Bet you won't read about this in the NRMA's Open Road

Which northern rivers NRMA worker was not on a roadside assistance call but doing other work-related tasks and driving a motor vehicle when he was booked for not wearing a seat belt?

And, remember, the offence of being an unrestrained driver results in the loss of 3 driving points (6 points in a double demerit period) and a fine of $298.

The driver escaped penalties this week when he appeared in a north coast local court and said there were mitigating circumstances.

After describing to the court the turn of events that resulted in him being caught by a highway patrol officer while driving in a built-up area the worker (who represented himself and was unaided by a legal beagle) had the charge dismissed under Section 10 of the Crimes (Sentencing Procedures) Act.

Not wearing a seat belt is definitely not a good look for the NRMA.

Eric Warner

Northern Rivers

GuestSpeak is a feature of North Coast Voices allowing Northern Rivers residents to make satirical or serious comment on issues that concern them. Posts of 250-300 words or less can be submitted to ncvguestspeak AT gmail.com.au for consideration.

International Monetary Fund 2012: "Australian banks are currently among the most profitable in the world"

 

The Australia Institute

Media release 16 November 2012

 

IMF study confirms super profits of Australia’s banks

 

A new study by the International Monetary Fund shows that Australia’s ‘big four’ banks are the most concentrated in the world and are among the most profitable in the world.

 

The IMF today released its Financial System Stability Assessment for Australia. The following graph shows where Australia’s big four rank in terms of share of total industry compared to other countries.

 

 

“The IMF publication shows the absurdity of claims by the Australian Bankers’ Association’s Steven Munchenberg that Australia’s big banks are ‘fiercely competitive’,” said The Australia Institute’s Senior Research Fellow David Richardson.

 

In fact the IMF said Australian banks enjoy “pricing power” and are “highly profitable”. The IMF’s assessment also said “in fact, Australian banks are currently among the most profitable in the world”. That is clear in the following graph (overleaf) which shows Australia’s big four banks make up half of the eight most profitable banks in the world.

 

“The IMF study confirms the view that high concentration allows banks to extract very high profits from the Australian community. Super profits represent a major challenge for Australian policy makers,” said Mr Richardson.

 

 

An Australia Institute analysis recently showed that people taking out an average mortgage could potentially save $1,200 per annum by choosing a mutually-owned bank, credit union or building society, instead of one of the big four banks.

 

* International Monetary Fund report: Australia: Financial System Stability Assessment

National Indigenous Television (NITV) up and running on SBS4

 

News, movies, current affairs and much more

as National Indigenous Television goes to air

at midday each day on SBS4

at Channel 34.

Skinner: Now I'm Health Minister It's Not A Dumb Idea

The Northern Star asked a hard question which resulted in more than a petticoat showing on 11^th December:

“STATE Health Minister Jillian Skinner has been forced to defend a cost-cutting proposal to allow single-crew ambulance cars to transport patients to hospital during her visit to the Northern Rivers today.

The new proposal will allow single-crew ambulance cars currently in use to transport willing and able patients.

Ms Skinner said such cars were staffed by senior paramedics and often first on scene, but currently unable to transport any patients, even those with light injuries.

She stressed that the move would enable a more efficient use of resources without compromising patient care….

Mr Hayes also labelled the proposal as a backflip by Ms Skinner, since in 2010 she called a similar proposal by then Labor Health Minister Carmel Tebbutt as "one of the dumbest"…. “

Denmark is not a good global citizen and no friend of the whale

 

WDC Exposes Illegal Sale Of Whale Meat In Denmark

WDC has revealed evidence from its recent undercover operation in Denmark which clearly shows whale meat from Greenland on sale commercially in Denmark.

A WDC team found the minke whale steaks and blubber openly available to buy at a tourist shop in the Danish capital, Copenhagen, thus putting Denmark in breach of European Union (EU) laws which ban EU Member States from the killing and commercial sale of whales.

Ironically, the revelations by WDC also come just as Greenland has threatened to impose its own quotas regarding the number of whales that it will hunt for ‘local nutritional needs’ in 2013.

The sale of these whale products in Denmark also contravenes International Whaling Commission (IWC – the body that regulates whaling) regulations, and also those of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).

Earlier in the year, a separate undercover investigation by WDC revealed that Greenland (a Danish overseas territory) had been actively undermining the IWC ban on commercial whaling by selling whale meat to tourists visiting Greenland from whales that are allowed to be killed only for the nutritional needs of local aboriginal people.

This latest undercover operation by WDC in Denmark itself clearly shows that this form of illegal commercial whaling has now extended into mainland Europe and makes a mockery of Greenland’s requests to hunt more whales to feed native Greenlanders……2012-12-10

Coal Seam Gas: A David & Goliath confrontation for Northern Rivers communities

 

Much has been written about plans to establish coal seam gas production wells on the NSW North Coast.

 

One mining corporation exploring for gas in the Northern Rivers, Metgasco Limited, has recently been offered a production licence for its Casino project.

 

So how big is Metgasco and how small are the individual land owners who are likely to feel the impact of these coal seam gas wells?

 

Well, one could look at the estimated size of Metgasco's gas reserves or total value of shares issued and compare this with the property value of someone living next door or near to one of its drilling wells.

 

However, visual images often tell the story better than words…….

 

Home belonging to a Metgasco director and shareholder:

 

 

Home in general vicinity of Metgasco’s exploration site at Glenugie:

 

CSGFree Northern Rivers: 'Call to Action - the Time is Now!'

http://youtu.be/umHQbFA5mfM
 

Monday, 10 December 2012

UPDATE ON GLENUGIE CSG PROTEST 10-12-12

The number of community members outside Metgasco's Glenugie drill site increased this morning because of the expected arrival of the drill rig. The crowd continued to grow throughout the day. During the morning a truck carrying equipment and a number of other smaller vehicles approached the site. These were delayed for some time because of an accident with a bicycle and traffic congestion near the site. Community members entered into the spirit of the season singing carols around a Christmas tree which had been placed in front of the entrance to the drill site. The crowd effectively blocked the entrance so that around 4 pm the Metgasco convoy left the site. It is expected that they will return tomorrow - presumably with an increased police presence.

Clarence Valley Conservation Coalition