G8: We Met,We Talked, We Did Nothing

This week the G8 summit was hosted by Japan. The G8 includes the leaders of the world's biggest polluters: Russia; France; Germany; Italy; Japan; Russia; the United Kingdom; and the United States.

High on their agenda was climate change, and the reduction of greenhouse gases that contribute to it. That was driven, in part, by the sudden large increase in the price of crude oil. In July 2007, the price was about US$75 /barrel. In July 2008, it is just over US$140 / barrel, an increase of more than 85% in 1 year! (see chart)

In real terms it is almost the same price as during the oil crisis in 1979-80.

They listened to the opinions on climate change of other "non-G8", countries, including Australia. Their responses to climate change, from their joint Statement included:

• "we urge oil producing countries to increase production"
• "we ... encourage all countries to enhance (oil) refinery capacity"
• "We ask relevant national authorities to examine the functioning of commodity
  futures markets and to take appropriate measures" - it's all the market's fault!! ?
• "We are convinced that urgent and concerted action is needed and accept our responsibility to show leadership in tackling climate change."
  and they
• "note that market mechanisms, including emission trading and tax incentives, have the potential to deliver economic incentives ... "

Their proposed action now: Nothing, although they have a "vision" of a 50% reduction in greenhouse gases in 2050. This inaction is driven by the recognition that it is right that something should be done, but we're not doing it as a majority. China and India would not agree to it, and the others, led by US President (& oil company owner) George W Bush, decided to do nothing. The politics is dirty, and the world will continue to be so, because of the leaders of Russia; France; Germany; Italy; Japan; Russia; the United Kingdom; and the United States.

Real leaders of the world would have stood up and said: "It is right to implement policies to reduce greenhouse gases. WE will do it." They didn't, and we must question their leadership.

John

Australian Politics - a blog: NSW Labor Set To Supernova

Australian Politics - a blog: NSW Labor Set To Supernova

NSW In Need Of New Ministers

The NSW Labor Government continues to squabble. The latest backbencher to express unease, MP for Drummoyne, Angela D'Amore, suffered a tirade from Premier Morris Iemma for more than an hour. Media report that he threatened to withdraw government projects in her electorate if she didn't do as she was told - at about the same as Mr Iemma told the press of the "industrial terror tactics" of the rail union. (it had threatened strike action during World Youth Day in Sydney, and it would have been reprehensible). mmm ... must check the meaning of 'hypocrite'.

The NSW Treasurer, Michael Costa, in a fit of pique, withdrew from a Labor Party fundraising event. He is at odds with his party executive over the Government's desire to sell taxpayer-owned electricity assets. Backbenchers continue to tell senior Ministers that they are out of touch. Hospitals are never far from the news, and hospitals routinely go "code red"; meaning only life-threatening cases are accepted by ambulance, or admitted.

In February, I wrote that the NSW Labor Government was ready to supernova - other media seem say "implode". So what Ministers should go? My list is:

• Morris Iemma, Premier: incompetence; lack of leadership; conflict with ALP State Executive
• Michael Costa, Treasurer: workplace bully; ready to "retire" with a nice pension; conflict with ALP State Executive
• Reba Meagher, Minster for Health: incompetence
• Frank Sartor, Minister for Planning: incompetence; has problems identifying conflict of interest; wants to micromanage everything. When he was Minister for Water, his nicknames within Sydney Water were "The Big Drip" (if he had an 'idea'), or "Cranky Franky (in his 'usual' mood)
• David Campbell, Minister for Police: too much political involvement with Police matters; WYD "annoyance" legislation!
• Joe Tripodi, Minister for Small Business: incompetence; too many dubious "connections", including from the sacked Wollongong Council
• Graeme West, Minster for Gaming & Racing: incompetence-Clubs NSW bypass him, and go straight to the Premier and the Treasurer.
• I'm sure arguments could be made for others.

There are not many possible replacements! Nevertheless, the best hope for the ALP is that backbenchers continue to express their views, and make them known to the media. That will be the only way to change the dictatorship that runs the NSW Government.

John

Rudd's Short Term Inaction

The Federal Liberal/national Coalition has criticised Prime Minister Kevin Rudd over his handling of flows in the Murray-Darling Basin. The ABC reported it as "an illusion of government action". Earlier this year the Federal Labor Government completed an agreement with the states; an agreement that the previous Coalition Government, under John Howard, did nothing for 11 years, and was unable to bring to fruition at the last minute.

The Coalition now says (without John Howard) that the agreement will not increase flows to the ailing system, but fails to indicate what would be required. What is required is significant rainfall, and a fundamental restructuring of some irrigation-based farming industries. Questions about the wisdom of growing high-water-use crops such as rice and cotton in dry, inland Australia need to be addressed. So too, do questions about the amount of water that properties can farm out of the system. Cubbie Station, in SW Queensland, has previously been named as a cause of significantly reduced flows into the upper Darling River.

Again, the ABC reported Mr Rudd as saying:

"Medium term, the Basin plan and Basin cap and a more aggressive approach to the purchasing of licences" and "Longer term, acting responsibly nationally and globally on climate change. That's our three-phase strategy."

The Government would be buying back (irrigation) water licences - but not yet. But medium and long-term policies are not enough. Mr Rudd, as part of his responses to Climate Change, Environmental concerns, farming practices and regional planning needs short-term responses as well. He needs to have some actions now, for the sake of people who live and work there, and for all Australians.

John

Garnaut's Draft - Wake Up!

Professor Ross Garnaut released the Garnaut Climate Change Review Draft Report yesterday.

While there appears to be nothing starkly different from what had been expected, it outlines the very significant and stark effects of climate change if we do nothing. For excample:

• "major declines in agricultural production across much of the country, including a 50 per cent reduction in irrigated agriculture in the Murray-Darling Basin. By 2100, irrigated agriculture in the Murray Darling Basin would decline by 92 per cent."
• "(a fall of) 4.8 per cent of Australia’s projected GDP, around 5.4 per cent of projected household consumption, and 7.8 per cent from real wages by 2100" (Media Release)

Professor Garnaut paints a picture of significant effects on economic, cultural, and physical environments. He aslo has some salient advice, indiectly aimed at politicians and nay-sayers:

"We will delude ourselves should we choose to take small actions that create an appearance of action, but which do not solve the problem." Yet, this is so often how politicians react!

and

"it is neither rational nor helpful to reject conclusions because we do not like them. The conclusions will only be ‘wrong’ if the premises or logic leading to them are wrong. The Review aims to be clear in its premises and methodology, so that they can be contested transparently. If the subsequent public policy debate follows these lines, we will improve the prospects of Australian governments taking good decisions." (Draft Report)

Politicians should not choose political expediency as the basis of policy, and Industry groups, lobbyists and other groups and individuals should not engage in scare campaigns to suit their short-term financial or poitical interests. Liberal/National Opposition politicians were already crying "wolf", even before the release of the draft report; and NSW Labor Treasurer Costa is already demanding exemptions for coal-fired NSW power stations. He wants to sell them, and a carbon-trading scheme would mean the sale price would be less!

Already, then, some of our politicians are ignoring Professor Garnaut's wise advice, and are acting in a short-term, politically expedient, and irrational manner; for their own selfish purposes. We don't want such politicians any more, and they have no part to play in rational discussion leading to proper, appropriate public policy.

John

World Youth Day - What's 'Annoying'?

The NSW Government, just before Parliament rose for several months, passed a law to stop behaviour that "causes annoyance or inconvenience to participants in a World Youth Day event".
Police will have "discretionary" powers to arrest and/or fine people. While some, including Anna Katzmann, SC, President of the NSW Bar Association is reported as saying that the laws are "unnecessary and repugnant".

People in Australia do have a right to free speech and to protest, and a law that relies on non-specific, vague terms such as "annoyance" must be bad law. I suspect that many courts would struggle to define it. I could not find a general, stand-alone legal definition for it.

WYD is unpopular with some people. It will inconvenience many. But so do/did other cultural events: consider the Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, for which streets are closed, and which promotes lifestyles practised by about 10% of the community (http://www.uqu.uq.edu.au/queer/faq_gl#7) In the 2006 ABS YearBook, 34% of Australians identified themselves as Catholic. Some/many Sydney and NSW Catholics will attend some or all WYD events. They should not now be denied that opportunity.

I'm not attending WYD, but participants in WYD should be free to do so without torment or disruption. Those who wish to protest should do so away from those specific areas being used by WYD, and respect it as a (world, and local) community event that will happen just once in their city. That is, they should be tolerant, and inclusive, in the same way that they demand of others.

Issues surrounding whether or not Sydney, or any other metropolitan city, should host large events that cause disruption, and bad legislation from our governments, should be addressed by the community, by contacting your local politician. APEC springs to mind. Look them up at www.nsw.gov.au and www.aph.gov.au

John

Humanity Still Exists

This week, there were two news stories about people who we should recognise. Not just their names, but their actions, attitudes and they way they benefit our world.

Tragically, Jane McGrath, wife of Australian Cricketer Glen, died from breast cancer. She had fought the disease for 11 years, creating the McGrath Foundation to help others by funding nurses specifically to help others. You can make donations here.

Jane McGrath touched all with her decency and grace. Humaniy has been improved because of her life on earth. Vale, Jane McGrath.

Nelson Mandela is in London to celebrate his 90th birthday. He was charming to the Queen, and later give a stern message to Zimbabwean despot Robert Mugabe. He also has a foundation - to promote and "convene dialog around critical social issues".

Individually, and as a society, we know people who contribute something, and make our society a better place. People who donate time, effort, sometimes money. People like Jane McGrath and Nelson Mandela should inspire us ... so be inspired. If you aren't doing anything for your community, and you can, get on the bus: helping, and contributing to help others, being active in community organisations & local religious groups, even lookng out for people in your own street strengthen our community, and enrich our lives. What are you waiting for.

John

NSW Voters Dumping Iemma

The news just keeps getting worse for Morris Iemma and his NSW Labor Government. The public’s list of his problems continues to grow and now includes:

• Electricity: supply, sale, rising prices
• Water: supply / restrictions, rising prices [Aside: future sale, as per electricity??]
• Hospitals: buildings, equipment, staffing, management "culture", recurrent funding to staff the wards and equipment, some of which sits idle in NSW because there is no staff allocation/funding to operate it, and excessively high occupancy rates caused by understaffing and "bed closure".
• Schools: maintenance, staffing, equipment, how to manage the installation and on-going maintenance of many new computers from the Federal Government’s rollout
• Public Transport: trains, buses, ferries, timetables, overcrowding, delays. The electronic T-Card Project fiasco was, by any measure, a failed project of this government.
• Roads and Motorways: the (privately owned, but contracted to RTA) motorways are either overcrowded (M5), or underused (Cross City Tunnel, Lane Cove Tunnel) despite measures that disadvantage public road users. Links to the Northern Beaches, via Spit Bridge. This week an electrical fault on the Spit Bridge took almost 3 hours to fix. Morris Iemma’s Government has not (yet) funded an upgrade the electrical system despite previous problems.
• Development: corrupt and incompetent Councils; a Minister (Frank Sartor) who appears to be controlling decision making at the Ministerial level, rather than letting the public service do its job. The Beechwood Homes collapse highlights the need for fair trading, corporate and building insurance legislative amendments
• Infrastructure: lack of appropriate investment in infrastructure over 10 years has necessitated a budget full of planned investment … but not too soon, and not immediately.
• Growing disenchantment with World Youth Day 2008.

It is understandable, then, that this week’s polls show that the Liberal Opposition leader, Barry O’Farrell (a not fabulous 39%), is the first Opposition Leader in more than 10 years to be more popular with voters than the Premier. (a mere 32%). At this week's caucus meeting it was made clear to him that ALP politicians in NSW are not all happy.

The government’s official response: "We've got to sell our message a lot better."
Well, … No! The government needs to change its focus from managing the next news story / media release to proper, accountable, competent management of the state of NSW. To achieve that, Morris Iemma will probably have to be replaced as Premier. Some of his Ministers need to be replaced. The problem is: who will do the job? For the people of NSW.

John

Ethics Of Corporate Money Lending

The sudden, and spectacular, crash of Beechwood Homes has affected ordinary people. People who are trying to build a house.

Recent reports suggest that owner Larry King "borrowed" about $40 Million to personally invest in a racehorse stud, "Written Bloodstock", which has failed as a business. Mr King invested the money with Mark Peters, a former bankrupt, and banned gambler.

There were several options available to raise the money, including business and/or personal loans in the name of Mr King. What he did, it's been reported, is borrow $40 million from his other company, Beechwood Homes. At least some of this money would have had an attached liability on the balance sheet: it was money paid by customers for work that had yet to be done! It was also money needed by the company to ensure that it continued to receive other payments - that is, to continue its business operations.

A case could be made that companies ought not to lend money to owners to an extent that leaves a company, or other entity, with insufficient funds to meet its liabilities; or would do, if there are several rises in interest rates. A prudent Chief Financial Officer or accountant would have advised as much.

This case seems to highlight another instance where what is "legal" is a gulf away from what is ethical. Our legislators should ensure that it cannot happen again, not with specific case legislation, but by amending existing legislation to include general safeguards against actions that are clearly not in the interests of customers who are often asked to pay up-front amounts before work commences. While they are at it, the building insurance scheme needs to be overhauled.

John

Libs, Nats Still Running On Empty

Brendan Nelson scored some "PR-points" from the public with his proposed 5c cut in fuel excise. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd certainly felt some heat, in and out of Parliament.

Ultimately, though, such a cut is bad policy. Brendan Nelson was told as much by members of his own party. A 5c/litre cut in the excise on petrol was estimated to cost the Federal Government's budget $1.8 Billion. Today, the National Party says it wants a 20c/litre cut. On a 50 Litre fill, that's just $10/week - close enough to 2 cups of coffee from Gloria Jean's, or similar coffee shops.

In terms of the family budget, it's not much, but its effects could be significant - not just on the budget, but on inflation.

Economically, at lower prices, petrol is reasonably inelastic. When prices rise significantly in a short time, as they have, then it becomes more elastic. To howls of protest from the public and businesses!

Australia, and Australians are being price-forced to evaluate how much they drive, the type of vehicle they drive, and maybe, just maybe, they way they drive.

Just driving more smoothly could save you up to 10% of your fuel bill, and only 5-10 minutes of travel time. On that 50 Litre fill, at $1.70/L, that is $8.50. Almost as much as the National Party's 20c/Litre cut, and with much less risk of higher inflation.

Want to cut your petrol bill? - drive better!

John

Is Gordon Ramsay Socially Inept?

As TV chef Gordon Ramsay sat in the spotlight of a Senate Committee, he attended a 'Good Food' magazine function at which he seemed to deliberately drop a "swear jar" presented to him by food writer Lyndey Milan. Perhaps the Aussie tradition of putting money in a "swear jar" upset him. He made no effort to clean up the broken glass; just swore, and walked away, leaving "someone else" to clean up after him.

The Senate Committee will look at changing broadcasting standards. Liberal Senator Cory Bernardi said that in one of Ramsey's episodes he used (the 'f-word') 80 times in 40 minutes. Ramsay "groupies": in TV, the hospitality (food) industry, and those part of his "in" crowd make light of the swearing, fearing that any criticism will affect their ability to bask in the synthetic glow around him.

Some things to note about swearing:

• Most people swear sometimes: sudden surprises, sudden severe pain are some causes.
• there are swear words in practically every language
• some elements in some cultures use swearing routinely
• swearing loses its impact when repeated often
• swearing seems to be a linguistic way of expressing strong emotions
• swearing might indicate a lack of thought about what is being said.

Psychology Today says that "Swearing is basically a way to relieve anger and frustration in a nonphysical way" . That might be true, but continual, or persistent, use of swearing might also indicate a person who:

• cannot control anger
• shows disrespect in a crude way
  (criticism need not involve a string of invective)
• might be unsuited to managing/directing/training/reviewing other people
• is a bully
• socially inept at coping with their current circumstances.

Perhaps Gordon Ramsay would be better suited to a show where he reviews the work of cooks/chefs without being physically present; and where his criticisms can be refined before being broadcast.

You can say almost anything, to almost anybody, on almost any topic: how you say it is one measure of the quality of character.

I'm no wallflower, but I find his performances trashy. Ramsay's histrionics might make ratings, but they aren't good television. If you want quality, and class, look elsewhere.

John

Human Decency Test

This week's news has been dominated by two events. A third event attracted not nearly as much attention.

Event 1:

Alleged bad behaviour by Federal Labor MP Belinda Neal and her NSW Minister husband John della Bosca. Decency? Enough said - there has been a mountain of material published. (Photo: smh.com.au)

Event 2:

The Footy Show (Channel 9) host Paul Vautin ridiculed a bouncer who talked with difficulty when an "interviewer" thrust a microphone almost in his mouth and where the lights and camera also caused visible distress. Vautin said, " ... that bloke was blind. He could hardly talk." The securiy guard concerned has a mild disability which affects his speech, and his eye movements.

It took not one, but three days for Vautin (Photo: www.icmi.com.au) to apologise, and for Channel 9 to remove the footage from its website. It's now available on the Internet forever, having been cached on other servers. None of the others involved have apologised. Vautin says: "We thought it was quite funny, the whole thing, and we wanted to make light of it . . . I would be the last person to ever bag someone who has a mental handicap" (he has a brother with Down syndrome).

Nevertheless, part of the ethos of the show is to embarrass and belittle as many people as possible because "it's funny"! Decency?

Event 3:

A French woman, Marie-Paul de Massiet, 81, donates some of her land to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, after excavations confirmed a mass grave of up to 400 soldiers from at least Australia & Britain. They were killed during the Battle of Fromelles 19-20 July 1916. (Photo: Wad Laube, on smh.com.au)

Following a memorial service this week, Ms Massiet donated the land to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Good on her!

At last, a story of human decency this week.

What a pity this story doesn't have the same amount of discussion as the other, "sensational" stories! We are a poorer society and community for our greater infatuation with celebrities and bad behaviour, than for our recognition of human decency.

John

Oh What A Tangled Web...

Yesterday morning, NSW Premier Morris Iemma told his embattled Minister, John Della Bosca, his job was safe. Iemma had "accepted" Della Bosca's earlier account of what happened at Iguana Joe's restaurant and Nightclub. Even yesterday morning's news that Della Bosca wrote the "apology" issued by the owner of Iguana's, didn't prompt Morris Iemma. It was Iemma's staff that panicked and forced Iemma's hand.

The politics is:

• some politicians believe they can lie and "get away with it": to each other, the media, and the people.
• some politicians believe everything they are told by the media advisers that taxpayers pay for
• Morris Iemma needs to keep Della Bosca, and those he "influences", on side, so that Iemma can sell the NSW taxpayer-owned electricity assets.
• Iemma tried, and failed, to media-manage the events involving John Della Bosca. (see previous posts concerning alleged bullying by his wife, Belinda Neal)
• It was only as a "last resort" to help his own image as being "in control", that Morris Iemma acted on his staff's advice that he sacked John Della Bosca by telling him to step aside as Minister for Education and Minister for Industrial Relations.
• Already there has been some media speculation about a possible challenge to Morris Iemma's leadership.

Morris Iemma's handling has been to act in the interests of Morris Iemma, and had nothing to do with Parliamentary or Ministerial standards. He has lurched from denial & support for his Minister, to attempted media manipulation ("management"), to crisis-mode action.

"Oh what a tangled web we weave, When first we practise to deceive!"
(Sir Walter Scott)

John

Neal Accepts Counselling

Embattled Federal MP Belinda Neal has accepted Kevin Rudd's "advice" that she attend counselling for anger management. But even as she held a press conference at her Central Coast office, she was agruing that she had done nothing wrong; insistent, almost, the SHE was right. It is a minor demonstration of a personality that might, pehaps charitably, be called "agrumentative".
(Photo: Ms Neal's Website)

What she, and her husband NSW Minister for Education and Industrial Relations, John Della Bosca, have shown is not uncommon aomong political players. Consider the following list: Mark Latham and Wilson "iron bar" Tuckey (explosive temper tantrums at will), Bill Heffernan (who did the bullying for John Howard); John Howard (who used Heffernan and others to do his bullying); many of the politicians inhabiting the NSW bearpit ... opps, Parliament.

In 2001, a VicHealth survey found that 40% of respondents named a politician as a bully, and almost 50% believed they behaved as bullies in Question Time!

We can identify other areas where bullying occurs: some employers (esp. those using the old WorkChoices laws to lower wages); some union officials (elements in the building unions and CFMEU spring to mind); political parties (especially around preselection time).

Governments have had much political "good news" publicity about anti-bullying programmes in schools. Perhaps we, as a society, need such lessons. For many of us. Politicians, especially those who have condemned Ms Neal's behavioour, could start with their own parties, and their own Parliaments.

John

Della Bosca the Spinner

The Iguana's Waterfront restaurant and nightclub is the location of the latest incident involving John Della Bosca, NSW Minister for Industrial Relations and Education, and his wife, Federal Labor MP Belinda Neal. He has previously admitted that he expects a letter from the RTA notifying suspension of his driving licence (for repeat speeding offences)

A number of media have run a story alleging abusive threats by Ms Neal, alledgly including: that she would have the police remove the (nightclub's) liquor licence; that she would have the manager sacked. In all, six staff members signed statutory declarations, including 2 managers. It's also alleged that Mr Della Bosca's behaviour became imtimadatory. The alleged threats and intimidatory behaviours started after they were asked to move to a different table to make more space for the nightclub part.

It has been reported that Mr Della Bosca made a number of phone calls to the nightclub's owner(s), and by Saturday afternoon, there was a conflicting statement from the owners, who tried to "withdraw" the statutory declarations. (They can't withdraw them, and the media has copies) It raises questions about whether Mr Della Bosca's later statements and denials are just political backspin; just how much political involvement there was in the "new" statements by the owners and such involvement is appropriate.

On 5 December 2003, Mr Della Bosca, as Minister for Industrial Relations, launched a Charter of rights and Responsibilities (for union safety delegates) the 2nd Annual Safety Delegates Conference. It included information about "Victimisation".

One can only wonder how the alleged behaviour of Ms Neal, and possibly Mr Della Bosca, can be reconciled to the OH&S rights of the club employees and managers! From supposedly "good Labor people", too.

John

Australian Politics - a blog: Art World Needs Reality Check

Australian Politics - a blog: Art World Needs Reality Check: "'Is it right to photograph pubescent children in that way?'
'Is it right to then put images of nude children on display?' (in a gallery or using the Internet)
'Is it right to display images of children in erotic poses?'"

Henson Nudes Not Porn

Today, the NSW DPP has decided not pursue charges against artist Bill Henson over puublic display of photographs of nude pubescent children. Many people, me included, doubted that such charges, if laid, would result in conviction for pornography, or puublishing indecent material.

I previously posted that the legal issues were less important that the ethical questions.

"Is it right to photograph pubescent children in that way?"
"Is it right to then put images of nude children on display?"
(in a gallery or using the Internet)
"Is it right to display images of children in erotic poses?"

I wonder: 'Would a person who downloaded the uncensored images of Henson's nude children be charged with child pornography?' That is, would the viewing and downloading of such images for sexual gratification be criminal? Henson, and other artists, might rightly claim that they are meticulous and pure in their artistic endeavour, but should artists consider how other people will use their images, before they photograph naked children? Should they then not photograph children's genitals?

The questions asked above are particularly relevant in light of this week's arrests of 90 Australian people for downloading child pornography.

John

NSW Budget A Mixed Bag

NSW treasurer Michael Costa has delivered what might be his last budget. As with every budget there are winners and losers.

Winners include:

• NSW infrastructure: the NSW Labor government has been dragged by bad political press into increasing investment in NSW infrastructure. It had allow much of it to run down since taking office 12 years, and myriad Ministers ago.
• Health: again bad press for health, and extra funding from the Federal Government (to reduce hospital waiting lists) necessitated extra spending.
• Education: as for Health, with extra funding from the Federal Government for technology initiatives (computer access for every secondary student). Again, years of neglect have necessitated big increases in maintenance/repair/upgrades.
• Business: phased reductions in payroll tax to 5.75%, although they will still not reach the lower levels of Queensland (4.75%) and Victoria (4.95%)

The big losers will be:

• government employees, who will likely get pay rises that are less than inflation. This is despite the budget papers saying that it is government policy to "maintain the real value of past significant wage increases over time". Wage rises of 2.5% pa represent a reduction in real wages after inflation of 4.2% to March 2008!
• NSW voters, who voted for a government that promised NOT to sell electricity assets, but such sale underpins this budget and the next 3 budgets.
• All government services, (including Health & Education) for which there was little, if any, increase in recurrent expenditure in this budget, or forward estimates.

There is not much use in infrastructure investment or one-off investments in hospital or school/TAFE equipment if there is no ongoing provision for staffing, maintenance and depreciation!

John

Petrol Pricing Expediency

Over the last two weeks or so, much has been made of the politics of petrol prices in Australia. The Federal (Coalition) Opposition announced it would reduce the fuel excise by 5c/Litre to "help the battlers in Western Sydney". In Parliament he referred to families in Taragos (people-mover vans) with mum, dad, 4 kids and wheelchair in the back! (not exactly the typical Australian family; perhaps it was just artistic licence)

Petrol pricing is a sensitive issue in Australia - witness former PM John Howard's political angst following complaints when petrol hit AU$1/litre. He was at further pains to make the same point the current Labor government does - international petrol prices are beyond its control. The policy has been that Australian prices are tied to the Singapore price of TAPIS crude.

Australia's petrol taxes, and pump prices, are by no means the highest, or lowest, in the world.

In February 2008, the average price across Europe was AU$2.04/litre; NZ was AU$2.28; and Britain AU$2.25/litre. The Australian weighted average was $1.44. In the USA it was about AU$0.85-0.90 (Compiled from information gathered from: RBA; AARoadwatch, Ireland; Australian Institute of Petroleum; Backpack New Zealand. Image from www.coolmob.org)

Petrol is reasonably inelastic - when the price jumps quickly, as it has, people react strongly, but in the longer term will try to reduce consumption either by changing their travel habits an/or by buying more economical vehicles. Many metropolitan and regional areas also suffer from poor public transport planning by our politicians.

Nevertheless in a world where global warming is an issue we cannot ignore, a petrol price that encourages less use is a good thing, despite the pain in the wallet. People need to adjust their expectations of cheap petrol all the time - it is just not going to happen. Politicians should look for other ways to help people, including 5, 10, and 15-20 year plans to help public transport recover from their ravages of the last 15-20 years. The trouble is, that would require them to have some vision beyond the next press conference or election.

John

Art World Needs Reality Check

An exhibition of photos by artist Jim Henson had its opening delayed after NSW police raided an Art Gallery in Paddington. They reportedly seized 20 of 41 photos - nude photos of a pubescent children aged 12-13, some photos showing sexual behaviours betwen boy and girl. It seems likely that charges of publishing an indecent article will be laid under both the NSW and Commonwealth Crimes Acts.

Some in the "art world" cried foul; "It's censorship of the worst kind" they said . Defenders of the nude children's photos included the Gallery's owner, an arts journalist, and some members of the "arts community". A blog site discussing Henson's art, Junk for Code, argued that it's not pornography, but art. Defenders say Henson is one of the best artists in his field (digital media and photography).

True, much of the media reporting has used the word 'porn'. Whether or not they constitute pornography from a social or legal perspective is less important than the questions:

• "Is it right to photograph pubescent children in that way?"
• "Is it right to then put images of nude children on display?" (in a gallery or using the Internet)
• "Is it right to display images of children in erotic poses?"

I think the answer is 'No', because responsible adults recognise that, as a society, we believe such actions to be innately wrong. Henson, and his defenders, might see a message about the vulnerability of pubescent children, but I believe that the photos are an abuse of that very vulnerability, and are inappropriate in a civilised society.

John

PS some of the images have been posted on the Internet, but I will not display them on this site, because I believe that would be inappropriate.

Ill-Devined Article for Della Bosca

After NSW Minister for Education & Training, John Della Bosca, had his licence suspended for serial speeding offences, columnist Miranda Devine launched a "poor John" defence. (Driven to Distraction for Revenue)

She argues that public humiliation, lampooning and unflattering photos in the tabloid press is "the price you pay for driving a few kilometres over the speed limit as you go past a speed camera in NSW." Certainly Mr Della Bosca had suffered from poor press and lampooning from the Opposition, but that is not the case for everyone, as implied in her statement.

She asserts that slowing down for speed cameras, then deliberately breaking the speed limit again, is just a "silly game motorists play". Pardon - an act to habitually, consciously and deliberately break the law is a silly game? Ms Devine then goes on to refer to such people, including Mr Della Bosca, as "law-abiding". People who make conscious decisions to repeatedly break the law are NOT "law-abiding".

She then argues that when caught speeding on a probationary licence, "He had been going to a work function from his Central Coast home". As if that made speeding socially acceptable!

Mr Della Bosca was asked for comment for the article, and one can't help wondering whether Mr Della Bosca's, or the Premier's, office or media staff asked for the article. That is, was this a politically-motivated article designed to manipulate public opinion in favour of the Minister.

Many people cry foul of P-Plate (probationary) licence holders. It's not just P-Platers - there are some who do drive responsibly - it's everyone who deliberately and repeatedly ignores the laws of our roads; including those in public office. They should be fined, and they should lose their licences.

John

Opposition Irrrelevent to Federal Budget 2008

As Treasurer Wayne Swan delivers his, and Kevin Rudd's, first budget, it seems he was right - there are "no surprises". that's because most of the important news had been leaked to the media. In doing so, the government has avoided attacks on any surprise elements.

So, as previously reported in the media there is money for: education, health, infrastructure, tax cuts, child-care rebates, means-testing of some government benefits and rebates, preventive health programmes were all flagged.

Given the Auditor-General's concerns about lack of accountability (& ethics?) in the former Coalition Government's regional programme, it is not surprising that they have been dropped, and replaced.

This afternoon, the Opposition Leader, Brendan Nelson,, used Question Time to ask:
"Isn't this a Budget of confusion from a Government that doesn't know what it's doing?" The Liberal/National Party Opposition is critical of the Government's spending cuts (about $33 Billion), saying it will slow down the economy and cost jobs. Spending growth is the lowest in almost 10 years - 1.1%.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd responded by saying: "It (the Opposition) is no longer articulating any credible economic policy position in the lead-up to this Budget."

The Opposition is critical of the lack of spending, because that was always its policy - dump ever-more money into the economy. It was a policy that contributed to economic demand exceeding GDP, and contributing to the inflationary pressures, and interest rates, we are now experiencing. They might well remain without economic credibility for some years yet.

John

Burma - Junta Refuses Aid Workers

One week after the terrifying storms left a trail of destruction and death in Myanmar (Burma), and left tens of thousands missing or destitute, the military junta still refuses to let in suffiient international aid workers, and aid, to help the people.

There are a few, but a coordinated releif and support effort needs both immediate aid and experienced people. The Junta has restricted both.

The Foreign Ministry, through a state-owned newspaper said it would welcome aid (relaity doesn't match the statement), but would deliver it themselves. Yet most of the images that have been shown, it is the monks and a few foreigners that have been providing immediate aid. The military, which should have been doing it, have been nowhere to be seen! Perhaps they were tending to the Generals?!

A week later and Richard Horsey (UN Office of Co-Ordination of Humanitarian Affairs) was reported in The Age as saying: "There are large swathes of the lower Irrawaddy delta completely under water. We are talking 5000 square kilometres under water. It's a vast area" . That's about 40% of the area of greater Sydney!

It is time the military dictators let in appropriate numbers of international aid workers "- people and organisations that have the experience and expertise to manage disaster relief, and medical and rebuilding assistance. China, as a major financial supporter of the Junta, has a role to play in facilitating outside assistance.

John

Iemma & Costa Lose Conference Vote

At the NSW State Labor Party Annual Conference, held at Darling Harbour, NSW Premier Morris Iemma and Treasurer Michael Costa were resoundingly defeated in their motion to privatise NSW electricity assets. The vote was 107 for, and 702 against. That is, 88% of delegates voted against privatisation of NSW's electricity assets, assets which generated a return (dividend and 'income tax equivalent') of more than $1.2 Billion in 2006-07.

It is a significant defeat for Treasurer Costa, who has been the driving force: Premier Iemma has just been along for the ride, but nevertheless spruiking the sale. This has been a difficult issue for Morris Iemma. If he did not adopt Costa's policy, he risked internal Government ructions, but became beholden to Costa to keep him propped up. Having spruiked it, he could not then back down: he would be criticised for being "in the pockets of the unions", and weak. So he chose to be in Costa's pocket.

Morries Iemma has a dilemma! The Labor Party Conference has set a policy of not selling. If he backs down, be seen as weak, and the Opposition (remember them?) will drive home his weakness in and out of Parliament. If he proceeds with privatization against the Party Policy, he will risk both a public and Party backlash; possible expulsion; and exacerbate internal party divisions; and Opposition ridicule. Saving face will be almost impossible.

The actions of Morris Iemma, Michael Costa, and others, have been driven by politics, and power. The real, long-term interests of the people of NSW have not been a consideration.

Late Extra:
Premier Morris Iemma told media this afternoon:

"I'm advising that we are proceeding down the path ( to privatise NSW electricity assets, against Party Policy) that the Government had started"

John
PS I am not a member of any political party, nor have I ever been.

Alcopops: More Tax to Reduce Binge Drinking

The Federal Government has announced an increase on the tax on alcoholic soft drinks (alcopops): they are now taxed as spirits. This corrects an anomaly in the taxation that endured since the introduction of the GST. The price increase amount to 33c-60c+ per bottle, bringing their cost to about $1.30

The Federal Government, using the media, has pushed the line that this will help reduce the incidence of binge drinking among youth, and associated social problems, including violence. But is it enough? I don't think so. Indeed, it really might just be a token gesture, albeit one that will contribute more to government revenue. One hopes it will be spent on preventive measures.

E LAW - MURDOCH UNIVERSITY ELECTRONIC JOURNAL OF LAW, VOLUME 1 NUMBER 4 (DECEMBER 1994), stated that:

"If (alcohol taxation) were effective (in reducing social problems associated with the over consumption of alcohol), one would expect taxation to reduce the aggregate consumption of alcohol. However, in Australia there is little empirical evidence that this is what actually occurs"

and concluded that

"Ultimately, taxation is too blunt an instrument to effect the government's desired objective of reducing alcohol related social problems."

The Centre for Health Programme Evaluation, in 1992, concluded that

"...there is a very compelling case for a new tax base and for a
very significant increase in the rate of tax."

That is, a change in the way that alcohol is taxed, perhaps to volumetric taxation, and that there should be a large increase in dollar terms of the amount of taxation. There are many different interest groups - bottled wine makers; cask wine makers; spirits; beer - some of which would see their prices rise significantly if there were volumetric taxation. The method of taxation needs to account for consumers who will choose the "cheapest" or "most popular form" of alcohol on which to binge-drink. It will not be an easy task.

John

"Want a tax cut ... drink less!"

Australia 2020 Summit Ideas

The 2020 Summit held in Canberra has finished. Each of the 10 working groups has threshed out the wording of its "big idea". Some of them, listed below, are similar to Labor Party policy. The Main Idea Areas were: Productivity; The Economy; Environment; Rural; Health; Families; Indigenous; Creative Australia; Governance and Security.

The initial report can be read here., at the 2020 site. The 202Summit site will later publish the full report.

Let me comment on one area - Governance. Yes, the move to a republic was its top recommendation, including some suggested steps. This is the one that got all the headlines - well, it IS the major idea. But there were other ideas that will help strengthen the foundations of our democracy:

• a Bill of Rights: worth further discussion, but it should be noted that such a document has not helped the many people in Zimbabwe who opposed the despotic Robert Mugabe
• "fix" the current state of federalism: successive governments of both former Prime Ministers Keating and Howard have done much damage to Commonwealth-State relations in the last 20 years. Recovery will likely be slow, and some politicians will resist, but it is definitely worthwhile.
• Executive (Ministerial) Accountability to Parliament: every voter knows that Question Time has been used to avoid, and not accept, accountability and Ministerial responsibility; and to mockingly abuse Opposition politicians. It is an area that needs fixing, at both Federal and State levels!
• Freedom Of Information Laws: (as above) Indeed, many major daily newspapers report the obfuscation used to avoid providing journalists with honest and open responses to questions.
• the need to strengthen individual and community participation in our democracy. This one will be a challenge - generations of Australians have been turned off politics, government, and politicians because of the actions of successive politicians. This applies to political leaders all the way to party hacks who "do as they're told" in the name of "the party".

Action on reform of Question Time and FOI can be swift, effective, and at little or no net cost. Kevin Rudd just needs to allocate the Parliamentary time to implement them. A Bill of Rights and fixing Federalism will take longer, and require Federal and State leaders to , well ... talk to each other, politely!

John

Quentin Bryce Our Next GG

Prime MInister Rudd has announced Ms Quentin Bryce as Australia's next Governor-General. Curremtly Queensland's Governor, she will tak office in September.

Her appointment has met with almost universal approval. While her CV has been published, and commented on by the media, there has been much more made of the fact that she will be the first woman to be Governor General or Australia.

On the basis of her CV, she is certainl yan appropriate appointment.

Why, then, is it necessary for so many to concentrate on her gender? Does Australia have such a poor record of appointing women to very senior ranks in Government, and in business?

Perhaps governments have been more successful in having women leaders. There have been women Lord Mayors, Premiers, Deputy Premiers and Julia Gillard is currently Deputy Prime Minister. Business is dragging the chain. The Australian newspaper (22-Aug-2007) cited a EOWA survey as follows:

"The EOWA study shows that women make up 12 per cent of executive management
positions in Australia -- a smidgen up from 11.4 per cent in the 2004 survey.
The survey showed that almost 40 per cent of companies surveyed had no women
executive managers."

Comparing Australia to other countries, in 2005:

• Australia - less than 8% of company board members were women (womenonboards.org.au)
• Norway - 21%, Sweden - 20%, and Sweden, Estonia, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Romania, Finland, UK, Latvia, Germany, Lithuania, Hungary, Denmark, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Greece and Poland (Handbook on Women in Business and Management By Diana Bilimoria, Bilimoria, Sandy Kristin Piderit, Piderit, Inc NetLibrary)

all had greater representation than Australia.

Perhaps Quentin Bryce, as Governor General, will provide a suitable role model for business, and the community. Business also seems to need new, effective, affirmative action plans. They just might help their profits.

John

NSW Trains & Education Stupidity

For some time now we have had the "good news" announcements about the new rail metro line to Rouse Hill. But the Ministerial bloopers have kept rolling. Certainly, they have distracted the media, and possibly some voters, from the NSW Health / Hospital inquiry.

Metro bloopers

• The announcement that the Metro line could start from a currently disused St James Station tunnel.
  PROBLEM: the very same tunnel was, days earlier, used for a Premier Iemma photo-op as ... a water storage facility. The story was that it could be used for holding rainwater for watering the Botanic Gardens, Hyde Park, and other areas.
• the proposal is to have 1 line, from the city, terminating at Rouse Hill, a distance of about 40-45 km. This is a single-line, long-run railway.
  PROBLEM: Metro lines work best in cities with high population densities, usually over short runs of less than 20 km, and with frequent (5-10 min) intervals between trains. The Sydney metro proposal would be better as a normal train.
• the NSW Government will almost certainly want a private investor, because it doesn't want to spend the money to provide the service, even though that's its whole reason for existing.
  PROBLEM: the history of private toll roads in Sydney is variable - consider the Cross City tunnel, and the Lane Cove tunnel - and voters are voting with their wallets, and using different routes.

Education
The latest proposals are:

• Tell teachers they cannot have any more than a 2.5% wage increase; at Treasurer Costa's insistence, so that his budget look good. This is less than inflation, and will drive more teachers out of the system.
• Change the staffing (appointment) system, so that individual schools are responsible for hiring. That way, the voters can't blame the Government for the lack of teachers (see above), or because the school is not in a desirable area.
  PROBLEMS: Those teachers currently teaching in more remote areas, or areas of disadvantage, can now forget about transferring. Under the Government's proposal, if they want to move, they have to find a school willing to employ them. Those schools will find it even harder, if not impossible, to find staff.
• Make Principals responsible for hiring (and firing). Again, this means that voters can't blame us (the Government).
  PROBLEMS: giving Principals the responsibility of hiring presents opportunities for conflicts of interest. Now, a number of current Government Ministers might think that a conflict of interest is not a problem, but a state-wide system needs to ensure this, and an independent appointment system does this. Further, will Principals be given a "staffing budget" and therefore be put into the position of deciding how NOT to employ teachers and staff that are needed, for "budgetary considerations"?
• The Government proposals can only do to Public Education, and our children and grand-children, what road closures have done to residents and businesses near the Lane Cove Tunnel and Cross City Tunnel. They should be resisted by teachers, by Parent associations, by Principals, and by us voters.

John

Premier Iemma's Annus Horribilis

NSW Premier, Moris Iemma, today marks one year since his Labor government's NSW re-election. It has, by any measure, been an "annus horribilis".

The year has been marked by political and criminal controversies.

• Former Minister, Milton Orkopolis has been convicted on child sex and drug charges. The questions about who else knew what, and when remain unanswered, and will haunt the government, and some individuals, for some time.
• The "Paul Gibson" affair, where allegations of domestic violence against a former lover were ultimately dropped due to lack of evidence.
• The allegedly revenge allegations aabout his replacement, former Fire Commissioner Phil Koperberg, also failed due to lack of evidence, but caused him sufficient health problems to resign as Minister.
• The Lane Cove Tunnel has caused traffic chaos, as not as many people aare using the private tunnel, and more want to use the now single-lane public road.
• Health, and Minister Reba Meagher, have had their own problems: Royal North Shore emergency dept; Bathurst Hospital Project bungling; not one, but two enquiries into hospitals; Central Coast Hospital emergency response times are no alleged to have been changed to meet Health Dept "requirements"; there are, or will be more.
• The T-Crad (public transport) Project was finally put to rest. It was supposed to have been operating before the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney.

Morris Iemma had been looking for "good-news" stories: in the last two weeks, they came in the form of proposed water storage in disused tunnels under St James Station; and the north-west metro rail line. Uh-oh! Problem! Despite Deputy Premier John Watkins saying they are diferent tunnels, it seems that they are one and the same tunnel under St James Station. Just another case of left hand-right hand syndrome.

Really, it was just another stuff-up from Morris Iemma's NSW Labor Government.

Just another day in NSW politics.


John

Libs Won't Bury WorkChoices

Following their defeat at the election last November, senior members of the Liberal Party said that “WorkChoices is dead.” On the basis that voters “have spoken”. Joe Hockey, having tried to defend the indefensible as Minister for Workplace Relations, was among them.

On 19 Feb, The Liberal Party Deputy Leader, Julie Bishop spoke the media outside Parliament House in Canberra and said the same thing – WorkChoices is dead. (see here)

Yesterday, the new Labor Government’s legislation to dismantle the most evil part of WorkChoices – individual contracts, or AWA’s – was passed by the Senate. The Opposition did not vote for it, but they did not oppose it.

Later, the Government gave the Opposition what can only be called a flogging – a flogging amplified by almost every news report. The Government moved a motion that Parliament would never again legislate to introduce individual worker contrats – AWA’s. The Opposition went ballistic: they raised points of order, called for divisions, and some walked out. These were the same people who stood before the media and “WorkChoices is dead”. They voted against the motion, leaving the door open for a future Coalition government to say – we didn’t agree; and reintroduce AWA’s.

The government will doubtless remind voters, often and loudly, the Opposition secretly wants to resurrect WorkChoices. The Opposition can only blame itself – it said WorkChoices was dead, but wouldn’t bury it.

John

Turnbull's Knickers in Hypocatic Knot

Shadow Treasurer Malcolm Turnbull's knickers are in a knot. The Liberal Party has decided to unload all that was John Howard's, after Howard led the Liberal Party, and himself, to defeat at the last election.

His latest trigger is that the Government's submission to the Fair Pay Commission does not ask for a dollar amount. What he wanted was a figure that he could then use to try to dissemble an argument against the Government, both through the media, and in Parliament. Having not give him an exact figure, and therefore a means to score political points, Mr Turnbull is throwing his own personal tanty, using the media.

The Fair Pay Commission has received submissions on a rise in the minimum wage, currently $522/week. Unions want a rise of $26, business groups want only $13. A $13 rise would see the wages of people fall, in real terms: it is not enough to match the rate of inflation.

The problems for the Opposition, and Mr Turnbull as Shadow Treasurer, are threefold.
The first is that they, individually and collectively, allowed John Howard to establish the Fair Pay Commission, set its agenda, and lower the wages of people in real terms. They voted for it, and then made people wait almost 2 years after its establishment for any sort of pay rise.

The second problem for the Opposition is that, having refused to recommend a dollar amount of rise in its own submission, it then hypocritically calls for the Government to do so.

And then there's Malcolm Turnbull's media tanty!

John

Carers, Pensioners: Kite-Flying Rumours

Having flown the kite that nothing is guaranteed, the Federal Government has this week see much media speculation about winners and losers. Kevin Rudd's and Wayne Swan's "razor gang" have been looking at ways to slash the budget.

It is right to examine HOW the budget is spent, as well as WHERE. The bottom line, so to speak, is about cutting government spending, particularly spending in the Australian economy. That such a measure was needed is indicated by Treasurer Wayne Swan's (pictured) push to increase the retained surplus from 1.2% of GDP to 1.5% of GDP. Such a measure will have an impact on inflation by reducing the money supply in the economy.


Carers and Pensioner "bonus payments" were subject to much media speculation: not much was heard from the Opposition which, in government, introduced such payments just before the 2004 election as a vote-buying exercise. Kevin Rudd has now said that no carer or pensioner will be worse off, implying that he will build the "bonus" into regular, fortnightly payments than will properly appear in the budget and forward estimates. This is more economically responsible than end-of-year splashes. However, if these groups want to have that money spare, they will need to budget, and put aside the money each payment. The trouble with this is twofold: health costs rise faster than inflation, and Australians are bad at "saving for a rainy day"!

Kevin Rudd and Wayne Swan realised they needed to find other ways to save money, so they have flown the electorally popular ideas of cutting back on politicians gold passes (25 free domestic flights per year, and the pass is earned depending on years of service and positions held.). Perhaps, just perhaps, they don't need that many, for so many years after retirement.

John

Interest Rates, The Economy and Tax Cuts

The Reserve Bank lifted the official cash (interest) rate by 0.25% to 7.25% from 5-March-2008. Banks will follow suit quickly, and might raise their rates by more than 0.25%.

However, the RBA noted that there is some evidence of slowing of household demand. The RBA noted that there is likely to be another rise this financial year (before end of June), before perhaps moderating next year as demand slows. The full text can be found here. The RBA must use monetary policy to slow demand, because the budgets of the previous Federal Government have contributed heavily to inflation.

There have been varied responses to the rise. The Australian Chamber of commerce and Industry says the last 4 rises have cost the economy (business) $8 billion (in extra profit). For people with a mortgage it is further bad news - their repayments will rise, or they will pay for longer times.

This puts the new Labor Government's commitment to tax cuts in dimmer light. Kevin Rudd says the Government will deliver. I'm not sure the economy can take the cuts, as promised. A fiscally (budget) responsible position would be to delay the tax cuts, or to provide them in a different form - unions want some as extra superannuation contributions from the government. John Howard and Peter Costello pumped ever more spending money into the economy, and caused this inflation. Kevin Rudd is caught between a rock and a hard place: election promise or economic responsibility. I feel a compromise where there will be further cuts to government domestic spending, and most of the promised tax cuts. (So much of politics is about image.)

John

NSW Anti-Corruption Measures

Many in NSW wish that someone would dismiss the NSW Government! A number of Government members have been scrutinised in the media as a reuslt of the ICAC investigation into corrupt behaviours at Wollongong Council. The recommendation to dismiss Wollongong City Council was accepted, and Council has been sacked. (See here). They include Joe Tripodi, and Member for Wollongong, Noreen Hay. While not formally investigated, the relationships between the NSW Labor Party and developers has highlighted a number Government members who have, or have had, potential conflicts of interest. These, at least, have not been declared, nor has there been any apparent attempt to avoid or mitigate them.

There are wider issue here, with individuals and "interest groups" gaining access to the Premier and Ministers by buying lunch/dinner meetings with them. The guise is as a "fundraiser" for the ALP. That is, money buys access to government! It includes developers, the hotel industry (AHA), Clubs NSW, and gambling interests. One wonders what "return on investment" they have in mind.(?)

It would be timely to remind ALL of our state politicians that possible and actual corruption must be eliminated, and confilcts of interest avoided. Fortunately ICAC runs training sessions. There is one scheduled for 5 March on Corruption Prevention for Managers, although it is too late for them to register now.

ICAC should be invited to present compulsory training for ALL NSW Parliamentarians - MLA's and MLC's - and their Parliamentary staff. The voters of NSW reasonably expectat that they will know about, and take active measures to avoid, both corruption and conflicts of interest. Anything less represents reprehensible conduct. Ignorance is no excuse.

What will Premier Morris Iemma do - my prediction is that he'll do nothing! Unfortunately that will only erode not only confidence in the NSW Government, but the foundations of our democracy.

John

Wollongong Council Sacked

NSW Local Government Minister Paul Lynch has sought, and been granted, the dismissal of Wollongong City Council from NSW Governor, Marie Bashir.

Wollongong Councillors, staff, former staff and developers have been the subject of an ICAC investigation.

Mr Lynch said:

"Sacking councils is absolutely the last I want to do but when you've got no
option, you've got no option."

It is right that Wollongong City Council be dismissed - ICAC might yet recommend pursuit of criminal charges against some of those involved. An administrative team will take over, and elections for Wollongong Council will not be held this year. Administration will continue for another four years.


John

NSW Government Sacks Coucil for Incompetency

NSW Local Government Minister Paul Lynch has sacked the Port Macquarie-Hastings Council and appointed an administrator, who will run Council's affairs for the next four years.

Minister Lynch acted on the recommendation of NSW Public Inquiry Commissioner Frank Willan. The Minister further indicated that there appeared to be incompetence, but not corruption.

Given the NSW Government's apparent incompetence at managing projects (T-Card, Cross City Tunnel, Hospitals/Health, etc) and the apparent inability of its Premier and Ministers to avoid conflicts of interest concerning development, there is considerable irony in the decision.

I wonder whether, if he had the powers, Paul Lynch would sack the very government of which he is a member!

John

NSW Labor Set To Supernova

The NSW Labor Government is reeling under ever-increasing revelations of corruption at an ICAC inquiry into the relationships among developers, Wollongong Council, and the NSW Government. There are also press reports of possibly corrupt appointment of Labor "mates" and developer donation to political parties.

There is a real risk to our democracy in the way the NSW Government, its Premier and Ministers appear to do business: those with money to donate, get access to Ministers who make decisions. That level of access apparently does not come cheaply; and some donors might well expect a favourable decision after meeting. These erode our democracy; and increase the likelihood and perception of corruption, and benefit only those closely involved.

But there are other problems, too.

• Project Management is almost non-existent, leading to waste of taxpayer money.
• The proposed sale of electricity retail, supply and to lease power station corporations can only lead to higher prices for consumers. The Owen Report was strangled into recommending the sale with a brief to ensure NSW's AAA credit rating. It is being vehemently opposed by unions, employees and others, who cite the lack of benefits to the people of NSW, and the expected large increases in prices.
• Hospitals, and the NSW Health system generally, lurch from one crisis to the next. Much of the problem stems from chronic underfunding, cost-shifting and incompetence.
• Over the last 10 years, successive Police Ministers have sought to exercise greater control over the functioning of the Police Force - something that goes against the principle of the Separation of Powers.

The NSW Government has been tarnished by all of this. If they do not "restructure" by shedding some senior Ministers, and possibly the Premier, it risks becoming a political supernova.

John

NSW Government Unable to Manage Projects

The list of projects bungled by the NSW Labor Government continues to grow. The list includes projects for/at:

• Royal North Shore Hospital (RNS)
• The Cross City Tunnel Project (disadvantage to public road users/underwriting private project with public money)
• The Lane Cove Tunnel Project (disadvantage to public road users/underwriting private project with public money)
• Orange Hospital Project: indeed health management, in general, seems to lack the investment needed.
• The T-Card (transport) Project, now cancelled

I have written in previous blog postings about the NSW Government T-Card Project and the proposed sale of electricity - a project that will benefit the Treasurer's next career, but not the people of NSW.

What makes a successful project? In my opinion a successful project satisfies the following criteria:

• all stakeholders are consulted, and feed back sought, before and during the project.
• the customer is satisfied.
• the system works as intended.
• the project is finished on time.
• the project is completed satisfactorily on budget.

Good Project Management requires that, at each stage of the project, a review is conducted to determine whether it is worthwhile continuing, and the establishment of an oversight committee.

There appears to have been little or none of the above activities undertaken by Morris Iemma's Labor Government. In the current political climate that has developed over the last 10 years, it is also highly likely that each successive Minister/Premier has has a personal say in what they want, which might be at adds with what the real needs of the people of NSW.

The various Ministers and Premier must be accountable to the NSW Parliament, and in some cases accept responsibility, for failed projects that have wasted NSW taxpayers' money.

John

Question Time Not About Accountability

Yesterday, in a fit of political pique about not having Question Time as part of the new Friday sittings of Federal Parliament, Joe Hockey said:

"We (the Liberal/National Party Coalition) stand for accountability, we
stand for transparency"

Yet a study of Question Time under the former Coalition Government of John Howard by Parameswary Rasiah, University of Western Australia, in 2006 found that

"accountability is a highly unlikely outcome of Question Time"

given that the (Coalition) government used "Dorothy Dixers" for itself, evasion, changing the subject (usually to abuse Opposition members) and a Speaker who retains membership of, and favouritism towards, the Government. Conversely, it is also probably true that the then (Labor) Opposition asked too many questions aimed merely at political point-scoring.

Friday is a new sitting day - there is NO LOSS of existing Question Time, and the Opposition is unsure if it will use the day for its designated purpose - to raise matters of importance to members' constituents: voters who seem unimportant to the Coalition.

Under these circumstances, Joe Hockey's words reek of high hypocracy!

It might well be only media attention and reporting that is maintaining any semblance of accountability and responsibility. They MUST resist any and all criticism from the offices of our political leaders that is aimed at inhibiting "bad news" stories.

Many would agree that similar tactics are used in State Parliament Question Times. Governments, Federal and State, Coalition and Labor, have repeatedly and persistently eroded our democracy, driven by self-interest. It is time for a change in the way Parliamentary Question Time is run.

John

Libs Try Dumping Workchoices

The Liberal Party has today said that it it will no longer support AWA's, the iconic centre of John Howard's WorkChoices. It has been THE primary instrument used to offer workers lower wages, with fewer conditions, and with a requirement of unspecified "reasonable overtime" with no penaly rate.

Opposition Leader Brendan Nelson left it to his Deputy, Julie Bishop, to front the media. Today's news carried the lowest ever "approval rating" of just 9%. Dr Nelson and Mrs Bishop had argued in and out of Parliament for the retention of AWA's, even after Labor introduced legislation to wind back the effects of WorkChoices.

Politically, WorkChoices has been dead from first moments of last year's election loss by the Liberal Party. Even now they want to have existing or new AWA's to have a 5 year term - not the 2 years proposed in Labor's legislation. It is a sop to big business; an attempt to have one last word on WorkChoices, before the Liberal Party tries to forget its ignominious past. But, for this Parliamentary term, at least, every Liberal Member will be tainted with, and taunted by, "WorkChoices". Julie Bishop has indicated that if it is not accepted, they will still approve Labor's legislation.

It is the second issue this week where emboldened Liberal Party members have tried to distance themselves from the defeat. The ABC aired a "documentary" in which senior Liberal Party members lined up to eagerly say "I told John Howard it was time to go". By implication they lay all the blame for defeat at Howard's feet, and none at their own. They included Senator Nick Minchin, Tony Abbott, Alexander Downer and Peter Costello.

They might well be trying a "makeover" - it could a a very long time before it works. It might only work with new leadership: leadership untainted by WorkChoices and meek subservience to John Howard.

John

Abbott - The I Team

Tony Abbott must think there's an 'I' in team. What else could one conclusde after his individual "look-at-me" media statements and interviews this week.

First there were HIS statements about the Parliamentary motion of apology to the Stolen Generation. Even in Fairfax media today (Sunday) he is quoted as saying that the apology "was not going to make any practical difference to their lives" . This denies any beneficial effect that psychological healing and a more positive outlook might have. He goes on to question whether any benefits that bipartisan membership of a group could have on a program to help Indigenous communities in the NT. Perhaps he is driven because this relates his his portfolio as a Shadow Minister, but it seems to carry the whiff of sour grapes at having been politically railroaded by Kevin Rudd's unexpected offer from within Parliament. The Opposition should have responded with "we are interested, but the Prime Minister has made this offer without consulting us, and we want to know more." but were railroaded by a piece of smart politics.

On Friday, he made sure that the media knew HE took a $90,000 pay cut after losing his position as a Minister after the election.; why shouldn't he get a pay rise of up to 7%! (as he did last year) This weekend, it was reported that workers from QANTAS Valet Parking have been made redundant, and will be offered the same positions on AWA's, with a $15,00 pay cut! Tony Abbott doesn't like his own cut in pay, but fully supports the retention of AWA's, and their effect of lowering other people's income.

I tlooks like Tony Abbott's media releases are more about ... 'I'-Team Tony Abbott.

John

Sorry - A Mixture of Responses

The text of the Australian Parliament's motion of "sorry" to Indigenous Australians can be found here.

Many people, of all backgrounds and communities found the apology an emotional moment: there were tears of joy; tears, too, of remembrance; some frowns, and many, many smiles.

Present in Parliament were Gough Whitlam, Malcolm Fraser, Paul Keating and Bob Hawke - all the living former Prime Ministers. John Howard would not attend to say "sorry", having refused to do so as Prime Minister.

Bringing Them Home, a report into the stolen generation, recommended that 26 May be set aside as a National Sorry Day. (see the site of the National Sorry Day Committee) There are many "days" set aside to remember past events, celebrate events, or to raise awarenes of, usually, health-related matters.

Others stood and turned their backs as soon as Opposition leader Brendan Nelson stood. The right to disagree, though, does not condone bad manners. Some booed when he mentioned that child abuse still occurs within Indigenous communities. (it also occurs in the wider community) Others are agitating for monetary compensation, and money for communities.

The hope that yesterday's apology brings will only bear fruit if Indigenous leaders, and thier communities, work with governments and their Councils to do what is right for individuals and their community. Alcohol, petrol-sniffing, disconnction from their heritage, and violence will be best stopped from within, and by, communities. Great things can come for individuals and communities when they work together. That is the hope that is what yesterday's apology brings.

Some "activists" were keen to push for monetary "compensation", but reparation can be in kind: it can be in the form of cooperative action with, and for, communities.

The apology was made in good faith by, and on behalf of, the Parliament of Australia. Many Australians agree with its sentiments. Many Indigenous people accepted it with good grace. Others should do so, too.

John

Sorry Tugs the Heartstrings

SORRY

The Parliament and Government of Australia today said "sorry" to aboriginal people for pain and suffering caused by the actions of past people and past Government actions.

The full text appears below.


Today we honour the Indigenous peoples of this land, the oldest continuing cultures in human history.

We reflect on their past mistreatment.

We reflect in particular on the mistreatment of those who were Stolen Generations – this blemished chapter in our nation’s history.

The time has now come for the nation to turn a new page in Australia’s history by righting the wrongs of the past and so moving forward with confidence to the future.

We apologise for the laws and policies of successive Parliaments and governments that have inflicted profound grief, suffering and loss on these our fellow Australians.

We apologise especially for the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families, their communities and their country.

For the pain, suffering and hurt of these Stolen Generations, their descendants and for their families left behind, we say sorry.

To the mothers and the fathers, the brothers and the sisters, for the breaking up of families and communities, we say sorry.

And for the indignity and degradation thus inflicted on a proud people and a proud culture, we say sorry.

We the Parliament of Australia respectfully request that this apology be received in the spirit in which it is offered as part of the healing of the nation.

For the future we take heart; resolving that this new page in the history of our great continent can now be written.

We today take this first step by acknowledging the past and laying claim to a future that embraces all Australians.

A future where this Parliament resolves that the injustices of the past must never, never happen again.

A future where we harness the determination of all Australians, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, to close the gap that lies between us in life expectancy, educational achievement and economic opportunity.

A future where we embrace the possibility of new solutions to enduring problems where old approaches have failed.

A future based on mutual respect, mutual resolve and mutual responsibility.

A future where all Australians, whatever their origins, are truly equal partners, with equal opportunities and with an equal stake in shaping the next chapter in the history of this great country, Australia.

John

Comments on the apology can be found here.

The Politics of Saying Sorry

The Australian Parliament resumes this week and, on Wednesday 13-Feb-08, it will affirm a motion of sorry to the Stolen Generation. The motion will be an expression of sympathy and acknowledgement of the pain felt by many families after the forced removal of their children.

John Howard steadfastly refuses to attend Parlaiment for the motion - his former MP's probably won't miss him, as they begin to think for themselves, albeit with considerable division.

Kevin Rudd's team is still working on the exact wording, but he has consulted with Brendan Nelson and Aboriginal representatives.

Coalition MP's, long used to John Howard telling what and how to think, have been a rabble. Some, like Julie Bishop, have revereted to "What would John Howard have told me?" Others, like Malcolm Turnbull and Senator Bill Heffernan, believe the proposed apology is overdue, have abandoned their Howard straitjackets, and have been actively lobbying their colleagues.

The Coalition has indicated that some of its MP's and Senators, including Tony abbott, will make statements questioning the term "stolen generation" and stating the good that forced removal of children did. (?) It means the apology is not unanimous and hearfelt by all MP's and Senators - there is a big "But ..." from the Coalition. For the Coalition, at least, "sorry" seems to be the hardest word. Along with unity.

Worthwhile Links:

• Bringing Them Home
• Schools NSW
• Australian Indigenous Peoples
• Trinity College (WA) - has some personal stories
• ABC - Personal Stories of Some from the Stolen Generation

John

Banks Screwing Customers

The 'big four' Australian banks - Westpac, National, Commonwealth and St George - have all lifted their interest rates again, after the Reserve Bank lifted rates by 0.25%. That was the eleventh rise since May 2002. The banks have also unilaterally increased rates during January.

They blamed the sub-prime lending market problems in the US. But, their home loan rates are noticeably higher than non-bank lenders (eg Wizard, Aussie, etc) that have to borrow more of their funds from the troubled US market. The banks are clearly profiteering.


Best advice - find another lender - Credit union, super funds, Aussie, Wizard ...
but do your homework, first.

John

Costa 'Right' - But Wrong for NSW

Michael Costa, member of NSW Labor Party "right' faction, and Treasurer in the NSW Labor Government might not be the right person for the people of NSW. (image: www.nsw.gov.au)

His most recent outburst occurred after he was stuck in traffic, after an accident on the F3 freeway north of Sydney. Certainly his criticism of the handling of the incident was scathing. Yes, the RTA does need to look at its processes for diverting traffic after accidents, among other things. I'm not sure he needed to make a public song and dance about it - except to justify his penchant for "public-private" relationships. Those relationships have not always been in the public interests, or made the best or appropriate use of public money. He used his privileged position to gain access to Minister for Roads, and mate, Eric Roozendaal, to complain. He used the media to then use his delay as an argument for building more private tollways, partly with public money, so private companies can profit. He has forgotten that the original stretch of the F3 tollway was built by the NSW government, with public money, for public benefit.

But he is developing a history of arguments that support his short-term tenure as Treasurer and politician, but which are not necessarily in the best interests of the people of NSW. Funding by the Treasurer for health/hospitals, transport, and other government services; and his

specious arguments for selling NSW electricity infrastructure seem to indicate a politician who acts in his own short-term interests, and the interests of his and his party's "image", rather than one who will act in the best interests of the people of NSW. In the NSW Government, and Parliament, he is not alone. Sadly!

John