| JUNE 2008 Pages - Page 15 |
| THIS IS PAGE 15 OF JUNE 2008 PAGES - JUNE0815 |
FLIP-FLOP IEMMA - IS HIS PHOTO NOW IN THE FREEZER ?
We have written on numerous previous occasions about the lack of any
consistent principle shown by Premier Morris Iemma in his dealings
with his ministers.
NOW, once again he has demonstrated it.
AFTER 6 days of the Neal/Della Bosca affair on the front pages of the
newspapers, Mr Iemma has acted.
He has ordered John Della Bosca MLC to stand down from the Iemma ministry.
The Premier says this is because Mr Della Bosca failed to include in his
written statement to the Premier on Monday 10 June 2008, that he had
drafted the written apology signed by the central coast club which was
distributed to the media on Sunday 9 June 2008.
"I am standing John aside on this basis and that is that the faxing and his
drafting of the apology was something that was not in that report.
"Something as central as the apology, and given the matters of controversy, claim and counterclaim, for the sake of completeness and
of detail, I believe that this is a matter now that does require him to stand aside from his ministerial duties. "
However, Premier Iemma says Mr Della Bosca wil be reinstated to Cabinet if he is cleared by a police investigation into the club clash.
HOW LUDICROUS !!!
This is a decision based not on principle, but a political reaction (in the genre of whatever it takes)
IT is as obvious as the hind leg of a dog that Mr Della Bosca will not be charged with any criminal offence as a result of the Police inquiry.
Police are only examining criminal behaviour. IT is pretty obvious Mr Della Bosca has not committed any criminal offences. He has not made a
statutory declaration. He did not drive illegally. He had not been drinking when he drove. He may or may not have sworn in the club. But is a club
a "public place" so any words used, if offensive, are capable of forming the basis of a charge under the Summary offences Act ? He may or may
not have "lied" in press conferences, but that is not a criminal offence. To draft an apology is not a criminal offence.
The problems that Mr Della Bosca faces do not relate to the criminal law . They relate to appropriate ministerial behaviour . The Police are not
charged with the responsibility of policing appropriate ministerial behaviour. The person with the responsibility of setting the standards of
appropriate ministerial behaviour, and enforcing them, is Premier Morris Iemma himself. By standing down John Della Bosca - and wiping his
hands of any responsibility - the Premier has failed in his own responsibilities.
In relation to appropriate ministerial behaviour - the questions are :
*Did he threaten to have staff sacked and the club's licence cancelled.?
^Was it appropriate for him to drive when he had told parliament he would not drive ?
*Did he act in a bullying manner to get a signed apology ?
*Did he mislead the Premier ?
*Did he mislead the press in some respects - e.g. the circumstances of the apology, his provision of full information to the Premier.
*What are the appropriate standards of behaviour for a minister, and has he breached those standards ?
HOWEVER, it appears that Iemma is blinded to his own failures. He told the media :
"What I've done from the beginning, and whether it has been with John Della Bosca or anybody else, I've always been guided by what is
right."
That, as we have shown on previous occasions e.g Orkopoulos and Gibson, is palpably untrue.
SOURCE :
ABC News, Della Bosca stood down over club clash , ABC Radio, 13 June 2008.
Alexandra Smith & Andrew Clennell, Della in the freezer , Sydney Morning Herald, 14 June 2008.
Joe Hildebrand & Bruce McDougall, Morris Iemma hangs John Della Bosca out to dry , Daily Telegraph, 14 June 2008.
Joe Hildebrand, Iemma should have handled Iguanas earlier , Daily Telegraph, 14 June 2008.
Imre Salusinszky , Two versions as John Della Bosca sidelined , The Australian, 14 June 2008.
==================================================================================================================
We have written on numerous previous occasions about the lack of any
consistent principle shown by Premier Morris Iemma in his dealings
with his ministers.
NOW, once again he has demonstrated it.
AFTER 6 days of the Neal/Della Bosca affair on the front pages of the
newspapers, Mr Iemma has acted.
He has ordered John Della Bosca MLC to stand down from the Iemma ministry.
The Premier says this is because Mr Della Bosca failed to include in his
written statement to the Premier on Monday 10 June 2008, that he had
drafted the written apology signed by the central coast club which was
distributed to the media on Sunday 9 June 2008.
"I am standing John aside on this basis and that is that the faxing and his
drafting of the apology was something that was not in that report.
"Something as central as the apology, and given the matters of controversy, claim and counterclaim, for the sake of completeness and
of detail, I believe that this is a matter now that does require him to stand aside from his ministerial duties. "
However, Premier Iemma says Mr Della Bosca wil be reinstated to Cabinet if he is cleared by a police investigation into the club clash.
HOW LUDICROUS !!!
This is a decision based not on principle, but a political reaction (in the genre of whatever it takes)
IT is as obvious as the hind leg of a dog that Mr Della Bosca will not be charged with any criminal offence as a result of the Police inquiry.
Police are only examining criminal behaviour. IT is pretty obvious Mr Della Bosca has not committed any criminal offences. He has not made a
statutory declaration. He did not drive illegally. He had not been drinking when he drove. He may or may not have sworn in the club. But is a club
a "public place" so any words used, if offensive, are capable of forming the basis of a charge under the Summary offences Act ? He may or may
not have "lied" in press conferences, but that is not a criminal offence. To draft an apology is not a criminal offence.
The problems that Mr Della Bosca faces do not relate to the criminal law . They relate to appropriate ministerial behaviour . The Police are not
charged with the responsibility of policing appropriate ministerial behaviour. The person with the responsibility of setting the standards of
appropriate ministerial behaviour, and enforcing them, is Premier Morris Iemma himself. By standing down John Della Bosca - and wiping his
hands of any responsibility - the Premier has failed in his own responsibilities.
In relation to appropriate ministerial behaviour - the questions are :
*Did he threaten to have staff sacked and the club's licence cancelled.?
^Was it appropriate for him to drive when he had told parliament he would not drive ?
*Did he act in a bullying manner to get a signed apology ?
*Did he mislead the Premier ?
*Did he mislead the press in some respects - e.g. the circumstances of the apology, his provision of full information to the Premier.
*What are the appropriate standards of behaviour for a minister, and has he breached those standards ?
HOWEVER, it appears that Iemma is blinded to his own failures. He told the media :
"What I've done from the beginning, and whether it has been with John Della Bosca or anybody else, I've always been guided by what is
right."
That, as we have shown on previous occasions e.g Orkopoulos and Gibson, is palpably untrue.
SOURCE :
ABC News, Della Bosca stood down over club clash , ABC Radio, 13 June 2008.
Alexandra Smith & Andrew Clennell, Della in the freezer , Sydney Morning Herald, 14 June 2008.
Joe Hildebrand & Bruce McDougall, Morris Iemma hangs John Della Bosca out to dry , Daily Telegraph, 14 June 2008.
Joe Hildebrand, Iemma should have handled Iguanas earlier , Daily Telegraph, 14 June 2008.
Imre Salusinszky , Two versions as John Della Bosca sidelined , The Australian, 14 June 2008.
==================================================================================================================
POOLEY PULLS OUT
Tony Pooley was nominated by Labor's State Conference in May 2008 as the Labor mayoral candidate for
the Sydney City Council elections in September 2008.
However, he has now withdrawn, saying he was unable to fulfill the role because of work commitments.
He will not stand for election as an ordinary councillor. Mr Pooley works as a senior adviser to NSW Minister
for Disability Services Kristina Keneally, MP.
Sydney City Liberal councillor Shayne Mallard said :
the 11th hour withdrawal of the former Labor Mayor raised several important questions;
"Did Tony see confidential Sussex Street polling that showed a landslide victory for Clover Moore at the election?
"Did Tony realise that his bid for the Lord Mayoralty was doomed from the start?" Shayne said.
"Tony must have seen that Clover Moore was going to trounce the ALP following the endless scandals and
failures of Labor in Macquarie Street. Everyone knows that the ALP has that unpleasant, decaying smell
about it nowadays.
"Labor may now turn to retired upper house politician, Dr Meredith Burgmann to lead an already defeated team to
the polls. It seems that Labor are throwing in the towel before the first round. They have given up the fight before it has even begun."
The Daily Telegraph has suggested :
....the move also comes amid internal party polling showing Labor will almost certainly be trounced by Ms Moore and may even lose one
of its existing seats.
Meredith Burgmann, former President of the NSW Legislative Councillor and aunt of Verity Firth MP, NSW Minister for Climate Change and the
Environment, has now been appointed as the Labor candidate. She was beaten by Tony Pooley in the conference ballot in May.
SOURCES :
Jano Gibson and Sunanda Creagh , Deputy mayor fends off rival for top job , Sydney Morning Herald, 6 May 2008.
Joe Hildebrand , Clover Moore tipped to win against Meredith Burgman , Daily Telegraph, 3 June 2008.
Jano Gibson, Airy-fairy vision: Burgmann , Sydney Morning Herald, 4 June 2008. p. 10
=================================================================================================================
Tony Pooley was nominated by Labor's State Conference in May 2008 as the Labor mayoral candidate for
the Sydney City Council elections in September 2008.
However, he has now withdrawn, saying he was unable to fulfill the role because of work commitments.
He will not stand for election as an ordinary councillor. Mr Pooley works as a senior adviser to NSW Minister
for Disability Services Kristina Keneally, MP.
Sydney City Liberal councillor Shayne Mallard said :
the 11th hour withdrawal of the former Labor Mayor raised several important questions;
"Did Tony see confidential Sussex Street polling that showed a landslide victory for Clover Moore at the election?
"Did Tony realise that his bid for the Lord Mayoralty was doomed from the start?" Shayne said.
"Tony must have seen that Clover Moore was going to trounce the ALP following the endless scandals and
failures of Labor in Macquarie Street. Everyone knows that the ALP has that unpleasant, decaying smell
about it nowadays.
"Labor may now turn to retired upper house politician, Dr Meredith Burgmann to lead an already defeated team to
the polls. It seems that Labor are throwing in the towel before the first round. They have given up the fight before it has even begun."
The Daily Telegraph has suggested :
....the move also comes amid internal party polling showing Labor will almost certainly be trounced by Ms Moore and may even lose one
of its existing seats.
Meredith Burgmann, former President of the NSW Legislative Councillor and aunt of Verity Firth MP, NSW Minister for Climate Change and the
Environment, has now been appointed as the Labor candidate. She was beaten by Tony Pooley in the conference ballot in May.
SOURCES :
Jano Gibson and Sunanda Creagh , Deputy mayor fends off rival for top job , Sydney Morning Herald, 6 May 2008.
Joe Hildebrand , Clover Moore tipped to win against Meredith Burgman , Daily Telegraph, 3 June 2008.
Jano Gibson, Airy-fairy vision: Burgmann , Sydney Morning Herald, 4 June 2008. p. 10
=================================================================================================================
ANGER MANAGEMENT CLASSES GO to BOB PARSONS Blog and watch his video advice on Anger Management posted on 4 June 2008. Everyone could take heed of Bob's advice. [ GO HERE ] ================================================================================================================= AND for a good article on anger management see : Adele Horin, Bullies get away with anger unleashed in private , Sydney Morning Herald, 14 June 2008. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| NSW LABOR - CLOSET BULLY's NOW NAKED In 1995, Bob Carr led NSW Labor out of a short period in the wilderness onto the government benches. His success surprised some at the time. A former journalist, he had a finely tuned sense of what could be sold to the public. His ability to pick the public mood kept him in power - even though in many senses he remained "aloof" from the Labor Party. Eventually, tired of being a 24/7 actor, after 10 years, he retired. In the meantime there were others, acting not necessarily in concert, but at least all heading in the same direction. THAT direction was self interest. The destination was a seat on a ministerial leather chair. IF Labor could be in government, these people wanted to get more than their fair share of the spoils. There are 2 sides to the advancement coin - on one side improving one self, the other side destroying anyone who might stand in the way of the ultimate destination. AND so the culture of the bully and the head-kicker became highly prized, and a pathway to the ultimate destination. Reba Meagher and Joe Tripodi in Young Labor established their credentials by destroying the Left. Eddie Obeid and his hangers on in the Terrigals were ingratiating themselves with head office. The osmosis of the culture of the Terrigals increased with each little success .Politics is all about numbers, and so branch stacking and similar activities were one way of increasing the numbers in parliament. Another was parachuting candidates into seats. Parliament started to become mono-cultural, with staffers and head-office appointees getting the gig. All this was accomplished behind closed doors. Bullying and head kicking became greatly admired qualities, and the path to success. In public of course, a different face might, and indeed needed to be presented. Whilst Bob Carr was busy capturing the public mood and winning elections, the 'ruling class' was busy doing what it knew best. Even the Trogs became seen as standing in the way of the new 'ruling class' - possibly for no reason other than they espoused a more gentile approach to politics. When Bob Carr retired, Morris Iemma, a member of the ruling class, was appointed as leader, chosen because of his doleful demeanour and 'family values', the best possible cover for the brutality, the bullying and head-kicking of the 'rulers'. The destruction of the Left was a major driving and binding force for the ruling class. The Hunter region was seen as a major hot-bed of the Left - and it came under particular attention for the 2007 election. Keeping the bullying hidden, and presenting a different face to the public, of course was recognised as essential by the ruling class (hence the choice of Iemma). BUT role playing, acting and presenting a fake persona to the public is wearying. Eventually the real persona will come out (usually by ones own actions - not by external discovery). In the meantime, the culture of bullying becomes legitimised, and then admired and finally revered. After winning the 2007 election, which Labor now mythically portrays as the unwinnable election, it seems the ruling class let their guard slip. During the election campaign Iemma made statements, which with hindsight look dodgey e.g. there were no plans to privatise electricity, that construction of the Tamworth hospital would begin before March 2011. The Treasurer, Michael Costa MLC, who has always acted bizarrely (look at his speeches and answers to questions, particularly from the Opposition, in parliament - they are not the signs of someone who engages in rationale and well reasoned debate), had a plan predicated upon the sell-off of NSW electricity. Morris Iemma must have known that plan would be resisted by the Unions, the key supporters of Labor. Instead of going out and selling the concept of privatisation to the Unions or to the public, Iemma simply announced a 'bust through at all costs' approach. To those around him, seeped in the Terrigals culture this was seen and spun as "Strong Leadership". Iemma was probably flattered by the courtiers, despite polls suggesting 85% of the community opposed the sell-off. IN May 2008 at the Labor conference the sell-off was rejected by a vote of 7-1 (and 3-1 by the non-union delegates). In arguing the case for the sell-off Iemma brought out his lieutenants Costa and Meagher. Costa's speech to the conference was symbolic of the culture of the Terrigals. However, despite the vote, Iemma announced the government would proceed with the sell-off anyway.. He passed off the tactics employed by the Terrigals at the conference as just a "family feud'" and 'the way we do things in the Labor Party'. Family members, who run cake-stalls and hand out how to vote cards, as if to do so is a religious rite, must have felt abused. BUT the general community were not too disturbed by the brutalism displayed at the conference. It was an in-house thing, confined by the parameters of the walls of the conference. Next, when it became apparent some Labor MP's might vote against the sell-off, theTerrigals sought to change the minds of those wavering. Eddie Obeid, whose telephone manner is less than perfect, hit the phones. Other's engaged in face to face conversations with wavering MP's. Pre-selections were threatened. Future careers were threatened. One MLC was reduced to tears, so ferocious was the family discussion'. When news of this reached the community, it was generally dismissed as a "Labor family feud", and passed over as it did not directly affect community members. After all,when Labor MPs visited their electorates, these people were perfectly charming, smiling and handing over cheques for government grants FOR some reason, John Della Bosca became an object of scorn for the ruling Terrigals. One or more ministerial staffers, probably using taxpayer resources, put up a You Tube video, Della's Downfall . Someone, responded with a cleverer video, Iemma's Dilemma. Once again, a bit of a family feud, which had little impact on the community. ONE of the foibles of human nature is that humans tend to believe that others will act in the same way they do. Conmen, for example, only exist and prosper because honest people willingly hand over their hard earned cash, believing the conman will act honestly. So for the Terrigals, whose fundamental principle is self advancement at all costs, there is a belief that others can easily be bought off, and that principle plays a part in the way they act. We have no doubt, that it was on this basis, that Iemma bestowed the honour of Assistant President of the Legislative Council on Fred Nile MLC, and gave him an extra salary of $43,000 per year. Accordingly, during the power sell-off debate, Eddie Obeid has been busily offering ministerial promotion to potentially compliant MPs. Likewise,Iemma has been offering all sorts of infra-structure to the community, provided the sell-off takes place. Richard Torbay MP believed he had received a firm commitment from the government to implement some of the recommendations of the Rural & Regional Taskforce in the 2008 budget. It did not. Torbay now believes the government has attempted to hold him to ransom over the electricity sell-off. THEN along came Iguana Joe's. Here was a graphic and symbolic snapshot of the culture of the Terrigals. The abuse, the threat to sack workers and to use the police as an instrument to harass and eventually close down a business, was not an in-house 'family feud' but a direct attack upon members of the community. This made it personal . It was something happening right in the midst of the community, not in some far away conference room or behind closed doors in parliament house. IT was out in the open for all to see. The closet door of the Terrigals culture had been firmly blown away. IT will be difficult in future for a Labor MP who is a devotee of the culture of the Terrigals, to front a community gathering without community members seeing them naked. The smiles, the gracious persona and the glad handing of government grant cheques, will simply look farcical - over the observable ugliness that lies beneath. For NSW the battle is now : Terrigals vs The Community. It is no longer an in-house family feud. see :Richard Glover, The Night Of The Iguana , Sydney Morning Herald, 14 June 2008. |
NAKEDNESS LAID BARE - THE IGUANA STORY
For a comprehensive look at how the Iguana story unfolded read :
Andrew Clennell, Dylan Welch & Alexandra Smith
For better or for worse … a power couple's private lives stripped bare ,
Sydney Morning Herald, 14 June 2008.
WE bet that William Shakespeare is turning in his grave right now - wishing he was alive and residing
in NSW. It would make a perfect foundation for a play for him to write.
The Iguana Apology is available at the ABC News website [ ONLINE ]
The statement John Della Bosca delivered to the Premier on Monday 10 June 2008
is also available at the ABC News website [ ONLINE ].
FURTHER READING :
Miranda Devine , Alcohol law's unseemly costs , Sydney Morning Herald, 12 June 2008.
Dylan Welch , Talking turkey as stat dec interviews begin , Sydney Morning Herald , 14 June 2008.
Murray Nicholls , A call for you, minister, while you still are one , Sydney Morning Herald, 14 June 2008.
Police to get Iguanas manager's story , Daily Telegraph , 14 June 2008.
Brad Norington , Power families , The Australian, 14 June 2008.
Ean Higgins , Police start Della probe , The Australian, 14 June 2008.
Dylan Welch, Talking turkey as stat dec interviews begin , Central Midland and Coastal Advocate, 14 June 2008.
Lisa Carty and Eamonn Duff , Cops quiz staff as Della awaits grilling , Sun-Herald, 15 June 2008.
Lisa Carty & Eamonn Duff , Police interview MPs over Iguana affair , Sunday Age, 15 June 2008.
Andrew Chesterton , The 'mystery' woman who apologised , Sunday Telegraph, 15 June 2008.
Andrew Chesterton , The men that brought John Della Bosca down ,Sunday Telegraph, 15 June 2008.
Sophie Mirabella , Leopards don't change spots , Sun-Herald, 15 June 2008.
For a comprehensive look at how the Iguana story unfolded read :
Andrew Clennell, Dylan Welch & Alexandra Smith
For better or for worse … a power couple's private lives stripped bare ,
Sydney Morning Herald, 14 June 2008.
WE bet that William Shakespeare is turning in his grave right now - wishing he was alive and residing
in NSW. It would make a perfect foundation for a play for him to write.
The Iguana Apology is available at the ABC News website [ ONLINE ]
The statement John Della Bosca delivered to the Premier on Monday 10 June 2008
is also available at the ABC News website [ ONLINE ].
FURTHER READING :
Miranda Devine , Alcohol law's unseemly costs , Sydney Morning Herald, 12 June 2008.
Dylan Welch , Talking turkey as stat dec interviews begin , Sydney Morning Herald , 14 June 2008.
Murray Nicholls , A call for you, minister, while you still are one , Sydney Morning Herald, 14 June 2008.
Police to get Iguanas manager's story , Daily Telegraph , 14 June 2008.
Brad Norington , Power families , The Australian, 14 June 2008.
Ean Higgins , Police start Della probe , The Australian, 14 June 2008.
Dylan Welch, Talking turkey as stat dec interviews begin , Central Midland and Coastal Advocate, 14 June 2008.
Lisa Carty and Eamonn Duff , Cops quiz staff as Della awaits grilling , Sun-Herald, 15 June 2008.
Lisa Carty & Eamonn Duff , Police interview MPs over Iguana affair , Sunday Age, 15 June 2008.
Andrew Chesterton , The 'mystery' woman who apologised , Sunday Telegraph, 15 June 2008.
Andrew Chesterton , The men that brought John Della Bosca down ,Sunday Telegraph, 15 June 2008.
Sophie Mirabella , Leopards don't change spots , Sun-Herald, 15 June 2008.
