Feedback Letter to Watchdog

What the hell is going on with the hospital waiting times?

My wife took our sick 2 year old for a checkup and was told there is a 3 hour wait!!!

She looked down the hallway and there was the doc chatting away sipping on his cup of coffee for about 15 minutes. Will this improve with the new hospital? I doubt it will as most likely there won't be a greater number of docs on duty.

Am I right or does anyone else know more?

Some fishy business

Just a little piece of info for those keen to see 'sustainable' planning - the Wenlock River has the richest known freshwater fish fauna in Australia. We all take the river systems for granted up here but they really do need some form of protection to retain their pristine quality for future generations. You don't have to be a 'flag waving greenie' to see the importance of long term environmental planning.

Lost Dog

'Poor' Woolies

Anyone with Woolies shares would be really happy to see the latest profit figures. SMH today reported "Woolworths said net profit for the six months to December 30 rose to $891.3 million from $695.6 million. That was above forecasts of $864 million in a Reuters survey of eight analysts." Wonder if we will get some 'special' dividends?

Lost Dog

Feedback Glitch

We received some feedback recently that I'm reluctant to publish.

The message mentions an individual's name and their related business which can only lead to a kick-arse load of trouble for us.

To the writer of the post: My apologies for not publishing it. You may have to rewrite it and try to be a little more general, otherwise the Watchdog will be dragging its backside through a defamation case.

Sure we slander RIO, Woolies and the Town Orifice, but they're faceless corporate monsters or heroes, depending on who you talk to. We don't name names. Not because we don't want to, but because we're gutless pricks ... especially when people are chasing us for money!

Anyway, the gist of the feedback that we received was in relation to sub-standard work on vehicle repairs. There was also some mention of misleading advertising and a reference to aspects of the business in question being Australian owned - but more so - Australian operated.


Apart from that, well, it's like that lovable German guard, Shultz, used to say on Hogan's Heroes:

"I know nuzzing..."

Feedback

Never mind these postage sized blocks of land that RTA trickles out at their pleasure. If I wish to live arms length from my next door neighbour then I can do that in Melbourne or Sydney.

Where are the 5 or 10 acre blocks?

The attraction of living here is the lifestyle (sorry company drones, it's not RTA), room for the boat, the quad, the shed and all the trimmings that go with a bush lifestyle.Of course this will cost money........say no more.

Crazy Pete

And the new owner is.......

Heard there might be some joy in the next housing ballots - word has it complaints have led to future ballots having two independent onlookers to put a stop to the ongoing disapproval of the previous system and a better checking of the eligibility of applicants.

True or False. Has anyone heard anymore - I am sure all those eager to own a little slice of paradise would like to know.

Lost Dog

Feedback Letter to Watchdog

Dear Watchdog

I was poking around on the internet and magically came across your site, great work well done.

A dam post about the dust got my maximum attention, I could not have put it betta myself.

Got to keep moving, cheers for now

D B

Feedback Letter to Watchdog

Dear Watchdog

I know some of those potholes are almost big enough to fish in but check this weather out - can anyone tell me where the real fish are biting? Can't seem to hook Woolies for a chew so maybe worth a cast in the rain for some real 'fresh food'.

Feedback Letter to Watchdog

Dear Watchdog

The holes at the Woolies Round-about are nothing compared to the two large craters on the intersection at Kowari. People have opted to slip into 4wd and try the mud along the roadside. How long does it take to fill in a hole? The ones along Lorim Point from the Evans Landing turnoff to the Shiploader are so bad that you spend more time on the wrong side of the road than the right side. Riotinto are so interested in keeping the workers safe at work, well how about on the way to work!

It's in the mail

Enjoying the line up for your post?

Apparently good things come to those who wait ... like Christmas for example!


Top Dog

That Empty Feeling

Look I really don't want to keep giving Woolies a smashing on this blog ... but the mongrels really do ask for it.

Why the hell is there continually a shortage on NON-PERISHABLE stock...?!

Okay, so milk is perishable ... but has there been a reduction in the national birthrate of dairy cows? Obviously there's a severe shortage of milk and we are on rations up here. Surely you can order enough milk to last the whole week? It's not like you are left with too much unsold product by Tuesday.

But wait, it's not just the bloody milk ... it's a whole host of other products.

Here's an alert: Last time I looked, tin food and food in glass jars didn't go off in a week. Therefore you can actually order it a month in advance.

Hell, why not order it in when you can see the stock is running low ... wow, what a novel idea that would be!

Top Dog

Going Potty

How's the pot holes out there...?!

The Woolies roundabout is like going on a tour of the Grand Canyon.


Top Dog

Bad Dog

Talk about being a bad watchdog ...

I've been an absolute dis-service for the last few weeks. I haven't chucked a post on here since my last Woolies rant.

But alas, I'm back ... smaller and crappier than ever.

You see I'm trying rid myself of this blog and hand it over to some other folks.

I'm not sure how often they will post... more than me I'd guess. And I certainly can't guarantee that they'll be hardcore whingers like me. Thankfully they seem keen to have a shot at this blog while I focus more on life's important things like er... rum and cricket. The new mob have even threatened to throw their names on their posts too. Which probably means they will lose every single one of their few friends!! Personally I'd suggest they sign their posts using a nickname like everyone else on the internet.

I've heard around the traps that some folk are a little reluctant to send in any emails because they are scared of having their names known by myself or anyone else that posts on the blog.

I totally empathise with these people. Which is why I've added an anonymous feedback form at the bottom of the page. Feel free to rant without a care...

It truly sucks when you want to pull some bastard up and clarify some home truths ... only to realise speaking out may result in you losing your job ... friend ... wife.

Talking of bastards ... (it's a joke)

Full marks to RIO for acknowledging that the public wants info about their community. The big-wigs have scheduled some Public Info Sessions at the Council Chambers for the following dates:

Wednesday 27th Feb -- 5 to 8pm
Thursday 28th Feb -- Noon to 3pm
Saturday 1st March -- 10am to 1pm

There's a whole host of topics that they will cover during the sessions. No doubt some of the info will inevitably be public relations spin but that's up to you lot to decide what info should be cleared through your personal bullshit filter.

If any of you actually turn up! Top Gear is on SBS on Monday night and the early episodes are on Saturday night ... so there's no friggin excuse.

Except if you're on a 'promise'.

Cheers
Top Dog

Not a good line to follow

Poly Unsaturated wrote:

Just thought id share these photos, i just took this morning on my mobile phone, with you.. Seems this drizzly Weipa weather is taking its toll on a few people (have you seen the amount of cars backing up past the service centre in the mornings just to drop kids off at school behind the flats? its a worry but that's another story) .. Anyways this poor bastard obviously couldn't decide which way to go so decided into the ditch was his best option hahaaaa. those poor ol goodline guys get it tough, well I thought the photo was quite amusing since he had heaps of other choices on where he could turn.. I just put it down to a busted window wiper perhaps ..

Stick to what your good at

Word around town is that a big local employer has again got into strife trying to sell real estate.

It appears a local professional has had to step in to rescue them again.

Will they never learn.

It might be time for someone to change his name to Spike, after another great comedian!

One less holiday to worry about

Weipa residents have been blessed this year, given a extra day to graft for their bosses.
That is those of you not on AWA's.

Not sure if it was an oversite, or planned but we have no gazetted show holiday this year, as yet!
Long time residents will recall the Coen Race Day holiday of years past. When the Coen Race Day terminated it was replaced by the Cairns Show Day.

A quick search of the Wageline website showed no "Show Holidays" or "Special Holidays" for the town of Weipa.
No gazetted holiday means business as usual, and a cost saving for businesses not having to pay for nonproductive time.

Remember the Local Authority is Rio, coincidence or not, your views please.

Roses are Red, Violets are Blue

Well, Roses are red and Violets are blue.

Each appears to play for a different team, if the colour of their bumers means anything.

In Weipa Andoom is red and East Weipa is Blue, the Watchdog has been told.

What are we talking about I hear you ask.

Read on dear friends, and I do think of readers as friends, however I digress.

Rio's Andoom employees, we have been told, have to stay at their posts until the town goes into code Red in the time of impending cyclonic conditions.

Their workmates at East Weipa will be home safe with family at this stage, allowed to venture home when condition Blue is anounced.

It is safer to be at home or elsewhere taking shelter under condition Red, but if you want to make some money venture to the Mission Bridge with a camera and you might get the image of a lifetime as a Landcruiser is blown off the bridge.

Well done Rio,
Please tell us we have it wrong, or is production at Andoom more important than the safety of your employees?

Pulling the Wool over our eyes

Here's an interesting comment that was posted under my Dogs of War rant.

A member of my family is the financial manager of a large food manufacturing company. About a year ago, she informed me that Woolies in Weipa was making the company she works for, foot the bill for freight to Weipa. So I'd just like to know the other excuse for the prices we have to pay for food in Weipa.

Does Woolies really have this kind of pull?

You bet it does.

Paul Clitheroe wrote an article that said Woolies sales figures for the December quarter showed first half sales were up almost 16 per cent to $22.1 billion. To improve your sales by 16 per cent when you're a small company on the way up is good work, but to continue to grow sales by 16 per cent when you're the country's biggest retailer is quite astounding.

Clitheroe goes on to say that there are reservations about the culture of Woolworths that are a little harder to measure. These can be broken down into a few key areas that are relevant to us:

1. The buying power that comes with being a giant enables Woolworths to really throw its weight around with suppliers. The end result is lower prices for consumers (really!!! - Top Dog) and higher dividends for investors, but in the process it has on occasion been absolutely ruthless and quite anti-competitive.

2. Woolworths has displayed plenty of arrogance when it comes to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and the Trade Practices Act. Twice it has been caught out in blatantly anti-competitive activities and both times it has fought the charges to the limit of the law and, even then, effectively claimed the law was wrong. Not nice.

3. It's unlimited growth ambitions are nice for investors, but you might wonder about how healthy it is for our society overall to suffer a loss of diversity in retailers across just about every facet of retailing. The expansion in selling petrol is a foretaste of what Woolworths would like to do in pharmacies and most other fields where dollars are exchanged for goods at the retail level.


That last point is interesting in so far that it brings attention to the ambitions of investors who own the company and the social responsibility to the communities in which the company operates.

Sounds a little like mining companies doesn't it?

Don't get me wrong Woolies (and RIO) are a great investment for those who hold shares in them. The stock has consistently trended upwards for the best part of a decade. A $10,000 Woolworths (ASX: WOW) investment in March 1998 would have yielded $56,000 today. The same investment in RIO would have yielded about $66,000. But before the RIO share boom $10,000 in RIO made you $38,000 by March 2007 - the same cash made you $48,000 in Woolworths. So we're not talking about a pissy little fruit and vege store here.

Again - and I know this sounds like I'm a whingeing prick who bangs on about this stuff - I don't mind these companies making money ... just be a little more ethical you bastards.

It's only Weipa

A new road is being developed in the industrial area of Rocky Point.

It appears a resident thinks a new road will save precious seconds, and it only being Weipa he or she can place a road wherever they like.

Any ideas for a name for the new road?

Letter to Watchdog

Dear Watchdog,

I am sure most of us were horrified by the above image of the mother and calf being hauled into the Japanese ship then I read where the Norwegians plan to take 1052 Minke whales - apparently they say it's sustainable? Gosh we hear this word a lot these days - often the connotation seems to be used to give approval to suspect decisions. Isn't this a term being bandied constantly in the mining realms.

Anyway enough of that, I think the old mining game has had a hard week, billions of dollars put out there - important for Australia as we continue on this ROCKY ride to prosperity. My main reason for posting is the fascinating seacow or dugong. This was prompted by the call for more protection for this quiet unassuming mammal grazing in our shallow coastal waters. I thought they only bred every two years but it can be up to seven so some protection seems to be necessary to stem their decline. Fishing nets, boats and hunting (sustainable? - oh there is that word again) seem to be attributing to their decline.

I am all for banning whaling but I think we should also look closer to home and protect this little known mammal.

Safety concerns for Nanum

The new Nanum white water rafting centre has opened.

Situated at the Joy Rollin Memorial Park the white water course was open for business after Friday nights rain.

We hear a lot about safety from Weipa's largest employer, so how come they have engineered an open drain through the centre of a childrens playground?

How much extra to run pipes and place dirt over them?

In the past three weeks five people have been drowned in open drains in Australia.

What price is safety for our children?

Wish You Were Here

You've got a problem: It's hot and you'd kill for a dip in a creek somewhere.

Solution #1: Fruit Bat

#2. Eliot Falls

#3. Twin Falls

Ahh, the wonders of Cape York.

Riderless Horse

Anyway ... before I got on my high horse with the previous post, I was going to ask if anyone out there wanted to contribute something on this site.

Fair Dinkum, I'm sick to death of whacking up stuff by myself. Occasionally someone else contributes posts but mostly it's just me going on some wild rant. Not really that interesting, huh?!

So, in the name of 'Voice for the People' and all that garbage, I offer up an opportunity for you lot to send in some thoughts. Personally, I'm only going to be posting once every blue moon, so without you this blog will probably just wither and die.

"And about bloody time," some of you say.

Hey, I hear ya.

Dogs of War

My apologies for the lack of updates yesterday ... I had better things to do - TV, Rum, drunk monkey sex ... that last one is a lie actually - I wasn't drunk!!

Those who know me will be aware that I originally started this site because I wanted to have a shot at Woolworths. I - like numerous others in this town - are sick to death of paying top dollar for inadequate food. A friend suggested that we were lucky in Weipa, 'You should try living in Aurukun,' they said.

Fair comment. Except for the fact that Weipa is a large town of 3500 people and Woolies is a major - actually, The Major - grocery operator in the country. Woolies has a monopoly within this town but has obviously, in my opinion, chosen to abuse their privileged standing.

Which is why I thought it was time for someone to try and make some noise. You see, apathy is a strong force in society today. It's far easier to take the buck. It's far easier to be entertained. Far easier to admit that there is 'Nothing we can do about it'. That's bullshit of course. Our children's children will probably strike up in 1960s-style social revolution because of our current lack of social revolution. I'm not talking a revolution to overthrow government. I'm talking about having the strength to vocalise for change when things aren't right.

Well, guess what ... things aren't right in the world. See image below.

Closer to home: Talk of Vyces being closed and possibly mined - if true - is outrageous. The lack of forethought in other local mine planning begets belief - water run-off silts up the waterways that you and I fish in for fun.

There is a social and environmental responsibility that RTA proclaims in all their literature. Sustainability speeches are delivered around the world by Chairman Paul Skinner and many RTA managers. Whether it be at the London School of Business or at the 5 star Oberoi Hotel in New Delhi. Are these speeches just spin? Lip service to provide friendly copy for media releases? Probably.

But RTA isn't the only culprit. Some dodgy dealings are going on in this town. To be fair this is no different to other towns, although it still doesn't make it right. I guess this site could provide the community a chance to shame and 'not name' the guilty.

Again, those who know me will realise that I am doing this because I actually give a flying fuck about what happens in this community. And to those that don't give a damn - here's a personal message ... you fucking disgust me.

The almighty dollar is the least honorable thing to be driven by. Nice role models for your kids.

End of rant.

Save the trees

There's a comment posted under our 'Vyces Vice' rumour from last week that we're going to post just to see if anyone has anything to add on the topic.

I just think it's pathetic that so called 'environmentalists' actually work for Rio under the guise they'll be developing wonderful tree saving initiatives from within the regen department.

Wake up to yourselves....why would you be working for a multinational mining giant who desecrates everything in it's path?

And as for the Vyces story - how on earth are these people letting this go ahead? If this isn't the blind leading the blind then i don't know what is.
I only hope people start using sites like this to make some noise.

In all seriousness (yes, we can be serious at times ... though rarely) this is a tough area of debate. Lots of sides to approach this argument. We'd love to hear what residents think about this.

Maybe this question could help as a guide:

Do you think it is possible for environmental/cultural/social science professionals to maintain the relevant independence whilst working for a mining company? And do these professionals have the clout needed for their opinions to be of weight within the company?

Silica Hand Slap

Wow, didn't take long for a little controversy.

Here's the comment written under our uninformed silica beat-up titled 'Breath-Taking Views'. Seems we were wrong, mis-informed, possibly even sensationalist. But you already knew that about us.

Silicosis is caused by the the inhilation of respirable Quartz or Amorphous (non crystalline) silica.

Respirable dust is defined as particles in the 5 micron to 0.5 micron range.

Testwork done when I was an RTA employee indicated that there was no amorphous silica in the local dust and that quartz does not break down to 5 micons or smaller.

Whilst I appreciate the humour in some of your articles, this one could cause a lot of pain and or panic in people who do not know the facts including yourselves. I suggest that you remove the article and appologise or prepare for an onslaught.

Regards
An ex (retrenched) RTA employee.

Oops ... sorry about that. Sometimes we think we're too smart by half.

Photos

A photo function has been added to this poor excuse for an informative blog.

If you've got a pic send it in via email... or don't.

Breath-taking Views ... continued

Yeah, so where was I ...?

That's right, Silica dust.

Apparently RTA are going to cover us with dust. No, not us here at the Watchdog. Us: as in you poor bastards living in Nanum.

According to one of our many unreliable sources, the tailings dam behind Denman's Swamp is said to be getting a face-lift. If you don't know where this is you soon will ... just listen for the bulldozers knocking down the regenerated trees. If that's not enough of a signpost for you, perhaps you can wait until the dust starts flying.

Of course, once the dust blankets everything you'll have Buckley's chance of finding the joint.

The one good thing about dust is that it dries out your throat ... which means you need to wet your gullet with a cool - overpriced- beverage.

Real Estate Update

Rumour has it that only about 30 people put in for the first round offer of land sales at the exclusive Cuff ... er, Golf Links Estate.

It seems the restrictions that have been proposed have had the desired effect of discouraging those seeking to make a quick buck flipping the properties.

Still no word on who has reserved the most sought after Lot 28.

On other property news ... 14 Tarquin goes up for Ballot this week. Price: $238,000 - best of luck with this lottery.

Breath-taking Views

Silica is the second most common mineral on earth.

It is found in sand, many rocks such as granite, sandstone, flint and slate, and in some coal and metallic ores like ... well, you take a wild guess.

Silicosis is due to deposition of fine dust containing crystalline silicon dioxide (SiO2).

The induction period between initial silica exposure and development of detectable silicosis is usually 10 years. Shorter induction periods are associated with heavy exposures, and acute silicosis may develop within 6 months to 2 years following massive silica exposure.

The Weipa bauxite deposit has 5 to 5.5% of SiO2 (apparently it doesn't - see post above).

Word is that Nanum should have a nice dust cloud coming their way once a new RTA project begins shortly. How much of that cloud is going to be SiO2 is debatable. And what the hell, just shut the house and turn on the air-cons - a little dust inhalation never hurt anyone ... well, except those who died from it.

So say tuned. We'll be coughing up that story as soon as we get the details correct ... or close enough to be controversial.

War and other hostilities

To quote that old English bloke, Will Shakespeare:

Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more,
Or close the wall up with our English dead!

It looks set to be a time of great adjustment as the battle for RIO truly begins.

BHP has indeed announced their plans to push on with their revised full scrip (share) offer of 3.4 BHP shares for 1 RIO share... without board approval from RIO.

The bid is now hostile.

Therefore BHP will approach RIO shareholders in an effort to gain the required 50% holdings. It can probably be safely said that the RIO directors and management will suggest this action as non-recommended. Will it help? Who knows.

Even as BHP tries to gain control of the board they will surely be looking over their shoulders with fear. Chinalco can easily put in a competing bid for RIO ... but unlike BHP, the Chinese have the luxury of making a full cash offer.

The war has only just begun... and the English dead may in fact line a new Great Wall of China.

Make no mistake about it ... by the end of the year Rio Tinto will be no more.

RIO shares on the move

BHP Billiton Ltd chief executive Marius Kloppers says the takeover of Rio Tinto Ltd can be completed without the support of Chinese aluminium giant Chinalco.

State owned Chinalco and its US partner Alcoa Inc teamed up to secure a 12 per cent stake in Rio Tinto's UK shares on Friday for $US14 billion ($A15.6 billion).

Mr Kloppers told journalists during a conference call on Wednesday the deal could be completed without the support of Chinalco and junior partner Alcoa.

"By the terms of our offer, absolutely," he said.
BHP Billiton, which had, under UK law, until Wednesday London time to formalise its bid for Rio Tinto, announced an offer of 3.4 of its shares for every Rio share.

The offer is an improvement on an informal three for one approach made late last year.
The offer has a minimum acceptance condition of more than 50 per cent of the publicly-held shares in each of Rio Tinto Ltd and Rio Tinto plc.

Mr Kloppers would not comment on whether BHP would hold discussions with Chinalco, adding that its share raid was "just another factor".

Speculation remains that the goal of Chinalco and Alcoa is to be at the bargaining table to pick up aluminium and copper assets potentially divested if BHP Billiton gains control of Rio Tinto.

Sign writers are already planning for BHP, Billiton, Rio Tinto, Alcan, Chinalco or BHPBRTAC for short.

New employees will have to be extra large just to fit the company name on their shirts.

Anti Authoritarian

What the hell happens behind closed doors at Weipa town HQ?

I've been getting a lot of negative reports about the Weipa Town Office ... sorry, forgot the name change - Weipa Town Authority.

The problem with the WTA is that they have all the bureaucratic bullshit of a typical town council, with one exception ... you can't vote this mob out.

I guess the solution is for the town to get off their collective arses and make some noise. And now seems like a pretty good time. There's been a sizable take-up on sales of company houses to employees plus a huge group of home owners in New Nanum - which means there's lots of real residents.

Real residents = RATE PAYERS

So if you have an issue with anything that is or isn't being done in the best interest of the town then fire us off an email ... we'll be happy to draft up a scathing letter and send it off to the WTA.

We'll also post it to BHP/Chinalco/Alcoa/Rio/Alcan or whoever the hell this town will belong to by mid-year!

你好，你笨澳洲人屁股

Or translated...

'Hello, you stupid Aussie arseholes.'

Okay, so we were wrong. China's RIO investment didn't send RIO stock sky high. In fact the shares topped out at just over $130 a share then settled back near opening price. A long way off our predicted $138. Thank god we don't play the stock market.

This whole China interest in RIO is probably proving to be a slight shock for Paul Skinner (RTA Chairman) and Tom Albanese (CEO). Though BHP will be feeling the pinch a little bit more.

The two companies probably weren't expecting to see China pop up this late in the takeover game. Which proves the Chinese are canny investors. And if RIO and BHP think that China is simply after a blocking stake or an investment opportunity then they would be fools.

Ever heard of Australia's Future Fund?

We copped a whole load of press coverage over the sale of Telstra a few years back and what would happen to the cash proceeds. Well, that cash was part of the Future Fund - a 50 billion dollar bank balance that would allow Australia to venture overseas in search of suitable investments. So far we've done stuff all on that front. The Chinese, on the other hand, are being a little more proactive.

China has a Sovereign Wealth Fund that is topped up by the interest earned on their vast national reserves of foreign exchage.

Ie; the Chinese have so much US dollars that they could buy every single public company listed in America.

I shit you not.

What does a powerhouse like China do with that money? Well, you open up the purse strings to your many state-owned companies (Chinalco, Chalco etc) to invest in overseas companies (RIO, BHP etc). If foreign ownership regulations can be smoothed over in Australia, Europe and America then China won't have the issues it had in trying to buy Unocal in the US. Once ironed out China will have every opportunity to not only take a larger stake in RIO, but they could probably choose to wait for BHP to swallow RIO. That then leaves the possibility of China devouring a new BHP. The fact that no one else has money in a global credit crunch simply plays into China's hand.

Fantasy land?

We'll see.

At Bloggerheads

We're shouting a beer to the fella who runs CairnsBlog.

Not only did this tropical terror of independent media give the old Watchdog a pat on the back in a recent post, they've also been kind enough to put the boot into the local power-brokers down that way on a regular basis. If you know us, then you'll know we love to see just about anyone copping a bit of a touch-up in the media ... as long as it's not us.

Blogger Michael P Moore says in his bio that CairnsBlog aims to entertain, inform and open debate on a myriad of issues. Also to discuss local politics in a direct straight-forward way, as Cairns approaches the Council Elections in March 2008.

Unfortunately we can't fully support Mike with his venture ... not because he's doing a bad job ... but because the bastard is a kiwi...!! And let's face it, there's way too many kiwis in FNQ nowadays - soon they'll out number the friggin' Victorians!

Here's to ya, Mike ... Keep slingin'.

Cook the Watchdog

The State Government Member for Cook, Jason O'Brien, visited the Watchdog site this week and posted a comment in relation to our spiel about Weipa fuel prices. Here's what he had to say:

I really do enjoy hearing from my constituents so please email me about this issue or anything else.

FYI the state government still subsidises fuel by 8 cents per litre and has recently made some steps to ensure this is being passed on to motorists.

In other good news, new federal member for Leichhardt, Jim Turnour, is already speaking out to ensure fuel is on the agenda with a revitalised Australian Consumer Commission and its price enquiry.

We are both trying to be in and around Weipa on March 4 and 5th if anyone wants to catch up. We're trying to get to the Chamber of Commerce meeting on the 4th and will confirm shortly. I have been asked to speak on net fishing in Albatros Bay and will report now that, despite trying, I am having little headway with the Minister.

Congratulations to whoever is pulling this site together. I hope that it is successful and people in Weipa use it to discuss political issues and to keep the politician bastards like me honest.

Firstly, thanks Jason for the interest in our community.

Secondly, to those in the community, it is your right as residents to express your personal opinion to your political representatives about the state of this town. Please take up Jason's offer and discuss the issues you have at hand.

You can do that directly through Jason O'Brien's office or post/email a rant on this poor excuse for a media site!

Full takeover not planned

A person close to the company said Chinalco is making an application for voluntary approval from Australia's Foreign Investment Review Board, despite not being required to do so on the basis of its current stake. Chinalco and Alcoa Inc. Friday revealed their stake in Rio Tinto, creating an obstacle for BHP Billiton Ltd. in its own takeover proposal for Rio Tinto.
Chinalco President Xiao Yaqing is in Australia to brief the government and local media later Monday on the move on Rio, but another person close to the company said he has no plans at this stage to meet with BHP Billiton.

The person said the Chinalco stake was designed to give it a seat at the table in a fast changing industry and that it fits with its long-term goal of becoming an international diversified resources company, but said there are no current plans for a full takeover bid for Rio Tinto.

The logo competition is on hold for the time, also there is no truth to the rumour that the yuan will be accepted for payment of electricty accounts.

Which Way?

Up or down?

RIO shares should provide some entertainment on the stock market over the next two days.

If BHP pulls out of its takeover attempt then RIO shares will probably cop a beating ... on the other hand, if BHP continues --- well, sky's the limit.

Happy investing to those of you who play the market.

Alcohol ban for the Cape

Queensland Premier, Anna Bligh, is considering banning alcohol in the state's indigenous communities after a review found alcohol management plans had failed to restore order.

The review states that "levels of harm remain grossly and unacceptably high compared to the Queensland average". There are 15 times more serious assaults in these townships than across Queensland as a whole, and 12 times more hospital admissions.

Sly grogging remains a major problem, despite 2668 charges being laid and nearly $700,000 in fines imposed since alcohol management plans started.

The Queensland Government introduced alcohol management plans after a 2001 report by Justice Tony Fitzgerald found excessive alcohol consumption in indigenous communities was the main cause of social problems. At the time, Justice Fitzgerald said: "The position is so serious that, despite constitutional obstacles, unless significant improvement is reported within three years, consideration should be given to a prohibition on the sale and consumption of alcohol."

In the wake of the grim findings of the review of alcohol management plans, Ms Bligh is reported to have said recently it was time to revisit the issue. "The results show radical action is required," she said. "I'll be meeting with the indigenous community mayors in February 2008 with a view to either tightening up the existing plans or moving to complete prohibition." Any toughening of restrictions had to be accompanied by more emphasis on rehabilitation, she said. Cabinet will consider a full evaluation of the alcohol management plans in March.
Source- SMH
What could this mean for Weipa?

Weipa residents must be given a voice in any government discussions regarding the Cape.

Letter to Watchdog

Dear Watchdog,

Just a thought!!! Seeing as your site is going so well and you are having so many hits each day, maybe you should think about having a classified section. It will beat having to go to the shops to look on the notice boards if you are in need of something, or are having a clean out.
I for one will be keeping an eye on it if it goes ahead.
Keep up the good (Fun), work.

A Happy Reader.

Thanks for the kind words Happy Reader.

We don't muck about ... in fact, we've already started selling things on this site. Why, just last Friday we brokered a 12% sale of RIO for 14billion bucks and shortly after that we sold a cold bacon and egg toastie to some stupid 10year old. It's all in a day's work really.

Stay tuned ... next week we're going to try and sell our soul.

Everyone else has.

Getting Agro on Rum

Is everyone in Weipa a professional tennis player or something?

We must be.

It's like we've gone 5 sets with Roger Federer and copped the biggest Roger-ing of all time. How else can you explain the alcohol prices in town?!

How's this for Weipa fun:

1 x Carton of Bundy Rum Cans - a couple of cents shy of $100.00
1 x Carton VB cans - $55.00

Now I just got off the blower to the mob down at Smithfield Tavern (ph: 4038 8100) and they had this to say:

1 x Carton of Bundy Rum Cans - $64.00
1 x Carton VB cans - $43.oo

And get this ... the buggers apologised because they just had a price rise. I just about fell on my arse with laughter, but luckily I didn't. My arse is in a little bit of pain thanks to the regular shafting I've been getting from the grog shops.

But here's another thing: the rum cans are the special 440ml bastards!! Talk about teasing.

I suggest you buy three cartons of Rum cans in Cairns and purchase a plane ticket with the savings.

Not only will you get cheap grog, but you'll enjoy the flight back because your arse won't be sore from the shopping experience.

(Note to transport companies: Why not advertise some transport costs in the Bully, maybe you'll get some customers beating your door down.)

Stand Up

Nice to see that someone has voted Pro Rio in a few of the polls.

Anyone that feels like we're being too hard on the company please feel free to write in with some thoughts of your own. This blog should by no means be a one-way street of left-wing ranting posing as community communication.

We welcome your thoughts ... whether we agree with them or not.

A Couple of Bloody Alcos

Let me introduce the new boys in town: Chinalco and Alcoa

Along with yesterday's financial shock of Chinalco and Alcoa's combined 12% buy of Rio comes a little crystal ball viewing into the future of Rio Tinto.

Chinalco is the parent company of Chalco (almost 40% ownership) - yep, the same Chalco who currently own the Aurukun bauxite lease. Alcoa is the Aluminum Company of America.

These are big guns.

And they're aimed at Rio and BHP respectively.

Alcoa was once a favourite to own Alcan (Canadian Aluminium) but alas that trophy went to Rio for a $40billion opt in.

The significance of this new investment in RTA is bigger than most people truly understand. Alcoa is said to be only fronting just over a billion dollars in the new stake. So primarily we are seeing the arrival of the Chinese into the commodities market in a big way. Smaller scale investments have been made over the past few years, mainly into iron ore companies, but yesterday's buy marks a new dawn.

The 12% stake doesn't actually constitute a blocking stake in the sale of Rio to BHP as it didn't represent a 10% all Australian share buy. Rio is dual listed - Australia and London.

The implications of this new investment are wide-reaching. Management positions will definitely be reshuffled. The Rio and BHP boards will be feeling the heat this morning and will be wondering what the hell happened. But the signs of China's involvement have been obvious for several months.

What does this mean for you?

If you are a shareholder you will see a sharp spike in the price come Monday morning.

If you are a worker then one day in the not too distant future you may find yourself working for a large Chinese mining monolith ... digging up Cape York for Chinese car engines.

Welcome to the globalised world.

It's best for everyone ... apparently.

Letter to Watchdog

From the street comes this email:

Dear Watchdog,

As a loyal employee of the wonderful “Fresh Food People” I can tell the town that the only way to get something done about the store is to complain on the woollies website.

SO COME ON WEIPA DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT AND COMPLAIN!!

(Apologies to the provider for the edit - Watchdog)

Care to Share

Anyone want to run the gauntlet of share price predictions?

The Watchdog predicts a rise in RIO share price on Monday morning. Current offer at close of trade Friday: 127.50

Our prediction: 138.0 Monday and 145.0 Tuesday.

Any predictions from you lot?


Disclaimer: The Watchdog has never made money on the share-market due to lack of real knowledge and currently holds no RIO stock!!

The Shipping News

Want a personal super yacht?

How's this sucker fit you for size?

This is Octopus, a private yacht owned by Microsoft co-founder, Paul Allen. It's the world's 6th largest yacht ... and it could be heading to Weipa.

Sorry, that last bit is a total lie.

Octopus won't be coming anywhere near this place - the cost of diesel would send a billionaire broke. You will, however, see some big ships down at the ship loader. But you probably already knew that. These ships won't have cinemas nor will they have hull compartments for jet skis and other fun crap. They just have big mongrel spaces for red dirt.

Of course, if Desley Boyle, the Qld Government's Minister for Tourism, has any say in the matter we may very well see the likes of Octopus anchored off Weipa's shoreline one fine day.

The first action plan for Far North Queensland's marine services sector was launched in Cairns yesterday and it seeks to build long-term growth in the marine industry.

Activities under the plan include working with the Superyacht Group - Great Barrier Reef to grow the superyacht charter and service sector and encourage investment in a superyacht manufacturing facility in the region. It also seeks to capture more refit and maintenance work in commercial and defence markets.

Ms Boyle said that "one of the first actions will be a comprehensive study of the current state of the industry with a view to development not only ... in Cairns but in other key areas such as Weipa, Cooktown and the Torres Strait where we can take advantage of existing infrastructure."

Makes the idea of a marina between Evans Landing and the Vet building seem almost plausible.

Hands up who wants to buy the lease to a 125 metre berth to moor the Octopus when it arrives?!

What a Gas

Seems like the PNG to Qld gas pipeline may have a chance at rebirth according to the ABC News site.

The project was shelved last year but now several aboriginal groups in the Cape have struck an agreement. Apparently a consultancy group called the Cape York Pipeline Company had secured a land use agreement with 13 traditional owners. Allowing access to a 20km wide, 800km long corridor to build the pipeline if it ever went ahead.

Aussie ad-man John Singleton and mining magnate Robert de Crespigny are reported to be shareholders in the consultancy company. Former prime minister Paul Keating was also involved in the 18-month long negotiations.

The deal means parties interested in building the pipeline would not have to negotiate individual land use agreements with the different traditional owners.

This translates to the agreement itself being worth a ton of cash.A spokeperson for the company said the traditional owners would get the "vast majority" of any money that comes from the agreement.

Vanishing Parkland

Parkland has to be maintained, grass cut etc. This costs you, the Weipa Ratepayers, money.

Rio has come up with a plan to save us money ... sell it off!

This not only saves ratepayers money ... it helps give RIO shareholders a return on State Government land.

It's a win/win situation, don't you think?!

The Company Line

I wonder how many of the key decision-makers in Rio Tinto actually have any idea who owns the company they work for.

Chairman Paul Skinner definitely doesn't own it.

Nor does CEO Tom Albanese or CFO Guy Elliot.

This may be suprising to some around here - most likely the management staff - but guess what, they don't even own the majority of this resource monster. Although I'm sure many of you get the impression that they think they do. But in reality a large proportion of company ownership is held mostly through Superfund holdings that are invested through managers across this - and many other - nations. Without support from these Superfunds any large company will wilt. That's why CEOs travel the world shoring up support from the big superfund managers.

And guess whose money runs the superfunds?

Yep ... YOURS

We all own this company ... and many others like it. Who woulda thought it, huh?!

So next time you don't agree with a dumb-arse management decision try this response:

"Hey, listen up, I own this bloody company, mate."

Block Heads

Well, it had to happen didn't it...?

It appears that Rio has blocked us on their computers!!

We got an email from Rio Tinto's IT section the other day. It had no subject heading and nothing in the email. Just a signature with name and contact details.

So, why the blank email?

Well, probably just to check to see if this site's email is active. Here, let me save you fellas the hassle - YEP, WE'RE ACTIVE!

And here's another bit of free info:

Once you deny people the right to access something they will seek it out with more vengeance. And what the hell is Rio afraid of ... free speech? Complaints? Their workers?

Log on ... and listen.

Blocking a website at work won't stop access. Quite the opposite. You can dismiss the comments if you will, but you won't dismiss the desire for uncensored communication amongst those who have chosen to make a home in this town.

Feel free to comment ... you're quite welcome.

And get this ... there's no restrictions.

Fueled Up

Someone once told me Weipa was the first port of call in Australia for fuel ships.

If this is right then something must seriously be amiss in this joint when it comes to petrol pricing.

Take a look at the discrepancy in fuel prices between Weipa and Brisbane today:

DIESEL
Brisbane -135.9
Weipa - 151.9
(16cents more up here)

ULP
Brisbane - 118.9
Weipa - 150.9

(32 cents more!!)


What the hell is going on here?

Every man and his dog owns a 4WD around town, which - as you no doubt know yourself - equates to large fill-ups at the pump, meaning large bills. Thankfully there's two service stations in town to give us some competition ... unfortunately they're both owned by the same mob ... and no, it's not owned by BP, they're just the suppliers.

If you want some explanation to why this is happening, please make a comment under this post and we'll fire them off to our state and federal members to get some answers.

Or if you want to write a nasty letter to them yourself - their contact details are below. Feel free to call them too, they love hearing from their constituents.

State Government:
Jason O'Brien,
PO Box 2080, CAIRNS QLD 4870;
Email: cook@parliament.qld.gov.au;
Ph: (07) 4051 3849 or 1800 816 264; Fax : (07) 4031 2437

Commonwealth Government:
Mr Jim Turnour MP,
PO Box 6022, House of Representatives,
Parliament House, Canberra ACT 2600;
Email: Jim.TurnourMP@aph.gov.au;
Ph: (02) 6277 2255; Fax: (02) 6277 8493

Senator the Hon. Jan McLucas,
PO Box 2733, Cairns Qld 4870;
Email: senator.mclucas@aph.gov.au;
Ph: (07) 4031 6009; Fax: (07) 4031 6167; Toll Free: 1300 301 959