This was forwarded to me and pretty much sums up how bad we treat our veterans and their families, some who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. What do you think??
"Political Bastardry!
Well you may think!!!!
On the 18th of August 1966 at Long Tan,Vietnam,
D Company of the 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment,
mainly made up of Australian National Servicemen
and at that time located to support the American Army,
fought a battle against the Viet Cong.
In this action D Company lost 18 men killed and 24 injured.
The Viet Cong dead numbered in excess of 245.
The Australian lines were never crossed.
The Viet Cong withdrew.
American President Johnson and US Army Staff recognised the achievement
by awarding the Unit Citation of Gallantry on 30th May 1968.
The Award was formally accepted by Queen Elizabeth in 13th June 1968.
Prime Minister John Gorton made the formal presentation
of this American Citation to the Battalion
at Lavarack Barracks,Townsville on 18th August 1968.
On the 31st of March 2010,
D Company of the 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment
were belatedly awarded the Australian version of
"Unit Citation for Gallantry" (UCG)
honouring their extraordinary deeds at Long Tan.
The Government however refused to approve travel payment
for the surviving Unit Members or their families,
including the families of deceased Unit Members,
in order that they be present at the
UCG Presentation Ceremony
presided over by the Governor General of Australia.
In February 2011 the same Government of Australia
footed the Funeral Bill to bury the illegal boat people,
who tragically perished on Christmas Island.
This included flying surviving family illegals and survivors
to and from Sydney and Xmas Island,
accommodating them, etc etc,
plus a Coach tour of Sydney thrown in.
The Canberra Polit Bureaux had waited 45 years
to publicly acknowledge the bravery and sacrifice
of these Sons of Australia
and then immediately Shit on their memory
by wetting themselves
to appease the feelings of boat illegals
forcing their entry into our country.
Now we witness,what can only be described as,
attempted political face saving,
by this same Government,
sponsoring a TV Documentary,
to celebrate our Armed Forces accomplishments
at Kapyong, Korea in 1951.
This will see our Prime Minister and the entire Priministeral Entourage
fly in a RAAF plane to Korea to mark this 60th Anniversary.
What Bloody Hypocrisy!!!
What a Blatant Affront to the feelings
of our Nation's serving Armed Forces,
Past and Present.
Shame,Shame,Shame,
You Political Parasites.
You do not deserve to represent our country"
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Sunday, August 14, 2011
UNREST CONTINUES IN THE SUBURBS
Another weekend and another 3 days and nights of hell for some residents in Cairns suburbs. Again in the known trouble hotspots, well reported in local media lately, residents were kept up all day and night with drunken fights, partying and ongoing anti-social behaviour.
Residents have again had their property damaged, destroyed and vandalised.
Police have had to be called to drunken brawls in the streets.
The local elected members have been kept well informed of what has been going on, but they do nothing. They simply don't have the answers, or more importantly the will, to try and address the issue because they are worried about losing a few votes at the next election.
It's time for these elected officials who are getting paid BIG money to start doing the job they're paid for not planning their retirement or planning their next political job.
Do the job you're getting paid to do now or stop sponging off taxpayers/ratepayers and resign so we can get someone in there who will.
Residents have again had their property damaged, destroyed and vandalised.
Police have had to be called to drunken brawls in the streets.
The local elected members have been kept well informed of what has been going on, but they do nothing. They simply don't have the answers, or more importantly the will, to try and address the issue because they are worried about losing a few votes at the next election.
It's time for these elected officials who are getting paid BIG money to start doing the job they're paid for not planning their retirement or planning their next political job.
Do the job you're getting paid to do now or stop sponging off taxpayers/ratepayers and resign so we can get someone in there who will.
FNQ treated differently AGAIN
Here we go again. FNQ gets treated like second class citizens compared to those in the big vote grabbing areas of the Gold Coast and Brisbane. Under this government despite the fact we have four local Labor MP's we are still out of sight out of mind. What a joke!!
Check out the story in the Cairns Post today about how FNQ patients are going to be subjected to hospital dumpings.
http://www.cairns.com.au/article/2011/08/15/178331_local-news.html
What a disgrace.
I challenge the government to come out and tell the people in the major centres of South East Queensland that they are going to be subjected to the same process or are only people of Cairns and FNQ going to have to endure this.
Check out the story in the Cairns Post today about how FNQ patients are going to be subjected to hospital dumpings.
http://www.cairns.com.au/article/2011/08/15/178331_local-news.html
What a disgrace.
I challenge the government to come out and tell the people in the major centres of South East Queensland that they are going to be subjected to the same process or are only people of Cairns and FNQ going to have to endure this.
Saturday, August 13, 2011
LOSS OF FOCUS
Here we go again. As a result of the armed robbery epidemic on the Gold Coast there was wide spread calls for extra police and resources for the Gold Coast. Like a bunch of ostriches senior police management stuck theior head in the sands and said there was no problem.
After the government got hammered in the media for weeks after armed robbery, after armed robbery kept occurring SUDDENLY we have an extra 50 police to deploy down there in a major crackdown.
This was a good result for the Gold Coast but anyone used to government and QPS senior management spin knew this was only going to be a short term bandaid solution at best. The focus should always have been the armed robbers and the contributing offences such as drug trafficking.
Unfortunately as always the focus has been on how many arrests on how many charges. Have a look at this story from Gold Coast.com http://bit.ly/pYMBo9
This is bullshit. Yes there are drink drivers that need to be taken off our roads as they are a menace and just as dangerous as someone with a weapon, but that wasn't supposed to be the focus of this taskforce.Get a Traffic taskforce to address that.
Yes there are drunks and unruly people that need to be addressed, but that wasn't supposed to be the focus of this taskforce.
Where are the armed robbery arrests, where are the drug producers and trafficker charges, which organised crime gangs have been dealt with?
There are proactive patrols, stop robs etc that would impress me more than drink drivers caught out but they're not headline material. But this is the problem with senior management and the govt. wanting bullshit stats they can try to use to say they have done something to address the issue when in actual fact they have done stuff all to address the original problem.
Focus people and tell your spin doctors to give it a rest as we're not buying it.
After the government got hammered in the media for weeks after armed robbery, after armed robbery kept occurring SUDDENLY we have an extra 50 police to deploy down there in a major crackdown.
This was a good result for the Gold Coast but anyone used to government and QPS senior management spin knew this was only going to be a short term bandaid solution at best. The focus should always have been the armed robbers and the contributing offences such as drug trafficking.
Unfortunately as always the focus has been on how many arrests on how many charges. Have a look at this story from Gold Coast.com http://bit.ly/pYMBo9
This is bullshit. Yes there are drink drivers that need to be taken off our roads as they are a menace and just as dangerous as someone with a weapon, but that wasn't supposed to be the focus of this taskforce.Get a Traffic taskforce to address that.
Yes there are drunks and unruly people that need to be addressed, but that wasn't supposed to be the focus of this taskforce.
Where are the armed robbery arrests, where are the drug producers and trafficker charges, which organised crime gangs have been dealt with?
There are proactive patrols, stop robs etc that would impress me more than drink drivers caught out but they're not headline material. But this is the problem with senior management and the govt. wanting bullshit stats they can try to use to say they have done something to address the issue when in actual fact they have done stuff all to address the original problem.
Focus people and tell your spin doctors to give it a rest as we're not buying it.
UPDATE
To my supporters, followers and interested parties as you are now aware there have been merger talks with the Bob Katter led Australian Party. The so called issues and lack of consultation with candidates is incorrect. This has been fanned in the media by the two major parties who are running scared because one's hopeless mismanagement puts them in peril of getting kicked out and the others lack of vision, policy, leadership etc etc puts them in peril of never getting in to Government.
We are going through a transition phase now as we go through the legalities of the move so I ask you all to bear with us.
I can assure you that I will be nominating for the state seat of Cairns and continue to fight to get us proper representation as I have over the past 12 months.
The state of the ALP and the LNP up here proves more than ever that Cairns needs a real voice.
We are going through a transition phase now as we go through the legalities of the move so I ask you all to bear with us.
I can assure you that I will be nominating for the state seat of Cairns and continue to fight to get us proper representation as I have over the past 12 months.
The state of the ALP and the LNP up here proves more than ever that Cairns needs a real voice.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
WHILE LNP/ALP TACKLE THE BIG ISSUE OF SANDWICH BOARDS WE LOOK AT LAW AND ORDER
People who have read this blog know I have been calling for legislative reform to address the law and order issues in our area for some time. The police at Operation Colossal have done a great job rounding up a prolific offender. Check out the Cairns Post Story at this link-
http://www.cairns.com.au/article/2011/08/03/176725_local-news.html
This highlights exactly what we've been saying. The other parties are too gutless to address the hard decsions as it relates to law and order. Chest beating about raising maximum penalties for select offences does nothing to address the real issues. While the ALP/LNP are tackling the big issues of sandwich board advertising, we're addressing law and order.
Below is the media release in full put out by me-
Mr Hunt said "The anti-social behaviour and crime in some suburbs has residents under siege. They have had a gutfulof this and some are even trying to sell their homes and move out as they can no longer put up with they are being subjected to. "
Ï have repeatedly called for law and order reform particularly in the area of the Bail Act, Juvenile Justice Act and the issue of parole. The advice provided by police proves once and for all that what I have been calling for is needed. The police did an excellent job in rounding up this offender and charging them with over 100 charges. When they kept this person in custody, there is an immediate impact on crime in our city. Not a slight decrease, but a nearly total elimination. By keeping one prolific repeat offender in custody the people of Cairns have woke up this monring and not found their house broken into, car stolen or belongings stolen or damaged."
Mr Hunt’s claims come after the Cairns Police task force Operation Colossal arrested and charged a well known prolific offender with 100 charges including assaults, robberies and burglaries. CCPIU Operation Colossal officer-in-charge Det Sgt Alisha Keogh was quoted in the Cairns Post as saying the boy’s arrest had made an immediate impact on crime rates in the city.
"In the short time that the offender has been in custody we’ve seen a significant reduction in crime," she said.
"For example, last night (Monday) there was only
Mr Hunt stated "This clearly proves that we have been saying. With reform to the Bail Act, Juvenile Justice Act and issuing of parole that would see prolific offenders kept in custody, you reduce your crime rates. It also frees up operational police to get back on the streets to conduct pro-active patrolling instead of being stuck behind computers dealing with the same offenders over and over again being released"back into the community. It provides a deterrent. Most importantly though, it places the protection of the community first and foremost and that is what effective law and order policy should start with.
The Queensland Party is the only one in the area prepared to tackle the big issues impacting on people in Cairns. While the LNP and ALP are arguing over whether someone can walk around with a sandwich board advertisement, we are getting on with providing solutions to address the law and order issues impacting on our city and developed a number of strategies to address concerns. This has to start with putting the protection of the community first and commencing legislative reform and, if given the honor to serve the people of Cairns, that is what I will do.”
http://www.cairns.com.au/article/2011/08/03/176725_local-news.html
This highlights exactly what we've been saying. The other parties are too gutless to address the hard decsions as it relates to law and order. Chest beating about raising maximum penalties for select offences does nothing to address the real issues. While the ALP/LNP are tackling the big issues of sandwich board advertising, we're addressing law and order.
Below is the media release in full put out by me-
The Queensland Party Cairns candidate and spokesperson for Police, Corrections and Emergency Services Darren Hunt claims the recent arrest of prolific juvenile offender in Cairns highlights the need for law and order reform.
Ï have repeatedly called for law and order reform particularly in the area of the Bail Act, Juvenile Justice Act and the issue of parole. The advice provided by police proves once and for all that what I have been calling for is needed. The police did an excellent job in rounding up this offender and charging them with over 100 charges. When they kept this person in custody, there is an immediate impact on crime in our city. Not a slight decrease, but a nearly total elimination. By keeping one prolific repeat offender in custody the people of Cairns have woke up this monring and not found their house broken into, car stolen or belongings stolen or damaged."
Mr Hunt’s claims come after the Cairns Police task force Operation Colossal arrested and charged a well known prolific offender with 100 charges including assaults, robberies and burglaries. CCPIU Operation Colossal officer-in-charge Det Sgt Alisha Keogh was quoted in the Cairns Post as saying the boy’s arrest had made an immediate impact on crime rates in the city.
"In the short time that the offender has been in custody we’ve seen a significant reduction in crime," she said.
"For example, last night (Monday) there was only
Mr Hunt stated "This clearly proves that we have been saying. With reform to the Bail Act, Juvenile Justice Act and issuing of parole that would see prolific offenders kept in custody, you reduce your crime rates. It also frees up operational police to get back on the streets to conduct pro-active patrolling instead of being stuck behind computers dealing with the same offenders over and over again being released"back into the community. It provides a deterrent. Most importantly though, it places the protection of the community first and foremost and that is what effective law and order policy should start with.
The Queensland Party is the only one in the area prepared to tackle the big issues impacting on people in Cairns. While the LNP and ALP are arguing over whether someone can walk around with a sandwich board advertisement, we are getting on with providing solutions to address the law and order issues impacting on our city and developed a number of strategies to address concerns. This has to start with putting the protection of the community first and commencing legislative reform and, if given the honor to serve the people of Cairns, that is what I will do.”
Friday, July 29, 2011
CALLS FOR NATIONAL DISABILITY INSURANCE SCHEME
There is a growing call for further support for the disabled members of our community who continue to fall through the cracks of a crumbling health system, particularly in rural and remote Queensland. A lot of the time the only support is from carers and other interested parties using their own time and resources to support each other. It is farcical that we can bring in uniform road rules, but we can't bring in uniform support services for the disabled.
Here is some recent correspondence recieved. Any person interested in helping out can contact the people involved or make your feelings known to your local elected representatives and get them to do something about it.
D.J.HUNT
Dear Friend
I had my right leg amputated above the knee in 2005. After this setback I was fortunate to have had the opportunity to continue work in our own small steel fabrication business.
August 2010 I finally had to except that I could not continue in this venture as with degenerating joints and age must look to apply my talents in another area.
In February this year I had the opportunity to be invited to a NDIS (National disability insurance scheme) forum to explain up and coming changes being proposed to the disability system.
At the conclusion of this meeting I was approached and asked if I would be interested in being a NDIS Champion this position would entail the following.
* Support the distribution of email information about upcoming NDIS forums in your area
* Lobby your local MPs – both sides about the need for and NDIS and how it has the potential to transform lives – and tell local media about it who always want to hear personal stories
* Build strong support from people inside and outside the disability community based on learning about the current problems and the solution that NDIS offers
I have decided to accept this opportunity to support the NDIS campaign.
Dear friend over the years I have the opportunity to meet and hear the stories of many people with disabilities. I have recounted these peoples experience to friends but then moved on with my own life as most people do unless it directly affects you. Even after the loss of my own leg I had still carried on this practice of recounting stories of people with disability then move on with my own life not accepting myself as being disable.
It is now the time to take action and not do as I and many others have, and continue the practice of in action as the example above states.
All I ask of you is if you know someone who is struggling in the disability system and would like to voice their feelings on this system.
Please feel free to pass on my E-mail address on to a friend in need and do not just delete.
With communication and Understanding we can achieve
Wayne Maitland E-mail: marjmaito@ozemail.com.au
44 Riverstone Road Gordonvale 4865 Ph: (07) 4056 1304 Mobile: 0439 760 025
Ten Reasons Why We Need the NDIS
1. The support system for people with a disability, their families and carers is in crisis. If you, or someone you love, is born with a disability or acquires one later in life, you all run the risk of falling through a huge hole in Australia’s safety net.
2. People with a disability and their families and carers want to participate in the social, economic, and cultural life of the nation. But there are many barriers to their full inclusion.
3. Lack of support and services means families are primarily responsible for meeting the needs of their family member with a disability. Many families are struggling with high rates of physical, emotional and financial stress.
4. The current situation is inequitable – people receive different levels of support depending on how, when and where their disability was acquired.
5. An economic crisis is looming. The number of people with a disability is increasing and the number of people willing and able to provide unpaid care is falling. This means the cost to government is expected to escalate dramatically in the future.
6. A National Disability Insurance Scheme would provide people with a disability and their families and carers with the regular care, support, therapy and equipment they need. As a Medicare-type scheme, it would provide a secure and consistent pool of funds for these services and support.
7. It would be fair, efficient and effective. It would focus on early intervention and delivering those supports which produce the best long term outcomes. It would maximize opportunities for independence, participation and productivity.
8. It would be individualized and person-centered. Support would be based on the choices of person with a disability and their family.
9. The scheme would reframe support as investment rather than charity. Timely interventions, appropriate aids and equipment, training and development would become investment in individual capacity rather than welfare. The scheme would therefore lead to more positive results for people with a disability, their families and carers as well as being fiscally responsible.
10. All Australians would benefit from this scheme because disability can affect anyone, anytime. Everyone will benefit from building a more inclusive, more diverse community.
Here is some recent correspondence recieved. Any person interested in helping out can contact the people involved or make your feelings known to your local elected representatives and get them to do something about it.
D.J.HUNT
Dear Friend
I had my right leg amputated above the knee in 2005. After this setback I was fortunate to have had the opportunity to continue work in our own small steel fabrication business.
August 2010 I finally had to except that I could not continue in this venture as with degenerating joints and age must look to apply my talents in another area.
In February this year I had the opportunity to be invited to a NDIS (National disability insurance scheme) forum to explain up and coming changes being proposed to the disability system.
At the conclusion of this meeting I was approached and asked if I would be interested in being a NDIS Champion this position would entail the following.
* Support the distribution of email information about upcoming NDIS forums in your area
* Lobby your local MPs – both sides about the need for and NDIS and how it has the potential to transform lives – and tell local media about it who always want to hear personal stories
* Build strong support from people inside and outside the disability community based on learning about the current problems and the solution that NDIS offers
I have decided to accept this opportunity to support the NDIS campaign.
Dear friend over the years I have the opportunity to meet and hear the stories of many people with disabilities. I have recounted these peoples experience to friends but then moved on with my own life as most people do unless it directly affects you. Even after the loss of my own leg I had still carried on this practice of recounting stories of people with disability then move on with my own life not accepting myself as being disable.
It is now the time to take action and not do as I and many others have, and continue the practice of in action as the example above states.
All I ask of you is if you know someone who is struggling in the disability system and would like to voice their feelings on this system.
Please feel free to pass on my E-mail address on to a friend in need and do not just delete.
With communication and Understanding we can achieve
Wayne Maitland E-mail: marjmaito@ozemail.com.au
44 Riverstone Road Gordonvale 4865 Ph: (07) 4056 1304 Mobile: 0439 760 025
Ten Reasons Why We Need the NDIS
1. The support system for people with a disability, their families and carers is in crisis. If you, or someone you love, is born with a disability or acquires one later in life, you all run the risk of falling through a huge hole in Australia’s safety net.
2. People with a disability and their families and carers want to participate in the social, economic, and cultural life of the nation. But there are many barriers to their full inclusion.
3. Lack of support and services means families are primarily responsible for meeting the needs of their family member with a disability. Many families are struggling with high rates of physical, emotional and financial stress.
4. The current situation is inequitable – people receive different levels of support depending on how, when and where their disability was acquired.
5. An economic crisis is looming. The number of people with a disability is increasing and the number of people willing and able to provide unpaid care is falling. This means the cost to government is expected to escalate dramatically in the future.
6. A National Disability Insurance Scheme would provide people with a disability and their families and carers with the regular care, support, therapy and equipment they need. As a Medicare-type scheme, it would provide a secure and consistent pool of funds for these services and support.
7. It would be fair, efficient and effective. It would focus on early intervention and delivering those supports which produce the best long term outcomes. It would maximize opportunities for independence, participation and productivity.
8. It would be individualized and person-centered. Support would be based on the choices of person with a disability and their family.
9. The scheme would reframe support as investment rather than charity. Timely interventions, appropriate aids and equipment, training and development would become investment in individual capacity rather than welfare. The scheme would therefore lead to more positive results for people with a disability, their families and carers as well as being fiscally responsible.
10. All Australians would benefit from this scheme because disability can affect anyone, anytime. Everyone will benefit from building a more inclusive, more diverse community.
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