Have Your Say Australia!

Plastic Tasting Milk

2010-10-11T17:52:00.000-07:00

Over the past couple of months I have noticed a strange taste in my coffee. I changed brands of coffee but still had a strange taste. On further chats with friends, its seems alot of people are experiencing the same thing and it has come to light that the milk is the culprit. Is anyone else experiencing the same thing. Obviously milk is put in plastic to cut costs, but I'd really like to see glass bottles returned for our milk. Afterall there is a lot of finger pointing towards plastic being the cause of such things as cancer etc.
Peter, Cardiff NSW

No interest rise, thanks.

2010-10-04T05:36:00.000-07:00

I'm hanging out for a bit of inflation... there is no other way for mortgage holders to get ahead. We need the value of our homes to rise, so that the sale price is higher than the purchase price. This is the basics of hoe ownership.
So please do not rise the interests rates just to constrict inflation. Inflation is our friend!

Agnes Delfid 4.10.2010

Finger Printing Poker Machine Players

2010-10-04T05:30:00.000-07:00

WHY NOT. THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS DOLLARS FOR CONSOLIDATED REVENUE. [RORTS, DO NOT COME CHEAP] THE BEST WAY FOR THAT IS AN OPPRESSIVE REGIME BEING IMPOSED ON THE PEOPLE. THE BEST WAY TO DO THAT IS TO OPPRESS THE PEOPLE. ALWAYS IT GETS BACK TO ADOLPH. HE KNEW THE SYSTEM. THEREFORE THERE IS A SYSTEM. ABOLISHMENT OF INDIVIDUALISM, MR. HITLER USED
TATTOOING AND YELLOW STARS. BEHIND THE TIMES HE WAS. OUR GOVERNING PLAY ACTORS, FRONTING THE BUREUACRACY HAVE FACE RECOGNITION, MICROCHIPPING, WHY NOT GET THE POKER PLAYERS DONE FIRST, NO OUTCRY MEANS NEXT STEP. AGAIN MR. HITLER, THE CRIMINALS, NO COMPLAINT THERE, THE INSANE? STILL NOTHING, THE GYPSIES, AND STILL NO COMPLAINT. THEN HE CAME FOR HIS OWN, WHO WAS LEFT FOR THEM TO TURN TO. YEAH GO AHEAD LEADERS, WHATEVER IS THE BEST FOR YOUR LIFESTYLE.
YOU ARE AFTER ALL V.I.P.s
Harry Bremner

The polls, a cupla thousand, maybe?

2010-10-04T05:27:00.000-07:00

Quote another post_"The polls swung last weekend when Tony Abbott appeared in public with his wife, and Julia Guillard declared that she was an atheist and intended not to marry her partner.
der....! "My response would be, "so what! Those idiot politians read a poll and dumped possibly the best Pr. Man for Politicians we have had, slogan and all Kevin 007. Who can we blame, not the electorate they didn't get what they voted for. Pollsters? Nah the idiots that listened to the couple of thousand poll voters, and too bad what the people voted. The Polls? Boo! Scare you?

Harry Bremner 26/9/2010

SHAME ON YOU WINDSOR & OAKSHOT!

2010-09-07T03:16:00.000-07:00

As a struggling family living in regional Australia we feel that todays decision by Windsor and Oakshott was a complete sell out to the Labor party. We can only imagine that with the combination of a flawed carbon trading scheme, mining tax, a fibre optic white elephant, and a complete failure to already deliver educational infrastructure will plunge regional Australia into our darkest ever period in history. Our entire neighbourhood feels like we are sitting in a sinking boat with the Gillard Government and there is not a darn thing we can do about it other than perhaps move to another country or invest elsewhere. We are the lambs to slaughter Australia and you bought the spin doctors lies and deception! As James O\'Donnell said
" The study of the past and its follies and failures reveals one surprising ground for optimism. In the long run, the idiots are overthrown or at least they die."
Shawn Davies 7/9/2010

Voting, what a joke

2010-09-07T03:15:00.000-07:00

Wake up Aussies the true voting system is one person one vote, this idea of preferences is rubbish. Governments have won power on preferences and in my eyes that is not a true repesentation of what the public wants.
This ALP leader is a joke as well as a bad role model. She lives at government house in a devacto relationship and supports gay relatioships WOW what a great example for our nation, we may as well tell the next generation to forget all things right & good & be a bunch of criminals.

R.Hayes 7/9/2010

Immigration age capping

2010-09-07T03:14:00.001-07:00

Hi all - a simple idea. Should the government cap 95% of the immigration intake at 40 years and under? Skilled should be the preference to increase Australia\'s intellectual property and skill base and also provide resources to support the existing ageing population.
PT

Health funding

2010-09-07T03:13:00.001-07:00

When will a government have the intestinal fortitude to completely fund all aspects of the health system federally. There will be massive economic efficiences and clearer communciation pathways resulting in better health outcomes as we will not be wasting valuable taxpayer funds in state based health infrastructures. There will also be a minimisation on parochial scrabbling about who gets what and when. Vote for a simple healtcare funding option. By the way when will we grow up as a country and get rid of state governments that puportedly cost the taxpayer $30 billion per annum in unecessary replication.
PT 7/9/2010

Oakeshott and Windsor are saviours of Australia

2010-09-06T22:38:00.000-07:00

Oakeshott and Windsor are saviours of Australia. We will continue to get school support and broadband. And its fantastic. I'm sooo happy. And that little parrot on Sydney radio can go apoplectisise himself.

They should consider

2010-09-06T22:30:00.001-07:00

These independant\'s should think very carefully the people voted against Labor so they should go with the Lib/Nationals after all they were once National Party men and people voted for them because they were not labor

avatar 7 September 2010 3:12:40 PM

Windsor votes for Labor

2010-09-06T22:11:00.001-07:00

New England to get reliable broadband by cable!!
Fantastic. Good on Windsor for voting Labor

Suggestions for Question Time

2010-09-06T22:09:00.001-07:00

Here are a couple of suggestions for improving and reducing Question Time in the House of Representatives

Protocol notwithstanding, the replying Minister should cut out the nonsense of saying Mr Speaker, I thank the Member/ Honourable Member for Diddlepoop for his question
. Firstly, if its a Dorothy Dixer from his own lot, he knew it was coming, as he probably drafted it himself. Of course hes thankful for the opportunity to tell the viewing public what a good bloke he is. If it comes from the other lot, though, he must know that itll be searching and incisive and hell need to be on his mettle. There is no way that he is thankful for such a question.

So, Ministers responding to questions should cut to the chase and be as succinct as possible.

That leads nicely into the second point, which deals with the excessive acknowledgement of the Speaker. The Speaker is not a judge to be deferentially addressed: he is there to preside over proceedings, moderate debate and rule on procedures. The repetition of Mr Speaker throughout a Ministerial answer and, indeed, at anytime a member is on his feet having something to say, is infuriating in the extreme.Members of the House of Representatives use the term as oral punctuation with Mr Speaker commas, full stops, colons and semi-colons scattered liberally, and carelessly, throughout their deliveries. These are annoying interruptions, and the custom should be abolished.

If it is necessary to acknowledge the Speaker, it should be done only once, at the start of the speech, question or answer, and thus save a considerable amount of time in needless repetition.

IDSTG 7/9/2010

Policitians don't get it

2010-08-31T22:56:00.000-07:00

The recent elections are a true reflection on how the Australian people are feeling about politicians who really don't have any idea what Australians want. The policies that are been made are by Politicians which do not reflect the needs of the minority. What is written on paper (policies) is not what is really being delivered in communities. Just ask the minority or do a survey with the people and not ask Government DG\'s to report on if outcomes are being meet. Most of these reports are fabricated by high level Management to make them look good to the Ministers and who don\'t deal with the every day issues or grassroot people.
The rural and remote communities don't feel valued or respected. This is reflected where Government not being accountable to the Australian people and spending money on services (eg. illegal immigrants) that could be spent on more service delivery.
We have too many politicians (all talk, no action) and the only time you see them or hear from them is around election time. Once the elections are over you never see them again.

J Locke 23/8/2010

Illusion

2010-08-31T22:52:00.001-07:00

Mr Abbott says "... the government has lost their legitimacy...". As long as he wakes up that the people of Australia have gained theirs. Disillusioned and fed up with the current political system and antics of politicians on all sides, the Australian people have lodged in many cases their protest vote. If Tony Abbott will not realise this he has no right to claim victory, power or a mandate for party policy that simply doesn't exist.
MrT 22/8/2010

Why not Labour?

2010-08-31T22:51:00.000-07:00

I don't profess to be an expert but surely this is the question the rest of the world will ask Australia if the Liberal Party wins the election.
"Why did you get rid of a government that steered your country from recession - you were spared the suffering of so many other less fortunate countries?"
I know there is a debt to repay - but we have jobs to do it and I for one would have lost mine. Surely that outcome was better than the government busting the bank with centrelink unemployment handouts.
We'll pay it back - now, more than ever we should realise "we are the lucky country".

C McGath 20/8/2010

Labor Selling Economic Management?

2010-08-31T22:50:00.001-07:00

Who can believe Labor. One of their chief selling points is their economic management ability? Why? Because the Labor Government prevented Australia from going into recession by putting funds into the economy. Which country in the Western world did not put cash into their economy? There are two main reasons Austaralia avoided recession. One - The Economic Management of the Liberal Party that put Australia into such a strong financial position when Labor obtained power in 2007 and Secondly, the Mining Industry. (As a reward to the Mining Industry as well as taxing their profits and the state government collecting their royalties the labor party will impose futher taxes)
Michael Stark 20/8/2010

So who gets to live in the lodge?

2010-08-21T06:21:00.000-07:00

So who will live at the lodge if there is a hung parliament? Julia in the West Wing, and Tony in the East?
And will there be guest rooms available for four independents/greens?

One look

2010-08-17T16:56:00.000-07:00

I for one like to look into the face of some who is talking to me, Mr. Abbott dose not, Ms. Gillard dose look out at the Australian people when she talks to them, I like the appearance of honesty even for a short time especially at an election time, because at least for a short time I can have renewed faith in my fellow man

Ms. Gillard may get my vote but only if I feel the honesty comes through in her speeches to the Australian people, only if the promises of continual building of a better Australia going forth into the future, with better infrastructure then she will get my vote, as for Mr. Abbott, I don't think he will make a good PM he can't seem to look you in the face.

As for the Leaders their personal practices is and should be their own business. Mr. Abbott is a self-righteous religious person, possible a hypocrite. Ms. Gillard is not such a person, but is possibly the most honest and trustworthy of the two, as for the way she became PM. That will be for the people of Australia to decide. The Liberal party did the very same, they pull down leaders TOO! Let the Australian choose wisely. Have a good day.

Theresa C. Hales, swing voter 18/8/2010

Illegal Immigrants

2010-08-16T04:55:00.000-07:00

Why are both parties making such a fuss over people smuggling and illegal immigrants? If you don\'t want to allow them into the country, send them back - a plane ticket is a lot cheaper than an asylum centre and probably a lot more humane.
If that doesn\'t suit because of the conditions they\'d be sent back to, then let them in, and give them jobs, even if it\'s initially cleaning up parks and gardens, or doing jobs to make our pensioners lives a little better. I\'m sure there are heaps of possibilities that our unemployed don\'t want to do. Of course, if these people have proven skills, utilise their expertise.
We could save all the money spent on housing, feeding, and guarding the boat people, and get fair labour for a fair wage. Is that so bad?

Will-Brisbane 16/8/2010

Showing one's hand alright

2010-08-15T23:58:00.000-07:00

Orrr Poor Tony. That smart aleck Fran Kelly was being mean, and asking him questions that he couldn't answer? Give me break. Abbott is a joke!! Bring back Malcolm Turnbull. Then we'd have a contest.

And I don't get it that everyone thinks the media is soft on Julia. They are not. If you compare questions, they are just as tough. Its just that she answers the questions straight away, and therefore the interviewer has to move on. Abbott does not answer questions directly... he just uses vague terms like ' labor's economic management is laughable' without adding any detail or facts... so the interviewers have to keep repeating their questions.

sannpet 16/8/2010

Debates

2010-08-15T23:52:00.000-07:00

Julia Guillard has said yes to another 'town hall' debate, providing that Tony will do an economics debate. His reply was that he does that all the time in parliament, and the people don't want to hear it. Well, he is wrong. We do, especially us labor voters, cause we know who has the upper hand when it comes to smarts.

CCV SA 16/08/2010

Showing one's hand

2010-08-15T23:42:00.001-07:00

Though the ABC continues to deny electioneering bias, in this mornings (16 Aug) Radio Nationals Breakfast segment with Tony Abbott, Fran Kelly was far more aggressive and challenging with her guest, than she was with Julia Glibard a few days ago. Fran was snappy to the point of being smart alecky. The session was more a demonstration of Kellys disarming, spifflicating way of conducting an interview, than an attempt to be objective. Julia Glibard had a very easy passage in comparison with the graceless treatment of Tony Abbott.

IDSTG 16/8/10

The Liberals and Accounting Skills

2010-08-13T15:23:00.000-07:00

The Liberals have submitted their spending promises to an accounting firm to check their figures, and the results will be available next Wednesday.
Why would anyone want these people running their country? Can't Mr Hockey check his own figures?

sannpet 14/08/2010

Julia Glibard on Q&A

2010-08-10T06:36:00.001-07:00

Julia Glibards Q&A session on 10 Aug seemed a completely orchestrated affair with Dorothy Dixers, just like Parliamentary Question Time. The questions and the questioners were clearly vetted before hand, avoiding challenging and awkward issues, and interposing at least three frivolous and light-hearted subjects. Again we heard how passionate she is about this and that, and again we learned how much she lacks commitment to marriage, children and religious faith. She was condescending to her questioners, and prevaricating in her answers. She was too glib by far.
IDSTG 10/08/2010

Privatisation Wrought

2010-08-10T06:35:00.000-07:00

Got your new water and Sewerage bill yet? This is a sign of what we can expect from the government\'s sales of assets. Our water and sewerage charge is three quarters of what we previously paid for rates, while our rates bill has only dropped by around 50%.
I have to say, with all the ways we\'re being hit for more money, it\'s getting very hard to live in Australia.
The Lucky Country? not any more, lucky if you can survive is more like it.
It\'s about time the government, regardless of which party is in, realised that the average australian family doesn\'t have the sort of income that politicians enjoy, or the lurks and perks which we pay for.
Get real, people, and have a look at what you\'re doing to the battlers and the pensioners.
If wages went up according we might be able to afford some of our bills, but they don\'t, and how can anyone justify an increase of 25% for water in one hit?
wish there was someone real to vote for.
Will-Brisbane 10/08/2010

Google your local Labor candidate....

2010-08-09T06:49:00.000-07:00

Maxine Mckew, Bennelong

liberal.org.au/laborfailures Nothing's Changed. Same Labor. Same Labor Waste. Same Labor Debt.

And this is what you get. A link to the Liberal's web site. How clever is that!!

KL Ryde 9/08/10

Timing was the downfall of Copenhagen

2010-08-07T14:35:00.000-07:00

Last December, any thought of 'global warming' was not fresh in Europeans minds... they had snow as normal. Had they held the summit this week, they would be experiencing Pakistan floods, Russian Drought and Forest Fires, and a huge ice cleavage occurring near Iceland.
The result might have been different.

Why Guillard and Rudd won't work

2010-08-06T15:23:00.000-07:00

What do the background advisors think will be achieved by a Kevin and Julia 'love-in'? Oh, look, K and J are really good friends, and K is happy now.
Wrong! The people will be constantly reminded of the cruel way that Rudd was deposed when they see these two together. It will not improve their standing in the polls.
Rudd should continue to campaign on his own... and the party has to be prepared to lose the election.

In two weeks...

2010-08-06T15:15:00.000-07:00

Tony becomes PM. He pulls back the economy, stops the health reforms, removes the broadband rollout etc etc. And the boat people keep coming.
The people are shocked by what happens, and the polls have his popularity at an all time low.
Enter, stage left, Malcolm Turnbull. He garners support and topples Tony.

And then we will get a half decent leadership!

Sannpet 7/08/2010

We've never had it so good.

2010-08-06T05:24:00.000-07:00

Labor have been doing a BRILLIANT job. The infrastructure building is going through the roof! Every weekend there are road closures because new railway lines are being added, or roads are being widened. We are in boom times, and the opposition are doing the classic Chicken Licken act... claiming that the sky is falling in because an acorn fell on a head...

COMMON SENSE VOTES PLEASE.

2010-08-06T05:12:00.001-07:00

Come on Australia just think about the last 3 years. We have seen so many complete failures of policy and implementation from this Labor govt that even the most naive must see the truth. Labor is incompetent. Simple as that. They have most of the least capable people in Australian politics and we have all witnessed what they are incapable of > running a country.
Labor have cost you the Tax payer Billions of dollars and lord knows how many missed opportunities and jobs. That will come out very soon when the books are opened after they lose the election.
Please fellow Australians DONT VOTE LABOR AND DONT VOTE GREENS (Labor prostitutes)
GMac 6/8/2010

The polls changed when....

2010-08-06T04:28:00.000-07:00

The polls swung last weekend when Tony Abbott appeared in public with his wife, and Julia Guillard declared that she was an atheist and intended not to marry her partner.
der....!

The Hollowmen

2010-08-06T04:17:00.000-07:00

ABC Lateline

Former senior NSW Labor adviser Mark Aarons has written an article for The Monthly about the Labor Right called The Hollowmen. The Hollowmen are those who are doing the research and polling to gauge the voter intentions. Men who advise the leaders on what to say and how to say it each day in the press conferences and doorstops.

They are convincing the leaders to do 'mea culpa' press announcements... like getting Kevin Rudd to list his failings, rather than his achievements.

I can see it now... some tea sippers in a focus group are saying "He's so up himself"... so suddenly the Mark Arbib media grooming kit becomes thus: don't be so proud, don't big note yourself... Aussies don't like a braggard. Show humility, and tell everyone how you, too, make mistakes.

wrong!!

And sadly, Julia Guillard is doing the same thing. Today she said that there had been failings in the insulation scheme... why say this at all? Most of the insulations are faultless, and it was just a few bad-egg providers that were the wrong-doers, not the government.

It just gives Tony Abbot grist for the opposition mill.

Mark Aarons has summed it up thus:

" ..they (Mark Arbib et al) were also the people who advised Kevin Rudd at the beginning of this year to go out and start talking about all of the faults of his own government at a point of time when in fact there were many, many significant achievements that the Rudd government could point to.

And this has somehow become - particularly among sections of the Australian media - accepted fact, that it is a rotten government that doesn't deserve a second term.

And Tony Abbott is taking full advantage of that in the same way that Barry O'Farrell - the next premier (?) of New South Wales - is taking advantage of it. And there is a link there. It is Hollowmen politics to undermine the achievements of good governance and good leaders."

I don't think its deliberate, just misinformed... and naive.

Sannpet 6/08/10

Billion Dollar Advertising Spent Yearly

2010-08-06T00:36:00.000-07:00

I was listening on the public radio saying the 4 largest banks in Australia spend over a billion dollars in advertising which is larger than the whole of the governments salaries per year. Who pays for this and why cant there be more incentives to choose a bank that does something for the people who put the money there in the first place.

Kassa 5/08/2010

Wakey, wakey Mark

2010-08-04T06:11:00.001-07:00

"You call this democracy I did not VOTE for GILLARD to be Prime Minister, Labor you have lost another vote and the Liberals aren't any better. I will be voting Greens this year.
Mark Prokopis 24/6/2010"

Good one Mark. You do of course realise, a vote for the Greens is a vote for Labor? The deal is done Mark, Labor & Greens are bedfellows, they have both admitted as much..and God help us if Labor win with the Greens holding the balance of power.. Banana Republic here we come!!

Rob GC

Tony Abbott and "No means no"

2010-08-04T06:09:00.000-07:00

It's despicable
I just want to say what an outrage it is to hear the media curcifying Abbott about his comment "when Julia says no, it doesnt mean no". I myself have been a victim of assualt and harassment and for the media falsify his words in relation to an issue as sensitive as sexual harassment. I am immesnely offended. Leave the bloke alone. He hasn't done anything to anyone, they are simply words that have been twisted by sick insensitive minds to make a story out of something that isn't there.
Fuming 4/8/2010

Defacing of the Australian flag by prime minister

2010-08-04T06:07:00.000-07:00

The New Gillard worse than ever
We find it quite appalling that The prime Minister is so ignorant as to deface the Australian Flag.
Under Flag Protocal; Defacement:- A flag is said to be defaced when a badge of office or any other object is superimposed upon an authorised flag. Convention is not to deface the Australian National Flag. It should not be defaced by way of printing or illustrations or masked by other objects and all symbolic parts of the flag should be identifiable.
Andy 3/8/2010

PUBLIC SERVANTS

2010-08-04T06:06:00.000-07:00

RE: Public Service Cuts
Geoff Kennett had the right idea by sacking the Public Servants and using experts and that was a hell of a saving, but we the public turn a blind eye to this problem because we cannot be bothered.....same old story leave it to someone else. It is evident by the number of people who do not read these columns of how many put a tick in the boxes.....I do feel however Politicians could learn how the masses feel if they perused some of the items submitted. Government is ruled by the outside comments of others and being "politically correct".
RTL 1/8/2010

Immigration Vs Health

2010-07-24T16:14:00.001-07:00

Why is it that there seems to be more debate over the population growth of Australia via the acceptance of Immigrants over the standard of our health system???
We can\'t cope now with the current population so how the hell are we going to cope if the population continues to grow??
Solution: Cut immigration & focus of our health system! No questions asked, no debate. Just do it!
It\'s appalling to think we think more of other peoples misfortune than our own. Fix our own problems first than contemplate others. We are helping no-one by allowing our Health system to continue to demise the way it has. And it's disgusting to think that it hasn't even become an issue in this so called great debate tonight. GIVE AUSTRALIANS TAX PAYERS THE HEALTH SYSTEM THEY DESERVE!!!!

R. Karsten 25/7/2010

Public Service Cuts YES.

2010-07-24T05:56:00.001-07:00

Both Parties are keen to make the Australian public think that cuts to the public service are on the agenda. We know which party means it as the other has the PSA in their circle of friends.
The Public service, or as I prefer to call them, the Self Service has grown to such an extent that it has become a refuge for under-performing, overpaid, and often just plain lazy individuals.
The front line staff are the ones we need but thats where any cuts are usually made. The herds of so called Advisors, Project Officers, Dept.Managers etc etc are the real problem. Often these people do nothing but turn up at the office, flick through some papers and go home. I know this from experience. Many are very smug about their huge salaries, benefits, superannuation and the fact that their jobs are secure.
We as Tax payers must make it clear to the Political Parties and to the PSA that we are tired of their games and special treatment. Cull the waste just like nature does when the environment can no longer sustain it.
G Mac 24/7/2010

Mining Tax

2010-07-23T13:42:00.000-07:00

This tax is a no brainer! WE Aussies have a huge resource, and why should excess profits end up overseas? WE need better roads, hospitals etc.. and money has to be got from somewhere... it does not grow on trees!
SP Putney 24/7/2010

New Pile

2010-07-23T13:35:00.000-07:00

* Farcical Fight - Fair dinkum, an Aussie Icon at the centre of what I reckon is the only nail in the coffin of Australian Boxing, albeit a huge one. Punters cashed in, betting agencies crying foul, fans ripped off, isn't this what boxing is about. FYI, I reckon Danny Greene knew he was fighting a no-name.
* Cheating Storm - Boot them out of the NRL, the NRL did it to Souths some years ago, and that was for not being competitive, a far less sackable 'offence' compared to the Storm. Let Melbourne stick to 'air-borne ping-pong'.
* Mining Tax - A fair tax, pure and simple. The only reason the mining companies are against it is that the CEO's, directors, senior managers will have to take paycuts of thier multi-million/multi-hundred thousand salaries. I pay a fiar tax for my my earnings, these companies must do the same.
* Morning Shows - Waste of television I say, the only parts that are informing are the snippets of news. With the infomercials, 'entertainment news' (which in itself is a contradiction of terms) and just plain boring stuff, it would be well worth just having news, sport and weather on a continual roll for the 2 or 3 hours. Which leads me to...
* 'Entertainment/Fashion News' - I want my news 'hour' or 'half-hour' to be full of informative detailed journalism on issues that are important to the majority of Australians (breaking news, politics, finance, sport and weather). Not to tell what Angelina Jolie is wearing, or the latest designs from France that only less that 0.0001% of the population is remotely intersted in. Stick to the headlines broadcasters.

Wood Duck 24/7/2010

Storm CHEATS

2010-07-21T07:29:00.001-07:00

What an absolute disgrace the STORM PLAYERS AND MANAGEMENT ARE THEY ARE KEEPING LEGAL TEAMS FROM PLAYING FINALS CHEATS CHEATS CHEATS
P. Charmers. 16/7/2010

CONTACT A POLITICIAN or Many.

2010-07-21T07:28:00.001-07:00

I argee whole heartedly with your comments as many others will do should they read what you have written...........but let me assure you, you are stopping short of your goal. It is the politicians who write and alter the legislature or acts of Parliament. It has been said on many occasion....one letter to a politician is the equivelent of 2-3 thousand signatures on a petition. That being so the power of the pen is mightier than the sword. Australians or those who care should write to those who make the law. Remember when they tried to bring in an ID Card....photograph, finger print and a number....the hue and cry went up claiming it was an invasion of privacy......and dropped. We still need an ID card as other countries do, but nobody is saying anything to the people in power who have the ability by pressure from we the voter to bring about change. Australians are Governed by the \"Charisma\" of the leader......not by the policy of the party.......thus we are in deficit.
Same thing about Climate Change----Global warming---Carbon Trading---- \'tis all CODSWALLOP or bullshit for want of a word all will understand. The Carbon Trading is the selling off of these credits to those who wish to keep up the output of pollution. It is another means of those claiming global warming is occurring so as they can justify the new scheme of TRADING. They show the cooling towers of Plants which emit steam NOT SMOKE. Think about it for a bit and if you cannot see a conspiracy then you are deaf, dumb and blind.
Remember the squeaky cog gets the oil.....that is what they are telling us today.....but.....what are you doing about it......ABSOLUTELY NOTHING......\'cos you ignore the matter....put it in the too hard basket....or do not make time to let politicians know how you feel. I WRITE TO POLLIES QUITE OFTEN and have never yet not had a reply.......
RTL 14/7/2010

Buzz off nauty skinheads....and hello darling to well behaved skinheads

2010-07-21T07:27:00.000-07:00

Naughty little boys, do not start world war three, put on some newstyle duds and go out and have a good time, do not get pissed , do not pick on indians,...because all the doctors at the hospitals are indians,do not pick on asians because all the doctors at the hospitals are asians, do not pick on the english, because i guess you know...all the doctors in the hospitals are english....do not be paranoid that every body wants to reproduce with you....nobody gives germans a second look these days...keep to yourselves and be happy....my great grandad was from switzerland...and since then i aint been back there....i want you to know...many of the other races that you hate....you hate them for no reason....i guarantee you that none of them are looking in the german direction.....many of the other races in the world are lily white and we avoid germans because we dont want kids with blue eyes.... so be happy get a good nights sleep...keep to yourselves...do not pik on well behaved skinheads... and make sure that you dont put the blue into my family tree because my family have perfect light and dark brown eyes... chill out goodbye
mummy 10/7/2010

Whats wrong with Melbourne drivers?

2010-07-21T07:24:00.000-07:00

Yes I would like to know how people are getting a drivers licence these days! Drivers on our Melbourne roads seem to lack basic skills many seen unable to READ! the traffic! execute turns, look ahead
be aware whose doing what..and sorry to say that our migrant population are the worst. They have never driven either here or in their country before dont know what they are doing in the traffic driving SLOWLY in the right hand lane indicate either too early or too late their intentions to turn! the dimensions of their cars are beyond their control..even with a small car they cannot gauge distances out in front.
An amazing sight has been the presence of chinese driving schools..oh boy! the blind educate the blind
I know that all should cultivate respect and goodwill but please deliver me from the urbane road system..ahh
the pleasure in driving.. I lament, perhaps i'll stick to night driving..or very early am! (post romantic Melb road user) Paul B

Why the community is the way it is

2010-07-21T07:14:00.001-07:00

from Titus 27/6/2010
I'm a 47 year old man, I've found out in the last couple of years that someone else criminal record has been on my name since I was 17, after 30 years of discrimination, lockups, human rights violations by police and government I feel I have I have enough information to have my opinion on what I believe is wrong with society today, the police and government need a new approach, totally radical, just because you change a government from labour to liberal doesn't mean anything changes out here, how many of us have gone to the police station just to be turned away or talked out of doing something, because they couldn't be bothered , the only ones they go after are the ones that have been in trouble before, because it easy to make a case against them, there are people in jail that should not be there, they spread things about people, tell those who have been put in, who put them in, they have a data base called c and I anything you have said to any government official or agency is writen down any rumours any one that makes a complaint against you true or not, use police informers to lie for them to make there investigations stick in court, so you could understand it could get mixed between crap and fact verbal, the community has become nasty, I have a lot to say and details I've only scatched one surface, so I'm writing a book, I have information and facts on government and police agencies, I will also say not all police but most, some can do there job, the main thing in my opinion is the government and police are uncaring for the Australian people, they reep the benifets of families suffering through addictions such as alcahol, gambling, cigaretts, there to busy living there lavish life on tax payers money , I don't see them tightening there belt, we make all the sacrafices, they just dont do anything, nothing changes, they think whats good for them is good for everybody else, Australia has gone and the worst is yet to come, and the way laws are being made pretty soon you wont be able to scratch your bum in public, then again there's probably already a law, feel sorry for your kids, I've rambled on enough, ill leave you with one idea to do with drugs, decriminalize it, government take control of it, the benifits of this, it will stop corruption , you will be able to get an accurit list who is taking them .familys kids will benifit there will be more money for them, and don't say its not virabile its the top selling product on the market, a new approach, none of yous polos or police got any guts, the benifits out way the downers, we out here in australia are smart , because I recon the real Australians made up from all countries of the world are waking up to you, by treating us stupid, is your first mistake, this is my opinion and may not be yours, and i'll respect yours because I am Australian.

Political Thuggery

2010-07-21T07:05:00.001-07:00

As Australians we vote for a Government, but let\'s not kidd ourselves that the majority of people vote for the personality or the person fronting that campaign.
I personally did not vote for Kevin Rudd, but was quite impressed with the way he handled business, especiallly in the early days. Yes, we all acknowledge that there were "slips", but name me any government that is perfect!
The Political Thuggery displayed by the "union heavies" of the Labour Party is a sheer disgrace, and goes against the grain of decent behaviour!
I was prepared to give Kevin Rudd a go at the next election, but definitely have changed my mind now! I am not about to vote for a factional few, with influence, in a party who practive Political Thuggery.
I am not all that impressed with the "Budgie Smuggler" either, but my vote will definitely not be going to Labour, on prinicpal.
JC - Brisbane 26/6/2010

Labour Blows it

2010-07-21T07:04:00.000-07:00

Today Labour buckled under the perceived pressure of the media, with marginal seat warmers, panicking that the leader,the job & the party they supported was about to put them out of a job, as they felt Kevin Rudd could not win the next election.
Was it Kevins policies, or was it the manner he tried to sell them? Are these not the same people who supported a leader who swept them to power? The policies are the parties, are they not. Are they saying Kevin made them all up & they will now oppose them? The Australian people voted Kevin Rudd into power & are very angry to take away their right to decide who will lead them.
The factions ousting Rudd within the Labour party should be ashamed, as should all that turned their back on the man who helped put them there. I as a swinging voter swung Labours way last election, plus was supportive of Rudd& Labour until now, but I will be swinging the other way this coming election. I can not support a party full of so much self preservation, that allows them to distance themselves from the man sent to deliver a range of policies constructed by themselves, the same man they are now destroying.
I do not see a strong party,with strong morals, teamwork or conviction to a cause. I see a group of "Judas" willing to sacrifice a leader to save their own arse. You will all regret this day of treachery and will get your just deserts within the near future. As you have turned your back on Rudd I & many others have turned my back on you all.
May God help you!!
Aussie Cozz 24/6/2010

WHERE IS OUR PRIME MINISTER

2010-07-21T07:03:00.000-07:00

Well I'm just an Australian, but today my mind has been made up for me. As Pauline Hansen once said "I don't like it" and "please explain". Can we as the Australian people really trust some one we don't know? As children we are taught stranger danger, in this case we are forced into a room with a stanger. I'm not an expert but i have worked hard to get myself, my wife and my two children to where we are today. Now i don't know who to trust. how are we meant to teach our children to wait our turn if the prime minister can't.
all i know is that we need to learn how to respect our elders again.
Joesph T Linskey 24/6/2010

Gillard, you've got to be joking

2010-07-21T07:00:00.000-07:00

The Australian electorate had a say when they voted in Rudd as Prime Minister, what say to the people have now NONE!!!!

Bring on the election if the Labor party truly believe that Gillard can deliver they are in for one big Shock, the unfortunate alternative will be that Red Neck Abbott who will bring back all the Howard policy\'s that the Australian Public voted out.

You call this democracy I did not VOTE for GILLARD to be Prime Minister, Labor you have lost another vote and the Liberals aren\'t any better I will be Voting Greens this year.
Mark Prokopis 24/6/2010

Stop talking and play footy......

2010-07-21T06:59:00.000-07:00

Why do we continue to entertain and listen to the continual stream of dribble that come from the mouths of our sports stars? Generally their opinions don't amount to anything vaguely reflectively of the general population but we hang off there every word. Sporting prowess does not necessarily convert to intelligent comment. I'll get a little more to the point Mr Inglis - get off your high horse, appreciate the massive opportunity made availiable to you and stop your whinging. I for one am getting a little tired of hearing the hardluck story - time to move on! That goes for all your mates as well!
Bruce S. 23/6/2010

Not Properly Prepared?

2010-07-21T06:55:00.001-07:00

I worry about the subjects being taught in schools, particularly senior campuses. In my opinion there should be particular slots dedicated to career options more specialized than the ones already taught such as forensics, psychology and military training. Not saying schools should be responsible for fully training students for such careers but they are subjects that we hear about and see on television with the enthusiasm to join but are never given any insight into the REALITY of jobs such as that. I feel students who are looking to pursue such career paths should be given a trial run while they can still have a chance to change their mind and focus on different subjects. H.H. 21/6/2010

Mining Tax

2010-07-21T06:54:00.000-07:00

Why don't the mining ceo's show some balls? If they want this ridiculous tax banned, and most Australians do, they should close down all mining operations until the tax is withdrawn. Then Rudd would pull his head in. Anyway after the next election, the sooner the better, we will all be Rud-less & when old Anna baby goes to the election in Queensland she will be tossed out on her neck too.
little joe 19/6/2010

Politically Incorrect

2010-07-21T06:53:00.000-07:00

Thank God I'm not the only one that sees things like you. The country has gone to crap. \'m angry, and I put it down to 2 things: political correstness and multiculturism.
Allowing all these so called refugees to come to what was only recently, the best country in the world, and bring their already proven failed ways and wars here to make our country a miserable place to live. The Federal Government, no matter what side is weak and in denial.

Curfew on P platers

2010-07-21T06:50:00.001-07:00

The curfew on P platers was set up due to the large number of young P platers playing up late at night.
Suck it up and catch a cab or train, you can share the cab fare or plan your nights out close to home and walk.
The trouble as I see it is, even with a sober driver, the drunks in the back often egg on the young driver.This can be difficult for a young man to ignor.
The cars these days have more grunt, better handling, better brakes, power everything and automatic gearbox\'s. Thus meaning the driver needs less skill to drive. This shows in the driving attitude. I believe all new drivers should have to do their test in a manual gearbox car. This gives the driver a better feel of the cars handling capabilities, ie if you corner to quickly in a high gear it will body roll and understeer.
road user 16 June 2010

Lets have a whinge

2010-07-21T06:43:00.001-07:00

from DEBBIE
Get ready people I have heaps to say:

First whinge. Why does government waste so much money on advertising on TV and in the paper for every little thing when we are supposed to be going through a economic crisis. Ads to give up smoking, ads for work safety, ads for local polititions. Surely we can live without ads to showcase the new health reform. I think the money would have been better spent ON the health reform and not advertising on every channel all day and night.

Second whinge. The boat people. Isn't it about time we took a stand against these people. While ever we continue to let them in we take less of the talented and educated immigrants that go through the right channels. We are in desparate need of medical staff in the country. We are better off letting in more doctors and nurses, school teachers and engineers than general labour hands who come in illegally and are given so much in handouts from the govt and are a drain on our resources.

Third whinge: Muslim situation. I am all for immigration as it is what Australia is all about but immigrants must understand that we have an established culture of our own which is all about freedom and ...

democracy and we don't take lightly anyone coming here and trying to change us to what their beliefs are. You are in a free country, you can practise your religion and culture freely here but please don't force your ways on us. You need to integrate into the society as it exists. Other nationalities have done so in the past without losing their identity. e.g. Italians and Greeks who are now much loved in our communities. For you to be totally accepted you need to tolerate our ways. Opening your own schools and segregating yourselves is just not Australian. We have accepted you into our country so you can have a better life so please pay us the curtosy of wanting to be one of us.

Fourth whinge. The media. I think the media needs to take responsibility for stirring up situations to make a good story. We need acurate reporting not sensationalism. How about they do their bit to help the country and not cause even more unrest. The Matty Johns story was a prime example. He was not the only one in that room. Yet no one else paid the price he did. What about the girl in question. These young girls who throw themselves at footy players also need to take responsibility for their actions. What about the women who slept with Tiger Woods. hello!! did any of you think about his wife??
Fifth whinge: Human nature. I am constantly sick and tired of being ripped off. We are constantly overcharged on everything. Packaging of food items is one instance. You open a bag of potato chips and what do you get. A third of a packet of chips. You go to Macdonalds and you see a picture of a really nice big burger. What do you get. I tiny little bun with a bit of meat. You need 3 of them to satisfy the hunger. What happened to value for money. It seems to have disappeared lately. I would just like to get what is advertised and what I pay for.

Also what is wrong with people nowadays. We used to be nice to one another. Now it is all about me, me, me. Everyone is rude. No one holds open a door. Men don't stand up to let a woman sit down. There is no respect for one another.

Now I feel better. Thanks for letting me have my whinge.

DEBBIE

Tasmania. A Failed State...

2010-07-21T06:42:00.000-07:00

I am writing about my interaction with "Australia's Finest', the Tasmania Police.

In my dealings with them over the last three and half years I have found them to have Failed their Duty of Care on every occation. You see, in Tasmania, there is no way you can bring them count and so they pretty much get with anything. This, of course only applies to those people who do not have the money/or postion. The Police here appear to practice this so many people here in Tasmaian. Even the Ombudsmen here will not look into the Police... Like the Police, even The Ombud/s here, appears totally unaware that she or he, must obey Human Rights... PJ

Ban burqas in Australia?

2010-07-21T06:34:00.000-07:00

On ABC’s Q: A programme on 31 May, Mesdames Clare Bowditch, Miriam Lyons and Maxine McKew spoke as one (and one-eyed, to boot) in response to a passionate and considered reply by Senator Cory Benardi on a suggestion, from a member of the studio audience, that in multi-cultural Australia, banning the burqa would be a step backwards.

The ladies, each in her own way, took up their cudgels in the cause of freedom of choice, either ignoring, or unaware of, the lack of freedom of choice in dress matters, that obtain in the countries where the burqa or chadri, jilbab, niqab and hijab are worn.

Western women visiting any Islamic country are warned to dress modestly, at the very least covering their arms, legs and hair. Burqas are required in some countries but, for most, the hijab, a scarf that covers the hair but not the face, is acceptable. Scant freedom of choice there.

Furthermore, there can be no public titivating in front of mirrors or shop windows. Vanity is not permitted; and there is to be no direct eye contact with a man: female eyes should be cast down.

One could conjecture that this seclusion of the female person behind clothing that reveals nothing, not even its contours, is simply an extension of the zenana – a mobile purdah on legs, so to speak. And it’s all done to protect from himself, the apparently uncontrollably libidinous lecher that is the Muslim male.

Mind you, this aversion to the display of nakedness also occurs outside the Islamic world: a few years ago on a visit to Venice I, along with a number of other transgressors, was refused entry to the Byzantine Basilica by the Basilica’s Knees and Shoulders Police who refused to allow in, anyone with bare shoulders and knees, and even barred women wearing tights.

Imagine the challenges in Australia if the pro-burqa faction carries the day. Security guards at banks and shopping centres will be instructed to continue to view, with suspicion, anyone whose face is hidden behind a motorcycle helmet visor, a balaclava or a nylon stocking mask, but not a person wearing a burqa or niqab. Immigration and Customs officials, too, will have trouble with passports. How will they distinguish the photograph of one completely covered face from another? And what about driving licence photographs if, indeed, burqa and niqab wearers will be allowed to take a driving test hidden inside a tent?

If Islamic countries insist on their cultural rules and traditions on dress being observed by non-Muslims, they can expect no less than the observance by the Muslim Diaspora of the social customs, values and behaviour, if not laws, of their adopted countries. Multi-racial countries in Europe and even Egypt have banned the wearing of the burqa in public places. So should we.

Ian D St G Lindsay

Teachers' payrise (response to previous)

2010-07-21T06:14:00.000-07:00

Very well said. I'm also a mother and I have to agree with you. My sister is a teacher and does it because she loves to teacher, when asked what her occupation is she says she 'works from home 6 weeks a year' which is a very clever way to phrase it. There are some teachers that definately should not be teaching, but many of them do a fantastic job and I was impressed that you went into the class to repremanding the students. I also like to talk to my childrens' teachers so I can be aware of their behaviour and learning.

Dodgy Builder

2010-07-21T06:10:00.000-07:00

I am writing to you so you can fully understand the story that I would like to be told. The reason I have decided to tell my story is after seven long years and so much heart ache and loss, I feel that I want to make a difference, to let people know what can happen when your life has been turned upside down from a tragedy of loosing your house in a bush fire. I\'m hoping by writing or telling my story the victims of the Victorian bushfires can be made aware that their are people out there that will take advantage of a tragic situation. I am hoping after you have read my enclosed documents you can see that lives can be changed forever. I have not long ago received judgment in my long battle with the legal system one that I think needs to change for the consumers protection. The outcome I received will not rebuild my house or my life or my children\'s life\'s and to realise that the builder has not been found guilty of misleading and deceptive conduct after not supplying:-
A contract
Home warranty Insurance
PCA approval
Council approval
Not complying with the BCA/DA
Not complying with Bushfire requirements
This is injustice!!!!!! Isn\'t there laws against this. I see no referance by the CTTT as to the legality of what the builder has done wrong as far as NO contract & No HOW. Can someone tell me what is more misleading and deceptive. After four very emotional and long day\'s hearing the builder admits to not supplying HOW because of \"just neglect\" and that he just \"forgot\" to supply a contract and he argued that he did the right thing and then to admit he didn\'t (I have all this on transcript). Also he transferred his assets over to his enstrange wife only weeks after the hearing pleading that he had filed consent orders to this affect (which was not done) only confirms his guilt .
Please I have to tell my story to make a difference I need to see justice done. The builder(my ex-husband cousin) is now a fire fighter with a email ---------r@hotmail.com I find it sickening to realise this man has manage to continue with his life while my boys and I have been left devastated its so hard to comprehend and to then try and rebuild your life and home only to have it destroyed again by such circumstances leaves me devastated. I have not done anything wrong yet i feel Im being punished to lose another house my marriage, my life has been on hold trying to sort this mess out.
I was extremely fortunate that large high profile law firm handled my case pro bono and engaged several other experts to help me fight this battle. I feel this outcome has not done justice to their help the unpaid hours of help and support they have given me.
The builder had until the 10 Nov 2009 to comply with the orders but this has not happened as he has not taken responsibility to date for his actions. I recieved a notice of bankruptcy from Mr H----n( it was filed by him). It has left me devastated, how can this man get away with everything? He files for bankruptcy, most of his debts get cleared and is free to start his life again in 3 years debt free and my life is left ruined by this man. I thought we had laws to stop this. How can the guilty go free and the victim live the devastation. Please I need for someone to hear my story, to find the him guilty if not by the law at least by the people who hear my story I need justice to prevail . I have all supporting documentation to support my story.

Sharna Johnson

A few recent submissions...

2010-07-21T04:57:00.000-07:00

Equestrian ban for some Council parks

Logan City Council in Brisbane is considering banning horse riding in its 851 parks. This would be to the detriment of people living on acreage with horses, but now due to the "urban invasion" catching up with us have restricted riding space. It is not always safe to ride on roads today as there are too many inconsiderate and ignorant drivers who do not slow down or realise that the horserider has right of way. People move out on acreage for a more relaxed and roomy lifestyle, it is not our fault that progress catches up with us over time and we shouldn't to move out further and further just to pursue a relaxed and pleasurable hobby. Please consider your decision carefully Logan City Council as the results could change a lot of people's recreational lives.

Horselover 18/5/2010

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!

When are Australians going to stand up and say enough is enough?

We may vote our governments into power whoever they may be. It is doesn't matter what party that is because they are all the bloody same, with their election promises and offers of better things to come. But when things go wrong and they make stupid choices what are we Aussies going to do about it?

It's not enough that we send each other "chain" emails to tell one another about the millions spent on refugees whilst our own homeless and sick look for somewhere to sleep or for their next meal and our elderly or under-privileged die because they can't get medical attention.

It's not enough that we all bitch amongst ourselves and the news topic everyday is how the price of fuel is going up whilst we as tax payers continue to fork out for an organisation formed to control that sort of thing.

It's not enough that we stay at home because our streets are unsafe with gangs of ethnics wanting to exercise their beliefs and force them upon our way of life.

It's not enough that we sell up our homes and stop shopping in suburbs because it has been taken over by other races who rename streets and shops in their own language. Even clothes labels are in a foreign language and 'This is Australia?'

It's not enough that we struggle each week to pay our bills and buy our food and our pensioners who fought for this country have to go without whilst government officials give themselves pay increases.

It's not enough that we SEEK employment for jobs that are not here whilst Australian companies staff their departments with people IN another Country and we can't even understand them when we need some help.

It's not enough when Australians try to speak up and never heard and it's not enough that we do nothing about it except bitch about the same thing day in and day out.

Wake Up Australia. We have the power to stop this now!

I wasn't a racist last time I looked but the Australian Government is certainly driving us that way and it's time we took a stand! WE NEED TO REMIND THEM CHARITY BEGINS AT HOME! And ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!

Sue and Len 16/5/2010

What does the future hold for each Australian.

My concern is this: Does anyone remember the $900 govt stimulus that was given to most Australians? The Rudd Government was loaned billions of dollars from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) during the Global Financial Crises (GFC). Dont "WE" Australains have to pay this money back? Dont forget the intrest! Theres is alot of hype concerning the European markets including the U.K. Don't you think Australia's market will crash? Intrest rates going up, people been forced to sell because they can't make repayments on their morgages. Water, Electricity, Gas, rates, food, everything seems to be going up. It seems to me each year things keep on getting worse! One could argue that its because of globolisation. That is true. Why are we excepting refugees, putting them up to stay in conditions that the baby boomers of this country would make their blood boil? The Rudd government wants to increase our population? I thought we dont have enough drinking water? "Decelination" thats right. Is the water currently safe to drink? I think not. I just did a Holistic lifestyle coach course. Think about this! Do you, people of Australia trust our government? If the answer is no, ask yourself, what we are being told, is it true or false. Governments do not care about our well being. Its time that our so called "Unions" get up from their desks, and demand a wage increase for the lower paid workers. How can they, most of the ex union officals are in parliment. Getting back to the refugees and population increasing. Great for business. A migrant can work for $15 dollars for example, i strongly beleive the mijority wont. What happens here. Our children of Australia have less opportunity, why, the migrants work for less, manufacturing companies profits increase further, and the governments allow this to occur, why, they dont care for your well being. What about the poor pensioner who receives around $350 a week. Didnt they pour their blood sweat and tears into this country? What a joke when the government talks about a "Fair Go". I gave Kevin Rudd a Fair Go when i voted the labor party in. John Howard on the other hand, if the Liberal party had not introduced WorkChoices, John Howard oviously would still be in power and what a great leader he was. My concern is Australia's debt is and will increase if a lot more, if the government continues to go the way its going. At the moment it seems to me that we are paying a heavy price on everything! I beleive living conditions for a lot of Australian families is stressful. No wonder why we have a high suicide rate in the world. We need to do something soon!

Peter 14/5/2010

Are Sailors Slaves?

Why is ok for the navy to make people work 16-18hrs a day day and even more on a constant basis while attached to a ship..

Bogey 14/5/2010

Road Laws for Probabtionary Drivers in Australia

In Australia, there are different road rules for L- plate and P- plate Drivers in each state. This is really confusing for Learners and Probationary Drivers in Australia, specially the people living on the boarder of two states, because the rules differ in different states. The issue is that no one has made it clear to what law we need to abide by; is it what is stated on your licences or do drivers obey rules that occur to that particular state? Such as in Victoria, P1 drivers have passenger restrictions all the time and no speed restrictions, however in New South Wales, they have a set 90km/h speed limit and passenger restrictions between 11pm ? 5am. So when New South Wales drivers' drives over the boarder to Victoria, what rules do they obey. Do they still need to travel at 90km/h and have restrictions in particular times?

Please answer this question as I'm very confused. S. Skehan 12/5/2010

50 years of television

50 years of television. Who has decided we want reality TV to dominate our evening viewing, who cares about Australia's fattest losers, and what's going on with news and current affairs shows treating us like complete idiots. For years and years they have been regurgitating the same old stories, did you know for example that a diet including lean meat and fresh fruit and vegetables, and regular exercise will result in weight loss! Did you know that it you buy your groceries at 3 different supermarkets the total cost at each store will be different?? TV stations should show reruns of Gilligan's Island and the Brady Bunch like they used to until they have something worthwhile to offer the public. I cannot believe that after 50 years of television how hard it is to find anything worth watching. Mr B 8/5/2010

Cigarette tax hike by "exited" Sounds fair

There is no doubt that this tax will help KRudd pay for the mess he has made.

But it does not go far enough & smokers should not be left to pay for this alone.

Fat people are also a massive drain on our health system and I dont see why ba smoker should pay for a fat guy to get a new heart.

We could tax them by the kilo perhaps. Or work it out on Body mass index. or maybee we just tax cream buns.

You now its true.

Too Right Phil (RE More Money for Students)

Too bloody right mate... What happened to the days when uni students were "Working" afterhours to earn their tuition...??? Nowdays all you see is most of them pissed and/or stoned off their faces, sometimes even during "school hours"... I'm sure any Government would allocate a higher tax free threshhold or other tax concessions for uni students, if approached in a propper manner. As it is, the government loans the tuition to uni students, with interest free payback over what, 5 years ???. So, Get To Work Boys and Girls and stop whinging... Peter J... NSW 17/4/2010

Sydney's most popular shlock-jock, Alan Jones, "has no idea"... He regales his red-neck audience every morning with an anti-government tirade, huffing and puffing about the problem of illegal immigrants. The "Rudd-Government" (as he calls the Federal Labor Party) is pulling refugees from across the seas with their lenient treatment. It has nothing to do with the war in their home countries, he claims. So, now that the Government has chosen to suspend the processing of Sri Lankans and Afghans, and offer fewer refugee positions at the end of the period, is Mr Jones happy? Oh, no.

Alan Jones says that the Government is unfair, and that sending those people back to war-ravaged homes is inhumane. He quotes from the Foreign Affairs' Smart Traveller web site, pointing out that the gorvenment thinks Afghanistan and Sri Lanka are dangerous places... So he pounces on two words used by Stephen Smith (Minister for Foreign Affairs) when explaining the new policy: "changed circumstances". Before it was very bad and we needed to accept refugees, but now, with changed circumstances they can survive, and we can send them back. What's the problem, Alan? SteveParent East Sydney 12/4/2010

Back door people

The goody two shoes in this country, should pull there heads out of the sand. These so called boat people come into our country illegaly by the back door have no rights they lost that when they paid these people smugglers.

And why should the tax payers pay for them when we have people here that could be helped.

These people push back the ones that are going through the proper channel to come into out country, these people that are court should be shipped right back to where they come from, they have no rights and the government should stand on there feet and say no and send them back.

All boats should be burned and sunk at sea, If they cannot a ford to go through the right channels but have the money to pay these people smuggler then they have the money to go through the right channel.

All these one that we have here now should all be put on a military plane and shipped straight out back to where they come from no if or butts. brenhanena

Supporting Commissioner Christine Nixon

I am sick and tired of this lady getting it from all sides of the media spectrum,etc. For all those gits that don't agree "shut up and stop with using Christine Nixon as a scapegoat for all that went wrong etc..." The real ppl who are at fault for those fires are the gits who lit them and the bureucratic greenies etc who do not allow back burning to take place... lay off with the smut and deadwood !!! Fiona Vemoa 7/4/2010

Billions for a bon fire

Olympic games may provide spectators with one of the best fire works displays you've ever seen but to me it's just a big bon fire fueled by our hard earned tax dollars. A billion dollars thats not a sum that most people could comprehend let alone waist to put on an event such as an olympics games. Yes it's good to be proud of our sons, daughters, nieces, nephews, grandchildren to be able to have the ability to represent our great country in such physically challenging events. But what about those that are just simply physically challenged to get through an average day because they have had a stroke or some other health related event that could or will change their lives for ever.

Our health system is disgusting in regards to how many beds we have to cater for our ever growing population and the lack of staff we have to cater for these people. What we need is to spend the billion dollars that Anna Bligh is supposedly willing to spend on an Olympic games on our under resourced health system. Why would some one worry more about how other country's preceive us in the form of being able to cater for an elaborate event and not how it's fellow country man our looked after.

Fed up with having my hard earned tax dollars spent on things our country does not need. The Worker 3/4/10

Aussie all over

i totally agree all boat people should be turned back and not take to xmass island, if they want to come here go through the proper channels like everyone else as for the navy well instead of fireing over the with a pissy little styer pull out the 50 cal and sink it the messahe with soon get to them that we do not like you ,

Tasmanian Forestry Debate

I?m a true environmentalist for the forest and a true economist for the state of Tasmania or as I like to think of myself also as a Real Custodian of The Forests and high time and fare overdue that the real people in the Forest Industry have their say from a Timber workers point of view and I?m a 4th generation sawmiller and Logger and I have always said that the timber industry was build on sawlogs for high value flooring and furniture timber. This was achieved in low volume in the 1950s and 60s and it was sustainable and I agree that the industries has gone fare and beyond sawlogs to wood chips but a sawmiller also need the wood chips sale to complete the sustainability as well!. I want to stress to the public good timber for flooring and furniture products comes from native forests in regrowth and old growth not plantation timber

There are logging contractors out there that can selectively log bushes for sawlog only from Native forest weather its old growth or regrowth. What I have always said has to happen is the sawmillers should selectively log crown land themselves to get only the saw logs they need for their mill.

An average family owned sawmill that value add timber from green to dry flooring ect would employ approx 10 people but would only need 6,500 m3 per year of saw logs not the millions of millions of tonnes needed for wood chip. But what scare me the most is that in this whole forestry debate we the family owned saw millers are being forgotten and we have always done the right thing by our forests!

But we stress as a forest Industry we must have some form of native forest export wood chip sales truly sustainable,

1: wood waste form sawlogs once they have been cut in to boards.

2: The head or crown of the sawlog tree that is not viable for sawn timber as per 1950s and 1960s

3: In some bushes when you selectively log them you have to take out some lower grade trees that want make sawlog but only wood chip so the seed from the good sawlog potential trees can regenerate.

4: And most importantly you also leave small healthy looking trees for our future sawmillers.

NOW THAT IS SUSTAINABILITY!

Please Save our family owned sawmills!!!!!!!! EW 1/4/10

Bored and away, stupid neighbours

When oh When will both of these poxy shows cease to exists, i mean enough is enough.Take alf stuart ,what a silly old fart he has past his expiry date surely, and now they have brought back marylyn ,next they will be bringing bobby back from the dead.And now little dopey leah is dating a priest sh*t man what a load of crap. And colleen dumb needs to have her mouth sown up. Please scrap both these show's and replace them with a anything that makes sense. Boring,boring, bloody boring!!!!

Electricity Daylight Saving Garbage Collection Penrith

Why are we all having no say in what goes on in this country.

The criminal electricity increases.

The extended daylight saving is running till April and will end up running continuously.

A collection of household rubbish once a fortnight by Penrith Council unless you pay $50.00 extra a year and an increase in July because some dickhead running it signed a seven year contract which they can’t get out if. jdp Penrith 9/3/2010

Child Seat Restraints

I've recently heard that the laws reguarding child seat restraints will be changed after the 11th of March, 2010. Apparently, children between the ages of six months and four years MUST be in a forward facing restraint that babies use. After, from the age of four years to seven years, they MUST be in a booster seat. If you dont abide by these new laws, parents will be fined $150 to $300. My daughter is two and a half and no longer fits the baby restraints without causing discomfort and pain to her. I think that the men who sat around in their three thousand dollar suits and in air conditioned offices have gone to far. This is punishment to children everywhere in Australia. What about those who start school at the age of six? Will they have to catch the school bus sitting in booster seats, even though they are old enough to attend school? Booster seats have worked for two and three year olds for years before now, why the sudden change of heart from rich men who probably dont even have kids. When will the government get off their asses and join us 'little' people in the real world before making decisions like this?Annoyed Mother 7/3/2010

Bullying and harrasment in Public Hospital

I would like to get any feedback for those who has been bullied and harrassed while working in the public hospital. Tell about your experienced and maybe we can have a discussions here. I'm sure some are scared to be identified for the fear of payback but, you can remain annonymous. It is a major problem

but most victims are frightened. Have your say. bully 8/2/2010

Overseas student intake.

I would only like to comment on what I observed.

There are many students that come to Australia come here to work not really to better themselves. apparently as one person bragged to me. They can pay for there paperworks that will make them eligible to get the visa to stay here as a student could you believe they said even there bank accounts are fakes as well as their assets in which their successful acceptance to study relies on. They bragged that they just work and save money send the money backhome. and when their visa is fully exhausted they will just go home presto. Do we really believe that the intake of overseas student help Australia Yes if they are legitimate NO when there papers are fakes and they are only here for economic reasons to work and deceived us. My parting comment because those students accepts lower rates than many people who are unemployed and legitimately looking for work they are

missing the oportunity because works are given to those who accept less than the minimum required and sadly too they work harder even myself dont work as hard to fair.

Enough! 8/2/2010

Lets stop looking for excuses!

Is it just me, or do other people wonder what has happened to Australians. More and more I find people who blame their current situations on their childhood, their friends and family... Basically blame things on others and take no responsibility.

And now what I see are more and more people hunting for mental health diagnoses and physical illnesses therefore allowing them to blame their situation on a disorder or illness.

I know plenty of people with back problems who continue to work, make a living and enjoy life (some who have learnt all new skills for a new job suitable), with mental illnesses who continue to strive and make positive changes in life, people in wheelchairs or with HIV that still take responsibility and want to create a better life and world...

So why is it now that more and more able bodied healthly people are looking for excuses to to be able to hate the world, feel misterble and blame everyone else!

I think Aussies need a wake up call, just look outside of Australia for one minute and see how good we do have it here! And stop whinging that your dole or pension isn't enough, and blaming others - get off your butt and make your life better for yourself! Frustrated 4/2/2010

Are job network agencies doing enough?

I am one of a long list of people currently on the unemployment line. I fill out applications for payment search for jobs and attend appointments set by my job network provider. This is quite frustrating, not to mention the stress of being told by potential employers that if I had more background experiance/qualifications would give a better chance. I tried to overcome this by applying for certificate in a career that I could enjoy and really get a passion for. I looked on the internet at a range of courses that were of interest and went into tafe to get the enrolment papers and got later that week got the tools I needed, even put a uniform on layby. You see I was informed by my consultant at the job network agency that I would be entitled to a one off nine-hundred dollar payment to help get my course underway, provided by the government. Great! Or so I thought after photo-copying my receipts and a promise that they would reimberse me yet another appointment was made to confirm the grant had gone through. The next day I turn up to my appointment a little bit before nine-thirty am and waited to be interviewed. Well I did that interview and I will never look at a job agency with the same respect ever! After a heap of lies and fake promises they tell me "NO", seems that I'm not entitled to a one off nine-hundred dollar payment toward my course, oh and the tools I bought you guessed it no reimbersement. This left me in a difficult situation with the course about to start I'm not sure what to do. I would pay for the course myself but foolish thinking made me put the money towards the tools/uniform. Silly that, a better thinking mind would have paid for the course first givng them no option but to fork out for tools and things appropriate to the course. But now I'm suffering at the hands of a very greedy job agency. I believe that this is happening because the people that work in these agencies are more worried about having that bonus for finding thier customers dead end jobs to shut them up. I know it's a big call but think about it, they get allocated with funds that can only be spent according to how they see fit and it's easier to keep the funds rather than explain where they went. Job network agencies telling lies to job seekers and miss-infoming job seekers looking to study, sounds like cause for a complaint! But wait a minute I already did that. Yes after waiting a few hours the complaint line got back to me and politley asked me what exactly I wanted them to do about it? "Make them pay for my course, I know they have the funding!" but after an apology she tells me that nothing can be done. Job networks spend your funding however they see fit. Well I guess it's time to change agencies but I have a feeling that some unfor-seeable obstacle will pop up and the process will start all over again. Are job network agencies doing enough?

I DONT THINK SO!! THANKSS. Huth 2/2/2010

Shame on Rann!

How many mistakes are you going to make before the public wake up to you! enough is enough! it is time for a woman to run this state. come on everybody vote for isobel redmond at the next state election!

nathan mason 23/1/2010

Stop all immigration

This is a touchy subject for all. I believe it should be stopped for the time being unless the immigrant has sound qualifications for jobe unfilled by Australians. Much stronger laws need to be adopted for boat people to stop the continuous influx. Other contries would not take such a slack stance. V Noslen 18 Jan 2010

Supposedly

· God created all in 6 days and on the 7th took rest.

· He made man and said, “We will make man in our own image.” [Why did he use the plural?] So was Satan there at the time, was he good then, and turned bad?

· After seeing Mankind was a failure he then chose Noah and his kinfolk to build an ark and take aboard one of each species [male/female] then caused it to rain for 40 days and 40 nights? All was lost.

· However Noah’s kinfolk were not perfect resulting in the greed, corruption, cheating, killing…… to all begin again.

· Jesus, the son of God, had to be born of an earthling. Had he not, he would feel no pain. So a pure woman [Mary] was chosen to give birth to Jesus. [Would you want your son to be born of a prostitute?]

· He tried to teach the people the errors of their ways and had 12 disciples to help him, but alas they often questioned his credibility as did many others when he created miracles during his short life span.

· Just like our soldiers who defend us are killed, Jesus had to be sacrificed to show us the way, but do we ever learn? Seemingly we never do and find it too difficult to believe there is a second life and a heaven……………..same old story….seeing is believing…………………..tell people the truth and they never believe you. Tell them lies and they will swallow it ever so easily.

· NOW……permit me to mention……”Why do we question God when tragedy happens….the death of a little child…..a loved one……cancer victims….why do we ask “Why did God do that?” Why is Satan, the Devil never accused of doing this??????? God is compassionate, kind, loving, understanding who gave his son, that we may follow what he expects of us by accept 10 simple commandments.

Satan is cruel, evil, gloating, a liar and a murderer. He has been like that since the beginning of time.

JESUS said to his Disciples, “Do not let your hearts be troubled, trust in God, trust also in me. [John 14:1] In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you…………………..

The children of the Devil. [John 8:42- 47] “If God was your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now am here. I have not come on my own; but he sent me. [43] Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. [44] You belong to your Father, the Devil and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. [45] Yet, because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! [46] Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? [47] He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.

· Satan causes all the pain, suffering, lies, the tragic death of loved ones; he inflicts the cancer, the murder committed by his flock and tries to destroy, your faith, ….so why do we in churches never mention him.

· We do say however he, she, they are now in God’s care. Trust in the Lord and the son of man, Jesus.

· S0 simple and yet we continue in darkness…………………how long will you continue to disbelieve?

RTL 23 .12.2009

If fresh water is heavier than salt water, which it is seemingly is. Does it dilute the salt water? No, it sinks to the lowest level and forms into rivers and streams making its way to the polar caps along the bottom of the ocean? It is filtered of impurities as it passes along the way. On reaching a certain point it freezes and becomes Icebergs.

Job 38:16. God asks Job has he seen the springs at the bottom of the ocean, then [29] who is the mother of ice and the frost, [30] which turns the water to stone and freezes the face of the sea?

Are we doing the right thing by damming up rivers when really we should not be messing with water ways, but recycling that which we have used? Should we be sinking bores instead and tapping into the subterranean water table?

If global warming “as it is claimed” is occurring is it for that reason that the flow is reduced to a trickle and icebergs are becoming less or melting?

Carbon trading will profit those who wish to continue abusing the law by buying the “Brownie Points” scored from those who create power from Solar, wind or whatever. It is a conspiracy between those participating. There should be no Carbon Trading what-so-ever.

Power plants and those who are asked to have clean coal will hike up the price on the consumer and it will cost us dearly. Australia is less than 3% of the contributors emitting pollution…………….why should we conform to the idealistic morons seeking change when the major players…India, China and America have made no commitment at all.

Fact of the matter is:- those simple souls who voted Labor into power will one day realize the great error they made in change from a government which was heading in the right direction to a power of ignorance. Kevin 007, me too, we will do that…..etc….etc at what cost to the taxpayer. Yes, another deficit for the Coalition to resolve. How stupid you people are! You are getting what you created, so blame yourself not those you voted out.

But the fact of the matter is...................It is all to do with cost and who's palm can we greaze to help our buddies while we are in power. Politicians are untruthful and think of their own political position first and foremost/

R.T.L. 18th Dec 2009

Motel Beds

I have travelled between Melbourne and Sydney a fair bit over the last 3 years, and I have been unable to get a good night sleep whilst doing it.

Have you noticed that the so called "Industry Standard" beds that are now used in 90% of all Motels and Accomodations are actually the old "display beds". Hard as rocks. They were actually built this way in the past to show off bedding because it makes it sit nice and flat. I get a sore back whenever I have to sleep on them, and it's not like I have much of a choice at times. I have been telling the Motels that I have stayed at, that their beds are way too hard. The respone I get is that they are "Industry Standard" beds and everyone uses them. (As if that makes it acceptable.) They are usually rather miffed that I would dare to say something. We have started to B&B our way now, where possible, But the B&B's usually require some notice before arrival. This can be a bit tricky to do at times, as with travelling you usually drive untill you can no more before stopping for the night.

The cost of quite a few B&B's are now quite similar to Motels, if you include breakfast in the tariff. But OH!!!!! the beds are GREAT!!! I can't recommend it enough. And NO I do not work for or own a B&B. I know the "Industry Standard" beds last longer, but who wants to sleep in them. There are of course those amongst us who do prefer a hard bed (usually a slim type), but since most of us are now more cuddly (and/or retired) I would have thought the industry would cater for the majority. These "Industry Standard" beds put the spinal alignment out of wack if you have a more cuddly figure or suffer from aches and pains etc- hence the sore back in the morning. I have actually stayed at places that have had the padded top beds, but they have been turned upside down, so you have to sleep on the underside which was not built to be slept on.

Being a retired person now, we would like to travel more, but we are relctant to do that because of the beds. Being on the road for weeks at a time with the current beds to look forward to - NO THANKS. I would rather stay home and stick close to my comfy bed. We do mid week breaks to B&B's now. But we sure could do with a few more in the $120.00-$160.00 price range!!

I would like more people to start saying something to these proprietors, then perhaps they will start to change their beds back to the ones that people actually want to sleep in. They can claim depreciation anyway on thier tax. And don't bother to cry poor about having to buy them in the first place. I have yet to find many Motels not booked out by 6pm at night. I have worked with Accountants for most of my life so I know the figures!!! Having said that, I don't mind paying extra for a good bed. NOW PEOPLE, GET OUT THERE AND DEMAND A GOOD BED. Dunlop20/11/09Add your comment

Look after our own

its about time the govement realise thay work for the australian people .we pay there wages.the govement is live a boat thats leaking,the buckets to bale it out are its assetts like power,water,communications.what gives them the right to sell our assetts.these things should be no profit organisations so that the cost are kept to the lowest for us.I dont think most australians realise that if the power and water were turned off for three days there would be a world greif believe me (no power to pump petrol,fridges,cold food)so when our boat sinks very soon i leave god help us. Jacko 18/11/09 Add your comment

JOCKEY GLENN LYNCH STILL NOT BACK IN THE SADDLE

Over Five weeks ago Qld Racing cleared Jockey Glenn Lynch after a

A well-publicised dispute between Australian betting agency Betchoice and former Group 1 champion jockey Glenn Lynch was resolved. Betchoice had pursued Lynch for a large unpaid debt on his betting account. Lynch stated that the debt arose due to known associates placing bets using his account and security details without his knowledge. Lynch new nothing of the debt until he read it in the newspapers. Under Betchoice's accountholders' rules Betchoice was within its rights to hold Lynch responsible for the debt and to pursue him for the full amount. After detailed investigations and discussions the dispute was finalised. There was no evidence that Mr Lynch was betting while he was a licensed jockey.

Mark Morrissey of Betchoice said that he was glad to have matters with Lynch resolved so that both parties could move on. Lynch would now of course be able to get back in the saddle.

Lynch now cleared has applied to Racing Nsw for his Jockeys license as he now resides here with his partner on their stud farm, where there are over fifty thoroughbred horses including brood mares foals yearlings inclusive of a dozen race horses chomping at the bit to get on the track and prove their form. Lynch states that he and his partner who has had her trainer?s license approved in Nsw are in this industry for the long haul and are both looking forward to getting back racing. Lynch says he is ready to get back in the saddle weighing in at a fit and healthy 55 kilos on any given day.

Lynch in the past was best known for his rides on champion horses such as Gold Edition and Ice Chariot. Lynch says that was just the tip of the iceberg and there are a lot more of those wins still to come. Reader 14/11/09 Add your comment

Unite and stand up

I have in the past sat on these forums, have your say type sites and had my say but then realised that's all I was doing, achieving very little. I have recently combined my efforts of sending posts and threads on these things to copy pasting these to my email client and sending them to all different government depts who may or may not reply. At the moment I am searching for those who are not prone to just whinging about things but being active in their beliefs. If we all sit back and wait for things to change it will happen but more for the worse...Take a look at youtube and check out "poor whites" South Africa and others simular. This is where we are going and this is scary! I live in a town up north and it is very evident it may already be too late! That SORRY word has a whole new meaning now!

I believe there are groups out there but it's finding the right one. Perhaps I should check out what Paulines up to these days!

If anyone is interested in finding a way it can't hurt..The more we have the better chance of standing up.

Good luck to all this is going to be one hell of a ride!!! nojaffa 6/11/09 Add your comment

Petitions please

Although I haven't been through what you have and my situation is totally different I know the laws suck and I have just b4 finding this site was looking into petiton sites etc. I have been searching for help for the past 7 months and nothing available for my son he is either the wrong age or the wrong colour for assistance and the juvenile justice system aint making things any easier...I will be glad to team up and see if we can get some sort of movement in something although I don't like our chances but I guess we have very little to lose and much experience to gain. nojaffa 6/11/09 Add your comment

Phil Halse for PM, OI, OI, OI

Phil Halse I would like you to run for MP

PLEASE...lol nojaffa 6/11/09 Add your comment

Your Not Alone Phil Halse

This future is certain for the years 2036 Phil when the Islamic wars will engulf South East Asia which will not miss the great southern continent.even though it will be all above board in Australia because it will be by democratic vote.The Islamic are rallying to get their parties registered, so with a majority win in Western Australia they'll take the state and soon call for an Islamic republic.So as you can see you will want to be used to fighting for your life in a free and just land that alot of Australians take for granted.If you think that this is noncense and could not happen then i suggest you look to the south of thailand and other smaller SE Asian nations.So mate is suggest you move to Tasmania and get away from the lot. sasmick 5/11/09 Add your comment

Earthquakes

I am putting the idea out there that the increasing number of earth quakes is a direct result of global warming.as the ice melts and the water expands as it warms, the added weight is causing the earths crust to resettle.

comments to spuff at pissoff@live.com.au Add your comment

Stop all immigration

I will drink to that Bill. In fact I will drink a carton to that!

Woodduck 10/09 Add your comment

Everyone Relax, I mean everyone!!!

As far as everything is concerned, Australia is not exempt from cultural sensitivites. Also, just having fun in this skit was obvious, but it doesnt excuse hey hey from disrespecting it's guests from all nations. the act did resemble racism but it was the same lack of common sense and ignorance that allows this type of behaviour to be ok.comedians are excused for their controversies, so should the act, but if ever there was one thing obvious, is that peoples responses to this issue prove more racially insensitive than the act itself.as for the guy of indian descent who claims it's ok because of his skin tone, thats crap man, you were not of the culture this type of black shoe polish was intended to ridicule although your culture has had similar persecution. i think you should be careful not to seem racist aswell.i am not of a dark colour but i encounter the same stupid ignorance in the form of so called "non racism".and i was born here.i am 32. B H 10/09 Add your comment

Over the top!!

I should like to express my feelings about all this fuzz over a scetch done on tv with a couple of blokes imitating the Jackson 5, with the painted faces. I am a Dutch lady who migrated to Australia a short while ago. I got very offensed by the whole aftermath. Not at all by the guys doing the scetch!! Clearly they did not intend to be racists. Why can't people see things for what they are, and do we need to look at it as a rasist thing? All over the world people take the micky out of other people for all sorts of reasons. Dutch about the Belgiums, the Jewish jokes etc. etc. That doesn't mean they are racist at all. In the Netherlands we have Sinterklaas, on the 5th of December. This is a tradition from way back. (A similar thing as Santa Claus) Sinterklaas his helpers have always been Zwarte Pieten (guys who paint their faces black). Now suddenly everybody is offended about them as well. It seems, people around the world are doing their damndest to convince everybody else they aren't being racist. Somewhere in the process, we are not seeing clearly anymore.

On U tube, I believe Bill Cosby has something good to say about all of this. All over the world people have gone through hard times. I think it's time we get over ourselves. Make sure that history doesn't repeat itself, respect others, and do not get offended every second about people making jokes, doing scetches or whatever. Jokes are often also a way to deal with things. 10/09 Add your comment

Too sensitive about STUPID things!!

I am an 18 year old that is absolutely outraged that people can get up set about 6 people impersonating the Jackson 5! they dressed up black because they are black. GET OVER IT!! i dont know what all the fuss is about, they definitely were not being racist, they were having fun, and celebrating a life of a perfomer. People should get over themselves. . . live your life, so we can get on with ours. i do not want to be asked to do a poll to see if i was offended by the red faces act, i didnt think anything of it. Aussies are NOT a disgrace, Hey Hey its Saturday did not disgrace us...i love this country, and its sense of humor, wouldnt change it for the world. absolutely, utterly, ridiculous and pathetic. jb 8/9/09 Add your comment

Reply:

Hey, JB you have every right to be annoyed, but you should also be sympathetic...

I don't think the issue is whether WE WHITE AUSSIES were offended or not... its the subject of the joke who should be asked. What does a black American think of this "Minstrals' makeup?

Here is an excerpt from Wikipedia about the last time performers were blacking their faces for laughs:

The Black and White Minstrel Show: Controversy: The (The Black and White Minstral Show)'s premise began to be seen as offensive on account of its portrayal of blacked-up characters behaving in a stereotypical manner. A petition against it was received by the BBC in 1967 ,and since cancellation it has come to be seen more widely as an embarrassment, despite its popularity at the time.

Sannpet 8/9/09 Add your comment

APHORISMS

SECRECY THE MASK OF DECEPTION.

AN AMERICAN IS PREDICTABLY HEARD LONG BEFORE ACTUALLY BEING SIGHTED.

WTC 7 NYC 9/11-ONE DOES NOT HAVE TO BE A ROCKET SCIENTIST TO SMELL A RAT.

John Cameron Blackheath NSW 7/9/09 Add your comment

Stop all immigration

Hey Jose, stop whinging ,,,Australians do not want you here, go back where you came from...While you are at it, take all middle easterners, black africans, pakis, indians and asians..Like Britain and continental Europe ,THE FACE OF AUSTRALIA HAS BEEN DESTROYED FOREVER,by allowing the dregs of the worldinto the country..The government does not have the guts to put the issue of immigration to a referendum .ALLOW AUSTRALIANS to say who enters this country..By the way, an AUSTRALIAN is an indigenous Aboriginal or a white Anglo European, the people who built this country. .Bill 7/9/09 Add your comment

Freedom of speech/rights for single white heterosexual males? Forget it!

Rights for females, rights for blacks, rights for gays, green fanatacism, financial discrimintation against single people.

Reverse discrimination is rampant in Australia and most of the western world! And it's fuelled by the feminist left wing green media and governments.

How about a fair go for all? When will media and governments have the guts to do things in a balanced and fair way? WinWin 2/9/09 Add your comment

You Know What Really Grinds My Gears

*Truck Drivers - How many more innocent lives are going to be needlessly lost by these kamikaze truckies? What has happened to these 'supposed' speed limit regulators that shoudl be installed, the so called analyzers that prevents trucks from being started if the driver has drugs or alcohol in thier system, all the 'Safe-T-Cams' that assist the RTA in booking drivers that break the laws concerning fatigue? Furthermore, the desk jockeys of these transport companies are putting too many hours and too much risk on the too few drivers out there. How about putting more drivers and more trucks on the road to increase safety. Oh about safety, STOP USING RETREADS, ITS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME WHERE A BLOWN RETREAD COSTS A LIFE!!!

*Jet Setting Pollies - Not just a dig at the current Govt, but also to all politicians that jet set around the world for so called 'diplomatic reasons'. Whats wrong with inviting the leaders from other countries here? I'm sure the cost of putting them up in a Country Comfort and a couple of sercurity guards will be lower than our Pollies taking a 1st Class flight, staying in 5 star hotels.

Taxi Drivers/Companies - Where do these guys/companies get off in saying they want to make all fares 'pre-pay'? This will force people to choose to drive intoxicated instead of taking public transport. Besides, they should look at getting more cabs out to the spots that need them so then the public won't get disatisfied at waiting for hours on end for a cab that is dirty and with a disgruntled driver hell-bent on taking you the scenic route to your destination.

Mad Mondays/Silly Sundays - As a duty manager of a hotel, last week I had to deal with a rowdy bunch of Rugby players on thier end of season bender. Seriously, what is so different from an end of season bender to the benders they have at the end of each game? What's wrong with having it at a private residence? Why drag a licensed premises name through the mud justify a team's bad behavour? FYI Warners Bay Rugby Club, this message is for you.

WoodDuck 1/9/09 Add your comment

Essential immigration rule change

Dear all, I am Jose Mamman and am writing this letter so as to express my concern regarding one of the visa rules which puts a travel limitation on all applicants who are on bridging visa with the Australian Immigration department. What concerns me is the fact that there are lot of candidates who have applied for permanent residency and are waiting for a decision from the department, current law with the onshore (885) permanent residency visa does not allow applicants to go back to their country for more than three months. With the current economic crisis and increase in the number of applications, immigration department is taking more than an years time in the processing of some applications. Another problem is that almost all of the employers in Australia ask for a permanent residency when you apply for a job. So during the period when you have applied for permanent residency, you are in a kind of no mans land where you cannot apply for any jobs here relevant to your qualification or neither can you go back to any other country and work during the time period and gain some work experience till the time a decision has been made on your application for residency.

This limitation on the travel rule virtually harms the productivity of future youth in Australia. Immigration department have also made strict rules regarding the issue of Bridging visa B which restricted one of my friend?s travel decisions for compassionate reason. More over it allows the candidates to travel only for three months. If security is the reason behind this law, department could enable re-entry conditions like criminal clearance and medical checks for those who are returning to Australia, similar conditions are already in place for offshore visa applicants, department could easily extend this rule for onshore applicants as well.

I personally and also in the name of International students appeal all beneficiaries like student communities, immigration lawyers, academics, universities, working community, media and human right activists to come forward and address this issue on behalf of all students who are staying back in Australia living unemployed just because of this rule. Australia being responsible to outside world, must reconsider the rule.

Thanking you for your attention.

Jose Mamman. 30/8/09 Add your comment

Western Decay

I am near to retiring age and for my entire life it has been a form of brainwashing as to how great and how right the Western and European cultures are .Well at 58 years of age and after many thousands of kilometres of travel and meeting and talking to thousands of people , I refuse to be brainwashed or fed the corrupt diatribe of our western society any more .

Open your eyes and look at how corrupt our society is , from the young kids on the street to the so called business leaders and political heads of all of the Western and European countries.We have no law enforcement , we have no safety for anyone on the streets , especially our women , our elderly and our children .We have no morals , no values , standards or principals to set community standards and to be proud of . We promote so called freedoms that put the rights of criminals , liars , thieves and drug users above and beyond any rights for decent people .

Well I would now say this , our society is so corrupt with the cancer of crime , deceipt , corruption and moral depletion that our only hope is to become vigilantes and to defend our right for proper law and order , for security and the right to live without fear of the corrupt , the immoral and the criminal .

So I propose that all decent and right minded people take back control of our society and use the same tactics as those who corrupt and despoil it . Remove them by any means , fair or foul until we purge our nations of the corruption and the crime and make our society safe for everyone , instead of living in fear .

Yes I talk of so called vigilantes , of so called taking the law into our own hands , but it is the hands of decent people who made the law , it is the lives of decent people who uphold the laws and defend these nations , now those same people are oppressed by foul low lifes who use the laws and freedoms that decent people fought and died for , to hide behind while they , rape , murder , steal , molest children , take the wealth of nations and feed the dregs of society with their drugs , alchohol and filth .

Well its time to put them down like the animals they are , with no mercy and no thought for what is supposed to be the law that protects them . For there is no law , just a sad pathetic shell that is being used for all the wrong reasons. Take control of our lives and take our society and our laws back from the corrupt pathetic garbage that controls it today

Phil Halse 27/8/09 Add your comment

Slogan: ALL TOGETHER NOW!

lets start with that.

thats it, add what you want to it after this, but it says Australia and the World can come together.No kangaroos or sweeping plains, just people and maybe some sweeping plains but you get the picture. Just keep it generic to a point. The World really is just one big, small planet.(use that too if you like). Greg Graham 26/8/09 Add your comment

Catch-all-slogan

The slogan for Australia must be true and unique.

I suggest "The continent nation" Donal Carr 26/8/09 Add your comment

Health insurance

Why should someone who pays private health insurance have to pay the medicare levy? Totally unfair system! One or the other! Winwin 25/8/09 Add your comment

Woolworths do not care about hold up victim

In January 2007 I was a vicitm of an armed hold up by a man with a knife. This I thought was the end of my life, I survived physically, however my psychological state is in a palce I cannot comprehend.

Woolworths own this BWS bottle shop that I was working in and to date, which is 2 years 7 months and 18 days or 961 days, have done very little to help me rebuild my life.

I was so close to being evicted from my home by Bluestone Mortgages that have my home loan. They were kept up to date with my situation, I used all my Super to make my repayments. I had my story published in the Sunshine Coast Daily Caloundra QLD. Bluestone Mortgages did not care at all.

I decided at the last minute to email A Current Affair, they came the next day to do my story and if not for them I was 16 hours from being tossed out of my home. At no point was I asking for handouts or to be released from my obligations. I just wanted some compassion, empathy and help.

I have been a sole parent for 14 years and worked to pay my mortgage and bills on my own. Did Woolworths care? No, they were furious because I went to the media, which only can show that they do not care if I lose my home.

The evidence against Woolworths is undeniable, however they are still dragging this out so that they do not have to pay me one cent for the near loss of my life, my children to lose their mother, my health issues that I now have and the whole of my life which is now just an existence.

I would hope that my story gets out there so that this does not happen to any other person and Woolworths assume their responsibilty and help me to rebuild my life.

J M Dolan 25/8/09 Add your comment

Telstra Slaughter

What right do the Government have to sell off a big parcel of Telstra shares at a dicounted price and drive the price down affecting millions of mum and dad investors? Who was the genius? henmil2 21/8/09 Add your comment

RE: teachers payrise... Maybe the Teachers do deserve a better wage?

I am a teacher I am not University Trained. but LIFE TRAINED as I am a MOTHER! Teaching my children to survive in a crazy world is my major role.... to which I am so PROUD OF! however, I am forced to hand over my children to people that I have only met once or twice....and for maybe only an hour each time...they only know my children from the way that they act away from me......I get no money for my teachings however I have always been extremely happy with my method of payment which is the rewards that are given in LOVE and proof of understanding through the trials and errors made by us all!!!!!!

On to the teachers of society......Our School Teachers and our Governments......

I believe that many teachers to whom I have become friends with so that I can keep an upper hand on how my children act away from me lol, deserve even more money than that of the politician!

Many of these teachers take home with them a heavy load of emotions brought on by a corrupt society to which the majority of jurisdiction has been removed from them they and they can really do nothing other than hand troubled children on to other authorities who definitely don't know our children! This I believe is brought on by our society being so out of whack or as I like to call it AMERICANIZED (to which I look at as a terminal illness!!) ....

I was once walking past a classroom, the teacher was yelling and the students were being SO RUDE! I could not help myself I entered the room and in an very authoritative voice reprimanded the class "How dare you children come to school and act this way for Miss........" I said, "Do you think this Miss..... gets up every up every morning in the hope she can yell at you children or do you think she gets up every morning in the hope to teach someone younger than her the things that will help you carry on and live in a very confusing world? ...and all she gets is extremely rude children" shame on you all" and with that I left.

I know for a fact that this particular teacher is a teacher because she believes she could help others not because she had a good S.A.T. score and it was good pay......

This is why believe That teachers like her deserve a better wage than even the politicians who demand that we send our children to fight and unfortunately sometimes die in a war brought on by their stupidity and arrogance!!!!!

These are the people that we entrust to be able to bring our children up to live in a world that we have no choice over because of ridiculous LAWS/TRADITION.

My children have been extremely lucky and had some fantastic teachers....to which I applaud them. Don't get me wrong there are also teachers out their that don't deserve all what I say but I think the majority are good..... ROCK ON TEACHERS!!!!!!!!!!!!! go for BROKE Donna Such/Luscombe 20/8/09 Add your comment

RE: More Money For Students... Here Here!

I totally agree with you on that one. The Govt is not rewarding the people out there that are trying to better themselves by getting an education or showing intent to further thier career. The Govt is though throwing all of the tax payer $ into a 'Money Pit' of people not wanting, willing or be bothered getting a job.

I've been studying for 5 years now and not far away from becoming a successful Sports Scientist and to say the Govt has rewarded me is frivilous. 3 years on Youth Allowance, cause I was too young and living at home, receiving the LOWEST benefit of a meagre 220 a fortnight. 1 year on Newstart (even though I was studying full-time, I still needed to find work of 10-15 hours a week) for 330 odd a fortnight. The start of this year I finally got Austudy 440 a fortnight and that is still not as much as the dole bludgers of today recieve (probably they have popped out kids, scamming disability or rorting the system in one way or another).

I feel the Govt should stem the flow of handing out 'drug and alcohol payments' to these deadbeats of society and give the students the due where it is so deserved. WoodDuck 20/8/09 Add your comment

More money for students!

We all know that in today?s work force, it has become a necessary requirement, to gain successful employment ? to have a piece of paper that states we are intelligent enough to work in our desired field. If you don?t have that piece of paper, you need the experience, but then you can not gain the experience because no one hires you without the paper. It?s a vicious circle.

So people either: Do nothing at home because they find it all too hard to bother and they only ?pretend? to look for work - and when they do look for work, they don?t have enough experience; spend years working in a dead end job that eventually runs them down so much they get depressed and feel bad about themselves; or, they get out there and study to get that ?piece of paper?.

However, it has become that studying is more difficult than just being a unemployed.

I find it appalling that those trying to get an education are forced to struggle with the low payments offered to them by the government. Knowing that I could resort to becoming unemployed and receive higher payments for doing so, would result in me being less likely go out and study and would be much easier. I believe that people will be more inclined to choose the option that will get them the most money.

So why not offer them an incentive to study? By making Austudy the higher payment and Newstart the lower payment (unless incapacitated), then the unemployed may be more likely to study and get a job.

If the government is serious about helping the people less motivated to get out there and start work or study - to gain the necessary requirements for a suitable job - then wouldn?t it be logical to offer a more suitable payment for them to do so?

As I stated before, it is easier to sit back and do nothing, and receive more money for doing so, than it is to study and gain a higher level of education to gain greater success in the career or your choice.

Is the government looking at improving this situation for students? If not, why? And if so, when will it be implemented?

We need more students to speak up in regard to this matter. Only then can we try and start to make a change.

AJ 14/8/09 Add your comment

Pieces of paper ?

Great stuff for wiping your ass . Try getting off your ass and go get a job , earn some money , save it and buy all the paper you want .

Some of the greatest achievers in this country have no education and cant even read , but they know how to work . Shame there are not a lot more of them . Phil Halse 27/8/09 Add your comment

Malcolm Turnbull Should Apologise

1. He has abused the role of the Senate tribunal by staging a false enquiry

2. He made a mistake

3. He acted like a bully in demanding the PM and Treasurer resign for a seemingly minor misdemeaner (had it been true!)

4. He showed that he does not have political nuance, and therefore let his own team down.

An apology would be the manly thing to do! Apologise to Rudd and Swan, and to the Liberal party for the embarrassment he has caused.

Sannpet 7/8/09 Add your comment

Turnbull and Propaganda Glorious Proaganda!

In relation to the ABC?s latest edition of ?Australian Story? featuring none other than the unsavoury, untrustworthy, self serving wannabe PM, Malcolm Turnbull. Honestly, they (the Turnbulls and the Liberal party members appearing on the program) really shouldn?t attempt acting as well as politics because they are all incredibly bad at it. This program was a load of the most obvious propaganda I have witnessed and am outraged that the public broadcaster let this contrived bias go to air. How far will Malcolm go to progress his own share portfolio? After all that is why he is in politics isn't it! This particular "episode" of the program is a desperate and deliberate attempt to pervert the course of justice. I was under the impression that Australian Story was an impartial, honest, lament about members of the community who have a story of significance to contribute. Maybe the show should be renamed "Australian Advertorial"? blah 5/8/09Add your comment

Weekly Steaming Coils

*K Hunt- As a Bronco fanatic (circa 1988), I was shocked and dismayed that this fantastic talent that has represented his club, state and Australia with such pride would go down to the ugly world that is GayFL. I would not of cared if K went to Japan, France, Italy or New Zealand to play Rugby for bigger $. However, a move to such a narrowly, inwardly focused 'recreation' of GayFL is beyond belief. Undoubtably he will succeed straight away and tear through any other 'athletes', yet the questions to ponder. A) K can't represent his state or his nation, B) The $ won't be as good, C) More prone to injury, D) More susceptible to on/off field scandals.

I have supported K since he was a member of the Broncos, but his latest move has got me pondering my future support.

*Sydney Murders- What if this was a Anglo-Saxon murder of x amount of people? Would there be this amount of media attention that has gone on for what seems like an eternity? It seems to be the Asian, Triad if you will, version of the Bikie Gang type of killings. Let's not lose focus here people.

*Speedo Fracas- Swimsuits have been evolved ever since the sport became an Olympic sport. Bloke wore full torso, half legged suits in the early 1900's. Then they got shorter and thinner, then the Speedo came out. I'm just reckoning, that this is another evolution of swimming and we as a nation were last out of the gates on this one. WoodDuck Add your comment

Teacher payrise?

Teachers have just turned down a payrise of 12% over 4 years. HOW GREEDY ARE THEY? If I was offered a raise of that much I would be estatic, but not them. They want more! They said they are underpaid, but from what I can tell, that is only in comparison to teachers in other states, not in comparison to other wage earners in Queensland. For instance, I have been employed in the same job for 25 years, and I do not consider myself underpaid, but according to figures from the Teachers Union website, a first year teacher earns more than I do. So yes, I think that they are being greedy. When are they going to start acting like the adults they supposedly are, and stop acting like spoilt children who don't know enough is enough? JS Add your comment

Nuclear Power

We need nuclear power plants, its as simple as that! People say its too pollutant, but lets face it - they all are. Coal (which i believe is our main source of energy) pollutes the air; nuclear doesnt. It makes shit loads of waste, but if properly contained its no harm. And eventually we should be able to figure out how to safely destroy all that waste.

As all efficient forms of energy creation are somewhat pollutant, then why not go with the one that is MOST efficient?

People often cite chernobyl as a reason not to use it, but come on! That was the soviet union near the end of the cold war... They were lucky it didnt happen more often. I think we'd be much more careful then they ever were - we have standards.

Others say there's no place to put it, well im pretty sure there's an entirely empty desert out there. "But that's a sacred place to the Aboriginies..." I say lets be like the US and give special 'reservations' to our indigenous cousins, cause we cant practically give them the entire country back, nor mark it all as sacred ground. We are here, theres no going back, we have to learn to share this great land.

A nuclear plant could help save the environment, maybe cheaper electricity rates, and most importantly of all - its the lesser of two evils. Baron Add your comment

Israeli Troubles

What really gets me is that now if you say anything which contradicts the "status Quo" (as in this case), you're immediately called "Anti-Semetic". As mentioned earlier, I have no doubt that the Holocaust happened, but I dont agree that the creation of Israel was warrented in such a fashion as it happened. Now Ive got nothing against Jews - skin colour, religion, ethnicity, etc - doesnt mean anything to me, but to take someone's land and give it to someone else is universally wrong.

But there's plenty of blame to go around, first to the UN for taking the land from the Palestinians; then some for the Israelies for being greedy and wanting all the land for themselves. As far as Im concerned, the Palestinians are merely fighting for their homes, which is much nobler than coming in and claiming a piece of land which they haven't owned in 2000 years... Hmm, let's think, who should get the land? The people living there or the people who's great great great great great etc grand parents lived there? Tough choice...

But that's in the past now, they're there and we cant get rid of them. So what's the alternitive? SHARING! Multiple cultures have managed to co-exist together in other countries, so why not there? Lebanon has a nice little system set up so that neither Christians or Muslims can completely control the government. Maybe something like that should be set up (and probably a change in the country's name wouldnt hurt either, something they can both agree on, since they'd be sharing). Well, I guess it's either that or they keep killing each other until the Arabs win, cause lets face it, the Israelies are kind of surrounded in hostile territory. Sure, they have better technology because of their links with the US, but if they keep bombing the shit out of anything that moves (and killing thousands of civilians in the process), then they'll find themselves without anyone watching their backs. Cause as much as we want to support them, we cant (and morally shouldnt) forgive them for going too far. If they commit war crimes, then they should pay just as the Nazis did. I think there was something like that in the news a while ago, one of their officials was being accused of crimes during that latest bombardment of the West Bank, but they said they'd protect him, and we never heard anything about it again. Well, that's not right! He should be extradited and charged, and if he's guilty, then he should get what he deserves. Baron Add your comment

Free Speech my arse!

I'm getting really sick of hearing in the news about the latest "Holocaust denier", and the controversy it apparently creates. Personally, I believe it happened, but I dont see why we have to make such a big deal about it when someone believes otherwise. Let's face it, we have been given a great gift - free choice, and what people dont seem to understand is that when free choice is given, people sometimes make the wrong decision. THAT's LIFE!

Now I could sit here all day writing about how "stupid" people are in believing in a God figure when there is no clear evidence it exists; or about that crazy-arse group who believe that the world is in fact flat... But I don't, because even though we may believe in different things, they have the same right to believe what they want as I do.

Okay, the Holocaust was a HUGE tragedy, but I think people telling us what we have to believe is just as bad.

Fortunately we dont live in Germany where it's actually a crime to deny said event... What's with that? We really punishing people for their beliefs? Sounds kind of like we've sort of regressed a bit doesnt it? I can understand that the German government has been trying to distance themselves from Hitler's actions, but they're kind of over-compensating. Sure, support Israel, be buddy-buddy with them, but just dont force people to conform to your standard of thought (even if it may be the truth)!

Freedom of thought was originally concieved to challenge those injustices which plagued the governments of old. And sure it worked out well in the end, but now we're in a sort of rut where we believe our system is perfect, even as our freedoms are taken from us, we still wont accept the facts. And when someone stands up and says "no, this is wrong", we quickly shoot them down and call them "unpatriotic" or such, because we see out world as it used to be (in its golden age), instead of as it is now...

We need to wake up and accept the facts as they are - our system is flawed (we can only fix it if we acknowledge it's broken), free speech means FREE SPEECH (not: you can believe whatever you want as long as its okay with us). Because in the end, it's not our thoughts which make us good or bad, it's our actions. Everyone has bad thoughts now and then, but most are good enough to not take action based on said thoughts. Baron Add your comment

The price we pay

All of us yelp and whine about free speech and rights , but few of us remember or care that people died , paid massive personal prices and suffered greatly to bring those concepts into being .

We dont have the morals or the principals to know the value of those things anymore . So we have lost them , and in there place we have the media and a puppet government of crooked little people who give us our daily rights. Phil Halse 27/8/09 Add your comment

Unfair justice

Can someone please tell what is wrong with our law? my 3yr old son was seriously beaten up last year by a 35yr old man, the police let this guy walk free due to "lack of evidence". but 5mths ago this jerk gets thrown in jail for stealing $23,000 from his long time friend's wife. (they didnt know what had happened). my son had some very serious injuries- severe head injury, 2 black eyes, broken arm and leg, internal bleeding, nosebleed, bite mark to his chest,injury to his pancreas and spleen,this jerk even sat on my little boy's face and tried to suffocate him. i left my 3 sons with this guy for only 45mins whilst i went to the shops to get dinner, ive known the guy for over 6yrs he has 3 sons himself. but what shocks me the most that he always said my 3yr old was his favorite cos he was so well-behaved. so y would he bash him so badly? my boy was in hospital for over a week, the first 3 days in critical condition. i still cant believe that the cops didnt arrest him for hurting my baby. but yet they charged him for stealing $23,000. whats more important- a child's life or money? kevin rudd pull ur finger out and do some serious re-vamp to our law. cos it sucks. this happened last year 13th september 2008. now all 3 of my sons have been taken from me by the child protection department here in perth. i gave this guy a place to stay for a couple of days and this is the thanks i got-he nearly killed my son. please to all you single mums out there dont trust anyone with your kids. cos you will never know what they will do your kids. i seriously regret that day i left my boys with him. he did all that damage to my son in 45mins, imagine what he couldve done if i was any longer at the shops. dont risk your child's life. if you want someone over at your place and its a guy. get a your family to babysit for you. people these days can just snap so easily. my child protection case worker was supposed to do a background check on him and she didnt. she met him the day b4 that horrible day, i later found out (due to the idiot leaving some paperwork at my house) that he had 6 assult charges and 14 drug, armed robbery, and break & entering charges against him. if i knew this b4 hand he wouldve been out on the street so quick. so yeah i kinda blame the case worker for not doing her job properly. if she wouldve done that check the day she met him, my son wouldnt have been seriously hurt. come on department of child protection, do your work properly. my son's lives were put at risk cos one of your workers couldnt be bothered doing a background check. if anyone out there wants to help me start a petition to get some laws changed let me know. our kids come first. let these mongrels who hurt our kids rot in jail. nella Add your comment

There is no LAW

Simple , there is no law . We let the lawless , the corrupt and the criminals take our law and order away from us . Perhaps we will get the courage to take it back . Do we have the courage to do what is necessary to get our rights back and punish those who disregard the law and what it is meant to be there for . To protect our children and our society ? Phil Halse 27/8/09 Add your comment

Petrol Vouchers are Discrimination and should be banned

Petrol vouchers of Coles, Safeway ... are discriminating people who have no car like poor, old or disabled people, those unable to drive and children. Owners of petrol guzzling cars profit more than drivers of economic cars, which is contra productive to environment friendly politics.

These schemes - especially the new schemes which promise 40c reduction per litre if you buy goods for more than $300 are a tool of big corporations to push small business out of the market. Only if everyone would be able to participate it should be allowed.

Coles, Woolworth and Co could for example reduce the price of their goods in your basket by 5% if your bill is $100+, 7.5% at $200+ and 10% at $300+. That would be a fairer and transparent scheme.

The government should make these schemes illegal on the bases that they are not compatible with human rights, that they are discrimination the poor, young and disabled, that they distort free market and give not all Australians a fair go.

Chris Hostettler 15/7/09 Add your comment

Okay Chris, I get where you're coming from, but let's face it, food costs lots of money, petrol costs lots of money. Buying your normal amount of food with the prospect of cheap petrol is great. I hate to say it (cause id rather support the little guys), but thats a great deal. And in the system we live in there is no regulation on how big or powerful a company can get. To impose such a rule would go against another human right - freedom of choice (if i want my company to own everything in the world, that should be my right. Who is the government to restrict my growth? How can they say, "You're big enough now, that's enough!"?).

At the moment with their "scheme", they've most likely got some deal with those petrol station companies, to get something from the deal. But with what you're suggesting they'd be loosing money the more you buy - and we know they just aint gonna do that. Its business, they need monatary incentives to do things.

Oh, and as for the economic cars, electricity or gas or whatever they run on is heaps cheaper than petrol, so those people are already saving in that area. This is only for those unfortunates who still have to fork out hundreds on petrol every week.

As for the poor, let me get this straight. You think everything that is too expensive for the POOR to afford should be illegal because they cant buy it...? Well in that case i guess we're pretty stuffed then cause im sure they cant afford a lot of things. Same goes with the young (who get pain less than adults) and the disabled(as they probably have to live off the gov).

The young mostly still live with their parents, so they dont really have to pay to live. Most of what they spend their money on is non-essentials.

Certain disabilities still allow people to work, and if they cant drive they're saving money there.

In conclusion, my point is that you're NEVER going to be able to satisfy everyone with a single rule or law. Sure you could make this illegal, but then it'll hurt other side instead... Baron Add your comment

Weekly Dump Bucket

Stern Who - Seems to me that he has done something wrong by not only China but by Australia as well. Anyone notice how much Rio Tinto shares have dropped since this fiasco started? Either the Chinese Govt formally charge him and our Govt wash our hands of him or otherwise get K Rudd to 'Cantonese' or ' Mandarin' Sterns' release and drop all his allegations.

Rozelle Developments - I can find a simple solution to this, the work that is being done takes place from 9-5, simple. No-one gets woken up, 8 hours a day gets done, easy.

Climate Change - I can't believe that after learning in primary school (Year 6 in '95) that solar power is a clean, renewable energy source, that the Govt's from then and since then has kept thier head in the sand sbout having solar power stations across the country. They will create thousands of jobs to build, run and maintain, lower our carbon footprint and set a trend for other sun loving nations around the globe. But no, our Govt's are so far up the coal miners/power station operators highly revered back passage. I'm sure that we can sell all our coal and our coal-burning power station ideas to 3rd world countries, so that we can utilise the 1 thing Australia has got plenty of, THE SUN!!!

Greedy Supermarkets - What a way to make a duopoly, more of a duopoly Coles and Woolworths. It's a shame to see that 2 of Australia's major supermarket chains are using schoolboys tactics in the inevitable game of, 'mine is bigger'. In the end, no-one wins except you 2, admit it, you bastards. After all is said and done after a typical family's expenditure of groceries and fuel, the bill (by today's standards) is higher than a "Cheech and Chong" session. Freeze and cut executives salaries, cut prices and stop thinking about ya bottom line you bunch of saps, you control a whole bunch of other companies in Australia that you make good money off.

New Speed Cameras - Interesting that in the Today Tonight episode on Monday the 13th, Victoria and Queensland revealed the location of thier new speed cameras, NSW would not reveal where they are putting thier new cameras. Please explain? NSW has double the speed cameras than anywhere in the country and they can't reveal the next bunch of 'money grabbers' for an inept Govt. It's a good thing I am a good citizen and flash my lights to oncoming traffic and warn them of a cop with a camera/booze bus or otherwise the Govt will just get fatter, more alcoholic and sloppier with the fine generation.

Mark Webber - Good onya Mark, what a way to show the cream of open wheel racers how its done. PLeanty of more victories to come.

Poms - Damn procrastinators, your side cannot win so you employed the worst form of unsportsmanlike behaviour to the hallowed series that is The Ashes. The Aussies has you whipped beyond recognition. The Poms could not even dismiss us in 1 inning let alone 2 (whenever that may be). Draw won't get you The Ashes you bunch of no-hoping wannabes.

WoodDuck 15/7/09 Add your comment

Michael Jackson and the truth

To all Michael Jackson fans and Christians, Michael is the second coming of the lord Christian human being superstar, but most of all a very, very, very loving and lovely man. Those bastards crucified him, he died from heartache and just wanted to lie down and die. A poor and unhappy human being, a man. King of pop, who is now at peace and sits on the left of our lord, opposite Jesus, who was also crucified by mean, unjust and unfounded words. Michael is innocent acquitted of all and every charge, those rich rock spiders, kid fucking bastards, get them now, not later, get them. Those filthy, lying, cheating rock spider bastards, get them for we are one. All good Christians, get them now not later. You have been conned, by these filthy rock spiders. ?Fucked up the ass.? For Michael is a decent, loving, giving, Christian and passionate human being. Get them all, right now, those bastards. We need a revolution. Those filthy rock spiders crucified him to keep the heat off themselves. Tonga knows there is more to come. TTonga 9/7/09Add your comment

WTF?

In all due respect Tonga, to say the MJ was the next major disicple if you will, after our supreme being is down and out blasphomy not to mention bordering on absurd.

I respect him for his supreme musical and dancing skill and potential, the fact that he brought entertainment to the majority of the world, but to think of MJ of 'Him', as Gus would say, "No, No, No, No, No".

I thought it was well documented that Jesus lives on in all men. WoodDuck 10/7/09

Sick Truth

How sick are you and the rest of the crazies that think sicko and whacko is OK . Shit the world is full of crazies ,Time to Nuke it for sure . Phil Halse 27/8/09 Add your comment

Labor MP's abusing global meltdown

To all concerned workers and others, did you know that our communist Labor party MP?s in Canberra are buying up large parcels of cheap land because they know that the global meltdown has come to an end and they are endeavoring to make themselves rich by buying large parcels of cheap land. Which they are not allowed to do, it is illegal, this has only come up once on TV and has been chopped, I?d say by the labor party MP?s, to be ever shown again. Now, if you?re a good, concerned, Christian, Australian citizens, jump on the band wagon and find out what these greedy, money hungry, bastards are up to. Get them right now, not later.TTonga 9/7/09Add your comment

TIT(les)......

Serena Williams sported a 'are you looking at my TIT'les' T-shirt after winning Wimbledon. So my question is, if she is allowed to joke about her breasts - who else is? Can I as a male adnmit that I like looking at her TIT'les. Does it offend femminists who have no breasts or titles? And if so, why?

Females (non-femminist); that T-shirt, joking about her breasts is funny

Femminists: Serena joking about her breasts degrades us (pleae expalin how?)

Males: Hey, that is funny and true (I would also stare at her tits - not titles) DrT 6/7/09 Add your comment

DrT has missed Serena's point (so to speak). It is: What does it take to get to be number one in women's tennis? Serena has more titles than any other woman, but has to be No 2 to a Russian player who was bundled out in straight sets by her sister!!! So she tries to make a visual point, and the men talk about tits.. aaarrrggghhhh. sanpet

WAKE UP

The councils and government need to be serious about motorbikes and quads. the council claims they are cracking down on HOONS and motorbike riders in genral. if you think about cheap motorbikes from china cost about from 1K to 2K Police are impounding people caught on motorbikes and are asking for parents not to buy motorbikes for the kids as long as there cheap and kids can learn to ride, THERE NOT GOING TO WIN. retrieving a bike is $500 plus fines. proof of the so called crackdown.

http://www.frankston.vic.gov.au/Newsroom/2006/December/Council_To_Crack_Down_On_Motorbike_Hoons/indexdl_4204.aspx

http://www.porthedland.wa.gov.au/NewsfromTownofPortHedland/mediareleases/mediareleasesjointoperationclampsdownonirresponsiblequadtrailbikeriders260309

aso black duck valley in Gatton QLD has been shut down because they can not get insurance. 3 deaths in 3 years is not bad. a lady had sued the park on the fact someone close to her died. now 3 people in a SAFE controlled environment compared to the hundreds of riders who have been given no where to ride now ride in illegal places. how about from all the money the government makes from the fines and bikes being retrieved they build places for motorbikes and quads. if they want help I'm sure if they advertised they were making it motorbike bike riders would come from everywhere to help give out free cans of coke a sausage sizzle get the COMMUNITY involved for a change. if the police and government haven't figured this out and i as a 14 year old boy can figure out ways to make this work they must be idiotically stupid. instead of giving john Howard a Mercedes give him a Volvo theres 50 grand right there 50 grand worth of dirt will make a few tracks. all i ask is for a place to ride motorbikes even if its in the sticks so the old geezers don't complain i don't care. R.Johnstone Add your comment

It seems to me you are a bit peeved cause some (prob the Govt) has taken your playtoy (illegal bike or illegal track, or both) away from you. I will forgive you for your youth and naivety, but you must understand that, certain makes of motorbikes/quads are deemed illegal for public use because of public liability reasons. Sure owning a motorbike or quad on a farm is quite legal cause you are not registrating it for public road use. Yet if you are taking an unregistrated vehicle, riden by an unlicensed rider onto public property, no one is to blame but themselves for whatever fine, suspension or even injury they recieve but themselves.

So if you got yourself a little Pee-Wee 50, just ride it around ya farm or backyard as the case may be, wait til ya old enough to get a license and get a trailbike that is registered and ride it in approved areas. Woodduck

Vehicle Insurance advertisements

You are great on advertising at the moment. I have a 10 year old Toyota Camry car (bought new) but because I have mag wheels and a boot spoiler they classify it as a "high risk car" They have got to be kidding. My sister was also refused insurance by this Company because they will only accept credit card payments, not bank transfers. They should therefore be more honest in their ads and say we might insure a few selected people. Yet another Insurance company that makes my blood boil. Kas 25/6/09 Add your comment

Here's some advice for in-experienced pollies (ieTurnbull):

1. Check your facts

2. Check your sources

3. Make the 'punishment' fit the crime – if you are going to demand resignation for the crime of "looking after a mate with a few phone calls", what will you want for genuine corruption... a public be-heading?

4. Count to ten before acting, and say... will this benefit the country? or just myself.

Edward 25/6/09 Add your comment

Edward, it is the lowering of standards and values that gives us our wonderful society of low lifes today , People who think that its fine to bend the rules for their mates have been the root cause of our social decay today , grow a spine and if its wrong , deal with it . Have the fortitude to make punishment a very real and daunting thing . Maybe all the bad people will go hide elsewhere if they keep getting caught and have to pay a big penalty . Wake up you foolish person and grow some values. Phil Halse 27/8/09 Add your comment

WAKE UP AUSTRALIANS

I really can't believe Australia is sitting by and letting this stupid Goverment get away with such stupid actions that effect us all.

Rudd needs to kicked out and Liberals brought back in.

Why? mmm let me remenber the deficit figure and perhaps that's enough to sit up and take notice.

Then there's the banks !! We all know what they charge and get away with but we all sit on our hands and do nothing. The Gov once again says," oh , this is not right" but does nothing.

Let's stop these banks doing what they are to all of us and making how much profit? theres just to many zeros in that figure to fit on the computer.

Australia, let unite, stop the banks from ripping us all off and lets tell Rudd to either ship up or ship out.

I'm a born and bred Australian but I'm ready to move out at the drop of a hat because this country is going to the dogs.

Let's wake up !!

IT 15/6/09 Add your comment

Its way to late to call for us Aussies to wake up , we have all sold out to the dumber and dumber parties in all aspects of our lives . The button has been pushed and the great flush is on .

We allowed the education system to fail our children , we allowed the legal system to fail us and we elected idiots to try to lead us . Why ??

God only knows , are we all drunk on credit cards and free handouts of our Nations Wealth ? Do we really think there is never a time to pay back what we take ?

So its time to Nuke a few nations and give nature a chance to recover , maybe the next species is worth saving . Phil Halse 27/8/09 Add your comment

Spare me the tears!

Where are the real teachers, I was raised in a country school of one classroom, one teacher and seventeen kids, That teacher taught seven different classes in the one room at the same time,classes 1-6 and still had time for one on one with slower students.the man was a classic...even found time to take the whole class swimming in the summer months to the local river (with the aide of a couple of parents). Now thats a teacher....I'am 54 now and still remember most of the values he taught me in that classroom. It's high time that the so called teachers of today earned their money instead of looking for the easy way out..try teaching guys..

dotell 15/6/09 Add your comment

What is it with the penis?

Penis pictures rejected by Venice Beinnale

I can't believe that the Venice Bienale has censored an artist because he has painted penises. For many centuries, female breasts and, lately, genitals have been fair game in the art world... but the penis only exists in the classics. Is it that precious? (btw, this is Christo's...)

S.A.P. Perth Add your comment

Advice to the Chaser team,

who are in trouble for making an insensitive skit about sick children...

Next time you need to use children, superimpose your own heads on the little bodies... then the skit will be funny and won't offend anyone. I think the use of child actors is the problem, not the script.

For example Natalie Tran uses her own head on this baby on her YouTube video. very funny.

Sann 8/6/09 Add your comment

WHY help?

In response to Fee 13/05/09... They don't have two cents to rub together???.... how much money did they pay for a spot on the boat then hey, and where are all the women and children????????

And no, this issue doesn't affect my life right now, you are right, but will it affect the next generation or the generation after that??

As for my "ignorant" views on terrorism, the majority of assylum seekers coming to our shores are from muslim countries! No I don't know these people personally but one can't help to think the worst. This is my opinion and I hear your side too, but time WILL tell with this issue. Jess 7/6/09 Add your comment

I agree with all of what you say , But I do ask the question . Who are the real terrorists ???

History tells me it is the French , the English ,the Dutch , the Mongols , the Germans and many other nations and now it is the Americans and the Australians of which I am a part.

All these nations have invaded and occupied other countries for many so called justifiable reasons , what has there legacy been ?

To rape the country of all its natural and national assets , to enslave , to kill , to maim , to take their women , to leave them with crime corruption and all the worst aspects of our society ?

So perhaps it really is only self defense and they have no recourse but to fight with limited weapons and skills , they cannot afford to bomb us out of existence because we stole all their assets , so they fight us in the only way they can ?

Lets win the war and make FRIENDS all over the world , if our leaders want to fight , lets give them a knife or a gun and they can fight each other . LEAVE the people alone , they are sick of your bullshit politics and your WARS !! Phil Halse 27/8/09 Add your comment

A Lost Cause

When will the politicians in this country shut their mouths and realise that no one really trusts them any longer. If they don't shoot themselves in the foot with undeclared shares, misbehavior, and stupidity, they spend the rest of their time striking fear into their constituents with "possibilities" about the opposing party's ideas. The voting public has stopped all political interest because two thirds of the country's political activity is clearly NOT helping the country. We vote in the party with the better PR - marketing, advertising, selling (i.e. best at stretching the truth). We already know the politicians, local & foreign business magnates and banks will steer us into another resession soon after this one. Self interest is the agenda; the only agenda in the minds of the people actually running this country. We used to elect our politicians to help develop the country, not just argue how it might be better if they were doing it. And most voters only have interests in the politicians that will directly help them; stuff the country! JA 5/6/09Add your comment

The Politicians we have are the result of our own stupidity and laziness in not wanting to vote , not caring who , how or why some idiot was in a political pary and because we were so busy living the high life on drugs , booze and the freedom we so blatantly use as our right to be irresponsible , WE GOT WHAT WE DESERVE .

Phil Halse 27/8/09 Add your comment

All Ombudsman

State, Commonwealth and Industry Ombudsman have no legislative power and can only make a request or suggestion to companies and Government departments or authorities.

They serve no real purpose and give false hope to many people looking for a fair outcome to a dispute or problem.

Approach your local MP for assistance and don't waste time with them.

Pryor 3/6/09 Add your comment

eBay is a global yard sale. 99% junk!

BN Adelaide Add your comment

Issues & Tissues

Message:

1: Matthew Johns; I feel that Matty was unfairly treated/vilified/sacked, over an event that should of been between himself and his wife. As for "Clare", the habitual liar who needs to keep her legs closed, she has to accept the fact that she did something that although she regrets, she did it cause she was young, dumb and naive.

2: Chk-Chk-Boom Chick; She, like any ohter young person that had a few beverages in them and confidence, took advantage of a camera at an incident. Twas not the best of incidents to have your 15 seconds of fame, yet could it be said that if was 2 Asians, 2 Islanders or even 2 Anglo-Saxons, she would of done exactly the same sort of spiel but interchanged the sterotypical words to suit. I don't feel what she said was right, but racist, um, no, not quite.

3: New Zealand Millionaires; I applaud this family that took advantage of someone else's mistakes. I would do the same, I am sure that over 90% of people would do the same. Serves Westpac right, banks take so much from us and not even give a small percentage of it back to us. I hope this couple are living it up, are never found and spend up all the dollars.

4: Cronulla Sharks; They need to have the same fate as North Sydney Bears, no premiership, no positive fiances, time to go Sharks. Your organisation is solely dragging the NRL down.

WoodDuck 26/5/09 Add your comment

Which part of STOP don't you understand?

James Abbot 17/5/09 Add your comment

Rugby league

I think Steve Clark should be sacked & points taken from St. George & given to rightful winners, Bulldogs.

Andrew Johns should be sacked as well as his brother for all his drug discretions, he cheated all those years & didn't get punished, what does that show our young players? Bulldog supporter. Shellharbour. Add your comment

Recruits

What a horrendous show! This makes our police force look like a bunch of "Yobo's". It should never have been allowed to air. This is NOT how the police academy is and it is certainly not the standard of people that are out there in the force doing the job day in and day out.

The female recruits in this show take all credability away from our police woman.

Disgusted.

blue and white 14/5/09 Add your comment

Matthew Johns and Sex Situation.

Righto, well, I'm 15yrs old and know this is some sort of scam from the sheila, it's got to be, i mean after 7yrs of being suicidal over this event, don't you think or would assume she would have done it by now? It's not like she's incapable of doing that to herself, she lying through her teeth, most likely about the whole thing, "They attacked me" whatever, she was a consenting adult, what did she think she was going to the hotel room for? To play Yatzie? Play with dolls and have a little tea party? It was right from the word go where she met the team. There were more team memebers than just Matthew Johns that had participated, so why is he being singled out? It doesnt make any logical sense. It's not like the team had drugged her, taken her outside, beaten her up, shoved her in the car, threatened her, taken her upstairs, and then raping her. No, she agreed, she gave permission, she put herself out there, and now she wants sympathy? What, is she in debt or something, feels like destroying a persons career because she thinks it would be fun. She must be on drugs, but its not fair and the whole media needs to point this out, but whos going to take notice of this anyway, I'm only 15 right, what do I know. You'd Be Amazed.

Jacinta Hutton 13/5/09 Add your comment

Why Not Help????

This is in reply to Jess who feels so hardly done by in helping others. It always gets me people who complain that they are taxpayers and are paying for this and that. Sorry Jess but you personally are not paying and if you were you wouldnt notice. Why dont these so-called desperate people do it the right way? Probably because they donot have two cents to rub together, they have suffered from oppression, war, famine, something which you and I probably know nothing about as we chomp down our food in front of the tele in our comfy house in our peaceful street.

Does it make you feel better to condemn people who are destitute because of where they come from? Dont forget Jess these people are women and children too, do they also deserve to be condemned by the likes of you and how does it hurt you so much to help? It doesn't personally affect you or your quality of life does it? As for your ignorant views on terrorists, how do you tell a terrorist from a non-terrorist it could be the bloody person down the street, people may even think its you!!! So come on dont be so hard and think about what others go through who havent had a priveldged life like most Australians.

Fee 13/5/09 Add your comment

I agree with all of what you say , But I do ask the question . Who are the real terrorists ???

History tells me it is the French , the English ,the Dutch , the Mongols , the Germans and many other nations and now it is the Americans and the Australians of which I am a part.

All these nations have invaded and occupied other countries for many so called justifiable reasons , what has there legacy been ?

To rape the country of all its natural and national assets , to enslave , to kill , to maim , to take their women , to leave them with crime corruption and all the worst aspects of our society ?

N.R.L Players Who Rape Should Pay

I was distugsted but not suprised to view the program on Four Corners last night relating to N.R.L players who rape and abuse women and get away with it. I commend the faceless women who made her ordeal public by appearing on the show, what bravery she has shown in doing so. These men who are supposedly considred as professionals in their feild should not be allowed to drink in excess for starters, we are talking about highly overpaid, dare I even call them sports people who are able to go out and get blind every chance they get, they should be made to completley abstain from excessive drinking because it is obvious they cannot handle it.

As for the rape incident/s these players should share a jail sentence for what they have done, however it is evident that their equally overpaid and corrupt lawyers will cover up the disgrace. As a women I feel alot of saddness for the attitudes portrayed by the players in general against women, these are sexist attitudes which should not be tolerated in our modern society. How can we allow our children to idolise and look up to men who have this lack of respect, how can we as a society protect such barbarism when the lay person would be incarcerated.

Its time to clean up the N.R.L and its going to take more than a few video sesions to do it. Women such as myself will not support or allow our children to support a sport which inlcudes the rape of women.I propose these men should spend sometime with the victims of rape to eveb begin to understand the damage it causes.

Fee 13/5/09 Add your comment

Banks

Why are banks allowed to 'disappear' our money when it is transferred from one institution to another? I have $14,000 that I am transferring. It has gone from my account, an won't turn up in the target account until tomorrow or the day after. Obviously the bank has placed it in the short tern money market. I should be earning this interest, not my bank! When will the Bank Ombudsman look into this behaviour? RGP NSW 11.5.09 Add your comment

Egypt's ordering of mass pig cull is another method of persecuting the Christians in that country. They are using the excuse of Swine Influenza to destroy the incomes of the non-muslim population... the only ones who keep pigs. Not satisfied with marginalising them from jobs and schooling, they are now attempting to starve them as well. Sann 1/5/09 Add your comment

Asylum Seeker

These asylum seekers are refugees - not immigrants. When will people "get it". The media is so clever at blurring the lines.

One day Aussies may become Climate Refugees and be looking for new homes themselves. I am willing to donate a few dollars towards these poor buggars health care......

Kwizikl 21/4/09 Add your comment

Asylum seekers should rot!

Why are we helping these injured asylum seekers?? Thats right, we as taxpayers are paying for their treatment. It's discusting! How do we know these people aren't making their way to our shores to start plotting the next terrorist attack?? These 'Refugess' are breaking the law! If they are so desperate for a better life why can't they go about it the right way?? Australia is a great place but if we can't stop these illegal boat people, we'll end up just like Britain... Jess 21/4/09 Add your comment

AUSTRALIAN RULES FOOTBALL

OMG at last someone who agrees with me. I too think Australian Rules Football is a joke. There are many of my friends that do too. Soccer is becoming huge in Australia and more young boys are enrolling in soccer at schools. There is a diehard older middle age generation of men who insist upon AFL and they are also the ones promoting it and lining their pockets. The good news is that they'll die off soon and the younger generation of boys who are enrolling in soccer will eventually lead this country into its rightful place as world soccer contenders. Where is AFL ever going to take a young boy-not very far, not even out of Australia-what a joke-it promotes small-mindedness. Look at Ben Cousins-what a disgrace that he's even playing again. What message does that send to the young boys-"drugs is ok if you don't get caught" - what a farce, what a fiasco. AFL is embarrasing. AFL is promoting violence in sport. AFL is not helping Australia's image. The migrants cringe. This game is nothing more than prehistoric bloodletting. Its bad for the male psyche (all this legendary status is crap), its bad for boys and it does nothing for the image of sport in Australia. Its embarrasing. Its violent & its just plain crap! observant 17.4.09 Add your comment

Hear hear.

Sann 18/4/09 Add your comment

Weekly Rant

Asylum Seekers

Who is gonna pay for the hospitalition of these illegal boat immigrants on Australian soil? It should not be the taxpayer. What should of been done is to evacuate the injured defence personnel, put the boat in sights and have target practice. That should be for any illegal boatpeople, works out a lot cheaper too.

000 'Debacle'-

To be fair on the emergency services over the so called debacle over the death of a teenager stranded bushwalker. Questions arise, why was he treking alone? If he was not, what about those who he was travelling with? Where can I get the model of phone that he had? I'd love to have that type of reception in the Blue Mountain NP.

Increase Of Drinking Age

Top idea. Refer to post a few months ago by me on alcohol.

Organised Gangs

These new laws need to be tough. So tough that being involved in organised gangs/crimes carry a lifetime jail term. Besides I always thought the 'Bikie' gangs were made up of Vietnam Vets, misfits and loners which I would be not as afraid of than the current makeup of these gangs by Middle Eastern deadbeats.

Greedy Banks-

The Govt has gotta stop being 'servants' and 'yes men' for the big banks and pass legislation forcing banks to follow the Reserve Bank's movements, cut out these stupid ATM fees and cut the salaries of executives.

Woodduck 16/4/09 Add your comment

huh???

Ignoramus, you have no idea how many silly incorrect assumptions you just made in that boring old tirade...

AJ 4/5/09 Add your comment

Whatever

Wake up and smell the coffee! My feelings would be concurrently felt my the majority of decent, law-obiding, patriotic citizens of this great country. How can you be so blind to see what's happening here, or does the feeling of sand around your entire head satisfy you as you remain ignorant to national events?

Get a decent haircut! Woodduck 6/5/09 Add your comment

Woodduck is not an IGNORAMUS and shows a good percentile of additional brain cells above and beyond the average ignoramus ,that at least function .

In a lot of areas he promotes the concept of being responsible for your own stupidity and your own financial situation , but being ignorant is a good exscuse to not take the heat for your own actions ??? Phil Halse 27/8/09 Add your comment

This man's picture was on the front page of a major Australian city newspaper with the headline The Dark Night... which is soooo wrong. (But there is no stopping the print media. Like a pack of rabid dogs.. they have found someone to maul.)

Believe it or not, this guy has done nothing wrong. He sold his proxies to the opposition, but hey, the vote was already lost, so why not capitalise on a lost cause. His proxy votes would have made no difference to the outcome.

He has also lost a lot of money, along with the other share holders. He is NOT THE PROBLEM!!! Give him a break.The shareholders in BrisConnections must look to themselves as the problem... they did not read, or understand, the details of their bargain shares. To shareholder Luciano Giangiordano... You need to look in the mirror to find the culprit in this tale of greed and ignorance.. not a kid from Melbourne who's only crime is self interest... like yours.

Sann Sydney 15/4/09 Add your comment

Bank interest rates

I know of a way to make the banks pass on the interest rate cuts. The government needs to take away the bank deposit guarantee then we will see what happens. This would force the banks to offer cuts to keep customer exiting to building society's or credit union accounts.

These banks are ripping people off and we all should apply more pressure to the government to stop this.

Paul Field 13/4/09 Add your comment

NSW Ombudsman

Can anyone out there tell me what roll the Ombudsma 's Office plays in regards to investigating police. But I have been told by their office that they do not investigate police. So therefore that clearly makes NSW a Police State. The police officer is able to get away with anything even giving false evidence to obtain a conviction. And the one government body which makes claim to look into these matters. In no way will do that.

Come on what are they getting paid for ....

Nothing from where I am sitting. kaz 11/4/09 Add your comment

Nick D'Arcy

I don't understand how Magistrates so called 'Experts in law' continuously take a persons level of intoxication into account when there is clear cut 'Black and white' legislation which states that a persons level of intoxication/stupification is no excuse unless it can be proven that it was caused without their knowledge or against their will. I believe he is nothing but a silly spoilt little boy who just got spanked for his actions and has daddy do his speaking for him. Hopefully the leopard doesn't change his spots and assaults again. Fingers crossed that next time he picks the wrong bloke and cops a hiding himself, eventually ending up where he belongs, in jail. Buddy 77 11/4 Add your comment

I think that Nick Darcy should be allowed to go to the world games. He has already been punished enough. Sann 12/4/09 Add your comment

Australian Rules Football

Australian Rules Football has an idiotic image. Buffoons and meatheads hurling themselves at each other, punching, hitting, spitting and ending up at the tribunal each Monday. It makes our news headlines. These sporting legends experiment with drugs, become addicted, fall off their pedestals and die an uncertain death only to rise again and play another dreadful AFL game. It is ironic as I write this opinion, it is Easter, a time of death and resurrection. AFL is bad for boys. Young boys. Impressionable boys. AFL doesn't have intelligent healthy role models. I wish this game would die a death permanently because its the one thing that kills off class and style in Australia. AFL reminds me of blood-letting at the colosseum (not that I was there) but the kind of grunting, jeering and hysteria I'd imagine is similar. The image is just awful and the media relentless in supporting this rubbish unfortunately. AFL DIE..DIE..DIE..and NEVER COME BACK!! Australia2020 10/4/09 Add your comment

Mixer drink tax

I have great difficulty understanding the illegal tax that has been foisted upon the australian public in the form of an extra tax over and above the normal tax and excise on premix drinks..

the tax is illegal and therefor should not be charged.

i used to buy udl gin and tonic by the box from my licenced supplier for $50 for 24 cans pre pixies tax hike,, they went from $50 tp $75 so i stopped buying them as i refuse to be involved in this swindle..

my son out of the goodness of his heart bought me a six pack after i did some work for him. i asked how much it was and he told me it was $18.99 same price as with the illegal tax. who is paying who to keep this rort alive. and of course the unanswered question of what will happen to the $300 million already collected remains a mystery..they will wait till the item is forgotten then it will be divided by the old mates.. wake up australia and stop these bastards from their scheming old mates coverups...its about time we stopped the rorting,, we have seen it all before with hawke and keating, in any other real country they would be in jail where they belong.

peter stratton 3/4/09 Add your comment

Sydney bashings

How much longer are we all going to ignore the fact that Sydney has become a scary and violent city? The bashings that are occuring on a nightly basis in the city, north sydney, etc are increasing. I am so sick of hearing the stories, but more so I am sick of being a witness to this violence every time I go out on a Friday or Saturday night.

Are there any solution to this problem?

It always seems to be the same old people doing this also, and a lot of the time (although not always!) an innocent victim... AJ 31/3/09 Add your comment

Welcome to the world you and your parents have created in pandering to your wishes and desire. The money many of you are being paid in sport,industry etc makes it easy for you to drink in excess in your stupidity to get blind, doped up and dangerous mostly of a weekend when you cannot recall anything. Everybody is responsible for their own behaviour and actions. When will fools who have also taken to heavy tattooing realize they are irresponsible and deserving of stronger punishment.

You are products of your parents who have given into you and are now unable to cope with you since you claim it is your body, your life and I can do as I please............well you poor simple fools wake up 'cos parents who then lose a son or a daughter suffer for the rest of their life because a sibling has departed before they did. Wake up fools take a look in the mirror and get the next tattoo on your skull "DICK HEAD" R.T.L 8/4/09 Add your comment

The War Within

I would like to hear people?s opinions on whether we should bring our elite soldiers home from the middle East and fight the war within Australia. Namely the drug lords and bikie gangs that are killing our civilian population, our ethics & morals, and terrorising our people and our way of life.

I am damn sure that they would do a 1000% better job than Kielty?s mob of wannabe?s. Steady 31/3/09 Add your comment

Nick D'Arcy

Here we have another sporting person in NSW escaping a jail sentence. Yes he pleaded guilty and is sorry for his actions. But blames the alcohol he consumed for his actions. His victim Simon had to endure a long surgery because of this man's action. And I am sure a long rehabilitation will follow.

Why are the courts allowing people who assault causing grievous bodily harm walk free from court.

Is this because they are well known to the Australian community. Wonder if the courts would be as lenient for others who are not in the spotlight so to speak.I would guess not.

One law for some One law for others. Kaz 30/3/09 Add your comment