WA News... Roads, Roads, Roads · 1 April 2009
I’ve made the point before, but it seems every story coming out of WA is just about cars, roads, driving or legislation about all of the above.
Here are today’s headlines: (no different from any other day.) Nothing changes.
Most Deceptive Headline Ever · 11 March 2009
I was expecting it to be something about what I saw on the freeway in Perth over Christmas:
The Libs Will Win · 6 September 2008
The people of WA will go to the polls today and vote on whom will lead the state for the next term. And I’m going to put it out there that the Libs will win.
Why?
Well, apart from the fact that the people of Western Australia didn’t even vote for their current premier (he was the fall-back guy after the premier we DID elect resigned on account of depression) the Labor government have squandered the proceeds of the boom, and grossly mishandled what could have been the most exciting and prosperous time in WA’s history.
On a side-note; The people of NSW have recently gone through a tumultuous 24 hours with THEIR premier being rolled by the right faction of his party – I suspect the people of NSW will have similar sentiments about THEIR new premier in time.
There are other reasons for why I believe the people of WA will vote for a Liberal government, after over a decade of Labor ‘rule.’
WA currently has an enormous budget surplus, rivaling that of bigger and more populous states like Victoria, Queensland and New South Wales, but somehow it is STILL the highest taxing state in the nation.
Why?
No, seriously. Why?
I paid more on my car registration and stamp duty on my unit than my family members in Victoria. Shouldn’t the prosperous boom times be a chance for the government to reward the people of WA for their patience in allowing hundreds of thousands (yes, eventually millions) of immigrants and interstaters to settle in their home state to cash in on the mining boom? No. Instead the greedy Labor government tax the bejesus out of every citizen, often to the point of driving them to bankruptcy and homelessness.
I’ve lived in WA for 23 years, and have seen it go from a beautiful, relaxed and enjoyably livable city, to a darkened, overpopulated and dangerous boom town full of Cashed Up Bogans with focus on only business and resources, and no consideration for the arts or entertainment.
I bought property during the property boom, and found myself competing against foreigners whom were offering $20,000 to often $30,000 over the asking price. Often in cash. It took me two years to finally buy a property – and by then, it was on average $70,000 more expensive.
How is a first home buyer meant to purchase property in that sort of market? How is ANYONE meant to purchase property in that sort of market? As a result, rental vacancies are lower than ever, and the rental rates are, as a result, higher than they’ve EVER been.
The other GLARINGLY obvious reason is our states’ newspaper. Our one and only daily newspaper; The West Australian
It’s no secret that since the introduction of its new editor, the West has had an unabashed and very public opposition to the Labor party; a number of specific members in particular. From John D’Orazio to Jim McGinty, the West has often slanderously (borderline libelously) dealt right jabs and the occasional gut punch to the Labor party on its front pages. The job of any daily newspaper in a one-newspaper town is obviously to hold the government to account – but it must be done even-handedly. As a result of the pounding the West have given the Labor party over the last (especially) 5 years, the people of Western Australia (and you can quote me on this) have become severely disenchanted with the Labor party and its members.
Regardless of whether the Liberal party can do a better job, or whether its policies and prodigal re-instated canal-oriented leader can stand the test of time, the people of WA will vote Liberal over Labor in today’s state election.
Don’t get me wrong; it’s guaranteed to be a close fought battle, and the win will be by the slimmest of margins, but the Labor party have had their day in WA for now.
- – - – UPDATE: 14th September 2008 – - – - -
Aherm.. I won’t tell you I told you so, but…
WA Road News · 3 August 2008
Every week I do three editorial cartoons on Perth-based news. For one of the papers I ring the editor to get the stories, but for the other two, I closely monitor the news in Perth online.
But since the boom, all the news stories I ever read are entirely roads related. If it’s not a crash, or a car-chase, or a traffic jam, or a buggered overpass, it’s a new road, or a new driving law, or more speed cameras, or more booze buses.
What the fuck? Is anything else happening in WA other than road-accidents? Why is it that every time I log on to thewest.com.au or perthnow or watoday I’m reading the same old story, with new characters every single day?
It’s not since I’ve moved East that I’ve noticed this change. I noticed it quite clearly while I was living in Perth. And whilst living on a main road in Tuart Hill, I noticed the very real effects of the boom on a young generation.
My generation, the Generation Y’s, have been cashing in on the boom in a big way. A lot of young guys like me (and girls too) have gone up North to Karratha or otherwise to work on the mines and earn 6-figure salaries in their early twenties. They come home on their week off, buy up big on property, plasma screens, boats and hotted up utes and V8 Commodores, and rip up the roads like there’s no tomorrow.
Driving in Perth became incredibly dangerous in the last five years after the “three week on, one week off”-ers would hoon around the streets, after having not even driven a car for three weeks, and crash their $40,000 high-powered vehicles into power poles, houses and each other -This even happened outside my own house!
A 22-year old driver was turning a corder at 80kph, was fiddling with his ipod and drove straight into a light pole, RIGHT outside my window. The power box on the pole exploded and he blacked out the entire street. He came running to below my balcony clutching his ribs asking me to call the ambulance, and they quickly came to take him away.
When I spoke to the police downstairs (whom were blocking everyone at my unit complex in) about what happened? He said it was the fourth one that night.
The fourth. And it was 7:40pm!!! What the fuck??
Perth isn’t THAT big, people! 4 crashes in one evening is a LOT.
Why is it so hard to ban young road-users from buying high-powered vehicles, or AT LEAST making it compulsory for them to undertake special driver training before having the purchase authorised. How thick are WA police that every time they buy a new speed camera, they’re pouring hundreds of thousands of tax-payers dollars into revenue-raising and nannying tactics that do NOTHING to deter road-users from speeding or driving recklessly.
Do you honestly think, for even a second, that a 23-year old mine worker on $140,000 a year gives a flying fuck about a $120 speeding fine? The demerit points count for marginal concern for these guys. The hoon laws that were introduced do nothing, and there are barely enough police out in the early hours to see what these guys are getting away with when nobody’s watching. Because nobody’s watching.
(And it’s because of these reckless bone-heads that me; a 23-year old male driver pays more in car insurance than ANY OTHER DEMOGRAPHIC. Thanks for that, fellers.)
I’ve not had the horrible drama of a friend or family-member be involved in a fatal car accident, but I worry every time I log on to WA news sites that I’ll read that same old story, with a character I know in the body of text.
Wise the fuck up, WA. The state’s road toll now stands at 182 – the highest number in over 5 years. If the government isn’t going to take road-safety seriously, and just continues to pour money into revenue-raising tactics, WA road-users will start taking matters into their own hands; and there’s no telling how much more dangerous that’ll be.
Access 31 to Close Down · 11 June 2008
I just read this on Australian-Media.com.au (see below). It looks as though it’s the end of the road for Channel 31 in Perth.
It’ll be sad to see it go. I’ve been a guest on Sweet & Sour a few times over the last 6 months; I’m doing the show next Monday (Airing Tuesday and Friday); and so it appears it’ll be one of the last shows. This is the station that got Rove McManus his start in television; it’s such a shame to see it pack up.
(Australian-Media.com.au)
“Access 31 Perth to shut down”
Article by Ben
June 10 2008, 6:41pm AWST
Perth’s only community television station is set to disappear from the airwaves at the end of this month.
Access 31, broadcast throughout the metropolitan area from the station’s studios in Perth’s east will hold an emergency meeting on June 27 to determine its future.
The station may voluntarily wind up its operations at the conclusion of this meeting.
Currently, the station has 20 paid staff and operations are handled by volunteers.
It produces local programs including Wake Up! WA, The Couch and Sweet & Sour.
The closure of Access 31 will see the end of community television in Western Australia, a fate likely to be expected by other community stations in the country.
The station provides opportunities for media students studying in Perth to produce local content and gain invaluable experience in the industry.
It began broadcasting on June 18, 1999, before moving to its current site in Belmont in early 2002. – - – - – -
Lose yourself in Melbourne... at the West.com.au · 27 February 2008
Jeez, for the Perth’s only daily newspaper, it seems pretty keen on plugging Melbourne…
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Perth Plume · 26 February 2008
Driving down the Mitchell Freeway heading South this afternoon I spotted this massive plume towards the South of the city. It was a major fire in Forestfield, but I’d be lying if I didn’t think, just for a moment, that the Federal Government had tried testing some Air to Surface Missiles on Brian Burke’s house.
10 Points for Vision · 11 February 2008
I usually bemoan the defacing of public property in Perth, but this particular piece of puerile artistry on the “Greens & Co.” signage in Leederville had me giggling like a pre-schooler finding out he could write ‘boobs’ on his calculator.
(They even went to the trouble of putting the same serif on the font…)
Just think:
You’re from out of town. You need some leafy vegetables.
And some cock.
Where do you go?
Heath Ledger - Dead at 28 · 23 January 2008
It’s a real tragedy when a young person dies; even more tragic is when a young person of such enormous success, talent and notoriety dies. Heath Ledger was not only one of Australia’s best actors, but one of the greatest young actors in the world.
Being from Perth, and going to school at Guildford Grammar School before leaving for Sydney to pursue his acting career, Heath became Perth’s favourite son. Any story, success or failure, was front page news, or at least page 3, because it passed as local news. His nomination for best supporting actor for Brokeback Mountain was the highpoint of his career, and Perth was cheering him on from the sidelines like a crazed Aunt.
It was devastating to hear of his passing this morning. Such a young guy with already such a prolific career, again lost to an overdose of drugs. His sister, Kate, who is a family friend of ours absolutely adored her brother, and I’m sure her and her family will be absolutely devastated at the news.
It’s going to be really strange seeing him play the Joker in the upcoming Batman movie “The Dark Knight”, especially considering the dark nature of his role. Not since Brandon Lee was killed in the shooting of (pardon the pun) “The Crow” will audiences have been watching such a mainstream actor up on screen whom died before the film was released to the public.
This will be his swan song, and I’m sure he would have done his usual amazing job on the role.
Heath’s funeral will be right here in Perth, at the Chapel at Heath’s old High School, Guildford Grammar School.
Live Caricatures :: WALGA | The Boatshed, South Perth · 22 November 2007
Minister for Local Government, Ljijlianna Ravlich
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Mayor of Joondalup, Troy Pickard
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MLA | Member for Murdoch, Shadow Minister for Sport and Recreation, Trevor Sprigg
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MLA | Member for Carine, Katie Hodson-Thomas
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John Patterson, OM
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John Cox
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Cr. Paul Kelly
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