| JUNE 2008 Pages - Page 28 |
| THIS IS PAGE 28 OF JUNE 2008 PAGES - JUNE0828 |
RUDD CUT FROM DIFFERENT CLOTH THAN IEMMA
We believe that PM Rudd has a completely different moral compass to NSW Premier Morris Iemma.
Thats why we don't believe that a brand new position of Assistant to the Assistant President of the Senate will be
created, and a salary set for the position without reference to an independent Tribunal, simply in the hope that by
doing so favourable consideration will be given by new South Australian Senator Nick Xenophon to Rudd Legislation
in the federal Upper House.
BUT if Nick was in NSW - well - who knows what he might be offered.
see : Nick Xenophon , Water and pokies - vital issues , Sun-Herald, 22 June 2008.
================================================================================================================
We believe that PM Rudd has a completely different moral compass to NSW Premier Morris Iemma.
Thats why we don't believe that a brand new position of Assistant to the Assistant President of the Senate will be
created, and a salary set for the position without reference to an independent Tribunal, simply in the hope that by
doing so favourable consideration will be given by new South Australian Senator Nick Xenophon to Rudd Legislation
in the federal Upper House.
BUT if Nick was in NSW - well - who knows what he might be offered.
see : Nick Xenophon , Water and pokies - vital issues , Sun-Herald, 22 June 2008.
================================================================================================================
BITS & PIECES
Anyone for kinky sex ? ---Eamon Duff , Bizarre sex death of model preacher , Sun Herald, 22 June 2008.
***Clash of the religions -- Frank Walker , It's no-holds bar in great school debate , Sun Herald, 22 June 2008.
***Sex and religion -a constant couple -- Kate Dennehy , Convicted priest still serving , Sun Herald, 22 June 2008.
*** WhiteBoards & Porking -- Kerry-Anne Walsh , Pork-barrelling claims over $100m in grants , Sun Herald, 22 June 2008.
****Horror hole -- Frank Walker, My 24 days of hell in an Indian jail , Sun Herald, 22 June 2008.
=================================================================================================================
Anyone for kinky sex ? ---Eamon Duff , Bizarre sex death of model preacher , Sun Herald, 22 June 2008.
***Clash of the religions -- Frank Walker , It's no-holds bar in great school debate , Sun Herald, 22 June 2008.
***Sex and religion -a constant couple -- Kate Dennehy , Convicted priest still serving , Sun Herald, 22 June 2008.
*** WhiteBoards & Porking -- Kerry-Anne Walsh , Pork-barrelling claims over $100m in grants , Sun Herald, 22 June 2008.
****Horror hole -- Frank Walker, My 24 days of hell in an Indian jail , Sun Herald, 22 June 2008.
=================================================================================================================
NSW AN OPEN CHEQUE BOOK FOR WYD
Kristina Keneally MP (Heffron) the minister responsible for World Youth Day needs
to come clean.
How much is WYD going to cost NSW taxpayers ?
We are sick of the government hiding behind "secrecy provisions" to prevent NSW
community members knowing how much they are paying for the event.
Ms Keneally needs to explain the cost . She also needs to explain why the NSW government is contributing significantly more than other places
that hosted the event. What are the real reasons.
Quite frankly - we are sick of people hiding things away.
JUST be upfront and explain it all. WE might not like what we hear - but we will respect you more than what we do when you attempt a cover-up.
see : Sarah Price , Almighty cost of hosting pilgrims , Sun Herald, 22 June 2008.
=================================================================================================================
Kristina Keneally MP (Heffron) the minister responsible for World Youth Day needs
to come clean.
How much is WYD going to cost NSW taxpayers ?
We are sick of the government hiding behind "secrecy provisions" to prevent NSW
community members knowing how much they are paying for the event.
Ms Keneally needs to explain the cost . She also needs to explain why the NSW government is contributing significantly more than other places
that hosted the event. What are the real reasons.
Quite frankly - we are sick of people hiding things away.
JUST be upfront and explain it all. WE might not like what we hear - but we will respect you more than what we do when you attempt a cover-up.
see : Sarah Price , Almighty cost of hosting pilgrims , Sun Herald, 22 June 2008.
=================================================================================================================
LETTERS WRITER ASKS QUESTION
I know nothing of Jeff Thornton's politics (Letters, June 20), but I fully understand his enthusiasm for giving Iemma's mob the Order of
the Boot. A majority of voters no doubt feels the same but, alas, will probably elect the other mob, resulting in the maintenance of the
status quo.
Are there no other independents of the calibre of Ted Mack and Peter Andren out there? Honest people with intelligent and progressive
ideas, unconfined by the machine politics, factional bunfights, funding farces and dodgy deals emblematic of the major parties.
We are being slowly but inexorably done to death by the two-party system. The big team players need an extended spell: not on the
reserve bench, but in the real world.
David Baird Burradoo
Letters , Sydney Morning Herald, 21 June 2008.
We say to Mr Baird, there are independents out there, but alas very few meet the qualifications of which he speaks. Unfortunately,
"Independent" is not a brand name (although some seemingly would like to make it one). The quality of Independents varies across the whole
spectrum from good to bad. One has to look at each "Independent" as an individual. One can't apply a one size fits all approach. Some operate
in the same way as party politicians - but hide beneath the label "Independent".
ANOTHER LETTERS WRITER -
All this talk about binge drinking. My wife and I do not drink binge. However, we do like a good cabernet merlot
Letters, Sydney Morning Herald, 21 June 2008.
TIMELY REMINDER
Public life is littered with examples of MPs behaving badly. The majority of cases involve male politicians bullying their opponents,
using offensive language and, at times, violence.
We are not aware of what happened when Belinda Neal dined at Iguanas Bar and Brasserie. We recognise the need for the police
inquiry. But more than 11 days of intense scrutiny of Ms Neal's public and private life has not been warranted.
We write this letter not to defend Ms Neal, but to point out the grossly unfair and inconsistent treatment she has been subject to.
If Ms Neal has to go to counselling, shouldn't male MPs involved in violent incidents also be required by their leaders to undertake
programs to help them change their behaviour? We call on media outlets and our fellow MPs to be consistent in their treatment of male
and female MPs.
Lee Rhiannon and Sylvia Hale (Greens), Penny Sharpe, Helen Westwood, Amanda Fazio, Christine Robertson, Kayee Griffin and Lynda Voltz
(ALP)
NSW Upper House MPs.
Letters, Sydney Morning Herald, 21 June 2008.
POINT TAKEN. As it is obvious the Iguana Joes affair will occupy the media for some considerable time to come (especially following revelations
of alleged political interference in the making of statements regarding the incident) we will do an examination of some of the issues involved at a
later time - sexism, discrimination, rights of politicians to a private life, bad behaviour, penalties metered out for bad behaviour to date,
appropriate extent to which the media can pry into private lives, how behaviour an be improved etc.
In the meantime, we simply say we are aware of the issues raised by the NSW Upper House members.
=================================================================================================================
I know nothing of Jeff Thornton's politics (Letters, June 20), but I fully understand his enthusiasm for giving Iemma's mob the Order of
the Boot. A majority of voters no doubt feels the same but, alas, will probably elect the other mob, resulting in the maintenance of the
status quo.
Are there no other independents of the calibre of Ted Mack and Peter Andren out there? Honest people with intelligent and progressive
ideas, unconfined by the machine politics, factional bunfights, funding farces and dodgy deals emblematic of the major parties.
We are being slowly but inexorably done to death by the two-party system. The big team players need an extended spell: not on the
reserve bench, but in the real world.
David Baird Burradoo
Letters , Sydney Morning Herald, 21 June 2008.
We say to Mr Baird, there are independents out there, but alas very few meet the qualifications of which he speaks. Unfortunately,
"Independent" is not a brand name (although some seemingly would like to make it one). The quality of Independents varies across the whole
spectrum from good to bad. One has to look at each "Independent" as an individual. One can't apply a one size fits all approach. Some operate
in the same way as party politicians - but hide beneath the label "Independent".
ANOTHER LETTERS WRITER -
All this talk about binge drinking. My wife and I do not drink binge. However, we do like a good cabernet merlot
Letters, Sydney Morning Herald, 21 June 2008.
TIMELY REMINDER
Public life is littered with examples of MPs behaving badly. The majority of cases involve male politicians bullying their opponents,
using offensive language and, at times, violence.
We are not aware of what happened when Belinda Neal dined at Iguanas Bar and Brasserie. We recognise the need for the police
inquiry. But more than 11 days of intense scrutiny of Ms Neal's public and private life has not been warranted.
We write this letter not to defend Ms Neal, but to point out the grossly unfair and inconsistent treatment she has been subject to.
If Ms Neal has to go to counselling, shouldn't male MPs involved in violent incidents also be required by their leaders to undertake
programs to help them change their behaviour? We call on media outlets and our fellow MPs to be consistent in their treatment of male
and female MPs.
Lee Rhiannon and Sylvia Hale (Greens), Penny Sharpe, Helen Westwood, Amanda Fazio, Christine Robertson, Kayee Griffin and Lynda Voltz
(ALP)
NSW Upper House MPs.
Letters, Sydney Morning Herald, 21 June 2008.
POINT TAKEN. As it is obvious the Iguana Joes affair will occupy the media for some considerable time to come (especially following revelations
of alleged political interference in the making of statements regarding the incident) we will do an examination of some of the issues involved at a
later time - sexism, discrimination, rights of politicians to a private life, bad behaviour, penalties metered out for bad behaviour to date,
appropriate extent to which the media can pry into private lives, how behaviour an be improved etc.
In the meantime, we simply say we are aware of the issues raised by the NSW Upper House members.
=================================================================================================================
TOUR de FRANCE
IF you are lucky enough to work day shift (and therefore can spend your nights watching TV- preferably while dozing) or work night shifts (and
are lucky enough to have one of those jobs where you can watch TV all night) then get ready for 2008 Tour de France.
It will be televised on SBS as usual.
It commences on 5 July 2008 and finishes on 27 July 2008.
The official race website is [ HERE ]
The SBS website is [ HERE ]
This year the race will be conducted over the traditional continent course. Last year the first leg was held in England.
AND don't forget the Grafton to Inverell International Cycle Classic - to be run on 13 September 2008.
The race's website is { HERE ] and useful information is available on the Cycling NSW website [ HERE ] as well as cyclingresults.net [ HERE ]
IF you are lucky enough to work day shift (and therefore can spend your nights watching TV- preferably while dozing) or work night shifts (and
are lucky enough to have one of those jobs where you can watch TV all night) then get ready for 2008 Tour de France.
It will be televised on SBS as usual.
It commences on 5 July 2008 and finishes on 27 July 2008.
The official race website is [ HERE ]
The SBS website is [ HERE ]
This year the race will be conducted over the traditional continent course. Last year the first leg was held in England.
AND don't forget the Grafton to Inverell International Cycle Classic - to be run on 13 September 2008.
The race's website is { HERE ] and useful information is available on the Cycling NSW website [ HERE ] as well as cyclingresults.net [ HERE ]
| SUNDAY PAPERS - 22 JUNE 2008 |
SENSATIONAL CLAIMS - PART 127
When the media make sensational claims - like the recent claim there was political interference in the preparation of statutory declarations - they
are subject to some ultimate responsibility for their actions - if they get it wrong.
However. in the NSW Parliament (nick named the "bear-pit") claims can be made without any responsibility. That is why parliaments are often
referred to as "Coward's Castle".
Now on Dawn Fardell MP (Dubbo) made the following claims :
While my opposing candidate in the 2004 election was a fellow swan, in 2007 I had a goose. I do not mind unflattering photographs being
used of political rivals or any little bit of humour that occurs during election campaigns because it is all part of the process, but I draw
the line at blatant lies and blatant promises that a candidate knows cannot be kept.
......
How far will the legislation extend? Will it extend to fines being imposed? For example, when two Ministers with whom I have a good
working relationship came to Dubbo and asked how they could help me to deliver the message about what I intend to do for the
community and how they could help me to do the job for which I might be chosen, it was not good to hear from them the night before an
election that another candidate told them that I am a devout atheist. That is evil.
.......
That is right. It was not good when fellow candidates paid vulnerable people needing to fund their substance abuse to walk among my
supporters and say an expletive word plus Fardell, or to challenge three young people aged approximately 16 years who were walking
around my front veranda at 3.30 a.m. Those youths were fearful when they realised I had recognised who they were, but things got
worse when, after I asked them why they were doing that and who set them up to do it, the source was revealed.
NSW LA Hansard, Parliamentary Electorates and Election Amendment (Truth in Advertising) Bill 2007, 10 April 2008.
There were 5 candidates for the seat of Dubbo at the 2007 elections.
So Mrs Fardell's sensational claims made in parliament on 10 April 2008 were that one of the other four (and possibly different ones are
implicated in each different claim) :
So - there are potentially up to 4 people (un-named) against whom sensational claims have been made.
Now Mrs Fardell has "form" on making allegations in 'Cowards Castle' against potential political rivals (or at least those she perceives as being
possible political rivals). The last occasion was when she claimed a person who she perceived might be a political rival, was branch stacking. As it
turned out , the truth was there was no such branch.
Thus we take with a grain of salt the sensational claims of Mrs Fardell. First, she has prior form. Second, the claims are made with impunity from
responsibility.
BUT they are worth looking into.
=================================================================================================================
When the media make sensational claims - like the recent claim there was political interference in the preparation of statutory declarations - they
are subject to some ultimate responsibility for their actions - if they get it wrong.
However. in the NSW Parliament (nick named the "bear-pit") claims can be made without any responsibility. That is why parliaments are often
referred to as "Coward's Castle".
Now on Dawn Fardell MP (Dubbo) made the following claims :
While my opposing candidate in the 2004 election was a fellow swan, in 2007 I had a goose. I do not mind unflattering photographs being
used of political rivals or any little bit of humour that occurs during election campaigns because it is all part of the process, but I draw
the line at blatant lies and blatant promises that a candidate knows cannot be kept.
......
How far will the legislation extend? Will it extend to fines being imposed? For example, when two Ministers with whom I have a good
working relationship came to Dubbo and asked how they could help me to deliver the message about what I intend to do for the
community and how they could help me to do the job for which I might be chosen, it was not good to hear from them the night before an
election that another candidate told them that I am a devout atheist. That is evil.
.......
That is right. It was not good when fellow candidates paid vulnerable people needing to fund their substance abuse to walk among my
supporters and say an expletive word plus Fardell, or to challenge three young people aged approximately 16 years who were walking
around my front veranda at 3.30 a.m. Those youths were fearful when they realised I had recognised who they were, but things got
worse when, after I asked them why they were doing that and who set them up to do it, the source was revealed.
NSW LA Hansard, Parliamentary Electorates and Election Amendment (Truth in Advertising) Bill 2007, 10 April 2008.
There were 5 candidates for the seat of Dubbo at the 2007 elections.
So Mrs Fardell's sensational claims made in parliament on 10 April 2008 were that one of the other four (and possibly different ones are
implicated in each different claim) :
- At some unspecified stage (it could have been 2000, 2005, 2007) a candidate told 2 ministers she was a devout atheist (comment: some
would wear that as a badge of honour) and on the night before the election, these Labor ministers told her for the first time, of the comments
that had been made to them. - More than one candidate paid some young drug addicts to walk among supporters of Mrs Fardell and say " *** Fardell*. The date of this
occurrence is not stated . It could have been polling day. It could have been at an election rally. No details are provided. - At some stage (it could have been during the election campaign) at 3.30am in the morning 3 youths (approximately 16 years old) were
walking around Mrs Fardell's verandah. She confronted them. They said they had been told to walk around her verandah. They told her
who had told them to do it. However, Mrs Fardell does not disclose who they said told them to do it. It could have been one of the other 4
candidates. It could have been a supporter of one of the other 4 candidates. It could have been Dubbo's equivalent to Fagin - casing the
joint out for an entry point.
So - there are potentially up to 4 people (un-named) against whom sensational claims have been made.
Now Mrs Fardell has "form" on making allegations in 'Cowards Castle' against potential political rivals (or at least those she perceives as being
possible political rivals). The last occasion was when she claimed a person who she perceived might be a political rival, was branch stacking. As it
turned out , the truth was there was no such branch.
Thus we take with a grain of salt the sensational claims of Mrs Fardell. First, she has prior form. Second, the claims are made with impunity from
responsibility.
BUT they are worth looking into.
=================================================================================================================
HOW TO MOVE UP TO LUXURY
I went for a Sunday walk recently. I took my camera with me. I did a loop around Darling Point and then went to the Edgecliff Rail Centre. An
employee in uniform noticed the camera and came up to me and said " Are you getting any good pictures ?"
Me: I try.
Man : Have you been up there (pointing up the hill towards Darling Point Road)
Me : Yes, that's where I have just come from.
Man : I don't live around here - but one day when I was early for work, I went for a drive up there.
Me : It's very - nice. If only I could afford to live there - I would have to rob a bank.
Man : The only way I could move in there was if I cracked onto one of the old ducks. Or turned into a gay-boy.
Me : (After looking at the man, in his 40's and without being rude - had never won a Baby Show contest)
Mate - I would concentrate on the old ducks.
IT seems there has been a generational change since the time people dreamed of moving up to luxury by discovering oil.
I went for a Sunday walk recently. I took my camera with me. I did a loop around Darling Point and then went to the Edgecliff Rail Centre. An
employee in uniform noticed the camera and came up to me and said " Are you getting any good pictures ?"
Me: I try.
Man : Have you been up there (pointing up the hill towards Darling Point Road)
Me : Yes, that's where I have just come from.
Man : I don't live around here - but one day when I was early for work, I went for a drive up there.
Me : It's very - nice. If only I could afford to live there - I would have to rob a bank.
Man : The only way I could move in there was if I cracked onto one of the old ducks. Or turned into a gay-boy.
Me : (After looking at the man, in his 40's and without being rude - had never won a Baby Show contest)
Mate - I would concentrate on the old ducks.
IT seems there has been a generational change since the time people dreamed of moving up to luxury by discovering oil.
| STEPS TO RUSHCUTTERS PARK |
| HARBOUR VIEWS - Darling Point |
| THORNTON STREET - Darling Point. (L) Hopewood Gardens (R) The Swifts |
| DARLING POINT ROAD - Darling Point. (L) Streetscape (R) St Marks Anglican Church |
| New South Head Road, EDGECLIFF |
