More from the Cansdell-Gulaptis Roadshow

Cartoonist Jules Faber joins in electorate-wide laughter in the 29.02.12 issue of The Daily Examiner.

While Nationals MP for Clarence Chris Gulaptis also tries for a humorous response to his politically co-joined twin status being accidentally recognised in Hansard:

"It's a bit of a dent to the ego, actually," Mr Gulaptis said yesterday.
"Steve's copped a couple of knocks to the head and had a few other bumps and bruises along the way.
"I thought they might have noticed the difference.
"It seems like it might be a bit like the Australian cricket team a few years ago - once you get in you'll never get out."

NSW Parliament 2012: The Ghost Who Votes

When political tragics in the NSW state electorate of Clarence started to call the new member of parliament ‘Steve’ Gulaptis MP (because there appeared to be less than a finger width difference between disgraced former Nationals MP Steve Cansdell and his replacement Nationals MP Chris Gulaptis) it was a bit of an ‘in’ joke which grew organically on Google.

However, the joke seems to be on the O’Farrell Government for the identity confusion has spread farther than expected.

Although Cansdell resigned in September 2011 and, is awaiting the outcome of a police investigation into his own actions, he is still voting in the NSW Legislative Assembly in 2012 according to Hansard in proof edition on 22 & 23 February.

I understand that now the joke is very public there is a bit of a scramble to correct the record to show that it was actually parliamentary novice Gulaptis who was voting. However, these snapshots preserve The Ghost Who Votes for posterity.

http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/Prod/parlment/hanstrans.nsf/V3ByKey/LA20120222?open&refNavID=HA1_1

http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/Prod/parlment/hanstrans.nsf/V3ByKey/LA20120223?open&refNavID=HA2_1

Click on images to enlarge

Although the transcription error possibly originated with tellers on the floor of the Chamber, one has to wonder if Premier O'Farrell's relentless pursuit of cost-cutting and industrial reform within the public service may be having a demoralising effect on Hansard staff.

How many police are assigned to the NSW North Coast?

When individuals on the NSW North Coast become dissatisfied as a result of their interactions with police, they often point to perceived low police numbers in their area as one of the reasons for any failings with regard to law enforcement.

Excerpts from the MINISTERIAL AUDIT OF THE NSW POLICE FORCE: Version 2 – October 2011 below appear to indicate that, although authorised and actual local police numbers compare favourably with other regional areas, these numbers are disproportionally impacted by the level of sick leave occurring across North Coast area commands.

At the beginning of the 2011-12 financial year the combined personnel shortfall in these northern commands totalled 145 officers, with 172 officers being on long-term sick leave for 45 days out of the previous 60 days.

Northern Region Local Area Command Strength Figures at 31 July 2011:

Coffs/Clarence Authorised 193 Actual 194 Operational 153 Variance –40

Mid North Coast Authorised 174 Actual 171 Operational 141 Variance –33  

Richmond Authorised 197 Actual 196 Operational 165

Variance – 32

Tweed/Byron Authorised 172 Actual 171 Operational 132 Variance -40  

  

Long term sick (LTS) does not impact on LACs in the Central Metropolitan Region as it does on the country Regions. The LAC with the highest number of staff not available due to LTS is Sutherland with 5 - compare this with Newcastle City (33) & Tweed/Byron (15) - Northern Region; Wollongong (21) & Lake Illawarra (16) - Southern Region; and, Oxley (Tamworth)(14) & Chifley (Bathurst)(14) - Western Region.

Northern Region has the highest percentage variance of operational strength versus authorised strength of the six Regions

 The most occurring category for unavailability is Long Term Sick

 172 officers in the Region as at 31.6.2011 had been recorded as having been off duty on Long Term Sick 45 days out of the previous 60 days

 124 officers in the Region were unavailable due to having been placed on "restricted duties‟ - this includes permanently restricted (37); temporary

restricted (65); pregnancy-related protocols (21); and, disciplinary (1)

 46 officers were officially classified as "Medically Overstrength‟ (awaiting discharge)

In Northern NSW the top five LACs for Long Term Sick are - Newcastle (33); Tweed/Byron (15); Richmond (14); Coffs/Clarence (12) and, Mid-North Coast and Port Stephens (Both 11).

WetlandCare Australia's 14th Annual Cane Toad Roundup at Yamba NSW - Sunday March 4, 2012

Click on poster to enlarge

 
Be there!

WHERE: Yamba Golf & Country Club
WHEN: Roundup begins after sunset and registration starts at 6.30pm
WHAT TO WEAR & BRING: Covered footwear, clothes appropriate to the weather, gloves, torch, net and insect repellent
CHILDREN: Under 18 year-old participants must be accompanied by an adult. At least 1 adult for every 4 children.
FOOD: Sausage sizzle on the night

Finally, Labor factional warlord and Australian Senator Mark Arbib resigns

One of the more poisonous features of the Australian political sub-culture are those operators who think it's all about the influence and power held by their own ideological 'tribes'.

Thankfully, one of the most destructive examples of these narcissistic warlords NSW Senator Mark Arbib has finally resigned.
But not until after he had followed up his whiteanting of NSW Labor with a four-year long attempt to bring Federal Labor to its knees.

Snap of Arbib from The Age

Former Member for Clarence, Steve What's-his-name, gets an unfavourable mention in Hansard

On 22 February the former MP for Clarence, Steve 'Stat Dec' Cansdell received a mention in the Legislative Assembly but it was not one that he is expected to obtain a copy of and paste in his scrap book.

Craig Baumann, the member for Port Stephens (he's a member of the Liberal Party) remarked to the current MP for Clarence, Christopher Gulaptis:

As one who sat next to Steve in this place for four years, I think Steve held the record for being late for question time. I think you, Mr Assistant-Speaker, would agree.

Source: Hansard, NSW Legislative Assembly, 22/2/12

Federal MP for Page Janelle Saffin's statement on the Labor leadership ballot of 27 February 2012

Janelle Saffin’s statement on the leadership ballot

Today the Federal Parliamentary Labor Party held a leadership ballot. The Caucus chose Julia Gillard, who will continue to lead our party in Parliament and lead the country as Prime Minister of Australia.

I have worked in the past with both Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard as Labor Prime Ministers, and have done so to the benefit of the Page electorate. Both have been good friends to our electorate and this relationship will continue.

Like Kevin Rudd, I’ve been a member of the Australian Labor Party for 30 years. I believe the ALP is the best vehicle to achieve fairness and justice in Australia society and I’ll continue to represent the people of Page in an effective, strong and independent way.

I am heartened by the comments of both Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard today after the vote, and their gracious recognition of each others’ strengths, abilities and achievements.

I know people may be disappointed, as like me, we all get to love our leaders. I know some would like to directly vote for leaders but we don’t. It is not our law or tradition. The party that secures government does so.

I congratulated Prime Minister Gillard on her success and I congratulated former PM Kevin Rudd for his contribution to Australia and the Labor Party.

As Prime Minister, Kevin did Australia proud and is widely recognised as being right up there with the best. I want to say that he has left us a great legacy -- leading us through the Global Financial Crisis, the Apology,  the pension increases, paid maternity leave and more.

Julia as Prime Minister built on these and is building her own leadership legacy.

For me, I can say I am relieved that this is over as I stepped in a small way on to the national stage through the media as this was an important discussion.

I had declared publicly my support for Kevin Rudd and I stated my reasons. I pleased some and disappointment others, but I spoke truthfully as I do with my electorate.

I thank all the thousands of people who made their views known to me and say that I shall now continue to do what I do best -- be a feisty local Federal Member and in my words, get things done, for the people of Page.

Media contact:  Lee Duncan 0448 158 150