" Bail Laws " eased !

Bail laws are always contentious and New South Wales has eased the criteria that applies to the granting of bail.  From July those charged with an offence will " automatically qualify for bail if a magistrate believes that they pose no risk ".

A test case is waiting in the wings and the outcome will be eagerly watched by both the police and the legal profession.   It concerns a man charged with the alleged  murder of his wife seventeen years ago - and who has been held in a remand prison for the past year.  No doubt the magistrate will be warned that this man might be a flight risk and that there is concern that he may approach witnesses.   His defence lawyer will certainly claim that he has lived lawfully in the community for seventeen years and has the full support of his children and family.

Options exist and are in a magistrate's hands.   He can demand that the accused surrender his or her passport and report to police at regular intervals.  The age of the accused would certainly be a consideration.  It is also likely that the outlook of individual magistrates will be a factor in making bail applications because their record in granting bail will depict them as either " hard " or " soft ".

There is no doubt that a dangerous person who is likely to reoffend needs to be confined for the protection of the public, but remand has long been a police tactic to wear down a supposed offender and try and obtain a confession.   Often, such a prisoner is put in a cell with a gaol informant in the hope of obtaining further information - and delays in bringing the case to court can be little more than an extra judicial sentence.  The person on remand is " innocent until proven guilty ", but actually serving a sentence similar to a convicted felon.

Another reason for this law change - is the cost factor.   Our prison system weighs heavily on the public purse and few convicted of crimes are given the maximum sentence.   Usually, whatever sentence is handed down carries a non parole period and hence the actual time served is usually miniscule.   Parole is the easy option, freeing up prison space and making the convicted person responsible for his or her own living costs.

There is another option that should go hand in hand with these new bail laws.    We need a defined limit on the time a person can be held on remand before their case goes before a court.   As things stand, the prosecution can apply for extended delays that sometimes result in the accused  being behind bars for years - with jobs, family obligations and personal property allowed to disintegrate.   A vindictive prosecutor can actually replace the role of judge and jury - and impose a penalty far beyond the jurisdiction of a court.

No doubt this law change will bring contention.  It is almost inevitable that some people will be granted bail and tragically re-offend, causing a public outcry and much finger pointing.      It is also likely that compassion will bring rewards that result in less broken families and destitution caused by long spells on remand - that ended with acquittal in court.

This easing will certainly increase the load on magistrates called upon to make bail decisions.  Each decision will have it's supporters - and it's detractors.   The ones that they get right will pass virtually unnoticed - but those that go spectacularly wrong will be long remembered !

The " Sink Hole " phenomenon !

A homeowner at Swansea Heads, near Newcastle got an unpleasant schock this week when a gaping great hole opened up beneath his home.    Part of the foundations were left hanging over what was called a " sink hole " that was fifteen metres wide - and twenty-five metres deep.  He quickly learned that houses in his street were over a coal mine that was closed over sixty years ago - and that most owners were unaware of it's presence when homes were built in 1996.

Repair crews rushed to fill the hole with concrete and now another sink hole has opened nearby. The entire street may be at risk but at least the damage is the responsibility of the Mine Subsidence Board.  Mining in this state is levied with a tax to fund repairs to home damaged by subsidence caused by mining.   What is unclear is how this discovery will affect home prices.    This street contains million dollar homes with marvellous water views - and even a hint of land instability can send values crashing.

Usually, council regulations are very strict where mining activity has occurred.  The type of homes permitted are designed to spread the weight load and usually this is by way of a concrete slab foundation, and the building materials permitted are carefully selected to be repairable in the event of any land movement.

Unfortunately, there is another cause of sink holes that is not covered by the Mine Subsidence Board.  In areas where the underlying strata is of a porous nature - such as limestone - water penetration can dissolve the rock and lead to vast underground caverns forming - and eventually this can lead to a cave-in.   It is a world wide phenomenon and in some cases the area is huge - and devours an entire shopping centre.

We are warned that global warming may exacerbate these incidents.   Extreme rainfall tends to increase water penetration underground - and speed up the rock disintegration.   This is not a risk covered by home insurance and usually any claim is rejected on " Act of God " grounds.

It seems that land stability is a new worry for homeowners to ponder.   When it comes to buying a building block or negotiating the sale of an existing home, we usually make no enquiry about the underlying structure of the land involved.   Perhaps future property searches may be more diligent in ascertaining that the area is entirely mine free - and that the  nature of the rock structure below is composed of the type of rock not subject to water erosion.

Land stability is a new worry for twenty-first century home owners !

Work for the Dole !

From July 1 those aged from eighteen to thirty who have received either Youth Allowance or Newstart for twelve months will be required to " Work for Welfare " to keep receiving their payments.  This will involve fifteen hours a week of compulsory attendance at whatever task they are rostered - and in the event of a " no show " - their allowance will be docked by one tenth for each missed day.

This " Work for the Dole " commitment will apply at eighteen centres across the state, selected because each contains a heavy concentration of those out of work.  Tasks will be in the hands of councils, State and Federal government agencies and welfare and not-for-profit organizations.   The vaguely stated aim is a mix of clawing back government money and bringing the benefit of acquiring some sort of work skill to the unemployed.

Hopefully, we have learned something from the last time this scheme was implemented.  At that time the beneficiary was mainly local councils and the tasks selected were either " make work " oriented - or the unemployed were eagerly accepted as " free labourers " to save money by completing tasks that would otherwise be done with paid help.

By coincidental timing, this last scheme meshed with plans for the refurbishment of the mall in Wollongong and this involved laying pavers throughout the CBD.   This task was alotted to the new labour force reporting for work - and it was a disaster that still haunts council finances.    Laying pavers is a skilled job - and the work for the dole crews simply did not have that skill  Shortly after completion the faults began to appear, resulting in falls and women with snapped shoe heels.   Compensation claims jumped sharply - and eventually - whole sections of the CBD had to be torn up and professionally re-laid. 

Putting this scheme in place opens an opportunity to get work done that is financially out of reach because of budget restraints.   It will surely fail if the " make work " objective is the sole criteria - and we have people painting rocks white to give the appearance that something is being done - but to no worthwhile end.

What we need is people with vision to carefully plan a logical outcome that will bring both a benefit and at the same time deliver a sense of achievement to those who worked in it's creation.   We can not expect those forced to work for the dole to be enthusiastic at what many will consider " forced labour " , but it would be possible to generate a degree of " pride " at a successful and widely praised outcome.

Job planning will be the crux of success - and that will take the selection of planners who think outside the nine dots.   Who will have that task is not clear.    So many initiatives that have very good intentions fail because there is no follow through to get the implementation right.

It is said that those who fail to learn from history - are destined to repeat those same mistakes.   Let us hope that what happened to the pavers in the Wollongong mall is not a portend of things to come !

What a tangled web we weave !

Even the most blase citizens must be alarmed at the crime events unfolding across the news media in Sydney this week.   It started when a twenty year old Asian student at the NSW University of Technology was declared " missing " - and there were fears for his safety.    The next day fishermen at sea off Cronulla spotted what looked like a body in the water, wrapped in a tarpaulin and bound with ropes.

Events moved swiftly from there.   For reasons that are yet to be explained it seems that video surveillance caught a very senior retired police detective and another senior officer who was sacked from the force in disgrace in contact with the missing student - and this mystery revolves around a small black bag, said to contain two million dollars worth of the drug " Ice ".

One of the ex police officers was immediately arrested and held in "protective custody ".  Police feared an " A J Simpson " cavalcade when the other ex officer offered to come in for an arranged surrender - and launched a spectacular media event arrest  - and there is every expectation that this is the tip of an iceberg when it comes to drug distribution in this state.

We are well aware that the huge profits that can be made from distributing illegal drugs is the main income impetus behind the rise of bikie gangs and the various ethnic crime groups who dominate certain suburbs.It stands to reason that the police are the very people with the inside knowledge to profit from drugs - if they choose to cross the line and engage on the other side of the law.

In particular, it must be frustrating to police who have finally retired with a police pension to know that the " respectable " major players who control the top of the drug chains are literally millionaires who are feted by society and live a life of privilege.   By " looking the other way " as a serving officer, or using their specialised knowledge as a retiree - they can cream off a dividend that allows them to also enjoy " the good life ".

It seems that in this case, murder was committed without compunction and people who knew better made a complete mess of disposing of the body.   Surely they teach people in detective school that dead bodies float unless heavy weights are used to keep them submerged ?

Once again the involvement of police - retired or still functioning in the police force - will draw the spotlight on the connections between police and crime.   It is inevitable that a degree of criminality exists within any group tasked with administering the law.    The big question is - how deep does it run in the people in blue uniforms who guard our safety ?

The real problem is that the huge profits from illegal drugs are an almost irresistible temptation to any otherwise honest citizen !

A Timely Warning !

Another multiple gun death tragedy in the United States - and it seems that the killer was a young man who " had it all " !   Elliott Roger (22) was the son of a successful Hollywood movie director.   He had a new black BMW and access to that city's A list and red carpet social activities - but festering below the surface was a black rage because he was " unsuccessful " with women.

Sadly, several people were alarmed and reported that he was " dangerous " to the police.  He was interviewed - and presented a sunny disposition that caused professionals to deem him " harmless " - and then in a ten minute spree he shot six people dead, knifed three men to death and wounded a further thirteen - and then killed himself with his own gun.

Hindsight always has 20-20 vision.   Roger must have had a personality disorder that made him repulsive to women.   He was still a " virgin " at 22 and it is claimed that he had never even held a girl's hand, let alone shared a kiss.   The sight of normal relationships between couples of a similar age both enraged and embittered him - and eventually he " snapped " and took revenge on the society he was convinced had wronged him.

There are lessons to be learned - both here and in the United States - from this incident, but the American gun culture is unlikely to change.   The American constitution guarantees the right to bear arms and there are actually more hand guns in the United States than people, hence many must have multiple guns.    The powerful National Rifle Association intends to keep it that way.

Here in Australia we have a much stricter gun control.   After the Port Arthur massacre tightened rules saw a sharp decline in the number of long arms in the hands of the public - and hand guns were a rareity until very recent times.  Gun smuggling is now a profitable crime and we are seeing evidence of the proliferation of hand guns on an almost daily basis.   A gun culture has emerged that sees homes being shot up to deliver warnings and new criminal elements now protect their home turf with a hail of bullets.

It seems inevitable that the Australian crime scene will continue to deteriorate and hand guns become more prevalent - unless we crack down nationally and make illegal possession of a hand gun a crime that ensures a long stint in prison.   It will take a significant " fear factor " to persuade the crime gangs that getting caught with a hand gun is too extreme a risk - to even contemplate.    Just having a gun should invoke a more severe punishment that most other forms of crime - and that will impose a sharp rise in prison costs, but it is the price we have to pay if we want to eradicate gun crime in this country.

The other basic need is better training of both the police and the medical profession to deal with the psychopaths lurking in our society.  In too many cases the warnings have been there for a long time before tragedy strikes - and an adequate early response is a better option  than an enquiry chaired by the coroner.

The " P " Plate money trap !

Every day of the week about two hundred P plate drivers are stripped of their driving licenses for breaking road rules or failing to pay traffic fines.   There are 450,600 road users in New South Wales who drive under the provisions of either P1 or P2 provisional driving licenses - and they make up sixteen percent of all drivers in the 17 - 25 age group.   Unfortunately, they also represent twenty-six percent of those who cause or suffer injuries in road accidents.

The law is very strict on P1 license holders because they are in their first year of driving and it takes time to become proficient and gain good driving skills.  A driver caught speeding in this category automatically has his or her license suspended for three months to drive home the  safety message.

P2 drivers are allowed a little more leniency.  They lose their license if they accrue seven demerit points, as opposed to the thirteen demerit points allowed fully licensed drivers, and with double demerit points applying over holiday periods,  carrying passengers with unbuckled seat belts or a small speeding lapse can have major consequences by way of license loss.

As a consequence, we are seeing a steady increase in the number of drivers who are behind the wheel unlicensed - and in the number of cars on our roads lacking both green slip insurance cover and valid registration.   It seems to be a combination of bravado, lack of an alternative way of getting to work and the aftermath of the recession that leaves most people short of money.

It seems that few seem to fully understand the financial risk they take when they drive a car without holding a valid license, or when that vehicle is lacking registration and green slip cover.   Lack of either - or both - negates the protection covered by general insurance and the cover by specific insurance policies.

The fact that the driver is driving a worthless " bomb " has no impact on the liability that may bring him or her financial ruin.   It seems inevitable that political pressure will  result in the penalty for unlicensed and unregistered driving to become more severe - and the steady increase in technology is making detection inevitable.   Police patrol cars now have devices that can scan multiple lanes of traffic, read number plates and in cyber time - check the registration and insurance status of each vehicle.  This same technology is capable of matching the vehicle plate with the name of the owner - and checking this against driving license status.   The " law of probability " is now not in the offenders favour.

The age of the automobile brought with it the freedom of movement that made if a " must have " in this modern world.   It also delivers the risk of inflicting a financial blight on the rest of our lives, if we ignore the responsibilities and legal obligations that go with it's use - and that is a risk that we take each time we travel on the road and share it with others.      Both the innocent victim and those driving unlicensed and uninsured face peril in equal measure !

Child safety enigma !

This past week was officially " Walk to School " week, an initiative to both promote child safety and attack the obesity epidemic caused by lack of exercise.  Sadly, five young children were hit by cars in the 40 kph school zones, causing the media spotlight to focus on speeding motorists.

It seems that we have a safety problem despite laws that impose a 40 kph speed limit outside school entrances before the start and after the finish of the school day.   Speed checks reveal that many motorists fail to slow down and at one check point 57 vehicles were caught exceeding the limit in one thirty minute period.     This is an offence that delivers a hefty fine - and loss of demerit points.

One practical remedy was the installation of flashing lights to alert motorists when speed reduction zones are in operation, but the roll out has been painfully slow.   It will be at least well into the next decade before all schools in this state have this form of warning lights, but it could be achieved in a single year - if the government would accept the donation of these lights from commercial interests - and grant them the the right to a modest advertising sign to acknowledge that gift.     All such past offers have been firmly rejected.

It seems that the preferred option is to install more speed checking cameras and reap a fine bonanza, but this does nothing to actually increase safety in child crossing zones.   Even if we actually manage to get the traffic to slow to 40 kph - a car travelling at that speed is still lethal if it hits a little kid that runs into it's path.

What seems to be the forgotten aspect of keeping kids safe is adult supervision whenever they need to cross a busy road.   A huge number of children are driven to school by parents and picked up again after classes.  This results in chaos as an excess of cars fight for space at limited drop off points and the actual road crossing safety is left in the hands of the " Lollypop Lady".

This week's range of accidents during Walk to School week showed several kids were aged three and one was aged eight.   In one instance, Dad had crossed the road and Mum was preparing the pusher when their three year old impulsively ran after Dad - and got hit by a car.    It is a fact of life that small kids can not be relied upon to use adult judgement in decision making - and their actions are entirely unpredictable.

Half a century ago it was common practice to have such kids restrained by a child harness.  It was a safety measure that allowed the parent to maintain movement control while performing tasks such as erecting a fold down pram or putting groceries in the car.   Such restraints seem to have entirely disappeared from the street scene.

There is absolutely no reason why such child restraints should not make a reappearance when children under five are under parental control.   Probably, the main objections would come from the children - who would not consider wearing a child harness with a lead to be " cool ".

Perhaps we need to tackle the child safety enigma from both ends.   Certainly we need to tame the traffic to keep car speed under control, but an improvement in parental control is a " must " if we are to curb the contributing factor of " child impulse " in traffic accidents !

Where it's a " sin " to be " Happy " !

Six young Iranians produced a video clip of them dancing to Pharrell William's hit " Happy " and showed it on YouTube - where it was viewed by a wide and appreciative audience.   The Iranian " Fun Police " took a dim view of this incident and the full force of the security apparatus swung into action, methodically tracking them down - and subjecting them to an arrest.   They were paraded before the television cameras and forced to make a humiliating apology - for what the chief of police termed " a vulgar clip that hurt public chastity " !

In many parts of the world those who claim to represent the many forms of religion that are practised on this planet enforce a code of conduct that equates happiness - to " sin ".   When the Taliban had control of Afghanistan all forms of television and radio were banned, and music was considered an affront to their religious views.     Even the popular sport of kite flying was banned - with offenders subjected to extreme punishment.

It seems that the attitudes that prevailed in the " Dark Ages " still hold sway in the minds of some religious leaders.   They see religion as something that must be forced on their people and obedience to the strict way of life that they insist applies will be ruthlessly enforced - in many cases with death as the ultimate punishment for those who refuse.   In most cases, these extremities are the product of their obsession with control and have little to do with how that same religion applies in other countries.

Few of the world's religions are without schism.   As it is with politics, at some stage divergent views emerge and some followers take a different path.   Sadly, this is usually tinged with anger and bitterness, and both sides engage in hostilities to try and force their point of view on others.   Many of the wars that have ravaged the world have been battles between religions.

It seems that the tribes of planet Earth  are entering a new age of religious hostility.   Many of the great religions have sparked armed militias who are not inclined to live in harmony with those of different religious views.   They insist on having their religion prevail - if necessary at the point of a sword and no act of barbarity is precluded by an appeal to humanity.

We are seeing the wholesale slaughter of innocent people simply because militant groups wish to impose the terms of their particular religion on others.  Millions have been forced to leave their homes and seek exile in other countries, homes have been destroyed and unspeakable acts of barbarity carried out in the name of " religious cleansing ".

Unfortunately, this lack of tolerance is spreading to the parts of the world that have achieved a secular view towards religion.   Militancy is appearing in small groups who wish to impose their will on the vast majority - and this has led to the rise of new term that spreads fear - and that word is " terrorism ".

Sadly, the way of life that most people find pleasant - and which brings with it happiness - is entirely repugnant to the religious fanatic.    It seems that what was supposed to be a force for good is capable of turning religion to a new " curse on humankind " !

Loopholes !

We are facing a tough budget as the government tries to reign in spending.  Perhaps now would be a very good time to close off some of the loopholes that hemorrhage public money to people with the know how to tap public funds.

The vaccination of children against a range of childhood diseases has been a long running battle between the medical profession and a small army of untrained " Shamans " who insist that they are a cause of Autism. Many parents are spooked by this claim and no amount of medical evidence from the foremost scientists is going to change the mind of these " forecasters of doom ".

There are people in this world that truly believe that Neil Armstrong never set foot on the moon and the whole moon landing was shot on a movie set.  Others believe that the 9/11 tragedy was some bizarre plot by the United States government.    This crazy - but harmless - conjecture hurts nobody, but a vaccination refusal on spurious grounds can let diseases that have been long conquered regain a foothold - and kill innocent kids.

This has developed into a " cat and mouse " game with the New South Wales government introducing a " No Jab- No Play " policy to bar un-vaccinated kids from childcare and early learning centres.   To accommodate those with a genuine religious reason for refusing vaccinations a loophole was introduced that required those with a "Conscientious Objection " to declare this in front of a doctor, who must also sign that form.

This has brought a dramatic increase in the numbers citing a Conscientious Objection as the reason they have an un-vaccinated child - and those children are now enrolled across the entire care and early learning spectrum's.   Australia wide, there were 30,336 such cases a year ago and this has now increased to 36,109 - with 9681 being in New South Wales.

This is where the unintended " loophole " starts to sap public funds.   Because we tend to lean over backwards to not interfere in the religious beliefs of others, those who use the Conscientious Objector strategy to avoid vaccinations and still access child facilities can claim the $ 2,100 benefit the government provides as a reward for those who do have their children vaccinated.

Surely a case of " unintended consequences " ?     We are handing over two thousand dollars of public money - intended as a reward for parents who follow the rules and spread the vaccination safety net widely - to the very people who are deliberately sabotaging this health provision by adopting a religious practice to dodge a safety law.

In a time of fiscal belt tightening, surely this is a loophole that should be high on the agenda for immediate action !

457 Visas.

The introduction of 457 Visas was clearly intended to plug a gaping hole where Australian industry was being crippled by a lack of workers skilled in needed professional work categories.   It quickly extended into less skilled areas when labourers were imported to fill gaps in distant mining projects that Australian workers shunned. It was never intended to compete with the Australian workforce - and deny Australians a job in their own country.

It now seems that is exactly what is happening in Australian hospitals. Nursing has undergone a vast change in recent decades.  The " learn on the job " era is well and truly over.  To graduate as a registered nurse takes university training to handle the immense rise in technicality that now applies to this profession and between 2005-2012 the number of Australian nurses reaching graduation increased by fifty percent - and many can not get a job in an Australian hospital.

In that same period, the number of foreign nurses entering Australia on 457 Visas rose from 2697 annually - to 3118 - and that makes absolutely no sense.    Nurses with a university bill to settle from their training have every right to ask why the jobs that are being denied to them are filled with foreign nurses who are supposedly filling a perceived " vacancy gap " ?

It is estimated that at present 1,100 Australian nurses with graduate qualifications are unable to find a permanent position in Australian hospitals.   They are forced to make endless work applications and have to rely on temporary fill in positions or work in lower ranking jobs such as doctor's receptionists or chemist shops - or leave Australia and work in foreign hospitals !

The danger is that if this situation continues the numbers enrolling in nursing training will drop sharply because nursing will be regarded as an " over filled " profession which does not offer acceptable work opportunities.

Obviously, the bottleneck that has created this problem rests with the Mandarins of the public service  who juggle figures and decide where job vacancies exist that need the granting of 457 Visas to fill gaps.   Someone got it badly wrong when it came to nursing numbers - and it seems that they are slow to learn and reluctant to makes the changes that will rectify the problem.

It seems that in this age of austerity we need to find Mandarins with the ability to accurately add and subtract figures to arrive at a true situation if we are to clean up this 457 Visa mess.

Promises - and Reality !

It is a simple fact of life that neither the Federal government, the state governments or the councils that serve each community have enough money to carry out the expectations of their citizens.   The present budget imbroglio is an attempt to wring more money out of the community without creating a taxpayer revolt.

To a point, the mess we are in can be directly sheeted home to the political system we have allowed to take root in this country.   Winning office and grabbing the levers of power takes precedence over common sense and the basic forms of fair play.   Political advantage is paramount - and the best interests of the country comes a long way behind when political moves are planned.

So it was before the last election.   Labor polling delivered a clear message that the present term in office was about to end - and the politicians set a booby trap for an incoming government.   Heaps of " pie in the sky " promises of better things to come - NDIS disability payments,  Gonski improvements in schooling, hospital improvements - all promised but not funded and not scheduled to be delivered until after 2017 - when the incoming government would have to find the funds to pay for them.

Public expectations having been aroused, there is now anger that plans are being cut back - and the university students are rioting because they will have to pay more for their degrees.  The states are in revolt because promised funds for schools and hospitals will not be honoured, and the vast majority of councils have a growing backlog of work that is completely outside their capacity to afford.

So - we have just two choices !   Either we cut back on public spending- right across the board and accept that some of the things promised are unrealistic, or we dig deeper and shell out more in tax in the many forms that it's collection takes.

Of course that where the political divide throws down the gauntlet.   The socialists demand that the tax man " soak the rich " and impose higher taxes, but unfortunately they are not as big in numbers as the common herd - and to create the tax wealth needed the Treasurer has to dip into every man and woman's pocket - and the most likely scenario to do that is a hike in the GST and a widening of it's reach.

There is pressure to increase company tax, but that tends to bring the " Goose that laid the golden egg "  homily into play.    It is industry that provides the much needed jobs and we compete with other countries on the world scene - and if our taxes are out of kilter in the international realm - investment in Australia quickly withers away.

We clearly need to repay the debt that is eating into our income by way of interest payments and we need to rationalise government outlay to reach a budget balance - and that is going to both lower expectations and deliver pain across the entire community.    There are ominous signs of world stability and the likely prospect of another 2008 scenario yet to come.

Time to clear the financial decks and prepare the ship of state for a rough passage if we hope to sail turbulent seas with as little discomfort as occurred during the last financial crisis.

The accumulation of services !

In New South Wales the National Roads and Motorists' Association - known by it's initials NRMA - is almost a legend.  It is comforting to it's members to know that if they experience a mechanical breakdown or their car will not start in the morning, one phone call will dispatch a highly trained automotive mechanic with a mobile workshop to bring them aid.  If the fault requires major repair, they will arrange for a tow to the owners choice of repair destination.

Over the years, NRMA has widened the scope of it's automotive services.  It is now one of the biggest suppliers of general insurance, publishes a members magazine and has a division on call to replace a faulty car battery on a 24/7 basis.   It seems that member services are ever expanding and now encompasses the provision of low cost holidays to exotic locations.

Innovative thinking is now taking it into the area of emergency home services.   Just as motorists look to the NRMA service van to get them out of trouble when they experience a car fault, a new division is offering competent trades people on a twenty-four hour roster, 365 days a year to attend to a host of home emergencies that can suddenly arise.

The aim of this new division is to have the appropriate tradesman knocking on your door within one hour of your call to take care of the problem - and that includes everything from a power blackout, broken hot water service, gas leak, flood from a blocked gutter, blocked toilet, or a roof leak.   They will even dispatch a locksmith if you have been locked out of your home.    In essence, this simply extends the service car drivers are accustomed to - to the problems that can arise within the home.

It is expected that this service will be very popular.   Trying to find someone to call in the middle of the night or during a weekend can be a huge hassle - and call out costs can be very expensive for emergency services.  It would be nice to know that a simple annual membership fee of just $ 190 will see the problems taken care of free of charge - and that the fee covers up to eight emergency call outs in a year.   And all it takes is one phone call to summon the help you need.

At present, this new service is available in Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong, but similar to NRMA road service, it will soon extend to most other areas of this state.

We certainly live in a changing world and the present tendency is to concentrate the source of our many needs in a single location.    The grocery duopoly is building ever bigger stores and including liquor, insurance and other services under the one roof.   They have developed a grip on the hardware trade with hardware mega stores that are fast depleting small independents, and they now share a fast growing segment of the petrol trade.

This accumulation of services under a single entity provides an availability bonus for the customer, but it will come at a cost.    Quality "Tradies " will be contracted to provide the necessary services and their renumeration will be at a rate commensurate with the advantages that their provider delivers by way of regular job allocation.   This contraction of work opportunities will make it much harder for independent plumbers, carpenters, electricians, locksmiths - and the others providing trade services - to make a living.

A decade or so from now, the job scene may look very different.   Just as the era of the supermarket brought the end of the corner shop and many independent butchers and greengrocers -  the concentration of services under a single roof will weed out many providing independent services.

The winners will be those who read the signals correctly - and make the right decisions to form the right alliances !

Unintended consequences !

There is concern that the imposition of a $7 co-payment on all bulk billed medical consultations will result in a further drop in the number of children missing out on vital vaccinations.  It is proposed that this policy will be implemented with " No Exceptions " - and that each person will only escape the fee when they exceed ten doctor visits in any one calendar year.

The co-payment is a budget initiative designed to reign in the fast expanding health budget, but it fails to examine cost savings by way of a re-examination of the entire doctor/patient relationship.   Is it really necessary for a patient to have a consultation with a qualified medical practitioner when all that is needed is a child's vaccination - or the patient needs his or her annual flu shot ?

The medical profession jealously guards the notion that all forms of medication must be under the direct control of a doctor, but in fact the application of medical routines in hospitals is almost entirely carried out by the nursing staff - with the remote supervision of a doctor who simply signs off on the procedures.

Today's modern medical practices usually have at least one trained nurse whose main job is changing dressings, carrying out minor medical procedures - and giving whatever injections are ordered by the doctor.  There seems no reason why such standard measures as vaccinations and flu shots should not be directly managed by a fully trained and registered nursing sister - without the intermediary need to actually see the doctor.   Not only would the patient flow at suburban surgeries be speeded up: the $7 co-payment would be avoided for those on base welfare benefits - such as the $ 38 a day "Newstart"  allowance.  This same procedure could apply when a patient only seeks prescription renewals.

The medical profession will oppose this on the grounds that only a doctor is medically trained to recognise the symptoms that pre-empt the onset of many diseases, but in reality this is simply guarding the economics that apply to their profession.   A well trained nurse will spot anomalies and quickly refer the patient for appraisal by the doctors within his or her practice.   It is time the medical profession began to work as cohesive teams - rather than stick with aged protocols that really belonged in a long past century.

We accept that savings are necessary to contain expanding health costs.   Paying more for each doctors visit is acceptable - provided the framework for services does not contain unnecessary restrictions that do nothing but add to the costs.

Using the " Health Dollar " to best advantage will deliver a " Twenty-first century "  service that this country can afford !

Becoming an " Un-Person " !

Robert Hughes (65) achieved fame as the star of the show " Hey Dad ! " during the 1980-1990 decade.  This week he was found guilty in the Sydney District court of sexual abuse of young girls and sentenced to ten years and nine months in prison.  He will serve at least six years before becoming eligible for parole

In London, Australian celebrity Rolph Harris is facing court where it is alleged he sexually assaulted young fans both here and in Britain over a long period of time.   In both cases, it is claimed that these sexual assaults were brazenly committed because both men thought that their fame made them " untouchable ".

It is a fact of life that when someone who has found fame falls from grace for a crime that most people find repugnant, they become a virtual " Un-Person ".    Fame reverts to infamy - and everything that they have done in their past gets a " poison touch ".

The ramifications touch many others.   The show " Hey Dad ! " was very popular and it was expected that it would replay many times as a fill-in on televisions back channels, but now that is most unlikely.  As a result, the actors will miss out of both fan credits to keep their past fame alive, and - more importantly - the residual dividends actors receive each time their former work goes to air.   Because the star of the show has committed an unpardonable crime, the entire spectrum - producing studio, the shows financiers and the supporting cast see their work crumble to dust.

Across the world, those who paid for art work by Rolph Harris must be wondering what change in value will occur if he is found guilty.   He painted a celebrated portrait of Queen Elizabeth - and it is likely this will be quietly " withdrawn ".    A value question mark will hang over paintings in galleries - and those bought as investments by many in the art world.    The big question is whether they have become worthless - or whether the passage of time will see talent regain acceptance alongside those of the old masters ?

Perhaps the biggest outcome of these two court cases will be suspicion directed at any actor who has worked with children.   There is bound to be innuendo and rumour that sexual exploitation is more widespread.   We have seen several recent cases where innocent people have been accused of sex crimes - by those seeking fame and fortune by grabbing the media spotlight.

One young woman claimed to have been dragged off a city train and raped in a station toilet.  Another claimed to have been attacked at a busy street crossing - and ignored by passers by.    Both were quickly unmasked as shams - but damage was certainly done to the reputation of the accused.

At the very least, studios planning new shows that contain a mix of adults and children will need to think long and hard about the risks these court cases present.   Hopefully, it will result in vastly improved supervision and the publicity will make child actors more prone to speak up should an event make them feel uncomfortable.

It seems to be a case of shining a light into a very dark corner !

" Cracker Night " Returns ?

It is twenty-five years since the people of New South Wales were last permitted to use fireworks for celebrations around a bonfire.   The only fireworks that can be legally displayed are those licensed by a fireworks contractor for events such as the new year's eve display on Sydney Harbour, but this ban is widely ignored because fireworks are legally sold and available to people from other states from warehouses in the Australian Capital Territory.

A private members bill will be introduced into the New South Wales parliament by Baulkham Hills MP   David Elliott to reverse that ban.   Mr Elliott claims to be receiving massive support from residents of his electorate but this issue will certainly be controversial.  The original ban was justified on safety grounds and this will be a compelling argument voiced by opponents.

Fireworks were a traditional way of celebrating national events from the early days of the first arrivals.  They were usually communal events that involved a bonfire and in particular - " Cracker Night " was specifically held to celebrate a day set aside as a holiday in celebration of our monarch's birthday.

Today, finding a site for a public bonfire would present many problems.  There is little available public land in our densely packed suburbs and lighting a fire would breach a multitude of laws covering everything from fire safety to pollution regulations.   Along with fireworks, the humble backyard incinerator was also banned and we now have strict environmental laws that require approval from a dense thicket of regulatory agencies.   The paperwork to make a bonfire legal - would be daunting !

The biggest challenge would be on safety grounds.   When fireworks were legal they did produce a steady casualty stream.  Hand held crackers had a habit of doing damage and getting struck by a wayward rocket could be painful.   It seems certain that a reintroduction of cracker night would not be welcomed by the medical profession.

Older Australians will remember fireworks with nostalgia, but pet owners will shudder in horror at the prospect of terrified cats and dogs going missing, running in panic from the sound of exploding fireworks - and that is something that still happens when licensed public displays are held.

No doubt this private members bill will be fiercely debated and it's fate is uncertain, but some people will ponder the origins of the cracker nights of yore.     Perhaps the most well remembered event for letting off fireworks was in celebration of " Guy Fawkes " day !

It seems that this Guy Fawkes was a rebel who managed to smuggle many barrels of gun powder into the cellars under the British parliament in London and was planning to blow the lot sky high in disgust at the laws the pollies were inflicting on the general public.

He was caught before he could detonate this gun powder - and suffered the most extreme punishment the crown could devise.   He was hung, drawn and quartered and thus made his way into the history books as perhaps the most celebrated villain in the English speaking world.

Many people must wonder just which way Guy Fawkes day celebrations are aimed.    Were we celebrating the triumph of law and order ?      Or were we commiserating with Guy Fawkes - and celebrating his attempt to achieve the task of blowing a bunch of politicians sky high ?

Cracker night seems to involve mixed emotions !

Frankenfoods !

It seems that nothing stirs the ire of some people more than the term " Genetically Modified " ( GM ).   In America and Australia it comprises four fifths of all the processed foods we buy, but sixty-four world countries - including the EU - either totally ban it or require labelling to indicate any GM content.   Many regard that as a warning " not to buy " - and that is about to have repercussions on the world food supply.

Rice is the main food staple for much of the developing world and in Asia it is mainly grown in the deltas of the great rivers such as the Mekong, Brahmaputra and the Irrawaddy.  In the 1950-64 era the paddy fields were producing about 1.9 tonnes per hectare and farmers started to try to increase yield by applying fertilizer.
Unfortunately, this tended to make the rice grow taller and the stem could not support the weighted head - and much of the crop was lost.   The water level in paddy fields was also critical - and swings in the Monsoon often caused floods - and crop loss.
Some clever scientists managed to modify the rice plant to create a " dwarf " variety, which had a thicker stem and a panicle which contained many more rice grains - and this breed could survive flooding and recuperate when the water level fell.   It was immediately planted throughout the world and harvests increased to 3.5 tonnes per hectare in 1985-98.

The world rice crop is facing a new threat.   Global warming and the consequent rise in sea levels is causing storms and wind surges to flood the paddy fields of the deltas with salty water - and this improved rice plant can not tolerate a rising salt level.   The International Rice Research Institute ( IRRI ) has used GM to develop a new rice strain that thrives in brackish water and in a world with an ever increasing population it seems the answer to maintaining food security.

Unfortunately, the fact that it is a GM product seems certain to run headlong into marketing difficulties in an increasing number of countries.   There is growing pressure to legislate to force food labelling to include GM information and this will aid the vocal minority agitating to convince people that GM is harmful to promote resistance to it's sale in grocery stores.    This is despite the scientific world conducting testing in all areas of GM food production and giving it an absolute clear bill of health on safety grounds.

The statisticians tell us that for each one billion of increase in population on planet earth we will require an annual harvest increase of one hundred million tonnes of rice to feed them.   We are presently above the seven billion mark - and it is predicted that we will see ten billion calling earth home by about mid century.

Unless we can get rice to tolerate saltier paddy fields, a lot of the present farming land is going to be lost to production - and it seems that the only way that can be rectified is by using GM to produce the right plant to do the job.    We are already seeing diseases such as Polio reestablishing themselves because of spurious opposition to the vaccinations that had almost wiped them out on a world basis - as happened with Smallpox.

This senseless opposition to GM foods - which opponents refer to as " Frankenfoods " -  has the capacity to bring on a world famine unless the food industry is allowed to meet our needs.     The world health people estimate that at present about 3,100,000 people die each year because of malnutrition.   The death toll from GM foods - stands at 0.

A compelling argument !

A " Courageous " budget !

Most people are still trying to digest the many changes revealed in Tuesday night's budget but it seems clear that it is designed to reduce the unsustainable and growing deficit and bring this country back to fiscal sobriety - and most sectors of society will share in the pain.

Those earning in excess of $ 180,000 will pay a 2% " Debt Levy " for the next three years - and clearly that is a tax increase.  The indexing of petrol excise has been scrapped and we can expect to pay several cents a litre more at the pumps in the years ahead and this will be entirely directed into upgrades of the road network.   A variety of tax benefits have either been scrapped or reduced across a broad spectrum - from which most people will feel the pain.

Medical costs have been in the cross hairs with a new $7 co-payment each time we see a doctor or have blood tests and each script presented at a pharmacy will cost $5 more, with pensioners paying an extra 80 c to their $6 subsidy.  Several more scripts will be necessary for the pharmaceutical safety net to become operative.

Pensioners have been largely spared in the current three year period, but the age pension will only apply from age 70 by 2035.  Those people on disability pensions will be retested and efforts made to reintegrate them back into the workforce - and the under 30's seeking Newstart or the Youth Allowance will face a six month wait before they start receiving unemployment benefits.

Our universities will be deregulated to allow more innovation.  It is likely that this may mean an increase in fees and those deferring education costs under the old HECS will now be required to commence repayment of their debt when they reach a lower grade salary start of $ 50,638.

The public service will face a loss of 16,500 jobs in redundancies spread across all sectors and foreign aid will be cut by a massive $ 7.9 billion.  Job creation efforts will include giving a $ 10,000 subsidy to employers who employ the over 50's who have been out of work for six months - and retain that position for two years.

Many people will heave a sigh of relief that this budget is less threatening that some predictions.   The family home has not been included in the means tests - and most people accept that we could not go on spending way beyond our means and compiling a growing debt that we would saddle on our kids and grand kids to repay.

One of the problems is that our three year parliamentary term imposes an almost impossible political cycle - and many other countries now have a five year term.   The Senate will probably be obstructive and these changes need to happen fast to deliver results that can be seen as the next election approaches.   It is therefore in the interests of political opponents to try and delay enabling legislation for political gain.

There will be the usual yelps from self interest groups, but the broad spectrum of economists are giving this budget a grudging nod.  

The day of the " Bagmen " !

This week the taxpayers of Australia have been treated to the revelations that both sides of politics  circumvented laws to prevent " slush funds " being accumulated by way of innocent sounding legal charities. It seems that this hidden cash is used to fund political campaigns and to enrich individuals.

In a Royal Commission hearing, Australian Workers Union (AWU ) bagman Ralph Blewitt disclosed details of a slush fund setup by Julia Gillard when she was a lawyer in which funds were diverted by her then boyfriend to renovations being carried out on her home.

At an ICAC hearing,  Liberal party bagman Ray Carter admitted  soliciting donations from developers who were barred from openly donating funds to politicians.   These were channelled through two organizations - Eightby-Five and the Free Enterprise Foundation - and funded political activities.

The only conclusion that taxpayers may draw - is that all forms of politics is " dirty business ".  Finding a way to clear it up seems to be the ultimate conundrum.

One suggestion that repeatedly makes an appearance is to publicly fund political advertising in the runup to an election - and totally ban any other form of advertising by individual candidates.  That idea would run headlong into the " Freedom of speech " aspect of Australian society and it would favour the main political parties - and exclude most independents from gaining worthwhile public notice.

The purists insist that some sort of public debate in which all the contestants were given equal time on national media would level the playing field, and it has seriously been suggested that the qualifications for the Senate be rationalized to bring the selection field back to sanity.    The problem is that while all these ideas certainly have elements of merit, they also present unintended consequences that could prevent the voters from making a fair choice.

Safety probably lays in retaining the present system - with all it's flaws.    As both ICAC and a Royal Commission is showing, dirty dealing usually come unstuck and we have seen a progression of victims from both sides of politics exit the arena in disgrace.   Provided the instruments of review are given the freedom to move and hold investigations the politicians and their cohorts break election laws - at their peril.

Totally clean politics is probably an impossible dream - and we live in the " real world " !

Air Safety !

A group of people attending " Open House " inspections of homes for sale in Lawson, in the Blue Mountains were spectators to amazing sights on Saturday.    They looked up when a light aircraft passing far overhead emitted alarming engine sounds and several small explosions.  The engine stopped - and it began to fall from the sky.

Suddenly an immense parachute ejected from the rear of the plane and arrested the fall, and the plane descended slowly and safely, landing in the front yard of a residents home.   The three occupants of this four seater plane escaped what could only be termed a " crash " virtually uninjured.

We are well aware of parachutes designed for individuals and these were worn by fighter pilots during the second world war, but the extension of fitting a parachute to an aircraft is something new.   It has been developed by a company names " Cirrus " - and this very aircraft was on a sales mission to Australia when this accident occurred.

This event was widely covered by the media and it has stirred conjecture in aviation circles.  It seems inevitable that there will be pressure to make this standard equipment on all light aircraft, but many old hands urge caution.   The areas where it offers maximum protection are limited, and in the vast majority of crashes it would be of little help - and it tends to triple the cost of aircraft fitted with this safety device.

It can be most helpful when an aircraft is flying at great height over terrain that offers no safe landing spots - and suffers engine failure.  Deploying the parachute allows the plane to float to the ground rather than crash at high speed - usually with fatal results.    The majority of crashes occur at take off or landing, when height prevents the use of a parachute, or in heavy cloud when a lack of navigation results in a crash into an unexpected obstacle.   It is the usual equation of risk and cost - and the buyers of aircraft must make their own evaluation.

For the company that has developed this safety feature, this weekends event must seem the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.    The ubiquitous smartphones of spectators captured the graceful descent and the uninjured passengers - and every form of media in Australia gave it prominence in their newscasts.  That sort of publicity would have to be worth millions of dollars - and it was all positive.    The parachute worked perfectly - and it seems inevitable at least some Australian buyers will opt for this option.

Insider Trading !

Two young men who became friends while attending university are before the courts and facing charges for " Insider Trading ".   This case will shock the public for the simplicity involved - and the astounding amount of money the scam produced.

A 24 year old man was employed by the Australian Bureau of Statistics ( ABS ), a government department that compiles sensitive commercial information.  His friend, 26 worked for one of the big Australian banks - and it is claimed that he paid $ 60,000 for access to ABS information that involved the likely rise and falls in the trading rate of the Australian currency.

His banker friend then used this information to trade in Australian dollars, and in just nine months accumulated a profit of over seven million dollars.

All that is completely illegal and no doubt the " Proceeds of crime " legislation will be used to strip him of his illicitly gained wealth and both young men will be disgraced and sacked from their jobs - and will probably do time behind bars - but this case throws the spotlight on the near impossibility of safeguarding the means to plunder profits by using " insider information ".

We have seen it all before.  A celebrated case when an airline takeover bid became known to another player by way of a chance remark and a fortune changed hands.  A guru of the financial world whose advice was sought whenever he spoke, accused of promoting certain shares to the public while quietly quitting his own holding in that company because he knew it was about to go public with it's difficulties.

It is not only the high flyers in the corner offices of the business district that gain secret information.  It passes through many hands in the course of setting the  scene for a possible takeover or merger and this includes secretaries who type confidential letters,  law firms who give advice on possible legal ramifications and the families of those who casually discuss their days work at the dinner table.

One of the prime sources of  insider information must be the political arena - and we have recently seen this where prime holiday land was being sold and applications made for licenses to mine coal.    This weeks Federal budget would be a bonanza if an interested party could gain sure knowledge of what it contains - and the opportunity for leaks are immense.    Even the printing of the budget papers for release on budget day must see the details pass through many hands for this process to be achieved.

It would be naive to think that insider trading is confined to the board rooms of big companies.  It is a daily fact of life at all levels of commerce - from pending decisions at the local council to the inside secrets of trading firms that affect their shares prices.    And it could be the reason for sudden and " unexplained wealth "  amongst friends and colleagues !

Opportunity knocks !

Older Australians will remember with nostalgia " the Golden Days " of service stations way back in the 1950's.   When a driver pulled up at the pumps a veritable army descended to service his or her needs.   One asked for the bonnet to be popped - and checked the car's oil and water.  Another cleaned the windscreen. A third checked the air pressure in the tyres - and the last filled the petrol tank to the required measure.   Competition for market share was so keen that it was not unusual to be presented with a promotional present - perhaps a set of drinking glasses or steak knives - for choosing that particular brand of petrol station.

The term " Service Station " no longer applies.   It is very much a " do it yourself " operation these days and hence " Petrol Reseller " would be more appropriate.   The car owner is responsible for checking the vehicles oil levels, keeping the radiator fluid topped up - and seeing that the tyres are inflated to the appropriate level.

The modern car has vastly extended service intervals and checking under the bonnet is less necessary because of finer engineering tolerances.   What is becoming a danger to car safety is incorrectly maintained air pressure in tyres - and we are seeing the slow disappearance of what used to be termed " Free air and water " !

It is not unusual to have to visit several petrol resellers these days to find one with an air hose that actually works.   We seem to be in a " phasing out " era when such free services are no longer considered the responsibility of the reseller.   In many cases the air compressor no longer works or the air pressure gauge gives a hopelessly incorrect reading.   Some petrol outlets have completely done away with the entire air function.

As a result, a huge number of cars sharing our roads are running on incorrectly inflated tyres - and many have a spare in the boot that lacks sufficient pressure for use in an emergency.  An under inflated tyre at speed runs hot - and that can contribute to a blow-out.   Correct inflation improves the car economy and extends the life of the tyres - and the vehicle manufacturers insist it is a prime safety measure.

Checking tyre pressure is a dirty job, usually performed at the weekend when the driver is wearing older clothes.  The fact that facilities for tyre inflation are diminishing opens the door for the smart entrepreneur to gain market share by providing a needed service that is  not available elsewhere.

A large section of the community - older drivers, women, busy people - would welcome a petrol reseller who offered to check customers tyre pressure as part of the service.    It would generate brand loyalty and be a very good reason to choose that particular reseller as their preferred source of petrol.  In particular, it would illustrate a reasonable alternative to what is being offered by the huge grocery chains when it comes to personal service.

Most drivers are aware that their tyres need regular attention and most feel uncomfortable that they are driving unchecked.  They continue to do so - because at present there is little in the way of an alternative.
It seems that market trends are now presenting an opportunity.

An unmet need is the basis for success for those who are prepared to grasp such opportunities !   Finding an unmet need is the " Holy Grail " for those in the business world - and right now opportunity is knocking !

" Pussy Footing " !

Many Australian consumers will be disgusted to learn that the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is " negotiating " a voluntary recall of an estimated 50,000 items of clothing which pose a cancer risk to users.  Many of the big names in clothing apparel and the major retailers are involved and it seems that this health risk is way down the list of priorities.

The problem is that what are called " Azo dyes " have been used to colour this clothing and the chemicals involved  are known to release carcinogenic residue which can be absorbed through the skin.  In particular, the danger is sharply advanced if the clothing is in direct contact with the skin of the person wearing this apparel.

Azo dyes are prohibited in the United States and the European Union, and have been for a long time.  They face no legal restrictions in Australia - and citizens have a right to ask - why ?

It stands to reason that clothing manufacturers who suddenly find their product banned in the major US and European markets quickly look for a safe dumping ground where lax controls allow them to recoup manufacturing costs and clear factory output.    Usually this applies to third world countries, but it seems that the very people tasked with keeping Australia free of dangerous goods are not up to the task.

" Negotiating  a voluntary recall " sounds very like " pussy footing " to delay the issue and reduce the loss for the big clothing retailers.   You can be sure that any retailer hearing rumours of a safety issue associated with a stocked product will immediately cut the price and put it on sale to move stock quickly.   Even when a recall is advertised, only a small portion usually gets returned for credit.

This whole safety issue raises another interesting question.   What finally happens to stock taken off the shelf for safety reasons ?   That seems to be an unanswered question and many would suppose that it would be destroyed - to keep the public safe.   Once again, there seems to be a lack of laws to govern safe disposal and it is possible that it will simply be shipped off to another country that has not brought it's safety laws up to date.

Australia is a first world country and consumers expect our watchdogs to be on top of the game.  The fact that there are fifty thousand items of clothing that pose a health hazard sitting on shop shelves is a disgrace that needs correction.    " Negotiations " clearly do not signal urgency - and only a total and immediate ban on further sales will induce garment manufacturers and importers to avoid future losses by keeping manufacturing standards up to date.

If a recall is deemed necessary, it needs to be immediately imposed !

The ultimate atrocity !

The news that Boko Haram - an African  group of Muslim extremists - has kidnapped over two hundred girls from a Nigerian boarding school opens a new front in the war of terror.  It's leader is now threatening to sell these girls into sexual slavery and they are probably over Nigeria's borders and dispersed in neighbouring countries.

Boko Haram has achieved exactly what the world's terror groups crave - world publicity !  It's name roughly translates into " Western Education is a sin " - and it fervently believes that women should be denied any form of education and their sole function is to serve as wives in an Islamic society.

Boko Haram have struck before.   On other occasions they have killed male students at Nigerian schools and spared the girl students, but it seems that the kidnapping of girls is fast becoming the main thrust of their war on society.  A fresh wave of kidnappings followed, and this is sure to be copied by other extreme Islamic groups seeking fame - and ransom loot.

Many parents in Africa are going to have second thoughts about sending their daughters to school.   The prospect of armed men herding them away in the night and having total control over them will strike fear deep into their hearts.   The thought that they may end up in a distant slave market, being sold to the highest bidder  -  to a complete stranger who simply desires their sexual services - is an unthinkable atrocity.

The US has offered ransom negotiators and staff skilled in investigative techniques, but surely this is an act of war against the citizens of Nigeria that should provoke the United Nations into action.   The UN is the world body that is supposed to harness world power to right wrongs.   What Boko Haram has done fully deserves a UN army to be deployed against it.

This should be a matter for the UN Security Council - and it is unlikely that either of the usual nay sayers - Russia and China - could possibly object to world action to hunt down and destroy Boko Haram.   It is also unlikely that the moderate Islamic world would offer objections - and in fact that army to fight Boko Haram could well come exclusively from the Muslim world.

The entire world swung behind the Jewish people at the end of world war two when the Nazi horror of the Holocaust was revealed.   What is being done in the name of religion in Nigeria is a similar affront - against those of the female gender.   It deserves a world reaction - and the only way to stamp it out will take boots on the ground.

Whether those boots on the ground will be forthcoming - remains to be seen.  Boko Haram has issued it's challenge.   The parents of those missing girls will be waiting to see if the United Nations lives up to it's charter - or if it dissolves into the usual gab fest - that goes nowhere !

Mixed blessings !

Right now the police are handing out " jay-walking " fines in the Sydney CBD.    That law has been on the statute books for yonks - but mainly unenforced and the cops are under orders to launch a blitz to try and reduce a recent spate of traffic deaths.

Since the start of 2014 twenty-one pedestrians have died in city street accidents - thirteen more than in the same period last year.  Six cyclists have been killed and pressure is mounting to force a 40 kph speed limit within the CBD precinct.

What seems to have gone un-noticed is when the " herd instinct " kicks in humans adopt to new technology in an unstoppable manner.   Laws designed to regulate the way we live are simply ignored, and we have practical examples before our eyes wherever we look.

The need for entertainment and news is provided by Smartphones.  Vast numbers of pedestrians have their eyed glued to that small screen or have ear plugs conveying music at the same time as they are crossing roads or threading through traffic.   Despite draconian laws and heavy fines, using a phone while driving a car has been only slightly abated.   Cheap technology exists to make phone use in cars legal - but many choose to simply ignore that law.

We deplore the steady toll of people rock fishing who drown when a larger than usual wave sweeps them into the sea.  In the vast majority of cases, they are not wearing a cheap life jacket that would save their lives, and no amount of pleading sees any improvement.   Humans seem to have an in-built resistance to any form of authority - telling them what to do !

Persistence pays off in some cases.   The vast majority of car users now fasten seat belts while driving and that is because of relentless police pressure.   The number of people who drink and drive has been steadily diminishing - for the same reason.    The motivation to obey comes from the " fear factor ".   The penalty for getting caught involves the loss of a large sum of money - and more importantly - loss of the legal ability to drive a car.

So - how do we get the hordes using Sydney streets to take their eyes off that small screen and listen to traffic noises to reduce fatal accidents ?    This police jay-walking blitz will have a temporary effect but we need something to create a long term change in people's attitudes to safety.

That will probably only be achieved by using the same marvels of technology that created the problem in the first place.  It is technically possible to create " dead zones " where reception ceases on the carriageway of city streets.   The device works perfectly on city footpaths - cuts out the moment the user steps off the kerb - and returns to service on the other side of the road.

A harsh solution that would also impose a penalty on passengers in cars legally using a mobile phone and on cars equipped with hands free phone facilities, but it all depends on what price we are prepared to pay to achieve pedestrian safety.

That solution is technically possible - but socially unacceptable.   It seems that we are doomed to each innovation from the world of science delivering mixed blessings.   That old adage about " Walking a horse to water - but being unable to make it drink "  - comes to mind !

" Biffo " !

Two men had a fight on a Bondi street last Sunday - and this resulted in a nine page spread in the Daily Telegraph, complete with lurid pictures of punches being thrown and the combatants wrestling on the ground. It seems that the brawl was filmed by a passerby using a Smartphone - and bought for an  amazing sum of money by an interested news organization.

There must have been dozens - perhaps hundreds - of similar brawls across Sydney on that particular weekend, but what made this one newsworthy - was the contestants.  James Packer is Australia's richest man and he was fighting with David Gyngell, boss of the Channel Nine network and a man who commands a ten million dollar annual salary.

Amazingly, these men have been best friends for thirty-five years, and each served as best man at the others wedding.  It is thought that the fight resulted from a misunderstanding.   Packer objected to seeing a Channel Nine broadcast van parked in his street and assumed that it was on a spying mission related to his love life.  He phoned Gyngell and demanded it be removed.   In fact, it was innocently parked by it's driver - who lived nearby.

Despite the publicity this matter has received in both print and the television media, the police do not intend to hold any sort of investigation - and claim that they have received " no complaints " on which to act, but following pressure - they are now thinking of laying " Affray " charges.  Packer and Gyngell maintain that they are still on friendly terms - and the whole affair is being swept under the carpet !

Contrast that with an event that happened in western Sydney on that same weekend.   When a birthday party at Minchinbury finally broke up and the guests were back in the street a twenty-one year old male began arguing with his girlfriend.  A second twenty-one year old male intervened, a punch was thrown - and the girl's boyfriend fell and hit his head on the pavement - causing a fatality.

The new " One Punch " law swings into action and most likely the assailant will face a charge of " Assault causing death " and this carries a twenty year gaol term - extended to twenty-five years - if the assailant was intoxicated with drugs or alcohol.

This does seem to emphasise the element of  " luck " when tempers fray.   Two " Alpha males " came to blows on a Bondi street and the exchange could have easily led to tragedy in the fracas that followed.  Both were presumably sober and beyond a bit of skin and hair - no damage was done.

The western Sydney incident most likely involved alcohol because it came at the end of a birthday party.  The intervention was probably good hearted, with intent to calm an argument between two people, but it got out of hand - with fatal consequences.   Now one person is dead - and the other faces a ruined life.

One incident provoked nine pages - including banner headlines on the front page - of a Sydney newspaper.   The death in western Sydney earned a single column on page seventeen of that same issue.

Rarely do those who raise a fist in anger intend to cause death or serious injury.   Law changes were intended to try and stop intoxicated people from randomly attacking strangers on city streets, but the same laws are having unintended consequences - and luck plays a major role in most outcomes !

Laws - and safety !

Queensland has a law to protect cyclists sharing the road with motorists.   Car drivers are required to ensure that there is a one metre gap between the vehicle and the cyclist when passing in a 40 or 50 kph speed zone.   That gap widens to 1.5 metres in higher speed zones - and the motorist is permitted to cross double white lines to achieve that gap when it is safe to do so.

Failing to heed that law results in a $ 330 fine and the loss of three demerit points.   The New South Wales government has been under pressure from cycling interests to adopt identical legislation in this state, but has wisely put the matter on hold.

The mix of bikes and cars seems to present a very uneven penalty mix.   The Police are relentless in enforcing driving laws on motorists and the owner of a car suffers a constant barrage of tax intrusions from which cyclists are exempt.   Charges apply for holding a driving license, registering the vehicle, using roads that have a toll - and most of the fee for filling the tank with fuel is by way of a fuel tax.

In contrast, the only legal requirement for a cyclist seems to be the need to wear a safety helmet - and in the vast majority of cases - this is ignored - and rarely policed.

Cyclists are urged to ride responsibly, but the very nature of a bicycle makes it a hazard on the road. Debris or a small pot hole can cause it to swerve suddenly and because transgressions are usually ignored by the police, many riders completely ignore road laws.   Riding at high speed on footpaths is common and in many cases cyclists ignore nearby bike lanes specially constructed to separate cars and cycles for safety reasons.

Most motorists take due care to achieve a safe distance when passing a cyclist but including a measurable component in legislation raises the question of how that gap is to be judged.   The issue of legally crossing double white lines also raises concern because it brings a matter of safety into conflict which can have lethal results.

In 2013, fourteen cyclists died on New South Wales roads in accidents that involved collision with motor vehicles.   If we are to increase road safety it will be necessary for the police to enforce roads laws on all road users - and that means bringing cyclists and their cycle within identifiable legal jurisdiction - and that means bikes with a registration number and their riders subject to a riding license.

The common old " push bike " has enjoyed a remarkable escape from both the tax regime and draconian network of laws that apply to our road system.   The " cycling lobby " has cleverly used it's influence to gain vast amounts of public funds to enhance cycling for ecological, health and recreational reasons - and avoided putting anything back into the money pot when it comes to costs.

Strangely, cycling has escaped the age laws that apply to driving a vehicle, buying cigarettes and alcohol, placing a bet, having a vote or watching movies with an age restriction in a cinema.   A tot of any age is legally entitled to ride a bike on the F6 Freeway connecting Sydney and Wollongong, sharing that road with cars and trucks  travelling at the 110 kph limit.   Many would consider any parent that allowed that to be criminally insane, but doing so breaks no legal barrier.

The bicycle certainly is a valid means of transport, but it's limitations need to be taken into account when we formulate future road systems and it's users need to be brought within the enforcement jurisdiction that applies to all road users.

Anything short of that lacks both legal equity - and any hope of safety on our roads !

Carbon Monoxide poisoning !

There was a risk eventuality this past weekend in Sydney.   A long run of " Indian Summer " came to an end and winter briefly bared it's fangs when a cold front swept in from the south - and temperatures dropped across the city.

A family of five in Liverpool was rushed to hospital and treated for carbon monoxide poisoning.  Three children - aged 11, 6 and 1 were the worst affected and it seems that the parents had resorted to a desperate measure to try and stay warm.     They had found some coal, put it in a dish and were burning it in the bedroom in which all the family were sleeping.   Without ventilation, this fire was producing carbon monoxide and could easily have caused the death of all five people.

The authorities expect a spate of similar accidents in the coming winter months.  Desperate people resort to desperate solutions when the cold starts to really bite.   Bringing the BBQ in and firing it up seems a logical way of keeping warm to some people who are unaware that any unventilated fire can produce a deadly gas in a closed room.    Even unflued gas heaters need a slightly open window to constantly replenish the air supply.

This coming winter will bring an increased hazard because of higher tariffs for both electricity and gas.   From July 1, gas will cost an extra seventeen percent and this will make many reluctant to use this heating method because of bill fear.    The danger is that some people will stray into great danger as they think up options to get around the heating problem.

This risk will exacerbate amongst new arrivals from tropical countries.  They will be used to hot country housing design which is big on ventilation and may not see the danger of housing designed for a cooler climate, and in their first years in Australia they will be ill equipped with traditional winter clothing.  In many cases, language will be a barrier to getting the " safe heating " message across.

It seems that we are heading into the worst of two worlds.  On the one hand, the price of electricity and gas - the traditional answer to warmth in winter - is elevated by cost pressures and seems likely to rise even higher, and at the same time budget measures are about to place restrictions on the cost of living by way of higher taxes.

Carbon Monoxide poisoning seems an inevitable outcome without a serious advertising campaign to get the message across !

Council " Time Bombs " !

Jeff Kennett is a colourful political figure - but when he makes a comment most people think he is worth listening to.  He has warned New South Wales premier Mike Baird of a " gathering council Tsunami " of dysfunction that will deliver a huge financial burden on the state's doorstep.

The NSW Treasury Corporation recently conducted a survey of the 152 councils in the state and reported that 34 were sound, 79 were in a moderately sustainable position - and 39 were weak - or very weak. The problem is that council boundaries were set well over a century ago and a vast population change and style of living has changed demographics and needs.   We are still trying to cram the services of the past into unrealistic council structures.

Kennett was a very successful premier of Victoria and in 1994 that state reduced it's 211 councils to just 78.   If NSW does not bite the bullet and reform local government is is inevitable that  council failures will force the state government to appoint administrations - and pickup the tab for keeping services running.

That presents a problem for Mike Baird's  government.  Barry O'Farrell won office on a promise of no council forced amalgamations in the life of this parliament and Baird will be expected to honour that promise.
Ratepayers will certainly resist amalgamations and in particular, getting elected to council has long been a stepping stone towards a seat in state or Federal politics - and for those who wear the mayoral chain - it is a vast elevation in social standing in their community.

The problem is that in even the best run NSW councils there is an ever growing infrastructure backlog and a renewal gap to bring buildings and structures up to standard and this is now at a mind blowing deficit of $ 7.2 billion.   Rate rises are pegged to less than the cost of living - and consequently all councils are slowly going backwards unless they can achieve cost savings - and the only logical means of doing that is a more efficient use of existing resources in a bigger area.

Local government is fast becoming the " sick man " of national finance.   The Feds are financed by income tax and the states get the benefits of the VAT - but councils are starved of income by way of restrictions imposed from above.   At the same time, the other two tiers of government are constantly shedding functions and making them council responsibilities, without providing funds to alleviate costs.

Mike Baird has a new headache waiting in the wings with the need for council reform and at the same time ICAC is cutting a swathe through both sides of politics by uncovering scams designed to hide donations needed to fund political election campaigns.

It seems that council amalgamations will be an item high on the agenda when the issues are put before the public in the run up to next years state election !

Deportation delays !

Many Australians must despair at the endless delays that prevent criminals from being deported from this country.   We now learn that a thirty-nine year old Nigerian being held in detention prior to deportation in Villawood Detention centre is actually running a drug importing ring using mobile phones to convey his orders.

This man gained entry to Australia in 2000 on a three month business visa.   Three years later, this was converted to a spousal visa and he looked set to make this country home for the rest of his life, but in 2005 he was jailed for ten years for importing 1873 kilos of Cocaine concealed in book covers.   This sentence was served by way of six and a half years non parole - and the Commonwealth then sought a deportation order.

Surely conviction for a major drug crime should have been a valid reason for a speedy deportation order but he also had a past for drink driving, driving without a license and other motoring offences, and so began the lengthy appeals process that seems to grind endlessly on - while the criminal continues to ply his trade.

The case is again before the Administration Appeals Tribunal and in cases where a visa cancellation is on the grounds of character, the Tribunal must consider the welfare of any children concerned.  It is clearly in the interests of any visitor to this country arriving on a specific visa to marry and have children as quickly as possible.   This changes the visa status - and provides an almost impenetrable defence against deportation for later criminal activities.

There are two factors that rile most Australian citizens.    One is the cost.   Most of those making appeals are provided with legal assistance and for those held in detention, the cost of that detention comes from the public purse.  In many instances, the time factor involved is measured - in years !

The other is the absolute contempt that these criminals have for our laws.   Legislation designed to meet international standards on appeals is manipulated to ensure long delays between hearings and introduce issues that have little to do with the reason for seeking a deportation order.   A skilled legal profession has evolved with the tactics to tie the appeals process in knots.

We need a new broom through this entire appeals spectrum.   Not only does justice need to be done.   It needs to be done swiftly - and appeals belong from wherever deportation has lodged the applicant, not from within this country.

Achieving " balance " in judging crime !

A leading judge has pointed the finger at a strange anomaly that arises from mandatory sentencing laws. He was handing down sentence on a man who bit off part of another man's ear during a street brawl.   Had the offender been under the influence of drugs or alcohol he would have automatically received a harsher sentence.   Because he was sober, he was less guilty in the eye of this legislation.

Judge Paul Condon asked :  " How could it ever be acceptable to argue an offender who is not intoxicated with alcohol or drugs should be considered less criminally culpable than one who is ?

" Mandatory criminal sentencing will prevent the courts to do what the community expects.  That is to hand down sentences that are right and just in the circumstances."

Judge Condon does have a point !    Justice is depicted outside many courts in the form of a blind woman holding the sword of vengeance in one hand - and the scales of balance in the other.   It is those scales of balance that seem to be tilted by mandatory sentencing laws.

Judges walks a fine line when arriving at a sentencing decision.   The facts of the matter have been argued over by the prosecution and the defence but there are many extraneous issues to be taken into account. Just what sort of person is the accused ?    What will the affect of a custodial sentence have on others within that persons orbit  ?   What are the chances that mercy may provide a dividend by way of an altered lifestyle that benefits society ?

When the sentence is written up in the media it is purely the bald facts that are presented, and the prevailing public attitude often colours the manner in which they are described.   Politics play a big part in swaying public opinion - and judges do sometimes get it badly wrong.   A person given light treatment who spectacularly re-offends throws the harsh light of public outrage on the entire spectrum of sentencing procedures.

So it was with what was originally called a " King Hit " and is now described as a " Coward Punch ".  The death of two innocent young men viciously assaulted by drunken strangers stirred public anger and provoked the politicians to action.     The outcome - was mandatory sentencing laws !

Hopefully, reprieve still exists in the appeals courts.   Manifestly extreme sentences - or sentences that fail to meet community standards can be reviewed and brought into line.    The judicial system with it's over lapping avenues of appeal must have precedence over mandatory sentencing laws to allow exceptional circumstances to prevail.

Such are the checks and balances that structure our entire legal system !

Master Tacticians !

The rumour mill is running on overdrive.   Commentators of every stripe are delving deeply into the horrors that are to come in this years Federal budget.  Pages of newsprint and at least half the nightly television news is devoted to analysis of how hard the predicted tax hikes and rule changes will  affect the average persons standard of living.

We are told that the age pension is unsustainable and that in the near future people will need to continue to work until age seventy.   There is concern that the family home may be included in the asset test for gaining whatever level of age pension remains - and doubt that it will still have regular cost of living reviews.

The ultimate horror for most families - death taxes - have again rattled their bones as a trade off for leniency on pension reform, and there has even been talk of reintroducing a license fee for watching television and listening to radio - as a new means of funding the ABC and SBS.

Now the pundits are discussing a proposed " Debt and Deficit levy ".   Of course, this is not termed a " tax " !  For a start, it is only " temporary " and it will be removed the moment the red ink disappears.  Many will have their nose in a dictionary seeking the real meaning of that word " levy " - and it has been suggested it will apply to incomes as low as $ 80,000.

None of this is confirmed.   It is all budget preamble - and it has a lot of people worried.   We certainly do have a financial mess bestowed by the previous government and we do need to take uncomfortable measures to sort it out, but creating hyper-ventilation of our emotions is simply a tactic to disguise reality.  When the budget is finally revealed in all it's glory - we will heave a collective sigh of relief when the worst outcomes we imagined are missing.   

That is one of the oldest tactics in the book.   Create a colossal scare campaign against which the reality of a few unpleasant changes seems quite modest.    The amusing thing, is that Bill Shorten's Labor party has been co-opted to magnify the scare.    It was just too tempting for them to exploit the " broken promises " theme, even though these scares are pure illusion.    Their  " outrage " has actually helped create the illusion of draconian events about to happen.

The wise and the patient will wait for budget night.   There will certainly be some unpleasant news, but it will be far less than the wildest conjecture being put about by master tacticians !