Springfield USA votes to ban red light and speed camera enforcement

Imagine this happening here - the State Government would lose too much money!


Missouri Senate Votes To Ban Photo Enforcement
Missouri takes a step toward becoming the sixteenth state to ban automated ticketing machines.

The Missouri state Senate on Monday voted overwhelmingly to ban the use of red light cameras and speed cameras. The measure's champion, state Senator Jim Lembke (R-St. Louis), had failed in previous efforts to convince his colleagues to end the use of automated ticketing machines. This year, however, he was emboldened by the state supreme court's decision last month to strike down Springfield's photo ticketing as illegal (view opinion). Lembke successfully attached the red light camera prohibition to a broader, 106-page transportation measure that included a number of miscellaneous provisions. The vote was 23 to 8 in favor of the ban.

"No county, city, town, village, municipality, state agency, or other political subdivision of this state that is authorized to issue a notice of violation for a violation of a state or local traffic law or regulation, shall use or employ an automated photo red light enforcement system at any intersection within its jurisdiction," Lembke's amendment stated.

State Senator Timothy P. Green (D-St. Louis) received unanimous support for his companion amendment addressing speed cameras. Photo radar is rare in Missouri with Charlack, a tiny city of 1431 residents, deploying cameras to trap drivers passing through on Interstate 170.

"Notwithstanding section 304.120 or any other provision of the law to the contrary, no county, city, town, village, municipality, or other political subdivision of this state may use photo radar speed detection to determine compliance with any speed limit imposed by this chapter or by any local ordinance on any state highway," Green's amendment stated.

Green and Lembke were bolstered in their bipartisan effort by rising grassroots concern over the proliferation of automated ticketing machines in Missouri. Activists organized by the Liberty Restoration Project and supported by various Tea Party groups have held several anti-camera protests in Columbia, Kansas City, Springfield and St. Louis (view video). Last year alone, three states -- Maine, Mississippi and Montana -- joined four cities in voting to ban photo enforcement.

The underlying transportation legislation containing the Lembke and Green amendments, House Bill 2111, has been referred to the Senate Governmental Accountability and Fiscal Oversight Committee. As the measure has already passed the state House, differences between the House-passed and Senate-passed bills must be worked out in a conference committee. The compromise bill would then require a final vote in both chambers before being sent to the governor to be signed into law.

Queensland to outlaw smoking displays

BT

Queensland is to outlaw all displays of smoking and related products at general retail stores.

 

The new ban will be introduced through proposed amendments to the Tobacco and Other Smoking Products Act 1998.

 

Retailers will have until mid 2011 to remove displays, Acting Premier Paul Lucas said on Thursday.

 

Banning the point-of-sale displays for smoking and tobacco products was recommended by a parliamentary report into chronic diseases in January 2010.

 

Mr Lucas said the measures will be introduced to complement the federal government's announcement on Thursday to introduce plain packaging for cigarettes and increase the tax on cigarettes by 25 per cent.

 

Mr Lucas also warned big tobacco companies that the state government will also back the federal government if the issue came to the courts.

 

"I want to make the message to big tobacco very clear. If they want to use their billions (of dollars) to pull on a court challenge we will stand united with the federal government on this," Mr Lucas said.

 

"If there is any doubt about federal constitutional power, Queensland will offer full legislative support to counter any legislative challenges by big tobacco."

 

Mr Lucas said the billions of dollars smokers cost Queensland each year would far outweigh the cost of any court action.

 

"Smoking kills an estimated 3400 Queenslanders each year, with more than 30,450 people admitted to Queensland hospitals each year for smoking-related illnesses," he said.

 

"The total cost of smoking to Queensland society - including loss of productivity, premature death - is $6.3 billion per year.".

 

Heart Foundation CEO Cameron Prout welcomed the move, saying putting cigarettes out of sight will protect children from tobacco advertising and stop undermining the resolve of smokers to quit.

 

"Banning displays is an excellent public health initiative which will not only save lives, but also reduce the burden on the health system with less smokers presenting with cardiovascular disease and cancer," he said.

Palmer considers 'cash cow' port purchase

ABC News

Billionaire mining magnate Clive Palmer says he is
concerned another private company would hike up
charges to use the port once it has been leased. 

The Maritime Workers Union (MWU) says private investors will be lining up to buy the Port of Brisbane - but it should not be for sale.

Bids are open for the 99-year lease of the port as part of the Queensland Government's privatisation plans.

Billionaire mining magnate Clive Palmer says he is concerned another private company would hike up charges to use the port once it has been leased.

Mr Palmer says that could prompt him to make a bid.

Mick Carr from the MWU says the government is giving away a "cash cow".

"I think anybody who put in a bid including Mr Palmer would be a very smart business person on the basis that's a very lucrative business to buy," Mr Carr said.

"There's no competition whatsoever.

"But we do have a real view that the port should not be put up for sale in the first place."aritime Workers Union (MWU) says private investors will be lining up to buy the Port of Brisbane - but it should not be for sale.

Bids are open for the 99-year lease of the port as part of the Queensland Government's privatisation plans.

Billionaire mining magnate Clive Palmer says he is concerned another private company would hike up charges to use the port once it has been leased.

Mr Palmer says that could prompt him to make a bid.

Mick Carr from the MWU says the government is giving away a "cash cow".

"I think anybody who put in a bid including Mr Palmer would be a very smart business person on the basis that's a very lucrative business to buy," Mr Carr said.

"There's no competition whatsoever.

"But we do have a real view that the port should not be put up for sale in the first place."

Call for school asbestos to be removed from Queensland

ABC News

The Member for Hervey Bay, Ted Sorensen, says the Queensland Government should remove all asbestos identified in the region's schools.

Six schools in the Hervey Bay electorate have been listed as having presumed or confirmed asbestos on the State Government Schools Register.

In a reply to question on notice from Mr Sorensen, Education Minister Geoff Wilson says any asbestos classified as being in poor condition is programmed for removal.

Mr Sorensen says all asbestos should be removed.

"It's a little bit disappointing, his answer," he said.

"There's still asbestos in some of the schools in Hervey Bay and especially some of the old vinyl floor coverings which contain asbestos and I believe that should be removed as quickly as possible."

Fears motorway sale will drive up tolls prompts call for CPI limit

QT

AUSTRALIA'S leading motoring body fears Ipswich residents could be slugged with higher tolls to use the Logan Motorway if the state-owned Queensland Motorways is privatised.

The RACQ said the sale of the government-owned corporation would condemn motorists to paying increased tolls on the motorway for the next 50 years.

Queensland Motorways has been put up for sale by the State Government along with parts of Queensland Rail and other state assets under Premier Anna Bligh's privatisation plan.

RACQ general manager for external relations Gary Fites said his group would fight for Queensland Motorways Limited (QML) to remain in public hands.

"There is a sound economic argument to show that the state's road infrastructure should be managed as a single integrated network for the benefit of all," Mr Fites said.

"And the decision to dispose of the tolling rights held by QML through a 50-year franchise arrangement would effectively condemn motorists to the payment of tolls on key south-east Queensland roads through to 2060.

"The entity that buys QML can make money only one way, and that's through toll revenue."

He said if it remained government owned, the tolls on the Logan Motorway could be reduced or done away with completely within the 50-year period.

Ipswich City Councillor Paul Tully, whose electorate borders on a stretch of the Logan Motorway, said QML should only be sold if the government retained control of toll prices.

Cr Tully said price rises should only go up in accordance with the Consumer Price Index (CPI), otherwise thousands of Ipswich residents would be disadvantaged.

"It's the gateway to the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and Brisbane Airport for the majority of Ipswich residents," Cr Tully said.

"People don't mind paying a reasonable toll for the motorway, but if it increases above the CPI rate it would affect a lot people.

"You could then have a situation where people avoid the toll road, which will lead to other roads becoming more congested."

Acting Premier Paul Lucas said it was unlikely the State Government would have removed the toll on the Logan and Gateway motorways.

Mr Lucas told reporters the tolls would have stayed in place because the revenue was used to fund infrastructure.

"Queensland Motorways Limited has a long-term franchise in any event that it has under public ownership," he said.

"The RACQ's position on toll roads is well known – they don't support the Gateway being a toll road full stop – so that's been their announced position."

LNP Leader John-Paul Langbroek said the RACQ was standing up for Queensland motorists who already paid the highest vehicle registration fees in the nation.

What a croc: Australia Zoo 'disrespected' Anzacs - Throw the book at these clowns!

BT

Open for business ... Terri Irwin at Australia Zoo, which has been
criticised by the Queensland RSL for remaining open to the public
all day on Anzac Day. 

RSL Queensland says Australia Zoo should face the full weight of the law after it remained open for business on Anzac Day.

State branch chief executive Chris McHugh today slammed the decision as a display of "crass commercialism".

"We are exceptionally disappointed in what they have done," Mr McHugh told brisbanetimes.com.au.

"The law is quite explicit ... they have thumbed their nose at a convention which all other businesses accept.

"You have to question what they thought they would achieve by doing that."

The Department of Justice is investigating why the Sunshine Coast zoo was open all day despite a ban on places of amusement operating before 1.30pm.

The home of the late Steve Irwin faces a maximum penalty of $20,000 if found to have breached trading hours laws.

But a spokeswoman for the park has defended its actions, saying it held a commemorative service in the Zoo's Crocoseum, including a minute's silence.

"Australia Zoo is a proud Australian business and on Sunday joined Australians around the country, marking their respects by hosting an ANZAC Day commemorative service in the Zoo's Crocoseum," the spokeswoman said.

"Patrons were up standing and acknowledged a minute's silence as ex-service veteran Alan Wilcocks, from Beerwah RSL Sub Branch, read out The Ode and bugler Sam Robb played The Last Post."

However, Mr McHugh said the zoo's decision to hold a memorial service at 11am did not make it exempt from the law.

"It is drawing a very long bow. They opened at 9am. They are not supposed to open until 1.30pm," Mr McHugh said.

Beerwah RSL Sub Branch president John Rouhan said he was not aware Australia Zoo did not have a permit to open early on Anzac Day.

"We didn't realise that they did not have the approvals this year," he told the Sunshine Coast Daily.

"We will have to look into doing things differently."

Department of Justice inspectors are making inquiries with Australia Zoo.

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

COMMENT: Terri Irwin is coming across as an American smart ass over this issue.  Australia Zoo obviously considers itself above the law.  The suggestion that because they held their own Anzac Service at 11.00am - two and a half hours before they could legally open - somehow justifies their illegal conduct is totally outrageous.  They are treating the Government and the public as dills. The Queensland Government should throw the book at them.  And as an apology to the people of Queensland for their illegal opening on Anzac Day in 2010, they should be forced to close all day on Anzac Day in 2011.

WORLD FIRST: All Australian cigarette packets to have completely plain packaging from 2012

BT

The Australian government is expected to announce compulsory plain packaging for cigarettes tomorrow.

It is understood the new laws would make plain packaging compulsory tobacco products by January 1, 2012.

The new laws would make it illegal for cigarette packets to print brand colours or logos on cigarette packets, which would still carry health warnings.

Cigarette packets in Australia already contained graphic health warnings about the risks associated with smoking, which cover 30 per cent of the front and 90 per cent of the back of the packets.

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

COMMENT: This initiative by the Australian Government is another step towards the outlawing of tobacco and cigarettes except by consenting adults in private.

PaulGTully@gmail.com

Google legal threat: Groggle boggled by Google mean spirit as law suit threatened against Australian entrpreneur

BT

A screenshot from the Groggle site, which is currently in private beta.

An Australian web entrepreneur says draconian legal threats from Google could force him to pour two years of work and tens of thousands of dollars down the drain.

Cameron Collie, from Brisbane, has spent several years working part-time with a mate on Groggle, a location-based alcohol price comparison website service allowing consumers to search for the cheapest price on liquor products in their area.

After obtaining all of the relevant Groggle domain names for each country and registering the business, Collie applied to register Groggle as a trademark. His site was already in the beta test phase and Collie, 36, was planning a formal launch within weeks, as well as an accompanying iPhone app.

Cameron Collie.

The trademark application was accepted by IP Australia but, with just days left for other companies to launch an objection, Google's lawyers sent Collie a cease and desist letter.

The letter, seen by this website, demands that Collie withdraw his trademark application, change the company name and transfer all domain names to Google.

Google argues that Groggle is "substantially identical with and deceptively similar to" its own trademarks.

It said that if Collie did not comply with its demands it would "make an urgent application to the court seeking interlocutory injunctions restraining Groggle and its directors".

"We don't have the financial backing to fight them on this, we just want them to reconsider because it's just crazy," Collie said in a phone interview, adding he was "completely shattered" when he received the letter..

He said he understood Google was simply trying to protect its brand but queries where Google would draw the line, emphasising that Groggle is simply a play on the word grog. Collie said he decided on the name after finding grogger.com was taken.

"We want Google to reconsider and realise that we're not a threat and never will be," said Collie.

"We're certainly not typosquatters - nobody's going to type in Groggle thinking they're going to reach Google, that's just insane."

Google Australia declined to comment.

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

COMMENT: Only a fool or a drunk could mistake Groggle for Google.  Is Google too big for the world when it makes threats of legal action against little Aussie battlers over such petty issues.  The mind boggles at Groggle's need tgo defend itself against Google's outrageous claim.  Groggle should fight it all the way.

Breaking News: Shock announcement - Historic Ipswich milk and butter factory set to close

Today's shock media release
from National Foods

The historic Booval milk and butter factory in Ipswich is set to close and relocate to Logan City.

The owner National Foods announced the closure today (see attached) which will result in the loss of 100 Ipswich jobs.

The factory has served generations of Ipswich residents and its closure has surprised locals.

In recent years, its key operation has been milk production.

It was formerly part of the Dairy Farmers chain.

Ipswich Planning and Development spokesman Cr Paul Tully described the closure as "totally disappointing".

"This has come without warning and will affect many Ipswich families.

"I am calling on the company to reconsider its decision," Cr Tully said.

Remember the Love Springs water purifier scam in Brisbane and Ipswich last year: They're at it again in New Zealand!

http://www.nzherald.co.nz

Commerce Commission stops door-to-door sellers claiming sewage in tap water

The Commerce Commission has gone to court to stop companies selling water filters door-to-door making false claims, including that tap water is dangerous and contains sewage.

Three companies involved in selling 'Love Springs' branded water filters have been restrained by an interim injunction obtained by the commission in the Auckland High Court last Thursday.

The injunction prevents the companies, and any individual acting on behalf of them, from making false or misleading representations to consumers under the Fair Trading Act.

These include that tap, or bottled water is poisonous, dangerous, sourced from sewage, contains sewage, or is sourced from toilets.

The companies are also not allowed to claim that tap, or bottled water causes cancer, leukaemia, miscarriages, deformities in babies, asthma, or other health problems, is kept standing for weeks or months before being provided, is of a quality or grade other than that determined by the Ministry of Health, contains giardia, or is in any way unsafe or unhealthy to drink.

The injunction also prevents representations being made that the Love Springs filter would offer health benefits that it does not, such as improving asthma.

The injunction is against Auckland-based companies Love Springs Ltd and Tiny Terms Ltd and Palmerston North-based Successcorp Ltd.

The companies can continue to promote and market water filters but must not make false claims.

Love Springs featured in a TV3 news story earlier this month. A woman said she was told Porirua water came from recycled sewage water and wasn't safe to drink. She made an initial payment of $29.95 for a filter system that costs $1500.

Porirua Mayor Jenny Brash was outraged at the false claims and said Porirua was proud of the quality of its water.

The water in Porirua is supplied by the Greater Wellington Regional Council. It comes from the Kaitoke weir, not a sewer.

Love Springs was fined last year for breaching Queensland law. Residents in Ipswich were told they could develop cancer from drinking unfiltered water.

In New Zealand, companies found guilty of breaching provisions of the Fair Trading Act may be fined up to $200,000 and individuals up to $60,000. Only the courts can decide if a representation has breached the Fair Trading Act.

..................................................................................................................................................................................
COMMENT: I had the pleasure of exposing these scammers last year in Ipswich.  They were showing women pictures of cancerous breasts and other diseased body parts claiming that the local town water was causing the problem.  Love Springs and its Managing Director were booth fined in the Beenleigh Magistrates Court for misleading consumers.  Now, they are preying on the decent people of New Zealand with the same trickery.  Injunctions, fines and other legal proceedings will not work against this company.  The only real remedy is for the directors to be jailed, if the company or its representatives are ever gain caught engaging in this sort of chicanery.

PaulGTully@gmail.com

'No Muslims allowed' - Pauline Hanson sells her house to a select group

http://www.3news.co.nz

Pauline Hanson, who recently announced she's quitting Australian for Britain, has fired a parting shot at Australia's Muslim community – they're not welcome to buy her house.

The controversial former One Nation leader's Queensland house is on the market, as she says "goodbye forever" to Australia, a country she says is "no longer the land of opportunity".

"I think we are going to have problems with them in this country further down the track," she told morning TV show Sunrise this morning. "I have no intention of selling my home to a Muslim."

Hanson's fame stems from her former party's strong anti-immigration and far-right policies, which were criticised by many as being xenophobic and racist.

She was convicted and sentenced to three years' jail for electoral fraud in 2003, but the conviction was later overturned.


.............................................................................................................................................................................
COMMENT: Pauline Hanson's house - on the outskirts of Ipswich in Queensland - should be available to all purchasers. It is outrageous that Ms Hanson is again peddling her regrettable brand of racist, un-Australian views after she was soundly rejected by the people of Queensland and Australia.  Her comments need to be investigated by the Australian authorities to determine if she has committed any offences relating to racism or vilification.  She got out of her last jail sentence by the skin of her teeth but this time, she might not be so lucky.

PaulGTully@gmail.com

Professionals' first choice to work in the US, UK and Australia

http://www.globalvisas.com

The new 2010 Hydrogen Global Professionals on the Move Report has found that almost all senior professionals around the world are either working abroad or want to in the future.

Some 94 per cent agreed that working abroad is something they are either doing already or would like to do in the future, while 60 per cent said the recession had no bearing on this desire.

This counteracts arguments that people only want to work abroad to escape the recession in their own country. It seems, in fact, that they want to work in the UK, the US, Australia and Europe simply to gain experience.

The preference among these highly skilled professionals is for temporary work placements rather than permanent relocation, which reflects the greater choice they face.

The survey found that the US work visas are most in demand, followed by UK visas and Australian visas.

Although 94 per cent are keen to move abroad, more women are already doing so. Among those asked, 34 per cent of women were already working overseas, compared with 26 per cent of men. This compares with 40 per cent who said they 'definitely' wanted to work abroad, while only 30 per cent of women agreed with this statement.

China ends entry ban for foreigners with HIV/AIDS

http://www.reuters.com

China has revoked a ban on people with HIV/AIDS entering the country, softening a decades-old policy that drew sharp criticism this year when an Australian writer was blocked after declaring himself HIV-positive.

Until now, China's regulations formally banned foreigners entering the country with "psychiatric illness, leprosy, AIDS, sexually-transmitted diseases, active pulmonary tuberculosis or other infectious diseases."

The State Council, China's cabinet, issued amended rules late on Tuesday removing the explicit ban on people who have developed AIDS or are infected with the HIV retrovirus, as well as anyone with leprosy, while leaving authorities leeway to decide which diseases could trigger an entry ban.

The amended rules issued on the central government website (www.gov.cn) still block foreigners "with serious psychiatric illness, infectious pulmonary tuberculosis or other infectious diseases that may constitute a major threat to public health."

The amended rule did not say whether AIDS/HIV would be among the infectious diseases that people seeking Chinese visas must declare when applying, possibly leaving officials some leeway on how to apply the rule.

But an unnamed legal affairs official for the State Council indicated that AIDS/HIV would not be a bar to entry.

"Restricting foreigners with these diseases from entering the country has played an extremely limited role in our country's disease prevention and control work, and instead has repeatedly become an impediment to our hosting a variety of international events," the official told the Legal Daily.

In March, more than 90 Australian authors signed a letter decrying China's refusal to grant a visa to one of the country's most celebrated writers, Robert Dessaix, who is HIV-positive.

On Friday, Shanghai opens its World Expo, a multi-billion dollar exhibition that is China's latest effort to promote an image as a forward-looking and open country.

The HIV virus can be spread through unprotected sex, sharing of infected needles and blood, and -- without preventive drugs -- to children in the womb of infected mothers or who take milk from an infected woman.

If untreated, the virus attacks the immune system, leading to full-blown AIDS, a deadly condition.

China has 560,000 to 920,000 people infected with the HIV virus and 97,000 to 112,000 AIDS patients, according to 2009 Ministry of Health and United Nations estimates.

Australian visa holders required to sell homes uopn leaving

http://www.globalvisas.com

The Rudd government in Australia has reinstated a rule that requires foreign people temporarily living in Australia to sell their homes when they leave.

The rule has been reintroduced in response to concerns that the influx of temporary Australian visa holders living in the country has driven up house prices. The change is intended to help the government to claim back capital gains made by foreign investors in Australian property.

The problem has been highlighted recently when a group of locals were outbid by a group of Asian investors who were buying homes for their children who were studying in Australia on Australian student visas.

Assistant Treasurer Nick Sherry explained why the rule is necessary: "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."

The introduction of the law could actually be a positive thing for foreigners who are looking to move to Australia permanently. It is likely to keep house prices within reach and will improve relations between immigrants and locals.

Cancer Council’s million-dollar morning tea backed by Ipswich City Council

Cancer Council's million-dollar morning tea

The Cancer Council hopes to raise $12-million as part of Australia's Biggest Morning Tea.

Ipswich is once again contributing greatly to the cause and encouraging other cities to get on board.

Vanessa Fuchs reports.

TRANSCRIPT QUT NEWS

Now in its 17th year of operation, Australia's Biggest Morning tea has raised more than $70-million.

This year the Cancer Council held a competition to design the 2010 mug, Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale presented with the winning mug to add to his world record collection of short black coffee cups.

The mayor says Ipswich is on target to raise more funds than last year.

Paul Pisasale, Ipswich Mayor: "For a city like Ipswich you're only as good as the people you support you know we wanna be a city that's big enough to make a difference but small enough to care."

The Cancer Council says all sorts of groups can take part in the event, including cafes and childcare centres.

Erin Davies, Qld Cancer Council: "Workplaces are also a great opportunity to hold a morning tea where everyone can cook and donate money and have some fun with some raffles and some games."

An extraordinary $10-million was raised last year, which all goes towards research, education and patient support.

The biggest morning tea is Australia's largest and most successful event of its kind. Each year groups around the nation support the one in three men and one in four women diagnosed with cancer before the age of 75.

This year the aim is to raise a record $12-million.

Erin Davies, Qld cancer Council: "We have people like Paul Pisasale and the city of Ipswich that supply us with the support that we need to fundraise more and more."

The official date for the biggest morning tea is on the 27th of May, but groups can host an event any time during the month.

Paul Pisasale, Ipswich Mayor: "So get online, support it, I'll be supporting it and look, you'll have a lot of fun in the workplace."

Carbon offsets: Australia leads the pursuit of 'greenwashing'

http://www.csmonitor.com

Consumer authorities say "greenwashing" scams in the carbon offset market – such as the Papua New Guinea tribe leader who says he was kidnapped over carbon rights to tribal lands – are proliferating.

GreenSwitch: The name was instantly appealing, and Australians handed over tens of thousands of dollars to offset their emissions with "green power" certificates from the company.

This six-part project is the result of a four-month, global multimedia investigation by The Monitor and The New England Center for Investigative Reporting. The project was funded, in part, by The Deer Creek Foundation and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. Assistance in video production was provided by students at Emerson College and Boston University.

But GreenSwitch executives, says the Australian government, didn't bother to purchase all the renewable energy for the certificates they sold. When the government told them to stop, they kept at it for two more months.

In January, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) ordered GreenSwitch's parent company, Global Green Plan, to buy 4,000 certificates at a cost of about US$128,000. Then the agency took offsetter Prime Carbon to court over false claims it was affiliated with the National Stock Exchange and approved by the Australian government.

The two cases were the result of a crackdown on "greenwash" marketing in the voluntary carbon offset industry, a consumer protection effort that puts Australia far ahead of other countries.

"It's a new market, so it's in its formative stage, and consumers don't know much about it," says Graeme Samuel, the ACCC chairman. "But they're emotionally tugged towards buying products with sustainable attributes. All this means that the market is potentially open to abuse."

His agency has taken Saab Australia to court over suggesting that the planting of 17 native trees would offset the lifetime emissions of a new car. It has also warned consumers to "hang up" if they get calls from a Japan-based offset promoter.

The federal government recently set minimum requirements for the verification and retirement of voluntary carbon credits. And parliament passed legislation in March allowing restitution for duped consumers and fines of up to $1 million.

Australia's offset industry has grown at a ferocious pace, says Leonardo Ribon-Tobon, a project officer at The Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology. Just 13 carbon-credit retailers were here in early 2007 and 85 by last year.

Mr. Ribon-Tobon estimates that the Australian carbon offset industry does US$40 million of business a year, but says only a third of the companies would disclose information.

So the real figure could be much more, he adds. "I think a lot of the companies are selling larger volumes of offsets than they're disclosing."

Australia's northern neighbor, Papua New Guinea, has the world's third-largest rain forest, which has drawn the attention of Australian offset developers.

In January, the head of a group of landowners, Abilie Wape, told the Special Broadcasting Service (SBS), an Australian TV network, that he was kidnapped after balking at signing over to an Australian businessman the carbon rights to tribal lands.

"We've put a lot of effort into this area," Mr. Samuel says of carbon offset abuses. "Once you see it starting to appear on the edge of your radar screen, you know it won't be long before it moves right to the center."

It's unclear if Australia is doing enough, says Jeff Angel, director of Total Environment Centre, an environmental group. "The industry is certainly open to [cheating]."

Consumers, says John Taberner, an environmental lawyer, should ask what exactly is being traded? "To my mind, the answer is nothing. It's like buying a car, as opposed to a promise of a car," he explains. "The former is the real thing, the latter is something that may or may not happen."

'Flu jab death': AMAQ warns against making doctor a scapegoat in Australia-wide investigation

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au

The Queensland branch of the Australian Medical Association has warned against making a Brisbane doctor a scapegoat in the death of a toddler who had received the seasonal flu vaccine.

Two-year-old Ashley Epapara was found dead in her cot on April 9, a day after she and her twin sister were given the flu shot by private general practitioner Dr Amir Eskandari.

The state's chief medical officer Dr Jeannette Young yesterday referred Dr Eskandari to the Medical Board of Queensland for not reporting the girl's suspected adverse reaction to the vaccine, as required by law.

AMA Queensland president Dr Mason Stevenson said focus needed to remain on determining the cause of death and not the doctor's conduct.

"Let's resolve the issue about how this child died because the parents need closure," Dr Stevenson said.

"Secondly we all need to know if [there is], or if there's not, a link with the seasonal flu vaccine."

Infectious diseases expert from the Australian National University, Professor Peter Collignon, says early tests showed there were problems with the vaccine.

The early warning signs were in the original studies by the vaccine manufacturer, CSL, in children, that was published in January in a journal called JAMA and this looked at about 370 children who were vaccinated last October with the swine flu vaccine.

And what was surprising is particularly young children under the age of three. About 35 per cent of those developed a fever when they were given the lower dose of the vaccine.

He has called on the government to conduct more stringent testing.

"I think we needed to do a better job than what has been done with this vaccine so that we keep the confidence in the public," Professor Collignon told ABC Radio.

Dr Eskandari has welcomed the Medical Board review, saying he did nothing wrong.

He did not report the death because Ashley seemed fine after receiving the shot, and he followed strict procedure before giving the vaccine, he said.

He believed people should wait for further results before jumping to conclusions.

"You've got to get consent before any injection. Everything was under control and I don't know exactly what happened," he told reporters outside his Mt Gravatt practice.

Initial results of an autopsy released yesterday found there was no sign the seasonal flu vaccine was to blame for Ashley's death. Further tests will be carried out.

This season's flu shot has been linked to adverse reactions in scores of children, mostly in Western Australia and Queensland.

Federal authorities have suspended the vaccine for children under five, however they are still urging older people, particularly those in risk groups, to continue to be inoculated.

The Queensland coroner is investigating the cause of Ashley's death.

RACQ says sale of Queensland Motorways means tolls for the next 50 years

BT

The Bligh government's plan to sell off Queensland Motorways will condemn motorists to paying tolls on key roads for the next 50 years, the RACQ says.

Queensland's peak motoring body is the latest organisation to campaign against the government's controversial assets sell off.

It wants the planned sale of toll roads scrapped, saying motorists will face a long-term financial hit.

It says those in the southeast will be worst off because they're the biggest users of roads controlled by the government-owned company, including the Gateway and Logan motorways.

"Brisbane's major bypass system should not be controlled by a private operator obliged to maximise returns to shareholders," RACQ spokesman Gary Fites says.

"And the decision to dispose of the tolling rights held by QML through a 50-year franchise arrangement would effectively condemn motorists to the payment of tolls on key southeast Queensland roads through to 2060.

"The entity that buys QML can make money only one way, and that's through toll revenue."

Mr Fites says that if Queensland Motorways remains in government hands, tolls on the road system could be reduced or abolished well within the 50-year period.

The RACQ says the government wants to sell the company so it can retire billions of associated debt despite economists challenging the rationale of the sale.

Griffith University Professor of Economics, Ross Guest, who investigated the planned sale for the RACQ, concluded that the tolling rights should not be transferred to the private sector.

Mr Fites said the government should retain ownership of Queensland Motorways and focus on securing more federal road funding under the Nation Building Program.

Australia’s Inflation Rate Almost Doubles to 0.9%

http://www.businessweek.com

Australia's inflation rate almost doubled in the first quarter to 0.9 percent, making it more likely that the central bank will keep raising borrowing costs.

The increase in the consumer price index from the previous three months followed a 0.5 percent gain in the fourth quarter and was more than the median 0.8 percent expected by economists. Prices rose 2.9 percent from a year earlier, the most since late 2008, the Bureau of Statistics said in Sydney today.

Traders raised bets on the likelihood that central bank Governor Glenn Stevens will next week extend a world-leading round of interest-rate increases. Inflation pressures are building as surging investment in resources projects such as Chevron Corp.'s Gorgon gas field in Western Australia worsens a skills shortage that threatens to stoke wage growth.

"Inflation is overshooting the bank's forecast" that consumer-price growth will fall to an annual rate of 2.5 percent by mid-year, said Annette Beacher, an economist at TD Securities Ltd. in Singapore. "The pressure on interest rates remains firmly to the upside."

The Australian dollar rose to 91.90 U.S. cents at noon in Sydney from 91.78 cents just before the report was released. The two-year government bond yield jumped 7 basis points to 4.92 percent. A basis point is 0.01 percentage point.

Next Move

Investors are betting there is a 30 percent chance of a quarter-point increase in the overnight cash rate target to 4.5 percent at the central bank's next meeting on May 4, according to Bloomberg calculations based on interbank futures on the Sydney Futures Exchange at noon. Prior to today's report, the rate was 20 percent. The likelihood of a quarter-point move by early July stands at 92 percent.

Gasoline costs rose 4.2 percent in the first quarter and pharmaceutical prices advanced 13.3 percent, today's report showed. By contrast, fruit fell 5.7 percent.

Stevens has led Group of 20 policy makers in raising borrowing costs, increasing the Reserve Bank's benchmark rate by 125 basis points to 4.25 percent between early October and this month amid evidence economic growth is rebounding to what the governor calls its "trend rate."

Stevens said last week that it "doesn't seem very likely" inflation will slip below the bank's target range of 2 percent to 3 percent, as forecast a year ago, because of rising raw- material costs, employment and fears about skills shortages.

'Reasonable Case'

    Reserve Bank of Australia Assistant Governor Guy Debelle said today that the central bank's current target range for inflation had coincided with "strong economic outcomes over the last decade or so."     "It seems a reasonable case to continue" it at that level "going forward," Debelle told an audience of mortgage industry professionals in Sydney.

Economic growth in Australia, one of few nations to skirt last year's global recession, will accelerate to 3.5 percent in 2011 from 3 percent this year, the International Monetary Fund said last week.

Consumer-price growth has fallen from its peak of 5 percent in 2008 to about 2 percent last year, a "figure that flatters us a bit as it was partly a result of some temporary factors," Stevens said in Toowoomba on April 23.

Underlying inflation was about 2.75 percent, annualized, in the second half of 2009, according to the central bank.

"Our forecast a few months ago for 2010 was that inflation, measured either in headline or underlying terms, would be in line with our 2 percent to 3 percent target," Stevens said.

The central bank is due to publish revised forecasts for growth and inflation on May 7.

Core Inflation

The Reserve Bank's core inflation measures, which exclude the largest price increases and declines, were also published today.

The weighted-median gauge of inflation advanced 0.8 percent in the first quarter for an annual increase of 3.1 percent. Economists forecast gains of 0.7 percent and 3 percent respectively.     The first quarter's "uncomfortably high rate of underlying inflation" means policy makers will increase borrowing costs in May, said Brian Redican, a senior economist at Macquarie Group Ltd. in Sydney. "It seems clear that the inflation momentum is shifting even higher."

Australian technology tax is a golden rip-off

http://www.itwire.com

Our friendly overseas IT suppliers must think that the currency is around US$0.63, or are bashing Australia with the greed stick.

At the moment, the lucky country is luckier than most. With the Aussie dollar around the US$0.93 mark, its buying power is greater than the days before the Hawke/Keating government floated the dollar.

However, our friendly overseas IT suppliers must think that the currency is around US$0.63, or are bashing Australia with the greed stick.

Let's look at the poster child of overprices: Apple. A 21″ iMac has a base iPrice of A$1599. The US price for the same computer is US$1190 (or A$1,285.91, based on conversion rate from xe.com yesterday).

Ok, there is GST, which works out at A$145.37). And there are other compliance costs like superannuation, payroll tax, withholding tax et al. However, the Australian price without GST still adds up to A$1453.63, A$167.72 more than the equivalent US price in Australian dollars.

Now, Delimiter has also ranted previously on the price of Adobe Creative Suite 5. Here is another breakdown based on the exchange rate yesterday, 27 April.

US Price A$756.00
GST (10 percent) A$86.94
Total A$842.94

Aust RRP A$1168.00

Aussie premium $325.06

Ouch!

Remember, the prices I am quoting are US retail pricing, which already has a profit margin built in. Even being generous and granting half of the Australian premium to cover compliance, shipping, staff and marketing costs in Australia, there can be little argument supporting the overcharging that the Australians are paying.

So what is to prevent you buying overseas? With software, almost nothing. Amazon will ship CS5 here for US$29.99, making it a total cost as priced yesterday of A$787.77 (a saving of A$380.23). When you add to this the fact there is no import duty payable on software, overseas buying becomes very attractive.

For hardware, it is more difficult. Australia uses 240v alternating current or AC (technically 230v with a +/- varience of 10 percent) and has a national standard plug that only Argentina and New Zealand also use (to see the wide plethora of electrical plugs, check out this Wikipedia article). Anything that plugs into a USB port (for example, an iPad) will work fine out of the box. But otherwise, some money will have to be spent getting power converters and plugs. Finding a retailer willing to ship overseas may also be an issue.

Can companies charge an Aussie technology tax? Yes. There is nothing illegal setting a high price here.

However, companies need to be aware that we are approaching a global market via the internet, global/bilateral trade agreements and common markets (Europe, NAAFTA and AUS/NZ for examples). Soon it will be harder to justify gouging for software, as competition from Amazon and online software retailers compete with Australian sellers with a better rate, and the age of digital downloads makes location meaningless.

Importing hardware will be harder, but not impossible. An easy example is that someone goes to the US, buys 10 computers and ship them home via freight/post. Assume a A$200 premium on each computer. Looking at Flight Centre, the cheapest Sydney to Los Angeles flight is A$1034 (plus taxes and charges). So you could still save approximately $100 on each computer. This will be even more attractive if Apple goes Aussie iGouging™ and makes the price of the iPad stupidly high compared to US prices.

Another unintended consequence of an Aussie premium will be piracy. When you can see a product being sold cheaper in another market, people may be less willing to pay the Aussie price. So piracy in this case acts as a market correction, supplying the demand not being satisfied by the market price.

This, of course, will add to the cost of software (and despite what software manufacturers say, a pirate copy does not equal one sale. There will always be people unwilling to pay for software, and people willing to purchase software at lower prices who chose not to pay the price set by sellers. This is first year economics).

What is your view on the Aussie technology tax? Have you found a way around it? Or do you pay it without any issues? Post your comments below, it will be interesting to see your thoughts on this matter.

Darryl Adams is a government worker and internet tragic. A former IT worker, he still pines for the days of IBM keyboards that go CRUNCH and the glow of green screens. He can be found on on Twitter or on Facebook. The views expressed here do not reflect the views of his employer, the ATO.

McDonalds suffer as California County Bans Toys With Fast-Food Meals to protect children's health

AOL News

http://www.aolnews.com

For county officials in the Silicon Valley, it turns out that Happy Meals are not so happy after all.

The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors, tackling the problem of childhood obesity, voted today to ban restaurants from offering toys with children's meals unless the food meets specific nutritional standards.

The measure is the first in the nation to restrict fast-food restaurants' marketing strategy of using toys to entice children to buy high-fat, high-sugar and high-calorie meals.

"This ordinance breaks the link between unhealthy food and prizes," said board President Ken Yeager, who sponsored the measure. "It imposes commonsense nutrition on meals linked to toys. We hope that other municipalities, counties and states will follow suit."

The ordinance applies only in the unincorporated parts of Santa Clara County, a largely suburban region south of San Francisco. County officials say there are just 50 restaurants that would be affected by the law, and only a few are fast-food restaurants that might offer toys as incentives.

Nevertheless, the measure was strongly opposed by fast-food franchise operators and other restaurant owners who fear the idea might spread to other jurisdictions. Santa Clara County was one of the first to require that restaurants provide calorie information on their menus, a requirement incorporated in the federal health care law signed by President Barack Obama.

Dozens of opponents of the ordinance attended the meeting and at times applauded loudly when their representatives spoke.

"We do agree that there is a childhood obesity problem," Amalia Chamorro, local government director of the California Restaurant Association, told the board. "Getting rid of the toys is going to do nothing to solve this problem."

The board, granting a small concession, agreed to give opponents 90 days to come up with an alternative plan before the ordinance takes effect.

Supporters of the measure say toys offered with high-calorie meals entice children to choose high-fat, high-sugar items that can be addictive and lead to obesity.

County Public Health Director Dan Peddycord told the board that childhood obesity has become an epidemic and that nearly 25 percent of the children in the county are overweight or obese. One in every three children born today will grow up to be a diabetic, he said. The odds are even worse for Hispanic children: One in two will become diabetic.

"Childhood obesity is the public health issue of our era," he told the board. "We have a collective responsibility to right-size the environment we live in."

Children who become obese at a young age are likely to be obese as adults and have a significantly higher risk of heart attack, stroke, diabetes and cancer, said acting county public health officer Sara Cody. A 2006 study found that obesity costs the county $420 million annually in health care expenses and $496 million in lost productivity.

The ordinance sets limits of 120 calories for a beverage, 200 calories for a single food item and 485 calories for a meal for any item sold with a toy.

Restaurants will be fined $250 for the first violation and $500 for the second.

Peddycord said a check of restaurants in the county found few children's meals under 650 calories.

Offering toys with the lower-calorie items could create an incentive for children to make healthier choices.

The issue brought out emotional, if not always well-informed, opposition. Some critics accused the board of banning all toys with meals.

Stephen Hazel, who brought one of his own favorite toys to show the board, says he collects them and sends them to children in the Philippines. He called Supervisor Yeager "head Grinch Ken Yeager" and angrily asked, "Do you want to be the one who bans toys?"

Kevin Kettila was equally heated. "I take this personally that you are trying to take away our freedom of choice," he said. "Parents have enough good information without you having to legislate this. You are going to deprive the little kids of a toy."

But Joanne Seavey-Hultquist, the mother of a 3-year-old and coordinator of a nonprofit for children called FIRST 5 Santa Clara County, said parents need help in countering the fast-food restaurants' marketing strategy.

"Research shows that parents are at a disadvantage when children are offered a reward for selecting a high-fat, high-calorie meal," she said. "I appreciate a policy that helps me as a parent to do my job."

And Nicole Kohleriter, communications director for the Health Trust, another Silicon Valley nonprofit, said fast-food marketers know that parents can be worn down when their children plead for a toy.

"The toys are in the food because the toys sell the food," she said. "I think this ordinance is not about taking away parental choice but about leveling the playing field."

New internet scam hits Australia - They are getting more sophisticated all the time

This is the latest internet scam to hit Australia:

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

From: Miss Ngene Egodimkpah

Dear Friend

How are you today,I do hope that you are in good health, I am Miss Miss Ngene Egodimkpah From Gambia in west Africa. I want to inquire from you if you can handle this Investment for mutual benefits/life opportunity for you and me.

The Investment is about seeking your consent to Help Me Invest In Your Country, I Work With Mobile Nig. LTD In Abuja, I am A Mechanical Technician With The Company

I and My Director Made Away With The Sum OF Twenty Five Million Dollars (US$12.5 Millions United States Dollars) After We Ascape With The Money The Police Trace Us And Capture My Director, To God Be The Glory I Escape With The Money To Near By Country In Ouagadougou Burkina Faso also in West Africa.

Due To The Fear Of Huge Amount , I Kept The Money In Security Company Since Then The Money Has Been There For Long Time, I Want To Use This Opportunity To Ask Your Help To Invest The Money In Your Country

Note/ That This Investment Should Keep As a Top Secret Between You and Me, I will Give You The Security Company Email Adress To Contact in your next mail.

Please treat this business proposal with utmost confidentiality and send me the following

Informations
1,Name...............
2,Phone Num.....................
3,Country,............................
4,International Passport,...........

Thanks
Miss Ngene Egodimkpah

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

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.

Goodna murder revelation may help Stafford compensation bid

BT

Graham Stuart Stafford and friend, Deborah, outside court after
his murder conviction was quashed on appeal.

Revelations that one of Queensland's most senior crown prosecutors declined to prosecute Graham Stafford could assist his compensation claim against his jail sentence, a legal expert said last night.

Mr Stafford served nearly 15 years for the September 1991 rape and murder of 12-year-old Goodna schoolgirl Leanne Holland, but his conviction was quashed on Christmas Eve last year.

Yesterday, The Australian newspaper reported that crown prosecutor Vishal Lakshman declined to prosecute the trial in 1992 because he was unconvinced of Mr Stafford's guilt.

brisbanetimes.com.au understands the claim, which would be delivered to Queensland Attorney-General Cameron Dick, is in the process of being formulated by Mr Stafford's legal team.

Bond University professor of law Eric Colvin said the revelation could help in Mr Stafford's compensation claim.

"In a compensation claim, there are no legal criteria, it's an ex gratia payment if it's awarded, and really any relevant information might be taken into account," he said.

"On a compensation claim it might be that they might wish to draw attention to this in the sense of suggesting the original decision to prosecute was ill-advised and, in a compensation claim, there's no reason why that couldn't be taken into account by the government."

Mr Stafford told brisbanetimes.com.au he thought the revelations would strengthen his compensation claim.

But Mr Stafford said he hoped a cold case review into Leanne's death would be launched before any compensation claims were made.

"We had hoped that everything else would be put in order before a compensation claim is placed and I still hope everything else is in order before that happens," he said.

"But if not, someone of [Mr Lakshman's] calibre coming out and saying he had deep reservations about it from the get-go has got to raise a few eyebrows."

Mr Stafford said he wished Mr Lakshman had come out with his concerns about the case earlier.

"Given [Mr Lakshman] had deep reservations about it, it may have given us the impetus to have someone take a much closer look at it," he said.

"That would have been enough for one of the judges to say `gee, we have to look at this one more closely'."

But Professor Colvin said it would have been unlikely to assist Mr Stafford's trial defence, or his appeal.

"The fact that particular prosecutor took that particular view is of no legal significance at all - the considerations that lay behind the view expressed by that prosecutor would be the relevant thing on the appeal," he said.

"I don't think it could have helped if that information was in the public arena - it's interesting and fascinating information, but it's not information that would be of any legal significance."

Bond University criminologist Paul Wilson said compensation should be a given for Mr Stafford.

"It would be appalling if the state government does not compensate him for the nearly 15 years he spent in jail," he said.

"The Queensland Government have been very reluctant to pay compensation in these types of cases in the past and it would be the most mean-spirited move if they did that in this case."

Professor Wilson said a Royal Commission needed to be set up to get to the bottom of the case once and for all.

He said the relationships between investigating officers and a police informant, whose daughter last month suggested may have been Leanne's killer, had to be examined.

"These are Fitzgerald-type questions, they're not minor questions," Professor Wilson said.

"The case has gone well beyond the Stafford case now and well beyond the issue of Stafford himself."

But Professor Wilson said he thought any such inquiry was unlikely to get off the ground.

"I don't think they want it. Governments don't like these investigations and I would have to say I'm appalled that the opposition haven't said anything about this," he said.

"They say they're concerned about justice, but why have they not gotten involved in asking the tough questions of the government in this case?

"The case is not going to go away - that is apparent - it's not going to disappear. It hasn't done for 15 years and it's not going to go away now."

New Laws to End Financial Planning Rip-Offs in Australia

http://www.theepochtimes.com

CANBERRA—The federal government has moved to restore trust in the financial services industry and protect life savings, by banning kickbacks for financial planners.

Financial Services Minister Chris Bowen on Monday released the government's response to a parliamentary inquiry into Australian financial products and services.

It was set up in the wake of the Storm Financial and Opes Prime collapses.

The package contains three key changes: financial planners will no longer be able to receive commissions; they'll be legally required to act in the best interest of clients and affordable financial advice services will be expanded.

Mr Bowen said the Future of Financial Advice reforms would tackle conflicts of interest that threaten quality advice.

"Commissions ... distort the market and need to go," he told reporters in Sydney.

"Over the years thousands of Australians have had their life savings wiped out through inappropriate financial advice.

"They have a right to be angry and we have an obligation to act."

Some collapses were due to poor business models, recommended by financial planners because they provided commissions of up to 12 per cent, Mr Bowen said.

He accepted some financial planners would leave the industry due to the changes, but denied fees would skyrocket as a result.

"Some people used to the old ways, used to the commissions ... won't be comfortable but others will be encouraged by the fact there is more transparency in the industry," he said.

He predicted financial advice would become more popular with more fee options available, but the opposition says low-income earners will be disadvantaged, as they won't be able to afford upfront fees.

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott said small business could also be hurt.

"It would be wrong to entirely scrap commissions," he told reporters in Sydney.

"If the commissions are up-front and transparent I don't necessarily have a problem with that."

Australian Greens leader Bob Brown backed the changes, but shared the concern that low-income earners would be discouraged from seeking professional advice.

"Financial planning is an increasingly popular service and consumers need to be confident that the advice they are receiving is in their best interests," Senator Brown said.

Investment and Financial Services Association (IFSA) chief John Brogden said the changes were a win for consumers.

"While investors must take responsibility for informed investment decisions, the regulatory structure must support the provision of appropriate financial advice in the best interests of the client," he said.

IFSA wants the government to go further, and make financial advice tax deductible, so it is accessible to everyone.

But it's unlikely to happen, with Mr Bowen saying it would be too expensive.

The Australian Workers Union estimates union members stand to gain $50,000 in their retirement funds under the new rules.

The union says financial planners pocketed $1.3 billion of workers' money from for-profit superannuation funds last year.

Most of the changes will apply from July 1, 2012.

BETFAIR COLLABORATING WITH NRL AUSTRALIA IN NEW BETTING ISSUE

http://www.recentpoker.com

The honesty services of the Australian wing of the giant betting exchange Betfair are again being used by a major sports body, this time the National Rugby League in Australia.
 
Betfair uses its sophisticated tracking and monitoring capabilities to flag any suspicious betting patterns in the interests of curtailing corruption in sports, and has in the past interacted with many international sports bodies.
 
In the current enquiry, the NRL has begun an investigation into a large bet on April 13 that team Melbourne Storm would take the 2010 wooden spoon. The Sydney Morning Herald reports that that was the same day Melbourne Storm chairman Rod Moodie alleges the board learned of the extent of the club's salary cap rorting [to cheat, rip-off, beat, defraud, hack or scam something.]
 
"The timing of the bet raises serious questions about who knew what, and when they knew it," the newspaper opined.
 
As part of the investigation, the NRL has contacted other Australian betting agencies requesting they supply it with information surrounding all spoon betting.
 
NRL CEO David Gallop was reportedly shocked when told by The Sun-Herald newspaper that a A$35 bet (at odds of 300-1) had been placed on the Storm nine days before Thursday's announcement that the club was to lose 44 competition points for its salary cap irregularities.
 
''No, the NRL is not aware of that. That's something we will be asking questions about. The investigation and inquiries are not stopping yet so we'll be working around the clock,'' he said.
 
Betfair.com's Hugh Taggart told the SMH: ''We will be providing all of our market information and betting details to them [the NRL] over the weekend. That's information we would have at hand, so that will be with them as soon as possible. We have the personal information of all our customers who bet, because all of our betting is account-based. We can trace absolutely every brushstroke of the keyboard.
 
''All of those account numbers are linked to a credit card and a name, so we can provide named information.''
 
All betting agencies Downunder received documentation from the NRL notifying that no decision was made on the stripping of competition points from Melbourne Storm until 1pm last Thursday afternoon. The Sydney Morning Herald article reports that this suggests the April 13 bet was made by someone close to or involved with the Storm, who was knowledgeable enough to foresee the club being stripped of all possible 2010 competition points.
 
TAB Sportsbet reported that it took A$200 on Melbourne to finish with the spoon at 9.30pm on Wednesday, the night before the penalty was announced, while it received a further A$911 hours before the announcement Melbourne were to be stripped of all points.
 
Spokesman Glenn Munsie said A$15 was still unaccounted for and the agency would investigate when and where that bet was placed. It would pass on all information to the NRL.
 
Betfair is believed to have provided the first link to the issue, with the A$35 matched bet for Melbourne to win the spoon placed late afternoon on April 13 - the day the board of Melbourne Storm learned of the severity of the charges against the club of salary cap rorting.

GOVERNMENT TO PROTECT COMMON LAW RIGHTS FOR WORKERS

Joint Statement

Premier and Minister for the Arts

The Honourable Anna Bligh

Attorney-General and Minister for Industrial Relations

The Honourable Cameron Dick

27/04/2010

GOVERNMENT TO PROTECT COMMON LAW RIGHTS FOR WORKERS

Premier Anna Bligh and the Industrial Relations Minister Cameron Dick have today announced that the Government will reform Queensland's workers compensation scheme to ensure stability and certainty into the future.

The package of changes to WorkCover Queensland announced today will ensure that the Queensland average premium rate, while increasing, will remain the lowest of any state or territory.

In November 2009, the WorkCover Queensland Board reported to government growing financial pressures due to the GFC and growth in common law claims.

The Board recommended a number of changes including restricting injured workers access to compensation through the courts.

"Our aim is to make sure every Queenslander returns home safely from work, each and every day," the Premier said.

"In the event of a workplace incident causing injury or death, we want to ensure there is a strong compensation scheme in place to support workers and their families."

"This package of changes will mean that all Queenslanders, employers and employees, continue to have access to one of the most stable and secure workers compensation scheme in the country."

"The Government has also announced that restrictions on access to common law compensation claims by injured Queensland workers will not be imposed as part of the changes."

Mr Dick said the suite of changes represented a responsible, well-considered response to WorkCover's financial situation, which had been negatively affected by the global financial crisis.

"We need to ensure the scheme continues to be the most stable and solvent in Australia," he said.

"Feedback from stakeholders has persuaded the government to reject the call for restrictions to be imposed on common law claims made through WorkCover."

Mr Dick said the proposed reforms would address the growth in common law claims and claims costs, and help secure WorkCover's financial stability.

WorkCover had advised that the reform package will include an increase in the average premium rate from $1.15 per $100 of wages paid to $1.30 in 2010-11.

"Despite the increase in the average premium rate, Queensland employers will still be paying the lowest average premium of any state or territory in the nation."

"We will be monitoring the implementation and effectiveness of the reform package very closely over the next two years," said the Minister.

"At the end of 2012, we will assess their overall effectiveness and determine whether further, more significant reforms are needed."

Mr Dick said measures targeting poor performing companies were also part of the reforms.

"WorkCover and Workplace Health and Safety Queensland will start auditing employers with a poor safety record and if their performance does not improve, we will give WorkCover the power to raise their premiums above the cap."

The Government will also investigate the possibility of introducing workers' compensation levy system for the construction industry.

Legislation required to implement the reform package is expected to be introduced into Parliament by mid 2010.

Comparison of average premium rate per $100 of wages:

State or territory

2004-05

2005-06

2006-07

2007-08

2008-09

2009-10

Queensland

1.55

1.43

1.20

1.15

1.15

1.15

New South Wales

2.57

2.17

1.86

1.72

1.77

1.69

Victoria

1.99

1.80

1.62

1.46

1.39

1.39

South Australia

3.00

3.00

3.00

3.00

3.00

3.00

Western Australia

2.25

2.32

2.13

1.85

1.58

1.74

Northern Territory

2.95

2.70

2.40

2.31

N/A

N/A

Tasmania

2.46

2.19

1.95

1.94

1.83

1.97

Australian Capital Territory

3.07

3.32

3.15

N/A

N/A

N/A

QUEENSLAND FEATURE FILM TRIANGLE TO PREMIERE

Premier and Minister for the Arts

The Honourable Anna Bligh

27/04/2010

QUEENSLAND FEATURE FILM TRIANGLE TO PREMIERE

Queensland's film industry will be showcased on the big screen with the national release of feature film

Triangle this Thursday (April 29)Premier and Minister for the Arts Anna Bligh announced today.

"This film, which was produced by Queensland company Pictures in Paradise and filmed in Queensland in 2008, is yet another example of the strength of the Queensland screen industry," Ms Bligh said.

"The film is a psychological thriller about a yachting expedition that goes wrong after the boat is struck by mysterious weather conditions.

"Starring Melissa George (

Grey's Anatomy) and Michael Dorman (

Daybreakers),

Triangle was filmed at a variety of Queensland locations including Warner Roadshow Studios and the Queensland Maritime Museum.

"This production received nearly $650,000 from my government through Screen Queensland; in turn helping to generate $13.8 million in flow on economic activity and creating 284 jobs," Ms Bligh said.

Screen Queensland CEO Maureen Barron said the release of

Triangle followed on from other major releases this year.

"Queensland recently saw the premiere of three productions filmed in North Queensland with World War II television drama

The Pacific, World War I feature film

Beneath Hill 60, and the fourth series of the popular drama

Sea Patrol, all showing nationally.

"Another Queensland feature film,

Daybreakers, was released in February," Ms Barron said.

"Now to follow it up with the release of yet another Queensland-made film just shows the momentum Queensland has at the moment."

"This strength of the Queensland industry continues to create entertaining stories and forge a reputation globally," Ms Barron said.

MINISTERS TO ENSURE QUALITY OF INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION IN AUSTRALIA

Minister for Education and Training

The Honourable Geoff Wilson

27/04/2010

MINISTERS TO ENSURE QUALITY OF INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION

Education and Training Minister Geoff Wilson will tomorrow discuss with his interstate colleagues ways to guarantee international students have a positive experience in Australia.

Mr Wilson said he would work to safeguard the quality of international education at the Ministerial Council for Tertiary Education and Employment (MCTEE) meeting in Melbourne.

"The Queensland Government values the cultural, social and economic contribution international students make to our state," Mr Wilson said.

"We are working with all Australian governments to ensure international students are enjoying a safe and positive experience here and that our reputation for quality education and training is maintained.

"The Queensland Government supports national strategies including the Baird Review of the

Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS)

Act that will tighten registration requirements and further protect students and their families from fraudulent operators.

"We support the Council of Australian Governments' development of the International Student Strategy for Australia which will enhance the student experience through initiatives to improve student wellbeing, quality of education, consumer protection and better information provision."

Mr Wilson said the State Government had taken a number of steps to maintain high educational standards and student safety and wellbeing in Queensland.

"The Department of Education and Training continues to audit education and training providers to ensure their courses meet student and industry requirements.

"Queensland's International Student Accommodation Taskforce has reviewed the State's regulations on 'rooming-style' accommodation, compliance with regulations and international students' information needs.

"Last year the Government established the Queensland Education and Training International Student Experience Reference Group which offers guidance to the State Government on projects to enhance the student experience.

"We are determined to deliver the best possible education outcomes in a peaceful, safe and friendly environment.

"The Queensland Police Service, through specialist officers and units, conducts personal safety information sessions at universities, TAFEs and other education providers, and works with diverse community groups to improve the safety of all people in Queensland, including overseas students and visitors."

MCTEE meets at least twice a year to consider matters in its areas of responsibility.

Forums across Queensland to push regionalisation

Premier and Minister for the Arts

The Honourable Anna Bligh

27/04/2010

Forums across Queensland to push regionalisation

Premier Anna Bligh today announced that cabinet ministers will fan out across Queensland on Tuesday May 4 to get feedback and ideas on regionalisation.

"We want to encourage more of the 2100 people coming to Queensland each week to settle in the regions," Ms Bligh said.

"We're considering how we can influence more people to call the regions home and developing a plan to make that happen to better manage future growth.

"This was the focus of the Queensland Growth Management Summit in Brisbane on March 30 and 31.

"Now, as the next step, I'm sending ministers out to the regions to talk to key stakeholders.

"We want their ideas about how we can work together in partnership to attract people to the regions," Ms Bligh said.

Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries will host regionalisation forums in the following locations:

• Cairns - Ministers Desley Boyle and Geoff Wilson and Parliamentary Secretary Steve Wettenhall

• Townsville - Ministers Craig Wallace and Peter Lawlor

• Mackay - Ministers Tim Mulherin and Neil Roberts and Parliamentary Secretary Jan Jarratt

• Toowoomba - Minister Rachel Nolan and Parliamentary Secretary Peta-Kaye Croft

• Rockhampton - Ministers Robert Schwarten and Annastacia Palaszczuk and Parliamentary Secretary Julie Attwood

• Gladstone - Minister Stirling Hinchliffe and Parliamentary Secretary Simon Finn

• Bundaberg - Minister Phil Reeves and Parliamentary Secretary Murray Watt

• Mount Isa - Minister Cameron Dick and Parliamentary Secretaries Betty Kiernan and Michael Choi.

Ms Bligh said: "Regional Queensland is a great place to live and our research shows 1 in 10 new Queenslanders who settle in South East Queensland would be prepared to make the regional shift if the incentives were right.

"One incentive being considered for this year's state budget is a $3,000 boost to the first home owner's grant for people buying homes outside South East Queensland.

"And some regional Mayors have said we should consider moving more government agencies to regional Queensland.

"We want to hear more suggestions and feedback from people on the ground who have local knowledge and know their region back to front," Ms Bligh said.

In addition to discussing regionalisation, ministers will take the opportunity to talk to local community leaders about their views on daylight saving in South East Queensland as part of their consultation.

Participants, including local government, industry, Regional Development Association Committee members and community leaders will discuss the following questions:

1.What should the State Government do to encourage regionalisation?

2.How can the regions be more involved in the regionalisation strategy?

3.What strategies would best encourage people to move to your region?

4.How can all levels of government partner to deliver stronger regions?

5.What might Government do to support more sustainable/liveable communities?

6.Do you think Queensland should have split time zones for daylight saving?

Ms Bligh said: "At the Queensland Growth Management Summit I committed to developing a Queensland Regionalisation Strategy, for consultation by the end of the year.

"The discussion at the forums will feed into the policy development of that consultation paper and I will be very interested to hear what ideas and feedback are generated."

Con the con pays for lottery scam - Constantine 'Con' Barris forced to pay up

BT

A Queensland scammer, who claimed to have a secret method to predict future lottery draws, has been ordered to repay tens of thousands of dollars to victims of his scheme.

Gold Coast entrepreneur Constantine 'Con' Barris set up the website, Powerballwin.com.au, and distributed 163,000 flyers to households across Australia, which claimed he had made "...an amazing discovery that disputes the theory of random probability and has totally shocked the experts."

Duped customers paid a $59 subscription fee in order to receive a series of predicted numbers to help win all divisions of Powerball.

QLD and NSW join forces to attract more South American visitors

Treasurer and Minister for Employment and Economic Development

The Honourable Andrew Fraser

26/04/2010

QLD and NSW join forces to attract more South American visitors

Queensland will join forces with NSW to attract more Latin American tourists to Australia, building on strong growth in tourist numbers over the past year.

Leading a major trade mission to Latin America, Mr Fraser said from Brazil today that the $200,000 print, TV, online and outdoor advertising campaign was a joint initiative of Tourism Queensland, Tourism NSW, Tourism Australia and Qantas.

The campaign will target visitors in Argentina, Brazil and Chile with enticing pictures and accommodation and airfare packages.

"Tourism directly contributes more than $9 billion to the Queensland economy and supports 222,000 jobs," Mr Fraser said.

"That's why the Bligh Government committed an extra $36 million over three years to support tourism in tough times.

"This joint initiative is good news for Queensland - particularly tourism hubs like Cairns, Whitsundays and the Gold Coast.

"South America is an emerging market for Queensland with Argentina, Brazil and Chile recording strong growth in visitor numbers - Latin American visitors were up 11 per cent in 2009."

"Qantas currently operates a direct route from Buenos Aires and the campaign promotes good value airfares on this route with connections to a variety of Queensland destinations including Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Cairns and Hamilton Island.

The campaign will include print, outdoor, TV and online advertising, travel agent training and the promotion of wholesale travel packages featuring special Qantas sale airfares.

The campaign would focus primarily on promoting package deals combining flights with a 10-night Queensland, NSW accommodation offer, such as flights and accommodation from Buenos Aires to Palm Cove from $US 2639.

Qantas Airlines Commercial Group Executive Rob Gurney said: "Qantas operates direct services from Sydney to Buenos three times a week.

"The South American market is growing and we look forward to flying more visitors to Australia to experience the best of Queensland and NSW."

Brass get the ass: 10 year ban for Queensland real estate employee Leigh Gregory Craig

Minister for Tourism and Fair Trading

The Honourable Peter Lawlor

25/04/2010

10 year ban for real estate employee

An investigation by the Office of Fair Trading has resulted in a Kangaroo Point-based resident letting agent and his company being banned from holding licences under the Property Agents and Motor Dealers Act 2000 for ten years after ripping off unit owners.

Minister for Fair Trading Peter Lawlor said Leigh Gregory Craig, who was also fined $2500, was found guilty by the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal of failing to follow his clients' instructions and producing false invoices.

His company Brass Properties No 1 Pty Ltd was also banned for 10 years and fined $3,000.

"Mr Craig first came to the attention of Fair Trading officers after they received a complaint from a unit owner who was falsely charged a $132 fee for the retrieval of a set of car keys accidentally dropped down a lift shaft," Mr Lawlor said.

"Following an investigation, Mr Craig was also found to have advertised Bridgeport Apartments for short-term letting which flies in the face of body corporate by-laws which impose a minimum period of six months.
"He deliberately misled unit owners by failing to disclose the higher than usual fees he was charging renters, which at times was double the normal amount.

"This additional income was not passed on to the unit owners.

"This type of behaviour has no place in Queensland's real estate industry.

"Queenslanders deserve to know they are dealing with reputable and licensed agents," he said.

"This decision is a clear reminder to the real estate industry to act responsibly.

"If an agent chooses to breach the law by deceiving their customers, they risk the loss of their licence, reputation and livelihood.

"The legislation is there to protect businesses and clients, and must be complied with. Licensees caught doing the wrong thing will be penalised."

Licensed resident letting agents are permitted to rent out and manage units in residential complexes on behalf of unit owners and bodies corporate, collect rent and operate trust accounts.

Consumers and businesses can check to see whether a real estate industry employee is licensed by conducting a free online search at www.fairtrading.qld.gov.au

Consumers with information about breaches of fair trading law should report it by calling 13 13 04 or going online at www.fairtrading.qld.gov.au

.......................................
COMMENT: This real estate upstart Leigh Gregory Craig deserves everything he got.
The Minister for Fair Trading Peter Lawlor should continue to pursue ripoff merchants and unsavoury miscreants who make money out of people's misery.


PaulGTully@gmail.com

'Gay dog' refused entry to Australian restaurant

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net

SYDNEY – An Australian restaurant that refused a blind man entry because a waiter thought his seeing-eye dog was "gay" has been ordered to apologize and pay compensation.

Ian Jolly was told he could not take guide dog Nudge into Adelaide's Thai Spice last May because a member of staff objected, The Sunday Mail reported.

The restaurant's owners said a misunderstanding had arisen between Jolly's female companion and a waiter, who understood the woman "to be saying she wanted to bring a gay dog into the restaurant".

"The staff genuinely believed that Nudge was an ordinary pet dog which had been desexed to become a gay dog," the owners said in a statement to South Australia's Equal Opportunity Tribunal.

The tribunal on Friday ordered the restaurant to pay Jolly 1,500 dollars ($1,400) and offer him a written apology for discriminating against him on the grounds of disability.

The restaurant, which displays a "guide dogs welcome" sign, refused to comment to the newspaper and was unavailable to respond on Sunday.

Jolly told the Sunday Mail he was happy with the result.

"I just want to be like everybody else and be able to go out for dinner, to be left alone and just enjoy a meal," he said.