My time writing in this column and others has made me aware not to be led by rumour and innuendo but I think its time to call out for clarifications before the cancer of propaganda and cronyism is allowed to flourish.
I have been informed from a series of sources that Yammanto and Cosco and other projects are delayed because of the removal of Councillors.
Im sure the present administration would like to give their side of the case but what really concerns me is who is generating these accusations and their agenda.
Councillors are paid employees by us the ratepayer exactly as is the road fixer, the garbo truck driver, the dog catcher, the administration staff, and attain their positions with probably less qualifications that the ones mentioned but have the happy knack of populous approval of the part of a community.
So when I see snd here accusations of our city being held back , one can only assume the source is by the supporters of reelecting present councillors and keeping divisional representations.
I look forward to the Administration response but this type of strategy reeks of the cronyism that has flourished within divisions and must be cleared for the new administration to clear a way in 2020.
Go After the Shysters in Suits.
Get the Shysters in Suits
#bankingRC #letterstoQT #equality #justice
If Joe orJane citizen wander in to a business and steals we expect the common law to apply justice delivered.. Not so the higher you go up the socioeconomic ladder, it’s who can afford the best barristers and call on influential mates and call in a few favours.
That culture has continued with the Banking Royal Commission report with not one being held to account. Proven theft from pensioners, disabled, people looking for truthful advice, the dead, to name just a few all conned by shysters in suits and not one recommendation for the of true justice that applies to us mere working class punters.
We cannot allow two justice systems in this country and simply seeing the contempt the NAB top brass had to the Commission and participants demonstrated they were convinced they thought were above any accountability socially or legally, similar to James Hardy had to asbestos victims.
Don’t expect the present government to act as they identified where they stood 26 times until some within their ranks indicated they would cross the floor, but it’s not beyond average expectations that rule of law should apply to all identified as knowingly committing fraudulent actions.
Zanetti Crap
Original text sent to paper…
With the spin doctors digging into their bunkers for the upcoming election it hasn’t taken long for the QT’s favourite cartoonist to try to spread the right wing propaganda in regards to our Superannuation.
The piece of buffoonery indicates the industry based funds are being syphoned off by the unionists, a fact that is totally false. The directors appointments have complied with every legislation and was a scrutinised by this government via Royal Commission.
Secondly industry funds have outperformed the institutional big business ones by a country mile, so if the little people investors get their investment improved instead of the big end of town taking their fees is a criminal offence , a position this government has continually adopted.
I appreciate due to ownership media outlets are obliged to reflect the owners political leanings and the Murdock Press is ruthless when its power of opinion is challenged and the fact that Shorten has told Ruhpert he won’t attend his court we should expect more biased spin as the election draws closer.
Our local QT of late has delivered as balanced reporting as any paper I read including mastheads like BBC, DW, ABC, to name just a few and appreciate imported content content not reflect on our local journalists, sadly it’s just how media works these days.
The Butchered Version Printed.
The Unrecognised Aussie of the Year
By the time this goes to press The Australian of the Year 2019 would have been named and celebrated and well deserved. Some excellent nominations from all walks of life representing diverse parts of our great Australian culture.
But.. could we pause for second and look at the how we come to selecting the nominees and the criteria of those nominees.
I totally support the nominees but maybe we could extend the range of qualifications outside the professionals who get paid to promote their selected causes and give a chance to those who are not as high profile, the quiet achiever, the unknown Australian who looks after the elderly, the nurse or the emergency worker, the tradesman, the volunteer, who delivers the patients or food to outside venues who just does his or her thing often for a lifetime but will never get a chance at the big gig.
Yes I know we have local/state awards but that should not exclude a nominee just because of his or her personal status profile. We are at last considering the balance of men and women across our society so maybe we could look at rebalancing the nominee process.
And yes I do not want to be on the selection Panel
Aussie Compulsory Voting Works.
The world looks dewilded with the goings on we are witnessing in England Brexit and the ongoing circus America is having with just about anything to do with government.
In both cases the people have actually bought it upon themselves with total laziness and apathy when it comes to elections/ referendums.
I don’t think there can be a stronger case for compulsory voting when you look at the fallout happening in both cases not discounting the dollar cost to their nations looking for compromise.
Im not saying the voting system we have is anywhere near perfect but sometimes the carrot and stick approach serves the country better in the long run than a system where only the extreme ends of the debate turn out and the middle are ho hum until it hits the fan. Exactly what Britain and the USA are battling now.
Apathy costs nations across every aspect of its being and if we want true democracy we all have to be committed to making a effort when it come election time and no matter how much you hate or love politics you owe it to your country to take part in its process in a sensible state.
In saying that some find it hard to achieve that sensible state in day to day life, don’t they?
Outside America, Looking In.
Im not an American thank someones God.
That about sets the tone as a man who has been on both sides of the divide, business owner and worker and always politically attuned I am stunned daily on the man that wears the hat of President of the United States.
Im not a journalist nor attached to any publishing house, just an observer of our world, its leaders, its challengers, its impact on each and every being on this planet.
Democracy is sometimes tricked Ito believing what the people vote for and what is perceived good for the people and country, putting aside ideologies…. For a minute or so.
So let’s look at Donald Trump from the eyes off a person outside the Americans hype looking at both sides of the media including overseas publications.
Overall America needed redirection after the Obama years, not that he was a bad President but the system was open for corruption and had been since its constitutionalists wrote the thing.
Stating the obvious gave Trump a free ride into the White House. Not hard to work that one out.
But since his assent into office he has used that corruption and took away anyone who sees checks and balances as part of government.
Getting things done! Is the slogan, which really means bypassing or attempting same with the philosophy of the Ends justifies the Means.
Its confusing for us who believe a political system must have those boundaries of constraint that prevents a nation becoming a dictatorship.
We Australians have a system where if the people feel the leader or his party or colleagues see damage politically or nationally the leader gets the flick. Overuse however of that trigger by our politicians has made our electorate very distrustful and ambivalent of the system but it certainly gives the people and the media in play.
The yank system hands over power the day of inauguration and somehow the President becomes a god for life, like some Greek myth.
Their Congress and Government are on a scale that would qualify for a Aged People Home in Australia, similar to the House of Lords. All wealthy and heaverly obligated to some sponsor driven agenda. Not uncommon in other democracies but withdrawing from decisions or votes that impact on those sponsors is deemed ethical elsewhere is not required in America, and left to the investigation media who’s budgets just happen to be slashed by outlets that support feeds rely on feeding the chooks in news briefing brooms.
Of course it not corrupt , regardless of who’s in power. NOT
So much for the system as ill be dead before sorting that lot out but lets look at the individual now.
A business man… yep.. but not a self made businessman , daddy gave him a bonus and he rode out on the name of his family and continues.
The nepotism has never ever been more prevalent in any one before simply because he can’t trust anyone outside his bubble. Yes men and women soon get sick of saying yes, and his search continues but the standards are dropping after each change.
Where will it stop who knows. He doesn’t that’s certain.
As a person who has worked in the area of people with disabilities hands on, ones sees clear indications aspergillosis , dyslexia, and other symptoms all on show with Trump.
Instability and knee jerk responses, on twitter and in real time must be seen by professionals with far greater qualifications than me, and may one common within American elite, but here someone says it outright not withheld and dealt with in house but its dealt with .
They’er too scared I’m sure and if tests were required finding people who would put their name on a diagnosis in America would be open for hell the rest of their career.
The symptoms of withdrawal, self preservation, protectionism, keeping the status quo, keeping within known borders of race and ethnicity, plus all qualities once personal, now exhibited nationally on a greater scale followed by devout groups with same fears and beliefs, all symptoms.
No one outside America can help. We watch with amazement and take heed never to let it happen in our countries, that is the ones with people that are educated in democracy, true democracy and it will never be in a place where the entire population of my country cannot read or write, and never own a bank account.
Yep he knows what a wall does.. he’s been living behind one all his life sadly.
Shopping Centre Sharks Kill Off Mum and Dad Businesses.
Again it’s sad to see another Mum and Dad show hit the wall as part of a refurbishment.
Be aware these so called upgrades are geared to increase the return to the complex owners and are in no way customer focused.
From experience these big players or “Anchors” get free of massively discounted rents and outgoings concessions and they’re use their market power to crush any competition within the centre.
Im my case the day I opened the major chain set up a new fridge freezer out front selling the product we were to make our living from at a discount price.
My rents and outgoings went up , theirs were static so its not hard to see why family shows are closing. The kick backs from the major chains are similar to what was exposed in the royal commission into banking and the fact consumer affairs is not involved is the simple fact the smaller retailers do not have the financial capacity to fight the monopolies.
Don’t be confused major conglomerates own coffee, donut, food, and fashion franchisor businesses and that’s retail but when that power is used in a manner that stifle competition however small by stealth is a fact of life when your a independent or small franchisee not in the loop.
Stand alone businesses outside the sharks need the traffic to survive and that is only achieved with longevity and great service and product and a customer base that loyal and committed to not take the lazy option.
Sadly todays public do not know what they had as Andrew Korner wrote in his editorial.
Let’s Give Our Bremer a Chance.
Every day we are witnessing the expansion of our great city and surrounds with new estates, developments, that impacts on our existing infrastructure as councils and governments should ensure it stays in front before approvals are granted.
In my area a huge estate “Waterleigh” at Walloon is going gangbusters with development and massive earth works is ongoing and pondage or retention dams are in place to hold back and enhance its naming signature a “lake”.
All new developments speed up water flow as soakage is replaced with bitumen and ends up in the Bremer River and from my area the 7 mile down little has been done to clear or improve water quality or flow. In fact our river rates a D- when it comes to quality, so isn’t it time we addressed this as it should be an asset as in our history past.
We whinge daily driving or sitting in air conditioned germ capsules on rails getting to places where with a some effort and planning we could upgrade our natural corridor from City Central to the the airport and beyond.
Im sure dredging technology has progressed and if we can manage the quality of water and volume at the entry points it will address the flooding and accompanying damage plus encouraging tourist and business opportunities en route.
This river asset is awaiting vision from politicians and governments but we the residents have our play a role by realising that every time you spray or put a chemical into the chain it will end up in a river or lake that you and your family will have to live with while sipping coffee on some board walk.
Our rivers and creeks are our arteries and must be respected
Proactive View on Our Drug Problem
Who in their right mind would want to be an emergency worker in this day and age? That’s the question I ask especially this time of the year when we are all supposed to be at peace with each other and those around us, some go out of our way to do the exact opposite via road, domestic violence, drug and alcohol abuse, and basic ignorance and stupidity in our waterways and who picks up the pieces ? Our Emergency response teams.
For some reason it seems to peak this time of the year where we all just choose to overindulge in bad habits extenuated by drugs legal and illegal.
At the risk of bringing out the puritans wrath we need to accept our society has a drug problem and until we recognise that and put measures in place proactively we and our kids will be exposed to an escalating problem as the dealers in death of legal and illegal drugs get smarter.
Jail time is not a deterrent, naming and shaming sometimes is a badge of honour, so we have to look outside conventional methods to get people off their habits. Cutting supply is critical, education, but we have to look at controlled facilities where users can come without stigma to address their issues. Some will come, some won’t , some can’t.
Recognition you have a problem is critical to the road to recovery, and again I state this is all drugs legal and illegal, so until our society addresses its habit of condemnation and judgment of those who are hooked, or our emergency response teams will have to endure of ever growing body count as part of a normal days work.
Observations Of a Nobody
I am Who I Am.
At 68 and a lung doctors assumption that I will clock off in 2020 I think I may start to accumulate some thoughts and observations I see now without malice or retributions.
After being in the front line for most of my life either at work or in sport its interesting for me to look about and try objectively to see how succession works and how people accept that across my landscape.
My history evolved from leaving school at 15, apprentice boilermaker, boilermaker, cab driver, telecom linesman, Telstra manager, business owner, now on a disability pension from asbestos.
Outside interests are football, golf primarily but participated in many other associations including politics. Those interested still persist today but have stepped back and now take a broader view of how things have evolved over my time and how the younger people are managing the situations similar to what I/we addressed in the past.
Please if I fall into the dialog of “the older I get the better I was” syndrome kick me in the balls if you can find them.
Being trained in PR and human behaviours, industrial law, unions, as part of a extensive and clinical journey I was privileged to do via Telstra helps me achieve a broad vision of how people , many friends and acquaintances, manage their lives after ceasing or winding down to retirement or what some see as a new start to new life, volunteer organisations, Non for profit organisations (NFP), charities, men sheds, you get my gist.
Yes, I was caught up in that scene for many years and I feel I did contribute some of my skills and time to help or assist in those organisations mainly a golf club. I had the experience in retail hospitality, as part of my previous business, actually running a business skills, and I had free time to offer and labour to save costs.
After taking up roles from committee to president gave me a fair idea of how the business works, and at times I was guilty of thinking I had all the answers when problems arose. I forgot I was not running my business but was running a organisation with varying experienced people in roles with good intentions but not used to making decisions that people who live out of the till to make a wage do. Hard decisions, practical decisions and at times unpopular decisions, which they took personally not in a business context. I was hard to keep the natives on track, a skill in fact keeping them in the loop, yet guiding them to what’s good for the members may not be good for the business.
This scenario is not uncommon in NFP organisations often frustrating and chases good experienced people away as they cdo not have the time or patience to educated, sometimes the willingly uneducateable.
As I have said above people see volunteering as a chance to give back and give people the opportunity to work in community starting always in good spirits, but over time human behaviour takes varying paths, and often people revert back to their working days and consider other volunteers as subordinate.
Me, guilty as charged at times and when I realised the fact I was going down that road I set a personal benchmark time limit box of 3 years to be in any position of authority within a NFP.
My theory is one year to learn the role, one year to implement any improvements and one year to prepare a succession to the next occupant of the position.
This prevents hierarchy development and siege mentality around election times, where factions and enemy of the club syndromes are created by those who struggle for relevance in their lives.
Probably loss of relevance for some is undereestamated. Many in their previous working careers see themselves as having some social status above that of others due to their jobs or professions and expect that status to transfer to their volunteer positions. This attitude translates to some as social discriminators which divides organisations sometimes with irreparable consequence. Exclusivities of company, and information sharing are weapons of survival used by the factional leaders to keep their status in tact, and often not seen by those who are being manipulated.
This happens commonly in clubs and practiced by both sexes but more efficiently by the female members commonly called Queen Cow Syndrome.
I could continue with this factional issue but I believe my time would be spent better on solutions.
The Three Year Succession Plan distributes depth of experience across the organisation which does not mean people have to stand down but have to surrender that particular position. Half Committee elections are also a tool that retains experience and corporate direction but introduces new talent to educate, and after two terms ie 6 years one must step away entirely for a term before renominating.
Cry’s of not filling positions will occur but that also will contribute to innovation in managing new business and managerial opportunities.
Unfortunately with often shrinking memberships due to attrition (people falling off their perch) the effort to go out and sell the c clubs to new prospective members is not given its true priority. Culture, that non inclusive culture is a cancer that must be irradiated. Youth must be encouraged and the practice of belting people with rule books must cease, regardless of code or sport. Fun is the primary and critical objective not fucking rules and the people who think rules are the primary part are usually the toxic group trying to exert their personal status to any newcomers. Rules are learnt over time not thrust upon by autocratic dinosaurs.
Levels of committee or what I prefer boards should be flattened. Experience people who have little time are more efficient than those who heap[s of time with lethargic attitudes. This causes untold frustration to those who’s skills are current, not superseded.
Amalgamations and partnerships must be considered as part of any business plan, IN GET A BUSINESS PLAN, a Professional Plan, and stick to it, and make sure the membership know that plan which will explain someway of contentious decisions at times.
Well that’s about my views and experiences and as a good citizen I have no interest in maintaining/ creating my status. In fact I’m a nobody other than an observer of situations and conversations and thats the way I want it, and I can let go and just be me and talk to, accompany anybody, I want without judging who or what history has allegedly occurred.
As you can see with this article could make my own enemies and don’t need to told who to like or dislike as I don’t have to make those decisions, I just treat people as I find them.
If the hat fits wear it, and I am who I am.
The Lateral Hazard 