| JUNE 2008 Pages - Page 17 |
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| NSW GREENS "TALK THE TALK" - BUT DO THEY WALK THE WALK ? NSW Greens MLC Lee Rhiannon issued a media release on 14 June 2008 which included : Greens Upper House MP Lee Rhiannon has criticised the 2008 Parliamentary Remuneration Tribunal determination on MPs’ entitlements as providing unwarranted increases for unaccountable allowances. “This boost to MP entitlements comes in a week where the reputation of NSW politicians has reached a new low and will only heighten the growing cynicism towards politicians in this state,” Ms Rhiannon said. “A 14 percent increase to the controversial Sydney Allowance is a luxury. “Country MPs have been given a cushion against rising fuel, food and accommodation costs while the rest of the community struggles without extra support. “While Treasurer Michael Costa is offering public servants a 2.5 percent wage increase, politicians are reaping a 4.2 percent rise in allowances. “Treasurer Costa must now offer the same increase to teachers, nurses, fire and emergency workers." ...."So the Electoral Allowance continues to operate as a back-door pay rise as MPs can keep it as salary if they do not spend it." IT is great to see someone stand up to protect the public purse against "greedy politicians". The NSW Parliamentary Remuneration Tribunal does not set "wages" for MP's. It sets"allowances" - which are intended to be re-imbursement for expenses incurred in carrying out the work. On 30 May 2008 Justice Boland (the Parliamentary Remuneration Tribunal ) issued his report and determination for 2008. He was aware of the 2.5% "wage cap" set by Treasurer Costa. A summary of the main points of the determination is : Electoral Allowance - 4.2 % increase Sydney Allowance - 14 % increase Logistic Support Allocation - 4.2 % increase Electorate Mailout Account - No increase Committee Allowance - No increase Electorate Charter Allowance - No increase Travel Allowances - No increase The 4.2% figure represents the full CPI increase since the last determination. The figure of 14% increase for "Sydney Allowance" (its purpose being :Briefly put, because Parliament is located in Sydney and much of its business is conducted in Sydney, Members must travel to Sydney to perform a high proportion of their parliamentary duties including the duty of representing their constituents in Parliament House. This necessitates Members of non-metropolitan electorates to incur additional expenses associated with staying and living in Sydney throughout the year. The Sydney Allowance (formerly known as the Living Away from Home Allowance) is intended to compensate Members for these additional accommodation costs and living expenses. Since the introduction of the Allowance in 1975 ....) was based on the fact there had been no increase since 2005, and because the Tribunal was of the opinion "that there have been cost increases .... beyond the normal CPI increases". Minds may differ whether these increases - which are intended to be reimbursement for expenses actually incurred in carrying out the work of an MP - represent a "back door pay rise". The actual amount of MP's pay is set under the Parliamentary Remuneration Act (with automatic increases each year in accordance with increases in federal public servant's wages) and not by the Parliamentary Remuneration Tribunal. Last year, by regulation under that Act, Premier Iemma granted Fred Nile MLC a pay rise of $43,000 per year (at least a 33% increase). That pay rise could have been blocked by the Legislative Council. All that was required was the lodging of a notice of motion (which would take a maximun of 15 minutes to prepare) prior to 9 April 2008, to disallow Iemma's regulation in the Legislative Council, and then the passing of a resolution to disallow it. We wrote to the Greens and requested they lodge such a notice by the required time to block the pay rise. We received a reply from the NSW Greens on 23 November 2007. They agreed the pay rise for Fred Nile was outrageous, but they said they were too busy to do anything about it. No document was lodged, and now Fred enjoys a pay rise of $43,000 every year - out of the public purse. Arguably all because the Greens were unable to find 15 minutes between December 2007 and March 2008 to write a document to disallow a regulation. We wonder if the Greens are prepared to "talk the talk" - but are not prepared to "walk the walk". SOURCES : ANNUAL REPORT AND DETERMINATION OF ADDITIONAL ENTITLEMENTS FOR MEMBERS OF THE PARLIAMENT OF NEW SOUTH WALES by the PARLIAMENTARY REMUNERATION TRIBUNAL pursuant to the Parliamentary Remuneration Act 1989, 30 May 2008 [ ONLINE ] THE DETERMINATION OF THE PARLIAMENTARY REMUNERATION TRIBUNAL , 2008. [ ONLINE ] Lee Rhiannon MLC, MPs behaving badly awarded with allowance boost , Media Release, 14 June 2008. STOP Iemma's Patronage , Monthly News December 10, www.independent-nsw.com. (bottom of page) BLOCK Iemma's "rates for mates", Monthly News December 22, www.independent-nsw.com (3/4 way down page) Parliamentary Remuneration Amendment (Miscellaneous Offices) Regulation 2007, NSW Government Gazette , Week 46/2007, 16 November 2007 [online] {pdf format} Does Fred Nile believe in faeries too , Monthly News November page 29 (1/4 way down page ) Has the NSW Community been set up ???, Monthly News November page 22 (half way down page) Voting in the NSW Upper House, Monthly News November page 28 (half way down). ================================================================================================================= |
WOY WOY SUPERMARKET INCIDENT - 14 NOVEMBER 2007
Perhaps the incident at the Woy Woy Supermarket on 14 November 2007 was a portent of things to come.
OH what a wonderful thing hindsight is.
see : IF it's in the newspaper it's true, Monthly News November page 14, www.independent-nsw.com
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Perhaps the incident at the Woy Woy Supermarket on 14 November 2007 was a portent of things to come.
OH what a wonderful thing hindsight is.
see : IF it's in the newspaper it's true, Monthly News November page 14, www.independent-nsw.com
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MORRIS IEMMA - FRANKLY HE's SCREWED
According to Lisa Carty in the Sun-Herald if the electricity privatisation bill is pushed on in the
remaining 2 weeks of parliament before the winter recess the Bill will be voted down in BOTH the
Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council.
According to her the numbers will be :
Legislative Assembly : 45-48
Legislative Council : 16-25.
If the Bill can't pass the Lower House, then the numbers in the Upper House are irrelevant.
Ms Carty suggests Morris Iemma will not bring the Bill on for a vote, hoping to buy time to talk MP's around.
Morris Iemma must be dreamin'.
According to Ms Carty the following Labor MP's will cross the floor on the current bill :
Lower House : Left-wingers Sonia Hornery, Paul Pearce, Robert Coombs, Kerry Hickey, and Phil Koperberg, and Right-wingers Paul Gibson,
Grant McBride and Gerard Martin.
Upper House : Left-wingers Penny Sharpe, Lynda Voltz, Mick Veitch, Helen Westwood and Ian West .
SOURCE :
Lisa Carty, Power sale delay likely in face of defeat , Sun Herald, 15 June 2008. p. 4.
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According to Lisa Carty in the Sun-Herald if the electricity privatisation bill is pushed on in the
remaining 2 weeks of parliament before the winter recess the Bill will be voted down in BOTH the
Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council.
According to her the numbers will be :
Legislative Assembly : 45-48
Legislative Council : 16-25.
If the Bill can't pass the Lower House, then the numbers in the Upper House are irrelevant.
Ms Carty suggests Morris Iemma will not bring the Bill on for a vote, hoping to buy time to talk MP's around.
Morris Iemma must be dreamin'.
According to Ms Carty the following Labor MP's will cross the floor on the current bill :
Lower House : Left-wingers Sonia Hornery, Paul Pearce, Robert Coombs, Kerry Hickey, and Phil Koperberg, and Right-wingers Paul Gibson,
Grant McBride and Gerard Martin.
Upper House : Left-wingers Penny Sharpe, Lynda Voltz, Mick Veitch, Helen Westwood and Ian West .
SOURCE :
Lisa Carty, Power sale delay likely in face of defeat , Sun Herald, 15 June 2008. p. 4.
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IEMMA - BECOMES INCREASINGLY DESPERATE
According to Linda Silmalis of the Sunday Telegraph, Premier Morris Iemma is becoming increasingly
desperate to get the numbers to support the power sell-off. He has called in Terrigals factional warrior
Eddie Obeid MLC to shore up the numbers :-
Phone calls were also being made last week by factional powerbroker Eddie Obeid to MPs who have
stated they plan to cross the floor.
Mr Obeid has also been working on the Independents, including the influential Northern Tablelands MP, Richard Torbay. Several MPs
have also reportedly been promised ministries in the upcoming Cabinet reshuffle.
However, sources claim nearly half of Caucus has been offered a frontbench gig.
"Eddie's out there promising ministries -- and when that doesn't work, he gets out his torture equipment," one Labor source said.
"Morris and Costa are clearly worried."
WHY THE HELL IS EDDIE WASTING HIS TIME WORKING ON THE INDEPENDENTS ???
*** What inducements can Eddie offer the Independents ???
They are not members of the Labor Party so he can hardly offer them a ministerial appointment (and besides it seems he has already offered
ministerial appointments to half the Labor caucus). He can't offer them parliamentary office-holder jobs (Richard Torbay already holds the job of
Speaker and it would be difficult to find new jobs - there is already a Deputy Speaker, 2 Assistant Speakers and 4 Temporary Speakers).
***What return of favours can he call upon ???
Did Eddie assist in the Independents election campaigns ? NO. Did Eddie finance the Independents election campaigns ? NO. Did Eddie arrange
for election promises to be made by Labor to assist Independents in their election campaigns ? NO..
***What threats can he make against Independents ???
That he will ensure that Labor "knocks them off" at the next election ? NO - Labor has never, run dead against an Independent candidate !!! That
he will ensure that ministerial doors are closed to them ? That he will cut off their electorate funding programs ? That the Premier won't make any
more grants out of his Premier's Grants "slush fund" to their electorates.?
GEE'S - EDDIE OUGHT TO TAKE A GRIP OF HIMSELF.
Source :
Linda Silmalis, How Iguanas may also claim Iemma, Sunday Telegraph, 15 June, 2008. p.84.
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According to Linda Silmalis of the Sunday Telegraph, Premier Morris Iemma is becoming increasingly
desperate to get the numbers to support the power sell-off. He has called in Terrigals factional warrior
Eddie Obeid MLC to shore up the numbers :-
Phone calls were also being made last week by factional powerbroker Eddie Obeid to MPs who have
stated they plan to cross the floor.
Mr Obeid has also been working on the Independents, including the influential Northern Tablelands MP, Richard Torbay. Several MPs
have also reportedly been promised ministries in the upcoming Cabinet reshuffle.
However, sources claim nearly half of Caucus has been offered a frontbench gig.
"Eddie's out there promising ministries -- and when that doesn't work, he gets out his torture equipment," one Labor source said.
"Morris and Costa are clearly worried."
WHY THE HELL IS EDDIE WASTING HIS TIME WORKING ON THE INDEPENDENTS ???
*** What inducements can Eddie offer the Independents ???
They are not members of the Labor Party so he can hardly offer them a ministerial appointment (and besides it seems he has already offered
ministerial appointments to half the Labor caucus). He can't offer them parliamentary office-holder jobs (Richard Torbay already holds the job of
Speaker and it would be difficult to find new jobs - there is already a Deputy Speaker, 2 Assistant Speakers and 4 Temporary Speakers).
***What return of favours can he call upon ???
Did Eddie assist in the Independents election campaigns ? NO. Did Eddie finance the Independents election campaigns ? NO. Did Eddie arrange
for election promises to be made by Labor to assist Independents in their election campaigns ? NO..
***What threats can he make against Independents ???
That he will ensure that Labor "knocks them off" at the next election ? NO - Labor has never, run dead against an Independent candidate !!! That
he will ensure that ministerial doors are closed to them ? That he will cut off their electorate funding programs ? That the Premier won't make any
more grants out of his Premier's Grants "slush fund" to their electorates.?
GEE'S - EDDIE OUGHT TO TAKE A GRIP OF HIMSELF.
Source :
Linda Silmalis, How Iguanas may also claim Iemma, Sunday Telegraph, 15 June, 2008. p.84.
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IEMMA "LOOKING INTO" A CABINET RESHUFFLE
Reports are that Premier Morris Iemma is "looking into" a cabinet reshuffle.
Whilst he is thinking about it, here is our advice, which he will take if he wants his government to survive :
1.Dump Michael Costa from the ministry entirely.
2.Dump the proposal to sell-off electricity (he can sell-off retail if he wants)
3.Dump most of the planning laws introduced in the last 18 months and introduce laws to return democracy to local
government.
4. We have no objection to Frank Sartor remaining Planning Minister, provided the "toys" are taken away from him and he is kept under a tight
leash.
5. Demote Reba Meagher from Health and appoint her NSW Minister for Public Toilets on a trial basis - just in case she makes a mess of that too.
6. In a side ways move, make Joe Tripodi Minister for Western Lands. That should keep him out of Sydney and out of the public eye.
7. Sack the ministerial staffer(s) responsible for the poor quality production Della's Downfall . They have no talent.
8. Appoint Eddie Obeid NSW Agent-General for some far away foreign country e.g Zimbabwe. That should keep him out of NSW. Replace him in
the Upper House with some-one prepared to make a contribution to the good governance of NSW.
9. Otherwise, he can re-arrange his cabinet in anyway he thinks fit - including appointing John Della Bosca.
see : Joe Hildebrand , Calls for Morris Iemma to quit over Iguanas dithering , Daily Telegraph, 16 June 2008.
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Reports are that Premier Morris Iemma is "looking into" a cabinet reshuffle.
Whilst he is thinking about it, here is our advice, which he will take if he wants his government to survive :
1.Dump Michael Costa from the ministry entirely.
2.Dump the proposal to sell-off electricity (he can sell-off retail if he wants)
3.Dump most of the planning laws introduced in the last 18 months and introduce laws to return democracy to local
government.
4. We have no objection to Frank Sartor remaining Planning Minister, provided the "toys" are taken away from him and he is kept under a tight
leash.
5. Demote Reba Meagher from Health and appoint her NSW Minister for Public Toilets on a trial basis - just in case she makes a mess of that too.
6. In a side ways move, make Joe Tripodi Minister for Western Lands. That should keep him out of Sydney and out of the public eye.
7. Sack the ministerial staffer(s) responsible for the poor quality production Della's Downfall . They have no talent.
8. Appoint Eddie Obeid NSW Agent-General for some far away foreign country e.g Zimbabwe. That should keep him out of NSW. Replace him in
the Upper House with some-one prepared to make a contribution to the good governance of NSW.
9. Otherwise, he can re-arrange his cabinet in anyway he thinks fit - including appointing John Della Bosca.
see : Joe Hildebrand , Calls for Morris Iemma to quit over Iguanas dithering , Daily Telegraph, 16 June 2008.
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MORE PAIN FOR PAPAL GAIN
Horse riders will be excluded from Centennial Park on the week-end of World Youth Day Papal Mass.
Better than having Equine Influenza, presumably.
see :Linda Morris , Pilgrims rein in horses' parade , Sydney Morning Herald, 16 June 2008.
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Horse riders will be excluded from Centennial Park on the week-end of World Youth Day Papal Mass.
Better than having Equine Influenza, presumably.
see :Linda Morris , Pilgrims rein in horses' parade , Sydney Morning Herald, 16 June 2008.
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"SENIOR" GOVERNMENT SOURCE LEAKS
A "senior" unidentified NSW government source has told the Sydney Morning Herald :
"Morris has no choice, unless he can win back his MPs or get the support of the Opposition, and pigs would fly.
It is just unbelievable that he would defy [the state Labor] conference without being completely sure he could get it through."
Oh dear - Morris Iemma needs to impose more discipline in the Cabinet - it's a shambles.
see :
Dylan Welch and Alexandra Smith , Apology inaccurate: Iguanas , Sydney Morning Herald, 16 June 2008.
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A "senior" unidentified NSW government source has told the Sydney Morning Herald :
"Morris has no choice, unless he can win back his MPs or get the support of the Opposition, and pigs would fly.
It is just unbelievable that he would defy [the state Labor] conference without being completely sure he could get it through."
Oh dear - Morris Iemma needs to impose more discipline in the Cabinet - it's a shambles.
see :
Dylan Welch and Alexandra Smith , Apology inaccurate: Iguanas , Sydney Morning Herald, 16 June 2008.
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PLEA FOR DEMOCRACY IGNORED
The General Manager of the Wollongong City Council was penning a plea that the Council be allowed to continue until the 2008 Septemer
elections. At the same time, Morris Iemma was penning a letter sacking he Council.
see: Mario Christodoulou, Farmer tells ICAC of his shock , Illawarra Mercury, 14 June 2008.
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The General Manager of the Wollongong City Council was penning a plea that the Council be allowed to continue until the 2008 Septemer
elections. At the same time, Morris Iemma was penning a letter sacking he Council.
see: Mario Christodoulou, Farmer tells ICAC of his shock , Illawarra Mercury, 14 June 2008.
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