Category: Opinion

Its not Just Nature”s Fault


No one loves a good steak than me, but I as many are horrified by the losses of our beef cattle across our state but I do have some questions I feel need answering.
On many occasions I have seen cattle survive massive floods in the past by employing its natural survival techniques developed over time its has evolved in the Australian outback. Breeds like Poll Herifords, Bramahas, adapted and thrived and were the backbone of the nations beef industry.
Now the focus of the industry is focused on meat that suits export markets and I have to question “ has the resistance to Australian climate and conditions been modified and overlooked to suite an overseas meat market been bred out, and feedlot confinement strategies have dulled the animals natural ability of survival that has resulted in so many cattle have been lost?”
Locally we have seen cattle washed from the Brisbane Valley to Moreton Bay and turn up grazing on the foreshores simply by natural survival bloating.
Yes regardless, this event is another one of many one in hundred year happenings but I can’t help thinking we cannot continue to just blame nature without us “intelligent” humans taking some accountability.

Enter Serhilda Subaru.

Well is been about 20 days of ownership of Serhilda Subaru and what a ride.

For a pair of near 70 year old old farts getting a vehicle with leading edge technology on board has been a real buzz

It took years to get my beloved to progress from a flip Nokia phone of the nineties to a iPhone 6s, as the family passed off old phones when one got a upgrade.

That was a step that equaled a moon walk, however after about a fortnight of total remorse of the dead Nokia one realised how much fun it was to learn to play with things like emoji and sounds and to her credit she has progressed dramatically since crossing the boundary of self imposed ignorance.

iPads once just electric newspapers now are a more a interactive challenge and now with the arrival of Serhilda the curve and interest is nearly vertical.

I have the feeling that friends and associates are a little apprehensive to put mildly of our/my decision to move into such a tech loaded machine but in my view as we get older we must embrace the available technology to assist us with the driving / travelling task as it does not take that much research that if you are a elderly you are immediately assumed to be at fault because of age and we have to prove innocence from a handicap of assumed incompetence.

This car will not and does not drive itself, make decisions, but it does make you more aware of you being in control of a vehicle.

Face eye cameras, lane departure, observation of head movement away from road and fatigue all thing we do naturally but sometimes we might just need a jog to remind us. Age is irrelevant with these tools but the fact it’s there reinforces the obligations of holding a licence.

Some younger find it objectionable, a imposition of accountability when you already know everything, the older are afraid they will be jolted into realism of how habits can develop into hazards and the fact that repetition and getting away with it does not make it right.

Personally I love driving with a passion, being fortunate via PMG, Telecom, TELSTRA to have some of the best training one could have in heavy vehicle and mechanical aids and I have never taken for granted that learning when upgrading vehicles and technologies across the board.

Serhilda has put me/us back in the classroom and both of us are loving the experience, and in saying that I enjoyed the Honda CRV but as a vehicle where corrigation and potholes are a daily occurrence was under the pump,but ideal in city and minor bumpy stuff. Long term for me was a unit that could fit stuff if and when needed with my issues and with the new platform Subaru is now delivering my wife is in the safest vehicle of its class in the world made our decision easy.

Last car ever so we now have a unit that compares with 15 years of Lauren Landrover TD5 in character and technology and I hope performance and reliability.

Serhilda means “Armoured Battle Women.”

Stand Against Cronyism


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

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