Tag: Politics

Chemello’s Legacy leaves Our City in Good Stead.

I spent the time, I read the line, all 44 pages. (See Below)

Greg Chemello’s report was extensive but not surprising by those who had genuine concerns over many years of getting feedback which many regarded as just sour grapes or politically motivated.

I feel genuine remorse for those newer councillors who were tainted by the dismissal, and I could accept that incorrect and illegal processes they were introduced to on appointment were accepted unknowingly.

The positive thing is all the network divisional brotherhoods developed over years wheeling and dealing are gone. Transparency will be restored to all ratepayers and employees without the fear of repercussions and the fact that it’s a totally new ballgame will make it very interesting observations to those former councillors who thought they were untouchable if they decide to renter the game on a equal footing with the new bloods on a brand new playing field.

Regardless I feel it’s important to spend the time and read the report yourself and judge what were the mistakes then we owe it to our great city never to become complacent in holding our elected representatives to account every day not just polling day.

Thanks Greg, and his team.

https://ipswich-qld-gov-au.cld.bz/Ipswich-City-Council-Administrators-Update-Vision-2020-January-2020

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.

https://www.begadistrictnews.com.au/story/5084327/national-parks-and-wildlife-service-staff-in-utter-despair-says-veteran/?cs=509&fbclid=IwAR3pTV83Rm_wsapWnoFBQwO8RM-YPJt5vyJ0_gvDShsoQtWM2y39sSNCOW8

Trust and Truth are Targets of the Skeptics.

Regardless of what the skeptics would have you believe our nation is is experiencing a apoplectic event never seen in this countries lifetime, that is ever since white mans presence.

For those of us that are exposed to social media we have seen photoshopped newspapers, photos, data that was impossible to collate at the time due to uninvented technology trotted out as fact designed to influence the unsuspecting public not attuned or caring to partake in public debate period.

It’s said Truth is the first casualty in any war or dispute, and might I add trust to that casualty list.

Taking away trust in areas such as science, medicine, technological gathered data is the task set by those who feel that information will have a monetary effect on their support base only not humanity as a whole.

We as a human race have advanced with the help of evolving technology, from the stone axe head to a iPhone some good some bad, but in laymen’s terms, we embraced the transitions although some chose to remain in the past.

Their choice, but trying to discredit fact via fabrication puts trust and all those who have dedicated their lives challenging theories, scientific outcomes, medical tests as part of proof testing before public release in a position of some sort of blame if the data doesn’t suit your ideology.

The simple fact is now we are experiencing the science we chose to ignore and are paying the price not only here but world wide.

Morrison’s Plastic Empathy Exposed.

It’s pretty obvious that Scott Morrison and his government has lost the plot on the severity of what our country is experiencing in not only the fire emergency, but also the economy, aged care, NDIS, New Start, or any help service for the our disadvantaged.

Of late I am hearing the latest narrative of “getting government out of our lives” the same narrative used in America only there they rely on philanthropy for social support which fails their society coupled with the religious references to give the impression they care.

The simple fact is this government has a empathy deficit beyond any government I can recall in my lifetime.

Our PM’s actions and failure to come to grips on actually what a leader does has been displayed then his petulant behaviour when questioned on anything he feels he doesn’t have to answer shows a arrogance which he feels can be counterbalanced and justified by his religious beliefs.

This government is blurring the separation of church and state as a political tactic to excuse itself when a social conscience is required but goes against its ideology.

This tactic has been well tried by authoritarian leaders must be exposed and challenged by those who feel accountability in democracy is paramount regardless of what position you hold.

In 2020 there will be some legislative decisions that has the potential to divide our nation and this PM is displaying the Trump divide and rule strategy and really does not care about our nation it poor or disadvantaged it’s all about keeping in power and ensuring its donors are appeased something it accuses its opposition of daily.

Our PM Morrison Runs Scared.

Not since when the Japanese were on our doorstep and the Brisbane Line was envisaged have we seen our Prime Minister vacate his nation and seek refuge in a foreign land. Menzies headed for England and now Morrison to a American outpost while this country is in a national crisis.

How good is it when every time you turn on a TV or radio you hear how the country is either burning or its population being sizzled by heat, starved of water or oxygen or economically driven into poverty while they protect this governments failing mantra of a surplus.

No wonder our youth or younger people has lost faith politics and are taking things into their own hands.

Each and every day I read or see people on the streets all over the world rebelling against authoritarian, nepotistic, corrupt or just plain arrogant old people who have made their fortunes by manipulating the system they were elected to protect, the we have the audacity to attack those who choose to expose or highlight or hold to account weather it be a journalist, whistle blower or a fourteen year old kid.

It sickens me even more when when I read us mature adults chose to use the autocratic moral high ground when we are questioned by youth then expecting them to go back to their rooms and behave.

If we did our jobs ,listened, planned involved our youth there would be no need for rebellious action but no we are the keepers of all knowledge and now reaping the crop we sewed.

Other nations manage youth successions in business and politics in the national interest unlike us where we see the corporate interests supported by politicians as the norm and our actual island where we live is just a place that is supposed to keep on giving.

Well it’s all over red rover for those who played the schoolyard game, and our PM’s thoughts and prayers are as effective as his understanding of what it takes to be a leader who stands along side those who are doing it rough not from his hotel in yank a colony.

Let’s Get the Gloves Off

Many of us punters we believe that politicians should be accountable, transparent, and have should work for the benefit of the nation regardless of what level. Of government they are elected..

I know I dreamin., but I have had a gut full of politicians refusing to answer questions on anything outside their spin doctors script. We no longer have men and women of character who shake cages inside of their tent.

We have journalists now that run away like scolded children that give up a line of questioning when they should pursue the issue harder and deeper for reasons possibly to do with owners or employers political associations.

So what it that doing to democracy? What is that doing to the credibility of the media profession and it’s role to keep the people informed with balanced reporting and research.?

Once they the media step away and play yes men and women we no longer have a democracy we have a duopoly of left and right proper gander which in fact would suit the ones who wish to have dictatorship over democracy.

This outlet runs its and shame section weekly on Court outcomings so isn’t it time we hold our politicians who refuse to answer questions and revert to blurbs of bull shit when asked simple questions we are entitled to know so that we can judge them and their government or wanna be government with some data. We are not fools and should expose them as overpaid parasite flunkies tied to their ideological peeing posts.

No wonder the youth are moving world wide afters seeing these buffoons perform like bullies in a sand pit.

Sandpit Logic Dumbs America Down.

I astounded daily on what America today accepts as “the Normal”

I do watch and try to consume about 10 news outlets in the world every morning.

I see different slants on stories and totally different conclusions on outcomes, thats democracy I suppose and human prejudices , but in the majority of cases 99% the leader or subject of the story has the intellect to carry on a debate with reasoning that you may not accept but give some sort of credence or logic.

Outlets like Aljazera , DW, RT Today, China CCCT, BBC and many more not counting our own ABC locally, all put difficult questions and then it up to the respondent to qualify, explain, justify, or deny and then be accountable when fact checks are completed.

Not so anymore in America. The population is so divided, truth has fallen victim to political bias which is and will affect the total sociological structures yet they cannot see it coming.

This Impeachment circus is revealing how much intellectual debate has been hijacked to a point where the pillars of their justice system is being reduced to infantile sand pit banter by old white men that would be flat out achieving Grade 6 English in this country and that’s how the President wants it, regardless of that side you support.

Most of these men should be in Nursing Homes not power brokers, similar to the House of Lords which they themselves despise with a passion.

When a National Leader need an idiot sheet to say to a presser a THREE WORD STATEMENT begs the question of if the President of the United States is suffering a disability mental or physical, and his capability to consume his role.

His backers will quote his business achievement, wealth , social standing as evidence of qualification but in his case it’s been purely inherited from his parents, not him and the only thing he can lay claim for is live tv productions that are crass ,phoney, and fake like him and he has taken those qualities to the White House and they have b been dumbed down accordingly.

He has surrounded himself in yes people army who are scared shitless as the Gestapo was when Hitler raged, then went out to please to stay on the good books.

Then the simple fact is Obama was black and the Redneck right could never accept that fact ever, and how he survived without assassination attempt is unbelievable in my eyes but that’s not to say it did not happen or discovered.

Secondly the Clintons are Crooks as is most of the American upper class. They rely on the “Thug” mentality throughout their lives and Trump is one of them yet playing the Professional Wrestling Card of Good Guy Bad Guy definition sucked in the American audience as he did on the TV fake shows of his creation.

Yet in saying that his supporters abandoned their ethics and credibility and joined his coat tails to survive, and they too will never recover the status they surrendered.

Now America you are at a tipping point, the impeachment will never happen, and it has to decide if it repeats history and divides the country into Blue and Red and regardless if Trump wins or looses he will wage war, not just political war but civil as well as his followers all propaganda juiced will never accept the peoples wish and he does not have the class or intelligence to calm the waters.

They say a government is only as good as its opposition and by Christ I see them too looking at rich white men for salvation where what the nation needs is a leader that not only America need but the rest of the world needs, a person with integrity and courage, leadership and vision without personal gain

Big call in a country where money is the gauge of success not Ask not what the Country can do for you, but what you can do for your country

Seemed fitting didn’t it?

Climate Change Scares off the Autocrats

Born in 1950, I’ve seen how we have progressed from science, medically, industrially, socially, and seen how our standard of living progress at the speed of light.

I’ve been blessed having leaders the standard of Whitlam, Frazer, Killen, Daily, and many others not necessarily of my political beliefs but people with leadership qualities, so when I hear or read old men such as me run away from the hard questions the young or younger ask , then take up the autocratic pose when the hard truth are spoken it a attempt to bully, it goes against the standards we were taught in our youth. That’s what separates Australians from the rest,

So when I see the present so called political leaders refuse or run from answering questions on causes real life tragedies like the fires that are devastating our country, or other weather events totalling dodging the elephant (Climate) and highlighting on what they are doing for the “result”not the “cause” then and throw in a few biblical quotes for affect.

We’ve seen this strategy played out hundreds of times in America after a gun massacre and no one is allowed to question the cause at the time as they regard it disrespectful to the dead or injured and its duly forgotten till the next blood bath and the politicians cower down to the interest groups who give them their leather seats

Well this time it’s changed I reckon. The youth in this country will not be conned by the corrupt establishment any more, and nor will the media. Proactive instead of reactive action is the order not the request and if it’s too hard for those on office they will be removed as the ground rules have changed, and the more governments try to oppress or dismiss the bigger the push becomes.

Yes “the times they are a changing”as Dylan wrote and its the political parasites who have to move over and leave it to the real leaders who care about the people not conglomerates.

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.

Grandchildren Taking Up the Baton.

While driving down the ipswich motorway listening to the radio with my son at my side on came the news about the protesters and the disruption they were causing.

Both agreed about the importance of the fact of being allowed to protest but the method and the timing became the debate.

Recalling my youth in the 60’s and 70’s we too caused disruptions while protesting with issues such as work conditions, moratoriums on wars, nuclear armaments, Tasmanian Wildernesses, and many others but the world kept turning and our protests did impact.

Then we both realised the next generation, my sons, went relatively free with possibly the Rights at Work campaign kicking in when all those conditions fought for in my time came under threat.

Today we are seeing the grandchildren era taking up the fight with a cause holding more gravity as we saw in the 60’s and 70’s but this time it’s not nationally it’s internationally..

For those who didn’t fight, and looked on with distain took the conditions and the benefits anyway as it flowed on though the system, and it was only when those conditions come under threat they shifted alliance and dismissed the government.

That time in history is repeating when the youth is taking control because we the keepers of all knowledge have succeeded technologically, and value adding personal life style achievements not thinking too much about if out kids will have the same opportunity by taking earth for granted.

In reality our grandkids are doing exactly what we did only this time it’s not living standards it’s Life on Our earth standards.

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