| JUNE 2008 Pages - Page 34 |
| THIS IS PAGE 34 OF JUNE 2008 PAGES - JUNE0834 |
'IEMMA WON THE IMPOSSIBLE ELECTION'
When Labor insiders were declaring the attributes of Premier Morris Iemma and bolstering him as having won the impossible
election in 2007, we dismissed such claims as myth making of monumental magnitude.
Our view was based on the published polls leading up to that election - which clearly showed Labor on track for victory.
HOWEVER, we are now starting to doubt our original assessment - having witnessed the incompetent leadership,the dithering and the
inconsistency exhibited by Morris Iemma over the last month, it appears Labor insiders knew a lot more than the general community in 2007.
Maybe, from their perspective. it was the impossible election - and it is not myth making but a frank and fearless assessment based on their
intimate knowledge of Iemma's qualities.
=================================================================================================================
When Labor insiders were declaring the attributes of Premier Morris Iemma and bolstering him as having won the impossible
election in 2007, we dismissed such claims as myth making of monumental magnitude.
Our view was based on the published polls leading up to that election - which clearly showed Labor on track for victory.
HOWEVER, we are now starting to doubt our original assessment - having witnessed the incompetent leadership,the dithering and the
inconsistency exhibited by Morris Iemma over the last month, it appears Labor insiders knew a lot more than the general community in 2007.
Maybe, from their perspective. it was the impossible election - and it is not myth making but a frank and fearless assessment based on their
intimate knowledge of Iemma's qualities.
=================================================================================================================
| JUNE 08 PAGE.... 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 ,16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , |
IT WAS THE NIGHT BEFORE THE 2007 ELECTION
IT was he night before the 2007 NSW election and all was quiet.
That's according to the fairy tale, but according to Dawn Fardell MP (Dubbo) two NSW Labor ministers were
very busy - on the telephone.
Now lets imagine the scenario of the frenetic activity :
The Minister's were obviously doing a ring around to wish people well for the next day - polling day.
There were 93 candidates standing for Labor in the Legislative Assembly and 19 in the Legislative Council, a total of 112 people to wish all the
best to.
Now if one started at a reasonable hour of 7pm and finished at a very "late-ish" hour of 11pm - one would have 240 minutes to make 112
telephone calls - or about 2 minutes per phone call.
So the Ministers would have been flat out like an Iguana making those cheerio calls.
BUT wait - there's more.
They each found time to telephone a candidate in Dubbo . Was it the Labor candidate ? Maybe. BUT there was also Dawn Fardell MP to ring as
well in Dubbo, to wish her all the best for the next day .
Even though they were on a time limit of 2 minutes, each of them were able to tell her that one of the other candidates on the ballot paper - had
told them that Dawn Fardell was a "devout atheist". That was evil.
NOW the question has to be - how did Dawn Fardell get on the list of people to call . Was she on the ballot paper as a Labor candidate ? OR did
the Labor ministers put her on their list of calls to make because they considered her the real Labor candidate in Dubbo ? OR was it a case
where a person's allegiance was not public knowledge ?
SOURCE :
NSW LA HANSARD , Parliamentary Electorates and Election Amendment (Truth in Advertising) Bill 2007 , 10 April 2008.
=================================================================================================================
IT was he night before the 2007 NSW election and all was quiet.
That's according to the fairy tale, but according to Dawn Fardell MP (Dubbo) two NSW Labor ministers were
very busy - on the telephone.
Now lets imagine the scenario of the frenetic activity :
The Minister's were obviously doing a ring around to wish people well for the next day - polling day.
There were 93 candidates standing for Labor in the Legislative Assembly and 19 in the Legislative Council, a total of 112 people to wish all the
best to.
Now if one started at a reasonable hour of 7pm and finished at a very "late-ish" hour of 11pm - one would have 240 minutes to make 112
telephone calls - or about 2 minutes per phone call.
So the Ministers would have been flat out like an Iguana making those cheerio calls.
BUT wait - there's more.
They each found time to telephone a candidate in Dubbo . Was it the Labor candidate ? Maybe. BUT there was also Dawn Fardell MP to ring as
well in Dubbo, to wish her all the best for the next day .
Even though they were on a time limit of 2 minutes, each of them were able to tell her that one of the other candidates on the ballot paper - had
told them that Dawn Fardell was a "devout atheist". That was evil.
NOW the question has to be - how did Dawn Fardell get on the list of people to call . Was she on the ballot paper as a Labor candidate ? OR did
the Labor ministers put her on their list of calls to make because they considered her the real Labor candidate in Dubbo ? OR was it a case
where a person's allegiance was not public knowledge ?
SOURCE :
NSW LA HANSARD , Parliamentary Electorates and Election Amendment (Truth in Advertising) Bill 2007 , 10 April 2008.
=================================================================================================================
WHERE IS THE RACE FILM ???
On the race-track it's always a bit of a worry : Is the race rigged ?
Anyway, to day with good stewards and modern technology like race film taken from all different angles - you assume
it's all above board and you lay your money down - on the faith of that.
OF course in the old days - when there wasn't race film, suggestions of rigging were always to the fore-front of one's mind.
Remember the famous leg-pulling incident at Randwick, which would have been caught by the head on camera used today. As the jockey
involved ( who originally was suspended for life over the incident ) Mel Schumacher recently explained :
"Mate, it was one of those things that happen. You see it in all kinds of sport. Bike riding, football, running. They clip one another. It was
just a spur of the moment thing that happened. When it does, it's bad luck to get caught."
Rigging a horse race in the old days wasn't as easy as it might appear. There were always those who refused to fall into line and wanted to run
for the major prizemoney. The best those, who sought to profit from the exercise could do in the circumstances was to work out from amongst
those they knew or suspected would be competitive, the likely winner - discarding the known 'dead-uns' from calculations.
NOW in the 2007 election in Tamworth, local Labor stalwart Denise McHugh was the ALP candidate - and she was a passionate believer in the
cause.
In the 2007 campaign, Peter Draper told her effectively she was wasting her time. He declared it was a two horse race.
ONE has to ask the question - Did he have inside knowledge that NSW Labor would leave Ms McHugh out of the loop ? Did he have fore-
knowledge that NSW Labor would fail to acknowledge her in the campaign - and make it's announcement's essentially through him ?
SOURCES :
Max Presnell, The Shoe still fits - and has plenty of soul left in him , Sydney Morning Herald, 16 May 2008.
They’re off and racing , Northern Daily Leader, 7 March 2008.
=================================================================================================================
On the race-track it's always a bit of a worry : Is the race rigged ?
Anyway, to day with good stewards and modern technology like race film taken from all different angles - you assume
it's all above board and you lay your money down - on the faith of that.
OF course in the old days - when there wasn't race film, suggestions of rigging were always to the fore-front of one's mind.
Remember the famous leg-pulling incident at Randwick, which would have been caught by the head on camera used today. As the jockey
involved ( who originally was suspended for life over the incident ) Mel Schumacher recently explained :
"Mate, it was one of those things that happen. You see it in all kinds of sport. Bike riding, football, running. They clip one another. It was
just a spur of the moment thing that happened. When it does, it's bad luck to get caught."
Rigging a horse race in the old days wasn't as easy as it might appear. There were always those who refused to fall into line and wanted to run
for the major prizemoney. The best those, who sought to profit from the exercise could do in the circumstances was to work out from amongst
those they knew or suspected would be competitive, the likely winner - discarding the known 'dead-uns' from calculations.
NOW in the 2007 election in Tamworth, local Labor stalwart Denise McHugh was the ALP candidate - and she was a passionate believer in the
cause.
In the 2007 campaign, Peter Draper told her effectively she was wasting her time. He declared it was a two horse race.
ONE has to ask the question - Did he have inside knowledge that NSW Labor would leave Ms McHugh out of the loop ? Did he have fore-
knowledge that NSW Labor would fail to acknowledge her in the campaign - and make it's announcement's essentially through him ?
SOURCES :
Max Presnell, The Shoe still fits - and has plenty of soul left in him , Sydney Morning Herald, 16 May 2008.
They’re off and racing , Northern Daily Leader, 7 March 2008.
=================================================================================================================
RURAL IMPACT STATEMENT
Finally today (27 June 2008) some details have appeared relating to the Rural Impact Statement into the electricity sell-off.
The details are available on the government's sell-off website
[ ONLINE - Independent Rural Communities Impact Statement (RCIS) ]
It answers most of our questions.
1. Who ?
The RIS will be prepared by GHD Hassall .
2. Who can make submissions ?
Anyone - individuals or organisations.
3. Closing date for submissions .
Written submissions should be lodged by 18 July 2008.
4. Where to send submissions ?
Submissions should be lodged with :
John Madden, Manager Economics & Agriculture
GHD Hassall
GPO Box 4625, Sydney NSW 2001
John.madden@ghd.com.au
5. Will hearings be conducted ?
Not stated, so we assume they will not be.
6. Terms of Reference .
To :
Specifically investigate areas including ::
Assess consumer and social initiatives, including the proposed Electricity Safety Net.
******************************************************************************************************************************************************
GHD Hassall is a subsidiary of GHD (since Hassall & Associates was taken over by GHD in January 2008). Previously Hassall & Associates,
were well known for providing economic assessments, particularly in the agriculture and cropping fields.
SOURCES :
Independent Rural Communities Impact Statement (RCIS)
GHD website .
GHD Hassall website.
Country people to have their say on power sell-off , Northern Daily Leader, 27 June 2008.
=================================================================================================================
Finally today (27 June 2008) some details have appeared relating to the Rural Impact Statement into the electricity sell-off.
The details are available on the government's sell-off website
[ ONLINE - Independent Rural Communities Impact Statement (RCIS) ]
It answers most of our questions.
1. Who ?
The RIS will be prepared by GHD Hassall .
2. Who can make submissions ?
Anyone - individuals or organisations.
3. Closing date for submissions .
Written submissions should be lodged by 18 July 2008.
4. Where to send submissions ?
Submissions should be lodged with :
John Madden, Manager Economics & Agriculture
GHD Hassall
GPO Box 4625, Sydney NSW 2001
John.madden@ghd.com.au
5. Will hearings be conducted ?
Not stated, so we assume they will not be.
6. Terms of Reference .
To :
- identify key community issues;
- gauge community awareness and response to the proposed employee and consumer protections; and
- identify potential areas for the provision of ongoing community information.
Specifically investigate areas including ::
- employment;
- electricity prices;
- service levels; and
- ongoing investment.
Assess consumer and social initiatives, including the proposed Electricity Safety Net.
******************************************************************************************************************************************************
GHD Hassall is a subsidiary of GHD (since Hassall & Associates was taken over by GHD in January 2008). Previously Hassall & Associates,
were well known for providing economic assessments, particularly in the agriculture and cropping fields.
SOURCES :
Independent Rural Communities Impact Statement (RCIS)
GHD website .
GHD Hassall website.
Country people to have their say on power sell-off , Northern Daily Leader, 27 June 2008.
=================================================================================================================
HAY 'FURIOUS'
Noreen Hay MP (Wollongong) is reportedly 'furious' at what she sees as "allegations raised in State Parliament about
a home unit she bought from a high-profile developer. "
We have previously pointed out that to ask a question is not to assert a fact (unless within the question there is an asserted
fact upon which the question depends).
IT is necessary to read the speech of Ms Lee Rhiannon MLC and judge for one-self whether she was asserting facts
or merely asserting facts on the public record.
Ms Hay told the Illawarra Mercury Ms Hay " nothing improper had occurred."
Ms Rhiannon told the Illawarra Mercury newspaper :
Ms Rhiannon defended her speech yesterday, which she said was intended to raise questions about relationships between developers
and MPs.
"I don't think in any way I was not accurate because I was not absolute in what I said."
The Illawarra Mercury also reported
Ms Rhiannon's claims also attracted criticism in the Parliament.
The house's deputy president, Fred Nile, twice upheld points of order against her, on the basis speaking MPs cannot impute improper
motives to other MPs.
SOURCES :
Brett Cox & Mario Christodoulou, Noreen Hay brushes off allegations about unit purchase , Illawarra Mercury, 26 June 2007.
NSW LC HANSARD , Lee Rhiannon MLC (11.58pm), Election Funding Amendment (Political Donations and Expenditure) Bill 2008 , 24
June 2008.
ABC NEWS , Wollongong MP under fire over apartment purchase , 26 June 2008.
=================================================================================================================
Noreen Hay MP (Wollongong) is reportedly 'furious' at what she sees as "allegations raised in State Parliament about
a home unit she bought from a high-profile developer. "
We have previously pointed out that to ask a question is not to assert a fact (unless within the question there is an asserted
fact upon which the question depends).
IT is necessary to read the speech of Ms Lee Rhiannon MLC and judge for one-self whether she was asserting facts
or merely asserting facts on the public record.
Ms Hay told the Illawarra Mercury Ms Hay " nothing improper had occurred."
Ms Rhiannon told the Illawarra Mercury newspaper :
Ms Rhiannon defended her speech yesterday, which she said was intended to raise questions about relationships between developers
and MPs.
"I don't think in any way I was not accurate because I was not absolute in what I said."
The Illawarra Mercury also reported
Ms Rhiannon's claims also attracted criticism in the Parliament.
The house's deputy president, Fred Nile, twice upheld points of order against her, on the basis speaking MPs cannot impute improper
motives to other MPs.
SOURCES :
Brett Cox & Mario Christodoulou, Noreen Hay brushes off allegations about unit purchase , Illawarra Mercury, 26 June 2007.
NSW LC HANSARD , Lee Rhiannon MLC (11.58pm), Election Funding Amendment (Political Donations and Expenditure) Bill 2008 , 24
June 2008.
ABC NEWS , Wollongong MP under fire over apartment purchase , 26 June 2008.
=================================================================================================================
DEMOCRACY HOPES DASHED IN PORT MACQUARIE
Hopes that a democratic election might be held in Port Macquarie on 13 September 2008, following the passing of
the Port Macquarie-Hastings Council Election Bill 2008 , in the Upper House have been dashed.
The NSW government allocated business in such a fashion that the bill did not even come on for debate before
the Lower House, before the parliament rose for a 3 month holiday. The earliest the bill could be debated now is when
the parliament returns to work on 23 September 2008.
SOURCES :
Port Macquarie-Hastings Council Election Bill 2008, NSW Parliament website [ ONLINE ]
Voters won't get their say , Port Macquarie News, 27 June 2008.
=================================================================================================================
Hopes that a democratic election might be held in Port Macquarie on 13 September 2008, following the passing of
the Port Macquarie-Hastings Council Election Bill 2008 , in the Upper House have been dashed.
The NSW government allocated business in such a fashion that the bill did not even come on for debate before
the Lower House, before the parliament rose for a 3 month holiday. The earliest the bill could be debated now is when
the parliament returns to work on 23 September 2008.
SOURCES :
Port Macquarie-Hastings Council Election Bill 2008, NSW Parliament website [ ONLINE ]
Voters won't get their say , Port Macquarie News, 27 June 2008.
=================================================================================================================
WHAT CHANCE A DAM UP-GRADE FOR ORANGE ???
A suggestion has been made that Orange's water supply can only be secured for the future by a $70 million upgrade of Lake Rowlands .
What chance of that ever happening ?
see : Ben Brennan , Turner pushes the dam solution , Central Western Daily, 27 June 2008.
ABC News, Orange drought-proofing project moves ahead , 25 Jue 2008.
ABC News, MP wants Govt to address Orange region water security , 26 June 2008.
=================================================================================================================
A suggestion has been made that Orange's water supply can only be secured for the future by a $70 million upgrade of Lake Rowlands .
What chance of that ever happening ?
see : Ben Brennan , Turner pushes the dam solution , Central Western Daily, 27 June 2008.
ABC News, Orange drought-proofing project moves ahead , 25 Jue 2008.
ABC News, MP wants Govt to address Orange region water security , 26 June 2008.
=================================================================================================================
DAWN FARDELL 'CONDEMNS' BOTH PREMIER & ALTERNATE PREMIER
Dawn Fardell MP (Dubbo) has been reported as 'condemning' Premier Morris Iemma for his failure to deliver to
the community the services he was elected to deliver.
She also 'condemned' alternate Premier Barry O'Farrell for his failure to control maverick Hawkesbury MP Ray Williams,
who was mauled by an imitation Iguana, he had brought into the parliamentary chamber.
Mrs Fardell believes that the preferred Premier poll will fluctuate between now and the March 2011 poll.
Mrs Fardell may be right if Labor ditches Morris Iemma as leader, but it is difficult to see Morris Iemma (if he remains as Premier) improving his
approval rating.
see : Faye Wheeler , Leaders in for tough time until election: MP , Dubbo Daily Liberal , 26 June 2008.
and : Lizard eats MP: Just another day in 'Iguana Gate' , Hawkesbury Gazette, 3 July 2008.
==================================================================================================================
Dawn Fardell MP (Dubbo) has been reported as 'condemning' Premier Morris Iemma for his failure to deliver to
the community the services he was elected to deliver.
She also 'condemned' alternate Premier Barry O'Farrell for his failure to control maverick Hawkesbury MP Ray Williams,
who was mauled by an imitation Iguana, he had brought into the parliamentary chamber.
Mrs Fardell believes that the preferred Premier poll will fluctuate between now and the March 2011 poll.
Mrs Fardell may be right if Labor ditches Morris Iemma as leader, but it is difficult to see Morris Iemma (if he remains as Premier) improving his
approval rating.
see : Faye Wheeler , Leaders in for tough time until election: MP , Dubbo Daily Liberal , 26 June 2008.
and : Lizard eats MP: Just another day in 'Iguana Gate' , Hawkesbury Gazette, 3 July 2008.
==================================================================================================================
BASH MORRIS IEMMA DAY
IT seems Friday 27 June 2008 was "Bash Iemma" day at the Sydney Morning Herald. Not only did he take the No 1 spot
on the front page but he had stories scattered throughout the pages of the paper.
A deliberate media campaign against an innocent man or well earned criticism ? You be the judge .
see :.
Sunanda Creagh & Linton Besser , Iemma turning Sydney into joke , Sydney Morning Herald, 27 June 2008.
NSW govt extends health system inquiry , Sydney Morning Herald, 27 June 2008 [website]
Dylan Welch & Andrew Clennell , Iguanas sets the tables as guest list grows , Sydney Morning Herald, 27 June 2008.
Editorial, Make the cheque out to head office , Sydney Morning Herald, 27 June 2008.
BUT he got a bagging at the Daily Telegraph too :
NSW a laughing stock over transport failures: O'Farrell , Daily Telegraph, 27 June 2008.
=================================================================================================================
IT seems Friday 27 June 2008 was "Bash Iemma" day at the Sydney Morning Herald. Not only did he take the No 1 spot
on the front page but he had stories scattered throughout the pages of the paper.
A deliberate media campaign against an innocent man or well earned criticism ? You be the judge .
see :.
Sunanda Creagh & Linton Besser , Iemma turning Sydney into joke , Sydney Morning Herald, 27 June 2008.
NSW govt extends health system inquiry , Sydney Morning Herald, 27 June 2008 [website]
Dylan Welch & Andrew Clennell , Iguanas sets the tables as guest list grows , Sydney Morning Herald, 27 June 2008.
Editorial, Make the cheque out to head office , Sydney Morning Herald, 27 June 2008.
BUT he got a bagging at the Daily Telegraph too :
NSW a laughing stock over transport failures: O'Farrell , Daily Telegraph, 27 June 2008.
=================================================================================================================
BLACK TIE CEILIDH
We were wrong. Alex's invitation to the black tie Ceilidh [ Invitation to Ceilidh - May 2008 Pages page 16 ] means dining wear - not just a single
item. Anyway, Alex has now been fitted out . He says the only piece of clothing he will be wearing of his own - is the underwear. He has spent the
entire week house hopping. The shirt from one friend, the coat from his Dad (handed over by his mother when his Dad was out of the house)
and the trousers from another guy.
WHICH is kinda spooky - considering the article in today's Sydney Morning Herald - Richard Glover, One size fits all , 28 June 2008.
AND what is even spookier is the description of the Young Prince's bedroom . Slap me - this has got to be a dream.
BUT then again it is different - Alex is usully raiding his mother's wardrobe - not his father's.
We were wrong. Alex's invitation to the black tie Ceilidh [ Invitation to Ceilidh - May 2008 Pages page 16 ] means dining wear - not just a single
item. Anyway, Alex has now been fitted out . He says the only piece of clothing he will be wearing of his own - is the underwear. He has spent the
entire week house hopping. The shirt from one friend, the coat from his Dad (handed over by his mother when his Dad was out of the house)
and the trousers from another guy.
WHICH is kinda spooky - considering the article in today's Sydney Morning Herald - Richard Glover, One size fits all , 28 June 2008.
AND what is even spookier is the description of the Young Prince's bedroom . Slap me - this has got to be a dream.
BUT then again it is different - Alex is usully raiding his mother's wardrobe - not his father's.