…. and other risk-laden behaviour, with its inexplicable largesse to a questionable down-market tourism entrepreneur. But there has been no explanation offered or criteria justifying this recent tourism grant of public money that does exactly that, going directly against all the finger-wagging health and safety warnings we regularly bombarded with from the government’s own Health Department. And some dots need connecting.
Also this week, two matters of wonky timing …. Kevin ‘Rhymes With’ Gill says after 15 years in the job, now is the right time to retire as TEL board chairman – others think 15 years ago would’ve been way better. But Gill needs to answer one vital question before he buggers off … and if he doesn’t, he should be forced to by an official inquiry.
And in the second matter of bad timing, we report on a damaging silence …. our paper with the oft-proven slogan ‘yesterday’s news tomorrow’ has set a record of sorts this weekend, with the Bulletin finally speaking up on a vital issue reported by The ‘Pie FIVE years ago.
Townsville loses a champion quiet achiever ….
Plus ‘toonists are having their usual picnic with the bad tempered toddler with a machine gun in the White house’s Donny’s Day Care Centre.
As the Magpie gradually re-establishes a regular flight pattern, he also has to contend with the considerable costs not just of relocation but also hardware and software updates for the weekly Nest. Any assistance with a donation would be greatly appreciated, and sincere thanks to those who’ve already helped out. The donate button is at the bottom of the blog. Thanks.
The WTF Of The Week Needs Some Connecting Of Dots
If anyone still reads the Townsville Daily Astonisher other than the duty-bound ‘Pie (oh the sacrifice, the sacrifice), they might have noticed this item back in May
.
But in one of those small Bulletin miracles, and possibly after some editing ordered by Adam Baille, – or possibly because of some complaints from the pesky public, – a few days ago, the story had a somewhat sanitised, different focus.
But either way, story wound up with this unequivocal ‘mission statement’ from the tour operator, after mentioning snorkelling and whale watching trips….
“A big one that the locals are really liking is a pub crawl,” Mr Gnocco said. So this is for your fun, energetic, young locals who are crying out for activities to do here in Townsville.
“You can jump on the boat, head over to your first destination on Magnetic Island, have a drink, jump back on the boat and continue around the rest of the island.
Mr Gnocco said the high demand for the pub crawl had brought forward the plans.
“We were going to launch a bit later, but we’ve had that much interest, we’re going to be looking to launch probably in the next month or so,” he said.
“It’ll also be available to hire as well for people looking to do hen’s nights and bucks parties.”
Alert Nest reader H J L suddenly saw some WTF questions that needed answers and some dots that needed connecting, when they emailed:
“The Queensland State Government recently awarded a $300,000 tourism grant to Poseidon Adventures, a company that, among other things, offers pub crawl tours. A few weeks later, the Mayor was allegedly involved in an assault of one of Adam Baillie’s staffers while on a pub crawl tour on Magnetic Island — an incident that presumably involved the same or similar operators.
I think there are some legitimate questions here worth asking:
- What was the basis for granting $300,000 in public money to a company offering pub crawl tourism?
– Who assessed and approved this grant, and what criteria did it meet?
– Is it appropriate for a State Government grappling with serious issues around public health, domestic violence, and alcohol-fuelled crime to be actively funding pub crawl operations?
– And is there any connection between the grant recipient and the pub crawl on which the Mayor’s alleged assault took place?
Even setting aside the alleged assault entirely, the grant alone raises questions about priorities and judgment. Together, they raise something more.”
Indeed questions are certainly raised, although markedly and typically, not by the Bulletin. The ‘Pie adds to HJL’s list.
Was it TEL which made the recommendation to Tourism Queensland to give the grant? It seems so, so why?
Did our mayor Slick Nick – who sits on the board of Townsville Enterprise – have a hand in this … the dots here being his deep involvement before politics in jet ski hooning with local groups and now his voice in TEL recommendations? And did any – ahem – ‘considerations’ change hands for the mayoral backing?
One wonders what the Queensland Health Minister Tim Nicholls has to say about the flagrant government funding as encouragement for the alcohol abuse inherent in the ingrained, if now outdated .tradition of pub crawls? We’ll ask him.
And hen’s nights and bucks parties, for fucks sake? Where the unspoken purpose of getting shit-faced takes on another dangerous dimension when taking place on water. The government is forever warning of the dangerous mix of alcohol and water-related ventures.
None of the above is actually illegal, just ethically questionable by the Brisbane-based private company …
BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS SIMPLE AND OVERRIDING: how does this government justify handing out $300k of public money to buy a boat that will underpin a private for-profit business promoting damaging behaviour? It seems likely that the comnpany’s opening pub crawl event was attended by Dametto and Baille, and perhaps also contributed our new mayor to go the biff after a tad too much turps. (You’ll also note how the mayoral punch-up has suddenly died in the arse in the Bulletin.)
Adam Baille has not responded to questions put by LSJ, and the Bulletin consistently refuses to engage on the issue.
But the ‘Pie foresees just one serious or even fatal incident involving this booze based enterprise, and there will be a lawsuit seeking a damn sight more than $300k for the government’s wrong-headed involvement in this matter.
Something is deeply wrong here.
Speaking of Unanswered Questions ….Ah, Kevvy, Mate, Before You Go …
So, Mr Mediocrity is parting company with the TEL board he has chaired for the past 15 years. The Bulletin hagiography was so full of sugary insincerity, outright lies and spun fairyfloos it should’ve carried a trigger warning for diabetics.
The ‘Pie wonders if Gill shares Jarrod Bleijie’s barber … they both favour the ‘standing side-on to a strong wind’ style.
And The ‘Pie was flattered to cop an indirect swipe from iditor Jill Poulson in her editorial of fawning farewell when she wrote:
Never from you, dear lady, you were always more under the dinner table than on top of the issue.
There can be no doubt Gill was tapped on the shoulder, as a first possible sign of a start to a much needed restructure – at board level at least. But that won’t be of much use unless there is a wider overhaul of strategy and executive staff.
Be that as it may, The Magpie is wondering if Mr Gill, and subsequently TEL management, will be facing some sticky questions about his tenure. To wit: whether he received any unauthorised and possibly illegal remuneration over some of those 15 years for his supposedly unpaid position. Particularly, the last five years.
You see, while Gill has provided comprehensive career info on his Linkedin profile, it stands out like Dolly Parton in a T-shirt on a cold day that he doesn’t say what he’s been doing since he left QAL in September 2020.
This is important, because the board chair position must be a TEL member, and be an active businessman/woman (or politician). It is reasonable to expect the board chair of any business-boosting (well, that’s the aim) organisation would loudly proclaim his involvement in local commerce. But he doesn’t.
However, it’s clear he’s been getting substantial amounts of dosh from somewhere. In May last year, RP Data shows he and his wife bought a 2 bed, 2 bath/2 car pad in the Stanton crest complex for $885,000. Now he, or his missus, may have had a rich relative cark it that put him on easy street, and that wouldn’t be anybody’s business but theirs. But failing that sort of good fortune or Lotto, Mr Gill would surely need to have some sort of income, and a job that qualifies him for the board chair under TEL rules.And in all that time, and writing about his non-performance on many occasions in that time, The ‘Pie has never heard any information about his non-TEL employment. And that is. crucial information for two reasons: the TEL Board Chairman is an unpaid position in its charter, and TEL receives copious amounts – indeed most of its income = from the public coffers.
Mr Gill may have a simple an honest explanation for The ‘Pie’s question, but although he gets upset when mentioned in this blog, he has no right to be indignant about the questions … the community has a right to know, it’s their money in question here.
But Don’t Get The Magpie Wrong On This
Some good people work at TEL, and are deserving of their jobs, but unfortunately they are generally not in the executive ranks. There needs to be a restructure beyond the board to include guidelines for the make-up of the TEL decision makers, their professional qualifications and their publicly published remuneration, and above all the setting of reasonable KPIs if the organisation is to continue receiving three quarters of a million dollars of ratepayers money annually.
A good start to a new dawn for the Dudley Do-Nothings would be to ditch the policy of trying to be everything to everybody. It’s a ploy they currently use to get councils in the region to cough up annual financial support on the highly dubious claim of benefit from TEL campaigns. Some councils … Charters Towers springs to mind … have had heated debates about the value of such grants, noting TEL’s arrogant refusal to meet, or agree to any, criteria.
Surely, at a population of 200,000+, Townsville is now big enough to merit its own focus from an enterprise group exclusive to the interests of the city. The benefit of a successful Townsville-centric organisation would automatically flow out into the regions anyway.
We are all aware by now that The ‘Pie slogan for the Daily Astonisher ‘Yesterday’s News Tomorrow’ stopped being a joke years ago, but this weekend, that was upgraded to ‘2021’s news in 2026’.
Compare this from page 9 of this weekend’s (July 11,2026) Bulletin …
… with this from The Magpie on February 27, 2021
See the whole prescient blog here but let’s revisit just two ‘Hitting The Nail On The Head Gold Medal’ quotes from way back then … First, The ‘Pie said even before the selection was ratified …
…and this from Robbie Katter….
“When I’ve got hospitals being downgraded in Julia Creek and upgrades needed in hospitals throughout the region and dams to be built that can’t be funded because they’re committing money to large social infrastructure projects like (an Olympic Games), well that makes me pretty cranky.”
And here’s Robbie’s killer line, that should be engraved on Anna Palaszczuk’s forehead.
“You might see a slight increase in outback tourism, but that is just nonsense to think the benefit outside south-east Queensland would be commensurate with the imposition it will put on us in the future,” he said.
But the point here is not The Magpie claiming to be a clever clogs, but more to the point, The ‘Pie is asking where the fucking hell was the self-styled champion of North Queensland, the Townsville Bulletin then, and in the intervening years. Where was the self-styled socially moral guardians of the community, or even News Ltd generally, examining the obvious pitfalls of this personal vanitry project disaster of a dud Premier? Why no crusade on the looming financial and social disaster for the region, a disaster no longer looming but now fully arrived?
The answer is as simple as it is damning …. the eyes of News Ltd were too dazzled by visions of sparkling waterfalls of advertising dollars to give a tuppeny toss for the interests and well being of the communities they say they ‘are all for.’
Gutless, blinkered self-serving venal hypocrites one and all.
You Couldn’t Meet A Betta Man
Vale Garry Thyer, whom The ‘Pie is proud to name as a friend over the years.
His business acumen and achievements on the national stage with the Betta Electrical group never attracted much attention as it should’ve done, because Gary shied away from personal publicity. He was an unwavering solid Townsville champion, and was greatly respected by business and loved by his staff.
The Magpie remembers him for a little known talent he would spring on some unsuspecting patron on his occasional visits to Portraits (aka Poesurs) bar in the Exchange Hotel. o The ever jovial Gary, often accompanied by his ever-vivacious and devoted partner Lisa, was only of average height but solid and stocky, which disguised his secret ability. Often set up by those of us in the know, Gary could be talked into arm wrestling some unsuspecting and usually much larger cove new to the bar. He never lost, and he he almost always won in jig time.
But such was his laughing, self-deprecating nature, no loser ever took offence, and happily bought the wagered drink.
Gary Thyer was a good man in every sense – in the words of a bygone generation, he was a bonza bloke.
The Magpie offers his sincere condolences to Lisa, and the family.
Our Final Matter This Week Moves From A Champ To A Chump.
Well, it’s fair to say Trump has achieved a remarkable feat, albeit totally unintentionally … he has moved beyond parody. There’s no joke, jibe or fantasy that could match the reality of this weird and deeply dangerous man child.
But a couple takes from the week are worthy of a mention.
And the very best of the bunch …
…………………
The ‘Pie is always open to emails with info and matters that you may not want published in comments. Confidentiality is aways guaranteed. So drop any titillating tidbit or blog-leading bombshell to the old bird at email hidden; JavaScript is required
And if you’re of the mind to lend the blog a much-needed helping hand financially, the link to do so is below.
Malcolm,
I’ve only just seen this in my inbox (not sure what happened to the previous several weeks).
Welcome back, mate, or rather, welcome back to your missive… greatly missed, and it looks like I will be spending the rest of the day reading to catch up!
I trusts your new domestic arrangements make you happy and gay as we would have said when we were kids.
Many, many thanks for your commitment to this project… it is a great service to Townsvilleans and Queenslanders generally.
Thanks for the encouraging words, P, with the obvious downside of attracting some derogatory comments from foaming naysayers.
Vale Garry Thyer. I happened across the wake at Molly Malones last night. It started at noon and was still going strong at 5 when Mollys opened to the public.
I find it unsurprising that the Bully has dropped Dametto’s alleged assault investigation like a hot potato.
There’s TCC and State Government advertising at stake, for god’s sake.
The question marks around Gill the dill won’t go away unless he answers the basic question; as chairman of TEL, for the past 6 years were you running a business, as is required in TEL’s charter? Maybe you could also answer why you have that ridiculous and frightening side blown hairstyle? But seriously, 15 years of having this dimwit at the helm of TEL is nothing short of a joke. I would like to see a large local business owner as Chair this time around. And as has been brought up time and time again, when will TEL be restructured and have fresh blood brought in. Over to you Mr McCabe.
A possible answer your Q? PR,
“Maybe you could also answer why you have that ridiculous and frightening side blown hairstyle”?
It may be because it looks like his namesake, on the side of the head of a dead fish!
I occasionally see the dopey Gill around town. Doesn’t seem to have a current job, just swans around with that blank look on his face. A complete dud.
Love all these comments about Gill. It’s so true, he really is a clown.
Trust you’re making the new nest comfortable and have lined it with good wines. Great to have the Magpie flying back and going places others won’t.
Thanks, Hubs. Some great memories, mate.
The best days.
Garry Thyer was an outstanding salesman and businessman. For the record his name is spelt with two r’s (like Larry, Harry, Terry…)
He was also smart enough to recognise that his greatest business asset wasn’t his floor stock or his shop buildings but his loyal staff who would walk over broken glass for him. His support and donations to those in need is legendary.
Had a couple of boozy nights with him over the years and as a result got a verbal bash in the ear from his better half….Not guilty your Honour !!
Rest easy Gaz.
Seems to be a common theme pertaining to politicians physically and literally fighting in this town. They are all a disgrace.
Now I’m not one to gossip but…
Seems our new mayor was not just full of piss and bad manners when he supposedly smacked one of Baillies staff ers in the mouth, on our fair isle.
Eye witnesses say it, was more to do with his girlfriend???
Old Nicky has green eyes.
Regarding the Poseidon pub crawl grant, prior to May of this year, the entity had previously been the beneficiary of not one, but THREE of those puff-piece adverts-masquerading-as-articles in the Astonisher, starting back in late 2022, when the company was called ‘Townsville Jetski and Watercraft’. The first appeared on 5 August of that year, authored by Tony Raggatt, and a second (by Patrick Woods) was run on 17 December. A more recent, no-less-anodyne piece from 8 October of last year talked of the outfit ‘joining’ the Flinders Street Wharves (as it has now reportedly done, in the form of using the area behind the former Burns Philp building as its launch point). That’s a lot of puffery for one very small business, in my opinion…
Look into who used to own Townsville jetski hire/ tours and sold it when getting in the KAP…
Yep. As obliquely mentioned in the blog a couple of weeks back.
The Agenda for Wednesday’s TCC ordinary meeting is posted online and there are a couple of big things in there apart from the usual financial statements like the debt etc. One of the interesting items is the Preparation and Lodgement of the Local Government Infrastructure Plan Amendment 2026 which has been under development since 2019. This sets out the assumptions around population growth and the resulting demands for employment, infrastructure etc over the next 20 years:
“The planning assumptions project continued residential growth across the Townsville local government area (LGA) over the LGIP planning horizon, with the majority of growth occurring within the Priority Infrastructure Area and concentrated in the principal urban growth fronts. Resident population is projected to increase from 195,070 persons in 2021 to 244,692 persons by 2041, reaching 352,204 persons under the Full Development Scenario (FDS). This equates to growth of approximately 49,600 persons between 2021 and 2041, with substantial additional longer-term growth identified under the FDS.
Population growth is not distributed evenly across the LGA. The strongest projected residential growth to 2041 occurs in the Northern Beaches, increasing from 20,962 to 40,326 persons, followed by Bohle Plains, from 4,395 to 12,565 persons; Bohle Mt Louisa, from 10,528 to 14,284 persons; and Upper Ross, from 18,466 to 20,911 persons. The FDS indicates further long-term residential capacity in Northern Beaches, Eastern Rural, Southern Suburbs and Upper Ross, reflecting the role of these areas in accommodating future urban expansion. By 2041, around 88% of the projected resident population is projected to be located within the Priority Infrastructure Area, confirming that most growth is intended to be supported within the planned trunk infrastructure framework.”
Good catch, Bob, was there anything in the Astonisher about this?
Given that our annual growth rate has stayed pretty steady at 1.2% annually, the projected 2041 falls short by about 10,000. The ‘Pie also notes that, according to these stats, after the population nurdling around in the 190/200k mark for more than 20 years, suddenly since 2022, we’ve gained 11,000 newbies in just three years. That rate of growth equates to a gain of 70,000 by 2041.
It would be interesting to know who put these figures together, because such statistics will have a great influence on the begging bowl approaches to Brisbane for more gruel from a government of any stripe which will be gasping for financial breath from now until about 15 years after the economic fiasco of the Olympics.
You have to wade through quite a bit of verbiage to find out how the statistics were derived and I won’t be criticising the logic. On the other hand, in a different story, this time about the proposal to update Australian arrival cards:
“A 2024 report by the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry called Australia’s paper system “antiquated” and warned that it risked damaging Australia’s reputation as a desirable tourist destination.
The report called for the paper cards to be abolished and said efforts to modernise incoming and outgoing passenger systems could bring an additional $50bn to the Australian economy every year.”
$50 billion a year! And you thought TEL was full of bullshit.
In fact, that is an insult to bullshit … there surely has to be a stronger word.
What utter rot they speak.
Today’s Australian refers to two previous failed attempts to scrap the cards that have cost a combined $250m, so there’s a bit that needs to be clawed back, if this third try is successful. Personally, I’ve always hated those damn things – wondered where they all get stored, for how long, who looks at them after we’ve cleared Customs, etc (and remember those separate Departure cards we also used to have to fill out?). Even the US has gotten rid of theirs, and they still pay for everything by check (excuse me: cheque)! This can’t happen soon enough…
On the other hand, CHF, have you encountered the digital version? Passing through Singapore and from memory, London, I had to approach a computer terminal in the arrivals hall and, different in each location, answer a series of questions more or less the same as on the Australian arrivals card. However, like we do with Centrelink, sometimes the questions are stupidly ambiguous or difficult to interpret and, for the digitally challenged, more frustrating than can be imagined, especially after a 12-14 hour flight. Be careful what you wish for. Possibly you will be able to point your phone/ticket at the thing and it will be just like a boarding pass but that is not where it was last time I experienced it.
The bigger question is whether taxpayer money should be funding private, for-profit ventures like this in the first place. If public funds are being used, the community deserves complete transparency: who recommended the grant, what criteria were applied, what economic return is expected, and how success will be measured. Too often we see public money flowing to the same advocacy groups, consultants and private interests while basic community needs struggle for funding. That’s a fair question for any government, regardless of who’s in office.
Spot on. While there is a certain element of truth in the pub crawl aspect (just wait until the first drunken fuckwit falls into the drink and drowns), the main aim of the post was to get get people thinking about the possible motivations behind the grant, because it cannot in any measure be justified on the stated grounds of supporting tourism. If that were the case, why not say $30m of government backing for a unicorn water park proposal?
Christ, wait a minute!!! … just hope The ‘Pie hasn’t given some demented turkey a bright idea. Which could just come true, in this fucktangle of public morality.
City Venue management/ Rackley swimming being granted ALL the council pool leases in Townsville . Raising pool prices , especially for senior’s aqua aerobics classes to $14/class . Forcing out senior citizens . Who is behind this is impossible to determine as city n lessor blame each other . Keep up the good work n happy hunting
The “pie has spend a bit of time today looking into this sleight of hand. Will report back shortly.
Townsville ratepayers should be concerned about the authority delegated by the Mayor and Councillors to the unelected Council CEO, Joe McCabe, to determine whether Townsville City Council accepts the Community Benefit Agreement offered in connection with the proposed Samsung Kelso Battery Energy Storage System (BESS).
A decision by the CEO not to accept the Samsung Community Benefit Agreement could prevent the proposal from progressing to the State Government, allowing nearby residents to continue the rural residential lifestyle they were promised when purchasing their properties.
Many residents have expressed strong opposition to the proposed 10-acre lithium battery facility through the “Stop the Kelso Battery Project in Townsville” Facebook group and by emailing the CEO directly. To date, they have received no response, leaving affected families in prolonged uncertainty and anxiety, as no one in power can guarantee that if the proposed Kelso BESS is built, that toxic lithium battery fires will not threaten nearby family homes in the future.
Blah blah blah, always somebody whinging about infrastructure developments. It’s a good project for Townsville so be grateful and stop complaining.
Care to supplyyour address, Borat? The battery buiklders would be so happy to build in an area where people like you aren’t going to complain about a major disruption to their lives without consultation.
Hello Peeps. Have you seen my letters in The Bulletin lately? I hope you are all enjoying my wisdom and my succinct penmanship. It’s good to be back posting war and peace and irrelevant comments on social media. People really missed me.
Whilst I am no supporter, Anonymous impersonation isn’t satire; it’s an attempt to shape public perception through deception. Whether it’s done to ridicule, provoke or defame, it says far more about the person behind the keyboard than the person they’re pretending to be. I have watched the ex mayor often, and this is not him, this barry is simply trying to appear to be someone he is not. The ex-mayor had the same issue, at least he is now using his name on everything. I will admit he is making more sense these days in his bulletin responses. I like that hes going after the Bulletin, as it is rubbish, but rubbish we all read, for lack of a better alternative. C’mon Pie, start up the presses, you are 250% better than Jill and Lighting Rod.
Only 250%!?!
Gad, man, that’s hurtful.
But on your quite valid point, The ‘Pie has previously declined to publish, or hasjust changed the name, usually adding a ‘Not’ at the front, to comments that carry the purloined name of a real entity. However, in the case of Barry, in truth The ‘Pie had to take a moment to twig, these things fade a bit in the frenetic Townsville news cycle. But in the end, decided that since that was itself originally a deception, it was a bit of nice barb.
But tend to agree with your general principle.
The report into patient health at TUH to be released next week must be pretty damming. Last week the Chief Medical Officer Nial Small decided it was time for early retirement and now CEO Keiran “Not My Fault” Keyes has seen an urgent need to be elsewhere. Like a roulette wheel it will be interesting to see where the blame finally lands.
Isn’t all thisstuff meant to be overseen by a board and its chairman?
So who’s the chai….. oh, wait. Oh, really?
Our hospital is rooted. The biggest issue is the government bean counters in Brisbane who don’t provide enough money. That’s the first problem. The second issue is the ‘“mates rates” board appointments in which complete fuckwits are put in charge of the hospital. The issues aren’t just Townsville related. Cairns, Mackay, and Gladstone are also clusterfucks being run by muppets in management and at board level. Massive problems at each hospital I have mentioned. Gladstone has a 4 story hospital in which the upper level is falling apart. The roof is fucked, mold keeps leeching through walls and ceilings, and no permanent repairs are being initiated. Well done Crisafulli and puppet Nichols, you are doing a pathetic job. But make sure you spend our tax money on the Olympics! Good boys.
The ‘Pie thinks in fairness that the hospital’s fortunes … indeed those of Queensland Health generally … have been steadily sinking for more than a decade. So, not taking sides here, but it’s reasonable to offer recognition that the current government has been given … wait for wait, waaaiit for it … a hospital pass!!!
Boom tish.
What’s the betting the Astonisher pinches that for a headline. They already want to, but ….
Old mate was CEO for 8 years. That’s way too long. Let’s do a comparison on how fucked the hospital was 8 years ago, to how fucked it is today. The only thing to have ‘improved’ in 8 years is management salaries.
Woohoo. Townsville Hospital CEO has finally been pushed. Don’t slam the door on the way out, idiot.
So, who will be the next lucky CEO to inherit the poison chalice CEO role? Harpic? Les the brawler? Cupcake? Ohh the list is endless.
On tracks records, only one candidate stands out… Claudia BS.
At least the hospital would save on anaesthetic if BS took over. When she talks people just naturally go to sleep.
Welcome back Pie. There wouldn’t have been a job in Queensland for Gill in September 2020. COVID closed down the Tourism industry and Pluckerschmuck closed the Queensland border. The planes were grounded and the people jailed in their own home. Add that to the rest of the country at a standstill, the only wage Gill could pull would’ve been the job keeper payments…if he had a job.
Someone who shall remain nameless claims he has lived off his super, having received a biggy when he left QAL. If true, it can only lead to to conclusions; he did not meet the requirement of the TEL chair cv, and spending five years on one’s super after leaving a supposedly high flying job (yes, I know) doesn’t make for someone with much business nous, economic responsibility and …errr … enterprise.
Magpie, after about a 30 second search, the record shows that Kevin Gill was appointed Chair of TEL in 2012 after some years as a director on the board of the organisation. In March 2020 (ie. after eight years in the apparently unpaid TEL job) Mt Isa airport reported that:
“Kevin Gill, Chief Operating Officer at Townsville, Mount Isa and Longreach airports, said Queensland Airports Limited (QAL) was pleased to do what it could to support efforts by its airline partners to reduce the cost of air travel for regional Queenslanders.”
Which suggests that the man was a) employed as a senior person, b) in a relevant industry and, at least at that time c) met whatever “the requirement of the TEL chair cv” is, although you haven’t exactly sourced that detail.
Oh, Bobby, move those lips and read very slowly: logic (look it up) should inform you that if you qualify for a job by meeting certain criteria, and take an appointment, if you dispense, lose or otherwise no longer possess any of those criteria, then you are no longer qualified for that position. Or at the very least, your position would be reviewed in accordance with whatever regulations govern the position.
Think of it this way, something The ‘Pie had personal experience of 20 years ago. If a driver loses his license or lets it lapse, he is no longer qualified to drive – he is still capable of driving but isn’t allowed to.
Is it seeping through yet, mate?
Jesus Magpie, you set a pretty high bar. Chair of TEL is an unpaid position, a job for a volunteer with no budget in charge of no-one. After more than ten years around the office, at no cost and having offended no-one, the board members of TEL would have been perfectly aware of his capabilities. It’s not as if he would have had KPIs. The guy is harmless. You want him dragged before some CCC kangaroo court and investigated. WTF for?
For the moment, The ‘Pie will put aside the growing suspicion that you are no more than a possibly politically motivated rage baiter, a suspicion intensified by your intentionally (let’s hope) dumb and naive reading of this and other issues. So, one last time, as the saying has it, The ‘Pie can explain it for you, but I can’t understand it for you.
TEL’s finances come largely from public funds, taxpayers and ratepayers money, and therefore TEL is obligated ethically if not legally to publicly account for how that money is spent. So if Gill was receiving some under-the-table deal over the past five years (and not ‘living on his super’, as one retired political figure claims), then we have a right to know. The ‘Pie has never met Gill, and certainly has no face-to-face personal axe to grind with him, but his position was one that – despite your Mother Goose assessment of ‘harmless’ – had a voice in TEL’s business activities affecting the community. So The ‘Pie’s interest here is holding not so much Gill to account, but TEL or whomsoever was seeking influence by offering covert financial support. The opaqueness of the matter invites attention and examination.
‘Having offended no one…’?? In this scenario, the presence of, or lack of, ‘offence’ is just your childish gum-flapping because of a lack of anything substantive to say.
And really, seriously, this: ‘It’s not as if he would have had KPIs’. As board chairman, HE should’ve been the one fighting to implement KPI’s on TEL, not the other way around. That’s what board’s are there for, oversight and guidance.
So, got it?
The ‘Pie doubts it.
No Pie, it won’t be Claudia. There is nowhere for her to hide. She likes to claim victory for other peoples successes. That ain’t going to happen with Townsville hospital. Plus the CEO hospital gig is one that requires hard work. Our girl Claudia wouldn’t know hard work if it bit her on the ass.
Perhaps Gill the dill, he who combeth his hair sideways, will apply?
What about Two names Troy? He has a Medical degree doesn’t he? And his experience in many areas of high level business management makes him the perfect candidate. A Townsville former Mayor working under a former Mayor sounds perfect. And then there’s the Head of Nursing, Matron Mullet…and Dementia Expert, Dr Snooze.
Possible contenders; Scott Stewart, Jenny Hill, Mark Molachino, David Kippin, Claudia Brumme, Michael Bissell, Jeff Reibel, Susan Freiberg and Renae Crosby.
Then there is Tony Mooney, Kevin Gill, and Troy Thompson for the long shot punters….
The 70’s safari suit wearing Paul Jacob has resigned. Will Barry throw his hat in the ring to be Paul’s replacement? Perhaps Frothy, Harpic or Les will be contenders.
Wouldn’t surprise … “plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose “
Think the State Gov will throw a wide net to try and pull in a potential boss for the hospital from an already experienced background seeking a challenge in the paradise of NQ ! None of the local pool have exhibited any brains or real know how.
Has Paul Jacob resigned or is it just rumour ?
Anyone?
Behind the Courier Snail paywall.
https://www.couriermail.com.au/business/townsville/townsville-councillor-paul-jacob-resigns/news-story/072cd21f3a653ea5b7a84e4abe518b0f?amp&nk=e1144289f6b5fad0b189f3f7dab77fd7-1784155761
Yup, he’s buggered off. Looking forward for noms for the council spot, said to be a by-election within two months.
I’m surprised (well not really) that Leighton “lightweight’ Smith didn’t break the story. Then again, he can’t even break wind.
The dog-rooters at News Corpse have just bumped up the price of the Bullsheet by $8 a month from $24 to $32 for a digital only subscription. This only two weeks after dropping their Rewards+ program. The Sun King must need another yacht.
The problem with the online version is that you don’t get to line the cocky cage with it after you’ve finished reading the dozens of pages of ads and the old outdated news articles.
Our local newspapers are complete shite. Save your money and buy a few extra cold pub beers or a nice steak or parmi dinner!
(Edited by The Magpie for length and relevance.)
Given the upcoming Division 1 by-election, I thought readers may be interested in the background of candidate Michael Pugh.
Mr Pugh has publicly acknowledged his criminal history, which has also been reported in the media, including convictions arising from offences committed in the early 2000s. He has stated he intends to be transparent with voters about that history.
Beyond that, there are questions of public interest that deserve scrutiny. Mr Pugh has developed close working relationships with senior figures in local government, including the current Mayor, and has held a number of paid and volunteer leadership roles within the community. As with any candidate, voters are entitled to understand how those relationships developed and whether any appointments or opportunities followed standard, transparent processes.
These are not allegations of wrongdoing. They are questions about transparency, governance and public confidence. Every candidate should expect their background, experience, relationships and public record to be examined before asking the community for its vote.
So the first hat is in the ring.
Before anyone gets too worked up about Mr Pugh’s candidacy and his openly acknowledged ‘criminal history’, some context at the outset might be helpful.
While campaigning as a KAP candidate for Mundingburra in 2024, Michael Pugh, told the ABC he pleaded guilty to break and enter as well as stealing with violence in the early 2000s. He said he was fined $750 for the offences and sentenced to a wholly suspended 18-month term of imprisonment, meaning he did not spend time in actual custody. He was in his early 20s at the time.
Given that, and that he has since been deeply involved in community causes, particularly efforts to steer young people away from crime, there may be some willing to see his past as an early brush with the law. there is always the question of second chances for those who make efforts to rehabilitate themselves.
That said, and putting those facts in themselves aside, it is entirely up to the voters of Division 1 to decide if Mr Pugh is the best of the as yet incomplete field to represent tem
Michael worked at Volunteer NQ with Margie Ryder, paid for by Townsville City Council (Ratepayers). The latest nominee, Michelle Hobson is a member of the potent Townsville Women’s Circle and supported by the premier, she is vice president of young chamber too. There’s a lot of conflict of interest so far let’s hope a worthy local candidate comes up next.
Solid info, thanks.
I’m hearing that Claudia BS might be parachuted in to the vacated Jacob’s spot. That’s the word in some circles. Be interesting to see what happens.
Being a bit dumb about these things, especially English as she is spoke , could you explain to The ‘Pie how someone is ‘parachuted in’ i.e ‘appointed by existing authority’, without an election. The voters of Div 1 are likely to have something to say about.
Stop being silly.
Former CEO of the Townsville Crocodiles and the North Queensland Cowboys, Denis Keeffe has returned to Townsville and would be a great candidate for local government. Don’t know what he’s doing now but certainly has a lot of experience.
Please Joanne Keune, do not throw your stupid looking technicolor hat in the ring.
FFS been going 3 weeks & I haven’t noticed. Welcome back Pie. Other forums seem to be full of rumours, innuendo and slander on local matters.
Note above growth areas in the city mentioned above include northern beaches. Yup tell us about it, as anyone who tries to move down Woolcock st in the morning & arvo will tell you. Bohle R is bottleneck/car park that is about to get worse with Tapiolas’s traffic lights on Weston st. Whatever imbecile gave the nod to start that (As the application & planning approval was lodged years ago with the development) without the other improvements to Ingham rd and other planned accesses to Cosgrove needs to hung, drawn & quartered.
The exorbitant prices of city houses is driving many people into regional areas like Townsville. Sadly, that’s impacting traffic and infrastructure as these unwanted additional pests move into our towns. I wish we could put up a sign telling them to piss off back to their larger cities. It doesn’t help when Albanese allows 350,000 migrants into the country every year, again impacting our regional areas. They too can piss off back to where they came from.
Excuse, Overpriced, there’s a P Hanson on the line, wants to know if you’d consider standing for One Notion.
Perhaps TEL can advocate for better infrastructure Dave? After all, they like to make out that they are the driving force behind e behind every single project that takes place in the Ville. It would give Claudia yet another opportunity to beam in front of the media.