Hanson & Ashby now think they are an elected duo?

It would appear that Pauline Hanson is loathe to fulfill her extremely light parliamentary commitments and James Hunter Ashby eager to acquire a level of political power he was never granted by the Australian electorate......

https://www.buzzfeed.com/aliceworkman/no-nbn-commitment/

One Nation: political 'sins' like chickens come home to roost

On 3 March 2017 ABC Television ran a Four Corners program titled “Please Explain”.

It opened with presenter Sarah Ferguson stating:

Welcome to Four Corners.

Nine months ago, Pauline Hanson was riding high. Elected to the Senate, along with 3 of her One Nation colleagues, she created out of thin air a powerful new block on the crossbenches of the fractious upper house.

It was an extraordinary comeback for a woman whose first venture into politics more than twenty years ago ended in ignominy, dumped from parliament, and jailed after a conviction for electoral fraud that was later overturned on appeal.

Last month, in the Western Australian State election, Hanson's One Nation Party won three upper house seats but polled far lower than predicted.

Bitter party infighting in Western Australian and Queensland has seen former One Nation powerbrokers and disgruntled candidates come forth to condemn the woman they'd supported and pinned their hopes on.

It was this kind of internal division that helped pull One Nation apart in the late 1990's.

And just like 20 years ago there are claims that a powerful advisor has too much sway over Pauline Hanson - her chief of staff James Ashby.

So are the wheels coming off the One Nation wagon?

Reporter Caro Meldrum-Hanna ventures inside One Nation for tonight's report.

Then well into the broadcast this went too air:

CARO MELDRUM-HANNA: Ian Nelson, a 20-year party veteran was the State President, and also the Treasurer. He resurrected Pauline Hanson in 2014 and returned her to politics.

But after her election success, both he and Saraya Beric were left without a job.

The losers of a bitter internal power struggle that's now split One Nation.

CARO MELDRUM-HANNA: Why are you no longer working for One Nation?

IAN NELSON: Basically, James Ashby, two words, James Ashby. He couldn't have me around, I was warned, I was warned months before it happened, so James Ashby couldn't have me around and he just poisoned Pauline against me.

SARAYA BERIC: I'm very disappointed in the person he turned out to be.

CARO MELDRUM-HANNA: James Ashby seen here on election night, became Pauline Hanson's right hand man very quickly.

To understand his meteoric rise, you have to go back to late 2014.

When Ian Nelson says James Ashby rang him out of the blue, with an irresistible offer: Cut price professional printing for federal and state election campaigns for the entire party.

CARO MELDRUM-HANNA: Did you run any checks or . . .

IAN NELSON: No.

CARO MELDRUM-HANNA: On who James Ashby was?

IAN NELSON: No. Everybody could blame me for that, no I didn't, I just thought what a kind offer, I've had you know, I have offers simular but this one was a bit funny.

CARO MELDRUM-HANNA: A quick online search would have revealed James Ashby is no stranger to controversy.

In 2012, he accused his then boss, speaker of the house Peter Slipper, of sexual harassment.

Ultimately James Ashby didn't pursue the case, but it was one of the ugliest political scandals in recent times.

IAN NELSON: I was there to watch Pauline's back and, when I had time I was going to vet people, before they get too close to Pauline but I absolutely failed miserably on that one.

CARO MELDRUM-HANNA: You failed to vet James Ashby?

IAN NELSON: Yeah. Had I have known what I know today, there was no way I would've put him in, let him anywhere near her.

CARO MELDRUM-HANNA: In early 2015, James Ashby was appointed to the party's executive.

SARAYA BERIC: James was looking at different ways to promote Pauline and the party and he came up with the idea of getting an aeroplane, a little plane that she could get around logistically, and you know he said the media will go for it, it was a bit of a gimmick and I actually agreed with him.

CARO MELDRUM-HANNA: How the party managed to pay for the extravagant purchase has remained shrouded in secrecy.

PAULINE HANSON, 19 JANUARY, 2017: We have never received huge donations from anyone in all the time. Our donations come from the small people.

CARO MELDRUM-HANNA: One of the party's biggest recent donors is wealthy Victorian property developer, the director of VicLand Corporation, Bill McNee.

Four Corners has obtained emails revealing how he contacted One Nation offering financial support.

One Nation's head office responded in February 2015.

EMAIL, 27th February 2015: Pauline ... would like to meet with you if you are still able to travel to QLD. May I also ask for your phone number to pass on to Pauline?'

CARO MELDRUM-HANNA: Bill McNee wrote back:

EMAIL, 27TH February 2015: 'I would be delighted ... I would like to become a major financial supporter of your party...Let me know when suits for me to come up and meet with you all.'

CARO MELDRUM-HANNA: Bill McNee followed up again two weeks later, keen to meet:

EMAIL: 16 March 2015: Sorry to be pushy...I'm so eager to offer support to a party that has the courage to stand up for ordinary Australians and give us a voice.

CARO MELDRUM-HANNA: They met one month later on the 11th of April 2015 at Pauline Hanson's home for a roast dinner. Ian Nelson was there.

CARO MELDRUM-HANNA: Did James Ashby ask Bill McNee for a plane?

IAN NELSON: He just kept saying I'm a pilot, you know w- we should be flying Pauline around and and then Bill said, 'Well, we'll have to get you a plane then'. That's how that conversation went.

CARO MELDRUM-HANNA: Two days later James Ashby wrote this text message to a party official:

TEXT MESSAGE, 13 April 2015: We need to talk to Bill about funding it.

CARO MELDRUM-HANNA: The official responded:

TEXT MESSAGE: 5 May 2015: 'We had a good chat with Bill. I think Pauline's going to go for the plane'

CARO MELDRUM-HANNA: Eight days later, donor Bill McNee sent this email to Pauline Hanson and James Ashby:

EMAIL, 13 May 2015: 'James we will sort out the plane tomorrow as well.'

CARO MELDRUM-HANNA: And after that message was sent between James Ashby and Bill McNee did a plane arrive?

IAN NELSON: Yes, very shortly afterwards, brand new Jabiru.

CARO MELDRUM-HANNA: How was that funded- the purchase of that aeroplane?

IAN NELSON: Well, after Bill McNee said, 'Yes we'll have to get you a plane', to my understanding that means, well all right, I'll buy you a plane. But as it turns out, Bill McNee didn't buy the plane, but as I understand it, he transferred the funds to James Ashby, not the Party, not Pauline, but to James Ashby.

CARO MELDRUM-HANNA: Bill McNee has denied funding the purchase of the plane.

He's told Four Corners: "There has been no financial support or assistance to any political party outside what is publicly disclosed and already well known."

CARO MELDRUM-HANNA: Ian Nelson, the party's state treasurer, says he asked Pauline Hanson to explain how the purchase of the plane had been funded.

IAN NELSON: I said where's the plane, there's no evidence of it anywhere, whose plane is it and she said it's my plane, I said fine, okay, well then, you've got to declare it and she said, 'No, don't worry about it, don't worry about it'. I said 'Well, did Bill McNee buy that plane for the party, did he buy it for you, or did he buy it for James Ashby, and she just looked at me and walked away.

CARO MELDRUM-HANNA: Four Corners has obtained a copy of these 2015 insurance documents for the Jabiru plane.

They confirm the plane was insured in James Ashby's name. It's listed purpose? Business.

CARO MELDRUM-HANNA: What is the primary purpose or use of that plane?

IAN NELSON: The One Nation Party. To ferry Pauline around, to the little towns and properties.

CARO MELDRUM-HANNA: Was that gift declared?

IAN NELSON: No.

CARO MELDRUM-HANNA: Under the rules, should that have been disclosed?

IAN NELSON: If I did it, yes I would've. If I'd had anything to do with the transaction. I said, 'Yes disclose it for heaven's sakes, because it's been used to ferry Pauline Hanson around the state, so it's really a party matter, so it should've been disclosed.

CARO MELDRUM-HANNA: The acquisition of the plane wasn't the only thing to worry party Treasurer Ian Nelson.

In 2015 Bill McNee's company, VicLand Business, made donations totalling almost $70,000 to One Nation.

When it came time to declare them, Ian Nelson says James Ashby rang him, questioning the way he'd declared the donations to the Queensland Electoral Commission.

IAN NELSON: You know, he said this is confidential, all these matters are confidential and ah they they're for our business only and I said no, that's not quite right, the rules and regulations state that we have to declare any amount of money over a thousand dollars, we have to declare it, and he said well can't you just put 'anonymous donor'? And I said, no, you can't do that, I'll end up in jail.

CARO MELDRUM-HANNA: To be clear, James Ashby asked you to list a donor as anonymous instead of declaring the name?

IAN NELSON: Yes.

CARO MELDRUM-HANNA: Rather than disclosing who it is, in contravention . . .

IAN NELSON: In contravention of all the rules and regulations, yes. Later on, Pauline had a bit of a go at me about the same thing.

I said, 'You've got to declare everything', and she just kept calling me an obstructionist, you know, 'Why are you doing it like this?' They just don't understand, and now they're running a party, so God help them all.

And the chickens began flying back to the roost.

The Sydney Morning Herald, 4 April 2017:

On Tuesday, Labor Senator Murray Watt wrote to Australian Electoral Commission head Tom Rogers to investigate whether the matters raised on the program should be referred to the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions.

"The program contained serious allegations that PHON, Pauline Hanson and her Chief of Staff, James Ashby, may have breached financial disclosure obligations under the Commonwealth Electoral Act," Senator Watt said in his letter.

"In the broadcast, former party treasurer Ian Nelson alleges that PHON failed to declare a significant donation from property developer Bill McNee, which the party used to fund the purchase of a Jabiru light aircraft. According to the manufacturer's website, the cost of a new Jabiru light aircraft can exceed $100,000."

Senator Watt said the allegations were "very serious".

"As you are aware, a breach of financial disclosure obligations under the Act may be a criminal offence," he said.

"Furthermore, any attempt to subvert these critical measures, which seek to ensure transparency and accountability in campaign financing, threatens to undermine public confidence in our system of democracy.

"I ask you to investigate these serious allegations, and refer them to the Director of Public Prosecutions, if appropriate."

A spokeswoman for Special Minister of State Scott Ryan said he had spoken to the AEC about the program but had not yet requested an investigation.

Senator Ryan will hold a follow-up conversation with AEC officials over coming days, she said. 

Activist group GetUp! has also sent a separate request to the AEC to investigate the matter.

4:02pm

Following a request on Tuesday from Labor senator Murray Watt, an AEC spokesman said: "The AEC is aware of allegations made on Monday evening's Four Corners  program and through other media outlets.

"This information is now being reviewed in the context of the disclosure provisions of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918."

The spokesman said the AEC undertakes regular compliance reviews and would consider "information placed in the public domain" as part of its inquiries.

* Cartoon by Pat Oliphant

PHON and Pauline Hanson attempt a Trump

As West Australians vote on Saturday, keen attention will be on a woman who isn’t a candidate, knows little about local issues, and lives a continent away. She is Pauline Hanson and her week-long campaign on the ground in Western Australia has demonstrated why she has stood for election 10 times since 1998 — six federal polls, two in NSW, two in Queensland — with just one victory. It has been a chronicle of chaos. [News.com.au, 10 March 2017]

A minor political party riddled with conspiracy theorists, climate change deniers and other right-wing ratbags, cursed by bad candidate selection, suspect staffing decisions and erratic leadership, now makes yet another mistake – its leader alienates an entire national media platform by banning ABC journalists from its post-election event in Western Australia.

Apparently failing miserably as a de facto Liberal Party partner at the 11 March 2017 state general election was just not enough for Pauline Hanson and sidekick James Ashby. They decided to take a leaf out of Donald Trump’s crazy political playbook.

Response from the ABC has been restrained but firm.

Australian Broadcasting Commission, ABC media release, 14 March 2017:

Statement from ABC Editorial Director: exclusion of ABC journalists by One Nation officials

The ABC is deeply concerned at the decision by One Nation to single out and exclude ABC reporters from its official election night function in Perth on Saturday night.

I have been in communication with One Nation officials since early Sunday seeking an explanation.

Despite the fact that One Nation has claimed that all media were treated appropriately and obtained material from a pool camera on the night, the facts remain that:

*Other media representatives from a range of organisations attended on the night without any prior arrangements or permission being required.

*Those other media representatives, who included broadcasters, agencies and newspaper reporters from inside and outside Western Australia, were granted immediate access to the event.

*The ABC was denied access, and was treated differently to all other media.

Throughout the Western Australian election campaign, the ABC has provided accurate, impartial and independent political coverage and all political parties have been the subject of appropriate scrutiny and questioning.

If the ABC has been denied normal access to political events for simply doing its job, then that is an attack not just on the public broadcaster but on the fundamental role of the media in a democracy.

We will continue, as we always have, to report without fear or favour.

Alan Sunderland

ABC Editorial Director

ENDS

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BACKGROUND - WA GENERAL ELECTION

On 14 March 2017 with 75.92% of Lower House ballot papers counted PHON only had 4.83% of the primary vote with no seat gained and with 67.66% of Upper House ballot papers counted PHON had only 7.95% of the primary vote with one seat gained to date.

Updates can be found at https://www.elections.wa.gov.au/elections/state/sgelection#/sg2017.

And property developers try to say that Iluka in the Clarence Valley NSW has no koala population

Clarence Valley Council, media release, 18 January 2017:

Koala avoids nasty shock

On the way to work one morning in early January, Iluka resident Mark Starkey was shocked to see a koala high up an electricity pole. Koalas usually prefer good quality habitat with plenty of their favourite food trees.

Thanks to Mark, the koala avoided serious injury. ‘I rang the energy company who temporarily disconnected the power and relocated the animal to nearby bushland’, he said.

Mark was just one of the residents in the areas of Iluka, Woombah and Ashby to receive a brochure from Council detailing ways to help koalas by protecting native bushland, containing dogs, and ways to recognise koala food trees. The brochure also asked residents to ring and report koala sightings. Mark then contacted Council with the details of the koala.

The biggest threats to koalas in our area are loss of food and shelter trees, vehicle strike and dog attacks. Even though there are 100’s of different types of Eucalypts, koalas tend to only eat one or a few species. So even a single tree in your backyard can be important to koalas and other wildlife.

There’s more information about koalas in the Clarence on our website www.clarence.nsw.gov.au (search ‘koala’).

If you’d like a copy of the brochure or if you’ve seen koalas in your area, please ring Council on 66430200.

Release ends.

The same koala on his way down the electricity pole

Koala in bushland at Frazer's Reef, Iluka, in May 2016 at 

https://www.facebook.com/Ilukadahaveyoursay/videos/1158769244173802/

Culleton's political & legal capers continue

Former grain acquisition agent for AWB Limited and former One Nation senator Rodney Norman "Rod" Culleton had a two days……

Click on image to enlarge

News.com.au, 19 December 2016:

“Rod Culleton is a pain in my backside. I am glad to see the back of him.”

Senator Hanson said she had not asked him to resign previously, and said she would stick by him. But now she’s changed her tune.

“He asked if I wanted him to resign. Previously, with his legal cases, he has asked if I wanted him to resign. I have said that I would stick by him, but this time I said yes because I believe that he did not comply with section 44, section 2 of the Australian Constitution.”

She added that he had been asking for money from the party.

“That is what he is angry about. He is going to court today for bankruptcy. He is trying to get the money for that,” she said…..

He accused Senator Hanson and her chief of staff of trying to force him to resign and wielding control over his office.

“The PHON leader’s rants against me have been accompanied by demands for my resignation and control over diaries, office management and staffing by Senator Hanson and her chief of staff, James Ashby,” he said. “The irrational dictates have caused only distrust and disunity.”

The embattled senator is facing legal battles, including one case before the High Court, which could render him ineligible as a parliamentarian.

The Sydney Morning Herald, 19 December 2016:

The judge ordered a number of brief adjournments and it took more than an hour for the hearing to recommence.

Once back in court Senator Culleton asked how proceedings could continue to which Justice Michael Barker responded "I'm running this court, not you." 

But in a bizarre turn of events police arrived at court to forcibly remove Bruce Bell and Frank Bertola, the two people alleged to be in breach of VROs…..

Earlier, Senator Culleton, who is representing himself in the case, took to the stand to cross examine the police officer who handed him his bankruptcy papers.

He asked the officer how he had responded to the notice to which Sergeant Matthew Scott said: "You put your hands in the air and said 'I'm not f---ing taking that."

Senator Culleton responded, saying: "Given my experience with you guys maybe I thought I was going to get Tasered."  

The former One Nation representative was in court to challenge a three-year-old court judgment ordering him to pay $205,000 in damages to former Wesfarmers director Dick Lester.

"If you're not going to remove them, I will stand down," Senator Culleton said during a brief spell in front of the judge before walking out on proceedings.

"If you're not going to address the issue, I will remove myself, I need my wife here now. I will not be bullied."

A legal hearing involving West Australian senator Rod Culleton descended into chaos on Monday morning with the embattled politician delaying proceedings by refusing to take to the court room.

Less than 24 hours after resigning from Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party, Senator Culleton demanded an adjournment in Federal Court in Perth - claiming two people in attendance were breaching violence restraining orders, taken out by his wife Ioanna.

Earlier, Senator Culleton, who is representing himself in the case, took to the stand to cross examine the police officer who handed him his bankruptcy papers.

He asked the officer how he had responded to the notice to which Sergeant Matthew Scott said: "You put your hands in the air and said 'I'm not f---ing taking that."……

@abcnewsPerth

NOTE:  The matter of  Bell v Culleton [2016] as it now stands in the High Court of Australia can be found at http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/cases/cth/HCATrans/2016/289.html

Australian Federal Police spokesperson careful not to say that investigation had 'cleared' Brough & Ashby

This was The Daily Examiner (News Corp) take on the completion of the Australian Federal Police investigation into the unlawful disclosure of information by Commonwealth officers alleged to have occurred when a member of the Speaker of the House of Representatives’ staff photocopied details of the diary and gave it to a person desirous of unseating Peter Slipper:

However, what the Australian Federal Police (AFP) stated was not a clearing of anyone’s name.

As at the time of writing there is no published media release from the AFP one has to rely on details gleaned from various media articles.

“Following a thorough investigation material was provided to the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions for certain advice. As a result of the advice provided by the CDPP the matter did not proceed further. The length of this investigation has been influenced by a number of factors, including, but not limited to the availability of individuals to provide statements, the provision of materials from third parties, and the substantial volume of material that needed to be assessed.”

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/police-drop-investigation-into-alleged-copying-of-peter-slippers-diary/news-story/956daed844f1908d04b8eda5e29d3a2f

In a statement to the ABC, the AFP said it considered the matter now finalised.

"In September 2014 the AFP received a request to investigate matters relating to the alleged unauthorised disclosure of information from the official diary of former speaker of the House of Representatives, Peter Slipper," the statement read.

"Following a thorough investigation material was provided to the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions (CDPP) for certain advice.

"As a result of the advice provided by the CDPP the matter did not proceed further."

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-10-04/afp-drops-investigation-into-peter-slipper's-diary-leaks/7902172

Mr Slipper said on Tuesday his lawyers has been informed by AFP assistant commissioner Shane Connelly that the investigation had been closed.  In a letter, Mr Connelly said a review found the available evidence was insufficient for any potential prosecution. 

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/peter-slipper-diary-james-ashby-and-mal-brough-in-clear-as-afp-drops-investigation-20161004-gruiib.html

In a letter to Mr Brough’s lawyers, AFP Assistant Commissioner Shane Connelly said the investigation had been finished and no charges laid.

“I write to advise you of the outcome of the Australian Federal Police ‘AFP’ investigation into the allegation a former staff member of then Speaker of the House of Representatives Peter Slipper had disclosed parliamentary diary entries of Mr Slipper without his authority,’’ the letter says.

“A review of the evidence available to support a potential prosecution has determined the evidence is not sufficient to prove all elements of the relevant ­offence ... as a result, the AFP will be taking no further action in ­relation to the matter.’’

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/mal-brough-blasts-afp-for-killing-my-career/news-story/8e55735cefd5c0eee8af1036e8a53063

I write to advise you of the outcome of the Australian Federal Police ‘AFP’ investigation into the allegation a former staff member of then speaker of the House of Representatives Peter Slipper had disclosed parliamentary diary entries of Mr Slipper without his authority … A review of the evidence available to support a potential prosecution has determined the evidence is not sufficient to prove all elements of the relevant offence, being the disclosures of information by Commonwealth officers as described in section 70 of the Crime Act 1914 (CTH). As a result, the AFP will be taking no further action in relation to the matter.

https://www.themonthly.com.au/today/sean-kelly/2016/04/2016/1475559898/it-ends-whimper

Policy Platforms of Candidates in the Clarence Valley Local Government Elections, Saturday 10 September 2016 - Part Two

North Coast Voices contacted as many Clarence local government election candidates as was possible and issued an invitation to supply their policy positions for our readers.

Here is the second post in this series.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

JOHN HAGGER

John Hagger corflute

I have worked to halt Any special rate rises (including progression of Council’s preliminary work for a permanent 41% Rates increase over 7 years).

Those massive rate rises on every home and business in the Valley damage us and do not repair the underlying problems.

According to TCorp, adoption of the proposed 41% Rates Rise:

Would still result in Council having deficit budgets for, at least, the next 9 years.

Would not result in catching up with the infrastructure backlog and

Would still leave Council Unfit for the Future.

I am strongly opposed to:

Any diversion of the Clarence.

The Yamba Mega Port.

Any plans for CSG mining in the Clarence.

My Aim is:

A Council that is part of the local Community.

The repair of the trust deficit that has developed under the current Council.

A Council that lives within its means.

A Council that reduces its debt burden below the suggested maximum of $110 Million Dollars as soon as possible.

Council debt is currently in excess of $135M.

An open, accountable, and transparent Council.

A Council that truly reflects Community wants and aspirations Not dictates to it.

A level playing field for All People.

Greater Encouragement of Sustainable Business and Local Jobs that do not destroy the beautiful environment we are part of.

We are currently one of the poorest Local Government Areas in NSW.

A healthier economy increases the quality of life options available to People and the number of services that can be provided.

A renewed focus on Council buying local would help as would a level playing field, increased transparency, reduced up-front fees, and a Council with a ‘Can We Help’ outlook.

Ensuring Our Public water supply stays in Public hands.

To do this the new Penstock at Nymboida, which has been offered to Council by Essential Energy, needs to be included on Council’s asset register.

We are facing some very serious challenges in Our Valley.

Our Council has been judged as Not fit for the Future.

Our local economy could do so much better than it is.

And our Council has saddled itself with a debt burden that exceeds its own loans policy.

Some of our current Council will tell you everything is fine but that we need a 41% Rates Rise and a reduction in services.

That does not sound like any definition of ‘fine’ that I am familiar with.

There is a Better Way.

We have so many assets that are Un-Used and are just adding to Our maintenance costs.

The sale of some of those to bring our debts back to sustainable levels and to catch up on the infrastructure backlog buys us some time.

Sustainable development is the longer-term solution as is ensuring Council lives within its means.

It is Not up to local People to be constantly paying for Council’s mistakes.

It is up to Council to adjust their behaviours and actions to what the People of the Valley want and can afford to pay.

Text and image supplied by John Hagger

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

DEBRAH NOVAK

Debrah Novak

I am excited to announce that I am a candidate in the Clarence Valley Council

election. I have worked hard for the Clarence Valley for over thirty years in a

variety of volunteer and paid positions. One of my proudest moments was having

this work recognised in the form of a nomination for Clarence Valley Citizen of

the Year in the 2016 Australia Day Awards.

It is this desire to work hard for our community that has lead me to nominate for

the Council elections and step up my contribution to the Clarence Valley.

There is hard work and tough decisions ahead for both Council, and our

community. Local infrastructure backlogs, unfair rating structures, the South

Grafton depot, lengthy DA approvals, lack of accessibility to councillors, a

proposed mega-port in Yamba and poor communication between Council and

the Community are all issues that need to be addressed.

I am putting my hand up to have a go and apply my work ethic for the next four

years towards laying the foundation for the future of the Clarence.

I don’t pretend to know everything and know I am in for a steep learning curve

should I be elected. To be honest, I can’t promise an extensive amount of political

experience to bring to the Council table, but the Council already has plenty of

political experience. Maybe now is the time it needs something different.

I can’t promise political expertise, but I can promise to be someone who will

listen respectfully to all, no matter their opinion or background. I can promise a

voice that has been in the area a long time and knows what it is like to raise

children and start a business locally. I can promise a voice that supports common

sense, getting back to basics and not spending beyond our means or slamming

local residents with a special rates variation.

I won’t be telling you how to vote nor will I be giving any other candidates my

preference vote. If I am fortunate enough to be elected I will professionally work

with whomever else you elect on the day.

My vision for the Clarence Valley is for everyone to be inspired to be part of the

conversation so that we may confront our issues together and as best we can. If I

am elected to Council, I intend to start that conversation as soon as possible.

Text and photograph supplied by Debrah Novak

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MARTY WELLS

Marty Wells

MY 2020 VISION

Running on the under 45's ticket for Clarence Valley Council, MARTY WELLS

has his sights set clearly on the future, by focussing on a 4 year plan.

“This next Council will have to uphold a commitment to revitalise

the entire region by the year 2020, and I've got the vision to

maintain that energy.”

His main policy is structurally sound and simple: Keep our children

                          HAPPY        HEALTHY        HERE

“Anyone aged 14 now will be eligible to Vote at the next Election

Are they happy now? Are we listening to them?

What would they consider important if they wanted to be happier?

Families need to feel that Council will cease talking over their heads

and build realistic programs, to remind us all that we care about kids.”

Mental health has long been an issue of importance locally, and one that Marty feels

continues to be swept under the rug, or even addressed with only half-hearted concern.

“My work within a number of community groups has granted me insight into

how much pressure there is to achieve more than previous generations,

and how easily upset our youth can get without proper support.

We must identify the real causes behind the genuine cases of mental illness,

and act now. Not in two years time: right now.”

Marty believes that change is paramount, in order to give the Valley hope.

“We can't expect our kids to just nod and agree with us.

The current council has done almost nothing to retain the attention of

our Under 30's for long term prospects and growth. They have used social media

more as a platform to pat themselves on the back, which negates the real purpose:

To provide a two-way means of communication with all of our residents,

from all situations.”

By 2018, Marty would like to see the graduation rate from Year 12 increase to 35%

and to review previously unsuccessful plans to build a University within the Valley.

Text supplied by Marty Wells and photograph from @mwells.cvc

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ANDREW BAKER

Unknown artist’s impression of Andrew Baker

I was fortunate enough to be born, raised and to live in Maclean until 15 years old. Since then I’ve lived and worked around the Clarence Valley at Grafton, South Grafton, Maclean, Woodford Island, Mountain View, Lawrence, Ashby and Harwood Island - interrupted by 4 years in the Pilbara Iron Ore industry at Shay Gap. I started property development in Maclean in 1985.

Studying accountancy for 2 years made me realise I should become a Real Estate Agent. I completed the 3-year licensing course in 1990. In 1989 I started my own Real Estate Agency in Maclean. At the same time, cane farming for 11 years at Sportsman’s Creek from 1992 included 3 years elected director to the board of one of the top 250 Australian businesses at the time, the NSW Sugar Milling Cooperative.

I’ve attracted success, failure, achievement and support from wonderful people many times along the way. At the 2012 council elections I offered my open-book life experience to  voters. I was humbled to be then elected as councillor.

Now I’m one of 4 councillors with one shared vision and imperative - to repair the council financial failings.

And to do that without penalising the ratepayers by the proposed 41% rates increase.

We strongly believe increases above rate-pegging IS NOT the answer. A 41% rates increase will merely hide the problems for a while longer.

4 councillors, Jim Simmons, Karen Toms, Margaret McKenna and I, agree on one vital issue – fix the council financial situation without excessive rates increases. We’ve made no other promises, agreements or undertakings to each other. Each of us reserves the right to disagree on any other issue.

These 4 councillors opposed the recent 6.5% increase. 4 in a council of 9 isn’t enough. By one vote. We’ve pushed hard for conservative alternatives to be considered. 5 councillors hell-bent on rates increases, more rates increases, and ‘slug the ratepayer’ have consistently rejected any serious examination of alternatives!

As councillors we don’t need to ‘discover’ the failings. We’ve been told. By the Independent Pricing And Regulatory Tribunal (IPART), by the Office of Local Government (OLG), by NSW Government Treasury Corporation (T-Corp) and by council’s debt management consultant Ernst & Young (E&Y).

The experts tell us council is; Financially weak, financially unsustainable, Not Fit For The Future, Not spending enough on Infrastructure Maintenance, above “Moderate Risk” Debt Range by $15 million to $50 million, and way over the “Conservative” Debt Levels Range by $50million to $75million as reported by E&Y February 2015.

And we’re unnecessarily spending reserve funds on a big new depot.

The experts have told us what to do. We should; spend less, live within our means, spend on maintenance of infrastructure - not new things and, manage the excessive debt.

Financial sustainability without excessive rates increases will need strong leadership by at least 5, preferably 9, councillors.

As a voter you can start the process of building sensible financial control without massive rates rises. You can do that by voting;

Text and cartoon supplied by Andrew Baker

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