Great Caesar's Ghost: Paranormal or Paranoia - the Ghost of Rosewood is good for business

PIC: David Pahlke - Local councillor, publican and ghost buster!

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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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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MOBIL CREEK ROAD MT GRAVATT: 114.9 cents per litre this afternoon. What price in a week's time as motorists face major price gouging in Queensland?

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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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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Online search of real estate agents and other key professions launched in Queensland

The Queensland Government is launching a major initiative on 1 July with an online search facility of registered real estate agents, pawnbrokers, debt collectors, travel agents and other key service providers.

Queensland Consumer Watch spokesman Paul Tully described the initiative as a tremendous advance for consumers.

"This will go a long way to weeding out shonky, unregistered agents who continue to fleece the community across the state."

This is a full copy of the Ministerial Media Release issued by the Minister for Tourism and Fair Trading Peter Lawlor:

Minister for Tourism and Fair Trading

The Honourable Peter Lawlor

28/06/2009

Online licence search launched

In the past year more than 40 people in Queensland have been disciplined or prosecuted by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) for failing to be properly licensed.

OFT investigators have taken action against eight security providers, 20 real estate agents and 14 motor dealers who have been operating in Queensland without the relevant licence.

Minister for Fair Trading Peter Lawlor said dealing with unlicensed operators such as motor dealers, security providers and real estate agents placed consumers and businesses at risk.

"Licensing ensures operators meet minimum standards of competency for those industries regulated by OFT," he said.

"There are several occupations regulated by OFT and by law they are required to be licensed before they can work in Queensland," Mr Lawlor said.

Occupations regulated by OFT include real estate, motor dealing, auctioneers, second-hand dealers, pawnbrokers as well as security providers, travel agents and debt collectors.

"These licences are a safeguard for consumers and businesses and ensure that those people working in the industries are reputable and operate with a high level of professionalism," he said.

Consumers and businesses will soon be able to search an online register to check if the people or firms they are dealing with are licensed, which is important for consumer confidence.

"From 1 July an online search facility of licence holders will be available on the OFT website," Mr Lawlor said.

"The register will be a free online service and will list all licence holders under the:

• Introduction Agents Act 2001
• Property Agents and Motor Dealers Act 2000
• Second-hand Dealers and Pawnbrokers Act 2003
• Security Providers Act 1993
• Tourism Services Act 2003
• Travel Agents Act 1988

Consumers and businesses will be able to search for a licence holder's name or their licence number to check if they hold the appropriate licence.

The online search facility will be available at www.fairtrading.qld.gov.au

PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au

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