Warning to new land buyers: Telstra to opt out of standard telephone cabling around Australia from 1 July 2010

Big changes are underway in Australia's telecommunications network.

From 1 July 2010, copper cabling - the standard installation for a century - will cease to be installed by Telstra or any other authorised communications carrier.

The only cabling which will be permitted is optical fibre - which will be installed ONLY if an agreement has been struck between the developer of a new estate and one of carriers, not necessarily Telstra.

If this does not occur, Telstra still has a statutory obligation to provide a telephone service to all premises in Australia - which it must do for the standard connection fee of $299.

From 1 July, Telstra's legal obligation will be met by providing customers with a normal telephone connected via an aerial on the roof of the premises to their mobile phone network.

Calls will be charged at normal landline prices.

After 1 July, Telstra will meet existing legal landline commitments already "in the pipeline".

But if you are planning on buying a block of land in new estate in the near future, ask the developer what telephone connections will be provided - and demand it in writing.

Otherwise, you could be left high and dry with a substandard, unreliable mobile connection for your telephone calls, faxes and internet service.

Or wait up to 8 years for NBN, the National Broadband Network - the new super fast fibre optic network - to arrive.

Bligh's website survey on daylight saving in Queensland

GoldCoast.com.au

Anna Bligh has set up an online survey to find out
how Queenslanders feel about daylight saving.

DAYLIGHT saving advocates have just four weeks to convince Premier Anna Bligh there should be a trial or a referendum on a split-time zone in southeast Queensland.

An election-style campaign has been launched with Ms Bligh yesterday holding an urgent caucus meeting to order her Labor MPs to doorknock, hold street stalls and tour shopping centres to canvass their constituents' opinions on whether southeast Queensland should adopt daylight saving.

Fifty per cent of Queenslanders, including an entire generation, have never had a say on whether Queensland should adopt daylight saving, perhaps the reason Ms Bligh sparked the debate exclusively on social networking site Twitter on Wednesday.

Ms Bligh has now set up a website survey -- getinvolved.qld.gov.au -- to gauge community reaction and will in a month make a decision on how the Government will vote on Independent MP Peter Wellington's private members bill calling for a referendum.

If the feedback is positive, a daylight saving trial could start as early as October this year.

"We need to consider those Queenslanders who were too young to vote in 1992 as well as those who have come to live in our state during the phenomenal interstate migration over the past decade," she said.

"We need to consider what that means -- 50 per cent of the people living in Queensland today have not had any say on this issue."

She said it did not make sense to hold a referendum without having a trial first.

"If we had a trial then maybe people would have that experience to inform their vote," she said. "It might be more workable than we think. Sometimes you have just got to give things a crack."

Ms Bligh said the Government had categorically ruled out daylight saving for the entire state and remained opposed to it.

"Great idea, time in the sun in the afternoons, lovely."

"But in southeast Queensland this is an issue that polarises residents, this is the issue that never goes away and no matter where I am in the southeast, it is the issue that is regularly raised with me -- and I can't ignore that," she said.

The boundaries for the daylight saving zone would have to be decided before any referendum.

Ms Bligh said she had no set idea yet and would talk to the relevant mayors first.

The caucus would decide whether Labor MPs would be allowed a conscience vote on daylight saving on the basis of what they hear from their constituents.

Daylight Saving for South East Queensland Party leader Jason Furze has also embarked on a national media blitz, appearing on several morning television and radio programs.

"We had approached a number of MPs from both sides of politics as well as Peter Wellington and he embraced this and said he was willing to champion this in parliament," he said.

Party members would also be contacting their local MPs and campaign on Twitter and Facebook.

"We will be making sure the momentum is maintained," he said.

Queenskand Young Liberal expelled over Obama monkey slur

ABC News

Queensland Young LNP member Nick Sowden (left)
poses for a photo with Liberal Leader BrendanNelson
in May 2008. (Facebook)

Queensland's Liberal-National Party (LNP) has expelled a young member who called US president Barack Obama a "monkey" on Twitter.

Griffith University medical student Nick Sowden stirred up a storm of controversy for his Twitter comments during Kerry O'Brien's exclusive interview with the US president.

The 22-year-old says he is not a racist and his comments were supposed to be ironic and have been taken out of context.

"If i wanted to see a monkey on TV id [sic] watch Wildlife Rescue #justsaying #obama730," read one comment.

Another said: "Im [sic] not sure why they paid kerry to fly to america. if they wanted an interview with a monkey surely a Ferry to Taronga would have sufficed."

Mr Sowden's Twitter account has now been deleted, but there are hundreds of references to the comments on the internet.

The LNP's response was swift. President Bruce McIver says they do not want him on their team.

"No, most definitely not on our team at all," he said.

Mr Sowden says it was a poor attempt at irony which has been blown out of proportion.

"It's meant to be more of a joke against the Tea Party movement, the crazy right wing conservatives, Fox News type thing," he said.

"And it's something maybe that they would say and I think that's where the joke is. People who don't know me who read the retweets of it, they don't really realise the context... have claimed me to be a racist when I'm quite clearly not.

"I hadn't really thought much about it at the time and that's probably where it went a bit wrong... It's not against Barack as a person."

Apology

Mr Sowden says he does a lot of work for Indigenous health and charities in Ghana and Fiji which shows he is not a racist person.

He says he now regrets his comments and he would apologise to Mr Obama.

"I'm sure Barack Obama has a lot worse things in his life to deal with than a tweet from someone with 200 followers on the Gold Coast, but if he has taken offence, sure, I'll apologise," he said.

Mr Sowden's Facebook site contains a picture of Hitler in a parody of an Obama election poster but he says that too has been misconstrued.

"That picture of Obama was everywhere, there was all this hype which I didn't agree with - I didn't think it was warranted at the time - and I think that was one way of showing how the masses can be influenced like that," he said.

"If people want to call me a Nazi then that's obviously another ridiculous thing, I had family in a concentration camp, I had family who were migrants."

On Facebook, Mr Sowden is a fan of pages titled 'I hate it when I wake up in the morning and Barack Obama is President' and 'Obama screwed more people than Tiger Woods'.

His page includes a photo of a beaming Mr Sowden with his arm around former Liberal leader Brendan Nelson at a John Howard testimonial dinner.

Young LNP Queensland president Rod Schneider says Mr Sowden's comments are not the views of the Young Liberals and he welcomes the LNP's move to expel him from the party.

He says this was the latest in a "long line of indiscretions" from Mr Sowden.

Steam trains to run on the Ipswich line after 42 years

Media Release

Minister for Transport

The Honourable Rachel Nolan

16/04/2010

Steam train suburban services to make first appearance since 1968

Brisbane residents will have a rare chance to hop aboard a steam train service next week, with QR set to run additional, special services between Ipswich and Shorncliffe.

The three services, one each day from Monday April 19 through to Wednesday 21 April, are the first time in more than 40 years commuters will be able to use their regular tickets to get on board a steam train on the suburban network.

The special services are part of a training school to skill up current electric passenger train drivers to become qualified steam train drivers.

Transport Minister Rachel Nolan said Queensland Rail is one of a handful of railway companies in the world to operate heritage services.

"The train drivers in this school are already very experienced passenger train drivers who over the years have become firemen on our steam trains - for them this is the next step," she said.

"Our steam train trips are incredibly popular, with the Q150 steam train last year travelling more than 10,000km, and special services during events such as last year's Ekka.

"These extra services will be a bit of a surprise to some commuters next week; to be sitting at Central station waiting for the next train and see a steam passenger train pull in.

"It's a good opportunity to experience how rail travel use to be.

"These three special services will be out of peak times, but there are no special conditions - if passengers want to get on board they simply need to have a valid ticket or go card."

The last time steam trains were used as part of suburban passenger operations was September 1968.

The following year all remaining steam locomotives were removed from operations in Queensland, replaced by diesel locomotives and, beginning in 1979, electric trains on the suburban network.

This is the first steam train drivers school since 1997. Three drivers will qualify from this school, with a further three to qualify in May.

The special services will depart Ipswich station at 9:12 am, stopping all stations to arrive at Central Station at 10:34am and the all stations to Shorncliffe station for an 11:20am arrival.

They will then depart Shorncliffe station at 12:18pm, Central Station at 1:03pm and terminate at Ipswich at 2:24pm, stopping all stations on route.

.....................................................
COMMENT: What a great initiative by the State Government.

PaulGTully@gmail.com

New US Marine internet scam hits Australia

This is the latest internet scam to hit Australia with a new twist supposedly involving a US Marine in Iraq:

.................................................

From: sgt.kenh1@yahoo.com.hk

Permit me to approach you in this manner.

I am Sgt. Ken Holland of the US Marine in Ba'qubah,Iraq.

We got the sum of $15,500,000.00 we made from some Crude Oil Money deal that i will want you to help us receive.

Since we are working here on Official capacity we cannot keep this funds hence my contacting you.

If you are interested, do get back to me so that i can give you further details.

Sgt. Ken Holland

.................................................

It's time for the Australian Government to take immediate action against these sorts of spam emails.

Innocent internet users are being constantly defrauded by these Nigerian-type scammers who seek their personal and financial details to completely strip their bank accounts.

As with other objectionable internet material, the Australian Government has the clear constitutional power under section 51 of the Australian Constitution to force ISP's to stop these bogus emails at the border.

Internet users and their families are being hurt financially - sometimes losing their entire life savings to these internet predators.

It's time for the Government to act on behalf of all Australians.

Contact your Federal Member today and call your local state or territory police if you are a victim of these callous fraudsters.

A current list of Members of Federal Parliament is available at -

MP's: http://www.aph.gov.au/house/members/memlist.pdf

SENATORS: http://www.aph.gov.au/senate/senators/contacts/los.pdf

To let the Federal Government know that you want them to ban these scams, email the Federal Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy Senator the Hon Stephen Conroy at: senator.conroy@aph.gov.au

Warn your friends about these scams, especially new internet users who may not be aware that these types of sophisticated frauds are operating in Australia.

You can circulate this consumer update by clicking the Email Post button below to warn your family and friends.

AUSTRALIAN MINISTERS DECIDE ON NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION AGAINST BULLYING

Queensland Minister for Education and Training

The Honourable Geoff Wilson

15/04/2010

MINISTERS DECIDE ON NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION AGAINST BULLYING

A National Day of Action Against Bullying and Violence will be held on the third Friday in March each year, Education and Training Minister Geoff Wilson announced in Sydney today.

Mr Wilson said Australia's Education Ministers agreed to support Queensland's proposal for an annual community awareness campaign on bullying at the Ministerial Council for Education, Early Childhood Development and Youth Affairs (MCEECDYA) meeting.

"The consequences of bullying, including cyber bullying and youth violence, affect schools and communities throughout Australia. This is such an important issue that requires concerted, cooperative action by the whole community to work out a solution," he said.

"Queensland and most other states and territories are working hard to deal with these difficult and complex problems in schools by developing strategies and guidelines.

"A national day of action would showcase the positive work governments, schools and students are doing to combat this type of inappropriate behaviour."

Mr Wilson said the Bligh Government is determined to maintain schools as safe places for students to learn and teachers to teach.

"State schools use a range of approaches to combat bullying. These include

Schoolwide Positive Behaviour Support, following the Department of Education and Training's Code of School Behaviour and they have a Responsible Behaviour Plan for Students," he said.

"Last year we asked internationally-acclaimed bullying expert Dr Ken Rigby to tell us how to further strengthen the strategies all schools use to deal with bullying.

"One of his suggestions was that we bring together people who have first-hand experience of dealing with this issue to recommend innovative, effective and practical solutions for schools.

"So we formed the Queensland Schools Alliance Against Violence, made up of representatives of Catholic, independent and state schools; principals' associations; union organisations; parents' groups; and the Commission for Children, Young People and Child Guardian."

Mr Wilson said the Alliance had already agreed on and is in the process of implementing a number of initiatives to tackle bullying.

"Anti-bullying forums hosted by psychologist Dr Michael Carr-Gregg are planned for 10 regions around the state, vodcasts and other resources have been made available online to schools and the Alliance has also endorsed in-principle the recommendations from Dr Ken Rigby's report into bullying," he said.

"A national day of awareness, like these initiatives, would help to improve responses to bullying, violence and behaviour management in schools."

MCEECDYA meets several times a year to consider matters in its area of responsibility.

ACCC should look at big gift promotions by Dick Smith and other stores

Across Australia, Dick Smith is currently promoting the win of a lifetime - to the "edge of Space" in a Russian MIG-31 fighter jet.

To be eligible for the draw, you must purchase a computer featuring an Intel Core 15 or Intel Core 17 processor with Turbo Boost.

What they don't tell you is the chance you have of winning.

Dick Smith would have a pretty good idea of how many of these computers they will sell during the promotion period.

Do customers have a 1 in 1000, 1 in 50,000 or even worse, 1 in 100,000 of winning?

Many people would buy the computer to win the prize, not realising their statistical chance of winning is somewhere between Buckleys and bugger all.

If stores induce customers to buy up big
with the inducement of a crackerjack prize such as a trip to the edge of Space, then they have the obligation to make it as clear as possible what the projected odds of winning are.

Anything else is totally deceptive and could easily mislead consumers into thinking their chances of winning are higher than they are and then parting with their hard-earned cash - which is exactly what the Electronic Dick wants them to do.

But don't hold your breath waiting for the ACCC to act - they are as useless as an Appeal Court in China.

CNN Breaking News

-- Mazda recalls nearly 90,000 vehicles because of transmission problems, a company spokesman says.

Bligh calls special caucus meeting on daylight saving for Queensland

ABC News Online

Queensland Premier Anna Bligh has announced she has called a special caucus meeting this morning for Labor MPs to discuss the way forward on daylight saving.

The Labor caucus will meet at 8am AEST to discuss the way forward for a debate on splitting Queensland into two timezones during daylight saving.

Yesterday, Ms Bligh weighed into the daylight saving debate when she used the social networking site Twitter to indicate she might consider a referendum on the issue.

It has been 18 years since Queenslanders last voted on the issue and at that time they rejected statewide daylight saving.

Ms Bligh has now raised the option of having daylight saving in south-east Queensland while leaving the rest of the state on standard time.

Last year the Premier rejected the idea of split zones but now appears to be considering the idea.

Brisbane City Council's trailer of destruction: Is Campbell Newman out of control?

Brisbane Times

A van similar to the one destroyed by Brisbane City Council.

The organisers of an upcoming art exhibition have demanded compensation from Brisbane City Council for the destruction of a caravan that was supposed to be the event's centrepiece.

Trailer Trash project organiser Trevor Topfer said council officers had removed the caravan from a local bridge club's carpark at the Yeronga Park in November, even though club officials had given him permission to leave it there overnight. 

Labor opposition councillor Helen Abrahams said the fact the van was destroyed within 24 hours of its removal was "extraordinary".

Mr Topfer said the previous owners of the 28-foot tri-axle caravan had a permit to tow it from the Darling Downs to Brisbane on November 9, but the holding yard where it was to be stored had closed by the time they delivered it.

Mr Topfer said rather than parking the van in front of his Annerley house, he spoke to the Brisbane Bridge Centre in Frederick Street about leaving it there for one night.

When he returned the next morning to pick up the caravan, it was gone.

Mr Topfer said he had had trouble finding out details about the van's destruction but was angry the council had made no attempt to contact the owner beforehand.

"We believe we acted appropriately, we tried to do the right thing and not leave it it on the road in front of my house," he said.

"We were shocked."

Lord Mayor Campbell Newman's media officers did not return calls seeking comment on the issue yesterday.

However, Cr Abrahams said she supported calls for the caravan's owners to be compensated.

"Most importantly, for council to seize something and to destroy it in less than 24 hours is extraordinary, when people in Brisbane know it could take some weeks to get other issues resolved such as a sign to be replaced," she said.

"I do believe if they [the council] wanted to remove it, that's fair enough, but to not give any time for someone to say 'that's my caravan' is inappropriate."

Mr Topfer said it would cost about $9000 to replace the caravan, which was meant to play host to artists during the Trailer Trash art installation and music party next week.

One of the event's other organisers, Joshua Collings, said the compensation demands had so far been unsuccessful.

Mr Collings, who was embroilled in a public spat with Cr Newman last month over a 'Vandal Newman' mural above his Woolloongabba art gallery, said the pair planned to complain to the state ombudsman.

Mayors back split time zones for southeast Queensland

Brisbane Times

South-east Queensland mayors have largely backed a proposal to split the state in two time zones, although some still held reservations.

brisbanetimes.com.au contacted the mayors of all council areas proposed by independent MP Peter Wellington yesterday to join New South Wales and Victoria in daylight saving unity.

Gold Coast Mayor Ron Clarke said it was "a nonsense" that Queensland be out of kilter with the rest of the east coast and the entire state should embrace daylight savings.

"In Coolangatta/Tweed, one side of the street's on one time zone and the other side of the street is in another time zone," he said.

"All the businesses have to cater for residents from both cities and have to pay their staff a couple of hours extra to be open in time and to be closing in time."

Cr Clarke said Premier Anna Bligh's Twitter consultation on the issue was a "waste of time".

"We've had enough polls and surveys to show that everyone in south-east Queensland want it badly and the people out west and up north don't want it," he said.

"Twitter, operated by a government, is only going to give an opinion they want themselves.

"If you're going to seek some sort of independent review, it's got to be independent - those people who can be bothered getting on to Twitter and telling you about it, they're extremists anyway."

Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale also said there was no need for a referendum.

"At the end of the day, I think they've got to do what they did in Western Australia and just give it a go and trial it for a couple of years and see how we go," he said.

"I still can't see what the dangers are - the curtains aren't going to fade, the cows won't get confused - and if you look at the temperature in Queensland, we're probably better suited to daylight saving than any other state."

Brisbane Lord Mayor Campbell Newman said he would support a referendum for daylight saving in south-east Queensland.

"I think the benefits to Brisbane of daylight saving are quite marked," he said.

"The Premier has the broader state interest to consider."

Moreton Bay Mayor Allan Sutherland was very enthusiastic about introducing daylight saving to the south-east corner.

"Bring it on," he said.

"I love [daylight saving] - it is so good for everyone of all ages, for working families, elderly people wanting to do things in the cool of the evening, it's great for families to be able to enjoy that extra time."

Cr Sutherland said splitting Queensland into two time zones made more sense than the entire state adopting daylight saving.

"I do feel sorry for the western towns - I actually voted against daylight saving [in 1992] even though I wanted it, because I couldn't bring myself to vote for something I would like, knowing it was at the expense of others," he said.

"This is a great suggestion to have a zonal arrangement - I know it might be tough for some businesses, but they'll get used to it."

Logan Mayor Pam Parker said it would have little impact on her personally, but would be interested in "what the families of Logan have to say" on the issue.

"It's dark when I leave for work and it's dark when I get home, so it really makes no difference to me," she said.

"I'm not sure about the implications of dividing the state."

But John Brent, mayor of the Scenic Rim region, said he was non-plussed about the debate.

"I'm happy to run with the view of those in the community, and I think there was a strong [anti-daylight saving] view last time in the old Boonah and Beaudesert Shires," he said.

"I think there are more important issues to deal with at this time and I'd like to deal with some of the infrastructure issues rather than get sidetracked on issues like this."

Sunshine Coast Mayor Bob Abbot and Redlands Mayor Melva Hobson could not be reached last night.

FLASH: Anna Bligh to consider daylight saving for southeast Queensland - LNP in a jam on the Gold Coast

Channel 9 News reports:

Anna Bligh uses Twitter to announce she's considering daylight saving in South East Qld.

.......................................................................................................
COMMENT: Congratulations to Premier Anna Bligh.

This is great news for the majority of residents in southeast Queensland.

Broken Hill in New South Wales is on South Australian time, causing no
problems for them and the rest of the State.  A split time zone in SE
Queensland would be strongly supported by 70% or more of residents in
SE corner.  At the same time, residents in the rest of Queensland
would not be forced to adopt daylight saving time.

Daylight saving would have environmental, social and commercial benefits
for all of southeast Queensland.  The annual debacle at the Coolangatta/Tweed
Heads border would disappear overnight and we might see lives sports coverage
on television again - such as the Australian Tennis Open on Channel 7.

.If Anna Bligh sees this through, it will break the LNP and could prove to be
a political master stroke.

If the Liberal trendies of the LNP on the Gold Coast are forced by their Party to
oppose daylight saving in southeast Queensland, it will expose the LNP as nothing
but a marriage sham with the Nationals still in charge, standing over their so-called
partner with a rolling pin - ready to knock them into submission.

But the smartest thing behind Anna's Bligh's announcement is that the LNP Leader
John Paul-Langbroek, a trendy true-blue Liberal from the Gold Coast, will be caught
between a nutcracker and a guillotine if he opposes Anna Bligh's push for daylight saving.

If any Gold Coast politician opposes the plan, let alone the LNP Leader, the LNP
would suffer not only on the Gold Coast at the 2012 election but across Brisbane
as well, with the LNP being perceived as nothing but a rural dominated party with
no concern for the people of southeast Queensland.

Brilliant, Anna - brilliant!


PaulGTully@gmail.com

Queensland Health officer warned on payroll system

A top Queensland Health bureaucrat wanted out of a problem-plagued state government payroll system as far back as 2008, a memo shows.

The system has since been rolled out causing huge problems.

Thousands of Queensland Health's 74,000 employees have had their pays significantly delayed over the last two pay cycles.

The Opposition has produced an August 2008 briefing note to the director-general of Queensland Health about the creation of the whole-of-government payroll, rostering and human resources systems.

In it, the deputy director-general of corporate services expresses concerns on the time lag in developing the new whole-of-government system.

He said the initiative had "failed to deliver any viable alternative to Queensland Health in the past four years with a cost burn of about $400 million".

He suggests Queensland Health should push ahead with its own system due to the urgent need to replace the existing, inefficient one.

Queensland Health should separate itself from the whole-of-government program immediately and quickly seek alternatives, the document says.

Health Minister Paul Lucas said he could not comment on the memo but acknowledged there was a long history of delays in rolling out the new system.

"What I'm far more concerned about frankly is the fact that it was certified on the 14 March 2010 as ready to go and clearly when it rolled out, it wasn't," he said.

Mr Lucas has tasked KPMG with reviewing the system.

Information and Communication Technology Minister Robert Schwarten later told parliament the system did work, but had been implemented incorrectly.

"The (Opposition's) allegation that the system does not work again highlights the stupidity and the IT ignoramuses that sit over there," Mr Schwarten said.

"There has been nothing brought to my attention to suggest that the system is a failure."

He said he was awaiting the findings of the review.

$2 million text message scam hits New South Wales

The Coffs Coast Advocate

GETTING a text message telling you you've won $2 million in the Lotto sounds like a dream come true – but it could be something far more sinister.

Coffs residents have recently reported receiving random text messages telling them they have been successful in the 'ongoing free Lotto 2010' but it's nothing more than a scam.

The message reads: "Congrats your mobile no has won $2,000,000.00USD in the ongoing free Lotto 2010 contact for claims email your name and mobile number to smspromo@freelotto10.mobi."

The Department of Fair Trading has warned anyone receiving the message to delete it and not to reply to any request for personal information.

"Mobile phone scams can be difficult to recognise," a spokesperson for the Department of Fair Trading said.

"Consumers may receive a 'missed call' from an unknown number or a text message to enter a competition or download 'free' or cheap ring tones that will end up being a subscription or a premium rate service. The best thing to do is to ignore and delete them.

"Consumers should always do their homework and make sure they know who they are dealing with before agreeing to anything."

If a person believes they have been scammed and the scam originates from NSW, or they know the name of the business or trader and they are located in NSW, they can report the scam to NSW Fair Trading.

If the scam originates from outside NSW or overseas, they can report it via SCAMwatch. SCAMwatch is a website run by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and provides information about how to recognise, avoid and report scams.

Queensland first: Crabs' DNA exposes illegal fisherman in Gladstone

The Courier-Mail

FOR the first time in Queensland, DNA technology has been used to prosecute a commercial fisherman who illegally sold 783 kilograms of female mud crabs.

The man had initially claimed the catch was from the Northern Territory, where female crabs aren't protected by law.

But when scientists conducted DNA tests, the man's story fell over.

Northern Territory crabs have different DNA from crabs on the east coast, and the testing showed the crabs' genetic profile matched that of the east coast crabs.

Genetic typing in prosecutions has only recently been used by Fisheries Queensland and there are already more cases underway involving this type of evidence.

The commercial fisherman involved pleaded guilty in Gladstone Magistrates Court yesterday to the charges.

He was fined $45,000 and more than $7000 professional costs with his fishing license suspended for six months.

Premier Anna Bligh this morning congratulated the officers who worked on the case.

MP renews call for daylight saving in Queensland

The Courier-Mail

NEW calls have been made for a referendum on daylight savings to be held at the next State election.

Member for Nicklin Peter Wellington called for the referendum this morning in State Parliament.

Mr Wellington called for a split time zone proposal.

The referendum would ask Queenslanders if they support daylight savings for south east Queensland, leaving the rest of the state on standard time.

................................................................................................
COMMENT: If Broken Hill in New South Wales can operate quite
successfully on South Australian time, then there is no reason
that daylight saving would not work in southeast Queensland.

This would be the best of both worlds - the people of  regional
and rural Queensland who oppose daylight saving would stay on
standard time and the time of SE Queensland who support daylight
saving would be on the same time zone as the other three eastern
states of Australia.  This compromise is a no-brainer and should
be implemented as a matter of priority.

PAUL TULLY - PaulGTully@gmail.com

Police Commissioner should outlaw free meals for police - Call for Fasta Pasta to apologise to the people of Queensland

This story appears in today's Courier-Mail:

Man impersonated policeman for 12 months to get cheap meals from Fasta Pasta at Springwood

A MAN who pretended to be a police officer to get cheap food from a pasta restaurant has had his last discounted meal.

When the 30-year-old turned up at Springwood's Fasta Pasta last night, the real police were waiting and arrested him.

The lurk had gone on for about 12 months before managers became suspicious and rang police to complain.

Officers said his alleged ``method of operation'' involved flashing a pretend police badge and demanding discounted food.

He has been charged with impersonating a police officer and will appear in the Beenleigh Magistrates Court on April 30.

.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Why is Fasta Pasta even offering discounted meals to Queensland Police?

When "Honest" Ray Whitrod was Commissioner he tried to outlaw this practice, saying it was improper for police to receive gifts and gratuities for simply doing their job and saying it was conduct which eventually lead to graft and corruption.

His argument was that police eventually come to expect these free gifts but as the former Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser said: "There is no such thing as a free lunch".

The owners of Fasta Pasta are doing the wrong thing by the community for allowing their managers to give police these discounted meals.

Haven't they read the report from the Fitzgerald Inquiry as how systemic corruption in the police force grew from small beginnings?

Former jailed Police Commissioner Terry Lewis was once famously quoted: "Little fish are sweet", in reference to all of the small amounts of corruption which he enjoyed over the years - and got 14 well-deserved years for his abuse of office.

Fasta Pasta should apologise to the people of Queensland for being caught up in this scandal.

They have no right to be offering police free or discounted meals.  What do they expect in return?

If Fasta Pasta says "nothing", then why are the police getting this perk?

Fasta Pasta is acting disgracefully and contrary to all notions of propriety in a modern, democratic society where police conduct be - and seen to be - above reproach.

What is the current Commissioner doing about the practice?

Bob Atkinson is regarded as an "honest cop".  As a result of the overnight scandal in Springwood, he should step in and ban the discounted meal practice across Queensland immediately.

Spokesman for Queensland Consumer Watch Paul Tully said all consumers should get the same deal as police.

"Why should Fasta Pasta single out the police for freebies and not give the same deal to everyone else.

"Why can't nurses, teachers, motor mechanics and housewives get cheap meals from Fasta Pasta as well?"

Ipswich Motorway upgrade from Wacol to Darra opens Sunday

CourierMail.com.au

THE Ipswich Motorway upgrade between Wacol and Darra will be commissioned on Sunday, nine months ahead of schedule.

Federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister Anthony Albanese and Queensland Main Roads Minister Craig Wallace will officially open the new $824 million six-lane section of the motorway with a party including live entertainment and rock climbing.

``I would encourage local residents to join us to celebrate this significant milestone in our $2.5 billion upgrade of the Ipswich Motorway, one of the biggest road projects currently underway anywhere in the country,'' said Mr Albanese.

Mr Wallace said the community open day will be a great opportunity to see the large construction project up close.

``I would like to take this opportunity to thank the local community for their patience and cooperation while we've been working hard to deliver this important congestion-busting road project as quickly as possible,'' said Mr Wallace.

The upgrade of the entire Motorway between Darra to Dinmore is expected to be completed by 2012.

LNP RECORD SHOWS THEIR MOCK OUTRAGE ON TURTLES AND DUGONG

Media Release

Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability

The Honourable Kate Jones

13/04/2010

LNP RECORD SHOWS THEIR MOCK OUTRAGE ON TURTLES AND DUGONG

Climate Change and Sustainability Minister Kate Jones today slammed the LNP for their mock outrage over alleged illegal hunting of turtles and dugong in Queensland given their own record.

Ms Jones said the best way to protect turtle and dugong populations was to safeguard their habitat and the Bligh Government had introduced tough new laws to do just that.

"The LNP voted against the Great Barrier Reef Protection Bill and have repeatedly called on me to wind back the new protection measures in Moreton Bay," Ms Jones said.

"The Great Barrier Reef is home to more than one million green turtles and thousands of dugong while Moreton Bay is home to more than 10,000 turtles and 800 dugong.

"The LNP wants to destroy their habitat while we protect it.

"If the LNP had their way we would see turtle and dugong populations plummet instead of increasing like we are seeing now."

Ms Jones said it was federal government legislation that allowed the take of turtle and dugong by native title holders in native title areas.

"However, any reported illegal hunting activities reported to the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service were investigated and where appropriate referred to the Federal Government for action," she said.

"The Nature Conservation Act 1992 makes it illegal for people who don't have native title rights to kill turtle and dugong and fines of up to $22,500 apply.

"We are currently investigating 12 incidents.

"In addition, I have viewed footage referred to today on YouTube.

"I was distressed to see this footage and have directed the department to immediately investigate this matter."

"I want anyone who has any evidence of illegal taking of dugong or turtle to immediately report it to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority on

4726 0588 or Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service

1300 130 372."

Ms Jones said she welcomed the recent announcement by the Federal Government to appoint a new specialist officer to act as an indigenous liaison in Far North Queensland to stamp out illegal take.

Australia Post pushes for letter price rise

Just months after its first request was sent back marked "return to sender", Australia Post has again asked the competition watchdog for the right to bump up the cost of posting a standard letter by five cents to 60 cents.

The government-owned postal service has told the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission the number of letters sent has fallen even further than expected when its earlier plea for a price rise was rejected last December.

At the time, the ACCC argued Australia Post was able to cuts its costs in order to meet the expected decline in letters. But in the latest application the postal service argues it has increased its cost-cutting effort but is still struggling under the financial strain of providing the service, which last year posted a loss of $67 million.

In its latest application, Australia Post said it now expects letter volumes to fall 5.8 per cent this financial year, greater than the 2.3 per cent fall it expected when it applied last year. For next year, it now expects the number of letters delivered to fall by 4.3 per cent.

The number of items sent through the post has plunged dramatically in recent years as people rely more on communicating via email and increasing numbers of companies charge for bills to be sent in the post.

Australia Post argues the global financial crisis prompted people to change their behaviour, including moving towards cheaper substitutes for mail, and those new habits were staying even as Australia emerged from the downturn.

The postal service said it had taken steps to reduce costs since the initial knockback, but appeared to make no guarantees of future cost reductions.

Under its government-imposed service obligation, Australia Post is required to maintain a network of more than 4000 post offices around the country and offer daily postal delivery to most homes and businesses.

As the monopoly provider of basic postal services, Australia Post is required to get the approval of the ACCC whenever it wants to increase prices.

In his letter to the ACCC, Australia Post chief executive Ahmed Fahour says "the depth and duration of the decline in letter volumes has been significantly greater than we anticipated" and the further decline in letter volumes has "led to us ramping up our efforts in cost reduction".

He says prices on stamps have risen only twice since 1992, with no price change for the GST. He argued that excluding the GST, overall inflation was at 58 per cent over that period, while postage prices had risen 11 per cent. A further five-cent increase would bring that postage price rise to 22 per cent.

The latest attempt is the first major move by Mr Fahour in his role as managing director after the former senior National Australia Bank executive took over the reins at the start of February.

Submissions to the review of prices can be made until the end of April.

Exposed: Sydney's great rental rip-off

The Mantra Hotel on Bond Street

Sydney Morning Herald

Students are being duped by online scams

BOGUS landlords are swindling young people out of hundreds of thousands of dollars in a scam that sucks flat-hunters into putting down rent and bond money on apartments that do not exist.

The online scam, which has seen at least a dozen foreign students lose up to $2000 each this year, is believed to be on the increase as the rental market tightens.

A Sun-Herald investigation has identified five people claiming to be renting out rooms in Sydney flats that do not exist. In each case the supposed owner demanded up to $1600 be paid to them by money transfer or into an Australian bank account on the basis of fake passports and tenancy agreements supplied as proof of ownership.

At least one is using passport details stolen in a previous scam from a 19-year-old student from country NSW.

Universities, still reeling from the damaging publicity surrounding attacks on Indian students in Melbourne, are concerned at the potential for such scams to deter foreign students from coming to Sydney.

The University of Sydney has put up a warning on its website that states: ''Students are being targeted by people pretending to be landlords. Students who have not yet visited accommodation being advertised are told to transfer money into bank accounts or through money transfer companies. A number of students have lost thousands of dollars.''

The University of NSW has emailed all foreign students, warning them to beware of flat-share deals that seem ''too good to be true''. The university has run two seminars highlighting the problem.

Student Representative Council president Osman Faruqi said the fraud would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. So far this year, up to eight foreign students have lost money, some before they even landed in Sydney.

It is understood the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is looking at accommodation scams but a spokeswoman would not confirm or deny that an investigation was under way.

Mr Faruqi said: ''The universities are looking to nip this thing in the bud … but the problem is you warn people and then a whole new wave of students arrives every few months and gets done again.

''There seems to be four or five standard scams, including one where landlords demand money before an international student even arrives. The landlord then gets in touch saying the room is no longer available and sends back a cheque that bounces or is from an account that no longer exists.''

In one scam, fake flat-owners place ads on websites, including share-accommodation.net and easyroommate.com, and claim to be out of the country. In each case the rent was just $600 a month despite offers of CBD location, pools, gyms and underground parking.

One, who gave his name as Harry Ramage, claimed to be living at luxury apartments on Bond Street, Sydney, known as the Mantra. Building services staff in the block told The Sun-Herald no one by the name of Ramage lived in the building.

Eventually, the real Harry, a 19-year-old student at Macleay College, was tracked down to Coonabarabran. His father Joe Ramage told The Sun-Herald yesterday the family had ''stupidly'' sent a scan of his son's passport to one of these people when they were looking for accommodation for him in February.

In an email the bogus Ramage said: ''I await your payment confirmation and I am happy for we would be the best flatmates ever … Pls find attached the contract documents and make your payment for you to reserve the room.''

Another scammer going by the name of Tracey Anne Burford said: ''I'll be willing to send you a scanned copy of my passport, police clearance, drivers' licence and certificate of ownership of the apartment you will be paying for, so as to prove to you that I truly own the apartment … you are in safe hands.''

She requested $1000 be deposited into a St George Bank account held by her lawyer ''Larry Pineda''. When The Sun-Herald requested a face-to-face meeting with Mr Pineda he did not reply.

''Landlords'' advertise rooms on flat-share website offering luxury accommodation in central locations for far less than the market rent.

Once interest is expressed by the flat-seeker, the landlord sends pictures of interiors, building facilities and views.

The landlord then tells a story about being overseas temporarily, saying keys can be forwarded by DHL or FedEx.

If concern is expressed, the landlord forwards a scan of a passport - often stolen from previous victims of the scam - and lease agreements.

The landlord then talks about getting their ''lawyer'' to draw up contracts.

Finally, the landlord requests that a month's rent and a bond to the same value is placed in an account or sent by money transfer, with the promise of keys to follow.

Once the money has been deposited the landlord is never heard from again.

Australian watchdog: Malaysian Airline fixed prices

Reuters India

[-] Text [+]

SYDNEY, April 13  - Australia's competition watchdog has launched proceedings against Malaysian Airline System Bhd (MASM.KL: Quote, Profile, Research) and its wholly-owned cargo subsidiary for alleged price fixing, it said in a statement on Tuesday.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission alleged that the firms entered into arrangements or understandings with other international air cargo carriers to fix fuel and security surcharges between 2001 and 2006.

A hearing in an Australian federal court has been scheduled for April 22 and the watchdog will seek declarations, injunctive relief, pecuniary penalties, and costs, it said.

The ACCC said Malaysian Airline is the thirteenth air carrier to become the subject of its price-fixing probe and its investigation of other airlines would continue.

Public question time considered for Bundaberg Council

Bundaberg News-Mail

A MOVE to reinstate public question time after meetings is to be considered by Bundaberg Regional Council.

While the old Bundaberg City Council did not allow questions from the floor, the Burnett Shire Council had a system where the public could submit written questions which would be handed in at the end of the meeting and answered by the mayor or the CEO.

At a council meeting yesterday Councillor Danny Rowleson moved successfully that a report be prepared on the feasibility of establishing a question time for the public at the end of each council meeting.

But Councillor Mary Wilkinson said she did not think it was necessary.

"There are too many issues involved for questioning in open council," she said.

Cr Wilkinson said councillors were available after meetings for anyone who wanted to discuss issues.

After the meeting Cr Rowleson said he believed councils should be open and transparent and he was not confronted by having to answer any questions.

"I'll take any question and if I can't answer it right away I'll take it on board and get back to them with an answer later," he said.

Cr Rowleson said he was hopeful of getting his proposal through and had discussed the matter with some of the other councillors after the meeting.

Bargara resident Bill Loudon, one of the most enthusiastic users of question time during the life of the Burnett Shire Council, said he was ambivalent about the proposal.

"I'm all for it, but even more I would like open council meetings where they get away from all these little meetings they have behind closed doors," he said.

"I'm all for just openness," he said.

Fellow question time devotee and Elliott Heads and District Ratepayers and Residents Association life member Bill Murray said he campaigned for question time during the Burnett Shire Council.

However, he did not think association members cared about the issue one way or the other because not many of them attended council meetings.

No beauty in Gympie

Gympie Times

GYMPIE Regional Council will be urged to reject a plan to convert a Monkland house into a beauty and wellbeing centre and beauty products factory.

Council's Planning and Development Committee yesterday resolved to recommend the rejection, which involves a house on the corner of Brisbane and Noosa Roads.

Grounds given for the recommendation include that it does not comply with the Cooloola Shire Planning Scheme, soon to be subject to its scheduled review and "sufficient planning grounds do not exist to warrant approval of the application despite the conflict."

The proposal was said to be "inconsistent with the intent of the Housing zone (within which the property is included) and represents an inappropriate use of the site and an undesirable planning outcome for the area, the proposal will generate unacceptable additional traffic, (it) does not represent a logical or desirable extension of the existing commercial area and (would be) better accommodated within the appropriately designated areas in the Planning Scheme, closer to the CBD or an established retail centre."

Fur flying over Newmarket treehouse

Brisbane Times

A group of Newmarket children face seeing their treehouse being torn down. 

A community park in Brisbane's north will continue to house a children's cubbyhouse - if the city's elected officials can come to an agreement.

Angry parents this morning expressed their frustration on ABC Radio after Brisbane City Council said it would remove a treehouse in Spencer Park at Newmarket.

The council received a complaint about the location of the structure on April 8.

It is understood the cubbyhouse overlooks a backyard pool and there are concerns children may injure themselves.

The structure will be pulled down this week.

The council today offered to let children who use the treehouse design a replacement, as long as local councillor David Hinchliffe agreed to pay for it.

For his part, the councillor said he would pay half the cost, but only if Lord Mayor Campbell Newman explained to the community why the original cubbyhouse should be removed.

The treehouse is located in rubber trees believed to more than 100 years old.

A council spokesman said there was no intention to cut down the trees.

"I think if the Lord Mayor can design a treehouse, I am more than happy to go in halves with him," Cr Hinchliffe said this afternoon.

"But I want him to come to a public meeting with the kids and explain why it has to be removed."

City business chair David McLachlan said he would not pressure council officers to change their mind on issues of privacy and public safety.

He said Cr Hinchliffe should use his community funding to build a proper cubbyhouse that met safety standards.

"[He] has been in council over 20 years and he has about $400,000 saved up," Cr McLachlan said.

"My offer to him is if he provides the money, we will provide the council officer to help with the project, and council will even let the kids design a proper cubby house that everyone can enjoy."

Council officers inspected the cubbyhouse last week before conducting doornocks of nearby streets and a letter-box drop.

Two residents from nearby Edmondstone Street were unaware of the cubbyhouse dilemma and said they would be concerned only if the trees were cut down.

Graeme King said all the local residents would be upset if the trees were harmed in any way.

PK Croft promoted to Parliamentary Secretary for Education

Media Release

Premier and Minister for the Arts

The Honourable Anna Bligh

12/04/2010

PK Croft promoted to Parliamentary Secretary for Education

Member for Broadwater Peta-Kaye Croft is to become the Parliamentary Secretary for the important portfolio of Education.

Premier Anna Bligh announced the move today following the resignation of Carolyn Male as the Parliamentary Secretary for Education due to health reasons.

"The loss of Carolyn as Parliamentary Secretary is obviously regrettable. I thank her for her hard work in this role and wish her the best for her recovery.

"There is no portfolio more important than Education and I know that Peta-Kaye will relish this challenge.

"PK has done a great job as Parliamentary Secretary for Emergency Services.

"Promoting PK to the Education portfolio is a vote of confidence in her performance," Ms Bligh said.

Ms Croft said she was excited about this new opportunity.

"I've always been passionate about education but now as the mother of a toddler my interest in education is even more focused.

"This will be a chance to be more closely involved in the Education reforms and to help see them through.

"My young son Brock will benefit from these reforms as will thousands of other children.

"I will be working hard to make sure that our kids get the best chance in life through an improved education system," Ms Croft said

Ipswich celebrates 150 years of Municipal Government

PIC: Ipswich celebrates 150 years
of Municipal Government with the dedication
of the new Mayoral chain of office.
Paul Pisasale is the 49th Mayor of Ipswich.

A special re-enactment of the first Ipswich Council meeting on 12 April 1860 occurred in Ipswich tonight.

The current mayor Paul Pisasale and councillors re-enacted the roles of the first mayor John Murphy and the other aldermen.

The main item of business was to appoint a Town Clerk on an annual salary of 200 pounds.

A large crowd was in attendance at the Ipswich Civic Centre including the great, great grand-daughter of the "Father of Ipswich" - George Thorn Snr, Margaret Nicol currently a resident of Springfield Lakes.

Vandals damage Redbank War Memorial

Graffiti vandals have attacked the new Redbank War Memorial at Brisbane Road Redbank.

They struck overnight damaging the memorial which is only a year old.
Goodna Police are investigating the incident.

Ipswich City Council will repair the monument in time for Anzac Day on April 25.

Local Councillor Paul Tully described the vandalism as "sickening".

"There is an Ipswich City Council reward of up to $2000 for information leading to the conviction of those responsible," Cr Tully said.

Information can be passed on to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Gold internet scam hits Australia

All that glisters is not gold.

The email scams are becoming more sophisticated.

This is the latest round of internet scams to hit Australia:

.................................................

From: contact@scrappauk.com

This is a message from KARMANS GROUP OF COMPANY.

We have 400 kilograms of alluvial gold dust and gold bar for sale:

Quantity:  400 kilograms

Quality: 22+ carat

Price per KG: $22,000

Purity: 93.7%

Origin: Ghana

We are ready to work  with any good buyer or broker from any part of the world.

We can always sign an agreement so that the money payed to our company account after the goods arrived at the buyer's destination.   

All the necessary document will accompany the goods such as Certificate of origin, Ownership certificate, Assay report from geological survey department, Export permit, Bank of Ghana form A2.

Kindly contact KARMANS GROUP OF COMPANY

.................................................

It's time for the Australian Government to take immediate action against these sorts of spam emails.

Innocent internet users are being constantly defrauded by these Nigerian-type scammers who seek their personal and financial details to completely strip their bank accounts.

As with other objectionable internet material, the Australian Government has the clear constitutional power under section 51 of the Australian Constitution to force ISP's to stop these bogus emails at the border.

Internet users and their families are being hurt financially - sometimes losing their entire life savings to these internet predators.

It's time for the Government to act on behalf of all Australians.

Contact your Federal Member today and call your local state or territory police if you are a victim of these callous fraudsters.

A current list of Members of Federal Parliament is available at -

MP's: http://www.aph.gov.au/house/members/memlist.pdf

SENATORS: http://www.aph.gov.au/senate/senators/contacts/los.pdf

To let the Federal Government know that you want them to ban these scams, email the Federal Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy Senator the Hon Stephen Conroy at: senator.conroy@aph.gov.au

Warn your friends about these scams, especially new internet users who may not be aware that these types of sophisticated frauds are operating in Australia.

You can circulate this consumer update by clicking the Email Post button below to warn your family and friends.

Mailboxes no more as Australia Post ramps up plans to scrap home deliveries

The Sunday Telegraph

By Bronwen Gora ⁠

April 11, 2010 ⁠

POSTAL deliveries could be scrapped and residents would have to collect mail from automated community post boxes.

Australia Post has earmarked the system for outer metropolitan areas, outlining the changes in a 12-page brochure presented to councils.

Door-to-door services would cease and residents would travel to "community hubs" where as many as 1200 post boxes would be located.

But Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils acting president Bart Bassett rejected the plan, saying it would make life harder for residents who were already time-poor.

"There would be considerable concern from residents, who would see this as a downgrading of services," he said.

"The last thing residents need is to have Australia Post take away their delivery service and make them travel to a central point."

The move would also force people to use their cars more at a time when the community was being urged to become more carbon-neutral, Mr Bassett said.

He said the lack of a home-delivery mail service could also make homes in new areas harder to sell.

"We just see it as another service the community will feel has been taken away from them," he said.

Swipe cards and pin codes would be used to open the boxes, which would be large enough to fit an A4 envelope.

Residents would be notified by SMS text messages to their mobile phones that they had new mail to collect.

Larger packages would be delivered to separate parcel boxes and notifications placed in regular post-office boxes.

Similar systems are already used in Britain, the US and parts of Europe.

The brochure states that "Australia Post is keen to identify trial locations for the new system". It also says the system is "only for new developments, at this time" and that home mailboxes would not be required.

Last September, Australia Post officials met to discuss trials of the system with the Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA), a lobby group for developers, as well as at least one Queensland council.

Residents would probably be reluctant to move away from the convenience of their own mailboxes, according to the UDIA.

"We wouldn't want home owners being denied the opportunity to have a letter box on their property just because Australia Post is looking to save on distribution costs," UDIA NSW chief executive Stephen Albin said.

An Australia Post spokesman confirmed that the idea of community mailboxes had been discussed recently with several Queensland councils "as a conceptual option for future housing developments".

"There are no plans to change the current delivery arrangements or to stop door-to-door delivery to existing communities," the spokesman said.

He said there were no plans as yet to move towards the introduction of community mail boxes in NSW, but Queensland councillors who spoke to Australia Post officials said they had been told the organisation was looking for suitable sites around Australia.

"They need to get local councils and developers on side," Ipswich city councillor Paul Tully said.

He confirmed that the Ipswich City Council was co-operating with Australia Post to set up a trial.

"We've said that we're prepared to work with them to find a site," Mr Tully said.