Fickle trends in vehicle choice !

Just a decade or so ago two car models dominated the Australian motor industry.  It was the ambition of most Australian families to own either a Holden Commodore or a Ford Falcon.  Both were produced in a choice of sedan or wagon models and their size suited the average family.   Sales are still significant, but they no longer rule the roost and Holden has announced that it will cease production for several days between now and Christmas at it's assembly plant at Elizabeth in South Australia.

For some strange reason, these two cars fell out of favour with the car buying public.  Motor industry journalists have suggested many reasons , but none of these make perfect sense.   It is suggested that the higher cost of petrol caused their demise, but many of the buying public opted for hulking great Sports Utility vehicles - gas guzzlers in the true sense of that word.

Times are hard and there is no doubt that world car manufacturing is luring buyers on price.   Most marques offer a badged small car, but this is not produced in one of their assembly factories.  Two countries - South Korea and India - are the source of most of the high quality - low priced small car models making huge inroads into the world car markets.    These are quality products, and their makers have the confidence to offer a five year unlimited mileage factory warranty.

Another option finding favour with buyers - is the choice of a diesel engine.   An increasing number of models now come in both petrol or diesel mode, and the diesel engine has come a long way from the noisy, clattering, glow plug waiting - engine that belched black smoke and emitted foul smells.    Today's diesels are hard to pick from their petrol cousins - except that they deliver better fuel mileage.

Car manufacturing is still a labour intensive industry, despite the steady progress of welding robots and automation of the production line.  Both national and state governments are being held hostage to the jobs they provide.  Each model choice is the result of a bargain in which the government provides some sort of financial incentive to keep the manufacturing plant from escaping to another country - until the end of that model brings a new round of decision making.

So - what is the future looking like for the Commodore and the Falcon ?

Unfortunately, both will probably disappear within the time of another decade.   With private buyers deserting them in droves, the remaining big market segments are the fleet buyers.   The taxi fleets of Australia are almost exclusively Falcon.   Government departments are big buyers of cars and obviously the type and brand is subject to diktat.   The commercial world has favoured both of the big Australian sixes as their choice for sales representatives and executive transport.    It seems that fleet operations are the last refuge for Commodore and Falcon.

Not so long ago, having a company car provided was one of the perks of many jobs.   Since then, the increasing cost of new vehicles and the introduction of things like " the fringe benefits tax " have altered the equation.  The necessity of providing a car is being questioned, and the balance is swinging into paying the employee compensation for using his or her personal vehicle for business tasks.    This is producing a different pressure on buying decisions.   Some employees see this as a chance to move upmarket in the car they drive because the cost is now not entirely from their own pocket - and that choice is more likely to take the market into higher priced, imported luxury vehicles.

Commodore has seen sales  slip by abut 27% and Falcon faces a similar scenario.  Producing a new model is a huge expense and both manufacturers will be gazing into the crystal ball to determine if that outlay is warranted.   It is unlikely that the present situation will change for the better and the current Falcon may be the last model to roll off the production line.  Commodore may make a final model, but it seems certain that the days of these iconic vehicles are coming to an end !

Pollution !

There seems no end to the steady march of pollution.  We are seeing it advance on the local scene - on the broad scope of the world's oceans - and now it is encroaching across stellar space.

Subsidence from the " longwall " mining of coal is blamed for damage to the Waratah rivulet which empties into the source of Wollongong's drinking water - Woronora dam.   Cracks are appearing in the rock structure of the rivulet, allowing iron oxide to leach and add a reddish discolouration to the sand at the waters edge, and the main flow is now an opaque green.   The former crystal clarity is long gone !

Plastic in the world's oceans has been steadily increasing and has created what scientists have termed " the great Pacific  garbage patch ".    Current circulation that touches the shores of countries in the Pacific region have collected thousands of tonnes of plastic that is now forming a " raft " in the middle of the ocean.  It is mistaken for food by birds and many sea creatures, leading to their death.   Now we learn that the pristine waters of the Antarctic are accumulating a similar phenomenon.

Even the far reaches of space are not immune.  In the next few days it will be necessary for the International Space station to be moved to avoid a collision with parts of a defunct Russian satellite.   Kosmos 2251 has broken into several large pieces and these will damage the space station if it remains in it's present orbit position.   As more and more countries gain the ability to launch satellites, the question arises of how do we remove space junk when objects in orbit reach the end of their commercial lives ?    As things now stand -  they are simply abandoned - to circle in space forever !

In an ideal world, cleaning up the mess we make would seem to be something that each country would be required to do within the scope of the United Nations.   Unfortunately, the track record of the United Nations would make this most unlikely.    The countries of the General Assembly are famous for disagreeing on political, religious and ideological grounds - on just about every subject that has ever been raised in that chamber.

Perhaps the only segment that might be possible to save from future major pollution - is space.   It might be possible to get the countries of the earth to agree to install a propulsion unit  to return each new satellite launched - back to re-entry and fiery destruction - once it's mission was accomplished.   At least that would be an improvement on just abandoning it in situ.

Which still leaves a problem of cleaning up that great floating garbage patch in the ocean, and achieving a balance between commercial operations and the ecology.    Problems likely to be forever consigned to the " too hard basket " !

Female Circumcision !

The arrest of nine people on charges of mutilating the genitals of two young girls has dragged the subject of female circumcision into the public arena.  This is happening in the Australian cities of Sydney and Wollongong, and many suspect that it is much more widely practised than the authorities will admit.

In this instance, the people involved include a registered medical practitioner and a registered nurse, and the little girls mutilated were aged just six and seven.  These are serious charges and it is likely that if proved they will result in a gaol sentence, and probably both the doctor and nurse will be de-registered by their professional standards committees.

What most Australians find so abhorrent is the thinking behind this mutilation.   The offenders often claim that they are carrying out a religious requirement, but that is not true.   There is no call for female circumcision in the laws of any religion and this claim is made by religious splinter groups who interpret religious laws to suit their own requirements.

The thinking behind female mutilation runs in tandem with areas of society where women have no status and are restricted to tribal taboos.   Almost from the day a female child learns to walk they are closed away and their virginity is strictly guarded.   Often they become a child bride to an older man, not so much as a " wife " as an item of personal property.   They are there to serve their owner sexually, but their own emotional needs are totally ignored.

This seems to be where female circumcision originated.,   These male dominated societies wished to ensure that their female slaves did not stray sexually, and so began the practice of removing the clitoris.   Without joy from sex, all forms of reason to be attracted sexually to others - disappeared.    The facts that this " wife " received no sexual joy from her " husband " was treated with indifference.

There are laws against this form of mutilation in Australia, but it is still being carried out behind closed doors, and unfortunately - once performed - it is beyond restoration.    These mutilated women will never know the joy of sex - and in many cases the people who performed this abomination will be their own parents.

Tribal custom is probably the most difficult ingrained thinking to change in a society that is still rooted in the dark ages, but the only weapons available to a modern society seem to be " the stick and the carrot ".    It is essential that the courts crack down hard and dispense harsh penalties to discourage the custom in this country - and at the same time we need to reach out to those from another culture and try and educate them about the role of women in this nation's culture.

Progress will be slow and difficult, and in this instance proceeding through the courts - the damage has already been done !

The dangers of " Nationalism " !

The streets of Beijing have given the world scenes not usually seen in China.   Thousands of flag waving citizens have been demonstrating outside the Japanese embassy and recalling an infamous era when their country was invaded by Japan - and all this seems to have been approved by the ruling Communist government.

All forms of protest are usually rigorously controlled in China, but these are difficult times.   This is the year of a once a decade leadership change and all is not well in the ranks of the Politburo.   The heir apparent went missing from public gaze for a week  without a plausible explanation.  A police chief fled to the American embassy in fear of his life, and it seems that a foreign businessman was murdered by the wife of a high ranking Communist official.    The Communist government badly needed a diversion to take the spotlight away from the strife tearing the party apart.

That decoy came in the form of several tiny islands in the South China sea.   They are worthless from a real estate point of view, but ownership confers sea sovereignty and oil and mineral rights on the nation that flies it's flag above them - and that is hotly contested between China and Japan..

The Chinese leaders seem to have let the  " Nationalism "  cat out of the bag.   The protesting crowds are being encouraged and ships from both nations are now aiming high pressure fire hoses at one another as they circle the islands.   Once national honour becomes a part of the equation, it will be hard for either side to back down and negotiate a mutual deal.

This will all probably end peacefully - provided the Chinese leadership change does not spring any other unpleasant surprises, and provided the Chinese economy remains relatively on track.    The trouble with nationalism is that it can not be turned on and off like a tap.    Once the flag waving takes public hold it is not unusual for the war drums to start keeping pace - and if push turns to shove - bullets start flying in place of water cannons.

China is a nuclear power - and Japan is not.  In return for Japan's post war neutralist constitution, the United States signed a mutual defence pact with Japan.   Hostilities between China and Japan could draw in American forces and that would see a dangerous standoff between the world's two super powers.

The key to defanging this emerging danger lays in the hands of the Chinese Politburo.   They need to put their house in order and get on with the leadership change, and close down the nationalist rhetoric that is whipping up passions in the street.    The Americans will obviously assist in damping down Japanese sensibilities once there is a lead from the Chinese.   The last thing the Americans need is some sort of war with China.

The big danger is if Chinese nationalism gets out of hand and extends beyond the reach of the Politburo.  As the world has seen all too often over the centuries,  nationalism seems to feed on itself - and quickly reach the stage where it is impossible to put the cork back in the bottle !

Lock 'em up !

Law and order issues usually end up evolving into a political auction as each side of politics seeks to prove that they are tougher on protecting  citizens.   A proposal to release Victor Chang's killer on health grounds has revived this debate.   There is now a proposal to extend the gaol term of those who refuse to take part in the prison rehabilitation programmes.

This seems to miss the point.   When a convicted felon appears before a judge for sentencing that judge usually imposes a maximum sentence as prescribed by law for the offence committed, but the judge does not expect the prisoner to serve that time fully.   For that reason, there is usually a nominated period that must be served before any prospect of release on parole.

Once that minimum sentence has expired, additional factors will be weighed up by the parole board.  Has the prisoner shown remorse  ?    Has the prisoner been well behaved behind bars. ?   Has the prisoner attended rehabilitation programmes  ?    What are the chances of the prisoner being successfully reintegrated into society  ?

A prisoner who is defiant of authority and makes trouble in the prison fails one of those tests.  A prisoner who shows no remorse and refuses all offers of rehabilitation fails another.  That prisoner can not expect an early release when the fixed term of imprisonment has expired - and will usually remain behind bars for the full extent of the term awarded by the judge.

A reward for good conduct and cooperation is already built into the system by way of early remission.  It also delivers a bonus to society.   A prisoner released on parole is subjected to the rules and regulations imposed by the parole board - and supervised by parole officers.   In contrast, a defiant prisoner who is refused parole and eventually serves his or her full sentence, walks out the prison gate with no further control measures in place.    They are entirely free - and there is no restriction to stop them resuming a life of crime.

It is true that Victor Chang's killer has refused rehabilitation and has not expressed remorse for his actions, but he also has Parkinsons disease and is showing signs of Alzheimers disease.   If he is denied early release and deportation to Malaysia, he will have to serve the few years remaining on his sentence, but he will probably be too ill to remain within the normal prison system and will need to be housed in some sort of prison hospital - at great public expense.

The prospect of a new law second guessing the sentence handed down by the legal system and imposing additional gaol time would overturn the concept under which our laws are based.   We would be venturing into the area of holding people in prison without the offender having a day in court in respect to the additional time to be served - something we abhor in undemocratic regimes.   It could invoke the concept of "double jeopardy ".

Tinkering with the law to gain political approval can have far reaching - and very unexpected - consequences !

The " Fine " Farce !

There is no doubt that we have a problem with liquor and its affect on people's behaviour.   Whenever the city nightclubs empty out in the early hours of the morning we are treated to the spectacle of drunken men and women brawling in the street.  Over indulgence in liquor is usually the root cause of most domestic disputes - and alcohol is becoming part of the lifestyle of children at an ever younger age.

The state government is suggesting a law change to try and push the genie back into the bottle when it comes to access to liquor for those below the legal age of eighteen.

This proposal seeks to impose a fine of a thousand dollars on any person below that age who is detected sneaking into a club or pub, or who attempts to buy liquor from a bottle shop.    This would not be a fine to be levied at a magistrate's discretion.  It would be a fine - set in concrete - that would apply in all circumstances.    No " if's " , " buts " or " maybes " !

Of course, not too many teenagers have a spare thousand dollars at their disposal, so this new law extends responsibility for paying the fine onto the culprits parents.   The thinking is, if those parents are out of pocket a thousand dollars they will be more careful in supervising their child's behaviour - and they will recover this fine money from the child when he or she finally starts to earn a living.

If ever a new law sat up and begged to be challenged in the appeals court, it would have to be this one ! The same justice system has stripped away parental rights to control the behaviour of children.   They can not legally impose a curfew.   They can not stop a child leaving their home without permission and in fact government agencies will encourage young people to reject " rules ".   Those that invent a story that suggests there may be a " danger " in the family home are even given a stipend  to live free of parental authority.

This is a totally unworkable concept.   It sounds good in theory for those who don't bother to think through the consequences, but it would be impossible to impose control responsibility on parents without also restoring their right to legally exercise this authority - and that has not even been suggested !

Stopping young people getting access to liquor is a lost cause.  The only real remedy open to government is to beef up the age checking criteria at all venues that dispense  alcohol.   There have been suggestions of raising the legal age from eighteen to twenty-one, but it must be remembered that when that age was twenty-one here, we still had exactly the same problem - and the legal age in most American states is still twenty-one - and the problem exists there too.

Alcohol and young people have been  a perennial problem.   It has always been with us - and it probably always will be.    The only consolation is that with age comes wisdom.   Eventually, we all put our " wild days " behind us - and join in the criticism of the present crop of " hell raisers " !

Tipping Point !

Science has become more strident in warning that global warming will produce irreversible changes to this planet.  One of the factors causing alarm is the increasing speed with which the Arctic ice cap is melting. This polar ice reflects sunlight back into space and when it is replaced by dark water that reflection changes to absorption.   The ice has been retreating each summer for years and now it is estimated that we will see an ice free north pole - not in 2050 but by 2030 if the present rate remains unchanged.

We are told that a temperature increase of just I.5 degrees  would result in the complete destruction of the Greenland ice sheet, the biggest body of ice in the world and that would cause a catastrophic rise in the sea levels of the world's oceans.   The course of the various gulf streams would be altered and consequently changes to the jet streams in the air above would change the world's weather patterns alarmingly. It is said that we are fast approaching the " tipping point " - where the melt will become irreversible.

There is another phenomenon that  seems to have escaped discussion.   This accelerating polar melt is happening at a much faster rate in the Arctic than in the Antarctic.   It is probable that because there is more of the world's population living in the northern hemisphere, the pollution output of China, India and the United States, plus that of Europe - is circulating over the Arctic.  In contrast, the smaller output from the countries of the southern hemisphere is causing a less dramatic Antarctic melt.

Planet earth is a finely balanced spinning ball hurtling through space.   If an ice free north pole is not balanced by a corresponding loss of ice in the Antarctic, then there is the prospect of the planet going out of balance.
We know what happens if one of the tyres on our car sheds a balancing weight.   Just imagine the " wobble " that could occur if a huge weight of ice in the Antarctic was not counter balanced by a similar .mass in the Arctic ?

The past years seem to have seen an increase in volcanic activity. A number of dormant volcanoes have come to life and there have been more earthquakes.   The inner core of this planet is a molten mass of magma.    Is it possible that a growing imbalance is exerting thrust on this material and causing an increase in volcanic activity ?

Most of the discussion on global warming has been concentrated on rising sea levels and the damage that will do to our way of life.   It would be comforting if science issued clear predictions on how the melting of the ice caps will affect the balance of this planet, and if we have anything to fear from a change of natural balance .
The silence of the scientists on this issue - is deafening !

Opportunity - Slipping away !

One thing no Wollongong citizen would deny - is the fact that we have a major parking problem right in the heart of our entertainment district.   Every time there is a crowd attracting performance - and " Disney on Ice " and " Southern Stars " comes to mind, we have a battle between desperate drivers and council rangers.  There simply is no parking near the venues and as a result cars cram onto nature strips and attract a bonanza of fines for the council.

The situation is similar whenever a home game is played at Win Stadium.   We have concentrated all our entertainment venues in lower Crown street, but we have totally neglected to make any provision for the car parking spaces that will make them viable.

A once in a lifetime opportunity to fix this problem is staring us in the face - and we are letting it slip away.

When Dwyers moved their car dealership from Crown street to North Wollongong  the old buildings were demolished to present a virgin site for development.  For a time, there was a battle between what was termed the " Gravity " concept and another Keira street retail development.   Keira street won - and is now well into the construction stage to virtually double the CBD shopping centre.

That old Dwyer site extends to an entire city block, and it is unusual to find vacant prime land in the centre of a major city.  Whatever price it brings now, it will undoubtedly increase steadily in the future.  In council hands, it will provide an immediate solution to the entertainment district parking problem - and it will offer a future opportunity to combine a parking station with another commercial venture - which could be a much needed conference centre or a major hotel.

Council recently bought a property for $ 5.2 million in Flinders street, North Wollongong.   This site and the Dwyers site are approximately the same distance from the Wollongong Mall, hence if council is looking to Flinders street as it's next parking station it will only serve a single purpose.    In contrast, buying and developing the Dwyers site will serve parking for both the Mall and the entertainment district.

Unfortunately, council does not propose to enter a bid for the Dwyers site.   As a result, opportunity will slip out of council's hands and this valuable property will be used for another purpose, probably even broken up into a number of freeholds to distribute the development cost structure.

There will be just this one opportunity to solve Wollongong's parking problem.  If we let it go - it will be gone forever !

The Wollongong Council Scandal - fizzes out !

It all started in December 2006, when an ICAC hit team raided Wollongong council.   Staff were turned out of their offices and investigators seized computer hard drives and delved through council records - and then there was a long silence.

That silence ended in 2008 when a story broke that hit newspaper headlines right across Australia - and what a lurid tale it turned out to be.  It had all the elements of a Hollywood soap opera.   The cast of characters included a beautiful young town planner and a bevy of developers engaging in sexual trysts and gaining favours for rubber stamping plans for buildings that contravened planning laws on height and floor ratios - and zoning conditions.  There were accusations of councillors seeking bribes and it was suggested that senior council management was complicit in lax supervision.   The state government sacked the entire council - and appointed administrators.

The ICAC enquiry that followed was a revelation.   It disclosed  details of boozy lunches  where supposed bribes were negotiated and this produced a litany of cross claims.  The developers said council staff were the ones demanding bribes, and the council staff said they were offered money to look the other way.  It quickly descended into unprovable innuendo - and then a new element showed that at least the crime fraternity is not without ingenuity.

It emerged that a shady pair of con men had represented themselves to some of those involved as undercover ICAC investigators - who could make evidence " disappear " - for a consideration.  Money- and a case of expensive whisky - changed hands, to the amusement of those who were closely following this investigation.

The end result of this affair was disappointing.   Only one person involved received a conviction for a minor matter - and served a mere four months in gaol.   The broad brush of incompetence and deceit touched all of those involved, and the long suffering citizens of Wollongong put up with years of domination by appointed administrators - who inflicted parking meters on the city and seriously damaged the profitability of it's commercial centre..

Now - the final scenario has been announced.    ICAC will not proceed with court action  over the remaining charges - and the case is closed.    It seems that the passage of time and the unreliability of human memory will make further prosecution " doubtful ".

A lot of people will breathe a sigh of relief.   A heavy weight has been lifted and this city is again under the control of representatives voted into office by the citizens.    The whiff of scandal and corruption is slowly fading - and events are returning to " politics as usual ".      It's just a pity we are still stuck with those parking meters !

The shrinking retail scene !

A whisper that retail behemoth David Jones has called for a valuation of it's retail stores has set tongues wagging in the money market.   There is a rumour circulating that the big end of town is seriously considering selling these valuable properties and reconfiguring its retail aspirations by morphing into an on-line department store.

David Jones denies the rumour, but it is a fact of life that retail sales have slumped as more and more customers go for the cheaper prices available on-line, and last years profit for the group fell from $ 168 million to just $ 101 million on a decreased turnover.   Directors of any business would be negligent if they didn't consider all the options.

Big department store chains worldwide are doing it tough.  David Jones stores are valued at $ 612 million and the bean counters must be salivating at the opportunities offering if the sale wiped out all debt and opened the door for wonderful new ventures.

This David Jones navel gazing comes at an awkward time for the business community of Wollongong.   David Jones and Myer are the lynch pins of this city's retail hub.  They are both located almost side by side in the CBD and a massive building programme is in progress to virtually double the shopping precinct that is the Wollongong Mall.  Almost an entire city block has been demolished and next year a glittering array of  shops will be looking for owners to breathe new life into this city.

Even a remote chance that one of our massive department stores may go on the market as a redevelopment site would send a chill through the business community.   That would hardly be a vote of confidence on the sustainability of brick and mortar stores, and that must shade the decisions of those thinking that an expanded shopping centre brings " opportunity " !

Obviously, the anchor tenants will have been long signed up but it is the mix of speciality stores that gives a shopping centre it's vibrant hum.   Wollongong residents may remember an unfortunate arcade development in the lower part of the city that failed to attract those wishing to start a business.  This resulted in a decade of empty shops displaying the merchandise of other stores to give the impression of prosperity.  Hopefully, a similar fate does not await this fast finishing  Mall expansion !

Leadership - and courage !

The leaders of Sydney's Muslim community showed great courage when they fronted the TV cameras as a group - and roundly condemned the Saturday riot.   They appealed to their people to ignore the avalanche of hateful SMS messaging emanating from the hard core fundamentalist group behind the disturbance and to refrain from joining further protests planned for the coming days.

This is the sort of action that will go a long way to change the attitude of non-Muslim Australians towards Islam.    When the fiery scenes of death and destruction caused by the events of 9/11 burst onto our TV screens, there was a deathly silence from moderate Muslim leaders - and many people interpreted that silence as approval of what had occurred.

Hijacking aircraft and flying them into the twin towers was such a monstrous act - and so unexpected - that the Muslim community here was just as shocked as anyone else, and it took time for reactions to coalesce. This void was quickly filled by the firebrands who seemed to be speaking in a united voice and many people of the Muslim faith felt the pressure to join in this jihad.   The absence of an opinion from their leaders left them exposed to only one side of the argument - and that was the contention that Islam was under attack from the west.

Moderate Islam has now found it's voice.   The woman who brought a child to the fracas and was photographed holding a sign demanding beheading has voluntarily contacted the police.  Moderate Muslims are looking at the TV footage and recognising the hard core behind the violence, and that information is no longer locked behind a wall of silence.   Islam in Sydney has arrived at decision time.  For some, it is still difficult to speak out against their brethren, but attitudes are changing and the fact that Muslim leaders are calling for calm - and condemning senseless violence against an event that has absolutely nothing to do with this country. - is causing rational thinking to replace the biased bigotry of the fundamentalists.

Changing attitudes will be a slow process, but the courage of Sydney's Muslim leaders is showing the way.
What is needed now is support to keep these people safe from the personal violence for which the firebrands are noted.  Their aim is world jihad, and if that means silencing the voices of reason, then events in other parts of the world has shown the extremes to which they are prepared to go.

We should not underestimate the courage it took to denounce the jihadists who aim to drive a wedge between Islam and the rest of Australia !

Those topless photos !

There is something weird about the hullabaloo over those topless photos of Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge.   We have come a long way since the baring of a young woman's " boobs "  caused shock and consternation.  This ruckus seems to be concentrated on the fact that Kate will one day be the queen of England, and apparently the palace does not think it fitting that a future queen should be depicted in this manner.

William and Kate were probably naive to think they would be safe from prying paparazzi with long range big lens cameras  - no matter how distant and remote their hideout.   For the rest of their lives they will live in a bright little fish bowl, fair game for the public to watch and criticise and certainly amongst the most photographed subjects in the world.   It goes with being a " celebrity " !

The present actions to seek injunctions and have the photographer arrested are only going to prolong public interest.  William and Kate might be well advised to simply shrug their shoulders and ignore this intrusion into their privacy - if the Mandarins at the palace can be persuaded to take that stance.    A lot of this fuss is probably originating from the fusty band of titled folk who are part of the " Royal establishment " running the " firm " - as the present queen describes the monarchy.

William and Kate will not sit on thrones for many years to come.   The next king will be Charles and he seems to have a few good years left, provided he does not go completely nuts and end up locked up in the Tower of London.   The younger Royals have an opportunity to set the scene for their time as monarchs by creating an image of royalty in the twenty-first century, and if that means admitting that - like millions of other young women - Kate likes to sit in the sun topless - then so be it !

Our journey through life has many stages. The life of the present queen is amazingly different from that of queen Victoria and by the time Kate becomes queen she will probably be the mother of several children and she will no longer be a carefree young woman learning the ropes of being a " Royal ".      Perhaps then, both she and her subjects will look back with nostalgia at those photographs and wonder why on earth there was such a fuss about a so trivial event ?

A rethink on " Citizenship " ?

Saturdays riot in the centre of Sydney must have some people giving our " Citizenship " policy serious thought.   A large group of people objecting to an event that happened in another country used violence to disrupt the city centre, fight and injure police and call for extreme violence against those who insulted their religion.   All this had absolutely nothing to do with Australia and leading the trouble was an obvious group of  fundamentalists who were urging others to break our laws.

We accept an intake of refugees each year and they are usually quickly granted citizenship.  This requires them to make a promise that they will obey our laws and be good citizens, but if they lie and go on to break those laws the pledge we made in good faith holds and they have equal rights with those born here - and they can not be deported.

Perhaps it is time to consider a period of probation on citizenship.   Gaining that coveted certificate is a privilege that should be earned.  It certainly should not be bestowed lightly.   In particular, those who pay people smugglers to bring them to our shores in boats and then destroy all means of identification to make it difficult for immigration to check their bona-fides should have to prove that they are of good intent by serving a long apprenticeship before they are even considered for that valuable permanent residency award.

The period of probation should directly relate to what we are able to learn about an applicants past life and conduct.   Those who come here through the legitimate immigration process have documents that can serve this purpose  and could be processed to citizenship in a reasonably short period of time, but those of a deliberately unknown quality should not be granted that guarantee of permanent residence until they have served an apprenticeship measured in years.

A migrant applicant who undertakes a life of crime, refuses to adhere to the laws of this country and holds inflammatory religious views that lean towards religious violence should never be granted citizenship.   It is not sufficient to extract a pledge that in so many cases is instantly broken.  It would not be unreasonable to expect an incoming migrant to prove by the passage of a nominated period of time that they genuinely intend to live and work peacefully in this country before they receive an award of citizenship.

Muslim community leaders were appalled  at what happened in Sydney on Saturday.  It is evident that this mob was led by a hard core of extremists and others of a more moderate view were swept along.  Some families brought children with them, and some of these kids were displaying signs that called for the beheading  of those with a different religious view.     It would be reasonable to expect that those hardliners were all comfortably hiding behind a citizenship certificate that ensures their residency rights.

We need a rethink on citizenship.    That is a right that needs to be earned and it certainly should not be bestowed lightly.    The vast majority of people who have come to this country have settled well into the Australian way of life and we now have a population of over twenty-two million.

That event on Saturday shows that there are some seeking this country's protection that have no intention of adopting the Australian way of life - nor should they ever be granted the right to call themselves " Australian " !

Compromising safety !

For decades, government agencies have been trying to get people to take an emergency beacon with them when they journey out to sea on a fishing trip or hike in dense bushland in a national park.   These small, relatively cheap devices send out a signal when triggered that enables the national search organization to pin point it's location - and enable a fast rescue.   They save lives !

The message is starting to get through.  There are now 248,000 emergency beacons in private hands in Australia and the number is growing.  An additional three thousand are bought and registered each month, but to the dismay of searchers - the number of " false alarms " is increasing and causing a cost blow out. Emergencies need a fast response and that usually involves helicopters.   Putting a chopper in the air with it's Medivac crew runs to  thousands of  dollars per hour.

Last year alone, emergency beacons were triggered 1700 times, resulting in 206 emergency search responses - but only 109 of these was a genuine emergency.   It seems that some members of the public have a fanciful interpretation of what constitutes an emergency.   In some cases, the device was triggered because a driver found a four wheel drive vehicle became bogged or was suffering a minor mechanical fault, well within walking distance of support facilities.   It was a case of using the emergency beacon  as a type of NRMA road service !

Statistics show that over four hundred devices were triggered inadvertently, and sadly - twenty-one were time and money wasting hoaxes.   The service advises that owners need to be very careful in disposing of old analogue search beacons which are now replaced by more powerful digital models.   Some have been dumped at landfills and the vibration of compacting have caused them to switch on - with a consequent response triggered.   Battery removal should always be part of the decommissioning process.

Used wisely, an emergency beacon can be a lifesaver.  Unfortunately, we still have people who head out to sea in boats and rely on a mobile phone for emergency communications.   Police stations and ranger stations at national parks have emergency beacons available for bushwalkers - free of charge - but some people still go into danger hopelessly ill equipped for the task ahead.

Emergency services urge users to treat these beacons as a serious safety device and not allow kids to use them as a toy.    Just like the 000 emergency phone number,  inappropriate use can tie up resources that someone else desperately needs !

Carefully orchestrated mayhem !

The Muslim world is in uproar and it would be hard not to suspect that the timing has been carefully orchestrated.    On the anniversary of 9/11 a film appears on the Internet which morally disparages Islam's greatest prophet.  Amazingly, the cast of villains that produced this film included an Israeli American and a Coptic Christian - and of course the film itself was manufactured in the USA.

All the ingredients were present to set off an anti American tirade - and the inclusion of a Coptic Christian was certain to make sure the violence included Egypt, where ten percent of Egyptians belong to the Coptic faith.

The most fateful outcome happened in Benghazi in Libya.  The American consulate was attacked in that city, leading to the death of the American ambassador and three of his staff.   Witness accounts now suggest that the attackers were a well coordinated commando team, equipped with automatic weapons and RPG's.   Each of the embassy buildings was fire bombed in turn and it is quite possible that this was an al Qaeda operation specifically designed to mark the 9/11 anniversary.

No doubt the background of this offensive film will be closely examined.   It will be interesting to see if both the " Israeli American " and the " Coptic Christian " are genuine, or simply low life characters who will adopt any required role in exchange for money.   From all accounts this film is so badly produced and acted that it would not even normally rate a showing on late - late - late night TV.    It seems strange that it's appearance on the Internet should be so universally attracting an audience across the entire world of Islam.

Al Qaeda and the other forces trying to promote jihad are well organised and well funded.   It is possible that this film is the deranged product of genuine Americans who loathe Islam and all it stands for, but it is more likely that it is a setup to inflame the Muslim world and celebrate the anniversary of al Qaeda's greatest triumph.

America - indeed the whole world - was  a sleeping giant when those planes were hijacked and flown into the twin towers.   It was unthinkable - and since then the terrorists have not been able to achieve anything of similar significance.  There have been numerous plots that resulted in failure after failure, and now the deep thinkers behind jihad are turning to more subtler means of creating outrage.

Sadly, this has been a most effective ploy.   No matter how well the authorities delve into the makers of this film the ordinary men and women of the Muslim world will not believe whatever evidence that comes to light.
The jihadists will do their most to block communications from revealing the truth - and the damage done will be permanent.

The world of jihad has turned a new page.   We now have less to fear from bombs and bullets hitting our cities.   The new attacks will be using the sophisticated tools of the modern world to craft outrage at perceived insults that will be directed at Islam.

Just as we have built defences against physical attack, now we need to learn new tactics to win the propaganda war !

When Police tell lies !

Twenty-three years ago the world was shocked when a crowd crush killed ninety-six soccer fans at Hillsborough stadium in England.  Just as the game was starting an overflow crowd was still surging outside the ground and the police made the mistake of ordering an extra gate to be opened.   This caused a fan stampede through a narrow tunnel and the surge onto the open terraces saw people physically crushed to death and others die of asphyxiation.

The tragedy did not end there.  Police confusion and command mistakes saw a big fleet of ambulances stopped and prevented from attending to the injured and many of those deaths could have been prevented by prompt attention.  In every aspect - Hillsborough was a disaster !

That event on April 15, 1989 is only now fully coming to light.  It seems that the police coldly and callously altered witness statements and contrived a bogus scenario to shift the blame onto Liverpool soccer fans.   They suggested that the crush was caused by " soccer hooligans " who attacked other spectators and fed the media lurid stories of these hooligans desecrating the dead by stealing their wallets.   The police closed ranks - and openly lied to the enquiry that followed.

Finally, ageing consciences could stand the lies no more and the truth has emerged, causing the British prime minister to apologise to the nation.

These revelations will be a relief to those who lived through that dreadful day twenty-three years ago, but the fact that it disclosed a common thread that seems to run through the world's police forces is a great cause for concern.    Whenever an event occurs that shows the police in a bad light there seems an automatic response to use the power of the constabulary to deflect the blame to others.

It raises an interesting question.    Can the average person ever remember an occasion when the police readily and openly admitted that a mistake had been made that lead to the death of another person or a situation of loss - and apologised ?

It simply doesn't happen !   Be it an accidental shooting or the crash of a police car, the first thing that happens is that the police close ranks and fabricate their version of the event.  Independent witnesses are " pressured " to confirm this official view - and in many cases the evidence presented to an ensuing enquiry is a complete tissue of lies.

Theoretically, the police are supposed to be our source of truth and justice.  In reality, they are a law unto themselves and they take care to erect a shield  to deliver a sanitised version of events that screens out any wrongdoing on their part.

Sadly, as in the Hillsborough case, this propensity to alter the facts starts at the very top of the chain of command.    The morals of the police hierarchy of this world are no better than the morals of the gangs they are paid to control.

Time after time we read of news events in the media - and the report of police involvement is taken with " the proverbial grain of salt " because we know the police culture abhors blame.     That is a simple fact of life - and we have no reason to believe it will be different in the future !

" Bully Boy " tactics !

Shellharbour council seems to have a penchant for threatening million dollar fines to force ratepayers to tug the forelock and obey orders.   They recently threatened just such a course of action unless a widow lopped three metres off her flagpole - and moved it half a metre to satisfy a council edict.  Now they are at it again !

In 2011 Shellharbour sustained a crippling rain event that saw the flood declared a " natural disaster ".  As a result, the state government granted emergency funds to the council to allow relief work to be undertaken.

This flood dislodged a shipping container used as a storage shed from somewhere upstream and deposited it on a property that borders the shore of Lake Illawarra.   It is not accessible by land and the only way it can be approached for removal is by water, and that will make it's removal a very expensive matter.

Council decided not to use those emergency funds to clean up this mess - because it posed no " health or safety " risk.  Now they are threatening the owner of the land on which it rests with action in the Land and Environment court unless that owner picks up the tab for having this work done.   A quote for it's removal stands at $ 24,000.

The woman who owns this property would have difficulty funding this work.  If the matter goes to court, the council will be looking to recover it's legal costs and yet the allocation of government relief money was intended to protect property owners from  such financial loss due to the ravages of Mother Nature.

This is a nightmare dilemma for any land owner.   Heavy rain causes a flood which moves objects onto your property.  Because it is merely " visual pollution ", the council decides not to use granted funds for remedial work, and after those funds have been dissipated,  starts action to force you to pay to do the cleanup work.

Sadly, it seems that the legal position favours the council !

Money - and the " safety " issue !

Two events in the one week will create financial pressures at opposite ends of the education question.   The state government is looking to withdraw a whopping $ 1.7 billion over four years from the education budget to finance other urgent state needs - and now there is a new urgency to install seat belts in school buses !

There is no doubt that a reduction in education funds will be unpopular.  It will probably result in higher private school fees and staff reductions in public schools, and it seems certain that it will be bitterly resisted by the teacher's unions.

The seat belt question in school buses has been a hoary old chestnut.   We have laws in place to heavily fine car drivers if they - or their passengers - do not buckle up for every journey.  In recent years, tourist coaches have had seat belts made mandatory - and yet we cram kids into school buses with two or three made to use a seat designed for a single adult and many others standing for the entire journey - all without any form of protection from a crash.

Our luck ran out when a prime mover and a school bus collided at Singleton.   One passenger was killed and two others were seriously injured, and now the question of getting safety belts into school buses is moving to the top of the agenda.   What will create impetus - is the fact that New South Wales and Victoria are now the only states lacking this safety regulation.

It sounds simple !    Just pass a law and require bus operators to install belts and the problem is solved.   There is even a Commonwealth subsidy ready and waiting to ease the financial burden by reimbursing bus owners for part of the cost.

School bus seat belt costs are like the tip of an iceberg.   There are huge costs hidden away which will quickly emerge and engulf the entire system.  School buses are a contract measure between bus companies and the government.  Bus companies tender to provide services, and tender prices relate to the number of buses needed to move an agreed number of children.

The moment each child is required to occupy a seat and wear a seat belt, the number of buses needed will expand inpotentially - and so will the cost..   Not only will the government be hit hard - so will the parents because even public schools send kids on excursions and that usually involves bus transport paid for by school levies.   The transport issue seems endless.   Getting kids from school to sporting facilities usually involves bus transport.

This school bus seat belt issue has been dodged by governments for years.   There have been endless enquiries and all have foundered on the issue of " cost " !    In all probability the present government may seek to put distance before a decision - in the hope that pressure will dissipate, but there is a certain inevitability involved and the safety conscious will try and keep it at the top of the agenda.

It simply makes no sense to insist on draconian laws to keep kids safe in private cars, and at the same time pack them into school buses like travelling Sardine cans.    Unfortunately, someones child had to die to force the issue to the decision stage !

The coming fire season !

On Sunday, Sydney had a wake-up call.   Early spring weather delivered a bushfire that saw the F3 Expressway closed for over two hours.  Traffic banked up for miles because of the smoke. and the flames licking along the side of the carriageways. Nobody was injured, but this incident certainly caused financial loss and a great deal of distress to many people.

The F3 is the main  link between Sydney and the north of the state.  No doubt there were people caught in that jam who depended on making it to departure times at Sydney airport.   Missed connections would throw travel plans into disarray.   Commercial drivers and self employed business people have  suffered loss from sitting idle by the side of the road, and it would not be pleasant to be trapped in a car full of small kids without food or drink - or toilet facilities.

This fire was arson !   A twelve year old boy broke into a home and stole fire accellerant and used it to set the bush alight - for a sense of fun.   He was caught by the police and in due course he will face a children's court.   The question is - what penalty should that court impose ?

That is not an easy question to answer.  Setting a bushfire is a potentially serious crime. Given the right conditions  it can cause the loss of homes  and cost victims their lives.  In such circumstances, the act of arson could result in a murder charge.   The magistrate will need to consider the options carefully.

The case could result in the offender serving time in a juvenile institution, but that would be the absolutely last resort.   Only the worst of the worst serve time in these facilities, and they are described as " the university of crime ".   On the other hand, a mere " slap on the wrist " penalty is no deterrent to others.

Perhaps the emphasis should be on the certainty of being detected and caught, rather than the penalty involved.   Some people light fires to enhance their image - and having done so they engage in bragging about it.   Being seen on the television news in custody and wearing handcuffs is certainly not the image they wish to portray - and it has about it a certain "loser " mind association.

We are about to enter the "drone " age and just as cctv cameras have proven amazingly effective in clearing up street crime,  drones offer a way to make arson a risky proposition.   An arsonist needs to make a quick escape before the resulting smoke draws attention to what has been done, and that is where a drone with it's high resolution pixel cameras can provide damning evidence - instantly.

Drones offer a low cost but highly effective surveillance weapon on high fire danger days.  The biggest deterrent to arsonists is the risk of being caught by that " eye in the sky " .   Being humiliated by getting caught is more to be feared than a draconian court penalty !

Winners - and losers

The weekend council elections are over.  The votes have been counted and the winners have broken out the champagne - and the losers are thinking of what might have been.   As is usually the case, the number of contenders for a seat on council far outweigh the positions available.

In previous election years " party politics " played a big role.  This time around many candidates dodged using a party logo on their advertising and instead claimed to be an " independent ".    The political scene is volatile and as a result the tendency to vote along party lines is no longer a sure recipe for success.

Many a past political career got under way at a council election.   The formula  was tried and true.   Get elected to the local council and get your picture in the local paper as often as possible.   Create an image as a " mover and shaker " - and make sure that you do not stray far from the party line.   That usually ensures that you will head the list of applicants when a seat at state or Federal level becomes vacant.

It is said that every foot soldier has a Field Marshall's baton in his knapsack.  Most of those with political ambitions hope to rise through the ranks and move from backbencher to a ministerial role - and then perhaps to that exalted position of premier or prime minister.   Many aspire - but few are chosen !

Being elected to public office means a change of lifestyle for the aspiring politician, his or her spouse and any children.   A new councillor may expect constituents to call or phone at the most inconvenient moments - and they expect their representative to tend to their grievances.   The entire family is judged by a new set of values.   Controversy and scandal must be avoided - at all costs.

So - for those taking their place on council for the first time - welcome to life in the public spotlight.   You are now a minor celebrity and whatever you do or say will become part of the public record - and will certainly come back to haunt you further down the track !     There are people who will vilify you, nomatter how reasonable you try to be - and every decision you make will be examined, dissected and probed for evidence of personal gain with merciless disregard for the truth !

Whatever your motives for standing for council, you have just started a totally new phase of your life.   From this moment forward the majority of people will regard you as a " political wannabe " !

" Vendettas " in the Police Force !

Being a police officer confers power to an individual way beyond that bestowed on ordinary citizens.  If there are flaws in that persons conscience it is quite possible for an officer to become corrupt and use those powers for personal gain.   That is the reason that the police force has a supervising authority to keep watch over it's personnel and root out those who succumb to temptation.

It seems that in New South Wales the use of special powers to detect corruption in the police force evolved into what can only be called a " vendetta " to settle old scores.  It raises the question that has long bedevilled those whose duty it is to oversee such a vast and powerful body of men and women.    Who watches over those with the task of watching others ?

Many honest police officers shudder when they hear the name " Special Crime and Internal Affairs "  ( SCIA ) mentioned.    This is the dreaded " Internal Affairs " body that looks over every police officer's shoulder and can put amazing interpretations on even the most beneign decisions.   It is a cops worst nightmare to be hauled before such an enquiry and made to defend decisions made under pressure in the work field.

An amazing situation is now coming to light regarding just such a scenario that prevailed in this state, dating back to 2003.    It involved the " bugging " of over a hundred honest police officers and the use of a corrupt under cover policeman  who was forced to wear a " wire " and record conversations with other police to gain evidence.    He quickly discovered that this was no ordinary Internal Affairs investigation.   This was a vendetta being run by his boss - to settle old scores.

No doubt the media will expose what it can glean of these events, but it is the nature of the police force to enforce a wall of silence and close down as many " dirty little secrets " as it can and prevent them becoming public knowledge.   Strangely, it is this right of silence that the same police force is demanding be removed from the bill of rights available to the criminal milieu.

Keeping " Internal Affairs " honest has been something that police forces the world over have attempted for many decades.  It is said that power corrupts - and absolute power corrupts - absolutely !    The power to eavesdrop on others under the mantle of authority opens an endless opportunity to use that knowledge for personal gain.

Perhaps the only possible solution is to change the people who man " Internal Affairs "  at frequent intervals.  Corruption thrives on both opportunity - and tenure of positions of power.    Disrupt that - and you remove the consolidation of opportunities that fester under the banner of " the end justifies the means ".

The law of the sea !

Yesterday a ship docked at Wollongong's Port Kembla and police rushed aboard because a member of the crew was missing and fellow sailors feared for their lives and were holed up in a cabin for mutual protection. This enquiry opens a can of worms that will test the Australian legal system as it seeks to clarify what law applies to a ship registered in another country that encounters a possible crime when in international waters.

The " Sage Sagittarius " is a " flag of convenience " vessel, registered in Panama.  It has a crew of twenty-one from the Philippines and it was on it's way to Newcastle when a report of a crew member missing overboard caused it to be diverted to Port Kembla.    The " missing man " report happened in the Timor sea, hence it's actual position will be important to determine if the law of the nearest landmass will come into play.

There are rumours that the missing crewman may have been murdered because he intended to lodge a report about pay and conditions on the ship.   Flag of convenience vessels have an unsavoury reputation for dodging everything from safety stipulations to the basic food and pay conditions that apply under International shipping laws.   Many of these vessels fit into the " ship of shame " category.

If a murder did occur, it would seem to be the perfect crime.   Disposing of a body in the vast reaches of the ocean leaves no trace.  Unless the event was actually witnessed, any accusation can only revolve around suspicion and that raises the question of who has the authority to put the suspected murderer before a court - and what law of what country applies in the trial.

Theoretically, it is possible that investigating this event may be entirely in the hands of that ship's captain.   The " Law of the sea " dates back to the times when ships sailed uncharted seas and power was invested in captains to perform marriages, bury the dead - and try and hang captured pirates.   A ship's captain had supreme power - and that law has never been rescinded.

It would seem reasonable to expect that the United Nations and the International Court of Justice would have moved to create a universal law regimen that applies to all who sail the oceans, but obviously vested interests have failed to agree on any measure of uniformity.    It suits the " flag of convenience " nations to be outside the law because of the fees they garner for providing that privilege.

It seems that justice will depend on whatever legal options can be cobbled together to deal with an event that is far removed from the reach of Australian law !

Fee gouging tactics !

Yesterday,the High Court dealt the banks a massive blow when it found in favour of a class action to recover extortionate fees levied by banking institutions for late payments, breaching credit limits and dishonouring cheques.   The fees charged were way out of line to the actual costs incurred by the banks.

This is fast opening up an interesting can of worms whereby all manner of service providers are now imposing a fee for customers who do not pay their bill by the demand date.   These " fines " are a lot less severe than the arbitrary imposts used by the banks, but they raise the question of whether a service provider has the legal right to impose such a fee.

It all seems to boil down to the presence of a contract.  If at the time of accepting a business arrangement the supplier and the customer agree to a set of conditions - this can then be defined as a " contract " because it will have clearly stated what will happen if certain deadlines are not met.    It seems to be universally understood that this need not be signed by each party, but it must be stated at the time that providing the service is agreed.

On that basis, late payment fees for telephone services and many other commercial activities are probably legal.  It would not be legal to simply add a fee without negotiating a new " contract " with the customer.

We are now moving into new territory in the realm of electricity supply.   Some providers are seeking to attract customers to switch to their source of supply by offering a rebate on the amount charged - and i n some cases an additional discount applies to paying the bill by the date nominated.

This is creating confusion.   The due date and the amount owing appear in bold type on the top of the bill.   Underneath - in smaller type - is a secondary amount owing - if the bill is paid by the due date to attract this secondary discount.

It seems inevitable that some people will make the mistake of paying the full amount, despite qualifying for the discount by paying on time, and that will lead to interesting results.   Theoretically, this missed credit should reappear on the next bill.   That will depend on the company's computer system being adjusted to matching the date paid with the billing requirement - and acting accordingly.

Having optional due amounts will also require those handling EFTPOS payments at agencies such as post offices to change their method of handling payments.    If the customer does not clearly indicate the amount to be paid, does that service employee have a responsibility to pay the correct amount, taking into account the options involved ?

Yesterdays High Court decision will certainly cause the entire spectrum of fees and charges by all sections of commerce to come under the microscope.   The fact that the banks may have to repay $ 220 million to customer accounts is a very good reason for all fines and incentives to get an examination to make sure they fall within the framework of the law.   To ignore that responsibility - could be costly !

You get what you pay for !

Gina Rinehart, the world's richest woman - ignited a firestorm when she complained that Australian wages are too high.  She says we are becoming uncompetitive because labour can be hired in Africa for just two dollars a day.

She seems to have missed a news story coming out of South Africa recently.  A Platinum mine there is on strike because the workers are demanding more money.  They are paid our equivalent of $ 500 a month - which is sixteen dollars a day - and the workforce lives in shanty conditions, far removed from their wives and children, to whom they send sustenance money.    This strike became so serious that the police used machine guns to fire into the crowd, killing several miners.

Unrest in deprived countries where lack of work has driven wages to desperation levels is common.  A mining company thinking of expanding there because of low wage levels would be wise to consider the risks. A valuable gold and copper mine in Bouganville, New Guinea has been idle for decades because of a raging civil war by native people opposed to the ecological damage - and the pay levels offered.   Millions of dollars of development money is now unproductive in such circumstances.

Africa certainly has a treasure trove of new mineral discoveries, but it is also known for civil war.  Large parts of the continent bring forth names synonymous with tribal war.   Angola.  Congo.  Rwanda.   Half of Niger is now under al Qaeda control.    There are good reasons why those thinking of mining investment must weigh up the balance between a cheap labour force - and the risks that political uncertainty bring.

There is another question that should be on the minds of most Australians.   We are having a mining boom, but with that comes an expectation that every new mineral discovery will be an instant new development attracting billions of dollars.    This seems to fly in the face of sustainability.

If too many mines come on line at the one time, we create a glut of whatever is mined, and that leads to a sharp drop in prices.  There is only a finite amount of minerals on planet earth - and we expect our ever increasing population to be here for a very long time.    The present thinking seems to be a " dig it up and sell it " approach, rather than a " slow and steady "  continuation of our mining sector.

The mining experience has long been " boom and bust ".   Australians are not going to work for two dollars a day and as a consequence we are going to get competition from Africa and other parts of the world.  The last thing we need is a panic move to extend mining at any cost to keep our economy bubbling.   We will be better served by keeping some of those new discoveries in the ground - for a later era - and concentrating on improving our job economy along more traditional lines !

A frightening future !

The last thirty years have seen the speed of change accelerate beyond most people's imagination.   The mobile phone morphed from something about the size of a house brick that could only make calls - to today's " Smart Phone " - less than the size of a cigarette pack - but capable of interacting  with your computer, the Internet, - and delivering a whole world of movies, news and functions wherever you happen to be.

We marvel at the technology that enables " Drone " pilotless aircraft armed with cameras and missiles to be controlled by operators sitting at a desk thousands of miles away from the area of operations.   This basic technology is already present in our toy stores.   For less than fifty dollars you can buy a remotely controlled toy plane or helicopter for your kids to fly in the park.

Like that mobile phone, this " harmless toy " is about to morph into a monster.   The technology that enabled Drone aircraft to become a weapon of war has been eagerly embraced by industry and we are seeing the emergence of advanced miniature " flying platforms " equipped with high pixel cameras that are opening up a new era of surveillance.

They certainly have legitimate areas of use.  These drones will cut costs when it comes to the regular inspection of powerlines.  The fire services will make use of them to track bushfires and no doubt law enforcement will find them handy to spot Marijuana plantations.   They can perform the same task as a manned helicopter - at just a fraction of the cost.

Unfortunately - as is the case with most new forms of technology - there is a dark side to be considered.   We value our personal privacy.  It seems certain that news gatherers will adopt this means of gaining photographs for a story.  Celebrities will find it much harder to hide from these cameras -  and it is inevitable that the criminal milieu will adopt their benefits.

The biggest danger will come from terrorists and those with a deranged mentality to do harm.   As we have seen with the mobile phone and the digital camera, innovation and mass production quickly lower the retail price.  It seems certain that very sophisticated drone technology will become widely available at very low cost in a short period of time.

No doubt drones will be subjected to a range of new laws, but laws are only effective for those who willingly obey them.  If a demand develops for drone technology, supply will inevitably follow - as is the case with guns, drugs and all manner of other contraband.

We live in a brave new world of advancing technology.   Get used to the idea that in the near future you may be under observation from the sky - and that ever fertile minds are thinking up ways that drones can be used for their gain !

That " Skatepark " proposal !

The city of Wollongong has two dedicated " Skateparks " , one each at Fairy Meadow and Dapto and there are calls for another to be built to service the needs of Warrawong.   Few would disagree that facilities to allow kids to develop their skateboard skills delivers a positive message on good health and crime control, but unfortunately there is also a down side.

Ask anyone who lives near the two existing Skateparks and you will get a negative picture of the outcomes that quickly developed.   Perhaps it is a need to " mark their territory " , but graffiti around Skateparks intensifies.  It also seems to develop a " gang " culture.   The facilities can only cater for a small number of riders at any one time and those with the muscle to dominate usually rule the roost.   There is also a noise problem that lasts until late at night.  Not only does the thrum of wheels on concrete become invasive, the shouts of encouragement make life a hell for nearby residents.  Inspection of these facilities usually reveals a littering problem.

Skateparks certainly serve a purpose, but they also have a strong NIMBY factor.   The proposed site for the Warrawong Skatepark, directly opposite the Illawarra Yacht club, is right in the middle of a densely packed suburb.

Council might do well to consider locating this new Skatepark amenity in the Warrawong retail facility that houses Harvey Norma, the Good Guys, Domayne and a host of other bulk warehouses that sit beside a major highway.   The one thing that keeps a juvenile centre within civilized bounds is the presence of people, and this centre attracts big retail crowds during both the day and the evening opening times.  It is also overlooked by traffic constantly passing on a main road.  The other advantage is that it lacks housing - and therefore permanent residents.

It would seem the best of both worlds.   High pedestrian and motor traffic ensure that the facility is constantly monitored and the fact that it is in a retail complex served by building security adds a control measure.  In this age of mobile phones, any serious disturbance will result in a police alert and yet the facility is far removed from a close residential area.

The solution to most problems is a degree of compromise.   Sharing noise with an ever passing group of people removes the NIMBY factor !

The right to silence !

It is a rare event when the daily newspaper does not contain a story about a person being shot or a house sprayed with bullets as the criminal fraternity goes about it's business.   The " gun culture " has clearly arrived in Australia and there seems to be no shortage of weapons on our streets.   The main contenders doing battle seem to be the " Bikie " fraternity, Middle East crime gangs and those engaged in the supply of illicit drugs. The one thing they all have in common - a wall of silence to thwart investigating police.

The right to silence is an integral part of our legal system.  We are not obliged to incriminate ourselves and it is the job of the police and their prosecutors to put together a case that may convince a judge and jury to convict the accused.    It has become a ritual for suspects to answer all and every question asked with " No comment ". !

That may be about to change.   The Mandarins who frame our laws are delving into the intricacies of putting together a new law that will make refusing to describe criminal events that have occurred a crime.   The problem is going to be a matter of balance.   If it becomes a legal requirement to answer police truthfully in all circumstances, then we will have suffered a gross invasion of civil liberty.  

There is danger in any law change that strips away a citizens right to self protection.  The aim may be to break the wall of silence that encompasses major crime, but it can easily become an instrument of interrogation that is used to lay a charge when no other evidence can be found.  It introduces the notion that being present is sufficient proof that a person possesses information - and discounts uncertainty about what occurred as a breach of the law.    It is possible that any new law can extend beyond the intention of it's framers  if a hard line judge bestows a blessing on such an interpretation.

A case in point.   In South Africa, police shot and killed a group of striking miners in front of news cameras that recorded the event.  Despite this clear evidence, companions of those killed are now being charged with their murder under an old Apartheid law that has never been repealed.  It apportions blame on a " collective responsibility " basis.   Obviously, use of this old law is condoned by legal authorities because it serves their purpose - and it is legally part of the justice system in that country.

This tends to emphasis the necessity to think long and hard before we make any change to laws that have served us well for centuries - and remember that old adage - that we should be very careful about what we wish for !

A false economy !

The most common cause of blindness in Australia is Macular Degeneration.   This is an age related condition and the government spends heavily on advertising urging people to have regular consultations with eye specialists to have their vision checked.   If caught in the early stages, the progress of the disease can be slowed by monthly injections of Lucrentis.

Macular Degeneration inflicts 167,000 Australians and it is estimated that a million more people over the age of fifty are showing early signs of it's approach.  It is therefore surprising to find that from the first of November new funding caps are to be implemented on the cost of treatment for this disease.

At present, the Lucrentis procedure costs patients $ 100 per month.  From November, this will increase to $ 500 each month because it will no longer be subsidised under the safety net that applies to payments beyond the normal Medicare payments schedule.   For those unable to make this payment, it seems the only option available to them is - to lose their sight !

That is clearly a false economy.  If we have a sharp increase in the number of blind people, the money saved by taking treatment out of reach will be more than measured by the added costs of caring for the blind.  Nursing home beds are already in short supply.  People with limited sight still caring for themselves in their own homes will obviously require the transition to care and even those still cared for by relatives will be eligible for the blind pension.

Surely, going blind must be the greatest disability that most people can imagine.  Age related diseases are increasing along with the longevity which good food and advanced medical attention have bestowed.  It seems a giant step backward to put treatment for blindness out of reach and at the same time create a very expensive need for the care that this same treatment will postpone.

Perhaps the Mandarins of the health department could use a lesson on comparative economics !

Altruism - and how it costs !

Half a century ago it became fashionable to construct giant monuments to advertise the product for which districts were famous.   This resulted in the " giant prawn " at Ballina, the " giant Merino " at Goulburn and a dozen other large roadside sculptures in various parts of the country.

The town of Robertson, in the southern highlands behind Wollongong - is renowned for it's potatoes.  An altruistic citizen owned a vacant plot of land in the main street - facing the busy Illawarra highway - and allowed this to be used to construct " the big potato ".

This was a massive potato effigy painted in the same colour that a potato usually emerges  from the ground.   It certainly caught media attention and it was featured widely, both here and overseas.  There was a mixed reaction from the locals.  Some hailed it as a step forward in promoting the areas main product, but others found it offensive and it was given various derogatory names - " the Wombat " - " the Log " and even " the big Turd ".

The march of time has come a long way since it was  constructed in 1977 and the owner of that piece of land is sick and tired of paying council rates on this valuable asset.   This is a piece of prime land in the heart of Robertson's commercial district and the annual rate bill has reached $ 1,800.    The zoning for the land is commercial - making it even more valuable.

It will shortly feature a " for sale " sign and this could spell the end for " the big potato ".   If a sale leads to some sort of commercial construction on the land, the town's claim to fame will probably be torn down.  It is definitely one of the most photographed items in this part of the country.  The numerous tour buses that travel the Illawarra highway always stop at the " big potato " to allow the cameras to click - and without it Robertson is just another " sleepy hollow " to pass through in the blink of an eye.

It seems that the council did not value this tourist asset.  It would have been a nice gesture to waive council rates in return for the altruism of keeping the town on the tourist map,and now the area must face a big decision.   If the " big potato " is to remain and give Robertson national representation, they will need to pony up the money to buy that block of land and bring it into public ownership.

Altruism will only go so far - and after paying rates on a public asset for thirty-five years - it is certainly time to shuffle the deck - and deal a new hand !

The Taliban's deadly tactics !

This week five Australian soldiers died in Afghanistan and two more were wounded.  This brings our total killed in this war to thirty-eight, but it also illustrates a tactic that the Taliban are successfully using across the entire spectrum of nations involved in this insurgency.

Three of those deaths and the two wounded occurred when a member of the Afghanistan  National Army  ( ANA ) turned his weapon on those giving training support and gunned them down at close range.  He then fled the scene.   This is described as a " Green on Blue " incident, just one more example of Taliban infiltration to disrupt the creation of a battle ready ANA and to destroy the trust and harmony that develops as a bond between trainers and the trained.

The Taliban are Islamist fundamentalists.   They have no hesitation in donning explosive vests and acting as suicide bombers to enhance their cause.  It stands to reason that their commanders have induced some members to join the ANA and act in a " sleeper " capacity, waiting for the opportunity to strike.  It is a clever strategy.   It causes those tasked with training the ANA to be cautious at all times, wear body armour constantly - and have " Guardian Angels " - fellow soldiers - standing by on watch in case there is treachery from the very people with whom they are supposed to bond.

The end of the war is in sight.  Most forces will be withdrawn by 2014 and the big question is what happens then ?   It is unlikely that the corrupt and unpopular government in Kabul will survive for long and we will most likely see a return of the tribal warlords who initially helped banish the Taliban at the start of this war.

That will be a turning point for Afghanistan.  If the Afghan troops armed and trained by allied forces migrate to the tribal warlords they will become the ruling force in the country.  The decisive factor will be the choice of the Afghan people.    They have experienced the excesses of the Taliban when they held power and they may not wish to return to that regime.   They may not embrace the concept of democracy and the equality of women that we offered, but they would not wish to return to the banning of television, music - and kite flying harshly imposed by Taliban rule - and they may tacitly approve their sisters and daughters going to school and getting an education.

The Afghan years have been a test of blood and treasure for many nations, but we have all been fighting a proxy war.   The real enemy is Afghanistan's next door neighbour - Pakistan.   The Taliban has been created and armed by that nation's military who wish to see it as a fragmented country as a shield against India.
Perhaps the real outcome of the Afghan war will be the imposition of tribal leaders with the strength to curb Pakistan's Taliban and deliver government that is less than our lofty ideals - but a big improvement on the tyrrany of a people still living in the dark ages.

That is an outcome yet to be decided !