The intellectuals running the Royal Australian Mint are at it again with a secret plan to scrap our 5 cent coin.
This will lead to a consumer rip-off of unimaginable proportions with retailers reluctant to round bills DOWN to the nearest 10 cents.
You can be sure that prices ending in 5c will be bumped up by another 5c.
In the middle of a recession when every cent counts for Australia's battlers, only the fuzzy-headed bureaucrats at the Australian Mint could have dreamed up this idiotic plan at this most-inopportune time.
One and two cent coins were scrapped almost 20 years ago, when they had become an almost valueless nuisance.
But a few 5c pieces today can add up to a tidy amount.
Now is not the right time to scrap our little echidna.
If the Australian Mint wants to win any public praise, it should scrap the antiquated "Royal" from its official title.
Imagine having the portrait of King Charles of Australia on our coins in the future.
Perish the thought!
PAUL TULLY - paul@tully.org.au
May 19, 2009
Woolworths bites the bullet over trolley problem
WOOLWORTHS has bitten the bullet on trolley pollution, installing coin-operated trolley stations at centres including Sandgate, Moorooka, Buranda, Toowong and Bulimba.
The Urban Local Government Association of Queensland last week moved to ensure other shopping centres follow Woolies' lead after reports that up to 500 trolleys recently were collected in a six-month roundup across Logan City.
The association, representing 70 per cent of local government voters, approved a plan which could allow councils to force supermarkets to install coin operated trolley docks.
Ipswich councillor Paul Tully says ALDI supermarkets already had a $2 refundable trolley scheme.
"You rarely see an ALDI shopping trolley in a park or local creek," he said.
The association also wants brakes installed on trolleys to stop them rolling off and hitting vehicles.
"The days of getting back to your car in a shopping centre car park and finding a dent in the side of the vehicle will hopefully soon be over," Cr Tully said.
A Woolworths spokeswoman said the company was aware certain suburbs had particular issues with stolen trolleys.
"That is why we have taken the step to introduce coin-operated trolleys," she said.
"Seven Woolworths stores in the Brisbane area have already been fitted with coin locks and a further three will roll out in the next few weeks."
ALDI says the system works.
"We have found the coin-in-slot system to be a key preventative measure in the dumping of trolleys," the spokeswoman said.
The Urban Local Government Association of Queensland last week moved to ensure other shopping centres follow Woolies' lead after reports that up to 500 trolleys recently were collected in a six-month roundup across Logan City.
The association, representing 70 per cent of local government voters, approved a plan which could allow councils to force supermarkets to install coin operated trolley docks.
Ipswich councillor Paul Tully says ALDI supermarkets already had a $2 refundable trolley scheme.
"You rarely see an ALDI shopping trolley in a park or local creek," he said.
The association also wants brakes installed on trolleys to stop them rolling off and hitting vehicles.
"The days of getting back to your car in a shopping centre car park and finding a dent in the side of the vehicle will hopefully soon be over," Cr Tully said.
A Woolworths spokeswoman said the company was aware certain suburbs had particular issues with stolen trolleys.
"That is why we have taken the step to introduce coin-operated trolleys," she said.
"Seven Woolworths stores in the Brisbane area have already been fitted with coin locks and a further three will roll out in the next few weeks."
ALDI says the system works.
"We have found the coin-in-slot system to be a key preventative measure in the dumping of trolleys," the spokeswoman said.
Woolworths bites the bullet over trolleys
Woolworths has bitten the bullet on trolley pollution, installing coin-operated trolley stations at centres including Sandgate, Moorooka, Buranda, Toowong and Bulimba.
The Urban Local Government Association of Queensland last week moved to ensure other shopping centres follow Woolies' lead after reports that up to 500 trolleys recently were collected in a six-month roundup across Logan City.
The association, representing 70 per cent of local government voters, approved a plan which could allow councils to force supermarkets to install coin operated trolley docks.
Ipswich councillor Paul Tully says ALDI supermarkets already had a $2 refundable trolley scheme.
"You rarely see an ALDI shopping trolley in a park or local creek," he said.
The association also wants brakes installed on trolleys to stop them rolling off and hitting vehicles.
"The days of getting back to your car in a shopping centre car park and finding a dent in the side of the vehicle will hopefully soon be over," Cr Tully said.
A Woolworths spokeswoman said the company was aware certain suburbs had particular issues with stolen trolleys.
"That is why we have taken the step to introduce coin-operated trolleys," she said
"Seven Woolworths stores in the Brisbane area have already been fitted with coin locks and a further three will roll out in the next few weeks."
ALDI says the system works.
"We have found the coin-in-slot system to be a key preventative measure in the dumping of trolleys," the spokeswoman said.
The Urban Local Government Association of Queensland last week moved to ensure other shopping centres follow Woolies' lead after reports that up to 500 trolleys recently were collected in a six-month roundup across Logan City.
The association, representing 70 per cent of local government voters, approved a plan which could allow councils to force supermarkets to install coin operated trolley docks.
Ipswich councillor Paul Tully says ALDI supermarkets already had a $2 refundable trolley scheme.
"You rarely see an ALDI shopping trolley in a park or local creek," he said.
The association also wants brakes installed on trolleys to stop them rolling off and hitting vehicles.
"The days of getting back to your car in a shopping centre car park and finding a dent in the side of the vehicle will hopefully soon be over," Cr Tully said.
A Woolworths spokeswoman said the company was aware certain suburbs had particular issues with stolen trolleys.
"That is why we have taken the step to introduce coin-operated trolleys," she said
"Seven Woolworths stores in the Brisbane area have already been fitted with coin locks and a further three will roll out in the next few weeks."
ALDI says the system works.
"We have found the coin-in-slot system to be a key preventative measure in the dumping of trolleys," the spokeswoman said.
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