The whimsy of graffiti well done

http://www.banksy.co.uk/outdoors/index1.html

Yet another liquor outlet for Maclean NSW?

It would appear that Richies IGA Super Plus Liquor intends to add to the existing seven hotels, clubs and bottle shops in Maclean NSW (population 2,612) where one can obtain alcohol.

Eight outlets in total would mean there would be one place to obtain alcohol to drink on the premises or take way for every 326.5 town residents.

Any local resident wishing to make a submission concerning the Richies Stores Pty Ltd application may do so here. 

The Lower Clarence can look forward to this type of alcohol promotion if Richies’ application is successful:

* Application images found at Lower Clarence Ratepayers, Residents, Business Owners Facebook page

* Competition image found at http://www.ritchies.com.au/competitions-and-promotions

Is the Abbott Government about to starve local councils of regional funding opportunities?

The Abbott Government is dissolving the Regional Development Australia Fund and, replacing it with the more limited in scope National Stronger Regions Fund which only has a $400 million budget and no funds for distribution until the 2015-16 financial year.

Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss on the subject; the establishment of the fund would mean the abolition of Labor's Regional Development Australia Fund and a Coalition Government would not honour projects approved for the next round of funding. [Weekly Times,29 August 2013]

Federal Nationals MP Michael McCormack had this to say about the last round of funding promised under the original scheme; Regional Development Australia fund round 5A is also being viewed as an election promise. [The Area News,26 September 2013] 

This is what local governments on the NSW North Coast were expecting to receive under RDAF—Round Five—Funding Allocations to eligible local governments — $150 million:

Ballina (S)	10250	NSW	$232,667
Clarence Valley	11740	NSW	$668,200
Coffs Harbour (C)	11800	NSW	$484,932
Byron (S)	11350	NSW	$149,681
Kyogle	14550	NSW	$229,587
Lismore (C)	14850	NSW	$436,455
Richmond Valley	19050	NSW	$316,430
Tweed (S)	17550	NSW	$613,184

If this previously promised funding is not forthcoming and, funding under the new 50-50 financial obligation regional grants system will not be available for another twenty-one months, how will this affect projects already planned by these eight councils?

Richmond Valley Council was to use its promised funding to kickstart its planned indoor sports centre at Colley Park.

Clarence Valley Council was intending to use the funding for much needed upgrades to Grafton and Yamba public swimming pools.

Kyogle Council was looking to upgrade access to the Kyogle Memorial Institute and to improve public right of way in C Ward.

Lismore City Council planned to provide covered carparking and walkways in its central business district.

While Coffs Harbour City Council wanted to refurbish the Coffs Harbour Regional Museum.

I'm sure that the remaining North Coast councils also had firm plans for the expected grant monies.

Perhaps the Federal National Party MPs for Cowper and Page might like to explain to voters how they are going to assist councils in their electorates with this problem.

Go halfway round the world and do well in an international triathlon - come home and the local media can't decide on your surname.

One can only guess how Ray Hunt of Yamba must have felt when he opened his morning paper yesterday.......

The Daily Examiner 25 September 2013:

VETERAN Yamba triathlete Ray Jones battled oversized wetsuits and freezing temperatures to pick up a silver and a bronze medal at the London International Triathlon World Championships.

Competing in the 70-74 age group, Hunt picked up silver in the aquathlon (1km swim and 5km run) and backed it up with a bronze the next day in the sprint distance triathlon (750m swim, 20km bike ride, 5km run).

He rounded off his efforts with the Olympic Distance Triathlon (750m swim, 40km ride, 10km run) with a 5th placing.

Read the rest of the article here.

Liberal voter Helen Paton feels cheated by Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott

One certainty about elections is that voters always win. [Tony Abbott MP 5 December 2007]

So said Abbott but Ms. Paton doesn't think so.......

Kiera ‏@KieraGorden6m

This Lib voter appears shocked with Abbott's first few days as PM. What did they expect? #AusPol via @davidadonaldson pic.twitter.com/T3JbJLhywr

Keep your eyes on Abbott's Achilles' Heel - the unelected Ms. Peta Credlin

Abbott and Credlin on the 2013 federal election campaign trail

Journalist Nikki Savva writing on the subject of the newly installed Abbott Ministry in The Australian on 19 September 2013:

Abbott and his chief of staff Peta Credlin were the key architects of the line-up, and the unkindest view of some of the decisions was that the most powerful woman in the government - and no, that is not Julie Bishop - has become extremely adept at entrenching her place with a system of reward, punishment, inclusion and exclusion.

So indispensable has she become that even quite senior shadow ministry spokesmen - now in cabinet - who have argued with and upset her have been counselled by the leader to apologise to her.

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop in the Courier Mail on 21 September 2013:

Peta Credlin is (Abbott's) very capable chief of staff, in the covert power list she would be right up there.

* Photograph found at Google Images

UPDATE:

By 5 October 2013 The Sydney Morning Herald  was reporting that:

Fairfax Media has learned Ms Credlin, who steered Mr Abbott's path to The Lodge as his chief-of-staff, is deciding every government appointment from top ministerial aides right down to the electorate staff of new MPs.
She sits at the head of the government's ''star chamber'', which has already knocked back some applicants put forward by cabinet ministers.

NSW Farmers ask Abbott Government & Minister Macfarlane: "Why should CSG extraction take precedence over protection of land and water and basic needs like food and fibre?"

Media Release
18 September 2013	PR/121/13
Setting the record straight on CSG concerns in NSW NSW Farmers today expressed concern that newly appointed Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane was already dismissing opposition to the coal seam gas industry in NSW. Association president Fiona Simson said the minister’s comments were very concerning especially when he had not yet spoken to all relevant stakeholders on the CSG issue. “Farmers and communities in NSW have deep and genuine concerns about the effect this industry is already having and projected to have on agricultural land and water and we do not think it is fair for those concerns to be labelled politically nor emotionally driven,” she said. “We are however encouraged by the Coalition’s Policy for Resources and Energy in particular the CSG co-existence conditions which state that access to prime agricultural land should only be allowed with the farmer’s agreement and that there should be no damage to the underground water supply. “NSW Farmers does not deny that the Queensland CSG industry has progressed much quicker than in NSW. But the geography of Queensland is different and what works there will not necessarily work here and I can assure him that not everyone over the border is ecstatic about how the CSG industry has developed there. “The NSW legislative framework in relation to CSG is severely lacking – this is something we have been saying for years. “We are not against the industry but we are seeking balanced outcomes. Why should CSG extraction take precedence over protection of land and water and basic needs like food and fibre? “NSW Farmers wants adequate protections for agricultural land and water and we want our questions, legitimate questions, answered. Ms Simson said the federal Coalition’s agriculture policy about building better stakeholder relations was encouraging and she was keen to take them up on that. “However, comments like these are a concern so early on in a new government’s first term,” she concluded. ends