Audrey Robb writes:
Well, I see that the people have spoken and re-elected mostly a bunch of proven failures to the amalgamated council.
I set out below some comments by Polly Watch on 24/4/06 printed in the Tasmanian Times website:
“Will Hodgman’s press release re public service bullying is simplistic in the extreme and suggests either gullibility or stupidity on his part - or a belief that members of the public are either stupid or gullible.
“Does he really believe that governments, at all three levels, will eradicate bullying when the following processes are a feature of governments Australia-wide, including those in Tasmania? The three levels are known for the following examples of sick culture:
1. Non-accountability to the public at even the most basic level because governments can’t be sacked (they are just regurgitated every two to four years or so);
2. Top officials tell lies on a daily basis and employ professional liars, otherwise known as advisors or spin professionals at great expense to the public, to cover their rear ends;
3. Elected representatives represent their own interests immediately they are elected and refuse to acknowledge public concerns - until the next election period when there is a media fest of more lies that benefits the party that the media (and its rich advertisers) are supporting;
4. Elected representatives are so busy in the trough that they don’t know what their paid officers are doing, and don’t care;
5. Various levels turn a blind eye to the conduct of other levels, provided their own rorting/power games are not exposed;
6. Practically any behaviour is possible because there are no publicly-reported monitoring or auditing processes in place and reporting mechanisms in existence are deficient and are designed to be too cumbersome to be of any use;
7. Public money is wasted every year use to end-of-year financial year spending sprees because of deficient accounting processes;
8. Meetings are not recorded for the public record (local government) and generally the representatives are of poor intelligence and the paid personnel are uncontrolled and belligerent;
9. The public are shut out of the democratic process and therefore become cynical and because they feel powerless, like lab rats, they stop caring and display childish dependency on officials, which adds to the sick cycle of governance;
10. Public servants speaking out about the sickness of all levels of government and the lack of accountability are hounded out of the service and into ill health and permanent unemployment.
“If you’re serious about effective change, Will step up to the plate and lobby for citizens initiated referendum - as Neil Robson (of Robson rotation fame) did in his time in government.
“If you’re not serious - stop writing b……. and give up posturing.”
Sound familiar?
Mm.. Audrey my dear, great to see you left your pet subject for a look at the bigger picture.
What happened on the weekend just proves how prevelant the incumbency rule is in this area.. not so bad in Hervey Bay with many voting for ‘non-local’ candidates but you’ll find most people voted for names they had heard of.
The new candidates all failed to build any sort of profilie within the community leading into the election. How can someone in Tiaro vote for a Hervey Bay resident they have never even heard of let alone spoken to?
Young Troy Sullivan was a standout in the new faces yet I only heard of him a few days before the election. I hope Troy and others like Darryl Stewart and Gary Jensen all give it another go next time but build their profile in the years leading up to it.
Likewise, anyone else who does not want to see dead wood stay on council.. start getting your name out there and let the community know who you are.. but.. don’t be a media tart either because that seems to put some people off..
Until then, lets all work to keep the bunch we do have on their toes, afterall they are there to serve us!
I am saddened to see no new faces elected for council, no fresh thinking, no true business sence, just the same old tired bunch putting their hands out for a larger slice of the pie. But the people have spoken and in the end you get what you deserve. I was happy to see that at last someone Nancy backed finally had a win, god knows she’s been trying hard enough over the years, and her track record wasn’t to good. It just proves you can flog a dead horse, and eventually it will get up. Even if it’s time for the jockey to retire.