International Anti-Corruption Day, 9th December 2015

Did you know it was International Anti-Corruption Day, 9^th December 2015

In time for International Anti-Corruption Day on 9 December 2015, the Western Australian Corruption and Crime Commissioner, John McKechnie QC, speaks about the main corruption themes and the risks corruption presents for social orderliness in the public and private sectors.

https://youtu.be/XvpJe6mSrcs

Was that $30 million a good buy?

Back in 1992 a Royal Commission report was published giving details of exactly how easily the premier of WA, Brian Burke and his cronies had pocketed $600+ million from the public purse.
The Royal Commission cost the public $30 million and made recommendations as to what could be done to stop such corruption in the future, such as this one;

Does your local government appear on the Watch List?

An interesting list of local governments that the Department of Local Government would be watching if they ever undertook any scrutiny. 

Although scrutiny appears to be a rather pointless exercise unless some action occurs if there are problems identified. Currently any action is so pedestrian as to be disrespectful to the public. Consider the case of James Trail.

Abuse - what do we accept as reasonable?

Those of you who know me understand how keenly I support democracy. I believe in the sentiments expressed by the late Paddy O'Brien, that democracy is a precious thing we must nurture and care for. We have travelled a long way as a society since the days when psychological abuse went unrecognised. If a person was not bloodied, bruised, and physically broken then society would not accept that they had suffered harm. 

Today we understand much more about ourselves. 

But do we recognise how abuse can be perpetrated against communities and society?

Scrutiny?

While most of us were at Remembrance Day services Ben and Colin were having a knock-about in parliament.

Congratulations to Graham Edwards

Former WA and Federal politician Graham Edwards has been honoured as Seniors Australian of the Year. Very well deserved award for a man who brought democracy a step closer to Western Australia back in 1984.

Graham Edwards brought democracy to those people living in Western Australia who did not own any land or property. 

A Letter from Eric

As the book writing is taking too much time, leaving no time for blogging, I thought I'd offer readers an opportunity to ponder on a few re-cycled posts - it's our history and some younger readers might have forgotten how we got to be where we are now.

Our culture and values were finally laid to rest a decade ago, at the May 2005 elections. Although the actual plan for this cultural genocide was hatched during a period of banishment that resulted in Burke spending time in Siberia. 

That's more than you need to know for now. 

Discussion behind closed doors
Posted by Eric Noakes
Wednesday, 10 January 2007