Senators' job is to stand up for state

STATE REPS: The Senate chambers at Parliament House in Canberra. Source: The Daily Telegraph

WHAT passes for good governing in Canberra these days is making people sick.

I've lost track of the number of Queenslanders who've said to me if they behaved like that at work they'd be sued, sacked, sent to counselling or taken out the back and given an old-fashioned bollocking.

Public discontent stems mostly from hate politics oozing from the House of Representatives, where politicians try their hardest not to work together.

But what about that other place called the Senate? Come election time we know the candidates for our local House of Reps seat and, with quivering finger, put a "1" against the name of our preferred choice.

Then we look at that daunting Senate ballot paper, sigh at its complexity, and mostly put a "1" in the box of one of the major parties above the line without knowing the name, experience or beliefs of the would-be senators we're voting for.

Did you know that of the six senators who will be elected to Federal Parliament from Queensland this year, four could pack their bags now and holiday in the Maldives until October and still get elected?

That's how the party system works. Unlike an Independent, some major party candidates don't have to campaign. They don't have to tell people what they stand for. They don't have to explain how they'll benefit Queensland.

What most people don't understand is that the Senate is as powerful as the House of Representatives, except it can't introduce money Bills.

Under the Constitution, each state of the Australian federation, regardless of its population, gets 12 senators to represent it. Senators are elected for six years but a system of rotation ensures half face re-election every three years.

The reason each state, big or small, has 12 senators is to make sure the two most populous states, NSW and Victoria, don't constantly screw us over and direct funding their way because they'll always have the largest numbers and power in the House of Reps.

So the 12 Queensland senators, under the Constitution, are supposed to be vigilantly looking after the interests of Queensland. These men and women are constitutionally entrusted as champions of our state. How successful have our Senate champions been? Take out a blank sheet of paper and see if you can name them. They've already been championing Queensland for six, 12, 18, 24 or 30 years? You can do a lot for Queensland in that time. So what have they actually done? Under the Constitution, senators don't have local constituents. This is to allow them to advance the interests of their entire state. It's a golden opportunity.

Queensland senators should be hunting as a pack.

I'm a practical, would-be senator who likes outcomes, so let's pick an obvious state-wide target - the Bruce Highway, a killer of our people and an inefficient piece of infrastructure.

It's not by accident the two most populous southern states have had billions thrown at their Hume and Pacific highways while the same six sections of the Bruce get washed out in each flood and the same black spots destroy families.

If 12 Queensland senators muscle up and do what they're supposed to, Queensland too can have a national highway to be proud of.

Greg Rudd is an independent Senate candidate for Queensland.

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Queensland, the racially 'inclusive' state

ANY refugee who respects Queensland's way of life is welcome, the Liberal National Party state government says.

Multicultural Affairs Minister Glen Elmes says Queensland is an inclusive state.

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"Refugees from Afghanistan, Bhutan, Congo, Iran, Iraq, Myanmar, Pakistan, Somalia, Sri Lanka and Sudan have settled in Queensland," he said in a statement, ahead of a speech at the annual Brisbane Lord Mayor's Refugee Welcome Ceremony on Thursday.

"Many have fled persecution and in the worst circumstances the threat of being killed."

Mr Elmes says the government offers families and individuals access to a range of programs, networks and services to help them integrate with the community.

"Queensland is a welcoming and inclusive state for everyone who wants to live here, share their culture and respect our way of life."

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State leads most disadvantaged list

Four Queensland indigenous communities have been named as the most disadvantaged areas in Australia by a new release of census results.  Picture: Eddie Safarik Source: The Australian

FOUR of the five most disadvantaged local government areas in Australia can be found in Queensland.

The third release of the 2011 census this morning revealed that Yarrabah, an indigenous community south of Cairns and Cherbourg in the South Burnett region, were the most disadvantaged local government areas in the nation.

Aurukun, south of Weipa on Cape York and Woorabinda, southwest of Rockhampton, also rank in the bottom five.

The latest census release paints a picture of the socio-economic characteristics of communities according to "people's access to material and social resources, and their ability to participate in society".

The figures also revealed that Brisbane was the most advantaged local government area in Queensland.

The data split the state into population groups of about 10,000 people, called statistical areas.

In Brisbane, the western suburbs ranked highly, claiming four of the five spots for most advantaged statistical areas.

Pinjarra Hills-Pullenvale, which has a usual resident population of 5360, came out on top.

It was followed by Fig Tree Pocket, Brookfield-Kenmore Hills, Chapel Hill and Wakerley.

The statistics also revealed that Riverview, a suburb of Ipswich, was the most disadvantaged.

Inala-Richlands, Wacol, Logan Central and Woodridge completed the bottom five.

Analytical Services Branch director Dr Phillip Gould, said it was important to remember that indexes were "assigned to geographic areas, not to individuals".

"For example, it's possible for a relatively advantaged person to reside in an area which may have a low score on some or all of the indexes," he said.

"It's also not uncommon to see a local government area that has pockets of advantage and disadvantage."

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Fines cash rolls into state coffers

$287.9 million worth of fines were tipped into state coffers last year. Source: HWT Image Library

SPEED and red-light cameras are pouring almost $550 a minute into state coffers.

The Herald Sun can reveal Victorians copped almost 1.4 million traffic camera fines worth $287.9 million last year, up $38.3 million on the previous year.

While the number of fines increased by 5 per cent, the revenue shot up by 15 per cent.

Reactivating cameras at Keilor Park Drive on the Western Ring Rd and on the Hume Freeway, plus extra cameras on CityLink, proved major earners.

The most profitable speed camera last year was across a lane of the Western Ring Rd at Keilor Park Drive.

It reaped $14.7 million from 71,224 fines.

The top earning red-light camera was at the intersection of Cemetery Rd West and Royal Parade, Parkville. It issued 6412 fines worth about $2 million.

Exceeding the speed limit by less than 10km/h carries a $176 fine and a demerit point. Failing to stop at a red light carries a $352 fine and three demerit points.

Police Minister Kim Wells said all money collected from speed camera and on-the-spot fines was reinvested in road improvements.

"There is undeniable evidence that cameras save lives by reducing speeds and cutting road trauma," Mr Wells said.

"If you speed, you are endangering your life and the lives of those around you. That is simply unacceptable."

Earlier this month the State Government said it would "increase our use of automated speed enforcement, including point-to-point, mobile, speed and red-light camera system" in its road safety strategy.

Six speed cameras are being installed on the new 27km Peninsula Link from Carrum Downs to Mt Martha.

Traffic camera fines from October to December last year will be published on the Department of Justice's site camerassavelives.vic.gov.au today.

amelia.harris@news.com.au

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Wild weather whips the state

A SEVERE thunderstorm is expected to hit Melbourne later today as gale force winds cross Victoria.

A severe storm warning for western Victoria has been issued, and the same weather system is expected to hit Melbourne in the next couple of hours.

The SES confirmed it has received more than 105 calls for help across the Melbourne metropolitan area and expects demand to increase.

One driver is being checked by paramedics after a tree crushed his car in Kilmore during high wind gusts.

A woman called for help after a tree fell on her vehicle in Kew, bringing down live power lines on the ground around the car.

She was told not to leave the vehicle for fear she could be electrocuted. Firefighters, SES and ambulance officers were on the scene to safely remove her from the car.

Bureau of Meteorology duty forecaster Stuart Coombs said conditions would worsen.

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"We are seeing it right across southern and mountain areas of the state we are expecting winds which will be gusting to around 90 to 100km/h,'' Mr Coombs said.

"Mt Buller has already had gusts over 100km/h in the last five minutes and it is going to get worse.''

St Kilda has so far recorded a top gust of 100km/h.

Tullamarine reached a top of 94km/h with other suburbs had winds between 70km/h and 90km/h.

Spokesman Toby Borella warned people to prepare for the strong winds.

"We are asking people to check loose items around the home, securing trampolines and things outside and park their cars undercover away from trees," he said.

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Fluoridation in state of decay

THE removal of fluoride from drinking water is creeping southeast, as another Queensland council chooses to pull the chemical from supplies.

Fraser Coast Regional Council has become the latest local government to drop fluoridation - joining Cairns, Bundaberg, Tablelands, Burdekin and Doomadgee - to the alarm of health and dental professionals.

Debate has been raging since late last year when the Newman Government handed councils the power to opt in or out of fluoridation, after its addition to local water supplies was mandated by the former government.

Under the reforms, councils are responsible for meeting all costs associated with any decision.

Shortly after the announcement, large southeast Queensland councils locked in to the SEQ Water Grid, such as Brisbane and Ipswich, confirmed fluoride would stay.

Others such as Moreton Bay, Redland and the Gold Coast are yet to reach a decision.

Gold Coast City Council water committee boss Cr Paul Taylor said results of a survey gauging public support for fluoridation were still being collected, and cost estimates for removal were about $100 million if the council were to take the step on its own. He said the issue would ultimately go to a council vote, although so far a majority of respondents appeared in favour of keeping fluoride.

Redland Mayor Karen Williams said her council was also yet to reach a decision.

She added the cost of removing fluoride had been estimated at $50 million, and a decision would have to be made after discussions with Logan and Gold Coast councils, which were also formerly serviced by now-wound-up supplier Allconnex.

Cr Williams also hit out at the move to place the decision and costs in southeast Queensland councils' hands, when it was the State Government that ran the water grid.

Meanwhile, Toowoomba will keep fluoride after the council voted in favour by a margin of one.

Australian Dental Association Queensland president Andrew Wong said some councils' decision to drop fluoride was concerning, and urged those still considering their position to maintain supplies.

"Water fluoridation has been proven to be a safe and effective means of reducing dental decay across the population," Dr Wong said.

"We would strongly urge councils that are fluoridating to continue to do so, and those that aren't to begin doing so."

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