Latest News

Monday 5th September 2005

News Corporation is unlikely to face ASIC investigations into the news that it cooked the books by misrepresenting Ansett's financial records when it sold Ansett to Air New Zealand in the late 90s. Some sources suggest News Corporation offloaded Ansett before it was likely to invest a further $500 million to fix up the airliner because it was $700 million in the red. However in 2001 the airline collapsed without any prosecution by Australia authories on News Corp's activitives before their sale to Air New Zealand. Although thousands lost their jobs neither Air New Zealand or News Corp would not comment on the humours. However most the blame was set on Air New Zealand who were unware of the state of Ansett's financial records.

Tuesday 6th September 2005

The Telstra debate continues with claims that more then 50% of Telstra customers do not have access to caller ID display services on their landlines. According to documents received by us Telstra not only under invested $4 billion on upgrades but customers with no access to caller id are unlikely to receive the service if the sale of Telstra is passed in the Senate. While its British equivalent British Telecom plans to spend over $3 billion every year for the next 5 years to strengthen its Network infrastructure.

Thursday 8th September 2005

It seems that in some parts of NSW the Australian Bureau of Statistics have been cooking the books in regards to Australian Statistics. In both the 1996 and 2001 surveys of private boarding schools who received ABS forms allowed students to sex up by writing inaccurate personal details which lead to increased funding for the Private schools and less funding for public schools. one source revealed that "the school does not care what i write , i just pretended to be a 65 year old grandmother, its not like the school going to read what i wrote because its invasion of privacy". In addition in one instance a unnamed city in Sydney saw its popluation fall from 145,000 to 140,000. However its true population is over 150,000 meaning less funds for the local council which is distributed by the commonwealth government.

Monday 12th September 2005

The planned takeover of Patricks Corp by rival Toll Holdings is likely to be approved by the ACCC. GB Oz News believes that strict conditions that Toll will place upon themselves will be supported by ACCC. Eventhough a takeover would have seen the likelihood that Virgin boss Richard Branson will purchase back Virgin Blue from Toll which he established to begin a tug of war in the airline price war with Qantas. However the cost of Air fares are likely to be raised by at least $15 due to world oil prices and the cost of improving Sydney Airport's security. However yet again OPEC's promise that it will increase production of crude oil may not assist Australains. Despite this petrol prices may peak up to $1.70 per litre if the Federal government does not cut the excise tax. The excise tax of 38 cents goes into the Federal Government's coffins so consumers should be aware that prices could be cheaper by at least 38 cents even though the government will not intervene. However the tax is used for funding for public hospitals and infrastructure. Despite this it is likely that the excise tax willl be reduced over time by the 2006 Federal election.

Saturday 17th September 2005

The axing of The Price Is Right from its 5.30pm slot is a indication that more frustration at Network Nine exists as it aims to find a long term replacement to fill the void. In the short term is a likely that Friends or Frasier may fill the void but in our opinion a tv show like Seinfeld would be a blessing since it on sold the rights to Network Ten in the early 1990s. Perhaps Nine needs to establish a show such as Afternoons with Kerri-Anne or even Family Feud, either way its ratings in the 6pm -7pm slot continues to suffer. However in Network Seven case it needs to punt on programming such as IMAX or National Geographic on Sundays at 6.30pm and 24 at 8.30pm with a late movie at 9.30pm to combat Network Nine's dominance.

Monday 19th September 2005

Middle East's first superheroes out to change their world.Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it's Jalila, the new Arab super heroine, coursing across the sky, black hair flying, in her battle to right the wrongs and ensure that justice prevails in West Asia. Egypt's homegrown comic characters offer young readers much-needed powers, writes Ed O'Loughlin.Sara Kareem is not particularly mild-mannere but, like Daily Planet reporter Clark Kent, she leads a double life.By morning the 25-year-old literature graduate teaches English to Egyptian businessmen. But in the afternoon she assumes her alter ego, one of a small but dedicated team working high above the streets of Cairo to use super powers to save the Middle East.

"It's a very nice job in the sense that I don't have to deal with reality," she says. "I can do whatever I want."Launched in Egypt last year, the Middle East's first home-grown superhero comics are trying, in their own small way, to change the world."There is common throughout history these stories of Hercules, Achilles, the pharaohs - every culture created superheroes," says Marwan al-Nashar, 30, managing director of AK Comics."A superhero is a role model, someone to look up to, to make you hope things can be changed for the better. People look at the television and see there is war, there is occupation in the Middle East. Kids need superheroes and the sense of pride and optimism that you get from them."Since February 2004 AK Comics has been publishing monthly titles based on four main characters. Zein is a mild-mannered Cairo philosophy professor who is also the last of an ancient line of immortal pharaohs, using lost technology to save modern Egypt from other revenants from a more powerful past.Jalila is a mild-mannered young scientist who secretly gained superpowers when - yes - she was irradiated during a terrorist attack on Dimondona, a thinly disguised reference to Israel's nuclear weapons facility at Dimona. She juggles her day-job with the task of saving the "City of All Faiths" - read Jerusalem - from being dominated by the warring Xenox Brigade and United Liberation Front. You can work that one out for yourself.

Aya the Princess of Darkness is a mild-mannered law student driven to secretly fight crime when her mother is framed for her father's murder. Expert in martial arts, forensics and disguise, she rides a big motorbike.

Rakan is a wild-mannered warrior who overcomes a crippled childhood to roam the war-ravaged wastes of a medieval Middle East, dodging savage beasts, wizards and armies of crusaders and Muslims in search of his slain master's daughter.

Heavily influenced by American powerhouses DC (Superman, Batman) and Marvel (Spiderman, X-Men), with their emphasis on individual powers and weaknesses, AK comics also draws on the more recent trend (exemplified by Britain's 2000AD comic and its progeny - Judge Dredd, Alan Moore's Watchmen, Frank Miller's Batman: The Dark Knight Returns) of setting personal struggles in a noir political context.

With the exception of Rakan, all of AK's characters live in the near future, in the aftermath of "The 55 Years War", at a time when terrorists and criminals threaten a fragile peace. While clearly Middle Eastern, the characters are not assigned any ethnic or religious identity in the interests of neutrality. Published in Egypt in both English and standard literary Arabic, the comics have recently begun to target other Middle Eastern countries and have picked up subscriptions further afield.A number of Jewish organisations subscribe in the US and there are two dedicated readers in Australia.This year AK Comics made its debut at the massive international comics convention in San Diego and secured a world distribution deal with industry giant Diamond. "People have told us that the words Middle East and hero don't get put together very often," Mr Nashar says.

For founder Dr Ayman Kandeel (the company name refers to his initials) AK Comics is both a labour of love and, he hopes, a paying proposition. He spent four years in Los Angeles working with US writers and artists, and preparing the ground for a superhero invasion of his native Middle East.

Mr Nashar said the comics now sell 15,000 copies per issue and are about to break even. Pilots are already being made for a prospective TV series to go out on Arabic satellite channels.Meanwhile, the comics have to cope with the Middle East's cultural sensitivities. A lack of experienced local artists means that most of the strips are being produced by artists in Brazil. To avoid creating a costly scandal the company had to ask them to tone down the pneumatic physiques and skimpy costumes of the female characters.

For Sara Kareem, the comics' subtexts - pro tolerance, peace and female empowerment - are the main attraction of the job. "I have a vision of how we see the Middle East in the future and I think I share this vision with Ayman Kandeel and Marwan, that we don't like what is going on right now and we want to make lots of changes and we can't do it in reality … [so] we are trying to do it through comics," she said. AK comics website can be found on the links page.

Tuesday 20th September 2005

GB OZ NEWS congratulates Susan Crennan as the second female judge appointed to the High Court.Justice Crennan, who was born in Victoria, has been a justice of the Federal Court of Australia since 2003.She began her legal career as a barrister in NSW in 1979, where she read with the then Commonwealth Solicitor General, David Bennett, QC. She later returned to practice in Victoria.Justice Crennan was appointed a Queen's Counsel in 1989 and became the first female chair of the Victorian Bar Council, a position she held from 1993-94. She was also the first woman president of the Australian Bar Assoc, from 1994-95.For the first time since 1982, the High Court will have two Victorian justices.Justice Crennan replaces Michael McHugh, who is retiring after 17 years as a High Court justice.The Government sought to appoint someone who has demonstrated, through the quality of her jurisprudence and her leadership, that she has the confidence of the legal profession and the broader Australian community," Mr Ruddock said today."The essential criterion for judicial appointment is merit, but merit means legal excellence, a capacity for industry and a temperament suited to the performance of the judicial function," he said.

Monday 3rd October 2005

In a effort to lower the ratings on Mondays for Network Nine, Network Ten and Seven have conspired together by agreeing to show on Monday's at 8.30pm episodes of Numb3rs rather then repeated episodes of Law & Order so Network Seven's Grey's Anatomy receives more ratings. Previous tv ratings have shown that repeated episodes of Law & Order have been very sucessful and screening Numb3rs benefits Network Seven which would become a future partner with Network 10 for the next round of AFL tv rights.

Tuesday 4th October 2005

Film stars Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes took their relationship one step further yesterday with rumours that Katie is likley to be pregnant with Tom's first biological child. Tom has two other children with whom he adopted with former wife, Nicole Kidman. Isabella is now twelve. Connor is ten.Tom Cruise is currently on location in Los Angeles shooting Mission: Impossible 3. However the impending wedding of TomKat is expected sooner rather then later.

Friday 7th October 2005
The world's large anti-virus vendors have proved to be hopelessly inadequate in coming up with an effective anti-spam solution. Despite having a top of the range anti-spam filter installed, we still get loads of spam coming through to our inboxes daily. Meanwhile, our anti-spam folder is jampacked with legitimate messages that we have to retrieve. So it's comforting to know that good old Aussie ingenuity is around to save the day. The only problem is that no one seems to be taking any notice. The company, New Millennium Solutions, has been around since 1997, and its product, Total Block, has been available for the past three years. The way it works is based on a simple acknowledgement protocol. If you receive an email from an unknown address, the system blocks it and asks the sender to verify who they are. Once the senders do that, all future emails from that address get through. Spammers, of course, will never verify who they are and therefore their emails don't make it to your inbox. New Millennium Solutions chairman Peter Stewart believes his company's product is nothing less than the solution to the world's spam problem. "However, we can't get any interest from the ISPs or email providers," he says.

In case you don't have the patience to wait until a US company buys New Millennium Solutions, you can find out more
at www.totalblock.net.

Friday 21st October 2005

Acording to online sources Australia's reason for not tendering for the expected $800 million wheat bound for Iraq was to allow its coalition partner the U.S. to gain the contract for which it was the lone bidder. This was due to a agreement between Canberra and Washington allowing Australian sugar exports to the U.S. which were not in the FDA and thusly allowing the U.S. to have a future monopoly for wheat exports to Iraq despite years of Australian wheat which is favoured amongst the people of Iraq.

Wednesday 26th October 2005

Two of Labor's most successful former leaders have tonight attacked the Federal Government's planned IR changes. The former prime minister Bob Hawke says it strikes at the very essence of the Australian character - the idea of a fair go. In a speech in Sydney this evening, Mr Hawke accused the Federal Government of slavishly following American policies in foreign affairs, and now Labor relations. The former PM said that We, in this country, have already paid far too high a price for the Americanisation of Australian foreign policy under the Howard Government, including our unqualified identification with the dangerous and self-defeating American adventurism in Iraq. But the damage that that has done to our country is as nothing compared to what this move down the path to an Americanization of labour relations in Australia. In the USA, minimum wages are just US $5.15 an hour and have not increased for eight years, leaving hundreds of thousands of the poorest working families living below the poverty line. The Government's proposal for a Fair Pay Commission, rather than the Industrial Relations Commission, to set the minimum wage was a subject of derision for Mr Hawke. The mere existence of a FPC would I put a simple question - in whom can the low paid workers of this country have the greater confidence that their meagre income will at least maintain its real value? Firstly, permanent members of a tribunal with a century-old tradition - going back to Higgins and the harvester judgement - of concern that they not be left behind. Or, (b) a body made up of fixed-term members appointed by the Howard Government whose reappointment depends on the whim of Government? He described the IR reforms proposed laws as conservative ideology gone mad, Labor's longest-serving prime minister claimed Australia's very core beliefs are under threat. What John Howard is proposing is not just an attack upon an effective, independent conciliation and arbitration tribunal and a free trade union movement. It is an assault upon the very core of what generations of our citizens have been proud to boast of - at home and abroad - as the essence of the Australian character. The 'fair go', the belief that might is not right, that it is not those already with privilege who should be protected by Government, but the most vulnerable in our society. Despite this Federal Government's majority in both houses of Parliament, there's little they can do to stop the proposals from becoming law. One will never know whether such a refrom proposed in 1980s will be effective in the 21st century, however it may be years before one can comprehensively say its benefits outwait its disadvantages if any exist. Although the future of generations of Australian employees will be at risk whatever outcome transpires. The Workplace Relations Amendment (Work Choices) Bill 2005

Monday 7th November 2005

The war of tv ratings will be even harder for network 10 due to the fact that 7 is screening the Winter Olympics and Nine the Commonwealth Games. Despite this Ten needs to concentrate on the 16-35 yrs old audience to cement its place. This can be achieved by showing on Sundays Monk at 6.30pm, Joker Poker at 7.30pm, Law and Order Criminal Intent at 8.30pm and NCIS at 9.30pm. The probelm with Seven is failings at its Sunday night slot perhaps its line up should be 6.30pm National Geographic, 7.30pm Las Vegas, 8.30pm Alias and 9.30pm the Sunday movie. The move of Bert Newton to Nine could see Nine's line up become as normal however Bert could have his new tv show called G'day Australia with Bert Newton in the 1pm-4pm time slot after Dr Phil and have Days of Our Lives and The Young and the Restless following it. The prized 5.30pm slot will no longer exist because the The Young and the Restless will be in its time slot. Network 7 in the meantime should rescreen the British thriller CI5: The New Professionals on Saturdays and Largo following it or rescreening Vertias: The Quest. The current time up on Saturday's Rosemary & Thyme and Judge John Deed is failing simply because Saturday's are not important to Networks but the tv series of The Phantom may change that or repeat screenings of Batman and Batman Beyond cartoons may assist Nine with Ten showing TMNT cartoons . However it will be reasonable to assume that the West Wing, Two and a Half Men, Smallville, Gilmore Girls, Malcolm in the Middle will return over summer because of lower ratings earlier in the year. Although the new tv series Everybody Hates Chris based on the childhood of Chris Rock will become a instant hit for Network Nine on Mondays when the ratings period begins again in Feburday. While 7 has the rights to the hit US series Comander in Chief. Network 10 needs a facelift by allowing Kath Robinson or Ebbeny Farrandah to become newsreaders over Summer. A tv series by one of the networks called Australia's Century of Change Since Federation could give one network more ratings next year. Also networks could have a show called Unilife where they go behind the scenes of Australian Universities comparing them from 20 years ago to the present. The Networks have a abundant of ideas however the finance necessary for these projects do not exist. One interesting fact is that network 7 may not know that since MGM was purchased by Sony it may lose the Australian rights to Las Vegas and Crossing Jordan to Nine in the future will suffer lower ratngs than Ten by being more reliable then ever on the success of Lost and Desperate Housewives due to its ancient deal with Disney which proves yet again Nine is not still the One.

Tuesday 8th November 2005

In the U.S. the Senate moved the digital TV transition one step closer to reality on Thursday, setting a firm date for television broadcasters to switch to all-digital transmissions. Lawmakers gave broadcasters until April 7, 2009, to end their traditional analog transmissions. The so-called "hard date" was included in a sweeping budget bill. The bill also would provide $3 billion to help millions of Americans buy digital-to-analog converter boxes for their older television sets so those consumers will continue to receive a signal once the switch is made permanent. However in Australia the Howard Governnment have no plans to subsidise set top boxes unless a impending election may comprise promises of subsidises for all Australian householders to purchase set top boxes for their analog TVs when the anlog signal expires. Currently only 12 per cent of Australian households own a set-top box, the technology that converts analogue TV to digital. Also the Federal Government still has a ban on multi-channelling, which means free-to-air and the new digital services can't be seen on the same television. It appears likely that it'll be 2011 before every TV will need a set-top box for viewers to see free-to-air channels and pay services. While in Britain, UK citizens can listen to digital radio via digital TVs which is banned currently in Australia. Although Australians have to purchase a separate digital radio which can cost up to $1,200. The ones who suffer are the Aussie battlers where television is a luxury and if the reason why digital set top boxes cannot be incorporated will both digital radio and tv spectrum is simply a mystery or perhaps both medians will lose valuable advertising revenues which is not in either's best interest . Otherwise the buck stops with the Commonwealth Governement where the media industry heavyweights are at its crossroads for change.

Wednesday 16th November 2005 WHY REFORMS MAY NOT BECOME LAW The argument by all sections of the community that the High Court of Australia is the last avenue to overturn the any IR laws is incorrect. According to Australia's constitution two other individuals can strike down any changes to Workplace Relations Reforms. According to the constitution "The Governor-General may return to the house in which it originated any proposed law so presented to him, and may transmit therewith any amendments which he may recommend, and the Houses may deal with the recommendation".
Also according to section 59 "The Queen may disallow any law within one year from the Governor-General's assent, and such disallowance on being made known by the Governor-General by speech or message to each of the Houses of the Parliament, or by Proclamation, shall annul the law from the day when the disallowance is so made known".
So will the ACTU change its approach? because its not a question of time but a question of if the Head of State his Excellency Major General Michael Jeffery will listen to the people which he represents which is either defined as the people protesting yesterday against changes to IR reform or their representatives in parliament. Unfortunately time is of the essence even though the Fathers of Australia's Federation established a nation where a fair go is given to every Australian and the IR reforms do not reflect that at all but rather making families further drift apart at a time where the institution of the family will be struck at its core if IR Reforms become law. The bonds and friendships of all Australians will be strengthen in the future while a nail in the coffin will be occur for the future of the commonwealth governement.

Thursday 1st December 2005

It seems where people apply for jobs in call centres their personal information is used in reverse to see if they have any bills which they have not paid yet. Even though this is a breach of the Privacy Act of 1988 and Amendment of 2001. Despite this no government minister or authorities including the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman has attempted to close the loop hole in the law meaning once again the privacy of the individual is invaded without their consent. The Privacy Act is a worthless and its time for worthwhile penalties be imposed on companies who for years see it simply as a piece of paper rather then a law enacted in the Commonwealth of Australia to prove that in Australia the battlers are just as important as corporate Australia.

Saturday 3rd December 2005

The beautiful, intelligent, exquisite and talented Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban are headed for the altar according to friends close to the couple. the pair was spotted in Boston in early November and Nic's wedding finger was dressed with some serious bling. It is rumoured to be a three stone 4-carat piece, with one massive center emerald cut stone, with two emerald cut diamonds on each side valued at $100K. The wedding could be expected as soon as Christmas, New Years Eve or even Valentine's Day. Also Jesscia Rowe is expected to take on the reins as co-host of Today next year but netwok 10 will fight her in the courts demanding that a clause in her contract states she cannot work for another network for 6 months. In other news the intelligent, exquisite and talented Channel 10 newsreader Natarsha Belling will be taking a step back from the Sydney social circuit - she and husband Glen and expecting their first child. One of the gang of newsreaders who are regulars at Sydney's top parties, the 30 year old reads the 11:30am news and weekend bulletins. She'll return to work after maternity leave. GB OZ NEWS congratulations Natarsha and her husband on expecting their first child which will part of the Generation Z.

Sunday 25th December 2005

Today is a day is pray for the lives and assist those who are less fortunate then the candy, turkey or presents. Its a time to reflect the true story of christmas where St Nick gave to the poor rather then thinking of himself. Its time to pray for all the people in the world who suffer from disease, proverty, loneliness and no home to go to. GBOZ news will pray for the people, victims and suffers of the tsunami because the Australian people were at the heart of tsunami relief and together all Australians shall help are fellow neighbours because the real spirit of Christmas will forever live in hearts of all. We wish everyone a safe christmas and a happy new year in 2006.

Tuesday 26th December 2005

A END OF A ERA FOR AUSTRALIA WITH THE DEATH OF A GREAT LEADER AT THE AGE OF 68

Kerry Packer, who died overnight on Monday, was remembered on Tuesday as the man who changed the shape of Australian television and sport. Mr Packer, Australia's richest man and owner of the media company PBL, died overnight at his Sydney home with his wife, Ros, son James and daughter Gretel by his side. He was 68.

Kerry Packer had suffered major health problems, including polio when he was a child, and a major heart attack while he was playing polo at Warwick Farm in Sydney in 1990.

After the heart attack, where he was revived with portable defibrillators, he famously said: "I've been to the other side, and let me tell you son, there's f****** nothing there."He underwent a heart bypass surgery later that year, but had a second heart attack in 1995.

In November 22, 2000 he received a transplanted kidney donated by pilot and friend Nicholas Ross.

Packer's empire included PBL, the Nine Network, magazines including the Australian Women's Weekly, to petrochemicals, heavy engineering, ski resorts, rural properties, diamond exploration, coalmines, supermarket coupons and casinos.

Packer headed BRW magazines list of Australia's most prodigious moneymakers with a personal wealth of $6.9 billion. He was also the country's biggest punter, wagering millions at a time at racetracks and casinos, and one of its toughest and shrewdest business operators. He once netted more than $700 million by selling Channel Nine to Alan Bond, then buying it back from him three years later.

"An Alan Bond only happens to you once," he said after spending $300 million buying back the Nine Network from Mr Bond who paid $1.05 billion in 1987.

He turned the cricket world upside down with his World Series revolution in 1977, which ended with him getting what he wanted in the first place - the rights to televise top matches.

On Tuesday, players and officials held a minute's silence on the second day of the Boxing Day Test between Australia and South Africa at the MCG.

Channel Nine commentators Richie Benaud, Tony Greig, Ian Chappell and Bill Lawry described Packer as a generous, charismatic man who had a great sense of fun and was a lateral thinker towards the way cricket was televised.

"Cricket the world over, I don't think, will ever know how different things would be without Kerry Packer," Tony Greig said.

One of Packer's most trusted lieutenants over the years, Lynton Taylor, said Packer would leave a great legacy.

"He knew everything that was going on in his business, he loved television to the point of obsession, he dealt with his businesses on a day to day basis even up to Christmas Eve," he said.

"He will leave a great legacy."

Another former Packer lieutenant, Ian Johnson, said Packer was a highly creative and influential television programmer who protected the programmes he loved.

Former GTV 9 managing director Ian Johnson, a director of Packer's Publishing and Broadcasting Limited (PBL) before defecting to the Seven Network in 2003, said Packer's programming ideas were "very clever" and an "innovative influence on Australian television".

"He had an enormous influence on television in this country," he told Southern Cross Broadcasting.

"Things like 60 Minutes and the Sunday show were all him - and the Today show."

Nine Network presenter, the journalist Ray Martin, said Packer always demanded excellence and would come down "like a ton of bricks" on anyone who failed him.

"(But) he was similarly quick to praise," Martin said.

"He intimately got involved in television, this was not just a business for him, it was something that he loved."

Federal Treasurer Peter Costello called him a giant of the TV and publishing business in Australia.

"He had an instinctive feel for public opinion which allowed him to build the Nine Network with a galaxy of popular shows and entertainers," Costello said.

"He was also a philanthropist who was generous in giving to charity."

Advertising guru and Packer family friend Harold Mitchell said James Packer was ready and able to take the reins of the family empire after Kerry Packer's death.

Mitchell said Packer's son James was tough and clever, and would quadruple the business.

"James Packer, well known of course but always the son of Kerry Packer - I can tell you that he's a tremendous fellow," Mitchell, chairman of Mitchell & Partners, Australia's largest media buyer, told ABC Radio.

"He's financially literate, he's tough, he's strong, he's clever.

"It's never easy to be the son of a great man, and James has had to live with that but, as I said to James, he'll take it on and he'll double it, quadruple it. He agreed with his son James that once told him 'Internet is like electricity. The latter lights up everything, while the former lights up knowledge'. Kerry Packer died peacefully in his sleep. GBOZ NEWS sends its condolences to the Packer Family.

Monday 2nd January 2006

The US President George W. Bush has begun the year grappling with a political hangover from 2005. The questions that is on everyone's lips in the capital who filp flopped on George W Bush's internal security agenda. He's again staunchly defending a controversial domestic spying program. It follows fresh reports that the secret surveillance met resistance from senior members of the US Justice Department. The New York Times is reporting that a high-ranking Justice Department official had concerns about it and the program was temporarily suspended.The newspaper reports that in 2004 White House officials, including the now Attorney-General Alberto Gonzales and the President's Chief-of-Staff Andy Card, visited the hospital bed of then Justice Department head John Ashcroft to plead for it to continue. The Justice Department has begun a criminal investigation into who leaked details of the National Security Agency's eavesdropping program. But Democrat Senator Charles Schumer says the leak investigation is a diversion. "There are differences between felons and whistleblowers, and we ought to wait til the investigation occurs to decide what happened". And he's demanding that current and former Bush administration officials, including the Attorney-General, be called to testify to a Senate inquiry. While the White House may try to deflect a congressional hearing into the wiretapping, Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito is sure to be quizzed about the checks and balances on presidential power when his confirmation hearing begins next week. In Australia we ask ourselves is Privacy simply a myth since the 1988 Privacy Act does not count government agenices within the letter of the law. In 2006 we face further from breachs of privacy ranging from Biometric passports, Australian ID cards, increased surveillance from Australia's Pine Gap satellite spy facilities, millimetre-wave imaging.The technology - millimetre-wave imaging, which detects radiation emitted by the body is being trialled at airports in Britain and the United States. It is billed as an electronic strip search, but civil liberties groups have raised privacy concerns, as well as fears that images, particularly those of children, could be misused. So it seems the only privacy one has in 2006 will be at the ballot box.

Monday 16th January 2006

HFPA goodies for Sale on Ebay

With only hours until the 63th Annual Golden Globe Awards one major questions remains. Why do members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association who receive goodies from studios after a period of time sell them on Ebay making more money then they deserve. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association which after more then half a century remain a shadowly group of individuals voting on awards for a elite group of actors who deserve more then they currently receive. The scam is simple as ABC, they receive goodies from studios, when inturn selling it on Ebay making a reasonable profit without any oversight. I believe every SAG actor knows the truth but remember at the end of the day the general public and viewers love the glitz and glamour of the Golden Globe and good luck to all actors in all their respected categories because any award is a treasure that history will never forget.

Thursday 9th February 2006

Hygiene in NSW schools Kept Secret by NSW Health Department

Hygiene in public and private school toilets compared to staff toilets are below what is recommended according to health standards. The health department has taken a blind eye to a issue that all parents should be worried. Even though one Private school in the South West had their student toilets closed by the Health Dept due to Hygiene and a lack of sanitary disposal units . Although this may not be such a new issue according to the NSW Commission for children and young people survey which showed that over 80% of students surveyed didn't like using school toilets while 56% felt they were unsafe and in some cases private school toilets were much better than public school toilets in terms of design and hygiene. In addition older toilets that weren't renovated were worse than their renovated counterparts,many toilets were dangerous (poor lighting, ventilation, water on floors, no toilet seats); privacy was a problem (locks were broken and door heights were insufficient); some bathrooms were cleaned infrequently. However the core of the issue is that sanitary disposal units were not available in some primary schools. It can be emphasised that yet again this is a factor when parents choose between public and private schools. Despite the fact parents should take it upon themselves in P & C meetings to raise the issue for the sake of their children's health.

Monday 27th March 2006

The U.S administration has started plans to invade Iran after it ceases it operations in Iraq. At the moment a timeline has been established due to the hawks in the administration aiming to finish Bush's presidency on a positive note. It is expected any invasion will occur in 2007 or months before the 2008 election. However online sources suggest the addition funds for Iraq which is now over $400 billion will be put aside for the future. In other news the Democarats have still not lifted their since's Bush's low ratings have not affected their numbers. Although the 2008 Democratic nomination is likely to be a race between Hillary Clinton, Senators John Kerry of Massachusetts, Joe Biden of Delaware, Russ Feingold of Wisconsin, Evan Bayh of Indiana and former Senator John Edwards of North Carolina. On the Republican side the most likely candidate would be Senators Bill Frist of Tennessee, George Allen of Virginia, Sam Brownback of Kansas and Chuck Hagel of Nebraska. However the most likely Presidential contender would be John McCain whose influence and political power and support base equals that of Senator Edward Kennedy.

Friday 14th April 2006

IAN THORPE STRUCK BY 9/11 DUST

Ian Thorpe has been diagnosed with a strand of glandular fever, that is likely to stay with him for the rest of his life. But the swimming star is on the road to recovery, returning to the pool this week, a Sydney newspaper has reported.Coach Tracey Menzies says Thorpe is still not 100 per cent, and says he will always have to be aware of the possibility of the sickness returning. Menzies says that if Thorpe's immune system becomes suppressed there is the chance that glandular fever could come back.It was this mystery illness which caused the swimming star to pull-out of the Melbourne Commonwealth Games last month, after seeking the opinions of several medical specialists. However gboznews believes that the Thorpe's illness is directly linked to he's vist to New York during the the collapse of the World Trade Centre on September 11 2001 Today, thousands are being treated for so-called 'World Trade Centre cough' which may have poisoned thousands of people involved in the rescue and clean-up effort.The billions of microscopic particles contained asbestos from the tower structures, lead from 50,000 computers and dangerous levels of alkaline from concrete. In the days following the attacks, the head of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) declared that monitoring revealed air safe to breathe. As a morale booster for the whole country, authorities re-opened Wall Street. But last month, a judge described the EPA reassurance as 'misleading'. The US Federal Court has cleared the way for dust inhalation victims to file a lawsuit against government authorities. They will argue they were given false assurances they could return to the city and that this directly lead to large-scale respiratory illness.

Monday 24th April 2006

Thousands of Uni Students Outraged at myUniAssist

The Going to Uni Website which allows students to access their payments loan debts via myUniAssist system does not work. Many thousands of uni students have complained that they cannot access their personal details even if their personal details are correctly filled. Yet again the Commonwealth government have spend millions of dollars on a system that does not work and only offers errors instead. This is just another waste of taxpayers money on technology that is unworkable. As one uni students said "I've attempted on numerous occasions but it does not display my details what a load of rubblish". It just proves next time perhaps before 6 months of its implementation to university students it should have been tested which makes more common sense.

Sunday 18th June 2006

NSW Labor Government's last Nail in the Coffin

A Sydney lawyer will this week challenge the bureau's authority to impose traffic fines since it moved from being overseen by the NSW Police to the Office of State Revenue in October 2001.
He claimed the NSW Government did not make proper legislative changes when the move was made and that all fines issued since then were illegal. But the Infringement Processing Bureau said today the case would only affect matters where a person challenges the infringement notice and goes to court. The bureau said that occurred in less than five per cent of cases."People who did not elect to go to court and have paid their infringement notice will not be affected by any decision, so the issue of refunds does not arise," their statement said.

"The matter is being vigorously defended." NSW Opposition Leader Peter Debnam said it could be another case where NSW taxpayers had to pay for government mistakes." I know the Government is saying it only applies to cases that have been taken to court, but I think you'll find that there are thousands of motorists who would disagree with that," he said. "The bottom line with this thing is that the Government simply hasn't done its homework. We see this time and time again, legislation going through parliament, and it ends up costing tax payers a fortune."

Friday 6th September 2006

FREE PETROL FOR MP'S FAMILIES WHILE TAXPAYERS SUFFER IN THE DEEP POCKET

FEDERAL MPs and their families have received almost $1 million worth of free petrol, courtesy of the taxpayers. The fuel bill for their cars, which are also paid for by taxpayers, shows politicians pumped 756,000 litres of free petrol into their vehicles in the year to April.

The figures were provided by the office of the Special Minister of State, Gary Nairn, after a request by the Herald. The individual fuel bills for MPs were not available, a spokesman said. But the Family First senator, Steve Fielding, said his call for a fuel tax cut of 10 cents a litre - which would cost $3 billion - had been rejected because politicians do not pay for their own fuel and "don't feel the pain of families and small businesses struggling with skyrocketing petrol prices".

MPs have the use of three petrol cards, allowing them to fill up at BP, Shell and Caltex. The car can be used by the MP, their spouse and staff, and in some cases as the family car when the MP is out of town. MPs also have access to chauffeur-driven Commonwealth cars.

Federal MPs from NSW used 179,000 litres of petrol, at a cost of about $232,000.

Mr Nairn's office said the cost of the cars, petrol and servicing was part of the salary package for MPs set by the independent Remuneration Tribunal. Just like senior public servants and executives in business, the Government said, it was part of the cost of doing their job.

Prices at the bowser have risen sharply in the past year, but the Prime Minister, John Howard, has rejected calls for a fuel tax cut, saying motorists are paying more because of the high world oil price.

Senator Fielding said he welcomed the revelation about the public cost for MPs' fuel. "If politicians are being responsible about their petrol use, they should not be worried about making their bills public."

He revealed his fuel bill for the period from November last year until June 30 this year: $1993.

Peter Andren, the Bathurst-based independent MP who has railed against the high cost of MPs' perks, said he used a taxpayer-provided Magna Verada and free petrol to visit constituents and to drive to Canberra instead of flying. He has clocked up 55,000km this year and it is estimated his fuel bill is $7000.

"I think I can totally justify the cost of the vehicle," Mr Andren said. "It's an absolutely essential part of my doing the job."

He added that he did not claim the $190-a-night Canberra allowance. He said other perks, such as printing costs that were set by the Government, were less justifiable and renewed his call for the Auditor-General to be put in charge of all entitlements.

An Australian National University political analyst, Norm Kelly, said all entitlements should be brought under the control of a single independent authority to stop governments increasing "amounts of slush money to incumbent MPs" to boost re-election campaigns.

Labor, the Greens and the Democrats last night began a Senate debate to try to stop the Government increasing the annual printing allowance for MPs from $125,000 to $150,000, which critics say is aimed at funding promotion for next year's election campaign. A 7 per cent pay rise for MPs, which will take the wage of a backbencher to $118,950, was approved last night.

Thursday 7th September 2006

FEDERAL MP'S BONANZA

FEDERAL MPs who entered Parliament at the last election are set to have their superannuation boosted after it was cut in 2004 under pressure from the former Labor leader Mark Latham.

A bipartisan push by federal backbenchers to increase the superannuation has been under way for some months and now has support at the most senior levels of the Government.

Senior Coalition sources have told the Herald they were backing the push and feared that unless the super was increased it would be harder to attract talented people to politics and could also breed corruption.

The Government, with Labor backing, is prepared to legislate to increase the employer-funded (in this case taxpayer-funded) superannuation contribution from 9 per cent of salary to 15 per cent, the equivalent to that of senior public servants, including the politicians' advisers.

If the federal law changed, pressure would be on the states, including NSW, to follow. They also ended their generous schemes in 2004.

In February 2004 the Prime Minister, John Howard, ended the generous superannuation scheme for MPs in response to pressure from a populist campaign by the newly appointed Mr Latham.

MPs elected from 2004 and onwards became ineligible for the old scheme, which paid a tax-free pension, indexed for life, to those who stayed in Parliament for more than seven years.

Under the new scheme, MPs received the minimum community standard of a 9 per cent employer contribution, with no pension. Ministers and backbenchers tried to talk Mr Howard out of yielding to Mr Latham at the time but "he was genuinely spooked", a source said. "He said we have to do this to neutralise Latham."

Mr Howard eventually got the better of Mr Latham, who lost the 2004 election and later retired under the old scheme on a pension of about $80,000 a year.

Since the new scheme was introduced, many of the 37 new MPs have griped about being worse off than their colleagues.

Both parties said it had become more difficult to lure candidates from versatile backgrounds who had steady, well-paid careers, because job security in politics was volatile.

Senior ministers also told the Herald that the potential for corruption had become a concern, with any MPs who were working without a safety net if they lost their seat potentially open to temptation to use their position to feather their nest as a form of financial security.

A Labor frontbencher said yesterday that his party would not oppose government legislation to increase the superannuation contributions. To lessen an expected backlash, backbenchers from both parties have written to the Remuneration Tribunal, which sets MPs' salaries and entitlements. The tribunal, which is independent, is not responsible for superannuation, but the backbenchers have requested a recommendation that would be used to justify the change.

Once the recommendation is received, the Government would act, a minister said.

A request has also been made for a form of redundancy payment for MPs who lose their seats after one or two terms. But this is yet to be agreed upon.

THEN AND NOW

MPs elected before 2004

Contributed 11 per cent of their own post-tax income. If they had served more than two terms they received lifelong, indexed and tax-free pensions based on positions held and length of service.

MPs elected since 2004

Receive a 9 per cent employer contribution.

What's being requested

Increase employer contribution from 9 per cent to 15 per cent.

Possible redundancy package for those who lose after one or two terms.

Friday 30th September 2006

ZINC MATRIX POWERS UP FOR FUTURE SALES
It could be a Cinderella story for Zinc Matrix Power of Camarillo.

The relatively unknown rechargeable battery developer is poised to lead the industry to a new level when its silver-zinc battery debuts at the Intel Developer Forum in San Francisco on Sept. 26-28.

The battery initially will be marketed to laptop and cellphone manufacturers and possibly later to the military, government and retailers.

Ross Dueber, president and chief executive officer, was recruited a year ago to move the high-performance battery out of the lab and into the marketplace.

He said it's taken 10 years and $32 million in research and development to come up with a viable alternative to lithium-ion batteries.

"We believe the market-the computer electronic industry-is very receptive to a safer alternative to lithium-ion batteries as long as it performs comparably," Dueber said.

Timing for the debut of the Matrix battery couldn't be better. Last month Dell Inc. recalled 4.1 million notebook computers because some of the lithium-ion batteries manufactured by the Sony Corp. can overheat and erupt in flames under certain conditions.

"We knew that something like this would happen," Dueber said of the recall. "It wasn't a question of if, but when."

Dueber said his company's product is the next step in the evolution of rechargeable batteries.

The state of California regulates the three types of rechargeable batteries currently on the market-nickel cadmium (NiCd), nickel metal hydride (NiMH) and lithium-ion (Li-ion)-as hazardous waste and prohibits disposing of them in landfills. In July, the state required retailers who sell them to have in place a free program that provides a way for consumers to dispose of the spent batteries.

Silver-zinc batteries, on the other hand, contain no lithium or flammable liquids. Not only are Matrix batteries safer but they have twice the run-time of lithium-ion and are better for the environment, Dueber said.

Additionally, the materials in the Matrix battery can be reused and recycled. Dueber said a refiner can extract silver and zinc from the used batteries for use in making more-what's called

cradle-to-grave-to-cradle technology.

Matrix batteries can't be used as replacements, because its electronics must be compatible with the device it's used to power. The battery has to be made to a device's specifications, Dueber said.

By the end of the year or early in 2007, Zinc Matrix Power plans to release its battery to one or more computer manufacturers for testing. If successful, Matrix will configure its battery to the computer products.

Before Dueber arrived last September, the company had offices in Westlake Village, Santa Barbara and Camarillo. Dueber centralized the facilities in Camarillo, where they occupy about 25,000 square feet of office space in an unassuming complex south of the 101 Freeway. It's here that the company conducts research and development and smallscale prototype manufacturing.

Tyco Electronics will oversee the high-volume battery manufacturing, Dueber said. "I like the manufacturing and business climate of Camarillo, it's very receptive," Dueber said of the decision to move here.

The city's amenities and relatively affordable housing prices also make it easier to attract talented employees, he said.

Camarillo seems to have responded with open arms. Thomas Kelley, Chamber of Commerce president, said he is impressed with Zinc Matrix, and said high-technology businesses bring in high-end, wellpaid professionals.

"We love this kind of company in Camarillo and the Chamber," Kelley said. "That's the ideal business for a community like Camarillo."

Of the company's 36 employees, seven, including Dueber, hold doctoral degrees.

The retired Air Force captain has a lengthy academic background that has propelled several careers, including chemistry professor at the Air Force Academy and vice president of a global heating, air conditioning and refrigeration company.

Zinc Matrix Power investors include Intel Corp. and the U.S. Army.