A question of housing priorities.....

With social housing being scarce as hens teeth in the Clarence Valley Maud Up the Street and her mate are a bit hot under the collar over the goings on at North Coast Community Housing Company.

Apparently this government funded company is indefinitely holding a one bedroom unit in the Lower Clarence for a tenant who isn't even halfway through serving a two-year gaol sentence after pleading guilty to multiple charges.

Even I had to mutter a WTF after hearing that one. Bit hard to live in two places at once isn’t it?

Pic from Google Images

Antimony mining raises ugly head

Another North Coast resident adds her voice to the protest and asks, "Why do the local Australian people seemingly have no recourse to consult or object or reject such dangerous toxic projects and why are our local, state and national representatives supporting these projects. They are clearly not in the national interest."

Letter to the editor, The Coffs Coast Advocate

I live in an idyllic little community on the Dorrigo plateau amid pristine rainforests at the head waters of the catchment area for the Clarence River (Wild Cattle Creek) as well as living and working here in Coffs as an osteopath.

Once again the spectre of mining (this time antimony) has raised its ugly head.

The old mine processed its antimony at a site in Urunga which is now a toxic dead zone. Hillgrove Antimony mine has polluted the Macleay River, which feeds Kempsey.

The mine at Wild Cattle Creek just up from us, has been bought from Anchor mines, which was an Australian-owned company, by a Chinese consortium. I've heard it claimed that China is no longer mining antimony in their own country due to the toxic pollution levels it causes. Antimony is used in plastic drinking bottles and microchip technology and is extremely harmful to the health of human and other life forms.

It is with alarm that I've learned that more than 90% of all mining leases in this country are now owned by Chinese and Indian companies.

My question is how has this been allowed to happen? Why is it that we no longer own or control our own resources and pleas for help fall on deaf ears as really serious long-term pollutants are released into our pristine waters.

What I really don't understand is the legislative process in relation to mining rights and why we, the local Australian people, seemingly have no recourse to consult or object or reject such dangerous toxic projects and why our local, state and national representatives are supporting these projects. They are clearly not in the national interest. Why has the whole country been sold from underneath us?

I understand that we need minerals and mining but it seems to me that it needs to be done responsibly with a great emphasis being put on the value of what is mined and care being taken to use these valuable products in the most responsible way, so that they can be recycled and reused to limit the amount of earth disruption that takes place when they are removed and processed.

Surely we need to change our attitude to the Earth's resources and see them as precious and finite and legislate to protect the other living creatures and ecosystems that are affected by there removal.

Claire Thompson

Source: Letters, 25/10/11, Coffs Coast Advocate

Just how many assistance packages does Gulaptis want to give racing identity Stuart Ramsey?

In 1998 the NSW Government provided an assistance package to keep the South Grafton Abattoir open:

The NSW Government through the Department of State and Regional Development’s Regional Business Development Scheme (RBDS) provided assistance to Ramsey Holdings Pty Ltd toward costs incurred in reopening the Grafton Abattoir. Assistance was primarily in the form of payroll tax rebates with a contribution also provided toward costs associated with reopening of the facility. Assistance provided was consistent with similar packages provided to other processing operations across the State. The dollar value of the assistance package is commercial in confidence.
(2) Rebates of State charges (payroll tax and stamp duty) have been provided to Ramsey Holdings Pty Ltd.

This assistance was seen as a problem for the Casino meatworks in 1999:

What has limited the production levels is the consequences of the Government’s assistance to Grafton.

This was not the end of government assistance for Stuart Bruce Ramsey down the years.

Sometime in the early 2000s Ramsey Food Processing at Grafton again received financial assistance from  government - along with about 15 other abattoirs.

In 2009 the Meatworkers Union called on:

the people of Grafton to make sure the businesses which they subsidise behave as good corporate citizens………..

"The people of Grafton paid extra on their water bills to assist Mr Ramsey's business get on its feet. The people of NSW paid further by workers compensation and regional development assistance.

Now the Nationals candidate in the forthcoming Clarence by-election, Chris Gulaptis, would like taxpayers to again put their hands in their pockets to keep Stuart Ramsey afloat (while he plays elsewhere at the very expensive sport of kings) and with NSW Country Labor work together towards an assistance package and he appears to be looking at the NSW Regional Industries Investment Fund to supply some of this cash handout.

Mr. Gulaptis’ plunge into voters pockets will have to be a big one, as any assistance package would probably have to compensate for the sums hinted at in that foolish thought bubble by Nationals spokesperson Clarence Duty MLC Rick Colless, who has in effect, told the ABC that the NSW Liberal-Nationals Coalition Government was prepared to subvert the authority of the Court by dismissing the fines imposed [on Ramsey] by the New South Wales Land and Environment Court in August last year.

No-one wants to see 200 abattoir workers thrown on the scrapheap - but is Stuart Ramsey (with his history of health and safety violations, water pollution convictions and repeated breaches of workers rights) the man to fix the problem he himself has caused?

_____________________

Now over the years not all abattoirs have received such favourable financial treatment as the Ramsey business, so what has been his route to political influence with both Labor and Coalition state governments?

Well, in the first instance, for a good many years the abattoir was in a seat held by a NSW Labor Minister and then by a Nationals MP. However, there may be one other little known political byway trodden by Stuart Ramsey of the Hunter Valley, NSW as he merrily breeds and races thoroughbred horses.

Thoroughbred Breeders of the Hunter Valley have an official lobbyist on the NSW Government Register of Lobbyists.

Thoroughbred Breeders NSW includes the Ramsey horse stud on its honour role, through his company Ramsey Pastoral Co Pty Ltd. This state organisation represents breeders at all meetings and committees with governmental bodies throughout NSW and Australia.

Ramsey’s horse stud is also listed with Thoroughbred Breeders Australia, the peak national body for all Australian thoroughbred breeders.

Retired Nationals MP Peter McGauran is CEO of Thoroughbred Breeders Australia.

Of these three organisations I can find a record of only one making a political donation at state level in 2010 and, Thoroughbred Breeders Australia only donated to one state political party – the Nationals.

NSW North Coast antimony contamination makes it onto national television

From A Clarence Valley Protest on 22 October 2011:

21-22 October 2011 media coverage of NSW North Coast antimony contamination risks

The ABC TV program 7.30 NSW aired graphic footage of existing antimony contamination and canvassed the risks of reopening an old Wild Cattle Creek antimony mine in the Clarence River catchment.

It can be viewed here:
http://www.abc.net.au

The Sydney Morning Herald also addressed the issue of historic and recent contamination from the Hillgrove antimony mine:

A PLUME of toxic pollution from an old antimony mine appears to have killed fish for dozens of kilometres along the Macleay River in northern NSW.....
a study published by the CSIRO in 2009 described the waterways near the mothballed mine as ''highly contaminated'' and estimated about 7000 tonnes of waste had accumulated along the bed of the Macleay River.
Water tests have shown antimony levels at 250 times background levels, with high levels detected along the river to the coast at Urunga, where the mineral was once processed for export.

 The ABC program is remarkable for its vivid illustration of the incompetence of the current NSW Environment Minister Robyn Parker and, her willingness to utter untruths.

http://youtu.be/i_Nbmk2eNBQ

Any concerned North Coast residents who may wish to express their opinions on the matter of mining in the environmentally sensitive Nymboida River section of the wider Clarence River catchment might like to consider emailing the following politicians:

NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell MP at office@premier.nsw.gov.au

NSW Deputy Premier Andrew Stoner at  office@deputypremier.nsw.gov.au and oxley@parliament.nsw.gov.au

NSW Minister for Resources and Energy Chris Hartcher at office@hartcher.minister.nsw.gov.au

NSW Minister for the North Coast Don Page at office@page.minister.nsw.gov.au

NSW Minister for the Environment Robyn Parker at Robyn.Parker@parliament.nsw.gov.au

NSW Minister for Planning and Infrastructure Brad Hazzard at office@hazzard.minister.nsw. gov.au

NSW Minister for Tourism, Major Events, Hospitality and Racing George Souris at office@souris.minister.nsw.gov.au

NSW Minister for Primary Industries Katrina Hodgkinson at office@hodgkinson.minister.nsw.gov.au

NSW Duty MP for Clarence Rick Colless at rick.colless@parliament.nsw.gov.au.

NSW Leader of the Opposition John Robertson at blacktown@parliament.nsw.gov.au   

NSW Shadow Minister for the Environment and Climate Change, Shadow Minister for Water, Shadow Minister for Energy Luke Foley at Luke.Foley@parliament.nsw.gov.au

NSW Shadow Minister for Planning, Infrastructure and Heritage Linda Burney at linda.burney@parliament.nsw.gov.au

NSW Shadow Minister for Resources and Primary Industries,  as well as Shadow Minister for Tourism Major Events Hospitality and Racing, Steve Whan at steve.whan@parliament.nsw.gov.au

Federal Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities Tony Burke at Tony.Burke.MP@environment.gov.au

Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Anthony Albanese at A.Albanese.MP@aph.gov.au

Federal Independent Member for Lyne Rob Oakeshott at robert.oakeshott.mp@aph.gov.au

Federal Independent Member for New England Tony Windsor at http://www.tonywindsor.com.au/contact.html

UPDATE:

The Greens called on the NSW Environment Minister, Robyn Parker, to explain why she told the ABC that testing on fish had been conducted, when the Department of Primary Industries said it had not.

The Casino Times takes Nats colour coordination too far?

In The Casino Times on 20th October 2011 - a picture in purple is Nats hopeful Chris Gulaptis with skin tone and tie tastefully coordinated.
Or is this a Gulpatis campaign team blooper?

Catholic priest really blew it! One of the highest blood alcohol readings ever recorded in NSW by police

 
Message for drivers: Don't try to keep up with the Joneses

NSW Police reported last week that a 58-year-old male driver returned a blood alcohol reading of 0.341 after driving on the Pacific Highway near Maclean.
The driver is reported to be a Saint Patrick's South Grafton priest.
A case of too much alter altar wine?

Today's Daily Examiner reports:
Saint Patrick's South Grafton parish priest, Father Peter Jones, earned himself the dubious honour of returning one of the highest blood alcohol readings ever recorded in NSW by police.
An off-the-chart +.5 roadside reading was followed by registering .341, almost seven times the legal limit, on Wednesday when the 58-year-old Catholic priest was pulled over on the Pacific Highway at Maclean.
A concerned motorist allegedly saw the white Toyota Camry being driven by Father Jones crossing lanes at Harwood and reported the incident to police. 
Police caught up with Father Jones as he turned off the highway onto Yamba Rd and pulled him over for a roadside breath test. 
The hand-held breathalyser used by police was unable to accurately measure Fr Jones' blood-alcohol content, only indicating it was more than .5 – ten times the legal limit. 
Fr Jones was then taken by police to Maclean police station where he recorded the high-range blood-alcohol reading of .341. 
Police immediately cancelled Fr Jones' driver's licence and issued him with a court attendance notice ordering him to appear in Maclean Local Court on December 13. 
A senior police source told the Sydney Daily Telegraph newspaper Fr Jones' reading was one of the highest recorded in recent times in NSW. 
Fr Jones was bailed by police into the custody of St Mary's Grafton parish priest Fr Rex Hackett due to his level of intoxication. 
The Telegraph reported Fr Jones' car, which is owned by the Catholic Church, was confiscated by police and Fr Hackett transported his colleague home. 
Drug and Alcohol educator Paul Dillon told the Telegraph Fr Jones' reading could not have been reached by drinking beer, but would have required sustained prolonged drinking of hard liquor. 
“Generally speaking it would be very hard to imagine someone could get to a level about 0.3 with beer, which is between three to five per cent alcohol,” he told the Telegraph. 
“You really would be looking at significant amounts of spirits, which are 35 to 50 per cent alcohol – over a period of time.” 
Two standard drinks in an hour can see a man reach the legal limit for drivers of .05, with women only needing one standard drink.

In NSW 24,00 children may be in care by 2013

A September 2009 Boston Consulting Group report to the NSW Government stated:

NSW has the highest rate of children in Out of Home Care (OOHC) in Australia —and one of the fastest growth rates. NSW also has the second lowest rate of children commencing intensive family preservation services (to avoid OOHC and/or facilitate restoration)…

Based on today's system, up to 24,00 children may be in care by 2013/14 (if carers can be found).

The Coalition O’Farrell Government response to this scenario?

It is a reduction in payments for carers of :

* 16 year old and over foster children entitled to Youth Allowance – down approximately $5,530 per annum

* children fostered for over two years whom their foster families are formally adopting - $16,172 per annum down to approximately $1,500 per annum.

In June 2010 The Daily Examiner reported that:

Figures from Fostering NSW show 282 children in the [Clarence] Valley are in out-of-home care, part of the 16,524 across the State – a number which has increased by 78 per cent since 2002. Fostering NSW attributes the rapid rise to societal factors including domestic violence, drug and alcohol abuse and mental health issues.

In July 2010 The Northern Rivers Echo reported:

There are now twice as many Aboriginal children in some form of foster care than were forcibly removed from their parents during the era of the Stolen Generations. The Casino-based Ngunya Jarjum is the first Aboriginal organisation in NSW to be a fully accredited out of home care service, and according to general manager Lenore Marlowe (aka Minna), most of the kids are being placed with white families. “There are just not enough Aboriginal carers... we’re trying to keep kids in the Bundjalung nation, that’s why I want Bundjalung carers. We need to keep them in their own community, their own nation,” she said. Lenore said that 40% of Aboriginal kids in NSW are in care. It’s a staggering statistic that she said is a direct effect of the Stolen Generations.

Earlier in May 2010 The Northern Star had also looked at foster care:

With no emergency youth accommodation and no adolescent foster care programs in Lismore, young people between 10 and 16 years old included in these rising statistics are taking to sleeping it rough in an attempt to leave their dysfunctional homes.

In September 2011 the position does not appear to have improved by much as an ABC News report states:

There are 3,500 children currently under the care of the state and more than two-thirds are looked after by foster or relative carers….
Last month, figures from the Department for Child Protection revealed almost 20 per cent of children under 10 had been moved more than three times while under the care of the state.

Many current foster parents take in more than one child, as it is estimated that across New South Wales there are four times the number of children in need in relation to the number of people willing to foster.

The O’Farrell Government approach to this issue does not appear designed to encourage more people to take on the responsibility of caring for these children in the family home rather than an institution and, it is no excuse for it to ever point to the fact that slashing foster care funding has been a feature of governance in this state for some time.

An Australian Institute of Family Studies 2007 research brief notes:

McHugh (2002) reported that the standard subsidy to meet the basic costs of care was felt to be inadequate by carers, agencies and other associations. It was reported that few jurisdictions were reimbursing carers by way of standard subsidy payments at a level that would meet the basic, everyday costs associated with fostering. Estimates of the costs of caring for children based on children living with their families were not adequate to meet the needs of children in out-of home care, as children in care tend to have more complex needs than children who have never lived in care (e.g., they might have heightened physical and mental health problems). This was exacerbated by inconsistent departmental policies in relation to the reimbursement of carers, and caused high levels of stress for carers and non-government agency staff attempting to meet the needs of children.

Australia-wide there were 35,895 children in out-of-home care on 30 June 2010, according to the Australian Institute of Child Studies.

Ellem calls for support of local abattoir workers

NSW Country Labor website in October 2011:

“Country Labor candidate for the Clarence by-election, Peter Ellem today expressed his concern for up to 200 local abattoir workers set to lose their jobs – and called on the Liberal State Government to invest in the region to support local jobs.

"This is devastating news for the South Grafton Abattoir workforce – many of whom have mortgages to pay and families to look after," Mr Ellem said.

"While I understand some of the workers may be able to work in Casino, we need to ensure all affected workers are given immediate support and assistance.

"The O'Farrell Stoner Government needs to immediately act to ensure these hardworking people are not cast adrift in the lead up to Christmas.

"The loss of up to 200 jobs at the South Grafton abattoir comes on top of news that the unemployment rate for Northern NSW has risen from 6 per cent to 6.3 per cent in August alone.

"I'm calling on the O'Farrell Stoner Government to immediately pump support services into Grafton to help these workers and their families get back on their feet.

"It is absolutely vital we respond quickly to these job losses - the Government must intervene and provide training, financial advice and support services to these workers right away."

Ramsey's destructive dummy spit creates political problem for Nationals in Clarence By-election

Ramsey Food Processing and Stuart Bruce Ramsey's response to recent court proceedings which went against them resulted in an announcement that 'Ramsey Group' was closing the South Grafton abattoir and moving its meat processing business to Casino with the loss of around 200 jobs from the Clarence Valley economy.

Ramsey has existing business interests in Casino as Ramsey Wholesale Meats Pty Ltd and Ramsey Holdings Pty Ltd are already based there.

Hot on the heels of various court judgments (including a finding of contempt, a $130,000 fine and a order to compensate sacked workers) a Ramsey spokesperson attempted to blame state government for the decision to abandon Grafton in favour of Casino.

The local response to this explanation of a move which is going to hit the bottom line of many Grafton businesses was quick and definite - Ramsey had only himself to blame.

That the Nationals find this a politically sensitive issue is evidenced by the extraordinary assertion of Clarence Duty MLC, Rick Colless, that the O'Farrell Government was prepared to subvert the authority of the Court by dismissing the fines imposed by the New South Wales Land and Environment Court in August last year.

As Mr. Ramsey has apparently rejected this offer one can only suppose that he was angling for a higher level of financial support from the NSW Government than that represented by this proposed waiver. 

Leaving the NSW Nationals attempting to blame the punitive measures that the previous government had imposed upon them, the fines that they had imposed upon them for the loss of so many local jobs. Rather than placing the blame squarely where it belongs -on Ramsey's poor business decisions.

As well as chasing Ramsey cap in hand to see if they can throw more money at him, as the political pain widens in the Clarence electorate and the epitaph mongrels is freely tossed about:

Nationals' State Leader and Deputy Premier Andrew Stoner was already working on a "co-ordinated response" to the abattoir closure, he said.

The Department of Trade and Investment, Regional Infrastructure and Services would seek a meeting with the owners of the Ramsey Abattoir next week, a spokesman for Mr Stoner said.

"This meeting will involve discussions about the circumstances of the abattoir's closure and determine whether the NSW Government can assist any businesses and individuals affected by the job losses that may result from the proprietor's decision to relocate to Casino," Mr Stoner said.

[The Daily Examiner, Abattoir jobs cut Closure is 'final straw': Small businesses are already struggling: Chamber,22 October 2011,p1]

While the Nationals candidate in the forthcoming by-election (and well-known supporter of the former Howard Goverment's WorkChoices laws) Chris Gulaptis also ignores the Ramsey Group's long history of worker exploitation and Stuart Ramsey's lucrative horse racing interests when he offers this excuse for Ramsey in The Casino Times on 20 October 2011:

"This is a sad outcome for everyone involved and really marks the end of a long and difficult situation going back a number of years over some waste management issues...
It is my understanding that significant investment would have been required in the plant to meet environmental requirements and that, given the economic uncertainty both in Australia and globally, the owners were not able to make that investment."

Of course, the Coalition has always been a friend to Stuart Ramsey. This is Liberal MLC Charlie Lynn lobbying on the floor of the NSW Parliament in 2001:

The news for Mr Ramsey's abattoir is that his business costs for workers compensation are about to double. I will say that again for the benefit of Country Labor members: Mr Ramsey's workers compensation business costs are about to double......
In the last three years the Grafton abattoir has paid $500,000 a year in workers compensation premiums. It has had to pay out on claims of $120,000. It cares for its workers' safety and welfare—they are family, it is a genuine concern.

UPDATE - Some background:

A year when Stuart Ramsey actually liked a NSW Government - it was giving him money.