
That is a very dangerous suggestion. Both Myers and Harvey Norman are clever business people and if they set up a direct marketing deal they will most likely be successful - and that will mean a diminishing of their retail operations in our cities - and a reduction in their staffing arrangements.
It really boils down to a choice to be made by retail customers. Do we want to examine the goods before we buy and deal with an Australian sales person ? Or will we prefer to buy from a computer monitor image and click a mouse to make the sale from an anonymous person sitting at a computer several countries away ?
It isn't a level playing field if the local shop has to charge GST and pay Australian award wages - and the Internet shop pays no tax and can therefore seriously undercut the price of goods in Australia.
How we shop in the next decade will depend on the decisions about to be made !
Saturday 18 December 2010
Name change waste !
On January I the " Fire Brigade " will cease to exist ! It will have a new name - " Fire and Rescue NSW "
Emergency Services minister Steve Whan insists that this is necessary because in this modern day and age the service does much more than just put out fires. It has the added responsibility of carrying out rescue work previously the realm of other services.
A name change carries with it a heavy cost. Everything from the stationery used to the signwriting on fire appliances, the emblems on uniforms to the station buildings will need to be renewed - at a cost of fifteen million dollars !
What will this achieve ? In all probability - very little. The average person will continue to refer to it as " the fire brigade " because old habits die hard.
The biggest concern will be the cost because we live in a state where a lot of urgent things go begging because of a lack of money. It seems that politicians have a habit of changing names because it suits their egos - and in recent years the police force has changed to the police service - and then back again - and the oddly named MWS&DB ( Metropolitan Water Sewerage and Drainage Board ) became " The Water board " - and now it has changed to " Sydney Water ".
It is an interesting thought to dream of what that fifteen million dollars might have produced had it been spent on something that would have directly helped the citizens of this state.
Like accommodation for the homeless !
Emergency Services minister Steve Whan insists that this is necessary because in this modern day and age the service does much more than just put out fires. It has the added responsibility of carrying out rescue work previously the realm of other services.
A name change carries with it a heavy cost. Everything from the stationery used to the signwriting on fire appliances, the emblems on uniforms to the station buildings will need to be renewed - at a cost of fifteen million dollars !
What will this achieve ? In all probability - very little. The average person will continue to refer to it as " the fire brigade " because old habits die hard.
The biggest concern will be the cost because we live in a state where a lot of urgent things go begging because of a lack of money. It seems that politicians have a habit of changing names because it suits their egos - and in recent years the police force has changed to the police service - and then back again - and the oddly named MWS&DB ( Metropolitan Water Sewerage and Drainage Board ) became " The Water board " - and now it has changed to " Sydney Water ".
It is an interesting thought to dream of what that fifteen million dollars might have produced had it been spent on something that would have directly helped the citizens of this state.
Like accommodation for the homeless !
Friday 17 December 2010
Tell it like it is !
A headline in today's paper will please many people. A criminal who bashed a female police officer with a brick was given a twenty-one year prison sentence. The problem is - that is not what will be served !
The offender was a drug addict and he callously bashed the officer walking through King's Cross on her way to work. He dragged her unconscious body into a park - and left her for dead. Her injuries were so severe that part of her skull had to be removed and she was put into an induced coma. She still faces complications that prevent her from returning to work.
Twenty-one years sounds like a severe sentence - until you learn that it contains a non parole element of just fifteen years and nine months, and that this will commence from the time of arrest.
Add to that the usual deductions for things such as supposed " good behaviour " - and the actual time served will most likely be just eleven and a half years.
It costs a lot of money to keep a person in prison and there is a very real incentive for governments to regularly commute sentences to keep costs down, but when a criminal - who was on parole for other crimes at the time of this offence - leaves a serving police officer with permanent injuries - severity is warranted.
We could well do without the spin to convince us that justice is being served. The actual time behind bars is really what it is all about !
The offender was a drug addict and he callously bashed the officer walking through King's Cross on her way to work. He dragged her unconscious body into a park - and left her for dead. Her injuries were so severe that part of her skull had to be removed and she was put into an induced coma. She still faces complications that prevent her from returning to work.
Twenty-one years sounds like a severe sentence - until you learn that it contains a non parole element of just fifteen years and nine months, and that this will commence from the time of arrest.
Add to that the usual deductions for things such as supposed " good behaviour " - and the actual time served will most likely be just eleven and a half years.
It costs a lot of money to keep a person in prison and there is a very real incentive for governments to regularly commute sentences to keep costs down, but when a criminal - who was on parole for other crimes at the time of this offence - leaves a serving police officer with permanent injuries - severity is warranted.
We could well do without the spin to convince us that justice is being served. The actual time behind bars is really what it is all about !
Thursday 16 December 2010
The blame game !
Yesterday twenty-seven asylum seekers lost their lives when an Indonesian fishing boat carrying them crashed onto rocks on Christmas island in the Indian ocean. This tragedy will provoke endless argument over the legality of " boat people ".
Australia has signed various United Nations agreements with legal binding that obliges us to offer sanctuary to those fleeing from oppression. These United Nations protocols also contain rules that asylum seekers are obliged to follow.
Asylum seekers must declare themselves and seek shelter at the first country of landfall after they exit their home country. Once they do this, they become a United Nations responsibility and will be under UN control as to their accommodation and care - and onward passage to a country that will accept them.
Unfortunately there are more refugees than accepting countries and this usually results in applicants spending long periods in refugee camps - and some never ever find a permanent home.
The people who arrive by boat at Christmas island ignore this UN requirement and pay people smugglers money to transport them to a country of their choice. Before they embark on these boats, they have landed in several interim countries and neither declared themselves - or sought protection.
It is worth noting that the countries they have passed through and rejected do not offer the standard of living their are seeking. They may be avoiding persecution, but they are demanding access to a rich country - and superior living standards.
Death at sea is just part of the risk that goes with flouting the asylum laws and avoiding the UN rules that govern placement in a new land.
Both sides of the argument ignore this mutual aspect - and only dwell on Australia's obligations under the UN agreements. As a result, we will never find common ground for agreement !
Australia has signed various United Nations agreements with legal binding that obliges us to offer sanctuary to those fleeing from oppression. These United Nations protocols also contain rules that asylum seekers are obliged to follow.
Asylum seekers must declare themselves and seek shelter at the first country of landfall after they exit their home country. Once they do this, they become a United Nations responsibility and will be under UN control as to their accommodation and care - and onward passage to a country that will accept them.
Unfortunately there are more refugees than accepting countries and this usually results in applicants spending long periods in refugee camps - and some never ever find a permanent home.
The people who arrive by boat at Christmas island ignore this UN requirement and pay people smugglers money to transport them to a country of their choice. Before they embark on these boats, they have landed in several interim countries and neither declared themselves - or sought protection.
It is worth noting that the countries they have passed through and rejected do not offer the standard of living their are seeking. They may be avoiding persecution, but they are demanding access to a rich country - and superior living standards.
Death at sea is just part of the risk that goes with flouting the asylum laws and avoiding the UN rules that govern placement in a new land.
Both sides of the argument ignore this mutual aspect - and only dwell on Australia's obligations under the UN agreements. As a result, we will never find common ground for agreement !
Wednesday 15 December 2010
A " Doom " message !
It is a good idea to heed the message coming from those people in the NSW electricity industry who are in a position to evaluate the sale of it's assets as forced by the state government.
Directors of Delta Electricity and Eraring Energy have chosen to resign from their boards because of " insufficient cover " provided in the indemnity letter from the government. They state that this is a " personal and moral decision "
We are already reeling from sharply increased electricity prices - and we are assured that there is much more to come. The owner of our electricity assets - us the taxpayers - are being sold short by a government that has underspent on keeping production up to date and is now getting out from under by selling to overseas buyers.
Once this is complete, there is no way back !
The politicians who made this disastrous decision will simply walk away whistling Dixie - and collect their massive superannuation and other perks - and leave us with the mess they have caused.
Men of integrity who from their board positions can see what lays ahead are sending us a clear message. We are about to see a calamitous drop in our living standards !
Directors of Delta Electricity and Eraring Energy have chosen to resign from their boards because of " insufficient cover " provided in the indemnity letter from the government. They state that this is a " personal and moral decision "
We are already reeling from sharply increased electricity prices - and we are assured that there is much more to come. The owner of our electricity assets - us the taxpayers - are being sold short by a government that has underspent on keeping production up to date and is now getting out from under by selling to overseas buyers.
Once this is complete, there is no way back !
The politicians who made this disastrous decision will simply walk away whistling Dixie - and collect their massive superannuation and other perks - and leave us with the mess they have caused.
Men of integrity who from their board positions can see what lays ahead are sending us a clear message. We are about to see a calamitous drop in our living standards !
Tuesday 14 December 2010
The pain of decision !
Spare a thought for the jurors in the Keli Lane trial. It must have been traumatic to decide the fate of another human being in a case where there was no body - and everything hinged on a course of action that could not be proved either way. Some of the jurors openly wept when the " guilty " verdict was announced.
Being forced to sit on a jury is something many people fear - and it is something beyond their control. The Sheriff picks at random from the voter rolls, and once selected there are few avenues of escape. The law demands attendance on the lofty principles of " duty as a citizen ".
Jurors are paid for their attendance, but this bears no reality to the stress that is involved. In some cases the jurors are sequestered - locked away from their families for the duration of the trial - and some trials go on for weeks - and in rare instances - months.
It is said that after the most difficult cases the minds of those unfortunates forced to hear harrowing evidence are never the same again. There is coercion in the jury room to achieve a result - and some are forever haunted that they gave in when they were not truly convinced.
In this case, the judge said that these jurors would be forever freed from the obligation to ever have to sit on a jury again. Maybe a case of shutting the stable door - after the horse has bolted !
Being forced to sit on a jury is something many people fear - and it is something beyond their control. The Sheriff picks at random from the voter rolls, and once selected there are few avenues of escape. The law demands attendance on the lofty principles of " duty as a citizen ".
Jurors are paid for their attendance, but this bears no reality to the stress that is involved. In some cases the jurors are sequestered - locked away from their families for the duration of the trial - and some trials go on for weeks - and in rare instances - months.
It is said that after the most difficult cases the minds of those unfortunates forced to hear harrowing evidence are never the same again. There is coercion in the jury room to achieve a result - and some are forever haunted that they gave in when they were not truly convinced.
In this case, the judge said that these jurors would be forever freed from the obligation to ever have to sit on a jury again. Maybe a case of shutting the stable door - after the horse has bolted !
Monday 13 December 2010
Sign of the times !
Anna Watson, the newly minted ALP preselection candidate for the seat of Shellharbour made a telling remark when commenting on her election. She said she would be " an effective opposition if that's going to be the case ".
Normally politicians extol the certainty of a win before any election and this seeming acceptance of a loss gives some indication of the malaise suffered by the ALP.
Unfortunately, human nature being what it is - there is every chance that a losing government party will dig into it's bag of dirty tricks in the dieing days of holding office.
The Clinton whitehouse left many booby traps for the incoming regime of George W Bush, and we can hardly expect the outgoing regime in New South Wales to bestow benevolent acts.
Watch for hasty, last minute appointments to key public service posts and the announcement of extensions to national parks and other use of public land that may thwart the plans of the new government.
Normally an election is neutral ground because even if the governing party is on the nose, there is always the expectation of a miracle. In the eyes of many ALP people - it would take the intercession of Mary McKilllop to save this government next March.
It is when all hope has gone that politicians lay plans for sabotage - with the hope that future shortfalls will be blamed on their successor. Such is the world of politics !
Normally politicians extol the certainty of a win before any election and this seeming acceptance of a loss gives some indication of the malaise suffered by the ALP.
Unfortunately, human nature being what it is - there is every chance that a losing government party will dig into it's bag of dirty tricks in the dieing days of holding office.
The Clinton whitehouse left many booby traps for the incoming regime of George W Bush, and we can hardly expect the outgoing regime in New South Wales to bestow benevolent acts.
Watch for hasty, last minute appointments to key public service posts and the announcement of extensions to national parks and other use of public land that may thwart the plans of the new government.
Normally an election is neutral ground because even if the governing party is on the nose, there is always the expectation of a miracle. In the eyes of many ALP people - it would take the intercession of Mary McKilllop to save this government next March.
It is when all hope has gone that politicians lay plans for sabotage - with the hope that future shortfalls will be blamed on their successor. Such is the world of politics !
Sunday 12 December 2010
Electrical safety switches.
Legislation is imminent in New South Wales to force those small businesses that use portable electrical equipment to install safety switches - and these will attract a rebate of up to $ 500.
Firms that use items that range from angle grinders to vacuum cleaners, and include hair dryers and electric drills must have the safety switches in place within twelve months, and the rest of industry must be compliant by 2014.
These safety switches cut the supply of power in the event of a malfunction - and thereby save the user from being electrocuted.
A safety switch could cost as much as $ 2000 to be installed in a complex business, but would cost a mere $ 200 to be installed in the average home. It seems reasonable to expect that the state government would be looking to get them into every home in this state.
For a start, they should be mandatory in every new building application, considering that an extra $ 200 is negligible in the cost of a new home these days - and it would be a good idea to require installation as part of the exchange agreement whenever an existing home changes ownership.
At least such a scheme would start the ball rolling - and eventually every householder could be expected to live in a home that was electrically safe !
Firms that use items that range from angle grinders to vacuum cleaners, and include hair dryers and electric drills must have the safety switches in place within twelve months, and the rest of industry must be compliant by 2014.
These safety switches cut the supply of power in the event of a malfunction - and thereby save the user from being electrocuted.
A safety switch could cost as much as $ 2000 to be installed in a complex business, but would cost a mere $ 200 to be installed in the average home. It seems reasonable to expect that the state government would be looking to get them into every home in this state.
For a start, they should be mandatory in every new building application, considering that an extra $ 200 is negligible in the cost of a new home these days - and it would be a good idea to require installation as part of the exchange agreement whenever an existing home changes ownership.
At least such a scheme would start the ball rolling - and eventually every householder could be expected to live in a home that was electrically safe !
Saturday 11 December 2010
Take it with a grain of salt !
The state government has produced a new website which shows a rosy picture on elective surgery waiting times. This is not surprising just a few months out from an election.
Like most government announcements, MyHospitals is the product of the host of spin doctors those in power employ to create a good image - and what you see is not necessarily what you get !
The detail is in the small print, and that small print requires doctors to only add a patient to the waiting list if surgery can be scheduled within the current twelve month period. If not - the patient is placed on a second waiting list - and this is a waiting list to be placed on the official waiting list.
It's all smoke and mirrors. How fast the waiting list progresses depends entirely on money. If the funds are available the theatres handle more patients and the lists grow shorter - and the availability of money depends on what other government spending is taking priority over health.
It's a big juggling act ! A tradeoff between bread and circuses for those not needing elective surgery weighed against the squawks of those condemned to pain and suffering - and a long wait !
And no matter who is in office - nothing changes !
Like most government announcements, MyHospitals is the product of the host of spin doctors those in power employ to create a good image - and what you see is not necessarily what you get !
The detail is in the small print, and that small print requires doctors to only add a patient to the waiting list if surgery can be scheduled within the current twelve month period. If not - the patient is placed on a second waiting list - and this is a waiting list to be placed on the official waiting list.
It's all smoke and mirrors. How fast the waiting list progresses depends entirely on money. If the funds are available the theatres handle more patients and the lists grow shorter - and the availability of money depends on what other government spending is taking priority over health.
It's a big juggling act ! A tradeoff between bread and circuses for those not needing elective surgery weighed against the squawks of those condemned to pain and suffering - and a long wait !
And no matter who is in office - nothing changes !
Friday 10 December 2010
People power !
The world watches with bated breath as " people power " does battle with the awesome legal machinery of the greatest country on this planet.
It all started when a person of little personal power worked a government computer somewhere in Afghanistan - and decided to secretly download information from that government's immense store of archives.
The information was passed to activist Julian Assange, who devises the Wikileaks concept - and published the secret material on the net - where any citizen with a computer had free access.
This brought into play the immense power of world governments - and their desire to put the cork back in the bottle and secure sensitive information from prying eyes.
A decidedly suspicious rape charge was levelled against Assange, investigated - and dropped. Immediately consular cables began to appear on Wikileak it was dragged into the public domain - and became the supposed reason for an arrest order. Assange is now in a British prison.
Government power would seem to be behind the pressure on three of the world's money movers to shut off the cash flow to Wikileaks - and to clip Assange's legal defence team of funds to defend the charges against him.
On the same day Mastercard, Visa and Pay-Pal announced that they were banning handling payments through their channels to Wikileaks. This despite no evidence of any illegality on the part of Wikileaks in making information available to the public.
This time - People Power struck back ! The power of big numbers of people using their computers to overwhelm these three money movers with inward contact caused their servers to crash. The ultimate weapon was in use - the ability to stop their cash flow - and reduce their profits.
Pay-Pal was the first to crumble, but the battle is far from mover. It seems to be a case of an unmovable object coming into collision with an unstoppable force.
The end result of that is usually a huge explosion !
It all started when a person of little personal power worked a government computer somewhere in Afghanistan - and decided to secretly download information from that government's immense store of archives.
The information was passed to activist Julian Assange, who devises the Wikileaks concept - and published the secret material on the net - where any citizen with a computer had free access.
This brought into play the immense power of world governments - and their desire to put the cork back in the bottle and secure sensitive information from prying eyes.
A decidedly suspicious rape charge was levelled against Assange, investigated - and dropped. Immediately consular cables began to appear on Wikileak it was dragged into the public domain - and became the supposed reason for an arrest order. Assange is now in a British prison.
Government power would seem to be behind the pressure on three of the world's money movers to shut off the cash flow to Wikileaks - and to clip Assange's legal defence team of funds to defend the charges against him.
On the same day Mastercard, Visa and Pay-Pal announced that they were banning handling payments through their channels to Wikileaks. This despite no evidence of any illegality on the part of Wikileaks in making information available to the public.
This time - People Power struck back ! The power of big numbers of people using their computers to overwhelm these three money movers with inward contact caused their servers to crash. The ultimate weapon was in use - the ability to stop their cash flow - and reduce their profits.
Pay-Pal was the first to crumble, but the battle is far from mover. It seems to be a case of an unmovable object coming into collision with an unstoppable force.
The end result of that is usually a huge explosion !
Thursday 9 December 2010
Of men - and women !
Last nights national news brought a new image of Julia Gillard. Our first female prime minister is usually impeccably coiffured - but viewers must have noted that the parting line in her hair was distinctly outlined with the evidence of age - or stress.
Gray hair and it's first appearance is something to be dreaded by many people, but this is specially so if that person is of the female gender. The male can get away with a tinge of gray by claiming it as a sign of wisdom. For the female it is evidence of declining beauty - to be covered by the vast array of cosmetic wash and rinse products in our chemist shops.
It is all about image - and when you are the prime minister that image is vitally impiortant. It would be hard to think of Kevin Rudd with gray hair because that would detract from his boyish appearance, once the cornerstone of his appeal to many voters.
Julia Gillard is at the point in her career where she will establish a lasting impression in the minds of citizens. Thinking back to other women who held the pinnacle of power, Margaret Thatcher comes to mind with a pugnacious jaw - and that always present handbag - and Golda Meir's lined face and mop of grizzled hair.
Will Julia forsake the colour wash that replaced her fiery red hair with a muted auburn and allow nature to dictate her image ? Or will her note of distinction be that classic " Aussie drawl " with which she delivers her lines ?
It seems that decision time has arrived - and when image is concerned there is a vast difference between the options open to men - as opposed to women.
The media - and the women's lobby - will await Julia's decision with bated breath !
Gray hair and it's first appearance is something to be dreaded by many people, but this is specially so if that person is of the female gender. The male can get away with a tinge of gray by claiming it as a sign of wisdom. For the female it is evidence of declining beauty - to be covered by the vast array of cosmetic wash and rinse products in our chemist shops.
It is all about image - and when you are the prime minister that image is vitally impiortant. It would be hard to think of Kevin Rudd with gray hair because that would detract from his boyish appearance, once the cornerstone of his appeal to many voters.
Julia Gillard is at the point in her career where she will establish a lasting impression in the minds of citizens. Thinking back to other women who held the pinnacle of power, Margaret Thatcher comes to mind with a pugnacious jaw - and that always present handbag - and Golda Meir's lined face and mop of grizzled hair.
Will Julia forsake the colour wash that replaced her fiery red hair with a muted auburn and allow nature to dictate her image ? Or will her note of distinction be that classic " Aussie drawl " with which she delivers her lines ?
It seems that decision time has arrived - and when image is concerned there is a vast difference between the options open to men - as opposed to women.
The media - and the women's lobby - will await Julia's decision with bated breath !
Wednesday 8 December 2010
Water compromise.
Michael Taylor, chairman of the Murray/Darling Water Authority has resigned over the interpretation of the Water Act. Taylor insists that preserving the health of the river system must take precedence over social and economic issues.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard disagrees - and in this instance she is right !
Right now the Murray/Darling system is in flood and has more water than it can comfortably hold - but inevitably it will return to drought sometime in the future. This may be accelerated if we continue to pump excessive amounts of water for agriculture.
Common sense dictates that compromise is the only solution. Three important factors are involved. There must be an increase in the river flow to keep the river healthy. Australia needs the agriculture produced by this river's water to feed itself - and the towns along the river system are sustained by the system providing their water supply.
All three will have to cope with a reduction - so that all three will survive.
Agriculture will have to make changes to the crops grown and the irrigation methods used to sustain them. Towns will need to adjust to water use - and probably accept strict water restrictions on use to fit into the scheme - and the river system itself will get more flow than in the past - but not the unlimited flow that conservatives want.
It's called - compromise !
Prime Minister Julia Gillard disagrees - and in this instance she is right !
Right now the Murray/Darling system is in flood and has more water than it can comfortably hold - but inevitably it will return to drought sometime in the future. This may be accelerated if we continue to pump excessive amounts of water for agriculture.
Common sense dictates that compromise is the only solution. Three important factors are involved. There must be an increase in the river flow to keep the river healthy. Australia needs the agriculture produced by this river's water to feed itself - and the towns along the river system are sustained by the system providing their water supply.
All three will have to cope with a reduction - so that all three will survive.
Agriculture will have to make changes to the crops grown and the irrigation methods used to sustain them. Towns will need to adjust to water use - and probably accept strict water restrictions on use to fit into the scheme - and the river system itself will get more flow than in the past - but not the unlimited flow that conservatives want.
It's called - compromise !
Tuesday 7 December 2010
A dangerous world !
World leaders must be holding their breath with great concern at the erratic signals coming from North Korea. There seems to be a leadership change taking place and perhaps this is the reason for the hermit kingdoms strange actions.
It seems that North Korea does not fear starting a major war with the west, despite the fact that if it does it faces nuclear destruction.. It has a small number of nuclear bombs and the missiles to deliver them, but faced with the might of the western powers these are puny.
It was sheer brinkmanship to torpedo the Cheonan, a South Korean Corvette and to shell the South Korean island of Yeonpyeong, causing loss of life. With that sort of attitude to aggression it is quite possible that Kim Jong Il could launch an attack on Seoul - the South Korean capital.
Either Kim is fantastically clever at weighing up the risks and rolling the dice, or else he is a madman with a self destruction urge. The key to moderating his actions seems to be China, but so far the Chinese leadership has stood aloof .
If push comes to shove and North Korean action leaves no option other than war - the response from China may well decide if we live in a peaceful world or one suffering a nuclear winter.
The scenario has never been so doubtful since the bad old days of the cold war !
It seems that North Korea does not fear starting a major war with the west, despite the fact that if it does it faces nuclear destruction.. It has a small number of nuclear bombs and the missiles to deliver them, but faced with the might of the western powers these are puny.
It was sheer brinkmanship to torpedo the Cheonan, a South Korean Corvette and to shell the South Korean island of Yeonpyeong, causing loss of life. With that sort of attitude to aggression it is quite possible that Kim Jong Il could launch an attack on Seoul - the South Korean capital.
Either Kim is fantastically clever at weighing up the risks and rolling the dice, or else he is a madman with a self destruction urge. The key to moderating his actions seems to be China, but so far the Chinese leadership has stood aloof .
If push comes to shove and North Korean action leaves no option other than war - the response from China may well decide if we live in a peaceful world or one suffering a nuclear winter.
The scenario has never been so doubtful since the bad old days of the cold war !
Monday 6 December 2010
Violent video games !
There are moves to introduce a R I8+ plus category for violent video games. At present our highest classification is MA I5 +.
It is doubtful if any classification change will prevent unsuitable games from reaching the hands of young people. We have restrictions on alcohol, tobacco and drugs that do little to restrict supply. While ever there is market demand - supply will follow.
It seems possible that violent video games are fuelling many growing social evils. Some games are a training ground for those disposed to avoiding the police in stolen cars. Young kids actually learn the mechanics of driving a car using game controls. Is it any wonder that when the situation becomes real and they are behind the wheel of a stolen car with the police in hot pursuit - they think nothing of driving up a one way street against oncoming traffic. On the console - it is only a game. In the real world - it brings death to somebody !
Then there is the use of firearms. Many violent video games are little more than a training manual for civil war. The aim is to kill as many of the enemy as possible. Is it any wonder that regular users lose any sense of responsibility ?
Introducing a R I8 + category may help, but regulations to tone down the material in those extra violent games would help more - if it could be achieved !
That would be an unlikely dream. Once again the law of supply and demand applies. If games are not violent enough to satisfy today's game users - then you can expect an underground industry to fill that gap - just as XXX rated porn is circulated against the present laws.
What the politicians have to realise is that applying a ban on anything simply does not work ! All it does - is to create a new illicit industry !
It is doubtful if any classification change will prevent unsuitable games from reaching the hands of young people. We have restrictions on alcohol, tobacco and drugs that do little to restrict supply. While ever there is market demand - supply will follow.
It seems possible that violent video games are fuelling many growing social evils. Some games are a training ground for those disposed to avoiding the police in stolen cars. Young kids actually learn the mechanics of driving a car using game controls. Is it any wonder that when the situation becomes real and they are behind the wheel of a stolen car with the police in hot pursuit - they think nothing of driving up a one way street against oncoming traffic. On the console - it is only a game. In the real world - it brings death to somebody !
Then there is the use of firearms. Many violent video games are little more than a training manual for civil war. The aim is to kill as many of the enemy as possible. Is it any wonder that regular users lose any sense of responsibility ?
Introducing a R I8 + category may help, but regulations to tone down the material in those extra violent games would help more - if it could be achieved !
That would be an unlikely dream. Once again the law of supply and demand applies. If games are not violent enough to satisfy today's game users - then you can expect an underground industry to fill that gap - just as XXX rated porn is circulated against the present laws.
What the politicians have to realise is that applying a ban on anything simply does not work ! All it does - is to create a new illicit industry !
Sunday 5 December 2010
A cryptic man !
Many people will have mixed feelings about Julian Assange, the Australian who founded Wikileaks. He has made powerful enemies by leaking confidential American internal dispatches revealing secrets from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars - and now embassy cables that often denigrate other world leaders.
To some, this is a breath of fresh air blowing through the secret backwaters of government, releasing information that we have a right to know. To others, it is a form of espionage that puts at risk the lives of foreign citizens who have worked with us in bringing democracy to foreign regimes.
Wikileaks would not be possible without informers - often lowly placed men and women who process documents in the computer world and who for their own reasons disclose confidential information. The vastness of the IT world is such that we may never know their identities.
Julian Assange has no such modesty. He clearly nominates himself as the head of Wikileaks - and as such must be high on the list of enemies in the sights of foreign security departments from many countries. It is quite possible that he could be a target of assassination.
In these circumstances the charge of rape coming from Sweden must be viewed with suspicion. It would be a simple measure to induce someone to lay such a charge to create an arrest warrant - and should that warrant be served and Assange be taken into custody - the charge dropped and he be deported to the United States to face more serious espionage charges.
Perhaps Assange has bitten off more than he can chew with Wikileaks. He has deliberately put himself at the centre of the stage in the murky world in which governments play - and now he finds himself well outside the normal tenets of law.
How this finally plays out will no doubt be the theme of many a novel - and most certainly a television series. It is still to be decided whether he plays the role of hero - or villain !
To some, this is a breath of fresh air blowing through the secret backwaters of government, releasing information that we have a right to know. To others, it is a form of espionage that puts at risk the lives of foreign citizens who have worked with us in bringing democracy to foreign regimes.
Wikileaks would not be possible without informers - often lowly placed men and women who process documents in the computer world and who for their own reasons disclose confidential information. The vastness of the IT world is such that we may never know their identities.
Julian Assange has no such modesty. He clearly nominates himself as the head of Wikileaks - and as such must be high on the list of enemies in the sights of foreign security departments from many countries. It is quite possible that he could be a target of assassination.
In these circumstances the charge of rape coming from Sweden must be viewed with suspicion. It would be a simple measure to induce someone to lay such a charge to create an arrest warrant - and should that warrant be served and Assange be taken into custody - the charge dropped and he be deported to the United States to face more serious espionage charges.
Perhaps Assange has bitten off more than he can chew with Wikileaks. He has deliberately put himself at the centre of the stage in the murky world in which governments play - and now he finds himself well outside the normal tenets of law.
How this finally plays out will no doubt be the theme of many a novel - and most certainly a television series. It is still to be decided whether he plays the role of hero - or villain !
Saturday 4 December 2010
" Ambience " restored !
Two years after work ceased the " Ambience " construction in Fairy Meadow has been bought by a consortium - and it will begin reaching finality next year.
There will still be some difficulties. It is reported that Coles has withdrawn as the anchor tenant, but there are fortunes to be made with the right approach to bankrupt constructions. The site was purchased for $ 7.75 million back in 2005 and the building is three parts finished. The purchase price paid by the consortium is rumoured to be less than $ 10 million - hence if the estimated finished value of $ 40 million is realised - not only will the new owners make a nice profit but Fairy Meadow will gain an attractive new shopping centre.
There is one niggling problem to be addressed. Ambience and the Fraternity club car park are not far apart and on level ground. The council has declared the car park flood prone and banned building, and yet Ambience has underground parking.
In the event of a repeat of the 1998 rain storm that caused massive flooding, warning measures will be needed to ensure that any underground car park has sufficient evacuation procedures.
No doubt this has been taken into account by the new owners !
There will still be some difficulties. It is reported that Coles has withdrawn as the anchor tenant, but there are fortunes to be made with the right approach to bankrupt constructions. The site was purchased for $ 7.75 million back in 2005 and the building is three parts finished. The purchase price paid by the consortium is rumoured to be less than $ 10 million - hence if the estimated finished value of $ 40 million is realised - not only will the new owners make a nice profit but Fairy Meadow will gain an attractive new shopping centre.
There is one niggling problem to be addressed. Ambience and the Fraternity club car park are not far apart and on level ground. The council has declared the car park flood prone and banned building, and yet Ambience has underground parking.
In the event of a repeat of the 1998 rain storm that caused massive flooding, warning measures will be needed to ensure that any underground car park has sufficient evacuation procedures.
No doubt this has been taken into account by the new owners !
Friday 3 December 2010
Police car chases !
A man is dead - and his death will revive the controversy over police car chases.
A 22 year old with two juvenile companions was driving a stolen Holden Commodore when police detected it as unregistered - and gave chase. The criminal tried to evade capture by driving the wrong way up an access ramp - and collided head-on with the innocent motorist - killing him instantly.
Perhaps we are looking the wrong way when we consider how to deal with the crime of car theft !
How is it possible that we have reached the twenty-first century, but we have not managed to make stealing a motor vehicle impossible ?
Over the years all sorts of innovations have been claimed to deter theft - one of the latest being the " immobiliser " - which is supposed to shut down all systems unless it is either activated by a remote control, or has a code number punched in.
Modern cars have an on-board computer and a host of sophisticated refinements - but they are still capable of being stolen by a teenage kid with a screwdriver and a bit of wire.
It seems to be a conspiracy by car makers, the insurance industry and the government to avoid spending the huge amount of research money that would provide the ultimate theft deterrent.
It may be impossible to stop car theft by sophisticated thieves prepared to invest serious money in code breaking equipment, but it must be possible to devise a system that will defeat teenagers and kids.
It seems that all that is missing is - determination and resolve !
A 22 year old with two juvenile companions was driving a stolen Holden Commodore when police detected it as unregistered - and gave chase. The criminal tried to evade capture by driving the wrong way up an access ramp - and collided head-on with the innocent motorist - killing him instantly.
Perhaps we are looking the wrong way when we consider how to deal with the crime of car theft !
How is it possible that we have reached the twenty-first century, but we have not managed to make stealing a motor vehicle impossible ?
Over the years all sorts of innovations have been claimed to deter theft - one of the latest being the " immobiliser " - which is supposed to shut down all systems unless it is either activated by a remote control, or has a code number punched in.
Modern cars have an on-board computer and a host of sophisticated refinements - but they are still capable of being stolen by a teenage kid with a screwdriver and a bit of wire.
It seems to be a conspiracy by car makers, the insurance industry and the government to avoid spending the huge amount of research money that would provide the ultimate theft deterrent.
It may be impossible to stop car theft by sophisticated thieves prepared to invest serious money in code breaking equipment, but it must be possible to devise a system that will defeat teenagers and kids.
It seems that all that is missing is - determination and resolve !
Thursday 2 December 2010
A potential danger.
The plan to site a ventilation shaft from a coal mine just six hundred metres from Appin primary school would normally not attract much attention.
Recent events at the Pike River coal mine in New Zealand have changed all that !
Coal mines are dangerous places and the Pike River mine ventilation shaft has been shown on television as a roaring flame pit, belching smoke and noxious gases from the fire below.
What would be the effect on child safety if a primary school was sited just six hundred metres away from that Pike River shaft ?
That is a reasonable question to ask when this plan is considered, because mine accidents can happen very quickly and there can be no guarantee that a similar situation could not arise at Appin.
Hindsight is usually 20-20. Before this ventilation shaft goes ahead it would be wise to consider all the possible scenarios that may arise - and opt on the side of safety. It may cost a little more to move it further from the school - but if there is even a slight risk - that should be the course undertaken !
Recent events at the Pike River coal mine in New Zealand have changed all that !
Coal mines are dangerous places and the Pike River mine ventilation shaft has been shown on television as a roaring flame pit, belching smoke and noxious gases from the fire below.
What would be the effect on child safety if a primary school was sited just six hundred metres away from that Pike River shaft ?
That is a reasonable question to ask when this plan is considered, because mine accidents can happen very quickly and there can be no guarantee that a similar situation could not arise at Appin.
Hindsight is usually 20-20. Before this ventilation shaft goes ahead it would be wise to consider all the possible scenarios that may arise - and opt on the side of safety. It may cost a little more to move it further from the school - but if there is even a slight risk - that should be the course undertaken !
Wednesday 1 December 2010
The right decision.
There were rumblings of criticism when rescuers were prevented from rushing in to the Pike River coal mine in New Zealand, following an explosion that trapped twenty-nine men.
It is now abundantly clear that this was the right decision. Had a rescue attempt been mounted at that time it is almost certain that the rescuers would be amongst the dead.
This mine has become an ongoing disaster. Explosions have continued as a volatile mixture of poisonous gas and methane roils through the galleries and now there is a fire burning in the coal seam that may take years to extinguish.
It is time to put an end to further risk and seal the mine, abandon attempts to retrieve the bodies and make Pike River mine a memorial grave for those that died there.
Underground mining is one of the riskiest jobs on this planet. Every miner reporting for duty faces the prospect of entering a tomb from which they may never return. No mine can be made totally safe because a huge range of risks is permanently present.
For that reason, mining pay is high because of the risks involved.
Coal is one of the most dangerous minerals mined because of the ever present risk of gas - and the fact that it is a combustible product. Hopefully, one day coal mining may be phased out because a less dangerous form of heating and industrial use may have made it redundant.
Unfortunately, many more miners are likely to die before that day arrives.
It is now abundantly clear that this was the right decision. Had a rescue attempt been mounted at that time it is almost certain that the rescuers would be amongst the dead.
This mine has become an ongoing disaster. Explosions have continued as a volatile mixture of poisonous gas and methane roils through the galleries and now there is a fire burning in the coal seam that may take years to extinguish.
It is time to put an end to further risk and seal the mine, abandon attempts to retrieve the bodies and make Pike River mine a memorial grave for those that died there.
Underground mining is one of the riskiest jobs on this planet. Every miner reporting for duty faces the prospect of entering a tomb from which they may never return. No mine can be made totally safe because a huge range of risks is permanently present.
For that reason, mining pay is high because of the risks involved.
Coal is one of the most dangerous minerals mined because of the ever present risk of gas - and the fact that it is a combustible product. Hopefully, one day coal mining may be phased out because a less dangerous form of heating and industrial use may have made it redundant.
Unfortunately, many more miners are likely to die before that day arrives.
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