The criminal gang - " Brothers4Life " could learn something from James Packer. He makes his money from running casinos because the " house " always has an edge when the odds are stacked up against the punter.
Smart criminals know that a gambler can have a lucky day and come away with winnings, but over the long haul the combination of the cops and the courts have an edge. Loopholes in the law have a nasty habit of being closed - and when it comes to gang warfare - the cops are indisputably the biggest gang.
Brothers4Life are using the acronym of the police task force " Middle Eastern Organized Crime squad " ( MEOC ) as the personalized number plates for their flashy vehicles. They drove these vehicles openly to the site of a gang street murder this week and it seemed that the objective was to taunt the police investigation team.
Drug crime certainly delivers big profits, but it also draws fierce competition from the criminal fraternity wanting a cut of the loot - and that shows in the number of corpses littering the streets of Sydney. Gun crime is rampant - and the dead are the " losers " in the crime lottery, only matched by those who have lost their liberty by way of a long gaol sentence.
The founder of Brothers4Life comes into that category. Bassam Hamzy is revered by his acolytes - but for the past decade he has been sitting in a gaol cell after he was convicted of a 1998 murder - and he will be there for a very long time to come !
The " MEOC mob " seem to have forgotten the first rule of criminality. It is a very good idea to keep a low profile ! Never put your head above the parapet ! The greater the publicity, the more reason the politicians have to change the rules - and not in the criminals favour.
This is the electronic age and if the MEOC boys intend to pursue an indefinite life of crime, they can expect the full arsenal of crime fighting technology to be focussed on their activities. They may win the occasional encounter, but that is of small comfort - if the end result is to lose the war !
It would be a safe bet to wager that a decade from now - those same citizens driving cars with MEOC number plates will be absent from the scene. Some will be dead - and others replaced by more intelligent criminals !
Thursday, 31 October 2013
Wednesday, 30 October 2013
The ugly side of life !
Two events - one here and the other overseas - illustrate a risk factor that the average person doesn't want to know about. We live in our own peaceful little world and newspaper headlines describing such things are not welcome.
On Sunday night a family group of five Jewish people were walking home from their Synagogue in Sydney's suburb of Bondi. Some of them were wearing items of clothing that identified them as Jewish - and this caught the attention of a group of young men in the 17 to 23 age group.
Without warning, these men and women were viciously attacked and beaten. They were also verbally abused but the medical treatment required involved broken bones, concussion - and in one case - bleeding on the brain. It was a " near death " experience.
The police have made arrests and the perpetrators were boozed up young men from a Pacific island background who were simple bored - and chose to attack another innocent group of people - because they were " different ". It seems pure bad luck that these two groups happened to coincide in a Bondi street, and if that had not happened - it might have been someone else that got beaten up - or it might have resulted in property damage to channel their aggression.
The fact that the victims were Jewish struck a nerve with many people. Memories of the Holocaust still haunt people's minds and an attack on people for just being Jewish is a reminder that the Pogroms of Europe still linger in the souls of many, generations after that event took place.
The other event concerns " Maria " - the Roma child living with people who were not her direct kin in Greece. Initially, it was thought police had stumbled on a child stealing ring, but that has been disproved and this event highlights another rejected race of people who are doing it tough across the entire relatively wealthy national group that is the EU.
It seems that Maria's mother had her while in Greece during the fruit picking season. She had numerous other children - and lacked the means to provide food and support for one more. She contends that this child was given to another Roma family in sheer desperation at her plight.
The Roma seem an accursed race, welcome in none of the EU countries and being relentlessly pursued to force them back over the border in many others. They have a reputation as thieves and vagabonds - and they are denied work or education by most communities.
Sadly, a similar life is shared by some remote Aboriginal communities here in Australia, and the habit of giving away children to others is not unknown.
These headlines remind us that uncomfortable events that we pretend do not exist in this country are lurking in the shadows !
On Sunday night a family group of five Jewish people were walking home from their Synagogue in Sydney's suburb of Bondi. Some of them were wearing items of clothing that identified them as Jewish - and this caught the attention of a group of young men in the 17 to 23 age group.
Without warning, these men and women were viciously attacked and beaten. They were also verbally abused but the medical treatment required involved broken bones, concussion - and in one case - bleeding on the brain. It was a " near death " experience.
The police have made arrests and the perpetrators were boozed up young men from a Pacific island background who were simple bored - and chose to attack another innocent group of people - because they were " different ". It seems pure bad luck that these two groups happened to coincide in a Bondi street, and if that had not happened - it might have been someone else that got beaten up - or it might have resulted in property damage to channel their aggression.
The fact that the victims were Jewish struck a nerve with many people. Memories of the Holocaust still haunt people's minds and an attack on people for just being Jewish is a reminder that the Pogroms of Europe still linger in the souls of many, generations after that event took place.
The other event concerns " Maria " - the Roma child living with people who were not her direct kin in Greece. Initially, it was thought police had stumbled on a child stealing ring, but that has been disproved and this event highlights another rejected race of people who are doing it tough across the entire relatively wealthy national group that is the EU.
It seems that Maria's mother had her while in Greece during the fruit picking season. She had numerous other children - and lacked the means to provide food and support for one more. She contends that this child was given to another Roma family in sheer desperation at her plight.
The Roma seem an accursed race, welcome in none of the EU countries and being relentlessly pursued to force them back over the border in many others. They have a reputation as thieves and vagabonds - and they are denied work or education by most communities.
Sadly, a similar life is shared by some remote Aboriginal communities here in Australia, and the habit of giving away children to others is not unknown.
These headlines remind us that uncomfortable events that we pretend do not exist in this country are lurking in the shadows !
Tuesday, 29 October 2013
The Swings and the Roundabouts !
Electricity suppliers are toying with the idea of changing to a monthly billing cycle to help customers better manage their energy use. Many complain that the present three monthly cycle delivers " bill shock " and is hard to fit in with a weekly pay packet.
Quarterly billing is certainly the exception and is the traditional method for council rates, electricity, gas and water bills. Most other amenities are already on a monthly billing cycle and these include phone bills, credit card bills, newspaper deliveries, pay TV, Internet charges - the list seems endless.
What people need to understand is that a change to a monthly billing cycle will not be without cost - and that cost will most likely be added to their energy bills. The ever rising cost of postage will need to be taken into account and the sheer magnitude of the task of preparing and sending out a monthly bill to every retail customer in Australia will be enormous - and require additional clerical staff.
Just think of the task required if that monthly cycle required the electricity meter to be read monthly - which it 'isnt under the present regime. A vast number of bills sent out under the present quarterly regime are " estimated " usage. The supplier uses an algorithm to combine seasonal and historical previous use to arrive at the likely usage for each customer.
Perhaps this change to a monthly billing cycle is an over-reaction ! Power bills of all kinds have certainly been rising sharply, but the vast majority of customers are coping with this in an orderly manner. Perhaps we would do better to offer a monthly or even a weekly option to those who would gain a benefit from such an action.
That algorithm could easily estimate the likely monthly or weekly bill and it would be a simple matter to supply a permanent card containing a bar code for that amount, allowing the customer to present it and pay on a weekly or monthly basis at their local post office, and then balance up the " unders or overs " at the end of each billing cycle.
The problem with a change from quarterly to monthly for energy bills - is the fact that it will be applied to all customers and seems to be a form of " over kill ". A big jump in overheads for billing costs which will only really benefit a small percentage of total customers - but that cost jump will need to be factored into every bottom line !
Seems to be a case of what we win on the swings, we lose on the roundabouts. Maybe a better option to think outside the nine dots - and offer a form of relief to those who really need it !
Quarterly billing is certainly the exception and is the traditional method for council rates, electricity, gas and water bills. Most other amenities are already on a monthly billing cycle and these include phone bills, credit card bills, newspaper deliveries, pay TV, Internet charges - the list seems endless.
What people need to understand is that a change to a monthly billing cycle will not be without cost - and that cost will most likely be added to their energy bills. The ever rising cost of postage will need to be taken into account and the sheer magnitude of the task of preparing and sending out a monthly bill to every retail customer in Australia will be enormous - and require additional clerical staff.
Just think of the task required if that monthly cycle required the electricity meter to be read monthly - which it 'isnt under the present regime. A vast number of bills sent out under the present quarterly regime are " estimated " usage. The supplier uses an algorithm to combine seasonal and historical previous use to arrive at the likely usage for each customer.
Perhaps this change to a monthly billing cycle is an over-reaction ! Power bills of all kinds have certainly been rising sharply, but the vast majority of customers are coping with this in an orderly manner. Perhaps we would do better to offer a monthly or even a weekly option to those who would gain a benefit from such an action.
That algorithm could easily estimate the likely monthly or weekly bill and it would be a simple matter to supply a permanent card containing a bar code for that amount, allowing the customer to present it and pay on a weekly or monthly basis at their local post office, and then balance up the " unders or overs " at the end of each billing cycle.
The problem with a change from quarterly to monthly for energy bills - is the fact that it will be applied to all customers and seems to be a form of " over kill ". A big jump in overheads for billing costs which will only really benefit a small percentage of total customers - but that cost jump will need to be factored into every bottom line !
Seems to be a case of what we win on the swings, we lose on the roundabouts. Maybe a better option to think outside the nine dots - and offer a form of relief to those who really need it !
Monday, 28 October 2013
Air Traffic priorities !
Last weeks bushfires in the Blue Mountains were the forerunner of a long, hot summer yet to come, and both the Rural Fire services and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority ( CASA ) are worried that one of our best methods of fighting fires will face restrictions in future,
Water bombing can be the deciding issue between saving or losing life and property when a fire is out of control. Big numbers of fixed wing aircraft and helicopters work in hazardous conditions, buffeted by fierce thermal updraughts and with limited vision due to smoke. CASA has the job of routing them safely between water pickup points and the drop zones.
During last weeks fires, unauthorized drones entered the fire areas and CASA knows that at least one drone shared air space with the bomber fleet because the pictures it took were shown on U-Tube. Another drone was spotted over the Springwood fire. CASA has absolutely no control over drone movements and there is no option other than to cease water bombing until the area is clear.
The expectation is that drones in the hands of the public can only rise sharply in the years ahead. Already, the electronics stores are offering small radio controlled planes and helicopters as toys and these are increasing in size with added models. It is inevitable that that they will be eagerly seized upon by camera buffs - and they will quickly become a tool of the Paparazzi.
There is big money to be made by getting that "picture of a lifetime " and the Paparazzi are well known risk takers. If drones become just another " tool of trade " for them we can expect safety regulations to be ignored - and that will deliver an unacceptable risk to the water bombing people.
A collision between a drone and a plane could be catastrophic. It is essential that the air space above a bushfire be totally controlled by CASA and we need legislation to keep it drone free. Drones fall into a similar category to hand held lasers. These are freely available to the public and this resulted in idiots shining them in the faces of pilots, leading to severe penalties for endangering an aircraft. Indiscriminate and unauthorized use of drones needs a similar approach.
Drones in public hands are in their infancy, but a rise in numbers is inevitable. The right legislation needs to be in place now, before we find news headlines about a wayward drone becoming tangled in the rotors of a sky crane.
Water bombing can be the deciding issue between saving or losing life and property when a fire is out of control. Big numbers of fixed wing aircraft and helicopters work in hazardous conditions, buffeted by fierce thermal updraughts and with limited vision due to smoke. CASA has the job of routing them safely between water pickup points and the drop zones.
During last weeks fires, unauthorized drones entered the fire areas and CASA knows that at least one drone shared air space with the bomber fleet because the pictures it took were shown on U-Tube. Another drone was spotted over the Springwood fire. CASA has absolutely no control over drone movements and there is no option other than to cease water bombing until the area is clear.
The expectation is that drones in the hands of the public can only rise sharply in the years ahead. Already, the electronics stores are offering small radio controlled planes and helicopters as toys and these are increasing in size with added models. It is inevitable that that they will be eagerly seized upon by camera buffs - and they will quickly become a tool of the Paparazzi.
There is big money to be made by getting that "picture of a lifetime " and the Paparazzi are well known risk takers. If drones become just another " tool of trade " for them we can expect safety regulations to be ignored - and that will deliver an unacceptable risk to the water bombing people.
A collision between a drone and a plane could be catastrophic. It is essential that the air space above a bushfire be totally controlled by CASA and we need legislation to keep it drone free. Drones fall into a similar category to hand held lasers. These are freely available to the public and this resulted in idiots shining them in the faces of pilots, leading to severe penalties for endangering an aircraft. Indiscriminate and unauthorized use of drones needs a similar approach.
Drones in public hands are in their infancy, but a rise in numbers is inevitable. The right legislation needs to be in place now, before we find news headlines about a wayward drone becoming tangled in the rotors of a sky crane.
Sunday, 27 October 2013
More bad news !
The last plant manufacturing refrigerators in Australia will close it's doors in 2015. The Electrolux factory in Orange produces 300,000 Electrolux, Westinghouse and Kelvinator refrigerators each year and employs more than five hundred people, 4.4% of the Orange work force.
Refrigerator production is shared between the Electrolux plants in Australia and Thailand. The Orange plant commenced operations in 1946 and now needs a $ 45 million upgrade. It is simply far cheaper to achieve this at the plant in Thailand, and the Thai wage structure is a quarter of what is required in this country. Electrolux senior management have done the sums - and the outcome was inevitable.
Efforts to head off this closure have included Orange council waiving rates for a ten year period and the state government offering payroll tax relief. The Feds provided a $ 4.7 million clean technology grant - but the high Australian dollar and other adverse costings meant that this relief could not bridge the gap.
This decimation of Australian manufacturing industry is speeding up as globalization brings more low wage countries into the labour force, and there seems many parts of the world that are yet to move from basic agriculture into the factory production scene. Old entrants find their success drives wages higher and opens the door for world of manufacturing to create new opportunities in the never ending search for the lowest priced end product.
The list of things we no longer make in this country is growing longer. Refrigerators join the lack of a local tyre manufacturer and it seems that we are slowly losing the ability to refine the petroleum we produce. The writing is on the wall for the car manufacturing industry, and our past history includes many brands that came - and went. News of any new manufacturing plant opening here is now rare !
Perhaps we need a re-think on what the world needs - and what we have to offer to fill that need.
We have a vast continent situated within a hospitable climate range that allows more than one crop a year. We are ideally positioned to produce the food that an ever hungry - and vastly over populated - world is going to need to survive. It will certainly cost money - and ingenuity - to make Australia the " bread basket of the world " and this is a relatively " dry " continent, but we are surrounded by the sea and we have the northern Monsoon from which to draw water for agriculture. The seven billion people on earth will soon move to ten billion - and that many mouths to feed is moving beyond the resources available.
Opportunity is knocking on our door, and now is the time for our best and brightest to be laying the plans for the future - and putting in place the crop development and infrastructure that will turn Australia into one of the biggest food producers on the planet.
The future for this country is not in making things - our destiny seems to be in growing things !
Refrigerator production is shared between the Electrolux plants in Australia and Thailand. The Orange plant commenced operations in 1946 and now needs a $ 45 million upgrade. It is simply far cheaper to achieve this at the plant in Thailand, and the Thai wage structure is a quarter of what is required in this country. Electrolux senior management have done the sums - and the outcome was inevitable.
Efforts to head off this closure have included Orange council waiving rates for a ten year period and the state government offering payroll tax relief. The Feds provided a $ 4.7 million clean technology grant - but the high Australian dollar and other adverse costings meant that this relief could not bridge the gap.
This decimation of Australian manufacturing industry is speeding up as globalization brings more low wage countries into the labour force, and there seems many parts of the world that are yet to move from basic agriculture into the factory production scene. Old entrants find their success drives wages higher and opens the door for world of manufacturing to create new opportunities in the never ending search for the lowest priced end product.
The list of things we no longer make in this country is growing longer. Refrigerators join the lack of a local tyre manufacturer and it seems that we are slowly losing the ability to refine the petroleum we produce. The writing is on the wall for the car manufacturing industry, and our past history includes many brands that came - and went. News of any new manufacturing plant opening here is now rare !
Perhaps we need a re-think on what the world needs - and what we have to offer to fill that need.
We have a vast continent situated within a hospitable climate range that allows more than one crop a year. We are ideally positioned to produce the food that an ever hungry - and vastly over populated - world is going to need to survive. It will certainly cost money - and ingenuity - to make Australia the " bread basket of the world " and this is a relatively " dry " continent, but we are surrounded by the sea and we have the northern Monsoon from which to draw water for agriculture. The seven billion people on earth will soon move to ten billion - and that many mouths to feed is moving beyond the resources available.
Opportunity is knocking on our door, and now is the time for our best and brightest to be laying the plans for the future - and putting in place the crop development and infrastructure that will turn Australia into one of the biggest food producers on the planet.
The future for this country is not in making things - our destiny seems to be in growing things !
Saturday, 26 October 2013
The " Aunty " question ?
For the first time, funding the ABC has cost the Australian taxpayer a billion dollars in the 2012/13 year. " Aunty " is fast becoming a drain on Treasury and the money it gives back from it's commercial activities has slipped by a third - to a return of just $ 159 million.
A lot of people will question just why we need a radio and television network paid for from the public purse in the twenty-first century. Originally, the ABC was supposed to provide news and entertainment to the Australian people that may not be available from other sources - and the purists insisted that it do this free of the taint of running commercial advertisements with it's services.
Today's citizens have an amazing range of news sources spread across the commercial sector and including the ever expanding Internet. Never has a society had so much entertainment thrust at them from free to air channels and the general entertainment industry - and the rise of electronics promises more mobility and further expansion in the years to come.
The fare Aunty delivers is the creation of very highly paid executives who are safely ensconced in a government department insulated from the pressures of the commercial world. Their offerings are supposed to cater for all levels of society, but shows often miss the mark because they are aimed either too high - or too low - in the entertainment spectrum.
The freedom of the ABC from commercial advertising seems a big part of the cost conundrum. Running parallel to Aunty - is SBS - and it shows paid advertisements, although much less frequently than it's commercial rivals. It also runs material considered much more " risque " than ABC fare and rates well on the ratings. SBS is supposed to fill the vacuum faced by new settlers to this country who are struggling to adapt to English as a replacement for their native tongue.
The question that must be asked - is whether we can still afford the luxury of the ABC ?
Has the time come for the ABC to defray it's costs by running a proportion of it's air time for commercial gain in similar fashion to SBS ? Of course the purists will howl, but to some it must seem that the ABC represents the view of the highly paid elite and has little bearing on the outlook and needs of ordinary Australians.
In a world of rapidly shrinking free services it could be argued that the ABC has reached it's " use by " date !
A lot of people will question just why we need a radio and television network paid for from the public purse in the twenty-first century. Originally, the ABC was supposed to provide news and entertainment to the Australian people that may not be available from other sources - and the purists insisted that it do this free of the taint of running commercial advertisements with it's services.
Today's citizens have an amazing range of news sources spread across the commercial sector and including the ever expanding Internet. Never has a society had so much entertainment thrust at them from free to air channels and the general entertainment industry - and the rise of electronics promises more mobility and further expansion in the years to come.
The fare Aunty delivers is the creation of very highly paid executives who are safely ensconced in a government department insulated from the pressures of the commercial world. Their offerings are supposed to cater for all levels of society, but shows often miss the mark because they are aimed either too high - or too low - in the entertainment spectrum.
The freedom of the ABC from commercial advertising seems a big part of the cost conundrum. Running parallel to Aunty - is SBS - and it shows paid advertisements, although much less frequently than it's commercial rivals. It also runs material considered much more " risque " than ABC fare and rates well on the ratings. SBS is supposed to fill the vacuum faced by new settlers to this country who are struggling to adapt to English as a replacement for their native tongue.
The question that must be asked - is whether we can still afford the luxury of the ABC ?
Has the time come for the ABC to defray it's costs by running a proportion of it's air time for commercial gain in similar fashion to SBS ? Of course the purists will howl, but to some it must seem that the ABC represents the view of the highly paid elite and has little bearing on the outlook and needs of ordinary Australians.
In a world of rapidly shrinking free services it could be argued that the ABC has reached it's " use by " date !
Friday, 25 October 2013
The " Need " Factor !
When the " Need " for a government service starts to shrink, the cost of providing it starts to rise and the availability comes into question. The writing has been on the wall for the Post Office mail delivery system as each years statistics show a steady decline in the number of items handled.
The New Zealand government has announced that - starting in 2015 - mail deliveries across the Tasman will be reduced to a three times a week service, probably on the basis of Monday, Wednesday and Friday in urban areas.
It seems quite reasonable to suppose a similar contraction will eventually take place here in Australia, because technology is fast making the physical delivery of paper items unnecessary. More and more billing is by way of the Internet and the expanded use of tablets and smartphones, and the service providers are requiring direct debit as their only payment method.
There will always be a need for some sort of physical delivery to the homes of the Australian general public, but as the numbers dwindle it is likely that " mail delivery " will morph into something similar to a courier delivery service - with an appropriate cost structure.
Older Australians will fondly remember the " glory days " of nearly seventy years ago, when the mail service made a morning and afternoon home delivery - Monday to Friday - and single morning delivery on Saturday. That was before the mail service invested in motor bikes to speed delivery, and the mailman toted a heavy bag as he trudged city streets. He was eagerly awaited - at the time of someones birthday and in the days before Christmas.
Expect the New Zealand announcement to spur the Australian business community to further expand direct debit requirements to reduce overheads. The days when accounts were paid by a cheque in the mail - and this was followed by a mailed receipt - are long over. The jobs of payment received clerks have been replaced by the computer, which provides an instant financial analysis - and doesn't require a paycheque !
Of course, changing times have reverberations that affect employment statistics. The mail service is a big employer of people to serve it's giant network - and less deliveries mean less people employed. It seems that the quest for speed and efficiency in how we provide services is the antithesis of employment numbers.
The ever closing circle is making humans physically redundant !
The New Zealand government has announced that - starting in 2015 - mail deliveries across the Tasman will be reduced to a three times a week service, probably on the basis of Monday, Wednesday and Friday in urban areas.
It seems quite reasonable to suppose a similar contraction will eventually take place here in Australia, because technology is fast making the physical delivery of paper items unnecessary. More and more billing is by way of the Internet and the expanded use of tablets and smartphones, and the service providers are requiring direct debit as their only payment method.
There will always be a need for some sort of physical delivery to the homes of the Australian general public, but as the numbers dwindle it is likely that " mail delivery " will morph into something similar to a courier delivery service - with an appropriate cost structure.
Older Australians will fondly remember the " glory days " of nearly seventy years ago, when the mail service made a morning and afternoon home delivery - Monday to Friday - and single morning delivery on Saturday. That was before the mail service invested in motor bikes to speed delivery, and the mailman toted a heavy bag as he trudged city streets. He was eagerly awaited - at the time of someones birthday and in the days before Christmas.
Expect the New Zealand announcement to spur the Australian business community to further expand direct debit requirements to reduce overheads. The days when accounts were paid by a cheque in the mail - and this was followed by a mailed receipt - are long over. The jobs of payment received clerks have been replaced by the computer, which provides an instant financial analysis - and doesn't require a paycheque !
Of course, changing times have reverberations that affect employment statistics. The mail service is a big employer of people to serve it's giant network - and less deliveries mean less people employed. It seems that the quest for speed and efficiency in how we provide services is the antithesis of employment numbers.
The ever closing circle is making humans physically redundant !
Thursday, 24 October 2013
The mystery of " Maria " !
We are well aware that child trafficking is common in Asia. It is so blatant that a child playing in the front yard of the family home can be abducted and spirited away in seconds - never to be seen again. India and Thailand are at the forefront of this child trade and there are reports that it is a growing industry in China.
The impetus seems to be demand from childless couples in the west. This has attracted the interest of organized crime because the people seeking a child of their own are willing to pay big money - and hence " baby farming " can be a very profitable trade. It is well organized and the crime bosses have well oiled machinery to take care of the officials who rubber stamp adoptions and turn a blind eye to paper discrepancies.
Sadly, western law enforcement is lax in investigating these matters. The fact that wealthy western families are gaining an Asian child or a coloured child from Africa seems to be excused on the grounds that the child is being offered a " better life " . There seems to be more resistance from the country of origin - than from the country in which this child will live.
We are seeing a very different reaction to the news that a white child with blonde hair has been found living in a Roma encampment in Greece. This discovery was purely accidental when police raided the Roma camp. This child's appearance was out of character with the skin colour of the people who claimed to be her mother and father, and DNA tests quickly established that there was no such link. A plethora of lies followed, and these were quickly discounted. There is a strong suspicion that the Greek police have stumbled on a child stealing ring.
Most people will immediately make a connection with the Madelaine McCann case - in which the daughter of a British couple was snatched from a villa in Portugal in 2007. If prospective foster parents are prepared to pay big money for an Asian child, what would they be prepared to pay for a white child that they could pass off as their own son or daughter ?
The mystery of " Maria " is attracting world headlines and an international investigation is getting under way. Hopefully, her features may lead to her being identified - and reunited with her parents, but it opens the wider aspect of white children being trafficked across the borderless boundaries of the EU.
Unfortunately, it serves to illustrate the sharp division in value that the colour of a persons skin delivers to public attitudes. Massive resources will be thrown at breaking the white child trafficking trade, while trade from other parts of the world will be virtually unaffected.
The impetus seems to be demand from childless couples in the west. This has attracted the interest of organized crime because the people seeking a child of their own are willing to pay big money - and hence " baby farming " can be a very profitable trade. It is well organized and the crime bosses have well oiled machinery to take care of the officials who rubber stamp adoptions and turn a blind eye to paper discrepancies.
Sadly, western law enforcement is lax in investigating these matters. The fact that wealthy western families are gaining an Asian child or a coloured child from Africa seems to be excused on the grounds that the child is being offered a " better life " . There seems to be more resistance from the country of origin - than from the country in which this child will live.
We are seeing a very different reaction to the news that a white child with blonde hair has been found living in a Roma encampment in Greece. This discovery was purely accidental when police raided the Roma camp. This child's appearance was out of character with the skin colour of the people who claimed to be her mother and father, and DNA tests quickly established that there was no such link. A plethora of lies followed, and these were quickly discounted. There is a strong suspicion that the Greek police have stumbled on a child stealing ring.
Most people will immediately make a connection with the Madelaine McCann case - in which the daughter of a British couple was snatched from a villa in Portugal in 2007. If prospective foster parents are prepared to pay big money for an Asian child, what would they be prepared to pay for a white child that they could pass off as their own son or daughter ?
The mystery of " Maria " is attracting world headlines and an international investigation is getting under way. Hopefully, her features may lead to her being identified - and reunited with her parents, but it opens the wider aspect of white children being trafficked across the borderless boundaries of the EU.
Unfortunately, it serves to illustrate the sharp division in value that the colour of a persons skin delivers to public attitudes. Massive resources will be thrown at breaking the white child trafficking trade, while trade from other parts of the world will be virtually unaffected.
Wednesday, 23 October 2013
Our looney laws !
After an epic struggle, firefighters saved the " Catho " pub at Catherine Hill Bay. The grateful publican shouted the Firies a free beer - and this earned him a visit from a licensing squad officer and a reprimand that he had breached the " Responsible serving of alcohol " law.
The outcry against this insensitive reaction to a great Australian tradition of saying " thanks " seems to have influenced the licensing people to respond by saying that there will be " no further action ".
On the other side of the legal wall, statistics show that there has been a vast reduction in the numbers of offenders " cuffed and charged ". The LEPRA law - standing for " Law Enforcement Powers and Responsibility " - forces police to use an alternative " Paper arrest " - in which the person caught committing a crime is merely served with a " Court attendance " order. This still stands as an " arrest " as far as statistics are concerned.
Unfortunately, it also makes the prosecutors job much harder if the case goes to court. The offender has not been finger printed or photographed - or subjected to an official interview at a police station. It opens up many avenues for the defence - and it emboldens offenders to continue breaking the law.
We are seeing a vast new challenge from bikie elements and Queensland has brought law enforcement into focus with draconian new powers. A law imbalance between this state and it's neighbour is likely to see criminal bikies scuttling over the border to avoid harsher crime laws, thus enhancing crime in this state.
Perhaps a good time for all the states to get together - and draft national laws to meet the bikie challenge on a united front. The present disparity simply plays into the hands of the law breakers !
The outcry against this insensitive reaction to a great Australian tradition of saying " thanks " seems to have influenced the licensing people to respond by saying that there will be " no further action ".
On the other side of the legal wall, statistics show that there has been a vast reduction in the numbers of offenders " cuffed and charged ". The LEPRA law - standing for " Law Enforcement Powers and Responsibility " - forces police to use an alternative " Paper arrest " - in which the person caught committing a crime is merely served with a " Court attendance " order. This still stands as an " arrest " as far as statistics are concerned.
Unfortunately, it also makes the prosecutors job much harder if the case goes to court. The offender has not been finger printed or photographed - or subjected to an official interview at a police station. It opens up many avenues for the defence - and it emboldens offenders to continue breaking the law.
We are seeing a vast new challenge from bikie elements and Queensland has brought law enforcement into focus with draconian new powers. A law imbalance between this state and it's neighbour is likely to see criminal bikies scuttling over the border to avoid harsher crime laws, thus enhancing crime in this state.
Perhaps a good time for all the states to get together - and draft national laws to meet the bikie challenge on a united front. The present disparity simply plays into the hands of the law breakers !
Tuesday, 22 October 2013
Looters !
When faced with a fire threat, most homeowners agonise over whether to flee to safety or stay and defend their homes. In many cases, that decision includes the fear that looters will descend under cover of chaos and help themselves to the treasures that we accumulate in our homes.
This fire event is so serious that the decision to leave has been taken out of homeowners hands. A law to make " forced evacuation " an option for the police is now in force. It is deemed necessary to save lives - and it is not an order that will be taken lightly.
Looting is seen by many as one of the lowest acts of criminality. That thieves will use a national disaster to cover their tracks and steal from distressed people is totally devoid of mercy. In many parts of the world, this crime is considered so serious that a " Looters will be shot if detected " order stands.
Looting has already taken place during this fire emergency. The fire season has started early and all the indications are that we face a long, hot summer. It seems that there is a small sector of the population which will not hesitate to avail themselves of the opportunity offered to plunder empty homes. It would be sad if those that get caught suffered light punishment because of inadequate laws.
Looting is - and should be - a major crime. The very presence of any person in an evacuated area without a valid reason should result in arrest and that person required to convince a court of their innocence.
Emergency situations need appropriate laws - to both protect and punish !
This fire event is so serious that the decision to leave has been taken out of homeowners hands. A law to make " forced evacuation " an option for the police is now in force. It is deemed necessary to save lives - and it is not an order that will be taken lightly.
Looting is seen by many as one of the lowest acts of criminality. That thieves will use a national disaster to cover their tracks and steal from distressed people is totally devoid of mercy. In many parts of the world, this crime is considered so serious that a " Looters will be shot if detected " order stands.
Looting has already taken place during this fire emergency. The fire season has started early and all the indications are that we face a long, hot summer. It seems that there is a small sector of the population which will not hesitate to avail themselves of the opportunity offered to plunder empty homes. It would be sad if those that get caught suffered light punishment because of inadequate laws.
Looting is - and should be - a major crime. The very presence of any person in an evacuated area without a valid reason should result in arrest and that person required to convince a court of their innocence.
Emergency situations need appropriate laws - to both protect and punish !
Monday, 21 October 2013
Cranky Voters !
This week a by-election in Miranda delivered a hefty kick in the butt to Barry O'Farrell's state government. This seat changed hands when the voters reinstalled Labor's Barry Collier as their member with a swing of 27% - reversing the 21% swing that delivered the seat to Liberal Graham Annesley at the 2011 state election.
A number of factors can be blamed for their ire. Restructuring the rail system delivered a forty percent cut to services at Janalli and Como stations, and budget cuts resulted in the closing of some fire stations and hospital services. Many people thought that the suburb was being over developed to the detriment of local home owners.
Perhaps the biggest reason for the voting swing can be attributed to the fact that their member had chosen to resign from parliament - to take up a more lucrative position as CEO of the Gold Coast Titans, saddling them with the cost and need for a by-election.
Annesley was the state Sports minister but it seems that his heart was not in the job. His interests were elsewhere - and people complained that he was rarely seen in the electorate. He broke the first golden rule of politics - and that is " availability " !
This certainly does not herald a similar result at the next state election, but it does give a warning to Barry O'Farrell that the voters will not be taken for granted. Members are expected to serve their electorates and the government needs to take care with it's policies and ensure that changes to existing systems do not have unexpected local results.
It also delivers a warning that sitting members need dedication to the task the voters have bestowed on them with their votes. Being a member of state parliament is a full time job - and delivering anything less than that will be judged adversely when the voters next deliver their verdicts !
A number of factors can be blamed for their ire. Restructuring the rail system delivered a forty percent cut to services at Janalli and Como stations, and budget cuts resulted in the closing of some fire stations and hospital services. Many people thought that the suburb was being over developed to the detriment of local home owners.
Perhaps the biggest reason for the voting swing can be attributed to the fact that their member had chosen to resign from parliament - to take up a more lucrative position as CEO of the Gold Coast Titans, saddling them with the cost and need for a by-election.
Annesley was the state Sports minister but it seems that his heart was not in the job. His interests were elsewhere - and people complained that he was rarely seen in the electorate. He broke the first golden rule of politics - and that is " availability " !
This certainly does not herald a similar result at the next state election, but it does give a warning to Barry O'Farrell that the voters will not be taken for granted. Members are expected to serve their electorates and the government needs to take care with it's policies and ensure that changes to existing systems do not have unexpected local results.
It also delivers a warning that sitting members need dedication to the task the voters have bestowed on them with their votes. Being a member of state parliament is a full time job - and delivering anything less than that will be judged adversely when the voters next deliver their verdicts !
Sunday, 20 October 2013
The " Human Headline " !
Here we go again ! Derryn Hinch - the man known as the " Human Headline " is in the news again for breaching a court imposed suppression order and publishing details about Jill Meagher's killer.
This " serial lawbreaker " has been ordered to pay a $ 100,000 fine within 90 days - or face 50 days in prison. If he chooses the prison option, he may find it a particularly " unpleasant experience " as his rantings have made him very unpopular with many of his fellow prisoners.
Of course thumbing his nose at the law is what keeps Hinch's ratings high and justifies the big salary he earns as a " media celebrity ", and because of his fame the bench leans over backwards to keep him out of prison.
In 2011 he was in trouble for naming sex offenders subjected to suppression orders. He served that prison time by way of home detention, because he was recovering from a liver transplant. He has never shown the slightest remorse for his actions - and he continues to ignore suppression orders.
To some people, he must seem like a champion defending their rights, but in reality this is just " theatre " designed to keep his name before the public and we can expect his legal team to take up their violins and bewail the risk he would face if he has to serve time behind bars - with violent criminals who would seek to do him harm.
Hinch is 69 years old - and perhaps he has traded on his fame keeping him out of prison too often. There is every liklihood that if he is granted mercy in this current case, within weeks or months he will again be in the headlines - and before another court.
Eventually, reality has to catch up with serial lawbreakers !
This " serial lawbreaker " has been ordered to pay a $ 100,000 fine within 90 days - or face 50 days in prison. If he chooses the prison option, he may find it a particularly " unpleasant experience " as his rantings have made him very unpopular with many of his fellow prisoners.
Of course thumbing his nose at the law is what keeps Hinch's ratings high and justifies the big salary he earns as a " media celebrity ", and because of his fame the bench leans over backwards to keep him out of prison.
In 2011 he was in trouble for naming sex offenders subjected to suppression orders. He served that prison time by way of home detention, because he was recovering from a liver transplant. He has never shown the slightest remorse for his actions - and he continues to ignore suppression orders.
To some people, he must seem like a champion defending their rights, but in reality this is just " theatre " designed to keep his name before the public and we can expect his legal team to take up their violins and bewail the risk he would face if he has to serve time behind bars - with violent criminals who would seek to do him harm.
Hinch is 69 years old - and perhaps he has traded on his fame keeping him out of prison too often. There is every liklihood that if he is granted mercy in this current case, within weeks or months he will again be in the headlines - and before another court.
Eventually, reality has to catch up with serial lawbreakers !
Saturday, 19 October 2013
Political point scoring !
At the height of this weeks fire storm destroying homes and sending people to evacuation centres, Greens MP Adam Brandt was trying to turn this disaster to his advantage by tweeting that " Tony Abbott's carbon tax plan will mean more bushfires for Australia ".
That completely ignores the long history of this country. The Australian summer is a fire lottery. We have a mix of wet and dry summers and on occasion the combination of low humidity, a high temperature and wind from the wrong direction comes together with a spark that sets the bush ablaze.
That has been a recurring experience, dating back to past centuries before there was the slightest concern about things like the amount of C02 in the atmosphere.
The people who have their homes in areas prone to bushfires would see the irony of Adam Brandt point scoring as the fires burn. It is the Greens - the very political party he represents - which is opposed to the fuel reduction plans that reduce the severity of these fires.
In particular, Greens in local government put obstacles in the way of back burning when the conditions are right to reduce the natural fuel load. Their ecological outlook favours fossils and fauna over people's homes and lives.
Australia will always be a high fire danger country. We have an expanding population and that means more housing will encroach ever outwards. The only practical defence is constant effort to keep fuel loads in the bush under control and have well trained fire crews ready to deal with fire before it becomes an unstoppable force.
That requires the Greens to change their policies !
That completely ignores the long history of this country. The Australian summer is a fire lottery. We have a mix of wet and dry summers and on occasion the combination of low humidity, a high temperature and wind from the wrong direction comes together with a spark that sets the bush ablaze.
That has been a recurring experience, dating back to past centuries before there was the slightest concern about things like the amount of C02 in the atmosphere.
The people who have their homes in areas prone to bushfires would see the irony of Adam Brandt point scoring as the fires burn. It is the Greens - the very political party he represents - which is opposed to the fuel reduction plans that reduce the severity of these fires.
In particular, Greens in local government put obstacles in the way of back burning when the conditions are right to reduce the natural fuel load. Their ecological outlook favours fossils and fauna over people's homes and lives.
Australia will always be a high fire danger country. We have an expanding population and that means more housing will encroach ever outwards. The only practical defence is constant effort to keep fuel loads in the bush under control and have well trained fire crews ready to deal with fire before it becomes an unstoppable force.
That requires the Greens to change their policies !
Friday, 18 October 2013
A ticking bomb !
It must be an unnerving thought to any driver to know that they are sharing the road with a hundred people driving heavy vehicles - who have been falsely certified to drive.
Evidence is appearing that a heavy vehicle assessor was exchanging driving license certification for bribes of up to two thousand dollars - and that in many cases training log books were a sham and the person falsely qualified was not in any way tested.
The danger to others is obvious. It takes judgement and skill to safely control these big rigs at speed on the highways, and getting them safely to their final destination in city traffic requires far more competence than can be learned just driving a car.
Hopefully, the Roads and Maritime services ( RMS ) which is the new name for the old RTA - will be retesting all heavy vehicle drivers certified by this assessor to weed out those without the skill to hold a heavy vehicle license.
This incident also sounds a warning about the temptation that goes hand in hand with the granting of power. Most people are basically honest, but the power to grant a covetted reward brings with it the opportunity to abuse that power in exchange for money.
Just as the skill of the applicant is being tested by the assessor, the honesty of the assessor should be periodically tested to ensure that the necessary standards are being maintained.
It would not be unreasonable for a random percentage of those passed to be retested by senior management. It is a fact of life that power corrupts - and the only way to fight that risk of corruption is to ensure that the risk of exposure is constant.
This incident proves that this safeguard is lacking !
Evidence is appearing that a heavy vehicle assessor was exchanging driving license certification for bribes of up to two thousand dollars - and that in many cases training log books were a sham and the person falsely qualified was not in any way tested.
The danger to others is obvious. It takes judgement and skill to safely control these big rigs at speed on the highways, and getting them safely to their final destination in city traffic requires far more competence than can be learned just driving a car.
Hopefully, the Roads and Maritime services ( RMS ) which is the new name for the old RTA - will be retesting all heavy vehicle drivers certified by this assessor to weed out those without the skill to hold a heavy vehicle license.
This incident also sounds a warning about the temptation that goes hand in hand with the granting of power. Most people are basically honest, but the power to grant a covetted reward brings with it the opportunity to abuse that power in exchange for money.
Just as the skill of the applicant is being tested by the assessor, the honesty of the assessor should be periodically tested to ensure that the necessary standards are being maintained.
It would not be unreasonable for a random percentage of those passed to be retested by senior management. It is a fact of life that power corrupts - and the only way to fight that risk of corruption is to ensure that the risk of exposure is constant.
This incident proves that this safeguard is lacking !
Thursday, 17 October 2013
Drink container deposit scheme.
New South Wales is considering imposing a deposit on all bottles and cans sold in this state. The customer can then claim a partial refund if the container is returned to a collection centre. The aim is to reduce the litter we see when drink containers are disposed of carelessly.
A similar scheme has been in place for decades in Adelaide, but as usual the devil is in the detail. We have yet to see how many collection centres will be involved - and precisely where they will be located.
It is expected that this scheme will be self financed. Each and every drink container will attract a twenty cent deposit at the point of sale - and the customer will get a ten cent refund when it is returned. It is estimated that this will cost the average household about $ 300 a year.
The big question is whether the average person will bother to go to the trouble of reclaiming those ten cent refunds, or if this will morph into just another tax with little tangible results.
It also offers a huge opportunity for a national charity to be innovative and gain a source of income. The idea of distributing a plastic rubbish bag to every home in Sydney - and asking the residents to donate used drink containers as their charity donation - would have appeal to many people.
A monthly pickup - street by street - would involve a staggering amount of money when the potential number of items at ten cents each is taken into consideration.
A final decision on this scheme has not yet been taken, but opportunity is knocking on the door and these days charity financing is big business. Now is the time for an innovative CEO to take a new approach by way of broader horizons.
Much more innovative than simply paying for television time - and asking the public for money !
A similar scheme has been in place for decades in Adelaide, but as usual the devil is in the detail. We have yet to see how many collection centres will be involved - and precisely where they will be located.
It is expected that this scheme will be self financed. Each and every drink container will attract a twenty cent deposit at the point of sale - and the customer will get a ten cent refund when it is returned. It is estimated that this will cost the average household about $ 300 a year.
The big question is whether the average person will bother to go to the trouble of reclaiming those ten cent refunds, or if this will morph into just another tax with little tangible results.
It also offers a huge opportunity for a national charity to be innovative and gain a source of income. The idea of distributing a plastic rubbish bag to every home in Sydney - and asking the residents to donate used drink containers as their charity donation - would have appeal to many people.
A monthly pickup - street by street - would involve a staggering amount of money when the potential number of items at ten cents each is taken into consideration.
A final decision on this scheme has not yet been taken, but opportunity is knocking on the door and these days charity financing is big business. Now is the time for an innovative CEO to take a new approach by way of broader horizons.
Much more innovative than simply paying for television time - and asking the public for money !
Wednesday, 16 October 2013
A " Tactical Silence " !
It is often said that the law has more twists and turns than a double jointed Rattlesnake ! That is certainly the situation that has evolved from our new " Right to Silence " laws.
The Asian and Middle Eastern crime gangs of Sydney have been frustrating police by refusing to name the person who just shot them. They refuse all comment - and this leads to later revenge when they return the favour and more bullets are sprayed in Sydney streets. All police investigations are met with a wall of silence.
The parliament passed a new law that required the police to issue an official warning to those about to be questioned, telling them that if they later used a different story or an alibi in court, that would be " viewed adversely " if it conflicted with their silence when interviewed.
The sticking point seems to be the requirement that this special caution must be made in the presence of a legal practitioner who is acting for the defendant at that time.
We are now finding a reluctance of lawyers to attend those arrested and become available for that caution to come into effect, in which case it has no bearing when the case goes to court.
This seems to come into conflict with the right of the accused to have legal counsel guide them to avoid self incrimination.
Fortunately, this " special caution " need does not apply to minor matters and will only come into affect where the investigation involves serious indictable offences that would involve a sentence of five years or more prison time.
Unfortunately, determining just what level of offence is involved is not usually crystal clear - until after the interview has taken place !
The Asian and Middle Eastern crime gangs of Sydney have been frustrating police by refusing to name the person who just shot them. They refuse all comment - and this leads to later revenge when they return the favour and more bullets are sprayed in Sydney streets. All police investigations are met with a wall of silence.
The parliament passed a new law that required the police to issue an official warning to those about to be questioned, telling them that if they later used a different story or an alibi in court, that would be " viewed adversely " if it conflicted with their silence when interviewed.
The sticking point seems to be the requirement that this special caution must be made in the presence of a legal practitioner who is acting for the defendant at that time.
We are now finding a reluctance of lawyers to attend those arrested and become available for that caution to come into effect, in which case it has no bearing when the case goes to court.
This seems to come into conflict with the right of the accused to have legal counsel guide them to avoid self incrimination.
Fortunately, this " special caution " need does not apply to minor matters and will only come into affect where the investigation involves serious indictable offences that would involve a sentence of five years or more prison time.
Unfortunately, determining just what level of offence is involved is not usually crystal clear - until after the interview has taken place !
Monday, 14 October 2013
Voting equality ?
Bill Shorten has won the leadership of the Australian Labor party, but many will question the " Vote value " that was applied to that victory.
For the first time, the rank and file members of the ALP branches were a part of choosing the party leader and the 30,426 people who were eligible cast their vote across all Australian states. The result was 18,230 for Anthony Albanese - and 12,196 for Bill Shorten. Clearly, Albanese won the popular vote.
The 86 parliamentarty members of the Labor Caucus also voted on their choice of a leader, but here the result was very different. Bill Shorten gained the majority - and then the percentages of both the branch and caucus votes were joined together - to give Shorten a 55 to 52 % victory.
That was not exactly the old hallowed principle of every vote having an equal value, as we endorse when we mere mortals go to a Federal election to choose which form of government will run the country.
Each caucus vote is heavily weighted and far superior in value to the vote cast by the individual branch members - and each of those caucus members owes his or her allegience to a " faction " - so the choice of leader was once again in the hands of the notorious factions - and very little has really changed.
Bill Shorten is a creature of the " right " and Anthony Albanese comes from the " left " faction. In the past, the selection of ministers and the allocation of portfolios was in the hands of the faction bosses and settled in smoke filled rooms - behind closed doors.
Kevin Rudd ended that when he demanded the right to make those choices at his discretion. The outlook of the leader now has a more direct bearing on which way the party charts it's course.
Obviously, the wishes of the vast rank and file is not the determining factor in modern Labor politics !
For the first time, the rank and file members of the ALP branches were a part of choosing the party leader and the 30,426 people who were eligible cast their vote across all Australian states. The result was 18,230 for Anthony Albanese - and 12,196 for Bill Shorten. Clearly, Albanese won the popular vote.
The 86 parliamentarty members of the Labor Caucus also voted on their choice of a leader, but here the result was very different. Bill Shorten gained the majority - and then the percentages of both the branch and caucus votes were joined together - to give Shorten a 55 to 52 % victory.
That was not exactly the old hallowed principle of every vote having an equal value, as we endorse when we mere mortals go to a Federal election to choose which form of government will run the country.
Each caucus vote is heavily weighted and far superior in value to the vote cast by the individual branch members - and each of those caucus members owes his or her allegience to a " faction " - so the choice of leader was once again in the hands of the notorious factions - and very little has really changed.
Bill Shorten is a creature of the " right " and Anthony Albanese comes from the " left " faction. In the past, the selection of ministers and the allocation of portfolios was in the hands of the faction bosses and settled in smoke filled rooms - behind closed doors.
Kevin Rudd ended that when he demanded the right to make those choices at his discretion. The outlook of the leader now has a more direct bearing on which way the party charts it's course.
Obviously, the wishes of the vast rank and file is not the determining factor in modern Labor politics !
Domestic violence " Entitlements " !
Domestic violence is a sad fact of life that happens when many relationships break down. It can range in severity to the exchange of insults to near death bashings, and in some cases the actual ending of another persons life is the final outcome.
Now it has become the subject of a new " Employment Rules " policy being considered by New South Wale's 152 councils, and if accepted, will be applied to their 50,000 employees.
This will be a new " entitlement " that grants up to an additional five days annual leave - when all other leave avenues are exhausted. It will enable the victim to seek medical treatment, seek legal advice and if necessary attend court, and this support will be enhanced by the employers responsibility to screen incoming phone calls and emails, remove the employees details from any council literature and ensure that staff parking is secure or move the employee to another work site.
Most people have sympathy for those exposed to domestic violence, but once an arrangements becomes an " entitlement " it becomes just another drain on the ability of the employer to manage their business - and it's finances.
When universal " sick leave " laws were first envisaged they were hailed as a a " humanitarium measure ", but it didn't take long for a small percentage of the work force to exploit them fully - and meticulously exhaust these " days off " in each calendar year.
As things stand, many employers are generously supportive of staff subjected to domestic violence and bend over backwards to give assistance, but there is a deep gulf between voluntary acts of benevolence - and writing that into the employment code as an " entitlement ".
If this enters the rules and regulations that apply to council employees, it it inevitable that there will be pressure to extend it to state and Federal awards - and the unions will seek it's inclusion in awards pertaining to the private sector.
We need to think long and hard before we enact another example of " entitlement creep " which is adding to the business costs which make this country uncompetitive on world markets.
Now it has become the subject of a new " Employment Rules " policy being considered by New South Wale's 152 councils, and if accepted, will be applied to their 50,000 employees.
This will be a new " entitlement " that grants up to an additional five days annual leave - when all other leave avenues are exhausted. It will enable the victim to seek medical treatment, seek legal advice and if necessary attend court, and this support will be enhanced by the employers responsibility to screen incoming phone calls and emails, remove the employees details from any council literature and ensure that staff parking is secure or move the employee to another work site.
Most people have sympathy for those exposed to domestic violence, but once an arrangements becomes an " entitlement " it becomes just another drain on the ability of the employer to manage their business - and it's finances.
When universal " sick leave " laws were first envisaged they were hailed as a a " humanitarium measure ", but it didn't take long for a small percentage of the work force to exploit them fully - and meticulously exhaust these " days off " in each calendar year.
As things stand, many employers are generously supportive of staff subjected to domestic violence and bend over backwards to give assistance, but there is a deep gulf between voluntary acts of benevolence - and writing that into the employment code as an " entitlement ".
If this enters the rules and regulations that apply to council employees, it it inevitable that there will be pressure to extend it to state and Federal awards - and the unions will seek it's inclusion in awards pertaining to the private sector.
We need to think long and hard before we enact another example of " entitlement creep " which is adding to the business costs which make this country uncompetitive on world markets.
Sunday, 13 October 2013
Kindergarten " Story " wars !
" Story time " is a delight to most children attending Kindergarten, Play School - or any of the early learning centres. The aged " Once upon a time " fairytales have given way for stories that reflect the age in which we live - and this has some parents calling for content bans.
It seems that the modern crop of child stories has no hesitation in handling family life in homes where there are two Mums - or two Dads. It includes the single parent family, where a divorced person is bringing up a child, and makes no attempt to moralise on the rights or wrongs of relationships.
Some people see this as " propaganda " for getting children to accept the " Gay scene " that is modern society and demand that this type of literature be withdrawn.
It seems a desire to recreate the morality of Victorian England, where even the hint of that forbidden word - " Sex " - would see conversations stop. We are also seeing a " morals revolt " in Valadimir Putin's Russia, where open support for the Gay scene can see a citizen serve a prison term.
The idea of building a moral wall around children is doomed to failure. Children are more perceptive than we imagine, and they quickly accept the variety of lifestyles of those they encounter on a daily basis.
Many decades ago the child of couples who had divorced suffered isolation within the school system. The attitude of parents was to dissuade their child from becoming friendly with a " tainted " peer. Divorce was regarded as a moral sin - and the sin of the parent was visited upon the child.
Unfortunately, we still have people who cling to the standards of a by-gone age - and they usually have strident voices that frighten politicians. What some will claim to be propagana for the gay lobby is really simply illustrating the real world in which we live.
Hermetically shielding our children from the world of reality is a sure way to create future friction and their need to rebel to establish their own identities !
Not every story ends with that fairytale tradition - that they " all lived happily ever after " !
It seems that the modern crop of child stories has no hesitation in handling family life in homes where there are two Mums - or two Dads. It includes the single parent family, where a divorced person is bringing up a child, and makes no attempt to moralise on the rights or wrongs of relationships.
Some people see this as " propaganda " for getting children to accept the " Gay scene " that is modern society and demand that this type of literature be withdrawn.
It seems a desire to recreate the morality of Victorian England, where even the hint of that forbidden word - " Sex " - would see conversations stop. We are also seeing a " morals revolt " in Valadimir Putin's Russia, where open support for the Gay scene can see a citizen serve a prison term.
The idea of building a moral wall around children is doomed to failure. Children are more perceptive than we imagine, and they quickly accept the variety of lifestyles of those they encounter on a daily basis.
Many decades ago the child of couples who had divorced suffered isolation within the school system. The attitude of parents was to dissuade their child from becoming friendly with a " tainted " peer. Divorce was regarded as a moral sin - and the sin of the parent was visited upon the child.
Unfortunately, we still have people who cling to the standards of a by-gone age - and they usually have strident voices that frighten politicians. What some will claim to be propagana for the gay lobby is really simply illustrating the real world in which we live.
Hermetically shielding our children from the world of reality is a sure way to create future friction and their need to rebel to establish their own identities !
Not every story ends with that fairytale tradition - that they " all lived happily ever after " !
Saturday, 12 October 2013
Loan sharks !
Providing loans to desperate people at excessive rates of interest has been with us since the dawn of time. Initially, these people were called " Pawnbrokers " - and they advanced a miniscule amount of the value of the goods pawned on the understanding that the loan be repaid with interest in a nominated amount of time - or the goods were confiscated.
In this twenty-first century the trade took on a respectable veneer and the glitzy store image moved to main street. The money offered was no longer a " loan ", but an offer to buy outright the offered goods - at a mere fraction of their true value. These were then reoffered to the public - at a huge profit to the merchant.
These stores also offered what came to be termed " Until pay-day loans ".
Small amounts of cash money for desperate people trying to bridge the gap until the next welfare payment or paycheck to buy food or obtain desperately needed medicine. The interest charged was astronomical - and the government capped these loans with a maximum interest rate of 48%.
Evidence is now emerging that the loan sharks are getting around this restriction and some loans are attracting interest at a rate of 633%. It is a clever dodge. The borrower is forced to sign various separate agreements that impose penalties for late payments - and sometimes even for early payments - that inflate the real cost of the loan well above the legal limit.
Another clever impost occurs when a borrower falls short on full repayment within the agreed time frame. The lender suggests that this balance be " rolled over " into a new loan - and the victim is now committed to paying interest on that already highly inflated interest - which is far higher than the original amount borrowed. It is a never ending circle, from which there is no escape.
The government has promised to crack down hard on this manipulation of lending laws, but unfortunately the truly desperate have no other avenue to borrow money. Their circumstances make them unattractive to the banks and most have a past credit record that would not stand up to scrutiny.
At least the civil courts may have a chance of imposing redress. A class action has commenced seeking to recover $40 million extorted from 50,000 New South Wales citizens by way of excess interest rates.
If successful, it will send the loan sharks back to the drawing boards !
In this twenty-first century the trade took on a respectable veneer and the glitzy store image moved to main street. The money offered was no longer a " loan ", but an offer to buy outright the offered goods - at a mere fraction of their true value. These were then reoffered to the public - at a huge profit to the merchant.
These stores also offered what came to be termed " Until pay-day loans ".
Small amounts of cash money for desperate people trying to bridge the gap until the next welfare payment or paycheck to buy food or obtain desperately needed medicine. The interest charged was astronomical - and the government capped these loans with a maximum interest rate of 48%.
Evidence is now emerging that the loan sharks are getting around this restriction and some loans are attracting interest at a rate of 633%. It is a clever dodge. The borrower is forced to sign various separate agreements that impose penalties for late payments - and sometimes even for early payments - that inflate the real cost of the loan well above the legal limit.
Another clever impost occurs when a borrower falls short on full repayment within the agreed time frame. The lender suggests that this balance be " rolled over " into a new loan - and the victim is now committed to paying interest on that already highly inflated interest - which is far higher than the original amount borrowed. It is a never ending circle, from which there is no escape.
The government has promised to crack down hard on this manipulation of lending laws, but unfortunately the truly desperate have no other avenue to borrow money. Their circumstances make them unattractive to the banks and most have a past credit record that would not stand up to scrutiny.
At least the civil courts may have a chance of imposing redress. A class action has commenced seeking to recover $40 million extorted from 50,000 New South Wales citizens by way of excess interest rates.
If successful, it will send the loan sharks back to the drawing boards !
Friday, 11 October 2013
Perhaps the only answer !
It is becoming painfully apparent that the power and prestige of the American president is becoming eroded. When Barack Obama publicly threatened a " red line " on the use of chemical weapons in Syria, his authority was diminished when they were used - and he did nothing !
The " Tea Party" wing of the Republican party senses blood in the water and have used their power to virtually shut down the government of the United States and send the public service on furlough. It seems that their resolve may actually carry through to blocking a bill to increase the critical borrowing power of the country - and lead to it defaulting on it's debts.
This is the ultimate tactical use of political power. A vote to end the shutdown and pass that money bill would probably be successful - if the leaders of the Republican party would let it go to the vote. They are using their numbers to block it even reaching that stage while they try and force Obama to capitulate on his health care reform.
It seems farcical that the greatest military and economic power on the planet should be brought to it's knees by a minority of it's people refusing to allow the government - to govern ! Desperate situations require the brave to venture into unknown waters to create a workable solution.
It would be unrealistic to think that the founding fathers would not have provided emergency powers in the constitution to absolve just this sort of situation. Perhaps Barack Obama should take the matter to the highest court in the land - the Supreme Court of the United States of America in Washington, and appeal to the Chief Justice and the eight Associate Justices to use their powers to save the country from anarchy and financial destruction.
It would be reasonable to ask the Supreme court to declare the terms of office of all members of the House of Representatives - and of the Senate - vacant, and order a fresh election.
Similar action has happened in other world countries, and Australians will remember a day in 1975 when supply was blocked and a government defied the constitution and refused to take the matter to the people. The " Reserve Powers " came into play - and the obstacle was removed.
There is every likelihood that Obama would be vindicated. On a previous shutdown, the voters at a subsequent election punished the Republican party for it's tactics and voiced their disapproval. Such a bold step would go a long way to restoring the credibility of the American president.
The world economy is at cross roads. To do nothing seems to ensure economic disaster !
The " Tea Party" wing of the Republican party senses blood in the water and have used their power to virtually shut down the government of the United States and send the public service on furlough. It seems that their resolve may actually carry through to blocking a bill to increase the critical borrowing power of the country - and lead to it defaulting on it's debts.
This is the ultimate tactical use of political power. A vote to end the shutdown and pass that money bill would probably be successful - if the leaders of the Republican party would let it go to the vote. They are using their numbers to block it even reaching that stage while they try and force Obama to capitulate on his health care reform.
It seems farcical that the greatest military and economic power on the planet should be brought to it's knees by a minority of it's people refusing to allow the government - to govern ! Desperate situations require the brave to venture into unknown waters to create a workable solution.
It would be unrealistic to think that the founding fathers would not have provided emergency powers in the constitution to absolve just this sort of situation. Perhaps Barack Obama should take the matter to the highest court in the land - the Supreme Court of the United States of America in Washington, and appeal to the Chief Justice and the eight Associate Justices to use their powers to save the country from anarchy and financial destruction.
It would be reasonable to ask the Supreme court to declare the terms of office of all members of the House of Representatives - and of the Senate - vacant, and order a fresh election.
Similar action has happened in other world countries, and Australians will remember a day in 1975 when supply was blocked and a government defied the constitution and refused to take the matter to the people. The " Reserve Powers " came into play - and the obstacle was removed.
There is every likelihood that Obama would be vindicated. On a previous shutdown, the voters at a subsequent election punished the Republican party for it's tactics and voiced their disapproval. Such a bold step would go a long way to restoring the credibility of the American president.
The world economy is at cross roads. To do nothing seems to ensure economic disaster !
Thursday, 10 October 2013
Oops !
Trying to breath new life into the shattered Australian Labor party now in opposition in New South Wales was going to be a long and difficult job, but a chance remark seems to have put the skids under opposition leader John Robertson.
Robertson let it slip that while he was the Unions NSW boss and a tender was being considered for the sale of union owned waterfront land in Sydney used as a holiday retreat - he was offered a $ 3 million bribe by a notorious standover man to slant the sale in his direction.
Robertson proudly claimed that he rejected the offer - and removed this man from further consideration in the tender process, but also admitted that he did nothing to bring the matter to the attention of the police.
This gaffe has set off a storm of recriminations about what we expect from polticians and it seems that it has set the wheels in motion for Robertson to be replaced as leader. In the eyes of some, failing to report an offered bribe to the police is little different from actually accepting the money !
Of course, there is a subtle difference in the circumstances. At the time this bribe was offered John Robertson was not a politician. He was acting in his capacity as a union leader - and now he is being judged in the capacity of leader of a political party - but the same lack of judgement applies.
It comes at an unfortunate time. This state is still reeling at the disclosure that a minister and politicians and their political allies consorted together to rig the authority vested in government to enrich themselves to the tune of millions of dollars - at the expense of the New South Wales taxpayers.
Robertson chose an unfortunate time to drop his bombshell. Just when that scandal was starting to fade from public attention the issue of bribes has been refocussed in the public mind. - right at the time the Labor party is trying to act nice and select a new national leader.
Albanese and Shorten must be wondering why the Gods of politics are frowning on them !
Robertson let it slip that while he was the Unions NSW boss and a tender was being considered for the sale of union owned waterfront land in Sydney used as a holiday retreat - he was offered a $ 3 million bribe by a notorious standover man to slant the sale in his direction.
Robertson proudly claimed that he rejected the offer - and removed this man from further consideration in the tender process, but also admitted that he did nothing to bring the matter to the attention of the police.
This gaffe has set off a storm of recriminations about what we expect from polticians and it seems that it has set the wheels in motion for Robertson to be replaced as leader. In the eyes of some, failing to report an offered bribe to the police is little different from actually accepting the money !
Of course, there is a subtle difference in the circumstances. At the time this bribe was offered John Robertson was not a politician. He was acting in his capacity as a union leader - and now he is being judged in the capacity of leader of a political party - but the same lack of judgement applies.
It comes at an unfortunate time. This state is still reeling at the disclosure that a minister and politicians and their political allies consorted together to rig the authority vested in government to enrich themselves to the tune of millions of dollars - at the expense of the New South Wales taxpayers.
Robertson chose an unfortunate time to drop his bombshell. Just when that scandal was starting to fade from public attention the issue of bribes has been refocussed in the public mind. - right at the time the Labor party is trying to act nice and select a new national leader.
Albanese and Shorten must be wondering why the Gods of politics are frowning on them !
Wednesday, 9 October 2013
" Consorting " laws !
It sounds as if Queensland Premier Campbell Newman is trying to reinstate the old " Consorting law " as a weapon against the new breed of bikie gangs. His proposal to make it illegal for as little as three people on motorbikes to ride together would probably have to survive a high court challenge.
" Consorting " laws are probably still on the law statutes, but how long since someone was actually charged with consorting ? Known, convicted criminals were once forbidden to associate - even socially - with one another and the police used this law to harass career criminals.
We certainly have a problem with the bikie gangs and their drug involvement but legislating them out of existence seems more a pipe dream than reality. Will it become illegal to ride a lawfully owned and registered motorcycle ? Can an assembly of people who describe themselves as a " Motorcycle club " be legally prohibited from meeting together - and riding in one another's company ?
A prime consideration will be the use of " colours". The fact that members proudly display their badge of membership on their backs both intimidates the police and others - and serves to advertise the numerical strength of that particular club. If they remove their colours - will that become the divide between ordinary citizen and club member ?
We seem to be backing away from the concept that to be termed a criminal a person first had to be convicted of a crime. We have many in our community who sympathise with the aims of al Qaeda terrorists - but they are free to come and go until they actually break a law. They may actually freely voice their support for al Qaeda aims, but the line to be crossed to invoke a law breach is actual criminal activity.
There seems to be a note of desperation in this reach into the law books to create new offences which can only be applied to selected members of the general public. The parliament has the right to enact new laws, but that right is limited by reference to the highest court in the land if the framing and intent of such a law conflicts with the constitution.
We are walking on shaky ground if we dump the checks and balances that apply to personal freedom - and the concept of justice - to counter a rising evil
that seems beyond our present laws to contain.
It would be easy to tame a monster - by creating an even bigger and more terrifying monster. Hopefully - caution will prevail !
" Consorting " laws are probably still on the law statutes, but how long since someone was actually charged with consorting ? Known, convicted criminals were once forbidden to associate - even socially - with one another and the police used this law to harass career criminals.
We certainly have a problem with the bikie gangs and their drug involvement but legislating them out of existence seems more a pipe dream than reality. Will it become illegal to ride a lawfully owned and registered motorcycle ? Can an assembly of people who describe themselves as a " Motorcycle club " be legally prohibited from meeting together - and riding in one another's company ?
A prime consideration will be the use of " colours". The fact that members proudly display their badge of membership on their backs both intimidates the police and others - and serves to advertise the numerical strength of that particular club. If they remove their colours - will that become the divide between ordinary citizen and club member ?
We seem to be backing away from the concept that to be termed a criminal a person first had to be convicted of a crime. We have many in our community who sympathise with the aims of al Qaeda terrorists - but they are free to come and go until they actually break a law. They may actually freely voice their support for al Qaeda aims, but the line to be crossed to invoke a law breach is actual criminal activity.
There seems to be a note of desperation in this reach into the law books to create new offences which can only be applied to selected members of the general public. The parliament has the right to enact new laws, but that right is limited by reference to the highest court in the land if the framing and intent of such a law conflicts with the constitution.
We are walking on shaky ground if we dump the checks and balances that apply to personal freedom - and the concept of justice - to counter a rising evil
that seems beyond our present laws to contain.
It would be easy to tame a monster - by creating an even bigger and more terrifying monster. Hopefully - caution will prevail !
Tuesday, 8 October 2013
The " Diesel " phenomenon !
An ever increasing number of car manufacturers are offering the option of a diesel engine to new car buyers. These engines have come a long way from the days of rattling engine sounds and waiting for glow plugs to light before starting the ignition.
Diesel engine sales have tripled over the past ten years and now represent four percent of new car sales, with popularity in the SUV range extending that percentage to ten percent.
The lure is more kilometres per litre of fuel and longer engine life, but the savings depend heavily on how the car is used. Diesels are at their best when it comes to distance travelled. Their efficiency drops sharply if their use is restricted to " stop and start " city car travel.
One of the advantages of diesel over petrol is the lower emission of Co2 from the tail pipe - but diesel engines need regular periods of distance running to burn away the buildup of debris in the exhaust system, and this can not be achieved in city use.
Traditionally, diesel fuel was priced lower than petrol because it required less refinement but these days the price of both fuels varies widely. World demand is a factor and with diesel it has to compete with the need for heating oil during the northern hemisphere winter. Prices rise when demand reaches a peak.
Making a decision between petrol and diesel is best done after a careful comparison. Petrol engined cars are usually way cheaper than diesel and the latest technology has narrowed the fuel use gap. Unless the lifestyle has changed greatly, the use history of the previous car would be a good guide to such a comparison.
Like all big spending decisions, first doing " homework " to get the facts right is essential. Buying a new car is usually the second most important financial decision in a persons life - and that is not something to be taken on pure impulse !
Diesel engine sales have tripled over the past ten years and now represent four percent of new car sales, with popularity in the SUV range extending that percentage to ten percent.
The lure is more kilometres per litre of fuel and longer engine life, but the savings depend heavily on how the car is used. Diesels are at their best when it comes to distance travelled. Their efficiency drops sharply if their use is restricted to " stop and start " city car travel.
One of the advantages of diesel over petrol is the lower emission of Co2 from the tail pipe - but diesel engines need regular periods of distance running to burn away the buildup of debris in the exhaust system, and this can not be achieved in city use.
Traditionally, diesel fuel was priced lower than petrol because it required less refinement but these days the price of both fuels varies widely. World demand is a factor and with diesel it has to compete with the need for heating oil during the northern hemisphere winter. Prices rise when demand reaches a peak.
Making a decision between petrol and diesel is best done after a careful comparison. Petrol engined cars are usually way cheaper than diesel and the latest technology has narrowed the fuel use gap. Unless the lifestyle has changed greatly, the use history of the previous car would be a good guide to such a comparison.
Like all big spending decisions, first doing " homework " to get the facts right is essential. Buying a new car is usually the second most important financial decision in a persons life - and that is not something to be taken on pure impulse !
Monday, 7 October 2013
The " Silk Road " story !
It sounds almost unbelievable ! A young man who mastered the capabilities of the Internet and it's commercial applications managed to create what the FBI describes as " the most extensive criminal markeplace on the Internet ".
It is alleged that twenty-nine year old Ross William Ulbricht setup " Silk Road " in January 2011 - and that since then it has openly supplied the entire spectrum of illicit drugs - openly and in full view of the world's law enforcement agencies.
All buyers needed to do was peruse the offerings and prices posted on a " black " Internet site - and make their selection. In a matter of days, the delivery took place through the mail system - and this enterprise had a turnover in excess of a billion dollars.
The usual problem with illicit trade revolves around paying for the goods. Payment methods leave " money trails " but there is a fast evolving form of commerce termed " bitcoins " - which few people really understand. It is a new form of " Cyber money " that is traded between individuals and because it has no need for banks or financial clearing houses - it remains " invisible " to law enforcement.
What the Silk Road story really illustrates is that an entrepeneur with an enquiring mind and a good grasp of the power of the computer and it's Internet application can grasp opportunities that are only limited by the power of the human mind to think !
Ulbricht is under arrest and has been charged with narcotics trafficking, computer hacking and money laundering. It is one thing for the FBI to lay charges - and quite another to gain a conviction.
No doubt this case will play out in the courts of the USA in coming months - and perhaps years. What is has opened up is a new and safe way to deal drugs - and you can be certain that others are carefully studying the Silk Road script - with the intention of copying and improving on that method.
It all boils down to the first rule of commerce. " Wherever there is a need, someone will devise a supply " !
It is alleged that twenty-nine year old Ross William Ulbricht setup " Silk Road " in January 2011 - and that since then it has openly supplied the entire spectrum of illicit drugs - openly and in full view of the world's law enforcement agencies.
All buyers needed to do was peruse the offerings and prices posted on a " black " Internet site - and make their selection. In a matter of days, the delivery took place through the mail system - and this enterprise had a turnover in excess of a billion dollars.
The usual problem with illicit trade revolves around paying for the goods. Payment methods leave " money trails " but there is a fast evolving form of commerce termed " bitcoins " - which few people really understand. It is a new form of " Cyber money " that is traded between individuals and because it has no need for banks or financial clearing houses - it remains " invisible " to law enforcement.
What the Silk Road story really illustrates is that an entrepeneur with an enquiring mind and a good grasp of the power of the computer and it's Internet application can grasp opportunities that are only limited by the power of the human mind to think !
Ulbricht is under arrest and has been charged with narcotics trafficking, computer hacking and money laundering. It is one thing for the FBI to lay charges - and quite another to gain a conviction.
No doubt this case will play out in the courts of the USA in coming months - and perhaps years. What is has opened up is a new and safe way to deal drugs - and you can be certain that others are carefully studying the Silk Road script - with the intention of copying and improving on that method.
It all boils down to the first rule of commerce. " Wherever there is a need, someone will devise a supply " !
Sunday, 6 October 2013
Bikie wars !
Keeping Australia safe is a split responsibility between the men and women in uniform in the defence forces and the state police whose job it is to maintain civil order. Events now playing out on the Gold Coast are casting doubt on our ability to keep control of the growing muscle of outlaw motorcycle gangs.
The " Red and white army " of the Hells Angels has long controlled the drug scene in Australia's tourist playground, but that is now under threat from the Mongols, the biggest, most violent and dangerous criminal grouping in the USA.
The Mongols are coming to Australia and already they have incorporated the " Finks " to wear their colours and are busily recruiting members from other rival motorcycle clubs. This is very much a game where numbers count, and the Hells Angels are desperately seeking to expand and are vigorously adding to their chapter.
In the past decade, the degree of violence from the bikie legions has increased sharply. The bikie clubs are becoming more organized and money to create expansion is no problem - because of the huge profits from the drug trade that they control. Sophisticated weaponry and communication equipment of a standard used by military forces is at their disposal.
We are fast reaching the stage when criminal forces have lost their fear of our police and have the muscle to take them on in open combat. They swagger through shopping centres in an aggressive style - and in numbers that are confronting. It seems that this situation will worsen if the fight between the Mongols and Hells Angels becomes open warfare.
There are warnings to be learned on the world scene. In Mexico, the drug gangs are now so powerful that they have the upper hand over both the police and the Mexican armed forces. A similar situation exists in parts of the Philippines.
We need to fight this menace - before it gets completely out of control, and that requires courageous law changes to enable the police to do their job - and support from our armed forces if more fire power is needed.
The writing is clearly on the wall. Our response will determine if the battle is joined now - or allowed to fester until it becomes a giant future war !
The " Red and white army " of the Hells Angels has long controlled the drug scene in Australia's tourist playground, but that is now under threat from the Mongols, the biggest, most violent and dangerous criminal grouping in the USA.
The Mongols are coming to Australia and already they have incorporated the " Finks " to wear their colours and are busily recruiting members from other rival motorcycle clubs. This is very much a game where numbers count, and the Hells Angels are desperately seeking to expand and are vigorously adding to their chapter.
In the past decade, the degree of violence from the bikie legions has increased sharply. The bikie clubs are becoming more organized and money to create expansion is no problem - because of the huge profits from the drug trade that they control. Sophisticated weaponry and communication equipment of a standard used by military forces is at their disposal.
We are fast reaching the stage when criminal forces have lost their fear of our police and have the muscle to take them on in open combat. They swagger through shopping centres in an aggressive style - and in numbers that are confronting. It seems that this situation will worsen if the fight between the Mongols and Hells Angels becomes open warfare.
There are warnings to be learned on the world scene. In Mexico, the drug gangs are now so powerful that they have the upper hand over both the police and the Mexican armed forces. A similar situation exists in parts of the Philippines.
We need to fight this menace - before it gets completely out of control, and that requires courageous law changes to enable the police to do their job - and support from our armed forces if more fire power is needed.
The writing is clearly on the wall. Our response will determine if the battle is joined now - or allowed to fester until it becomes a giant future war !
Saturday, 5 October 2013
Angry People !
The citizens of the United States of America have every right to be angry. They sent their representatives to Washington to run the country, not indulge in " party politics " that has closed down the economy and sent eight hundred thousand employees on indefinite furlough !
The damage this is doing is like ever widening ripples on a pond. Those eight hundred thousand people sent home without pay closed an amazing number of places that people choose to visit - and that includes the Grand Canyon, The Statue of Liberty, Yosemite, all the museums, historical battle fields and monuments like Mount Rushmore that take pride of place in holiday snap shots.
What about the millions of Americans who make their living servicing the visitors to these places ? The people who flip hamburgers to feed the holiday crowds and the hotels and motels who provide visitor accommodation - and the car hire people who provide transport for the fly-in crowd ?
A lot of the American work force are hired on a " casual " basis. When the work is available, they get a " call in " - and they earn their money. How many people have cancelled a holiday trip to the USA because the place has shut down - and how many domestic workers won't get that call to come and clean floors and make beds. How many people live from paycheck to paycheck - and this shutdown will see their world crumble ?
The sad thing is that this " furlough " will be very selective. The titans of Wall street will still be sitting in their plush offices and collecting their pay. The men and women that the nation elected to sit in the house and the Senate will not loose any money while they haggle over issues of pure political doctrine.
Of course it would be pure fantasy - but just imagine if the country was starting again from scratch and the people writing the constitution decided to insert an " all in - all out " clause.
"What if " - when the economy shuts down - nobody across the entire country gets a pay check - until the mess is sorted out ?
And that includes the politicians !
But of course - if that rule applied, this mess would not have been allowed to happen in the first place !
The damage this is doing is like ever widening ripples on a pond. Those eight hundred thousand people sent home without pay closed an amazing number of places that people choose to visit - and that includes the Grand Canyon, The Statue of Liberty, Yosemite, all the museums, historical battle fields and monuments like Mount Rushmore that take pride of place in holiday snap shots.
What about the millions of Americans who make their living servicing the visitors to these places ? The people who flip hamburgers to feed the holiday crowds and the hotels and motels who provide visitor accommodation - and the car hire people who provide transport for the fly-in crowd ?
A lot of the American work force are hired on a " casual " basis. When the work is available, they get a " call in " - and they earn their money. How many people have cancelled a holiday trip to the USA because the place has shut down - and how many domestic workers won't get that call to come and clean floors and make beds. How many people live from paycheck to paycheck - and this shutdown will see their world crumble ?
The sad thing is that this " furlough " will be very selective. The titans of Wall street will still be sitting in their plush offices and collecting their pay. The men and women that the nation elected to sit in the house and the Senate will not loose any money while they haggle over issues of pure political doctrine.
Of course it would be pure fantasy - but just imagine if the country was starting again from scratch and the people writing the constitution decided to insert an " all in - all out " clause.
"What if " - when the economy shuts down - nobody across the entire country gets a pay check - until the mess is sorted out ?
And that includes the politicians !
But of course - if that rule applied, this mess would not have been allowed to happen in the first place !
Friday, 4 October 2013
A sensible precaution !
This week saw a Sydney road accident that filled most people with horror. A huge petrol tanker crashed on Mona Vale road and burst into flames. Two men were incinerated in their cars, several others received life threatening burns and brave bystander action saved several lives.
The fact that just prior to the crash, the tanker driver was flashing his lights and sounding his air horn leaves a strong impression that this crash was caused by a mechanical fault, probably brake failure. The very thought of a tanker containing hundreds of thousands of litres of petrol running out of control is enough to give other drivers a nightmare !
This tanker belonged to one of the leading fuel distribution companies in Australia and they run a fleet of two hundred such vehicles. The police and the Roads and Maritime services ( RMS ) immediately ordered this company's other tankers running on New South Wales roads to report to vehicle checking stations for a safety inspection. Many vehicles were found to have faults - and five were ordered off the road because of the nature of the needed repairs.
This should become standard procedure whenever a heavy vehicle crash appears to have possibly been caused by some sort of mechanical failure. All other vehicles owned by that company are on the state vehicle register and heavy vehicles are required to travel through the checking stations dotted about the state highway system. A general alert of the registrations required to be checked would produce immediate results.
All road vehicles require an annual safety check prior to registration but hard financial times sometimes result in day by day repairs being delayed. It is a fact of life that there are defective vehicles on our roads and one of the main reasons for these heavy vehicle checking stations - is to keep that risk under control.
Knowing that if a vehicle crashes this will cause the entire fleet to be safety checked would be a huge incentive for fleet owners to pay close attention to required running repairs. A good fleet safety reputation has a big influence on insurance premiums and is usually a factor when competing firms are being considered for a contract.
The action taken by police and RMS after this tragic accident is a sensible precaution. It should become standard procedure whenever a road event is suspected to involver mechanical failure !
The fact that just prior to the crash, the tanker driver was flashing his lights and sounding his air horn leaves a strong impression that this crash was caused by a mechanical fault, probably brake failure. The very thought of a tanker containing hundreds of thousands of litres of petrol running out of control is enough to give other drivers a nightmare !
This tanker belonged to one of the leading fuel distribution companies in Australia and they run a fleet of two hundred such vehicles. The police and the Roads and Maritime services ( RMS ) immediately ordered this company's other tankers running on New South Wales roads to report to vehicle checking stations for a safety inspection. Many vehicles were found to have faults - and five were ordered off the road because of the nature of the needed repairs.
This should become standard procedure whenever a heavy vehicle crash appears to have possibly been caused by some sort of mechanical failure. All other vehicles owned by that company are on the state vehicle register and heavy vehicles are required to travel through the checking stations dotted about the state highway system. A general alert of the registrations required to be checked would produce immediate results.
All road vehicles require an annual safety check prior to registration but hard financial times sometimes result in day by day repairs being delayed. It is a fact of life that there are defective vehicles on our roads and one of the main reasons for these heavy vehicle checking stations - is to keep that risk under control.
Knowing that if a vehicle crashes this will cause the entire fleet to be safety checked would be a huge incentive for fleet owners to pay close attention to required running repairs. A good fleet safety reputation has a big influence on insurance premiums and is usually a factor when competing firms are being considered for a contract.
The action taken by police and RMS after this tragic accident is a sensible precaution. It should become standard procedure whenever a road event is suspected to involver mechanical failure !
Thursday, 3 October 2013
Politics !
Politics is always about dissent ! Politics is a divide on the way the nation should go but within the calming influence of - compromise ! That important ingredient seems to have been lost in the world's biggest economy.
The sticking point seems to be " Obamacare ". This is a project designed to bring more Americans under the security of health insurance, but some in the " Tea Party " wing of the Republican party see it as "Socialism " and block a critical money bill unless it is neutered.
As a result, the American government has furloughed 800,000 employees. They have been told to stay home on indefinite leave of absence - without pay. NASA will shut down except for a skeleton staff to service the needs of the orbiting space station, all of America's prime tourist attractions, parks, museums - and even the Statue of Liberty - will close - and the country will gradually grind to a halt.
Unless this financial crisis can be resolved, a bigger disaster is looming large. America's debt ceiling is another money bill that may be refused - and if that happens the world's biggest economy will default on it's debts.
That would be the unthinkable ! It would certainly engender world financial chaos - and probable undetermined risks. It could trigger a world recession that would make the 08 crash look like a Sunday school picnic.
Such is the way the human mind behaves when politicians retreat behind the stockade of " political principles ". Both sides have dug in their heels and nobody seems prepared to trade the " give and take " that is the basis of " compromise " !
Somehow an explanation that was once used to try and explain the folly of the Vietnam war comes to mind.
" In order to save the village, it became necessary to destroy the village ".
That seems applicable in the present circumstances !
The sticking point seems to be " Obamacare ". This is a project designed to bring more Americans under the security of health insurance, but some in the " Tea Party " wing of the Republican party see it as "Socialism " and block a critical money bill unless it is neutered.
As a result, the American government has furloughed 800,000 employees. They have been told to stay home on indefinite leave of absence - without pay. NASA will shut down except for a skeleton staff to service the needs of the orbiting space station, all of America's prime tourist attractions, parks, museums - and even the Statue of Liberty - will close - and the country will gradually grind to a halt.
Unless this financial crisis can be resolved, a bigger disaster is looming large. America's debt ceiling is another money bill that may be refused - and if that happens the world's biggest economy will default on it's debts.
That would be the unthinkable ! It would certainly engender world financial chaos - and probable undetermined risks. It could trigger a world recession that would make the 08 crash look like a Sunday school picnic.
Such is the way the human mind behaves when politicians retreat behind the stockade of " political principles ". Both sides have dug in their heels and nobody seems prepared to trade the " give and take " that is the basis of " compromise " !
Somehow an explanation that was once used to try and explain the folly of the Vietnam war comes to mind.
" In order to save the village, it became necessary to destroy the village ".
That seems applicable in the present circumstances !
Wednesday, 2 October 2013
The " Shopping Trolley " menace !
They are everywhere ! Littering parks or standing abandoned in suburban streets. Every " Cleanup Australia " day dozens of shopping trolleys emblazoned with the logo of their supermarket of origin are pulled out of creeks or dragged out of bushland.
The sad thing is that this scourge came as part of the grocery revolution. The grocery stores pre the introduction of supermarkets packed and delivered their customers orders. When the " self serve " ethic arrived, trolleys were necessary to allow customers to drag their selection to the checkout - and from there to wherever their car was parked. There were no restrictions on what happened when that trolley left the store.
Each shopping trolley represents an investment of many hundreds of dollars for the issueing supermarket - and you can be sure that the loss incurred when trolleys are not returned is factored into the price of those items you buy.
Councils have imposed fines on uncollected shopping trolleys and now there are moves to have them crushed as a financial punishment. All that is required to banish this problem - is a simple law change !
Have you noticed that of all the branded shopping trolleys laying abandoned in city streets, those with the Aldi logo are not to be seen ?
The difference is that Aldi customers are required to insert a two dollar coin into the security slot to have the use of an Aldi trolley - and they get that coin back when they return the trolley.
We humans are very predictable. If something is free - we abuse that priviledge. Put a small charge on that same service, and our way of thinking and acting - changes entirely !
If we want to free our streets and parks of abandoned shopping trolleys we need a law change to make all stores that provide shopping trolleys introduce this " coin hire " inducement.
Curbing the loss from trolley replacement may even deliver a small price reduction in the weekly grocery bill !
The sad thing is that this scourge came as part of the grocery revolution. The grocery stores pre the introduction of supermarkets packed and delivered their customers orders. When the " self serve " ethic arrived, trolleys were necessary to allow customers to drag their selection to the checkout - and from there to wherever their car was parked. There were no restrictions on what happened when that trolley left the store.
Each shopping trolley represents an investment of many hundreds of dollars for the issueing supermarket - and you can be sure that the loss incurred when trolleys are not returned is factored into the price of those items you buy.
Councils have imposed fines on uncollected shopping trolleys and now there are moves to have them crushed as a financial punishment. All that is required to banish this problem - is a simple law change !
Have you noticed that of all the branded shopping trolleys laying abandoned in city streets, those with the Aldi logo are not to be seen ?
The difference is that Aldi customers are required to insert a two dollar coin into the security slot to have the use of an Aldi trolley - and they get that coin back when they return the trolley.
We humans are very predictable. If something is free - we abuse that priviledge. Put a small charge on that same service, and our way of thinking and acting - changes entirely !
If we want to free our streets and parks of abandoned shopping trolleys we need a law change to make all stores that provide shopping trolleys introduce this " coin hire " inducement.
Curbing the loss from trolley replacement may even deliver a small price reduction in the weekly grocery bill !
Tuesday, 1 October 2013
Council Rates exemptions !
Over a hundred years ago a benevolent government exempted churches and religious organizations, charities, schools and government instrumentalities from having to pay council rates.
Today, the rates burden falls disproportionally on Mum and Dad homeowners - and specially on those trying to earn a living running a business. In some areas, seventy percent of council rate income comes from the rates levied on the business community.
The rate for home owners is pegged and balanced against inflation, but even so the average family is providing the money for the bulk of council services and many of the people exempt under this legislation are really commercial operations.
Pity the council with a vast tract of Housing Commission homes within it's boundaries. The Housing Commission is exempt from council rates even though it charges rent for those dwellings - and it's tenants enjoy the full scope of council services.
Churches, charities and schools do not pay rates and in some cases they conduct commercial operations which produce profit. This rates exemption is carefully crafted into operational plans - and often gives them a competitive edge over others who do not enjoy this advantage.
Perhaps the time is approaching when this blanket ban on paying rates should be abolished - and replaced with a " case by case " appraisal for either full or partial rate exemption - until the next regular review.
Country councils fare poorly under the present regime. The NSW Forestry Corporation controls two million hectares of forest and reports a profit of $ 14 million in 2011/12 - and yet it pays no rates and competes with scores of private operators who conduct a similar operation to provide timber for industry - and who do pay council rates.
The problem with " blanket " exemptions is that clever accountants tailor commercial operations within the scope of the act to gain an advantage. A move to a regime where each case was examined on the basis of it's merits would level the playing field.
The ability to pay should be the prime consideration !
Today, the rates burden falls disproportionally on Mum and Dad homeowners - and specially on those trying to earn a living running a business. In some areas, seventy percent of council rate income comes from the rates levied on the business community.
The rate for home owners is pegged and balanced against inflation, but even so the average family is providing the money for the bulk of council services and many of the people exempt under this legislation are really commercial operations.
Pity the council with a vast tract of Housing Commission homes within it's boundaries. The Housing Commission is exempt from council rates even though it charges rent for those dwellings - and it's tenants enjoy the full scope of council services.
Churches, charities and schools do not pay rates and in some cases they conduct commercial operations which produce profit. This rates exemption is carefully crafted into operational plans - and often gives them a competitive edge over others who do not enjoy this advantage.
Perhaps the time is approaching when this blanket ban on paying rates should be abolished - and replaced with a " case by case " appraisal for either full or partial rate exemption - until the next regular review.
Country councils fare poorly under the present regime. The NSW Forestry Corporation controls two million hectares of forest and reports a profit of $ 14 million in 2011/12 - and yet it pays no rates and competes with scores of private operators who conduct a similar operation to provide timber for industry - and who do pay council rates.
The problem with " blanket " exemptions is that clever accountants tailor commercial operations within the scope of the act to gain an advantage. A move to a regime where each case was examined on the basis of it's merits would level the playing field.
The ability to pay should be the prime consideration !
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