Ratio of national leader's pay to their country's GDP per person

When you don't get what you pay for?

The Economist on 5th July 2010

Clarence Valley Council: when does a précis turn into an attempt to censor and distort?

In response to "So What": the face of not-so-good governance on the NSW North Coast.

The Clarence Valley community is entitled to be concerned in regard to the process adopted by the Clarence Valley Council to reduce public budget submissions to a précis form, then respond to the précis.

It is not unreasonable for our elected council representatives to be pressed for time, so one can understand the beneficial logic behind such process. Unfortunately it has not taken long for Council's unelected bureaucrats to exploit the foibles of this process.

It had been pointed out in previous budget submissions that Grafton came into amalgamation carrying a $1.2m deficit while Maclean came in with a surplus. But I could not find any evidence that Council had ever reconciled that deficit.

It is on public record that Council's rates and service expenditures are calculated on the percentage levels that existed at time of amalgamation. Consequently an unreconciled $1.2m deficit more than likely still exists, undetected and negatively influencing council finances.
Naturally I raised this query in my budget submission.

In its infinite wisdom, administration responded that the deficit had been offset by:-

a) Purchase of sections of Stage 2 Yamba Bypass (est. $1m)
b) Purchase of open space at Townsend (est $216k)

I pointed out in my subsequent budget submission that a) and b) are debts and when paid appreciate in value generating direct/indirect revenues for Council. Therefore a debt cannot reconcile/offset a deficit which is an imbalance in council ledgers and continues until reconciled.

Embarrassed by its faux pas, administration reduced my submission to précis form, to read:-

"Concern that the issue of the GCC bringing a $1.2m deficit into amalgamation while the MSC brought in a surplus has not been adequately answered."

Administration then boldly answered its (misinterpreted) précis:-

"Amalgamation occurred on 25-2-04. This response is written on 21 June 2010 and it is "so what".

These are public monies administration are mismanaging. To properly reconcile this deficit, Grafton rates should have been increased in line with its service expenditures or, its service expenditures should have been reduced in line with its income.
As neither was done, Grafton has continued to live beyond its means at the expense of the rest of the shire.

If these self-serving unelected bureaucrats can be indicted for their inept administration, then they must also stand indicted for their self-indulgent and less than totally frank integrity, ethics and moral values.

Their contemptuous disregard for the community consultation process undermines public confidence and erodes public trust as energetically as it mutilates democracy.

Ray Hunt
Yamba

Guest Speak is a North Coast Voices segment allowing serious or satirical comment from NSW Northern Rivers residents.Email ncvguestpeak at live dot com dot au to submit comment for consideration.

Putting Australia's external population pressures into perspective

This is what you are anxious about?
Hat tip to Venessa Paech for first finding and then tweeting this graph displayed on Robert Corr's weblog:

















The graph in another form at Overland:

Click on images to enlarge

One local battle in the 2010 Australian federal election is underway on the Internet

The battle for Page on the NSW North Coast is well and truly joined and Saffin gets a shot out of the locker at Hogan:

Saffin says Federal Nationals disenfranchising young voters

Friday, 09 July 2010 16:25

Page MP Janelle Saffin MP says the Nationals and Liberals have blocked moves to help more young people exercise their right to vote in the next Federal election.

Ms Saffin said there are an estimated 1.4 million people missing from the electoral rolls, and 70 per cent of these are young people.

"The Liberals and Nationals voted against the Australian Government's legislation that would have given people one week after an election is called, to enrol to vote.

"The seven day close of rolls period is an important safeguard to make sure eligible voters have time to enrol.

"Under the Howard Government, this safeguard was abolished, leaving tens of thousands of young people without a vote at the 2007 Federal election.

"And now the Nationals and Liberals have blocked the Government's legislation to reintroduce the seven day period.

"Australians can enrol to vote as soon as they turn 18, but in reality many don't think about voting until there is an election campaign.

"Because of the actions of the Nationals and Liberals, when the Federal election is called this year new voters will only have until the end of that day to enrol (or the next business day if the election is called on a weekend).

"I challenge Nationals candidate Kevin Hogan to tell young people why he stopping more young people from voting.

"And I urge all eligible voters to make sure they are on the electoral roll so they can exercise their democratic right to vote on Election Day.

"If young Australians wait, they could lose their opportunity to vote, thanks to the Kevin Hogan's Federal colleagues in the National Party and the Liberals," Ms Saffin said.

Pics from The Nationals website and The Daily Examiner - Hogan on the left & Saffin on the right