A new sandpit for long side discussions, conspiracy theories, idees fixes and so on.
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A new sandpit for long side discussions, conspiracy theories, idees fixes and so on.
John Quiggin 
Notes of some areas of concern re politicised AFP
Slipper charge but severely flawed and failed prosecution,
No Ashby, Pyne, Roy, Brough, Lewis etc. prosecutions,
NBN pre-election raid no charges,
Colvin premature announcements :- AFP metadata accessing, ATO Deputy Commissioner no knowledge of son’s activities,
No charges re minister’s disclosing private details of Centrelink recipient,
Raiding lawyer’s office in Timor/Australia re oil claim and shared boundary,
Brandis and Colvin, of AFP, pattern here.
Trashing the rule of law like with Gleeson QC and Triggs both decent people.
Royal Commission ?
Since 17:14 I have noted Ashby and Pauline have been referred to the AFP and Brandis oh God ! It immediately brings to mind the concept of impartiality of the legal system and the police when both have been placed in issue in the light of the above. In appearing for say Ashby on a conspiracy to defraud the Qld. taxpayer any decent lawyer would be looking for a potential abuse of process argument and would be trotting out their inconsistent application of the law for apparent political purposes.
With our major highways increasingly being duplicated and bypassing the towns they once passed through, a once-venerable Australian tourism and travel institution may be in danger of being lost to history, namely the speed trap cleverly hidden just inside the highway town’s traffic zone. To preserve this part of our history, and to honour the many motorists who picked me up on hitch-hiking trips from Sydney to Melbourne and perforce stopped at Tarcutta, here is…
THE TARCUTTA SPEED TRAP SONG (to the tune of “Lights On The Hill” by Slim Dusty)
There’s a long straight hill just north of Tarcutta
The revenue-raising cops’ bread and butter
‘cos the 60K zone doesn’t start where anyone can see
It’s my very first chance for miles to pass
The caravans and other pains in the arse
And the cops waiting over the hill are a-trappin’ me
It’s a long tough drive on the Hume Highway
From Sydney to Melbourne it takes you all day
And my steed and I need provender that isn’t free
So my budget just covers food and fuel
But the state apparatus is callous and cruel
And the cops waiting over the hill are a-trappin’ me
The overtaking lane
Is a fast track to pain
‘cos it ends just at the crest
Too late I see the sign
And I can’t slow down in time
Even though I did my best
Speedgun radar has got me this time
And a smarmy smirker’s collecting my fine
And I can’t believe when he says it’s just about safe-tee
‘cos I’m lighter in pocket because of this rort
And I don’t have the time to contest it in court
And the cops waiting over the hill are a-trappin’ me
Repeat the last two verses then end.
Must go down forever in the annals of Australian cultural history.
Gobsmacked I am, truly rendered speechless.
I too am cynical about claims (by Government and Police) that speed-traps are not about revenue raising. The implied claim is “not ever about revenue raising”.
A 40 kph school zone near me has featured (on occasions) no extra warnings before the zone (except of course the 40 kph sign and the flashing lights which should be enough) but hidden Police with radar guns in the zone after the signs and more importantly after the school ki’s crossing itself (one with lights but kids can run against walk signs). If they were really serious about protecting the children the cops would be visible near the initial warning signs or hidden to trap speeders before the childrens’ crossing. The fact that they organise it a different way says something about their priorities or rather the priorities or targets handed down from on high.
Yes, people caught and fined will be more careful next time but one of them could kill or injure a kid this time. If slowed earlier the kid would be saved death or injury.
I think my logic is sound here and it demonstrated ambivalent or morally dishonest dual objectives somewhere in the road rules compliance and enforcement arena. I think the main dishonesty comes from governments which will not tax adequately and then uses fines, lotteries and gambling in general to plug the revenue gap.