Future Fund Invests in Tobacco

Hypocrisy reigns. The Australian Government is bringing in extremely tough smoking laws, yet investment in tobacco companies is seen to be alright.

In 2006 the then Coalition Government set up a future fund. Its goals were to fund future costs of pensions for public servants, judges and so on. A look at the books as shown that the fund's managers deem holding shares in 14 tobacco companies to be a good thing. They obviously don't think the Government's actions to ban tobacco firms from putting their name on cigarette packets will lead to a fall in profit nor affect secure future operations.

Tobacco investment is only 0.5 per cent of total investment. However, it is unethical and it goes against Government policy. While making the highest return is written into fund guidelines, the body is supposed to be monitored by the Treasurer. There seems to be a difference of opinion between the Prime Minister and Treasurer. The Prime Minister fully supports the name and logo ban initiative, but the Treasurer said, "...the Future Fund takes its investment decisions at arms length of the government."

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~~~~~Politics~~~~~

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Dogs Are Still Banned From Restaurants

Laws which ban dogs from indoor and food preparation areas in food and beverage businesses will remain in place. This is the fact despite claims to the contrary by some. Only companion dogs, i.e., dogs for blind people will be allowed in "outdoor" dining areas, and then only with strict conditions. Dogs must be kept on a leash at all time. They must not be permitted to sit on chairs or tables.

The NSW Government has enacted laws for business owners to consider whether a blind person with a trained guide dog can enter an outdoor dining area. The new laws obviously apply to those cafes which have tables set up on the footpath, in malls for example. It is rare for restaurants per se to have outdoor eating areas, but some takeaway chains do have them. It is not unusual to see a dog in children's play and eating areas outside McDonald's in other states. Unless there is a complaint authorities rarely act. There definitely would be a complaint if a dog was wandering in a restaurant. Indeed, patrons would get up and leave.

A dog must pant, in some dogs because of breeding this is continuous, to send cooling air over glands on its tongue. The cooling air cools the body. In doing this a dogs tends to drool with saliva steadily dripping from its mouth. Laws prohibit dogs from food preparation areas because of the drooling. That is why there is no law banning cats.

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