| JUNE 2008 Pages - Page 5 |
| THIS IS PAGE 5 OF JUNE 2008 PAGES - JUNE0805 |
NORTHERN TABLELANDS GETS $124 million
According to an article in the Armidale Express newspaper which looks like a regurgitation of a media
release, but may in fact be a work of independent journalistic endeavour, Richard Torbay MP
(Northern Tablelands) says the electorate of Northern Tablelands has received an "allocation" of
$124 million (which is less than the $129 million "investment" Peter Draper MP claims the budget made
in the electorate of Tamworth) from the 2008 Costa budget.
The article does not mention the concern, reported elsewhere, of Mr Torbay MP that the Costa budget
failed to provide fo any of the recommendations of the Rural & Regional Taskforce chaired
by Dr Col Gellatly, a former head of the Premiers Department, even though the Taskforce's report had
been specifically delivered to the government at a time to enable the government to implement
the recommendations, in the 2008 budget.
According to the Northern Daily Leader Mr Torbay is concerned because when the report was delivered to the government,the Taskforce was
"promised a response in the State Budget.”
The fatal error that Mr Torbay seems to have made when dealing with Premier Morris Iemma is that he assumed Mr Iemma meant the 2008
budget, and he failed to ask Mr Iemma "What budget ? 2008 or 2020?"
Iemma has proved time and time again he is as slippery as a lavatory snake. Surely by now MP's realise that and deal with him on that basis.
SOURCES :
Budget brings $6m for public housing in Armidale , Armidale Express , 4 June 2008.
Simon Chamberlain, Criticism over region 'held to ransom' , Northern Daily Leader, 4 June 2008.
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According to an article in the Armidale Express newspaper which looks like a regurgitation of a media
release, but may in fact be a work of independent journalistic endeavour, Richard Torbay MP
(Northern Tablelands) says the electorate of Northern Tablelands has received an "allocation" of
$124 million (which is less than the $129 million "investment" Peter Draper MP claims the budget made
in the electorate of Tamworth) from the 2008 Costa budget.
The article does not mention the concern, reported elsewhere, of Mr Torbay MP that the Costa budget
failed to provide fo any of the recommendations of the Rural & Regional Taskforce chaired
by Dr Col Gellatly, a former head of the Premiers Department, even though the Taskforce's report had
been specifically delivered to the government at a time to enable the government to implement
the recommendations, in the 2008 budget.
According to the Northern Daily Leader Mr Torbay is concerned because when the report was delivered to the government,the Taskforce was
"promised a response in the State Budget.”
The fatal error that Mr Torbay seems to have made when dealing with Premier Morris Iemma is that he assumed Mr Iemma meant the 2008
budget, and he failed to ask Mr Iemma "What budget ? 2008 or 2020?"
Iemma has proved time and time again he is as slippery as a lavatory snake. Surely by now MP's realise that and deal with him on that basis.
SOURCES :
Budget brings $6m for public housing in Armidale , Armidale Express , 4 June 2008.
Simon Chamberlain, Criticism over region 'held to ransom' , Northern Daily Leader, 4 June 2008.
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$121 MILLION FOR DUBBO ELECTORATE - FARDELL 'PLEASED'.
According to Dawn Fardell MP (Dubbo) the Dubbo electorate "received" $121 million from Costa's
2008 budget.
This is less than the $129 million "investment" in Tamworth and the $124 million "allocation" for
Northern Tablelands.
Mrs Fardell told the Dubbo Daily Liberal :
“I am pleased that the funding level to the Dubbo Electorate, which has increased substantially in recent years, has been maintained".
SOURCE :
Lynton Grace, State Budget to fund long-term projects , Dubbo Daily Liberal, 4 June 2008.
=================================================================================================================
According to Dawn Fardell MP (Dubbo) the Dubbo electorate "received" $121 million from Costa's
2008 budget.
This is less than the $129 million "investment" in Tamworth and the $124 million "allocation" for
Northern Tablelands.
Mrs Fardell told the Dubbo Daily Liberal :
“I am pleased that the funding level to the Dubbo Electorate, which has increased substantially in recent years, has been maintained".
SOURCE :
Lynton Grace, State Budget to fund long-term projects , Dubbo Daily Liberal, 4 June 2008.
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JODI MCKAY BATTLING FOR DEVELOPER
Jodi McKay MP has taken a special interest in the Newcastle Post Office owned by developer Sean Ngu
and has lashed out at the Newcastle City Council accusing it of deliberately stalling Mr Ngu's development
application.
Ms McKay's has attacked the democratically elected Newcastle City Council, arguing for the developer.
Presumably she acting on representations made to her by Mr Ngu who lives outside her electorate - in
Sydney, and standing up against her local council's shoddy treatment of him.
Being a developer is tough,and he needs help.
Ms McKay is angry that the Howard government privatised the building by selling it off.
However, Ms McKay still fervently believes the NSW electricity assets should be sold off.
She will be standing shoulder to shoulder with Terrigals MP's when the vote for the electricity sell-off is
taken in the NSW Parliament. She is perceived as owing a big debt of gratitude for being parachuted into
the Newcastle seat as the Labor candidate for the 2007 election.
The fact that she is perceived by many in the community as having irretrievably compromised herself by accepting the "parachute" -is something
she needs to deal with on a personal level.
SOURCES :
Kylie Williams, Post office blame game , Newcastle Herald, 1 June 2008.
Jacqui Jones, Minister rebuffs post office call , Newcastle Herald, 9 June 2008.
Jacqui Jones, Squat's owner put on notice , Newcastle Herald, 10 June 2008.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Jodi McKay MP has taken a special interest in the Newcastle Post Office owned by developer Sean Ngu
and has lashed out at the Newcastle City Council accusing it of deliberately stalling Mr Ngu's development
application.
Ms McKay's has attacked the democratically elected Newcastle City Council, arguing for the developer.
Presumably she acting on representations made to her by Mr Ngu who lives outside her electorate - in
Sydney, and standing up against her local council's shoddy treatment of him.
Being a developer is tough,and he needs help.
Ms McKay is angry that the Howard government privatised the building by selling it off.
However, Ms McKay still fervently believes the NSW electricity assets should be sold off.
She will be standing shoulder to shoulder with Terrigals MP's when the vote for the electricity sell-off is
taken in the NSW Parliament. She is perceived as owing a big debt of gratitude for being parachuted into
the Newcastle seat as the Labor candidate for the 2007 election.
The fact that she is perceived by many in the community as having irretrievably compromised herself by accepting the "parachute" -is something
she needs to deal with on a personal level.
SOURCES :
Kylie Williams, Post office blame game , Newcastle Herald, 1 June 2008.
Jacqui Jones, Minister rebuffs post office call , Newcastle Herald, 9 June 2008.
Jacqui Jones, Squat's owner put on notice , Newcastle Herald, 10 June 2008.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
PORT MACQUARIE HITS "WELCOME NUGGETT" - $250 million plus
According to Rob Oakeshott MP (Port Macquarie) "record capital expenditure" of more than $250 million
was being "spent" in his local area.
Mr Oakeshott told the Port News newspaper :
"Our biggest spend in the past has been around $100 million in one financial year so this increase is
certainly welcome."
The $250 million certainly dwarfs the $129 million (Tamworth), $124 million (Norhern Tablelands) and $121million (Dubbo) - making them look like
'loose change'.
see : Simone Plews, $16m allocated to Oxley Hwy upgrade , Port News, 4 June 2008.
=================================================================================================================
According to Rob Oakeshott MP (Port Macquarie) "record capital expenditure" of more than $250 million
was being "spent" in his local area.
Mr Oakeshott told the Port News newspaper :
"Our biggest spend in the past has been around $100 million in one financial year so this increase is
certainly welcome."
The $250 million certainly dwarfs the $129 million (Tamworth), $124 million (Norhern Tablelands) and $121million (Dubbo) - making them look like
'loose change'.
see : Simone Plews, $16m allocated to Oxley Hwy upgrade , Port News, 4 June 2008.
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HUNTER-GATE ???
Accusations of Hunter ALP branch stacking have surfaced.
Sharon Grierson MP (Newcastle - federal) has claimed a factional opponent is stacking party branches
with Filipinos in an attempt to win preselection for the next federal election expected to be in 2010.
This would not concern Jodi Mckay MP (Newcastle - state) as branch membership is irrelevant to her. She was parachute into the seat without a
rank and file selection.
It has been claimed members of the Filipino community without knowingly applying or paying fees, became ALP branch members.
The president of the ALP's Newcastle Federal Electorate Council, Dr Morris Graham, said Labor's credentials committee had already
passed a motion noting its concern about certain aspects of the books of the Merewether West branch.
He said a second motion noted that a large number of memberships fell due on May 31 and would have expressed concern at the
possible practices this might have indicated except that ALP numbers man and Ports Minister Joe Tripodi successfully moved an
amendment stating that there was no evidence that the practices of Merewether West were not in accordance with party rules.
Dr Graham said a petition from Newcastle had been sent to party headquarters requesting an investigation.
Greg Ray, Allegations of stacking in bid for ALP preselection; Branch attack on MP Time to act , Newcastle Herald, 2 June , 2008. p. 7
The editorial of the Newcastle Herald opined :
Meanwhile, in Newcastle, it has been alleged that an ALP right-winger has been stacking branches in a bid to beat the sitting member,
Sharon Grierson, at the next preselection.
The alleged stacker, David March, has denied branch-stacking but cheerfully admits to actively recruiting from the city's Filipino
community and to circulating a letter among that community promising special help in return for the votes he will need to win the poll.
But all this, he says, is legal under ALP rules.
It remains to be seen whether the party's administrative committee agrees with him, but in any event the issue of branch-stacking
should concern voters.
Editorial, Time to act on stacking , Newcastle Herald, 2 June, 2008. p. 8
AND IN FURTHER RUCTIONS a new party - True Blue Labor is being formed :
Newcastle ALP veteran Arthur Wade is having so much trouble adjusting to life outside his beloved party that he has formed a new
political grouping, True Blue Labor.
The fiery former NSW government whip was in the Right throughout his career but he has abandoned the faction to support
Newcastle's left wing in its apparently losing battle with the Iemma-Costa-Tripodi faction that runs the state.
"That bloody Sydney mob are fascists," Mr Wade exploded when asked about the latest branch-stacking allegations.
He said he split from the party when Jodi McKay was pushed into ALP membership and parachuted in to take Newcastle from Bryce
Gaudry.
Mr Wade, who was kicked out of the ALP he said he tried to resign but the party sacked him first along with another 50-odd Carrington
branch members during the bitter fight over Ms McKay's installation, said he and his True Blue comrades were backing the besieged
Sharon Grierson.
Mr Wade said branch-stacking allegations in Newcastle was the talk of the city's political class.
"That mob in Sydney would sink to anything," he said.
True Blue seeing red , Newcastle Herald, 2 June, 2008. p. 7
SOURCES :
Greg Ray, ALP mystery members , Newcastle Herald, 3 June 2006.p.6.
=================================================================================================================
Accusations of Hunter ALP branch stacking have surfaced.
Sharon Grierson MP (Newcastle - federal) has claimed a factional opponent is stacking party branches
with Filipinos in an attempt to win preselection for the next federal election expected to be in 2010.
This would not concern Jodi Mckay MP (Newcastle - state) as branch membership is irrelevant to her. She was parachute into the seat without a
rank and file selection.
It has been claimed members of the Filipino community without knowingly applying or paying fees, became ALP branch members.
The president of the ALP's Newcastle Federal Electorate Council, Dr Morris Graham, said Labor's credentials committee had already
passed a motion noting its concern about certain aspects of the books of the Merewether West branch.
He said a second motion noted that a large number of memberships fell due on May 31 and would have expressed concern at the
possible practices this might have indicated except that ALP numbers man and Ports Minister Joe Tripodi successfully moved an
amendment stating that there was no evidence that the practices of Merewether West were not in accordance with party rules.
Dr Graham said a petition from Newcastle had been sent to party headquarters requesting an investigation.
Greg Ray, Allegations of stacking in bid for ALP preselection; Branch attack on MP Time to act , Newcastle Herald, 2 June , 2008. p. 7
The editorial of the Newcastle Herald opined :
Meanwhile, in Newcastle, it has been alleged that an ALP right-winger has been stacking branches in a bid to beat the sitting member,
Sharon Grierson, at the next preselection.
The alleged stacker, David March, has denied branch-stacking but cheerfully admits to actively recruiting from the city's Filipino
community and to circulating a letter among that community promising special help in return for the votes he will need to win the poll.
But all this, he says, is legal under ALP rules.
It remains to be seen whether the party's administrative committee agrees with him, but in any event the issue of branch-stacking
should concern voters.
Editorial, Time to act on stacking , Newcastle Herald, 2 June, 2008. p. 8
AND IN FURTHER RUCTIONS a new party - True Blue Labor is being formed :
Newcastle ALP veteran Arthur Wade is having so much trouble adjusting to life outside his beloved party that he has formed a new
political grouping, True Blue Labor.
The fiery former NSW government whip was in the Right throughout his career but he has abandoned the faction to support
Newcastle's left wing in its apparently losing battle with the Iemma-Costa-Tripodi faction that runs the state.
"That bloody Sydney mob are fascists," Mr Wade exploded when asked about the latest branch-stacking allegations.
He said he split from the party when Jodi McKay was pushed into ALP membership and parachuted in to take Newcastle from Bryce
Gaudry.
Mr Wade, who was kicked out of the ALP he said he tried to resign but the party sacked him first along with another 50-odd Carrington
branch members during the bitter fight over Ms McKay's installation, said he and his True Blue comrades were backing the besieged
Sharon Grierson.
Mr Wade said branch-stacking allegations in Newcastle was the talk of the city's political class.
"That mob in Sydney would sink to anything," he said.
True Blue seeing red , Newcastle Herald, 2 June, 2008. p. 7
SOURCES :
Greg Ray, ALP mystery members , Newcastle Herald, 3 June 2006.p.6.
=================================================================================================================
POWER SALE PROBLEMS
Problems have arisen relating to greenhouse gas emissions from a proposed upgrade of the Eraring Power Station, in the
Lake Macquarie area near Newcastle.
The financial consequences are of course that the price that a willing, but not over eager, buyer would pay for the station is
substantially reduced.
The more you look at it, Premier Iemma's plan to sell off the asset, the goofier it looks. The amount the government can expect to receive from
the fire-sale will be substantially less than Iemma and Costa had hoped for.
see : Council deflates expansion plan , Newcastle Herald, 4 June 2008.
=================================================================================================================
Problems have arisen relating to greenhouse gas emissions from a proposed upgrade of the Eraring Power Station, in the
Lake Macquarie area near Newcastle.
The financial consequences are of course that the price that a willing, but not over eager, buyer would pay for the station is
substantially reduced.
The more you look at it, Premier Iemma's plan to sell off the asset, the goofier it looks. The amount the government can expect to receive from
the fire-sale will be substantially less than Iemma and Costa had hoped for.
see : Council deflates expansion plan , Newcastle Herald, 4 June 2008.
=================================================================================================================
HIDDEN TREASURE
Hidden away in a side street -Roslyn Street - just down the hill from the Empire Hotel in Kings Cross, is one of the great treasures of the world.:
The Piccolo Bar .
It is not a bar, it is actually a coffee shop. Established in the 1950's it is Kings Cross' oldest cafe.
The main attraction is mine host Vitto. He will make you feel welcome in the menagerie. He himself is a living treasure. He works from 6am "ish" to
5pm "ish" each day - so you should pop into the Piccolo Bar during those hours.
Hidden away in a side street -Roslyn Street - just down the hill from the Empire Hotel in Kings Cross, is one of the great treasures of the world.:
The Piccolo Bar .
It is not a bar, it is actually a coffee shop. Established in the 1950's it is Kings Cross' oldest cafe.
The main attraction is mine host Vitto. He will make you feel welcome in the menagerie. He himself is a living treasure. He works from 6am "ish" to
5pm "ish" each day - so you should pop into the Piccolo Bar during those hours.
Vittorio's story is featured in Gina Lennox and Frances Rush (1993), People of the Cross, Simon & Schuster, East Roseville ( a book very hard to
find nowadays, although used copies may possibly be found at The Cross Art + Books ) in the chapter titled : Living the Piccolo Mondo - Vittorio
Bianchi, maestro of the cappuccino machine .
Vitto was born in Italy and at the age of 14 was sent by his father (his mother had died), with his 2 sisters, to Australia to live with his aunt and
uncle. He knew not one word of English. Later he started working casually at the Piccolo Bar 3 nights per week, and then became the proprietor.
In the book People of the Cross Vittorio says :
* Sometimes I think I am more mad than the people who come here. .We're all a bit mad. My madness is I'm still working at the Piccolo, but I will
work until the day I drop dead. My life is my work.
* On my days off, I read, I love books.......(t)he trouble is, the more I read about people, the more I don't like them.
* I still feel more Italian than Australian. It's a different mentality, very family orientated, but when I visited Italy I was a stranger. I became sick for
Australia.......I am Italian but this is my home.
* I don't want to be part of a throwaway society when you sit down and somebody tells you the story of all their life in five minutes and you never see
them again. I want to keep what's beautiful, and go on believing that as one door closes a window opens, otherwise you're dead. To me, there's two
kinds of angels: children and old people - those who haven't seen the cruelty and the hardness of the world, and the others who've seen it all. Love
is the strongest force. It keeps us alive. I'm always looking for it in every person - different kinds of love .
=================================================================================================================
find nowadays, although used copies may possibly be found at The Cross Art + Books ) in the chapter titled : Living the Piccolo Mondo - Vittorio
Bianchi, maestro of the cappuccino machine .
Vitto was born in Italy and at the age of 14 was sent by his father (his mother had died), with his 2 sisters, to Australia to live with his aunt and
uncle. He knew not one word of English. Later he started working casually at the Piccolo Bar 3 nights per week, and then became the proprietor.
In the book People of the Cross Vittorio says :
* Sometimes I think I am more mad than the people who come here. .We're all a bit mad. My madness is I'm still working at the Piccolo, but I will
work until the day I drop dead. My life is my work.
* On my days off, I read, I love books.......(t)he trouble is, the more I read about people, the more I don't like them.
* I still feel more Italian than Australian. It's a different mentality, very family orientated, but when I visited Italy I was a stranger. I became sick for
Australia.......I am Italian but this is my home.
* I don't want to be part of a throwaway society when you sit down and somebody tells you the story of all their life in five minutes and you never see
them again. I want to keep what's beautiful, and go on believing that as one door closes a window opens, otherwise you're dead. To me, there's two
kinds of angels: children and old people - those who haven't seen the cruelty and the hardness of the world, and the others who've seen it all. Love
is the strongest force. It keeps us alive. I'm always looking for it in every person - different kinds of love .
=================================================================================================================
HISTORIC BUDGET SPEECH
According to Andrew Stoner MP (Oxley) the budget speech delivered by Michael Costa MLC - the Treasurer -
in the NSW Legislative Assembly Assembly on 3 June 2008 was a historic occasion. It was the first time, at the
conclusion of a budget speech, the Treasurer of the day, was not applauded.
Mr ANDREW STONER (Oxley—Leader of The Nationals) [11.25 a.m.]: The single moment that best captured
the essence of this year's State budget occurred in the stony silence of the Government benches when
Michael Costa concluded his Budget Speech. It is a time-honoured tradition of Westminster parliaments
that the Premier and his team use the Budget Speech to applaud and congratulate their Treasurer, the
individual who perhaps more than any other Minister guides the direction and future of the Government.
But that was not the case on Tuesday 3 June. There was no applause, no congratulations from the
Government benches, just stony silence. And who could blame Government members?
In terms of the script from the famous movie Iemma's Dilemma, is the Cabinet really a shambles ? It would appear so.
===================================================================================================================
According to Andrew Stoner MP (Oxley) the budget speech delivered by Michael Costa MLC - the Treasurer -
in the NSW Legislative Assembly Assembly on 3 June 2008 was a historic occasion. It was the first time, at the
conclusion of a budget speech, the Treasurer of the day, was not applauded.
Mr ANDREW STONER (Oxley—Leader of The Nationals) [11.25 a.m.]: The single moment that best captured
the essence of this year's State budget occurred in the stony silence of the Government benches when
Michael Costa concluded his Budget Speech. It is a time-honoured tradition of Westminster parliaments
that the Premier and his team use the Budget Speech to applaud and congratulate their Treasurer, the
individual who perhaps more than any other Minister guides the direction and future of the Government.
But that was not the case on Tuesday 3 June. There was no applause, no congratulations from the
Government benches, just stony silence. And who could blame Government members?
In terms of the script from the famous movie Iemma's Dilemma, is the Cabinet really a shambles ? It would appear so.
===================================================================================================================
LABOR KEEPS UP ATTACK ON ALTERNATE ATTORNEY-GENERAL
NSW Labor has a real problem with alternate Attorney-General Greg Smith MP (Epping). The attacks upon him started even before he entered
parliament. Richard Torbay MP endorsed an Independent to stand against him.
In the first weeks of parliament after the 2007 election, David Campbell MP (Keira), the Minister for Police was sent in as an attack dog. The attack
resulted in a censure motion being passed on party lines, against Mr Smith. The big loser from the motion was in fact Mr Campbell. Many
observers concluded from his behaviour, that he was a "boof-head" .
Mr Smith is the most knowledgeable person in the NSW parliament, about the operation of the criminal law. He has had many years of hands on
experience as a Crown Prosecutor. He brings to the parliament a wealth of knowledge about the criminal law, particularly it's practical application,
which has been sadly lacking from the parliament. In the main, Labor MP's have a background based in politics, working in Ministerial offices and
jobs of that nature. They may be good at "spin", they may be good at research - but they can never bring to the parliament the intimate knowledge
that a person who has worked in an industry can. So one can perceive that Labor MP's feel threatened by the alternate Attorney-General.
Threatened because he may stand in the way of their ambitions, which according to the famous movie Iemma's Dilemma, is to become a Minister
and get on the gravy train.
The attacks, on a more muted basis,continue.
It is interesting that the Police Minister was used as the attack dog. There has always been a tension between the Police and Prosecutors, even
though they work together. One of the reasons for this is that the Prosecutors function is to uphold the law and act fairly in the community interest.
Police may not see themselves as having an identical function. Prosecutors have an insight into the operations of police not available to most
people. They see, not only the good but also the bad. On occasions, they must make decisions not to present evidence, which has been obtained
unfairly. The police may view themselves as infallible. Prosecutors are unlikely to view Police in the same manner. The fact that the Police Minister
was used as the attack dog causes many to think the tensions may be increasing.
SOURCES :
NSW Legislative Assembly Hansard , Jury Amendment Bill 2008, 5 June 2008.
NSW Labor has a real problem with alternate Attorney-General Greg Smith MP (Epping). The attacks upon him started even before he entered
parliament. Richard Torbay MP endorsed an Independent to stand against him.
In the first weeks of parliament after the 2007 election, David Campbell MP (Keira), the Minister for Police was sent in as an attack dog. The attack
resulted in a censure motion being passed on party lines, against Mr Smith. The big loser from the motion was in fact Mr Campbell. Many
observers concluded from his behaviour, that he was a "boof-head" .
Mr Smith is the most knowledgeable person in the NSW parliament, about the operation of the criminal law. He has had many years of hands on
experience as a Crown Prosecutor. He brings to the parliament a wealth of knowledge about the criminal law, particularly it's practical application,
which has been sadly lacking from the parliament. In the main, Labor MP's have a background based in politics, working in Ministerial offices and
jobs of that nature. They may be good at "spin", they may be good at research - but they can never bring to the parliament the intimate knowledge
that a person who has worked in an industry can. So one can perceive that Labor MP's feel threatened by the alternate Attorney-General.
Threatened because he may stand in the way of their ambitions, which according to the famous movie Iemma's Dilemma, is to become a Minister
and get on the gravy train.
The attacks, on a more muted basis,continue.
It is interesting that the Police Minister was used as the attack dog. There has always been a tension between the Police and Prosecutors, even
though they work together. One of the reasons for this is that the Prosecutors function is to uphold the law and act fairly in the community interest.
Police may not see themselves as having an identical function. Prosecutors have an insight into the operations of police not available to most
people. They see, not only the good but also the bad. On occasions, they must make decisions not to present evidence, which has been obtained
unfairly. The police may view themselves as infallible. Prosecutors are unlikely to view Police in the same manner. The fact that the Police Minister
was used as the attack dog causes many to think the tensions may be increasing.
SOURCES :
NSW Legislative Assembly Hansard , Jury Amendment Bill 2008, 5 June 2008.