| MONTHLY NEWS - December 2007 |
| THIS IS PAGE 16 OF DECEMBER 2007 MONTHLY NEWS - MonNewsDEC16 |
| 2007 PRESENTATION NIGHT It's that time of the year - presentation nights going off everywhere and of course the local MP in high demand for guest appearances. So, not to be out-done, we held our very own 2007 Presentation Night. We ditched all the self congratulatory speeches and ceremony and cut straight to the chase - remembering the culture that every player gets a prize - and handed out the Independent MPs awards for the 2007 parliamentary year : POT BLACK AWARD - Awarded to the MP who was the most successful in accusing another MP of hideous errors, but in doing so was guilty himself of the very errors he accused the other MP of, especially in circumstances where the other MP had not made any errors, thereby demonstrating a real commitment to grabbing the cow by the tail. For his media release issued on the eve of the federal election attacking Jillian Skinner, MP, the alternate NSW Health Minister, the winner is - Peter Draper MP, member for Tamworth WHAN FAMILY PERPETUAL TROPHY - To the Independent MP who showed the most encouraging signs throughout the year of a willingness to join Country Labor. Her efforts in sitting on the government benches during debate and addressing the chamber from the Labor Party dispatch box, in refusing to attend the chamber for the inaugural speeches of neighbouring MPs, but immediately afterwards attended the inaugural speech of a Labor MP whose electorate is 500km distant from her own and generally a dedication to the cause far beyond the call of duty the Trophy is awarded to :- Dawn Fardell MP, member for Dubbo. YES THERE IS A SANTA CLAUS PRIZE - To the Independent MP who most demonstrates a commitment to community service for the sake of community service, and not because of consequential awards, benefits and allowances payable. This years winner continues to take an ethical approach to matters of governance, donates annually her salary of $188,000 per year as Lord Mayor of Sydney to a charitable trust and provides wonderful lights, Christmas displays and New Years fireworks in the City of Sydney :- Clover Moore MP, member for Sydney and Lord Mayor of Sydney INVISIBLE MAN SHIELD - Awarded annually to the Independent MP who does the most to make themselves invisible in the parliamentary chamber in Macquarie Street, Sydney. This year's winner achieved a remarkable 22% (10/45) absenteeism rate overall and a sensational 89% (8/9) absenteeism rate on Fridays. Rob Oakeshott MP, member for Port Macquarie. STRAIGHT TO WORK AWARD - The award this year goes to an Independent MP who was a newcomer to the parliamentary chamber. He made his inaugural speech on the first non-ceremonial day of the sittings and asked his first question (not a dorothy dixer) on the second day. The winner is :- Greg Piper MP, member for Lake Macquarie PROPHESY SOCIETY TROPHY : This award is made to the Independent MP who does the most to fulfill a prophesy made during the parliamentary sittings. A prophesy was made on the first day of the sittings : "You, Mr Speaker, will be the fig leaf of democracy under which they shroud their activity. While we have the greatest hopes for you, we do have the feeling that you are being used and eventually will end up being abused." The prophesy was fulfilled on the last voting day of the year.. The Iemma government introduced (previously undisclosed) changes to the rules of parliament under the cover of 'family friendly' hours. The changes reduce the opportunities for parliament to hold the executive government accountable, and reduce opportunities for community representatives to place business before the House. This year's winner of the Trophy presided over the chamber as these changes to parliament's rules were rammed through, despite calls for debate to be adjourned until next year, to enable proper consideration of them. The winner presided over what Clover Moore MP described as "the worst performance I have seen in 20 years." The winner of the Prophesy Society Trophy in 2007 is - Richard Torbay MP, member for Northern Tablelands. |
LABOR PARTY MEMBER TO CONTEST ELECTION AS "INDEPENDENT"
Tom Barton, a former minister in the Queensland Beattie government and a continuing member of the ALP, will contest the election for
Mayor of Logan City in Brisbane as an "Independent".
His slogan is New Leadership, New Logan City.
Included in the area of Logan City Council is the suburb of Woodridge - the centre of the Queensland state electorate of Woodridge - for a
short period held by Independent MP Mike Kaiser in 2001, who will be Premier Bligh's Chief of Staff from January 2008 and was Chief of Staff
to NSW Premier Morris Iemma 2005-2007.
SOURCES :
Former Beattie minister to fight for Logan mayoralty, Brisbane Times, 10 December 2007 [ online ]
Mike Kaiser- former Independent MP, www.independent-nsw.com [ here ]
===============================================================================================================
Tom Barton, a former minister in the Queensland Beattie government and a continuing member of the ALP, will contest the election for
Mayor of Logan City in Brisbane as an "Independent".
His slogan is New Leadership, New Logan City.
Included in the area of Logan City Council is the suburb of Woodridge - the centre of the Queensland state electorate of Woodridge - for a
short period held by Independent MP Mike Kaiser in 2001, who will be Premier Bligh's Chief of Staff from January 2008 and was Chief of Staff
to NSW Premier Morris Iemma 2005-2007.
SOURCES :
Former Beattie minister to fight for Logan mayoralty, Brisbane Times, 10 December 2007 [ online ]
Mike Kaiser- former Independent MP, www.independent-nsw.com [ here ]
===============================================================================================================
ELECTION RECOUNTS - NSW LOCAL GOVERNMENT RECOUNTS A LUCKY DIP
With a re-count sought in the federal seat of McEwen, it brings to mind the issue of recounts in
local government elections in NSW.
Theoretically (unless ballot papers have been placed in a wrong pile) a recount in a federal seat
should result in exactly the same result - with the same numbers.
However, because of the counting system in local government elections in NSW, a local government
recount theoretically will never end in the same numbers, which might mean a different candidate is
elected.
Where there is more than one candidate to be elected in a ballot (ward or council wide) the counting
system used is a modified senate counting system with an element of 'lucky-dip' thrown in.
Once a quota is established, in the pure senate counting system, the 'overflow' votes of a candidate who has received more than a quota
are then distributed.
If the quota is say 100, and a candidate has 120 votes - then 20 votes are distributed to the No 2 on the ballot paper.
In the senate the whole 120 ballot papers are distributed -at a value less than 1. In this case each ballot paper would have a value of
20/120 = 0.1666666. As most votes in the senate are group votes above the line, this usually results in the No 2 candidate on the elected
candidate's group receiving 120 ballot papers with a value of 20.
However, in local government counting, 20 ballot papers are selected at random from the 120 ballot papers, and each of the selected ballot
papers is then passed to the No 2 candidate at a full value of 1 each - with the unselected 100 ballot papers remaining in the elected
candidate's pile thereafter.
In local government elections, there may not be groups or people prefer to vote below the line on the basis of the people they know etc. In
other words preference flows are all over the shop. A random selection of 20 votes in the original count, will almost inevitably result in a
different random selection on a recount. At it's extreme, it is theoretically possible for candidate X to be lucky enough to receive all the
elected candidates No 2 votes on the original count but on a recount receive nil, because candidate Y receives all of the 20 randomly
selected ballot paper's No 2 vote. This difference may cause not only the final numbers in the re-count to be different to the original count,
but a different candidate to be elected.
Certainly if the vote difference between the last two candidates is less than the number of ballot papers distributed as "over quota" during
the original count - the defeated candidate has nothing to lose, particularly if it seems he/she did not fare well in the 'lucky dip', by asking for
a recount.
Whilst the defeated candidate on the original count can ask for a recount - the recount is final. Thus, the original winner cannot ask for a
third count in a " best of 3 match " if he/she loses the recount - presumably because of the way the random selection has panned out.
JUST a thought for those contesting the 2008 council elections and who happen to end up as the first "not elected" candidate.
SOURCES :
ABC News, Two 'missing' votes found in favour of Liberal MP Fran Bailey, 10 December 2007 [ online ]
Mark Davis, Hit for six: Bailey cries foul , Sydney Morning Herald, 11 December 2007 , p. [ online ]
==============================================================================================================
With a re-count sought in the federal seat of McEwen, it brings to mind the issue of recounts in
local government elections in NSW.
Theoretically (unless ballot papers have been placed in a wrong pile) a recount in a federal seat
should result in exactly the same result - with the same numbers.
However, because of the counting system in local government elections in NSW, a local government
recount theoretically will never end in the same numbers, which might mean a different candidate is
elected.
Where there is more than one candidate to be elected in a ballot (ward or council wide) the counting
system used is a modified senate counting system with an element of 'lucky-dip' thrown in.
Once a quota is established, in the pure senate counting system, the 'overflow' votes of a candidate who has received more than a quota
are then distributed.
If the quota is say 100, and a candidate has 120 votes - then 20 votes are distributed to the No 2 on the ballot paper.
In the senate the whole 120 ballot papers are distributed -at a value less than 1. In this case each ballot paper would have a value of
20/120 = 0.1666666. As most votes in the senate are group votes above the line, this usually results in the No 2 candidate on the elected
candidate's group receiving 120 ballot papers with a value of 20.
However, in local government counting, 20 ballot papers are selected at random from the 120 ballot papers, and each of the selected ballot
papers is then passed to the No 2 candidate at a full value of 1 each - with the unselected 100 ballot papers remaining in the elected
candidate's pile thereafter.
In local government elections, there may not be groups or people prefer to vote below the line on the basis of the people they know etc. In
other words preference flows are all over the shop. A random selection of 20 votes in the original count, will almost inevitably result in a
different random selection on a recount. At it's extreme, it is theoretically possible for candidate X to be lucky enough to receive all the
elected candidates No 2 votes on the original count but on a recount receive nil, because candidate Y receives all of the 20 randomly
selected ballot paper's No 2 vote. This difference may cause not only the final numbers in the re-count to be different to the original count,
but a different candidate to be elected.
Certainly if the vote difference between the last two candidates is less than the number of ballot papers distributed as "over quota" during
the original count - the defeated candidate has nothing to lose, particularly if it seems he/she did not fare well in the 'lucky dip', by asking for
a recount.
Whilst the defeated candidate on the original count can ask for a recount - the recount is final. Thus, the original winner cannot ask for a
third count in a " best of 3 match " if he/she loses the recount - presumably because of the way the random selection has panned out.
JUST a thought for those contesting the 2008 council elections and who happen to end up as the first "not elected" candidate.
SOURCES :
ABC News, Two 'missing' votes found in favour of Liberal MP Fran Bailey, 10 December 2007 [ online ]
Mark Davis, Hit for six: Bailey cries foul , Sydney Morning Herald, 11 December 2007 , p. [ online ]
==============================================================================================================
OF DROUGHTS AND FLOODING RAINS
Inverell, in northern NSW is under threat of
flood.waters entering the town from a swollen
McIntyre River.
Falls of up to 100 millimetres in the
catchment area for the river brought a
sudden rise in its level.
A 57-year-old Inverell man was swept away
in his car but managed to climb to safety
only to become stranded by the rising
waters at Elsmore
The Tamworth Rescue Helicopter was used
to rescue him and 3 other men caught by
floodwaters at a nearby farmhouse.
In the township of Inverell water had
lapped the fenceline of the Inverell Caravan
Park and plans were in hand to evacuate
the park if need be.
SOURCES :
ABC News, Flooding sees SES monitoring
rain,11 December 2007 [ online ]
ABC News, Chopper rescues four from
Inverell floods, 11 December 2007 [ online ]
Anna Henderson, Rising waters now a threat,
Northern Daily Leader, 11 December 2007
[ online ]
Ailsa Norman , Widespread deluge , Inverell Times, 11 December 2007 [ online ]
Two rescues at Elsmore , Inverell Times, 11 December 2007 [ online ]
Ailsa Norman . Rescued from Elsmore floodwaters, 14 December, 2007 , [ online ]
Ailsa Norman , No major damage , Inverell Times, 14 December, 2007, [ online
]===========================================================================================================
Inverell, in northern NSW is under threat of
flood.waters entering the town from a swollen
McIntyre River.
Falls of up to 100 millimetres in the
catchment area for the river brought a
sudden rise in its level.
A 57-year-old Inverell man was swept away
in his car but managed to climb to safety
only to become stranded by the rising
waters at Elsmore
The Tamworth Rescue Helicopter was used
to rescue him and 3 other men caught by
floodwaters at a nearby farmhouse.
In the township of Inverell water had
lapped the fenceline of the Inverell Caravan
Park and plans were in hand to evacuate
the park if need be.
SOURCES :
ABC News, Flooding sees SES monitoring
rain,11 December 2007 [ online ]
ABC News, Chopper rescues four from
Inverell floods, 11 December 2007 [ online ]
Anna Henderson, Rising waters now a threat,
Northern Daily Leader, 11 December 2007
[ online ]
Ailsa Norman , Widespread deluge , Inverell Times, 11 December 2007 [ online ]
Two rescues at Elsmore , Inverell Times, 11 December 2007 [ online ]
Ailsa Norman . Rescued from Elsmore floodwaters, 14 December, 2007 , [ online ]
Ailsa Norman , No major damage , Inverell Times, 14 December, 2007, [ online
]===========================================================================================================
IEMMA FIGHTS BACK - MORE FRONT PAGES
Morris has had heaps of front pages over the last few months.
His announcement of the sell-off of NSW electricity assets, presumably
sees his media minders praying for more front-pages, once again
presumably on the basis that it will be 'good' front page news.
The only problem with that is the NSW community has become so
cynical of Iemma's antics and his "deals for mates" , the community
is left wondering - have we been set up ? and what's it really all about ?
The Daily Telegraph has recently generously devoted lots of front
pages to Morris. As luck would have it, the announcement clashed
with news regarding Justice Marcus Einfield, who is the son of a
former NSW Labor MP and Minister for Consumer Affairs, Sid Einfield.
Sid was born at Kings Cross, as was Rev Fred Nile. Sid's
father was a Rabbi. Fred of course took the cloth.
BUT enough of diversions -
The Herald (Newcastle) gave Morris font page coverage. The Hunter,
is the centre of the power generating (coal fired) industry.
SOURCES :
Julieanne Stachan, $25bn power play centres on Hunter, Newcastle
Herald, 11 December 2007 [ online ]
=============================================================================================================
Morris has had heaps of front pages over the last few months.
His announcement of the sell-off of NSW electricity assets, presumably
sees his media minders praying for more front-pages, once again
presumably on the basis that it will be 'good' front page news.
The only problem with that is the NSW community has become so
cynical of Iemma's antics and his "deals for mates" , the community
is left wondering - have we been set up ? and what's it really all about ?
The Daily Telegraph has recently generously devoted lots of front
pages to Morris. As luck would have it, the announcement clashed
with news regarding Justice Marcus Einfield, who is the son of a
former NSW Labor MP and Minister for Consumer Affairs, Sid Einfield.
Sid was born at Kings Cross, as was Rev Fred Nile. Sid's
father was a Rabbi. Fred of course took the cloth.
BUT enough of diversions -
The Herald (Newcastle) gave Morris font page coverage. The Hunter,
is the centre of the power generating (coal fired) industry.
SOURCES :
Julieanne Stachan, $25bn power play centres on Hunter, Newcastle
Herald, 11 December 2007 [ online ]
=============================================================================================================
WHY DID IEMMA WANT BECKHAM IN NSW ???
see : David Beckham shows off Golden-bulge in Armani ad, Daily Telegraph,
11 December, 2007 [ online ]
Other sources :
NSW Legislative Assembly Hansard, Question:David Beckham and LA Galaxy Soccer Club,
29 May 2007 [ online ]
The Daily Telegraph reported. On Thursday, Premier Morris Iemma and major
events supremo John O'Neill launched an all-out rearguard action
against a last-minute attempt by Melbourne to poach the event. The bid appears to have
worked, with the Herald Sun confirming that if Beckham's new team visits Australia later this
year, it will play a match against Sydney FC in Sydney on November27. "This is despite
Victory's far greater drawing power," the paper pointed out.
BRIEFS, Weekend Australian. Canberra, 19 May, 2007. p. 29
NSW Premier Morris Iemma might not be able to bend it like Beckham, but he's prepared
to twist arms to get the soccer superstar to Sydney.
Mr Iemma said he was `aggressively chasing' David Beckham's new team, the Los Angeles
Galaxy, to play a match at the Olympic Stadium in November.
Morris sets site on goal, The Gold Coast Bulletin.19 May, 2007. p. 15
A week ago, Premier Morris Iemma announced that former rugby and soccer administrator
John O'Neill would head a new major events body that would aggressively target Melbourne
fixtures such as the AFL finals and Australian Open tennis. Soon after, the harbour city
announced it had poached Melbourne's Rosemount Fashion Week and just days later it was
boasting it had beaten Melbourne for the right to host David Beckham's LA Galaxy - a deal set
up by O'Neil's former employer at soccer's FFA, billionaire Frank Lowy.
Dan Silkstone, Driving ambition , The Age , 7 July 2007. p. 5
"It would be fulfilling an ambition, to stand there with David Beckham (and) to see him play,"
Mr Iemma said.
ABC News, Iemma chases Beckham's Galaxy, 18 May 2007 [ online ]
THE man they call Goldenballs has left a shine on Australian football that will take a long time
to dull.
With one day left to go, every facet of David Beckham's visit to Australia has been a triumph
and a swell has been created that can give the game a shot in the arm like little before.
Just over two years ago, Telstra Stadium erupted when John Aloisi put Australia through to
the World Cup and while the roar last night wasn't quite as intense, the moment it signified --
David Beckham's swerving, trademark free-kick -- could be as pivotal a moment in the growth
of the game.
Of the 80,295 people who flocked to the stadium, umpteen thousand would have been soccer
virgins, let alone A-League debutantes.
Tom Smithies, They say no man is bigger than the sport ... try telling 80,295 fans who witnessed history, Daily Telegraph. 28
November , 2007. p. 92
Comments :
Making good use of the leftover stuffing from Thanksgiving!
Ten bucks says he has stuffed a sock in there
All those tattoos... ugh!
ARE DAVID BECKHAM's "TALENTS" MORE SPIN THAN SUBSTANCE ???
see : David Beckham shows off Golden-bulge in Armani ad, Daily Telegraph,
11 December, 2007 [ online ]
Other sources :
NSW Legislative Assembly Hansard, Question:David Beckham and LA Galaxy Soccer Club,
29 May 2007 [ online ]
The Daily Telegraph reported. On Thursday, Premier Morris Iemma and major
events supremo John O'Neill launched an all-out rearguard action
against a last-minute attempt by Melbourne to poach the event. The bid appears to have
worked, with the Herald Sun confirming that if Beckham's new team visits Australia later this
year, it will play a match against Sydney FC in Sydney on November27. "This is despite
Victory's far greater drawing power," the paper pointed out.
BRIEFS, Weekend Australian. Canberra, 19 May, 2007. p. 29
NSW Premier Morris Iemma might not be able to bend it like Beckham, but he's prepared
to twist arms to get the soccer superstar to Sydney.
Mr Iemma said he was `aggressively chasing' David Beckham's new team, the Los Angeles
Galaxy, to play a match at the Olympic Stadium in November.
Morris sets site on goal, The Gold Coast Bulletin.19 May, 2007. p. 15
A week ago, Premier Morris Iemma announced that former rugby and soccer administrator
John O'Neill would head a new major events body that would aggressively target Melbourne
fixtures such as the AFL finals and Australian Open tennis. Soon after, the harbour city
announced it had poached Melbourne's Rosemount Fashion Week and just days later it was
boasting it had beaten Melbourne for the right to host David Beckham's LA Galaxy - a deal set
up by O'Neil's former employer at soccer's FFA, billionaire Frank Lowy.
Dan Silkstone, Driving ambition , The Age , 7 July 2007. p. 5
"It would be fulfilling an ambition, to stand there with David Beckham (and) to see him play,"
Mr Iemma said.
ABC News, Iemma chases Beckham's Galaxy, 18 May 2007 [ online ]
THE man they call Goldenballs has left a shine on Australian football that will take a long time
to dull.
With one day left to go, every facet of David Beckham's visit to Australia has been a triumph
and a swell has been created that can give the game a shot in the arm like little before.
Just over two years ago, Telstra Stadium erupted when John Aloisi put Australia through to
the World Cup and while the roar last night wasn't quite as intense, the moment it signified --
David Beckham's swerving, trademark free-kick -- could be as pivotal a moment in the growth
of the game.
Of the 80,295 people who flocked to the stadium, umpteen thousand would have been soccer
virgins, let alone A-League debutantes.
Tom Smithies, They say no man is bigger than the sport ... try telling 80,295 fans who witnessed history, Daily Telegraph. 28
November , 2007. p. 92
Comments :
Making good use of the leftover stuffing from Thanksgiving!
Ten bucks says he has stuffed a sock in there
All those tattoos... ugh!
ARE DAVID BECKHAM's "TALENTS" MORE SPIN THAN SUBSTANCE ???
