Penalties

No I'm not talking the upcoming World Cup, but the debate taking place, mainly by the right wing media on penalty rates. I did a bit of searching, and you know what, the established award rates seem pretty fair to me. Here they are: Hospitality Award (covers hotels, motels) Sat - 125% Sun - 175% Pub Hol - 250% (casuals get an additional 25% loading to cover sick/annual leave etc) Restaurant Award (self explanatory) Sat -125% Sun - 150% Pub Hol - 250% (casuals + 25% loading except the Pub Hols, which is the same) Registered Club Award Sat - 150% Sun - 175% Pub Hol - 250% (casuals + 25% loading only on Mon - Fri, no extra on Weekends or Pub Hols for being a temporary gun for hire) Retail Award M-F after 6pm - 125% Sat - 125% Sun - 200% Pub Hol - 250% or time in lieu based upon hours worked casuals + 25%, and + 10% on Saturday, but on Sunday they get 200% including the 25% loading ie the penaly rate is in effect 175% so we can see from the above, penalty rates are reasonable, time and a quarter to time and three quarters, and double time and a half for working on Christmas Day, Anzac Day, Boxing Day, when the rest of us are at home catching up with family that we don't see the rest of the year cause we are too busy working! note that many people are employed casually in the services or retail sector, and these casuals are not getting any extra for weekends or public holidays for working at the RSL..

Politics, politics, POLITICS!

Why does it have to be so divisive? Why can't there be more unity amongst our leaders, on issues of (inter-) national importance. Climate change? Refugees? Globalisation? Borders are just boundaries on a map. Parties are just parties. How about reaching across the divides, and working together? Politics, politics, POLITICS!

Rustic Spaghetti

I was chatting with a new friend at work yesterday, he originates from Calabria in Southern Italy. Italian food is one I like to cook, as it is so fresh, seasonal and CHEAP! I conjured up this recipe last nite, using my friend Ross's freshly made chilli sauce. 1/2 packet of wholemeals spag, about $2 from the super 1 bottle of passata (italian tomato pasta sauce), about the same 2 or 3 diced home grown tomatoes 1 home grown capsicum 1 tsp chilli sauce, home grown of course! 2 cloves coarsely sliced garlic sea salt olive oil, extra virgin if u can afford it. i have bottles given to me by a friend basil leaves fresh from the garden cook your spaghetti according to instructions, and set aside to keep warm in a hot sauce pan, add 3 tbsp olive oil, passata, capsicum, tomatoes, chilli, garlic slices and a good pinch of sea salt. pretty much everything! let it bubble away for about 45mins, while opening and consuming a bottle of local wine. serve with fresh basil leaves sliced, crusty bread, more olive oil and the rest of the wine!!!!!!!!! so fresh, healthy, tasty and wholesome. Gotta love the Italians!

When is a Parliamentary Political Party meeting

actually a meeting? is there a quorum? do a majority of members have to attend? is an agenda worked out before hand, or is it just bring your own knife? I wonder how they work.. because on 22nd and 23rd of March 2013, some of the Queensland Liberal and National Party Senators and Members have claimed travel allowance for attending a parliamentary political party meeting at Rockhampton. However, the majority haven't claimed TA, and don't appear to have attended. It seems to be like this likely number of senators and members of QLD Lib/Nats at that time, 24 actual people attending, or claiming for attendance 6. one member, Paul Neville seems to have got his dates wrong, and claimed for 1st May 2013 instead. if that is the case the select 6 becomes the secret 7. The only other person also claiming for the 1st May 2013 for staying at Rockie, is their leader, Warren Truss. I wonder if 2 people having coffee constitutes a party meeting? all in all it looks like a few thousand have been spent on this meeting, when they could possibly have met in Canberra the day or week before hand, as Parliament was sitting..

It's officially a stinker

Southern Australia is in the middle of a 5 day heatwave at 2pm Eastern Daily Saving Time Adelaide is 45 deg Melbourne is 43 all parts in between 40-44degrees even Canberra is getting up there...38 degrees! Keep cool and carry on..

Basic Risotto Recipe

I was chatting with friends last nite, and the subject of risotto came up. I have been making risotto for years, using this method, and these basic ingredients. It does take a bit of practice, to get it right. but persevere! U need 1 leek, quarted (sliced down the guts), and washed carefully to remove the dirt. slice finely 1 -2 cloves of garlic, crushed 1 cup of white wine about 1 litre of warm chicken or vegie stock handful of sliced brown mushrooms, cleaned first 1/2 cup of frozen peas 1 good handful of arborio rice sea salt freshly ground black pepper 1/2 cup parmesan cheese good amount of olive oil, extra virgin is best freshly chopped italian parsley in a large stainless steel saucepan, finely slice the leek, and saute in a good amount of olive oil on medium heat, stiring continuously add your garlic, saute for a couple of minutes on low heat, careful not to burn the garlic and small bits of leek add your arborio rice, and sliced mushies, and coat well with the olive oil, and cook for a couple of minutes on medium heat. Add a tiny bit sea salt, and finely ground black pepper. deglaze the pan with the white wine 1 soup ladlefull at a time, add the stock and stir the risotto, so it absorbs the liquid. Keep adding stock by the ladle, and stir until the rice absorbs the liquid. The whole process of adding stock, stirring and absorbing takes about 25 minutes. The rice should be soft, and creamy, and the rissoto should be the consistency of a thick oat porridge with similar creaminess. Adjust salt carefully! Add your garden peas, parmesan, and put a lid on the saucepan, to let it rest, while u prepare the salad! I also like to add a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, chopped parsley, parmesan and a little more stock over the top of the finished dish..

Ayan's Plight

Recently I became aware of Ayan, a Somali woman who's face was badly disfigured by a bullet when she was a child. She was to be flown to Australia by Rotary and operated on by a surgical team who was to donate their services. No cost to the taxpayer. A genuine case of need. It all sounded extremely positive, in this age of doom and gloom. Only 1 problem: Scott Morrison. As Immigration Minister, Mr Morrison denied her access to Australia, citing her as a 'non genuine visitor'. Now, in response to a 40,000 strong petition, and coverage by Channel 10's The Project, he has relented. Ayan Mohamed will be allowed in. Thank God. more info here https://www.change.org/en-AU/petitions/ayan-s-mutilated-face-can-be-repaired-scott-morrison-let-ayan-have-the-life-she-deserves