If he can't run a car yard at a profit, how does he expect to help run a state?

Pictured here on the left is Stuart George, one of the NSW Nationals pre-selection candidates hoping to be chosen to contest the Clarence by-election and then go on represent the people of that electorate as a member of the O’Farrell Government.

He was (and still probably is) owner or part-owner of Capital Car Sales in Casino, as he was proud to attest in 2001 and 2005:

In 2001, I purchased Capital Car Sales.

Stuart and Barry are now joint directors of Capital Car Sales which is situated at its original location: 105-113 Centre Street, Casino.

However, Stuart and the North Coast Nationals have a problem which may yet cause concern and, it is found on the Australian Securities and Investments Commission website:

Extracted from ASIC's database at AEST 00:28:44 on 08/10/2011

Name CAPITAL CAR SALES (CASINO) PTY. LIMITED

ACN    100 385 377

ABN    64 100 385 377

Type Australian Proprietary Company, Limited By Shares

Registration Date 30/04/2002

Next Review Date 30/04/2012

Status ** UNDER EXTERNAL ADMINISTRATION and/or CONTROLLER APPOINTED **

Locality of Registered Office Casino NSW 2470

Jurisdiction Australian Securities & Investments Commission

On 10 November 2011 there was a Creditors' meeting for Voluntary Creditors' Liquidations scheduled.

Now the rumour is that this company owes many tens of thousands of dollars, so perhaps Mr. George might like to explain the part he played in this business difficulty?

UPDATE:

SCANDAL has hit the NSW Nationals for the second time in a month with the revelation that a company owned by pre-selection candidate for Clarence Stuart George is in liquidation owing nine creditors more than $250,000.
The $267,620 in debts owed to creditors relate to monies owed by Mr George's former business Capital Car Sales (Casino) Pty Ltd - a figure he disputes.
The debts have the potential to derail his tilt at the seat for Clarence.
Both Mr George and his wife Margaret are listed as directors of the company.
On October 27 last year Mr George acknowledged the debt when he signed off on an Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) statement verifying report as director.
Mr George's creditors include the Australian Taxation Office, North Coast Petroleum, Allianz, Sensis, and his father Member for Lismore Thomas George, to whom he owes the bulk of the debt.
When The Daily Examiner contacted Mr George at a National Party conference at Port Macquarie yesterday he said he had never hidden the fact that his company was in liquidation.....

The rest of The Daily Examiner article by journalist Rodney Stevens here.

A case of duelling beef exports

It seems the Nats just can’t let go of the idea that there is bovine mileage in pursuing Page MP Janelle Saffin over her suggestion that chilled beef exports should be encouraged over live cattle exports.
It doesn't take expert knowledge to understand that jobs and humane animal handling would win hands here on the NSW North Coast.

“Nationals Member for Lismore Thomas George says Janelle Saffin's bid to ban live exports demonstrates her disconnection with the constituents of the Page electorate and clearly is supporting Greens policy. Ms Saffin, Federal Member for Page, plans to raise a notice of motion to debate the live animal export issue in Parliament next week.

Mr George, a former stock and station agent, founding member of Beef Week and director of the Northern Cooperative Meat Company, said in all his years working in the cattle industry, he had never been approached with complaints from anyone about the trade.

"How could the Member for an area that boasts a strong beef industry put forward such a motion?" he questioned.”

This is our Janelle in reply via a media release which followed hot on the heels of Ol' Tom's effort:

Federal Member for Page, Janelle Saffin has hit back at State Member for Lismore, Thomas George on the issue of live exports.

Ms Saffin is calling for an increase in chilled beef exports and the phasing out of live exports.

She said contrary to her State Parliamentary colleague’s claim, she has indeed been dealing with locals in the beef industry on this issue.

“Experience as a stock and station agent does not make him the only spokesman about industry policy, nor the ultimate expert.

“I do recognise his experience in rural matters, but I am not without experience either.

“What I am paying attention to is the need to strengthen our local job base, and not argue the case for exporters in this case of live exports, who do nothing for our local economy, except threaten future trade out of our region.

“I am for building jobs, not exporting them.

“I also note that the Member for Lismore said that he has not been approached by constituents on this matter, well I have.

“When I addressed hundreds of meat processing workers in my seat of Page, many of whom live in the State seat of Lismore, they cheered when I said I would raise the matter of phasing out of live exports in Parliament,” Ms Saffin said.

“There are others in the industry who have encouraged me as well, on the basis that live exports export jobs.”