Vegas police are big users of license plate readers. Public has little input because it’s a gift.

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department quietly entered an agreement in 2023 with Flock Security, an automated license plate reader company that uses cameras to collect vehicle information and cross-reference it with police databases. Unlike many of the other police departments around the country that use the cameras in their police work, Metro funds the project with donor money funneled into a private foundation.

The Nevada Independent

If Australia had implemented a resource tax regime similar to Norway’s — particularly Norway’s sovereign wealth fund model built on high taxes and royalties from oil and gas — the country would likely be substantially wealthier and more economically resilient today. Here’s a breakdown of the key differences and what Australia might look like under such a model:

What Norway Did Right

Norway’s approach to resource wealth is often cited as world-leading. Key features include:
1. High Resource Rent Tax: Norway imposes a 78% effective tax on oil company profits (including corporate tax and a special petroleum tax).
2. Sovereign Wealth Fund (The Government Pension Fund Global):
• Started in the 1990s.
• Now worth over US$1.6 trillion.
• Invests globally for long-term returns.
• Explicitly designed to benefit current and future generations.
3. Strict Regulation & Transparency: The system is managed transparently, with strong public oversight and limited corruption.

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