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Who's a Bad Boy?

Why, it's RACQ Insurance!

Flood ravaged Goodna selected as site of first NBN roll-out

The flood ravaged Ipswich suburb of Goodna will be the first of three
places in southeast Queensland to receive the roll-out of NBN
high-speed broadband internet.

More than 600 families lost their homes in Goodna as a result of the
January flood.

NBN will commence their local roll-out in Goodna in November as part
of the $43 billion project to extend super-fast internet broadband to
all Australian cities and towns with populations of more than 1000.

Springfield Lakes had previously been announced as the first Ipswich
suburb to get NBN internet but Goodna won out because of better
network facilities at the Goodna exchange.

Aspley on Brisbane's northside and Toowoomba will also receive an
early roll-out of the high-speed internet which will connect 93% of
Australian homes.

An initial small-scale trial was previously approved for Townsville.

Local Goodna Councillor Paul Tully said today's  announcement was
great news for the suburb.

"This will provide a much-needed boost for householders, schools and
businesses around Goodna.

"People are still trying to get on their feet after the flood and this
announcement will be appreciated by everyone in the suburb.

"Goodna has had a big kick in the guts in the past six months but this
announcement is fantastic news."

Whatever happened to Brisbane's Sizzler poisoner: Is she still on the loose - Are Sizzler restaurants safe from rat poison?

Accused Sizzler poisoner flees
 
by Margaret Wenham
 
From: The Courier-Mail
 
January 11, 2008 11:00PM
 
 
 
THE woman accused of poisoning food at Sizzler restaurants nearly two years ago absconded from custody before Christmas and has not been seen since.
 
Her December 13 disappearance, while she was on an outing from a Wacol mental health facility, in Brisbane's west, was the second time the 59-year-old woman had escaped in six months.
 
She previously absconded from a secure ward of the Princess Alexandra Hospital in June last year.
 
Police said they were concerned for the woman's safety and did not consider her to be dangerous.
 
Yesterday Queensland Health refused to answer questions about the escape saying it was "unable to comment on individual cases". However, it is understood the woman was with a carer the day she fled.
 
Following a Mental Health Court hearing last year, the woman was found to have been of unsound mind when in January and February 2006 she allegedly laced two dishes of food with rat poison at Sizzler restaurants in Brisbane at Toowong and the City's Myer Centre.
 
At the time Judge Anthe Philippides ordered the women – who had an extended history of schizophrenia – be detained for involuntary treatment with only limited and escorted leave.
 
In her written judgment, she said the woman's treating psychiatrist had recommended long-term treatment under a forensic order due to the "likelihood of (the woman) refusing treatment and the fact that she poses a high risk of harm to others".
 
A spokeswoman for Sizzler confirmed the company was aware the woman was missing. She said the company did not believe their restaurants were at any risk.
 
Anyone with information about the woman should contact Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000.
 
COMMENT: The public deserves to know if this woman is still a threat. Why have the Police and Sizzler gone quiet on the issue?

SCAMwatch email alert: Computer remote access scammers now masquerading as Telstra - new twist [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]

Computer remote access scammers now masquerading as Telstra - new twist

View radar online.

Added: August 2011

SCAMwatch has received reports of a new twist on the computer remote access scam with callers now claiming to be from (or affiliated with) Telstra or BigPond.

This is a variation on an existing scam in which scammers operating out of what reports suggest to be overseas call centres, falsely claim to be making tech support calls from Microsoft or Windows.

How the scam works

  • You receive a scam call out of the blue and the caller claims to be from a large telecommunications or computer company/brand such as Telstra, BigPond, Microsoft or Windows.
  • Alternatively they may claim to be from a technical support service provider.
  • They tell you that your computer has been sending them error messages or that it has a virus.
  • They may mention false problems with your internet connection or your phone line which they say may have affected your phone and computer's recent performance. They may also claim that your broadband connection has been hacked.
  • They will request remote access to your computer and if you say yes, will run a 'scan' that shows up a fake virus. 
  • They will try to trick you into buying unnecessary software or a service to 'fix' the computer. They may also ask you for your personal and bank/credit card details.
  • The scammer may initially sound professional and knowledgeable however they will be very persistent and may become abusive if you don't do what they ask.
  • Note: you don't have to be a Telstra or Microsoft customer to be called by these scammers. You don't even have to own a computer!

Protect yourself

  • Telstra has advised that it does not request credit card details over the phone to fix computer or telephone technical problems, and that it is not affiliated with any companies that do. Telstra will also not call requesting personal details.
  • If you receive a phone call out of the blue about your computer and requesting remote access - hang up – even if they mention a well-known company such as Telstra.
  • NEVER give an unsolicited caller remote access to your computer. 
  • If you have given remote access to your computer, or you fear that your computer has been hacked, seek out help or advice from a qualified and reputable computer technician. 
  • Never give your personal, credit card or online account details over the phone unless you made the call and the phone number came from a trusted source. 
  • Make sure your computer is protected with regularly updated anti-virus and anti-spyware software, and a good firewall - research first and only purchase software from a source that you know and trust. 
  • If you have fallen victim to a scam or you receive a lot of unsolicited emails and phone calls consider changing your email address and phone numbers. 
  • If you think you have provided your account details to a scammer, contact your bank or financial institution immediately.

Report
You can report scams to the ACCC via the report a scam page on SCAMwatch or by calling 1300 795 995.

More information

Stay one step ahead of scammers - visit the SCAMwatch website, follow @SCAMwatch_gov on Twitter or visit http://twitter.com/SCAMwatch_gov.
________________

If you no longer want to receive SCAMwatch email alerts, please unsubscribe on the SCAMwatch website.

2011 Flood Sequel: Triple-0 operator on admin duties

 
 
The police officer who reprimanded a woman for driving through flood waters minutes before she and her 13-year-old son were swept to their deaths has been demoted to administrative duties.
 
Acting Commissioner Ian Stewart revealed the posting this afternoon in a press conference in response to the Flood Commission of Inquiry interim report.
 
Senior Constable Wheeler will remain on administrative duties until the internal investigation in to his conduct on January 10, the day flash flooding rushed through Toowoomba and Lockyer Valley, has been completed.
 
The interim report has recommended better training for emergency call centre operators.
 
"I accept we have work to do in that area," he said.
 
"Those were extraordinary times we all faced.
 
"I would also like to highlight the significant and professional work done."
 
He said the Queensland Police Service had already started developing a better training program for emergency call centre operators and would implement it as soon as they are "satisfied" with it.
 
Senior Constable Jason Wheeler became the voice of under-trained emergency call centre staff after the tape of him taking Donna Rice's triple-0 call was played during the inquiry hearing.
 
Mrs Rice told Senior Constable Wheeler she was "stuck" in her car with her two sons Jordan 13, and Blake, 10, to which he responded: "Why did you drive through the flooded waters?"
 
At the end of the phone conversation he said: "You shouldn't have driven though it in the first place, OK."
 
It later came out the police officer had only two days of training before that fateful day when 1000 calls came in to the Toowoomba-based centre within an hour.
 
 
 
COMMENT: Read the Flood Report. The demoted cop classified the dying woman's
call as Code 3 - non-urgent.  Perhaps, the QPS should consider sacking him.
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