Many introduction agencies have morals lower than a snake's duodenum when it comes to ethical behaviour.
The Minister for Tourism and Fair Trading Peter Lawlor has issued this warning against a Gold Coast-based agency:
Minister for Tourism and Fair Trading
The Honourable Peter Lawlor
29/12/2009
No love from these introduction agents
The operator of a Gold Coast introduction agency has been ordered back to court following allegations that she is defying an earlier ban which restrained her from providing introduction services to Queensland residents.
Minister for Fair Trading Peter Lawlor said Helen Dimitrijevski, the alleged operator of Love Network Queensland Pty Ltd, was today (27 December 2009) served with court documents in relation to action commenced by both Queensland and New South Wales Fair Trading agencies.
The Queensland proceedings allege contempt of court.
In 2003 Helen Dimitrijevski, her husband Zivko Dimitrijevski and TLC Consulting Services Pty Ltd were ordered to cease providing introduction services to Queensland residents by the Queensland Supreme Court.
The New South Wales Office of Fair Trading has also filed proceedings in the New South Wales Supreme Court against Helen Dimitrijevski, Zivko Dimitrijevski and Hollie Veall in relation to TLC Consulting Services Pty Ltd which had been operating as an introduction agency in Tweed Heads, NSW since being banned from providing introduction services in Queensland.
December 29, 2009
December 13, 2009
Irish Gypsies back in Queensland with old consumer ripoff
The Irish Gypsies are back ripping off individuals and businesses with their well-practised bitumen scam.
They have targeted Ipswich in the past and were last reported on Brisbane's southside.
Ipswich residents - particularly those in the eastern suburbs - should be on the lookout for these swindlers.
Last time, one businessman at Lower Cross Street Goodna was swindled out of thousands of dollars over a dodgy bitumen job.
The Irish Gypsies laid white sand over the top of their sub-standard work, telling the small business owner the sand was needed to "cure" the bitumen.
Only when the sand washed away a few days later, did the extent of the wafer thin coating of bitumen become obvious.
The Minister for Tourism and Fair Trading has issued the following warning against these dodgy characters:
Minister for Tourism and Fair Trading
The Honourable Peter Lawlor
13/12/2009
Dodgy bitumen trader alert for Brisbane southside area
Fair Trading Minister Peter Lawlor today warned residents around Eight Mile Plains and Acacia Ridge to beware of dodgy bitumen traders targeting the area.
Mr Lawlor said the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) had received information of residents being approached by a group of men offering to lay hot mix driveways.
"The group consists of a male with a strong Irish accent and four or five males who are the labourers," Mr Lawlor said.
"They have approached people saying they have left over bitumen from their last job.
"They do the driveway job and give a price on completion. The work is sub-standard and cash is usually always demanded."
Mr Lawlor said one Acacia Ridge resident who agreed to the work was sprung with a $5,000 bill.
"No upfront quote was given so the resident was alarmed at the cost and also intimidated by the group of men, who demanded their money," he said.
"Another resident in Eight Mile Plains paid $9,000."
Mr Lawlor said anyone approached by the men should try and get their vehicle registration details and advise the OFT immediately on 13 13 04.
He said these particular traders had been previously spotted in the Bayside area and that they may be operating in surrounding suburbs or regions now.
Under the Fair Trading Act 1989, door-to-door sales of any goods or service of more than $75 must come with a 10 day cooling off period and payment cannot be made until after then.
Buyers should get two forms - one explaining the cooling off period and one which can be used to cancel the contract if so desired.
"Door-to-door traders must produce an identity card with the dealer's full name and address," Mr Lawlor said.
"They are only allowed to contact customers between 9am and 6pm from Monday to Friday, and 9am and 5pm on Saturdays.
"Fines of up to $54,000 apply to individuals and $270,000 to companies for breaches of the Fair Trading Act."
Report any scams or suspicious offers to the Office of Fair Trading at www.fairtrading.qld.gov.au or call 13 13 04
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They have targeted Ipswich in the past and were last reported on Brisbane's southside.
Ipswich residents - particularly those in the eastern suburbs - should be on the lookout for these swindlers.
Last time, one businessman at Lower Cross Street Goodna was swindled out of thousands of dollars over a dodgy bitumen job.
The Irish Gypsies laid white sand over the top of their sub-standard work, telling the small business owner the sand was needed to "cure" the bitumen.
Only when the sand washed away a few days later, did the extent of the wafer thin coating of bitumen become obvious.
The Minister for Tourism and Fair Trading has issued the following warning against these dodgy characters:
Minister for Tourism and Fair Trading
The Honourable Peter Lawlor
13/12/2009
Dodgy bitumen trader alert for Brisbane southside area
Fair Trading Minister Peter Lawlor today warned residents around Eight Mile Plains and Acacia Ridge to beware of dodgy bitumen traders targeting the area.
Mr Lawlor said the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) had received information of residents being approached by a group of men offering to lay hot mix driveways.
"The group consists of a male with a strong Irish accent and four or five males who are the labourers," Mr Lawlor said.
"They have approached people saying they have left over bitumen from their last job.
"They do the driveway job and give a price on completion. The work is sub-standard and cash is usually always demanded."
Mr Lawlor said one Acacia Ridge resident who agreed to the work was sprung with a $5,000 bill.
"No upfront quote was given so the resident was alarmed at the cost and also intimidated by the group of men, who demanded their money," he said.
"Another resident in Eight Mile Plains paid $9,000."
Mr Lawlor said anyone approached by the men should try and get their vehicle registration details and advise the OFT immediately on 13 13 04.
He said these particular traders had been previously spotted in the Bayside area and that they may be operating in surrounding suburbs or regions now.
Under the Fair Trading Act 1989, door-to-door sales of any goods or service of more than $75 must come with a 10 day cooling off period and payment cannot be made until after then.
Buyers should get two forms - one explaining the cooling off period and one which can be used to cancel the contract if so desired.
"Door-to-door traders must produce an identity card with the dealer's full name and address," Mr Lawlor said.
"They are only allowed to contact customers between 9am and 6pm from Monday to Friday, and 9am and 5pm on Saturdays.
"Fines of up to $54,000 apply to individuals and $270,000 to companies for breaches of the Fair Trading Act."
Report any scams or suspicious offers to the Office of Fair Trading at www.fairtrading.qld.gov.au or call 13 13 04
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December 06, 2009
New internet scam hits Australia
With millions of dollars being ripped from the pockets of Australian internet users every year, the email scams are becoming simpler but still deadly effective.
The scams seem innocent enough with the simple advice in the latest scam that the recipient has won 750,000 Great Britain Pounds.
I then asks only for the person's Name, Age and Country.
All pretty innocent until the final sting when they ask for your bank account details supposedly to deposit the winnings into.
Within minutes, your bank account is stripped of all its funds.
This can happen to hundreds of internet users at a time as the result of just one worldwide email.
Be warned and warn your friends, especially those new to the internet.
This is the full text of the latest scam email:
From: Irish News Centre
You won 750,000 GBP.
Send: Name, Age, Country
.........................................................
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The scams seem innocent enough with the simple advice in the latest scam that the recipient has won 750,000 Great Britain Pounds.
I then asks only for the person's Name, Age and Country.
All pretty innocent until the final sting when they ask for your bank account details supposedly to deposit the winnings into.
Within minutes, your bank account is stripped of all its funds.
This can happen to hundreds of internet users at a time as the result of just one worldwide email.
Be warned and warn your friends, especially those new to the internet.
This is the full text of the latest scam email:
From: Irish News Centre
You won 750,000 GBP.
Send: Name, Age, Country
.........................................................
PAUL TULLY: PaulGTully@gmail.com
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December 05, 2009
Latest internet scam hits Australia overnight
The latest internet scam to hit Australia is offering
£750,000 UK to unsuspecting internet users who pass on their personal details.
Be warned and warn your friends.
The Australian Government should use it anti-spam powers to stop these emails flooding Australia which are financially destructive to many trusting Australian families.
This is a copy of the latest scam email:
FROM: Official Notice
You are awarded 750,000.00 Pounds by the British Toyota Promotion, Provide your *Full Names: *Address: *Occupation
Name
Address
Occupation
.........................................................
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£750,000 UK to unsuspecting internet users who pass on their personal details.
Be warned and warn your friends.
The Australian Government should use it anti-spam powers to stop these emails flooding Australia which are financially destructive to many trusting Australian families.
This is a copy of the latest scam email:
FROM: Official Notice
You are awarded 750,000.00 Pounds by the British Toyota Promotion, Provide your *Full Names: *Address: *Occupation
Name
Address
Occupation
.........................................................
PAUL TULLY: PaulGTully@gmail.com
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November 21, 2009
A Mighty Angry Australian Fast Food Bunfight!
Just when everyone has had a total gutful of McDonald's Mighty Angus Burgers, Hungry Jack's has weighed into the Australian beef bunfight with its own Angry Angus Burger.
No one in Australia could tell the difference between one of McDonald's traditional fatty patties or their overpriced, not-so-fancy Angus beef patties which have been raking in untold profits for the company's headquarters in the United States.
Only a dill - or Clive Palmer with money to burn - would fork out for a McDonald's Mighty Angus Mighty Ordinary Burger.
The sooner Australian punters boycott these slick and not-so-special promotions the better.
But not to be outdone by Maccas, Hungry Jack's has now launched its very own Angry Angus Burger.
But the Angry Angus also fails the taste test with the meat patty being totally indistinguishable from Hungry Jack's normal fatty fare.
Too little, too late by HJs.
But there is one other problem for the marketing gurus at Hungry Jack's.
The average customer would feel like a complete dill ordering an "Angry Angus".
Whichever fresh-faced marketing graduate came up with such an idiotic name should be given the Royal Order of the Boot by Hungry Jack's.
What will their overcharging marketeers think of next:
- Demented Fish and Chips
- Pathetic Pepperoni Pizza; or what about
- Maniac Meat Pie.
The sooner the Mighty Angus and Angry Angus hit the dustbins of disgust the better.
Give me a Cheeseburger or Aussie Burger any day.
On second thoughts, I'll give both of them a big miss cos I'm Mighty Angry with all this crap.
PS - Today, I heard one poor bugger at Hungry Jacks ordering an Angry Anus. I suppose that's a bit better than ordering a Mighty Anus from McDonald's!
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November 20, 2009
Tasmanian Police raise the spectre of Joh's Gestapo in Queensland
arrested by Tasmanian
Police for exercising his
democratic rights
The heavy handed, authoritarian arrest in Hobart of Australia's most-beloved television gardening commentator Peter Cundall shows the depths to which the Tasmanian Police have sunk in the name of democracy.
82 year old Peter Cundall was taking part in a peaceful, anti-pulp mill environmental protest when he was given a direction to move on outside Parliament House - a worldwide police tactic used to quash legitimate dissent.
Within seconds, police pounced and arrested the quietly spoken octogenarian, hauling him off like a common criminal.
Old Joh Bjelke-Petersen -the eccentric anti-democratic, anti-civil libertarian Premier of Queensland from 1968 - 1988 - would have been rattling in his grave with excitement over Peter Cundall's summary arrest.
The cop involved in yesterday's incident -which has made headlines across the nation - should be quietly shipped off to Port Arthur or King Island for a few months to contemplate his navel and to consider whether or not his actions were truly necessary to preserve democracy and public safety in the Apple Isle.
What the cop did was probably "legal" but was it a sensible and appropriate exercise of a police officer's extensive powers in the circumstances?
The Tasmanian Government should erect signs outside the Hobart Airport reading:
"Welcome to Tasmania - where dissent is quashed and old folk are sent to the slammer before they die".
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PAUL TULLY: PaulGTully@gmail.com
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Do you have a GPS or Mobile Phone?
THIS WARNING HAS JUST BEEN RECEIVED FROM THE UNITED STATES:
A couple of weeks ago a friend told me that someone she knew had their car broken into while they were at a football game.
Their car was parked on the green which was adjacent to the football stadium and specially allotted to football fans.
Things stolen from the car included a garage door remote control, some money and a GPS which had been prominently mounted on the dashboard.
When the victims got home, they found that their house had been ransacked and just about everything worth anything had been stolen.
The thieves had used the GPS to guide them to the house.
They then used the garage remote control to open the garage door and gain entry to the house.
The thieves knew the owners were at the football game, they knew what time the game was scheduled to finish and so they knew how much time they had to clean out the house.
It would appear that they had brought a truck to empty the house of its contents.
Something to consider if you have a GPS - don't put your home address in it.
Put a nearby address (like a store or gas station) so you can still find your way home if you need to, but no one else would know where you live if your GPS were stolen.
MOBILE PHONES
I never thought of this.......
This lady has now changed her habit of how she lists her names on her mobile phone after her handbag was stolen.
Her handbag, which contained her cell phone, credit card, wallet etc was stolen.
20 minutes later when she called her hubby, from a pay phone telling him what had happened, hubby says 'I received your text asking about our Pin number and I've replied a little while ago.
'When they rushed down to the bank, the bank staff told them all the money was already withdrawn.
The thief had actually used the stolen cell phone to text 'hubby' in the contact list and got hold of the pin number.
Within 20 minutes he had withdrawn all the money from their bank account.
Moral of the lesson:
Do not disclose the relationship between you and the people in your contact list.
Avoid using names like Home, Honey, Hubby, Sweetheart, Dad,Mom, etc....
And very importantly, when sensitive info is being asked through texts, CONFIRM by calling back.
Also, when you're being text by friends or family to meet them somewhere, be sure to call back to confirm that the message came from them.
If you don't reach them, be very careful about going places to meet 'family and friends' who text you.
*PLEASE PASS THIS ON*
I never thought about the above!
As of now, I no longer have 'home' listed on my cell phone.
.........................................................
PAUL TULLY: PaulGTully@gmail.com
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November 19, 2009
Brisbane's Black and White Cabs are a national disgrace
When Black and White cab driver John Busst of suburban Annerley in Brisbane offered "good old fashioned service" to his customers, what did the clowns running the B & W company do?
They sacked him!
B & W cabs already have a poor reputation for customer service in Brisbane, now they have banned an honest driver in a totally un-Australian way.
Despite the bleatings of B & W boss Greg Webb that John Busst is a "rogue driver", the public will never see it that way.
It is incredible that in this day and age, someone could be sacked for being an honest, hard-working individual.
Shame on B & W cabs.
Brisbane commuters should vote with their feet and boycott this un-Australian cab company.
.........................................................
PAUL TULLY: PaulGTully@gmail.com
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November 08, 2009
Woolworths marketing gurus should go back to school!
Surely their marketing brains trust knows the difference between "affected" and "effected".
Bloody hopeless!
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PAUL TULLY: PaulGTully@gmail.com
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October 25, 2009
Channel 9 gives Queensland viewers second class service
It is absurd that the result of the game was broadcast on Brisbane radio stations an hour before the delayed telecast finished.
It's bad enough to have to endure Channel 7's delayed telecast of the Australian Tennis Open from Melbourne every year.
Now, Rugby League has succumbed to this second rate service.
Maybe, Pay TV is really the answer to this problem despite the current campaign by the free-to-air networks to stop any inroads by pay television into their traditional territory.
Viewers would prefer to pay for live coverage of big events than a less-than-live offering by the networks.
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October 10, 2009
GOODNA: Police move in on bikies at the Royal Mail Hotel
If this is what the police are doing BEFORE the anti-bikie laws become law in Queensland, perhaps we really do need a Federal Bill of Rights.
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October 07, 2009
Howard as head of the NRL? You've got to be joking.
Fair dinkum.
Just when the buffoons running the National Rugby League are trying to get over another terrible year, they hatch a devious plot to resurrect John Howard as the boss of the NRL.
Little Johnny may have some skills, but running the major football code in Australia doesn't seem to be one of them.
David Gallop should give the game away if this is the best he can do to revitalise this national icon.
Prime Minister Howard was booed off every football oval he attended in Australia and you don't have to be Einstein to figure out the same would happen if he became the NRL boss.
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September 30, 2009
Channel 9 annoys and deceives viewers across Australia
Channel 9 advertised all night a special 10.00pm Late News edition on today's devastating Samoan tsunami.
With Samoans, Tongans and other Pacific Islanders around Australia waiting on news of their loved ones, what did Channel 9 do?
It allowed the idiotic escapades of PluckA Duck and other clueless imbeciles to run over by a disgraceful 25 minutes.
This is an appalling gaffe by Channel 9 which has lost the goodwill of thousands of Australian viewers with relatives in the South Pacific.
These people deserve a massive apology from the Nine Network of Australia.
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PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au
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September 24, 2009
Office of Fair Trading secures $23,000 fine against unlicensed motor dealer Michael James Harradine
The Queensland Office of Fair Trading has successfully prosecuted Doolandella man Michael James Harradine for selling motor vehicles without a licence.
Mr Harradine's licence was cancelled 4 years ago.
Members of the public are being warned by the Minister for Tourism and Fair Trading Peter Lawlor about this character.
Hopefully, Harradine has learnt his well-deserved lesson the hard way.
This is the full text of today's media release by the Minister:
Minister for Tourism and Fair Trading
The Honourable Peter Lawlor
24/09/2009
Doolandella man fined $23,000
A Doolandella man has been fined a total of $23,000 after pleading guilty to selling motor vehicles without a licence.
Michael James Harradine appeared in the Richlands Magistrates Court on the 14th September and pleaded guilty to one charge of unlicensed motor dealing and five charges of making false and misleading representations from an address at Doolandella and one charge of unlicensed motor dealing from an address in Toowoomba.
Minister for Fair Trading Peter Lawlor said the charges were a result of an investigation by Office of Fair Trading officers.
"Mr Harradine's motor dealers' licence had been cancelled in 2005," Mr Lawlor said.
"However, when OFT officers attended his home in Doolandella they found he had several vehicles at his residence for sale," he said.
"These vehicles were advertised in newspapers and on the internet as being for sale.
"In addition, Mr Harradine gave false information to the purchasers about the background of the vehicles he was selling.
"The misleading information included that the vehicles had been owned by various relatives of Mr Harradine and that he had personally worked on one of the vehicles as a mechanic.
"Mr Harradine told investigators he told fibs or stretched the truth when telling people details about the vehicles.
"OFT officers also identified that Mr Harradine was operating out of business address in Toowoomba dealing in used motorcycles.
"The Property Agents and Motor Dealers Act is in place to protect consumers against unscrupulous people who operate outside the law.
"Mr Harradine received a significant fine for these offences which is indicative of how seriously these types of offences are viewed.
"Consumers should be able to have confidence that they are working with a licensed motor dealer and that details about the vehicle they are interested in purchasing are correct."
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PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au
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September 21, 2009
Benjamin Wayne Gough - Manager Harcourts Bundaberg features on Today Tonight
Today Tonight ran a story this evening over the actions of Ben Gough in buying and selling a property on the same day at a substantial profit.
He claims he was acting legally and ethically.
That's not what the sellers think.
What does the Queensland State Manager of Harcourts think?
Have you had any dealings with Ben Gough?
Let us know at: Queensland Consumer Watch@gmail.com
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September 16, 2009
James Hardie declared Australia's most disgraceful company
Media Release from Ipswich City Councillor Paul Tully
- James Hardie declared Australia's most disgraceful company after revealing plans to sue Queensland Council -
James Hardie has been declared Australia's most-disgraceful company after it was revealed it is suing Ipswich City Council to recover $195,000 the company paid to a former worker who was exposed to asbestos from the company's products.
In a bizarre twist to last year's successful legal claim against the company by a former council worker for exposure to asbestos, the company is now suing to recover the money from the Ipswich Council.
The worker - Anthony Cannon - was employed by Ipswich City Council for six weeks in 1976.
James Hardie settled the action but is now attempting to recover its payout to the worker.
Ipswich City Councillor Paul Tully, a 30-year veteran of local government, has blasted James Hardie claiming it is the "most-disgraceful, penny-pinching company in Australia".
Cr Tully said the company's latest tactic of trying to shift the legal blame from themselves to individual users of their asbestos products was a "national disgrace".
"This company has destroyed workers' lives across Australia and is now trying to find a scapegoat for the numerous legal actions which it has unsuccessfully defended.
"This company has been proven to have been grossly negligent with its asbestos products and is now attempting to pass the buck.
"Why should ratepayers have to fork out their money to pay for James Hardie's negligence.
"Local government will stand up to this company and fight these absurd claims."
Cr Tully called on the new directors of James Hardie to drop its legal action in the Queensland District Court as a sign of good faith that it finally accepts its responsibility to Australia's asbestosis sufferers.
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- James Hardie declared Australia's most disgraceful company after revealing plans to sue Queensland Council -
James Hardie has been declared Australia's most-disgraceful company after it was revealed it is suing Ipswich City Council to recover $195,000 the company paid to a former worker who was exposed to asbestos from the company's products.
In a bizarre twist to last year's successful legal claim against the company by a former council worker for exposure to asbestos, the company is now suing to recover the money from the Ipswich Council.
The worker - Anthony Cannon - was employed by Ipswich City Council for six weeks in 1976.
James Hardie settled the action but is now attempting to recover its payout to the worker.
Ipswich City Councillor Paul Tully, a 30-year veteran of local government, has blasted James Hardie claiming it is the "most-disgraceful, penny-pinching company in Australia".
Cr Tully said the company's latest tactic of trying to shift the legal blame from themselves to individual users of their asbestos products was a "national disgrace".
"This company has destroyed workers' lives across Australia and is now trying to find a scapegoat for the numerous legal actions which it has unsuccessfully defended.
"This company has been proven to have been grossly negligent with its asbestos products and is now attempting to pass the buck.
"Why should ratepayers have to fork out their money to pay for James Hardie's negligence.
"Local government will stand up to this company and fight these absurd claims."
Cr Tully called on the new directors of James Hardie to drop its legal action in the Queensland District Court as a sign of good faith that it finally accepts its responsibility to Australia's asbestosis sufferers.
PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au
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September 12, 2009
New Internet scam hits Australia overnight
Another bizarre internet scam has hit Australia overnight.
This one is different from the usual ripoffs in which people are offered untold riches ranging from lottery winnings to deceased estates.
This one demands payment of a non-existent debt from unsuspecting internet users, under threat of legal action.
It even lists PayPal as a means of payment to get the lawyers off your back.
The Australian Government has the legal means to stop these sorts of bogus emails entering Australia.
The government requires ISPs to have filters to stop porn and terrorism but not fraudulent emails which can have a massive financial effect on unsuspecting families.
Be warned - and warn your friends.
This is a copy of the latest scam:
From: rieth, luciano
Subject: Overdue Notice
NDC DEBT COLLECTIONS INC.
ACCT #: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
AMOUNT: 0.00
INTEREST: 0.00
RATE: 0.00
FEES: 0.00
TOTAL DUE: $99.83 (WILL SETTLE FOR THIS AMOUNT)
PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT WE HAVE BEEN RETAINED TO COLLECT THIS DEBT FROM OUR CLIENT.
WE HAVE ATTEMPTED TO NOTIFY YOU ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS REGARDING THIS DELINQUENT ACCOUNT.
WE THOUGHT IT BEST TO STATE OUR INTENTIONS AND MAKE IT CLEAR THAT WE INTEND TO COLLECT THIS DEBT USING ALL AVAILABLE MEANS AT OUR DISPOSAL.
UNLESS WE RECEIVE PAYMENT FROM YOU, WE WILL ASSUME THAT YOU HAVE NO INTENTIONS OF LIQUIDATING THIS DEBT VOLUNTARILY.
WE WILL ADVISE OUR CLIENT THAT THEY MAY WISH TO FILE SUIT TO RECOVER THIS DEBT. PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT IF LEGAL ACTION IS UNDERTAKEN, IT COULD BE COSTLY AND TIME CONSUMING.
IF ONE SHOULD LOSE IN SUCH AN ACTION, ONE COULD ALSO BE SUBJECT TO COURT COSTS AND/OR ATTORNEY FEES, IF APPLICABLE.
THERE ARE VARIOUS AVENUES WHICH COULD BE USED TO SATISFY SUCH A JUDGEMENT.
THIS COULD INCLUDE GARNISHMENT OF WAGES, SEIZURE OF BANK ACCOUNTS OR OTHER PERSONAL PROPERTY.
IT IS NOT OUR INTENTION TO THREATEN YOU BUT TO POINT OUT THE PROBLEMS AND COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH REFUSING TO PAY A DEBT.
WE HOPE THAT NO FURTHER ACTION WILL BE NECESSARY AND YOU WILL AGREE TO OUR AMICABLE PAYMENT ARRANGEMENT.
PLEASE: TO ENSURE PROPER CREDIT, REMIT PAYMENT IMMEDIATELY.
FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE WE MAY BE ABLE TO ACCEPT PAYMENT ON THIS ACCOUNT IN THE FOLLOWING METHOD:
PAYPAL(VISA, MASTERCARD, AMERICAN EXPRESS, DISCOVER, OR ECHECK).
PLEASE FOLLOW THIS LINK TO MAKE YOUR PAYMENT:
https://www.paypal.com/cgi- bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=8140548
THIS COMMUNICATION IS FROM A DEBT COLLECTOR.
UNLESS YOU NOTIFY THIS OFFICE WITHIN 30 DAYS AFTER RECEIVING THIS NOTICE THAT YOU DISPUTE THE VALIDITY OF THE DEBT OR ANY PORTION THEREOF, THIS OFFICE WILL ASSUME THIS DEBT IS VALID.
IF YOU NOTIFY THIS OFFICE IN WRITING WITHIN 30 DAYS FROM RECEIVING THIS NOTICE, THIS OFFICE WILL OBTAIN VERIFICATION OF THE DEBT AND MAIL A COPY TO YOU OF SUCH VERIFICATION.
IF YOU REQUEST IN WRITING WITHIN 30 DAYS AFTER RECEIVING THIS NOTICE, THIS OFFICE WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH THE NAME AND ADDRESS OF THE ORIGINAL CREDITOR, IF DIFFERENT FROM THE CURRENT CREDITOR.
THIS IS AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT A DEBT.
ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED SOLELY FOR THAT PURPOSE.
...........................
PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au
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September 08, 2009
Senator Fielding is a dill!
He is taking home a king's ransom each year as a Family First Senator for Victoria.
He was challenged by the media in Canberra today to spell "fiscal" and he came up with "f-i-s-k-a-l".
This wasn't just a simple spelling mistake by Senator Fielding - the hapless senator simply doesn't have a clue about the fundamentals of the Queen's English.
Senator Fielding is regularly voting on important laws and policy issues but today's effort shows he is not up to the task.
Maybe it's time for him to shape up or ship out of the Senate.
PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au
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August 29, 2009
CMC enquiry is politically-motivated by failed Liberal leader Dr "Do Little" Flegg
The CMC enquiry into State Government sports funding should dig deeper than a cursory look at the percentage of funding going into Labor electorates.
There is a very logical and rational reason for this - Labor electorates need the funding because of more than 30 years of National-Liberal governments in Queensland which systematically siphoned money into conservative electorates at the expense of Labor electorates.
The current government is simply ensuring that the limited funding is targeted into the areas of most need.
And despite the political protestations of the toffee-nosed Tories of Kenmore, the magnificent ovals and complex adjacent to Cubberla Creek are something the battlers in many parts of Queensland can only dream of.
The Member for Moggill Bruce Flegg seems to have woken from his winter hibernation like a half-euthanised Canadian bear.
But his dreary utterances on this issue are nothing more than a political beat-up by Dr Do Little who should self-diagnose himself into a much-needed permanent political retirement.
PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au
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August 28, 2009
Gold Coast Council snaps over Snapper Rocks Memorials
(Courtesy QTQ Channel 9)
Gold Coast CIty Council must have had a brain implosion when it removed family plaques installed on the beach at Snapper Rocks.
With no community consultation, heartless bureaucrats removed the plaques erected by family members in memory of loved ones lost in the sea.
If local government is supposedly the level of government closest to the people, the Gold Coast City Council makes its supposed concerns for the people look like a cross between democracy in Communist China and Soviet Russia.
Shame, shame, shame!
PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au
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August 23, 2009
Fake email scam warning
A fake email has hit Australia overnight.
This is an outrageous scam offering over 4 million British pounds to unsuspecting claimants.
Be warned and warn your friends.
This is a copy of the latest scam:
From: Arshad Iftikhar, Mr
Subject: Contact me via my private e-mail: accepted.offer@9.cn
Good day,
My name is Mr. Arshad Iftikhar, I work with Euro Lottery here in UK as the operations manager who generate weekly winning numbers.
I wish to offer you an opportunity to become one of our lottery winners with a cash prize of £4,528,000 GBP only if you would agree to give me 35% of your cash prize.
Just as a brief, due to my position in the company I can make it happen that you would be a winner of the above stated amount in our Euro Million Lotto Program.
Naturally, every body would like to play a lottery if they are assured of winning and I am assuring you today, I can make you a winner if you would accept this offer/condition.
I expect you don't take this for granted because this is once in a life time opportunity as we both stand to collectively gain from this at the success of the transaction.
Please contact me immediately through my private email: accepted.offer@9.cn
Regards,
..............................................................
PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au
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This is an outrageous scam offering over 4 million British pounds to unsuspecting claimants.
Be warned and warn your friends.
This is a copy of the latest scam:
From: Arshad Iftikhar, Mr
Subject: Contact me via my private e-mail: accepted.offer@9.cn
Good day,
My name is Mr. Arshad Iftikhar, I work with Euro Lottery here in UK as the operations manager who generate weekly winning numbers.
I wish to offer you an opportunity to become one of our lottery winners with a cash prize of £4,528,000 GBP only if you would agree to give me 35% of your cash prize.
Just as a brief, due to my position in the company I can make it happen that you would be a winner of the above stated amount in our Euro Million Lotto Program.
Naturally, every body would like to play a lottery if they are assured of winning and I am assuring you today, I can make you a winner if you would accept this offer/condition.
I expect you don't take this for granted because this is once in a life time opportunity as we both stand to collectively gain from this at the success of the transaction.
Please contact me immediately through my private email: accepted.offer@9.cn
Regards,
..............................................................
PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au
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August 20, 2009
US Court forces Google to name blogger
In a world first, a New York judge has ruled that Google must reveal the name of a blogger who posted defamatory remarks about model Liskula Cohen.
Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Joan Madden has ordered Google to release the blogger's name to Ms Cohen so she can commence defamation proceedings against the secret writer.
Bloggers and twitterers be warned: The secret society of the internet has abruptly ended with this landmark judgment.
PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au
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August 16, 2009
International Internet scams are becoming more sophisticated!
Warning to local internet users.
Gold, Gold, Gold.
What could be more-inducing than an offer of untold golden riches.
This scam offers cheap gold dust but is nothing more than complete bull dust.
This scam looks innocent enough with no upfront demand for name, date of birth or bank account details.
But as sure as night follows day, the request for personal information will come later - with disastrous financial consequences for anyone sucked into this scam.
Be warned - trash this scam immediately.
This is a copy of the latest poorly-worded email scam:
From: keita, modibo
Subject: Gold proposal
SOFART GOLD SARL
Dear sir,
My Name Is Mr. Modibo keita A Native Of Sanso Community In Morila-Sikasso Region Of Rep. Of Mali French Speaking West African Country.
I Am a Member of the Said Community and Head of Sales, Marketing, advertising, communication and sourcing agent for our Gold Dust AU.
Prior To The Latest Privilege Accorded Local Gold Miners In Mali Since April 2007 To Market And Sell Gold Dust Au Themselves, Thus My Offer To All Gold Dust Prospective Buyers Willing To Establish Meaningful Business Transaction That Is Viable And Durable with us.
We Are Trying to Explore the Gold Dust Au International Market Now a days.
Hence, I'm offering you a Fresh Gold Dust AU for Sale with the Following Specifications
Commodity...................... ...........Aurum Utalium (Au)Form........................... ...............Gold Dust/nugget PowderQuantity....................... ..............120kg and As Per Availability AlwaysQuality/Purity................. ..............22+CaratFiness......................... ................92% or betterLocation....................... ............... MaliOrigin......................... .................MaliPrice per Kg................................$16, 000 USD/KG (Negotiable)
In Future We Also Wish To Invest The Returns We Have from Gold Dust Au Sales In other Lucrative Businesses, thus, we might seek your advice if possible.
We welcome all inquiries about details and procedures.
Accept our Warm Regards,
modibokeitaforgold@gmail.com+223 733 222 01
Mr. Modibo Mali
............................................
PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au
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August 14, 2009
Fake email warning as new scam hits Australia
There is a new twist in fake emails hitting Australian computers.
This time the scammers have claimed an association with Google to bolster their bogus £500,000 GBP offer to unsuspecting internet users.
The Australian Government has the power to control the inflow of these sorts of emails into Australia.
If they can legally halt serious pornography and terrorism on the internet, they should be taking action to halt these consumer scams which are financially destroying many unsuspecting Australian families.
Be warned about this latest scam. Warn your family and friends and trash this trash.
This is a copy of the latest email scam which hit Australia overnight:
From: admin@lines.dk
Subject: Google Online Promotions
Dear e-mail user,
Your e-mail has emerged as a winner of £500,000.00 GBP (Five hundred thousand British Pounds) in our on-going Google Promotion.
Your Winning details are as follows: Computer Generated Profile Numbers (CGPN):7-22-71-00-66-12, Ticket number: 00869575733664, Serial numbers: BTD/8070447706/06, Lucky numbers: 12-12-23-35-40-41(12).
Contact Mr Graham Benfield, for more details through the contact below:
Mr Graham Benfield,
Email: promo.online.winners@gmail.com
Sincerely,
Mrs. Sherry William.
PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au
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This time the scammers have claimed an association with Google to bolster their bogus £500,000 GBP offer to unsuspecting internet users.
The Australian Government has the power to control the inflow of these sorts of emails into Australia.
If they can legally halt serious pornography and terrorism on the internet, they should be taking action to halt these consumer scams which are financially destroying many unsuspecting Australian families.
Be warned about this latest scam. Warn your family and friends and trash this trash.
This is a copy of the latest email scam which hit Australia overnight:
From: admin@lines.dk
Subject: Google Online Promotions
Dear e-mail user,
Your e-mail has emerged as a winner of £500,000.00 GBP (Five hundred thousand British Pounds) in our on-going Google Promotion.
Your Winning details are as follows: Computer Generated Profile Numbers (CGPN):7-22-71-00-66-12, Ticket number: 00869575733664, Serial numbers: BTD/8070447706/06, Lucky numbers: 12-12-23-35-40-41(12).
Contact Mr Graham Benfield, for more details through the contact below:
Mr Graham Benfield,
Email: promo.online.winners@gmail.com
Sincerely,
Mrs. Sherry William.
PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au
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August 13, 2009
KFC's 11 Secret Herbs and Spices Cracked!
(Courtesy ACA)
Celebrity Australian chef Peter Russell-Clarke has finally cracked KFC's 50-year old secret recipe of the 11 secret herbs.
Ten of the mysterious ingredients are found in almost every Australian kitchen.
Number 11 is the dreaded MSG, Peter Russell-Clarke says.
According to an official Russell-Clarke taste test, his concoction is exactly the same as the KFC original.
Colonel Harland Sanders would turn in his grave.
Is nothing sacred or secret anymore?
PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au
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August 10, 2009
Media Release: Heart patient falls asleep at wheel on busy highway after chemist wrongly dispenses sleeping tablets
Media Release from Queensland Consumer Watch
- Call for State Government crackdown on chemists after near accident on Ipswich Motorway when heart patient wrongly given sleeping tablets -
- Call for State Government crackdown on chemists after near accident on Ipswich Motorway when heart patient wrongly given sleeping tablets -
A state government investigation is underway into an incident on the Ipswich Motorway when a driver fell asleep at the wheel of his car after mistakenly being given sleeping tablets instead of heart tablets by his local chemist.
The Redbank man had been wrongly taking the sleeping tablets for 5 days before the mistake was discovered.
He pulled over at the Goodna exit during the peak hour rush after nodding off on the 100,000 vehicles a day motorway.
The driver later confronted the chemist and has lodged an official complaint with the Pharmacists Board which is investigating the incident.
Queensland Consumer Watch spokesman Paul Tully has called for a crackdown on chemists dispensing wrong prescriptions.
He said the case highlighted the need for chemists to take more care in dealing with the public.
"The average consumer wouldn't know the fancy names being used by pharmaceutical companies and could easily be confused if given the wrong medication.
"This incident could have resulted in a major tragedy on the Ipswich Motorway as a direct result of professional incompetence.
"Pharmacists are university trained professionals who should never get this sort of thing wrong.
"The State Government must act firmly over this potentially-deadly incident to ensure it never happens again," Paul Tully said.
............................................
ORIGINAL EMAIL COMPLAINT:
(Personal details have been omitted by Queensland Consumer Watch.)
Copy of this email addressed to and faxed to:
Pharmacists Board of Queensland at Office of Health Practitioner Registration Board
To whom it may concern.
Last week I presented at my local Chemist, (name deleted), and requested Minax (Metoporol) tablets via a script supplied by Dr (name deleted).
I have been taking Minax, one tab twice a day for heart condition. The script was processed by (name deleted), the Chemist owner of the Pharmacy and on my arrival home I removed the bottle from the pharmacy packet and noticed that it was different to normal Minax.
The bottle was the same white plastic with a blue safety-lock lid and the label attached by the Chemist indicated "Metoporol" with Minax shown under but in smaller print and with the instructions to take one tablet twice a day.
The difference that I noted was that instead of the usual bland Minax original label on the bottle, the original label on this bottle was a bright purple/red label showing 'PROZAM or PRAZAM'.
It was quite noticeable and fortunately not covered over by the Chemists add-on label described above.
I noticed the different label but thought it must have been a generic brand of Minax. (My usual Avapro blood pressure tables have recently been supplied as Karvea, a generic alternative) and not knowing otherwise I believed that the Prozam was a generic brand of Minax/Metoporol. And as stated,the Chemists label indicated Metoporol/minax.
I have no qualms about using or being supplied with a generic alternative.
On the weekend I commenced to use the new bottle as the previous bottle had run out.
I noted that the tablets in the new bottle were red/orange in colour and I again assumed they were a generic substitute and continued to take one tab morning and night.
I did not get alarmed for the first few days but felt lethargic and as soon as I relaxed, tried to read the paper or watch TV, my eyes became heavy and I had a feeling of tiredness and nodding off.
I went to work, Redbank to St. Lucia Mon & Tues and felt very tired and weary, especially driving home and not responding easily to my early morning alarm wake up.
On Wed. I went by train to Wickham Terrace for a periodical ENT Specialist checkup.
I could barely stay awake on the train both ways and whilst at the Drs waiting room I kept nodding off.
Throughout that day I felt slightly squeamish in the stomach, but only slight and it did not concern me.
That Wed. night I fell asleep whilst watching TV, something I have never done before. I gave thought to the way I had been feeling and believed that I may have been getting a flu/virus or whatever.
On Thurs 6.8.09 morning I fell asleep again after the alarm and was a good hour late for work and now cannot recall my drive to work.
Again, lethargic all day and may as well have not been at work. By the time I got onto the Ipswich Motorway on the drive home I felt very tired and should not have driven and at present with the new work there is nowhere to stop safely. I turned off into the Goodna egress lane and stopped and walked around the vehicle and pondered my state of well-being.
I decided to check with the Chemist if the 'generic' tablets could be the cause, if not I would see my GP as to whether I had a flue/virus/whatever.
I got to the Chemist and spoke to (name deleted) and then retrieved the bottle which she identified as sleeping tablets and not Minax.
She was most apologetic and stated that she did not know how she made such a mistake ALTHOUGH there is a PROMINENT difference in the original labels of Minax and Prozam/Prazam.
I am now aghast at the mistake and implications, especially as I had been driving.
Luckily I deduced that I was not my normal self and sought advice. Other people or older people could have kept using the tablets until the bottle was empty or an accident/incident occurred.
I will now not leave a Chemist until I have thoroughly checked or queried every item.
One puts considerable trust in professionals such as Chemists.
I now hope that the relevant Authorities could take action to have original labels altered to show what the tablet/medicine is for in simple layman terms. MINAX with "For heart condition" or "heart treatment" shown under MINAX and PROZAM with "Sleeping tablet" or "Sedative tablet" under or next to PROZAM and etc right across the broad range of drugs/medicines/tablets.
Not knowing where to start, I have forwarded this information to the various addresses in the hope that the recipients can help towards amending or clarifying such anomalies that could be disastrous and to ensure that Chemists take better care.
I do not believe that proper care was taken by the Chemist when my script was dispensed.
If necessary this letter could be shortened to: Patient believed sleeping tablets dispensed and labelled by a Chemist for heart condition treatment, to be a generic brand in lieu of the normal heart treatment tablet, until uncharacteristic tiredness caused the patient to ask questions.
A simple addition to the label showing what the medicine is for in simple terms would reduce mistaken use.
(Name deleted)
Redbank
..........................................
PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au
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August 09, 2009
More internet scams hit Australia
This is the latest internet scam flooding Australia.
Be warned and warn your friends.
............................................
From: kadioued2009@voila.fr
Subject: Mrs Kadi Ouedraogo Donation!
Dear friend,
Greeting in the name of our lord Jesus Christ.
I am Mrs.Kadi Ouedraogo, a widow to late Adama Ouedraogo.
I am 52 years old, a new Christian convert, suffering from long time pancreatic cancer.
From all indication, my condition is really deteriorating and it is quite obvious that I won't live more than six months according to my doctors.
This is because the cancer has gotten to a very bad stage.
My late husband was killed during the Cote'd Ivoire civil war, and during the period of our marriage we couldn't produce any child.
My late husband was very wealthy and after his death, I inherited all his business and wealth.
The doctors has advised me that I may not live more than six months so I now decided to divide the part this wealth, to contribute to the development of the less privileged ones around the globe.
I selected you after visiting the Internet and I prayed over it.
I am willing to donate the sum of 5,000,000 US dollars, to help, widow and they less privileged ones in the rural areas.
Please I want to note that this fund is lying in a state owned bank.
I honestly pray that this money, when transferred will be used for the said purpose because I have come to find out that wealth acquisition without Christ is vanity.
May the grace of our lord Jesus the love of God and the fellowship of the holy sprite be with you and your family.
I await your urgent reply.
Mrs. Kadi Ouedraogo
............................................
PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au
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Be warned and warn your friends.
............................................
From: kadioued2009@voila.fr
Subject: Mrs Kadi Ouedraogo Donation!
Dear friend,
Greeting in the name of our lord Jesus Christ.
I am Mrs.Kadi Ouedraogo, a widow to late Adama Ouedraogo.
I am 52 years old, a new Christian convert, suffering from long time pancreatic cancer.
From all indication, my condition is really deteriorating and it is quite obvious that I won't live more than six months according to my doctors.
This is because the cancer has gotten to a very bad stage.
My late husband was killed during the Cote'd Ivoire civil war, and during the period of our marriage we couldn't produce any child.
My late husband was very wealthy and after his death, I inherited all his business and wealth.
The doctors has advised me that I may not live more than six months so I now decided to divide the part this wealth, to contribute to the development of the less privileged ones around the globe.
I selected you after visiting the Internet and I prayed over it.
I am willing to donate the sum of 5,000,000 US dollars, to help, widow and they less privileged ones in the rural areas.
Please I want to note that this fund is lying in a state owned bank.
I honestly pray that this money, when transferred will be used for the said purpose because I have come to find out that wealth acquisition without Christ is vanity.
May the grace of our lord Jesus the love of God and the fellowship of the holy sprite be with you and your family.
I await your urgent reply.
Mrs. Kadi Ouedraogo
............................................
PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au
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July 28, 2009
Sea World and Movie World are a disgrace to Queensland
Sea World and Movie World have blotted Queensland's copybook as visitor-friendly destinations with their ban on patrons bringing their own food into their grounds.
What could be more un-Australian than having security guards rifling through people's bags searching for cut sandwiches, biscuits or fruit.
With the crackerjack admission and food prices charged by these two theme parks, no wonder parents are forced to bring their own lunches to save a few dollars just so their kids can enjoy the entertainment provided.
This is truly appalling what these two outlets have done.
Imagine being greeted on arrival by security guards determined to prevent one morsel of contraband food passing through the turnstiles of Sea World or Movie World.
Local consumers and international visitors should vote with their feet and boycott these venues which have destroyed the fun of a day out at Queensland theme park.
PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au
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What could be more un-Australian than having security guards rifling through people's bags searching for cut sandwiches, biscuits or fruit.
With the crackerjack admission and food prices charged by these two theme parks, no wonder parents are forced to bring their own lunches to save a few dollars just so their kids can enjoy the entertainment provided.
This is truly appalling what these two outlets have done.
Imagine being greeted on arrival by security guards determined to prevent one morsel of contraband food passing through the turnstiles of Sea World or Movie World.
Local consumers and international visitors should vote with their feet and boycott these venues which have destroyed the fun of a day out at Queensland theme park.
PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au
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Queensland Liquor Licensing turns the law into an ass!
The law is an ass - thanks to the buffoons running Queensland Liquor Licensing.
On the one hand, they are moving quite sensibly to ban glass liquor containers in hot spots including venues which provide entertainment, or have a history of violent incidents or trade past 3am.
But the apparently unbending 3am rule will force the Qantas Club and the Chairman's Lounge at the Brisbane Airport to serve all liquor in flimsy plastic cups.
This is bureaucracy gone mad.
Airline travellers pay hundreds of dollars a year for the privilege of using the relatively-civilised facilities of the Qantas Club.
Now, businessmen and women will be treated no differently from beer-swilling yobbos looking for a fight who frequent Brisbane's nightclubs and dingy bars.
When was the last time anyone saw a punch-up or glassing incident at the Qantas Club?
This latest edict by Liquor Licensing against the Qantas Club shows how out of touch they are with reality.
They should be targetting the genuinely high-risk venues not respectable establishments like the Brisbane Qantas Club.
Because of this ill-thought decision, Kevin Rudd will be the only Government leader in the world who will have to drink his wine from a plastic cup when he passes through the Chairman's Lounge of his local airport.
Think again Liquor Licensing.
PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au
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On the one hand, they are moving quite sensibly to ban glass liquor containers in hot spots including venues which provide entertainment, or have a history of violent incidents or trade past 3am.
But the apparently unbending 3am rule will force the Qantas Club and the Chairman's Lounge at the Brisbane Airport to serve all liquor in flimsy plastic cups.
This is bureaucracy gone mad.
Airline travellers pay hundreds of dollars a year for the privilege of using the relatively-civilised facilities of the Qantas Club.
Now, businessmen and women will be treated no differently from beer-swilling yobbos looking for a fight who frequent Brisbane's nightclubs and dingy bars.
When was the last time anyone saw a punch-up or glassing incident at the Qantas Club?
This latest edict by Liquor Licensing against the Qantas Club shows how out of touch they are with reality.
They should be targetting the genuinely high-risk venues not respectable establishments like the Brisbane Qantas Club.
Because of this ill-thought decision, Kevin Rudd will be the only Government leader in the world who will have to drink his wine from a plastic cup when he passes through the Chairman's Lounge of his local airport.
Think again Liquor Licensing.
PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au
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July 27, 2009
Support for lowering Australia's voting age to 16
The Australian newspaper reports today the Federal Government is considering lowering the voting age to 16.
Some of the individual states in the US are already considering, or implementing, a lower voting age.
The voting age was last changed across Australia 35 years ago as it became obvious that younger, more-mature individuals had the capacity to take on the responsibilities of adulthood prior to the age of 21.
I first advocated reducing the voting age to 16 almost 20 years ago and again promoted the idea in March 2008.
Modern sixteen year olds have the commonsense, maturity and interest in community issues to justify a reduction in the voting age to 16.
The only real question is:
How soon will it happen?
PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au
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July 26, 2009
Australia Post announcement
PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au
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July 24, 2009
JB HI-FI upsets customers by skirting around the Trade Practices Act
Its latest catalogue proudly proclaims on page 2 that customers can get a free Wii Sports Resort by trading in "2 Wii games"*.
That's right. There's a tiny asterisk which takes you to te bottom of the page in even tinier print - which almost needs a magnifying glass to read - which has a list of rules and requirements and at the end it states:
"Some exclusions may apply, for a detailed list go to www.jbhifi.com.au/games/tradeins"
That's fair enough. There must always be some exceptions or exclusions to offers which seem too good to be true because they usually are!
One parent - a long-time large spending JB HI-FI customer - who thought he was doing the right thing this week by his Wii-fanatic son made a 34km round trip into JB HI-FI's Riverlink store in Ipswich to take advantage of the advertised offer.
He was flatly refused because the 2 exchange Wii games were not in their original packaging!
The young boy was in tears thanks to this insidious and deceptive advertising.
This was hardly classifiable in a legal sense as simply an "exclusion". It was apparently a fundamental requirement of the offer to obtain the free Wii device and should have been clearly and specifically mentioned in the body of the actual advertisement.
This is a new derivative of the old "bait and switch" advertising technique in the 1970s - hook 'em in and try to flog them something else when the original offer is unavailable or wrapped up in a myriad of impossible conditions.
So what does the JB HI-FI website say about the conditions of trade?
Again, in tiny tiny print, customers are told they must provide the original case and manual.
There is nothing about this in the main glossy advertisement which has been used to deliberately suck customers into JB HI-FI stores.
It seems the main trade-in requirement has been deliberately left out to induce customers to come to a store to be told the bad news.
The ACCC needs to crack down on this sort of trickery.
Customers who travel in good faith over long distances are being duped by these fine print exclusion clauses.
JB HI-FI has a legal and moral duty to comply with section 52 of the Trade Practices Act 1974 which outlaws "misleading or deceptive" conduct in trade or commerce.
The ACCC must take legal action against these unscrupulous practices which are constantly conning Australian consumers.
PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au
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July 23, 2009
Media Release: Government taxi plan backed as Ipswich ripoffs revealed
State Government plans to crack down on rogue taxi operators have been welcomed by Queensland Consumer Watch.
They come in the wake of allegations by an Ipswich taxi driver whistle blower that one of his colleagues charged a woman an extra fee - because she was overweight.
Other allegations revealed in today's Queensland Times include:
• An illegal $10 surcharge on public holidays.
• Passengers being forced to pay for the air-conditioning to be turned on or to use the taxi's GPS system.
Consumer Watch spokesman said another reported incident involved a taxi driver who refused to leave his cab to open a gate for a blind passenger.
"These incidents are appalling and the drivers involved should be booted out of the industry.
"The government should crack down hard on these rogue operators.
"Taxi users should report any incidents to the Transport Department," Paul Tully said.
PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au
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They come in the wake of allegations by an Ipswich taxi driver whistle blower that one of his colleagues charged a woman an extra fee - because she was overweight.
Other allegations revealed in today's Queensland Times include:
• An illegal $10 surcharge on public holidays.
• Passengers being forced to pay for the air-conditioning to be turned on or to use the taxi's GPS system.
Consumer Watch spokesman said another reported incident involved a taxi driver who refused to leave his cab to open a gate for a blind passenger.
"These incidents are appalling and the drivers involved should be booted out of the industry.
"The government should crack down hard on these rogue operators.
"Taxi users should report any incidents to the Transport Department," Paul Tully said.
PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au
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July 22, 2009
Queensland Police Union says things are not too bad in the Sunshine State!
The Police Union says there's only 25 corrupt cops who have been identified in the "Dangerous Liaisons" Report released by the CMC today.
Memo to the Queensland Police Union:
"25 IS 25 TOO MANY".
PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au
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Queensland Government moves to clean up taxi industry
The Queensland Transport Minister Rachel Nolan has announced a crackdown on shonky, ill-trained taxi drivers.
This is one of the best moves in a long time by any Government to weed out unacceptable practices in the taxi industry.
This is the full text of the Minister's Media Release:
Minister for Transport
The Honourable Rachel Nolan
22/07/2009
MYSTERY SHOPPERS TO TEST TAXI PROGRESS
A team of "mystery shoppers" will help monitor customer experience under a reform package to Queensland's taxi industry announced by Transport Minister Rachel Nolan today.
Ms Nolan said the mystery shoppers would assist in creating a feedback loop which would provide valuable insight into the ongoing progress of the proposed changes.
"The two highest profile changes are the creation of a minimum age for taxi drivers of 20 years old and the requirement to have been driving in Australia for at least 12 months," Ms Nolan said.
"The mystery shopper will allow us to monitor the effectiveness of these and other changes within the package and to get some first-hand customer experience.
"Ms Nolan said she had been greatly disappointed to hear that some cabbies have been targeted for abuse and marginalisation recently but it had only made her more determined to deliver on her promise to reform the industry.
"Let me be very clear in my message to those people who might have a racial motivation in their criticism of cab drivers and cab companies in recent months - we are only concerned with improving customer service standards and safety standards.
"By setting a high but consistent bar across the industry, I am saying to the taxi passengers that the State Government supports their expectation of a high quality service.
"By restoring community confidence in the authorisation of taxi drivers, I aim to protect foreign drivers from some of the unfair criticism that have been levelled against them."
Ms Nolan said that reforms in the taxi industry were one of the first commitments she made when she become Transport Minister in March this year.
"Concerns were raised with the taxi industry and, from the outset, I made a commitment to listening to all parts of the industry - not just the owners and industry bodies but the customers and drivers themselves," Ms Nolan said.
Ms Nolan said the shake-up of the taxi industry followed several months of investigating concerns from taxi industry representatives and members of the public about a lowering of driver and industry standards.
"I instigated a Taxi Hotline earlier this year to take community feedback on the industry to determine if changes were needed and in which areas," Ms Nolan said.
"The complaints from the Hotline have focused on a lack of appropriate taxi driver training, pre-requisite driver licence history and local knowledge as well as taxi industry service standards in general.
"The reforms I'm announcing today will address each of these areas and have a real and lasting impact on our State's taxi industry."
Minister Nolan has also confirmed that the Taxi Hotline will continue until the end of the year and quarterly surveys will be conducted to continue to gather community feedback to guide future compliance priorities.
"Furthermore, we're taking these reforms directly to the road as well, introducing a mobile taxi compliance unit," Ms Nolan said.
"This unit of dedicated taxi compliance officers will have vehicles out on the roads targeting taxis and their drivers, creating a more visible compliance presence.
"By implementing this range of initiatives, Queenslanders can look forward to a rejuvenated taxi industry and a safe, reliable and comfortable journey whenever they take a cab."
Reform package:
Driver Authority Eligibility Criteria
• Introduce a mandatory eligibility requirement for an applicant for a driver authorisation (taxi) to have held an Australian issued driver licence for at least one year.
• Introduce a minimum age requirement for applicants for a driver authorisation (taxi) of 20 years.
• Introduce a requirement for an applicant for a driver authorisation (taxi) to have undertaken an English proficiency assessment using the International Second Language Proficiency Rating (ISLPR) provided by an accredited ISLPR assessor.
National Training Standards
• Queensland introduce the national training framework and core taxi driver training competencies developed through the Transport and Logistics Industry Skills Council (once approved by the Australian Transport Council).
• Introduce a requirement that the Department of Transport and Main Roads will only recognise taxi driver training provided by a Registered Training Organisation (RTO).
• Queensland requests that the National Taxi Regulators' Group commence a second phase training framework project to develop a national position on refresher training to complement the national training package.
If there is limited support at a national level for this project, Queensland will examine this issue independently with the taxi industry.
Industry Compliance
• Introduce targeted taxi compliance unit in Queensland.
• Gather information about community perceptions of taxi standards to guide future compliance priorities by:
continued monitoring of the taxi complaints hotline until 1 January 2010;
mystery shopper feedback;
Quarterly Neilson survey data.
Industry Engagement
• Establish a Taxi Industry Advisory Committee to guide the development and delivery of the taxi Industry Strategic Plan and provide advice to government on key issues for the taxi industry.
...........................................
PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au
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July 21, 2009
Ipswich claims World Lamington Record
Tully from St Augustine's
College at Augustine Heights
in Ipswich about to savour
the delights of the world's
largest lamington.
It's official.
Ipswich has won the title for the largest lamington in the world.
The monster lamington weighed in this morning at the Ipswich Turf Club at a whopping 1.32 tonnes, eclipsing the previous one tonne record set in Melbourne in 2005.
The super-sized lamington is equivalent to 20,894 standard lamingtons.
The giant lamington, named after Lord Lamington Governor of Queensland from 1896 to 1901, was made from 230 litres of water, 200 litres of eggs, 535 kg of sponge mix, plus 68kg of desiccated coconut, 75kg of jam, and 150 kg of chocolate lamington mix.
The unveiling of the lamington was witnessed by Lord Lamington's great grandchildren Alex Scrimgeour and Belinda Leigh who had travelled from the UK for the event.
Celebrity chef Ipswich Councillor Paul Tully said the gigantic lamington was a work of art which had taken three days to prepare.
"This record will be difficult to break given the culinary dexterity needed to put this giant lamington together," Cr Tully said.
The creator of the Australian icon Lord Lamington once described them as "those bloody poofy woolly biscuits".
PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au
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July 14, 2009
Great Australian Petrol Ripoff continues
the great Australian
petrol ripoff!
The ACCC does nothing.
Joe Dimasi, the Petrol Commissioner does nothing.
It might need People Power - similar to that which has occurred in New Zealand - to bring the rapacious oil companies to heel!
PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au
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Are the NSW Cockroaches tough enough to run the gauntlet of Caxton St?
The Maroons are reinstating the traditional Caxton Street bus ride to Suncorp Stadium in the pre-match build-up to tomorrow night's State of Origin.
What's the bet that the Cockroaches won't be doing the same?
If they did, they'd be lucky to make it past the old Police Barracks on Petrie Terrace.
No, you can be sure the Cockies will sneak through the usual back blocks and dingy alleyways of suburban Brisbane to get to the Cauldron for their third successive defeat this year.
PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au
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New scam hits Australia's Internet users today
This is the latest scam hitting Australia.
Be warned and warn your friends:
Reply to: You are a winner of two million in the free lottery.
From: Brisson, Mr. Gerald
Contact for claim below Mr. Gerald Brisson,
Email: freelottclaims@w.cn
Name
Address
Age
Occupation
Country
..........................
PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au
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Swiss lottery scam hits Australia
A fresh internet scam has hit Australia overnight.
It's another blatant ripoff of Aussie battlers which should be stopped by the Federal Government exercising its powers over Internet Service Providers.
This is the latest scam email:
ce.0381771u@ac-grenoble.fr
Swiss programme
SWISS ON-LINE LOTTERY
P O Box 1010 Liverpool,
L70 1NL UNITED KINGDOM
We are pleased to inform you that your e-mail address
has won the Year Swiss On-line Lottery.
Therefore you have
been approved for a lump sum payout ( £750,000.00 )
Seven Hundred and Fifty Thousand Pounds Sterling.
The online cyber lotto
draws was conducted from an exclusive list of 21,000 email addresses of individual and corporate bodies picked by an advanced automated random computer search from the internet, no tickets were sold.
After this automated
computer ballot, your e-mail ID emerged as one of the
winners in the 3rd category.
You are therefore been approve to lump sum of £750,000.00(GBP).
To file and claim your winning, please contact our Fiduciary Agent for the processing of your winning particulars, with the
following information's below.
United Kingdom Lottery Fiduciary Contact Person:
Mr. Darrell Scholes
E-mail address: darrell_scholes014@yahoo.com
Tel: +447035986795
Provide him with the information below:
1.Full Name:..................................
2.Full Address:.............................
3.Status:.......................................
4.Occupation:................................
5.Age:...........................................
6.Sex:...........................................
7.Country:.....................................
8.Tel.Number:................................
9.Country Of Residence....................
Congratulations once more from all members
and staff of this program.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Dana Grey
2009 Lottery Winner
...............................
PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au
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It's another blatant ripoff of Aussie battlers which should be stopped by the Federal Government exercising its powers over Internet Service Providers.
This is the latest scam email:
ce.0381771u@ac-grenoble.fr
Swiss programme
SWISS ON-LINE LOTTERY
P O Box 1010 Liverpool,
L70 1NL UNITED KINGDOM
We are pleased to inform you that your e-mail address
has won the Year Swiss On-line Lottery.
Therefore you have
been approved for a lump sum payout ( £750,000.00 )
Seven Hundred and Fifty Thousand Pounds Sterling.
The online cyber lotto
draws was conducted from an exclusive list of 21,000 email addresses of individual and corporate bodies picked by an advanced automated random computer search from the internet, no tickets were sold.
After this automated
computer ballot, your e-mail ID emerged as one of the
winners in the 3rd category.
You are therefore been approve to lump sum of £750,000.00(GBP).
To file and claim your winning, please contact our Fiduciary Agent for the processing of your winning particulars, with the
following information's below.
United Kingdom Lottery Fiduciary Contact Person:
Mr. Darrell Scholes
E-mail address: darrell_scholes014@yahoo.com
Tel: +447035986795
Provide him with the information below:
1.Full Name:..................................
2.Full Address:.............................
3.Status:.......................................
4.Occupation:................................
5.Age:...........................................
6.Sex:...........................................
7.Country:.....................................
8.Tel.Number:................................
9.Country Of Residence....................
Congratulations once more from all members
and staff of this program.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Dana Grey
2009 Lottery Winner
...............................
PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au
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July 12, 2009
Federal Member's views on divorce bordering on insanity
A totally hare-brained plan by Federal Liberal MP Tony Abbott to re-introduce "fault-in-marrage" divorces would set Australia back more than 30 years.
Up until the Family Law Act 1975, divorces could be granted for one partner's dereliction of marital responsibilities including adultery, cruelty and desertion
What we had was private investigators climbing up trees and ladders to photograph couples caught in the act committing adultery usually in the middle of the night.
This regular gross invasion of privacy resulted in tawdry photographs being used in subsequent divorce proceedings.
It was insulting, degrading and disgusting and stripped individuals of their dignity and their basic human rights.
This all disappeared with the stroke of a pen in 1975 when the only ground for divorce in Australia became 12 months' separation.
It was a simple, dignified, no fault divorce system which focussed on the future welfare of the spouses and their children.
Now, the political dinosaur from the ultra conservative Sydney-based seat of Warringah wants to resurrect this shameful method of dealing with family break-ups.
It's about time this political Neanderthal hangs up his boxing gloves and attempts to restore a modicum of sanity to his current utterances instead of his unending outrageous lunacy.
PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au
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Up until the Family Law Act 1975, divorces could be granted for one partner's dereliction of marital responsibilities including adultery, cruelty and desertion
What we had was private investigators climbing up trees and ladders to photograph couples caught in the act committing adultery usually in the middle of the night.
This regular gross invasion of privacy resulted in tawdry photographs being used in subsequent divorce proceedings.
It was insulting, degrading and disgusting and stripped individuals of their dignity and their basic human rights.
This all disappeared with the stroke of a pen in 1975 when the only ground for divorce in Australia became 12 months' separation.
It was a simple, dignified, no fault divorce system which focussed on the future welfare of the spouses and their children.
Now, the political dinosaur from the ultra conservative Sydney-based seat of Warringah wants to resurrect this shameful method of dealing with family break-ups.
It's about time this political Neanderthal hangs up his boxing gloves and attempts to restore a modicum of sanity to his current utterances instead of his unending outrageous lunacy.
PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au
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July 11, 2009
Fake Sudanese scam hits Australia
Scam emails are flooding Australia again.
What is the Federal Government doing via ISPs to block these insidious emails which are financially destroying innocent Australian families?
Consumer Watch spokesman Paul Tully says: "It's time for the Federal government to act against these internet fraudsters who are ripping off innocent victims day after day".
This is the latest scam:
Hello Dear
I know that this mail might come to you as a surprise because you don't know me and I don't know you too.
My name is Sana Mohamed Atif , I am 24 years old girl and an orphan from Sudan.
My late father Mr Mohamed Atif was the deputy general manager with CNPC oil company at Khartoum refinery in Sudan.
My late father was killed alongside with my beloved mother and our family house burnt down by the rebels during the last crisis in my country when Janjaweed militant came to our house, and this was what sent me away from my country to Burkina Faso as I made my escape only by God's special grace.
You can read more about my country in the bbc news
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6469857.stm
I am constrained to contact you because of the maltreatment which I am receiving from my step mother.
She planned to take away all my late father's treasury and properties from me since the unexpected death of my beloved Father.
Meanwhile I wanted to travel to Europe, but she hide away my international passport and other valuable documents.
Luckily she did not discover where I kept my father's File which contained important documents.
Now I am presently staying in the Mission in Burkina Faso.
I am seeking for long term relationship and investment assistance.
My father of blessed memory deposited the sum of US$ 8.5 Million in one bank in Burkina Faso with my name as the next of kin.
I had contacted the Bank to clear the deposit but the Branch Manager told me that being a refugee, my status according to the local law does not authorize me to carry out the operation.
However, he advised me to provide a trustee who will stand on my behalf.
I had wanted to inform my stepmother about this deposit but I am afraid that she will not offer me anything after the release of the money.
Therefore, I decide to seek for your help in transferring the money into your bank account while I will relocate to your country and settle down with you.
As you indicated your interest to help me I will give you the account number and the contact of the bank where my late beloved father deposited the money with my name as the next of kin.
It is my intention to compensate you with 20% of the total money for your assistance and the balance shall be my investment in any profitable venture which you will recommend to me as have no any idea about foreign investment.
Please all communications should be through this email address only for confidential purposes.
Thanking you a lot in anticipation of your quick response.
I will send you details in my next email for you to know me well.
I am waiting for your reply,
Best regards,
Sana Mohamed
PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au
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July 09, 2009
Pineapple Fanta - what will Coca-Cola think of next?
The Coca-Cola conglomerate has experimented with Lemon Coke, Lime Coke, Cherry Coke and Vanilla Coke and now their Fanta offerings include Pineapple flavour.
It is imported into Australia from South Africa by SAPRO Australia Pty Ltd.
It is available in Queensland at "Sweets" in the food court at Indooroopilly Shopping Centre for the princely sum of $2.60 for a 330ml can.
But don't rush out for a quick squiz.
Take it from me, this urine-coloured concoction tastes like pure, unadulterated c-r-a-p.
There's no mention on the can about any pineapple content so you could bet the Crown Jewels that it can be scientifically measured somewhere between Buckley's and none!
If you read the actual ingredients of this soft drink which include sodium, benzoate, sodium citrate and colourants including quinoline yellow and sunset yellow (whatever that is), it doesn't seem like the healthiest drink Coca-Cola has ever supplied for the Australian market.
PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au
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July 08, 2009
National apology from East West Motor Inn Manager in South Australia for racial discrimination
It is a sobering advertisement on page 4 of today's Australian newspaper.
Brian Brew, the manager of the East West Motor Inn at Ceduna in South Australia makes a humiliating apology to Marjorie Strickland and members of her group who were denied accommodation on 4 December 2007 because of her Aboriginal race.
Anti-Discrimination laws have existed at state and federal level around Australia for decades and it is disappointing that Brian Brew discriminated in the way he did.
The Aboriginal people of Australia can only trust Brian Brew's public assertion today that he is "sincerely sorry for the grief, pain, embarrassment, and humiliation" which he admits he caused on that grim December day - a low point in Aboriginal reconciliation in Australia.
PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au
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Fair Pay Commission should be renamed Unfair Pay Commission
With prices rising and the cost of living increasing, the decision by Australia's Fair Pay Commission to freeze wages for up to 12 months is a totally unjust decision.
This is the first time in 27 years that the minimum pay rate for Australian workers has been frozen.
The Fair Pay Commission is headed by Professor Ian Harper, the same buffoon who said when he was first appointed he would pray to God for divine intervention in his pay decisions.
Now, the Nutty Professor has ignored the submission of the Federal Government and sided with big industry, to deny any increase to Australia's lowest-paid workers.
Professor Harper earns $124,990 a year as the part-time Fair Pay Commissioner but thankfully he is quitting the Commission at the end of July, just in time before the unions tarred and feathered him.
The Federal Government is scrapping the Fair Pay Commission and replacing it with a system based on fairness, openness and accountability - not some crazy, knee-jerk process controlled by St Peter in heaven and controlled by disciple Harper.
PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au
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This is the first time in 27 years that the minimum pay rate for Australian workers has been frozen.
The Fair Pay Commission is headed by Professor Ian Harper, the same buffoon who said when he was first appointed he would pray to God for divine intervention in his pay decisions.
Now, the Nutty Professor has ignored the submission of the Federal Government and sided with big industry, to deny any increase to Australia's lowest-paid workers.
Professor Harper earns $124,990 a year as the part-time Fair Pay Commissioner but thankfully he is quitting the Commission at the end of July, just in time before the unions tarred and feathered him.
The Federal Government is scrapping the Fair Pay Commission and replacing it with a system based on fairness, openness and accountability - not some crazy, knee-jerk process controlled by St Peter in heaven and controlled by disciple Harper.
PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au
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July 07, 2009
EXCLUSIVE: Telstra in major backdown on overseas call centre in Manila
Since January - except for a few exclusive Australian corporate clients who complained bitterly - all Telstra Memo calls were unanswered by poorly trained Filipino staff whose skills in Tagalog far exceeded their English language ability.
Telstra customers have complained non-stopped of messages with wrong numbers, wrong names, mis-spelt and confusing word combinations being received.
The past 6 months has been utter pandemonium for Telstra customers.
The offshore experiment - which saved a few dollars for Telstra and enabled them to pay their former CEO Sol Trujillo a King's Ransom each year - has been officially scrapped.
Telstra is reverting to an Ausralian-based 24/7 operation from early August.
Consumer Watch spokesman said Telstra's decision in January to scrap its Australian Memo paging serving operation was the strangest decision ever made by the telecommunications giant.
"Sanity has prevailed in Telstra only after they realised the magnitude of their stupidity," Paul Tully said.
PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au
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July 02, 2009
Great Caesar's Ghost: Paranormal or Paranoia - the Ghost of Rosewood is good for business
When it comes to publicity, the publican of the Rosewood Hotel west of Ipswich, David Pahlke - who masquerades as the local councillor - has risen to the top of his profession.
In a grand stunt, he has called professional ghost busters into the pub who - surprise, surprise - came up with nothing but a few cold draughts blowing through the creaky windows and the usual dose of rising damp!
Things must be tough for Big Dave - who was the former postmaster at Rosewood before entering politics as a Moreton Shire Councillor - when he has to hire ghost busters from Brisbane to encourage a few more souls into the public bar.
David Pahlke is now a full-time Ipswich City Councillor on over a 100 grand a year while running the pub as a full-time job as well.
Locals are beginning to ask what is his main service to the people of Rosewood - being the local councillor, operating the local booze business or being the town's official ghost hunter?
They remember Dave's last failed attempt at local recognition when he named a park after himself and shot to prominence on national television with his ego stretching from Marburg to Grandchester.
He quickly had Pahlke Park renamed to avoid any further bad publicity on A Current Affair.
His greatest effort, however, was the Ipswich City Council Budget a couple of years ago when he turned up in a bright yellow suit with a Mafia-style violin case with you-know-what inside!
Mayor Paul Pisasale ordered him from the Council Chambers before the meeting. Since then, Pahlke has been known as The West Moreton Enforcer.
What sort of brain implosion occurred that day in Rosewood?
Imagine trying to sell a difficult budget to the people of Ipswich, with one of the Councillors dressed like the Mafia ready to extort money from the people.
Paranormal or paranoia - you be the judge of Rosewood's own Municipal Publican Spook.
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Tony Abbott MP supports smoking in cars with children
Whatever you think of his politics, Tony Abbott MP, former Federal Health Minister has shown his true uncaring attitude with his opposition to laws prohibiting smoking in cars with young children inside.
US studies show that just 2 cigarettes smoked in a closed vehicle will cause toxin levels to exceed 70 times the normal safe level.
Pity the poor kids - including babies - forced to inhale these dangerous fumes from their uncaring parents puffing away to their hearts' content.
Tony Abbott should be ashamed of himself for his stance on this issue which is utterly disgraceful and which embarrassingly contributes to an unhealthy Australia.
PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au
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July 01, 2009
Woolworths and Caltex ripping off Ipswich customers again!
Mr Ken Markwell from the Ipswich suburb of Leichhardt has rung to say that on Sunday 28 June 2009, petrol at the Woolworths Caltex at Brassall in Ipswich was $1.21/litre.
5 hours later at the Caltex Woolworths servo in Warwick, it was $1.08/litre and has been for the past 5 weeks.
Typical price gouging which will get worse from today!
PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au
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June 30, 2009
Ipswich becomes the first City in Queensland to ban circuses with exotic animals
At today's Ipswich City Council meeting, Ipswich became the first Council in Queensland to ban circuses with caged exotic animals.
There are now 43 Councils around Australia which have banned animal circuses.
PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au
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June 28, 2009
MEDIA RELEASE: Queensland on Red Alert over possible petrol price profiteering
The abolition of the Queensland fuel subsidy at midnight on 30 June may lead to unlawful profiteering.
The State Government has warned the ACCC to be on red alert across the state to stop motorists from being caught in a gigantic ripoff by oil companies.
Queensland Consumer Watch spokesman Paul Tully said the eyes and ears of Queensland would be on full alert on Wednesday.
"Oil companies have been sucking the motoring public dry for years and it's time they were held accountable for their legalised extortion," Paul Tully said.
Queensland Consumer Watch
Coordinator
Paul Tully LLB JP(Qual)
PO Box 1
18 Queen St
Goodna QLD 4300
Tel: 07 3818 6900
Fax: 07 3818 1099
Email: QueenslandConsumerWatch@gmail.com
Web: www.QueenslandConsumerWatch.com
"Queensland Consumer Watch - Advocating for consumers across Queensland."
This is a full copy of a Media Release issued by the State Government:
Joint Statement:
Premier and Minister for the Arts
The Honourable Anna Bligh
Minister for Tourism and Fair Trading
The Honourable Peter Lawlor
28/06/2009
Premier puts ACCC on red alert over fuel subsidy
Premier Anna Bligh has warned the ACCC to be on red alert and said a Queensland team of investigators have been monitoring petrol prices in the run up to the cessation of the fuel subsidy on Wednesday.
The fuel subsidy will cease from midnight 30 June and the price of fuel can be expected to rise on Wednesday 1 July.
Ms Bligh said she had spoken personally to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission Chairman Graeme Samuel this week.
"I have concerns that the oil companies will seek to profiteer in the wake of the scheme's cessation and have asked Mr Samuel to put his staff on red alert," said the Premier.
Ms Bligh said State Government investigators have been monitoring petrol prices across the state in the lead up to the post-subsidy period.
"We will continue to do that in the coming months as intelligence is gathered from industry and other bodies on any abnormal price rises," she warned.
"I will be making arrangements for this data to be given directly to the ACCC to use in any prosecutions they may launch where inappropriate pricing or illegal activity is identified.
"We will do everything in our power to make sure that the ACCC has the information they need to prevent these companies taking advantage of Queensland families in already difficult economic times.
"The Pincus report into the fuel subsidy last year said that well over $100 million out of the subsidy every year was not going to the benefit of the Queensland consumers," she said.
"What the report showed was that, on average, consumers were only getting 6 cents benefit from the subsidy - any rise above that and companies have got some explaining to do.
"That means the oil companies were effectively pick pocketing money from Queenslanders using the fuel subsidy as their shield.
"I am determined that we are not going to let the big oil companies mug the consumer in broad daylight now that the shield is gone.
"Minister for Fair Trading Peter Lawlor also said fuel companies and service stations should be warned that profiteering removal of the fuel subsidy on 1 July will not be tolerated.
"I'm taking this opportunity to place service station operators on notice that they should not try and use the abolition of the fuel subsidy to jack up prices," Mr Lawlor said.
"Unfortunately the rise will occur about the same time within the normal weekly price cycle that service station operators tend to raise the price of fuel anyway.
"However, I am warning operators that I will not hesitate to name and shame any operator who takes advantage of the abolition to try and make further profit, particularly in these tough economic times.
"I urge consumers to shop around for the best prices, take advantage of the weekly price cycle where it operates, and buy fuel early in the week when prices tend to be lowest.
"Mr Lawlor said he urged any consumer who believed service stations operators were inappropriately increasing the price of fuel to lodge a complaint with the Office of Fair Trading.
"While I appreciate there are a large number of factors which can influence the price of fuel, including the price of crude oil and exchange rates, service station operators need to be fair in their dealings with the public," he said.
If consumers believe fuel operators are ripping them off they can lodge a complaint by calling the Office of Fair Trading hotline number (07) 3115 1783 or by logging on to www.fairtrading.qld.gov.au
PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au
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