I am living in an area which attracts motorbike riders and car hoons late into the evening, night and sometimes onto the early hours of the morning. These persons aim to produce the loudest of possible engine and exhaust noises, which reverberate alarmingly and shatter the peace.

I feel that if ANY of these drivers and riders were to have an accident solely involving themselves and no others, that I would be disinclined to ring 000. Is that wrong?

Putin’s Ambition

My mind boggles at the malevolence of this man and his willingness to slaughter tens of thousands of Ukrainians and his own troops in an effort to ‘make a point’.  Countless billions of dollars worth of residential, commercial and industrial infrastructure have been destroyed along with roads, harbours and airports. Rich agricultural land has been savaged by rockets and missiles and turned into a hole filled, pockmarked and unproductive landscape. 

Ironically, Putin will NEVER EVER be held to account for his atrocious behaviour because no world powers or organisations have the guts to force him to any acquiescence or recompense. “Suck it up” will be his virtual response and that will be it.

Today is the 206th day of the invasion

I sometimes wish my ancestors had stayed in England and that was the place of my birth. While ‘Australian’ and living in Australia, I have come to feel like an imposter or trespasser.

INCOMPREHENSIBLE!

Australia is aiming for an emissions reduction of 43% by 2030.

It is aiming to be a ‘nett zero’ carbon company by 2050.

There are plans in the pipeline for the creation or expansion of 114 mines and/or fossil fuel/gas fired power stations.

I do not understand. What am I missing here?

HAVE WOOLWORTHS TRICKED US ALL!

Woolworths are doing away with plastic bags that hold a lot and cost 15 cents each. They are also multi-use bags. This is in the interest of environmental conservation.

They have been replaced by paper bags, smaller, single use only and costing 20 cents per bag.

Don’t put anything that will exude moisture into the paper bags, because you know what will happen.

Does Woolworths deserve customer thanks?

There is concern being expressed they only 68% of voters cast their ballots

There is concern being expressed that only 68% of voters cast their ballots for the Fannie Bay bi-election, with nearly one in every three eligible voters not bothering to either pre-poll or vote on the day. This percentage may edge up a little once postal votes are lodged, but that will not alter the general attitude of non compliance.

The apparent apathy by Fannie Bay voters is hardly surprising, for there appears to be a general malaise of discontent among Territorians about existing political process. The high percentage of voter absenteeism, growing from election to election, (an expression of voter disenchantment), may have to do with people questioning the relevance of government.

Those who are our elected representatives are often not visible within our community. While people may know the names of government ministers, their knowledge about government responsibility is scant at best. That is not helped by the way the NT Government and local government councils try hand-balling responsibility for crime, itinerancy, service delivery and other functions back and forth to each other.

Government needs to operate in a way that convinces voters of its usefulness and indispensability. At the moment it is largely disrespected and held be be a burdening encumbrance.

In the Fannie Bay bi-election, nearly one in every three eligible voters not bothering to either pre-poll or vote on the day. This percentage may edge up a little once postal votes are lodged, but that will not alter the general attitude of non compliance.

The apparent apathy by Fannie Bay voters is hardly surprising, for there appears to be a general malaise of discontent among Territorians about existing political process. The high percentage of voter absenteeism, growing from election to election, (an expression of voter disenchantment), may have to do with people questioning the relevance of government.

Those who are our elected representatives are often not visible within our community. While people may know the names of government ministers, their knowledge about government responsibility is scant at best. That is not helped by the way the NT Government and local government councils try hand-balling responsibility for crime, itinerancy, service delivery and other functions back and forth to each other.

Government needs to operate in a way that convinces voters of its usefulness and indispensability. At the moment it is largely disrespected and held be be a burdening encumbrance.

The First 100 Days

Today marks 100 days post the election of Anthony Albanese’s election to the Australian Parliament as our PM. He and his government have already made an impact on our country in many different ways.

To this point in time the government is, without doubt, communicating its intentions and logging its actions and accomplishments in a way that brings notice of what is happening to the attention of the Australian public. All will augur well if this same level of communication is maintained for the whole of the present electoral cycle.

Of course there is idealism and altruism built into some of the intentions of government, but factual and concrete outcomes seem to be the ambition being pursued.

The government has not spent its first months in office crowing about winning the election. Yes, of course there was celebration and an inner sense of satisfaction with the May 21 outcome, but the government has gotten right down to the business of governing. There has been no trying to guild the lily over things that are wrong; rather an admission that areas of key shortfall including covid outcomes, labor shortages, minimal wage adjustments and galloping inflation are challenges that have to be surmounted.

Internationally, the government is working assiduously to re-establish the credentials of Australia with overseas governments.

Granted, it is early days yet – but the Albanese Government has made a good start. It’s first 100 days in office are worthy of appreciation.

I am spending part of today, August 28, reflecting on the great goodness Anthony Albanese and his government are bestowing up on us all. We are being offered inspiration and uplift by our PM and his outstanding, focussed team. Today is our PM’s 99th day in office. He, along with his team, have already turned Australia around, heading us all in a new and better direction. More than a PM, Anthony Albanese is a blessing conferred upon Australia by its savvy voters.

I am not sure who is the biggest advertiser; Clive Palmer or Harvey Norman.  Both are key contributors to adding to the pages of newspaper print circulating in Australia.

When you take into account the enduring entitlements of all past G-G’s, state governors, territory administrators, politicans from prime ministers to backbenchers and add ongoing entitlements for retired judges and high level officials, the total cost of these benefits must be close to 10% of Australia’s annual GDP.

Some teachers fail and so do some students. Sometimes student failure has happened because their parents have failed them. Failure is by incident and circumstance and is not exclusionary.

In Australia, we have a glut of unwanted, unloved, recalcitrant and law breaking children, many as young as 9 and 10 years of age. The situation is so bad – and getting worse, especially in the Northern Territory.

I have been an urban farmer now for the past six years. Pawpaws of the main plant I grow. I grow plants from seed and give them away. I also grow pawpaws to ripen and pluck the fruit. The fruit also I give away. Pawpaws at the main plant that I grow. Yes I am an urban farmer.I have been an urban farmer now for the past six years. Pawpaws of the main plant I grow. I grow plants from seed and give them away. I also grow pawpaws to ripen and pluck the fruit. The fruit also I give away. Pawpaws at the main plant that I grow. Yes I am an urban farmer.