Cansdellgate - a neverending story

The Daily Examiner and other APN websites are featuring another piece about disgraced former Member for Clarence, Steve Cansdell. The report is reproduced below.

DPP yet to act on advice to charge Steve Cansdell with lying

Authorities are "ducking and weaving" when it comes to pursuing criminal charges against disgraced Clarence MP Steve Cansdell, says shadow Attorney-General Paul Lynch.

The Liverpool MP has challenged his political rival, NSW Attorney-General Greg Smith, to respond to the advice of retired senior barrister Bruce James that Mr Cansdell could have been charged with lying under oath. 

The advice followed an independent review of the police investigation into Mr Cansdell, who resigned in 2011 when it was revealed he had lied about not being behind the wheel when his car was snapped by a speeding camera. 

Charges against him were dropped when a former female staffer, who Mr Cansdell originally claimed had been driving, refused to give a statement. 

During parliament question time last week Mr Cansdell asked Mr Smith when the community could expect the DPP to respond to Mr James's advice. 

The official reply, which has since been placed on the record, read: "The advice from Mr James QC was unsolicited advice and, as such, it is a matter for the NSW Director of Public Prosecutions". 

The DPP has confirmed he received the advice but has yet to announce whether he will act on it.

Give yourself a pat on the back if you picked the blooper in the Examiner's piece.

Hint: How can the disgraced former MP get to ask questions in the parliament? Besides, isn't he flat out doing his new job? Then, again, perhaps he has been moonlighting and making casual appearances while his successor, Mr Walker, attends to extra-curricula activities. 

Oops! Delete that last surname and insert 'Gulaptis'. Constituents in the electorate of Clarence can however be excused for thinking their current local MP is a Mr Walker - that's the Phantom's name and it's also synonymous with the very pedestrian performance the local MP is making.

Credit: The Daily Examiner

It's pretty tough when even your so-called mates cannot get your name correct

Such was the level of mirth at the table of knowledge at the local watering hole yesterday a couple of the lads were thinking seriously they'd need to ring 000 and get an ambulance to take a few of their mates to the local hospital with instructions they have their sides sewn up - you see, they were splitting their sides while laughing after they read a piece in Monday's Daily Examiner.

The piece, titled Weekly Whispers, carried a copy of part of a NSW Farmers Association's notice of a meeting of its Grafton Branch. According to the notice, the special guest at the meeting would be Clarence MP Steve Gulaptis. 
Yep, that's right Steve Gulaptis!

In some circles the current Member for Clarence is referred to as Mr Walker (a.k.a The Phantom).

Credits: The Daily Examiner and Robbo

How modest is the Member for Clarence?

The Member for Clarence, Chris Gulaptis, has had a very big week in the Legislative Assembly.

Tuesday:  " I make a modest contribution to debate ..."  Hansard, 23/10/12

Wednesday: According to Hansard, Mr Gulaptis did not speak in the chamber. (Hmmm, perhaps modesty prevented him from doing so. Then again, perhaps he was too busy practising his lines for Thursday - see below.)

Thursday: " As a member of the Committee on Economic Development I will make a modest contribution ... "  Hansard, 25/10/12

National MP for Clarence spinning faster than a new top

The O’Farrell-Stoner Government announced a $1.7 billion cut in education spending on 11 September 2012 and Nationals MP for Clarence, Chris Gulaptis, told local media on 12-13 September that a) he wasn’t aware of these cuts before the minister announced them, b) fought against the cuts in the party room and c) he’s working to stop these cuts impacting on regional TAFEs.

Yet in down in Macquarie Street, Sydney, Gulaptis moved as one with the rest of government to stifle debate……

   v Motion before the NSW Legislative Assembly on 11 September 2012:

That this House opposes today's unprecedented funding cuts to New South Wales public schools, Catholic schools, independent schools and TAFE colleges.

Chris Gulaptis votes not to accord this motion priority at approximately 3.34pm and it was not debated.

>                 v Motion before the NSW Legislative Assembly on 12 September 2012:

this House calls on the O'Farrell Government to reverse its unprecedented $1.7 billion in funding cuts to New South Wales public, Catholic and independent schools and TAFE colleges.

Chris Gulaptis votes not to accord this motion priority at approximately 3.36pm and it was not debated.

Anger over NSW Government regional job cuts spreads to Coffs Harbour as the implications sink in

Two quotes from the article Not just yokels in The Coffs Coast Advocate 14 July 2012:

• ·      LOST in translation, as Grafton had all those jobs ripped out of the jail, were the wider implications for us as citizens of the Coffs Coast and others beyond. The knock-on effect of Clarence Valley job losses will be felt in Lismore, Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie, Tamworth and even further afield.

• ·     The local member, Mr Gulaptis, may have learned that lesson the hard way in his original stance of eagerly nodding approval to whatever Sydney-centric Premier O'Farrell wanted.  It was almost pitiful to watch the 360-degree backflip with inward pike and the cringeworthy sight of the recently elected politician donning an ill-fitting Save The Gaol shirt once his horrible mistake in misreading the anger was realised. "Me too ... me too ... kick it to me ..." was the thought which came to mind, as he jostled his way to the podium to speak.

A $64 question: who is the current Member for Clarence?

Chris Gulaptis, a bloke who's keeping a green leather bench in the NSW Lower House warm, must spend half his time looking over his shoulder to see what his old mate Steve "Scandal" Cansdell is up to.

The occupants of premises in the village of Harwood Island have a poster of their pin-up boy on the wall of their building. And guess what! It's not Chris. Yes, that's right, it's good old Steve.

That has to be a real vote of confidence for the newcomer.