| JULY 2008 Pages - Page 29 |
| THIS IS PAGE 29 OF JULY 2008 PAGES - JULY0829 |
| WHAT A DIFFERENCE A HALF PAGE MAKES !!! |
| Illawarra Mercury 26 July 2008 |
| Angela Thompson, Kody's parents hoping for a miracle, Illawarra Mercury, 26 July 2008 |
| Mario Christodoulou Iemma checks with ICAC, but stands by Hay Illawarra Mercury, 26 July 2008 |
MAN IN LABOR - CAN'T GET OUT
A Newcastle man is in Labor.
He doesn't know how he got there.
However, attempts to remove the pain,have so far been unsuccessful.
One thing he is sure of though - he didn't pay the $60-00 membership fee to get into the predicament he is now in.
see : Greg Ray , ALP branch-stacking allegations , Newcastle Herald, 26 July 2008.
A Newcastle man is in Labor.
He doesn't know how he got there.
However, attempts to remove the pain,have so far been unsuccessful.
One thing he is sure of though - he didn't pay the $60-00 membership fee to get into the predicament he is now in.
see : Greg Ray , ALP branch-stacking allegations , Newcastle Herald, 26 July 2008.
| ELECTORATE BUDGET ALLOCATIONS - 2008/09 We noticed that immediately the NSW State Budget was announced MP's were either crowing about the funds allocated to their electorates, or bemoaning the amount allocated. Anyway, because we always believe in independently checking any claims,we set about ascertaining for ourselves what the situation was. AND let me say - it wasn't easy !!!. There are no documents available from Treasury which set out the amounts allocated to each electorate. Indeed,we were advised by Treasury that budget allocations are not made on an electorate basis. Therefore it was necessary for us to trawl through the budget papers and come up with (to the best of our ability) the allocations which happened to fall within particular electorates. In closely populated areas it was almost impossible to define which electorate might benefit from a particular allocation . However, in respect of regional and rural electorates it was much easier - because of the huge areas involved in each electorate. In the end we were reasonably satisfied we had got it right in respect of 25 electorates. So we prepared a league table - from the highest allocation to the lowest allocation. That LEAGUE TABLE is now available on this website [ HERE ] We have done our best - but can't guarantee we are 100% accurate. As Treasury informed us : "Decisions on spending allocations are not determined according to electoral boundaries. Rather, spending decisions on essential government goods and services are based on community needs and government priorities, which will change over time. Factors which determine spending allocations include demand for services, population and economic growth, changing demographics and technology." With those limitations in mind, one can assess the claims of the skiters and the bemoaners. For what's it worth - of the 25 electorates we examined : No 1 on the League Table was Albury with $410 million and No 25 was Tweed with $40 million. The electorates making up the 25 were : Albury , Ballina , Barwon , Bathurst , Bega , Burrinjuck , Cessnock , Clarence , Coffs Harbour , Dubbo , Goulburn , Lismore , Monaro , Murray Darling , Murrumbidgee , Myall Lakes , Northern Tablelands , Orange , Oxley , Port Macquarie, South Coast , Tamworth , Tweed , Upper Hunter and Wagga . SEE ALSO : 2008 NSW BUDGET ALLOCATIONS - www.independent-nsw.com EXHAUSTION SETS IN - BUT RELIEF FLOWS , www.independent-nsw.com, July 2008 page 19. |
REES IS STILL THE ONE
John Watkins MP (Ryde) , NSW Deputy Premier, is remaining loyal to Morris Iemma in the power struggle.
He told a media gathering on Sunday 27 July 2008, in relationship to leadership :-
"We've been through this in many forums in many places and there is many different ways of asking the
question, but I'm certain the answer to that is no. My task is to be the deputy premier of NSW and that's
what I'm absolutely committed to. I'm absolutely committed to Morris Iemma as premier of this state
because he's the best person for the job. Morris has made very clear that he's there for the long haul,
my job is to support him in that and I'm very proud and pleased to do so."
The Iemma government is on track (heading in the direction) for a minimum 10% swing against it at
the 2011 NSW general election.
A uniform swing of 10% would see John Watkins lose the seat of Ryde. He has the additional problem, that
life-long Labor voters in Ryde are now declaring they will not vote for him in 2011, and are actively
campaigning against him.
Whilst at one stage we were advocating John Watkins as a replacement for the mis-Leader, we ditched him when he acted beyond lawful power,
and signed the fascist annoying regulations.
For us - Nathan Rees is still the one.
John Watkins MP (Ryde) , NSW Deputy Premier, is remaining loyal to Morris Iemma in the power struggle.
He told a media gathering on Sunday 27 July 2008, in relationship to leadership :-
"We've been through this in many forums in many places and there is many different ways of asking the
question, but I'm certain the answer to that is no. My task is to be the deputy premier of NSW and that's
what I'm absolutely committed to. I'm absolutely committed to Morris Iemma as premier of this state
because he's the best person for the job. Morris has made very clear that he's there for the long haul,
my job is to support him in that and I'm very proud and pleased to do so."
The Iemma government is on track (heading in the direction) for a minimum 10% swing against it at
the 2011 NSW general election.
A uniform swing of 10% would see John Watkins lose the seat of Ryde. He has the additional problem, that
life-long Labor voters in Ryde are now declaring they will not vote for him in 2011, and are actively
campaigning against him.
Whilst at one stage we were advocating John Watkins as a replacement for the mis-Leader, we ditched him when he acted beyond lawful power,
and signed the fascist annoying regulations.
For us - Nathan Rees is still the one.
GOOD READ - ON HOMELESSNESS
Tanya Plibersek MP (NSW federal Sydney) has written an article on homelessness, which demonstrates she has a far greater understanding of
the problem than PM Rudd.
It is worth reading.
see : Tanya Plibersek, Getting off the streets for good , Sun-Herald, 27 July 2008.
Tanya Plibersek MP (NSW federal Sydney) has written an article on homelessness, which demonstrates she has a far greater understanding of
the problem than PM Rudd.
It is worth reading.
see : Tanya Plibersek, Getting off the streets for good , Sun-Herald, 27 July 2008.
MIS-LEADER CON'S STUDENTS
When a politician makes a promise at election time, it is reasonable for voters to assume, unless the politician states otherwise, the promise will
be delivered by the time the next election comes around.
When the promise is made by the Premier, unless otherwise stated, it is almost axiomatic the promise will be delivered in the next 4 years.
During the 2007 NSW election the mis-Leader of NSW Labor (and Premier at the time) Morris Iemma MP (Lakemba) promised :
A hall for every primary school with more than 500 students, and a gymnasium or hall for every high school with more than 900 students.
Fast forward to July 2008, and not one of the 52 new public school halls and gyms promised has been delivered, although one of the 52 is
expected to be delivered at the end of 2008.
Ask what is happening and the usual reply comes from the mis-Leader: "They are at the planning stage".
Just like the new Parkes Hospital, which the mis-Leader (at that time Health Minister) promised would begin construction in 2007 -but will not have
construction started in 2008 - because it is still "in planning", and still does not have an estimated start date.
IT is difficult to ascertain who is the more morally blameworthy - Iemma for making the promise or us (the community) for believing anything Iemma
says.
Iemma can't offer the excuse he has been unable to build the halls because the Unions etc have denied him the money (by refusing to allow the
sell off of electricity) to be able to pay for them. He certainly didn't tell the community that his election promises were to be financed out of the
proceeds of sale of the electricity assets. Indeed, he told Unions just before the 2007 election, that the electricity assets would not be sold.
Once again - who is more morally blameworthy - Iemma for telling Unions electricity assets would not be sold , or the Unions for believing him
when he said that.
see :
Lisa Carty , Halls of shame: schools still wait for state , Sun-Herald, 20 July 2008.
When a politician makes a promise at election time, it is reasonable for voters to assume, unless the politician states otherwise, the promise will
be delivered by the time the next election comes around.
When the promise is made by the Premier, unless otherwise stated, it is almost axiomatic the promise will be delivered in the next 4 years.
During the 2007 NSW election the mis-Leader of NSW Labor (and Premier at the time) Morris Iemma MP (Lakemba) promised :
A hall for every primary school with more than 500 students, and a gymnasium or hall for every high school with more than 900 students.
Fast forward to July 2008, and not one of the 52 new public school halls and gyms promised has been delivered, although one of the 52 is
expected to be delivered at the end of 2008.
Ask what is happening and the usual reply comes from the mis-Leader: "They are at the planning stage".
Just like the new Parkes Hospital, which the mis-Leader (at that time Health Minister) promised would begin construction in 2007 -but will not have
construction started in 2008 - because it is still "in planning", and still does not have an estimated start date.
IT is difficult to ascertain who is the more morally blameworthy - Iemma for making the promise or us (the community) for believing anything Iemma
says.
Iemma can't offer the excuse he has been unable to build the halls because the Unions etc have denied him the money (by refusing to allow the
sell off of electricity) to be able to pay for them. He certainly didn't tell the community that his election promises were to be financed out of the
proceeds of sale of the electricity assets. Indeed, he told Unions just before the 2007 election, that the electricity assets would not be sold.
Once again - who is more morally blameworthy - Iemma for telling Unions electricity assets would not be sold , or the Unions for believing him
when he said that.
see :
Lisa Carty , Halls of shame: schools still wait for state , Sun-Herald, 20 July 2008.
D-DAY FAST APPROACHES - RUMOURS FLY
D-Day (Ditch Day) Saturday 13 September 2008 fast approaches.
The closer it gets, the faster the rumours fly.
In Sydney City Council, it is necessary to understand how the "system" works.
There are 10 councillors to be elected.
The first position is that of Lord Mayor - elected by a separate popular ballot.
The other 9 councillors are elected by a council wide ballot, with a quota of 10.1%.
Although the local press are trying to beat up some interest in the Lord Mayoral ballot, by billing it as the "battle of the ladies" (incumbent Clover
Moore vs Labor's Meredith Burgmann, the former President of the NSW Legislative Council), with so far the Greens' Councillor Chris Harris and
the Liberal's Councillor Shayne Mallard thrown in for the purpose of creating gender equality, the contest is seen as a "no-brainer".
It is in respect of the election of the 9 councillors that most interest focuses. Remember, in 2004 Labor suffered a huge backlash against it as a
result of it's forced amalgamation of South Sydney and Sydney councils. Perhaps, had the councils not been amalgamated in the manner they
were, Labor would easily have taken control of the Council (which was the purpose of the forced amalgamation). So, in normal circumstances,
one would expect - with the 2004 thuggery now receding in people's minds - the Labor vote in 2008 to return to a more 'natural' level.
However circumstances have not been "normal" since 2004.
First, most people are pretty happy with the way Clover Moore has run the Council.
Secondly, the state government of Iemma has really got Sydney resident's 'off-side'.
In 2004, the Labor vote was a disaster. Of the 9 councillors elected, Labor got just 3, Clover Moore's team 4, Greens 1 and Liberals 1.
All 3 Labor councillors elected in 2004 are retiring - Michael Lee (the 2004 unsuccessful Labor Mayoral candidate), Tony Pooley and Verity Firth
MP (now a NSW State Minister).
That means that Labor is contesting the councillor ballot without any candidate having sat as a councillor on Sydney City Council. Clearly there is
no "corporate" knowledge of the affairs of Council, on the Labor ticket aspirants. Further, whilst Meredith Burgmann, who heads the Labor ticket,
may be well known to "political obsessives ", on the streets she is unknown. The others on the Labor ticket have similarly low profiles, although
some are reasonably known in their local communities.
On the other hand, on the Clover Moore ticket, 3 of the 4 existing councillors are re-contesting this election.
Given these factors - (particularly the anti-Iemma sentiment) some commentators are suggesting that the make up of the 9 councillors will be:
Clover Moore Independents - 4
Labor - 2
Greens - 1
Liberals - 1
9th spot - unknown
One brave commentator even has Labor on just 1 position, with both the 8th and 9th positions in doubt.
Accordingly, the main interest lies in the 9th spot. If it goes to Labor, the numbers on the new Council will be the same as the old Council, with
Clover Moore using her casting vote to ensure her team's motions are passed. Of course if the 9th spot goes to either the Greens or Liberals (or
for that matter any candidate out of left field) the situation will be the same. If the 9th spot goes to a member of the Clover Moore ticket, then she
will not need to use her casting vote - the worst result on any motion by a member of her team would be 6-4.
So the 2008 Sydney City Council election is a real test for the ALP. If Labor holds onto the 9th spot it will because the "anti-thug" vote of 2004
has dissipated, but has been replaced by an anti-Iemma vote. If the ALP don't win the 9th spot, then it will be difficult to ascertain whether it is
because the "anti-thug" vote has dissipated and there is a double dose of "anti-Iemma", or its a continuation of the anti-thug vote with a single
dose of anti-Iemma. Of course, if Labor end up with only one councillor - it will be because of a triple dose of "anti-iemma".
Whatever happens - people will be sending another message to Iemma on D-Day . The question is - How loud that message will be ? And
another question is, irrespective of how loud the message is - will Iemma hear it or is he tone deaf ?
Based on our unscientific research people are carrying baseball bats in their back pockets. Those baseball bats do not carry the word "Labor" on
them,rather the name "Iemma". Will they be wielded on D-Day, or will they be kept clean of blood, for use in March 2011 ?
D-Day (Ditch Day) Saturday 13 September 2008 fast approaches.
The closer it gets, the faster the rumours fly.
In Sydney City Council, it is necessary to understand how the "system" works.
There are 10 councillors to be elected.
The first position is that of Lord Mayor - elected by a separate popular ballot.
The other 9 councillors are elected by a council wide ballot, with a quota of 10.1%.
Although the local press are trying to beat up some interest in the Lord Mayoral ballot, by billing it as the "battle of the ladies" (incumbent Clover
Moore vs Labor's Meredith Burgmann, the former President of the NSW Legislative Council), with so far the Greens' Councillor Chris Harris and
the Liberal's Councillor Shayne Mallard thrown in for the purpose of creating gender equality, the contest is seen as a "no-brainer".
It is in respect of the election of the 9 councillors that most interest focuses. Remember, in 2004 Labor suffered a huge backlash against it as a
result of it's forced amalgamation of South Sydney and Sydney councils. Perhaps, had the councils not been amalgamated in the manner they
were, Labor would easily have taken control of the Council (which was the purpose of the forced amalgamation). So, in normal circumstances,
one would expect - with the 2004 thuggery now receding in people's minds - the Labor vote in 2008 to return to a more 'natural' level.
However circumstances have not been "normal" since 2004.
First, most people are pretty happy with the way Clover Moore has run the Council.
Secondly, the state government of Iemma has really got Sydney resident's 'off-side'.
In 2004, the Labor vote was a disaster. Of the 9 councillors elected, Labor got just 3, Clover Moore's team 4, Greens 1 and Liberals 1.
All 3 Labor councillors elected in 2004 are retiring - Michael Lee (the 2004 unsuccessful Labor Mayoral candidate), Tony Pooley and Verity Firth
MP (now a NSW State Minister).
That means that Labor is contesting the councillor ballot without any candidate having sat as a councillor on Sydney City Council. Clearly there is
no "corporate" knowledge of the affairs of Council, on the Labor ticket aspirants. Further, whilst Meredith Burgmann, who heads the Labor ticket,
may be well known to "political obsessives ", on the streets she is unknown. The others on the Labor ticket have similarly low profiles, although
some are reasonably known in their local communities.
On the other hand, on the Clover Moore ticket, 3 of the 4 existing councillors are re-contesting this election.
Given these factors - (particularly the anti-Iemma sentiment) some commentators are suggesting that the make up of the 9 councillors will be:
Clover Moore Independents - 4
Labor - 2
Greens - 1
Liberals - 1
9th spot - unknown
One brave commentator even has Labor on just 1 position, with both the 8th and 9th positions in doubt.
Accordingly, the main interest lies in the 9th spot. If it goes to Labor, the numbers on the new Council will be the same as the old Council, with
Clover Moore using her casting vote to ensure her team's motions are passed. Of course if the 9th spot goes to either the Greens or Liberals (or
for that matter any candidate out of left field) the situation will be the same. If the 9th spot goes to a member of the Clover Moore ticket, then she
will not need to use her casting vote - the worst result on any motion by a member of her team would be 6-4.
So the 2008 Sydney City Council election is a real test for the ALP. If Labor holds onto the 9th spot it will because the "anti-thug" vote of 2004
has dissipated, but has been replaced by an anti-Iemma vote. If the ALP don't win the 9th spot, then it will be difficult to ascertain whether it is
because the "anti-thug" vote has dissipated and there is a double dose of "anti-Iemma", or its a continuation of the anti-thug vote with a single
dose of anti-Iemma. Of course, if Labor end up with only one councillor - it will be because of a triple dose of "anti-iemma".
Whatever happens - people will be sending another message to Iemma on D-Day . The question is - How loud that message will be ? And
another question is, irrespective of how loud the message is - will Iemma hear it or is he tone deaf ?
Based on our unscientific research people are carrying baseball bats in their back pockets. Those baseball bats do not carry the word "Labor" on
them,rather the name "Iemma". Will they be wielded on D-Day, or will they be kept clean of blood, for use in March 2011 ?
