Australians abused while "in care" cut adrift by Canberra, as state Govt's cut already miserly compensation - what about REDRESS
0 comments Posted by Tony Serve at 9:34 AMSenator Rachel Siewert Australian Greens Senator for WA
Greens support Forgotten Australians apology
The Australian Greens have welcomed the Government's commitment to an apology to the 'Forgotten Australians', and said they are keen to work with the Government and Opposition on the apology.
"A formal statement of acknowledgement and an apology to the children who suffered hurt and distress or abuse and assault in institutional care is a welcome step on the way towards recovery," said Australian Greens Senator Rachel Siewert.
"I have been very concerned about the lack of progress in implementation of the recommendations of the Lost Innocents and Forgotten Australians reports as identified during the Senate Community Affairs Committee's recent inquiry into progress on these reports."
"The committee made 16 recommendations for further work that we believe needs to be done - first and foremost being a formal apology," said Senator Siewert.
"There also needs to be further work done in the provision of redress schemes in some states that do not yet have redress schemes. We need Commonwealth leadership in this area to encourage these states to pursue putting in place redress schemes."
"The churches also need to take steps to ensure that the processes for handling abuse allegations are consistent across all jurisdictions across this country. There needs to be greater action by the churches and religious organisations in providing support, redress and reparations to the children who were in their care."
"I'm very pleased to hear the Government intends to make a formal apology, and strongly encourage implementation of the other recommendations in the Community Affairs Committee report" said Senator Siewert.
Senator Siewert is chair of the Senate standing committee on Community Affairs
Tim.Norton@aph.gov.au | M: 0418 401 180
This is a travesty, see the WA Govt site on Redresss ( http://www.redress.wa.gov.au/about.asp ), and standby to hear on this blog some of the voices of those who have endured and survived only to be snubbed and left to pay the cost of their abuse.
Please comment here, call talkback, write letters and support these abused and forgotten australians
tony serve
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Many believe the juvenile justice system in New South Wales has been placed in crisis by overcrowding and a budget cut that will see it lose 100 front-line staff. Statistics obtained by ABC1's Four Corners reveal why: since 2007, assaults and incidents of self-harm inside the state's juvenile detention centres have more than doubled and the centres are bursting at the seams. In 2007 there were 187 assaults by detainees on each other. In 2008 this figure jumped to 242. So far this year the number has gone to 258.
from @perthtones' iPhone
Australian Telco watchdog upbeat despite the ongoing mayhem in customer service - do they have an ISP themselves?
0 comments Posted by Tony Serve at 1:56 PM
Monday 24 August, 2009
Telcos take first steps to improve customer service: Ombudsman
The Telecommunication Industry Ombudsman (TIO) has called on service providers to continue putting customers' interests first in a bid to improve the consumer experience.
The Ombudsman Deirdre O'Donnell made the comments today at the launch of the TIO's connect.resolve report, which shines the spotlight on the telecommunications industry's customer service performance in the first six months of this year. The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy launched the report in Melbourne today.
The report shows the number of complaints about customer service matters to the TIO increased by 1.8 per cent during the campaign, compared with a 46 per cent rise in 2007-08.
Ms O'Donnell said although the overall number of complaints stabilised during the campaign, further action was needed.
"The stabilisation shows that our collaborative approach with service providers has been effective, but they need to continue their efforts to prioritise customer service," she said.
"The proportion of complaints about customer service-related matters has remained unacceptably high and, in the TIO's view, the industry still has much work to do in this area."
The connect.resolve campaign was created to encourage the 10 largest telecommunications companies to refocus on their customers' experiences and the need to improve their customer service practices.
Throughout the campaign, service providers received monthly data about their customers' complaints to the TIO, as well as examples of consumer 'voices' so they could have a better understanding of which areas needed improvement, and further develop their customer service processes.
Some companies acknowledged they needed to make substantial changes to the way they approached customer service and some had already begun to do so.
"All the changes that the telecommunications industry is making will greatly benefit its customers and the community overall," Ms O'Donnell said.
However, she emphasised the industry must continue to give priority to improving customer service.
"To achieve a sustainable improvement, the collaborative effort that has been initiated through connect.resolve, involving telecommunications companies, regulators, policy makers and key consumer and industry groups, needs to continue," Ms O'Donnell said.
The TIO will continue to report publicly on the industry's performance through its quarterly consumer newsletter TIO Talks.
Download release in PDF (2 pg/69 KB)
Media contact: John DuBois, Communications Manager, (03) 8600 8378 or 0417 559 287
POSTED BY tony serve who's still waiting to resolve costly and maddening disputes with #optus after they supplied the TIO with false info and failed to send compensation forms as directed, they sent the debt collectors instead.
To view on a mobile please use this link http://m.abc.net.au/browse?page=11144&articleid=2664927&cat=Justin
W. Australian Mental Health plans for the next decade - links, video, opinion
0 comments Posted by Tony Serve at 3:19 AMMental Health Forum in Perth Tuesday September 29 on plans for the coming decade – be part of the change in Western Australia
August 24, 2009 — tony serveThank you to all the West Australians who took part in recent workshops hosted by Price Waterhouse Cooper to inform the powers that be about the urgent need for change in practice and process.
Join those steering the information process on tuesday to hear about what happens from here. see the pdf file below this post for details.
The recent confirmation of Australia’s suicide rate as not falling in ten years clearly shows that Governments and Service Providers have failed tragically.
No group has been failed more miserably than the First Australians, city or regional, who are suffering and dying at rates that higher than many third world countries ( don’t get me started on how little impact the Government and resource industry’s meagre efforts have had on their welfare despite making Billions from sacred land )
The deadly toll of stigma, misdiagnosis, over-drugging, ignorance,vested interests and plain inertia can’t even be measured because of the failed unwritten media rule of not reporting on suicide ( except if it’s a ratings boosting celebrity suicide )
The silence is deadly, and even offensive, as the media still gives oxygen to suicide kits and tragically wrong advice from the man known as Dr Death – under the guise of “covering” the Euthenasia debate.
A Perth woman with mental illness died horribly in Mexico after following his advice on “dignified death”, leaving her young children orphaned and a hole in the hearts of her family and community, including her since departed sister who was a dear friend of mine and the 6PR Perth radio talkback family.
*Vale Carina Berg from the Overnight family
Further on media, in a bitter irony a few years ago, when Dr Geoff Gallop was Premier we held a rally on the steps of Parliament to raise awareness of suicide in W.A. and lobby for funding for the life saving Lifeline counseling service.
- Dr Geoff Gallop
- Dr Geoff Gallop
About 20 MP’s joined Lifeline crew, broken hearted mothers and grieving, confused familes and advocates in a far too small gathering…there was no sign of mainstream media despite the alerts.
Then as if the clouds had parted to reveal the warming sun, the TV crews pulled in, one after the other in front of us…
The first and then the second “dismounted” with all their cammos and makeup… and walked straight past us!
I walked up to the next broadcast sationwagon to arrive and asked a young reporter I had mentored for a while years back where they were going.
He told me the then captain of Fremantle Dockers had made some politicially sensitive sports comment earlier in the day and they were there to catch Peter Bell after his confab with Premier Geoff Gallop, whose retirement due to Clinical Depression was a long way off.
Dr Gallop came to visit me at my home after his resignation and we spoke about our experiences and what had worked for one or the other – I never had the heart to tell him what happened that day – he didn’t need to know, not then. I doubt his minders even gave the notices of the Rally a second look, let alone put them in front of their embattled boss.
I’ve lost too many friends and colleagues to mental illness to just hope for change, three haunt me still, but I’ll tell you about them another time.
For now, please speak up to whomever might listen about the tragic and AVOIDABLE toll of death and suffering from mental illness.
Effective and meaningful change will not come without major campaigns of public and professional education, guided by those of us the system calls “mental health consumers” and a policy enunciated by my heroes Margaret Cook, her sister Pauline and Lyn Mahboub – nothing about us without us.
There is much we can do to bring the taboo issue of suicide to the wider community in a way that won’t freak them out.
An example is the “Out of Darkness” overnight walks to fight suicide in the US.
I’ve been privileged to work with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention on the Chicago walk, where my dear friend and fellow traveller Amy Kiel lit the way down the rocky path for those who follow.
Amy is now working on the coming Walk in her home town of Kansas City and you can follow her on twitter @abeeliever to find out more.
The AFSP and Amy are keen to help us set up walks and programmes here in Oz, so, interested parties please contact via the comments link below.
There are many groups and individuals doing life saving and affirming work in Western Australia, most are working with their hands tied behind their back because of a lack of Government and Community support ( there are no smiling kiddies to put in front of cameras to represent those battling brain dis-ease.)
I’ll end this missive with the promise of more to come and 3 important links that shed light for us all.
2 focus some very dark places through fact or fiction, and one is a local inititiative of the dedicated team at RUAH Outreach that I was privileged to be a small part of.
1 – Please see Family to Family by RUAH -” telling it like it is” by clicking this link
2 and 3 Click here for an extended trailer of the Documentary that showed at a Sydney Festival over the weekend an is available online - a brilliant work of fiction where diligent research underpins a story of madness and love spanning centuries – and an interview with the producer and author.
and to end f r now - Here are most of the Mental health stories I’ve posted, including a well recieved talk with UK Dr Alun Jones and interviews with Inspirational Amy Kiel.
Here is the Flyer in downloadable PDF format please send it to your contacts – mentalhealthforum[1]
This is your chance to see the future plans for Mental Health in WA
Mental Health
Forum
Information session on development of the WA
Mental Health Policy &Strategic Plan 2010-2020
_________________________________
Where: Foyer
Perth Convention Centre
(get off at Esplanade Train station)
When: 2pm – 6pm
Tuesday, 29 September 2009
_________________________________
Presented by Department of Health WA
Mental Health Division
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Greens call for environmental repair fund in wake of West Australian oil spill
0 comments Posted by Tony Serve at 9:30 PM
Sunday 23rd August 2009
Greens call for environmental repair fund in wake of WA oil spill
The Australian Greens today called for more information to be made available about the oil spill off the coast of Western Australia, and for the company responsible to set up an environmental fund to monitor and repair any environmental impacts the spill may have caused.
"The company needs to be more forthcoming with information," Australian Greens marine spokesperson Senator Rachel Siewert said today.
"We have limited information on what is currently occurring out there, what actually happened out there, how did it happen, or when they expect to get it under control."
"This area has been dubbed a 'marine superhighway'. There are populations of baby turtles this time of year, and the area also serves as a migratory route for whales and other marine life. It's also close to Ashmore Reef, so we need to be certain the spill is contained before any further damage is done."
"We are deeply concerned that it has taken so long for clean-up operations to begin and we don't know what the long-term impacts are going to be. We believe a fund needs to be set up by the company to fund ongoing monitoring and any further repair needed in the future."
"Before any further development is undertaken closer to the Kimberley coast, we need to ensure that emergency response teams are situated closer than Victoria or the WA wheatbelt, as this instance has shown that the increased response time could potentially result in further environmental damage," said Senator Siewert.
"I am also concerned by comments from Resources Minister Martin Ferguson over this spill where he is playing down the potential environmental impacts - we do not yet know if the environment is at risk. He is clearly demonstrating that resources come before the environment."
The Greens are calling on PTTEP Australasia to set up a fund to monitor damage and repair the environment.
"We also need better processes than this, to ensure quick response times and adequate safeguards to protect the environment," she concluded.
For more information or media enquiries please call Tim Norton on 0418 401 180
Tim Norton
Communications and Campaigns
Office of Rachel Siewert | Australian Greens Senator for Western Australia
Suite SG-113 Parliament House, Canberra ACT | P: 02 6277 3741 | F: 02 6277 5762
Tim.Norton@aph.gov.au |
www.RachelSiewert.org.au | www.GreensMPs.org.au
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posted by tony serve in support of those working to save our environment
Australian Greens win Inquiry into Parliament Approving Troop Deployment
0 comments Posted by Tony Serve at 3:01 PM
Thursday 20th August 2009
Greens win Inquiry into Parliament Approving Troop Deployment
The Greens welcome the decision of the Senate today for an Inquiry into the "War Powers" Bill requiring Parliamentary approval for deployment of Australian troops into conflict situations.
"In 2003, in the absence of any checks or balances that many other democracies have, John Howard sent Australian troops to war, without Parliamentary approval and against overwhelming public opposition," said the Greens' Attorneys General Spokesperson, Senator Scott Ludlam. "This must never happen again."
"In the wake of the departure of Australian troops from Iraq, the time is ripe for debate about to the "War Powers" Bill that would ensure parliamentary approval for taking the country to war."
"The Committee can now take evidence and gauge the mood in the community for this long overdue and essential reform."
"My Private Senator's Bill will subject a decision to go to war to the scrutiny of Parliament as is the case in Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Slovakia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Turkey. It is carefully drafted so as not to hinder emergency deployments, disaster relief or peacekeeping operations.
"In these countries troop deployment is set down in constitutional or legislative provisions. This is a subject of intense debate in the UK - where the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives are both pressuring the Prime Minister to take this step."
Senator Ludlam's Private Senator's Bill, the Defence Amendment (Parliamentary Approval of Overseas Service) Bill 2008 [No. 2] was first introduced by Democrat Senator Andrew Bartlett. Senator Ludlam took carriage of the Bill after Senator Bartlett departed the Senate mid 2008.
The Senate Committee will report on 19 November 2009.
For more information or media enquiries please call Tim Norton on 0418 401 180
West Australian mining deal with China exposes Ex-Rocker's KOW-TOW- Gorgon announcement relegates Garrett to 'rubber stamp' status
0 comments Posted by Tony Serve at 11:16 AM
Gorgon announcement relegates Garrett to 'rubber stamp' status
The Australian Greens today called on the Rudd Government to explain how it can announce its endorsement of a $50 Billion gas deal with China before the Gorgon project had received Commonwealth environmental approval.
"The message to us seems clear – threatened species will not be allowed to get in the way of development under Rudd, and environmental conditions are nothing more than a means of green-washing projects destined to go ahead regardless of their environmental impacts," said Senator Rachel Siewert today.
"Today, the role of the Environment Minister has been relegated to the status of a rubber stamp of approval."
"Barrow Island has been dubbed 'Australia's Ark' for its unique range of endangered species, with 24 species and sub-species preserved on the island, many of who are extinct or endangered on mainland Australia."
"Endemic species such as the Barrow Island spectacled hare-wallaby, Barrow Island golden bandicoot, Barrow Island mouse and the Barrow Island burrowing bettong will face possible extinction if proper environmental restrictions and controls are not put in place," said Senator Siewert.
"There is also the carbon footprint of this plant to consider. Gorgon's gas has a high CO2 content, meaning its emissions will be at least 5.45 million tonnes-a-year if carbon geo-sequestration can be achieved (and 8.81 million tonnes-a-year without it)."
"This is a time when we should be actively reducing emissions," concluded Senator Siewert.
The Greens are calling on the Prime Minister to explain whether he still considers that the Gorgon plant will only be able to proceed subject to environmental approval, or whether he now believes his Government should not be bound by the provisions of the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act to reject the project if it fails to secure approval.
Tim Norton
Communications and Campaigns
Office of Rachel Siewert | Australian Greens Senator for Western Australia
Suite SG-113 Parliament House, Canberra ACT | P: 02 6277 3741 | F: 02 6277 5762
Tim.Norton@aph.gov.au |
www.RachelSiewert.org.au | www.GreensMPs.org.au
posted here by tony serve in support of the Greens' ongoing efforts to hold Govt & Big Business accountable
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