This week a fourteen year old girl was strapped to a lie detecting machine - and quizzed about her sex life as part of a radio breakfast show.
At best, this is an example of bad taste, and at worst it is exploitation by the lure of a sex story to attract listeners.
The unexpected outcome was that this fourteen year old girl revealed that she had been raped just two years previously, when she was twelve years old - and it became evident that this fact was known by her mother - and no action had been taken to alert the police to the crime.
There are calls for the show to be axed and the radio stars sacked, but this seems to miss the point.
There is a rapist out there - walking around free. It looks like he got away with raping a twelve year old girl - and the people who have an obligation to protect her did nothing about it - and that is a further crime.
The quest for listeners and viewers results in many instances of questionable taste in the entertainment industry. It has always been so - and there is no reason to expect change in the near future.
At least this instance has had a positive result. The welfare people will be having a chat with this girl's mother - and she will have some explaining to do if she wants to avoid a charge - and the police will be doing their best to identify and charge the rapist.
It begs the question of how many other unreported rape victims live in this community !
Friday, 31 July 2009
Thursday, 30 July 2009
Flu vaccine.
The first rule of commerce is very clear. He who has the money gets to stand first in line !
That is proving correct with the distribution of the Swine Flu vaccine. Australia has ordered twenty-one million doses and the other developed countries look like swamping production facilities - to the detriment of the third world.
An even bigger problem is emerging over the horizon.
We are heading into a world food shortage ! The price of basic foodstuffs have been increasing faster than the inflation rate in the developed world, and much faster than the capacity of those existing on less than a dollar a day to cope.
A lot of people are going hungry and at the present rate of price increases we can expect famine - and the death of many people - to become a fact of life.
Hungry people are angry people - and angry people are desperate people. We are already seeing huge surges in migration as lack of food forces an exodus to where food may be available.
When that surge becomes overwhelming even civilized states resort to inhumane tactics. There have been reports in some Asian countries of refugee boats being pushed offshore - or towed out to sea and abandoned.
Perhaps the biggest challenge facing civilization is the need to expand the food supply - and do it at a cost that is within the reach of the world's poor.
The main hope of achieving that could come from Genetically Modified ( GM ) crops - something passionately rejected by " the Greenie " movement !
We seem to be facing a choice - the lesser of two evils !
That is proving correct with the distribution of the Swine Flu vaccine. Australia has ordered twenty-one million doses and the other developed countries look like swamping production facilities - to the detriment of the third world.
An even bigger problem is emerging over the horizon.
We are heading into a world food shortage ! The price of basic foodstuffs have been increasing faster than the inflation rate in the developed world, and much faster than the capacity of those existing on less than a dollar a day to cope.
A lot of people are going hungry and at the present rate of price increases we can expect famine - and the death of many people - to become a fact of life.
Hungry people are angry people - and angry people are desperate people. We are already seeing huge surges in migration as lack of food forces an exodus to where food may be available.
When that surge becomes overwhelming even civilized states resort to inhumane tactics. There have been reports in some Asian countries of refugee boats being pushed offshore - or towed out to sea and abandoned.
Perhaps the biggest challenge facing civilization is the need to expand the food supply - and do it at a cost that is within the reach of the world's poor.
The main hope of achieving that could come from Genetically Modified ( GM ) crops - something passionately rejected by " the Greenie " movement !
We seem to be facing a choice - the lesser of two evils !
Wednesday, 29 July 2009
Doctor shortage !
Emergency rooms at Bulli and Shellharbour hospitals were closed - because of a shortage of doctors. A Wollongong GP practice shut the doors when a replacement doctor could not be found. Some country towns have been without a resident doctor for years. Why is this so ?
We are obviously not training enough new doctors !
It is not as if being a doctor is a shunned profession ! Doctors are amongst the highest earners in the land. We have no lack of people leaving high school with the educational standards to study medicine - but only the top elite can gain entrance to medical school.
At the same time, our medical schools have a high proportion of overseas students. This is because we have a duty to help third world countries improve their health regimes - but because of our high rates of pay and doctor shortages here - many such students stay and apply for citizenship once they qualify.
We rob those emerging economies to bolster our own health system.
This doctor scarcity is actually an artificially contrived situation - controlled by that very same medical profession.
Specialist doctors dictate just how many new members they will train and accept each year into their medical discipline - and those numbers are deliberately kept small to safeguard specialist incomes.
Unfortunately, these specialist also control the numbers of GP's who can flow through the system. GP training requires a basic knowledge of each specialist discipline - hence the low numbers of such specialists dictates how many student GP's they are prepared to train.
We will not rid ourselves of the doctor shortage until we increase the number of doctors in training at our medical schools - and remove the stranglehold that specialists have on regulating those numbers.
The present situation is simply a cartel acting in it's own interests !
We are obviously not training enough new doctors !
It is not as if being a doctor is a shunned profession ! Doctors are amongst the highest earners in the land. We have no lack of people leaving high school with the educational standards to study medicine - but only the top elite can gain entrance to medical school.
At the same time, our medical schools have a high proportion of overseas students. This is because we have a duty to help third world countries improve their health regimes - but because of our high rates of pay and doctor shortages here - many such students stay and apply for citizenship once they qualify.
We rob those emerging economies to bolster our own health system.
This doctor scarcity is actually an artificially contrived situation - controlled by that very same medical profession.
Specialist doctors dictate just how many new members they will train and accept each year into their medical discipline - and those numbers are deliberately kept small to safeguard specialist incomes.
Unfortunately, these specialist also control the numbers of GP's who can flow through the system. GP training requires a basic knowledge of each specialist discipline - hence the low numbers of such specialists dictates how many student GP's they are prepared to train.
We will not rid ourselves of the doctor shortage until we increase the number of doctors in training at our medical schools - and remove the stranglehold that specialists have on regulating those numbers.
The present situation is simply a cartel acting in it's own interests !
Tuesday, 28 July 2009
The health system !
The proposal to re-work the national health system is probably the most important initiative since Federation !
There is no doubt that the existing state run - Federal supported hospital system is in terminal decline and not meeting the needs of the Australian community. It would be tempting for the bureaucracy to tinker about the edges and make cosmetic changes - but instead we are being presented with a fundamental fresh start.
The Federal government is proposing a takeover of the national hospital system - the addition of a dental care system to public health - the separation of elective and emergency services - and the creation of a personal electronic health record for all Australian citizens.
The most important change is that this will not be introduced by diktat - but by a careful crafting of a proposal to be considered by both the Federal government and the states and territories.
If this proposal does not get wide acceptance and a nod from the state governments - then it will be put to the people - by a referendum at the next election.
This is the biggest shakeup of health since the introduction of Medicare and the final decision will be a democratic vote by all the citizens who will be affected by the new scheme - and who will be the ones paying for it.
If dental becomes part of the health scheme there will probably be a lift in the Medicare levy on taxable income for all citizens, and there will have to be a vast financing change between the Commonwealth and the states if the Federal purse pays hospital costs.
The devil will be in the detail, and there will be differences of opinion between the various departments, but in the end the decision will rest in the hands of the ordinary people of this land - and that is surely democracy in action.
Self interest - politics - and a whole host of other factors will make this a torrid debate over many months - but then health is probably one of the most important factors of our lives - and we now have the opportunity to re-jig the whole system and create the health system of our dreams.
And best of all. The final decision will be in the hands of the people !
There is no doubt that the existing state run - Federal supported hospital system is in terminal decline and not meeting the needs of the Australian community. It would be tempting for the bureaucracy to tinker about the edges and make cosmetic changes - but instead we are being presented with a fundamental fresh start.
The Federal government is proposing a takeover of the national hospital system - the addition of a dental care system to public health - the separation of elective and emergency services - and the creation of a personal electronic health record for all Australian citizens.
The most important change is that this will not be introduced by diktat - but by a careful crafting of a proposal to be considered by both the Federal government and the states and territories.
If this proposal does not get wide acceptance and a nod from the state governments - then it will be put to the people - by a referendum at the next election.
This is the biggest shakeup of health since the introduction of Medicare and the final decision will be a democratic vote by all the citizens who will be affected by the new scheme - and who will be the ones paying for it.
If dental becomes part of the health scheme there will probably be a lift in the Medicare levy on taxable income for all citizens, and there will have to be a vast financing change between the Commonwealth and the states if the Federal purse pays hospital costs.
The devil will be in the detail, and there will be differences of opinion between the various departments, but in the end the decision will rest in the hands of the ordinary people of this land - and that is surely democracy in action.
Self interest - politics - and a whole host of other factors will make this a torrid debate over many months - but then health is probably one of the most important factors of our lives - and we now have the opportunity to re-jig the whole system and create the health system of our dreams.
And best of all. The final decision will be in the hands of the people !
Monday, 27 July 2009
The " protectionism " genie !
So far, world leaders have managed to keep the stopper in the bottle - but in Australia the unions are demanding that the government set the " protectionism genie " loose !
That is the same genie that wreaked havoc back in the 1930's and set nation against nation in a vain attempt to save jobs and contain trade within each country.
Surely it should be evident to elected union officials that if we legislate to protect Australian made goods with a a demand that they have a twenty percent price preference against competing imports - then a similar scheme will be instantly adopted by the countries with which we trade.
Fortunately, Kevin Rudd has rejected this type of approach, but there is always the chance that hysteria and a militant union leadership could provoke civil disturbances in support of bringing in such a regime.
It would join a host of other " quick fix " solutions - such as nationalising key industries and price control in an attempt to create a " command economy ".
Those with short memories will forget that this was precisely the problem that led to the collapse of the Soviet Union.
It looks like a light at the end of a very dark tunnel with signs that we may be emerging from this world recession - provided we keep our nerve and continue to trade with the rest of the world.
" Protectionism " is one sure way to snuff out that light !
That is the same genie that wreaked havoc back in the 1930's and set nation against nation in a vain attempt to save jobs and contain trade within each country.
Surely it should be evident to elected union officials that if we legislate to protect Australian made goods with a a demand that they have a twenty percent price preference against competing imports - then a similar scheme will be instantly adopted by the countries with which we trade.
Fortunately, Kevin Rudd has rejected this type of approach, but there is always the chance that hysteria and a militant union leadership could provoke civil disturbances in support of bringing in such a regime.
It would join a host of other " quick fix " solutions - such as nationalising key industries and price control in an attempt to create a " command economy ".
Those with short memories will forget that this was precisely the problem that led to the collapse of the Soviet Union.
It looks like a light at the end of a very dark tunnel with signs that we may be emerging from this world recession - provided we keep our nerve and continue to trade with the rest of the world.
" Protectionism " is one sure way to snuff out that light !
Sunday, 26 July 2009
An unfair decision !
It is impossible to understand the decision FINA has made on controversial swimsuits.
They will be banned from competition use from January 1, 2010 - but they will be legally used in the coming World Swimming Championships in Rome - and all records broken with their use in the past will remain in force.
That's a bit like saying that drugs will be banned from future Olympics, but any competitors stripped of medals for past drug use will have their win reinstated.
We just dudded all future swimmers from any hope of breaking a world record for the next half century. A plethora of records were broken by swimmers using the soon to be banned swimsuits - and those records will hold.
The huge advantage these suits conferred will be unavailable to future contestants, but they will be forced to compete on lesser terms. Any prospect of fairness was erased at the stroke of a pen.
Many with swimming potential will simply walk away and consider another sport.
FINA has also snatched away " the pot of gold " that makes the years of grinding hard work and practice necessary to becoming a champion worthwhile.
With no hope of rising to the top the sponsorship rewards and public adoration are out of reach - and will remain in the hands of those who achieved them with now illegal help.
The glamour and allure of swimming just suffered a death blow !
They will be banned from competition use from January 1, 2010 - but they will be legally used in the coming World Swimming Championships in Rome - and all records broken with their use in the past will remain in force.
That's a bit like saying that drugs will be banned from future Olympics, but any competitors stripped of medals for past drug use will have their win reinstated.
We just dudded all future swimmers from any hope of breaking a world record for the next half century. A plethora of records were broken by swimmers using the soon to be banned swimsuits - and those records will hold.
The huge advantage these suits conferred will be unavailable to future contestants, but they will be forced to compete on lesser terms. Any prospect of fairness was erased at the stroke of a pen.
Many with swimming potential will simply walk away and consider another sport.
FINA has also snatched away " the pot of gold " that makes the years of grinding hard work and practice necessary to becoming a champion worthwhile.
With no hope of rising to the top the sponsorship rewards and public adoration are out of reach - and will remain in the hands of those who achieved them with now illegal help.
The glamour and allure of swimming just suffered a death blow !
Saturday, 25 July 2009
Respite care - and safety !
There is usually a long wait for a little time off from caring for a disabled family member, but now safety is a new worry.
It is inexcusable that a 15 year old disabled girl and a 22 year old disabled man with a history of assault would be asked to share a bedroom.
This resulted in a savage attack in which the helpless girl suffered bites to her face and chest - to the degree that her nose was almost severed.
As a result, two public servants have been stood down from positions of authority and the policy of not mixing adults and children in respite care has been restated.
It is almost unbelievable that such a basic error was made in the first place. The offender had a long history of assaulting others, and in recent days had attempted to strangle a staff member. Despite this, decisions were made in the full knowledge of the risk involved.
The damage done is immense. Long suffering carers waiting for a little time off for R & R will now have a lingering doubt about the safety of their loved ones.
It is important that a broom be put through the whole respite care organization and standards set in place to guarantee that a similar situation can never again arise.
Anything less is to permanently damage the trust so important to the respite principle !
It is inexcusable that a 15 year old disabled girl and a 22 year old disabled man with a history of assault would be asked to share a bedroom.
This resulted in a savage attack in which the helpless girl suffered bites to her face and chest - to the degree that her nose was almost severed.
As a result, two public servants have been stood down from positions of authority and the policy of not mixing adults and children in respite care has been restated.
It is almost unbelievable that such a basic error was made in the first place. The offender had a long history of assaulting others, and in recent days had attempted to strangle a staff member. Despite this, decisions were made in the full knowledge of the risk involved.
The damage done is immense. Long suffering carers waiting for a little time off for R & R will now have a lingering doubt about the safety of their loved ones.
It is important that a broom be put through the whole respite care organization and standards set in place to guarantee that a similar situation can never again arise.
Anything less is to permanently damage the trust so important to the respite principle !
Friday, 24 July 2009
The potential for change.
It would be a rare household that is completely without books. They are given as gifts for Christmas and birthdays, and provide us with both knowledge and entertainment - but change is in the air.
The relentless march of the electronic age is now threatening the traditional pages of paper, bound together and with words printed on them. This is a costly way of distributing what we choose to read and Amazon founder - Jeff Bezos is suggesting a paperless solution.
The " Kindle " is an electronic device about the size of the average book - but much thinner - which can display the story that interests us as we scroll it across the screen.
Whether this will replace the traditional book depends on many things. Gaining acceptance will be critical. It is asking readers to completely change their habits - and as any inventor of a new product knows - that is a big ask !
Price will be another factor. Books are becoming dearer and if this Kindle is cheap and efficient it will find favour with at least some people.
What seems absolutely certain is that we are about to be subjected to a selling campaign to introduce this new method of book publishing.
It is an innovation that has promise - and it could be the biggest change in our lives since the early days of the personal computer.
The relentless march of the electronic age is now threatening the traditional pages of paper, bound together and with words printed on them. This is a costly way of distributing what we choose to read and Amazon founder - Jeff Bezos is suggesting a paperless solution.
The " Kindle " is an electronic device about the size of the average book - but much thinner - which can display the story that interests us as we scroll it across the screen.
Whether this will replace the traditional book depends on many things. Gaining acceptance will be critical. It is asking readers to completely change their habits - and as any inventor of a new product knows - that is a big ask !
Price will be another factor. Books are becoming dearer and if this Kindle is cheap and efficient it will find favour with at least some people.
What seems absolutely certain is that we are about to be subjected to a selling campaign to introduce this new method of book publishing.
It is an innovation that has promise - and it could be the biggest change in our lives since the early days of the personal computer.
Thursday, 23 July 2009
A short attention span !
Things have changed at our supermarkets !
Over a year ago, just about every customer was arriving with those ubiquitous green recycling bags and proudly doing their part to reduce plastic bag waste.
Now - they are a rarity ! Perhaps the odd customer here and there persevering with the crusade, and most likely the bags still exist - it's just that they don't make it into the store. They remain in the boot of the car - abandoned and forgotten as evidence of our short attention span.
If asked, we will still insist that we have a ecology conscience. We care about the planet. We have switched to low energy light globes. We save water and don't hose paths anymore !
And the people who shop at Aldi manage to remember to take their own containers - but then they have to because Aldi charge for bags - and our short attention span kicks in anytime failure to do so costs us money !
Which raises that interesting question. Would we again start using those green canvas bags if all the grocery shops stopped putting our purchases in free throw away plastic ?
It seems that it all revolves around a single issue.
Yes we will ! If our hip pocket or purse connects with our memory !
Over a year ago, just about every customer was arriving with those ubiquitous green recycling bags and proudly doing their part to reduce plastic bag waste.
Now - they are a rarity ! Perhaps the odd customer here and there persevering with the crusade, and most likely the bags still exist - it's just that they don't make it into the store. They remain in the boot of the car - abandoned and forgotten as evidence of our short attention span.
If asked, we will still insist that we have a ecology conscience. We care about the planet. We have switched to low energy light globes. We save water and don't hose paths anymore !
And the people who shop at Aldi manage to remember to take their own containers - but then they have to because Aldi charge for bags - and our short attention span kicks in anytime failure to do so costs us money !
Which raises that interesting question. Would we again start using those green canvas bags if all the grocery shops stopped putting our purchases in free throw away plastic ?
It seems that it all revolves around a single issue.
Yes we will ! If our hip pocket or purse connects with our memory !
Wednesday, 22 July 2009
Price disparity.
A strange thing is happening in the kitchens of Australia !
Once upon a time the cheapest way to create a meal was to buy fruit and vegetables from the greengrocer and process them yourself. Now it is far cheaper to buy them peeled, washed and ready to cook from the frozen food display.
The price of fruit and vegetables has taken a huge jump in recent years as the big supermarket chains screw the farm gate price ever lower - and escalate the retail price ever higher.
The food processing people are also bulk buyers and pay a similar low price for their supplies, with the result that in many cases the price of their end product compares favourably with fresh !
Take the humble potato as an example. At the greengrocer a medium sized spud can easily set you back 50 c. Go to the frozen food section and you will find a kilo of crinkle cut chips for as low as $ 1.20 - and now a whole range of frozen potato in sliced, mashed and many other forms - ready for the oven.
The greed of the supermarket chains is now throwing processed fruit and vegetables out of price kilter with fresh !
Unfortunately this distortion will be reflected in job losses as canny shoppers switch from the washing/peeling/slicing chore to " ready for the oven " mode.
It takes fewer factory hands to process the produce than the huge army necessary to bring fresh to market, prepare it for display, pass it through the checkout and put it in the customer's kitchen.
We live in a strange world where doing the hard labour of preparing a meal actually makes the end product more expensive !
Once upon a time the cheapest way to create a meal was to buy fruit and vegetables from the greengrocer and process them yourself. Now it is far cheaper to buy them peeled, washed and ready to cook from the frozen food display.
The price of fruit and vegetables has taken a huge jump in recent years as the big supermarket chains screw the farm gate price ever lower - and escalate the retail price ever higher.
The food processing people are also bulk buyers and pay a similar low price for their supplies, with the result that in many cases the price of their end product compares favourably with fresh !
Take the humble potato as an example. At the greengrocer a medium sized spud can easily set you back 50 c. Go to the frozen food section and you will find a kilo of crinkle cut chips for as low as $ 1.20 - and now a whole range of frozen potato in sliced, mashed and many other forms - ready for the oven.
The greed of the supermarket chains is now throwing processed fruit and vegetables out of price kilter with fresh !
Unfortunately this distortion will be reflected in job losses as canny shoppers switch from the washing/peeling/slicing chore to " ready for the oven " mode.
It takes fewer factory hands to process the produce than the huge army necessary to bring fresh to market, prepare it for display, pass it through the checkout and put it in the customer's kitchen.
We live in a strange world where doing the hard labour of preparing a meal actually makes the end product more expensive !
Tuesday, 21 July 2009
Our ever changing world !
Forty years ago the citizens of this planet watched the flickering images on their black and white television sets as Neil Armstrong first set foot on the moon.
Now there are plans to go further - perhaps to Mars and the establishment of our first space colony.
That past era also had many people wondering if we were alone in the cosmos. It was a time when lights in the sky and flying discs coined the " Flying Saucer " age.
We don't hear much about them now, but at the time there seemed a real prospect of one landing - and little green men emerging. Our imagination ran riot and it spawned a plethora of science fiction books and movies - which fired our fascination with space and the mystery of other worlds.
Many people made a connection between supposed visitors from space and the start of the atomic age just fourteen years before. There was conjecture that nuclear explosions had got the attention of our neighbours - and those flying saucers were more advanced civilizations checking us out.
There was panic amongst this world's religions. The prospect of an alien landing would surely throw their teachings into disarray - and we were treated to a sharp change of tack to encompass a wider view and bring a wider world under the religious umbrella.
Some question spending the huge amount of money involved in space exploration, but then we do have an emerging problem of just too many people on this planet. We are fast approaching seven billion - and there are valid questions about the ability of the food supply to cope.
Maybe the era when an over crowded Europe expanded to the other continents will need a similar migration to other worlds - and maybe that is a natural progression in the development of mankind.
And maybe the day may come when those little green guys do actually land - and complain that we are polluting the cosmos.
Another case of - " There goes the neighbourhood ! "
Now there are plans to go further - perhaps to Mars and the establishment of our first space colony.
That past era also had many people wondering if we were alone in the cosmos. It was a time when lights in the sky and flying discs coined the " Flying Saucer " age.
We don't hear much about them now, but at the time there seemed a real prospect of one landing - and little green men emerging. Our imagination ran riot and it spawned a plethora of science fiction books and movies - which fired our fascination with space and the mystery of other worlds.
Many people made a connection between supposed visitors from space and the start of the atomic age just fourteen years before. There was conjecture that nuclear explosions had got the attention of our neighbours - and those flying saucers were more advanced civilizations checking us out.
There was panic amongst this world's religions. The prospect of an alien landing would surely throw their teachings into disarray - and we were treated to a sharp change of tack to encompass a wider view and bring a wider world under the religious umbrella.
Some question spending the huge amount of money involved in space exploration, but then we do have an emerging problem of just too many people on this planet. We are fast approaching seven billion - and there are valid questions about the ability of the food supply to cope.
Maybe the era when an over crowded Europe expanded to the other continents will need a similar migration to other worlds - and maybe that is a natural progression in the development of mankind.
And maybe the day may come when those little green guys do actually land - and complain that we are polluting the cosmos.
Another case of - " There goes the neighbourhood ! "
Monday, 20 July 2009
A sick joke !
What an incredible situation ! A queue of five hundred and sixty people are waiting for over twelve weeks for admission to a nursing home bed - and these beds are vacant because the health service simply has insufficient facilities to assess each applicant !
" High care " nursing home beds are for those suffering dementia - and with Alzheimer disease reaching epidemic proportions the need is increasing.
Under the regime pertaining at present no admission to a nursing home is possible until the Northern Illawarra Aged Care Assessment Team ( ACAT ) has assessed the applicant and granted approval.
Unfortunately, there is no provision for relief if any of the assessing crew are on sick leave, taking annual holidays or long service leave. As a result, work time blows out - and those very vulnerable people on the waiting list - and those caring for them - are put at risk.
There is also a penalty suffered by the nursing home people. If a bed lays vacant for months it becomes a drain on their finances. No patient in that bed - no money coming in to allow a service upgrade and the provision of more beds for this ever expanding need.
How basic can the health problem get ? " Blind Freddy " can see that the only way to solve this problem is to throw more people at it - and surely that should be apparent to the health care people !
Just one more example of the bureaucracy being unable to see the wood - for the trees !
" High care " nursing home beds are for those suffering dementia - and with Alzheimer disease reaching epidemic proportions the need is increasing.
Under the regime pertaining at present no admission to a nursing home is possible until the Northern Illawarra Aged Care Assessment Team ( ACAT ) has assessed the applicant and granted approval.
Unfortunately, there is no provision for relief if any of the assessing crew are on sick leave, taking annual holidays or long service leave. As a result, work time blows out - and those very vulnerable people on the waiting list - and those caring for them - are put at risk.
There is also a penalty suffered by the nursing home people. If a bed lays vacant for months it becomes a drain on their finances. No patient in that bed - no money coming in to allow a service upgrade and the provision of more beds for this ever expanding need.
How basic can the health problem get ? " Blind Freddy " can see that the only way to solve this problem is to throw more people at it - and surely that should be apparent to the health care people !
Just one more example of the bureaucracy being unable to see the wood - for the trees !
Sunday, 19 July 2009
Religion - the law - and commonsense !
An interesting case in a Wollongong court this week. A Sikh citizen faced a charge of riding while not wearing a safety helmet - and offence which attracts a $ 56 fine.
He claimed it was impossible to wear a safety helmet and a turban at the same time, and that his religion required that he wear the turban.
The magistrate found the offence proved, but dismissed the charge with a warning that he should seek exemption on religious grounds, otherwise there would be further conflict with the law.
It seems to be more a case of conflict between religion - the law - and commonsense !
A solution already exists. The " Patka " is a mini turban recognised by the Sikh religion as an adequate substitute for a full turban - and it allows both the turban and a safety helmet to be worn simultaneously.
Riding any type of two wheeled conveyance without a helmet endangers the safety of the rider, hence it could be argued that as no other person is put at risk that person is entitled to put religion before risk.
It's not that easy. There are many instances where a helmet is required to be worn. A combat soldier in the armed forces wears a helmet. A worker on a construction site is required to wear a safety helmet. A racing driver would be at incredible risk if driving without a helmet.
So it seems to be a matter of making a point rather than legitimately upholding a religious principle.
The way is clear - from both a religious and a legal point of view - to satisfy the requirements of both by combining a Patka and a helmet.
Now all that is required is for the third component - commonsense - to join the troika !
He claimed it was impossible to wear a safety helmet and a turban at the same time, and that his religion required that he wear the turban.
The magistrate found the offence proved, but dismissed the charge with a warning that he should seek exemption on religious grounds, otherwise there would be further conflict with the law.
It seems to be more a case of conflict between religion - the law - and commonsense !
A solution already exists. The " Patka " is a mini turban recognised by the Sikh religion as an adequate substitute for a full turban - and it allows both the turban and a safety helmet to be worn simultaneously.
Riding any type of two wheeled conveyance without a helmet endangers the safety of the rider, hence it could be argued that as no other person is put at risk that person is entitled to put religion before risk.
It's not that easy. There are many instances where a helmet is required to be worn. A combat soldier in the armed forces wears a helmet. A worker on a construction site is required to wear a safety helmet. A racing driver would be at incredible risk if driving without a helmet.
So it seems to be a matter of making a point rather than legitimately upholding a religious principle.
The way is clear - from both a religious and a legal point of view - to satisfy the requirements of both by combining a Patka and a helmet.
Now all that is required is for the third component - commonsense - to join the troika !
Saturday, 18 July 2009
A simple " waste " of money !
A decade or so ago Wollongong Council discovered a derelict farmhouse adjacent to the Whytes Gully landfill. Amid great excitement, plans were announced to restore this property and create the Wollongong Waste, Education and Visitors centre on site.
Half a million dollars of ratepayers funds were spent restoring that farmhouse,renamed " Glengarry Cottage - and for years it has served the purpose of educating the public on waste minimization, recycling, the use of worm farms and other methods of waste processing - and now it is to be abandoned.
For some inscrutable reason the council has decided to close this centre - and move the Waste, Education and Visitors centre - to the Wollongong Botanical Gardens.
Now common sense gives a clear message that anything to do with waste reduction is more likely to be a success if it can tap into the stream of people who are going past it's door with rubbish to dump.
The Botanic Gardens are at the other end of town, and let us hope that the citizens are not going there to dispose of household waste.
It seems just another of these crazy schemes that council planners come up with from time to time, usually on the basis that any sort of change can be sheeted home as a form of " progress ".
So - what happens to " Glengarry Cottage " and the half million dollars of ratepayers money spent to renovate it ?
Left vacant in such a remote setting it will become a target for vandals, or at best it might become home for squatters.
Perhaps those who made this decision might like to explain the rationale to the long suffering ratepayers of this city !
Half a million dollars of ratepayers funds were spent restoring that farmhouse,renamed " Glengarry Cottage - and for years it has served the purpose of educating the public on waste minimization, recycling, the use of worm farms and other methods of waste processing - and now it is to be abandoned.
For some inscrutable reason the council has decided to close this centre - and move the Waste, Education and Visitors centre - to the Wollongong Botanical Gardens.
Now common sense gives a clear message that anything to do with waste reduction is more likely to be a success if it can tap into the stream of people who are going past it's door with rubbish to dump.
The Botanic Gardens are at the other end of town, and let us hope that the citizens are not going there to dispose of household waste.
It seems just another of these crazy schemes that council planners come up with from time to time, usually on the basis that any sort of change can be sheeted home as a form of " progress ".
So - what happens to " Glengarry Cottage " and the half million dollars of ratepayers money spent to renovate it ?
Left vacant in such a remote setting it will become a target for vandals, or at best it might become home for squatters.
Perhaps those who made this decision might like to explain the rationale to the long suffering ratepayers of this city !
Friday, 17 July 2009
Unintended outcomes !
A lot of our laws are enacted for good reasons - but in many cases they have unintended outcomes.
The state government blocked the ability to hold a driver's license or register a motor vehicle as a means of forcing people to pay overdue traffic fines.
A magistrate recently referred to a case where a young man had accrued fines totally $ 16,000 - for not wearing a safety helmet while riding a bicycle.
This was probably a matter of a rebellious teenager who eventually achieved wisdom - but found he then had a debt that would be impossible to repay. When it comes to money owed to a government the recovery process is absolutely ruthless. There is no statute of limitations. The government insists on recovering every last cent - irrespective of the outcome in emotional terms - or in the misery it might cause other innocent people.
Without a drivers license or a legally registered car many a young person feels aggrieved - and with rebellion refuelled - drives unlicensed and unregistered.
Unfortunately insurance against damage caused to a person or property only applies to a legally registered motor vehicle driven by a legally licensed driver.
We now have all the ingredients for disaster. At best, an innocent third party suffers financial loss because of an accident, and at worst an innocent victim suffers a lifetime of poverty and pain because of an unrecompenced tragic injury.
It seems that some form of mercy would be in the common good. Perhaps discretion given to magistrates to vary the amount of fines owing in circumstances where youthful indiscretion threatens to destroy a young life.
The present interpretation of the law simply simply spreads the misery to a wider circle !
The state government blocked the ability to hold a driver's license or register a motor vehicle as a means of forcing people to pay overdue traffic fines.
A magistrate recently referred to a case where a young man had accrued fines totally $ 16,000 - for not wearing a safety helmet while riding a bicycle.
This was probably a matter of a rebellious teenager who eventually achieved wisdom - but found he then had a debt that would be impossible to repay. When it comes to money owed to a government the recovery process is absolutely ruthless. There is no statute of limitations. The government insists on recovering every last cent - irrespective of the outcome in emotional terms - or in the misery it might cause other innocent people.
Without a drivers license or a legally registered car many a young person feels aggrieved - and with rebellion refuelled - drives unlicensed and unregistered.
Unfortunately insurance against damage caused to a person or property only applies to a legally registered motor vehicle driven by a legally licensed driver.
We now have all the ingredients for disaster. At best, an innocent third party suffers financial loss because of an accident, and at worst an innocent victim suffers a lifetime of poverty and pain because of an unrecompenced tragic injury.
It seems that some form of mercy would be in the common good. Perhaps discretion given to magistrates to vary the amount of fines owing in circumstances where youthful indiscretion threatens to destroy a young life.
The present interpretation of the law simply simply spreads the misery to a wider circle !
Thursday, 16 July 2009
Tsunami !
Last night many people were startled to hear a TV newsflash reporting an earthquake measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale that had just occurred off the coast of the New Zealand south island.
Even more startling - the Tsunami Warning Centre in Hawaii had issued a Tsunami alert for the entire east coast of Australia - and Lord Howe island.
Fortunately, after an hour this alert was cancelled. We were simply lucky ! It was a similar sized undersea quake off Sumatra at Christmas several years ago that devastated most of Asia and caused a horror death toll.
Tsunami's are a product of circumstances. A lot depends on the severity of the quake - the depth that it occurs and the topography of the ocean floor. In this instance circumstances were in our favour - and the resulting Tsunami was a mere twenty centimetres high.
We can not always depend on sheer good luck, and now would be a good time to ask a very important question.
Had that quake last night produced a ten metre Tsunami which would progressively hit the east coast of Australia some hours later - starting with Tasmania and then expanding through Victoria and into New South Wales - what evacuation plans are ready and waiting to reduce the inevitable death toll ?
Sadly - the answer would be - none !
From time to time we have heard of plans for warning systems. Sydney supposedly has a system of loud speakers through the CBD, but in a recent emergency there was a power failure - and with that this system simply did not work.
There was talk of making evacuation plans for Wollongong - and with our fire prone escarpment there is the certainty of disaster waiting to happen - but that idea found it's way into the " too hard basket ".
Last night could be seen as a timely wake-up call.
Fires, earthquakes - and Tsunamis do happen. A good time to dust off those abandoned plans and give the subject fresh thinking !
Even more startling - the Tsunami Warning Centre in Hawaii had issued a Tsunami alert for the entire east coast of Australia - and Lord Howe island.
Fortunately, after an hour this alert was cancelled. We were simply lucky ! It was a similar sized undersea quake off Sumatra at Christmas several years ago that devastated most of Asia and caused a horror death toll.
Tsunami's are a product of circumstances. A lot depends on the severity of the quake - the depth that it occurs and the topography of the ocean floor. In this instance circumstances were in our favour - and the resulting Tsunami was a mere twenty centimetres high.
We can not always depend on sheer good luck, and now would be a good time to ask a very important question.
Had that quake last night produced a ten metre Tsunami which would progressively hit the east coast of Australia some hours later - starting with Tasmania and then expanding through Victoria and into New South Wales - what evacuation plans are ready and waiting to reduce the inevitable death toll ?
Sadly - the answer would be - none !
From time to time we have heard of plans for warning systems. Sydney supposedly has a system of loud speakers through the CBD, but in a recent emergency there was a power failure - and with that this system simply did not work.
There was talk of making evacuation plans for Wollongong - and with our fire prone escarpment there is the certainty of disaster waiting to happen - but that idea found it's way into the " too hard basket ".
Last night could be seen as a timely wake-up call.
Fires, earthquakes - and Tsunamis do happen. A good time to dust off those abandoned plans and give the subject fresh thinking !
Wednesday, 15 July 2009
The " loss leader " strategy !
When the first supermarkets appeared in this country many decades ago they employed a sales tactic that became known as the " loss leader strategy " !
It was delightfully simple. Each week they advertised several items for sale below cost ! They actually lost money on every one of these items sold - and that had them laughing all the way to the bank.
People poured into their stores to take advantage of this " bargain ", and quickly restored the lost profit from the other purchases they made, in many cases with the odd cent tacked on to compensate for the loss.
Today that strategy is evident in linking the sale of groceries with the price of petrol, except it has more sinister overtones !
The two big supermarket chains now have the power to decimate those competitors competing in the sale of petrol and groceries. If they take a loss on the sale of petrol this is subsidized by the sale of groceries - and when they switch and restore the price of petrol but discount groceries - they deny sales to their grocery competitors.
If they systematically reduce the competition in either field, eventually they end up with a duo-monopoly in both trades - and that would be a very dangerous situation for this great country to find itself confronted with.
The job of a government is to protect the citizens from rapacious trade practices that reduce competition - and government action is now urgently needed.
Petrol is a critical item of national importance. The economy of the country can not function without it. We are a car dependent society and should ever a commercial entity gain total control the mobility of the nation would be at risk.
The government needs to ensure this does not happen by declaring petrol a controlled substance - and outlawing it's price being determined by the purchase of other products.
By all means allow Coles and Woolworths to sell petrol, but on the proviso that they have to compete equally with others marketing the product - and without the inducement of a grocery docket to achieve a discount.
As a " controlled substance " and in the national interest, the price of petrol to all retail outlets should not vary to allow market forces to determine individual discounting.
In commerce generally, the ability to bulk buy in quantity generally results in a better buying price, but petrol should be removed from that principle because it is in the national interest to have a wide range of individual outlets providing the product to the public - and that can only be maintained if those outlets are not subjected to unfair competition by a predatory pricer.
Control of petrol will not restore the grocery market to a level playing field, but at least it will remove an item that is the nation's lifeblood from being hijacked and the ordinary citizen held to ransom in the never ending quest for more profit.
Government action is urgently needed - now !
It was delightfully simple. Each week they advertised several items for sale below cost ! They actually lost money on every one of these items sold - and that had them laughing all the way to the bank.
People poured into their stores to take advantage of this " bargain ", and quickly restored the lost profit from the other purchases they made, in many cases with the odd cent tacked on to compensate for the loss.
Today that strategy is evident in linking the sale of groceries with the price of petrol, except it has more sinister overtones !
The two big supermarket chains now have the power to decimate those competitors competing in the sale of petrol and groceries. If they take a loss on the sale of petrol this is subsidized by the sale of groceries - and when they switch and restore the price of petrol but discount groceries - they deny sales to their grocery competitors.
If they systematically reduce the competition in either field, eventually they end up with a duo-monopoly in both trades - and that would be a very dangerous situation for this great country to find itself confronted with.
The job of a government is to protect the citizens from rapacious trade practices that reduce competition - and government action is now urgently needed.
Petrol is a critical item of national importance. The economy of the country can not function without it. We are a car dependent society and should ever a commercial entity gain total control the mobility of the nation would be at risk.
The government needs to ensure this does not happen by declaring petrol a controlled substance - and outlawing it's price being determined by the purchase of other products.
By all means allow Coles and Woolworths to sell petrol, but on the proviso that they have to compete equally with others marketing the product - and without the inducement of a grocery docket to achieve a discount.
As a " controlled substance " and in the national interest, the price of petrol to all retail outlets should not vary to allow market forces to determine individual discounting.
In commerce generally, the ability to bulk buy in quantity generally results in a better buying price, but petrol should be removed from that principle because it is in the national interest to have a wide range of individual outlets providing the product to the public - and that can only be maintained if those outlets are not subjected to unfair competition by a predatory pricer.
Control of petrol will not restore the grocery market to a level playing field, but at least it will remove an item that is the nation's lifeblood from being hijacked and the ordinary citizen held to ransom in the never ending quest for more profit.
Government action is urgently needed - now !
Tuesday, 14 July 2009
The right to know !
A nasty fight is brewing because the National Assessment Survey of schools may result in a " League's table " of winners - and losers !
Teachers promise that if this happens as a result of this years survey, 70,000 teachers will walk out of their classrooms to ensure that it doesn't happen in further years.
Unfortunately, both sides of the argument have a point !
If schools are listed in order of merit, those at the top of the list will be rewarded by parent's competing to enrol their children - but the school's at the bottom will be avoided - and will have problems attracting gifted teachers.
But parents have a right to know how each school is performing when they face the choice of where to enrol their children !
Years ago they were denied that choice. The Education department allocated children to the school nearest their address - and that was the end of the matter. It was a long, hard fight to break that deadlock - and now a system that has worked well is being compromised by the suggestion of grading schools publicly.
Obviously a school located in an underprivileged area will not be likely to be as academically prominent as one in a rich suburb, but parents will also want to know if it has a full complement of teachers - and whether there are high truancy rates and any ongoing drug or violence problems.
The state of the school buildings will also be a measure of concern, and so far no indication has been given on exactly what criteria a listed evaluation of schools will provide.
The obvious outcome should be some sort of compromise. It may be unfair to list in order of academic excellence but parent's certainly have a right to some sort of evaluation on which to base their choice.
Unfortunately any negotiation is in the hands of three uncompromising entities. The teachers oppose any form of assessment - and on the other side of the argument there are differing requirements by the state and Federal government education departments.
It looks like the sort of argument where nobody wins !
Teachers promise that if this happens as a result of this years survey, 70,000 teachers will walk out of their classrooms to ensure that it doesn't happen in further years.
Unfortunately, both sides of the argument have a point !
If schools are listed in order of merit, those at the top of the list will be rewarded by parent's competing to enrol their children - but the school's at the bottom will be avoided - and will have problems attracting gifted teachers.
But parents have a right to know how each school is performing when they face the choice of where to enrol their children !
Years ago they were denied that choice. The Education department allocated children to the school nearest their address - and that was the end of the matter. It was a long, hard fight to break that deadlock - and now a system that has worked well is being compromised by the suggestion of grading schools publicly.
Obviously a school located in an underprivileged area will not be likely to be as academically prominent as one in a rich suburb, but parents will also want to know if it has a full complement of teachers - and whether there are high truancy rates and any ongoing drug or violence problems.
The state of the school buildings will also be a measure of concern, and so far no indication has been given on exactly what criteria a listed evaluation of schools will provide.
The obvious outcome should be some sort of compromise. It may be unfair to list in order of academic excellence but parent's certainly have a right to some sort of evaluation on which to base their choice.
Unfortunately any negotiation is in the hands of three uncompromising entities. The teachers oppose any form of assessment - and on the other side of the argument there are differing requirements by the state and Federal government education departments.
It looks like the sort of argument where nobody wins !
Monday, 13 July 2009
The road to nowhere !
America had it's " Bridge to nowhere " - and now it seems that the Mandarins of the RTA have produced utter confusion in trying to impose an entrance to the Bulli Tops Information centre.
Traffic from Campbelltown and western Sydney will have to deviate onto the old Princes Highway, travel two kilometres back towards Sydney to access a U turn bay - and then drive another two kilometres to reach their destination.
Existing restaurant and hotel businesses that at present have right turn access will have that denied, and will encounter the same restriction on trade. To make matters worse, signs will ignore them because the RTA does not mention private businesses - but then gleefully promotes the restaurant and business complex that is the Bulli Tops Information centre.
The classic is the situation faced by northbound traffic that has undergone the further drive north, used the U turn and driven south to have a look at the information centre - and probably had a meal.
When they leave - they have no option other than to return to Wollongong via Bulli Pass or Mount Ousley - and then repeat this leg of their journey if their final destination is Sydney.
If that is the best the RTA is capable of producing then we can expect a rash of business failures at Bulli Tops because this is just too complex, time wasting - and utterly confusing to be accepted by motorists.
It seems to be a plan specifically designed to reduce interest in Wollongong as a tourist destination !
Traffic from Campbelltown and western Sydney will have to deviate onto the old Princes Highway, travel two kilometres back towards Sydney to access a U turn bay - and then drive another two kilometres to reach their destination.
Existing restaurant and hotel businesses that at present have right turn access will have that denied, and will encounter the same restriction on trade. To make matters worse, signs will ignore them because the RTA does not mention private businesses - but then gleefully promotes the restaurant and business complex that is the Bulli Tops Information centre.
The classic is the situation faced by northbound traffic that has undergone the further drive north, used the U turn and driven south to have a look at the information centre - and probably had a meal.
When they leave - they have no option other than to return to Wollongong via Bulli Pass or Mount Ousley - and then repeat this leg of their journey if their final destination is Sydney.
If that is the best the RTA is capable of producing then we can expect a rash of business failures at Bulli Tops because this is just too complex, time wasting - and utterly confusing to be accepted by motorists.
It seems to be a plan specifically designed to reduce interest in Wollongong as a tourist destination !
Sunday, 12 July 2009
Marriage - and the law !
The Liberal Party's Tony Abbott is suggesting that a more conservative approach could return to dissolving a failed marriage.
At present, separating couples can end a marriage on a " no fault " basis after just a twelve month separation.
Abbott is suggesting that those intending to marry should have the choice of subjecting their vows to either the present " no fault " regime, or to a return of the old " Matrimonial Clauses Act " in which a " guilty party " had to be identified - and punished !
Under that act the only reasons for dissolving a marriage were " Adultery, desertion, cruelty, habitual drunkenness, imprisonment, insanity - or a five year separation ".
Those with long memories would shudder at the rorts that passed through the courts prior to Lionel Murphy introducing " No Fault " divorce way back in 1975.
That was the era of " Peeping Tom " enquiry agents taking photographs through bedroom windows, people being paid to lie under oath and elaborate set-ups to brand the innocent as the guilty party. It was a cocktail of sleaze and deceit !
To return to that era would be a trap for the naive who have profound faith in their " love " and insist it will last forever. They would find themselves trapped in an oppressive legal system that insists on identifying a guilty party, and then proceeds to crucify the villain by way of the property settlement.
We have come a long way from the days when the churches imposed draconian and unrealistic moral laws that sought to identify and punish sinners. An era when an unmarried woman having a baby was such an abomination that no degree of cruelty was too much in tearing the child from the mother and consigning it to an orphanage - where in many cases it was abused by those same God fearing critics !
At a time when marriage itself is waning as an option by many people, this is certainly not the time to return to the dark ages.
What is next on the agenda ? A return to the " six O'clock swill with early closing time " ? No sport, cinemas or entertainment on Sundays ?
At present, separating couples can end a marriage on a " no fault " basis after just a twelve month separation.
Abbott is suggesting that those intending to marry should have the choice of subjecting their vows to either the present " no fault " regime, or to a return of the old " Matrimonial Clauses Act " in which a " guilty party " had to be identified - and punished !
Under that act the only reasons for dissolving a marriage were " Adultery, desertion, cruelty, habitual drunkenness, imprisonment, insanity - or a five year separation ".
Those with long memories would shudder at the rorts that passed through the courts prior to Lionel Murphy introducing " No Fault " divorce way back in 1975.
That was the era of " Peeping Tom " enquiry agents taking photographs through bedroom windows, people being paid to lie under oath and elaborate set-ups to brand the innocent as the guilty party. It was a cocktail of sleaze and deceit !
To return to that era would be a trap for the naive who have profound faith in their " love " and insist it will last forever. They would find themselves trapped in an oppressive legal system that insists on identifying a guilty party, and then proceeds to crucify the villain by way of the property settlement.
We have come a long way from the days when the churches imposed draconian and unrealistic moral laws that sought to identify and punish sinners. An era when an unmarried woman having a baby was such an abomination that no degree of cruelty was too much in tearing the child from the mother and consigning it to an orphanage - where in many cases it was abused by those same God fearing critics !
At a time when marriage itself is waning as an option by many people, this is certainly not the time to return to the dark ages.
What is next on the agenda ? A return to the " six O'clock swill with early closing time " ? No sport, cinemas or entertainment on Sundays ?
Saturday, 11 July 2009
Genetically modified food !
While world leaders are busy grappling with global warming another equally pressing issue is laying dormant - the problem of how to feed a rapidly expanding world population.
The planet seems to be split into two camps. The Europeans are totally opposed to the GM concept and have taken strident measures not only to reject GM crops, but to ban products that may be in their eyes tainted by containing ingredients derived from GM crops.
America - and most of Asia - is accepting the GM concept and bringing it into expanding use.
There is no doubt that GM brings with it benefits. Crops have been produced that withstand otherwise crippling diseases. Modification has allowed previously salt contaminated land to be used to produce food - and genetically modified strains have the ability to greatly expand the yield for any given area of crop land.
The objections of the nay sayers is that we can not predict the long term effect that GM may have on human health, or on the change that may occur to the soil and other living matter subjected to cross contamination.
Just as the industrial revolution and an improved way of life increased Co2 in the atmosphere and is fast creating global warming, the expanding world population is threatening our capacity to feed all these people.
It's a classical case of " cause and effect " !
There may be long term consequences of GM and some of it may be unpleaant, but so is the prospect of a world famine. Can we afford to ignore GM if the result is death by starvation for millions, plus the certainty of mass migration and likely wars as desperate people move and fight to survive ?
At the moment the full attention of the world is on global warming. Perhaps that should share equal place with ensuring an adequate food supply.
Both problems are capable of devastating this planet Earth !
The planet seems to be split into two camps. The Europeans are totally opposed to the GM concept and have taken strident measures not only to reject GM crops, but to ban products that may be in their eyes tainted by containing ingredients derived from GM crops.
America - and most of Asia - is accepting the GM concept and bringing it into expanding use.
There is no doubt that GM brings with it benefits. Crops have been produced that withstand otherwise crippling diseases. Modification has allowed previously salt contaminated land to be used to produce food - and genetically modified strains have the ability to greatly expand the yield for any given area of crop land.
The objections of the nay sayers is that we can not predict the long term effect that GM may have on human health, or on the change that may occur to the soil and other living matter subjected to cross contamination.
Just as the industrial revolution and an improved way of life increased Co2 in the atmosphere and is fast creating global warming, the expanding world population is threatening our capacity to feed all these people.
It's a classical case of " cause and effect " !
There may be long term consequences of GM and some of it may be unpleaant, but so is the prospect of a world famine. Can we afford to ignore GM if the result is death by starvation for millions, plus the certainty of mass migration and likely wars as desperate people move and fight to survive ?
At the moment the full attention of the world is on global warming. Perhaps that should share equal place with ensuring an adequate food supply.
Both problems are capable of devastating this planet Earth !
Friday, 10 July 2009
The oriental thought process !
The arrest of Australian national Stern Hu, representing mining giant Rio Tinto in Shanghai - and several of his Chinese associates on suspicion of espionage and obtaining " state secrets " illustrates the contradictions that plague the world's biggest country.
China is a Communist regime trying to equate the dogma of Communism - strict control - intolerance of any form of protest - an oppressive police force - with the financial success of embracing a capitalist economy and trade with the non-Communist world.
On the one hand China is notorious for using it's diaspora of citizens to attract commercial and military intelligence world wide - and on the other hand to be hugely sensitive to foreigners obtaining even the most mundane data freely available within the country.
Welcome to the free world of commerce - where information is power and the wheeling and dealing of negotiating price involves clandestine work obtaining secrets that enhance the holder's chances of success.
This arrest will probably be an embarrassment to the Chinese leadership, and most probably it is part of a knee jerk reaction to the failed bid by Chinalco to obtain a slice of the ownership of Australian Rio Tinto.
There are expectations that the arrest will be short lived. If it is not, then Australia has a trump card that it can most certainly play.
This recession will be short lived and China will need to be a big importer of thermal coal and iron ore to sustain it's industries - and it will be just one of several emerging economies competing for materials.
Australia controls 16% of the world coal supply - and a whopping 32% of iron ore.
A time - perhaps - to remind China that if it tries to impose Communist era conditions on the free market, then Australia might look less favourably on China as an export destination for these minerals.
Communist or capitalist - China's leaders have shown they are pragmatic - and most likely this arrest hic-cup stems from lower level decision makers yet to fully grasp the realities of world trade !
China is a Communist regime trying to equate the dogma of Communism - strict control - intolerance of any form of protest - an oppressive police force - with the financial success of embracing a capitalist economy and trade with the non-Communist world.
On the one hand China is notorious for using it's diaspora of citizens to attract commercial and military intelligence world wide - and on the other hand to be hugely sensitive to foreigners obtaining even the most mundane data freely available within the country.
Welcome to the free world of commerce - where information is power and the wheeling and dealing of negotiating price involves clandestine work obtaining secrets that enhance the holder's chances of success.
This arrest will probably be an embarrassment to the Chinese leadership, and most probably it is part of a knee jerk reaction to the failed bid by Chinalco to obtain a slice of the ownership of Australian Rio Tinto.
There are expectations that the arrest will be short lived. If it is not, then Australia has a trump card that it can most certainly play.
This recession will be short lived and China will need to be a big importer of thermal coal and iron ore to sustain it's industries - and it will be just one of several emerging economies competing for materials.
Australia controls 16% of the world coal supply - and a whopping 32% of iron ore.
A time - perhaps - to remind China that if it tries to impose Communist era conditions on the free market, then Australia might look less favourably on China as an export destination for these minerals.
Communist or capitalist - China's leaders have shown they are pragmatic - and most likely this arrest hic-cup stems from lower level decision makers yet to fully grasp the realities of world trade !
Thursday, 9 July 2009
Bottled water !
Bottled water must surely be the most brilliant marketing success in the history of commerce !
People have been persuaded to buy water - that stuff that comes free from the kitchen tap - when it is offered in a 600 ml bottle for a price of around one dollar.
We are assured that it is somehow superior. Better taste ! Pollution free ! From exotic and romantic regions !
Surely someone will take heed from this success and start to market air in a plastic bag. What can they say about that to get the suckers to buy ? Collected from a pristine mountain top ! Fart free perhaps !
Now a community of people have decided to do something about that bottled water scam !
The people of Bundanoon in the Southern Highlands have decided to ban the product. Shops will not longer offer it for sale, and the community will install taps and bubblers in the main street to encourage citizens to fill and refill reuseable containers.
And of course, politics has to muscle in on what must sound like a good idea that will be applauded by the people.
Premier Nathan Rees has jumped on the bandwagon and announced that he will impose an immediate ban on government departments and agencies from purchasing and supplying bottled water !
Unfortunately this will conflict with the policy of " do more with less " that is strangling our hospital system.
For countless decades each day nurses trundled huge carts through the hospital corridors, laden with green plastic jugs of water and green plastic drinking glasses. A jug and glass was deposited at each patient's bedside table.
These same nurses collected yesterdays jugs and glasses and trundle them off to some remote part of the hospital where they were - hopefully - cleaned and autoclaved - for re-use the following day.
Someone figured out that time and labour could be saved by issuing each patient with a 600 ml bottle of water in place of those jugs and glasses, and should the patient fully consume the contents, it can be refilled from the bathroom tap.
Disposal when finished was by way of the ward rubbish bin.
Now - in the name of politically correct thinking - we seem destined to force the hospitals to follow the Premier's directive and return to the time wasting era of those green plastic jugs and glasses.
Perhaps a case of throwing the baby out with the bath water !
People have been persuaded to buy water - that stuff that comes free from the kitchen tap - when it is offered in a 600 ml bottle for a price of around one dollar.
We are assured that it is somehow superior. Better taste ! Pollution free ! From exotic and romantic regions !
Surely someone will take heed from this success and start to market air in a plastic bag. What can they say about that to get the suckers to buy ? Collected from a pristine mountain top ! Fart free perhaps !
Now a community of people have decided to do something about that bottled water scam !
The people of Bundanoon in the Southern Highlands have decided to ban the product. Shops will not longer offer it for sale, and the community will install taps and bubblers in the main street to encourage citizens to fill and refill reuseable containers.
And of course, politics has to muscle in on what must sound like a good idea that will be applauded by the people.
Premier Nathan Rees has jumped on the bandwagon and announced that he will impose an immediate ban on government departments and agencies from purchasing and supplying bottled water !
Unfortunately this will conflict with the policy of " do more with less " that is strangling our hospital system.
For countless decades each day nurses trundled huge carts through the hospital corridors, laden with green plastic jugs of water and green plastic drinking glasses. A jug and glass was deposited at each patient's bedside table.
These same nurses collected yesterdays jugs and glasses and trundle them off to some remote part of the hospital where they were - hopefully - cleaned and autoclaved - for re-use the following day.
Someone figured out that time and labour could be saved by issuing each patient with a 600 ml bottle of water in place of those jugs and glasses, and should the patient fully consume the contents, it can be refilled from the bathroom tap.
Disposal when finished was by way of the ward rubbish bin.
Now - in the name of politically correct thinking - we seem destined to force the hospitals to follow the Premier's directive and return to the time wasting era of those green plastic jugs and glasses.
Perhaps a case of throwing the baby out with the bath water !
Wednesday, 8 July 2009
Selective tip charging.
Originally councils provided a tip where ratepayers could dispose of rubbish too large to fit into the weekly pickup bins. This was considered an essential council service - and it was free !
The inevitable march of progress saw fees applied, but these were applied selectively.
A trailer load of general rubbish attracted the highest fee, a trailer load of green waste a lower fee - because council processed that into mulch - and metal items were accepted free of charge - because they could be recycled.
Now that trailer load of general rubbish will still attract the general rubbish fee, but additional fees will be applied to selected items contained in the load.
For instance, if there is a TV that will be priced at an extra $ 30. A computer monitor will cost $25, a mattress $22, and car tyres $ 5 each.
The reason council gives for this policy change is sending these selective items away for recycling rather than allowing them to fill up valuable landfill space.
Once again we have double dipping !
The council will benefit from the recovery of valuable parts taken from these items or products such as children's playground soft-fall material made from tyres.
There is a danger that imposing steep selective charges on individual items within each trailer load will deter ratepayers from using the tip, and instead dump unwanted goods in the streets and parks to avoid the fees.
Perhaps now would be a good time for council to review the original reason for having a city council. Back at that time most considered that it's main purpose was to serve the ratepayers.
Today - it's main purpose seems to be to extract money from them !
The inevitable march of progress saw fees applied, but these were applied selectively.
A trailer load of general rubbish attracted the highest fee, a trailer load of green waste a lower fee - because council processed that into mulch - and metal items were accepted free of charge - because they could be recycled.
Now that trailer load of general rubbish will still attract the general rubbish fee, but additional fees will be applied to selected items contained in the load.
For instance, if there is a TV that will be priced at an extra $ 30. A computer monitor will cost $25, a mattress $22, and car tyres $ 5 each.
The reason council gives for this policy change is sending these selective items away for recycling rather than allowing them to fill up valuable landfill space.
Once again we have double dipping !
The council will benefit from the recovery of valuable parts taken from these items or products such as children's playground soft-fall material made from tyres.
There is a danger that imposing steep selective charges on individual items within each trailer load will deter ratepayers from using the tip, and instead dump unwanted goods in the streets and parks to avoid the fees.
Perhaps now would be a good time for council to review the original reason for having a city council. Back at that time most considered that it's main purpose was to serve the ratepayers.
Today - it's main purpose seems to be to extract money from them !
Tuesday, 7 July 2009
The ultimate penalty !
Is there no end to the ongoing litany of disgraceful behavior by drunken " sportsmen " ?
Nobody objects to a bit of harmless fun after a few drinks, but when the outcome is a glassing, or an all-in pub brawl - or a sordid episode of gang rape - it is time to draw a line.
It is quite clear that the present penalties are not working. Players have been suspended for a number of games. Both player and club have been levied heavy fines and some repeat offenders have been required to sign a ban on alcohol use - and none of these have solved the problem.
So - what is the problem ?
It seems that the problem is the move from sport being played by people who also hold down a day job to a professional clique who earn obscene amounts of money and are feted as Gods by the media. They feel that they exist in a rarefied world far beyond us mere mortals.
The only answer seems to be an understanding by all the sporting codes that a " three strikes and you are out " policy applies.
Two warnings - and on the third offence you are out for life - not just in your chosen sporting field - but from all aspects of competition in any sport.
The end of the big money. The end of adulation and fame. Enough to be taken seriously as the ultimate penalty.
Some people may object on the grounds that alcoholism is the root cause, and as such is not the fault of the player. That begs the question. Do we want alcoholics as our sporting hero's ?
It's time to get tough ! The game is bigger than any individual player !
Nobody objects to a bit of harmless fun after a few drinks, but when the outcome is a glassing, or an all-in pub brawl - or a sordid episode of gang rape - it is time to draw a line.
It is quite clear that the present penalties are not working. Players have been suspended for a number of games. Both player and club have been levied heavy fines and some repeat offenders have been required to sign a ban on alcohol use - and none of these have solved the problem.
So - what is the problem ?
It seems that the problem is the move from sport being played by people who also hold down a day job to a professional clique who earn obscene amounts of money and are feted as Gods by the media. They feel that they exist in a rarefied world far beyond us mere mortals.
The only answer seems to be an understanding by all the sporting codes that a " three strikes and you are out " policy applies.
Two warnings - and on the third offence you are out for life - not just in your chosen sporting field - but from all aspects of competition in any sport.
The end of the big money. The end of adulation and fame. Enough to be taken seriously as the ultimate penalty.
Some people may object on the grounds that alcoholism is the root cause, and as such is not the fault of the player. That begs the question. Do we want alcoholics as our sporting hero's ?
It's time to get tough ! The game is bigger than any individual player !
Monday, 6 July 2009
The " entitlement " trap !
Politicians are forever seeking ways to improve their pay and conditions, and in the present economic circumstances it is not a good time to be asking for a salary increase.
So we are being courted with a smoke and mirrors approach. Those magic words " salary sacrifice " are being tossed around, with the suggestion that perhaps a small reduction in take home pay could be countered with an increase in entitlements - perhaps the provision of a car and it's running expenses at taxpayer's expense ?
This needs to be given very cautious consideration. The lower the actual pay the lower the amount the tax man levies, but those magic " entitlements " can very quickly become money eating monsters - as taxpayers in the United Kingdom have recently discovered.
The politicians there quickly devised schemes to rort their entitlements by duplication of homes subjected to subsidies and all manner of expenses - including cleaning of a moat - to pocket income that was not counted as salary.
Politicians already have their fingers in the " entitlements " bonanza with all manner of claims for things like printing, stamp allowances, communication costs - paid for by the taxpayer.
One thing is certain. If rorting is possible - it will be !
So we are being courted with a smoke and mirrors approach. Those magic words " salary sacrifice " are being tossed around, with the suggestion that perhaps a small reduction in take home pay could be countered with an increase in entitlements - perhaps the provision of a car and it's running expenses at taxpayer's expense ?
This needs to be given very cautious consideration. The lower the actual pay the lower the amount the tax man levies, but those magic " entitlements " can very quickly become money eating monsters - as taxpayers in the United Kingdom have recently discovered.
The politicians there quickly devised schemes to rort their entitlements by duplication of homes subjected to subsidies and all manner of expenses - including cleaning of a moat - to pocket income that was not counted as salary.
Politicians already have their fingers in the " entitlements " bonanza with all manner of claims for things like printing, stamp allowances, communication costs - paid for by the taxpayer.
One thing is certain. If rorting is possible - it will be !
Sunday, 5 July 2009
Patents !
For centuries we have been well served by our system of patent protection. If some scientist figures out that mixing Chemical A with Chemical B - and adding a dash of Chemical C - results in a brew that instantly abolishes headaches he can patent that combination and have the sole right to manufacture it for the next twenty years.
It's not all beer and skittles ! Before he starts making money he has to satisfy the health safety authorities by numerous tests and that could shave years of his time protection.
He also has to pay to promote and advertise his product. Just look how many headache mixtures are sitting on chemist's shelves - and remember that not all of them are best sellers - making money for their owner.
At the end of that twenty years the patent expires, and anybody can then use the formulae and produce an identical product. The price crashes - and the public has access to wonderful products that are now on the " cheap and cheerful " list.
But we have entered into a new era - the fascinating world of the human genome !
Science is now beginning to understand that we can manipulate the building blocks of the double helix that are our human bodies. Diseases may be prevented and life itself may be prolonged - but should that be available for patent protection ?
Should a big drug company have the right to control a manipulation of the human genome to bring about the control of an otherwise fatal disease - and demand a fee of their choosing to allow this life saving procedure to be carried out ?
Remember ! This is not mixing chemicals that may be derived from a plant, or extracted from a mineral. This is the body we inhabit, parts of which may become the property of somebody with a piece of paper that gives them the right to yea or nay our very existence.
Obviously nobody is going to spend billions to create cures using gene therapy unless they get a return on their money, but are we willing to hand the right to our genetic code away in exchange for cures that may only be available to those with the wealth to pay a fat fee ?
And is this acceptable - or not ?
Decision time on planet Earth !
It's not all beer and skittles ! Before he starts making money he has to satisfy the health safety authorities by numerous tests and that could shave years of his time protection.
He also has to pay to promote and advertise his product. Just look how many headache mixtures are sitting on chemist's shelves - and remember that not all of them are best sellers - making money for their owner.
At the end of that twenty years the patent expires, and anybody can then use the formulae and produce an identical product. The price crashes - and the public has access to wonderful products that are now on the " cheap and cheerful " list.
But we have entered into a new era - the fascinating world of the human genome !
Science is now beginning to understand that we can manipulate the building blocks of the double helix that are our human bodies. Diseases may be prevented and life itself may be prolonged - but should that be available for patent protection ?
Should a big drug company have the right to control a manipulation of the human genome to bring about the control of an otherwise fatal disease - and demand a fee of their choosing to allow this life saving procedure to be carried out ?
Remember ! This is not mixing chemicals that may be derived from a plant, or extracted from a mineral. This is the body we inhabit, parts of which may become the property of somebody with a piece of paper that gives them the right to yea or nay our very existence.
Obviously nobody is going to spend billions to create cures using gene therapy unless they get a return on their money, but are we willing to hand the right to our genetic code away in exchange for cures that may only be available to those with the wealth to pay a fat fee ?
And is this acceptable - or not ?
Decision time on planet Earth !
Saturday, 4 July 2009
Ethics in business.
In the last few days all those people who own IAG shares will have received a letter from Hassle Free Share Sales Pty. Ltd., offering to buy those shares.
IAG shares were offered to those who had business with the NRMA when that body demutualised several years ago, and for that reason owning shares was a first experience for many of those involved.
Unfortunately, this offer seriously under values the shares. The offer - at $ 1.51 a share contrasts with the share price listing of $ 3.51 a share on the stock exchange on the day most letters arrived.
There is nothing illegal about this offer. It is legitimate to make a bid for shares or any other asset at any price the potential buyer chooses - and it is the responsibility of the owner to make a decision on that offer.
It is mainly a matter of ethics. In the present troubled times naive people may be tempted to grab the money without knowing what their shares are really worth. Many do not buy a daily newspaper, and many others have no idea how to determine share value by using the stock report - or consulting a broker.
For the company making the offer there is a fat profit to be made. The differential of two dollars a share will probably rake in a fortune - and this will be at the expense of the unwise !
It represents a warning to family members to be alert and discuss matters such as share offers with the elderly - and those who are under financial pressure because of a job loss or other fiscal reverse.
A time to think - long and hard - before signing on the bottom line !
IAG shares were offered to those who had business with the NRMA when that body demutualised several years ago, and for that reason owning shares was a first experience for many of those involved.
Unfortunately, this offer seriously under values the shares. The offer - at $ 1.51 a share contrasts with the share price listing of $ 3.51 a share on the stock exchange on the day most letters arrived.
There is nothing illegal about this offer. It is legitimate to make a bid for shares or any other asset at any price the potential buyer chooses - and it is the responsibility of the owner to make a decision on that offer.
It is mainly a matter of ethics. In the present troubled times naive people may be tempted to grab the money without knowing what their shares are really worth. Many do not buy a daily newspaper, and many others have no idea how to determine share value by using the stock report - or consulting a broker.
For the company making the offer there is a fat profit to be made. The differential of two dollars a share will probably rake in a fortune - and this will be at the expense of the unwise !
It represents a warning to family members to be alert and discuss matters such as share offers with the elderly - and those who are under financial pressure because of a job loss or other fiscal reverse.
A time to think - long and hard - before signing on the bottom line !
Friday, 3 July 2009
The great train robber !
It is said that embarrassing the government is not a good idea ! Politicians carry grudges - and they have long memories - and they never forgive - and they never forget !
Such is the plight of Ronnie Biggs, the " Great Train Robber " who robbed a mail train in 1963 and made off with a then record amount of loot. Ronnie and other members of his gang were caught by the British police, put on trial - and Ronnie was sentenced to a thirty year prison term.
Apparently Ronnie was less than satisfied with the hospitality of the government - and did a bunk over the wall.
And that's where he became famous - almost an icon in criminal history. Ronnie successfully lived here in Australia for some years, before fleeing to Brazil where he married and fathered a child.
The British government went to extraordinary lengths to have him extradited, but to no avail. Ronnie was always one jump ahead, and the British government simply gnashed it's teeth in rage when it was reported that he had been guest of honour at a cocktail party held on a British warship in Rio.
Eventually, Ronnie became homesick. It is rumoured that he arranged a deal with the British government. He would return voluntarily in exchange for a short term in prison - and then an early release.
It seems that the British government reneged on this deal - and Ronnie has languished in a prison cell ever since. Now, the British parole board and the state medical team have approved his release because of deteriorating health. The plan was to move him - now aged 79 - to a nursing home for the final short life span remaining.
But that was dashed when the Justice Secretary, Jack Straw refused to sign the release document, and now it seems that a sick old man will end his days confined to a dank prison cell.
Which is a reminder that embarrassing a government is a sure way to extinguish any hope of mercy.
Such is the plight of Ronnie Biggs, the " Great Train Robber " who robbed a mail train in 1963 and made off with a then record amount of loot. Ronnie and other members of his gang were caught by the British police, put on trial - and Ronnie was sentenced to a thirty year prison term.
Apparently Ronnie was less than satisfied with the hospitality of the government - and did a bunk over the wall.
And that's where he became famous - almost an icon in criminal history. Ronnie successfully lived here in Australia for some years, before fleeing to Brazil where he married and fathered a child.
The British government went to extraordinary lengths to have him extradited, but to no avail. Ronnie was always one jump ahead, and the British government simply gnashed it's teeth in rage when it was reported that he had been guest of honour at a cocktail party held on a British warship in Rio.
Eventually, Ronnie became homesick. It is rumoured that he arranged a deal with the British government. He would return voluntarily in exchange for a short term in prison - and then an early release.
It seems that the British government reneged on this deal - and Ronnie has languished in a prison cell ever since. Now, the British parole board and the state medical team have approved his release because of deteriorating health. The plan was to move him - now aged 79 - to a nursing home for the final short life span remaining.
But that was dashed when the Justice Secretary, Jack Straw refused to sign the release document, and now it seems that a sick old man will end his days confined to a dank prison cell.
Which is a reminder that embarrassing a government is a sure way to extinguish any hope of mercy.
Thursday, 2 July 2009
Monopolies !
Many years ago the government became alarmed at the expansion of chemist chain Soul Pattinson. There seemed a chance that this expansion could lead to a monopoly, driving competitors to the wall because of it's bulk buying muscle and price cutting approach.
Legislation was enacted limiting the number of stores that it could own
Two huge companies now control eighty percent of all groceries sold in this country - and Coles and Woolworths are set to diversify into other sales areas other than food.
They already have a commanding presence selling petrol to motorists, and there has been pressure to allow them to establish full chemist services within their stores.
They are steadily expanding in the liquor market and have adopted the tactic of buying out competitors, and running those outlets under their former names to give the impression that competition exists.
The question that should be asked is whether the Australian public would be best served by allowing two giant behemoths to establish competing monopolies in so many aspects of retail spending ?
There is the danger in such a situation that an " understanding " could be reached which would see prices increase to such a level that it becomes highly profitable for these chains - and seriously disadvantages the wallets of shoppers.
Many would agree that it was a mistake to allow grocery chains to elbow their way into the petrol market and we are now paying the price of less competition.
Now would be a good time to have a long, hard look at what is happening - decide on a national policy - and put in place whatever safeguards and limits are deemed necessary to prevent the public being exploited.
Doing it tomorrow might be too late !
Legislation was enacted limiting the number of stores that it could own
Two huge companies now control eighty percent of all groceries sold in this country - and Coles and Woolworths are set to diversify into other sales areas other than food.
They already have a commanding presence selling petrol to motorists, and there has been pressure to allow them to establish full chemist services within their stores.
They are steadily expanding in the liquor market and have adopted the tactic of buying out competitors, and running those outlets under their former names to give the impression that competition exists.
The question that should be asked is whether the Australian public would be best served by allowing two giant behemoths to establish competing monopolies in so many aspects of retail spending ?
There is the danger in such a situation that an " understanding " could be reached which would see prices increase to such a level that it becomes highly profitable for these chains - and seriously disadvantages the wallets of shoppers.
Many would agree that it was a mistake to allow grocery chains to elbow their way into the petrol market and we are now paying the price of less competition.
Now would be a good time to have a long, hard look at what is happening - decide on a national policy - and put in place whatever safeguards and limits are deemed necessary to prevent the public being exploited.
Doing it tomorrow might be too late !
Wednesday, 1 July 2009
Health funding.
In the past week the emergency department at Wollongong hospital has again been a scene of complete chaos. The city's entire fleet of ambulances has queued for three hours, waiting to deliver emergency patients to a system in chronic overload.
The response by the state government is a promise of seven new beds and six new nursing positions to bring relief - but astonishingly - this will not happen until at least June next year - a whole twelve months away !
It doesn't take Einstein to figure out how to bring instant relief. This city used to have three emergency departments - Crown street, Bulli and Port Kembla.
The state government closed Port Kembla and is well on the way to closing Bulli. Ambulance crews must take all patients - irrespective of severity or need - to the one overcrowded emergency room in Crown street.
Simply reopen Bulli emergency - and let ambulance crews do triage. Crown street has the facilities to treat severe trauma, but Bulli could easily handle broken bones and minor injuries - and take pressure off Crown street.
But - this will not happen for the same reason that Crown street will wait a whole year for those additional beds and nursing positions.
The state government does not have the money to deliver a decent health system - and as long as it is in charge we will have third world facilities.
One of Kevin Rudd's promises before the last Federal election was a commitment to take over Australia's hospital system - if conditions had not improved by the middle of this year.
Times up, Prime Minister. The evil hour has arrived - and the hospital system is still suffering terminal illness.
The only form of government with the deep pockets to resuscitate health is the government that sits in Canberra - and now the people of Australia are waiting of Kevin07 to prove he is not just another lying politician !
Lets hope health does not join Fuel-watch and Grocery-watch as broken promises this Prime Minister has walked away from !
The response by the state government is a promise of seven new beds and six new nursing positions to bring relief - but astonishingly - this will not happen until at least June next year - a whole twelve months away !
It doesn't take Einstein to figure out how to bring instant relief. This city used to have three emergency departments - Crown street, Bulli and Port Kembla.
The state government closed Port Kembla and is well on the way to closing Bulli. Ambulance crews must take all patients - irrespective of severity or need - to the one overcrowded emergency room in Crown street.
Simply reopen Bulli emergency - and let ambulance crews do triage. Crown street has the facilities to treat severe trauma, but Bulli could easily handle broken bones and minor injuries - and take pressure off Crown street.
But - this will not happen for the same reason that Crown street will wait a whole year for those additional beds and nursing positions.
The state government does not have the money to deliver a decent health system - and as long as it is in charge we will have third world facilities.
One of Kevin Rudd's promises before the last Federal election was a commitment to take over Australia's hospital system - if conditions had not improved by the middle of this year.
Times up, Prime Minister. The evil hour has arrived - and the hospital system is still suffering terminal illness.
The only form of government with the deep pockets to resuscitate health is the government that sits in Canberra - and now the people of Australia are waiting of Kevin07 to prove he is not just another lying politician !
Lets hope health does not join Fuel-watch and Grocery-watch as broken promises this Prime Minister has walked away from !
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