Cansdellgate - what a joke!

 

Like many, many others in the NSW electorate of Clarence and elsewhere, this writer is currently stuck for words. Former, and disgraced, MP for Clarence Steve Cansdell won the "lottery" today when it was announced that he's off scot-free after previously admitting he provided something significantly less than the truth in a statutory declaration about his driving behaviour.

Read The Daily Examiner's report here.

Baker states financial problems not related to his position on council

 
The Daily Examiner on 10 October 2012:

ASSETS worth millions of dollars, including the Maclean Hotel, Maclean retail shops and two major subdivisions at Gulmarrad, are being liquidated by receivers looking to recover debts incurred by companies previously under the control of Maclean developer and Clarence Valley councillor Andrew Baker.

Three advertisements appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald on Saturday and more advertising is being booked in publications in Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Clarence Valley.

The Daily Examiner has advertisements booked for the next three Fridays….

Cr Baker said there had been no change in his financial situation since the Daily Examiner story on August 20. 

When asked if this financial situation increased the risk of a by-election, he said it was not related to his position on council.

 

Not related to his position on council? A statement possibly open to interpretation, given that Clarence Valley Council itself was one of the unsecured creditors of Maclean Hotel Holdings Pty Ltd (apparently solely owned by Cr. Baker) listed as of 20 August 2012.

Council being owed $3,753.09 of the $81,523.62 in unsecured debts.

 

Excerpt from Australian Securities and Investment Commission document Report as to affairs From Controller Under S.429(2)(C) (507F):

 

" This is the best smackdown I've ever seen. Glorious. Advance, Australia Fair!"

Fifteen minutes in the House of Representatives yesterday, as seen by Jezebel: Home of Shiny Happy Ladies (USA):

Australia's prime minister Julia Gillard is one badass motherf*cker. In an impassioned 15-minute smackdown in front of the house of Representatives, the country's first female leader gave a scathing speech calling out opposition leader Tony Abbott's extremely misogynistic comments, actions, views on abortion and single women, all while pointing in his face. She basically ripped him a new asshole. [asterisk added a word to avoid potential problems with filter programs]

At Business Insider (UK):

In addition to the intensity of the speech (which really picks up at the 3 minute mark), you can really see Abbott get increasingly uncomfortable as the speech goes on. He starts by smiling at the charges of being sexist to appearing deeply uncomfortable.

On Twitter from Britain:

 

Chris AddisonVerified ‏@mrchrisaddison  

This is the best smackdown I've ever seen. Glorious. Advance, Australia Fair! http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-10-09/julia-gillard-attacks-abbott-of-hypocrisy/4303634 … (via @indiaknight, @shippersunbound)

Oh, dear - all of Margie Abbott's recent media spade work undone!

Background:

Hansard record of the Prime Minister's speech in response to the Leader of the Opposition's motion, starting at Page 48

Video of speech here.

Gillard labels Abbott a misogynist on 9 October 2012

http://youtu.be/ihd7ofrwQX0

Alan Jones not as popular with radio listeners or sponsors even before his latest distasteful remarks?

 

The Age 8 October 2012

Radio station 2GB has the Alan Jones show on air in the 5.30am to 9am time slot from Monday through to Friday.

 

Both 2GB management and the Murdoch press would have us believe that Jones is undisputed king of the airwaves during the early morning in Sydney.

 

However, all is not as rosy in the 2GB stable as it seems.

 

Even though this radio station appears to hold a commanding market share lead with 14.2 per cent of a potential 4 million strong metropolitan audience, it was slipping down the listener popularity ladder before its 22 September 2012 public relations disaster.

 

Additionally, Nielsen’s regular metropolitan radio market surveys show that:

•        Alan Jones had dropped 1.7 points of potential airtime share for his morning time slot between 24 June and 1 September 2012, down 2.4 points on the comparable survey period twelve months ago.

•        His listener age demographic (popularly believed to be predominately those 50 years of age and older) has also been quietly falling away from the radio station since at least early 2010. 

While 2GB’s parent company, Macquarie Radio Network Ltd,  told the Australian Stock Exchange that its 2012 financial year gross earnings were down 12 per cent on the previous financial year and, that core radio revenue attributable to 2GB and 2CH fell by 4 per cent on prior year levels.

 

Tellingly, in August 2012 it told the stock exchange that with regard to expected 2012-13 income, Forward booking are about as short as we’ve seen them..

Which indicates that the company expected its advertising revenue to be down as well.
 

So by the time Jones' USLC keynote speech became public knowledge and caused widespread community outrage, the commercial climate already existed which made it easier for corporate advertisers to decide that they would no longer tolerate having their brands coupled with the Jones' name in the minds of 22.7 million Australians.

The fact that up to seventy advertisers decided to do so is hardly surprising.

After all, it was less than three years ago that many of these same advertisers had to weather the fallout from the Administrative Decisions Tribunal finding that he uttered on-air racial vilification in the days prior to the Cronulla Riots, a little over five years since the Australian Communications and Media Authority publicly stated that it was not persuaded that the relevant comments were presented reasonably and in good faith, and not quite seven years since the riots themselves which Jones helped foment and only seven and a half years since the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption threatened him with legal action over his alleged contempt of proceedings.

It is of particular interest that this week's Essential Report indicates that 67 per cent of its regular survey respondents have 'not much' or 'no trust' in Alan Jones as media a commentator or journalist.

For Alan Jones and 2GB to now complain that community response to his behaviour is a case of cyberbullying does not take into consideration the very real possibility that ordinary Australians may have finally reached their tolerance level for his particular form of bitter, far-right demagoguery and, that the digital revolution has finally allowed these same people to understand the power of their voices.

Macquarie Radio Network is about to learn the same lesson as Jones' previous employers - he is an expensive asset to maintain. Perhaps it may rethink its association with Jones when his current contract comes up for renewal next year.

*********** North Coast Voices turns 5 today ***********

On 9 October 2007 North Coast Voices

began to post opinions and observations.

Five years later we are still online.

Thank you to all our readers

both in Australia and overseas

for visiting this group blog so regularly.



Saffin, George and Dowell see Lismore Jobs Market as offering a lifeline to soon to be sacked Telstra staff

 

JOINT MEDIA RELEASE FROM JANELLE SAFFIN MP, THOMAS GEORGE MP AND CR JENNY DOWELL

 

Jobs Market offers a lifeline to Telstra staff

 

LISMORE’S political representatives are calling on all district employers to showcase job vacancies at a Jobs Market on Friday October 19, aimed at keeping Telstra Goonellabah Call Centre’s 116 staff working locally.

 

Federal Member for Page Janelle Saffin, State Member for Lismore Thomas George and Lismore Mayor Cr Jenny Dowell hope the Telstra Lismore Jobs Market at the Goonellabah Sports and Aquatic Centre may offer a lifeline to affected staff.

 

The event will be sponsored by Telstra in association with the Australian Government’s Building Australia’s Future Workforce Program, NSW Trade & Investment and Lismore City Council.

 

Telstra Area General Manager North Coast NSW Sue Passmore said: “We are supporting the jobs market in Lismore and will be doing what we can to make it a successful and productive day for our people, as well as other local residents and businesses.”

 

In a joint statement, Ms Saffin, Mr George and Cr Dowell said: “We are still reeling from the impending loss of the Call Centre jobs, but it’s important for our community to rally around and help these workers so they don’t have to leave our area. We need to show we care for these workers and do all we can for them and their families.”

 

“This is a highly skilled workforce, and we believed they needed to meet face-to-face with potential employers about real job opportunities close to home, before the Call Centre is due to close its doors on Tuesday October 23,” they said.

 

“The Jobs Market allows employers to hand out information about their businesses, collect resumes, and potentially even shortlist candidates to interview. Employers who cannot attend the Jobs Market can still post details of vacancies on the Telstra Lismore Jobs Board.”

 

To register as an exhibitor at the Telstra Lismore Jobs Market, employers should phone the event hotline on 0266 863 972 or visit www.telstralismorejobsmarket.com.au  Participation is free for exhibitors and attendees. Telstra employees will attend the Jobs Market in the morning and the afternoon session will be open to all local job seekers.