Rant 1 - Risk To Public Safety

Rant 2 - The Weekend That Was - 6-9 September 2012

Rant 3 - Recycling ‘R’ Words

Rant 1

When an individual stands alone and is extremely outspoken or controversial, it is expected that there will be repercussions from those who do not like them or what they say. Some will criticise the individual directly but most will operate behind the scenes by speaking adversely or spreading rumours to anyone that will listen.

It is also expected that work or business interests will be adversely affected. Adverse comments about the individual’s business or boycotts, both individual and group organised, can have a serious adverse impact. However, this is just human nature when they don’t like someone.

When the critics are those who strongly support such concepts as equity, alternative views and freedom of speech, I become quite concerned. To prevent equitable access to an individual for any reason, to belittle them because they have alternative views that are different to the majority and to try to silence them by blocking their access to government services is completely hypocritical. It seems the true position is that equity, alternative views and freedom of speech are only acceptable to these critics if they are in line with their own ideas.

For an individual to experience adverse treatment from a local authority is pretty unbelievable to most. Most just do not want to believe this goes on. Blocking some access here and there, placing some onerous conditions on an individual or delaying some processes indefinitely can have a detrimental effect. Even allowing some to undertake an activity but preventing another from doing it is a common tactic used which I call discriminatory enforcement. There is very little avenue for assistance or recourse.

When this adverse treatment extends to State authorities, things begin to look very ugly. The NSW Police Force has extensive powers and a huge budget and is extremely difficult to challenge successfully. Speaking out about poor policing can be very detrimental to one’s health and finances as they may be dragged before the Courts for any number of reasons. There is even less avenue for assistance or recourse when taking on the NSW Police Force as an individual.

The lower court seems to have a tendency to accept the evidence of police officers time and time again even when there are no independent witnesses, no surveillance device material and very different versions of events. These differing versions often involve injuries to the individual that resulted from allegations involving very minor offences from police. There is no need to physically handle someone.

The higher courts seem to think the opposite and have often advised extreme caution when accepting the evidence of police in such situations. Why is no-one listening to our experienced Judges?

When a department of such a State authority moves to have an individual declared a risk to public safety without providing a reason, alarm bells really start ringing. When there has been matter after matter after matter commenced by the NSW Police Force but the individual continues to successfully defend each matter, someone should be asking questions whether there are personal issues involved. These questions should certainly be asked when the individual does not have a criminal record and has held various licenses and a title for many years requiring regular national police clearances.

This situation arose last week when enquiries were made about a six week delay in having firearms and a firearms license returned following an apprehended domestic violence Order application by one business owner over another. An interim Order was agreed to while the matter was awaiting hearing. Following the applicant being directed to seek mediation by the Magistrate when the matter last went to court for a scheduled hearing, voluntarily accepting a further interim Order was refused. Rights had already been adversely affected more than was considered reasonable by the respondent. The Magistrate declined to make a further Order and the applicant’s solicitor did not request one.

Following the enquiry, the NSW Police Firearms Registry made some calls. They confirmed that there was no Order in place but then moved to continue holding the licence stating a new reason being because police have charged the applicant with a further offence that is currently before the Court. The alleged offence involves a second resisting arrest charge at Lismore Police Station. The first was successfully defended and dismissed in the District Court. The Registry were advised that this was not a prescribed offence and was not grounds for holding a licence.

After a further delay, the Registry stated they would now seek to have the respondent declared a risk to public safety and the issuing of a licence would be contrary to the public interest based on unknown, unchallenged or unproven information they have in their system. This latest tactic allows them to do this without providing any reason at all. The Registry was clearly reaching.

This has now become a situation where an individual is guilty until proven innocent but they cannot prove their innocence since no reason needs to be provided for a finding of guilt. It is time people opened their eyes to see the society we actually live in. Being unpopular is not a crime but can see you punished far more than a serious criminal.

You are listening to 92.9 River FM. I am Big Rob.

Big Rob’s Rant is interactive while being broadcast. You can find me on Facebook by following the links to Big Rob’s Rant on the Big Rob’s website at bigrobs.com.au.

Rant 2

‘The Weekend That Was’ was again a fairly quiet one when compared to what we normally see in the streets. Saturday night was definitely busier than previous weeks but Thursday and Friday nights saw small crowds out and about.

Thursday night was another one of the many chest puffing nights. Shirts off and some argy bargy was the extent of it. The older guys were trying to tell the younger guys how to act but it seems some of the older guys need a lesson or two. It takes a bigger man to just walk away.

Friday night got pretty hectic as a result of a domestic dispute that escalated to much more than it should have been. A guy got split open, a girl got split open and one person was arrested. Police were all over it. Once they left, the drama continued with family members looking to fight some of the opposing parties. People that had nothing to do with the domestic dispute were targeted and threatened by mistake. Nothing much more came of this dispute and it seems everyone else got home without further incident.

Saturday night was quite busy with most people in high spirits and having fun. One very upset girl who decided to throw a hissy fit over nothing and an argument between a few patrons who were refused entry to one of the clubs and security attracted some attention. No major incidents were noted.

I mentioned a person conveyed by ambulance last week but did not know the reason at the time. I have since found out that a young guy was taken to hospital following an overdose on ecstasy. An article about drug overdoses on the NSW Central Coast involving ecstasy where one person died appeared in the media over the weekend. It may be reason to exercise extreme caution. A link to this story will be provided on the Big Rob’s website and on the Big Rob’s Facebook page.

This is 92.9 River FM and I am Big Rob.

Find me on Facebook by following the Big Rob’s Rant links on the Big Rob’s website at bigrobs.com.au. 

Rant 3

Reduce, reuse, recycle and recover make up the ‘R’ words of recycling.

Reducing the amount of waste we create is a very simple thing for all of us. This can be as easy as changing the way we buy things. Buying only the items that are needed, reusable products, all purpose items or items with less packaging make a considerable positive impact. Reducing paper waste can also be achieved by cancelling such things as unwanted mail by getting off mailing lists or placing no junk mail stickers on mail boxes.

Many items can be reused for other purposes. Reusing should be the major focus for individuals, businesses and governments alike. Reusing goods keeps them out of the waste stream, it reduces the strain on resources, creates less pollution than making a new item or recycling, saves money and it can generate new business. Reusing effectively can lengthen the life of an item.

Recycling is the reprocessing of an item. My opposition to recycling as the primary method to promote sustainability is widely known. I believe landfill is a better alternative to recycling after a heavy emphasis on reducing and reusing.

Recovering involves converting waste into resources through thermal and biological means. It is the last process to be attempted once reducing, reusing and recycling have failed. Again, the focus should be on reducing and reusing so recycling and recovering do not become necessary.

Perth’s Eastern Region refers to the four ‘R’ words as the R-Gang and provides an excellent website with information about each process. It can be found at www.rgang.org.au. A link to this site will be provided on the Big Rob’s website and on the Big Rob’s Facebook page.

This is 92.9 River FM and I am Big Rob.

I am still going on Facebook. Follow the Big Rob’s Rant links on the Big Rob’s website at bigrobs.com.au to post your comments.