Hoons, tramies/conductors and the dole

Was talking yesterday on the phone to an old and good friend who I had not had contact with for more than 15 years.

My friend started out as a PMG technician, then on to Telecom from which we have Telstra today. Of course we discussed the huge loss of customer care to todays mindset of company profits and performance. Its gotta make money or out. My friend rose to a senior position in the Training Department since disbanded by the arrival of our pal Sol, and of course to make this thingo pay bucks to shareholders. Nothing wrong with any of that, its progress and business.

I related my own path of leaving the Plod brigade also as I was offerred a good package and, our good Premier at the time Jeff, also wanted to get rid of doogooders that dont' pay. Used to be prevention, now its catch em and send a big bill in the mail.

Now I could ramble on in this direction with many similar tales related to the ole Marggie Thatcher idea of privatise and deregulatatise (because we can trust them in a free market), but will leave that for others if they wish to expand.

Anyway I have, as a discarded plod, been thinking about "Hoons" we see the term a lot in the newspapers, and some of the TV newsreaders eyes really light up with stern delight as they belt it out at 1815hours. No discrimination, both 7 and 9 here in Melbourne town.

Now this idea needs a lot of massage and scrubbing, but I suggest that instead of paying our hoon the dole (and in a lot of cases we probably are) why in pricipal do we not think of some alternatives, like giving them a job as tram conductors, railway attendants, bobbies on the street. Of course the wage bill would perhaps be greater for some work, but the benefits to the cummunty in easing fear and providing assistance to elderly or infirm would be huge IMVHO. The hoon may even become a much better and caring citizen and not then raise more hoons, Son may even become a tram driver. or perish the thought, go on to Uni and be a Doctor.

And I do concede that a lot of hoons come from good families also. And we are not just thinking hoons but marginalised young people everywhere.

Anyway, getting tired of the term "hoon" for the moment, day of rest and all, but sure we could talk about a lot more on this. Of course not much chance of change this year with an election but lets see if we can stir any water.

Explod, I doubt it will ever happen, largely because governments are too apathetic to organise such a programme.

But I'm with you. It wouldn't work for all these disaffected young people, but would turn around some, if you consider that most of the offensive behaviour comes from boredom and not having a purposeful existence.

It's similar to the approach Noel Pearson is suggesting for aboriginal people, i.e. stop the passive welfare as it breeds a victim mentality and an asocial attitude.

I read recently where a bunch of young offenders in jail were given a dog to look after. As dogs have a way of doing, this one brought out the better aspects of their natures, and a considerable improvement in their behaviour was seen. Apparently, without exception these young men developed a strong bond with the dog. So something for which to be responsible is, I think, pretty necessary to most human beings.

I'm not a hoon but have known of a few. Many of them did not receive any government welfare. Having a disposible income greater than welfare payments better enabled their habit.

I'm sure plenty of people would like to have the conductor jobs and would strongly object to people causing issues to be given jobs.

There's a hoon mentality in a large proportion of tradies, many of whom are making plenty of money.

bassmanpete said:

There's a hoon mentality in a large proportion of tradies, many of whom are making plenty of money.

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A good point, as a youth in the bush there were almost no other cars on the road after dark, had three bad prangs in my first 12 months. Local policeman said to my brother when he was going for his licence, do not drive like that criminal brother of yours. Anyway getting a bit off topic, will give some thought to above good posts.

explod said:

Was talking yesterday on the phone to an old and good friend who I had not had contact with for more than 15 years.

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I think problem is last so many years.
Now people think that dole is their God given right.

You often hear comments that people will not work for $50 dollars difference between the dole and wages as they take dole as something they are owed.

Happy said:

I think problem is last so many years.
Now people think that dole is their God given right.

You often hear comments that people will not work for $50 dollars difference between the dole and wages as they take dole as something they are owed.

Click to expand...

It's even crazier when you consider the Newstart allowance (modern dole) is lower than Austudy, and Austudy starts to cut out when even a small amount of income is earnt from part-time work.

Surely it would be more benficial to better support students who would be highly likely to repay the Austudy investment with tax dollars in the future than to support people who, as a demographic, will be more likely to enter unskilled work which is generally the most at risk in times of recession anyway? It may entice a few people back into study/training schemes that enhance their ability to find work as well, reducing the number of longer term unemployed.

explod said:

Now this idea needs a lot of massage and scrubbing, but I suggest that instead of paying our hoon the dole (and in a lot of cases we probably are) why in pricipal do we not think of some alternatives, like giving them a job as tram conductors, railway attendants, bobbies on the street. Of course the wage bill would perhaps be greater for some work, but the benefits to the cummunty in easing fear and providing assistance to elderly or infirm would be huge IMVHO.

Click to expand...

Not a bad idea explod. It's terrible to see the system, it's workers, commuters generally suffer from poor service, lack of safety and old carriages. To go from a public monopoly to a private monopoly in just a few short years really has shown how terribly mismanaged and run down the train network in Melbourne has become.

Don't know if your idea would get past Veolia or the John Adam Street Gang at Adelphi in London. Probably wouldn't want it chewing into their publicly-funded profits. Also, dole is administered federally whereas Vic Government are in charge of the contracting out of The Met (when it works.)

The Fed and Vic state governments would have to agree on any work-for-the-dole program. Since the Met is not a not-for-profit entity, probably wouldn't qualify as work for the dole program.

But anyway it's worth an email to this guy.
-------> martin.pakula@parliament.vic.gov.au

He claims he will be using the public transport system during his tenure. Hope safety on the system improves.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/ne...-of-journey-home/story-e6frf7jo-1225821793364

Mr Pakula said public transport had worked “pretty well” for him in the past.

“I’ve been … someone who has used the train a couple of dozen times a year, I’ve used the trains around the city, I’ve often caught the bus home from Sandringham station.

“I’ve found the system to be one which is fundamentally a good system, that doesn’t mean it’s perfect.

“Like all commuters, I’ve had times when the train I’ve been on has been extremely crowded, or it has been extremely hot or there’s been delays and I understand why people would be frustrated by that."

Before taking his "park and ride" trip home yesterday, the new Public Transport Minister boarded a tram with Premier John Brumby after he was sworn in at Government House.

Mr Pakula was seen by the Herald Sun getting out of his chauffeur-driven Ford Territory at his home in Black Rock. The bayside suburb is not served by trains, but by connecting buses from Sandringham or Cheltenham.

Mr Pakula said he had caught the train to Cheltenham, where the government car waited to drive him the rest of the way home.

His driver was carrying Department of Transport briefings for the new minister, which he said he intended to read overnight.

"I'll be catching the bus from my home to the station in the morning," Mr Pakula said.

He said the Frankston line train, which he caught at Parliament, had been full, but numbers started to thin out from McKinnon.

Earlier, Mr Pakula said he was under orders from the Premier to be a strong advocate for the travelling public.

Also check this link out from sideswipe in NZ.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10620861

Peter Wharton writes: "The regular one-way fare from Britomart to Mt Smart is $3.80 - so why is it a "deal" to offer a return fare of $10 to the (mostly) young punters travelling to Big Day Out? Seems that Veolia is taking advantage of people's lack of knowledge about train fares. In Melbourne they encourage public transit to major events like the Melbourne Cup by offering free train travel to reduce traffic congestion at the racetrack. Not here in Auckland - we overcharge."

Mmmm. What are their priorities?:iamwithst