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Punch on: Open thread 25/01/2011

Daniel Piotrowski

by Daniel Piotrowski

25 Jan 05:00am

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Filed under: Cannabis, Open Thread

175 comments

Here’s an interesting development in the UK on sentencing for drug dealing and possession. Have a squizz for yourself, but here’s the gist:

People who buy drugs to share with friends could avoid prison under guidance that also recognises medical use of cannabis.
Recreational drug users who naively buy small quantities to share with their friends could avoid jail under sentencing guidelines for drug offences published on Tuesday.

Yes, I know, it's the generic cannabis image.

If people are buying small quantities of drugs to share with a friend - should it be a big deal?

Some Australian jurisdictions have, for instance, decriminalised minor cannabis offences. Should it be like that nationwide? Possession remains a criminal offence throughout most of the country, although it’s often up to the police officer whether to charge a non-violent offender or divert them into an education/assessment/treatment program. Is that fair? What do you think?

There’s some more information at the bottom of the post for you to make up your own mind. And hey, it’s Wednesday. What’s happening in your world today?

Most commented

431Australia, you have nothing to fear but fear itself
390There's no one Thomson won't burn to save his skin
336Animal experiments won't cure me from cancer
313Thomson didn't answer the question everyone is asking
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231South Australia. It's the middle bottom bit.
231Craig Thomson speaks. Meanwhile, in Australia...

175 comments

Show oldest | newest first

    • Erick says:

      04:16am | 25/01/12

      The use and distribution of cannabis should never have been made illegal in the first place. This could be a small step in the right direction - but only a very small step.

      In other bad law news, last week three children were murdered as a result of legal sexism:

      ‘Dominic Maher yesterday said he felt let down by a system that had prevented him from seeing son Matthew, 11 and daughter Melanie, 13, for three years before they died.

      ‘Police believe mother Kylie Fowler, 36, argued with the children’s older half sister Sammantha Fowler, 18, before killing all three children, setting fire to the house and committing suicide.

      ‘Mr Maher, of Chigwell, said he had spent years locked in court battles with Ms Maher, but when it consistently decided in her favour, he eventually moved to Tasmania.’

      Such is the bias against men in our legal system that a loving father wasn’t even allowed to see his children - yet a murderous, unstable mother had sole custody! This is one of the results of the constant demonisation of men.

      Reply

    • Bertrand says:

      06:22am | 25/01/12

      With regards to the cannabis debate, you are indeed right, Erick

      The entire debate is one of hysteria, exaggeration and moral panic versus rationalism and good public policy.

      People who argue in favour of keeping cannabis illegal point to the fact that it has been linked to mental health problems and other possible health issues (although this is nowhere near as widespread as people think - about 1 in 6000 or 0.017% of users will develop schizophrenia and most of these people were already predisposed to it; in any given year about 1 in 2000 or 0.05% of users will be hospitalised because of their use. It has been estimated that cannabis user is at most 50% as harmful to the user as alcohol use, and 20% as harmful to society).

      So, people in favour of prohibition make the argument that cannabis use is bad, but invariably fail to explain why the prohibition model is the best one to deal with the harms caused by its use. I have yet to see a single person adequately explain why the prohibition model is the best equipped to deal with the negative effects of cannabis. The best I have heard is that it sends a clear message against cannabis use, but considering that it has had little to no impact on usage rates, this argument can easily be discounted.

      On the other hand, people in favour of a legalised and regulated industry can point to the many failings of the prohibition model - the power it gives to organised crime, the leaching of public resources to its enforcement, the lost opportunity for tax incomes from its sale to fund things like the healthcare costs of its use, the fact that it simply hasn’t reduced usage by any real measure (compare this to the current tobacco model, which has used income from tax to run public health campaigns that have significantly reduced its use), its criminalisation and stigmatisation of a significant minority of the community (at least 20% of people are regular users), and the inability of prohibition to control the type of product on the market all stand out as solid arguments as to why the prohibition model is the wrong one with which to approach cannabis use in our society.

      As I said, this argument is one of hysteria versus rationalism. Unfortunately, I think it will be a long time before rationalism wins out, because all the anti-cannabis brigade needs to do to win the argument is feed off the moral panic and negative stereotypes surrounding the drug and its users.

    • S.L says:

      06:28am | 25/01/12

      @Erick that’s why I’m puting up with my ex and her friends posting complete lies on Facebook. (They all have me blocked but I have one spy who keeps me informed. The spy approached me I didn’t seek her by the way).
      I’m only on Facebook to talk to my kids and I couldn’t care less about the new boyfriend I’m not supposed to know about or what her and her friends get up to!
      I’m still smiling and (painfully) nice when I pick the kids up (as I will be in an hour) as I know she can dish out abuse but can’t take one ounce back so I tread on egg shells.
      Should I have to? No, but what can I do?

    • Erick says:

      06:51am | 25/01/12

      Oops, I forgot to put in the source for the above story. Here’s the missing link.

      Read it all - it’s terrible.

    • Erick says:

      07:22am | 25/01/12

      Well said, Bertrand.

      Prohibition does far more harm to society than the drug itself could ever cause.

    • Al B says:

      07:32am | 25/01/12

      excellent post Bertrand, its unfortunate that in our democracy hysteria wins out more often than not. A state gov’t with some vision and gonads is surely not too much to wish for. They even have some overseas precedents now in Portugal and the ‘budding’ legal market in a couple of US states. Maybe the Libs in NSW will surprise us? Just have to hope for some influential gov’t figures quietly on the toke, there’s some in every one!

    • Bertrand says:

      08:15am | 25/01/12

      No chance there. O’Farrell came out the other week and used a study showing how widespread cannabis use in Australia is to deliver a spray at users.

    • Trevor says:

      08:51am | 25/01/12

      Amen Bertrand,

      One point I would disagree with you though is your assertion that it will take a long time for rationalism to win out. More and more countries are seriously considering full legalisation: Canada, the US and New Zealand amongst others. This is one of those rare issues which, without the hysteria, appeals to both the left and right side of the political spectrum. Handled correctly, legalisation of cannabis could be one of the issues that helps to bridge the massive divide that currently separates these two groups.

      I personally think that this issue will rapidly come to the top of the political agenda when governments seriously start considering alternate methods of fundraising in the wake of the ongoing financial crisis gripping the world. It’s a pity that it biols down to money rather than rational and commonsense public policy, but isn’t that always the way?

      Happy 2012 Punchers.

    • Chris L says:

      08:56am | 25/01/12

      Society so often seems keen to use hysteria as a first resort. Countries in Europe where it’s legal tend to have far lower crime rates than here or the US (there are likely to be other factors involved, but at least it proves the crime rate won’t automatically increase with legalisation).

      When you take into account that criminalisation was pushed for by private industry to remove competition from paper and textile companies, along with the fact that there are legitimate medical uses for this naturally occuring plant, it makes prohibition seem even more ridiculous.

    • Arnold Layne says:

      09:06am | 25/01/12

      @Erick - that’s awful.  I know you bang on about lots of stuff in relation to men’s rights but I’m right with you on this particular subject.  I was very lucky that the courts awarded custody to my father when I was a child, many years ago now, as my mother was far too mentally unstable at the time to care for my brother and I on a full-time basis.  She eventually recovered, after several years, which was wonderful, but my brother and I were primarily cared for by a caring father and stepmother. 

      There seem to be too many cases where the father is excluded from consideration when he has done little if anything wrong.  I can understand it, of course, if he is the one who has taken off or been abusive and/or violent, but, when the boot is on the other foot, why should he be further punished?  I’d have thought that a law that assessed each case on its merits rather than the current system would be far more reasonable.

    • Al B says:

      09:29am | 25/01/12

      saw the report about the sprays too ... have seen them in Colorado but there they do have the recreational as well as medicinal effects. raspberry

      There’s all sorts of non-smoking delivery methods available once u create an open, legal market. Really a no-brainer from a public health stand-point. But of course that would require pollies to have brains that operate as something other than popularity meters.

    • dancan says:

      11:06am | 25/01/12

      I like to have a joint for recreation occasionally and I also smoke when I have a migraine, believe what you will but I’ve never taken a prescription drug for my migraines that’s ever worked as good as a smoke.

      But I never really enjoyed smoking because I don’t smoke cigarettes normally and the idea of sucking down an unfiltered cancer stick is pretty horrible.

      But then I got myself a little vaporiser for $120 (inc p&h), best thing ever. Almost none of the detrimental effects caused by smoking without any smell, and without needing to burn the cannabis I no longer need to mix in tobacco.  It’s a win/win

    • patsy says:

      11:50am | 25/01/12

      I completed the “Alcohol and other Drug ” counselling course (with no intention of working in the field because I believe that only ex addicts are truley qualified, I just needed the education because of my son) and found that your brain is not fully devolped until you are 21. So don’t smoke pot when you are a teenager. If they develop a psyciatric illness later it is a drug induced psychosis and if the person didn’t smoke as a teen it is because they were already susceptble to the didease.
      I don’t smoke but wish it agreed with me, I just get a body stone. Apparently it would help me sleep and eat more. (yep, I’m a sick insect.) I have a courtesy bong at home for friends. With one in particular, we just say “Medication time.”  to quiten him down. He’s not a happy drinker.

    • Erick says:

      11:51am | 25/01/12

      @Adam Diver - That’s a very telling article.

      It’s all there - sexism, presumption of guilt, excessive bureaucracy, waste of taxpayers’ money, damage to families and children.

      So much material ... if only there was some kind of organisation, or profession, dedicated to news-gathering and analysis that could tackle these issues ...

    • Bertrand says:

      11:52am | 25/01/12

      @dancan - yep vaporisers are the way to go. A top of the line one will allow you to store your vapour in a plastic bag with a valve. This lets you take your vapour with you wherever you go, and no-body’s any the wiser wink

    • Chris L says:

      12:47pm | 25/01/12

      @Adam & Erick - There’s two things that make me wonder about that Bunyip article.

      First is there are some commentors below the article who stated they had worked for the Dept. of Human Services and that the situations tend to be very different (with families changing their stories and covering for offending members). Of course one has to rely on the integrity of the poster, but it’s the same with all posters and authors.

      Second is that whenever a child dies at the hands of their parents and it is discovered the family had previously been brought to the attention of DHS there is outrage that they “didn’t do enough”.

      Perhaps they’re focussing on the wrong circumstances while ignoring those in need, or perhaps they’re faced with a “damned if you do, damned if you don’t” situation.

    • nossy says:

      05:53am | 25/01/12

      @Erick - nice tool Erick but a bit blurry compared to the BOM Radar - or is it my PC?

    • Erick says:

      06:56am | 25/01/12

      @nossy - The blurriness is caused by the limited resolution of the BOM’s public radar feeds. There’s nothing that can be done about it, short of improving the quality of the radar data.

      Still, it’s a fun example of what can be done by combining services available over the Net! Who knows what they’ll come up with next?

    • Budz says:

      07:56am | 25/01/12

      I have always been a massive fan of BOM. My mates call me Tim Bailey, however I think my tan looks a lot better than his. But I do like to keep up to date with what is happening with the weather. I don’t want to be unprepared and get wet!

    • ibast says:

      08:13am | 25/01/12

      Thanks for that erick.  It was always a bit of a guessing contest with the BoM graphic

    • Mudguts says:

      08:47am | 25/01/12

      I don’t get it. What’s with the little blurry squares which keep dancing around my suburb?

    • Erick says:

      11:45am | 25/01/12

      @Mudguts - Those little blurry squares represent rain that has been detected by the weather radar. Of course, there may be errors sometimes, but in general I find the radar to be pretty accurate.

    • nossy says:

      05:50am | 25/01/12

      Sweet Mary Mother of Jesus we are going under here on the Gold Coast - send money, send food, send gifts, send more money and gifts!  hahha Someone up here has been very naughty and is being punished for his sins - not me I say!  I love Tony Abbott!
      http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDR662.loop.shtml#skip

      Reply

    • TimB says:

      07:23am | 25/01/12

      ....Nossy do you want Tony to don his budgie smugglers and come save you? Is that what you’re saying? raspberry

    • nossy says:

      08:15am | 25/01/12

      @TimB just came back from a beach run Tim and it is pouring! If you can ask Tones to be on standby to save us that would be appreciated Tim - dont care what hes wearing.

    • Aitch B says:

      08:30am | 25/01/12

      @TimB

      Might be a good idea, Tim. Nossy would then know whether he could genuinely call Tony Abbott a ‘knob’ in the future. smile

    • Anubis says:

      08:37am | 25/01/12

      What a horrfying mental image - Tony Abbott, Nossy and Gavin all in their budgie smugglers “saving” the Gold Coast. Turn away quick

    • Ben C says:

      08:55am | 25/01/12

      @ TimB

      No, he’ll reject Tony’s offers for assistance because he’s wearing budgies. Remember, it’s board shorts or forget it for good ol’ nossy raspberry

    • Chris L says:

      08:58am | 25/01/12

      It’ll be like another season of Babe Watch only instead of The Hoff we’d have the Bott!

    • jay-ded says:

      09:05am | 25/01/12

      Hahaha nossy.  Same here in brissie.  Had to turn back home halfway to work due to too much water - everywhere.  Now working from home again.

    • Rick of the Dustbowl says:

      11:29am | 25/01/12

      Yep Nossy I still think they should rename QLD Submarine Land

    • ausspud says:

      11:40am | 25/01/12

      @nossy
      I think mother nature is pissed your still in QLD,and as for gifts how about some floaties with pics of Combull on them.

    • patsy says:

      11:58am | 25/01/12

      @Nossy-I can only send you a happy thought. I spoke to a young lad at Mt Tambourine on the phone yesterday who was over the moon that most of his teachers wouldn’t be able to make it for the first day back at his high school.

    • nossy says:

      12:37pm | 25/01/12

      @patsy thanks patsy - god bless the young nipper - PM material if ever I saw it!

    • the_pseudonym says:

      07:15am | 25/01/12

      ‘Prime Minister Julia Gillard moves to keep her party on side.’

      Yeah, her front side.

    • TimB says:

      07:33am | 25/01/12

      lulz what?

      “All 102 MPs will workshop policy ideas and strategies, with one saying: “We will be getting the butcher paper and Textas out and solving the country’s problems.”“

      Oh goody. They’ve upgraded from scribbling things on the back of an envelope. I can rest easy at night now.

    • Chris L says:

      09:00am | 25/01/12

      @TimB - They’re still submitting their reports using newspaper clippings glued to cardboard sheets.

    • James1 says:

      09:21am | 25/01/12

      I’m pretty sure that MP was misquoted Tim.  Surely they said crayons, not textas.

    • TimB says:

      09:52am | 25/01/12

      I think you may be right James. That does make much more sense.

      Damn those News Ltd journalists and their constant misquotings. Badger will be outraged smile .

    • ausspud says:

      11:45am | 25/01/12

      Did’nt they just have a Labor love-in a few months back,if it’s a crisis meeting then i guess they should make it a weekly event.

    • acotrel says:

      06:19am | 25/01/12

      That cannabis must be good stuff.  That church leader who said ‘islam is the communism of the 21st century’ must have been smoking something strong !

      Reply

    • Trevor says:

      08:52am | 25/01/12

      It’s top stuff mate, you should give it a crack.

    • dancan says:

      10:20am | 25/01/12

      Yeah.  Crack.

    • Jeffrey Jane says:

      11:05am | 25/01/12

      ^^lol

    • Lee Enfield says:

      06:26am | 25/01/12

      I see the Unions are up to their old tricks again, with plans to hijack Australia day. Once again the unions choose a time when the most disruption to the public occurs as a result of their action. Choosing a public holiday for industrial action to cause maximum inconvenience to the public, is a dog act.
      Your gripe is with the Govt, not with the Australian people, there are other ways to hit out at the govt that don’t involve holding the public to ransom. To the hurt the govt the unions members could let people ride the public transport for free, or not process speed cameras. The union has the power to directly hurt the govt, but instead, they choose to hold the Australian people to ransom.
      Once again the Unions prove they are nothing more than Industrial Terrorists.

      Reply

    • the_pseudonym says:

      07:13am | 25/01/12

      ‘Your gripe is with the Govt, not with the Australian people, there are other ways to hit out at the govt that don’t involve holding the public to ransom.’

      Drop their financial support of Labor?

    • Bertrand says:

      07:17am | 25/01/12

      Very true - I support the general principles behind the union movement but do think that very often industrial action works against them not for them.

    • Shane From Melbourne says:

      11:01am | 25/01/12

      Which union is that? The Police Association? The Australian Medical Association? The Australian Industry Group? Yep, too many of these damn professional unions. Ban them all…..

    • AdamC says:

      11:15am | 25/01/12

      The problems with unions in Australia is that they are parasitic and destructive. Their modus operandi is to make industries uncompetitive and then scum subsidies out of the government to support unsustainable perks and entitlements for workers. The brouhaha at Qantas was an example of this process in action.

    • Mahhrat says:

      06:35am | 25/01/12

      I’ve never understood how cannabis is illegal but alcohol is legal.  The two seem rather identical in their potency and side effects.  Of course, I’m not a clinician.

      Reply

    • Al B says:

      07:35am | 25/01/12

      alcohol is far far worse in fact ... lost my stepdad to liver failure from what most Aussies would consider a regular (if generous) level of beer consumption. If he hadn’t been so worried about being criminalised as a cannabis user, he’d still be here today ... i’m quite sure of that.

    • ibast says:

      09:45am | 25/01/12

      There is a documentary about it.  It comes down to the fact that the cotton gin was invented in the US and cotton farming was so big.  Hemp is a direct competitor to Cotton, so the US campaigned throughout the world for the banning of cannabis.

      Still whilst I agree with the legalization, it is difficult seeing it happening given societies feelings about regular smoking.

    • Markus says:

      09:57am | 25/01/12

      Given that it is estimated you have to smoke near your entire body weight in cannabis to OD, I’d say alcohol is a hell of a lot more dangerous.

    • Knemon says:

      10:47am | 25/01/12

      @ Markus - You can’t OD on cannabis…believe me - I’ve tried many times and I’m still here!.
      rolleyes

    • Wynston Cruso says:

      12:23pm | 25/01/12

      Not at all identical Mahhrat, in fact alcohol is far worse for you, while pot has very few negative side effects and an array of benefits, alcohol is merely destructive. 10 thousand plus years of use, still no fatalities from cannabis use. Plus it’s the only thing that helps with my migraines, true story.

    • Chris L says:

      12:55pm | 25/01/12

      @Wynston - alcohol does have one benefit. It helps ugly people get laid. Plus I find it makes me into an excellent singer/dancer.

    • Wynston Cruso says:

      02:42pm | 25/01/12

      Touche Chris. Although weed does help with imagining what it would be like if one were to sing and dance.

    • David says:

      06:45am | 25/01/12

      “Welcome, comrades, to Gillard’s Labor Caucus Summit. Item number one, Gillard’s immediate resignation as Prime Minister.  All in favour?  Carried, unanimously.  Wait, Kevin, remove that smirk ... and you can’t have two hands up to vote!”

      Reply

    • nossy says:

      09:16am | 25/01/12

      @David my hand is up David - well not UP David but “up” David.

    • jay-ded says:

      09:35am | 25/01/12

      Thanks for explaining that nossy.  I was beginning to worry.  smile

    • David says:

      09:53am | 25/01/12

      @nossy.  Lol, yeah that’s good to hear.

    • NESLIHAN KUROSAWA says:

      06:51am | 25/01/12

      Hi Daniel,

      I feel that it is all good news for recreational drug users of Australia. Just like in Holland “you just have to say YES I will have a cup of coffee & a piece of cannabis cake”. Just be careful not to say NO in France or other wise you will be strapped to pay $58,000 or face one year in prison! 

      That presents a problem for me because I have always enjoyed saying NO & I OBJECT to drug use as well as other important issues concerning our basic rights such as FREEDOM OF SPEECH & RELIGION.

      Somehow I feel that with all the other more serious problems such as youth unemployment, lack of job opportunities, rising costs of health care for the aging nations like Australia, France & most nations in EU ZONE.  I just have to say what does all that have to do with the price of eggs, coffee & breakfast cereal anyway?  Which happen to be an essential part of any breakfast, right?  Kind regards to your editors.

      Reply

    • fox says:

      07:45am | 25/01/12

      You imply that marijuana law reform should take a back seat to “all the other more serious problems”.

      Tell that to the tens of thousands of Australians suffering from a multitude of illnesses such as cancer and AIDS who would benefit greatly from medicinal marijuana.

    • Mark says:

      11:20am | 25/01/12

      Ok so the thing you don’t get NESLIHAN KUROSAWA is that legalising cannabis allows for taxation of it. Given that approx 10-15% of any given population already use the substance illegally, think about the sheer $ value of the potential revenue from a tax of $1 per gram. It is a huge increase in revenue. Compare that with our current situation. We spend millions and millions of dollars on arresting users, prosecuting users and then locking up users for possessing a small amount of a naturally occurring plant, yet we let people who steal money from companies and violently assault others get away with good behaviour bonds. Does that sound like the right way to be spending money?
      Going on from that, imagine, if you can, what we as humans could do with the massive increase in revenue the government would have vs the massive cost decrease. It’s a win-win for everybody and yet, we still don’t do it. It boggles the mind how limited in thought people can be. You and every politician since Ronald Regan included.

      On a completely different note, you write like you’ve been hitting the crack pipe way too hard. Might want to either get off the gear, or learn how to structure a sentence properly. Just saying.

    • Mark says:

      11:21am | 25/01/12

      Ok so the thing you don’t get NESLIHAN KUROSAWA is that legalising cannabis allows for taxation of it. Given that approx 10-15% of any given population already use the substance illegally, think about the sheer $ value of the potential revenue from a tax of $1 per gram. It is a huge increase in revenue. Compare that with our current situation. We spend millions and millions of dollars on arresting users, prosecuting users and then locking up users for possessing a small amount of a naturally occurring plant, yet we let people who steal money from companies and violently assault others get away with good behaviour bonds. Does that sound like the right way to be spending money?
      Going on from that, imagine, if you can, what we as humans could do with the massive increase in revenue the government would have vs the massive cost decrease. It’s a win-win for everybody and yet, we still don’t do it. It boggles the mind how limited in thought people can be. You and every politician since Ronald Regan included.

      On a completely different note, you write like you’ve been hitting the crack pipe way too hard. Might want to either get off the gear, or learn how to structure a sentence properly. Just saying.

    • MarkS says:

      11:51am | 25/01/12

      Can you crew gum & walk at the same time. The fact that there are lots of other problems does not mean we should not do anything about the problems big or small that we can fix.

      If we take the postion that nothing should be done about anything until everything is fixed. Nothing can ever be done. Silly no.

      YOU enjoy saying no & YOU object to drug use, what about MY basic right not to have YOUR wish to say no, force ME to have no choice?

    • bec says:

      07:03am | 25/01/12

      My backyard is officially submerged.

      We’re gonna need a bigger boat.

      Reply

    • Elphaba says:

      08:13am | 25/01/12

      Hehehehe smile

    • Aidan says:

      08:22am | 25/01/12

      Duuuhhhh-dun…...

      Duuuhhhh-dun…...

      DundundundundunDUNDUNDUNDUNDUN!!!!

    • M says:

      07:29am | 25/01/12

      Tax and regulate cannabis. Any other measure is a pointless waste of time.

      Reply

    • stephen says:

      07:29am | 25/01/12

      People keep smoking pot they’re not gonna worry about your backyard or Erick’s missing link, (‘homesick, Erick ?’) or anything else except more pot.

      I think it’s called a captive market.

      Reply

    • Bring on the revolution! says:

      07:36am | 25/01/12

      As a smoker for thirty five years I wish to make a few comments.

      Firstly, the hooch that is hydroponically grown is full of chemicals. If a smoker of this poison has any underlying phsycosis? it will be brought to the surface and I’ve witnessed people being destroyed.

      It is best to smoke organic but due to the fact it takes three times as long to grow it is rare these days.

      Don’t do either. I smoke Kronic and other varieties that I either purchase on the net or buy over the counter. It is not illegal, does not leave the head fuzzy the next day, attracts taxes and GST and is a damn good smoke!

      I don’t have to hide it, feel like a criminal for my life choice but no doubt the nanny government will ban it but the chemical engineers will keep changing the recipe.

      People of all demographics smoke, a waste of resources to police in my opinion and I would advocate drug testing of all politicians because the way they behave and run our country, they surely must be on drugs! If not, what could possibly be their excuse?

      Reply

    • Elphaba says:

      08:08am | 25/01/12

      Banning drugs hasn’t solved anything.  I’m not a fan, don’t do them, and have lost friends to them - but banning them doesn’t work.

      The Govt might as well make them available in limited supply per user and tax the hell out of them.  It can’t be any worse.

      Reply

    • Mark says:

      08:15am | 25/01/12

      The thing about prohibition is, it’s never worked. Never has, never will and you are an idiot to think otherwise. I really am sick and tired of even having this debate. Anyone with half a brain can see the obvious benefits of decriminalisation except no one wants to disagree with the US on something they have such a strong opinion about.
      Richard Branson is even speaking up about the issue and wrote an article that was published in The Telegraph (Unfortunately, it is now removed from that site and the link I tried to post from Forbes is black listed)

      It is really just about time the Government’s of the world grow the hell up in regards to this blatant waste of human effort and resources.
      On another note, who the hell has decided that giving front line policeman discretionary powers is ok? These cops have no prerequisite to service except for 6 months at the academy. No University degree, no trade qualifications- why do we trust such menial workers to interpret the law? Seems like ridiculous responsibility for someone at that level of their careers.

      Reply

    • Mark says:

      10:24am | 25/01/12

      Thanks for the link Al- it’s just basic common sense really. Something politicians of the modern day are lacking, generally.

    • Al B says:

      11:23am | 25/01/12

      just gotta tailor the msg to their level of common sense ... think of the votes they can buy with all that excise!

    • holden says:

      11:51am | 25/01/12

      @Mark. Are you the same bloke who blasted the gentleman with the Japanese name because his failure to properly construct a sentence meant that he was a crackhead?
      Probably not, Eh. I mean the punctuation, (what there is of it), is badly attended to, and there are apostrophes where they should not be. periods neglected, sentences ending with prepositions, so I cry
      ” Goodness gracious me!”.
      None of us are perfect, Mark. Not even you.

    • jay-ded says:

      10:10am | 25/01/12

      How silly was that?

    • Wynston Cruso says:

      12:53pm | 25/01/12

      At least he won’t be breeding, thanks natural selection.

    • subotic says:

      08:21am | 25/01/12

      BAN EVERYTHING.

      Or legalise the lot. The WHOLE damn lot. Heroin. Cocaine. Crack. Ecstasy. LSD. Speed. You name it - legalise it.

      Legalise it all. Then approach the problem for what it is - Medical NOT criminal.

      Take the power AWAY from the police, give it to Health to manage via education, support and treatment, and then maybe the rest of society won’t have their business robbed at gunpoint, homes broken into, children dying in dark alley ways, and innocent people’s lives and futures destroyed by some stupid pot smoking criminal record.

      Drug users have health issues, which via our incompetent and outdated laws turn them into criminals. They are sick and need help, not jail time.

      But you gotta admit, banning everything does sound kinda fun…..

      Reply

    • Jim says:

      08:25am | 25/01/12

      I’ve always found it interesting that Cannabis is illegal given that it’s just a plant. I know that it can be grown with various chemical fertilisers in order to increase its potency but at the end of the day, it is still just a plant that grows in the ground (or a pot - no pun intended) Nearly all the other commonly used drugs, including alcohol, require some form of manufacturing process. While most cannabis is obviously cultivated, it still seems strange that a naturally occuring plant is against the law. As far as I know, the Coca plant is not illegal, just processing it into cocaine is; likewise the poppy.

      People wil claim that cannabis is a gateway drug; well that’s only because it’s illegal. If it’s not illegal then it’s not an entry into the world of illegal drugs, which means people will need to try harder drugs to enter that world.

      At least decriminalise possessing it for personal use.

      Reply

    • Brizben says:

      11:10am | 25/01/12

      The “gateway drug” argument is a fallacy.

      The gateway drug argument is made when drug agencies poll hard drug users and ask “Have you used cannabis?” They are starting from the conclusion (hard drug use) and trying to argue what causes the conclusion. If you asked hard drug users the question “Have you ever drunk Coca Cola?” you may find a similar response but that does not make Coca Cola a “gateway drug”.

      The correct way to determine if cannabis is a gateway drug would be to ask cannabis users if they have ever used hard drugs.

    • jay-ded says:

      10:13am | 25/01/12

      Shocked!  Horrified!

      Not really, I’m with you Anubis.  Our pollies would be able to get away with murder.

    • Mark says:

      10:46am | 25/01/12

      I am not surprised that a politician has done this at all, I am surprised that you think this is limited to The Government. The system of politics attracts the deviants of society who can manipulate a situation to their advantage. Think used car salesmen and you have the optimum career path for politicians. We demand integrity but accept anything but. We, the people have forgotten who truly hold the power in this society and think the only way to regain it is via some farcical election to choose between dumb and dumber.. We have no one to blame but our apathetic selves for the situation we find ourselves in where you can pretty much trust anyone more than the leaders of our nation. Ironic isn’t it.

    • Grant says:

      12:09pm | 25/01/12

      Hang on a minute!  This was reported in The Australian.  I’d like to read the audit paper before I believe anything that is printed in Rupert Murdoch’s tacky little rag.

    • Adam Diver says:

      08:27am | 25/01/12

      I missed this discussion last friday but I just wanted to throw my 2 cents in; from tory’s article

      “It will be a shameful day for Australia if it does not change its Constitution to both prohibit racial discrimination and recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. “

      WTF, I mean seriously.

      Reply
    • Tory Shepherd

      Tory Shepherd says:

      09:49am | 25/01/12

      Hey, Adam, glad you found it! Seriously, what? I’m really interested in the issue.

    • Adam Diver says:

      11:14am | 25/01/12

      Logic is not your strong point Tory, but hopefully you realise that opening paragraph is contradictory. Does anyone proofread the articles, or do you stand by that point?

    • Tory Shepherd

      Tory Shepherd says:

      11:30am | 25/01/12

      Of course I stand by the point, Adam. Discrimination merely means to distinguish between different people, different circumstances. To be racist about it is bad, but to do it to help the disadvantaged is a good thing.

      As I said in the comments, there seem to be a lot of people who cry ‘racist’ every time you talk about distinguishing characteristics of different groups, and I think that’s an arse-backwards kind of PC. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people overwhelmingly have poorer outcomes than non-indigenous, so breaking the cycle takes some positive discrimination.

    • Erick says:

      01:33pm | 25/01/12

      @Tory Shepherd - Discrimination is discrimination.

      You can’t be against discrimination, while at the same time promoting discrimination. “Positive” discrimination toward one group is negative discrimination toward all the others.

      You support racial discrimination. I’m opposed to it.

    • Tory Shepherd

      Tory Shepherd says:

      04:27pm | 25/01/12

      Wrong, Erick. There are different forms of discrimination - to help or to hinder people. Discrimination is happening all the time.

      Giving someone a pension based on their age, or physical ability is discrimination. We discriminate all the time based on different characteristics. We might give a homeless person a free bed. That’s discrimination.

      I reckon this gets to a point where really work from a different dictionary to me, so we can’t even have a reasonable conversation.

    • old fart says:

      08:34am | 25/01/12

      The only grass I have ever had ,was what came out of the arse end of a victa

      Reply

    • jay-ded says:

      10:15am | 25/01/12

      You’re not supposed to mow the marijuana old fart.  wink

    • old fart says:

      03:28pm | 25/01/12

      dont show your ignorance they are fresians.  Hessians are people who come from a certain part of germany or bags

    • fairsfair says:

      08:53am | 25/01/12

      I’ve made no secret in the past of my disbelief in Brisbane’s OBSESSION with all things weather. Yep, they are getting a bit of rain at the moment, but last night on the NATIONAL news for Queensland the first 13 minutes of the thirty minute program (including ads, sport and yep you guessed it, more weather) were about rain.

      Then, to hear that we are stuck with the shambolic state govt because the flood review has been delayed…. it is just too much. Not looking like we are having an election until May now. Thats an extra two months… two months allowing for more money to be wasted, more unperforming ministers to qualify for their golden handshake - it is just so very rage inducing. 

      Newsflash - rain comes from the sky. It is a natural occurance that has its place in the ecosystem. Sometimes lots of it falls from the sky and there is sweet FA you can do about it.

      Christ on a bike I am over hearing about it. For a capital city, they really need to get a life.

      Reply

    • nossy says:

      09:25am | 25/01/12

      @fairsfair   a BIT of rain FF!  Strewth. Gav and I just finished a cut short beach run in blinding rain - we were the only ones out (  bar a few surfies) and pissing ourselves laughing but for those further inland its getting serious. Then again you are from Nth QLD where they breed em tough!  hahah Maybe a NEW FLOOD LEVY may be called for!

    • TimB says:

      09:33am | 25/01/12

      “Maybe a NEW FLOOD LEVY may be called for! “

      Better bloody not be.

      If the QLD government hasn’t learned it’s lesson from last year and insured its infrastructure yet, I guarantee there will be hell to pay.

      Why should the rest of the country pay for the QLD governments stupidity?

    • Elphaba says:

      09:45am | 25/01/12

      Fairs, this was a brilliant read.  Nice work. smile

    • fairsfair says:

      09:48am | 25/01/12

      Nossy - its the wet season!! Like it or not Brisbane, you are a sub-tropical environment. WTF is wrong with people if they are not prepared for this type of event every year? With all the going on - people must be stupider than they look because all they talk about is rain, but then when it happens they are “blindsided”. Dumbarses.

      Bad things happen to good people. A measure of your character is how you respond and recover, not how you react at the time. The media is out of control.

      Breed ‘em tough my *rse. It is a human condition to cope with adversity. I can’t get over how stupid it is to put “The Smart State” on your numberplates and for Anna Bligh to have said that last year. How dumb.  How embarassing for our state.

    • jay-ded says:

      10:20am | 25/01/12

      Good one Fairs.  I agree with you on the Smart State tags as well.  Couldn’t believe it when I moved up here, but, at least we get to choose whether we want the “Sunshine State” plates or the “Smart State” plates.  Most people choose the sunshine state plates for some reason… 

      Did anyone else notice that it’s raining…  smile

    • jay-ded says:

      10:22am | 25/01/12

      @ Fairs.  Also, The Queensland election will be held on March 24, Premier Anna Bligh has announced.

    • fairsfair says:

      10:41am | 25/01/12

      Thank god Jay-ded! When I heard on the radio news last night that it was likely delayed I near smashed my office chair through the window of my house.

      Good thing I am on holidays as at 5:00pm today - I think it is best thing for not only just myself wink

      I’m a Sunshine Stater too. Smart State is the default option if you forget to check the box - given the lack up uptake, you’d think they just knock it on the head. Just another grandious Peter Beattie idea that failed…

    • Donny says:

      10:52am | 25/01/12

      @Nossy - Maybe a NEW FLOOD LEVY may be called for!

      Already have enough taxes/levies now Nossy, don’t give them idea’s for a new one (lol)

    • jay-ded says:

      11:05am | 25/01/12

      @fairs.  Yeah PB was going for the IT crowd - hoping most of the state would move that way.  Ha.  Bloomin idiot.

      Anyway, have a good break fairs.  Did you find out if you’re going for a 2nd interview yet?

    • seanr says:

      11:11am | 25/01/12

      I think what fairsfair is getting at nossy is that what you southerners call a ‘deluge’ we in the far north call….*puts on ray bans*...watering the grass…YEEEEAAAHHH

      (i’m sorry that’s the best I’ve got)

    • fairsfair says:

      01:06pm | 25/01/12

      PMSL seanr… or should I say Horatio…

    • jay-ded says:

      01:37pm | 25/01/12

      @fairs.  Was just watching Anna Blighs announcement (again) on the ABC.  Whoever did Anna’s eye brows needs to have their eyes checked.

    • fairsfair says:

      04:49pm | 25/01/12

      Haven’t seen it Jay-ded, but did she look like Jeanne Little? I hope so.

    • Trevor says:

      08:56am | 25/01/12

      Nuts to the UK recommedation. Full legalisation is the only way to go. The state has no business telling me what I can and cannot put into my body. Decriminalisation and the acceptance of ‘medical marijuana’ is just fluffing around at the edges and leads to even more problems trying to enforce.

      Such a sentiment should be enshrined in an Australian Bill of Rights if and when one is drafted.

      Reply

    • Shane From Melbourne says:

      11:06am | 25/01/12

      That’s fine, the state has no business telling you what you can and cannot put into your body as long as the state doesn’t have to render any medical assistance from the effects of what you put into your body. Lack of obligation is a wonderful thing…..

    • Al B says:

      11:26am | 25/01/12

      Shane can we please apply the same to alcohol, tobacco, cars, fatty foods, etc etc

    • Shane From Melbourne says:

      01:06pm | 25/01/12

      @Al B- Sure no problem. I’m all for that.

    • thatmosis says:

      08:56am | 25/01/12

      Just love this. Bowen is accusing the opposition of not budging on the   Illegal Immigarant policy. Why should they. There was a perfectly good policy in place before these buffoons scrapped it and opened the floodgates.
        They now have an opportunity to not only do the right thing for all Australians but actually get a policy that works and how i hear you say, adopt the policy of the opposition, thats right the one they chucked out after winning th election, it worked and it was sound.
      This whole sorry saga just shows what losers the Government and its hangers on are, where saving face is more important that having a policy that works.

      Reply

    • fairsfair says:

      09:02am | 25/01/12

      Another beef I have today. The tennis.

      Channel 7 - enough with the super slow mo replay of everything FFS. My god it is unbearable to watch at times. I get you have us over a barrel - you are the only channel with rights - but for god’s sake, could you at least try and make it a tiny bit enjoyable? A slow mo of Rafa picking his jock out of his *rse is not really required after every point. It gets better though, in Lleyton’s game the other night we had to have the super slow mo response of Tony Roche to each point - not pretty.

      Another thing. Women and men get paid the same prize money. Does anyone else think that that is ridiculously unfair? Men have to win best of five sets… women only three. Men have to work way harder. The men’s game is faster, more powerful etc… it is nowhere near as entertaining as the women (the Clijsters victory compared to the Nadal victory yesterday is a prime example).

      I just don’t get it. I think it is special treatment for the women.

      Reply

    • fairsfair says:

      09:24am | 25/01/12

      *as the men…

      The men are more entertaining to watch. Blinded by rage there sorry. So unlike me to make mistakes wink

    • fairsfair says:

      09:32am | 25/01/12

      the men…

      sorry - the men are more entertaining to watch. Blinded by rage there - so unlike me to make mistakes wink

    • HappyG says:

      09:33am | 25/01/12

      Fairs. Couldn’t agree more. Combine the painful slow mo’s with Bruce McAvenny’s anally retentive commentary and endless pointless stats ( this bloke shits me big time ) then you have a network that has managed to achieve the impossible. That is to take all the enjoyment out of what should be an annual sporting highlight. Perhaps we can get Kerry O’ Keefe to do the tennis…........at least it would be entertaining.

    • fairsfair says:

      09:53am | 25/01/12

      I need a lay down…. whats doing with the comments fairsfair?

      Oh agreed! Last night BMcA was on fire. In the final throws - the linesman had hardly finished the t on “fault” when he was firing with “and thats Rafas second double fault he’s been holding on to one for the past three hours”. How does he even do it? It is quite a talent but batshit boring sorry Bruce.

      Then… I watched a bit of the Clijsters reply. The amount of times they went on about the fact Kim had never beaten a #1 in a Major before “ooh I wonder if she knows”. I literally said outloud “ooh I wonder if she gives a f*k”.

    • SimonFromLakemba says:

      10:00am | 25/01/12

      @FairsFair

      Wake up on the wrong side of the bed this morning?..lol

      In regards to the tennis, super slow mo or replays are pretty annoying same as the cricket.

      RE: Men vs Women prize money.

      I don’t think it should be equal as men play more sets. But its not women’s fault they cant be as powerful or as fast as the men although Serena gives it a good go!.

    • fairsfair says:

      10:37am | 25/01/12

      Indeed Si - VILE mood smile

      The stupid antics of the cricket are quite funny though. You find yourself saying ooh - show us crack cam and thankful that someone took the pen off Bill Lawry a few years ago. That day he was circling the different breeds of pigeons in the outfield was a sad day for Cricket indeed. It just doesn’t as annoying and maybe it is because in Test Match Cricket particularly, you have time to review, look at strategy etc. In the Tennis, you seriously miss some of the game watching Rafa’s right arse cheeck wobble as he reaches for that backhand. What is the point I wonder.

      On the pay thing - phyical difference does not matter for me. You said it, women can’t achieve it - some try and get close, but in a general sense it just can’t be achieved. I don’t understand how we as a species can ignore this or try and reason it away as some sort of social constructed problem or a gender thing. My brother drives a cement truck - massively physical workload. You have to be fit, and you have to be fast. It is not just about being able to reverse up some pokey driveway with prescision. There is a woman at his depot that is paid just as much as he is - she does three loads a day, he does up to eight. She physically can not keep up with the boys even though she is very fit by women’s standards. It is grossly unfair that someone who performs at 40% capacity gets paid the same as someone who busts their gut. It has them all standing around wondering why they even bother dragging themselves out of bed at 4:00am every day (including weekends) when they could scoot on through.

      They either need to readjust the payscale or reduce men’s tennis to a best of three structure or increase the women to a best of five scenario.

    • SimonFromLakemba says:

      11:04am | 25/01/12

      @FairsFair

      I dunno about watching a 5 set Womens tennis match would be highly enjoyable. I could see a lot of 6-0 scores.

      The pay scale is a tricky one, good luck trying to implement it. In an office job equal is obviously fine but when it comes to manual labor I guess you can differentiate.

    • fairsfair says:

      11:54am | 25/01/12

      I agree Simon, but that is what irks me about the modern notion of “gender equality”.

      People are blind to our differences in their rediculous attempts achieve it. If they just sit back and looked at things in terms of what each gender brings to the table (in a physiological sense) we might see some industries develop where woman are more desired then men and paid more. In the whole scheme of things… that to me is equality.

    • MarkS says:

      12:11pm | 25/01/12

      The issue of pay is simple. 5 vrs 3 sets, whatever, does not matter.

      Professional tennis is entertainment. Who brings in the more money? I do not know, but who ever it is, they should get paid more.

    • SimonFromLakemba says:

      12:20pm | 25/01/12

      @FairaFair

      That would require common sense and logic, two things not commonly found.

    • Ben C says:

      01:03pm | 25/01/12

      @ fairsfair

      I’m grateful that Channel 7 doesn’t have sound with their super slow-mo vision. Imagine how painful it would be to listen to Maria Sharapova on super slow-mo.

    • Anubis says:

      10:00am | 25/01/12

      And the interesting poin thighlighted in that article is the one that the M Shepherds and other bleeding hearts conveniently ignore :

      ” the convention on refugees has always been that they must seek asylum in the first safe country in which they arrived.”

      In the case of the boatie economic refugees this country is often Indonesia or even further back in their travels. If they do not seek asylum in the first safe country they pass through then they are no longer considered as Asylun Seekers, under the fine points of the convention but are in reality illegal border hoppers (or country shoppers).

    • James1 says:

      12:24pm | 25/01/12

      The issue there is that, like all international conventions, it only applies to countries that have signed and ratified it.  As such, if the first safe country they arrive in is not a signatory, difficulties arise in terms of their practical ability to seek asylum in places like Indonesia.

      Perhaps an additional protocol to the convention that smooths this out is in order instead.  Something that stipulates they must be processed in (rather than seek asylum in) the first safe country.

    • Arturo says:

      02:45pm | 25/01/12

      @ James1

      “There are many arguments to be made against our current policy, the prime one being that it enables dictators to rid themselves of troublesome elements, and for failed societies to avoid confronting their problems; more pertinently, with birth rates in the most disastrous countries far outstripping death rates, there is no simply no foreseeable end (Afghanistan, for instance, has a fertility rate of 6.42 children per woman).”

      was the most telling comment for me.

      But I’m a little disappointed that the use of the refugee convention to establish Diaspora’s in richer developed countries to send lots of money home wasn’t highlighted.  Ala Sri Lanka now has a million or more of its ex-citizens firmly ensconced in the UK, the US, Canada, Australia, Europe etc all able to send billions of dollars home annually to relatives and family thanks to the years of senseless conflict and the 1951 refugee convention.  A model that other nations are sure to follow.

      I firmly believe that Israel is now setting the example on how to treat this flow of people using the 1951 Refugee Convention to seek a better life.

      http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/12/world/middleeast/israel-steps-up-efforts-to-stop-illegal-immigration-from-africa.html

      Build a fence so they can’t get in to claim asylum.

    • marley says:

      02:58pm | 25/01/12

      I don’t agree with the article in the Telegraph, but I don’t agree with the Court decision either.

      I don’t agree with the article because he is fundamentally wrong in stating that refugees have no rights.  They do, carefully defined in the UN Convention and doubtless in the British Immigration Act.  They are less than citizens, but more than guests.

      And the argument that Europe will be swamped by people fleeing overpopulated homelands ignores the simple fact that you have to meet the refugee definition, and fleeing a population boom isn’t part of it.  Those people can be turned back quite legally under the Convention.

      So, in my view we don’t need to discriminate;  we just need to apply the existing definitions properly.

      On the other hand, to my mind, the problem with the ECJ decision is that it places on Britain the responsibility for dealing with a Greek problem.  It is very clear under the Convention that Greece, not Britain, is the country with the responsibility to provide protection to genuine refugees reaching it.  The fact that the country is poor is not relevant to its obligations, nor are refugees entitled to choose the wealthiest country that offers safety;  they are only entitled to choose the first one that offers safety. If that means they don’t get the level of financial support or the job opportunities in Greece that they would in the UK, so be it.  It is a safe country and that’s all that should matter.

      @James1 - just to give you a quick bit of background, the reason refugees skip through Greece is because, although it is a signatory, it has a notoriously low acceptance level for refugee claims.  It wants the respectability of being a signatory, but not the price tag. 

      And the Dublin Convention was supposed to sort out the issue of asylum shopping within the EU.  It makes the first country of asylum responsible, no matter where the refugee eventually reaches. 

      It seems to me, then, that this ruling is specifically designed to bring down the Dublin Convention. That makes it a very far-reaching decision indeed, which will affect the Germans and Brits and probably the Scandinavians, and take the pressure off the Greeks and Italians.  Interesting times.

    • AdamC says:

      03:31pm | 25/01/12

      The problem is that the Refugee Convention is now a mechanism for people from the third world to obtain resettlement in the West. It was originally designed to allow dissidents in the second world to defect from Communist countries. As Marley has said before, the fundamental problem with asylum policy in Australia is that ‘persecution’ has been so broadly defined as to make it almost impossible to deny protection to someone from a dump like Afghanistan, whether or not they are being persecuted in the sense most people would use it.

      That, and the whole framework has become little more than an immigration racket.

    • Arturo says:

      04:11pm | 25/01/12

      @ Marley,

      But over population does clearly lead to conflict over limited resources.

      And then you the 1951 Refugee Convention kick into allow emigration.

      And the road to over population is roads and immigration is a road.

      I totally agree with the writers sentiment that the Refugee Convention of 1951 allows a country to get away with not dealing with the consequences of their over population in an acceptable way.  With some persecution and some conflict these over population problems can then be exported to other countries.

      I strongly feel that in a massively over populated world of 7 billion people (which is set to grow to 9.5 Billion by 2050 and who knows after that), where immigration of poor, low skilled and unskilled people is becoming increasingly zero sum or negative sum for countries then the refugee convention of 1951 and 1967 has out lived its usefulness as a document which is having a positive impact on the planet.

    • jay-ded says:

      10:27am | 25/01/12

      Hopefully she’ll be goneski!

    • fairsfair says:

      10:27am | 25/01/12

      I think she will be returned to power.

      People are wary of the fact CanDo does not currently hold a seat. I honestly don’t think they can get their head around how he can control the party from outside of parliament. Plus the uncertainty of him not winning ashgrove and the likelyhood of not knowing who the premier will be is putting people off.

      Plus, Katter into the mix - the seats he does win he will take off LNP.

      So I am of the opinion that she will lose seats, but she will still hold the majority. It is such a horrific prospect, but to see the pre-election polling showing that she would hold her South Brisbane seat with 70% of the primary vote is a pretty good indication of the difference between the people of Brisbane and the people of the rest of Queensland.

      Due to population density, a tiny geographic section of the state controls the outcomes for us all. Massive fail outside of the SE corner - it is a shame Brisbane can’t look past themselves. Most of our money comes from the Bowen basin and regional industry - yet it is mostly spent in the city. I don’t think Mackay and Townsville can tollerate crumbling infrastructure and poor services while they power things for too much longer.

    • TimB says:

      10:31am | 25/01/12

      Fairs will be happy. She’s fuming up above because it was looking like a May election.

      I know that the ALP are pretty on the nose up there too, but what’s the extent? Fairs? Jay-Ded? ...Nossy?

      Surely it can’t be as bad as the NSW ALP got towards the end of their reign here. We were salivating for that paticular voting bloodbath years in advance.

    • the_pseudonym says:

      10:43am | 25/01/12

      If Anna Bligh and her pension grubbing mates are gone, it’ll be one less Labor government for the rusties to face palm over and then try to defend (oops sorry, blame the LNP for being in opposition).

    • Sarahh says:

      10:54am | 25/01/12

      Geez fairsfair, give Brisbane a break.  We’re not that bad, surely?

    • SimonFromLakemba says:

      11:09am | 25/01/12

      @All

      That’s why I said it would be interesting. From all reports Labor are on the nose up there but I honestly believe that she will lose seats but hold on for the exact same reason Fairs says.

      Plus could this be an early peek into the Federal election? I think Liberals will win but not the landslide people are predicting.

      NSW Labor were beyond goooone. Barry will have another good 2 terms left up here before he faces any sort of opposition.

    • jay-ded says:

      11:19am | 25/01/12

      Totally inept TimB.  She’s already sold off everything that the state owned, brought in the “go” card and forced people to use it by upping the cost of buying tickets by over 50%.  Upped the prices on public transport again this year, has her mates heading up divisions that start and then cancel countless projects due to “cost”.  I could go on, but I’ve other stuff to do - what a total waste of space this woman is. 

      The only good thing I have to say about her is the way she handled the media during the floods last year.  Not enough to get me to vote for her though.

    • fairsfair says:

      11:33am | 25/01/12

      LOL Sarahh - its not really Brisbane’s fault - it is just the monster that Labor have created. Seriously though - look at the lead story on the Courier Mail… stinky Labor have have finally called an election and it is secondary to some doofus canoeing around his suburb….

      I would say QLD ALP are NSW level on the nose outside of SEQ. They are just your standard on the nose in SEQ.  I am not sure if it is enough to topple them.

      In all seriousness though - Regional QLD is hurting. We don’t really get a say with our vote, so I think something will happen (don’t know what) if she is returned to power. I think BobKat is on to something with this extra state thing. Queensland is quite unique by the fact is is so split, but I don’t think I would ever support it - I just wish our economy and industry was effectively managed, because there is more than enough to go around.

    • nossy says:

      11:35am | 25/01/12

      Bligh seems confident she has seen off big Laurence Springborg a few times and so far has run a solid smear campaign against the latest challenger young Campbell Newman who doesnt even hold a seat yet. Time in office will weigh against Bligh though.

    • ausspud says:

      12:10pm | 25/01/12

      @fairs
      Just hope you dont get a O’Farrell,the blokes a boob who’s in the wrong party.

    • Sarahh says:

      01:47pm | 25/01/12

      That’s the Courier Mail for you though fairsfair, it’s usually a picture of a child holding a kitten, so I welcome the picture of the canoe.

      But you’re right about the regional divide in Qld, and it would be nice to have stronger representation from those areas in parliament.  My parents have a property in South West Qld, so whilst I do live in Brisbane I’m also aware of how the government affects/doesn’t affect the rest of the state. 

      The problem I think is the size of the areas being represented by one person, there’s never going to be enough weight behind them to have a clear voice.  People like Barnarby Joyce, though divided as people’s opinions are on him, are great to see in the media because they do draw attention to the world outside SEQ.

    • the_pseudonym says:

      11:55am | 25/01/12

      Rates up there with the new version of Barbie Girl….....................Bogan’s rule.  Suck on a lamb chop, youse elites mwahahaha

    • the_pseudonym says:

      12:13pm | 25/01/12

      @me…......Bogan’s rule.

      I start my job with Myers next week.  geez

    • jay-ded says:

      02:04pm | 25/01/12

      What sort of job the_pseudonym?

    • the_pseudonym says:

      02:16pm | 25/01/12

      One where I can spell jay-ded, referring back to the article a couple of weeks back about the sign in a Myer store.  Was meant as a joke.

    • jay-ded says:

      02:30pm | 25/01/12

      DOH!  wink

    • jay-ded says:

      02:37pm | 25/01/12

      DOH!  hahahha wink

    • the_pseudonym says:

      11:43am | 25/01/12

      ‘The only good thing I have to say about her is the way she handled the media during the floods last year.

      I don’t know about that jay-ded, the weather girl over at Channel 10, held my attention more than Anna did.  When either of them was talking about the flooding.

      Reply

    • jay-ded says:

      12:18pm | 25/01/12

      lol the_pseudonum.  Bit of eye candy on channel 10?

    • the_pseudonym says:

      01:05pm | 25/01/12

      Channel 10 Brisbane, I never have to decide whether to watch or miss the weather.

    • ausspud says:

      11:55am | 25/01/12

      Are you kidding me,who can afford to smoke dope with the current price of ciggies.
      Besides governments wont bring it in cause it cant be taxed like alcahol.
      Think of all the bong water that will be used,it will throw the whole Murray-Darling water plan into dissaray wink

      Reply

    • jay-ded says:

      02:10pm | 25/01/12

      You don’t have to buy ciggies to smoke dope ausspud.

      There’s a Murray-Darling water plan?

    • cherie says:

      11:59am | 25/01/12

      If Bligh get’s in i will leave Q.L.D, what an inept media tart she is, even
      Her Majesty was cringing through clenched teeth as they sailed up the
      Brisbane River.(groan).

      Reply

    • SimonFromLakemba says:

      02:03pm | 25/01/12

      Does anyone else notice the high amount of Africans, id say mainly Nigerians that are friends of the Punch on Facebook?

      Wonder how the hell they found it?

      Reply

    • SimonFromLakemba says:

      03:31pm | 25/01/12

      haha oh yea. Makes sense now.

    • Zoyd says:

      02:26pm | 25/01/12

      In Nigeria, The Punch is a daily newspaper.

      Reply

    • nossy says:

      02:52pm | 25/01/12

      I am a bit concened Punchers re this coming possible GFC. Now Ruddy has told us we are all “silly little vegemites” for worrying but he would say that over in England with a free plate of top quality oysters in front of him wouldnt he? Many businesses are worried. I see Woollies is going to close half of their Dick Smith outlets and Toyota have just announced a 350 people layoff - and its only January. Lets hope Ruddy is right and we will sail through troubled financial waters smoothly.

      Reply

    • Elphaba says:

      03:14pm | 25/01/12

      @Nossy, I’m being pragmatic about the situation.  My job is safe (luckily), otherwise I’m spending frugally and saving hard.

      There’s only so much I can control. smile

 
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