Ray's relatives left yesterday morning. As lovely as the couple are, it is a bit of a relief, but also very sad as it is unlikely I will ever see them again. I had three dinners out with them and took them out on two long day trips, and they were very appreciative, and I heard about all the people I know in Ray's northern English city. They have flown to Bali, and four days later supposed to fly via Bahrain to England. Their flight has been cancelled, and alternative arrangements will be made.
A huge security guard company recently collapsed and the owner has fled overseas. We are told they underpaid security immigrant and student workers, insisting the students work more hours than they are allowed. There were many who were not paid. Superannuation was not paid, the responsibility of our tax department, and a huge amount was owed in unpaid taxes. There was sexual harassment of staff and eyes turned blind by the companies that used the security company.
"Has collapsed owing tens of thousands/hundreds of thousands/millions in tax payments to the government", is a phrase we almost hear daily, well maybe weekly. This is an absolute disgrace. It is money lost that will have to made up by all taxpayers. There is really something seriously wrong in our tax department when it lets go unpaid tax and unpaid workers' superannuation for long periods. Never mind that the owner of the company should have had his passport blocked. He won't return to face the music.
I will shop on Thursday before a dental appointment in the afternoon. Otherwise, nothing more this week until Sunday when it will be a great niece's 12th birthday celebration. Ray's and Mother's used to be celebrated at the same time.
A friend is just about to clear from a Covid infection. It is ages since I've heard of anyone having Covid, but the beast is still with us. She was well vaccinated and so her symptoms were mild.
Why does one Yarra Trams tram driver ring the gong seven different times when passing by (to warn flying bats I guess) and the next driver does not ring the gong at all? Yarra Trams provided an excellent service for attendees at the Grand Prix, but bugger the locals. It was awful to try to get anywhere by tram. Thank goodness for the new Metro tunnel train.
The Chinese cult 'religion' Falun Gong has a performance called Shen Yun happening around Australia, in Melbourne at a place I didn't know, but what we call Jeff's Shed. I am bombarded by advertising for the show on YouTube. But let me tell you the organisers, if you want to advertise in Australia, at the very least use Australian voices to promote the show, and not American. I can wear American car advertisements with the steering wheel on the wrong side as the cars travel along beautiful coastal roads, because there is an Australian voice over, and I know the the ads cost a lot to make. It may be an urban myth, but I remember a remark from Germany. 'If you want to buy something from us, we speak perfect English. If you want to sell us something, sorry, we don't understand English'. Not using an Australian voice over for Shen Yun really pisses me off.
Hopefully something less whiny tomorrow.
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Some days just bring out the squeaks, don't they? So many businesses starting in the nearby bigger town we refer to as "money laundering" because we can see absolutely no way they aren't going to go belly up once their usefulness is done - our town is very used to fly by night operators leaving workers high and dry. Unfortunately a depressed local economy (oh, stop me from going on about big players and no small local concerns)
ReplyDeleteIf I cannot fast forward over the ads then at least watching with no sound and just subtitles on screen helps to minimise the annoyance.
ReplyDeleteThe dance group is based in America- they have been touring and coming to Australia for quite a few years now usually about the same time of the year. It’s a wonder you haven’t noticed their advertising before - although it does seem to have reached saturation point this year
ReplyDeleteMany security companies around Australia are run by those with overseas passports.or have links with gangs . Immigrants and overseas students are often employed by people with the same heritage as a supposed favour , but in fact they are treated poorly.. The Vic gov and probably other govs and major events companies have used some of these gangstas . .Obviously licensing of these organisations must be quite loose. I often wonder how all the illegal cigarettes arrive through our borders… what are Customs doing ….do they also use contract labor on the wharves and airports?
ReplyDeleteI also don't understand how so many companies that go into administration owe $$$ in tax, that the will never pay.
ReplyDeleteAnd then there is James Packer; his company made $324m profit last year and he paid himself $110m salary out of that , but paid NO tax on it.
I was bombarded with Shen Yung ads a while back, nearly drove me mad. I labeled them spam for relief.
ReplyDeleteThat's quite a rant! Flights through Doha, Dubai etc the usual routes aren't happening. You have to use a longer route to get to Europe on a non middle eastern airline and pay lots of $$ more. Also Qantas flights will cost more due to petrol increases. So the people who hold you up in Woolies collecting flybys have wasted their time. Good riddance to them. That's my rant.
ReplyDeleteIf his passport had been flagged, he probably would have pled poverty and they would not have paid anyway. All the poor people who did not get paid. Claiming poverty won't do them any good.
ReplyDeleteIt seems our tax department is as corrupt as some companies. Which company was it? Falun Gong had a presence here in Adelaide years ago, I hope they don't come back but they probably have all major cities scheduled.
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