The Cansdell Saga: surely even O'Farrell wouldn't be so stupid?

One paragraph in a letter to the editor in The Daily Examiner on 14 March 2011 certainly raised a few eyebrows in the Clarence electorate:

The other opinion [allegedly that of an unnamed party stalwart ] might be even funnier – Premier Barry O’Farrell is about to announce Steve Cansdell’s appointment as a parliamentary or ministerial adviser.

Cansdellgate: NSW Opposition asking questions

ABC North Coast Radio reported this morning:

Five months after former Clarence MP Steve Cansdell confessed to signing a false statutory declaration he is yet to be charged.

The NSW Opposition's spokesman for Police, Nathan Rees, is asking why an investigation of the former state member for Clarence continues to drag on, five months after a public confession.

Steve Cansdell resigned last September, after admitting to signing a false statutory declaration to avoid a speeding fine and keep his licence.

The former Nationals' MP faces a possible prison term if charged over the offence, and Police Media says inquiries are continuing.

Nathan Rees says questions need to be answered.

"I'm more than happy to allow the usual processes to take their course, whether it's this case or any other usually," he says.

"But this has been going on for some months now and even people in the government have been raising questions about this privately and want some finality to the issue.

"I consider Steve Cansdell a pretty straight-up-and-down fellow, and certainly his outright confession at the start is consistent with the man I know, but it does raise issues subsequently when neither the police nor the Attorney General have seen fit to make a determination on what is an issue that I'm sure would bring Mr Cansdell some closure and indeed the community."

Source: ABC North Coast Radio

In which NSW North Coast residents continue to have their say regarding Steve...

Digitally created image sent in anonymously

Fine tribute

COME on Mr Cansdell and Mr Gulaptis and the other National Party members, get real.

Take a deep breath and a deep look at the situation you are creating.

You are aiding and abetting rewards for breaking the law.

Mr Cansdell has admitted he was dishonest by falsifying a statutory declaration to escape a speeding fine.

Something obviously happened.

So, after doing a bit of research, he came forward and resigned.

This in turn enabled him to get his pension.

If he had been sacked he would have missed out.

This electorate has a lot of crime problems at present and as far as I am concerned this incident is setting a bad example for this area.

If Mr Cansdell and his National Party mates had any decency at all they would abandon the dinner and pay the cost of the by-election.

If Mr Cansdell does not go to jail, then why did Justice Einfeld go?

COL BROWN

South Grafton [Letter to the Editor published 26 January 2012]

By suffernofools from Maclean on 26/1/2012 at 8:30AM

Ursula, don't get your knickers in a knot about it darlin', it's not like a civic reception or a street parade where they are imposing themselves upon us. They will be safely out of view of the general public...discreetly patting each other on the back and saying how good a job he did and he was a bit unlucky. They will never get it. No matter how much you jump up and down and scream blue murder, they are so out of touch at how disgusted we are, they would think you are cheering FOR them. Ignore them and maybe the silence will resonate louder than a political protest could. Or just leave your placards out the front of the racecourse with a note attached saying you had left due to lack of interest in the whole thing. [The Daily Examiner online]

By yambaman from Yamba on 26/1/2012 at 8:37AM

Well I usually support the conservative side of politics but a "tribute" dinner for a confirmed liar turns my stomach! Have these faceless politicians no shame, would any self-respecting citizen really attend? I'd expect it from the ALP (aka Craig Thomsen) but from the Nats, who'll I vote for next? [ibid]

By swingingvoter from Palmers Channel on 26/1/2012 at 12:47PM

Could someone from Chris Gulaptis' office advise if his staff are involved in organising this dinner during the hours they are being paid to perform duties for the citizens of Clarence and NSW? Are people paying their $50 during office hours? If so, what other citizens are entitled to use his office in this manner?
Will this MP sign a Statutary Declaration to say his office and staff are not being used in this manner........sorry, I forgot, Stat. Decs. are just playthings these days. [ibid]

By MurrayLees from Murwillumbah on 24/1/2012 at 6:37AM

Two words for John Robertson and Labor: Craig Thompson [ibid]

By UrsulaTunks from Grafton on 24/1/2012 at 8:46AM

Murray Lees you goose this isn't ABOUT POLITICS ! This is about integrity! Are you the same campaign manager who was telling anyone who'd listen during the by election that Cansdell would have a conviction not recorded against him & be the next Federal National Party candidate for the electorate of Page? Have you already negotiated the outcome with the Police? How could you know that before anyone else in the community ? Are you the same National Party member who has been belittling my friend Kath Palmer & her bravery for coming forward? The same Murray Lees who appears to be two or three decades behind the rest of Australia when it comes to the treatment of whistleblowers? THIS IS NOT ABOUT POLITICS - you can't put spin on it based on party politics. If anyone in any party breaks the law the law deals with their transgression - NOT the party spin doctor! & while you're at it tell you're mates to stop defaming me - YES I supported Kath in her submission to ICAC & I would again tomorrow for anyone who needed that support to act lawfully - regardless of who the alleged offender was! And Murray that includes you - if you ever needed my help to do the right thing I'd be here to support you if you . Remember Murray it's an offence under the ICAC legislation to know of an offence committed by a public official and NOT report. So Kath and any others who've come forward over this period are doing what is required of them by law. [ibid]

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

The Daily Examiner 25 January 2012:

POLICE have moved a step closer to laying charges against former Clarence MP Steve Cansdell for falsifying a statutory declaration.

Detective senior sergeant Peter O'Reilly, the officer investigating the matter, said he had sent a brief of evidence to the NSW Police Legal Services section who were working through some "technical legal issues".

He said the case was then likely to go to the Department of Public Prosecutions considering Cansdell's "standing in the community"…...

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.

Questions for Steve Cansdell about political greed

Those who thought Cansdellgate would quietly disappear after the recent by-election in Clarence need to think again. 

Questions about when police will charge disgraced former MP for Clarence Steve Cansdell for telling whoppers in a statutory declaration remain unanswered.

Now, a Grafton resident, via the letters columns of The Daily Examiner, seeks answers about the cost of the by-election.

Political greed

I would like to know how much the by-election has cost the taxpayer?

And why shouldn't the person causing the by-election foot the cost of it?

After all, he has allegedly broken the law and not for any other reason but to save his political hide.

There are genuine reasons why by-elections occur and that should be exempt.

But this (by-election) was caused by reasons other than that.

This (by-election) was caused by political ambition and greed, and we as taxpayers have to foot the cost.

I ask again - how much did this by-election cost?

And is there some way of finding out?

Jeffrey Fuller, Grafton

Sources:         Letters, The Daily Examiner, 28/11/11

Image, The Northern Star

Clarence By-election: Nationals also on the nose in the northern end of the electorate

While much of the reporting about the National Party and its candidate Chris Gulaptis has concentrated on the Clarence valley where it has to be said they're on the nose for taking the electorate for granted a couple of contributors to The Northern Star have reminded readers that it's not all plain sailing for the Nationals in the north.

Nationals 'thumb nose' at democracy

My teenage daughter saw a National Party TV ad last night that shows Mr Cansdell supporting his replacement and asked if this was the same guy who was under a police investigation.

I said yep that is him.

She said that they have some real arrogance for even a politician to have him spruiking.

Seems they are just thumbing their noses at our democracy.

I agreed and thought, yes, they seem to not care that one of their number may have broken the law.

That was OK, not a big deal, just vote us in again.

I am greatly concerned about the message this is sending to our young people. What's next?

Alex Smith, Ballina

Two, by George

How can Stuart George, councillor with Richmond Valley Council, represent the people of the Richmond Valley properly and without bias when dealing with CSG issues when he is now an employee of Metgasco?

Moreover, how can Thomas George, State Member for Lismore, do likewise with family interests associated with Metgasco?

It appears that LNG now have 10% of shares in Metgasco and LNG is a majority owned subsidiary of China National Petroleum Corporation.

Guess where the CSG drilled in our area will be going to?

Yep, export to China.

And this will be to the detriment of our World Heritage listed areas of the Border Ranges National Park and the Great Barrier Reef.

Please write to Janelle Saffin and Thomas George pointing out your opposition to the expansion of CSG.

John Heaton, Uralba

Source: Letters, The Northern Star, 17/11/11

Cansdellgate - more than a mistake

Locals continue to comment on the disgraced former Member for Clarence.

Source: Letters, The Daily Examiner, 25/10/11

Are the boys in blue dragging their feet in sympathy with the former NSW Parliamentary Secretary to the Police Minister?

Soon after Steve Cansdell was forced by circumstances to admit to the NSW Nats leader and Grafton police that in 2005 he had signed a false statutory declaration to avoid losing his driving license, speculation began to surface that police in the Coffs-Clarence Area Command would be reluctant to pursue the matter because of their prior contact with him as the MP for Clarence and parliamentary secretary to the NSW Police Minister.

Three weeks after his resignation became public knowledge police have still not interviewed his alleged co-conspirator according to The Daily Examiner on 8^th October 2011:

“POLICE are still to decide if charges will be laid against former Clarence MP Steve Cansdell, three weeks after he handed documents to Grafton police showing he falsified a statutory declaration to avoid losing his licence over a speeding fine in 2005.

On Wednesday evening the prime police witness in the case, former Cansdell staffer Kath Palmer, was yet to be interviewed to progress the investigations.

The Daily Examiner yesterday tried to contact Mrs Palmer to see if she had spoken to police, without success.

Police have not confirmed what action, if any, they will take in the matter.

When Mr Cansdell announced his resignation outside his Prince St office on September 16, he said a third party signed a declaration they were driving his car when he was detected at Woodburn by a speed camera travelling 74kmh in a 60kmh zone.

"I had received a speeding ticket which would have cost me my licence," Mr Cansdell said.

"A third party agreed to claim to be driving my vehicle at the time and took the demerit points.

"I regret my actions six years ago, which I took without thought of the consequences."

Mr Cansdell told the media he wanted a "clean slate" in the lead up to the 2006 election….”

Pic from The Daily Examiner

Cansdellgate: disgraced former MP looked after #1

The Daily Examiner's letters columns continues to provide an outlet for contributors to have their say about scandal-ridden Steve Cansdell's sudden resignation as the Member for Clarence.

'Tis true

One can fall on one's sword for honour. One can also do it for $80,000 per year.

Unfortunately, I don't think you can do it for both reasons simultaneously.

D I Gilks, South Grafton

Some salient issues

Supporters of Mr Cansdell seem to overlook some salient issues.

Firstly, Mr Cansdell chose to represent the interests of Clarence constituents. Secondly, he has been generously rewarded for doing so with a substantial salary and perks of office including a taxpayer-funded study tour of which the benefits to this community remain obscure.

Mr Cansdell did the job for which he was paid and what was expected of him, as do thousands of public servants who also work for their community and whose efforts are not advertised.

In addition, I note that Colin Wiblen asks that correspondents "stick to the facts and comments without the name-calling" (DEX 21/9/11). Mr. Wiblen, perhaps you should practise what you preach. In the same letter you describe another contributor as "a worn out Labor sympathiser".

Mr Wiblen has failed his own test, and soiled his own nest.

Al Glenn, Maclean

Source: Letters, The Daily Examiner, 1/10/11

Cansdellgate - Nats' 'king maker' on the carpet

A correspondent to The Daily Examiner has asked questions of the chairman of the Grafton branch of The National Party.

Bring 'king-maker'to confession

Peter James was a close confidante and advisor to the recently resigned MP Steve Cansdell.

I believe that Mr James should inform the public as to when he became aware of the falsification of the infamous statutory declaration and what role he played in advising Mr Cansdell or otherwise in relation to the matter, either before or after the event.

The public has a right to know these things because as the local National Party's "king-maker" Mr James exercises considerable influence in selecting the party's candidate for whom he will ask us to vote at the imminent by-election.

Mr James himself must be beyond reproach.

Arthur (John) Kelemec, Halfway Creek

Source: Letters, The Daily Examiner, 29/9/11

A JP's view on THAT Cansdell stat dec: Imprison him!

A South Grafton JP says it's loud and clear that there doesn't seem to be any choice offered to the courts but to imprison Cansdell.
The JP expressed his view of the scandal in a letter to the editor published in today's Daily Examiner.

Statutory declarations

Too many column inches have already been devoted to the Cansdell affair.

However, as a JP it is perhaps timely to remind everybody of these two statements that appear in a statutory declaration:

"I understand that a person who intentionally makes a false statement in a statutory declaration is guilty of an offence under Section 11 of the Statutory Declarations Act 1959, and I believe that the statements in this declaration are true in every particular way.

"A person who intentionally makes a false statement in a statutory declaration is guilty of an offence, the punishment for which is imprisonment for a term of four years."

There doesn't seem to be any choice offered to the courts but to imprison him.

Finally, seeing that he stood for the most-recent election knowing that he had broken the law, wouldn't it be reasonable for him to contribute some, or all of his parliamentary pension to pay for the by-election.

Ray Meakin, South Grafton

Source: Letters, The Daily Examiner, 28/9/11

Cansdellgate: one-handed applause for Scandell

Applause

I applaud Steve Cansdell for resigning due to his indiscretion with the statutory declaration.

I look forward to applauding him further when he pays for the by-election he has caused with some of the cash he will receive from his parliamentary super and his lifetime pension.

John Williams, Clarenza. 

Source: Letters, The Daily Examiner, 24/9/11

More developments in Cansdellgate

A report in yesterday's Sydney Morning Herald  about Steve Cansdell being provided with a heavily discounted rental property for his campaign office during the last state election campaign ("MP paid pittance to rent election office") has been followed up by The Daily Examiner today ("Low rent scandal hits Cansdell").

Peter James, a Grafton solicitor who is the National Party Grafton branch chairman, told the Daily Examiner the party paid $150 a week for his 40 Prince St premises that had been previously rented for up to $660 a week.

Peter James

The discounted rent paid by the Nationals for the office in the six weeks leading up to the March 26 state election has raised questions as to whether the arrangement complied with NSW political donation laws.

NSW election funding laws prohibit indirect donations of more than $1000 a financial year.

But Mr James said as part of the arrangement his company Naupe Holdings would subsidise the $150 a week rent so it reached the parties agreed market value of $300, thus putting it just inside the donation threshold at $900.

"They (the National Party) made an offer, which I thought was reasonable, and I accepted it," he said.

"I am committed to the party and I am committed to that side of politics and I was prepared to help them in terms of the rent.

"If that for some reason breaches, technically or otherwise, the provisions of legislation well so be it.

"But it was all done in good faith and I must say it's odd to be in trouble for generosity, as distinct from being in trouble for stealing the union's funds or whatever.

"That's the way I see it, but anyway people will make up their own mind."

Under the arrangement between the National Party and Mr James' company, Naupe Holdings during the election campaign, the Nationals received a $3060 discount.

The National's state director, Ben Franklin, told the Herald the donation due to the discounted rent for the campaign office amounted to $900, which was below the threshold.

The party calculated this on an estimated market value of $300 a week on the office despite the previous tenant paying $550.

"They made their own assessment, they felt for the use they were making of the premises, and the size of the area they were going to use, and the fact they didn't have exclusivity of the premises they thought $300 a week was a fair figure," Mr James said.

"And they felt if they paid $150 and the company donated the other $150 they thought that was a fair balance.

"In my mind I had empty premises and I was happy to receive some money for it and I was happy for it to be used for that purpose."

Source: The Daily Examiner

Pic credit: http://mjolegal.com.au/?p=810

More locals comment on Cansdellgate

Today's Daily Examiner has more locals coming out in its letters columns and voicing opinions about Steve Cansdell's sudden exit from Macquarie Street.

Tunnel vision

The demise of Steve Cansdell should make you happy, Fred.

Not a clean skin after all.

Yes, the Coalition side of politics has them too, Fred, that is why it doesn't pay to have tunnel vision.

If one was to dig deeper into the coalition parties it would be surprising just how many skeletons they would have in their cupboards.

It would be fair to say that both sides of politics are tarred with the same brush.

Don't you think Fred?

BF Apps, Townsend

Casting the first stone

I would like to take this few minutes of your time to ask you all something, if there were 1000 people in a room and I said, those of you that have never lied, stole, cheated, done something illegal, or any other thing that may be frowned upon in this day and age, please stand, but please be honest, how many do you think would be able to stand?

Not many, in fact very few.

This is my point. Yes Steve Cansdell lied, and not only to the police, but to everyone who elected him.

Yes Steve Cansdell did something illegal six years ago, and let's be honest, he is not a stupid person.

He knew exactly what he was doing and how much trouble he could be in if and when he got caught.

But once again let's be honest with ourselves, if he wasn't in politics, and he was in the public eye, would we even care, would we even know about it?

No we wouldn't.

These things happen every day to everyday people without anybody knowing.

I have taught my five children from day one there are always consequences to your actions, good or bad.

Steve Cansdell is now finding that out. I give this man full credit, when asked he didn't keep lying about it he told the truth, and is prepared to take whatever punishment is due to him.

However, sit back and think about it, and by it I mean, think about the good that Steve Cansdell has done for this community. I know that is what I have been doing for the past couple of days, and this is my conclusion: yes, he had to resign from his position as secretary for the police.

I believe he had no choice there, but from this electorate, I think not, this goes to show that he is human; everyone makes mistakes, no one is perfect.

Does what he has done make him any less of a man?

No, it makes him human. He did what he thought was the only thing he could at the time, not the right thing, but it's what he did, given the chance 50% of people would have done the same thing.

And as for the person who took the blame, he says she was pressured into it, she knew it was the wrong thing to do, she could have said "no" she had that choice six years ago.

If she did not want to go along with it then she had choices.

Carolyn Payne, South Grafton. 

Firstly, regards to the Steve Cansdell story, everyone at one time or another have done something stupid in their life.

Steve has made a big one.

We always are quick to shoot people in the foot at any expense.

Steve has done a great deal for our communities, never let that be forgotten.

I feel for his family as they too bare the brunt of matters such as this.

You can all hold your heads up high.

Secondly to Thomas Macindoe, I say one thing, to call Richie Williamson a political prostitute is shooting a bit below the belt considering you, sir, appear to be a worn out Labor sympathiser.

Stick to facts and comments without all the name calling.

Colin Wiblen, South Grafton

Locals come out to comment on Cansdellgate

The letters columns in today's Daily Examiner carries an assortment of views about the Cansdell scandal.

In the red corner:
Are we stupid?

How stupid do the political parties think people are?

Fact 1: Mr Cansdell lied to the police with the aid of a so-far-unknown accomplice.

Fact 2: For six years now he has lied to the people of his electorate and has now cost the state of NSW (which, according to the Coalition to which he belonged, is broke) a by-election.

Fact 3: He said he would step down as it was the honourable thing to do, but if he had stayed on as MP and been charged and convicted he ran the risk of losing his pension. Makes one think, doesn't it?

So far I have not heard him apologise to us mugs who elected him, only to his family, friends and party and to protest that he did not realise the seriousness of what he had done to avoid a speeding ticket.

This from a committed, get tough with them, crime fighter.

Now the sting in the tail. It would appear that the National Party is trying to court CVC Mayor Richie Williamson to stand as the National Party candidate for Clarence.

If Mr Williamson is successful it would relieve CVC of an incompetent councillor, a good outcome, but would impose the same ego-inspired incompetent on the Clarence electorate, a not-so-good outcome.

Paul MacDermott, Lawrence

More questions

Why should Steve Cansdell resign with full benefits instead of being sacked?

And you gave this matter a two-page spread and tried to make him sound like a hero ... oh from sexually abused victim to this ... he has fraudulently lied to cover his backside to keep his driver's licence and says "oh, sorry, I had a lapse in judgment".

I would also like to know who the staff member was who he obviously pressured into taking the blame for his law breaking. Speeding is against the law ... if you get caught then you should pay the price.

He is supposed to be a pillar of the community yet he couldn't keep a clean driving record.

How appalling.

I would love to start a petition to say that we, as taxpayers, are totally against this lawbreaking politician obtaining full benefits, ie. a pension, from our hard-earned money.

Michelle Walters, Junction Hill

The candidate

DEX intimates that Richie Williamson is talking with the Nationals regarding possible representation in the forthcoming by-election.

That would be about right. Williamson strikes me as a political prostitute who would sell himself to the highest bidder.

Thomas Macindoe, Yamba

In the blue corner:
Admiration

Steve Cansdell has shown that expediency cannot supplant probity and integrity. Congratulations to him, at such a personal cost. His decision evokes admiration and sympathy. When principle is involved, even compromise becomes capitulation under the instalment plan.

David Brown, Junction Hill

He will be missed

I wish to pay tribute to Steve Cansdell for his dedication to the people of the valley and beyond. He has been an excellent member, with an extremely balanced attitude towards all.

I have had the privilege of involvement with quite a few organisations and as such have had opportunities to see Steve Cansdell in action. I believe he has been an outstanding representative.

Some measure of his fair-minded approach to his responsibilities was at the recent opening of the Grafton U3A Men's Shed extensions and renovations for which he had obtained a grant under the Government Communities Building Partnership Program. He paid a generous tribute to the former government for promoting this very worthwhile fund.

The transgression leading to his resignation is one he will regret. It probably seemed a good idea at the time. No doubt, the manner of his going reflects credit on him. No ducking - rather a quick and decisive move.

He will be missed. However, we should hope that he will continue to serve our community. I for one would welcome that.

David Abrahams, Grafton

Whistleblower named and collateral damage widens in O'Farrell Government scandal

Sean Nicholls writing in The Sydney Morning Herald today:

THE disgraced state MP Steve Cansdell resigned from Parliament days after a former staff member complained to the corruption watchdog that he misused a parliamentary entitlement to help a Nationals colleague, Kevin Hogan, contest the federal seat of Page.
The staff member, Kath Palmer, was employed in the electorate office of Mr Cansdell's north coast seat of Clarence, the Herald has confirmed.
She was paid from a temporary staff entitlement MPs may use to hire an extra staff member to fill in when an electorate officer attends Parliament with them.
Ms Palmer told the Independent Commission Against Corruption she was improperly seconded to Mr Hogan's campaign during the federal election.
Last year ICAC found the former Labor MP Angela D'Amore misused the same entitlement.
Shortly before the state election in March, Mr Cansdell replaced Ms Palmer with Sharon Davidson, a staff member in the office of the federal Nationals MP for Cowper, Luke Hartsuyker. Ms Davidson took leave to work on Mr Cansdell's campaign.
She is believed to have been hired to work as a media adviser after the announcement that the mayor of Clarence Valley Council, Richie Williamson, would challenge Mr Cansdell for the seat as an independent.
Ms Palmer also told the commission Mr Cansdell signed a false statutory declaration in 2005 to say she was driving his car when it was caught by a speed camera.
Mr Cansdell, who was the parliamentary secretary for police, has admitted he falsified the document because he faced losing his licence. He cited it as the reason for his resignation.
The Nationals leader and Deputy Premier, Andrew Stoner, said Mr Cansdell told him before he quit that he did not believe the claims he had misused parliamentary resources were correct.
Mr Hogan, who lost the seat to Labor's Janelle Saffin, yesterday confirmed Ms Palmer worked as a volunteer on his campaign.
Mr Cansdell told the Herald: ''There's no vindictiveness or anger from me about what this lady has done. She's got her reasons and we'll go from there.''
The state director of the Nationals, Ben Franklin, said neither he nor the party was aware of the allegations of the misuse of parliamentary entitlements.......

The unanswered question here is the part the whistleblower's friendship group played in her brave decision to come forward. Is it just a co-incidence that the Williamson family features in her listed online Facebook friends and she in theirs - or is that too cynical a thought as Richie prepares to step into Cansdell's shoes?

UPDATE:

In her own words in The Daily Examiner on 20 September 2011....

Mrs Palmer told The Examiner last night about how she was pressured into taking the blame for the former MP's speeding fine in 2005 in order for him to retain his licence.
"I'd been there a year ... I was the lowest of the low and I was being bullied by (another member of Cansdell's staff) - I wanted to get favour in the office," she said.
"I loved the job but when the boss looks at you ... I did what I was told."
She said Mr Cansdell had panicked when he got the fine and wanted to go into the ensuing election with a clean slate.
"These claims by Steve that he didn't know the gravity of his actions are just bull****."
Responding to reports in the media that Mr Cansdell had been reported to authorities by a "disgruntled ex-employee", Mrs Palmer said this was not the case.
She worked one day a week as a "permanent relief officer" and was called in for other days as needed. She said she last worked in Mr Cansdell's office on December 23 before she took two weeks' holiday.
She said Mr Cansdell's office had been "restructured" after Clarence Valley Mayor Richie Williamson declared he would run as a candidate and she was aware she might not get any more paid work until after the March election.
Mrs Palmer said the office had made "a couple of calls" asking her to volunteer in the campaign office in the lead-up to the March election but she had been busy with either RFS duties or personal matters.
She said she was shocked to find out in late May from a fellow RFS volunteer that Mr Cansdell had described her as an ex-employee at an RFS gathering in Homebush.
"I was asked by another RFS volunteer if I knew that I was an ex-employee and I said 'no'," she said.
Ms Palmer said at an RFS function at Ulmarra in the following weeks she discreetly asked Mr Cansdell about why she hadn't been called back to work.
"He said I hadn't helped out in the campaign."
Mrs Palmer, who is the captain of Clarence Valley RFS's catering unit, said she was concerned she was being painted in a bad light by Mr Cansdell's office.
Asked if she was concerned about being charged with an offence, Mrs Palmer said she would bear the consequences of her actions but was confident that any reasonable person would see that she had been pressured into making the false statutory declaration.
"I feel numb," she said.
"It's always been on my mind about what I'd done in that office and I just had to clear my conscience and that's all there is to it."
Though Mrs Palmer would not disclose which authority she reported Mr Cansdell's offence to, it is understood to be the Independent Commission Against Corruption.
Mrs Palmer said she knew other matters, including those relating to Mr Cansdell's staff entitlements, were being looking into by authorities and other media.
She said Mr Cansdell had instructed a third party to contact her on Thursday night to ask if she had reported him to the ICAC, to which she responded that she'd prefer to speak to Mr Cansdell himself.
Mrs Palmer said she still hadn't received the apology Mr Cansdell spoke of in Friday's media conference. The Daily Examiner left a message on Mr Cansdell's voicemail late last night but received no reply.

Clarence lawmaker makes the news on the international scene

The Shanghai Daily has picked up and run with a piece on the Cansdell circus.

Read more here.

SEVERE WEATHER ALERT: Sh#t storm about to hit Clarence electorate

Well here we all sit on the NSW North Coast barely having drawn breath after the March 2011 state election and yesterday voters in the Clarence electorate found out that they have to endure the wannabe pollie pain all over again.
The not-so-honourable Nats MP for Clarence, Steve I didn't know the pen was loaded Cansdell was forced to resign amid allegations that he had laid false evidence in the form of a sworn statutory declaration to avoid the penalty attached to a driving offence (apparently admitted) and improperly used his parliamentary allowance (strongly denied).
He may have saved his pension by going to the police and confessing the former (even if he could yet face charges) but the latter may see him answering to ICAC as well sometime down the track.
What makes it worse is the fact that in July 2005 Cansdell went to the local newspaper wanting 'zero tolerance' in the case of young offenders and since then has mouthed off about a local magistrate, been forced to publicly apologise to others found not guilty by the courts, and yes was caught speeding again.
Antony Green hit the nail on the head when he observed "Despite it being a state by-election, the prospects are that the federal Coalition will want to make more of this by-election than the state Coalition, and certainly more than either state or federal Labor."
Yep, Tony Abbott and Co. will probably make life miserable for local voters during this election campaign as smear after smear is spread in what one local voter described as a dress rehearsal for 2013.
I listened and read most of what Cansdell stated in the meeja over the course of the day, but never once did I hear him apologise - to the people he was elected to represent - for deceiving and leaving them without representation. An oversight or does he really care so little for the district?

Clarence Electorate By-election - why bother?

According to NBN TV news the sudden exit from state parliament by former member for Clarence, Steve Cansdell, who has some not insignificant worries on his plate, the major parties are falling over themselves to have Richie Williamson stand at the by-election.
Williamson stood at the March election as an independent. He finished third behind Cansdell - daylight ran second!
Local wags are saying that this endorses the notion that when an elected member is unable to serve a full term for reasons other than those that are beyond their control, such as an illness, the runner-up ought to get the guernsey (or is that jersey?).

Did Clarence MP, Steve Cansdell, do an "Einfield"?

Shock! Horror!
Steve Cansdell, the NSW MP for Clarence, has thrown in the towel and is quitting state parliament after serving just six months of the current parliamentary term of four years . Early reports suggest the former pugilist may have taken one punch too many, causing him to sign a statutory declaration that contained something significantly less than the truth.