Australia - Another farm investment scam goes bust

http://www.meattradenewsdaily.co.uk


Another managed investment scheme company has gone into voluntary administration, following the well trodden path laid out by Great Southern and Timbercorp.

This time it's Tasmanian company Forest Enterprises Australia, which has MIS projects in Tasmania, NSW, Queensland and the Northern Territory.

FEA has blamed its bankers, the Commonwealth Bank and the ANZ, for putting it a position where voluntary administration was the only way out.

The MIS company says it had been trying to work out its problems by selling land, cutting costs and reducing debt, but the banks didn't give it enough time.

BRI Ferrier has been appointed voluntary administrator.

Agribusiness Elders says it's lost $100 million through its investment in Forest Enterprises Australia.

After FEA announced its voluntary administration yesterday, Elders told the sharemarket its share of FEA was worthless.

Elders' chief executive Malcolm Jackman says it wasn't a great investment.

"This will have no real impact on the business at all," he says.

"I think the investment community has factored in to their models of us that this was an investment that was unlikely to be returning and serious return in the future."

Forest Enterprises Australia, Bell Bay, Tasmania.

 The company is the latest managed investment scheme to go into administration.

All Australian states and the Commonwealth agree to fire ant eradication funding

Minister for Primary Industries, Fisheries and Rural and Regional Queensland

The Honourable Tim Mulherin

24/04/2010

All states and the Commonwealth agree to fire ant eradication funding

Minister for Primary Industries, Fisheries and Rural and Regional Queensland Tim Mulherin said he was pleased with the ongoing commitment to fire ant eradication showed by all states at yesterday's Primary Industries Ministerial Council in Darwin.

Mr Mulherin said all states and the Commonwealth agreed that this is a battle that needs ongoing funding to allow the continuation of the effective treatment program and the development of remote sensing technology to eradicate fire ants.

"Scientific trials have been conducted in the use of high tech imagery for the purpose of detecting fire ant colonies using remote sensing technology, the securing of ongoing funding allows the completion of this testing," Mr Mulherin said.

"Helicopters have flown over 243 known mounds and captured 2033 hectares of imagery data.

"This data is currently being analysed by staff from Biosecurity Queensland and the University of Sydney, with preliminary results expected in November.

"Modeling shows that alternative, cost-effective, surveillance techniques are essential to the continuing viability of the eradication program," Mr Mulherin said.

Mr Mulherin said the National Management Group will now consider the detail of Queensland's $21 million funding proposal for the 2010-11 financial year.

"While the remote sensing technology is refined over the next two years an aggressive containment program will be deployed so fire ants do not spread further," Mr Mulherin said.

"We believe eradication is possible, we know that if we can find the ants we can kill them. The issue is finding better ways to detect the ants.

"The battle against fire ants can still be won, but an adequate funding program must continue to be supported by all States and the Commonwealth to improve technology, employ staff and promote community awareness."

Mr Mulherin said while the area of infestation has expanded, the level of infestation remains low and Queensland remains confident that eradication is feasible.

"This has been the wettest summer we've had since eradication started in 2001 and conditions have been perfect for fire ants to spread," Mr Mulherin said.

"We've recently trained an additional 64 fire ant field staff, bringing the number of staff fighting fire ants to more than 150.

"More strategic methods of operation have also been developed resulting in increased detections in high risk areas.

"Biosecurity Queensland has also run a successful media campaign to raise awareness amongst the general public of the risks fire ants pose, resulting in an increase in the number of detections reported by the public," he said.

With adequate funding from all State Governments and the Federal Government, Biosecurity Queensland can continue to apply these effective methods of detection and eradication of fire ants, to prevent their spread to other states of Australia.

.....................................
This initiative will be
welcomed by the people
of southeast Queensland.

PaulGTully@gmail.com

Clampdown on foreigners buying property in Australia

SMH.com.au

The federal government will again require temporary residents to sell their houses when they leave the country following mounting complaints about foreigners driving up prices.

Travel details and ownership data will be matched to catch cheats, and the public will have a new hotline - 1800 031 227 - to dob in foreigners they suspect of breaches.

Those leaving Australia must sell their properties and the government will claw back any capital gains made by foreign investors who breach the arrangements. Real estate agents will face new penalties under civil law that are being developed.

Assistant Treasurer Nick Sherry issued a statement on Friday night saying he would reinstate restrictions on foreign property investment scrapped in 2008 and impose new measures and tougher penalties to further tighten the system and improve compliance.

"The Rudd government is acting to make sure that investment in Australian real estate by temporary residents and foreign non-residents is within the law, meets community expectations and doesn't place pressure on housing availability for Australians," Senator Sherry said.

"The new provisions announced today will mean that anyone trying to flout Australia's strict foreign investment rules will face tough new penalties that will be fully enforced."

Treasury is reportedly investigating 50 cases of suspicious residential property purchases by foreigners in Melbourne, contributing to rising property prices.

Under reinstated regulations, temporary residents and foreign students will be screened by the Foreign Investment Review Board to determine if they will be allowed to purchase a property.

Foreign residents without temporary visas cannot buy existing houses, and may buy property only if it adds to the housing stock.

If buying land, they must build within two years or sell it to stop "land banking".

Brisbane's Northern Link gets the go-ahead

BrisbaneTimes.com.au

Brisbane City Council's $1.7 billion Northern Link tunnel has received state government approval, paving the way for work to begin later this year.

The two parallel twin-lane tunnels will run underground from the Toowong roundabout, connecting the Western Freeway to the Inner City Bypass.

Construction is set to start in December and, when completed, will be Brisbane's third toll tunnel, after the Clem7 and Airport Link.

Infrastructure Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said 34 conditions had been imposed on the project by Co-ordinator General Colin Jensen after 28 months of evaluation.

"The Northern Link road tunnel is obviously a major piece of infrastructure that will have a positive impact on improving traffic flows in Brisbane, " Mr Hinchliffe said.

"Its construction will need to be managed carefully to minimise any adverse impacts on local residents and the environment."

Mr Hinchliffe said the Coordinator-General and the Department of Infrastructure and Planning spent 28 months thoroughly assessing the council's environmental impact statement and associated materials.

Mr Jensen said the conditions in the evaluation report were the most extensive and stringent ever for a transport infrastructure project in Queensland.

He said the conditions included issues which had been raised with Clem7 and the Airport Link tunnels.

Those included air quality issues and the excavation of rock from the tunnel.

Mr Jensen said conditions governing air emissions from the ventilation outlets would be covered directly by an environmental authority set by the Department of Environment and Resource Management.

"Another major concern raised in the submissions was the air quality levels from the two ventilation outlets. One is proposed at each end of the tunnel," he said.

"During construction, rock excavated from the tunnels will be transported to Mt Coot-tha Quarry by a conveyor belt.

"Any changes to the conveyor route proposed recently by council will be subject to further separate assessment once council has completed its tender process.

"Conditions governing air emissions from the ventilation outlets will be covered directly by an environmental authority set by the Department of Environment and Resource Management."

The Federal Government has chipped in $500 million to the $1.7 billion project, which is projected to provide 1400 jobs during construction and 85 jobs when it is running in 2014.

Council's opposition leader Shayne Sutton yesterday questioned the financial implications on Brisbane ratepayers of the project.

Member for Bundamba Jo-Ann Miller celebrates 10 yaers in Parliament

QT

Jo-Ann Miller celebrates 10 years as State Member
for Bundamba.

IT WAS a combination of Gough Whitlam, strong family union ties, and some pretty shabby classrooms that led Jo-Ann Miller into politics.

It was in 1970, at the age of 13, when the Bremer State High School student joined the Labor Party, vowing to one day fix the classrooms at her school if she ever was in a position of power.

Later, still as a school student, she wrote a letter to The Queensland Times complaining about long grass on a council patch of land – it was promptly fixed the next day.

Fast forward to 2010 and the now-Member for Bundamba – who this year celebrates 10 years in the job – says it was those instances in her early years that led her into politics.

"I was made secretary of the Dinmore Riverview Labor Party branch that night as a 13-year-old," she laughs.

"I always had an interest in politics. With my father and his family being involved in mining and the mining union at the time – the Queensland Colliers Employees' Union – I'd always been around politics.

"But even then I never imagined I would be here now in this position."

Mrs Miller celebrated her 10th anniversary as the Member for Bundamba with a function at the Booval Bowls Club last night.

Along with proud family members – including husband Neil and daughters Brianna (19) and Stephanie Clarke (26) – she was joined at the function by Labor Party members, trade unionists and community leaders.

She told the QT in the lead-up to her anniversary party that her 10 years in parliament had flown by.

Mrs Miller first became the Member for Bundamba in a by-election in February 2000.

The incumbent MP Bob Gibbs, whom Mrs Miller had worked for as a staffer, had retired from his position three months earlier for health reasons.

Having also worked for Labor MPs Bill Hayden and Peter Pyke, she won pre-selection for the seat and claimed the by-election with 70 per cent of the two-party preferred vote.

She said in her 10 years as an MP, her greatest achievements included improving schools in the region and improving health services such as creating the Goodna Medical Centre.

Mrs Miller also said she was proud of the renewal projects undertaken in Department of Housing homes, infrastructure projects such as the Ipswich Motorway and Centenary Highway upgrades, and introducing work-skilling projects.

She said the hardest issues she had to deal with included the Dr Jayant Patel scandal at the Bundaberg Hospital, as she was the parliamentary secretary for health at the time.

But the biggest problem in her electorate was the subsidence problems in her home suburb of Collingwood Park.

Although enjoying a look back over the past 10 years, Mrs Miller said she had enough energy to carry on for another decade at least.

"I think I mentioned in my maiden speech to parliament that in my electorate we have the 'have everythings', the 'haves', the 'have nots' and the 'have absolutely nothings', and those differences still exist," she said.

"Young families and couples are struggling to buy their first homes now, and they're being forced to look elsewhere, which is a real shame."

Melbourne Storm Rugby League scammers may face jail terms

SMH.com.au

MELBOURNE Storm's two most senior executives could face up to five years in jail and fines of $200,000 under companies law if, after investigation, they are charged and convicted over their actions in the club's multimillion-dollar cheating scandal.

And the club's senior players, along with their managers, may also face investigation to see whether they breached criminal provisions or taxation laws in conspiring to hide the true nature of their salary deals, according to legal experts.

Professor Ian Ramsay, director of Melbourne University's Centre for Corporate Law, said last night the revelations that dual sets of accounts were being kept by senior club executives meant ''there's a range of possibilities where this might go''.

Melbourne Storm chairman Rob Moodie exits NRL headquarters. 

Professor Ramsay said that, apart from the likely reputational and financial damage to the club with its members and sponsors, there were potential breaches of both the Corporations Act and certain criminal laws.

He said that the first area of concern was whether directors or officers of Storm met the legal requirements to act in the interests of the company and for a proper purpose.

He said the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, which polices the law, also focused on whether financial records prepared by companies are accurate.

Chief executive Matt Hanson. 

Deliberately falsified documents and accounts trigger potential breaches of the Crimes Act.

The NRL's statement yesterday said that their investigations had revealed Melbourne was running two sets of accounts, in respect of player payment contracts, with a secret file detailing extra payments ''kept at the home of the chief executive''.

The club yesterday stood down acting chief executive, and former chief financial officer, Matthew Hanson, and named as the scheme's architect his predecessor, Brian Waldron, who left in mid-January.

The NRL said that neither Storm's chairman - well-known Melbourne figure Dr Rob Moodie - and his fellow directors, nor the club's owner - Rupert Murdoch's News Ltd - were aware of the two sets of accounts until the league's audit.

A taxation law expert said under-the-table payments always sent red-flag alerts to regulatory bodies and the Storm's admission would certainly register on the radar of the Taxation Office and ASIC.

''What you will often find on issues like salary cap breaches is that it opens the side gate for the regulatory bodies to have a look at what is happening,'' he said.

''ASIC could well look into it to see if there is any breach of corporation law while the Tax Office could also show some interest,'' the source said.

A spokeswoman for ASIC said the commission could not comment on operational matters while the Tax Office was of the same opinion.

Victoria Police said it was not ruling out an investigation but said last night that it had not received an official complaint on the matter.

News Ltd chairman and chief executive John Hartigan said yesterday the matters would be referred to police.

Telstra set to increase wholesale line rental cost?

http://www.telegeography.com

Australian incumbent Telstra is reportedly preparing to increase the prices charged to its rivals for wholesale access to its copper network by 20%, The Australian reports.

It is understood that Telstra has sent out a revised wholesale contract document to its competitors detailing the proposed price hikes, with the cost of wholesale line rental set to rise from AUD24 (USD22.3) per month to AUD31 per month.

While alternative operators are understandably dismayed at the development, it remains unlikely that they will have any means by which to fight such a move; although the changes will be subject to negotiations between Telstra and each individual operator, the incumbent's proposed increase falls in line with indicative pricing set by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) in December 2009.

Should the wholesale access price rise it remains likely that it will be consumers that would bear the brunt of the increases, with most operators expected to hike retail pricing in response to the move.

Suggestions have been made that Telstra's decision to renegotiate wholesale prices at higher levels is a direct attempt by the telco to shore up its wholesale division prior to proposed legislative changes to the country's telecoms sectors.

Commenting on the development, one unnamed access seeker noted: 'It's amazing that this is going on while Telstra is saying that there is no discrimination in the wholesale market and that the government's plans to reform the telecoms regulatory sector are not needed.'

National Australian Scam: Black Saturday hero exposed after 20 years posing as Vietnam veteran

Colin Sinclair - a fraudster who duped his mates.

Herald Sun

A BLACK Saturday hero has been exposed as a fraud who for more than 20 years duped his community and family into believing he was a Vietnam vet.

Colin Sinclair will be noticeably absent from Sunday's Anzac dawn service in Walhalla, the historic gold-mining town two hours' drive east of Melbourne.

For more than 20 years, he has been the driving force behind the sombre ceremony, shedding tears for those he said he fought alongside.

He would give snapshots of life on Radar Hill at Nui Dat, where the SAS operated.

But when the school bus driver was asked to elaborate, he would invoke the Secrets Act. In the early morning mist he would pay tribute to those who struggled to readjust to civilian life, and who later took their own lives.

At the Walhalla pub, his war adventures were legendary. Some thought they were too good to be true. They were: Colin Sinclair was living a lie.

Early this month, the would-be war hero confessed to his three children and some mates that he'd been living a double life.

"It was all bull----. It started with one lie and then just grew and grew," said the 63-year-old, who also works as a tourist guide.

"I'm an impostor who has been finally found out. I knew it was going to come one day. Now I'm so glad it's over ... I don't have to live this lie.

"It just got out of control and got to the point where I was hating myself."

Mr Sinclair was outed after his war stories were checked by real Vietnam veterans, who confronted him weeks ago.

He said the lie started when he was first asked to organise the local Anzac Day service, and it was suggested he claim Vietnam veteran status.

"It was thought it would seem better if the service was done by an ex-serviceman instead of an idiot off the street," he claimed.

"Well, as things turned out they did get an idiot ... me."

Mr Sinclair said in his own mind he rationalised the lies by paying tribute to his friends who served.

The closest involvement he'd had with the military was in the army reserves.

"I tried to get into the Army and the Navy, but up here is too dense," he said, tapping a finger against his temple. "I couldn't pass the IQ test."

Nonetheless, he has a keen interest in the military, collecting war memorabilia, notably Vietnam medallions such as the Long Tan Cross.

When people asked to see his war service medals he'd claim to have thrown them in the river in disgust at anti-war protests. "But I've drawn the line at wearing medals, and I've never tried to get a pension," he said.

A couple of weeks ago he purged his guilt, first to his two daughters and teenage son, and then his pub mates.

"My daughter called me a 'bloody idiot' and then told me she loved me," he said.

Last year, Mr Sinclair experienced a form of redemption when the Black Saturday bushfires came close to town.

The bushfires royal commission was told that Mr Sinclair had ushered about 30 people to safety inside the old gold mine where he is a guide.

In his submission to the commission, Simon Anthony Seear, who has a holiday house in Walhalla, said the fire came within a couple of hundred metres.

"We were just lucky in terms of the wind change," he wrote.

"Prior to this wind change, the fire appeared to create its own weather pattern: it was black; the sky was raining mud; it was like black mud was covering everything."

Mr Sinclair can recall seeing the fires bearing down.

"We thought we were dead. Then the wind dropped and it started to rain," he said.

He won't be marching on Sunday, but across Australia some Vietnam veterans will be on the lookout for impostors.

The ANZMI group, set up to expose military impersonators, said members would carry phone and digital cameras to photograph anyone suspected of being an impostor.

Big Brother is talking to you via security cameras in Ipswich

Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale


Courier-Mail

TROUBLEMAKERS caught in the act will be verbally confronted as state authorities add speakers to their surveillance camera systems.

The "Big Brother" bid would also see motion-activated cameras installed in areas where public safety has become an issue, such as the Brisbane Botanical Gardens, alleys and bikeways.

Ipswich City Council, which has 160 cameras, announced plans to introduce speakers allowing security guards to speak directly to people caught misbehaving on camera, and other councils may follow suit.

"This is not about Big Brother – it's about taking security one step further," Mayor Paul Pisasale said.

"It's being proactive, it's actually preventing the crime.

"Operators are watching it and if they see a kid walking too close to the water, they can get on (the speaker) and say, 'Excuse me madam, your kids are getting a bit close to the water'.

"Or they can see some kids hanging around and say, 'Son, I wouldn't do that'."

He said crime had fallen 78 per cent in the decade following the system's installation.

Brisbane CBD already has 60 cameras while the Gold Coast has almost 100 and Logan 11 fixed and 11 portable plus a security van. Queensland Rail has another 6000 cameras in stations, trains and carparks.

Brisbane City Ward councillor David Hinchliffe said the new technology would allow security providers to talk to people about inappropriate behaviour.

"The speaker system would allow monitoring room staff to broadcast in the mall in urgent situations," he said.

"They would need to be placed in strategic locations at mall entries, exits, near public transport nodes. They could be helpful as well when there are urgent public transport crises."

Motion-activated cameras are under review after being mooted at last week's BCC malls advisory committee.

Cr Hinchliffe said the council had already made a submission to State Government to support the security upgrade but was rejected. However, another bid should be made.

The cameras in the Brisbane CBD are monitored 24 hours a day, seven days a week by two council officers, who liaise with police.

Lord Mayor Campbell Newman refused to talk to The Courier-Mail.

Logan City Council community services chairwoman Hajnal Ban said the council would consider the results of the Ipswich trial but had used a mobile security camera van with speakers since 2004.

A recent group of youths drinking in a Browns Plains park had been dispersed after security officers used the van's public announcement system to warn them they were acting illegally.

Brian Loughnane called to account over Liberal Party feud as dispute spills over to Queensland

The Australian

Liberal Party in turmoil

LIBERAL federal director Brian Loughnane has received a brisk "please explain" from the opposition front bench amid fears strife at party headquarters could derail the Coalition's campaign at the next election.

Mr Loughnane removed deputy director James McGrath from his post last week.

Mr McGrath has been offered a job supervising campaign efforts in the vital state of Queensland in the lead-up to the poll, but The Australian understands he is yet to accept a new role. Mr McGrath was not available for comment yesterday.

But a string of senior Liberals raised concerns when the opposition front bench met in Sydney yesterday, questioning Mr Loughnane's account. "There were some very strong comments made," one source said.

Mr McGrath, a former staffer with the Kerin government in South Australia and with a suite of high-ranking members of the British Conservative Party, has been in charge of the Liberals' key seats campaign. The frontbenchers were told Queensland's merged Liberal National Party structure was not working, with campaign preparedness nowhere near as high as in other states.

But frontbenchers and backbenchers alike do not want to lose Mr McGrath's skills in other states. "He has built up a level of trust that the federal secretariat has not previously enjoyed," one senior frontbencher said.

"He has put in place some of the best marginal seats initiatives. He has very broad support from across marginal seat-holders. He has visited their offices on numerous occasions, knows them inside out, developed a rapport with their staff and understands local issues."

One senior figure contrasted the "remote" Mr Loughnane with Mr McGrath, saying of the younger man: "He's popular with marginal seat-holders. He's out there all the time. They feel he cares about them."

Mr Loughnane defended his personnel decisions and offered one-on-one briefings to any concerned frontbenchers.

North Queensland opposes daylight saving: MP

ABC News

The Member for Thuringowa in north Queensland says he has been inundated with feedback on a proposal to have two different time zones in the state.

Local MP Craig Wallace says in just one week about 200 people have contacted him to voice their opinions, with about 60 per cent saying they do not want to see a split time zone.

Mr Wallace says he will continue to take feedback from the community before reporting back to Premier Anna Bligh on May 18.

"Well a lot of people have told me that they don't really care what [the] south-east does as long as we keep daylight saving out of north Queensland," he said.

"The other 40 per cent said they would support a split time zone in Queensland as long as daylight saving wasn't introduced into north Queensland."

Mr Wallace says people are sick or the issue.

"They believe that if south-east Queensland does have daylight saving and we don't we have a split time zone it may well put that debate to bed and certainly some people want this debate to be finished," he said.

In the 21st century this is unbelievable: UK family ask for 'no black hotel staff' in Florida

http://news.ninemsn.com.au

A British family has sparked a legal storm when they told staff at a US luxury hotel that they did not want to be served by any black people.

The family allegedly told staff at a five-star Ritz-Carlton hotel in Florida that they didn't want to be served by "people of colour" or staff with "foreign accents".

But Haitian-born waiter Wadner Tranchant has sued the hotel claiming that by preventing him from serving the family, the Ritz-Carlton violated the Civil Rights Act, the UK Times newspaper reported.

Mr Tranchant, who is black, was moved to other duties when the UK family were seated at the restaurant.

Mr Tranchant's lawyer said nine witnesses would testify that the family had made the racist request.

"My client was prevented from waiting on this couple because he was black," he said.

"Plaintiff was humiliated, embarrassed, frightened, intimidated, subject to undeserved shame and suffered severe emotional stress, which is continuing and for which Plaintiff is seeking medical and psychological treatment," the lawsuit read.

Prices at the luxury hotel range from $480 a night for a standard room to $5400 for the presidential suite.

.....................................................................................................
COMMENT: At least Australia has tough laws to stop this insanity. 
This family should have been booted out of the United States.

PaulGTully@gmail.com

Fair Trading cracks down on Queensland products

QBR

Over 1,000 formal warnings have been issued against Queensland retailers as a result of the Office of Fair Trading's (OFT) ongoing compliance blitz.

The regulatory body continues to weigh in on whether the state's products measure up, checking everything from corner store milk and supermarket deli ham to petrol from service stations.

Fair Trading Minister Peter Lawlor yesterday revealed details of the initiative, which involved measuring weight, size or volume of products.

INSPECTION RESULTS

"From July 2009 to February 2010, OFT inspectors were busy visiting 2,573 shops, retail outlets and other traders," Lawlor says.

"During the visits, OFT inspectors tested more than 4,200 measuring instruments to make sure the businesses were measuring and calculating prices correctly for customers," he says.

"This included instruments such as scales used to weigh anything from fresh fruit and vegetables bought at weekend markets and sausages from the butcher, through to bowsers pumping out fuel."

According to a government statement, almost 100 traders were found to be "incorrectly measuring their goods".

Lawlor says more than 27,000 separate pre-packaged products found on shelves were also tested, including: confectionery, snack foods, cheese, eggs, meat, frozen seafood and wholesale fruit and vegetables.

Almost 12 percent – or 3,203 – of these items were reportedly found to be "short measure".

FORMAL WARNINGS

Lawlor says a retailer incorrectly weighing and dispensing goods, or a business incorrectly packing goods for pre-packaged products, could end up paying for it.

"As a result of our latest compliance checks, 1,297 formal warnings were issued," he says.

"Another 141 infringement notices were handed out mostly because of pre-packed items having a different quantity to what's on the label or for failing to allow for the weight of the plastic tub or paper bag when measuring."

CAR WASHES SETTING THE PACE IN SUSTAINABILITY

Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability

The Honourable Kate Jones

23/04/2010

CAR WASHES SETTING THE PACE IN SUSTAINABILITY

Queensland car washes are partnering the State Government in setting new industry standards in efficient water use, Climate Change and Sustainability Minister Kate Jones said today.

Ms Jones said the Australian Car Wash Association was joining a new State Government sustainability program to help its members on saving water and other resources.

Ms Jones visited Hoppy's Handwash Café at Norman Park to see how sustainable business is also good business.

"Every year, up to 900 million litres, or 360 Olympic-sized swimming pools, of contaminated waste water flows into Brisbane's stormwater systems from home car washing," Ms Jones said.

"I believe it's incumbent on professional car wash companies to make sure this contamination is not occurring in their industry.

"That's why I congratulate the Australian Car Wash Association for joining DERM's new ClimateSmart Business Associations Program - an extension of our highly successful Ecobiz program.

"DERM will work with ACWA to develop a sustainability program they can deliver to car wash businesses for smarter energy, water and waste management.

"In this modern age, where every drop, every kilowatt and every kilo of waste counts, sustainable business practice has never been more important.

"Queensland businesses are operating in an environment with increasing resource costs, and a greater awareness of how our activities affect the environment around us.

"Hoppy's uses a closed-loop system, harvesting rainwater and recycling water that is used in the car washing process - reusing potentially harmful waste instead of polluting our waterways.

"Stormwater drains run into rivers, estuaries and bays, endangering surrounding wildlife and ecosystems, and contaminating water supplies.

"Choosing a sustainable car wash facility, or washing your car on the grass and not on the driveway, can help prevent run-off into the stormwater drains and help keep our rivers, streams and beaches healthy."

Health Insurance in Australia: Concerns raised over iSelect

http://www.healthinsurancehounds.com/

Is iSelect - which claims to write 10 percent of all health insurance in Australia - a ripoff?

Or is it using legitimate business tactics?

Have a look at the website above and the embedded video from the ABC 7.30 Report and you be the judge.

Latest internet scam hits Australia from supposed British Canadian Lottery

Latest internet scam hits Australia

This is the latest internet scam to hit Australia:

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

From: corofincountryhouse@eircom.net

BRITISH CANADIAN LOTTERY BC-49,
70 Foster Drive, Suite 800, Sault Ste.
Marie, Ontario, P6A 6V2, Canada.
Winning No:  04 05 06 34 40 48
Bonus No: 09
Confirm Winning: http://www.canada.com/life/

lotteries/lottery_results.html

Ref No: IMP/73253CA/2010
Batch No: 642376/CA/2010.

2010 BC-49 PROMOTION NOTIFICATION!!

The Canadian Government in collaboration with the British Government and the World Gaming Board are the sponsors of this online email lottery for compensation and grant for both past lottery winners and the entire world public for purpose of Infrastructural development as an online compensation for all internet users.

We happily announce to you the draw of the Special Global 2010 Promotional Draw held on the Wednesday April 21, 2010 in Manchester in the United Kingdom and Ontario Canada. Your e-mail address attached to REF No; IMP/73253CA/2009, with Batch No: 642376/CA/2009 drew the Winning No: 04 05 06 34 40 48, Bonus No: 09 for BC-49 Lotto under the choice of the lottery in the 1st category of bi-weekly six.

All participants were selected randomly from World Wide Web site through computer draws system and extracted from over 10,000,000 companies and personal e-mails. So your email is your online automatic ticket that qualified you for this draw. You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of £1,263,584.00 Pounds Sterling (One Million Two Hundred and Sixty Three Thousand Five Hundred and Eighty Four Pounds Sterling).

In view of this, your £1,263,584.00 Pounds Sterling (One Million Two Hundred and Sixty Three Thousand Five Hundred and Eighty Four Pounds Sterling) would be released to you by following the directives of the Royal Bank Of Scotland Plc. Our London- UK Bank will immediately commence the processing of your payment to facilitate the release of your funds as soon as you contact the office. So you are required to forward the following details to our trusted Bank company to help facilitate the processing of your claims:

You are to contact the Royal Bank Of Scotland Plc., for payment with details below:
Contact Person: Hamilton Reeds.
Bank Name: Royal Bank Of Scotland
Email: hamiltonreeds_transferunit@w.cn
Tel: +44 7011 1467 22, +44 7035 9254 34.

FILL PAYMENT PROCESSING FORM BELOW:
1. FULL NAMES: ________
2. ADDRESS: __________
3. AGE AND SEX: ________
4. MARITAL STATUS: _____
5. OCCUPATION: ________
6. E-MAIL ADDRESS: ______
7. TELEPHONE NUMBER: _____________________
8. YOUR WINNING AND BONUS NUMBERS: __________
9. BATCH NUMBER AS LISTED ABOVE: ______________
10. AMOUNT WON: ________
11. COUNTRY: ___________

Remember, you must contact the (Royal Bank Of Scotland Plc.), to claim your prize, send your reference and batch number and payment processing form to their email hamiltonreeds_transferunit@w.cn

Winners are advised to keep their winning details/information from the public to avoid fraudulent claim (IMPORTANT) pending the prize claim by Winner. You can also confirm your winning number and bonus numbers on our website http://www.canada.com/life/lotteries/lottery_results.html

Congratulation!!

Sincerely,
Mary Jordan (Mrs.)
Lottery Controller General
BC-49 Lottery

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

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.

The great daylight saving debate dividing QLD

Central Queensland News

ENDLESS ARGUMENT: Will the sun ever set on the
debate over daylight savings?

IT seems apt that the most ongoing debate in the Sunshine State relates to the issue of daylight savings.

And with Premier Anna Bligh asking residents in the south east, Toowoomba and Rockhampton regions to have their say on whether Queensland should have a split time zone trial followed by a referendum, it is understandable the old argument of breaking our state in two has reared its ugly head as well.

But with the location for the proposed split being either south or north of Rockhampton, both options would have great and differing effects on the Central Highlands.

If the split goes ahead Member for Gregory Vaughan Johnson will see his electorate broken by the divide and said the idea 'beggars belief'.

"This is the most lame-brained, idiotic statement I've heard from the lips of our Premier in a while," he said.

Mr Johnson said one of the ideas for the split was to run the divide along the Tropic of Capricorn.

As the tropic runs through the centre of Longreach, Mr Johnson's home town, he would be able to cross from one time zone to another by crossing the street.

In 2007, the State Government surveyed the population using independent research company ACNielen, and found that the majority of rural and regional Queenslanders were against daylight savings, and even more so against splitting the state into two time zones.

Across the state 52 per cent of residents said no, and in rural and regional Queensland it was the same for 63 per cent of residents.

In June last year Premier Bligh said she was not prepared to split the state, but it seems she has changed her tune.

"Our government has previously categorically ruled out daylight saving for the entire state and we remain opposed to any consideration in that regard," said Ms Bligh.

"But in South East Queensland this is an issue that polarises residents, this is the issue that never goes away and no matter where I am in the south east, it is the issue that is regularly raised with me – and I can't ignore that.

"Maybe we need to revisit the daylight saving issue and listen more to exactly what it is Queenslanders want for the south east in regard to split time zones."

One member of parliament who has been outspoken against the idea of different time zones is Federal MP for Innisfail Bob Katter who said CH would want to be on the north side and away from the 'greedy' south east.

"Everything I've seen in the (last) 40 years tells me that if we are happy to be second class citizens... then keep going as we are," he said.

He said the large amount of money spent in the south east corner on projects like airport upgrades, tunnels and buildings in at South Bank were funded by the north and central regions of Queensland.

"It will get worse and worse and worse until we stand on our hind legs and do something about it," he said.

"Where's our cut of the cake? Our roads are falling to pieces."

Mr Katter said he was tired of the 'tyranny of the majority' whom he believed our state was governed by.

"There are almost as many people in the rest of Queensland as there are in the south east," he said.

"If you have a tick on your back taking the blood from you, you get rid of it."

Melbourne Storm - World's Greatest Cheats!

The Melbourne Storm deserve everything the NRL unleashed on them today.

Hopefully, criminal charges will be laid against those involved.

Nothing but lies and deception by the bosses of the Melbourne Storm - over how many years?

Rugby League is the real loser.

Three new magistrates appointed in Queensland

Attorney-General and Minister for Industrial Relations

The Honourable Cameron Dick

22/04/2010

Three new magistrates for regional Queensland

Attorney-General Cameron Dick has today announced the appointment of three new magistrates to serve in regional Queensland.

Mr Dick said Cameron Press, Jane Bentley and Terry Duroux join the ranks of Queensland's 86 magistrates after their appointment by the Governor-in-Council today.

Mr Press will be appointed to the Rockhampton Magistrates Court, Ms Bentley to the Cairns Magistrates Court and Mr Duroux to the Southport Magistrates Court.

"Mr Press has had a distinguished legal career spanning more than 20 years and has served as a member on various tribunals and committees, including the Queensland Mental Health Review Tribunal and the regional parole board," Mr Dick said.

"He has been appointed to the Rockhampton Magistrates Court for one year and will then transfer to Emerald for two years.

"Ms Bentley has had a wealth of experience in the criminal justice system during the past 20 years, including stints with Legal Aid Queensland, the National Crime Authority and the office of the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions.

Mr Dick also praised Mr Duroux's outstanding legal career, which brings an abundance of experience to the Court.

"Mr Duroux, who was admitted as a solicitor in 1994, has extensive experience as a Registrar in the Holland Park and Pittsworth Magistrates Courts and has acted as a magistrate during the past decade across a range of locations.

"All three appointees are a valuable addition to the magistrates' ranks in Queensland and will continue the excellent work of the judiciary in our busiest courts," Mr Dick said.

RACQ woes: A broken down RACQ car on the back of an RACQ tow truck in Ipswich!

Not a great look for the RACQ in Queen St Goodna today.

Anzac Day trading hours announced

Minister for Tourism and Fair Trading

The Honourable Peter Lawlor

22/04/2010

ANZAC Day trading

As Anzac Day approaches, licensed venues have been reminded of the special conditions for liquor service on the yearly celebration of Australia's armed forces.

Minister for liquor regulation Peter Lawlor said it was vital that all licensees understood the trading conditions on Anzac Day.

"On the 25th of April, RSLs and Services Clubs will be entitled to commence trading from 5am without applying for a permit," Mr Lawlor said.

All other licensees must not trade before 1pm on ANZAC Day unless it is in conjunction with a meal in an area normally set aside for dining, such as hotels, motels and restaurants, in which case trading may begin at 10am.

The sale of takeaway liquor on Anzac Day is not permitted before 1pm.

Mr Lawlor said there had been some licensees who had breached trading conditions at Christmas 2009.

"Christmas Day, Anzac Day and Good Friday are the only days on which there are restricted trading hours, so it was disappointing to see some licensees hadn't been paying attention to the conditions," he said.

"Any licensees in doubt should contact the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation to clarify their requirements."

This year all licensed premises are only permitted to trade until 12 midnight on the Saturday before Anzac Day, even if they normally stay open longer. While service from the bar must finish at midnight, patrons will have until 12.30am to finish drinks and leave the premises.

Gaming machines are not permitted to operate prior to 1pm on ANZAC Day.

During the periods of restricted trading hours for Anzac Day, police and staff from the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation (OLGR) will be checking licensed premises, ensuring licensees adhere to trading hours as required under the Liquor Act 1992. Any licensee trading outside approved hours may be subject to a penalty of up to $10,000.

Further information on ANZAC Day trading hours can be accessed on the OLGR website

www.olgr.qld.gov.au

under fact sheets.

Telstra cut ISPs access:court told

SMH

THE Federal Court has heard that a lack of access to telephone exchanges may have cost internet service providers revenue and growth.

Yesterday, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission used affidavits and confidential documents from ISPs to show they would have been more profitable and competitive if they had had direct access to exchanges.

The ACCC has taken Telstra to court over breaches of the Telecommunications Act and Trade Practices Act in relation to access to exchanges.

Direct access to the Telstra exchanges would have allowed providers such as Primus and iiNet to have customers ''on-net'', giving direct access via exchanges, rather than ''off-net'', where the companies buy wholesale access from Telstra and then sell it to their own customers.

The hearing continues today.

SEQ Western corridor to target broadband black spots

QT.com.au

Broadband black
spots will be addressed as part of the Western Corridor National
Broadband Network program, targeting broadband black spots
throughout the region.

The Federal Government announced an eight-year rollout
of the National Broadband Network, laying fibre optic cables to 90 per cent of
Australia's population.

Scenic Rim Corporate and Community Services Committee chairwoman Heather Wehl said
Scenic Rim Council had joined forces with neighbouring local
governments to highlight the need of accelerated broadband roll out in the western corridor.

"We are working with Ipswich, Toowoomba, Lockyer Valley and Somerset regional councils to help lobby the Federal Government for improved broadband services," Cr Wehl said.

No-smoking ban in Ipswich CBD will be welcome

QT.com.au

Letter to the Editor of The Queensland Times

CONGRATULATIONS to Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale for relaunching his push to ban smoking in the Ipswich Mall.

That means more customers will come to shop.

Only suggesting that this ban perhaps will extend to Bell Street, as part of beautification or improvement of the area, specially on the bus stop and taxis, where non-smokers must bear this horrible and unhealthy smoke.

Thanks again.

JULIE GRANDE
Leichhardt

Search on for greenhouse gas storage sites

ABC News

The Queensland Government is asking for tenders to explore potential sites for the underground storage of greenhouse gases from coal-fired power stations in the state.

Mines and Energy Minister Stephen Robertson says there is 66,000 kilometres of land including the Roma-Wandoan and Chinchilla-Moonie areas in the state's southern region.

But Mr Robertson says the technology has to be proved safe before the storage facilities can be built.

"This is just a mapping exercise, there are a whole range of other questions that would need to be asked before any project would considered to be viable and those kind of questions about possible impact on nearby aquifers and of course the long-term security of the storage of those greenhouse gasses would need to be answered by any project proponent," he said.

Mr Robertson says it could be up to 20 years before underground greenhouse gas storage becomes a reality in Queensland.

He has assured farmers that existing property rights will be respected.

"Existing surface tenures, whether it be for grazing or cropping land, shouldn't need to be significantly disturbed as a result of any identified capture and storage opportunities underground for greenhouse gases," he said.

The rural lobby group AgForce says it is concerned about what effect underground gas storage could have on water supplies.

AgForce president John Cotter says the State Government will have to guarantee water quality is not going to be affected.

"The most valuable thing this nation owns is water and much of that is underground," he said.

"We're seeing major issues with water they're dragging out with the coal seam gas. We certainly don't want a new industry started up that give people insecurity about what the long-term future is."

Mr Cotter says he is sceptical the underground storage of gas is safe.

"I have a real concern and objection to this attitude that we can just go out there and see if this can work out there but we name this land in the meantime supposing that it might be an area that they could use and I suggest that if the same situation arose where they said they were going to do this at the Gold Coast or out the back of Beenleigh somewhere we would get a significant reaction as well," he said.

PREMIER DELIVERS FOR QUEENSLAND ON HEALTH REFORM

Australia.to News

Premier Anna Bligh has delivered for Queensland hospitals and patient services following an historic Council of Australian Governments (COAG) meeting in Canberra this week.

"Today's agreement represents a huge win for Queensland hospitals and Queensland patients," the Premier announced at the conclusion of COAG today.

"This was a once in a generation opportunity and my commitment to better hospitals and better health services for Queenslanders has never wavered.

"I came to Canberra ready to sign up to health reform if two conditions were met - more money in the health system sooner and a guaranteed level of base funding for the reforms. We leave having secured both.

"New funds of $755 million will deliver improvements in three priority areas for Queensland - better emergency departments, faster elective surgery and more hospital beds."

What this means for Queensland -

Better emergency departments

$150 million to set and meet a new service delivery target of four hour treatment

This means reduced waiting times for more than 150 000 Queenslanders over the next four years

Faster elective surgery

$160 million to ensure more Queenslanders get surgery within clinically recommended times - rising to 4400 additional cases per year in 2013-14

More hospital beds

$325 million for 270 new sub-acute care hospital beds over the next four years

This will provide more appropriate care for patients transitioning out of hospital (rehabilitation) and free up acute care beds for acute patients sooner

Guaranteed future growth funds

A guaranteed minimum of $3.4 billion from 2014 to 2020 when the Commonwealth reforms take effect

Mental health

$23 million for new community based services for young people with mental health problems

Aged care

$148 million to meet a range of aged care services across Queensland

"Queensland will also receive an additional $40 million to be used where needed in either ED, elective surgery or sub-acute beds to meet the reform targets.

"While the negotiations concluded today, the hard work of implementing these historic reforms over the next decade begins today."

Ipswich Motorway Alert: Westbound closure between Gailes and Goodna tonight

Main Roads advises that from 7:30pm Monday 19 April to 5am Tuesday 20 April, the Ipswich Motorway westbound lanes will be closed between Gailes and Goodna.

Call 1800 465 682 for more information.

Somerset Dam - More complaints about SEQ Water and their disgusting toilets

Since publication of our weekend report about the foul stench from the male toilets at Somerset Dam, complaints have flooded in about the disgusting state and smell from the female toilets.

Apparently, it's like walking into a cross between a putrescible waste dump and a truck load of rotting prawns left in the sun for two days.

SEQ Water should sack the caretaker and get these toilets up to scratch.

Letter to the Editor of The Queensland Times

Compromise is
a possibility on daylight saving

BECAUSE of its western
geographical position and its proximity to Adelaide, Broken
Hill in New South Wales is on South Australian time.

This has worked well for decades.

Following the International Meridian Conference in
Washington DC in 1884, the world was divided into 24 standard time zones.

On Australia's east coast, standard time is based on the 150th meridian east of
Greenwich which passes close to Goondiwindi in Queensland.

Because SEQ time is
calculated on the true solar time at Goondiwindi and not Brisbane, the south-east corner is even worse off in summer.

Until 1894, when the
Standard Time Act was passed, every city and town in Queensland was on a different time, calculated by reference to the position of the sun at noon at that location.

Brisbane had a different legal time, by several minutes, from Toowoomba, Rockhampton and Townsville which all had their own local time.

A split time zone would give the people of south-east Queensland daylight saving but
would not force it on rural and regional Queensland.

It works in NSW and it could be a compromise which would work in Queensland to satisfy the wishes of the majority.

CR PAUL TULLY
Goodna

Excellent $10 portraits available in Ipswich region

PIC: Rozana Donovan sketches James Tully
at today's Fernvale Markets

Rozana Donovan's pencil portraits must be some of the cheapest anywhere in Australia.

She shows her talents at the Fernvale Markets on the northern outskirts of Ipswich, Jimboomba and other southeast Queensland markets.

In five minutes, Rozana is able to transform a blank A3 sheet into a masterpiece.

At $10 per person - or$20 for a couple or two children - this represents excellent value for money.
Pencil Portraits by Rozana Donovan:

zanado@gotalk.net.au
07 5465 1914
0400 707 856
....................................
PaulGTully@gmail.com

Somerset Dam: Where the dam level is 100% ......

...... and the male toilets stink worse than a bad day at Luggage Point.

Residents invited to today's community day for opening of Ipswich Motorway Wacol-Darra

The Hon Anthony Albanese MP

The Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government

Leader of the House

Member for Grayndler

Residents are invited to the community open day being held this Sunday to mark and celebrate the completion of work on the $824 million upgrade of the Ipswich Motorway between Wacol and Darra.

Federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister Anthony Albanese and Queensland Main Roads Minister Craig Wallace will be attending and taking part in the official commissioning of this new, six lane section of motorway.

"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.

"Sunday's celebrations will be particularly enjoyable given this extensive upgrade has been completed some nine months ahead schedule – a tribute to the skills and professionalism of the thousands of workers involved in rebuilding this vital piece of road infrastructure."

The community open day will be held today(18 April) between 10am and 1pm along the Ipswich Road Service Road.

There will activities for the whole family, including a variety of educational displays, rock climbing, face painting and live entertainment.

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.

"From the start of planning to the end of construction, we've sought to keep the local community in the loop and updated on the project's progress."

For more details about the open day go to www.mainroads.qld.gov.au/wacol2darra.

The upgrade of the entire Motorway between Darra to Dinmore is expected to be completed by 2012, helping to curb growing congestion and improve the movement of freight across south-east Queensland.

Gateway Bridges protected against out-of-control ship collisions

Media Release

Minister for Main Roads

The Honourable Craig Wallace

18/04/2010

Gateway Bridges protected against ship collisions

Construction engineers have confirmed that even an out-of-control cruise ship poses no threat to Gateway motorists, with new and improved collision prevention.

Concerns were raised after an incident last week when the Pacific Dawn suffered a total power loss while travelling down the Brisbane River on Saturday morning (10 April) towards the Gateway Bridges.

Main Roads Minister Craig Wallace said the Gateway Bridges were in no danger of being hit by the ship with carefully planned protection in place for the bridge piers.

"Queensland's new Gateway Bridge is the best money that can buy. Our designers have mapped endless scenarios, including a runaway 70,000 tonne cruise ship," Mr Wallace said.

"As part of the design for the new Gateway Bridge, pier protection panels and arrester islands are also being built. When complete, 80,000 cubic metres of rock will have been distributed around the piers of the new and existing Gateway bridges just below the low tide mark to form the ship arrester islands.

"Below the surface, arrestor islands work by providing a physical protective barrier designed to stop even the largest vessels from coming anywhere near the bridge piers.

"Pier protection was incorporated into the construction of the original Gateway Bridge and further work is underway to build on this protection to accommodate the latest in ship size and design."

Mr Wallace said in the unlikely event that any smaller vessels breach the arrester island protection, specially formed concrete panels which surround the bases of both the new and existing Gateway Bridge would absorb any impact and protect the piers.

"Construction of the arrester islands around the new Gateway Bridge and enhancement of the arrester islands around the existing Gateway Bridge is scheduled to be completed by the end of August," he said.

The new Gateway Bridge will open to traffic in late May, initially with four southbound lanes to allow approach roadworks to be completed. All six southbound lanes on the new bridge will be open by August.

"A community open day will be held on Sunday 16 May, to give Queenslanders the chance to walk over the new bridge one week before it is opened to traffic," Mr Wallace said.