We had to chuckle today as we read the daily chip wrapper and then tried to digest the evening news.. and both times we had to ask ourselves Ted Who?   Come on mate, you’ve dropped off the radar now you want to pop back up and announce you are running for an as yet un-named party supposedly of the conservative type.  Sorry to say this ted bear but we’re going to get plenty of mileage out of this one!

John Neve echoes our sentiments with the following:

Mr Ted Sorensen’s announcement in our local
(23/7/08), is astounding. Ted is going to put his
hand up for the “new” conservative party! This
“new” party hasn’t even been formed yet.
What are their policies? What are their aims?
How can you nominate for a party that doesn’t
exist? How can you support policies that are
unknown? Easy, you just do what our current
member does, which is toe the party line.
Is Hervey Bay going to replace one MP who
does what he is told, with a new MP who does
what he is told? Give us a break Ted.
 
John A Neve

Once you’ve followed this site for a while you will notice that we go through quiet phases.  This is purely and simply because we have full time employment as well as being involved in several major projects.  As a result some weeks we rely on contributors such as John Neve to fill the void.

In the begining we started out with several other contributors who regularly had a say.  For one reason or another they have dropped away in time.  Perhaps everyone is content with the way local politics has slowed to a crawl or relieved that their rates only rose by seven percent.  We can all be thankful they didn’t jump as much as some apartments in Brisbane’s CBD did!

All the same, it is our intention to keep rolling along and at least try to stimulate a little public debate on topical issues.  It is up to everyone to share their thoughts and not just leave it to the few regulars.. don’t be shy.. and as always.. we still welcome constructive criticism.

–o–

The inbox has been noticeably quiet of late but here’s what Coastwatcher had to say:

Johnangel, who in another guise basks in the aura of being called a council watcher by the local rag, has taken me to task for my contribution over who has contributed financially to Our Mick’s election campaign.
Perhaps he should live up to the title bestowed on him by Nancy and go watch council if he is not satisfied with the information I have provided.
While he’s there perusing the candiates’ declarations he may also like to check on the fleet of new cars in the carpark - one for each councillor with Our Mick leading the pack in a $100,000 limo.
Our Mick blames the costs of amalgamation for why our rates have gone up so substantially. Let’s not forget the costs of leasing 11 new cars.
Coastwatcher

There was plenty of conjecture at the time of the recent council election as to where “Our Mick” was getting the money to run his high-profile campaign. Now we know.
The contribution declarations required to be lodged by all candidates are said to show that “Our Mick” received more than $28,000 in monetary support, nearly all of it from developers.
This raises an interesting conundrum because if “Our Mick” owes so much to the support of developers then should he not be declaring a conflict of interest when voting on development matters and abstain from the vote?
Who else has been compromised by developer contributions? Do we have a similar situation to what happened on the Gold Coast recently where a developer-supported team took over the council?
The contribution declarations have been lodged with the Fraser Coast Regional Council and should be available for public scrutiny.
Perhaps Bringbackstrewth would like to go and have a look and then let the rest of us know who’s in whose pocket.
 
Coastwatcher

We’ve been thinking about all the stories going around - council debts slowly rising to the surface, infighting among staff and worse still councillors who openly mouth off to all in ear shot about their fellow councilors.

Makes us really wonder how much egg is on the faces of Ms Bates and others who lauded the “safe hands” around the last election.   Come on, lets be serious - the only council without underlying money woes was Woocoo and that was only because they simply had to throw a grader over the odd road occasionally.

David Dalgleish was quoted last week as being overwhelmed by Maryborough’s infrastructure problems - hang on Dave, what about all the white elephants Hervey Bay Council presided over? Then we look out to Tiaro and from what we can tell, they had a plan in place to catch up on their neglected infrastructure but amalgamation ensured that all went out the window.

The state government has just indicated they are prepared to admit they stuffed up calculating the cost of amalgamation.  The purse strings haven’t been closed on assistance yet our fearless CEO comes out yesterday saying he won’t hold his breath and they won’t cover this or that.  What a load of nonsense Andrew.  Swallow your pride son and hold your cap right under the minister’s nose and don’t take it away until you have your share and half that of the next guy.

The money is on the table - if we don’t grab every cent we can, other councils will.  What happened to the rivalry between the Bay and Bundy?  Its gone - look at their council doing every damned bit they can to make the most of what the government is offering!  We will miss out if bury our heads in the sand.

From the Mayor and CEO down, it is time the elected representatives and senior management of the Fraser Coast Regional council all got off their proverbial backsides and started making things happen.  Projects are stalling left right and centre because council has thrown up their hands and guys like Cr Dalgleish are running about telling anyone who will listen how hard the situation is - if it is too hard get out and let us vote in someone who is prepared to make things happen!

We’re none too pleased and once we’ve digested the first budget no doubt the anger will rise even more.  We’ve put up with poor governance for too long.  We must expect better and we must demand our elected representatives stop warming seats and make things happen again.. this region has massive potential but it that potential can’t eventuate on its own.

Yes the conservatives can smell a political cadaver in the wings , political pragmatist, and i agree with some of your sentiment , they ARE out to harness the anti traveston vote to hopefully get one of the off spring elected .

1200 votes should do it , and as you point out , ‘is there a viable alternative ‘?

Would a conservative drovers dog woof it in?

A conservative member in Hervey Bay does not ’sustainable’ use of the environment make.

However i can say that the qld opposition have finally grasped a smidgin of the green perception, based on my discussions with some of them . The young conservatives well understand the need to embrace the urban greeness and they are planning as we speak to make inroads .

Woe betide the young socialists that ignore this at their folly , the ‘tractor driver from Warwick’ , is no fool , his people have watched the Traveston Movie and have had a revelation .

I made this clear to Andrew when i spoke to him at the community cabinet forum , unseating Andrew will have no direct influence on whether Traveston Dam happens or not , ‘there are many ways to smoke a mullett’.

What we need to remember here is that his party has made no arrangement for regional compensation for the Fraser Coast , to account for the economic loss or ‘costs ‘ which the dam will produce for our economy. We therefore have no option but to shake the voting assagai at him and Anna , in the hope that they will come to the fire and barter for the future use of the regions water , and or a share which may be made available to the SEQ for a market value per megalitre.

The river is our regional resource , I reminded both Andrew and Anna that they had failed to come to the fire and negotiate for sharing of the resource , and if they continue with this method of domination , we will stop them , the hard way .

We do not need to lose Andrew , we just need to get him and Anna to compromise, its their choice , they control the labor party’s political destiny in the Fraser Coast.

They know Traveston is not really needed , they just need to find an elegant escape plan , and i and many others are working very diligently to prepare it .

Bringbackstrewth writes: Roger you make some very valid points here and hence got lifted to the main page.  What we’re stil cautious about is your statement that we don’t need to get rid of Andrew McNamara - yes on some topics he sings the same tune but on Traveston he has proven that he is still a party man and will toe the party line regardless of what his community says. 

Our politicians are there to serve us and not their party bosses.  If they are talented operators they will convince us that what they want and what we want are the same thing - heaven forbid.  Andrew has failed to do this and unless he turns himself around and shows some backbone he will be thrown out with the baby at the next election. 

There is growing discontent and if “the Borg” gets his team heading in the right direction and quickly the current government will need to take notice and fast!

As we crack 50,000 hits this week we’ll just say that we’re glad everyone has stuck with us.  Keep the contributions and comments up and lets keep the pressure on our leaders to do the right thing by us their constituents!

–0–

Who’s at fault? The federal government blames the
states. The state governments, blame Canberra, the
public blames both. So where does the blame lie? I
suggest the answer lies in the mirror.
“No worries, she’ll be right, don’t you worry about
that”. The words of apathy, it’s not bitting me on the
bum, so why should I care?
Well maybe the time has come, maybe we all should
care. The worlds population is growing, third world
countries are catching up and they wont their share.
 
People from all parts of the globe built this country
with their bare hands. No roads, no electricity, no
dole, no child allowance, just you and your
neighbour. We pride ourselves on our FREEDOM
and DEMOCRACY, that was once upon a time.
 
Do you really think we have or practice either?
 
It’s about time we told  our democratically elected
representatives, what we want, what we need, why
we elected them. What is required is action, not
whingeing.
 
John A Neve

In case some people are unaware, I am opposed to
party politics. I am just as annoyed at our state
government gagging comment on the supplementary
Environmental Impact Statement, on the Traveston
dam. As I am about the lies being told about the
proposed Liberal/National amalgamation.
 
A “new” party that starts life based on falsehoods is
doomed to failure. Contrary to the comments of Mr
McArdle “this is ringing endorsement” and Mr Truss
“Both memberships have voted overwhelmingly in
favour of the merger”. Based on their own figures
more than 50% of their membership either
abstained or opposed the idea of a merger.
 
I find such “euphemisms or misrepresentation” from
our political leaders despicable. Still if you tell a lie
often enough, in today’s political world it becomes
the TRUTH!!!
 
The real question here is Where did we go wrong?
We elect them, we pay them and some of us
pound the streets for them. You’d think the people
deserved the TRUTH.
 
John A Neve

 Comments attributed to the ex Chamber of
Commerce president Steve Dixon. Indicate at last
the penny’s dropped! At least one Liberal
acknowledges neither they, or the Nationals can
govern in their own right, be that state or federal.
 
It seem Mr Dixon and his mates are now “keen to
merge with the Nats”!! After eighteen or so years
in the wilderness a change is on the cards! We are
going to have a NEW party? NO! We are going to
have some NEW policies? NO! We are going to
have a NEW direction for the people? NO! What
we are going to get is an amalgamation! But much
better than the recent council amalgamations, we
hope.
 
Why won’t some entrenched and budding politicians
acknowledge what the people need. Is fresh faces,
fresh ideas, people who listen, then act. Most
importantly a return to true democratic principles
and adherence to the Australian Constitution.

John Neve