Are the boys in blue dragging their feet in sympathy with the former NSW Parliamentary Secretary to the Police Minister?

Soon after Steve Cansdell was forced by circumstances to admit to the NSW Nats leader and Grafton police that in 2005 he had signed a false statutory declaration to avoid losing his driving license, speculation began to surface that police in the Coffs-Clarence Area Command would be reluctant to pursue the matter because of their prior contact with him as the MP for Clarence and parliamentary secretary to the NSW Police Minister.

Three weeks after his resignation became public knowledge police have still not interviewed his alleged co-conspirator according to The Daily Examiner on 8^th October 2011:

“POLICE are still to decide if charges will be laid against former Clarence MP Steve Cansdell, three weeks after he handed documents to Grafton police showing he falsified a statutory declaration to avoid losing his licence over a speeding fine in 2005.

On Wednesday evening the prime police witness in the case, former Cansdell staffer Kath Palmer, was yet to be interviewed to progress the investigations.

The Daily Examiner yesterday tried to contact Mrs Palmer to see if she had spoken to police, without success.

Police have not confirmed what action, if any, they will take in the matter.

When Mr Cansdell announced his resignation outside his Prince St office on September 16, he said a third party signed a declaration they were driving his car when he was detected at Woodburn by a speed camera travelling 74kmh in a 60kmh zone.

"I had received a speeding ticket which would have cost me my licence," Mr Cansdell said.

"A third party agreed to claim to be driving my vehicle at the time and took the demerit points.

"I regret my actions six years ago, which I took without thought of the consequences."

Mr Cansdell told the media he wanted a "clean slate" in the lead up to the 2006 election….”

Pic from The Daily Examiner

If he can't run a car yard at a profit, how does he expect to help run a state?

Pictured here on the left is Stuart George, one of the NSW Nationals pre-selection candidates hoping to be chosen to contest the Clarence by-election and then go on represent the people of that electorate as a member of the O’Farrell Government.

He was (and still probably is) owner or part-owner of Capital Car Sales in Casino, as he was proud to attest in 2001 and 2005:

In 2001, I purchased Capital Car Sales.

Stuart and Barry are now joint directors of Capital Car Sales which is situated at its original location: 105-113 Centre Street, Casino.

However, Stuart and the North Coast Nationals have a problem which may yet cause concern and, it is found on the Australian Securities and Investments Commission website:

Extracted from ASIC's database at AEST 00:28:44 on 08/10/2011

Name CAPITAL CAR SALES (CASINO) PTY. LIMITED

ACN    100 385 377

ABN    64 100 385 377

Type Australian Proprietary Company, Limited By Shares

Registration Date 30/04/2002

Next Review Date 30/04/2012

Status ** UNDER EXTERNAL ADMINISTRATION and/or CONTROLLER APPOINTED **

Locality of Registered Office Casino NSW 2470

Jurisdiction Australian Securities & Investments Commission

On 10 November 2011 there was a Creditors' meeting for Voluntary Creditors' Liquidations scheduled.

Now the rumour is that this company owes many tens of thousands of dollars, so perhaps Mr. George might like to explain the part he played in this business difficulty?

UPDATE:

SCANDAL has hit the NSW Nationals for the second time in a month with the revelation that a company owned by pre-selection candidate for Clarence Stuart George is in liquidation owing nine creditors more than $250,000.
The $267,620 in debts owed to creditors relate to monies owed by Mr George's former business Capital Car Sales (Casino) Pty Ltd - a figure he disputes.
The debts have the potential to derail his tilt at the seat for Clarence.
Both Mr George and his wife Margaret are listed as directors of the company.
On October 27 last year Mr George acknowledged the debt when he signed off on an Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) statement verifying report as director.
Mr George's creditors include the Australian Taxation Office, North Coast Petroleum, Allianz, Sensis, and his father Member for Lismore Thomas George, to whom he owes the bulk of the debt.
When The Daily Examiner contacted Mr George at a National Party conference at Port Macquarie yesterday he said he had never hidden the fact that his company was in liquidation.....

The rest of The Daily Examiner article by journalist Rodney Stevens here.

Look over there, Look over there! Don't delve deeper! cries Clarence Valley Council

There would be many in the Clarence Valley laughing cynically at the initial Clarence Valley Shire Council response to finding that the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) had it on the list of councils being investigated during Operation Jarek.

Coyly admitting to one recent $50 gift voucher and studiously avoiding making eye contact with the senior management elephant in the room.

All those alleged failures to disclose a non-pecuniary/
pecuniary interest, undocumented meetings with developers, boozy free lunches, favours done and cost over runs.

Hhmmmmm……………

List of the 110 state & local government authorities under investigation.

Tweed Heads Says NO To Coal Seam Gas, Sunday 16 October 2011

On Sunday, October 16 at 11:00am to  3:00pm concerned citizens will be at a rally at Jack Evans Boat Harbour,  Tweed Heads to make their voices heard on coal seam gas exploration and mining on the NSW North Coast.

A group photo at 12 Noon to be sent down to the National Tally for the National Day of Action.

Background information at http://lockthegate.org.au/

Westboro weirdness

Westboro Baptist Church in the United States of America has long been known for its strange view of the world - as evidenced by its GodHatesFags website.

Here is the latest example:

According to Wikipedia; Phelps and his family picket approximately six locations every day, including many in Topeka and some events farther afield. On Sundays, up to 15 churches may receive pickets. By their own count, WBC has conducted over 30,000 pickets, in all 50 states, in over 500 cities and towns.

'Opera With The Cows' at Cowper, Saturday 22 October 2011 at 7.30pm

Opera With The Cows

Where

Cowper Public School

Old Pacific Highway

Cowper NSW

When

7.30pm Saturday 22 October

Bring your own chairs. Food and drink available to purchase.

Tickets

Adults $20

Premium Tickets
$40

Chairs supplied in premium position

Champagne supper with the artists after the event

Free Tickets

Children under 15 years

Contact

Melissa Philp

0418 458 293

melphilp at bigpond.com.au
http://www.operawiththecows.com.au/

The Clarence Valley Welcomes You

Promotional photograph from Flickr

Political Quote of the Week

Federal Labor MP for Page Janelle Saffin on the subject of former Oz rocker Angry Anderson’s political ambitions:

"Come election time in 2013 I am ready to run, even against Elvis if the National Party pre-select him,"

Coming soon - 'Getting the drift: a community guide to pesticides sprayed in the NSW Northern Rivers' (REVISED SECOND EDITION)

NSW Environmental Defender’s Office:

Want to know which pesticides could be sprayed near where you live, and what you can do about it? If you live in the NSW Northern Rivers, this booklet will help you find out. New, expanded edition published in September 2011 includes updated data, more crops, more case studies and a new section called ‘What are my rights?'
Free copies will soon be available for download from www.edo.org.au/edonsw