However, in his 2009 A REALIST'S APPROACH TO CLIMATE CHANGE speech given at the David Davies memorial dinner the attitude was somewhat different:
From a 7 June 2011 media release from the Federal Member for Page on the NSW North Coast:
PAGE MP Janelle Saffin has welcomed the Gillard Government’s investment of an additional $1.9 million over three years to help 12 community organisations in her electorate provide emergency relief services to vulnerable families and individuals.
The Government is also providing ongoing funding for two financial counselling services -- the Lismore & District Financial Counselling Service Incorporated and Grafton-based Anglicare North Coast Incorporated – to assist people in crisis across the North Coast region.
Ms Saffin said this ongoing investment for front line organisations will ensure services in Lismore, Ballina, Casino, Kyogle, Evans Head and Grafton can continue to help people in real need.
“Emergency relief services provide vulnerable families and individuals with life essentials such as food, clothing, pharmacy, transport vouchers and help with accommodation and utility bills,” Ms Saffin said.
“This secure, ongoing funding recognises that demand for emergency relief services remains high across our region.”
The 12 local organisations, and their funding allocations, are:
· Salvation Army, Lismore/Tweed, Goonellabah -- $352,619.
· St Vincent de Paul, Ballina -- $318,024.
· Salvation Army Lismore Community Welfare Centre, Goonellabah -- $184,372.
· Salvation Army Grafton Community Welfare Centre -- $183,970.
· Casino Neighbourhood Centre Incorporated -- $172,110.
· Riverside Care, South Grafton -- $166,052.
· St Vincent de Paul, Lismore -- $148,333.
· St Vincent de Paul, Kyogle -- $132,426.
· Mid-Richmond Neighbourhood Centre, Evans Head -- $114,971.
· Lismore Community Services Centre -- $83,302.
· Bulgarr Ngaru Medical Aboriginal Corporation, Grafton -- $34,392.
· Bunjum Aboriginal Cooperative Limited, Ballina -- $32,251.
Ms Saffin said she was pleased the Government is also continuing to fund the Lismore & District Financial Counselling Service and Anglicare North Coast over the next three years to deliver free, confidential and professional counselling to people experiencing financial difficulties.
The Gillard Government is providing $2.2 million over three years for the 1800 007 007 number so Australians who cannot readily access a face-to-face service can have immediate access to a qualified financial counsellor.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, International Labor Comparisons
In May 2011 the official U.S. unemployment rate was 9.1 per cent, the latest figures available from the U.K. show an unemployment rate of 7.7 per cent (March) and, in New Zealand and Canada the rate stands at 6.6 per cent and 7.6 per cent (April) respectively. Also in April 2011 Japan recorded a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 4.7 per cent.
How the Australian Bureau of Statistics sees the Australian labour force in its latest release for May 2011:
MAY KEY POINTS
TREND ESTIMATES (MONTHLY CHANGE)
SEASONALLY ADJUSTED ESTIMATES (MONTHLY CHANGE)
LABOUR UNDERUTILISATION (QUARTERLY CHANGE)
UNDEREMPLOYMENT RATE (TREND ESTIMATES)
MALES
The trend estimate of the underemployment rate for males fell from 5.6% in May 2001 to 5.2% in August 2002 before rising to 5.4% in May 2003. The trend then generally fell to 4.3% in May 2008 before rising to 6.3% in August 2009. The trend has since fallen to 5.3% in May 2011.
FEMALES
The trend estimate of the underemployment rate for females rose from 9.1% in May 2001 to 9.6% in February 2002. The trend then fell to 9.3% in August 2002 before rising to 9.7% in February 2004. The trend then fell to 7.8% in May 2008 before rising to 9.8% in November 2009. The trend has since fallen to 9.0% in May 2011.
Full report at http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/docs/14session/A.HRC.14.23.pdf
UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Media Release 3 June 2011
Australian Labor Party Senator for NSW John Faulkner when delivering the annual Neville Wran Lecture at New South Wales Parliament House, Sydney on 9 June 2011:
When I joined the ALP, it was the political face of a broad social movement. Many of the tensions and disagreements within the Party were precisely the result of the depth and breadth of its appeal as a party that promised reform through government. All of us were deeply and passionately committed to the Labor promise of a “bringing something better to the people … working for the betterment of mankind not only here but anywhere we may give a helping hand.”
Opinions, however, varied on what should take priority in that struggle, and what policies and legislation would best achieve it. Ending Australia’s involvement in Vietnam, defending unions and unionists in the workplace, fighting apartheid in South Africa, free tertiary education and health care, decriminalising homosexuality, better sewerage for the suburbs, workplace equality for women, preserving Australia’s environmental heritage, modernising Australia’s censorship laws, preventing nuclear proliferation – the list of Labor’s concerns was a long one.
People were attracted to the Labor Party because they wanted to make the world a better place. Their involvement in the Party was often only one facet of their pursuit of that goal. And, while the Party has never welcomed those who seek to make it the servant of another organisation’s agenda – and endured a devastating split for that very reason in the 1950s – the Party I joined accepted that membership was, for many, one aspect of active community engagement.
These days, as Party membership dwindles, ALP strategists talk about ‘reaching out’ to organisations active on particular progressive issues, ‘gaining endorsement’ of our policies.
That idea, with its implications of ‘us’ in Labor and ‘them’ in community organisations, is wrong. The frequency with which it’s raised by hand-wringing apparatchiks makes many wonder if Labor has lost its way.
Progressive, socially aware activists passionate about social and economic reform must never be outsiders to the Labor movement.
Labor cannot thrive as an association of political professionals focused on the machinery of electoral victory and forming, at best, contingent alliances with Australians motivated by and committed to ideals and policies.
A Party organisation staffed by experienced and competent strategists and managers is necessary to serve the campaign and organisational needs of Labor’s members and supporters, not to substitute for them.
Nor should Party membership be a useful and engaging experience only for those with ambitions to secure preselection…….
The Party has now become so reliant on focus groups that it listens more to those who don’t belong to it than to those who do. This makes membership a sacrifice of activism, not a part of it.
Full transcript overleaf here.
Excerpt from a Gene Ethics media releases of 3 March and 26 May 2011:
Major grain purchaser Co-operative Bulk Handlers (CBH) has confirmed that strong demand for non-GM canola has resulted in premiums of $50/tonne over the price for GM canola (See MR attached). The co-operative's March 3 Grain Weekly says: "By far and away the biggest development this marketing season has been the increased demand for Australian non-GM sustainable canola.
European and Australian demand for GM-free grain is so strong that leading grain traders Elders-Toepfer and Glencore Grain refuse to buy any genetically manipulated (GM) canola this year. And traders that buy GM will pay up to $45/tonne less than for non-GM grain.
“This market is a bonanza for the majority of Australian grain growers who wisely stayed with non-GM canola varieties,” says Gene Ethics Director, Bob Phelps.
“Ninety five per cent of Western Australia's canola sold to Europe last year and strong demand is expected to continue, but only for non-GM. European shoppers have zero tolerance for GM canola.
From the Don’t Know Whether to Laugh Or Cry files……………
Abbott and Joyce are like Copernicus and Einstein
Frank O'Shea says just because the overwhelming majority of scientists believe humans are changing the climate, it doesn't mean they're right; science, after all, is just a matter of opinion.
According to the website Independent Australia “Frank O’Shea is a retired mathematics teacher. He lives in Canberra and writes for The Canberra Times, The Irish Echo and Eureka Street. His book Keeping Faith: 40 Years of Marist College Canberra was published in 2008.” He is a former staff member of the Marist College.
I suspect that Frank is being deliberately provocative. Surely nobody could be that much of a dill in real life?
Snapshot taken 8 June 2011
Click on image to enlarge
Before going to bed on 3 June 2011 a Clarence Valley resident sent an email to Mark Zuckerberg (see below). I’m told that a Facebook Inc computer had read this email shortly after midnight and by 5am AEST on 4 June 2011 the Grafton gossip page had become unavailable and was no longer cached by Google.
Facebook’s online complaint facility is rarely capable of reacting swiftly, so it was good to see the company respond to a personal email in this manner.
To date the gossip page is unreachable and hopefully it will remain so.
From: [redacted]
Sent: Friday, 3 June 2011 9:55 PM
To: 'MZuckerberg@fb.com'
Cc: 'SSandberg@fb.com'; 'legal@fb.com'; 'press@fb.com'; 'abuse@fb.com'
Subject: COMPLAINT TO CEO: Offensive content, sexually graphic language, defamation of students/minors at Facebook webpage "Grafton Goss"
Chief Executive Officer
Facebook Incorporated
1601 South California Avenue
Palo Alto CA 94304
USA
3 June 2011
Dear Sir,
Re: Offensive, sexually graphic and defamatory Facebook webpage titled “Grafton Goss” - Account ID 100002421426059
This letter is a formal complaint about the existence of a Facebook webpage titled “Grafton Goss” and its offensive, sexually graphic and defamatory content which can be found at [redacted] and [redacted].
I request that you personally inspect this webpage and come to a decision concerning this page in relation to breach of the company’s Statement of Rights and Responsibilities and other terms of use.
Further, I request removal of the webpage in question as in multiple posts it compromises the privacy of high school students and minors.
For your information I supply a snapshot of the last few entries on the “Grafton Goss” wall, which mirror the content and tone of the majority entries made by the anonymous creator of this page.
Additionally, I attach a link to an Australian media report concerning Facebook and “Grafton Goss”:
http://www.dailyexaminer.com.au/story/2011/05/25/site-spews-vile-goss/.
I make this approach to Facebook in the first instance in preference to contacting the Australian Federal Police.
In anticipation and appreciation of your assistance with this matter.
Yours faithfully,
[redacted]
From a Dr. Mike Kelly MP media release:
Community groups around Australia can now apply for small grants to help fund local environmental and sustainable agriculture projects.
Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Dr Mike Kelly, today announced that $5 million will be available through the 2011-12 Community Action Grants round.
“Community Action Grants are helping rural, urban and Indigenous community groups around Australia take action to conserve and protect their local environment and natural resources,” Dr Kelly said.
“Grants of between $5,000 and $20,000 are available to help local community groups undertake activities such as planting trees, revegetating landscapes, rehabilitating dunes, removing weeds, controlling pests, holding field days, recording traditional ecological knowledge and improving sustainable land management practices.”
Since Community Action Grants were announced in 2009, 877 projects have received funding worth more than $15 million (GST exclusive).
“We have listened to feedback from the community and this year eligibility has been broadened to include all local community groups that deliver environmental and sustainable agriculture projects,” Dr Kelly said.
“Eligible community groups may include rotary clubs, surf clubs and scout groups, in addition to Indigenous, Landcare, Coastcare and other local community groups.
“The Australian Government is committed to supporting local community and volunteer groups which play a vital role in restoring the landscape.”
Community Action Grants are part of the Australian Government’s Caring for our Country initiative.
Funding allows volunteers and local community groups to contribute to the Caring for our Country priority areas of protecting biodiversity and natural icons, coastal environments and critical aquatic habitats, and using sustainable farm practices.
Applications for the 2011-12 Community Action Grants will close Monday 1 August 2011.
More information on Caring for our Country and Community Action Grants, including how to apply, is available at www.nrm.gov.au or by calling 1800 552 008.
Twenty-eight real or fanciful excuses and attitudes found on Teh Netz for getting out of jury duty:
1. I am unable to speak and understand English – I’m a cat.
2. I’m a dog – the vet says so.
3. If I was meant by God to judge I would be presiding over my own courtroom.
4. I committed a felony, I just wasn't caught.
5. I’ll have to bring my seeing-eye wombat.
6. My budgie is sick, dying, dead.
7. I'm psychic and so I already know the outcome of the trial.
8. My entourage needs me.
9. I have a very important Warcraft quest to finish and my guild is depending on me.
10. My people do not recognise your Earth laws.
11. I fart uncontrollably.
12. I’m a racist.
13. My voices tell me I shouldn’t.
14. It has been my experience that all cops lie.
15. I can't leave home due to the impending holocaust.
16. My bladder causes me to pee quite often. I will not serve unless you can guarantee I can pee every 30 minutes.
17. Please excuse me from jury duty so I can attend a party.
18. I can only communicate telepathically.
19. I shouldn't have to serve because I am too obese.
20. My wife just called. She's in the hospital.
21. I have no faith in the justice system.
22. I'm too busy practicing law to be a juror.
23. I'm a writer. By nature we're shiftless, unreliable, and we make stuff up for a living.
24. Yes, I know the defendant, and the prosecutor, and the bailiff. I know ALL of you!
25. Can I be impartial? As long as impartial means any fool can see the man is guilty.
26. Dress horribly inappropriate for your age/gender.
27. I'm with you, Judge, I'm twittering the whole thing!
28. What was that, Your Honor? I'm busy updating my blog.
