When NSW Deputy Premier Andrew Stoner "(@AndrewStoner) replied to one of your Tweets!"

Sometimes a minor classic in political stupidity reveals itself. This is NSW Deputy Premier and National Party Leader Andrew Stoner giving his head for a Streisand Effect-style washing on social media:

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Andrew Stoner (via Twitter) <notify@twitter.com>
Date: 17 June 2014 08:48
Subject: Andrew Stoner (@AndrewStoner) replied to one of your Tweets!
To: Jenna Cairney <jenna.cairney@fairfaxmedia.com.au>

@JennaCairney1 great piece of journalism, take 1 comment completely out of context to sensationalise it & rev up anti gas protestors #agenda - @AndrewStoner

Jenna Cairney, Andrew Stoner replied to your Tweet!   Jenna Cairney @JennaCairney1 "It broke my heart that some of those professional bludgers thought they had a win." @AndrewStoner on some of the protesters at Bentley - 13 Jun Andrew Stoner @AndrewStoner @JennaCairney1 great piece of journalism, take 1 comment completely out of context to sensationalise it & rev up anti gas protestors #agenda 16 Jun 2014 22:48 Reply to @AndrewStoner Retweet Favorite

One interesting twist in this Twitter email is that it reveals the fact that the foolish Andrew Stoner regards tweeting his comments (made at a National Party conference attended as a member of the press by Ms. Cairney) as evidence of the grave sin of journalism.

Stoner remains resolutely silent on two other quotes concerning protesters at the Metgasco Limited drilling site at Bentley in north-east New South Wales:

It should also be noted for the record that the 16 June The Land article, which also quoted the Deputy Premier, was actually written by Mike Foley. I wonder what sort of email he received from the obviously irate politician?

NSW local government elections: there's to be no party politics, unless ...

A correspondent writing in The Coffs Advocate (Wednesday, 1 August) has caught the local member Andrew Fraser with his pants down.

It seems Fraser doesn't want candidates in the September council elections to have any political affiliatiions. If that's to be the case, Fraser should have added a retrospective factor to his comments and called for a number of his parliamentary coalition mates to be shown the door. Chris Gulaptis, the local member for Clarence who is still on trainer wheels would have to go. Hey, that idea has some merit! Plus, Steve Cansdell would never have got a guernsey in the chamber. Oh, by the way, what's happening on the Scansdellsgate scene? Have federal authorities finally got their act together? Are they going to throw the book at Cansdell? Or, has that matter vapourised into thin air?

Here's John Vernon's letter in yesterday's Advocate.

Coffs Harbour MP Andrew Fraser said people interested in running for local government should not have political affiliations - "Coffs MP wants 'independent' future councillors" - ABC posted July 6, 2012.

How many current National Party MPs started their career in politics as an "independent" councillor? Chris Gulaptis, Stephen Bromhead, John Barilaro and Paul Toole come to mind as "independent councillors" who have graduated to being a National Party MP. There are many more examples from past governments and many councillors who are National and Liberal party members although they have campaigned as "independent" councillors.

Why would Andrew Fraser make these comments? Is he concerned the Greens believe in honest and transparent government and are calling for all prospective councillors to pledge to abstain from voting when they have a conflict of interest, pecuniary or otherwise? The O'Farrell government has of course changed the law so abstention from a vote when a councillor has a personal interest is no longer required.

Is it because the O'Farrell government is pushing through new planning laws that will severely restrict the right of residents to oppose inappropriate planning developments? Indeed the deadline for submissions on these proposals will be an astonishing, restrictive six days after the local government elections. The same date is also the restrictive deadline for submissions on the future of local government. That review opens the door to further local government amalgamations.

Greens' councillors will work to maintain council's powers and protect residents' rights in regard to planning. It is therefore no surprise a National Party MP is stating that "people interested in standing for local government should not have political affiliations".

JOHN VERNON

Cripes! Andrew Stoner - rapidly elevated and staged a political takeover

Seems Andrew Stoner is now Australia’s Acting Premier and Minister for Trade and Investment. Well, that's what an international publisher for the exhibition, conference and events industries is saying.

Read it for yourself:

AUSTRALASIA - Australia’s Acting Premier and Minister for Trade and Investment Andrew Stoner will be the inaugural Patron of Business Events Sydney’s (BE Sydney) Ambassador Programme, a business development programme that helps to secure international events for Sydney and the state of New South Wales.

The publisher is aptly named. It's Mash Media. Perhaps Stoner provided MishMash with the information in the first place.