CFS Compensation and PITS

Hello world and welcome to the blog...and another delightful dissertation today delving into the multiple motivations, precursors and symptoms behind that collective affliction known as PITS - Politically Inspired Tehrets Syndrome.

But First: it is simply unacceptable for Country Fire Service volunteers to be excluded from Workplace Insurances and access to potential compensation re diseases contracted as a result of their fire-fighting efforts...these people risk their lives to protect their communities, our communities...and beyond the obvious immediate hazards of an actual fire, the proof of the tangential dangers is presently being played out in the Blue Mountains following the fires in October 2013.  

Rehabilitation and rebuilding efforts are being stymied by the extensive Asbestos contamination in burned out properties, and it is inconceivable that some of this contaminated material won't have made it's way 'off-site', not least of all during actual fire-fighting, possibly carried on the intense winds associated with bushfires, etc, and is only one example of the many pollutants/contaminants encountered by CFS volunteers.

I heard the recent Wingfield Dump fires cited as an example of where potentially toxic fumes were being expelled, and that these fires were attended by CFS units, as are a number of similar fires...for example, I am aware that a large pile of timber, organic waste, old painted doors, and other rubbish covering about the area of a tennis court and 6-8 feet high, was recently burned off on a block on Bay Rd immediately adjacent the Pines Caravan Pk, and that this was done with the CFS in attendance...anybody driving past will have seen this or since noticed the pile mostly gone, the remainder surrounded by burnt ground.

I would consider this generally a good thing that the CFS were there...it shows good planning and safety practices, good practice for the CFS, test out their equipment, etc...but, 1) I thought it was illegal to just burn rubbish and the landholder and the CFS should have known that, and 2) for nearly 2 weeks the pile continued to smoke, and therefore the CFS was back there with a tractor and a tanker turning the pile to expose and douse the smouldering piles of refuse and plastic bags...god knows what sort of fumes were coming off that pile...for nearly 2 weeks.

Not a great example of exemplary conduct by anyone involved, but it is just possible that the CFS were responsive rather than responsible re the fire, but whatevs, there's a classic example of the sorts of fires the CFS attend...another good example are hayshed or other shed fires on farms, where various chemicals may be involved and/or the cocktails of fumes emitted by burning machinery, vehicles, etc....

I'd have thought the obvious thing to do would be to ensure that anyone and I mean everyone on the 'fire ground' had state-of-the-art breathing apparatus and other Personal Safety Practices equipment that would minimise if not completely negate any exposure and/or necessity for costly insurance and treatment, because 1) it protects the health of the person in the first instance rather than planning to pick up the pieces after, and, 2) a penny of prevention is worth a pound of cure, or some bollocks like that...providing equipment now is definably much cheaper than decades of treating resultant negative health impacts...and far more responsible.

Unless of course your government, your elected officials, don't give a damn and consider your personal health to be much like the rest of you, irrelevant...which brings us to PITS - Politically Induced Tehret's Syndrome...and from there straight on to the following,  

Disclaimer: as a 'recovering sufferer' of various Mental Health issues and a Cancer survivor, all partly covered in previous posts, I don't have a problem with cracking bad jokes about either, that's exactly what I'm doing here in this here post in this here blog. 

I am not a medical professional and PITS is merely a creation of my own twisted sense of humour...however, if you find yourself displaying symptoms of PITS, do not seek medical advice because it's just an indication of the onset of sanity.


PITS is the uncontrollable, expletive laden reaction to being exposed to a politician, pretty much any politician, and/or their handiwork...and it doesn't matter where you go or what you do, if you half give a damn, it's going to find you...it can be triggered by media reports about the latest rape of a child in a South Australian school; or the latest cuts to government services and jobs in your community; or your latest 'globally astronomical' utilities bill and/or rates notice; or ricocheting around the inside of your car whilst thudding across the potholes of an underfunded road on your way 450kms for a minor health check-up; etc, etc...

Until recently in South Australia we suffered a specific and chronic spectrum of PITS known as Rannting, resulting from the Empirical reign of Premier Mike Rann (2002-2011)...whatta piece of work...and Mike's undisguised disdain for anything outside of North Tce, Adelaide, led to a virulent substrain, Rannting Regionalis, re Mr Rann's relentless self-promotion and clinically dictatorial decision making that has come at a huge cost to everyone else in the state.

Be it his voluminous multi-million dollar, taxpayer funded personal retinue of spin doctors and lawyers, his extraordinary conduct re the announcement of BHP's supposed massive expansion of Olympic Dam (made in Melbourne mind you)...his endless posing with Lance Armstrong...his unilateral decision to eradicate Democratic process re development of Wind Turbine sites...or just his pivotal role in helping the Lutheran Church cover-up the gross abuse of a class of 7 year old children at St Martins.

And I'm not going to skip over these things just because I've covered them before...the dictionary perfect Fascism of Mike Rann's Wind Turbine legislation and the St Martins Child Abuse Cover-up are only two (albeit extreme) examples of just exactly what sort of 'Democracy' we have and exactly what sort of 'Society' we are...  

As I say, I believe that I may have mentioned them previously...just in passing...then in stopping and reversing back over them...before rolling back onto them again...and then just sitting there spinning mu' wheels with my arm and head hung out the window screaming incoherent abuse at some cows in a paddock about a mile off in that direction...I call it a PITS Stop...ahh thankyou...  

For Balance: I've heard/seen stuff from people like Liberal MP Mitch Williams saying that the recent inclusion of Forestry in paying for whatever percentage it is of their recently announced 'water license grants', is an unappreciated, unwarranted, detrimental impost on Forestry, with implications for negatively impacting future investment in Forestry, etc.

In a previous post I stated that I believe that this is a net gain for Forestry at the expense of other irrigators who have had their allocations cut, and reportedly in some cases to an extent that may render those agri-businesses unworkable and/or unprofitable...which are basically the same thing. But there are multiple water issues currently unfolding across SA so,

Tomorrow: Oh Mr Hart, Water Mess.

From the mighty Murray to the Blue Lake, with some slippery frickin' Frackin' and a De-sal Plant to boot, it's all hands to the bilge pumps as we dredge our ways through the waves of conflicting information re the Wet Stuff...and no, that's not the Wine Equalization Tax...although there is irrigation involved in wine making...and Fracking in Penola...ah, damn it, yes, including the WET stuff...as well as the Wet Stuff...my head hurts...

I am Nick Fletcher and that was a post in this here my blog...cheers and laters...

Child Protection Fascism

Hello Aotearoa (NZ), the USofA, South Korea, and Portugal...and welcome to the blog for yet another Friday...(or as we like to call it here, 'yet another Friday'-Ed)...yeahhh, right, ok, moving on...and some bits and pieces first...

I'm Warnambool Cheese and Butter and So's My Wife: 'homaging' Monty Python again re the ever increasing offers/bids/interest in WCB...and the leader is currently...I'm not sure, so let's review thus far...And they'rrrrrrracing...Saputo away to an early lead but the ol' grey Murray Goulburn is pressing hard, and here comes Eager Bega running with a firm offer...but not to be outdone Saputo pushes up and so too WCB Share Price surges with Shareholders sitting comfortably behind the leading pack.

Into the final turn and, oh no...we've just received news that in the GrainCorp Handicap being held in Canberra, that Archer Daniels Midland has fallen at the final hurdle as Liberal Treasurer Joe 'Handbrake' Hockey reins in the ADM bid...and a great win for All Australians with East Coast Grain Producers running a close second...more later, but back to our main race...and it's coming down to the home stretch with 3 contenders remaining...

The pressure's building as we come to the obstacles, the 'Stakeholder's Meetings', where contenders may be forced to jump through hoops to achieve their goals...and their through...but wait, ohhhh, the WCB Board have jumped on board with Saputo and are giving the other offers a whipping...but not to be denied Murray Goulburn breaks clear with a renewed bid...at this stage it's still anyone's major Dairy Business.   

(Hilarious, but what are you actually saying?...what's the 'I'm WCB and so's my wife' thingy?-Ed)...I believe that WCB may end up with Saputo because of the Board's actions, but in the meanwhilst, I wouldn't mind being WCB and having people lob cash and affection in my direction...'we love Nick Fletcher and want to buy him with these large wads of cash'...'no, we love him more, here's more cash'...etc, etc...at this stage I think most people wouldn't mind being WCB...but I digress...

I've attached below the article from The Border Watch Wednesday 27th November 2013, that covers a series of bizarre developments re Child Protection in South Australia, that culminated with Premier Jay Weatherill mouthing off about the Select Committee re-investigating the DeBelle Inquiry...as much as I just don't believe in the genuine intent of any 'Child Protection Inquiry' emanating from the South Australian parliament, who the shrek does Mr Weatherill think he is refusing to participate in a legitimately established Parliamentary Committee?

Premier Weatherill's latest hypocritical hissy fit was in reference to the identification of the Western Suburbs school...(I believe it was Largs Bay Primary-Ed)...where After School Carer Mark Harvey was gaoled for raping an 8 year old girl...(and I believe assaulting several others-Ed)...according to Mr Weatherill the name of the offender, Mark Harvey, and the school, Largs Bay Primary, must never be discussed...(but how can you do a proper investigation without everyone being informed and/or approached?-Ed)...precisely...

And remember that Premier Weatherill, that weeks Education Minister Grace Portolesi, and the Labor government in general, tried to blame the School Council for initially employing Harvey and then the failure to advise other parents...(and Portolesi stood up in parliament and blamed SAPol-Ed)...and then it was very quickly established that the School Council were only acting under the direct threats, bullying, intimidation and harassment of Council members by the Education Dept...but never an apology...classic Labor behaviour to blame the victims, lie, and then walk away...sad, sick, corrupt.

(And I suppose that we're not allowed to discuss the Largs Bay Primary Principal David Chadwick who was actually the one responsible for employing Mark Harvey?-Ed)...wait, David Chadwick...you don't mean the David Chadwick who is the head of the Education Dept office in Mt Gambier...(well, yes, that's my information straight from a parent involved...but it could be another David Chadwick I s'pose-Ed)...possible, granted, but highly unlikely...(I concur, highly unlikely-Ed)...

Now the exciting revelation that all of the rancidly corrupted pro-paedophile state authorities like SAPol, the Education Department, etc, are all going to be lumped together under the Multi Agency Protection Service...(sounds like a body for 'protecting multiple agencies', not for protecting children or other vulnerable people-Ed)...indeed, and the same model with the same inherent flaws as the Office for Public Integrity and/or the Independent Commission Against Corruption...(namely?-Ed)...namely cobbling together an allegedly independent authority from the contaminated ranks of those it is supposedly going to oversee.

The Mullighan Inquiry was a perfect example, where notorious pro-paedophile lawyer (and now Magistrate) Bill Morris was to be the Chief Investigator until hounded from the position, only to be replaced by Police Union official Mark Carroll...and where Comm Mullighan was reporting monthly to then Premier Mike Rann...(I don't see the problem-Ed)...come on Ed, we've been through this...SAPol, politicians and/or public servants, etc, were exactly whom C Mullighan was supposed to be investigating...(oh yeah-Ed)...yes, 'oh yeah'...

So those being investigated within SAPol had their man as lead investigator, and Mike Rann, who has a demonstrated history of covering up Child Abuse, was being given monthly updates on what issues were being exposed, and whom was doing the exposing...and as covered in previous posts, all the while,  people directly involved as witnesses with the Mullighan Inquiry were being murdered at a regular rate...

And what is this farcical "mobile Screening Audits for Educators team" that is going to "undertake random checks"?...what the heck is that?...(sounds like a big shiny band aid for an open admission that current 'screening regimes' are ineffective-Ed)...damn straight...how desperate and fundamentally pointless...and where the defining culture remains one of pro-paedophile inaction and relentless cover-up, what hope any of this nonsense will make a positive difference?...I'd suggest absolutely none.

But if that wasn't bizarre enough, yet another senior SAPol officer, Trevor Lovegrove, has been appointed to a senior position in the Education Dept...(say what?-Ed)...indeed...and anyone who has on their CV a stint as Superintendent, acting or otherwise, for the Limestone Coast, just screams corrupt...(well that's understandable given your personal experience of the pro-paedophile actions of former Mt Gambier Superintendents Terry Harbour and Mark Fairney re their direct involvement in the St Martins Lutheran School Child Abuse Cover-up-Ed)...thankyou for remembering...

It looks to me like the paedophile lobby that clearly runs South Australia is pulling out all the stops to regain control over the entire 'system', where the problem appears to be the exposure of abuses rather than the committing of them...(hear, hear-Ed)...there are some very unpleasant parallels between these appointments of SAPol hierarchy Trevor Lovegrove and...(Tony-TH)...Tony...(nnnHarrison-TH)...Tony Harrison to senior positions in the Education Dept, and the practice of Third World Dictators in appointing their corrupt cronies to positions of influence and thus exerting absolute control.

And if you think I'm being completely paranoid and borderline delusional, please go back over my previous posts re the behaviours of Premiers Rann and Weatherill, former MP Rory McEwen, Comm Mullighan, the Lutheran Church, the Teachers Registration Board, the Crown Solicitors Office, SAPol, your elected public officials like Mayors Steve Perryman and Peter Gandolfi, the SARC parliamentary Inquiry, etc, etc, etc, re the St Martins case...look at what South Australia as a collective has done...

Every agency, every official, every politician, virtually everyone other than a handful of parents...all have deliberately, knowingly, repeatedly, corruptly acted to help the Lutherans cover-up the abuse of a class of 7 year old children...what the shrek is that?...

Read all those posts, understand that they're only part of a much larger body of behaviours, actions, documents, etc, and then tell me I'm paranoid or delusional in denouncing South Australia as a state run for paedophiles by paedophiles, and that all of this latest bullshit is exactly that, and that ultimately nothing has changed.

Read my most recent letters to Premier Weatherill and the disingenuous, deceitful, dismissive missive that is his response...he knows exactly what has happened re St Martins, and is absolute in his resolve to perpetuate the Cover-up and protect all those involved...(including of course protecting himself from the repercussions of his own pro-paedophile behaviours-Ed)...indeed... 
 
I've had a gutful for today, so I'll pull stumps here and say,

Tomorrow: All Manner of Nonsense

(Ah, so more about City Council then?-Ed)...very astute of you Ed.

I am Nick Fletcher and this is my large angry blog...cheers and laters.
 

Surprise! EPA Clears Wind Turbines

Good morning world and welcome to the blog...and another case of me being right not through genius, but simply by identifying the bleedin' obvious...and the latest load of balderdash and poppycock re Wind Turbines is so transparently contrived, even I can see it...(how can you see something that's supposedly so transparent?-Ed)...it's just a saying Ed...but first...

Given that he has now been convicted and gaoled for the murder of his fiance Lisa Harnum, I noted with great dis-ease the appearances of Simon Gittany's 'new' girlfriend at his various Court hearings...the first time I saw her I thought it was 'file footage' from a previous case or hearing because she is almost a 'doppelganger' of the murdered woman...when I realised that this was actually a different person and current not old footage, it sent a chill down my spine.

Not quite the same jarring sense of foreboding that I associate with the news that the Anglican Church is going to open a school for students with Autism Disorder, a grinding and relentless apprehension not at all helped by today's announcement from Anglican Archbishop Phillip Astinall, namely, 'admitting' that the Church has "failed" child abuse victims of predator priests and/or laypersons...everything about this stinks...it smacks of the Catholic 'mia culpas' that have peppered the media in wake of the public exposure of their paedophile protecting conduct.

These people have abused, lied, threatened, litigated...pretty much anything you can think of...including moving perpetrators from place to place to avoid accountability...and when dragged into the bright light of public scrutiny and left no alternative, it's suddenly 'oh gee whiz, we're so sorry'...and accompanying these disingenuous apologies the constant attempts to portray these 'self-protective procedures' as an aberration of the dim, deep past...elsewhere...

It's Kicking Off: for the March 2014 state election, and I had been going to make the point (re feedback about my stuff about Liberal candidate Troy Bell) that Mr Bell was the only (officially) declared candidate, until today...current (sitting) member Don Pegler states in a letter today in The Border Watch Thursday 28th November 2013, "I will be standing again as an independent in March 2014..."...you read it here second...(um, thankyou, I do the 'brackets' work around here, and if you persist rather than desist I'll have no choice but to contact my Union rep-Ed)...whoa, ok...I thought you were going to do a 'sitting member stands' joke.    

But to the meat of the matter, and the latest avalanche of carefully co-ordinated disinformation, deceits, and dodgy pseudo-science spewing from the Wind Turbine lobby...(do avalanches spew?...perhaps 'tumbling'?-Ed)...whatevs...the Turbine lobby that clearly includes the Rann/Weatherill state government and their pet monkey the Environment Protection Authority...(and of course the self-titled 'Renewables Energy' Industry lobby group, the Clean Energy Council-Ed)...indeed...

The EPA has handed down it's 'official' findings re the 'testing' they've done over the last 10 weeks at the Energy Australia 'Waterloo' site near Clare...and anyone even vaguely associated with the Wind Turbine issue will have predicted the day it was announced that this EPA 'testing' was always going to say exactly what the pro-Turbine lobby wanted...(and indeed it has-Ed)...indeed it has.

But haven't the EPA come such a long way, now discussing, albeit with a view to dismissing, issues of Infrasound pollution from Turbines, when less than a year ago they were denying that 'Infrasound' even existed...(if I may, this current testing is quoted by Peter Dolan of the EPA as proving completely that Turbines do not breach their guidelines for noise emissions, and there are no health issues at all, but those guidelines do not include Infrasound-Ed)...hang on...

So the EPA has done 10 weeks testing at 6 sites around the Waterloo Turbine Industrial Estate where 4 families have left their homes alleging problematic noise and/or health issues...and then allegedly prove as being ok that which they the EPA (amongst others) have already approved...and then already built relative to receiving those approvals...then the EPA's testing supports 1) their own guidelines (that don't include what they claim to have just been testing, InfraSound), 2) their own approvals re those guidelines, and 3) ultimately reinforces their already declared support for Turbines...(yep-Ed)...

Wow, could there be a more comprehensive conflict of interests?...and of course the EPA is headed not by a scientist or anyone with even vague experience in any of the fields and/or relative disciplines that constitute it's responsibility, it is headed by Premier Jay Weatherill's personal choice, Labor hack Mia Handshin...the EPA is about as 'Independent' as the Police Complaints Authority or Teachers Registration Board.

Bottomline, simply by doing this 'testing' the EPA is acknowledging that 1) there is an issue, and 2) that they didn't do any testing prior to giving approvals...Mr Dolan claimed that this bit piece partial testing was 'one of if not the longest studies in the world' (paraphrase) but couldn't name another such study... 

And of course off the back of this 'report' comes a series of media appearances by the pro-Turbine lobby....and again, I predicted this on the blog in previous posts, but it's hardly inspired visionaryism on my part, it's merely naming an obvious and repeated behaviour that shows careful orchestration and co-operation, for exactly what it is.

Furthermore and as previously stated on this blog, the whole 'Health Issue' is a massive Red Herring that the pro-Turbine lobby is more than happy to discuss because it distracts from the reality of the many entirely incontestable issues I consider to be greater concerns than specific 'Health Issues'...(sorry, I'm confused...are you agreeing that there are no 'real' health issues?-Ed)...

No, I do believe that there are very real health implications/impacts relative to Turbines, and here's a beautiful irony...people like Peter Dolan try to dismiss the symptoms/reactions to Turbines as being a physical response to an imagined problem, fueled by the fearmongering of people like Dr Sarah Laurie of the Waubra Foundation...(so they're saying that the presence of the Turbines creates a mental health issue for people but even then it's not the Turbines fault, it's people speaking out against Turbines that's the problem-Ed)...yep...

(But in all of that, they're admitting the presence of the Turbines cause distress and trauma for some people, because if the Turbines weren't there in the first place, there simply wouldn't be an issue-Ed)...precisely...and  furthermore they're completely ignoring the stress, frustration, anger, etc, and related reactions, eg, insomnia, that people experience from having these things dumped in their backyards and right across their skylines, etc, with the right to oppose officially removed by legislation, the land value impacts, etc.

It is absolutely unscientific, totally unsupportable, and completely irresponsible to state that some minimal testing done by a grossly vested interest with a self-compromising motivation to make a certain finding in their own favour, proves that there are no health issues relative to Wind Turbines and/or the noise coming out of them...(do you mean the grinding, screeching, humming, whistling, throbbing, pulsing noise that carries for many kilometres?-Ed)...yes, that noise...

Those following websites like Stop These Things and National Wind Watch, etc,  will be aware that there has been a concerted campaign of cynical character assassination unleashed on Dr Laurie to try and undermine her activism on the Turbine Health issue...(can't play the issue, play the woman-Ed)...again, precisely...

And it's this sort of character attacking and issue avoidance that confirms for me my personal belief that, yes, there are genuine health issues, eg, insomnia leading to fatigue and stress, etc, that the pro-Turbine lobby just don't want to discuss because they know there's a base reality to these claims...however, I believe that the CEC et al would much rather argue it out over the Health Issue than be eviscerated by the reality of multiple other issues.

I've covered it in many posts, so just quickly, for me it's about 1) the Fascism of the legislation, 2) the uneconomic production levels that 3) require massive subsidies payed from taxpayers money, 4) coupled with the sky-high electricity prices partly to cover infrastructure costs, and 5) the development and land value impacts on non-host properties...not to mention 6) the wildly intermittent production/output, leading to 7) requirement of 100% back-up generation capacity immediately available, eg, massive banks of diesel generators, or importing coal fired power from Victoria, etc.  

I'll cover the specific responses to the EPA report in a near-future post, but,

Tomorrow: Latest Child Abuse Bizarreness SA Style

 Enough said about that for now, it'll all still be there tomorrow.

I am Nick Fletcher and this is my blog...laters y'all...

Ask Not For Whom Troy Bell Polls

He polls for thee...hello world and welcome to the blog...and I must say that I've impressed even myself with that title...and I'm going to push the Wind Turbine issue to tomorrow so that I can look at some of the reportage, but it's already running regularly through the media, eg, the Environment Protection Authority traipsing down the well worn path of pseudo-science and orchestrated official deceit re Wind Turbines, via the ABC...

But First: I've had it put to me that state Liberal candidate for the seat of Mt Gambier in the March 2014 election Mr Troy Bell's extensive campaigning and resultant high profile in the local media has not gone unnoticed, and that if my polling is correct, then he's well placed to achieve at least second...(oh, ha ha-Ed)...what's funny about that?

(Second to you I suppose?...and didn't Liberal Steve Perryman come second in 2010?-Ed)...yep, and not least of all because my 460+ (preference) votes went to current MP Don Pegler via the Greens and then Labor...(all hail the King Maker-Ed)...yes alright, thankyou...but seriously, I can't imagine that my limited campaigning and/or personal opinion of Mr Bell will in any way affect his polling at the 2014 election...(doesn't 'polling' mean cutting the horns off wee beasties?-Ed)...oh ai...

I fully concur with and support the issues that Mr Bell has been addressing recently, eg, concerns about the in-built failures of the Patient Assistance Transport Scheme Review; the need for an MRI 'scanner' for Mt Gambier; etc...but as an amateur political commentator, and whilst Mr Bell's relentless appearage in The Border Watch is entirely warranted, one cannot stick one's ugly mug in the media with such regularity and not expect that another one might make comment about it.

The Comment: down our way, we have a nomenclature for people who insist on repeatedly jamming their visage into the public realm...(celebrities?-Ed)...nope...(actors?-Ed)...nup...(politicians?-Ed)...sort of, sometimes, but no...(go on then-Ed)...media sluts...and but for this one exception I never use the 'slut' word in anything other than self-reference...(you're just jealous because your own 'media slutting tendencies' are completely frustrated by being banned off the ABC and out of The Border Watch-Ed)...ah what it is to be special.

Feedback: No I do not consider it 'self-contradictory' to state that 'I won't expose my sources', and then dob in the Environment Protection Authority for their conflicting statements re the Old Hospital Demolition and the relevant certificates, etc, (previous posts). I went to the EPA purely out of desperation, and the information I received from them allegedly came via Council...and the EPA clearly stated 'no certificates' late on the Wednesday, and then reversed that statement before noon the next day.

Given Mt Gambier City Council's demonstrated propensity for deceit as covered in so many of my previous posts, and the rabidly subjective, Labor controlled EPA, you'll excuse me that I have no faith what-so-ever in any information coming from either of them...and absolutely no respect for the majority of Council's members...their egos and selfishness have betrayed Mt Gambier at a critical time.

And there in The Border Watch Friday 22nd November 2013 is a cavalcade of sad old men posing for their own glorification in front of the hospital...these Councillors make Troy Bell's 'media-slutting' look not just understandable but outright appropriate...these clowns are merrily self-promoting themselves off the back of a series of ludicrous and largely self-serving decisions that will cost Mt Gambier dearly for decades to come...and they want to be praised for it...absurd.

And Second: a joke...Knock, knock...(who's there?-Ed)...phone...(phone who?-Ed)...phone tapping...get it?...knock, knock...tapping?...yeah?...(that sir, is terrible-Ed)...ta, and nearly as bad a joke as the issue itself...when it comes to the 'spying' on Indonesia thingy, there is clearly domestic politics and related nationalism influencing the coverage and/or reaction within Indonesia.

If one was prone to 'conspiratorial theorising' one might consider that there were elements at play seeking to manipulate the 'embarrassment' to, for example, put further pressure on Australian cattle producers...producers still recovering from the ludicrous instant halting of the live cattle trade earlier this year...which segues nicely into the whole ABC wages exposure.

I fully concur with those whom feel that it is pretty bloody trite...(bordering on sanctimonious bloody hypocrisy-Ed)...quite...for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation to do the sort of damage they do with their 'exposes', and then whinge about it when they're the subject...not least of all when they are technically public servants, so why shouldn't we know what we are paying them? 

My opinion on this issue is strictly separate to my personal animosity toward and/or conflicts with certain specific members of the local Mt Gambier ABC...(and with the ABC in Adelaide-Ed)...fair enough...(and I'd say that the conflict is generated within the ABC and targeted at you-Ed)...also fair enough...(and didn't you recently exchange several emails with Media Watch before they just stopped answering?-Ed)...your sources are remarkably well informed.

Yes, I have recently exchanged emails with Media Watch re the outrageous and grossly unprofessional behaviour of Stuart Stansfield and Graeme Bennett, and other issues re the ABC, and they responded with 'what's it got to do with us?' (paraphrase)...and when I sent them copies of my recent correspondence with Graeme Bennett (previous posts) they just didn't respond...(I apologise if that response occurred within the last couple of days, I'm still sans email)...and Four Corners, etc, have done the same thing, repeatedly...'oh that's terrible, send us stuff', and then when they realise just how bad it is, they turn and run.

And as predicted, just listening on the ABC Country Hour to the EPA's Peter Dolan spruiking the alleged EPA 'testing' of noise issues at the Waterloo Wind Turbine Industrial Estate openly and repeatedly declaring that the EPA's testing proves that there are no health issues stemming from the noise from Wind Turbines, but then stating that it's "not up to me" to tell people they individually are not affected so there may need to be more work by Health Authorities....having a bet each way or what?

Rob Ford Tackles The Big Issues: Crack smoking Toronto Mayor Rob Ford, fresh from the now  famous video where he takes nearly 20 seconds to answer a question re his Crack purchases/smoking as the camera zooms slowly in from way across the room, finally 'close-cropping' him as he finally says "yes", has unfortunately mistaken a female colleague for one of those Big Issues and duly crash-tackled her to the floor.

It's hilarious because it was apparently a genuine accident and no-one was really hurt...but bloody hell it looks funny as he appears to shuffle across the room and take her out with some intent...he was just rushing to get past her apparently and completely mistimed it and half tripped, crashing into Ms (name unknown, sorry)...(you sure he wasn't reeling about in a Crack induced psychosis and mistook her for a Giant Talking Chipmunk?-Ed)...(I'm going to get you Rob Ford-GTC)...we love you Rob Ford, you crazy ol' Crack smokin', colleague tacklin' fool you.

Tomorrow: Wind Turbines and the latest Pseudo-science

The EPA has stunned observers by finding that everything is just hunky-dory, okey-dokey, and tickety-boo with noise from Turbines...who'd a thunk it ma?...(sarcasm?-Ed)...sarcasm...(it is the lowest form of humour one feels-GTC)...shut up GTC...(yeah, shut up GTC-Ed)...

I am Nick Fletcher and this is my blog...all hail the GTC...cheers and laters.

The Housekeeping and Feedback Stuff

Hello Malaysia, France, Germany, and China and welcome to the blog...and here's to staying on task and not veering off into another angry rant about Child Abuse...how about instead, a rant re abuse in the Defence Forces...(perhaps just cut to the chase and do an abusive rant about everything-Ed)...ah, perfect...

As horrendous as the stories are of abuse, rapes, 'hazing', and associated cover-ups in the Defence Forces, does this indicate a rabidly distorted culture within Defence, or is it a mirror of ourselves as a society?...all of these crimes occur almost daily in our broader society, so is the apparent 'culture' really just a 'fishbowl snapshot' of a virtually captive subject?...if open society was considered with the same scrutiny, would we not find all of these same issues?

Please do not confuse my position as seeking to excuse or downplay these behaviours, but I cannot see the point in demonising our Armed Forces for crimes we civilians are more than capable of committing...I cannot help but make comparison that only last week a former Eastern states magistrate pleaded guilty to multiple Child Abuse charges and received a fully suspended sentence...and where's the media frenzy about that?...(go on, say it-Ed)...and of course there's the St Martins Lutheran School Child Abuse Cover-up.

It is not necessarily a plan, but I have recently avoided posting re a number of issues because I felt that it was almost disrespectful to do bit-piece paragraphs here and there on disasters like Typhoon Haiyan that has devastated the Philippines...and the almost daily bombings in Iraq where civilians in markets, mosques, etc, are deliberately being targeted...or Syria, where children are being killed by snipers or summarily executed, showing that they are not unfortunate 'collateral deaths' but are also being deliberately targeted.

Like so many people, I can watch the footage on TV and be stunned at the devastation and the suffering and the loss of life...I readily admit to being reduced to tears on occasion...but I cannot resolve any of these issues, particularly the savagery, violence, and hatred we visit on each other...what I can do is celebrate the great things I have in my life, and continue to pursue the issues that I can as appropriately as I can...and try to turn my anger to growth rather than destruction...(albeit that somethings need to be broken down to be repaired-Ed)...fair enough...

Which segues nicely into the Old Hospital Demolition and the vacuous celebration that this is somehow a good thing for Mt Gambier...and the same can be said for the Old Rail Lands issue...in a flourishing, productive Mt Gambier the market would have made the re-development/renovation of the Old Hospital a viable and profitable project...pulling it down is a sad admission that Mt Gambier cannot support even a mid-range development.

It is an admission that the Mt Gambier property market is all but dead...and with that development would have come extensive employment in/for local trades, increased spending in town, etc...instead, this demolition is a capitulation to the reality of what is happening to Mt Gambier where the best the City Council can manage is many millions of borrowed money buried in the destruction of a valuable asset...

In some circumstances demolition is indicative of progress, eg, removing a derelict Housing estate to build new open plan housing that improves the lives of residents, or pulling down an old warehouse to build a new manufacturing facility, etc...but that's not what's happening in Mt Gambier...we are destroying the asset to have more open ground that people won't use any more than any other area nearby...and that failure compounded by Council's apparent disinterest in the iconic, yes I went there, the iconic Blue Lake.       

I am genuinely happy for Mt Gambier that it can still attract/organise events like the Whatevs Bike race or Victorian Bike Ride or the Hill Climb, etc, but these events do not a healthy economy make...they should be the 'icing on the cake' for businesses that make the majority of their income from strong year round local custom buoyed by strong local employment, supported by extensive public facilities and government services, etc...all things that Mt Gambier doesn't have.

What Mt Gambier needs are strong local industries providing reliable employment...(and local provision of government services which 1) provides employment, and 2) promotes productivity across the board, eg, if people can access medical services locally, they aren't wasting days, weeks, even months traveling to Adelaide or elsewhere-Ed)...good point...

I note that local MP Don Pegler (in The Border Watch Friday 22nd November 2013) has "supported a report calling for a full enquiry into the Upper South East's drainage system."...the report was prepared by the Natural Resources Committee, and covers the drains and their condition or maintenance, and related infrastructure issues, eg, the state of the many bridges both on public roads and private properties...(previous post).

As an old hippy, I'd like to see virtually all drains 'decommissioned' and natural sumps, swamps and runoffs allowed to re-establish, and so then some of the original landscape with it's rich diversity of flora and fauna...but I realise that this is not likely to happen, so appropriate re-direction and/or use of that water becomes the next priority...and I agree that some fresh water naturally flows to sea, but drains increase that flow markedly, and that water should/must be utilised more effectively.

Every litre of fresh water 'drained' off the landscape, is water that isn't replenishing the precious aquifers, and I believe that there is a case for 'Environmental Aquisitions' of marginal farming land to provide artificial catchments for Aquifer Recharge...in this context I believe there is an opportunity to revisit the coverage/design of the original drainage system in it's entirety, with a view to reducing sea discharge and maximising retention and recharge, and this could be done as part of the formal review/Inquiry.

I concur with Mr Pegler that, "We need a full analysis of the whole of the South-East drainage scheme..." but personally cannot and will not support more drains...again, I would prefer there be no drains, but at a more practical level, what work can be done to maximise retention and minimise removal of this most precious resource?...and I know of at least one SE farmer down Allendale way who won't be supporting my call for less drains, having spent most of Winter up to their knees in water.

What did surprise me was Mr Peglers assertion that, "There are about 1200 bridges right throughout the South-East..."...I knew there were hundreds, but certainly not that many. This "1200" would make quite reasonable the claims that these bridges have a collective repair bill over $80million...and what sort of time frame involved in addressing each and every bridge?

Again I concur with Mr Pegler that it is a serious concern that there appears to be no specific current plan for dealing with the Drainage and Bridge issues, which means any potential plan could yet be years away...and in a state parliament that is fundamentally disinterested in Regional South Australia, I can't see them dealing with this with any urgency.      

I'll finish here because all this agreeing with someone is giving me a headache.

Tomorrow: Latest Wind Turbine Propaganda

Knock me over with a feather, the Environment Protection Authority has completed their 'investigation' of Wind Turbine 'noise issues' at Waterloo near Clare, and reached the stunning conclusion that there are no problems.

(Say it-Ed)...bollocks...and a more scientific and specific disassembling of this trite nonsense from a wholly corrupted body simply doing the Labor governments bidding.

I am Nick Fletcher and this is my blog...cheers and laters...

A Bag of Stuff, Bits, and Thingys

Hello India, Turkey, Costa Rica, and Israel...and welcome to the blog...and plenty of bits and pieces stemming from various posts in this here blog...and I can only retrospectively apologise for drifting, nay careering, nay careening into yet another somewhat anti-religious rant...I'm still 'self de-briefing' over the implications of yesterdays post, namely, the very official nature of the St Martins Lutheran School Child Abuse Cover-up.

Our Premier Jay Weatherill is a man who protects and covers-up paedophiles, and I'm banned off the Mt Gambier ABC to help maintain that resolve re St Martins...and hearing that Anglicare is going to take over schooling for children with Autism Disorder, that just makes my skin crawl...the Anglicans are guilty of every crime the Catholics are, eg, moving child-raping priests from one position to another until the heat was really on, then flying them out of the country.

And I couple this with the abject and multiple failures of police and particularly the Courts re Disabled Persons, eg, the recent case of Autistic children abused by their bus driver, where the case was dumped only weeks before Christmas in 2011 allegedly because the Courts were fundamentally unable to take evidence from the children...but even then it was the children whom were effectively blamed, namely, it was stated that 'they were unable to give evidence', when the reality was it was the Courts failing to be able to receive that evidence...and there's a massive difference. 

I must note, that for all my criticism, personally there have been glimmers of hope on the ABC, eg, when I was put to air on ABC Adelaide Drive on June 1st 2013, which triggered the latest round of deceits, denials, and dis-counting from Jay Weatherill and the Labor government...but nothing but abuse and denial from the ABC Mt Gambier...

Regular readers will likely have noted that Graeme Bennett (in yesterday's post) acknowledges receiving 'my latest correspondence, as set out in my post 18th October 2013, but does not 1) question a single thing I've stated in my letter, or, 2) apologise for calling me a liar in his previous letter/email, nor, 3) indicate any disciplinary action against Stuart Stansfield for his extraordinary bias and abuses, as spelled out in my letter 18/10/13.

And I try to change the subject with the extraordinary news that the federal Labor opposition has already 'out-polled' the 2 month old Liberal government, largely due to the Liberals 'we'll let you know when we tell you you need to know' attitude, particularly on 'people smuggling/asylum seekers', and handling of the Indonesian spying ruckus...

Equally hilarious, the state Labor government spending a small fortune on the Integrated Transport and Land Use Plan, a transparently obvious piece of taxpayer funded self-promotion ahead of the March 2014 state election...whilst the states trains are in absolute chaos, with Labor's repeated statements about resumption of services being constantly derailed...'look at our great plan for transport but please don't look at our track record'...(derailed?...track record?...bad train puns anyone?-Ed)...

And what is going on with Prime Minister Tony Abbott staying at the Federal Police barracks? Where is Mrs Abbott going to stay? There's something just not right about this...(deadset, it smacks of the sort of machismo carry on that has defined Tony Abbott's personal persona, with a meaty side serve of cloistered Monkism-Ed)...exactly, it stinks of Spartan self denial driven by Jesuit ideology and media opportunism.


(Sorry, 'Jesuit ideology'?-Ed)...yeah, this rabid Catholic sect has been highly praised by one of it's own, namely Tony Abbott, who recently said that one of his senior Jesuit mates is the greatest bloke he ever met...(these are the same Jesuits who have been responsible for the systematic, institutionalised rapes, assaults and other abuses committed against children. and knowingly moving those child-raping priests from diocese to diocese to protect the Jesuit Order and Catholic Church, etc, etc...those Jesuits?-Ed)...yep...that 'changing the subject' didn't last long.
  

(And Tony Abbott says that they're great?-Ed)...yep...(but what does that mean for the Child Abuse Royal Commission which is supposedly investigating these sort of child-raping freak shows masquerading as religious orders?-Ed)...great question Ed...and one which unfortunately pretty much answers itself...the Royal Commission is a spineless farce that will manipulate victims and their families with vacuous reference to 'how good it is to be able to speak about it' and 'people feel that at least they've been listened to'...bollocks.



It is not for me to tell individuals how they should feel, I'm sure there are those who genuinely will gain something from 'talking about' their own experience, but this idea that the Commission is going to hold any of these organisations genuinely to account is just laughable...and they will constantly skate around their lack of real action with lame justifications, eg, how the Commission is not about charging individuals, but rather 'addressing systemic issues', all bolstered with the cynical re-manipulations of 'people feel better for talking about it, they feel better that someone is listening'.


It is now a year since the Commission was announced and nearly 6 months it's been officially functioning, and not one word about the St Martins Lutheran School Child Abuse Cover-up...and there won't be one...St Martins is the proof that these pro-paedophile attitudes start at the head of government in South Australia, are endemic in government authorities like the Education Dept, and in SAPol, the Courts, and even the spineless, complicit media...


And of course, only days before the Commission was announced in November 2012, then federal Liberal MP Patrick Secker spoke on ABC Local Radio (from Pt Pirie) and mentioned 'the sorry case in Mt Gambier'...I can only apologise again for trawling through this again, but the media is full of this story about Anglicare and Autistic children and the shrekin' Lutherans and their 'free Christmas lunch', and it was this time last year that there was a number of pro-Lutheran stories run on the ABC and in The Border Watch (please see previous posts, eg, TFTIM Pastor Wayne Kerber). 


(Come on big fella, remember you're the only real problem...not Glyn Dorling who abused the children at St Martins, or the Lutheran Church who knowingly put that man in a classroom and then viciously protected him, or the corrupt police and multiple authorities like the Teachers Registration Board who protected the "text-book grooming paedophile"-Ed)...I appreciate what you're trying to do there, but unfortunately I do blame myself for failing to resolve this horrendous issue...we've discussed this before.  
(Yeah, sorry, I was trying to highlight the ludicrous behaviours of some others in blaming and/or hating you for simply speaking out, behaviours often mired in guilt and self-interest-Ed)...yeah, I know, but my sense of humour re the St Martins Issue has taken it's bat and ball and gone home for a while...it no longer wants to play this game...


As this has somewhat unraveled into another rant as per the opening apology, I'm going to pull the plug here on this here post...venting is all well and groovy, and a goodly part of doing this blog is about offering myself a way to address the issues as much as the anger, frustration, and sadness they breed...but I genuinely try to offer something a little more productive than just 'blog yelling'.

Tomorrow: S'more Stuff 'n' Nonsense 

All the things I wanted to do today but never quite got to...and I blame the media for telling me about things like the Anglicans and their 'Autism school'...

I am Nick Fletcher and this is my blog...and today's is a very average effort, but it's not for a lack of trying...(if anything, it's for trying too hard-Ed)...cheers...cheers and laters.

The Emails from Premier Weatherill and the ABC

Hello Costa Rica, Malaysia, Turkey, and the UsofA...and another big spike in viewing numbers in the USofA, similar to a few weeks ago...it is a pleasure to have you along for the ride...and today we're gonna saddle up a couple of ol' favourites and give them a good floggin', namely Premier Jay Weatherill and the ABC...but first, a little bit of this...

In the other day's post re the Old Hospital Demolition I forgot to mention the funding/employment part of my conversation with McMahons. After I explained that City Council had borrowed the money, McMahons' responded that they were using 50% local contractors, which I pointed out meant over $2million of ratepayers money still leaving Mt Gambier...(plus interest-Ed)...thankyou, plus interest, and that it was a very sore point in Mt Gambier.

McMahons ran the exact same justifications/quantifiers as Council, namely, 'we're staying at Jens Hotel' and spending heaps on food and petrol...which along with the locals being used means that a goodly percentage of the $3million+ for the demolition is remaining in Mt Gambier...fair enough, say I, but even if all of that is true, there's still over $2m leaving Mt Gambier that we simply cannot afford to lose...

I did not get into them about the 'Conflict of Interest' re Mayor Steve Perryman and associated official complaints, etc, because it likely had nothing to do with the individuals I was talking to...(and no, I/we have no idea what's happened to and/or with those complaints-Ed)...and even if I/we did, I'm not sure I/we could discuss it...(oh, we're back there again-Ed)...yeah, sorry, nothing I/we can do about that.

Dear Indonesia: we in Ostraya apologise for the over zealous behaviour of our security services in monitoring your personal phone, and that of your wife and senior ministers...and we will review and modify our behaviour accordingly because our Regional relationship is far more important than a few phone calls...and don't listen to Mark Textor...or those inane clowns Alexander Downer and Bob Carr...it happened, everyone knows that...(despite what AD says-Ed)...the Indonesians have openly admitted 'phone-tapping' re East Timor...let's all just get the hell on with it...

Mark Textor...what a tool...what a self-satisfied, self-important, moronic little tool...I'm gonna call him 'Skid'...'Skid' is a senior Liberal employee (public servant?)...(pollster-Ed)...ta...and old school, self-important little scrote who 'texted' that Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa looked like a Filipino porn star...had a good look at yourself 'Skid'...(yeah, I don't think 'tool' is appropriate, because a tool by definition is useful, and 'Skid' is quite clearly little more than an Oxygen thief-Ed)...fair point.

And on to the emails from Premier Weatherill and the ABC, both received Thursday 7th November 2013, and because I had to use another computer to get copies of my own emails and the print is microscopic, here they are, namely 1) from David Pearson, Policy Advisor, Office of Premier...and if I haven't asked it before, why is a Policy Advisor answering Premier Weatherill's emails?
     "Dear Mr Fletcher,
                     The Premier has previously responded to your emails. Subsequent emails have been
      referred to the Minister for Education and Child Development for response. Should you have 
      any further correspondence for the Premier, it would be best addressed to the postal address 
      below or through the feedback form on the Premier's website. GPO Box 2343 Adelaide 5001."

And 2), from Graeme Bennett, Local Content Manager, SA and Broken Hill, ABC Radio;
     "Dear Mr Fletcher,
                            I acknowledge your further correspondence. We have outlined our position on
      this issue on numerous occasions. The ABC stands by our right to maintain editorial control at
      all times over our broadcasts, and we therefore have nothing further to say on the matter."

I Paraphrase: 'Dear Mr Fletcher, Sod off. We have every intention of continuing to help the Lutheran Church cover-up the gross abuse of your child and dozens of other 7 year old children by their 50 year old teacher Glyn Dorling at St Martins School in Mt Gambier. Now, go away peasant.'...you'll excuse me if I let it all hang out from here, I mean, now that we've all got our cards on the table...(go ya' hardest big fella-Ed)...cool...I make no apologies for the language from here on in.

Good ol' Graeme Bennett of the ABC. How much are you getting paid by taxpayers to be a paedophile lapdog? Was it $140k or there abouts? I read it in The Advertiser last week, along with the incomes of various other ABC Illuminati, and as I went through that list, I saw name after name of publicly funded, gutless, selfish, corrupted, paedophile protecting stuff pigs at the ABC who all know about the St Martins Lutheran School Child Abuse Cover-up...not least of all because I've personally explained it to them...and all are apparently more than happy to be complicit in that cover-up...prove me wrong you gutless bastards.

And what can one say about Premier Jay Weatherill, who is not just complicit in the cover-up of the abuse of a class of 7 year olds, but constructive...(whaaa?-Ed)...he isn't just a passenger on a runaway train, he helped build the tracks, bought the locomotive, and has his foot wedged firmly on the accelerator...he is personally responsible for constructing the Cover-up...(along with previous Premier Mike Rann-Ed)...indeed...and is it my fault that every time I see Jay Weatherill, that carefully manicured, buttoned-down man-weasel, I just see a paedophile?...is that my fault?

Rather than go over it all again, I refer to my recent previous posts re the deceitful and abusive communications coming from these people as they act to continue the St Martins Lutheran School Chid Abuse Cover-up...the deceits, the denials, and the denigration of me...(didn't Graeme Bennett call you a liar?-Ed)...yep...(no apology?-Ed)...nup...

I'll respond to those letters individually as future posts, but together, here is the reality of the St Martins Lutheran School Child Abuse Cover-up...a Child Abuse Cover-up knowingly perpetuated by the states Labor Premier Mr Weatherill and the ABC...

I'm going to finish here for today, and alright, yes I do apologise if my language has offended some of the more genteel 'availees' of this here blog...but that apology is strictly for 'availees', not 'subjectivites'...

Tomorrow: Housekeeping and Feedback Stuff

I remain bouyed and almost flattered by the response I am getting to my blog from 'the punters', where even the criticism is more about improving the blog than attacking me personally...but politicians and bureaucrats seem somewhat less enamoured of my efforts...(must be doing something right then-Ed)...occasionally...

(And can I just say, given the terrible subject matter and the extraordinary behaviours of Jay Weatherill, the ABC, etc, I thought your language was quite restrained-Ed)...ta...I'm trying, really I am.

I am Nick Fletcher and this is my blog...cheers and laters...

TFTIM: Greens MLC Mark Parnell

Hello world and welcome to the blog, comin' atcha from Deep Down Under in the land of Oz...and again apologies for the rather slack post yesterday, but having looked at it this morning, it's really that or just regurgitate large sections of those letters...and I'll get to those emails...soon...anyhoos...

TFTIM Mark Parnell?...yesterday actually...and do you ever feel the Universe reaches out and gives you a little pat on the head and says well done big fella...(or sheila-Ed)...or sheila, and a bloke...(or a chick-Ed)...or a chick, can feel that maybe he...(or she-Ed)...why do you keep going on about women Ed?...(because I want to be one...from now on I want you to call me Edwina-Ed)...Edwina?...ah, I see what you've done there, an homage to arguably the cleverest and funniest movie ever, Monty Python's  Life of Brian...following the news that MP are 'reforming' to do a live show in 2014.

I know that many people consider Life of Brian to be a blasphemous load of stupidity, but it is actually about everyone other than Jesus, and a brilliantly written, seethingly insightful dissertation on the human psyche..."He's the Messiah and I should know, I've followed a few."...and...(Brian) "You're all different" - (the crowd) "Yes, we're all different" - (one man) "I'm not"...absolutely classic...if you've never seen it, watch it once for the laughs, and then once or twice more and concentrate on the dialogue...and thankyou to Beatle George Harrison whom financed this masterpiece when no-one else would touch it...cheers.

But back to the main story, and yesterday, yes I did feel like I got a Universal pat on the head...yesterday Greens Upper House member Mark Parnell was in town for a 'Fracking Forum' organised by Community Action for Sustainability...and I found myself torn between a desire to front him in public and politely rip shreds off him over his conduct and statements re Wind Turbines, much of which I've covered in previous posts, eg, one night sleepovers; misrepresenting 'legal rights', etc...(fair enough, but where's the conflict within?-Ed)...wait for it...

My mood was none improved by Mr Parnell's ABC Local Radio interview, where he was asked about the Intermittent Generation issues and the need for back-up, ie, no wind, no power, and in response he stated 'that's why it's great to have a national electricity grid from Queensland to (Pt Lincoln?-sorry)' because "the wind's always blowing somewhere"...I believe he also made some statements about 'Health issues' but unfortunately I was out and then in the car when this interview was on so I didn't hear the rest re Wind Turbines, and most of what I did hear was about 'Fracking'...(where's the tearing? you promised me tearing-Ed)...alright already... 

Torn between that desire to confront, and not wanting to ambush and monopolise the CAS function for 3 reasons...1) in a previous CSA meeting (previous post) I was all but booed for expressing my opposition to Wind Turbines, so it had the potential to go horribly wrong and completely undermine my position and stuff up the meeting...2) because of my overall respect for CAS and their general tenant which I agree with...(Wind Turbines aside-Ed)...quite...and most importantly,

3) with 'Fracking' looming because the Labor Party are just rabid for Mining and completely disinterested in the South East, and the Liberal Party are, well, exactly the same...(they have publicly declared their support for 'Fracking' in the SE-Ed)...indeed...so we need everyone on side in stopping it, and that would hopefully (does?) include Mark Parnell...what was to be gained from attacking him publicly, however politely?...it had the potential to 'scare' him away, ie, why come here to be abused?...

My Cynicism: maybe he's looking for a legitimate out, and I didn't want to be 'the lout' that copped the blame if it disintegrated into an argument and gave him that excuse...and, in my own defence I'll say it again, that I had to factor in what a 'hostile crowd' I'd have been addressing...so ultimately I resolved that I should stay away...and despite having made that call, I was still struggling with this desire to confront vs decision to not attend, when I happened upon Mr Parnell walking down the street...dead set.

I politely introduced myself and we spoke for 10, maybe 15 minutes about Wind Turbines...I chose to talk through a series of issues and stayed away from criticising him as I have on this blog, eg, I went through how the 'Visual Amenity Appeal' legislation quite specifically and deliberately denies any chance of Appeal, and the stupidity of 'Screening Plants'...I didn't mention that I knew 1) he'd had it explained it to him before but 2) still went into the media saying that there were Appeal Rights...I just told him again.

My intent as such was to place him where he cannot claim ignorance on a series of points...we went through the Fascism of the legislation, namely that Turbines are 'unopposeable'...and Mr Parnell readily acknowledged that, stating that he had voted against it...and the implications for non-host landholders, where I repeatedly used the example of Mr Clarke just outside Millicent who will have 5-6 of these massive Industrial Turbines on 3 sides of his small property, all within 1000-1300m of his home...without a chance to oppose and no compensation...and the non-resident landholder was receiving $10,000 per Turbine (Mr Parnell's figure).

I carefully explained the failings in his statement about 'the wind always blowing' and the role of the $110million taxpayer funded Heywood Connector in exporting cheap 'Wind Electricity' to the East to help them with their '20% Renewables Targets' on windy days...but then when there's no wind, importing very costly coal fired power from Victoria...and the implications this has for overall energy costs in both South Australia and Victoria...and increased pollution in Victoria.

And the nearly 900 'Environmental Interactions' legally allowed at the proposed Millicent Turbine Estate (Woakwine)...'EI' being code for smashing 900 Ibis (large waterbirds) out of the air each year...and the implications for raptors, eg, Wedge-Tail Eagles, and Mr Parnell identified issues in Tasmania re the rare/endangered Tassie Wedgie subspecies...(is the Tassie Wedgie under pressure?-Ed)...apparently...(oo, Wedgie pressure, ouch-Ed)...

We disagreed about 1) aspects of the subsidies/certificates that Turbines receive, but I stand by my statements that without these subsidies, Turbines are entirely uneconomical...and 2) that Turbines cast a 'development shadow' onto neighbouring properties, but I identified the several Australian Court cases or Council rulings that acknowledge a negative impact on land values...on virtually everything else we were in agreeance.

(I get it that you're really happy with the way you handled things, and the length and breadth of  the discussion, but where's the Universal pat on the head?-Ed)...well, that was actually the second time I'd run into Mr Parnell that morning because he was at the White Ribbon Day Breakfast (Opposing Domestic or any other Violence Against Women)...it was obviously neither the time nor place to confront him about Turbines and I let it slide.

I did speak briefly with local MP Don Pegler (after he engaged me) about his official complaint and issues there-in as covered in previous posts, but even if either of us had any specific idea what was happening, I'm not sure whether I could discuss it so I'll just leave that there for now...for now.

Then later, whilst fully angsting myself, I happened to be in town and parked my car where it might have blocked someone in, so I went across, spoke to them, they were cool, so I headed back, locked the car, crossed the road, and low and behold, Mr Parnell...30 seconds either side and I'd have missed him...if I hadn't been so thoughtful as to ask those people, I'd have missed him...

And then completely unplanned, the near perfect interaction that allowed me to discuss at length many issues in a way that simply would have not been possible at the evening meeting, even if I had received a positive reception...and that allowed me to avoid that meeting completely, thus not causing a ruckus and/or shenanigans...

And this now offers many others the platform from which to engage/confront Mr Parnell about all of these issues because we all know he knows, you know?...and I take full credit for how I handled the whole day decision and conversation wise, but as for the 'right time right place' thing, that just happened.

Tomorrow: The Emails 

Or maybe another post re The Constipated, I mean Integrated Transport Plan and Don Pegler's 'article' re same...and there is that Housekeeping...and some Feedback...mmmm.

Anyhoosit, I am Nick Fletcher and this is my blog...cheers and laters...

Forestry Sale Letters from The Border Watch

Hello and apologies for the late, short, 'cheap' post, but I've got in late, haven't eaten, etc, and I did want to review these two letters (attached) re the Forestry Sale, but after reading them together, I was basically just going to re-iterate what's said in them...far easier and arguably smarter to let them joust it out...and I've left the other letter re 'Fracking' just for good measure.

I have already covered many of these Forestry Sale issues in previous posts...and I completely reject that the Labor government have any right to sell the possessions of South Australian's, namely the South East Forestry Estate, let alone then hide the reality...given the relentless deceits perpetrated by Labor on this issue, and the fact that it is (was) a public asset, then the details must be published and scrutinised so that all of SA can understand just what a selfish and woeful decision this was.


And is there anything more embarrassing than a politician, particularly a Labor politician, whinging about someone else "playing politics"...what a trite and thoroughly hypocritical load of bollocks...everything Labor does is about the greater glory of Labor and it's constituent members...they are incompetent managers who do nothing but 'play politics'...shrek me.

Ms Gago's last paragraph is just an offensive nonsense...the SE Forestry Estate was sold to pay for the Adelaide Oval...Labor suddenly announced the Oval redevelopment, completely unfunded, just prior to the 2010 state election, and this is how they are paying for it...how we all are paying for it.

I apologise for not doing the emails from Premier Weatherill and the ABC yet again, but in summary; Dear Mr Fletcher, Sod off...they'll keep...and...

Tomorrow: TFTIM Greens MLC Mark Parnell

Today actually...here in Mt Gambier...and a few quiet words about Wind Turbines, and yes I'm talking about the big F word...Fascism...and reliability, environmental impacts, etc...it all went quite well really.

I am Nick Fletcher and I was a good boy today so there'll be snacks for me laters...cheers...

More Hospital Demolition Stuff

Hello Saudi Arabia, China, Turkey and Romania, and welcome to the blog...and a special welcome to Indonesia, whom I'm sure are monitoring crucial critical political media outlets like this here blog...(oh boy, hear we go-Ed)...I'm sure that they're fascinated with the grubby dealings of our various local public officials...which segues nicely into another post about Mt Gambier City Council.

But seriously, this business of Australia 'tapping' Indonesian President Yudhoyono's private phone strikes me as a cross between denial and Sparta...denial in that I assume all my electronic and/or telephonic communicationings can and therefore probably will be monitored...(yeah, I'll give you that one, but then there's also this here blog which doesn't need to be 'monitored'-Ed)...true, but still, thinking that it wouldn't be happening to heads of government by other governments is a little trite...and Sparta because in that context the crime surely is not committing the crime, but getting caught...

(I assume you're referring to the Ancient Greek City-State of Sparta, where the 'warrior attitude' was instilled in the youths by encouraging them to commit crimes, usually violent, against lower castes, eg, slaves, and if caught the punishment was for getting caught not committing the crime?-Ed)...I see we've done the same high school history lessons, but yes I believe that's the case...perhaps I'm the naive one, but surely these people know that they're being monitored where possible, and therefore it's the mutual embarrassment caused by being caught...

The issue is one of imbalance as well though, because it's possible that Australia has access to technologies that Indonesia does not...and to the other extreme, why is this known at all?...because an internal leak...(a Leaky Snowden-Ed)...exposed various transcripts, etc, and unless I missed it, I've not heard of Chinese government stuff being 'exposed', or the Indonesian government...(well, actually, given that the 'Snowden documents' include the surveillance stuff covering Indonesia, there's some things 'exposed' I'm sure-Ed)...good point...but I digress...

As previously posted, at Council's meeting last Tuesday 19th November there was not one word about the Old Hospital demolition, the Old Rail Lands clearance, and one brief sentence about the Gaol Expansion, Councillor Richardson mentioning 'the families of inmates', etc but all this will all have to wait until tomorrow, because 1) I want to do these emails, and 2) I've just seen that the Rann /Weatherill state government is spending an absolute fortune to get The Rolling Stones to Adelaide, I believe for the opening of the 'New Adelaide Oval.

Nothings too good for Adelaide as far as Adelaide's concerned, and absolutely typical that the Old Queen would choose an old band from overseas rather than any of the many suitable Australian acts...I've seen conflicting reports stating that this concert will cost anything from $500,000 to $1million, and then they'll also be charging like wounded bulls for tickets...that cash should be being spent, if at all, on a free day long festival with Australian bands...to be rolled out across 6-7 regional centres.

But to see Mick Jagger on the news saying that "it's an honour" to be playing in Adelaide, that's just plain rude...if it's such a bloody "honour", then why wasn't Adelaide on their original itinerary, and why pay them to play?...I like some Rolling Stones stuff, but this is bollocks...and one small letter in The Advertiser criticising the Forestry Sale re paying for the Oval...spending like drunken sailors...which leads to...         

With the onset of 'Schoolies season' there has been a lot of discussion about the Australian obsession with Alcohol, and particularly the 'binge drinking to get drunk' behaviours of many of our younger people (I'm now 47 so anyone under about 25 is 'youth' to me)... apparently half of all police/emergency services call outs and 1 in 8 deaths of young people are alcohol related...even if remotely accurate, these are extraordinary figures...

So I was stunned to see the new Channel 10 morning panel show, which I swear I've seen doing stories about 'Schoolies' and/or alcohol problems just in the last week, eg, 60% of police callouts involve Alcohol...and this morning they had a resident bartender who'd won some prize, and he was mixing them cocktails at 10.15hrs...and I watched it for a few minutes and they repeatedly said "cocktails", in contrast to 'mocktails', which in context would be reasonably appropriate...surely someone who's just won an award would know 6 or 7 'mocktails'.

Perhaps I'm just being petty, but it really struck me that they would be presenting two such polar opposites...which segues rather nicely into the Old Hospital Demolition...and whilst I don't retract anything I have said on this post thus far, here's what happened today...

It was reported early this morning on ABC Local Radio that the demolition was proceeding this morning, and it was too early to call the Environment Protection Authority, so I went up to have a look...and they were starting up the large excavator, so I ended up speaking to several senior McMahons' personnel...I stated to them that I would be doing this blog but that I wouldn't identify them specifically, but I have a business card and they're relatively public figures anyway...

It was a bit fractious to begin with but I pretty much opened with 'the EPA says you don't have the certificates you need, and what about the asbestos?'...(that is a tad aggressive-Ed)...yes, but I was absolutely polite about it and even apologised for coming on a bit strong and the young woman present said that I not been "at all aggressive" and waved away my apology...(you do try, don't you you old hippy?-Ed)...no, it comes naturally actually...

Bottom Line: McMahons were absolute in their statements that all Asbestos issues had been appropriately dealt with and that that included the remaining window frames where a "bitumenised' rather than Asbestos mastic/waterproofing had apparently been used...and that they had all their current certificates following independent monitoring and inspections, and offered me various documents to look at, and for nearly 30 minutes were happy to discuss it with me...

I stated that I had lodged the complaint with the EPA because of the conflicting media reports about Asbestos issues, eg, only last week Councillor Des Mutton casually dropped in a mention of 'Asbestos in mastic around some windows', and the repeated statements that the Main building demolition was underway this week. McMahons stated that they were not responsible for those media statements.

As per previous post, when I saw workers removing 'Asbestos contaminated' materials days after it was reported in The Border Watch that "today" it' a comin' down pa'...I acted to do what I could without going anywhere near the site...as far as I was aware the only option was the EPA...and so I did that, and it was only as an absolute last resort that I approached McMahons this morning.

For all I know they were expecting me...(oo, I was gonna say that-Ed)...and had a bunch of paperwork ready, but they did seem quite genuine and, as I identified to them, they didn't have to talk to me at all...(oh, that was because they knew that if they refused to talk to you, you would probably go ballistic about it all over this here blog-Ed)...well I doubt it...loathe as I am to admit it, they didn't seem to know who I was...(didn't they know who you are?-Ed)...hilarious...

I rang the EPA again this morning and in their return message (I missed the call) reversed their advice of yesterday, now McMahons did have the certificates they needed...and on both occasions the EPA stated that their liaison person with Council was Darryl Morgan...I don't know what else to say...late yesterday the EPA stated no certificates, this morning McMahons said they have all the requisite certificates, and by lunchtime today the EPA reverses their advice of yesterday.

Anyway, the building is coming down and I'm going to pull stumps on this post, and I haven't done those emails again, so,

Tomorrow: The Oft Advertised Emails

I am Nick Fletcher and this is my blog...thankyou for your patronage...laters...

Hospital Demolition Shenanigans

Hello ya'll and welcome to the blog...and as the title would suggest, this post is about the latest deceits and distortions being disseminated by Mt Gambier City Council re the Old Hospital Demolition, particularly on the issue of Asbestos Contamination.

I refer to yesterday's post re the ongoing and apparently haphazard removal of Asbestos from the main Hospital building...(ah, come on, you're being a bit harsh...they're doing 'as-best-as' they can-Ed)...that Ed, is possibly the worst pun ever on this blog...(and that's saying something-Ed)...quite...

Having broken almost every rule of Asbestos handling by smashing in the front window frames with their big excavator rather than carefully removing the frames one by one, now the story is that the window frames across the back of the building allegedly don't have Asbestos Mastic contamination. This is stated by Councillor Des Mutton who is the City Council's Old Hospital Redevelopment Sub-Committee Presiding Member in today's The Border Watch, Wednesday 20th November 2013 (Attached).

The demolition of this main building was allegedly due to start on Monday 18th November, but was allegedly delayed due to contractor McMahons Services requiring some piece of equipment from Adelaide (ABC Local Radio). As per yesterdays post, I saw the large excavator operating, as it was again today, demolishing the building immediately adjacent the main building. 

Also yesterday I saw workers in asbestos protective suits, a crane, and a large skip at the opposite (Western) end of the building. The skip lined with orange plastic was still in the same place today as per the 3rd photo below. The crane had been moved back to the right-hand/centre of the building where I observed two workers in protective clothing and took the three photos below...(your child did-Ed)...fair enough...at around 12.30hrs.

Only one worker can be seen in the photo, but this shows that asbestos is still being removed even as Council states that the building was due to be demolished starting last Monday 18th, and according to today's TBW "...will finally get underway tomorrow." (Thursday 21st Nov) There are also a number of Aluminium window frames still hanging in place in those front windows.

It is my understanding that Council requires specific certificates verifying the adequate removal of asbestos and/or asbestos contaminated materials, and that they do not have these certificates relative to the main building. How, therefore, can they be announcing the demolition? They're still removing asbestos and they don't have the legal approvals to start demolishing. 

It is also my understanding that McMahons tender for asbestos removal, 1) does not include disposal of that material, which I understand is not being disposed of locally, but is likely being taken to Adelaide. It would appear that Council..(and therefore ratepayers-Ed)...are paying for McMahons to ship the contaminated waste to their own disposal facility in Adelaide. This will therefore not appear as part of any variances...(he means increases to the cost-Ed)...on the actual tender, because as covered in previous posts McMahons have an Exclusion Clause about "Disposal of contaminated material".

And secondly, it is also my understanding that McMahons 'Asbestos Removal Tender' was based on only part of the site, not the full job, and that there is inevitably going to be a massive cost blow-out as a result.

Today I lodged an official complaint with the Environment Protection Authority re these Asbestos issues, and full credit to them that they appear to have acted immediately in contacting Council and checking the appropriate paperwork, etc...I'm not sure what the outcome of that will be, but Council cannot say that they are acting in ignorance...again, I have been highly critical of the EPA and they are to be congratulated on this specific issue. 

 

At the risk of sounding like a complete git, I will not expose my sources in Council and elsewhere, and can only say that I have thoroughly researched these issues as best I can, and that Council is aware of their responsibilities because they were contacted today by the EPA.

It is my personal experience and my opinion based on that experience, that City Council are relentless liars as and when it suits them...and this Old Hospital fiasco is a classic example...make it up as they go along, ignoring anything that gets in the way of what they want to do, lie when questioned, and if backed into a corner, lash out furiously threatening retribution.

I can't say where the whole Demolition disaster is heading, but with these massive Asbestos contamination issues and the current Court case, the likelihood that the overall cost will scare $10million, increases daily...(go on, say it-Ed)...alright...why am I the only one who's even trying to hold Council to account for their disastrous nepotism, corruption, and incompetence?

Mt Gambier is dying...look around you...more and more houses for sale, businesses closing, people leaving town, etc...and if you think the Old Hospital issue is the only problem,

Tomorrow: Rail Lands Shenanigans again

I am Nick Fletcher and this is my blog...cheers and laters...

Just Some Bits and Pieces

Hello the USofA, Mexico, Italy, and Indonesia and welcome to the blog...and 2 apologies for 1) late post, and 2) not doing the 'emails post', but I don't have copies yet and still no Internet...and I was just getting used to the whole idea of the optimism thing when, in the mail yesterday, I received my 2 volumes of the Victorian Government's Child Abuse Royal Commission final report, BETRAYAL of TRUST - Inquiry Into The Handling of Child Abuse by Religious and Other Non-Government Organisations.

And in a brief perusal...(how does one 'briefly peruse' a 2 inch document?-Ed)...I looked at the index, the Recommendations, etc...(ah, right-Ed)...and picked up things like a whole chapter on grooming, Chapter 22 - The Criminality of Grooming, that states as part of Finding 22.1...
          "The criminality of the conduct of grooming should be recognised as an offence and
            in addition to the primary victim, parents and others should be recognised as victims
            of grooming."

I cannot find my submission mentioned, but there are a dozen listed as being 'Name Withheld Submissions Requested by the Commission' so maybe it's one of those...and I can't see the Lutherans mentioned at all...(not anywhere?-Ed)...well certainly not in the lists of those whom did submissions, gave evidence, etc...yet another Child Abuse inquiry and not one mention of the shrekin' Lutherans...just another thing I hope to be wrong about, maybe they're in there somewhere.

I remind readers that the South Australian parliament's Statutory Authorities Review Committee did a 3 year Inquiry into the Teachers Registration Board (2008-11) based on the TRB's handling of the St Martins Lutheran School Child Abuse Issue and the registration of the teacher involved, Glyn Dorling, and yet the Lutherans were not called to give evidence to the SARC, didn't do a submission or give testimony, not nothing.

This follows on from the previous alleged investigations by SAPol (police), etc, where the Lutherans have not been asked one single official question, eg, Glyn Dorling, the "text-book grooming paedophile" (Flinders Child Protection Service) was "spoken to" by SAPol but was not formally interviewed let alone charged...(and nor were Principal John Alexander or any of the school staff witnesses even spoken to-Ed)...quite...except for when John Alexander went down to the Mt Gambier Police Station and 'had a chat' with the then Superintendent Terry Harbour, upon which SAPol effectively stopped any investigation before officially dumping it weeks later.

I have covered this repeatedly in previous posts...there were no unfortunate mistakes with the St Martins case...SAPol set out to ignore the abuses and marched hand-in-hand with the Lutheran Church and the Rann/Weatherill Labor government to deliberately cover-up the abuse of a class of 7 year old children...and the TRB and SARC Inquiries...(and therefore the Liberal Party-Ed)...have done exactly the same thing...protect the paedophile Glyn Dorling and those whom protect him...may you all slowly rot in hell...

The recent Canadian Police operation to expose a world-wide 'child pornography exchange' led to the arrest of 12 South Australians, 2 in Mt Gambier, and one of those has now been identified as a 54 year old primary school teacher who has been on 'sick leave'...(with full pay-Ed)...since being suspended back in August...and whilst parents were informed, they were told it has nothing to with their children at that school.   

How would SAPol know that?...how could the Education Department know that?...what investigations have been done to establish this as fact?...it's ludicrous, and a continuation of the culture of denial, deceit, and misinformation that infects and infests SAPol, the Education Dept...I am sick to death of this deliberate failure to investigate and inform...

How are parents meant to address this with their children if they don't know what it is they are dealing with?...how do SAPol conduct a comprehensive investigation if they haven't spoken to a raft of potential witnesses?...how do you know, how can you say, that he hasn't been molesting or grooming or whatever, the children he had access to as their teacher?...how do they know he hasn't been photographing kids in the playground?...it is the same old same ol'...nothing has changed in the paedophile nightmare that is SA. 

On an equally dumbfounding but slightly less evil note, it was reported on ABC Local Radio this morning that the demolition of the main 5 story building at the Old Hospital has been delayed until the end of the week...(apparently it was meant to start yesterday-Ed)...apparently...and this delay was allegedly due to McMahons waiting for some part or piece of machinery to come from Adelaide.

(Hang on, aren't all the window frames still in the rear of the building?-Ed)...yes...(and you said that there is asbestos in the sealing mastic around those windows?-Ed)...well it was recently confirmed by Councillor Des Mutton in an article in The Border Watch, but yes I have been saying that for some time...(so how can they already be pulling down that building before they've cleared the asbestos?-Ed)...good question...and it gets better...(oh dear-Ed)...

Oh dear indeed, because today when I went past, the much lauded large demolition 'tractor' was at work ripping down the building immediately adjacent the main building...looked to be working fine...(and what was that other crane doing at the front of the main building?-Ed)...that, my friend, was lifting a large bin up to the higher levels and/or roof where it was being filled with 'asbestos contaminated material' that was being lowered to a large skip bin on the ground.

(How do you know that it was 'asbestos contaminated material'?-Ed)...well, you saw the spanky white jump suits and face masks, and how the bin and skip were lined with plastic...(yeah-Ed)...well that's basic Personal Safety and other contamination control measures when dealing with debris that is or even might be contaminated with asbestos...(hang on-Ed)...I know what you're going to say...

How can they have been going to start the main demolition yesterday, when today they're still pulling asbestos out?...and furthermore, while the contaminated window frames are still in place?...sort of makes the 'waiting for a part' story look like, well...(bullshit?-Ed)...yes, that'll do...bullshit...(and aren't Council paying for the disposal of that waste?-Ed)...not sure, but I think so...   

I'll finish up here because it's already late, and I've just got in from Council's monthly meeting, and I want my dindins soon or I'll start scratching at the door...oh, and not one word in Council about the Old Hospital, the Rail Lands, or the Gaol expansion and sex offenders therein...but 10 minutes arguing about if and when and where they might display the Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islanders (ATSIC) flag...and that still not resolved...unbeshrekinlievable.

Tomorrow: The Emails and responses

Again apols for today's late, bitsy post...and I can only wonder what is going to happen with that Old Hospital...

I am Nick Fletcher and this is my blog...cheers and laters.