Our troops are fighting in Afghanistan to stop the Taliban from imposing a draconian religious autocracy on it's citizens, welcome terrorist training camps on it's territory and attack it's neighbours in a bombing war - and yet we have an emerging state with similar potential on our own doorstep
The media refer to Frank Bainimarama as the " Fiji prime minister ". In fact he is a military dictator, who seized power by force and has progressively transformed his country into a lawless fiefdom since his 2006 coup.
No form of dissent is permitted. The country has been expelled fro the Commonwealth and the Melanesian Spearhead group. Judges have been dismissed and laws passed to shut down newspapers and other media, and diplomats - including both the Australian high commissioner - and now the acting high commissioner - have been ordered out of the country.
Democratic elections are promised for 2014, but these are now unlikely.
So - What is the future for Fiji ?
Obviously this degeneration of human rights will eventually cause the world to stop the inflow of tourist traffic. It will be just too dangerous to allow our citizens to visit such an unstable country - and with the cessation of air traffic Fiji will be left to stagnate.
History tells us that the last resort of dictators is usually to turn their country into either a narco state - or become the source of income by welcoming terrorist organizations to bankroll in return for terrorist training facilities.
The time is fast approaching when the democratic countries of the Pacific must face the fact that a serious threat is emerging in our region. If we do nothing now - the future may be as bleak as the present conflict in the Middle East !
Wednesday, 14 July 2010
Tuesday, 13 July 2010
" Nanny state " laws !
There is constant friction between those people who believe in personal freedom and state legislators who insist we must protect people from themselves.
When we drive a car we must fasten a seat belt and refrain from speaking on a mobile phone. Ride a motorbike - or even an old push bike - and you need to wear a helmet to avoid a fine.
The list seems endless. Even a walk in the city involves waiting at the traffic lights for the signal to cross the road - and now the recreation of dropping a line in the sea to cash a fish for supper is under attack.
In the past ten years nine people drowned when washed off rocks while they were fishing. We already have a new law that requires children under twelve to wear life jackets when in any sort of boat - and all to wear life jackets when boating at night or in hazardous conditions. It is proposed that the compulsory wearing of life jackets be extended to all rock fisher folk !
To some that may seem a reasonable extension - but to others it is just one more restriction imposed by a " Nanny state " seeking to impose total control over it's citizens.
The state government has decided not to proceed with this plan. It is on the nose with the voters and an election looms - so controversy is to be avoided. Instead - the government will shell out $ 90,000 to provide another forty new " Angel Rings " to protect rock fisher folk washed into the sea.
Such compromise is the art of politics !
When we drive a car we must fasten a seat belt and refrain from speaking on a mobile phone. Ride a motorbike - or even an old push bike - and you need to wear a helmet to avoid a fine.
The list seems endless. Even a walk in the city involves waiting at the traffic lights for the signal to cross the road - and now the recreation of dropping a line in the sea to cash a fish for supper is under attack.
In the past ten years nine people drowned when washed off rocks while they were fishing. We already have a new law that requires children under twelve to wear life jackets when in any sort of boat - and all to wear life jackets when boating at night or in hazardous conditions. It is proposed that the compulsory wearing of life jackets be extended to all rock fisher folk !
To some that may seem a reasonable extension - but to others it is just one more restriction imposed by a " Nanny state " seeking to impose total control over it's citizens.
The state government has decided not to proceed with this plan. It is on the nose with the voters and an election looms - so controversy is to be avoided. Instead - the government will shell out $ 90,000 to provide another forty new " Angel Rings " to protect rock fisher folk washed into the sea.
Such compromise is the art of politics !
Monday, 12 July 2010
The cost of war !
For nine years Australia has joined others in fighting a war to oust the Taliban in Afghanistan - and in that time we have taken the death of seventeen of our soldiers.
The philosophy of the Taliban prohibits the education of women, bars it's citizens from pleasurable activities such as watching television - listening to music - dancing - or even kite flying. It imposes strict Islam at the point of a sword - and supports acts of terrorism such as the Bali bombings.
Bob Brown and his Greens want Australia to walk away from the war in Afghanistan and for the Australian troops there to be withdrawn - and brought home.
He says that this will be a crucial plank of his party at the forthcoming election.
An interesting question voters should ask Bob Brown is his attitude to future wars - and just what criteria he holds that must exist before Australian troops are committed !
If Bob Brown and his Greens are pacifists - who deplore war and would not under any circumstances defend Australia if it meant putting our troops into combat against an invader - then let him be crystal clear about his policy.
During the second world war such people were called " Conscientious objectors " - and were reviled.
Time to nail your colours to the masthead !
The philosophy of the Taliban prohibits the education of women, bars it's citizens from pleasurable activities such as watching television - listening to music - dancing - or even kite flying. It imposes strict Islam at the point of a sword - and supports acts of terrorism such as the Bali bombings.
Bob Brown and his Greens want Australia to walk away from the war in Afghanistan and for the Australian troops there to be withdrawn - and brought home.
He says that this will be a crucial plank of his party at the forthcoming election.
An interesting question voters should ask Bob Brown is his attitude to future wars - and just what criteria he holds that must exist before Australian troops are committed !
If Bob Brown and his Greens are pacifists - who deplore war and would not under any circumstances defend Australia if it meant putting our troops into combat against an invader - then let him be crystal clear about his policy.
During the second world war such people were called " Conscientious objectors " - and were reviled.
Time to nail your colours to the masthead !
Sunday, 11 July 2010
A new " Pacific Solution " !
Julia Gillard is desperate to remove the " boat people " as an issue so that she can call a quick election. Her timing was way off when she announced that East Timor would be the evaluation centre - before it's prime minister had done more than agree to consider the proposal - and before the president had been even consulted.
East Timor owed Australia a few favours for it's help in gaining independence from Indonesia - and it's leaders would bend over backwards to help - but dumping our rejects on their doorstep is unlikely to meet with wide public approval there.
Basically, Julia Gillard has simply rebadged John Howards " Pacific Solution " - and claimed it as her own plan.
The sad thing is that just the facility she has in mind presently exists in Nauru - bought and paid for by the Australian taxpayer - and it has wide support from the Nauru population because it provides an income to a poverty stricken island nation - and work for it's citizens.
The problem is politics ! The Gillard solution must be clearly different from the Howard plan - and sending boat arrivals to Nauru would be too close an association.
If East Timor ends up declining the offer, Gillard may have no choice other than Nauru - in which case she may insist that Nauru adopt a change of name so that the Howard connection is obliterated.
It doesn't seem to matter which party is in power - or who sits in the prime minister's chair - dodging the issue and bending the rules replaces logic in finding solutions.
It's called - politics !
East Timor owed Australia a few favours for it's help in gaining independence from Indonesia - and it's leaders would bend over backwards to help - but dumping our rejects on their doorstep is unlikely to meet with wide public approval there.
Basically, Julia Gillard has simply rebadged John Howards " Pacific Solution " - and claimed it as her own plan.
The sad thing is that just the facility she has in mind presently exists in Nauru - bought and paid for by the Australian taxpayer - and it has wide support from the Nauru population because it provides an income to a poverty stricken island nation - and work for it's citizens.
The problem is politics ! The Gillard solution must be clearly different from the Howard plan - and sending boat arrivals to Nauru would be too close an association.
If East Timor ends up declining the offer, Gillard may have no choice other than Nauru - in which case she may insist that Nauru adopt a change of name so that the Howard connection is obliterated.
It doesn't seem to matter which party is in power - or who sits in the prime minister's chair - dodging the issue and bending the rules replaces logic in finding solutions.
It's called - politics !
Saturday, 10 July 2010
Another financial disaster !
The sudden collapse of investment firm Trio Capital will leave many people on the south coast of New South Wales financially ruined. This firm held investment funds ranging from $ 50,000 to $ 500,000 from individuals, and was also the repository for a number of Superannuation accounts.
The details are murky - but it seems that $ 180 million is missing, supposedly somewhere in a complex web of hedge funds located in foreign tax havens. Any substantial recover is - doubtful !
It seems to be a case of " here we go again ".
The inevitable clash of grand promises coinciding with investors need for better returns on their money. Unfortunately money safety contrasts with risk and we have some very appealing money managers who can present what looks like " sure fire " investment plans - some of which are simply Ponzi schemes.
There are regulatory bodies tasked with keeping our money safe, but these are administered by the government - and the government has never been known for achieving financial accountability - or even having an ability to manage our own tax money - for that matter !
Time for a new regime. Any investment company must be required to take out insurance cover to guarantee every last cent back to investors in the case of misfeasance !
In return for accepting this risk you can be sure that the insurers will demand it's people engage in minute by minute surveillance of each and every investment decision - and the insurance industry is savvy in a far more effective way than regulatory government entities.
And there would be another benefit.
Investment firms that fail to convince an insurer to issue a policy would not be allowed to engage in the market place - and hence the shonks would not get a chance to plunder family savings - and ruin honest people !
The details are murky - but it seems that $ 180 million is missing, supposedly somewhere in a complex web of hedge funds located in foreign tax havens. Any substantial recover is - doubtful !
It seems to be a case of " here we go again ".
The inevitable clash of grand promises coinciding with investors need for better returns on their money. Unfortunately money safety contrasts with risk and we have some very appealing money managers who can present what looks like " sure fire " investment plans - some of which are simply Ponzi schemes.
There are regulatory bodies tasked with keeping our money safe, but these are administered by the government - and the government has never been known for achieving financial accountability - or even having an ability to manage our own tax money - for that matter !
Time for a new regime. Any investment company must be required to take out insurance cover to guarantee every last cent back to investors in the case of misfeasance !
In return for accepting this risk you can be sure that the insurers will demand it's people engage in minute by minute surveillance of each and every investment decision - and the insurance industry is savvy in a far more effective way than regulatory government entities.
And there would be another benefit.
Investment firms that fail to convince an insurer to issue a policy would not be allowed to engage in the market place - and hence the shonks would not get a chance to plunder family savings - and ruin honest people !
Friday, 9 July 2010
Private hospitals - public patients !
The Federal government plan to have Medicare funded elective surgery performed in private hospitals raises some interesting questions.
What standard of service will apply ? The people who pay for health insurance expect a little luxury when they need to go to hospital. If public patients are enjoying exactly the same standard of care, then surely this must be a great turn-off - and result in some people dropping their private insurance cover.
What criteria dictates bed availability ? Will this mean a privately insured patient will be shunted to the end of the queue because a public patient had an urgent and painful need of attention ? The main purpose of taking out health insurance was to guarantee prompt attention rather than languish in a long public health queue.
The government will spend fifty billion dollars bringing public patients into private hospitals for Medicare funded elective surgery - but this will not start until July 1, 2012.
A question that needs to be answered is why tossing another fifty billion dollars at the public system would not achieve exactly the same result ?
What standard of service will apply ? The people who pay for health insurance expect a little luxury when they need to go to hospital. If public patients are enjoying exactly the same standard of care, then surely this must be a great turn-off - and result in some people dropping their private insurance cover.
What criteria dictates bed availability ? Will this mean a privately insured patient will be shunted to the end of the queue because a public patient had an urgent and painful need of attention ? The main purpose of taking out health insurance was to guarantee prompt attention rather than languish in a long public health queue.
The government will spend fifty billion dollars bringing public patients into private hospitals for Medicare funded elective surgery - but this will not start until July 1, 2012.
A question that needs to be answered is why tossing another fifty billion dollars at the public system would not achieve exactly the same result ?
Thursday, 8 July 2010
Hell's Angels ban !
The state government is stepping into uncharted territory with it's plan to ban the Hell's Angels motorcycle club.
At best this will prevent them openly wearing their " colours " and at worst it will drive them underground. At the moment the police have a huge advantage in that they are easily recognised - and they congregate at their club - which can be kept under surveillance.
Clever crooks can easily keep one step ahead of the law by resigning from their club, dispensing with their colours - and adopting a new name. Each time they do that the law is forced to go to court to try and play catchup !
The government would be well advised to remember the days of the Mafia and the town of Griffith.
This was out of sight crime - yet Marijuana was grown openly on dozens of farms and the criminals wore expensive suits and consorted with the police.
It took a prominent murder to bring the attention of the media. Hiding crime is not the way to dispense justice !
At best this will prevent them openly wearing their " colours " and at worst it will drive them underground. At the moment the police have a huge advantage in that they are easily recognised - and they congregate at their club - which can be kept under surveillance.
Clever crooks can easily keep one step ahead of the law by resigning from their club, dispensing with their colours - and adopting a new name. Each time they do that the law is forced to go to court to try and play catchup !
The government would be well advised to remember the days of the Mafia and the town of Griffith.
This was out of sight crime - yet Marijuana was grown openly on dozens of farms and the criminals wore expensive suits and consorted with the police.
It took a prominent murder to bring the attention of the media. Hiding crime is not the way to dispense justice !
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