Politicians hold their seats on the gravy train at the will of the voters - and yesterday a politician was sent packing for bad behaviour.
Belinda Neal will not represent the Australian Labor party when the voters go to the polls in the Federal seat of Robertson. Branch members voted ninety-eight to sixty-seven to replace her with a new face.
The indiscretion that caused this revolt was named " Iguanagate ". Neal sought privilege above ordinary Australians because of the position she held and tried to bully staff at a restaurant. This is perhaps the ultimate sin in the eyes of most voters.
The system of politics in this country provides a huge consolation prize for politicians who find themselves dumped from their parliamentary seats.
Provided they have met the qualification of a second term in office the gravy train disgorges a pension for life that ordinary people could only dream about, and that takes no notice of the age of the person - or future earnings once the political life has ceased.
Perhaps this is one of the reasons that brings a feeling of " elitism " to elected representatives - and leads to behaviour that is unacceptable to the average person.
What remains to be seen is whether this " execution " by the political party will head off voter disdain - or whether the rejection will continue when the people go to the polls !
Sunday, 7 March 2010
Saturday, 6 March 2010
" Bambi " has become a menace !
Decades ago Walt Disney's movie about an orphaned deer moved audiences to tears. There is something appealing about these shy animals that encourages our protective instincts - but now the question of culling arises.
There are simply too many of them living on the fringes of Wollongong and as a result motorists are at risk of collision when they invade our streets, and hungry deer are ruining domestic gardens and destroying the trees that shield us from landslips after heavy rain.
Sentiment aside, few would disagree that the numbers must be reduced.
The problem is - how ?
The use of poison baits results in a cruel death and other animals become a by-product of such campaigns. The use of professional shooters is expensive, hence public land has been opened to recreational shooters to alleviate the problem.
This has been partially successful. Unfortunately, no serious impact has been made on deer numbers because recreational shooters are more interested in hinds of venison and antler trophies than the number of kills.
A deer is a big animal. If a recreational shooter achieves a " kill " the animal is butchered on the spot, and it takes a lot of effort to carry the hind quarters away from the target area. As a result - one deer per shooter becomes a reasonable limit.
If we are serious about a deer culling we need to provide an incentive for recreational shooters to increase the numbers game. Perhaps a financial reward for each deer culled, with some form of evidence to be provided as verification.
Unfortunately culling deer is abhorrent to most people's sensibilities - but the damage they do is real and the risk will eventually cause a human death.
It is a job that has to be done !
There are simply too many of them living on the fringes of Wollongong and as a result motorists are at risk of collision when they invade our streets, and hungry deer are ruining domestic gardens and destroying the trees that shield us from landslips after heavy rain.
Sentiment aside, few would disagree that the numbers must be reduced.
The problem is - how ?
The use of poison baits results in a cruel death and other animals become a by-product of such campaigns. The use of professional shooters is expensive, hence public land has been opened to recreational shooters to alleviate the problem.
This has been partially successful. Unfortunately, no serious impact has been made on deer numbers because recreational shooters are more interested in hinds of venison and antler trophies than the number of kills.
A deer is a big animal. If a recreational shooter achieves a " kill " the animal is butchered on the spot, and it takes a lot of effort to carry the hind quarters away from the target area. As a result - one deer per shooter becomes a reasonable limit.
If we are serious about a deer culling we need to provide an incentive for recreational shooters to increase the numbers game. Perhaps a financial reward for each deer culled, with some form of evidence to be provided as verification.
Unfortunately culling deer is abhorrent to most people's sensibilities - but the damage they do is real and the risk will eventually cause a human death.
It is a job that has to be done !
Friday, 5 March 2010
This changing world of medicine.
In the days, weeks and months ahead we are going to be presented with a plethora of possible hospital scenarios - and these will include the good, the bad - and the ugly !
The Federal government plan to directly fund state hospital systems will mean that control will take place through local administration boards. Obviously, this will replace the vast state bureaucracy presently administering health. This means jobs - and one thing is certain ! That huge workforce will not relinquish positions and join the dole cheque without a fight !
Politics has a fateful hand in most government decisions. Both sides of politics will be vigilant to see that this largess does not favour whoever is sitting on the treasury benches.
Then there is the fate of those small, regional hospitals that are the life blood of so many country areas.
Some experts contend that the only way to get medical efficiency is to concentrate services in mega hospitals. That is fine - provided you live near such a centre, but for those who would lose a town emergency department and face a long drive for emergency attention - such a plan would be anathema.
A bright picture will be painted by those favouring Federal intervention, and a contrasting scenario of disaster and misery will come from those who see reasons to oppose.
Pity the poor voting public who have to sort through this mess - and then probably make their mark in a referendum.
They will be facing a situation that is beyond their knowledge, beset by turf wars between bureaucracies - and lied to by politicians who have a hidden agenda to promote.
If it wasn't so serious - it would be hilarious !
The Federal government plan to directly fund state hospital systems will mean that control will take place through local administration boards. Obviously, this will replace the vast state bureaucracy presently administering health. This means jobs - and one thing is certain ! That huge workforce will not relinquish positions and join the dole cheque without a fight !
Politics has a fateful hand in most government decisions. Both sides of politics will be vigilant to see that this largess does not favour whoever is sitting on the treasury benches.
Then there is the fate of those small, regional hospitals that are the life blood of so many country areas.
Some experts contend that the only way to get medical efficiency is to concentrate services in mega hospitals. That is fine - provided you live near such a centre, but for those who would lose a town emergency department and face a long drive for emergency attention - such a plan would be anathema.
A bright picture will be painted by those favouring Federal intervention, and a contrasting scenario of disaster and misery will come from those who see reasons to oppose.
Pity the poor voting public who have to sort through this mess - and then probably make their mark in a referendum.
They will be facing a situation that is beyond their knowledge, beset by turf wars between bureaucracies - and lied to by politicians who have a hidden agenda to promote.
If it wasn't so serious - it would be hilarious !
Thursday, 4 March 2010
Froth and bubble - smoke and mirrors ?
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd was humiliated when events in the insulation fiasco forced him to publicly apologise. He admitted that the public had every right to be critical of his government - and that many election promises had not been kept.
The sudden announcement of a plan to fix the ailing hospital system comes as no surprise. Rudd is seeking to regain the initiative and there is no doubt that hospital reform is high on the list of things the public demand.
It sounds like a good plan - in theory !
The Federal government takes over hospital funding, and pumps up the Federal contribution from 35% to 60 %. Control of each hospital reverts to a local board, removing hospital decisions from the vast state bureaucracy.
But from there it runs into trouble. To fund that Federal increase the government will reduce the state's take from the GST by fifty billion dollars.
The states will fight that tooth and nail - and it should be remembered that when the GST was first proposed, the deal was that implementing this brand new tax would see a host of state taxes - including land tax and stamp duty - reduced or abolished. The states were given a five year reprieve - but when that expired they reneged - and now we have both taxes still dipping into our pockets.
It is proposed that if the states fail to fall into line, the matter will be decided by referendum.
Gaining referendum approval has a dismal history when the matter has been opposed by the states and demanded by the Federal government, and this idea has yet to progress through the usually fractious Senate.
The best that can be said is that hospital reform is a useful distraction in an election year. Specially so when the government is reeling from a number of disasters that have highlighted the waste of public money - and a litany of broken promises.
The sudden announcement of a plan to fix the ailing hospital system comes as no surprise. Rudd is seeking to regain the initiative and there is no doubt that hospital reform is high on the list of things the public demand.
It sounds like a good plan - in theory !
The Federal government takes over hospital funding, and pumps up the Federal contribution from 35% to 60 %. Control of each hospital reverts to a local board, removing hospital decisions from the vast state bureaucracy.
But from there it runs into trouble. To fund that Federal increase the government will reduce the state's take from the GST by fifty billion dollars.
The states will fight that tooth and nail - and it should be remembered that when the GST was first proposed, the deal was that implementing this brand new tax would see a host of state taxes - including land tax and stamp duty - reduced or abolished. The states were given a five year reprieve - but when that expired they reneged - and now we have both taxes still dipping into our pockets.
It is proposed that if the states fail to fall into line, the matter will be decided by referendum.
Gaining referendum approval has a dismal history when the matter has been opposed by the states and demanded by the Federal government, and this idea has yet to progress through the usually fractious Senate.
The best that can be said is that hospital reform is a useful distraction in an election year. Specially so when the government is reeling from a number of disasters that have highlighted the waste of public money - and a litany of broken promises.
Wednesday, 3 March 2010
False pretences !
Wollongong council can be accused of an act of larceny by installing parking meters three weeks before they legally apply - and making them operative immediately.
Visitors from out of town and those citizens who do not get a daily newspaper will believe that if they do not put coin in the meters they will cop a fine.
Imagine the uproar if a club or pub being refurbished installed their poker machines with access to the public - but turned off the pay-out mechanism. The machines will cheerfully accept money - but will not pay on a winning combination.
The fact that the council is offering to donate to charity any money collected in the interim before the machines become legal is not a valid defence. Would a magistrate accept that a bandit who robbed a person was innocent - because he intended to donate his proceeds of crime to the Smith Family ?
Of course it will take time to install parking meters, but what is wrong with covering them in plastic until the day they become operational legally ?
Nothing will obscure the fact that this council has set a trap for the unwary and knowingly will relieve them of money they are not obliged to spend.
Whatever happened to the Aussie principle of a fair go ?
Visitors from out of town and those citizens who do not get a daily newspaper will believe that if they do not put coin in the meters they will cop a fine.
Imagine the uproar if a club or pub being refurbished installed their poker machines with access to the public - but turned off the pay-out mechanism. The machines will cheerfully accept money - but will not pay on a winning combination.
The fact that the council is offering to donate to charity any money collected in the interim before the machines become legal is not a valid defence. Would a magistrate accept that a bandit who robbed a person was innocent - because he intended to donate his proceeds of crime to the Smith Family ?
Of course it will take time to install parking meters, but what is wrong with covering them in plastic until the day they become operational legally ?
Nothing will obscure the fact that this council has set a trap for the unwary and knowingly will relieve them of money they are not obliged to spend.
Whatever happened to the Aussie principle of a fair go ?
Tuesday, 2 March 2010
The unholy dollar !
Commercial encroachment has gradually eroded leisure time and we are fast approaching 24/7 shopping. The only question is - do we still want to preserve Christmas day and Anzac day ?
The state government is considering a request from the giant K-Mart group to open their stores on Anzac day morning.
Anzac day used to be an entire day free of commercial opening, but pressure from retailers resulted in shops opening for business from I pm.
Now there is pressure to regard Anzac day as just another, normal trading day and staff can forget attending the march and various services that pay tribute to the military history of this country - and the men and women who died in it's defence.
It seems that the frenetic needs of the commercial world to chase that ever elusive profit dollar takes no consideration of the needs of their employees.
To many, Anzac day is sacred. If the wish to open stores is granted it will inevitably lead to pressure from the rest of the shopping world to follow. To refuse to work on that day as a matter of principle would stunt many a promising career path.
The decision rests with the government.
The state government is considering a request from the giant K-Mart group to open their stores on Anzac day morning.
Anzac day used to be an entire day free of commercial opening, but pressure from retailers resulted in shops opening for business from I pm.
Now there is pressure to regard Anzac day as just another, normal trading day and staff can forget attending the march and various services that pay tribute to the military history of this country - and the men and women who died in it's defence.
It seems that the frenetic needs of the commercial world to chase that ever elusive profit dollar takes no consideration of the needs of their employees.
To many, Anzac day is sacred. If the wish to open stores is granted it will inevitably lead to pressure from the rest of the shopping world to follow. To refuse to work on that day as a matter of principle would stunt many a promising career path.
The decision rests with the government.
Monday, 1 March 2010
Tsunami alert !
We were lucky !
Nobody could correctly predict the size of a Tsunami that would be generated by an 8.8 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Chili, but there was every chance that our eastern Australian coastline beaches would be hit by some sort of wave early on Sunday morning.
The size of the wave that arrived was just 14 cm.
A few years ago a similarly large earthquake generated a Tsunami that crashed ashore in the Indian ocean - and killed over two hundred thousand people. We are fortunate that Australia is not on the " Ring of Fire " that stretches from New Zealand north, through Papua New Guinea and underneath most of Indonesia.
But our poisition on the world map makes it highly probable that one day a Pacific ocean earthquake will cause a Tsunami that will hit our shores and do a lot of damage.
Yesterday a lot of people completely ignored that Tsunami warning and did their usual thing - swimming or sailing - or just laying on the sand and enjoying themselves.
Had luck deserted us - resulting in damaged homes and a big death toll - it is likely that some people would blame the authorities for not making them leave the beaches and take precautions.
It seems we are never responsible for our own stupidity - and when things go wrong it is always someone else's fault !
Nobody could correctly predict the size of a Tsunami that would be generated by an 8.8 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Chili, but there was every chance that our eastern Australian coastline beaches would be hit by some sort of wave early on Sunday morning.
The size of the wave that arrived was just 14 cm.
A few years ago a similarly large earthquake generated a Tsunami that crashed ashore in the Indian ocean - and killed over two hundred thousand people. We are fortunate that Australia is not on the " Ring of Fire " that stretches from New Zealand north, through Papua New Guinea and underneath most of Indonesia.
But our poisition on the world map makes it highly probable that one day a Pacific ocean earthquake will cause a Tsunami that will hit our shores and do a lot of damage.
Yesterday a lot of people completely ignored that Tsunami warning and did their usual thing - swimming or sailing - or just laying on the sand and enjoying themselves.
Had luck deserted us - resulting in damaged homes and a big death toll - it is likely that some people would blame the authorities for not making them leave the beaches and take precautions.
It seems we are never responsible for our own stupidity - and when things go wrong it is always someone else's fault !
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