ANZ ATM

I just sent the following to the ANZ, via the ANZ Online Enquies service:

Earlier today I attempted to withdraw funds from my ANZ account, with my ANZ card, at an ANZ ATM. I was given the message that the transaction had timed out, and I should try again.

This would be fine, but my card was retained by an ATM. I contacted ANZ immediately and was offered no explanation as to why my card was taken, and the only option offered to me was a reissued card.

I accept that corporate bureaucracy dictates little flexibility; but since ANZ lies at fault in this situation I was decidedly unimpressed by ANZs refusal to issue my card by Express Post. Expecting me to tolerate a bank error leaving me without my card for a week is extremely poor work on your company's behalf.
I was then asked to obtain a pen and paper to copy down some number; I had already made it clear that I am standing at an ATM, not in an office. When I asked for the number to be sent by email or text message, I was again refused any flexibility.

When banking with the Commonwealth Bank I was subjected to extremely lacklustre customer service, and as a result I ceased banking with them. I had hoped ANZ would prove more worthwhile, and since I opened my accounts last April they have.

I hope that this issue will be resolved with expedience so that I can remain an ANZ customer now and in the future. I'm sure my continued business is worth the cost of an Express Post envelope.

Regards,
Michael

The card arrived, in regular mail. A few days later, I received a phone call from ANZ apologising, but explaining that they don't offer an express option. What they do offer is a courier; which costs $50, but is free if it's a bank error. Since I didn't get my free courier, they're instead going to offer me a free courier next time I need my card replaced and it actually is my fault. I'm happy enough with that.

NSW Police Dangerous Driving Report

So I just emailed NSW Police Customer Assistance, with the following to say about an aggressive and dangerous driver. I didn't mention that I was passing a paddy wagon at the time, nor that I shouted 'Watch what you're f*cking doing' at the top of my lungs and was ignored by the cops standing only meters away.

My inquiry is this: Does the NSW Police website offer the facility to report dangerous driving, to make NSW roads safer? Because I (as a cyclist) was just (10:20 3/12/10) dangerously overtaken by the driver of a silver soft roader (Plate: BBE-75F), where the driver crossed double lines (Hampden Rd Artarmon) into oncoming traffic beside me then leaned on his horn. At the very least, this person deserves a pamphlet reminding him that cyclists are road users, not game to be hunted; the facility to report such incidents could potentially allow for making our roads safer for all road users.

And I heard back!

Michael

If you wish to make a report about the actions of another motorist you should attend a Police Station and make a formal statement setting out the details of the incident. The Police will then interview the registered owner of the vehicle and driver and take action as appropriate. Should the matter proceed to a court hearing, you, as the primary witness, will have to attend court and give evidence proving the offence.

Regards Jim
Customer Assistance Unit.

Marriage Equality

So, someone tweeted me a link reminding me to write to my local MPs on marriage equality. Here's a summary:

Dear Rob,

I know a lot of gay voters in the electorate.

You're a reasonable guy, you probably recognise that the majority of the population supports gay marriage.

It's one more step to removing state sponsored discrimination, which will eventually help to reduce homophobia. That means that students at schools in rural Australia won't have to deal with the same level of consistent abuse as the gay students I knew at Chatham High.

I hope we can all count on you to push for marriage equality.

Yours sincerely,
Michael Kelly

I sent one to Joe Hockey also, but using some more flavored language, as he was recently reported making some unsavoury remarks about gays in the media.

Congratulations, and...

Unable to stand idly by in such an exciting time for Australia, I penned an email to my local member and (now) political power broker Independent Rob Oakeshott about this momentous moment, and who deserves to be granted supply.

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Rob Oakeshott,

Like so many others, I want to congratulate you on your phenomenal win this election, deservingly retaining our electorate; and particularly showing that independents are indeed a powerful force in Australian democracy.

I want to remind you that many like myself are inspired by your leadership, and are looking forward to seeing you represent us in a progressive way.

You know only too well the limitations of the telecommunications network in our area. It's a massive issue around the nation, especially in regional Australia. Around the Manning area, we still have people who can't access ADSL, let alone broadband. These people are still on dial-up, it shows clearly how regional Australia has been ignored and left behind. So many regional Australians have been told that wireless can meet their needs, been duped, and left out of pocket with wireless hardware that is just as slow as dial-up, at several times the price.

We know that the Liberal government's half baked approach to the digital economy will echo Telstra's approach: promising solutions, implementing technology that's doomed to fail, and ignoring the end users pleas and frustration when they are left with a hopeless connection. It is this sort of failed policy on the digital future which will continue to drain the youth out of the regions of Australia, weakening areas like the Manning.

Having been schooled in the area, and having a passion for public education, I am still involved with both of my old schools (Crowdy Head Public and Chatham High) and their students. My dad lives in Crowdy Head, and teaches at several primary schools around the region. He bemoans the lack of permanent facilities; and like so many he is elated at the Education Revolution's construction of permanent classroom facilities. I am naturally cynical toward initiatives that involve the Dept. of Educ and Training, but I can honestly say I was overwhelmingly impressed by the implementation of the laptop per child program. These initiatives have made me all the more excited about becoming a rural/regional public school teacher, in the hope that I will be teaching in a system that is properly funded, and respects the role of the internet in the future of education; made possible my a traditionally egalitarian Rudd/Gillard government.

On the other side of politics, we have a sexist, homophobic racist. An international embarrassment.

The next few years promise to be a fascinating ride, we all look forward to watching on as you and your fellow independents exercise a powerful voice in Australian democracy on behalf of regional Australia and the country at large. I strongly hope that you will vote for the less shameful side of government on supply, such that we needn't be ashamed of our PM, our digital future, or our education system. Equally, I look forward to seeing the government held accountable for every decision they make from here on, by a truly independent balance of power in the House of Representatives.

Regards,
Michael Kelly

Lyne Constituent

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Oakshott's website and email.

Images from Focus Mag and Oakeshott's website respectively.

Email to UN about Alum Mountain

This morning I wrote an email to Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of Indigenous Peoples, James Anaya, about the Bulahdelah bypass.

I haven't time to write anything more in depth this morning; but adding another voice to the discourse can't hurt. James' contact details are as follows:

OHCHR, United Nation
1211 Geneva 10
Switzerland

Tel. + 41 - 22 917 96 47 fax + 41 - 22 917 60 10

Email: indigenous@ohchr.org

[Photo credits go to Wilderness Kev for both images]

There is a bunch of info about the situation if you don't know whats going on or just want to find out more.

Manning Times article on ICAC submissions

NBN Snipped about eviction of traditional owners

FB group: Bulahdelah bypass - The facts

And of course, Google for more info.

Prof. Anaya,

You have probably been contacted by others in relation to the current action by the Roads and Traffic Authority in NSW, Australia to decimate a number of sacred Aboriginal sites. They are planning a highway through the Bulahdelah (Alum) mountain, a landmark significant to local people, but most sacred to Aboriginal people. But it is not just the sacred ancient mountain itself that is under threat; the site also contains the Healing Tree, and the sacred Healing Stream, amongst others.

Our government has an appalling record on Indigenous issue: from the racial genocide upon which Australia was founded, to the dispossession, the stolen generation, race based restrictions on transport and rights, classification of Aboriginal people as fauna, and even the much more recent and continuing military 'intervention' in the Northern Territory, which is largely in contravention of the recommendations of the Little Children Are Sacred report upon which the intervention was allegedly founded.

This government has proven time and time again that it cannot be trusted on issues related to race. I hope that you will make contact with our government and let them know that what they are doing is wrong; they will not listen to us, but maybe they will listen to you.

Regards,
Michael Joseph Kelly

Mos Def, and...

I heard this song on Triple J the other day and tracked it down. It is called Auditorium, and was released by Mos Def, but features Slick Rick. He sings the verse, that made the song stand out to me (I've since tracked down some of his releases). Anyhow I went looking for lyrics to this track, and found none of integrity, so I decided to pen out my own; but it seemed less appropriate when written. You really need to check out the track to get it, because the words merely leave one thinking: 'Huh?'. The relevant section starts at around 2:30.

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Also, un-relatedly, coming up soon (where 'soon' means 'eventually'), what do these images:

Have in common with this one:

Find out about this, and about the effect of our current dual system schools on society, and maybe a little about how to build an atomic bomb; with the launch of some new content at some stage soon. Will be announced.

An odour came in the window thismorning, and has permeated my day. The house began to smell, and when I burst forth expecting fresh air out the back door, I began to dry wretch and the stench only intensified outside. I scampered to the train station, pausing only to cough and hack from the newly induced illness. It resurfaced briefly on the breeze at the platform, before disappearing; leaving only the lingering unpleasantness in my nostrils.

Alas, my freedom was not to last. When I got off the bus, I was again assulted by this smell. Just once, brief but intense, carried on the breeze. I went inside, up to level four, and found a couch. I was now bothered only by the sound of the wind in the eaves, the bright wooden light fixtures above me,and my own difficulty staying awake as I reclined on the expansive grey-brown leather couch.

Image: Entrance stairs to the library (Photocredit: Andreisky) bacause I couldn't find a shot of the couch itself.

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I have a number of significant assesments this week, including an essay and three exams, so it is unlikely that I will find time to express anythign else in the same detail as this. You'll have to make do.

Hope all is well, world.
m'