Where my Roots were Layed
Federal ICAC to Oversee Judicial Appointments.
It has been a well known in the legal profession that bullying and misogyny is common within its culture, so the revelations of the a Chief Justice has been called out by a independent investigation.
His controversial appointment and alliance to the conservative government is on the record, a situation that brings our justice system into a focus for all the wrong reasons.
I am a firm believer judicial appointments must be isolated from political influence or intervention, and have a body similar to a federal ICAC oversee all judicial appointments, state and federally.
Our justice system can never be allowed to follow the American path, and should never be a tool of any political whim or payback.
I am very concerned about the wedge politics played by this government, playing state against state in Covid crisis, the mirroring of American racial attitudes emerging here in Australia, and our government responses truly Trumpian be it ministers or backbenchers.
With our media opinion taking a higher profile than factual reporting, our fallback legal professions independence and faith in the system cannot be compromised by political noise or propaganda regardless of who you support, so I see no reason why Judicial Appointment should not be a part of a Federal ICAC which this government promised last election and still have failed to act on.
That’s not surprising is it?
Wayne Offer
My Experience on Black Lives Matter.
As a boomer from the 50’s I’ve seen or at times participated in rallies or change events and of late observed as we have moved in time but not always in social change.
I recall vividly in my childhood how our Aboriginals were regarded as a underclass in school and socially, not my parents view totally but it was important to be seen as just fitting in with societies views at that time.
In saying that my grandfather who was of dubitable heritage of multicultural bloodline nicknamed “Darkie” because of his dark sometimes black skin, had Im told many a confrontation with caucasians who thought he may have been aboriginal, often to their detriment physically. I witnessed a few wise cracks unknowingly at the time and learned his reputation later in life, not only as a fighter against racism but a fighter against all forms of discrimination via the Waterside Workers Federation.
At school aboriginal history was totally erased and British Colonialist culture was the curriculum, and a form of silent hate was projected as aboriginal kids did not have to attend school magnifying the black white divide.
When visiting my country relatives, I could not understand the rhetoric of the adults towards the “Boongs” as referenced but I did take it in as any kid does when you don’t understand at the time.
Life went on and it wasn’t until Cath Walker a not so famous then but Annerley local started getting press and then the conversation escalated through the community about Aboriginal rights , Bjelke Peterson versions and then it started to roll, Sam Watson, Lilla Watson, Nev Bonner, just come to mind but many more.
High school finished at 15 and to be honest I don’t recall any Aboriginal kid attending but I do recall vividly Ian King, a guy from the Gabba Police Youth Club kid who was the quickest bowler I’ve ever faced and had the best arm I’ve ever seen come to cricket training. His nickname “Rainbow”. The kids idolised him I recall and he didn’t coach to much but his presence was awesome to many.
Enter apprenticeship ShipYard and then my little world at Ekibin exploded. Multicultural was a requirement to survive, tradesmen from all over the world, all levels of society were a everyday event. Stories from the War, world conflicts, invasions, religious clashes, things never discussed in our family circle were all a every day experience at lunch times, or on job conversations, which at times amazed me why I was so naive to actual human existence elsewhere on the planet.
The trade union movement bought all those together and although the brought baggage from their lives when the met a former foe, they had to unite and that in itself healed many, but they never forgot within themselves.
Me, I came across many that helped me understand life outside family and was hard to explain to those who were in their Australian bubble and were content, but what I did discover the difference of how migrants regarded our Aboriginals oversaw we regarded them.
Many had been where the Aboriginal was/is and were not backward when we colonials behaved badly towards them. They were more compassionate than us Australians by far. Another Learning curve for me. AND that was in the late 60’s
As life went on and being a sport junkie I witnessed the Elly Bennet aftermath at the yard and watched boxers like Rose, Mundine, and lower fighters on the cards use their skills in the ring often to be ripped off by managers and discarded when they fell out of favour losing them to alcohol or worse, while white fighters we’re “looked After” better even if they did not reach the same heights of accomplishment.
That really irked by sporting ethics, probably more than my moral ethos at the time.
My career moved and I completed my apprenticeship and shifted workplaces practicing my trade still in Brisbane until industrial warfare forced me to change direction and I went off driving cabs and working at the Brisbane Markets both hotbeds of racial appreciation, while the whole time playing or coaching football with overseas players abundant, but it wasn’t until I became a manager with Telstra did it hit home again the divide between Australians on indigenous affairs.
My earlier years with the company was in the inner city and then to developing suburbs like Woodridge, Kingston, Rochdale, Eight Mile Plains, with a lower demographic, exacerbated intolerance and being in the business of communications we were in the kitchen literally and physically.
My movement the South East Queensland Manager give me an area from Walloon to the NT border as high as Birdsville and into Northern NSW. a fair track and a big classroom for me when it come to indigenous customs and affairs.
I had the honour of having some great teachers, mainly staff members of both cultures with heaps of experience briefing me or boxing my ears when needed. A experience that will last my lifetime.
Now looking at this present Black Lives Matter and looking back at where I was made aware progress has been made but its been a fight for little progress really. Politicians of all colours have failed but I am from the Labor side and that party had tried harder I believe to bridge the gap but no where near where we have to go to reach some sort of parity.
Im nearly 70, still with a a bit of sting mainly in kicking political heads via keyboard now and we need youth to stand up as we did in the 60’s and 70’s and 80’s to right some wrongs but I fear the banks and financial institutions have them by the short and curlies and their sacred to stand up, unlike us where we had nothing to loose so fight we had to do.
Well some of is did, whole others freeloaded and then and still now while living on their union fought Superannuation, sick pay, pensions, medicare, yet still won’t support a fair go for all .
Self Monuments are Inappropriate
It’s refreshing to see our Mayor and new councillors reviewing the policy and habit of past councillors erecting monuments to themselves.
To be clear and contrary to many beliefs they are public servants and they work for is ratepayers, we are the boss, an pay them to perform, and before the tribal followers of past servants erupt I would encourage them to look up Ipswich City Council Conduct Register and they may discover some furphies they’ve swallowed we’re not fact.
The commission chose not to peruse complaints if the councillor indicated or swore they would not seek re-election as I imagine a cost saving decision for the ratepayers legality and labour, certainly not a get out of jail free card as portrayed by some.
As I have stated it’s sad to that all past councillors were swept up in the sterilising process of the CCC as some were new and naive to the “Culture” but that ignorance should never happen again as long as full Corporate Governance is applied and monitored independently.
Wayne Offer
Lazy Journalism, Lazy Thinkers.
It’s easy when your confined to spaces to adopt the easy convenient way to get your daily dose of whatever and has the potential to make you a lazy thinker.
It times such as this it’s the media, the information hub, should be out their delivering broad expansive reporting on issues that are impacting on our new way of life but it’s just not happening.
Our news is becoming narrower and repetitive especially within our nation and like in America where the trend is playing one state against another to make news, to make controversy, create sides, to manipulate conversations and interviews to look for the sound bite to start the next cycle of cynicism.
Like many at my age TV ,radio, are the prominent deliverers of doom nowadays and we are turning off I believe. Once balanced reporting was a ethical requirement, now it’s a treasure as some of us wish to make up our own minds instead of being told what to think.
I frequent news outlets worldwide without political bias to get perspective on important stories and when returning to home the political spin is easily identifiable, something you miss by remaining in the news bubble.
It’s important for us to explore information or we will end up dumbed down as a population, fertile ground for the peddling of conspiracies and falsehoods and that can start with good honest hard hitting journalists that hold their ground in the scrum and persist without fear of reprisal in any form.
Bit of a Sub Edit Below.
Sub edit fail.
Mr. Bean Masterstrokes
Why is it that whenever you think we as a nation are getting some sort of consensus some see it advantages to seek to divide?
Its beyond my recall when our states and federal governments has put politics aside yet we have examples of late where the true characters of some who need conflict to elevate their flailing or failed profiles.
I will not back away from the fact our State Government has undergone surgery and reshuffles and resignations have taken place locally as is done by all of Political parties in their tenure as government and we were reminded when a former State Member and now Somerset councillor rose from his Ipswich hideaway to weight in on fractional pranks, a game he played and lost in his one term debacle under Cambell Newman.
Then we have Mr Christensen the self appointed Foreign Minister who when he is in the country declares takes aim at our biggest export nation China without thinking things like international diplomacy protocols exist and the fallout of that ignorance. Totally out of his pay grade, and intellectual capacity.
Then we have Mr Dutton, the cruise ship king lecturing a treasurer on the quantitive steps to keep Queenslanders employed and Tourists industries fluid, and outback air service retained after himself failing to count his own caucus to see if he had the numbers to challenge for PM, a Mr. Bean masterstroke.
If we are to build back faith in our political processes and democracy we could start by sticking to your appointed day job, serving your constitiuents well and not grandstanding.
Wayne Offer
America is Drowning.
Rarely do we have the opportunity to witness history being played out in real time especially when it’s a nation that is descending into self destruction.
The once keeper of free world standards has set about dismantling its legal system, it’s social justice system, even its democratic and constitutional base to appease a president with a vocabulary level and word count that of a Grade 6 Australian child.
This nation has been dumbed down to a point where professional people with a lifetime of experience in international protocols, law, and other civic experiences have surrendered or been dismissed in favour of people who respond to a tweet, and the sad thing is it only going to get worse.
I have no political allegiance to any party in America but when it’s decisions effect my country I will weigh in, and I’m afraid if we do not highlight the descendency we will follow as we have done in its ascendancy of the past. Comparisons of cultural standards, populations are far apart with the base standard of illiteracy in America equals our entire population, Flat earth believers, one in 6 equals , the population of several states here, and our Medicare is regarded as something out of a communist propaganda book that they can’t read anyway but Fox tells them so.
Most of both houses of government qualify for Nursing Home status not Governing status and the simple fact the are prepared to sacrifice their youth in military conflicts around the world lends credence to nepotism of the upper classes to retain power and money regardless of which side politics you follow. It’s a great plan, even if they do survive they are heroes for a day then abandoned as they were conscripted without formal education past basic stuff. Keep them dumb and feed them bullshit and give them a flag in hand or on their coffin. GBA.
As I watch this self demise I’m not sure if America can ever return to a status the world respects as it turns inward and I can see its trending on building a wall a watertight wall around America but then it will drown in its own sewage.
Wayne Offer
Troy Wright Article FYI. Via Facebook.
This is the post I had hoped I would never have to make, but in the face of blatantly untrue commentary in the media, I feel we have to correct the record.
The current fire emergency on the NSW South Coast is unprecedented in both its scale and its severity. At the time of writing almost 400 homes have been lost in the last few days and worse still, seven lives. Entire towns have been leveled and communities are being evacuated. Fauna and flora has been wiped out at levels never previously imaginable and potentially rendering some species extinct. And it is nowhere close to ending.
There has been a lot of arguably premature and distasteful finger pointing about the causes and prevention of this crisis. Those with a right wing agenda to prosecute have blamed “green tape” and without foundation, some sort of conspiracy by environmental groups to ban hazard reduction, notwithstanding they hold no political power to actually do so.
Hazard reduction in NSW over the last year has been close to normal levels but clearly has been insufficient.
there are two reasons why. The first is the conditions in the field, where faced with warmer and drier weather as part of an ongoing drought, hazard reduction is not always possible. Those that call for an unregulated approach for private land owners to burn their properties as they see fit ignore one inconvenient fact – 87% of fires are man-made…being 40% by deliberate arson and the other 47% by accident. An attempt by a land owner to mitigate a risk on their own property can often result in a threat to many others if not properly managed.
The second reason hazard reduction may have not been carried out is one entirely within the Berejiklian Government’s control – resourcing. In 2017 the then Office of Environment and Heritage restructured the NPWS from 37 areas across the State to 8 regions. In doing so they removed $121 million from the NPWS budget and redesigned or cut more than 700 positions. Included in these were Rangers and Fire Management Officers (FMOs) – the very staff responsible for both hazard reduction and fire management and fighting in national parks.
The Public Service Association as the union for workers in NPWS held a rally in Bega on 24 November 2017 to air the concerns that these cuts would make local parks unmanageable. Below is a link to local media covering the rally. Our calls to reverse the cuts were ignored by the local member Andrew Constance MP and the then responsible Minister, Gabrielle Upton MP. On the day I recall meeting the local FMO who with twenty years experience and local knowledge, had been told he was no longer required.
The reversal of these cuts may or may not have improved the current situation. The fires are of such ferocity now that it appears nothing short of divine intervention would stop them. But we know these petty and ill considered job cuts have not assisted. The roles that were lost may have had a preventative effect in being able to snuff out fires earlier deep in national parks through strategically planned intervention based on detailed local knowledge before they became the raging infernos they are now. The question also should be asked not why cuts were made but why, when facing some of the driest conditions ever experienced in the State’s history over the last few years, that increases to relevant agencies such as NPWS, Fire and Rescue NSW, RFS and the Forestry Corporation were not made.
As part of a civil society we pay taxes first and foremost to be kept safe. There is no greater or more fundamental responsibility of government. If a government cannot be trusted to carry out this role then it must be indicative of not just misplaced priorities but a total lack of sense of duty to its citizens.
Our thoughts and efforts at this time must be with those on the front line and those facing what are for many of us unimaginable terror. But when the imminent dangers subside we must remember these dark days and hold those responsible by their neglect to account.
The Dignity of Christmas for the Fortunate.
As we all get our jollies together for big Christmas gig could you please spare a thought for those who are not so fortunate, you know the ones on New Start, the one’s on New Start with disabilities that can’t get off New Start who fail the algorithm test, the returned servicemen who return broken in so many ways and left,the aged, single or deserted parents who I might add are living below the poverty line and in many if not all cases.
No I’m not here to put the guilts on the fortunate but I do ask why have we left so many behind in a such a rich country and why is this part of our society growing?
Im sick to death listening to politicians claiming that the reason they are there because it their own fault, taking drugs, too lazy from their ivory towers while all the time they are putting obstacles in their way which often end tragically in self harm.
Its not beyond some of power to believe natural attrition of these unfortunate category of our society as a part solution.
In other countries, poorer countries the culture is to look after they’re less fortunate and aged, we see them as business overheads that have to be manages as if they are outdated comodities all with prices attached.
There can be no doubt Capitalism in all its forms is failing around the world as the people are revolting, the youth are on the move all realising this trickle down economics is a falasy benefiting the fortunate few as the living with dignity gap widens.
Social Conscious in government today is condemed as left wing propaganda and while that is the case all of our underprivileged will continue to grow and suffer.
Merry Christmas to some, and to others hope you survive.
Our Nation Sinks as Struggle Street Grows.
Since my arrival in the Ipswich area I’ve never seen our society so poor. Maybe I move in different circles than some to notice this but reports I’m getting are more than disturbing.
Organisations like Rosies, Goodna Street Street Life and many others are at the coalface of our demise and seeing people pleading for work as in qt edition today is not now uncommon., as it’s not only the homeless in strife but we are witnessing people struggling to do what they see the right thing by their kids schooling in food barns. Turf wars have broken out with people doing roadside recyclable pick ups, and I’ll leave it to the police data to reveal how older aged people are now becoming easy targets for theft.
Ipswich is not alone with this issue, Toowoomba, Dalby and other smaller towns the problem cannot be hidden anymore, probably magnified by the drought, yet this Federal Government is in denial that real jobs are required and convinced that keeping the masses on part time or short term employment makes builds the economy and profits. This surplus ideology is failing as we speak, the nation is suffering as a result and it doesn’t care.or does not have the ability to turn a economy around. by the bottom up.
I am assure you until we address our struggle street in this town our retailers will struggle and so on up the chain and our history has proven that time and time again.
The Lateral Hazard 