Aus News 27: Teachers call for help with 50,000 unruly pupils

Figures show that more than 50,000 pupils have been suspended from Victorian state schools in the past three years. Most of the suspensions happen in year 9 for boys and year 8 for girls, and a quarter of all suspensions involved girls. Australian Education Union state president, Mary Bluett said student misbehaviour was an increasing problem and schools needed more cash to deal with unruly and troubled kids. For instance, providing schools with the appropriate resources to deliver a broad range of subjects and supporting students with behavioural and emotional problems by restoring and expanding the provision of special settings. She added that suspension is just one action, and it doesn't address the complex issues that lie behind that behaviour, including family circumstances.

Comment:
It's true that students nowadays are getting more unruly. I agree that suspension is not the only way to solve the misbehavioural problems, and it is not ideal either. People always point their fingers at those students with misbehavioural problems, yet they never realise that they have the responsibilities to alleviate the problems. Suspend a problematic student will never help to curb the problem, instead, it will create more social issues to the society as society will now have to take up the onus which supposedly belongs to the school counselors. Hence, the Ministry of Education and the school authorities should review this issue and make changes if necessary.

Aus News 26: Geelong teenager Kasey Neville jailed for knifing her lover

A 18-year-old girl, Kasey Neville was jailed for 5.5 years for stabbing her boyfriend, Ronin Will in the lungs and heart. She also pleaded guilty for armed robberies the Shell service station two days before the stabbing. Neville and Will were both high in drugs when the quarrel happened after he was being told that she was pregnant. Two days before, Neville robbed the Shell and fled with cash of $455 to buy heroine and pay drug debts. Luckily, Will has regained consciousness and so Neville could escape from facing a murder charge. She later found out that she was not pregnant. Neville experienced a tragic life since young. She was being kicked out from home and became homeless since she was 15 for excessive substance abuse. She was later being in an abusive relationship with Will. She showed her remorse by confessing to the police and during the court, a birthday card that she wrote to her mother saying that she will turn over a new leaf was read out.

Comment:
This is another miserable teenage social issue. Drug addiction, robbery, teenage pregnancy and teenage murdering are all pointed out in this news. This is so appalling that proper actions are indeed urgent to control the situation. However, one thing that we are comforted with is that the girl has realized her mistakes and promised to turn over a new leaf. Despite this, she still has to be responsible for what she has done. Hopefully the sentence will not destroy her whole life and that she can get out from drug addiction very soon.

Aus News 25: McDonald's opens extra restaurants as business soars

A record shows 1.7 million Australians visit McDonald's each day. It indicates a drastic increase of half a million people since 2007, partly caused by the soaring popularity of take-away food. This fast food chain has opened 50 new outlets in the country in the past three years to meet increasing customers' demand. McDonald's attributes the rise in popularity to its 'healthier choices' menu, but marketing experts claim that the rise is owing to its clever marketing and competitive pricing. They even accuse that the 'healthier choices' menu is actually a ploy to lure customers to buy more traditional menu items such as burgers. They also point out several actions of McDonald's are actually tactics to earn lucrative profit instead of satisfying customers' demand. However, McDonald's, on the other hand, said that their success is mainly due to factors that emphasized around listening and responding to their customers. Although McDonald's has started to cook with a cholesterol-free oil blend, a dietician responds that there are actually much more could be done by the fast food chain, for instance, use less salt in their products, more fibre in their buns and more salad.

Comment:
Apparently, fast food is gaining popularity among consumers. As its name suggests, many people opt for fast food mainly due to its convenience and time-saving. Even if they realise the unhealthy fact of consuming fast food, the convenience that the fast food brings always outweighs the ugly truth. We can't deny the benefits that fast food brings, especially for those office workers and working mothers, yet we should control the frequency of consuming it. Sometimes, I just can't control myself against fast food and I always wonder what exactly makes everybody so obsessed with fast food. Maybe it's time for me, and everyone of you to cut down the consumption of fast food from now on. For the sake of our health, let's say NO to fast food!! (but once in a while should be acceptable)LOL!! XD

Aus News 24: Bus drivers get self-defence classes

Bus drivers will be given self-defence classes and taught techniques to avert any potential violence on public transport. Drivers claim that overcrowding on bus is the main reason to raise temper on buses. Report shows that there has been increasing assaults on STA bus drivers compared to previous year. Drivers have been bashed, spat on and abused by those furious passengers. Besides, bus drivers are more exposed to violence as they often have to handle those drunken and unruly passengers during night time once the rail services finish. Only a small percentage of private bus drivers are given this self-defence training and the Transport Workers Union is trying to make it compulsory and publicly funded.

Comment:
I often hear of passengers being abused or bullied by drivers but rarely for another way round. Maybe it is not so prevalent and it is good to initiate a self-defence training for the bus drivers to defuse the violent situation. However, it has to be continuously and consistently supported by the authorities. The community should also realise their responsibilities of being patient and disciplined. As the use of public transport is getting more significant nowadays, cooperation from all parties is indeed necessary to prevent further problematic issues from rising.

Aus News 23: Swine flu alert at Queensland University of Technology's Gardens Point campus

A student of QUT was diagnosed with swine flu and an email had been sent out by the school authority to notify all the students and staff. The email stated that the university is carrying out cleaning process to combat the swine flu threat. High risk areas have been identified and public areas will be cleaned more regularly to prevent the spread of germs. The email also included some preventative steps to be taken to minimize the spread of influenza.

Comment:
I think this news will definitely alert those who are going to QUT next year to further their tertiary education. Anyway, i don't think the condition will last long if all parties are aware of the problem and take up preventative measures to stop the widespread of swine flu. Here are some recommended steps from the health authorities:
1. stay at home if you develop flu-like symptoms and consult your medical practitioner
2. wash your hands frequently
3. use tissues when coughing and sneezing
4. dispose of tissues in a waste receptacle
Remember, prevention is always better than cure!!!

Aus News 22: West Australian man 'imported $2.1m worth of cocaine

A 34-year-old man has been arrested in Perth for importing 6kg of cocaine, which worth about $2.1 million from US. Police claimed that this is the biggest drug seizure for this year and alleged that the drug trafficker hid the drugs inside five muscle growth accelerator containers. A further 200 grams of cocaine-suspected powder had been found by a sniffer dog when the police searched the man's apartment. The Australian Federal Police (AFP) Commander said that this drug seizure manages to save Perth $1.74m in health and social costs. He added that the AFP is committed in confronting the drug trafficking and this seizure should be seen as a warning to those who are intending to import illegal drugs into the country. The maximum penalty for the offence could be up to $825,000 fine and/or life imprisonment.

Comment:
This is a significative issue that we should take note of. The Australian police has indeed done a good job in arresting the illegal drug trafficking. It also helps to cut down cases of drug addiction, which later on creates a healthier community. Accordingly, all countries should committed in combating this issue and that heavier penalties on drug traffickers ought to be imposed. The society should also be more alert so that they won't be the victims who are used by the drug traffickers to import the illegal drugs.

Aus News 21: Climate prompts fish move

The erratic climate change has caused one third of the coastal fish in Australia to move territory. The rising sea temperature is assisting the warm-water species like the rock blackfish to expand their population and become more abundant. However, the cool-water species are struggling, and 19 Tasmanian species are declining dramatically and facing extinction. This is because they can't sustain in the warmer condition and have nowhere to escape. A research found out that southeast Australia was a climate change hotspot, with the sea temperature rising by almost two degrees in certain areas.

Comment:
Animals are getting endangered with rising temperature. This issue seems trivial, but it is a true fact that is happening nowadays. It should be seen as a warning before a more severe impact coming in. Everyone of us has contributed to the climate change, and it not only affects our daily lives, but also others like the innocent animals. Hence, it is our responsibility to bring it back to the norm. Holding campaigns with no positive responses from the society itself is never sufficient. Environmental programs with no practical actions will just put all the efforts in vain. Concisely, cooperation from all parties is the key to curb, or at least reduce the ramification of this erratic climate change.

Aus News 20: Public toilet perverts put on notice in Victoria

Individuals who spy people in public toilet and film bashing and road trauma would be prosecuted under the surveillance laws. The Victorian Law Reform Commission found out that public privacy has been eroded with the proliferation of surveillance devices such as the CCTV cameras, video-enabled mobile phones and the prevalent use of internet sites like Facebook and You Tube. The commission recommends the individual watchdog to regulate the use of these surveillance devices and that new charges on any private offences will be introduced soon. The purposes are, to outlaw hidden cameras in toilets and change rooms, to ban filming of violence and accident scenes for entertainment, as well as to avert filming for intimidation purposes.

Comments:
The invention of new technologies nowadays has prompted more criminal offences. This law should have been implemented earlier. Those perverts who like to offend others' privacy should be given heavy penalties. Besides, the use of surveillance devices has to be controlled as well. Public should also be more alert so that they will not be the easy targets or the next victims of those perverts.

Aus News 19: Dying woman with rare blood disease needs drugs worth 40k

A newlywed lady, Jenny Sturrock, 29, is suffering from a rare blood disease which prevents her to have children. She has to rely on three litres of blood transfusion every month to replenish her blood supply. The doctor told her that she may put herself and her baby on risk if she wants to have children, unless she goes for the treatment with a drug called Soliris, which is the world's most expensive drug, costing around $40,000 per month. As Jenny always dreams to have her own children, she appealed to the Prime Minister, Ms. Gillard, pleading her to save her life by financing her treatment. Ms Gillard has promised to look into her plight and said that government has a program of supporting lifesaving drugs on the basis of technical and expert advice.

Comment:
Some may easily argue that it's not worth to put such a lump sum of money(tax revenue) on a person. This sounds reasonable, and the amount could have actually been put on more productive projects. However, if this amount could save a life and make her life better, don't you think the people of the country should feel proud for saving a life? For me, it shouldn't be seen as a waste of money, but an indirect way of raising fund to save a life. Perhaps the government should also come out with better policy or program to solve this kind of inconvenience in order to ensure that the welfare of its people is guaranteed.

Aus News 18: A Geelong grandmother waited two hours for police while her home was attacked

A 82-year-old grandmother was left in frighten for almost two hours when her windows were being smashed last Saturday. Her granddaughter, Caroline claimed that her grandmum had called the police right after she heard the clashed of a stone on her windows from the lounge. However, a second hit happened after 15 minutes and she called the police again and begged them to come immediately but they did not turn up for more than one and a half hours. Caroline kept on saying that her grandmum gave her a call after that sobbing for help. She said that her grandmum was afraid that her house would be intruded. She rushed to her grandmum's place and waited for the police. When the police eventually came to their assistance, they apologized with the reason being there was only one car available for the night. The police sergeant explained that it was a norm for the police station there to operate with only one divisional van and a sergeant on a Saturday night, and the demand for services were pretty high.

Comment:
I am quite appalled and feel sympathy for the old victim. The police should not have responded this way to an old folk, what if her house was really being intruded? The reason given by the police should be seriously taken into consideration. Perhaps, and indeed some changes have to be made to the so-called typical way of their operation. For instance, increase the number of patrolling cars and available police staff.

Aus News 17: Compensation insult to bikeway rapist's last victim

A serial bikeway rapist from Brisbane has been caught and jailed for 16 years. However, this case creates another issue regarding the compensation for the victim. The last victim, a 29-year-old woman, who was raped and is now living like a virtual recluse, has received a compensation of $21,750. This amount seems unfair to the lady as the two witnesses of the case who managed to assist the police to arrest the rapist by just writing down the rapist's registration number have been granted $25,000, which is apparently more than the amount the victim received. This payment is seen as an insult for the victim as the one-off act of the two kind citizens has been granted higher than the suffering she is facing now or even for the rest of her life. The rapist mentioned that he has no assets and no means of paying the money and the lady will now have to apply to the State Government to make an ex-gratia payment.

Comment:
The compensation for the victim and the grant for the two witnesses should be seen separately as two different issues. I agree that the two helpful citizens deserve the rewards and it can be an example to encourage the society to cooperate with the authorities by providing information whenever it is needed, rather that sit back and afraid of being involved in the case. As for the victim, unfortunately, it is hard for the government to pay full compensation, but then she could try to apply to get the compensation on her damage. Some may say that it is definitely unfair for a victim who has suffered a dreadful ordeal to fight hardly for the right amount of compensation that she supposed to get, but don't you think that a more practical counselling for the victim sounds more logical, rather than just paying the compensation in the form of money, which has nothing to do with the psychological damage of the victim? Think about it!

Aus News 16: Drink driver Jasmin Henley let off for being over the city limit

A Sydney woman, Jasmin Henley, was lucky enough to escape from a conviction of drink driving with the reason being, there are no public transport in the area she lives. She claimed that she was having two glasses of wines over dinner with her colleagues while attending a work function in the Eastern Suburbs. The magistrate dismissed the charges after found out that there are no alternatives in that remote area for Henley to get back home. However, this decision would definitely set a risky precedent, as those who live in remote area would misunderstand that they are permitted to drink drive in that area.

In my opinion, this is definitely an unfair judgement. The woman could have move closer to the city for a dinner if she wanted to have a few drinks, or perhaps she should not drink in the first place if she knew that there would be no alternatives for her to get back home safely. The rationale given to dismiss the charge may sound reasonable, yet it would become an excuse for those drink driver sooner or later if no further actions are taken. Hence, the government should realise the importance to provide more public transports in rural areas in order to cut down the cases of drink driving which could lead to road fatalities.

Aus News 15: Parents warned by school principal for being foul-mouthed

The principal of the Cranbrook Primary School, Rob Lauder was fed up with the irresponsible behaviour of the foul-mouthed parents who dropped the F-word in front of kids around the school compound. The parents who often wait for their children at the school grounds have been criticised for slipping out their rough words within the earshot of students. This is frustrating as they are supposed to use proper language at school compound. The principal had sent warning letters to parents about their swearing in front of school kids.

Comment:
This is a real life example which shows the irresponsible attitudes of parents. Parents should be a role model for their children but they fail to make it for most of the time. It is so prevalent today to see the youngsters, or even primary school kids to say rude words without even knowing the true meaning behind. In other words, they are just following each other until it becomes a trend, and think that it is awesome to be foul-mouthed. It shows how crucial is proper parenting to children. Hence, parents have to take note and realise the every action or behaviour that they show to their kids before pointing their fingers accusing the innocent kids who are just following something which they think are nothing wrong to them. However, it is pleased to see that the school authority is taking action towards this issue although it seems trivial. Hopefully this commitment could be consistently applied to each school so that to create awareness and I believe that every single step taken, could make a difference at the end.