Forward step on domestic violence

Posted to Monash Weekly (20/5/2013) on 20/5/2013 at 12:22 PM
Commenting on "Forward step on domestic violence"
http://www.monashweekly.com.au/story/1508854/forward-step-on-domestic-violence/

Cr Drieberg, why are showing your face in this report? it does not convey any useful message except that you are showing off again.

I was at the launch of the GEAR program, sitting at the last row at the auditorium. A lady was trying to calm down a happy, playful young boy, hopping up and down the chair in the second last row. Later I realised that the lady was Kristine.

I listened attentively to the brave lady Kristine addressing the audience. On one hand, I felt for her torturous experience, but one the other, I was very pleased to see that she was no longer living in fear but with a happy child, presumably hers.

Many program tackle the damage. Repeat offenders seldom get the punishments they deserve. However, in my opinion, the biggest culprits are not the physical offenders, but the providers of items that cause such evils and sometimes irreparable damages.


Edited by Monash Weekly

I was at the launch of the GEAR program. I listened attentively to the brave lady Kristine addressing the audience. I felt for her torturous experience and was very pleased to see that she was no longer living in fear.

Monash council's hands tied on pokie venue rates

Posted to Monash Weekly (22/4/2013) on 24/4/2013 at 3:14 PM
Commenting on "Monash council's hands tied on pokie venue rates"
http://www.monashweekly.com.au/story/1444135/monash-councils-hands-tied-on-pokie-venue-rates/

Whether it is pressing buttons on a real poker machine or just on a virtual one on a computer, or whether it is betting on horses or footy teams, these are all categorised under gambling.

Unfortunately, gambling places, cigarette sale outlets, pubs / bottle shops / vineyards, and brothels are conducting businesses providing LEGAL services or products, no different from restaurants or supermarkets. It is unfair to treat them differently from all other business premises.

Problem gamblers are like alcoholics and hard drug users. The current methods of supporting these "sufferers" are costly and far from effective. I go further to say that these are medical conditions and need to be treated in a more revolutionary way, namely medically. By comparison, these addicts are no different from sufferers of Asperger's Disorder - one track mind and anti-social.

Prohibition of such services or products may not work for every addict, but it sure helps a lot of people related to them and in the community to avoid serious psychological pain and suffering, not to mention the hip pockets.