The plan to induce city dwellers to move to the country has been tweaked. That move must now involve a distance of at least a hundred kilometres after it was found that some people were gaining a motza by simply moving to the next suburb.
The criteria requires a worker to move house from the city to a country area and work in a regional job for at least three months to receive a grant of $ 10,000. People who rent and move to the country receive a lesser sum of $ 7,000.
The objective was to free up jobs and housing in the city and expand the rural workforce to strengthen the viability of country towns. Unfortunately, it raised the old " chicken and egg " conundrum. Which comes first ? The jobs ? Or the people to do those jobs ?
Unfortunately, two objectives are now competing at cross purposes. At the same time as we are seeking to strengthen country towns, we are also making our main highways safer by by-passing vast numbers which relied on the passing traffic for sustenance.
The Pacific highway is a case in point. It's accident black spot reputation has been reduced by a massive upgrading that has by-passed Kempsey, Bulahdelah, Karuah, Merwillingbah, Brunswick Heads, Ballina and Taree.
Travellers no longer stop in these picturesque towns to have a cup of coffee, buy petrol, visit a cafe or spend the small amounts of money that kept people employed and made business viable. It may be a safer road journey by avoiding the traffic snarls that speed reductions cause, but it comes at the cost of jobs - and the closing of many small businesses which are no longer viable.
The Hume highway is now a divided dual carriageway for it's entire length between Sydney and Melbourne. Shortly the Pacific highway will gain the same status between Sydney and Brisbane - and waiting in the wings are the country towns that line the Princes highway as it serves the coast between Sydney and Melbourne.
So far there has been no magic formulae to create jobs by way of introducing new industries to towns that previously relied on passing traffic. Many such towns try and attract the " Grey Nomads " who use their retirement years to travel Australia with a caravan behind their car. Highway signs extol new caravan parks and upgraded amenities, but these jobs are seasonal and what is required is permanent employment to sustain a stable work force.
The coming of the communications age and the era of Internet shopping is creating opportunities for those with the foresight to grasp them. It is no longer necessary to pay for an expensive city location to provide many services that meet public demand and information services are a fast growing industry that seems ever expanding.
Perhaps we need to offer grants to those who can locate these types of services to fill the employment gaps that are widening between city and country. The clever entrepreneur launching a new venture would see the benefit of a low cost start up in a country location - if the government could provide an attractive inducement.
Getting people to move from the city to the country is the first step in a wise relocation plan. Attracting the jobs that will keep them there needs to work in lockstep. That requires imagination - and the right bureaucratic thinking !
Tuesday 31 December 2013
Monday 30 December 2013
Danger in the Ice !
A century ago, the Antarctic was still an unexplored wilderness and exploration teams were risking their lives to be the first to reach the South Pole. Today that great southern mass of ice seems to have been tamed. Half a dozen countries have base stations there and many claim this possibly mineral and oil rich area as their national territory. The aura of danger seems to have sharply receded.
Once again the frozen continent has sprung a surprise. A Russian ship carrying seventy four explorers, scientists and tourists is stuck in sea ice and requires the services of an icebreaker to set it free. The MV Akademik Shokalskiy was retracing the steps of Douglas Mawson when danger struck.
This event seems completely out of character. It is the height of summer in the southern hemisphere and usually the sea ice is retreating. Not only is this ship stuck fast, but the amount of ice surrounding the ship continues to increase and it's thickness has defeated the efforts of a Chinese icebreaker - which has been forced to retreat after also getting stuck in the ice. Rescue now awaits the arrival of a much bigger Australian ice breaking ship.
This incident underlines the need for caution when the Antarctic is considered as a possible destination for tourists. The cruise industry is building bigger ships and the lure of the deep south with it's magnificent scenery and iceberg spectacles may tempt the tour companies.
It is highly likely that the Akademik Shokalskiy will be freed and make a safe return, but if disaster strikes the rescue of seventy-four people would not be a difficult logistics exercise using helicopters to effect transfers, but what if a cruise ship with thousands of passengers suffered the same fate ? Time would be an important factor in mitigating such a disaster - and in the remote south - distance brings with it a time problem.
The Antarctic has been a tourist destination on a previous occasion. From 1977 until 1979 Air New Zealand operated tourist flights over the frozen continent and on November 28, 1979 a McDonnell Douglas DC10 with 237 passengers and 20 crew crashed into the volcanic Mount Erebus, killing all on board.
A court of enquiry determined that a number of causes were involved, including navigation errors and a " whiteout " making vision impossible, but it also noted the impossibility of rescue had that plane crash stranded the passengers on the ice. All thought of further tourist flights to the Antarctic was quickly abandoned.
When it comes to comprehending the vagaries of nature we enter unknown territory. Why there is thick packs of sea ice in high summer in the Antarctic is one of those mysteries that elude the scientists. What it does tell us is that the deep south is a mysterious and dangerous place - and is somewhere that is definitely unsuitable for any sort of mass tourism.
Once again the frozen continent has sprung a surprise. A Russian ship carrying seventy four explorers, scientists and tourists is stuck in sea ice and requires the services of an icebreaker to set it free. The MV Akademik Shokalskiy was retracing the steps of Douglas Mawson when danger struck.
This event seems completely out of character. It is the height of summer in the southern hemisphere and usually the sea ice is retreating. Not only is this ship stuck fast, but the amount of ice surrounding the ship continues to increase and it's thickness has defeated the efforts of a Chinese icebreaker - which has been forced to retreat after also getting stuck in the ice. Rescue now awaits the arrival of a much bigger Australian ice breaking ship.
This incident underlines the need for caution when the Antarctic is considered as a possible destination for tourists. The cruise industry is building bigger ships and the lure of the deep south with it's magnificent scenery and iceberg spectacles may tempt the tour companies.
It is highly likely that the Akademik Shokalskiy will be freed and make a safe return, but if disaster strikes the rescue of seventy-four people would not be a difficult logistics exercise using helicopters to effect transfers, but what if a cruise ship with thousands of passengers suffered the same fate ? Time would be an important factor in mitigating such a disaster - and in the remote south - distance brings with it a time problem.
The Antarctic has been a tourist destination on a previous occasion. From 1977 until 1979 Air New Zealand operated tourist flights over the frozen continent and on November 28, 1979 a McDonnell Douglas DC10 with 237 passengers and 20 crew crashed into the volcanic Mount Erebus, killing all on board.
A court of enquiry determined that a number of causes were involved, including navigation errors and a " whiteout " making vision impossible, but it also noted the impossibility of rescue had that plane crash stranded the passengers on the ice. All thought of further tourist flights to the Antarctic was quickly abandoned.
When it comes to comprehending the vagaries of nature we enter unknown territory. Why there is thick packs of sea ice in high summer in the Antarctic is one of those mysteries that elude the scientists. What it does tell us is that the deep south is a mysterious and dangerous place - and is somewhere that is definitely unsuitable for any sort of mass tourism.
Sunday 29 December 2013
Winners - and Losers !
The stroke of midnight on New Year's eve will deliver very different outcomes in the lives of different people. For more than a million Sydney people it will be " party night " and they will throng the best viewing spots to watch a $ 6.8 million fireworks display light up the bridge, the harbour and the Opera House.
That fireworks display has become a world event. Due to the earth's rotation, Sydney is one of the first major cities to ring in the new year and television stations all over the world feature the Sydney fireworks because it is one of the biggest spectacles. Our fireworks are famous and the media exposure helps to bring tourists to our shores. The vast number of International visitors who enter this country use Sydney as their entry point.
The moment after the last rocket explodes and the sky returns to black, those New South Wales people with work related illnesses will face a bleaker future. A law change has moved the goal posts when it comes to the insurance industry's obligation to fund ongoing treatment for illnesses deemed to be caused by work related exposure.
The worker's compensation rules have changed - and now the ongoing cost of treatment will be entirely borne by the sufferer. Even when the matter has been processed through the courts and this has resulted in a finding that the employer was negligent and ordered to foot the medical bill for the patient's ongoing treatment - this law change makes that null and void.
The former " certainty " that financial planning can be based on insurance picking up the tab for the ongoing treatment of injuries such as Melanoma and other skin cancers no longer applies. With the stroke of a pen, benefits that have existed for decades have been swept away.
It looks like the commercial world is facing tough times and it is necessary to have a long, hard look at the costs of doing business. One of those costs is ever rising insurance premiums and it seems to be decreed that these can be lowered by cutting back on the benefits to make them more affordable.
Industry claims that the pendulum has swung too far in the workers favour and now they must share more of the expense for " natural illnesses " that may have a wide variety of causes - and are not solely work related. Skin cancer seems to be a case in point. Obviously, a job that requires a worker to remain in the open and is exposed to the sun has a direct cause on skin cancer, but it is equally evident that similar activity in leisure time has an equal effect. To blame this entirely on the work aspect is drawing a very long bow.
As one year comes to a close and another one makes a start, the rules under which we live deliver different outcomes. No doubt this change will receive further legal challenges in the law courts.
That fireworks display has become a world event. Due to the earth's rotation, Sydney is one of the first major cities to ring in the new year and television stations all over the world feature the Sydney fireworks because it is one of the biggest spectacles. Our fireworks are famous and the media exposure helps to bring tourists to our shores. The vast number of International visitors who enter this country use Sydney as their entry point.
The moment after the last rocket explodes and the sky returns to black, those New South Wales people with work related illnesses will face a bleaker future. A law change has moved the goal posts when it comes to the insurance industry's obligation to fund ongoing treatment for illnesses deemed to be caused by work related exposure.
The worker's compensation rules have changed - and now the ongoing cost of treatment will be entirely borne by the sufferer. Even when the matter has been processed through the courts and this has resulted in a finding that the employer was negligent and ordered to foot the medical bill for the patient's ongoing treatment - this law change makes that null and void.
The former " certainty " that financial planning can be based on insurance picking up the tab for the ongoing treatment of injuries such as Melanoma and other skin cancers no longer applies. With the stroke of a pen, benefits that have existed for decades have been swept away.
It looks like the commercial world is facing tough times and it is necessary to have a long, hard look at the costs of doing business. One of those costs is ever rising insurance premiums and it seems to be decreed that these can be lowered by cutting back on the benefits to make them more affordable.
Industry claims that the pendulum has swung too far in the workers favour and now they must share more of the expense for " natural illnesses " that may have a wide variety of causes - and are not solely work related. Skin cancer seems to be a case in point. Obviously, a job that requires a worker to remain in the open and is exposed to the sun has a direct cause on skin cancer, but it is equally evident that similar activity in leisure time has an equal effect. To blame this entirely on the work aspect is drawing a very long bow.
As one year comes to a close and another one makes a start, the rules under which we live deliver different outcomes. No doubt this change will receive further legal challenges in the law courts.
Saturday 28 December 2013
Bus safety !
Driving a State Transit Authority bus in some parts of Sydney is fast becoming a dangerous occupation. Drivers report that they have been spat on, assaulted and at time robbed of their change money by groups of passengers who refuse to pay a fare and often make life uncomfortable for other passengers.
Buses are equipped with video surveillance and " mug shots " from these incidents are now being posted at bus depots to alert drivers of danger when these people board a bus that they are driving. The Rail Tram and Bus union (RTBU) is now advising drivers not to confront those who simply walk past and decline to pay a fare. Driver safety is paramount - and they are not required to engage in combat to enforce the rules.
If paying the fare becomes optional, expect the practice to be widely adopted. All forms of government transport lose money and yet they are vital services. Certainly the safety of drivers is important, but the state government has a duty to guard it's revenue sources and simply running up the white flag is not the answer.
The troublemakers are a relatively small group and they are prevalent in certain well defined suburbs. The bus system is already covered with video surveillance, hence acts of violence and the refusal to pay fares are recorded evidence to be presented in court. It is simply a matter of making that court appearance happen !
That will require a close working relationship between the police and the bus system. It will be necessary for each bus to be installed with a silent alarm which - when activated - alerts the police control room that there is trouble on a bus. The response ranking needs to be cranked up to ensure that the nearest police patrol cars intercepts the bus and pulls it over - and deals with the offender.
Making the punishment fit the crime is the key to making our bus fleet safer. These thugs are operating with impunity - because they know that they will get away with it. The moment there is real fear that a police car will miraculously appear and they will be cuffed and carted off to the charge room - a very different attitude will prevail.
It is simply a matter of treating this problem with the resources it deserves. Passengers - and their drivers - have a right to a safe journey and the government needs the revenue from bus fares to improve the service. The people who treat the bus facilities with contempt are law breakers, and applying that law with the severity it requires is the function of both the police and the courts.
As things stand, what is missing is the " fear factor " of getting caught - and facing the consequences !
Buses are equipped with video surveillance and " mug shots " from these incidents are now being posted at bus depots to alert drivers of danger when these people board a bus that they are driving. The Rail Tram and Bus union (RTBU) is now advising drivers not to confront those who simply walk past and decline to pay a fare. Driver safety is paramount - and they are not required to engage in combat to enforce the rules.
If paying the fare becomes optional, expect the practice to be widely adopted. All forms of government transport lose money and yet they are vital services. Certainly the safety of drivers is important, but the state government has a duty to guard it's revenue sources and simply running up the white flag is not the answer.
The troublemakers are a relatively small group and they are prevalent in certain well defined suburbs. The bus system is already covered with video surveillance, hence acts of violence and the refusal to pay fares are recorded evidence to be presented in court. It is simply a matter of making that court appearance happen !
That will require a close working relationship between the police and the bus system. It will be necessary for each bus to be installed with a silent alarm which - when activated - alerts the police control room that there is trouble on a bus. The response ranking needs to be cranked up to ensure that the nearest police patrol cars intercepts the bus and pulls it over - and deals with the offender.
Making the punishment fit the crime is the key to making our bus fleet safer. These thugs are operating with impunity - because they know that they will get away with it. The moment there is real fear that a police car will miraculously appear and they will be cuffed and carted off to the charge room - a very different attitude will prevail.
It is simply a matter of treating this problem with the resources it deserves. Passengers - and their drivers - have a right to a safe journey and the government needs the revenue from bus fares to improve the service. The people who treat the bus facilities with contempt are law breakers, and applying that law with the severity it requires is the function of both the police and the courts.
As things stand, what is missing is the " fear factor " of getting caught - and facing the consequences !
Friday 27 December 2013
The lucky country !
As Christmas day fades from our memories and we head towards the new year, spare a thought for the incredible aura of good luck that hangs over this nation. The vast majority of the Australian people had a very happy Christmas, enjoyed a great meal with family and friends - and indulged in the present swapping that is a highlight of the festive season.
Some degree of sadness is inevitable. A woman attending midnight mass at a church was stabbed by a thief - who stole small change from her purse. Several days before Christmas, two families awoke to find a thief had broken in during the night and stolen the children's presents from under the Christmas tree - and complete strangers put their hand in their pockets and replaced that loss. Heavy Christmas road traffic produced the inevitable spate of road accidents that delivered death or injury to some - but spread across the twenty-three million people that call Australia home - sad events were a very small minority.
In comparison, many others in this world spent a miserable Christmas. The residents of Syria face death every day as civil war rages in their country. The people of Iraq face the prospect of a car bomb every time they venture to the shops to buy bread - and in Sudan a religious tribal fight is resulting in mass graves being discovered as whole communities face execution.
In the Philippines, the dead are still being recovered from the debris that a tropical cyclone inflicted on that country. Thousands of homes have been destroyed and the possibility of dieing from hunger can not be discounted. In Pakistan and Bangladesh, workers in clothing factories have a real fear of fire or a building collapse as they toil in unsafe surroundings - working for a pittance.
It is estimated that the slave trade is alive and well in many parts of the world today, and a vast portion of the world community exists - rather than lives - on less than two dollars a day. When we compare all that to the way we live in Australia, the term " the lucky country " - is highly applicable.
Hopefully, those twenty-three million Australian citizens have the good sense to keep it that way. We have a way of life that others envy. Australia is high on the list as the place to reach for those who wilfully risk their lives to reach our shores. This is the land of "milk and honey " - the destination at the end of the rainbow - that many perish trying to reach.
Australia will remain the best country in the world as long as we obey just a few simple rules. Those that come here from other countries need to leave the problems of those countries far behind them. This is a new start - and that means wiping the slate clean and starting again from scratch.
Religion is a difference of opinion, not a reason for war. It is not something to be forced on others at the point of a sword, and every person is entitled to follow the religion of their choice - or no religion at all. A little mutual respect can see religions exist in harmony.
This has always been a country of tolerance. That is the key to remaining " the lucky country " !
Some degree of sadness is inevitable. A woman attending midnight mass at a church was stabbed by a thief - who stole small change from her purse. Several days before Christmas, two families awoke to find a thief had broken in during the night and stolen the children's presents from under the Christmas tree - and complete strangers put their hand in their pockets and replaced that loss. Heavy Christmas road traffic produced the inevitable spate of road accidents that delivered death or injury to some - but spread across the twenty-three million people that call Australia home - sad events were a very small minority.
In comparison, many others in this world spent a miserable Christmas. The residents of Syria face death every day as civil war rages in their country. The people of Iraq face the prospect of a car bomb every time they venture to the shops to buy bread - and in Sudan a religious tribal fight is resulting in mass graves being discovered as whole communities face execution.
In the Philippines, the dead are still being recovered from the debris that a tropical cyclone inflicted on that country. Thousands of homes have been destroyed and the possibility of dieing from hunger can not be discounted. In Pakistan and Bangladesh, workers in clothing factories have a real fear of fire or a building collapse as they toil in unsafe surroundings - working for a pittance.
It is estimated that the slave trade is alive and well in many parts of the world today, and a vast portion of the world community exists - rather than lives - on less than two dollars a day. When we compare all that to the way we live in Australia, the term " the lucky country " - is highly applicable.
Hopefully, those twenty-three million Australian citizens have the good sense to keep it that way. We have a way of life that others envy. Australia is high on the list as the place to reach for those who wilfully risk their lives to reach our shores. This is the land of "milk and honey " - the destination at the end of the rainbow - that many perish trying to reach.
Australia will remain the best country in the world as long as we obey just a few simple rules. Those that come here from other countries need to leave the problems of those countries far behind them. This is a new start - and that means wiping the slate clean and starting again from scratch.
Religion is a difference of opinion, not a reason for war. It is not something to be forced on others at the point of a sword, and every person is entitled to follow the religion of their choice - or no religion at all. A little mutual respect can see religions exist in harmony.
This has always been a country of tolerance. That is the key to remaining " the lucky country " !
Thursday 26 December 2013
Danger signals !
It seems that Australia is facing a drowning epidemic. The number of people who lose their life in water accidents is steadily climbing despite stringent fencing rules being applied to backyard swimming pools and the untiring efforts of the Surf Lifesaving movement which patrol our beaches.
Australia has changing demographics which play a big part in this phenomenon. The tide of migrants making this country home no longer comes mainly from Europe and many of the new settlers come from landlocked countries in Africa and the Middle East. As a result, they are inexperienced when it comes to the dangers of our beach culture.
One of the dangers is the seemingly safe appearance of the ocean on the average beach day. Other people are frolicking safely in the surf and to the untrained eye there is no indication that a rip can suddenly make an appearance or undertow develop. This danger is magnified if the swimmer has chosen an unpatrolled beach. The margin between safety and disaster is slim - and panic increases the risk in favour of drowning.
Religion can also have an impact on water safety. Islamic dress codes decree that both genders are covered from wrist to ankle and so both the bikini and shorts are not a comfortable choice for those who come here from an Islamic country. As a result, many such people are non swimmers and are vulnerable in boat accidents or flood situations. Leisure activities such as rock fishing are particularly dangerous for those lacking the ability to save themselves in water accidents.
This situation can only deteriorate unless we increase the education factor to ensure that the ability to swim is part of every school curriculum. We live in a country entirely surrounded by water and it is likely that every citizen will at some point in their lives face a situation when water poses danger.
Making water safety an integral part of the education system will take a degree of culture diplomacy. It will be necessary to consult with the Islamic community to arrive at a form of swimming costume that meets the criteria of religious modesty and separate gender swimming classes may be necessary to satisfy other religious principles.
Sport is part of the Australian culture, and making swimming a compulsory school sport is the logical dual objective of bestowing water safety on the entire spectrum of emerging citizens. It should be a goal that no child completes their education without achieving the ability to swim to safety in a water accident.
We can beg and plead for this to apply to the adult population, but if we are to succeed in improving future drowning figures - the key is to teach all the kids to swim !
Australia has changing demographics which play a big part in this phenomenon. The tide of migrants making this country home no longer comes mainly from Europe and many of the new settlers come from landlocked countries in Africa and the Middle East. As a result, they are inexperienced when it comes to the dangers of our beach culture.
One of the dangers is the seemingly safe appearance of the ocean on the average beach day. Other people are frolicking safely in the surf and to the untrained eye there is no indication that a rip can suddenly make an appearance or undertow develop. This danger is magnified if the swimmer has chosen an unpatrolled beach. The margin between safety and disaster is slim - and panic increases the risk in favour of drowning.
Religion can also have an impact on water safety. Islamic dress codes decree that both genders are covered from wrist to ankle and so both the bikini and shorts are not a comfortable choice for those who come here from an Islamic country. As a result, many such people are non swimmers and are vulnerable in boat accidents or flood situations. Leisure activities such as rock fishing are particularly dangerous for those lacking the ability to save themselves in water accidents.
This situation can only deteriorate unless we increase the education factor to ensure that the ability to swim is part of every school curriculum. We live in a country entirely surrounded by water and it is likely that every citizen will at some point in their lives face a situation when water poses danger.
Making water safety an integral part of the education system will take a degree of culture diplomacy. It will be necessary to consult with the Islamic community to arrive at a form of swimming costume that meets the criteria of religious modesty and separate gender swimming classes may be necessary to satisfy other religious principles.
Sport is part of the Australian culture, and making swimming a compulsory school sport is the logical dual objective of bestowing water safety on the entire spectrum of emerging citizens. It should be a goal that no child completes their education without achieving the ability to swim to safety in a water accident.
We can beg and plead for this to apply to the adult population, but if we are to succeed in improving future drowning figures - the key is to teach all the kids to swim !
Wednesday 25 December 2013
" Tall Poppy " Syndrome !
The world has just been treated to an ongoing court case in London which had similar drama to a script from " The Bold and the Beautiful " - or perhaps " Dynasty " ! The media exposed the private life of celebrity chef Nigella Lawson in a case which revenge, theft, character assassination and titillation of the masses all had a part.
Nigella Lawson (53) is a good looking woman who has a vast following as the presenter of her cooking show on television and is wealthy in her own right. She was married to super rich advertising supremo Charles Saatchi and they lived in a $ 25 million townhouse in the better part of London. Nigella Lawson employed two personal assistants to help run her television series and these featured in the court case as the " Grillo sisters " - Francesca (35) and Elisabetta ( 41 ).
This episode of human drama started when paparazzi managed to snap pictures of a heated argument between Nigella and her husband at a top end restaurant. Saatchi appears to grab her by the throat, leading to speculation that the marriage was in trouble.
Rumour and innuendo morphed into a court case when the Grillo sisters were accused of using the credit cards with which they had been issued to make private purchases running into millions of dollars. They claimed that this was a personal arrangement with Nigella. They were permitted to use these cards at their own discretion in return from hiding the fact that their boss used drugs - and she wished this to be kept from her husband.
That claim changed the entire direction of the court case into Nigella Lawson's drug history. She freely admitted to occasional use of marijuana and claimed that marriage stress had caused her to resort to cocaine on a limited number of occasions. She was not addicted to drugs, but was a casual user - and an when circumstances permitted.
Strangely, the presiding judge allowed this court case to degenerate into a troll through the daily snacking habits of the celebrity chef, delving into the moods and idiosyncrasies of a high profile, highly stressed performer who was the darling of television audiences. It seemed to grab media attention to learn that Nigella Lawson snacked on junk food occasionally - and indulged lavishly in chocolate.
Eventually, the case ended with the Grillo sisters being cleared of any wrongdoing. They are now negotiating book rights to their story - and once again the public will probably salivate about fresh disclosures to whet their appetites for scandal.
As for Nigella - she will probably just continue to draw big audiences for her cooking show. There was speculation that this " Tall Poppy " disclosure might tear down her popularity, but in this modern day and age the suggestion of drug use no longer raises eyebrows.
In fact, the publicity might make her shows more popular. The loss of a few million dollars will hardly cause her or her ex husband any financial distress - and history shows that almost any kind of publicity can be turned into " good publicity " - with a stoic face and the right fine tuning.
Nigella Lawson (53) is a good looking woman who has a vast following as the presenter of her cooking show on television and is wealthy in her own right. She was married to super rich advertising supremo Charles Saatchi and they lived in a $ 25 million townhouse in the better part of London. Nigella Lawson employed two personal assistants to help run her television series and these featured in the court case as the " Grillo sisters " - Francesca (35) and Elisabetta ( 41 ).
This episode of human drama started when paparazzi managed to snap pictures of a heated argument between Nigella and her husband at a top end restaurant. Saatchi appears to grab her by the throat, leading to speculation that the marriage was in trouble.
Rumour and innuendo morphed into a court case when the Grillo sisters were accused of using the credit cards with which they had been issued to make private purchases running into millions of dollars. They claimed that this was a personal arrangement with Nigella. They were permitted to use these cards at their own discretion in return from hiding the fact that their boss used drugs - and she wished this to be kept from her husband.
That claim changed the entire direction of the court case into Nigella Lawson's drug history. She freely admitted to occasional use of marijuana and claimed that marriage stress had caused her to resort to cocaine on a limited number of occasions. She was not addicted to drugs, but was a casual user - and an when circumstances permitted.
Strangely, the presiding judge allowed this court case to degenerate into a troll through the daily snacking habits of the celebrity chef, delving into the moods and idiosyncrasies of a high profile, highly stressed performer who was the darling of television audiences. It seemed to grab media attention to learn that Nigella Lawson snacked on junk food occasionally - and indulged lavishly in chocolate.
Eventually, the case ended with the Grillo sisters being cleared of any wrongdoing. They are now negotiating book rights to their story - and once again the public will probably salivate about fresh disclosures to whet their appetites for scandal.
As for Nigella - she will probably just continue to draw big audiences for her cooking show. There was speculation that this " Tall Poppy " disclosure might tear down her popularity, but in this modern day and age the suggestion of drug use no longer raises eyebrows.
In fact, the publicity might make her shows more popular. The loss of a few million dollars will hardly cause her or her ex husband any financial distress - and history shows that almost any kind of publicity can be turned into " good publicity " - with a stoic face and the right fine tuning.
Tuesday 24 December 2013
The gift that keeps billing !
It seems inevitable that one of the most popular gifts under the Christmas tree will be a shiny new mobile phone - and parents are under pressure to put these in the hands of an ever younger age group. In the teenage world, a Smartphone is the " must have " electronic device to confer their group status.
The wise will think long and hard before they make that purchase. In most cases, what they are delivering is their child's first experience on the bumpy road - of managing debt ! How that is managed will have a lot to do with the thought and planning that Mum and Dad gave to buying that mobile phone in the first place.
The unwise decision would be to buy on an open contract plan. Today's Smartphones open up a glistening vista of information and downloads that can easily result in the first phone bill running to $ 500 or more - and that can be a shattering experience for a child on limited pocket money.
A far better option would be a pre-paid plan with a reasonable limit. It is one of life's experiences to learn how to manage money and a person with their first Smartphone will quickly connect the dots - between phone use and the quickly rising cost accruing on the meter.
Unfortunately, the phone companies are devising attractive sounding plans where multiple members of a family can have their phone bills pooled within a single account. Usually, that means the bill is in Mum or Dad's name - and that seems a sure road to phone bill mayhem. It is like having the family finance in a pot on the table - with every member free to dip in as and when they choose. Life just doesn't work that way !
Unfortunately, the teenage mind is wired to what some call " the mob mentality ". Most forms of communication revolve around the mobile phone, even though the same communication can be achieved at a fraction of the cost - using the home computer. Download plans are much more generous and using Skype is free, but getting a teenager to think that way seems to be an impossible ask.
A lot of new mobile phones will pass into eager teenage hands this Christmas morning. Let us hope the right decisions have been made - and that the restrictions in place are the first step in the learning process of successfully managing money !
The wise will think long and hard before they make that purchase. In most cases, what they are delivering is their child's first experience on the bumpy road - of managing debt ! How that is managed will have a lot to do with the thought and planning that Mum and Dad gave to buying that mobile phone in the first place.
The unwise decision would be to buy on an open contract plan. Today's Smartphones open up a glistening vista of information and downloads that can easily result in the first phone bill running to $ 500 or more - and that can be a shattering experience for a child on limited pocket money.
A far better option would be a pre-paid plan with a reasonable limit. It is one of life's experiences to learn how to manage money and a person with their first Smartphone will quickly connect the dots - between phone use and the quickly rising cost accruing on the meter.
Unfortunately, the phone companies are devising attractive sounding plans where multiple members of a family can have their phone bills pooled within a single account. Usually, that means the bill is in Mum or Dad's name - and that seems a sure road to phone bill mayhem. It is like having the family finance in a pot on the table - with every member free to dip in as and when they choose. Life just doesn't work that way !
Unfortunately, the teenage mind is wired to what some call " the mob mentality ". Most forms of communication revolve around the mobile phone, even though the same communication can be achieved at a fraction of the cost - using the home computer. Download plans are much more generous and using Skype is free, but getting a teenager to think that way seems to be an impossible ask.
A lot of new mobile phones will pass into eager teenage hands this Christmas morning. Let us hope the right decisions have been made - and that the restrictions in place are the first step in the learning process of successfully managing money !
Monday 23 December 2013
Restoring " Knighthood " honours !
There is speculation that Australia may reinstate the former " Sir " and " Dame " honour system now that our cousins across the Tasman have adopted this practice. Many would see that as a step backward as these elevations are a reminder of a distant past age.
Gough Whitlam abolished Imperial honours in 1975 and replaced them with the distinctive " Companion of the Order of Australia " ( AC ). Malcolm Fraser reversed that decision when he came to power, and it was reversed again when Bob Hawke took office. Gaining an AC is now an honoured and distinctive Australian award for service.
It is suggested that to reinstate "Knighthoods" would be a simple rebadging of the AC. The sticking point is that to do so would seem to many to be returning to the Imperial awards system of another country. The retention of the Monarch as our head of state is under question and our links to "Mother England" are now tenuous.
It is worth remembering that when Australia undertook Federation it firmly decided not to award hereditary honours. There would be no Australian Earls, Dukes, Viscounts, Barons or titled folk whose progeny would inherit these ongoing titles. Ours was to be an egalitarian country whose people would earn their rewards by what they had achieved - rather than what a distant relative had performed for a long dead King.
The commencement of many of these English titles is decidedly " dodgy ". England suffered many civil wars in which usurpers strove to unseat the monarch. The gentry were forced to choose sides and those that supported the winning side were rewarded with titles - and usually the lands and riches of those that made the wrong choice. The fact that centuries later their heirs enjoy a life of luxury and privilege because of those titles does not fit the Australian mould.
New Zealand has retained much of the England touch. Until recently, their police still wore the traditional English " Bobby " helmets and their immigration policies favoured migrants from Britain as Australia welcomed those from the wider world. We are similar - but also dissimilar - and what may find acceptance in one country may not be so welcome in the other.
In keeping with the prestige that the AC has achieved in Australian recognition of excellence, it is unlikely that there will be much interest in returning to a former age. It seems that the AC will remain our highest honour.
Gough Whitlam abolished Imperial honours in 1975 and replaced them with the distinctive " Companion of the Order of Australia " ( AC ). Malcolm Fraser reversed that decision when he came to power, and it was reversed again when Bob Hawke took office. Gaining an AC is now an honoured and distinctive Australian award for service.
It is suggested that to reinstate "Knighthoods" would be a simple rebadging of the AC. The sticking point is that to do so would seem to many to be returning to the Imperial awards system of another country. The retention of the Monarch as our head of state is under question and our links to "Mother England" are now tenuous.
It is worth remembering that when Australia undertook Federation it firmly decided not to award hereditary honours. There would be no Australian Earls, Dukes, Viscounts, Barons or titled folk whose progeny would inherit these ongoing titles. Ours was to be an egalitarian country whose people would earn their rewards by what they had achieved - rather than what a distant relative had performed for a long dead King.
The commencement of many of these English titles is decidedly " dodgy ". England suffered many civil wars in which usurpers strove to unseat the monarch. The gentry were forced to choose sides and those that supported the winning side were rewarded with titles - and usually the lands and riches of those that made the wrong choice. The fact that centuries later their heirs enjoy a life of luxury and privilege because of those titles does not fit the Australian mould.
New Zealand has retained much of the England touch. Until recently, their police still wore the traditional English " Bobby " helmets and their immigration policies favoured migrants from Britain as Australia welcomed those from the wider world. We are similar - but also dissimilar - and what may find acceptance in one country may not be so welcome in the other.
In keeping with the prestige that the AC has achieved in Australian recognition of excellence, it is unlikely that there will be much interest in returning to a former age. It seems that the AC will remain our highest honour.
Sunday 22 December 2013
A coming disaster !
Many people will be overjoyed at a recent news report that claims the " age cycle " can be reversed. Scientists have developed a procedure that rejuvenated old rats to a much earlier stage of their life cycle, restoring their mobility and removing the ravages of age. It is hoped that further research may make this applicable to humans.
It sounds like the " Fountain of Youth " fable, but even if it were true, it would change the world as we know it and bring unintended consequences. The economic system in which we live is geared to the progression of humans through the various stages of life. We enter this world as babies and then begin a learning cycle that employs a vast number of people. As young adults we commence an earning career - and we usually pair off with a member of the opposite sex - and when this union produces babies - the cycle begins again. The coming of old age is natural attrition. The old die - making way for coming generations.
Just imagine the blockage if people stopped dieing. Instead of progressing through the job chain, the old merely became rejuvenated and slipped back to an earlier stage in the cycle. It would be a relentless increase in world population - and it would shut school leavers out from any hope of staking a claim in the work force. It would completely skew the world of economics - and it would pose a dire threat to the world food supply.
Worse - this " return to youth " would be selective. Producing the required drugs and treatment would be initially at least - very expensive and it would be hogged by the very wealthy of western countries. Of course, demand would be huge on a world wide basis, and as we know from our experience of the drug trade - when demand is insatiable, supply is not far behind, even if laws forbid it.
There would be no hope of stopping this procedure from becoming available to the masses. Organised crime would fund the supply and radical countries would profit from becoming the manufacturing source. No doubt world bodies would try and regain control. A limit on child bearing would be a natural option, but making that mandatory would be an entirely different matter.
Fortunately, disaster is not imminent. The success of moving promising experimental procedures from animals to humans is strewn with failure. We often hear of " medical breakthroughs in the treatment of various diseases - but each comes with the warning that application to humans is still many years into the future.
Immortality has long been a dream of the human race. If it ever happens, the reality might be far worse than our most vivid nightmare !
It sounds like the " Fountain of Youth " fable, but even if it were true, it would change the world as we know it and bring unintended consequences. The economic system in which we live is geared to the progression of humans through the various stages of life. We enter this world as babies and then begin a learning cycle that employs a vast number of people. As young adults we commence an earning career - and we usually pair off with a member of the opposite sex - and when this union produces babies - the cycle begins again. The coming of old age is natural attrition. The old die - making way for coming generations.
Just imagine the blockage if people stopped dieing. Instead of progressing through the job chain, the old merely became rejuvenated and slipped back to an earlier stage in the cycle. It would be a relentless increase in world population - and it would shut school leavers out from any hope of staking a claim in the work force. It would completely skew the world of economics - and it would pose a dire threat to the world food supply.
Worse - this " return to youth " would be selective. Producing the required drugs and treatment would be initially at least - very expensive and it would be hogged by the very wealthy of western countries. Of course, demand would be huge on a world wide basis, and as we know from our experience of the drug trade - when demand is insatiable, supply is not far behind, even if laws forbid it.
There would be no hope of stopping this procedure from becoming available to the masses. Organised crime would fund the supply and radical countries would profit from becoming the manufacturing source. No doubt world bodies would try and regain control. A limit on child bearing would be a natural option, but making that mandatory would be an entirely different matter.
Fortunately, disaster is not imminent. The success of moving promising experimental procedures from animals to humans is strewn with failure. We often hear of " medical breakthroughs in the treatment of various diseases - but each comes with the warning that application to humans is still many years into the future.
Immortality has long been a dream of the human race. If it ever happens, the reality might be far worse than our most vivid nightmare !
Saturday 21 December 2013
A timely warning !
The Kangaroo features on our national coat of arms and most Australians see them as harmless native animals. It comes as something of a shock to learn that a group of these marsupials attacked a thirteen year old girl jogging in a Hunter Valley national park, resulting in her needing treatment at hospital.
The presence of Kangaroos was common to those using the park for exercise and when this girl saw a group of three ahead of her she expected they would move off the trail - as was the usual experience. Instead, they held their ground and when she passed them they started to bare their teeth and make hissing noises.
Two attacked, hitting her legs with their massive hind feet and mauling and pulling her hair with their fore paws. Her screams attracted other park users and when help arrived the Kangaroos made a hasty departure.
This is an unusual - but not rare incident. Golfers sometimes find Kangaroos that are not prepared to let them use the putting surface. In this instance, the Eastern Greys involved saw this girl as intruding into their " space " - and acted accordingly.
Wild life experts think it likely that this attack can be attributed to the mating season. Male Kangaroos become aggressive when they are competing for the favour of females in the herd and this aggression can be carried over to anyone or anything that distracts them from the task in hand.
It is a timely warning to all people who come into contact with Kangaroos, whether it be on Golf courses or in rambles through the bush. They are formidable animals - in many cases much bigger than the average human - and they are equipped with formidable weapons. There is huge strength in those rear legs and they are quite capable of using their fore paws to hold a victim - and rake the body to the point of disembowelment with their sharp toes.
This jogger was lucky. The attack was brief - and mild. People encountering Kangaroos would be wise to carefully read the signs of attitude these animals present to the world. If they move out of the way well before the approach, all is well. But if they stand their ground - or show signs of displeasure - those are clear warning signs that should not be disregarded.
The presence of Kangaroos was common to those using the park for exercise and when this girl saw a group of three ahead of her she expected they would move off the trail - as was the usual experience. Instead, they held their ground and when she passed them they started to bare their teeth and make hissing noises.
Two attacked, hitting her legs with their massive hind feet and mauling and pulling her hair with their fore paws. Her screams attracted other park users and when help arrived the Kangaroos made a hasty departure.
This is an unusual - but not rare incident. Golfers sometimes find Kangaroos that are not prepared to let them use the putting surface. In this instance, the Eastern Greys involved saw this girl as intruding into their " space " - and acted accordingly.
Wild life experts think it likely that this attack can be attributed to the mating season. Male Kangaroos become aggressive when they are competing for the favour of females in the herd and this aggression can be carried over to anyone or anything that distracts them from the task in hand.
It is a timely warning to all people who come into contact with Kangaroos, whether it be on Golf courses or in rambles through the bush. They are formidable animals - in many cases much bigger than the average human - and they are equipped with formidable weapons. There is huge strength in those rear legs and they are quite capable of using their fore paws to hold a victim - and rake the body to the point of disembowelment with their sharp toes.
This jogger was lucky. The attack was brief - and mild. People encountering Kangaroos would be wise to carefully read the signs of attitude these animals present to the world. If they move out of the way well before the approach, all is well. But if they stand their ground - or show signs of displeasure - those are clear warning signs that should not be disregarded.
Thursday 19 December 2013
A sporting disaster !
The " Witch hunt " that is swirling around in both the AFL and League is completely out of control. There is a distinct possibility that the final outcome will be the destruction of both Essendon football club in Melbourne and the Cronulla Sharks in Sydney.
It all started when the Australian Crime Commission ( ACC ) released a lurid news story that it was investigating a scandal in both AFL and League that involved drug taking and that very shortly action would be forthcoming against individuals. They refused to name either clubs or players, but hinted that some people would probably serve jail time.
The ACC then ducked for cover and flick passed the matter to ASADA. The rumour mills ran rife, but ASADA took it's own sweet time carrying out an investigation - and many months later - draconian penalties are being suggested that may see illustrious sporting teams fade into oblivion.
This whole matter has been blown out of proportion. It all revolves around the desire of individual clubs in both codes to gain a competitive " edge " that will propel them to the top of their sport. At that stage, what could be described as a " sports technician " entered the scene with the promise of using science to enhance the ability of individuals by using " development regimes " to fine tune their abilities.
This evolved into the application of a newly developed substance called " Peptides ", which at that time was on the borderline of legality, and that's where the mystery deepens. It is suggested that the players were unaware of what they were persuaded to use and that the revelations between coaches and sports administrators was " murky ". Who knew what - and what was agreed is still a matter of contention. It was suggested many clubs were involved, but the focus was maintained on just Essendon and Cronulla.
The rulings are now clear. Peptide use is legally out, but a question mark hangs over the era in question and both AFL and League are taking a hard line approach. It has been suggested that Cronulla may be banished from the Sydney league and sent to the backblocks of Queensland, and Essendon's future is under a similar cloud. Fines that run into millions of dollars are being touted.
Does it make any sense to annihilate two leading sporting clubs and reduce the competition over what could at best be described as " an unfortunate mistake " by club management ? This matter has been blown out of all proportion and it now looks like the baby is being thrown out with the bath water.
Time that the administration of both codes took a deep breath and regained their sanity. These penalties are way out of kilter with the supposed " crime " !
It all started when the Australian Crime Commission ( ACC ) released a lurid news story that it was investigating a scandal in both AFL and League that involved drug taking and that very shortly action would be forthcoming against individuals. They refused to name either clubs or players, but hinted that some people would probably serve jail time.
The ACC then ducked for cover and flick passed the matter to ASADA. The rumour mills ran rife, but ASADA took it's own sweet time carrying out an investigation - and many months later - draconian penalties are being suggested that may see illustrious sporting teams fade into oblivion.
This whole matter has been blown out of proportion. It all revolves around the desire of individual clubs in both codes to gain a competitive " edge " that will propel them to the top of their sport. At that stage, what could be described as a " sports technician " entered the scene with the promise of using science to enhance the ability of individuals by using " development regimes " to fine tune their abilities.
This evolved into the application of a newly developed substance called " Peptides ", which at that time was on the borderline of legality, and that's where the mystery deepens. It is suggested that the players were unaware of what they were persuaded to use and that the revelations between coaches and sports administrators was " murky ". Who knew what - and what was agreed is still a matter of contention. It was suggested many clubs were involved, but the focus was maintained on just Essendon and Cronulla.
The rulings are now clear. Peptide use is legally out, but a question mark hangs over the era in question and both AFL and League are taking a hard line approach. It has been suggested that Cronulla may be banished from the Sydney league and sent to the backblocks of Queensland, and Essendon's future is under a similar cloud. Fines that run into millions of dollars are being touted.
Does it make any sense to annihilate two leading sporting clubs and reduce the competition over what could at best be described as " an unfortunate mistake " by club management ? This matter has been blown out of all proportion and it now looks like the baby is being thrown out with the bath water.
Time that the administration of both codes took a deep breath and regained their sanity. These penalties are way out of kilter with the supposed " crime " !
Wednesday 18 December 2013
It's Over !
The last Australian combat troops are now withdrawn from the war in Afghanistan. Lasting twelve years, this was our longest war and statistical analysis is impressive. Twenty-six thousand Australians served in Afghanistan and we suffered forty deaths and two hundred and sixty wounded - and the war cost our Treasury seven billion dollars.
Every death was a tragedy, but better equipment and better training now pays dividends. In the first world war in 1916 the battle of the Somne cost the allies five thousand dead in the first morning of the offensive. Today's soldiers wear body armour and medical evacuation saves lives. Four hundred Australian military personnel still stand in harms way in Afghanistan, but their role now is a training and advisory function to help the Afghan National Army { ANA ) retain the peace.
The future of Afghanistan now rests in the hands of the Afghan people. They had first hand experience of the brutal rule of the Taliban and most were happy to see them vanquished. Deep tribal rivalries still remain and government corruption is endemic. One of the greatest achievements of the war was to bring education into the grasp of Afghan's children - specially having girls attend school for the first time in that country's history. Banishing ignorance is the first step in drawing Afghanistan into a modern world.
Has our involvement been worthwhile ? Different people will have different conclusions, but the final outcome will not be known until the dust settles. Afghanistan has the misfortune to be a pawn in a number of rivalries between countries - and between religious elements. The enmity between Sh'ia and Sunni is largely a part of the car bombings and atrocities that leave a daily death toll of civilians and both India and Pakistan live permanently on the cusp of war.
Perhaps the aftermath of Vietnam could be a pointer to Afghanistan's future. While the Vietnam war ended with a victory for North Vietnam, the country did not erect an iron curtain, nor did reprisals against the vanquished last long. Vietnam morphed into a authoritarian society much like it's giant neighbour - China, but with doors open to trade and a quickly softening of civil liberties. The " boat people " who fled repression and settled in Australia now freely travel back and forth to their old country for holidays and business deals.
The Afghan war could be said to have been "inconclusive ". It was neither a victory - or a defeat. The tools are now in the hands of the Afghans to choose their own destiny.
Every death was a tragedy, but better equipment and better training now pays dividends. In the first world war in 1916 the battle of the Somne cost the allies five thousand dead in the first morning of the offensive. Today's soldiers wear body armour and medical evacuation saves lives. Four hundred Australian military personnel still stand in harms way in Afghanistan, but their role now is a training and advisory function to help the Afghan National Army { ANA ) retain the peace.
The future of Afghanistan now rests in the hands of the Afghan people. They had first hand experience of the brutal rule of the Taliban and most were happy to see them vanquished. Deep tribal rivalries still remain and government corruption is endemic. One of the greatest achievements of the war was to bring education into the grasp of Afghan's children - specially having girls attend school for the first time in that country's history. Banishing ignorance is the first step in drawing Afghanistan into a modern world.
Has our involvement been worthwhile ? Different people will have different conclusions, but the final outcome will not be known until the dust settles. Afghanistan has the misfortune to be a pawn in a number of rivalries between countries - and between religious elements. The enmity between Sh'ia and Sunni is largely a part of the car bombings and atrocities that leave a daily death toll of civilians and both India and Pakistan live permanently on the cusp of war.
Perhaps the aftermath of Vietnam could be a pointer to Afghanistan's future. While the Vietnam war ended with a victory for North Vietnam, the country did not erect an iron curtain, nor did reprisals against the vanquished last long. Vietnam morphed into a authoritarian society much like it's giant neighbour - China, but with doors open to trade and a quickly softening of civil liberties. The " boat people " who fled repression and settled in Australia now freely travel back and forth to their old country for holidays and business deals.
The Afghan war could be said to have been "inconclusive ". It was neither a victory - or a defeat. The tools are now in the hands of the Afghans to choose their own destiny.
Tuesday 17 December 2013
Sport - and Technology !
When television first arrived in Australia way back in 1956, viewing sport on the " Idiot Box " was a very predictable experience. The decision of the umpire was paramount. When that finger was raised in an Ashes test - the batsman headed back to the pavilion. When the umpire in the high chair at the tennis ruled a ball in or out - that was the end of the matter.
No so today. Every ball bowled at the cricket is carefully re-examined by a slow motion replay and infra-red technology highlights even the slightest impact with bat or pad. A third umpire somewhere watching a screen in the back of the stand - makes the final decision, but not before there is a replay of the bowlers foot action - to decide whether the delivery was legal.
A similar situation exists at the tennis. Technology exists to give the precise spot in which a ball lands and this appears on the screen for all to see. This same technology is threatening to be applied to soccer after a number of absolute howlers - where goals have been disallowed after they have clearly crossed the line.
There is a mixed reaction from the public. Most people favour a fair result, but this constant re-examination does slow the game and even with technology there are still some decisions that leave a doubt in viewers minds. Of course the fallability of umpires is subject to partisan questioning, but in the long run the balance of errors probably is about even.
It seems inevitable that in the years ahead the use of technology to determine sports issues will increase. The man or woman on the field - or in the chair - will become irrelevant because the actual decision will be made by a computer. One of the factors bringing this closer is the issue of sports betting.
Every sport is now available to punters to lodge a bet with the various betting agencies and as a consequence, even minor decisions result in the exchange of big money. It is not only possible to bet on the result of a game, bets can be placed on incidents during the run of play in respect of when and how they might occur. This opens up a wide field of corruption to create winning combinations.
Sport has come a long way from the days when players were " amateurs " who played for glory rather than money. Those selected to play in national teams today are instantly " celebrities " and earn money that compares with Hollywood stars and the top crop of musicians.
When huge pots of money are riding on what are otherwise very minor decisions on the sporting field, the power of decision no longer rests with the human mind. We now live in the age of technology !
No so today. Every ball bowled at the cricket is carefully re-examined by a slow motion replay and infra-red technology highlights even the slightest impact with bat or pad. A third umpire somewhere watching a screen in the back of the stand - makes the final decision, but not before there is a replay of the bowlers foot action - to decide whether the delivery was legal.
A similar situation exists at the tennis. Technology exists to give the precise spot in which a ball lands and this appears on the screen for all to see. This same technology is threatening to be applied to soccer after a number of absolute howlers - where goals have been disallowed after they have clearly crossed the line.
There is a mixed reaction from the public. Most people favour a fair result, but this constant re-examination does slow the game and even with technology there are still some decisions that leave a doubt in viewers minds. Of course the fallability of umpires is subject to partisan questioning, but in the long run the balance of errors probably is about even.
It seems inevitable that in the years ahead the use of technology to determine sports issues will increase. The man or woman on the field - or in the chair - will become irrelevant because the actual decision will be made by a computer. One of the factors bringing this closer is the issue of sports betting.
Every sport is now available to punters to lodge a bet with the various betting agencies and as a consequence, even minor decisions result in the exchange of big money. It is not only possible to bet on the result of a game, bets can be placed on incidents during the run of play in respect of when and how they might occur. This opens up a wide field of corruption to create winning combinations.
Sport has come a long way from the days when players were " amateurs " who played for glory rather than money. Those selected to play in national teams today are instantly " celebrities " and earn money that compares with Hollywood stars and the top crop of musicians.
When huge pots of money are riding on what are otherwise very minor decisions on the sporting field, the power of decision no longer rests with the human mind. We now live in the age of technology !
Monday 16 December 2013
Our growing " Alcohol " problem !
It is almost impossible to ignore the mayhem that is taking place on our streets because of the abuse of alcohol. The morning paper delivers a litany of bad news stories. People are regularly carted off to hospital and placed in a coma because of drunken fighting. The television cameras record men and women engaging in wild melees when " grog palaces " finally empty out in the wee small hours of the morning. Attacks on police are common - and there is a growing list of those who lost their lives because of excess alcohol consumption.
One of the problems is that this is encouraging a growing culture of specifically drinking to get drunk. A custom is emerging where revellers " tank up " before going on the town by consuming copious amounts of alcohol before they even arrive at the pub or nightclub. The end result is total loss of control when more alcohol is consumed - leading to the scenarios that head the news bulletins.
None of this is new. It has been a problem of the night street scene for years, but it is turning into a frenzy that is beyond the ability of the police to control. Taking the measures to bring it under control rests in the political arena - and so far the politicians on both sides of the political divide have backed away from doing what is necessary.
Basically, this is a power struggle between the government and the alcohol industry and it's scores of venues. Big money is involved - and with that comes a great amount of leverage to influence political decisions. The industry is quite capable of mounting a high profile advertising campaign to influence voters against any government that displeases it - and it is a source of big donations to the political coffers of individual politicians. It has great influence to make sure that legislation is slanted to it's benefit.
It will take a brave government to do what needs to be done. Drink limitations and " lock out " provisions have been effective where they have applied, but their universal application has been ignored. The great alcohol companies and the venues that distribute that product will howl like banshees if the government applies an iron fist approach and reduces opening times and makes proprietors responsible for allowing drunken patrons to reach that stage of insobriety. The only measure that will force their compliance - is cancellation of the right to sell liquor for a period of time for continued breaches of the law.
Curbing legislation will be branded a " Wowser " approach, but the vast majority of people know that the present mayhem can not continue, and many despair that when their young people have a night out they are going into deadly danger. The night scene is not for the fain hearted - and that knock on the door to say that a loved one is in a police cell -or in the ICU of the local hospital - is a dread that many parents share.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with a convivial drink of alcohol - taken in reasonable moderation. The problem is that the more a patron can be induced to drink, the greater the profit for the venue that provides that alcohol, hence the provider has a motive to promote excess drinking.
We need a law change to restore the balance. The right to make a profit from selling alcohol requires a corresponding obligation to impose sobriety limits on customers. The only way this can be achieved is by implementing a control measure that withdraws the license necessary for making that profit if that duty is breached. The server must say " No " to a customer nearing the limit of sobriety.
Its a big ask - but solving this problem is a matter of whether the politicians have the intestinal fortitude to do what is necessary !
One of the problems is that this is encouraging a growing culture of specifically drinking to get drunk. A custom is emerging where revellers " tank up " before going on the town by consuming copious amounts of alcohol before they even arrive at the pub or nightclub. The end result is total loss of control when more alcohol is consumed - leading to the scenarios that head the news bulletins.
None of this is new. It has been a problem of the night street scene for years, but it is turning into a frenzy that is beyond the ability of the police to control. Taking the measures to bring it under control rests in the political arena - and so far the politicians on both sides of the political divide have backed away from doing what is necessary.
Basically, this is a power struggle between the government and the alcohol industry and it's scores of venues. Big money is involved - and with that comes a great amount of leverage to influence political decisions. The industry is quite capable of mounting a high profile advertising campaign to influence voters against any government that displeases it - and it is a source of big donations to the political coffers of individual politicians. It has great influence to make sure that legislation is slanted to it's benefit.
It will take a brave government to do what needs to be done. Drink limitations and " lock out " provisions have been effective where they have applied, but their universal application has been ignored. The great alcohol companies and the venues that distribute that product will howl like banshees if the government applies an iron fist approach and reduces opening times and makes proprietors responsible for allowing drunken patrons to reach that stage of insobriety. The only measure that will force their compliance - is cancellation of the right to sell liquor for a period of time for continued breaches of the law.
Curbing legislation will be branded a " Wowser " approach, but the vast majority of people know that the present mayhem can not continue, and many despair that when their young people have a night out they are going into deadly danger. The night scene is not for the fain hearted - and that knock on the door to say that a loved one is in a police cell -or in the ICU of the local hospital - is a dread that many parents share.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with a convivial drink of alcohol - taken in reasonable moderation. The problem is that the more a patron can be induced to drink, the greater the profit for the venue that provides that alcohol, hence the provider has a motive to promote excess drinking.
We need a law change to restore the balance. The right to make a profit from selling alcohol requires a corresponding obligation to impose sobriety limits on customers. The only way this can be achieved is by implementing a control measure that withdraws the license necessary for making that profit if that duty is breached. The server must say " No " to a customer nearing the limit of sobriety.
Its a big ask - but solving this problem is a matter of whether the politicians have the intestinal fortitude to do what is necessary !
Sunday 15 December 2013
A predictable outcome.
On the night of March 18, 2012 a 21 year old Brazilian student did something that resulted in him losing his life. He took a LSD tablet and this hallucinatory drug took control of his mind, resulting in him running wildly into a late night convenience store, crashing over the counter and running off with a stolen packet of biscuits.
The store owner reported this incident and it was incorrectly notified to police patrolling in the inner city as an " armed robbery ". This resulted in eleven police officers becoming involved in chasing the mentally deranged student through the streets. In efforts to subdue him, he was Tasered fourteen times and subjected to multiple doses of capsicum spray, hit with a baton and eventually handcuffed. The actual medical cause of his death is presumed to be attributed to the trauma of these actions.
The Police Integrity Commission ( PIC ) held an enquiry into the incident and produced an unsatisfactory finding. As a result of further enquiries, it has been announced that the four most junior police involved in this incident will face charges. Two will be charged with " assault occasioning actual bodily harm " and the other two with "common assault ". No charges are laid against any supervising police.
This is heading up into becoming a battle between the power of the police force and critics who claim that police run roughtshod over the laws that protect the public when it comes to applying the law. A man died in what should have been a simple arrest and the evidence presented by way of covering TV cameras was so compelling that at least a token form of atonement is necessary.
There is a high degree of predictability in how this is developing. Eleven police took part in this incident, but just four of the lowest ranked face charges - and those charges are at the very low end of the punishment scale. The four are still on duty, although their right to carry Taser guns has been withdrawn.
No doubt the Police law wing will swing into action and defend the charged officers and senior police will use their political power to tone all of this down. They will probably reluctantly agree to an adverse finding, provided the offending officers get a mere slap on the wrist - and the matter is consigned to the history books.
The police have - and use - their considerable political muscle to hold whatever government is in office to ransom. Any form of disciplining brings the subtle threat of this vital arm of government biting it's master. The police have their hand on the tiller of one of the government's most important income streams. The threat of issuing warnings in place of fines sends the Treasury into fits of fear - and there is always the ultimate weapon - the possibility of a police strike.
Expect this prosecution to proceed along predictable lines - with an outcome that surprises no one !
The store owner reported this incident and it was incorrectly notified to police patrolling in the inner city as an " armed robbery ". This resulted in eleven police officers becoming involved in chasing the mentally deranged student through the streets. In efforts to subdue him, he was Tasered fourteen times and subjected to multiple doses of capsicum spray, hit with a baton and eventually handcuffed. The actual medical cause of his death is presumed to be attributed to the trauma of these actions.
The Police Integrity Commission ( PIC ) held an enquiry into the incident and produced an unsatisfactory finding. As a result of further enquiries, it has been announced that the four most junior police involved in this incident will face charges. Two will be charged with " assault occasioning actual bodily harm " and the other two with "common assault ". No charges are laid against any supervising police.
This is heading up into becoming a battle between the power of the police force and critics who claim that police run roughtshod over the laws that protect the public when it comes to applying the law. A man died in what should have been a simple arrest and the evidence presented by way of covering TV cameras was so compelling that at least a token form of atonement is necessary.
There is a high degree of predictability in how this is developing. Eleven police took part in this incident, but just four of the lowest ranked face charges - and those charges are at the very low end of the punishment scale. The four are still on duty, although their right to carry Taser guns has been withdrawn.
No doubt the Police law wing will swing into action and defend the charged officers and senior police will use their political power to tone all of this down. They will probably reluctantly agree to an adverse finding, provided the offending officers get a mere slap on the wrist - and the matter is consigned to the history books.
The police have - and use - their considerable political muscle to hold whatever government is in office to ransom. Any form of disciplining brings the subtle threat of this vital arm of government biting it's master. The police have their hand on the tiller of one of the government's most important income streams. The threat of issuing warnings in place of fines sends the Treasury into fits of fear - and there is always the ultimate weapon - the possibility of a police strike.
Expect this prosecution to proceed along predictable lines - with an outcome that surprises no one !
Saturday 14 December 2013
Behind the scenes !
The full glare of the nation's media have been concentrated on the coming Holden plant closure in Australia, but behind the scenes another such announcement virtually passed without comment. Breakfast cereal manufacturer Kellogs will close it's central coast Charmhaven plant in 2014 and transfer operations to Thailand. This closure will result in the loss of a hundred jobs.
It seems that the death of Australian manufacturing is by way of a thousand cuts rather than any one huge amputation. Unfortunately, sentiment has no place in the decision making process. If a rival can present a competitive product cheaper because of lower manufacturing costs then it is likely that an Australian made brand will suffer a sales decrease. Remaining competitive is the prime essential that resides on the shoulders of management.
Some choose another course to keep that bottom line healthy. It seems that the ACCC is investigating a case of forming a cartel to stifle competitive pricing and extract an extra $ 146 million from retail customers.
Unilever, Cussons and Colgate Palmolive have confessed to fixing the price of washing powders in connivance with a major retail chain. The three met together and agreed to a mutual change in the formulation of the powders they produced which should have resulted in savings passed on to retail buyers.
They entered into a " Gentlemen's agreement " not to change the price structure or advertise the fact that the composition had changed, thus maintaining the former retail prices and increasing their profit margin - something that is illegal under Australian law.
It is quite possible that the forming of this cartel will be defended on the grounds that it was an alternative to moving production offshore. It could be argued that rigging the retail price is preferable to entering into a price of manufacturing fight which would involve labour costs - as this would be detrimental to maintaining production in Australia.
The wage structure comparison is not the entire picture. The issue of productivity is the influencing factor that allows some high wage countries to compete effectively in the world market - and in this regard Germany comes to mind.
Australia has an intelligent, well educated work force quite capable of multi tasking. It is hampered by working law restrictions and union opposition to change that prevents this reaching it's potential. We urgently need to reassess the way we do things. This is the twenty-first century and it can not abide by work practices that evolved back in the twentieth century - and in some cases - a century before that !
It is not a case of lowering wages. It certainly is a case of increasing productivity by doing away with unnecessary restrictions and opening opportunities for workers to use their skills to maximum effect. This slow job erosion will continue until we face reality and tune our workforce to the world we live in !
It seems that the death of Australian manufacturing is by way of a thousand cuts rather than any one huge amputation. Unfortunately, sentiment has no place in the decision making process. If a rival can present a competitive product cheaper because of lower manufacturing costs then it is likely that an Australian made brand will suffer a sales decrease. Remaining competitive is the prime essential that resides on the shoulders of management.
Some choose another course to keep that bottom line healthy. It seems that the ACCC is investigating a case of forming a cartel to stifle competitive pricing and extract an extra $ 146 million from retail customers.
Unilever, Cussons and Colgate Palmolive have confessed to fixing the price of washing powders in connivance with a major retail chain. The three met together and agreed to a mutual change in the formulation of the powders they produced which should have resulted in savings passed on to retail buyers.
They entered into a " Gentlemen's agreement " not to change the price structure or advertise the fact that the composition had changed, thus maintaining the former retail prices and increasing their profit margin - something that is illegal under Australian law.
It is quite possible that the forming of this cartel will be defended on the grounds that it was an alternative to moving production offshore. It could be argued that rigging the retail price is preferable to entering into a price of manufacturing fight which would involve labour costs - as this would be detrimental to maintaining production in Australia.
The wage structure comparison is not the entire picture. The issue of productivity is the influencing factor that allows some high wage countries to compete effectively in the world market - and in this regard Germany comes to mind.
Australia has an intelligent, well educated work force quite capable of multi tasking. It is hampered by working law restrictions and union opposition to change that prevents this reaching it's potential. We urgently need to reassess the way we do things. This is the twenty-first century and it can not abide by work practices that evolved back in the twentieth century - and in some cases - a century before that !
It is not a case of lowering wages. It certainly is a case of increasing productivity by doing away with unnecessary restrictions and opening opportunities for workers to use their skills to maximum effect. This slow job erosion will continue until we face reality and tune our workforce to the world we live in !
Friday 13 December 2013
Reality check !
The news that General Motors will close it's Holden factories and quit Australia in 2017 should come as no surprise. The " Perfect Storm " that caused that decision - a high Australian dollar - an advanced economy wage structure - and a small domestic market - have been brewing on the horizon for years.
Ford is switching the lights off in 2016 and it now seems an inevitable certainty that Toyota will eventually follow. Car manufacturing has had an unhappy history in Australia. Mitsubishi quit in 2008, Nissan closed down in 1992 - and most people have forgotten that Leyland P-76 plant closure in Sydney way back in 1974.
The big car manufacturing companies have started to rationalise their operations. For some time they have relied on government subsidies to remain in countries with unfavourable trading conditions, and these Australian closures are just part of world restructuring. Car plants are closing in several countries because the subsidy demand was becoming rapaciously excessive.
The Australian GM closure will shed 2,900 jobs directly in Adelaide and Melbourne, but the real damage will occur in the hundreds of subsidiary manufacturers who supply the parts that go into creating a motor vehicle. The final outcome there is unknown at this stage, but there are at least 28,000 jobs involved.
The loss of Ford and then Holden will have a scaling down of production runs by these manufacturers because Toyota will be the last car customer standing. This loss of "economy of scale " means certain component price increases. What they manufacture will be the " spare parts " of existing cars for years to come.
We are stepping into the unknown. It seems certain that some of these parts manufacturers will close their doors. Others will shed staff and survive because car parts were only part of their inventory - while others will diversify and find new markets by reinventing themselves and what they produce.
It seems certain that these plant closures will bring an upward blip in the unemployment statistics but to keep plants open by an ever increasing drain on public funds by using ever increasing subsidies to " buy jobs " was an impossible policy.
It is not all " doom and gloom ". It is certainly a challenge to be a " clever country " and absorb these job losses by changing direction and creating a new demand. That old axiom that when one door closes - another door opens usually takes bright and inventive minds to bring to reality.
That is the challenge that now faces Australia !
Ford is switching the lights off in 2016 and it now seems an inevitable certainty that Toyota will eventually follow. Car manufacturing has had an unhappy history in Australia. Mitsubishi quit in 2008, Nissan closed down in 1992 - and most people have forgotten that Leyland P-76 plant closure in Sydney way back in 1974.
The big car manufacturing companies have started to rationalise their operations. For some time they have relied on government subsidies to remain in countries with unfavourable trading conditions, and these Australian closures are just part of world restructuring. Car plants are closing in several countries because the subsidy demand was becoming rapaciously excessive.
The Australian GM closure will shed 2,900 jobs directly in Adelaide and Melbourne, but the real damage will occur in the hundreds of subsidiary manufacturers who supply the parts that go into creating a motor vehicle. The final outcome there is unknown at this stage, but there are at least 28,000 jobs involved.
The loss of Ford and then Holden will have a scaling down of production runs by these manufacturers because Toyota will be the last car customer standing. This loss of "economy of scale " means certain component price increases. What they manufacture will be the " spare parts " of existing cars for years to come.
We are stepping into the unknown. It seems certain that some of these parts manufacturers will close their doors. Others will shed staff and survive because car parts were only part of their inventory - while others will diversify and find new markets by reinventing themselves and what they produce.
It seems certain that these plant closures will bring an upward blip in the unemployment statistics but to keep plants open by an ever increasing drain on public funds by using ever increasing subsidies to " buy jobs " was an impossible policy.
It is not all " doom and gloom ". It is certainly a challenge to be a " clever country " and absorb these job losses by changing direction and creating a new demand. That old axiom that when one door closes - another door opens usually takes bright and inventive minds to bring to reality.
That is the challenge that now faces Australia !
Thursday 12 December 2013
The " UFC " menace !
New South Wales police commissioner Andrew Scipione has every right to be concerned at the growing link between the " Ultimate Fighting Championship " ( UFC ) craze sweeping the USA - and the surge in random street attacks taking place in Sydney.
The UFC is a televised " sport " that is drawing an ever growing audience. It is a no holds barred contest in which the fighters are contained in a cage - and it is definitely a blood sport. No external weapons are allowed, but the contestants can punch, kick, head butt - there is simply no limit to the tactics that can be used. As a consequence, those who seek blood and gore are treated to a spectacle that would not be out of place in the Coliseum of ancient Rome.
There are strong suspicions that UFC is influencing street behaviour here in Sydney. There is a growing " Hoon " culture of competition to deliver a blow to a totally unsuspecting stranger that renders them unconscious. Often, this is recorded by a mate using a mobile phone and it it later transferred to social media to confer bragging rights on the victor.
It might be remembered that on the night Thomas Kelly was killed in Kings Cross, his assailant attacked four random victims on the basis of a need to " bash someone ". We are now seeing groups of young men affected by alcohol turning their night out into a challenge to determine who can mount the most spectacular attack event.
As in the case with Thomas Kelly, the actual blow did not kill. The fact that the victim fell and hit his head on the pavement caused brain damage that was fatal, and as a consequence - the thug faced a charge of manslaughter rather than murder.
The police have reason to be worried by this growing fad. It is quickly becoming a crime of opportunity and the victims range from the young to the very old, both men and women. The assailants are totally indifferent to the damage they may cause - and usually alcohol is involved.
Kings Cross is covered with cctv cameras but there is a danger that this crime - and it is a crime - will move to the suburbs. If it becomes fashionable to compete for attention on social media there is every chance that the victims can be people walking their dog, putting out the trash or simply having the misfortune to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
It will be a sad day if the streets of this great city become a no-go area after sunset. Perhaps the television networks should consider withdrawing air time to habit forming events such as UFC !
The UFC is a televised " sport " that is drawing an ever growing audience. It is a no holds barred contest in which the fighters are contained in a cage - and it is definitely a blood sport. No external weapons are allowed, but the contestants can punch, kick, head butt - there is simply no limit to the tactics that can be used. As a consequence, those who seek blood and gore are treated to a spectacle that would not be out of place in the Coliseum of ancient Rome.
There are strong suspicions that UFC is influencing street behaviour here in Sydney. There is a growing " Hoon " culture of competition to deliver a blow to a totally unsuspecting stranger that renders them unconscious. Often, this is recorded by a mate using a mobile phone and it it later transferred to social media to confer bragging rights on the victor.
It might be remembered that on the night Thomas Kelly was killed in Kings Cross, his assailant attacked four random victims on the basis of a need to " bash someone ". We are now seeing groups of young men affected by alcohol turning their night out into a challenge to determine who can mount the most spectacular attack event.
As in the case with Thomas Kelly, the actual blow did not kill. The fact that the victim fell and hit his head on the pavement caused brain damage that was fatal, and as a consequence - the thug faced a charge of manslaughter rather than murder.
The police have reason to be worried by this growing fad. It is quickly becoming a crime of opportunity and the victims range from the young to the very old, both men and women. The assailants are totally indifferent to the damage they may cause - and usually alcohol is involved.
Kings Cross is covered with cctv cameras but there is a danger that this crime - and it is a crime - will move to the suburbs. If it becomes fashionable to compete for attention on social media there is every chance that the victims can be people walking their dog, putting out the trash or simply having the misfortune to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
It will be a sad day if the streets of this great city become a no-go area after sunset. Perhaps the television networks should consider withdrawing air time to habit forming events such as UFC !
Wednesday 11 December 2013
The " Compensation " epidemic !
It seems that our courts are a soft touch when it comes to the compensation epidemic that is sweeping Australia. Huge sums seem to be awarded on the flimsiest evidence that somehow the complainant has suffered because of someone else's negligence.
A bus driver has just been awarded $ 500,000 because he claims he suffered " nervous shock " when he was tasked with attending a mock " massacre " scenario at the Australian Defence Forces remote Marrangaroo training facility.
To be effective, training exercises need to be as realistic as possible. This one was intended to train medics on dealing with mass injuries suffered on the battlefield and it was composed of actors skillfully posed to display serious wounds. The scene was also littered with animal body parts to create realism - and mass blood loss was depicted using gallons of tomato sauce.
The bus driver was employed by the civilian contractor providing bus and other services to the training facility - and it is claimed that he was forewarned that this was a mock training exercise. Despite this, he now claims that he suffered permanent damage because of the nervous shock induced by the scene.
The court accepted this claim and ruled that the ADF had breached it's " Duty of Care " - and was therefore responsible for paying compensation.
No wonder we are a country with financial problems. Both the government and industry are hemorrhaging money because of this rush to litigation. It seems to be compounded by the legal industry and the " No win - No fee " inducement they are offering. That seems to bring memories of the " Ambulance chaser " tag that once was applied to the profession.
Now the airline industry is threatened with a mass action by cabin staff who claim that there is a link between spraying insecticide throughout arriving aircraft to kill any bugs that might have hitched a ride - and Parkinson's disease.
The Department of Health claims that this follows World Health Organization guidelines and poses no risk, but many people remember the long running asbestos saga. There have been incidents of Parkinson's disease suffered by airline cabin staff, but whether this exceeds the national average remains an unanswered question.
If such a link is found, those affected certainly deserve compensation, but it is disturbing to see the courts clogged with very doubtful claims - and even more disturbing that those sitting in judgement seem increasingly inclined to hand out big sums on money on scant proof of negligence.
In many people's minds - winning a big payout is good reason to go to court !
A bus driver has just been awarded $ 500,000 because he claims he suffered " nervous shock " when he was tasked with attending a mock " massacre " scenario at the Australian Defence Forces remote Marrangaroo training facility.
To be effective, training exercises need to be as realistic as possible. This one was intended to train medics on dealing with mass injuries suffered on the battlefield and it was composed of actors skillfully posed to display serious wounds. The scene was also littered with animal body parts to create realism - and mass blood loss was depicted using gallons of tomato sauce.
The bus driver was employed by the civilian contractor providing bus and other services to the training facility - and it is claimed that he was forewarned that this was a mock training exercise. Despite this, he now claims that he suffered permanent damage because of the nervous shock induced by the scene.
The court accepted this claim and ruled that the ADF had breached it's " Duty of Care " - and was therefore responsible for paying compensation.
No wonder we are a country with financial problems. Both the government and industry are hemorrhaging money because of this rush to litigation. It seems to be compounded by the legal industry and the " No win - No fee " inducement they are offering. That seems to bring memories of the " Ambulance chaser " tag that once was applied to the profession.
Now the airline industry is threatened with a mass action by cabin staff who claim that there is a link between spraying insecticide throughout arriving aircraft to kill any bugs that might have hitched a ride - and Parkinson's disease.
The Department of Health claims that this follows World Health Organization guidelines and poses no risk, but many people remember the long running asbestos saga. There have been incidents of Parkinson's disease suffered by airline cabin staff, but whether this exceeds the national average remains an unanswered question.
If such a link is found, those affected certainly deserve compensation, but it is disturbing to see the courts clogged with very doubtful claims - and even more disturbing that those sitting in judgement seem increasingly inclined to hand out big sums on money on scant proof of negligence.
In many people's minds - winning a big payout is good reason to go to court !
Tuesday 10 December 2013
Making punishment fit the crime !
In the past, there was a serious flaw in the procedure to discipline those who committed serious driving offences. Either the police handed out an on the spot fine, or the offender faced court and the magistrate handed out a heavier fine - and sometimes a driving license disqualification for a nominated period of time.
In many cases the fine went unpaid and judging by the number of cases of people driving unlicensed, many offenders simply thumbed their nose at the license disqualification. The weakness in that degree of punishment - was the fact that they kept their cars and could continue driving regardless.
All that changed in New South Wales from July last. The police have new powers to call for a tow truck and impound the vehicle of a serious driving offender, or they have the option of removing the number plates.
So far,123 vehicles have been sent to the car holding yard for a three month impoundment, and 513 sets of number plates have been seized. Impounded cars are charged a hefty" holding fee " while they are in the police yard and this must be paid up-front before they will be released at the expiration.
Owners of cars with seized number plates are forced to comply with the registration procedure for any vehicle that first must be inspected and deemed legally roadworthy - and that can be very expensive. It requires a detailed mechanical inspection, and any faults need correction before a certificate of compliance is issued. That is time consuming - and in itself acts as a form of punishment.
Both these forms of punishment apply to those exceeding the speed limit by 45 kph or more, instigating a police pursuit by failing to stop when directed - or engaging in such " Hoon " behaviour as doing burnouts or illegal street racing.
The changed impetus from merely issuing a fine - to confiscating their means of transport - is starting to hit home. A fine was previously regarded as a " nuisance " , but vehicle loss carries the matter to another dimension. It introduces a " fear factor " that definitely changes driver behaviour.
This is a law change that seems likely to have a cumulative effect. Seeing a mate suffer the agony that goes with losing a cherished car for a long period of time will certainly bring the issue home to many drivers prone to reckless driving.
Now it is a case of the penalty fitting the crime !
In many cases the fine went unpaid and judging by the number of cases of people driving unlicensed, many offenders simply thumbed their nose at the license disqualification. The weakness in that degree of punishment - was the fact that they kept their cars and could continue driving regardless.
All that changed in New South Wales from July last. The police have new powers to call for a tow truck and impound the vehicle of a serious driving offender, or they have the option of removing the number plates.
So far,123 vehicles have been sent to the car holding yard for a three month impoundment, and 513 sets of number plates have been seized. Impounded cars are charged a hefty" holding fee " while they are in the police yard and this must be paid up-front before they will be released at the expiration.
Owners of cars with seized number plates are forced to comply with the registration procedure for any vehicle that first must be inspected and deemed legally roadworthy - and that can be very expensive. It requires a detailed mechanical inspection, and any faults need correction before a certificate of compliance is issued. That is time consuming - and in itself acts as a form of punishment.
Both these forms of punishment apply to those exceeding the speed limit by 45 kph or more, instigating a police pursuit by failing to stop when directed - or engaging in such " Hoon " behaviour as doing burnouts or illegal street racing.
The changed impetus from merely issuing a fine - to confiscating their means of transport - is starting to hit home. A fine was previously regarded as a " nuisance " , but vehicle loss carries the matter to another dimension. It introduces a " fear factor " that definitely changes driver behaviour.
This is a law change that seems likely to have a cumulative effect. Seeing a mate suffer the agony that goes with losing a cherished car for a long period of time will certainly bring the issue home to many drivers prone to reckless driving.
Now it is a case of the penalty fitting the crime !
Monday 9 December 2013
Medical Insurance !
Many Australian women are being denied a safe termination of their pregnancy because their doctor declines to write a script for the drug RU486. It seems that the main provider of medical insurance in this country requires the same level of cover if RU486 is prescribed as applies to providers of surgical abortion procedures. In most cases, this elevates the annual insurance premium by a further $ 5,000.
Strangely, this impost does not apply to the " Morning After "pill. The difference is that this needs to be taken within a short time frame of having unprotected sex, while RU486 will deliver a miscarriage up to forty-nine days after conception occurs.
It seems that the insurers are leery about after effects and the possibility of ongoing litigation. This has not been an eventuality, but the insurers have decided to err on the safe side and apply this restriction. There is a vast difference in the risks involved between merely popping a pill - and undergoing anaesthesia and invasive surgery.
RU486 was recently added to the PBS and now costs just $12. This insurance requirement is more easily overcome in a big city because of the vast number of medical services that will allow a woman a larger choice of providers, but the situation is very different in country areas.
Many rural towns are served by a single general practicioner who may be called upon for RU486 scripts only rarely. The cost of paying that insurance premium is not economical and this causes his or her patient to undergo the expense and trauma of travelling to a far distant destination to get relief that should be available locally.
The fact that RU486 involves the controversial subject of abortion clouds the issue. Misuse of any drug can create medical problems but to single out a single item on the PBS schedule suggests that political or religious issues may be involved in this insurance requirement.
The fact that it is delivering different outcomes to Australians based on their postcodes is unacceptable - and needs urgent resolution !
Strangely, this impost does not apply to the " Morning After "pill. The difference is that this needs to be taken within a short time frame of having unprotected sex, while RU486 will deliver a miscarriage up to forty-nine days after conception occurs.
It seems that the insurers are leery about after effects and the possibility of ongoing litigation. This has not been an eventuality, but the insurers have decided to err on the safe side and apply this restriction. There is a vast difference in the risks involved between merely popping a pill - and undergoing anaesthesia and invasive surgery.
RU486 was recently added to the PBS and now costs just $12. This insurance requirement is more easily overcome in a big city because of the vast number of medical services that will allow a woman a larger choice of providers, but the situation is very different in country areas.
Many rural towns are served by a single general practicioner who may be called upon for RU486 scripts only rarely. The cost of paying that insurance premium is not economical and this causes his or her patient to undergo the expense and trauma of travelling to a far distant destination to get relief that should be available locally.
The fact that RU486 involves the controversial subject of abortion clouds the issue. Misuse of any drug can create medical problems but to single out a single item on the PBS schedule suggests that political or religious issues may be involved in this insurance requirement.
The fact that it is delivering different outcomes to Australians based on their postcodes is unacceptable - and needs urgent resolution !
Sunday 8 December 2013
Pest control threat.
The start of summer seems to figure prominently in the life cycle of many household bugs. It is a time when we are likely to notice signs of a Cockroach infestation, and many lesser bugs start crawling out of the woodwork. Most people find this repulsive - but handled the wrong way - protection measures can be deadly to more than just the bugs.
Some people have a pest exterminator regularly spray their home with appropriate chemicals and this is the safest way to solve the problem, but it is expensive. A " Do it yourself " method is promoted in television advertising and on products found on supermarket shelves that seems to offer a low cost answer.
The " Roach bomb " is a can containing pesticide which the householder is instructed to place on the floor of the room to be treated - and activate by pressing the operating button. The pressure propellant causes the nozzle to emit a fine spray which hopefully penetrates to where the insects - and their eggs - receive a fatal dose.
The problem seems to be that many householders adopt this method too enthusiastically - and use two or three Roach bombs in the same room - on the principle that " more is better " ! The contents of a single can usually allows the volume of the hydro-carbon propellant to mix with the air at a safe level, but when several cans are used simultaneously they combine to reach an explosive level.
In the past month, Sydney has seen two units in apartment blocks blown apart by Roach bomb explosions. Doors and windows have been blown out and bricks and fittings strewn across nearby streets - and the damage bill has run to thousands of dollars. Fortunately, the residents escaped serious injury.
All it takes is for an electrical fault to provide the point of ignition and this rich combination of hydro-carbon and air can detonate in a massive explosion. That is sometimes traced to a faulty water heater or stove, and even the cyclical nature of a refrigerator motor can provide the spark that sets off a disaster.
The user instructions on the can urge users to switch off the electricity supply while these bombs are activated, but it is a well known fact that many people neither read the instructions - or pay them any heed.
Used carefully, they deliver results with safety, but used to excess and they can introduce a munitions grade explosive weapon to the family home. They need to be treated with the same care we would give to a hand grenade !
Some people have a pest exterminator regularly spray their home with appropriate chemicals and this is the safest way to solve the problem, but it is expensive. A " Do it yourself " method is promoted in television advertising and on products found on supermarket shelves that seems to offer a low cost answer.
The " Roach bomb " is a can containing pesticide which the householder is instructed to place on the floor of the room to be treated - and activate by pressing the operating button. The pressure propellant causes the nozzle to emit a fine spray which hopefully penetrates to where the insects - and their eggs - receive a fatal dose.
The problem seems to be that many householders adopt this method too enthusiastically - and use two or three Roach bombs in the same room - on the principle that " more is better " ! The contents of a single can usually allows the volume of the hydro-carbon propellant to mix with the air at a safe level, but when several cans are used simultaneously they combine to reach an explosive level.
In the past month, Sydney has seen two units in apartment blocks blown apart by Roach bomb explosions. Doors and windows have been blown out and bricks and fittings strewn across nearby streets - and the damage bill has run to thousands of dollars. Fortunately, the residents escaped serious injury.
All it takes is for an electrical fault to provide the point of ignition and this rich combination of hydro-carbon and air can detonate in a massive explosion. That is sometimes traced to a faulty water heater or stove, and even the cyclical nature of a refrigerator motor can provide the spark that sets off a disaster.
The user instructions on the can urge users to switch off the electricity supply while these bombs are activated, but it is a well known fact that many people neither read the instructions - or pay them any heed.
Used carefully, they deliver results with safety, but used to excess and they can introduce a munitions grade explosive weapon to the family home. They need to be treated with the same care we would give to a hand grenade !
Saturday 7 December 2013
Saving Qantas !
Qantas is hemorrhaging money ! It is in deep trouble and the prospect of closing it's doors is a possibility. It will post a three hundred million dollar loss for the past six months of trading and a thousand more jobs will be shed as it attempts to prune back two billion dollars in overhead expenses.
Most Australians would see the loss of Qantas as a blow to our national pride. It is one of the oldest airlines in the world and it has an extraordinary safety record. That red and white Kangaroo logo on the tail was something we viewed with pride when " our " airline carried us to foreign airports.
Vast changes have occurred to the aviation industry from the days when the Australian government was a key player. Canberra restricted Qantas to flying overseas routes - and strictly limited the number of competitors who could use our air space. Domestic passengers had the choice of Ansett - or the totally Federally owned and operated - TAA. Qantas was a government instrumentality and the government maintained strict control of both internal and external traffic to make sure the Australian airline industry was profitable.
Unfortunately, there was a down side - and we air travellers complained bitterly. We had some of the highest seat prices in the world, both internally and externally, and those prices were never changing when it came to opening up this country to tourism. Flight schedules followed the same dreary duopoly of timing and we became way out of kilter with the competitive new era of air travel in other parts of the world.
Australia finally opted for an " open skies " policy but it seems that this puts Qantas at a distinct disadvantage. Qantas is now a " for profit " airline owned by the public who bought it's shares on the Australian stock exchange. It is competing with competitors who are either fully or partially owned by their sponsor governments - and who do not answer to shareholders who demand a return on their money.
To survive, Qantas will need to be brought under at least partial government protection. That may take the form of guaranteeing it's debts - thus allowing it to borrow at a cheaper rate of interest because of that security, or the Federal government needs to become a major shareholder in the airline, and either means that operating costs receive a subsidy to make them competitive.
We simply can not have the cheap prices presently offering and the opportunities that competition delivers with an open skies policy - and keep a shareholder owned national airline running profitably against that sort of competition.
The Qantas structure is out of kilter with the way the airline industry has developed in recent times. We either face reality and make the necessary investment - or see Qantas follow so many other national airlines into oblivion !
Most Australians would see the loss of Qantas as a blow to our national pride. It is one of the oldest airlines in the world and it has an extraordinary safety record. That red and white Kangaroo logo on the tail was something we viewed with pride when " our " airline carried us to foreign airports.
Vast changes have occurred to the aviation industry from the days when the Australian government was a key player. Canberra restricted Qantas to flying overseas routes - and strictly limited the number of competitors who could use our air space. Domestic passengers had the choice of Ansett - or the totally Federally owned and operated - TAA. Qantas was a government instrumentality and the government maintained strict control of both internal and external traffic to make sure the Australian airline industry was profitable.
Unfortunately, there was a down side - and we air travellers complained bitterly. We had some of the highest seat prices in the world, both internally and externally, and those prices were never changing when it came to opening up this country to tourism. Flight schedules followed the same dreary duopoly of timing and we became way out of kilter with the competitive new era of air travel in other parts of the world.
Australia finally opted for an " open skies " policy but it seems that this puts Qantas at a distinct disadvantage. Qantas is now a " for profit " airline owned by the public who bought it's shares on the Australian stock exchange. It is competing with competitors who are either fully or partially owned by their sponsor governments - and who do not answer to shareholders who demand a return on their money.
To survive, Qantas will need to be brought under at least partial government protection. That may take the form of guaranteeing it's debts - thus allowing it to borrow at a cheaper rate of interest because of that security, or the Federal government needs to become a major shareholder in the airline, and either means that operating costs receive a subsidy to make them competitive.
We simply can not have the cheap prices presently offering and the opportunities that competition delivers with an open skies policy - and keep a shareholder owned national airline running profitably against that sort of competition.
The Qantas structure is out of kilter with the way the airline industry has developed in recent times. We either face reality and make the necessary investment - or see Qantas follow so many other national airlines into oblivion !
Friday 6 December 2013
Welcome to the " Real World " !
Many people will be aghast at the revelation that Australia's ASIS bugged the meeting room of the East Timor team negotiating a sharing agreement to divvy up the oil and gas wealth in the Timor sea, dividing the two countries. East Timor is now taking the matter to court in the Hague, hoping to have the agreement torn up because it was negotiated under " unfair advantage ".
The world of " spying " - as some would call it - and " information gathering " as others insist is the appropriate definition - has hit the news since Wikileaks started publishing stolen state secrets and convinced others to join in the " revelation " game. Edward Snowden's contribution has put the cat amongst the pigeons in several world capitols.
Welcome to the " Real World ". Every country on this planet has a secret organization tasked with ferreting out trade secrets, discovering the hidden agenda of neighbouring countries and keeping track of subversive elements merged with the civilian population. The methods they use do not always mesh with the law and their country's network of embassies and trade missions provide useful cover.
Some may think it was unsporting to bug the East Timor delegation because their little country was a friend of Australia and it had just emerged from years of Indonesian occupation. They were certainly naive not to have their meeting room swept for bugs, but when a treasure of $ 40 billion is involved, that old maxim of " Nice guys come last " applies.
Now we have a new scandal. ASIO has raided the office of Bernard Collaery, the lawyer engaged by East Timor to present it's case in the Hague. Documents seized may reveal the legal tactics to be used in his presentation and this seems to intrude on the legal privilege accorded to opposing lawyers. The Australian government claims that " National security matters " are involved.
It seems that Collaery got his information from an ex-ASIS officer who carried out the bugging and who will probably be called to testify in the International court. If so, this person is in breach of the State Secrecy laws he signed when he worked for ASIS - and the breach could see him spend the rest of his life in prison. Australia has a right to find his identity - and bring him to account.
The work involved in what is loosely termed " Security matters " is both messy and devious and takes no prisoners. We spy on others - both friends and foes - and they spy on us.
It will be much harder to keep the lid on leaks now that a pattern of " informing " has emerged and as a consequence there will be constant friction between states. In most cases, the accuser is using exactly the same tactics !
The world of " spying " - as some would call it - and " information gathering " as others insist is the appropriate definition - has hit the news since Wikileaks started publishing stolen state secrets and convinced others to join in the " revelation " game. Edward Snowden's contribution has put the cat amongst the pigeons in several world capitols.
Welcome to the " Real World ". Every country on this planet has a secret organization tasked with ferreting out trade secrets, discovering the hidden agenda of neighbouring countries and keeping track of subversive elements merged with the civilian population. The methods they use do not always mesh with the law and their country's network of embassies and trade missions provide useful cover.
Some may think it was unsporting to bug the East Timor delegation because their little country was a friend of Australia and it had just emerged from years of Indonesian occupation. They were certainly naive not to have their meeting room swept for bugs, but when a treasure of $ 40 billion is involved, that old maxim of " Nice guys come last " applies.
Now we have a new scandal. ASIO has raided the office of Bernard Collaery, the lawyer engaged by East Timor to present it's case in the Hague. Documents seized may reveal the legal tactics to be used in his presentation and this seems to intrude on the legal privilege accorded to opposing lawyers. The Australian government claims that " National security matters " are involved.
It seems that Collaery got his information from an ex-ASIS officer who carried out the bugging and who will probably be called to testify in the International court. If so, this person is in breach of the State Secrecy laws he signed when he worked for ASIS - and the breach could see him spend the rest of his life in prison. Australia has a right to find his identity - and bring him to account.
The work involved in what is loosely termed " Security matters " is both messy and devious and takes no prisoners. We spy on others - both friends and foes - and they spy on us.
It will be much harder to keep the lid on leaks now that a pattern of " informing " has emerged and as a consequence there will be constant friction between states. In most cases, the accuser is using exactly the same tactics !
Thursday 5 December 2013
A failing schools report !
The Program for International Students Assessment ( PISA ) report released in Paris makes dismal reading for the Australian education system. It seems that Australia dropped another half year behind the common average between 2003-2012.
Four out of ten of our kids flunked baseline mathematics and one in three flunked reading and science. In particular, Asian kids are simply running rings around our kids when it comes to comparing educational levels.
This adds to the alarm bells that have been ringing here for years. The Gonski report had a long, hard look at our school system and this resulted in an upgrade implementation plan that will cost billions. Spending that money will be a waste unless we change the attitude we apply to education - and that means a rethink for the kids, their parents - and the teaching profession.
Australian schooling seems to be a very casual affair. The hours are certainly not long and there is ample time out of the classroom playing sport - or in many cases - scheduled for sport that does not happen. At least one half day a week becomes " free time " without purpose.
New arrivals in this country are much more dedicated in trying to get their children educated than most Australian parents. Too many parents expect that the end of the education years will result in their child " getting a job " rather than " having a career ". The work field is narrowing and entry to many professions is now impossible without at least basic tertiary qualifications. Kids that do not think and plan ahead are destined to spend their working lives at the bottom of the earnings totem pole.
The teaching profession has not made a major change in decades. For many, it is simply " a job " - with little incentive to strive for excellence. A better than average teacher who can motivate students gets exactly the same pay as a drone who simply " puts in the time ". The main criteria for promotion - is still length of service. Seniority counts more than ability - and this shows when pupil comparisons come into play.
If we are to be " the clever country " we will need to lift our game and raise educational standards to at least match those of our neighbours. The danger is that all this new money being thrown at education will be syphoned off by impractical " social standards " enthusiasts who seek objectives that have little to do with actual teaching results.
What we really need is parents to take a real interest in the education of their children and encourage them to obtain results, and a revamp of the teaching profession to reward those that achieve and cull out the misfits. That will not be comfortable for many - and it will probably offend many political sensibilities, but it is a requirement for achieving a world standard in education.
If the right choices are made in implementing Gonski - education could become the " Gold standard " !
Four out of ten of our kids flunked baseline mathematics and one in three flunked reading and science. In particular, Asian kids are simply running rings around our kids when it comes to comparing educational levels.
This adds to the alarm bells that have been ringing here for years. The Gonski report had a long, hard look at our school system and this resulted in an upgrade implementation plan that will cost billions. Spending that money will be a waste unless we change the attitude we apply to education - and that means a rethink for the kids, their parents - and the teaching profession.
Australian schooling seems to be a very casual affair. The hours are certainly not long and there is ample time out of the classroom playing sport - or in many cases - scheduled for sport that does not happen. At least one half day a week becomes " free time " without purpose.
New arrivals in this country are much more dedicated in trying to get their children educated than most Australian parents. Too many parents expect that the end of the education years will result in their child " getting a job " rather than " having a career ". The work field is narrowing and entry to many professions is now impossible without at least basic tertiary qualifications. Kids that do not think and plan ahead are destined to spend their working lives at the bottom of the earnings totem pole.
The teaching profession has not made a major change in decades. For many, it is simply " a job " - with little incentive to strive for excellence. A better than average teacher who can motivate students gets exactly the same pay as a drone who simply " puts in the time ". The main criteria for promotion - is still length of service. Seniority counts more than ability - and this shows when pupil comparisons come into play.
If we are to be " the clever country " we will need to lift our game and raise educational standards to at least match those of our neighbours. The danger is that all this new money being thrown at education will be syphoned off by impractical " social standards " enthusiasts who seek objectives that have little to do with actual teaching results.
What we really need is parents to take a real interest in the education of their children and encourage them to obtain results, and a revamp of the teaching profession to reward those that achieve and cull out the misfits. That will not be comfortable for many - and it will probably offend many political sensibilities, but it is a requirement for achieving a world standard in education.
If the right choices are made in implementing Gonski - education could become the " Gold standard " !
Wednesday 4 December 2013
Staged car crashes !
Insurance rorts involving cars have been with us since the automobile was invented. The problem is that with older cars the insurance coverage is usually greater than the vehicle is actually worth, providing an incentive for the owner to cause it's destruction and claim the money.
Police and insurance company investigators have uncovered a novel scam that has taken car fraud up-market. It seems that a Maserati Quattroporte had the misfortune to be involved in eight separate accidents in eleven months - and each time it was the other vehicle that was at fault. Consequently, the company insuring those other vehicles received claims for $ 260,000 of damage.
The investigation discovered that a similar fate had befallen another Maserati and a Mercedes SLK. These high value vehicles had totted up eighteen claims in twelve months - and sustained an incredible half a million dollars damage.
The investigation examined the " law of probabilities " - and found it wanting ! It seems that these three high priced vehicles were owned by the same man - and he was also the owner of the smash repair business to which they had been taken for repair.
There have been arrests and it seems likely that most or all of these supposed " crashes " were fictional. The offending cars that supposedly caused the damage were carefully covered by insurance held by a range of insurance companies and those presenting their claim were part of the scam. The trigger point that caused this racket to come undone - was sheer greed. The perpetrators went to the money well too often !
In recent years car insurance has become an ultra competitive business. A large number of insurance companies are advertising heavily for new business and low premiums seem to be the main inducement. Some even claim to beat any other quote - and offer the enquirer a bonus of a hundred dollars if they fail.
It is obvious that fraudulent claims must have an impact on the cost of car insurance.
In past years, careful drivers were rewarded with what was termed a " No claim bonus ". A hefty discount applied to annual premiums for those who managed to avoid making claims and that seems to be missing from today's advertising offers. Insurance companies still reward those with a crash free history but we don't seem to hear much about no claim bonuses when they are seeking broad spectrum new customers.
Insurance always was - and always will be - a trap for the unwary. The wise will examine the policy offer line by line, and take the trouble to understand exactly what is meant by the terminology used. A cheap price is no bargain - if it fails to cover the full spectrum of eventualities we expect !
Police and insurance company investigators have uncovered a novel scam that has taken car fraud up-market. It seems that a Maserati Quattroporte had the misfortune to be involved in eight separate accidents in eleven months - and each time it was the other vehicle that was at fault. Consequently, the company insuring those other vehicles received claims for $ 260,000 of damage.
The investigation discovered that a similar fate had befallen another Maserati and a Mercedes SLK. These high value vehicles had totted up eighteen claims in twelve months - and sustained an incredible half a million dollars damage.
The investigation examined the " law of probabilities " - and found it wanting ! It seems that these three high priced vehicles were owned by the same man - and he was also the owner of the smash repair business to which they had been taken for repair.
There have been arrests and it seems likely that most or all of these supposed " crashes " were fictional. The offending cars that supposedly caused the damage were carefully covered by insurance held by a range of insurance companies and those presenting their claim were part of the scam. The trigger point that caused this racket to come undone - was sheer greed. The perpetrators went to the money well too often !
In recent years car insurance has become an ultra competitive business. A large number of insurance companies are advertising heavily for new business and low premiums seem to be the main inducement. Some even claim to beat any other quote - and offer the enquirer a bonus of a hundred dollars if they fail.
It is obvious that fraudulent claims must have an impact on the cost of car insurance.
In past years, careful drivers were rewarded with what was termed a " No claim bonus ". A hefty discount applied to annual premiums for those who managed to avoid making claims and that seems to be missing from today's advertising offers. Insurance companies still reward those with a crash free history but we don't seem to hear much about no claim bonuses when they are seeking broad spectrum new customers.
Insurance always was - and always will be - a trap for the unwary. The wise will examine the policy offer line by line, and take the trouble to understand exactly what is meant by the terminology used. A cheap price is no bargain - if it fails to cover the full spectrum of eventualities we expect !
Tuesday 3 December 2013
Blank screen day.
It is estimated that there are still 100,000 old analog TV's in use in Sydney - and today those screens will go blank. Today is the day of the digital switchover and consequently the old analog transmitters will cease to broadcast.
In the vast majority of cases, those old television sets will not be the main entertainment medium in the family home. Some will have been relegated to a child's bedroom while others will serve various secondary purposes, but it is inevitable that for some they will still be the sole means of receiving television services.
Expect bewilderment from some older people who will be totally unaware of this change, and expect demand to increase on charities and op-shops from those seeking a replacement. It is also inevitable that there will be a blip in sales as replacements occur.
Television has come a long way from those dreary days when city viewers had the choice of three commercial channels and the ABC. Most country viewers were served by a single commercial channel and the ABC - and broadcasting started at 10 am and closed at 10-30 in the evening.
Today - city and country both have the choice of not only the main networks but their affiliate second string channels, plus both the ABC and SBS in a multi channel format. Most of these broadcast on a twenty-four hour basis. The choice of free to air entertainment is huge.
At the same time, the advent of flat screen television sets has seen prices drop sharply from their introduction. The bigger the screen, the higher the price, but for those satisfied with a relatively small screen the cost is now negligible.
The change from analog to digital delivered a better, sharper picture to viewers with the HD format. It also delivered a bonanza to the government. Freeing up those analog frequencies will bring in a further $ 2 billion to government coffers as they are resold to industrial users.
As the door closes on the old television era, expect to see a sharp increase in old television sets sitting at the kerbside. Today, that seems to be the favourite disposal method for technology that has outlived it's use by date.
In the vast majority of cases, those old television sets will not be the main entertainment medium in the family home. Some will have been relegated to a child's bedroom while others will serve various secondary purposes, but it is inevitable that for some they will still be the sole means of receiving television services.
Expect bewilderment from some older people who will be totally unaware of this change, and expect demand to increase on charities and op-shops from those seeking a replacement. It is also inevitable that there will be a blip in sales as replacements occur.
Television has come a long way from those dreary days when city viewers had the choice of three commercial channels and the ABC. Most country viewers were served by a single commercial channel and the ABC - and broadcasting started at 10 am and closed at 10-30 in the evening.
Today - city and country both have the choice of not only the main networks but their affiliate second string channels, plus both the ABC and SBS in a multi channel format. Most of these broadcast on a twenty-four hour basis. The choice of free to air entertainment is huge.
At the same time, the advent of flat screen television sets has seen prices drop sharply from their introduction. The bigger the screen, the higher the price, but for those satisfied with a relatively small screen the cost is now negligible.
The change from analog to digital delivered a better, sharper picture to viewers with the HD format. It also delivered a bonanza to the government. Freeing up those analog frequencies will bring in a further $ 2 billion to government coffers as they are resold to industrial users.
As the door closes on the old television era, expect to see a sharp increase in old television sets sitting at the kerbside. Today, that seems to be the favourite disposal method for technology that has outlived it's use by date.
Monday 2 December 2013
The ever evolving " Bank " !
Remember the days when every suburb had a bank branch - and Australia had more than just the " Big Four " offering banking services ? Some may remember rather ruefully the con the banks pulled on their customers when they declared that " they had better things to do with their money " than owning the real estate for their premises. They sold the branches to very willing investors - who thought they were getting a reliable tenant for life. Then came the era of the ATM and the banks closed thousands of branches right across Australia and replaced the network with a cluster of branches in a single location - usually many suburbs apart.
Change is in the air again. It seems that even those clusters of branches are nearing their use by date. Many are in suburban shopping centres where rents are high and the banks are eyeing off cheaper premises on the fringe of shopping districts.
The ATM is little changed since the days of it's introduction, and we are about to see the " Super ATM ". Each of these new machines will cost it's owners much more than a million dollars, but it will be capable of accepting and counting coin, and accepting major deposits on a 24/7 basis. It will open the way for small business owners to be able to bank their takings without the need for a teller to accept the money - and the banks envisage that their new branches will resemble a retail lounge with several of these new machines to serve customers needs.
The way of banking business is rapidly changing and Internet banking has reduced customer dependency on bank branches. We are moving further into the machine age and it will be interesting to see what security measures will be built into these new ATM machines. The banks must have high security expectations to even think of letting an unattended machine receive and hold cash deposits that can run into very serious money.
Once again, the banks will move in lockstep. This is not a case of a single bank leading the way. Banking is " moving evolution " and just as the first ATM's arrived on the scene sporting the logos of each of the big four, so this new innovation will be an industry wide movement.
Get used to dealing with a machine rather than with a person, because that is the way banking is heading. The fact that a big Chinese government owned bank is suggesting that it may begin operations in Australia is an indication that the cosy banking arrangements that are in place at present may face change. That will depend on how the Federal government chooses to either open or defend this country's banking laws !
Change is in the air again. It seems that even those clusters of branches are nearing their use by date. Many are in suburban shopping centres where rents are high and the banks are eyeing off cheaper premises on the fringe of shopping districts.
The ATM is little changed since the days of it's introduction, and we are about to see the " Super ATM ". Each of these new machines will cost it's owners much more than a million dollars, but it will be capable of accepting and counting coin, and accepting major deposits on a 24/7 basis. It will open the way for small business owners to be able to bank their takings without the need for a teller to accept the money - and the banks envisage that their new branches will resemble a retail lounge with several of these new machines to serve customers needs.
The way of banking business is rapidly changing and Internet banking has reduced customer dependency on bank branches. We are moving further into the machine age and it will be interesting to see what security measures will be built into these new ATM machines. The banks must have high security expectations to even think of letting an unattended machine receive and hold cash deposits that can run into very serious money.
Once again, the banks will move in lockstep. This is not a case of a single bank leading the way. Banking is " moving evolution " and just as the first ATM's arrived on the scene sporting the logos of each of the big four, so this new innovation will be an industry wide movement.
Get used to dealing with a machine rather than with a person, because that is the way banking is heading. The fact that a big Chinese government owned bank is suggesting that it may begin operations in Australia is an indication that the cosy banking arrangements that are in place at present may face change. That will depend on how the Federal government chooses to either open or defend this country's banking laws !
Sunday 1 December 2013
National pride !
A mixed reaction to the decision by Treasurer Joe Hockey to nix the takeover of Graincorp by American agricultural giant Archer Daniel Midlands ( ADM ). Commercial interests - and Graincorp itself - see it as a retrograde step that will deprive Australia of a huge injection of money to expand and modernise our agricultural industry. Farmers mostly see it as keeping the Australian contribution to the world grain market free of foreign control.
Both sides of the argument have valid points. Australia would certainly gain if the " economy of scale " principle increased our grain harvest, and that would require more agricultural land to be developed and brought into production. ADM has the deep pockets to make that happen. The proceeds of the sale of Graincorp would represent a massive injection of funds to compliment ADM's expertise and create market expansion.
The fly in the ointment is the loss of local control. The pundits assure us we are looking at a world that is rapidly moving beyond the capacity of the food supply and the future holds the spectre of world famine. Grain is one of the basic foodfstuffs of this world and countries like Australia will be critical in using it's immense agricultural space in meeting that demand. It irks many people to think that control of that world commodity could be made in the board room of a foreign country.
We can probably have the best of both worlds - if takeover evolves into a shared financial interest. Few farmers would object if ADM became a shareholder in Graincorp - provided that holding did not exceed forty-nine percent. That would be a matter of retaining local control of any industry that the nation sees as critical to it's sovereign interest - and which would be protected by legislation.
Australians are sensitive to acquisitions of brand names we claim to be national icons. Names like Vegemite and Arnotts biscuits moving into foreign hands provoked a storm of protest. It should be a matter of national pride that we have developed products that have moved onto the world stage by nature of their pinnacle of success.
Relinquishing control of an entire manufacturing industry goes a long way further than the ownership of a mere product brand and what happens in the world market place has a bearing on how this nation earns it's income. Making sure that our grain harvest remains under Australian control was the right decision !
Both sides of the argument have valid points. Australia would certainly gain if the " economy of scale " principle increased our grain harvest, and that would require more agricultural land to be developed and brought into production. ADM has the deep pockets to make that happen. The proceeds of the sale of Graincorp would represent a massive injection of funds to compliment ADM's expertise and create market expansion.
The fly in the ointment is the loss of local control. The pundits assure us we are looking at a world that is rapidly moving beyond the capacity of the food supply and the future holds the spectre of world famine. Grain is one of the basic foodfstuffs of this world and countries like Australia will be critical in using it's immense agricultural space in meeting that demand. It irks many people to think that control of that world commodity could be made in the board room of a foreign country.
We can probably have the best of both worlds - if takeover evolves into a shared financial interest. Few farmers would object if ADM became a shareholder in Graincorp - provided that holding did not exceed forty-nine percent. That would be a matter of retaining local control of any industry that the nation sees as critical to it's sovereign interest - and which would be protected by legislation.
Australians are sensitive to acquisitions of brand names we claim to be national icons. Names like Vegemite and Arnotts biscuits moving into foreign hands provoked a storm of protest. It should be a matter of national pride that we have developed products that have moved onto the world stage by nature of their pinnacle of success.
Relinquishing control of an entire manufacturing industry goes a long way further than the ownership of a mere product brand and what happens in the world market place has a bearing on how this nation earns it's income. Making sure that our grain harvest remains under Australian control was the right decision !
Saturday 30 November 2013
The rise of the " Freeport " !
For centuries the tax cheats of the world had a willing accomplice in the Swiss banking system. The secrecy surrounding those numbered bank accounts was legendary. Gradually, pressure is forcing more disclosures and the tax man is closing in relentlessly.
The tax avoidance industry is fighting back and we are now seeing the emergence of the" Freeport " industry in various cities of the world. This is based on what used to be called " Bond stores ". The Bond store was a tax free area where goods could be stored until their final destination was decided - at which time any tax or excise was then payable.
What was held within a Bond store was deemed " goods in transit " and in some cases in the days of sail it was simply waiting trans-shipment until the arrival of a ship which would convey it to another part of the world. It was also handy to hold goods in bond until cheques cleared or a buyer could be found. There was no time limit on how long contents could remain in that " in transit " stage.
Tax dodging has taken a new form. Freeports are now used to store art, antiquities, rare wine or items that may increase in value. They resemble a fortress in their mode of construction because they need to offer an incredible standard of fire protection and burglary security. Rates charged range from about a $ 1000 per annum for the storage of a medium sized painting, to somewhere between $ 5,000 - $ 12,000 for the space of a small room. Some Freeports mirror the facilities of banks, with storage boxes to hold cash or gold bars.
One of the benefits of Freeports is that the wealthy of the world may quietly trade their treasures amongst themselves. In many cases, this simply involves the item being transferred from the holding area of one owner - to the holding area of the buyer. That is reminiscent of the days of the Gold Standard, in which countries settled their trade debts by transferring gold bars within a central gold storage area.
The other change from the past is the location of Freeports. Traditionally, they were sited in sea ports to handle the merchandise carried by ships, but today are more likely to be in close proximity to a major airport. The trend started with Geneva, Singapore and Luxembourg, but it is rapidly growing and taking trade away from remote tax havens like the Cayman islands - and becoming an adjunct to the big cities of the world.
Once again the tax avoidance industry and the tax man face each other across the Chess board as they make move - and counter move. As one door closes - another door opens. Inevitably, all this is reliant on the legislation in place to confer legality - and that will become the real battleground !
The tax avoidance industry is fighting back and we are now seeing the emergence of the" Freeport " industry in various cities of the world. This is based on what used to be called " Bond stores ". The Bond store was a tax free area where goods could be stored until their final destination was decided - at which time any tax or excise was then payable.
What was held within a Bond store was deemed " goods in transit " and in some cases in the days of sail it was simply waiting trans-shipment until the arrival of a ship which would convey it to another part of the world. It was also handy to hold goods in bond until cheques cleared or a buyer could be found. There was no time limit on how long contents could remain in that " in transit " stage.
Tax dodging has taken a new form. Freeports are now used to store art, antiquities, rare wine or items that may increase in value. They resemble a fortress in their mode of construction because they need to offer an incredible standard of fire protection and burglary security. Rates charged range from about a $ 1000 per annum for the storage of a medium sized painting, to somewhere between $ 5,000 - $ 12,000 for the space of a small room. Some Freeports mirror the facilities of banks, with storage boxes to hold cash or gold bars.
One of the benefits of Freeports is that the wealthy of the world may quietly trade their treasures amongst themselves. In many cases, this simply involves the item being transferred from the holding area of one owner - to the holding area of the buyer. That is reminiscent of the days of the Gold Standard, in which countries settled their trade debts by transferring gold bars within a central gold storage area.
The other change from the past is the location of Freeports. Traditionally, they were sited in sea ports to handle the merchandise carried by ships, but today are more likely to be in close proximity to a major airport. The trend started with Geneva, Singapore and Luxembourg, but it is rapidly growing and taking trade away from remote tax havens like the Cayman islands - and becoming an adjunct to the big cities of the world.
Once again the tax avoidance industry and the tax man face each other across the Chess board as they make move - and counter move. As one door closes - another door opens. Inevitably, all this is reliant on the legislation in place to confer legality - and that will become the real battleground !
Friday 29 November 2013
Suppression orders !
This week a man charged with murdering his fiancee by throwing her to her death from a high rise balcony was found guilty by a judge. What was unusual about this case was that the accused elected to be tried before a judge rather than face the verdict of a jury.
It is the custom of our law system to suppress any record of previous criminal activity from being presented to the court hearing the evidence relating to the crime for which the accused is charged. The trial procedure requires those involved to only consider the facts relating to the charge laid and in most cases the accused presents his or her version of the events - and this requires those sitting in judgement to make a decision as to whether they accept or reject that version.
It seems ironic that such a judgement is kept entirely devoid of the character history of the accused when they assess the conflict between what the accused claims to be the facts, and the evidence that the prosecution puts forward.
Now that a verdict has been delivered, the media is free to publish what was suppressed at the trial, and we learn that this convicted person once bit the ear of an arresting police officer, has engaged in selling cocaine and was previously convicted of brutally attacking a man held defenceless by others. He led a lavish lifestyle and this was not supported by any form of fiscal record.
This case was a decision between two issues. The prosecution claimed that in a fit or rage the accused carried the victim to the rail and threw her to her death. He claimed she climbed over the rail, slipped and fell to her death by accident. There was evidence of violent arguments between the pair and that he had a " controlling personality " . His fiancee was in the process of leaving the relationship and returning to Canada.
The issue of suppressing earlier criminal history is certainly argumentative. In this case the accused probably made a mistake to elect to be tried before a judge rather than rely on the decision of a jury. It stands to reason that judges usually are interested in other cases going through the courts and may well have been aware of this mans previous history. A jury would most certainly have that screened from their knowledge when making a decision on which version of events to believe. Discord from even one juror would have led to acquittal.
Suppression order falls into disrepute when a high profile case leads to acquittal - and then the media is filled with a lurid past history that was hidden from the jury. That jury has been tasked with deciding the truth or otherwise of the accused - without being given the tools we usually use to decide on a persons character.
It seems that suppression is a price the prosecution pays when the law implements that " Innocent until proven guilty " requirement !
It is the custom of our law system to suppress any record of previous criminal activity from being presented to the court hearing the evidence relating to the crime for which the accused is charged. The trial procedure requires those involved to only consider the facts relating to the charge laid and in most cases the accused presents his or her version of the events - and this requires those sitting in judgement to make a decision as to whether they accept or reject that version.
It seems ironic that such a judgement is kept entirely devoid of the character history of the accused when they assess the conflict between what the accused claims to be the facts, and the evidence that the prosecution puts forward.
Now that a verdict has been delivered, the media is free to publish what was suppressed at the trial, and we learn that this convicted person once bit the ear of an arresting police officer, has engaged in selling cocaine and was previously convicted of brutally attacking a man held defenceless by others. He led a lavish lifestyle and this was not supported by any form of fiscal record.
This case was a decision between two issues. The prosecution claimed that in a fit or rage the accused carried the victim to the rail and threw her to her death. He claimed she climbed over the rail, slipped and fell to her death by accident. There was evidence of violent arguments between the pair and that he had a " controlling personality " . His fiancee was in the process of leaving the relationship and returning to Canada.
The issue of suppressing earlier criminal history is certainly argumentative. In this case the accused probably made a mistake to elect to be tried before a judge rather than rely on the decision of a jury. It stands to reason that judges usually are interested in other cases going through the courts and may well have been aware of this mans previous history. A jury would most certainly have that screened from their knowledge when making a decision on which version of events to believe. Discord from even one juror would have led to acquittal.
Suppression order falls into disrepute when a high profile case leads to acquittal - and then the media is filled with a lurid past history that was hidden from the jury. That jury has been tasked with deciding the truth or otherwise of the accused - without being given the tools we usually use to decide on a persons character.
It seems that suppression is a price the prosecution pays when the law implements that " Innocent until proven guilty " requirement !
Thursday 28 November 2013
Opportunistic crime !
Crime is constantly evolving into innovative new methods of obtaining money. When women are the sole occupant of a car they are urged to drive with their doors locked and not leave their handbag on the passenger seat. Opportunistic criminals took to attacking cars stopped at traffic lights, opening the unlocked passenger side door - and simply helping themselves to that handbag - which usually contained the woman's purse.
At least the vast majority of crimes do not involve violence. The most common form of criminal activity is described in police statistics as " Break, enter and steal ". Forcing entry into an unoccupied family home usually gives access to a trove of easily portable items that can be sold for money. The danger comes if that house happens to contain a sleeping shift worker and the burglar is surprised - and a fight ensures.
What chills the blood of ordinary citizens is random street crime in which the thief is indifferent to the safety of the victim, and this week brought an example of this in Wollongong.
A 42 year old dog walker was exercising his string of pooches as he walked the cycling track in the northern suburb of Bulli one morning. It was a hot day and he decided to sit on a seat and admire the view of the sea while he and the dogs rested. Two young men aged in the 17 or 18 age group approached, and one of them asked him for a cigarette - which he obligingly offered.
The other - standing behind the seat - suddenly whipped a piece of cord around his throat and exerted pressure until he lost consciousness. While he lay inert on the ground, they ransacked his wallet and made off with his cash, leaving without bothering to check if he was alive - or dead !
Causing a person to lose consciousness by restricting the airway can easily tip the balance - and result in death. The outcome depends on the length of time involved, together with the general state of health of the victim - and sheer luck. This could very easily have evolved into a murder case.
The perpetrators were young men of what appeared to be a Pacific Islander appearance. The fact that the victim recovered and gave police a good description will no doubt result in scrutiny of the cctv network - and most likely an arrest, but the fact that an attack happened in broad daylight on a man innocently going about his business will cause disquiet in the community.
In particular, the fact that this happened in what most Wollongong people would regard as a " safe " suburb will cause many to curtail their normal activities. There are obviously many parts of the world that citizens would consider unsafe - but surely walking dogs beside the sea in a quiet residential neighbourhood would not be one of them.
It seems that today the " risk factor " does not exclude the better postcodes !
At least the vast majority of crimes do not involve violence. The most common form of criminal activity is described in police statistics as " Break, enter and steal ". Forcing entry into an unoccupied family home usually gives access to a trove of easily portable items that can be sold for money. The danger comes if that house happens to contain a sleeping shift worker and the burglar is surprised - and a fight ensures.
What chills the blood of ordinary citizens is random street crime in which the thief is indifferent to the safety of the victim, and this week brought an example of this in Wollongong.
A 42 year old dog walker was exercising his string of pooches as he walked the cycling track in the northern suburb of Bulli one morning. It was a hot day and he decided to sit on a seat and admire the view of the sea while he and the dogs rested. Two young men aged in the 17 or 18 age group approached, and one of them asked him for a cigarette - which he obligingly offered.
The other - standing behind the seat - suddenly whipped a piece of cord around his throat and exerted pressure until he lost consciousness. While he lay inert on the ground, they ransacked his wallet and made off with his cash, leaving without bothering to check if he was alive - or dead !
Causing a person to lose consciousness by restricting the airway can easily tip the balance - and result in death. The outcome depends on the length of time involved, together with the general state of health of the victim - and sheer luck. This could very easily have evolved into a murder case.
The perpetrators were young men of what appeared to be a Pacific Islander appearance. The fact that the victim recovered and gave police a good description will no doubt result in scrutiny of the cctv network - and most likely an arrest, but the fact that an attack happened in broad daylight on a man innocently going about his business will cause disquiet in the community.
In particular, the fact that this happened in what most Wollongong people would regard as a " safe " suburb will cause many to curtail their normal activities. There are obviously many parts of the world that citizens would consider unsafe - but surely walking dogs beside the sea in a quiet residential neighbourhood would not be one of them.
It seems that today the " risk factor " does not exclude the better postcodes !
Wednesday 27 November 2013
White Ribbon day.
All the politicians are wearing a " White Ribbon day " symbol on their lapels this week to bring support to the movement to stop violence against women. In particular, all the sporting codes have been at the forefront in promoting this anti violence message. They must despair at picking up the daily newspaper and finding a front page crime report about police charging a leading Rugby League player with an incident of domestic violence against his wife.
Over the past few days there probably have been the normal spate of disagreements between family members that have progressed from a shouting match - and in some cases - ended with some sort of physical action. They often involve the neighbours calling the police and in many instances the wife refuses to press charges against her husband. It goes down in the police log books as just another " domestic " !
From a media point of view it falls into that old adage of " Dog bites man " failing to merit interest as a news story - but " Man bites dog " making it onto the front page. When one of the participants in a domestic incident is a leading sporting figure - hold the press !
This weekends " domestic " involved a man who is a regular item in the news for his prowess on the Rugby pitch and his value as a member of one of the big sporting clubs. It seems that he got involved in an argument with his wife that resulted in a door getting kicked in, some furniture broken - and a possible " physical contact ". This man drove away from the scene, refused a police order to pull over and led police on a short chase. He was breath tested, and will face a DUI charge.
Rugby League will possibly impose some sort of penalty for " bringing the game into disrepute " and most certainly the drink driving incident will go to court. All this will be avidly covered by the media and quite likely the domestic violence aspect will be quietly dropped for lack of evidence and a refusal to testify.
There seems to be a degree of discord amongst psychologists on the harm done by reporting incidents of domestic violence. Some suggest that it's prevalence amongst our sporting heros brings justification in the minds of lesser mortals while others think that the " shame " factor deters some people from employing the same end to anger.
The main aim of events such as White Ribbon day is to try and achieve a degree of self control to stop arguments getting out of hand. It can be deemed a success if even a few learn to walk away when their temper reaches boiling point. At least one small step in the right direction !
Over the past few days there probably have been the normal spate of disagreements between family members that have progressed from a shouting match - and in some cases - ended with some sort of physical action. They often involve the neighbours calling the police and in many instances the wife refuses to press charges against her husband. It goes down in the police log books as just another " domestic " !
From a media point of view it falls into that old adage of " Dog bites man " failing to merit interest as a news story - but " Man bites dog " making it onto the front page. When one of the participants in a domestic incident is a leading sporting figure - hold the press !
This weekends " domestic " involved a man who is a regular item in the news for his prowess on the Rugby pitch and his value as a member of one of the big sporting clubs. It seems that he got involved in an argument with his wife that resulted in a door getting kicked in, some furniture broken - and a possible " physical contact ". This man drove away from the scene, refused a police order to pull over and led police on a short chase. He was breath tested, and will face a DUI charge.
Rugby League will possibly impose some sort of penalty for " bringing the game into disrepute " and most certainly the drink driving incident will go to court. All this will be avidly covered by the media and quite likely the domestic violence aspect will be quietly dropped for lack of evidence and a refusal to testify.
There seems to be a degree of discord amongst psychologists on the harm done by reporting incidents of domestic violence. Some suggest that it's prevalence amongst our sporting heros brings justification in the minds of lesser mortals while others think that the " shame " factor deters some people from employing the same end to anger.
The main aim of events such as White Ribbon day is to try and achieve a degree of self control to stop arguments getting out of hand. It can be deemed a success if even a few learn to walk away when their temper reaches boiling point. At least one small step in the right direction !
Tuesday 26 November 2013
Lowering the risk !
The traditional way of getting illegal drugs into Australia usually involves having them carefully hidden away in imported items. This ongoing battle of wits between the smugglers and customs has involved great ingenuity. The sheer volume of containers passing through import hubs puts the chances of success in the smuggler's favour but we also see regular busts and detection methods are constantly being improved.
Smart criminals took to diversifying the risk. Instead of putting all their eggs in one basket, they changed tactics and began sending very small quantities of drugs through the mail system. The sheer size of the mail flow made close inspection of each item impossible and inevitably much contraband reached it's destination successfully.
The mail branch of customs has also sharpened up it's detection methods. Drug sniffing dogs have made inroads into the flow, but the most effective weapon has been the computer. The ability of computers to keep track of the destinations of inward letters and small parcel deliveries highlights suspicious people who receive multiple deliveries from suspicious locations overseas. Once this pattern emerges, customs pounce !
Now the ever resourceful criminal elements behind the drug trade have devised a new strategy. The foot soldiers of the drug trade have been tasked with recruiting high school kids as the new breed of drug mules. They are offering bribes of between $ 300 and $ 500 for the use of their " clean " addresses. The drug cartels can use the computer tracking system to know precisely when a nominated package will arrive and they forewarn the kids to be at home to receive delivery. Usually, the parents know nothing of this underworld arrangement.
The clever strategy behind this method relies on a wide array of clean addresses that are not likely to draw suspicion because they are each used at spaced intervals. The fee paid to the " Mule " is minuscule in comparison to the profit made from the value of the drugs involved.
Some of the kids are naive and unaware that they are involved in the drug trade while others are getting their first taste of criminal activity - and are liking the easy profits it delivers. Few would fully understand the risks that are involved. Rival drug gangs wage vicious wars with competitors and these kids - and their families - risk being drawn into the fray.
This new menace delivers a warning to parents. If your child makes purchases on the Internet, be aware that the item purchased may contain hidden drugs and that these may be passed into the hands of a criminal in exchange for money. Innocent items such as a safety helmet can contain a stash weighing in at half a kilo - and on the drug market that can make the drug industry people a small fortune.
Smart criminals took to diversifying the risk. Instead of putting all their eggs in one basket, they changed tactics and began sending very small quantities of drugs through the mail system. The sheer size of the mail flow made close inspection of each item impossible and inevitably much contraband reached it's destination successfully.
The mail branch of customs has also sharpened up it's detection methods. Drug sniffing dogs have made inroads into the flow, but the most effective weapon has been the computer. The ability of computers to keep track of the destinations of inward letters and small parcel deliveries highlights suspicious people who receive multiple deliveries from suspicious locations overseas. Once this pattern emerges, customs pounce !
Now the ever resourceful criminal elements behind the drug trade have devised a new strategy. The foot soldiers of the drug trade have been tasked with recruiting high school kids as the new breed of drug mules. They are offering bribes of between $ 300 and $ 500 for the use of their " clean " addresses. The drug cartels can use the computer tracking system to know precisely when a nominated package will arrive and they forewarn the kids to be at home to receive delivery. Usually, the parents know nothing of this underworld arrangement.
The clever strategy behind this method relies on a wide array of clean addresses that are not likely to draw suspicion because they are each used at spaced intervals. The fee paid to the " Mule " is minuscule in comparison to the profit made from the value of the drugs involved.
Some of the kids are naive and unaware that they are involved in the drug trade while others are getting their first taste of criminal activity - and are liking the easy profits it delivers. Few would fully understand the risks that are involved. Rival drug gangs wage vicious wars with competitors and these kids - and their families - risk being drawn into the fray.
This new menace delivers a warning to parents. If your child makes purchases on the Internet, be aware that the item purchased may contain hidden drugs and that these may be passed into the hands of a criminal in exchange for money. Innocent items such as a safety helmet can contain a stash weighing in at half a kilo - and on the drug market that can make the drug industry people a small fortune.
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