Rees Government not covering itself in glory on the NSW North Coast

There are few instances where the Nationals MP for Clarence actually does something positive for his electorate while on his feet in the NSW Legislative Assembly.
This may be one of those few.

PACIFIC HIGHWAY UPGRADE

Mr STEVE CANSDELL (Clarence) [1.51 p.m.]: Sadly, today I raise in Parliament the occurrence of another death on the Pacific Highway between Coffs Harbour and Ballina. According to Roads and Traffic Authority [RTA] figures this notorious stretch of road claimed over 52 lives between 2003 and 2006. Tragically, in the past two years more lives have been lost on that road and those fatalities have to be added to the tally. The Pacific Highway from Sydney to Tweed is roughly 850 kilometres. The notorious 200-kilometre stretch between Coffs Harbour and Ballina, about 23 per cent of the highway, is responsible for 33 per cent of the deaths. One wonders why the Roads and Traffic Authority formula for fast-tracking funding for Pacific Highway upgrading is based on traffic volume rather than fatalities. This traffic-based approach to road upgrading should be changed to ensure that the safety of lives is paramount. Following those 52 deaths between 2003 and 2006, a 79-year-old man died north of Ulmarra on an undivided highway; a 13-year-old Broadwater youth died after being struck by a north-bound utility on a single-lane highway; a 46-year-old Queensland man died at Woodburn on a single-lane highway; and last year two priests were killed on a single-lane highway. The list of deaths on this highway specifically details that all occurred on undivided or single-lane sections of the road.

I could talk all day about these horrific road toll figures. It reminds me of the Vietnam war, when the increasing number of body bags resulted in a change in government policy. Perhaps the increasing number of body bags being used in road fatalities might change this Government's policy to enable fast-tracked upgrading of the notorious section between Coffs Harbour and Ballina from a single lane to a divided double lane highway at least. The recent 2008-09 budget allocated $7 million for the section from Wells Crossing to Ballina, for road planning only. That paltry amount would not even cover insurance for one year, let alone go towards essential road improvements to save people's lives. It is time this Government accepted the simple reality that this section of the highway is dangerous.

Minister Roozendaal's announcement two years ago as Minister for Roads to fast-track the highway upgrading appeared in a newspaper article under the headline "Highway Death As Fast-Track Plan Announced". The article states, "The Minister says he will cut red tape to speed up the highway upgrade after a man was killed in a crash at Knocknow." Once again, more spin from a Government that is out of control and not addressing the realities. I urge the Government to fix the Pacific Highway problem. All the spin in the world can be thrown at the public, and everything can be covered up, but the tragic and unnecessary deaths that occur week after week on the roads are ruining families and communities. The NRMA continued its pressure on the Government when it put out a release last year highlighting the danger of this notorious section of the Pacific Highway and the need to upgrade it. Director Wendy Machin and Ernie Bennet, head of the Northern Rivers Regional Organisation of Council [NOROC], toured the North Coast and saw the hot spots and the dangers of that highway, and they also saw the roadside crosses marking the tragic deaths of families' loved ones that increased the road toll statistics. I hope the Government remembers that. The previous Minister would not tour the highway, but I ask the current Minister for Roads to visit this region. I will take him along the highway and we will look at the crosses and inspect the dangerous bends and the lanes of undivided highway that cause these accidents. We all agree that most road accidents result from human error. Divided highways were designed to help eliminate human error, prevent loss of innocent life, and make travel safer for families and for truck drivers doing their daily jobs.

In 2003 I made a private member's statement at the request of an ambulance officer who was sick of attending tragic truck accidents every week. The following is an excerpt from what he told me. He said, "On arrival at the accident scene there was a semitrailer on fire, a section of the vegetation on the roadside was flattened." He said he walked past a lady, who was critically injured, and her husband. He walked over to another couple. The man was cradling his wife in his arms and he was covered in her blood. He was rocking backwards and forwards saying, "She was the love of my life, the love of my life." Sadly she was deceased. Let us stop the barrage of road deaths and do something about this highway urgently.

Mrs KARYN PALUZZANO (Penrith—Parliamentary Secretary) [1.57 p.m.]: I thank the member for Clarence for his contribution. He should contact the Federal member regarding funding for upgrading a Federal road. I remind him also that the standing orders require that private members' statements contain information on members' electorates. I trust the information he gave the House was pertinent to his electorate.

Reading between the lines, the Federal Member was not amused by the hamfisted response from Ms. Paluzzano and in The Daily Examiner this week reminded all that:

Ms Saffin agreed the Pacific Highway was not a federal responsibility but confirmed the Federal Government was jointly funding road work.

"The Parliamentary Secretary can be assured that Mr Cansdell has been in touch with me, his Federal Member, on the issue of the Pacific Highway, which both the State and Federal Governments contribute funding for," she said.

"I can reiterate that the Rudd Government has significantly increased the level of federal funding with a commitment of $2.45 billion for the Pacific Highway for 2009-2014, with some of that brought forward to the current financial year."

Our enduring national shame - the Murray Darling Basin

From The Daily this month:

An extra 31,000 dams were built in the Murray-Darling basin in the decade to 2005, as the region grappled with severe drought.
Federal government experts studied satellite imagery of the basin's eastern areas to map the proliferation of water storages, largely farm dams.
The number of dams increased by 31,000, or six per cent, a result described by the experts as "seemingly large".
Many of the new dams were built around cities and towns. Dam hot-spots included Canberra, Wagga Wagga, Bathurst, Tamworth and Toowoomba.
In some areas, the number of dams increased by 20 per cent.
The Murray-Darling Basin Commission released the report, called Mapping the Growth, Location, Surface Area and Age of Man Made Water Bodies, including Farm Dams, in the Murray-Darling Basin.

For all that unsustainable dam building here is the on-the-ground reality of what little remains in either private or public storage:

“In the two years ending August, Murray system inflows were 3,540 GL – a new record low.
“Storage levels are extremely low. Active storage in the Murray system is only 1,690 GL or 20 % of capacity. This is well below the August long term average of 5,600 GL or 62 % capacity. (Active storage is water which can be released using only gravity).
“Persistent low rainfall during the past seven years, particularly in the alpine areas, has been the main cause for the record low inflows to the Murray system, with above average temperatures exacerbating the situation.”

Table of storages:
Basin Water Storages less commitments and not factoring in future inflows - 31 August 2008
Drought Update for September 2008

The 44th President-Elect of the United States of America

Barack Obama on the 2008 campaign trail

Picture from publicradio.org

Yesterday was an historic day for the United States of America and there is no doubt that Barack Obama fought hard and spent hard to win the White House and his place in the annals of his nation.

While the majority of American voters rejoice, here on the NSW North Coast many are quietly thankful that now, as one born and bred local journalist put it, "the leader of the free world is not a complete nong".

So we can all congratulate Mr. Obama on his gaining the highest office in the land and live in hope that he will live up to his campaign rhetoric and fulfill the perceived promise of his presidency.

Australian Women Online's 'wholehearted' support of Stephen Conroy?

This was Deborah Robinson, editor of Australian Women Online (AWO), in an email last Sunday concerning the website's stance on the Rudd Government's plan for national mandatory ISP-level Internet filtering:

Our statement only says that we support the "concept" of ISP filtering of "illegal" content. We think it would be rather preemptive of us or anyone else to debate about what form that will take when the government hasn't even made some final decisions on this yet. The government and their advisors are still researching and testing ISP filtering. The last I heard they are "considering" a two tier system of ISP filtering however, no final decisions have been made in relation to this. But as I said in the statement, we are not prepared to be drawn into a debate about the issues and nor are we in a position to provide a public forum on our website - we just don't have the manpower to do that and it really isn't our responsibility to provide a public forum anyway - it is the government's policy and therefore, it is their responsibility to handle the issue and public reaction to ISP filtering on the Internet.

On first glance it appears that Ms. Robinson is in denial that Australian Women Online had entered the debate on Internet censorship.

Even though the website's post of 30 October clearly stated:

Our motivation in being part of the debate is simply to say that we believe that as the internet is a shared space, what goes on in this space needs to be negotiated.

While AWO no longer wishes to be "drawn into the debate", there is one interesting echo of a 3 January 2008 post which appears to be missing in action from AWO along with at least one other concerning filtering:

A few days ago I wrote a post on this blog in support of the Australian government's plans to introduce a mandatory clean feed in homes and schools. Since then I have been villified and personally attacked all over the Internet. Now I'm wondering where are those groups who are against porn? I feel like I'm all alone taking the heat for everyone who agrees with the government's policy of ISP filtering of porn and violence, whilst so many who have fought for this remain silent. I maybe one of the most hated women in the blogosphere at the moment. But at least I had the guts to voice my opinion on this issue.....

Even before that 3 January post she was quite happy to personally enter the debate over at Search Views on 31 December 2007 with this comment linked to AWO:

Deborah Robinson [ December 31st, 2007 at 5:02 pm ]

Australia isn't censoring the Internet. They are providing a clean feed to filter out porn and violent material, something European countries have been doing for quite some time. Bloggers like Duncan Riley from TechCrunch are making a big fuss over nothing. Riley sprouts conspiracy theories and other rubbish to his legions of fans who are hungry for news. Bobbie Johnson from the UK is the only voice of reason in this debate and your readers should read his post on this issue and give Riley's a miss.

And again at Librarians Matter on 1 January when she posted a comment (also linked to AWO) which included mention of non-mandatory filtering which occurs elsewhere:

5 Deborah Robinson on 01 Jan 2008 at 5:24 am

It seems to me you have already made up your mind to condemn the move by the government to introduce a clean feed. So I don't know why you ask for further information on the subject.

There has been a massive over-reaction to the announcement by Stephen Conroy. Clean feeds have existed in the UK and and other democratic countries in Europe for years and no-one has had their civil liberties violated or been persecuted as a result.

I applaud Kevin Rudd and the Labor government for having the guts to clean up the Internet. For too long it's been a haven for child pornographers and other undesirables and it's about time something was done about it.

Indeed, so into the debate was Deborah that two days later she turns up on Austrolabe and other sites besides over time.

Australian Women Online was so enamoured by one port locking option that on 9 January 2008 it invited the rest of Australia to participate in lobbying:

Join Australian Women Online in the campaign to introduce the CP80 Internet Channel Initiative in Australia.

Now Ms. Robinson may feel put upon because she came out and cast a few stones at bloggers who objected to Senator Conroy's grand plan, but I'm not about to weep into my hankie for her or Australian Women Online.
They are quite happy to correspond with the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy and be part of the online debate until challenged - then cravenly they try to hide behind government departmental processes.

For the record, here's a quote from Ms. Robinson and Australian Women Online which gives a small clue as to why they may not fully understand the Internet and those who use it:

Here is what we know so far: Although we would like to do more feature articles on the serious issues, the public just don't respond to them, which is why we don't see more websites for women dealing with the big issues. Women don't want to think about the big issues, they want to relax, make some new friends and be entertained. There is also a section of the community who just doesn't know what they want from the web.

Public Lecture on Community Relations and Multiculturalism in NSW, Southern Cross University, Lismore 13 November 2008

On November 13th the Centre for Peace and Social Justice at Southern Cross University is hosting a public lecture titled "Towards an inclusive community: Community Relations and Multiculturalism in NSW". It will be followed by afternoon tea.

The event is free and all are welcome.

Stepan Kerkyasharian, AM, Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer of the NSW Community Relations Commission (CRC) will speak on community relations in NSW, with a focus on social inclusion and the future of multiculturalism.

The public lecture will be followed by afternoon tea with the CRC Commissioners at the Father Tony Glynn Japan – Australia Centre at SCU.

Public Lecture: 2.00pm to 3.00pm
Thursday 13th November 2008
Theatre B231, Southern Cross University,
Lismore.

Afternoon tea: 3:00pm to 4:00pm
Thursday 13th November 2008
Fr. Tony Glynn Japan – Australia Centre
Southern Cross University.

For afternoon tea please RSVP to Dr. Rob Garbutt, Centre for Peace and Social Justice, and School of Arts and Social Sciences, Southern Cross University by Friday 7th November on 6620 3790 or by email
rob.garbutt@scu.edu.au

Information courtesy of the Northern Rivers Social Development Council

North Coast Area Health Service accused of filching community money

It won't be long before Northern Rivers folk start to discuss the notion of coming after the North Coast Area Health Service CEO with tar and feathers.

So far he's reduced the number of ward beds available and cut nursing shift numbers on the pretext of holding back beds for future disasters, epidemics etc., is selling off Maclean land which will be needed for further district hospital growth and now according to the Tweed Daily News is alleged to have also done the following:

"Mr Ross claims $20,000 remaining in a Special Purpose Trust (SPT) is unable to be accessed to finish off work on an outdoor coffee shop area.

The money, raised over four years by the Murwillumbah Central Rotary Club, totalled $35,000 at its peak and was raised specifically for the renovation at the Murwillumbah District Hospital.

The remaining $20,000 was to be spent on a roof over decking built with the coffee shop, but has been made inaccessible by the North Coast Area Health Service (NCAHS), according to Mr Ross.

A further $213,000 from the sale of a property, previously owned by the hospital and used for sterilisation, has not made its way back to the hospital, according the hospital advocate.

NCAHS and NSW Health would not comment on the issue yesterday.

"The SPT was set up specifically for the coffee shop area and by law cannot be distributed or used for any purpose other than that designed," Mr Ross said.

"It is a grave concern to us the money we raised for the projects cannot be accessed now."

Mr Ross said the money obtained from the sale of the property should have gone back into the hospital.

"We believe NCAHS took it without the consent of the hospital," Mr Ross said.

Mr Ross said the NCAHS claims it spent money on upgrading air-conditioning at the hospital.

"They have not done that," Mr Ross said.

A letter sent as a response to Mr Ross earlier this year from the office of former New South Wales Health Minister Reba Meagher said the money was spent on the hospital.

"The proceeds of the sale were to upgrade the air-conditioning plant at Murwillumbah District Hospital at a cost of $50,000," the letter said.

Plans to spend $176,000 on palliative care beds were not successful because NCAHS could not secure a specialist.

Mr Ross said it was all false.

"Ask the cleaners if the air-conditioning is working. You do not have to go to the top to get the correct answer," Mr Ross said.

"Enough is enough. Give the hospital back its money and allow the Rotary Club to finish off the wonderful coffee shop and decking area."

When will the Rudd Government take control of the health system and free the North Coast from these petty tyrannies?

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