I have to ask. At the end did they find anything in Charlton Heston's "cold dead hands"?
Monday 7 April 2008
Do property developers and the financiers own the Iemma Government?
There is no getting away from the fact that at local government level there is often a unhealthy relationship between developers and individuals councillors or some council staff.
Now that NSW Planning Minister Frank Sartor has hijacked basic development planning processes and left communities and residents out in the cold, Morris Iemma needs to answer questions regarding exactly what level of 'favoured status' may be brought by property and financial corporations making sizeable political donations to the NSW Labor Party.
The NSW Liberals also need to explain why they have never vigorously pursued the issue of whether developer donations are an appropriate part of the political system at all.
Here are the 149 separate donations made by the property sector across the political spectrum in the 2006-07 financial year according to Democracy4sale.
Go to that Greens website if you wish to explore donations by those banking institutions which are also developers in their own right.
Now that NSW Planning Minister Frank Sartor has hijacked basic development planning processes and left communities and residents out in the cold, Morris Iemma needs to answer questions regarding exactly what level of 'favoured status' may be brought by property and financial corporations making sizeable political donations to the NSW Labor Party.
The NSW Liberals also need to explain why they have never vigorously pursued the issue of whether developer donations are an appropriate part of the political system at all.
Here are the 149 separate donations made by the property sector across the political spectrum in the 2006-07 financial year according to Democracy4sale.
Go to that Greens website if you wish to explore donations by those banking institutions which are also developers in their own right.
| Year | Party | Category | Donor | Amount |
 | ||||
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Anson City Developments (Aust) Pty Ltd | $15,000 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Austcorp Group Ltd | $11,000 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Australand Holdings Ltd | $15,000 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Australand Holdings Ltd | $11,000 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Australian Portable Buildings Pty Ltd | $11,000 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Babcock & Brown | $15,000 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Babcock & Brown | $20,000 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Babcock & Brown | $15,000 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Babcock & Brown Australia Pty Ltd | $33,000 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Babcock & Brown Australia Pty Ltd | $20,000 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Bilfinger Berger Concessions | $11,000 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Boral Limited | $19,250 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Bradcorp Holdings Pty Ltd | $30,000 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Bradcorp Holdings Pty Ltd | $15,000 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Mr Peter Brennan | $15,000 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Bradcorp Holdings Pty Ltd | $33,000 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Brighton Australia Pty Ltd | $15,000 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Buildev Development (NSW) Pty Ltd | $14,000 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Buildev Development (Qld) Pty Ltd | $15,000 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Challenge Property Investments | $11,000 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Cheebrook Pty Ltd | $11,000 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Cienna Group | $33,000 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Dandaloo Pty Ltd | $11,000 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Dyldam Developments Pty Ltd | $14,083 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | EG Property Group | $15,000 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | EG Property Group | $22,000 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | FKP Property Group | $15,000 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Frasers Greencliff Developments Pty Ltd | $25,000 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Glen Alpine Properties | $15,000 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Grant Samuel Property Pty Ltd | $15,000 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Greenfields Development Corp Ltd | $11,000 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Grocon Pty Ltd | $27,500 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Grocon Pty Ltd | $55,000 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Hardie Holdings Pty Ltd | $20,000 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Marbal Pty Ltd | $100,000 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Hiken Group | $19,250 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Holdmark Developments Pty Ltd | $15,000 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Hunter Land Pty Limited | $11,000 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Hunter Land Group of Companies | $50,000 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Hunter Land Pty Limited | $50,000 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Jacfin Pty Ltd | $100,000 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Jacfin Pty Ltd | $100,000 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Johnson Property Group | $16,200 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Johnson Property Group | $16,000 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Berkeley Road Developments Pty Ltd | $25,000 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Johnson Property Group Pty Limited | $25,000 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Johnson Property Group | $15,000 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Kingold Group | $15,000 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Kingold Group | $100,000 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Leda Holdings Pty Limited | $25,000 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Leighton Holdings Ltd | $24,750 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Leighton Holdings Limited | $20,000 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Mantle Group | $11,000 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Marsim Management Pty Ltd | $11,000 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Medich Property Group Pty Ltd | $11,000 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Medich Property Group Pty Ltd | $13,200 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Medich Property Group Pty Ltd | $12,000 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Medich Property Group Pty Ltd | $27,500 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Medich Property Group Pty Ltd | $15,000 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Memo Corporation Australia Pty Ltd | $19,250 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Memo Corporation Australia Pty Ltd | $30,000 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Meriton Premier Apartments | $100,000 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Mulpha Australia Ltd | $22,000 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Multiplex Developments Aust. Pty Ltd | $33,000 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Narellan Town Centre | $15,000 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Narellan Town Centre | $15,000 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Omaya Holdings Pty Ltd | $15,000 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Payce Consolidated | $15,000 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Payce Consolidated | $15,000 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Payce Properties Pty Ltd | $75,000 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Paynter Dixon Construction Pty Ltd | $15,000 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Plenary Group | $11,000 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Property Council of Australia | $38,500 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Rocky Bottom Creek Pty Ltd | $25,000 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Rosecorp Pty Ltd | $27,500 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Rosecorp Pty Ltd | $27,500 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Rosecorp Pty Ltd | $27,500 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Rosecorp Pty Ltd | $27,500 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Southern Cross Constructions | $25,000 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | St Hilliers Pty Ltd | $19,250 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | STC Architects and Kendall Resources Ltd | $15,000 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Stockland Trust Group | $19,250 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Stockland Development Pty Ltd | $20,000 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Sydney Airports Corporation Limited | $19,250 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Terrace Tower Group | $40,000 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Terrace Tower Group | $33,000 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Terrace Tower Holdings Pty Limited | $15,000 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | The GEO Group Australia P/L | $15,000 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | The Lewis Land Group of Companies | $30,000 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | The Village Building Co Limited | $33,000 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Thiess Pty Ltd | $15,000 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Tiffany Developments Pty Ltd | $11,000 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Toga Group of Companies | $20,000 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Toga Group of Companies | $17,500 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Transfield Holdings Pty Ltd | $30,000 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Transfield Holdings Pty Ltd | $15,000 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Transfield Services Ltd | $15,000 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Transfield Services Ltd | $15,000 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | United Group Limited | $15,000 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | United Group Limited | $15,000 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Vaste Developments Pty Ltd | $12,000 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Westfield Capital Corporation Limited | $75,000 |
| 2006/07 | Labor NSW | Property | Whitehorse Constructions Pty Ltd | $11,000 |
| ||||
| $2,565,733 | ||||
| 2006/07 | Liberal NSW | Property | Almona Pty Ltd T/as Parklea Markets | $75,000 |
| 2006/07 | Liberal NSW | Property | Austcorp Group Limited | $11,000 |
| 2006/07 | Liberal NSW | Property | Babcock & Brown | $11,000 |
| 2006/07 | Liberal NSW | Property | Boral Ltd | $19,250 |
| 2006/07 | Liberal NSW | Property | Buildev Development Pty Ltd | $75,000 |
| 2006/07 | Liberal NSW | Property | Colliers International | $20,000 |
| 2006/07 | Liberal NSW | Property | Exceland Property Group | $22,000 |
| 2006/07 | Liberal NSW | Property | Freeway Land Company Pty Ltd | $50,000 |
| 2006/07 | Liberal NSW | Property | Greenfriars Pty Limited | $30,000 |
| 2006/07 | Liberal NSW | Property | Grocon Pty Ltd | $11,000 |
| 2006/07 | Liberal NSW | Property | Hardie Holdings Pty Ltd | $30,000 |
| 2006/07 | Liberal NSW | Property | Henroth Investments Pty Ltd | $11,000 |
| 2006/07 | Liberal NSW | Property | Hunter Land Pty Ltd | $15,000 |
| 2006/07 | Liberal NSW | Property | Berkeley Road Developments Pty Ltd | $25,000 |
| 2006/07 | Liberal NSW | Property | Johnson Property Group Pty Ltd | $25,000 |
| 2006/07 | Liberal NSW | Property | Kendall Grange Properties Pty Ltd | $25,000 |
| 2006/07 | Liberal NSW | Property | Leda Holdings Pty Limited | $25,000 |
| 2006/07 | Liberal NSW | Property | Leighton Holdings Limited | $33,000 |
| 2006/07 | Liberal NSW | Property | LKT Holdings Pty Ltd | $11,000 |
| 2006/07 | Liberal NSW | Property | Mambare Pty Ltd | $79,684 |
| 2006/07 | Liberal NSW | Property | Manolas Properties Pty Ltd | $11,000 |
| 2006/07 | Liberal NSW | Property | Mars Australian Developments | $11,000 |
| 2006/07 | Liberal NSW | Property | McCloy Group Pty Limited | $15,000 |
| 2006/07 | Liberal NSW | Property | Memo Corporation Australia Pty Ltd | $77,000 |
| 2006/07 | Liberal NSW | Property | Meriton Premier Apartments | $13,200 |
| 2006/07 | Liberal NSW | Property | Meriton Premier Apartments | $50,000 |
| 2006/07 | Liberal NSW | Property | Multiplex Limited | $18,000 |
| 2006/07 | Liberal NSW | Property | Payce Consolidated Ltd | $22,000 |
| 2006/07 | Liberal NSW | Property | Raine & Horne Pty Ltd | $15,000 |
| 2006/07 | Liberal NSW | Property | Rinker Australia Pty Ltd | $12,500 |
| 2006/07 | Liberal NSW | Property | Rocky Bottom Creek Pty Ltd | $25,000 |
| 2006/07 | Liberal NSW | Property | St Hilliers Property Pty Ltd | $11,000 |
| 2006/07 | Liberal NSW | Property | Stockland | $20,000 |
| 2006/07 | Liberal NSW | Property | Sydney Airport Corporation Limited | $11,000 |
| 2006/07 | Liberal NSW | Property | Terrace Tower Holdings Pty Ltd | $40,000 |
| 2006/07 | Liberal NSW | Property | Terrace Tower Holdings Pty Ltd | $22,000 |
| 2006/07 | Liberal NSW | Property | The Geo Group Australia Pty Ltd | $11,000 |
| 2006/07 | Liberal NSW | Property | The Village Building Co Limited | $25,000 |
| 2006/07 | Liberal NSW | Property | Thiess Pty Ltd | $11,000 |
| 2006/07 | Liberal NSW | Property | Toga Hospitality Group | $38,500 |
| 2006/07 | Liberal NSW | Property | Transfield Group Entities | $20,000 |
| 2006/07 | Liberal NSW | Property | Transfield Services (Australia) P/L | $11,000 |
| 2006/07 | Liberal NSW | Property | United Group Limited | $25,000 |
| 2006/07 | Liberal NSW | Property | Walker Corporation Pty Limited | $50,000 |
| 2006/07 | Liberal NSW | Property | Westfield Capital Corporation Limited | $75,000 |
| ||||
| $1,244,134 | ||||
| ||||
| ||||
| 2006/07 | National NSW | Property | Servcorp Ltd | $11,000 |
| ||||
| Total: $3,820,867 | ||||
Codswallop in the Aussie media
With all that's been occurring in the international arena which could affect Australian foreign affairs during Kevin Rudd's present overseas tour, it was 'Mr. & Mrs. Star-chaser and Frumpy-dresser' who became the thème de la journée for The Australian and The Courier Mail.
What a load of codswallop!
I don't mind if Rudders likes to have an occasional meal or meeting with an Aussie celebrity and I certainly don't care one whit if Therese wears the same dress, shoes or handbag more than once.
The Daily Telegraph also jumps into the manure pile by raising a stink about Rudd and Macklin giving the go-ahead for Centrelink to hire Dun and Bradstreet to collect 62,000 debts worth between $20 and $100 from welfare clients, dating back eight to 12 years, but neglecting to remind its readers that the Australian Tax Office is also using this law firm to collect $10.1 billion in unpaid taxes mostly from errant companies.
Sunday 6 April 2008
DESPERATELY NEEDED: A Federal Government that's prepared to take on Exclusive Brethren
Is someone, anyone, in the Rudd Government prepared to stand up and be counted in relation to the continued funding of Exclusive Brethren schools?
The issue is a simple one. Exclusive Brethren schools receive federal government funding that should be directed towards the education of the nation's poorest children.
Funding deals for Exclusive Brethren schools were set up by the Keating government. They continued and were promoted under the Howard government and still operate under the Rudd government.
The Sunday Age (April 6, 2008) reports rich Exclusive Brethren schools are receiving the same generous rate of government funding as the nation's poorest schools, including those in impoverished Aboriginal communities.
The Rudd Government has pledged to continue paying millions of dollars to the religious sect despite the group boasting that its students are "found in the middle to upper levels of the socio-economic group".
Exclusive Brethren schools are being funded as if they are Category 12 schools, which are the poorest schools in the lowest-income communities in the country. In other words, Category 12 schools serve communities which have very low incomes. Does that sound like the communities Exclusive Brethren school students come from?
Government documents obtained by The Sunday Age show Brethren schools in NSW and South Australia receive category 12 funding despite not meeting these criteria.
Federal school funding documents show that the Brethren's multi-campus NSW school, Meadowbank, and the South Australian school, Melrose Park, were funded at the same rate as "special schools", giving them the same per-student funding as Nyangatjatjara College, in the Northern Territory, the Giant Steps school for autistic students and schools for the hearing-impaired.
The issue is a simple one. Exclusive Brethren schools receive federal government funding that should be directed towards the education of the nation's poorest children.
Funding deals for Exclusive Brethren schools were set up by the Keating government. They continued and were promoted under the Howard government and still operate under the Rudd government.
The Sunday Age (April 6, 2008) reports rich Exclusive Brethren schools are receiving the same generous rate of government funding as the nation's poorest schools, including those in impoverished Aboriginal communities.
The Rudd Government has pledged to continue paying millions of dollars to the religious sect despite the group boasting that its students are "found in the middle to upper levels of the socio-economic group".
Exclusive Brethren schools are being funded as if they are Category 12 schools, which are the poorest schools in the lowest-income communities in the country. In other words, Category 12 schools serve communities which have very low incomes. Does that sound like the communities Exclusive Brethren school students come from?
Government documents obtained by The Sunday Age show Brethren schools in NSW and South Australia receive category 12 funding despite not meeting these criteria.
Federal school funding documents show that the Brethren's multi-campus NSW school, Meadowbank, and the South Australian school, Melrose Park, were funded at the same rate as "special schools", giving them the same per-student funding as Nyangatjatjara College, in the Northern Territory, the Giant Steps school for autistic students and schools for the hearing-impaired.
The Brethren's MET school in Meadowbank does not meet the criteria for category 12 funding: it is in suburban Sydney, has small class sizes, and is financially supported by a community that boasts it has no poverty.
This scandalous matter need to be addressed, and soon!
Bernard Salt says Angourie is dead; Angourie villagers and visitors fall about laughing
Never having visited Angourie on the Clarence section of the NSW North Coast, KPMG partner Bernard Salt (who describes himself as "a compelling and entertaining speaker, enjoyed by blue-chip companies to stimulate thought provoking discussion at conferences, seminars and workshops") decided last week to declare this beautiful little community dead as an urban locality.
The "lost towns" include places such as Bethanga, Girgarre, Merino and Balmoral in Victoria and Moorook, Iron Knob, Mintabie, Brukunga and Fregon in South Australia. There is only one in Tasmania: Leith. Queensland has Yuleba, Minden, Marpuna, Yelarbon and Croydon. NSW has two: Cullen Bullen and Angourie. There are three in the Northern Territory: Peppimenarti, Gulin Gulin-Weemol and Belyuen, which was formerly known as Dellisaville.
This of course is news to local government which treats Angourie as a distinct urban locality; a complete surprise to village businesses which thrive on local and visitor patronage; and a great puzzlement to residents, who are used to being identified as coming from Angourie rather than from Brooms Head, Wooloweyah or Yamba.
Being a tolerant place, Angourie's response in The Daily Examiner was typically laid back.
Although a gust of laughter could be heard bouncing across the Clarence Valley when morning papers were flicked open yesterday.
Bernard Salt is one of those people invited to Kevin Rudd's Australia 2020 summit in Canberra this month.
The "lost towns" include places such as Bethanga, Girgarre, Merino and Balmoral in Victoria and Moorook, Iron Knob, Mintabie, Brukunga and Fregon in South Australia. There is only one in Tasmania: Leith. Queensland has Yuleba, Minden, Marpuna, Yelarbon and Croydon. NSW has two: Cullen Bullen and Angourie. There are three in the Northern Territory: Peppimenarti, Gulin Gulin-Weemol and Belyuen, which was formerly known as Dellisaville.
This of course is news to local government which treats Angourie as a distinct urban locality; a complete surprise to village businesses which thrive on local and visitor patronage; and a great puzzlement to residents, who are used to being identified as coming from Angourie rather than from Brooms Head, Wooloweyah or Yamba.
Being a tolerant place, Angourie's response in The Daily Examiner was typically laid back.
Although a gust of laughter could be heard bouncing across the Clarence Valley when morning papers were flicked open yesterday.
Bernard Salt is one of those people invited to Kevin Rudd's Australia 2020 summit in Canberra this month.
Paws and Laws information session, Lismore 17 April 2008
Marianne Maquire, who established the Pro Bono Animal Law Service (PALS) will be speaking on animal rights from 2pm on Thursday, April 17, at the Lismore Workers Club.
At 3pm there will be a discussion on the viability of a pro bono animal rights service for the Northern Rivers. Ms Pollard is encouraging lawyers who might be prepared to help to attend as well as interested members of the community.
"There is no funding, so this would have to run with the support of volunteers. If you have a genuine interest then come along and see if you would like to get involved," Ms Pollard said.
The Paws and Laws information session, presented by the Northern Rivers Community Legal Centre, will be at 2pm on Thursday, April 17, at the Lismore Workers Club. Please RSVP to Angela Pollard on 6621 1005 or Angela_Pollard@clc.net.au.
Is Northern Rivers regional living bad for your health?
The Northern Star published this account yesterday.
"I got there half an hour later and they said 'he's right to go home'; but I persisted because I knew he was not alright," Ms Randall said.
North Coast Area Health Service clinical operations executive director Denice Fletcher rejected suggestions staff at the Casino and later Lismore hospitals did not take Rhys' condition seriously, saying he was kept under close observation in the emergency department while he was at Casino.
"The patient's outward condition did not give cause for major concern," Ms Fletcher said. "Only when the patient's observations began to alter did the medical officer decide it was necessary to transfer the patient to Lismore Base Hospital for further assessment."
Despite the close observation and despite Ms Randall's persistence, it was not until 8.30pm that Rhys was transferred to Lismore Base Hospital for a detailed examination; but his reception there was no better than the one he got in his home town.
By the time Ms Randall reached the hospital, Rhys had already been put on the floor with a thin white blanket strewn over him. At that point he was drifting in and out of consciousness and Ms Randall said he did not appear aware of what was happening around him.
"I don't know if it was the ambulance staff or the hospital that put him on the floor," Ms Randall said.
"There were beds available because there was another woman come in from Casino after us and she got a bed. They obviously thought it (Rhys' condition) wasn't that bad."
This is not the first incident of its kind. It is past time for the North Coast Area Health Service to get its act together and deliver a decent service for everyone living in this region.
I have long been disturbed by the strong hint of inherent racism within the public health system, the indifference frequently displayed to individuals at the bottom of the local socio-economic scale, the moral judgements which flourish, and the marked bias of some staff doctors and private GPs working within the hospital system who appear to see themselves as gate keepers first and medicos second.
It is becoming increasingly apparent that a Northern Rivers resident is more likely to receive prompt, comprehensive assessment and vigorous, effective treatment if he/she is white, reasonably affluent, articulate, established in the community and visibly supported by family.
For everyone else regional health care is becoming something of a lottery.
"I got there half an hour later and they said 'he's right to go home'; but I persisted because I knew he was not alright," Ms Randall said.
North Coast Area Health Service clinical operations executive director Denice Fletcher rejected suggestions staff at the Casino and later Lismore hospitals did not take Rhys' condition seriously, saying he was kept under close observation in the emergency department while he was at Casino.
"The patient's outward condition did not give cause for major concern," Ms Fletcher said. "Only when the patient's observations began to alter did the medical officer decide it was necessary to transfer the patient to Lismore Base Hospital for further assessment."
Despite the close observation and despite Ms Randall's persistence, it was not until 8.30pm that Rhys was transferred to Lismore Base Hospital for a detailed examination; but his reception there was no better than the one he got in his home town.
By the time Ms Randall reached the hospital, Rhys had already been put on the floor with a thin white blanket strewn over him. At that point he was drifting in and out of consciousness and Ms Randall said he did not appear aware of what was happening around him.
"I don't know if it was the ambulance staff or the hospital that put him on the floor," Ms Randall said.
"There were beds available because there was another woman come in from Casino after us and she got a bed. They obviously thought it (Rhys' condition) wasn't that bad."
This is not the first incident of its kind. It is past time for the North Coast Area Health Service to get its act together and deliver a decent service for everyone living in this region.
I have long been disturbed by the strong hint of inherent racism within the public health system, the indifference frequently displayed to individuals at the bottom of the local socio-economic scale, the moral judgements which flourish, and the marked bias of some staff doctors and private GPs working within the hospital system who appear to see themselves as gate keepers first and medicos second.
It is becoming increasingly apparent that a Northern Rivers resident is more likely to receive prompt, comprehensive assessment and vigorous, effective treatment if he/she is white, reasonably affluent, articulate, established in the community and visibly supported by family.
For everyone else regional health care is becoming something of a lottery.
Saturday 5 April 2008
Daily Examiner apologises for goof up
A very contrite Daily Examiner has today published a page one apology for its goof up yesterday.
Headed "Worker fights for Life" the Examiner says "Late on Thursday night several sources all said he (the worker) had died, but in fact he had been kept alive by the medical team at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney."
What sources? Obviously not reliable ones.
It was then the deputy editor's task to pen the editorial "Sorry for adding to distress" in which the Examiner apologises "to the family and friends of a 33-year-old-man (who was) critically injured in an industrial accident at the Grafton Shoppingworld construction site on Thursday."
Headed "Worker fights for Life" the Examiner says "Late on Thursday night several sources all said he (the worker) had died, but in fact he had been kept alive by the medical team at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney."
What sources? Obviously not reliable ones.
It was then the deputy editor's task to pen the editorial "Sorry for adding to distress" in which the Examiner apologises "to the family and friends of a 33-year-old-man (who was) critically injured in an industrial accident at the Grafton Shoppingworld construction site on Thursday."
Global economic downturn may see NSW North Coast councils return to roads, rats and rubbish
In The Northern Star yesterday North Coast local government exposure to the failing US subprime market was discussed.
Byron Bay Council takes issue with NSW Treasurer Michael Costa's assessment of the situation, but Lismore Council admits to difficulties.
It was revealed yesterday that NSW councils faced service cutbacks and even higher rates after losing up to $400 million in the sub-prime mortgage crisis.
Byron Shire was listed among the top 10 worst-affected councils, with a reported loss of $6.9 million - or 11 per cent of its total investments. But the council yesterday hit back, saying the claims were deceptive.--
Lismore City councillor and finance journalist David Tomlinson said it was clear Lismore City Council, which lost $3.1 million in the credit crunch, did not really understand the sort of product that was being used to invest ratepayers' funds.
"The strategy being recommended by our financial advisers is to hang on and hope for the best," he said.
"There is, however, a real credit risk if things do not improve.
"Lismore has $1.7 million at what is now regarded as relatively high risk, and another million regarded as troubled.
"We could lose the lot."
In the Clarence Valley some ratepayers are also beginning to worry that all is not well in their financial garden and wonder about the level of subprime exposure there.
Clarence Valley Council's investment income was $1.3 million lower than expected in the 12 months to January 2008.
This despite State Government assurances that the forced amalgamation of valley councils into Clarence Valley Council would see economies of scale, annual savings in the vicinity of $1.5 million and an increased ability to take advantage of investment opportunities.
At present the projected budget deficit stands at around $778,840 and the end of this financial year is fast approaching.
Both the mayor and general manager have flagged a review of investment and funding sources.
However, if the books are to balance by 30 June as promised, then expenditure will also have to be carefully examined.
It looks as though North Coast councils are being forced back into the old rates, roads, rats and rubbish mould by the ongoing failure of federal and state governments to address the role of contemporary local government, increasing levels of cost-shifting being forced on this sector and poor investment advice.
Byron Bay Council takes issue with NSW Treasurer Michael Costa's assessment of the situation, but Lismore Council admits to difficulties.
It was revealed yesterday that NSW councils faced service cutbacks and even higher rates after losing up to $400 million in the sub-prime mortgage crisis.
Byron Shire was listed among the top 10 worst-affected councils, with a reported loss of $6.9 million - or 11 per cent of its total investments. But the council yesterday hit back, saying the claims were deceptive.--
Lismore City councillor and finance journalist David Tomlinson said it was clear Lismore City Council, which lost $3.1 million in the credit crunch, did not really understand the sort of product that was being used to invest ratepayers' funds.
"The strategy being recommended by our financial advisers is to hang on and hope for the best," he said.
"There is, however, a real credit risk if things do not improve.
"Lismore has $1.7 million at what is now regarded as relatively high risk, and another million regarded as troubled.
"We could lose the lot."
In the Clarence Valley some ratepayers are also beginning to worry that all is not well in their financial garden and wonder about the level of subprime exposure there.
Clarence Valley Council's investment income was $1.3 million lower than expected in the 12 months to January 2008.
This despite State Government assurances that the forced amalgamation of valley councils into Clarence Valley Council would see economies of scale, annual savings in the vicinity of $1.5 million and an increased ability to take advantage of investment opportunities.
At present the projected budget deficit stands at around $778,840 and the end of this financial year is fast approaching.
Both the mayor and general manager have flagged a review of investment and funding sources.
However, if the books are to balance by 30 June as promised, then expenditure will also have to be carefully examined.
It looks as though North Coast councils are being forced back into the old rates, roads, rats and rubbish mould by the ongoing failure of federal and state governments to address the role of contemporary local government, increasing levels of cost-shifting being forced on this sector and poor investment advice.
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