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When the economy expanded by 0.4 per cent, much to the surprise of numerous economic pundits, Malcolm Turnbull was publicly glad that Australia had not fallen into recession publicly that is. In the confines of his own rooms he would not have been so glad. In this instance his public gladness would have turned even more sombre even to anger perhaps. That's the trouble with these types of occurrences, you have to a bit cautious more diplomatically inclined, otherwise you might be accused of being negative about Australia's economic prospects and taunted as being Anti-Australian and a traitor. This of course leads to as they say private thoughts of a hypocritical nature. Privately you can get his up-to-the-minute-thoughts on Twitter, although it is almost certain that they are authored by his spin doctors so it doesn't delve into his private thoughts when it comes to political opportunism. Why privately you ask why isn't he overjoyed Australia narrowly avoided going into recession? The simple political reality is because it's not to his advantage 0.4 is not -0.4 that's why he was somber in public and somber in private. If it would have been -0.4, then Australia would technically be in recession and as a consequence the Leader of the Opposition would have been somber in public and ecstatic in private because Rudd was on the ropes and his chances of the big prize became less of a forlorn hope, not to mention the momentarily quieting the barking dogs from the Costello camp. That's the way things go in politics, you have to take the opportunities as they avail themselves even though you might hate yourself for doing so.
You soon get over it.

Defence Minister, Joel Fitzgibbon, resigned from the frontbench. It wasn't unexpected as his breach of the ministerial code of conduct was doing the rounds for several months. He was just giving his brother, Mark, a bit of a leg up concerning the opportunities, as head of the health company, NIB. Apparently he had a couple of high level meetings with defence officials and the US health services company, Humana, spruiking his wares. Fitzgibbon's resignation was the first under Rudd's watch - them again Howard lost 3 or 4 ministers in his first term. I suppose on the subject of ministerial resignations you might spare a thought for Rudd's British counterpart. Half dozen or so ministers throwing in the towel in as many days with numerous other desertions and acts of treachery. Most of them were caught with their fingers in the till not to mention the various Labour and Conservative members who 'will not contest the next election' because of public sentiment. They haven't spared a thought in their contempt for those they elected. However, at the moment public ridicule seems to be the most eloquent form of opposition. One Labour minister had to seek psychiatric help, such was the dreadful experiences and harassment she had to endure. Only the best Harley (or thereabouts) Street headshrinker would do. When some of the taxpayers found they would be footing the bill only added to her breakdown. She doesn't need a shrink she needs a safe house, like those MI5 and the like operate. At least then they could keep the nominal rent and associated expenses, she no doubt would have to pay, a state secret.

President Obama when he visited the Middle East this week attempted to address the misconceptions between the Muslim and Christian faiths. The thing about this is that it has been going on for close to a couple of millenniums, so an early resolution to the ongoing conflict might be still sometime off. Even at this very moment, Israel are building more settlements on 'occupied territory' and over half a million Israelis are living on land annexed by Israel after the 1967 war. Obama seems to realize and once more openly discussed that the key in many respects to reducing Arab militancy is addressing the need for a Palestinian State. Something that past leaders like John Howard, Tony Blair and President Bush were reluctant to push to any degree. The Jewish lobby is very powerful in America and Australia and they play the public relations game just as fiercely as they do on the battlefield. Just like any other international situation separating the spin from the truth of the matter is difficult.

The story about Mr Hull's indiscretion certainly got a few legs during the week, with the Border Mail and Prime airing the issue. It was interesting that no one wanted to discuss the matter and rightly so, because Borderline believes that only a few councillors are in receipt of the official report. However, Borderline's report is pretty much an accurate account of the matter. Now it seems there is a general misconception that it was a bit of a spat between Cr Duncan-Strelec and Cr Sawyer. This is not exactly a true reflection of the nature of their quarrel.

It wouldn't have happened if Cr Hull had not instigated the matter in the first place, he has been able to admit his responsibility in the matter that's the way he would like it. The culpability of Cr Duncan-Strelec and Cr Sawyer is minimal compared with and is insignificant. The report Borderline believes clearly states that there is no credence whatsoever in the veracity of the rumour. You can understand Cr Duncan-Strelec's flying off the handle when the allegations were presented to her that she was having a extramarital affair with a fellow councillor. You can certainly understand Cr Sawyer's reaction when she was painted via email as a malicious rumour monger. Hardly a mention of Cr Hull's input and what about Cr Hull's wife, Barbara, and her part in the business. It's a bit like someone goes into a bar and starts a brawl, but as the melee ensues the brawler's notice that the one who started the whole thing is over in the corner having a quiet beer. This story has a bit to go and Mr Hull is clearly implicated. Yet his preference is to hopefully ride it all out and let others take the wrath of the ratepayers who had to fork out the $2,800 for the inquiry by Gerry Holmes into the matter.

And about the $2,800 - Borderline does not believe that this is a true reflection on the total cost of the exercise. What about the cost of the council lawyers no doubt they would have advised on certain aspects of the inquiry such as the terms of reference and so forth. I think if the total cost of the inquiry was added up it would be considerably more than the $2,800 - considerably more.

And while we are on the subject of money the full page ad in the Border Mail titled YOUR Rates At Work, had 3 curious items that Borderline has grave suspicions as to the effectiveness of the expenditure. The $250,000 towards DAW - Destination Albury-Wodonga is definitely money down the drain however, the other two the $146,000 to Albury Central (more about that in Border Watch) and the $140,000 to the Albury Chambers of Commerce, have not been sufficiently scrutinized as to their effectiveness. Have they been independently audited as to their effectiveness? All of these organizations spend a combined $496,000 on what? We've seen the last annual report from the Albury Chambers of Commerce and it's a bit thin exactly on it's achievements. Albury Central - marginal effectiveness to say the least. What we need is an independent audit by someone aversion to spin. Wouldn't that money be better spent more effectively. A lot of business people think so.

The same could be said for Wodonga City Council how they hide operating expenditure under various guises like the $165,000 marked Business Development - then above it $95,000 -Marketing/Promotion, then above it Strategy, Plans and Programs -$28,000. They all seem to operate in the same orbit. The Business Unit Events and Festivals has a combined expenditure of $888,695. Including $6,500 for 'external' telephone calls. I don't know why they call them external telephone calls but that's what it says. I suppose all phone calls are external to some degree or another. Otherwise you could just shout if worst came to worst and they were in the next room.

The death of Wayne, a vagabond in almost every sense of the word, has been somewhat romanticized after his death but there's nothing romantic about being homeless perhaps in Wayne' situation we can make an exception. Wayne was fortunate as he did it by choice, not so a lot of other homeless people who have no alternative. Wayne was almost impervious to climatic extremes regardless of what the elements could throw at him.

A few years back two well meaning people saw him laying motionless in South Albury. How were they to know he wasn't just having a kip. It was a bitterly cold night and they assisted him, much to his chagrin of being escorted, to St Vincent's because they were concerned that he had gone into some type of suspended animation or something worse near death. I think he went along with them for the company more than anything else. He was reluctant to stay and was gone within the hour. That was five or six years ago.

I'd like to think that the numerous times he was harassed by juvenile thugs that they have since taken stock of themselves. And then there's talk of the great fraternity of the homeless mainly another bit of posturing by the upwardly mobile who can afford to see issues from afar.

Like the weather he took it all in his stride. One shouldn't wonder what he would make with all the posturing at the planned memorial service. Those with a sense of irony could only wonder. Perhaps they could have a guard of honour by all the homeless of Albury -Wodonga. It would be a long guard of honour indeed.

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In the same bulletin, the radio news said that an eminent immunologist/virologist was concerned the way people were panicking about the Swine Flu Pandemic, a few moments later the same news service quotes an equally qualified scientist who said that he was afraid Swine Flu could mutate into a most horrific virus. By now a lot of people have made up their mind, one way or the other, as to the likely scenario that they expect to unfold. People are getting so much conflicting information not to mention various politicians putting their shillings worth in. One politician actually said you shouldn't take much notice of what politicians say because they are not knowledgeable in the area. It would be in the public interest that such an admission be made before and possibly after a politicians news conference regardless of the topic.

How long will it be before we have to suitably mark the front door with a cross or something more secular as they did during the Black Death seems only a matter of time.

June 11. The World Health Organization has declared a pandemic as H1N1 swine flu spreads throughout the world with1300 Australians having been tested positive to the disease, but due to the mild symptoms being displayed by some people it could be four or five times that. Victoria being the worst affected. In Victoria they have even stopped swabbing all people suspected of being infected. With the winter flu season upon us the continued transmission of the disease throughout Australia including the border region is inevitable.

The mention of a pandemic instills fear in many people. No doubt the reassurance and constant reassurances of politicians and health officials - state and federal that there is no reason to panic when by and large the population are not panicking has been of more concern than anything else. When you're continually told everything is under control brings out a certain skepticism in many people.

The 1918 pandemic estimated to have killed between fifty and a hundred million people is often referenced as to the extent to which similar pandemics can kill people. Why the 1918 outbreak was so virulent was that it killed healthy people under the age of about thirty-five because the disease causes a massive overreaction of the immune system. In simple terms those with a stronger immune system were affected more than the older people who had a weaker immune system. Over one third of the world's population were affected. Some scientists are of the opinion that many survived due to partial immunoprotection from exposure to a more mild strain of the same influenza that may have come and gone with little apparent trace, and which subsequently mutated over several decades to reappear in the more virulent form.This is the inherent fear in the current strain of H1N1 swine flu.

Some epidemiologists are of the opinion that exposure to the present strain should run its course affording some immunoprotection to the population should a more virulent form emerge in the coming months or years.

Could Albury-Wodonga handle a outbreak similar to the 1918 outbreak? Especially if Tamiflu and Relenza prove ineffective in treating them? We are often reassured by the authorities that procedures are in place to handle such an occurrence. Whether you can believe them in light of the current Bushfires Royal Commission where it is becoming abundantly clear that theory and practice can have entirely different outcomes.The first thing would be to sell your shares in Roche and GlaxoSmithKline. and get your affairs in order.The second is to put in place protocols that at least minimize the chance of passing it on and avoid those stoic types who insist that you can't let the flu interfere with their daily activities. I wonder have these people ever considered that in the course of a day they could transmit the disease to many people with perhaps dire consequences.

June 10 - Australia's last WW1 Digger and Australia's oldest male, Jack Ross was buried in Bendigo aged 110. So ends the story the living memory of a time that robbed Australia of some of Australia's finest as a result of years of European intrigue, militarism and imperialism. It provided great memories of old Europe as old alliances and empires crumbled and new alliances negotiated. The repercussions consumed millions of soldiers not to mention civilian casualties they didn't talk much about civilian casualties then, collateral damage was one of those things that would take close to a century to enter our vocabulary. Australia went to Gallipoli Churchill's grand plan was the prelude. The final count would be 61,720 died , 155,000 wounded 4,044 taken POW, with 397 dying while in captivity.

What started as as adventure of a lifetime turned into a nightmare that would take a lifetime to forget.

Incompetent generals and conniving politicians ensured that there would be similar carnage. Battlefields that became synonymous with almost indescribable slaughter. What followed became a war of attrition while they wrung out every last bit of iron and manpower as was their patriotic god given duty.

Jack Ross never went overseas to fight because the war ended and the world except America perhaps took time to rest up a bit even celebrating for a time like there was no tomorrow. Then the roaring twenties slid into the economic and social despair in the Great Depression. Then barely a decade after the First World War engulfed the world. Then Korea Vietnam, Iraq not to mention the countless wars as ideology and governments fought for an advantage.

Jack Ross lived through them all.

June 12. The Commonwealth Bank has 'reluctantly' raised interest charges on it's home and business loans by ten basis points to offset higher funding costs. You always have to take it with a grain of salt when the press release says the action was only to be commenced 'reluctantly. Michael Cant, CBA head of retail products told AAP that there were 'no immediate plans' to lift interest rates on accounts but that they would be 'under review'.

You have to say that because people are a bit cynical about banks.

The Australian banks' shares are hideously overvalued because the big four are in essence a cartel with over eightytwo per cent of the mortgage market. Another lucrative source of profit is funding the vast amounts of money required to fund the many Australians who insist on living beyond their means.The commonwealth maintains the argument that it is increasingly more difficult to raise the necessary funds to fund future loans from retail funds and was far cheaper to borrow wholesale and it's getting more expensive to borrow. A claim disputed by some economists.

The treasurer, Wayne Swan called the bank selfish.The thing about it all is that the banks don't give a tinker's cuss about what you call them. Mr Swan might just as easily called them no-good bastards for all the affect it had on the Commonwealth Bank. Why? Because like the three musketeers their motto, Unus pro omnibus, omnes pro uno One for all, all for one is essential to ensure their wellbeing. Naturally it's done with some subtlety, they don't have video conferences or a few sherries to discuss the matter.That would incur the wrath of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. In this instance it's more of a nod and a wink - maybe it's a secret handshake. Who knows.

What can you do about it? You can call the local branch and accuse them of being economic piranhas and social miscreants and close your account.The trouble is by the time you have filled out the necessary paperwork and made your way to the nearest competitor they've followed suit. What do you do then? Go into a rage about it and profess that you believe Ben Chifley was right when he wanted to nationalize the banks? Of course not because you would make a fool of yourself. What would happen is perhaps that some middle ranking employee would show you into their office and discuss your concerns. Ten minutes later it would be all smiles because for a little bit extra your line of credit had been extended to $369,000 -- $200,000 more than those uncaring misers you used to bank with.

June 11 - Cancer researcher and surgeon Chris O'Brien was was bid farewell at a State funeral in Sydney this week. A true hero to many from all walks of life.

This man was a true hero in an age where heroes are more likely to be celebrities with no talent whatsoever mediocre things obsessed with their fleeting fame. Their intelligence is rarely tested like the pop star who was asked his name "For god's sake look at your tee-shirt!" screamed his exasperated manager. That's the way it is these days just go to a doctors surgery and browse through the numerous lifestyle and fashion magazines. Real people don't figure prominently to say. Magazines such as Women's Weekly pay token respect for more ordinary folk though they're usually tacked towards the end you've got to have a few losers around because otherwise you can be seen to be bereft of humanity.

Borderline was leafing through a New Idea and there was a ten or so page spread on Lleyton Hewitt and in the Women's Weekly, not sure of the date, was a similar presentation on Shane Warne and his wife, Simone, as they attempted a reconciliation specially coiffured and outfitted for the occasion. On both occasions the whole thing was nothing more than some photographic fantasy. Even when they were gathered around the table the whole thing was a concoction of a food stylist, Lleyton's skin blemishes had been photoshopped away into the digital never-never. The conversation was inane to the point of being a parody of the poor blighters. I think some doctors put such magazines in their surgeries to encourage outcomes that require medical intervention. These were the issues on star performers for the week other less worthy names followed. Some of them were complete halfwits.

I wonder when we consider that 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men will be diagnosed with some form of cancer during their lives would they consider such people to real heroes or just manifestations of our fickle sense of what really is important in life. Borderline just looked at Hewitt's website and there's even a poetry section where fans write poems about Lleyton's greatness sickening.

JUNE11. Borderline was in a bit of a quandary this week - what do you do about violence. There are some who see it in terms of law and order and those who see it in social terms getting the right balance can be hard enough as not all violence is perpetrated by drunks and the socially disadvantaged.

In this instance, I am talking about school bullying and don't for a moment think it's all testosterone addled male teenagers. Primary school is usually where the bullies learn their ways the formative years. Female bullies have carved out a niche of their own they tend to (but not always) use less physical means of bullying a more psychological approach. Cyber-bullying is one of their preferred methods. However like their male counterparts they hunt in packs and by and large are no different in the manner and outcomes of their actions.

In this particular instance a student wants to leave school - not because this particular student is academically wanting or disinterested in school but because of incessant bullying.This student did the right thing and a representative of the school said that unless he could name each and every person involved then nothing could be done about the matter.The decision he would have to make was a bit more profound and not exactly as methodology prescribed by the school to protect himself if his accusations were found to have no substance by that body.

Before he could make the naming decision he was bashed, as he suspected by the bullies, very soon after leaving the office within a day or so as a message to him for going to the office what chance did he have. On a further complaint - these boys accused of bullying (bravados in their numbers) turned events to put blame on their accuser and appear to have gotten away with their lies.

Was the school more interested in protecting it's own reputation rather than investigating the matter without putting first the safety of the poor fellow that had been bullied. How many schools have we seen recently where teaching staff have dismissed allegations of bullying as 'over zealous activities'. Just Google bullying and schools and you'll find horrific stories of the damage that bullying does. Some schools take it very seriously. It's about time every school took it seriously.

So here's the dilemma Borderline faces name the school and the bullies - or don't name them. Maybe give them the benefit of the doubt.

The Borderline decision.

He leaves school or changes school as he probably will, and Borderline names the school and the bullies name and shame has its advantages in this instance. I think it's about time more drastic action be taken to stop bullying.

June 11- Damir Dokic that colourful character and Borderline Joker of the Month will have to spend the next 15 months in the slammer for death threats against the Australian Ambassador to Serbia, the fact that he was also in procession of a small cache of arms including two grenades never helped his chances.

"Is not a joke to spend part of life in hellhole on earth but is happy daughter is on way," Mr Dokic told Borderline.

"Is saw joke very funny but birds come home to roast as they say because judge had Croatian cousin the bastard… well is cousins father's grandfather was Croatian sympathizer. I never forget. That's what happened Australian Ambassador to Serbia saw joke of the month in Borderline and get on phone to Croation Ministry for getting back on Damir grenades from Soviet times is never found the box of them under daughter's bed they say anything under bed and I say big teddy bear for Jelena and policeman cry is treasurer of Serbian Fatherland Society."

"Is may got on phone but as you say had skinfull of good Serbian plum brandy after celebrating great Serbian victory in 1357 or was that 1976… is got emotional because Damir painted as drunken fool is become a parody how you say laughing stock. Is have to apologies to Jelena and go on wagon - is just drink vodka and oranges…"

Mr Dokic said he forgave his daughter for her lack of respect for him.

"Is all fathers nowadays - no respect. Is not like old days nowadays daughter says you idiot - I say shut you mouth and is laugh at you. Still if daughter fund watertight appeal have special plan to win Grand Slam but she not bring boyfriend with her - I shut his mouth for good -- is only joke."

June 12 - Peter Costello's and Tony Abbot's criticism that the Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd is trying too hard to be the quintessential ocker has set new standards in the way colloquialisms are interpreted and whether they are authentic enough - who uses fair shake of the sauce bottle anyhow.

Now it seems everything is too awesome for words you're no longer a mongrel, you're a bad ass. Everything's all good. You can be totally awesome and you don't have to be authentic about it at all because you're a dude a cool dude. That's the trouble when it's all good and you're totally awesome you don't bloody-well use fair shake of the sauce bottle it's about as useful as a hip pocket on a singlet - then again it's popular to walk around with your singlet out then again the old blue singlet much cherished by shearers and the working class are now worn by the socially mobile - almost de rigour in some more trendy nightclubs. You can't win.

That's the trouble when you have to be authentic you might disappoint. Obviously Kevin Rudd has a sense of his own authenticity it's just he thinks it needs a bit of colloquial colour. This is the problem that a lot of Australian colloquialisms have become part of our affirmation that we have eradicated once and for all the cultural cringe that blighted our culture for close on a couple of centuries. Who in their right mind would in the midst pressing their argument say fair shake of the sauce bottle? Probably some drunken uncle would at some wedding. But you only see him at a wedding and the last time you saw him was ten years ago.

No Kev, your intentions are quite honourable it's just that it was the wrong colloquialism at the wrong time.

June 8. I feel sorry for those folk who compile our nightly news bulletins, so Borderline came up with an idea we thought make night be a ratings winner - well for a week or two anyhow. When I thought about it a bit more I didn't because it wasn't appropriate.

You see it was obvious on this particular day nothing much had happened - in fact hardly anything of the the slightest consequence had eventuated. It wasn't Monday either because on Monday you can just tack sport on the end of it which is a mixed blessing because if your team got thrashed then you're not much inclined to watch it - and the accompanying ads for that matter.

The idea with this the news would only be told if it held true to a certain criteria of newsworthiness. Of course you could go to extremes and if a lot happened you could have a new bulletin that could last well into the night but this wouldn't do, it would play havoc with scheduling and the advertisers might rebel. No you would have to have a half hour max. The more problematical aspect of the equation, and taking it to it's extreme would be how long it would take to say there was no news today and now for the weather - this would take the news bulletin to a few minutes - then again you have those pre-news reviews that go for under a minute. You would have to do better than that.

Bugger all news today (Borderline is leading the charge for the reintroduction of authentic colloquial speech) Tomorrow Fine Min 10 Max 26.

That would take a bit under two or three seconds.

Which reminds Borderline when he was watching the Underbelly Uncut a few weeks back. It ran for 535 minutes and was a very good portrayal of the numerous lowlifes that became part of the Melbourne gangland killings. For the life of me however I was not able to understand how Carl Williams wasn't knocked off ( in this instance is knocked off an authentic Australian colloquialism for killing someone) and managed to see the inside of a prison cell. But I digress. No doubt the sex scenes were more robust but there wasn't that much shagging (see last inverted brackets and amend appropriate action). I don't know how long the uncut version went for but I know they padded out the uncut version with more pole dancing than I wished to see. Every half hour the lowlifes would be in some place where pole dancing seemed to be the principle entertainment, all in the same gaudy lights with pouting lips and they were'nt the only other pouting parts by a long shot. It became a bit repetitious after a while - murder - blood - meeting - drink - pole dancing repeat for 535 minutes. I think I would have preferred the cut version - murder - blood -meeting - drink - pole dancing - advertisement. Just that bit more variety.

The former Drivetrain transmission plant sold to the Chinese company, Geely Automotive Holdings, for the knock-down price of $47.4 million. This has brought with it plenty of speculation as to what exactly Geely has in mind in regards to their medium to long-term plans for the factory.

In China, Geely at present a relatively minor player in the Chinese car market has big plans. One of them being to depend less on the overcrowded lower end of the Chinese market and wants to make cars with a price tag of about $10,000, which in China buys a lot of car. They have also stated they will be buying increasing volumes from the Albury plant as they rollout new models. At present the plant is mainly occupied with servicing eighteen hundred transmissions whose warranty has been honoured by the receivers. Like anything else in the global automotive industry you can have 'long-term' plans but they can change as quickly as the wind.

As we all know, a day is a long time in the global automotive industry as it undergoes tumultuous change, and the once unassailable might of Detroit becomes nothing more than a nostalgic interlude for the hard headed number crunchers. Further upheaval is expected as car companies come to terms with the recession and empty showrooms - people are still buying cars be it in much more modest numbers than a year or two an ago. It's just that they don't want to buy products those companies like General Motors, Ford and Chrysler make anymore.

Over eighty per cent of the Chinese automotive market use automatic transmissions and the acquisition of the Albury plant, considered a world leader in the production of automatic gearboxes, will be important in Geely's plans to go up-market but will the Albury plant benefit in the long run from the acquisition. That's where the rumours start. Borderline believes that already some senior production staff at the Lavington plant has been offered three year contracts to work in China. Borderline tried to contact Geely but was unable to get any joy in its efforts to verify that some Albury staff is bound for China.

It seems that there are a number of options available to Geely and it is not good for the local industry. One is that they use the manufacturing capacity of the Lavington plant to meet their short to medium term requirements until they can set up a similar plant in China using the expertise and production facilities from the Lavington plant. The other option is to relocate the Lavington plant lock stock and barrel to China and produce the transmissions there. In the scheme of things $47.4 million is a not a great deal to pay with the expertise and capacity of the Lavington plant. It is seen however, by some that in the long-term Geely will almost certainly relocate in its entirety to China.
It's all about labour costs as well. Australia simply cannot compete. Chinese workers earn roughly 70 cents an hour on average. On a world scale too, the Lavington plant has no significant volumes of production that would meet Geeley's aggressive plans to compete with the up-market brands in the Chinese market. Either way they have to expand the Lavington plant or build a new plant in China. No matter which way you look at it the Lavington plant is a distinct disadvantage because of its economies of scale and labour costs - not to mention all the other costs associated with their day-to-day operations in Australia. In China they could have a plant with ten times the capacity of Lavington in a matter of a few years.

Like everything else in the global automotive industry official statements and public relations spin abound so the story will no doubt change.

For the moment at least the plant is operating and while it is operating there are some grounds to be optimistic about the ongoing viability of the market particularly if the South Korean company Ssangyong, placed in bankruptcy protection and court receivership in early January, can get back into full production. That was one of the great advantages of the Lavington plant in their capacity to turnaround times in reaction to market demands.

Still as for the long-term and with the state of flux in the industry a crystal ball might be just as accurate to forecast the plants long-term future. Like most of the Australian manufacturing industry we simply can't compete. Whether it's in the strategic interests of Australia to have manufacturing capacity such as that doesn't seem to concern too many people obsessed with minimizing restrictions in world trade and that's the price we have to pay.

COMING EVENTS. Interesting things are afoot when the Wodonga City Council meets on June 28 to pass the budget. It seems that the draft of the budget displays considerable flexibility in elaborating on the detail. For example the operating income and expenditure of the proposed budget is quite explicit in the minutiae - Business Unit: 024-Customer Service and Records Management Item 320 Photocopying - Internal. Proposed budget $500.

Yet it seems the proposed big ticket item the $160,000 earmarked for DAW (Destination Albury Wodonga) is nowhere to be seen amongst the detail. Where the hell is it. Wouldn't you think that if you pay so much attention to detail to include Business Unit: 024-Customer Service and Records Management Item 320 Photocopying - Internal. Proposed budget $500, wouldn't you take a bit of time to apply similar detail to an item of the draft budget over three hundred times larger than the comparatively paltry $500 set aside for internal photocopying for the customer service and records management department?

Figures approaching that amount are cryptically labelled as either being contributions or business development. Why the reticence in disguising projected expenditure. And what about the $160,000 that is required to keep the Visitors Information Centre operating. DAW rents part of the building as its head office. No mention of it.

By now you probably come to the fairly obvious conclusion that it has got a bit embarrassing recently what with the Mayor of Wodonga being the fulltime general manager of DAW ($80k+ package) while at the same time drawing slightly less for his position as mayor of Wodonga. That must be embarrassing for Gavin Cator, Chief Executive Officer who Borderline believes had considerable doubt as to Mr Byatt's abilities as GM of DAW - and apparently told him so. Now the shoes on the other foot. Byatt got himself elected to council, mayor for a guaranteed two years. One wouldn't doubt that Cator's present ridding the place of personal 'surplus to requirements' would have possibly included Byatt if he hadn't got a guernsey on council.

We can sympathise with Mr Cator's embarrassment about the whole thing but trying to hide it all only makes it worse because people will find out eventually - they have found out! Then again one would hope that Mr Byatt refrains from voting on the budget because of the conflict of interest that will present itself on the evening of June 29 when further scrutiny of the budget is expected.

JUNE 16. NSW BUDGET. That's what they call it when you're in the red these days 'cyclical deterioration' is the new buzzword. Quite a few states in Australia have had a bit of 'cyclicxal deterioration' recently, except in the case of NSW the cyclical deterioration has been more prolonged in the cyclical part of it and more pronounced in the deteriorating component. Within this context the position had apparently slightly improved with Standard and Poor's adding the state's position has gone from negative to stable. In medical parlance it might suggest being brought back from the brink. The good news is the cyclical deterioration will cease by 2011. The NSW Treasurer Eric Roozendaal called the Budget a "beacon of hope" which is exactly what commuters see when they see a green light along the railway track. More selling of state assets expected.

The thing about it all is that the NSW Government was so desperate to keep it's AAA credit that you wonder who in fact the Government is responsible to - the credit ratings agencies like Standard and Poor's and Moodys or the people of NSW… hang on - weren't Standard and Poors and Moody's the same credit agencies who were doling out perfect marks to the likes of Lehman Brothers who were one of the instigators of the global economic collapse. Have they no shame. Then again even such distinguished arbiters of fiscal responsibility must have a bit of cyclical deterioration every now and again.

JUNE 15. COSTELLO ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT FROM POLITICS. Peter Costello like Paul Keating both shared similar psychological traits, both were supremely comfortable with their sense of their own worth and pursued their political ambitions from the very start with one eye firmly focused on the main chance. While Keating did what was necessary to enforce the Keating/ Hawke succession agreement, even in spite of Hawk's popularity. Peter Costello was reluctant to enforce the agreement he had with John Howard - perhaps he never had the killer instinct necessary to usurp Howard. Rest assured if he had the numbers he would been more confident to put the knife in, it's just that Costello was a bit spooked that the inevitable blood on the floor would be his. Both Costello and Keating thought being disliked by the electorate was a transitional aberration that would be put right once their respective visions weaved their spell on the Australia electorate. Keating was able to test the theory to his detriment and continued sullenness. Costello would have liked to test a similar proposition but he ran out of time.

That's the thing about such agreements you have to prepared to enforce them less the other party to the agreement momentarily lapse into delusions that they are indispensible to the party - as Howard did. Even when John Howard denied any such agreement had taken place, contrary to the only other witness of the understanding Ian McLachlan. Howard's vague/emphatic 'recollections' that such wasn't made didn't hold much water with a skeptical electorate. Still times were good and Howard knew that the occasional porker was OK as long as the Liberal Party remained in office. Even when the Children Overboard affair won him the 2001 election all was forgiven and forgotten. The spoils of office no matter what your political persuasion are a great inducement to do whatever it takes regardless of the moral and ethical indifference it takes to win at any cost. To Howard and Keating this was a fundamental tenet of political life. Costello might take the high ground in this respect, though in the scheme of things it will provide only marginal comfort as he reflects on what might have been.

A note of caution for those seeking a career in politics.

Making deals in politics should be avoided or at least made with and witnessed by as many respected witnesses whose word will be believed as beyond reproach. This would preclude any such agreement being made in the vicinity or immediate vicinity of Parliament House, Canberra.

JUNE 15. DES MORANS SHOT DEAD. They say if you live by the sword you die by the sword and the surviving members of the Moran family would subscribe to this well used adage except few of them are in any position to comment. The matriarch of the family, Judy Moran having lost two husbands and two sons in Melbourne's gangland war would be in a much sounder position to do so.

Then again such an dictum would be lost on Judy who would find such apparent truisms trite to say the least - now she finds herself in the slammer charged with being an accessory to the murder of 'Tuppence' as he was affectionately known. Many of the locals thought him a good bloke, an affection not shared privately by Judy who believed that Tuppence had squirreled away a considerable amount of Moran loot.

Apparently Des who had almost convinced everyone that he was out of the game. Judy when she arrived at the murder scene a few moments later - "oh Dessy Dessy" she screamed even though it seemed she was part of the organizing committee that organized the hit. Too much time watching Underbelly must have inspired her theatrical outburst.

Perhaps she might find herself in a position to ponder Thomas Moore's comment - 'Those who plot the destruction of others often perish in the attempt'.

June 15. Albury City Council has bought Lavington oval for what they said was a bargain basement price of $1.2 million - bargain basement? Has anyone seen the amount of land out that way available for sale. Upgrading the lights to AFL and NRL standard will be an expensive operation - all to watch second rate teams like they've fielded in the past. I would get a watertight contract before I started spending the hundreds of thousands required to upgrade the field or will it be like the marquee the Albury City Council hired as a temporary facility to house a sterile lounge for passengers already screened before embarkation.

Rumour has it that the hire charges for this temporary measure while a permanent building was constructed incurred hiring fees of between $100,000 and $200,000, an amount it seems that could have bought the marquee quite a few times over. Will we hear anything from our councillors elected to protect the interests of Albury ratepayers? Well have you heard anything mentioned about it before this? Of course not. As for the bargain basement price paid for the oval, has anyone seen the amount of land out that way that has been subdivided and awaiting sale. Even Cr Duncan-Strelec has done a bit of dabbling in real estate
in those parts and got her fingers burnt.

ONGOING - BRALLEE PUB CLEANS UP IT'S ACT. There have been several queries as to the story last week about Wayne Reid and a few of his mates will be back in the saddle once again. You mean to say he banned 400 people from the pub. Near enough so the legend goes. And Wayno is a legend like when the good sheriff rides into town and cleans up the joint. Just like Dennis Blundell at the Walla Walla Hotel (if you would like to know a bit more about Dennis see Around the Traps in the May issue) practicing the time honoured tradition of throwing some reprobate out of the pub. People want to go out and enjoy a meal and a drink without being the subject to anti-social behavior.

At another place Nick Willoughby has pulled the pin at Sodens and the key has been handed back to the landlord, lock stock and barrels. Nick has been in dispute with his Sydney based landlord for some time now and the matter has been resolved in the Supreme Court in Sydney this week. Nick got the call to hand the keys back, which he did.

Whether the the new management will continue hiring live music acts is not known at this stage but a lot of local acts got their start there.

JUNE 12. IRANIAN ELECTIONS. Saddam Hussain was never very subtle even when he won - well into the high nineties. NO wonder it came as little surprise when he proposed a referendum in 2002 that he rule for a further seven years. Iraqi's readily complied giving Saddam a perfect 100% of the vote.

The recent election giving the present incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad victory over the reformist candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi, giving Ahmadinejad a 2-to-1 uniform victory over Mousavi. Even in Mousavi's hometown Ahmadinejad 2-to-1 shellacking of Mousavi complied with the national trend.

You would think they could have mixed it up a bit just to show the international community that the elections were a fair and accurate account of the people of Iran'schoice. They could have prolonged the count a bit as well - counting 40 million hand written votes in the space of a few hours before declaring Ahmadinejad the winner wasn't very subtle at all. Perhaps if they mixed it up a bit more there would have been a few less skeptics on the streets of Tehran asking where their vote was.

June 18. Anthony Scrinis a 'probationary' adviser to Sophie Mirabella announced his resignation after having a skinful at the annual Midwinter ball causing him to indulge in a spot of lurching and groping. Only three days into the job Mr Scrinis might have time to reflect on a relatively recent event when the then Leader of the Opposition in NSW was accused of similar inappropriate behaviour in 2007. Mr Scrinis should have realized high minded folk at such gatherings consider such occasions easy pickings to fill their columns the following day. When you've a bit of a hangover you need an easy day. Mr Scrinis made it just that much easy - right into their laps - at times no doubt literally!

Apparently there was quite a cue at the door of Mr MalcolmTurnbull's (who was himself accused of making threats to one of Rudd's 'top advisers' - apparently to such an extent he was 'shaken' by Mr Turnbull's apparent advice) parliamentary office the next morning giving the lowdown on Mr Scrinis's lurid behaviour. Apparently Mr Scrinis was a former candidate for the Port Phillip Council. This is the second time that a member of Sophie's has been accused of inappropriate behaviour. Perhaps as Shadow Minister for Early Childhood Education, Childcare, Status of Women and Youth she might show a bit more care in the selection process. Still perhaps Mr Scrinis might try his luck in local government - lots of gropers in local government - and worse. What about a few years back when a senior executive of a local council ensconced in a lucerne paddock with an underling (sorry) from the same council had his coitus reservatus interrupted by a more lowly staff member in the course of his daily (or nightly in this case) duties for the same council in the vicinity of the Albury sewerage works. I use the more traditional description of the facility in this instance. Obviously the fellow who saw them recognised them so don't blame Borderline for starting the rumour. He did.

Perhaps next year the organisers of the Midwinter Ball could get Wayno and Dennis Blundell on the door. If you need their phone numbers Sophie, Borderline would be happy to oblige.