Friday 24 August 2012

Did Gulaptis tell anyone in his electorate about the NSW Parliamentary Inquiry Into The Establishment Of Special Economic Zones?


Between February and April 2012 the Legislative Assembly Committee on Economic Development started and apparently finished a public inquiry looking at ways the NSW Government can contribute to the sustainability and growth of regional economies by stimulating business investment and job creation. With an emphasis on the viability of establishing special economic zones providing state tax and financial incentives to promote economic growth, employment and investment in regional and rural New South Wales.

The NSW Nationals MP for Clarence Chris Gulaptis, whose electorate is experiencing ongoing job losses and economic stress, is on this committee and attends its meetings and was present at its one and only public hearing this year.

The inquiry received thirty-eight submissions and only one was identifiable as coming from the NSW North Coast, but it was also from outside his electorate.

Did this MP even bother to send out a media release or write an opinion piece for a regional newspaper informing local government, chambers of commerce, community organisations and interested residents that they could put a case to this committee for their region receiving special consideration?

Perhaps Mr. Gulaptis might like to explain his apparent lack of action.

Thursday 23 August 2012

Red Rocks 4 Eva!



Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard in this full length video takes all press conference questions regarding the never-ending “sexist and vicious" rumours about her spread on the internet by "misogynist nut jobs" and the factually incorrect and defamatory statements made about her in News Limited’s flagship newspaper and serial offender, The Australian.

Pic from Google Images

What sort of management culture did Richie Williamson & Co import into the Clarence Valley?


The Daily Examiner 12 August 2011:
SCOTT Greensill has been appointed the general manager of the Clarence Valley Council.
Clarence Valley Mayor Richie Williamson yesterday announced the appointment of the father of three and Singleton Council general manager to the council’s top job.
Cr Williamson said the job was one of the most important in the Clarence Valley and welcomed him to the position......

The Daily Examiner 15 December 2011:
CLARENCE Valley Council general manager Scott Greensill said he had nothing to fear from a Supreme Court judgment handed down on Friday in a case involving his former employer, Singleton Council……

Judge Schmidt was critical of Mr Greensill, pointing out he "certainly acted inconsistently" with the council's code of conduct by delegating "all responsibilities" in the Nichols matter to assets manager Gary Thomson yet continuing to still work on the case. Her judgment said she would have had more to say about Mr Greensill, but as he had resigned from the council just prior to the Supreme Court hearing four months ago that requirement had "disappeared"…..

The Singleton Argus 9 March 2012:

A SECRETIVE group of men and women has been overheard regularly in a Singleton café, at times, discussing sensitive Singleton Council affairs.
The gatherings have occasionally included up to five councillors and a former senior council staff member…..
General manager Lindy Hyam was told of the apparently clandestine get-togethers on Monday, several hours before a regular open council meeting was set to consider three anonymous code of conduct complaints against Cr Alison Howlett…….
The allegations arose from 2010 when Cr Howlett sought details from Mr Greensill of the appointment of Henry Wilson as the council’s assistant general manager…..

The Daily Examiner 27 April 2012:

A LEGAL wrangle, which will cost a NSW council more than $1 million and involves Scott Greensill, has no impact on his current position as general manager at Clarence Valley Council.
"What happens at Singleton Council is completely a matter for Singleton Council," CVC Mayor Richie Williamson said yesterday……

The second of two judgments involving Mr Greensill's former employer, Singleton Council, was handed down by the Supreme Court last week…….

Judge Monika Schmidt quashed the report and ordered the council to pay Cr Nichols' legal fees.
"The only reason that it was not necessary to make orders against Mr Greensill was because he left the council's employ," her judgment said…..

The Newcastle Herald 14 August 2012:

The Supreme Court case also revealed that former Singleton general manager Scott Greensill had not disclosed to councillors his involvement in the handling of the complaint against Cr Nichols.
Mr Greensill resigned from the council days before the Supreme Court case.

The Singleton Argus 17 August 2012:
THE state government has thrown out the $1million code of conduct complaint against Singleton deputy mayor Paul Nichols.
There was no evidence to support anonymous allegations that came from a council meeting two years and five months ago…..

Cr Nichols’ barrister, Robert Lovas, told the August court hearing that the person who made the complaint may have been beholden to Mr Greensill and they may have collaborated…..

Looking back with hollow laughter as Bazza's razor gang wields the blade on NSW North Coast communities


As around 150 former Grafton public servants ponder their futures, Clarence Valley voters might recall this....

The Daily Examiner on 15th October 2004
“THE State Opposition yesterday called on the Carr Government to guarantee the jobs of Grafton jail staff.
Opposition justice and emergency services spokesman Andrew Humpherson voiced concern for jail jobs during a visit to the correctional centre with the Nationals Member for Clarence Steve Cansdell.”

The Daily Examiner on 26th December 2006

"PUBLIC sector jobs in regional areas will be safe under NSW Opposition Leader Peter Debnam's plans to trim down the Labor Government's 'bureaucratic empire', says Clarence MP Steve Cansdell.
Mr Cansdell made the promise after hearing Clarence Labor candidate Mark Kingsley's criticisms of the State Opposition's plans to cut thousands of NSW public service jobs."

Wednesday 22 August 2012

The very predictable Andrew Baker tells Clarence Valley something it already knew - he has more hide than Jessie


Clarence Valley local government election candidate, hotelier, real estate agent and land developer, Andrew Baker’s virtuoso performance as he massages voters to accept the proposition that he should be elected to what is the largest single economic unit in the valley, despite the fact that he is a director of not one but two failed local corporations which appear to have gone into receivership owing millions…..

The Daily Examiner on 22nd August 2012: “MACLEAN developer and council candidate Andrew Baker was heartened by the reaction to a difficult announcement he made at the candidates forum on Monday night.
In fact, it has inspired him to stay in the race for council.”

Australians prove that they are sensible souls at heart


The Canberra Times,12 August 2012:

Only 5029 people have joined the federal government's controversial $466 million eHealth system since it was launched on July 1.

That means that despite the misleading advertising, there are at least 18 million other Australians who still recognise the intrusive nature of and digital security flaws in this federal Government attempt to grow a poorly designed national data base of information about them and their families.