Driving older motorists to distraction
I write to expose the misleading heading to the Registration Notices being posted to car owners.
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I am a retired police superintendent, a veteran of the Vietnam war and a Legacy member for 45 years.
I share the plight of a war widow aged 85. Her husband died 12 years ago and she holds a gold card as a result of his war service in New Guinea.
After purchasing a second-hand vehicle, she obtained what used to be called a green slip from the (insurer) where she had been a member for 31 years.
She has never used a computer. The green slip was paid for and completed before the expiry date, as was the vehicle inspection (pink slip). She understood the registration had been complied with.
She had a doctor’s appointment in Moruya, but was unwell and asked a friend to drive her in the new vehicle. A police officer stopped them and advised the car was unregistered and that she was eligible for a fine. On the return journey, another officer stopped the car and advised another fine was made.
Rego stickers are a necessity to remind drivers and police that all payments and formalities have been completed. According to the Registry Office, 11,000 people have been notified that they have broken the law.
This appears to be a revenue creator targeting elderly drivers who have no understanding of computers.
The first officer did not advise, as the car was allegedly unregistered, they should not use the car. Consequently, as they had already received a fine, they continued to the medical appointment.
Fines of $600 were paid. It would appear the department is taking advantage of elderly people who believe their car has been registered.
Michel Le Bars
Narooma
State of the nation
One can only wonder how a good man like Warren Mundine got drawn into the Gilmore debacle, considering the wacky, hiccup state of our Federal Parliament in 2018 – now seemingly flowing into 2019, God forbid.
It was, to many of the old school, a year of alarm as we watched our Parliament reach a cyclonic proportion of dysfunction. The dual citizenship showed both major parties failed miserably in their recruitment responsibility. This derailed Parliament and cost a mint in money and time. Is a watertight protocol now in place? If the same failure reoccurs, will the party pay the coast? Why should Parliament go into a nose spin due to their slackness?
In 2018, prime ministers on and off the stage and the childlike behaviour of members seeking prestigious portfolios reminded us of a banana republic.
Is there a tonic to get our Parliament back on a firm direction and foundation? “It is better to have no anti-corruption agency than one designed to be ineffective." (A former judge, quoted in the Sydney Morning Herald).
What about creating a forever royal commission over Federal Parliament as an objective house of review to keep our ship of state safe and on course and the worker body and institution in check, along with clear, safe and professional rules of service delivery?
The political hijacking of federal and state public services and their professional independence opens the doors for politicians to make those servants follow the party line or get fired. This explains a fair share of system failure.
We have to be grateful to the ABC and freedom of the press as a watchdog to protect our Commonwealth, especially when self-indulgent fools, ego drunk and greedy, find their way to controlling our nation.