Discrimination Questions

The dictionary defines equality as “the quality of being the same in quantity or measure or value or status”. When the Australian states granted women the vote starting in 1902, Australia started incorporating laws to instil equality into the Australian legal system. Equality in the law however, does not mean the same treatment for all. The purpose of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1991 is “to promote equality of opportunity for everyone by protecting them from unfair discrimination in certain areas of activity”. Therefore discrimination is allowable in certain areas. Under certain circumstances one can be discriminated against based on sex, age, marital status, religion, the list goes on. Does the anti-discrimination act actually stop discrimination or does it just muddy the waters? Discrimination is exceptable policy in order to promote equality for those who have a disability or being indigenous. However, is this really equality or just a massive contradiction?

Assignments and Exams

It is now the end of semester 1. Looking back it has come all too quickly. It seems like only yesterday I was wondering what the subjects were about. Today I'm supposed to know it! That of course isn't the case so over the next two weeks I will be doing 3 things.

1. Finishing my 3 assignments that I have due.
2. Trying to memorise everything about planning, environmental law and microbiology.
3. Panicking!

All I can say is that I'll be glad when this semester is over.

Welcome to Old Age...

Welcome to Old Age read a text I received from my brother wishing me a happy 30th birthday.  It's odd though.  I don't feel 30.  I don't feel 29.  To be honest I probably feel like I'm about 15 and still wondering what I'm going to be doing with my life.

One thing about turning 30 is that you have to reevaluate your life.  That's what I've started doing with a birthday resolution to get fit and healthy.  I've been 30 for 3 days now and the only thing I've done to get me towards that goal is only had one limited my fast food intake.  I've got to do more, I know that.  It's just getting started.  I've jotted down things I want to accomplish by the time I'm 30.  Some of the items are:

1.  Put more effort in to uni studies and finish all assignments with at least 3 days for proof-reading.

2.  Exercise every day for at least 30 minutes.

3.  Limit my intake of fast food and carbonated beverages.

So far I've only come up with 3 but I'm still working on them.  I know I've got to make changes to realign my life with what I want to do.  I've just got to work out how.

When it rains it pours!

Today it rained. Actually, It didn’t just rain. It poured. I woke up at about 5:30 this morning to hear it tapping against my window. Since then it hasn’t stopped coming down. I went down to the shops today and large puddles had formed over the road and a street near where I live had flooded. Water was over the road to about a foot in height. Since 6 am this morning 113mm of rain has fallen over the coast (the uni campus to be exact). That’s quite a bit for one day. The BOM also has a warning out which has been realized.

Sunshine Coast
Forecast for Thursday
A severe weather warning has been issued for dangerous surf conditions, flash flooding and local stream rises.
Rain periods with some heavy falls. Windy with fresh and gusty E to SE'ly winds. Dangerous beach conditions.
Precis: Rain periods, windy Max 24
UV Alert: 8:40 am to 3:10 pm, UV Index predicted to reach 9 [Very High]

It’s supposed to hang around for the next couple of days in the form of showers. Looks like I'm going to have to buy a new umbrella!

Queensland Election 2009

Today was the day of the election for Queensland and I've just read that the ALP has once again been returned to power with Anna Bligh becoming the first woman premier in Queensland's history.

I cast my vote this morning and voted first for the Greens candidate, with my preferences firstly going to the LNP and the the ALP.  I put my preferences like that as Jarrod Bleijie was at the Sippy Downs polling station.  He introduced himself, smiled and shook my hand as I entered.  That's the first time I've seen a politician at any polling station so for that, he got my vote.  

Even though I put the ALP last I'm glad that they got back in, but also that there was more than a 3% swing against them.  This means that there is more of an opposition and although Labour is still in it's not totally one sided like it has been in the past.

First Test of the Year

I've just come back from my first test of the year.  This week is only the 4th week in but the only study I did for it was about half an hour before bed last night.  This one was on microbiology and included things like how they multiply, different types, energy sources and reproduction techniques.  Once again speaking to some of the other people who took the exam makes me think I could have done better although I'll just have to wait and see when the results come out.

Coke

The price of coke went up in the uni vending machines today.  Before it was $2.40 for a 600mL and now there has been a massive jump up to $2.80.  It may sound small but for a student it is a massive rise.  Looks like it's being priced out of my market.

Library Shelver Interview

I've just come back from an interview to become a shelver at the USC library. I applied for it last week and didn’t really expect to hear anything back from them. After all, you look at the pay scales and see that people under 21 will get paid $10 an hour while those over 21 get pad $20. There are thousands of kids under 21 at the uni so I’m sure that a lot of them applied for the position. That was why I was surprised to get the call. It’s only 4 – 8 hours a week but it would be great if I got it. There is only one position and 200 people applied. Out of that I believe that they interviewed around 15. I went for the interview where they told me what they expected and asked me a couple of questions about how I would conduct myself if I was working there. Then there was a shelving test where I had to put a load of books in order and remove those that were for the reserved section. That’s where I always get worried. They were timing it so I had to be quick but I also had to stick them in the correct order. I think I did it okay although I only checked once. I know it’s easier to say but it was an interview and I felt nervous as I had to do it in a really fast time. Fingers crossed though! Now I just have to wait and see.

NB - I’ve just found out I didn’t get the position. I was told that I interviewed very well but made two mistakes with the shelving and only scored 28 out of 30. There was someone else who put everything in its place correctly so they were offered the position. Never mind… looks like it did come down to me.

Starting Class

My classes have now all started. I’m doing four all up, Environmental Planning and Law, Justice and the Australian Legal System, Health Promotion Needs Assessment and Planning, and Microbiology. They are all pretty heavy going and it seems like there will be a lot more work with these subjects than there was with some of the ones I did last semester. So far the planning subject is the most confusing one. I’ve been to two lectures and a tutorial and so far haven’t understood a word. It seems the subject, from what I gather by speaking to others taking the class, is about the merits of the planning system and how it tries to allow for both environmentally sustainable development and development that is environmentally sustainable. Believe me these are two totally different things despite sounding almost identical. If you read the definitions of the planning act they actually have these listed as two separate ideas or concepts. As I say, it’s quite confusing.

Back to Varsity

I’ve now been back in Varsity Apartments for a week after leaving for the holiday break last year. Uni started this week and so I’ve been heading to the lectures and tutorials of my new subjects. The return back to study has been quite uneventful. This semester I’m taking four different subjects. Environmental Planning and Law, Justice and the Australian Legal System, Health Promotion Planning and Assessment and Microbiology. Even though the first week has just finished, both of the lectures for my legal subjects were pretty heavy going. Even more so than microbiology. Acts and legislation isn’t that exciting at the best of times. The lectures consisted of the teacher explaining different sections of the planning act or how legislation gives power to enforcement agencies, however, if the words ‘where possible’ or ‘when possible’ are in there, a loophole exists that any solicitor or lawyer can get out of. This year I’m sure will be tougher than the last so I’m going to have to buckle down. I won’t be able to leave any until a couple of days before. Now I’ve just got to put my mind to it.