No scrutiny please, its been spent

Well what a week it has been in Federal politics.

Even Chris Pyne didn't even bother to turn up to vote on his own bill for an inquiry into the ALP's B.E.R. But when you understand he knew he couldn't get the numbers to support the vote he found another way to talk about this.

When. given the opportunity to vote for more scrutiny of government spending the independents have repeatedly said; “Nah don't worry about it ...we'll trust the government on military spending, then scuttled a vote for the Public Works committee to scrutinise the ABN spending and likewise no scrutiny on BER spending.

While all makes one comment from Independent Tony Windsor is quite interesting, essentially saying that he wouldn't be voting for more scrutiny into how the money was spent because he voted in support of more spending.

Therein lies the problem some politicians are having. It seems for many, so long as money was spent ... on something … and jobs were kept and someone got something and the bills were paid everything is as it was meant to be.

The question of value for money is an issue they dare not consider and certainly dare not put under scrutiny...

If they held an inquiry who knows what you might find out? Turn It Up.... I'm Michael Robinson.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/pynes-ber-judicial-inquiry-blocked-as-kingmakers-walk-away/story-e6frg6nf-1225944893625

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/independents-scuttle-bid-for-building-the-education-revolution-insight/story-fn59niix-1225944914410

http://blogs.theaustralian.news.com.au/samanthamaiden/index.php/theaustralian/comments/is_he_private_poodle_or_major_stuff_up/

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/libs-christopher-pyne-demands-curriculum-delay/story-e6frg6nf-1225944891753

***********************************************************

Where to Listen:

Turn It UP Mike Segment can be heard 

on Radio 2SM and stations on the Super Network

Monday to Friday with Grant Goldman.

http://www.2sm.com.au

click on Grant Goldman and Listen Live online

How to Contact

To sponsor this segment on the 2SM

Super Radio Network and
online email me at

turnitupmike@gmail.com

***********************************************************

Proudly supported by:

I want to thank the team from Bow Bow Plumbing.
Commercial plumbing maintenance, based in (not limited to) the Sydney area.

I've known them for a long time and always been impressed by them. 
Bow Bow Plumbing brings a work ethic to the job that we need
more of in the business world.

If you have need for a commercial plumber, check him out.

http://www.bowbowingplumbing.com.au/

Commercial Plumber - Service List 
We can service but not limited to, Blocked Drains, Hot Water systems, Water Leaks, Gas Services, Cistern Repairs, Gas Heaters, Sewage, water tanks, pumps, Industrial Plant Maintenance, thermostatic mixing valves, backflow prevention control devices, storm water pump systems. We can also provide Installation and servicing of brands such as Zip, Rheem, Billi, Quadra, Trio and other units. Our Plumbers also provide Commercial Plumber maintenance service..
See more at

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===============================

Government scared off when public takes up their rebate schemes

Over the past few days we've had announcements by successive governments that some time in the next generation or two the NSW could duplicate the harbour tunnel, but not any time soon. We've also seen the government panic because so many people took up a lucrative solar energy subsidy scheme that saw them be paid money for generating solar energy and putting it into the grid, but the government is now worried that lots of people have taken up that scheme and now its actually costing lots of money so they are winding it back.

Hang on, isn't that the point of such a scheme to actually have people take it up? Or has the government suddenly had a wake up call that a lot more work needs to be done on renewable energy sources before they become cost effective and they shouldn't be wasting public money on such schemes until they are at least a little more efficient.

Then of course there are the roads and traffic systems throughout NSW, if you are in the country you have to put up with poorly constructed roads and in the city poorly constructed overcrowded roads the recent government solution is to tell people to have less children....Turn It Up. I'm Michael Robinson

***********************************************************

Where to Listen:

Turn It UP Mike Segment can be heard 

on Radio 2SM and stations on the Super Network

Monday to Friday with Grant Goldman.

http://www.2sm.com.au

click on Grant Goldman and Listen Live online

How to Contact

To sponsor this segment on the 2SM

Super Radio Network and
online email me at

turnitupmike@gmail.com

***********************************************************

Proudly supported by:

I want to thank the team from Bow Bow Plumbing.
Commercial plumbing maintenance, based in (not limited to) the Sydney area.

I've known them for a long time and always been impressed by them. 
Bow Bow Plumbing brings a work ethic to the job that we need
more of in the business world.

If you have need for a commercial plumber, check him out.

http://www.bowbowingplumbing.com.au/

Commercial Plumber - Service List 
We can service but not limited to, Blocked Drains, Hot Water systems, Water Leaks, Gas Services, Cistern Repairs, Gas Heaters, Sewage, water tanks, pumps, Industrial Plant Maintenance, thermostatic mixing valves, backflow prevention control devices, storm water pump systems. We can also provide Installation and servicing of brands such as Zip, Rheem, Billi, Quadra, Trio and other units. Our Plumbers also provide Commercial Plumber maintenance service..
See more at

http://www.bowbowingplumbing.com.au/
===============================

Bully for Bullies

The problem of childhood bullying is one that is regularly in the news and it is one that schools with their political correctness think they can go it alone to solve, and they are making things worse for many students.

There is a saying that violence breeds violence, and there are those who will say when kids stand up for themselves and pound a bully a good one the first time ... things are different, of course in most political correct school programs the person who won the fight would be in big trouble not the bully who started it. We need to teach our children that they need confidence but also need to know when not to have resort to violence.

Of course bullying isn't new it has gone on for generations and what parents need to learn is that for generations families have been foundation of children's development. Politically correct talk-fests at school might help but schools today need to support families not undermine them and children need to know they belong, they are loved and that injustice isn't tolerated.

They learn that at home and take it into the school yard, and nothing makes a parent more proud than when you learn your child stuck up for some little kid who was being picked on and that's when you, TURN IT UP. I'm Michael Robinson

Read more in these stories in today's news: http://www.news.com.au/national/children-should-hit-back-at-bullies-says-expert-michael-carr-gregg/story-e6frfkvr-1225943985534#ixzz13UjR1rPF

http://www.news.com.au/national/children-should-hit-back-at-bullies-says-expert-michael-carr-gregg/story-e6frfkvr-1225943985534

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw-act/school-backlash-against-thugs/story-e6freuzi-1225943946762

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw-act/schools-are-failing-at-hsc-time/story-e6freuzi-1225943946713

http://www.news.com.au/features/environment/climate-film-will-be-an-inconvenient-truth-for-schools/story-e6frflp0-1225943986661

Barefoot fisherman walks away from croc attack....tough or ..........???

Most times I like to comment on the serious and important issues in life. Issues that affect us all and issues we are all trying to understand and come to grips with.

Well frankly there are so many of them that at times it is difficult to decide which ones I should talk about and which ones I skip over but today there is a story I must talk about.

No its not the grandstanding barefoot protester who chucked a wobbly …. shoe.....at John Howard nor is it the rush of politicians from the sinking good ship HMAS NSW.

Nope … it is a story from the always interesting Northern Territory News paper about a bloke who talks it up as good as the Mick Dundee movie character Hoges made famous.

In September this 60 something year old bloke stepped on a 2m salt water croc while out fishing and as they are want to do, the salty bit his leg to defend his fishing spot.

Not to be deterred Bill Boustead's still out there fishing , still out there barefoot, some may call him brave, tough, courageous, but a few other words come to my mind … Turn It Up

I'm Michael Robinson

Other links to this story

http://www.news.com.au/weird-true-freaky/bill-boustead-steps-on-croc-while-barefoot-fishing/story-e6frflri-1225942854795

***********************************************************

Where to Listen:

Turn It UP Mike Segment can be heard 

on Radio 2SM and stations on the Super Network

Monday to Friday with Grant Goldman.

http://www.2sm.com.au

click on Grant Goldman and Listen Live online

How to Contact

To sponsor this segment on the 2SM

Super Radio Network and
online email me at

turnitupmike@gmail.com

***********************************************************

Proudly supported by:

I want to thank the team from Bow Bow Plumbing.
Commercial plumbing maintenance, based in (not limited to) the Sydney area.

I've known them for a long time and always been impressed by them. 
Bow Bow Plumbing brings a work ethic to the job that we need
more of in the business world.

If you have need for a commercial plumber, check him out.

http://www.bowbowingplumbing.com.au/

Commercial Plumber - Service List 
We can service but not limited to, Blocked Drains, Hot Water systems, Water Leaks, Gas Services, Cistern Repairs, Gas Heaters, Sewage, water tanks, pumps, Industrial Plant Maintenance, thermostatic mixing valves, backflow prevention control devices, storm water pump systems. We can also provide Installation and servicing of brands such as Zip, Rheem, Billi, Quadra, Trio and other units. Our Plumbers also provide Commercial Plumber maintenance service..
See more at

http://www.bowbowingplumbing.com.au/
===============================

Education hype not all it is cracked up to be.

If you only followed news headlines and sound bites you would think that all Australia's education system needed was even more money and to have it now directed to reduce class sizes and we'd miraculously rocket to the top of the international education class.

But dig a little deeper and you'd discover that it isn't quite that straight forward.

Kevin Donnelly, has been an advisor to numerous governments, and is an author of a number of significant books about education in Australia. He has been quite vocal in his criticism that a national curriculum with little to no real choice between one school's curriculum and the next risks dumbing down Australia's education to the point that many other factors that determine education outcomes are dragged down with it.

If you listen to the mantra from the teacher's and their union you might think that it is class sizes that is crucial to good education outcomes, and no doubt that can help, but the thing that will hamper Australia's education future is the very thing Julia Gillard seems intent on leaving Australia as her political legacy and that will be lack of choice in the curriculum where finally the government, and not the parents, determine education choices for all ….. Turn It Up.

Michael Robinson

Monday 25^th October 2010

See some links for more information

http://www.edstandards.com.au/index.php?education_standards_institute=103&archive=159

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/in-depth/schools-watch

http://www.newsweekly.com.au/articles/2004jun19_b1.html

and on discipline?

http://www.edstandards.com.au/index.php?education_standards_institute=103

***********************************************************

Where to Listen:

Turn It UP Mike Segment can be heard 

on Radio 2SM and stations on the Super Network

Monday to Friday with Grant Goldman.

http://www.2sm.com.au

click on Grant Goldman and Listen Live online

How to Contact

To sponsor this segment on the 2SM

Super Radio Network and
online email me at

turnitupmike@gmail.com

***********************************************************

Proudly supported by:

I want to thank the team from Bow Bow Plumbing.
Commercial plumbing maintenance, based in (not limited to) the Sydney area.

I've known them for a long time and always been impressed by them. 
Bow Bow Plumbing brings a work ethic to the job that we need
more of in the business world.

If you have need for a commercial plumber, check him out.

http://www.bowbowingplumbing.com.au/

Commercial Plumber - Service List 
We can service but not limited to, Blocked Drains, Hot Water systems, Water Leaks, Gas Services, Cistern Repairs, Gas Heaters, Sewage, water tanks, pumps, Industrial Plant Maintenance, thermostatic mixing valves, backflow prevention control devices, storm water pump systems. We can also provide Installation and servicing of brands such as Zip, Rheem, Billi, Quadra, Trio and other units. Our Plumbers also provide Commercial Plumber maintenance service..
See more at

http://www.bowbowingplumbing.com.au/
===============================

Anyone who knows me well will know that for more than a decade I've been one of Australia's most vocal and prominent spokespeople on the issues around the prevention of substance abuse and addition.

So it with staggering amazement that I read this week that Victoria's Deputy Police Commissioner has let himself get sucked into the debate telling a conference on crime that we need to look at legalisation of illicit drugs.

Mind you in the same breath he said his comments were in response to suggestions by academics and what I would call pro drug stirrers around the world who for decades have been pushing this ridiculous line that because people are breaking the law we should toss laws out and legalise all drugs, not matter what they are or what they do.

When Australia dropped Say No to Drugs we got it wrong, we promoted managing drug use over non use and of course prevention doesn't work perfectly, but that doesn't me we throw it out.

If we went around scrapping laws just because they were difficult to enforce or that we needed to put a lot more education into helping young people make better choices we'd have no laws at all.

Maybe that is actually what some people want, but to then call them experts and give them a public audience …. Turn It Up, I'm Michael Robinson

***********************************************************

Where to Listen:

Turn It UP Mike Segment can be heard 

on Radio 2SM and stations on the Super Network

Monday to Friday with Grant Goldman.

http://www.2sm.com.au

click on Grant Goldman and Listen Live online

How to Contact

To sponsor this segment on the 2SM

Super Radio Network and
online email me at

turnitupmike@gmail.com

***********************************************************

Proudly supported by:

I want to thank the team from Bow Bow Plumbing.
Commercial plumbing maintenance, based in (not limited to) the Sydney area.

I've known them for a long time and always been impressed by them. 
Bow Bow Plumbing brings a work ethic to the job that we need
more of in the business world.

If you have need for a commercial plumber, check him out.

http://www.bowbowingplumbing.com.au/

Commercial Plumber - Service List 
We can service but not limited to, Blocked Drains, Hot Water systems, Water Leaks, Gas Services, Cistern Repairs, Gas Heaters, Sewage, water tanks, pumps, Industrial Plant Maintenance, thermostatic mixing valves, backflow prevention control devices, storm water pump systems. We can also provide Installation and servicing of brands such as Zip, Rheem, Billi, Quadra, Trio and other units. Our Plumbers also provide Commercial Plumber maintenance service..
See more at

http://www.bowbowingplumbing.com.au/
===============================

Get on yer bike

I have to declare an interest and perhaps a little bias on today's topic.

Knocked off my bike as a child, by a hit and run driver. It took me months to recover physically but to be blunt I never had the same enthusiasm for riding on the road again.

So watching Sydney's expanding network of bike paths even I must ask the question do we really need bike paths instead of roads?

The development of bike paths and safety for bike riders should not be at the expense of already overcrowded roads, Nor does it make sense to crush small businesses and dig up parking spaces and replace them with with bike paths that are used by only a handful of people.

Bikes and cars don't mix, there is no question about that. But city planners need to realise that cities are shared zones. We need roads, and parking, and footpaths and where it is possible, bike paths, but it should never be an either, or, situation.

Out of touch city planners who don't have to worry about real life activities might get re-elected by the inner city apartment dwellers, but do they represent the needs of the city? Turn It Up, I'm Michael Robinson

***********************************************************

Where to Listen:

Turn It UP Mike Segment can be heard 

on Radio 2SM and stations on the Super Network

Monday to Friday with Grant Goldman.

http://www.2sm.com.au

click on Grant Goldman and Listen Live online

How to Contact

To sponsor this segment on the 2SM

Super Radio Network and
online email me at

turnitupmike@gmail.com

***********************************************************

Proudly supported by:

I want to thank the team from Bow Bow Plumbing.
Commercial plumbing maintenance, based in (not limited to) the Sydney area.

I've known them for a long time and always been impressed by them. 
Bow Bow Plumbing brings a work ethic to the job that we need
more of in the business world.

If you have need for a commercial plumber, check him out.

http://www.bowbowingplumbing.com.au/

Commercial Plumber - Service List 
We can service but not limited to, Blocked Drains, Hot Water systems, Water Leaks, Gas Services, Cistern Repairs, Gas Heaters, Sewage, water tanks, pumps, Industrial Plant Maintenance, thermostatic mixing valves, backflow prevention control devices, storm water pump systems. We can also provide Installation and servicing of brands such as Zip, Rheem, Billi, Quadra, Trio and other units. Our Plumbers also provide Commercial Plumber maintenance service..
See more at

http://www.bowbowingplumbing.com.au/
===============================