| JUNE 2008 Pages - Page 10 |
| THIS IS PAGE 10 OF JUNE 2008 PAGES - JUNE0810 |
HAS TONY WINDSOR PULLED THE WRONG REIN ???
The question on everyone's lips in NSW this June long weekend is :
Has Tony Windsor MP (New England - NSW federal) pulled the wrong rein with his stringent opposition to PORK ?
It seems that the people of the New England area are quite fond of pork - PROVIDED they are getting more than their
fair share of it.
Come to think of it - Tony Windsor built his initial reputation on what he spun as pork-gathering activities carried out
by him, during the short period of the Greiner government (until the by-election in The Entrance won by Grant McBride for Labor) he held the
balance of power in NSW. Following that by-election, the balance of power passed to the other 3 independents, who used it, not to gain pork for
their electorates, but to leverage procedural and systemic changes that benefited the whole of NSW.
BUT the other side of the story is that Nick Greiner had a smile on his face so wide, after he opened his door to Tony Windsor, that it took months
to wipe it off his face,. Greiner reckoned he got the Sale of the Century when he flicked a few crumbs to Windsor to ensure his government would
remain in place. Greiner's real problems only started when he had to deal with the other 3 independents , who were acting on the basis of
principle, not pork,
SOURCES :
Mark Rodda, Damned if you do, damned if you don’t , Letters, Northern Daily Leader, 4 June 2008.
Peter Cookson , Will Labor program have same scrutiny? , Letters , Northern Daily Leader, 9 June 2008.
Bongiorno F (2006) Politics, Chapter 20 in Davidson I, Piper A, Atkinson A, & Ryan JS (eds.), High Lean Country: Land, People and Memory in
New England, Allen & Unwin, Crows Nest .at page 244.
====================================================================================================================
The question on everyone's lips in NSW this June long weekend is :
Has Tony Windsor MP (New England - NSW federal) pulled the wrong rein with his stringent opposition to PORK ?
It seems that the people of the New England area are quite fond of pork - PROVIDED they are getting more than their
fair share of it.
Come to think of it - Tony Windsor built his initial reputation on what he spun as pork-gathering activities carried out
by him, during the short period of the Greiner government (until the by-election in The Entrance won by Grant McBride for Labor) he held the
balance of power in NSW. Following that by-election, the balance of power passed to the other 3 independents, who used it, not to gain pork for
their electorates, but to leverage procedural and systemic changes that benefited the whole of NSW.
BUT the other side of the story is that Nick Greiner had a smile on his face so wide, after he opened his door to Tony Windsor, that it took months
to wipe it off his face,. Greiner reckoned he got the Sale of the Century when he flicked a few crumbs to Windsor to ensure his government would
remain in place. Greiner's real problems only started when he had to deal with the other 3 independents , who were acting on the basis of
principle, not pork,
SOURCES :
Mark Rodda, Damned if you do, damned if you don’t , Letters, Northern Daily Leader, 4 June 2008.
Peter Cookson , Will Labor program have same scrutiny? , Letters , Northern Daily Leader, 9 June 2008.
Bongiorno F (2006) Politics, Chapter 20 in Davidson I, Piper A, Atkinson A, & Ryan JS (eds.), High Lean Country: Land, People and Memory in
New England, Allen & Unwin, Crows Nest .at page 244.
====================================================================================================================
IEMMA IS A JOKE !!!
Morris has ORDERED Education Minister John Della Bosca not to drive any more.
Iemma says that there was no allegation of criminal behaviour and no allegation of improper conduct against his minister.
see : Editorial, Iemma must restore order to Government, Illawarra Mercury, 9 June 2008.
====================================================================================================================
Morris has ORDERED Education Minister John Della Bosca not to drive any more.
Iemma says that there was no allegation of criminal behaviour and no allegation of improper conduct against his minister.
see : Editorial, Iemma must restore order to Government, Illawarra Mercury, 9 June 2008.
====================================================================================================================
IEMMA SPINMEISTERS - ITS ALL A LIBERAL SET-UP
Now the word being spread by Iemma spin-meisters is that the central coast club employees, who made
startling allegations against Belinda Neale and Education Minister John Della Bosca are all Liberal Party
plants, who swore false statutory declarations, and have been used to set up John Della Bosca and Belinda
Neale.
You see how low the Iemma spin-meisters will stoop to protect their political masters.
STEP back a little and view the scene.
Do you really believe that waiters etc (cf. restaurant owners) are going to be so rusted on to supporting
the Liberal Party, that they will swear false Statutory Declarations - rendering themselves liable to
substantial custodial sentences, for some "unspecified" political gain to the Liberal Party.
Gee'sus, give us a break -and pull the other leg - it plays JINGLE BELLS.
The Iemma government is so out of control, even it's spin-meisters have lost the plot.
THE WHOLE AFFAIR WAS SELF-INFLICTED - and these words, or words to similar effect, will go down in history :
*****: "What's your f---ing name? I will have your job as well. I will have the f---ing police down here every weekend to close you down.".
AND ;
*****"I am sorry that there was a disagreement at Iguanas Waterfront on Friday night and that you and your wife were not happy with the
service . No one in your party was abusive, swearing or intoxicated. Media reports today have totally distorted the version of events.
For people working in the hospitality industry, abuse and threats, unfortunately, are a part of everyday life. Largely it is water off a ducks back. BUT
when the staff realised, the person who had threatened their livelihood by having the licence removed, was not just your normal Friday night punter
who had consumed more alcohol than usual, but a Federal MP who is married to a NSW State Minister - they naturally became very concerned. .AS
we have said before, if you are subjected to political threats, the best way of protecting yourself is to let the world know the predicament you are in -
the world's knowledge you are going to be screwed over for purely political reasons provides some defence against the unjustified use of the forces
of the state against you. SO going to the media was a sensible course of action.
The next big mistake was the club's issuing of a public apology, which was based on the wise business adage : The customer is always right.
Normally, the adoption of such an adage simply means some staff member has to graciously grin and bear it, but the club can go about it's business
without having to worry about external distractions. However, in this case there was more than just staff pride at stake. The apology inferred the staff
had sworn false statements, leaving them open to prosecution under the Oaths Act. Further, with Minister Della Bosca claiming he had been
defamed, and inferring he would exercise his legal rights, the media which had relied upon the statutory declarations, were hardly going to let the
matter drop.
Part of the Australian culture is that you stand up for your mates, particularly if you perceive they have been unfairly treated. Naturally, the club's
staff weren't going to wear the approbation of being perceived as "liars" - who had sworn false statements. Naturally, others who were present at the
club, would come forward and right what they saw as an injustice. FURTHER - the media would now work overtime and throw extra resources into the
story - not only to protect their integrity as journalists, but to protect themselves against the financial consequences of a possible defamation action.
IT is clear the Iemma spin-meisters, who all work from a central office, in Sydney - pulled the wrong rein on this one. One of the reasons for that is
the events occurred outside Sydney. The spin-meisters may "know" how things work in Sydney, but they failed to understand how things work in a
regional area. Loyalty and taking time to help people in trouble are not qualities in over abundance in Sydney. However, those qualities are strong in
regional areas which are more "tribal". That John Della Bosca MLC, himself is apparently blind to this, is surprising.
see:
ABC News, Restaurant row staff linked to Liberals , ABC Radio, 9 June 2008.
Paul Bibby , Power couple's nightclub stoush: I saw it ,Sydney Morning Herald, 9 June 2008.
Joel Christie, 'I was drunk, I wasn't thinking' , Daily Telegraph, 10 June 2008.
Andrew Clennell, Alexandra Smith and Paul Bibby , Staff were rude, says minister , Sydney Morning Herald, 10 June 2008.
Louise Hall and Paul Bibby , Worming out of it: Iguanas aftermath , Sydney Morning Herald, 9 June 2008.
Jonathan Pearlman , Nightclub claims fan old fires , Sydney Morning Herald, 9 June 2008
Andrew Clennell , ALP power struggle the key to survival , Sydney Morning Herald, 10 June 2008.
====================================================================================================================
Now the word being spread by Iemma spin-meisters is that the central coast club employees, who made
startling allegations against Belinda Neale and Education Minister John Della Bosca are all Liberal Party
plants, who swore false statutory declarations, and have been used to set up John Della Bosca and Belinda
Neale.
You see how low the Iemma spin-meisters will stoop to protect their political masters.
STEP back a little and view the scene.
Do you really believe that waiters etc (cf. restaurant owners) are going to be so rusted on to supporting
the Liberal Party, that they will swear false Statutory Declarations - rendering themselves liable to
substantial custodial sentences, for some "unspecified" political gain to the Liberal Party.
Gee'sus, give us a break -and pull the other leg - it plays JINGLE BELLS.
The Iemma government is so out of control, even it's spin-meisters have lost the plot.
THE WHOLE AFFAIR WAS SELF-INFLICTED - and these words, or words to similar effect, will go down in history :
*****: "What's your f---ing name? I will have your job as well. I will have the f---ing police down here every weekend to close you down.".
AND ;
*****"I am sorry that there was a disagreement at Iguanas Waterfront on Friday night and that you and your wife were not happy with the
service . No one in your party was abusive, swearing or intoxicated. Media reports today have totally distorted the version of events.
For people working in the hospitality industry, abuse and threats, unfortunately, are a part of everyday life. Largely it is water off a ducks back. BUT
when the staff realised, the person who had threatened their livelihood by having the licence removed, was not just your normal Friday night punter
who had consumed more alcohol than usual, but a Federal MP who is married to a NSW State Minister - they naturally became very concerned. .AS
we have said before, if you are subjected to political threats, the best way of protecting yourself is to let the world know the predicament you are in -
the world's knowledge you are going to be screwed over for purely political reasons provides some defence against the unjustified use of the forces
of the state against you. SO going to the media was a sensible course of action.
The next big mistake was the club's issuing of a public apology, which was based on the wise business adage : The customer is always right.
Normally, the adoption of such an adage simply means some staff member has to graciously grin and bear it, but the club can go about it's business
without having to worry about external distractions. However, in this case there was more than just staff pride at stake. The apology inferred the staff
had sworn false statements, leaving them open to prosecution under the Oaths Act. Further, with Minister Della Bosca claiming he had been
defamed, and inferring he would exercise his legal rights, the media which had relied upon the statutory declarations, were hardly going to let the
matter drop.
Part of the Australian culture is that you stand up for your mates, particularly if you perceive they have been unfairly treated. Naturally, the club's
staff weren't going to wear the approbation of being perceived as "liars" - who had sworn false statements. Naturally, others who were present at the
club, would come forward and right what they saw as an injustice. FURTHER - the media would now work overtime and throw extra resources into the
story - not only to protect their integrity as journalists, but to protect themselves against the financial consequences of a possible defamation action.
IT is clear the Iemma spin-meisters, who all work from a central office, in Sydney - pulled the wrong rein on this one. One of the reasons for that is
the events occurred outside Sydney. The spin-meisters may "know" how things work in Sydney, but they failed to understand how things work in a
regional area. Loyalty and taking time to help people in trouble are not qualities in over abundance in Sydney. However, those qualities are strong in
regional areas which are more "tribal". That John Della Bosca MLC, himself is apparently blind to this, is surprising.
see:
ABC News, Restaurant row staff linked to Liberals , ABC Radio, 9 June 2008.
Paul Bibby , Power couple's nightclub stoush: I saw it ,Sydney Morning Herald, 9 June 2008.
Joel Christie, 'I was drunk, I wasn't thinking' , Daily Telegraph, 10 June 2008.
Andrew Clennell, Alexandra Smith and Paul Bibby , Staff were rude, says minister , Sydney Morning Herald, 10 June 2008.
Louise Hall and Paul Bibby , Worming out of it: Iguanas aftermath , Sydney Morning Herald, 9 June 2008.
Jonathan Pearlman , Nightclub claims fan old fires , Sydney Morning Herald, 9 June 2008
Andrew Clennell , ALP power struggle the key to survival , Sydney Morning Herald, 10 June 2008.
====================================================================================================================
IT AIN'T PRINCIPLE STOOPID !!!
How come Morris Iemma is treading very carefully with his Education Minister John Della Bosca ?
Well according to Alex Mitchell, it isn't a long held belief in upholding principle ....
In any normally functioning administration, the political career of NSW Minister for Education, Industrial Relations
and the Central Coast John Della Bosca would now be cactus.
But, hey, welcome to the weird, wild and wonderful world of NSW politics under Premier Morris “Mr Dilemma” Iemma.
Iemma can’t sack Della Bosca because he doesn’t have the political clout to do it. “Della” is the government’s last remaining political
heavyweight, the party’s general secretary from 1990 to 1999 and the critical link man between Cabinet and Unions NSW.
And right now, “Della” is holding Iemma’s fate in his hands because he has played the key role in keeping alive negotiations between the
Cabinet, the ALP organization and the unions on the planned privatization of the State’s electricity.
Alex Mitchell, Della Bosca too valuable to sack, 10 June 2008 , crikey. com.
Ah one has to admire the moral standards of Premier Iemma. They would come in handy at a limbo dance competition.
====================================================================================================================
How come Morris Iemma is treading very carefully with his Education Minister John Della Bosca ?
Well according to Alex Mitchell, it isn't a long held belief in upholding principle ....
In any normally functioning administration, the political career of NSW Minister for Education, Industrial Relations
and the Central Coast John Della Bosca would now be cactus.
But, hey, welcome to the weird, wild and wonderful world of NSW politics under Premier Morris “Mr Dilemma” Iemma.
Iemma can’t sack Della Bosca because he doesn’t have the political clout to do it. “Della” is the government’s last remaining political
heavyweight, the party’s general secretary from 1990 to 1999 and the critical link man between Cabinet and Unions NSW.
And right now, “Della” is holding Iemma’s fate in his hands because he has played the key role in keeping alive negotiations between the
Cabinet, the ALP organization and the unions on the planned privatization of the State’s electricity.
Alex Mitchell, Della Bosca too valuable to sack, 10 June 2008 , crikey. com.
Ah one has to admire the moral standards of Premier Iemma. They would come in handy at a limbo dance competition.
====================================================================================================================
DELLA BOSCA - THE MOVIE
In any other state or territory in Australia, posting a video depicting
the Education Minister as Hitler would result, at the very least, in an
internal investigation.
At worst, as has occurred in Victoria, a sacking or three.
But despite almost every minister and staffer in Governor Macquarie
Tower admitting last week's mystery YouTube clip was "an inside job",
the posting failed to initiate a question.
Instead, the chief suspect, NSW Premier Morris Iemma's chief-of-staff
Josh Murray issued a memo to staff, warning of disciplinary action if
the "activity" is repeated.
Linda Simalis, NSW Labor is facing worst crisis in its history , Sunday Telegraph, 8 June 2008. p. 91
In response to the Della Bosca movie, someone posted the famous movie, Iemma's Dilemma, which has won critical acclaim for it's superior script
It's success at the box office (over 9,000 views in the first week) is attributable to the fact that it is understood by the entire NSW viewing audience,
whereas the meaning of the Della Bosca movie is confined to Labor insiders. Once again, the minders in Macquarie Tower have pulled the wrong
rein.
=====================================================================================================================
In any other state or territory in Australia, posting a video depicting
the Education Minister as Hitler would result, at the very least, in an
internal investigation.
At worst, as has occurred in Victoria, a sacking or three.
But despite almost every minister and staffer in Governor Macquarie
Tower admitting last week's mystery YouTube clip was "an inside job",
the posting failed to initiate a question.
Instead, the chief suspect, NSW Premier Morris Iemma's chief-of-staff
Josh Murray issued a memo to staff, warning of disciplinary action if
the "activity" is repeated.
Linda Simalis, NSW Labor is facing worst crisis in its history , Sunday Telegraph, 8 June 2008. p. 91
In response to the Della Bosca movie, someone posted the famous movie, Iemma's Dilemma, which has won critical acclaim for it's superior script
It's success at the box office (over 9,000 views in the first week) is attributable to the fact that it is understood by the entire NSW viewing audience,
whereas the meaning of the Della Bosca movie is confined to Labor insiders. Once again, the minders in Macquarie Tower have pulled the wrong
rein.
=====================================================================================================================
BELINDA - WE DON'T BELIEVE YOU
LABOR MP Belinda Neal has finally spoken out about her row with staff at a nightclub, saying she
made a legitimate complaint, did not threaten anyone and was not drunk.
After three days of silence on the incident, Ms Neal today denied she or husband,
New South Wales Education Minister John Della Bosca, had behaved inappropriately at
Gosford's Iguanas Waterfront Bar.
Nick Ralston, Danny Rose & Karen Davis, MP denies threatening club staff , Herald-Sun, 10 June, 2008.
Ms Neal said she had made "a legitimate complaint" after being asked to move with an unfinished steak still on the table.
"I didn't swear or threaten anyone's job or in fact do anything but make a legitimate complaint," she told Scott Levi from ABC Radio on the
Central Coast.
"Neither myself or John were intoxicated and in fact John hasn't had, as he puts it, anything but altar wine for five months. He's on a bit of
a fitness campaign at the moment.
"I'd had two glasses of white wine and I'd poured myself a glass of red wine to have with my steak, but in fact because of the events that
happened I actually didn't get to have more than a few sips of that."
Asked whether she was asked to move with her meal still on the table, she said: "This was the concern, I say a legitimate concern, and I
have to say at no time did I suggest anyone should be sacked or anything more."
Arjun Ramachandran , I didn't swear or threaten anyone: Neal , Sydney Morning Herald , 10 June 2008.
SORRY BELINDA - we don't believe you.
see also ;
NSW News, Federal MP denies threatening club staff , ABC Radio , 10 June 2008.
Brad Norington , Ups and downs of ALP's gaffe-prone power couple , The Australian, 10 June 2008 .
====================================================================================================================
LABOR MP Belinda Neal has finally spoken out about her row with staff at a nightclub, saying she
made a legitimate complaint, did not threaten anyone and was not drunk.
After three days of silence on the incident, Ms Neal today denied she or husband,
New South Wales Education Minister John Della Bosca, had behaved inappropriately at
Gosford's Iguanas Waterfront Bar.
Nick Ralston, Danny Rose & Karen Davis, MP denies threatening club staff , Herald-Sun, 10 June, 2008.
Ms Neal said she had made "a legitimate complaint" after being asked to move with an unfinished steak still on the table.
"I didn't swear or threaten anyone's job or in fact do anything but make a legitimate complaint," she told Scott Levi from ABC Radio on the
Central Coast.
"Neither myself or John were intoxicated and in fact John hasn't had, as he puts it, anything but altar wine for five months. He's on a bit of
a fitness campaign at the moment.
"I'd had two glasses of white wine and I'd poured myself a glass of red wine to have with my steak, but in fact because of the events that
happened I actually didn't get to have more than a few sips of that."
Asked whether she was asked to move with her meal still on the table, she said: "This was the concern, I say a legitimate concern, and I
have to say at no time did I suggest anyone should be sacked or anything more."
Arjun Ramachandran , I didn't swear or threaten anyone: Neal , Sydney Morning Herald , 10 June 2008.
SORRY BELINDA - we don't believe you.
see also ;
NSW News, Federal MP denies threatening club staff , ABC Radio , 10 June 2008.
Brad Norington , Ups and downs of ALP's gaffe-prone power couple , The Australian, 10 June 2008 .
====================================================================================================================
ORANGE HOSPITAL - INFECTION PROBLEMS
see : Janice Harris, Hospital patients isolated due to infection outbreak , Central Western Daily, 10 June 2008.
====================================================================================================================
see : Janice Harris, Hospital patients isolated due to infection outbreak , Central Western Daily, 10 June 2008.
====================================================================================================================
IN THE END ... DOES IT REALLY MATTER ???
Friday night’s incident at Iguanas - not the name of Labor’s NSW headquarters,
but a restaurant in Gosford - was the fourth embarrassing incident involving
Della Bosca.
The first occurred at a press conference in April, with Della Bosca and NSW
Premier Morris Iemma. Possibly out of frustration at the staggering
inconsequentiality of the presser itself, a journalist asked Della Bosca whether
he harboured any ambitions to become premier.
Instead of the required answer - “No” - Della Bosca launched into a long,
freestyle meditation on the inevitable ambitions of anybody who puts up their
hand for public life.
Iemma, who could sit straight-faced through Duck Soup if he had to, was unable to disguise his discomfort.
The second embarrassing incident occurred last month when Della Bosca announced he was about to lose his licence for speeding; and
the third a few days later, when he unleashed an obscene tirade against a journalist who bailed him up as he was cycling to work.
Iemma was losing patience with Della Bosca before the minister and his wife, federal MP Belinda Neal, became involved in an altercation
at Iguanas and Della Bosca followed that altercation by breaking a promise and driving.
As Iemma pushed his kids on the swings at the local park in Narwee over the long weekend, he would have been pondering whether Della
Bosca was more trouble inside the tent than out.
His decision to allow yet another indiscretion to accrue on Della Bosca’s slate is understandable. Outside the cabinet and lacking an
electorate to keep him busy - Della Bosca is government leader in the upper house - he would have become a full-time schemer and
lightning-rod for opposition to Iemma’s controversial power privatisation.
Imre Salusinszky , Della Bosca not out , BLOG, The Australian, 10 June 2008.
Friday night’s incident at Iguanas - not the name of Labor’s NSW headquarters,
but a restaurant in Gosford - was the fourth embarrassing incident involving
Della Bosca.
The first occurred at a press conference in April, with Della Bosca and NSW
Premier Morris Iemma. Possibly out of frustration at the staggering
inconsequentiality of the presser itself, a journalist asked Della Bosca whether
he harboured any ambitions to become premier.
Instead of the required answer - “No” - Della Bosca launched into a long,
freestyle meditation on the inevitable ambitions of anybody who puts up their
hand for public life.
Iemma, who could sit straight-faced through Duck Soup if he had to, was unable to disguise his discomfort.
The second embarrassing incident occurred last month when Della Bosca announced he was about to lose his licence for speeding; and
the third a few days later, when he unleashed an obscene tirade against a journalist who bailed him up as he was cycling to work.
Iemma was losing patience with Della Bosca before the minister and his wife, federal MP Belinda Neal, became involved in an altercation
at Iguanas and Della Bosca followed that altercation by breaking a promise and driving.
As Iemma pushed his kids on the swings at the local park in Narwee over the long weekend, he would have been pondering whether Della
Bosca was more trouble inside the tent than out.
His decision to allow yet another indiscretion to accrue on Della Bosca’s slate is understandable. Outside the cabinet and lacking an
electorate to keep him busy - Della Bosca is government leader in the upper house - he would have become a full-time schemer and
lightning-rod for opposition to Iemma’s controversial power privatisation.
Imre Salusinszky , Della Bosca not out , BLOG, The Australian, 10 June 2008.
