News Ltd's "alarmist" bullshit

Queensland Police have slammed News Ltd for dodgy reporting over the flooding.

"We appreciate the support you are providing in getting urgent messages to at-risk flood communities," Police said in an statement this afternoon.

"But alarmist messages are not assisting, this includes messages such as the Brisbane CBD being evacuated which is not the case."

In fact, on the News Ltd website's main page this afternoon, they headlined that "Brisbane city" was "evacuated." Bullshit. The graphic depicted a photo of Toowoomba, not Brisbane.

What would international readers, especially family of those living in Brisbane think when they are dependant on accurate reporting?

Police say that the flooding is likely to worsen over the next few days.

"We need the public to continue to have confidence in our warning systems,Queensland Police say. "We will continue to issue appropriate warnings, as needed, and we appreciate your continued assistance in helping us to issue these warnings."

At around 4pm, two hours after Police issued the message to curtail such reporting, NewsLTD changed the headline to read "City under water." Still bullshit.

There are now nine people confirmed dead, with 66 still missing in Toowoomba, Lockyer Valley region.

In Grantham the bodies of a female child, a male child, a female aged in her 30s, and an elderly woman have been located. In Murphy’s Creek, bodies of a male aged in his 50s and a female aged in her 40s, have been found. One in was killed Gatton and in Toowoomba, a woman aged in her 40s, along with a male child.

As at 11 January 2011, including Toowoomba's death toll, there have been 26 deaths attributed to the floods.

Meanwhile, a pastor says that Kevin Rudd is to blame for the floods because he "spoke against Israel" in December last year. Daniel Nalliah from Catch the Fire Ministries says "it is very interesting that Kevin Rudd is from Queensland. Is God trying to get our attention? I believe so." Whilst in Israel Rudd asked the Jewish state to allow international inspectors into nuclear facilities.

What a drip, Daniel Nalliah.

VIDEO: Flash flood in Toowoomba shows destruction

Here's some amazing footage along Chalk Drive and Chalk Lane Creek, videoed by David of Toowoomba yesterday afternoon.

The water was rising rapidly and washing away lots of cars during the flash flood. It was taken from the second floor of a resident's office building, backing onto Chalk Lane.

Defence Force to take control of Toowoomba today

PHOTO: Dani Avery

PHOTO: Naomi Hansen

PHOTO: Dani Avery

PHOTO: Alex Bailey

Here's some photographs taken by locals around 1pm yesterday afternoon as downtown Toowoomba turning into a violent river system, the likes it had not seen in living memory, taking the lives of at least four people.

Chalk street collected up to 50 cars and demolishing them within minutes. ABC News captured some dramatic video of the flash flooding that engulfed the town West of Brisbane when water levels rose within 40 minutes, shocking and surprising locals.

The severe and sudden weather event struck that struck Toowoomba around 1pm yesterday, was a result of the intense storm cells depositing large volumes of water over a short period of time. Two adults and two children were found killed from the flooding surge, and at least another six people are missing. The East Creek flooded causing fast flowing and rapidly rising waters into the Toowoomba Central Business District, especially Kitchen and Chalk streets.

Queensland Premier has requested the Defence Force to take control of Toowoomba.

Late last evening Police said that a woman and a boy were swept away from a car in the Toowoomba CBD.

"Although the waters are receding quickly in Toowoomba police and emergency services urge all residents remain patient and to wait for the waters to subside and not be tempted to enter into them for any reason," POlice said. "Further to these tragedies, a man and male child were also found deceased in the nearby area of Murphy Creek and one man is unaccounted for in Grantham."

Police are also searching the Withcott area for a number of people reported missing. Chinchilla is expected to be significantly impacted and evacuations are underway in low lying areas. Evacuations have also commenced in Dalby and Condamine.

The Toowoomba Range is shut in both directions due to a number of landslides along the stretch, it is unsure when this will be reopened. The New England Highway is also closed in both directions at Mt Kynoch.

Brisbane City Council last night issued a list of suburbs expected to be affected by flooding today, as the water moves towards the coast. The council's have identified 7,731 properties that may possibly see some flooding, depending on the severity.

LINKS:

• Toowoomba & Darling Downs flood photos on Facebook
  
• ABC Southern Queensland on Facebook
• Queensland Police on Facebook
• Dramatic video of the flash flooding - ABC News
  
• ABC Live Streaming
• Call Toowoomba area flood hotline 1300 993 191
• BOM Weather Rain Radar
  
  

CairnsBlog Guest Opinion: Taxing online overseas purchases. Why it has merit

With the campaign launched nationally by some major retailers like Meyer and Harvey Norman to tax goods purchased online from overseas suppliers, there has been a massive backlash from Aussies that love the freedom and bargins they find via the internet.

Local business owner, Carl Butcher of Carlos Computers, is no stranger to purchasing goods online, says there's merit in adding GST to overseas online purchases.

In the past couple of weeks a campaign being waged by some of Australia's biggest retailers has been calling on the government to change laws regarding the purchase of goods online from overseas websites and retailers. As the law currently stands, purchases under $1000 are exempt from GST and other duties.

The campaign, headed by the likes of Harvey Norman, Myer, David Jones and Borders, said that applying the GST to purchases under $1000 from overseas is crucial to level the playing field and also ensuring jobs are not at risk.

The problem, is that while the idea certainly has merit, the execution of the campaign was met with severe backlash by the Australian population and the key message to consumers was lost. Gerry Harvey was gob-smacked at the vicious and hateful attacks launched at him personally from social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook. Unfortunately, Gerry only made things worse by counter attacking and completely missing the point by where he could have used social media to his advantage by actually asking the consumers for their input. Social media is a two way street Gerry!

So what were the key points of the idea that were actually lost in translation? That's the purpose of this blog post, to outline the ideas and a couple of remedies that work out for everyone.

The first problem the campaign faced was that the argument that adding a 10% GST to online, overseas sales would level the playing field completely missed its mark. I have no problem with the fact that they want to add a 10% GST to an online sale, it's just the product is still going to be far cheaper to buy at the moment due mostly in part to our high Aussie dollar. This is essentially what has caused a flurry of overseas shopping within the past year, not because consumers are trying to dodge taxes. Consumers are just chasing a better deal and who could blame them?

So the key argument that should be being made here is, is why aren't our retailers being awarded the same wholesale pricing on these products that our overseas competitors are receiving? There is obviously a massive disparity in wholesale pricing models for different regions. A famous example of this is Apple's products are significantly more expensive here in Australia compared to the US, even when factoring in local taxes and exchange rates it just doesn't add up.

Secondly, Australia doesn't have one set minimum wage requirement like in the US for instance. Our award wage system is set dependent on your industry and is significantly higher than the minimum wage of other countries. We also have other employee related expenses to consider such as compulsory superannuation, holiday loading and overtime allowances. These costs add a considerable amount to products we buy at retail here in Australia, it also means that it keeps people employed.

The problem is, is that workers keep demanding wages increase on a yearly basis and this has detrimental effects on things like inflation and keeps pushing the price of everything up. It's a never ending cycle that is only going to get worse as we chase the higher dollar. In many respects, we only have ourselves to blame for wanting more and more useless crap and outspending what we earn.

Thirdly, the campaign would have had a far better reaction from the Australian population, if the retailers had outlined the many flow on effects and benefits by collecting the GST on these sales would have had on Australia's revenue. While online, overseas sales account for a very small amount of the overall retail revenue, it is a revenue stream none the less that would benefit the public coffers.

This revenue could go towards improving public infrastructure, health, schools and in the long term, lead to reducing personal income tax. Many people hate the idea of tax but living in a free society means we all contribute to our way of life. If that means paying a little bit to make sure I can drive on a road anywhere in the country or being able to walk into any hospital and receive free health care then so be it.

Now that I've outlined those few key points the only other argument left to debunk is how this revenue would actually be collected. Many people have thrown around the line that if this was left up to customs to administer, the cost to implement would far outweigh any benefit we'd receive.

So this is where I'd take a leaf out of California's tax code as one example. California has a separate state tax that sets it apart from many of the other US states and as such they have mandated that any out of state purchases imported into California are subject to the state tax. The tax is collected on the personal income statements lodged during tax time each year in the US.

This system takes the burden off bureaucrats and makes taxpayers liable for their own purchases. Yes there are potential downsides to this scheme with some people not declaring all of their purchases, but nether the less the great majority do for the most part, play fair. Of course, if you don't declare and happen to be audited, the discrepancies will be found in the long run.

Consumers simply keep their receipts for the financial year and then declare the expenses on their yearly tax refund. The amount is deducted from their tax refund. It's a simple system, with very little overhead. Essentially, consumers would fill out a cut down version of a BAS.

I'm sure there are other creative ideas and ways this could be implemented but simply looking at something from one standpoint and not checking it out from the other side also just adds a level of ignorance to what is at the core, essentially a very good idea, just poorly executed.

Embrace Life - always wear your seat belt

It's MMXI

It's 2011.

Now, have you made any New Year's resolutions? I mean besides eating better, drinking less alcohol, quit smoking...blaa, blaa, blaa.

Here's some I'll try and subscribe to...

• I will no longer waste my time reliving the past, instead I will spend it worrying about the future
• I will avoid taking showers to conserve more water
• I will give up chocolates totally. 100%. Completely. Honestly….
• I will try to figure out why I *really* need nine e-mail addresses
• Act like a child. Think like a teenager. Dream like an adult. Appreciate and smell the roses
• I won’t worry so much
• Decide who has earned the right to be a councillor and mayor of Cairns in 2012
• I will be more imaginative
• Assure my lawyer that 2011 is not the Year of the Snake
• Conduct a series of 'life' interviews with a unique Cairns über-celebrity before he leaves town
• Find a group that won't have me as a member. Join it.
• Volunteer to help others a little more
• Apply for a job at the imaginary Under-water World Park
• Visit mum in Christchurch at least three times this year
• Make peace, not war
• Be silly, at least once a week
• Swim in the sea daily.

Cairns - a no meat market for New Year's Eve

Meat and veggies were not getting through to some Cairns supermarkets today from flooded South East Queensland.

This reoccurring problem happens even though we have many locally-grown Tablelands produce available, just an hour's drive over the range. Stupid chain stores appear to not support local farmers. This also happened during Cyclone Larry in 2006.

Little Brit boys return with another outrageous series

UK comedy lovers are in for a treat. It's been four years since the offensive and crazy Little Britain screened.

Now the creators Matt Lucas and David Walliams are back with Come Fly With Me, a mocumentary comedy about fictional airlines FlyLo, Our Lady Air and Great British Air. Matt and David play the majority of the outrageous characters including staff and passengers, in what appears to be a spoof of reality airport shows.

ABC in Australia are expected to screen the show during 2011.

It was filmed at London's Stansted Airport and Robin Hood Airport at Sheffield in September. Cameras were given amazing access to the busy terminals. My favourite characters in the first show is 80-year-old Hetty Wolf who is evidently taking her first-ever flight. Also, look out for Precious Little who runs the coffee shop; husband and wife pilots Simon and Jackie, as they deal with their marriage woes at 35,000 feet; Melody and Keeley are FlyLo's check in chicks, and along with Asuka and Nanako Tawaka, Japanese twin schoolgirls, it's a confronting and silly comedy for lovers of Little Britain.

They told Graham Norton last week that Come Fly was not as rude at their previous show.

The new show was first screened on BBC on Christmas day and immediately jumped straight to the top of the list of most-watched comedy programmes of 2010 with 10 million viewers - 41% viewer share.

Here's the first episode. Try not to be too offended and slip to the easy conclusion that it's cheap and racist. It's not. It's just plain funny.

Alison Alloway: A holiday memory of Christmas' past

It's fitting to end the year with a story from Alison Alloway.

She has always been a supporter of CairnsBlog from it's very early beginnings and has previously scribed for the Saturday SoapBlog about her misadventures with MediCare. In the early days of CairnsBlog, Alison recounted stories from her childhood past when in 1961, Princess Alexandra, the Queen's cousin, visited Far North Queensland.

Every Christmas, Alison's gorgeous Cascara (Indian laburnum) flowers and is one of the prettiest flowering trees here in the tropics.

Today she writes again with memories , this time of her Christmas days living with a violent father and a real hard case of a little sister, some 50 years ago. Alison says she has no photos from her childhood.

Looking back, Alison says it was such a different world. People drowned kittens and puppies in backyards, dogs were always kept outdoors, domestic violence was rife, women were still dying from backyard abortions here in the North, men who returned from WW2 struggling with post traumatic stress syndrome, rapes were seldom reported, homosexuals were openly ostracized and no one ever mentioned lesbians. Divorce was rare and frowned upon, Ditto working women, and no-one gave a thought about the environment. Lastly, but not least, aboriginal people were treated with contempt and violence.

How can people ever say it was the "good" old days?

Here's Alison's Christmas with Case.

Christmas 1962.

Menzies was Prime Minister. Frank Nicklin was Premier of Queensland.

Big sister Nerida was sixteen. Gwennyth was ten. I (Allie) was seven. Case was five. Deirdre (DeeDee) was two and baby, beautiful baby, the idol of all, was almost one. Yes, we were a big family.

In 1962 our family comprised six daughters, mum and dad and grandad, all living under the one roof. Children were disciplined with belts, hands or whatever came within reach. We all wore hand me downs, and walked the long distance to school in plastic shoes, envying the kids who rode their horses

past us.

Few families had cars and even fewer had television sets.

Fathers were the head of the family, and none, more so than in our own family, where dad's bad temper and heavy hand were feared by us all. Money was scarcer than it is today and presents were only received on birthdays or at Christmas. No child dared tell their parents what to buy. Christmas was looked forward to with great excitement by all of us kids. For weeks we speculated on what “Santa” would bring us, alternating with bouts of guilt that we had spent our few hard earned shillings on buying by-jingos and cobblers for ourselves instead of buying presents for Mum and Dad.

“You’ve spent all your money on yourself, Allie!” Gwen sneered. “You’re nothing but a little fat, selfish, greedy pig!”

My eyes filled with tears of guilt and self-loathing as Gwen proudly displayed the presents she had bought for mum, dad, grandad and baby, with her shillings. Gwen was always more thoughtful, more caring, more generous and more virtuous than I. And she let me know it.

5.30am, Christmas Day, saw snowy haired Case leaning over pinching mum's cheeks to wake her up. "Mum...Mum," she whispered excitedly. "See what Santa brunged me." Mum opened one eye and sat bolt upright in bed at the sight of Case, festooned in flowery brassieres and panties.

"Santa didn't give you those," mum admonished wearily, trying to grab them. "Yes he did, he did," argued Case. "He brunged these to me."

It seemed Case had been the first to waken and had walked around the house helping herself to whatever she fancied in everyones pillow cases. Exasperated and cranky, mum had to field off Case's endless questions. "How do you know Santa brunged the melodica for Gwen? And how do you know Santa brunged the bras for Nerida?"

"I just know," yelled mum, bending down to box Case around the ears. Case wouldn’t let the matter die. “Santa did brung that bra for me,” she whispered angrily while Gwen and I were making our beds. “No he didn’t,” Gwen answered, “because you don’t have any billies!”
Case was instantly on the defensive. “I do too have billies,” she answered indignantly. “Look!” She opened up her pjama top and displayed two small flat freckle like nipples. “Billies!” she said proudly. Gwen rolled her eyes to the ceiling. “Case, they’re not big like Nerida’s!” “Santa doesn’t know that,” persisted Case. Gwen gave up and threw a pillow at Case.

Christmas dinner commenced at one o’clock and everyone was seated while mum retrieved the baking trays from our wood-fired stove in the kitchen. Dad sat at the end of the table and everyone noticed his red rimmed eyes and sour expression. We all knew this meant a hangover and not to make him angry.

Nerida was the last to be seated having spent the morning teasing her hair into a bee-hive and using a tin of Starlet hairspray on the finished hairdo. She had made up her face too so that it was shiny while black lines were drawn across her top eyelids and there were two black “beauty” spots beside her mouth. Nerida was very pretty and I thought she looked like a movie star. Nerida loved to sing and knew all of Connie Francis’s songs which she sang with gusto in the bathroom every night.

“Youse look like one of them tarts what lives in Sydney,” grandad said sternly. “Sydney is full of tarts.” “Tarts?” said Case. “I likes jam tarts.” "And I like jam tarts too,” I said.

“I like passionfruit ones meself,” said Gwen. “Quiet!” roared Dad at the end of the table. Everyone went silent. Mum came out of the kitchen carrying a tray of roast vegetables. “Oh what’s DeeDee got?” she asked, as we all looked in the direction where quiet little DeeDee sat on a cushion at the table. DeeDee was sitting with her eyes closed while her hands were under the tablecloth. Nerida lifted the tablecloth to find DeeDee clutching a little kitten by its neck.
“She still thinks no-one can see her when she closes her eyes,” Nerida laughed, as she retrieved the poor kitten and put it on the floor. We all looked fondly at DeeDee who was looking quite puzzled at being found out. Nerida playfully rumpled her snowy white hair.

We could easily have been a family in mourning this Christmas Day 1962. Yesterday, DeeDee was sitting inside a cardboard box playing at being a “radio” and regaling the world by humming the theme song from “Blue Hills” over and over, when Bill, the bottlo, bringing our Christmas soft drinks, drove fast up our driveway and right over the top of the radio.

A message from Deputy Police Commissioner, Ian Stewart

Here's an audio message to Queenslanders from Deputy Commissioner Ian Stewart, the State Disaster Management Coordinator.

Crimestoppers update

In partnership with the Cairns District Crime Prevention office, CairnsBlog brings you Crime Stoppers update.

Anyone with information which could assist police with their investigations should contact Cairns Police on 40307000 or Crime Stoppers anonymously via 1800 333 000 or Crime Stoppers 24hrs a day.

Rape Charge, Cairns

Cairns detectives have charged a 35-year-old Cairns man with one count of rape. It is alleged the man had been drinking with a 23-year-old woman on the Esplanade prior to the alleged 1.30am rape today. He will appear in the Cairns Magistrates Court today.

Traffic crash, Smithfield

Police directed traffic for almost an hour after a two vehicle traffic crash occurred on the Kennedy Highway, Smithfield at about 11.30am yesterday. It is alleged a motorcycle lost control whilst travelling down the Kuranda Range and slid into oncoming traffic. Both the 40-year-old male rider and his pillion passenger were thrown from the bike and were taken to Cairns Base Hospital for treatment to non-life threatening injuries. Moderate damage was caused to the motorcycle and people mover and no other people were injured. Investigations are continuing.

High range drink drive, Port Douglas

Police charged a 34-year-old Mooroobool man with one count of drink driving (0.264%). He allegedly crashed his vehicle into a pedestrian island and

fence at about 3.30am on Port Douglas Road, Port Douglas on December 27. He will appear in the Mossman Magistrates Court on January 12.

Wilful damage, Westcourt

Police are investigating a wilful damage complaint that occurred at about 11.30pm on Sunday December 26 on Mulgrave Road, Westcourt between the intersections of Dalton Street and McCoombe Streets. A group of five teenagers described as being of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander appearance ran across the road then threw something at the bus which smashed a window behind the driver. The group of teens then ran off. Anyone with information which could assist police with their investigations should contact Crime Stoppers anonymously via 1800 333 000 or crimestoppers.com.au 24hrs a day.

Stealing, Bentley Park

Edmonton Police are investigating the theft of two 125CC Quad Bikes and a Suzuki JR80 off road motorcycle from a storage shed in Supply Road, Bentley Park. The theft occurred sometime between 7.30am and 9.30am Saturday December 25. The motorbike is described as being yellow and blue in colour. One quad bike was red, the other was blue. Police have released images of vehicles similar to those stolen.

Traffic Crash, Oak Beach

Police are investigating a single vehicle traffic crash that occurred on the Captain Cook Highway at Oak Beach about 10.45pm December 24. QFRS cut the trapped 28-year-old female driver and her 40-year-old male passenger from the vehicle and both were transported to the Cairns Base Hospital for treatment of injuries. The man sustained a fractured leg in the crash. The silver Ford sedan was extensively damaged in the crash. Investigations are continuing.

The Ashes 2010 (AKA the Arvo of Christmas)

John Lennon-Merry Christmas War Is Over

"O HOLY NIGHT!!!" SUNG BY TAY ZONDAY

Death in Parramatta Park overnight

Cairns Police are investigating the death of a man at Parramatta Park overnight.

Around 1am an unconscious man in his 30's, was found at the corner of Minnie and Severin streets. CPR was performed but was pronounced dead on arrival at Cairns Base Hospital.

Police say that the man was involved in an incident with two other men. Investigations into the circumstances surrounding the death are continuing.

Christmas 2010 will be a wet one

The BOM have been warning us all week that the low is likely to intensify and just after midnight, a Tropical Low, followed by a Cat 1 cyclone was announced overnight, with the threat map tracking towards Gordonvale, between Cairns and Innisfail.

The Bureau says the tropical low, with gusts up to 85 km/h, is expected to continue moving towards the north tropical coast and intensify...

• "The low is expected to cross the coast between Cairns and Cardwell early Saturday morning. There is the potential for the system to reach weak category 1 tropical cyclone intensity prior to landfall. Damaging winds of up to 100 km/hr are possible between Port Douglas and Lucinda as the system approaches the coast during Saturday morning.
  
  

I hope all CairnsBlog readers are wrapped up warm and dry and have a great day, regardless of the weather, and regardless if your God is real or not.

Bless you, even if you don't have a cold.

Saturday SoapBlog: Bryan Law - Encouraging peacemaking

Bryan Law is on his final mission, before he leaves Cairns next year.

He encourages everyone to do their own version of peacemaking.

Hi groovers.

I’m getting ready for my 2011 program of peace activism, and have been putting some stuff up on the web. There are also some pages of history and a ploughshares proposal.

I’m planning to move to Rockhampton in May 2011 to do some prep for Talisman Sabre 2011.

Before I leave Cairns, I want to make sure I participate in an ANZAC EVE Vigil in my town. I wrote about this on CairnsBlog last month.

I notice that Graeme Dunstan, and some of the Silver Wattle crew are making progress on an event at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. There’s a page of correspondence with the Major-General in charge.

I also put a page up on the Waihopai Spybase protests this January in NZ. There are links established between Oz and Kiwi activists between Waihopai, Pine Gap, ANZAC Day, and Ploughshares.

I’ve missed participating in earlier discussions about affinity groups, mass actions, and how to develop a Peace movement. I’ve been thinking about it. I know that many are asking questions about how to organise most effectively.

One thing that comes up for me is that I just don’t have any answers suitable for others. I can resonate with Benjo’s desire for an effective mass action, and a blockade seems perfectly legitimate as a target. I’d even be willing to join in.

I’d love even more to see activist groups rise up around the country, at all the available sites, to withdraw consent for war. I’m willing to join in that too.

In the long run, I rely on the decency of human beings, the power of nonviolence, and the love of God.

Meantime I do my best to act effectively within my own capacity. In my city. Cairns is a smallish regional city of 150,000. On the margins of Queensland, facing high costs and state neglect, our economy is in recession, and the key tourism industry is bleeding. Apart from that, and some endemic racism, alcoholism and intolerance, Cairns is alright. Nice place to winter.

After 17 years I’ve got fair recognition, and a minor voice in public affairs. The warships campaign has been more successful than not. Temporarily I have a strong relationship with the local daily. In the past month I’ve been able to stimulate discussion of the AUStralian/US Ministerial conference, The US Alliance, and defend Wikileaks. More permanently, there is CairnsBlog.

I’m certain that if we want to stop war we have to win and lead the active support of many citizens we don’t yet have on side. Conversion by example has a long, honourable history in the peace movement.

So for me it feels like I’ve been doing alright. I’ve got a coherent program that feels “right” to me. Some public relations, some ploughshares, some pretty powerful personal commitment, all of which leads to prison for an intermediate time. It feels right.

So for me personally, the question isn’t “mass movement” Vs “affinity groups”, it’s how to make my own actions as effective as I possibly can at winning converts, and getting in the way of war’s “business as usual”.

I encourage everyone else to do their own version of peacemaking.

Sunrise from Bundadjarruga, Walshs Pyramid

Free speech rally 5pm - Grafton Street, Crown Hotel

There will be another free speech rally, Grafton Street, next to the Crown Hotel this evening.

Anyone will be welcome to express their view and contribute.

This will be a good time to say how you feel our State and local government has performed in the last year.

• Meet 4:30pm onwards.

Electricity price to rise another 6%

Cairns' residents will have only just noticed the extrordinary 13% increase appearing on their Ergon power bills in the last two quarters.

Yesterday’s draft decision by the Queensland Competition Authority to again increase electricity bills by 5.83%, means that by the end of the current financial year, electricity bills have risen by 63% since Labor privatised Energex and Ergon in 2007.

Annual electricity bills have increased on average $700 in four years. The cost-of-living increases in Queensland are spiraling out of control. Car registration, Council rates, licencing fees, water, petrol.

The latest power increase, is almost twice the rate of inflation.

Average Household Electricity Bill	% rise	Quarterly	Annual
		$289.37	$1,157.50
Year Beginning 1 July 2007 (QCA)	11.37%	$322.28	$1,289.10
Year Beginning 1 July 2008 (QCA)	9.06%	$351.47	$1,405.89
Year Beginning 1 July 2009 (QCA)	11.82%	$393.02	$1,572.07
Year Beginning 1 July 2010 (QCA)	13.29%	$445.25	$1,781.00
Year Beginning 1 July 2011 (QCA Draft decision 16 Dec 2010)	5.83%	$471.21	$1,884.83
Source: Queensland Competition Authority