I used to drive up and back a fair bit between Brisbane and Sydney.The Pacific Highway is downright scary.I used to have the spreadsheet at my fingertips in the 2UE radio studio chronicling the horrible losses we've suffered there.
It's hard to imagine that level of agony and killings if the whole highway was a properly engineered divided road.
A couple of years ago I interviewed Anthony Albanese on 2UE in his role as the Infrastructure Minister. I asked him how many people have been killed by poor broadband. None he said then he waffled (from memory) about the economy changing magic of the NBN.The tragedy of the opportunity cost of the NBN is that it is duplicating existing infrastructure, already paid for, sunk cost - with costly new infrastructure.And the whole thing is being done just for the sake of it - not to meet customer needs.If you are a hospital, university or private house with the need for optical fibre cable to deliver you broadband, you can have it today from a variety of providers. It's here and now and funded entirely by private investment.Don't the people in the Labor Cabinet have any understanding of their responsibility to prioritise scarce public funds to those areas unserved by private investors and those areas with the greatest need/public good.So Pacific Highway investment - known cost benefit - lives saved, horrible disfigurements and disabilities avoided, drop in fuel usage, quicker trips, the business case is clear.”
Two young women killed
in horror smash at Anstead
Brittany Vonow The Courier-Mail January 06, 2013
EMERGENCY services are still on the scene of a
"horrific" crash that left two young people dead in Brisbane's west
this morning.
Metro north inspector Mark Laing said the Forensic Crash Unit was still
working at the scene to remove the small Japanese car from the power pole at
Anstead.
"Words can't describe the scene but it is a horrific scene with a
tragic loss of two young lives."
Insp Laing said factors into the crash that happened about 3.30am,
including speed and fatigue, would be investigated.
"It's quite evident to me that speed has been a factor," he
said.
It is as yet unknown where the two young people were travelling to and
from.
A neighbour said she heard the crash about 3.30am and rang triple zero.
"I raced out and have seen the vehicle and called triple 0,"
she said.
The local said she immediately knew it was a bad crash and stayed away
after putting her own car on the scene with its hazard lights.
Families, including one believed to be interstate, are now being
notified.
Insp Laing urged all drivers to learn from the tragic crash.
It's not just young drivers either, it's all ages. We keep repeating, please, slow down."
The drivers family tell their tragic story to the Courier Mail ...
It's not just young drivers either, it's all ages. We keep repeating, please, slow down."
The drivers family tell their tragic story to the Courier Mail ...
ends
And a Courier Mail exclusive ...
The LNP gives front page to reveal top secret information that Queensland Police will
conduct monthly crime crackdowns in 2013. If it is top secret, why are the Ministers public relationers coordinating such a stunt? Bad people are
lining up at their local Police Station to hand over a their planning and risk
assessments. Secret used to mean ... err ... secret.
Read
top secret Queensland Police plans, it's exclusive.
Comment
We need to empower people to speak up and report poor driving behaviour. When the behaviour is putting others at risk it is a form of selfish bullying. Drivers who are on the road all the time, seeing dangerous behaviour should feel comfortable to report the number plate for prompt follow up. A polite call from approved volunteers working with Police to get another side to the story, to plead for more care and attention, to ask worried parents if they need help with their childrens driving choices will make a difference.
Comment
We need to empower people to speak up and report poor driving behaviour. When the behaviour is putting others at risk it is a form of selfish bullying. Drivers who are on the road all the time, seeing dangerous behaviour should feel comfortable to report the number plate for prompt follow up. A polite call from approved volunteers working with Police to get another side to the story, to plead for more care and attention, to ask worried parents if they need help with their childrens driving choices will make a difference.
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