| JUNE 2008 Pages - Page 12 |
| THIS IS PAGE 12 OF JUNE 2008 PAGES - JUNE0812 |
BUSINESS AS USUAL IN NSW - SACK THE PUBLIC SERVANTS !!!
Even though NSW Labor has been distracted by the Della Bosca-Neal affair, it remains business as usual in the background.
In usual Terrigals fashion, Eddie Obeid MLC, expecting a ministerial funeral soon, has been reported as touting people
for ministerial appointment. For ever seeking to remain relevant to the NSW political process, Eddie hopes MP's will view
him as the way through which ministerial advancement can be gained.
And in usual Terrigals fashion the head of Tourism NSW has been forced to fall on his sword.
Never a thought of a minister taking responsibility - just blame the public servants - that's the Terrigal's game.
Following a damning report by John O'Neill, head of Events NSW, the head of Tourism NSW, also named John O'Neill has resigned. The report
stated : :
....the Government's "doesn't care" approach had squandered the opportunity of generating an extra $3.5 billion in tourism revenue
since the Games.
NSW had failed to respond to the evolving needs of travellers and had lost much ground to other states, particularly Victoria and
Queensland, in domestic and international market share. The Government's attitude had led to a state plan with a tourism target that
"implies a continued, substantial decline in NSW's share of Australian tourism", rather than an upward trend.
SOURCES :
Julian Lee and Jano Gibson , Tourism boss goes as report pans state effort , Sydney Morning Herald, 12 June 2008.
WHO IS JOHN O'NEILL ? , Monthly News November 2007 page 17, www.independent-nsw.com
Angela Saurine , Tourism NSW boss John O'Neill resigns , Daily Telegraph, 12 June
2008.
================================================================================================================
Even though NSW Labor has been distracted by the Della Bosca-Neal affair, it remains business as usual in the background.
In usual Terrigals fashion, Eddie Obeid MLC, expecting a ministerial funeral soon, has been reported as touting people
for ministerial appointment. For ever seeking to remain relevant to the NSW political process, Eddie hopes MP's will view
him as the way through which ministerial advancement can be gained.
And in usual Terrigals fashion the head of Tourism NSW has been forced to fall on his sword.
Never a thought of a minister taking responsibility - just blame the public servants - that's the Terrigal's game.
Following a damning report by John O'Neill, head of Events NSW, the head of Tourism NSW, also named John O'Neill has resigned. The report
stated : :
....the Government's "doesn't care" approach had squandered the opportunity of generating an extra $3.5 billion in tourism revenue
since the Games.
NSW had failed to respond to the evolving needs of travellers and had lost much ground to other states, particularly Victoria and
Queensland, in domestic and international market share. The Government's attitude had led to a state plan with a tourism target that
"implies a continued, substantial decline in NSW's share of Australian tourism", rather than an upward trend.
SOURCES :
Julian Lee and Jano Gibson , Tourism boss goes as report pans state effort , Sydney Morning Herald, 12 June 2008.
WHO IS JOHN O'NEILL ? , Monthly News November 2007 page 17, www.independent-nsw.com
Angela Saurine , Tourism NSW boss John O'Neill resigns , Daily Telegraph, 12 June
2008.
================================================================================================================
| OCTOGENARIAN ART - HETTY : EAT YOUR HEART OUT This is a fabulous story. It would warm the hearts of even the coldest of people. see : Emily Dunn and Elicia Murray , Almost 80 and Rotten to the core , Sydney Morning Herald, 12 June 2008. ================================================================================================================= |
REASONABLE, BUT MISTAKEN BELIEF IN CIRCUMSTANCES DEFENCE SURVIVES.
In a historic verdict, and in a win for common sense, the High Court of Australia, has ruled that the NSW "equal age of
consent" Act of 2003, did not over-ride the common law rule that a belief actually held, based on reasonable circumstances,
that a sexual partner was above the age of 16 years, was a defence to a charge under the Crimes Act, even though the
Attorney-General in 2003 said it would not apply.
In fact, the Act has widened the scope of the defence to some extent in heterosexual sex, because previously the defence
was only available if the girl was above the age of 14 years, but now the defence is available , irrespective of the actual
age of the girl, although the judges of the High Court admitted it would be extremely more difficult for the defence to prevail,
the further from the actual age of 16 the girl is.
The appeal to the High Court followed an unsuccessful appeal to the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal, which held that the Proudman v. Dayman
defence was not available to charges under s.66C of the NSW Crimes Act (1900).
Mr Tim Game SC argued the case for the appellant in the High Court (successfully) and also in the NSW CCA (unsuccessfully).
This "equal age of consent" legislation was opposed by Peter Draper MP (Tamworth), Richard Torbay MP (Northern Tablelands) and the then
MP for Dubbo Tony McGrane. Although none of them spoke to the Bill, it has been widely assumed they opposed the bill because they did not
believe that gay teenage boys were entitled to the same legal rights as heterosexual teenage boys. Some people have described such a belief
system as discriminatory and "homophobic". Why these MP's wanted to interfere in the sex lives of over 16 year old boys (but not girls or
heterosexual boys) has never been explained.
SOURCES :
Tim Dick , Under-age sex defence upheld , Sydney Morning Herald, 12 June 2008.
CTM v The Queen (S591/2007) - judgment delivered 11 June 2008, heard 29 February 2008 - Gleeson CJ, Gummow, Kirby, Hayne, Heydon,
Crennan and Kiefel JJ.
Transcript : 16 November 2007
Transcript : 29 February 2008.
CTM v The Queen [2008] HCA 25 (11 June 2008)
CTM v R [2007] NSWCCA 131 [ ONLINE ]
=================================================================================================================
In a historic verdict, and in a win for common sense, the High Court of Australia, has ruled that the NSW "equal age of
consent" Act of 2003, did not over-ride the common law rule that a belief actually held, based on reasonable circumstances,
that a sexual partner was above the age of 16 years, was a defence to a charge under the Crimes Act, even though the
Attorney-General in 2003 said it would not apply.
In fact, the Act has widened the scope of the defence to some extent in heterosexual sex, because previously the defence
was only available if the girl was above the age of 14 years, but now the defence is available , irrespective of the actual
age of the girl, although the judges of the High Court admitted it would be extremely more difficult for the defence to prevail,
the further from the actual age of 16 the girl is.
The appeal to the High Court followed an unsuccessful appeal to the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal, which held that the Proudman v. Dayman
defence was not available to charges under s.66C of the NSW Crimes Act (1900).
Mr Tim Game SC argued the case for the appellant in the High Court (successfully) and also in the NSW CCA (unsuccessfully).
This "equal age of consent" legislation was opposed by Peter Draper MP (Tamworth), Richard Torbay MP (Northern Tablelands) and the then
MP for Dubbo Tony McGrane. Although none of them spoke to the Bill, it has been widely assumed they opposed the bill because they did not
believe that gay teenage boys were entitled to the same legal rights as heterosexual teenage boys. Some people have described such a belief
system as discriminatory and "homophobic". Why these MP's wanted to interfere in the sex lives of over 16 year old boys (but not girls or
heterosexual boys) has never been explained.
SOURCES :
Tim Dick , Under-age sex defence upheld , Sydney Morning Herald, 12 June 2008.
CTM v The Queen (S591/2007) - judgment delivered 11 June 2008, heard 29 February 2008 - Gleeson CJ, Gummow, Kirby, Hayne, Heydon,
Crennan and Kiefel JJ.
Transcript : 16 November 2007
Transcript : 29 February 2008.
CTM v The Queen [2008] HCA 25 (11 June 2008)
CTM v R [2007] NSWCCA 131 [ ONLINE ]
=================================================================================================================
DAILY TELEGRAPH ACCUSES IEMMA OF MISLEADING THE COMMUNITY
The Daily Telegraph newspaper has accused the Premier of NSW, Morris Iemma, of misleading the NSW community.
THIS is a high level charge to be levelled against the state's highest political office-holder. IF proven, the Premier, should by
convention, surrender his commission to the state's Governor, Marie Bashir.
The Daily Telegraph says :
The Daily Telegraph can also reveal Mr Iemma misled the public when he said he had referred all documents about the infamous
Iguanas club incident to police.
In fact, police had still not received the staff members' statutory declarations as of yesterday afternoon - two days after Mr Iemma said
he had sent them.
Mr Iemma's apparent paralysis is raising serious concerns within the ALP and Mr Rudd's strong move has left the Premier increasingly
isolated.
.......He had sent only Mr Della Bosca's version of events.
While sworn statements from Mr Della Bosca's dining companions emerged on Tuesday and were given to the media at 3.48pm, they
were not sent to Commissioner Andrew Scipione until after The Daily Telegraph inquired on Wednesday.
And The Daily Telegraph understands there is no move to hand over the statutory declarations from the Iguanas Waterfront staff
members, who are standing by their story that Belinda Neal was abusive.
........
A spokeswoman for Mr Iemma did not explain why the documents had been delayed and said a second set of statutory declarations
would be sent over. As of 6pm these documents had still not been received.
IT has been said that from little acorns - oak trees grow. This episode, is starting to look like one of those episodes.
SOURCE :
Joe Hildebrand & Clare Masters , Morris Iemma given lesson over Belinda Neal and Della Bosca, Daily Telegraph, 12 June 2008.
Andrew Clennell , Libs call in police: which side is lying? , Sydney Morning Herald, 12 June 2008.
Postscript : IT is almost as if Morris Iemma is playing out the role in the movie, Iemma's Dilemma. Camped up in a bunker - and bewildered by
what has gone awry with his dream of glory, he is paralyzed like a rabbit in spotlights, and refuses to come out into the sunlight. And the
haunting words : Well then the caucus is about as useful as a f**king knife in a gunfight. All they are interested in is becoming ministers. The
cabinet is a shambles.
=================================================================================================================
The Daily Telegraph newspaper has accused the Premier of NSW, Morris Iemma, of misleading the NSW community.
THIS is a high level charge to be levelled against the state's highest political office-holder. IF proven, the Premier, should by
convention, surrender his commission to the state's Governor, Marie Bashir.
The Daily Telegraph says :
The Daily Telegraph can also reveal Mr Iemma misled the public when he said he had referred all documents about the infamous
Iguanas club incident to police.
In fact, police had still not received the staff members' statutory declarations as of yesterday afternoon - two days after Mr Iemma said
he had sent them.
Mr Iemma's apparent paralysis is raising serious concerns within the ALP and Mr Rudd's strong move has left the Premier increasingly
isolated.
.......He had sent only Mr Della Bosca's version of events.
While sworn statements from Mr Della Bosca's dining companions emerged on Tuesday and were given to the media at 3.48pm, they
were not sent to Commissioner Andrew Scipione until after The Daily Telegraph inquired on Wednesday.
And The Daily Telegraph understands there is no move to hand over the statutory declarations from the Iguanas Waterfront staff
members, who are standing by their story that Belinda Neal was abusive.
........
A spokeswoman for Mr Iemma did not explain why the documents had been delayed and said a second set of statutory declarations
would be sent over. As of 6pm these documents had still not been received.
IT has been said that from little acorns - oak trees grow. This episode, is starting to look like one of those episodes.
SOURCE :
Joe Hildebrand & Clare Masters , Morris Iemma given lesson over Belinda Neal and Della Bosca, Daily Telegraph, 12 June 2008.
Andrew Clennell , Libs call in police: which side is lying? , Sydney Morning Herald, 12 June 2008.
Postscript : IT is almost as if Morris Iemma is playing out the role in the movie, Iemma's Dilemma. Camped up in a bunker - and bewildered by
what has gone awry with his dream of glory, he is paralyzed like a rabbit in spotlights, and refuses to come out into the sunlight. And the
haunting words : Well then the caucus is about as useful as a f**king knife in a gunfight. All they are interested in is becoming ministers. The
cabinet is a shambles.
=================================================================================================================
| THE APOLOGY that Belinda Neal had hoped would wash her cares away. IT had the opposite effect - motivating journalists to work harder to protect their integrity as journalists. IN the process they unearthed unsavoury recent incidents, which prompted the Australian PM to order her to attend anger management counselling. |
BUT WAIT - THERE'S MORE.......
A music teacher who taught Belinda Neal's child music some years ago has told The Australian newspaper that Ms Neal refused to pay the GST
component on the music lesson fees, because she did not personally agree with the GST tax system. When the music teacher requested the
extra money, Ms Neal acted quite aggressively toward her over the telephone.
WHAT a nasty, nasty, nasty piece of work Belinda Neal MP (Robertson - NSW federal) really is.
SOURCE :
Brad Norington & Ean Higgins , Neal's history of anger , The Australian, 12 June 2008.
=================================================================================================================
A music teacher who taught Belinda Neal's child music some years ago has told The Australian newspaper that Ms Neal refused to pay the GST
component on the music lesson fees, because she did not personally agree with the GST tax system. When the music teacher requested the
extra money, Ms Neal acted quite aggressively toward her over the telephone.
WHAT a nasty, nasty, nasty piece of work Belinda Neal MP (Robertson - NSW federal) really is.
SOURCE :
Brad Norington & Ean Higgins , Neal's history of anger , The Australian, 12 June 2008.
=================================================================================================================
JULIA IRWIN - SAYS UNFAIR & SEXIST
Julia Irwin says the PM's treatment of Belinda Neal MP ( Robertson - NSW federal) is unfair and sexist. She cites male MP's who have got away
with worse without being disciplined, and she points to the treatment of Cheryl Kernot and Kelly Hoare.
As to Cheryl Kernot, I am unable to comment as I know little about her.
As to Kelly Hoare, I agree the treatment of her was absolutely disgraceful. Her "sin" was one of private behaviour that hurt no one. Perhaps it was
motivated by sexism, but probably more by NSW Labor's brutality, engaging in tactics designed to parachute a favoured candidate into her seat.
Tactics, from all accounts, Belinda Neal would approve of.
As to Mark Latham, I can't explain why he was not disciplined for allegedly breaking a taxi-drivers arm. Certainly, by the time he had become
Labor leader, it was unlikely that he would be disciplined - from self-interest of the Labor party rather than from sexism. Maybe the reason he
failed to win the 2004 election was because the community perceived him as a bully.
As to Belinda Neal, the threats which workers alleged she made to close down the club's licence, were the factor that apparently motivated them,
rather than sexism. The other incident's like the soccer player and the "demon" comment involved other women. Those actions were hurtful to
others (unlike Kelly Hoare's actions). IT is difficult to say that PM Rudd was motivated by sexism - as this was the first occasion he has had to
address bad behaviour of an MP since he was elected PM. Certainly, the Deputy PM, a female, appears to have backed his action and may have
even encouraged him to take the course he did. As for the media - perhaps they have been motivated in part by sexism, but there is no denying
that Ms Neal by her own peculiar behaviour , has provided the media with plenty of ammunition. i find it hard to accept that PM Rudd would have
acted differently if a male MP had behaved in exactly the same way Ms Neal has.
Whilst I take on board the comments Ms Irwin has made regarding sexism, I am not convinced that sexism is a common thread in all the cases
she mentions. Indeed, the common theme in Ms Neal's actions seems to be acting aggressively and inappropriately towards other women.
SOURCE :
ABC News, Caucus divided over Rudd rebuke to Neal , ABC Radio, 12 June 2008.
=================================================================================================================
Julia Irwin says the PM's treatment of Belinda Neal MP ( Robertson - NSW federal) is unfair and sexist. She cites male MP's who have got away
with worse without being disciplined, and she points to the treatment of Cheryl Kernot and Kelly Hoare.
As to Cheryl Kernot, I am unable to comment as I know little about her.
As to Kelly Hoare, I agree the treatment of her was absolutely disgraceful. Her "sin" was one of private behaviour that hurt no one. Perhaps it was
motivated by sexism, but probably more by NSW Labor's brutality, engaging in tactics designed to parachute a favoured candidate into her seat.
Tactics, from all accounts, Belinda Neal would approve of.
As to Mark Latham, I can't explain why he was not disciplined for allegedly breaking a taxi-drivers arm. Certainly, by the time he had become
Labor leader, it was unlikely that he would be disciplined - from self-interest of the Labor party rather than from sexism. Maybe the reason he
failed to win the 2004 election was because the community perceived him as a bully.
As to Belinda Neal, the threats which workers alleged she made to close down the club's licence, were the factor that apparently motivated them,
rather than sexism. The other incident's like the soccer player and the "demon" comment involved other women. Those actions were hurtful to
others (unlike Kelly Hoare's actions). IT is difficult to say that PM Rudd was motivated by sexism - as this was the first occasion he has had to
address bad behaviour of an MP since he was elected PM. Certainly, the Deputy PM, a female, appears to have backed his action and may have
even encouraged him to take the course he did. As for the media - perhaps they have been motivated in part by sexism, but there is no denying
that Ms Neal by her own peculiar behaviour , has provided the media with plenty of ammunition. i find it hard to accept that PM Rudd would have
acted differently if a male MP had behaved in exactly the same way Ms Neal has.
Whilst I take on board the comments Ms Irwin has made regarding sexism, I am not convinced that sexism is a common thread in all the cases
she mentions. Indeed, the common theme in Ms Neal's actions seems to be acting aggressively and inappropriately towards other women.
SOURCE :
ABC News, Caucus divided over Rudd rebuke to Neal , ABC Radio, 12 June 2008.
=================================================================================================================
NICK-NAME OF NSW PARLIAMENT ?
The question on everyone's lips this week seems to be :
WHAT is the nick-name for the NSW Parliament ?
Is it -
**** The bear-pit
***** The mother of Australian parliaments.
***** The first Australian parliament.
***** The people's parliament.
***** The peoples house
***** The oldest of Australian parliaments.
Kevin Rozzoli, former Speaker of the NSW Legislative Assembly has written :
The New South Wales Parliament is the 'mother' parliament of Australia and the oldest parliament in the Southern Hemisphere.
Rozzoli K ( 2006) Gavel to Gavel, UNSW Press, Sydney. page 17.
So if I had to pick a nick-name I would say "mother parliament of Australia" . However I fear the nick-name is the derogatory term BEAR-PIT.- But
then a rose by any other name would smell the same.
=================================================================================================================
The question on everyone's lips this week seems to be :
WHAT is the nick-name for the NSW Parliament ?
Is it -
**** The bear-pit
***** The mother of Australian parliaments.
***** The first Australian parliament.
***** The people's parliament.
***** The peoples house
***** The oldest of Australian parliaments.
Kevin Rozzoli, former Speaker of the NSW Legislative Assembly has written :
The New South Wales Parliament is the 'mother' parliament of Australia and the oldest parliament in the Southern Hemisphere.
Rozzoli K ( 2006) Gavel to Gavel, UNSW Press, Sydney. page 17.
So if I had to pick a nick-name I would say "mother parliament of Australia" . However I fear the nick-name is the derogatory term BEAR-PIT.- But
then a rose by any other name would smell the same.
=================================================================================================================
| TODAY NSW - TOMORROW THE WORLD Belinda Neal MP (Robertson - NSW federal) and her husband John Della Bosca MLC have monopolised the front page of the Daily Telegraph/ Sunday Telegraph for 5 days straight. The question on everyone's lips is : How long can they keep it up ? |
LEFT : Day 5. RIGHT : Friday 13 June 2008.- Day 6. Not in the headlines, but still in the small print on the front page of the Daily Telegraph. The handling by the Premier of the Neal/Della Bosca affair is quoted as a major cause for concern for Labor MP's, causing them to consider dumping Morris Iemma as NSW Labor leader. This comes on top of problems relating to electricity privatisation. : |