Where is your rural and regional tax dollar going to?

ABC News reported this yesterday.

 

"The NSW northern district president of the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU), Ian Murray, says official figures show the big mining companies received $1.3 billion in fuel rebate concessions last year, while coal prices were at record highs.

Mr Murray says it appears taxpayers, who are paying more than $1.40 at the bowser, are subsiding the coal companies.

"Why do companies that are reaping the highest prices - unprecedented profits that they have out of this industry - still receive taxpayer-funded fuel rebates?" he said.

"It is embarrassing to be part of an industry where this is taking place."

 

This is something many living in regional areas such as the NSW Northern Rivers, with poor or non-existent public transport, would like an answer to.

It's bad enough that within bowser prices it appears that a tax upon a tax exists, without finding that hard-pressed motorists and working families are subsidising some of Australia's richest and dirtiest polluters.

Which American bully will replace the incumbent bully in the US Oval Office?

It's hard not to be aware of the battle between nominees for the US presidential race, as Americans go through a drawn-out process to decide on their Republican and Democratic candidates.

However, I have to wonder why we all seem so interested out here in the real world.

When the reality is that, no matter who replaces George Dubbya in the White House, the world will still find itself facing a global bully with few redeeming features.

Perhaps that is what interests us all - exactly what face this bully will wear after the next presidential election. Obama, Clinton, McCain?

I've found a Reuters site which shows posts on the race from blogs outside the US:

Voices without Votes

On the North Coast we even have a song about US foreign policy (details in sidebar):

TexasFever.mp3

Eric Abetz spits back at Nazi 'slur'

Yesterday Liberal Senator Eric Abetz spat back at media reports of his family's Nazi past.

One can sympathise with the senator, but as he was a past master of the political slur while in government that sympathy doesn't extend too far.

I'm sure we are all wondering how the World Zionist Organisation now feels, as it hosted the senator on a tour of Israel in 1982.

 

Senator Conroy still following Howard Government's old ISP lead

With a much smaller than expected take-up of the former Howard Government's free home PC filter software (probably because it also randomly blocked legitimate sites and slowed download speed), Federal Labor Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, is now ploughing ahead with his plan to impose a national filter at ISP level.

 

He has been repeatedly told by industry experts that a filter of this type will not stop inappropriate material coming via social networking sites, chat rooms and instant messaging.

That the technology doesn't exist yet which could successfully filter these sites.

 

Even the former Liberal Communications and IT Minister was forced to admit to these difficuties.

"At its best, mandatory filtering by internet service providers was an expensive and ineffective way to limit children's access to online pornography, Senator Coonan told The Australian.

At its worst, mandatory ISP filtering was ineffective and seriously degraded the internet's performance, she said."

 

While one plaintive cry on the Web says it all about ISP filters:

"This host was good to me for the first half, but during the last few months, i've been experiencing numerous problems.
Support, although responsive, could not fix my problems. Website constantly give me errors, they said it was due to my ISP's filters, etc... "

 

But Senator Conroy, with one eye on his first kindergarten teacher, is intent on ignoring all the danger signs and has granted the tender for a trial which is expected to take place in Tasmania.

Poor Tassie. First in was the guinea pig in Hockey's smart card experiment - now it gets the chance to be annoyed by the Labor Right's absurd paternalism.

 

It will be interesting to see if Enex Test Lab lives up to its own hype about being a first rate testing facility when it undertakes the evaluations of available filter programs.

 

And what of the ISP filter programs which will be run by servers if Conroy's plan comes to fruition - will we find US filters such as this from the Christian right being commonly used?

Oh, how embarassing, Ms. Gillard!

Latest CrimTrack online job advertisement.

 

Attorney-General	Employment Opportunity N.N. 10384541
CrimTrac	Closing date: Friday, 29 February 2008

Job Title:	Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Support
Job Type:	Ongoing, Full-time
Location:	Canberra | ACT
Classification:	Senior Executive Band 1
Agency Website:	http://www.crimtrac.gov.au/

Job Description

Duties
The Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Support is a key member of the CrimTrac Executive and plays an integral part in shaping and implementing the strategic directions and focus for the Agency and in directing the achievement of its outcomes. The role provides advice and expertise with particular emphasis on corporate functions, finance, information technology and governance of the agency and its projects. The position also provides high quality strategic and operational advice to the CEO, the Minister and the CrimTrac Board of Management. 
Eligibility
The successful applicant will be required to undergo a Commonwealth Security Clearance. 
Notes
Total remuneration around $220,000 pa (to be negotiated through an AWA including salary, employer superannuation, executive vehicle, parking and performance pay) [my emphasis]

To Apply

Selection Documentation:	the CrimTrac website or phone, 02 6245 7755
Position Contact:	Peter Bickerton, 02 6245 7660
Apply:	SES Recruitment The CrimTrac Agency GPO Box 1573 CANBERRA ACT Australia 2601, SESRecruitment@crimtrac.gov.au
Agency Recruitment Site:	http://www.crimtrac.gov.au/recruitment.html

Applicants to employment opportunities notified in all formats of the electronic APS Employment Gazette should be aware that the names of successful applicants will also be notified in all formats of the electronic APS Employment Gazette. 

Now viewing Notice 1 of 1

This notice is part of the electronic APS employment Gazette PS05 - 07 Feb 2008 Published by Australian Public Service Commission.

In Rudd's Australia all human rights are equal, but some are more equal than others

Australia's Attorney General, Robert McClelland recently announced that the Federal Government will be signing the UN's Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.

There is also a possibility that prohibitions against torture will be included in the Commonwealth Criminal Code.

 

I have to say I'm pleased with this announcement, but a little puzzled about why some human rights appear to be more important than others in the eyes of Rudders and Co.

 

Australia signed up to the UN International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination which has been in force since 1969.

Yet here we are breaking our commitment to this convention every day the Rudd Government allows Howard's NT Intervention legislation and regulations to stand.

Definitely an Animal Farm moment dragging uncomfortably on.

Will Japan's 'bribery' funds sway new International Whaling Commission members?

This week saw media reports that Japan is to hold talks in Tokyo tomorrow with 12 nations ahead of the next International Whaling Commission (IWC) annual general meeting in June.

These talks appear to target developing nations which are new members of the IWC or are thinking of joining.
Japan has been accused in the past of targeting its overseas aid towards poor countries which may be persuaded to vote in favour of its position.

Here's how the online media is reporting Japan's latest push to overturn the international ban on whaling.

Oppn calls for global whale sanctuaryABC Online, Australia - 40 minutes agoThe Federal Opposition has called for a global whale sanctuary to be set up as a way of ending Japan's so-called scientific whaling. ... Push to close whale loophole Melbourne Herald Sun, Australia - 7 hours ago AUSTRALIA'S push to end Japanese whaling has intensified with a delegation being sent to the International Whaling Commission to urge them to end all ... ... IWC research could stop Japan Sydney Morning Herald, Australia - 8 hours ago Standing firm ... Peter Garrett at Maroubra Beach yesterday outlines the Government's plans to modernise the IWC. AUSTRALIA will push an International ... Whaling reform won't be easy, warns Greenpeace ABC Online, Australia - 15 hours ago Greenpeace is warning the Federal Government that a plan to reform the International Whaling Commission (IWC) is likely to face opposition from new nations ... Australia to tackle Japan on whaling The Age, Australia - 17 hours ago Australia will send an envoy to Japan and propose the International Whaling Commission (IWC) closes loopholes that allow Japan to continue whaling, ... Japan Plans Meeting to Sway Developing Nations on Whaling Ban Bloomberg - 18 hours ago By Stuart Biggs March 1 (Bloomberg) -- Japan's government will hold talks with delegates from 12 developing nations who recently joined or plan to join the ... Garrett takes aim at 'scientific' whaling ABC Online, Australia - 19 hours ago The Federal Government says it is stepping up its campaign against whaling by taking charge within the International Whaling Commission (IWC). ... Japan moves to strenghten standing at IWC ABC Online, Australia - 29 Feb 2008 Japan, in a feud with Western nations over whaling, has said it will meet with 12 developing states in a bid to boost its clout in the deadlocked ... Japanese schoolkids have whale of a lunchtime Melbourne Herald Sun, Australia - 27 Feb 2008 JAPAN'S whaling researchers dumped 10 tonnes of unsold whale meat into primary school lunches, labelling the event "traditional school lunch week". ... Whaling reform won't be easy, warns Greenpeace Radio New Zealand, New Zealand - 12 hours ago Greenpeace is warning that a plan to reform the International Whaling Commission is likely to face opposition from new nations joining it. ... Australia to propose closing 'scientific' whaling loophole AFP - 15 hours ago SYDNEY (AFP) — Australia said Saturday it hoped to close a loophole in International Whaling Commission (IWC) rules that allows Japan to conduct whaling as ... Japan to lobby whaling commission CNN International - 17 hours ago TOKYO, Japan (CNN) -- Japan will lobby a dozen members of the International Whaling Commission at a meeting Monday to support its much-criticized Antarctic ... Australia urges IWC to close whaling loopholes LIVENEWS.com.au, Australia - 15 hours ago Australia is preparing to step up its fight against Japanese whalers taking it straight to the global whaling watchdog. The Rudd government will this week ... Aus to fight whaling Sky News Australia, Australia - 17 hours ago A special Australian envoy will be sent to Japan to propose three major changes to the whaling mission in the Southern Ocean. In the latest move to stop the ... Sea Shepherd Receives Message From the Australian Government Indymedia UK, UK - 23 hours ago Captain Paul Watson onboard the Sea Shepherd vessel Steve Irwin received an email from the Australian government. See the letter and Captain Watson's ... Australia to ask world whaling body to scrutinize science behind ... The Canadian Press, Australia - 4 hours ago SYDNEY, Australia — Australia says it will push the International Whaling Commission next week to ensure that commercial whaling can no longer be conducted ... Garrett begins action against 'scientific' whaling Scopical, Australia - 17 hours ago Environment Minister Peter Garrett will this week step up his attacks on Japan's "scientific" whaling program, with Australia to take a more hands-on roll ...