Apparently one publisher has determined that Australian voters need not cast their ballots on 14 September 2013

Forty-four days before the Australian electorate goes to the polls Allen & Unwin and Kerry-Anne Walsh seem to ‘know’ with certainty the federal election results - the political demise of the Prime Minister.

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RELEASED ON 01/08/13

Published 1st August 2013. Typically received 2-3 working days after despatch

Synopsis This is the story of one of the most extraordinary episodes in recent Australian political history, of how a powerful media pack, a vicious commentariat and some of those within her own party conspired to bring down Australia's first woman prime minister.

Metgasco has changed its registered office/business address and gone upmarket

From Friday 10 May 2012 Metgasco Limited’s registered office and principal place of business is at: 

Level 11, 2 Elizabeth Plaza, North Sydney NSW 2060

Metgasco CEO Peter Henderson and the rest of the executive team now have slightly more upmarket offices than before from which to lobby all three tiers of government concerning its plans to turn areas of the Northern Rivers into coal seam gas fields.

Level 11, 2 Elizabeth Plaza, North Sydney

ADDRESS

Part Level 11, 2 Elizabeth Plaza NORTH SYDNEY

LISTING ID

14626

DESCRIPTION

Part Level 11 is a refurbished whole floor plus large balcony with brilliant views towards the city and harbour. 

Boutique building comprising 12 office levels, ground floor retail outlets and 3 secure basement car park levels. Modern entry foyer with three lift risers, floor by floor air-conditioning, on-site building management and 24 Hour security system. Signage opportunities also available. 

2 Elizabeth Plaza is located on the corner of Mount Street within the Heart of North Sydney, fronting the Pacific Highway. Central Location within 200 metres of the North Sydney Railway Station and close proximity to bus terminals.

AREA (SQM) 224 sqm  

RENT (PSM) $500 Net

RENTAL PA $112,000  

OUTGOINGS Outgoings are currently estimated at $130.20 sqm  

GST All prices quoted are exclusive of GST.  

PARKING Via Wilsons Parking  

What Abbott's axing of "the twice a year supplementary allowance to people on benefits" would mean to the Northern Rivers

In his Budget Reply Speech of 16 May 2013 the Australian Opposition Leader Tony Abbott stated:

Tonight, I confirm that we won’t continue the twice a year supplementary allowance to people on benefits [Hansard,16 May 2013,p.91].

The only supplementary allowance which appears to fit Tony Abbott’s wording is the Income Support Bonus.

This seems to be confirmed by the following media report:

Mr Abbott said he will pay for this with spending cuts worth $5 billion a year which will include dumping a family benefits supplement worth $210 for eligible singles and $350 for couples.

These figures equal the annual amount of the Income Support Bonus.

The Income Support Bonus is paid to those receiving the following:

ABSTUDY Living Allowance

Austudy

Exceptional Circumstances Payment

Newstart Allowance

Parenting Payment

Sickness Allowance

Special Benefit

Transitional Farm Family Payment

Youth Allowance

Given demographics across the Northern Rivers, if the Gillard Government were to be defeated and this payment were to cease sometime after September 14, then a conservatively estimated 40,000 residents will be missing out on money they first began to receive on 20 March 2013.

In the Page electorate alone in December 2012 there were:

157 people receiving the Abstudy Living Allowance

304 receiving Austudy

N/K people receiving Exceptional Circumstances Payment

5,795 people receiving Newstart Allowance

4,207 people receiving Parenting Payment

67 people receiving Sickness Allowance

<20 people receiving Special Benefit

N/K receiving Transitional Farm Family Payment

1,331 people receiving Youth Allowance

Under an Abbott government around 10,000 people in the Page electorate would no longer receive the Income Support Bonus, a similar number would lose out in the Lyne electorate and, even higher numbers in the Cowper and Richmond electorates.

Most of these would be single parents, families on low incomes and the unemployed.

Readers can look up the figures in their own electorates here.

When Christian cooks go feral on Facebook *WARNING STRONG LANGUAGE*

THE CAKES WE OFFER ARE EXPENSIVE BECAUSE WE HAVE TO REPACKAGE AND SHIP.

The cooks/owners from Amy's Baking Company Bakery Boutique & Bistro go into meltdown on Facebook.

Update:

The cooks apparently began to notice the heat in the kitchen and first alleged their Facebook page had been hacked, started the new page above then closed it, and went back to the original page as the train wreck continues on in slow mo.

Liberal-National Party Coalition shows its true colours - seeks to weaken the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment Bill in relation to coal seam gas mining

Media Release

Janelle Saffin MP

Liberal-National Party Coalition shows its true colours on CSG

The Liberal-National Party Coalition has shown, without a doubt, that they are just paying lip service on Coal Seam Gas issues until the election.

The Coalition in the Senate is trying to weaken the Federal Government’s ‘water trigger’ legislation with an amendment that would hand environmental assessment powers to the states.

The Federal Government’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment Bill, brought in to tighten up our water protection related to CSG activities, was passed in the House of Representatives in March.

The Coalition didn’t vote against the bill in the House, but is now going to put an amendment that would weaken these protections by allowing the Commonwealth to refer scientific assessments back to the states.

Liberal Senator Simon Birmingham, the Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for the Environment, has told the Senate that the Coalition doesn’t like the legislation, but because of the community concerns they wouldn’t oppose it.

But they are clearly working hard to wind back any water protections.

It is there in Hansard, in black and white, the Liberal Senator saying they won’t oppose it because that would let the Government politicise the issue.

But Senator Birmingham said: “… we will work to fix these issues should we succeed later this year.”

And Senator Birmingham is clear about the parts of the legislation the Coalition doesn’t like; the very sections of the legislation that could protect our region.

The Coalition doesn’t believe the water protection should apply to the exploration phase or drill test sites.

And they don’t want the bill to apply to any areas already being assessed, so no scrutiny whatsoever. 

Senator Birmingham said: “If this bill has to pass, it should only apply to new applications and not to those where the process is already underway.”

Again, this would offer no protection to the CSG sites in the Northern Rivers.

I fought hard and worked with the Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke to find ways to protect our water, and our farmers from harmful CSG, and the EP & BC Amendment Act offers that protection.

This week’s Senate debate has shown without a doubt that with a Liberal-National Party Government we would see a pro-CSG environment minister determined to wind back any protections.

• Hansard of Senator Birmingham’s speech is attached.

Wednesday, May 16, 2013.

Abbott & his cronies mean spirited and nasty

How low can Abbott and his cronies go?

The Australian on 16^th May 2013:

“THE Coalition has refused to allow a federal Labor MP to return to Sydney to look after her sick 14-month-old baby, forcing her to sit in parliament to watch Opposition Leader Tony Abbott's Budget reply speech tonight.

The Daily Telegraph has learned the Coalition yesterday knocked back a request from the government to "pair" member for Greenway Michelle Rowland after she sought permission to urgently return to Sydney from Canberra this afternoon.

Ms Rowland, the only woman to have given birth during the term of this parliament, sought agreement from the opposition chief whip Warren Entsch yesterday to grant a pair for her from 6pm tonight so she could get the last plane home to Sydney to care for her child Octavia.

It is believed the child is suffering flu and severe fever.

Ms Rowland's husband had taken leave from his job to take care of the child while Ms Rowland was in parliament.

But Mr Entsch refused to grant the pair, despite no parliamentary business listed after Mr Abbott's speech.”

By the time the Tele revealed that Entsch knew Michelle Rowland wanted to return to her 14 month old sick child  it was done and dusted - once more the Coalition had demonstrated that the Opposition benches are inhabited by mean characters.

Lower Clarence residents need to boil their water due to E. coli contamination

Mayor: Richie Williamson General Manager: Scott Greensill                                                                   16 May 2013 BOIL WATER NOTICE – Lower Clarence water supply areas Regular monitoring for E. coli bacteria in the Lower Clarence water supply system is conducted by Clarence Valley Council. Recent monitoring has shown E. coli to be present in the Lower Clarence water supply system. As a precaution you are advised that water for consumption should be brought to a rolling boil. Water should then be allowed to cool and stored in a clean container with a lid and refrigerated. This boil water notice applies to consumers in the Lower Clarence including the following areas: Maclean, Brooms Head, Yamba, Harwood, Ashby, Iluka, and areas in between these towns Cooled boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, cooking, washing raw foods (such as seafood or salads), making ice, and cleaning teeth. Dishes should be washed in hot soapy water or in a dishwasher. Children should take bottled or cooled boiled water to school. Precautions should be taken until further notice.  You will be advised when the boil water notice is lifted. E. coli itself is generally not harmful but its presence in drinking water indicates that the water may be contaminated with organisms that may cause disease. The NSW Department of Health advises that special care is advisable for certain consumers at this time, these include people with severely weakened immune systems (the immunosuppressed), individuals receiving dialysis treatment, and aged individuals. Please contact your doctor or local Public Health Unit (02 6620 7585) for more information. Council, in conjunction with the NSW Department of Health is investigating the problem and is carrying out rectification works including cleaning reservoirs, flushing of mains, supplementary chlorine dosing, and additional surveillance.  Residents may notice elevated chlorine levels in the water supply. If you require further information please contact Council’s Customer Service staff on 6643 0200. Schools: For Precautions for Schools and Child Care Centres during Boil Water Alerts refer to NSW Department of Health website:  Release ends. Authorised by: Scott Greensill, General Manager 02 6643 0212 For further information contact: Rob Donges  Deputy General Manager

Clarence Valley Council Locked Bag 23 Grafton, NSW, 2460 Australia