Canberrans a Security Risk to World Youth Day

Floriade excludes people who don’t like flowers; sporting events exclude people who don’t like sport. You can go along to WYD if you’re not a Catholic – they won’t be asking for your membership card at the door. I’m sure there’ll be quite a few non-Catholics interested in the spectacle, seeing the Pope or even the religious side though they themselves may not be Catholic. (Besides which, Christian churches don’t discriminate against anyone wanting to join).

Deano, I actually agree with you re the actual or realised economic benefits. But let’s base our opinions and decisions on tax-payer contibutions on economics, or other benefits to the community, rather than religion.

The other things you mentioned though GnT (sporting events, Floriade & the like) are generally seen as things all people in the community can be a part of (even if just as a spectator, & of course not everbody is interested). A Catholic event is, well, for Catholics. Isn’t that discriminatory in itself?

I’ve got major issues with my tax dollars helping to fund an event being put on by one of the (if not THE) wealthiest organisations in the world (& don’t get me started on their kiddie fiddling tendancies, any other organisation would have been forcibly closed down worldwide were they to have been as bad in that regard as the Catholic church…but ’cause they’re a reigion we have to somehow excuse them & “let them deal with it themselves”. Pfffttt to that!).

GnT said :

They are supporting a large gathering of people who will contribute to the economy

Except that next year, when the event is held somewhere else, there will be a drain on our economy, and the year after that and the year after that…. Its a zero sum game in the long run.

GnT said :

, just like the Olympics and torch relay, Floriade, Pacific School Games, other sporting events, balloon festival, Rotary conventions, conferences for many varied organisations etc.

There has been no conclusive proof that major events make any significant net positive contribution to the local economy. In fact, there is evidence to the contrary as the reviews into the GMC300 and the Melbourne F1 have found out.

In this case, your tax dollars aren’t helping people practise their faith. They are supporting a large gathering of people who will contribute to the economy, just like the Olympics and torch relay, Floriade, Pacific School Games, other sporting events, balloon festival, Rotary conventions, conferences for many varied organisations etc. By excluding an organisation because they are a religious group, you are being discriminatory.

GnT – sure, practice your faith, but why do my tax dollars have to help you do so? Churches are already tax exempt, pay for your own meetings!

Thumper – yes, we knew Rudd was a Christian, but why single him out? Both major political parties kowtow to the religious right. Hell, Howard was intimately linked to those dodgy f#ckers The Exclusive Brethren. Here’s a book about the Libs’ links to the religious right: http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2005/02/23/1109046981178.html

Or maybe the njust need the carriages in Sydney!!!

I’m sure that, when the Grand Mufti of Mecca decides to hold a World Islamic Knees-Up in Sydney, the government will be most happy and shovel over lots of money for that, too. All they have to do is say they’re Working Families and bingo, free money.

You guys are just as zealous in your anti-religion diatribe as you accuse religious people of being.

The funding argument is the same one applied to any huge public event, including the Olympics. People are coming to Australia (Sydney mostly, but also regional NSW and Canberra) from all over the world, and they will be spending their money here. Not only will it be a direct boost the the economy through tourism, but the exposure to the rest of the world will also benefit the tourism industry. It’s a purely economic argument which has nothing to do with religion.

Part of the separation of church and state is that we are free to practice any religion we like, and are free to gather in large numbers to celebrate our faith. Freedom of religion does not equal no religion. I think some of you need to take a long hard look at your own prejudices before being so critical of others.

I hope that no children are ‘tampered’ with during this giant Catholic ‘love in’.

Is it possible to hijack a train?

I once forewent a few hours of late-night sleep watching the 1993 epic *cough* Death Train starring Pierce Brosnen, Patrick Stewart and Christopher Lee. So yes, if you have a nuclear reactor and a very chunky mobile phone you could perhaps hijack one and drive it around Europe for a while.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0106689/

To be fair, I think you’ll find this was arranged long ago by the now dead Howard Govt, and the NSW Iemma Govt.

Why should the taxpayer pay even 1c for this? What a complete sham! We all knew it already, but this is yet another illustration of the way our governments are co-opted by religious groups. Separation of church and state, anyone?

Fiona said :

It’s not as if you could go up to the driver and say ‘take me to Cuba’.

I concur. Canberra terrorists your new directive is to commandeer a Murray’s/Greyhound coach and proceed to blow it up in Randwick West-bank style.

Will someone please look at their national security hotline fridge magnet and alert them to this thread… it’s obvious they should shut down Jolimont Centre.

I’m sure the Catholic Church could find $150M from its enormous coffers to pay for its own party.

And I was so going to catch the train and blow up the cathy-licks. Bum.

From Crikey:

The estimated cost of the week-long event is $150 million and rising. The biggest single taxpayer-funded contribution is $41 million to the Australian Jockey Club for the use of Randwick racecourse for a full papal mass and for renovations to Warwick Farm.

This outrageous payment could have been avoided if the mass had been held at Olympic Park, the site of the 2000 Olympics at Homebush, as it was originally intended.

But the Catholic elders stiff-armed the Iemma Government which caved in and switched the venue to the inappropriate racetrack. Taxpayers are now footing the bill for that craven stupidity.

Boomacat, the feds are kicking in at least $20 million cash plus in-kind. I think NSW is offering similar cash and in-kind. I saw somewhere SBS was getting an additional $2.5 million to cover the event (which probably includes the broadcast rights fees going to the host broadcaster which in turn go to World Youth Day …) So, at least $50 million from public funds, and probably rising. On top of this, add the NSW and fed security costs for the Pope’s visit.

Hey Boomacat…
How did you go with finding that DC 87 driver to pay for your insurance?

I’d love to know how much public money is being wasted on this religious cr@p.

Even if you did manage to hijack the train, you can’t take it anywhere other than where the rails go. The Raliway Authority would reset the switches and divert the train to some backwater line where it can’t harm the natives and will be easy for the SWAT types to storm.

I believe all the trains are electronically driven these days. Slowing down the speeds of the other trains to allow flow to the other users of the tracks. Same with the lane changes on the tracks which will automatically changed to the other tracks when neccesary. I’m sure you could put it in manual but who would wanna drive that!!!

Fiona said :

Is it possible to hijack a train?

Good point.

It’s not as if you could go up to the driver and say ‘take me to Cuba’.

Is it possible to hijack a train?

EtFb said :

That’s one possible explanation…

One that’s a little more congruent with the reality-based community is that the train goes past the venue for the activities

The venue is Randwick Racecourse – a fair hike from Central Station.

I’m amazed that they’re ashamed to name the event something that reflects what it is. Young Catholics Jamboree or Pope Spectacular or something. World Youth Day is a euphemism. It’s marketing.

That’s one possible explanation…

One that’s a little more congruent with the reality-based community is that the train goes past the venue for the activities, and so could be loaded up with nasty horrid terrorists carrying backpacks full of explosives or — better — nerve gas canisters. (I’m just guessing here – does it really go right past? Is it out west or in the mostly-trainless eastern suburbs?)

Just think! One terrorist attack could wipe out all the young religious believers in Australia and raise the average IQ of the country by ten points…