Pete's Logic

Desperate for cash, unable to gouge the power companies for more and needing $1.5 billion extra every year to fix the public health system they stuffed up, what is Queensland Premier Peter Beattie's answer?

More pokies.

Fix a health problem by feeding a gambling addiction? Good thinking - that'll really help the bottom line. Reminds me of the only time I ever agreed with something said under the name of Whitlam:

And I wish I wish I knew the right words
To blow up the pokies and drag them away
'Cause they're taking the food off your table
So they can say that the trains run on time

Rejecting suggestions that more gambling doesn't only mean more cash for the coffers but also more social problems, Premier Beattie mumbles: "I'm hopeful that people don't gamble..." then continues: "in terms of gambling unfortunately it's a choice and... we do have programs... to discourage people."

Unfortunately, his words ring as hollow as saying, for instance, one wishes drivers wouldn't speed when speed cameras raise millions in revenue each year.

And on that subject, here are a couple of little predictions: Within six months Beattie's boys will be plugging fixed speed cameras into that nice fibre cable they've got running down the 'motorway' from Brisbane to the Gold Coast and Queensland will follow Victoria's example and drop the margin for driver speed error from the traditional 10 per cent to a fixed 3kmh over the limit. They should be nice little earners too.

-- Nick