It seems that no amount of lost court cases can convince those opposed to housing at Sandon point that they are pursuing a " lost cause ".
The " tent embassy" has been burnt down and resurrected - and now another epic fight has been lost in the Land and Environment court - and there is talk of taking the issue to the High court of Australia.
Court action is expensive - and what is never explained is just where the money comes from to finance all this court action.
Taking a case to the High court is well beyond a few well meaning people chipping in a few dollars for a good cause. It raises the suspicion that somewhere there is a hidden agenda - and that is financed by someone with very deep pockets.
It is about time the real reason for the opposition to Sandon point was made clear - and just where the money is coming from revealed !
Wednesday, 28 July 2010
Tuesday, 27 July 2010
Shoot - or surrender ?
We issue the security guards who protect our money with guns - and then we impose all sorts of crazy rules to prevent them doing their jobs.
On June 7 three bandits tried to holdup an armoured car crew in the CBD. A guard trying to defend the money was shot and killed.
Yesterday another armoured car crew were transporting money at Dee Why when bandits struck. This time one security guard got a shot away - and the robbery failed - and one of the bandits was killed.
Medals and commendations for the guard who put his life on the line protecting the public's money ? No ! Instead the suggestion that this guard may face charges - for killing a bandit !
Just what sort of confidence does that give security guards - who are not exactly overpaid for their dangerous work ?
It seems just one more example of the " Nanny " laws politicians enact to protect the " bad guys " - and impose impossible restrictions on those who are tasked with a legitimate job.
Time the law made it clear that if you carry a gun - and attempt a holdup - then it is open season and if you end up dead it is your problem !
Anything less is a simple distortion of justice !
On June 7 three bandits tried to holdup an armoured car crew in the CBD. A guard trying to defend the money was shot and killed.
Yesterday another armoured car crew were transporting money at Dee Why when bandits struck. This time one security guard got a shot away - and the robbery failed - and one of the bandits was killed.
Medals and commendations for the guard who put his life on the line protecting the public's money ? No ! Instead the suggestion that this guard may face charges - for killing a bandit !
Just what sort of confidence does that give security guards - who are not exactly overpaid for their dangerous work ?
It seems just one more example of the " Nanny " laws politicians enact to protect the " bad guys " - and impose impossible restrictions on those who are tasked with a legitimate job.
Time the law made it clear that if you carry a gun - and attempt a holdup - then it is open season and if you end up dead it is your problem !
Anything less is a simple distortion of justice !
Monday, 26 July 2010
An exercise in " sterility " !
The " Great Debate " ! What debate ?
Last nights confrontation between two political leaders was as tame as a meeting of intellectuals. Both were desperately trying to avoid saying anything that could be regarded as a gaffe - and therefore the " debate " became a colourless repetition of the political points that had been rehashed so many times before.
At least they were civil to one another. The fact that one was a man and the other a woman inhibited any kind of debate where " sex " reared it's ugly head, but being scrupulously polite and dodging the main issues did little to allow those watching to reach a judgemental conclusion.
The only real issues for this election now seem confined to the advertisements being aired on TV.
The opposition are hammering the appalling record of the Rudd government in broken election promises on fuel-watch and grocery-watch, and the abysmal waste on money and lack of supervision from the insulation debacle and school building programme.
The government is trying to distance itself from these horrors - and to insinuate that they were Rudd blunders. The main attack is a scare campaign that if the opposition win - they will reinstate Work Choice.
Last nights debate was sterile - and only served to prove that the real issues in this election will be hidden behind a smokescreen of good manners.
No wonder it will be one of the shortest political campaigns in the history of politics !
Last nights confrontation between two political leaders was as tame as a meeting of intellectuals. Both were desperately trying to avoid saying anything that could be regarded as a gaffe - and therefore the " debate " became a colourless repetition of the political points that had been rehashed so many times before.
At least they were civil to one another. The fact that one was a man and the other a woman inhibited any kind of debate where " sex " reared it's ugly head, but being scrupulously polite and dodging the main issues did little to allow those watching to reach a judgemental conclusion.
The only real issues for this election now seem confined to the advertisements being aired on TV.
The opposition are hammering the appalling record of the Rudd government in broken election promises on fuel-watch and grocery-watch, and the abysmal waste on money and lack of supervision from the insulation debacle and school building programme.
The government is trying to distance itself from these horrors - and to insinuate that they were Rudd blunders. The main attack is a scare campaign that if the opposition win - they will reinstate Work Choice.
Last nights debate was sterile - and only served to prove that the real issues in this election will be hidden behind a smokescreen of good manners.
No wonder it will be one of the shortest political campaigns in the history of politics !
Sunday, 25 July 2010
Insider trading trap !
Interesting case in the courts this week that would send a shiver of fear down the spine of many investors.
A guy with a few shares in a seafood business had a friend who was an employee of that firm - and he commented that his employer was " on the skids " financially - and that it was common knowledge that the bank was about to call in their loan.
Quite reasonably the owner of shares rushed to his stockbroker and ordered him to sell the stock - confiding what his friend had told him.
The stockbroker did what he was told - and then informed the people who oversee the share business of this conversation - and the guy with the shares was arrested - and charged with insider training. He was convicted - fined $ 20,000 and put on a twelve months good behaviour bond.
Most people think that insider trading is where a person in high office gets privileged information - and acts on it to their advantage.
Wrong ! Even scuttlebutt from a friend can be interpretted to bring you into conflict with the law - and in this case his error was to disclose the reason for the sell order to his stockbroker.
A wise reason to choose your stockbroker carefully - and keep your mouth shut at all times !
A guy with a few shares in a seafood business had a friend who was an employee of that firm - and he commented that his employer was " on the skids " financially - and that it was common knowledge that the bank was about to call in their loan.
Quite reasonably the owner of shares rushed to his stockbroker and ordered him to sell the stock - confiding what his friend had told him.
The stockbroker did what he was told - and then informed the people who oversee the share business of this conversation - and the guy with the shares was arrested - and charged with insider training. He was convicted - fined $ 20,000 and put on a twelve months good behaviour bond.
Most people think that insider trading is where a person in high office gets privileged information - and acts on it to their advantage.
Wrong ! Even scuttlebutt from a friend can be interpretted to bring you into conflict with the law - and in this case his error was to disclose the reason for the sell order to his stockbroker.
A wise reason to choose your stockbroker carefully - and keep your mouth shut at all times !
Saturday, 24 July 2010
Needle safety !
A Wollongong family will have a traumatic six month wait to see if their six year old daughter has contracted a blood disease such as HIV following a needle stick injury in a McDonalds play park.
This little girl used the slippery slide when she came into contact with a needle discarded by a junkie. The mentality of a person who would toss a used needle into a kid's play area can not be described.
We hear a lot about the war on drugs - and the exchange of disease between drug users because of needle sharing, but there is already an answer to these problems.
Over the years several brilliant people have designed needles that can only have a single use - and when used automatically prevent the sharp end from protruding to deliver a needle stick.
Why are we still manufacturing old fashioned needles that pass disease between users - and deliver needle sticks to nurses, people on beaches, - and innocent little children ?
The obvious answer is - cost. The simpler and less complicated the design the lower the cost and that is what the bottom line is about these days.
Surely the health savings by eliminating cross infection to users - and the total elimination of needle stick injuries to the public would be warranted by a few cents increase onto the billions of needles that are manufactured each year - and would warrant the total banning of unsafe needle products in this country.
All it would take would be an act of bravery by those in government to force a change in needle design and production.
Unfortunately, bravery is not a known ingredient of our politicians !
This little girl used the slippery slide when she came into contact with a needle discarded by a junkie. The mentality of a person who would toss a used needle into a kid's play area can not be described.
We hear a lot about the war on drugs - and the exchange of disease between drug users because of needle sharing, but there is already an answer to these problems.
Over the years several brilliant people have designed needles that can only have a single use - and when used automatically prevent the sharp end from protruding to deliver a needle stick.
Why are we still manufacturing old fashioned needles that pass disease between users - and deliver needle sticks to nurses, people on beaches, - and innocent little children ?
The obvious answer is - cost. The simpler and less complicated the design the lower the cost and that is what the bottom line is about these days.
Surely the health savings by eliminating cross infection to users - and the total elimination of needle stick injuries to the public would be warranted by a few cents increase onto the billions of needles that are manufactured each year - and would warrant the total banning of unsafe needle products in this country.
All it would take would be an act of bravery by those in government to force a change in needle design and production.
Unfortunately, bravery is not a known ingredient of our politicians !
Friday, 23 July 2010
The end of opportunity !
It got just that much harder to start a new band in Wollongong with the closure of the Oxford Tavern.
This was one of the few remaining places prepared to host live gigs - the life blood of new bands as they try to attract a following - that will hopefully see them established on a selling label on their way to fame and fortune.
The demise of the Oxford Tavern is a result of the owner's bankruptcy and a decision by the administrator to close it down. Like many other live gig venues the question of noise was also threatening. Nearby new apartment blocks inevitably start to agitate for noise suppression - despite the fact that the source was there before the new apartments were built and tenanted.
This is a new and common threat to any live entertainment venue - as evidenced by the experience of Luna park in Sydney. Despite Luna park being a fun place for decades, developers built high cost apartments nearby - and then agitated to close down the fun park - because of noise !
They succeeded in having the " Big Dipper " banned and Luna park is now a mere shadow of it's former glory, and will probably end up closed and converted into offices - or perhaps more high cost apartments.
To aspiring young men and women with the talent to create a popular band the way ahead is littered with obstacles placed by both government and council - and those nearby residents who consider your music " noise ".
It seems we may never gain new artists like " The little river band " or " The Seekers " in the future because the time honoured way of impressing ever growing audiences is closing fast.
It seems that " opportunity " is fading for Australian talent.
This was one of the few remaining places prepared to host live gigs - the life blood of new bands as they try to attract a following - that will hopefully see them established on a selling label on their way to fame and fortune.
The demise of the Oxford Tavern is a result of the owner's bankruptcy and a decision by the administrator to close it down. Like many other live gig venues the question of noise was also threatening. Nearby new apartment blocks inevitably start to agitate for noise suppression - despite the fact that the source was there before the new apartments were built and tenanted.
This is a new and common threat to any live entertainment venue - as evidenced by the experience of Luna park in Sydney. Despite Luna park being a fun place for decades, developers built high cost apartments nearby - and then agitated to close down the fun park - because of noise !
They succeeded in having the " Big Dipper " banned and Luna park is now a mere shadow of it's former glory, and will probably end up closed and converted into offices - or perhaps more high cost apartments.
To aspiring young men and women with the talent to create a popular band the way ahead is littered with obstacles placed by both government and council - and those nearby residents who consider your music " noise ".
It seems we may never gain new artists like " The little river band " or " The Seekers " in the future because the time honoured way of impressing ever growing audiences is closing fast.
It seems that " opportunity " is fading for Australian talent.
Thursday, 22 July 2010
Financial planning farce !
So you need advice as to how best plan your superannuation and retirement income ?
Go see a financial planner and get good advice ! Right ?
Wrong !
At present the financial planner you see may be legally entitled to accept commissions to steer your money into a dodgy investment scheme - because that will put more money into the investment planner's pocket.
The financial planner is not even obliged to " act in the best interests of the client ".
That doesn't happen until 2012 !
This says a lot about the financial planning industry, the prudential regulating authority that oversees planners - and the government which has allowed this farce to rob investors and ruin people's lives.
And the fact that the bad practice will be allowed to continue until 2012 so that the industry can have time to " cook the books " - and develop new strategies to bypass this law.
Time to use an election to create a level playing field !
Go see a financial planner and get good advice ! Right ?
Wrong !
At present the financial planner you see may be legally entitled to accept commissions to steer your money into a dodgy investment scheme - because that will put more money into the investment planner's pocket.
The financial planner is not even obliged to " act in the best interests of the client ".
That doesn't happen until 2012 !
This says a lot about the financial planning industry, the prudential regulating authority that oversees planners - and the government which has allowed this farce to rob investors and ruin people's lives.
And the fact that the bad practice will be allowed to continue until 2012 so that the industry can have time to " cook the books " - and develop new strategies to bypass this law.
Time to use an election to create a level playing field !
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