Government responsibility lies with low-income homeless, not bank shareholders

Citizens Electoral Council of Australia

Media Release 30^th of January 2009

Craig Isherwood‚ National Secretary
PO Box 376‚ COBURG‚ VIC 3058
Phone: 03 9354 0544 Fax: 03 9354 0166
Email: cec@cecaust.com.au
Website: http://www.cecaust.com.au

Citizens Electoral Council leader Craig Isherwood said today, that the “proposed $4 billion commercial property bailout by the Rudd government, is exactly the type of ‘crime’ that warrants investigating by a ‘Pecora Commission’ into the banking system.”

Mr Isherwood said, “Why would you continue to throw good taxpayers’ money after bad investments, to prop up a highly inflated property bubble, and simply pour money into the big four private banks to keep their shareholders happy. Who is lobbying for this?”

Mr Isherwood said, “A collapse in property values, even domestic property values is inevitable as we have been developing a housing bubble for the last ten years, on the back of the global financial bubbles. The private banks are just trying to loot the taxpayer again!”

Given the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare’s recent report indicating that 200,000 Australians are waiting for public housing, with some on waiting lists for two years or more, Mr Isherwood proposed that the Rudd government use the $4 billion to establish a Federal housing authority—run in conjunction with Centrelink and government-owned, state housing authorities—to immediately build a minimum of 20,000 houses per year, within all areas of Australia. This would require a wartime-like mobilisation of resources, but could be done.

This accommodation would be available for low-income earners. The homes would be rented out to people who qualify for government rent assistance, and tenants would only pay around 20% of their net weekly income in rent.

Mr Isherwood said this would then free up disposable income for poorer families, as well as give the Federal Government a flow of cash to expand the programme.

Instead of the one-off, $10 billion cash binge the Rudd government threw into the economy in December, this type of directed capital expenditure would provide a long-term economic benefit.

The benefit to the general community, and the general welfare of the community would be immense, and in combination with the CEC’s proposed Homeowners and Bank Protection Bill, would begin to take housing out of the speculative bubble.

Click here to sign the CEC’s call for a new Pecora Commission.

To receive an information pack on the Pecora Commission and the Homeowners and Bank Protection Bill, click here.

Greg's View of Todays News - 01/30/2009

• Bush shoe attack spawns artwork

  A sculpture of an enormous bronze-coloured shoe has been erected in Iraq to honour the journalist who threw his shoes at ex-US President George W Bush. The sofa-sized artwork was formally unveiled in Tikrit, hometown of late Iraqi ruler Saddam Hussein.
  COMMENT: Now, that's modern ART!

  • 

• Iraq ends licence of US security firm Blackwater

  Iraq will not renew the operating licence of controversial US security firm Blackwater Worldwide, an interior ministry official has said.
  
  - maybe they should bring in the French Foreign Legion!

  • Critics have repeatedly accused Blackwater of having a cowboy mentality and a shoot-first-ask-questions-later approach when carrying out security duties in Iraq.
    • The reports of these 'mercenaries' killing Iraqi civilians during the last five years have shown them to be above the law under the Bush regime. It is encouraging to see the Iraqui government finally stepping in to get rid of these cowboys - it is a sign of proper governance by the Iraq government - post by gnaylor

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

Sykes: Country action grant scheme for 2009

Source: Sykes Media - Jan 30

Regional sporting and recreational organisations have all been affected by the State’s economic downturn. Funding, through the 2009 Country Action Grant Scheme is now available for sporting groups throughout the Benalla Electorate. Nationals Member for Benalla, Bill Sykes, urges sporting and clubs not to overlook this funding opportunity.

Dr Sykes said this Sport & Recreation Victoria round of funding is to be distributed in grants of up to $5,000 and aims to increase the capacity of sport and active recreation organisations in regional and rural Victoria.

Types of projects to be funded include:

• Initiatives to improve the operational effectiveness and efficiency of organisations eg. Preparation of a business plan, development of policy and procedure manuals or websites and incorporation of a new organisation.

• Initiatives to improve the skills of club members through providing training for coaches and officials, administrative staff and management committee members eg. Participation in coaching or umpiring accreditation courses, first aid, workshops for committee members in financial management or information technology.

• Initiatives to increase community participation by providing accessible sport and active recreation opportunities eg. Sessions of sport or active recreation for older adults, young mothers or people with a disability.

For projects planned to commence between 1 July 2009 – 31 December 2009 the applications close on 16 April 2009.

Applications can be lodged on-line, via email, fax or post with applications being received by Thursday, 16 April 2009 will be considered for the second assessment phase for 2009.

Further details are available from the grant information line at The Department of Planning and Community Development (DPCD) free call 1300 366 356 or via their web site on www.dvc.vic.gov.au/grants or by contacting Peta Clark at Bill Sykes’ office ph: 5762 2100.

Greg's View of Todays News - 01/29/2009

This is an automated post featuring local news, press releases and syndicated news stories that I felt compelled to comment upon. Comments are invited.

• Bushfires 'to burn up' climate efforts

  Australia is sitting on a time bomb when it comes to greenhouse gas emissions: bushfires.
  
  Researchers say bushfires can release as much carbon pollution as the whole of industry combined.

  • While bushfires are not officially counted towards Australia's emissions, researchers say they will be in the future and it could cost billions.
    • Will the government be charged for these emissions or will they, somehow, bick pass it on to landholders? - post by gnaylor
    
    

• Scientists Not So Sure Collider Won't Destroy The Planet

  • Three physicists have reexamined the math surrounding the creation of microscopic black holes in the Switzerland-based LHC, the world's largest particle collider, and determined that they won't simply evaporate in a millisecond as had previously been predicted.
    • A year ago, we were assured there could be no deleterious effects of creating a black hole in this piece of scientific apparatus. Now, they are not to sure.
      Well, if they stuff it up, we won't have a need for a new world order after all. - post by gnaylor
    
    

• Radio-controlled live flying beetle demonstrated by US researchers

  Creepy but true: researchers at the University of California, Berkley, have managed to create a live remote-control beetle. Using six electrodes hooked up to the beetle’s brain and muscles, and a 1.3g radio module carried on the bug’s back, the flying rhinoceros beetle can be remotely-controlled from a nearby laptop. While the researchers have managed to electrically-control insects before, this is the first time it has been done wirelessly.
  COMMENT:
  I wonder what the military application for this weapon!

  • 

• Woman's 'erotic dream state' means sex assault an accident: judge

  A woman who was in an "erotic dream state" when she removed some of her clothing and wrapped her near-naked torso around a man sitting beside her on the couch may have given the impression she was directing a "prolonged and provocative act" toward the man, a Saskatoon court has found.

  • At issue was whether this was a rare kind of sexual assault--the accidental kind--Mills said.

    Mills found that, while the woman did not consent and the act of sexual assault was proven, the accused lacked the necessary intention to commit the crime because he had a mistaken, but honest belief she was consenting

    • This is totally weird. If this woman volunteers a bullsh*t story about removing her own knickers, wrapping her legs around the old bloke and saying she was having a horny dream, why on earth did she have the guy charged instead of just apologising?
      
      Methinks she came on to the old bloke and got sprung by her husband when he went for a pee and she has thrown a curley to get out of an awkward situation. What do you think? - post by gnaylor

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

Greg's View of Todays News - 01/28/2009

This is an automated post featuring local news, press releases and syndicated news stories that I felt compelled to comment upon. Comments are invited.

• OBAMUNISM: The war in Afghanisran
  

  In wee morning hours on Friday, January 23, a U.S. spy plane killed at least 15 in Pakistan near the Afghanistan border. It was Barack Obama’s first blood and the U.S.’s first violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty under the new administration. The attack was an early sign that the newly minted president may not be overhauling the War on Terror this week, or even next.
  

COMMENT
Rome wasn't built in a day but I hope Obama works towards ending the fight in Afghanistan

• • In wee morning hours on Friday, January 23, a U.S. spy plane killed at least 15 in Pakistan near the Afghanistan border. It was Barack Obama’s first blood and the U.S.’s first violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty under the new administration. The attack was an early sign that the newly minted president may not be overhauling the War on Terror this week, or even next.
  
  

• Judge tells Christian: 'I would kill you'

  A woman arrested at the Cairo airport because her identity card described her as a Christian has been threatened for her faith by the judge in her case, according to a new report.
  
  As WND reported, authorities in Egypt deprived the woman's two children, ages 2 and 4, of food to try to coerce her to abandon Christianity and return to Islam.

  • Tawfiq told Compass Direct "the judge then said, 'I want to talk with Martha alone,' so we all left the
    room, and he said to her, 'Nobody changes from Muslim to Christian – you
    are a Muslim.'

    "And she said, 'No, I am a Christian.' He
    told her, 'If I had a knife now, I would kill you,'" the lawyer said.

    • This is the most outrageous statement thatI have ever heard of being made in the name of Justice or Religeon. The world must take notice!! - post by gnaylor
    
    

• Students to stay in school two more years - LIVENEWS.com.au

  New South Wales high school students will no longer be allowed to drop out at the age of 15, under a plan to extend the minimum school leavers age by two years.
  
  COMMENT:
  It is good to see social engineering being used wisely. The future of Australia is in our young people and the better we prepare them for their adult role in life, the better off the country will be.

• Australian PM Wants Youth Corps For Public Service - ROGUEGOVERNMENT.COM

  PM KEVIN Rudd wants to recruit an army of young volunteers to help the elderly, feed the homeless, and clean up the environment.
  
  In exchange for giving up their time, members of the new Community Corps would get discounts on their university HECS debts. The proposal could attract tens of thousands of volunteers from the 1.3 million Australians with a higher education debt.
  
  COMMENT:
  Here we go again with change by stealth. Remember 'Work for the dole'. It began on a voluntary basis - now see what you've got! This too will be optional at first and when nobody is looking, it will become compulsory too.
  Whilst it is a good idea and should be implemented, make it compulsory to begin with. it is a sadness that it has come down to putting our kids into debt just so they can get a university education - albeit a pew-requisite to getting a job these days. Is it any wonder that our young are confronted with depression more than their parents were

  tags: press

• GALEN COLLEGE INCREASES WI-FI SPEEDS WITH 80211N :: UNTERNEHMENSNACHRICHTEN

  Xirrus, Inc., the Wi-Fi "Power-Play" that delivers the most wireless coverage, bandwidth, and throughput in the industry announced today the deployment of their 802.11abg+n Wi-Fi Arrays at Galen Catholic College located in Wangaratta, Victoria, Australia. Galen Catholic College selected 802.11n Xirrus Wi-Fi Arrays to support their high performance applications and high-density classrooms campus-wide.
  
  COMMENT: It is very progressive of Galen College to install state of the art Wii Fi for their students. It would be interesting to know if one can access the Galen College Wii Fi Internet outside the school grounds

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

Dozen share in slush fund

Source: Wangaratta Chronicle - 28 Jan 09

PM’s $620,000 gift to help deliver projects

Written by SALLY EVANS.

A $620,000 slush fund provided by the Federal Government will be divided between 12 community projects across the Rural City of Wangaratta.

At a meeting in Wangaratta last night, council voted to spend the Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program funding on playgrounds, walkways, town halls and sporting grounds.

A further $3.1 million has been sought from the Federal Government to fund further work on the Ovens Riverside Precinct.

The meeting heard that a list of 30 projects with a combined value of $1.9 million was put forward for the civic projects grant aimed at stimulating the economy.

The list was assessed on community benefit, opportunity to source funding from other sources, prior council investment and whether the work could be completed by the due date of September 30.

Councillor Lauren O’Neill said the final list would boost both rural and urban communities, with major handouts including $120,000 for South Wangaratta Recreation Reserve improvements, $76,000 for the Whitfield Recreation Reserve Pavilion and $65,000 toward the footpath adjacent to St Bernard’s Primary School.

"We had a tough decision, but I think we have balanced it quite well," she said.

The decision pleased Mark Williams from the Wangaratta City Football Club, who said sporting groups had worked for some time to secure funding to upgrade the South Wangaratta Recreation Reserve.

"The soccer club is growing constantly and the area certainly needs improvement," he said.

Additional funds sought for the Ovens Riverside Precinct would provide for stabilisation of the Ovens River embankment and the creation of a riverside promenade.

It would also go towards the development of the town square and car parking in Faithfull Street, and an upgrade to the Ovens Street footbridge.

Projects identified for funding: • South Wangaratta Recreation Reserve - $120,000; • Whitfield Recreation Reserve Pavilion - $76,000; • footpath adjacent St Bernard’s Primary School - $65,000; • rural playgrounds - $60,000; • rail trail user facility - $60,000; • Carboor Hall amenities upgrade - $50,000; • Merriwa Park playground upgrade - $50,000; • urban playgrounds - $40,000; • Swan Street bridge footway - $40,000; • Milawa Hall roof - $40,000; • Moyhu Recreation Reserve water - $12,000; and • Oxley Hall air conditioning - $7000.

Real Labor would create a people’s bank, not a “Rudd Bank”

Media Release 27^th of January 2009

Craig Isherwood‚ National Secretary
PO Box 376‚ COBURG‚ VIC 3058
Phone: 03 9354 0544 Fax: 03 9354 0166
Email: cec@cecaust.com.au
Website: http://www.cecaust.com.au

Citizens Electoral Council leader Craig Isherwood has slammed Kevin Rudd’s proposal to make the Government the “lender of last resort” to Australian corporations, which this year face $75 billion worth of foreign loans falling due that they can’t repay.

“Australia desperately needs a new national bank, another ‘people’s bank’ like the original Commonwealth Bank,” Mr Isherwood declared, “It is what a real Labor Party government would do.

“This so-called Rudd Bank proposal is a continuation of the globalist policies adopted by Labor under Hawke and Keating, which systematically handed the public resources that old Labor had built up for decades, over to private financial interests.

“Now that those private interests are going broke, another Labor government is planning to step in with more public resources, and bail them out.”

NAB and Westpac have led Australia’s banks in lobbying Canberra for the “Rudd Bank” scheme, in which the Government would put up the lion’s share of a fund, raised through the sale of government bonds, which would be leveraged up to as much as $30 billion, and directed especially into the commercial property sector.

NAB chief Cameron Clyne told The Australian on Jan. 23, “I think this is the time when strong, functioning [sic], major banks look at partnership opportunities with the Government on a whole range of issues.” [Emphasis added]

Mr Isherwood continued: “It is time to come clean—in truth, our banks are busted, and the Government plans to bail them out.

“Prime Minister Rudd should heed my call last week for an Australian Pecora Commission, to investigate corruption and possible criminality in the financial system, especially the interface between private finance and the politicians who pass the policies to facilitate their corrupt practices.

“He should also return to real Labor values, and establish a new national bank, not to bail out corporates, but to direct public credit into an economic recovery program, centred on large-scale water, power and transport infrastructure projects that would both provide the basic economic infrastructure our industrial economy needs, and create millions of jobs, for those people who are losing their jobs every day as whole sectors of the speculative economy shut down.

“The issue is private benefit vs. the public good,” Mr Isherwood concluded, “and Australia will only survive this crisis if the Government pursues the public good.”

Click here to watch Craig Isherwood’s half-hour video elaborating his call for an Australian Pecora Commission, which gives background to Labor’s historical fight for a banking system in the public interest, and names the names of the rogues’ gallery of politicians who have destroyed our economy on behalf of private banks.

Greg's View of Todays News - 01/27/2009

This is an automated post featuring local news, press releases and syndicated news stories that I felt compelled to comment upon. Comments are invited.

• Canada: Raw milk crusader returns to court to fight charges from 2006 raid

  But he's confident and feels completely prepared to argue that people should have the right to drink and enjoy raw, unpasteurized milk - even if the government thinks the drink is hazardous to your health.
  
  "When it comes to our own body and what we put in our body as food, the government should respect what people want to do," he said in an interview.

  • For years Schmidt has been selling raw milk from his Durham, Ont., farm through a so-called "cow share" program, in which customers buy a share in one of his cows, rather than the milk itself.
    • Now, there's an entrepeneurial move by a farmer that I have not heard of in Australia. I am old enough to remember when pasteurisation first came in back when milk came in returnable bottles with waxed cardboard plugs to seal them. The cream rose to the top and you either poured it off as cream leaving 'skim' milk or you shook the contents to get 'full cream milk'. If it was available, I'd be buying it! - post by gnaylor

• Expert advocates yearly test for elderly drivers | The Courier-Mail

  ELDERLY drivers should undergo a mandatory test every 12 months to help cut the state's ballooning road toll, a top crash investigator says.
  
  COMMENT: I can relate to that. I am 67 and, due to cancer medications, my driving skills are deteriorating. I notice that I have difficulty maintainingt the speed limit on the open road and I get startled in CBD areas with many cars around me. Fortunately, I am still mentally alert enough to notice it and to give up driving of my own free will.

• Parents panned over lack of toilet training | The Courier-Mail

  PARENTS have been urged to take more responsibility for their children with revelations some are starting school in Queensland when not even toilet-trained.
  
  COMMENT: Is it any wonder that the standards of literacy are also deteriorating? If the children have not been toilet trained, it is likely they have not been prepared for school in other areas

  • "We have increasing numbers of children in schools that aren't toilet-trained," Mr Hart said.
    • That is 'proof absolute' that the quality of parenting has deteriorated. As these kids get older, they will fail in other social skills ultimately begettibg a future generation of less manageble children - post by gnaylor

• Obama’s Order Is Likely to Tighten Auto Standards - NYTimes.com

  WASHINGTON — President Obama will direct federal regulators on Monday to move swiftly on an application by California and 13 other states to set strict automobile emission and fuel efficiency standards, two administration officials said Sunday.

  • 
  • Mr. Obama will use the announcement to bolster the impression of a sharp break from the Bush era on all fronts, following his decisions last week to close the detention facility at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba; tighten limits on interrogation tactics by Central Intelligence Agency officers; order plans to withdraw combat forces from Iraq; and reverse President George W. Bush’s financing restrictions on groups that promote or provide abortion overseas, administration officials said.
    • The rapid response of President Obama to break from the Bush era is an encouraging sign to all environmentalists that 'Yes, we can' turn around the visible effects of Climate Change.
      
      Until now, the rest of the world has despaired saying that, unless America gets on board, the necessary change will never occur.
      
      OK, America has changed its stance - what about China and India? - post by gnaylor

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

Greg's View of Todays News - 01/26/2009

This is an automated post featuring local news, press releases and syndicated news stories that I felt compelled to comment upon

• 'Alienating Indigenous': call for Australia Day date change - ABC News

  An emeritus professor from Charles Darwin University in the Northern Territory says the nation needs to consider changing Australia Day.

  • He says that alienates many Indigenous Australians who feel it was the start of an invasion.
    • Australia day is a day of coming together - I doubt if any 'white' Australian has ever considered it a day of invasion. For the indiginous to consider it as such is provocative when, as a nation, we have symbolically apologised for the actions of our forebears and we are moving forward with the aborigines by our side. - post by gnaylor
  • "We're thinking that most people in Australia Day [think of it] as a way of saying that they celebrate the coming of the white people and the taking over of land, and the stealing of our culture and language,"
    • That is a complete nonsense. Hasn't this lady seen the Telstra Ad where the guy has taught his kid that Australia day is a holiday to watch the cricket ;) - post by gnaylor

• U.S. Forces Kill Couple, Wound Daughter in Raid on Iraqi House - washingtonpost.com

  BAGHDAD, Jan. 24 -- U.S. troops stormed the house of a former army officer Saturday in northern Iraq, killing the man and his wife, wounding their 8-year-old daughter and unleashing anger among residents at tactics they deemed excessive, police said.
  
  COMMENT: Where is the democracy that the US has imposed on Iraq when incidents like this are reported almost daily. The U.S. military described Hussein as the suspected leader of an assassination cell belonging to the insurgent group al-Qaeda in Iraq, which U.S. officials say is led by foreigners.
  Democracy says that a man is innocent until he is proven guilty. It does not allow law enforcement to kill people this way.

• NZ surrogate mum ordered to help pay for child&squo;s upkeep | The Courier-Mail

  THE Federal Government is demanding a surrogate mother from New Zealand pay child support for the baby she had for two gay Queensland men.
  The woman gave birth to the baby girl a year ago and is refusing to pay for the child's upkeep, New Zealand's Sunday Star Times reported.

  • The baby is being raised by her biological father and his male partner, who have gained child support benefits for the father to stay home and care for her. The couple are the child's legal guardians.
    • It seems the problem has arisen because the father has applied for child support benefits whilst still living with his partner. Under these circumstances, Centrelink should never have accepted the application..
      
      Where I come from, a father has an obligation to provide for the family and he should not be entitled to taxpayer support if the family unit is still intact
      
      In a heterosexual marriage, you have never heard of a mother claiming benefits whilst she is still living with the father of the child. What makes this case different? - post by gnaylor

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

Greg's View of Todays News - 01/25/2009

This is an automated post featuring local news, press releases and syndicated news stories that I felt compelled to comment upon

• Efficiency the key to slaking our thirst | Weekly Times Now

  The world's and Australia's food reserves are at their lowest for 30 years and both the world's and Australia's population continue to increase.

  tags: blogger

  • Australia is importing food from various countries to the detriment of local industry: for example, orange juice concentrate from Brazil, peaches from China and so on.
    • The only way we can get back to feeding ourselves without depending upon imports is to bring in protectionism that prevents imports being sold at a lower price than the locally produced product.
      
      As the value of the dollar goes down and the cost of transport goes up, we can hope a breakeven point is found where it will be cheaper to buy Australian grown food rather than the imported product - post by gnaylor
  • He points out that one of the factors contributing to this is that cities are taking an increasing share of water resources.
    • The first priority of any government is to protect the sovereignty of the state. If it means that they take water from 200,000 people in rural areas to prevent the rioting of the 2,000,000 in the cities, then it will happen.
      In the country, we have to learn to live with that concept and be satisfied in finding ways to provide ourselves with enough water - or - we can move to the city to become part of the 2,000,000.
      If that happens, God knows how Australia will ever feed itself. The problem is too many people! When are we going to debate that? - post by gnaylor

• Turnbull observes carbon capture technologies - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

  tags: blogger

  • Visiting Newcastle today Mr Turnbull witnessed how biomass, like wood chips, can be used to create energy and the waste charcoal stored in the ground safely.
    • Now, would that be something like torching our forests as Parks Victoria are supposed to do but never get around to it.
      I haven't heard of storing charcoal in the ground as a carbon reduction process - anyone have information on that? - post by gnaylor

• Brazil model dies from infection | BBC

  A prominent Brazilian model whose hands and feet were amputated because of an infection dies in hospital.

  tags: blogger

  • 
  • A 20-year-old Brazilian model whose feet and hands were amputated due to an infection has died in hospital.
    • Could there be anything worse?
      In the prime of her life with a promising career and a beauty pageant contestant to boot, this young woman has died from complications of a rare disease that has required her feet and hands to be amputated. If the disease did not kill her, the added burden of depression would certainly do it. - post by gnaylor

• No Bailout: Russia To Cut Vodka Taxes - ROGUEGOVERNMENT.COM

  tags: blogger

  • 
    The head of the new state alcohol agency - gleefully dubbed the "ministry for vodka" by the press - was advocating cutting taxes on the national tipple to make it more accessible, the Izvestia daily reported.
    • Now, there's something positive to get us through this financial crisis - reduce the excise on beer. On the one hand, we will keep the money circulating whilst, on the other, we will be too p*ssed to notice the recession. - post by gnaylor

• President orders air strikes on villages in tribal area | The Guardian

  Four days after assuming the presidency, he was consulted by US commanders before they launched the two attacks. Although Obama has abandoned many of the "war on terror" policies of George Bush while he was president, he is not retreating from the hunt for Osama bin Laden and other al-Qaida leaders.

  tags: blogger

  • Barack Obama gave the go-ahead for his first military action yesterday, missile strikes against suspected militants in Pakistan which killed at least 18 people.
    • This is the first indication of how the new president will conduct his foreign policy. There have been no comments about the Afghanistan war or whether he will scale up American involvement - post by gnaylor

• Obama reverses abortion-funds policy - Los Angeles Times

  A White House spokesman, Bill Burton, said Obama signed an executive order on the ban, without coverage by the media, late this afternoon. That was in contrast to the midday signings with fanfare of executive orders on other subjects earlier in the week.
  
  COMMENT: Obama change is continuing and can only restore confidence in the American population with their new government. This change helps separate the fundamental Christian influence from the state as happened under the Bush government

  tags: blogger

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

Tony Abbott advises The Young Liberals

It is sad to see but Tony Abbott hasn't moved on from the neo-conservative philosophies of the Howard era. As the Western world steps forward towards a new world order with it's left foot, Tony marches on, out of step, with his right foot and is determined to foist his philosophies on the Young Liberals at their National Conference.

The Australian reported ...

THE Liberal Party should stick to its principles and resist a move to the left in its bid to beat Labor at the next election, argues Tony Abbott.

In his speech, the Opposition families spokesman said that voters distrust politicians but the "politicians they respect most are the ones who seem most committed to their cause".

Mr Abbott says the party should resist the urge to take populist stances on issues, and instead fight for what is right.

After such a grubbing at the elections, how arrogent of Tony Abbott to claim righteousness - that was the mortal sin of John Howard "I did it because it was the right thing to do".

"After a change of government, people aren't very interested in the opposition, but they will notice if our principles seem less important to us than our political prospects."

I disagree - we are most interested to find out if the opposition can offer an acceptable alternative to status quo - and with this type of thinking, the opposition is not offering a viable alternative.

Mr Abbott says those who see unions as "just another sectional interest" and who "heed climate change science rather than green religion" are more important than ever since the defeat of the Howard government.

That sectional interest is probably the biggest 'sectional interest' in the land and cannot be dismissed because the opposition claims 'righteousness'

And he strongly defends the legacy of his former leader, John Howard, drawing a parallel between the Victoria Cross awarded to SAS Trooper Mark Donaldson last week and the US Presidential Medal of Freedom conferred on the former prime minister by George W. Bush.

"If there was anyone in politics who deserved a medal for political courage, it was John Howard," Mr Abbott says.

"Whether it was banning semi-automatic rifles, introducing the GST, getting wharfies to earn their money, allowing workers and bosses directly to negotiate with each other, dealing with boatpeople before they reached Australia, or making people work for the dole, Howard did what (was right).

From Tony Abbott's viewpoint, he is probably right. However, the Australian people did not see it that way as they removed Prime Minister Howard from the Parliament altogether.

But, now to the future direction of the Liberal Party! At the conference, the Young Liberals have proposed nine months of compulsory national service to be completed before the age of 24 and which people will not be able to dodge by going to university.

In his review (A MUST READ), Slackbastard noted: Rather than force young people to serve their country — and in order to demonstrate their own commitment — the Young Liberals would be much better advised to make it a condition of membership in their own organisation that the individual perform nine months of compulsory national service.

Those of us old enough to remember conscription, and the lives sacrificed in the Vietnam War in the name of righteousness, will never accept it again. The unfortunate thing is that our generation will have died off by the time the Liberal Party comes back to power and the fear is that a stronger neo-conservative influence will develop. God help Australia should that happen.

And what is war, what is needed for success in war, what are the morals of the military world?
The object of warfare is murder; the means employed in warfare —
spying, treachery, and the encouragement of it, the ruin of a country,
the plunders of its inhabitants… trickery and lying, which are called
military strategy; the morals of the military class — absence of all independence, that is, discipline, idleness, ignorance, cruelty, debauchery, and drunkenness.

~ Leo Tolstoy, War and Peace, 1872

Katie Price Wants Rapists Raped

Source: ANORAK

NOW free of her gargantuan Jordans, we can see Katie Price’s mouth. And Katie’s tells the Sun what she’s like to do to wrong uns:

“The way I see it is an eye for an eye. So if someone rapes a girl he should be bent over and the same thing done to him. I’m sorry that’s just the way I feel. I’m very strict. If someone is done for drink-driving they should have their licence taken away for life. And if someone steals they should have to wear a dye on their skin, like a tattoo on their ear or somewhere it can be seen – like across their face! That would stop people stealing.”

Being raped by Katie Price might be a perverts idea of a good time.

In 2001 Jordan stood Parliament with the slogan “For a bigger and betta future”. A vote for Katie was a vote for free breast implants, increased nudist beaches, and a ban on parking tickets.

She should stand again. She may have better luck with her policy of rape for rapists. Of corus, if it’s a miscarriage of justice, the victim will have to sue the harbinger of justice and - fair’s fair - rape her.

Something that may only encourage further perversion.

And is the skin dye orange? Just wondering?

Inquiry into shared government and community facilities

Source: Bill Sykes Media Release - 23 Jan 09

Nationals Member for Benalla, Bill Sykes has welcomed a new inquiry to look at the potential for increased sharing of government and community facilities across Victoria, however warns outcomes must not be at the expense of legitimate infrastructure developments.

“While I support and encourage the practice of multiuse facilities the implementation of such practices must not come at the expense of under resourcing justifiable new developments and initiatives,” Bill Sykes said.

The scope of the inquiry is to focus on the sharing of physical assets, including land. Public, government and community facilities could include school libraries, sport and recreation facilities, resource and technology centres, performing arts spaces, residential precincts and civic, health and child care centres. Part of the aim of the inquiry is to identify options to allow for increased sharing of facilities and to develop partnerships between facility owners, managers, operators, service providers and community groups.

“I recognise sharing government and community facilities can achieve beneficial social outcomes in rural areas, and in some cases provide valuable services for under resourced centres, however it is essential the practice of multi use facilities addresses and recognises the needs of individual interest groups,” Bill Sykes said.

The Victorian Competition & Efficiency Commission inquiry (VCEC) recognises the potential for the scheme to reduce the cost of developing and maintaining buildings and providing services and in addition that possible savings could be directed to other programs and initiatives.

“In principle I agree with this view,” Bill Sykes said, “but it is essential the sharing of government and community facilities does not become an excuse to under resource rural centres.”

The inquiry will consult with key interest groups and affected parties and a possibility of public hearings in the future.

The VCEC has released an issues paper to assist interested parties wishing to participate in the inquiry. To view the Issues Paper, register interest or lodge a submission go to www.vcec.vic.gov.au or contact the Victorian Competition & Efficiency Commission at sharedfacilities@vcec.vic.gov.au. Submissions are invited by 27 February 2009.

Big questions for councillors

Source: Wangaratta Chronicle - 23 Jan 09

Portfolios, funds and rural concerns on agenda

Written by SALLY EVANS.

WANGARATTA’S rural community hoping for a greater voice on council will learn of the outcome of its campaign at a meeting on Tuesday night.

A group of 30 farmers, who met with mayor Ron Webb and councillor Anthony Griffiths at the Vine Hotel last week, called on council tocreate a portfolio specifically for primary industry.

It was argued that agricultural production was significant enough in the rural city to warrant its own portfolio in addition to existing fields such as art, education, sport and tourism.

The demand also follows growing concern of a city-centric council, with six of the seven new councillors residing in Wangaratta.

The rural city is set to decide on its portfolio structure for the next 12 months at a council meeting at the Wangaratta Government Centre from 7pm on Tuesday.

Earlier this week, Cr Webb was reluctant to indicate if farmers weresuccessful in their bid to secure a primary industry portfolio.

"It was an interesting concept to take to a meeting for discussion with other councillors and council staff," he said.

The meeting will also consider the fate of a $620,000 grant provided by the Federal Government.

Under government guidelines, the money must be spent on new projects and has to be expended by September of this current year.

Cr Webb said a long list of projects were put forward for the one-off local community infrastructure program, which is aimed atsupporting local economies and jobs during the global financial crisis.

He said the projects put forward offered a good geographic spread across both rural and city areas.

45m ‘eyesore’ to dominate Brian’s view

Source: Wangaratta Chronicle - 23 Jan 09

Optus crane shows height of phone tower

Written by STEVEN BURKE.

RESIDENTS of Usshers Drive yesterday had a glimpse of what may be awaiting them if Optus builds a 45 metre telecommunications tower on land adjacent to their street.

The Rural City of Wangaratta approved a planning application at itsOctober council meeting, allowing for the construction of the tower ona Cambridge Drive property.

But the positioning of the tower will see it dominate the skyline of Usshers Drive resident Brian Kitson’s property.

Optus yesterday hired a crane to illustrate the height of the tower, and to gather evidence for an upcoming Victorian Civil andAdministrative Tribunal (VCAT) hearing

Mr Kitson and fellow neighbors, Alistair Male and Graham Whitehead, have lodged the appeal against the approval with VCAT, with the hearing to be held in Wangaratta on March 12.

A property valuer by trade, Mr Male said he was confident the objectors had some strong arguments.

"We felt that council’s handling of the application and advertising of the application was flawed in respect to how it identified the site," he said.

"The application noted the address as Phillipson Street when it’s actually in Cambridge Drive."

Mr Male said he would also refer to similar case history VCAT hearings.

But the main aim of the appeal is to ensure Mr Kitson is able to keep enjoying the lifestyle offered on his property.

"Their (Optus’) argument is whether I can see it from my house," Mr Kitson said.

"But I hardly spend any time in my house.

"I’m always out here and as soon as I come over my bridge, that’s what I’ll be confronted with."

The majority of Usshers Drive residents are supporting Mr Kitson in his fight and as Mr Male explained, other residents will be impacted on by the tower.

"It will be an eyesore from Edwards Street, an eyesore from the golf course and an eyesore every time you drive up Usshers Drive," he said.

Local Wangaratta icon to reopen

Source: Wangaratta Chronicle - 23 Jan 09

A MAJOR redevelopment is planned to bring Wangaratta’s iconic Sydney Hotel back to life.

The once popular drinking hole, which closed suddenly last June, is set for a new alfresco dining area at the front, improved service area for staff to the rear and a full refurbishment inside.

Ken Butterworth, who bought into the Templeton Street business as part of a syndicate in September, hoped the new-look hotel would open to the public in May.

"We want to make it a modern hotel and a nice place that people feel comfortable in," he said.

"It will be inviting to both male and females with families and move away from the male-dominated pub it was before."

A planning application for the first stage, the new service area, was lodged with the Rural City of Wangaratta this week.

The next stage will see the redevelopment of the alfresco area, taking advantage of the vista provided by the adjacent King George Gardens, as well as new paint, carpet and furniture inside the pub.

The adjoining bottle shop will remain closed, but Mr Butterworth hinted it could be redeveloped as part of a longer-term plan.

Combined, Mr Butterworth said the works would freshen up the hotel without compromising the character of the 1939 building.

"The building hasn’t been fiddled with, it hasn’t been changed a lot of the years, and we don’t intend to change that," he said.

"It will have the same charm and character with the design internally remaining basically the same."

A retail audit report commissioned by the rural city council last year identified the Sydney Hotel as an opportunity to further develop the hospitality and tourism precinct in Faithfull Street.

It was suggested the pub could contribute to the public space which exists at the extension of Ovens Street and connects it to the nearby pedestrian bridge.

Sophie slams cleric’s rant

Source: Wangaratta Chronicle - 23 Jan 09

Marital rape, violence "not acceptable" here

SOPHIE Mirabella (MHR, Indi) has described comments made by a Melbourne Islamic cleric about raping and hitting women as outrageous, disgusting and unacceptable in the 21st century.

In a recorded lecture entitled, The Keys to a Successful Marriage, Samir Abu Hamza said it was impossible for a man to rape his wife even if she refused to have sex.

He also outlined the ways in which it is acceptable for a husband to hit his wife if she is disobedient.

Mrs Mirabella, the Federal Shadow Minister for Women, said rape or violence, whether in marriage or not, is not acceptable by Australian standards.

"All women, whether they are born here or choose to make Australia their home, no matter what their religious background or cultural upbringing, have a right by Australian law to live in peace," she said.

"Those who violate these laws need to feel the full force of them when they do so."

Mrs Mirabella said she joined the vast majority of Australian Muslims in condemning the comments.

"All fair minded Australians would be horrified to read the comments of Abu Hamza condoning behavior which is so diametrically opposed to our way of life," she said.

The cleric’s comments come only a few weeks after a report by the Islamic Women’s Welfare Council of Victoria showed some Muslim leaders in Victoria condone rape in marriage, domestic violence and the exploitation of women.

Opening up Ovens river vista

Source: Wangaratta Chronicle - 23 Jan 09

Demolition to clear way for long-awaited city square

Written by SALLY EVANS.

VIEWS of the Ovens River will begin to open up in Faithfull Street later this month when demolition starts on the former Outlook Alternatives building.

The site at 52-54 Faithfull Street is earmarked for a $500,000 public square as part of the Ovens River/Faithfull Street Precinct being developed by council.

Demolition of the building, purchased by the rural city in late 2007, will start next Tuesday.

Mayor Ron Webb said the site would become the centrepiece of Faithfull Street, opening onto a riverside promenade and providing a pedestrian link to the central business district.

"The Ovens riverside public square, when fully developed, will create a visual link between Wangaratta’s thriving central business district and the appeal and ambience of the Ovens River," he said.

Full development of the square will be achieved in a staged approach. Following the building’s demolition, the site will be levelled and lawn established to provide a temporary community space.

Detailed designs for the square and promenade are about to be developed in keeping with concept plans proposed by the urban designers and landscape architects who undertook the 2008 Wangaratta Retail Audit and Ovens Riverside Study.

Council has applied to the Federal Government for funding to carry out the works. Development of the public square follows the new pavilion and playground built at Apex Park, beautification works to the Ovens River frontage and the revitalisation of Faithfull Street.

It has also helped attract private investment for the area with an $8 million office and retail building proposed for the former Faithfull Street Traders site by local businessman, Mick Lloyd.

Business is not above the Law 01/22/2009

• Economic climate no excuse to ignore workplace laws: Ombudsman

  Eleven workers complained to the Federal Workplace Ombudsman after their employer failed to pay them any redundancy entitlements. “In the current economic climate, it is timely to remind employers that closing a business does not mean workplace laws regarding redundancies can be ignored.”
  
  GREG'S VIEW: Whilst we don't execute busines managers for misconduct in Australia, we sure as hell need some remedies to be applied where propietors have been found to be ripping off their employes

  tags: blogger

• Report on workplace design and obesity

  "A number of emerging issues including the extent of overweight and obesity amongst the Australian workforce may have implications for the designers of workplace equipment and products," Mr Scales said.
  
  "This initial research suggests that existing Australian anthropometric data may not adequately represent the current Australian workforce. Australia’s anthropometric dimensions have changed due to improved nutrition, increasing rates of obesity, ageing and different migration patterns.
  
  GREG'S VIEW: I am amazed that we accept the obesity epidemic to the point where we have to design workplaces for the. Recently, we read of ambulances having to be refitted for obesity and larger aircraftare now required for the air ambulance service.
  
  Accommodating a disease instead of treating it is a blight on our society.

  tags: blogger

  • "A number of emerging issues including the extent of overweight and obesity amongst the Australian workforce may have implications for the designers of workplace equipment and products," Mr Scales said.

    "This initial research suggests that existing Australian anthropometric data may not adequately represent the current Australian workforce. Australia’s anthropometric dimensions have changed due to improved nutrition, increasing rates of obesity, ageing and different migration patterns.

• Death sentences over China milk scandal | theage.com.au

  A Chinese court on Thursday sentenced two men to death for making and selling some of the tainted milk that killed six babies and sickened nearly 300,000 others, state media reported. Immediately after the verdicts were announced, the Chinese government sought to show it was making great efforts to improve not only its milk industry, but all its food products, following numerous safety scandals in recent years.
  
  GREG'S VIEW: They play for keeps in China! Last year, they excuted their Minister for Health over tainted pharmaceuticals.

  tags: blogger, death, penalty

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

Greg's View of the News 01/21/2009

• Britain to the edge of bankruptcy

  They don't know what they're doing, do they? With every step taken by the Government as it tries frantically to prop up the British banking system, this central truth becomes ever more obvious. Yesterday marked a new low for all involved, even by the standards of this crisis. Britons woke to news of the enormity of the fresh horrors in store.

  tags: blogger

  • It seems to me that every country caught up in the refinancing of banks is going to need more than the value of the nation's assetts to bail them out
    
    How can you do that? - post by gnaylor
  • They don't know what they're doing, do they? With every step taken by the Government as it tries frantically to prop up the British banking system, this central truth becomes ever more obvious. Yesterday marked a new low for all involved, even by the standards of this crisis. Britons woke to news of the enormity of the fresh horrors in store.
  • Frantic they certainly are. The Brits are so far down the socialist path they have reached the inevitable dead end.
  • If we told you two years ago that the financial systems of the United States and Britain would be effectively insolvent (which we did), you probably wouldn't have believed us. If we told you that Wall Street and the City were effectively wiped out (which we did), you might have chuckled and gone on your way. And if we indicated that most people would be blaming subprime mortgages, you might have laughed out loud. In fact, concerning the subprime thing, you would have had a right. Yes, the idea that subprime mortgage lending caused the collapse of the financial systems of Britain and America (and how about France, Germany and Italy?) is essentially risible. It is the system of fiat money itself that created the bankruptcy.

• Humans eating frogs into extinction | Herald Sun

  A world obsession with the French delicacy has seen the consumption of garlic sauteed frogs legs increase dramatically in the past 20 years, with scientists from the University of Adelaide predicting the global trade of the amphibians rests somewhere between 200 million to one billion each year.
  
  GREG'S VIEW: When they run out of frogs, they might switch across to cane toads ... and Australia could keep the world going there for a while ;)

  tags: blogger, frogs, extinction

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

Mayor hears of farmer fears

Source: Wangaratta Chroncle - 21 Jan 09

Written by SALLY EVANS.

WANGARATTA’S rural community is breaking ground in its bid to secure a greater voice on local council.

A group of 30 farmers representing almost all facets of agricultural production in the rural city joined mayor Ron Webb and councillor Anthony Griffiths for a two-hour meeting at the Vine Hotel last Thursday.

The landmark gathering called on council to create a portfolio specifically for primary industry, and laid the foundation for improved relations between farmers and councillors in the future.

It follows growing concern of a city-centric council, with six of the seven new councillors residing in Wangaratta.

Myrrhee farmer David Evans chaired the meeting which he said should help allay the fears of rural landowners.

"If there was such an issue of them and us, then I think there was a very good feeling at the meeting that this was a big step in establishing a good liaison with council," he said.

The meeting made a number of demands of council, including the need for a primary industry portfolio in addition to existing fields such as art, education, sport and tourism.

Mr Evans said the meeting emphasised the contribution of agricultural production to employment (estimated at 10.6 per cent) and economic activity ($228 million) in the rural city.

"The feeling was that given other areas of concern to council were given a portfolio, the rural sector was important enough to warrant a separate portfolio as well," he said.

"And to ensure the portfolio holder is across the issues (pertaining to primary industry), there should be liaison between council and farmers such as the one we had on Thursday with particular involvement from that councillor.

"The feeling was that it would be great if we could keep the meetings going once or twice a year and perhaps involve other councillors as well.

"It makes people feel involved, and I think that’s important."

Cr Webb agreed to join in last Thursday’s discussions following a meet the candidates night convened by the Victorian Farmers Federation before the council elections in November.

He said the VFF event showed council candidates knew "nothing or very little" about the issues impacting on rural landowners.

"There was a need for a bigger understanding of rural issues at a council level and I don’t think I would deny that," Cr Webb said.

On the issue of a primary industry portfolio, Cr Webb was reluctant to comment before the proposal was given the blessing of fellow councillors.

The outcomes of the meeting are expected to be discussed at the next council meeting in Wangaratta on Tuesday, January 27.

Local farmer requestsof council:

— a new primary industry portfolio; — retention of differential rating; — land use planning and the right to farm; — roads maintenance in rural areas; — weed control; and — reintroduction of ward system.

Holding’s brick wall

Source: Wangaratta Chronicle - 21 Jan 2009

It’s overflowing, but minister still says bigger William Hovell no go

Written by JACQUIE SCHWIND.

A PUSH to enlarge Lake William Hovell, being pursued by Ken Jasper (MLA, Murray Valley), has hit a brick wall.

Water Minister, Tim Holding, has confirmed State Government will not consider increasing the dam capacity while upgrading works are undertaken.

Mr Jasper said he understood the projected works to strengthen the weir wall would cost an estimated $8 million and he had written to the minister, proposing stage two extension works should be implemented as part of the project.

Mr Jasper is extremely disappointed at the response, especially given the dam currently holds only 14,000 megalitres.

"Lake William Hovell regularly fills, and even overflows, following small falls of rain, indicating the dam is in an ideal position for water collection," Mr Jasper said.

"My position is clear.

"It needs to be recognised that it is our dams which have underpinned the supply of water in the Murray Darling Basin and ensured during the recent dry and drought years there has been some supply of water for irrigators, for townships, including the city of Adelaide, and even for environmental flows.

"Unfortunately governments and water authorities do not recognise without the water stored in our dams, the food bowl of Australia would not exist and we would have been facing a desperate water situation in the Murray Darling Basin and particularly in the Murray and Goulburn valleys."

Mr Jasper said the argument the size of storages could not be increased and new dams could not be built because of the Murray Darling cap was a complete furphy, based on mid-1990s methodology that all water has been allocated.

"The same argument is applied to Lake Buffalo, where constructing stage two would take the capacity from some 24,000 megalitres to an estimated one million megalitres, utilising Crown land held by the government and owned by the people of Victoria."

Mr Jasper said no dams had been built in Victoria since 1983 despite population and water demand growth.

"While I support water saving measures and conservation and recognise projections of possible lower rainfall, this merely endorses my firm belief the capacity to store water when rainfall does occur, to be used when needed, must be our over-riding priority.

"History will prove I’m right."

RCoW - How to spend money

Source: Wangaratta Chronicle - 21 Jan 08

Written by SALLY EVANS.

A $620,000 slush fund provided by the Federal Government was central to discussions held between Rural City of Wangaratta management and councillors at the weekend.

The planning workshop held over Saturday and Sunday was attended by all seven councillors and the five members of council’s corporate management team.

Rural city mayor Ron Webb said the three key items on the agenda were council’s induction manual for new councillors, the details and preferences for portfolios and the fate of a $620,000 grant announced by the Federal Government last year.

Cr Webb said a long list of projects were put forward for the one-off local community infrastructure program, which is aimed at supporting local economies and jobs during the global financial crisis.

"We looked at a scope of projects that met the criteria set by the government, plus some other local criteria that we applied, and discussed where they should sit as a priority," he said.

"The projects put forward offered a good geographic spread right across the rural city."

Cr Webb said the decision about the infrastructure funding would be made at a council meeting in Wangaratta next Tuesday, along with the allocation of portfolios.

Overall, Cr Webb said the workshop was invaluable in bringing new and incumbent councillors together and improving council’s working relationship.

"It was a great opportunity for the council team and corporate management team to bond together and to understand each other’s desires and goals," he said.

Watchdog Posts to 18 Jan 09

King Valley Watchdog

syndicated content powered by FeedBurner

...

Reset this favorite; show all Subscribe options

Subscribe Now!

...with web-based news readers. Click your choice below:

...with other readers:

(Choose Your Reader)FeedDemonNetNewsWireNewsFireNewsGator Outlook EditionRSSOwlShrookUniversal Subscription Mechanism (USM)

View Feed XML

FeedBurner makes it easy to receive content updates in My Yahoo!, Newsgator, Bloglines, and other news readers.

Learn more about syndication and FeedBurner...

Here are links to the last 10 posts on my other Blog

Current Feed Content

• 
  

  links for 2009-01-18

  Posted: Sun, 18 Jan 2009 13:00:26 +0000

  Male “Menopause”…Is There Such a Thing? Yes, by all means, but it is technically called hypogonadism (low testosterone levels). Symptoms may vary, but most men will experience decreased libido (sexual desire) as well as erectile dysfunction, hot sweats, decrease in body hair, fatigue, or even depression. They also tend to lose muscle mass and gain weight [...]
• 
  

  What advice would you give your unborn child?

  Posted: Sun, 18 Jan 2009 05:12:26 +0000

  Faced with my terminal cancer and coming to terms with my family, the thought has frequently crossed my mind, “What should I tell my grandchildren - as it really is - or what society wants me to tell them? A hilarious compendium of fatherly advice has become a surprising internet hit. Inspired by ‘1001 Rules for My Unborn [...]
• 
  

  links for 2009-01-17

  Posted: Sat, 17 Jan 2009 13:00:17 +0000

  FREE BLACK BALLOONS ENERGY SAVING ACTION KITS - Premier of Victoria, Australia The kits include information on energy saving actions around the home, a thermometer for cutting fridge / freezer energy wastage, a shower timer to reduce hot water usage, some handy reminder stickers and a fun temporary tattoo for kids. … and balloons? There [...]
• 
  

  Local news and media archive - 9 Jan 09

  Posted: Sat, 17 Jan 2009 06:25:55 +0000

  Local News Stories and Media Releases archived elsewhere together with current world news stories worthy of comment. 09.01.09 Fire Services Levy fury - Bill Sykes Media Release 31.12.08 A big year ahead for RCoW - Wangaratta Chronicle 31.12.08 St John’s Rates battle gets political - Wangaratta Chronicle 29.12.08 RCoW Showgrounds committee ‘Dysfunctional’ - Wangaratta Chronicl 29.12.08 CFA finally recognises local firefighters killed - [...]
• 
  

  links for 2009-01-16

  Posted: Fri, 16 Jan 2009 13:00:24 +0000

  Paint cities white to tackle global warming, scientist says White buildings and surfaces reflect far more sunlight than dark ones. Reflected sunlight does not contribute to the greenhouse effect, unlike the heat energy emitted by dark surfaces heated by the sun. COMMENT: What a simple solution. Now, what is the carbon footprint of everyone wearing sunglasses [...]
• 
  

  Reducing your carbon footprint

  Posted: Thu, 15 Jan 2009 13:46:53 +0000

  Reducing your carbon footprint around the home is really easy once you accept that we have spent a lifetime wasting cheap energy and living a disposable lifestyle. The place to start is with reducing our use of electricity. The time is approaching when we will no longer be able to buy traditional light bulbs because of the [...]
• 
  

  links for 2009-01-15

  Posted: Thu, 15 Jan 2009 13:00:28 +0000

  Country patients paid for travel (in WA) West Australian CANCER patients in the country will benefit the most from an overhaul to the Patient Assisted Travel Scheme announced by the State Government today. The service is used to help more than 50,000 country patients travel from their homes to access specialist medical services. COMMENT: This is [...]
• 
  

  links for 2009-01-14

  Posted: Wed, 14 Jan 2009 13:00:34 +0000

  Joyce slammed over eco-Nazi blast Senator Joyce said on Wednesday emissions trading would put Australians out of their homes, out of their jobs and would do nothing to counter climate change. He warned of the rise of "eco-totalitarianism" and said he would not be "goosestepping" along with environmentalists. Agriculture Minister Tony Burke called on [...]
• 
  

  links for 2009-01-13

  Posted: Tue, 13 Jan 2009 13:00:23 +0000

  Greg’s Daily News Commentary Israel Hurt By Global Condemnation Israel’s foreign minister expresses Tel Aviv’s grave concern over “a wave of anti-Semitism” sparked by the Israeli offensive in Gaza. COMMENT: I will be accused of antisemitism on this comment. This article is about the international protests against Israel’s conduct of the Gaza war. This [...]
• 
  

  links for 2009-01-12

  Posted: Tue, 13 Jan 2009 00:01:49 +0000

  Greg’s Daily News Commentary Bush defends legacy in final media conference George W Bush on Monday passionately denied his turbulent presidency had damaged America’s moral standing in the world … well he would say that, wouldn’t he! Key to financial success? Sex hormones and a long finger … and all the time we believed that the bull had balls [...]
• 
  

  News links for 2009-01-11

  Posted: Mon, 12 Jan 2009 03:01:10 +0000

  CLIMATE REPORT SHOWS VICTORIA STILL LEADING THE WAY - Premier of Victoria A report on greenhouse gas emissions from Australia’s three most populous states shows Victoria is still leading the way in tackling climate change … or so the state government spin suggests. Elsewhere, the report states, “Emissions fell by 0.5 million tonnes in NSW, [...]
• 
  

  Lesson: Get dressed before you sit down

  Posted: Sun, 11 Jan 2009 12:56:00 +0000

  Another weird Anorak News Story MIRELA Gradinaru, 37, arrived at the clinic in Arad, western Romania, with a can of hairspray stuffed up her rectum. Mirandolina Prisca, a doctor at the clinic, tells us: “We had X-rays done to localise the object and then we carried out the operation. The patient was fine after it. She was very [...]
• 
  

  It’s the economy, stupid

  Posted: Sat, 10 Jan 2009 13:00:39 +0000

  It’s the economy, stupid! Some of us think the global economy may collapse bringing about a ‘New World Order’ whilst others are banking on the ‘Free Market Forces’ to bring the economy back to ‘Business As Usual‘ This news column will blog news items that might indicate one direction or the other US recession hits Aussie exporters Australian businesses [...]
• 
  

  Seller gets online sales scam lesson

  Posted: Sat, 10 Jan 2009 12:19:00 +0000

  7 Jan 2009Reprinted from Papakura CourierBy Karen Mangnall HERE’S a tale that proves the adage that if something seems too good to be true it probably is. Photo: BEN CAMPBELL Check first: Otahuhu resident Avi Cohen is warning readers to beware of an online scam that could have left him $4800 out of pocket. It [...]
• 
  

  Let’s hope he gets it right

  Posted: Sat, 10 Jan 2009 05:58:15 +0000

  Obama vows to uphold torture ban BARACK Obama has vowed to observe Geneva Convention bans on torture and outlawed the tweaking of intelligence data for political gain, naming new US spy chiefs in a clean break from the Bush years. Australia’s future is inextricably tied to the changes that Obama brings about. With the economic collapse already underway [...]

Enter email address:


for new posts