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Joined: Mar 2006 Gender: Male Posts: 354 Location: Sydney NSW Karma: 517
Bicycles on our roads - A necessity or just plain « Result #1 on Jun 20, 2008, 8:19am »
Bicycles on our roads - A necessity or just plain annoying?
Police have spoken to a 34-year-old western Sydney man over a road rage incident involving a group of 50 elite cyclists, including Kate Nichols and Olympic hopeful Ben Kersten. The pack of 50 cyclists was involved in the hit and run incident in Mascot just before seven o'clock (AEST) yesterday morning, with more than 20 injured.
The accident was caused after the driver of the grey Ford Falcon swerved towards the riding pack then slammed on his brakes, apparently deliberately bringing them down before driving away.
Police interviewed the man at a house in Claymore. They say a grey Ford Falcon found at the home has also been examined. Police say no charges have been laid, and investigations into the crash are ongoing. The riders are adamant the driver acted deliberately.
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The issue of cyclists on our roads has been raised on 2GB after this incident, with many listeners either venting their frustrations with bicycles, or defending the right to use them as an alternate means of transport.
Joined: Mar 2006 Gender: Male Posts: 354 Location: Sydney NSW Karma: 517
Re: Cleanfuture Fuels « Result #3 on Jun 17, 2008, 8:29am »
[Alternative Engine Technologies Alternative Engine Technologies’ diesel to gas conversion systems enable the substitution of diesel fuel with more economical fuels such as LPG, ... www.alternativeengine.com/
Cleanfuture is pleased to announce an important new initiative. We can bring to market the new dual fuel system that utilises hydrogen as the alternative fuel to either petrol or diesel.
New website coming 23rd June 2008 – please be patient
The product we have ready to market to you is based upon patented technologies that are controlled and marketed by Alternative Engine Technologies Pty Ltd, that Cleanfuture has packaged in such a way as to offer to you the consumer a viable working hydrogen dual fuel system that introduces sufficient hydrogen to an engine that allows a reduction in fossil fuel consumption of up to 50% depending on application (see notes below).
The product is available to work on a large number of vehicles at this time, and we commencing installations in Adelaide South Australia on the 15th July 2008, and in other states and overseas markets from 1st September 2008.
If you would like to be one of the first, we are taking deposits now for bookings in SA for installations to commence on the 15th July 2008. It is no secret we anticipate significant demand for this product especially given the recent high fuel prices, and significant rises in the international oil price. As of the 16th June 2008, a new record high of $US139.50 was reached in New York, which means higher fuel prices for us all.
So how do you book – call us, email us, tell us what your car is
Make (i.e. Ford) Model (i.e. BA Falcon) Year (i.e. 2005) how many KM per year you travel, and an estimate as to how many km per litre you achieve from your vehicle. With this information we can tell you what to expect from adding the hydrogen dual fuel system to your vehicle.
Installation will take approximately four hours, and if for any reason your vehicle does not respond – we will gladly take it off and refund your money. – Note our related company Alternative Engine Technologies Pty Ltd has a lot of experience with dual fuel systems, having converted diesel engines to dual fuel Diesel/LPG, Diesel/CNG and others. They have found that in many instances, there will be times when an engine does not respond to a change in fuel composition, no matter how smart you think your product is. But take comfort in that we have access to a team that knows what to do from years of experience.
Costing - $2,000 plus $220 installation costs inc GST.
See our websites at Alternative Engine Technologies Pty Ltd to see what we have done with diesel engines, covering trucks, 4WD, and stationery generators, and find out more about the team that is bringing the Hydrogen Dual Fuel System to the market.
General Facts:
On board hydrogen generation is a well known technique for making hydrogen, but the issue has always been making it effectively, and ensuring it is not in fact steam! But the effects are there to see, you can see testimonials all over the internet.
What we have that sets us apart is a device that allows the accurate metering of alternative fuels to an engine in response to engine load, which allows a better performance overall in terms of hydrogen available, and integration of the hydrogen into the engine for enhanced combustion. It is the technology that has allowed us to make an impact in the market for diesel engines and dual applications on such engines.
So the end result is that you are buying from us a patented Diesel/Hydrogen Dual Fuel System, with the US Patent already issued and it was good enough for Ford Motor to use on a Ford F450 Pickup Truck displayed on the official Ford Stand at SEMA, the worlds biggest aftermarket trade show for Pickup Trucks and SUV’s.
Cost and Emission Reductions:
As every engine is different, we cannot give definitive answers as to how much you will save – sometimes the fact that one person is an aggressive driver and another is a patient driver has a big impact on a vehicles performance. So what we offer is that we are targeting a 15% saving, but would not be surprised if some customers achieve significantly better savings when using hydrogen as an alternative fuel.
CO2 emissions will be reduced in line with your fuel consumption reduction, so long as your engine is well maintained (don’t forget there will always be exceptions to the norm).
An associated company of Alternative Engine Technologies Pty Ltd, and its “Duofuel” Duel Fuel Engine Technologies.
Joined: Mar 2006 Gender: Male Posts: 354 Location: Sydney NSW Karma: 517
Cleanfuture Fuels « Result #4 on Jun 17, 2008, 8:23am »
Cleanfuture Fuels
Hydrogen for passenger cars.
Cleanfuture is pleased to announce an important new initiative. We can bring to market the new dual fuel system that utilises hydrogen as the alternative fuel to either petrol or diesel.
New website coming 23rd June 2008 – please be patient
The product we have ready to market to you is based upon patented technologies that are controlled and marketed by Alternative Engine Technologies Pty Ltd, that Cleanfuture has packaged in such a way as to offer to you the consumer a viable working hydrogen dual fuel system that introduces sufficient hydrogen to an engine that allows a reduction in fossil fuel consumption of up to 50% depending on application (see notes below).
The product is available to work on a large number of vehicles at this time, and we commencing installations in Adelaide South Australia on the 15th July 2008, and in other states and overseas markets from 1st September 2008.
If you would like to be one of the first, we are taking deposits now for bookings in SA for installations to commence on the 15th July 2008. It is no secret we anticipate significant demand for this product especially given the recent high fuel prices, and significant rises in the international oil price. As of the 16th June 2008, a new record high of $US139.50 was reached in New York, which means higher fuel prices for us all.
So how do you book – call us, email us, tell us what your car is
Make (i.e. Ford) Model (i.e. BA Falcon) Year (i.e. 2005) how many KM per year you travel, and an estimate as to how many km per litre you achieve from your vehicle. With this information we can tell you what to expect from adding the hydrogen dual fuel system to your vehicle.
Installation will take approximately four hours, and if for any reason your vehicle does not respond – we will gladly take it off and refund your money. – Note our related company Alternative Engine Technologies Pty Ltd has a lot of experience with dual fuel systems, having converted diesel engines to dual fuel Diesel/LPG, Diesel/CNG and others. They have found that in many instances, there will be times when an engine does not respond to a change in fuel composition, no matter how smart you think your product is. But take comfort in that we have access to a team that knows what to do from years of experience.
Costing - $2,000 plus $220 installation costs inc GST.
See our websites at Alternative Engine Technologies Pty Ltd to see what we have done with diesel engines, covering trucks, 4WD, and stationery generators, and find out more about the team that is bringing the Hydrogen Dual Fuel System to the market.
General Facts:
On board hydrogen generation is a well known technique for making hydrogen, but the issue has always been making it effectively, and ensuring it is not in fact steam! But the effects are there to see, you can see testimonials all over the internet.
What we have that sets us apart is a device that allows the accurate metering of alternative fuels to an engine in response to engine load, which allows a better performance overall in terms of hydrogen available, and integration of the hydrogen into the engine for enhanced combustion. It is the technology that has allowed us to make an impact in the market for diesel engines and dual applications on such engines.
So the end result is that you are buying from us a patented Diesel/Hydrogen Dual Fuel System, with the US Patent already issued and it was good enough for Ford Motor to use on a Ford F450 Pickup Truck displayed on the official Ford Stand at SEMA, the worlds biggest aftermarket trade show for Pickup Trucks and SUV’s.
Cost and Emission Reductions:
As every engine is different, we cannot give definitive answers as to how much you will save – sometimes the fact that one person is an aggressive driver and another is a patient driver has a big impact on a vehicles performance. So what we offer is that we are targeting a 15% saving, but would not be surprised if some customers achieve significantly better savings when using hydrogen as an alternative fuel.
CO2 emissions will be reduced in line with your fuel consumption reduction, so long as your engine is well maintained (don’t forget there will always be exceptions to the norm).
An associated company of Alternative Engine Technologies Pty Ltd, and its “Duofuel” Duel Fuel Engine Technologies.
Joined: Mar 2006 Gender: Male Posts: 354 Location: Sydney NSW Karma: 517
WA Gas Crisis « Result #5 on Jun 15, 2008, 2:55am »
Federal Energy Minister Martin Ferguson says the Department of Defence has surrendered six million litres of diesel to BP in Western Australia, in an attempt to stave off the state's gas crisis.
Mr Ferguson met with Western Australian Premier Alan Carpenter today to discuss Commonwealth assistance during the crisis.
Almost two weeks ago an explosion at a gas facility cut the state's gas supply by one third.
Mr Carpenter says the Federal Government is continuing to offer logistical assistance but the state has not requested any financial support and hopes it will not have to.
Mr Ferguson says the Navy has surrendered six million litres of diesel to BP - about 60 per cent of the state's total daily consumption.
"Six megalitres was made available from the Department of Defence doing the right thing by the WA community," he said.
"That remains in normal refinery capacity to be fed into the market as required and the normal commercial relationships will determine how that is allocated on the ground.
"In terms of whatever request that the WA Government makes, we'll be going out of way to try and meet them."
He also says his department is completing a review of available acreage for development of oil and gas and will apply the "use it or lose it" legislation more rigorously than it has been previously.
"Our job's to basically rigorously apply 'use it or lose it' and basically say to these companies there is opportunity in Australia now to actually commercially bring on these oil and gas developments, which is not only good for exports but also domestic consumption," he said.
"I adopt this view we can both export gas and also develop for local capacity."
Joined: Mar 2006 Gender: Male Posts: 354 Location: Sydney NSW Karma: 517
Darwin is set to become « Result #6 on Jun 14, 2008, 7:15am »
SOMETIMES, you have to let go. That is the only view old Darwinites can take as they watch their once sleepy little city awaken, stretch out and stand tall on Australia's far northern frontier.
Darwin city's upwards development has been such a fast-paced free-for-all that it has caught everyone off guard. Little thought has been given to aesthetics as buildings that look like they have been airlifted in from Jakarta's projects suddenly appear on the skyline.
But while sentimentalists complain about the changing face of Darwin, they must acknowledge there wasn't, really, an old-look Darwin - not after it got a bad shake-up in World War II, and then a brutal going over in Cyclone Tracy.
Darwin has little in the way of heritage and for the most part has tended to define itself by the character of its people.
If Darwin once hinted at louvres and ceiling fans, city life is now characterised by coded high-security, underground car parks, elevators, split-system aircons and six-burner barbies on small balconies high in the sky.
There is little in the way of available freehold land and Darwin is rimmed by mangrove swamps, which can only be reclaimed at great expense - and pushing mangroves aside for housing invariably invites an environmental battle.
Darwin has decided the only way is up.
In Australia's other capitals - excluding low-level Hobart - CBD skyscrapers exist to provide office space. In Darwin, the taller buildings are apartment blocks.
This means Darwin is set to become Australia's most lived-in city. The amenities to support this do not, so far, exist. There is precious little parkland, too few quality restaurants, and not one single department store in the whole of the city.
People still fly south to go shopping. That will change because, like Darwin, it must.
The rush of new towers is not, as some imagine, a plot by faceless conglomerates. There are no big players in this town. The developers are Darwin families who have seen the possibilities.
They pre-sell apartments off the plan and the banks, clearly, see no risk. Land, house and apartment prices have tripled since 2000 and the Territory population is growing, mostly in Darwin, at 2.4 per cent compared with the nation's 1.4 per cent. The rush is said to be good for another five years at least.
Because rental space is desperately short - the vacancy rate is a very marginal 0.5 per cent - it is easy to justify slapping up new towers in a hurry. As soon as they are built, they are filled.
Just as prices for the Territory's cattle stations and prime rural properties are being pushed up by demand, most of Darwin's tower apartments are bought by southerners as investment properties. They are occupied by visiting defence staff, oil and gas workers, tourism workers, public servants and contractors working on other buildings.
The exception is the 33-storey Evolution tower. Not yet completed, it is already Darwin's tallest building. It advertises its apartments as "sky homes" and is being presented as Darwin's first high-class apartment tower.
Created by local company Sunbuild, Evolution's ambition to be the biggest initially aggravated locals who wanted Darwin to keep its head low. Yet Evolution is 80 per cent sold; curiously, almost exclusively to locals who want to live in what they see as a quality building.
"We deliberately pitched it to locals," says Sunbuild's hands-on general manager Neil Sunners. "There are middle-aged people, like me, who live in Darwin who have made good money and want to live in a city apartment, but their only option has been to buy in one of the crap buildings going up in this town. I wanted to change that."
Somewhere beneath these long shadows you'll find Vaughan Williams, who rents one of Darwin's few remaining inner-city houses. It is to be bulldozed to make way for yet another tower in a matter of months. He is a long-time Darwinite best known as an East Timor activist. He always enjoys a good protest, but is surprisingly relaxed about his eviction.
"We've had a good run here for a number of years but we've always accepted that it would happen," he says. "It was inevitable that one day this city would grow up
Joined: Mar 2006 Gender: Male Posts: 354 Location: Sydney NSW Karma: 517
Australian scientists have begun research on a new « Result #7 on Jun 12, 2008, 5:47am »
Australian scientists have begun research on a new type of stem cell that doesn't require human embryos.
They are experimenting with stem cells from adults, hoping to make them act more like embryonic cells.
Melbourne-based scientist, Dr Andrew Laslett, says he hopes they can be used to produce blood.
"What's different about these cells from human embryonic stem cells, is that they are created not from embryos but from skin cells for example, or adult cells from the human body," he said.
Joined: Mar 2006 Gender: Male Posts: 354 Location: Sydney NSW Karma: 517
Car makers disagree over alternative fuels « Result #8 on Jun 11, 2008, 1:50am »
Car makers disagree over alternative fuels
Page 1 of 2 | Single page
Saab says ethanol is the fuel of the future, Ford says it's LPG, writes JEZ SPINKS.
Car manufacturers General Motors Saab and Ford have conflicting views on which fuel should power Australian motorists in an era of ever-rising petrol prices.
In the month that the Federal Government announced a package of measures to counter public concern over rising fuel costs, the director of Saab Australia, Parveen Batish, believes more focus should be placed on ethanol rather than LPG.
“It’s interesting if you look at Europe, because most car manufacturers have stopped investment in LPG and are looking at ethanol,” said Batish.
“In March/April this year you had ethanol pumps going live in the UK – E85 fuel, which is 85 per cent ethanol, 15 per cent regular petrol,” he continued. “And in Sweden, what the government has done instead of subsidising fuel costs is penalised petrol companies if they don’t hit a certain number of filling stations that actually sell E85.
“And then they’ve offered concessions to ethanol-powered cars. In Stockholm, for example, if you drive an E85-powered car you’re exempt from the city’s congestion charge – and you don’t pay any parking fees.”
And it’s here in Saab’s home country that an E85-powered car, the Saab 9-5 2.0t Biopower, has become the best-selling ‘green’ car, even outstripping Toyota’s petrol-electric hybrid, the Prius.
Batish is convinced that ethanol has greater advantages over LPG, beyond matching Autogas’s fuel-savings benefits: “The great thing about the Saab [Biopower] is that, unlike LPG, you actually gain some performance. With the [Biopower Saab’s] 2.0 turbo engine, you get 20 per cent more power with the ethanol fuel. And you can actually run the car on pure unleaded petrol.”
But Ford Australia, which builds the only homegrown dedicated-LPG car, the Falcon E-Gas, argues that E85 fuel is not a realistic option here. “Cars in Australia are not built to run on E85, and there isn’t an E85 network here to allow people to fuel their vehicles,” said Sinead McAlary, the company’s spokeswoman.
“It would take a total shift of the [automotive] market and sizeable resources [for E85 to become viable here]. And it would take significant steps for the fuel to become well recognised by people in Australia,” continued McAlary. “We’re currently running our Ford LPG Challenge around Australia to prove that LPG is readily available in this country.
Joined: Mar 2006 Gender: Male Posts: 354 Location: Sydney NSW Karma: 517
Re: LPG Autogas Australia « Result #9 on Jun 11, 2008, 1:48am »
LPG stands for Liquefied Petroleum Gas - a mixture of light hydrocarbons that are gases at normal temperatures and pressures, but liquefy at moderate pressures or reduced temperatures. LPG used as automotive fuel is referred to as LPG Autogas.
The main component gases of Autogas are propane (C3H8) and butane (C4H10). Autogas is colourless, odourless and heavier than air. A sulphur based chemical (ethyl mercaptan) is added to give it a smell, so that even a very small leak can be easily detected. LPG Autogas burns readily in air and has an energy content similar to petrol, which makes it an excellent fuel for automotive use.
LPG occurs naturally in crude oil and natural gas production fields and is also produced in the oil refining process. Australia has five sources of naturally occurring LPG sources - Bass Strait (1,050) kilotonnes (kt)), Cooper Basin in Central Australia (410 kt), North West Shelf (810 kt) Kwinana in Western Australia (330 kt) and Surat Basin in Queensland (16 kt).
Refinery production is from seven refineries, Bulwer Island (BP) and Lytton (Caltex) in Queensland, Clyde (Shell) and Kurnell (Caltex) in New South Wales, Altona (Exxon Mobil) and Geelong (Shell) in Melbourne and Kwinana (BP) in Western Australia.
Australia produces currently about 3,300 kt of LPG annually. Of these volumes, 80% is naturally occurring (i.e. extracted from oil and gas production) and 20% is extracted from crude oil in the refining process. Australia's production of LPG is projected to grow to 5,024 kt by 2020.
Autogas is typically at least 50 per cent cheaper than other automotive fuels. LPG Autogas prices move in a similar manner to petrol prices. The price fluctuations reflect the highly competitive nature of the industry.
LPG Autogas powered vehicles emit significantly fewer greenhouse gases and other pollutants than petrol-powered equivalents. LPG typically has around 20 per cent less ozone forming potential (a measure of the tendency to generate photochemical smog), between 10 and 15 per cent lower greenhouse gas emissions and only one fifth air toxics emissions.
LPG Autogas vehicles operate even more relatively cleanly when the engine is cold. Given that most urban-use vehicles are often used for very short journeys this means a significant reduction in “real world” emissions.
LPG Autogas is also much cleaner than diesel. The dirty black smoke that we see coming from diesel vehicles is particulates – a known cause of sickness and deaths. By replacing a diesel engine with an LPG Autogas-powered equivalent, over 90 percent of this particulate matter would be eliminated.
Last year the Federal Government recognized the environmental benefits of running motor vehicles on Autogas by announcing the fuel would remain excise-free until 2011.
Even after that date, excise will be gradually applied in annual increments of 2.5 cents per litre until it reaches a ceiling of 12.5 cents per litre in 2015.
In comparison, the current excise on petrol in 38.143 cents per litre.
From the 14 August 2006 the Federal Government has provided grants for purchasing a new LPG vehicle $1,000) or converting an existing vehicle to LPG ($2,000) for non-business use. See the Government Grants section on the Home Page.
TESTIMONIALS
"LPG is far superior to diesel or petrol for one tonne operations around town. We specify that all our sub-contractors operate only autogas vehicles. Petrol or diesel puts a courier at a competitive disadvantage because of the higher cost of fuel."
Graham Schorer, Managing Director, Golden (one of Melbourne's largest courier companies)
"I photograph real estate so I travel between 50,000 and 70,000 kilometres a year. Originally I converted my four company cars to save money - but now both of the V8s seem to run better on autogas than on petrol.
I'm trying to convert a mate of mine. He's got a new Landcruiser that he's done 28,000 kilometres in, but he thinks it would be too expensive to get it converted. I told him if he had it converted to autogas in the first place it would have paid for itself by now."
Bill Riley, Manager, Auction Photography
"I have three primary school age children and their activities, along with my own, keep me in the car much of the week. Sport, drama, friends, outings etc. I also like to be able to offer any of their friends a lift if I can. With my car converted to autogas, I am confident that I can afford to drive them to various places without spending money on petrol that I would rather spend on the outing itself.
The tank sits neatly in my boot, still giving me plenty of loading space, it is easy to fill at the fuel station and I have complete confidence in the safety of my vehicle. I am happy to drive my family on autogas and very happy that the things I choose to do with my children are not hampered by excessive fuel costs."
Sharon Van Pamelen, Mother
"Having pondered the decision to convert to autogas for over eight months, my only regret is that I didn't do it straight away. It is now an obvious economic decision that means greatly increased profits for my business.
Prior to having autogas installed on each of my cars I was spending around $7,000 a month on petrol. Now, even while I am paying off my conversions through the gas company scheme, I am still paying less for my fuel.
Being long distance couriers, the extra capacity of fuel has meant we can travel much further than ever before without stopping and it was quite a surprise to find just how many stations actually sell autogas.
Autogas is one of the best decisions I have ever made."
Joined: Mar 2006 Gender: Male Posts: 354 Location: Sydney NSW Karma: 517
LPG Autogas Australia « Result #10 on Jun 11, 2008, 1:38am »
LPG Autogas Australia LPG Australia estimates that the saving made by a fleet operator running 15 Autogas-powered vehicles is equivalent to the purchase price of one new vehicle ... www.lpgautogas.com.au/index.cfm?Action=MyFleet
Please note: The LPG Vehicle Scheme customer documents have been updated. These include LPG Vehicle Scheme Application Form, Customer Guidelines; Frequently Asked Questions; Fact Sheets and the Information Sheet for Installers and Dealers.
The latest version of the Application form is February 2008. However, application forms dated January 2007 or later will also be accepted. The Australian Government has established the LPG Vehicle Scheme to assist private use motorists with the purchase of a new LPG vehicle or the conversion of a new or used petrol or diesel vehicle to LPG.
Two different grants are available:
1. A grant of $2,000 will be paid following the LPG conversion of a new or used petrol or diesel motor vehicle. 2. A grant of $1,000 will be paid following the purchase of a new motor vehicle with an LPG unit fitted at the time of manufacture of the vehicle.
The grants are available to registered owners of a new vehicle with an LPG unit fitted at the time of manufacture of the vehicle or registered owners who have a new or used petrol or diesel vehicle converted to LPG on or after 14 August 2006.
The vehicle must be registered in your name at the time of LPG conversion, or for new cars, at the time you purchased your new LPG vehicle
An eligible vehicle:
* Is for private use (not commercial or business use) * Is a passenger or light commercial vehicle less than 3.5 tonnes Gross Vehicle Mass * Must be registered in the Australian state or territory of residence of claimant * Is not subject to a novated lease or salary sacrifice arrangement * Must be registered for private use in NSW, VIC, QLD, WA, and the ACT * Must be declared for private use if registered in SA, TAS and NT * must have been converted or purchased within the last 12 months.
Please ensure that your installer is properly accredited. Each State and Territory has its own accreditation system. You should ask your installer for accreditation/registration/certification details and check these against your State or Territory requirements.
For any further information, call the AusIndustry hotline on 13 28 46.
General product information
Information sheet for installers and dealers Information for installers and dealers providing LPG conversions to customers under the LPG Vehicle Scheme. FAQs
LPG Vehicle Scheme - Frequently Asked Questions This is the frequently asked questions about the LPG Vehicle Scheme. They have been updated in February 2008. Fact Sheets
LPG Vehicle Scheme - Fact Sheet This Fact Sheet provides a general overview of the LPG Vehicle Scheme. Forms
LPG Vehicle Scheme Application Form The latest version of the LPG Vehicle Scheme application form is February 2008. Application forms dated January 2007 or later will also be accepted. Guidelines
LPG Vehicle Scheme - Customer Guidelines The Customer Guidelines provide essential information about the LPG Vehicle Scheme including how to apply, who is eligible and other relevant information.
LPG Vehicle Scheme - Ministerial guidelines The Ministerial guidelines provide the authority for the LPG Vehicle Scheme. Media Releases
Request for archived Media Releases Details for access to archived Media Releases. Reports
LPG Vehicle Scheme Statistics This information provides the aggregate number and value of the LPG Vehicle Scheme grants as at the date shown.
Joined: Mar 2006 Gender: Male Posts: 354 Location: Sydney NSW Karma: 517
Re: Non Petrol Cars Hybrids LPG Electric hydrogen « Result #12 on Jun 11, 2008, 1:28am »
TOYOTA'S planned petrol-electric hybrid Camry won't be the only low-emission car on the market when it hits the streets in 2010, and it may not even be the lowest emitter.
But the introduction of electric power into local manufacturing is seen by experts as laying the groundwork towards finally developing an all-electric car in the next 20-30 years.
While, for now, clean-burning diesels have the potential to match or exceed hybrids in terms of cutting greenhouse gases, the hybrid is seen as a key transition fuel ahead of an electric car, whether it is battery operated or powered by a hydrogen fuel cell.
"The hybrid involves the introduction of electric power with petrol, so it is developing in the right direction until we have a long-term alternative," said Michael Case, chief engineer at Victorian motorist organisation the RACV.
"It is the next logical step in the move towards alternative fuels," he said.
British motoring magazine Auto Express has said that hybrids aren't as good on paper in terms of their emissions and can be outperformed by the latest diesel-engine cars.
According to Auto Express's Chris Thorpe, the manufacturer's claims on emissions weren't necessarily backed up on the road.
"At the moment, hybrid cars aren't quite where they need to be to offer an advantage in emissions and petrol consumption compared to just an efficient standard car," Mr Thorpe told ABC radio.
That is largely because hybrids perform well in cities where the power from frequent braking is captured and used, but they are more petrol-reliant on the open road. Their large batteries also make the cars heavier.
The latest diesel Audi A3 claims fuels consumption of 4.5 litres/100km, compared with 4.4 for Toyota's hybrid Prius. But for Graeme Pearman, a former head of atmospheric research at the CSIRO and an environmental researcher at Monash University, the hybrid needs to be encouraged because it opens a pathway to ultimately break with liquid fuels.
"And in the nearer term, it may be possible to develop a diesel hybrid to capture the best of both," Dr Pearman said. "This is the way to get to that next step, which is the electric car."
Toyota believes the hybrid can provide that initial move away from liquid fuels while still presenting an affordable car with the performance of a petrol vehicle.
"We are studying every possible alternative technology, including diesel hybrid," Toyota Australia president Max Yasuda said.
"With current technology, we can build (a diesel hybrid) but it isn't economic at this point in time," he said.
While advocates such as Dr Pearman are calling for the federal Government to provide incentives for the adoption of hybrids, such moves could be hard to justify unless they can be shown to be definitively more green than other alternatives.
In some areas of California, hybrids enjoy free parking and can use transit lanes.
Toyota has already raised with government the possibility of such measures here.
There have also been calls for tax breaks and discounts on registration.
But Victorian Premier John Brumby said he expected the federal and state government funding already given to Toyota would ensure it came up with an affordable vehicle.
However, the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries is generally opposed to such incentives.
According to FCAI chief executive Andrew McKellar, the introduction of carbon trading in 2010 can be expected to send the right market signals to motorists.
The hybrid Camry to be made here will be based on the current US-produced model, though it may not be exactly the same.
According to Toyota, the hybrid produces 30 per cent less emissions than the petrol-only model
Joined: Mar 2006 Gender: Male Posts: 354 Location: Sydney NSW Karma: 517
Toyota builds hybrid Camry in Australia « Result #13 on Jun 10, 2008, 3:31pm »
Toyota builds hybrid Camry in Australia
Wow
This is Good
Australia is to become part of the global shift to hybrid cars, with Toyota planning to build 10,000 cars a year at Altona from the start of 2010, with subsidies from the Federal and State governments.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd made the announcement here at Toyota's global corporate headquarters today at a joint media conference with Toyota president Katsuaki Watanabe.
Mr Rudd said the Government would invest $35 million from its Green Car Innovation Fund to finance the tooling up for the new model, which will reduce petrol consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by a third compared with a standard Camry.
''This is about helping the family petrol budget and helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions'', Mr Rudd said. ''A family driving 20,000 kilometres a year will save up to $1000 a year.''
Mr Watanabe said Toyota had decided to add Australia as a location for producing the hybrid Camry because it was confident it would be well-received, ''given the high awareness and concern that Australian people have on the global warming issue''.
''It is our vision at Toyota that early in the 2010s we will increase annual hybrid sales (globally) to 1 million cars a year.''
Toyota now sells less than half that number, mostly as the upmarket Prius, but is also introducing hybrid engines as an option for the Tarago, Lexus and 4Runner SUV vehicles. Later today Mr Watanabe is to announce that Toyota will also start producing hybrid-powered Camrys in Thailand.
Mr Rudd defended the $35 million Federal subsidy as an investment in research and development of new technology that would benefit the nation. ''I don't want to be the Prime Minister of an Australia that doesn't manufacture things any more'', he said.
Victorian Premier John Brumby said the decision would secure jobs for Victorian car workers.
"With car manufacturers moving on a global scale to produce green, fuel-efficient cars it is crucial that the Victorian auto industry secures a slice of this investment, which will add $150 million annually to our economy,'' Mr Brumby said.
Mr Brumby met Toyota president Katsuaki Watanabe to lobby for the Camry to be built in Victoria on a recent trip to Japan.
Mr Watanabe today said Australia had joined Japan and the United States as part of Toyota's hybrid family.
He conceded the hybrid Camry would be more expensive than the regular model but suggested the $35 million subsidy might be used to keep the retail price down.
"It was only recently that we heard about the amount so we are not sure how we will use it,'' he said.
The Victorian Government will also contribute to the hybrid's manufacture and Premier John Brumby is expected to hold a press conference later today.
Joined: Mar 2006 Gender: Male Posts: 354 Location: Sydney NSW Karma: 517
SOUTH Australian Treasurer Kevin Foley plunged the « Result #14 on Jun 6, 2008, 3:23am »
SOUTH Australian Treasurer Kevin Foley plunged the state heavily into debt today, delivering a high-risk budget that will electrify Adelaide's ramshackle commuter rail system and fund a $1.4 billion desalination plant.
The $12.1 billion budget reinforces the trend by state Labor governments to crank up spending on long-overlooked infrastructure, but carries risk for the state's bottom line at a time of growing international and domestic economic uncertainty.
The centrepiece of Mr Foley's seventh budget is a $2 billion plan to electrify Adelaide's diesel rail passenger network, and at the same time extend from the city to Port Adelaide its reborn tram system.
Public anger over the outmoded and overcrowded suburban train service, coupled with teething problems for the new trams, has become a first-order political problem for Mike Rann's Government, which has also faced criticism that it was too slow to respond to South Australia's deepening water crisis.
The 2008-09 state budget commits $1.4 billion over the next four years to electrify sections of the metropolitan rail systems, extend tram services and to buy a fleet of new passenger buses. The program will roll out over the next decade.
Under the plan - the surprise packet of an otherwise heavily leaked effort by Mr Foley - the rail corridor south from Adelaide to Noarlunga will be the first to be electrified, with work commencing in 2008-09.
That will be followed by electrification of the Outer Harbor line in the city's northwest. Simultaneously, the tram line from the city will be extended north to the Adelaide Entertainment Centre.
Once the upgraded Outer Harbor rail line is connected to the tram network, light rail spurs will run to the fast-growing West Lakes area, beachside Semaphore and Port Adelaide.
Fifty new electric trains, 58 diesel trains refurbished to run on electric power, 15 combined train-trams to run on the light rail network, 20 additional buses and extra trams would be bought to provide what Mr Foley called a coast-to-coast electric train and tram service for Adelaide, from Glenelg to Port Adelaide.
The big-spending budget also found room for a new $4000 grant to first-home buyers, which will be paid on top of the existing $7000 subsidy from the commonwealth. Mr Foley said the state home bonus was worth four times the amount of existing stamp duty concessions to first-home buyers. It would be payable on home purchases up to $450,000.
The infrastructure spend will be financed mainly from borrowings, increasing net state debt from $82 million this financial year to $610 million in 2008-09, topping out at nearly $2 billion for 2011-12.
Mr Foley said the burden could be supported by strong budget operating surpluses, even though South Australia's economic growth and growth in employment was expected to fall below the national average.
The budget's net operating balance would increase from $160 million in 2008-09, to $424 million by 2011-12.
Defending the borrowing program as prudent and responsible, the Treasurer said the Government was implementing its program action now for the future by investing in infrastructure.
According to my calculations the problem doesn't exist
Joined: Apr 2007 Gender: Male Posts: 33 Location: YASS Australia Karma: 0
Mundine slams 'defeatist' 2020 proposals « Result #15 on Jun 4, 2008, 7:46am »
Mundine slams 'defeatist' 2020 proposals
A list of 49 recommendations from the Indigenous group at April's 2020 summit has been revealed, but former ALP president Warren Mundine has described two of them as "defeatist nonsense".
Mr Mundine attended the summit, but was not part of the Indigenous group.
He has dismissed a proposal that Indigenous people be allowed to access their superannuation early because of their lower life expectancy.
And he says a scheme where seats in parliament are reserved for Indigenous people would be a waste of time.
"It hasn't helped the Maori people over in New Zealand, it didn't help any other race of people in the world," he said.
"In fact it's isolated us and cut us off even further.
"What the recommendations are saying is the Labor Party, and the National Party and the Liberal Party are too incompetent and too bigoted to get Aboriginal people into Parliament, so let's set up a little separate body."
But the idea to establish a new Indigenous representative body has been welcomed by the National Indigenous Youth Movement's Tim Goodwin.
"A place where [we can] present innovative policy options and advocate for Indigenous people on a local, national and global level," he said.
The deputy chair of the movement says having Indigenous seats in Parliament is an idea worth investigating but Mr Goodwin says Indigenous people need to be involved in the major parties.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd had asked for around a dozen policy proposals from the entire 2020 summit - a figure now dwarfed by the Indigenous proposals alone.
The Federal Government is scheduled to respond to the summit ideas by the end of the year.
Joined: Mar 2006 Gender: Male Posts: 354 Location: Sydney NSW Karma: 517
Queensland Budget « Result #16 on Jun 3, 2008, 4:48pm »
FIRST homebuyers will be one of the big winners with a Robin Hood strategy of taking from the rich to fund stamp duty relief.
The State Government will lift the threshold at which stamp duty will apply for first home owners from $320,000 to $500,000 by September 1.
According to Queensland Treasurer Andrew Fraser the savings will be worth $9800 on a home worth $500,000, well above the current median price for a house in Brisbane of $425,000.
Other resident homebuyers will benefit with an increase in the level at which stamp duty concessions apply from $320,000 to $350,000. The saving will be about $750.
Mr Fraser said the result of the improved concession was that homebuyers would pay $7175 less than buyers who do not receive the concession.
However wealthier home buyers will end up paying more with increases in stamp duty for homes above $1,000,000. A $2 million home will now cost another $7500 in stamp duty.
Land tax will also be reduced with the amount payable at the $600,000 threshold reduced from $1200 to $500, benfitting about 15,000 taxpayers.
Companies and absentee land owners will also benefit with a reduction in the tax payable falling from $2250 to $1450.
However, because land values have increased so much in recent years, the Government will still earn an additional $175 million in revenue from the tax next financial year.
Mr Fraser said Queensland had enjoyed a decade of prosperity, but not everyone had benefitted.
"Scores of younger Queenslanders have been locked out of the property market simply because it has risen beyond their reach," he said.
After hitting the mining industry with big increases in coal royalties that will triple the amount it earns from the industry, the Government will hand back a fraction to business through payroll tax reform.
Companies with a payroll of between $1 million and $5 million will receive concessions costing about $20 million and affecting about 6800 businesses.
However, the Government expects continued job growth to increase its payroll tax collection by 9 per cent.
Mortgage duty will also be finally abolished from July 1 after a phased decrease since 2005-06.
The abolition of the tax will be six months earlier than previously announced.
Joined: Mar 2006 Gender: Male Posts: 354 Location: Sydney NSW Karma: 517
NSW budget « Result #17 on Jun 3, 2008, 4:44pm »
NSW budget NSW budget Updated: 14:35, Tuesday June 3, 2008
New South Wales Treasurer Michael Costa has handed down the Iemma government's third budget.
The state government will spend $57.6 billion on infrastructure over the next four years, including $14 billion this year, invested in rail, water, electricity, schools, police stations and hospitals.
The government will increase borrowings to $21 billion over the next four years, with a record $46.7 billion in new spending in priority areas, including Aboriginal health, emergency departments, child protection, mental health and disability services.
Among spending initiatives is $4 billion for law and order, with $1.9 billion to improve technology in fighting crime.
$11.8 billion has been set aside for education, to upgrade facilities and improve information technology.
Mr Costa also announced $3.6 billion in tax cuts to support jobs and economic growth.
He says the budget for 2008/09 will be a surplus of $268 million, with surpluses averaging around $800 million over the following three years.
Mr Costa said the budget continues Labor's commitment to invest in infrastructure and front line services in record amounts.
He says the budget reflects the significant changes that have taken place in financial markets, which have experienced 'severe instability'.
'This budget balances the challenges of delivering improved services, investing more in infrastructure and cutting taxes,' said Mr Costa.
Joined: Mar 2006 Gender: Male Posts: 354 Location: Sydney NSW Karma: 517
PAPUA New Guinea is losing its accessible forests « Result #18 on Jun 3, 2008, 6:04am »
PAPUA New Guinea is losing its accessible forests so quickly to logging and farming that more than 80 per cent will be gone within 13 years. 3jun-png
Satellite images of PNG's Sagarai Gadaisu region from 1990, left, and 2005 showing forest logging. Picture: University of PNG
A five-year study by experts from the Australian National University and the University of Papua New Guinea Remote Sensing Centre has found PNG is losing 362,400ha of forest a year, equivalent to 1.4 per cent of its land area.
The study, the first to measure forest loss in PNG through satellite imagery, found the rate of land-clearing was "considerably faster" than previously estimated.
A report on the study, titled the State of the Forests of Papua New Guinea, released at a conference in Port Moresby yesterday, raises doubts about the effectiveness of programs funded under Australia's $200 million international forest carbon initiative.
Indonesia and PNG are the main focuses of the initiative, and Kevin Rudd is expected to raise deforestation during his visit to Jakarta later this month.
In April, Canberra and Port Moresby signed a carbon partnership to reduce emissions by tackling land-clearing in PNG. But the benefits of including PNG in carbon trading were questioned by the report's senior author, PNG Remote Sensing Centre director Phil Shearman.
"It's fair to wonder why the PNG Government should be compensated after encouraging the logging industry for so long in the past, or why it should get paid in the future to conserve forest that cannot be reached and would never have been logged anyway," Dr Shearman said.
"The reality is that forests arebeing logged repeatedly and wastefully with little regard forthe environmental consequences, and with at least the passive complicity of government authorities."
The study, which analysed the results of high-resolution satellite imagery across PNG between 1972 and 2002, concluded the country was a "long way from being able to meaningfully participate in the carbon economy".
Logging accounted for the destruction of 3.8 million hectares of forest - almost half the area lost over the 30 years.
As PNG's population increased from 2.7 million to 5.6 million between 1972 and 2002, 3.6 million hectares of forest were lost to subsistence farming.
Forest fires destroyed a further 347,000ha, and 150,000ha were lost to tailings pollution from the Ok Tedi copper mine.
PNG's supposed protection of 1.3 million hectares of forest in reserves is meaningless, the report says. "All parts of the country have been considered open to exploitation, even within gazetted nature reserves."
Claims by the logging industry that forests can be cut sustainably on a 30-year rotational period should be disregarded, the report says. A "tipping point" has been reached over much of PNG, where the degradation of forested land was essentially irreversible.
"It will not be long, perhaps in the lifetimes of the country's current leaders, before the ecology of large portions of the country has been degraded permanently," the report says.
PNG Prime Minister Michael Somare, whose family is involved with the logging industry, declined to comment yesterday.
PNG Forest Minister Belden Namah welcomed the report, but said its findings would make many uncomfortable. "If this report is the bitter pill we need to swallow to ensure we maintain our forests into the foreseeable future, then so be it," Mr Namah says in a foreword
Joined: Mar 2006 Gender: Male Posts: 354 Location: Sydney NSW Karma: 517
Aboriginal Anzacs of the Budawang Tribe « Result #19 on May 31, 2008, 5:25am »
Aboriginal Anzacs of the Budawang Tribe Posted April 22nd, 2008 by Pyewacket
Walter Andrews
Caution: Do not read this story if you are troubled by names or photos of deceased persons.
Recently an elderly neighbour approached me and asked me to research her family tree. My neighbour was brought up on Coomaditchie Reserve, her father being William Henry Evans Nicholson of the Miryyal-Budawang Tribe of Milton-Ulladulla. This tribal group has been researched by Ulladulla historian Cathy Dunn, who gave me a tremendous amount of information.
It is fortunate for family historians that the Budawang people were taken under the wing of various churches which carefully recorded marriages, baptisms and deaths in their records from 1848. In those days, registration of Aboriginal births and deaths was not compulsory and was probably even discouraged, so these church records are an historical treasure trove. These residents of the Ulladulla region were also educated in church schools, and as a result, were generally better educated than most of the white people on the South Coast.
Having completed my neighbour's family tree I became very interested in the Budawang men and women who enlisted during World War 1. All of these soldiers were ancestors of my neighbour and mostly the grandsons and great grandsons of Jane Brown, whose husbands were Charles Nicholson, Francis Butler and William Licey. The documents available on the National Archives illustrate what fine people they were. Interestingly, I have not seen any indication on these records that these soldiers were paid any less than their white counterparts, as has been claimed elsewhere.
Walter Andrews
Walter Ernest Andrews was born in 1889 in Milton. He enlisted on 20th May 1916 in Lismore N.S.W. His occupation was stated as Labourer. He was five feet six inches and his religion was stated as C. of E. Sadly, his wife Maud had died five years after their marriage, and he had one daughter, Dulcie Maud, aged six, who was being taken care of by a relative in Lismore. Walter was sent to France, where he became ill with influenza. While recovering, he went AWOL, like any typical Aussie larrikin soldier worth his salt, met a girl, Winifred Beatrice Gaunt, of Rawreth, Essex, and remarried. His records show he was docked a couple of days' pay for going AWOL. Winifred was 19 and a farmer's daughter. Walter eventually returned safely to Australia after being wounded in action twice in France, where he spent the best part of two years. He died in 1951 in Casino.
Walter Andrews
Sister Charlotte Evans
Charlotte Elizabeth Evans was born in Narrawallee in 1888. She enlisted in the Army as a nurse in 1917. Her first overseas posting was to the military hospital in Egypt where her rank was recorded as Staff Nurse. Later in the war she was posted to England, where this picture was taken. Sister Evans is third from the left. Sister Charlotte was awarded the 1914-1918 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
Charlotte Evans
The Bindoffs of Petersham
Three of the Bindoff brothers as well as their father enlisted during World War 1. Alfred Bindoff had been born in Middlesex, England. He came to Australia and married Budawang girl Phoebe Butler in 1892. Alfred worked as a tramway signalman. He served in Abb-a-saia and was then transferred to England with the Anzac Police. He then had the job of trying to return all AWOL soldiers to their barracks.
Edgar Bindoff enlisted in 1915. His occupation was Dairyman and he was 20 years old. He was sent with the 1st Battalion, 4th Reinforcements to Gallipoli, where he died on 13th September at Lone Pine. The list of his effects, returned home, were a knife, diary and pipe.
David Bindoff enlisted in 1915 aged 18. His occupation was stated as Labourer. The National Archives records the items with which he was issued:
1 Boots
1 Dungarees w. Hat
3 Socks
2 Pr Pants
2 Singlets
2 Flannells
4 Blankets
1 Ground Sheet
Tinware and Cutlery
He was killed in action on 5th August 1915 at Pozieres, France. Alice Bindoff, his mother, was sent a package containing a whip, pipe, Red Cross badge and safety razor.
Harold Bindoff was a Locomotive Fireman who served in France with the 4/19th Battalion. He was wounded in action but returned to Australia after the war, blinded in one eye due to a shell explosion. His record on the National Archives website is very colourful. He forfeited 56 days' pay following some very larrikin excursions in France and a court martial. Harold was allegedly in an inebriated state, partying with some French girls. This also resulted in a trip to hospital.
Bindoff Family
Seated: Alfred Bindoff (father), Edgar, David and Harold.
The Brook Family
Charles Brook of Jamberoo married Elizabeth Evans in Milton in 1876. Two of their sons enlisted in the Army.
Frederick Brook was a telegraph linesman who enlisted aged 30 in 1916. He was wounded in action in France (19th Reinforcements, 3rd Battalion) and died after his foot was amputated. By the time Frederick died, his parents were separated. Although he nominated his mother as next of kin and sole beneficiary, his effects and medals were given to his father. His mother's sad appeals to the Army can be read on the Archives. The list of his effects reads: wallet, pipe, metal chain, metal ring, 6 badges, metal mirror, razor, razor strop, testament, metal cigarette case, letters, 3 coins, one German Mark note. He seems to have been a man who liked to collect things.
Herbert Lester Brook was a member of the 30th Battalion but there are no records on the Archives at this stage. He came home safely.
The Balcombes
James Balcombe married Annie Brook, great granddaughter of Mary Ann Stewart of the Budawang tribe of Narrawallee.
One of their sons enlisted for World War 1 and another son William in World War 2.
Thomas Henry, born in Mogo, occupation Farm Hand, joined the 14th Battalion in France at the age of 18 and was wounded in action several times. He was later injured severely in a gassing and suffered burns. He was very sick on a number of occasions while he was overseas, including with influenza.
Henry Cooley
Henry Cooley was the son of Harry Cooley and Elizabeth Licey. He was a Budawang man born in Narrawallee. The doctor who examined him at enlistment described his complexion as 'copper coloured'. He served in Gallipoli and France. He was fined for being in an estaminet (a French cafe) while AWOL. Being continually court martialled and fined and having their pay docked does not seem to have stopped any of the Aussie soldiers from having a great time in France. This is a letter Henry wrote to the Army after his discharge. It demonstrates the high level of education of the Budawang people.
Henry Cooley
William Cootes
William was born in 1897 in Bombala. His mother was Betsy Licey and his father was also a Budawang man. At 18 William joined the famous 55th Battalion, made up of country men from New South Wales. He was wounded in action in France, suffered trench fever and was gassed. He almost died in hospital in England.
William Cootes
George Evans
Private George Evans was the son of Charlotte Evans of Narrawallee. His occupation was Clerk when he joined up in 1918. He was in the Army for three months.
Ernest Licey
Ernest's name is spelt Lacey on the National Archives index. He was 23 and working as a labourer when he enlisted. He had previously spent 18 months in the 17th Battalion A.I.F. before war broke out. During training before embarkation to France, his C.O. wrote that he was unilkely to make an efficient soldier, but he nevertheless served with distinction and came home safe. His descendants now live at Wreck Bay.
Herbert Timbery
Herbert was born at Coomaditchie, where a lot of the Budawang people then lived. He was 18 when he joined up in 1918. His occupation was Fisherman. The examining doctor remarked "Half-caste, been associated with whites all his life." This is the first time I have seen reference to Aboriginality on service records, other than the remark 'complexion - dark'. One wonders whether this association was thought to be an advantage. There were doubts about Herbert's age, and a notification was received from the Births, Deaths and marriages office:
Timbery
Herbert was discharged due to the end of the War after completing Recruit Training. Anyone who has ever done Recruit Training though, will tell you this is an achievement in itself.
The incredible records which are free to view on the National Archives Website demonstrate that these Budawang Aborigines were hard workers, well educated, courageous, adventurous larrikin soldiers of whom their descendants can be very proud.
Joined: Mar 2006 Gender: Male Posts: 354 Location: Sydney NSW Karma: 517
What's on in Australia including festivals, sport, « Result #21 on May 31, 2008, 3:28am »
What's on in Australia including festivals, sport, theatre and ... What's on in NSW, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, Northern Territory, Tasmania, ACT. www.eventwatch.com.au/
Joined: Mar 2006 Gender: Male Posts: 354 Location: Sydney NSW Karma: 517
Austereo Develops Opportunities for « Result #22 on May 31, 2008, 3:18am »
Austereo Develops Opportunities for Indigenous Australians
Austereo in Queensland is working with the Centre for Aboriginal Independence and Enterprise to develop a project that will provide media employment opportunities. It is also hoped the program will build bridges with communities.
Richard Barker, General Manager of B105 and Triple M said the aim of the project was to increase oppotunities for suitably qualified people in indigenous communities.
Austereo is joined by free to air channel Prime in the project.
When people talk, listen completely. Most people never listen.
Joined: May 2008 Gender: Male Posts: 13 Location: Perth WA Karma: 0
Victoria Victorious « Result #23 on May 30, 2008, 8:23am »
“Victoria Victorious
I used to work in a library and an old gentleman came in seeking information about this map that he sent me.
What is obvious nonetheless is that the map is an advertisement of the self-aggrandizing pride taken by inhabitants from the state of Victoria in their constituent part of the Commonwealth of Australia. It is somewhat reminiscent of this map, projecting a similar boastfulness about Texas.
Victoria is Australia’s smallest, but also its most densely populated state. Just over 5 million people live in the state, out of a total of 21 million Australians. Clearly, these 5 million Victorians have some issues with their 16 million compatriots.
This parody map shows Victoria taking over the largest part of the country, pushing all other states to the periphery of the island-continent. Victorians, it appears, hold a lot of records, including ‘World’s most generous people’, ‘World’s best beer’, ‘World’s woolliest sheep’ and even ‘World’s highest taxes’. The other states are markedly less attractive.
Western Australia contains ‘Head hunters’ and is therefore ‘No good for white man’. The Northern Territory (NT; or Not Teetotal, as it’s called here) holds the ‘World’s savagest crocodiles’ and the ‘World’s biggest mosquitoes’. Queensland offers ‘Cannibals’, ‘Impenetrable jungle’ and the ‘World’s worst weather’. South Australia is mainly marked as ‘Desert’ and ‘Unexplored’. Particularly spiteful is the minuscule rendering of New South Wales, which is marked ‘Incomplete surveys’ and ‘Rabbits only’.
Antagonisms like these translate to other countries, with for example the aforementioned Texan example; other well-known animosities exist between the northern and southern Italians, the English and the Scottish (not to mention the Irish), the Catalans, the Basques and the rest of Spain, etc. All of which proves, quite ironically, that regional chauvinism is quite a universal trait.
Non illegitimi carborundum est. - Don't let the bastards grind you down."
Joined: Apr 2007 Gender: Male Posts: 38 Location: Australia Karma: -1
THE fossilised remains of the world's oldest mothe « Result #24 on May 30, 2008, 4:31am »
THE fossilised remains of the world's oldest mother have been discovered by WA scientists in the remote Kimberley region. In what is being hailed as a breakthrough in palaeontology, the 380 million-year-old fossil fish was discovered preserved in the process of giving birth, with a 6cm embryo and umbilical cord intact.
Vertebrates are the common ancestor for all animals with a backbone.
The discovery of the armoured placoderm - an extinct shark-like species - leaves scientists rewriting the evolution of vertebrates and sets a fresh date for the oldest known example of any creature giving birth to live young.
“This is also the first evidence of sex in vertebrates with jaws resulting in the oldest known example of a fish giving birth to live young rather than expelling a clutch of eggs,” Research Associate at the University of Western Australia, Dr Kate Trinajstic said.
“But the discovery was tinged with sadness because this was a baby fish that never got to swim around or reach its potential.”
The fossil, named Materpiscis (‘mother-fish’ in Latin) attenboroughi after the famed naturalist Sir David Attenborough, was found south-east of Fitzroy Crossing in the Gogo Reef Formation, which was part of an ancient barrier reef teeming with fish during the Devonian period 355-408 million years ago.
Dr Attenborough said he is thrilled by the news and extremely flattered that his name should be given to such an astonishing creature.
Measuring around 25cm in length, the mother is an extinct placoderm fish - a dominant group of vertebrates often referred to as "the dinosaurs of the seas" that ruled the world’s lakes and seas throughout the Middle Palaeozoic Era (c. 420 to 350 million years ago).
The rare find was made possible because the soft tissue of the fish fossilised preserving the embryo inside its mother.
“What this tells us is that unlike most other fish that lay eggs in the water, Masterpiscis eggs were fertilised internally, the mother provided nourishment to the embryo and gave birth to live young, much like mammals do today,“ Dr Trinajstic said.
The fossil find, published in the science journal Nature today, is "one of the most extraordinary fossil finds of all time", the head of sciences at Museum Victoria and lead author of the paper, Dr John Long said.
"It is the first time in history we have a maternal feeding structure preserved in any fossil."
"When I first saw the embryo inside the mother fish my jaw dropped, I was silent, stunned like a mullet. I realised that in my hands was the oldest known vertebrate embryo."
"We thought it was nothing too exciting, just a new placoderm fish,'' Prof Long said.
"It wasn't until the end we realised the tail was still in the rock and we thought 'Oh well, we'll put it back in acid one more time just to count the vertebrae'.
"Then we saw it, this amazing embryo, complete with an umbilical cord, sitting inside the mother.
There was assumed evidence of internal fertilisation about the same time, but no fossil evidence to prove it, Prof Long said.
"The next actual fossil evidence is of marine reptiles almost 200 million years ago, this almost doubles it to almost 400 million years.''
The fossil, which was collected from the Kimberleys in 2005, will now reside permanently at the Western Australian Museum where Prof. Long was a curator for 15 years.
"The national budget must be balanced. The public debt must be reduced. The arrogance of the authorities must be moderated and controlled. Payments to foreign governments must be reduced if the nation doesn't want to go bankrupt. People must again learn to work instead of living on public assistance." -Marcus Tullius Cicero, 55 B.C
"The national budget must be balanced. The public debt must be reduced. The arrogance of the authorities must be moderated and controlled. Payments to foreign governments must be reduced if the nation doesn't want to go bankrupt. People must again learn to work instead of living on public assistance." -Marcus Tullius Cicero, 55 B.C
Non illegitimi carborundum est. - Don't let the bastards grind you down."
Joined: Apr 2007 Gender: Male Posts: 38 Location: Australia Karma: -1
Money or your Health? By Helen Lobato « Result #26 on May 30, 2008, 2:32am »
Money or your Health? By Helen Lobato Posted May 25th, 2008 by Anonymous
"But how much more will it cost?"
"I won't be able to pass it on to my customers?"
"Not now, I will need to know more about it before I can look at it!"
The above were the pathetic excuses given to me by the manager of a coffee shop which sells fair trade coffee.I mistakenly thought that he might be amenable to my suggestion that he sell organic milk along with his fair trade coffee. In purchasing a cup of fair trade coffee you ensure that the farmer gets a fair deal and in this way we are acting as ethical consumers. Similarly the purchase of organic milk is an ethical choice in that the cows are not fed Genetically Modified grains or antibiotics and are not housed but are free to range on green pasture.I had prepared flyers and posters for his customers to read and even offered to buy the organic milk for him. I thought that he might like to conduct an experiment and see if his customers asked for organic milk when given the information and choice. This was not to be.
We need to be pressing our coffee shops to stock organic milk but judging by the ignorance of this retailer who although he had obviously caught onto the fact that fair trade coffee would attract a clientele, had little or no knowledge about organic milk. Now that the Victorian state government has allowed the first GM seeds to be grown we will have our milking cows being fed GM produce. And have no doubt that what the cow eats will make its way into the food supply and into your very cappuccino. GM crops are not safe for humans or animals to eat and yet they are already in our food supply. Support organic food for you and your family's health!
What is so good about organic milk as opposed to conventional milk?
Organic milk is without the antibiotics, artificial hormones and pesticides used in the commercial dairy industry.
Increased demand for organic milk acts acts to encourage conventional dairy farmers to go organic , which furthers the environmental and nutritional benefits. Organic milk is legal and is being sold in quite good amounts in most supermarkets.
Better still is Raw milk which is unpasteurised milk straight from the organically pasture fed cow. Raw milk contains delicate enzymes and essential bacteria which are destroyed with pasteurisation and it is the lack of natural enzymes in pasteurised milk which makes it indigestible to many people. For thousands of years raw milk nourished our ancestors allowing for generations of strong, healthy humans. For well over a century it has been illegal to sell nature’s real milk, the raw product. Instead we have all been fed the inferior pasteurised product. However raw milk is illegal and is sold under pseudonyms such as Aphrodite's bath milk which is becoming popular in various health food stores across the country.
Why was milk pasteurised? What is the history of Pasteurisation?
Early nineteenth century USA saw a rapid growth in the population with immigrants making their way to the cities. These newly settled people wanted to access milk but with the cities a long way from the farms and lacking the transport and refrigeration of today this was no easy task. At this time the whiskey industry was booming and the waste product of the distillery was swill or slop which was fed to cows that were conveniently housed next to the whiskey distilleries. This waste product of the distilleries was obviously not a food that cows generally ate but it made the cows produce a lot of milk. These cows were sick, crowded, dirty, poorly nourished and forced to spend their short lives chained in one place and handled and milked by often very unwell people who poured the milk into dirty containers and sold it to the unsuspecting public. Very soon and not surprisingly the death rates of infants and childrens soared and it was generally recognised that there was a ‘milk problem’.
Whilst many recognised the correct source of the problem and sought to bring about real safe milk from healthy cows there was at the time the emergence of the new science of microbiology that saw germs and microbes as the cause of all illnesses. This led to the call for pasteurization, or heating, of all milk in order to make it free of any potentially harmful bacteria, no matter how it changed the quality of the milk.
Pasteurization destroys enzymes, diminishes vitamin content, denatures fragile milk proteins, destroys vitamin B12, and vitamin B6, kills beneficial bacteria, promotes pathogens and is associated with allergies, increased tooth decay, colic in infants, growth problems in children, osteoporosis, arthritis, heart disease and cancer.
As the media and governmental spin continued, dairies found it easier to go with pasteurization than to clean up their acts. Many people now have milk allergies and other allergies and ailments, and some pediatricians are now advising against giving it to children.
This is the largely unknown and tragic history of milk that has led to the practice of giving our children a grossly inferior product that is not even organically produced, let alone Raw and unpasteurised as nature intended.
"The national budget must be balanced. The public debt must be reduced. The arrogance of the authorities must be moderated and controlled. Payments to foreign governments must be reduced if the nation doesn't want to go bankrupt. People must again learn to work instead of living on public assistance." -Marcus Tullius Cicero, 55 B.C
Non illegitimi carborundum est. - Don't let the bastards grind you down."
Joined: Apr 2007 Gender: Male Posts: 38 Location: Australia Karma: -1
NSW Government Challenged To Deliver Public Transp « Result #27 on May 30, 2008, 2:12am »
NSW Government Challenged To Deliver Public Transport Additions Before 2010 Elections Posted May 29th, 2008 by Anonymous
Date: 20th of May, 2008 EcoTransit Sydney is challenging the NSW Government to demonstrate that it can deliver on its promises to improve public transport before the next election, by completing an extension to the Lilyfield light rail line to Lewisham and Dulwich Hill. The public transport advocacy group has joined cyclist and bushcare groups in supporting the rapid development of a greenway, including an extension of the current lightrail line, as a quiet, congestion-free alternative to overcrowded roads, buses and trains.
"Escalating petrol prices are putting pressure on Sydney's overburdened public transport system. Extending the existing light rail line in this area is a simple, quick, and extremely cost-effective way to make a significant difference," said EcoTransit spokesperson Leah Mason.
According to the State Government's own figures, patronage at Inner West rail stations went up by 8.5 per cent over the last eight months, compared with the same period in the previous year. The extension is proposed as a way of providing new public transport capacity that will be immune to traffic congestion, and providing a vital cross-regional link with the heavy rail network at Lewisham and Dulwich Hill stations. It is estimated that the project could be delivered for less than $50m in public funds. This is less than one percent of the budget proposed for the extension of the M4 East. The extension could be completed in less than two years, based on the time taken to construct the existing lightrail line.
"The Rozelle freight line is in good condition. With the construction of several simple light rail stops and minor alterations to wiring, power supply and signals we could have a six kilometre extension up and running within 18 months," said Ms. Mason.
The Rozelle freight line is likely to be closed by the end of this year when the the Munco Scott Flour Mill at Lewisham ceases operations. The line has long been earmarked for the development of a ‘greenway’ corridor connecting cycleways at Iron Cove and Cooks River, incorporating a walking track, and providing habitat for native wildlife like the Long-nosed Bandicoot, with light rail seen as highly compatible due to the absence of noise and local pollution.
Advocates for the greenway project, Friends of the GreenWay, support EcoTransit's push for extension of the light rail, particularly if this shared pathway is constructed in a way that allows cyclists and walkers to avoid using busy and dangerous roads by passing under the existing road bridges, and leaves the steeper cuttings and embankments of the corridor for bush regeneration and habitat.
"The combination of light rail and the Cooks River to Iron Cove GreenWay trail in the freight line corridor would be a very important outcome for the Inner West, both in terms of sustainable transport and biodiversity, " said Friends of the GreenWay spokesperson Bruce Ashley.
In collaboration with local residents, EcoTransit Sydney has launched a campaign to have the greenway and lightrail extension placed at the top of the NSW Government's transport agenda. Thousands of 4 page colour tabloids have already been distributed in the communities along the corridor, and at bus and lightrail stops, and train stations in the Marrickville, Leichhardt and City of Sydney Local Government Areas.
"With commuters migrating to public transport at an astonishing rate, there's an urgent need to add capacity to the system, and give residents who work at places like Parramatta, Bankstown and Liverpool the option of leaving of their cars at home. That is the kind of initiative that our government needs to be taking up, and there is no reason to think that it can't be completed and delivered prior to the next election," concluded Ms Mason.
AT A GLANCE:
The Light Rail Extension to Dulwich Hill would add:
* six kilometers of dedicated public transport access able to operate independently of the congested road network * ten new light rail stops * two new interchange points with the heavy rail network at Lewisham and Dulwich Hill * provide direct rail access to districts with over 10,000 homes located within easy walking and cycling distance
"The national budget must be balanced. The public debt must be reduced. The arrogance of the authorities must be moderated and controlled. Payments to foreign governments must be reduced if the nation doesn't want to go bankrupt. People must again learn to work instead of living on public assistance." -Marcus Tullius Cicero, 55 B.C
Non illegitimi carborundum est. - Don't let the bastards grind you down."
Joined: Apr 2007 Gender: Male Posts: 38 Location: Australia Karma: -1
CAC investigates 'toxic dump' in Wyong Council « Result #28 on May 30, 2008, 1:55am »
ICAC investigates 'toxic dump' in Wyong Council Article from: The Daily Telegraph
May 30, 2008 12:00am
A COUNCIL accused of dumping toxic material in a disused tip will be investigated by the Independent Commission Against Corruption and the State Government following fears dangerous chemicals could leach into a major waterway.
Wyong Shire Council on the Central Coast faces a multi-million dollar clean-up bill after it was revealed it had allowed up to 10,000 tonnes of rubbish to be dumped at the Gwandalan tip - despite it being closed more than 20 years ago.
It is believed asbestos and chemicals were among the dumped items, raising fears chemicals could leach into Lake Macquarie.
The Department of Environment and Climate Change is investigating.
Councillors said yesterday they were furious that council's management had not only allowed the dumping to occur but also appeared to have tried to "cover up" the issue when it was first raised in March this year.
"The information that first went to the Department of Environment and Climate Change (in March) talked about 20 to 30 truckloads of waste in a 'recent dumping event'," Wyong Mayor Warren Welham said.
He said it had since become apparent that rubbish was being dumped at the old tip for a much longer period of time.
"It has taken councillors two months to become aware of the issue at all and we're not very happy with the way this has been managed. It's very upsetting to have to say that we councillors weren't aware of this when it was first raised in March," he said.
At the site yesterday, the council had a hygienist who was trying to determine if deadly asbestos was present.
Wyong councillor Doug Eaton said yesterday he believed a "cover up" had occurred.
"We are now talking millions of dollars to fix this. I'd say the bill is quite likely to be $10 million plus," he said.
There was a suggestion at this week's council meeting that the old dump could have previously been used as a holding station - a council-owned area of land used to temporarily hold clean fill that can later be used for other projects.
"There were questions being asked about how long is temporary," Mr Welham said.
Councillors voted unanimously to refer the issue to ICAC and to Department of Environment and Climate Change to investigate.
The council will also implement a shire wide audit of closed landfill sites, erect appropriate warning signs at the site, and investigate the legality of all transfer stockpile sites in the shire
"The national budget must be balanced. The public debt must be reduced. The arrogance of the authorities must be moderated and controlled. Payments to foreign governments must be reduced if the nation doesn't want to go bankrupt. People must again learn to work instead of living on public assistance." -Marcus Tullius Cicero, 55 B.C
Joined: Mar 2006 Gender: Male Posts: 354 Location: Sydney NSW Karma: 517
watts driving the future - National « Result #29 on May 29, 2008, 7:19am »
watts driving the future - National Video Watch the James Bond-style electric car that flies underwater. ... ALAN Gray reckons he is driving the most ecologically advanced car in Australia. ... www.theage.com.au/.
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