Public Liability News

Sun, 19 August 2007
MBF To List On ASX
MBF Australia said it intends to demutualise and list on the Australian stock exchange in an attempt to grow and diversify its business. The health insurer said its plans have been endorsed by the MBF Council. It said a share market listing is likely in calendar 2008. The board believes that demutualising is in the best interests of policyholders, that it will maximise MBF's future growth potential and enhance its ability to compete in a rapidly changing environment," chairman John Conde said.

Tue, 06 November 2007
Public Liability insurance premiums fall
The cost of running a school fete looks set to drop with public liability insurance premiums falling sharply for a second year in a row.

Assistant federal treasurer Peter Dutton says strong competition and government reforms have increased affordability of public liability and professional indemnity insurance and "is good News for the communinty"

SOURCE : SMH SEPT 5 2007

Sun, 18 November 2007
Wide Bay offer Superior: Mackay Building Society
Takeover target Mackay Permanent Building Society Ltd has blocked a sweetened offer for the group by Wide Bay Australia Ltd, saying its superior to a competing bid from Bank of Queensland Ltd.

Wide Bay on Thursday improved the script alternative of its takeover offer, to 0.80 Wide Bay shared plus $1 cash, from 0.65 shares and $1 cash.

Sat, 24 November 2007
Self-parking Lexus sells out fast
The car that can reverse park by itself has gone on sale in Australia. There is just one catch: it costs more than $200,000.

But the technology could be available on more affordable cars within the next two years.

The Intelligent Parking Assistance system is standard on the new Lexus LS600hL, which also happens to be the world's first petrol-electric hybrid limousine.

There are two versions of the car, priced between $225,000 and $250,000, and despite the cost it is sold out until mid next year.

Lexus, the luxury division of Toyota, initially had public liability concerns, which is why the Australian introduction was delayed for two years.

"The driver, naturally, must continue to exercise all due care and diligence when using the parking system," the company warns.

SOURCE:RISKEX NOV 2007

Mon, 03 December 2007
Labor to act on health cost ploy
HOSPITALS that try to save money by sending patients home without enough medicine are to be targeted by Labor's new Health and Hospital Reform Commission.

Forcing patients to visit the chemist as soon as they are discharged — so that the Federal Government rather than the state pays for their medicine — is just one of the cost-shifting practices that the commission will be asked to tackle.



SOURCE : THE AGE DEC 1 2007

Sun, 09 December 2007
South Korea fights to stop spread of crude oil spill
SOUTH Korean workers using skimmers and containment fences are battling to clean up the worst oil spill in the country's history, as the slick washes ashore near a nature preserve on the west coast.

Oil has blackened parts of about 17 kilometres of coast, 100 kilometres south-west of Seoul.

More of the spill is today expected to hit an area that has marine farms and oyster beds.

SOURCE: THE AGE 8 December 2007

Mon, 17 December 2007
Please help us to restore our fragile environment.
Ten more years at the current growth rate of green house pollution will kill us all. It must be dealt with now. That is right now!! Even if we stopped polluting today it would take thirty years for the earth to recover. That’s Thirty years. But it won’t happen that way will it? There is no way it will stop tomorrow, but it must be stopped or we humans as a species, and nearly every other species on earth are doomed.

It is therefore vitally important that you/we make people who count aware of the LEA technology.

Now that we are ready to showcase our technology it is time to act. Others, who support the coal, oil, and uranium industries are lobbying government’s world wide to push their own agendas. They have years of experience, and the know how, financial backing and networks to help them to “play the game” Remember Big Business does not take kindly to what they see as competition. In reality what we propose for our technology actually helps them to extend their resource life and by so doing make them more money. Take oil for example, what if the diminishing supply could last for an extra ten years, what would it be worth a gallon or litre then? We are not in opposition to these people, we want to fit in alongside them and help them as well.

Source: extract from open letter www.lutec.com.au LU Brits & John Chritie

Thu, 27 December 2007
Wizard courts small business
6 December 2007

Wizard Home Loans is continuing its expansion into the small business lending sector with the launch of 'Wizard Fleet', a fleet management and leasing program, after releasing a range of equipment finance products in March. Wizard said that it aims to give small business the same access to commercial lending solutions that are available to the big end of town by removing the need to have administrative resources to run motor vehicle fleets effectively. Mark Bouris, chairman and founder of Wizard, said that the company wants to become the first choice for small business financial needs and to support this aim will roll out a full suite of business products early in 2008.

SOURCE:Infochoice.com.au

Sat, 05 January 2008
Public liability insurance premiums fall
Wednesday Sep 5 16:37 AEST

The cost of running a school fete looks set to drop with public liability insurance premiums falling sharply for a second year in a row.

Assistant federal Treasurer Peter Dutton says strong competition and government reforms have increased affordability of public liability and professional indemnity insurance and "is good news for the community".

The latest National Claims and Policies Database (NCPD) report shows public liability insurance premiums fell on average by nine per cent in the 12 months to December 31, 2006, and professional indemnity insurance premiums fell on average by 8.7 per cent over the same period.



SOURCE NINE MSN

Mon, 14 January 2008
Business growth doubles
17 December 2007

The rate of growth in the number of new businesses almost doubled this year compared with 2006. Over 2007 335,000 new businesses were started while 287,000 closed, meaning that there was a net gain of 48,000 added to the 2 million businesses in operation. During the last four years the businesses most likely to succeed were in the health and community service areas where many have benefited from government investment. Still, it can be hard to make a business work longer term, with only 58 per cent of the 1.8 million that existed in 2003 operating now.

By The Financial Review

Mon, 21 January 2008
Life-forming chemicals in distant galaxy
SOURCE:Discovery News

Way beyond the Milky Way astronomers have found exciting chemical traces,Radio astronomers say they have found evidence of large quantities of the chemical building blocks for life in a galaxy about 250 million light-years from Earth.

The research was unveiled at the American Astronomical Society conference in Austin, Texas, last week.

The astronomers were testing a new, highly sensitive science instrument at the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico and set their sights on a distant galaxy that seldom disappoints: the ultra-luminous, dual-core Arp 220, a veritable factory for star production.

Arp 220 is so thick with stars that astronomers estimate supernovas, the suicidal explosions of young massive stars, are happening four times a year, as compared to our own relatively quiescent Milky Way galaxy, with a supernova about every half-century or so.



Sun, 03 February 2008
Suncorp on target for synergies of $325m with Promina
SUNCORP-Metway says it will extract higher synergies from its $7.9 billion merger with general insurer Promina Group, but that claims related to storms and floods will impact its insurance margins in fiscal 2008.

The banking and insurance group says it's on track to generate annualised synergies of $325 million, up $100 million from its pre-merger estimate.

Chief executive John Mulcahy said he is delighted by the progress being made to integrate the two companies.

"We have put in place a robust and disciplined integration plan that will ensure our integration targets will be delivered on time,'' he said.

"The processes and controls for quantifying synergy targets and the structure of the integration governance program have been independently assessed by KPMG.''

Suncorp will incur one-off implementation costs of $375 million as a result of the merger, up $20 million from a pre-merger estimate of $355 million.

The synergy upgrade follows a six-month process during which more than 400 employees from Suncorp and Promina businesses worked to shape the new organisation.

SOURCE: NEWS.COM February 01, 2008

Sun, 10 February 2008
Get a business 'pre-nup'
THESE days up to 40 per cent of marriages end up breaking down, and business partnerships stand even less chance of survival.

Which is why a business partnership should be formalised with a pre-nuptial-style agreement.

Experts say that in the euphoric early days of a relationship, be it romantic or business, no one wants to be a spoilsport by asking the tough questions.

But they are necessary.

Get outside help to formalise the business arrangement so all the "what ifs" are covered, and you can then get on with the job. Seeking advice doesn't have to be expensive.



SOURCE: Plugger.com. January 28, 2008

Wed, 20 February 2008
Rains make farms bloom with income tipped to soar


The Australian agricultural sector is set to recover from recent drought conditions and witness an increase in net value of farm production of 43% in 2008-09. National Australia Bank agribusiness economist Frank Drum says winter crop output will also rise by about two thirds, based on good rainfall in early 2008 and grain prices that are at all-time highs. However, Australian Crop Forecasters notes that the current wet conditions are not yet a guarantee of a favourable environment for planting later on. Drum also concedes that the outlook is much less positive for the irrigation sector

Source - The Australian

Feb 19, 2008

Wed, 27 February 2008
More money from woodchips
An industry analyst says the timber company Gunns appears likely make an extra $30 million from its woodchip exports to Japan this year.

The company has announced that Japanese buyers will pay an extra $18 a dry metric tonne for woodchips this year, about a 10 per cent increase.

Robert Eastment says the price for Gunns woodchips reflects the strong demand for paper in Japan.

"What it does reflect is that there's a demand for pulp and also for woodchips," he said.

SOURCE:ABC NEWS 27FEB08

Sun, 09 March 2008
Income protection vital
February 21, 2008 10:36am

Article from: Font size: + -

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HOW long could you keep paying the bills if you had a serious accident? Income protection insurance is something small and medium enterprises (SMEs) can't afford to do without.

Four years ago, Stefan Kazakis decided to get serious about income protection insurance.

His business coaching company, Action Coach, has a six-figure monthly turnover, generating a big income for the 39-year old serial entrepreneur, and he wanted to make sure his young family’s lifestyle – and the debt repayments on his large property investment portfolio – were covered if he couldn’t work for a lengthy period.

“Income protection means I can sleep,” says Mr Kazakis, who has cover for 60 per cent of his current income until he’s 65, with a 30-day waiting period.

“I see it as a cost of goods sold. It’s taken me a lot of hard and smart work to get to where I am, so it would be a gross misconduct of my business not to have it.”

Income protection insurance (sometimes called "disability insurance") pays you a monthly amount if you are unable to work because of sickness or injury.

SOURCE:NEWS.COM

Sat, 22 March 2008
Old donated blood a risk after surgery
People who get old, stale blood during surgery are 30% more likely to die from complications afterwards than people who get fresh blood, a US study suggests.

The study reported today in the New England Journal of Medicine found blood older than two weeks seemed to be associated with more complications after heart surgery.

"We report that the relative risk of postoperative death is increased by 30% in patients given blood that has been stored for more than two weeks," the researchers say.

This can cause a dilemma, as many blood banks and hospitals cannot keep enough blood on hand that is so fresh.

The US Food and Drug Administration allows blood to be held for as long as six weeks, and blood banks typically give out the oldest blood first.

One solution may be to use the freshest blood first. Another is to use techniques to reduce the need for a transfusion in the first place, says study leader, Dr Colleen Gorman Koch, of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation.

Her team studied over 6000 patients who received heart surgery at the Cleveland Clinic. Koch and her colleagues compared the outcome with the storage time of the blood transfused in each operation.

The rate of death while in the hospital was 1.7% among fresh blood recipients versus 2.8% for older blood. Rates for kidney failure, infection, respirator use and multi-organ failure were also higher if older blood was used.

However, a system that uses blood no older than two weeks would make it harder to keep blood banks properly stocked, and much more blood would be discarded.

There are times when the blood supply falls to critically low levels, even with the current six-week limit.

SOURCE:ABC SCIENCE NEWS 20/3/2008

Thu, 17 April 2008
Tourism boosts economy by $85 billion
17/04/2008 2:57pm

The Australian tourism industry is now worth $85 billion to the country's economy after its strongest growth in almost a decade, new data shows.

Figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics show the industry added $84.975 billion to the economy in the 2006-2007 financial year - an increase of 7.8 per cent from the previous year and the largest growth in the sector since 1999.

The figures show the industry represented 3.7 per cent of Australia's gross domestic product (GDP) and employed 482,800 people.

The report found air and water transport, eateries and retail trade were the most important sectors of the industry, while increased spending by Australians in their own country had driven domestic tourism consumption up 6.8 per cent to $62.6 billion.

International tourists injected $22.3 billion into the economy - an increase of 9.8 per cent.

Tourism and Transport Forum (TTF) managing director Christopher Brown said the new figures showed the importance of the tourism industry, especially in the services export sector.

"The success of the national economy will increasingly depend on the performance of the tourism industry, especially in a post-resource boom scenario," Mr Brown said in a statement.

"When the mining boom is over, it is the services sector that will help to carry the Australian economy and the tourism industry is a major component of that."

He said the tourism industry needed to continue to innovate to ensure its contribution to the economy in tough international conditions.

"While today's figures are a shining light for the sector, we can't afford to rest on our laurels," he said.

"In a weakened global economy, it's essential that Australian tourism maintains its competitiveness on the world stage as consumers consider their discretionary spend on items such as travel."



Source: Compare Shares

Sat, 17 May 2008
Wizard raises home loan rates
May 16, 2008 04:43pm

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WIZARD Home Loans has raised its variable interest rate on number of its products by 10-basis points, citing continued higher wholesale funding costs.

The non-bank lender said the move would only partially offset the increased funding costs.

"It's important to note our new standard variable rate of 9.39 per cent continues to be competitive with the major banks,'' a Wizard spokesperson said.

The new rates apply to new customers from May 20 and to existing customers from May 23

SOURCE: News.com

Sun, 25 May 2008
Sydney Man banned from giving out free hugs because he didn't have public liability insurance!
February 19, 2007

In a cold, hard world some people are reaching out in unexpected ways. Katherine Kizilos reports.

The story goes that writer and peace activist Anne Herbert wrote the phrase "practise random acts of kindness and senseless acts of beauty" on a paper napkin while in a San Francisco restaurant in 1982.

Eleven years later, Chuck Wall, a professor at Bakersfield College, California, challenged his students to perform "a random act of senseless kindness" after hearing a radio report describing "another random act of senseless violence". Somewhere between these two events, the idea of practising a spontaneous act of kindness entered the popular culture.

Generally speaking, the spontaneously kind do not have a religious or political agenda. Their purported aim is to make other people happier. These people wilfully ignore the adage that no good deed goes unpunished.

Consider the case of Sydney's Juan Mann (pronounce one man and not his real name) who achieved international recognition after holding up a sign with the words "Free Hugs" in Pitt Street in 2004. Mann's efforts were noticed by the lead singer of the band Sick Puppies, Shimon Moore, who had a job wearing a sandwich board in Pitt Street and who began videotaping Mann. The result, backed by a Sick Puppies song All the Same, was posted on YouTube in September last year, inspiring free-hug copycats in places as diverse as Taipei, Chicago, Geneva and Shanghai. The clip is one of the most watched videos on YouTube and can also be seen on Video Hits.

In October last year, Mann told Oprah Winfrey what happened when he first held up his sign. "The first person who stopped, tapped me on the shoulder and told me how her dog had just died that morning. How that morning had been the one year anniversary of her only daughter dying in a car accident. How what she needed now, when she felt most alone in the world, was a hug. I got down on one knee, we put our arms around each other and when we parted, she was smiling."

The video clip also incorporates a satisfying tussle with bureaucracy. Free hugs are banned after Mann was asked to pay $25 million in public liability insurance for holding up his sign. He starts a petition and collects 10,000 signatures. Free hugs are reinstated. A policeman accepts a hug as the song and video ends. The success of the clip has inspired Mann, who is 24, to set up his own charity with Shimon Moore. Free Help aims to cut out the middleman by allowing dedicated people to help those in need directly.

SOURCE:THE AGE

Sat, 31 May 2008
Rudd defends petrol policy
May 31 2008

In an article from AAP PM Kevin Rudd defends the petrol price policy.

Stating "there is no silver bullet to fix the problem,through the Budget, the Government had done "as much as we physically can" to help."

Mr Rudd was grilled by voters for almost an hour by TV studio audience But it was the price of petrol that dominated the discussion.

He said the price of petrol, which hit a record high of $1.62 per litre in capital cities earlier this week, was largely out of his control.

"When it comes to things you do not have direct control over, obviously in terms of the global price of oil, then what you can do is simply act in the other areas to make sure that there are some more dollars to draw upon in terms of the family budget."

Mr Rudd also defended the planned FuelWatch program and criticisms that the Government would simply be watching fuel prices while the coalition's policy of reducing the fuel excise by five cents per litre would have a real impact.

He said the responsible course of action was to maximise competition among the petrol companies.

All this on the back of fuel companies release of net profits being made public.

Caltex reported net profit after tax in 2007 was $444 million on a replacement cost of sales basis, which removes the effect of oil price movements.

Royal Dutch Shell and BP, Europe's two largest oil companies, both saw first quarter profits jump thanks to record crude prices and higher natural gas prices.Shell's first quarter profits rose 25pc to $9bn, while BP's profit soared to $7.6bn from $4.6bn in the same period.

While US Based Chevron posts record $18.7 billion profit in 2007, the fourth consecutive year that the San Ramon company made record amounts of money.

Other companies have made even more. Exxon Mobil, the country's largest oil company, reported on Friday that its 2007 profit hit $40.6 billion, a 3 percent increase from 2006, while sales passed $404 billion. No American business has ever scored a higher profit.

"The major oil companies' incredible profits, boosted by multibillion-dollar tax subsidies to the industry, are ultimately clobbering taxpayers," said Judy Dugan, research director for the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights.

Here in Australia it seems the skyhigh price of petrol will soon be felt more than just at the bowser, with the earnings of companies expected to be downgraded as profit margins are squeezed by higher oil prices.

The usual suspects of airlines and transport companies are in the sights of analysts at the moment, as they question what effect on the bottom line there will be from oil prices remaining above the $US130 per barrel mark.

However, the effect of higher oil prices will be felt across the market, particularly in the second half of the year, as the input and transport costs move higher and the spending patterns of consumer are crimped as they pay more for fuel.

It needs to be remembered that despite the current hubbub surrounding fuel prices, Rudd and Wayne Swan have not actually done anything from a serious policy perspective that will bring down the price at the petrol bowser for consumers.

Whilst a showdown with the states is looming over the proposal to scrap the GST that is levied on the fuel excise.

In reality, Rudd has only moved to include the GST arrangements on excise in the broad review of the national taxation system to be headed by Ken Henry.

The inquiry could report defiantly that the ``tax on a tax'' should be scrapped but the government does not have to follow suit. Like the majority of these reviews, the recommendations could be ``reviewed' by the government with little actual outcome.

The "tax on a tax" issue and fuel prices is an issue that if continued could see prices hikes for us all in groceries, produce and most consumer goods which will undoubtedly severely effect the economy and affordability crisis looming for all Australians.

How much longer Mr Rudd do we need to allow the Oil companies to create record (almost criminal) amounts of profit and seemingly hold the world to ransom with fuel prices, whilst almost all governments worldwide claim to be powerless in the effort to control ever increasing bowser prices ?

Do we see a whole transport industry crippled, or smaller operators closed their doors due to rising costs leading to major shortages of basic living needs shortages in groceries and produce before any steps by not only governments, but bodies like the ACCC.

The Mega rich tyccons of places like Dubia must be rubbing thier wallets daily whilst planning more spectacular and incredible feats of architecture rising up out of the once deserted strip that was named the main street of dubia in the early 90's.

Author: Craig OBrien

Sources: ABC NEWS, AAP, NEWS.COM, The Chronicle, Bloomberg



Tue, 10 June 2008
Fuel Prices: The Mass Debate
10 June 2008

Or How to Knock About 50c a Litre Off the Price Of Fuel

First and foremost this debate should be centred on Diesel NOT Unleaded. Why? You may ask. Just look at the increase in supermarket prices for your answer. While it may cost you $5 or $10 extra to fill your tank everything that is transported (which is everything) rises as Diesel rises. My average basket at the supermarket per week has increased on average $30 and that’s for one person. Australia’s whole economy is tied to Diesel and therefore it should be afforded the same priority and status as water i.e. an essential commodity.

I own a small transport company and I have had to significantly raise my prices twice in the past year just to maintain profit margins. This cost you money too.

I am compelled to write this letter because I am sick of all the namby-pamby pussyfooting around everyone seems to be doing about the current fuel debate. I have spent considerable time researching this area because it affects my income. Contained herein is the WHOLE truth about the debate, the WHOLE big picture, if you will. NO-ONE till now has had the testicular fortitude to stick their necks out and present the WHOLE argument about just how much we are being RIPPED OFF. If you want the truth and the WHOLE truth read on.

DON’T – Listen to spin doctors from the oil companies. THEY HAVE A VESTED INTREST TO KEEP FUEL PRICES HIGH.

DON’T – Listen to the government – state or federal. THEY HAVE A VESTED INTREST TO KEEP FUEL PRICES HIGH.

DON’T – pay too much attention to news or current affairs programs. THEY HAVE THEIR OWN AGENDAS.

So here we go, how to make fuel cheaper!

FIRSTLY – DISBAND FUEL PARITY

Parity, for those that don’t know, is government sanctioned price fixing (simple as that). Parity allows fuel companies to sell their products for the highest current price they find in the Asia Pacific region. It completely disregards supply and demand economics and eliminates any need for competition amongst themselves.

Don’t believe me? Just look at the price of Diesel. If you remember growing up when Diesel was always 10-15c p/l cheaper than Petrol you might understand this more.

How can a product that costs far less to produce (partially a by-product of producing Unleaded as well) and a product that Australia uses more of than any other fuel be MORE EXPENSIVE than Unleaded? Simple, ring Singapore, where they don’t use a lot of Diesel and import all their fuel, find out how much it’s selling for there and charge the same here – sound fair? NOT!

Any other industry who tried this one would be hauled of to the High Court quick smart and prosecuted for price fixing! Oh but hang on, our government ALLOWS them to do this

NUMBER TWO – BARRELL PRICE

That price the news loves to show us each night is the PREMIUM GRADE crude oil price. Australian oil companies DO NOT buy PREMIUM GRADE crude oil! In fact Australia produces around 70% of its own oil and imports about 30%. The cost of production per litre produced here is cheaper than that of imported fuel, but in no way is this factored into the pump price, because they don’t need to (SEE PARITY ABOVE) we pay a pump price based on PREMIUM GRADE crude oil price the same as if we imported all of it, say somewhere like Singapore! Starting to get the picture?

NUMBER THREE – LEVIES

Everyone knows that both State and Federal Governments take a large slice of the cost of a litre of fuel. This equates in total to about 46% of the price per litre. This money is used for infrastructure, road trauma etc. etc. so fair enough right? WRONG!

What is wrong is that it is a PERCENATGE! Look at this. If a litre of fuel costs $1.00 then the Government gets 46c p/l, right? A week later fuel rises to $1.10 p/l; the Government gets 50.6c p/l, bingo! Something tells me that in one week, their costs, IN NO WAY have gone up 9%!

As I stated previously – THE GOVERNMENT HAS A VESTED INTREST TO KEEP FUEL PRICES HIGH. THEY MAKE LOTS MORE FREE MONEY! Why else do they allow fuel companies to maintain PARITY?

If they changed the tax (sorry, levy) to a flat rate tied to the GDP then the fuel price would drop drastically and immediately!

NUMBER FOUR – GST - THE DOUBLE DIPP

Now this one is outright “THIEVERY” and also applies to cigarettes and alcohol.

GST = Goods and Services Tax, correct?

46% or 46c in every dollar in the price of a litre of fuel is TAX (sorry; again, LEVY).

What part of LEVY is a good or a service? YOU CANNOT TAX, TAX RIGHT? WRONG!

You do the math.

Say fuel costs $1.00 p/l – the GST component = 9c

But hang on a minute 46% or 46c of this is TAX!

i.e., 4.14c of the GST is ILLEGALLY CHARGED ON THE TAX COMPONENT! Not much you say?

FOR EVERY LITRE SOLD IN AUSTRALIA EVERY DAY!

That equates to millions of free dollars for the Government! I’ll say it one more time - THE GOVERNMENT HAS A VESTED INTREST TO KEEP FUEL PRICES HIGH. THEY MAKE LOTS MORE FREE MONEY!

The GST on fuel should be 5.4% not 10%. At $1.75 p/l this would drop the current price by around 8c p/l.

Feeling a little annoyed? You should be!

Even without disbanding parity and introducing real competition among fuel companies, you should be paying about 40c less per litre!

My name is Graeme Strempel, (gusto1@arach.net.au) and I run a small transport business, I happily welcome anyone, Government and fuel companies included to prove me wrong.

If you feel strongly about this issue then pass this missive on to everyone in your address book. Eventually someone might take notice.

SOURCE: GREAME STREMPEL

Mon, 23 June 2008
Fuel Price -World protests spread
Is Australia NEXT?, maybe we should be ??

Whilst I agree something needs to be done, some other countries methods are maybe a bit over the top, but i guess how else are they to be heard.....So what is next in the global debate that i simply describe as the OIL COMPANIES HOLDING THE WORLD TO RANSOME!.

Artcicle source ABC NEWS Fri Jun 20, 2008

Spanish farmers marched, Israeli truckers slowed rush-hour traffic and Nepali students stoned cars overnight in anger at rising fuel prices and inflation that they say are crippling their economies.

Protests by truckers, taxi drivers, fishermen and farmers demanding fuel tax breaks have spread across the world, increasing fears of political instability and a global economic downturn.

The oil price, which dipped $US3 to $US133 after China's announcement, has touched record highs near $US140 in recent months, fuelling inflation and squeezing business margins.

In Madrid, thousands of farmers brought traffic to a halt on the capital's busiest road to demand lower diesel tax to help cushion the blow of higher fuel costs and low producer prices.

"This is the last straw. If good spring rain hadn't arrived this year and last, we would already have gone bust," sugarbeet farmer Evaristo Ortega said.

"The price of diesel and fertiliser is impossible to bear."

Diesel prices have shot up to around 1 euro ($1.62), from 60 cents a year ago, farmers said as they marched past soccer club Real Madrid's Bernabeu Stadium carrying banners reading: "For the future of our countryside."

For Greeks, the cost of living has replaced unemployment as the top concern, unions said.

Food prices have risen and motorists pay 13 per cent more for fuel than a year ago and heating oil costs 38 per cent more.

Labour unions have called for rallies in Athens to protest against the conservative Government's failure to rein in the price increases.

"Business interests have staged a party while the Government is duping us with its ineffective measures to contain rising prices," president of Greece's largest labour confederation, Yannis Panagopoulos said.

But Germany and other European Union states said they would reject a fuel tax break plan sought by France to cushion rising oil prices.

A senior French official said President Nicolas Sarkozy would ask EU peers to back a reduction in value-added tax on petrol across the 27-nation bloc.

In Berlin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel told Parliament: "In our view, financial policy intervention, which is being discussed again and again ... should be avoided."

Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt went further and told reporters that Europeans should work longer hours and pay less income tax to cope with rising prices.

"I am asking myself ... that we might ease up on income taxes to make work pay even further, so that people could react to the fact that an increase in the petrol price could be met by working some extra hours," Mr Reinfeldt said.



Mon, 30 June 2008
Queensland Roads Chaos over Fuel Prices
June 30 2008

In the Article below i simply stated what transport industry sources were planning,I actually got the month wrong and this is planned for the end of JULY 2008.

Wether you read this in Australia or any part of the world for that matter, please understand this is only my opinion, which is that i think whether you drive a car or own a whole fleet of trucks, ride a pushbike even, we all need to get behind this, because it affects every single one of us, from kids and those that use public transport like buses and trains, to every day people, everything including groceries, building materials, general freight, houshold goods, the list is never ending for what is being affected by the rising cost of fuel, and it affects us all. These cost are flowing back to us, the end user.

Those who may say it's extreme,i will agree with also, as i said though its all just my opinion, but what else and how else do we get our government and the oil companies (that continue to push up these prices for apparently no other reason that profit margins) to listen to the public ?

Use the media to our gain, because that is what they are doing to us, create a big enough event that will bring worldwide media attention, in other parts of the world far worse and things of a more extreme nature are being done in protest over fuel prices.

So...lets support this, if it happens join in the trucks drivers efforts, even if its in your car, on your bike, or on foot, the more people the better. Let Get the message across peacefully but clearly.

Truck drivers in Western Australia have threatened a "State of Chaos" within six weeks if they don't get relief at the petrol pump. The Transport Workers Union gave a taste of the disruption they can cause today by setting up a blockade around Western Australia's Parliament House.

Hundreds of trucks arrived at Parliament House early this morning. Police had to rush to set up barricades so parliamentarians would be able to get to work. The blockade caused chaos in a city that's not used to the kind of crawling traffic typical in Sydney or Melbourne. The Transport Workers Union secretary, Jim McGibbon, says there'll be worst to come if something's not done about the high price of petrol.

The same In Queensland with a planned blockade of all major roads is reported to be coming for the Brisbane Metro area and west to Toowoomba at the end of the month (July), sending a clear message to our PM about the crippling price of diesel soaring to as much as nearly $2.00 per litre in some parts of the state. Placing a clear emphasis on the importance of removing the "TAX on TAX" scheme currently in place and showing that the transport industry can clearly return the so called " Holding for Ransome" that oil companies worldwide are currently displaying.

This planned blockade of Queensland roads will be one on a scale to cripple all major roads in and out of Brisbane and Toowoomba for up to 48 hours according to industry sources.

As much as this planned blockade will send a clear message, it is yet to confirmed.

It would be a sight to see, though with continual pressure worldwide on relief for transport operators of all kinds, and the growing pressure on governments to remove exise and taxes, i think this kind of protest is almost A MUST to show our government the message of unity amongst the transport industry as a whole, from big operators to small and owner drivers !

Source : ABC news and Webmaster

Sun, 06 July 2008
Fuel prices changing behaviour: expert
July 4, 2008, 9:10 am

Transport should be included in any emissions trading scheme (ETS) but soaring fuel prices are already changing people's behaviour, says the man who headed the former government's emission task force.

Dr Peter Shergold, former head of the department of prime minister and cabinet, says an ETS was about changing behaviour and the way to do that was to make industries and households more energy conscious.

He said he believed as many sectors should be included in an ETS as administratively possible.

"My view remains that transport can be included on that basis," he told ABC Radio.

"Having said that, even if you had a price of $20-$30 a tonne on carbon, it would have only a relatively small impact on fuel price compared with what has happened in the 14 months since I handed in that report.

"The increase in fuel prices has been so severe that if people believe this is going to be the long-term trend, I would be surprised if it didn't change their behaviour in terms of fuel consumption."

Dr Shergold headed the emissions task force commissioned by the former government. His report was released in June last year.

He said his report argued that Australia needed to move forward with deliberation to set up an ETS in 2011 or 2012.

He said that at that time there was commentary about why couldn't it be done much sooner.

"Now, there is an increasing understanding that there are significant economic costs involved in this and we need to move forward to emissions trading but do so with great care," he said.

Dr Shergold said directly compensating people for rising energy prices would not change behaviour - that was better done through the tax system.

"The key is that we also have to accept what a big change this is going to be for Australian industry, which is why we said we needed to look at compensation for the emissions intensive industries that were exposed to global competition," he said.

"What we are trying to do here is introduce a new system for the next half-century. The important thing is not so much what is the target we set for 2050 or 2060, but what is the trajectory by which we get there and how are we going to do the transition over the first two or three years."

On Friday, climate change economist Professor Ross Garnaut, commissioned by the new Labor government to report on emissions trading, releases his report.

SOURCE: AAP

Thu, 17 July 2008
Oil prices dive
July 17, 2008

OIL prices plunged more than $US4 overnight, extending this week's spectacular losses after a surprise jump in crude reserves in the United States, traders said.

Prices had already tumbled yesterday in the biggest fall in 17 years amid rising concerns about sluggish US economic growth that could dampen global demand for crude oil.

New York's main oil contract, light sweet crude for August delivery, shed $US4.14 to close at $US134.60 a barrel. It had dived yesterday by $US6.44 in the sharpest daily decline since January 1991.

In London, Brent North Sea oil for August dropped $US2.56 to $US136.19 today.

Prices fell on news of a build in US crude oil reserves. The US Energy Information Administration said inventories rose by 3.0 million barrels to 296.9 million barrels in the week ending July 11, confounding market expectations of a decline of 2.2 million barrels.

However, the decline in oil prices from last Friday's record high levels above $US147 may be short-lived, analysts said, noting that the increase in US energy stockpiles reflected slowing demand in a sluggish US economy, the world's largest energy consumer.

According to the US government, Americans' consumption of petroleum products fell two per cent over the past four weeks, compared with the same period a year ago.

A sudden shift in US diplomatic policy toward Iran announced late yesterday also eased oil supply concerns, analysts said.

The United States said it was sending Under Secretary of State William Burns to nuclear crisis talks this weekend between Iran's nuclear negotiator, Saeed Jalili, and the European Union's foreign policy chief, Javier Solana.

"This is the most significant US diplomatic contact since the 1979 Islamic revolution, and represents a dramatic shift in US foreign policy. For our purposes, it will certainly take some of the force out of a major source of the geopolitical premium in oil prices,'' said John Kilduff, an analyst at MF Global.

"This is not to say that Secretary Burns' mission is guaranteed success. The administration has repeatedly stated that Secretary (of State Condoleezza) Rice was prepared to hold talks with Iran provided they cease enrichment. It is upon this issue, though, that Iran has been the most intransigent,'' Mr Kilduff said.

Iran has the world's second-largest proven oil reserves and sits aside the Strait of Hormuz, a critical gateway for Middle East oil. It is the number four crude producer and ranks second in the oil cartel OPEC.

OPEC kingpin Saudi Arabia meanwhile today denounced speculative trade in oil and called for more dialogue between producing and consuming nations.

"Oil has become ... practically like a currency (that) has attracted speculative interest among some companies and people,'' said Saudi Arabian King Abdullah in an interview with the Italian newspaper La Repubblica.

"We don't want the price to be so high. It is not in our interest because it is not in the interest of the rest of the world.''

Saudi Arabia has warned repeatedly that speculation is the leading cause of soaring oil prices along with rising demand and the taxation of oil products in consumer countries.

The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries yesterday cut its forecast for growth of world oil demand this year to 1.20 per cent from 1.28 per cent, citing an economic slowdown and high fuel prices.

SOURCE:NEWS.COM

Wed, 23 July 2008
Accused surgeon Patel released on bail
Wed Jul 23 2008

Indian-born surgeon Jayant Patel is a free man following his release from custody on bail.

The 58-year-old was released from the Brisbane watchhouse at 5pm (AEST) on Tuesday after posting $20,000 bail.

Wednesday is the first time since March 11 that Patel has been out of custody.

He had been held in custody in Portland, Oregon, where he was living, and arrived back in Australia on Monday following his extradition from the US.

Detail of Patel's new accommodation is the subject of a suppression order, but he has surrendered his passport and must stay within Queensland, reporting to police three days a week.

Patel faces 14 charges including manslaughter, grievous bodily harm and fraud, relating to his time at Bundaberg Base Hospital between 2003 and 2005.

Meanwhile, civil libertarians say that media organisations should be pressured to provide legally binding undertakings that they won't reveal the whereabouts of the surgeon.

Breaching such an order could potentially attract contempt of court proceedings against media organisations.

But Australian Council for Civil Liberties president Terry O'Gorman fears the media will still race to reveal the whereabouts of Patel, who is awaiting trial on manslaughter and other charges following his extradition from the US.

He said Queensland Attorney-General Kerry Shine should take action to ensure the magistrate's order is respected.

"It is notorious that media commercial pressures and the basic primeval urge of the media to feast on a controversy will mean that there is going to be a race among media outlets to be the first to reveal his address," Mr O'Gorman told AAP.

"The magistrate made it quite clear during the bail hearing that Patel's address was not to be revealed and we say that if the media do reveal it they are guilty of contempt of court.

"The attorney-general, in order to proactively protect the magistrate's order and to prevent Patel being hounded from one address to another, should seek (legally binding) undertakings from the media not to reveal the address.

"Those media outlets that won't give such undertakings he should take to the Supreme Court so the issue can be urgently addressed."

SOURCE:ninemsn

Sun, 03 August 2008
Germans perform world's first double-arm transplant
August 2, 2008

Doctors at the Technical University of Munich have conducted the world's first double-arm transplant on a 54-year-old farmer who had lost both his arms in an accident, officials said.

The operation was conducted at the university's "Klinikum rechts der Isar" last week, the clinic said in a statement Friday, following several years of preparatory work.

The man's condition "is very good under the circumstances," the statement said.

"Now it is a matter of avoiding future wound healing disorders, infections, strong side-effects caused by the drugs and in particular any rejective reaction."

A team of 40 people participated in the transplant surgery, conducted July 25 and 26. The donor matched the host in sex, age, skin color, size and blood group, the statement said.

The transplant subject had lost both his arms at the upper arm level six years ago, and two attempts with artificial limbs had been unsuccessful.

SOURCE: CNN

Sun, 17 August 2008
Why Warming Your Car in Winter is Burning a Hole in Your Pocket
17 August 2008

Winter is a difficult time for drivers. It does it's best to wreak havoc on your gas mileage. You may be playing the part of an unwitting ally to winter's effect on your fuel economy. Improperly warming your car up could be burning a hole in your pocket.

Drivers are in the habit of warming their vehicle up in winter temperatures. Drivers seem to be under the mistaken idea that they need to warm up their car for it to operate properly. By warming up they mean idling the car for a considerable amount of time before driving. This misnomer is costing you money.

Many drivers idle their car for 5 to 10 minutes in the winter to let their cars warm up. You should not let your car idle for more than 30 seconds. You need no more than 30 seconds of idling to circulate the engine oil before you can drive away on cold days

When you idle your car to warm it up you are burning gas but not going anywhere. When you let that happen you are getting zero miles per gallon. You may think that idling your car for few minutes or so is no big deal, think again.

To get an idea about how much fuel you are burning by letting your car idle for 5 to 10 minutes when you start it consider this. Assume you idle on the short side, only 5 minutes when you start your car in the morning. Most likely you idle for 5 minutes again, when you start your car again to drive home.

Therefore your car is idling for a minimum of 10 minutes a day. For illustrative purposes we consider winter to be four months long, or 120 days long. If a car is idling for 10 minutes a day for 120 days then it is idling for 1200 minutes during the winter period.

1200 Minutes is 20 hours. Think about it, warming your car for only 5 minutes per start amounts to your car idling and burning gas going nowhere, for 20 hours. Can you visualize your car sitting and idling for 20 hours? Of course not. Then why warm it up for the equivalent of 20 hours of burning gas when it is completely unnecessary?

Warm your car up by driving it. To operate efficiently your car needs to warm up other parts in addition to the engine. Tires, transmission, wheel bearings and other moving parts also need to warm up. Your car's catalytic converter doesn't function at its peak until it reaches between 400C and 800C. The only way these other parts warm up is by driving. The reality is, to warm your car up completely you have to drive it anyway.

To save gas and increase gas mileage in the winter one of the simplest things you can do is warm your car by driving it, not by idling. Not only will it save you gas and money but you will also be doing something positive for the environment. That warm car will stop burning a hole in your pocket.

Source:www.fuelcostangel.com/newsarticles

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