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The Magpie

Saturday, April 12th, 2025   |   163 comments

Brisbane Whisper: David Crisafulli Should Avoid Open Windows …

Why a trusted and informed Brisbane source  says the premier’s age (46 tomorrow April 14) is a problem for him as  he faces his own internal pot-holed and booby-trapped  Olympic Bruce Highway to 2032.

The ‘blame it on Labor’ mantra in Brisbane has its limits, and they it was reached with the jaw-dropping excuse to dump one of few effective crime-fighting initiatives of the previous regime…

Townsville faces a weekend of utter chaos,  if TEL boss Claudia ‘Ms B-S‘  Brumme-Smith’s loopy  number claims are even close to true …  but she thinks  it will be ‘an exciting time’.

The Bulletin, not satisfied with their tried and true policy of ‘Yesterday’s News Tomorrow’, have extended their latest front page to ‘Last Month’s News This Month’.

The ‘Pie finds another gem to add the the growing file Why Humans Are Fucked As A Useful Species.

Denmark shows the way in the fightback against the orange derangement epidemic …

…. and enjoy  our expanded American gallery, where we might as well laugh at the Chief lunatic’s antics …

If you think this weekly effort is worth it, you can support The Nest with a much needed donation by using the button at the bottom of the blog. And a reminder you can also join in comments throughout the week on a variety of subjects that pop up. 

Is Dutton Dead Mutton In His Own Seat?

The Magpie is no fan of political polls (or any sort, for that matter). He has always failed to see the value of the public knowing what a small sample of people  think about carefully crafted questions on an issue – always framed  in careful wording towards the desired outcome of the commissioning body. The ‘Pie thinks of pollsters as political sheep dogs,  urging the easily manipulated electorate in whatever fold is chosen, rather than just letting them make a judgement on the facts of a matter.  And this poll is definitely no exception.

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The issue, the latest to be dubbed with the currently fashionable  but overheated ‘toxic’ tag, is nuclear power.

It may or may not be that Dutton’s nuclear policy has him standing next to an open political window with a Russian electoral fate awaiting him,   but The ‘Pie doesn’t think his public demise, if it happens,  will be solely for the reason given in the latest poll.  Especially since that poll was commissioned by the Qld Conservation Council. The poll claims that nuclear power is the issue on which he is likely to fall in Dickson, but then, what else would one expect a poll paid for by the Conservation Council ?   Had it come with the opposite conclusion, it would never had seen the light of day. The latest poll seems to indicate that the would-be prime minister is no shoo-in his seat of Dickson, the most marginal in the country at 1.7%.  The poll says he is trailing his Labor opponent … good grief, and it’s a bloody woman too!!! … 23%to 17%.  Pretty meaningless at this stage.

At the cost of an appalling anagram jest, it is unclear if nuclear (geddit, geddit?) is the real problem and is no more than another straw  to add to the breaking strain. Because it’s been a rollercoaster ride ever since Dutton entered parliament, his margin up and down like a bride’s nighty,  often below 2%.  He  prevailed in one election by just  217 votes.  So nuclear aside, his misreading of the Work From Home policy gaffe would be just the issue that would get the dames of Dickson’s dainties in a knot. The boys at The Shovel summed it up as a national thorn for Dutton.

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It will be interesting to see how Pete the Plod handles his home campaign from the national stage.

Then there is the question if a Dutton loss would have any flow on effect at the state level.  At this stage, Kid Crisafulli is basking in the national glow of being deemed the country’s most popular premier, but that sort of accolade often doesn’t wash with Queenslander closer the practical outcomes and couldn’t give a toss about the popularity of the premier elsewhere.  And for the political realists, the word crime has been superseded as the most thorny word,  Olympics.  This bastard child of the ego-driven Anna Palaszczuk has now been dumped on the Crisafulli lap and already is starting to soil itself all over his Zegna threads.  But the electorate is yet to notice the incontinence of this ever hungry brat, but the signs are already there.  (See following story.)

But The ‘Pie a very interesting chat with a journo mate in Brisbane who keeps up with these things. He says The Kid, no fool in this arena,  is probably already watching his back, because the danger is from within. And the problem is the premier’s age …  David Crisafulli turns 46 tomorrow (April 14), and is but a pup in the political terms. That means, unseen pitfalls aside, he could be around in the top job for a loooong time as premier. But people who go into politics do not lack ambition, and that is why the Magpie mate says there is already in place  a cabal of lean and hungry ‘young guns’  waiting in the wings.  Led by  for any slip that leave Crisafulli vulnerable, led by that bloke who always looks like his standing side on to a strong wind, the deputy premier Jarrod Bleijie.

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Cutlery specialist? … Qld Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie

The Brisbane mate says  the group is believed to be close knit and ready to act as a bloc, but only if the time is right … it would be political suicide to take on The Kid anytime soon, and maybe they’ll just be happy to let him handle the crime time bomb and the five ring circus mess of the Olympics, and only move if that brings down the Libs next time around.

There’s Nothing Like A Good Excuse … And This Is Nothing Like A Good Excuse

Little signs of the Olympic blight on the regions are starting to show up, with relatively small but worthwhile initiatives shelved as ‘cost cutting measures’.  There are understandable reasons to pull back on social housing projects in favour of  government bankrolling infrastructure costs for new subdivisions and land rent schemes to lower housing (and council) costs, But one of  the more incomprehensible decisions has been to shelve the engine immobiliser scheme.Screenshot 2025-04-12 at 9.43.52 am

OK, so despite claims from police who were delighted with the scheme, and wanted to see it expanded, there is some dispute about the value.  . So Mr Government minister,  what’s the reasoning behind dumping the initiative? This gibberish apparently.

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If we are to follow any logic from that idiotic statement … that immobilisers endanger and disadvantage women (or someone) in domestic violence situations (not sure how that would work) and they are a proven risk of heighten violence in car thefts … then doesn’t it follow that car immobilisers should be banned from sale altogether? 

This is just another pennyweighter measure preparing the government for when the Olympic bills start landing more heavily…. just so they can say they are trying. This government’s rash promises on crime are sounding as hollow as the Yodelers’ Hall of Fame.

And Still They Wonder …

The Bulletin this weekend had a go at catching up with a story that filled national headlines when it happened. And they tried to cover up the fact that the story was week’s out of date with a half hearted attempt at outrage.

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This harrowing story was certainly worth a front page … two or three years ago. Mt Isa man Trevor Caulton made national headlines in 2022 when he drove into a crowd of fighting juveniles after getting a call from a relative that there was trouble.  A 13 year old girl hit by his vehicle. subsequently died of her injuries. Initially the charge was murder, and all the details came out as Coulton’s matter made its way through the court system, right up to when he was sentenced to nine years jail for the down-graded charge of manslaughter. In the Supreme Court sitting in Mt. Isa last month.

But the Bulletin decided to disguise the fact that this was old news, by prefacing one report with the fact that Caulton,  would be free on parole later this year, but wisely decided not to continue the faux outrage angle in the main paper. Anyway,  he will not automatically get parole when he becomes eligible in October, that is always subject to a number of circumstances.  However,  Caulton has served the two and half years in jail since the accident and will have served the required one third of sentence allowing him to ask for parole.

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This story was certainly worth reporting when sentencing took place in March, and if it was missed, then a modest report on the inside pages. And that is what it got, in the Weekend edition on page 13 … but why it was on the front page only  the editor knows.  From front page to page 13 is quite a trip in news terms, and suggests red faces for a missed story., The few people who still read the print edition feel cheated by this sort of thing, but still, down in the newsroom bunker, they continue to wonder why they’ve become so irrelevant and distrusted.

And another matter is passing. After treating us to a front page and a detailed recap of the Troy Thompson saga on Thursday, the anniversary of his election …

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… the very next day  the Queensland Government came out saying a parliamentary committee had found that suspending him was all tickety-boo and they were justified in their action to suspend him. Now you’d think this was a major development for the paper, justifying in turn its unrelenting and most sustained campaign of recent years.  But suddenly, the front page was a Thompson-free zone, and there was a very dull account of the parliamentary findings, sans photograph, on page 8. 

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In fact, the response was so muted as to raise questions if the paper has been muzzled as we move closer to a CCC finding on the matter.  Passing up a ready made fronter like this makes one wonder what’s going on, it couldn’t be another cock-up.

Could it?

As If There Wasn’t Enough Bullshit surrounding The SuperPests.

Question: how do you think Townsville would cope with 27 cruise ships, each with a cashed-up complement of 1000 or so passengers each,  all visiting Townsville on the same weekend?  Whatever you think,  and while it won’t be cruise ships, the equivalent has been forecast by one of the most trustworthy predicators and number crunchers in the entire city.

First a bit of background.Screenshot 2025-04-02 at 11.25.37 am

Someone has come up with the curious idea of joining a bull riding competition with the horsepower of the V8 SuperPests in a joint promotion this year … a sort of heady mix of horse shit with bullshit.  The ‘Pie had been trying to reconciled the rationale of joining these two sideshows, (came up with nothing) when he learnt that indeed, there would be a sideshow alley, ferris wheel,  and dodgem cars this year. Seems elements of the traditional show, which is on around the same time,  have been purloined right under the nose of show ground boss Chris Condon, a man known to jealously guard the annual show’s place on the city’s annual calendar.

but  yes,  OK, it sounds like fun if this is the sort of thing blows up your skirt, but to The ‘Pie, much of sounds like just another night at Rasmussen.

This from Tel, who by the way, as far as is announced by them, have had absolutely nothing tko do with securing all this excitement.

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Dodgem cars sound a bit of a letdown after all that organised mayhem.  And whether this city will welcome publicly sanctioned burnouts and hooning is also a question, we get plenty of that for free. But it’s always about this time of year that the usual devious nonsense is spouted, including Foodtrucks Greaney telling us that last year, 126,000 people ‘descended’ on the Supercar event. Which they did not in the way she would have us believe … if we’re generous, that would only mean that the same 42000 people (as if!! they wish) attended each of three days or  even 31,000 on each of four days. (They really expect us to believe this clearly unsupported balderdash … TV pix tell a different story.)

But then, up teps our favourite confabulator and delusionist, who startles us yet again with this forecast.

Claudia Brumme-Smith  Screen Shot 2023-05-17 at 5.11.53 pm

Townsville Enterprise CEO Claudia Brumme-Smith:

“North Queensland is in for an action-packed event weekend with live sport and entertainment not only from the Supercars, but also including professional bull-riding and a Cowboys double-header event at Queensland Country Bank Stadium.”

“The Supercars event is expected to inject close to $53 million into the Townsville North Queensland community, bringing over 33,000 visitors into the city over three-days.”

This woman seems to share some of Troy Thompson’s serious issues with reality.

33,000 visitors – that is outsiders – pouring into the city? There is your equivalent of the aforementioned cruise liners descending on us all at once … with one major difference. Even if those liners came here over the three days, those 33,000 passengers would have somewhere to sleep each night. Given that at the very best, Townsville offers an estimated 16,000 beds across a variety of levels,  we’ll need a helluva a lot of home stays for visiting hoons.

The insults keep coming from this woman, but we mugs keep paying her.

Amerika

Best opening line of Tariff Wars commentary goes to the ‘Pie’s favourite gal, Marina Hyde in the Guardian. She’s says of the man she describes as the tariff excreting president:

Trade Wars, Episode V: The Empire Shoots Itself in the Foot.  Luv it!!

The way The ‘Pie sees it is that Rome had Nero and his fiddle,  France had Marie Antoinette and her gateau, and now, the whole world has Donald Trump and his nine iron. But will an effective grassroots fight back gather pace, and what can the average person do? While Tesla sales have been short-circuited around the world, there have been so far some small rumblings of various countries of similar boycotting of American consumer goods. And the swiftest  and organised has come from Denmark,  given immediacy by Trump’s  Putin-like threat to annexe Greenland (a Danish protectorate).

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It acts exactly in reverse to campaigns such as the ‘Australian Made’ stickers here, and the idea is likely to spread if the big players like Woolworths and Coles see their bottom line being shredded by this bombastic lunatic.

Interesting to come across the comments on the use of tariff’s by one of the Republicans most revered figures, the late President Ronald Reagan. A five year old could understand the equation. One wonders how long beforfe the GOP grow a few pairs and  take back all the power that executive orders have given this barbarian. Meanwhile, the American penmen make merry with the visual explanations of our dilemma.

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Screenshot 2025-04-08 at 10.52.51 amScreenshot 2025-04-08 at 10.53.04 am …….

Further Proof Humans Are Fucked As A Species 

No commentary required.

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Some Suitable Clothing To Wear To Political Campaign Statements.

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And Finally

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Well, at least we oldies know how to spell forty.

……………

Enough nonsense for now., more next week, Trump willing.  Join us in comments throughout the week. asssistance for The Nest can be made using the donate button below.

The Magpie's Nest is now more than five years old, and remains an independent alternative voice for Townsville. The weekly warble is a labour of love and takes a lot of time to put together. So if you like your weekly load of old cobblers, you can help keep it aloft with a donation, or even a regular voluntary subscription. Paypal is at the ready, it's as easy as ... well, easy as pie. Limited advertising space is also available.

163 Comments

  1. Dazza says:

    https://youtu.be/6GSKwf4AIlI?si=atPp0Gf3jEKxZGZ4

    Mr Magpie if this link works, find the Yes Minister survey takedown.

    Sums up how trustworthy a conservation survey on nuclear power may get a slanted result in the seat of Peter Dutton.

    • Merovingian says:

      It wasn’t a survey on nuclear power though. The real trick is simply that respondents are given a list of policies and asked if each makes them more or less likely to vote for Dutton.

      The conservation council puts out a media release announcing that their particular interest is The Reason and ignores the others. It’s cherry picking, not push polling.

      The results in themselves are about as accurate as any poll by an accredited pollster, it’s how they’re spun.

      • Bullshit says:

        So nuclear power is a turnoff but not necessarily a deciding factor?

      • The Magpie says:

        Totally off the subject and very unlike The Magpie to talk about identities, but given your chosen nom-de-plume, Merovingian, we are wondering if your first name is Frank.

  2. Doug K says:

    If, as temporary mayor Greaney says, the V8 Supercars attract 126,000 people, why does she need to donate $1.8 million of ratepayers money to prop it up?

  3. Russell the Other says:

    When Troy’s period of penance is over in November will he and the other Muppets who are running the council at the moment kiss, make up and start to work together for the betterment of the city as a whole.

  4. IanM says:

    Thanks for the edition.
    Have been away this past week. Driving home noticed a TCC billboard regarding water restrictions but as driving could not read all billboard. At home accessed TCC web site – no mention on front page. About 6 mouse clicks later find information that Townsville on stage 2 water restrictions due to infrastructure damage in recent weather events.
    If this supply restriction due to damage is soo critical why bury it on your web page?
    Is this another example of TCC neglected infrastructure?

    • The Magpie says:

      The mention of it publicly that Then ‘Pie has seen in the video billboard on the corner of Flinders and Denham.

      • Critical says:

        Another example of TCC hiding important issues. During and immediately after the last rain event, all public pools were closed due to high bacterial levels in the water. Fair enough reason to close the pools. But the lazy TCC propaganda unit forgot to advertise the closures in local media, social media or place high visibility signage at the pools. People including people with disabilities arrived at pools to find a sign at the entrance to the pool. When the pools reopened again no advertising of the reopening.
        However, I must applaud the pool leasees who contacted the various pool users groups eg physiotherapy practices, exercise physiology practices etc to let them know of the closures/reopening and who took the brunt of community members anger about no public announcements by TCC.

        • Dunning-Kruger Effect says:

          Malcom, I’m constantly amazed at the talent and capabilities on this Blog that are being underutilized. So many of your contributors clearly have a much better understanding of how the TCC should be run. It begs the question of why they are wasting their time pontificating on your on blog on the inadequacies of operational staff and councilors when clearly, they hold the answers to all our problems. Please stop procrastinating, put your hands up and save our city.

          • Big Mac says:

            You colossal prig, no special expertise is required to say “it would be a good idea to let people know that the pool is closed”.

    • Ducks Nuts says:

      IanM, Townsville is permanently on Stage 2 water restrictions. They’ve been in place for a number of years.

    • Dave Nth says:

      4K1G fm still advertising stage 2 is due to dry weather and limited expected rainfall. Been broadcast all through the wet.

      File another in the do we have a budget crisis or what file…

  5. Prince Rollmop says:

    Regarding the useless TEL and its dud leader Claudia Bull-shit, has any of our local reporters questioned her over the numbers that she claims have and will attend Townsville events? Does TEL itself come up with those numbers? And if they do, how do they get those numbers, what data do they use? Surely they don’t meet and greet every visitor to the region in person and ask them why they are visiting? Or perhaps they phone every caravan park, camp ground, hotel, motel, and resident to ascertain who is visiting the region and for which particular event.

    As always, anything that comes from Ms Bull-shit and Gill the dill is nonsense and…….bullshit.

    • Mad Jack says:

      P.R,
      Historical data from the sewerage system that inform future projections. There are flow metres throughout the system measuring flow and intensity. From that that, and where and when the different measurements are registered Council will know the rise and fall of toilet bowl usage. You might say that the data is full of shit, but it is an established successful process.

  6. Peter Lindsay says:

    In a rush to claim everything, TEL got it wrong and so did the Astonisher. TEL went into raptures over the announcement that Labor would provide $30 million for the upgrade to the Roundabout on Angus Smith Drive at the entrance to the Hospital and the University. And they said the State Government would also provide $30 million. Problem is the State Government committed the full $30million cost at the last state election. No more money was needed. but $60million is the cost to upgrade the Yolanda Drive/University Drive roundabout! Someone got the location wrong? Not a good look for Labor or TEL.

    • Ducks Nuts says:

      You might need to provide evidence of that confusion Peter. Yolanda Drive/University Drive is still in the planning stage and no cost estimates have been released.

    • Merovingian says:

      Sorry, Prince Peter of Lindsay, the LNP promised $30 million but that wasn’t enough and they needed a Federal top up.

  7. feather duster says:

    (Via Magpie email)
    Have you noticed that there are Phil Thompson corflutes up everywhere but the ALP candidate is not to be seen.

    I have actually seen one Greens corflute.

    Labor are not trying to win Herbert!

    And in a count your blessings moment, One Nation and Palmer candidates have nominated but they are not campaigning either.

    Which is very decent of them.

    • Ducks Nuts says:

      Phils corflutes are getting a bit offensive. Every corner has about 4. I even saw one in a tree in a median strip in Cranbrook this week.

      I’d rather no corflutes from anyone.

      • The Magpie says:

        Yeah, not sure what use they are except for parents to warn children how they could end up if they don’t behave.

        • Ducks Nuts says:

          Can’t even use them for starting the BBQ. However if you turn them over you have a nice blank sign, very useful for protest signs. If Dutton gets in we might need a few of those so save yourself a few because he’s lining up for Department of Government Efficiency. And we’ve all seen how fantastically that has gone in the US.

        • Independent fan says:

          The corflutes do serve a purpose as sadly the majority of voters are ignorant and have no idea of who the politicians are and what they actually represent. So they see the corflutes and then make their voting choice simply by what they see advertised. A more seasoned voter (or someone with a brain) doesn’t need to see corflutes because they have already studied the political landscape and have a general idea of who is a shyster and who is only a quarter shyster, and they have made their choice accordingly.

          Then again, it is entertaining seeing dicks and ballsacs drawn on the faces of the candidates!

          • Guy says:

            By my reckoning 80-90 % of people walking in to vote don’t know and don’t care – about anything

            Its the perfect storm

          • The Magpie says:

            Doubt that, otherwise you might have been elected.

          • Guy says:

            Remember

            The learned “voter” i complain about voted in a council that increased rates 10 %

            The same council bringing in a 750,000 CEO

            The same council that tried taking away free parking.

            I suggest that the problems with government can be found looking squarely in the mirror. Ultimately it’s not the stupid councillors that plague us its the stupid way we vote.

            With a dysfunctional voting public we are left big ticket boondoggles like “AUKUS” a half a trillion dollar submarine programme to buy old subs in 15/20 years time ( if ever); who can forget the laughable 20 billion dollar mistake of snowy hydro 2.0 ? ( i wont even bother talking about F35 programne except to point out they need airconditioned hangers or they rust).

            Despite the strained finances of QLD the Olympics is still threatening the viability of life in QLD – its easier to just keep raising taxes than to be responsible , even a 2 year old child could understand the stupidity of continuing with this project. Townsville council is just part of a long line of wasteful and stupid bureaucracies that wiped us out.

            The saddest part of it with Albo’s immigration surge the thousands of people made homeless / poor by his decisions will still keep voting labor.

    • Dave Nth says:

      This week till I got back yesterday I was in the electorates of Warringah, McKellar, Bradfield and Hunter.

      Liberal corflutes everywhere in the 3 Sydney seats. Intersections main focus, I saw only a few of Homes-a-Courts climate 200 types who currently hold some of those seats. A hell of a lot of Liberal resources being pumped into Sydney’s north shore.

      Hunter, different story. A lot of PHON resources, PHON corflutes everywhere and a smattering of ALP.

      Back up here, Phil’s everywhere and a few Larissa Waters corflutes as well. Yet to see any ALP corflutes yet.

      Weird as I thought Labor would be fighting harder than they are. Even in Hunter they were low on visibility despite getting a scare from PHON last time.

      Complacency perhaps? Faith in polling?

    • punching bag on glenlyon drive says:

      surely not even the most one-eyed labour hack would think anyone on their side has a chance against philip thompson or andrew wilcox… why would they waste money in areas they cant win?

  8. Headmistress says:

    I wouldn’t have pegged you as a Guardian reader Mr Pie.
    Agree that Marina Hyde is an exceptional writer and commentator. Love her work.

    • The Magpie says:

      A short list, everyday, in no order of preference, all by necessity.
      The Guardian (American, British, Australian editions)
      The Australian
      The New Daily
      The Courier Mail
      The Townsville Bulletin
      Snopes
      Roy Morgan morning summary
      Mumbrella
      and any number of state and government media releases.

      Then it’s breakfast time.

  9. Achilles says:

    Out in the garden this arvo my G-Grandson tracked me down after watching a segment of a polie election broadcast.

    He asked me, is that what you meant by when you always say “bullshit comes free grandad”? Smart boy……p’raps!

    I have no doubt I shall soon be required to attend an awareness or sensitivity therapy counseling, on how to whipe thier eyes when facing the truth et el torro faeces.

  10. Tropical Cyclone says:

    Who do we blame for the TCC being a complete cluster fxxk? The state Government, Jenny hill? troy? food trailer? miles? Crisafulli? all of the above. But where do people really feel the blame lies?

    • The Magpie says:

      Although it may count at the ballot box, feelings don’t count in reality, we need a forensic analysis of past behaviour to be able to really move forward … we need facts, not feelings.

    • Prince Rollmop says:

      Tropical Cyclone, there are many players to blame for TCC’s demise and there are numerous causal factors. But if you look at the previous 10 years some of the complicit characters include at least 3 former CEO’s, one particular mayor (Hill), numerous Councillors and the state government. All have been involved in inept and poor decision making. Now the past 12 months has seen some farcical TCC activity with Twonames adding a whole new level of fuckwittery to Council that really is the icing on the cake. It is well and truly a shit-show with Foodtrucks warming Twonames seat while he remains sidelined. TCC also remains under the careful watch of Messr Oberhardt while the sniff of administration remains in the air. It’s a debacle.

    • Jason says:

      The mirror.

  11. The Magpie says:

    As versus what? Nice injuries?

    FFS, why not ‘Motorcyclist Injured In Ingham Crash’?

  12. Bullshittin says:

    I love how the Bullet was bored and decided to run a “what’s next” article on Thompson. TBH, Thompson is the gift that keeps on giving. And the masthead does have the right to run articles about him as his actions are affecting Townsville. But the mayor has gone deadly quiet on Facebook and I reckon it’s because his lawyers have advised him to pipe down. Quite possibly because a payout his close at hand and they don’t want him to stuff it up.

  13. Tropical Cyclone says:

    Found this on Facebook, looks like it will upset everyone.

    How to Fix the Housing Crisis – From Someone Who Doesn’t Need Your Vote

    Let’s skip the spin and talk solutions. No slogans, no donor pressure, no sugar-coating—just a straight-up plan to fix housing in Australia in under five years.

    1. Pause immigration for 4 years.
    Stabilise demand. Let infrastructure and housing catch up before adding more pressure.

    2. Scrap negative gearing.
    Housing is for living in, not hoarding for tax breaks.

    3. Ban foreign ownership of residential properties.
    Homes should be for Australians, not offshore investors.

    4. Tax vacant homes heavily.
    If a house sits empty more than 25% of the year, hit it with a serious rate hike. It’s not a museum piece.

    5. Cancel student debt.
    Free up a generation to save, invest, and buy homes—not just survive.

    6. No more dole for doing nothing.
    You should be earning, learning, parenting, or volunteering. No exceptions.

    7. Raise the minimum wage to $30/hour.
    Living wage = stable renters and first home buyers.

    8. National home insurance scheme.
    Like Medicare, but for protecting your home. One less thing to worry about.

    9. Expand TAFE and apprenticeships.
    Train the next wave of tradies to build and repair our future.

    10. Cap home loan interest rates at 8%.
    No one should lose their home because of banking games.

    11. Tariffs on goods we can make or grow here.
    Support Aussie farmers and manufacturers. Keep the jobs, grow the economy.

    12. Tax mining properly.
    Resources belong to all of us—let’s get a fair return.

    13. Attract foreign investment in manufacturing—again.
    Offer land, cut red tape, and get factories humming. We’ve done it before.

    The Result?
    In 4–5 years: housing stabilised, jobs created, debt cut, and maybe even an Aussie-made electric vehicle on the road. It’s not about left or right—it’s about getting stuff done.

    • The Magpie says:

      Mostly piffle, Tropical Blowhard. Any chance you went to the Troy Thompson University of Economics.
      No migrants, not enough workers for a start … a stricter skills requirement and a modest reduction in numbers would have to be a starting point. But it’s a fun mixture of undergraduate populism, traditional Old Fartism and Green and Teal-coloured Lucy-in-the-sky-with-diamonds hallucinatory cloud counting.

      So there’s no chance that someone stole your handle.

    • Ducks Nuts says:

      Where did you find this drivel? Cap home loan interest rates at 8%? You do realise that interest rates are well under that now and home loans are still unaffordable for many.

      And minimum wages of $30/hour? The business unions would have apoplexy.

      • The Magpie says:

        And many workers wouldn’t have a job. That’s the sort of magic pudding thinking that unions specialise in. Many sectors of Australian workers ARE underpaid, but those matters are slowly being addressed … too slowly, but the problem is now recognised on all sides.

        • Tropical Cyclone says:

          Some believe that the minimum wage should reflect the cost of living. If that’s the case, and the cost of living has increased since the last minimum wage adjustment, it could be argued that the minimum wage should also be raised accordingly. only some peoples opinion.

          • White Mouse says:

            Cost of living goes up; wages go up. Wages go up; cost of living goes up. It’s a never ending spiral.

        • Ducks Nuts says:

          Exactly. But I doubt this was written by unions. Sounds more like Greens delusional thinking

    • Jason says:

      Social media for economic policy. Cool. Working out well for another country.

  14. Prince Rollmop says:

    So the figure has been released regarding what Thompson is seeking to fleece from TCC = $1m payout. A nice little earner if he gets it, but hopefully he won’t. But things must be progressing as he has gone completely off the grid in the past week or so. I’m hoping that Council has kept a copy of all his rantings on Facebook and that they can use that against this swindler when the time is right.

    https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04-15/former-townsville-mayor-troy-thompson-discrimination-claim-qirc/105173606

    • The Magpie says:

      Thanks for providing an apt descriptor, The ‘Pie was running out of them, but SWINDLER’ heads the nail on the head.

    • The Magpie says:

      More crazy like a fox … this has all the fingerprints of a pre-planned scam, maneuvering himself into the positionnof victimn ratgher than criminally intended perpetrator.

      • Toy Thompstain says:

        If Twonames gets his million dollar payout, it will fly in the face of being the local saviour that he claims to be. The million dollars will likely be met by councils insurers and one way or the other the ratepayer will foot the bill. That’s a big ‘fuck you’ to his precious ratepayers. The man is a shonk, a crafty used car salesman and a grub. This is the story of his life – lies, deception, rorts and swindles. And let’s not forget that he is vengeful and has Joe McCabe and numerous councillors in his crosshairs. A truly psychopathic individual.

        • Toy Thompstain says:

          P.S I pinched the swindle tag from Rollmop. Very apt description.

        • Russell says:

          Whatever the outcome of whatever eventuates regarding Troy Thompson, this whole concept of an email being “notice served” is farcical. How many of us can honestly say we have never had emails sent to us that were lost in cyberspace? The Law has lost its way within the ether that is IT.

          • The Magpie says:

            Very convenient excuse for your hero, Russ, but utter crap in this day and age … he would have needed to have lost a succession of emails from the authorities.

            The man’s a bare faced liar and is now grasping at straws.

          • Blue Bells says:

            They also phoned and left a message. He was still the Mayor at the time.

          • Ducks Nuts says:

            Dear Russell, the courts are very progressive and use emails to notify of many things. His argument is ridiculous.

          • Grumpy says:

            Russell – most courts and tribunals have portals whereby you can access your case details, including viewing documents, filed, past and future listings, orders made and notices served. If he didn’t actively ensure that he was properly informed of listings, it’s his problem. Unless he is confused as to what part of the dog wags and what part does the bloody wagging.

          • The Magpie says:

            Well, the claim is he didn’t have a computer. And presumably but weirdly, neither did is legal bods, they’d be the ones on constant alert.

            All bullshit as usual, so that dog you mention Grumpy is also the one that ate Troy’s homework.

      • The Magpie says:

        At the time of writing, the ABC Thompson claim story has been up for five hours on the web.

        The Magpie cannot find the slightest mention anywhere that the Bulletin is even aware of this. The ‘Pie could be wrong but is this a MASSIVE MISS by the paper and a MASSIVE SCOOP for the ABC?

        • Elusive Butterfly says:

          Front page lead tomorrow, Mr. Pie?
          Old adage…”If you can’t hide something, make it stand out!”
          “Something”, in this case, being incompetence!

          • The Magpie says:

            As the yank saying has it, ‘if you’re bring run out of town, get in front of the mob and make it look like a parade’.

        • Airline says:

          Another scoop by the ABC reporter she was quite impressive reporting on Nth Qld floods recently (Live TV).

          • Robbo says:

            This is a joke right?
            The bloke hasn’t been there for 6 months, no doubt he’ll be payed out, they are all as weak as p$&s!

  15. The Magpie says:

    OK, Nesters, help us out here.

    This Clive Palmer billboard at the intersection of Woolcock St and Charters Towers Road (coming from Castletown towards OfficeWorks). So has the Fatty had second thoughts about something, and has painted over item 3 of the policy list. Or has number 3 put a bdeen in someone’s bonnet and a paintbrush in their hand

    Wonder what it was? Anyone?

  16. Russell says:

    Obviously I shouldn’t have used a post on Troy Thompson to try to make my point. Using an email as “Notice Served” is crap. Numerous instances reported. The Law has lost its way!

  17. Intrusive Peter says:

    October 1 – Thompson gets show cause
    October 21 – Thompson responds
    October 22 – CCC raid Thompson homes, includes documents, all digital devices, two watches, PC, iPad, Two laptops, 3 x back up drives and all paperwork.
    November 21 – Thompson is suspended.

    Thompson has no access to any email, no phone, no socials.

    QHRC receive 3 contact addresses for notification in order of preference:
    1. Physical Address
    2. Private Email
    3. Work Email

    Thompson provided QIRC proof of CCC documents not allowing access to these email accounts in mention and submissions.

    Thompsons work phone changed by CEO upon request of CCC, personal phone changed, emails changed, it was clear he had no access, therefore could not respond TO QIRC.

    In the IR file Thompson used a bulletin story stating the case was closed, to clarify this was his first advice of any mentions, he applied same day for the matter to be reopened.

    Thompson has recently received all of his belongings and access back, this includes copies of everything he accumulated while in office.

    As a citizen of Townsville, I am certain we are a long way from this saga ending. The end game for all should be pay, gag, move on, but we all know this won’t happen, there’s too much value in the documents, and a lot of risk to Thompson, Council, and Councillors.

    I was informed of this recently and can say with certainty this timeline and events do line up, he received a new phone number, email address, changed everything, including creating our community matters website, email and mobile. He is now a homeowner, under a trust, none the less and all his legal matters are being handled by Guest Lawyers from Brisbane, at a handsome sum, by a well known financial sponsor with a bone to pick.

    • The Magpie says:

      Surely his lawyers and their ‘handsome sum’ must of been aware of a possible communication problem and provided their contact details. Come to that, so must the QHRC. As you are clearly one of the TwoNames inner circle, IP, (does the P stand for Pinocchio?) you want us to believe that in such a vital matter, contact was not seen as an issue?

      But good to know his now a homeowner courtesy of the Bank of mum and (deceased) dad.

      • Grumpy says:

        “Under a trust” What’s he frightened of? A hostile costs order?

        • The Magpie says:

          Exactly.

        • Toy Thompstain says:

          The guy is a shonk and a shyster. Everything about him is a fraud. His not having property in his own name is totally suspicious. Is he a bankrupt? Does he have an ex who might go after his property if he owned one? Nothing Thompson does is above board and transparent. He is a serial litigant and has played the system for years. He won’t give up his TCC job in a hurry as to him it’s like winning the lotto. He will always explore every avenue to sue someone. Quick and easy money.

    • Kingdom of Troy says:

      Thank you for sharing this update Troy. Of course none of it exonerates you from this monumental blunder. On the one hand, I hope they do reopen the QIRC case so the folly of your claim can be exposed to all. On the other I’m pissed at the ongoing legal costs to TCC from your actions. I have heard they’re north of 500K.

      • Intrusive Peter says:

        Not Troy, but you sound like someone trying not to be Troy, are you Troy, Kingdom of Troy, too many imposters.

        At least I’ve been able to see some physical evidence, this ABC report is old news, they’ve only just got a copy of it under an RFI, the matter has had further movements since then, I’m sure it’ll be public soon. And yes the costs continue to TCC and Thompson will continue to escalate, it would’ve been easier to pay him, but I suspect he’ll keep this in the courts for a few years, a term even, these matters can always be pushed back, law is open to interpretation and getting the magistrate or commissioner on a favourable day. .

    • White Mouse says:

      If he didn’t have access to a computer, how was he making all those Facebook posts?

      • Ducks Nuts says:

        Maybe his watch. Or the other watch. He did have two.

      • Intrusive Peter says:

        You forgot who has access to his page, both Michelle and Kate, it is reasonable to imply he was not allowed to use these, as they’d be linked to his email and phone security, but others had access, and posted under his instruction.

        • Prince Rollmop says:

          Intrusive Peter, or is that Troy, or is it Stephen Lame the realestate agent or is it Skyhawks the truckie? You cookers wear your tinfoil hat with great pride. I’m sure that you also have some hidden bunkers filled with prepper materials while you work out how to make Townsville great again.

        • Grumpy says:

          He didn’t have access to to a computer? Nonsense. Even so, why didn’t he ring or attend the registry in person? Because he is an idiot?

  18. KP says:

    TCC April 2025 cash balance $89.4M
    ($99.9M overdraft available)
    TCC cash balances have decreased since April 23, Sept 23, April 24, and Sept 24 by $15-20M per 6 months.

    The cash in bank balances continue to a negative balance 2-3 months after rate revenue is received.

    December 2024 – January 2025 had TCC $70M into the overdraft, council is trading insolvent for 6-8 out of 12 months a year.

    • Ducks Nuts says:

      Don’t ypu have a court case to attend to?
      Maybe some lost emails to find?

      • KP says:

        Not at all, I’m happily holidaying on the Sunshine Coast Ducks Nuts, so no, not even warm with your guesswork, happy to comment when appropriate, but you’re way off par, I’ll be back in a fortnight, once TCC are closer to delivering their rate increases.

        • Guy says:

          Ok

          We need a sweepstakes competition on the rate rises / additional costs

          I’m declaring a 15 % increase in rates/ additional fees/ licenses / fines the council can squeeze out of the Ratepayers.

          • The Magpie says:

            And no one should count on the Strand parking metre being over and done with. not with this mob of lazy economists.

  19. Tropical Cyclone says:

    So the government has failed the hospital in allowing pigeons to shit all over the children’s playground. Bloody government.

  20. Wulguru Whisperer says:

    Peter Dutton bringing his some on the campaign trail was silly. Even sillier is his son fronting the media and claiming that as a young person he can’t afford to buy a house, neither can his sister. Really??? Your old man is a multi millionaire and can’t stump up some loose change so you can buy a house? I call complete, ludicrous, and utter utter bullshit!!

    • The Magpie says:

      Whoever his campaign manager is, they have lost both plot and perspective.

    • Ducks Nuts says:

      Haha I’m honestly not sure which is the biggest blunder
      The son
      Jacinta Price’s Make Australia Great Again
      Or the release of a diss track in the style of Drake (a pedo)

  21. Blue Bells says:

    First there was KP, then IP. Still a few more letters of the alphabet to go through.

  22. Dunning-Kruger Effect says:

    Succinct maybe but as usual the Pickled Pretender has it completely wrong. Mr Oberhardt is stepping down this week and taking a clear message back to Brisbane that TCC is functioning just fine and seen to be heading in the right direction. Of course, I expect to be howled down by all and sundry, but the only thing I can sniff/smell is the piss and vinegar (mis)directed at Cr Greaney and Joe McCabe etc. who in my opinion are doing a decent job in righting the listing ship….but haters gonna hate.

    • The Magpie says:

      And you’re gunna gibber. And so is Foodtrucks Greaney.

      John Oberhardt was here at the government direction for only one reason … to make sure inexperienced councillors didn’t make claimed liability issues any worse regarding the Thompson affair. Which he achieved.

      But for you to suggest he is taking a clear message back to Brisbane “that TCC is functioning just fine and seen to be heading in the right direction” is predictable biased nonsense from the likes of you. Oberhardt has been ordered back by Brisbane, not off his own bat and judgement, but because the government clearly knows how matters are going with the con man and perhaps figures it is a waste of money to have him safeguard against any councillor loud mouth any longer.

  23. Slim Pickings says:

    Farewell Mr Oberhardt, hope you had fun babysitting this clusterfuck. Councils finances are in the shit, staff morale is in the shit, Thompson is still stirring the shit, and half the councillors really couldn’t give a shit. Yes, a real shit-show. Then again, compared to Council’s like Ipswich and Logan who had bigger issues, perhaps we aren’t that bad after all?

    • Percy says:

      Nothing will change at TCC – Still have insurmountable debt. Still have a psychopathic sidelined mayor. Still have idiots in charge of the asylum – Foodtrucks. Still have a shortage of staff. Oberhardt was a seat warmer and nothing changed while he was part of the dysfunctional team. He dished out a bit of advice and tried to steady the listing ship, however it is still taking on water.

      • The Magpie says:

        A flawed comment only partly true.

        Oberhardt’s job was pretty simple: a LG ‘trainer’, coaching councillors both new and recycled how to avoid the wrath of the pettifoggers running the LG Act and egregious legal pitfalls set by the suspended swindler mayor.

        The council is not dysfunctional in the true meaning of the word ‘not operating normally or properly’ . The positives are that debate has been freed up, there is no effective bully in the place (although our hubristic acting mayor just wishes she had the respect, fear and clout … but she’s way off the Hill standard and always will be), council staff policy blueprints have been tinkered with if not outright rejected, amendments added, and bushels moved to reveal hidden lights, like Batkovic and Robinson.

        But while this day-to-day stuff is definitely not dysfunctional, the thrust of your comment is correct Tr … sorry, Percy … the debt question and financial history of crucial decision-making that brought us to this point is still something that remains unanswered. The history will never be the reason to call in administration, that will only happen if it is deemed that council’s financial position is untenable. And since proof one way or the other lies in carefully controlled and obscured information, we may as well accept the fact that some people have ‘gotten away with it’ and now we just need to get rid of Thompson, have new elections and hope that some decent and competent person will perhaps make a sacrifice and run for to be our civic leader.

        • Percy says:

          Oh c’mon Magpie, this Council is fucked and you know it. Greaney and Thompson are arseclowns. Councils debt is bordering upon insolvency, and we’ve never recovered fully from Adele, Ralston and Hill. If council was a dog you would shoot it and put it out of its misery. Joe McCabe is trying to play a straight bat and pretend that all is well, but it isn’t.

          • The Magpie says:

            Oh c’mon what? All you’ve done there is repeat part of your original grizzle which happens to be the bit The Magpie agrees with. We both agree deep seated financial history leading to current – amen – challenges exist and will inevitably play out, even if blame is not apportioned (which isn’t going to materially help ratepayers, anyway).

            The councillor and the staff, with the exception of two or three executives, is operating as one would expect of a council. The upcoming budget will tell us a lot, and will also tell the government a lot.

    • Trollseeker says:

      Yet!

  24. HiBeam says:

    Housing Affordability
    In 1970 I bought a block of land in Deeragun for $3000. In 1971 Althea blew Townsville away and tradies came from all over Australia to build it back again, many liked the place and stayed on. Housing was in short supply, prices rose, so did the value of my block, two years after I bought it I sold it for $13000
    In 1971 my wife and I and our daughter moved to Townsville from Sydney for various reasons, the major one being housing affordability the other was gaining employment in Townsville.
    A quick Google search indicates that the average tradesman remuneration is A$80,000 a year.
    In 1972 I was earning A$4.000 per year.
    I paid $19,000 for my s/h box on sticks, where I still live.
    It has 3 bedrooms, 1bathroom, a combined living-dining room and a kitchen.
    Today’s value is about $380,000 same same allowing for inflation.
    I was a truck driver and my wife was a nurse, we had 2 children when we bought the house, the children ate well we didn’t starve. The first year we bought a bottle of wine to celebrate, our only grog for 12 months. We both smoked but smokes were much cheaper back in the day.
    My wife drove the car to work, I rode a Honda 90 to work.
    We have never owned a new car, we have had 1 overseas holiday.
    We have never owned a boat.
    We were lucky to make a quick $10,000 on the block BUT buying the block was a huge gamble and took all our spare cash and we still had to pay some of it off. We could have bought a new base model Holden for $2000 and looked flash but we didn’t.
    Perhaps if people cut their coat to fit their cloth they too could struggle as we did and become home owners.

    • Cool Story Bro says:

      Now take a look at national value to income ratio over the years.

      • HiBeam says:

        Woohooo just had a look at that ANZ Housing Affordability Report it’s Staggering.
        One would guess that these homes are not 3 bedroom fibro boxes on sticks which ours is and which none of my friends and acquaintances grandchildren see as good enough for them to live in.
        No pool, no 3 car garage, no entertainment area, no TV room, no full air-conditioning, no carpeting throughout, no games room. Who could exist in such dumps they wonder and ask why we don’t move into a nice brick lowset residence with all the above attributes. I tell them ITS BECAUSE WE DON’T OWE ANY MONEY AND WE FIND OUR HOME GOOD ENOUGH FOR US!

        • Mad Jack says:

          I’m with you,

          Brought my 1400m2 block in Kelso East in 1972 for $6300. Equal to my annual wage as a baggy arsed motor vehicle mechanic.
          First issue, why have things got so out of kilter that a b.a. motor vehicle mechanic cannot today purchase such a piece of land.

          1982, had house built, in consultation with builder high set incorporating all of the principles of the traditional north queenslander house. 3 bedrooms one toilet (bloody hell, how many do you need?) etc,etc.
          Did the builders clean-up myself, painted inside and out, and planted some trees. $38,000.

          Still live there today thank you very much, except some of the trees are frighteningly too big.

          These days young folks get the, take it or fuck off option.
          A chicken shit miniscule block of dirt with a low set block house of biscuit cutter design.

          And you have little choice in house colour scheme,
          And you have to accept the landscaping package as part of the build, lest Larddie Darr Housing Estate have an address less than pristine.

          All this to screw over the baggy arsed motor vehicle mechanic and his young family.

          Seriously folks, something has gone terribly wrong. I suspect governments of greed in bed and intermant with estate developers.

          I had’t intended to go down this path but;

          PHILLIP THOMPSON, and NATALIE MARR, where are you?

    • Ralph says:

      HiBeam, living such a frugal life has meant that you have missed out on some of the trappings of life and that’s a real shame. At least your kids will benefit greatly when you cark it.

    • Smells like cheese says:

      What a dull life you have lived cuz. Bet you have old green kitchen benchtops and mission brown tiles with a giant old Hills Hoist the backyard?

      • The Magpie says:

        And owns ‘em all. Unlike you, one bets.

      • Achilles says:

        Each to his own! I have enjoyed both ends of the “comfort spectrum”, and emphasise I enjoyed living every moment of MY life.

        I suspect the Pie has traveled a similar journey, to quote the full quip “life wasn’t meant to be easy, BUT it was meant to be enjoyed.

      • Achilles says:

        GBS, would place you front and central with “you know the price of everything, and the value of nothing” Loser!

      • Grumpy says:

        Blue Vein – so what if he does?

      • Mad Jack says:

        Slc,
        You are spot on and you are a cheese of the era.

        Kitchens of green and yellow laminex. The time of corduroy flared trousers. We had them both.

        As times moved on and financed improved for this now well retired baggy arsed motor vehicle mechanic the green and yellow laminex has been replaced with mahogany. To my horror my wife threw out my pasely patterned glow-weave body shirts at about the same time.

      • HiBeam says:

        Smells Like Cheese.
        We have a modern kitchen and bathroom, the hills hoist went 35 years ago the house is now covered in vinyl cladding and the roof is 7 years old. My boring life has been spent driving trucks all over Australia and seeing the inside of many manufacturing businesses as well as the wonderful landscape of Australia and meeting the people who worked in these industries and in the mines and wineries, sugar mills, engineering shops etc.
        My wife and I were lucky enough to visit Japan and New Zealand as part of our employment. The one overseas holiday we had was 3 months in England and the Isle of Man.
        Whilst you may find it boring we have been happy together for nearly 60 years and have had a better life than many people I have met in my travels. To each his own, I am glad you had such a fulfilling life that you find ours boring!

        • Grumpy says:

          Hi Beam – I found the local beer at the IoM quite moreish. You were obviously not there for the TT, but the place was much bigger than I imagined.

          • HiBeam says:

            Grumpy you are right, the local drop was moreish. We were there for practice week, left it too late to book accommodation for race week. I would live there if they didn’t have winter! We went almost everywhere on the IOM while we were there but not over the mountain as the driver thought it was too foggy. I found the people extremely friendly and the Junk Shop at Jurby was a highlight, the lady who ran the joint was a classic with a Piss or get off the pot attitude to die for. We had a taxi driver one night who solved our money problem by taking us to the only money machine on the island that would read our card, then drove us everywhere over a ½ hour period and when I queried the 5 pound fare and offered 10 pounds he refused to take it, I sorted this by paying the asked for fiver and chucking another one in for his services as a tour guide. The IOM museum is one of the best I have been to. The practice was great to watch, they weren’t going down for the paper that was for sure!!!

  25. Trollseeker says:

    Magpie, you mentioned in an earlier post ‘The councillor and the staff, with the exception of two or three executives, is operating as one would expect of a council’. Who are the 2 or 3 executives? I know one of them is well respected.

  26. Motorist says:

    In Brisbane for Easter with family, How quaint!

    One sibling subscribes to the idea that to every difficult and complex matter there is always a simple solution. She is invariably wrong. She is also a frothing at the mouth MAGA Trump supporter. What bugs me is that when she is telling my 90+ yo Mum, why my Mum, and the rest of us are wrong she sounds like Jacquie Lambie with a burr up her arse.

    When ever she approaches we change the subject to Vivaldies Four Seasons or Richard Waganer or similar.

    Regardless,

    Good fortune to all of good heart this Easter.

  27. Ratepayer says:

    I must live in a different world to Dunning-Kruger Effect. Nobody I know thinks Greaney and her team are doing even an average job. It’s worth noting that criticism of the acting mayor and the useless councilors is not restricted to the Magpie blog. The Astonisher’s text the editor section has been littered with complaints about our media tart acting mayor and the bankrupt council. It’s strikingly similar to the wave of criticism of Jenny Hill in the leadup to her demise. Hope we get the same result at the next election.

    • The Magpie says:

      Well, the choice of his/her Nest name is a self-descriptor, it seems.

      And boy oh boy, if the term Dunning-Kruger Effect applied to anybody, it would certainly be to vacuously grinning Ann-Maree Greaney, Townsville own reversed version of a Meter Maid .. that Gold Coast invention put money INTO parking meters, Foodtrucks STILL wants to take it out, via ratepayers pockets.

    • Ducks Nuts says:

      The same result next election. I’ll vote for a hard no on that. We’ve already wasted an entire years wages on a fraudulent Mayor.

  28. Maggie May says:

    I heard on the news the council contributed $330,000 to bring a some pottery exhibition to Townsville.
    The sight of Greaney smiling on TV when talking about this exhibition makes me sick, when there are ratepayers out there that can’t even use their toilets.
    The amount of money this council wastes on grants is absurd given the lack of maintenance in some areas. Maybe a petition to stop all grants until they are in a better financial position might me worth organising. Would be worth it just to see the rubbish they come out with when it comes to discussing it at a council meeting?

    • The Magpie says:

      The question that needs to be answered is where did the demand for the Wedgwood exhibition come from? What imperative drove this inane idea? And The ‘;Pie says that even if the thing is a rowd puller … $300k+ is an absurdity.

      • dunny says:

        I did ask our acting Mayor whether we could use her sponsored wedgewood as chamberpots, but I got no response.

      • Prince Rollmop says:

        I think the Wedgwood idea came from Jenny Hill. You see, she is a sophisticated socialite with a penchant for the finer things in life such as luxury cars, fine dining, expensive hairstyles and clothing. To sip a cup of tea out of a $15k cup is right up her exquisite and royal self.

    • Guy says:

      Its the only way

      “Grants” are purely a mechanism to gain votes in elections – thus depriving the WHOLE community of vital funds. It’s understood that elections are won by perhaps a few percentage points – “grants” push that 2% margin in your favour if you are trying to win an election. You throw 30,000 here, 50,000 there at organised voting blocks and you gain votes – enough to get you over the line.

      Its true that saved money could be directed into paying council debt , filling holes,taking away rubbish but in reality any saved money is poured straight into the bank accounts of council management. Ratepayer funds are directed into interest groups, less visible during the good times of unbridled debt taking – bad when the piper needs paying and hundreds of millions have been pissed up the wall on things that don’t work but made managers and contractors rich.

      The other thing is council finances will be used to featherbed either the retirement funds / golden handshakes/ alternative employment options once they leave office. You decide to use a particular contractor for millions of dollars of Ratepayers money and when you leave/ get pushed out magically a position opens up for you either at said contractor or a mate. It’s how our system works.

      “Government” at every level relies on a stupid and uncaring electorate to vote in the most harmful way to do maximum damage to themselves and everyone else, Governing classes excepted. Corruption and stupidity takes down growing civilisations.

      As I’ve said before: want to know why things are so bad ? Just look in a mirror.

      • The Magpie says:

        What? Who look in the mirror?

      • Ducks Nuts says:

        So glad the community is intelligent enough to have never voted you in. How many times have you run now?
        And you’re still hanging around and supporting Troy Thompson’s and Brian Venten’s toxic misinformation.

      • Achilles says:

        So what do you see when you look in your mirror Guy?

        • Guy says:

          The same problem as everyone else

          All I’m saying is each person needs to make that commitment not to keep voting in the same idiots. We need to take care. Not everyone will heed the message, they will vote labor or some other suitably stupid political party hell bent on destroying us. Long time voters and supporters of Labor need to abandon the party , it no longer serves anyone except a small clique of damaging personalities – that goes for the so called “greens”.

          I don’t need any help , effectively my votes came from ME on my own door knocking over 4 weeks starting from cold. AND being knee capped with NO help on election day – and i got 25 % of the vote. I think it spent not more than maybe 1200 dollars.

      • Prince Rollmop says:

        Guy, are you trying to say that none of those corrupt tendencies lay deep within yourself? The fact is, very few people become politicians because they have a passion for the community or have a genuine desire to make life fair for everyone. People like Fran O’callghan are a rare example. Most career politicians are in the game because they want to keep their snouts in the trough and gorge on every possible financial benefit. So again tell us Guy, what are YOUR political motivations? And if you do respond, please keep it brief and succinct.

        • Guy says:

          I’ve got zero political ambitions

          I’m seeing a sinking ship, all I’m doing is trying to pump water out and figure out where the hole is. Given the last few years of Labor many people will be living in lifeboats soon ( some already are). Electoral periods are 4 years and people forget that things used to be better. Ultimately the ship will sink but pumping out a bit of water in the meantime creates some space to build a life-raft.

      • Toady says:

        Hey Guy, give it up mate. You’ve run for councillor a few times and never won. Nobody wants you, just like they don’t want fatty Palmer and flat nose Dowling, the love ain’t there. Try earning a living that doesn’t involve ratepayer money bro.

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