Ipswich is the big winner with the new SEQ Regional Plan released today

PICS: Ipswich growth to soar

Ipswich is the big winner under the new Southeast Queensland Regional Plan released today by the State Government.

Residential, commercial and industrial development combined with the protection of key environmental areas are the main themes for Ipswich.

This is a synopsis of the SEQ Regional Plan 2009 - 2031 in relation to Ipswich:


Implications for the City of Ipswich

The SEQ Regional Plan provides a land use planning framework for Queensland, effectively identifying a hierarchy of planning policy and priority responsibility between State Agencies, and Local Government and the key delivery mechanisms for implementing both statutory and non-statutory planning policy.

Growth
The Plan forecasts that Ipswich's population will grow from 142,400 persons (2006) to 435,000 persons by 2031 an increase of 292,600 persons over 25 years, i.e. an average of 11,704 persons per year.

To accommodate this growth, dwelling production needs to grow from 52,300 dwellings in 2006 to 118,000 dwellings in 2031. An increase of 65,700 dwellings over 25 years, i.e. an average of 2,628 dwellings per year.

The Plan also advocates that of these additional dwellings 18,000 will be constructed as infill development in existing urban areas of the City.

Economy and Employment
The Plan recognises the principal regional activity status of Ipswich CBD and Springfield Town Centre; and the major regional activity functions of Goodna and the future Ripley Urban Core.

The administrative, cultural and community functions of the Ipswich CBD are promoted as well as its sub-regional retail and commercial functions.

In addition to the employment offered by the City's significant centres, Ipswich has major existing and future employment generators in Ebenezer/Willowbank, Swanbank, New Chum, Riverview/Bundamba, Redbank Peninsula, Wulkuraka, Carole Park, RAAF Base Amberley and the Amberley Aerospace and Defence Support Centre. These employment opportunities not only provide the City with a robust and growing economy but will ensure a high level of employment self-containment and be a major contributor to the Region's employment growth.

Identified Growth Areas
Lanefield-Grandchester is identified as a future growth area requiring significant investigation to determine its suitability for urban growth.


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PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au

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Sea World and Movie World are a disgrace to Queensland

Sea World and Movie World have blotted Queensland's copybook as visitor-friendly destinations with their ban on patrons bringing their own food into their grounds.

What could be more un-Australian than having security guards rifling through people's bags searching for cut sandwiches, biscuits or fruit.

With the crackerjack admission and food prices charged by these two theme parks, no wonder parents are forced to bring their own lunches to save a few dollars just so their kids can enjoy the entertainment provided.

This is truly appalling what these two outlets have done.
Imagine being greeted on arrival by security guards determined to prevent one morsel of contraband food passing through the turnstiles of Sea World or Movie World.

Local consumers and international visitors should vote with their feet and boycott these venues which have destroyed the fun of a day out at Queensland theme park.


PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au

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Queensland Liquor Licensing turns the law into an ass!

The law is an ass - thanks to the buffoons running Queensland Liquor Licensing.
On the one hand, they are moving quite sensibly to ban glass liquor containers in hot spots including venues which provide entertainment, or have a history of violent incidents or trade past 3am.

But the apparently unbending 3am rule will force the Qantas Club and the Chairman's Lounge at the Brisbane Airport to serve all liquor in flimsy plastic cups.

This is bureaucracy gone mad.

Airline travellers pay hundreds of dollars a year for the privilege of using the relatively-civilised facilities of the Qantas Club.

Now, businessmen and women will be treated no differently from beer-swilling yobbos looking for a fight who frequent Brisbane's nightclubs and dingy bars.

When was the last time anyone saw a punch-up or glassing incident at the Qantas Club?

This latest edict by Liquor Licensing against the Qantas Club shows how out of touch they are with reality.

They should be targetting the genuinely high-risk venues not respectable establishments like the Brisbane Qantas Club.

Because of this ill-thought decision, Kevin Rudd will be the only Government leader in the world who will have to drink his wine from a plastic cup when he passes through the Chairman's Lounge of his local airport.

Think again Liquor Licensing.


PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au

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Support for lowering Australia's voting age to 16

The Australian newspaper reports today the Federal Government is considering lowering the voting age to 16.

Some of the individual states in the US are already considering, or implementing, a lower voting age.

The voting age was last changed across Australia 35 years ago as it became obvious that younger, more-mature individuals had the capacity to take on the responsibilities of adulthood prior to the age of 21.

I first advocated reducing the voting age to 16 almost 20 years ago and again promoted the idea in March 2008.

Modern sixteen year olds have the commonsense, maturity and interest in community issues to justify a reduction in the voting age to 16.

The only real question is:

How soon will it happen?

PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au

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Australia Post announcement

Not to mention how much its saves Australia Post!

PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au

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Rocklea trots closes for the last time today

PIC: The last race at Rocklea!

The last race ever at Rocklea was run today.

This is truly the end of an era.

Punters - big and small - had tales to tell of decades of happy punting at the unique Rocklea track.

The big question is:

Can Marburg fill the gap?

PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au

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Media Release: Government taxi plan backed as Ipswich ripoffs revealed

State Government plans to crack down on rogue taxi operators have been welcomed by Queensland Consumer Watch.

They come in the wake of allegations by an Ipswich taxi driver whistle blower that one of his colleagues charged a woman an extra fee - because she was overweight.

Other allegations revealed in today's Queensland Times include:

• An illegal $10 surcharge on public holidays.

• Passengers being forced to pay for the air-conditioning to be turned on or to use the taxi's GPS system.

Consumer Watch spokesman said another reported incident involved a taxi driver who refused to leave his cab to open a gate for a blind passenger.

"These incidents are appalling and the drivers involved should be booted out of the industry.

"The government should crack down hard on these rogue operators.

"Taxi users should report any incidents to the Transport Department," Paul Tully said.


PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au

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Queensland Police Union says things are not too bad in the Sunshine State!

The CMC bombshell report into police corruption in Queensland has gone over like a damp squib with the Queensland Police Union.

The Police Union says there's only 25 corrupt cops who have been identified in the "Dangerous Liaisons" Report released by the CMC today.

Memo to the Queensland Police Union:

"25 IS 25 TOO MANY".


PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au

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Queensland Government moves to clean up taxi industry

The Queensland Transport Minister Rachel Nolan has announced a crackdown on shonky, ill-trained taxi drivers.

This is one of the best moves in a long time by any Government to weed out unacceptable practices in the taxi industry.

This is the full text of the Minister's Media Release:

Minister for Transport

The Honourable Rachel Nolan

22/07/2009

MYSTERY SHOPPERS TO TEST TAXI PROGRESS

A team of "mystery shoppers" will help monitor customer experience under a reform package to Queensland's taxi industry announced by Transport Minister Rachel Nolan today.

Ms Nolan said the mystery shoppers would assist in creating a feedback loop which would provide valuable insight into the ongoing progress of the proposed changes.

"The two highest profile changes are the creation of a minimum age for taxi drivers of 20 years old and the requirement to have been driving in Australia for at least 12 months," Ms Nolan said.

"The mystery shopper will allow us to monitor the effectiveness of these and other changes within the package and to get some first-hand customer experience.

"Ms Nolan said she had been greatly disappointed to hear that some cabbies have been targeted for abuse and marginalisation recently but it had only made her more determined to deliver on her promise to reform the industry.

"Let me be very clear in my message to those people who might have a racial motivation in their criticism of cab drivers and cab companies in recent months - we are only concerned with improving customer service standards and safety standards.

"By setting a high but consistent bar across the industry, I am saying to the taxi passengers that the State Government supports their expectation of a high quality service.

"By restoring community confidence in the authorisation of taxi drivers, I aim to protect foreign drivers from some of the unfair criticism that have been levelled against them."

Ms Nolan said that reforms in the taxi industry were one of the first commitments she made when she become Transport Minister in March this year.

"Concerns were raised with the taxi industry and, from the outset, I made a commitment to listening to all parts of the industry - not just the owners and industry bodies but the customers and drivers themselves," Ms Nolan said.

Ms Nolan said the shake-up of the taxi industry followed several months of investigating concerns from taxi industry representatives and members of the public about a lowering of driver and industry standards.

"I instigated a Taxi Hotline earlier this year to take community feedback on the industry to determine if changes were needed and in which areas," Ms Nolan said.

"The complaints from the Hotline have focused on a lack of appropriate taxi driver training, pre-requisite driver licence history and local knowledge as well as taxi industry service standards in general.

"The reforms I'm announcing today will address each of these areas and have a real and lasting impact on our State's taxi industry."

Minister Nolan has also confirmed that the Taxi Hotline will continue until the end of the year and quarterly surveys will be conducted to continue to gather community feedback to guide future compliance priorities.

"Furthermore, we're taking these reforms directly to the road as well, introducing a mobile taxi compliance unit," Ms Nolan said.

"This unit of dedicated taxi compliance officers will have vehicles out on the roads targeting taxis and their drivers, creating a more visible compliance presence.

"By implementing this range of initiatives, Queenslanders can look forward to a rejuvenated taxi industry and a safe, reliable and comfortable journey whenever they take a cab."

Reform package:

Driver Authority Eligibility Criteria

• Introduce a mandatory eligibility requirement for an applicant for a driver authorisation (taxi) to have held an Australian issued driver licence for at least one year.

• Introduce a minimum age requirement for applicants for a driver authorisation (taxi) of 20 years.

• Introduce a requirement for an applicant for a driver authorisation (taxi) to have undertaken an English proficiency assessment using the International Second Language Proficiency Rating (ISLPR) provided by an accredited ISLPR assessor.

National Training Standards

• Queensland introduce the national training framework and core taxi driver training competencies developed through the Transport and Logistics Industry Skills Council (once approved by the Australian Transport Council).

• Introduce a requirement that the Department of Transport and Main Roads will only recognise taxi driver training provided by a Registered Training Organisation (RTO).

• Queensland requests that the National Taxi Regulators' Group commence a second phase training framework project to develop a national position on refresher training to complement the national training package.

If there is limited support at a national level for this project, Queensland will examine this issue independently with the taxi industry.

Industry Compliance

• Introduce targeted taxi compliance unit in Queensland.

• Gather information about community perceptions of taxi standards to guide future compliance priorities by:

continued monitoring of the taxi complaints hotline until 1 January 2010;

mystery shopper feedback;

Quarterly Neilson survey data.

Industry Engagement

• Establish a Taxi Industry Advisory Committee to guide the development and delivery of the taxi Industry Strategic Plan and provide advice to government on key issues for the taxi industry.

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PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au

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Ipswich claims World Lamington Record

PIC: Seven years' old James
Tully from St Augustine's
College at Augustine Heights
in Ipswich about to savour
the delights of the world's
largest lamington.


It's official.

Ipswich has won the title for the largest lamington in the world.

The monster lamington weighed in this morning at the Ipswich Turf Club at a whopping 1.32 tonnes, eclipsing the previous one tonne record set in Melbourne in 2005.

The super-sized lamington is equivalent to 20,894 standard lamingtons.

The giant lamington, named after Lord Lamington Governor of Queensland from 1896 to 1901, was made from 230 litres of water, 200 litres of eggs, 535 kg of sponge mix, plus 68kg of desiccated coconut, 75kg of jam, and 150 kg of chocolate lamington mix.

The unveiling of the lamington was witnessed by Lord Lamington's great grandchildren Alex Scrimgeour and Belinda Leigh who had travelled from the UK for the event.

Celebrity chef Ipswich Councillor Paul Tully said the gigantic lamington was a work of art which had taken three days to prepare.

"This record will be difficult to break given the culinary dexterity needed to put this giant lamington together," Cr Tully said.

The creator of the Australian icon Lord Lamington once described them as "those bloody poofy woolly biscuits".


PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au

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Media Release: Ipswich backs new tree and fence laws

New Queensland laws to resolve neighbourhood disputes over dividing fences and nuisance trees have won the backing of Ipswich City Council.

Ipswich Planning spokesman Paul Tully said existing laws were inadequate to deal with complex issues over dividing fences.

Cr Tully said during his 30 years in local government, fights over fences and nuisance trees had escalated in the community.

"Some dodgy developers are now taking advantage of existing laws to force neighbours to pay for new fences required under planning approvals for adjoining land.

"They are making millions out of their developments and are trying to pass the costs onto local residents.

"One resident at Bellbird Park was threatened with legal action by a developer if he didn't agree to pay for an expensive boundary fence for the sole benefit of the developer."

Cr Tully said disputes about overhanging trees, dangerous trees and invasive tree roots were also on the increase.

"Many property owners ignore the problem forcing their neighbours into taking expensive legal action in the Supreme Court.

"Most affected property owners cannot afford this.

"These new laws will solve many community disputes in Queensland's 73 local government areas," Cr Tully said.


PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au

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Ex-Redcliffe Deputy Mayor Peter Houston beats assault charge which should never have been laid

PIC: Peter Houston, ex-Deputy Mayor of Redcliffe


The bike rider was speeding, unlicensed and unregistered when he came off his bike at Redcliffe, yet the police persisted in charging the ex-Deputy Mayor of Redcliffe with assault in trying to stop the clown before he seriously hurt someone.

But today, a District Court Judge rightly tossed the case out.

Peter Houston is an honest, intelligent and decent person and should never have been dragged through the courts over such an outrageous matter.

The rider was acting illegally at the time on several counts and it beggars belief that the Redcliffe police charged Peter Houston who was acting as a public-minded citizen.

The CMC should investigate this matter.

Tonight, Peter Houston can walk free with his head held high!


PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au

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Nuttall Guilty!

No wonder Peter Beattie felt angry and betrayed!


PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au

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Great Australian Petrol Ripoff continues

PIC: Channel 7 news continues to expose
the great Australian
petrol ripoff!


The ACCC does nothing.

Joe Dimasi, the Petrol Commissioner does nothing.

It might need People Power - similar to that which has occurred in New Zealand - to bring the rapacious oil companies to heel!


PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au

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Are the NSW Cockroaches tough enough to run the gauntlet of Caxton St?

The Maroons are reinstating the traditional Caxton Street bus ride to Suncorp Stadium in the pre-match build-up to tomorrow night's State of Origin.

What's the bet that the Cockroaches won't be doing the same?

If they did, they'd be lucky to make it past the old Police Barracks on Petrie Terrace.

No, you can be sure the Cockies will sneak through the usual back blocks and dingy alleyways of suburban Brisbane to get to the Cauldron for their third successive defeat this year.


PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au

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New scam hits Australia's Internet users today

This is the latest scam hitting Australia.

Be warned and warn your friends:


To: freelottclaims@w.cn

Reply to: You are a winner of two million in the free lottery.

From: Brisson, Mr. Gerald

Contact for claim below Mr. Gerald Brisson,

Email: freelottclaims@w.cn

Name
Address
Age
Occupation
Country

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PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au

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Swiss lottery scam hits Australia

A fresh internet scam has hit Australia overnight.

It's another blatant ripoff of Aussie battlers which should be stopped by the Federal Government exercising its powers over Internet Service Providers.

This is the latest scam email:


ce.0381771u@ac-grenoble.fr

Swiss programme

SWISS ON-LINE LOTTERY
P O Box 1010 Liverpool,
L70 1NL UNITED KINGDOM

We are pleased to inform you that your e-mail address
has won the Year Swiss On-line Lottery.

Therefore you have
been approved for a lump sum payout ( £750,000.00 )
Seven Hundred and Fifty Thousand Pounds Sterling.

The online cyber lotto
draws was conducted from an exclusive list of 21,000 email addresses of individual and corporate bodies picked by an advanced automated random computer search from the internet, no tickets were sold.

After this automated
computer ballot, your e-mail ID emerged as one of the
winners in the 3rd category.

You are therefore been approve to lump sum of £750,000.00(GBP).

To file and claim your winning, please contact our Fiduciary Agent for the processing of your winning particulars, with the
following information's below.

United Kingdom Lottery Fiduciary Contact Person:

Mr. Darrell Scholes

E-mail address: darrell_scholes014@yahoo.com
Tel: +447035986795


Provide him with the information below:

1.Full Name:..................................
2.Full Address:.............................
3.Status:.......................................
4.Occupation:................................
5.Age:...........................................
6.Sex:...........................................
7.Country:.....................................
8.Tel.Number:................................
9.Country Of Residence....................


Congratulations once more from all members
and staff of this program.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Dana Grey

2009 Lottery Winner

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


PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au

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Federal Member's views on divorce bordering on insanity

A totally hare-brained plan by Federal Liberal MP Tony Abbott to re-introduce "fault-in-marrage" divorces would set Australia back more than 30 years.

Up until the Family Law Act 1975, divorces could be granted for one partner's dereliction of marital responsibilities including adultery, cruelty and desertion

What we had was private investigators climbing up trees and ladders to photograph couples caught in the act committing adultery usually in the middle of the night.

This regular gross invasion of privacy resulted in tawdry photographs being used in subsequent divorce proceedings.

It was insulting, degrading and disgusting and stripped individuals of their dignity and their basic human rights.
This all disappeared with the stroke of a pen in 1975 when the only ground for divorce in Australia became 12 months' separation.

It was a simple, dignified, no fault divorce system which focussed on the future welfare of the spouses and their children.

Now, the political dinosaur from the ultra conservative Sydney-based seat of Warringah wants to resurrect this shameful method of dealing with family break-ups.

It's about time this political Neanderthal hangs up his boxing gloves and attempts to restore a modicum of sanity to his current utterances instead of his unending outrageous lunacy.

PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au

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LNP abandons former ALP office at Indooroopilly

PICS: Scott Emerson's new State Electorate Office in Station Road Indooroopilly. Note the Telephone Box in the first picture obscuring Scott's visage and the Bus Stop sign in the second picture obscuring the LNP logo. How long will they last?


It was suitable for the Liberal Party, the ALP and the Greens but the State Electorate Office at the corner of Stamford Road and Station Road opposite Indooroopilly Shopping Centre has been abandoned by the LNP's Scott Emerson for a much older shack down the road - which used to be McCawley's Pharmacy, servicing the people of Indooroopilly for many years.

This LNP self-appointed rising star, ex-journalist and Twitter fanatic has scrapped his high-profile location further up the hill for a "working class" out-of-the-way office down the road.

The new office is far less accessible for local residents but is directly opposite the Indooroopilly Hotel.

That's very good thinking Scott!

From former Pharmacy to Pollie's Office at 14 Station Road Indooroopilly - one cured headaches, the other now creates them!

PS
How long before Scott's mate Campbell Newman gets the Bus Stop moved to help Scott smile at the bemused rail commuters heading up to the hill to Indooroopilly Shopping Centre?

PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au

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Fake Sudanese scam hits Australia

Scam emails are flooding Australia again.

What is the Federal Government doing via ISPs to block these insidious emails which are financially destroying innocent Australian families?

Consumer Watch spokesman Paul Tully says: "It's time for the Federal government to act against these internet fraudsters who are ripping off innocent victims day after day".

This is the latest scam:


Hello Dear 

I know that this mail might come to you as a surprise because you don't know me and I don't know you too.

My name is Sana Mohamed Atif , I am 24 years old girl and an orphan from Sudan.

My late father Mr Mohamed Atif was the deputy general manager with CNPC oil company at Khartoum refinery in Sudan.

My late father was killed alongside with my beloved mother and our family house burnt down by the rebels during the last crisis in my country when Janjaweed militant came to our house, and this was what sent me away from my country to Burkina Faso as I made my escape only by God's special grace.

You can read more about my country in the bbc news

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6469857.stm 

I am constrained to contact you because of the maltreatment which I am receiving from my step mother.

She planned to take away all my late father's treasury and properties from me since the unexpected death of my beloved Father.

Meanwhile I wanted to travel to Europe, but she hide away my international passport and other valuable documents.

Luckily she did not discover where I kept my father's File which contained important documents.

Now I am presently staying in the Mission in Burkina Faso.

I am seeking for long term relationship and investment assistance.

My father of blessed memory deposited the sum of US$ 8.5 Million in one bank in Burkina Faso with my name as the next of kin.

I had contacted the Bank to clear the deposit but the Branch Manager told me that being a refugee, my status according to the local law does not authorize me to carry out the operation.

However, he advised me to provide a trustee who will stand on my behalf.

I had wanted to inform my stepmother about this deposit but I am afraid that she will not offer me anything after the release of the money. 

Therefore, I decide to seek for your help in transferring the money into your bank account while I will relocate to your country and settle down with you.

As you indicated your interest to help me I will give you the account number and the contact of the bank where my late beloved father deposited the money with my name as the next of kin.

It is my intention to compensate you with 20% of the total money for your assistance and the balance shall be my investment in any profitable venture which you will recommend to me as have no any idea about foreign investment.

Please all communications should be through this email address only for confidential purposes. 

Thanking you a lot in anticipation of your quick response.

I will send you details in my next email for you to know me well.

I am waiting for your reply,

Best regards,

Sana Mohamed


PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au

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Pineapple Fanta - what will Coca-Cola think of next?

PIC: Pineapple Fanta imported from South Africa


The Coca-Cola conglomerate has experimented with Lemon Coke, Lime Coke, Cherry Coke and Vanilla Coke and now their Fanta offerings include Pineapple flavour.

It is imported into Australia from South Africa by SAPRO Australia Pty Ltd.

It is available in Queensland at "Sweets" in the food court at Indooroopilly Shopping Centre for the princely sum of $2.60 for a 330ml can.

But don't rush out for a quick squiz.

Take it from me, this urine-coloured concoction tastes like pure, unadulterated c-r-a-p.

There's no mention on the can about any pineapple content so you could bet the Crown Jewels that it can be scientifically measured somewhere between Buckley's and none!

If you read the actual ingredients of this soft drink which include sodium, benzoate, sodium citrate and colourants including quinoline yellow and sunset yellow (whatever that is), it doesn't seem like the healthiest drink Coca-Cola has ever supplied for the Australian market.


PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au



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National apology from East West Motor Inn Manager in South Australia for racial discrimination

It is a sobering advertisement on page 4 of today's Australian newspaper.

Brian Brew, the manager of the East West Motor Inn at Ceduna in South Australia makes a humiliating apology to Marjorie Strickland and members of her group who were denied accommodation on 4 December 2007 because of her Aboriginal race.

Anti-Discrimination laws have existed at state and federal level around Australia for decades and it is disappointing that Brian Brew discriminated in the way he did.

The Aboriginal people of Australia can only trust Brian Brew's public assertion today that he is "sincerely sorry for the grief, pain, embarrassment, and humiliation" which he admits he caused on that grim December day - a low point in Aboriginal reconciliation in Australia.


PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au

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Fair Pay Commission should be renamed Unfair Pay Commission

With prices rising and the cost of living increasing, the decision by Australia's Fair Pay Commission to freeze wages for up to 12 months is a totally unjust decision.

This is the first time in 27 years that the minimum pay rate for Australian workers has been frozen.

The Fair Pay Commission is headed by Professor Ian Harper, the same buffoon who said when he was first appointed he would pray to God for divine intervention in his pay decisions.

Now, the Nutty Professor has ignored the submission of the Federal Government and sided with big industry, to deny any increase to Australia's lowest-paid workers.

Professor Harper earns $124,990 a year as the part-time Fair Pay Commissioner but thankfully he is quitting the Commission at the end of July, just in time before the unions tarred and feathered him.

The Federal Government is scrapping the Fair Pay Commission and replacing it with a system based on fairness, openness and accountability - not some crazy, knee-jerk process controlled by St Peter in heaven and controlled by disciple Harper.


PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au

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EXCLUSIVE: Telstra in major backdown on overseas call centre in Manila

Following hundreds of complaints across Australia from individuals and major corporations, Telstra has scrapped its offshore paging call centre in downtown Manila in the Philippines.

Since January - except for a few exclusive Australian corporate clients who complained bitterly - all Telstra Memo calls were unanswered by poorly trained Filipino staff whose skills in Tagalog far exceeded their English language ability.

Telstra customers have complained non-stopped of messages with wrong numbers, wrong names, mis-spelt and confusing word combinations being received.
The past 6 months has been utter pandemonium for Telstra customers.

The offshore experiment - which saved a few dollars for Telstra and enabled them to pay their former CEO Sol Trujillo a King's Ransom each year - has been officially scrapped.

Telstra is reverting to an Ausralian-based 24/7 operation from early August.
Consumer Watch spokesman said Telstra's decision in January to scrap its Australian Memo paging serving operation was the strangest decision ever made by the telecommunications giant.

"Sanity has prevailed in Telstra only after they realised the magnitude of their stupidity," Paul Tully said.


PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au

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No Free Flow tolling on most booths on the Logan Motorway!

Free flow tolling commenced on 1 July on the Gateway and Logan Motorways.

But at the first toll plaza on the Logan Motorway, only one of the four booths is a free flow, drive-straight-through arrangement.

This means that drivers who have done the right thing and pre-purchased a transponder have to join a lengthy single-file queue, while the motoring recalcitrants have the easy choice of THREE lanes.

Something doesn't make sense with this arrangement.

Sure, there needs to be some temporary measure for the drivers who still have to buy a transponder but the number of available lanes should be reversed so that the people who have done the right thing, get a smooth and easy ride through at least three of the lanes at the toll plaza.

Why should drivers without transponders have the choice of three lanes while the ones with transponders get the rough end of the Motorway pineapple.

Bloody hopeless!

PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au


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KFC at Grand Plaza need a rocket - Is it the most-unsanitary KFC in Australia?

Imagine this.

The console operator at your local KFC who puts the meals together, picking up all sorts of packets and utensils and cups and lids, suddenly wipes away a piece of slimy mucous from her nose with her right index finger and then asks the next customer for their order.

The customer politely points out that she should wash her hands before proceeding to serve customers.

The operator give the customer a dirty look as she proceeds to wash her hands.

The customer asks if her training included the legal requirement that staff involved in handling food must wash their hands every time they touch their hair, nose or mouth with their fingers.

The operator replies that there was no such training involving health and sanitation issues.

Well, don't imagine anymore.
It actually happened this evening to a customer at Grand Plaza at Browns Plains!

Errors and mistakes can sometimes happen, but basic health issues must be a number one priority in all fast food outlets.

The fact that the KFC at Browns Plains is failing to give even basic training to the staff on key health issues should be of serious concern to the company, the public and the Logan City Council.


PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au

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Great Caesar's Ghost: Paranormal or Paranoia - the Ghost of Rosewood is good for business

PIC: David Pahlke - Local councillor, publican and ghost buster!

When it comes to publicity, the publican of the Rosewood Hotel west of Ipswich, David Pahlke - who masquerades as the local councillor - has risen to the top of his profession.

In a grand stunt, he has called professional ghost busters into the pub who - surprise, surprise - came up with nothing but a few cold draughts blowing through the creaky windows and the usual dose of rising damp!

Things must be tough for Big Dave - who was the former postmaster at Rosewood before entering politics as a Moreton Shire Councillor - when he has to hire ghost busters from Brisbane to encourage a few more souls into the public bar.

David Pahlke is now a full-time Ipswich City Councillor on over a 100 grand a year while running the pub as a full-time job as well.

Locals are beginning to ask what is his main service to the people of Rosewood - being the local councillor, operating the local booze business or being the town's official ghost hunter?

They remember Dave's last failed attempt at local recognition when he named a park after himself and shot to prominence on national television with his ego stretching from Marburg to Grandchester.

He quickly had Pahlke Park renamed to avoid any further bad publicity on A Current Affair.

His greatest effort, however, was the Ipswich City Council Budget a couple of years ago when he turned up in a bright yellow suit with a Mafia-style violin case with you-know-what inside!

Mayor Paul Pisasale ordered him from the Council Chambers before the meeting. Since then, Pahlke has been known as The West Moreton Enforcer.

What sort of brain implosion occurred that day in Rosewood?

Imagine trying to sell a difficult budget to the people of Ipswich, with one of the Councillors dressed like the Mafia ready to extort money from the people.

Paranormal or paranoia - you be the judge of Rosewood's own Municipal Publican Spook.


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Tony Abbott MP supports smoking in cars with children

Whatever you think of his politics, Tony Abbott MP, former Federal Health Minister has shown his true uncaring attitude with his opposition to laws prohibiting smoking in cars with young children inside.

US studies show that just 2 cigarettes smoked in a closed vehicle will cause toxin levels to exceed 70 times the normal safe level.

Pity the poor kids - including babies - forced to inhale these dangerous fumes from their uncaring parents puffing away to their hearts' content.

Tony Abbott should be ashamed of himself for his stance on this issue which is utterly disgraceful and which embarrassingly contributes to an unhealthy Australia.


PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au

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Woolworths and Caltex ripping off Ipswich customers again!

Mr Ken Markwell from the Ipswich suburb of Leichhardt has rung to say that on Sunday 28 June 2009, petrol at the Woolworths Caltex at Brassall in Ipswich was $1.21/litre.

5 hours later at the Caltex Woolworths servo in Warwick, it was $1.08/litre and has been for the past 5 weeks.

Typical price gouging which will get worse from today!

PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au

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KFC - Six of one, half a dozen of the other!

PIC: KFC upsetting another customer.


The following letter appears in today's Queensland Times in Ipswich:

"WHY can I not get six drumsticks when I order them from KFC? Is there an unwritten law I don't know about?
ANON"

Yes, KFC. Why?


PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au

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