Back to the future?

As could easily have been envisaged by thinking persons, when/if put into practice,  the holy 'Law and Order' platform of Tories will tend to fairly rapidly fill gaols and other repositories of convicted felons and lesser crooks. And, since the building of non-profit  centres such as prisons is an expense not normally attractive to aspirant voters, very little is done in that area when 'law and order' doctrines are not to the forefront of politics.

Result? Critical overcrowding of extant penal facilities such as that which now confronts the Vic.state government (and, probably Queensland as well?). What to do?

Simple! Supplement current corrective facility accommodation with ... 'Shipping containers'! I kid you not! The Vic. 'brain storms' are setting up trial container solutions in selected Northern areas of the state almost immediately. Apparently, a similar scheme has been found to work in N.Z.

I wonder if only a cartoonist's mind would visualize this as reversal of history? That is... Oz gaol, to the hulks, then transportation ...

They're baaack!

Around 7am this morning, first bush flies of the summer 'gang attacked' me as I was crossing our local park on the return leg of my morning walk. I was not equipped with the usual eucalyt 'switch' with which to discourage their thirst for snot and/or sweat ... so, had to resort to useless epithets and the traditional Aussie salute in an attempt to repulse the little buggers.

I googled the pests (musca vetustissima) after arriving home. Was struck by how their characteristics mirror those of most politicians. • need to be born surrounded by bullshit (or they die). • feel obliged to get up people's noses to sustain their future development (they relish the source of moisture) • they change direction with the wind (which actually transports them from rural birth-place to the 'burbs and finally, • they rely on the numbers to prosper.

Interestingly, it's the females who drive us nuts ... and, they instinctively hate 'enclosed areas' so apparently, will only follow a human host indoors by accident.

Cartoonists' B-B-Q

After an unusual spring season featuring mostly bleak, cold weather punctuated with only a few typical warmish days in isolation, happily the first official day of summer was warm and perfect for out-door activity. Which was appropriate for local Cartoonists, since today had been selected as the wind-up B-B-Q to mark end of social activities arranged by the local chapter of the ACA for 2013.

I especially enjoyed it, because I've been unable to attend regular night meetings of the association due to a combination of the exceedingly long peak-hour cross-city drive and the need to provide almost constant care and support to my good lady wife. Today, I met a fellow 'toonist I've not seen face to face for over 20 years and others I'd not been able to see or talk to since the same event last year. A beaut break from the usual hum-drum.

Because the food and talk consumed all afternoon, I've roped in a 'filler' cartoon prepared back in late 2011, but (as far as I can recall) never actually published.

 

Privatising Gov't. assets

Joe Hockey says the states should privatise government assets to raise funds ear-marked for improvement of infrastructure. The Q. premier says "No way Jose - without a prior mandate to do so from the electorate!"

I hope Mr. Newman has studied the un-mitigated shambles left for Victoria to contend with after Kennett had sold everything in sight during the 1990s. All the promises of cheaper utility and transport costs have turned out to be 'furphies', while transport infrastructure is perhaps in a worse run-down condition than it ever was before the 'coming of Kennett!'

Goodonyer Cam. For the first time, I agree whole-heartedly with a stance of yours!

Regional irritation.

Some new form of irritant is causing discomfort in several Asian capitols and most of the Australian states.

What, or who could be responsible?

Pyning for Gonski?

"When in government, we will commit to the agreed level of school funding as prescribed in Gonski" or, an undertaking to the electorate clearly to that effect by Mr. Rabbit's group.

Apparently that was then... this is now.

HO HUM!

Machiavelli alive and well in Vic. parliament

   
In a nutshell, the governing parties in Victoria now lack a majority on the floor of the lower house with about a year of their 'fixed' 4 year parliament yet to run. Because of alleged bias in favour of the bereft government, the speaker has become a target for the vitriol of 'those opposite' to the extent that he shut-down parliament altogether for the last fortnight due to 'persistent unruliness'. Resuming the bun-fight yesterday and, with only a week left of the pre-xmas session, he produced another (on the face of it) questionable stunt by banning two opposition members from participation in proceedings for 6 days (aka the only sitting days remaining) before the circus moves into holiday mode! This action miraculously restores the government's one seat majority until the parliament next meets in 2014. Wow!

Unbelieveable?! Not the action itself so much... as the fact that we continue to pay these worthless buffoons to carry on with their moronic capers!!!