Labor ministers are gone, gone, gone.... But troubles remain for the NSW North Coast

If Rupert's team is correct, then NSW Treasurer Michael Costa has been sacked from the NSW Labor ministry and will announce his own demise at 10am this morning.

Meagher, Greene and West are tipped to follow and Premier Iemma himself expected to stand down before Christmas this year, if the Ryde by-election shows a significant swing against Labor.

Crankie Frankie Sartor is also predicted to shift portfolios from Planning to Health.
A move which is likely to see already ailing rural and regional health services ripped apart in the same manner Sartor wrecked the development planning process.

If Carmel Tebbutt does step up to the position of NSW Premier, hopefully she will shift Sartor once again to a junior ministry where his very right-wing and elitist view of the world will do less damage to communities on the NSW North Coast.

Even Country Labor is rumoured to have little time for Frank now.

Update:

Morris Iemma resigned as NSW Premier later in the morning.

Sacked NSW Treasurer Michael Costa appears to believe that he can parley his position back from the new Premier, Nathan Rees.

Carmel Tebbutt has accepted the position of Deputy-Premier.

The cabinet reshuffle currently underway may still bring grief to the Northern Rivers.

Rees is rumoured to be in favour of the privatisation of regional water infrastructure despite his denials.

Outright privatisation or amalgamating water corporations across different catchment areas are often seen locally as scenarios which would be precursors to damming and diverting water from the Clarence River system.

Liberal Party attempting covert takeover of Kwoff?

It seems the Liberal Party of Australia (or one of its ardent supporters) is attempting to flood social news website, Kwoff , with posts from its own official website.

According to its Kwoff profile, this political party has been lodging posts since 28 July 2008.

On one morning alone, the Liberal Party accounted for one quarter of all Just In entries. Defintely a case of political overkill.

Examples found last Wednesday include:

Coalition introduces Lower Lakes Assistance Fund Bill South Australian Senator Nick Minchin today gave notice in the Senate of a Bill to provide $50 million emergen...
by LiberalPartyofAustralia 5 minutes ago liberal.org.au
Treasurer disputes own department's figures Treasurer Wayne Swan today disputed figures released by his own department and confirmed by him the day after ...
by LiberalPartyofAustralia 7 minutes ago liberal.org.au

June quarter 2008 National Accounts Today's National Accounts shows the resilience of the Australian economy thanks to the extensive economic refo...
by LiberalPartyofAustralia 17 minutes ago liberal.org.au

Labor continues its assault on Aussie tourism Labor is refusing to listen to the Coalition’s concerns about the impact the increased luxury car tax will h...
by LiberalPartyofAustralia 55 minutes ago liberal.org.au

Mr Garrett must rule out scrapping the $8,000 solar panel rebate Peter Garrett must confirm that he won’t scrap the $8,000 solar panel rebate in the wake of news today that ...
by LiberalPartyofAustralia 1 hour 7 minutes ago liberal.org.au

Greens / Labor deal - cut BMW tax, increase Aussie cars tax The Greens need to explain to the drivers of Mayo who tow a caravan, a boat or a horsefloat why they should by... LiberalPartyofAustralia 5 hours ago liberal.org.au

From little things big things grow: children's art on the NSW North Coast

Paintings from Grafton Regional Gallery's July-August 2008 exhibition, small schools: big successes.

This exhibition was from small schools within the Clarence Valley including Ulmarra, Chatsworth Island, Copmanhurst, Coutts Crossing, Cowper, Harwood Island, Iluka, Lawrence, Nymboida, Palmers Island, Tucabia, Woodford Dale and Wooli Public Schools.

Well done to all the participants!

Just for the record, how tall/short is "the diminutive Opposition leader"?

The Australian's Online political editor, Samantha Maiden, reported that Labor MP Belinda Neal (who has been in the hot seat in relation to events that either did or did not take place at a restaurant on the NSW Central Coast) and the Leader of the Opposition, Brendan Nelson, engaged in a not so friendly exchange of words last Thursday during a Qantas flight between Canberra and Sydney.

Maiden wrote:

When the flight landed, Dr Nelson attempted to help Ms Neal with her bags, prompting the furious Labor MP to demand to know when he was going to apologise for the remarks. [Comment: Neal claims Nelson had previously made claims that she (Neal) was an "ugly bully".]

The clash was witnessed by the packed plane and deputy Liberal leader Julie Bishop, who intervened. She later told colleagues Ms Neal attempted to physically intimidate the diminutive Opposition leader.

Northern Rivers severe weather warning 4 September 2008 - don't leave home without those wellies!

Top Priority for Immediate Broadcast
NSW SEVERE WEATHER WARNING
Flash Flooding.
For people inthe Northern Rivers
Issued at 11:25 am on Thursday 4 September 2008

Synoptic Situation: 9:00 am EST Thursday
A trough over southeastern Queensland is expected to deepen and form a low in the vicinity of Cape Byron early Friday.
It should then move southwards to be located east of Port Macquarie by late afternoon.
Rainfall over the area is expected during today and should increase further overnight on the Northern Rivers district.
Heavy rain and flash flooding look most likely on the northern half of the North Coast overnight, extending to the southern parts during Friday morning.
Rain should ease from the north during the day, and mostly clear by Friday night.
Winds are expected to become strong and gusty, but at this stage are not expected to exceed mean speeds of 65km/hr.

Emergency services advise do not enter flood water.
Stay well clear of creeks, storm drains and causeways.

The next warning is due to be issued by 5pm Thursday.
This warning is also available through TV and Radio broadcasts; the Bureau's website at www.bom.gov.au or call 1300 659 218. The Bureau and State Emergency Service would appreciate this warning being broadcast regularly.

Ian Tiley goes to bat for the Clarence Valley

Ian Tiley, Mayor of Clarence Valley Council, has gone to bat for the people of the valley.

ABC News reports:

There is concern about a North Coast Area Health Service attempt to sell land next to Maclean Hospital.
A sign advertising the sale of three lots appeared on the land recently.
Clarence Valley Mayor Ian Tiley says he will raise the issue today with Health Minister Reba Meagher's chief of staff.
Councillor Tiley says he will point out that selling the land could prevent any future expansion of the Maclean Hospital.
"There was no consultation with anyone beforehand, either the community or the council," he said.
"It's a high access area, we've got very high population growth in the locality and an ageing population and it's inherent this land be retained for hospital or allied purposes."
Cr Tiley says it is a waste of valuable property that would be better used by the growing hospital.
"We've got a parking conundrum at the hospital at the present time. There's cars parked all over the place on roads, on narrow roads," he said.
"There's also a strong feeling we need a renal dialysis unit down here, it's just wrong to put land on the market, public land, without consultation."

This is no mere grandstanding in a bid for re-election in this month's local government elections.

Under Ian Tiley, Clarence Valley Council has managed to pull together a valley divided by forced council amalgamations, progress the aims of this community in protecting the Clarence River system, retain a commitment to a fair rating policy and attract the goodwill of federal and state governments.

According to The Daily Examiner:

In a pleasant change for the area, Clarence Valley's funding places it in the top tier of NSW local government for federal grants. The $9,414,520 council will receive this year is the ninth biggest NSW local government grant.
On top of this, council will get another $1.3m for roads. In comparison, Richmond Valley and Kyogle councils will receive more than $4.3m in grant funding each.

Guantanamo Bay 2008

The U.S. detention camps at Guantanamo Bay have been operating now since 2002.

There are still over 250 people being held in these camps without formal arrest or charge.

The Rudd Government may ignore the moral and human rights implications of supporting the government which operates these camps and our courts may remain silent because the issue has not been before them.

However, the British High Court of Justice (Queens Bench Division) spoke out in a limited fashion in an open judgment on 21 August 2008, about certain circumstances making an arguable case that rendition, unlawful detention, cruel and degrading treatment had occurred to a former British resident currently held at Guantanamo.
Along with attempts to deny the ability to conduct a fully informed defence.

Judgment summary here.

Full judgment here.

The Nature Notes cartoon came from The Times online