THE AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

Currently to join the Australian Labor Party one must first be a member of a union.
This, unfortunately, has one major outcome. The Labor Party is controlled by the unions.
Their policies are dictated by the unions. Their candidates are chosen by the unions and mostly decisions made by Labor politicians are influenced by their union affiliations.
It is my opinion that if the Australian Labor Party wants to remain a strong force in Australian Politics it must change.
Scrap union membership as a requirement to join. Candidates chosen by members in the electorate and do away with union factions among their elected members.

THE UKRAINE SITUATION

The situation that Ukraine and Russia find themselves in today is typical of many such problems that have occurred around the world in the past 100 years or so.
I will explain.
Many times the borders of countries and even countries themselves are arbitrarily decided on political grounds or even to satisfy external pressures. Too often this does not take into account the ethnicity or political leanings of the people affected. Sometimes even large populations that consider themselves to be a national group are left stateless. The Kurds in the Middle East are a perfect example of this.
Another example of this is Hungary where now more Hungarians live outside of Hungary than within. This occurred because of the arbitrary changing of their borders after wars.
i do not know what the future holds for the Ukraine but i just wish that the powers that be would let the people decide.

RUGBY LEAGUE

I know that many people follow rugby league in Australia. However it is only a SPORT.
I do not know why certain commercial TV stations in Australia spend at least 40 to 50% of their evening news broadcast on the subject.
We do not need to know that some overpaid player has a groin strain or that another did not turn up to training or that some player might transfer from one club to another.
Such items as these are reported at length to the exclusion of news that might affect every Australian.
I. E. The visit of the Prime Minister of Malaysia was not reported on the channel 9 news but 15 minutes of rugby non news was. Get real people.

AUSTRALIA THE LUCKY COUNTRY

I have recently returned from a road trip that took my wife and myself from the Blue Mountains west of Sydney Australia to Brisbane. a round trip of well over 2,000 ks. That is probably less than one third of the way along the east coast of Australia. My point. Australia; The largest island and smallest continent and we (Australians) own it all. We can travel freely the length and breadth of our nation.
We have a stable government, health care for all, free education and a wonderful care free life style.
Also there are not to many countries where in one day you can go snow skiing in the morning and diving on a world heritage  coral reef in the afternoon.
We have unique wild life. Fantastic beaches. A great climate. And, unlike the USA not everyone thinks they have to own a gun for protection, in fact we have possibly the lowest deaths per 1,000 head of population from gun crime of any nation in the world.
So, to my fellow Australians, stop complaining and just enjoy the fact that you live in the Best, Fairest, Safest and Most Free country in the world.

QANTAS AND THE UNIONS

Qantas the Australian airline is suffering severe financial difficulties and today I heard the head of the Transport Workers Union give his opinion about what should be done.
The airline has stated that it will have to shed up to 5,000 jobs over the next three years to stay viable.
The only offer from the TWU was reduce that number drastically or we will take industrial action (strikes).
Industrial action would only have the effect of worsening Qantas's position and increasing its losses. If that occurred the airline would either fold or have to reduce costs further.
Surely common sense would dictate that the union should work with Qantas management in a cooperative way to ensure the future viability of the airline and therefore the security of the jobs of employees covered by the TWU.

QANTAS

There has been much media speculation that Qantas, the Australian International Airline, will be allowed to increase its foreign ownership to over 50%.
I believe that Qantas is an iconic AUSTRALIAN company and how could we call it OUR airline if it is owned by foreigners.
The help that Qantas needs is the reduction of the many freedoms granted to its competitors and the unions involved in the airline to take a realistic look at the future of some of the extraordinary wages and conditions that their member now enjoy.
The last time I looked Qantas clerical staff on shift work get 5 weeks leave every 8 months and 3 months long service leave after 10 years. This compares with airline staff in America that get just 2 weeks a year and most receive no such thing as long service leave.
Unless common sense prevails we will see many many Qantas jobs disappearing overseas like Ford, Holden and Toyota. Those companies are just the latest in a ling list who just cannot afford to remain in Australia.

CHANNEL SEVEN SUNDAY NIGHT REPORT

Last night Australian TV Channel 7 showed video of the raid conducted on their premises by Australian Police forces. Whilst they played the video they dubbed it with the sound of NAZI boots marching and martial music.
I find this a disgrace as the raid was legitimate and based on information gathered and some that was available in the public domain.
To liken our Police services to Nazi storm troopers was most offensive to many Australians.
Channel 7 you have over stepped the mark this time. I think you doth protest too much!