It is the aim of every politician to stand out in the crowd and be noticed. That is a sure way to attract votes the next time an election comes around, but being noticed must be for the right reason and any politician who crosses a line that divides party politics can expect to be mercilessly pilloried. Such was the fate of Bronwyn Bishop, the speaker in the lower house of the Australian parliament.
There is no doubt that her choice of mode of travel was excessive. It all started when she used a helicopter to fly her from Melbourne to Geelong and this cost the government over five thousand dollars. The opposition swooped when it was revealed this journey was to attend a Liberal party fundraiser and not official business related to the job of house Speaker.
It was all down hill from that point. Madam Speaker had expensive tastes in travel and a litany of flights and other forms of luxury travel emerged. Her position became untenable and eventually she announced that she would relinquish the Speaker's chair and move to the backbench. For the opposition, this was a political victory.
In the cold, hard light of day that may prove to be a Pyrrhic victory. The " entitlement dragon " has emerged from it's cave and a host of politicians - which include both the prime minister and the leader of the opposition - have owned up to " accounting errors " and paid back money claimed under travel entitlement rules. One upshot of the Bronwyn Bishop saga will be pressure to rewrite the entitlement rules that apply to politicians - and it is unlikely that this will be contained to just travel.
It is an inescapable fact of life that whatever rule of entitlement comes with the job of being a politicians, that rule will be carefully examined to find ways that unintended consequences can be made to fit within it's scope. To a great degree, the interpretation of that entitlement settles on a very fine line.
Because each politician represents an electoral district in his or her state of origin there is an entitlement to hotel accommodation in Canberra when parliament is sitting. In past years - when housing was a whole lot cheaper - many political families arranged for the politicians partner to buy a Canberra home and charge the equivalent of that hotel rate on sitting days when the politician used the home as their Canberra address. This was perfectly legal, but certainly an unintended outcome when that entitlement rule was first put in place.
A labyrinth of entitlements exist when it comes to reasons for travel. Politicians are expected to keep abreast of world affairs and to investigate matters that come before the parliament. As a consequence, they are entitled to "study tours " to far places and in some circumstances that enables them to be accompanied by spouses - and sometimes children get to accompany their parents. It is expected that the result of these trips will be reported to the parliament.
Over the years, what are termed " electoral expenses " have assumed a broader tone. A member is expected to establish an electoral office in their district and both the rental and staff are at government expense. In many cases, those electoral staff are family members or close associates and the kit required for adequate communications seems ever growing. Each member has an allowance for postage stamps and printing of electoral letters to keep voters informed on matters being progressed - and all that is expanded should the member be elevated to the ministry.
The " pecking order " within parliament is vast and complex. At the top of the pyramid sits the prime minister and the leader of the opposition. Next are the various ministers - and shadow ministers - and below them functionaries with lesser titles who hold power within the operating arms of departments - and all are served by entitlements within the public service framework.
The job of "Speaker " is certainly one of the plum positions held in the parliamentary pantheon. Not only does it come with an elevated pay level, it brings with it a suite of offices and commensurate staff at senior ministerial level - and ongoing financial recognition in later retirement. A previous speaker insisted on having robes of office tailored - at public expense.
Now that the Bronwyn Bishop brouhaha has reached a conclusion the politicians will be very keen tone down the debate and get things back to normal. They have gained a political scalp, but at the price of freeing the political Entitlement Dragon and bringing it to public attention. Now the media will have a cause to follow - and entitlement spending of all types will be subjected to ongoing scrutiny.
No doubt entitlements will be subjected to some sort of public enquiry and the outcome will be a new order with rules and qualifications in place to ensure there are no more scandals that involve travel and the public purse. Of course, politicians being politicians - this will be carefully crafted to have just the right degree of ambiguity that nothing really changes.
After all, it is parliament that decrees what rules apply to the very people who set those rules. As some would term it. Putting the foxes in charge of running the hen house !
Tuesday, 4 August 2015
Monday, 3 August 2015
The shrinking " Pet " Trade !
Psychologists agree that one of the best ways to maintain mental health is to invest in a dog or a cat as an interest or a companion. The old and those living alone find this shared companionship both uplifting and with a sense of purpose that is otherwise missing. Unfortunately, the number of homes that do not have a "house pet " increases each year.
The rules the authorities impose on pet ownership are increasingly harsh and in many cases seem determined to reduce the numbers. Council registration fees increase annually and there is a marked price difference if the animal has not been neutered. It is the stated intention of most councils to entirely eliminate un-neutered domestic animals other than those held by registered breeders.
It used to be a daily pleasure to take the family dog for a walk but draconian rules now apply. The animal must be leashed at all times and any droppings are the responsibility of the owner to cleanup immediately. They are not allowed top run free in any park or reserve and what off leash areas exist are usually in far remote areas, difficult to reach. Such animals are not allowed to be taken on public transport or in taxis.
Laws are now in place to regulate the carrying of dogs in cars, and they are similar to the restraints required for infants. The driver can be heavily fined and lose demerit points if a dog is not wearing what is essentially a canine seat belt - and is belted up any time the vehicle is moving. A dog can not longer sit in a passengers lap, or recline on the back seat - and the council rangers are unforgiving in allocating fines.
Of course cats are not subject to any of these laws, but they do decimate garden birds when they indulge their hunting habits. Neighbours complain about cats scavenging in their gardens and as they are prolific breeders, those with cats that have not been neutered have a problem disposing of unwanted litters of kittens. The body corporate of many unit blocks forbids the keeping of all and any animals in the building.
In the eyes of both the government and councils all dogs are regarded as " dangerous animals " and the same rules apply to a tiny little " Wuffler " as apply to a huge Bull Terrier trained as a pig hunter. An unsympathetic neighbour may constantly complain about noise problems or the fencing quality to keep the dog contained. Some people claim that all dogs make then fearful.
Body Corporate laws relating to pets in high rise units are being relaxed to make pet ownership harder for fanatical opponents to forbid. New restrictions are coming into place to close down " puppy farms " where backyard breeders flood constant litters through pet shops to make money. In future, the only source of pups may be to buy with a pedigree at at premium price from a registered breeder, or accept a desexed stray from the RSPCA pound.
Government and councils could help to promote companion dogs by a law change that affects dog definitions - by size or weight. There seems no reason why a tiny little dog weighing half a kilo could not sit in a passengers lap nor need to be belted in, but that such restraint would apply to a large dogs such as a German Shepherd or a Labrador. A similar distinction would be helpful in allowing very small dogs to be freely exercised in parks and reserves.
One health problem involves the difficulty in getting people to exercise to avoid obesity. Taking a dog for a daily walk would be one way of finding a solution to that problem, and mental health would be improved by the companionship given to the lonely. We need new thinking to recognise that the present "one size fits all " approach to dog ownership misses the mark !
The rules the authorities impose on pet ownership are increasingly harsh and in many cases seem determined to reduce the numbers. Council registration fees increase annually and there is a marked price difference if the animal has not been neutered. It is the stated intention of most councils to entirely eliminate un-neutered domestic animals other than those held by registered breeders.
It used to be a daily pleasure to take the family dog for a walk but draconian rules now apply. The animal must be leashed at all times and any droppings are the responsibility of the owner to cleanup immediately. They are not allowed top run free in any park or reserve and what off leash areas exist are usually in far remote areas, difficult to reach. Such animals are not allowed to be taken on public transport or in taxis.
Laws are now in place to regulate the carrying of dogs in cars, and they are similar to the restraints required for infants. The driver can be heavily fined and lose demerit points if a dog is not wearing what is essentially a canine seat belt - and is belted up any time the vehicle is moving. A dog can not longer sit in a passengers lap, or recline on the back seat - and the council rangers are unforgiving in allocating fines.
Of course cats are not subject to any of these laws, but they do decimate garden birds when they indulge their hunting habits. Neighbours complain about cats scavenging in their gardens and as they are prolific breeders, those with cats that have not been neutered have a problem disposing of unwanted litters of kittens. The body corporate of many unit blocks forbids the keeping of all and any animals in the building.
In the eyes of both the government and councils all dogs are regarded as " dangerous animals " and the same rules apply to a tiny little " Wuffler " as apply to a huge Bull Terrier trained as a pig hunter. An unsympathetic neighbour may constantly complain about noise problems or the fencing quality to keep the dog contained. Some people claim that all dogs make then fearful.
Body Corporate laws relating to pets in high rise units are being relaxed to make pet ownership harder for fanatical opponents to forbid. New restrictions are coming into place to close down " puppy farms " where backyard breeders flood constant litters through pet shops to make money. In future, the only source of pups may be to buy with a pedigree at at premium price from a registered breeder, or accept a desexed stray from the RSPCA pound.
Government and councils could help to promote companion dogs by a law change that affects dog definitions - by size or weight. There seems no reason why a tiny little dog weighing half a kilo could not sit in a passengers lap nor need to be belted in, but that such restraint would apply to a large dogs such as a German Shepherd or a Labrador. A similar distinction would be helpful in allowing very small dogs to be freely exercised in parks and reserves.
One health problem involves the difficulty in getting people to exercise to avoid obesity. Taking a dog for a daily walk would be one way of finding a solution to that problem, and mental health would be improved by the companionship given to the lonely. We need new thinking to recognise that the present "one size fits all " approach to dog ownership misses the mark !
Sunday, 2 August 2015
Vale " Cecil " !
There has been a world wide eruption of anger at news of an aged lion named "Cecil " being killed by a hunter in Hwange National park in Zimbabwe. It is the manner of the killing that has led to a petition in the United States collecting 159,000 signatures in a matter of days, demanding that the hunter be arrested and deported to Zimbabwe to face charges.
Cecil was the patriarch of a pride of lions, all of whom were protected by law and were viewed by thousands of visitors who come to see the big cats in their natural surroundings. He was killed by a wealthy American dentist who owned a string of dental surgeries - and has a past history of illegal big game hunting, including the death of a protected black bear in the United States.
It seems that Walter Palmer coerced a Zimbabwe guide to use bait to entice Cecil to go outside the park boundaries, where he was shot with a bow and arrow. This wounded lion laid low and forty hours later the dentist and his guide tracked him down - and finished the killing with a bullet from a gun.
Palmer is now in hiding. Angry protesters have demonstrated outside his dental surgeries and under American law any petition that gathers in excess of a hundred thousand signatures in under thirty days of the reason for it's collection of names - requires a government response.
We are fast losing the war against the decimation of what many consider "game animals " in the wild. Elephants are killed for their ivory tusks. The rhino attracts predators keen to remove it's "horn " which brings astronomical amounts in the Middle East and any part of a Tiger will bring big money from the trade in Chinese traditional medicine.
Then there are the "trophy hunters " ! They seem to have no real interest in the carcass of the animal they kill. What they seek is a photograph of themselves posing with a gun over the body of whatever they have executed - as a demonstration of their power over nature.
How America handles the issue this petition raises will be interesting. Basically, it demands that a wealthy white American be handed over to the legal system in a black African country that is undemocratic and well known to have a "hell hole "" prison system. That will surely incite the white supremacist movement within America to protest and will probably involve the powerful NRA - although Cecil was initially shot with an arrow - his demise was finally caused with a gun.
Of course, finding Walter Palmer will be the first issue to be faced. Wealth opens many doors and he may have fled America. There are many parts of the world that lack extradition treaty arrangements with America and it would not be hard to find a bolt hole in which to wait until the fuss dies down. It comes at a bad time, with the process of the two political, parties about to select candidates for next year's presidential election - and should one choose to announce a standing on this issue it will immediately become roiled in politics.
It would cause less racial dissent if Palmer were to face an American court, or be extradited to Europe to face the International Court of Justice, but the law broken was Zimbabwe law and the event happened on Zimbabwe soil. We are still waiting for a response from that country.
A lot of exotic animals will disappear from the face of the earth unless we put in place laws with teeth to protect them. It is bad enough that some native people are predators simply because that is the only way they can feed their families, but when rich people from wealthy countries become executioners for sheer sport - that will only stop when the punishment fits the crime.
If Walter Palmer gets to serve his sentence in a squalid Zimbabwe prison it will send a resonant message to those tempted to use their money to coerce others to grant their wishes to slaughter protected animals. It would be unfair to give him the protection that Cecil was entitled to receive in his sanctuary - and which was ignored !
Cecil was the patriarch of a pride of lions, all of whom were protected by law and were viewed by thousands of visitors who come to see the big cats in their natural surroundings. He was killed by a wealthy American dentist who owned a string of dental surgeries - and has a past history of illegal big game hunting, including the death of a protected black bear in the United States.
It seems that Walter Palmer coerced a Zimbabwe guide to use bait to entice Cecil to go outside the park boundaries, where he was shot with a bow and arrow. This wounded lion laid low and forty hours later the dentist and his guide tracked him down - and finished the killing with a bullet from a gun.
Palmer is now in hiding. Angry protesters have demonstrated outside his dental surgeries and under American law any petition that gathers in excess of a hundred thousand signatures in under thirty days of the reason for it's collection of names - requires a government response.
We are fast losing the war against the decimation of what many consider "game animals " in the wild. Elephants are killed for their ivory tusks. The rhino attracts predators keen to remove it's "horn " which brings astronomical amounts in the Middle East and any part of a Tiger will bring big money from the trade in Chinese traditional medicine.
Then there are the "trophy hunters " ! They seem to have no real interest in the carcass of the animal they kill. What they seek is a photograph of themselves posing with a gun over the body of whatever they have executed - as a demonstration of their power over nature.
How America handles the issue this petition raises will be interesting. Basically, it demands that a wealthy white American be handed over to the legal system in a black African country that is undemocratic and well known to have a "hell hole "" prison system. That will surely incite the white supremacist movement within America to protest and will probably involve the powerful NRA - although Cecil was initially shot with an arrow - his demise was finally caused with a gun.
Of course, finding Walter Palmer will be the first issue to be faced. Wealth opens many doors and he may have fled America. There are many parts of the world that lack extradition treaty arrangements with America and it would not be hard to find a bolt hole in which to wait until the fuss dies down. It comes at a bad time, with the process of the two political, parties about to select candidates for next year's presidential election - and should one choose to announce a standing on this issue it will immediately become roiled in politics.
It would cause less racial dissent if Palmer were to face an American court, or be extradited to Europe to face the International Court of Justice, but the law broken was Zimbabwe law and the event happened on Zimbabwe soil. We are still waiting for a response from that country.
A lot of exotic animals will disappear from the face of the earth unless we put in place laws with teeth to protect them. It is bad enough that some native people are predators simply because that is the only way they can feed their families, but when rich people from wealthy countries become executioners for sheer sport - that will only stop when the punishment fits the crime.
If Walter Palmer gets to serve his sentence in a squalid Zimbabwe prison it will send a resonant message to those tempted to use their money to coerce others to grant their wishes to slaughter protected animals. It would be unfair to give him the protection that Cecil was entitled to receive in his sanctuary - and which was ignored !
Saturday, 1 August 2015
The Money Lenders !
They have always been plying their trade ! A century ago we knew them as "Pawnbrokers " and to gain a little quick cash you needed to " pawn " the family silver - or at least have something valuable to hock. They were also the ideal venue to " fence "" stolen goods and the police paid regular visits to troll through their merchandise.
In this bright new twenty-first century they have glitzy shops on main street and they freely advertise in the media. Now they are called " PayDay lenders " and purport to be the friendly people who will fill the gap when you have an empty wallet - and there are just a few days until your next pay day. Of course the interest they charge for this service will be a little more than you pay on your housing loan - or on your Mastercard or Visa plastic card !
One of these PayDay lenders has come to grief in Queensland. A class action is under way to reclaim excessive interest charged to somewhere in the vicinity of thirty thousand customers and if it succeeds there is every chance that it will cost the firm involved compensation running to $30 million.
These days each personal loan requires a formal loan agreement and this lender demanded that customers appoint a " broker " as part of the deal. That sounds innocuous but under Queensland law it levies a " brokerage " charge of 35% to the agreement - and in many cases lifts the interest charge from the legal limit of 48% - to a new height of 160%.
Money lending is a fast expanding business. The old pawnbroking idea has morphed into offers to actually buy the goods tendered, and of course desperate people are under pressure to take whatever is offered. Some PayDay lenders are really second hand shops making handsome profits from the markup on goods they have bought cheaply from desperate people.
We are now seeing a new form of money lending services on offer. The incentive is speed. These firms offer a decision in a matter of minutes - and money transferred to your account within the hour. The advertising depicts the sort of situation that the average person can find themselves facing. A burst pipe and water spraying everywhere - and no money to pay for a plumber. How handy a small loan would be in such circumstances - ranging from a few hundred dollars to a little over a thousand ? In the age of the Internet the lender can gain a very quick appraisal of the borrowers circumstances to enable a lending decision - and at the interest rates charged - the odd miscalculation is of little consequence.
Unfortunately, there are some very nice people who lack the ability to manage money well. Their outgoings usually exceed their incomings - and they become victims of the money lenders. The lenders do not press them to repay capital quickly. As long as the interest is kept up to date they are quite happy to roll over the balance into a new loan. This can quickly reach the stage where the borrower is " hooked " into what amounts to an interest charge on capital that never decreases.
Every state has a different set of rules that apply to the money lenders, but the disadvantage always rests against the borrower. Help from the banks or the traditional card companies is no longer available because limits have been reached and the only source of funds quickly is from the money lenders - on their terms !
Fortunately, the states are aggressively policing the rules that apply in an industry not known for it's honesty. At least it is far removed from the old days when pawnbrokers were out of sight in sleazy suburbs or operated directly from their homes. Today the money lenders are in plain sight and they are required to keep records that are open for inspection by the authorities.
Despite the advertising and glitz, borrowers would do well to remember that borrowing money in this manner should be an absolute last resort. It will certainly involve very high interest rates - and as this case in Queensland shows - there is every chance that at least some of the deals on offer will not comply with the law !
In this bright new twenty-first century they have glitzy shops on main street and they freely advertise in the media. Now they are called " PayDay lenders " and purport to be the friendly people who will fill the gap when you have an empty wallet - and there are just a few days until your next pay day. Of course the interest they charge for this service will be a little more than you pay on your housing loan - or on your Mastercard or Visa plastic card !
One of these PayDay lenders has come to grief in Queensland. A class action is under way to reclaim excessive interest charged to somewhere in the vicinity of thirty thousand customers and if it succeeds there is every chance that it will cost the firm involved compensation running to $30 million.
These days each personal loan requires a formal loan agreement and this lender demanded that customers appoint a " broker " as part of the deal. That sounds innocuous but under Queensland law it levies a " brokerage " charge of 35% to the agreement - and in many cases lifts the interest charge from the legal limit of 48% - to a new height of 160%.
Money lending is a fast expanding business. The old pawnbroking idea has morphed into offers to actually buy the goods tendered, and of course desperate people are under pressure to take whatever is offered. Some PayDay lenders are really second hand shops making handsome profits from the markup on goods they have bought cheaply from desperate people.
We are now seeing a new form of money lending services on offer. The incentive is speed. These firms offer a decision in a matter of minutes - and money transferred to your account within the hour. The advertising depicts the sort of situation that the average person can find themselves facing. A burst pipe and water spraying everywhere - and no money to pay for a plumber. How handy a small loan would be in such circumstances - ranging from a few hundred dollars to a little over a thousand ? In the age of the Internet the lender can gain a very quick appraisal of the borrowers circumstances to enable a lending decision - and at the interest rates charged - the odd miscalculation is of little consequence.
Unfortunately, there are some very nice people who lack the ability to manage money well. Their outgoings usually exceed their incomings - and they become victims of the money lenders. The lenders do not press them to repay capital quickly. As long as the interest is kept up to date they are quite happy to roll over the balance into a new loan. This can quickly reach the stage where the borrower is " hooked " into what amounts to an interest charge on capital that never decreases.
Every state has a different set of rules that apply to the money lenders, but the disadvantage always rests against the borrower. Help from the banks or the traditional card companies is no longer available because limits have been reached and the only source of funds quickly is from the money lenders - on their terms !
Fortunately, the states are aggressively policing the rules that apply in an industry not known for it's honesty. At least it is far removed from the old days when pawnbrokers were out of sight in sleazy suburbs or operated directly from their homes. Today the money lenders are in plain sight and they are required to keep records that are open for inspection by the authorities.
Despite the advertising and glitz, borrowers would do well to remember that borrowing money in this manner should be an absolute last resort. It will certainly involve very high interest rates - and as this case in Queensland shows - there is every chance that at least some of the deals on offer will not comply with the law !
Friday, 31 July 2015
The Very Long Arm of the Law !
A careless moment thirty years ago resulted in a drop of blood from a bomber's finger falling on a piece of cardboard recovered from a bombed church hall. The analysis technology available today did not exist at that time and this evidence was carefully stored away along with countless other similar items held in the evidence rooms of police warehouses.
This week a suspect was arrested and will face trial over what were termed the "Family Court bombings " that were part of a vendetta to maim or murder judges in the Sydney family court system. Thirty years is a long time to escape justice and the bomber must have figured that he was home free. This outcome must be sending shivers of apprehension down the spine of many others who think that they have successfully evaded detection for crimes committed in the distant past.
The police are constantly mulling over their "cold case " files with regard to the technology available today. These reviews take into consideration the advances in blood technology and other scientific breakthroughs that make sense of what was incomprehensible when the crime was committed - and that evidence can now be used in today's courtroom to gain a conviction.
What must worry the criminal fraternity is the ongoing regularity of these reviews, because the advance of technology is both relentless and wide ranging. What was once insignificant can now tell a story that relates to a conclusion that can be proven in court - and that technology field shows no sign of ever ending. What is stored in those evidence rooms can come back to haunt the perpetrators of crime in the decades yet to come.
Not only is cold case review bringing results, modern technology is a weapon in police hands that often solves what seems a crime devoid of witnesses. A car hits a pedestrian and causes fatal injuries and the driver fails to stop. A few specks of paint can be analysed to give the make and model of the car involved - and the police start to check the cctv camera system in a wide range of surrounding territory.
The extend of security camera use is simply amazing. Some will remember the Jill Meagher murder. Vital evidence came from a shop that had a cctv installed to watch over it's contents - and this camera recorded the street scene outside it's shop window. It showed the victim walking past - followed by the murderer - and established his presence at the crime scene.
When looking for a suspect car the police have access to the council street scene cctv cameras, but also the innumerable private systems in place to keep watch on the forecourt of service stations, clubs, hotels and all manner of commercial businesses. It is time consuming but by culling through the footage it becomes possible to identify and track a car - and eventually one of these views records it's registration number, resulting in a knock on the door and some questions for the driver to answer.
It was evident in the family court bombing vendetta that someone was taking personally the decision of a family court judge that must have gone against his wishes and was intent of taking revenge - to the extent of murder. The police had their suspicions, but were unable to put together a compelling brief of evidence to enable charges to be laid.
This trial has yet to convince a judge and jury but it will be of high public interest and no doubt the criminal fraternity will be very attentive to learn how the blood connection was made that resulted in an arrest after such a long period of time.
This week a suspect was arrested and will face trial over what were termed the "Family Court bombings " that were part of a vendetta to maim or murder judges in the Sydney family court system. Thirty years is a long time to escape justice and the bomber must have figured that he was home free. This outcome must be sending shivers of apprehension down the spine of many others who think that they have successfully evaded detection for crimes committed in the distant past.
The police are constantly mulling over their "cold case " files with regard to the technology available today. These reviews take into consideration the advances in blood technology and other scientific breakthroughs that make sense of what was incomprehensible when the crime was committed - and that evidence can now be used in today's courtroom to gain a conviction.
What must worry the criminal fraternity is the ongoing regularity of these reviews, because the advance of technology is both relentless and wide ranging. What was once insignificant can now tell a story that relates to a conclusion that can be proven in court - and that technology field shows no sign of ever ending. What is stored in those evidence rooms can come back to haunt the perpetrators of crime in the decades yet to come.
Not only is cold case review bringing results, modern technology is a weapon in police hands that often solves what seems a crime devoid of witnesses. A car hits a pedestrian and causes fatal injuries and the driver fails to stop. A few specks of paint can be analysed to give the make and model of the car involved - and the police start to check the cctv camera system in a wide range of surrounding territory.
The extend of security camera use is simply amazing. Some will remember the Jill Meagher murder. Vital evidence came from a shop that had a cctv installed to watch over it's contents - and this camera recorded the street scene outside it's shop window. It showed the victim walking past - followed by the murderer - and established his presence at the crime scene.
When looking for a suspect car the police have access to the council street scene cctv cameras, but also the innumerable private systems in place to keep watch on the forecourt of service stations, clubs, hotels and all manner of commercial businesses. It is time consuming but by culling through the footage it becomes possible to identify and track a car - and eventually one of these views records it's registration number, resulting in a knock on the door and some questions for the driver to answer.
It was evident in the family court bombing vendetta that someone was taking personally the decision of a family court judge that must have gone against his wishes and was intent of taking revenge - to the extent of murder. The police had their suspicions, but were unable to put together a compelling brief of evidence to enable charges to be laid.
This trial has yet to convince a judge and jury but it will be of high public interest and no doubt the criminal fraternity will be very attentive to learn how the blood connection was made that resulted in an arrest after such a long period of time.
Thursday, 30 July 2015
Paranoia !
There is an ugly form of paranoia spreading through football crowds that has many people worried. Just one Sydney Swans player has been singled out for special treatment and whenever he makes an on-field move or touches the ball this brings a chorus of booing from the opposition teams fans.
Adam Goodes is Aboriginal and is not only a talented Australian Rules player but was also honoured as Australian of the year. He has been captain of the Sydney Swans and he makes no secret of his desire to stamp out racism in sport. Many think that it is this that may be the root cause of what can only be described as a vendetta whenever he takes the field.
Many months ago a spectator in the crowd called him "an Ape " and he responded by stopping and pointing at her. As a result, she was approached by officials and removed from the ground. This was a thirteen year old girl and it appears that some of the crowd though her removal and shame was an over reaction.
More recently, Goodes caused a stir when he scored a badly needed goal at a critical stage of a game and broke into what can only be described as a "war dance " ! This raised the subject of the Maori "Haka " performed when any New Zealand team takes the field and is a tradition that goes back many years. The media suggested that Goodes was trying to promote a similar Australian version based on Aboriginal culture.
From that point Goodes became a marked man to fans of what opposition team was playing the Swans. The crescendo of booing steadily increased and is now reaching the point of sheer paranoia. Probably many have no idea why this is happening, but the power of public perception does not need a motive. Some now join in because it seems to be the thing to do.
In all probability this is being enhanced by our racist elements. Offensive remarks and name calling has rankled players of overseas teams and the fact that Goodes has become the champion of the anti racist movement has put him squarely in the racist spotlight - and this booing campaign is their response.
Now comes the tantalising question of how we do something about it ? It shows no sign of easing and Goodes has elected to have a few days off, obviously affected by this constant barrage of hate whenever he is on the field of play. To some in the racist crowd, this will be taken as a sign of victory and very likely the crecendo will increase on his return.
Crowd behaviour is an enigma that bedevils many sports. English soccer players were once banned from Europe because of boorish manners and the setting off of flares in stadiums is a trait that has made an appearance here. This booing outbreak is a new phenomenon - and game orgtanizers are in a quandary as to what action to take.
An appeal for crowd decency is unlikely to get a positive response from the racist element, although it would probably shutup more responsible fans and there is always the prospect of fist fights in the crowd if booing becomes a social issue. The forceful removal of booing fans also crosses a line because it will infringe on the freedom of speech concept we hold so dear. Racial slurs are a more definitive offense. Booing can be a response to an unpopular refereeing decision, hence to ban that in any form would seem an infringement of civil liberties.
Hopefully,common sense will prevail. The fact that this has reached the stage of becoming a prime feature in public debate will surely cause some in the crowd to think twice before they resort to what is really an offensive racist act. If the vast majority of fans decide that it is "un-Australian " it will disappear !
Adam Goodes is Aboriginal and is not only a talented Australian Rules player but was also honoured as Australian of the year. He has been captain of the Sydney Swans and he makes no secret of his desire to stamp out racism in sport. Many think that it is this that may be the root cause of what can only be described as a vendetta whenever he takes the field.
Many months ago a spectator in the crowd called him "an Ape " and he responded by stopping and pointing at her. As a result, she was approached by officials and removed from the ground. This was a thirteen year old girl and it appears that some of the crowd though her removal and shame was an over reaction.
More recently, Goodes caused a stir when he scored a badly needed goal at a critical stage of a game and broke into what can only be described as a "war dance " ! This raised the subject of the Maori "Haka " performed when any New Zealand team takes the field and is a tradition that goes back many years. The media suggested that Goodes was trying to promote a similar Australian version based on Aboriginal culture.
From that point Goodes became a marked man to fans of what opposition team was playing the Swans. The crescendo of booing steadily increased and is now reaching the point of sheer paranoia. Probably many have no idea why this is happening, but the power of public perception does not need a motive. Some now join in because it seems to be the thing to do.
In all probability this is being enhanced by our racist elements. Offensive remarks and name calling has rankled players of overseas teams and the fact that Goodes has become the champion of the anti racist movement has put him squarely in the racist spotlight - and this booing campaign is their response.
Now comes the tantalising question of how we do something about it ? It shows no sign of easing and Goodes has elected to have a few days off, obviously affected by this constant barrage of hate whenever he is on the field of play. To some in the racist crowd, this will be taken as a sign of victory and very likely the crecendo will increase on his return.
Crowd behaviour is an enigma that bedevils many sports. English soccer players were once banned from Europe because of boorish manners and the setting off of flares in stadiums is a trait that has made an appearance here. This booing outbreak is a new phenomenon - and game orgtanizers are in a quandary as to what action to take.
An appeal for crowd decency is unlikely to get a positive response from the racist element, although it would probably shutup more responsible fans and there is always the prospect of fist fights in the crowd if booing becomes a social issue. The forceful removal of booing fans also crosses a line because it will infringe on the freedom of speech concept we hold so dear. Racial slurs are a more definitive offense. Booing can be a response to an unpopular refereeing decision, hence to ban that in any form would seem an infringement of civil liberties.
Hopefully,common sense will prevail. The fact that this has reached the stage of becoming a prime feature in public debate will surely cause some in the crowd to think twice before they resort to what is really an offensive racist act. If the vast majority of fans decide that it is "un-Australian " it will disappear !
Wednesday, 29 July 2015
Spreading the Joy !
Miller's Point is an inner Sydney suburb with some magnificent harbour views. It is also the site of ancient public housing and these include a nineteenth century terrace and an assortment of houses that are in dire need of major repair. The building industry knows that the cost of trying to bring them up to scratch would be prohibitive and it would be far cheaper to think demolition - and a rebuild !
That is exactly what the state government thought and so far 23 have been sold, with the sites bringing between $1.6 and $ 2.5 million each, delivering over $50 million - which has been used to create 1500 new social housing dwellings in Sydney and rural New South Wales.
Any reasonable person would see the logic in this plan. If a building is old and decrepit and situated on a valuable land site a wise owner would realise on the asset and use the money to create a bigger number of dwellings where property values are lower. There is a huge waiting list for public housing and this building plan is adding to housing stock and easing the pressure to put a roof over the head of more people.
A further six old homes at Miller's Point are slated for auction, and once again the tenants are fighting a last stand to try and prevent the sale. They claim a " right " to remain in public housing at this site and simply want these last remaining old homes restored at a great cost rather than spreading the joy for a lot more public housing people.
These people are public housing tenants - and they are not facing homelessness. What they are objecting to is the loss of magnificent harbour views - and that is not something guaranteed to anyone in either the private or public housing sector. It would be quite feasible for land between Miller's Point and the harbour to become the site of a towering unit block that obliterated those harbour views - and that could happen with no regard to the ownership of the homes involved.
This standoff involves a clash of thinking on the whole public housing issue. Many people seem to think that when they finally acquire the rental of a Housing Commission home it is " theirs " for life - and that is plainly not so. Public housing is allocated with need in mind and tenants should expect several changes of venue as they move from single status, to living with a partner and children, to old age. The Housing Commission builds it's housing stock accordingly to achieve the logical mix to suit it's tenants needs.
There is another aspect of public housing policy that seems to be forgotten. Rents are geared to the financial status of the tenant and consequently the ability to pay becomes the criteria - but it works both ways. There is no hard and fast rule, but there is an expectation that when a tenant's financial situation improves they will either rent in the private sector or take up home ownership. Public housing is not on offer to the wealthy - and certainly not to millionaires !
The rules in place and to which tenants agree on being allocated public housing is the promise that they will regularly keep the Housing Commission informed of their income level - and the income earned by any other person residing in the home. The rent is geared to the level of income being generated within the tenancy - not to the individual whose name appears on the tenancy agreement, and this relates to both overtime and any business activity being carried out by a tenant.
That magic word "entitlement " seems to often appear when housing disputes arise. There seems to be an assumption that a Housing Commission tenancy is for "life " - and this is not so. It is totally unreasonable that a government agency should waste money trying to bring to standard old property long past it's commercial lifetime just to satisfy the tenant who happens to like the view.
Housing stock is just like any other commercial asset. If it can be sold to increase the wealth necessary to broaden the provision of public housing for the masses, then that is the course of action required by the Commission. To do otherwise would be a dereliction of duty !
That is exactly what the state government thought and so far 23 have been sold, with the sites bringing between $1.6 and $ 2.5 million each, delivering over $50 million - which has been used to create 1500 new social housing dwellings in Sydney and rural New South Wales.
Any reasonable person would see the logic in this plan. If a building is old and decrepit and situated on a valuable land site a wise owner would realise on the asset and use the money to create a bigger number of dwellings where property values are lower. There is a huge waiting list for public housing and this building plan is adding to housing stock and easing the pressure to put a roof over the head of more people.
A further six old homes at Miller's Point are slated for auction, and once again the tenants are fighting a last stand to try and prevent the sale. They claim a " right " to remain in public housing at this site and simply want these last remaining old homes restored at a great cost rather than spreading the joy for a lot more public housing people.
These people are public housing tenants - and they are not facing homelessness. What they are objecting to is the loss of magnificent harbour views - and that is not something guaranteed to anyone in either the private or public housing sector. It would be quite feasible for land between Miller's Point and the harbour to become the site of a towering unit block that obliterated those harbour views - and that could happen with no regard to the ownership of the homes involved.
This standoff involves a clash of thinking on the whole public housing issue. Many people seem to think that when they finally acquire the rental of a Housing Commission home it is " theirs " for life - and that is plainly not so. Public housing is allocated with need in mind and tenants should expect several changes of venue as they move from single status, to living with a partner and children, to old age. The Housing Commission builds it's housing stock accordingly to achieve the logical mix to suit it's tenants needs.
There is another aspect of public housing policy that seems to be forgotten. Rents are geared to the financial status of the tenant and consequently the ability to pay becomes the criteria - but it works both ways. There is no hard and fast rule, but there is an expectation that when a tenant's financial situation improves they will either rent in the private sector or take up home ownership. Public housing is not on offer to the wealthy - and certainly not to millionaires !
The rules in place and to which tenants agree on being allocated public housing is the promise that they will regularly keep the Housing Commission informed of their income level - and the income earned by any other person residing in the home. The rent is geared to the level of income being generated within the tenancy - not to the individual whose name appears on the tenancy agreement, and this relates to both overtime and any business activity being carried out by a tenant.
That magic word "entitlement " seems to often appear when housing disputes arise. There seems to be an assumption that a Housing Commission tenancy is for "life " - and this is not so. It is totally unreasonable that a government agency should waste money trying to bring to standard old property long past it's commercial lifetime just to satisfy the tenant who happens to like the view.
Housing stock is just like any other commercial asset. If it can be sold to increase the wealth necessary to broaden the provision of public housing for the masses, then that is the course of action required by the Commission. To do otherwise would be a dereliction of duty !
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