After reading this, I felt incensed and read it again to see if the comments were in fact in context with the PR statement, it seems so.
Here we have potential laws that make anyone who has ever bought anything without a receipt a potential money launderer and face the very real prospect that at some time in the future you could find yourself having to explain your innocence under the imminent presumption of guilt.
Very UN-AUSTRALIAN, ................ Nazi really ?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ok. So truth is often stranger than fiction and in this case it seems that fiction can now become truth. I always have difficulty when new laws and regulations are brought in that place the onus on innocent members of the general community, the consumers if you will, to ascertain that an illegality has not taken place in the past at some time in association with a product they may purchase.
Bligh has put her hand up as usual claiming the kudos for this little gem which in effect could go as far as making orders against community members who have purchased items in good faith from sources like garage sales, flea markets , swap meets and even "ebay" where it is unlikely that genuine proof of ownership will be provided for any item on display or advertised for sale.
It is hard to imagine where the brain cells of the person who dreamed this idea up have spent their time, to actually believe that making ordinary consumers, out to stretch the tiny amount of money the government leaves of what you earn each week for a few needs or even luxuries, into money launderers for completing a simple act of buying an item.
It is obvious that the police have once again put up their hand and said we can't catch alledged criminals so we'll FORCE the public to reduce the market for their illicit goods.
Ahh, but this goes even one step beyond that into the grey by a good yard or two because the item itself didn't actually have to be illegal, or bounty of illegal activity or even the proceeds of a crime , they can just be an item that may be substituted for one of the previous items before you purchased it.
Now I ask the question, how the F^%$# are ordinary people supposed to guess that??
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and Minister Assisting the Premier in Western Queensland
The Honourable Kerry Shine
07/09/2008
CRIME WILL NOT PAY SAYS BLIGH
The Premier has announced plans to toughen the State Government's ability to confiscate the proceeds of crime.
The proposed crackdown will include:
• A new power to seize a criminal's overseas property.
• A new power to substitute alternative possessions for seizure when a criminal has already disposed of tainted property.
• A new offence targeting people who recklessly handle stolen goods or cash with a maximum penalty of ten years in prison.
"Under this crackdown crime will not pay in Queensland. These laws will mean that even when the criminal thinks they got clean away with it, they haven't," said the Premier.
The Criminal Proceeds Confiscation Act governing the confiscation of proceeds of crime in Queensland was introduced in 2002.
"Over $18 million in proceeds of crime have been recovered in that time and the law is working well, but there are a number of loopholes that we now want to close," said Ms Bligh.
The Premier said that under current laws courts cannot make an order compelling a person to return property to Queensland which is held outside of the State.
"Under these new laws the Court could order a person to return money in a Swiss bank account to Queensland.
"It stops criminals taking their loot offshore and out of reach," she said.
Ms Bligh said the new laws would allow authorities to seize alternative property when a criminal has already disposed of tainted property.
"This means a criminal can actually lose their own home if the proceeds of their crime cannot be recovered," she said.
The Premier said she also welcomed a new offence of reckless money laundering for people who deal in property they should reasonably have suspected was tainted.
"We've all heard the stories of someone who got a great deal on a cheap stereo or TV sold out of the boot of a car," Ms Bligh said.
"What many people don 't think about or don't want to think about is that they have most likely paid for stolen property.
"What we want to do is make it an offence of money laundering if people are reckless on their consideration as to whether the property was tainted. This will bring us into line with a number of other Australian jurisdictions."
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Kerry Shine said current laws make it difficult for investigators to charge people with money laundering if they have purchased tainted property.
"Currently police have to prove the person buying the stolen item knew it was tainted before they can be charged," Mr Shine said
"Under the new law police would be able to charge someone with money laundering if they have been reckless in their consideration about where that property has come from."
"We're proposing the new sentence would carry a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment and I hope it will make people stop and thin k about where an item they are considering buying has come from."
Ms Bligh said the measures were designed to provide authorities with greater power to fight organised crime.
"We are determined to ensure those people involved in organised crime do not profit from it and that means taking from them assets which were acquired through their illegal activities," she said.
The proposed laws are scheduled be introduced into Parliament by December 2008.
So will we get any say on this or will it be another midnight rush through, I also wonder if anyone has alerted the people at ebay ?
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Remember Brigalow ? more info.
This is a letter to the editor, which has been modified to comply with the wishes of several editors, yet still can't get printed, some have quoted legal reasons , so I'm told, anyway I'll leave it up to you, make of it what you will and I hear there is more to this story.
Back in the 1970`s and 80`s, the then Bjelke Petersen Government took what i am sure they considered [to be]the visionary step at the time of resuming private property in the Wolfdene/Albert River catchment area, for the future construction of the proposed Wolfdene Dam, but allowed the resumed properties owners to continue residing as normal effectively as tenants, retaining only statutory title of their property, while the state government in all reality owned the same properties according to crown title common law, and were effectively the property landlords.
As we all know now, democracy prevailed, the Wolfdene dam was scrapped, and the newly elected Goss government legally inherited a lot of land in the Albert Valley area,property it continued to technically own until it recinded the purchase of the affected properties and re-instated crown 'fee simple' title on all land resumed by the National Party Government before 1989 that held statutory title only.
Coupled with other precedents set,[it seems] a giant pandoras box too irresistable for the newly elected Labor government to resist, was about to be opened. Twenty years on, there is only one common denominator pertaining to the Wolfdene legacy that displays the same analogy of Sir Joh`s distinction between the state and the crown - it is called THE CORPORATION.
THE CORPORATION, without wanting to sound ambiguous, has got a name, I know the name, but I cant tell you what it is, because then this letter probaly will not be printed.
Thats because [it seems] many a journalist has been intimidated by various means to shut their trap by persons in government and judiciary circles to not ask any questions to enquire, or provide any media coverage to the `alledged` existance of THE CORPORATION.
What the television and print media has reported on, is the reference given to the state government agencies such as the Enviromental Protection Agency and the Dept. of Natural Resources and Water as the `state corporations`.
But the million dollar question that no journalist nigh on 16 years openly it would seem has had the ticker to ask is this - Does a corporation legally enshrined within the Queensland constitution WHICH was created by LEGISLATIVE constitutional amendment exist, and is the state government itself, the state supreme court, and the citizens of the State of Queensland subordinate to its legal authority, allowing statutory law to take precedence over crown common law in instances where it would appear to have previously conflicted with the `recognised` Australian constitution.
In 1992, the Goss Government implemented in legislation the Land Titles Amendment Act, which in retrospect would appear to be policy based on the concept of the Bjelke Petersen governments endeavors to make a clear distinction between statutory and crown law in relation to freehold property ownership, as displayed by the pre-emptive purchase of land by the state government in the Albert Valley all them years ago. And oh how muddy have the waters become since then. Perhaps former premiers Goss, Borbidge, Beattie and current premier Bligh can enlighten us all further.
TIM BADRICK,
TAMBORINE. (PH. 0437043786)
NOTE; THIS IS AN AMENDED LETTER TO ONE PREVIOUSLY SUBMITTED.
Back in the 1970`s and 80`s, the then Bjelke Petersen Government took what i am sure they considered [to be]the visionary step at the time of resuming private property in the Wolfdene/Albert River catchment area, for the future construction of the proposed Wolfdene Dam, but allowed the resumed properties owners to continue residing as normal effectively as tenants, retaining only statutory title of their property, while the state government in all reality owned the same properties according to crown title common law, and were effectively the property landlords.
As we all know now, democracy prevailed, the Wolfdene dam was scrapped, and the newly elected Goss government legally inherited a lot of land in the Albert Valley area,property it continued to technically own until it recinded the purchase of the affected properties and re-instated crown 'fee simple' title on all land resumed by the National Party Government before 1989 that held statutory title only.
Coupled with other precedents set,[it seems] a giant pandoras box too irresistable for the newly elected Labor government to resist, was about to be opened. Twenty years on, there is only one common denominator pertaining to the Wolfdene legacy that displays the same analogy of Sir Joh`s distinction between the state and the crown - it is called THE CORPORATION.
THE CORPORATION, without wanting to sound ambiguous, has got a name, I know the name, but I cant tell you what it is, because then this letter probaly will not be printed.
Thats because [it seems] many a journalist has been intimidated by various means to shut their trap by persons in government and judiciary circles to not ask any questions to enquire, or provide any media coverage to the `alledged` existance of THE CORPORATION.
What the television and print media has reported on, is the reference given to the state government agencies such as the Enviromental Protection Agency and the Dept. of Natural Resources and Water as the `state corporations`.
But the million dollar question that no journalist nigh on 16 years openly it would seem has had the ticker to ask is this - Does a corporation legally enshrined within the Queensland constitution WHICH was created by LEGISLATIVE constitutional amendment exist, and is the state government itself, the state supreme court, and the citizens of the State of Queensland subordinate to its legal authority, allowing statutory law to take precedence over crown common law in instances where it would appear to have previously conflicted with the `recognised` Australian constitution.
In 1992, the Goss Government implemented in legislation the Land Titles Amendment Act, which in retrospect would appear to be policy based on the concept of the Bjelke Petersen governments endeavors to make a clear distinction between statutory and crown law in relation to freehold property ownership, as displayed by the pre-emptive purchase of land by the state government in the Albert Valley all them years ago. And oh how muddy have the waters become since then. Perhaps former premiers Goss, Borbidge, Beattie and current premier Bligh can enlighten us all further.
TIM BADRICK,
TAMBORINE. (PH. 0437043786)
NOTE; THIS IS AN AMENDED LETTER TO ONE PREVIOUSLY SUBMITTED.
I just have to try this out.
Sleeping Satellite ....by.... Tasmin Archer
This is a sublime peice of classic pop music that just send shivers down my spine, her voice is so smooth until she needs to emphasise then it hots up a little.
We must embrace technology!
Find of the century uncovered near Cloncurry
A potential clean energy basin has been discovered in one of the world's richest mineral resource regions in north-west Queensland.
Premier Bligh said the newly discovered "Millungera Basin" could hold geothermal, or hot rocks, energy potential to rival that of the Copper Basin on the South Australian border.
Geothermal energy is produced from heat generated and captured from deep inside the earth and could mean cheaper energy for Queensland households in a carbon constrained future.
The underground resource, which geologist found using cutting edge new technology, could also hold huge amounts of low emission coal seam gas.
The Premier said the discovery, about 100 kilometres east of Cloncurry, was one of the most exciting resource finds this century.
"The discovery of a new, untapped basin of this size is rare anywhere in the world," said the Premier.
"For one to be found here, in the heart of north west Queensland, is truly am azing.
"It is possible that this basin could hold clean energy sources that could provide low emissions power for the entire North West region."
The Millungera Basin is around 300 kilometres long and between forty to fifty kilometres wide. The age of the rocks could be up to 540 million years old.
Government geologists say the discovery until now was masked by a younger, thinner Carpentaria Basin where the rocks are only around 140 million years old.
The Millungera Basin was uncovered through the State Government's Smart Mining and Smart Exploration programs in collaboration with the federal government's Onshore Energy Security initiative.
New technology used in the programs meant that geologists could carry out deep seismic surveys to "see" up to sixty kilometres below the surface.
"Other rocks of this age in other basins have significant coal seam gas and water resources and the granites uncovered signal the potential for new sources of geothermal energy," said the Premier.
"A new energy source for the North West Minerals Province is important to the future development of the region. The added bonus of a potential new water source would be the icing on the cake," she added.
Mines and Energy Minister Geoff Wilson said his Department planned to conduct further surveys in the area to better define the size, shape and depth of the basin.
"There are also plans to drill a number of relatively shallow holes to measure the geothermal potential," Mr Wilson said.
"We will shortly consider which blocks of land could be released for tender for geothermal and gas exploration.
"Any significant mineral or energy resource discovered here will be of huge benefit to the North West Mineral Province and to nearby towns like Cloncurry and Julia Creek," Mr Wilson said.
Premier Bligh said the geothermal energy exploration was part of the government's focus on finding cle an energy sources for Queensland.
"One of my first actions as Premier was to establish a nation leading centre of excellence to ensure Queensland is best placed to take advantage of this emerging 'hot rocks' energy source," she said.
"Geothermal energy has the potential to generate one fifth of Australia's total electricity needs over the next 25 years without producing any carbon dioxide emissions."
Ms Bligh said she would insure the State continued to invest in a clean energy future for Queensland.
"This government has invested over $140 million in solar and geothermal energy initiatives and that level of investment in a clean energy future will continue. "
A potential clean energy basin has been discovered in one of the world's richest mineral resource regions in north-west Queensland.
Premier Bligh said the newly discovered "Millungera Basin" could hold geothermal, or hot rocks, energy potential to rival that of the Copper Basin on the South Australian border.
Geothermal energy is produced from heat generated and captured from deep inside the earth and could mean cheaper energy for Queensland households in a carbon constrained future.
The underground resource, which geologist found using cutting edge new technology, could also hold huge amounts of low emission coal seam gas.
The Premier said the discovery, about 100 kilometres east of Cloncurry, was one of the most exciting resource finds this century.
"The discovery of a new, untapped basin of this size is rare anywhere in the world," said the Premier.
"For one to be found here, in the heart of north west Queensland, is truly am azing.
"It is possible that this basin could hold clean energy sources that could provide low emissions power for the entire North West region."
The Millungera Basin is around 300 kilometres long and between forty to fifty kilometres wide. The age of the rocks could be up to 540 million years old.
Government geologists say the discovery until now was masked by a younger, thinner Carpentaria Basin where the rocks are only around 140 million years old.
The Millungera Basin was uncovered through the State Government's Smart Mining and Smart Exploration programs in collaboration with the federal government's Onshore Energy Security initiative.
New technology used in the programs meant that geologists could carry out deep seismic surveys to "see" up to sixty kilometres below the surface.
"Other rocks of this age in other basins have significant coal seam gas and water resources and the granites uncovered signal the potential for new sources of geothermal energy," said the Premier.
"A new energy source for the North West Minerals Province is important to the future development of the region. The added bonus of a potential new water source would be the icing on the cake," she added.
Mines and Energy Minister Geoff Wilson said his Department planned to conduct further surveys in the area to better define the size, shape and depth of the basin.
"There are also plans to drill a number of relatively shallow holes to measure the geothermal potential," Mr Wilson said.
"We will shortly consider which blocks of land could be released for tender for geothermal and gas exploration.
"Any significant mineral or energy resource discovered here will be of huge benefit to the North West Mineral Province and to nearby towns like Cloncurry and Julia Creek," Mr Wilson said.
Premier Bligh said the geothermal energy exploration was part of the government's focus on finding cle an energy sources for Queensland.
"One of my first actions as Premier was to establish a nation leading centre of excellence to ensure Queensland is best placed to take advantage of this emerging 'hot rocks' energy source," she said.
"Geothermal energy has the potential to generate one fifth of Australia's total electricity needs over the next 25 years without producing any carbon dioxide emissions."
Ms Bligh said she would insure the State continued to invest in a clean energy future for Queensland.
"This government has invested over $140 million in solar and geothermal energy initiatives and that level of investment in a clean energy future will continue. "
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
North Maclean enterprise precinct re-raises it's ugly head
Many of you may remember the Action group that Hagnal Ban claims to have got up to make a lot of noise about industrial plans for an area of North Maclean and how she was the funder, spokesperson, chair and everything else for that group which basicly muted almost everything they did.
Their only real objective and claimed success was having the enterprise precinct dropped from the agenda of both Council and the OUM, unfortunately under pressure from Cr Ban council agreed to release a statement designed to placate the people which said that Council had no further intrest in North Maclean as an Enterprise Precinct, . . . . . . . for now.
I have been given reliable information about the instigation of the Mount Lindesay North Beaudesert Area study and how the OUM got the information to begin with and it's a compelling story which puts the Mayor of the day and the chair of the Planning and Development committee Cr Ban as representatives squarely into the picture as the providers of that information including the North maclean area.
Back then Cr ban tried to paint another Councillor as the villan and laid the blame at his feet because of work done as a continuation of policy from the previous Council and in fact the previous Mayor, because the area there was identified for industry rather than put more residents into a proximity situation with a noxious odour from the nearby Mushroom Farm.
Once again we see Cr Ban blaming another councillor, this time Phil Pidgeon, for pressing the issue of industrial development in the North Maclean area and going to the press with a confidential item and making it public.
Cr Ban seems to have been in full support for development at Ollies Orange, and the BP as well as being in favour of further additions at the Mushroom Farm, all in North Maclean and all industrial, so what gives?
It would seem that Councillor "figjam" (Ban) wants to be seen by developers as the good guy and by residents and environmentalists as the good guy as well which is bad for both sides because no one has a councillor they can rely on.
This is poor form from Logan which has been the local authority over this area since March and seems to be flat out even getting routine slashing under control, and seems to have at least one out of control councillor trying hard to stuff up the remaining part of Beaudesert Shire as fast as possible.
Their only real objective and claimed success was having the enterprise precinct dropped from the agenda of both Council and the OUM, unfortunately under pressure from Cr Ban council agreed to release a statement designed to placate the people which said that Council had no further intrest in North Maclean as an Enterprise Precinct, . . . . . . . for now.
I have been given reliable information about the instigation of the Mount Lindesay North Beaudesert Area study and how the OUM got the information to begin with and it's a compelling story which puts the Mayor of the day and the chair of the Planning and Development committee Cr Ban as representatives squarely into the picture as the providers of that information including the North maclean area.
Back then Cr ban tried to paint another Councillor as the villan and laid the blame at his feet because of work done as a continuation of policy from the previous Council and in fact the previous Mayor, because the area there was identified for industry rather than put more residents into a proximity situation with a noxious odour from the nearby Mushroom Farm.
Once again we see Cr Ban blaming another councillor, this time Phil Pidgeon, for pressing the issue of industrial development in the North Maclean area and going to the press with a confidential item and making it public.
Cr Ban seems to have been in full support for development at Ollies Orange, and the BP as well as being in favour of further additions at the Mushroom Farm, all in North Maclean and all industrial, so what gives?
It would seem that Councillor "figjam" (Ban) wants to be seen by developers as the good guy and by residents and environmentalists as the good guy as well which is bad for both sides because no one has a councillor they can rely on.
This is poor form from Logan which has been the local authority over this area since March and seems to be flat out even getting routine slashing under control, and seems to have at least one out of control councillor trying hard to stuff up the remaining part of Beaudesert Shire as fast as possible.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Water, water, everywhere, but not at Logan Village State School
Following up on a recent letter to the editor in a local publication, which asked the question of the Council authority which we now find ourselves forced to pay our rates to regardless of our wants, needs or aspirations, not much has happened.
That letter asked the question, "when will town water be connected to that school?" because after all it has been promised by Councils now for about twelve years that i know of and in particular at every election (the last 4).
Facts, we know that for an Upgrade that is desperately needed to the business precinct in Logan Village, town water is necessary and that a new development for an over 50's accommodation lifestyle resort of over 200 dwellings will need and pay their share for that water as well and that has begun with the basic earthworks now happening.
So you have to wonder why a delegation from Logan City Council (perhaps the Mayor and an officer) visited the School and told them it was too costly and that they may have to wait up to two years.
Even the lowest of intelligent people (which is obviously how we are perceived by this new Council) would know that if two developers are footing the bill to get that water to within 500 meters of the school, it makes sense to make that connection with at least a 100mm main at the same time to actually save the ratepayers quite a bit of money.
Now I understand the developers in question have no problem with that happening and in fact are happy to help out, so what's with the Logan City Mayor and her two year wait, and is this more of the clandestine occurrences we saw last Christmas with the "Logan Village Master Plan" which was scrapped, but could so easily come back .
Lets hope not.
That letter asked the question, "when will town water be connected to that school?" because after all it has been promised by Councils now for about twelve years that i know of and in particular at every election (the last 4).
Facts, we know that for an Upgrade that is desperately needed to the business precinct in Logan Village, town water is necessary and that a new development for an over 50's accommodation lifestyle resort of over 200 dwellings will need and pay their share for that water as well and that has begun with the basic earthworks now happening.
So you have to wonder why a delegation from Logan City Council (perhaps the Mayor and an officer) visited the School and told them it was too costly and that they may have to wait up to two years.
Even the lowest of intelligent people (which is obviously how we are perceived by this new Council) would know that if two developers are footing the bill to get that water to within 500 meters of the school, it makes sense to make that connection with at least a 100mm main at the same time to actually save the ratepayers quite a bit of money.
Now I understand the developers in question have no problem with that happening and in fact are happy to help out, so what's with the Logan City Mayor and her two year wait, and is this more of the clandestine occurrences we saw last Christmas with the "Logan Village Master Plan" which was scrapped, but could so easily come back .
Lets hope not.
Friday, May 16, 2008
Rates; Valuations; and Objections.
The Minister is crowing about our usual apathy and "couldn't be bothered" or "what good will it do" attitude to making an objection to the outrageous new valuations, and quite possibly some could have been lost in the post, or eaten by dogs or something, but nevertheless, fewer people made those objections than in previous times.
So I'm guessing that my local area was a little different to the majority of the new Loagn (formerly Beaudesert)where values almost doubled and are almost at the sale price for houses on that land, which is quite amazing.
Here is some of the ministerial statement:
There is more Labor Government backslapping in that statement and I'm loathe to relate it as it is irrelevant.
So I pose the question, If you didn't make an objection, and if rates will be based on the valuation, and rates increase due to the mathematical equation worked on that value, will you be pissed off when rates increase ?
I objected, I doubt that it will make a difference, I think it is the beginning of rating us out of rural residential and the preparation of our area for the expansion of the urban footprint at sometime in the future, but I will be pissed when my rates go up, particularly when I look at Logan and see how much money seems to be wasted by that Council.
So I'm guessing that my local area was a little different to the majority of the new Loagn (formerly Beaudesert)where values almost doubled and are almost at the sale price for houses on that land, which is quite amazing.
Here is some of the ministerial statement:
A record low number of objections have been received for the 2008 round of property valuations issued by the Department of Natural Resources and Water.
Natural Resources and Water Minister Craig Wallace said his department this year issued over a million valuations in 59 local government areas in Queensland.
"From over a million valuations NRW received only 6000 objections," Mr Wallace said.
"This equates to just 0.58 per cent of valuations - a joint record low with last year when 0.57 per cent of valuations drew objections.
"It is well below the 1.63 per cent of objections received after the 2006 round."
From 1999 to 2006 the number of objections was consistently well over 1 per cent.
There is more Labor Government backslapping in that statement and I'm loathe to relate it as it is irrelevant.
So I pose the question, If you didn't make an objection, and if rates will be based on the valuation, and rates increase due to the mathematical equation worked on that value, will you be pissed off when rates increase ?
I objected, I doubt that it will make a difference, I think it is the beginning of rating us out of rural residential and the preparation of our area for the expansion of the urban footprint at sometime in the future, but I will be pissed when my rates go up, particularly when I look at Logan and see how much money seems to be wasted by that Council.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Traffic Chaos at Greenbank State School
I am reluctant to make comment because this particular topic is so political and reeks so badly of favours being done that I feel dirty broaching the subject.
The Councillor that oversees the area in which the school exists came up with this plan quite a while ago and it was published in the local papers at the time (for those of you who keep them or just clippings) and drew the ire of environmentalists , ratepayers and Taxpayers all of whom will lose if it goes ahead because the crux of it is to move the main road over into the Greenbank Military Training Camp.
First, the Greenbank Military Training Camp is a highly diverse environmental area and even though the area across from the school is used primarily for accommodation it is the tip of the ice-berg and would set a precedent for future removal of sections for other purposes.
Secondly, It is the only plan considered, and will cost millions ( It may even be cheaper to relocate the whole school) because the moving of the road will still have to link up with the existing bridge and that means there is a high probability that a short cut will add another hard corner to that section between Newbieth Road and the bridge.
Several people have made comments about the behaviour of parents and children being dropped off and picked up and this latest incident where a young boy has been mildly injured by running (reported in the local press ) out into the side of a car, is an example of this and shows that having parking and drop off areas across the road is high on the list of causative factors.
Also there seems to be a mentality that because it is children involved, the whole world has to come to a stop and allow parents total right of way to do U-turns, stop and drop whilst still on the carriageway, and stop in congested traffic to turn into car parks across the road, all of which make the problems worse.
However, all the real problems aside, (and this is where it starts to reek) it is the Councillor who is at the top of the list in my opinion, making promises and going public with a costly and inappropriate solution and even starting steering committees to have her way regardless of common sense or expense, and as usual it seems this Councillor has instigated a course of action that makes everyone else responsible for an outcome, that makes everyone else except her have to do the work and also get the blame if it doesn't work out.
The person making accusations toward The federal Member, who has been there a few months as representative appears to be a person who assisted the Councillor with her election campaign, and there can only be one reason for those public rants against this Federal Member, to put pressure on him to talk to the Federal Member in charge of the Military to have a piece of the Training Camp given to Main Roads.
Now some of the very smart people in the local district can't understand why houses on the same side of the road as the school haven't been bought when available to use for parking, (that would be too easy) and even have an entry off Newbieth Road.
So far This has come to a child being mildly injured, the publicity machine getting into gear about it and trying to lay on a guilt trip about whose fault it is, and of course another "steering committee" (probably loaded with carefully selected people to ensure the desired outcome ; removal of a section of an environmental and military area) which is a good name for this type of gathering because it usually is convened to address a particular issue and then is steered by someone to another agenda, I guess we'll see.
The Councillor that oversees the area in which the school exists came up with this plan quite a while ago and it was published in the local papers at the time (for those of you who keep them or just clippings) and drew the ire of environmentalists , ratepayers and Taxpayers all of whom will lose if it goes ahead because the crux of it is to move the main road over into the Greenbank Military Training Camp.
First, the Greenbank Military Training Camp is a highly diverse environmental area and even though the area across from the school is used primarily for accommodation it is the tip of the ice-berg and would set a precedent for future removal of sections for other purposes.
Secondly, It is the only plan considered, and will cost millions ( It may even be cheaper to relocate the whole school) because the moving of the road will still have to link up with the existing bridge and that means there is a high probability that a short cut will add another hard corner to that section between Newbieth Road and the bridge.
Several people have made comments about the behaviour of parents and children being dropped off and picked up and this latest incident where a young boy has been mildly injured by running (reported in the local press ) out into the side of a car, is an example of this and shows that having parking and drop off areas across the road is high on the list of causative factors.
Also there seems to be a mentality that because it is children involved, the whole world has to come to a stop and allow parents total right of way to do U-turns, stop and drop whilst still on the carriageway, and stop in congested traffic to turn into car parks across the road, all of which make the problems worse.
However, all the real problems aside, (and this is where it starts to reek) it is the Councillor who is at the top of the list in my opinion, making promises and going public with a costly and inappropriate solution and even starting steering committees to have her way regardless of common sense or expense, and as usual it seems this Councillor has instigated a course of action that makes everyone else responsible for an outcome, that makes everyone else except her have to do the work and also get the blame if it doesn't work out.
The person making accusations toward The federal Member, who has been there a few months as representative appears to be a person who assisted the Councillor with her election campaign, and there can only be one reason for those public rants against this Federal Member, to put pressure on him to talk to the Federal Member in charge of the Military to have a piece of the Training Camp given to Main Roads.
Now some of the very smart people in the local district can't understand why houses on the same side of the road as the school haven't been bought when available to use for parking, (that would be too easy) and even have an entry off Newbieth Road.
So far This has come to a child being mildly injured, the publicity machine getting into gear about it and trying to lay on a guilt trip about whose fault it is, and of course another "steering committee" (probably loaded with carefully selected people to ensure the desired outcome ; removal of a section of an environmental and military area) which is a good name for this type of gathering because it usually is convened to address a particular issue and then is steered by someone to another agenda, I guess we'll see.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
The Agenda Behind 2020
As usual the local Brisbane News didn't have anything in it's coverage of the 2020 summits, but praise for the magnificence of the ideas from Australia's finest and brightest minds, never questioning the how, when, where or why such a programme was called for from the general community.
The Cartoon in one paper said a lot though, it depicted Rudd at the rostrum with a popular and respected Australian female actor standing along side and the words below said something like, By 2020 no Australian child won't know who Kate Blanchet is, very funny stuff and it was interesting to see the live TV coverage because the number of actors and musicians present was noticeable amongst the participants.
The top ideas came as no surprise to me though and were simply Labor agenda items and the follow up of previously unused Labor policy, the majority of which was about the next five years rather than, as the name of this forum quotes, looking at ideas over ten years away in 2020.
While we are still running the same old Labor ground of selling off public assets, this time public ownership in our Airports, to create money for needed public infrastructure, read Hospitals, the great ideas forum brought the rabbits out of the hats in the form of the Republic issue, The Tax reform agenda, much harsher business regulation and some big spending on other infrastructure
While it is inevitable that Australia will become a Republic, you could question the timing of spending so much money on something that should be done in prosperous times, rather than taking money from the public purse that the majority of Australians would prefer to see spent of the Health situation, fixing some of the problems of State governments that haven't increased health spending to keep it up with population increases for over 10 years, and education, roads, water and other infrastructure are in pretty much the same condition, and that is needing some large injections of money, first.
All things aside, others can call it initiative from the Rudd Government, but a large number of people are in two minds about this process, one school of thought says this Government doesn't have a clue and is trying to get a handle on what the community wants as quickly as they can and a second mindset is that this will replace going to the people on a lot of issues and give the Government some kind of mandate to do certain things they want to.
So, who's taking a book on how long it will be before the reintroduction of Death Duties in this country?
The Cartoon in one paper said a lot though, it depicted Rudd at the rostrum with a popular and respected Australian female actor standing along side and the words below said something like, By 2020 no Australian child won't know who Kate Blanchet is, very funny stuff and it was interesting to see the live TV coverage because the number of actors and musicians present was noticeable amongst the participants.
The top ideas came as no surprise to me though and were simply Labor agenda items and the follow up of previously unused Labor policy, the majority of which was about the next five years rather than, as the name of this forum quotes, looking at ideas over ten years away in 2020.
While we are still running the same old Labor ground of selling off public assets, this time public ownership in our Airports, to create money for needed public infrastructure, read Hospitals, the great ideas forum brought the rabbits out of the hats in the form of the Republic issue, The Tax reform agenda, much harsher business regulation and some big spending on other infrastructure
While it is inevitable that Australia will become a Republic, you could question the timing of spending so much money on something that should be done in prosperous times, rather than taking money from the public purse that the majority of Australians would prefer to see spent of the Health situation, fixing some of the problems of State governments that haven't increased health spending to keep it up with population increases for over 10 years, and education, roads, water and other infrastructure are in pretty much the same condition, and that is needing some large injections of money, first.
All things aside, others can call it initiative from the Rudd Government, but a large number of people are in two minds about this process, one school of thought says this Government doesn't have a clue and is trying to get a handle on what the community wants as quickly as they can and a second mindset is that this will replace going to the people on a lot of issues and give the Government some kind of mandate to do certain things they want to.
So, who's taking a book on how long it will be before the reintroduction of Death Duties in this country?
Sunday, April 13, 2008
What is the "Brigalow Corporation"?
A simple explanation is that the "Brigalow Corporation" is the Government Corporation.
The Queensland Government has changed the wording in so many little parts of so much of the Queensland Constitution that they are effectively not a Governing body, more so it seems they are a business corporation.
It also seems that they refer to the business of governing the land of the people of Queensland the "Brigalow Corporation" under which all Land in the State has been removed from our ownership, and it also seems that it has been used as collateral for this corporation.
What?
On Thursday October 3rd 2007, the High Court of Australia made rulings over residential and rural land that effectively removes all land ownership from the people of Queensland, and into the hands of the State.
The Court ruling that "fee simple" and "common law" are no longer recognised in Queensland seems to mean we are no longer part of the commonwealth and no longer have ownership or say in our own land and that Queensland is a separate entity and can just make up its own laws.
OK so how does that come about ?
When you purchase land, freehold, the transaction of exchanging Money for Land is described as "Fee Simple" and gives you the total right to call yourself the owner because the Crown has deeded that land to you when you paid for it without any other interference from Government.
But now, that the crown has been removed from the constitution and the governor is just another public servant appointed by the premier and the wording of the Queensland constitution doesn't acknowledge either the crown or "Fee Simple" and title is given by the State not the crown and isn't even backed up by a document with seal (title deed) just an electronic print out, you may have lost the right to freedom of use on your freehold land from now on.
As a person who has possessed a couple of genuine title deeds I can say they are quite informative and impressive and they are meant to be so, because the ownership of Land was always something to be valued highly and the mark of a man and even a reflection of his status, it will be a sad day when all goes back to the State.
The Queensland Government has changed the wording in so many little parts of so much of the Queensland Constitution that they are effectively not a Governing body, more so it seems they are a business corporation.
It also seems that they refer to the business of governing the land of the people of Queensland the "Brigalow Corporation" under which all Land in the State has been removed from our ownership, and it also seems that it has been used as collateral for this corporation.
What?
On Thursday October 3rd 2007, the High Court of Australia made rulings over residential and rural land that effectively removes all land ownership from the people of Queensland, and into the hands of the State.
The Court ruling that "fee simple" and "common law" are no longer recognised in Queensland seems to mean we are no longer part of the commonwealth and no longer have ownership or say in our own land and that Queensland is a separate entity and can just make up its own laws.
OK so how does that come about ?
When you purchase land, freehold, the transaction of exchanging Money for Land is described as "Fee Simple" and gives you the total right to call yourself the owner because the Crown has deeded that land to you when you paid for it without any other interference from Government.
But now, that the crown has been removed from the constitution and the governor is just another public servant appointed by the premier and the wording of the Queensland constitution doesn't acknowledge either the crown or "Fee Simple" and title is given by the State not the crown and isn't even backed up by a document with seal (title deed) just an electronic print out, you may have lost the right to freedom of use on your freehold land from now on.
As a person who has possessed a couple of genuine title deeds I can say they are quite informative and impressive and they are meant to be so, because the ownership of Land was always something to be valued highly and the mark of a man and even a reflection of his status, it will be a sad day when all goes back to the State.
So a new Governor for Queensland, but who?
With the announcement that KRudd has called up his old Queensland mate for service to the Country and by that I mean that the Queensland Governor Ms Quentin Bryce will become the first woman Governor General of Australia, there will be a vacancy for the position here in Queensland.
If anyone doubts the "Jobs for the Boys" appointments that have gone on in the last few years aren't just serendipity and that the right person has always been chosen in the appropriate manor based on their qualifications and merits then don't hold your breath waiting to see who gets the role of Queensland Governor.
It seems that the Governor's position has been eroded lately anyway, at least since the 2001 amendments to the Queensland constitution which sees the role taken from being one of representing the Crown to being not much more than one of being a public secretary who conducts business under the premier, the corporate head of the State.
That means, I would Guess, that it seems the Governor can't sack the members of parliament in Queensland but, . . . . . the Governor can be sacked by them.
So who's taking bets on a certain ex Premier coming home to be Governor of Queensland ?
If anyone doubts the "Jobs for the Boys" appointments that have gone on in the last few years aren't just serendipity and that the right person has always been chosen in the appropriate manor based on their qualifications and merits then don't hold your breath waiting to see who gets the role of Queensland Governor.
It seems that the Governor's position has been eroded lately anyway, at least since the 2001 amendments to the Queensland constitution which sees the role taken from being one of representing the Crown to being not much more than one of being a public secretary who conducts business under the premier, the corporate head of the State.
That means, I would Guess, that it seems the Governor can't sack the members of parliament in Queensland but, . . . . . the Governor can be sacked by them.
So who's taking bets on a certain ex Premier coming home to be Governor of Queensland ?
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
ULDA Affordable Housing ? I don't think so!
The Premier Ms Bligh, made a statement yesterday that made the news that should fill all large landholders with trepidation because the new Urban Land Development Authority sites have nothing at all to do with affordability in my mind and that means you have to question what the actual purpose of the ULDA really is.
The two sites, at Bowen Hills and Northshore Hamilton are large enough to house more than 30,000 people and are 108 hectare at Bowen Hills and Northshore Hamilton is a 304 hectare site and the two sites are located very close to Brisbane CBD and transport.
I guess the questions begin at this point, don't they? and as usual many of the answers are not being made public, like how much will a developer ( of the ULDA's choice )pay for each site and How much will people pay for blocks of land because both these areas are already very expensive and in particular the riverfront land at Hamilton.
So we'd have to say that the only affordable housing available will possibly be a one bed apartment in a medium/high rise block.
You have to wonder if this is going to be typical of the ULDA where Land is going to be given to a developer to create million dollar average suburbs on the river or close to the city and investors will probably snap up everything that is reasonable in price to rent out.
Keep your eye on this one.
The two sites, at Bowen Hills and Northshore Hamilton are large enough to house more than 30,000 people and are 108 hectare at Bowen Hills and Northshore Hamilton is a 304 hectare site and the two sites are located very close to Brisbane CBD and transport.
I guess the questions begin at this point, don't they? and as usual many of the answers are not being made public, like how much will a developer ( of the ULDA's choice )pay for each site and How much will people pay for blocks of land because both these areas are already very expensive and in particular the riverfront land at Hamilton.
So we'd have to say that the only affordable housing available will possibly be a one bed apartment in a medium/high rise block.
You have to wonder if this is going to be typical of the ULDA where Land is going to be given to a developer to create million dollar average suburbs on the river or close to the city and investors will probably snap up everything that is reasonable in price to rent out.
Keep your eye on this one.
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