Showing posts with label NSW Parliament. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NSW Parliament. Show all posts

Monday 12 May 2014

NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption Operation Spicer - Week 3 witness list profiles


NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption Operation Spicer witness list for Week 3 of investigation hearings:

Nick Di Girolamo - Liberal Party fundraiser, managing partner at Colin Biggers & Paisley until February 2007 after which he joined Australian Water Holdings as CEO and shareholder
Raymond Carter former staffer to former NSW Resources and Energy Minister Chris Hartcher
Darren Webber - former Liberal Party MP for Wyong now sitting on the cross benches as an independent after expulsion from the party
Christopher Spence – former Liberal Party MP for The Entrance now sitting on the cross benches as an independent after expulsion from the party
Timothy Koelma - creator of the ‘slush fund’ corporation, Eightbyfive, and former aide of former NSW Resources and Energy Minister Chris Hartcher
Nathan Tinkler - former Patinack Farm horse stud owner and mining magnate
Christopher Hartcher – former NSW Liberal Party MP for Terrigal and former NSW Resources and Energy now sitting on the cross benches as an independent MP after expulsion from the party

Some of the people on previous Operation Spicer witness lists:

Karen McNamara – Federal Liberal MP for Dobell
Jodi McKay – former Labor MP for Newcastle, former NSW Minister for Tourism
Charles Perrottet – NSW Liberal state executive member, former adviser to then NSW Resources and Energy Minister Chris Hartcher, brother of NSW Minister for Finance & Services Dominic Perrottet and Government Affairs Analyst at BP Australia Pty Ltd
Tenille Koelma – Anconna Resources shareholder and wife of Tim Koelma former aide to then NSW Resources and Energy Minister Chris Hartcher
John Caputo - director of First National Real Estate in Dee Why,former mayor of Warringah, committee member of Prime Minister Abbott's Warringah federal electorate conference and vice-president of NSW Premier Mike Baird's Manly state electoral conference
Hollie Hughes - Liberal Party state executive member
Darren Jameson – former NSW police officer and former Liberal pre-selection candidate in Robertson electorate
Aaron Henry – member of the Liberal Party and former staffer with NSW State Liberal Member for The Entrance Chris Spence
Laurie Alexander – former staffer with NSW State Liberal Member for The Entrance Chris Spence
Zaya Toma – Fairfield City councillor and electorate office manager for State Liberal MP for Smithfield Andrew Rohan
David Sharpe – former co-owner and executive at BuildDev property developer
Troy Palmer - chief executive of Hunter Sports Group, Chief Financial Officer of Patinack and a Buildev Group director
Matthew Lusted – owner of a Wyong building company and a Liberal Party donor
Tim Gunasinghe – President of the Erina Chamber of Commerce
Timothy Trumbull - accountant and Liberal Party donor
Pasquale Sergi – property developer
Angelo Maggiotto –property developer
Iwan Sunito – property developer
Sebastian Reid - nephew of former of NSW Resources and Energy Minister Chris Hartcher
Annette Poole - staff member at legal firm Hartcher Reid
Eric Stammer - General Manager Yeramba Estates property development company
Roy Sergi - Advance Ready Mix Concrete
Peter Hesky - hotelier and property developer
Ekarin Sriwattanaporn - operates IT business Micki-Tech and is partner of Ray Carter former electorate officer for then NSW Resources and Energy Minister Chris Hartcher
Robert Osborne - Liberal Party donor and owner Patonga Beach Hotel
Marie Neader - receptionist at legal firm Hartcher Reid
John Stevens – property developer
Darren Stevens
Darren Williams - development manager at the Buildev Group and a sponsor of the Sydney-based Liberal Party associated entity The Millennium Forum in 2008
Nabil Gazal – Gazcorp director Sydney property developer
Nicholas Gazal – Gazcorp director Sydney property developer
Eric Koelma – brother to Tim Koelma creator of the ‘slush fund’ corporation, Eightbyfive
Grahame Young - CEO of Tesrol property group
Gary Bonaccorso – Sydney property developer
Doug Sneddon - planning consultant
Anthony Bandle – trustee of Liberal and National Parties’ Canberra-based associated entity Free Enterprise Foundation 
John Abel – NSW Liberal Party member and factional identity within the party
Tony Merhi - property developer and alleged Liberal Party donor
Marie Ficarra - Member of the NSW Legislative Council and, a former parliamentary secretary until 17 April 2014
Peter McConnell - former chief of staff to former NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell

Friday 9 May 2014

In light of matters the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption is uncovering, perhaps Warringah Club activities need to be revisited


In light of the fact that the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) is currently investigating allegations that in the years leading up to the 2011 state election senior Liberal Party fundraisers were hiding prohibited donations (using associated entities and at least one corporation set up as a slush fund) with the co-operation of certain Liberal state and federal politicians; it may be time to look at the extraordinary conclusion drawn by the NSW Election Funding Authority in 2010 – that the Warringah Club aka The Sydney Small Business Club and the NSW Liberal Party were unaware of their legal disclosure obligations.

The Sydney Morning Herald 5 November 2010:

THE political fund-raising arm of the federal Opposition Leader, Tony Abbott, has been found to have breached electoral laws, while one of his principal donors has also failed to make required disclosures, according to documents lodged with the NSW Election Funding Authority.
After a five-month investigation, the authority found that the Warringah Club, which raises money for Mr Abbott's campaigns in his seat of Warringah, had broken the law by not disclosing the sources of its donations.
''The club failed to lodge a declaration [as required] and the matter is to be further investigated to determine whether to pursue prosecution,'' the authority's funding and disclosures director, Brian DeCelis, wrote to the NSW Greens, which raised an official complaint about the Warringah Club in May.
But Mr DeCelis also found that the club and the NSW Liberal Party, which lodged false declarations relating to the club, ''did not understand their disclosure obligations'' and therefore would not be prosecuted for knowingly making a false statement.
During the investigation, the Warringah Club submitted an amended list of donors showing it had given $93,000 to Mr Abbott's Warringah Federal Electoral Council in 2004 and 2007, and $10,000 to the NSW Liberal Party in 2007.
Donors to the Warringah Club include the property developers and long-term backers of Mr Abbott, John and Stanley Roth, who gave $10,440 in November 2008 and $2300 to the Warringah Club in 2009.
However, in a letter on May 19, to the NSW Planning Department in support of its planned residential and retail development on the site of Kirrawee Brickworks, the Roth family company Henroth Investments listed no political donations in 2008.
It disclosed $36,500 in donations made in 2009-10 to organisations including the Warringah Club, but applications under Part 3A of the NSW Planning Act require the declaration of donations made up to two years prior. Nor did the Liberal Party of NSW disclose the receipt of the Henroth donations in its 2008 declaration…..

The Sydney Small Business Club (The Warringah Club) – an associated entity of the NSW Liberal Party and Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s support group – is hardly new to either state or federal financial disclosure systems as it has been submitting associated entity returns in New South Wales since at least 2000-01 and in some years the amounts disclosed are substantial.

By way of example:

In 2012-13 The Sydney Small Business Club reported $14,000 received and payments of $5,644.00
In 2011-12 the Club disclosed it received $29,230.00 and made payments of $42,358.00 and in 2010-11 declared $116,234 received and made payments of $157,187.
In 2009-10 the Club declared $43,800.00 in receipts and $14,935.00 in payments and in 2008-09 it reported $29,050.00 received and $11,115.00 paid out.

In 2010-11 the Liberal Party of Australia (NSW Division) disclosed to the Australian Electoral Commission that it had received a $50,000 donation from The Warringah Club, a donation amount which was repeated in 2011-12.


The Liberal Party of NSW last month declared a four-year-old donation of $25,000 from the Warringah Club, a fundraising entity associated with Prime Minister Tony Abbott, as well as amending its most recent returns to declare more than $100,000 in political donations including in-kind support to Joe Hockey’s Federal Electoral Committee.
The amended returns were received by the Australian Electoral Commission on April 5, 2014, as the Independent Commission Against Corruption was preparing to begin public hearings into political donations channelled to a company associated with a staff member in the office of Terrigal MP Chris Hartcher, uncovered during Operation Spicer. It is not clear what prompted the additional disclosures....

Monday 5 May 2014

NSW ICAC Operation Spicer Week Two - running sheet and witness list outline


To date one NSW Premier has resigned, one NSW minister has resigned and been suspended from the Liberal Party, one NSW Minister has resigned, one NSW Liberal MLC has resigned from a parliamentary position and stood aside, two NSW MPs been suspended from the Liberal Party and one Liberal federal senator has stood aside, as a result of the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) Operation Credo and Operation Spicer investigations.

They are:

Barry O’Farrell - MP for Kur-ing-gai, former NSW Premier & Minister for Western Sydney until his resignation on 17 April 2014
Chris Hartcher - NSW MP for Terrigal, Minister for Resources and Energy, Minister for the Central Coast & Special Minister of State until 9 December 2013 and now suspended from the Liberal Party of Australia (NSW)
Mike Gallacher – NSW MLC and, NSW Minister for Police and Emergency Services until his resignation on 2 May 2014
Marie Ficarra - Member of the NSW Legislative Council and, a former parliamentary secretary until 17 April 2014
Darren Webber – MP for Wyong now suspended from the Liberal Party of Australia (NSW)
Christopher Spence – MP for The Entrance now suspended from the Liberal Party of Australia (NSW)
Arthur Sinodinis - Federal Senator for NSW and Assistant Treasurer in the Abbott Government (not fulfilling assistant treasurer duties for the duration of the investigations)

Operation Spicer enters its second week today.

Operation Spicer is an investigation into:…whether, between April 2009 and April 2012, certain members of parliament including Christopher Hartcher, Darren Webber and Christopher Spence, along with others including Timothy Koelma and Raymond Carter, corruptly solicited, received, and concealed payments from various sources in return for certain members of parliament favouring the interests of those responsible for the payments.
The Commission is also examining whether, between December 2010 and November 2011, certain members of parliament, including those mentioned above, and others, including Raymond Carter, solicited, received and failed to disclose political donations from companies, including prohibited donors, contrary to the Election Funding, Expenditure and Disclosures Act 1981.
Further allegations include whether Eightbyfive, a business operated by Mr Koelma entered into agreements with each of a series of entities including Australian Water Holdings Pty Ltd (AWH), whereby each entity made regular payments to Eightbyfive, purportedly for the provision of media, public relations and other services and advice, in return for which Mr Hartcher favoured the interests of the respective entity.
The ICAC is also investigating the circumstances in which false allegations of corruption were made against senior SWC executives….

NSW ICAC Operation Spicer Witness List For Week Two:

Darren Williams - development manager at the Buildev Group and a sponsor of the Sydney-based Liberal Party associated entity The Millennium Forum in 2008
Troy Palmer - chief executive of Hunter Sports Group, Chief Financial Officer of Patinack and a Buildev Group director
David Sharpe - one of the co-owners of Buildev
Nabil Gazal – Gazcorp director Sydney property developer
Nicholas Gazal – Gazcorp director Sydney property developer
Eric Koelma – brother to Tim Koelma creator of the ‘slush fund’ corporation, Eightbyfive
Grahame Young - CEO of Tesrol property group
Gary Bonaccorso – Sydney property developer
Doug Sneddon - planning consultant
Anthony Bandle – trustee of Liberal and National Parties’ Canberra-based associated entity Free Enterprise Foundation 
John Abel – NSW Liberal Party member and factional identity within the party
Tony Merhi - property developer and alleged Liberal Party donor
Marie FicarraMember of the NSW Legislative Council and, a former parliamentary secretary until 17 April 2014
Peter McConnell - former chief of staff to former NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell
Nick Di Girolamo - Liberal Party fundraiser, managing partner at Colin Biggers & Paisley until February 2007 after which he joined Australian Water Holdings as CEO and shareholder


Removed from Week Two List:

Paul Nicolaou - principal fundraiser for the New South Wales Liberal Party and former chairman of the fundraising associated entity Millennium Forum
Arthur Sinodinos – Federal Liberal Party Senator for New South Wales and Assistant Treasurer (not performing the duties of an assistant treasurer for the duration of the investigations)
Mark Neeham - former State Director of the New South Wales Liberal Party
Simon McInnes - Finance Director of the New South Wales Liberal Party

Thursday 17 May 2012

Examples of NSW legislators' very own handiwork are cause for concern


If the 2011-2012 Register of Disclosures by Members of the NSW Legislative Assembly, which was tabled in the chamber recently, is anything to go by then there's enough evidence to say that some of those so-called honourable persons should be sitting a NAPLAN-style test of their own to examine their capacity to perform basic literary and numeracy tasks, and thus satisfactorily perform their roles as representatives of their constituents.

Honestly, some of them are struggling to attain primary school levels of attainment.

Take a look at these examples:


That, believe it or not, is the work of a Minister. Phew!
Comment: Pathetic! The Minister has a Masters Degree. Perhaps a ghost writer helped with the Minister's thesis.


That one was submitted by a first term MP who resides on the Government benches in the chamber.
Comment: Must do a lot better. Pay attention in class and complete all set homework.


That, too, is the the work of a Government MP.
Comment: Sympathies are extended to ratepayers in the MP's local government area.

Several MPs have difficulties with their principals and principles (see below).



Those MPs aren't half smart. The effort of another MP has shown them up well and truly - if in doubt, use short-cut method #1.

Or, to throw readers off the trail completely, do something completely different and use method #2.




Okay, so who did what?

The samples have been taken from the disclosures by:

1. The Hon. Donald Loftus PAGE, BEc, MEc, DipRurAcctg MP
The Hon. Donald Loftus PAGE,  BEc, MEc, DipRurAcctg MP Member for Ballina
Minister for Local Government, and Minister for the North Coast
Member of the The Nationals



2. Mr (Chris) Christopher Stewart PATTERSON, MP
Mr (Chris) Christopher Stewart PATTERSON,  MP Member for Camden
Member of the Liberal Party

3. Mr (John) Giovanni Domenic BARILARO, MP
Mr (John) Giovanni Domenic BARILARO,  MP Member for Monaro
Acting Speaker
Member of the The Nationals

4. The Hon. Linda Jean BURNEY, HonDEd, DipEd MP
The Hon. Linda Jean BURNEY,  HonDEd, DipEd MP Member for Canterbury
Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Shadow Minister for Planning Infrastructure and Heritage, Shadow Minister for Sport and Recreation, Shadow Minister for the Hunter, and Shadow Minister for the Central Coast
Member of the Australian Labor Party

5. Again, the work of Mr Barilaro who is, quite obviously, a serial offender.

6. Ms Tania MIHAILUK, BEc, LLB MP
Ms Tania MIHAILUK,  BEc, LLB MP Member for Bankstown
Shadow Minister for Fair Trading, Shadow Minister for Healthy Lifestyles, and Shadow Minister for Volunteering and Youth
Member of the Australian Labor Party



7. And, who were the smarties?

#1. Mr John ROBERTSON, MP
Mr John ROBERTSON,  MP Member for Blacktown
Leader of the Opposition, Shadow Minister for Western Sydney, and Shadow Minister for the Illawarra
Member of the Australian Labor Party
#2. Ms Clover MOORE, MP
Ms Clover MOORE,  MP Member for Sydney
Independent



Sources:

2. MPs' profiles shown on the NSW Parliament website

Monday 16 April 2012

'Troll' Phelps crying wolf on Twitter


The Hon. Dr Peter Phelps MLC tweeting on 5th April:
Peter Phelps @PeterPhelpsMLC
Yesterday, NSW Labor refused leave to allow me to move my motion on Free Speech in Australia (Motion No.599) #theipa http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/lc/lcpaper.nsf/0/D16FDBEB3231CD8BCA2579D5004ACF67/$file/Notice%20Paper%2076%20-%204%20April%202012.pdf
@BULMKT They can 'deny leave' for me to proceed, unless motion is set for debate. It would have been quick and easy, but they hate freedom.

Such a hard done by MLC – on that particular day he only got to rise to his feet for two of the four motions he had listed.
But what about the principle of free speech and the Opposition's supposed hatred of freedom? Well, this is where it gets interesting.
The February 2012 ANZACATT Bulletin tells us that; "On 12 October 2011, on a motion of the Leader of the Government, the House referred terms of reference to the Privileges Committee to inquire into and report on whether the conduct of Mr Shoebridge in relation to this matter constituted an abuse of privilege, namely the privilege of freedom of speech…..In its report, the Privileges Committee noted that the House has not identified and adopted appropriate principles to be applied in relation to the exercise of members' freedom of speech. In those circumstances, the Committee concluded that 'any finding of abuse of privilege under present circumstances could be perceived as an unwarranted restriction on members' freedom of speech'. The Committee was guided by this precedent in considering the statements made by Mr Shoebridge. In its report of November 2011, the Committee found that given the paramount importance of preserving the privilege of freedom of speech of members, and noting that the House has not adopted guidelines on what constitutes abuse of the privilege of freedom of speech, it would be unreasonable to adjudge Mr Shoebridge guilty of an abuse of the privilege of freedom of speech."
Now, Phelps took part in debating the 12th October motion by way of points of order and unless he had ducked out for a pee just as the question was put he formed part of this – as did other Coalition MLCs and presumably all their Labor counterparts:
"Question—That the motion be agreed to—put and resolved in the affirmative.
Motion agreed to.
So it's a bit rich for him to be claiming to champion free speech, when he took part in what seems to be only the fourth attempt by the Legislative Council to compel a member into silence by way of formal sanction since 1989.

# For those interested in procedural minutiae, Phelps motion is recorded as "Notice given 11 October 2011—expires Notice Paper No. 64" on 23rd February 2012 and as "Notice given 27 March 2012—expires Notice Paper No. 91" on 4th April 2012.
Hansard Running Record displays "Obj. taken, item not considered as formal business" on 4th April.

# Thanks to Clarencegirl for finding a pdf of the ANZACATT Bulletin for me.

Saturday 31 March 2012

Scoop: Local MP plans to appear in avatar format


At yesterday arvo's meeting of The Table of Knowledge at the local watering hole Tom, who claims to know everything and anything about politics, had his wife's sister's young fella (truly, that's how Tom refers to the strapping young man, not simply his nephew) along as a guest.

When the agenda moved to consider the absence of our local charmer, oops that should be member, Chris Gulaptis's smiling dial on the parliament's website the young visitor remarked, "Reckon he's probably put it out for tender."

"What do you mean?" enquired Tom.

"Oh, sorry, Uncle Tom, but I thought from the way you and Aunty spoke about your local MP at home you reckon he's the ants' pants, a sorta 2012 SNAG (sensitive new age guy) type of bloke.

"And, that being the case, he wouldn't want something as ordinary as a mug shot on the website. Nah, he's probably waiting quietly till his designer has finished his avatar."

Well, readers, remember you read that scoop here.

Hmmm, we're wondering what Chris's designer will come up with. Any suggestions?

Saturday 10 March 2012

A little NSW North Coast National Party history



It seems that the former Member for Clarence Steve Cansdell is not the only NSW North Coast National Party MP who fell afoul of the rules and lost his seat.
Here is mention of the former NSW Minister for Administrative Services and former member for Coffs Harbour, Matt Singleton, who was previously the Member for Clarence from February 1971 to August 1981.

That makes two out of the last four Nationals MPs representing Clarence coming to a sticky political end.


Mr CARR: …… But I have done the National Party a great disservice, because the coalition had barely been elected to government and ICAC had not even begun its work on the north coast land deals when Matt Singleton was sacked overnight by Greiner. Matt Singleton had a great deal going. He was busily promoting to his Minister the rezoning of a nice little territory in his electorate. But he forgot to declare that he owned the property - a pretty big thing to overlook…


Dr REFSHAUGE: …… The most grave of these omissions was that of the former Minister, Matt Singleton, whose failure to declare shareholdings in finance and property development companies was brought to light. The Deputy Premier also had failed to declare shareholdings in Matt Singleton's company, STR Finance. Mr Singleton not only failed to include shareholdings in a declaration to the Parliament; he completely ignored the former Premier's demand for a separate pecuniary interest file exclusive to him. Mr Singleton's indiscretion did not end there. He was found to be lobbying a ministerial colleague to have land rezoned for development. If the rezoning had occurred, Mr Singleton would have benefited substantially. It took Opposition pressure to have this disgraced Minister forced from office. This is the cleanskin Government. Matt Singleton, within a year of the Government coming to office, was forced to resign because he lacked the probity and the propriety to perform his ministerial responsibilities appropriately.

Wednesday 7 March 2012

Despite numerous admissions of guilt Cansdell remains the Teflon Kid


The following article makes one wonder why former Nationals Clarence MP Steve Cansdell was not charged by the NSW Director of Public Prosecutions - when he has uttered numerous independent admissions of guilt to NSW Police and print, radio, television media, that he had made a false statement to a NSW Government agency to avoid losing his driving license.

A strong smell of buck passing appears to float in the air.

Channel 9 News 7 March 2012:

The NSW Director of Public Prosecutions does not expect to press charges against disgraced former Nationals MP Steve Cansdell, who quit parliament after admitting to signing a false statutory declaration.

Mr Cansdell resigned as the member for Clarence on the NSW north coast last September, over the statutory declaration signed in 2005 to avoid a speeding fine and loss of licence.

A camera had caught Mr Cansdell speeding on the Pacific Highway near Woodburn - however the false declaration laid blame for the offence on an unnamed third party.

In a brief statement to parliament, NSW Attorney-General Greg Smith announced Mr Cansdell would not be charged.

"The office of the NSW DPP has advised my that Mr Cansdell signed a Commonwealth Statutory Declaration, and therefore it is not expected any state charge will be brought," Mr Smith said during question time on Wednesday.

Brief background:

http://northcoastvoices.blogspot.com.au/2012/01/nsw-police-steve-cansdell-and-those.html
http://northcoastvoices.blogspot.com.au/2012/01/are-nationals-are-creating-bizarre-and.html
http://northcoastvoices.blogspot.com.au/2011/10/are-boys-in-blue-dragging-their-feet-in.html
http://northcoastvoices.blogspot.com.au/2011/09/whistleblower-named-and-collateral.html
http://northcoastvoices.blogspot.com.au/2011/10/same-old-same-old-from-nsw-north-coast.html
http://northcoastvoices.blogspot.com.au/2011/09/severe-weather-alert-sht-storm-about-to.html
http://northcoastvoices.blogspot.com.au/2011/09/did-clarence-mp-steve-cansdell-do.html

UPDATE:

Later in the day NSW Police said they would hand over the brief of evidence to the commonwealth DPP on Thursday, "after receiving internal legal advice".
Opposition police spokesman Nathan Rees said the failure to charge Mr Cansdell over the false declaration was "a cover-up, inside 12 months of government, and it stinks".
"This man, a former member of the government, conceded that he had broken the law," Mr Rees said.
"More than six months later, not a charge laid."
Mr Rees said the opposition had legal advice that Mr Cansdell could still be charged under state law, despite his declaration being a commonwealth one.
"The actual breaches are of state law," he said.
"Trying to flick it onto the commonwealth is simply not on." [Channel 9 News 7 March 2012]

Wednesday 29 February 2012

More from the Cansdell-Gulaptis Roadshow


Cartoonist Jules Faber joins in electorate-wide laughter in the 29.02.12 issue of The Daily Examiner.

While Nationals MP for Clarence Chris Gulaptis also tries for a humorous response to his politically co-joined twin status being accidentally recognised in Hansard:

"It's a bit of a dent to the ego, actually," Mr Gulaptis said yesterday.
"Steve's copped a couple of knocks to the head and had a few other bumps and bruises along the way.
"I thought they might have noticed the difference.
"It seems like it might be a bit like the Australian cricket team a few years ago - once you get in you'll never get out."

NSW Parliament 2012: The Ghost Who Votes


When political tragics in the NSW state electorate of Clarence started to call the new member of parliament ‘Steve’ Gulaptis MP (because there appeared to be less than a finger width difference between disgraced former Nationals MP Steve Cansdell and his replacement Nationals MP Chris Gulaptis) it was a bit of an ‘in’ joke which grew organically on Google.

However, the joke seems to be on the O’Farrell Government for the identity confusion has spread farther than expected.

Although Cansdell resigned in September 2011 and, is awaiting the outcome of a police investigation into his own actions, he is still voting in the NSW Legislative Assembly in 2012 according to Hansard in proof edition on 22 & 23 February.

I understand that now the joke is very public there is a bit of a scramble to correct the record to show that it was actually parliamentary novice Gulaptis who was voting. However, these snapshots preserve The Ghost Who Votes for posterity.

Friday 27 January 2012

NSW Police, Steve Cansdell and those intriguing "technical legal issues"


The Daily Examiner 25 January 2012:

It is over four months since disgraced former Nationals MP Steve Cansdell admitted breaking the law in order to have a “clean slate” in the lead up to the 2006 state election; the Clarence by-election is over and the new Nationals MP for Clarence Chris Gulaptis is safely sworn-in.

Now NSW Police raise the possibility of "technical legal issues" further delaying the day Cansdell faces court.

A term which perhaps hints at overlapping jurisdictions because of a complaint/s to the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption concerning Steve Cansdell's time in Parliament.

One has to hope that these technical legal issues are genuinely the delaying impediment that has been implied, or NSW Police will lose all credibility and be seen as mere puppets of an O’Farrell Government determined to bury Cansdell's actions under a mountain of spin until time past sees the matter fade from memory.

Saturday 26 November 2011

Clarence MP Christopher Gulaptis's first day on the job


Extracts from Hansard, NSW Legislative Assembly, Friday 25 November 2011

ELECTORATE DISTRICT OF CLARENCE
Election of Christopher Gulaptis

The SPEAKER: I inform the House that my writ issued on 28 October 2011 in accordance with section 70 of the Parliamentary Electorates and Elections Act 1912 for the election of a member to serve in the Legislative Assembly for the electoral district of Clarence in place of Steven Rhett Cansdell, resigned, has been returned with a certificate endorsed by the Electoral Commissioner advising of the election of Christopher Gulaptis to serve as the member for the electoral district of Clarence.

PLEDGE OF LOYALTY

Mr Christopher Gulaptis took and subscribed the pledge of loyalty and signed the roll.
 >
>
>
QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

 Mr CHRISTOPHER GULAPTIS: My question is addressed to the Deputy Premier. ...  How has the Government delivered for regional New South Wales this year, and related matters?

 Mr ANDREW STONER: That is ... a very good question—the first of many—from the new member for Clarence. Welcome to New South Wales Parliament.
 >
>
>

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
STATE AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
Membership

Mr BRAD HAZZARD (Wakehurst—Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, and Minister Assisting the Premier on Infrastructure NSW) [3.19 p.m.]: I move:
    That: (1) Christopher Gulaptis be appointed to serve on the Legislative Assembly Committee on Economic Development in place of Andrew Robert Gee, discharged.
Question—That the motion be agreed to—put and resolved in the affirmative.

Motion agreed to.
 

Monday 21 November 2011

NSW Police fight to keep mug shots of persons found not guilty by courts and succeed



NSW Police has given us more reason not to fall foul of the law – it intends to keep all those physical and digital copies of mug shots even after people are found not guilty by the courts.
The reason why police get to keep these records forever? Well the NSW Administrative Decisions Tribunal tells us it's because those lawmakers in Macquarie Street forgot to consider mug shots and surveillance photos when framing LEPRA.
The Tribunal also says;NSW Police Force is not required to comply with the information protection principles when taking photographs of a person in lawful custody under s 133 of the LEPRA”
LEPRA allows for the destruction of finger and palm prints, but this legislative oversight leaves the way wide open for police to indulge in some petty revenge by keeping people in the database who have no criminal record.
Now I had a wee hunt back in time and discovered that LEPRA was enthusiastically embraced in 2006 by none other than the present NSW Police Minister who said in Parliament that “We want to re-empower police in relation to arrest and research with what is known as LEPRA—the Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Act.”
So the O’Farrell Government can’t just blame NSW Labor for the current stupidity.
Here’s one recent example of a person having prints destroyed but photos retained by police.

Wednesday 2 March 2011

Some MPs shouldn't tweet without a pocket dictionary handy


At least the NSW Member for Clarence spells his own name correctly on his Twitter account which displays less than ninety tweets sent since September 2009:



Premier Paris Hilton is making her altar ego look intelligent,,,,,& boring #fb
4:39 PM May 13th, 2010 via OpenBeak

Altar ego?

Premier Paris Hilton is starring in a remake of a classic all time great movie as capton of the "TITANIC" #fb
5:01 PM May 12th, 2010 via web

Capton?

C'mon Paris, I know ur reading this. Show some real compassion & contact the Zanuso family & give them some digree of closure #fb
Tuesday, 18 May 2010 4:08:10 PM via OpenBeak

Digree?

And a few more......

birth cirtificate
thankU cirtificates
bi-election in penrith
There aim is
THE Opeta House


Meanwhile, a Cansdell former staffer gets the twittervese spelling correct but the sentiment very wrong as he embarrasses this Nationals MP.

Friday 28 January 2011

Williamson fights against an obvious political reality?


In a March 2011 NSW state election widely expected to give the Liberal-Nationals Coalition a landslide victory, Clarence Valley Mayor Richie Williamson is standing as an Independent.

In The Daily Examiner on 26 January 2011:

INDEPENDENT candidate for Clarence Richie Williamson has dismissed claims that if elected he would not achieve results for the electorate under a Coalition government predicted to win the March state election in a landslide.

Mr Williamson said being an independent he would not have to toe any party line and would fight for the people of Clarence.

“I am totally confident that if elected as an independent in the next government I would be able to get results for the people of Clarence ... I will be able to work with either party,” he said.

I rather suspect that Mr. Williamson is being encouraged to focus his energy and spend his money on this bid for the seat of Clarence by none other than certain elements within the Australian Labor Party, who see the possibility of independents winning seats as a form of moral spoiler on the almost inevitable Opposition victory.

Sadly, if Mr. Williamson should win he would be as politically impotent on the cross benches as the current sitting member has been on the opposition benches and Clarence will continue to be ignored by Macquarie Street for another four years. If at the same time he attempted to retain his position as a shire councillor he would also potentially become a political danger to the aims and aspirations of local government in the area.

The best hope for Clarence voters is if they run the ballot count so close to the wire that a narrowly re-elected Cansdell is thought by the Coalition to need buttressing by state funding largesse to keep the seat out of the hands of either Independents or Labor in 2015.

Tuesday 17 November 2009

Rees and NSW Labor Party pledge to forego political contributions from developers, but will the Opposition agree?

The Daily Telegraph on 15th November 2009:
"Developers are the biggest donors to NSW political parties, feeding suspicions that public policy-making could be bought. In the lead-up to the 2007 election, developers donated $8.2 million to the ALP and $4.4 million to the Liberal Party.
Mr Rees said it was time to end the perception that politicians were hostage to developers' interests.
"From today, the NSW Labor Party will ban donations from developers,'' he said.
"It will cover all members of NSW Parliament, all local councillors and all party units and organisations.
"Delegates, the reason for all these measures is simple _ it's time for a fresh start.
"One way or another, the next State election will be conducted under a public funding model.
"The era of big donations is over.''

But will the Libs, Nats and right-wing minor parties block this move in the NSW Parliament?
Will they keep their options open to yell "Corruption!" during the election campaign?

Thursday 5 November 2009

NSW Hansard and a case of 'but, butt, but, butt, but'!


Sometimes I wonder how those hardy souls sitting patiently in the NSW Parliament recording for Hansard can actually bear the job, with exchanges like this often being the order of the day:

Mr MATT BROWN (Kiama) [3.53 p.m.], in reply: I acknowledge all those members who made a contribution to the debate, particularly the positive words spoken by my parliamentary colleagues the member for South Coast, Shelley Hancock, and the member for Shellharbour, Lylea McMahon. I was very pleased that the member for South Coast gave the road between Dunmore and Oak Flats, which is the matter we are discussing today, a big tick. The member for Bega asked why I did not acknowledge the Federal money in the project. I want to make it very clear that not one cent of Federal money has gone into the Dunmore to Oak Flats section of the road. They were his words. I do not think the member for Bega understands how this funding works. I agree with the member for South Coast, who said that she would be happy to see that southbound lane opened. I certainly will be because it is still creating a little traffic congestion. However, motorists can see that things are moving ahead extremely well. The member for South Coast then put her big "but" in the debate.
Mrs Shelley Hancock: Point of order: I ask the member to withdraw that remark. It is highly offensive. It is not that big!
Mr MATT BROWN: To the point of order: The member was going along positively and then she said "but".
Mrs Shelley Hancock: I ask the member to withdraw that comment.
Mr MATT BROWN: I am not withdrawing because it is a part of my argument. I did not mean any offence but after a big "but" the debate became negative.
Mrs Shelley Hancock: Madam Deputy-Speaker, I ask you to rule on the point of order I have raised. I take offence at that comment.
Mr MATT BROWN: It is a one "t" but.
The DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Order! The member for Kiama has indicated he is not prepared to withdraw the word "but".
Mr Andrew Constance: Point of order—
The DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Order! I hope the member for Bega rises on a valid point of order.
Mr Andrew Constance: Madam Deputy-Speaker, based on your facial expressions you knew full well what the member for Kiama meant in that remark. Therefore, I ask you to direct the member for Kiama to withdraw that sexist remark.
Mr MATT BROWN: You are wasting time. If I offended the member for South Coast I apologise. It was not my intention. I was referring to the member for South Coast saying "but".
The DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Order! The member for Kiama has indicated that he was referring to the word "but". The member has the call.

NSW Parliament Legislative Assembly 27th October 2009 Hansard transcript