Personal privacy !

The ever growing need to screen people for drugs that effect their safety on the job has raised the issue of personal privacy.  It is claimed that what a person does on their days off is " none of their employers business ". This is not a complete rejection of drug testing, but a move to restrict this testing to oral swabs instead of urine tests.

There is a big difference in what each of these tests will reveal.   Oral swabs will return information on that persons sobriety and whether many drugs have been recently ingested, while a urine test will delve far deeper - and will detect the distant presence of most stimulants over a much longer period - in some cases - months.

A person who smoked a "joint " at the start of a long weekend will undoubtedly be drug free when they restart work after that holiday, but a urine test will tell the boss that this employee is a recreational drug user - and that may have an influence on employment decisions.

The attitude of the Fire Brigade Employees Union (FBEU ) on suggestions of drug testing is critical of the urine test option on the basis that it is selective - and that if FBEU members are to be tested, then similar tests should apply to doctors, lawyers and the general spectrum of professions that serve the public.

They do have a point.   Drug testing is usually aimed at those whose job involves public safety.  It is  essential that train drivers who drive trains with thousands of passengers remain drug and alcohol free in contrast to car drivers, who pose a lower risk of mass deaths, but such concern does not extend to doctors who are administering deadly drugs to big patient numbers ?

Testing of car drivers raises a sore point with many people.   The breath test performed roadside is simple - and quick !   If you are below .05 - you are on your way.   The drug test takes a much longer time, and if the result detects the use of Marijuana even days previously - you are not allowed to drive for twenty-four hours while a sample is sent to a laboratory.      In most cases, this test comes back negative for driving impairment - but once again the state is delving into an area of personal privacy.

It is now a fact of life that a big percentage of the population use some form of recreational drugs on an occasional basis.  Marijuana use is widespread and we are creeping closer and closer to ignoring prosecution where small amounts are involved - and they are deemed to be for " personal use ".

Alcohol testing has been with us for a long time but roadside drug testing is still in it's infancy.  As a result, it is time consuming and has the ability to deliver mixed results.    Hopefully, in both driving and industry - tests will be developed to give a similar instant reading as happens with alcohol - and then there will need to be a level of detection to instantly decide between " legal or illegal " content - just as now happens with that roadside breath test.

Until that happens, we will see ongoing battles between the unions and the safety experts on how far testing can go when measured against every persons right to personal privacy !

Monorail relocation !

The people of Hobart would do well to think long and hard before they jump into the proposal to buy the Sydney Monorail and relocate it to their city.    They could find themselves saddled with a system that was an abject failure here - and because of it's age and condition - would quickly turn into a bottomless pit of maintenance requirements.

When it was first mooted it was supposed to jump start the new Darling Harbour entertainment complex as it's prime tourist attraction.   It's sponsors expected big crowds to queue to ride this " transport system of the future " , but a big percentage of Sydney people disliked it's intrusion onto the city streetscape - and it was never popular.

Over the years, patronage slipped lower as the fare increased from a one dollar per passenger entry to a figure that only appealed to tourists looking for a novelty experience.   It simply had little to offer.  It  was slow and ambled along on a circle that started and ended at the Darling Harbour entertainment district.

The idea of using it to link Salamanca Place to North Hobart will horrify many people.  Part of the charm of Salamanca Place's old stone warehouses would be lost if steel columns supporting a garish Monorail were imposed in front of them, and as a Monorail must be elevated to fit it's traditional role, the idea of it defacing the streetscape from there to north Hobart would change the entire character of the city.

Perhaps there is some other place in Tasmania where it could fit in more appropriately - such as at an amusement park - but it would still be a very dubious financial risk.    Even if the New South Wales government gave it away as a gift, the cost of moving, refurbishing and installing it would be frightening.

Certainly it's Hobart sponsor should get full marks for looking for a tourist opportunity, but in this case the best end for the tired old Sydney Monorail would be a melt down to end it's life gracefully !

Ambulance block solution !

The rules concerning ambulance crews presenting with a patient at Wollongong hospital emergency department are quite clear.  The crew must remain and be in charge of that patients care until the triage nurse has made an assessment - and that patient has been formally handed over for treatment.

As a result, at times of overload we frequently see " Ambulance block ", and on occasions this city's entire ambulance fleet has been parked waiting for a grossly overworked triage nurse to try and see their patients.  As a consequence, ambulance call outs are being responded to by crews from a far away as Nowra, leading to unacceptable time delays.

That situation will change by mid year.

Ambulance crews will use their own diagnostic skills to determine if some patients can safely be placed in the hospitals emergency waiting room - leaving the ambulance free to respond to other emergencies.   In particular, patients with minor fall damage, diabetic hypoglycaemia and those seeking palliative relief would be treated as if they had made their own way to emergency.

The medical profession has blasted this plan as dangerous and it is inevitable that eventually there will be a fatal outcome, completely dissociated from the reason that person is presenting at emergency.  For instance, a patient waiting for an ankle sprain to be looked at suddenly suffers a heart attack - and dies.

At least it is a step in the right direction to recognise that the ambulance paramedics are skilled people with ability to grade patients on the severity of their ailments.   It also reinforces the argument for keeping an emergency department available at Bulli hospital, because if ambulance crews have this available to treat minor emergencies, then the instances of ambulance block at Wollongong hospital will be reduced.

In a perfect world, every patient would get prompt and effective treatment immediately every ambulance rolls into our hospital emergency department, but in the real world peak demand will create overloads that can not be immediately treated.   The whole point of the triage system is to make sure that the patients with life threatening problems go to the head of the treatment queue.

This change to the system merely adds a filter to ensure that those in desperate need see that triage nurse without further delay !

A Tiger by the tail !

Wollongong councillors reacted predictably when faced with a development application to establish a brothel in Auburn street.   It posed a " moral dilemma ", and so they invoked the use of the Independent Hearing and Assessment panel to have their say on the matter.

Issues such as brothels put individual councillors in an awkward position and that old expression of " having a Tiger by the tail " comes to mind.

If they don't squawk long and loud some sections of the community will accuse them of being " soft " on moral issues, and yet this application had met all the lawful requirements and had been approved by the various council departments which vet each development application.

Councillors certainly have the right to go against the process and reject a DA, but that simply takes the matter to the Land and Environment court, and as the DA met all the necessary guidelines - and broke no laws - it would certainly get the nod from that court - and saddle Wollongong council with a hefty swag of legal fees.

So - under the terms of the Independent Hearing and Assessment panel's review each individual could put on record their personal objections to brothels, but at the same time reluctantly agree to it proceeding because while they are " morally against the proposal they would not override the city's planning process to stop it. "

It seems that the average citizen is " betwixt and between " when it comes to the chasm between what the law allows and what the voice of the churches dictate, and for some people there is a tendency to ignore the law and place the blame squarely on the head of whoever has the decision making job.   Such is the burden placed on those who seek to serve on councils.

We have come a long way since the " oldest profession " was subjected to strict moral laws - and flourished discreetly in every age of civilization since the building of the pyramids.  Prostitution is no longer a crime, and it is far better to have it discreetly housed than openly displayed on the streets.

This new brothel is simply one of many existing establishments in Wollongong, and citizens should be rather proud that our sexual services are both mature and well run - and not attracting newspaper headlines.

Councillors now having recorded their obligatory objection - the sex industry can return to " business as usual ! "

The NBN - and national security !

One of the greatest threats to our national security will be the task of keeping foreign agencies from penetrating our National Broadband Network ( NBN ) to gather information on everything from our defence posture to the  trade secrets that are important to our commercial success.

There are howls of protest because we have excluded one of the world's biggest manufacturers of electronic equipment from even tendering to supply NBN componentry.

Huawei Technologies is a Chinese firm - and there is no such thing as a truly independent, privately owned company in China.    The Chinese Communist party has permitted a degree of capitalism to serve it's expansionist aims, but all and every enterprise in that country is rigidly controlled - and does exactly what it's government orders.

China is aware of the rewards to be gained by eavesdropping on the communication systems of other countries and it maintains a huge establishment of it's best and brightest to constantly carry out cyber attacks in search of information.   Defence planners agree that in both trade wars and shooting wars of the future, the first line of attack will be a cyber attack to disable things like NBN systems - to create communication paralysis in the enemy country.

Why then- would we even consider putting the design and construction of the very core of our NBN in the hands of our most likely future enemy ?

The problem will be to create an NBN system that can withstand the sort of cyber attack  that even clever hackers can mount.   We have seen the damage that can be done by small groups of independents.  Just imagine how more sophisticated the methods constructed by armies of cyber engineers funded by a hostile government.

It is suggested that Huawei Technologies is free of Chinese government control because it has an Australian board and two prominent Australians - Alexander Downer and John Brumby - sit on that board.    Nothing could be further from the truth.    The big decisions are still made in China - and at the highest levels of the Communist party government.

It may prove to be impossible to create an NBN that is secure from hacking by government professionals, but at least we are not going to let a possibly future hostile government have the benefit of creating the very equipment that will be subjected to their future attack.

To do that would not be a particularly bright move !

Price as a weapon !

There is a thought buzzing about in political circles - that the selling price of low cost alcohol is too low and that creating a higher minimum price will help to curb binge drinking.

On that basis of thinking, we could easily curb the obesity epidemic by doubling the price of food.  If the price doubled, people could only afford to buy half of what they buy now - and that would be the end of obesity.

Of course this line of thinking is  punishing the greater majority of people for the sins of the minority.  It relies on imposing a draconian impost in the guise of solving a problem that only affects a small sample of the entire population.   The average person is urged to become a martyr and accept this impost as his or her contribution to the " common good ".

It seems that it is cask wine and " cleanskin " bottle wine that is in the do-gooders sights, but we had a taste of using price as a weapon some years ago - when what was termed " alco-pops " were hit with a massive price increase because it was claimed that it was becoming too popular with teenage girls.

The sale of alco-pops certainly diminished, but at the same time the sale of hard spirits rose accordingly, and the teenage girls quickly learned to mix their own cocktails.    Many experts claim that the alcohol intake actually increased because the users became " heavy handed " in creating their own " mix ".

Another interesting by-product of this idea of using price as a weapon.   What happens to the money surge between the old price and this new minimum price for alcohol ?     Back in the days of the alco-pops debacle this new tax - and it was just another way of taxing alcohol - got shot down by the high court.

The government claimed that it was simply too difficult to reimburse people who paid an illegal tax, so the money would be put to " good purposes " and used to " promote healthy living ".   Many suspect that it ended up in " consolidated revenue ".

So - here we go again !

It seems that governments never learn that those who ignore history are destined to repeat those same mistakes !

Bankruptcy !

When the GFC struck in 08 it catapulted many young people into severe financial distress - and many of them have turned to bankruptcy to lift the load and make a new start.   In the past year, 1268 young people under twenty-five filed for bankruptcy protection.

Before 2008 the banks were literally throwing credit cards and high credit limits at young people fresh out of school.   Once they had a job their desires were for a car and some smart clothing, and in most cases they were handling this debt responsibly - until the GFC started making jobs disappear - and with them the means to service those debts.

It becomes an impossible situation.  Credit card debt attracts an interest rate of around  20% and with penalties for not meeting the minimum repayment on the due date the balance owing soares.   The lure of bankruptcy as an answer seems too good to be true.   Just wait out the usual three years under the control of a trustee - and you walk away, debt free !

It is true that most people who are declared bankrupt are " released " after three years, but during that time they must surrender their passport and can not leave the country without the express permission of their trustee.   There are also a host of other restrictions, such as being prevented from starting a company or serving as a director - nor can a person under a bankruptcy order stand for election to parliament.

Even when that " release " is granted, the fact that the person has been a bankrupt will still appear on all credit reference files for another seven years - and that will make it almost impossible to rent a house, buy a car or enter into any of the small transactions that make life comfortable.  You can expect refusal if you want to hire a television, get a department store credit card or subscribe for pay TV reception.

Many former bankrupts comment that the stigma of bankruptcy tends " to follow you everywhere - like a bad smell that will not go away ".!

Bankruptcy should be the absolutely last resort.  Unfortunately, many people rush into it because they see no other option, and yet they have probably neglected to do the first thing any competent adviser would suggest - and that is to go and sit down with the credit provider and work out a solution.

The first option is to get the account closed down - so further interest does not accrue.  It is far better to keep chipping away at a static debt than to suffer the long lasting trauma of the bankruptcy court.

Young people with debt problems would be well advised to seek out a competent financial counsellor, rather than heeding the advice of family or friends, who may not have the financial expertise such a complex matter needs.

The right advice can result in most people avoiding the anguish of the bankruptcy court !

Shopping - and public transport.

There is a plan before Wollongong council to change the parking space requirement when a new city building is approved.  This calls for a reduction in the car spaces balanced against the floor space in the building - but it boils down to a new four story building having to provide just eighty-seven car spaces against the present requirement of one hundred and twenty three.

This seems to be part of the philosophical battle between those who want shoppers to leave their cars out of the city and use the free bus system, and those who know we are a lazy lot - and will shun any shopping centre that does not provide adequate parking.

In the case of the Wollongong Mall, the people who own shops have already made their decisions on shopping and parking.

If you are a customer wanting to buy a large electrical item such as a fridge or a washing machine, you can forget shopping in the Mall.   The " big ticket " electrical shops departed Wollongong ages ago and they are all in a cluster now at Warrawong.        Harvey Norman, the Good Guys, Joyce Mayne - with adequate parking for hundreds of cars.

If you are shopping for groceries, the choice is a single Woolworths Supermarket in the street behind the Mall. If you want a choice between Woolworths, Coles, Aldi, Franklins and smaller IGA stores, then look at any of the suburban shopping centres and you will find them - with plenty of off street parking within their own property.

The concept of leaving your car in the suburbs and riding the free bus to and from the Mall is fine - if you plan to buy just a pair of gloves, or visit a solicitor - or do any number of things that do not involve lugging bulky shopping back home.    That is simply not practical - and if you own a car you will certainly prefer to shop where you can load your purchases and drive them home in comfort.

The planners who advocate actually reducing parking in the CBD surrounding the Mall are swimming against the current.    All that was settled way back after the end of the second world war, when suburban shopping centres started to replace central shopping hubs - and the main reason for this phenomenon - was free parking.

No matter how much the pundits wail about saving the ecology by reducing car travel, it is a fact of life that the car gives us freedom and mobility - and the public will fight like hell against any plan to take that away.

The free bus is a marvellous concept at moving people in and out of the city hub, providing that we accept that it is not a means of transport for large or bulky purchases.    If the Mall is to survive as an expanded shopping centre it will only do so if the planners provide the right mix of public transport - and adequate parking for customers cars.

The car industry - and jobs !

Holden cars will still be produced in Australia - at least until 2022.  The Federal government has agreed to inject a $ 215 million contribution to the one billion dollars General Motors will spend to design and produce two new Australian built cars at it's factories in Victoria and South Australia.   These new vehicles will most likely follow the trend to smaller, more fuel efficient designs, which are fast becoming car buyers choice.

The world car industry has the upper hand when it comes to making decisions on which country will assemble it's products.  It is a huge provider of jobs - and consequently no government wants to see existing car plants close.  That $ 215 million will be spread over the next ten years, and much of it will be recouped from various taxes on the product produced.

But - that is not the end of the matter.    There is every expectation that we will shortly hear of a similar deal with Ford.    Holden and Ford are the only two car companies still manufacturing in Australia and in combination their needs support the 200,000 jobs spread across the spectrum of manufacturers who supply component parts to the two brand giants.

Car manufacturing is similar to the home building industry.   Today's home builders are more managers than builders because they have skilled independent contractors construct the building.   Concrete teams reinforce and lay the slab.  Specialist factories construct the wall frames and roof trusses and deliver them to site - where different assembly teams put them in place, and these are followed by roof tiler teams and drywall people cladding the interior walls.

A similar scenario has developed in the car industry.   The car assembly line puts a huge array of components together - and out the other end comes a vehicle bearing that maker's badge.   To achieve economy of scale, these parts manufacturers need the volumes required by Holden and Ford to be viable.   If we had just a single car manufacturer in this country, it is probable that many in the parts industry would not survive.

That would not be the end of car manufacturing here.   Imported parts would quickly fill the gap, but instead of a huge array of jobs spread over a large number of parts manufacturers, we would have a very different car industry.   The end product might still boast a " made in Australia " claim, but it would be almost entirely constructed of imports.     The parts supply industry has a ratio of about four jobs for every actual assembly line job - and that is what makes cars so attractive to the national economy.

The decision to financially support Holden does not stand alone.  We have made a decision to support an industry that comprises many factors.   All those factors go together in integrating a large work force that is integral to the survival of car manufacturing in Australia.

Let us hope that the Mandarins in Canberra have done their homework correctly, and understand  how this complex manufacturing sector works !

Animal rights comes at a cost !

Indonesia has just announced that it's future purchases of live cattle from Australia will be reduced to about half the previous numbers.   The official reason given is that Indonesia hopes to move towards being self sustaining in raising it's own meat stocks - but in reality the recent sudden cessation of supply on cruelty grounds deeply offended our northern neighbour.

The problem seems to be a wide disparity between the way we Australians see animal rights - and the rest of the world.

It is one thing to insist that slaughtering methods here include pre-stunning to reduce animal stress, and quite another to dogmatically demand this be embraced by other countries with different religious and ethical standards.    What will work in an advanced society like Australia may be totally untenable in countries still emerging from the practices of centuries past.

We have some very aggressive animal rights organisations in this country and their main method of raising public indignation seems to be to infiltrate and film where practices they abhor occur.   The problem is that such practices can select an isolated incident and present it as a widespread occurrence - or even stage manage a particular incident to create a supposed problem when this does not exist.

The mode of egg production has attracted animal rights criticism and there are moves to outlaw the practice of using " battery hens " confined to small cages.  As a result, customers expect to pay more for what are promoted as " free range " farming methods, but precisely how these eggs are produced remains a mystery.  It seems that " free range " can be widely interpreted.

What is usually the case when animal rights issues arise - is a sharp increase in the price of the end product.  The law of supply and demand ensures that food production follows the method that is most cost effective - and when we change that is costs more to produce the same  product.

At least the present target of the animal rights people is not likely to have anything to do with the cost of living.  They are protesting the use of whips by jockeys - to make a horse run faster in a horse race.

It stands to reason that if no whips are carried and therefore no whips are used, then these horses run on their individual merits.   The skill of the jockey in knowing when to move and where to place the horse in the field can be a determining factor, but no artificial stimulant is applied to the performance of the horse.

Perhaps banning whips would be a logical extension of animal rights.   After all, it was not that many decades ago when people riding horses usually had spurs attached to their boots.   Can you imagine the uproar if today's jockey's started using spurs again ?

But - when it comes to food production we need to balance the job and market losses - and the inevitable price increases - against the benefit animals will receive.   Sometimes that gain is little more than an illusion !

Fading urban facilities.

Have you noticed that public payphone boxes are getting harder to find ?    That is probably not surprising, seeing that today most people have some sort of mobile communication device with them at all times - but public payphones deliver an emergency service to the small section of the community still without this facility - and those whose mobile is either out of credit or needs a battery recharge.

When you need an ambulance or the police, it was once a boast of government that a public payphone would be within reach of all members of the public, including those who live in remote rural areas.   That was before Telstra became a public company - and started ripping out payphones that failed to meet the cost of the services they provide.

Now that option has ceased.  Telstra is bound by the incredibly titled " Telecommunications Universal Services Management Agency Bill 2011 "  and can no longer slap a sticker on an uneconomical payphone, shut down it's service - and send in contractors to remove the facility.    It will take a long and detailed investigation to gain such an approval.

But - what about other public service utilities affected by falling demand for their services ?

The post office system is under threat as letter rates drop.   Each year more and more people convert from paying bills by post to using the banks direct debit facilities, or using phone banking or paying bills on the Internet.    There are signs that the post offices are morphing into wide ranging retail agencies, offering services such as stationery, insurance - and lately a fast expanding banking function.   Commerce now tends to bill customers by Internet email, rather than sending a monthly bill in the post.

It seems certain that government cost analysis sections must be compiling data on the mail box system.  It costs money to clear the thousands of public mail boxes each day, and as the number of postings drop, the charge for stamps rises - and there will be pressure to reduce the facilities for posting a letter.

It seems that we are entering an inevitable tug of war between the economists- who say that services must be appropriate to what it costs the public purse to provide - and the ever decreasing small groups of people who depend on those services to survive, because society condemns them to living below the standards that apply to their more affluent cousins.

What seems certain is that as the communication age advances, more of the services we take for granted will quietly slip into the danger zone of becoming labelled " uneconomic " !

Double taxation ?

There is an ominous warning to investors hidden in this Federal government mining tax bill, about to become law in the next few hours.   It contains no " franking provisions " to stop the profits being doubly taxed - once when the company submits it's annual tax return, and then again when the dividend reaches investors.

Australia is one of the few countries in the world to offer franking credits when a company has fully paid all aspects of tax liable on the profits it earns.   It was deemed unfair to tax those same profits twice - once at company level, and then again when a dividend passed into the hands of those who held shares in the company.

In particular, franking shelters those retirees who do not draw the aged pension because they invest their superannuation privately and are supporting their own retirement from their own funds.   They are not a drag on the public purse and franking recognises this benefit to treasury.

Establishing new mines is usually a huge capital requirement   Franking is a big inducement for those with private retirement plans to participate because it offers a better return than treasury notes, bank bills or fixed interest - but it also contains a risk factor.    Not all mines are successful - and it is still a case of " investor beware ! "

This omission from the new mining tax raises a troubling question.   Is the government walking away from franking as a tax option ?   Socialist governments are usually hostile to all forms of self funded retirement because they consider such people " Silvertails ".

Is this the start of a new social policy of " wealth distribution " - or is it an instance of a government so desperate for money that it is joining the rest of the world in taxing anything and everything - with no social conscience on the " double taxation " issue ?

That is certainly a question the investment industry will want to see settled.   If such change is in the air, it will have a drastic effect on advice given - and the ongoing financial impact will be felt across many levels of society.   Finance flows will change - and that could retard the financing of many industries.

If this is a basic change of taxation policy - now is the time to drag it kicking and screaming into the open - where it can be evaluated - and subjected to public judgement !

Another " Taser " death !

When it was first proposed in 2008, the plan to issue Taser guns to the New South Wales police force came with many promises to control their use.  One of these was to link the protocol that follows any use of a Taser with the protocol that applies to the firing of a police hand gun.

When a police pistol is fired for any reason, an investigation swings into play.  The gun is confiscated for forensic examination and investigators from another division of the police force set up an enquiry to examine all aspects of the incident.   As a result, police will only open fire in exceptionally dangerous circumstances - and in the full knowledge that their actions will be the subject of an extensive enquiry.

This weekend a person died on a Sydney street after he was first hit with capsicum spray, and then shot with a Taser pistol.   The question that needs to be asked - is whether the police would have considered using a firearm in these circumstances - and if not - then why was a Taser used ?

The Taser was supposed to be a less deadly alternative to a police firearm, but by that reasoning, it should only be used when the danger to both police and the public is so great that use of a firearm is a reasonable alternative.   It is hard to see that this was appropriate in the Sydney weekend shooting.

There was a report that a Sydney convenience store had been robbed - but it seems that there were few details and this was not an armed robbery.  A person fitting the description was tracked by cctv through city streets and when police swooped - he resisted arrest.  Firstly, capsicum spray was used - and then he was shot - fatally - with a Taser.

Opponents of Tasers warned when this weapon was approved that it would quickly become the weapon of choice to overcome those who even mildly resisted police.   Instead of using batons and getting physically involved, police would find it more convenient to use their Taser guns to subdue suspects - and that is precisely what has happened.

The figures on Taser use are damning.  In 2008 the record shows they were used just 126 times - but in 2010 that use had jumped to a staggering 1200 times !

A police firearm does not kill on every occasion it is fired.  In many cases, it delivers a wound and the victim survives.  Obviously, the Taser is not as deadly as the pistol, but it is still a potentially lethal weapon and it should only be used when the choice is between either weapon.

It is hard to see the police even considering firing their pistol in the events that resulted in death in Sydney this weekend.

It is time that the rules on Taser use are tightened up, and it would be a very good idea to require precisely the same procedure to follow the use of a Taser as now applies when a police firearm is used.

That was the original promise - and it was not honoured !

The " Warranty Claim " enigma !

A lot of people are not sure how to make a warranty claim when an item fails within the warranty period.  In some cases, the store that initially sold them that item is less than helpful - and  may use bluff to avoid any responsibility.

What confuses the issue is the instruction issued by the manufacturer, which usually is included in the paperwork that comes with the item.  Often this requires the claimant to forward the faulty item - at the claimant's expense - to the factory where it was produced, which can be in another state, and which must include proof of purchase and the relevant purchase date.

This is common practise because if this product is sold in all the Australian states, plus New Zealand and a number of other Pacific countries, it needs a claim procedure that applies in all circumstances.   Each state has different warranty laws, and some small countries have no such laws at all.

What takes precedence is the law on warranty's that applies in the state or country in which the product was initially sold, and if that is New South Wales - the procedure is plain and simple.

The onus for making good on the warranty rests solely with the outlet that made the initial sale - and the customer has the right to choose between three options.  They are that the product be either repaired, refunded or replaced - and which option chosen is the choice of the claimant.

Some stores disclaim their responsibility by citing the manufacturers instructions that the customer has the job of returning a faulty appliance to the originating factory, but this only applies in states or country's lacking specific consumer laws - or in circumstances where the store that made the original sale has gone out of business.  It is a " fall back " option - to be used when there is a failure of the usual procedure.

Surprisingly, some of the branches of national chains profess to be unaware of their obligations under the state consumer laws and try to bluff their way out of accepting returns.   In such cases, the claimant should insist on speaking to the store manager - and if that does not result in a successful conclusion - take the matter up with the head office of the chain involved.

Failure to honour warranty laws carries a very large penalty - and this law is explicitly protective of consumer's rights !

A tale of two cities !

Yesterday, two events half a world apart drew a depressing comparison.

BlueScope Steel celebrated the start of production of a new joint venture with the giant Indian Tata group in Jamshedpur, India.   This $ 167 million venture employs 225 people and will produce steel coated with Colorbond and Zincalume for the thriving East Asia market.

Here in Wollongong, Indian company Gujarat NRE Coking coal is still waiting for the Department of Primary industry to sign off on it's application to start using the $ 90 million Longwall coal extracting system already installed in it's Russel Vale colliery.

Gujarat is a prime example of an innovative foreign company coming to Australia and risking it's capital by acquiring a closed down coal mine - and breathing new life into the venture by hiring Australian miners to deliver an export stream back to it's home country.

That investment is now at risk because it needs to urgently start the Longwall to bring coal extraction to a profitable level.  The delay has gone on for weeks and the company admits that it's finances are under strain. It seems that the sense of urgency involved is not shared by the civil servants who process applications in the Department of Primary industry.

So - we have a situation where an Australian company that has recently issued pink slips to a thousand Australian workers is expanding it's operations in a foreign country - and at the same time a foreign company that has invested heavily in Australia is being financially crippled because the bureaucrats who stamp documents and staple pages - can't get their act together to enable production to proceed.

Such a comparison does not exactly inspire confidence in our ability to overcome the lasting effects of the GFC - and see a recovery of manufacturing industry in Australia !

The " Lucky " country !

What a strange world we live in.    Most other world countries are struggling with debt and having the rating agencies drop their credit ratings, making borrowing more money both harder - and at a higher interest rate.
Here in Australia we are having a mining boom.

The Australian dollar is trading against the US Dollar at around a surplus of $ 1.05.   Our dollar is regarded as a " strong " dollar, because we do not have a crushing national debt that raises doubts about our ability to service it -  and our vast trove of minerals is the envy of world trade because it underscores China's drive to become the " world's factory ".

That would seem to be the best of all worlds.   We are rich and the average Australian family can afford an overseas holiday.   The money markets keep telling us how lucky we are and laud the fact that Australia is the country of the future - and it is high on the list of destinations for those fleeing repression and poverty by paying people smuggler's to take them to where life is better.

Unfortunately, it is also separating the Australian community into those who have a job - and those who don't.

Today's newspapers report that One Steel is closing it's oil and gas pipe plant at Kembla Grange - and fifty-six people will receive pink slips in May.    This plant has been producing about 50,000 tonnes of pipe for the oil and gas industry each year, but that high Australian dollar is making it uneconomic for it's customers to buy Australian.

The very same high dollar that makes overseas holidays cheaper for us - and has cut the price of big screen digital TV's nearly in half in recent years - is making the things we manufacture here in comparison with low wage countries - uneconomic !

Remember when the Aussie dollar was buying less than 60 c in comparison with the US dollar ?   We moaned and groaned about the exchange rate when we considered an overseas holiday - and often settled for time in the sun on the Great Barrier reef instead.  Our tourist industry was booming with overseas visitors .
The other great advantage was the way a weak Australian dollar caused our exports to fly out the door.   Manufacturing industry was hiring more workers - and now we have exactly the opposite.  A high Australian dollar is causing factories to close - and workers to be made redundant.

It seems that we need to change our thinking - and have a long, hard look at what we are good at producing - and what is in short supply elsewhere !

There are now seven billion people living on this planet - and there is a fast approaching world food .shortage.    We have a population of just over twenty-two million on one of the biggest continents in the world - with huge areas of arable land.

Surely the way of the future for this country would be to exploit this advantage - and become the source of food for this ever expanding world ?

The first law of commerce is quite clear.    Whatever is in short supply brings the best price !

Newton's Law ?

Newton's Law stipulates " that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. "   That will be fully illustrated when a new law affecting coastal shipping in Australia come into effect.

This new law requires ships that are manned by foreign crews to be registered in Australia - and to pay Australian level wages.  In particular, this will affect the ships that transfer iron ore from Port Hedland in Western Australia, to the Bluescope steel plant here at Port Kembla.

Freight rates will rise by at least sixteen percent, slapping an additional burden on Australian steel making costs - and making us less competitive with imports from low labour cost countries.

It would be hard to argue against the principles involved in this law change.  World shipping is a highly competitive industry and ship owners crew their ships with people from countries with the lowest wage structures.   As a result, there are few Australian ships, with Australian crews  sailing the world's seas.   International shipping sails under what is called " flags of convenience " and their crews come from the world's poorest countries.

This new Australian law will not apply to international ships bringing cargo's from overseas to Australian ports because we can not insist on extending our laws to other countries - but it will apply to ships that service the local trade between ports within this country.

Just as Australia will not allow manufacturers to import labour from low wage countries - and pay those same low wage rates when these people work here in Australian factories,  the people who crew ships that work exclusively between Australian ports - but are only paid the wage rate of their country of origin - are exactly in that situation.    If a ship only travels back and forth between two Australian ports, then it's crew is part of the Australian workforce - and should be paid accordingly.

Unfortunately, that is where Newtons Law delivers the " equal and opposite reaction " .

In delivering some foreign crews from penury and exploitation, we are condemning other Australians to job jeopardy when we increase the cost of procuring the raw materials they need to make a product which can survive in the market place.

Sadly, we can not have the best of both worlds !

Stifling competition !

The surest sign of a healthy shopping centre is the presence of stores in competition with one another.  That ensures that the customers are wooed with the lowest prices - and given the best of services.   It is therefore disappointing when Wollongong council gives as one of it's reasons for refusing to approve a $ 110 million factory outlet centre at Kembla Grange -  that it would " undermine existing shopping centres and confidence in the city ".

We already suffer escape spending when bus operators take regular loads of shoppers on day trips to similar factory outlets in Sydney.   This proposed 35,000 square metre development would not only give the building industry a shot in the arm, but manning the complex would provide a plethora of badly needed jobs.

Twice this matter has gone before council - and twice it has been rejected, despite overwhelming public support and the presentation of a petition asking council to have a change of mind.

Unfortunately council approval depends on the actual site being rezoned and this provides a convenient excuse for rejection.   At present, this land is zoned for future manufacturing industry, and a factory outlet does not fit this description.   The size of the proposed factory outlet would not fit into any existing shopping centre, hence it requires new thinking to become reality.

It seems that once again the city of Wollongong will have shot itself in the foot.   This innovative business and the jobs it will create is being sought by others and there is every chance that it will simply relocate to another site here in the Illawarra - but not within the Wollongong city boundaries.

So - we get the worst of all worlds.   Employers usually prefer workers who live locally, hence jobs are more likely to go to Shellharbour residents, and this factory outlet will still compete with the shopping centres in Wollongong - but without delivering any benefits to this city.

Work has started on an expansion of the Wollongong Mall.   Does this factory outlet rejection mean that our council will now seek to stifle any new retail developments in Corrimal, Fairy Meadow and the other northern suburbs - on the grounds that they are protecting the Mall ?

It is indeed the start of a very slippery slope when new developments are rejected on the grounds that they provide unwanted " competition " in the business world !

License law sanity !

The investigations that follow every fatal road accident are quite clear.   In the overwhelming number of cases the driver involved was affected by alcohol or drugs - and in many cases - both !   What is also abundantly clear is that these fatal car crashes involve people who are heavily intoxicated.

What causes a problem for most magistrates is dealing with people who find themselves in trouble with the law because they have managed to slightly exceed the .05 blood/alcohol limit - and that is so easy to do.  Not so long ago, the driving law was set at .08 and this allowed a reasonable person to share a bottle of wine with another over a meal.    The decision to drop .08 to .05 meant the end of celebrating a spouse's birthday in that manner - in fact it almost made attending a wedding, Christmas party or any social event at which alcohol was served a driving license hazard.

Losing the right to drive has hideous repercussions for most people.  In many cases it means the end of a job. In areas lacking any form of public transport the car is the only way of getting the kids to school.   The judiciary weight up the factors and judge that against the previous good behaviour of those standing before them - and as a result what is called a " section 10 order " is often served.

Section 10 basically accepts the merit of the charge, but dismisses punishment, leaving the person with a retained license and no loss of demerit points.   It is now proposed that the judiciary have the option of awarding a " Good Behaviour License " verdict in place of this Section 10 option.

A Good Behaviour License is a form of bond for a period of six months for a low range charge, or for twelve months if a mid range is involved.   During that period, if there is a further drink violation the driving license is automatically cancelled for a much longer period.

This change will be heavily criticised by the fanatical anti-drink element, but there is no sense in turning a slight lapse of judgement into a " hanging offence ".   There will always be good citizens who find themselves slightly over .05 on the rarest of occasions - and who deserve a little mercy.

There is also a public benefit.   Desperate situations drive desperate people to take desperate measures.  When loss of a license imposes an impossible scenario, some people are driven to drive unlicensed - and that negates all sorts of insurance cover that protects other citizens.

At least the use of " Good behaviour licenses " leave an option open - rather than imposing a " one size fits all " solution to what is often a simple, social problem !

The difference is - a Section 10 expunges all record of the crime from the records.   By contrast, a Good Behaviour license remains on the books - and is invoked to be taken into sentencing consideration should that driver re-offend.

A much fairer outcome !

Education - and management skills !

Barry O'Farrell's  government has taken a bold step in reforming the creaking old education system running public schools.   School principals are to be given control over seventy percent of their school's budget and will no longer be forced to use the centralised " procurement system " when making purchases - and will be the decision makers on teachers pay.  Seniority will no longer be the main pay criteria.  Performance and the results  achieved will be rewarded on merit.

This has long been anathema to the teacher's union.   This union is totally opposed to any system that grades kids by results and uses that to evaluate the teaching skills of it's members.  Seniority in time served takes precedence over skill and results as far as the union is concerned, and job tenure is high on their demand list.   In union eyes, teaching is a " closed shop ", and no matter how dismal each teachers performance - any reward for excellence is treated with disdain.

It will certainly blow a gale of fresh air through the public school education system, but it comes with many dangers.   The first of these is the assumption that every school principal has the skills to move from being a teacher to a management role of a big ticket business.

Running a school with seventy percent of the budget in the principal's hands would be akin to managing a fair sized commercial enterprise.   To be a teacher, a person requires to undergo training and achieve a certain level of competency  - and that does not include accountancy, human resources evaluation - or the business acumen that goes with leadership.    Some of those heading our schools will be found wanting in this regard.

Twelve months down the track and this scheme will most probably deliver mixed results.  Awarding pay to reward the higher achievers will involve decisions that may not be popular - nor universally accepted.     The school budget will not be increased, so a pay rise for some will mean a pay decrease for others.  It is inevitable that any change in a uniform level of renumeration will invite jealousy and recrimination.  If there is a review mechanism - expect it to be clogged with complaints.

The very nature of this reform means that principals also need the same level of skill evaluation.   It could well be that an existing principal lacks the ability to carry out these new duties effectively, and should be replaced by a more junior teacher who has a better mix of skills that include teaching, management and that essential to all who deliver results - leadership ability.

Expect massive teething problems when this new plan gets under way - and expect all forms of sabotage from the union and the legion of " seat warmers " who will be adversely affected by the changes.  Hopefully, the government will persist with this useful reform, and assist in providing principals with the training they will need to do a new and expanded job of management.

It will initially be a rocky road, but out of it may come the type of school system that rewards teachers for excellence - and delivers the teaching results that today's students desperately need to cope in an ever changing world.

That ADFA " Skype " scandal !

To most fair minded people, the handling of that disgusting incident at the Australian Defence Force Academy ( AFDA ) in Canberra was little more than spin and cover-up.     The initial report was probably more famous for what it didn't say than the facts that it revealed.

There is a deeply ingrained " blokey " culture running at every level in the  Australian military and this surfaces as resentment that a woman officer cadet should have the temerity to complain at what they perceive to be a " social matter " between herself and her colleagues.  In their eyes, her biggest sin was going public when she felt that the deck was stacked against her.

The fact that she was promptly put on a charge for minor infringements instead of getting sympathy and support  for what is clearly a breach of the law - because the perpetrators are going to face a court - and amazingly - that is not going to happen until next year - is a clear indication of the attitude that prevailed.

The academy commander was cleared - and reinstated.   Then the inevitable " leak " disclosed that all was not as it seemed.  Other cadets became emboldened to come forward and report sexual harassment and incidents that had not been properly examined over the decades that the academy had been in existence.   Sex and the treatment of women have been a running sore - that is constantly swept under the carpet rather than examined and corrected.

" Kate " - the woman involved - was persecuted by some of her colleagues, but it was reported that an incident when her room was " smothered in shaving foam " was incorrect.   This statement gave the impression that it simply did not happen - and by inference - that the claim was a lie.     What was deleted from any mention was the fact that the attack did not use shaving foam - but another chemical used in the cleaning industry.   Just another use of spin to deceive !

So - where do we go from here ?

It looks like the Defence hierarchy have closed ranks and are determined to sweep the whole affair under the carpet.   The perpetrator's case will not come before the courts until next year - an amazingly long time for what is a simple matter to be prepared for brief.    Once again, a matter of spin.  A year hence the matter will have slipped from the public mind - and if a mere slap on the wrist is handed down it may escape comment.

The minister who has taken the high ground in this unfortunate affair is Stephen Smith, the Defence Minister.   He has steadfastly stood up for " Kate " - and earned the enmity of powerful people in all levels of the military - and probably the ire of some in his political party.

Unfortunately, this " Skype " case will probably cause many young women considering a career in the Defence forces to have second thoughts - and that may suit the thinking of many males at all levels of the services.

What is abundantly clear is that we still have a culture that maintains that the only role for women in Defence is pounding typewriter keys or doing other clerical duties.   Until the top brass have a change of attitude, that culture will be maintained !

Security cameras - and privacy !

Some people consider this city's network of cctv security cameras as an invasion of privacy - and they will be horrified at council's plans to extend the coverage to the " Blue Mile ".

This camera surveillance of the Mall and the CBD may not actually stop crime and drunken brawls, but they certainly do improve the chances of the culprits appearing before a court and receiving appropriate punishment.  There is no better evidence to convince a magistrate than a pictorial record of what actually happened, and facial recognition technology sorts out the innocent from the guilty.

We can not expect to see a police officer on every street corner, but by using the cctv network the police control room is warned of dangerous gatherings of people emerging from pubs and nighclubs,  and usually boisterous activity precedes drunken attacks on innocent bystanders.    In many cases, the mere appearance of a cruising police patrol car is sufficient to nip trouble in the bud.

The " Blue Mile " is predicted to become one of our major tourist attractions.  It is essential that it gain a reputation as a safe place to visit and that can only be enhanced by adequate night lighting and the obvious presence of security cameras.    That seems to settle the question of whether we have a conflict between safety and privacy in a public place.

There is another matter which is a constant irritation to both citizens and commercial premises in the CBD.   We have a mix of pubs and nightclubs, all of which tend to operate with extended trading hours.  Control measures have been introduced that see " lock outs " come into force which prevents patrons wandering from one watering hole to another.  After a certain hour, once you leave - you have no other option than to go home, and it seems a very reasonable policy.

What is not reasonable is the complete lack of toilet facilities in the CBD.   The shopping centre in shut -and with it the toilets usually available to the public, and once that lock out comes into effect, re-entry to use a pub or club toilet is out of the question.   As a result, the security camera system detects patrons in desperate need of a toilet urinating in shop doorways or in other parts of the Mall.

There are public toilets in parks and reserves a long way from the Mall, but these too are locked at night.

We are about to spend $ 14 million on a Mall revamp.  One of the essentials needed - and currently missing in action - is a public toilet that is open 24/7 to meet the needs of those patrons of the entertainment circuit within this city.   At the moment - the desperate have no other option than to break the law - and with cctv watching - suffer the consequences.

That old maxim that says   " When you gotto go - you gotta go "  certainly applies !

Buyer beware !

There must have been close to a hundred thousand cars immersed in the months of floods that have followed the Brisbane disaster - and which is still happening here in inland New South Wales.   The vast majority of late year models will be fully insured, and unlike housing -  there is little room for the insurance industry to duck and dodge honouring policies.

Once a claim is paid, the damaged car becomes the property of the insurance company, and it seems certain that all these vehicles will find their way to public auctions.

Back in the 1950's a flood damaged car was repairable.   The damage was more cosmetic than mechanical, because the cars of those times were pretty basic.   Lift the bonnet, and there was almost room for a person to fit in beside the engine, and with the replacement of a few electrical components and a good hose down to shift the mud - it could be brought back to life.

Lift the bonnet of today's car and the space is packed solid with the marvels of the twenty-first century. It will be tempting for some aspiring mechanics to buy these water damaged vehicles at a very low price - and have a go at restoring them to life.   The danger is that some of the critical safety features built into today's cars may go unrepaired, while others may be prone to sudden failure.   Modern technology has upped the ante as far as sophistication is concerned - and it was not designed to withstand immersion.

It seems inevitable that the criminal fraternity will see an opportunity to do a quick fix on water damaged cars and then make a quick profit by unloading them onto  an unsuspecting public.    We already have cars on the road that consist of components of several crashed vehicles welded together to make a vehicle that would not pass even a reasonable safety inspection.

In the months ahead buyers would be well advised to treat any late model vehicle offered for private sale with suspicion.  Perhaps the first natural defence against the shonky restoring people would be to apply what is called " the sniff test ".

Ask any home owner who has had a flood through their home what is the lasting impression of that flood - and they will tell you it is the smell.   Eventually, those that live in that house grow accustomed to the lingering background smell that persists for long after the water has subsided, but it remains apparent to visitors.

When considering the option of buying a second hand car it would be a good idea to sit in the vehicle and apply the " sniff test " - and be very suspicious if your nose detects a hint of " air freshener " or any chemical capable of masking the musky but distinct odour that persists from flood water.

And that old maxim about so-called " bargains " also holds true.    "  If it seems too good to be true - then it probably is ! "

Definition of a " Charity " ?

Getting government acceptance as a charity delivers a huge list of benefits to any organisation seeking donations of money from the public.    Just for a start, people donating are entitled to claim that donation as a tax deduction, and the charity is given other tax breaks that includes exemption from paying income tax.

The number of organisations with " charity status "is awesome and stretches across the entire spectrum of medical research.  Then there are the groups that deliver services to the underprivileged, run op shops, deliver meals and run soup kitchens - the list seems endless and few would query their charity status.

The Federal Treasurer, Wayne Swan has queried whether Greenpeace fits that description.

What has drawn the Treasurer's attention is a Greenpeace plan to try and raise $ 6 million by way of public donations to fund court challenges to the expansion of coal industries, and the necessary rail and port structures that go with export of that mineral.   Greenpeace opposes the mining, export and even the use of coal on global  warming grounds - and yet this action is in direct opposition to this country's economic plans.

There seems to be a fine line between an organisation that merely enhances a point of view to draw support, and one that breaks the law by employing activism to destroy infrastructure under the banner that " the end justifies the means ".    Many will remember that it was Greenpeace opposition to genetically modified (GM) crops that saw a break-in to a trial scientific experiment.   This illegal destruction of government property falls within the definition of " urban terrorism ".

It seems that Greenpeace considers itself outside the laws of this - or any other country.   It gives support to activism against Japan's whaling expeditions in the southern ocean, and it was involved in entering French exclusion zones when they were testing nuclear weapons in the Pacific ocean.   Many will support opposition to both whaling and nuclear testing, but the moment we condone actions outside of the law we cross a line used by those who use suicide bombing and acts of terrorism to further their beliefs.

The question seems to be if there should be a dividing line between activism of an illegal nature when charity status is first bestowed - and whether that status should be reviewed and renewed on a regular basis.?

And that invites a further division to be examined.    Does the collection of tax break money from the public for the purpose of a court challenge to the government's plans to finance the running of this country fall within the definition of " charitable " activity ?

At the moment, the definition of a " charity " is not clearly defined !

Building on flood plains ?

Surely the misery happening to thousands of home owners across eastern Australia should have planning authorities taking a second look at development plans to build on known flood plains !

The damage caused when rising water floods through a person's home is immense.  Firstly, there is the trauma of being forced to evacuate to a flood shelter, and then the return to find cherished possessions covered in stinking silt, damaged beyond repair - and the heartbreak of starting over.    The anguish of waiting to see if insurance cover will be accepted - or rejected.     And above all - the uncertainty of wondering if the battle to recover is worth while - because living on a flood plain brings with it the sure knowledge that there will be future similar flooding !

Here in the Illawarra two very big developments are about to start - and both are located on known flood plains.

Calderwood and West Dapto will almost double the future populations of Wollongong and Shellharbour.   This area is bursting at the seams as the outflow from Sydney looks to find building land in cities locked in between the sea and the escarpment.    It seems that the options are really limited to accepting the flood plain  risk - or remaining static in size and population.

Unfortunately, one of the aims of both Calderwood and West Dapto is to relieve the pressure for cheap building blocks.   As a result,  the homes to be built will be modest in size - and the common base will be concrete slabs - and this sort of construction does not provide relief from rising waters.   We will be condemning the " battlers " who will be the future residents to the same sort of misery being experienced by the people living on flat land and near rivers and creeks in existing eastern Australian cities and towns.

If these developments do go ahead, surely it must be policy to insist on a form of construction design that can withstand floods.   Homes constructed with the living quarters elevated, to accommodate car parking and BBQ areas underneath can cope with floods without major damage.    They are more expensive to build initially, but when the devastating cost of flood damage is taken into consideration - that is money well spent.

We are not doing the " battlers " good service if we provide cheap building blocks and allow flood prone houses to be built on them.   If the only option is to build on a flood plain, then it would be good planning design to restrict development to accommodate the risk.

The biggest act of stupidity - would be to ignore the illustration of what the future holds - as it unfolds on television screens right before our eyes.

A new crime wave !

We live in the " information age " and all it takes is for one bright young mind to have an innovative idea - and a new crime wave is up and running.

Many years ago, disposing of an unwanted motor vehicle often involved organising it's supposed " theft ".   What happened next was subjected to a long list of interesting scenarios.    The one common factor was the destruction of the vehicle - and the consequent insurance claim that resolved the owner's problem.

Of course the insurance industry put protective measures in place.  Their investigators became adept at uncovering insurance fraud and each and every incident was subjected to a detailed investigation.  A few people got prosecuted and that type of fraud rapidly diminished - and where it still persisted it became the province of professional gangs - who would organise an insurance " job " with all the correct procedures in place to fool the sleuths - for a cut of the profits.

In recent years selling an unwanted, late model car has become harder.  Brand new, low priced cars from Korea and China have lured away buyers because these vehicles come with a five year factory warranty, and as a result the gap between a realistic selling price - and the insurance value - has become ever widening.
The number of cars available for private sale is huge, judging by the cars we see on the roads and parked in streets with sale details chalked on windows or on a sign fixed to the car.

In the past twelve months the Australian weather pattern has changed, and from drought we are now a land affected by floods.    Month after month - state after state - we see pictures on the television news of flood affected houses, streets underwater  - and cars submerged.    It didn't take long for the opportunities offered to filter through to bright minds -  and in this information age - mobile phones and SMS quickly spread the message.

Opportunity was knocking - and the forecasters were giving a helping hand.   The weather news was good at predicting rainfall and the forecasters were good at predicting precisely where the flooding would occur.   It became a simple matter of parking your car legitimately in the path of a coming flood - and waiting for the water to arrive.

In many ways, the insurance industry has been complicit in triggering this new crime wave.  New entrants offering insurance are involved in a heated advertising battle for business and the cover offered for cars bears no relation to what a car is actually worth as either a private sale or as a trade-in at a car dealership.   The more this gap widens, .the more the incentive for a contrived insurance claim.

And it's not over yet.    According to the weather people, the intense rain band that has swept across this continent during the past few days still has a lot more water to deliver - and the long range forecasters predict that autumn and winter will deliver a wet year.

What odds that we will see a big change in the value insurance companies  use to insure late model cars - in contrast to the contrived " market value " presently used.     The present wide gap simply invites a crime wave !

The " Wilton airport " question ?

The suggestion of Sydney's second airport being established at Wilton would be a huge boost for the Illawarra. The only objection raised by some residents seems to relate to aircraft noise, but the Wollongong/Shellharbour coastal plain is nestled fifteen hundred feet lower than the escarpment - and Wilton is twenty miles further inland, hence aircraft taking off and landing will have sufficient height distance to remove noise as a factor.

An airport at Wilton will deliver the answer to so many of the problems that plague this region.

The first bonus will be jobs - jobs - jobs.   Not only will building an airport be a jobs bonanza that runs for years, manning the huge complex that is an airport today will soak up thousands of people permanently - and it is a proven fact that employers usually favour those who live closest to their place of employment.

We have been constantly urging an upgrade of our Sydney rail connection.  The existing rail line was constructed in the pick and shovel, horse and cart era and the topography makes taking out all the bends and curves impossible.   The only answer that has been suggested is a costly new tunnel connecting Thirroul with Waterfall, but the necessity of a rail connection between Wilton airport and Sydney opens up a whole new ball game.   A shorter tunnel connecting Wollongong to the other side of the escarpment to access that rail line opens up the prospect of high speed rail.

Another Illawarra dream has been a decent expressway between Wollongong and Sydney for road users.  We have the F6 connecting us as far as Heathcote, but that road extension from the south remains just a vacant land corridor.    The infrastructure necessary to make Wilton a reality will demand both a decent rail and road link - and that can only mean the F6 extension becoming a reality - and delivering the ready access that we have been denied for so long.

Unfortunately, the good news is subjected to the reality that even if the airport got an immediate government decision, it would be at least a decade - and probably a lot longer - before we would see the first planes in the sky overhead.

Planning and building an airport involves the bureaucracy - and the bureaucracy moves at snails pace.  There will need to be an enquiry to determine the pros and cons, and when that is settled there will be the usual bun fight over land acquisitions and compensation payments.   Then all sorts of experts will crawl out of the woodwork to have their say on the environmental issues that need to be settled.    It would not be surprising if some rare form of insect, flower or animal was found to inhabit the site.

The actual work of building a modern airport will involve the efforts of world class companies and it is possible that no Australian company has the capacity to undertake a job of this size.   We are talking about a  project running into billions - which some will compare with  that of the Snowy Mountain scheme of last century.

Wilton airport will be the long term salvation of the Illawarra, but just don't get too excited - too soon.

The beneficiaries are most likely to be the tiny tots who are presently enrolled in pre-schools around this area -  and the kids who are yet to be born. !

Prescription drug jungle !

There have been some alarming news items concerning prescription drugs lately.   One widely prescribed drug intended to relieve reflux dilutes the acid content of the stomach and bowel to such an extent that it encourages the entry of several other diseases - one of which is usually fatal.

Statins are the most common drugs to lower blood pressure, but we are now warned that they have a link between memory loss and the onset of diabetes in users.   It tends to highlight Newton's Law - "  To every action, there is an equal and opposite re-action ".      What fixes one problem creates another !

Just about every Australian man and woman over fifty is on some sort of drug regimen.   The problem is that over the years we are prescribed drugs to combat various ailments.   Sometimes these are prescribed by a specialist and sometimes by our general practitioner, but once prescribed  we go on taking them indefinitely.

We tend to fall into a very familiar routine.    We make regular visits to our GP to get prescriptions renewed.  At that time, it is normal for things like the annual flu shot to be given, and blood pressure to be checked - but rarely is our entire drug regimen closely examined to determine if any of these drugs are still necessary - or if any of them conflict with one another.

Hopefully, our GP should spot any dangerous mix of drugs, but then general practitioners are busy people and in many towns and suburbs they are few in number in contrast to patients.   There is also a seniority question.   If a specialist has prescribed a drug it should be in the full knowledge of the patient's existing drug regimen - and that specialist is higher in the pecking order than the GP.     Dangerous drug mixes can occur if the specialist misses the presence of other drugs, because the patient can not remember the names of his or her existing drug regimen at the time of the specialist appointment.

So - what is the answer to this dangerous problem ?

Obviously, this should be a subject to be raised with your GP when next you ask for prescription renewal, but as a double check it would be a good idea to ask that same question of the pharmacist who makes up the supply.     It is just one more step in using the " pecking order " to get a drug evaluation under way.

The pharmacist  is the lowest rank on the totem pole and would not usually question the choice of a GP - who would not question the drug choice of a specialist - but has the knowledge of the drug spectrum to spot potential incompatibility.

Once there is a question of incompatibility it is up to you - as the patient - to follow up back along the line, and even take up the question with the specialist - who you probably have not seen for many years since that first consultation.

The key is to understand exactly what the drugs you take are expected to do - and why you are taking them !

The censor cometh !

There is something ominous about the findings of an independent enquiry into regulation of the Australian media industry.    This six month enquiry considered sixty submissions and now finds that we need a new statutory authority to impose rules and regulations under which the media must work and comply.

Headed by former Federal court judge Ray Finkelstein, the enquiry finds that the present code of self regulation is inadequate.

Many people might think that this enquiry smacks of " opportunism " .   The British media is in uproar because phones and computers were hacked to gain news sensations and there was widespread corruption - with reporters paying what amounted to bribes to police, civil servants and even palace insiders to gain sensitive information.

What happened in England is not what is happening in Australia, but perhaps it is seen as an opportunity to curb the Australian press and clamp down the lid on criticism of the government.   If this new statutory authority goes ahead, it will be Federal government people who write the rules and regulations that will apply.

The first step in imposing censorship is the mechanism for suggesting that some form of regulation is now necessary.   If the public swallows that, then we will no doubt be told that the aims of the new regulations are to stop the invasion of privacy - and make it illegal to say or print conjecture unless this has been cleared by the subject.

Perhaps the real target is people like Andrew Bolt and his " Bolt Report ".

Andrew Bolt is often critical of the government.   He has a habit of delving into matters that the government - and sometimes the opposition - would like to keep under wraps.   His report has gained wide coverage because it attracts public interest, and because of this - it has become the medium for insiders who know dirty little secrets - to whisper in his ear.

Governments like to close down " leaks " , and one of the best ways to silence insiders is to force journalists to reveal their sources of information,  Setting up a " statutory authority " to regulate the media industry could be the first step in forcing such disclosures.

A lot of world regimes control their media with an iron fist.  What you read or hear is only what the censor allows - and as a result those governments get away with repression - and often one party rule.

Having an honest government goes hand in hand with having a free news media !

Justice denied ?

Tony Mokbel is a notorious criminal and he has just had an application to change his plea from " Guilty " to " Not Guilty " rejected  in a Victorian court.   Most people will be surprised to learn that such a change requires permission.   If the circumstances of the case change, then surely the defendant is permitted a change of mind ?

Over recent decades there have been changes in the way the law system operates.  In the old days any prisoner was presented to a judge and jury and the case proceeded to verdict.   If that verdict was " guilty ", then the presiding judge had the sole discretion of award the punishment.

Not so today.   Before the case goes anywhere near a court, the prosecutor and the defence sit down and " plea bargain ".     This is mostly a discounting of the term to be served in exchange for a guilty plea, and as a consequence the judge has a strictly limited role in awarding punishment for the crime.    The legal fraternity claims that this speeds up the court system by removing many long and costly sitting days when a prisoner enters a " not guilty " plea despite overwhelming evidence - in the faint hope that somehow a " miracle " will decide the verdict in his or her favour.

The unusual factor in the Mokbel case that is causing public disquiet - is the claim that that the evidence to be presented to the trial is now considered legally  not admissible - and that was the reason for the prisoner entering a "guilty " plea at an earlier hearing.    An investigation revealed that the search warrants used by the police to gain evidence were not properly sworn, and therefore the evidence gained can not be used to in court.  On this basis - Mokbel has a hugely better chance of being acquitted, but now the appeals court is refusing to allow him a plea change.

The basis of the law is " that justice shall be done - and be seen to be done ".   If a person charged with a crime is locked into a guilty plea when the evidence against him is tainted by " police misconduct " and unable to be used to gain a conviction, then that definition of the law is not true.

This looks like heading into what is often called a " lawyer's picnic ".    The fact that retrospective legislation is being used to circumvent a plea change will ensure that legions of top silks will battle it out in ever increasing appeals courts - and the issue will probably be finally decided in Australia's High court.

And while all this is happening, the unfortunate prisoner will languish in a gaol cell.

Hidden agendas !

Over a year ago the live cattle export industry in northern Australia came to a halt after an ABC TV programme showed cruel practices in several Indonesian abattoirs. Later, there were suggestions that animal welfare people had paid abattoir workers to deliberately distort what viewers saw to serve their own ends.  As a result, exports were temporarily banned, relations between Australia and Indonesia harmed - and the legitimate cattle industry in this country was badly damaged.

Here we go again !    This week the ABC ran another film segment that showed cattle in several Indonesian abattoirs being killed without pre-stunning.  That has been a demand by the Australian government, and it certainly has been adopted by the leading abattoir groups in that country, but perhaps it is time for a reality check.

For thousands of years the method used to start the process of preparing all forms of meat for human consumption - was to cut the animals throat to allow the carcass to bleed out.   It is only in the past few decades that animal welfare proponents have insisted that the animal be pre-stunned to save them from the fear factor.

The situation in Australia is very different from that in Indonesia, where there are thousands of villages that slaughter and prepare their own livestock, as opposed to large central abattoirs.   One of the reasons is lack of refrigeration to allow centrally killed meat to be processed and distributed.   Lack of refrigeration means that meat must be killed, processed, cooked and eaten within a time frame of hours - rather than days or weeks.

It is unreasonable for a developed country like Australia to dictate how cattle and pigs must be pre-stunned by a costly process in village abattoirs, when we condone the slaughter of all forms of poultry by having their heads chopped off to bleed their carcass.   Surely that same fear factor applies.

This weeks ABC film clip has resulted in a more measured approach.   Instead of rushing headlong to stop exports, the government is wanting all the background information as to just which abattoirs were involved, and whether these receive cattle from Australia.

No doubt Indonesia will agree to Australian pressure and make pre-stunning compulsory in it's high volume big city abattoirs, but it would be both unpractical and impossible to extend that demand to every village butcher - who may kill and sell a carcass just once a week.

It is also worth considering the threat to one of our biggest employers of people in the northern part of this country, just to satisfy the sensibilities of  some animal welfare people who want to change the world - and outlaw a practice that has been the norm since the time that the Pyramids of Egypt started construction !