| MONTHLY NEWS - December 2007 |
| THIS IS PAGE 9 OF DECEMBER 2007 MONTHLY NEWS - MonNewsDEC9 |
TRANSPARENCY, EQUALITY OF ACCESS AND ETHICAL CONDUCT IN RELATION TO LOBBYING
In his Stateline program of 2 November 2007 - Mates - Quentin Dempster revealed that in 2005 when the ICAC released
it's report into Orange Grove it made a recommendation :
That the New South Wales Government amend the Ministerial Code of Conduct to include guidelines about
lobbying activities. The guidelines should address issues such as transparency, equality of access and ethical
conduct in relation to lobbying.
However, Mr Dempster says he discovered that 2 years later (2007) the Ministerial Code of Conduct has not been amended.
However, "an inter-departmental memo, three pages of bureaucrat-ese was issued in 2006. They contain plenty of wriggle room for ministers
and staff. They only have to ensure that, "as far as possible" competing parties are treated fairly. They only have to "consider" keeping
records of meetings with lobbyists. The ICAC, the guardian of propriety, has endorsed the memo as acceptable reform. "
Which is interesting, given that Robert Oakeshott MP (competing presently for the title of the Ghost of the NSW Legislative Assembly) said
that when he declared "independence" in March 2002 , he was called into Premier Carr's office and informed of 'the new rules' that were to
apply to him as a rural independent. This included easy access to ministers, extended meetings with them etc.
Whether Premier Morris Iemma has continued with Bob Carr's 'new rules' for rural independents after the issuing of the ICAC recommendation
or reduced those rules to writing in the form of a bureacrat-ese memorandum is not known. However, we do know that the rules do not apply
to independents from the Hunter region. During the election campaign in 2007 he said if any independents were elected in the Hunter they
will get nothing. He put his threat into action when the Cabinet met in Newcastle in May 2007. The Premier handed out community awards to
members of the community, but none were awarded to those living in the independent held seat or the Liberal held seat. When queried about
this the Premier explained that community awards were only for people living in Labor held seats. It was unfortunate that good hard-working
members of the community were over-looked. However, it demonstrated what a nasty spiteful piece of work Morris Iemma is deep down.
AND it seems there has been no improvement in the ethical behaviour of Iemma's ministers since the ICAC report in 2005 with one MP
claiming that :
Yes, the arrogance of this Government! There seems to be a new edict that when members of Parliament make representations on
behalf of constituents the Government replies directly to the constituent and sends the member a copy of the reply. That is not
courtesy. Ministers visit areas and do not advise the local member of their proposed visit. That is the arrogance we have come to
know from this Government...... I think it is respected around here that no one tries harder than me to stick to some sort of code of
ethics but when Ministers come to your electorate and write directly back to your constituents bypassing the local member it is not
appreciated.
THE MORE YOU STUDY the activities of the IEMMA government it becomes clear that it is run "by mates for mates".
IT also becomes clear that Morris Iemma exhibits no pretensions of aspiring to the role of a statesman.
SOURCES :
Quentin Dempster, Mates, Stateline , 2 November 2007 [ online ]
Report on investigation into planning decisions relating to the Orange Grove Centre, ICAC (NSW) 11 August 2005 [ online ]
What a difference a day makes, May 2007 News page 19, www.independent-nsw.com [ HERE ]
ABC News, MP upset over Port Stephens 'snub' , ABC Radio, 23 May 2007 [ online ]
That don't impress me much, May 2007 News page 24, www.independent-nsw.com [ HERE ]
NSW Legislative Assembly Hansard, Government Schools (Infrastructure Register) Bill 2007- Speaker Thomas George, 29 November 2007
[ online ]
In his Stateline program of 2 November 2007 - Mates - Quentin Dempster revealed that in 2005 when the ICAC released
it's report into Orange Grove it made a recommendation :
That the New South Wales Government amend the Ministerial Code of Conduct to include guidelines about
lobbying activities. The guidelines should address issues such as transparency, equality of access and ethical
conduct in relation to lobbying.
However, Mr Dempster says he discovered that 2 years later (2007) the Ministerial Code of Conduct has not been amended.
However, "an inter-departmental memo, three pages of bureaucrat-ese was issued in 2006. They contain plenty of wriggle room for ministers
and staff. They only have to ensure that, "as far as possible" competing parties are treated fairly. They only have to "consider" keeping
records of meetings with lobbyists. The ICAC, the guardian of propriety, has endorsed the memo as acceptable reform. "
Which is interesting, given that Robert Oakeshott MP (competing presently for the title of the Ghost of the NSW Legislative Assembly) said
that when he declared "independence" in March 2002 , he was called into Premier Carr's office and informed of 'the new rules' that were to
apply to him as a rural independent. This included easy access to ministers, extended meetings with them etc.
Whether Premier Morris Iemma has continued with Bob Carr's 'new rules' for rural independents after the issuing of the ICAC recommendation
or reduced those rules to writing in the form of a bureacrat-ese memorandum is not known. However, we do know that the rules do not apply
to independents from the Hunter region. During the election campaign in 2007 he said if any independents were elected in the Hunter they
will get nothing. He put his threat into action when the Cabinet met in Newcastle in May 2007. The Premier handed out community awards to
members of the community, but none were awarded to those living in the independent held seat or the Liberal held seat. When queried about
this the Premier explained that community awards were only for people living in Labor held seats. It was unfortunate that good hard-working
members of the community were over-looked. However, it demonstrated what a nasty spiteful piece of work Morris Iemma is deep down.
AND it seems there has been no improvement in the ethical behaviour of Iemma's ministers since the ICAC report in 2005 with one MP
claiming that :
Yes, the arrogance of this Government! There seems to be a new edict that when members of Parliament make representations on
behalf of constituents the Government replies directly to the constituent and sends the member a copy of the reply. That is not
courtesy. Ministers visit areas and do not advise the local member of their proposed visit. That is the arrogance we have come to
know from this Government...... I think it is respected around here that no one tries harder than me to stick to some sort of code of
ethics but when Ministers come to your electorate and write directly back to your constituents bypassing the local member it is not
appreciated.
THE MORE YOU STUDY the activities of the IEMMA government it becomes clear that it is run "by mates for mates".
IT also becomes clear that Morris Iemma exhibits no pretensions of aspiring to the role of a statesman.
SOURCES :
Quentin Dempster, Mates, Stateline , 2 November 2007 [ online ]
Report on investigation into planning decisions relating to the Orange Grove Centre, ICAC (NSW) 11 August 2005 [ online ]
What a difference a day makes, May 2007 News page 19, www.independent-nsw.com [ HERE ]
ABC News, MP upset over Port Stephens 'snub' , ABC Radio, 23 May 2007 [ online ]
That don't impress me much, May 2007 News page 24, www.independent-nsw.com [ HERE ]
NSW Legislative Assembly Hansard, Government Schools (Infrastructure Register) Bill 2007- Speaker Thomas George, 29 November 2007
[ online ]
RUDD NOT FOLLOWING IEMMA MODEL FOR GOVERNANCE
We were of course always hopeful that Kevin Rudd PM would live up to his promises to bring decency to government.
Whilst, hopeful - we were never confident because we were always fearful Mr Rudd would follow the Iemma model
of governance. After all, NSW is (or was once ) the Premier State.
But with the announcement that
IT is clear that Mr Rudd's government style is singularly different to the style of governance in NSW. Everything Mr Rudd has, the NSW
government doesn't have and everything the NSW Iemma government has - Mr Rudd is ensuring he doesn't have.
AND it is for that reason, and the reason that Mr Rudd clearly genuinely believes in decency in government - that unfortunately NSW will now
be stuck with Mike Kaiser - the Premier's Chief of Staff. With a "move" south now clearly blocked - the only way is up for Mr Kaiser. That is up
to the NSW Upper House, where he can parachute in - courtesy of a political hatchet job to be carried out on Tony Kelly, MLC.
SOURCE :
Phillip Coorey, Rudd takes axe to staff and allowances, Sydney Morning Herald, 6 :December, 2007. p. 9 [ online ]
Mike Kaiser - former Independent MP, www.independent-nsw.com { HERE ]
We were of course always hopeful that Kevin Rudd PM would live up to his promises to bring decency to government.
Whilst, hopeful - we were never confident because we were always fearful Mr Rudd would follow the Iemma model
of governance. After all, NSW is (or was once ) the Premier State.
But with the announcement that
- MP printing allowance will be reduced from $150,000 to $100,000 per year
- MP and ministerial staffing levels will be reduced to 1996 levels (a 30% reduction)
- A ministerial code of conduct will be implemented
- Planned spending cuts include abolishing the Government Communications Unit
- A "meat axe" will be taken to a bloated public service
IT is clear that Mr Rudd's government style is singularly different to the style of governance in NSW. Everything Mr Rudd has, the NSW
government doesn't have and everything the NSW Iemma government has - Mr Rudd is ensuring he doesn't have.
AND it is for that reason, and the reason that Mr Rudd clearly genuinely believes in decency in government - that unfortunately NSW will now
be stuck with Mike Kaiser - the Premier's Chief of Staff. With a "move" south now clearly blocked - the only way is up for Mr Kaiser. That is up
to the NSW Upper House, where he can parachute in - courtesy of a political hatchet job to be carried out on Tony Kelly, MLC.
SOURCE :
Phillip Coorey, Rudd takes axe to staff and allowances, Sydney Morning Herald, 6 :December, 2007. p. 9 [ online ]
Mike Kaiser - former Independent MP, www.independent-nsw.com { HERE ]
GOVERNANCE BY SPINMEISTERS, RUMOUR and INNUENDO
Probably the best way of explaining how the Iemma model of governance by spin works is this. A whole team of now
co-ordinated (since their move into the one office space) spinmeisters release and drop "hot information" to the
media chooks.
That then creates a diversion from the main game which is being played out by Morris and his mates. The process is
greatly enchanced by Morris Iemma's ability to avoid answering questions and to play at obfuscation.
Anyway the psychological basis for it is this . Imagine if you are told your outside dunny is going to be knocked down. You would scream blue
murder and want to punish the pr**** who knocked it down. BUt imagine if you are told your house is going to be burnt down. You would
would be even madder - but when only your outside dunny is knocked down - you feel a great sense of relief. You are grateful that you still
have your house.. IF, after the event, you are told you had been 'set-up' - you would probably laugh it off as a joke and continue on your
merry way, grateful and joyous you still have your house (minus outside dunny).
Thats one of the ways of governance set out in the Handbook of Governance by Spin.
HAVING explained, hopefully, therefore the limitations on any stories coming from 'unidentified sources' within the government or it's
supporters - we now set out some amazing stories released into the market place overnight :
1. IEMMA TO STEP DOWN FOR WATKINS IN 18 MONTHS
We have already set out our reasons for discounting this "spin". However, Andrew Clennell claims the departure date was discussed with
Carl Scully in 2006 and the handover to Watkins is conditional on Watkins joining the Right (Terrigals ?) faction. By accepting an invitation to
join the Right and selling out on his principles - Watkins would instantly qualify for membership of the Terrigals.
2. ELECTRICITY SELL OFF - CAUCUS DISCUSSION POSTPONED
The caucus was scheduled to debate the sell-off of NSW electricity assets today , Thursday 6 December 2007 but the debate has been
postponed because Eddie Obeid has failed to shore up the numbers for Premier Iemma.. This sounds difficult to believe - but it seems the
Terrigals may have been caught in a pincer move from the Left and the Trogs ( angered over the treatment of Paul Gibson - with some
justification we might add given the pathetic attempts by Mr iemma to explain away what appears to have been inconsistent and hypocritical
treatments by him of the Gibson case and the Koperberg case).
3. EARLY CHRISTMAS BREAK FOR PARLIAMENT
Certainly all the indications have been there this week that the government intended to cancel the parliamentary sittings next week, with the
government ramming though legislation. Apparently some Ministers have already booked holiday flights, banking on parliament not sitting
next week. Meanwhile, among the peasant class, I might buy a ticket on the 373 bus to Coogee Beach - if it's a sunny day.
SOURCES :
Simon Benson, Iemma stalls power sale - Disloyal MPs derail Premier from $15bn deal, Daily Telegraph, 6:December, 2007. p. 3 [ online ]
Andrew Clennell, The big if: will Premier cut and run? Sydney Morning Herald, 6:December, 2007. p. 1 [ online ]
Simon Benson, Premier to send MPs on holiday - Parliament missing, Daily Telegraph, 6 December, 2007. p. 4 [ online ]
Probably the best way of explaining how the Iemma model of governance by spin works is this. A whole team of now
co-ordinated (since their move into the one office space) spinmeisters release and drop "hot information" to the
media chooks.
That then creates a diversion from the main game which is being played out by Morris and his mates. The process is
greatly enchanced by Morris Iemma's ability to avoid answering questions and to play at obfuscation.
Anyway the psychological basis for it is this . Imagine if you are told your outside dunny is going to be knocked down. You would scream blue
murder and want to punish the pr**** who knocked it down. BUt imagine if you are told your house is going to be burnt down. You would
would be even madder - but when only your outside dunny is knocked down - you feel a great sense of relief. You are grateful that you still
have your house.. IF, after the event, you are told you had been 'set-up' - you would probably laugh it off as a joke and continue on your
merry way, grateful and joyous you still have your house (minus outside dunny).
Thats one of the ways of governance set out in the Handbook of Governance by Spin.
HAVING explained, hopefully, therefore the limitations on any stories coming from 'unidentified sources' within the government or it's
supporters - we now set out some amazing stories released into the market place overnight :
1. IEMMA TO STEP DOWN FOR WATKINS IN 18 MONTHS
We have already set out our reasons for discounting this "spin". However, Andrew Clennell claims the departure date was discussed with
Carl Scully in 2006 and the handover to Watkins is conditional on Watkins joining the Right (Terrigals ?) faction. By accepting an invitation to
join the Right and selling out on his principles - Watkins would instantly qualify for membership of the Terrigals.
2. ELECTRICITY SELL OFF - CAUCUS DISCUSSION POSTPONED
The caucus was scheduled to debate the sell-off of NSW electricity assets today , Thursday 6 December 2007 but the debate has been
postponed because Eddie Obeid has failed to shore up the numbers for Premier Iemma.. This sounds difficult to believe - but it seems the
Terrigals may have been caught in a pincer move from the Left and the Trogs ( angered over the treatment of Paul Gibson - with some
justification we might add given the pathetic attempts by Mr iemma to explain away what appears to have been inconsistent and hypocritical
treatments by him of the Gibson case and the Koperberg case).
3. EARLY CHRISTMAS BREAK FOR PARLIAMENT
Certainly all the indications have been there this week that the government intended to cancel the parliamentary sittings next week, with the
government ramming though legislation. Apparently some Ministers have already booked holiday flights, banking on parliament not sitting
next week. Meanwhile, among the peasant class, I might buy a ticket on the 373 bus to Coogee Beach - if it's a sunny day.
SOURCES :
Simon Benson, Iemma stalls power sale - Disloyal MPs derail Premier from $15bn deal, Daily Telegraph, 6:December, 2007. p. 3 [ online ]
Andrew Clennell, The big if: will Premier cut and run? Sydney Morning Herald, 6:December, 2007. p. 1 [ online ]
Simon Benson, Premier to send MPs on holiday - Parliament missing, Daily Telegraph, 6 December, 2007. p. 4 [ online ]
MURDER MOST VILE
The body of a man was found in a home at Culcairn, about 50 km
north of Albury on 4 December 2007 .
A man presented himself to the Albury Police Station and after assisting
police with their inquiries was charged with the murder of the deceased,
his father.
Police inquiries are continuing.
No motive has been suggested for the killing.
SOURCE :
STABBED TO DEATH : Culcairn Man Charged Over Dad's Murder,
The Border Mail, 5 December 2007 p.1 [ online ]
NEWCASTLE
Dan Proudman, Baby's body dumped,
Newcastle Herald, 5 December 2007
p.1 [ online ]
The body of a man was found in a home at Culcairn, about 50 km
north of Albury on 4 December 2007 .
A man presented himself to the Albury Police Station and after assisting
police with their inquiries was charged with the murder of the deceased,
his father.
Police inquiries are continuing.
No motive has been suggested for the killing.
SOURCE :
STABBED TO DEATH : Culcairn Man Charged Over Dad's Murder,
The Border Mail, 5 December 2007 p.1 [ online ]
NEWCASTLE
Dan Proudman, Baby's body dumped,
Newcastle Herald, 5 December 2007
p.1 [ online ]
EDDIE LOFTUS - SAFE SEAT SYNDROME
Eddie Loftus, the Mayor of Taree and independent candidate in the
2007 NSW state election responded to claims by a community
member that he had enough of Taree's "substandard" roads,
by saying :
“I don’t usually respond to Letters to the Editor But in this case I want
everyone to know the real facts. Because we are in a safe seat,
we have been neglected for over 30 years, and our roads and
bridges have suffered. "
However, as we discovered recently, the federal funding to Local
Government is passed through the NSW Local Government Grants
Commission, an independent body charged with allocating the funds
provided for NSW between the various councils based on a specific
set of funding formulae.
We did not see "safe seat" as being one of the factors to be taken
into account by the LGGC.
As we understand it, the funding provided by the grants allocated by
the LGGC represent up to 60% of some councils total income. The
grants may be spent by councils however they choose.
No conditions are imposed.
In that situation, it seems whether some pot-holes exist in some
roads, is a function of how council has elected to spend the funds
it has received.
For that reason we cannot understand the logic of blaming the lack of
care on "safe seat " - rather than the council deliberately having
chosen to spend the funds it received, away from the potholes and on
other projects.
But maybe it's just another version of the blame game - its not my
fault - it's "others" fault.
After all, Richard Torbay MP (who holds the safest seat in NSW and is described by Mr Loftus as 'my hero') ran on a campaign of 'make the
seat marginal' in 1999 - but since then has never uttered a word about the evil of living in a safe seat or suggested voters make the seat
marginal again.
One can only assume that safe seat syndrome is an outdated and old-fashioned concept that belongs in the previous century.
SOURCE :
Helen Manusu, Attention at Last : Plans to repair two pothole hotspots, Manning River Times, 30 November 2007 [ online ]
Eddie Loftus, the Mayor of Taree and independent candidate in the
2007 NSW state election responded to claims by a community
member that he had enough of Taree's "substandard" roads,
by saying :
“I don’t usually respond to Letters to the Editor But in this case I want
everyone to know the real facts. Because we are in a safe seat,
we have been neglected for over 30 years, and our roads and
bridges have suffered. "
However, as we discovered recently, the federal funding to Local
Government is passed through the NSW Local Government Grants
Commission, an independent body charged with allocating the funds
provided for NSW between the various councils based on a specific
set of funding formulae.
We did not see "safe seat" as being one of the factors to be taken
into account by the LGGC.
As we understand it, the funding provided by the grants allocated by
the LGGC represent up to 60% of some councils total income. The
grants may be spent by councils however they choose.
No conditions are imposed.
In that situation, it seems whether some pot-holes exist in some
roads, is a function of how council has elected to spend the funds
it has received.
For that reason we cannot understand the logic of blaming the lack of
care on "safe seat " - rather than the council deliberately having
chosen to spend the funds it received, away from the potholes and on
other projects.
But maybe it's just another version of the blame game - its not my
fault - it's "others" fault.
After all, Richard Torbay MP (who holds the safest seat in NSW and is described by Mr Loftus as 'my hero') ran on a campaign of 'make the
seat marginal' in 1999 - but since then has never uttered a word about the evil of living in a safe seat or suggested voters make the seat
marginal again.
One can only assume that safe seat syndrome is an outdated and old-fashioned concept that belongs in the previous century.
SOURCE :
Helen Manusu, Attention at Last : Plans to repair two pothole hotspots, Manning River Times, 30 November 2007 [ online ]
NARRABRI BABY DELIVERED "OVER THE PHONE " - Dial an angel
SOURCE :
Faye Wheeler, After nine weeks on the job triple-0 rookie guides
couple through...SPECIAL DELIVERY , Dubbo Daily Liberal,
6 December 2007 p.1 [ online ]
Pictured below :
Dawn Fardell's much loved public telephone box
SOURCE :
Faye Wheeler, After nine weeks on the job triple-0 rookie guides
couple through...SPECIAL DELIVERY , Dubbo Daily Liberal,
6 December 2007 p.1 [ online ]
Pictured below :
Dawn Fardell's much loved public telephone box
Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net