Tuesday 6 December 2011
'Steve' Gulaptis, please stand up
'Steve' Gulaptis MP gets a chance to prove how effective his representation is for Clarence
The Nationals Glove Puppet for Clarence, ‘Steve’ Gulaptis has his first chance to prove his metal.
The former disgraced MP for Clarence, Steve Cansdell, promised air-conditioning for Yamba Public School on Angourie Road.
The school is approximately 5m above sea level and around 1.5 kilometres inland as the crow flies from the higher sheltering coastline.
Now the O’Farrell Coalition Government and Education Minister Andrew Piccoli has decided Summer cooling of class rooms (which can experience up to 30 degree plus indoor temperatures) is unnecessary because the Yamba Pilot Station on a sea promontory at around 27m above sea level gets a regular ‘breeze’.
So far all Gulaptis has done is bleat in The Tele – time to do more ‘Steve’!
Opposition Shadow Treasurer Joe Hockey exposed
Peter Martin on 1 December 2011:
The two Perth accountants who costed the Coalition’s 2010 election policies breached professional standards and will be fined, a disciplinary tribunal has ruled.
The ruling is an embarrassment to the Coalition which claimed during the campaign the costing was “as good as you could get anywhere in the country, including in Treasury." In recent months it has threatened to use private accountants once again.
Geoffrey Phillip Kid and Cyrus Patell, both of the Perth office of WHK Horwath produced a one-page report for the Coalition two days before the election which Shadow Treasurer Joe Hockey tendered as an audit, saying the pair had certified “in law that our numbers are accurate".
“If the fifth-biggest accounting firm in Australia signs off on our numbers it is a brave person to start saying there are accounting tricks,” he told ABC radio. “I tell you it is audited. This is an audited statement.’’
In fact the document was the result of a carefully-worded agreement between the accountants and the Coalition to produce work primarily "not of an audit nature".
An audit would examine the assumptions used by the Coalition and whether they were reasonable.
Kidd and Patell’s unpublished agreement with the Coalition explicity required them to make no inquires about “the reasonableness of otherwise of the assumptions used"...
A professional conduct tribunal established by the Institute of Chartered Accountants ruled in July that Kidd and Patel were liable to face disciplinary action because their one-page report failed to contain “a statement that the procedures performed do not constitute either an audit or a review” and so failed to properly describe the limited nature of the agreed upon procedures…
The ruling is an embarrassment to the Coalition which claimed during the campaign the costing was “as good as you could get anywhere in the country, including in Treasury." In recent months it has threatened to use private accountants once again.
Geoffrey Phillip Kid and Cyrus Patell, both of the Perth office of WHK Horwath produced a one-page report for the Coalition two days before the election which Shadow Treasurer Joe Hockey tendered as an audit, saying the pair had certified “in law that our numbers are accurate".
“If the fifth-biggest accounting firm in Australia signs off on our numbers it is a brave person to start saying there are accounting tricks,” he told ABC radio. “I tell you it is audited. This is an audited statement.’’
In fact the document was the result of a carefully-worded agreement between the accountants and the Coalition to produce work primarily "not of an audit nature".
An audit would examine the assumptions used by the Coalition and whether they were reasonable.
Kidd and Patell’s unpublished agreement with the Coalition explicity required them to make no inquires about “the reasonableness of otherwise of the assumptions used"...
A professional conduct tribunal established by the Institute of Chartered Accountants ruled in July that Kidd and Patel were liable to face disciplinary action because their one-page report failed to contain “a statement that the procedures performed do not constitute either an audit or a review” and so failed to properly describe the limited nature of the agreed upon procedures…
Read the rest here.
Something to ponder about the 2011-12 Federal Budget
An example of where the Australian Labor Party has lost its way.
Monday 5 December 2011
A few barefaced political untruths in November-December 2011
"...controlled burns, despite these problems over the recent couple of weeks, [are] absolutely essential." WA Premier Colin Barnett in ABC News, 4 December 2011
The US said it was committed to making a success of the UN climate talks currently taking place in South Africa. BBC News, 3 December 2011
He pledged to save small business $1 billion a year by cutting red tape. Leader of the Opposition Tony Abbott in Crikey, 2 December 2011
Mr Hockey said the Coalition would press ahead with its promise of tax cuts at the next election. The Australian, 2 December 2011
"It [the Murray Darling Basin Plan] is a Greens manifesto," Mr Chesson said. The Australian, 2 December 2011
Mr Gulaptis said his primary focus as Member for Clarence would be to see that the O'Farrell Government continues to deliver for the Clarence. The Northern Star, 29 November 2011
Christopher Pyne insisted there was a sacred and immutable Westminster principle that a Speaker must come from the government party... The Canberra Times, 27 November 2011
Christopher Pyne insisted there was a sacred and immutable Westminster principle that a Speaker must come from the government party... The Canberra Times, 27 November 2011
Because the Gillard Government is in so much debt some independent retiree superannuation is worthless Northern Rivers resident, 26 November 2011
Mr Cansdell says......"I didn't really appreciate the gravity of my decision then, and I didn't think much about it at all. ABC Mid North Coast, 22 November 2011
Widely-held assumptions that climate change is responsible for an upsurge in extreme drought, flood and storm events are not supported by a landmark review of the science. The Australian, 18 November 2011
In the United States, we’ll never forget how Australia invoked the ANZUS Treaty - for the first time ever - showing that our two nations stand as one. U.S. President Barack Obama in the Herald Sun, 17 November 2011
the police gave the same holding statement that has been issued for the past six weeks about ''investigations [into disgraced former Clarence MP Steve Cansdell are] ongoing''. The Age, 13 November 2011
the police gave the same holding statement that has been issued for the past six weeks about ''investigations [into disgraced former Clarence MP Steve Cansdell are] ongoing''. The Age, 13 November 2011
"The Government has been borrowing around $135 million each and every day to pay its bills.” Luke Hartsuyker Nationals MP for Cowper in The Northern Star, 9 November 2011
Church parties accept their responsibility when victims of abuse seek damages through legal proceedings and when liability or potential liability is clear. Cardinal George Pell in The Australian, 4 November 2011
Church parties accept their responsibility when victims of abuse seek damages through legal proceedings and when liability or potential liability is clear. Cardinal George Pell in The Australian, 4 November 2011
From Obama to McWho? Where punters are putting their money in the lead up to the 2012 U.S. Presidential Election
It only takes a casual glance at the U.S. media to know that, aside from the incumbent president, guesses as to who else will contest next year's race for the White House are somewhat unrealistic and all over the place.
Here's where the average punter is laying win-only money (market depth) at Betfair according to OddsChecker:
2012 Presidential Election - Next President | ||||
1.89 $36 | 1.9 $1359 | 1.91 $106 | ||
4.3 $223 | 4.4 $19 | 4.5 $4 | ||
5.6 $30 | 5.7 $79 | 5.8 $3 | ||
28 $4 | 30 $95 | 32 $18 | ||
60 $3 | 65 $9 | 95 $5 | ||
60 $12 | 100 $27 | 130 $18 | ||
34 $5 | 40 $5 | 60 $9 | ||
3.75 $15 | 24 $6 | 38 $13 | ||
25 $3 | 38 $12 | 50 $20 | ||
250 $3 | 300 $4 | 320 $6 | ||
380 $3 | 390 $4 | 400 $3 | ||
100 $66 | 200 $7 | 1000 $32 | ||
380 $3 | 490 $3 | 500 $5 | ||
400 $10 | 410 $4 | 500 $5 | ||
420 $3 | 520 $10 | 550 $11 | ||
300 $6 | 360 $7 | 430 $3 | ||
840 $3 | 990 $3 | 1000 $14 | ||
590 $3 | 650 $3 | 770 $3 | ||
250 $3 | 500 $3 | 1000 $58 | ||
130 $3 | 250 $3 | 1000 $41 | ||
920 $3 | 980 $3 | 1000 $18 | ||
27 $13 | 500 $3 | 1000 $22 | ||
60 $7 | 500 $3 | 1000 $44 | ||
30 $3 | 34 $7 | 1000 $96 | ||
25 $3 | 500 $3 | 1000 $45 | ||
90 $15 | 500 $3 | 1000 $82 | ||
500 $3 | 730 $3 | 1000 $56 | ||
130 $3 | 500 $3 | 1000 $80 | ||
3.5 $3 | 500 $3 | 1000 $92 | ||
60 $7 | 500 $3 | 1000 $86 | ||
500 $3 | 640 $4 | 1000 $84 | ||
500 $3 | 610 $8 | 1000 $94 | ||
30 $12 | 500 $3 | 1000 $89 | ||
60 $14 | 500 $3 | 1000 $92 | ||
40 $15 | 500 $3 | 1000 $93 | ||
75 $9 | 500 $3 | 1000 $78 | ||
90 $7 | 410 $3 | 520 $3 | ||
300 $4 | 500 $3 | 1000 $93 | ||
34 $9 | 500 $3 | 1000 $90 | ||
3.5 $3 | 500 $3 | 1000 $88 | ||
3.5 $3 | 500 $3 | 1000 $92 | ||
480 $3 | 500 $3 | 1000 $90 | ||
40 $7 | 500 $3 | 1000 $82 | ||
44 $7 | 50 $7 | 1000 $66 | ||
3.5 $3 | 500 $3 | 1000 $82 | ||
100 $10 | 500 $3 | 1000 $88 | ||
90 $6 | 500 $3 | 1000 $86 | ||
100 $11 | 500 $3 | 1000 $88 | ||
3.5 $3 | 500 $3 | 1000 $76 | ||
470 $13 | 500 $3 | 1000 $52 | ||
90 $6 | 500 $3 | 1000 $84 | ||
100 $10 | 500 $3 | 1000 $87 | ||
3.5 $3 | 75 $7 | 1000 $55 | ||
90 $6 | 500 $3 | 1000 $88 | ||
120 $7 | 500 $3 | 1000 $85 | ||
120 $7 | 500 $3 | 1000 $85 | ||
70 $7 | 500 $3 | 1000 $85 | ||
120 $7 | 500 $3 | 1000 $85 | ||
120 $7 | 500 $3 | 1000 $85 | ||
120 $7 | 500 $3 | 1000 $85 | ||
120 $7 | 500 $3 | 1000 $85 | ||
120 $7 | 500 $3 | 1000 $85 | ||
120 $7 | 500 $3 | 1000 $85 | ||
3.5 $3 | 500 $3 | 1000 | ||
Sunday 4 December 2011
The Port Paper: a NSW North Coast National Party saga continues
Screen snapshot 2 December 2011
The Port Paper was until the end of August 2011 allegedly one of the NSW Nationals political propaganda and campaign broadsheets masquerading as a print and online community newspaper.
Once found out it ceased publication and has idled online ever since under a new address; http://portpaper.publishpath.com/.
Its parent company Australian News & Media Pty Ltd is under external administration, although an associated entity Australian Corporate & Marketing Services Pty Ltd appears to be operating.
What is interesting about the new registrant Whois Privacy Protection Service Inc (which now hosts a skeleton presence of The Port Paper on the Internet) is its history of being found to be a party to acts in bad faith.
As evidenced by Carnie Wilson v. Whois Privacy Protection Service, Inc. a/k/a Whois Agent Claim Number: FA0502000417186, Asahi Breweries Ltd. v. Whois Privacy Protection Service, Inc., Demand Domains, Inc.Case No. D2009-1481, Jacuzzi UK Group PLC v. WHOIS Privacy Protection Service Inc. Case No. D2004-0254, Fluke Corporation v. Whois Agent and Whois Privacy Protection Services Inc. [2004] GENDND 1061.
Whois Privacy Protection Service Inc. is also listed as owning a male m@sturbation website.
It would appear that The Port Paper and the North Coast Nationals have finally found their natural home.
A Click in Time - Celebrating the Centenary of Australian Surfing Photography 1911 - 2011
Russell Ord 2003
Blood and Guts, Shipsterns, Spooky’s and Pipeline are names that conjure up titles of horror movies rather than four spectacular Australian surf breaks that will be featured at the opening of the ‘Centenary of Australian Surfing Photography Exhibition’ at Yamba.
After 18 months planning and research for the exhibition, 100 professional and amateur surfing photographs from every state and decade from 1911 showcases a diverse range of skill, content and creativity while at all times showing some technical merit.
The 100 photographs exemplify the legacy of Osric Notley, the first person accredited with taking Australia’s first surfing photograph back in the summer season of 1911/12 at Main Beach Yamba in Northern NSW.
Priceless gems at the exhibition include the cover photos from two 1962 surfing bibles of the day, the first Surfing World and Surf About Magazines.
Female surfer Isabel Letham and friends with the Duke swim at Freshwater in Sydney in 1915 is an absolute rare find as to are Ma and Pa Bendall from the Sunshine Coast.
A number of the masters of the lens in their era have contributed their favourite masterpieces including John Witzig’s ‘Headless McTavish’, Alby Falzon’s Bobby Brown at Angourie, Jack McCoy at Gnaraloo Station and Christo Reid at Wanna Beach, South Australia.
Some surf photographers look like they simply have a death wish when they paddle out at Cyclops in SA and Shipsterns in Tasmania with two massive waves caught on camera in 2006 and 2003 and submitted by Russell Ord and Sean Davey.
South coast photographer Dave Milnes has generously contributed a previously unpublished photo of surfing legend Bobby Brown taken at Port Kembla.
Angourie veterans Albert Fox and John Batcheldor relieve their 1963 road trip to Bryon Bay from Warilla captured on a box Brownie while surfing at Blood and Guts (Belongil).
Like the turn of the century in 1900 there was a massive shift in photographic equipment enabling photography to be picked up by the masses, not unlike today. An example of this new technology comes in the form of 11 year old, Pheonix Short who submitted an image he took of himself with his ‘Go Pro’.
Some of the international surf names Andy Irons, Layne Beachley and Kelly Slater are also immortalized in the exhibition.
We may have also inadvertently found Australia’s first female surf photographer? A Yamba woman Sharmian Maxwell, instead of lying on the beach in her polka dot bikini was out and about with her father’s camera snapping Angourie in 1964.
A vintage display of retro camera gear will also be feature of the exhibition.
The exhibition goes for two months at the Yamba Museum 3rd December to 3rd February 2012.
Entry fee is $5 (Children Fee), funds raised go to the disability surfers and Yamba Museum who will be gifted the collection at the end of the exhibition.
No photographs are for sale as the exhibition as it becomes a permanent collection for the community of Yamba, the birthplace of Australian Surfing Photography.
Unknown 1917
Media Contact: Debrah Novak Mobile: 0419272621
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