Australia is a great place to live ! It seems that actually getting a job and earning a living is entirely optional because of the lax criteria that applies to getting the Disability Support Pension - and in many ways - the DSP is little more than a joke !
Eight hundred thousand people in this country draw as much as $800 a fortnight because they supposedly are sufficiently incapacitated to hold down a job. There are no hard and fast rules and that incapacity can take many forms. For those who are more "work shy "than incapacitated, it is simply a matter of finding a General Practitioner with a sympathetic attitude who will not enquire too deeply into the nature of the claimed ailments.
If that GP is prepared to allocate the twenty points necessary to support the claim, it seems that Centrelink has little option other than to grant the DSP. From time to time that pensioner may be called upon to come in for an interview to determine that the incapacity remains, but it is rare for someone to be struck off the list - unless serious malpractice is both suspected - and proved !
From January 1 all that changes. Getting those twenty points is still the start of a DSP claim, but the applicant will then need to run the gauntlet of a panel of government appointed doctors whose main purpose is to carefully examine the extent of any incapacity - and determine whether a part pension and some light duties may be more applicable than just issueing a lifetime exclusion from the need to hold down a paying job.
Many people with genuine disabilities will welcome this intervention. The system has been so consistently rorted that to bring to notice that they receive the DSP is to invite derision. In just about every suburb there seems to be a person receiving the DSP who is seen kicking a football with the kids, mowing the lawn and doing various strenuous activities that are far beyond the degree of capacity claimed. Many boast about their "cleverness " in gaining a life of pleasure at the expense of the public purse !
It must also grate with the many people with genuine disabilities who still manage to hold down a job and have sought work that is not incompatible with those limitations. The jobs spectrum ranges widely and the wise improve their skills to counter ailments that preclude some activities - and many are key employees who have risen to positions of importance by sheer hard work and perseverance.
This review of the conditions that apply to the DSP is long overdue. It is a huge temptation for those seeking an easy life and quickly gains almost cult status in groups that struggle because of language difficulties - or who fail to adjust to the different life style that has evolved in this country. There is also a tendency of doctors of a similar foreign ancestry to be more sympathetic to the perceived disabilities of those of similar national identities.
A tightening of DSP eligibility rules should run in tandem with an increase in the facilities available to train those with disabilities to re-enter the workforce with new skills. In many cases, those with a physical disability may need an urgent upgrade in order to be able to work in the world of computers or providing telephone services. Further mental development to turn a manual labourer into an office worker can be rewarding in opening up new careers. In the majority of cases, this will require specialised training.
Australia has always been generous in supporting those with genuine disabilities - and that will continue. The impetus now should be directed at improving lifestyles by developing the latent work opportunities that exist alongside those disabilities.
Wednesday 31 December 2014
Tuesday 30 December 2014
Mixed Messages !
Thousands of police from all over the United States gathered in New York for the funeral of slain officer Rafael Ramos. Representatives of just about every police force in the country flew in a representative to express solidarity and the streets of the city were a sea of blue uniforms as civic leaders - including the vice president, Joe Biden - attended. This sent very different messages to very different groups of people !
Officer Ramos and his partner Wenjian Liu were in their police car when Ismaaiy Brinsley approached, pulled out a hand gun and shot both officers in the head, killing them both. Brinsley ran to a subway station where he used his gun to commit suicide.
Unfortunately, Brinsley's message prior to the killing linked it to the deaths by police of several unarmed black citizens and it was clearly a revenge motif. These deaths had provoked a very strong protest across all sections of society and there was a real chance that public opinion would force change in the way policing was conducted. There were calls for police officers to wear cameras on their uniforms so that interaction between the police and the public was recorded. The killing of these police officers muted that movement in it's tracks.
There was another signal that will send a message to many. New York's mayor, Bill de Blasio spoke at the funeral and because of the crowd size the ceremony was shown on huge billboards. Many of the police present turned their backs during de Blasio's speech because he had previously expressed the need for balance in policing - and some police regarded this as support for the assassin.
Of course the police must show support for a fallen comrade, but the message that some will interpret is a vindication of their actions - and a promise that nothing will change. It is a fact of life that America has a skin colour problem. Racial discrimination still exists and black people still represent the largest segment of the prison population - and unarmed blacks are much more likely to die of a police bullet than white people.
There are many parts of the country where a large majority of the citizens are black - and the police force is predominantly white. In such situations, the hated "stop and search " laws target black people and clearly discriminate on colour grounds. Many black skinned people fear the police - with good reason.
America has a gun culture that is protected by the constitution. The police need to use caution. There is an assumption that a suspect may be armed and they are quick to draw their weapon to protect themselves. A simple misunderstanding - someone reaches for their wallet to produce ID - can lead to tragedy. All too often a partisan grand jury chooses to accept the police officers version without a close examination of the facts - and exonerate responsibility for the death.
There is a clear danger that the mounting pressure to change this police culture may lead to more police killings and we could see a form of "jihardist " warfare emerge within the United States. One of the problems is that American policing is fragmented. Each town or city has it's own police force and this intermingles with state police forces, and then on a national basis law is covered by the FBI. Achieving some form of consensus across that spectrum will be a titanic task.
The message that emerged from this police funeral does not auger well for harmony. To some police, it will be interpreted as a call for unity - and more of the same. To the more radical black elements is may be a call to arms. Probably the best hope for quick national change would be implementing a law by Congress to require all police to wear body cameras - but given the political impasse in the country such consensus is unlikely.
Just when a circuit breaker seemed possible, this police funeral sent the opposite message.
Officer Ramos and his partner Wenjian Liu were in their police car when Ismaaiy Brinsley approached, pulled out a hand gun and shot both officers in the head, killing them both. Brinsley ran to a subway station where he used his gun to commit suicide.
Unfortunately, Brinsley's message prior to the killing linked it to the deaths by police of several unarmed black citizens and it was clearly a revenge motif. These deaths had provoked a very strong protest across all sections of society and there was a real chance that public opinion would force change in the way policing was conducted. There were calls for police officers to wear cameras on their uniforms so that interaction between the police and the public was recorded. The killing of these police officers muted that movement in it's tracks.
There was another signal that will send a message to many. New York's mayor, Bill de Blasio spoke at the funeral and because of the crowd size the ceremony was shown on huge billboards. Many of the police present turned their backs during de Blasio's speech because he had previously expressed the need for balance in policing - and some police regarded this as support for the assassin.
Of course the police must show support for a fallen comrade, but the message that some will interpret is a vindication of their actions - and a promise that nothing will change. It is a fact of life that America has a skin colour problem. Racial discrimination still exists and black people still represent the largest segment of the prison population - and unarmed blacks are much more likely to die of a police bullet than white people.
There are many parts of the country where a large majority of the citizens are black - and the police force is predominantly white. In such situations, the hated "stop and search " laws target black people and clearly discriminate on colour grounds. Many black skinned people fear the police - with good reason.
America has a gun culture that is protected by the constitution. The police need to use caution. There is an assumption that a suspect may be armed and they are quick to draw their weapon to protect themselves. A simple misunderstanding - someone reaches for their wallet to produce ID - can lead to tragedy. All too often a partisan grand jury chooses to accept the police officers version without a close examination of the facts - and exonerate responsibility for the death.
There is a clear danger that the mounting pressure to change this police culture may lead to more police killings and we could see a form of "jihardist " warfare emerge within the United States. One of the problems is that American policing is fragmented. Each town or city has it's own police force and this intermingles with state police forces, and then on a national basis law is covered by the FBI. Achieving some form of consensus across that spectrum will be a titanic task.
The message that emerged from this police funeral does not auger well for harmony. To some police, it will be interpreted as a call for unity - and more of the same. To the more radical black elements is may be a call to arms. Probably the best hope for quick national change would be implementing a law by Congress to require all police to wear body cameras - but given the political impasse in the country such consensus is unlikely.
Just when a circuit breaker seemed possible, this police funeral sent the opposite message.
Monday 29 December 2014
A Clash of Laws !
One of the most rapidly advancing aspects of health care is genetic testing. It used to cost thousands of dollars but this cost has dwindled to the point where it is now well within the reach of the average person - and it can save lives.
Men and women have a very real interest in knowing if they have defects in genes known as BRAC 1 and 2. This gene defect involves breast cancer in women and prostate cancer in men, and it indicates the risk factor may increase by eighty percent if it is present. It is not unusual for some women to choose to have their breasts surgically removed to ensure that this form of cancer will not end their lives.
Unfortunately, genetic testing is now coming into conflict with the disclosure requirements of the insurance industry. Whenever we apply for insurance cover it is standard for the insurer to ask for full details of our previous health history. They want to know what diseases we have suffered - what surgery has been performed - and if we have had genetic testing we are obliged to give them the results.
Insurance is all about risk management - and this sort of information results in the applicant being either accepted or declined for insurance cover, and that can have a drastic effect from inability to gain insurance to cover a home mortgage to the simple policy we usually have to protect us against accidents when we travel overseas. Failure to truthfully disclose such information in an insurance application may render the cover void.
We are now seeing many people refusing gene testing because of the possible effect on their ability to gain insurance cover. Using this to refuse cover is a form of discrimination that it illegal in the US, Germany, Sweden, Lithuania, France, Portugal,Norway, Austria, Denmark and Belgium - but not here in Australia.
It seems to be a clash of privacy. When we undergo gene testing we gain an insight into what may happen to us in the future. Before, testing speculation on possible health outcomes is nobody's business but our own - but once that test is performed disclosure laws require it to be put on the table on demand.
The laws in place in other countries to deny insurers the right to use the results of gene testing in approving or rejecting insurance applications seems to rest on the division between the past - and the future. It accepts that the insurer has every right to know everything about our health up to this point in time, but as the future will be decided by the hand of fate that can not be known with certainty - that is excluded from consideration.
It can be argued that gene testing improves the odds of prediction, but in the wisdom of many other parliaments that will be kept a secret between the gene testing laboratory and the patient. It will not be available to other parties to influence outcomes.
It is important that this situation in Australia be clarified. Gaining insurance usually requires a medical examination and any person who fails such a test knows that such a disclosure will automatically cause future rejection. In many cases, the cause of that initial failure may have been surgically corrected or medically cured, but the fact that a rejection has occurred will see future applications rejected out of hand. Such is the stigma they hold.
Gene testing is a medical tool with great promise. There is the likelihood that as costs continue to decline it may become an automatic diagnostic in all hospital admissions. If so, under the present law regime it could become a weapon that influences the fiscal health of the innocent because it would then automatically become part of that persons medical history.
It seems that at the moment, Australia is out of step with the rest of the world !
Men and women have a very real interest in knowing if they have defects in genes known as BRAC 1 and 2. This gene defect involves breast cancer in women and prostate cancer in men, and it indicates the risk factor may increase by eighty percent if it is present. It is not unusual for some women to choose to have their breasts surgically removed to ensure that this form of cancer will not end their lives.
Unfortunately, genetic testing is now coming into conflict with the disclosure requirements of the insurance industry. Whenever we apply for insurance cover it is standard for the insurer to ask for full details of our previous health history. They want to know what diseases we have suffered - what surgery has been performed - and if we have had genetic testing we are obliged to give them the results.
Insurance is all about risk management - and this sort of information results in the applicant being either accepted or declined for insurance cover, and that can have a drastic effect from inability to gain insurance to cover a home mortgage to the simple policy we usually have to protect us against accidents when we travel overseas. Failure to truthfully disclose such information in an insurance application may render the cover void.
We are now seeing many people refusing gene testing because of the possible effect on their ability to gain insurance cover. Using this to refuse cover is a form of discrimination that it illegal in the US, Germany, Sweden, Lithuania, France, Portugal,Norway, Austria, Denmark and Belgium - but not here in Australia.
It seems to be a clash of privacy. When we undergo gene testing we gain an insight into what may happen to us in the future. Before, testing speculation on possible health outcomes is nobody's business but our own - but once that test is performed disclosure laws require it to be put on the table on demand.
The laws in place in other countries to deny insurers the right to use the results of gene testing in approving or rejecting insurance applications seems to rest on the division between the past - and the future. It accepts that the insurer has every right to know everything about our health up to this point in time, but as the future will be decided by the hand of fate that can not be known with certainty - that is excluded from consideration.
It can be argued that gene testing improves the odds of prediction, but in the wisdom of many other parliaments that will be kept a secret between the gene testing laboratory and the patient. It will not be available to other parties to influence outcomes.
It is important that this situation in Australia be clarified. Gaining insurance usually requires a medical examination and any person who fails such a test knows that such a disclosure will automatically cause future rejection. In many cases, the cause of that initial failure may have been surgically corrected or medically cured, but the fact that a rejection has occurred will see future applications rejected out of hand. Such is the stigma they hold.
Gene testing is a medical tool with great promise. There is the likelihood that as costs continue to decline it may become an automatic diagnostic in all hospital admissions. If so, under the present law regime it could become a weapon that influences the fiscal health of the innocent because it would then automatically become part of that persons medical history.
It seems that at the moment, Australia is out of step with the rest of the world !
Sunday 28 December 2014
A Level Playing Field !
As things stand, an Australian shopkeeper is at a huge disadvantage when offering goods for sale to the Australian public. By law, they are obliged to add the ten percent Goods and Services tax ( GST ) to everything except exempt items such as food. An overseas Internet company can offer exactly that same item - without the need to charge the GST.
This problem arose because when the GST was first introduced to Australia, Internet shopping was in it's infancy and putting an exemption from the tax under a thousand dollars level was not considered worth the hassle of implementing the bureaucracy necessary to actually collect that tax. Since then, Internet shopping is seriously challenging bricks and mortar stores for market share - and we no longer have a level playing field.
It stands to reason that if a customer wishes to buy an expensive item which will attract a ten percent tax surcharge if purchased from a local store, but can be obtained tax free by clicking onto the website of an overseas supplier - the obvious buying decision does not favour the Australian supplier. Other countries protect their home market by imposing taxes such as the GST at far lower levels. In Canada it kicks in at $(A) 19, the UK $(A) 28 and the USA $(A) 187.
It seems likely that we will see a law change to implement the GST on all overseas purchases from a level as low as $20. The problem may be forcing trading giants such as Amazon and E-Bay to comply with what is an internal Australian tax law. It is likely that we will be accused of using this as a "protectionism "measure to shield our home market.
The fact that such tax arrangements are in place in other countries should ease the way for implementation, but in the absence of cooperation it would be possible to implement the GST at the point of entry, thus making the GST payable before the goods would be cleared by customs. Such a delay on speedy delivery would probably force overseas suppliers into compliance.
Our retailers have long been complaining of unfair competition and the need for a level playing field and it is important that this be implemented fairly quickly. The writing is on the wall that the GST will face pressure to be increased as it is really a state tax and there is a pressing need for more state revenue to fund services. It is quite possible that the GST may be raised to 15% - or even 18% - in the near future.
If that level of imbalance was allowed between imported goods and local sales it would simply decimate Australian suppliers. No doubt Australian shoppers will be sad to see the end of what was really "duty free "purchasing without the need to take an overseas trip to enjoy that privilege. It is quite possible that in bringing in changes to the level of GST tax, the old custom of buying duty free for overseas travellers may become a casualty. Today, travel has become so accessible to the masses that "duty free " has lost it's mystique !
We live in an ever changing world and what worked in the past in levying tax may not fit in with lifestyle changes and future earnings convulsions. It needs constant revision to keep pace with that change and what might have seemed radical in the past may now be necessary to fairly share the load
across varying income levels. There is a tendency now to tax when we spend our money - rather than tap into the income stream at the pay office level.
The one thing that is certain is that some sort of tax will be with us forever. It is a necessary evil because it pays for the services without which our civilization would collapse. The task for the Treasurer in selling tax is to present a system that the majority of people accept as being fair.
Clearly, the impost between local and Internet purchases does not meet that qualification !
This problem arose because when the GST was first introduced to Australia, Internet shopping was in it's infancy and putting an exemption from the tax under a thousand dollars level was not considered worth the hassle of implementing the bureaucracy necessary to actually collect that tax. Since then, Internet shopping is seriously challenging bricks and mortar stores for market share - and we no longer have a level playing field.
It stands to reason that if a customer wishes to buy an expensive item which will attract a ten percent tax surcharge if purchased from a local store, but can be obtained tax free by clicking onto the website of an overseas supplier - the obvious buying decision does not favour the Australian supplier. Other countries protect their home market by imposing taxes such as the GST at far lower levels. In Canada it kicks in at $(A) 19, the UK $(A) 28 and the USA $(A) 187.
It seems likely that we will see a law change to implement the GST on all overseas purchases from a level as low as $20. The problem may be forcing trading giants such as Amazon and E-Bay to comply with what is an internal Australian tax law. It is likely that we will be accused of using this as a "protectionism "measure to shield our home market.
The fact that such tax arrangements are in place in other countries should ease the way for implementation, but in the absence of cooperation it would be possible to implement the GST at the point of entry, thus making the GST payable before the goods would be cleared by customs. Such a delay on speedy delivery would probably force overseas suppliers into compliance.
Our retailers have long been complaining of unfair competition and the need for a level playing field and it is important that this be implemented fairly quickly. The writing is on the wall that the GST will face pressure to be increased as it is really a state tax and there is a pressing need for more state revenue to fund services. It is quite possible that the GST may be raised to 15% - or even 18% - in the near future.
If that level of imbalance was allowed between imported goods and local sales it would simply decimate Australian suppliers. No doubt Australian shoppers will be sad to see the end of what was really "duty free "purchasing without the need to take an overseas trip to enjoy that privilege. It is quite possible that in bringing in changes to the level of GST tax, the old custom of buying duty free for overseas travellers may become a casualty. Today, travel has become so accessible to the masses that "duty free " has lost it's mystique !
We live in an ever changing world and what worked in the past in levying tax may not fit in with lifestyle changes and future earnings convulsions. It needs constant revision to keep pace with that change and what might have seemed radical in the past may now be necessary to fairly share the load
across varying income levels. There is a tendency now to tax when we spend our money - rather than tap into the income stream at the pay office level.
The one thing that is certain is that some sort of tax will be with us forever. It is a necessary evil because it pays for the services without which our civilization would collapse. The task for the Treasurer in selling tax is to present a system that the majority of people accept as being fair.
Clearly, the impost between local and Internet purchases does not meet that qualification !
Saturday 27 December 2014
Defiant Drivers !
A news story is an all too familiar tale of defiance of our motoring laws that results in the death of an innocent person. Every holiday break sends the accident rate soaring and causes the police, the politicians and the road safety people to wring their hands and try and devise a better way to control the ever increasing traffic on our roads.
This particular incident illustrates the sheer defiance some people have for all forms of driver control. A twenty year old male was driving a large Landcruiser at night with it's lights turned off. He ran a red light at speed and collided with a small sedan, hurling it into the air and killing a female front seat passenger. This driver then fled the scene and was later apprehended by police, hiding in the garden of a nearby house. The police quickly discovered that this was a disqualified driver, serving a driving suspension for previous driving offences.
Police detection methods to weed out unregistered vehicles and those driving unlicensed are ever expanding. Most highway patrol cars are now equipped with "car license readers " which can read all the number plates in a traffic stream and sort them through the computer to not only detect stolen and unregistered vehicles, but correspond them with owners who are not permitted to drive under a suspension order.
The random use of breath testing to detect alcohol impaired divers is another hazard for the unlicensed, but nothing seems to stem the steady stream of drivers who are using our roads in sheer defiance of court orders and have no intention of changing their ways. Usually, when put before a court the magistrate imposes a hefty fine and extends the period of disqualification - which they then again ignore. Punishment seems to run to some sort of rule of thumb measure. Eventually, the really consistent offender gets a brief period of incarceration - but only as a last resort.
It is highly likely that this young man will get a significant term of imprisonment because his action resulted in a death. That will be the expectation of the public and no doubt the previous record of his driving convictions will be paraded as evidence that he is unsuitable to hold a valid driving license. Unfortunately, having a driving license is no longer a mere social obligation for most people. It has become a necessity for earning a living for many and it's cancellation throws many onto the dole queue. We live in a society where a motor vehicle has become a necessity.
This can become self defeating. The judiciary have started using driving license cancellation as a punishment for other than traffic measures. Some see it as a more effective punishment than a mere monetary fine, but when a driver gets caught unlicensed, the disqualification is usually extended and can quickly move out of reach. In some cases, drivers are barred for periods of years. A barred driver that obeys the law often becomes an "unperson ".
We need to be very careful that automatic disqualifications do not create situations that force individuals onto the wrong side of the law. A momentary lapse can easily morph into an impossible situation that can only be resolved by a further law breach - and from there it stretches into infinity. There is a clear distinction between those who will honour a reasonable punishment - and those with total disrespect to all forms of law.
Perhaps an escalating penalty might be an achievable deterrent. First offence brings a period of night driving suspension, allowing work related driving to be maintained. Second offence brings a loss of weekend liberty doing community work, but allows day driving to be maintained. Third offence brings confiscation of the car - and a period of incarceration. At least such a scheme divides the culprits who have respect for driving laws to maintain their lifestyle and make amends - from the totally incorrigible who have no intention of obeying any law.
The present system funnels all into an abyss from which there is no escape !
This particular incident illustrates the sheer defiance some people have for all forms of driver control. A twenty year old male was driving a large Landcruiser at night with it's lights turned off. He ran a red light at speed and collided with a small sedan, hurling it into the air and killing a female front seat passenger. This driver then fled the scene and was later apprehended by police, hiding in the garden of a nearby house. The police quickly discovered that this was a disqualified driver, serving a driving suspension for previous driving offences.
Police detection methods to weed out unregistered vehicles and those driving unlicensed are ever expanding. Most highway patrol cars are now equipped with "car license readers " which can read all the number plates in a traffic stream and sort them through the computer to not only detect stolen and unregistered vehicles, but correspond them with owners who are not permitted to drive under a suspension order.
The random use of breath testing to detect alcohol impaired divers is another hazard for the unlicensed, but nothing seems to stem the steady stream of drivers who are using our roads in sheer defiance of court orders and have no intention of changing their ways. Usually, when put before a court the magistrate imposes a hefty fine and extends the period of disqualification - which they then again ignore. Punishment seems to run to some sort of rule of thumb measure. Eventually, the really consistent offender gets a brief period of incarceration - but only as a last resort.
It is highly likely that this young man will get a significant term of imprisonment because his action resulted in a death. That will be the expectation of the public and no doubt the previous record of his driving convictions will be paraded as evidence that he is unsuitable to hold a valid driving license. Unfortunately, having a driving license is no longer a mere social obligation for most people. It has become a necessity for earning a living for many and it's cancellation throws many onto the dole queue. We live in a society where a motor vehicle has become a necessity.
This can become self defeating. The judiciary have started using driving license cancellation as a punishment for other than traffic measures. Some see it as a more effective punishment than a mere monetary fine, but when a driver gets caught unlicensed, the disqualification is usually extended and can quickly move out of reach. In some cases, drivers are barred for periods of years. A barred driver that obeys the law often becomes an "unperson ".
We need to be very careful that automatic disqualifications do not create situations that force individuals onto the wrong side of the law. A momentary lapse can easily morph into an impossible situation that can only be resolved by a further law breach - and from there it stretches into infinity. There is a clear distinction between those who will honour a reasonable punishment - and those with total disrespect to all forms of law.
Perhaps an escalating penalty might be an achievable deterrent. First offence brings a period of night driving suspension, allowing work related driving to be maintained. Second offence brings a loss of weekend liberty doing community work, but allows day driving to be maintained. Third offence brings confiscation of the car - and a period of incarceration. At least such a scheme divides the culprits who have respect for driving laws to maintain their lifestyle and make amends - from the totally incorrigible who have no intention of obeying any law.
The present system funnels all into an abyss from which there is no escape !
Friday 26 December 2014
A glance over our shoulder !
Those in a reflective mood at Christmas may wonder why the human race progressed so much in the past five hundred years - in comparison with the sixty thousand years that science estimates that we primates have lived on planet Earth.
For some strange reason it was in that mere flicker of time that human ingenuity made scientific discoveries - that completely changed the world. It is an interesting conjecture to try and guess what handful of "Eureka "moments resulted in the world in which we live today. Deciding the most important would surely provoke a lively argument.
In 1439 Johannes Gutenberg discovered how to make moveable type, creating the first printing press. Until that time, each and every book on the planet had been hand crafted by monks. They were usually religious works and were very valuable, and with the coming of printed matter came the quest for education which went hand in hand with the expanse of communication - and the spreading of "ideas ".
The moment that changed the world was James Watt's invention of the steam engine in 1712. For the first time, mankind was freed from the limitation of energy provided by the muscles of the human body or the energy provided by horses or other livestock. The steam engine powered machines that overcame the need for regular rest and very quickly that progressed to the locomotive that ran on rails, and suddenly that era of transport was connecting the world. For the first time, humans had overcome the speed limit imposed by the physical power of the horse.
Perhaps the most significant discovery of all time - was electricity, and it had many fathers. In 1752 Benjamin Franklin discovered that flying a kite in a lightning storm attracted an electrical discharge. By 1800 Italian physicist Allesandra Volta had managed to create the steady flow of an electrical charge, and then Michael Faraday in 1831 discovered how to make an electrical current flow through a wire. All this came together in 1878 - when Thomas Edison invented the incandescent light bulb. For the first time, planet earth had electric light.
From there is became a cascade of progress that was all reliant on electricity. The internal combustion engine that gave us personal mobility relied on that electrical spark to ignite petrol vapour and move cylinders. In 1909 Guglielmo Marconi won the Nobel prize for his discovery of radio transmission. The Wright brothers created powered flight, again relying on a combustion engine for power and then in 1947 physicists John Bardeen, Walter Brattain and William Shockley invented the transistor - and we were up and away in the age of miniaturization.
Today, electricity is present in every aspect of life - as we know it. Alan Turing gave us the age of the computer and with that came the Internet. Humankind has set foot on the moon and we have a permanent space station hovering in space. Nothing seems beyond the realm of future possibility, and all of that relies on the flow of electrical current. Perhaps the discovery of electricity is the most important invention of all time.
It is a sobering thought that the brain of Albert Einstein arrived at a formulae that led to the splitting of the atom, and from that line of thought we have developed a weapon that could deliver a thermonuclear pulse that would completely destroy the means of creating and distributing electricty as a result of it's detonation - sending the citizens of planet earth back to the stone age !
At the same time, perhaps that greatest living brain we have today - Stephen Hawking - has sounded a warning that we need to take care in the relentless race to develop artificial intelligence. He warns that we risk losing control, and it could "take off on it's own and redesign itself ". It may make us humans redundant !
Perhaps we should heed the wisdom of the genie that lived in a mythical lamp and when summonsed granted three wishes. It warned us to be "very careful what we wished for "!
For some strange reason it was in that mere flicker of time that human ingenuity made scientific discoveries - that completely changed the world. It is an interesting conjecture to try and guess what handful of "Eureka "moments resulted in the world in which we live today. Deciding the most important would surely provoke a lively argument.
In 1439 Johannes Gutenberg discovered how to make moveable type, creating the first printing press. Until that time, each and every book on the planet had been hand crafted by monks. They were usually religious works and were very valuable, and with the coming of printed matter came the quest for education which went hand in hand with the expanse of communication - and the spreading of "ideas ".
The moment that changed the world was James Watt's invention of the steam engine in 1712. For the first time, mankind was freed from the limitation of energy provided by the muscles of the human body or the energy provided by horses or other livestock. The steam engine powered machines that overcame the need for regular rest and very quickly that progressed to the locomotive that ran on rails, and suddenly that era of transport was connecting the world. For the first time, humans had overcome the speed limit imposed by the physical power of the horse.
Perhaps the most significant discovery of all time - was electricity, and it had many fathers. In 1752 Benjamin Franklin discovered that flying a kite in a lightning storm attracted an electrical discharge. By 1800 Italian physicist Allesandra Volta had managed to create the steady flow of an electrical charge, and then Michael Faraday in 1831 discovered how to make an electrical current flow through a wire. All this came together in 1878 - when Thomas Edison invented the incandescent light bulb. For the first time, planet earth had electric light.
From there is became a cascade of progress that was all reliant on electricity. The internal combustion engine that gave us personal mobility relied on that electrical spark to ignite petrol vapour and move cylinders. In 1909 Guglielmo Marconi won the Nobel prize for his discovery of radio transmission. The Wright brothers created powered flight, again relying on a combustion engine for power and then in 1947 physicists John Bardeen, Walter Brattain and William Shockley invented the transistor - and we were up and away in the age of miniaturization.
Today, electricity is present in every aspect of life - as we know it. Alan Turing gave us the age of the computer and with that came the Internet. Humankind has set foot on the moon and we have a permanent space station hovering in space. Nothing seems beyond the realm of future possibility, and all of that relies on the flow of electrical current. Perhaps the discovery of electricity is the most important invention of all time.
It is a sobering thought that the brain of Albert Einstein arrived at a formulae that led to the splitting of the atom, and from that line of thought we have developed a weapon that could deliver a thermonuclear pulse that would completely destroy the means of creating and distributing electricty as a result of it's detonation - sending the citizens of planet earth back to the stone age !
At the same time, perhaps that greatest living brain we have today - Stephen Hawking - has sounded a warning that we need to take care in the relentless race to develop artificial intelligence. He warns that we risk losing control, and it could "take off on it's own and redesign itself ". It may make us humans redundant !
Perhaps we should heed the wisdom of the genie that lived in a mythical lamp and when summonsed granted three wishes. It warned us to be "very careful what we wished for "!
Thursday 25 December 2014
A Peaceful World ?
Christmas Day ! In much of the world little kids wake to see what Santa Claus brought them during the night. People give one another presents - and that meal on Christmas day seems to be an extravangza of food. It is the one day of the year when all the shops are firmly shut - and yet in the rest of the world it is just another day.
Some people in a reflective mood engage in "what if " thoughts. What if this world had just one commonly held religion ? That would certainly shut down a lot of religious wars - and we could cobble together the good bits that do have some sort of agreement to create a religion that covers all bases. It would probably resemble that old alliteration than a "camel is a horse designed by a committee "- but surely it would be better than the mess we have now.
Another great point of contention are the lines drawn on maps that supposedly define national boundaries. In most cases they are a throw back to the colonial era. An explorer from a European country was the first to arrive in some part of the world, planted a flag on the beach and claimed it in the name of his king or emperor. It rubbed up against the find of some other country's explorer - and that became the boundary between competing colonies.
"What if " the United Nations declared all national boundaries invalid - and gave all the citizens of this world a ten year period to freely move and select where they chose to spend the rest of their lives ? That wouldn't probably work. Some parts of planet earth are vastly more desireable than others and the people who have the good luck to already live there would certainly resent an inflow of others - and fight to preserve their living space.
What about a common language ? Surely the ability to communicate should help iron out many world problems. English seems well on the way of filling that void. It is certainly the "commercial language " - and have you noticed that in the wide array of sport the winners today always seem to give a gracious acceptance speech in accented English ? English is also the required language for those who fly and direct the aviation industry.
Then there is the question of colour. Less than a century ago the intermarriage between whites and blacks was not only uncommon, it was illegal in many countries. Times have certainly changed and it seems likely that several centuries from now the colour of planet earth may have diverged to a light brown. It seems certain that people of small stature will become taller with access to more plentiful food and national characteristics will blend as genetic integration proceeds. The really big question is whether this assimilation will breed a more harmonious race of people ?
That brings up the matter of population - and our ability to feed the ever growing number of new world citizens ? The resources of planet earth are finite and we are already squabbling about water rights and the mix of mining and agriculture. Surely sanity must prevail ! Unfortunately, the greatest population surges are occurring in the regions that can least afford to feed and educate it's young people. Those hungry and illiterate are usually angry people - and that anger usually finds release in trying to take from others what they deem to be lacking in their lives.
It is a sobering thought on Christmas day to reflect that the former white races of Europe have for centuries dominated this world. We seem to be entering an age of equality. Countries considered poor and backward are gaining industry and competing with the old world order and the future looks like a much more homogenized planet.
Now "if only " the world has the wisdom to put aside it's differences of religion and clash of cultures and meld the supply of goods on a rational basis to spread prosperity. That would be possible if world leaders could find the foresight to integrate supply and demand to the national ability of member countries to contribute. Unfortunately, common sense usually comes a long way second to national aspirations !
Some people in a reflective mood engage in "what if " thoughts. What if this world had just one commonly held religion ? That would certainly shut down a lot of religious wars - and we could cobble together the good bits that do have some sort of agreement to create a religion that covers all bases. It would probably resemble that old alliteration than a "camel is a horse designed by a committee "- but surely it would be better than the mess we have now.
Another great point of contention are the lines drawn on maps that supposedly define national boundaries. In most cases they are a throw back to the colonial era. An explorer from a European country was the first to arrive in some part of the world, planted a flag on the beach and claimed it in the name of his king or emperor. It rubbed up against the find of some other country's explorer - and that became the boundary between competing colonies.
"What if " the United Nations declared all national boundaries invalid - and gave all the citizens of this world a ten year period to freely move and select where they chose to spend the rest of their lives ? That wouldn't probably work. Some parts of planet earth are vastly more desireable than others and the people who have the good luck to already live there would certainly resent an inflow of others - and fight to preserve their living space.
What about a common language ? Surely the ability to communicate should help iron out many world problems. English seems well on the way of filling that void. It is certainly the "commercial language " - and have you noticed that in the wide array of sport the winners today always seem to give a gracious acceptance speech in accented English ? English is also the required language for those who fly and direct the aviation industry.
Then there is the question of colour. Less than a century ago the intermarriage between whites and blacks was not only uncommon, it was illegal in many countries. Times have certainly changed and it seems likely that several centuries from now the colour of planet earth may have diverged to a light brown. It seems certain that people of small stature will become taller with access to more plentiful food and national characteristics will blend as genetic integration proceeds. The really big question is whether this assimilation will breed a more harmonious race of people ?
That brings up the matter of population - and our ability to feed the ever growing number of new world citizens ? The resources of planet earth are finite and we are already squabbling about water rights and the mix of mining and agriculture. Surely sanity must prevail ! Unfortunately, the greatest population surges are occurring in the regions that can least afford to feed and educate it's young people. Those hungry and illiterate are usually angry people - and that anger usually finds release in trying to take from others what they deem to be lacking in their lives.
It is a sobering thought on Christmas day to reflect that the former white races of Europe have for centuries dominated this world. We seem to be entering an age of equality. Countries considered poor and backward are gaining industry and competing with the old world order and the future looks like a much more homogenized planet.
Now "if only " the world has the wisdom to put aside it's differences of religion and clash of cultures and meld the supply of goods on a rational basis to spread prosperity. That would be possible if world leaders could find the foresight to integrate supply and demand to the national ability of member countries to contribute. Unfortunately, common sense usually comes a long way second to national aspirations !
Wednesday 24 December 2014
Retribution ?
There is a saying that "Power Corrupts - and that absolute power corrupts absolutely ! " - and that could certainly apply to a fine imposed on Coles by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission ( ACCC). The ACCC ordered this grocery behemoth to pay a ten million dollar fine and a further $1.25 million in legal costs - as well as repayments to suppliers gouged by it's profit reclamation practices that could run well over a further ten million dollars.
The massive Australian grocery trade is shared by just two supermarket chains and it seems that one of them used it's power to force it's suppliers to contribute unwillingly to it's profits on what it termed "Perfect Profit Day ". Coles levied what amounted to a "fine "for any product that failed to meet their "budgetted profit levels " and claimed back money for "waste " and "mark downs ". If a supplier refused, measures would be imposed that would be "commercially detrimental ". In other words, their products would disappear from sale on the supermarket's shelves.
Top management has apologised and promised that there will be no repeat of this practice, but welcome to the real world and examine this existing situation in the light of reality. The actions of the ACCC certainly constitute a win for the vast array of firms who supply the grocery trade, but bringing this malpractice to the attention of the ACCC will certainly come at a cost.
Undoubtedly, the imposition of these fines divided the suppliers into two camps. Some grumbled and moaned, but caved in to the power of their customer and accepted the deal. Others fought long and hard - and resisted to the point of lodging complaints which resulted in the ACCC investigation that led to Coles being shamed and fined.
The same management team remains in place at Coles and all those suppliers have to deal with this behemoth to get their product prominently displayed and offered to the public - and all the power remains with the supermarket. It is sheer human nature to expect that those who led the push against what can only be termed "commercial extortion " will be less favourably regarded than those who accepted without a whimper.
Some firms simply build in a factor in their price structure to accommodate expected price gouging as normal business practice when dealing with powerful market forces. They accept that any form of resistance brings consequences and their prime aim is to keep the supply of their goods flowing without interruption. More courageous firms stand on principle, and rebel when confronted with demands that are not normal business practice.
The ACCC exists to see that business is conducted on a level playing field and it's actions have struck down a practice that is not only illegal - but ethically immoral. Unfortunately, it has no power to ensure that whistle blowers are protected from retribution. The purchasing policies of traders are made on "commercial grounds " and that is the very basis for running a successful business. A huge variety of reasons can apply for selecting what is - and what is not - presented to the public.
The danger is that any firm that led the charge to counter unfair trading practices may gain a reputation as a "trouble maker " is the entire industry and find it's products being shunned. It is one of the disadvantages of allowing a small number of traders to completely dominate an industry that they have the power to decimate suppliers who draws their ire.
This ACCC fine will be a hollow victory if retribution thins the ranks of those who opposed an unfair profit grab !
The massive Australian grocery trade is shared by just two supermarket chains and it seems that one of them used it's power to force it's suppliers to contribute unwillingly to it's profits on what it termed "Perfect Profit Day ". Coles levied what amounted to a "fine "for any product that failed to meet their "budgetted profit levels " and claimed back money for "waste " and "mark downs ". If a supplier refused, measures would be imposed that would be "commercially detrimental ". In other words, their products would disappear from sale on the supermarket's shelves.
Top management has apologised and promised that there will be no repeat of this practice, but welcome to the real world and examine this existing situation in the light of reality. The actions of the ACCC certainly constitute a win for the vast array of firms who supply the grocery trade, but bringing this malpractice to the attention of the ACCC will certainly come at a cost.
Undoubtedly, the imposition of these fines divided the suppliers into two camps. Some grumbled and moaned, but caved in to the power of their customer and accepted the deal. Others fought long and hard - and resisted to the point of lodging complaints which resulted in the ACCC investigation that led to Coles being shamed and fined.
The same management team remains in place at Coles and all those suppliers have to deal with this behemoth to get their product prominently displayed and offered to the public - and all the power remains with the supermarket. It is sheer human nature to expect that those who led the push against what can only be termed "commercial extortion " will be less favourably regarded than those who accepted without a whimper.
Some firms simply build in a factor in their price structure to accommodate expected price gouging as normal business practice when dealing with powerful market forces. They accept that any form of resistance brings consequences and their prime aim is to keep the supply of their goods flowing without interruption. More courageous firms stand on principle, and rebel when confronted with demands that are not normal business practice.
The ACCC exists to see that business is conducted on a level playing field and it's actions have struck down a practice that is not only illegal - but ethically immoral. Unfortunately, it has no power to ensure that whistle blowers are protected from retribution. The purchasing policies of traders are made on "commercial grounds " and that is the very basis for running a successful business. A huge variety of reasons can apply for selecting what is - and what is not - presented to the public.
The danger is that any firm that led the charge to counter unfair trading practices may gain a reputation as a "trouble maker " is the entire industry and find it's products being shunned. It is one of the disadvantages of allowing a small number of traders to completely dominate an industry that they have the power to decimate suppliers who draws their ire.
This ACCC fine will be a hollow victory if retribution thins the ranks of those who opposed an unfair profit grab !
Tuesday 23 December 2014
Shonky Car Repairs !
Getting a car repaired to original condition after a crash has long been a nightmare for New South Wales motorists. In recent times the number of repairers offering service has dwindled and now it seems that the insurance industry is fast taking up stakes in those remaining - with the result that customers are being remorselessly steered to take their car to the repairer of their insurance company's choice. This is a practice banned in some countries, but allowed under Australian law.
The New South Wales government is about to implement a new code of practice and for the first time a term in prison will be a sentencing option for malpractice in the industry, but there are a lot of rules that need to be codified to clean up this industry.
One of the most glaring practices is the issue of genuine spare parts bearing the trademark and quality assurance of the car maker, and the fitting of unbranded, cheaper copies that may be of undetermined quality. In most cases, the owner is not consulted and a vaguely worded promise that "new "parts will be used seems to cover all bases.
In the case of older cars, original parts may no longer be available and a repairer might legitimately need to hunt the wrecking yards to obtain second hand parts to get that vehicle back on the road, but communication is the key and the owner should be made aware of actions taken.
The biggest danger to safety comes from unsuitable parts being used in repairs. Each new model contains upgrades of various items, but often a similar part from a previous model will fit but will not provide the engineering specification required of the new model. That is not something to discover when you are travelling at 110 kph on a freeway - and something breaks !
It is expected that this new repair code will be very strict on customer's right of choice in selecting the repair company to carry out repairs. Some insurers use various coercions to force the decision of their choice on owners and this has been used in the past to force down prices by deliberately withholding work from repairers who insist on using genuine parts and doing work of high standard.
Tightening of repair laws will also make it harder for criminal gangs to use "rebirth " practices to put absolutely lethal hybrid cars in the hands of an unsuspecting public. Hopefully, they will ban the sale of "written off "cars being sold at auction with their compliance plates still intact. The gangs use these compliance plates to legitimize a vehicle built from the recoverable parts of many wrecks - sometimes even a mixture of car brands - that has minimum safety standards. In many cases, cars are stolen to order to enable vital missing parts to complete the required appearance used to deceive the public.
Expect a tightening of the laws that apply to those licensed to provide "pink slip "registration inspections. Road safety is enhanced by a high proportion of new cars replacing older models and this provides an incentive to stiffen the inspection procedure. Whatever is fitted to an original model may be required to be kept working at such inspections - even if not even remotely associated with safety - to weed out older cars because of the cost of repairs. Should the electrical raising and lowering of a back seat window fail that would become reason to refuse a pink slip - and as many car owners have discovered to their dismay - replacement can cost north of five hundred dollars in repair cost.
It is obvious that car safety is best served by the regular replacement of the cars we drive with updated new designs. This review seems to be a two pronged move - to keep all existing cars in peak condition and to ensure that those repaired after accidents are brought back to peak safety standards - and to keep the car insurance industry honest !
The New South Wales government is about to implement a new code of practice and for the first time a term in prison will be a sentencing option for malpractice in the industry, but there are a lot of rules that need to be codified to clean up this industry.
One of the most glaring practices is the issue of genuine spare parts bearing the trademark and quality assurance of the car maker, and the fitting of unbranded, cheaper copies that may be of undetermined quality. In most cases, the owner is not consulted and a vaguely worded promise that "new "parts will be used seems to cover all bases.
In the case of older cars, original parts may no longer be available and a repairer might legitimately need to hunt the wrecking yards to obtain second hand parts to get that vehicle back on the road, but communication is the key and the owner should be made aware of actions taken.
The biggest danger to safety comes from unsuitable parts being used in repairs. Each new model contains upgrades of various items, but often a similar part from a previous model will fit but will not provide the engineering specification required of the new model. That is not something to discover when you are travelling at 110 kph on a freeway - and something breaks !
It is expected that this new repair code will be very strict on customer's right of choice in selecting the repair company to carry out repairs. Some insurers use various coercions to force the decision of their choice on owners and this has been used in the past to force down prices by deliberately withholding work from repairers who insist on using genuine parts and doing work of high standard.
Tightening of repair laws will also make it harder for criminal gangs to use "rebirth " practices to put absolutely lethal hybrid cars in the hands of an unsuspecting public. Hopefully, they will ban the sale of "written off "cars being sold at auction with their compliance plates still intact. The gangs use these compliance plates to legitimize a vehicle built from the recoverable parts of many wrecks - sometimes even a mixture of car brands - that has minimum safety standards. In many cases, cars are stolen to order to enable vital missing parts to complete the required appearance used to deceive the public.
Expect a tightening of the laws that apply to those licensed to provide "pink slip "registration inspections. Road safety is enhanced by a high proportion of new cars replacing older models and this provides an incentive to stiffen the inspection procedure. Whatever is fitted to an original model may be required to be kept working at such inspections - even if not even remotely associated with safety - to weed out older cars because of the cost of repairs. Should the electrical raising and lowering of a back seat window fail that would become reason to refuse a pink slip - and as many car owners have discovered to their dismay - replacement can cost north of five hundred dollars in repair cost.
It is obvious that car safety is best served by the regular replacement of the cars we drive with updated new designs. This review seems to be a two pronged move - to keep all existing cars in peak condition and to ensure that those repaired after accidents are brought back to peak safety standards - and to keep the car insurance industry honest !
Monday 22 December 2014
Buyer Beware !
One family got a very unpleasant surprise when they bought a house and had it demolished - and let a contract to build a sparkling new home on the site. An excavator was brought in to dig a hole for a swimming pool and the driver stopped work when his machine struck a solid object. Fearful that they might disturb a water main, sewer or some sort of service channel they called in the local council.
Council records disclosed no evidence of underground services and the operator was instructed to dig deeper - and uncovered a vast deposit of asbestos sheeting. It seems that this house had been renovated years previously and all the asbestos siding and roof material had been buried in the backyard rather than disposed of legally. Immediately the council issued a stop work order and demanded that not only the asbestos be removed, but also all the surrounding soil to remove contamination.
This work will need to be performed by a registered asbestos removal firm whose workers will wear protective clothing and have an independent air supply. The recovered material will be wet down, bagged and sent to an approved disposal site. It is not possible to calculate a firm price for this work until the extent is known, but the estimator has indicated that it will be at least sixty thousand dollars.
This has opened an interesting legal can of worms. Who is responsible - and who will have to foot the bill for the renovation costs ? The present and past site owners have run to their solicitors and if this develops into a long court action, the legal fees may even exceed the cost of building that new home on the site.
This is something that would be unlikely to cross the mind of any person considering a demolition to clear the way for a new home, but it should ring warning bells for those buying any pre-owned home. Appearances can be deceptive. There may have been illegal extensions and it is not unusual to find dodgy plumbing and wiring that has been done by unlicensed tradesmen. Often, this only comes to light when intended renovations bring the home to the attention of council inspectors - and such anomalies will be ordered to be corrected.
In Tasmania, when a house is offered for sale it is required that the new owner is presented with a disclosure statement detailing any work that has been carried out on the building, and should that prove deficient the onus falls back on the seller. That seems to be a very reasonable form of protection, and it should be given favourable consideration by all the other states.
Buying a home is usually the biggest transaction a person makes in their lifetime and rising costs are seeing the term of the loan being extended beyond twenty-five years. For the lowly paid, home ownership is a fast receding dream. It is quite possible that some time in the future it may become a task that consumes the incomes of several generations to finally lift the mortgage and gain ownership.
The average home seeker must choose between two buying options, either by private contract with a seller or bidding at an auction. Some lending institutions demand extensive pre-sale property searches before approving a loan and these may include a pest inspection and clearance from various government agencies. These costs are wasted if the bidder is unsuccessful at an auction - or the buyer is "gazumped " at the point of exchanging contracts. It has often been suggested that having these inspections carried out would be better required of the seller to avoid multiple costs borne by a range of unsuccessful applicants.
There has been little change in the rules that apply to property sales in recent years - and yet the price of property has increased exponentially. As that buried asbestos has shown, it is very much an area of "buyer beware ", but a few simple law changes could iron out many of the difficulties.
It's time the property exchange laws in this country were constant in all states !
Council records disclosed no evidence of underground services and the operator was instructed to dig deeper - and uncovered a vast deposit of asbestos sheeting. It seems that this house had been renovated years previously and all the asbestos siding and roof material had been buried in the backyard rather than disposed of legally. Immediately the council issued a stop work order and demanded that not only the asbestos be removed, but also all the surrounding soil to remove contamination.
This work will need to be performed by a registered asbestos removal firm whose workers will wear protective clothing and have an independent air supply. The recovered material will be wet down, bagged and sent to an approved disposal site. It is not possible to calculate a firm price for this work until the extent is known, but the estimator has indicated that it will be at least sixty thousand dollars.
This has opened an interesting legal can of worms. Who is responsible - and who will have to foot the bill for the renovation costs ? The present and past site owners have run to their solicitors and if this develops into a long court action, the legal fees may even exceed the cost of building that new home on the site.
This is something that would be unlikely to cross the mind of any person considering a demolition to clear the way for a new home, but it should ring warning bells for those buying any pre-owned home. Appearances can be deceptive. There may have been illegal extensions and it is not unusual to find dodgy plumbing and wiring that has been done by unlicensed tradesmen. Often, this only comes to light when intended renovations bring the home to the attention of council inspectors - and such anomalies will be ordered to be corrected.
In Tasmania, when a house is offered for sale it is required that the new owner is presented with a disclosure statement detailing any work that has been carried out on the building, and should that prove deficient the onus falls back on the seller. That seems to be a very reasonable form of protection, and it should be given favourable consideration by all the other states.
Buying a home is usually the biggest transaction a person makes in their lifetime and rising costs are seeing the term of the loan being extended beyond twenty-five years. For the lowly paid, home ownership is a fast receding dream. It is quite possible that some time in the future it may become a task that consumes the incomes of several generations to finally lift the mortgage and gain ownership.
The average home seeker must choose between two buying options, either by private contract with a seller or bidding at an auction. Some lending institutions demand extensive pre-sale property searches before approving a loan and these may include a pest inspection and clearance from various government agencies. These costs are wasted if the bidder is unsuccessful at an auction - or the buyer is "gazumped " at the point of exchanging contracts. It has often been suggested that having these inspections carried out would be better required of the seller to avoid multiple costs borne by a range of unsuccessful applicants.
There has been little change in the rules that apply to property sales in recent years - and yet the price of property has increased exponentially. As that buried asbestos has shown, it is very much an area of "buyer beware ", but a few simple law changes could iron out many of the difficulties.
It's time the property exchange laws in this country were constant in all states !
Sunday 21 December 2014
The Paradox !
Australia's three eastern states are locked in a battle to create the richest horse race in the world. The Melbourne Cup certainly holds the prize as this country's premier racing event, but both New South Wales and Queensland are studying the ways and means to launch a challenge.
Magic Millions owner Gerry Harvey is proposing a $ 10 million prize to focus horse racing on the Gold Coast while NSW Premier Mike Baird is pondering reducing his state's high rate of gambling taxes to fuel a cash prize that should bring world racing rushing to Sydney. Expanding the horse racing industry will not only create more jobs but the spin off in associated industries will hopefully reimburse the tax pool for the initial outlays.
It seems to be a paradox that at the same time enormous amounts of money are being gathered to provide a "winner takes all" pot for a horse race, the UNHCR is warning that it simply lacks the funds to feed the refugees displaced by wars in both Iraq and Syria. The northern hemisphere's winter has started and 1.7 million refugees have fled the fighting and are gathered in camps in Turkey, Lebanon,Jordan and Kurdish enclaves. Many of these refugees are women and children amount to more than half the numbers sheltering in appalling conditions. UNHCR has already been forced to stop issuing food vouchers because it lacks the money to pay for the supplies needed.
UNHCR has asked for $16 billion - and so far it has received only a trickle of funds. The world is suffering "charity over reach "at a time when their own economies are struggling and the "Charity belongs at home "message is gaining resonance. There is a very real danger that some people will actually starve to death or perish from lack of shelter when the worst of the northern winter hits the wretched refugee camps that have been cobbled together in parts of the world that are still in danger from war.
One of the problems is a reluctance by most countries to open their doors and accept their share of resettling those displaced by war. Many economies are struggling to come out of recession and still have high unemployment rates. The prospect of refugees competing for scarce jobs is anathema to many people and entry doors are being slammed shut on a world wide basis. Those countries with borders to the war zone have even tried to keep refugees out, but the human tide has been overwhelming - and now there is the prospect of famine to haunt the rich western world.
Of course the ideal situation would be for the war raging in Syria and Iraq to end - and those refugees to return home and start to reconstruct their lives with a little help from surrounding countries, but there seems no prospect of that happening anytime soon. In too many instances, once refugees find safety they put down roots and become a permanent underclass. Eventually, they are so resented by their unwilling hosts that their presence becomes a simmering tribal war. In time, such refugees can claim a right to citizenship of the country giving them shelter - leading to a schism that goes on for countless generations - and has been the source of much of the conflict within the states of Europe.
We risk a generation of children growing up without the benefit of education. Much of the existing world can barely provide primary grade facilities for it's vast hordes of young people - and this at a time when manual labouring jobs are being replaced by robotics. If we have legions of young people lacking the ability to read and write - and totally unsuitable for any sort of job which requires an understanding of basic science - then someone will see an opportunity to employ them - as soldiers.
The dispossessed are usually angry people and that anger is directed at whose who have achieved a better outcome in life. History is full of charismatic leaders who have emerged and taken their people to war as a means of fulfilling their lost dreams. We see it now where tribes that have been denied the rights of citizenship have taken up arms and are fighting the government of their country as a guerrilla force. Sometimes it is the clash of religions that fuel the battles.
No doubt at least one major new horse race will become an eventuality here in Australia - and no doubt UNHCR will beg and plead successfully and manage to stave off disaster for the majority of the refugees under it's care, Such is life in this strange world in which we live.
Magic Millions owner Gerry Harvey is proposing a $ 10 million prize to focus horse racing on the Gold Coast while NSW Premier Mike Baird is pondering reducing his state's high rate of gambling taxes to fuel a cash prize that should bring world racing rushing to Sydney. Expanding the horse racing industry will not only create more jobs but the spin off in associated industries will hopefully reimburse the tax pool for the initial outlays.
It seems to be a paradox that at the same time enormous amounts of money are being gathered to provide a "winner takes all" pot for a horse race, the UNHCR is warning that it simply lacks the funds to feed the refugees displaced by wars in both Iraq and Syria. The northern hemisphere's winter has started and 1.7 million refugees have fled the fighting and are gathered in camps in Turkey, Lebanon,Jordan and Kurdish enclaves. Many of these refugees are women and children amount to more than half the numbers sheltering in appalling conditions. UNHCR has already been forced to stop issuing food vouchers because it lacks the money to pay for the supplies needed.
UNHCR has asked for $16 billion - and so far it has received only a trickle of funds. The world is suffering "charity over reach "at a time when their own economies are struggling and the "Charity belongs at home "message is gaining resonance. There is a very real danger that some people will actually starve to death or perish from lack of shelter when the worst of the northern winter hits the wretched refugee camps that have been cobbled together in parts of the world that are still in danger from war.
One of the problems is a reluctance by most countries to open their doors and accept their share of resettling those displaced by war. Many economies are struggling to come out of recession and still have high unemployment rates. The prospect of refugees competing for scarce jobs is anathema to many people and entry doors are being slammed shut on a world wide basis. Those countries with borders to the war zone have even tried to keep refugees out, but the human tide has been overwhelming - and now there is the prospect of famine to haunt the rich western world.
Of course the ideal situation would be for the war raging in Syria and Iraq to end - and those refugees to return home and start to reconstruct their lives with a little help from surrounding countries, but there seems no prospect of that happening anytime soon. In too many instances, once refugees find safety they put down roots and become a permanent underclass. Eventually, they are so resented by their unwilling hosts that their presence becomes a simmering tribal war. In time, such refugees can claim a right to citizenship of the country giving them shelter - leading to a schism that goes on for countless generations - and has been the source of much of the conflict within the states of Europe.
We risk a generation of children growing up without the benefit of education. Much of the existing world can barely provide primary grade facilities for it's vast hordes of young people - and this at a time when manual labouring jobs are being replaced by robotics. If we have legions of young people lacking the ability to read and write - and totally unsuitable for any sort of job which requires an understanding of basic science - then someone will see an opportunity to employ them - as soldiers.
The dispossessed are usually angry people and that anger is directed at whose who have achieved a better outcome in life. History is full of charismatic leaders who have emerged and taken their people to war as a means of fulfilling their lost dreams. We see it now where tribes that have been denied the rights of citizenship have taken up arms and are fighting the government of their country as a guerrilla force. Sometimes it is the clash of religions that fuel the battles.
No doubt at least one major new horse race will become an eventuality here in Australia - and no doubt UNHCR will beg and plead successfully and manage to stave off disaster for the majority of the refugees under it's care, Such is life in this strange world in which we live.
Saturday 20 December 2014
Out of Darkness - Came Light !
There is no doubt that the Martin Place siege shocked Australia. Despite numerous warnings that a terrorist attack was imminent the fact that Man Haron Monis had taken ordinary people captive and was threatening mass murder galvanized the nation. It ended in a blaze of gunfire - with the gunman and two of our citizens dead.
The aftermath was amazing. Ordinary people chose to place flowers in Martin Place as a sign of respect for our two murdered victims and for many this recalled the floral tribute that arose in London following the untimely death of Princess Diana. Some people travelled hours by train to pay their respects and it was noticeable that within the crowds expressing grief there were many bearded men and women wearing the Islamic head scarves. This was not a clash of religions. It may have been the turning point here in Australia for many who follow the Islamic faith.
In the past there has been criticism that Muslims remained silent when news of atrocities overseas riled non Muslim Australians. To many, this was interpreted as silent support for the terrorists and yet it put many Muslims in a difficult position. They were torn between distaste for the actions of the terrorists and the need to be loyal to their religion, and fearful of the firebrands they must face when they attended prayers at their mosque.
There was a disconnect between the very real war being waged in other parts of the world and the life they were leading here in Australia. What happened in Martin Place this past week was not something happening "over there "! The real world had arrived "over here " and they could no longer ignore it.
It probably helped that in Pakistan came news of another sickening attack that repulsed Muslims still reeling from this siege. Seven al Qaeda gunmen entered a school and systematically slaughtered over a hundred students and their teachers. This departure from the principles that are part of the Muslim faith is something individuals must face - and it seems that Australian Muslims have at last found their voices.
Of course, all that horror will still be endorsed by the radical element that is intent on preaching jihad and which has a foothold here in Australia, but the wall of silence has been broken. The jihadists can no longer move openly in Australian society and rely on fellow Muslims to treat what they know with religious loyalty. Many Muslims came here as asylum seekers and it comes as something of a shock to find that the very conditions they sought to escape in their old country are now knocking on their new door - and has become an unwelcome visitor.
In one of those strange twists of fate, it seems that Man Haron Monis was not a disciple of either Islamic State or al Qaeda. He was simply a man with a severe personality disorder - hinging on madness - who chose to embrace his religion as the vehicle to deliver terror as he sought fame. He was both "mad and bad ", judging by the long list of events that brought him to public notice - and which included the alleged murder of his former wife.
The siege in Martin Place changed Australia. It has removed a barrier that existed between religions that should be able to coexist amicably if each respects the other.
The aftermath was amazing. Ordinary people chose to place flowers in Martin Place as a sign of respect for our two murdered victims and for many this recalled the floral tribute that arose in London following the untimely death of Princess Diana. Some people travelled hours by train to pay their respects and it was noticeable that within the crowds expressing grief there were many bearded men and women wearing the Islamic head scarves. This was not a clash of religions. It may have been the turning point here in Australia for many who follow the Islamic faith.
In the past there has been criticism that Muslims remained silent when news of atrocities overseas riled non Muslim Australians. To many, this was interpreted as silent support for the terrorists and yet it put many Muslims in a difficult position. They were torn between distaste for the actions of the terrorists and the need to be loyal to their religion, and fearful of the firebrands they must face when they attended prayers at their mosque.
There was a disconnect between the very real war being waged in other parts of the world and the life they were leading here in Australia. What happened in Martin Place this past week was not something happening "over there "! The real world had arrived "over here " and they could no longer ignore it.
It probably helped that in Pakistan came news of another sickening attack that repulsed Muslims still reeling from this siege. Seven al Qaeda gunmen entered a school and systematically slaughtered over a hundred students and their teachers. This departure from the principles that are part of the Muslim faith is something individuals must face - and it seems that Australian Muslims have at last found their voices.
Of course, all that horror will still be endorsed by the radical element that is intent on preaching jihad and which has a foothold here in Australia, but the wall of silence has been broken. The jihadists can no longer move openly in Australian society and rely on fellow Muslims to treat what they know with religious loyalty. Many Muslims came here as asylum seekers and it comes as something of a shock to find that the very conditions they sought to escape in their old country are now knocking on their new door - and has become an unwelcome visitor.
In one of those strange twists of fate, it seems that Man Haron Monis was not a disciple of either Islamic State or al Qaeda. He was simply a man with a severe personality disorder - hinging on madness - who chose to embrace his religion as the vehicle to deliver terror as he sought fame. He was both "mad and bad ", judging by the long list of events that brought him to public notice - and which included the alleged murder of his former wife.
The siege in Martin Place changed Australia. It has removed a barrier that existed between religions that should be able to coexist amicably if each respects the other.
Friday 19 December 2014
A Dangerous World !
At the moment, the greatest danger facing the western world is how the unpredictable President of Russia will react to the financial noose that is tightening around his neck Vladimir Putin has gathered the reins of power so totally that he is a dictator with the same absolute power as previously exercised by the Russian Czars - and after the revolution - by Josef Stalin.
His proxy war with Ukraine resulted in western sanctions that coincided with a glut of oil sending the price world wide to below sixty dollars a barrel. Both have been disastrous for the Russian economy and the Rouble has slid to more than half it's previous exchange rate with the American dollar. There are now shortages in Russian shops and the bank interest rate has shot up to seventeen percent, imposing hardship on both business and ordinary citizens - and there is probably worse to come.
The Russian economy is the world's eighth biggest and it's most important item of trade has been oil and gas. Lack of finance has seen a bold plan to create a new pipeline named "SouthStream "across the Black Sea to supply eastern Europe with gas abandoned. There is a danger that the economic situation may force Russia to default on it's overseas debt, in which case the interest charged on Russian bonds will skyrocket.
A wounded Russian bear would be a very dangerous animal - and part of the afflictions Russia is suffering is caused by it's own actions. President Putin is determined to restore the might and power of the previous Soviet Union and that involves restoring Russian power over it's previous array of client states - and he started making aggressive moves on Ukraine. It is likely that he also has his eyes on reclaiming the former Baltic states.
Putin gambled and won when he invaded Crimea and promptly annexed it. He has adopted a strategy of inciting rebellion amongst Russian speaking citizens of Ukraine and reinforcing them with out of uniform Russian soldiers and a supply of weapons and ammunition. This met with approval from the Russian people and Putin's approval rating rose to dizzy heights. Previous discontent faded away - and now he may again use that tactic to disguise the hardships the Russian economy must endure.
Putin has total control of the media within Russia. The newspapers and television tell the people exactly what he wants them to hear and it is possible he will blame the economic meltdown on the United States and the European Union. He may claim that the drop in oil prices was caused by America entering the oil market with tar sand oil production and CSG extraction and that western sanctions are a form of economic war to cripple Russia as a world economy.
An appeal to nationalism would probably coincide with a further adventure in Ukraine. If Putin was convinced that the west would not go to war over what a fragmented Europe might decide was simply a Ukrainian civil war, then encouraging the Russian speaking rebels to enlarge their hold on the entire country would provide cover.
Getting consensus within the gouping of the EU is like trying to herd cats. The terms of NATO ensure mutual protection in the case of an attack on any member, but Ukraine is not a member - and Putin would be careful to ensure that no national border was breached. It would be an opportunity to fine tune the Russian war machine - at a time when NATO resources are depleted and America has virtually withdrawn from Europe.
It seems that world peace is balanced on a fine edge. To a great degree, what happens next depends on what decisions are reached in the mind of just one man who holds an extraordinary grip on power in one of the world's biggest nations.
His proxy war with Ukraine resulted in western sanctions that coincided with a glut of oil sending the price world wide to below sixty dollars a barrel. Both have been disastrous for the Russian economy and the Rouble has slid to more than half it's previous exchange rate with the American dollar. There are now shortages in Russian shops and the bank interest rate has shot up to seventeen percent, imposing hardship on both business and ordinary citizens - and there is probably worse to come.
The Russian economy is the world's eighth biggest and it's most important item of trade has been oil and gas. Lack of finance has seen a bold plan to create a new pipeline named "SouthStream "across the Black Sea to supply eastern Europe with gas abandoned. There is a danger that the economic situation may force Russia to default on it's overseas debt, in which case the interest charged on Russian bonds will skyrocket.
A wounded Russian bear would be a very dangerous animal - and part of the afflictions Russia is suffering is caused by it's own actions. President Putin is determined to restore the might and power of the previous Soviet Union and that involves restoring Russian power over it's previous array of client states - and he started making aggressive moves on Ukraine. It is likely that he also has his eyes on reclaiming the former Baltic states.
Putin gambled and won when he invaded Crimea and promptly annexed it. He has adopted a strategy of inciting rebellion amongst Russian speaking citizens of Ukraine and reinforcing them with out of uniform Russian soldiers and a supply of weapons and ammunition. This met with approval from the Russian people and Putin's approval rating rose to dizzy heights. Previous discontent faded away - and now he may again use that tactic to disguise the hardships the Russian economy must endure.
Putin has total control of the media within Russia. The newspapers and television tell the people exactly what he wants them to hear and it is possible he will blame the economic meltdown on the United States and the European Union. He may claim that the drop in oil prices was caused by America entering the oil market with tar sand oil production and CSG extraction and that western sanctions are a form of economic war to cripple Russia as a world economy.
An appeal to nationalism would probably coincide with a further adventure in Ukraine. If Putin was convinced that the west would not go to war over what a fragmented Europe might decide was simply a Ukrainian civil war, then encouraging the Russian speaking rebels to enlarge their hold on the entire country would provide cover.
Getting consensus within the gouping of the EU is like trying to herd cats. The terms of NATO ensure mutual protection in the case of an attack on any member, but Ukraine is not a member - and Putin would be careful to ensure that no national border was breached. It would be an opportunity to fine tune the Russian war machine - at a time when NATO resources are depleted and America has virtually withdrawn from Europe.
It seems that world peace is balanced on a fine edge. To a great degree, what happens next depends on what decisions are reached in the mind of just one man who holds an extraordinary grip on power in one of the world's biggest nations.
Thursday 18 December 2014
Police Immunity !
The refusal to put police before a court to answer charges of excessive force causing the death of suspects is causing unease on a world wide basis. The families of victims have every reason to expect that the full circumstances will be examined in an open court but usually the police involved are totally exonerated by an enquiry conducted by fellow officers.
A "death in custody "event here in Sydney has languished for two years and nine months without coming to closure - and now that it finally made it to a court hearing many will be far from satisfied with the outcome.
On March 18, 2012 a young Brazilian student became affected by some sort of illegal drug and ran into a Sydney CBD convenience store and stole a packet of biscuits. A police radio report of the incident mistakenly described it as an "armed robbery "and this resulted in eleven police officers chasing the student, tackling him, applying handcuffs - and attempting to make an arrest. The student resisted violently.
What is not denied is that this young man was tasered nine times - and two full cans of capsicum spray were directed at him. He died at the scene. It was claimed that this was a total over reaction and there has been continuous foot dragging in having the arresting officers brought before a court and judged on whether this constituted a criminal act.
Finally - four officers were charged with assault - and three of them were summarily found to be "not guilty ". The fourth was found guilty of " assault causing actual bodily harm and common assault ". The magistrate decided not to record a conviction and record a mark against this officer, and placed him on a two year good behaviour bond.
This seems to confer an aura of impunity on police officers whenever they overstep the bounds of excessive force in carrying out their duties. The Taser is a weapon only slightly inferior to a police firearm and the fact that it was used nine times in subduing an offender in the hands of multiple police officers must be a cause for alarm.
Capsicum spray is also a substance that has the capacity to cause death. It is intended to be used sparingly to irritate the nose and cause weeping eyes to discourage hostile crowds of people. If sprayed into a suspects face constantly and at close quarters it would certainly impair that persons breathing function. The use of two full cans on a single person would certainly need explanation.
The police do a difficult job. They encounter violent people and they suffer injuries in making arrests. It is necessary for them to deal in violence in many cases and often they face claims of using excessive force, but they are not above the law. There seems to be a growing tendency for the world's police forces to use their muscle to intimidate governments into accepting police excesses without bringing the offending officers to justice. Governments see their police force as the insulating factor standing between them and the restless citizenry - and will do nothing to fray that bond of loyalty.
Part of the answer would be to insist on police officers wearing body cameras, but once again that reluctance to impose limits comes into play. Police Taser guns have a built-in camera, but in most controversial incidents - it was not activated. Police interviews are supposed to be both verbally and digitally recorded, but so often in events where violence has occurred - there is a claimed "mishap "with the recording device. It seems strange that these devices always seem to be working when the evidence suits the police case - and malfunction only when the evidence would be detrimental to what police claim actually happened.
The danger comes if the public lose confidence in the police. In some parts of the world, the police are as much feared as the criminal elements in society. Some even claim that they are much the same in their deprivation of civil rights and worldly goods. If we ever reach that stage in Australia - then we are in very serious trouble.
Both the government - and the judiciary - need to impose limits on police powers !
A "death in custody "event here in Sydney has languished for two years and nine months without coming to closure - and now that it finally made it to a court hearing many will be far from satisfied with the outcome.
On March 18, 2012 a young Brazilian student became affected by some sort of illegal drug and ran into a Sydney CBD convenience store and stole a packet of biscuits. A police radio report of the incident mistakenly described it as an "armed robbery "and this resulted in eleven police officers chasing the student, tackling him, applying handcuffs - and attempting to make an arrest. The student resisted violently.
What is not denied is that this young man was tasered nine times - and two full cans of capsicum spray were directed at him. He died at the scene. It was claimed that this was a total over reaction and there has been continuous foot dragging in having the arresting officers brought before a court and judged on whether this constituted a criminal act.
Finally - four officers were charged with assault - and three of them were summarily found to be "not guilty ". The fourth was found guilty of " assault causing actual bodily harm and common assault ". The magistrate decided not to record a conviction and record a mark against this officer, and placed him on a two year good behaviour bond.
This seems to confer an aura of impunity on police officers whenever they overstep the bounds of excessive force in carrying out their duties. The Taser is a weapon only slightly inferior to a police firearm and the fact that it was used nine times in subduing an offender in the hands of multiple police officers must be a cause for alarm.
Capsicum spray is also a substance that has the capacity to cause death. It is intended to be used sparingly to irritate the nose and cause weeping eyes to discourage hostile crowds of people. If sprayed into a suspects face constantly and at close quarters it would certainly impair that persons breathing function. The use of two full cans on a single person would certainly need explanation.
The police do a difficult job. They encounter violent people and they suffer injuries in making arrests. It is necessary for them to deal in violence in many cases and often they face claims of using excessive force, but they are not above the law. There seems to be a growing tendency for the world's police forces to use their muscle to intimidate governments into accepting police excesses without bringing the offending officers to justice. Governments see their police force as the insulating factor standing between them and the restless citizenry - and will do nothing to fray that bond of loyalty.
Part of the answer would be to insist on police officers wearing body cameras, but once again that reluctance to impose limits comes into play. Police Taser guns have a built-in camera, but in most controversial incidents - it was not activated. Police interviews are supposed to be both verbally and digitally recorded, but so often in events where violence has occurred - there is a claimed "mishap "with the recording device. It seems strange that these devices always seem to be working when the evidence suits the police case - and malfunction only when the evidence would be detrimental to what police claim actually happened.
The danger comes if the public lose confidence in the police. In some parts of the world, the police are as much feared as the criminal elements in society. Some even claim that they are much the same in their deprivation of civil rights and worldly goods. If we ever reach that stage in Australia - then we are in very serious trouble.
Both the government - and the judiciary - need to impose limits on police powers !
Wednesday 17 December 2014
Predatory Pricing !
This week saw a hostage situation that shut down the Sydney CBD. Bus and train services were disrupted and people evacuated from office buildings in the heart of the city. Most had to make alternative travel arrangements just to get home at the end of the day - and Sydney saw a prime example of predatory pricing.
Uber - this new service that encourages citizens to use their private cars to provide a cut price taxi service - immediately took advantage of high demand by imposing a minimum fare of one hundred dollars for every trip. It drew a huge groundswell of outrage and it was quickly rescinded and some cars offered a free ride out of the city CBD as a form of compensation.
Many citizens have mixed feelings about what Uber is offering. It brings a taxi service into the ubiquitous area of servicing by app. The enticement is a fare calculated by the Uber company based on the distance travelled that is much cheaper than the fares charged by the metered cab services.
The down side is that the car that arrives to deliver the service can be any make or model on the market - and of any age and condition. That same criteria applies to the driver. It could be a man - or a woman. He or she may be young - or very old. Their driving skills and history behind the wheel - is completely unknown. Anyone stepping into that cab is taking a big chance - and hoping for the best !
The response to that siege underscores the difference between Uber and traditional cab companies. Uber drivers are not scheduled and take up fares when and if they please. The fare hike was intended to motivate more drivers to get in their cars and come and service the inner city. It is very much an ad hoc situation in contrast to the predictability of the metered cab fleets.
The traditional cabs live by a very different code. Their cars are of a uniform colour and carry identifiable signage. Their drivers wear a uniform and they operate from known taxi stands in convenient parts of the city. Cabs have regular inspections and are required to be clean and serviceable. The person driving has to display personal identification - and the charge is constantly in view from a meter recording the cost of the journey.
The other big difference is that the number of taxi license plates is strictly regulated - and each exchanges ownership for a very big fee. This is devalued if competitors can freely steal fares from traditional taxis by offering cheaper prices and avoid all the obligations imposed on the registered cab companies. It brings freelancers into the realm of "Gypsy "cab fleets that operate on the fringes of many overseas big cities .
The legal situation appears to be opaque. Some jurisdictions have cracked down hard on the Uber principle and seek to protect the livelihood of the registered cabs which pay a big license fee for their right to trade. The issue of insurance protection is also unclear. At the moment this is still being determined by legal minds and even the insurance industry is uncertain. In all probability, it will take the outcome of a high profile court case to clear the air.
This price hike to take advantage of an inner city siege certainly throws the spotlight on the contrast between the two systems. The metered cabs continued to do business unchanged - and the newcomers hiked their prices outrageously. Perhaps a very good reason for the licensing authority to inject a little sanity into this pricing situation !
Uber - this new service that encourages citizens to use their private cars to provide a cut price taxi service - immediately took advantage of high demand by imposing a minimum fare of one hundred dollars for every trip. It drew a huge groundswell of outrage and it was quickly rescinded and some cars offered a free ride out of the city CBD as a form of compensation.
Many citizens have mixed feelings about what Uber is offering. It brings a taxi service into the ubiquitous area of servicing by app. The enticement is a fare calculated by the Uber company based on the distance travelled that is much cheaper than the fares charged by the metered cab services.
The down side is that the car that arrives to deliver the service can be any make or model on the market - and of any age and condition. That same criteria applies to the driver. It could be a man - or a woman. He or she may be young - or very old. Their driving skills and history behind the wheel - is completely unknown. Anyone stepping into that cab is taking a big chance - and hoping for the best !
The response to that siege underscores the difference between Uber and traditional cab companies. Uber drivers are not scheduled and take up fares when and if they please. The fare hike was intended to motivate more drivers to get in their cars and come and service the inner city. It is very much an ad hoc situation in contrast to the predictability of the metered cab fleets.
The traditional cabs live by a very different code. Their cars are of a uniform colour and carry identifiable signage. Their drivers wear a uniform and they operate from known taxi stands in convenient parts of the city. Cabs have regular inspections and are required to be clean and serviceable. The person driving has to display personal identification - and the charge is constantly in view from a meter recording the cost of the journey.
The other big difference is that the number of taxi license plates is strictly regulated - and each exchanges ownership for a very big fee. This is devalued if competitors can freely steal fares from traditional taxis by offering cheaper prices and avoid all the obligations imposed on the registered cab companies. It brings freelancers into the realm of "Gypsy "cab fleets that operate on the fringes of many overseas big cities .
The legal situation appears to be opaque. Some jurisdictions have cracked down hard on the Uber principle and seek to protect the livelihood of the registered cabs which pay a big license fee for their right to trade. The issue of insurance protection is also unclear. At the moment this is still being determined by legal minds and even the insurance industry is uncertain. In all probability, it will take the outcome of a high profile court case to clear the air.
This price hike to take advantage of an inner city siege certainly throws the spotlight on the contrast between the two systems. The metered cabs continued to do business unchanged - and the newcomers hiked their prices outrageously. Perhaps a very good reason for the licensing authority to inject a little sanity into this pricing situation !
Tuesday 16 December 2014
Cat and Mouse Game !
The cops have good reason to be crowing about their recent drug busts. A succession of spectacular swoops have netted drugs destined for the Australian drug scene that would have enriched the drug gangs with billion dollar profits. Of course, the value they bring on Australian streets is a huge multiple of the cost of procurement on the overseas drug markets, but it still represents a very big loss to the finances of the drug cartels.
It seems that these successes are bringing about a change of plan. The cartels are steering away from attempts to evade customs with big shipments and have turned to using Australia Post to "dribble "small amounts scattered over the vast array of parcel and letter post entering the country. It is now estimated that 94% of Cocaine and 86% of Methamphetamine imports are using this form of entry.
It is the "scattergun "approach. The cartels know that sniffer dogs and clever customs investigators will discover some drugs hidden in a range of disguises, but there is every expectation that a big percentage will evade the searchers. The sheer volume of inward mail puts the probability of success on the side of the cartels.
In the past, drug "mules "were another preferred way of getting drugs past customs. In many cases, these mules were addicted drug users and the incentive for trying their hand by either bringing in drugs secreted in their luggage - or carrying drugs sealed in condoms and swallowed - was a portion of the drugs involved as payment. Failure could bring death, if a condom ruptured or the drug was detected in a country with the death penalty for drug possession - or a long prison term if they were caught here in Australia.
The methodology has changed. The cartels are now adept at persuading total strangers to do them a small favour by delivering an innocent item to a friend here in Australia, and in the vast number of such instances that stranger is totally unaware that drugs are concealed - and they are being used as a drug courier. They particularly prey on the elderly. Customs would be least suspicious of a grandmother returning from a trip to Asia with the usual mementos and gifts to distribute to friends and family.
It is fast changing into a cat and mouse game. There is no doubt that busts of big drug shipments have hurt the cartel's finances badly - and these people are professionals. This is organized crime and big money is involved. They will do "whatever it takes "to keep the supply of drugs moving and that can involve bribe money or even murder to remove obstacles.
We have seen how this form of corruption has completely changed the nature of law enforcement in some overseas countries. In Mexico whole cities have fallen under a "Narco regime "and even the police have become agents of the gangs. The core elements of this dilemma are already present in Australia where rival motorcycle gangs have a major part in drug distribution and openly fight one another with guns on the streets of Sydney.
The other troubling aspect - is the changing nature of the drugs favoured by the public. Marijuana is still the most popular drug and it's effects are similar to alcohol. Heroin used to be what was considered the "most dangerous "drug and it was responsible for many "overdose "deaths, but again it was not known to cause dangerous aggression. It was usually the cause of incidents of "break, enter and steal "-as common burglary was known - as addicts sought finance to feed their addiction.
Today, the fastest growing illicit drug is "Ice ". It is highly addictive and relatively cheap - and it causes users to become violently aggressive. Police making arrests testify to the strength it seems to give users and the ferocity of their struggle to avoid arrest. In many cases, capsicum spray is simply ignored and it takes the efforts of multiple officers to bring the addict under control. Many of the unprovoked attacks on city streets are thought to be Ice induced.
The big question is - what comes next ?
People with degrees in chemistry and rank amateurs vie to combine chemicals to achieve the "high "that customers demand - and the more addictive the drug the better. Inevitably, there will be a drug that enters the market and supersedes Ice and it may be something fairly innocuous that has been tweaked to give it new properties. In many cases, these new drugs circumvent the law because they are a combination of legal ingredients. They only become illegal once their characteristics become known and a law is passed to make them a banned substance.
It is a war we are destined never to win. As long as the demand for "party drugs "continues to exist, the huge money to be made by those taking the risks to supply will ensure that all obstacles are overcome. The best we can hope for is continued success in the "cat and mouse "game that keeps organized crime within reasonable limits.
What has happened overseas in many other countries is a chilling foretaste of what failure could bring !
It seems that these successes are bringing about a change of plan. The cartels are steering away from attempts to evade customs with big shipments and have turned to using Australia Post to "dribble "small amounts scattered over the vast array of parcel and letter post entering the country. It is now estimated that 94% of Cocaine and 86% of Methamphetamine imports are using this form of entry.
It is the "scattergun "approach. The cartels know that sniffer dogs and clever customs investigators will discover some drugs hidden in a range of disguises, but there is every expectation that a big percentage will evade the searchers. The sheer volume of inward mail puts the probability of success on the side of the cartels.
In the past, drug "mules "were another preferred way of getting drugs past customs. In many cases, these mules were addicted drug users and the incentive for trying their hand by either bringing in drugs secreted in their luggage - or carrying drugs sealed in condoms and swallowed - was a portion of the drugs involved as payment. Failure could bring death, if a condom ruptured or the drug was detected in a country with the death penalty for drug possession - or a long prison term if they were caught here in Australia.
The methodology has changed. The cartels are now adept at persuading total strangers to do them a small favour by delivering an innocent item to a friend here in Australia, and in the vast number of such instances that stranger is totally unaware that drugs are concealed - and they are being used as a drug courier. They particularly prey on the elderly. Customs would be least suspicious of a grandmother returning from a trip to Asia with the usual mementos and gifts to distribute to friends and family.
It is fast changing into a cat and mouse game. There is no doubt that busts of big drug shipments have hurt the cartel's finances badly - and these people are professionals. This is organized crime and big money is involved. They will do "whatever it takes "to keep the supply of drugs moving and that can involve bribe money or even murder to remove obstacles.
We have seen how this form of corruption has completely changed the nature of law enforcement in some overseas countries. In Mexico whole cities have fallen under a "Narco regime "and even the police have become agents of the gangs. The core elements of this dilemma are already present in Australia where rival motorcycle gangs have a major part in drug distribution and openly fight one another with guns on the streets of Sydney.
The other troubling aspect - is the changing nature of the drugs favoured by the public. Marijuana is still the most popular drug and it's effects are similar to alcohol. Heroin used to be what was considered the "most dangerous "drug and it was responsible for many "overdose "deaths, but again it was not known to cause dangerous aggression. It was usually the cause of incidents of "break, enter and steal "-as common burglary was known - as addicts sought finance to feed their addiction.
Today, the fastest growing illicit drug is "Ice ". It is highly addictive and relatively cheap - and it causes users to become violently aggressive. Police making arrests testify to the strength it seems to give users and the ferocity of their struggle to avoid arrest. In many cases, capsicum spray is simply ignored and it takes the efforts of multiple officers to bring the addict under control. Many of the unprovoked attacks on city streets are thought to be Ice induced.
The big question is - what comes next ?
People with degrees in chemistry and rank amateurs vie to combine chemicals to achieve the "high "that customers demand - and the more addictive the drug the better. Inevitably, there will be a drug that enters the market and supersedes Ice and it may be something fairly innocuous that has been tweaked to give it new properties. In many cases, these new drugs circumvent the law because they are a combination of legal ingredients. They only become illegal once their characteristics become known and a law is passed to make them a banned substance.
It is a war we are destined never to win. As long as the demand for "party drugs "continues to exist, the huge money to be made by those taking the risks to supply will ensure that all obstacles are overcome. The best we can hope for is continued success in the "cat and mouse "game that keeps organized crime within reasonable limits.
What has happened overseas in many other countries is a chilling foretaste of what failure could bring !
Monday 15 December 2014
Sexism - and Power !
The most dangerous place for a woman is to be a functionary serving a man in power as a secretary, chief of staff or a mere adviser. The ratio of danger increases exponentially if that woman is relatively young - and has what in a distant age could be termed "sex appeal "!
Peta Credlin, Prime Minister Tony Abbott's chief of staff is attracting unrelenting flak from both the media and the opposition for the power she apparently holds as the "gatekeeper " to this nation's leader. There is even sniping from within government ranks because some resent messages of criticism being relayed to them by a "mere woman ". It seems that misogyny still lurks in many male hearts.
The position of chief of staff is an essential to the holder of the leadership position in both public companies and functioning governments. It is open to both men and women and it is a form of management control. The person at the top is responsible for the big picture - and his or her chief of staff has the job of dealing with lesser matters, marshaling the appointments roster to achieve a smooth work flow and seeing that the information the boss needs is presented in a useful form.
There is no doubt that Peta Credlin is good at her job. She has the trust of the PM and she is a familiar figure in the halls of power, always immaculately dressed and with a keen eye to detect measures that need correction. She is not given to needless small talk and to some this may be misinterpreted as aloofness. Those entrusted with the position of chief of staff to prime ministers or presidents have a heavy responsibility - and do not take that lightly.
Politics is a world of innuendo. A mischievous thought expressed by a commentator with an axe to grind can often morph into a rumour that achieves credibility as it rolls along, and political enemies are adept at starting rumours that damage their enemies. There seems to be a relentless campaign building to discredit Peta Credlin. The fact that she is an attractive young woman is sure to whet the appetite of the rumour mongers to try and spin some sort of sexual fantasy to achieve an unfavourable public image.
Women who are not elected members of the house but have a commanding role on the periphery of government are always fair game for media attention. Who could possible forget the daily headlines that swirled around Junie Morosi back in the days of the Whitlam government in the 1970's ?
Junie Morosi was born in Shanghai, China and was unmistakably Eurasian. She became an "adviser "to deputy prime minister Jim Cairns - and was constantly by his side. The media suggested an "affair "and Cairns did little to deny this rumour. In the less liberated age of the 1970's this was considered a "scandal " and it did damage to the government. It certainly provided fodder for both the media and the radio shock jocks of that time - and both Cairns and Morosi were rarely missing from the front pages of the national press.
Junie Morosi was not the first woman to cause a stir in parliamentary circles. In 1968 John Gorton was prime minister and his secretary - Ainsley Gotto - was accused of virtually holding ministers to ransom by her rigid control of who got a meeting scheduled with the prime minister. Her "feminity "was questioned by some sections of the media as being too evident - and a leading commentator famously noted that "she wiggles when she walks ". Perhaps there are times when physical beauty becomes a handicap.
It will be interesting to see how this Peta Credlin "sensation " plays out as it runs it's course. Tony Abbott makes a good point that it involves gender inequality - and that it would have been a non event if "Peta "had actually been "Peter "- and a male doing the job of his chief of staff. It seems that sexism is still lurking in the minds of many - and that old truism that "sex sells " is what keeps people buying newspapers and watching television news.
A lot will depend on which way the barometer of public opinion swings. Women could be expected to support a sister doing a public exposure job and getting unfair criticism, but sometimes success can arise the latent emotion of jealousy - with the unexpected ferocity we often see vented on social media.
Eventually, the storm will move on - and probably Peta Credlin will pass into obscurity. She will eventually stand down from the position of chief of staff to a prime minister and resume her private life - and join the ranks of those who held fame for a brief moment of time as the winner of a Miss Australia contest, as a best selling book author - or a subject of passing controversy in the political sphere.
Such is the fate that now shields Junie Morosi from the world !
Peta Credlin, Prime Minister Tony Abbott's chief of staff is attracting unrelenting flak from both the media and the opposition for the power she apparently holds as the "gatekeeper " to this nation's leader. There is even sniping from within government ranks because some resent messages of criticism being relayed to them by a "mere woman ". It seems that misogyny still lurks in many male hearts.
The position of chief of staff is an essential to the holder of the leadership position in both public companies and functioning governments. It is open to both men and women and it is a form of management control. The person at the top is responsible for the big picture - and his or her chief of staff has the job of dealing with lesser matters, marshaling the appointments roster to achieve a smooth work flow and seeing that the information the boss needs is presented in a useful form.
There is no doubt that Peta Credlin is good at her job. She has the trust of the PM and she is a familiar figure in the halls of power, always immaculately dressed and with a keen eye to detect measures that need correction. She is not given to needless small talk and to some this may be misinterpreted as aloofness. Those entrusted with the position of chief of staff to prime ministers or presidents have a heavy responsibility - and do not take that lightly.
Politics is a world of innuendo. A mischievous thought expressed by a commentator with an axe to grind can often morph into a rumour that achieves credibility as it rolls along, and political enemies are adept at starting rumours that damage their enemies. There seems to be a relentless campaign building to discredit Peta Credlin. The fact that she is an attractive young woman is sure to whet the appetite of the rumour mongers to try and spin some sort of sexual fantasy to achieve an unfavourable public image.
Women who are not elected members of the house but have a commanding role on the periphery of government are always fair game for media attention. Who could possible forget the daily headlines that swirled around Junie Morosi back in the days of the Whitlam government in the 1970's ?
Junie Morosi was born in Shanghai, China and was unmistakably Eurasian. She became an "adviser "to deputy prime minister Jim Cairns - and was constantly by his side. The media suggested an "affair "and Cairns did little to deny this rumour. In the less liberated age of the 1970's this was considered a "scandal " and it did damage to the government. It certainly provided fodder for both the media and the radio shock jocks of that time - and both Cairns and Morosi were rarely missing from the front pages of the national press.
Junie Morosi was not the first woman to cause a stir in parliamentary circles. In 1968 John Gorton was prime minister and his secretary - Ainsley Gotto - was accused of virtually holding ministers to ransom by her rigid control of who got a meeting scheduled with the prime minister. Her "feminity "was questioned by some sections of the media as being too evident - and a leading commentator famously noted that "she wiggles when she walks ". Perhaps there are times when physical beauty becomes a handicap.
It will be interesting to see how this Peta Credlin "sensation " plays out as it runs it's course. Tony Abbott makes a good point that it involves gender inequality - and that it would have been a non event if "Peta "had actually been "Peter "- and a male doing the job of his chief of staff. It seems that sexism is still lurking in the minds of many - and that old truism that "sex sells " is what keeps people buying newspapers and watching television news.
A lot will depend on which way the barometer of public opinion swings. Women could be expected to support a sister doing a public exposure job and getting unfair criticism, but sometimes success can arise the latent emotion of jealousy - with the unexpected ferocity we often see vented on social media.
Eventually, the storm will move on - and probably Peta Credlin will pass into obscurity. She will eventually stand down from the position of chief of staff to a prime minister and resume her private life - and join the ranks of those who held fame for a brief moment of time as the winner of a Miss Australia contest, as a best selling book author - or a subject of passing controversy in the political sphere.
Such is the fate that now shields Junie Morosi from the world !
Sunday 14 December 2014
Not Their Finest Hour !
Passengers on United Flight A863 must have wondered what they had done to anger the Gods of Air travel this week. They were on final approaches to Sydney International airport after a long haul flight from the United States when the plane was ordered to climb and circle. It seems the control tower had spotted debris on a runway and landings were not permitted for thirty-five minutes while an emergency crew took remedial action.
Closing a runway at Sydney's only International airport throws a spanner in the works of the carefully orchestrated plan of arrivals and departures that is always running close to capacity. Many aircraft were forced to hold in waiting patterns and some were diverted. Unfortunately, Flight A863 had insufficient fuel reserves to reach either Melbourne or Brisbane International airports, and it was directed to Canberra.
The two hundred odd passengers would not have believed what was in store for them. Canberra is not an International airport and it has no customs and immigration facilities. As a result, the passengers were ordered to remain in their seats on the airplane - for hours and hours. Sydney airport was again open and the Boeing 777 could be refuelled in Canberra, but the flight crew had exceeded their flying hours and it would be necessary to fly in a new crew to take the aircraft on the short thirty minute hop from Canberra back to Sydney.
Eventually - with the passengers on the point of a mutiny - it was agreed they could disembark and "stretch their legs ", but they could only do so on the open concrete area around the aircraft. With no cover from the sun or places to sit they were not allowed to use the transit lounge just a few metres away. Eventually, a food truck was organized and a service vehicle pumped out the plane's holding tanks for the toilets. It seems that was the extent of the "luxuries "that were to be permitted.
The Canberra landing happened about nine in the morning - and the weary passengers finally arrived back in Sydney at five in the afternoon - less than impressed with the service offered. Then the blame game started with a bout of finger pointing. Canberra claims that customs and immigration staff could have been brought to the airport and cleared passengers - if this had been requested - and paid for. Sydney airport was quick to point out that safety is always their prime concern - and debris on a runway can have catastrophic results, as evidenced by an incident in France when a tiny piece of metal that had fallen off another aircraft destroyed the Concorde and killed all aboard.
As always, it seems that the main cause of this debacle - is lack of communication between the various agencies involved. Everybody dusted off the rules book - and insisted on following protocol. It is quite possible that if asked, permission might have been granted for the flight crew to extend their flying time for that short hop to Sydney. It should have been possible to isolate a section of the Canberra terminal to house these stranded passengers and allow them a degree of comfort - and access to toilets and wash facilities. Was it really necessary to treat these incoming passengers as potential drug couriers ? Their luggage was safely locked away on the aircraft and the Canberra landing was a genuine emergency. Allowing them to mingle in the airport terminal was probably an acceptable risk - but no such decision was taken.
It certainly illustrates the necessity for a second Sydney International airport. Just a thirty minute runway closure can have a chaotic follow-on that throws schedules out of kilter, but then the heavy handed application of procedures comes into play - and what should be a minor irritant becomes world news that is definitely not good publicity for the Australian tourist industry.
We should live and learn from the debacle that happened to flight A863. All sorts of mishaps and weather events make airport diversions a fact of life. Mostly these diversions are between fully equipped city airports, but when circumstances involve a less equipped regional airport the procedures in place should not just fall apart. What happened in Canberra this week should not happen again.
Closing a runway at Sydney's only International airport throws a spanner in the works of the carefully orchestrated plan of arrivals and departures that is always running close to capacity. Many aircraft were forced to hold in waiting patterns and some were diverted. Unfortunately, Flight A863 had insufficient fuel reserves to reach either Melbourne or Brisbane International airports, and it was directed to Canberra.
The two hundred odd passengers would not have believed what was in store for them. Canberra is not an International airport and it has no customs and immigration facilities. As a result, the passengers were ordered to remain in their seats on the airplane - for hours and hours. Sydney airport was again open and the Boeing 777 could be refuelled in Canberra, but the flight crew had exceeded their flying hours and it would be necessary to fly in a new crew to take the aircraft on the short thirty minute hop from Canberra back to Sydney.
Eventually - with the passengers on the point of a mutiny - it was agreed they could disembark and "stretch their legs ", but they could only do so on the open concrete area around the aircraft. With no cover from the sun or places to sit they were not allowed to use the transit lounge just a few metres away. Eventually, a food truck was organized and a service vehicle pumped out the plane's holding tanks for the toilets. It seems that was the extent of the "luxuries "that were to be permitted.
The Canberra landing happened about nine in the morning - and the weary passengers finally arrived back in Sydney at five in the afternoon - less than impressed with the service offered. Then the blame game started with a bout of finger pointing. Canberra claims that customs and immigration staff could have been brought to the airport and cleared passengers - if this had been requested - and paid for. Sydney airport was quick to point out that safety is always their prime concern - and debris on a runway can have catastrophic results, as evidenced by an incident in France when a tiny piece of metal that had fallen off another aircraft destroyed the Concorde and killed all aboard.
As always, it seems that the main cause of this debacle - is lack of communication between the various agencies involved. Everybody dusted off the rules book - and insisted on following protocol. It is quite possible that if asked, permission might have been granted for the flight crew to extend their flying time for that short hop to Sydney. It should have been possible to isolate a section of the Canberra terminal to house these stranded passengers and allow them a degree of comfort - and access to toilets and wash facilities. Was it really necessary to treat these incoming passengers as potential drug couriers ? Their luggage was safely locked away on the aircraft and the Canberra landing was a genuine emergency. Allowing them to mingle in the airport terminal was probably an acceptable risk - but no such decision was taken.
It certainly illustrates the necessity for a second Sydney International airport. Just a thirty minute runway closure can have a chaotic follow-on that throws schedules out of kilter, but then the heavy handed application of procedures comes into play - and what should be a minor irritant becomes world news that is definitely not good publicity for the Australian tourist industry.
We should live and learn from the debacle that happened to flight A863. All sorts of mishaps and weather events make airport diversions a fact of life. Mostly these diversions are between fully equipped city airports, but when circumstances involve a less equipped regional airport the procedures in place should not just fall apart. What happened in Canberra this week should not happen again.
Saturday 13 December 2014
Sensible Drinking Laws !
They were contentious at the time, but the "Lockout "laws that were implemented to curb street aggression around nightclubs have proved their worth. The people who man the emergency department at St Vincents hospital, where the carnage is usually delivered by ambulance - report an eighty percent drop in the type of injuries they had been treating before those laws came into force.
For much of the twentieth century Sydney had that infamous "Six O'Clock Swill " that saw huge crowds gulping down as much beer as they could manage before the draconian closing of pub doors as the clock struck six in the late afternoon. It was a sight that repulsed overseas visitors and calls for more civilized drinking hours were repulsed by both the churches and the temperance movement - despite tourist friendly Tasmania having 10 am opening until closing at 10 in the evening as it's regime for many decades.
Eventually, sanity won and six o'clock closing was abolished, but even the more liberal trading hours came under pressure for extension. Very quickly, late licenses to trade until midnight became available to cater for special events - and then these became so common that midnight became the de facto closing time. The fact that Sydney was a popular R & R venue during the Vietnam war increased the pressure for longer drinking hours.
At the same time, public taste for nightlife was fast changing. The pubs and clubs began to develop into nightclubs and patrons demanded entertainment. Cabaret acts entered the scene and popular bands drew a following - and closing hours virtually disappeared.
A new phenomenon began to appear. Sudden, unprovoked violence, often inflicted on a complete stranger. Friday and Saturday nights became notorious for a steady flow of casualties needing treatment at hospital emergency rooms - and some of these injuries were becoming fatal. There were many enquiries and psychologists delving into the reason this was happening.
Despite howls of protest from the liquor industry, the government instituted a novel approach to curbing this violence. Venues were forced to implement a 1-30 am lockdown. Patrons could continue to drink at whatever venue they favoured, but once they left they could not be readmitted - nor could they enter any other bar or nightclub, and a final closure saw the end of alcohol being served everywhere at 3 am. Once out the door, they had no other option than to go home !
The reasons that this has been so successful is not entirely clear, but some people think that the cause is certainly associated with the previous tendency to wander aimlessly from venue to venue being curbed. Bouncers vetted those seeking entry for dress standards and state of sobriety and this caused delays - with many people "off their face " milling about at entrances - with consequent opportunities for aggression.
Whatever the reason - it has worked and the statistics from hospital emergency departments prove the case. This "Lockout "law only applied to the prime entertainment district of Sydney's Kings Cross and a few selected other venues notorious for their incidence of violence. There are now calls for it to be implemented on an entire state basis - and it is hard to find a compelling reason to oppose such a move.
It just depends if the politicians have the courage to withstand pressure from the powerful liquor industry - and the electoral cycle is in the right phase of timing for this move !
For much of the twentieth century Sydney had that infamous "Six O'Clock Swill " that saw huge crowds gulping down as much beer as they could manage before the draconian closing of pub doors as the clock struck six in the late afternoon. It was a sight that repulsed overseas visitors and calls for more civilized drinking hours were repulsed by both the churches and the temperance movement - despite tourist friendly Tasmania having 10 am opening until closing at 10 in the evening as it's regime for many decades.
Eventually, sanity won and six o'clock closing was abolished, but even the more liberal trading hours came under pressure for extension. Very quickly, late licenses to trade until midnight became available to cater for special events - and then these became so common that midnight became the de facto closing time. The fact that Sydney was a popular R & R venue during the Vietnam war increased the pressure for longer drinking hours.
At the same time, public taste for nightlife was fast changing. The pubs and clubs began to develop into nightclubs and patrons demanded entertainment. Cabaret acts entered the scene and popular bands drew a following - and closing hours virtually disappeared.
A new phenomenon began to appear. Sudden, unprovoked violence, often inflicted on a complete stranger. Friday and Saturday nights became notorious for a steady flow of casualties needing treatment at hospital emergency rooms - and some of these injuries were becoming fatal. There were many enquiries and psychologists delving into the reason this was happening.
Despite howls of protest from the liquor industry, the government instituted a novel approach to curbing this violence. Venues were forced to implement a 1-30 am lockdown. Patrons could continue to drink at whatever venue they favoured, but once they left they could not be readmitted - nor could they enter any other bar or nightclub, and a final closure saw the end of alcohol being served everywhere at 3 am. Once out the door, they had no other option than to go home !
The reasons that this has been so successful is not entirely clear, but some people think that the cause is certainly associated with the previous tendency to wander aimlessly from venue to venue being curbed. Bouncers vetted those seeking entry for dress standards and state of sobriety and this caused delays - with many people "off their face " milling about at entrances - with consequent opportunities for aggression.
Whatever the reason - it has worked and the statistics from hospital emergency departments prove the case. This "Lockout "law only applied to the prime entertainment district of Sydney's Kings Cross and a few selected other venues notorious for their incidence of violence. There are now calls for it to be implemented on an entire state basis - and it is hard to find a compelling reason to oppose such a move.
It just depends if the politicians have the courage to withstand pressure from the powerful liquor industry - and the electoral cycle is in the right phase of timing for this move !
Friday 12 December 2014
Torture !
There is something unworldly in the public reaction to revelations that the American Central Intelligence Agency ( CIA ) used torture to extract information from captured al Qaeda terrorists in the wake of the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Centre.
We freely acknowledge that Guantanamo Bay is a grim place where terrorist prisoners are locked away from prying eyes on the coast of Cuba. We have heard reports that the methods used to extract information are "harsh ", but somehow we recoil whenever someone uses that emotive word - "torture ". " Water Boarding "and "Sleep Deprivation " conjure up images that we prefer not to dwell on, but we have this quaint notion that we are the "good guys " and our methods of extracting information from others are squeaky clean.
Unfortunately that image contrasts sharply with human nature. We are locked in a war with a relentless enemy who is prepared to use any atrocity to further the cause of defeating democracy and imposing a theocracy on the entire world. In their eyes, the Geneva Convention is laughable. Enemy combatants who surrender have their heads cut off. Women they capture become sexual pawns. It is not uncommon for them to herd asylum seekers into the desert and execute all who do not convert to their religion. They wage a form of total war.
Every war that has ever been fought on this planet has evoked the most basic instincts of the combatants. There have been instances where moments of rare humanity have emerged. During the first world war, on Christmas eve both sides left their trenches and mingled together - and exchanged Christmas greetings, but the next day they were right back remorselessly killing each other.
In more recent times the news media has recounted horror stories of almost unbelievable brutality. The slaughter of eight thousand men and boys at Srebenica by a uniformed army carrying out "ethnic cleansing "- and the mass genocide of Rwanda. Different reasons in different countries - but this becomes a phenomenon that goes far beyond any hope of reason.
The US Intelligence Committee that has prepared the report on CIA torture is now huffing and puffing and claiming that despite this departure from our professed standards, the use of torture did not produce any worthwhile information. That claim is probably laughable. Al Qaeda gained a valuable victory when their surprise attack on 9/11 brought down the twin towers of the World Trade centre and killed nearly three thousand innocent victims. They have not gained a similar victory since, and a relentless pursuit saw Osama bin Laden finally face his executioners - and his hideout delivered a treasure trove of information of value to the CIA and other security forces.
The espionage world relies on seemingly minor bits of information that can be threaded into a pattern to fit together like a crossword. The end result is not always spectacular. Perhaps a bomb factory mysteriously blows up and kills it's instigators. Perhaps a key courier just "disappears "and fails to deliver a crucial message. Sometimes bogus information is inserted into the pipeline - leading to catastrophic impacts for the enemy. Rarely do these events get publicity - until the war is over and the history books are being rewritten.
No doubt there will be pious declarations that the CIA has reformed - and turned it's back on any form of future torture. All the world's military components make that claim from time to time - usually after they have been caught out in a major indiscretion, but in the real world the need for information will see business as usual.
To think otherwise is to deny human nature. Despite the veneer of civilization that centuries of progress have bestowed on the tribes of this world, when it comes to mortal combat from an enemy determined to change our way of life and dispossess us of treasure and the loved ones we hold dear, there is no limit to the measures we will take in our defence.
We are no more really civilized today than we were when we hunted animals for food, lived in caves and fought with spears to defend our realm - and another thousand years from now - beneath the surface those same elements will still hold sway !
We freely acknowledge that Guantanamo Bay is a grim place where terrorist prisoners are locked away from prying eyes on the coast of Cuba. We have heard reports that the methods used to extract information are "harsh ", but somehow we recoil whenever someone uses that emotive word - "torture ". " Water Boarding "and "Sleep Deprivation " conjure up images that we prefer not to dwell on, but we have this quaint notion that we are the "good guys " and our methods of extracting information from others are squeaky clean.
Unfortunately that image contrasts sharply with human nature. We are locked in a war with a relentless enemy who is prepared to use any atrocity to further the cause of defeating democracy and imposing a theocracy on the entire world. In their eyes, the Geneva Convention is laughable. Enemy combatants who surrender have their heads cut off. Women they capture become sexual pawns. It is not uncommon for them to herd asylum seekers into the desert and execute all who do not convert to their religion. They wage a form of total war.
Every war that has ever been fought on this planet has evoked the most basic instincts of the combatants. There have been instances where moments of rare humanity have emerged. During the first world war, on Christmas eve both sides left their trenches and mingled together - and exchanged Christmas greetings, but the next day they were right back remorselessly killing each other.
In more recent times the news media has recounted horror stories of almost unbelievable brutality. The slaughter of eight thousand men and boys at Srebenica by a uniformed army carrying out "ethnic cleansing "- and the mass genocide of Rwanda. Different reasons in different countries - but this becomes a phenomenon that goes far beyond any hope of reason.
The US Intelligence Committee that has prepared the report on CIA torture is now huffing and puffing and claiming that despite this departure from our professed standards, the use of torture did not produce any worthwhile information. That claim is probably laughable. Al Qaeda gained a valuable victory when their surprise attack on 9/11 brought down the twin towers of the World Trade centre and killed nearly three thousand innocent victims. They have not gained a similar victory since, and a relentless pursuit saw Osama bin Laden finally face his executioners - and his hideout delivered a treasure trove of information of value to the CIA and other security forces.
The espionage world relies on seemingly minor bits of information that can be threaded into a pattern to fit together like a crossword. The end result is not always spectacular. Perhaps a bomb factory mysteriously blows up and kills it's instigators. Perhaps a key courier just "disappears "and fails to deliver a crucial message. Sometimes bogus information is inserted into the pipeline - leading to catastrophic impacts for the enemy. Rarely do these events get publicity - until the war is over and the history books are being rewritten.
No doubt there will be pious declarations that the CIA has reformed - and turned it's back on any form of future torture. All the world's military components make that claim from time to time - usually after they have been caught out in a major indiscretion, but in the real world the need for information will see business as usual.
To think otherwise is to deny human nature. Despite the veneer of civilization that centuries of progress have bestowed on the tribes of this world, when it comes to mortal combat from an enemy determined to change our way of life and dispossess us of treasure and the loved ones we hold dear, there is no limit to the measures we will take in our defence.
We are no more really civilized today than we were when we hunted animals for food, lived in caves and fought with spears to defend our realm - and another thousand years from now - beneath the surface those same elements will still hold sway !
Thursday 11 December 2014
Social Media - and Security Issues !
NAPLAN was an idea that had the promise of delivering a measure of how the Australian education system was achieving it's objectives on a national basis. It called for all students to sit a common exam in years 3, 5 , 7 , and 9 and from this it would be possible to determine the levels of literacy and numeracy attained on a national level - and state by state and even in comparison region to region.
Unfortunately it has been beset with problems. Cheating is common, and in some cases this is instigated by the very teachers responsible for holding the tests. Anecdotal rumours tell of children with poor performance levels being encouraged to take a "sickie "on test day, so that their contribution will not lower the overall class level of results. The time to finish tests is also supposed to be firmly applied, but there has been evidence of latitude in the interests of achieving a higher class average mark. Some teachers seem fearful that the NAPLAN results will be used as a measure of their teaching abilities - and set out to sabotage the outcome.
It has now been revealed that this years May tests were shambolic when it comes to the security of the questions asked. The rules call for a strict security clampdown for a two week period because the tests are conducted at different times in the various parts of Australia and students who miss the test because of illness are asked to sit when they return to class.
It is not hard to see where this security failing originates. Today we live in a world of social media - Facebook, Twitter - a whole host of conversational apps start discussing those NAPLAN tests the moment the students leave the classroom. Within minutes, answers are being compared and any secrecy about the questions asked has evaporated like smoke - and with it the value of this whole testing system.
Strangely, that other critical test that determines entry levels to university does not have a similar problem. The Higher School Certificate ( HSC ) is held nationally at a common time and with very strict rules on what may be taken into the examination room. It is closely supervised and over time some ingenious methods of communicating with those outside the examination room have been discovered - and countered ! The general consensus is that the HSC exam is secure.
Of course, the maturity level of those sitting the HSC is very different from NAPLAN. Those sitting the HSC are young adults and the results will have a critical influence on career opportunities - and most probably income levels. For those contemplating higher education, the SAT score will determine both university entrance - and the chosen subject that they may qualify for entrance. For many, it is a "make or break " moment in their life.
It looks like NAPLAN needs to be tightened up if it is going to achieve it's planned objectives. It will be difficult to marshal very young children to a common examination time, given the vast difference in both distance and time zones in the Australian continent, but that is probably the only way to achieve test security. It is impossible to circumvent the use of social media in this electronic age and in many cases it is parents who deliberately disregard the call for confidentiality because of their opposition to NAPLAN.
This type of universal test is still useful, despite it's deficiencies. The original objective was to get a broad reading of the level of education we were achieving nationally - and compare this with the world average. Each state sets its own education curriculum and NAPLAN would be a good guide to where state plans are found wanting. It also tends to highlight the effect that socially deprived regions have on educational standards - and allow them to be identified for correction. Obviously, teachers hate having their skills put under the microscope, but we do need to advance the further training of those delivering a sub standard performance.
With a little fine tuning, NAPLAN can give an adequate broad picture and deliver the vital information we need to make the plans and spend the money to improve education standards. We would be wise to accept reasonable limitations, rather than strangle the project by imposing draconian new regulations that make it unworkable !
Unfortunately it has been beset with problems. Cheating is common, and in some cases this is instigated by the very teachers responsible for holding the tests. Anecdotal rumours tell of children with poor performance levels being encouraged to take a "sickie "on test day, so that their contribution will not lower the overall class level of results. The time to finish tests is also supposed to be firmly applied, but there has been evidence of latitude in the interests of achieving a higher class average mark. Some teachers seem fearful that the NAPLAN results will be used as a measure of their teaching abilities - and set out to sabotage the outcome.
It has now been revealed that this years May tests were shambolic when it comes to the security of the questions asked. The rules call for a strict security clampdown for a two week period because the tests are conducted at different times in the various parts of Australia and students who miss the test because of illness are asked to sit when they return to class.
It is not hard to see where this security failing originates. Today we live in a world of social media - Facebook, Twitter - a whole host of conversational apps start discussing those NAPLAN tests the moment the students leave the classroom. Within minutes, answers are being compared and any secrecy about the questions asked has evaporated like smoke - and with it the value of this whole testing system.
Strangely, that other critical test that determines entry levels to university does not have a similar problem. The Higher School Certificate ( HSC ) is held nationally at a common time and with very strict rules on what may be taken into the examination room. It is closely supervised and over time some ingenious methods of communicating with those outside the examination room have been discovered - and countered ! The general consensus is that the HSC exam is secure.
Of course, the maturity level of those sitting the HSC is very different from NAPLAN. Those sitting the HSC are young adults and the results will have a critical influence on career opportunities - and most probably income levels. For those contemplating higher education, the SAT score will determine both university entrance - and the chosen subject that they may qualify for entrance. For many, it is a "make or break " moment in their life.
It looks like NAPLAN needs to be tightened up if it is going to achieve it's planned objectives. It will be difficult to marshal very young children to a common examination time, given the vast difference in both distance and time zones in the Australian continent, but that is probably the only way to achieve test security. It is impossible to circumvent the use of social media in this electronic age and in many cases it is parents who deliberately disregard the call for confidentiality because of their opposition to NAPLAN.
This type of universal test is still useful, despite it's deficiencies. The original objective was to get a broad reading of the level of education we were achieving nationally - and compare this with the world average. Each state sets its own education curriculum and NAPLAN would be a good guide to where state plans are found wanting. It also tends to highlight the effect that socially deprived regions have on educational standards - and allow them to be identified for correction. Obviously, teachers hate having their skills put under the microscope, but we do need to advance the further training of those delivering a sub standard performance.
With a little fine tuning, NAPLAN can give an adequate broad picture and deliver the vital information we need to make the plans and spend the money to improve education standards. We would be wise to accept reasonable limitations, rather than strangle the project by imposing draconian new regulations that make it unworkable !
Wednesday 10 December 2014
Tracking New Born Babies !
Last weeks discovery of two abandoned new born babies has turned the spotlight on the procedures in place in New South Wales for recording all births - and little has changed for centuries. The birthing units in all the state's hospitals have an obligation to report a birth to the Registrar of Birth's, Death's and Marriages within seven days. The parents are legally obliged to also report a birth and have sixty days to carry out that duty.
The advance of computer technology is seeing the installation of a system called "Lifelink "which will automatically connect both hospital and parent notifications of birth, but this will not become operational until next year. In the past, little concern seems to have been associated with details of a new baby missing from the official records. Nobody was tasked with knocking on the door and making enquiries. It was presumed that all births were happy events and no followup was necessary.
An Inter Agency Task Force is being formed to try and close the loopholes. The Department of Justice, the NSW Health, Family and Commmunity Services, and the Ombudsmans office will combine to formalise the procedures to ensure that the details of all births are recorded.
This is indeed a worthy intent, but the problem with the bureaucracy is that once a review committee is formed it has a tendency to take on a life of it's own. It can quickly accumulate staff to carry out it's tasks - and morph into a new entity. The witticism " Bigger than Ben Hur and with a cast of thousands " is not entirely unknown.
The last thing this state needs is an increase in the bureaucracy in these fiscally difficult times, and it seems unlikely that any form of government agency will be successful in recording the birth of babies that their mothers are determined to keep secret. They will certainly be able to tie together the loose ends of any births in a hospital birthing unit, but out there in the depths of our multicultural society there are customs and religious requirements that differ greatly from the expectations of our ordinary citizenry.
It is not unusual for a woman to successfully hide a pregnancy until full term and for that birth to proceed unaided. In many cases, an infant is brought up by a family member or an associate from that same ethnic group to hide the identity of the real mother, and in such cases recording the birth officially creates obvious difficulties. In many cases, a teenage girl finding herself pregnant in a heavily religious family faces impossible decisions.
There is a danger that this new review committee may make things worse - and actually increase the danger. Should it decide to require any doctor becoming aware of a pregnancy to alert the registry this would encourage pregnancies in difficult social circumstances to avoid all forms of prenatal care. It also drives another wedge into the secrecy that surrounds those in this country without legal documentation. Not only do they need to avoid any form of identification check but seeking medical help when pregnant may see them locked away in a detention centre.
The baby abandoned in a storm water drain at Quakers Hill and the one buried in the sand at Maroubra beach are probably the tip of an iceberg. The long running Tegan Lane case back in 2006 should have been the wakeup call, but providing a safe way for a mother to legally dispose of an unwanted infant is much more likely to be successful than implementing a draconian system for tracking down each and every pregnancy in this state.
With such a delicate issue, the "softly softly " approach of gentle encouragement is much more likely to bring results that a heavy handed legalistic regime !
The advance of computer technology is seeing the installation of a system called "Lifelink "which will automatically connect both hospital and parent notifications of birth, but this will not become operational until next year. In the past, little concern seems to have been associated with details of a new baby missing from the official records. Nobody was tasked with knocking on the door and making enquiries. It was presumed that all births were happy events and no followup was necessary.
An Inter Agency Task Force is being formed to try and close the loopholes. The Department of Justice, the NSW Health, Family and Commmunity Services, and the Ombudsmans office will combine to formalise the procedures to ensure that the details of all births are recorded.
This is indeed a worthy intent, but the problem with the bureaucracy is that once a review committee is formed it has a tendency to take on a life of it's own. It can quickly accumulate staff to carry out it's tasks - and morph into a new entity. The witticism " Bigger than Ben Hur and with a cast of thousands " is not entirely unknown.
The last thing this state needs is an increase in the bureaucracy in these fiscally difficult times, and it seems unlikely that any form of government agency will be successful in recording the birth of babies that their mothers are determined to keep secret. They will certainly be able to tie together the loose ends of any births in a hospital birthing unit, but out there in the depths of our multicultural society there are customs and religious requirements that differ greatly from the expectations of our ordinary citizenry.
It is not unusual for a woman to successfully hide a pregnancy until full term and for that birth to proceed unaided. In many cases, an infant is brought up by a family member or an associate from that same ethnic group to hide the identity of the real mother, and in such cases recording the birth officially creates obvious difficulties. In many cases, a teenage girl finding herself pregnant in a heavily religious family faces impossible decisions.
There is a danger that this new review committee may make things worse - and actually increase the danger. Should it decide to require any doctor becoming aware of a pregnancy to alert the registry this would encourage pregnancies in difficult social circumstances to avoid all forms of prenatal care. It also drives another wedge into the secrecy that surrounds those in this country without legal documentation. Not only do they need to avoid any form of identification check but seeking medical help when pregnant may see them locked away in a detention centre.
The baby abandoned in a storm water drain at Quakers Hill and the one buried in the sand at Maroubra beach are probably the tip of an iceberg. The long running Tegan Lane case back in 2006 should have been the wakeup call, but providing a safe way for a mother to legally dispose of an unwanted infant is much more likely to be successful than implementing a draconian system for tracking down each and every pregnancy in this state.
With such a delicate issue, the "softly softly " approach of gentle encouragement is much more likely to bring results that a heavy handed legalistic regime !
Tuesday 9 December 2014
Fire Ants !
Be Afraid ! Be very afraid ! It seems that a colony of dreaded Fire Ants has managed to hitch a ride on a shipping container from overseas - and been discovered making a new home in a container terminal in the Sydney suburb of Botany.
Several years ago this dreaded pest managed to gain a foothold in Brisbane and since then that state has spent billions of dollars on eradication measures - with limited success. At best, it could be said that these programmes have stopped them spreading and gaining new territory, but their total destruction is far from certain.
Fire Ants are a South American insect known by the biological name "Solenopsis invicta". They are red in colour and are known in some places as "Raspberry Ants "or " Crazy Ants " - and they are quite capable of killing humans. To step on one of their nests is to invite a huge swarm to erupt, running up an invaders legs are delivering excruciatingly painful stings. Once they establish a presence they quickly kill off all other forms of wildlife. Anything living receives the venom from their stings - and is eradicated. In most cases, this clearing extends to plants and bushes as the swelling colony interferes with their root systems.
We have a milder - but still feared - type of ant that is a habitual Australian native pest - as anyone will know who has ever encountered the "Bull Ant "! They also attack in great numbers and are territorial, but the ferocity of a Fire Ant attack is so overwhelming that victims are often too paralysed to make an escape - and suffer an awful death.
If this pest gains a broad foothold the type of lifestyle we enjoy in this country will become impossible. We can not share the outdoors with Fire Ants and the day of a BBQ in the backyard will cease. Victims will include the family pets. All living creatures are the enemy of the Fire Ant and the family dog or cat would be vulnerable to attack.
One of the characteristics of Fire Ants is their ability to establish a presence unnoticed. It is common for victims to report that a big colony suddenly emerged almost "overnight "! It seems that they have the ability to curb their aggression - until they have the numbers to defend their new territory.
Fortunately early detection has involved a massive counter attack from our Agricultural department. No expense has been spared in saturating the entire container terminal and there is a very good chance that these ants will be eliminated, but this incident delivers a clear warning that globalization increases the risk of other invasive species seeking entry as we trade with a host of new developing countries.
The list of pests that would not be welcome here is long and the trade in shipping containers is so extensive that only a small percentage are actually inspected on entry. We are very reliant on the exporter being vigilant and observing our quarantine requirements strictly when packing goods for the Australian market. There is always the possibility of trade rivals deliberately introducing pests to harm what they see as a competitor. In extreme cases, damaging the food supply could be considered an act of war.
Just as the fear of Ebola is making countries nervous about the intermingling of human passenger traffic by way of air travel, the cargo container is masking the ability of many other forms of menace to hitch a ride and arrive on our shores unnoticed. In particular, the presence of live living matter to stow away is ever present and perhaps we need to selectively pass containers from high risk areas through a gas chamber to ensure safety.
The arrival of Fire Ants should be a wake up call. This time we were lucky. Maybe next time - the luck will be with the invader !
Several years ago this dreaded pest managed to gain a foothold in Brisbane and since then that state has spent billions of dollars on eradication measures - with limited success. At best, it could be said that these programmes have stopped them spreading and gaining new territory, but their total destruction is far from certain.
Fire Ants are a South American insect known by the biological name "Solenopsis invicta". They are red in colour and are known in some places as "Raspberry Ants "or " Crazy Ants " - and they are quite capable of killing humans. To step on one of their nests is to invite a huge swarm to erupt, running up an invaders legs are delivering excruciatingly painful stings. Once they establish a presence they quickly kill off all other forms of wildlife. Anything living receives the venom from their stings - and is eradicated. In most cases, this clearing extends to plants and bushes as the swelling colony interferes with their root systems.
We have a milder - but still feared - type of ant that is a habitual Australian native pest - as anyone will know who has ever encountered the "Bull Ant "! They also attack in great numbers and are territorial, but the ferocity of a Fire Ant attack is so overwhelming that victims are often too paralysed to make an escape - and suffer an awful death.
If this pest gains a broad foothold the type of lifestyle we enjoy in this country will become impossible. We can not share the outdoors with Fire Ants and the day of a BBQ in the backyard will cease. Victims will include the family pets. All living creatures are the enemy of the Fire Ant and the family dog or cat would be vulnerable to attack.
One of the characteristics of Fire Ants is their ability to establish a presence unnoticed. It is common for victims to report that a big colony suddenly emerged almost "overnight "! It seems that they have the ability to curb their aggression - until they have the numbers to defend their new territory.
Fortunately early detection has involved a massive counter attack from our Agricultural department. No expense has been spared in saturating the entire container terminal and there is a very good chance that these ants will be eliminated, but this incident delivers a clear warning that globalization increases the risk of other invasive species seeking entry as we trade with a host of new developing countries.
The list of pests that would not be welcome here is long and the trade in shipping containers is so extensive that only a small percentage are actually inspected on entry. We are very reliant on the exporter being vigilant and observing our quarantine requirements strictly when packing goods for the Australian market. There is always the possibility of trade rivals deliberately introducing pests to harm what they see as a competitor. In extreme cases, damaging the food supply could be considered an act of war.
Just as the fear of Ebola is making countries nervous about the intermingling of human passenger traffic by way of air travel, the cargo container is masking the ability of many other forms of menace to hitch a ride and arrive on our shores unnoticed. In particular, the presence of live living matter to stow away is ever present and perhaps we need to selectively pass containers from high risk areas through a gas chamber to ensure safety.
The arrival of Fire Ants should be a wake up call. This time we were lucky. Maybe next time - the luck will be with the invader !
Monday 8 December 2014
Our "Stasi" !
ICAC was dealt a heavy reprimand when the New South Wales Court of Appeal delivered a finding that it had "No power to investigate Public Prosecutor Margaret Cunneen "- and ordered it to pay her $ 100,000 legal fees. ICAC immediately announced that it would take the matter to the High Court.
This is a curious case that has all the undertones of the methods used by the secretive East German Stasi. An undisclosed citizen reported that when the girlfriend of Margaret Cunneen's son was involved in a traffic accident, she advised the girl to pretend to experience chest pains in an attempt to avoid a breath test. It was claimed that this "perverted the course of justice ".
Amazingly, the ICAC action involved early morning raids on the homes of this leading public prosecutor and her son and the home of his girl friend, wire taps that recorded every phone call and computer traffic over a five month period - and all this possibly because of a malicious complaint from someone who wished to do her professional reputation harm.
Any person doing the job of a public prosecutor is certain to make enemies. The people she convicts have reason to hate her, and when she decides that there is insufficient evidence to proceed she may well anger those on the other side of the law. It is standard procedure that all involved in any road accident be tested for drugs and alcohol. Should there be a doubt that police present might have an axe to grind and deliberately change a breathalyser reading, it would be a wise precaution to have that test done at a hospital, where a totally unrelated pathology department would handle the analysis. The hospital test report cleared her son's girlfriend.
This entire matter comes down into the murky world of "power ". ICAC contends that as a corruption fighter it has the right to investigate anybody - and needs no explanation as to how or why it so chooses. It is adamant that it's sources of information will enjoy the secrecy which the Catholic church confers on the "confessional " and that this is necessary to protect whistle blowers. To some, this is reminiscent of the era of the "Spanish Inquisition "- during which a malicious charge of heresy saw many innocent victims burned at the stake !
It is hard to remain unconvinced that what is after all a private family matter has not been connected to Margaret Cunneen's tenure in high public office with an outstanding professional reputation. ICAC has dug it's toes in and rightfully claimed that nobody is above the law, but it seems to be a moot point to try and infer that the intent of claiming chest pains - which will incur a more accurate blood test than a breathalyser - is a perversion of justice. Would this charge have been made if Margaret Cunneen was a mere housewife - or held a job as a checkout chick at the local supermarket ?
It seems that the bloody minded high priests of ICAC are determined to risk further public money by taking the issue to the High Court. To some, that old maxim of "who watches the watchers ? "comes to mind. It delivers ultimate power if ICAC can launch an investigation entirely at it's own discretion and nobody can question the reason for that decision. That was the inequity that made the Stasi so hated by the citizens of East Germany - and which delivered a potent weapon to those with malicious intent.
Fortunately, our legal system does have a mechanism for redress - and at it's ultimate pinnacle is the High Court. No doubt the justices will ponder both sides of the argument presented - and hopefully create the checks and balances that prevent excess.
This is a curious case that has all the undertones of the methods used by the secretive East German Stasi. An undisclosed citizen reported that when the girlfriend of Margaret Cunneen's son was involved in a traffic accident, she advised the girl to pretend to experience chest pains in an attempt to avoid a breath test. It was claimed that this "perverted the course of justice ".
Amazingly, the ICAC action involved early morning raids on the homes of this leading public prosecutor and her son and the home of his girl friend, wire taps that recorded every phone call and computer traffic over a five month period - and all this possibly because of a malicious complaint from someone who wished to do her professional reputation harm.
Any person doing the job of a public prosecutor is certain to make enemies. The people she convicts have reason to hate her, and when she decides that there is insufficient evidence to proceed she may well anger those on the other side of the law. It is standard procedure that all involved in any road accident be tested for drugs and alcohol. Should there be a doubt that police present might have an axe to grind and deliberately change a breathalyser reading, it would be a wise precaution to have that test done at a hospital, where a totally unrelated pathology department would handle the analysis. The hospital test report cleared her son's girlfriend.
This entire matter comes down into the murky world of "power ". ICAC contends that as a corruption fighter it has the right to investigate anybody - and needs no explanation as to how or why it so chooses. It is adamant that it's sources of information will enjoy the secrecy which the Catholic church confers on the "confessional " and that this is necessary to protect whistle blowers. To some, this is reminiscent of the era of the "Spanish Inquisition "- during which a malicious charge of heresy saw many innocent victims burned at the stake !
It is hard to remain unconvinced that what is after all a private family matter has not been connected to Margaret Cunneen's tenure in high public office with an outstanding professional reputation. ICAC has dug it's toes in and rightfully claimed that nobody is above the law, but it seems to be a moot point to try and infer that the intent of claiming chest pains - which will incur a more accurate blood test than a breathalyser - is a perversion of justice. Would this charge have been made if Margaret Cunneen was a mere housewife - or held a job as a checkout chick at the local supermarket ?
It seems that the bloody minded high priests of ICAC are determined to risk further public money by taking the issue to the High Court. To some, that old maxim of "who watches the watchers ? "comes to mind. It delivers ultimate power if ICAC can launch an investigation entirely at it's own discretion and nobody can question the reason for that decision. That was the inequity that made the Stasi so hated by the citizens of East Germany - and which delivered a potent weapon to those with malicious intent.
Fortunately, our legal system does have a mechanism for redress - and at it's ultimate pinnacle is the High Court. No doubt the justices will ponder both sides of the argument presented - and hopefully create the checks and balances that prevent excess.
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