Tell the State Government to Start Taking Alcohol Violence Seriously | Better State
Tell the State Government to Start Taking Alcohol Violence Seriously
Posted by Scott Weber
Emergency services and health workers are sick of being punching bags for drunk idiots. They need your support - sign the Last Drinks petition!
Recent revelations in the media that the State Government has wound back random on-site checks of licensed venues came as no surprise to Police Officers.
Click here to see the initial story in the Sydney Morning Herald, and here for the follow-up story about the declining number of prosecutions for breaches of licensing regulations.
We have been concerned about the trend towards self-regulation of licensed premises for some time.
That’s why we’ve called on the NSW Government to immediately reinstate random on-site spot checks of licensed premises.
Premier Kristina Keneally is putting the profits of publicans ahead of the public interest.
The Office of Licensing, Gambling and Racing (OLGR) is there to ensure that licensed venues comply with the rules.
By cutting back random checks, however, the State Government is effectively handing over compliance activities to hotels themselves.
This is nothing short of giving Dracula the keys to the Blood Bank.
Unfortunately, the Keneally Government has taken a ‘head in the sand’ approach to alcohol-related violence, and to the social and health problems associated with binge drinking
We’ve heard the Premier continually parroting the ‘personal responsibility’ line of the Australian Hotels Association (AHA).
This is designed to take the onus of responsibility off the sellers of alcohol and onto the consumer.
In the end, there is only way to get the Government’s attention, and to force it into action. That’s people power.
The Police Association of NSW has joined forces with the Australian Medical Association, the Health Services Union and the NSW Nurses Association to pressure the Government into action on alcohol-related violence.
We want the Government to clamp down on the late-night alcohol trade, so we can stop the epidemic of booze-fuelled violence on NSW streets.
You can join the campaign by visiting our web site, www.lastdrinks.org.au, and by telling your friends about it.
Most importantly, you can have your say by signing the Last Drinks petition. We’re already well on the way to reaching our goal of 10,000 signatures – but every signature counts. With your help we can make a difference
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Almost to the end if statewide union meetings, Liverpool today.
Almost to the end if statewide union meetings, Liverpool today.
Firefighters vote in regard to resolving Waratah dispute..
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Does better services mean less wages? | Better State
Does better services mean less wages? | Better State
Does better services mean less wages?
During our last Award negotiations for NSW firefighters, I sat in a meeting with other FBEU officials, and NSW Treasury.
While discussing the limit placed on public sector wages, we floated one of many ideas that firefighters could implement to save the NSW government millions of dollars in school infrastructure through fire prevention. We suggested that a portion of that could be returned in wages.
Treasury officials looked puzzled. They tried to digest this complex idea of workers identifying savings for a proportionate return in wages, and whispered to each other in a frenzied attempt to try and understand this scientific concept.
After some internal debate, the spokeswoman for Treasury promptly told us that Treasury would NOT contemplate this type of approach, and that productivity and cost savings is calculated from wages and conditions, not though changed work practices of Public Servants. She went on to argue that Treasury and the Government expect that type of reform (savings through changed work practices) regardless.
So with the Better State campaigns moving ahead, and politicians debating the various ways of improving health and frontline services, it's important to remember that the wages and conditions of the workers in these industries need to be protected - because those crunching the numbers don’t think the same as we do !
Does better services mean less wages?
During our last Award negotiations for NSW firefighters, I sat in a meeting with other FBEU officials, and NSW Treasury.
While discussing the limit placed on public sector wages, we floated one of many ideas that firefighters could implement to save the NSW government millions of dollars in school infrastructure through fire prevention. We suggested that a portion of that could be returned in wages.
Treasury officials looked puzzled. They tried to digest this complex idea of workers identifying savings for a proportionate return in wages, and whispered to each other in a frenzied attempt to try and understand this scientific concept.
After some internal debate, the spokeswoman for Treasury promptly told us that Treasury would NOT contemplate this type of approach, and that productivity and cost savings is calculated from wages and conditions, not though changed work practices of Public Servants. She went on to argue that Treasury and the Government expect that type of reform (savings through changed work practices) regardless.
So with the Better State campaigns moving ahead, and politicians debating the various ways of improving health and frontline services, it's important to remember that the wages and conditions of the workers in these industries need to be protected - because those crunching the numbers don’t think the same as we do !
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