Australians buy $ 1.5 billion worth of gift cards each year and they are a popular gift idea at birthdays, Christmas, Mothers Day, Fathers Day - in fact on any occasion that involves giving a gift. They remove the onus from the purchaser in actually choosing a present and places that choicer squarely in the hands of the recipient.
Unfortunately, many get misplaced and are never used, and others expire before their full value is converted into purchases. The majority of gift cards in Australia have a twelve months time limit. In the United States, this expiry time is usually five years.
It is a reasonable question to ask why there is any time limit on these cards ? There is no time limit on the banknotes that are legal tender in this country. In effect, a gift card is simply a substitute banknote. It's value has been fully paid up front and any time limit on it's use is purely artificial.
Obviously, gift cards that fail to present deliver a huge bonanza for the card company. They have the money safely in their cash register and get full use until such time as the owner of the card presents it and reclaims it's value. It is very much in their favour to implement time factors on card use.
Another limiting time factor is the fact that the clock starts from the moment the card is purchased - and this may be well in advance of the time it passes into the hands of the recipient. Many people do their Christmas shopping weeks or even months ahead of that event, creating a disadvantage of the legal presentation period available.
Time limits on gift cards should interest the department of Consumer Affairs. This department is tasked with protecting the public from unfair trading practices. It may not be possible to completely remove the expiry period because many phone or internet transactions that involve credit, debit or gift cards require an expiry date to avoid rejection - but certainly a five year time limit would be much more reasonable than the present twelve months.
Not so long ago most gift cards were open ended on a time basis. These time limits are a more recent innovation - and they clearly deliver the most benefits to the issuing card company. It is time that the government levelled the playing field !
Friday 28 February 2014
Thursday 27 February 2014
This dangerous world !
A number of factors have come together to cause leaders in world countries to rethink the risks and rewards of possible military action. The balances of power are changing, and that promises possible rewards for the ambitious.
US Secretary of Defence, Chuck Hagel has announced a huge reduction in US force numbers and the US army will retract to a size similar to it's level prior to the second world war. Ominously, it will no longer have the capacity to fight two wars at the same time.
This follows President Barak Obama's stern warning to Syria's President Assad that using chemical weapons would cross a " red line ". Those chemical weapons were used - and Obama backed away, and this was noted in Bejing, Moscow and Tehran. It signalled a more conciliatory United States that was less likely to be provoked into military action.
For the latter half of the twentieth century the United States was the world's policeman. There was no question that it's military alliances would be honoured and many countries sheltered under the American nuclear umbrella. Today, it is clear that Japan is uneasy and doubts that the US would come to it's aid if hostilities emerged over disputed islands in the South China sea. As a consequence, we will probably see Japan shed it's pacifist constitution and reemerge as a military power.
A huge danger exists in Europe because of the popular uprising in Ukraine. The timing was perfect to thwart Russian intervention. The Sochi winter Olympics was a Russian showcase and to roll the tanks over the border would probably have many countries walk away from this lavish spectacle. For a century Russia has dominated Ukraine - and it will not relinquish it's hold easily. Already Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev is questioning the " legitimacy " of the new Ukrainian government.
Ukraine has a Russian speaking east and the rest of the country leans to Europe. The parallel with Georgia sent a message when a similar revolt got under way. With no Olympics to muddy the waters, Vladimir Putin sent in the tanks and quickly asserted control - and Georgia remains a Russian satellite.
Dynasties eventually come to an end and it seems that we are seeing the close of the American century. It is a mixture of inability to finance the huge military machine that has preserved world peace - and perhaps a lack of willpower to shed the blood and treasure that has bestowed safety to an ungrateful world.
How the struggle in Ukraine ends will probably depend more on the attitude of France and Britain than the US, but events that are happening clearly signal that a change is taking place in the world balance.
A good reason for world leaders to do a little navel gazing !
US Secretary of Defence, Chuck Hagel has announced a huge reduction in US force numbers and the US army will retract to a size similar to it's level prior to the second world war. Ominously, it will no longer have the capacity to fight two wars at the same time.
This follows President Barak Obama's stern warning to Syria's President Assad that using chemical weapons would cross a " red line ". Those chemical weapons were used - and Obama backed away, and this was noted in Bejing, Moscow and Tehran. It signalled a more conciliatory United States that was less likely to be provoked into military action.
For the latter half of the twentieth century the United States was the world's policeman. There was no question that it's military alliances would be honoured and many countries sheltered under the American nuclear umbrella. Today, it is clear that Japan is uneasy and doubts that the US would come to it's aid if hostilities emerged over disputed islands in the South China sea. As a consequence, we will probably see Japan shed it's pacifist constitution and reemerge as a military power.
A huge danger exists in Europe because of the popular uprising in Ukraine. The timing was perfect to thwart Russian intervention. The Sochi winter Olympics was a Russian showcase and to roll the tanks over the border would probably have many countries walk away from this lavish spectacle. For a century Russia has dominated Ukraine - and it will not relinquish it's hold easily. Already Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev is questioning the " legitimacy " of the new Ukrainian government.
Ukraine has a Russian speaking east and the rest of the country leans to Europe. The parallel with Georgia sent a message when a similar revolt got under way. With no Olympics to muddy the waters, Vladimir Putin sent in the tanks and quickly asserted control - and Georgia remains a Russian satellite.
Dynasties eventually come to an end and it seems that we are seeing the close of the American century. It is a mixture of inability to finance the huge military machine that has preserved world peace - and perhaps a lack of willpower to shed the blood and treasure that has bestowed safety to an ungrateful world.
How the struggle in Ukraine ends will probably depend more on the attitude of France and Britain than the US, but events that are happening clearly signal that a change is taking place in the world balance.
A good reason for world leaders to do a little navel gazing !
Wednesday 26 February 2014
Cyber Bullying !
The untimely death of media celebrity Charlotte Dawson has shone the spotlight on what are termed " Trolls " and their use of the Internet to post derogatory comment on users of social media. It is called " Cyber Bullying " - and when it results in depression that leads to suicide it has to be taken seriously.
The benefits conferred by the development of the Internet are huge. It is now hard to imagine life without it, but as with most new innovations it comes with both benefits and liabilities. Smart minds saw the communication potential of the Internet and social media programmes such as Facebook burst onto the scene - and were slavishly adopted by millions of people.
All over the world huge numbers of people report daily - and in some cases hourly - such mundane matter as what they had for breakfast and what clothes they will be wearing that day. Postings on social media are regarded as conversations between friends, but they are open to the entire world - and it should not be surprising that they stir the ire of some other Internet users.
Jealousy and greed are part of the human makeup. The entire social media panoply covers people who are famous for their achievements - and even former friends who may have become enemies because of a social tiff. Here is an anonymous instrument that allows a detractor to post comment that hurts - and get the satisfaction of wielding power from the shadows. For some who lead mundane lives, this is the ultimate extension of the power of retribution. The ability of a little nobody - to detract and cast down the powerful with a mighty weapon.
This brings together a number of sharply contrasting factions. We value the principle of " free speech " and defend the media against censorship - and yet we also demand that social media take down offensive attacks against media users. That raises the definition of " offensive ". The thin skinned object to even the mildest criticism. There are laws against defamation - but the defamer must be recognised to be prosecuted - and the truth of the accusation is usually the biggest defence.
Social media has been slow to react to complaints, but it has taken down comment when the subject matter has been extreme. It would be impossible to create a filter that would please everybody and fortunately there are helpful organizations like " Beyond Blue " to offer help and counsel to those distressed to the point of suicide.
Perhaps the greatest defence against cyber bullying - is the oldest remedy in the world. Simply cease to log on to the social media site that is the source of the offensive comment - and ignore it. The cyber bully gets satisfaction from the distress caused - and when there is no distress - there is no satisfaction. !
The benefits conferred by the development of the Internet are huge. It is now hard to imagine life without it, but as with most new innovations it comes with both benefits and liabilities. Smart minds saw the communication potential of the Internet and social media programmes such as Facebook burst onto the scene - and were slavishly adopted by millions of people.
All over the world huge numbers of people report daily - and in some cases hourly - such mundane matter as what they had for breakfast and what clothes they will be wearing that day. Postings on social media are regarded as conversations between friends, but they are open to the entire world - and it should not be surprising that they stir the ire of some other Internet users.
Jealousy and greed are part of the human makeup. The entire social media panoply covers people who are famous for their achievements - and even former friends who may have become enemies because of a social tiff. Here is an anonymous instrument that allows a detractor to post comment that hurts - and get the satisfaction of wielding power from the shadows. For some who lead mundane lives, this is the ultimate extension of the power of retribution. The ability of a little nobody - to detract and cast down the powerful with a mighty weapon.
This brings together a number of sharply contrasting factions. We value the principle of " free speech " and defend the media against censorship - and yet we also demand that social media take down offensive attacks against media users. That raises the definition of " offensive ". The thin skinned object to even the mildest criticism. There are laws against defamation - but the defamer must be recognised to be prosecuted - and the truth of the accusation is usually the biggest defence.
Social media has been slow to react to complaints, but it has taken down comment when the subject matter has been extreme. It would be impossible to create a filter that would please everybody and fortunately there are helpful organizations like " Beyond Blue " to offer help and counsel to those distressed to the point of suicide.
Perhaps the greatest defence against cyber bullying - is the oldest remedy in the world. Simply cease to log on to the social media site that is the source of the offensive comment - and ignore it. The cyber bully gets satisfaction from the distress caused - and when there is no distress - there is no satisfaction. !
Tuesday 25 February 2014
Fascination with crime !
Channel Nine seems to have another winner with it's " Fat Tony & Co " crime series which followed the equally successful " Underbelly ". It is a fact of life that the criminal fraternity produces crime leaders who are slavishly followed by the media and avoid police convictions for a very long time. They develop a cult following on a world wide basis. Names such as Ned Kelly, Al Capone and John Dillinger come to mind.
Ordinary people seem to have a fascination with crime and it cuts two ways. A lot of the TV and movie fare deals with crime from the police point of view and in recent times this is heavy with crime technology developments. We applaud the conviction of criminals, and yet at the same time we have a perverse admiration for the very people who are breaking the law.
Shows like " Fat Tony " make a feature of the glamour life when crime delivers a bonanza and money is splashed around on prestige cars, unlimited booze - and fast women. Perhaps we all have a Walter Mitty syndrome that allows us to dream - of how our life would change - on the other side of the law.
There is a fine line between fiction and reality and the people who put these shows together put high priority on " entertainment ". That requires plenty of tough guy action mixed with the glamour of the high life - and a generous sprinkling of half naked women to enliven the scene. Enough to keep the audience on the edge of their seats, eyes glued to the screen.
Unfortunately, all this is not an entertainment mirage. The cops do intercept huge consignments of drugs coming into the country and confiscate almost unimaginable sums of money that are the proceeds of crime. People get shot on the streets of Sydney on a regular basis - and the bikie gangs are as well organized and drilled as a national army.
Perhaps the value of these sort of crime series is to get viewers to reflect not only on the extravaganza of wealth that crime delivers - but on the final outcome for those involved. There is not a lot of glamour in serving a long term in a prison - and even less in joining the long list of the deceased !
Ordinary people seem to have a fascination with crime and it cuts two ways. A lot of the TV and movie fare deals with crime from the police point of view and in recent times this is heavy with crime technology developments. We applaud the conviction of criminals, and yet at the same time we have a perverse admiration for the very people who are breaking the law.
Shows like " Fat Tony " make a feature of the glamour life when crime delivers a bonanza and money is splashed around on prestige cars, unlimited booze - and fast women. Perhaps we all have a Walter Mitty syndrome that allows us to dream - of how our life would change - on the other side of the law.
There is a fine line between fiction and reality and the people who put these shows together put high priority on " entertainment ". That requires plenty of tough guy action mixed with the glamour of the high life - and a generous sprinkling of half naked women to enliven the scene. Enough to keep the audience on the edge of their seats, eyes glued to the screen.
Unfortunately, all this is not an entertainment mirage. The cops do intercept huge consignments of drugs coming into the country and confiscate almost unimaginable sums of money that are the proceeds of crime. People get shot on the streets of Sydney on a regular basis - and the bikie gangs are as well organized and drilled as a national army.
Perhaps the value of these sort of crime series is to get viewers to reflect not only on the extravaganza of wealth that crime delivers - but on the final outcome for those involved. There is not a lot of glamour in serving a long term in a prison - and even less in joining the long list of the deceased !
Monday 24 February 2014
Fee gouging !
One of the distractions of modern life is the difficulty of obtaining child care by working Mums returning to the workforce. Finding places in child care facilities is difficult because demand far exceeds supply - and so many people place their child's name on that dreaded item called " the waiting list ".
To most people, the waiting list is another name for a queue. Australia uses the queue system whenever a group of people wait for a bus or to obtain movie tickets, and patiently wait their turn until they reach the head of the queue to get service.
Many are now dismayed to find that the child care industry has started to charge a fee - just for the privilege of putting a name on a waiting list. This fee ranges from place to place, but in the most sought after areas is can be a hundred dollars - and it is not refundable. It can be a huge burden on families seeking care for more than one child - and who need to list on a number of institutions in the hope of early success.
Pressure is building on the state government to regulate these fees. There is even a doubt about the legality of charging fees that far exceed the cost of the service involved, as the banks found out to their horror when they charged vast sums for services that cost them mere pennies.
The child care industry has a valid defence in fee imposition. Many people list with a number of child care centres to increase the odds of success, but few bother to withdraw that application when their search is successful. As a result, the statistics that apply to child care demand are skewed and this is the information that is used to make government decisions that effect the industry. Incorrect demand statistics are a disincentive to companies thinking of entering the child care field and building new facilities.
The solution to this problem seems quite simple. The state government needs to regulate and cap the fee that applies to waiting lists - and make them refundable. Once a customer's need is satisfied they have every reason to contact the agencies with listing to remove that name - and recover their money.
When it comes to motivation - money is the best incentive !
To most people, the waiting list is another name for a queue. Australia uses the queue system whenever a group of people wait for a bus or to obtain movie tickets, and patiently wait their turn until they reach the head of the queue to get service.
Many are now dismayed to find that the child care industry has started to charge a fee - just for the privilege of putting a name on a waiting list. This fee ranges from place to place, but in the most sought after areas is can be a hundred dollars - and it is not refundable. It can be a huge burden on families seeking care for more than one child - and who need to list on a number of institutions in the hope of early success.
Pressure is building on the state government to regulate these fees. There is even a doubt about the legality of charging fees that far exceed the cost of the service involved, as the banks found out to their horror when they charged vast sums for services that cost them mere pennies.
The child care industry has a valid defence in fee imposition. Many people list with a number of child care centres to increase the odds of success, but few bother to withdraw that application when their search is successful. As a result, the statistics that apply to child care demand are skewed and this is the information that is used to make government decisions that effect the industry. Incorrect demand statistics are a disincentive to companies thinking of entering the child care field and building new facilities.
The solution to this problem seems quite simple. The state government needs to regulate and cap the fee that applies to waiting lists - and make them refundable. Once a customer's need is satisfied they have every reason to contact the agencies with listing to remove that name - and recover their money.
When it comes to motivation - money is the best incentive !
Sunday 23 February 2014
Crime - and rehabilitation !
The news that female prisoners - some of whom have been convicted of murder - are working in a prison call centre to gather information to update the state's data base is causing uproar. The fact that they can earn as much as twenty-five dollars a week for these services seems to add to that indignation.
Our prison system is supposed to be big on rehabilitating those who have offended and preparing them for their eventual return to society, and this takes many forms. We seek to improve the educational level of prisoners to fit them into the future work force and the system provides incentives for good behaviour while behind bars. Prisoners are graded into various security levels and these give more personal freedoms as their time of release nears.
The women's prison at Windsor selects up to twenty-five prisoners to serve in it's call centre and they are tasked with phoning schools, hospitals and various government agencies to gather the information that forms the state government data base. They do not identify themselves as prison inmates when they call and the information they gather is freely available within the rules and regulations of the departments called. These women are gaining a skill and at the same time delivering an outcome that serves to defray the cost of maintaining a prison system.
Many people critical of prison rehabilitation cite the poor prospects that many prisoners face on release. In the past, some walked out the prison gate with about the price of a bus fare in their pocket. Those without family or friends to offer support faced an impossible task - and inevitably some found themselves back in prison on destitution grounds. Earning twenty-five dollars a week is a mere fraction of the average wage, but it at least provides a buffer between the gap to the next dole cheque when a released prisoner has to survive in a now unfamiliar world.
Work within the prison system has been with us for a very long time. Prisoners make the number plates for our cars, and prison farms are a low security option that relaxes security and at the same time provides some of the food that supports the whole gambit of government services. In our computerized world, it is inevitable that learning new skills advance beyond mere physical labour.
Hopefully, the rehabilitation people will not lose their nerve and shut down this call centre option. The opposition it has engendered is a knee jerk reaction. There is absolutely no valid reason why prisoners can not perform this function - and if we are to return to the criteria of the past - years of progress will be lost !
Our prison system is supposed to be big on rehabilitating those who have offended and preparing them for their eventual return to society, and this takes many forms. We seek to improve the educational level of prisoners to fit them into the future work force and the system provides incentives for good behaviour while behind bars. Prisoners are graded into various security levels and these give more personal freedoms as their time of release nears.
The women's prison at Windsor selects up to twenty-five prisoners to serve in it's call centre and they are tasked with phoning schools, hospitals and various government agencies to gather the information that forms the state government data base. They do not identify themselves as prison inmates when they call and the information they gather is freely available within the rules and regulations of the departments called. These women are gaining a skill and at the same time delivering an outcome that serves to defray the cost of maintaining a prison system.
Many people critical of prison rehabilitation cite the poor prospects that many prisoners face on release. In the past, some walked out the prison gate with about the price of a bus fare in their pocket. Those without family or friends to offer support faced an impossible task - and inevitably some found themselves back in prison on destitution grounds. Earning twenty-five dollars a week is a mere fraction of the average wage, but it at least provides a buffer between the gap to the next dole cheque when a released prisoner has to survive in a now unfamiliar world.
Work within the prison system has been with us for a very long time. Prisoners make the number plates for our cars, and prison farms are a low security option that relaxes security and at the same time provides some of the food that supports the whole gambit of government services. In our computerized world, it is inevitable that learning new skills advance beyond mere physical labour.
Hopefully, the rehabilitation people will not lose their nerve and shut down this call centre option. The opposition it has engendered is a knee jerk reaction. There is absolutely no valid reason why prisoners can not perform this function - and if we are to return to the criteria of the past - years of progress will be lost !
Saturday 22 February 2014
A lost icon !
When the 198 metre smokestack at the old copper smelter plant at Port Kembla crashed to earth this week it brought to an end an iconic feature of the New South Wales coastline. This was the tallest stack in the southern hemisphere and since 1965 it had been used as a navigation marker by coastal shipping and recreational boaters. It's destruction by implosion was necessary - because the ravages of time was making it increasingly dangerous.
Copper smelting started in Port Kembla in 1908 and at that time the smelter site was in open farmland. It was a labour intensive industry and workers soon established homes nearby, establishing a village which quickly became a suburb of Wollongong. In 1928 steel making commenced nearby and when the second world war erupted both steel and copper became a vital defence industry - and both plants expanded.
Copper smelting is famous for the noxious gases it produces and resident complaints caused the company to erect a huge smokestack in 1965 to dissipate fumes at a safe height. Unfortunately, this failed to solve the problem and over the following years the plant changed hands several times, new production methods were tried - but Port Kembla suffered acid rain that ruined cars and homes and noxious smells from the plant that were impossible to eradicate. The plant finally closed for the last time in July, 2008.
Port Kembla was once a thriving suburb but it fell on hard times. It became one of Wollongong's least salubrious suburbs, the shopping centre became littered with closed shops and it emerged as the Illawarra's red light district. It was ripe for renewal.
This explosive felling of the stack opens a new era. Work is under way to clear the remains of the copper smelter and other derelict industry, the shopping centre has been revitalised and Port Kermbla is becoming a desireable suburb for young families - with the promise of new industries forming a fresh industrial hub.
Many will remember that iconic stack with nostalgia. It was visible from all over Wollongong and on the day of it's destruction thousands waited - camera in hand - to record it coming crashing back to earth.
An era ended - and a new one began !
Copper smelting started in Port Kembla in 1908 and at that time the smelter site was in open farmland. It was a labour intensive industry and workers soon established homes nearby, establishing a village which quickly became a suburb of Wollongong. In 1928 steel making commenced nearby and when the second world war erupted both steel and copper became a vital defence industry - and both plants expanded.
Copper smelting is famous for the noxious gases it produces and resident complaints caused the company to erect a huge smokestack in 1965 to dissipate fumes at a safe height. Unfortunately, this failed to solve the problem and over the following years the plant changed hands several times, new production methods were tried - but Port Kembla suffered acid rain that ruined cars and homes and noxious smells from the plant that were impossible to eradicate. The plant finally closed for the last time in July, 2008.
Port Kembla was once a thriving suburb but it fell on hard times. It became one of Wollongong's least salubrious suburbs, the shopping centre became littered with closed shops and it emerged as the Illawarra's red light district. It was ripe for renewal.
This explosive felling of the stack opens a new era. Work is under way to clear the remains of the copper smelter and other derelict industry, the shopping centre has been revitalised and Port Kermbla is becoming a desireable suburb for young families - with the promise of new industries forming a fresh industrial hub.
Many will remember that iconic stack with nostalgia. It was visible from all over Wollongong and on the day of it's destruction thousands waited - camera in hand - to record it coming crashing back to earth.
An era ended - and a new one began !
Friday 21 February 2014
The law - and responsibility !
The Australian Federal Police raid on the offices of Channel Seven raises some interesting questions. There are strict protocols that need to be followed when police execute a search warrant that has been authorised by a legal officer. Channel Seven executives claim that many of these were breached when this raid was carried out.
It is required that a copy of the search warrant must be delivered into the hands of the people subject to such a search, and Seven claims that this was not done. The law requires those to be searched to be allowed to stay and observe the searchers, but staff were ordered out of their offices and the police required camera crews to stop filming.
If this is correct, then a serious breach of the law occurred and the public have a right to know what action will follow. Obviously, when a search warrant event happens the police involved have a senior person in charge and that person must take responsibility for ensuring that the law is followed. A serious law breach brings into question - what penalties apply.
There is a distinct tendency for the police to stonewall and refer complaints to an internal enquiry - where police investigate other police. Usually, this brings a finding that acquits the officer involved, even in circumstances where blatant misconduct is alleged. This raises the conception in many minds that the police consider themselves above the law.
With power comes responsibility, and that responsibility must have consequences. If dereliction of duty results in a law breach it brings into question the senior officers suitability to hold that rank within the police service. It would not be unreasonable to expect a rank reduction to be imposed as the result of inability to meet standards.
Of course, this would be bitterly opposed by the police union, and to a degree that union tends to blackmail whatever government is in office. We have seen past instances when police have imposed a " revenue strike " when their employer has taken action that offends them. If police refuse to write traffic tickets and instead issue warnings, the state revenue stream is seriously disrupted. There is always the additional threat of an all out police strike, but usually the revenue option brings the government quickly to heel.
This botched Channel Seven raid will be interesting to follow. If the claim is substantiated, the public will want to know why procedures were not followed - and what action will be taken against the officer in charge. It should at least bring an official reprimand, but if it is found that police are regularly disregarding their lawful responsibilities, more serious penalties will be needed to curtail these omissions.
In this instance, the police appear to have bitten off much more than they can chew. Taking on a major news organization that has the ability to keep the matter in the public eye may have been a major blunder !
It is required that a copy of the search warrant must be delivered into the hands of the people subject to such a search, and Seven claims that this was not done. The law requires those to be searched to be allowed to stay and observe the searchers, but staff were ordered out of their offices and the police required camera crews to stop filming.
If this is correct, then a serious breach of the law occurred and the public have a right to know what action will follow. Obviously, when a search warrant event happens the police involved have a senior person in charge and that person must take responsibility for ensuring that the law is followed. A serious law breach brings into question - what penalties apply.
There is a distinct tendency for the police to stonewall and refer complaints to an internal enquiry - where police investigate other police. Usually, this brings a finding that acquits the officer involved, even in circumstances where blatant misconduct is alleged. This raises the conception in many minds that the police consider themselves above the law.
With power comes responsibility, and that responsibility must have consequences. If dereliction of duty results in a law breach it brings into question the senior officers suitability to hold that rank within the police service. It would not be unreasonable to expect a rank reduction to be imposed as the result of inability to meet standards.
Of course, this would be bitterly opposed by the police union, and to a degree that union tends to blackmail whatever government is in office. We have seen past instances when police have imposed a " revenue strike " when their employer has taken action that offends them. If police refuse to write traffic tickets and instead issue warnings, the state revenue stream is seriously disrupted. There is always the additional threat of an all out police strike, but usually the revenue option brings the government quickly to heel.
This botched Channel Seven raid will be interesting to follow. If the claim is substantiated, the public will want to know why procedures were not followed - and what action will be taken against the officer in charge. It should at least bring an official reprimand, but if it is found that police are regularly disregarding their lawful responsibilities, more serious penalties will be needed to curtail these omissions.
In this instance, the police appear to have bitten off much more than they can chew. Taking on a major news organization that has the ability to keep the matter in the public eye may have been a major blunder !
Thursday 20 February 2014
Asset Seizures !
No wonder the average Australian thinks the law system in this country is a bit of a joke ! Well over a year ago ICAC referred the investigation into Eddie Obeid's conduct in acquiring a coal mining license for a farm and turning that into a profit of millions of dollars over to the Crime Commission for action to freeze Obeid's assets and begin the asset seizure process.
The Crime Commission is still pondering the matter and trying to sort out just what evidence would be admissible in court. Obeid remains a free man - in complete control of his assets and the Crime Commission warns that it may be " too late " to seize them.
It is known that OBeid ran a labyrinthine mix of family trusts and inter connected companies that hid the true ownership of his money and this lack of action may have allowed him to squirrel money away - far out of reach of even the best accountants employed by our legal services.
To the average person, it looks like Eddie Obeid is getting away with his criminality -scott free. He is yet to wear handcuffs and so far no charges have been laid.
The day of reckoning has arrived for Craig Thomson and he has been found guilty and awaits sentence. The public will remember the weasel words of his political party when they defended him and stoutly proclaimed his innocence in the months that his vote was essential to keep them in office. Now the time of his usefulness has passed they have no further comment - and his old union is baying for blood and threatening to sell him up to recover lost money.
Perhaps the greatest travesty is the speed with which the Australian Federal Police moved to try and seize the proceeds of a news story that Schapele Corby is reputed to have arranged with a television network. Schapele has been free on parole for a matter of days and already a bevy of armed cops have descended on the Channel Seven studios with search warrants. The tax man is expressing indignation that a " convicted criminal " may gain a reward - and vigorously implementing the " proceeds of crime " legislation to size the money.
Perhaps there is more involved in this raid than meets the eye. The Federal police rifled through the files and personal papers of company executives and took away the hard drives of computers. It is quite possible that pending news stories being put together by investigative journalists may now be in police hands and there is every chance that the names of whistle blowers are now known - perhaps to the very subjects of the news stories involved.
It seems that the law moves with varying speeds - depending on who is involved and what clout they can bring to gain protection. Politicians seem to be a class of their own. Investigations proceed with agonising attention to detail and the most liberal interpretation of the law - and that is something that is missing when the case involves one of the " common herd " of other mere mortals !
Then handcuffs are swiftly applied - and the accused sees the inside of a police cell !
The Crime Commission is still pondering the matter and trying to sort out just what evidence would be admissible in court. Obeid remains a free man - in complete control of his assets and the Crime Commission warns that it may be " too late " to seize them.
It is known that OBeid ran a labyrinthine mix of family trusts and inter connected companies that hid the true ownership of his money and this lack of action may have allowed him to squirrel money away - far out of reach of even the best accountants employed by our legal services.
To the average person, it looks like Eddie Obeid is getting away with his criminality -scott free. He is yet to wear handcuffs and so far no charges have been laid.
The day of reckoning has arrived for Craig Thomson and he has been found guilty and awaits sentence. The public will remember the weasel words of his political party when they defended him and stoutly proclaimed his innocence in the months that his vote was essential to keep them in office. Now the time of his usefulness has passed they have no further comment - and his old union is baying for blood and threatening to sell him up to recover lost money.
Perhaps the greatest travesty is the speed with which the Australian Federal Police moved to try and seize the proceeds of a news story that Schapele Corby is reputed to have arranged with a television network. Schapele has been free on parole for a matter of days and already a bevy of armed cops have descended on the Channel Seven studios with search warrants. The tax man is expressing indignation that a " convicted criminal " may gain a reward - and vigorously implementing the " proceeds of crime " legislation to size the money.
Perhaps there is more involved in this raid than meets the eye. The Federal police rifled through the files and personal papers of company executives and took away the hard drives of computers. It is quite possible that pending news stories being put together by investigative journalists may now be in police hands and there is every chance that the names of whistle blowers are now known - perhaps to the very subjects of the news stories involved.
It seems that the law moves with varying speeds - depending on who is involved and what clout they can bring to gain protection. Politicians seem to be a class of their own. Investigations proceed with agonising attention to detail and the most liberal interpretation of the law - and that is something that is missing when the case involves one of the " common herd " of other mere mortals !
Then handcuffs are swiftly applied - and the accused sees the inside of a police cell !
Wednesday 19 February 2014
The CSG question !
It looks like New South Wales is between a rock and a hard place when it comes to gas prices. AGL - our main supplier - is asking for a 20.3% increase in the rate it charges customers and predicts further sharp price hikes in the years ahead.
Of course this is an ambit claim. The price regulator will examine all the reasons given for the claim and may decide to award a lesser increase, but the prospects look grim for consumers. A twenty percent gas increase would cost the average customer an extra $ 132 a year - and that would be bad news for family budgets.
Unfortunately, gas is fast becoming the chosen fuel for world industry because it releases less carbon dioxide than coal when burned to generate electricity. As a result, demand is forcing up prices and much of the gas Australia produces is exported overseas and has become an integral part of our national economy. There is every prospect that the world's appetite for gas will double - and double again - in the decades ahead.
Many people in the gas industry despair because they claim that salvation for the people of New South Wales is right beneath their feet. It is called " Coal Seam Gas " - and that puts a shudder through many who saw a horror film called " Gasland " that depicted what can go wrong when gas wells divert aquifers, contaminate water wells and leak a highly explosive vapour in a land subjected to bushfires.
New South Wales has a potential coal seam gas industry that is attracting bitter opposition. This state produces just five percent of it's gas supply and legislation is in place to restrict access to the almost unlimited amount of gas locked in our sandstone sub-strata and in the areas containing coal. The gas industry claims that this CSG can be tapped with safety - but if they are wrong the outcome would be catastrophic !
Exploratory gas wells are in place and the technology is developing at break neck speed. Angle drilling can reach areas far distant from the actual well and proponents want to harvest gas from under suburbs and farming areas. At present, legislation is in place to restrict the " fracking " that is needed to release the gas.
This is a major headache for the politicians. We can have a huge drop in gas prices if we allow the CSG industry to mine the product beneath our feet, but that comes with risks. The world experience with CSG has been a mixture of success - and failure. It all depends on how the geology below reacts to fracking and that does not become clear until the process begins. Luck plays a big part in the end result.
It seems likely that this state will maintain a cautious approach. Some CSG mining will be allowed but not under city suburbs or under prime farming land. The state will seek to balance that five percent upwards to ease pressure on retail gas prices, but without the risk of uncoordinated expansion that would provoke a public backlash.
We should remember that we intend to live on this planet for a very long time. Like every other natural commodity the world supply of gas is not unlimited and we are burning it at a prodigious rate. Leaving some gas undisturbed under New South Wales will ultimately ensure supply for future generations.
Limiting CSG extraction will balance safety - and extend gas continuity for the years ahead !
Of course this is an ambit claim. The price regulator will examine all the reasons given for the claim and may decide to award a lesser increase, but the prospects look grim for consumers. A twenty percent gas increase would cost the average customer an extra $ 132 a year - and that would be bad news for family budgets.
Unfortunately, gas is fast becoming the chosen fuel for world industry because it releases less carbon dioxide than coal when burned to generate electricity. As a result, demand is forcing up prices and much of the gas Australia produces is exported overseas and has become an integral part of our national economy. There is every prospect that the world's appetite for gas will double - and double again - in the decades ahead.
Many people in the gas industry despair because they claim that salvation for the people of New South Wales is right beneath their feet. It is called " Coal Seam Gas " - and that puts a shudder through many who saw a horror film called " Gasland " that depicted what can go wrong when gas wells divert aquifers, contaminate water wells and leak a highly explosive vapour in a land subjected to bushfires.
New South Wales has a potential coal seam gas industry that is attracting bitter opposition. This state produces just five percent of it's gas supply and legislation is in place to restrict access to the almost unlimited amount of gas locked in our sandstone sub-strata and in the areas containing coal. The gas industry claims that this CSG can be tapped with safety - but if they are wrong the outcome would be catastrophic !
Exploratory gas wells are in place and the technology is developing at break neck speed. Angle drilling can reach areas far distant from the actual well and proponents want to harvest gas from under suburbs and farming areas. At present, legislation is in place to restrict the " fracking " that is needed to release the gas.
This is a major headache for the politicians. We can have a huge drop in gas prices if we allow the CSG industry to mine the product beneath our feet, but that comes with risks. The world experience with CSG has been a mixture of success - and failure. It all depends on how the geology below reacts to fracking and that does not become clear until the process begins. Luck plays a big part in the end result.
It seems likely that this state will maintain a cautious approach. Some CSG mining will be allowed but not under city suburbs or under prime farming land. The state will seek to balance that five percent upwards to ease pressure on retail gas prices, but without the risk of uncoordinated expansion that would provoke a public backlash.
We should remember that we intend to live on this planet for a very long time. Like every other natural commodity the world supply of gas is not unlimited and we are burning it at a prodigious rate. Leaving some gas undisturbed under New South Wales will ultimately ensure supply for future generations.
Limiting CSG extraction will balance safety - and extend gas continuity for the years ahead !
Tuesday 18 February 2014
Debt " Holidays " !
To those with a maxed out credit card, the offers from the banks seems just too good to be true. Simply transfer that credit card balance to another banking institution and the interest will be waived - for periods as long as fifteen months.
That can be an opportunity to get a person's finances in order - if it is handled properly. The customer needs to remember that the debt does not just " go away ". To be properly managed, the amount owing needs to be divided by the number of debt free months - and that figure made as a monthly payment so that the entire debt is eliminated during the debt free period.
No doubt some artful dodgers will see interest free periods as the answer to their money problems. Simply keep moving the debt to a new institution whenever the debt free period expires - and it remains in limbo forever. Unfortunately, life doesn't work that way ! There are one hundred and twenty four debt holiday deals on offer from banks, building societies and other financial institutions - but their credit assessing bureaus keep a close track on credit worthiness.
People with money problems have other avenues for relief. They can enter a government approved debt management scheme in which outstanding debt is frozen from further interest payments and repaid over a nominated period of time by an agreed monthly amount. This tends to free up the income stream but it also requires the debtor to stick to a budget and pay cash for new purchases instead of racking up new debt.
The last resort for many is to declare bankruptcy., but this carries with it many unpleasant side issues, including future debt refusal long after the bankruptcy has been cleared. There is usually an ongoing stigma and many job opportunities are closed. For instance, a bankrupt person is ineligible to stand for a seat in parliament.
Managing personal debt is a skill that should be taught in schools. Store cards and the credit card industry make credit look both tempting and easy and the unwise can quickly become encumbered with a debt load beyond their capacity to service.
Those making use of the banks " debt holiday " deal should be aware that various administrative charges still apply, and if the debt is unpaid at the end of the debt free period, a new charge of about 22% is usually levied.
The wise get professional help to get clear of the debt trap !
That can be an opportunity to get a person's finances in order - if it is handled properly. The customer needs to remember that the debt does not just " go away ". To be properly managed, the amount owing needs to be divided by the number of debt free months - and that figure made as a monthly payment so that the entire debt is eliminated during the debt free period.
No doubt some artful dodgers will see interest free periods as the answer to their money problems. Simply keep moving the debt to a new institution whenever the debt free period expires - and it remains in limbo forever. Unfortunately, life doesn't work that way ! There are one hundred and twenty four debt holiday deals on offer from banks, building societies and other financial institutions - but their credit assessing bureaus keep a close track on credit worthiness.
People with money problems have other avenues for relief. They can enter a government approved debt management scheme in which outstanding debt is frozen from further interest payments and repaid over a nominated period of time by an agreed monthly amount. This tends to free up the income stream but it also requires the debtor to stick to a budget and pay cash for new purchases instead of racking up new debt.
The last resort for many is to declare bankruptcy., but this carries with it many unpleasant side issues, including future debt refusal long after the bankruptcy has been cleared. There is usually an ongoing stigma and many job opportunities are closed. For instance, a bankrupt person is ineligible to stand for a seat in parliament.
Managing personal debt is a skill that should be taught in schools. Store cards and the credit card industry make credit look both tempting and easy and the unwise can quickly become encumbered with a debt load beyond their capacity to service.
Those making use of the banks " debt holiday " deal should be aware that various administrative charges still apply, and if the debt is unpaid at the end of the debt free period, a new charge of about 22% is usually levied.
The wise get professional help to get clear of the debt trap !
Monday 17 February 2014
Our changing culture !
Statistics tell a story. In recent years there has been a steady increase in what has become known as the " Coward's punch " and street bawls outside pubs and night clubs are now regular events. Property damage is rife and cab drivers taking drunks home do so in a climate of fear.
The pundits offer many reasons for this change in culture. Most blame it on the increasing number of outlets offering alcohol and the extended trading hours, and it does seem to be a fact that the majority of these disturbances occur late at night or in the small hours of the morning - when patrons are disgorged with a belly full of alcohol.
It is a fair question to ask why this was different in a kinder, gentler age that was just a few years earlier ?
Remember the days when a visit to the pub was usually something done on Saturday or Sunday afternoon - and the pub had a local band performing entertainment ? Disco has replaced live music and this form of entertainment now is concentrated from early evening until the approach of dawn - and the main objective of these gin palaces is to make a profit from alcohol sales.
Performing a gig at a pub used to be a way for live music bands to gain a following, and many of the big names in the music world got their start in this fashion. Patrons followed their favourite band and venues paid to attract the right music to fill their premises - and they provided food - which helped reduce intoxication.
Finding a pub with a live band is now a rarity. Noise abatement laws put a stop to that - and as a consequence our habits changed and the industry evolved into the " night club " style venues we see today. Strangely, residents who bitterly complained about the live band culture on weekend afternoons and evenings and demanded that it cease, today seem silent on the timing change and extreme noise when what replaced them empty out.
Unfortunately, there is no way back. Once a way of life changes - it is gone forever. The local pubs are fewer and many have evolved into huge entertainment venues that have embraced the near twenty-four hour trading regime. The music industry has changed course and instead of playing gigs in pubs the impetus is on getting noticed on the radio and television music channels.
Perhaps the lesson to be learned is that any kind of change brings with it the inevitability - of more change.
When we killed the live gig at the local pub we set in motion the need for a replacement - and today we have a new monster that is causing great disquiet in the community.
Taming that monster needs to be done with care - lest we create something even worse !
The pundits offer many reasons for this change in culture. Most blame it on the increasing number of outlets offering alcohol and the extended trading hours, and it does seem to be a fact that the majority of these disturbances occur late at night or in the small hours of the morning - when patrons are disgorged with a belly full of alcohol.
It is a fair question to ask why this was different in a kinder, gentler age that was just a few years earlier ?
Remember the days when a visit to the pub was usually something done on Saturday or Sunday afternoon - and the pub had a local band performing entertainment ? Disco has replaced live music and this form of entertainment now is concentrated from early evening until the approach of dawn - and the main objective of these gin palaces is to make a profit from alcohol sales.
Performing a gig at a pub used to be a way for live music bands to gain a following, and many of the big names in the music world got their start in this fashion. Patrons followed their favourite band and venues paid to attract the right music to fill their premises - and they provided food - which helped reduce intoxication.
Finding a pub with a live band is now a rarity. Noise abatement laws put a stop to that - and as a consequence our habits changed and the industry evolved into the " night club " style venues we see today. Strangely, residents who bitterly complained about the live band culture on weekend afternoons and evenings and demanded that it cease, today seem silent on the timing change and extreme noise when what replaced them empty out.
Unfortunately, there is no way back. Once a way of life changes - it is gone forever. The local pubs are fewer and many have evolved into huge entertainment venues that have embraced the near twenty-four hour trading regime. The music industry has changed course and instead of playing gigs in pubs the impetus is on getting noticed on the radio and television music channels.
Perhaps the lesson to be learned is that any kind of change brings with it the inevitability - of more change.
When we killed the live gig at the local pub we set in motion the need for a replacement - and today we have a new monster that is causing great disquiet in the community.
Taming that monster needs to be done with care - lest we create something even worse !
Saturday 15 February 2014
Mental Illness !
Right across Australia, a news story has sent fear creeping into the hearts of those who live with the threat of mental illness intruding into their lifestyle. It can be people of either gender who suffer mental irrationality - and who are subject to sudden fits of violence.
A fifty-four year old man separated from his wife had initially shown little interest in the son of their union. He later developed an interest in the boy and started court action to gain access. He was living rough, sleeping in an unregistered car and had a long history of violence against the boy's mother - and was subject to an arrest warrant for failing to attend court.
He attended a community cricket practice event and spent time coaching his son. The boy's mother had every reason to think he showed love for his son and granted her son's wish for a little more time with his dad. Suddenly - without provocation - the father caved in his son's skull with a cricket bat, produced a knife and inflicted fatal wounds. When the police arrived he attacked them with the knife - and was shot dead.
Such is the outcome that mental illness can produce. It is impossible to predict what was in that man's mind - and why he took such extreme action - or how it may have been prevented. Failure to take prescribed anti-psychotic medicine is usually part of the background when tragedy strikes and many will contend that he should have been in custody over those failed court appearances. Hindsight always has twenty-twenty vision - and there are thousands of people in the community who suffer varying degrees of mental illness.
Psychiatry is not a precise science. At best, treatment is trial and error and the human mind is the least understood of the organs of the human body. How it reacts to stress and what effect stimulants and depressives like drugs and alcohol have on situations differ wildly from person to person. There is no " one size fits all " solution to mental illness.
Unfortunately, a tragedy of this nature will have far reaching community repercussions. In many cases the courts have granted visiting rights to estranged couples with children and often these visits are filled with acrimony. Even when there is no background of violence, personal animosity can lead to refused access, manufactured claims of " incidents " - and the rage factor that is usually the root cause of future violence. We can expect an upsurge of access problems to arise from this brutal killing.
Australia is still digesting the sentencing of a man who threw his fiancee from a high rise balcony in a fit of rage - and many will contend that this was a form of mental illness. We tend to be suspicious of the homeless of our society because they do not conform to normal standards - and we crave uniformity. We shun what we do not understand - and the stigma of mental illness is easily bestowed on anyone who does not fit within normal parameters.
Sadly, there are many people in our society who have very good reason to fear an ex partner or a close relative who is consumed with a vindictive hate and has threatened violence. Unfortunately there are few avenues of relief open to such people. The police can only act once a crime has been committed and the mental health people are subjected to legislative limits - and are short of treatment facilities.
Fortunately, mental illness that ends in tragedy is fairly rare, but when it does happen it is so extreme that it grabs the headlines. It seems that becoming a victim is just one of the happenances that fate chooses to distribute at random - and it's outcome is decided by sheer luck !
A fifty-four year old man separated from his wife had initially shown little interest in the son of their union. He later developed an interest in the boy and started court action to gain access. He was living rough, sleeping in an unregistered car and had a long history of violence against the boy's mother - and was subject to an arrest warrant for failing to attend court.
He attended a community cricket practice event and spent time coaching his son. The boy's mother had every reason to think he showed love for his son and granted her son's wish for a little more time with his dad. Suddenly - without provocation - the father caved in his son's skull with a cricket bat, produced a knife and inflicted fatal wounds. When the police arrived he attacked them with the knife - and was shot dead.
Such is the outcome that mental illness can produce. It is impossible to predict what was in that man's mind - and why he took such extreme action - or how it may have been prevented. Failure to take prescribed anti-psychotic medicine is usually part of the background when tragedy strikes and many will contend that he should have been in custody over those failed court appearances. Hindsight always has twenty-twenty vision - and there are thousands of people in the community who suffer varying degrees of mental illness.
Psychiatry is not a precise science. At best, treatment is trial and error and the human mind is the least understood of the organs of the human body. How it reacts to stress and what effect stimulants and depressives like drugs and alcohol have on situations differ wildly from person to person. There is no " one size fits all " solution to mental illness.
Unfortunately, a tragedy of this nature will have far reaching community repercussions. In many cases the courts have granted visiting rights to estranged couples with children and often these visits are filled with acrimony. Even when there is no background of violence, personal animosity can lead to refused access, manufactured claims of " incidents " - and the rage factor that is usually the root cause of future violence. We can expect an upsurge of access problems to arise from this brutal killing.
Australia is still digesting the sentencing of a man who threw his fiancee from a high rise balcony in a fit of rage - and many will contend that this was a form of mental illness. We tend to be suspicious of the homeless of our society because they do not conform to normal standards - and we crave uniformity. We shun what we do not understand - and the stigma of mental illness is easily bestowed on anyone who does not fit within normal parameters.
Sadly, there are many people in our society who have very good reason to fear an ex partner or a close relative who is consumed with a vindictive hate and has threatened violence. Unfortunately there are few avenues of relief open to such people. The police can only act once a crime has been committed and the mental health people are subjected to legislative limits - and are short of treatment facilities.
Fortunately, mental illness that ends in tragedy is fairly rare, but when it does happen it is so extreme that it grabs the headlines. It seems that becoming a victim is just one of the happenances that fate chooses to distribute at random - and it's outcome is decided by sheer luck !
Friday 14 February 2014
Drought !
It seems that we have entered a new El Nino weather pattern and inland Australia is experiencing the ever tightening grip of drought. Unfortunately, past history indicates that this weather cycle can last many months - and in extreme cases - persist for years.
Already we are seeing country towns facing water restrictions and many farmers are buying feed for their herds. Inevitably, as drought persists adjustment will become scarcer and the cost of hay and other feed supplements will rise sharply. This will quickly find it's way into the national cost of living.
This drought is coming at a particularly bad time. We are losing our entire car manufacturing industry and some people blame the government for refusing to kick in millions of subsidy dollars to keep it in Australia. The fate of a major fruit processing plant is under threat, and once again the " bail out " option is being canvassed by a multi-national owner. Even our iconic airline - Qantas - is in trouble and faces an uncertain future.
Drought assistance to farmers seems certain to become controversial. Some will argue that if we are not prepared to give subsidies to maintain jobs in the cities, the same thinking should prevail where farmers are concerned. The industry should put money aside in good times - to tide it over when a drought shrinks incomes.
We are a nation of small farmers. More importantly, these small farmers control the national food supply and we are living in an increasingly hungry world. A country that lacks the ability to feed it's people is certainly vulnerable in time of war - or when a world food shortage fails to meet demand.
Perhaps our future is not in the arena of " making things " because of our high wage structure. We have the broad area of an entire continent - and perhaps our future is in " growing things " - that a hungry world desperately needs.
The pattern of drought has persisted for centuries and we live in the times of innovation. If we are to be the " clever country ", we need to bring this innovation into action to " drought proof " our farming industry to create stability. I'ts a big ask - and it will cost a lot of money - but it is technically feasible.
We have unlimited fresh water to our north - delivered by the Monsoon each year. Capturing it and holding it is an engineering undertaking that would rival the Snowy Mountains scheme, and then it would require a pipeline to carry that water to the farming areas of the south. Wind and solar would generate the power to keep those pumps running.
Drip irrigation has enabled deserts to bloom in many countries. Relatively small amounts of water used in a productive manner are more economical than open canals and water wheel irrigation from a long past era. We need to be innovative and use water sparingly - and the know how already exists to make this happen.
If contractions in our manufacturing base are going to shed jobs, bringing to fruition a major national strategy to drought proof the farming industry could provide the job relief we will desperately need - and ensure our future as one of the world's major food producing countries.
How we deal with this drought could be the tipping point !
Already we are seeing country towns facing water restrictions and many farmers are buying feed for their herds. Inevitably, as drought persists adjustment will become scarcer and the cost of hay and other feed supplements will rise sharply. This will quickly find it's way into the national cost of living.
This drought is coming at a particularly bad time. We are losing our entire car manufacturing industry and some people blame the government for refusing to kick in millions of subsidy dollars to keep it in Australia. The fate of a major fruit processing plant is under threat, and once again the " bail out " option is being canvassed by a multi-national owner. Even our iconic airline - Qantas - is in trouble and faces an uncertain future.
Drought assistance to farmers seems certain to become controversial. Some will argue that if we are not prepared to give subsidies to maintain jobs in the cities, the same thinking should prevail where farmers are concerned. The industry should put money aside in good times - to tide it over when a drought shrinks incomes.
We are a nation of small farmers. More importantly, these small farmers control the national food supply and we are living in an increasingly hungry world. A country that lacks the ability to feed it's people is certainly vulnerable in time of war - or when a world food shortage fails to meet demand.
Perhaps our future is not in the arena of " making things " because of our high wage structure. We have the broad area of an entire continent - and perhaps our future is in " growing things " - that a hungry world desperately needs.
The pattern of drought has persisted for centuries and we live in the times of innovation. If we are to be the " clever country ", we need to bring this innovation into action to " drought proof " our farming industry to create stability. I'ts a big ask - and it will cost a lot of money - but it is technically feasible.
We have unlimited fresh water to our north - delivered by the Monsoon each year. Capturing it and holding it is an engineering undertaking that would rival the Snowy Mountains scheme, and then it would require a pipeline to carry that water to the farming areas of the south. Wind and solar would generate the power to keep those pumps running.
Drip irrigation has enabled deserts to bloom in many countries. Relatively small amounts of water used in a productive manner are more economical than open canals and water wheel irrigation from a long past era. We need to be innovative and use water sparingly - and the know how already exists to make this happen.
If contractions in our manufacturing base are going to shed jobs, bringing to fruition a major national strategy to drought proof the farming industry could provide the job relief we will desperately need - and ensure our future as one of the world's major food producing countries.
How we deal with this drought could be the tipping point !
Thursday 13 February 2014
SCHAPELLE !
It seems that Shapelle Corby has joined the pantheon of hero/villains who make up the folklore of this country. Her name will go into the history books alongside Ned Kelly, Alan Bond - and from the far side of villainy - Christopher Skase !
The Schapelle story has unfolded over nearly ten long years. Suddenly, Australia saw images of a twenty-seven year old girl with a very appealing face in the hands of the Indonesian police and customs service, accused of smuggling four kilograms of Marijuana into that country in a boogie board cover.
To many people, this simply didn't make sense. Marijuana sold in Australia commanded a far higher price than could be obtained in Indonesia and the penalty for possession was far more lightly punished. It seemed a " coals to Newcastle " scenario - and Shapelle protested her innocence.
The Indonesians took a hard line and there was talk of the death penalty. Australian TV audiences were treated to the long trial saga - and shocked when the judges handed down a twenty year sentence. Schapelle commenced her incarceration in a dreaded Indonesian prison, right in the heart of Australia's tourist playground of Bali.
In the course of normal events, she might have been forgotten - but her sister Mercedes kept her case prominently in the media spotlight. A steady stream of explanation scenarios did the rounds in the media and it was suggested that Schapelle's mental health was in danger because of the degrading prison conditions. The public never tired of new versions of the " Schapelle story " !
Hope was kindled when Indonesia began to grant remission of sentence awards to foreign prisoners on Indonesian national days. She steadily accumulated these sentence reductions and there was talk of an agreement between the two countries - to exchange prisoners and allow the remaining sentences to be served in each prisoners homeland. These discussions failed to reach any sort of finality.
Finally, with remissions - Shapelle began to approach the mid term of her sentence, and the possibility of parole entered the equation. There was hostility to the suggestion from some quarters in Indonesia - and the negotiations proceeded with agonising slowness. It was breaking new legal ground and the paper trail began it's tortuous journey through the various government departments that needed to agree for a prisoner release to happen.
Finally - success ! Amazing scenes as a huge media contingent surged around the gate to Kerobokan prison as Schapelle was propelled through the crowd by Indonesian police and prison guards, covered head to foot and with her face masked by a hat and veil. This travelling circus needed to make it's way to several government agencies to sign release forms - and finally Schapelle disappeared behind the gates of one of the islands premium resort hideaways - for her first taste of privacy in nearly ten years.
Interest is now swirling around the size of the reward she will gain from giving her exclusive interview to one of the television channels. A figure of two million Australian dollars has been touted - and this could be a problem within the Indonesian law jurisdiction and would certainly draw interest from the Australian " Proceeds of Crime " people. The negotiations are being managed by her ever present sister - Mercedes.
Schapelle must remain in Indonesia until her parole expires in 2017. She must report monthly in person to the Indonesian police and she is required to be of good character. Any breach could see her parole cancelled - and her remaining prison term served behind the walls of Kerobokan prison.
These three years are fraught with danger. Approval has been given for her to live with her sister and her Indonesian husband, but it is learned that they have separated. The fact that Schapelle is now a high profile Australian celebrity may make her a target for Islamic extremists in Indonesia and the suggestion of a rich reward for a news interview will certainly make her a ransom possibility for the Asian underworld. As a parolee - she enjoys no special protection from the Indonesian authorities.
It seems that the Schapelle story is far from finished. She is now a public figure living openly in Indonesian society - and as such a certain attraction for the world's paparazzi. Every attempt will be made to invade her privacy and the required monthly visit to a police station will be a media ordeal. The mental strain will be enormous - and unremitting.
Perhaps the only solace is that all this media attention may help to pay the bills and the more the public laps up the continuing Schapelle story - the more the media moguls will be prepared to pay to keep ahead in the ratings war. Her sister Mercedes has certainly emerged as the skilled master of ceremonies to make that happen.
Schapelle is now thirty-six years old - and nearing the end of her child bearing years. The very thought of her finding love will surely send the media into a new frenzy. When her parole ends in 2017 she will probably return to Australia - but it is doubtful if she will be allowed to merge into obscurity.
The future life of Schapelle Corby seems destined to enthrall Australian - and probably world audiences - for years to come !
The Schapelle story has unfolded over nearly ten long years. Suddenly, Australia saw images of a twenty-seven year old girl with a very appealing face in the hands of the Indonesian police and customs service, accused of smuggling four kilograms of Marijuana into that country in a boogie board cover.
To many people, this simply didn't make sense. Marijuana sold in Australia commanded a far higher price than could be obtained in Indonesia and the penalty for possession was far more lightly punished. It seemed a " coals to Newcastle " scenario - and Shapelle protested her innocence.
The Indonesians took a hard line and there was talk of the death penalty. Australian TV audiences were treated to the long trial saga - and shocked when the judges handed down a twenty year sentence. Schapelle commenced her incarceration in a dreaded Indonesian prison, right in the heart of Australia's tourist playground of Bali.
In the course of normal events, she might have been forgotten - but her sister Mercedes kept her case prominently in the media spotlight. A steady stream of explanation scenarios did the rounds in the media and it was suggested that Schapelle's mental health was in danger because of the degrading prison conditions. The public never tired of new versions of the " Schapelle story " !
Hope was kindled when Indonesia began to grant remission of sentence awards to foreign prisoners on Indonesian national days. She steadily accumulated these sentence reductions and there was talk of an agreement between the two countries - to exchange prisoners and allow the remaining sentences to be served in each prisoners homeland. These discussions failed to reach any sort of finality.
Finally, with remissions - Shapelle began to approach the mid term of her sentence, and the possibility of parole entered the equation. There was hostility to the suggestion from some quarters in Indonesia - and the negotiations proceeded with agonising slowness. It was breaking new legal ground and the paper trail began it's tortuous journey through the various government departments that needed to agree for a prisoner release to happen.
Finally - success ! Amazing scenes as a huge media contingent surged around the gate to Kerobokan prison as Schapelle was propelled through the crowd by Indonesian police and prison guards, covered head to foot and with her face masked by a hat and veil. This travelling circus needed to make it's way to several government agencies to sign release forms - and finally Schapelle disappeared behind the gates of one of the islands premium resort hideaways - for her first taste of privacy in nearly ten years.
Interest is now swirling around the size of the reward she will gain from giving her exclusive interview to one of the television channels. A figure of two million Australian dollars has been touted - and this could be a problem within the Indonesian law jurisdiction and would certainly draw interest from the Australian " Proceeds of Crime " people. The negotiations are being managed by her ever present sister - Mercedes.
Schapelle must remain in Indonesia until her parole expires in 2017. She must report monthly in person to the Indonesian police and she is required to be of good character. Any breach could see her parole cancelled - and her remaining prison term served behind the walls of Kerobokan prison.
These three years are fraught with danger. Approval has been given for her to live with her sister and her Indonesian husband, but it is learned that they have separated. The fact that Schapelle is now a high profile Australian celebrity may make her a target for Islamic extremists in Indonesia and the suggestion of a rich reward for a news interview will certainly make her a ransom possibility for the Asian underworld. As a parolee - she enjoys no special protection from the Indonesian authorities.
It seems that the Schapelle story is far from finished. She is now a public figure living openly in Indonesian society - and as such a certain attraction for the world's paparazzi. Every attempt will be made to invade her privacy and the required monthly visit to a police station will be a media ordeal. The mental strain will be enormous - and unremitting.
Perhaps the only solace is that all this media attention may help to pay the bills and the more the public laps up the continuing Schapelle story - the more the media moguls will be prepared to pay to keep ahead in the ratings war. Her sister Mercedes has certainly emerged as the skilled master of ceremonies to make that happen.
Schapelle is now thirty-six years old - and nearing the end of her child bearing years. The very thought of her finding love will surely send the media into a new frenzy. When her parole ends in 2017 she will probably return to Australia - but it is doubtful if she will be allowed to merge into obscurity.
The future life of Schapelle Corby seems destined to enthrall Australian - and probably world audiences - for years to come !
Wednesday 12 February 2014
Rising Gang culture !
This week a fourteen year old Pacific Islander girl was raped by a gang of six young men in a park at Doonside, in Sydney's west. She reported that her attackers were African - and there is every chance that this incident will spark retribution attacks between these cultural groups. Australia has been mercifully free of the racial violence that has wracked American cities but the mixture of cultures involved in this rape has the capacity to force those of either Islander or African background to defend their nationality.
One of the problems is that the physical characteristics of both Pacific Islanders and Africans instantly identify which group they belong to - and if there is warfare between the groups that identification is sufficient to provoke violence. Tensions are rising and the worst scenario would be this rape degenerating into just another " unsolved crime ". That could lead to Pacific Islanders seeking their own revenge against a common enemy.
Tempers would cool if the offenders are quickly identified and arrested. The feeling that the guilty are facing punishment is usually enought to satisfy the initial outrage - but equally the perception that the offenders " got away with it " increases the desire for revenge against those who degraded the victims racial profile. An attack on this Pacific Islander girl is seen as an insult with studied impunity against all the people of that common heritage - which must be avenged.
This could quickly spin out of control. Hot heads from both cultures can spark tit for tat encounters in shopping centres that lead to open enmity between the groups - and gang warfare ! The last thing we need is a culture clash between Pacific Islanders and those people from Africa in the emotional hot house of western Sydney. It raises the awful prospect of what roils much of the world - tribal warfare !
This could easily revolve into those from any part of Africa becoming the " African tribe " doing battle with that other tribe from various islands of the Pacfic Ocean. Once a tribal divide is established, race and gender blur and appearance becomes the motivating factor on which side of the divide a person stands - and there is no neutral ground.
Hopefully, this rape will be quickly solved by way of arrests and attention will focus on improving safety for women. It is a disgrace that a suburb like Doonside has a public park that is poorly lit at night - and is totally devoid of cctc cameras. The camera network is a cheap way of extending the long arm of the law, as evidenced by the clearing up of assaults around Kings Cross. The mere presence of cameras deters criminal activity and makes our streets safer.
Solving this rape case will go a long way towards repairing the division between the Pacific Islander people and settlers from Africa. Wise heads in both camps need to hose down tension and avoid confrontation. The trouble with tribal clashes is that they develop a mind of their own - and once started can endure for centuries !
Tuesday 11 February 2014
Clash of religious customs !
Many people are shocked to learn that a twenty-six year old man has married a twelve year old girl - with the blessing of that girl's father. This contravenes Australian law which stipulates that the minimum legal age for marriage is eighteen years. The bridegroom is now in prison and the girl is under state care. This " marriage " also contravenes Islamic law - but it seems that an Imam could be found to conduct the ceremony.
The clash of religious cultures is not new to Australia. After the end of the second world war we had a surge of migrants escaping the carnage of Europe and many came from an authoratarian culture which imposed strict controls on family decision making. The choice of education, jobs - even marriage partners was entirely in the hands of parents. Rebellion was inevitable when the children of such families compared their lot with that of Australian born children.
Decades later, those children are now grandparents - and their children have merged into the prevailing Australian customs. It seems that it takes a generation or two for change to happen - and we are again seeing the clash of cultures between the Australian way of life and our newest settlers.
Female genital mutilation is one of the customs most abhorrent to most Australians. It is used as a form of control, denying the pleasure of sex to the victim ensures she will not stray and be enticed by other men. It is sometimes inflicted here in this country, but many parents take their daughters overseas on a supposed " holiday " to have it done in their old country. Usually it ias done at a young age which denies the victim a choice.
We are also heading into the area of multiple wives. Australian law is clear in that multiple wives are forbidden, but we face a dilemma when a man with multiple wives comes from a country where both the political regime and that persons religion sanction it. To insist that other wives be abandoned to comply with Australian law would probably leave them destitute. It raises interesting welfare questions - and the situation remains opaque and without clear resolution.
Religion and the customs of other countries will always conflict with the law and the prevailing attitudes that are part of the Australian culture. It is part of the " deal " that we make when we bestow Citizenship that the receipiant swears an oath to obey the laws of Australia - and that means any law that comes into conflict with their religion. The choice is clear. If that obligation is not accepted they must refuse the oath and decline Australian citizenship - and all the protection that offers.
This seems to be a " one way " deal. If the new citizen later reneges on that oath the citizenship can not be revoked. It is claimed that this is because of the obligations of International law but surely Australia can withdraw from that law and set it's own protocols - if that is the wish of it's people ? It is noticeable that in the vast majority of instances, disregarding an Australian law only takes place once Australian citizenship is safely bestowed and sealed.
It seems strange that people are prepared to put their lives at risk to get here and are so eager to have Australian citizenship that they put up with longe terms in detention centres, but once that citienship is achieved they find many obligations that conflict with the views they hold - and decline to abide by Australian law.
Perhaps granting citizenship on a provisional basis for a period of time would assist assimilation - with both parties retaining the right to cancel the " deal " if mutual obligations were not achieved !
Monday 10 February 2014
The NIMBY Syndrome !
Just about everybody agrees that we badly need more housing in Sydney - just so long as it doesn't happen in our suburb ! The NIMBY syndrome is alive and well in Sydney - and that poses an interesting question.
How do we strike a balance between the rights of local residents to be heard and have a say on matters affecting their way of life ? And the needs of government planners to make decisions for the common good ?
Common sense dictates that we need to make more use of existing facilities such as power, gas and water. New estates are more costly to develop and facilities such as roads and rail transport on the existing corridors into the city are underused by world standards. Our city can not ever expand outwards. It is inevitable that the ratio of people per square kilometre must expand - and that usually means " Upwards " !
To many people the thought of unit blocks - or even villas or townhouses on the average quarter acre block conjures up a nightmare vision. They have lived in a nice subrban home in a chosen suburb - and they will fight tooth and nail to keep it that way. The moment any form of rezoning is proposed they are out on the street waving protest placards. Even usually mild mannered people can be driven to a demonic fury once the mob instinct takes hold.
It usually ends in the political arena. If the suburb slated for change has the majority voting pattern of the political party in office then that suburb is spared - and the focus changes to an area that encompasses people of an opposite political persuasion. It is all a matter of counting numbers - and making sure the government in office continues to get the nod at the next election. That is constant, no matter wich side of politics is in office.
Ideally, removing the housing density question from politics and placing it squarely under the control of an independent body would achieve more logical decisions, but the usual " CATCH 22 " situation arises. The selection of the members of that independent body has to be made by someone - and that brings the politicians back into the equation. Many people with long memories remember the inequities when the feared NCDC ruled every minor decision in Canberra. Most would shudder at the thought of a similar fate for Sydney !
It seems that we are stuck with the present system simply because there is no acceptable alternative. Unfortunately, as a result this city will not progress to a well coordinated plan to make the best use of what we have in abundance - but remains under used because urban renewal is stifled by the NINBY way of doing business.
That old adage about the squeaky wheel getting the most oil still applies !
Sunday 9 February 2014
TRUCK SAFETY ENIGMA !
It is chilling to learn that many of the trucks sharing the road with us have major defects. The police are using a new tactic. Whenever there is an accident involving a company truck, the entire fleet is pulled in for a safety check - and the results tell a sad story. In the latest incident,a fleet of twenty-one trucks saw twelve major defect notices take twelve vehicles off the road - and many of these related to brakes and steering.
It is clear that the present pre-registration inspection system is inadequate. Trucks are a huge investment for an owner and to make money they need to be constantly on the move. Many have drivers working on a shift basis and are therefore travelling 24/7 - amassing a huge annual number of kilometres. To treat them in the same manner as the family car - with an annual inspection - misses the point. We need a national road plan becauser the truck industry covers the entire country.
It stands to reason that two factors have a bearing on a truck's safety condition. Age - and kilometres travelled ! Just as the owners of a new car are allowed a four year break before annual inspections are required, new trucks are in top condition when they come from the factory, but they travel much further than the average car - very quickly. We could learn an important message from the aviation industry. Air travel is safe becaused airplanes are subjected to a rigorous maintenance programme - and this is dictated by hours flown. Truck maintenance needs this same factor to be applied - and checked by mandatory inspections on a time/distance alotted basis.
It is a fact of life that the older equipment gets, the greater the tendency to advanced wear and tear. Settingt inspection requirements should take a measure of vehicle age and kilometres covered - and that inspection should be required at one of the government truck inspection stations to ensure reliability standards are maintained. If we are to have safe trucks on our national road system, we need a national inspection system in tandem - and that requires political cooperation between the states. That is a big ask !
Traffic density on our roads is ever increasing and if safety is an issue now, it will be even bigger in the years ahead. Truck sizes are increasing. We now share the roads with semi-trailers and B-Doubles and there is talk of road trains on main trunk roads. The fact that we know that we are sharing the roads with many unsafe trucks is a warning of things to come - unless a more stringent inspection programme is put in place.
The industry will protest on cost grounds - but can we ignore this danger ? If it means that older trucks with huge odometer readings need a check every three months to maintain a roadworthy certificate - then so be it ! The alternative is a death lottery. Right now - that behemoth looming ever closer in your rear vision mirror may have defective brakes or steering.
Saturday 1 February 2014
Etiquette - and Manners !
Sydney people are often accused of being short on manners and this week saw an interesting exchange of insults on social media. It seems that a thirty-two weeks pregnant woman bought a $ 4.50 takeaway cup of coffee at a Randwick restaurant - and then sat at the outdoor chairs and tables complex to drink it.
A waitress told her to "move on " as the seating was only available for those who purchased the higher priced " drink in " version. The customer took umbrage because it was a slack time of day and there were plenty of unoccupied chairs and tables.
Cafes that provide outdoor chairs and tables do so in the hope of attracting more customers and that ruling would certainly apply in peak times, but a more flexible approach at other times of the day would seem a better way to establish friendly customer relations.
It has long been contended that Sydney drivers are more forgiving when it comes to letting others join the traffic flow on stop/start morning commutes. Melbourne drivers are accused of staring straight ahead and avoiding eye contact with those waiting to enter the flow but this could be a matter of the more temperate Sydney climate resulting in a better state of mind.
Overcrowded trains have long been a point of contention over manners. The elderly and very pregnant women are often totally ignored by healthy young males occupying a coveted seat on long commutes but often this omission is rectified by unlikely people. Noticeably, it is young Asians who vacate while those of European linkage hide behind their newspapers or assiduously study their I-Pad. Possibly because care of the elderly is an ingrained Asian tradition.
The custom of opening a door for a lady seems to have been overtaken by the age of the automated door. In office buildings where individual offices still have conventional doors it is often noticeable that a woman with a child in a stroller has difficulty in accessing without help - and that help is usually in the form of another woman. Possibly the offensive rejection of help from men by some feminists may have soured the urge to chivalry in some men.
Despite the retreat of manners in our ever accelerating society, something deep down in the Australian psyche comes to the fore whenever there is a tragedy. Complete strangers take the trouble to place flowers as a form of remembrance at the place where death occurred - and this must bring incredible solace to the bereaved.
It seems that beneath a hardened exterior, the etiquette of understanding and unity is expressed by the laying of flowers !
A waitress told her to "move on " as the seating was only available for those who purchased the higher priced " drink in " version. The customer took umbrage because it was a slack time of day and there were plenty of unoccupied chairs and tables.
Cafes that provide outdoor chairs and tables do so in the hope of attracting more customers and that ruling would certainly apply in peak times, but a more flexible approach at other times of the day would seem a better way to establish friendly customer relations.
It has long been contended that Sydney drivers are more forgiving when it comes to letting others join the traffic flow on stop/start morning commutes. Melbourne drivers are accused of staring straight ahead and avoiding eye contact with those waiting to enter the flow but this could be a matter of the more temperate Sydney climate resulting in a better state of mind.
Overcrowded trains have long been a point of contention over manners. The elderly and very pregnant women are often totally ignored by healthy young males occupying a coveted seat on long commutes but often this omission is rectified by unlikely people. Noticeably, it is young Asians who vacate while those of European linkage hide behind their newspapers or assiduously study their I-Pad. Possibly because care of the elderly is an ingrained Asian tradition.
The custom of opening a door for a lady seems to have been overtaken by the age of the automated door. In office buildings where individual offices still have conventional doors it is often noticeable that a woman with a child in a stroller has difficulty in accessing without help - and that help is usually in the form of another woman. Possibly the offensive rejection of help from men by some feminists may have soured the urge to chivalry in some men.
Despite the retreat of manners in our ever accelerating society, something deep down in the Australian psyche comes to the fore whenever there is a tragedy. Complete strangers take the trouble to place flowers as a form of remembrance at the place where death occurred - and this must bring incredible solace to the bereaved.
It seems that beneath a hardened exterior, the etiquette of understanding and unity is expressed by the laying of flowers !
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