George Brandis has a book or two

"Attorney-General George Brandis has defended as within his rights spending nearly $13,000 of taxpayer funds over the past four years on his personal library....
A Fairfax Media analysis of Senator Brandis' expenses, following a report from blogger Stephen Murray, shows that he has spent $12,808.35 on publications between July 2009 and December 2012."

The mainstream media refer to Senator Brandis' growing library as a personal one.

Personal it most definitely is as Brandis declared it (for what appears to be the first time) as a private asset, along with his own car, in his 2011 Statement of Registrable Interests:

Readers will notice that he declares the library to be a professional one. Presumably tax deductible in some form or other at the end of each financial year.

Perhaps the good senator is amassing an apparently extensive range of taxpayer-funded books to add to this library in anticipation of consultancy work once he retires from Parliament?

The Hon. Anthony John Abbott, Prime Minister for Toned Abs, Anzac Biscuits, Wimmins 'n' Rorts

The real situation of Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott as he tries to negotiate his way through the first thirty-one days of his term in office........

...always two seconds away from a dunking in muddy water.

* Photograph found at Google Images

Richmond Dairies joins move to oust Metgasco Limited board members

Fast Freeze International Pty Ltd trading as Richmond Dairies was one Casino-based company which patiently waited for Metgasco Limited to make good its undertaking to supply gas to Northern Rivers businesses – and waited and waited and waited.

On 27 September 2013 Richmond Dairies showed its hand and joined with other disaffected shareholders seeking to change the composition of the Metgasco board and unwilling to support the Remuneration Report and the award of performance-based shares to Mr Peter Henderson in his role as Managing Director.

Letter to the Metgasco Company Secretary 27.09.2013

In the three months to June 2013 Australia's total Internet download volume hit 657,000 terabytes

Australian Bureau of Statistics

MEDIA RELEASE
8 October 2013		174/2013

Australian mobile handset downloads surge

Nearly 20,000 terabytes of data was downloaded by Australians with internet access connections via a mobile handset in the three months to June 2013, which is an increase of 6,000 terabytes according to figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

"Download volumes for mobile handsets have really seen explosive growth," said Lesley Martin from the ABS, "and while it's true that the number of mobile handset internet subscribers has also increased, that's been much smaller growth."

The total volume of data downloaded via mobile handsets between April and June 2013 was 19,636 terabytes, which is a 43 percent increase from the previous period of October to December 2012. 

Between December 2012 and June 2013, the number of mobile handset internet subscribers grew by 13 percent.

"Mobile handset downloads contribute a small percentage of our total internet downloads - in the three months to June, Australia's total download volume hit 657,000 terabytes, which is up 18 percent compared to the three months ended December," Ms Martin said. 

"Australia had 12,358,000 internet subscribers - not including mobile handsets - at the end of June 2013, showing a three percent annual increase. 

"In pure percentage terms fibre has been the fastest growing type of connection, with a 26 percent increase since December 2012; but it should be remembered that this growth is from a low base. 

"There's now 115,000 fibre connections compared to 6.2 million mobile wireless broadband connections such as a dongle or tablet SIM card, 4.8 million by DSL, 93,000 by satellite, and 227,000 still on dial-up."

Further information is available in Internet Activity, Australia, June 2013 (cat. no. 8153.0) available for free download from www.abs.gov.au.


Media Note: The ABS internet activity survey is run twice a year and covers internet subscribers as at end June and December, and download activity in the three months April to June and October to December. 
Please ensure when reporting on ABS data that you attribute the Australian Bureau of Statistics (or the ABS) as the source.

This is Sally Oelerich and her views are "very much" her own

This is Sally’s Twitter account

These are two of her tweets which have been predominantly pro-mining since she began tweeting

This is the curriculum vitae she supplied to Linkin

With this job description included

And this summary

You be the judge as to whether Ms. Oelerich is being an honest tweeter or merely a paid voice for the petroleum and gas industries

And whether or not she is well-mannered or something else entirely......

North Coast Voices reaches another milestone

Thanking all our casual and regular readers , 
both past and present

An announcement Clarence Valley Council would probably like to make

"Please, residents and visitors in Yamba, get this in your thick heads: the access way from the eastern end of Susan Street to Yamba Road is not a pathway."

That's what Clarence Valley Council would probably like to publish in its public notices, but won't. Hence, here it is on NCV - provided as a public service.

Those who use the "path", which strangely enough has been covered with bitumen and has an access point that was especially included in the kerb and gutter at the end of Susan Street probably think they're using a footpath but they are so wrong! (The access, which is to the right of a telegraph pole, is clearly shown in the pic below.)

Here's an extract from the minutes of the Clarence Valley Council Lower Clarence Access Committee Meeting on 17th July, which are an attachment
to Council's Business Paper - Environment Planning & Works Committee 

- 8 October 2013.

Item 8.4: Yamba Susan St. shortcut

Discussion/Comment: The path way near Susan St through to Yamba Road was bought [sic] up again re pathway being slippery with leaf litter.

Action/Recommendation: This is not a designated pathway and 

never will be as the width does not meet the regulations.

Used as a short cut.

Action Officer: Nil

This is what the non-footpath looked like this morning.

Image credits: Google Maps and Clarrie's resources