Gas being rationed in Perth WA

I can't believe it. Why can't we all just rug up more and allow businesses the gas they need to provide their services to the community? We should all be able to use gas for cooking, but not for heating. We live near the river and we just rug up more. I think it's a bad thing for business to be hurt, then they will have to lay off staff as we have seen, but the unemployed will be kept warm? Go figure...and what about the oil and gas companies who made such huge profits last year? Why isn't there some sort of Government regulation during times of state duress. Surely, one gas explosion shouldn't put the state at such risk and more importantly for small to medium business as well as industry that supplies milk, pork, linen services etc to be put under soo much pressure, who mind you still have to pay a hefty payroll tax, just because they employ workers...

hmm something is wrong here ????

Petrol Prices

The prices of petrol here in Perth and like the rest of the country are rising so fast, you would think that the Rudd Government would consider cutting the tax on petrol. I also wondered if fuel watch would keep prices competitive. The news today are reporting that possibly fuel watch could have the opposite affect and is the cause of pushing prices up higher.

Well, regardless I believe our state government should review our prices in comparison the petrol companies profits and the prices of petrol around the world.

Budget 2008

Well Australian's have been delivered our Budget from our newly elected Government.

Well, the rich will have to work even smarter and harder.

• The baby bonus will be means tested. Those that earn over $150,000k will not get the bonus for having a baby. I guess that's fair, but do we have any spending analysis on what families below $150,000 use the baby bonus for? Is it to buy more baby goods or a new plasma screen TV or the latest $1500 pram? Would only the rich invest the money for their newborn baby, or am I just saying that the middle to lower class wouldn't do the same? Maybe the Government should not only means test by income, but reward families that save and secure their child's investment future, by part investing the bonus?
  
  
• Okay, Tax the rich fine. But, make it reasonable for employers who are part of the rich who work extremely hard to make an inch of profit, employ Australian's to only pay taxes that are for the benefit of economy, not a negative tax like the "Payroll Tax". This tax hits growing small to medium businesses who have to start paying a 4% tax of the total amount of salaries of $650,000 threshold. If the Government wishes to tighten the earning power of small to medium businesses who have families, they will be less likely to expand and employ more workers. The undercurrent of unemployment will be one to watch. Small to medium businesses are the biggest affected sector (millions and millions of them) of payroll tax (taxing for employing people to work) and the red tape of employment contracts and unfair dismissal laws. Don't disenchant this hard working sector.
  
  
• Environment - I am not sure if there was any increase in subsides for households that adopted power saving equipment in the home. The $4,000 subsidy still made it another $4,500 that you still had to pay if you want to add solar to your electricity grid. I think households should not have to pay $4,500, but more like $1,500 - $2,000. More affordable environmental solutions need to be provided for.
  

I realize I need to get more and more involved in what these changes will mean for everyday Aussie's and those affected by the Tall Poppy Syndrome.

How do we stop one hit punches?

I am glad our state Labor Government is making the "one hit punches that cause death" sentencing harsher. My question is, why is this becoming more and more common in Australia? I spent the good half of 2007 in the USA and not once heard about a death due to a 'king hit'.

It seems that alcohol and longer bar hours are to blame? Then why is it so prevalent in our society right now. When I was going through the nightclubbing stage, I never witnessed punching and fighting in the street. What makes it so different now? Why are males so apt to snap whilst intoxicated? What is that saying about why males are going out with the view to get "smashed" and fight?

Is it pressure of the day that makes them drink through the night? What undercurrent are we missing here?

I don't know but it is so tragic when you hear of a bright future destroyed in one night. Maybe one day, Governments will impose compulsory breath testing units set up along the breadth of the bar and use fingerprint technology to keep track of who you are and how inebriated you actually might be. Maybe one day drunken "king hitters" and "drunk drivers" will be a thing of the past.

Drugs in our sport

I was watching a doco on the German doping scam back in the 70's I believe and it was appalling to learn how the German swimmers were given male testosterone without their knowledge and discover the saddening side affects that stills plague them today.

Right in our backyard, footballers in the NRL and AFL codes have had top stars come out and confess to heavy long term drug use. It seems even our glorious swimming team cannot escape drug scandals, with a retired Olympic swimmer being caught dealing and manufacturing drugs.

How come they are not held accountable by police or by the justice system and not forced to provide information of their suppliers? I think clubs should be also fined if they do not provide an adequate system of more widespread drug testing. Why is it random? Why in this day and age can't we have every single player tested before and after each game? Surely, someone can come up with a technology that removes a drug official having to watch the athlete providing a sample?

Our liberal party (Perth, Australia)

Now I am not sure that the world knows but Australians are quite blaze about our politicians and Government, except maybe Melbournians who sip red wine and discuss Victorian politics. Aside from them, the rest of us Aussie don't really care that much. I think we think that compulsory voting is enough.

Mind you I am pro-compulsory voting with only 20 million people living in the size of the United States we need to make every vote count. Back to my point...I now think a new generation of media and internet savvy people are maybe starting to take an interest in politics in Western Australia.

I think the latest controversy with our political party here in Perth has made me think that it time now for me to voice my own opinions. The party has changed leaders many times in a number of years. Tales of in fighting and back biting. And now a demoralizing view of how Troy Buswell thinks after a few drinks towards women.

I am ashamed to say that I was once a strong Liberal voter. As a female I am not happy about Troy Buswell, especially when I have personally experienced men like Troy cracking practical jokes on intelligent women that are sexual in nature. It breeds a view that they will never change and will never really understand how in their minds "chair sniffing after a women gets up from her chair" or "unhooking a bra of a staffer as a joke" is demeaning.

Imagine if I went around shoving socks in my dacks and acted ape like to re-inact Troy Buswell in Parliament? Or held a lighter to his butt when he stood up?

When the shoe is on the other foot, I wonder how Troy Buswell would react. Maybe he needs to really work hard on changing his image???

If he doesn't he will lose the women voters of this state, like me, who never thought would even contemplate voting now for Labor!!!!!!!

My secret desire to be like Antonia Kidman

I can't help it. But how much fun would it be, being a mum and TV presenter like Antonia talking about topics I love, parenting, technology and social issues?

Maybe 10 years from now when I am nearly 40.