Federal Labor MP for Page announces funding for Casino Saleyards safety upgrade

Saffin announces funding for upgrade of Casino Saleyards

Page MP Janelle Saffin has  announced Federal funding of more than $600,000 for a major upgrade to improve safety at the Casino Saleyards.

Ms Saffin said the funding, under the Federal Government’s Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program. will mean much safer facilities for saleyard workers and truck drivers who transport livestock.

““There is a total of $636,000 in Federal funding along with $159,000 from the Richmond Valley Council for the upgrade at the Casino Regional Livestock Exchange.

“The funding is for the installation of double-deck delivery ramps, non-slip concrete pens and race floor and includes all-weather roofing along the yards and gates and lighting.  We can all appreciate how important these improvements are given our recent weather conditions.

“The issue of safety for saleyard employees and truck drivers has been raised with me by local councils, beef producers and the trucking industry in recent years, so I welcome the new funding.

“I was among a number of MPs from rural electorates who successfully lobbied for saleyards safety upgrades to be included in the Federal Governments Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program,” Ms Saffin said.

“I thank Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Anthony Albanese for listening to the concerns from rural and regional Australia, and for responding to them by providing extra assistance.”

1 March, 2013

Office of Janelle Saffin MP
Federal Member for Page
Ph: 66219909 

Most unusual job vacancy advertisement

This digital copy of a newspaper clipping came to me via an email link to http://www.whaleoil.co.nz/2013/02/situations-vacant-4/.

The tongue-in-cheek job vacancy appears to be from a UK publication, but hopefully someone has suggested to Cardinal George Pell that he send in his curriculum vitae – it sounds as though he fits the selection criteria down right down to the final infallibility clause.

Underwater with the fish at Julian Rocks

Posted in appreciation of Kieren Curry and friends who made this video at Julian Rocks NSW on January 4, 2013.

Perfect Byron Day from kieren curry on Vimeo.

http://vimeo.com/59269647

NSW Police at their worst while protecting Metgasco Limited's interests

Photograph of Gareth preparing to 'lock on' from EchoNetDaily

On 26 February 2013 an unnamed police officer used capsicum spray against a defenseless protester at coal seam gas exploration company Megasco Limited's Doubtful Creek test drilling site:

http://mpegmedia.abc.net.au/news/audio/am/201302/20130228-rnam-spray-protest.mp3

Excerpt from transcript:

TONY EASTLEY: New South Wales Police are investigating why an officer used capsicum spray on a protester who was chained to a truck.

The man was protesting against Metgasco's coal seam gas exploration site in the north of the state.

The Lock the Gate alliance which organised the protest says it will be lodging a complaint against the police.

A spokesman for the group says the use of spray on a passive protester amounts to assault.

David Mark reports.

DAVID MARK: A group of protesters have been attempting to disrupt test drilling by the company Metgasco at their coal-seam gas site near Kyogle since January.

On Tuesday one of the protesters, a 45 year old man named Gareth, locked himself to one of the company's trucks as it attempted to leave the site.

Scott Sledge, the president of the protest group the Northern Rivers Guardians, was close by.

SCOTT SLEDGE: They have a pipe which has a bend in it and both hands go into the pipe. And then it locks with clips onto a chain which is attached to the wrist so you can't actually pull that arm out of the metal sleeve.

DAVID MARK: Scott Sledge didn't see what happened next. He says he was on the other side of the truck. But he later spoke to Gareth.

SCOTT SLEDGE: He told me a policeman came under the truck and said, "Let go now and get out from under the truck or I'll spray you in the face." And he was holding a little canister, a spray canister. And he said, "I can't let go, I'm locked on".

And then he got sprayed in the face and it was burning. I heard him yell "I've been maced!" I yelled out then, "You can't do that, he's locked on, he's defenceless, that's torture."

DAVID MARK: New South Wales Police have released a statement confirming police did use capsicum spray on a 45 year old man while he was attached to a truck.

He was arrested but not charged......

DAVID MARK: Police guidelines say capsicum spray can only be used on three occasions: to protect human life; as a less lethal option for controlling people where violent resistance or confrontation occurs; or as protection against animals.....