Telstra and the Federal Coalition want you to continue to pay for privacy

Consumers Federation of Australia 28 May 2013:

In February, ACCAN welcomed Telstra’s move to waive the fee for people who are under a protection order or at risk of violence. However, ACCAN argued in its submission to a recent Senate Committee inquiry that this exemption is not enough and a Silent Line should be free for all consumers.

“Under Telstra’s policy, many people who rightly need a Silent Line will still be forced to pay the fee,” said ACCAN CEO Teresa Corbin. “It’s clear Telstra aren’t going to remove this fee for all consumers, which is why we’re calling on the government to act. We want to make sure all Australians do not have to pay for this privacy protection,” said Ms Corbin.

In the Senate Committee’s report, Labor and Greens Senators recommended the fee be banned, however a majority of Coalition Senators recommended against banning the fee……

Telstra has not said publicly how much revenue is collected from the Silent Line fee, however in 2007 a Fairfax newspaper estimated that the fee generates as much as $30 million annually. This conservative estimate is a small fraction – around 1/1000th – of Telstra’s annual sales revenue (over $25 billion FY 2011-2012).

Other providers like Internode, iPrimus and iiNet all charge their customers a Silent Line fee due to the costs passed on from Telstra. Optus charges a Silent Line fee when it resells a Telstra landline service, although it doesn’t charge a fee on its own service.

In 2008 the Australian Law Reform Commission recommended the fee be abolished.

In the No-Land of Oz

I was watching TV when news of the recognition walk and the push for a referendum so that Australian first peoples to be recognized in the Constitution of Australia came on the screen.

This started me thinking of the lies government tells itself and the public to achieve its ends.   

              

The idea of terra nullius was basically a lie and because Aboriginal people did not use the land in the manner of Europeans they were considered to have no rights to ownership of that land. 

This convenient lie allowed the British Government to appropriate all the landmass of Australia and give ownership to whoever they wished. 

The first peoples were considered part of the fauna and flora of the country, this in effect stripped them of their human status, and from this thinking came all the injustices that future generations suffered. 

This brings us to the current times were another convenient lie has gained ground - the idea of exempting even the mainland of Australia from our migration zone.

We have gone from terra nullius to nec terram. First there were no people now there is no land. 

Where could this lie lead us in the future? 

All ex-pat Australian citizens cannot return because there is now no land for them to return to! 

Maybe the government is correct and we have no land since it is all being dug up and shipped overseas anyway.

Does this mean that since the Australian population now lives in the wonderful No-Land of Oz we don't have ownership of our country or its resources?

This could explains an article in the Sunday Mail on the 26th of May on page 22 titled “Super Nation fails to take off”, it seems that there has been a campaign to force the US President to look at merging the United States and Australia into a new super nation called Ameristralia.

If it had succeeded I wonder when we Aussies would have been told?

Is your MP a psychopath?

This is Dr. John Clarke’s pick of the top jobs preferred by psychopaths:

1. CEO
2. Lawyer
3. Media (TV/radio)
4. Salesperson
5. Surgeon
6. Journalist
7. Police officer
8. Clergyperson
9. Chef
10. Civil servant

Ever noticed how many lawyers and journos gravitate towards Canberra? 

Most famous ex-journo currently strutting the corridors of Parliament House? Tony Abbott! Nuff said.

Tweeting pure hate * Strong Language*

Sometimes the level of hate directed at women using the Internet is truly mindboggling.......

This Twitter account has since been suspended:

It's pretty tough when even your so-called mates cannot get your name correct

Such was the level of mirth at the table of knowledge at the local watering hole yesterday a couple of the lads were thinking seriously they'd need to ring 000 and get an ambulance to take a few of their mates to the local hospital with instructions they have their sides sewn up - you see, they were splitting their sides while laughing after they read a piece in Monday's Daily Examiner.

The piece, titled Weekly Whispers, carried a copy of part of a NSW Farmers Association's notice of a meeting of its Grafton Branch. According to the notice, the special guest at the meeting would be Clarence MP Steve Gulaptis. 
Yep, that's right Steve Gulaptis!

In some circles the current Member for Clarence is referred to as Mr Walker (a.k.a The Phantom).

Credits: The Daily Examiner and Robbo

Prince George's County Maryland joins the IT scammers

I'm fairly certain that the Prince George's County Executive are blissfully unaware that their IT system and what appears a legitimate staff email addresses is being used to piggyback yet another email scam.

-----Original Message-----
From: Clay, Josephine B. [mailto:JBClay@co.pg.md.us]
Sent: Friday, 24 May 2013 12:17 AM
Subject: Please Confirm Details?

Your email has been announced the winner of the Microsoft E-mail Sweepstakes of 5.6, Million Pounds. Please send these informations:
Full Name:
Address:
Tel / Mobile No.:
Country:
Occupation:
Sex / Age:
Alternative E-mail:
Contact Mrs. Kathrin Rogers : Kath.rogers@msn.com<mailto:Kath.rogers@msn.com> OR Kath.rogers@rogers.com<mailto:Kath.rogers@rogers.com> with details. Sincerely, Josphine B. Clay (Microsoft Management Board, Copyright 1991-2013)


This E-mail and any of its attachments may contain Prince George's County Government or Prince George's County 7th Judicial Circuit Court proprietary information or Protected Health Information, which is privileged and confidential. This E-mail is intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to which it is addressed. If you are not the intended recipient of this E-mail, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, copying, or action taken in relation to the contents of and attachments to this E-mail is strictly prohibited by federal law and may expose you to civil and/or criminal penalties. If you have received this E-mail in error, please notify the sender immediately and permanently delete the original and any copy of this E-mail and any printout.

More than $160,000 for Page Electorate community projects courtesy of Federal Labor

Joint Media Release

The Hon. Senator Joe Ludwig

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

Janelle Saffin MP

Member for Page

More than $160,000 for Page community projects

Three local community groups have received a total of more than $160,000 in Community Landcare Grants as part of the Australian Government’s Sustainable Agriculture stream of Caring for our Country.

Member for Page, Janelle Saffin said Clarence Landcare Inc., North Coast Regional Landcare Network Inc., and the Alstonville-based Soilcare Incorporated, each received grants of up to $55,000.

“Groups such as these, whose members live and work in the community, have the local knowledge and ideas to keep our agricultural land healthy, resilient and sustainable.

“These local projects are about promoting sustainable land management practices and building local skills.

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Senator Joe Ludwig, said the Community Landcare Grants program provides support for community action, agricultural innovation and community capacity building.

“Community Landcare Grants will this year fund 152 projects across the country, helping local community-based organisations take on-ground action as well as build their capacity and skills to manage our productive lands.

“The government recognises the important contribution that volunteers, Landcare and other local groups and Indigenous organisations involved in sustainable agriculture make in engaging communities and inspiring local action,” Minister Ludwig said.

23 May 2013