| JUNE 2008 Pages - Page 31 |
| THIS IS PAGE 31 OF JUNE 2008 PAGES - JUNE0831 |
PAPAL MISS
Bryan Pape argued for a merger of NSW's conservative parties at the National's conference. However he failed to get mass support and the
motion failed.
see: Marathon bid to see Liberals and Nationals merge , Armidale Express, 23 June 2008.
=================================================================================================================
Bryan Pape argued for a merger of NSW's conservative parties at the National's conference. However he failed to get mass support and the
motion failed.
see: Marathon bid to see Liberals and Nationals merge , Armidale Express, 23 June 2008.
=================================================================================================================
TOMINGLEY - HIGH HOPES FOR GOLD
Tomingley may become a modern day Gold Rush town like Trunkey Creek was in the 1850's - if a proposal for a gold mine gets the go ahead.
SOURCE :
Tomingley possible site of new gold rush , Dubbo Daily Liberal, 24 June 2008.
Tomingley may become a modern day Gold Rush town like Trunkey Creek was in the 1850's - if a proposal for a gold mine gets the go ahead.
SOURCE :
Tomingley possible site of new gold rush , Dubbo Daily Liberal, 24 June 2008.
WINTER BREAK - TIME TO MEET ALL COUNCILS
Nathan Rees MP (Toongabbie), Minister for Water , will meet with Orange's Mayor to discuss water problems.
With water problems in Barraba and Bathurst - just to name 2 towns, it seems that the up-coming 3 month holiday from
parliament provides Mr Rees with the ideal chance to get out of Governor Macquarie Tower and meet the Mayor of every
NSW council to solve all the water problems around the state.
SOURCE :
Bevan Shields, Water minister to meet with mayor , Central Western Daily, 24 June 2008.
===============================================================================================================
Nathan Rees MP (Toongabbie), Minister for Water , will meet with Orange's Mayor to discuss water problems.
With water problems in Barraba and Bathurst - just to name 2 towns, it seems that the up-coming 3 month holiday from
parliament provides Mr Rees with the ideal chance to get out of Governor Macquarie Tower and meet the Mayor of every
NSW council to solve all the water problems around the state.
SOURCE :
Bevan Shields, Water minister to meet with mayor , Central Western Daily, 24 June 2008.
===============================================================================================================
CITIZENS RIGHT OF REPLY
We spoke earlier [ see SENSATIONAL CLAIMS- Part 127 ] about parliamentary privilege - and how it enabled
MP's to make statements without accepting any responsibility for them.
In order to provide some remedy to citizens for untruthful statements, a procedure known as " citizens right of reply "
is available. By that procedure, a citizen is able to have incorporated into Hansard a statement (and therefore place
on the public record his/her version). Other than that, there is no consequence to the MP who potentially has abused parliamentary privilege.
ON 8 May 2007 the NSW Legislative Assembly adopted as a sessional order a resolution creating a citizens right of reply.
see : Sessional Order (541) - Citizens' Right of Reply at the NSW Parliament website.
and : NSW LA Hansard, Citizen's Right of Reply , 8 May 2007.
THE following limitations need to be noted :
1. Application to have a reply incorporated in Hansard must be made within 6 months of the date of the speech in parliament.
2. The person making application must be referred to by name, or in such a way as to be readily identified.
An application, unless trivial, is referred by the Speaker, to the "Standing Orders and Procedure Committee" of the Legislative Assembly. The
committee's power is limited to making a recommendation that a response be incorporated into Hansard.
Unfortunately, the Standing Orders and Procedure Committee is not listed on the NSW Parliament website "Committees" page. Annoyingly, we
wasted considerable time searching for it. So we will send a message to the parliament suggesting that committee be included on the committees
page.
Anyway, on 20 June 2008 the Standing Orders and Procedure Committee was established by resolution :
That:
(1) A Standing Orders and Procedure Committee be appointed to inquire into, and report on any matter relating to the standing orders or the procedure of House
and its committees.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in the standing orders, such committee consist of: The Speaker, Mr Aquilina, Mr Ashton, Mr Hazzard, Mr McBride, Mr
Maguire, Mr Martin, Ms Megarrity, Mr Piccoli, Mr Stewart and Mr J. H. Turner.
(3) The committee have leave to make visits of inspection within the State of New South Wales and other States and Territories of Australia.
NSW LA HANSARD, Standing Orders and Procedure Committee , 20 June 2008.
There may have been changes to the terms or the membership since that date - but frankly at the moment (24 June 2008) we are too exhausted
to keep searching.
ON THE OTHER HAND, in the Legislative Council, the Citizen's Right of reply s incorporated into the Standing Orders, (see Chapter 34 - here
and here ) thus placing it on a firmer footing than "sessional orders", as in the Legislative Assembly. The Legislative Council committee for
overseeing the citizens right of reply process is the Privileges Committee , which appears to be a very active committee. It recently
recommended publication of citizens rights of reply by Prof Bob Walker and Ms Betty Con Walker , Mr R Bailey and Mr D Kennedy .
TURNING NOW to the sensational claims that were the subject of discussion in our previous article - SENSATIONAL CLAIMS- Part 127 - we note
that, so far as we are aware, the claims gained no media attention. Therefore, unless someone is an obsessive (like us !!!) and trawls the pages
of Hansard, the claims are unlikely to come to the attention of the people that may be affected by them. The difficulty also is the best we can do in
terms of identifying the people concerned, is to say it could have been one or more of four possible people (the opposing candidates).
Presumably, if each of them read the Hansard - they would say : That's not me - it must have been one of the other three, so I couldn't care less.
Therefore, none of them is likely to apply for a citizen's right of reply. Further even if they applied - would they be entitled to one ? They are not
identified by name. There are no particulars given that "identifies" one candidate rather than another. In fifty years time when historical
researchers are looking at the public records available, the only information available to them will be the Hansard and the list of candidates for the
2007 Dubbo election. Thus, each of those candidates will be smeared for eternity with the label "evil".
Appropriate parliamentary behaviour ? You be the judge .
=================================================================================================================
We spoke earlier [ see SENSATIONAL CLAIMS- Part 127 ] about parliamentary privilege - and how it enabled
MP's to make statements without accepting any responsibility for them.
In order to provide some remedy to citizens for untruthful statements, a procedure known as " citizens right of reply "
is available. By that procedure, a citizen is able to have incorporated into Hansard a statement (and therefore place
on the public record his/her version). Other than that, there is no consequence to the MP who potentially has abused parliamentary privilege.
ON 8 May 2007 the NSW Legislative Assembly adopted as a sessional order a resolution creating a citizens right of reply.
see : Sessional Order (541) - Citizens' Right of Reply at the NSW Parliament website.
and : NSW LA Hansard, Citizen's Right of Reply , 8 May 2007.
THE following limitations need to be noted :
1. Application to have a reply incorporated in Hansard must be made within 6 months of the date of the speech in parliament.
2. The person making application must be referred to by name, or in such a way as to be readily identified.
An application, unless trivial, is referred by the Speaker, to the "Standing Orders and Procedure Committee" of the Legislative Assembly. The
committee's power is limited to making a recommendation that a response be incorporated into Hansard.
Unfortunately, the Standing Orders and Procedure Committee is not listed on the NSW Parliament website "Committees" page. Annoyingly, we
wasted considerable time searching for it. So we will send a message to the parliament suggesting that committee be included on the committees
page.
Anyway, on 20 June 2008 the Standing Orders and Procedure Committee was established by resolution :
That:
(1) A Standing Orders and Procedure Committee be appointed to inquire into, and report on any matter relating to the standing orders or the procedure of House
and its committees.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in the standing orders, such committee consist of: The Speaker, Mr Aquilina, Mr Ashton, Mr Hazzard, Mr McBride, Mr
Maguire, Mr Martin, Ms Megarrity, Mr Piccoli, Mr Stewart and Mr J. H. Turner.
(3) The committee have leave to make visits of inspection within the State of New South Wales and other States and Territories of Australia.
NSW LA HANSARD, Standing Orders and Procedure Committee , 20 June 2008.
There may have been changes to the terms or the membership since that date - but frankly at the moment (24 June 2008) we are too exhausted
to keep searching.
ON THE OTHER HAND, in the Legislative Council, the Citizen's Right of reply s incorporated into the Standing Orders, (see Chapter 34 - here
and here ) thus placing it on a firmer footing than "sessional orders", as in the Legislative Assembly. The Legislative Council committee for
overseeing the citizens right of reply process is the Privileges Committee , which appears to be a very active committee. It recently
recommended publication of citizens rights of reply by Prof Bob Walker and Ms Betty Con Walker , Mr R Bailey and Mr D Kennedy .
TURNING NOW to the sensational claims that were the subject of discussion in our previous article - SENSATIONAL CLAIMS- Part 127 - we note
that, so far as we are aware, the claims gained no media attention. Therefore, unless someone is an obsessive (like us !!!) and trawls the pages
of Hansard, the claims are unlikely to come to the attention of the people that may be affected by them. The difficulty also is the best we can do in
terms of identifying the people concerned, is to say it could have been one or more of four possible people (the opposing candidates).
Presumably, if each of them read the Hansard - they would say : That's not me - it must have been one of the other three, so I couldn't care less.
Therefore, none of them is likely to apply for a citizen's right of reply. Further even if they applied - would they be entitled to one ? They are not
identified by name. There are no particulars given that "identifies" one candidate rather than another. In fifty years time when historical
researchers are looking at the public records available, the only information available to them will be the Hansard and the list of candidates for the
2007 Dubbo election. Thus, each of those candidates will be smeared for eternity with the label "evil".
Appropriate parliamentary behaviour ? You be the judge .
=================================================================================================================
COMING SOON ...... HAS NSW LABOR DITCHED "EQUITY" AS A GOAL ??? WATCH THIS SPACE FOR LINK TO THE ARTICLE. |
HAS IEMMA ABANDONED "ETHICAL" BEHAVIOUR ???
As we have said before Police are charged with the duty of investigating breaches of the criminal law, and where they believe
a criminal offence has been committed, prosecuting.
The Police are not charged with investigating or prosecuting "appropriate behaviour", "ethical behaviour" or
"ministerial behaviour".
As we have also said before, John Della Bosca has less chance of being prosecuted for a criminal offence arising out of
the Iguana Joes affair than Lleyton Hewitt (presently $280 on Betfair) has of winning Wimbledon
Therefore when Premier Iemma says John Della Bosca will be immediately returned to the ministry as soon as the police investigation is
completed, he is effectively saying : "Anyone can be a minister in my government provided they do not commit criminal offences. The only code of
conduct I have for ministers is the Criminal Code. The Police will determine who is in or out of my cabinet. I don't see it as my role to set
standards of appropriate ministerial conduct or to make determinations as to when my non-existent code is breached."
EVEN if one accepted that as a proper statement - it still leaves the inconsistent application of that principle by Premier Iemma. WHY isn't Paul
Gibson in the cabinet (assuming he wants to be) ? The perfect opportunity to 'right the wrong' done to Paul Gibson arose when Phil Koperberg
resigned "temporarily" . However the Premier failed to act on that occasion, in the manner of the rules ( he now proclaims) by which he governs.
SOURCES :
NSW LA HANSARD,
Andrew Clennell , Della could be back: Iemma , Sydney Morning Herald, 24 June 2008.
Imre Salusinszky , Numbers bad for Iemma, worse for Opposition , The Australian, 25 June 2008.
Imre Salusinszky , Caucus read the riot act , The Australian, 25 June 2008.
Imre Salusinszky, ALP grip on states slipping as NSW poll figures drop , The Australian, 25 June 2008.
Joe Hildebrand , Morris Iemma out of touch and on the path to destruction , Daily Telegraph, 25 June 2008.
Andrew Clennell, Phillip Coorey and Dylan Welch , Staffer's husband adds to Neal woes , Sydney Morning Herald, 25 June 2008.
==================================================================================================================
==================================================================================================================
As we have said before Police are charged with the duty of investigating breaches of the criminal law, and where they believe
a criminal offence has been committed, prosecuting.
The Police are not charged with investigating or prosecuting "appropriate behaviour", "ethical behaviour" or
"ministerial behaviour".
As we have also said before, John Della Bosca has less chance of being prosecuted for a criminal offence arising out of
the Iguana Joes affair than Lleyton Hewitt (presently $280 on Betfair) has of winning Wimbledon
Therefore when Premier Iemma says John Della Bosca will be immediately returned to the ministry as soon as the police investigation is
completed, he is effectively saying : "Anyone can be a minister in my government provided they do not commit criminal offences. The only code of
conduct I have for ministers is the Criminal Code. The Police will determine who is in or out of my cabinet. I don't see it as my role to set
standards of appropriate ministerial conduct or to make determinations as to when my non-existent code is breached."
EVEN if one accepted that as a proper statement - it still leaves the inconsistent application of that principle by Premier Iemma. WHY isn't Paul
Gibson in the cabinet (assuming he wants to be) ? The perfect opportunity to 'right the wrong' done to Paul Gibson arose when Phil Koperberg
resigned "temporarily" . However the Premier failed to act on that occasion, in the manner of the rules ( he now proclaims) by which he governs.
SOURCES :
NSW LA HANSARD,
Andrew Clennell , Della could be back: Iemma , Sydney Morning Herald, 24 June 2008.
Imre Salusinszky , Numbers bad for Iemma, worse for Opposition , The Australian, 25 June 2008.
Imre Salusinszky , Caucus read the riot act , The Australian, 25 June 2008.
Imre Salusinszky, ALP grip on states slipping as NSW poll figures drop , The Australian, 25 June 2008.
Joe Hildebrand , Morris Iemma out of touch and on the path to destruction , Daily Telegraph, 25 June 2008.
Andrew Clennell, Phillip Coorey and Dylan Welch , Staffer's husband adds to Neal woes , Sydney Morning Herald, 25 June 2008.
==================================================================================================================
==================================================================================================================
HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION - LAST WEEK - 28% - TODAY 26%.
IS this Morris Iemma's definition of Heading in the Right Direction ?
His approval rating has not yet bottomed. The last time it was measured it was 28%. This time it is 26%.
That drop of 2% could be a result of statistical error. So we will need another survey to confirm which direction Iemma
is heading in. Remember the old saying - 3 quarters of negative growth is a recession. Well 3 surveys of negative
approval is probably properly termed a free-fall.
SOURCE :
Imre Salusinszky, ALP grip on states slipping as NSW poll figures drop , The Australian, 25 June 2008.
ABC NEWS, New poll shows voters prefer O'Farrell , 25 June 2008.
ABC NEWS , Listen to the people, MPs tell Iemma , 25 June 2008.
Imre Salusinszky , Distress beacons a boost to rebel MPs , The Australian, 26 June 2008.
Joe Hildebrand & Lauren Williams, Another morning of misery on Sydney's roads , Daily Telegraph , 26 June 2008.
=================================================================================================================
IS this Morris Iemma's definition of Heading in the Right Direction ?
His approval rating has not yet bottomed. The last time it was measured it was 28%. This time it is 26%.
That drop of 2% could be a result of statistical error. So we will need another survey to confirm which direction Iemma
is heading in. Remember the old saying - 3 quarters of negative growth is a recession. Well 3 surveys of negative
approval is probably properly termed a free-fall.
SOURCE :
Imre Salusinszky, ALP grip on states slipping as NSW poll figures drop , The Australian, 25 June 2008.
ABC NEWS, New poll shows voters prefer O'Farrell , 25 June 2008.
ABC NEWS , Listen to the people, MPs tell Iemma , 25 June 2008.
Imre Salusinszky , Distress beacons a boost to rebel MPs , The Australian, 26 June 2008.
Joe Hildebrand & Lauren Williams, Another morning of misery on Sydney's roads , Daily Telegraph , 26 June 2008.
=================================================================================================================
SIGN SAYS : " KEEP OFF THE CLOVER "
Elizabeth Farrelly, had a piece Don't turn the cheek, meek city, go for a holy contra-deal, in the Sydney Morning Herald,
on 25 June 2008 which I thought was extremely clever , and to me anyway it was humorous.
Perhaps it offended some people - who knows.
I got a good chuckle out of it - but then I might be a "sicko".
==================================================================================================================
Elizabeth Farrelly, had a piece Don't turn the cheek, meek city, go for a holy contra-deal, in the Sydney Morning Herald,
on 25 June 2008 which I thought was extremely clever , and to me anyway it was humorous.
Perhaps it offended some people - who knows.
I got a good chuckle out of it - but then I might be a "sicko".
==================================================================================================================
WHEAT BOARDS BEING GRINDED
IT seems that Australia is not the only place that a monopoly Wheat Board is being rubbed out.
In Canada the same thing is happening as in Australia, motivated by "free-market" ideology ..
ART MAiNIL from Benson wrote to the Leader-Post newspaper, and questioned polling figures which showed only 48% of barley growers wanted
to retain the Canadian Wheat Board monopoly and 66% of wheat growers. He said that not all growers were polled - particularly " the most
positive and progressive farmers ". He said the poll results would have been different if those "who believe in freedom and competition" had been
given a vote.
He says the CWB monopoly is costing farmers dearly - that while the CWB pays $11.00 per bushell for Durum Wheat the world price is $30.00.
PHIL BLADEN of Preeceville said that Canadian PM Stephen Harper had said a government plebiscite showed a clear vote for "choice". BUT Mr
Bladen says many people were denied a say and says the government consulted only with the major grain corporations. He said a court had
declared the government's actions were illegal because a "gag order" had been issued against CWB directors - thereby depriving them of their
human rights. He asked rhetorically of the PM - what part of the word "illegal" don't you understand. He likened the PM to a dictator of the ilk of
Robert Mugabe.
see :
Letters, PM's 'disdain' for law and MPs , Leader-Post , 24 June 2008.
Letters, CWB's continued monopoly costs money and jobs, Leader-Post , 24 June 2008.
Sam Norris, Politics causes 'lethal' law , Northern Daily Leader, 25 June 2008.
=================================================================================================================
IT seems that Australia is not the only place that a monopoly Wheat Board is being rubbed out.
In Canada the same thing is happening as in Australia, motivated by "free-market" ideology ..
ART MAiNIL from Benson wrote to the Leader-Post newspaper, and questioned polling figures which showed only 48% of barley growers wanted
to retain the Canadian Wheat Board monopoly and 66% of wheat growers. He said that not all growers were polled - particularly " the most
positive and progressive farmers ". He said the poll results would have been different if those "who believe in freedom and competition" had been
given a vote.
He says the CWB monopoly is costing farmers dearly - that while the CWB pays $11.00 per bushell for Durum Wheat the world price is $30.00.
PHIL BLADEN of Preeceville said that Canadian PM Stephen Harper had said a government plebiscite showed a clear vote for "choice". BUT Mr
Bladen says many people were denied a say and says the government consulted only with the major grain corporations. He said a court had
declared the government's actions were illegal because a "gag order" had been issued against CWB directors - thereby depriving them of their
human rights. He asked rhetorically of the PM - what part of the word "illegal" don't you understand. He likened the PM to a dictator of the ilk of
Robert Mugabe.
see :
Letters, PM's 'disdain' for law and MPs , Leader-Post , 24 June 2008.
Letters, CWB's continued monopoly costs money and jobs, Leader-Post , 24 June 2008.
Sam Norris, Politics causes 'lethal' law , Northern Daily Leader, 25 June 2008.
=================================================================================================================
LABOR TRIFECTA - CASH BACK , SPIT-BRIDGE & TAMWORTH HOSPITAL ???
SPIT BRIDGE
MANLY Liberal MP Mike Baird is demanding an ICAC investigation into the State Government's handling of the woefully deficient Spit
Bridge.
Mr Baird accused State Roads Minister Eric Roozendaal of knowing, before last year's election, the crucial Spit-widening project would
have to be dumped due to a budget blowout.
Mr Roozendaal did not announce the scrapping of the much-needed upgrade until May 1 one month after the election.
Mr Baird has requested an immediate ICAC investigation into whether the State Government lied to the northern beaches community
to buy votes.
"The residents of NSW were led to believe the widening of the Spit Bridge would go ahead if the Iemma Government was re-elected,"
Mr Baird wrote to the ICAC commissioner.
"I do not believe this was the case, with all evidence pointing to a misuse of information for political gain and an execution of actions
that amount to electoral fraud," he said.
Mr Baird said the State Government, in particular, the Roads Minister Mr Roozendaal, misled the public over the bridge's future.
His comments follow a Freedom of Information request revealing the RTA knew it had underestimated the cost of the project in
February.
The question is: when did the Government know?
This comes as northern beaches residents were trying to recover from a nightmare evening on the Spit after the bridge got stuck open
during peak hour on Monday.
Thousands of commuters were left stranded for hours while the RTA scrambled to fix the problem.
The RTA were still scrambling yesterday failing to answer The Daily's question about when they informed Mr Roozendaal of the higher-
than-expected costs of widening.
However, in a confidential report on the project from February 15, the RTA clearly knew it had underestimated the work needed.
The report said they had received two tenders one from John Holland Pty Ltd and one from Bauderstone Hornibrook Pty Ltd which
were "in general markedly higher than the RTA's estimate".
"It is believed the tender prices have been exacerbated by the current commercial climate and significant project risk," the RTA report
said.
Mr Roozendaal refused to comment yesterday on Mr Baird's "misguided claims", saying he stands by his previous public statements
made in Parliament.
In those statements there was no explanation when Mr Roozendaal found out that the project as he described it, "did not stack up".
Yesterday, Mr Baird said both Mr Roozendaal and Premier Morris Iemma were taking the northern beaches for a ride.
"In May last year, the Minister for Roads told northern beaches residents the Iemma Government would not fulfil its election promise to
widen the Spit Bridge as the costs for this project now just don't stack up", Mr Baird said.
"We now know, thanks to documents obtained under FOI laws, that the Iemma Government knew in February the project costs were
markedly higher than the RTA's estimate, yet it chose to hide this news from the voting public until it was safely back in power."
Chelsea White, Baird: Time to take the Spit fiasco to ICAC , Manly Daily, 25 June 2008.
CASH BACK
THE Carr government knew in October 1996, when it announced its Cashback scheme to repay motorists' tolls on the M4 and M5, that
it could cost taxpayers $962 million - but it did it anyway.
.......
The 1996 announcement was an outstanding result for Gabrielle Harrison and Faye Lo Po, the former Labor members for Parramatta
and Penrith, who had clung to victory the year before on the back of Bob Carr's election pledge to scrap tolls from both roads. It was a
promise he could never have kept, however, because of a costly tax liability his government would have assumed. So instead,
Cashback was born. The result, by the middle of next year, will be almost $750 million from the public purse.
Linton Besser , The $1b toll bribe that bought Labor votes , Sydney Morning Herald, 25 June 2008.
TAMWORTH HOSPITAL ???
see : Is Iemma F***ing Draper Too ?, JUNE 2008 PAGES page 24, www.independent-nsw.com
Tamworth Community Member wants Answers, JUNE 2008 PAGES page 29, www.independent-nsw.com
TAMWORTH HOSPITAL
The Hon. TREVOR KHAN: My question is directed to the Treasurer. Given that the Tamworth Base Hospital redevelopment was announced in the 2006 State
Infrastructure Strategy, why is it listed in the new 2008-2018 strategy document as "Not yet approved but forms part of the $140-billion State Infrastructure
Strategy to 20017-18"? Why is the redevelopment not yet approved two years after the announcement? Why is it listed as being in the planning stage for the
next four years? Why was no funding for the planning stage allocated in the 2008-09 budget? Is funding for the Tamworth Base Hospital redevelopment
conditional upon the privatisation of the State's electricity assets? What steps will the Treasurer now take to expedite the process, secure the funding and push
through the necessary approvals?
The Hon. MICHAEL COSTA: Do I get three minutes to answer of each of those questions? No? If the member had listened the last time I was asked about the
infrastructure strategy—obviously he did not listen—he would understand that many items must go to the budget committee for final approval. That does not
mean that any program with the notation "subject to final approval" is not part of the program. This redevelopment is certainly part of the program, but the final
amounts will have to be approved by the budget committee.
The Hon. Duncan Gay: So you can't believe anything in it. It is a farce.
The Hon. MICHAEL COSTA: No, because they have not finalised the planning.
The Hon. Duncan Gay: That is what you said.
The Hon. MICHAEL COSTA: No, I did not. Listen to what I am saying. The final amounts are approved by the budget committee. If it is in the infrastructure
program, it is certainly part of the Government's strategy over the next 10 years.
The Hon. Duncan Gay: What if it falls out?
The Hon. MICHAEL COSTA: It will not fall out unless there is a change of policy, and if that happens it will be announced. I reiterate the point that I made the last
time I was asked about this issue: No items in the infrastructure strategy are dependent upon the Government's electricity plans. I have already announced that
none of the items in Budget Paper No. 4 is contingent upon the sales strategy or the broader strategy itself. The reality is that these matters are very
transparent. Because the Opposition has run out of questions to ask its members will continue this process of misleading both the community and themselves
about the infrastructure strategy.
NSW LC Hansard, Question : Tamworth Hospital , 24 June 2008.
ADDITIONAL READING :
Daniel Emerson , 'White rage' over Spit Bridge , Sydney Morning Herald, 24 June 2008.
Ben Cubby , Commuters left spitting chips right back to the beaches , Sydney Morning Herald, 24 June 2008.
ABC NEWS, Spit Bridge solution: 'Work closer to home' , 24 June 2008.
ABC NEWS, Spit Bridge chaos 'a daily issue' , 24 June 2008.
Geoff Harris, Letters, Hospital stance commended , Northern Daily Leader, 25 June 2008.
Simon Chamberlain, Wrong answer: Hospital approval still pending , Northern Daily Leader, 25 June 2008.
NSW LC Hansard, Question : Tamworth Hospital , 24 June 2008.
SPIT BRIDGE
MANLY Liberal MP Mike Baird is demanding an ICAC investigation into the State Government's handling of the woefully deficient Spit
Bridge.
Mr Baird accused State Roads Minister Eric Roozendaal of knowing, before last year's election, the crucial Spit-widening project would
have to be dumped due to a budget blowout.
Mr Roozendaal did not announce the scrapping of the much-needed upgrade until May 1 one month after the election.
Mr Baird has requested an immediate ICAC investigation into whether the State Government lied to the northern beaches community
to buy votes.
"The residents of NSW were led to believe the widening of the Spit Bridge would go ahead if the Iemma Government was re-elected,"
Mr Baird wrote to the ICAC commissioner.
"I do not believe this was the case, with all evidence pointing to a misuse of information for political gain and an execution of actions
that amount to electoral fraud," he said.
Mr Baird said the State Government, in particular, the Roads Minister Mr Roozendaal, misled the public over the bridge's future.
His comments follow a Freedom of Information request revealing the RTA knew it had underestimated the cost of the project in
February.
The question is: when did the Government know?
This comes as northern beaches residents were trying to recover from a nightmare evening on the Spit after the bridge got stuck open
during peak hour on Monday.
Thousands of commuters were left stranded for hours while the RTA scrambled to fix the problem.
The RTA were still scrambling yesterday failing to answer The Daily's question about when they informed Mr Roozendaal of the higher-
than-expected costs of widening.
However, in a confidential report on the project from February 15, the RTA clearly knew it had underestimated the work needed.
The report said they had received two tenders one from John Holland Pty Ltd and one from Bauderstone Hornibrook Pty Ltd which
were "in general markedly higher than the RTA's estimate".
"It is believed the tender prices have been exacerbated by the current commercial climate and significant project risk," the RTA report
said.
Mr Roozendaal refused to comment yesterday on Mr Baird's "misguided claims", saying he stands by his previous public statements
made in Parliament.
In those statements there was no explanation when Mr Roozendaal found out that the project as he described it, "did not stack up".
Yesterday, Mr Baird said both Mr Roozendaal and Premier Morris Iemma were taking the northern beaches for a ride.
"In May last year, the Minister for Roads told northern beaches residents the Iemma Government would not fulfil its election promise to
widen the Spit Bridge as the costs for this project now just don't stack up", Mr Baird said.
"We now know, thanks to documents obtained under FOI laws, that the Iemma Government knew in February the project costs were
markedly higher than the RTA's estimate, yet it chose to hide this news from the voting public until it was safely back in power."
Chelsea White, Baird: Time to take the Spit fiasco to ICAC , Manly Daily, 25 June 2008.
CASH BACK
THE Carr government knew in October 1996, when it announced its Cashback scheme to repay motorists' tolls on the M4 and M5, that
it could cost taxpayers $962 million - but it did it anyway.
.......
The 1996 announcement was an outstanding result for Gabrielle Harrison and Faye Lo Po, the former Labor members for Parramatta
and Penrith, who had clung to victory the year before on the back of Bob Carr's election pledge to scrap tolls from both roads. It was a
promise he could never have kept, however, because of a costly tax liability his government would have assumed. So instead,
Cashback was born. The result, by the middle of next year, will be almost $750 million from the public purse.
Linton Besser , The $1b toll bribe that bought Labor votes , Sydney Morning Herald, 25 June 2008.
TAMWORTH HOSPITAL ???
see : Is Iemma F***ing Draper Too ?, JUNE 2008 PAGES page 24, www.independent-nsw.com
Tamworth Community Member wants Answers, JUNE 2008 PAGES page 29, www.independent-nsw.com
TAMWORTH HOSPITAL
The Hon. TREVOR KHAN: My question is directed to the Treasurer. Given that the Tamworth Base Hospital redevelopment was announced in the 2006 State
Infrastructure Strategy, why is it listed in the new 2008-2018 strategy document as "Not yet approved but forms part of the $140-billion State Infrastructure
Strategy to 20017-18"? Why is the redevelopment not yet approved two years after the announcement? Why is it listed as being in the planning stage for the
next four years? Why was no funding for the planning stage allocated in the 2008-09 budget? Is funding for the Tamworth Base Hospital redevelopment
conditional upon the privatisation of the State's electricity assets? What steps will the Treasurer now take to expedite the process, secure the funding and push
through the necessary approvals?
The Hon. MICHAEL COSTA: Do I get three minutes to answer of each of those questions? No? If the member had listened the last time I was asked about the
infrastructure strategy—obviously he did not listen—he would understand that many items must go to the budget committee for final approval. That does not
mean that any program with the notation "subject to final approval" is not part of the program. This redevelopment is certainly part of the program, but the final
amounts will have to be approved by the budget committee.
The Hon. Duncan Gay: So you can't believe anything in it. It is a farce.
The Hon. MICHAEL COSTA: No, because they have not finalised the planning.
The Hon. Duncan Gay: That is what you said.
The Hon. MICHAEL COSTA: No, I did not. Listen to what I am saying. The final amounts are approved by the budget committee. If it is in the infrastructure
program, it is certainly part of the Government's strategy over the next 10 years.
The Hon. Duncan Gay: What if it falls out?
The Hon. MICHAEL COSTA: It will not fall out unless there is a change of policy, and if that happens it will be announced. I reiterate the point that I made the last
time I was asked about this issue: No items in the infrastructure strategy are dependent upon the Government's electricity plans. I have already announced that
none of the items in Budget Paper No. 4 is contingent upon the sales strategy or the broader strategy itself. The reality is that these matters are very
transparent. Because the Opposition has run out of questions to ask its members will continue this process of misleading both the community and themselves
about the infrastructure strategy.
NSW LC Hansard, Question : Tamworth Hospital , 24 June 2008.
ADDITIONAL READING :
Daniel Emerson , 'White rage' over Spit Bridge , Sydney Morning Herald, 24 June 2008.
Ben Cubby , Commuters left spitting chips right back to the beaches , Sydney Morning Herald, 24 June 2008.
ABC NEWS, Spit Bridge solution: 'Work closer to home' , 24 June 2008.
ABC NEWS, Spit Bridge chaos 'a daily issue' , 24 June 2008.
Geoff Harris, Letters, Hospital stance commended , Northern Daily Leader, 25 June 2008.
Simon Chamberlain, Wrong answer: Hospital approval still pending , Northern Daily Leader, 25 June 2008.
NSW LC Hansard, Question : Tamworth Hospital , 24 June 2008.
HEWITT "POWERS" UP IN 2nd ROUND WIN
Lleyton Hewitt won his 2nd round Wimbledon match in 3 sets 7(7) - 6(4), 6-0 ,6-2 against Albert Montanes.
In the 3rd round he will meet Simone Bolelli of Italy.
The Betfair Odds have now tumbled to $140.00 .
I am going to "trade out" of my position today. Having got $300 at the start of the tournament I can "reverse" my
position to be in a "win-win" position - whether Lleyton wins or loses the tournament. Ah happy days are here again !!!!
=================================================================================================================
Lleyton Hewitt won his 2nd round Wimbledon match in 3 sets 7(7) - 6(4), 6-0 ,6-2 against Albert Montanes.
In the 3rd round he will meet Simone Bolelli of Italy.
The Betfair Odds have now tumbled to $140.00 .
I am going to "trade out" of my position today. Having got $300 at the start of the tournament I can "reverse" my
position to be in a "win-win" position - whether Lleyton wins or loses the tournament. Ah happy days are here again !!!!
=================================================================================================================
IGUANA JOES - A POLITICAL SUCCESS STORY
If one was a purely political animal (reptilian perhaps) - then Iguana Joes would be the political success story of 2008.
It has taken Belinda Neal MP from a virtual unknown in her own electorate - to a household name across Australia.
NOW Ray Williams MP (Hawkesbury) has jumped on the bandwagon and got national attention with an imitation iguana.
Speaker Richard Torbay ejected Mr Williams from parliament.
I reckon former Speaker John Aquilina MP (Riverstone) would be really miffed.
AS D.D. McNicoll saw it :
Reptilian rapscallion
PROVING that politics is no place for grown-ups, NSW Liberal MP Ray Williams was tossed out of the Macquarie Street chamber yesterday for taking a stuffed
toy iguana into the Legislative Assembly. Williams, who clearly thought his prank was an absolute hoot, produced the toy lizard as Premier Morris Iemma rose to
answer a question from Nationals leader Andrew Stoner relating to the incident at the Iguanas bar and restaurant at Gosford involving suspended NSW minister
John Della Bosca and his wife, federal Labor MP Belinda Neal. Speaker Richard Torbay ordered Williams, the member for Hawkesbury, be removed from the
house after he walked through the chamber wrestling with his plush and cuddly reptilian friend.
D.D. McNicol , Mill's Mandarin appeal , The Australian, 26 June 2008.
SOURCES :
Andrew Clennell, Morris horribilis: Iemma looks stuffed , Sydney Morning Herald, 26 June 2008.
Andrew Clennell , Iguana turns on Iemma , Sydney Morning Herald, 18 June 2008.
Anselma Aimable , St Lucia launches campaign to conserve iguanas , Caribbean Net News , 25 June 2008.
NSW LA HANSARD, Question The Honourable John Della Bosca, MLC: Iguanas Waterfront Restaurant Incident, 25 June 2008.
ABC NEWS, MP thrown out of Parlt for iguana toy joke , 25 June 2008.
If one was a purely political animal (reptilian perhaps) - then Iguana Joes would be the political success story of 2008.
It has taken Belinda Neal MP from a virtual unknown in her own electorate - to a household name across Australia.
NOW Ray Williams MP (Hawkesbury) has jumped on the bandwagon and got national attention with an imitation iguana.
Speaker Richard Torbay ejected Mr Williams from parliament.
I reckon former Speaker John Aquilina MP (Riverstone) would be really miffed.
AS D.D. McNicoll saw it :
Reptilian rapscallion
PROVING that politics is no place for grown-ups, NSW Liberal MP Ray Williams was tossed out of the Macquarie Street chamber yesterday for taking a stuffed
toy iguana into the Legislative Assembly. Williams, who clearly thought his prank was an absolute hoot, produced the toy lizard as Premier Morris Iemma rose to
answer a question from Nationals leader Andrew Stoner relating to the incident at the Iguanas bar and restaurant at Gosford involving suspended NSW minister
John Della Bosca and his wife, federal Labor MP Belinda Neal. Speaker Richard Torbay ordered Williams, the member for Hawkesbury, be removed from the
house after he walked through the chamber wrestling with his plush and cuddly reptilian friend.
D.D. McNicol , Mill's Mandarin appeal , The Australian, 26 June 2008.
SOURCES :
Andrew Clennell, Morris horribilis: Iemma looks stuffed , Sydney Morning Herald, 26 June 2008.
Andrew Clennell , Iguana turns on Iemma , Sydney Morning Herald, 18 June 2008.
Anselma Aimable , St Lucia launches campaign to conserve iguanas , Caribbean Net News , 25 June 2008.
NSW LA HANSARD, Question The Honourable John Della Bosca, MLC: Iguanas Waterfront Restaurant Incident, 25 June 2008.
ABC NEWS, MP thrown out of Parlt for iguana toy joke , 25 June 2008.
