Equal Rights: reaffirming the core values and principles of the Commonwealth in 2013

Excerpt from the Commonwealth Secretariat’s 8 March 2013 media release:

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Head of the Commonwealth, will mark Commonwealth Day on Monday, 11 March by signing the Commonwealth Charter, an historic document which brings together, for the first time in the association's 64-year history, key declarations on Commonwealth principles.

The Charter signing will take place at a reception hosted by the Commonwealth Secretary-General at Marlborough House in London. It will be the Queen’s first official engagement since leaving hospital earlier this week.

After the signing, the Queen will address High Commissioners and other dignitaries at the reception.

Heads of Government adopted the Commonwealth Charter on 14 December 2012, following a year-long consultation with member governments and civil society. The signed Charter will remain on display at Marlborough House…….

Charter of the Commonwealth

We the people of the Commonwealth:

Recognising that in an era of changing economic circumstances and uncertainty, new trade and economic patterns, unprecedented threats to peace and security, and a surge in popular demands for democracy, human rights and broadened economic opportunities, the potential of and need for the Commonwealth – as a compelling force for good and as an effective network for co-operation and for promoting development – has never been greater,

Recalling that the Commonwealth is a voluntary association of independent and equal sovereign states, each responsible for its own policies, consulting and co-operating in the common interests of our peoples and in the promotion of international understanding and world peace, and influencing international society to the benefit of all through the pursuit of common principles and values,

Affirming that the special strength of the Commonwealth lies in the combination of our diversity and our shared inheritance in language, culture and the rule of law; and bound together by shared history and tradition; by respect for all states and peoples; by shared values and principles and by concern for the vulnerable,

Affirming that the Commonwealth way is to seek consensus through consultation and the sharing of experience, especially through practical co-operation, and further affirming that the Commonwealth is uniquely placed to serve as a model and as a catalyst for new forms of friendship and co-operation in the spirit of the Charter of the United Nations,

Affirming the role of the Commonwealth as a recognised intergovernmental champion of small states, advocating for their special needs; providing policy advice on political, economic and social development issues; and delivering technical assistance,

Welcoming the valuable contribution of the network of the many intergovernmental, parliamentary, professional and civil society bodies which support the Commonwealth and which subscribe and adhere to its values and principles,

Affirming the validity of and our commitment to the values and principles of the Commonwealth as defined and strengthened over the years including: the Singapore Declaration of Commonwealth Principles, the Harare Commonwealth Declaration, the Langkawi Declaration on the Environment, the Millbrook Action Programme, the Latimer House Principles, the Aberdeen Agenda, the Trinidad and Tobago Affirmation of Commonwealth Values and Principles, the Munyonyo Statement on Respect and Understanding, the Lake Victoria Commonwealth Climate Change Action Plan, the Perth Declaration on Food Security Principles, and the Commonwealth Declaration on Investing in Young People,

Affirming our core Commonwealth principles of consensus and common action, mutual respect, inclusiveness, transparency, accountability, legitimacy, and responsiveness,

Reaffirming the core values and principles of the Commonwealth as declared by this Charter:

I. DEMOCRACY

We recognise the inalienable right of individuals to participate in democratic processes, in particular through free and fair elections in shaping the society in which they live. Governments, political parties and civil society are responsible for upholding and promoting democratic culture and practices and are accountable to the public in this regard. Parliaments and representative local governments and other forms of local governance are essential elements in the exercise of democratic governance.

We support the role of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group to address promptly and effectively all instances of serious or persistent violations of Commonwealth values without any fear or favour.

II. HUMAN RIGHTS

We are committed to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other relevant human rights covenants and international instruments. We are committed to equality and respect for the protection and promotion of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development, for all without discrimination on any grounds as the foundations of peaceful, just and stable societies. We note that these rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated and cannot be implemented selectively.

We are implacably opposed to all forms of discrimination, whether rooted in gender, race, colour, creed, political belief or other grounds.

III. INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND SECURITY

We firmly believe that international peace and security, sustainable economic growth and development and the rule of law are essential to the progress and prosperity of all. We are committed to an effective multilateral system based on inclusiveness, equity, justice and international law as the best foundation for achieving consensus and progress on major global challenges including piracy and terrorism.

We support international efforts for peace and disarmament at the United Nations and other multilateral institutions. We will contribute to the promotion of international consensus on major global political, economic and social issues. We will be guided by our commitment to the security, development and prosperity of every member state.

We reiterate our absolute condemnation of all acts of terrorism in whatever form or wherever they occur or by whomsoever perpetrated, with the consequent tragic loss of human life and severe damage to political, economic and social stability. We reaffirm our commitment to work together as a diverse community of nations, individually, and collectively under the auspices and authority of the United Nations, to take concerted and resolute action to eradicate terrorism.

IV. TOLERANCE, RESPECT AND UNDERSTANDING

We emphasise the need to promote tolerance, respect, understanding, moderation and religious freedom which are essential to the development of free and democratic societies, and recall that respect for the dignity of all human beings is critical to promoting peace and prosperity.

We accept that diversity and understanding the richness of our multiple identities are fundamental to the Commonwealth’s principles and approach.

V. FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION

We are committed to peaceful, open dialogue and the free flow of information, including through a free and responsible media, and to enhancing democratic traditions and strengthening democratic processes.

VI. SEPARATION OF POWERS

We recognise the importance of maintaining the integrity of the roles of the Legislature, Executive and Judiciary. These are the guarantors in their respective spheres of the rule of law, the promotion and protection of fundamental human rights and adherence to good governance.

VII. RULE OF LAW

We believe in the rule of law as an essential protection for the people of the Commonwealth and as an assurance of limited and accountable government. In particular we support an independent, impartial, honest and competent judiciary and recognise that an independent, effective and competent legal system is integral to upholding the rule of law, engendering public confidence and dispensing justice.

VIII. GOOD GOVERNANCE

We reiterate our commitment to promote good governance through the rule of law, to ensure transparency and accountability and to root out, both at national and international levels, systemic and systematic corruption.

IX. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

We recognise that sustainable development can help to eradicate poverty by pursuing inclusive growth whilst preserving and conserving natural ecosystems and promoting social equity.

We stress the importance of sustainable economic and social transformation to eliminate poverty and meet the basic needs of the vast majority of the people of the world and reiterate that economic and social progress enhances the sustainability of democracy.

We are committed to removing wide disparities and unequal living standards as guided by internationally agreed development goals. We are also committed to building economic resilience and promoting social equity, and we reiterate the value in technical assistance, capacity building and practical cooperation in promoting development.

We are committed to an effective, equitable, rules-based multilateral trading system, the freest possible flow of multilateral trade on terms fair and equitable to all, while taking into account the special requirements of small states and developing countries.

We also recognise the importance of information and communication technologies as powerful instruments of development; delivering savings, efficiencies and growth in our economies, as well as promoting education, learning and the sharing of culture. We are committed to strengthening its use while enhancing its security, for the purpose of advancing our societies.

X. PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT

We recognise the importance of the protection and conservation of our natural ecosystems and affirm that sustainable management of the natural environment is the key to sustained human development. We recognise the importance of multilateral cooperation, sustained commitment and collective action, in particular by addressing the adaptation and mitigation challenges of climate change and facilitating the development, diffusion and deployment of affordable environmentally friendly technologies and renewable energy, and the prevention of illicit dumping of toxic and hazardous waste as well as the prevention and mitigation of erosion and desertification.

XI. ACCESS TO HEALTH, EDUCATION, FOOD AND SHELTER

We recognise the necessity of access to affordable health care, education, clean drinking water, sanitation and housing for all citizens and emphasise the importance of promoting health and well-being in combating communicable and non-communicable diseases.

We recognise the right of everyone to have access to safe, sufficient and nutritious food, consistent with the progressive realisation of the right to adequate food in the context of national food security.

XII. GENDER EQUALITY

We recognise that gender equality and women’s empowerment are essential components of human development and basic human rights. The advancement of women’s rights and the education of girls are critical preconditions for effective and sustainable development.

XIII. IMPORTANCE OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE COMMONWEALTH

We recognise the positive and active role and contributions of young people in promoting development, peace, democracy and in protecting and promoting other Commonwealth values, such as tolerance and understanding, including respect for other cultures. The future success of the Commonwealth rests with the continued commitment and contributions of young people in promoting and sustaining the Commonwealth and its values and principles, and we commit to investing in and promoting their development, particularly through the creation of opportunities for youth employment and entrepreneurship.

XIV. RECOGNITION OF THE NEEDS OF SMALL STATES

We are committed to assisting small and developing states in the Commonwealth, including the particular needs of small island developing states, in tackling their particular economic, energy, climate change and security challenges, and in building their resilience for the future.

XV. RECOGNITION OF THE NEEDS OF VULNERABLE STATES

We are committed to collaborating to find ways to provide immediate help to the poorest and most vulnerable including least developed countries, and to develop responses to protect the people most at risk.

XVI. THE ROLE OF CIVIL SOCIETY

We recognise the important role that civil society plays in our communities and countries as partners in promoting and supporting Commonwealth values and principles, including the freedom of association and peaceful assembly, and in achieving development goals.

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We are committed to ensuring that the Commonwealth is an effective association, responsive to members’ needs, and capable of addressing the significant global challenges of the future.

We aspire to a Commonwealth that is a strong and respected voice in the world, speaking out on major issues; that strengthens and enlarges its networks; that has a global relevance and profile; and that is devoted to improving the lives of all peoples of the Commonwealth.

Dated this 14th day of December 2012

Is this the future of Northern Rivers water if the O'Farrell Government, Metgasco and Dart prevail?

 

Enduring and sustainable river and ground water systems have long been a focus of community concern on the NSW North Coast.

 

Metgasco Limited has been exploring for coal seam gas in the region for a number of years and to date has drilled 50 wells of various types which tap into what the company describes as shallow aquifer water.

 

It does not specify how much carted-in domestic water and aquifer water it has used thus far, although its estimates for seven incomplete/new core, pilot and ‘conventional’ wells range from 200,000 litres through to 1 million litres per well by 2014.

 

Nor does it rule out produced waste water and/or treated water seeping into local aquifers.

 

Ultimately Metgasco intends to have an estimated 1,000 wells in commercial production in the Richmond Valley and, an as yet unspecified number in the Clarence Valley.

 

Dart Energy has only recently purchased an existing mining exploration tenement in the region and takes responsibility for the 15 exploration wells already sunk.

 

So what might this level of exploration phase and future production phase water extraction mean for North Coast rivers and aquifers?

 

Because Metgasco does not publicly broach this subject unless pressed on specifc issues by the media, one must look to the National Water Commission and Queensland for a sense of what may come to pass.

 

In June 2012 the Australian Water Commission published a CSG water management position paper which stated:
 

Potential risks to sustainable water management

• Extracting large volumes of low-quality water will impact on connected surface and groundwater systems, some of which may already be fully or overallocated, including the Great Artesian Basin and Murray-Darling Basin.

• Impacts on other water users and the environment may occur due to the dramatic depressurisation of the coal seam, including: - changes in pressures of adjacent aquifers with consequential changes in water availability - reductions in surface water flows in connected systems - land subsidence over large areas, affecting surface water systems, ecosystems, irrigation and grazing lands.

• The production of large volumes of treated waste water, if released to surface water systems, could alter natural flow patterns and have significant impacts on water quality, and river and wetland health. There is an associated risk that, if the water is overly treated, 'clean water' pollution of naturally turbid systems may occur.

• The practice of hydraulic fracturing, or fraccing, to increase gas output, has the potential to induce connection and cross-contamination between aquifers, with impacts on groundwater quality.

• The reinjection of treated waste water into other aquifers has the potential to change the beneficial use characteristics of those aquifers.

Also in 2012 the Queensland Government produced the Surat Underground Water Impact Report which predicts that petroleum tenure holders will extract approximately 95,000 megalitres of water per year over the life of the industry and this extraction will impact on water levels.

 

There are some 21,000 water bores within the Surat CMA with bore water used for grazing, irrigation, industry and urban consumption.
 

Of these, there are 528 bores which are expected to experience a decline in water level of more than the trigger threshold as a result of CSG water extraction.

 

The trigger threshold referred to is five metres for consolidated aquifers (such as sandstone) and two metres for unconsolidated aquifers (such as sands).

 

Eighty-five of the 528 bores are expected to decline by more than the trigger threshold within three years.

 

All 528 bores tap into geological formations involved in current or proposed coal seam gas exploration and production.

 

Note: The Walloon Coal Measures is a geologic formation of the Great Artesian Basin (GAB). The GAB includes aquifers of economic importance and which feed springs of high ecological and cultural significance. The Condamine Alluvium overlies the GAB and is also an aquifer of major economic importance.

 

Of the 71 spring complexes in the area, there are five where the predicted decline in water levels in the source aquifer for the spring is more than 0.2 metres at the location of the spring.

 

In 2013 it was reported in a peer-reviewed paper that fugitive gas emissions from a CSG gas field near Tara in Queensland may be higher than previously thought.

 

This paper hypothesizes that the lowering of the water table and the alteration of subsurface strata creates enhanced soil gas exchange, which results in higher radon concentrations near CSG wells.

 

A previous submission from the SCU Centre for Coastal Biogeochemistry Research also highlighted a possible relationship between CSG mining activity in the Tara region and the presence of higher than expected levels of the greenhouse gas methane in the air.

Clarence Valley Mayor Richie Williamson gets a slap down for 'defeatism'

 

Letter to the Editor, The Daily Examiner 5 March 2013:

Stronger stuff

For the past two Sundays, I have listened to ABC News Radio and I have heard two very different mayoral reactions to multiple flooding events in their respective council areas.

The first was our own Mr Williamson who told the nation, before we had even seen the peak, that The Clarence Valley was "on its knees".

The second, whose name escaped me, has responsibility for Dalby and its surrounds. He said that while Mother Nature was giving it to them, his people "just kept coming back with more".

I appreciate that you were angling for federal and state flood funding for our Valley Mr Williamson but, personally, I believe the Clarence Valley will only be on its knees after the rest of Australia is on its face, dead.

DI Gilks

Who said what in the current Australian gun crime debate

 

Police Association of NSW 27 February 2013:

 

SYDNEY, Feb 27 AAP - NSW Attorney General Greg Smith says there’s a long way to go until drive-by shootings in western Sydney are brought under control.
Addressing a Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) conference in Sydney, Mr Smith said the problem of drive-by shootings was “smaller now than it was in 2001”.
However, he conceded the coalition government had not yet been able to fully combat it across western Sydney.
“It’s of great concern and we still have a long way to go in bringing it fully under control,” Mr Smith told the conference.
The comments come after a wave of shootings in the city’s west that have forced NSW police to establish Operation Apollo, a special strike force targeting gun crime.

 

The Sydney Morning Herald 7 March 2013:

 

On Sunday, Ms Gillard announced a $64 million ''national anti-gang taskforce''.
Ms Gillard said: ''When we look at the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, we see that, over the past 15 years, shootings in public places have soared.''

NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research  Media Release 6 March 2013:

 

The claim by the Prime Minister that shooting offences in public places in NSW have ‘soared’ over the last 15 years is incorrect, according to the head of the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research.

The claim was reportedly made by the Prime Minister last Sunday when announcing various measures to tackle organised crime in NSW and other States.

According to the Director of the Bureau, the total number of non-fatal shooting offences in NSW peaked at a six-month average of over 40 incidents a month in November 2001 and then began to fall.

By December last year the six-monthly average number of non-fatal shooting incidents had dropped to around 25 a month.

‘Only one type of shooting incident has increased over the last two years. The offence of ‘unlawfully discharge firearm into premises’ rose from a six-monthly average of five in February 2010 to a six-monthly average peak of about 11 a month in August 2012.’

‘In the last three months of 2012, however, the incidence of this offence dropped sharply. The six-monthly average in December last year was back down to around 6 to 7 offences a month.’

More serious offences, such as ‘shoot with intent to kill’ have remained fairly low and stable since 1997. Homicide offences involving a firearm have actually fallen across Australia.’

 

National statistics

 

http://www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au/Lawlink/bocsar/ll_bocsar.nsf/pages/bocsar_mr_20130306

 

NSW Statistics

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/features/the-merchants-of-death/story-e6frg6z6-1226564559935

Click on graphs to enlarge

 

Found on Twitter.....

Steve Thompson

@stevethompson49

Liberal voter appalled at the prospect of Tony Abbott as PM. Poly-atheist. CF father. I don't suffer fools and I challenge hypocrisy, myths and bullshit.

Sydney, Australia

 

Anthropomorphic Global Warming - two perspectives

http://www.skepticalscience.com

National Party candidate Kevin Hogan's sparse biography

2010 election campaign poster

In 2010 Kevin John Hogan of Beacoms Road, Clunes NSW stood as the National Party candidate in that year’s federal election.

His media biography at that time read:

46 year-old Hogan lives at Clunes, near Lismore. He grew up in country South Australia and worked managing investment portfolios with Colonial in Sydney, also giving daily financial market updates on Sky News. He decided to move to the north coast thirteen years ago and spent seven years teaching at St Mary's High School in Casino before setting up his own superannuation consultancy business.

He expanded on this somewhat during the 2010 election campaign:

Before moving to the North Coast I worked in Sydney for Colonial, where I managed a one billion-dollar investment portfolio...

In 2013 Kevin Hogan is again standing as the Nationals candidate in the Page electorate and his official biography appears almost as terse:

Born and bred in Regional Australia, Kevin lives with his wife Karen and three children on a property near Lismore.

After completing an Economics degree Kevin spent over ten years in Sydney forging a successful career in finance, working for Colonial for many years.

When the time came to raise a family Kevin and Karen moved back to the Northern Rivers and Karen’s home town of Lismore.

Kevin took up teaching, at St Mary’s High School in Casino, teaching Business Studies and serving, for a time, as Deputy Principal.

He operates a small business and runs a cattle property. Karen works as a registered nurse.

Kevin has always been committed to contributing to his local community. He has served on a local council Wastewater Advisory Committee, been Vice President of his local state primary school P&C, president of the local sports club, and coached junior sporting teams.

However, this brief curriculum vitae raises a few questions.

For instance, why is Kevin Hogan silent on his time as Investment Officer for the Australian Catholic Superannuation and Retirement Fund which ended when he resigned in September 2008?

Or why does he not include his time sitting on a Trinity property investment group sub-committee, the Investors Advisory Board (IAB), as a voting member representing the interests of Catholic Super until his resignation from that board in September 2008?

The Global Financial Crisis may explain many of the losses on Catholic Super's books in 2008 and Mr. Hogan may have genuinely decided that he didn’t want the constant commute between Sydney and the NSW North Coast, but the fact remains that he was Investment Officer at a time of decidedly poor investment performance.

Now he is standing for election this September and asking Page voters to trust him to assist in creating national financial policies for the world’s 12^th largest economy and one which survived that same financial crisis with flying colours.

At the very least voters deserve a full account of his employment history to date so that they can cast an informed vote next September.

Brief background

Table from Catholic Super & Retirement Fund (CSRF) Trustee’s Annual Report to Members 30 June 2009:

 

Click on image to enlarge

I&T News Conexus Financial Pty Ltd 26 October 2009:

Investors with $850 million invested in Trinity Funds Management products have appointed KPMG to investigate the governance changes underway at the manager before deciding whether to put their mandates out to tender.

KPMG is preparing to undertake the investigation, which gives Trinity about three months to earn the confidence of the investors before they decide to stay with the manager or terminate their mandates in the wake of the success fee scandal that saw lobbyist Ross Daley earn $1 million for, he claims, helping secure a $100 million mandate from Sunsuper.

David Asplin, general manager – institutional funds management at Trinity, said the manager was working “very co-operatively” with the investors’ representative committee (IRC), “given that they constitute a large percentage of our external investments”.

The IRC, an independent body representing investors in Trinity’s unlisted funds, was formed in late July after the Investors Advisory Board (IAB), a sub-committee within Trinity, dissolved.

The six-member IAB was set up in mid-2008 to represent investors in Trinity funds, and included John Coombe, executive director of JANA; Megan Chan, portfolio manager with Sunsuper; Kevin Hogan, investment officer of Catholic Super; and Craig Stevens, chief executive officer of Austsafe.

It is understood that KPMG was appointed by the IRC to investigate the governance changes taking place at Trinity following the Daley success fee scandal.

Business wiith The Wall Street Journal in The Australian 21 September 2009:

Trinity said it froze the trust because it was "not in the best interests of unitholders" to allow investors to withdraw funds.

"Trinity Property Trust has no mandatory requirement to make a withdrawal offer," the group said. "In accordance with the trust's constitution and (the) Corporations Act, unitholders can only withdraw from the fund if the manager chooses at its discretion to make a withdrawal offer."

Since Sunsuper invested $100m in Trinity the value of the trust has slumped 26 per cent, with the investment -- provided by the group's superannuation holders -- now worth just $74m.

West Australia Votes - 9 March 2013 State Election [links]

The Australian Broadcasting Commission has it covered online:

· ABC News Online is following the WA election with the latest reports throughout the campaign You will find comprehensive coverage, as well as Antony Green's election guide with all the news, information and analysis of the election including seat-by-seat directory of candidates, the ABC's election calculator and a full candidate directory

· ABC News 24 television coverage will be streamed live. On election night, March 9, the geo-block will be lifted for international viewers

· ABC Radio coverage can be streamed online

· If you are on Twitter the hash tag is #wavotes or you can follow @ABC_NewsRadio, @abcnewsWA,@ABCElections, @AntonyGreenABC

· Join the conversation on the 720 ABC Perth Facebook page and follow @720perth on Twitter as we bring you up to the minute updates to your social media feed

Anthony Greens Election Blog

@AntonyGreenABC

Also on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WAtoday

Pacific Highway Upgrade: Saffin says Hartsuyker and Hogan talking rot

Media Release Tuesday 5 March, 2013

Saffin says Federal Pacific Highway funding is quarantined

Page MP Janelle Saffin today said Australian Government’s funding for the Pacific Highway has been quarantined and is guaranteed, no matter what.

Ms Saffin said the Nationals MP Luke Hartsuyker knows that the Pacific Highway funding is guaranteed and has nothing at all to do with funding for Sydney roads.

“The Member for Cowper is just talking rubbish when he says he’s worried about the Federal Government’s announcement of $1.5 billion for the WestConnex project in Western Sydney.

“And it just shows how politically hapless Kevin Hogan is to follow Luke Hartsuyker, and trot out the same rot.

“I note that they made no comment last October when Tony Abbott announced the $1.5 billion for the WestConnex project last October.

“I find it extraordinary that the Nationals can keep a straight face when they talk about the Pacific Highway, given the poor funding record from 1996-2007 under the Federal Liberal National Coalition Government.

“The Federal Labor Government is already investing a record $4.1 billion into the Pacific Highway and has put an additional $3.56 billion on the table.

“By comparison, the former Howard Government, of which Luke was a member, could only manage to spend $1.3 billion on the Highway during their 12 long years in office – and that’s despite being Australia’s highest ever taxing government.

“As Luke knows, the $2.3 billion for the Pacific Highway remaining from last year’s Budget is guaranteed and just needs the O’Farrell Government to  honour it’s pre-election commitment  to its share of funding for the upgrade.

“Instead of getting stuck into me, if Luke is so concerned, he should direct his energies to getting his State coalition colleagues to honour their commitment to matching the highway funding.

“Last year the NSW Coalition Government ran out of excuses not to put in its share when the State Auditor-General revealed the O’Farrell Government’s $1 billion mistake in its sums.

“State or Federal, the Nationals don’t have a good record of delivering on the Pacific Highway when in Government, although they  make a big noise about the Highway when in opposition.”

Lee DuncanMedia Adviser
Office of Janelle Saffin MP
Federal Member for Page
Ph: 6621.9909   

The mining tax may not be as unpopular as Tony Abbott would have us believe

Australian Opposition leader Tony Abbott on the subject of the Mineral Resources Rent Tax (MRRT) - also known as the mining tax:

2011 we will be opposing this tax in opposition and we will be rescinding it in government should we get the chance

2012 What I can and must say is if we are elected we'll do the right thing by Australia and get rid of this bad tax

2013 We think that this is a bad tax

If one believes Tony Abbott’s media grabs, this super profits tax should be very unpopular with the Australian public.

However, the Essential Report for 4 March 2013 clearly shows that 50 per cent of those surveyed are in favour of retaining this tax and 29 per cent would like to see the tax amended so that it raised more money from the mining industry. Only 28 per cent thought the tax should be removed altogether.

Click on image to enlarge

STATE OF PLAY: Australian Liberal-Nationals State Governments in 2013

Five out of the eight Australian state and territory governments are part of the Liberal-Nationals political network.

All is not well within that network………

QUEENSLAND

THE resignation of trouble-prone Queensland arts minister Ros Bates has been followed by Campbell Newman's sacking of hand-picked public service boss Michael Caltabiano.

Just hours after Ms Bates resigned - the third minister to go since Mr Newman won office last year - the Premier announced he had given notice to Mr Caltabiano, a friend who he had personally appointed as director-general of the Department of Transport and Main Roads.

Mr Caltabiano, a fellow councillor with Mr Newman at Brisbane's city hall, was stood down as director-general last year over comments he made to an estimates hearing.

He is subject to an ongoing Crime and Misconduct Commission investigation into his department's appointment to a senior role of Benjamin Gommers, son of Ms Bates.

The former Liberal MP and factional powerbroker stepped down when he was referred to the parliamentary ethics committee for allegedly misinforming an estimates hearing about his work history. [The Australian 15 February 2013]

A complaint about former federal treasurer Peter Costello lodged with Queensland's Crime and Misconduct Commission highlights potential conflicts of interest between his job overseeing the future of the state's finances and his ownership of a lobby group representing companies that could benefit from state asset sales. [The Age 7 March 2013]

REDCLIFFE MP Scott Driscoll claims he has received "many calls and the personal support from Premier Campbell Newman" since revelations about links to a community association being probed over alleged financial irregularities were reported in The Courier-Mail.

Mr Driscoll last week wrote to local LNP members assuring them he had the Premier's backing amid what he called a "disgusting and base level campaign".

"We have shared several stories about the similar campaign of lies and slurs he and his family suffered from during the last state election campaign," Mr Driscoll wrote.

A spokesman for the Premier declined to comment on the letter or comment on whether taxpayer funds had been used to pay for the mail-out.

It comes as The Courier-Mail can reveal the premises of the taxpayer-funded Regional Community Association of Moreton Bay, linked to Mr Driscoll and under investigation by federal and state departments, have been provided free to the LNP for political meetings. [The Courier Mail 7 March 2013]

VICTORIA

DENIS Napthine was last night sworn in as Victorian Premier after Ted Baillieu succumbed to the turmoil that has pushed the Coalition government close to collapse.

A tearful Mr Baillieu announced his resignation hours after the shock decision of backbencher Geoff Shaw to quit the parliamentary party and move to the crossbenches.

That decision means that the Coalition government could be ousted from office unless it can win Mr Shaw's support on key legislation, including the budget and any possible vote of no confidence. [The Australian 7 March 2013]

NORTHERN TERRITORY

The leadership of Northern Territory Chief Minister Terry Mills may again be under a cloud, following the resignation of his deputy.

Mr Mills, who came to office last August in a landslide, has been under pressure after his party polled badly in a recent by-election.

There has been criticism of the Country Liberal Party's (CLP) decision to raise power prices by 30 per cent, and to commit to spending cutbacks, which the party said were needed to slash debt.

On Tuesday in a short statement, Robyn Lambley, who is Deputy Chief Minister, Treasurer and Education Minister among other portfolios, announced she was resigning her post as deputy. [Yahoo News 5 March 2013]

INDIGENOUS Advancement Minister Alison Anderson has threatened to bring down the Territory Government by taking her four-strong Bush Coalition out of the CLP. [Northern Territory News 7 March2013]


UPDATE: Sky news reported the Country Liberals partyroom voted 11-5 to unseat former leader Terry Mills, who is in Japan and was told by phone. [The Age 13 March 2013]

WEST AUSTRALIA

SECRET Cabinet documents reveal Colin Barnett met James Packer about Perth's $1 billion stadium months before approving the Burswood location - despite the Premier later telling Parliament the meeting "had nothing to do with'' the venue.

In revelations that will focus intense scrutiny on the Premier's dealings with billionaire casino magnate Mr Packer, the June 27, 2011, Cabinet document, in which Burswood is ratified as the preferred site, details how their meeting three months earlier specifically examined the stadium and its relationship to Mr Packer's nearby casino and entertainment complex. [Perth Now 2 February 2013]

The Liberal Party is a minority government, dependent on support from independents and the Nationals (who are not in a formal coalition). [The Australian 7 February 2013]

NEW SOUTH WALES

A PROMINENT Liberal Party figure known for his fund-raising prowess, Nick di Girolamo, was appointed to a $100,000 position on the board of a state-owned corporation by the NSW government last year. [The Sydney Morning Herald 2 March 2013]

Mr Lockley also concluded the $3 million the Obeids paid to Australian Water Holdings, which he said also came from the coal venture, was wrongly recorded in the Obeid accounts as a loan. Mr Lockley said it should have been recorded as an investment.

Nick di Girolamo, head of AWH and an Obeid family friend, has told the Herald the $3 million was a personal loan from Mr Obeid's son Eddie jnr. [The Sydney Morning Herald 6 March 2013]

Australian Water Holdings has extensive connections with the Liberal Party. In the past five years it has donated at least $80,000 to the Coalition, and has used Michael Photios, a member of the NSW Liberal Party's state executive, as a lobbyist.

Mr Di Girolamo said he had also held meetings with other members of the NSW cabinet, including the Water Minister, Greg Pearce, and the Treasurer, Mike Baird.

For a time, a director on the board of the company's Queensland subsidiary was Santo Santoro, a former minister in the Howard government who resigned in disgrace for failing to properly declare his shareholdings.

The company also employs John Wells, a spin doctor with extensive Liberal Party connections.

For almost three years until November last year, the federal senator and former finance director of the Liberal Party, Arthur Sinodinos, was the chairman of Australian Water Holdings.

Last week, Mr Sinodinos said he, too, had 5 per cent of the company as part of his role, and he has recorded a shareholding in the company in his parliamentary pecuniary interest register.

But Mr Sinodinos's name is absent from the company's official share register filed with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission. Instead, Mr Sinodinos said, Mr Di Girolamo was holding the shares on his behalf.

Asked why the shares are not publicly registered with the corporate regulator, Mr Sinodinos said: ''Because it was on a gentleman's agreement.''

He said his agreement was that the trigger for the shares to be registered in his name was ''some realisation event''. He also said it would not be inaccurate to say a successful PPP was one such event.

Since 1992, the company has been paid $580 million to roll out infrastructure to new housing estates in Sydney's north-west on behalf of Sydney Water Corporation.

Mr Di Girolamo has already had a significant win since the Coalition took government in March last year.

In January this year, his company and Sydney Water entered a new 25-year exclusive agreement to give it the sole right to project manage the remaining half-a-billion dollars of water infrastructure work in the north-west growth centre. [The Sydney Morning Herald 12 December 2012]

A LEADING Sydney barrister has raised doubts about whether authorities properly investigated what criminal charges could be laid against the former state MP Steve Cansdell.

Greg James, QC, who is a retired Supreme Court judge, believes Mr Cansdell could be charged for making a false statement on oath under the provisions of the Crimes Act for his admission he lied on a statutory declaration to avoid losing his driver's licence.

Mr Cansdell, who was the member for Clarence and parliamentary secretary for police, quit the NSW Parliament shortly after the 2011 election after the admission. He said one of his then staff members, Kath Palmer, was driving when his car was caught by a speed camera in 2005. [The Sydney Morning Herald 28 February 2013]