It's official, Thomas George's son to seek Nationals' endorsement in Clarence

The northern division of the electorate of Clarence has an official runner in the Nationals' pre-selection contest.

 

Stuart George, son of Thomas George, the MP for Lismore and Deputy Speaker in the Legislative Assembly, has signed on the dotted line and is now in the running for endorsement as the party's candidate in the by-election that's expected to be held in November.
Earlier this week George spoke on ABC Local Radio about scandal-ridden Steve Cansdell's sudden exit from the political scene. George paid tribute to Cansdell's performance as the local member but, in true poker-style form, kept his cards close to his chest and, although admitting to having an interest in a political career somewhere down the track, didn't give too much away.
George's intentions were confirmed on NBN TV's news tonight and will feature in tomorrow's edition of The Daily Examiner.
Political pundits reckon George, or at least his father, has been well schooled by the Nats' party machine and been doing the numbers game and shoring up support for his candidacy while the johnny-come-latelies (aka babes in the woods)  is the south have been too busy playing useless "pick me" personality  exercises.
As my cousin, Richie Rivers says, "Come D-Day, the result will be a Mason-Dixon line decision."
Not knowing what Richie was on about, I asked to be put me in the picture.
Richie, who is a very punny fella, said, "Stuart's aunty married a Mason and while the family's roots are around the Casino area, he spent a good deal of time with his aunty's family pouring beers at a well known pub they owned in Grafton.
This student of history has to admit that the Dixon part of the equation still remains a mystery.  Perhaps there's an amateur detective who knows more details about that!

New Nats' candidate - a farmer with experience in renovations

Another National party candidate for pre-selection in Clarence arrived on the scene yesterday and her background suggests she could be just what the doctor ordered for the party to get its local act into gear.

Fiona Leviny

Fiona Leviny, a farmer from Southgate and a contestant on TEN's show The Renovators, stepped up to the plate with her nomination but has her hands tied to the TV show in the immediate future so will be missing from the local scene while the serious business of lobbying for support for pre-selection takes place in the days leading up to the party's D-Day on Saturday, October 1.

Leviny told The Daily Examiner that in the middle of her bid to get National Party endorsement to run for the seat of Clarence she has to travel to Sydney for four days for filming of the final episodes of The Renovators.

Leviny's commitment to the cause is indeed most admirable. She's prepared to do the hard yards, not settling for a second-rate effort like those who say they'll make just a 110% effort.

Leviny, who has a solid background in agriculture and tourism across Australia and overseas, said she would be there to work 150%.

Read the Examiner's report on Leviny's nomination here.

Pic credit: The Daily Examiner

Kevin Hogan denies knowing his 2010 federal election campaign involved staffer on state government payroll

The Northern Rivers Echo 22 September 2011:

The Echo understands that while Mrs Palmer was employed in Mr Cansdell's office she was instructed to work on The Nationals federal candidate Kevin Hogan's unsuccessful campaign for the seat of Page.

Mr Hogan confirmed that Mrs Palmer had worked on his campaign, but he said he thought she was a National Party volunteer and had no idea she was on the state government's pay roll.

"We had 35-40 volunteers working over in our campaign offices in Page, in Lismore, Grafton, Ballina and Casino, with the rosters organised by local branches, and I understood they were all volunteer workers," Mr Hogan said. "I was taken quite by surprise when the Herald called me. It was certainly my understanding that they were all volunteers.

"I met her (Mrs Palmer) in the Grafton office and thanked her for helping out... On a personal note, I quite like Steve, he's a nice guy who did a good job, but he did what he did, and the response was appropriate. A statutory declaration is a statutory declaration," Mr Hogan said.

More allegations are surfacing of improper behaviour by Mr Cansdell and his office.

A tale of two speeding incidents

The 2010 sign on the Pacific Highway at Clarenza warning drivers of mobile speed cameras.
From The Daily Examiner

As the mainstream media continues its coverage of the antics of disgraced former O’Farrell Government Nationals MP for Clarence, Steve 'do as I say not as I do' Cansdell, we are reminded that he appears to have been a serial offender when it comes to speeding on Clarence electorate roads.

However, only on two occasions did his driving at speed make it into print. These indicate that Mr. Cansdell did not have an opportunity to utter an untruth in the second instance. They also highlight the curious case of a parliamentarian rising to his feet in the NSW Legislative Assembly to create the very conditions which would see himself caught out and, of a politician who refused to see himself as one of those Pacific Highway hazards he railed against. 

Here is a chronological word picture over time supplying a little context……

NSW Hansard Legislative Assembly, 26 September 2006:

I {Cansdell} have been imploring the Government to cut the speed limit on the Pacific Highway at Clarenza from 100 to 80 kilometres an hour. This would only be along a 1,500-metre stretch of the highway and would only increase travel times by 13.5 seconds.

CarKB, 3 October 2008:

You would have to be almost asleep at the wheel to miss the Woodburn speed camera. Like all fixed speed cameras in NSW there are large signs  posted to warn you that you are approaching them. If you didn't see the signs you have serious situational awareness problems.

The Daily Examiner, Page 4, 14 October 2009:

LESS than a week after his letter on the issue was published in The Daily Examiner, Member for Clarence Steve Cansdell has been booked for speeding in an 80kmh zone on the Pacific Highway at Clarenza.

The MP was seen copping the ticket on the edge of the highway's southbound lane on Monday afternoon about 5.30pm.

Ironically, Mr Cansdell had successfully campaigned for an 80kmh section of highway to be introduced in the vicinity of McAuley Catholic College several years ago.

But, as the MP explained in his letter last week, it was never the intention for the 80kmh zone to be extended 4km north of the school - the area where he was caught.

Witnesses said Mr Cansdell was pulled over no more than 200 metres from the school and Mr Cansdell yesterday explained the actual speeding offence had occurred more than a kilometre further north of the point where he was stopped.

"I had my cruise control set to 100 so I wouldn't get booked and before I knew it I was in the 80kmh zone," he said.

Mr Cansdell admitted he was in the wrong and while there were mitigating circumstances involving him providing urgent help to a young constituent, he would not dispute the offence.

In his letter last week, Mr Cansdell hailed the 80kmh zone as 'a win for the school ... and the community'.

Mr Cansdell admitted he had been fined several times since becoming an MP because of the many kilometres he covered in the job.

Grafton Police declined to comment on the matter.

The Daily Examiner, 5 July 2010:

Reader’s comment on the introduction of mobile speed cameras on the NSW North Coast - Nothing wrong with mobile speed cameras, makes more sense than stupid signed stationary ones, at least those that break the law might now get caught and pay the consequence!

The Clarence Valley Review, 15 September 2010:

He {Cansdell} said the speed camera located north of Woodburn, “a village similar in size to Ulmarra with around 500 residents … has done exactly what is needed at Ulmarra. “It has slowed down traffic and is a good revenue raiser for the government. That speed camera has had positive results in that there has not been an accident in Woodburn since it was installed, and the lives of children have not been endangered….

The Northern Star, 2 October 2010:

Coming in at number 11 is the Woodburn speed camera on the Pacific Highway, northbound, which issued $1.14 million in speeding fines over the same period.

For the past three financial year periods, the Ewingsdale and Woodburn speed cameras have been strong contenders on the top 20 list.

The Sydney Morning Herald, 19 September 2011:

Northern NSW MP Steve Cansdell quit state politics last Friday after admitting to signing a false statutory declaration in 2005 when a camera on the Pacific Highway at Woodburn caught him speeding.

The Clarence Valley Review, Page 1, 21 September 2011:

Ironically in October 2009 Mr. Cansdell did lose his license for six months for speeding, after he was pulled over doing 100km/h in an 80km/h zone at Clarenza – a speed zone he had successfully lobbied to have reduced from 100km/h to 80km/h.

In 2003, the year he was elected to represent the Clarence electorate and before his penchant for being a potential danger on local roads came to light, he said this in the NSW Parliament on 14 November:

Mr STEVE CANSDELL (Clarence) [10.23 a.m.], by leave: Last Thursday I was asked if I would go to our local ambulance station at Grafton as an officer was in some distress and wanted to talk to me. I will refer to him as John. When I arrived he was decidedly upset, and we made a coffee and went outside to discuss his issues. Two days earlier there had been a major accident on the Pacific Highway 17 kilometres south of Grafton. A semi-trailer and a four-wheel-drive vehicle had had a head-on collision, resulting in one deceased and two injured. This accident has brought the total loss of life on the Pacific Highway in 2003 to 44—almost one a week. John said he wanted me to relay his story to Parliament. He said he wanted the politicians to fully understand the tragic reality of what is happening daily on our roads and highways. He stressed repeatedly the urgency of fast-tracking the Pacific Highway divided highway project.

John told me that on arrival at the accident scene there was a semi-trailer on fire, a section of the vegetation on the roadside was flattened and there were the crushed remains of what looked like a Pajero four-wheel-drive vehicle. Near the car were four people, John said with tears welling in his eyes as he described the scene. One female with serious spinal injuries was lying on the ground, with an injured male sitting over her holding her hand. Although injured himself and very traumatised, he was comforting her and talking to her. John paused for a minute as he wiped tears from his eyes before going on. There were two more adults, one female and one male. The female was deceased, with horrific injuries and covered in blood. Her partner was kneeling next to her and cradling her in his arms. Her blood was all over him and he was crying. He held her in his arms and kept repeating, "She's the love of my life, she's the love of my life."

The ambulance office put his arms around the man and hugged him, consoled him as best he could until the ambulance chaplain arrived and took over. John then went on with his job of securing the safety and wellbeing of the other accident victims and then relaying the injured and deceased to hospital. While at the hospital, John told me that the partner of the deceased rang his father-in-law to inform him of the death of his daughter. Halfway through his phone call he broke down and handed the phone to the chaplain, who confirmed the tragedy to the parents of the young lady who lost her life. The father said that he had to hang up the phone as his wife had just run out the door and onto the street screaming. These are the tragic realities of road accidents. As I said earlier, the ambulance officer asked me—no, he begged me—to bring home to our politicians the horror that these unsung heroes, the ambulance officers, have to confront on a regular basis. They want us, the politicians, to get on with the job of fixing the highways, particularly the Pacific Highway, and to stop playing politics with people's lives.

Nats king maker warns off Williamson in Clarence

Nominations for National Party pre-selection in Clarence close on Monday and if the chairman of the party's Grafton branch has his way Richie Williamson won't be donning National Party colours at the by-election which is expected to be held in November.

Peter James, the branch chairman, told The Daily Examiner that despite rumours that Williamson would run as a Nationals' candidate for pre-selection he hadn't spoken to Williamson about being a potential candidate.

James believes Williamson's strong stance as an independent during this year's state election has hindered his chances for National Party pre-selection.

James said, "I'd like to think The Nationals won't give Richie pre-selection."

James has given the two known nominees, Karen Toms  and Paul O'Connor his blessings.

When asked about his business partner O'Connor's prospects, James said, "I feel he would be a very capable local member. He is a man of many skills and the appropriate level of integrity. I believe if he was elected he would do an excellent job as the local member."

Read the Examiner's report here.

The talk on the streets is that another nomination for pre-selection was lodged today.

Another Nat puts up hand for Clarence

Grafton solicitor Paul O'Connor has decided to throw his hat into the ring and seek National Party endorsement as its candidate in the Clarence byelection.

Paul O'Connor

O'Connor is a team member at MJO Legal in Grafton. For those not in the know, MJO is McNamara, James and O'Connor.

Fellow team member at MJO is Peter James, the chairman of the Grafton Branch of the National Party.

Yesterday's Examiner reported that James was one of a number of branch members who convinced Clarence Valley councillor Karen Toms to stand for the party's preselection.

Hmmmm, there's likely to be some interesting conversations held near the water cooler in MJO's office in Grafton

Pic credit: mjolegal.com.au

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

Where is that 'people's army' of climate change denialists?

Ipsos Public Affairs of Washington, DC, conducted a random digit dial telephone survey between September 8 and September 12, 2011. Live interviewers asked questions of a national probability sample of adults aged 18 and older on landlines and cell phones. Respondents had the option to be interviewed in English or Spanish. The data were weighted to ensure that the sample composition reflects the U.S. population as documented by figures from the U.S. Census Bureau. With a sample of this size, the results are considered accurate within 3 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, of what they would have been had the entire adult population in the U.S. been polled

Interviewers were instructed to ask to speak with the youngest household member age 18 or older who was available to be interviewed. The initial request was for the youngest male during 75% of the calls and for the youngest female in the remaining 25%. If the youngest household member was unavailable, interviewers were instructed to speak with anyone else in the household who was willing to participate.

This is what this Stanford University study found:

·         82.55% of all respondents believe that the world’s temperature has been going up in the past 100 years and that belief is held by 91.42% of the Democrats, 66.45% of the Republicans and 84.16% of the Independents polled.

·         52.74% of all those polled extremely sure or very sure that the world’s temperature has been going up and a further 34.07% somewhat sure.

·         71.52% of all respondents believe that global warming is partly or mostly caused by things people do and 72.29% believe that the world’s temperature will continue to rise over the next 100 years.

·         In all three political party categories this number who believe in the world is warming has risen since the 2010 survey. However the number who believe that people contribute to global warming has fallen by 3.80% .

The only conclusion which can be drawn from this study is that the majority of the U.S. population appear to believe that the world is warming and that anthropomorphic (human induced) global warming exists.

In 2010 the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation  (CSIRO) conducted two surveys of public opinion in relation to climate change, the Baseline and the Science in Society surveys.

In the first survey:

·         82.8% of all respondents thought that climate change is happening.

·         50.4% of those polled believe that humans are largely causing climate change and 38.1% of these think that they have already experienced moderate effects of climate change

·         Participants who intended to vote for the Greens and Labor more likely to state belief in human-induced climate change and those intending to vote Liberal, National or for the Independents, more likely to state that climate change was happening due to natural variations in Earth’s temperatures.

In the second survey:

·         63% of all respondents believe that climate change is happening now and 15% believe it will happen in the next 30 years.

Which raises the question – why does the Australian media, especially News Ltd publications, persist in implying/portraying climate change denialism as the norm in Australia and around the world?

Citizen bloggers shouldn't panic just yet - no matter how far Teh Bolta throws his red herrings

This was Teh Bolta last Thursday; “You do realise that the Gillard Government may be thinking of laws to censor those of you who blog and tweet.“

And as usual you can find his faithful echoes out in the blogosphere trying to whip up a conspiracy.

However, nowhere do they explain how citizen blogs published on domains registered in other countries can be regulated or adjudicated by Australian Government agencies or the Press Council - outside of being placed on the mandatory ISP filter domain/website blacklist that Conroy has spectacularly failed to get off the ground. Google Inc (owner of one of the more popular hosting domains) for one was not impressed by Conroy's chilling policy.

Neither do they tell us on what their censorship fears are based when it comes to this new independent inquiry.

Despite the not-so-secret wish list of that notorious political anal retentive the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, it’s professional journalists and their ilk writing online newspaper articles/opinion ‘blogs’ (and perhaps even their broadcasting compatriots published in the online print version of radio or television programs and journalists with publisher-endorsed promotional Twitter accounts) whose pages will fall squarely within the terms of reference set out in the 14th September 2011 press release sent out by the Minister when he announced an independent inquiry into the Australian media:

Announcing the Terms of Reference for the Inquiry, Senator Conroy acknowledged the pressures brought about by the advent of digital technologies and the 24 hour news cycle were threatening the traditional business models that support the essential role of the media in our democratic society……

"The Media Inquiry I am announcing today will focus on print media regulation, including online publications, and the operation of the Press Council.

"The Government believes a separate and distinct examination of the pressures facing newspapers and their newsrooms, including online publications, will enhance our consideration of the policy and regulatory settings Australia needs to ensure that the news media continues to serve the public interest in the digital age," Senator Conroy said.

The Inquiry will be conducted independently of Government, led by Former Justice of the Federal Court of Australia, Ray Finkelstein QC, with the assistance of Dr Matthew Ricketson, Professor of Journalism at Canberra University and a former practising journalist.

"The Government is delighted that these eminently qualified Australians have agreed to undertake this important task on behalf of the Australian people," Senator Conroy said.

The Inquiry will provide its findings to the Convergence Review early next year, and the Government will take a considered approach to the recommendations of both.

Terms of Reference

An independent panel will be appointed to inquire into and report on the following issues, while noting that media regulation is currently being considered by the Convergence Review:

a) The effectiveness of the current media codes of practice in Australia, particularly in light of technological change that is leading to the migration of print media to digital and online platforms;

b) The impact of this technological change on the business model that has supported the investment by traditional media organisations in quality journalism and the production of news, and how such activities can be supported, and diversity enhanced, in the changed media environment;

c) Ways of substantially strengthening the independence and effectiveness of the Australian Press Council, including in relation to on-line publications, and with particular reference to the handling of complaints;

d) Any related issues pertaining to the ability of the media to operate according to regulations and codes of practice, and in the public interest.

The panel will be required to provide a report to Government by 28 February 2012, while working with the Convergence Review committee to ensure that findings are able to be incorporated into the ultimate report of the Convergence Review by end March 2012.

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