Sydney's Lord Mayor - Clover Moore - wants to spend nine million dollars on art forms that she thinks will put this city " on the map ". She seems to be missing the point. Sydney is already a world renowned city and it has two signature items that bring instant recognition on the world stage - our famous harbour bridge and the Opera House.
The Lord Mayor has preselected three items that she expects Sydneysiders will take to their hearts. She nominates spending $ 2.5 million on a thirteen metre fibreglass " Milk Crate " to stand in Belmore Basin. a seventy-five metre " Cloud Arch Sculpture " which will welcome shoppers into Gorge street - and straddle the new light rail tracks - and $ 913,000 on " Bronze Birds " which will be dotted above doorways and arches scattered throughout the CBD.
It has been suggested that all or any of these will quickly establish a " presence " - in a similar way to the Eiffel Tower symbolizes France in the minds of the world. That is simply not the way a connection between art and a city - or a country - happens. Art finds it's own place in the world - not the other way around.
The Eiffel Tower would be a case in point. It was built in 1889 as a temporary structure to feature in that city's hosting of the World Fair - and the citizens of Paris loathed it. It was due to be demolished, but it slowly grew on people's affection - and world reaction made it the icon by which France was recognised.
A similar thing happened here in Australia. An animal unique to this country springs to mind when overseas folk think of Australia - and the Kangaroo gained world attention back in1983 when Australia 11 broke a one hundred and thirty two year grip on the Americas cup by America. The " Boxing Kangaroo " flag is now synonymous with this country whenever Australians do battle on the sporting field.
The Archibald Prize for painting is the top art award in this country and yet the winner is always mired in controversy - because art is recognised differently in human minds. Which is precisely why art in all it's forms is in constant competition and the skills of artists waxes and wanes as their work runs the gauntlet of public opinion.
If Clover Moore's choices get the nod and actually get to be constructed it is inevitable that they will receive a very mixed reaction. Some people will love them - and some people will hate them, and above all - many will question the spending of public money when so many other essentials await funding.
It takes a very brave - or very foolish - soul to try and impose their definition of " art " on the ornery minded folk that call Australia home. When the " right " theme appeals to the nation it needs no help in taking it's place as a lasting icon. That happens - at it's own pace and in it's own time !
Thursday, 31 July 2014
Wednesday, 30 July 2014
A " Way of Life " threat !
The era of cheap seats on airplanes burst onto the world in 1954 when Boeing rolled out it's new 707 jet airliner. The fact that this offered to fly over one hundred and fifty passengers on each journey brought cost down to the point that an overseas holiday was now within the financial reach of the average person, prompting an expansion of holiday accommodation and tourist facilities on a world wide basis.
Jet engines quickly replaced the old propeller driven aircraft as the urge for bigger and faster drove design engineers to new heights. In short order, we saw the first of the new wider body jets that doubled the seating capacity offered by the 707 - and now Airbus has developed a double decker airliner that is presently the largest passenger jet in the world.
Air travel is firmly cemented into the modern lifestyle. We think nothing of enjoying a holiday in a far country and until recently - safety was not a matter of concern. We were far safer sitting in a seat miles high in the sky than we would be driving a car to join that flight at an airport - until MH 17 was shot out of the sky by a missile over Ukraine.
The military threat to aircraft has long existed but it was concentrated on keeping countries safe from war planes. The " Stinger " shoulder fired missile certainly posed a threat to aircraft at low altitude landing and taking off, but jet liners flew above 33,000 feet and this was considered " safe " in international skies. We ignored war in the world's troublespots - just so long as the air traffic passed overhead at what we considered a safe height.
Just as the aircraft in which we travel constantly add new developments, the weapons of war become more sophisticated, and now there is every chance that Surface to Air Missiles ( SAMS ) are capable of reaching the heights which were previously considered safe - and their spread is reaching more of the world's troublespots. In some areas, " Terrorist " insurgents have morphed into regular armies and have the backing of the great powers - and their armament industries.
We can no longer safely assume that airliners are risk free travelling over the world's hot spots. To deliver the cheapest seat prices, airline companies fly the most direct route between destinations, and that is now under review. Diverting can add thousands of dollars in fuel costs to each flight and it may be necessary to install military quality defence equipment to our airline fleets - and those costs may see the end of the overseas holiday dreams for many people.
Sadly, religious intolerance puts ordinary western citizens in the sights of some terrorist organizations and should they get the means to destroy airliners in flight, there is no doubt that they would proceed with pleasure. Perhaps we are about to see the dawning of a new era - where the terror war gets the equipment it needs to bring to an end the days of safe, carefree travel to experience the joys of the world.
One thing is painfully certain. The need to take precautions and avoid flying over danger spots will certainly add to travel costs and whatever security measures that need to be added to planes will certainly apply to ticket prices. At the same time, the moment we settle into our airline seat we will have a vague feeling at the back of our mind - that travel today is not as blissfully safe as it was a few short years ago.
That missile firing in Ukraine changed the expectation of air safety - forever !
Jet engines quickly replaced the old propeller driven aircraft as the urge for bigger and faster drove design engineers to new heights. In short order, we saw the first of the new wider body jets that doubled the seating capacity offered by the 707 - and now Airbus has developed a double decker airliner that is presently the largest passenger jet in the world.
Air travel is firmly cemented into the modern lifestyle. We think nothing of enjoying a holiday in a far country and until recently - safety was not a matter of concern. We were far safer sitting in a seat miles high in the sky than we would be driving a car to join that flight at an airport - until MH 17 was shot out of the sky by a missile over Ukraine.
The military threat to aircraft has long existed but it was concentrated on keeping countries safe from war planes. The " Stinger " shoulder fired missile certainly posed a threat to aircraft at low altitude landing and taking off, but jet liners flew above 33,000 feet and this was considered " safe " in international skies. We ignored war in the world's troublespots - just so long as the air traffic passed overhead at what we considered a safe height.
Just as the aircraft in which we travel constantly add new developments, the weapons of war become more sophisticated, and now there is every chance that Surface to Air Missiles ( SAMS ) are capable of reaching the heights which were previously considered safe - and their spread is reaching more of the world's troublespots. In some areas, " Terrorist " insurgents have morphed into regular armies and have the backing of the great powers - and their armament industries.
We can no longer safely assume that airliners are risk free travelling over the world's hot spots. To deliver the cheapest seat prices, airline companies fly the most direct route between destinations, and that is now under review. Diverting can add thousands of dollars in fuel costs to each flight and it may be necessary to install military quality defence equipment to our airline fleets - and those costs may see the end of the overseas holiday dreams for many people.
Sadly, religious intolerance puts ordinary western citizens in the sights of some terrorist organizations and should they get the means to destroy airliners in flight, there is no doubt that they would proceed with pleasure. Perhaps we are about to see the dawning of a new era - where the terror war gets the equipment it needs to bring to an end the days of safe, carefree travel to experience the joys of the world.
One thing is painfully certain. The need to take precautions and avoid flying over danger spots will certainly add to travel costs and whatever security measures that need to be added to planes will certainly apply to ticket prices. At the same time, the moment we settle into our airline seat we will have a vague feeling at the back of our mind - that travel today is not as blissfully safe as it was a few short years ago.
That missile firing in Ukraine changed the expectation of air safety - forever !
Tuesday, 29 July 2014
" New Era " for Credit !
This week the practice of authorising a purchase made with a credit card by signing your name will come to an end. From August 1 the vast array of terminals scattered throughout the shopping world will require customers to use a four digit PIN to validate every purchase - and that will create a massive problem for the huge number of elderly people making the slow descent into the fog of Dementia.
Sadly, it may tip the balance for those managing diminishing faculties. Some people who retain the ability to write and remember their own name find it impossible to remember a four digit number. This brings the risk that they will write that number down and keep it on their person, increasing their vulnerability for robbery. It also raises the likelihood that many may be forced to limit their purchases to the new " Tap and Go " chip on their card - which includes purchases of no more than one hundred dollars.
The relentless progress of electronics seems to forget the vast grey army who live in a twilight world. Their car is an essential method of transport, and yet advancing years are imposing more stringent restrictions on their right to hold a valid driving license. These are the people the government is desperate to keep in their own homes to avoid spiralling costs of nursing home care. They are usually the least remembered when it comes to the implementation of new methods to either cut costs or increase the speed of commerce.
It is a bewildering world for the many who have locked memories from an era just a few years past. Those were the days when the telephone was their main means of communication - and news came when the daily newspaper arrived on their doorstep. The Internet and the Smartphone were appliances they never really learned to understand - and they are totally mesmerised by the magic gismos that delivery people produce whenever a home delivery happens.
Having a Smartphone thrust into one's hand with an electronic stylus with which a signature is expected can be daunting for even a younger person, and the fact that the resulting signature would be completely unrecogniseable to their bank manager seems of little consequence. Welcome to the world of the twenty-first century !
This change to the credit card protocols will certainly cause it's share of problems, but these problems are simply a challenge that needs solution if the elderly are to maintain their way of life and not become an additional burden on the government. Much good work has already been done in organizing home help to provide basic cleaning - and now a shopping service may need to be added to that list.
Every new innovation needs a degree of modification to ensure that it can be used by the whole spectrum of humanity !
Sadly, it may tip the balance for those managing diminishing faculties. Some people who retain the ability to write and remember their own name find it impossible to remember a four digit number. This brings the risk that they will write that number down and keep it on their person, increasing their vulnerability for robbery. It also raises the likelihood that many may be forced to limit their purchases to the new " Tap and Go " chip on their card - which includes purchases of no more than one hundred dollars.
The relentless progress of electronics seems to forget the vast grey army who live in a twilight world. Their car is an essential method of transport, and yet advancing years are imposing more stringent restrictions on their right to hold a valid driving license. These are the people the government is desperate to keep in their own homes to avoid spiralling costs of nursing home care. They are usually the least remembered when it comes to the implementation of new methods to either cut costs or increase the speed of commerce.
It is a bewildering world for the many who have locked memories from an era just a few years past. Those were the days when the telephone was their main means of communication - and news came when the daily newspaper arrived on their doorstep. The Internet and the Smartphone were appliances they never really learned to understand - and they are totally mesmerised by the magic gismos that delivery people produce whenever a home delivery happens.
Having a Smartphone thrust into one's hand with an electronic stylus with which a signature is expected can be daunting for even a younger person, and the fact that the resulting signature would be completely unrecogniseable to their bank manager seems of little consequence. Welcome to the world of the twenty-first century !
This change to the credit card protocols will certainly cause it's share of problems, but these problems are simply a challenge that needs solution if the elderly are to maintain their way of life and not become an additional burden on the government. Much good work has already been done in organizing home help to provide basic cleaning - and now a shopping service may need to be added to that list.
Every new innovation needs a degree of modification to ensure that it can be used by the whole spectrum of humanity !
Monday, 28 July 2014
Armed force - and consequences !
Investigating the downed Malaysian Airlines jet and the recovery of passenger remains has been a long and frustrating process. The MH 17 wreck is in a war zone and access is in the hands of rebels trying to wrest that part of the country from Ukrainian control - with barely concealed assistance from the Russian military. While Russia is providing both men and materials to the struggle, it is uncertain just what degree of control Vladimir Putin has over the decisions of the local insurgents leadership.
It is now evident that there is a large amount of undiscovered human remains scattered across a huge site and this is being degraded by the peak European summer weather - and unless it is quickly recovered it will be lost for all time. This needs a large body of searchers to proceed on a grid pattern to carry out a disciplined search and it is not certain if the armed rebels on site will allow this to happen. The suggestion that a fresh investigation team be accompanied by a mix of armed police and armed military troops opens the prospect of unforeseeable consequences.
It is one of the cardinal rules of military strategy - to never task an under equipped army to engage in confrontation with a force with greater numbers and superior fire power. That outcome leads to certain defeat - and humiliation. It is a fact of life that Russia has endowed the rebels fighting in Ukraine with the sophisticated SAM missiles that destroyed MH 17 , and they have matched the Ukrainian army with tanks, artillery and other heavy weapons. A lightly armed protective force to guard investigators would be no match should a confrontation lead to an actual fire fight.
The fact that the eyes of the world are on this crash site and Vladimir Putin has suffered much of the blame has led to a degree of conciliation. Sanctions have hurt his economy - and should the rebels continue to block access as the time for the recovery of remains declines - world anger will increase and the pressure will mount for him to use his powers to reach a settlement.
Sending in an armed force could have the opposite effect. In such a situation, the possibility of misinterpretation and accidental conflict can have unintended consequences - and so often these spin so totally out of control that the end play is unimaginable.
If armed force is to be used to solve the MH 17 dilemma in Ukraine it would need to be sanctioned by the world body - and be of a proportion to counter the full forces of the opposition. That is out of the question in the present circumstances !
It is now evident that there is a large amount of undiscovered human remains scattered across a huge site and this is being degraded by the peak European summer weather - and unless it is quickly recovered it will be lost for all time. This needs a large body of searchers to proceed on a grid pattern to carry out a disciplined search and it is not certain if the armed rebels on site will allow this to happen. The suggestion that a fresh investigation team be accompanied by a mix of armed police and armed military troops opens the prospect of unforeseeable consequences.
It is one of the cardinal rules of military strategy - to never task an under equipped army to engage in confrontation with a force with greater numbers and superior fire power. That outcome leads to certain defeat - and humiliation. It is a fact of life that Russia has endowed the rebels fighting in Ukraine with the sophisticated SAM missiles that destroyed MH 17 , and they have matched the Ukrainian army with tanks, artillery and other heavy weapons. A lightly armed protective force to guard investigators would be no match should a confrontation lead to an actual fire fight.
The fact that the eyes of the world are on this crash site and Vladimir Putin has suffered much of the blame has led to a degree of conciliation. Sanctions have hurt his economy - and should the rebels continue to block access as the time for the recovery of remains declines - world anger will increase and the pressure will mount for him to use his powers to reach a settlement.
Sending in an armed force could have the opposite effect. In such a situation, the possibility of misinterpretation and accidental conflict can have unintended consequences - and so often these spin so totally out of control that the end play is unimaginable.
If armed force is to be used to solve the MH 17 dilemma in Ukraine it would need to be sanctioned by the world body - and be of a proportion to counter the full forces of the opposition. That is out of the question in the present circumstances !
Sunday, 27 July 2014
Intimidating the legal system !
Yesterday, Green activists dealt a shocking blow to our system of law and order when a young man who released a fake press release which wiped over three million dollars off the share price of a company listed on the stock exchange - walked away with just a two year good behaviour bond.
Jonathan Moylan ( 26 ) issued a press release on ANZ bank letterhead reporting that the bank had withdrawn a $ 1.2 billion loan to develop Whitehaven Coal's Maulls Creek coal mine - because of concern about the volatility of the coal industry. Immediately, the share price dropped precipitously as both institutional investors and Mum and Dad self managed retirement schemes dropped their holdings - and ran for the door. This act of industrial sabotage wiped over three hundred million dollars off the share price - and a lot of innocent people lost money.
What must be of concern to our concept of a stable legal system is the tactics used by the Green activist movement to secure the release without punishment of a fellow activist who had clearly broken the law in pursuing his objectives. The movement has conducted street rallies and public meetings - well covered by the media - and on judgement day they filled the court with supporters carrying signs demanding his release. Clearly, the objective was intimidation. The Green movement was sending a message that their opposition to the mining and use of coal would not be constrained by the need to conform with any law. They were publicly proclaiming Moylan as a hero - and demanding that his breach of an important economic law be ignored.
It is essential that the money market has confidence in the integrity of prices on the trading floor. The release of false press releases is a serious crime and when the end result is a deliberate scam to cause investors to lose money it comes under the same credentials as robbery - nomatter what excuses are offered. It seems that the intimidation of the courts now takes precedence over the actual statutes of law that apply to such cases.
Moylan has said that he is " sorry " for any loss caused, and provided he avoids any type of offence for the next two years he is home free. However, this finding opens the door for any similar young man with the ability to create a similar attack on a company in the sights of the Green movement - and a court precedent has been set in the area of punishment handed down. If that happens, the Green movement will again close ranks, take to the streets - and do their best to intimidate by using the media to enhance what the public estimate to be their numbers.
It is hard to differentiate between the tactics of the Greens - and the methods used by various terrorist organizations. It seems that both have contempt for our legal system - until it happens to suit their cause - and both consider themselves way above the law.
Jonathan Moylan ( 26 ) issued a press release on ANZ bank letterhead reporting that the bank had withdrawn a $ 1.2 billion loan to develop Whitehaven Coal's Maulls Creek coal mine - because of concern about the volatility of the coal industry. Immediately, the share price dropped precipitously as both institutional investors and Mum and Dad self managed retirement schemes dropped their holdings - and ran for the door. This act of industrial sabotage wiped over three hundred million dollars off the share price - and a lot of innocent people lost money.
What must be of concern to our concept of a stable legal system is the tactics used by the Green activist movement to secure the release without punishment of a fellow activist who had clearly broken the law in pursuing his objectives. The movement has conducted street rallies and public meetings - well covered by the media - and on judgement day they filled the court with supporters carrying signs demanding his release. Clearly, the objective was intimidation. The Green movement was sending a message that their opposition to the mining and use of coal would not be constrained by the need to conform with any law. They were publicly proclaiming Moylan as a hero - and demanding that his breach of an important economic law be ignored.
It is essential that the money market has confidence in the integrity of prices on the trading floor. The release of false press releases is a serious crime and when the end result is a deliberate scam to cause investors to lose money it comes under the same credentials as robbery - nomatter what excuses are offered. It seems that the intimidation of the courts now takes precedence over the actual statutes of law that apply to such cases.
Moylan has said that he is " sorry " for any loss caused, and provided he avoids any type of offence for the next two years he is home free. However, this finding opens the door for any similar young man with the ability to create a similar attack on a company in the sights of the Green movement - and a court precedent has been set in the area of punishment handed down. If that happens, the Green movement will again close ranks, take to the streets - and do their best to intimidate by using the media to enhance what the public estimate to be their numbers.
It is hard to differentiate between the tactics of the Greens - and the methods used by various terrorist organizations. It seems that both have contempt for our legal system - until it happens to suit their cause - and both consider themselves way above the law.
Saturday, 26 July 2014
Botched Executions !
Use of the " Death Penalty " for the most serious crimes has been replaced with " life with no possibility of parole " in many world jurisdictions. Surprisingly, the United States of America is one of the few countries that sticks with punishing murder by application of the death penalty, and over the years the form this takes has taken some strange twists and turns.
In earlier centuries, hanging and death by a firing squad were common, but the Americans were innovative and the death procedure moved on to what was called " the Electric chair " - and later to the " Gas chamber ". We were assured that all these were both quick and relatively painless, and it became the custom to demand that the ending of a felon's life be conducted in a " merciful " manner.
In recent times, this morphed into the condemned being strapped down onto a gurney and connected to a machine that dispensed drugs. On a time schedule, drugs that rendered the person unconscious flowed through needles inserted in veins and then a drug mix that stopped the heart took effect. The attending doctor then pronounced that death had occurred.
This has been the principle execution method in America for past decades, but activism amongst the manufacturers of the drugs used has resulted in supply bans stopping their availability. As a result, executions seem to be stuck in a time warp as prison authorities try various other drug combinations to overcome the ban - and in some cases this has had disastrous results.
This week in Florence, Arizona a condemned murderer took one hour and fifty-seven minutes to die when the drugs used failed to deliver a merciful death. It was obvious to those tasked with witnessing the execution that this man died a " slow and agonising death " - and yet there are no plans to revert to older methods of execution that avoid this outcome.
Similar situations have occurred in the few states that still insist on imposing the death penalty and this has breathed new life into the activists who want executions banned completely and the hardliners who fear that unless they can quickly find a reliable - and painless - method of death the matter may be decided by the US Supreme court.
To some victims of crime there may be a degree of satisfaction in knowing that executions strike terror into the hearts of the condemned. The prospect of a long and lingering death for the occupants of " death row " may possibly atone for the misery their actions caused to the families of the bereaved. Not everyone believes that execution should be a "merciful release " - and the present situation delivers a revenge factor.
It seems strange that in this wonderful age that has seen a human land on the moon and in which humans are instantly connected to one another on a world wide basis by electronic communications - we are still mixing various chemicals and wondering how to achieve a painless death for those that have crossed the threshold of " unacceptable behaviour " - and are condemned to die.
It seems that despite great leaps of progress - we still have much to learn !
In earlier centuries, hanging and death by a firing squad were common, but the Americans were innovative and the death procedure moved on to what was called " the Electric chair " - and later to the " Gas chamber ". We were assured that all these were both quick and relatively painless, and it became the custom to demand that the ending of a felon's life be conducted in a " merciful " manner.
In recent times, this morphed into the condemned being strapped down onto a gurney and connected to a machine that dispensed drugs. On a time schedule, drugs that rendered the person unconscious flowed through needles inserted in veins and then a drug mix that stopped the heart took effect. The attending doctor then pronounced that death had occurred.
This has been the principle execution method in America for past decades, but activism amongst the manufacturers of the drugs used has resulted in supply bans stopping their availability. As a result, executions seem to be stuck in a time warp as prison authorities try various other drug combinations to overcome the ban - and in some cases this has had disastrous results.
This week in Florence, Arizona a condemned murderer took one hour and fifty-seven minutes to die when the drugs used failed to deliver a merciful death. It was obvious to those tasked with witnessing the execution that this man died a " slow and agonising death " - and yet there are no plans to revert to older methods of execution that avoid this outcome.
Similar situations have occurred in the few states that still insist on imposing the death penalty and this has breathed new life into the activists who want executions banned completely and the hardliners who fear that unless they can quickly find a reliable - and painless - method of death the matter may be decided by the US Supreme court.
To some victims of crime there may be a degree of satisfaction in knowing that executions strike terror into the hearts of the condemned. The prospect of a long and lingering death for the occupants of " death row " may possibly atone for the misery their actions caused to the families of the bereaved. Not everyone believes that execution should be a "merciful release " - and the present situation delivers a revenge factor.
It seems strange that in this wonderful age that has seen a human land on the moon and in which humans are instantly connected to one another on a world wide basis by electronic communications - we are still mixing various chemicals and wondering how to achieve a painless death for those that have crossed the threshold of " unacceptable behaviour " - and are condemned to die.
It seems that despite great leaps of progress - we still have much to learn !
Friday, 25 July 2014
A clash of cultures !
A 29 year old, Sydney born Muslim woman is facing a six month prison term in Lebanon because she has come into conflict with strict Islamic laws that regulate sex. She separated from her Sydney husband and has the care of her two children, aged six and nine - and expects that in due course her separation will proceed to divorce.
She has entered into a new relationship with another Sydney Muslim man and they planned a holiday together to visit Lebanon. Apparently a relative of her husband learned of their presence in that country, tipped off the religious police and both have had their passports seized, preventing them leaving Lebanon - and they will both be required to face a court.
This carefree holiday has turned into a disaster. She suspects that involving the police was of malicious intent to stop her returning to her children in Sydney, and the publicity has caused her own family to disown her. She is appealing to the Australian Consulate for help to sort out this mess.
This should be a clear warning to those travelling overseas to carefully examine the the religious laws that apply in the countries they plan to visit. Even so, there is a risk that some Muslim countries with a burgeoning tourist trade tend to ignore them in the interests of keeping the tourists happy, but they could be used to stop departure in the event of a motor accident or other event that became controversial.
The severity of laws pertaining to sex vary widely. The penalty for adultery in some countries is stoning to death and even failing to have hair covered can lead to a public whipping in others, and there is little that the Australian Diplomatic service can do to mitigate punishments.
The danger comes from Muslims born and raised in Australia who assume that our liberal laws on relationships and sex are universal. When we enter a foreign country, we are subjected to their laws. Young people of the opposite sex having a holiday together are particularly vulnerable to falling foul of Muslim chastity laws. The fact that they are travelling together - unchaperoned - is sufficient to bring charges that they have engaged in illicit sex.
Even legitimately married couples visiting a Muslim country would be wise to include a photostat of their marriage certificate with their travel papers - to be on the safe side !
She has entered into a new relationship with another Sydney Muslim man and they planned a holiday together to visit Lebanon. Apparently a relative of her husband learned of their presence in that country, tipped off the religious police and both have had their passports seized, preventing them leaving Lebanon - and they will both be required to face a court.
This carefree holiday has turned into a disaster. She suspects that involving the police was of malicious intent to stop her returning to her children in Sydney, and the publicity has caused her own family to disown her. She is appealing to the Australian Consulate for help to sort out this mess.
This should be a clear warning to those travelling overseas to carefully examine the the religious laws that apply in the countries they plan to visit. Even so, there is a risk that some Muslim countries with a burgeoning tourist trade tend to ignore them in the interests of keeping the tourists happy, but they could be used to stop departure in the event of a motor accident or other event that became controversial.
The severity of laws pertaining to sex vary widely. The penalty for adultery in some countries is stoning to death and even failing to have hair covered can lead to a public whipping in others, and there is little that the Australian Diplomatic service can do to mitigate punishments.
The danger comes from Muslims born and raised in Australia who assume that our liberal laws on relationships and sex are universal. When we enter a foreign country, we are subjected to their laws. Young people of the opposite sex having a holiday together are particularly vulnerable to falling foul of Muslim chastity laws. The fact that they are travelling together - unchaperoned - is sufficient to bring charges that they have engaged in illicit sex.
Even legitimately married couples visiting a Muslim country would be wise to include a photostat of their marriage certificate with their travel papers - to be on the safe side !
Wednesday, 23 July 2014
A costly Convenience !
It's a time worn perennial - people griping about fees when they withdraw cash from an ATM. In the vast majority of cases, this is simply a lack of understanding of how the system works. There is no reason that people should have to pay a fee to access their own money - provided they play by the rules.
There is no charge for cash withdrawals from the ATM branded machines belonging to your bank, building society or credit union. Each one of these institutions usually has a reciprocal arrangement allowing their customers to use other nominated ATM's fee free.
Where many people seem to be confused is in their understanding of the vast array of " fee for profit " ATM's dotted about the city. Some of these do charge fairly savage fees, and even levy a charge for simply getting an account balance. They are privately owned and they provide the convenience of being in a handy place - in exchange for that fee for service. They should only be used for accessing money - as a last resort !
Many people don't seem to know that there is a vast array of merchants who will allow a cash withdrawal without the need to make a purchase at their store. Both of the main grocery chains - Coles and Woolworths - provide this service, and there must be few suburbs that do not have have their stores centrally located. Most service stations also provide " cash out " facilities, although many usually require a purchase to access the facility. Even the average corner shop has an EFTPOS connection - with a range of rules applying. Often, a ten dollar minimum purchase is required to access EFTPOS and use the cash out facility.
It is not a good idea to make numerous withdrawals of small amounts. Usually, a limited amount of withdrawals are fee free and while withdrawing from your banks ATM imposes no direct fee, you will find a charge for excess withdrawals above that limit on your bank statement. It is less costly to have sufficient cash in your wallet or purse to take care of all that days purchases - in preference to an individual transaction to pay for each item.
Avoiding ATM fees is simply a matter of organizing your daily needs and making the necessary withdrawal to cover them from either a store that allows this function, or an ATM that is directly linked to your bank - and is fee free. Fees will certainly apply for those that opt for convenience and continue to use the privately owned " for profit " ATM network to access cash !
There is no charge for cash withdrawals from the ATM branded machines belonging to your bank, building society or credit union. Each one of these institutions usually has a reciprocal arrangement allowing their customers to use other nominated ATM's fee free.
Where many people seem to be confused is in their understanding of the vast array of " fee for profit " ATM's dotted about the city. Some of these do charge fairly savage fees, and even levy a charge for simply getting an account balance. They are privately owned and they provide the convenience of being in a handy place - in exchange for that fee for service. They should only be used for accessing money - as a last resort !
Many people don't seem to know that there is a vast array of merchants who will allow a cash withdrawal without the need to make a purchase at their store. Both of the main grocery chains - Coles and Woolworths - provide this service, and there must be few suburbs that do not have have their stores centrally located. Most service stations also provide " cash out " facilities, although many usually require a purchase to access the facility. Even the average corner shop has an EFTPOS connection - with a range of rules applying. Often, a ten dollar minimum purchase is required to access EFTPOS and use the cash out facility.
It is not a good idea to make numerous withdrawals of small amounts. Usually, a limited amount of withdrawals are fee free and while withdrawing from your banks ATM imposes no direct fee, you will find a charge for excess withdrawals above that limit on your bank statement. It is less costly to have sufficient cash in your wallet or purse to take care of all that days purchases - in preference to an individual transaction to pay for each item.
Avoiding ATM fees is simply a matter of organizing your daily needs and making the necessary withdrawal to cover them from either a store that allows this function, or an ATM that is directly linked to your bank - and is fee free. Fees will certainly apply for those that opt for convenience and continue to use the privately owned " for profit " ATM network to access cash !
Tuesday, 22 July 2014
Punishing Putin !
The bodies of the two hundred and ninety eight people who fell from the sky when Malaysian Airlines flight MH 17 was destroyed by a Surface to Air missile ( SAM ) are being carted away by the very people who murdered them. International investigators are being denied access to the site and it is evident that evidence is either being destroyed or taken across the border and hidden away in Russia. The Ukrainians have recorded pictures of the weapon that destroyed MH 17 scuttling back over the border - and the man responsible for this atrocity - Vladimir Putin - is denying what is clearly evident to the world.
Putin's Russia set out to destabilize it's neighbour - Ukraine - because that country was leaning towards the west and Putin wanted to reassert the old Soviet Union realm of control. Russian speaking Ukrainian citizens were provoked to rebel against the Kiev government and Russian troops with identification patches removed were sent over the border to support the rebellion. A steady flow of arms and ammunition followed, and this included a Soviet era BUK M1 SAM launcher, mounted on a tank body. It is unclear whether this was fired by a Russian crew or rebels under Putin's command - but clearly the target was thought to be a Ukrainian transport aircraft. Both the Russians and the rebels were horrified to find that they had downed a commercial airliner - with heavy loss of life.
Putin seems determined to ride out the storm by flatly denying any form of Russian involvement. It is proposed that he be banned from the G-20 summit in November as a punishment. Under the present circumstances, he may well choose not to attend, hence denying him a visa would be a hollow form of deterrent. The world needs to close ranks and make it abundantly clear that this sort of thuggery brings consequences - and the downing of MH 17 comes with a price.
The weak chink in Putin's armour - is the Russian economy. An overwhelming portion of Russian trade revolves around the export of oil and gas - and the west foolishly allowed Russia to control the flow of gas to the countries of Europe. That seemed perfectly reasonable after the Soviet Union imploded and the Cold War ended. The new Russia seemed to be "playing nice " and seeking to join a democratic world. That dream ended when Vladimir Putin emerged from the dark recesses of the old KGB and became the new Russian leader - and the Russian ambition of expanding it's borders and controlling it's neighbours began a new life.
Half a century ago it was dogma that the world was fast running out of oil. That has dramatically changed. We are now awash with new oil and gas discoveries and even the US is now reverting to becoming an oil exporter. The writing is on the wall for the European countries when it comes to the Russian hand on the gas spigot - and the MH 17 atrocity is a very real reason for making the effort to guard Europe's gas supplies.
Russia supplies about half of Europe's gas and it would make sense to quickly install the facilities to handle bulk LPG from the rest of the world. It would be well worth the cost to lift the threat of Russian gas supply sanctions - and the threat of Europe turning off the gas spigot would completely turn the tables. The Russian economy would fall in a heap if that source of revenue ceased.
It all depends if the leaders of Europe have the courage and foresight to stand united and make Putin pay for this act of bastardry. It would be a far safer world if despots knew that making war on the world brought certain retribution !
Putin's Russia set out to destabilize it's neighbour - Ukraine - because that country was leaning towards the west and Putin wanted to reassert the old Soviet Union realm of control. Russian speaking Ukrainian citizens were provoked to rebel against the Kiev government and Russian troops with identification patches removed were sent over the border to support the rebellion. A steady flow of arms and ammunition followed, and this included a Soviet era BUK M1 SAM launcher, mounted on a tank body. It is unclear whether this was fired by a Russian crew or rebels under Putin's command - but clearly the target was thought to be a Ukrainian transport aircraft. Both the Russians and the rebels were horrified to find that they had downed a commercial airliner - with heavy loss of life.
Putin seems determined to ride out the storm by flatly denying any form of Russian involvement. It is proposed that he be banned from the G-20 summit in November as a punishment. Under the present circumstances, he may well choose not to attend, hence denying him a visa would be a hollow form of deterrent. The world needs to close ranks and make it abundantly clear that this sort of thuggery brings consequences - and the downing of MH 17 comes with a price.
The weak chink in Putin's armour - is the Russian economy. An overwhelming portion of Russian trade revolves around the export of oil and gas - and the west foolishly allowed Russia to control the flow of gas to the countries of Europe. That seemed perfectly reasonable after the Soviet Union imploded and the Cold War ended. The new Russia seemed to be "playing nice " and seeking to join a democratic world. That dream ended when Vladimir Putin emerged from the dark recesses of the old KGB and became the new Russian leader - and the Russian ambition of expanding it's borders and controlling it's neighbours began a new life.
Half a century ago it was dogma that the world was fast running out of oil. That has dramatically changed. We are now awash with new oil and gas discoveries and even the US is now reverting to becoming an oil exporter. The writing is on the wall for the European countries when it comes to the Russian hand on the gas spigot - and the MH 17 atrocity is a very real reason for making the effort to guard Europe's gas supplies.
Russia supplies about half of Europe's gas and it would make sense to quickly install the facilities to handle bulk LPG from the rest of the world. It would be well worth the cost to lift the threat of Russian gas supply sanctions - and the threat of Europe turning off the gas spigot would completely turn the tables. The Russian economy would fall in a heap if that source of revenue ceased.
It all depends if the leaders of Europe have the courage and foresight to stand united and make Putin pay for this act of bastardry. It would be a far safer world if despots knew that making war on the world brought certain retribution !
Monday, 21 July 2014
A " Safer " Option !
A century ago very few women gave birth in a hospital, and the ones that did usually lived in a major city. Rural areas had " midwives " who attended when birth was imminent, and the local doctor was used to being called out in the wee small hours to provide medical services. That had been the practice ever since we humans first evolved on this planet.
Today, the arrival into this world of a new baby has morphed into a major medical event that requires a fully equipped birthing centre with advanced equipment - including a range of specialist doctors and backing by clinical services. As a result, we have seen seventy percent of country birthing units close in the past two decades and this has vastly increased the chance that when the baby is ready to arrive, it may be another " roadside delivery " - with no one to help other than an untrained and very agitated Dad.
The birthing centre of Bourke hospital is closed and expectant mothers are faced with a 412 kilometre road journey to Dubbo, which has the nearest facilities. They are usually advised to spend the final two weeks prior to birth in Dubbo as a precaution and if they lack friends or family connections, that can impose some hefty Motel charges.
Childbirth mortality is now rare and we are able to save " preenies " that would have been impossible a few short years ago, but this concentration of facilities huge distances apart seems a departure from the practices that apply to most other medical services. We have a fine distribution of small country hospitals and when someone in a rural community has a heart attack that is where the ambulance takes them. They received first response care and - if necessary - an air ambulance transports them to a major centre where heart surgery and full services are available.
It would seem to be a safer alternative for a woman to give birth at one of these country hospitals - where at least trained medical people are available to give care - than take the risk of a last minute dash to a distant hospital. That same air ambulance is available to intercede if the country hospital believes that there are complications beyond it's range of skills and equipment.
This constant contracting of birthing services to a very small number of widely spaced base hospitals seems to be increasing rather than decreasing risk. It may not be financially possible for many women to transfer to a hospital centre pre birth and even in major cities, the number of babies delivered at the roadside by the police or complete strangers is tending to increase. Are we opting for the impractical - and treating childbirth as a major medical emergency when it is after all a very natural function that women have been performing for centuries ?
It seems to be a case of official thinking demanding an unattainable standard be applied to all births, both in the interests of care and costs - and driving those who live a distance from birthing facilities to consider the option of a " home birth " - assisted by lesser trained people.
A " re-think " of how best the existing rural hospital system may plug the gap would be a safer option !
Today, the arrival into this world of a new baby has morphed into a major medical event that requires a fully equipped birthing centre with advanced equipment - including a range of specialist doctors and backing by clinical services. As a result, we have seen seventy percent of country birthing units close in the past two decades and this has vastly increased the chance that when the baby is ready to arrive, it may be another " roadside delivery " - with no one to help other than an untrained and very agitated Dad.
The birthing centre of Bourke hospital is closed and expectant mothers are faced with a 412 kilometre road journey to Dubbo, which has the nearest facilities. They are usually advised to spend the final two weeks prior to birth in Dubbo as a precaution and if they lack friends or family connections, that can impose some hefty Motel charges.
Childbirth mortality is now rare and we are able to save " preenies " that would have been impossible a few short years ago, but this concentration of facilities huge distances apart seems a departure from the practices that apply to most other medical services. We have a fine distribution of small country hospitals and when someone in a rural community has a heart attack that is where the ambulance takes them. They received first response care and - if necessary - an air ambulance transports them to a major centre where heart surgery and full services are available.
It would seem to be a safer alternative for a woman to give birth at one of these country hospitals - where at least trained medical people are available to give care - than take the risk of a last minute dash to a distant hospital. That same air ambulance is available to intercede if the country hospital believes that there are complications beyond it's range of skills and equipment.
This constant contracting of birthing services to a very small number of widely spaced base hospitals seems to be increasing rather than decreasing risk. It may not be financially possible for many women to transfer to a hospital centre pre birth and even in major cities, the number of babies delivered at the roadside by the police or complete strangers is tending to increase. Are we opting for the impractical - and treating childbirth as a major medical emergency when it is after all a very natural function that women have been performing for centuries ?
It seems to be a case of official thinking demanding an unattainable standard be applied to all births, both in the interests of care and costs - and driving those who live a distance from birthing facilities to consider the option of a " home birth " - assisted by lesser trained people.
A " re-think " of how best the existing rural hospital system may plug the gap would be a safer option !
Sunday, 20 July 2014
Swimmers beware !
The sharks most likely to attack humans are the Great White, Tiger shark and the Bull shark, but the most lethal is the Bull shark. It has horizontally opposed teeth - much like the cutters on a chain saw - and when it bites it usually uses a vigorous shaking of it's head resulting in great chunks of flesh gouged out of the victim's body - and the severance of arteries. Most people die from blood loss.
In the ocean, the Bull shark's preferred habitat is near the entrance to the sea of rivers. It is known that these animals can tolerate brackish water that would kill most salt water fish and they have been known to foray into fresh water for limited periods of time. Scientists now believe that this is a stage of the evolutionary process and that the Bull shark is making the transition to a fresh water fish.
This has probably been helped by the popularity of " canal estates " which have been a big development on the Gold Coast. Miles of man made waterways wind around luxury housing and most of these are infested with Bull sharks, despite salinity ranging widely. This has been a factor in allowing this species to develop it ability to live in freshwater.
There have been strange happenings in Queensland's inland rivers. A horse being exercised in water was attacked by an unknown creature and had a sizeable flesh wound gouged out of it's rump. A vet examination clearly pronounced the wound a " juvenile shark bite ". This probably explains the mysterious disappearance of sheep, family dogs and native animals from properties near rivers that has otherwise defied an explanation.
It seems that the Bull shark has crossed the fresh water frontier, and this probably occurred at the time of heavy flooding in Queensland. Many inland cities and towns have damned rivers to create a recreational lake area and this dam isolates the raised water level from the rest of the river. During floods, water cascades over this barrier and Bull sharks have penetrated inland. When the flood recedes, the barrier stops their return to the lower river system - and they have adapted to a fresh water life. They are now breeding in our inland waterways.
Many scientists think that this is simply natural evolution . Most of the world's great rivers have fresh water predators that harm humans - such as the Piranha and the Snakehead of South America. Australia has been mercifully free, but this Bull Shark evolutionary phase is a world wide phenomenon - speeded up by our use of canals and the inland lake traps.
The intrusion of Bull sharks to our inland rivers is in it's infancy, but there is every prospect that our carefree days of swimming in fresh water may be over. Just as the Saltwater Crocodile is moving south from it's Northern Territory haunt, so the shark species has crossed the salt barrier to infest inland fresh water. The Bull shark grows to a length of nine feet - and it is a formidable predator.
It seems only a matter of time before headlines scream " Freshwater Shark attack " !
In the ocean, the Bull shark's preferred habitat is near the entrance to the sea of rivers. It is known that these animals can tolerate brackish water that would kill most salt water fish and they have been known to foray into fresh water for limited periods of time. Scientists now believe that this is a stage of the evolutionary process and that the Bull shark is making the transition to a fresh water fish.
This has probably been helped by the popularity of " canal estates " which have been a big development on the Gold Coast. Miles of man made waterways wind around luxury housing and most of these are infested with Bull sharks, despite salinity ranging widely. This has been a factor in allowing this species to develop it ability to live in freshwater.
There have been strange happenings in Queensland's inland rivers. A horse being exercised in water was attacked by an unknown creature and had a sizeable flesh wound gouged out of it's rump. A vet examination clearly pronounced the wound a " juvenile shark bite ". This probably explains the mysterious disappearance of sheep, family dogs and native animals from properties near rivers that has otherwise defied an explanation.
It seems that the Bull shark has crossed the fresh water frontier, and this probably occurred at the time of heavy flooding in Queensland. Many inland cities and towns have damned rivers to create a recreational lake area and this dam isolates the raised water level from the rest of the river. During floods, water cascades over this barrier and Bull sharks have penetrated inland. When the flood recedes, the barrier stops their return to the lower river system - and they have adapted to a fresh water life. They are now breeding in our inland waterways.
Many scientists think that this is simply natural evolution . Most of the world's great rivers have fresh water predators that harm humans - such as the Piranha and the Snakehead of South America. Australia has been mercifully free, but this Bull Shark evolutionary phase is a world wide phenomenon - speeded up by our use of canals and the inland lake traps.
The intrusion of Bull sharks to our inland rivers is in it's infancy, but there is every prospect that our carefree days of swimming in fresh water may be over. Just as the Saltwater Crocodile is moving south from it's Northern Territory haunt, so the shark species has crossed the salt barrier to infest inland fresh water. The Bull shark grows to a length of nine feet - and it is a formidable predator.
It seems only a matter of time before headlines scream " Freshwater Shark attack " !
Saturday, 19 July 2014
The " Bunfight " begins !
The Carbon Tax is no more ! Now the public eagerly await the dividend it's passing will deliver and some price reductions are inevitable. Heading the list will be electricity and gas, and already suppliers are falling over themselves to go to press with price reductions. The average household can expect electricity prices to drop by at least $ 171 a year and gas by $ 78.
There are obvious targets for many price decreases. The airline industry has openly applied a surcharge to it's ticket prices for the effect of the Carbon Tax and travellers will expect that to be lifted immediately. Australia's 560 councils were slugged a $ 270 million impost on their landfills and consequently tip fees rose accordingly. The removal of this tax should see tip charges return to a lower level - and that change should be immediate.
The big question is what will happen to grocery prices. The duopoly that has nearly eighty percent of the market claims that they " absorbed " the impact of the Carbon Tax. In reality, it seems that they leaned heavily on their suppliers for better price deals and trimmed operating costs by making economies that still made them very profitable companies for their shareholders. The dividends they pay support a Woolworths share price of $ 35.84 and Wesfarmers $ 43.29.
When the average customer walks into one of their stores and counts the size of the lighting, the huge array of refrigerated produce and the general power use to serve the electronics that run everything from the scanners, cash registers and computer systems - it becomes immediately apparent how big the electricity saving will be compared to the $ 171 that will be carved off their home power bill. It will be near impossible for the big end of town to ignore passing on a saving to the public under those circumstances.
There will be a public expectation that Carbon Tax savings will trickle down across the entire trading spectrum. It is more realistic to expect that some savings will forestall price increases and stabilize price structures for the immediate future. Mundane items - such as paying for a haircut - are unlikely to bring a price drop, but it would also be reasonable to expect no price rises to allow for a Carbon Tax dividend.
The media will be vigilant in looking for those evading passing on savings to the public. We can expect shirkers to be named and shamed and in today's competitive world public image is important.
There are obvious targets for many price decreases. The airline industry has openly applied a surcharge to it's ticket prices for the effect of the Carbon Tax and travellers will expect that to be lifted immediately. Australia's 560 councils were slugged a $ 270 million impost on their landfills and consequently tip fees rose accordingly. The removal of this tax should see tip charges return to a lower level - and that change should be immediate.
The big question is what will happen to grocery prices. The duopoly that has nearly eighty percent of the market claims that they " absorbed " the impact of the Carbon Tax. In reality, it seems that they leaned heavily on their suppliers for better price deals and trimmed operating costs by making economies that still made them very profitable companies for their shareholders. The dividends they pay support a Woolworths share price of $ 35.84 and Wesfarmers $ 43.29.
When the average customer walks into one of their stores and counts the size of the lighting, the huge array of refrigerated produce and the general power use to serve the electronics that run everything from the scanners, cash registers and computer systems - it becomes immediately apparent how big the electricity saving will be compared to the $ 171 that will be carved off their home power bill. It will be near impossible for the big end of town to ignore passing on a saving to the public under those circumstances.
There will be a public expectation that Carbon Tax savings will trickle down across the entire trading spectrum. It is more realistic to expect that some savings will forestall price increases and stabilize price structures for the immediate future. Mundane items - such as paying for a haircut - are unlikely to bring a price drop, but it would also be reasonable to expect no price rises to allow for a Carbon Tax dividend.
The media will be vigilant in looking for those evading passing on savings to the public. We can expect shirkers to be named and shamed and in today's competitive world public image is important.
Friday, 18 July 2014
The Price of Fame !
For weeks, Australia has been fascinated by a Queensland murder trial which culminated when Gerard Baden-Clay was convicted of murdering his wife. He was sentenced to life imprisonment, which in this day and age means a fifteen year stint in prison before becoming eligible for parole.
Sensational court cases have a nasty habit of roping in minor players and subjecting them to public scrutiny that can be unflattering - to the point of infamy. In particular, when it involves a " love triangle " there is a tendency to point the finger at the " other woman " and apply that demeaning word - " Mistress ".
It seems that Baden-Clay was a serial womanizer and during the trial a woman employee who worked in his Real Estate company was romantically linked to him. Toni McHugh was splashed across newspaper pages as the trial proceeded and all hope of any sort of privacy flew out the window. Her private life became the subject of public conjecture and this will remain long after the trial fades from public interest.
It is said that everyone on this planet is entitled to their " five minutes of fame " - and in today's world that can deliver a bonanza. It seems that the television channels are locked in combat to secure the exclusive rights to the " Toni McHugh story " and it looks like Sixty Minutes is the winner. It is rumoured that the Nine Network beat out the Seven Network and secured this plum for $ 250,000.
Not to be outdone, it is rumoured that the Seven Network is compiling a story with a different approach, based on the life of the victim, Allison Baden-Clay. There is no doubt that both will receive massive pre-launch publicity and will feature highly in the ratings they attract.
In a by-gone age people shunned publicity and tried to keep out of the media spotlight. Fame was desireable on the sporting field but there was a fine line between fame and infamy - and the latter immediately reduced the prospects of a successful marriage, business career - or upstanding role in the lifestyle of that period.
Today - it is a very different story. The moral tone has changed and the media quest for sensationalism will seize on any opportunity offering to gain an advance in the ratings war. Anyone thrust into the glare of the media spotlight is likely to be bombarded with competing offers from rival television channels - and seizing that " five minutes of fame " with gusto can deliver an unexpected fortune.
It is simply a matter of luck- where the spotlight falls !
Sensational court cases have a nasty habit of roping in minor players and subjecting them to public scrutiny that can be unflattering - to the point of infamy. In particular, when it involves a " love triangle " there is a tendency to point the finger at the " other woman " and apply that demeaning word - " Mistress ".
It seems that Baden-Clay was a serial womanizer and during the trial a woman employee who worked in his Real Estate company was romantically linked to him. Toni McHugh was splashed across newspaper pages as the trial proceeded and all hope of any sort of privacy flew out the window. Her private life became the subject of public conjecture and this will remain long after the trial fades from public interest.
It is said that everyone on this planet is entitled to their " five minutes of fame " - and in today's world that can deliver a bonanza. It seems that the television channels are locked in combat to secure the exclusive rights to the " Toni McHugh story " and it looks like Sixty Minutes is the winner. It is rumoured that the Nine Network beat out the Seven Network and secured this plum for $ 250,000.
Not to be outdone, it is rumoured that the Seven Network is compiling a story with a different approach, based on the life of the victim, Allison Baden-Clay. There is no doubt that both will receive massive pre-launch publicity and will feature highly in the ratings they attract.
In a by-gone age people shunned publicity and tried to keep out of the media spotlight. Fame was desireable on the sporting field but there was a fine line between fame and infamy - and the latter immediately reduced the prospects of a successful marriage, business career - or upstanding role in the lifestyle of that period.
Today - it is a very different story. The moral tone has changed and the media quest for sensationalism will seize on any opportunity offering to gain an advance in the ratings war. Anyone thrust into the glare of the media spotlight is likely to be bombarded with competing offers from rival television channels - and seizing that " five minutes of fame " with gusto can deliver an unexpected fortune.
It is simply a matter of luck- where the spotlight falls !
Thursday, 17 July 2014
Not the time to play Politics !
Australia is facing it's biggest threat to domestic security - ever ! The forces of Jihad have made it quite plain that it is their plan to return radicalized young men to their home countries with the training to spread terror. We know that there are at least sixty Australians fighting on the front line of the war in Syria and the methods used in captured territory show no restraint. Those that surrender are promptly executed.
The members of the Joint Parliamentary Committee on Intelligence and Security ( JPCIS ) have shown bipartisan support in assessing the risk and recommend increasing ASIO powers to meet this coming challenge. Hopefully, the needed legislation will not get bogged down in political point scoring and the important measures defanged because they do not meet social objectives held by individual politicians.
The sticking point is likely to be the need for mandatory data retention required of Telecommunication companies and Internet services providers. ASIO would like to see this being available so that when they get a lead they can check back and discover who the terrorist has been in contact with and unscramble the command structure to foil terror plots.
If that becomes law it will require the Telecommunications providers to establish expensive data bases and obviously those sort of costs end up being passed on to users - and the public. The controversy that has been roiling relations between countries over " information gathering " - which is the polite definition of " spying " - has the public jittery about " big brother " reading their emails and tapping their mobile phones.
The new powers needed have nothing to do with listening to phone conversations or reading emails. It simply records the number called on the phone circuits and the email addresses involved in each way traffic. That can be extremely valuable when a terrorist's cover is blown. Looking back along the communications trail can uncover network details that are impossible to hide. Without retention - that data base is lost.
What is so secret about the average persons use of telephones or emails ? Perhaps someone having an affair might be sensitive about that traffic and the criminal fraternity would certainly dislike the police knowing who they were calling, but the threat to life and limb from terrorists elevates the need for people like ASIO to have the tools to do their job. With adequate safety provisions, this information is safe from prying eyes.
Hopefully, the recommendations put forward by JPCIS will still get bipartisan support from the various political persuasions when it comes to a vote in the parliament. The peaceful lifestyle we value so dearly is at threat and if we do not take this threat seriously the oasis of calm in which we live will certainly be shattered by fanatics who wish to do us harm for religious purposes.
Political obstructurism would be a ghost that returns to haunt those politicians which put political gain ahead of keeping Australia safe !
The members of the Joint Parliamentary Committee on Intelligence and Security ( JPCIS ) have shown bipartisan support in assessing the risk and recommend increasing ASIO powers to meet this coming challenge. Hopefully, the needed legislation will not get bogged down in political point scoring and the important measures defanged because they do not meet social objectives held by individual politicians.
The sticking point is likely to be the need for mandatory data retention required of Telecommunication companies and Internet services providers. ASIO would like to see this being available so that when they get a lead they can check back and discover who the terrorist has been in contact with and unscramble the command structure to foil terror plots.
If that becomes law it will require the Telecommunications providers to establish expensive data bases and obviously those sort of costs end up being passed on to users - and the public. The controversy that has been roiling relations between countries over " information gathering " - which is the polite definition of " spying " - has the public jittery about " big brother " reading their emails and tapping their mobile phones.
The new powers needed have nothing to do with listening to phone conversations or reading emails. It simply records the number called on the phone circuits and the email addresses involved in each way traffic. That can be extremely valuable when a terrorist's cover is blown. Looking back along the communications trail can uncover network details that are impossible to hide. Without retention - that data base is lost.
What is so secret about the average persons use of telephones or emails ? Perhaps someone having an affair might be sensitive about that traffic and the criminal fraternity would certainly dislike the police knowing who they were calling, but the threat to life and limb from terrorists elevates the need for people like ASIO to have the tools to do their job. With adequate safety provisions, this information is safe from prying eyes.
Hopefully, the recommendations put forward by JPCIS will still get bipartisan support from the various political persuasions when it comes to a vote in the parliament. The peaceful lifestyle we value so dearly is at threat and if we do not take this threat seriously the oasis of calm in which we live will certainly be shattered by fanatics who wish to do us harm for religious purposes.
Political obstructurism would be a ghost that returns to haunt those politicians which put political gain ahead of keeping Australia safe !
Wednesday, 16 July 2014
Ranger Danger !
Mosman Council in Sydney will take a controversial idea to the forthcoming Local Government Conference. It wants to increase the powers of it's Rangers to book motorists for driving offences such as speeding and running red lights. The idea has received majority approval from Mosman councillors but opponents claim that Rangers doing police work would need to be armed - and have access to pursuit style vehicles with lights and sirens.
At present, council Rangers have the power to book motorists for parking offences and this has morphed into what many think are " driving offences. " In recent years the plethora of " No Standing " signs in the city have been changed to " No Stopping " - and that completely changed the legality of " picking up or setting down " a passenger. Under the former, it was permissible to stop briefly for that purpose. Now that is totally illegal -as is doing the same on a vacant bus stop. At a time when car pooling is being urged, great stretches of the city make it legally impossible to disburse the passenger load without incurring fines from Rangers who dwell on the practice.
Council Rangers are quick to record this illegality with a camera and the offender gets a fine in the post. The Mosman proposal is that Rangers use their cameras to catch people exceeding the speed limit and record red light runners. That opens the question of how speed will be estimated. The police use highly sophisticated radar guns - and are trained at the Police Academy to legal status. They also hold a police warrant and will probably resist that power being devolved to a lesser trained civilian form of constabulary.
Why this sudden interest in extending Ranger's powers ? Obviously councils are eyeing off the prize of a share of the fine money. Parking management used to be the responsibility of the police force, but when it passed to council Rangers the pool was split several ways - and councils gained a bonanza. Now they are after a slice of the speeding and red light pool, and to get that needs a law change.
Many shopping precincts are avoided by shoppers because of predatory Rangers over policing parking laws. The Ranger's employers demand they concentrate on issuing parking fines because this is more lucrative to council coffers than fining people for not picking up after their dog - or for issuing jaywalking fines. If speeding fines are granted to Rangers, there is every prospect that this will morph into the first priority of their duties.
Drivers are under stress from RBT, Highway Patrol speed traps, fixed speed cameras and now the advent of camera cars in random daily rotation. Speeding and red light running both impose hefty monetary penalties, but they also attract demerit points - and these often result in the loss of a driving license - resulting in loss of employment or serious dislocation of living standards. It is essential that they are not imposed lightly - and that the person making the decision to impose a penalty is both impartial and trained to a high standard. Most agree that the police meet that criteria.
Many will have reservations about increasing the power of Rangers. It seems that it is inevitable if that happens policing will devolve into the hands of a lesser trained bunch of individuals who will be under increasing pressure from their cash strapped employers to increase the cash flow. It will have little to do with road safety - and everything to do with issuing the maximum number of fines to meet quotas !
At present, council Rangers have the power to book motorists for parking offences and this has morphed into what many think are " driving offences. " In recent years the plethora of " No Standing " signs in the city have been changed to " No Stopping " - and that completely changed the legality of " picking up or setting down " a passenger. Under the former, it was permissible to stop briefly for that purpose. Now that is totally illegal -as is doing the same on a vacant bus stop. At a time when car pooling is being urged, great stretches of the city make it legally impossible to disburse the passenger load without incurring fines from Rangers who dwell on the practice.
Council Rangers are quick to record this illegality with a camera and the offender gets a fine in the post. The Mosman proposal is that Rangers use their cameras to catch people exceeding the speed limit and record red light runners. That opens the question of how speed will be estimated. The police use highly sophisticated radar guns - and are trained at the Police Academy to legal status. They also hold a police warrant and will probably resist that power being devolved to a lesser trained civilian form of constabulary.
Why this sudden interest in extending Ranger's powers ? Obviously councils are eyeing off the prize of a share of the fine money. Parking management used to be the responsibility of the police force, but when it passed to council Rangers the pool was split several ways - and councils gained a bonanza. Now they are after a slice of the speeding and red light pool, and to get that needs a law change.
Many shopping precincts are avoided by shoppers because of predatory Rangers over policing parking laws. The Ranger's employers demand they concentrate on issuing parking fines because this is more lucrative to council coffers than fining people for not picking up after their dog - or for issuing jaywalking fines. If speeding fines are granted to Rangers, there is every prospect that this will morph into the first priority of their duties.
Drivers are under stress from RBT, Highway Patrol speed traps, fixed speed cameras and now the advent of camera cars in random daily rotation. Speeding and red light running both impose hefty monetary penalties, but they also attract demerit points - and these often result in the loss of a driving license - resulting in loss of employment or serious dislocation of living standards. It is essential that they are not imposed lightly - and that the person making the decision to impose a penalty is both impartial and trained to a high standard. Most agree that the police meet that criteria.
Many will have reservations about increasing the power of Rangers. It seems that it is inevitable if that happens policing will devolve into the hands of a lesser trained bunch of individuals who will be under increasing pressure from their cash strapped employers to increase the cash flow. It will have little to do with road safety - and everything to do with issuing the maximum number of fines to meet quotas !
Tuesday, 15 July 2014
Beauty ? Or Practicability ?
The McKell institute is calling for a world wide competition to design Sydney's new airport at Badgery's Creek. It hopes that such an event may produce another Jorn Utzon and lead to another iconic structure that will attract world attention - like the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour bridge.
It certainly is a costly project. The actual airport will probably cost more than $ 2.5 billion and the roads, rail and surrounding infrastructure another $ 3.5 billion. The problem with opening it to a design competition is that this would surely lead to a clash between beauty - and practicability !
The Opera House is certainly an eye catching structure that must be one of the most photographed buildings in the world, but the very nature of the soaring sails imposes limitations on the purpose for which it was intended. Much of the stage area and orchestra space was a compromise - and this was acceptable because the building was located on a spit of land at the very apex of what the world remembers as Sydney - Circular Quay, the city backdrop - and the Harbour bridge.
This new airport will eventually supplant Kingsford Smith at Botany. Air traffic and the ever expanding world population will see plane travel double and triple as the decades roll by - and we will need amazing vision to create a complex that is sufficiently elastic to meet those needs. It would be a shame if the quest for beauty stifled practicability - and that is exactly what might happen unless the practical side of what is needed becomes the prime objective.
Creating an iconic building usually involves huge expanses of steel and concrete, and yet this new airport will need to constantly change to meet whatever emerges as our way of future travel. Airplanes are getting bigger. Will we see a return to the supersonic age which ended with Concorde ? Will the future see giant hovercraft that can carry thousands ? How far will the helicopter concept be adapted to bridge short flight travel ? This new airport will need to meet every eventuality that the far sighted can see in their crystal ball.
That requires flexibility - the exact opposite of landmark iconic structures.
We will only get one shot at solving Sydney's future air travel needs. There is no suitable land available for a third attempt and the outlay needed to develop Badgery's Creek will strain Federal and state coffers. We need to get it right - on the first attempt !
For that reason, the specification on which design will be based needs to be the product of the best brains we can muster - and they need to look far into the future. That is probably the most immediate challenge of this twenty-first century !
It certainly is a costly project. The actual airport will probably cost more than $ 2.5 billion and the roads, rail and surrounding infrastructure another $ 3.5 billion. The problem with opening it to a design competition is that this would surely lead to a clash between beauty - and practicability !
The Opera House is certainly an eye catching structure that must be one of the most photographed buildings in the world, but the very nature of the soaring sails imposes limitations on the purpose for which it was intended. Much of the stage area and orchestra space was a compromise - and this was acceptable because the building was located on a spit of land at the very apex of what the world remembers as Sydney - Circular Quay, the city backdrop - and the Harbour bridge.
This new airport will eventually supplant Kingsford Smith at Botany. Air traffic and the ever expanding world population will see plane travel double and triple as the decades roll by - and we will need amazing vision to create a complex that is sufficiently elastic to meet those needs. It would be a shame if the quest for beauty stifled practicability - and that is exactly what might happen unless the practical side of what is needed becomes the prime objective.
Creating an iconic building usually involves huge expanses of steel and concrete, and yet this new airport will need to constantly change to meet whatever emerges as our way of future travel. Airplanes are getting bigger. Will we see a return to the supersonic age which ended with Concorde ? Will the future see giant hovercraft that can carry thousands ? How far will the helicopter concept be adapted to bridge short flight travel ? This new airport will need to meet every eventuality that the far sighted can see in their crystal ball.
That requires flexibility - the exact opposite of landmark iconic structures.
We will only get one shot at solving Sydney's future air travel needs. There is no suitable land available for a third attempt and the outlay needed to develop Badgery's Creek will strain Federal and state coffers. We need to get it right - on the first attempt !
For that reason, the specification on which design will be based needs to be the product of the best brains we can muster - and they need to look far into the future. That is probably the most immediate challenge of this twenty-first century !
Monday, 14 July 2014
" Fonzi " Flats !
A lot of people have fond memories of the sitcom " Happy Days " which was a staple of our television viewing from 1974 to 1984. It detailed the life of the Cunningham family - and Arthur " The Fonz " Fonzarelli who lived in a flat above the Cunningham's garage. Now the New South Wales government is considering legalizing such flats above the garages of new housing to alleviate the desperate shortage of affordable housing for singles in Sydney.
" Granny Flats " have been with us for years and in most cases they consist of a house extension that has been added to provide accommodation for an elderly relative. When no longer needed for that purpose, it is common for them to be let to a stranger, but they remain a part of the owners land title and consequently the home owner has complete control over the terms of the lease. The concept proposed for " Fonzi " flats is very different. The government is thinking of subjecting them to " strata subdivision ", meaning a totally different person to the person owning the house and land on which they are based has full legal title to the dwelling.
The planners would do well to think long and hard before they draft the law that will be necessary to implement this plan. It is certain to face strong opposition from some councils and the residents of what are termed " elite " suburbs. Many may not totally oppose the concept, just so long as strata title is not permitted to maintain control in the hands of the resident owner. Another bogey will be how the number of residents will be controlled. The aim is to provide affordable accommodation for the vast number of singles but surely it is inevitable that in many cases single will morph into double as the single finds a partner, and that raises the question of car parking. There is no prospect of on site car parking, hence street parking will raise the ire of many.
The present thinking behind this concept seems to be to limit " Fonzi " flats to inclusion solely in new dwellings, which probably means the bulk of them will be concentrated in the outer areas where new land is becoming available. They would be more valuable in countering the housing shortage in inner areas close to the city centre, but that would result in a mad scramble to increase earnings from existing sites - and probably result in unsuitable design being shoe horned ad hoc with little regard to the aesthetics of such inclusions.
The government would probably be wise to strictly limit this concept to " Greenfield " building or where demolition leads to an entirely new structure on an existing block. Adding to existing housing opens the door to malpractice - and the creation of new slums that bring the thought of creating " favellas ".
The other bogey is to tailor the rules and regulations that apply to the likely outcome of a court challenge. Many a statute that has been developed in good faith has not survived the capricious decisions of those that sit in judgement in the higher courts. We open a Pandora's box when we tinker with the law to usher in new definitions of title.
We certainly do need change to accommodate the needs of the hugely expanded numbers that will live in the city of Sydney in the near future - just so long as we do not create an out of control monster that later generations live to regret !
" Granny Flats " have been with us for years and in most cases they consist of a house extension that has been added to provide accommodation for an elderly relative. When no longer needed for that purpose, it is common for them to be let to a stranger, but they remain a part of the owners land title and consequently the home owner has complete control over the terms of the lease. The concept proposed for " Fonzi " flats is very different. The government is thinking of subjecting them to " strata subdivision ", meaning a totally different person to the person owning the house and land on which they are based has full legal title to the dwelling.
The planners would do well to think long and hard before they draft the law that will be necessary to implement this plan. It is certain to face strong opposition from some councils and the residents of what are termed " elite " suburbs. Many may not totally oppose the concept, just so long as strata title is not permitted to maintain control in the hands of the resident owner. Another bogey will be how the number of residents will be controlled. The aim is to provide affordable accommodation for the vast number of singles but surely it is inevitable that in many cases single will morph into double as the single finds a partner, and that raises the question of car parking. There is no prospect of on site car parking, hence street parking will raise the ire of many.
The present thinking behind this concept seems to be to limit " Fonzi " flats to inclusion solely in new dwellings, which probably means the bulk of them will be concentrated in the outer areas where new land is becoming available. They would be more valuable in countering the housing shortage in inner areas close to the city centre, but that would result in a mad scramble to increase earnings from existing sites - and probably result in unsuitable design being shoe horned ad hoc with little regard to the aesthetics of such inclusions.
The government would probably be wise to strictly limit this concept to " Greenfield " building or where demolition leads to an entirely new structure on an existing block. Adding to existing housing opens the door to malpractice - and the creation of new slums that bring the thought of creating " favellas ".
The other bogey is to tailor the rules and regulations that apply to the likely outcome of a court challenge. Many a statute that has been developed in good faith has not survived the capricious decisions of those that sit in judgement in the higher courts. We open a Pandora's box when we tinker with the law to usher in new definitions of title.
We certainly do need change to accommodate the needs of the hugely expanded numbers that will live in the city of Sydney in the near future - just so long as we do not create an out of control monster that later generations live to regret !
Sunday, 13 July 2014
Once upon a time in Punchbowl !
SBS has just concluded a three part series which purported to show the steady buildup of tensions between the Lebanese/Australian citizens of western Sydney and Anglo/Australians that led to what was described as the " Cronulla Race Riot " of December 4, 2005. Unfortunately, it trivialised the very event that sparked this clash that broke news headlines around the world.
Lebanon had a long and vicious civil war that saw many of it's citizens migrate to Australia. Like most migrant waves to our shores the Lebanese tended to form a ghetto in western Sydney and colonised the suburbs of Punchbowl, Greenacre and Bankstown. They were a mixture of Muslims and Christians and they adhered to the homeland custom of giving freedom to boys that was strenuously denied to girls. Daughters were subjected to strict regimes of modest dress, selective association with friends - and virginity was sacrosanct. Few such restrictions were placed on sons.
As with all national groups, these Lebanese/Australian suburbs had criminal elements. In particular, Talopea street in Punchbowl became the centre of Lebanese gangs that were heavily involved in the drug trade and who specialized in the theft and rebirthing of expensive cars. They were ostentatious and swaggering - and quickly developed a taste for firearms.
It was not long before there was open tension between these Lebanese gangs and the police. Talopea street became an almost " no go " area and Australia was shocked by the brutal murder of schoolboy Edward Lee in October 1998. He was attending a birthday party in Talopea street and accidentally entered the wrong address - with fatal consequences.
The police investigation angered the gangs and this led to the Bankstown police station being riddled with bullets on November 1, 1998. It was an open challenge and a massive police response cracked down on the gangs. Public sentiment hardened in 2000 when it was learned that a gang of fourteen Lebanese youths - led by Bilal Skaf - was enticing Australian girls to secluded parks and engaging in gang rapes. The news that these rapists taunted their victims with racial slurs brought tempers to boiling point - and the rapists were convicted and given long gaol sentences.
At this time the ingredients of the Cronulla race riot were quietly brewing in this peaceful beachside suburb.
Cronulla is the only suburb where the railway station is just across the road from the beach and it was highly favoured by visitors from the western suburbs. On weekends, big groups of Lebanese Muslim boys started to call it " our beach " and use tactics that annoyed other beach users. In particular, they tended to kick soccer balls amongst sun bathers. This was a banned activity, but because of the numbers involved it was unwise for individuals to protest.
These activities resulted in complaints to the local police, but they went unanswered. The attitude of the state government was to preserve peace at all cost - and the police were under instructions not to provoke dissent by charging Muslim youths. The police simply refused to investigate and fobbed off complaints with claims that " identification would be impossible ".
The harassment escalated. The presence of Australian girls wearing bikinis drew a new tactic. A group of Lebanese youths would surround a girl they managed to isolate and with the girl hidden from view the inner members would grope for sexual satisfaction. If the girl was accompanied by her boyfriend and he tried to protect her, he would be beaten up by the gang.
One day in December this led to the flash point that would result in world headlines. A girl broke free from a groping incident and ran to the beach lifesavers for protection. Enraged, the youth gang used it's overwhelming numbers to viciously beat the lifesavers, requiring the presence of an ambulance and the need for medical attention. A line had been crossed - and it brought consequences.
Someone grabbed a phone and described this incident in angry terms to a radio " shock jock " - and from there the story took on a life of it's own. Angry people began a call to " take our beach back " and quickly this drew a response. On Sunday, December 4, 2005 a huge crowd assembled in response to this provocation - and at first they were good natured and convivial.
That quickly changed - under the urgings of the " Shock Jocks " who were covering the event on radio and a few agitators who were urging action. Like most Australian crowds, many attended with an esky and beer to while away the day - and the mood quickly turned ugly. Anyone who looked or dressed as what could be termed " Lebanese " was accosted and insulted. The mood quickened and an incoming train load of passengers was purged in the hunt for what were termed " Wogs " ! Heavy police reinforcements eventually arrived - and the riot subsided.
There was an aftermath. The " Cronulla riot " was live on radio and television, and that night masses of Lebanese gathered at the Lakemba Mosque, formed car convoys and launched a revenge attack on Sydney's beach suburbs. Parked cars had their windows smashed, citizens were assaulted and there was a lot of suburban damage before the police regained control. In the hours that followed, tensions ran high.
The SBS show - " Once upon a time in Punchbowl " - certainly got one thing right. The shock of the so called " " Cronulla Race Riot " brought with it change. The state government learned that refusing to allow the police to control minor incidents simply guarantees escalation. Many Australians who took part in that riot were ashamed of their over reactions - and the Lebanese elders saw their place in Australia with new eyes.
There is a new mood of conciliation. Many Muslim youths - including girls - are now participating members of Surf Lifesaving clubs. No groups of predators roam Sydney beaches and there is more respect for the customs and mores that go with the Australian way of life. A lot of things were learned because of the threat of the anarchy that prevailed in war torn Lebanon being reimposed here in Australia unless a middle ground could be found.
Peace has been restored between the Lebanese and Australian community that didn't exist before 2005. We still have Lebanese gangsters, but there is now clear separation between the misfits that are generated within all race groups - and the " ordinary people " who simply want to live a peaceful life.
Perhaps the " Cronullla Race Riot " was a right of passage that was needed to clear the air. In it's wake - many people now see things differently !
Lebanon had a long and vicious civil war that saw many of it's citizens migrate to Australia. Like most migrant waves to our shores the Lebanese tended to form a ghetto in western Sydney and colonised the suburbs of Punchbowl, Greenacre and Bankstown. They were a mixture of Muslims and Christians and they adhered to the homeland custom of giving freedom to boys that was strenuously denied to girls. Daughters were subjected to strict regimes of modest dress, selective association with friends - and virginity was sacrosanct. Few such restrictions were placed on sons.
As with all national groups, these Lebanese/Australian suburbs had criminal elements. In particular, Talopea street in Punchbowl became the centre of Lebanese gangs that were heavily involved in the drug trade and who specialized in the theft and rebirthing of expensive cars. They were ostentatious and swaggering - and quickly developed a taste for firearms.
It was not long before there was open tension between these Lebanese gangs and the police. Talopea street became an almost " no go " area and Australia was shocked by the brutal murder of schoolboy Edward Lee in October 1998. He was attending a birthday party in Talopea street and accidentally entered the wrong address - with fatal consequences.
The police investigation angered the gangs and this led to the Bankstown police station being riddled with bullets on November 1, 1998. It was an open challenge and a massive police response cracked down on the gangs. Public sentiment hardened in 2000 when it was learned that a gang of fourteen Lebanese youths - led by Bilal Skaf - was enticing Australian girls to secluded parks and engaging in gang rapes. The news that these rapists taunted their victims with racial slurs brought tempers to boiling point - and the rapists were convicted and given long gaol sentences.
At this time the ingredients of the Cronulla race riot were quietly brewing in this peaceful beachside suburb.
Cronulla is the only suburb where the railway station is just across the road from the beach and it was highly favoured by visitors from the western suburbs. On weekends, big groups of Lebanese Muslim boys started to call it " our beach " and use tactics that annoyed other beach users. In particular, they tended to kick soccer balls amongst sun bathers. This was a banned activity, but because of the numbers involved it was unwise for individuals to protest.
These activities resulted in complaints to the local police, but they went unanswered. The attitude of the state government was to preserve peace at all cost - and the police were under instructions not to provoke dissent by charging Muslim youths. The police simply refused to investigate and fobbed off complaints with claims that " identification would be impossible ".
The harassment escalated. The presence of Australian girls wearing bikinis drew a new tactic. A group of Lebanese youths would surround a girl they managed to isolate and with the girl hidden from view the inner members would grope for sexual satisfaction. If the girl was accompanied by her boyfriend and he tried to protect her, he would be beaten up by the gang.
One day in December this led to the flash point that would result in world headlines. A girl broke free from a groping incident and ran to the beach lifesavers for protection. Enraged, the youth gang used it's overwhelming numbers to viciously beat the lifesavers, requiring the presence of an ambulance and the need for medical attention. A line had been crossed - and it brought consequences.
Someone grabbed a phone and described this incident in angry terms to a radio " shock jock " - and from there the story took on a life of it's own. Angry people began a call to " take our beach back " and quickly this drew a response. On Sunday, December 4, 2005 a huge crowd assembled in response to this provocation - and at first they were good natured and convivial.
That quickly changed - under the urgings of the " Shock Jocks " who were covering the event on radio and a few agitators who were urging action. Like most Australian crowds, many attended with an esky and beer to while away the day - and the mood quickly turned ugly. Anyone who looked or dressed as what could be termed " Lebanese " was accosted and insulted. The mood quickened and an incoming train load of passengers was purged in the hunt for what were termed " Wogs " ! Heavy police reinforcements eventually arrived - and the riot subsided.
There was an aftermath. The " Cronulla riot " was live on radio and television, and that night masses of Lebanese gathered at the Lakemba Mosque, formed car convoys and launched a revenge attack on Sydney's beach suburbs. Parked cars had their windows smashed, citizens were assaulted and there was a lot of suburban damage before the police regained control. In the hours that followed, tensions ran high.
The SBS show - " Once upon a time in Punchbowl " - certainly got one thing right. The shock of the so called " " Cronulla Race Riot " brought with it change. The state government learned that refusing to allow the police to control minor incidents simply guarantees escalation. Many Australians who took part in that riot were ashamed of their over reactions - and the Lebanese elders saw their place in Australia with new eyes.
There is a new mood of conciliation. Many Muslim youths - including girls - are now participating members of Surf Lifesaving clubs. No groups of predators roam Sydney beaches and there is more respect for the customs and mores that go with the Australian way of life. A lot of things were learned because of the threat of the anarchy that prevailed in war torn Lebanon being reimposed here in Australia unless a middle ground could be found.
Peace has been restored between the Lebanese and Australian community that didn't exist before 2005. We still have Lebanese gangsters, but there is now clear separation between the misfits that are generated within all race groups - and the " ordinary people " who simply want to live a peaceful life.
Perhaps the " Cronullla Race Riot " was a right of passage that was needed to clear the air. In it's wake - many people now see things differently !
Saturday, 12 July 2014
Crossroads !
On July 9 the 240 million citizens of Indonesia went to the polls to elect a new president. The choice was between two very different candidates and which one gets elected to office for the next five years will have a profound effect on Indonesia's relationship with Australia.
When Indonesia emerged from Dutch rule it's first leader- President Sukarno - was hostile and actually claimed that Australia was Indonesian territory. There was open talk of eventual invasion and Sukarno lost office when his country had a brief civil war. This was a Communist insurgency, and it was quickly crushed by General Suharto, who went on to be the next president. Under his regime relations with Australia flourished, but he was a benign dictator and the Indonesian economy was beset by corruption and mismanagement, and an Islamist movement gained strength and militancy.
The fall of Suharto led to weak presidents until the present holder took office. " SBY" as President Yudhoyono is known - was seen as an indecisive leader, but he was a good friend to Australia until a spying incident briefly cooled relations. Happily, his presidency in this huge democratic nation is about to change hands peacefully - and by way of a plebiscite that seems fair and free from ballot stuffing.
There is a wide gulf between the two men contesting office - and there are indications that the result will be close. Counting the votes is a huge task - and a final result will not be known until the 20'th of this month. The citizens of Indonesia will elect as their president either Joko Widowo, known as " Jokowi ", or Prabowo Subianto, a former general who was the head of Indonesias's feared " special forces ".
Jokowi is a lightweight in the experience stakes. He served as Governor of the city of Solo with great success and later took similar control of Jakarta, the national capital. His reign had a stellar outcome for rooting out corruption, solving intractable problems and providing the services that former administrations had been unable to solve. Many hope that his approach will blow a breath of fresh air through the malaise of corruption and cronyism that afflicts the Indonesian economy.
Prabowo Subianto harks back to Indonesia's military past. He was a powerful general with a murky record of putting down dissent by the use of torture and kidnapping. He is close to the ruling " money establishment " and is actually married to one of former President Suharto's daughters. His speeches reflect irritation with choosing the leadership by a democratic vote and he openly favours the country's leader being " appointed " by the legislature. His views seem more interested in Indonesia taking it's place in the region than concern for the standards under which it's citizens live. He has Islamist support and seems to lean towards their point of view.
If Prabowo gains the presidency it is likely that relations with Australia will be more prickly and that country's military will again control the levers of power. Jokowi seems to have a slight edge according to exit polls and if he wins it is likely that his administration will be more concerned with internal administration than Indonesian foreign policy. He is more likely to enhance the Indonesian standard of living and expand industry than get bogged down with external matters, but getting it right will be a big task far beyond his field of experience.
Australia can only watch - and wait ! The decision has been made by the voting strength of the Indonesian people and this vast nation and close neighbour is about to take a new course. Which way that goes is something we will have to learn to live with. Indonesia can be a friendly trading partner that is able to advance mutual economies - or it can become an actual threat to our way of life - and security.
We await the outcome of the vote - with more than passing interest !
When Indonesia emerged from Dutch rule it's first leader- President Sukarno - was hostile and actually claimed that Australia was Indonesian territory. There was open talk of eventual invasion and Sukarno lost office when his country had a brief civil war. This was a Communist insurgency, and it was quickly crushed by General Suharto, who went on to be the next president. Under his regime relations with Australia flourished, but he was a benign dictator and the Indonesian economy was beset by corruption and mismanagement, and an Islamist movement gained strength and militancy.
The fall of Suharto led to weak presidents until the present holder took office. " SBY" as President Yudhoyono is known - was seen as an indecisive leader, but he was a good friend to Australia until a spying incident briefly cooled relations. Happily, his presidency in this huge democratic nation is about to change hands peacefully - and by way of a plebiscite that seems fair and free from ballot stuffing.
There is a wide gulf between the two men contesting office - and there are indications that the result will be close. Counting the votes is a huge task - and a final result will not be known until the 20'th of this month. The citizens of Indonesia will elect as their president either Joko Widowo, known as " Jokowi ", or Prabowo Subianto, a former general who was the head of Indonesias's feared " special forces ".
Jokowi is a lightweight in the experience stakes. He served as Governor of the city of Solo with great success and later took similar control of Jakarta, the national capital. His reign had a stellar outcome for rooting out corruption, solving intractable problems and providing the services that former administrations had been unable to solve. Many hope that his approach will blow a breath of fresh air through the malaise of corruption and cronyism that afflicts the Indonesian economy.
Prabowo Subianto harks back to Indonesia's military past. He was a powerful general with a murky record of putting down dissent by the use of torture and kidnapping. He is close to the ruling " money establishment " and is actually married to one of former President Suharto's daughters. His speeches reflect irritation with choosing the leadership by a democratic vote and he openly favours the country's leader being " appointed " by the legislature. His views seem more interested in Indonesia taking it's place in the region than concern for the standards under which it's citizens live. He has Islamist support and seems to lean towards their point of view.
If Prabowo gains the presidency it is likely that relations with Australia will be more prickly and that country's military will again control the levers of power. Jokowi seems to have a slight edge according to exit polls and if he wins it is likely that his administration will be more concerned with internal administration than Indonesian foreign policy. He is more likely to enhance the Indonesian standard of living and expand industry than get bogged down with external matters, but getting it right will be a big task far beyond his field of experience.
Australia can only watch - and wait ! The decision has been made by the voting strength of the Indonesian people and this vast nation and close neighbour is about to take a new course. Which way that goes is something we will have to learn to live with. Indonesia can be a friendly trading partner that is able to advance mutual economies - or it can become an actual threat to our way of life - and security.
We await the outcome of the vote - with more than passing interest !
Friday, 11 July 2014
The Australian " Mob " !
Legitimate business in the United States has long feared becoming a target of " the Mob ": that form of " organized crime " that was a feature of the feared Teamsters Union and which half a century ago hit the headlines when " Murder Incorporated " became openly available to perform a " hit " - for a price !
That" Mob " is still operating in the US, but law enforcement has new weapons to fight it and one of those is the " RICO " act. Legislation to outlaw the masterminds behind organized crime called the " Racketeer Influences and Corrupt Organization Act " was passed in 1970 and made it illegal to even be a member of the " Mob " - it was not necessary to prove an actual crime to get a conviction.
Here in Australia, a Royal Commission is enquiring into Trade Union corruption. The spotlight is shining on the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Electrical union - known by the acronym CFMEU. The exploits of this union in using stand over tactics and coercion to cream off profits goes back decades. It has long waged war with the companies that build infrastructure in this country.
The Royal Commission heard evidence from Boral, a concrete manufacturer which became the meat in the sandwich in a dispute between the CFMEU and Grocon, a major building company. Boral trucks delivering concrete under contract were constantly denied entrance to the site by CFMEU orders and consequently this cost Boral $8 million over an eighteen month period.
This is reminiscent of tactics used that sent several high profile building companies into bankruptcy several decades ago. Unions created a supposed dispute in the middle of a major concrete pour and walked off the job. When a floor of a major high rise building is being poured it must be completed in a single operation to gain the required strength. These walk offs required the entire floor to be jackhammered and removed - at a cost that could run to millions.
At that time, the government threatened major legislation that convinced the unions to negotiate a settlement. An " understanding " is now in place that concrete pours will not be interrupted, but in many instances standover tactics remain in place. It seems to be an accepted practice that the payment of an agreed sum of money to a nominated union fund will immediately result in further problems on that site simply " going away ". To many contracting companies, that is now accepted as a normal part of " doing business ".
It seems that the job of this Royal Commission will be to lay bare the corruption that is endemic in the building industry. There is no doubt that the men who hold the levers of power in the unions are sane and practical when it comes to assessing risks. An all out war with the government would be disastrous for both sides and - despite the rhetoric - sanity is expected to prevail.
The outcome will probably be decided behind closed doors and in smoke filled rooms - where proxies of government ministers and union leaders will thrash out " deals " that are decided by a curt nod of the head - or in some cases a shaking of hands. Compromise requires give and take on both sides - and given that this stand off is highly political - both sides will be expected to trumpet victory.
It will simply be a compromise to cool things down and avoid events reaching crisis point. It is said that war is just an extreme form of politics - and war delivers irreparable damage to both sides. Hopefully, both sides understand that truism !
That" Mob " is still operating in the US, but law enforcement has new weapons to fight it and one of those is the " RICO " act. Legislation to outlaw the masterminds behind organized crime called the " Racketeer Influences and Corrupt Organization Act " was passed in 1970 and made it illegal to even be a member of the " Mob " - it was not necessary to prove an actual crime to get a conviction.
Here in Australia, a Royal Commission is enquiring into Trade Union corruption. The spotlight is shining on the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Electrical union - known by the acronym CFMEU. The exploits of this union in using stand over tactics and coercion to cream off profits goes back decades. It has long waged war with the companies that build infrastructure in this country.
The Royal Commission heard evidence from Boral, a concrete manufacturer which became the meat in the sandwich in a dispute between the CFMEU and Grocon, a major building company. Boral trucks delivering concrete under contract were constantly denied entrance to the site by CFMEU orders and consequently this cost Boral $8 million over an eighteen month period.
This is reminiscent of tactics used that sent several high profile building companies into bankruptcy several decades ago. Unions created a supposed dispute in the middle of a major concrete pour and walked off the job. When a floor of a major high rise building is being poured it must be completed in a single operation to gain the required strength. These walk offs required the entire floor to be jackhammered and removed - at a cost that could run to millions.
At that time, the government threatened major legislation that convinced the unions to negotiate a settlement. An " understanding " is now in place that concrete pours will not be interrupted, but in many instances standover tactics remain in place. It seems to be an accepted practice that the payment of an agreed sum of money to a nominated union fund will immediately result in further problems on that site simply " going away ". To many contracting companies, that is now accepted as a normal part of " doing business ".
It seems that the job of this Royal Commission will be to lay bare the corruption that is endemic in the building industry. There is no doubt that the men who hold the levers of power in the unions are sane and practical when it comes to assessing risks. An all out war with the government would be disastrous for both sides and - despite the rhetoric - sanity is expected to prevail.
The outcome will probably be decided behind closed doors and in smoke filled rooms - where proxies of government ministers and union leaders will thrash out " deals " that are decided by a curt nod of the head - or in some cases a shaking of hands. Compromise requires give and take on both sides - and given that this stand off is highly political - both sides will be expected to trumpet victory.
It will simply be a compromise to cool things down and avoid events reaching crisis point. It is said that war is just an extreme form of politics - and war delivers irreparable damage to both sides. Hopefully, both sides understand that truism !
Thursday, 10 July 2014
Money " Talks " !
A curious case has attracted media attention and a mixed reaction from the public. In February, 1996 a twenty year old Australian girl was searched at the customs barrier at Thailand's Bangkok airport. Her backpack contained four kilos of Hashish and five hundred amphetamine tablets. She was immediately arrested and placed in the notorious prison - referred to by inmates as the " Bangkok Hilton ".
Getting caught smuggling drugs in Thailand is a serious crime. The courts usually impose the death penalty for large amounts of narcotics and at the very least, an offender can expect many years in one of Asia's most feared prison systems.
This girl was lucky because her father was a rich businessman and he immediately engaged the best lawyers to represent her and an application was made for bail. Granting bail in drug cases is rare in Thailand but the quality of the legal representation was such that it was granted after a $ 74,000 bail bond was posted. The girl immediately skipped bail - left the country and disappeared from public view.
Decades later, the media learn that she has been quietly living in Dublin, Ireland. She has been " hiding in plain sight " and seems to have no immediate plans to return to Australia. Ireland has no extradition treaty with Thailand while Australian law is unclear on what obligations are in force, hence she is far safer remaining in Ireland because of the certainty that involves.
Another safeguard is the fact that Ireland is a signatory to the European Convention of Human Rights which forbids extradition to any country that still imposes the death penalty as a punishment. In the event that she was arrested in a country with a reciprocal Thai extradition treaty, an appeal to the world body could bring relief.
Publicity has angered and devastated the parents and loved ones of other foolish young Australians who have been coerced into acting as drug mules - and been caught ! It has slammed shut any hope of others being granted bail in many Asian countries because of a belief that all Australians come from rich families - and immediately bail is granted they will take flight and remain out of reach of the Asian justice system.
It certainly does send an unwelcome message - to the despair of those who have no hope of offering even a fraction of the bail money that freed this young woman. Obviously, to a millionaire the loss of $ 74,000 to free a daughter from a cell on death row is of little consequence. To others - it is an insurmountable hurdle !
Unfortunately, the lure of big profits and the belief that exists in many young minds that they are " bullet proof " causes some people to take appalling risks. They judge the risks on the basis of the penalties that apply in Australia, despite repeated and glaring warnings at all points of entry and departure from this country.
This publicity may even have a reverse effect. Some from affluent Australian families may be brazen and assume that family money will protect them from justice !
Getting caught smuggling drugs in Thailand is a serious crime. The courts usually impose the death penalty for large amounts of narcotics and at the very least, an offender can expect many years in one of Asia's most feared prison systems.
This girl was lucky because her father was a rich businessman and he immediately engaged the best lawyers to represent her and an application was made for bail. Granting bail in drug cases is rare in Thailand but the quality of the legal representation was such that it was granted after a $ 74,000 bail bond was posted. The girl immediately skipped bail - left the country and disappeared from public view.
Decades later, the media learn that she has been quietly living in Dublin, Ireland. She has been " hiding in plain sight " and seems to have no immediate plans to return to Australia. Ireland has no extradition treaty with Thailand while Australian law is unclear on what obligations are in force, hence she is far safer remaining in Ireland because of the certainty that involves.
Another safeguard is the fact that Ireland is a signatory to the European Convention of Human Rights which forbids extradition to any country that still imposes the death penalty as a punishment. In the event that she was arrested in a country with a reciprocal Thai extradition treaty, an appeal to the world body could bring relief.
Publicity has angered and devastated the parents and loved ones of other foolish young Australians who have been coerced into acting as drug mules - and been caught ! It has slammed shut any hope of others being granted bail in many Asian countries because of a belief that all Australians come from rich families - and immediately bail is granted they will take flight and remain out of reach of the Asian justice system.
It certainly does send an unwelcome message - to the despair of those who have no hope of offering even a fraction of the bail money that freed this young woman. Obviously, to a millionaire the loss of $ 74,000 to free a daughter from a cell on death row is of little consequence. To others - it is an insurmountable hurdle !
Unfortunately, the lure of big profits and the belief that exists in many young minds that they are " bullet proof " causes some people to take appalling risks. They judge the risks on the basis of the penalties that apply in Australia, despite repeated and glaring warnings at all points of entry and departure from this country.
This publicity may even have a reverse effect. Some from affluent Australian families may be brazen and assume that family money will protect them from justice !
Wednesday, 9 July 2014
Winners - and Losers !
For most people life is a succession of wins and losses. A plum job is advertised and many apply - but just one takes out the prize. We learn to manage the pain of disappointment and it is the " lucky " person who chalks up more wins than losses.
An event on national television has this nation split on whether public rejection causes irreparable damage to juvenile minds. Channel 9 runs a competition named " The Voice " that has contestants judged on their singing abilities. It consists of heats in which the winner goes on to higher competition - and the losers are eliminated. The majority of the contestants are adults, and the ultimate winner can look forward to fame and fortune in the entertainment world.
Recently a twelve year old girl astonished judges with the tone and clarity of her singing voice - and she went on to win that night's heat. She quickly gathered a following and many hoped she might emerge as the ultimate winner - and carve out a great singing career.
Alas. At a later heat another contestant won - and she was eliminated, and immediately she broke down into a flood of tears. Television personalities rushed to comfort her and her disappointment on national television brought a huge mix of reactions. Many were furious that this spectacle was allowed to go to air.
Some viewers are protesting that it is damaging to mix adult and juvenile contestants because young minds are not sufficiently developed to handle the pain of rejection. There is conjecture that this form of humiliation may permanently harm her developing personality - and even psychiatrists are weighing in with contrasting opinions.
Others take the view that to win in the hotly contested music world requires the skill and stamina to ride with the punches, and that this experience will prepare her for the world ahead - if she chooses to continue to pursue a singing career. Many others argue that the sight of a young girl in distress on television is harrowing for the wider audience - and want children banned from such shows.
This furore shows no sign of slowing down. Both sides of the argument are implacable in their stand and this must have the shows producers rubbing their hands with glee. The more the controversy rages, the more people who will be attracted to watch the show to join in the fray. That old maxim - that all publicity is good publicity - applies.
Perhaps many viewers have forgotten what every parent knows. Juvenile disappointments that end in tears are quickly over !
An event on national television has this nation split on whether public rejection causes irreparable damage to juvenile minds. Channel 9 runs a competition named " The Voice " that has contestants judged on their singing abilities. It consists of heats in which the winner goes on to higher competition - and the losers are eliminated. The majority of the contestants are adults, and the ultimate winner can look forward to fame and fortune in the entertainment world.
Recently a twelve year old girl astonished judges with the tone and clarity of her singing voice - and she went on to win that night's heat. She quickly gathered a following and many hoped she might emerge as the ultimate winner - and carve out a great singing career.
Alas. At a later heat another contestant won - and she was eliminated, and immediately she broke down into a flood of tears. Television personalities rushed to comfort her and her disappointment on national television brought a huge mix of reactions. Many were furious that this spectacle was allowed to go to air.
Some viewers are protesting that it is damaging to mix adult and juvenile contestants because young minds are not sufficiently developed to handle the pain of rejection. There is conjecture that this form of humiliation may permanently harm her developing personality - and even psychiatrists are weighing in with contrasting opinions.
Others take the view that to win in the hotly contested music world requires the skill and stamina to ride with the punches, and that this experience will prepare her for the world ahead - if she chooses to continue to pursue a singing career. Many others argue that the sight of a young girl in distress on television is harrowing for the wider audience - and want children banned from such shows.
This furore shows no sign of slowing down. Both sides of the argument are implacable in their stand and this must have the shows producers rubbing their hands with glee. The more the controversy rages, the more people who will be attracted to watch the show to join in the fray. That old maxim - that all publicity is good publicity - applies.
Perhaps many viewers have forgotten what every parent knows. Juvenile disappointments that end in tears are quickly over !
Tuesday, 8 July 2014
The " Auction Price " Mirage !
Trying to buy a property at auction can be a frustrating experience. It is usual to ask the estate agent handling the sale for an estimate of what price it will bring, but there is no guarantee that the final bidding figure will be anywhere near that estimate. Some estate agents deliberately " under quote " to inflate interest in the property to attract a bigger crowd of bidders.
Why do they do that ? A big crowd waiting for the hammer to fall impresses the seller that the agent has done a great job in promoting the sale - and a big show of interest convinces prospective buyers that this is a sought after property and may convince some to bid higher than their intended limit.
For the unsuccessful buyer this comes at a cost. The wise will have pre-arranged a mortgage consistent with their expected purchase price and this may have involved pre-sale property checks because a successful bidder is required to lodge a ten percent deposit at the conclusion of the sale. Should later problems occur, that deposit is forfeited unless the sale reaches final conclusion.
One aspect of auctions that draws angst is the hidden " reserve " price. This is the figure the seller demands must be reached - or the property is " withdrawn from sale " and private negotiations usually then take place with the highest bidder. There is pressure building to have that reserve price listed on sale advertising at least a week prior to the auction. There is no reason it should be a secret withheld from bidders !
The benefits are obvious. If a prospective buyer attends the auction they are prepared to buy at this nominated price level. Should the bidding fall short, then the property is available to the first person to offer the reserve price and conclude the purchase. It ensures that a realistic price is openly displayed and that the property will not be withdrawn if the seller has set a secret ridiculously high price as the hidden reserve.
Unfortunately, it does nothing to stop bidding reaching unexpected heights and that is a hazard of a rising property market. But it does stop sellers setting a ridiculously low reserve price to attract interest because auctions are an unpredictable outcome - and that reserve price is the price the property must be sold for if no higher bid is received.
Setting this into legislation will be the next hurdle but it would be a useful step in ironing out the vagaries that are confronting the vexing real estate jungle. A little clarity would be welcomed - by both buyers and sellers !
Why do they do that ? A big crowd waiting for the hammer to fall impresses the seller that the agent has done a great job in promoting the sale - and a big show of interest convinces prospective buyers that this is a sought after property and may convince some to bid higher than their intended limit.
For the unsuccessful buyer this comes at a cost. The wise will have pre-arranged a mortgage consistent with their expected purchase price and this may have involved pre-sale property checks because a successful bidder is required to lodge a ten percent deposit at the conclusion of the sale. Should later problems occur, that deposit is forfeited unless the sale reaches final conclusion.
One aspect of auctions that draws angst is the hidden " reserve " price. This is the figure the seller demands must be reached - or the property is " withdrawn from sale " and private negotiations usually then take place with the highest bidder. There is pressure building to have that reserve price listed on sale advertising at least a week prior to the auction. There is no reason it should be a secret withheld from bidders !
The benefits are obvious. If a prospective buyer attends the auction they are prepared to buy at this nominated price level. Should the bidding fall short, then the property is available to the first person to offer the reserve price and conclude the purchase. It ensures that a realistic price is openly displayed and that the property will not be withdrawn if the seller has set a secret ridiculously high price as the hidden reserve.
Unfortunately, it does nothing to stop bidding reaching unexpected heights and that is a hazard of a rising property market. But it does stop sellers setting a ridiculously low reserve price to attract interest because auctions are an unpredictable outcome - and that reserve price is the price the property must be sold for if no higher bid is received.
Setting this into legislation will be the next hurdle but it would be a useful step in ironing out the vagaries that are confronting the vexing real estate jungle. A little clarity would be welcomed - by both buyers and sellers !
Monday, 7 July 2014
Our Crazy Laws !
Graffiti costs hundreds of thousands of dollars a year to remove from our rail system. Trains are taken out of service to have painted messages removed and this cost comes from the public purse. The government employs Transit Officers to patrol trains to try and keep graffiti under control - but it seems that the courts have very different ideas on what does - and what does not - constitute " crime " !
A Transit Officer caught an eighteen year old male using a marker pen to scrawl graffiti on the wall of a carriage on a central coast train. He placed this young man under arrest and in retaliation, the culprit head butted him. This led to charges of assault in addition to the illegal act of defacing public property - and the matter went to court.
The magistrate dismissed the assault charge because he contended that the Transit Officer should have taken the culprit's details instead of arresting him. As a result, he deemed the arrest unlawful, and therefore the admission of evidence from the Transit Officer on the assault would be " inadmissible ". The offender pleaded guilty to the graffiti charge - and received a small fine.
What sort of message does that deliver to the army of louts, deviants and muggers that ride our trains and gleefully assault other passengers, ignore laws prohibiting the drinking of alcohol - and pass the time scrawling graffiti on every possible surface ? The worst that can happen if they get caught - is for the officer to demand their name and address - and in many cases they are prepared for that with bogus details.
That used to be the ruse that fare evaders used to avoid convictions. The most station staff at ticket barriers were allowed to ask was for the name and address of the culprit - and as a consequence the debt recovery section faced reams of fruitless searches for people with names like " Donald Duck " that seemingly lived on what were suburban vacant lots.
To be arrested - cuffed - marched off a train and held for an identity check at a police station at least underscores the fact that graffiti is a serious crime that brings consequences. The fact that the offender launches a physical attack on a Transit Officer simply doing his or her duty is inexcusable under any circumstances. If we allow law enforcement to become punching bags at the whim of offenders we have lost control of a civilized society.
Magistrates are allowed " discretion " to ponder circumstances, but there should be no question in the framing of laws as to what they actually mean. Another magistrate - in another court - hearing a case with identical charges might deliver an entirely different verdict. It is time the law makers cleaned up their act and codified the laws to explicitly spell out how they apply.
With this verdict ringing in their ears, it must be difficult for Transit Officers to carry out their duties - knowing that the law will most likely offer them no protection if they are assaulted !
A Transit Officer caught an eighteen year old male using a marker pen to scrawl graffiti on the wall of a carriage on a central coast train. He placed this young man under arrest and in retaliation, the culprit head butted him. This led to charges of assault in addition to the illegal act of defacing public property - and the matter went to court.
The magistrate dismissed the assault charge because he contended that the Transit Officer should have taken the culprit's details instead of arresting him. As a result, he deemed the arrest unlawful, and therefore the admission of evidence from the Transit Officer on the assault would be " inadmissible ". The offender pleaded guilty to the graffiti charge - and received a small fine.
What sort of message does that deliver to the army of louts, deviants and muggers that ride our trains and gleefully assault other passengers, ignore laws prohibiting the drinking of alcohol - and pass the time scrawling graffiti on every possible surface ? The worst that can happen if they get caught - is for the officer to demand their name and address - and in many cases they are prepared for that with bogus details.
That used to be the ruse that fare evaders used to avoid convictions. The most station staff at ticket barriers were allowed to ask was for the name and address of the culprit - and as a consequence the debt recovery section faced reams of fruitless searches for people with names like " Donald Duck " that seemingly lived on what were suburban vacant lots.
To be arrested - cuffed - marched off a train and held for an identity check at a police station at least underscores the fact that graffiti is a serious crime that brings consequences. The fact that the offender launches a physical attack on a Transit Officer simply doing his or her duty is inexcusable under any circumstances. If we allow law enforcement to become punching bags at the whim of offenders we have lost control of a civilized society.
Magistrates are allowed " discretion " to ponder circumstances, but there should be no question in the framing of laws as to what they actually mean. Another magistrate - in another court - hearing a case with identical charges might deliver an entirely different verdict. It is time the law makers cleaned up their act and codified the laws to explicitly spell out how they apply.
With this verdict ringing in their ears, it must be difficult for Transit Officers to carry out their duties - knowing that the law will most likely offer them no protection if they are assaulted !
Sunday, 6 July 2014
The " Euthanasia " Controversy !
It is a fact of life that every Australian breaks no law if they commit suicide. Half a century ago, most Australian states did have legislation on their books that made a failed suicide attempt a crime, but few were actually prosecuted. The churches and many religious people are very vocally against the entire concept of " Euthanasia " and they have skillfully cowed the politicians into knocking down any legislation that offers help to those to wish to end their lives.
We have the almost laughable situation that a person who commits suicide is free to do so, but if any other person assists in doing so the courts can throw the book at him or her - and impose a substantial gaol sentence. Now we are splitting hairs to determine the exact definition of that word - " Help " !
Philip Nitschke is the founder of an organization named " Exit International " which seeks a law change to allow those wishing to end their lives to be assisted in their task. Nitschke is a legally registered doctor and he has come under criticism because he made a book available that explains methods of ending life to a forty-five year old Perth man who was apparently in good health, but had his own reasons for terminating further living.
The preferred method of Euthanasia is the drug Nembutal. It allows the person wishing life termination to drift painlessly into a sleep from which they will never awake. It is a banned substance in Australia, but is freely available in Mexico and many other world countries. Heroin and other narcotics are also banned imports, but they are freely available on our streets and there is no doubt that Nembutal slips through our porous customs defences - for those who know where and how to find it.
The anti Euthanasia fanatics are demanding Nitschke be deregistered as a doctor and charged with " assisting " a suicide. It crosses a very fine line when it infers that making information that is freely available in the public domain is interpreted as illegal assistance. The time is fast coming when we need to have a re-think on this whole matter of life - and death. Death is a natural occurrence - and as it can not be made illegal - it needs to be treated with compassion.
We already have passed the half way point with Euthanasia. We have " Hospices " for the terminally ill in which we ease the way out of life for those with diseases such as cancer. We cross a fine line when we use drugs in quantities we know will shorten the existing life span to alleviate the shocking pain the terminally ill are suffering - and we pretend that is not a form of Euthanasia.
If the snooty nosed, Churchy lot have their way, suicide can become a very messy affair. Blowing one's brains out with a shotgun can be distressing for loved ones and friends, and of course some unfortunate person is tasked with cleaning up the mess. Walking in front of a speeding train is another example of life ending that has repercussions. Many a train driver has been forced to give up driving because of the horror witnessed. In so many cases, desperate people have resorted to what amount to " public executions " - like jumping from a high building - that have a profound effect on others.
Polls taken indicate that about eighty percent of the Australian population condone Euthanasia and it has been legalized in several overseas countries. The right to die with dignity - and at a time of our own choosing - is a personal choice enshrined in law. Euthanasia has been winning the battle against a noisy minority who try to impose their personal view.
Freedom to get assistance with this most personal of decisions - is only a matter of time !
We have the almost laughable situation that a person who commits suicide is free to do so, but if any other person assists in doing so the courts can throw the book at him or her - and impose a substantial gaol sentence. Now we are splitting hairs to determine the exact definition of that word - " Help " !
Philip Nitschke is the founder of an organization named " Exit International " which seeks a law change to allow those wishing to end their lives to be assisted in their task. Nitschke is a legally registered doctor and he has come under criticism because he made a book available that explains methods of ending life to a forty-five year old Perth man who was apparently in good health, but had his own reasons for terminating further living.
The preferred method of Euthanasia is the drug Nembutal. It allows the person wishing life termination to drift painlessly into a sleep from which they will never awake. It is a banned substance in Australia, but is freely available in Mexico and many other world countries. Heroin and other narcotics are also banned imports, but they are freely available on our streets and there is no doubt that Nembutal slips through our porous customs defences - for those who know where and how to find it.
The anti Euthanasia fanatics are demanding Nitschke be deregistered as a doctor and charged with " assisting " a suicide. It crosses a very fine line when it infers that making information that is freely available in the public domain is interpreted as illegal assistance. The time is fast coming when we need to have a re-think on this whole matter of life - and death. Death is a natural occurrence - and as it can not be made illegal - it needs to be treated with compassion.
We already have passed the half way point with Euthanasia. We have " Hospices " for the terminally ill in which we ease the way out of life for those with diseases such as cancer. We cross a fine line when we use drugs in quantities we know will shorten the existing life span to alleviate the shocking pain the terminally ill are suffering - and we pretend that is not a form of Euthanasia.
If the snooty nosed, Churchy lot have their way, suicide can become a very messy affair. Blowing one's brains out with a shotgun can be distressing for loved ones and friends, and of course some unfortunate person is tasked with cleaning up the mess. Walking in front of a speeding train is another example of life ending that has repercussions. Many a train driver has been forced to give up driving because of the horror witnessed. In so many cases, desperate people have resorted to what amount to " public executions " - like jumping from a high building - that have a profound effect on others.
Polls taken indicate that about eighty percent of the Australian population condone Euthanasia and it has been legalized in several overseas countries. The right to die with dignity - and at a time of our own choosing - is a personal choice enshrined in law. Euthanasia has been winning the battle against a noisy minority who try to impose their personal view.
Freedom to get assistance with this most personal of decisions - is only a matter of time !
Saturday, 5 July 2014
Damage control !
The threat of a Royal Commission has sent the management of the Commonwealth Bank into a charm offensive to try and mitigate the damage done to it's reputation. Somehow it allowed corrupt financial advisers to steer customers into investments that were good for the bank's profits - and which funnelled huge bonuses into the pockets of those giving the advice - but delivered loss and financial misery to the customers who trusted them with their retirement savings.
It is a sad story of incentives for recommending dubious investment schemes to the very people in face to face contact with the bank seeking advice, and their superiors in the bank looking the other way as this practice swelled their budget achievements and brought accolades. It seems that many of these same people are still with the Commonwealth bank - and some have been promoted and now serve at a much higher level.
The bank has so far been selective in damage control. The " squeaky wheel " syndrome applies. Those that piece together the records to make a compelling case to take to court are quietly reimbursed for part of their losses - in exchange for the promise of no further action.
The pressure for a Royal Commission to probe the whole sordid affair changed all that, but critics complain that it still avoids the action necessary to bring it - kicking and screaming - into full public view. This new policy of reimbursement stays completely under the bank's control - and all outcomes are at the bank's discretion.
For a start, a review of the investments made will only be conducted where there is a request from an aggrieved customer. This will avoid a Royal Commission investigation of the entire spectrum of advice given - and limit the draw down on bank profits. The amount of reimbursement will be in the hands of an independent committee - but once again the people who sit on that committee will be nominees of the bank - and their " independence " is therefore questionable.
The bank terminated the worst offenders amongst it's staff giving dodgy advice, but details are sketchy on what action was taken to remove the possibility of similar malpractice reappearing in the future. The bank naturally wants to settle this matter in the shortest possible time - and with the least publicity it can manage. It seems that reimbursement of loss is at last being seen as a reluctant necessity - with the actual blame being swept under the carpet.
Dodging a full and frank investigation of this scandal will not deliver justice. Many of the victims are now in extreme old age and some may not even be aware that the crash of their investments was other than natural causes. Many could now be deceased, and their families could be unaware of the financial details of their latter days. In all fairness, this is a matter that should be carefully and fully sifted through by an independent body quite separate from the bank which profitted from the outcome.
Only such a course of action will fully restore the trust that Australia's biggest bank has wiped the slate clean !
It is a sad story of incentives for recommending dubious investment schemes to the very people in face to face contact with the bank seeking advice, and their superiors in the bank looking the other way as this practice swelled their budget achievements and brought accolades. It seems that many of these same people are still with the Commonwealth bank - and some have been promoted and now serve at a much higher level.
The bank has so far been selective in damage control. The " squeaky wheel " syndrome applies. Those that piece together the records to make a compelling case to take to court are quietly reimbursed for part of their losses - in exchange for the promise of no further action.
The pressure for a Royal Commission to probe the whole sordid affair changed all that, but critics complain that it still avoids the action necessary to bring it - kicking and screaming - into full public view. This new policy of reimbursement stays completely under the bank's control - and all outcomes are at the bank's discretion.
For a start, a review of the investments made will only be conducted where there is a request from an aggrieved customer. This will avoid a Royal Commission investigation of the entire spectrum of advice given - and limit the draw down on bank profits. The amount of reimbursement will be in the hands of an independent committee - but once again the people who sit on that committee will be nominees of the bank - and their " independence " is therefore questionable.
The bank terminated the worst offenders amongst it's staff giving dodgy advice, but details are sketchy on what action was taken to remove the possibility of similar malpractice reappearing in the future. The bank naturally wants to settle this matter in the shortest possible time - and with the least publicity it can manage. It seems that reimbursement of loss is at last being seen as a reluctant necessity - with the actual blame being swept under the carpet.
Dodging a full and frank investigation of this scandal will not deliver justice. Many of the victims are now in extreme old age and some may not even be aware that the crash of their investments was other than natural causes. Many could now be deceased, and their families could be unaware of the financial details of their latter days. In all fairness, this is a matter that should be carefully and fully sifted through by an independent body quite separate from the bank which profitted from the outcome.
Only such a course of action will fully restore the trust that Australia's biggest bank has wiped the slate clean !
Friday, 4 July 2014
Formulae - for Catastrophe !
It has happened in many other parts of the world. Overcrowded prisons and under staffed supervision have led to riots where fires have raged, hostages have been taken - and the aftermath has been a lot of dead people. It seems that all is not well in the New South Wales prison system.
At present this state's gaols contain 10,917 prisoners and it is expected that the numbers will increase to more than 12,000 by next March. The bail system has just been revised to try and relieve overcrowding but prison officers are warning that even so - the numbers are forcing three prisoners to share cells designed for two and the ratio of officers can be as low as twenty supervising three hundred inmates. As a consequence, pressures are building and prisoners are spending more time locked down than the system allows. There is talk of a ban on receiving new inmates to relieve this pressure.
The public is already expressing concern that the new bail laws are allowing people accused of serious crime to remain free in the community in place of remaining in prison on remand. The government is trying to reign in the ever expanding cost of the prison system and yet the public expectation of curbing crime demands tougher action and a " lock them up " mentality. If judges and magistrates hand down lenient sentences they are criticised and accused of being " soft " on crime.
Perhaps it is time to review this whole aspect of punishment for crime. There certainly are offenders who are dangerous to the public and need to be securely locked away for the full term of their sentence, but do we really need to apply the same criteria to offenders whose crime is driving a car while their license is suspended - or who were caught growing a Marijuana plant in their backyard ?
Secure prisons cost a lot of money to build and to staff. Could the same purpose be achieved by the wider use of " prison farms " - where those convicted of social crimes serve out their time with minimum supervision and a high degree of trust ? Should a prisoner disregard that trust and escape, the penalty would be to serve the rest of the sentence - plus an extension for the escape - within the much less friendly and comfortable confines of the traditional prison system.
It is the loss of personal freedom that chafes most people committed to prison. Many social crimes are more an error of judgement - often where alcohol or drugs are involved - and the offender will gladly trade a lighter sentence under less harsh conditions with the obligation to obey the rules that go with time in a prison farm as an alternative to regular prison.
Such prison farms would contribute to their cost by producing meat and vegetables to supply the state's hospitals and other institutions - including the regular prison system. Not all offenders would be suitable for inclusion in such a scheme, but those that are would certainly take the pressure off our present overcrowded gaols - and put something back into society rather than just become a drain on finances
At present this state's gaols contain 10,917 prisoners and it is expected that the numbers will increase to more than 12,000 by next March. The bail system has just been revised to try and relieve overcrowding but prison officers are warning that even so - the numbers are forcing three prisoners to share cells designed for two and the ratio of officers can be as low as twenty supervising three hundred inmates. As a consequence, pressures are building and prisoners are spending more time locked down than the system allows. There is talk of a ban on receiving new inmates to relieve this pressure.
The public is already expressing concern that the new bail laws are allowing people accused of serious crime to remain free in the community in place of remaining in prison on remand. The government is trying to reign in the ever expanding cost of the prison system and yet the public expectation of curbing crime demands tougher action and a " lock them up " mentality. If judges and magistrates hand down lenient sentences they are criticised and accused of being " soft " on crime.
Perhaps it is time to review this whole aspect of punishment for crime. There certainly are offenders who are dangerous to the public and need to be securely locked away for the full term of their sentence, but do we really need to apply the same criteria to offenders whose crime is driving a car while their license is suspended - or who were caught growing a Marijuana plant in their backyard ?
Secure prisons cost a lot of money to build and to staff. Could the same purpose be achieved by the wider use of " prison farms " - where those convicted of social crimes serve out their time with minimum supervision and a high degree of trust ? Should a prisoner disregard that trust and escape, the penalty would be to serve the rest of the sentence - plus an extension for the escape - within the much less friendly and comfortable confines of the traditional prison system.
It is the loss of personal freedom that chafes most people committed to prison. Many social crimes are more an error of judgement - often where alcohol or drugs are involved - and the offender will gladly trade a lighter sentence under less harsh conditions with the obligation to obey the rules that go with time in a prison farm as an alternative to regular prison.
Such prison farms would contribute to their cost by producing meat and vegetables to supply the state's hospitals and other institutions - including the regular prison system. Not all offenders would be suitable for inclusion in such a scheme, but those that are would certainly take the pressure off our present overcrowded gaols - and put something back into society rather than just become a drain on finances
Thursday, 3 July 2014
Shop Around !
" Loyalty " means different things to different people. In the commercial world, a loyal customer is the person that renews an annual service without question when it becomes due - and is ripe for a profit increase. It works on the " creatures of habit " syndrome. The vast majority of people think that because they stick with the same supplier - year after year - they are regarded as a valued customer and that company will bestow on them the best price as a reward for that loyalty. The exact reverse is usually the outcome.
Very highly paid people devise most companies " marketing strategy " and this calls for the customer base to be constantly expanded. Attracting new customers requires an incentive - and this is usually either a price drop or the provision of an extra benefit that is not available to existing customers. In the vast majority of cases, if an existing customer makes an enquiry as an intending new customer, they will receive a better deal.
In particular, this double standard applies across the range of insurance products offering and the renewal of existing policies are at the forefront. Because a large customer segment renews without question this provides an opportunity to slowly " inflate " the premium and use this to " balance " the lower price obtained by way of incentives offered to new customers.
It is rife in general car insurance policies and has crept into the pricing of compulsory third party insurance needed for annual registration. The " asking renewal fee " invariably contains an increase on last year, and a few enquiries can find a more competitive price from a competitor seeking an increase in market share.
This same situation exists with house and contents insurance. The customer who treats each policy renewal as a " new deal " and seeks a range of alternative quotes for the same cover will undoubtedly save money. In most cases, merely querying the renewal price will bring an offer of a new benefit to keep the customer happy. In this modern world - most terms of trade are " negotiable " !
This " benefits syndrome " even intrudes into the world of finance. Those with a little money on term deposit with the banks receive a notice when the present term is about to expire which gives them a seven day period to instruct the bank on the future of these funds. It advises that should no instruction be forthcoming, the bank will reinvest the capital for the same time period - at a rate appropriate. The rate quoted in this advice is always lower than can be obtained by direct negotiation with the bank.
It seems that those who mistakenly think that loyalty brings with it rewards are believers in a past age. Today - we live in the era of the " bean counters " - and the unwary are the victims of the relentless chase for added profits.
If there is a mantra for the twenty-first century - " Always shop around " would be appropriate !
Very highly paid people devise most companies " marketing strategy " and this calls for the customer base to be constantly expanded. Attracting new customers requires an incentive - and this is usually either a price drop or the provision of an extra benefit that is not available to existing customers. In the vast majority of cases, if an existing customer makes an enquiry as an intending new customer, they will receive a better deal.
In particular, this double standard applies across the range of insurance products offering and the renewal of existing policies are at the forefront. Because a large customer segment renews without question this provides an opportunity to slowly " inflate " the premium and use this to " balance " the lower price obtained by way of incentives offered to new customers.
It is rife in general car insurance policies and has crept into the pricing of compulsory third party insurance needed for annual registration. The " asking renewal fee " invariably contains an increase on last year, and a few enquiries can find a more competitive price from a competitor seeking an increase in market share.
This same situation exists with house and contents insurance. The customer who treats each policy renewal as a " new deal " and seeks a range of alternative quotes for the same cover will undoubtedly save money. In most cases, merely querying the renewal price will bring an offer of a new benefit to keep the customer happy. In this modern world - most terms of trade are " negotiable " !
This " benefits syndrome " even intrudes into the world of finance. Those with a little money on term deposit with the banks receive a notice when the present term is about to expire which gives them a seven day period to instruct the bank on the future of these funds. It advises that should no instruction be forthcoming, the bank will reinvest the capital for the same time period - at a rate appropriate. The rate quoted in this advice is always lower than can be obtained by direct negotiation with the bank.
It seems that those who mistakenly think that loyalty brings with it rewards are believers in a past age. Today - we live in the era of the " bean counters " - and the unwary are the victims of the relentless chase for added profits.
If there is a mantra for the twenty-first century - " Always shop around " would be appropriate !
Wednesday, 2 July 2014
The " Standards " issue !
Todd Carney is a broken man. This twenty-eight year old Cronulla Sharks star has been sacked by his club and Rugby League has made it clear that he will not be allowed to join another club in the League. Other sporting codes had also slammed their doors in his face, and it looks like his playing career is over. From a financial point of view, this will cost him about three million dollars.
There is no doubt that Carney has talent. He is what is called a " play maker " - a player who is constantly " reading " the state of play and seizing the opportunity to start a scoring move when the opportunity presents itself. He has many followers who attend games simply because of his brilliance on the field - but he also has a sorry history that has seen him sacked in disgrace from three League clubs.
The reason he has been given his marching orders from Cronulla stems from a picture that appeared on Facebook. It seems that Carney was socialising at a club when in the men's room the subject of what is called " The Fountain " arose. This seems to be a form of insanity from a movie called " Jackass " in which bizarre actions are performed in the search for humour.
Carney performed the " Fountain " for the amusement of his friends. This consists of directing the urine stream upwards and leaning forward, enabling him to catch the urine in his mouth. It seems that one of his friends had the ever present Smartphone in his hand - recorded the event - and it was soon attracting a high volume of " hits " on Facebook.
Rugby League immediately took offense at what it called a grave departure from " standards " ! The League has been plagued by well paid young men with high levels of testosterone drinking to excess and bringing the game into disrepute. Players are role models and in recent years the League has come down harshly on sex scandals, drunken brawling and any act that attracts adverse media attention. Todd Carney has been at the forefront of a long string of such scandals - and this was deemed to be " the last straw " !
Public reaction to the " Fountain " incident will be mixed. Most will think it repulsive , dirty or a long list of derogatory words, but some will find it funny. Others will note that it was not Carney that put this picture on Facebook. If it was a friend, he probably had no idea the storm and financial loss he was putting in motion.
It also raises the dangers of the world we now live in.
There are few who do not live with an active smartphone in their hand every hour of the day - and that instrument has a camera. Couple that with the host of social media outlets that seem to be " impulsive viewing " for millions of people - and you have an explosive mix.
Carney pushed the limits once too often - and now he is paying the price. Many people will have sympathy for him, and imposing a final and world wide ban on playing further sport is certainly an extreme punishment. It will have others who make their money on the sporting field take a more cautious approach to where - and with whom - they conduct their social life !
There is no doubt that Carney has talent. He is what is called a " play maker " - a player who is constantly " reading " the state of play and seizing the opportunity to start a scoring move when the opportunity presents itself. He has many followers who attend games simply because of his brilliance on the field - but he also has a sorry history that has seen him sacked in disgrace from three League clubs.
The reason he has been given his marching orders from Cronulla stems from a picture that appeared on Facebook. It seems that Carney was socialising at a club when in the men's room the subject of what is called " The Fountain " arose. This seems to be a form of insanity from a movie called " Jackass " in which bizarre actions are performed in the search for humour.
Carney performed the " Fountain " for the amusement of his friends. This consists of directing the urine stream upwards and leaning forward, enabling him to catch the urine in his mouth. It seems that one of his friends had the ever present Smartphone in his hand - recorded the event - and it was soon attracting a high volume of " hits " on Facebook.
Rugby League immediately took offense at what it called a grave departure from " standards " ! The League has been plagued by well paid young men with high levels of testosterone drinking to excess and bringing the game into disrepute. Players are role models and in recent years the League has come down harshly on sex scandals, drunken brawling and any act that attracts adverse media attention. Todd Carney has been at the forefront of a long string of such scandals - and this was deemed to be " the last straw " !
Public reaction to the " Fountain " incident will be mixed. Most will think it repulsive , dirty or a long list of derogatory words, but some will find it funny. Others will note that it was not Carney that put this picture on Facebook. If it was a friend, he probably had no idea the storm and financial loss he was putting in motion.
It also raises the dangers of the world we now live in.
There are few who do not live with an active smartphone in their hand every hour of the day - and that instrument has a camera. Couple that with the host of social media outlets that seem to be " impulsive viewing " for millions of people - and you have an explosive mix.
Carney pushed the limits once too often - and now he is paying the price. Many people will have sympathy for him, and imposing a final and world wide ban on playing further sport is certainly an extreme punishment. It will have others who make their money on the sporting field take a more cautious approach to where - and with whom - they conduct their social life !
Tuesday, 1 July 2014
" Managing " the Dole !
There are suggestions that the " Dole " and other forms of welfare payments be subjected to a " management " regime that stipulates how and where the money can be spent. The most likely form is to quarantine a proportion of each payment onto a credit card which can only be used to buy food, clothing - pay rent - or other approved categories. This would prevent public monies being wasted on alcohol, drugs, gambling or similar social vices.
It raises the question of to what extent it becomes desireable for the heavy hand of officialdom to intrude into the issue of how we run our lives. What becomes the " cut off line " that divides society into those who " live free " - and those who are subjected to life in an " economic prison " ?
This same thinking has " public housing " under the microscope. The present regime restricts rent to just twenty-five percent of a public tenant's income and this is expected to rise to market level as that income rises. It was never intended as a " home for life ", but there are many in society who for various reasons will never be able to hold a permanent job or move from welfare dependency. We either provide them with public housing - or they join the homeless sleeping rough on the streets as a permanent underclass.
We need to think and tread carefully when we consider social change. Australia has been termed " the lucky country " and our standard of living is way above that of many of our neighbours. The living standards of the poor in India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and South Africa affront our eyes. People scraping together plastic sheets, timber and scraps of cardboard to fashion a shelter - wherever they can find a space to live.
We see a better class of " slum " in places like Brazil At least the " Favellas " are of a more permanent nature, but they are ruled by outlaw gangs rather than the authorities. All forms of building codes and permits are totally ignored - but an unofficial system of " justice " prevails, and most seem to eat well and they are not dressed in rags. It seems that this disorder is " tolerated " because those in power in that country - have no other choice.
We had a time when things were a little different here in Australia. In the years just after the second world war many people scrimped and saved to buy a building block - and lived for years in a quickly erected garage or a caravan on that block. That would not be tolerated today. We live by more rigid rules and regulations. In place of " do it yourself " home building we saddle ourselves with an almost unimaginable mortgage - for a home our grandparents would have considered a " palace ".
The Australian lifestyle is economically out of balance. It costs more to run this country than we pay in taxes and that can not be ignored indefinitely. We face a day of reckoning, and our spending will need to be reduced - and that will produce winners and losers.
We need to be careful and not turn our backs on those who will never attain the standards of the Australian way of life. If the clock turns too far against them, sheer necessity will force them to turn to a way of life we will consider unpleasant. We would not like to see the establishment of favellas in the boondocks of the outer reaches of Australian cities.
We would do well to remember that necessity breaks all the rules !
It raises the question of to what extent it becomes desireable for the heavy hand of officialdom to intrude into the issue of how we run our lives. What becomes the " cut off line " that divides society into those who " live free " - and those who are subjected to life in an " economic prison " ?
This same thinking has " public housing " under the microscope. The present regime restricts rent to just twenty-five percent of a public tenant's income and this is expected to rise to market level as that income rises. It was never intended as a " home for life ", but there are many in society who for various reasons will never be able to hold a permanent job or move from welfare dependency. We either provide them with public housing - or they join the homeless sleeping rough on the streets as a permanent underclass.
We need to think and tread carefully when we consider social change. Australia has been termed " the lucky country " and our standard of living is way above that of many of our neighbours. The living standards of the poor in India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and South Africa affront our eyes. People scraping together plastic sheets, timber and scraps of cardboard to fashion a shelter - wherever they can find a space to live.
We see a better class of " slum " in places like Brazil At least the " Favellas " are of a more permanent nature, but they are ruled by outlaw gangs rather than the authorities. All forms of building codes and permits are totally ignored - but an unofficial system of " justice " prevails, and most seem to eat well and they are not dressed in rags. It seems that this disorder is " tolerated " because those in power in that country - have no other choice.
We had a time when things were a little different here in Australia. In the years just after the second world war many people scrimped and saved to buy a building block - and lived for years in a quickly erected garage or a caravan on that block. That would not be tolerated today. We live by more rigid rules and regulations. In place of " do it yourself " home building we saddle ourselves with an almost unimaginable mortgage - for a home our grandparents would have considered a " palace ".
The Australian lifestyle is economically out of balance. It costs more to run this country than we pay in taxes and that can not be ignored indefinitely. We face a day of reckoning, and our spending will need to be reduced - and that will produce winners and losers.
We need to be careful and not turn our backs on those who will never attain the standards of the Australian way of life. If the clock turns too far against them, sheer necessity will force them to turn to a way of life we will consider unpleasant. We would not like to see the establishment of favellas in the boondocks of the outer reaches of Australian cities.
We would do well to remember that necessity breaks all the rules !
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