Monday, December 25, 2006

Do you see the light?!

James Brown, the Godfather of Soul was 73 when he died after being hospitalized with severe pneumonia yesterday, in an Atlanta hospital.

The legendery performer who got his start in music while in Juvie, rose to mega-stardom with hits like Please, Please, Please, I'll go crazy, Papa's got a brand new bag, Sex Machine(Get on up) and I feel good.

The man with the tattooed eyebrows, worked as an anti-drugs ambassador for President Reagan before being arrested on drugs and firearms charges. He appeared in the Blues Brothers movie as the Reverend Cleophus James and clocked up four marriages, the most recent in 2004.

If the measure of our worth is weighed by the impact we've had on others during our life, the very old man with the pervasive groove should have a serious amount of St Peter's frequent flyer brownie points saved up to cash in at the Pearly Gates.

The season to be jolly

Amidst the silent night, the stirrings of (thankfully) distant memories taunt my young family, trying to come to terms with strangers reaching out from their past.

Panic attacks are
not uncommon among survivors of domestic violence, and Christmas - a time which brings an idealistic notion of 'family' into focus, for many, raises regrets, frustrations and above all else, fear.

For any number of reasons Christmas time brings an
increase of about 30% in family violence, & while the solution may seem simple enough, outsiders seldom realize the complexities of distancing oneself & loved ones from a partner prone to violent reactions & who perhaps is not that agreeable to a relationship ending.

Systems in place for coping with violence in the home
can only do so much, despite initiatives in WA and other states, to adapt our archaic, classist & chauvinistic 'British Common Law' justice system to the needs of a modern society, which sees women incarcerated quicker than men, regardless of the prevalence of family violence and poverty in their lives.

This year we've seen many bandaid approaches to family violence - a kneejerk reaction from a right-wing, neo-con fed government supporting patriarchal fundamentalist ideals in a distinctly post-Christian society.

White Ribbon Day
received a bashing on Online Opinion for dressing the domestic violence message up in a way that is less confronting & more palatable for sadists, while embattled Victorian Police Commissioner, Cheryl Nixon, hangs the blame for family violence squarely at the feet of the weather gods for sending drought & bushfires to the state.

It's all too easy in this 'quick-fix' culture to proffer immediate solutions or 'bandaid approaches' to a problem which stems from generations of violence and inequality, & in the initial stages at least, any solution requires victims to stop trying to understand their troubled partner and focus on the preservation & quality of their lives and that of their children.

While in eras gone-by therapists bemoaned the
lemming nature of co-dependents, victims/survivors have been emancipated by the relatively newfound understanding that abusive people frequently seek out passive-natured partners.

Other solutions exist in reaching out to professionals trained and educated to: facilitate safe negotiations and safe departures from violent situations, counselling, accommodation, food etc etc. However, true solutions aren't found in bandaid quick-fixes touted by whatever flavour-of-the-month government is in power. The journey to empowerment - to a loving, harmonious and safe environment & to break the cycle of violence, is long and arduous, but starts, and must start, with one tiny, tumultuous step - acknowledging there's a problem & seeking help.

Here's wishing readers of TDM a
'silent, calm and bright' Christmas, and to one & all a reminder that Christmas in itself is annually a celebration of hope and a new beginning.

Tuesday, December 12, 2006

For a bit of light Chrissy reading

The autobiography of Bernie Matthews came out last month and can be found, featured fairly prominantly, on the book shelves in most major book stores.

The title, Intractable, refers to the classification of certain prisoners deemed to have a higher risk of violent behaviour or escape attempts.

The 404 pages candidly detail the bashings, wrongful imprisonment, crimes and aspirations of the NSW freelance journalist who has written for Ralph and The Bulletin. A review will follow over the weeks ahead.

Monday, December 11, 2006

For all of you who read the very popular and racy Sydney blog, Much ado about Sumthin, my competition as 'the magnet,' the beautiful Steph, who is a regular commenter here at TDM, had bad biorhythms last week.

She is now recovering from a car accident in which she sustained multiple serious injuries & if you get a chance, go by Much ado and wish her a speedy recovery.

Tuesday, December 05, 2006

The Chairman returns with cats for PM

Sunday, December 03, 2006

Where angels fear to tread

It's with great trepidation that I launch into this post, quite apart from the deadly break from blogging I've had, where my Daily Magnet has become more of a Daily Magnet Monthly - a la Ita, I've become aware that I may have an unexpected sub-editor looking over my shoulder...

However, without further ado...


Derek Pedley's latest book, Australian Outlaw, has a rather ambitious subtitle of 'The True story of Postcard Bandit Brenden Abbott.' With all respect to DP, can any writer hope to walk the tightrope (with ravenous lions underneath), that is writing a true crime story when all one has to go on is the word of crooks & detectives(sounds like the rc)? Nonetheless, it is all we poor plebian squareheads have at our disposal to catch a glimpse of the other side, and Derek Pedley has provided a great yarn, heavily comprised of warts 'n' all interview material with some of the key identities in Brenden Abbott's past.


The way Derek Pedley has structured the interview material is quite creative and effective giving each of the characters in the book a chance to become the narrator and develop their characters through use of their own language.

I have to dips me lid to DP for conducting interviews with Brenden Abbott without ending up as his cellmate. WA & QLD journalists will know that conducting interviews with prisoners in these two states is fraught with danger, as it can easily be defined as illegal on the whim of the authorities.

The handsome happy snap (1 of 2 photos on the cover - perhaps a before and after photo?) on the cover and the subtitle, belie the tale behind the cover, of a beleaguered life of a kid from a struggling lower-middle class family, dissatisfied with his lot, and going for the lucky dollar in fine colonial tradition of battlers, cops & robbers.

What we see is a nuts & bolts story of the highs, and mostly lows, of a 'career' bank-robber's life - having his booty taxed by pursuers and having to cop the time sweet, realizing once-trusted confidants are a liability due to the very nature that brought them together, having to keep constantly moving around before and after arrest, and losing contact with precious loved ones.


The story stops short of gritty, which may or may not be due to the desired market, it is however, quite technical, which affords the plebs an insight into the mind and workings of a professional crook.

In contrast to the articles in the media that Pedley quotes, the story does little to glorify the lifestyle of Abbott, reading more like a comedy of errors and highlighting the irony of such a clever and talented crook, failing by making the same mistakes over and over.

The technical aspect of the book can become a little tiresome for those of us who are a bit challenged in the patience department, but it's quite gratifying being able to see how Brenden's smoke and mirrors routine was performed and it's nice to think, for a little while at least, a little guy managed to keep big brother on the hop, and maybe offered a trace of glee to Joe Public who see the banks forking over instead of collecting, for a change.

The extensive interview material also helped to develop the characters and create a bond with the reader. It would appear that there is a drive by the author to build empathy for Abbott throughout the story, through keeping the content light and not dwelling on the personal aftermath of crime.

However, greater acknowledgement of Abbott's dark side, which of course was the motivation for his career and life choices, might have offered a lift to the tale. span>


As is the case with a story about any hard bastard there is the danger of them being quite 2 dimensional. With Brenden Abbott telling so much of his own story I have to say it left me wishing for some more depth or risks in the depiction of his personality - which, given his inherent genius and artistic perspective, would be more complex than he'd probably be comfortable with the readers knowing.
One of my favourite parts in the book was the quote from Berichon when he changes his mind about being interviewed, and DP mentions how his court appearances claim Abbott lured him to the dark side, and from that, we get just the tiniest tantalizing morsel of maybe a bit more about Abbott's nature than he would like us to know.
Pedley helps the reader tag along with Abbott on his adventure, and shares the ups & downs of life on the run & in gaol. It's an earthy, urban version of the great Australian anti-establishmentarian outlaw fable using people and places we all know to help make it real, relevant and contemporary.
While DP's first book about the 'Postcard Bandit' had a lot of the media and police spin colouring it's perspective, I was more satisfied this time that both the cops & the robbers got a fair hearing.
For those who get all uptight over money-related crime and wish to feed the ailing and aging Abbott through your Betty Crocker electric cheese graters - you're not forgotten, there's plenty in this book for you, too. You get to watch the Postcard Bandit suffer indefinitely and the cops revel in victory, it's not all warm 'n' fuzzy.
I was really left with the feeling that there could be a lot more of Abbott's yarns that would be suitable for a similar treatment to the Underbelly Rule/Sylvester series and Chopper Read's novels, and given the content and narrative style in Australian Outlaw I think they'd be by far superior.

Tuesday, November 14, 2006

Sponsor Man of Lettuce's gorgeous son, growing facial hair in the name of medical research to improve Aussie blokes' health.

Monday, November 06, 2006

A thing of the past

10 things I hate about Rally Australia

1) Limited local and Australian media access to report on the event, despite half of the pre-assigned Euro media contingent not bothering to travel to the 'arse-end', leaving half the media passes unused, but still not being able to report on it.

2) mercenary promoters who do not value local fans, roping off any remaining reasonable photo vantage points for corporate ticket holders who only stay for the first 5 European cars anyway

3) Jiffy Van food to the exclusion of reasonably priced, or healthy, or even digestible food

4) Having to drive for hours only to be able to access very little, mostly in full sun

5) Filling the Falcon's wheels with red dirt, after driving on unsealed roads that rattle the knobs off the dash

6) Getting pulled over for slowing down the speeding idiots in would-be rally cars, who think they're the next best thing since Loeb

7) Flies, & Porta-loos used a billion times (by lots of very diverse-food eaters who have also, been eating Jiffy Van food for three days) positioned in the full Ausssie sun all day - spewtastic!

8) Those bright orange shirts!

9) Having to park in full-sun so everything you cannot carry with you, melts in the car

10) That Australian and N-Class drivers and their crews are often treated as 2nd rate to the super-slick European teams, when they are highly-skilled drivers experienced in challenging Australian track conditions


10 things I will miss about Rally Australia

1) Taking photos of the very melty & happy-go-lucky Petter Solberg, when he stops by the side of the track to shoot the breeze with Mikko Hirvonen, & unzips his zootsuit down to his woolly long-johns to cool off

2) Observing Langley Pk's amazingly speedy transformation to house the Service Pk, & the even quicker load-out

3) The hoards of tourists and millions of accents heard

4) Normally quiet pubs in the city always full of laughing, happy people every night from the load-in day, regardless of how poorly their cars might be doing

5) The Euro-beautiful-people who swan around like they aren't bothered by the heat, flies & sweat - it's an alternate reality right before my eyes

6) The Australian and local drivers mixing it with drivers who are meant to be the world's best

7) Little Miss Rally competition which attracts young women from diverse socio-economic groups some of whom are sometimes also quite bright

8) The unpredictable race results due to the rugged & recalcitrant red terrain, which is a great leveler

9) My little home town-the most isolated city in the world, being linked to a competition which occurs all over the planet, specifically for the unique conditions and terrains in the places that host it

and drumroll please...
10) The amazing community mindedness of the hundreds of volunteers who give up their time for no personal gain and at their own expense, to make the event safe & good fun for the spectators & competitors

Friday, October 20, 2006

More good news about state schools...(parents will be signing their kids up in droves after this week).

Tuesday, October 17, 2006

Streets ahead, but not as lucrative for police ministry

Random breast testing?

Education minister asleep on the job?

In a move to restore parental confidence in the state school system, the director general and the head of human resources have fallen on their swords & moved on from their positions with the WA education department.

Let's hope Premier Carpenter's two token sacrifices to 'public confidence' are followed by the terminations of all the questionable teachers & staff that the education department have been happy to leave in their employ, up until the release of the CCC report yesterday attracted the media spotlight.

The department's poor ethical standards, included an instance of a teacher who had incurred sexual misconduct claims being allowed to go on an overseas trip with students, and another case where a convicted child molester was permitted to return to teaching.

Quite rightly the scathing report drew the condemnation of the education minister, however, Ljiljanna Ravlich's lack of awareness of what was being permitted to occur to children under the supervision of her own department, lessens the credibility of her other very publicized achievements & initiatives within the portfolio.

Monday, October 16, 2006

Who's testing who?

WA has introduced a bill to permit police, who currently do not get drug tested themselves, the go-ahead for random roadside drug-testing of drivers.

The proposed legislation will follow moves in
other Australian states, where the drug testing has been implemented regardless of problems with it.

There have been serious questions over the reliability of roadside drug tests and
forensics but there has been little concern on the part of police ministry, who no doubt are seeing huge revenue$$$$$$$$ in their future (which should ensure enough money for police to have their full pay rise awarded).

WA Education Dept permits pervert to teach after being convicted

Ljiljanna Ravlich, WA minister for education and training today revealed Crime and Corruption Commission complaints of a culture of resistance within the state's education department, to changing the way complaints of sexual misconduct are handled.

The minister cites one case where a teacher convicted of indecent dealing with a 13 year old girl, was permitted to return to teaching the same group.

Homeschooling anyone?

Dead protected witness' parents reveal what really happened

The parents of deceased protected witness go on the record about their experiences after their son was put into police protection.

The interview details police confusion over protocols to ensure witness safety, police departments competing for information and family being approached by shady figures at their home -
it's a startling read that you won't see in the mainstream media, by award winning investigative journalist, Bret Christian.

Wednesday, October 11, 2006

Just a hazard of the job for journalists?

A young Californian journalist, Josh Wolf, recently named Journalist of the Year, has been gaoled for not providing video footage, to be used as evidence of an assault on a police officer.

I can't say I know much about the case, but Wolf's vlog post denying he even captured any footage of the assault is quite compelling viewing. It is also difficult to imagine a plausible argument for someone like Wolf not to have surrendered evidence of the assault, if he did actually have it.

In the video blog he looks at the rights & responsibilities of journalists and it is quite interesting that he has been imprisoned in a state which has conscientious provision made for the rights of journalists to undertake their job.

If you have enough bandwith check out the vlog, if not, read up on yesterday's post about it on MGK and Time.

Tuesday, October 10, 2006

Witness protection?

The parents of the protected witness who died of a heroin overdose whilst under police protection in Queensland, are seeking compensation.

Andrew Petrelis died in
suspicious circumstances and the 2002 WA Police Royal Commission found a senior officer who had accessed Andrew Petrelis' confidential contact details, also had phone contact with the persons the witness was testifying against. But he was not the only WAPOL officer to gain unauthorized accessed to Petrelis' new identity.

Recent actions by the CCC for unauthorized police computer access would suggest the 2004 formation of the CCC may offer more effective means of monitoring such breaches.

However, the ailing senior officer questioned in relation to the Petrelis matter was allowed to retire, with no comprehensive investigation of the unauthorized access of confidential witness protection information occurring, until the Royal Commission.

Perth couple Nick and Lesley Petrelis are seeking about $500,000, which might almost cover the expenses they've incurred in pursuing action over the death of their son. The Australian, has published a story suggesting that the amount sought is a 'record exgratia payment,' but failed to examine why they termed it as a 'record' payment & at a glance it looks like they're taking sides.

Many questions continue to haunt this case such as the position the body was in when discovered, and the illegal, but still unpunished, accessing of the confidential records of the deceased.

In any event, if the death was self-inflicted as was indicated by the Qld coroner's autopsy and subsequent inquiry, how is it that Petrelis gained access to heroin and a syringe, given the police were responsible for monitoring Petrelis' day to day safety and security, if only for the purposes of having him testify against Perth underworld figures?


It would be a tragedy for the community to discount the worth and potential of the lives of society's young men, simply because they had a history of substance use or a criminal record. This group are considered to be the most likely to commit suicide, and continue to die in custody, alone and in silence. With Indigenous suicides in custody, increasing at a particularly horrifying rate while suicide figures for other groups are declining, it looks like young offenders and/or substance users are falling through current mechanisms for reducing suicides in our communities - or maybe they're just not considered to be a part of the community.

The changing nature of our society and the subsequent changing needs of young men, need to be addressed by police, corrections and the judiciary to provide hope and opportunity that are already freely available and achieveable through rehabilitation and restorative justice.

Such systemic changes are essential to provide some peace and healing for victims of crime and the community as a whole, instead of counterproductive vilification of thieves and drug users as a sub-class.

When 80% of theft-related crime is motivated by poverty, and for the perpetrators of those crimes to simply be launched into the current revolving-door system, trendy pop initiatives raising awareness of 'world' poverty, while consciously overlooking the suffering in our own backyard, border on ludicrous.

For those of you who want to read the official transcript of the Royal Commission hearing into the matter, here's a link from the CCC website(p369) but it is lengthy(!), so make sure you have a cup of tea and a box of tissues handy.

Monday, October 09, 2006

Who?

For all those who avidly watch Dr Who, series in-series out, you'll know we've been left twiddling our thumbs with only meagre speculation of a fourth series to keep us going.

I'm finding David Tennant's portrayal of the 10th Doctor a little disconcerting, with the very serious Scottish actor telling Who fans he is testing the boundaries of the character to see if a supposedly emotionless character can also be a party to emotion via the warm, fuzzy nonsense with Rose Tyler, the most dominating of his assistants.

I have to admit to having reservations about Tennant taking the role, unable to imagine him as the Dr after his role in Blackpool, but while the two characterizations are worryingly similar the new Doctor has grown on me, most likely through the warm, fuzzy nonsense (mentioned above) which helped to endear him to the audience after the disastrous departure of the fantastic! Christopher Ecclestone.

It would appear that producers of the show have been scripting Billie Piper for some time with a view to a 'spin-off series' in the style of Sarah-Jane Investigates, based on another of the Dr's assistants, Sarah-Jane Smith who appeared in an episode(School Reunion) of the recent series with K9. Sarah-Jane was an assistant to the 3rd and 4th Doctors, Jon Pertwee and Tom Baker, and appeared in the series from 1973-'76. On the Dr Who Online website there is also a very interesting story giving insight into Britain's PM, who said Number Ten Downing St is like the tardis...

More recent episodes have seen Rose Tyler becoming quite the little protagonist, saving the Doctor's Timelord bacon on a number of occasions and a general move towards the '05-'06 series 'human' characters, Mickey and the dopey dad, Pete, empowering themselves and taking over the role of guardians over the planet. How else can the audience explain the reinstating of Rose's family unit, in the final episode of series three?

Never one to cool his heels for too long, in the next series the Doctor takes up with Freema Agyeman, who had her brains replaced with spaghetti by the cybermen, in the last episode. But, after the script writers demanded from the audience such a huge emotional investment in Rose Tyler, the Doctor with his two hearts & his luv'em & leav'em attitude may be ready to give away his other one, but will the audience be ready to give the girl with the rice noodles coming out of her ears a fair hearing?

Those of you on broadband with chronic Who sickness, may wish to mix it up on the Who Radiophonatron while you wait for the Christmas specials.

For those who need extra help, the Dr Who Support Group blog.

Friday, September 22, 2006

Labor, chopping off it's future, to spite its Bills

I guess one of the main conservative criticisms of the Labor Party, generally, is the party's closeness to the union movement, that and its tall poppy syndrome.

It's unlikely you would ever hear derision about a union rep working tirelessly for better conditions for the working classes, that is, unless he is going to be the next Labor PM of Oz, with some less substantial Labor Party members feeling the pinch from the growing popularity this guy's social conscience draws?

In the most isolated city in the world it is a no-brainer that smaller unions (of which, there are many in Perth) get lost in industrial action, overpowered by entrenched bureaucracy left unabated.

Senator Ray is virtually unknown to me but any pollie who watches Dr Who has to be the most switched on 59 year old to set foot in Parliament.

No daleks please, we're Liberals...

Perth blogs

Unbeknownst to the endless procession of newcomers to the 'Sphere there is a Perth Blog Meetup whereby these like-minded, creative and motivated writers can hook up and talk up a storm about what blogs turn their cogs and all things business about the Blogosphere.

The benefits of networking don't just help creatively, it's good for swapping technology, brainstorming new ideas & ventures, and breaking down the solo-dom of hitting the keys to express yourself.

So if you live in the vicinity, or even if you don't, get down to the Blog Meetup every month and be counted.

Perth blogs include:
Temporal Island
Man that Cooks
Rotto Bloggo
Enjoy Perth
Grum
Interlogue
Journey
1 Dog Said to the other...
The Pencil Guy
Freo Stencils
5 Public Opinions
Olive branch optimism
Duncan Riley.com

Thursday, September 21, 2006

Slipping past the censors

Revelations of violent abuse and human rights crimes against Aboriginal Australians in colonial history on our doorstep, via Rotto Bloggo.

Monday, September 18, 2006

Sorry all, not purposefully being aloof, just a bit snowed under & will blog as soon as I can get a few minutes to spare. Thanks for stickin around - feel free to take a stroll through the archives while you're waiting...

Monday, September 11, 2006

CWA Branching out

The Country Women's Association (CWA) are lobbying for trials of medicinal marijuana for use in pain relief.

Barnaby Joyce said he has always respected the CWA for having their 'heads screwed on' (better than 'off', I guess), so he'd have to look at the proposal.

The 28 y/o nurse, Leslie Young, who heads the Tassie branch said cooking and knitting are still important for companionship but that there are a lot of 'youngies' who were now members too, the majority of whom are in Qld.

No prizes for guessing what recipe will feature in the next CWA cookbook.

Sunday, September 10, 2006

Dirty Harries in leotards doing pirouettes

It seems police industrial action is contagious at the moment with 60 Victorian Police walking off the job in protest(where to, the pub?), saying they've been robbed by the axing of the Armed Offenders Squad.

The thirty person unit was under investigation by Victoria's Office of Police Integrity, and there were allegations of assaults, but Paul Mullett of the Police Association said it was not a corruption probe.

In another astounding quote which will have Victoria Police spin doctors reeling, Mr Mullett said "The men and women of the armed offenders squad, who are dedicated and committed to serve the community, have had no principles of fairness applied to them."

Commissioner Nixon said the squad will be replaced with the testosterone-inhibiting 'Task Force Emerald' which has a much prettier name.

Stats show assault complaints against the unit are significantly higher than other VicPol units and indicate a 'culture' within the mostly male squad that the OPI said should have been dealt with long ago.

While the OPI voices concerns about the correlation between forced confessions and verballing, detectives outside of the squad respect them for the tough approach which they say is required for citizens taken into custody on suspicion of armed robbery.

Yabbadabbadoo

More on Oz being 'Oil-free' by 2020... 'alternative fuel is the new black, darlings! If Sweden's doing it Australia simply must!' We'll have to await the little lego cars being shipped in to the local Ikea stores to capitalize on that plan.

Ellison says too much crack showing in Oz

Federal Justice Minister Chris Ellison, who puts his pants on one leg at a time, said he honestly thinks amphetamines are the biggest challenge Australia, as a nation, faces. This reflects how drastically out of touch politicians can become with the challenges that ordinary Australians face from day to day.

He said amphetamines are being produced on unpatrolled Pacific islands on a massive scale, but he did not clarify which patrol actually detected this on the dangerous unpatrolled Pacific islands, which he claims are a source of crack, ice, ecstasy, speed and are a haven for money laundering.

The linked article says Mr Ellison is concerned about too much freedom being available and so AFP officers have established themselves across the Pacific Island region in countries like 'Samoa, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Fiji and Vanuatu.'

A double serving of false arrest and radically reduce my civil liberties, purlease!

The Queensland Coalition is making another song & dance about roadside drug testing (in the same spirit of the breathalyzer test), but there has been little mention in the mainstream media of the last fiasco when the Victorian government applied the same test and results were found to be faulty, to the detriment of innocent drivers.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Paul Lucas said there was already a 12-month trial of random drug-testing and The Courier Mail says that Coalition Transport spokesperson, Fiona Simpson 'appeared confused at times' with the penalties involved in the proposed policy she was attempting to explain.

But the confused Coalition policies will not get a look in, with Beatty having won ***(put on your safety goggles for the following photo)yet another term in office.

Thursday, September 07, 2006

One for Artie Vandelay on this holy feast day of
Saint Regina, Heortius and Clodoald(St. Cloud, French, prince of Orleans, priest, founder of monastery, d. 560),
St. Anastasius the Fuller (Italian, martyred by drowining in 304)St. Gratus of Aosta (Italian, bishop, c. 470)
St. Grimonia (Irish, laywoman, martyred in defense of virginity, 4th century)
St. Hiduard (Belgian, Benedictine monk, c 750)Bl.
John Duckett (English, priest, martyred - drawn/hanged/quartered - in 1644)
St. John of Lodi (Italian, Benedictine hermit, bishop, d. 1106)
St. John of Nicomedia (Turkish, martyr by burning in 303)
Bl. John Maki (Japanese, layman, martyred by burning in 1627 at Nagasaki)
AND (drumroll please...)
Bl. Thomas Tsugi (Japanese, Jesuit priest, martyred by burning at Nagasaki)

An oil-free caravan for every Australian family by 2020

The outgoing chair of the Senate's Rural and Regional Affairs Committee, Greens Senator Rachel Siewert has said gas-guzzling, V8-loving Australians need to prepare for an 'oil-free' future by 2020, which, while it sounds like an updated version of an old sci-fi movie, it's actually only 14 years away.

The committee have tabled an interim report after studying Oz' oil supply and dwindling global supplies, & an industry and government failure to address the longer-term issues of gas supplies, also rated a mention.

So maybe they better stop culling camels. Increasing by 100,000 every year, these feral little beasties could be the answer to fix flagging family budgets and pollution can be recycled for the vegie patch :// (y'ah!)

Tuesday, September 05, 2006

Ministerial priorities?

The Police Union are demanding the government pay a 20% increase over the next two years for officers who currently earn an average base rate of $20 per hour, which despite the heavier responsibility and constant and inherent danger involved is virtually the same pay as a waiter or bartender.

Ongoing demonstrations of poor arrest procedures and mishandling of previous cases only amplify the need for officers to be adequately paid, to counter the high numbers of resignations and problems that stem from a lack of supervision for a growing body of inexperienced WAPOL staff.

Police Minister, the third in the last twelve months, is offering police a 12.5% pay rise whilst politicians have only since the campaign started, awarded themselves higher pay rises to their already unjustifiable incomes.

As a voter I have to wonder whether state government ministers would endanger their lives, accept heavy responsibility and deal with trauma everyday, for twenty bucks an hour? Or even for their current ridiculous salaries?

Domestic violence is identified as one of the primary motivations in murder cases in WA every year and yet it is so common, police deal with it everyday. If the efficiency of the police service is determined by their incomes, which of course the delivery of services by every worker in every field is, why is it that the state government does not value the lives of those effected by domestic violence? What about those voters effected by burglaries or car theft?

It is fairly safe to say that at some point in every person's life they will need the services of the police and with lives hingeing on the effective delivery of policing, wouldn't it be in the public interest for police wages to be in accordance with the responsibility of their duties and their skills and qualifications?

So why is it that the state government are prepared to spend more on spam-like electoral campaigns and paying 500 over-paid spin doctors in their employ, than protecting the voting community?

Recently WAPOL have dug their heels in and refused to do revenue collecting activities like speeding tickets and tonight they are only attending 'life-threatening' situations, but seeing how police are only worth $20 p/hr, maybe emergency callers can just call Dominos instead, I hear they work for a cheaper rate.

Sunday, September 03, 2006

Another dirty little 'C' word

Friday, August 25, 2006

Crimestoppers has received a number of calls since appealing to the public for information in relation to the Iaria inquiry.

Coroner's findings in Iaria case

After another rather apparent tangle with the Blogspot leprechauns please find below..

I know many people have been searching for the coronial findings in the Iaria case, I can't vouch for the website as I am unfamiliar with it, however this is a link to a website that has published the findings.

Old school

Former bank robber and journalist of note, Bernie Matthews, is also bringing out a book about his life.

Matthews is one of the few survivors of a NSW hellhole called Katingal, which violated so many human rights conventions, it was judged unlawful for it to even be called a prison.

Mr Matthews has made a lifetime of fighting injustices perpetrated against him and others in the prison system, covering freedom of speech, transparency and law reform.

So far as tough guys go, this guy wrote the book, about crime, justice, turning one's life around and the zen of incarceration and rehabilitation.

The book is on the shelves in October, and if you wish to be able to view life from a higher perspective, read it.

More postcards from the edge

Derek Pedley has had a second go at getting Brenden Abbott's story right, with the "Postcard Bandit's" ongoing guidance in the preparation, apparently.

The first book was littered with public sector protocol, fear of crime and good old newspapers' good guys-bad guys them & us type social exclusion, amongst a number of fairly romanticized realities from a young journalist, Pedley, who I am assuming also lacked experience of the other side of the tracks life.

The QLD prison authorities have taken the definition of hard time to heart and disallowed Brenden Abbott from reading the final copy despite him having read all the drafts up to that point.

Let's hope the book explores the true reality of the Rivervale bank robber's gritty existance and evil genius, where miscast flick, The Postcard Bandit, tragically didn't.

Saturday, August 19, 2006

Does your blog have soul? Well now you can profit from it, someone's willing to buy it for $16 p/hr(is that close to any award wage for a writer?)

Friday, August 18, 2006

The Flute returns, or is he just teasing?

Bovine profanity

Twenty Major examines the flexibility & the multifunctionality of the cuNext Tuesday word and decries the lack of progress in swear words - not a post for well-mannered or faint-hearted.

Thursday, August 17, 2006

Coroner releases report on Iaria murder

This week Coroner Paresa Spanos released the final report into the murder of 20 year old Rocky Iaria, who was bound and shot in the back, most likely, by his former co-ee and other parties unknown.

In what no doubt has been a long ordeal for the Iaria family, the coroner named the probable suspect, who was arrested two weeks ago on unrelated charges, in a raid on an alleged organized crime syndicate.

Mr Iaria went missing in September 1991, the coroner said it was likely he was killed by a number of people at Shepperton Cemetery where his body was found in 1998.

At this stage no one has been arrested in the fifteen year old murder case and the $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest remains unclaimed. Police are seeking a possible witness who sent evidence to them which was linked to the case.

Sunday, August 13, 2006

Leprechauns ate my post...after trying to post two times on Saturday only to have the blogspot leprechauns hide them, or parts of them, I threw in the towel.

Tuesday, August 08, 2006

Gone Fishing...back Satdee

Friday, July 28, 2006

Somebody to lean on

WA Attorney General Jim McGinty commissioned a study into the possible intimidation of jurors in cases involving organized crime figures.

The issue was raised by police after a not guilty verdict in the Metro Nightclub stabbing trial, which saw all the accused walk free, despite the inherent dangers posed to staff and general public by the incident, the shooting of Scorpian Boys' Nabil Dabag and the near-fatal injuries sustained by Coffin Cheaters' Troy Mercanti.

Mr McGinty said it's possible jurors could feel afraid to return a guilty verdict because of the public profile of the accused and that the threat or perceived threat posed by these cases needs to be assessed so juries can be protected adequately and the integrity of the court system ensured.

It's the first study of its kind in Australia and will be conducted by Murdoch's Judith Fordham.

Monday, July 24, 2006

Greens offer free harry to Victorians

The mad monk last week branded a Green's proposal to supply long term heroin users with the drug for free as 'loopy stuff.'

The Greens proposal would mean free heroin for long-term users, the opening of shooting galleries across Victoria, and abolishing penalties for possession of non-trafickable amounts of drugs.

Alex Wodak, director of St Vincent's Hospital's alcohol and drug service, said harm-reduction programs like shooting galleries and needle exchanges have been proven to be successful.

Figures suggest Melbourne's heroin overdose deaths this year, have already been reduced by almost 90% from that seen in 1999 when heroin was purer and more freely available.

But the drop in overdose deaths is relative to the escalation of amphetamines use and mental illnesses attributed to the use of it.

The Greens are rumoured as likely to hold the balance of power in Victoria's state government after the November elections and they say current approaches are not working and the free heroin trial will reduce harm and save lives.
Sideshow captive Sydney evades Irish authorities.
Traffic stopper...

Tuesday, July 18, 2006

Deja Vu?

Morris Iemma has convinced Peter Breen it's best for him to resign after comments made in his book, Life as a Sentence.

Some media are suggesting Breen was asked to resign due to homophobia in the NSW ALP, but it would appear that the issue sprang from Peter Breen saying one of the three men convicted of raping and murdering Janine Balding was innocent.

Morris Iemma made statements to the media that Mr Breen's comments were offensive, but which part of them was he referring to?

Outwardly, it would appear that the NSW ALP would prefer social exclusion via the across the board vilification of criminals, no questioning of judiciary outcomes and perhaps, no expression of love between men.

Mr Breen's book explores the justice process in the convictions of the men and makes claims about where investigations could have fallen short recommending more thorough testing and maintaining the innocence of one of the men convicted, 'Shorty' Jamieson.

Breen's book discusses his close friendship with two of the killers, and Breen describes the situation as being similar to instances in his past where he looked into court cases which had questionable outcomes. Admittedly, there are certain phrases which are not commonplace in describing Aussie male heterosexual relationships.

The furore started after a story by the Telly which looked at the instance from a more emotive angle, and an editorial describing Breen's book as a 'loony crusade.'

After watching Australian Story last night it would appear that it is becoming increasingly common for citizens to question court findings, and memories of the Mickelburg, Button and Beamish appeals would suggest Breen's stance might not be quite so 'loony.'

Thursday, July 13, 2006

Iaria inquest continues

The testimony of one of the original investigating police officers, implicated Danny Murtagh 45 of Shepperton, and James Collyer, a former worker at LaTorre's farm, in the death of 20 y/o Rocco Iaria, on a tip-off from an informant.

Murtagh and several members of the LaTorre family refused to speak at the inquest on the grounds that they might incriminate themselves.

The officer also said he thought a number of people had been involved in burying 'Rocky' Iaria's body & at the time he went missing, there were rumours of the LaTorre family being involved in Melbourne's Honoured Society which took part in illegal activities in Victoria.
btw
A 42 y/o Kealba man has been detained in the killing of Fairfield lawyer, David Robinson, and cops at the St Kilda Rd HQ are questioning the suspect and searched his home & car. The witness to the shooting has apparently seized on the endless marketing opportunities the tragedy presents and tried to sell his story to 2 tv stations.

Wednesday, July 12, 2006

Bugger!

A 32 y/o police officer was found in good condition, on Queensland's highest mountain, Mount Bartle Frere, after being lost in 'rugged' FNQ bushland since Saturday.

While SES volunteers sang out coo-ees to one another as they searched, they were surprised when the missing officer joined in.

The SES crew, who had been searching since Monday, said he was living off the land near Russell River, eating witchetty grubs and termites, as he'd been taught by the local Aboriginal people.

The SES said the usual tracks and paths had been destroyed by Cyclone Larry, making the country hard to navigate.

And if you think he had it tough...

The high-profile Explorers Club in New York, hosted a simply to die for bug-banquet at their Manhattan digs for all those who just can't get enough grubs since getting lost on their last trek.

The menu consisted of worms, crickets, scorpions(USD $30), ants and pigeon pate, tarantulas(USD $175), maggots and exotic parts of various livestock such as eyeballs, testicles and penises.

The chef Gene Rurka advises the best option for worm preparation is to disguise them as a pretzel, tying them in a knot like the salty dough snack, and to serve them with mustard.

He serves a mean Texan ant tart and maggot stuffed mushrooms - "They're delicious," he said. "I was going to say like a tasty rice grain, but soft. It's not chewy like that."


Maybe a new sideline for Spicey...
Oz not a happy place

The Happy Planet Index created by a British think-tank called the New Economics Foundation has deemed Australians are ranked precisely the 139th happiest people currently, out of the 178 countries assessed in the world.

Stuff Disneyland, the tropical island paradise of Vanuatu is, rather unsurprisingly, the happiest place on earth.

Swaziland, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Ukraine, & pass-the-prozac-please-worst-country-Zimbabwe, apparently need to get a bit of work done.

Tuesday, July 11, 2006

Police look for family court suspect

The solicitor shot in Fairfield last night worked mostly in the family court and as such, police suspect his killer may have been related in some way to family court matters involving 56 y/o David Robinson.

In an eerie coincidence, David Robinson showed up at his office, at precisely the same moment some gun-wielding unknown person tried to set fire to his office.

His alleged assailant had shoved a lit piece of paper through the letter slot in the front door and similar at the office's back door.

Media reports say Robinson got into an argument in the back alley behind the office with someone before being shot.

Mr Robinson was accompanied at the time by his 21 y/o son, for whom, apparently, he had gone to the office to print out a uni assignment.

Lawyer shot in Fairfield

Early reports say a solicitor was shot dead on the street in Fairfield.


Melbourne police are looking for a man who fled after the shooting & are asking any witnesses to the murder to come forward.

Cold case hots up with lawyer's advice found on tape

A Victorian barrister, Phillip Dunn, told a client he would stand a better chance of acquittal if his coaccused 'fell out' of their trial, for the half-million dollar heist of jewellery and cash belonging to Bendigo market gardeners, Annette and Stephen Monti.

While Rocco Iaria was ten years younger than his coaccused, Vince Paul Latorre, he still knew enough to tape the conversation
with his co-ee's lawyer, because he said it 'didn't sound good.'

He hid the tape in case something 'happened to him' & after discovering it, his brother, Anthony, played the recording at the Coronial Inquest in Shepperton yesterday.

Twenty year old Rocco Iaria was last seen on September 6, 1991, his body was found covered in lime and wrapped with plastic in a grave in a cemetery in Pine Lodge, near Shepparton, on February 19, 1998.

His chest and back had multiple shotgun pellet wounds and his hands were bound behind his back.

In a search of Vince Paul Latorre's Shepperton property after Mr Iaria's disappearance, police discovered lime & packaging tape similar to those used in the death of Mr Iaria.

Coroner, Paresa Spanos, is conducting an inquest into the 15 y/o case.
Grave robbers on highway to hell
Bon Scott's National Trust listed grave in Fremantle Cemetery has had the brass plaque stolen from it, on what would have been the legendery rocker's 60th birthday.

Doug Thorncroft, head of the Bon Scott Fanclub, said the grave draws thousands of rock 'n' roll pilgrims every year and said he thought the theft had probably been perpetrated by someone who got too wasted on Saturday night & subsequently took a stroll through the cemetery(as you do??!).
NTA say they'll replace the plaque for WA's only contemporary listing and that security issues may be looked into.
* If only Bon Scott had visited the 17,000 y/o rock carvings in Burrup, they could be protected too...

Saturday, July 08, 2006

1700 Drug addicts who lived to shoot up or straighten up another day...

The King's Cross Shooting Gallery has had its 5th birthday.

Some of the stats quoted are:
*Registered 8912 injecting drug users
*Nearly 310,000 hits in total
*About 220 hits a day that would have been done in unsafe places

*it has treated 1752 overdoses on site without a fatality, 91% were heroin/opioids
*the centre had referred users to rehab programs on 5380 occasions


NSW opposition leader, Lib's Peter Debnam, said he would close the centre if elected premier next year, despite the centre having the support of residents, police and the NSW Minister for health, who share the opinion that there have been significant improvements in the area since the centre opened in May 2001. Notably coming up for an election next year, Mr Debnam claimed the centre was funded by taxpayers when it is actually paid for with the 'proceeds of crime' funds seized by police.

The good the bad & the downright ugly of the debate can be found here the final evaluation of the success of the centre is due mid 2007.

Wednesday, July 05, 2006

Sorry folks, a lurgy's got me - my temperature gauge is broken and I have a frog in my throat - back on Fridee.

Saturday, July 01, 2006

Just say no... to drug addicts in Maribyrnong

Today in Melbourne Project Reduction started, which will see court orders sought to prohibit loitering by drug addicts who are not residents within the allocated 31 square kilometre area.

The sweeping move is an attempt to curb the predominant underworld drug and crime culture that to many, characterizes Melbourne and to prevent particular suburbs from
being constant targets of heroin-related crime.

The Project Reduction area covers the Maribyrnong region which includes Footscray, Braybrook, Yarraville, Maidstone, Tottenham, Seddon, Kingsville, West Footscray and Maribyrnong.

Drug rehab workers, human rights activists and various prominent others have spoken out about the initiative, saying it infringes on the human rights of the addicts and criminals and that the project will merely move the problem to other areas.

The project has its critics, but the revolutionary strategy isn't really that new, with similar exclusion zones around schools in the USA delivering heftier penalties for offenders busted in those zones.

There are wider implications to the restrictions, such as the prohibitive costs of rental accomodation in this region determining the ways in which the area can be used, and by whom, subsequently preventing an equitable social balance. However, the primary concerns of residents' safety and their right to the quiet enjoyment of their homes, plus the dangers of drug use, dealing and anti-social behaviour
cannot be ignored.

Perhaps the breaking-up of these established criminal networks in Melbourne's Maribyrnong region may assist addicts to be exposed to a greater diversity of social and rehabilitative influences.


Friday, June 30, 2006

Stop swamping my stats!

I think it rates just a quick mention - I am just astonished at the vast numbers of people who have inundated my blog in the search for Erin McNaught unveiling what God/plastic surgeons gave her.

Perhaps it might be more appropriate to ban women from 'beauty' pageants based on whether they've had their very important parts doctored rather than whether they've had their photos taken without the two-cents-worth of bikini fabric covering them?

Poor Erin, it's all a bit personal isn't it?! But seriously, when it comes down to parading your mostly nekkid, heavily sculpted body around like a performing seal to win the best of show prize - you'd have to be pretty at one with people making personal comments about your altogether, wouldn't you?

It should certainly come as no surprise that the philanthropic Donald Trump has swooped in to Ms McNaught's rescue endorsing her as a contestant and apparently saying he thinks she has a beautiful body. *And for all those who wanted a revealing pic, the pic in the link above shows just about all her skin and bones &, in accordance with plastic mainstream media beauty protocols, she looks like she's all of fifteen years old & has just stepped out of some famine ravaged country - but it's good that she's so proud of it.

For all of you faithful crime googlers who want to read about your favourite anti-heroes, don't worry, I will be chasing ambulances and police cars all next week for you all.

Tuesday, June 27, 2006

Spiceeeh!

Man that Cooks Inc bustin out a theme tune from the dark stanky depths of the Spiceblog.
Rocket Scientist Barbie has urged judges who wish to take away her title to look at her nude photos.

She said she hasn't let the twins out since donning the $20,000 tiara and that nude modelling, is so, like, 2005.

A wet-fish slap for Jim Davie, the national director and licensee of the Miss Universe Australia competition who contests that these days 'all models have done topless modelling' and 'it's not Afghanistan' - the Hindustan Times are now hailing Erin McNaught as a porn star, which is probably largely attributable to that tremendously insightful comment.

Monday, June 26, 2006

B1 & B2

It would seem that there are a number of people who wish to send little Miss Australia, to the McNaughty corner.

But Jim Davie, the national director and licensee of the Miss Universe Australia competition, said when he had looked over the photographs, he saw nothing that could demean the Miss Universe Pageant, and described Erin McNaught as an 'exceptionally nice girl.' He also said all models have done topless modelling and that 'it's not Afghanistan.' (Why don't we all take our tops off then!?)

Jonathon Westbrook a judge from Perth, said not all the judges had been informed Erin McNaught had done topless photos prior to the judging, and she didn't deserve the $20,000 tiara nor the $5000 prize money(probably didn't need it, to be more accurate).

Deborah Miller the pageant co-ordinator said the competition 'had descended into farce.' McNork, had set a bad example and did not deserve to retain the title,she said, and that she would be a poor role model for girls, although Ms Miller didn't mention any particular problem with the dozens of other women required to parade around in the fabric equivalent of 2 rubber bands, having not eaten for six months, nor the ethics involved in examining & displaying women like prize heifers at the Woomerinka* Royal Show.