A small miscalculation !

It is hard to read the real intentions of North Korea.  Their past history includes constant threats against both South Korea and the American military, and in some instances they have actually shelled South Korean territory and torpedoed a naval vessel.    This time around they have torn up the armistice that ended the Korean war in 1953, closed down the "Hot Line " between the two countries - and threatened a nuclear war with the United States.

It seems that North Korea's leader, Kim Jong-Un is a young man battling to hold his supremacy amongst his country's military brass.   He seems to have chosen militancy and nationalism as a weapon to keep the support of the masses, but he rules a country with a dismal history of famine, known to the rest of the world as " the Hermit kingdom ".

This latest bout of irrationality brings with it danger.  He appears to have whipped up his citizens to a frenzy and the tone of threats has been steadily rising.   This is a country with one of the biggest armed forces in the world and it has acquired rudimentary nuclear weapons.   It probably lacks the expertise to fit nukes onto it's delivery systems, but North Korea could deliver a nuclear strike across it's border with the south.  It's threats must certainly be taken seriously.

The biggest threat seems to be - from " war by accident " !    When tension is on a knife edge a small miscalculation is all it takes to set big events in motion.    In the past, North Korea has had the support of China - and to a lesser extent Russia - as a buffer.   That support has evaporated.   Both countries voted in favour of sanctions when North Korea defied the United Nations and conducted a third nuclear test.

Kim Jong-Un may find himself a victim of his own strategy.    If the actions of an individual commander or a misinterpreted order creates a fire fight with either the south or the American military he will be caught on the horns of a dilemma.  If he backs off - he will be considered " weak " by his generals - and overthrown.   If he takes his country to a nuclear war with a far superior military force, North Korea will be " toast ".

South Korea has emerged as a new Asian powerhouse of innovative industry governed by a democratic regime.   It's stability is at risk from this threat from the north.   What happens next depends entirely on how those commanding the North Korean military read the situation.   North Korea is now naked and alone - without friends - and seems likely to have it's bluff called.

These are indeed dangerous times for a part of the world working towards a prosperous future !

Better than money in the bank !

There have been drastic changes in the way Australians handle their money, and recent events in the Euro zone countries are about to launch an even bigger rethink !   The option of having a healthy bank balance has lost favour in contrast to rapidly lowering the mortgage still owing on the family home.

There was panic when the GFC hit in 2008.   Many people were in the habit of using the draw down facilities of their mortgage to use the money to take holidays or buy luxury items.   The GFC quickly caused doubt on the actual value of properties and attitudes changed.   Any extra money was channelled into lowering the mortgage and this has completely altered traditional debt ratios.

Australians owe $ 114 trillion on home mortgages and we are now a whopping $ 160 billion ahead of the scheduled rate of repayments.   This is showing up in cries of anguish from the retail sector.   The days of being a spendthrift nation are over.   The primary objective has become securing our most valued asset against unexpected world finance events that may put it at risk - and the only way to do that is to completely eliminate any debt owing.

Events in the Cyprus banking sector have delivered a heavy blow to the safety reputation of the banking industry.   While there can be no comparison here between the banks of cash strapped southern Euro countries in Europe, the principle that has been applied to save a little country from bankruptcy is draconian.   For the first time, a government has decreed that it has the right to confiscate money from customer bank accounts - and limit the amount people may withdraw from their savings.    The people of Cyprus no longer have control over their own money.

The implication has not been lost on Australians.   This was not an option in the days of the " Great Depression "of the 1930's - because the average person simply did not have that sort of money in the banks.  Since then, our way of life has expanded greatly, most people have a superannuation nest egg and the numbers who own shares or similar investments have grown sharply.   The citizens of every world country are now navel gazing - wondering if what happened to people's savings in Cyprus could possibly happen in other parts of the world ?

It seems inevitable that there will be an outflow of money from banks in the Euro zone as depositors hedge their bets.  The wise will wonder what effect will pass on to the stability of the Euro if the worst happens - and one of the debtor Euro countries becomes insolvent.   The prudent would see value in at least having some funds invested in non Euro zone banking systems.

It seems that the world trade and finance regimen that we have known has entered a new and rather shaky era.  Globalization has changed the rules that used to apply and we are now all tied together in a consortium of mutual dependency.   The one factor that has emerged is that we need consensus to make this new system work - and consensus is totally lacking at the body that is supposed to regulate relations between nations.

It is this lack of confidence in the United Nations that is spurring the trend to guarantee a roof over our heads -  and seek protection from whatever the future is destined to deliver !

Double standards !

The anti gambling lobby have raised complaints about a bookmaker appearing on a television sports show. His contribution has been in the area of predicting the likelihood of each teams chances of winning a game, and this has been expressed in monetary terms.    Teams that are not favoured to have a win are depicted at long odds, similar to the odds used in horse racing selections.

This objection seems to be mainly on the grounds of mixing metaphors.   What is perfectly acceptable when used in horse racing form takes on a new meaning when applied to the various codes of football.  It seems to introduce an invitation to extend gambling by having a bet on the outcome of football games.

What seems to have missed the recognition of the anti gambling lobby - is the fact that having a bet on the results of football games is perfectly legal - and has been for a very long time.   What has changed is the form these bets can now take.   It is no longer just a bet on a win or a loss.   It can be a bet on how many minutes may elapse before the first score is posted, or what member of the team will be the player to achieve that success.   A wide variation of circumstances prevail - and new ones are constantly being dreamed up by the betting agencies.

Unfortunately, all forms of sports gambling introduce the opportunity to make money by illegally altering the outcomes.   The cricket world has been rocked by accusations of match fixing and there have been similar story's about unusual play combinations in other sports.   Usually, participants in events on which betting is allowed are not permitted to place bets on their chosen sport.    In racing, a jockey who bets on the outcome of a race faces a long suspension if caught.

The objection to a bookmaker appearing on a sporting programme seems to be a case of double standards.   The odds that apply to any event taking place are standard measure of reporting.  Even the weather bureau uses them to describe the probability of rain !     What seems to grate is the use of dividends in monetary terms rather than a simple equation of percentage of a hundred.

We seem to be heading into new territory.    Perhaps the unstated objection is to mixing a person with an avowed occupation of accepting gambling bets with the commentary team which gives supporters facts on sporting teams and coming matches.    Some would see this as encouraging people to place a wager by enhancing the odds of winning money from such a selection.

That ignores the fact that the promotion of gambling is legal.   We see advertising constantly from the state lotteries urging us to buy a ticket in the jackpot lottery, and Lotto reminds us that there are millions to be won in it's jackpot draws.    If a bookmaker is legally able to accept bets, is there any difference in advertising his availability to the promotion of other forms of gambling ?

The television channel involved has certainly toned down this bookmaker's presence in the face of  criticism.   It seems that there is a moral line between what is legal and what is socially acceptable when it comes to gambling.    One of the " sin " areas where double standards apply !

Police Force infiltration !

Senior Victorian police have admitted that bikie gangs have conducted a strategy of infiltrating police ranks by appealing to the criminality, naivety or sheer stupidity of young officers.   If this is happening in Victoria, it is a sure bet that a similar situation exists in other state police forces.

The bikie gangs are ruthless participants of major crime.   This is organised crime in Australia and it ranges from control of most of the drug trade to the theft and export of luxury cars.  The gangs have poured their profits into legitimate business and these up-front operations include tattoo parlours, fitness industry gymnasiums - and night clubs.

They prey on young police who are susceptible to being groomed.   Cops have a social life and for young people getting a tattoo, having entertainment at a night club or keeping their weight down offers an opportunity to use inducement to spring the trap.    Perhaps it is entry to the nightclubs inner sanctum.  Perhaps a sharply cut tattoo price for " one of our police brothers ".   Perhaps it is the bikie club picking up the booze tab for a night out on the town.    The first time a cop accepts bikie largess - the relationship has changed in the criminals favour.

Usually, edging the police victim into criminality is by way of what seems a harmless request.   Perhaps it involves using the police computer system to access the address of the owner of registration plates on a vehicle.  It usually takes on a darker tone and the infiltration begins to pay dividends by advance warning of coming police raids - and tip offs about where police intelligence is heading on certain investigations.

It can also put fellow police in mortal danger.   Bikie gangs are into the gun culture that is rocking Sydney and if a cop working undercover is revealed, the gangs will protect their profits and associates by whatever it takes - and that includes murder.   At the same time, a police investigation about to deliver dividends can be completely wrecked by a tip off !

In some countries, the police are virtually synonymous with the criminal fraternity.   Citizens sometimes fear the depredations of the police more than their local criminals, and use criminal protection to keep the cops out of their neighbourhood.   In Australia, the police are dependable - but it is also clear that the situation can deteriorate unless strong action is taken to draw the line between infiltration.

That is easier said than done.  It is inevitable that there will be some police with latent criminal tendencies, and family matters, economic tensions and pressure from friends and relatives can push a tempted cop over that line.   It is essential that our police not be underpaid - and the bar of responsibility must be set high. It must be clear from the onset that even the smallest deviation from the code of police conduct will result in instant dismissal.

The other essential requirement - is maintaining that standard.  The intercession of the police union and the leniency of the judiciary often thwart the implementation of the very rules that keep our police honest.  We need a clear set of rules - and while it may impede the normal social life expectations of police officers, recreational facilities with ties to bikie gangs must be a " No go " for anyone who joins the police force.

That must be a decision made - before any recruit even enters the first day at the police training academy !

Pets - the next tax target !

The relentless need to attract more funds is causing all tiers of government to look long and hard at new ways to increase the range of tax targets.   It seems that the family pet is now right in the cross hairs.

There certainly is a need to persuade pet owners to have their dog or cat desexed.  Animal pounds are euthanizing alarming numbers of unwanted animals each year and the breeding cycle is dumping more unwanted litters of kittens and puppies, exceeding the demand for new pets.  Council by-laws demand that ratepayers register their pets and at present this registration consists of a " one off " fee.

This fee for registering a sexually intact  dog or cat stands at $ 150, a very good reason to pay a vet fee and have the animal neutered before registration, because when you have an official desexing receipt the fee drops to a more modest $ 40.     Registered breeders also pay a $ 40 fee for each animal used for breeding, and the fee for a pensioner with a desexed dog or cat falls to $ 15.

The weakness in this pricing system is that once an intact  animal is registered, there is no incentive to have it neutered at a later stage.    New South Wales is considering a law change to make registration an annual fee, with the reasoning that having to pay $ 150 each year will persuade many pet owners to have their animal neutered to save money.

It will also very likely see a huge increase in the number of unregistered animals in private homes.  The public will not take kindly to an expenditure of $ 3000 over the lifetime of a cat that lives for twenty years, or $ 1950 on a dog's usual fifteen years lifetime, and those estimates are probably low because the fees will be linked to the annual CPI.

It also means an increase in registration policing.   Once pets become a source of greater income for any form of government you can expect the effort to extend the compliance pool to increase dramatically - and the fines for noncompliance to reach dizzy heights.   Unfortunately, it also means that more cash strapped families may consider surrendering their animal at the pound because of inability to pay annual registration fees.

This move is on hold while the entire matter gets further consideration.   No doubt the bean counters are busily weighing up the gains to treasury - and worrying about the inevitable counter backlash from an angry public.   Most likely the final decision will be some sort of compromise.   The odds would favour an annual licensing fee for pets - but at a much reduced level from the present one-off system.

It is becoming clear that all possible sources of new income will not escape the eagle eye of desperate treasurers !

The " Bunny " that stole Easter !

Something strange is happening in the days preceding this Easter.   Easter eggs seem to have disappeared - and been replaced with chocolate Bunnies !

Every past Easter Coles, Woolies and all the discount variety stores have had massive displays of Easter eggs.   They came in a range of sizes and prices varied from little ones at 50 c - up through $ 1.50, $2 and $ 3 to Easter eggs the size of a football - and costing an arm and a leg.    These displays were massive and discounting began as early as Easter Eve.   The first trading day after Good Friday the price of Easter eggs dropped by fifty percent, and dropped still further as stocks were cleared.    It seems that Easter eggs were not something to be sent back to the stock room to await next year's Easter.

This year, those shelves are bare.  There are plenty of Easter novelties, but Easter eggs are few and far between.   In their place are rows of Easter Bunnies - and to many people - Easter is simply  not Easter without Easter eggs.

Families with little children will certainly miss the traditional Easter Sunday " Easter egg hunt " in their garden settings, and it seems puzzling why such a hallowed institution has changed so dramatically this year.

Perhaps China is clueless in understanding the Easter customs of the Australian public, but that seems unlikely because these Easter bunnies on sale - are made in Germany.    Perhaps the demise of Darrel Lea has caused Australian confectionery firms to think they can't compete on price - and now nobody is supplying this Easter market.   Perhaps the shopping industry badly overestimated demand last year and made a loss on egg sales - and dumped the line this Easter.

Hopefully, this is not another of those " cultural things " - that saw most signs of Christmas banned because they might offend new settlers from other religious persuasions - who do not celebrate Christmas.   Surely the Easter egg is not to lose an Australian identity in the name of " multiculturalism " !

Today's lack of Easter Eggs came as a shock to many people.   At the same time, that other Easter staple - Hot Cross buns - seem to have escaped the attention of the " religious banning of icons " people and is now sold on a whole year basis.

We want our Easter eggs back !   It is simply not Easter without them and the voice of the people will demand a re-think.    " Bunnies " are fine - but they are a poor substitute for Easter eggs !

Advertising - and morality !

It is usually accepted that advertising should not deliberately tell outright lies about the product being offered to consumers.  Humour is often a component of a clever sales pitch and two advertisements showing on New South Wales television seem to cross the line between reality and the bounds of morality.

One advertisement depicts a young couple discussing their intent to purchase a new sofa lounge.  They would like the bigger one, but they can only afford the smaller unit.   The man switches the price tags, calls the salesperson and announces that they will purchase this larger unit - at the smaller units price.

The sales blurb cuts in at this point, indicating that the reseller is offering a size upgrade on many of it's offerings.  Buy a double bed - and get an upgrade to Queen size.   Buy a five piece kitchen setting and get an upgrade to the the bigger seven piece unit.

Adult minds usually have no problem with this morality question, but to juvenile minds it may suggest that switching the price tags at the local milk bar may deliver a larger bar of chocolate - at a smaller price.  Such is the danger of making something illegal look normal.

Another television advertisement for life insurance delivers an even sharper morality question.   A man is searching the Internet on his laptop, seeking to clarify the symptoms he believes he is suffering and complains to his partner that he thinks he has not much more time to live.  He believes that he is suffering a terminal illness - and worries that his lack of life insurance will leave the family financially destitute.

His partner hands him the phone and suggests that it is " not too late ".   This advertisement gives the impression that the sponsor company accepts all comers with a guarantee of cover and that acceptance does not require a medical examination - not even any question about present health levels.

The inference is that a person who has had very bad news from their treating doctor - can access a huge amount of life insurance cover by simply picking up the phone and accepting this offer - no questions asked !
There would be a grave legal doubt about the validity of any such cover.

The advertisement then goes on to soften the implication - with humour.   It seems that this person has been told from his health search that he is suffering from " a bad case of  "Hypochondria" !

There is no doubt that the vast majority of people would see the limitations of trying to access life cover when terminally ill, but there are some people who would take this message - literally.    The life cover provider is naturally eager to make their product sound easy to access to the public, but perhaps this is more a case of omission.    Would they really write a substantial life cover without a single question about the applicants state of health ?

The interesting question is - What standards apply to the content of advertising placed with the media ?
Surely there must be some degree of control to maintain a necessary "truth factor " !

Innovative thinking !

Fifty years ago, Australia faced a scramble as oil companies competed to build new petrol stations to gain a market share.  There seemed to be one on every corner and besides selling petrol, they offered car servicing.  The proprietors were usually mechanics and they would mend a punctured tyre, replace worn wiper blades, renew brake linings as well as provide the usual " lube and oil change " service.

Today, the petrol station has morphed into a Seven Eleven style shop - which happens to also sell petrol.  It is customer self service and in the majority of cases there is nobody with the slightest mechanical experience working on the site.  Buying petrol and obtaining mechanical repairs are two vastly different experiences.

During that past era, many petrol stations with sufficient site room added an automatic car wash to attract more customers.  This was a " drive through " operation and the vehicle to be cleaned was hit with high pressure water sprays and slapped with rotating cylinders of fabric to clean the paintwork.   It was very much a " one size fits all " operation, but at least it removed the majority of the grime.  Over time these old machines have not been replaced and now they have become extinct in the northern suburbs of Wollongong.

 A new operation in Balgownie road has turned car cleaning into a twenty-first century innovation.   A disused service station site is offering a service that will have appeal to people who have embraced apartment living, women holding executive positions in the work force who are expected to maintain their vehicle is a presentable condition - and those who want to keep their second most valuable asset in as near new state as possible.

The crew who man this car cleaning operation have created what can only be described as an " art form ".  It is a pleasure to sit in the viewing area and watch the process from start to finish.   Firstly, the vehicle is hit with high pressure water sprays and this includes the under body and the over wheel arches, important to off road vehicles to remove mud that may cause corrosion.   The bodywork is then hand washed with a detergent containing a polish that imparts a shine to the paintwork.  The windows are washed and a second high pressure spray removes the suds - and a chamois rub imparts a final polish.

The vehicle is moved to the secondary cleaning area and the tyres are blacked.   The interior glass is cleaned and all the hard surfaces receive a wipe down.  The seats, carpets and the luggage area are meticulously vacumed.   This is the standard of detailing that restores that " new car " look.

The cost of this operation is a mere thirty five dollars.   Most people try to maintain their vehicle as near to new as possible, but lack of suitable cleaning facilities and the constant time pressure results in many cars getting what used to be termed " a lick and a promise ".   That may suffice for day to day cleaning, but it would be wise from time to time to invest in this detailing operation to bring the vehicle right up to scratch - and keep it that way.

This is an innovative service that has correctly filled a missing gap.   Cleaning a car is something we all manage to various degrees of perfection.   Now we have the option to have the vehicle given the detailing necessary to achieve a professional standard.   Considering what it costs to buy a new car, maintaining it in new condition is money well spent !

That " Leadership " fiasco !

Some wit once remarked that Federal Labor would be hard pressed to successfully raffle a duck !    They certainly made a mess of their leadership coup.  It was hardly a spectacle that would inspire confidence or be seen as an example of a political party that has it's affairs tightly under control.

It seems to have been a classic case of failing to do the necessary homework - and failing to count the numbers.  The poll figures have been so bad that the entire field of backbenchers are in panic mode and the only logical solution seemed to be the return of Kevin Rudd to the Lodge.    That is a question that splits the party right down the middle.

Clearly, Rudd is the most popular politician in the entire Australian political spectrum - with the voting public. That popularity does not hold the same sway within the Labor party.   He is accused of a " Presidential " style of government when in office and many of his ex-ministers have sworn to never serve under his leadership again.   That was  clearly demonstrated at last year's failed leadership challenge.

Simon Crean was the fall guy.    He deserted the Gillard camp and disaffected to Rudd, marched into the prime minister's office and demanded a leadership spill.  He got sacked from his ministry for his temerity. The opposition came within a whisker of unseating the government by calling for a vote of no confidence, and Gillard had little option than to reverse her stance and go for a leadership vote.

The expectation across all political factions was that Rudd would jump at the chance to reclaim his old job - but it seems that none of the plotters bothered to ask his intentions.   There will be much speculation about why he declined the challenge, but the end result was a fiasco - and to the dismay of the backbenchers nothing has changed and the titanic problem still faced by the party is defeat on September 14.

Perhaps Rudd was more diligent in counting numbers and realised he didn't have the support he needed. Perhaps this was an " ego thing " !    Maybe the inner Rudd demanded that the people who turned their back on him last year should be made to " eat Crow " - and he would not move until the entire party came to him on bended knees and implored him to save them.   Maybe Rudd thought the situation was past the " point of no return " and he would not be the fall guy to lead Labor to defeat - and personal political oblivion.

Whatever the reason, it seems the leadership is set in concrete for the rest of the journey to September 14.   No matter how bad the polls, the idea of another leadership fight on the eve of the coming election would turn away the voters in droves.  Labor is clearly a house divided - and the majority of voters seem to have already made up their minds.

The wise men and women who adhere to Labor principles have the task ahead of them of recovering whatever is possible from the coming train wreck.    Just as fresh green shoots emerge after a calamitous bushfire, so comes the task of rebuilding Labor and recreating it's image in the eyes of the voting public. The one essential is that the people who caused this political calamity will be long gone from the positions of power - and hopefully lessons will be learned from this disastrous clash of egos.

Democracy is best served by an able government - and an able opposition waiting in the wings !

Damage done !

The shock announcement from the ACC that all our sporting codes are rife with drug use has subsided to a whimper - but in it's wake is a trail of damage that may prove impossible to fix.   It has certainly crippled NRL team Cronulla.    That club was struggling to get it's finances in order and was about to announce a name sponsor - when the accusation hit and sullied the brand.   Interest from sponsors and supporters withered away and the future of the team is now - at best - uncertain.

The amazing thing is the lack of detail that has emerged to support these accusations that ranged across the AFL, ARL and Soccer spectrum.   The ACC backed off immediately and flick passed the investigation to ASADA.   ASADA was not in a position to name names and now - weeks later - we learn that just two players have been told they will be called to an investigative interview - and another thirty-one can expect a similar knock on their door.

At the time of the original bombshell from the ACC, it was suggested that organized crime was involved - and there was a hint that this could include match fixing.   The silence since then has been deafening.   The entire matter of drug use seems to revolve around drugs that were not banned at the time these " crimes " were supposed to happen.  It seems that certain  " Peptides " are more for injury recovery than for stimulating body functions.   The whole thing is descending into what many people consider to be " grey areas ".

It is obvious that this accusation of drug use in sport was premature and lacking in evidence.  It should not have been made - until the evidence had been collected and the accuser was ready to lay charges and bring people before the courts.  Now we are seeing a desperate search to justify the damage done and this is likely to extend over months - and possibly years.

Eventually, it will proceed to the litigation stage.  Clubs and individuals who have had their reputations harmed are likely to seek redress, particularly if their value has been reduced and no charges have been levelled against them.   That is the danger of wild accusations that are made without the means of backing them up.

This has been a sorry experience.     Unfortunately, it received world wide news coverage and besides the damage to individuals, codes and clubs, it has stained Australia's international sporting reputation.  The people who made the decision to go public have a lot to answer for !

Marketing pressure !

Just at a time when desperate moves are being considered to reduce the alcohol violence on our streets, the push to increase profits has created marketing plans that give an incentive for buying more to get a price discount.

In particular, this has created an added marketing pressure on liquor sales.   It is now common to see bottled wine displayed with a duplicate price tag - one price at a higher rate for a single bottle buy - and another much lower price if the purchase forms part of buying a dozen bottles.

The popular wine cask is also included in this new strategy.  Buy two in the one purchase and you get a discount.  The same applies to beer - and just about every liquor outlet is now taking part in this "buy in bulk " form of promotion.

The same strategy is worming it's way into the grocery aisles.  We are seeing offers that try and persuade shoppers to buy two or three of the items on offer with the incentive being a sharp price drop, compared to the single item price.   Unfortunately, this disadvantages those on limited incomes because these days so many people are forced to buy their groceries on a day by day basis.    The weekly shopping spree is now reserved for the more affluent in our society.

Unfortunately it sends the wrong message when it is applied to an addictive substance like alcohol.   Shoppers are encourages to buy two cartons of beer when they have probably entered the store with the intention of purchasing a single carton.  A big price drop is a huge incentive, but it also has an influence on the amount of liquor consumed.    Availability figures largely in the decisions reached by many people.

Quantity is becoming an influencing factor in the offerings of the wine club industry.   Many people buy a wine selection delivered each month on a discount plan and it became the custom to drum up trade by offering a complimentary bottle with each pack purchase.  Competition saw this extended to the present situation - when the traditional dozen has extended to a pack of sixteen bottles, four of which are deemed " complimentary ".

We seem stuck between the legitimate aspirations of commerce to boost profits by increasing sales and the need to curb alcohol consumption to make our cities a safer place for their residents.   One thing is sure.   If people have a surplus of alcohol there is a very good chance that they will drink it to excess.

The industry would be wise to curb further expansion of this marketing plan - before a heavy handed government feels forced to take action !

Does not compute !

It seems that the penny has finally dropped on the provision of child minding facilities.   The government now recognises that we live in a twenty-four hour economy - and the child minding industry is still stuck in the nine to five, weekday only time warp.

This is an industry which is still geared to the 1950's.   It totally ignores the plethora of shift workers - cops, nurses, bus and train drivers, hotel staff, restaurant cooks and waitresses - the people who earn their living delivering the good life to those who work what used to be called " normal hours " and enjoy a two day weekend break.

Now there are plans to start extending child minding to cover this gap, and at the same time the government concedes that those working in this industry are under paid.  Pay levels are to rise by an average $ 114 a week to compensate for the increased skill levels the industry is being forced to employ.   Working in child care is fast becoming a professional occupation.

Filling the availability gap for child care will not happen quickly.  This extension will be both tentative and meagre in numbers, but at least it is a move in the right direction.   Unfortunately, it collides headlong with another move being sought by this same government.

There are moves to consolidate the principle of penalty rates in new legislation.    This is an election year and penalty rates are a shibboleth of the union movement, and the backing of the unions seems to be one of the few friends that this government still enjoys.

So - we are about to see an amazing tug of war.   The people who will be needed to man these night and weekend child care centres will be seen by the unions as subject to penalty rates such as time and a half and double time - because they are working outside that old nine to five culture.   This penalty rate imposition is going to make the new child minding facilities much more expensive - and probably put them out of reach of the very people they are planned to serve.

At the same time, the business world is slowly retreating from that nine to five culture.   Today's people expect to do whatever they want on a 24/7 basis and more services are becoming available outside that old time frame.   For instance, once insurance companies slammed their switchboard shut at 5 pm each working day.  Now you can buy insurance from a willing representative who answers the phone at almost any hour of the day or night - and all weekend.   Business is making sure that a service is available - when the customer wants to spend some money !

Unfortunately, government thinking, the attitudes of the unions - and how the real world actually works are usually three totally different things.    If this conundrum was fed into a computer -  the answer would be a terse     " Does not compute ! "

Bank raid !

People living in a country with Euro currency have reason to be very worried.   Particularly if the country they live in is having dire financial difficulties and will need a bailout from the IMF.   Cyprus meets that description, and it has just been granted a $ 10 billion bailout, but with terms that will distress many of it's citizens.

This bailout from the IMF - which seems to have tactic approval from Brussels - requires a levy to be imposed on all account holders in that nation's banks.   Usually, it is the citizens who borrow money from the bank for various reasons.  That has been reversed and now those same citizens are legally required to provide a loan to their bank - and there are no exceptions.

All accounts with a balance over $ 100,000 will have 9.9% of the money removed and placed at the banks disposal.   Those with a lesser balance will be relieved of 6.75% of their savings.   In exchange, they will be given a piece of paper recording this " loan " to the bank, which they may regard as some sort of " share certificate " - which may hopefully be redeemed some time in the future - if conditions improve !

This desperate measure is intended to reinflate the banks reserves and allow it to continue lending to help improve the Cyprus economy.  It changes the complexion of future bailouts.   No longer will the IMF simply shell out relief money.  Restoring bank solvency will be a mix of money from the IMF combined with a raid on the savings of the citizens of the country involved.   There is every chance that this will be the formulae for all future bailouts.

It seems that the IMF feared that if Cyprus went to the wall it could bring down the Euro and send the entire EU into meltdown.   At the same time, there were many inequities in the Cyprus banking system, particularly in regard to money transfers in and out of Russia.   There was a suspicion that these banks were engaging in money laundering and the amounts involved were well out of kilter with normal banking practice.   The levy on balances was a surprise move with no advance warning, otherwise panic would ensure a run on the banks - with disastrous results.

Citizens of world countries will digest this news with horror.   A precedent has been set - and nobody can be certain where and if a similar raid may be levied on the funds they have deposited with a bank.   It certainly makes that old witticism -  " Safe as a bank " sound rather hollow !

Scam Artists !

The public are constantly warned to beware of scam artists peddling their trade by going door to door and offering dodgy services at " unbelievable " prices.   If the " deal " seems too good to be true - then it probably is !

Now we have a fresh reason to be afraid.   There could be huge numbers of tradespeople out there who believe that they have a legitimate right to offer their services, but it is they who have been scammed and the licenses that they are proud to show as proof of legitimacy are worthless.

It seems that nothing is beyond the ingenuity of some scammers.   An alert Fair Trading officer noticed a small irregularity on a license and this launched an investigation.   They discovered a man representing himself as an agent of VETASSESS, a legitimate accredited and registered training organization which brings overseas trained people's qualifications up to Australian standards and issues licenses.

This was not a shoddy, backyard operation.   It operated out of impressive offices and those submitting to examinations had every reason to believe that they were following Australian law and doing the right thing.  This scammer charged $ 6000 for his services, and provided a license which was a clever forgery.

The danger is that the type of work covered includes electrical, refrigeration, air conditioning -  areas where a lack of proper standards could be life threatening.   In many cases the tradesperson involved has worked in that trade area in another country, but the standards in Australia can be entirely different and that knowledge may not be applicable to the appliances being serviced here.

This scammer is serving a stint in prison and this bogus operation has been closed down, but the number of people issued with fake licenses is unknown.    Probably the best defence available to the public is to be ultra cautious when offered proof that a tradesperson has a license.    That license will have a number, and a phone call to the appropriate licensing authority will quickly determine if it is genuine.

It seems that the scammers are evolving into ever increasing levels of sophistication.   These days, even the evidence of a trade license can not be taken at face value.!

New media laws !

It is the dream of all political parties to have the means of curbing media content - when they are in office.   Of course a free media is an essential ally when they are in opposition, because it allows them scope to present the failings of the government to the people.

The desperate rush to force a muzzle on the media in just fourteen days seems to be an act of sheer desperation.   The time to the next election is ticking away and Communications minister Stephen Conroy probably thinks he has nothing to lose.  When you are on the edge of the cliff - staring into the abyss - you can indulge your fantasy without having to face reality.

The present world is a much divided place when it comes to a free press.   The list of countries which closely shackle the flow of information includes despotic regimes from which citizens flee at the first opportunity, and surprisingly affluent countries run by corrupt regimes which govern with a heavy hand.

The west has prided itself on the right of citizens to read whatever they choose and to say what they think without restrictions.   It would be a sad day if Australia joined the less fortunate countries of the world - and slipped behind the veil of censorship.

This proposal from Senator Conroy involves the appointment of a " Government enforcer " to regulate what matters appear in the press or are presented on television and radio.   One of the key elements is the removal from exemption under the " Privacy act ".    On that basis,  matters such as the alleged corrupt granting of coal mining licenses in New South Wales would not see the light of day, nor would the alleged rorting of union funds case in Victoria.    It would effectively silence the whistle blowers !

Initially, it looked like this proposal would fail on principle.   The government would need the approval of the independents to force it through parliament and that would not be forthcoming.     Now, we are seeing a change of heart as some of those with the vote needed by the government are starting to look for opportunities to push their private agendas.   It looks like developing into the same sort of " argy-bargy " that delivered a Labor government when the electors delivered a hung parliament.

Doing " deals " at this late stage of the election cycle could have interesting consequences.   There is not much chance that the coming election will again deliver a hung parliament and the voting public will hand down their decision on the performance of the individuals who made their choice based on promises that they wrung from desperate party leaders.    This was not seen as an example of high principle.

Politicians should think long and hard before they commit to radical law changes.    Judgement day is fast approaching !

The " Grog " question !

Yes.  We do have a problem with alcohol in New South Wales, and.it has been with us since the arrival of the first fleet.  The troops sent to guard the new settlement in Sydney became known as " the Rum Corps " because they had a monopoly on the import and sale of alcohol and used it to barter goods and services at favourable rates.

The pubs usually closed at eleven or eleven thirty in the early days, but new laws came into force in 1916 and New South Wales closed the bars at 6 pm.   This led to the notorious " Six O'clock swill " in which it became the custom to down as many beers as humanly possible between the end of work at 5 pm and the closing of bars at 6 pm.   When a publican called " Last drinks ", drinkers bought as many glasses of beer as they could hold, and consumed them on the footpath outside the hotel to remain within the law.

In 1937 Tasmania changed it's drinking laws to 10 am opening and 10 pm closing, something bitterly opposed by the Temperance Union.  It was not until 1964 that this more civilized arrangement was adopted in New South Wales, but pubs were still restricted to not opening on Sundays, despite the fact that clubs could trade on that day.     Sunday opening arrived in 1979, putting an end to drivers travelling twenty miles away from their homes to be officially recognised as " Traveller-tourists " and be served by pubs that were allowed Sunday trading to service the tourist trade.

Pressure began to build on that 10pm closing requirement.   " Special event " later trading was introduced to cater for wedding receptions and party events, and in the big cities the nightclub phenomenon began to flourish.   Originally, pubs had been the exclusive domain of men, but the appearance of the " Ladies lounge " saw women frequenting hotels and eventually women were allowed to drink in public bars.

This stripping away of restrictions on trading hours has reached the stage of twenty four hours trading at some venues, and others empty out between four and five in the morning.   The pricing of alcohol has also undergone change.  Years ago the " cheap " beer was in the glass a barmaid poured and served across the bar.  The expensive alcohol was the bottled beer you bought and took home from the bottle shop.   Now that situation is reversed.

Today's citizens have more money in their pocket and a custom has developed that sees many men and women imbibing way past reasonable limits.  This fascination with alcohol is resulting in street fights, glassings, attacks on police and ambulance paramedics and property damage in areas surrounding clubs and pubs.   Various law changes such as timed lock-outs have been used or are planned to curb these excesses - with varied results.  In many venues, glass is replaced by plastic at midnight to reduce it's use as a weapon and there are bans on the serving of spirits late in the evening.  Some establishments only serve low alcohol beer within an hour of closing time.

Unfortunately, alcohol abuse is continuing to deteriorate and the authorities are looking for measures that will work - and the consequences could be unpleasant for the average moderate citizen.   One proposal is to price alcohol to take it out of reach of those tempted to excess.   That would probably see the end of cheap cask wine and a floor price based on alcohol content pushing all alcohol, prices higher.   Another consideration is a return to more limited opening hours.

There is no easy answer to this problem and in all probability if measures become necessary to curb this excess they will rebound on the liberties and wallets of moderate people.   What is certain is that we can not go on indefinitely tolerating the blood and mayhem on our streets when those affected by alcohol go on the rampage, attacking others and damaging property.

Hard problems need hard answers !

Airline wars !

Competition between the airlines of various countries is not a level playing field.   Here in Australia, our national airline - Qantas - is a " for profit " business financed by thousands of ordinary citizens who hold shares in the airline.  Some of it's competitors are airlines totally owned by the government of their host country - and often the main purpose is to serve the economic needs of that country rather than make a profit.

Some countries are perfectly happy to finance their national airline at a loss if it serves the purpose of bringing in tourists to keep the internal economy running smoothly.  In such cases, fares are set to attract custom.  There is also the aspect of national pride.   We are seeing this emerging in the Middle East where rich - but numerically sparse countries - are ramping up airline services to gain world prominence.

It seems that economic giant - China - is about to try and seize a bigger share of the lucrative " Kangaroo route " connecting Sydney and London.   China Southern Airlines will be offering more flights with slightly bigger seats and leg room, almost double the permitted amount of carry-on luggage - and a fare of just $ 1442 compared to Qantas's $ 2207.

There is another difference.  The Qantas version of the Kangaroo route now goes via Dubai in the Middle East.   The China Airlines trip will go via Guangzhou in mainland China.   This will involve a new tactical battle.   It is expected that " stop over " offers will soon seek to offer those travelling to Europe an opportunity to have a quick look at the Chinese miracle on the way.  

It seems that Qantas has predicted the coming airline war and has taken steps to shore up it's market.  It is in partnership with Emirates and this combination may be able to go blow for blow with the expansive Chinese.  It could be rewarding to be in partnership with a country that is a major oil producer when the industry involved uses jet fuel as it's main raw material.

It will be interesting to see what the future holds.   " For profit " national airlines will find it hard to hold market share if this airline war degenerates into a price cutting tussle between airlines owned and operated as national symbols - without regard to profit.   It seems likely that some countries will protect their internal air services by excluding foreign airlines from competing on inter-city routes.

No doubt there will be an attempt to govern the industry by getting world airlines to agree to a set of sanity rules - but this sad old world has a long history of national interest trumping promises made across all trade spectrums.    The one sure bet is that world travel will keep expanding as prices come within the reach of an ever expanding number of more affluent people.

An end to the legal " Ambush " !

Attorney General Greg Smith will announce a law change designed to end the practice of using a legal " ambush " to present surprise evidence at jury trials.   Both prosecution and defence will in future be required  to detail their cases at the start of a trial.   In the event that matters not forewarned are brought forward during the trial, the jury may be advised to come to a " negative conclusion " on the aspect of that evidence.

Like all matters pertaining to the law, this will become the point of argument about it's exact meaning.   The intention seems fairly straight forward.   Each side is required to give notice of the direction that both prosecution and defence will take, but it would be a travesty of justice if that precluded the introduction of fresh evidence that was uncovered during the process of the trial.

The direction of a trial often takes a new course as the result of something a witness says that was not anticipated.  Lawyers are a crafty bunch and it seems that if a new direction of evidence is likely during cross examination, this should be disclosed at the start of the trial.  It would be near impossible to outline all such possibilities in the opening gambit, leading to the inevitability of the other side trying to invoke that " negative conclusion " penalty.

At the same time, the attorney general seems to be taking an end run around the present " right to silence " that is part of the defence allowed an accused person.    This will take the form of an  " Evidence of Silence " caution  which will be recited to the accused in the presence of an attorney.   It will be similar to the " Miranda law " that applies in US courts.

Basically, it warns the accused that if matters are raised in court that the accused did not disclose to the police, those matters may have the " adverse finding " applied.   It seems to be a reversal of the present situation.   A person is not required to make any form of statement to prevent them inadvertently incriminating themselves.   Under this law change, unless they make a statement any matters not disclosed can be adversely treated as a legitimate defence.   It seems that " damned if you do - and damned if you don't  " applies !

Few would disagree that we have a congestion problem in our courts.  It often takes a very long time for cases to come to trial and sometimes the accused spends more time in prison on remand than can be expected as a result of a conviction.    Anything that speeds up the court process would be welcome, just so long as it does not interfere with the protections that centuries of legal precedent have built into the legal system.

In principle, these procedural changes seem fine, but in practice they will probably prolong court time taken up with arguing the merits of each and every incident that arises in testimony.   Tinkering with the law can have unintended consequences !

The job nobody wants !

Every aspiring hopeful starting out on a political career hopes that one day he or she may attain the coveted position of " Prime Minister of Australia ".    That would be the pinnacle of political success, and yet at this moment it has become the job that nobody wants !

A successful stint in the Lodge ensures that holder of office will join the panoply of former leaders who feature in the history books, have places and events named after them and whose portraits line the great hall of parliament house.   Every leader eventually leaves office - but it is the manner of departure that bestows either fame or ignominy.

The famous people of this world are those who were successful in some way.   Lord Nelson won a victory over an invading fleet, resulting in his statue commanding attention in central London.   George Custer badly underestimated enemy strength and this resulted in his entire command being massacred.  He is remembered as the butt of comedian's jokes !

The once mighty Australian Labor party has managed to lose the affection of it's supporters to such an extent that it was soundly reduced to a rump in Queensland and New South Wales - and has now faced a similar massacre in Western Australia.     The governing Federal party will go to the polls on September 14, and it is predicted to suffer a similar fate.

Many are calling on Julia Gillard to resign for the good of the party.   Those convinced that she can not win are hoping that a new face in the Lodge may turn things around, but - strangely - neither Rudd, Shorten or Combet seem interested in taking up the cudgels and going into battle.

It seems that those inside this government are convinced that it has passed the point of no return.   A new face may bring an upward blip in the ratings, but the end result will still be loss of government - and whoever is leading the party at that time will be consigned to political oblivion.

Those with aspirations know that they would be better served by emerging from the debris of defeat to start the long journey back from opposition to the stage when the ALP may again be considered an alternative to whoever is in power.    A failed leader simply does not get that opportunity to take a second bite at the cherry.

There are still long weeks before the voters deliver their verdict and if the pressure mounts to the extent that Gillard falls on her sword, the contenders will face an awful choice.   If one of them is drafted to take the reigns of power it would be a bitter sweet victory.    To lead a government to defeat is to end ones promising political career.

Events in Australian politics seem a mirror image of what is happening in the Vatican.   There opposing views are battling to either hold the church to it's ultra conservative stance, or bring it into the twenty-first century.   Here, the battle is to find a sacrificial lamb to be sent to the slaughter and atone for the party's sins.

As some wit once remarked about politicians.   "  One day a fine Rooster - the next day a feather duster " !

Natures " Survival Plan " !

For years we have been hearing of catastrophic changes to planet Earth caused by the buildup of greenhouse gases and global warming.   It has been predicted that the Great Barrier reef will be destroyed, the food chain harmed and the world's rainforests will be decimated.   It seems that this tale of destruction depends on the people of this world changing their lifestyles if annihilation is to be avoided.

Now we are starting to hear a very different story.   The climate and general living conditions on planet Earth have changed many times over the centuries, and Mother Nature has taken it all in her stride.   It seems that this is a case of Newton's law.   "  To every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. "   When change causes something to die, that change causes something else to expand and replace it.

The UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology has found that the mix in the tropical rainforests is swiftly changing.  Species that do not favour a richer mix of CO2 in the air are retreating and being rapidly replaced by species which find the new air mix to their liking.   A similar situation is happening in the world's oceans where coral reefs abound.   Some types of corals can not tolerate a more acidic ocean and will die, but that warmer and acidic ocean is promoting the growth of other species which thrive in the changed conditions.

A similar situation is happening with food stocks.   In particular, schools of Skipjack Tuna are increasing rapidly in the Pacific ocean,   These are important to the food chain and it is expected that the fish mix will adapt as ocean conditions change.    Some species will advance as others retreat and the world will need to adapt their fishing fleets to take advantage of these changes.

It has become fashionable to promote the doom and gloom model when predicting our planet's future.   The more science delves, the more we learn that our past had many changes.   We had several ice ages - and we may have more to come - but in every instance Mother Nature went into survival mode.   Plant and animal extinction is simply part of that survival technique - and we need to learn to live with it.

We humans are part of that changing process.   It seems we will face the prospect of both floods and droughts, and the future seems to include heat waves of unprecedented proportions.  We will certainly need to vary the homes we live in to protect them against these changes and we have an evolving lifestyle already fast changing the way we work and spend our leisure time.

We would be wise to adapt and try and reduce the worst effects of climate change, but it is not worth wrecking our economy and dooming the young to a less satisfying way of life if we are simply trying to avoid something that is inevitable.

Paying for information !

Many Australians must be slightly bemused to read of prosecutions in Britain arising from the " News of the World " saga.    The editor of that Rupert Murdock paper and several senior journalists are appearing in court charged with paying public officials for information.

Is it against the law in Australia to reward someone who discreetly gives a journalist a tip to help them uncover a story ?    If so, the police and the entire public sector must be rife with bandits, not to mention the various government agencies - which leak like the proverbial sieve !

This whole affair in Britain topped the headlines when it became known that the newspaper people were hiring technology experts to hack into conversations on the phone network.   It seems money changed hands to obtain the private phone numbers of some members of the Royal family from palace insiders, and this may have broken national security laws.

The enquiry shone the light on several shady characters who caused family anguish when they hacked the phone of a missing teenage girl and by deleting messages, gave the impression that she was still alive and using her phone. In fact, this girl had been murdered.

This whole affair has a whif of  " payback " and political overtones.   Rupert Murdock is a controversial figure with great power because of the reach of his printing empire, and the enquiry took a political turn when it involved a journalist who took up a position as an adviser to the  British prime minister.  It delves into the murky world of information flow that - on one hand - keeps the politicians and movers and shakers honest for fear of disclosure, and on the other hand - is a weapon that can be used to blacken reputations and cause immense financial loss.

Some people are sworn to silence because of the nature of the job they hold.   When they break that code of silence they are probably more at risk of losing their job than facing a charge, but in this British court case - no charges seem to be applied against the information givers.  The entire prosecution is against those who received the information.

The " News of the World " has closed it's doors and no longer exists.   This long running prosecution seems to be a prolonged attempt to extract the maximum political mileage from a story that has faded from public interest.

One thing is certain.   There will always be people with sensitive information that can be traded for a little money.     And there will always be journalists looking for a career enhancing story who will gladly pay to secure exclusive rights to that information !

Legal twists and turns !

Once again the police are accused of using excessive force - and once again it is the availability of a camera-phone in the hands of the public that has brought them undone.    There was some sort of scuffle at the Sydney Gay Mardi Gras and police arrested an out of control youth.   After the prisoner was handcuffed, he apparently upset one office and was violently thrown to the ground and had a police boot slammed into the middle of his back.  The police told the crowd to stop photographing - something they have no right to demand.

Those pictures went viral in the media and senior police have called for an investigation of the incident - but once again we are seeing the old story of police investigating police.    The entire justice system is based on an independent and unbiased judgement being made in every event where a breach of the law may have occurred.    This " investigation " has the power to prevent this matter reaching court.  If the police decide the incident was minor and decline to send the matter to the prosecutor, that is where it ends.

By and large, we are well served by the justice system, but there is no doubt that it needs fine tuning constantly to keep abreast of changing times.   In some parts of the world the police can not be separated from the bandits that prey on society.   Even in law abiding Australia, there have been incidents where police commissioners have been sacked for corruption and entire police divisions found to be guilty of accepting bribes to allow criminals to go about their business unchecked.

We need police oversight looking over the cop's shoulders, and that can never be satisfactory when complaints against police are investigated only by other police.

There is also no doubt that strange " deals " are done when negotiating guilty pleas between prosecutors and criminals.   A case that comes to mind involved a drug dealer who pulled a gun when arresting police cornered him - and started shooting.    He managed to wound a detective in the arm, but a shot from another police member fatally hit this same detective before the gunman surrendered.

The gunman has expressed remorse and offered apologies to the family of the slain policeman - and has pleaded guilty to " manslaughter on the grounds of excessive defence ".    It is hard to see how a charge of manslaughter can be maintained when it was not this person who fired the fatal shot, but obviously this has been part of a " deal " arraigned between the police, the defence and the judiciary.

The police have a difficult job to do and they sometimes tend to be heavy handed.  We need to keep excessive force within bounds and that can only be achieved by having each and every incident investigated by a completely independent assessor.   The police know they can get away with it if the investigators are fellow police who have good reason to try and maintain the good reputation of the police force.

Sooner or later, if the present situation remains unchecked there will be a glaring incident that screams for justice and gets mega media publicity - and the public outcry will make change inevitable.   Until then, " incidents " will continue to be sanitised and dismissed !

Teaching standards !

Moves to increase skills in the teaching profession are certainly welcome, but the push to elevate the entrance level for those considering teaching should not be the sole criteria.  Academic knowledge on it's own is fairly useless if the person involved lacks the charisma and ability to make the presentation interesting and hold the attention of students.

Most people can recall their own school days and will remember the incredible difference between the best and the worst of those paid to be their tutors.  In every school there tended to be at least one teacher who presented the lesson in a bored monotone.  Contrast that with someone who livened the lecture by explaining complexities in language the students could understand and used body language to hold their attention.   Not necessarily was the best teacher the most academically gifted.

These days becoming a teacher necessitates training at university level.   Getting into university requires that person attaining a Higher School Certificate ( HSC ) score approved for teaching and it is proposed to set that at Band 5 level in English and two other subjects.    Band 5 is at the high end of the HSC spectrum, but there is a danger that it will lock out many teachers who otherwise have that special " empathy " that makes a teacher effective in the classroom.

Few would argue with the plan to make it easier to remove under performing teachers and to regularly assess their skill levels.   Teaching is a constantly moving profession.    What worked a decade ago will not necessarily hold the attention of today's pupils, and constant revision of skills is necessary.  Just as presentation skills in the commercial world requires constant training and new evaluation, teachers need personal development upgrades to ensure that the way they present to their classes is relevant to today's standards.   Just cramming more subject knowledge into a teachers mind does nothing to improve the way that knowledge will be imparted to the class.    A boring teacher remains a boring teacher - until presentation standards are lifted.

A touchy subject is the suggestion of awarding higher pay levels to gifted teachers. This usually brings union animosity over how " gifted " is evaluated.  Unions tend to rely on " seniority " linked to years of service, and consequently this has become the criteria for promotion within the teaching system. The end result is older teachers at the top of the teaching pyramid - and talented younger teachers told to " wait their turn " on the promotions ladder.

This review of teaching standards is a good thing - if it is applied sensibly.   We certainly do not need teachers with poor English language skills and we certainly do need teachers with the right attitude to learning something outside the purely academic curriculum - the ability to lead and hold the attention of those from a different age group.

That is the difference between a good and a bad teacher.    Unfortunately, it seems that personal evaluation is going to take second place to pure academic standards as expressed in a HSC report.

Perks of office !

A review by the General Manager of Wollongong council suggests that the stipend for the Lord Mayor should be increased from $ 74,530 per year - to $ 143,000, the same rate as a member of state parliament. If this is approved, it would naturally follow that the stipend of other councillors would be under pressure for a similar review.

It will concern some people that if pay levels rise to duplicate those of state parliament, we will be introducing a career bureaucracy at local government level.   If holding a post as a member of state parliament is a sought after career sinecure then getting elected to council will become a career move along similar political lines.

There are many facets to this question.  Back in the dim, dark ages the only people putting up their hand to stand for council were men who owned or managed the city's commercial structure.   Becoming the Lord Mayor was a great honour and it conferred elevated social standing on that bearer of office.  It was expected that councillors would make their time available without compensation, supported by the income from their permanent position in city commerce.  Women council members were rare.

Today, those elected to council come from all walks of life and both genders.  It is not mandatory for those seeking office to have a secure personal income, and yet they are taking up a management position on a business enterprise that has a multi-million dollar turnover.   They rank alongside directors of huge national corporations.

Initially, a small stipend for the mayor and individual councillors was not seen as " pay " . but reimbursement for out of pocket expenses.  Representing council required them to attend functions and they were constantly asked to put their hand in their pocket.   The usual " bracket creep " occurred.  Transport costs morphed into the provision of cars and soon councillors were equipped with council paid mobile phones and tablets. The bigger the council - the greater the degree of reimbursement.

The question awaiting answer is do we want those representing us on council to become our employees ?
If we agree that "councillor" should be a salaried position, we open an interesting can of worms.   Under the prevailing laws, we are obliged to pay superannuation entitlements to that person and it raises the legal definition of other entitlements.

For instance, when the voters decide to discontinue the services of a counsellor by voting him or her out of office, surely this takes the form of a " termination ".    Precisely the same conditions apply to ending the mayor's term of office.  It could be that this technicality will open the doors for the various issues such as holiday pay, long service leave and other termination payments owing to an employee.

On the other hand, if we agree that acting as the board of directors overseeing the expenditure of millions of ratepayers dollars comes into the category of big business, we would expect those jobs to offer sufficient salary to attract the best and brightest of the business world.

Exactly the same criteria applies to the membership of both Federal and State parliament, but there are no rules in place demanding a level of fitness for the job or minimum skill level for those seeking our vote.  There is nothing to guarantee that the educational level or business experience of those seeking the job will be any higher than the people we elect to parliament.

It seems that there is inevitably a sector of the population unhappy with the decisions made by the various councils, just as this same rejection applies to the decisions of parliaments.   It seems to be a fact of life that whoever we elect to public office will make decisions that are not the choice of many of the people.

The big question is - will we get any better standards if we pay a salary for their decisions ?

The " Nanno " question !

Scientific discoveries have accelerated at amazing speed in the past century.   The computer and the mobile phone have changed our lifestyle immeasurably and there is every reason to think that there is still much more to come, but the wise will remember that Newton's law will apply.   " To every action there will be an equal and opposite reaction ".

One of the least understood areas of science has been the ability to manufacture what has become known as " Nannoparticles ".    We have learned how to grind matter so finely that thousands of these little particles will fit onto the point of a needle, and that has opened us a treasure trove of uses which is being rapidly exploited.

In particular, Nannoparticles are now the primary ingredient in sunscreen, a product we freely slap on the skin of children to protect them from harmful ultra violet rays that can cause skin cancer - and deadly Melanoma.   In recent years, all sun lovers have been urged to use sunscreen as part of our national sun safety campaigns.

A disturbing fact about Nannoparticles has come to light.  For reasons that are still not clear, they cause rapid deterioration of Colorbond applied to metal surfaces.   What has some people worried is the sheer magnitude of that deterioration.  It is rated at a measure of a hundred times of normal expose to the elements.

Science reports that there is no evidence to suggest that a similar hazard exists to human skin, but while no evidence has emerged so far, that does not prove that Nannoparticles are harmless when used in a sun screen.  European laws will come into effect in July, mandating that the presence and quantity of Nannoparticles present in any product must be clearly stated on the label.   We have no such requirement in the pipeline here.

The actual product used in sun screen is Anatase Titanium  Dioxide.  Concern is being expressed that we need to know more about how this product reacts with human skin, and we need to have a warning on those products using it so that customers have a choice when making a purchase.

Just about every new discovery made by science brings a benefit, but it also has a down side.  The age of computer communication was blighted by - SPAM.   The personal mobile phone ensured we were never completely free of the problems from work.   The list seems endless !

It may be that Nannoparticles are harmless in sun screen, but the jury is still out on that question.   It would certainly do no harm to list the ingredients to enable buyers to make a personal choice on such a basic health issue !

The Apprenticing dilemma !

More than half a century ago Australia had a class divide.   The children of wealthy parents went on to university and then entered the professions.   The children of the less affluent left school much earlier and became indentured to a tradesman to learn a trade.   The professions bestowed a higher standing and tended to look down on the lower paid " Tradies ".

Apprenticeships had benefits for both the craftsman and the apprentice.  The starting age was usually fourteen or fifteen, hence the apprentice still lived at home with his family.  Wages were low because the work contribution was unskilled in the early years and many craftsmen considered training the young a contribution to society rather than bringing financial gain.  It was expected that the apprentice would study the academic aspect of the trade by attending night courses - in their own time - at the Technical Colleges of that era.

We live in a changing world and apprentice wages have not kept pace with those changing times.  The commencement of apprenticeships now takes place at a later age and involves both genders - and many entering the trades do so with family responsibilities, including funding a mortgage and sending kids to school.   We are seeing an increasing failure to complete the course.   This drop out rate is purely on financial grounds.   Many can not maintain their financial commitments on a rate of just $ 7.60 an hour when even unskilled jobs such as flipping burgers pay $ 11 an hour.

In 1996 just 8.4% of apprentices were older than 25.   By 2006 this had jumped to 26.1%.   The wage structure was still stalled on the parameters of an earlier age.  Now there are pressures from the ACTU to lift apprentice wages to sustainable levels, but this will bring huge problems for their employers.

The very nature of apprenticeships has changed.   Technology has replaced pure manual skills and as a consequence, many trades now require the apprentice to attend TAFE for at least two days per week - at the employers expense.   Not only does the employer lose the apprentice's contribution to the work flow, a higher wage would increase job costs and flow on to the end customer.   A tradesman who did not train apprentices would have a huge cost advantage in the marketplace.

The mix of trades and professions has also undergone change.   Now it is the " Tradies " who are earning the big money and in many cases they are in short supply, further pushing up prices.   At the same time, those with university qualifications are finding it hard to gain employment in their chosen field.   The advantages between these two life skills is becoming blurred.

Most agree that the present apprentice wage structure is unsustainable.  Obviously the unions will try and push higher wages on the employer and ignore the consequent drop in placements offering.  Ultimately, it will be a government decision on how this problem is to be tackled.

There are two options offering.    If the tax regimen was restructured to reward employers who take on apprentices this could compensate for a higher wage structure, but it would come at a cost to government revenue.

The other option would be to extend the HECS scheme that applies to university education to the trade structure.   The government would need to subsidize a higher wage by reimbursing the difference to the employer with the apprentice required to repay that cost when earnings from the acquired qualifications reached an agreed level.

This second option seems inevitable.   The principle of clawing back higher education costs is already in place and generally accepted.   To bring apprenticeship earnings to a living wage and asking those with qualifications earned to share the cost is simply a fair sharing of equality across all employment skill gaining options..

Few could argue with an equality measure !

Old habits die hard !

The residents of Gwynnville will brace themselves for the return of parking misery - the University of Wollongong resumes this week.  Once again their suburban streets will become a huge parking lot and in many cases cars will end up blocking driveways and encroach on nature strips.   It is not uncommon for cheeky - or desperate - students to enter properties and park on a residents front lawn.

The sad thing is that this is not necessary.   We have a " park and ride " system in place - and this involves a free bus.   We also have an excellent car pooling offer available to all students.   Those who arrive with three or more people in their car are entitled to free parking within the university - and there are five hundred parking spots going begging daily.

Observers must be dispirited to see the usual parade of cars with just a single occupant.  It seems that no matter what we do to solve the parking problem, we face the age old curse of each person preferring personal transport over any form of sharing or making a change of thinking.  

It is a fact of life that at least half the students attending Wollongong university live within five kilometres of the campus.   The fitness people could include that daily journey by way of jogging to improve health, and then there is always the alternative of the good old push bike !     Unfortunately, both pale into insignificance when it comes to the comfort of arriving by car.

Psychologists tell us that the habits we form in childhood stay with us for the rest of our lives.   It seems that when Mum or Dad drops us off at school in the car each morning instead of making us walk, take the bus or ride a bike - they are instilling a habit that will make us selfish human beings until we attain old age.

When school days end and university begins - we stick with that same means of transport, and when we leave university to enter the business world, we become just another commuter clogging the nation's highways as a solo driver/passenger in our own vehicle.

Scientific minds and huge amounts of money have been directed at changing those selfish habits - with almost zero effect.    As is the case with our university, alternatives are not only available - they are free.    But - we choose not to use them !

Back to the drawing board seems the only way if Gwynnville residents are ever to be free of the car parking plague.   Perhaps the time is coming when a single person in a car anywhere within a kilometre of the university may be deemed to be committing a driving offence - and fined.

We may have to think beyond the nine dots if we are ever to solve this problem !

Police powers !

Somebody with a mobile phone took pictures that sparked the arrest of eight South African police.  Those pictures showed an arrested man handcuffed to the back of a police vehicle - and then dragged through the streets as it was driven to the police station.   The prisoner was later found dead in a cell, suffering massive injuries.  These police will  probably face murder charges.

This atrocity would probably not have seen the light of day if those pictures had not been passed to the media.   It is a timely warning that ever increasing police powers can lead to out of control behaviour by the people who are supposed to guard us from harm.  There is also a tendency for the police to close ranks and block any attempt to bring their offenders to justice.

South Africa has had a troubled history with apartheid and even under black rule it has one of the highest murder rates in the world.  The difficulties of exerting control are used to justify harsh police actions, as was the case when police gunned down thirty-five striking miners.   So far, nobody has faced court over this misuse of armed force.

This is a timely warning for the procedures for investigating complaints against the police to be tightened in New South Wales, and in particular - to be removed from the present practice of police investigating police.
We have just had an event of police misuse of power revealed in court.   An indigenous man was bashed by police who claimed that he punched an officer and his violence had to be subdued.   It seems the officers colluded to swear false evidence and this only collapsed when cctv footage - thought to be damaged beyond repair - became available and showed the true situation in that charge room.

A worrying aspect of complaints against police is the tendency for the police to close ranks and apply pressure to drop investigations.   Both the government and the judiciary are well aware of the power the police hold.   The ultimate weapon would be a police strike, but lesser forms of action can severely affect state finances.  In the past, police have gone on partial strike - refusing to book motorists and simply issuing warnings for traffic offences.   Revenue streams running into millions of dollars are immediately affected.

So far, police have succeeded in derailing attempts to introduce an impartial investigator to oversee complaints against police.  The present system involves officers from another district of policing to make what is supposed to be an impartial investigation, but of course - this is still a matter of police investigating police - and there the impartiality ends !

This South African incident is extreme, but here in Australia there have been deaths in police custody and suspicious use of firearms that have not been satisfactoraly explained.  As a revelation of graft and bribery of police controlling Sydney's vice district showed some years ago, if control of police is lax, corruption will quickly fester - and some police will consider themselves above the law.

Unfortunately, what we see in the media is usually only the tip of the iceberg !

" Ice Age " evidence !

This summer just ended was the hottest since we started keeping records in 1910.   It delivered a mixed bag of weather conditions and we not only saw a day temperature of 46 c, we saw destructive bush fires and raging floods - and Tornadoes !

All that seems to support the theory that the seven billion people on planet Earth are heating the planet by burning fossil fuels.   Predictions for the future are dire.   If we continue on our wasteful ways we will see changed weather patterns that will include more droughts and crop failures.   We are already facing food shortages, and despite China's " one child " policy, there is the expectation that humans will top the ten billion people level in a few years time.

It is all rather depressing, seeing that the measures that have been put in place are not expected to drop temperature levels one iota - but they are pushing up the price of electricity and flowing through into costs that are making our products uncompetitive on the world markets.   We are a planet beset by civil war in many countries, religious bigotry leading to ideological conflict within the same races of people, and grinding poverty that results in many children failing to survive to reach five years of age.

The annoying thing is that on the world wide political scene we see countless examples of political differences being used to avoid decisions that could improve the human lot.  Attaining power is considered more important than reaching consensus on plans that would deliver a better standard of living.  In many cases, attaining power relates directly to personal riches - and so we see massive corruption siphoning off the wealth that should be spread more evenly through the populations.

There is little happening to cause us to expect that things will  change for the better anytime soon.  Human nature seems to set humans on a course of conflict between nations - and few manage to exist in perfect harmony with their fellow citizens.    We have progressed little from the time that people lived in caves and attacked one another with spears and clubs.

Now a new find has thrown fresh doubt that we humans are the cause of global warming, and that will set back any hope of progress in reducing the increase in carbon dioxide further.

French scientists drilling for deep core samples in the ice of Antarctica have discovered a surge in CO2 levels 10,000 years ago, when the earth was coming out of an ice age.  Air trapped in those samples contained CO2 at levels that we would today consider catastrophic and in all probability, it was this increase in carbon dioxide that caused the ice to melt and the glaciers retreat, and make the earth the hospitable place it is today.

The big question is - what caused that increase in CO2 at that time ?    There certainly was not too many humans living on the planet and the industrial revolution was still a long way in the future.  It tends to support the theory held by many that CO2 levels are a natural variation - and beyond our control.

At least it will provide a reason for politicians to avoid making new decisions on climate measures.   We will just have to wait and see what Mother Nature has in store for the future citizens of planet Earth !

A new " menace " coming !

The relentless march of technology sometimes crosses the line between making our life better and delivering a life threatening menace, depending on the user's point of view.   The advantages of the " Smart phone " have opened up a huge range of new services, but using them is so compelling that we find it had to resist when driving a car.   This division of attention leads to crashes and we now have stringent laws to regulate their use in vehicles.

A " next generation " breakthrough in technology is about to hit the market.   We will soon be able to buy pairs of eyeglasses which will obey voice commands and project functions onto the glass to be viewed in tandem with the scene the eyes are watching.    For instance, these glasses may display images similar to the directional maps guiding us to our destinations.   It will be claimed this is much safer than having to take our eyes off the road to read those same instructions on a screen.

Of course, the technology wizards will see the value of wearers being able to view incoming SMS messages and accessing all the other smart phone apps in this way and if the technology exists to use voice commands it will also be available to dictate outward messages - without your eyes leaving the scene ahead.

This originated from air warfare technology.  Instead of looking at a host of dials and screens, the information was projected onto the cockpit windscreen so that the pilot could access it without taking his eyes off the scene ahead.   It is interesting to note that when car manufacturers adopted the idea to project speed and other information to the car driver, the idea was dropped because it was deemed too intrusive from a safety point of view.

The big question will be whether a person viewing data before their eyes and seeing the normal view ahead of them - all at the same time - can do both tasks without loss of concentration leading to danger.
If talking on a mobile phone while driving is deemed too dangerous to allow, then viewing data on the surface of eyeware will certainly draw the concern of legal authorities.

There is usually a time gap between the arrival of new technology and the passing of laws to regulate it's use.  This was the experience in linking mobile phone use and driving, and probably it resulted in some road deaths - and many injuries from road accidents.

Fortunately, this new technology will not initially be cheap.   Prices of just under $ 1500 are predicted, but the combination of user demand and China's capacity to mass produce will see prices fall and if this follows the smart phone example, it will quickly become a " must have ".

Perhaps it is this form of technology that is driving research into putting the computer behind the wheel instead of a human driver.    Humans will shortly be too busy with their gadgets to safely perform a driving task !

Selective " Free Speech " !

Dictators and countries with a single ruling party claim to be democratic and allow free speech - just so long as the sentiments expressed support the party line and offer no criticism.    Here in Australia we believe that every citizen has the right to freely express their opinions and we claim that we guard this right fiercely.

A far right Dutch politician recently visited Australia to publicly lecture on his views opposing the influx of Muslims into western countries.   This proposed subject brought demonstrating crowds into the streets and many venues cancelled bookings at short notice.  A proposed public meeting in Western Australia was cancelled when no suitable arena could be found.

Geert Wilders has what some would call extreme views on the aspirations of Islam.   They attract support from many people, and they are bitterly opposed by many others.   There are " rights " on both side of the divide.    Those who go into the streets to protest what they see as " racism " are free to do so in our society, just so long as they do not interfere with Wilders right to express his opinion.   Unfortunately, the aim of these demonstraters seems to be to prevent Wilders speaking in public.

Now a new form of " punishment " has been visited on ordinary Australians whose " crime " was to log on to an ABC programme called " Making Australia Happy. "     It is suggested that the International hacker group - " Anonymous " hacked the ABC computers and has displayed on the net the passwords, user names, email addresses, locations and postcodes of those who logged in to have their say on this show.

This information can be used to create all sorts of mischief, from insults to identity theft and if the perpetrator is Anonymous it flies directly in the face of their stated aim - which is to prevent restrictions on the free flow of information on the Internet.   They are punishing people for having the temerity to have their say on a public forum !

The laws of Australia protect citizens from slander.  The right exists to sue for damages if a person is unjustly vilified or if the statements made are simply untrue.   Unfortunately, we are now seeing a growing trend to simply shut off the means for a unpopular point of view to get public air.   At protest meetings the crowd is quickly whipped into a frenzy and any speaker wishing to offer a contrary view could face physical attack.

This tactic of hacking media computers and putting personal details of those taking part in forums on the Internet will make many people reluctant to offer their contribution, and when that happens - it is the first move in shutting down free speech.   The whole point of the free speech ethos is the right to say what you think without reprisals from those of a different opinion.

The " Hacker " has an obvious advantage.  The skill to penetrate computers is even practised by governments for both defensive and offensive reasons, and the legion of private hackers comes from all walks of life - and all political, religious and academic persuasions.   They work in the shadows - and the extremes to which their results extend are only limited by their personal morality.

We still have the right to say what we think - but these days it may come with a personal price tag !