Tony Abbott to Return as Prime Minister?

I caught up with a friend of 30 plus years yesterday.

We manage a coffee catch up every few weeks and on the occasions we connect on a weekend, it commonly extends for some hours and far too many coffees.

We share common interests including cricket, the industry we both work in, music and politics.

His move towards conservatism commenced with a very small step some 40 years ago when he ceased being a full time musician to join the then SGIO. His time as a professional musician was not without some success. His band recorded several records and achieved modest sales. He was the drummer in the Hoadley Battle of the Bands state winners and national runners up back in 1960something.

About 5 years ago he returned to music and is a member of a weekend warrior covers band.

We both wonder at the inability of modern day fast bowlers to achieve consistent line and length and ponder the benefits or otherwise of such strict coaching of young players often at the expense of natural flair and creativity.

The small step towards conservatism taken all those years ago has continued to gather momentum and this inevitably drives the more colourful content of our conversations.

He is of the view that Tony Abbott is one of our truly great Prime Ministers. I was amused when he said as Prime Minister he fulfilled his three key election promises and when I ask what they were, he could not name them. With some goading, he did recall “stop the boats”.

He cites the 2014 budget as being one of the most innovative of all time and is retrospectively being acknowledged as being so. He admits it was poorly sold but that is the medias fault, not Tony’s.

I put it to him that Malcolm Turnbull has managed to get more of the 2014 budget legislated than Abbott did and he went quiet when I supported my statement with evidence.

He believes in gaining information via what he swears is “balanced media” citing 4BC and Sky as evidence of reliable and balanced sources of information.

A report last week that Malcolm Turnbull stepped in to save Tony Abbott’s seat was addressed by him as being rubbish. He added that this story was leaked by Malcolm Turnbull. I suggested it could not be both rubbish and leaked.

As evidence of his view on the lack of validity of the report he referenced Tony’s 62% two party preferred result in his seat. I abandoned my attempt to discuss the preferential voting system when he admitted he did not know how it worked

However, it was this very story that had me thinking. Purely by accident, I heard analysis about the “saving of Tony Abbott” on the radio by two very different commentators. One was on Radio National where the commentator made the point that the Prime Minister wasn’t motivated by saving his predecessor as much as by saving himself; after all he achieved a one seat victory.

The second commentator was the 4BC breakfast host who was very clear that the entire story was a beat up.

If we consume our ‘balanced media’ from a single source, we are likely to be strongly influenced by that source. Also, we may well be inclined to select the media outlets that best supports what we fundamentally want to believe. This applies equally to the ‘left’ the ‘right’ and the ‘centre’.

We need a strong and diversified media across all medias. We need diversified ownership and diversified cultural influences. Above all, we need a strong, well-funded National Broadcaster.

My major concern is the latter, the National Broadcaster, is likely to be the first casualty. It is somewhat wounded right now, wounds inflicted by the current Prime Minister. However, the leader of the Opposition has been careful not to commit to restoring proper funding in Government.

Maybe Tony Abbott was a great Prime Minister and maybe he is set for a return to the job and maybe I am just listening and watching the wrong media. Perhaps the view so passionately held by my long term friend is representative of popular public opinion.

 

Is it?

ANZAC and the AFL

ANZAC day is a special day on the Australian and New Zealand calendar.

Some 20 years ago, Kevin Sheedy, then coach of AFL powerhouse club Essendon collaborated with Collingwood to play each other every ANZAC day. He garnered the support of the RSL and set up what has become a wonderful commemorative event.

Both clubs committed to playing each ANZAC day irrespective of the day of the week and how many days they had since their last game and before their next.

The game day pre-match ANZAC ceremony is moving and has contributed to many young people learning the story of ANZAC and growing to respect the deeds of the past.

The success of the ANZAC day game has been the source of jealously by other clubs. The enthusiasm for other clubs to get a share of the action has in my opinion resulted in the AFL disrespecting the history of ANZAC.

This round of AFL commenced on Thursday 21 April with a game in Adelaide between Port Adelaide and Carlton. There was a pre-game ANZAC ceremony including a minute of silence and the playing by a single bugle of the Last Post.

ANZAC is a full 4 days away. I have mixed emotions as to the appropriateness of conducting such a ceremony of ANZAC remembrance on a day other than 25 April and similar ceremonies will precede all games played in this round of AFL games.

Is it dis-respectful or in a strange way “commercialising” ANZAC?

Alternatively, is conducting the event across all AFL rounds extending the education of the ANZAC story across all ages and the diversity of cultures that come together in support and appreciation of our indigenous football code?

Retail Evolution or Revolution?

I visited Chermside Shopping Centre a weekend or two ago which in itself is not all that extraordinary.

Like many centres around the country, Chermside seems to be in a constant state of re-building and expansion. More stores, larger stores, more food to be sold and new, diverse food outlets.

I walked through the new area and sure, it was fine. JB HiFi had moved to a larger outlet, as had Kathmandu. Nike joins Adidas as specialist stores, the later having moved from the older area of the centre.

However, are there really that many more people, with the necessary disposable income or credit card capacity to justify this continual expansion.

In the subsequent weeks, several retailers announced disappointing sales figures and others announced update, reduced sales expectations for this year.

On-line sales continue to grow meaning many of our retail sales dollars are passing by traditional shopping centres.

And then Amazon announce they are taking on Australia, aggressively, warehousing goods on shore for delivery, quickly and cheaply. Amazon not only have a history of expansion success (see Spain for example), they research and plan meticulously, invest heavily and execute superbly and dare I say quite ruthlessly. The commit for the long term – they do it properly.

In Australia last year, on-line sales reached $20.8 billion, an increase of 14.2% over the previous year (source National Australia Bank Research).

According to Nielsen Omnibus, 56% of all Australians say they will consider purchasing from Amazon, a figure that must cause concern for traditional retailers, and in particular electrical and clothing outlets.

The more things change, the more they stay the same. Shoppers are forever attracted to more convenience when shopping.

The self service supermarkets of today, offering the convenience of everything being under the same roof superseded a time where the first stop on the shopping trip was the greengrocer for fruit and vegetables, it was then off to the butcher for meat and finally the milk bar for milk, cream, ice cream and cheese.

Speak to those “experienced” enough to remember; they will talk of a time where the shop keeper knew you by name, everyone, where the greengrocer might say the carrots are not that good today but the parsnips are superb.

At each “shop stop”, there was a chat about the news and views, the goings on up the road and the latest film showing in the picture theatre on the corner. And if in Melbourne, no conversation is complete without debating the weather.

As much as shopping was an important communication and social activity, the sheer convenience of the one stop supermarket resulted in the demise of the local speciality retailer.

We are merely seeing history repeat itself. The convenience of on-line shopping could ultimately replace much of the need for Chermside style shopping centres, and it could be quicker than we expect.

At the start of 2017, American retailers Macy’s and Sears announced the coming closure of 218 stores. Worse still, another Mall based retailer, The Limited, suddenly closed down all 250 stores with 4000 staff losing their jobs.

The impact such closures has on the Shopping Centres they occupy is potentially crippling.

Australians are known for being rapid adopters of technology and change.

Amazon launching in Australia will have an impact, and one that could change our societal culture and behaviours, quickly.

 

 

Grandpa - Talk to Me

I would like to have a conversation with my Grandfather.

But first, let me tell you a little bit about him.

He was a most gentle man. It is impossible to imagine him as a soldier fighting in the first world war, as a signalman and a member of his beloved 28^th Battalion.

He was a highly read man. A vast array of books covering diverse subjects, mainly nonfiction sat on his book shelves.

He was a school teacher who became an engineer and co-owner of a successful enterprise.

He was a most loyal family man, not only to his immediate family but extending to his sisters and his nieces.

He was a communicator, articulate and thoughtful but also an efficient user of the language.

He was an author of two books, including the history of the 28^th battalion which was re-published in the early 21^st century.

He had a sense of humour and could be delightfully self deprecating.

He was a devoted worker for legacy and tendered the individual memorials in Perth’s King Park of his fallen battalion comrades.

He raised funds to build a wing of the South Perth Hospital.

He married my Grandmother, a devout Catholic at a time when marriages of mixed religions were frowned upon.

He spoke fluent French courtesy of his Swiss Mother and his upbringing included time living in New York as a teenager circa 1912.

He joined the Australian Imperial Forces, lying about his age and when his intellect was identified during basic training he was offered Officer training. He refused, as the delay he believed meant the war would have passed and he would have missed out.

My memory of him was always one of a man who walked tall and proud, who looked you in the eye and spoke with the authority of carefully considered facts underpinning his opinion. He was highly intelligent and possessed a broad range of interests.

I would very much like to have a conversation with him now.

I would like to hear his view of world affairs, the so called threat posed by terrorists, the real impact of Brexit, the soon to be French and German elections and the rise of Donald Trump and all that means.

I would like the benefit of his calm considered and above all, experienced opinion which would be delivered based on fact based assumptions and with an understanding of people and their motives.

I would value his political take on what is going on in the world and why.

I would love one more conversation with Grandpa

Domestic Violence - Education is One Part of the Solution

I am about to write about a subject of which I have no personal experience, no exposure to, or at least no awareness of any exposure via family, friends, colleagues or acquaintances.

However, it stands to reason that at some stage, I must have, but have not been aware of it.

The subject is one growing in awareness, but still one miss understood by many, myself included.

What I do know is this is a soul destroying, life destructing, family deteriorating subject and 110 lives cease to physically exist each year, while countless other lives suffer lifelong trauma.

The subject is Domestic Violence.

In Brisbane on 3^rd May at 5.30pm a candle lighting ceremony will take place followed at 6 pm by the start of a 110 kilometre team relay, each kilometre symbolic of a life lost each year to Domestic Violence.

There are associated 3 k and 10 events from 6am on the morning of 4 May, coinciding with the conclusion of the 12 hour 110 k relay.

The event is to raise funds.

As important as raising funds is, I can’t help but feel raising awareness of this horrific act furthering education, and teaching empowerment is of almost equal importance.

I urge as many people as possible to come along to the candle lighting event, or join in the activities on the morning of 4 May.

More importantly though, I urge you to bring along your family, your children no matter what age. I encourage you to use this event as a means for having a conversation with your children about Domestic Violence and begin the empowering process to help equip them for dealing with this in their futures. Chances are many will be exposed to Domestic Violence, if not directly, then via a friend, colleague or associate.

Let us start to build the skills of empowerment so our children can join the movement to first slow the escalation of Domestic Violence events and then reduce and eliminate this horrific social disease.

Imagine bringing along your 6, 8 or 10 year son or daughter and explaining the significance of the 110 kilometres, or 110 candles. Enter the 3 kilometre event as a family exercise and talk about what domestic violence is and the options to address it should they ever be confronted by it.

Move forward to when your child is now 15 years of age and progressing through maturity. We can all remember our teenage years and the reliance we place upon our friends. Imagine your son or daughter becomes aware of bruising on the body of a friend, or conversation reveals violent acts in the home.

The education you provided your child using the Darkness to Daylight event as the conduit to do so, could easily result in them supporting their 15 year old friend to take action, seek support and to not be alone.

Empowering your children through education could literally save a physical life. Literally save their own life.

More details about this event can be found here:

http://www.australiasceochallenge.org/

My personal involvement is as a member of a team running the 110 kilometres.

We are also fundraising and if you can’t come down but want to participate, here is our fund raising link (feel free to select my name too - Colin Morley)

https://www.mycause.com.au/page/145827/qsuper

One final request, if you are out and about on the night of Wednesday 3 May, can’t sleep and want to do something or you like the idea of participating and supporting a great endeavour in the late of night or small morning hours, come on down to the Southbank Cultural Forecourt, look for the QSuper annexe/tent.

One more thing, feel free to bring me a coffee – Long Black please.

 

 

Truth Hurts - Lies Destroy

This is a story of deception, of lies.

 It is also a story of financial mystery, of attempted corruption and cover up.

Ultimately, it a story of the potential failure of the long term partnership of husband and wife as retirement dreams melt away.

Imagine the scenario of husband and wife raising children, working hard, schooling and caring for them as only parents can before sending them off in to the world as young adults well equipped for the successes that lay ahead of them.

It is now time to consider themselves, to prioritise themselves and plan their future.

With professional advice, they put in place a 10 year plan of saving and investment with the objective of retiring from active employment as at 1 July this year. They want to travel within Australia, spoil Grand Children, perform some volunteer work, play golf and study a passion.

Regular meetings with their Adviser confirm all is on track, a little better than expected even. The future is looking good indeed.

Move forward to a few weeks ago when “he” arranges a meeting with the Adviser to ensure all is in place financially for their 1 July retirement, their first such meeting in a little over two years.

“She" independently calls the Adviser and requests he not reference the balance of her superannuation account during the meeting, he asks why?

The Adviser is shocked at what follows, has that tight nauseous feeling in his stomach, his heart.

She reveals withdrawing some $200,000 from her superannuation without her husband’s knowledge and doesn’t want him to find out. She says it was to assist a friend and while repayment had been expected already, there s no doubt it will be re-paid. 

 

The implication reached from this conversation is the withdrawal was a lump sum but investigations show periodical withdrawals of between $5000 and $7000 with the most common amount being $15,000. This pattern suggests the loan story is not quite right.

Where have the funds gone and what have they been used for. Is it a loan or series of loans.

What appears certain is the dream of retiring on 1 July has evaporated and along with it, the glue of trust that underpins all relationships.

The Financial Adviser has informed her he cannot pretend the money exists. 

Financial Advisers are well qualified experienced financial professionals who on the whole do a great job and help clients fund their dreams. They are not marriage councillors or consultants about behavioural matters. Well, not until 2 pm on Thursday when one I know may well have to draw on such skills.

Whatever happens, this relationship will never be the same. It may be over, it may be stronger, just never the same.

 

 

W Day

So, I call myself a “writer”.

I am studying a Journalism Degree.

But I hardly ever publish anything or submit anything for publishing.

I write often but rarely complete the article, or what I complete requires more editing. I am too often distracted.

Today I am accepting a self-challenge.  Starting tomorrow, on each of the next 30 days I will write an article and complete to my satisfaction. I may not publish it, and I may.

 
I have no set agenda as to what I will write about, just a commitment to write about something, honesty and to complete what I produce to a level of satisfaction that I would submit it for publishing.

What I write about will be based on an idea I have, an observation I make or a matter I feel strongly about. It may be sport related, politically motivated, environment influenced or anything at all. It could be travel inspired, health, fitness, finance, investment urbane or diet related. It may be an interview and it might even be fiction. I will not be producing content with a market in mind; I will be creating the habit of writing, of collecting ideas, or researching content.

Tomorrow, I stop calling myself a writer and I will start to become one.