Police loses appeal over speeding ticket: What a waste of our money

BrisbaneTimes.com.au

Queensland police have lost an appeal against a judge's decision to acquit a woman of a speeding charge.

Police launched a review of traffic charge trials after Bilyana LeKich successfully appealed a speeding ticket.

On September 4, 2008, a magistrate found Mrs LeKich guilty of speeding and fined her $200.

Police alleged she was driving at 114km/h in a 100km/h zone on the Bruce Highway.

Their only evidence was a photograph taken by a fixed speed camera.

Mrs LeKich did not dispute she was driving the car or that the speed camera took a photo, but argued she had not been speeding.

She appealed to the District Court, which found the photograph was inadmissible because police failed to provide proper certification.

Since the photo was the only police evidence, the appeal was allowed and the conviction set aside.

"If the deficiency reflects the ordinary practice adopted in these prosecutions by the traffic camera office, it seems to me that the practice requires review," Judge John McGill said at the time.

Police appealed Judge McGill's decision to the Court of Appeal which in an unanimous judgment on Friday refused it.

In his written judgment, Supreme Court Justice Hugh Fraser rejected the police argument that the speed camera photo should be accepted as admissible evidence because such photos were presented routinely to court.

Police had argued that in 2008 and 2009 briefs were prepared for potential hearings in 475 matters and 406 matters respectively, and they had a "prosecutions pending" list of 1,556 and 1,719 speeding offences respectively in the same periods.

But Justice Fraser noted that since the District Court decision police prosecutors had been following the relevant Act.

Who are the clowns running the Australian Electoral Commission: GetUp! wins again in online vote case

BrisbaneTimes.com.au

Australians will be able to enrol online after the Federal Court ruled in favour of activist group GetUp! in its action against the Australian Electoral Commission.

The group took the commission to court after concern was expressed about an online voting enrolment site it created in July.

But today Federal Court Justice Nye Perram ruled the test case of 19-year-old Sophie Trevitt, who enrolled on the GetUp! website OzEnrol, was legal.

'Historic' win ... GetUp! national director Simon Sheikh.


GetUp! national director Simon Sheikh called the win "historic".

"Today's decision vindicates the process of online enrolment," Mr Sheikh told reporters.

"We know that we pay our taxes online, that we do our banking online and we should be able to enrol to vote online."

He said GetUp! would be campaigning to allow online enrolments in all future elections, starting with Victoria's state election in November.

"The AEC's next moves are up to them. We'll be pushing the case for online voting vigorously so that it can be in place in time for the Victorian state election."

It is the second win the group has had in court in two weeks – last Friday the High Court ruled Howard government laws that closed electoral rolls on the day writs for an election were issued were invalid.

In a majority judgment, the full court struck out the laws brought in by the Coalition government in 2006 that cut the deadline from seven days to one for enrolment and three days for a change of details.

Queensland Politics: Police won't budge on pay offer

Is Ian Leavers President of the QPU doing the right thing by his Police Union members?

Rank and file police union members must be disappointed at their union's rejection of a pay offer which would have given them significantly more annual salary than their counterparts in NSW and Victoria.

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

Joint Statement: Premier and Minister for the Arts

The Honourable Anna Bligh

Minister for Police, Corrective Services and Emergency Services

The Honourable Neil Roberts

13/08/2010

Qld Government offers immediate police pay rise

Premier Anna Bligh said today she was disappointed the police unions had rejected an immediate, increased pay offer which would see Queensland police getting thousands more than their counterparts in NSW and Victoria each year.

"What we put on the table today was an offer of an immediate three per cent increase backdated to July 1, 2010," Ms Bligh said.

"Today's interim offer would have delivered an immediate pay rise while the three-year enterprise bargaining agreement went to the independent umpire - the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission - for final determination."

The Government's offer was subject to an agreement that: public servants other than police operate speed camera vans, and all other outstanding issues - including the final amount of the pay rise over the next three years - be resolved with the assistance of the Qld Industrial Relations Commission.

"The Government wants to see this money getting into the pockets of police because we recognise and respect the vital role they play in keeping Queensland communities safe," Ms Bligh said.

"I am disappointed the police unions have today rejected our offer because it would have meant each and every week around an extra $38 for a constable, $47 for a senior constable and $57 for a sergeant."

The Government has now filed an application in the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission seeking the assistance of the independent umpire in settling the dispute.

"I want this dispute settled as soon as possible so our police can get a wage rise," Ms Bligh said.

"Given that discussions have reached a stalemate, the best way forward is through the QIRC."

Ms Bligh said the increase (including base salary, superannuation and shift allowances) would also mean:

·A constable gets $3,451 more each year than their counterpart in NSW and $7,393 each year more than their counterpart in Victoria;

·A senior constable gets more than $4,522 more than their counterpart in NSW and $10,859 more than their counterpart in Victoria; and

·A sergeant gets more than $7,274 more than their counterpart in NSW and $9,629 more than their counterpart in Victoria.

Police Minister Neil Roberts said today the Government had a strong record of supporting the police service - delivering a record budget this financial year and more police officers to the frontline.

"We've now got more than 10,300 serving police officers helping to keep our communities safe," Mr Roberts said.

"And this year we delivered a record $1.8 billion Budget investment in our police service - an investment which also includes delivering better crime fighting equipment and upgrading and improving police stations."

"Today's offer - particularly in the context of a tight budget - is fair and reasonable and I'm disappointed the Queensland Police Union didn't come to the party and ensure this pay rise got to our hardworking officers who deserve it."

Snob Hill comes to Brisbane while chefs stew as unknowns poach awards

BrisbaneTimes.com.au

Industry insiders were shocked when
Aria wasn't named best new restaurant.

Brisbane restaurateurs have fried Monday night's industry awards after several shock winners.

Some of the city's leading chefs have criticised the Savour Australia Restaurant & Catering Awards for Excellence for making what they argued were many wrong decisions and questioned whether the public would take them seriously.

They were most surprised by a little known modern Australian cafe - Drift Cafe, which occupies the old Oxley's site on the river at Milton - beating famed chef Matt Moran's riverside Aria to be named best new restaurant.

Drift owner David Moore said he was surprised and "shocked" to beat Mr Moran, but believed his team was worthy of the accolade.

"I think a lot of people expect that a well-known restaurateur or a celebrity chef will win but it comes down to how good does he run the business?" Mr Moore said.

"Just because I haven't got the celebrity status or the [reputation] throughout Australia doesn't mean that I can't provide any more than Matt Moran can provide.

"[The award] is judged on a number of criteria and that goes down through everything from answering the phone to paying the bill to the service quality."

Mr Moore has previously won two Restaurant and Catering awards.

"I may not have the profile that Matt Moran does but I certainly have the runs on the board, a lot of people don't know that," he said.

Chefs and restaurant owners interviewed by brisbanetimes.com.au were also surprised by Bravo Bar B Que in Fortitude Valley taking out best steak restaurant ahead of John Kilroy's Cha Cha Char Wine Bar and Grill; Viale Canova at Clayfield being named Best Italian Restaurant; and Brisbane's Customs House taking home Best Contemporary Australian Restaurant – Informal (50 - 100 Seats).

E'cco owner and chef Phil Johnson threatened to boycott next year's awards.

Mr Johnson, an internationally acclaimed chef, was beaten by Customs House but said it was not "sour grapes" that had him sizzling over the winners.

Numerous winners were undeserving, he said, and it was "unfathomable" that Aria was beaten by a cafe unheard of in the industry.

"[Aria] is a professional, well run restaurant; it's pretty staggering," Mr Johnson said.

"The awards have probably left me cold and I very much doubt I'll enter again.

"It's not about winning but if the awards can't throw up the right winner I just have to question how it's being done.

"I don't think the awards ever really reflect what's happening in the industry. They run hot and cold.

"And for that I can't every believe how the public would take it seriously."

Highly regarded new Fortitude Valley tapas bar Ortiga also did not appear in the awards on Monday night.

But owner Simon Hill said he had chosen not to self-nominate because the judging criteria went against what he was trying to achieve at the restaurant.

"The way the Restaurant and Caterers Awards are judged causes them to sometimes throw out results that are completely opposed to market perception," Mr Hill said.

"The judging criteria favours restaurants that are not idiosyncratic, specialised or different and as odd as it sounds this is exactly what we are trying to achieve.

"Criteria such as scope of menu, range of items on menu, menu explanations, value for money and so on can skew the results to favour the restaurant that is, say, cheap, has lots of varying menu items and easy-to-read menu terminology.

"And while you could mount a pretty good argument in favour of those criteria, the fact remains that the rest of the food writing/critic industry and in my opinion the general public are after quite the opposite."

Last month, Ortiga and Aria were two of six Queensland nominations for the prestigious Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Awards, the most of any state. 

At the Restaurant & Catering Awards on Monday, Restaurant Two received the top gong as restaurant of the year.

Chef and owner David Pugh said he was "over the moon", but admitted if the judges had visited before he employed a new manager earlier in the year his restaurant would not have won.

The award would help fill more tables but, he said, at the end of the day customers would judge for themselves.

"It's all subjective," Mr Pugh said.

"It's been said before, on any given day the judges come in and make an appraisal of a restaurant and if ... they come on a bad night or day it's goodbye.

"You can't afford to rest on your laurels."

Mr Pugh said he was surprised by Aria and Cha Cha Char's results, but said it was not uncommon for smaller, suburban establishments to create memorable experiences.

It took only a few small glitches, such as spilling wine or a grim waiter, to disappoint the judges.

"When you come in with a reputation like Aria ... everything goes under the microscope," Mr Pugh said.

"[But] even though Aria didn't win best new restaurant last night, it's still one of the best places to go to.

"The fact there's another good new restaurant out there [Drift Cafe] should be supported."

In the case of 11-year-old Cha Cha Char, the judges may have viewed Bravo as being "fresher", Mr Pugh said.

"You can't expect to win awards year in, year out if you're going to offer the same thing," he said.

Mr Pugh said he applied that theory to himself and would not expect to again win next year.

Restaurant and Catering Industry Association chief executive officer John Hart defended the awards.

He said the marking system had been created by a mathematician and was "squeaky clean".

"I trust these results implicitly," Mr Hart said.

"It's absolutely as clean and objective as you can possibly make it.

"And if it says that there's a new restaurant that got a great score and that beat Aria then so be it."

Mr Hart said the system was used to review more than 2500 restaurants nationally each year.

Establishments were judged anonymously against 55 or 66 criteria and the results were posted to the association.

Brisbane Airport worker Tyler Cheung Wong on the wong side of the law: Drunk chef caught with loaded gun in his underpants 'in wong place at wong time'

YES, it really was a pistol in his pocket ... or rather, his underpants ... and police were not pleased to see him.

Brisbane Airport chef Tyler Cheung Wong was in the wrong place at the wrong time with the wrong item when officers pulled him and a mate over on the Gold Coast early today.

There had just a terrifying armed hold-up at the Parkwood Tavern, where staff were tied up and robbed by balaclava-clad gunmen, and police were on the hunt for the culprits who were in a stolen getaway car.

They noticed the late model Mercedes in which Wong was a passenger driving erratically on the M1 and intercepted it.

When officers patted Wong down, they found a loaded .22 calibre revolver concealed in his underpants.

Wong, 28, pleaded guilty in Southport Magistrates Court to unlawful possession off a weapon and ammunition.

Duty solicitor Vered Turner told the court Wong had been very drunk and had only come into possession of the gun a few hours earlier.

She did not explain how he got the gun but said he had told it was 'a very stupid thing to do'.

Magistrate John Costanzo said it was 'an appalling lack of judgement (and) ... grossly reckless behaviour'.

`'In this country, we do not tolerate people carrying loaded concealable firearms under any circumstances,'' he said.

Wong was given a two-year jail sentence, wholly suspended for two years.

His co-accused was given a notive to appear in court later this month charged with drink-driving.

CourierMail.com.au

Blackberry Torch Teardown Shows Slider Guts, Antenna

Blackberry Torch Teardown Shows Slider Guts, Antenna

Channel 10 earmarks 2½ hours of news and current affairs

Channel 10 has stolen a march on its rivals with plans detailed in today's Sunday Telegraph to run  2½ hours of news and current affairs each week night.

Local one-hour 5pm bulletins will be followed by a national news bulletin at 6pm then at 6.30pm the highly-credible Jennifer Byrne will head a current affairs program to rival A Current Affair on Channel 9 and Today Tonight on 7.

Ten will maintain its 7PM Project, giving Australian viewers an unrivalled two and a half hours of news and current affairs, 5 days a week.

The changes are expected to take effect in January 2011.

Biggest Ekka Ripoff: Lunchtime "Crust Gourmet Pizzas" with a 75% price hike!

The Crust Gourmet Pizza Bar in the heart of the Ekka's Sideshow Alley would have to be the biggest ripoff at the show.

At lunchtime, the pizzas are $7 for a pretty average slice but by mid-afternoon, having slugged the lunchtime crowd, the price drops to $4.

So, the tip for show goers: Buy your Crust Gourmet Pizza after 3pm or vote with your feet and boycott them altogether.

It's a pity that the RNA officials allow this sort of thing to go unchecked year after year.

Tim Mulherin acts on a whale of an idea for Queensland

Minister for Primary Industries, Fisheries and Rural and Regional Queensland

The Honourable Tim Mulherin

06/08/2010

Whale pingers installed to reduce entanglements

New acoustic alarms, or pingers as they are commonly known, to help reduce whale entanglements are being fitted on shark nets from Mackay to the Gold Coast this week.

Minister for Primary Industries, Fisheries and Rural and Regional Queensland Tim Mulherin said the pingers were designed to alert whales to the location of shark nets to help them avoid entanglement.

"Last migration season six whales were caught in shark nets on the Gold Coast, " Mr Mulherin said.

"That is a relatively small number considering there are up to 13,000 whales migrating back to southern waters, but still six too many.

"While all of these animals were successfully released by our Marine Animal Release Teams, this type of operation is expensive and can be taxing on our officers - prevention is certainly a better option.

"Obviously any preventative measures we can take, such as these new pingers, to reduce entanglements is better than mounting a release effort."

Mr Mulherin said 90 pingers in total would be fitted to nets from Mackay to the Gold Coast with 300 manufactured in total.

"The pingers will be in place from now until the end of November which is the time when whales are making their southern migration," Mr Mulherin said.

"The pingers were recently tested in the water for 45 days to check their durability and showed that they can last in our ocean environment.

"Generally the pingers will only be on nets for 21 days at a time and will be changed over when the nets are changed."

Mr Mulherin said the alarms had been developed by a Queensland-based specialist acoustic device manufacturer and give off a louder noise for a longer listening period making it easier for whales to hear.

"It is important to recognise that these alarms are designed to alert whales to the presence of nets - they are not designed to scare them away from the equipment," Mr Mulherin said.

"With 13,000 whales expected to pass along the Queensland coast this whale migration season, the Bligh Government is committed to minimising the impacts of its shark control program on non-target species such as whales.

"As I announced last month we are also trialling the use of surfcams for eight Gold Coast beaches through the coastal watch system to help confirm entanglements.

"This system allows officers to remotely access the surfcams, generally used by the public to check surf conditions, and zoom in on nets to confirm if an animal is caught.

"Using this system will allow us to activate a release team for confirmed entanglements only rather than for false alarms."

Fisheries Queensland Shark Control Program Manager Tony Ham said that in total 90 pingers would be in the water at any one time - three on each net from Mackay to the Gold Coast.

"The pingers will be in place in time for the second half of the whale season when young whales are more likely to come closer to shore and become entangled.

"After that the pingers will be fitted to the nets from May 1 to November 30 each year."

To report whale entanglements call the shark control hotline on 1800 806 891.

Langbroek slammed over AFL somersault

Minister for Child Safety and Minister for Sport

The Honourable Phil Reeves

06/08/2010

LNP: Breathtaking hypocrisy on AFL

The LNP which opposed an AFL stadium on the Gold Coast is now pretending to support AFL, Sport Minister Phil Reeves said today.

"This is the most breathtaking hypocrisy by a political party in years," Mr Reeves said.

"The Bligh Government is building a brand new AFL stadium on the Gold Coast to support the game in Queensland and drive up event dollars.

"But when we announced this stadium the LNP were fiercely opposed and attacked it as an election stunt.

"Now Mr Langbroek has the gall to pretend he is an AFL supporter.

"What a joke. He will be seen for the fraud that he is on this topic.

"The Member for Surfers Paradise has become the 'Johnny come lately' when it comes to supporting AFL and the jobs it creates," Mr Reeves said.

Palmer palms away legal fight against Captain Bligh

Joint Statement: Premier and Minister for the Arts

The Honourable Anna Bligh

Treasurer and Minister for Employment and Economic Development

The Honourable Andrew Fraser

06/08/2010

Statement by Premier

Premier Anna Bligh, Treasurer Andrew Fraser and businessman Clive Palmer have today reached a settlement after mediation over defamation action brought by Mr Palmer.

Ms Bligh said the parties reached an agreement which meant the matter was now finalised and would not proceed to court.

"I'm very happy that we have been able to settle this matter and avoid the expense and inconvenience of having to proceed to a court hearing," the Premier said.

"This matter is now closed."

The Premier, Treasurer and Mr Palmer agreed to release the following statement:

In January 2009, in the course of discussing political donations, the Premier and Treasurer made certain remarks concerning Professor Palmer. As a result of those remarks, Professor Palmer brought actions against the Premier and Treasurer.

The parties have settled those actions on the following terms:

1.Professor Palmer will discontinue the actions.

2.Each party will pay his or her own costs of the actions.

3.There is no requirement that this settlement be kept confidential.

4.The parties agree there is an entirely legitimate role for individuals and entities to support political parties through either donations (in cash or in kind) or other efforts.

The Premier and Treasurer agree that Professor Palmer has not acted unlawfully in supporting the LNP.

Equally, Professor Palmer agrees that robust political debate is absolutely vital to a functioning democracy.

The Premier and Treasurer do not hold the view that any political donations made by Professor Palmer to the LNP were made for an unlawful purpose.

All parties agreed that each is honestly committed to the prosperous future of Queensland.

Flegg Flogged: LNP Member for Moggill 'delighted' by Labor BER program yet stands by Abbott promise to give QLD schools 'the cuts'

Minister for Education and Training

The Honourable Geoff Wilson

06/08/2010

LNP Member for Moggill 'delighted' by Labor BER program yet stands by Abbott promise to give QLD schools 'the cuts'

Education and Training Minister Geoff Wilson has welcomed today's release of the Federal Government's interim review of the Building Education Revolution (BER) program.

Mr Wilson said the report confirmed many key points already highlighted in the two independent Price Waterhouse Coopers reports commissioned by the Queensland Government.

"Young Queenslanders all over the state are enjoying learning in world-class facilities because of this Labor Government investment," Mr Wilson said.

"The BER program is delivering real work for Queensland businesses, real jobs for locals and new facilities for our schools.

"Even the LNP Member for Moggill acknowledged in a letter to me that he was 'delighted' by the BER program in his electorate and asked for additional funding.

"While I was happy to confirm extra Queensland Government investment it amazes me he continues to condemn the program.

"The LNP Member for Moggill has today criticised th e government for not spending money fast enough while standing by Tony 'the cuts' Abbott in his promise to stop building in Queensland schools.

Mr Wilson said Queensland had the second most P21 projects (1,592) and yet was delivering on time with a significantly lower number of issues.

"Today's report confirmed that the Queensland Government has made best use of industry capabilities and resources and 'appear to have better aligned the risk allocation associated with procurement in the pursuit of value for money.

"The taskforce also believed schools self-management of BER projects in the larger government systems would have been problematic and increased the risk of not delivering on time, or for predictable cost.

"The report stated that the Queensland Government system implemented a different procurement strategy so to engage different construction industry participants and ensure stimulus and work was delivered broadly across differing parts of the industry.

"It highlighted that construction managers were contracted at under 6% with a specific direction to engage smaller builders who ensured small firms were involved.

"The contract manager then assumed responsibility for those small businesses who lacked the occupational health and safety (OH&S) and environmental management systems and other experience necessary for work in schools.

Mr Wilson said he welcomed ongoing scrutiny of the program to ensure value for money was being delivered.

"I will not defend waste - if it is found immediate action will be taken.

"The delivery of BER in Queensland has been a partnership with projects designed to suit school community by the school community; no cookie cutter approach has been taken.

"Queensland has had no performance payments or bonuses with all money directed into school projects and savings reinvested into other projects at the school.

"Combined with the Queensland Labor Government's $850 million State Schools of Tomorrow program more than $10 million being spent on infrastructure in Queensland schools every day.

"Mr Flegg has continually complained of waste and mismanagement in BER delivery in Qld. Yet despite two inquiries by the independent auditor, not one claim has been substantiated.

"It's about time Mr Flegg put up or shut up.

"Anybody with evidence of waste or mismanagement is urged to send it immediately to the Director-General of Education Queensland, PWC or the Federal Government's BER Implementation Taskforce," Mr Wilson said.

The Bligh Labor Government is dedicated to best-practice learning supported by world-class facilities.

The Queensland Government has used independent quantity surveyors to audit BER projects at design and construction phases to ensure value for money.

Price Waterhouse Coopers (PWC) were engaged by the Queensland Government to independently investigate any complaints and assess value in the program's delivery.

PWC Report 1 was published in September 2009 and focussed on whether QLD system of BER implementation would achieve value for money based on best practice.

PWC Report 2 was published in June 2010 and investigated 12 official complaints, interviewed stakeholders and reviewed sample of projects focusing specifically on delivered value for money.

Both reports confirmed systems and delivery were achieving value for money.

Do-it-yourself abortion guide to be launched online by Brisbane doctor Adrienne Freeman

CourierMail.com.au

CONTROVERSIAL MOVE: A Brisbane obstetrician
plans to launch a website with information on
abortion drug Misoprostol.


A BRISBANE doctor is poised to launch an online DIY home abortion guide featuring a controversial pill banned from public sale.

Prominent obstetrician Adrienne Freeman said her website Safe Home Abortions featured "how to" videos and a range of information and research papers extolling the virtues of abortion drug misoprostol.

The controversial website, set to be unveiled and submitted for medical peer review in October, is the latest twist in Queensland's highly emotive abortion debate.

Right-to-life groups yesterday branded the website a hazard to women.

The website's home page reads: "Plain and simple instructions are given and scientific evidence and personal practice experience are detailed.

"Pregnancies can be terminated at any gestation by administration of misoprostol."

Dr Freeman said she was inspired to launch the website because of Cairns woman Tegan Simone Leach.

Ms Leach, 20, is to face court on October 12 for allegedly attempting to procure her own miscarriage using imported misoprostol pills from Ukraine in December 2008.

She faces a maximum penalty of seven years' jail under the state's Criminal Code Act.

The case – believed to be the first time such a charge has been laid since the law was introduced more than 110 years ago – sparked heated debate in State Parliament last year.

Parliament closed a loophole in the Act that could have led to criminal charges being laid against doctors who prescribed the misoprostol drug.

Dr Freeman, a GP since 1972 and specialist since 1982, says women have the right to choose when and where to terminate a pregnancy.

She is still fighting a ruling by the Health Practitioners Tribunal last year that found her guilty of unprofessional conduct after she helped a sex worker abort a 19-week-old fetus at home in 2003.

"No matter how careful people are in their lives there will always be a need for pregnancy terminations," Dr Freeman said.

"The website simply makes already published knowledge available in one place – particularly for women in remote and regional areas, where there is nowhere for them to turn to."

Cherish Life Queensland state president Teresa Martin warned of potentially "frightening" ramifications if abortions were performed at home.

"What we really need is true and honest websites that point women in the direction of honest and true counselling to find out what they want to do and to give them options," she said.

Children By Choice spokeswoman Kate Walsh stopped short of supporting the Safe Home Abortions site but said it highlighted the "archaic" treatment of Queensland women seeking abortions.

"But serious questions need to be answered about our health and legal systems when women in Queensland are so limited in their options," she said.

Students and immigrants caught in Australian racket: 'Innocents' help commit credit card fraud

TheAge.com.au

 

AN ORGANISED crime ring is recruiting unwitting Victorians to commit credit card fraud, police say.

 

The ring advertises on legitimate job sites, offering large sums of money for people willing to work as ''dispatch managers''.

 

Detective Senior Constable Tim Johns said the ring used stolen credit card numbers to buy items over the internet, such as cameras, laptops, or expensive bicycle parts. The items would be shipped to the recruit's home, where a courier would collect the goods and ship them out of the country.

 

Senior Detective Johns said the group was preying on international students and new migrants, and did not pay people for the work they did.

 

''Once the recruit has worked for a month and starts asking for payment, the syndicate stops replying to their emails and the recruit is never paid.'' He said police had uncovered $100,000 worth of fraud committed by the group and three recruits in Victoria, NSW and Queensland. But he believed that was the ''tip of the iceberg''.

 

Anyone with information should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

 

ACCC Nobbles Horse Betting Group

http://smarthouse.com.au

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has nobbled a horse betting operation who was using software that they believed was likely to mislead or decieve consumers after they claimed punters could earn between $50,000 to $70,000 working from home.

Sports betting software company, Intervest Global Live Pty Ltd, has stopped an advertising campaign on SeekCommercial after raised concerns about claims made for a horse betting software program called "Trilogics".

Intervest Global has acknowledged, in a court enforceable undertaking, that a number of claims in its advertisements about Trilogics software and how much people had earned from using the software were likely to be misleading or deceptive.

Intervest Global had represented in advertisements:

that it guaranteed that customers would earn $50,000 - $70,000 from home by using the software, when Intervest Global did not offer a guarantee of this nature.

that customers had earned a certain amount of average income from using the software in 2008, when Intervest Global had no basis for making that representation, that it had many customers who had been with Intervest Gobal for 10 years, when again Intervest had no basis for making that representation, and that the software was a franchised business, when it is not a franchise.

"It is fundamental that businesses must be able to substantiate every claim that they make about a product, particularly where claims about earnings and guarantees are designed to lure in potential buyers," ACCC deputy chair Peter Kell said.

"Consumers should be wary of businesses promising big returns from sport or horse betting products," Mr Kell said. "Remember that sports betting is gambling, not an investment, and the ACCC has been contacted by many consumers who have lost money through sports betting products."

The ACCC has been working with the Queensland Office of Fair Trading, Queensland Police, the Australian Securities and Investment Commission and the Australian Taxation Office to develop coordinated enforcement and consumer education strategies to tackle these types of sports betting products.

The ACCC can now issue notices that require businesses to substantiate claims that they make. If they breach the Trade Practices Act 1974, businesses also risk being issued with infringement notices of $6,600 for corporations and $1,320 for individuals, under the ACCC's new powers.

Queensland Government moves to ban helium balloons across the state

The Queensland Government has announced plans to ban the use of helium balloons across Queensland.

 

Don't bother to check your calendar - it's not April the 1st.

Fair dinkum - the bureaucrats must have been let out of the looney bin to dream up this sort of idiotic stuff.

 

We need fewer laws, not more laws, regulating every aspect of our daily lives.

This new proposed law banning helium balloons raises serious philosophical questions about how far governments should legitimately intrude into normal aspects of a modern society.

You only have to think back to the furore a few years ago when the Queensland government attempted to ban the feeding of dolphins at Tin Can Bay to see taxpayers' money being squandered on bureaucrats dreaming up hare-brained plans to turn ordinary people into criminals. 

It was only Peter Beattie's intervention at the time which stopped this stupidity.

Come on Anna, are you for or against white balloons over Brisbane?

Queensland Government clarifies laws on American Pit Bulls

Media Release

Minister for Local Government and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships

The Honourable Desley Boyle

31/07/2010

Confusion over American Staffies no longer: Minister

Local Government Minister Desley Boyle has today announced she will amend the Animal Management (Cats and Dogs) Act 2008 to clarify once and for all that American Staffordshire terriers are not classified as "restricted dogs".

This follows a Supreme Court case in April, Gold Coast City Council v. Chivers, which ruled the Amstaff involved was the same as a restricted American Pit bull.

Ms Boyle said pit bulls have been prohibited by many Queensland Councils under their local laws, listed as "restricted" under State legislation and banned from importation by the Commonwealth.

There are an estimated 4,000 Amstaffs in Queensland, some 230 on the Gold Coast.

"The amendment will state categorically that for the purposes of the Act, Amstaffs will not be considered the same as the restricted pit bulls," Ms Boyle said.

"This will give Amstaff owners especially on the Gold Coast certainty about their rights and obligations yet it will give Queens landers peace of mind that the legislation's tough penalties remain for irresponsible pet owners whose dogs cause fear or harm," she said.

"While it was never the State's intention for the Act to classify Amstaffs as restricted dogs, the recent court case has meant the amendment is now necessary."

It is generally accepted among experts that Amstaffs and pit bulls descended from Staffordshire bull terrier-type dogs however the restricted pit bulls were bred specifically as fighting animals.

Amstaffs on the other hand were bred almost exclusively as show and companion dogs, widely recognised as trainable and family-friendly pets.

Amstaffs are even used as therapy dogs including in hospitals. Well-known Brisbane Amstaff Nudie, owned by Mrs Melissa Greenall, visits aged-care facilities, special care and children's wards.

"Importantly the proposed amendment to the legislation will not compromise community safety as owners of all dogs, including Amstaff owners, will be held accountable for the behaviour of their charges," said the Minister.

"The same rules apply to all dog owners and you will feel the full weight of the law if your dog behaves badly or causes harm."

If a dog bites someone, Ms Boyle said a fine of up to $30,000 can apply under the Act and the dog can be seized by Council and declared as dangerous.

"If a dog bails someone up on the street, a fine of $2,000 can apply and Council can declare the animal as menacing," she said.

"Special provisions apply to animals declared as dangerous or menacing, such as fencing, muzzling and kennel requirements.

"I take this opportunity to thank Dogs Queensland President Barry Vickers in particularly and his team who have worked with departmental officers in sorting out the confusions flowing from the recent court decision and this amendment will put the matter to rest.

Centrebet betting tips ALP win

Today's Herald/Nielsen poll in The Sydney Morning Herald showing a 52:48 two-party preferred split to Tony Abbott may well prove a "rogue poll" - the sort of result dreaded by pollsters which are one-off aberrations of voters' true intentions.

 

At the other end of the political spectrum, the latest Centrebet.com figures must be very heartening for Julia Gillard and the ALP.

  

In the critical NSW seat of Eden-Monaro, Labor's Mike Kelly is listed at $1.32 while the Liberal candidate is running a clear second at $3.10.  For decades, whichever party wins Eden-Monaro wins the nation.

 

At a national level, the ALP is $1.42 while the Coalition is languishing under the Mad Monk at $2.75.

 

On those figures, Julia Gillard can take great comfort over the next 3 weeks.

 

It's often been said the Centrebet bookies know best, so despite today's SMH poll, the Mad Monk should keep his budgie-smugglers close by as he will have plenty of time to relax over the next three years as the defeated Federal Opposition Leader.

 

How soon before Malcom Turnbull proves the souffle can rise twice?

 

 

 

Would You Post that on a Billboard? Then Don’t Post it on Facebook

http://southern-courier.whereilive.com.au

Residents are urged to be aware of new, increasingly sophisticated forms of fraud and ID theft. 

 

Speaking at a conference on fraud and ID theft organised by Crime Stoppers, Police Minister Michael Daley said that NSW Police detectives were seeing new scams, where personal information gleaned off social networking sites was then used to target victims over the phone, or by email. 

 

"For all its benefits, technology has made it easier than ever for criminals to separate people from their hard-earned money," he said. 

 

"In the past, criminals have sourced their information about an individual by rummaging through garbage bins for bank statements, tax returns, any documents which can be used to compile a profile on a person.

 

"These days, social media and networking sites are routinely 'surfed' to compile a profile on a target individual.

 

"The people compiling the profiles are not necessarily the people who will scam you. The information-compilers will often on-sell their data to scammers," Mr Daley said. 

 

The advice follows new figures released by the Attorney General showing that since new laws targeting identity crime were introduced, police have issued some 50 court attendance notices.  The DPP has also advised that 18 matters involving 111 counts are currently being prosecuted in the District Court.

 

"These new offences, which commenced on 22 February this year, recognize that crime is evolving, and that criminals are now dealing in information that can be used by others to commit crimes like fraud" NSW Attorney General John Hatzistergos.

 

The laws make it a crime to sell, use, or possess identification information with criminal intent. 

 

"These figures showing the number of charges since the laws commenced demonstrate that Police are working hard to stamp out a crime that costs the Australian community nearly $1 billion a year" he said.

 

Mr Daley gave an example of a recent scam through which a woman was told in an online chat room that they thought their mum went to school with the target's mum. 

 

The alleged offender then asked for the victim's maiden name – a common security question for various accounts to verify a person's identity.

 

Mr Daley said that once a scammer has personal information such as your date of birth, address, occupation or mother's maiden name – it can be very easy for them to convince a victim that they are from a legitimate Government agency. 

 

"There have been approximately 120 reports since mid-February of a new scam that involves the scammer contacting the victim, and purporting to work for the Australian Tax Office or another Government Agency or a bank," he said. 

 

"These scammers use information gleaned off social-networking sites or chat-rooms to convince their target that they are from a legitimate organisation. 

 

"Scammers are typically excellent salesmen, they are people who can 'read' individuals.

 

"They know how to appeal to a person's weaknesses, be it a person willing to pay money to secure a fictional lottery win in Nigeria or a beautiful Russian bride. 

 

"So I'd ask the community to protect their online information and to remember that if the offer is too good to be true, it probably is," Mr Daley said. 

 

Tips and Hints:

 

• Never put any information about yourself on a social networking wall that you would not feel comfortable also putting on a billboard on a busy road;

 

• Is the person who wants to be "friended" actually who they say they? Make sure you know the people you are adding as friends; 

 

• Ensure your security settings are up to date and your page is not available to everyone.

 

• Information which can be used by criminals includes; date of birth, address, photos and images suitable for ID Theft, occupation, pets names (a common password choice),

when people are going on holidays, or information about the purchase of a new home, car or holiday house. 

 

Background:

In the current scam, the offender convinces the recipient that they have been selected from a number of people who are eligible to claim a reward for continually paying their taxes or they have been overcharged bank fees or Government fees. 

 

The caller promises to have funds electronically sent to their bank account if the details of this (with other personal identification details) are supplied verbally. 

 

The details provided then allow the offender to withdraw funds from the victim's bank account.   

 

The offender could also request that money be sent via Western Union as a form of "advance".  This is represented as a Service Fee, Transfer Request or a Rebate Fee. 

 

Very recently these representations have been made by email, with very authentic looking logos and a convincing, but fake, Tax Office form. The email may also direct victims to a bogus ATO website and request personal identification and financial information. 

 

Any person who believes they may have received such telephone call or email of this nature is advised to report the matter to the local police. 

 

Under no circumstances should they respond to or engage in further communication with the caller / sender of suspicious email.

 

 

The Great Ice Cream Ripoff: Australia's Biggest Ice Cream Ripoff at Kuta Cafe Brisbane

Is this Australia's biggest ice cream ripoff?

On top of Mt Coot-tha in the leafy western suburbs of Brisbane, Kuta Cafe is one of the most-popular cafes in Queensland with tourists flocking day and night to witness the magnificent panoramic views of Brisbane.

But at $4.90 for a single ice cream cone, Kuta Cafe is engaging in a consumer ripoff which deserves an immediate place in the Guinness Book of Records.

With a markup - including the average looking cone - estimated at 2000%, the operators of Kuta Cafe are creating a very poor impression particularly for our foreign and Australian tourists.

Brisbane City Council leases the Kuta Cafe and it's about time the next lease places some price controls on the operator to stop this embarrassing international ripoff.

In Aboriginal, the word "kuta" or its anglicised version of "coot-tha" means "place of honey".

For the operators of Kuta Cafe, it undoubtedly means the "land of milk and honey" - based on their great ice cream ripoff, possibly the greatest ripoff of its kind in the southern hemisphere.

Consumer Watch spokesman Paul Tully said prices charged by operators in tourist areas should protect Australia's international reputation.

"Ripoff prices particularly those charged by operators with no immediate competition are embarrassing to all fair-minded Australians."

Kuta Cafe is more than welcome to publicly justify their prices. Their response is just an email click away.
............................................
Do you know of a bigger ice cream ripoff than the one being perpetrated by Brisbane's Kuta Cafe? Email full details to QueenslandConsumerWatch@gmail.com

Australian Telco bombshell: Telstra fined $18.5million for blocking broadband competitors

CourierMail.com.au

 

TELSTRA has been fined $18.5 million for illegally blocking broadband competitors from using its local exchanges.

 

The corporate watchdog had pushed for a $40 million fine for the breaches, which occurred between January 2006 and February 2008, but Justice John Middleton believed the telco's conduct was not deliberately anti-competitive.

 

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission had taken Telstra to the Federal Court of Australia for refusing competitors access 27 times to installing ADSL equipment at seven exchanges around Australia.

 

Justice Middleton said Telstra's relevant managers and employees who denied the access were either not properly trained in regard to access obligations or failed to comply with their training.

 

He said Telstra had no adequate system in place to check on compliance.

 

``In most cases Telstra staff did not understand their responsibilities or roles within Telstra,'' Justice Middleton said.

 

He also said Telstra had shown no remorse during the proceedings.

 

``I am not satisfied, however, that Telstra has demonstrated any remorse, nor that it appreciates the seriousness of its conduct,'' he said.

 

A Telstra spokeswoman said the telco had acknowledged mistakes were made and will not be appealing the decision.

 

``Since these events occurred, Telstra has taken proactive steps to improve our processes in this area, and more generally, to improve service to our wholesale customers,'' the spokeswoman said.

 

``We have learned a lot as a result of this process and like many changes at Telstra, we are endeavouring to improve our performance.

 

``Since the start of the case, we have acknowledged that mistakes were made. We accept the judgment which has been handed down - we will not be appealing.''

LNP loses candidate in mysterious circumstances in the Federal seat of Oxley

What is the real reason behind the withdrawal of the LNP candidate James Downing for the safe Labor seat of Oxley?

 

Rumours circulating in the electorate are that James was in perfectly good health until he heard that he was about to face a torrent of embarrassing publicity which could have seen the minority LNP vote dip even further, giving Bernie Ripoll one of the safest Labor seats in Queensland.

 

James' good health suddenly took a turn for the worse and a tap on the shoulder from the Liberal / National Party bosses in Brisbane's saw one of the shortest political careers in Australian history come to a sudden end.

 

Out of the public spotlight, James' quick recuperative abilities have apparently seen his good health magically restored!

 

 

VexNews.com reports:

The Queensland LNP has lost yet another candidate, this time in the safe Labor federal seat of Oxley.

LNP officials say the UQ politics student James Downing withdrew for health reasons, although would not elaborate on the nature of his condition. Preselection interruptus is certainly doing the rounds in Queensland conservative circles.

Local party insiders though say the twenty-one year old was "told to resign" and that he is actually in perfectly good health.

With a federal election expected to be called within weeks, the LNP does not currently have a candidate in Oxley.

The young lad has been out campaigning and had set a cracking pace according to local party members.

Battle for Blair in great debate as Ipswich becomes the centrepiece of the the Federal election

QT.com.au

 

POLITICAL opponents Shayne Neumann and Neil Zabel agree on one thing – they need to follow the lead of Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Opposition leader Tony Abbott and have a debate before the election.

 

Mr Neumann said he would be happy to debate his Liberal National Party rival ahead of the August 21 poll.

 

"Any time, anywhere, any place," he said.

 

"I'd look forward to it because I think my opponent Neil Zabel has many questions to answer.

 

"Why would his party stop construction on the Ipswich Motorway? That's the number one question I want to ask him."

 

Mr Zabel was quick to fire back with a question of his own.

 

"Why has Mr Neumann allowed the national debt to grow at such a rapid rate?" he said.

 

Mr Zabel said he would welcome a local debate between the two major parties.

 

"You name the time and place and I'm there," he said.

 

Ms Gillard won Sunday night's leaders' debate by a 63 to 37 per cent margin, according to the Channel Nine worm that monitored audience reaction.

 

Not surprisingly, Mr Neumann also awarded the debate to the Labor Party leader.

 

"The worm doesn't lie. Julia clearly won the debate, while Tony Abbott spent the entire time whinging," he said.

 

Mr Zabel disagreed, saying Ms Gillard once again put style over substance, while Mr Abbott was focused on the future.

 

"Sunday night's debate was a decisive moment in the campaign. It was the first and only opportunity for the electorate to see the leaders go head to head and outline in detail their plans for Australia," he said.

 

"Julia Gillard put on a show to get through the election, but she failed to persuade Australians that she is any different to former PM Kevin Rudd or that Labor's approach has changed.

 

"Tony Abbott was the only leader to set out clear and precise commitments for the future. He addressed all the major issues; the economy, cost of living pressures on families, illegal boats, Labor's mining tax and the environment."

 

Tony Abbott loses the women's vote in the great debate tonight

The worm has turned.

Tony Abbott is losing the women's vote in Channel 7's PollieGraph Debate tonight against PM Julia Gillard.

The Liberals will be thinking of bringing back Malcolm Turnbull in a few weeks.

Brisbane Airport Corporation hits the name Eagle Farm for six: Jim Carden's plan to scrap Queensland aviation history

Brisbane Airport Corporation's
Executive Manager Jim Carden
wants to dump an important
part of Queensland history from
the Brisbane Airport


It was disturbing to read the report in the City North News of 15 July 2010 that the Brisbane Airport Corporation is unhappy with its current suburb name of Eagle Farm under the Queensland Place Names Act and wants to change the name of the suburb surrounding the area to "Brisbane Airport".

 

And who is leading this idiotic charge - none other than BAC's usual spokesman Jim Carden.

 

Good one, Jim!

 

Jim seems to have a habit of regularly attracting the wrong sort of media attention. 

 

Just look at the recent debacle when the BAC unilaterally closed part of the vehicular drop-off area at the domestic terminal, creating one of the biggest traffic jams seen at the airport for many years.

 

That was called a "solution" one day and scrapped the very next day after Jim apparently realised his blunder.

 

How could you possibly solve a parking problem by blocking off half the car parking bays?

A few weeks before that, the Brisbane Airport became the laughing stock of the world when television reports around the globe showed cab drivers being arrested after complaining about the lack of taxi parking at the airport.

 

Now, everyone knows that Jim's ego is estimated to be as big as a couple of 747s but this latest stunt to dump the name Eagle Farm is nothing short of a disgrace.

 

Next, Jim Carden will want his own local government and the title of mayor to run his own personal fiefdom.

 

This latest move is utterly offensive to every decent, fair-minded Queenslander.

 

The name Eagle Farm is synonymous worldwide as the home of aviation in Queensland.

 

Eagle Farm was first used as a landing strip in 1922 and became the home of Qantas in Brisbane in 1926.

 

On 9 June 1928, Sir Charles Kingsford Smith, Charles Ulm and two others landed in the Southern Cross at Eagle Farm airport at the end of the first crossing of the Pacific Ocean from Oakland, California.
 
16,000 people rushed to Eagle Farm to greet the Southern Cross.

 

Now, Jim Carden wants to dump this important link to the City of Brisbane into the depths of Moreton Bay.

 

Jim, you are out of your depth on this issue and it's about time you read and understood the important history of the Eagle Farm airport and its contribution to the City of Brisbane.

 

One scintilla of decency would see this crazy plan dropped immediately.

Jim, you are invited to have your say on this sensitive issue so that the people of Queensland can understand what is driving you with such desperation to abandon the name of Eagle Farm for the Brisbane Airport.

 

Your response is only an email click away.

 

 

This is the full online City North News report:

We want more: Darren Chambemain, Sarah Weldon, Hayley Cook.

BRISBANE Airport wants to follow in Teneriffe's footsteps and become an official suburb.

Brisbane Airport Corporation spokesman Jim Carden said they were applying to the State Government to change the area's name.

He said a variety of suburbs were currently used by businesses in the area including Eagle Farm, Hendra and Pinkenba.

``It's about clarity for hundreds of businesses in the airport,'' Mr Carden said.

``You've got 17,000 people and that workforce will effectively double in 20 years.''

Other cities have recognised their airports as suburbs or localities including Melbourne and Adelaide.

The name Brisbane Airport has also not been attached to a postcode, making it the only major mainland airport not to have its own digits.

``Brisbane Airport not only deserves this formal recognition, but more importantly the services of a post office to service this growing workforce,'' Mr Carden said.

``Formal recognition of the location is required by Australia Post to enable such postal services to be secured.''

He said they were not looking to compete with the CBD.

``I think it's about building our identity as a place of significance in Brisbane.''

There are 320 businesses in the area.

Significant institutions like the Royal Brisbane Hospital and the University of Queensland are other places with their own postcodes.

 

New Liberal candidate in NSW Venus Priest is Facebook mates with dumped Liberal candidate in Queensland Michael Johnson

Politics works in mysterious ways.

The new Liberal candidate for the Federal seat of Chifley in western Sydney Venus Priest is friends on Facebook with disgraced LNP candidate for the Federal seat of Ryan in Queensland Michael Johnson.

 

Is she secretly in cahoots with Michael after she was pre-selected by the Liberal Party hierarchy in New South Wales following the spectacular dumping of David Barker in the safe Labor seat of Chifley?
 
The former disgraced Liberal candidate used his Facebook site to accuse Labor of moving the nation closer to a Muslim country and attacked his ALP opponent in Chifley, Ed Husic, over his religion.

 

Now, he cannot work out why he was dumped by the Liberal Party.

 

If he is that stupid, it now makes sense why he joined the Liberal Party in the first place.

 

This is Venus Priest's Facebook link to Michael Johnson in Queensland:

 

 

Add as Friend

 

Michael Johnson Mp Libs cut foreign student intake into Australia. This will upset a lot of universities, colleges who depend on foreign income.

about an hour ago - via Selective Tweets

Support for tough new Queensland laws on cemetery vandalism

Cemetery vandals should be jailed

The Goodna Cemetery Trust is supporting new state laws announced today which crackdown on vandalism in cemeteries.

Secretary of the Goodna Cemetery Trust Cr Paul Tully described the new laws as "much-needed" across Queensland in view of on-going vandalism in local cemeteries.

The 150 year old historic Goodna cemetery was the scene of the destruction of 19 graves involving $100,000 damage last December.

Cr Tully said the incidence of vandalism in cemeteries was increasing mainly at night, making it difficult for police to catch offenders red-handed.

"The courts then tend to give the offenders a slap over the knuckles with a feather.

"These new laws send a clear message to the judiciary that offenders should be jailed for destructive rampages through cemeteries," Cr Tully said.

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

This is the full text of today's State Government Media Release:

New law, tougher penalties target graveyard vandalism

Attorney-General and Minister for Industrial Relations

The Honourable Cameron Dick

18/07/2010

New law, tougher penalties target graveyard vandalism

People who damage graves and headstones will face up to seven years in jail as part of a package of legal reforms that will target graveyard vandalism.

Attorney-General Cameron Dick said the package of measures would provide police and prosecutors with the tools needed to take action against people who damage or destroy graves and other memorials.

"Interfering with graves or headstones is appalling and offenders who engage in this sort of insensitive and stupid behaviour will face the full force of these new laws," Mr Dick said.

The package of measures includes:

• increasing the maximum penalty for wilful damage of property such as graves from five years' jail to seven years' jail

• the creation of a new offence of unlawfully interfering with a grave, carrying a maximum penalty of 12 months' jail, in the Summary Offences Act 2005

• removing the need for prosecutors to establish an absence of consent from the grave owner.

"Gravestones have a deep and lasting significance to people's families and their descendants, and should always be treated with dignity and respect, no matter the age of the grave," Mr Dick said.

"However, a recent review of the relevant laws showed that changes were needed to ensure prosecutions against this inexcusable conduct could be properly pursued.

"The increased penalty for wilful damage reflects the seriousness with which the Bligh Government and the community regard this sort of offending behaviour.

"The increased penalty for wilful damage will apply to damage or destruction caused to a cemetery, gravestone, place of worship, or war memorial.

"The government has also decided to create a new offence of unlawfully interfering with a grave, carrying a maximum penalty of 12 months' imprisonment.

"The offence will apply to a person who unlawfully interferes with a grave, vault, niche or memorial, unless the cemetery's authority has approved."

Mr Dick said significant community concern arose in April this year when four people charged with damaging gravestones had charges dismissed over the question of whether the damage had been caused without the owners' consent.

"The proposed amendments have been developed after detailed consideration of the issue by the government and widespread debate in the community," Mr Dick said.

"The increased penalty reflects the seriousness with which the State Government and the community regard such offending behaviour.

"The government recognises that vandalism is a serious issue for our community and condemns all forms of wilful damage.

"The proposed legislation reflects community expectations in how places of remembrance should be respected and why those people who commit serious acts of vandalism should be punished."

Mr Dick said he expected the new legislation to be introduced into Parliament by the end of the year.

Office of Fair Trading Smart Business Bulletin

July 2010

Welcome to the July edition of the Smart Business Bulletin, linking Queensland businesses with fair trading information and tips.

Message from the Minister

July not only marks the start of a new financial year, but this year also signals the transition of a number of regulatory functions from the Office of Fair Trading to the Commonwealth.  These transitions are just some of Council of Australian Governments (COAG) projects currently underway to ensure a more streamlined approach to regulation.

We will continue to update you on our remaining COAG reforms through this e-bulletin, the OFT website, and where possible, information sessions or direct mail.

For more information on COAG and its plans for reform, visit www.coag.gov.au 

What's in the news?

Before you donate, check the organisation is legit

Have you ever wanted to donate but weren't sure your money was going to the right place?

The Office of Fair Trading's new online register allows you to check if a charity is registered to fundraise or if an association is incorporated in Queensland.

Dodgy Brisbane painter ordered to pay up

In a win for registered builders, a dodgy Brisbane painter was recently ordered to pay more than $10,000 for falsely claiming he had a Building Services Authority licence and failing to register his business name. This prosecution by the Office of Fair Trading acts as a warning to other operators who might try to work around the system to undercut those people doing the right thing, or to make their dodgy deals harder to trace.

Features

What's fair got to do with it?

On 1 July consumers gained greater powers when it comes to standard form contracts (contracts where consumers have limited or no option to negotiate, such as gym memberships, mobile phones and credit cards).

If you believe a contract term is unfair, you can contact the Australian Consumer and Competition Commission (ACCC), or for contracts relating to financial services, the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC).

For more information on Unfair Contract Terms law and who it applies to, visit

www.accc.gov.au or

www.fido.gov.au

Not new… just improved.

Fair Trading's annual forms update

Fair Trading's annual forms update is now complete, with one major improvement – you can now save a partially completed form for later!

It's easy to tell if you're using an up-to-date form with the correct fee information – just look for "Effective from 1 July 2010" in the top left hand corner, under the form name.

Trade measurement goes to the Feds

On 1 July 2010 Fair Trading passed the trade measurement baton to the National Measurement Institute, Australia's peak measurement body.

For more information on the transition to the national system, visit
www.measurement.gov.au

Consumer credit goes to the Feds

Responsibility for the regulation of consumer credit passed to the Commonwealth on 1 July 2010.

If you have not yet registered for a credit license you will need to stop providing or facilitating consumer credit immediately and contact the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) for advice.

The Queensland Government will continue to regulate the interest rate cap.

Get involved in Queensland Week 2011 – sponsorships now open

Queensland Week is a special time for all Queenslanders to celebrate what's great about our State.

Each year, a range of diverse activities are held that involve families, businesses, schools and a range of community groups throughout the State, each celebrating Queensland's people, places and achievements.

The Queensland Government is offering sponsorships up to $10,000 to help you get involved in Queensland Week 2011.
 

Business tips

Not… happy… Jan… The scam targeting small business

Queensland businesses are being targeted by a fake fax claiming to be from Yellow Pages. The fax offers to make company details available on Google Maps.

Fake Yellow Pages websites also form part of the scam, designed to make you part with your money.

For information on fax back and other scams targeting businesses, visit our 'common scams' page.

Fair Trading drives good business practise in the car rental industry

More than 500 car rental businesses were invited to attend free information seminars in Cairns, the Sunshine Coast, Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

Proprietors were given advice and information to help them ensure their business complies with the law, particularly in relation to advertising and business management practises.

For more information, visit our 'car rental' page.

How smart is your incorporated association?

A new guide is now available to help Incorporated Associations run smoothly. The 'Incorporated Associations Smart Business Guide' covers everything from financial management, to running meetings, to your association's rules.

You can view or download a copy from our website.

Hard copies will also be available for order from the Queensland Government bookshop in the coming weeks.

Don't get brought down by advertising

When it comes to advertising we've seen it all, the good, the bad and the ugly. But at the end of the day there is just one golden rule… don't be misleading.

For information on how to ensure your advertising is ok, visit our 'advertising and marketing' page.

Ipswich selected for early rollout of NBN broadband network at Springfield Lakes

Media Release

8 July 2010

NBN Co announces next rollout locations

NBN Co, the company established to design, build and operate the national broadband network, today announced 19 locations for the next stage of its rollout on the mainland. These second release sites comprise 14 new locations and five sites adjacent to existing first release sites.

The new sites are:

Victoria

– Bacchus Marsh, South Morang (Melbourne);

Queensland

– Brisbane (inner north), Springfield Lakes, Toowoomba;

NSW

– Riverstone (western Sydney), Coffs Harbour;

South Australia

– Modbury, Prospect;

Western Australia

– Victoria Park (Perth), Geraldton, Mandurah;

Northern Territory

– Casuarina; and

ACT

– Gungahlin

The five existing locations getting an additional, adjacent rollout site are Minnamurra/Kiama Downs (Kiama) and Armidale in NSW, Townville Qld, Brunswick in Melbourne, and Willunga in South Australia. As the whole township of Willunga is already part of the rollout, the nearby area of Seaford/McLaren Vale will be the adjacent site.

Initially each site will see the network rolled out past approximately 3000 premises, but the exact area to be covered will be determined after further discussion with local authorities to ensure local considerations are factored into the final decision.

NBN Co CEO Mike Quigley said: "We have selected these second sites to build upon the work we are doing in the first release sites and to progress the rollout in areas of future network growth."

"These sites have been selected based on a range of criteria including engineering and construction requirements, network design and the level of existing broadband infrastructure. The engagement of local government and the receptiveness of communities to broadband initiatives were also factors taken into consideration," Mr Quigley said.

The NBN Co network design is based on a series of building block or modules. The basic operational module covers approximately 3000 premises. These modules are replicated into a fibre serving area or FSA. FSAs are in turn linked by fibre, or aggregated, to feed into points of interconnect where the network traffic is handed over to the Retail Service Providers.

"The first and second release sites are the areas from which we can expect to see future rollout – extending and expanding the network. We will also see the announcement of additional release sites as the national rollout ramps up," Mr Quigley said.

The first release sites were announced in March this year. Following detailed design work, NBN Co expects construction to commence this month in the first release areas. Construction in the second release locations is scheduled to commence in the second quarter of 2011. A three-stage rollout in Tasmania has been previously announced, with NBN Tasmania to officially launch its stage-one services later this month.

Goodna: Semi-trailer jammed in underpass below Ipswich Motorway

A semi-trailer is jammed under a notorious underpass below the Ipswich Motorway at Goodna.

The semi-trailer was attempting to negotiate the 3.8 metre high Layard Street underpass when it became completely wedged.

Main Roads officers are trying to work out to move the vehicle without causing damage to the overpass which carries five lanes of Ipswich Motorway traffic.

Local councillor Paul Tully is at the scene of the accident and said peak hour traffic would be thrown in chaos around the Goodna town centre.

"Another semi-trailer came to grief at this same location in May.

"Truck drivers are not getting the message despite height restriction warnings signs near the underpass.

"The police need to throw the book at these cowboys who should not be on the road if they can't read basic warning signs," Cr Tully said.

 

 

Aerospace and defense hub approved for Amberley

A CENTRE for excellence in aerospace and defence support services next
to RAAF Base Amberley is a step closer following preliminary approval
granted by Ipswich City Council.

Mayor Paul Pisasale and council's planning committee chairperson Cr
Paul Tully said the state government could now move forward with
detailed planning for the Aerospace and Defence Support Centre
(ADSC-A) which would provide a huge boost to the Ipswich community by
increasing the diversity of skills in the workforce and would generate
up to 3500 new jobs.

"This site next to RAAF Base Amberley has the potential to position
Ipswich as the Seattle of the southern hemisphere by creating a
central hub for aviation excellence led by high technology aerospace
and defence contractors," Cr Pisasale said.

"Ipswich is gaining a well-earned international reputation for
creating the world's best master planned communities. This approval is
for the first master planned high technology employment hub which will
support defence," he said.

Cr Paul Tully said the state government could now move forward and
submit detailed development applications for the centre.

"The approval includes a master plan for the ADSC-A and special zoning
to unlock the full potential of the site.

"Suppliers to the industry will be able to plug-in to the emerging
opportunities the centre will provide, including a full range of
support services for the base via aircraft taxiway, roads and other
essential infrastructure.

"The recent building program at RAAF Amberley is rapidly positioning
the base as a mega base in Australia," Cr Tully said.

-ENDS-

PM announces new policy on asylum seekers

Say goodnight Tony Abbott!

Jim Carden needs to come clean on who was responsible for Brisbane Airport traffic shambles

Jim Carden, BAC Executive Manager


The clowns responsible for yesterday's removal of drop off and pick up spaces outside the Brisbane domestic terminal never expected such fierce public opposition.

It took less than 24 hours for lavish servings of humble pie to be consumed by the faceless decision-makers at the Brisbane Airport Corporation.

Jim Carden, the BAC Executive Manager who is normally the airport media tart when good news is being announced, was apparently lying low leaving it to Rebecca McConochie to field all the difficult media enquiries.

So, who did authorise yesterday's traffic changes which created more havoc than a strike by air traffic controllers?

Jim, if it was you, why don't you come down out of your ivory tower and confess your involvement rather than making good people like Rebecca McConochie look foolish when she vehemently justifies the changes on Brisbane radio one morning and defends their abandonment the next day.

Today, Rebecca announced another pending BAC disaster with plans to scrap the existing zebra crossing linking the carpark and the airport terminal in favour of an overhead pedestrian bridge link.

Does this mean that passengers using the drop off / pick up facility will have to cart their heavy bags up a set of stairs or queue up, to use a new lift?

Either way, you can be sure when commuter anger overflows next year as a result of this looming disaster, Jim Carden will stay locked up in his office leaving difficult media interviews to underlings like Rebecca McConochie.

As for Rebecca's other announcement today that there are no plans by BAC to charge drivers to use the existing drop off / pick up facility at Brisbane Airport, obviously the matter has already been considered by the BAC.

And if making more money is involved, you can be sure this brilliant money-making idea will never be far from Jim Carden's mind.

After all, if you put a mouse in front of a cat, you know what will eventually happen.

Fools at Brisbane Airport Corporation are at it again!

World First: Car parking spaces closed to create more parking!

Qantas passengers are fuming this morning with the Brisbane Airport domestic drop-off area becoming a complete shambles after the normal passenger loading zones were blocked off with witches hats.

This is part of an unannounced trial to make drivers aware there are parking spaces available beyond the pedestrian crossing linking the carpark and the domestic terminal.

The resulting chaos has been inconveniencing all Qantas passengers arriving at the airport since first light including those using taxis.

Whoever dreamed up this idiotic trial should be summarily dismissed by the BAC and given the Dunce of the Year Award.

Airport users can only hope that it is not the BAC's Executive Manager Jim Carden who is responsible for this mess.

Jim has been responsible for some memorable decisions and pronouncements in the past.

The BAC must think drivers are all idiots.

Up until today, drivers who were unaware of available parking spaces beyond the pedestrian crossing would have become aware of those spaces when they drove off.

If Jim Carden is not personally responsible for this mess, he should find out who is and take the appropriate action.

Brisbane must be the only airport in the world where those in charge actually think that by blocking parking spaces they can improve car parking availability!

In terms of stupidity, this decision easily outranks the Yes Minister episode where the newly-opened hospital had no patients - to save money!

If Jim Carden really wants to solve the airport car parking problem, his next idea will be to cut aircraft departures and arrivals by half.

Wow Jim - all your problems would be instantly solved with such a brilliant idea.

The sooner Jim Carden steps in and abandons the latest BAC parking trial, the sooner some sense of normality will be restored to the Brisbane Airport.