Bali booze ban agenda belies disturbing trend
By Ross B. Taylor Many of the one million Australians who holiday in Bali each year were shocked when they recently learned of a proposal by some members of Indonesia’s national parliament that the production and sale of alcohol throughout the entire country should be banned. Fortunately, the parliament voted down the motion with Bali authorities and tourists sighing in relief; for now. What was not reported however is throughout the archipelago a number of provinces and cities had already decided to introduce their own …
Bali murder case a sobering lesson for us all.
By Ross B. Taylor It reads like a story from a crime thriller movie: An Australian mum, who has two children back home in Byron Bay, on a romantic holiday with her boyfriend in Bali. But its no ‘holiday’ as she sits in the island’s police holding cells and then being transferred to the notorious Kerobokan prison facing possible charges of murder. Sarah Connor, 45 was no different to the one million Aussies who go to Bali every year for an average nine day break with sun, surf and good food in Australia’s favourite playground. …
Pauline’s speech may threaten Asian perceptions of Australia
Last month, whilst undertaking some repairs to my house, I met a young man who owns a timber manufacturing business near my home in Perth. His name was Yassa. He looked ‘Asian’, and was dark skinned. He was possibly a Muslim. I learned that Yassa was actually from Ethiopia. He came to Australia as a war refugee with his Mum and brother at the age of fifteen. He is now 32, runs this successful timber business including exporting overseas and has two young boys who are addicted to Aussie football. As I reflected on the maiden sena…
Why is it so hard to be courteous?
A popular discussion on ABC Radio recently was about poor attitudes and poor customer service in cafes and restaurants around WA. I often agree, BUT what about poor attitudes and rudeness by customers that I see all too frequently. ... As a customer, maybe if we try saying "thank you" when the food is placed before us or just thanking the chef or cooks on the way out if the food was good? Or maybe putting the newspapers back from where you got them when you are leaving, rather than 'hiding' them on your chair from o…
Whoever wins the election, relations with our region are going to get complicated
Last week, whilst undertaking some repairs to my house, I met a young man who owns a timber manufacturing business in Perth. His name was Yassa. He looked ‘Asian’, and was black skinned. Possibly a Muslim? Over a few days of discussions, as I constantly messed-up my DIY repair work, I learned that Yassa was actually from Ethiopia. He came to WA as a war refugee with his Mum and brother at the age of fifteen. He is now 32, runs this successful timber business, working six days a week, and has a wife and two young sons who are…
WHY MOST OF US ARE NOT IN ANY DANGER OF BEING KILLED BY SHARK ATTACKS IN PERTH
The amount of dogma and misinformation about how dangerous it is to go into the ocean is almost as shocking as the gruesome attacks themselves. Let's start this post by acknowledging one fact: In the past ten years only ONE person has been killed by a shark in the Perth Metro area during summer (say between the beginning of December and end of March each year). Let me repeat that: ONE person in ten years, and that was in Port Kennedy one hour south of Perth, so not really even part of the city coastline. The last fatal attck in Perth…
No corporate deals as the 'wheels on the bus go round-and-round'
One of the nice things about reaching almost the end of a high-profile and so-called high-powered career, is the ability to be brutally honest in your dealings with people and to worry a lot less as to how they may judge you. Here is an example: Two weeks ago I was just finishing our regular session of singing nursery rhymes - along with twenty young mum's or grandmothers, and their toddlers - at the Cottesloe Library where I love taking our 15 month-old granddaughter, Ember. My mobile phone rang; a call from a very senior WA…
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