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Jarrod Bleijie, the man who enacts legislation that is still in draft form was busy over Xmas, re-writing yet more of his poorly drafted legislation. The Newman government's Anit-Bikie legislation needs to be changed again as a result of it not working as intended. I've lost count, but this must be the third or fourth change since it was enacted, the first re-write occurring within days of the legislation passing without the normal process of consultation most governments employ.
And there are signs that the chronically inept Newman government plans to take on another social issue with more legislation drawn up by 'Trainer Wheels' Bleijie. Apparently the Newman government think they can 'fix' the problem of alcohol fueled violence by legislating against it. Deciding against consultation with the experts who would tell them that the issue lies with addressing social attitudes and pressures, looking at licensing laws and hours of operation, better enforcement of existing laws and regulations, and even looking at the advertisement of alcohol... the answer is simple... ban the baddies. This would involve a double barrel approach: identity scanning everyone who enters a licensed premises (a huge invasion of everyone's privacy), and heavy handed enforcement.
Bleijie suggests this might include:
"Looking at tougher penalties for patrons who don't do the right thing" (based on the bikie laws this might include outrageous mandatory sentencing - the legislation needing to be constantly re-drafted)
"equipping licensees to be better equipped to ensure the safety of their patrons" (the mind boggles - will bouncers be provided with tasers, capsicum spray, batons, and soft restraints? will there be a shotgun allowed behind the bar? Will bar districts have dedicated swat teams? This all sounds ridiculous but given the LNP's track record and their diving popularity.. a desperate government can't be trusted not to go to ridiculous lengths.).
"and continuing obviously the high visibility policing in key areas across the state." (more police... the LNP panacea for everything that ills society)
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In a pre-recorded message prior to his extended ski vacation in the French Alps, Tony Abbott wants to take Indigenous Affairs in Australia back to the 11th of October, 2007. Just like John Howard did back then, he wants to 'Start a Conversation' about Indigenous recognition.
The Constitutional pre-amble was a distraction Howard threw up during the 2007 election campaign so that he didn't have to apologise to Indigenous Australians.
Newsflash Tony.... the Apology has already happened. What was Abbott doing at the time?
More importantly.... What is Warren Mundine and the impotent sounding Indigenous Advisory Council doing?
Almost 2 weeks ago they were concerned about funding cuts to the Indigenous Domestic Violence Service. But it seems that is now a low priority (as it will cost money... the Coalition failed to rip money away from Education.. the next target... Indigenous services). In a cost-cutting exercise, Mundine now believes that as talk is cheap... we need to 'ramp up discussion' on indigenous recognition. Based on his performance thus far, the best thing Mundine could do for indigenous issues is to relinquish his salary in order that it be redistributed to indigenous communities where it will actually do some good. Abbott did after all get elected on a platform of reducing government waste.
The fact that the Abbott government has spent its entire tenure focused on: blaming Labor, trying to unwind Labor policy that is actually working, cover up its repeated mistakes on MPs rorts, mishandling the relationship with Indonesia, and backflipping on attempted broken promises, and talking up (but so far not acting) on a policy platform developed entirely by the IPA... you would be forgiven for thinking they have no ideas of their own.
Well that's exactly what Mark Latham had to say in the AFR just before Xmas.
Happy New Year!