AUSTRALIA Day might be a little different this year. Instead of the usual celebration of our great nation, Australia Day 2010 could highlight one of our less admirable national characteristics - the desire to boss people around and stop them having fun.
Bottleshops throughout the state have received a police directive requesting that they rule out Australia Day sales of their most popular products - namely standard strength beer, wine and spirits.
Instead, the shops are urged to sell only low-alcohol products. That kind of restriction makes sense in certain crowded circumstances, such as sporting events, where people can easily be put at risk by the close-quarters antics of drunken idiots.
But a statewide limit on normal beer? That's taking things just a tad too far. Moreover, it is also a bid to take away responsibility from adults and place it with heavy-handed authorities.
Nobody doubts that this state could stand to enjoy a few more alcohol-free days during the week, and also to reduce levels of alcohol-fuelled violence. Yet the impetus for these changes must come from the people, not from headmaster-like police notes - which, incidentally, have no legal authority.
Strike a deal
PETER Spencer ate his first meal of the year yesterday.
The southern NSW farmer, on a hunger strike since mid-November over government restrictions on the use of his farm land, finally yielded to the wishes of family and supporters who both believed in Spencer's cause and feared for his life.
Beyond this point, with the strike over but the farm issue unresolved, the Government should renew negotiations with Spencer.
It was appropriate that the Government not be in contact during the strike - it would send a message of encouragement to other would-be hunger strikers - but the ordeal is now at an end.
Let's see if we can't find some middle ground here. Surely a farmer can't be entirely blocked from farming.
Meanwhile, any restaurants within range of Spencer should take the precaution of stocking up. A hungry man is on the loose.
No plain sailor
IF you think making it past the halfway mark of the working week is an achievement, consider the epic journey of Jessica Watson.
The Aussie teen sailor has just made it past Cape Horn in her brave bid to circumnavigate the globe. In another 10 days or so, she'll be at the halfway mark of this massive voyage.
It's never plain sailing when you're alone in a 34-ft vessel on some of the world's wildest seas, but the hardest section of Jessica's trip might now be behind her. She deserves a smooth run home. The surprise visit from her proud parents, Julie and Roger, will spur her on.
Issued by the Daily Telegraph January 14th 2010
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/opinion/fun-police-spoil-australia-day/story-e6frezz0-1225818972136
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