Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 25 of 36
  1. #1
    Member peter000's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Last Online
    15-02-2011 @ 01:24 AM
    Location
    Bribie Island
    Posts
    218

    Mark Webber takes swipe at Australian nanny state

    Australian GP | Mark Webber Takes Swipe At Australian Nanny State

    Mark Webber takes swipe at Australian nanny state
    PAUL MILLAR AND DAVID ROOD
    March 28, 2010 - 11:45PM, the Age

    Mark Webber, who had a frustrating race in yesterday's grand prix, also feels hamstrung by Australia's road rules.

    AS POLICE warned that Victoria was heading for its worst road toll in five years, motor racing driver Mark Webber attacked speeding laws.

    On a weekend where five people died on the state's roads, four involving speed, the grand prix ace said Australia was becoming a nanny state and ''it pisses me off coming back here, to be honest''.

    The Queanbeyan native said that following his return from Europe he had been ''dodging the ridiculous speeding and parking [rules] and all the nanny-state country that we have down here in Australia''.

    The Red Bull driver said Britain's formula one hope Lewis Hamilton had found out very quickly about what you can and cannot do on the roads in Victoria. Hamilton had his Mercedes impounded on Friday night after being caught by police doing burnouts in St Kilda.

    ''It's a great country, but we've got to be responsible for our actions and it's certainly a bloody nanny state when it comes to what we can do,'' Webber said before yesterday's race.

    While the Australian was criticising the state's road laws, Hamilton was apologising for his behaviour.

    The police and the government were making no apologies for what appears to be a losing fight to keep the road toll down.

    Transport Accident Commission Minister Tim Holding said: ''I don't think anyone who has lost a loved one because of road trauma would think that Victoria's anti-hoon laws are too harsh.''

    Victoria's top traffic policeman, Deputy Commissioner Ken Lay, said the state was determined to crack down on hoon driving.

    ''We have one of the safest road systems in the world and target aggressive driving and we make no apology for that,'' he said.

    Premier John Brumby said the state had road rules for good reason, to ensure public safety and protect lives.

    But Webber felt Australians increasingly were being tied up by rules.

    ''I think we've got to read an instruction book when we get out of bed - what we can do and what we can't do … put a yellow vest on and all that sort of stuff,'' he said.

    Victoria's road toll stands at 78, compared with 67 for the same time last year.

    ''Every day we're getting a fatal,'' Mr Lay said, while warning that police would blitz roads in the lead-up to and over the Easter break.

    He hoped to keep the annual road toll to under 300 but it was a tough task.

    ''We are now on track for our worst road toll for more than five years,'' he said.

  2. #2
    Member

    Join Date
    May 2009
    Last Online
    10-12-2015 @ 01:29 PM
    Posts
    354
    I feel sorry for the Aussies. England went that way long ago.

  3. #3
    Thailand Expat
    Marmite the Dog's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Last Online
    08-09-2014 @ 10:43 AM
    Location
    Simian Islands
    Posts
    34,827
    Quote Originally Posted by peter000
    Victoria's road toll stands at 78, compared with 67 for the same time last year.
    Quote Originally Posted by peter000
    ''Every day we're getting a fatal,''
    Short years in Aus...

  4. #4
    R.I.P
    Mr Lick's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Last Online
    25-09-2014 @ 02:50 PM
    Location
    Mountain view
    Posts
    40,028
    Quote Originally Posted by Marmite the Dog View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by peter000
    Victoria's road toll stands at 78, compared with 67 for the same time last year.
    Quote Originally Posted by peter000
    ''Every day we're getting a fatal,''
    Short years in Aus...



    It appears that the casualty figures relate to 2010 and not a full year.

    It is difficult to understand what Mark Webber meant when he mentioned that people have to take responsiblity for their actions.
    Does he mean after someone has been killed on the road? If so then both him and Lewis Hamilton are seriously out of touch with government policy relating to reducing the number of road deaths.

    'Nanny State' is sometimes a convenient phrase used by the uneducated to criticise the work of good people. If it seems a trifle inconvenient for some drivers to conform with the traffic laws in Australia then maybe they should seriously either hire a chauffeur or hand in their driving licence.

    Maybe he would think differently if he had to attend the funeral of someone he had killed on the road as a result of his failure to comply with the governments traffic laws. Convenience before lives? Get a life Mr Webber!
    Last edited by Mr Lick; 29-03-2010 at 04:04 PM.

  5. #5
    Have you got any cheese Thetyim's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    Mousehole
    Posts
    20,893
    Quote Originally Posted by peter000
    Premier John Brumby said the state had road rules for good reason, to ensure public safety and protect lives.
    The Hoon Law is badly thought out.
    I was reading about someone who took a test drive from a car showroom and the car was impounded under Hoon law. They punished the car/dealer not the driver

  6. #6
    Member peter000's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Last Online
    15-02-2011 @ 01:24 AM
    Location
    Bribie Island
    Posts
    218
    Quote Originally Posted by Thetyim View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by peter000
    Premier John Brumby said the state had road rules for good reason, to ensure public safety and protect lives.
    The Hoon Law is badly thought out.
    I was reading about someone who took a test drive from a car showroom and the car was impounded under Hoon law. They punished the car/dealer not the driver
    It is indeed a poorly framed law if the owner of the car suffers, rather than the driver. It must create some interesting times with hire-car companies as well.

  7. #7
    Thailand Expat
    crippen's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Last Online
    11-07-2021 @ 08:32 PM
    Location
    Korat
    Posts
    5,211
    It is obvious the Aus. Police are no good at their job.! Time to sack them??

  8. #8
    Thailand Expat
    jamescollister's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Last Online
    29-06-2020 @ 09:33 PM
    Location
    Bunthrik Ubon
    Posts
    4,764
    Have to say Victoria/Aust. seems to have got its priotities all mixed up.Little things incur on the spot fines, 3 km over the speed limit, failure to vote,sleeping or drinking on a beach, plus a thousand other minor offences. Yet get assaulted,stabbed, burgaled etc and not a Police Officer to be seen and if they just happen to catch them. A few harsh words from the court and on your way. No money in sending crims to jail, but plenty of it from joe citizen who has a job etc. He has to pay or loss his home, job. a sad state of affairs for law abiding people. Jm

  9. #9
    Thailand Expat
    BobR's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Last Online
    19-03-2020 @ 02:26 AM
    Posts
    7,762
    Nanny State bastards, it's the quality of life, not the quantity that is important. I like these stories, they remind me how lucky I am to be here.

  10. #10
    R.I.P
    Mr Lick's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Last Online
    25-09-2014 @ 02:50 PM
    Location
    Mountain view
    Posts
    40,028
    It may prove difficult to judge the quality of life of someone who has been killed in a road accident due to the reckless behaviour of another.

    Many posters here are vehemently opposed to the lackadaisical approach by the government in Thailand concerning road safety. Tens of thousands of people die here every year on the road simply because nobody cares.
    At one time or another probably all of us who travel here have been more than a little puzzled with the behaviour of some of Thailand's motorists. It is almost a daily occurrence.

    In complete contrast should Australians whinge about their own government merely because they do care?

    I'm with Ken Lay on this one. One road death due to reckless behaviour is one death too many.

    I wish him and his team good luck in their attempt to reduce road casualty figures. Unlike the Minister of Land Transportation here they are doing something positive.

  11. #11
    Thailand Expat jandajoy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Last Online
    02-11-2016 @ 08:50 AM
    Posts
    19,595
    Quote Originally Posted by jamescollister
    Have to say Victoria/Aust. seems to have got its priotities all mixed up.Little things incur on the spot fines, 3 km over the speed limit, failure to vote,sleeping or drinking on a beach, plus a thousand other minor offences. Yet get assaulted,stabbed, burgaled etc and not a Police Officer to be seen and if they just happen to catch them. A few harsh words from the court and on your way. No money in sending crims to jail, but plenty of it from joe citizen who has a job etc. He has to pay or loss his home, job. a sad state of affairs for law abiding people. Jm
    Purely out of curiosity, mate. How much time have you spent in Melbourne? Let alone Vic.?

  12. #12
    ...................
    sunsetter's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Last Online
    12-05-2020 @ 12:15 AM
    Location
    underneath the sun
    Posts
    7,032
    webbers a top bloke, worked for him a couple of years ago, never been to aus, and if the laws are like this i dont want to live there thats for sure

    thailands good enough for me
    Last edited by sunsetter; 29-03-2010 at 11:22 PM.

  13. #13
    On a walkabout Loy Toy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Last Online
    @
    Posts
    30,531
    Well if those that think that this type of behavoir in a public place is acceptable then so be it.




    And Webber needs to think about what comes out of his mouth and stick to concentrating on winning more races for his very patient employers.

  14. #14
    ...................
    sunsetter's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Last Online
    12-05-2020 @ 12:15 AM
    Location
    underneath the sun
    Posts
    7,032
    ^ bloody hell!



    Quote Originally Posted by Loy Toy
    stick to concentrating on winning more races for his very

    patient employers.
    im with you there mate

  15. #15
    Thailand Expat

    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Last Online
    17-02-2012 @ 04:10 PM
    Posts
    1,304
    If Governments had any sense, Shit I should stop there cause IF is a bloody big word

    anyhow folk want to do this kind of thing,

    So why not have dedicated areas at which this can be safely executed,

    They extract enough dosh from them anyway in revenue

  16. #16
    Thailand Expat
    Bower's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Last Online
    15-10-2020 @ 05:33 PM
    Location
    South coast UK
    Posts
    3,018
    He should learn to drive too, or retire from F1. pref' the latter.
    His driving is and always has been atrocious.

  17. #17
    On a walkabout Loy Toy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Last Online
    @
    Posts
    30,531
    Quote Originally Posted by TSR2
    So why not have dedicated areas at which this can be safely executed,
    As far as I know they have drag tracks and other organized safe venues where you can go and hoon yourself (or kill yourself) until your hearts content.

  18. #18
    Thailand Expat

    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Last Online
    17-02-2012 @ 04:10 PM
    Posts
    1,304
    Then they are assholes

  19. #19
    Tonguin for a beer
    Bung's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Last Online
    25-09-2016 @ 09:58 PM
    Location
    Wat Bung
    Posts
    3,845

    Road skid rap for Lewis Hamilton
    The roads minister of Victoria in Australia has used strong language to criticise Lewis Hamilton after his road car was impounded by Melbourne police.
    Minister Tim Pallas made the comment on the day that Victoria launched a new road safety campaign.
    The Formula 1 racing driver, who was arrested on Friday, is expected to be charged with improper use of a vehicle.
    Mr Hamilton, who was in the country for the Australian Grand Prix, has apologised for his "over-exuberance".
    'Nanny state'
    Mr Pallas criticised the 25-year-old British racing driver on the day that Victoria launched a Don't Be a Dickhead road safety campaign.
    Asked whether Lewis Hamilton met that description, he said: "OK, I'll say it. He's a dickhead."
    But Australian driver Mark Webber has defended his fellow competitor, saying his homeland had become a nanny state, with ridiculous parking and speeding rules.


    Hamilton was arrested hours after he recorded the quickest time in Friday's Australian Grand Prix practice.
    His time of 1:26.801 was 0.25 seconds quicker than McLaren team-mate and current world champion Jenson Button.
    As Hamilton drove away from the circuit to his team's hotel, police constable Scott Woodford said his rear wheels were skidding as he accelerated.
    "Given that Melbourne's on the world stage with a lot of interstate and international visitors, we would expect drivers to observe road rules," he said.
    A Victoria police spokesman said the Mercedes was seen to "deliberately lose traction".
    McLaren's 2008 Formula 1 world champion admitted: "I was driving in an over-exuberant manner and, as a result, was stopped by the police.
    "What I did was silly, and I want to apologise for it."


    'Wild side'
    It is not the first time Hamilton's driving has put him in trouble with the police. In 2007, his car was impounded in France after he was caught speeding.
    Earlier this month, Hamilton insisted there would be no "wild side" to his character emerging following his decision that his father Anthony should no longer manage his career.
    "I don't think so," Hamilton remarked at the time. "I am who I am. I don't think anybody has stopped me from being who I wanted to be.
    "When I arrived in the sport, I didn't go out and buy a million different cars, I took my time.
    "Maybe I might buy one car this year, who knows. But that's not being wild.
    "I've still got the same girl, I race for the same team and I've still the same dedication and determination."



    "Don't be a dickhead"


    Who comes up with this stuff?
    Fahn Cahn's

  20. #20
    Member

    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Last Online
    29-10-2012 @ 08:21 PM
    Location
    Wonderland
    Posts
    676
    Aussies are also censoring the internet to keep the bad stuff away from their citizens.

    In other news, the metropolitan Police in Britain now requires internet shops to keep track of who's coming and going _and_ report "suspicious" activity, all in the name of fighting terrorism.

    They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

  21. #21
    Member

    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Last Online
    03-09-2023 @ 06:06 AM
    Posts
    291
    Hoon Law: poorly thought out and executed.
    Speeding laws: outsourced entrapment and revenue management after the event.
    Regulators need to identify and advertise blackspots, then manage excessive speed at the source, BEFORE it happens, utilising obvious and colourful signage and cameras.
    Won't happen, it would mean giving up revenue and having to admit their failure and culpability in increasing road deaths!

  22. #22
    Thailand Expat
    kmart's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Last Online
    03-10-2022 @ 11:24 AM
    Location
    Rayong.
    Posts
    11,498
    Quote Originally Posted by Mr Lick View Post



    'Nanny State' is sometimes a convenient phrase used by the uneducated to criticise the work of good people. If it seems a trifle inconvenient for some drivers to conform with the traffic laws in Australia then maybe they should seriously either hire a chauffeur or hand in their driving licence.

    Maybe he would think differently if he had to attend the funeral of someone he had killed on the road as a result of his failure to comply with the governments traffic laws. Convenience before lives? Get a life Mr Webber!
    Trying to reduce road casualties is a noble cause.
    "Nanny State" is a criticism that entails a lot more than just road rules and behaviour though. Australia's recent move to censor the Internet come to mind.

    The UK is close to a nanny state because of creeping erosion of people's basic rights and privacy, swept in under the table wrapped up in "anti-terror" flags and the like. Politicians always seek to assimilate, homogenize, and impose uniformity to make their jobs and revenue easier.
    Anyone criticizing these people are quite often labelled un-patriotic; racist; and uneducated. Glad you seem to trust them implicitly though.

  23. #23
    Newbie
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Last Online
    29-05-2013 @ 05:49 PM
    Posts
    30
    Tis a shame that politicians here in Aus seem to target minorities and other easy targets with their new laws then go public and crow about what wonderful pro active pollies they are .......... while all the hard questions like violence on our streets in clubs etc., illegal migration, islamic proponents undermining our culture, and our indigenous population problems just keep on keeping on unaddressed !!!!!!! (now I get off my soap box)

  24. #24
    Thailand Expat
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Last Online
    @
    Posts
    38,456
    To the best of my knowledge, no Banks and Corporates have needed to be bailed out by the taxpayer in Australia. So hardly a Nanny state.

    The Police are a pain in the arse though.

  25. #25
    Thaiguy
    Guest
    Quote Originally Posted by Thetyim View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by peter000
    Premier John Brumby said the state had road rules for good reason, to ensure public safety and protect lives.
    The Hoon Law is badly thought out.
    I was reading about someone who took a test drive from a car showroom and the car was impounded under Hoon law. They punished the car/dealer not the driver
    I find this very hard to believe ? - if true there must be a lot more to it than you have published ? - I would like to view the original report.

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •