What the hell is going on out at the Townsville Turf Club? A year-long power outage – the ‘disappearance’ of $10,000 in race day takings – a mystery ‘off-the-books’ $58,000 payment for work reportedly never done, and uncertainty about what has happened to a million dollar insurance payout. Now, an executive and a relative are accused of unethical behaviour by a well connected Brisbane public relations entity, who is reputed to have promised payback for Townsville. The ‘Pie tells what is known.
The Townsville mayoral race: So far, so galling … an incumbent hell bent on a destructive path of neglect while making childish attempts to strut the national stage, an Invisible Man timidly peeping around corners and a failed burger flipper as Clive Palmer’s celebrity candidate. The cheerless round-up follows.
And the Townsville Bulletin’s roundabout way of letting us know exactly who they’ll be backing …
…and in among all that, a few laughs along the way (otherwise, we’d cry).
So First …
There’s A Rumour Going Around That Sam Cox Is Running For Mayor Of Townsville. But It’s A Hard Rumour To Pin Down.
The world can have its Where’s Wally puzzle, we’ve got a better local version, Where’s Sammy?
In a sort of political prick-tease, Sam made it clear he wouldn’t run unless he was guaranteed public love and acclamation. Well, he didn’t get it, but a few months ago, decided to run against Jenny Hill anyway. Ah, many of us thought, now we’ll have an all-guns-blazing campaign, hounding Mayor Mullet constantly for her multiple sins, never giving her a moments rest, putting up sensible alternatives to her silliest excesses.
And what have we got so far? Frankly, pretty close to fuck all.
Some poorly produced Facebook videos (which mostly feature Sam’s talking head, not the subject) about the value of lighting the Riverway Stadium (very good point), abolishing paid car parking in the CBD (problematic) and a promise to re-open the Jensen Waste facility and overhaul the council’s rubbish policy generally (sorely needed). But all this has presented with little impact, he hasn’t laid a glove on the mayor, and honestly, going away out of town for work and swanning off having time off down at the beach mid-campaign, you just have to conclude his heart’s not in it. Bentley brilliantly sums up his dilemma.
You’d think with the task of taking on a well entrenched, politically supported, experienced, underhand and just plain nasty opponent, Sam and his brains trust would be hammering away at the multiple opportunities that madam has offered. But no, the approach seems to be a laid back North Queensland casualness of another era, and heavily counting on the ABH (Anyone But Hill) vote.
All in all, a performance so far that completely lacks the dynamism needed to lead this city out of the current dark days of secret sweetheart deals, ‘rule by consultancy’ and a meek team of councillors.
And If That’s Not Disappointing Enough …
… during the week, we get Fatty Palmer rolling out his celebrity candidate for the top job, failed burger flipper and reputed permanent cranky-pants Greg Dowling, who used to play Rugby League.
On Thursday, The ‘Pie greeted the news thus:
London hooker Mandy Rice-Davies’ famous courtroom reply ‘Well, he would say that, wouldn’t he?’ has come back to visit us in Townsville.
For all the hoopla in the Astonisher about this cynical candidacy, replete with meaningless, unspecified slogans about ‘restoring jobs and prosperity to Townsville’ , no one, least of all the candidate, mentions what business he is in. Does anyone know, because the average punters, including The Magpie, didn’t even know Dowling walked amongst us. His trained parrot recitation of idiotic and empty slogans -‘enough is enough’ has already been around the block with Sam Cox – add nothing to the sorely needed concrete suggestions to fix this city’s considerable ills. And calling yourself ‘a straight-shooter’ is a judgement that can only be left to others, and is just embarrassing public self-stroking.
And here’s something from the Man Who Would Be Our King.
“ (Dowling told the paper) doesn’t understand the “council’s beef” with QNI, once the largest private employer in Townsville.
Townsville City Council has taken Queensland Nickel to court in a bid to recover $2.5 million in unpaid rates and water charges.”
And that’s not a beef, mate? Clearly in this high octane race, the grid orders are ’Start Your Idiots!’ Mr Dowling, The ‘Pie predicts this is one political scrum you will rue ever sticking your head into.
The Magpie is told that Mr Dowling has the dubious honour of being one of the few people to fail as a McDonalds franchisee (on the Atherton Tablelands), and he simply has not been on the political radar locally at all, until Clive decided to have some fun at our expense. Expense in more ways than one, because despite Mr Dowling ‘oh, dearie me, gracious no, nothing to do with Clive’ protestations, the very next day, Fatty popped up backing his man with $50, 000 – saying it was the amount he was paid out for being defamed by Mayor Mullet. That money came from not from the Hill bank account, but the LGAQ insurance people … which is ultimately paid for by ratepayers.
Here’s something to ponder; should twin disasters occur … Dowling becomes mayor and Messagebank Walker is returned as Deputy, we would then have a bloke who can’t make a go of flipping burgers for a living , aided by a bloke who failed in a pizza shop venture.
Honestly, what else is there to do but laugh?
But A Much Happier Thought … Better Times Could Still Be Ahead
The minute you settle for less than you deserve, you get even less than you settled for.’ NYT columnist Maureen Dowd.
That is the dilemma facing Townsville voters in just 69 days. But it seems that in the past two weeks, a solution has emerged to solve it.
Suddenly, this is not about the MAYORALTY, it is about the COUNCIL. That is the key and with the news that the experienced and trusted two term councillor Trevor Roberts is standing again. His candidacy already looks like being a spark that could indeed circumvent a continuation of the current self-indulgent and financially illiterate ‘leadership by fiat’.
Now a hopeful looking prospect has emerged in the form of independent Corey Davis, a political newbie who by all accounts is his own man, and there has been strong talk that the popular Ray Gartrell will saddle up again. Sue Blom will be seeking to return as the councillor for the northern beaches.This may prompt other strong ‘new blood’ candidates to challenge the Hill hegemony. Such a development, even a majority of true independents, doesn’t mean implacable opposition to everything a minority mayor may put forward, but what it does mean is that there will be no aerobics class voting, and there will be more openness in dealing with community concerns. And hopefully, there will be an end to Hill middlemen getting between constituents and their elected councillor.
A quote worth remembering as the big day approaches comes from Dr Bruce Lockerbie:
“You see, mediocrity is first, a personal trait, a personal concession to less than our best, an individual lethargic resignation that says, ‘I guess good enough is good enough.’ Soon mediocrity metastasizes throughout the body politic, causing the nation to be at risk; but always remember, mediocrity begins with me!”
So, if you’re accepting average, guess who you have to blame?
The Astonisher Makes It Clear Who They Are Backing.
Their honorary associate editor, of course, Jennifer Hill.
Now one would not normally associate the words ‘subtlety’ and ‘The Townsville Bulletin’ in the one sentence, but the weekend edition front page was sort of that.
In one of the deviously written front pages for a while, the paper rattles on about the need for an entertainment and convention centre (and just WTF was the paper when Lancini was steamrollering everyone for a ‘stand-alone stadium first’ policy – right up his clacker, that’s where). The Magpie is flattered that the Astonisher has finally, after ten years and four editors, decided that the old bird has been right all along.
But note the coyly stupid coinage ‘a Townsville mayoral candidate’ well into the story, and then right before we must turn the page, we learn that it is a ‘rock solid, cast iron’ pledge by Sam Cox to build such a centre. Now leaving aside a few small questions like where’s he going to get his iron-clad, rock solid money from, Sam basically got short shrift from the paper.
Answer this: do you seriously think that if Mayor Mullet had made this statement that it wouldn’t have been brass band, full-on three ring circus plus stunning pic lauding our progressive mayor?
No it’s clear how the paper will wheedle it’s way around the legislated fair coverage requirements of elections.
But Hang On, That Half Page front Pic …
Must be a super important yarn to be so prominent eh?
Well, no. As it turns out it is a barely disguised real estate advertisement. Not just the front page, but page two as well.
It was all a bit mystifying as we ploughed through another poorly written, meandering bit of guff, ballyhooed by the slimmest of gossamer threads to David Attenborough UNTIL WE GET TO THE VERY LAST LINE, WHICH EXPLAINS THE EXISTENCE OF THIS DROSS.
Couldn’t cheapen the paper any more than that (but The ‘Pie still loves his brave old mate, Michelle. Wasn’t her idea.)
Something seems To Be Going On
If you wanted to make a whodunit movie in Townsville, it seems you couldn’t go passed the Townsville Turf Club for material.
Here is an email that lobbed into The Nest during the week from an angry person in Brisbane..
I live in Brisbane and have little interest in Townsville , similar to most SEQ residents but there is an interesting story down here about the chairman of the Townsville Turf Club and one of his daughters.
Apparently on Townsville Cup Day, they did some networking with a Brisbane media operative and promised work and ongoing opportunities, to the extent they had the person submit all the ideas and concepts for marketing and social media. They then proceeded to lock this media operative out of any deal, pay her nothing but use the ideas!
Suffice to say, it has not gone down well in Brisbane media circles and major payback is on the way,
especially when the lass is very well contacted in Racing Qld and a close personal friend of the Racing Minister.
Here’s a hint to those who control racing in Townsville: if you want more support, don’t burn Brisbane racing operatives. Good luck getting any Brisbane coverage of your race days or this years carnival . The minister and Racing Queensland executives have already arranged excuses for non-attendance.
Well done at a time you really need it.
This startled The ‘Pie, it was out of the blue, but the sort of behaviour alleged here isn’t all that unusual, indeed, it happened to The ‘Pie himself a couple of times while working at Mojo Corp. It is unwise, unethical but not illegal if nothing is agreed on paper. But it certainly didn’t do Townsville generally any favours if that’s the way it went down (and The Magpie is happy to air alternative version of events if someone wants to offer one.)
But it prompted The ‘Pie to have a beak around among some local contacts, and boy, talk about a can of worms.
The essence of the following was agreed by two sources independent of each other, and were too similar not have some elements elements requiring a closer look.
The club still does not have a power supply and it has been close to 12 months. The Main Switchboard is located in the heritage listed Old admin building and was inundated by the monsoon. A new main switchboard needs to be installed in dry area.
The turf club is a horse training establishment, and training commences at 4 am, but as there is no power, there is no lighting to stables and track lighting is non existent. Surely in this modern day, a temporary switchboard could easily be installed, as these lights are a WPH and Safety requirement, maybe Racing Queensland has a different set of rules for the northern part of the state.
In the financial area, there are persistent reports of a supposed transfer of $58K into an TTC executive’s private account, the money to be reimbursement for restoration works but which appear to not have been performed. The Funds were transferred to the personal account after the end of the financial year 2018-2019, so in the normal course of things, nothing of the matter is likely to be discovered until the latter half of this year, 2020. This just may be sharp accounting practice, the purpose of the episode is far from clear.
Then There Is The Case Of The Hard Cold Cash Gone Missing.
Recently, Racing Queensland directed the Townsville club to run the postponed Ingham races at Cluden.
After the race meeting, the cash from the days takings, including the float, were left in the care of one senior employee who had a key to the cold room, where the money was to be stored until the banks opened. The next morning it was discovered that the money – in the vicinity of $10K – had disappeared. The lock on the cold room was in the open position. Police were called, interviewed two people but not the person responsible for safekeeping the key.
The ‘Pie has been unable to get further with this ripping yarn.
There are unconfirmed suggestions of ex-employees contacting the CCC about anomalies in the financial handling of funds at the TTC. Another person which understands financial reports said the TTC produced a profit for 2018-2019 period of $130000 after a cash injection in excess of $1m from insurance proceeds. However, they question where the residual $900000 is or has gone, as it is not obvious in the financials.’
Moving On To The Lighter Side Of Life
Willy Nelson and Kinky Friedman
The ‘Pie has been re-reading a little tome called Texas Etiquette by Kinky Friedman, funnyman tale teller, musician and mystery writer. Kinky, who describes himself as ’oldest living Jew in Texas who doesn’t own any real estate’, endeared himself to The Magpie many years ago when he learnt Kinky was the writer of the song ‘They Don’t Make Jews Like Jesus Anymore’.
But re-reading Texas Etiquette, with many a quotable saying – ‘wives … they stick with you through thick’ – and his yarns about his great mate Willie Nelson and a many other Texan notables, he tells the story of one of legal legends of Texan lawyers, Richard ‘Racehorse’ Haynes. Locals said he is so good he could get a charge of sodomy reduced to’ following too closely’.
Haynes had a rule that he never let defendants take the stand for themselves, or indeed say anything in court. As Kinky relates: ‘Haynes, as a young lawyer, had a personal experience in court that militates against his normally ever letting a defendant speak for himself. “I believed my guy was innocent, and apparently, the jury agreed” says Haynes. “So when the bailiff handed the verdict to the judge and the judge declared ‘not guilty’, I shook hands with my guy and told him he could thank the jury if he wished. So he stands up and says to the jury, ‘ Thank you, I’ll never do it again.”
It Ain’t Just The Astonisher
Warning Advice. On the back of a packet of … boiled peanuts.
Economics Explained
Everyone seems to be jumping up and down for joy with the performance of the Stock Exchange. But it seems that it is just a very long walk on a short economic pier for 99% of us.
.
Always Offer An Alternative
Things are getting a little testy over in Washington. But some manage to maintain the required decorum … well almost.
Scott Morrison’s Next Vacation?
Our bushfires an omen for ScoMo? Marina Hyde in the Guardian thinks so.
And so to the global backdrop. The Australian prime minister, Scott Morrison, must be religious, on the basis he’s offered “thoughts and prayers” to the victims of Australia’s raging bushfires. In any reasonable theology, however, Morrison’s decision to serve in a cabinet that abolished the country’s climate commission, to slash fire and rescue budgets, and to ignore repeated concerns of fire chiefs would suggest he’s going to burn in hell. Or in Australia, which will probably be quicker.
But it seems a few other notables are away for the inferno.
And If That Makes You Thirsty … There’s A New Pub In Pommyland
Presumably only sells Youngers beer.
We Know She’s A Dingbat, But Seems A Bit Fishy
Our Weekly Visit To Trumpsylvania
The Impeachment circus has reached the Senate, whee more than half America’s legislators will ultimately disgrace themselves and their nation, and further drag the United States down into the swamp that was so facetiously going to be drained. The emperor and his royal family will survive, despite the clear and consise evidence.
And We Close Off With A Dad Joke For Married Men … If You’re Game
A wife asked her husband to describe her.
He said: “Your A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,I,J,K
She said: ” What does that mean?”
He said: ” Adorable, Beautiful, Cute,
Delightful, Elegant, Foxy, Gorgeous, Hot”.
She said: Oh, that’s so lovely. …
What about I, J, K ?”
He said: I’m Just Kidding”.
…….
That’s enough of this nonsense for now, make up your own nonsense in comments, they run 24/7 and are great fun. And now you’ve hopefully recovered from the financial shock and awe of the holiday break, perhaps you’ll consider a helping hand with blog and associated costs, the donate button is below.
Another great blog Pie . Aaron Harpics version of democracy is to use his tax payer electoral team to delete any negative comments on his Facebook page so you only see his back slapping sycophant supporter posts . His team dropped the ball the other day and after he slammed Pauline Hanson’s “ no Olympics “ and most of the comments ( now deleted ) agreed with Pauline stating water and dams were the priority . Speaking of Labor , to try and connect with workers Anthony Albanese stated “ if you stopped exporting coal tomorrow ( from Australia ) then that wouldn’t reduce global emissions . Labor has also walked away from Franking credit changes .
after 25 yr in the “ville” we’ve decided it’s time to move on
so, a fortnight ago while down south looking around for a new place
our house here gets broken into, it’s almost funny but of course it’s not
we have really enjoyed our time here and are grateful for the opportunities and employment we’ve had, but sadly can’t wait to get outta here now
Yep, been to two farewells over Xmas, long term residents leaving town, professionals with good coin in the bank, just had enough the place and looking for something better. I too have been spending plenty of time recently in various Mullet free zones of Australia and even the Missus is starting to look at the real estate boards in the windows as we wonder around.
And therein lies another earwig that has burrowed deep into the Townsville consciousness … the earwig of hopelessness in the face of a grinning fatuous leader who offers to sign of fighting for a reprieve from the underlying problems that beset this city, and a newspaper that puts self-interest far above responsible balanced reporting of news (which is often replaced, even on the front page, by real estate ads thinly disguised as news stories.)
But The ‘Pie is going to stick around for a while, because he feels like one of those faithful soldiers who vowed to follow their bumbling, stupid commander anywhere … mainly out of curiosity.
Absolutely Pie, I always thought I might leave, but much later and well into retirement, I never thought I would consider it whilst still working. The pathetic Astonisher is as much too blame as anything else, the result of the last local election left no one to ask questions, no alternative voice and no one to demand answers, just piss week losers, the paper needed to become that voice, it has failed miserably. At the very least I am hopeful Roberts, Gartrell if he stands, Blom and others get over the line so question no can be asked, and Jenny Hill can be exposed as the complete failure she has been in running this city.
Another brilliant assessment of the situation by Bentley. But Bentley old mate, you need to keep up, Mayor Mullet only wears a pink dress, not the green you given her !
One suspects Bentley is offering a gentlemanly hint.
According to TCCs mid year budget, only $7.9m has been given to TCC for flood repair work and $23m has not been approved yet. I find this incredibly disturbing considering the flood was almost a year ago. TCC also appear to have fudged the budget upwards in an election year, playing with the depreciation rates. Even less maintenance for our crumbling and decrepit city!
Surely you aren’t suggesting that the TCC financials aren’t completely transparent. Golly gosh! Perhaps Mr Chiodo should be questioned since there’s no longer a CFO and finance reports directly to him.
Given his …ummm … colourful background, you will learn new ways to be told to go fuck yourself.
I am disappointed no political candidate is making TCC’s $498m in liabilities into a campaign issue. The financial position of TCC needs close attention and rapid repairs.
So sadly correct, FTM, and for a major reason you don’t mention … all campaign promises from Cox and Dowling would be subject to the TRUTH about the TCC financials. A Mullet win will mean they remain shrouded in dear Leader secrecy, greatly aided by city economist (whatever that is) David Lynch, one time business partner of chief Mullet Whispoerer Dolan Hayes (currently in Thailand downing Mai Tais with his old chum Cuddlepie Wallace.)
Pie, just been catching up on your 2020 blogs.
With reference to council candidates and incumbents. Do they have to live in the ward they represent? I have heard that Maurie Saurs (MIA) Councillor for the Mundingburra ward, but lives at Bushland Beach.
Not sure, don’t think so, but they certainly have to live within Townsville City boundaries.
I am fairly confident that spineless Molachino lives in Aitkenvale and is supposed to look after the upper Ross, if he can remember how to get there.
Someone is looking after the Upper Ross? Great job, someone!
Attended a farewell of young professional couple on Friday night because of lack of career and professional development opportunities in Townsville and they don’t wish to raise a family in Townsville. Another couple have left because they saw greater opportunities for their children who are starting in grades 9 and 11 this year and because of the bullying etc. in a certain western suburbs high school and the impact that they felt this was having on their children’s education yet little action seemed to be taken against the perpetrators of the bullying.
Just one vicious cycle that needs breaking but won’t happen until we get strong political leadership that is determined to stand up and shake the city by it’s roots and make it positivity move forward. That’s one hell of an ask but not impossible.
C,
To follow on a bit; many years ago, my now long gone male neighbour and I attended a P&C meeting at the Ryan Catholic High School, as it was then, to address bullying of our sons, both in grade 8 at the time.
Those present were mainly a mixture of lay and religious women. Our presence was met with great suspicion, and when it was our turn to address the meeting, my neighbour and I were hissed, yes, hissed at, by the majority of the others present. It is something you don’t forget.
Needless to say, the Ryan P&C did not want to know and nothing changed.
My son successfuly completed his schooling at a State high school.
Both my children found careers down south that were not possible in Townsville then, or now.
C’mon now Dave, not doubting what you say happened, but that’s a typical; Astonisher-style half-story – WHY were you hissed – that not a typo is it?
I truly do not know, and did not realise that in the late 1980s hissing was still being used to shun people.
We were both well dressed and polite. We were a bit nervous ourselves as we had not attended such a meeting on a serious matter.
On arrival before the meeting we were greeted with a, “Why are you here?”, not a hello. We were honest and told the other attendees that our sons had been bullied over a number of weeks and we wanted to highlight the matter and discuss discipline in the class room and the playground. Neighbour and I could tell we were unwelcome before the meeting started.
We remained silent through the meeting until we were invited to speak. Neighbour stood and started to introduce us. One woman started to hiss. Most of the others joined in and it continued until neighbour sat down. We could not state our case beyond what we said soon after our arrival before the meet started. We were the last item on the agenda, and with that the meeting was closed. We left in disbelief.
That is how that evening went, dear Pie, so you tell me why my neighbour and I were hissed.
Oh, it’s clear now. You thought you were at a P&C meeting, when you actually stumbled into an incognito meeting of Lesbian Sado-Masochist Nuns For Jesus (and Father O’Doherty On Thursday Nights) . … hissing to them is the equivalent of a masonic handshake.
It did seem to be a closed shop where strangers and difficult issues were not only not welcome, but would not be tolerated.
A perfect description of the Catholic Church administration. And Scientology.
I think the order the nuns were from was the Sisters of Little Mercy.
Ah, Little Mercy, a sweet child and lots of fun.
As much as many don’t want to hear it, Jenny Hill will romp in the election for Mayor. Her rusted on supporters won’t desert her. The other candidates (who are they again?) will garner a few votes that won’t be enough to oust her.
As for “independent” Councillors, Ms Hill will mount the same “team” campaign and at least some of the current incumbents will be elected esp. if they keep their heads down and say nothing.
It will need six “independent” councillors to cause her any grief. That isn’t going to happen.
Strap in Townsville. Can the last resident left turn the lights off please (if the switch hasn’t been stolen).
As they say, opinions are like arseholes … every one has one.
Pie, sorry if Ive shattered your wet dream.
How about sharing your opinion of what the outcome will be.
Ummm … did you read today’s blog?
How about a few more arseholes share their opinions.
Make a prediction.
Where have you been, bro? What to do think is the bread and butter of this comments section?
Signed The Chief Cloaca
I had to go and look that up, now I wish I hadn’t
Bummer!
I predict that, thanks to incompetence, graft, corruption, egos and self-interest, at all levels of government, at home and abroad, I’ll have no difficulty finding subjects for my cartoons. Unfortunately they may not necessarily be as funny as we would like.
But, Mate, they will make us think, and for that The ‘Pie thanks you.
How do you mean 6 councillors to cause Greif? One would be enough to start the ball rolling. Once that happens it will start to fall apart. You forget that the CCC still has to clear her. That won’t go away. Mullet can’t hide for ever her times coming. And clive hasnt even started his advertising yet. I predict hill with 5 councilors. Nominations don’t open yet and there will be more people running so preference votes will come into play. Was only 2 teams last time this time at least 3. Dowling will get somone to run in some seats and that can make a difference in the final count. Remember Clive is a master of preference voting. Love him and hate him.
Indeed, it was Clr Jacob’s objection to the Adani Airstrip rort that brought it into focus, and caused his ultimate split with Team Hill. Even two or three councillors of integrity (Roberts for a start) will he able to air things that Mullet has hitherto been able to keep under wraps. Calls for closed meetings will need to be properly explained this time around.
Preferential voting is optional in divided council elections, so a voter can just vote for their preferred candidate.
System of voting for Mayors
Section 65 of the LGEA has been amended to change the system of voting for mayors in undivided local governments from FPTP to OPV.
The amendment means voting for mayors is consistent across divided and undivided local governments and consistent with voting for members of the Legislative Assembly. Voting for councillors in undivided local governments will remain as FPTP and voting for councillors in divided local governments remains as OPV.
My prediction is Jenny Hill will LOSE.
I live in hope she will lose
With the closures of the dumps I wonder if illegal dumping has been on the increase, and at what cost to the ratepayers? Or do council even bother cleaning it up? Im sure some time back the Astonisher and council were spruking about trail cameras that were purchased, to catch illegal dumpers. How’s that worked, has anyone been caught and convicted? Has the Astonisher checked could be a good story for Ten best dump sites. Another reason I ask, there is a Facebook group called, Townsville Illegal Dumping Yobo’s Clean Ups(TIDY) Who are cleaning up illegal dump sites around Townsville in there own time. Good on them for having some pride in their city, but it maybe a uphill battle, going on some if the photos on their page.
Well, hello, Ducky, where the hell have you been?
Always been here Pie, would never leave.
The only thing that surprises me about the tales of the Townsville Turf Club is that it’s taken this long for these tales to surface. Dig a little deeper and you’ll find a filthy cesspit of wrongdoings, discrimination, bullying, harassment and financial mismanagement.
Fully agree with your comments there The Stockman, interesting that current members of the committee were sacked for alleged wrong-doing, then somehow end up back with their noses in the trough. Comrade Napoleon from Animal Farm would be most proud!
For Dowling to fail with the McDonalds store at Atherton is not a good sign. You pretty well can’t lose when purchasing a McShite franchise. Costs a lot of coin to buy in and then there are some interesting conditions pertaining to the ownership of the land that it is built on etc, but for Dowling to fail he must be a real muppet. Although the Council CEO and CFO are principally the so-called brains trust that manages the business, the Mayor and Councillors should ideally have a financial background or some successes in the business arena under their belts. The reality is that the finances of the people of Townsville currently sit in the hands of a group of elected fucktards who couldn’t manage a weekend garage sale. We need a group of Councillors with business savvy, not with the ability to shuffle brown paper bags into their pockets.
Did someone say “ALDI” oops I mean “KFC”. Jenny!!
Why did the last council decide to commit to so much debt that the current has found it hard to pay off ??
Borrowing more and more money that can’t be paid off is not business acumen.
On related matters, WHO is paying for the sam Cox promise to build a convention centre / God knows what? Are we going to have more courageous borrowing ? It would only take a few bold borrowing decisions to push the council debt beyond 1 billion. If some “new council decided to throw more money at the pipeline, build some centre well we’d easily be over 1 billion. You can add another 1000 dollars to your rates ( assuming you don’t have a mates rates deal that passes the buck to the people paying full price).
Stop borrowing money.
(Sigh!) You’re up and about early, Guy. There is nothing wrong with borrowing, in fact it it essential in the way things work and ever have, what is wrong when you borrow money that you can’t repay. You are in trouble when you use deficit to pay off debt.
You’ve made me feel better today guy. Knowing there’s someone else in the world with bigger problems then me. I suppose your still blaming the Romans for crusifying Jesus.
Nailed it, CT!!!
Haven’t you worked it out yet, QLD government election in October 2020 so who-ever is in Council will make a convention and entertainment centre an electoral issue and ask for a funding commitment aka grant and probably without a solid business case and TEL will be there making heaps of noise. The question must be asked though is a convention and entertainment centre a priority over any other needed nation building and economic outcome projects such as upgrading the Northern section of the Bruce Holeway, the Townsville to Mount Isa rail corridor, the Flinders Highway but I’d better not say anymore otherwise the arts and culture mob will fill your box with protests but
that seems to be the way things work in Townsville, remember how the Stadium got funded.
All very amusing but an entertainment/convention centre can be big visitor dollars for the city economy, not just rates from a few extra workers moving in when employed (short term) on the project you rightly mention.
But the city does not have the infrastructure and facilities to support a large convention and entertainment centre e.g 5star hotels, international airport, frequent direct flights to Sydney and Melbourne etc a myriad of tourism options for conference participants and their partners to attend or high quality catering and dining options.
Chicken and the egg stuff, Crits … or should we not bother, all too fuckin’ hard, eh?
I’ve worked for many of Australia’s largest companies for the past 25 years. Every single company I have worked for, when I have asked, have said that Townsville will never be on their list for a national conference. Just doesn’t have the same ‘pulling’ power as a capital city or world class tourism venue like Cairns or the Gold Coast. Also need the ability to be able to pre-book 2,000 rooms in walking distance to venue at least 12 months in advance.
No we don’t need that ability. You predicate a one size fits all style of conference, especially when you tell you’ve worked for and quizzed some of the ‘largest companies’. There is plenty out there that will fit a more niche market, and if we had such a flexible facility, even the goofs at the Dudley Do Nothing and the spineless CoC could work on a plan for entertainment and recreation.
Guy, officially the last council was run by Mullet. The current council is also run by Mullet Common denominator… stinky Mullet.
I have been advised by a reliable source that a slight miscalculation has occurred with the redesign of the Townsville bath project. The design engineers have the size of the pool as Australian standards and not Olympic standards. whilst it may sound minor it could however restrict the pool from being used by Olympic teams training prior to an Olympic event.
Figures.
Sounds like an episode of The Games staring the late, great John Clark.
Sounds like an episode of The Games.
Great minds think alike.
I too enjoy that episode of the games and look forward to the new world record times in our refurbished pool.
Should have asked Jamie Durie to get his mate Ian Thorpe involved as a consultant and fleece another couple hundred thousand in ratepayers hard earned.
I think we have the early symptoms of Stockholm syndrome, where the Pie and the Astonisher are both captive to the Mullet.
Maybe there is a deeper connection?
Could it be this toxic ménage à trois are inextricably linked? The Astonisher would be lost without the Council’s advertising dollars, and never-ending flow of media releases to support their Cut & Paste journalism. Where would the Pie be with a functioning Council, and the easy fodder from the Mullet’s every move.
My mates and I are voting for a change to help try and stir the town out of the hypnotic state we seem to be in, with spin and BS everywhere.
Looking forward to supporting a Council who are fair dinkum about putting locals first and seeing the out of town companies and consultants disappear faster than a fart in a fan factory.
Good name, mate but obviously you haven’t got over the shock of pissing on an electric fence, Sparky.
After spending some minutes expunging the image raised by the linked words ‘Magpie’ and ‘Mullet’ with ‘menage a trois,(eewhehhh!!) let The ‘Pie answer your hypocritical parrot poop about ‘spin and BS everywhere’ … not the least in your dog whistling comment, in which you manage to avoid saying for WHOM you and your mates – Clive? – would vote.
That there is spin and bullshit everywhere is PRECISELY why the Magpie takes flight each week, but all matters of S&BS stem from one place … the Townsville Bulletin policy bunker, that refuses to allow open questioning of the power elite. If the Townsville Bulletin miraculously reformed into a responsible professional media platform, The ‘Pie would sit back satisfied, and there would be no need to take issue with the mayor, Townsville Enterprise, Kevin Gill, and idiot substrata like Messagebank Walker et al. So in this maelstrom of misadministration, The’Pie’s focus is the Daily Astonisher, because beneath all the sound and fury, this hijacked community voice, now sold to the highest bidder with total disregard for the principles of reporting news in a fair and balanced way, is at the heart of our ills.
The ‘Pie will make one prediction for you … if, as at the moment the good money says, Jenny Hill is re-elected, and regains office without any councillor opposition, there are serious behind-the-scenes moves to create a long-planned alternative newspaper/news platform, which will be Murdoch-proofed of being buried by money and chicanery.
Now all that said, so just who ARE you going to vote for, my little dim spark?
Geez never thought I would be associated with Clive. As I said I want the money to stay in Townsville not bugger off down South.
At this stage I am waiting and waiting and waiting to see something from Sam Cox or any other candidate. I think we need a change as I don’t think to people got us here are the ones to get us out.
Not sure what you mean by that last sentence, but if you’re referring to emergence of former Townsville First councillors, it doesn’t make sense. They were turfed out by a public misled by the Bulletin as directed by Mayor Mullet, so those councillors are not the ones ‘who got us here’ – quite the opposite. The ones ‘who got us here’ are the deeply gullible voting public.
But the slogan for all Townsville voters should be an oldie but a goodie …’Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me.’
Well the Councillors we currently have are all suffering from their own for of Stockholm Syndrome – captive to the financial treats that the taxpayer and ratepayers keep filling their trough with.
As the Pie has tried to pint out, it is a one-sided race and as long as the walking corpse Murdoch has his propaganda and fake media machine active in Townsville, we will be stuck with the likes of the Mullet. Old Skeletor Murdoch has used his ‘fake media empires’ in Australia, the UK and the USA to push out political parties. He ruthlessly went after Gillard, and then Rudd. Do some research. Mainstream media is a tool for the elite to be used to get their own way.
I’m guessing that’s why alot of these new/old candidates are using Facebook alot. I have know idea if that’s a good way of doing things because you limit your field of voters but it seems like alot do it now to avoid the media. Not you though pie lol, I always see my comments up quickly, although you sometimes don’t dependi g on my content I’m assuming??? Would you know if this is why we don’t hear much from Sam Cox because he’s on a Facebook page ??
City Dweller , re Facebook , Sam Cox has just over 500 followers but no doubt will pay for boosts ( more coverage areas) as things get closer . Greg Dowlings page just seems to have been set up . They will need the Astonisher and possibly TV interviews which Clive could link to TV spend packages .
6.35 mm – “Do some research”…is the mating call of all conspiracy theory nut-jobs, anti-vaxxers and the psychotically disordered.
I doubt whether ol’ Rupert has any personal interest whatsoever in the petty political machinations within our provincial burg, but whatever floats your boat.
It’s unwise to suddenly cease taking your medication.
Of course Murdoch has no ‘personal’ interest in Townsville … his only regional interest is milking the the rural and regional electorates of as many advertising dollars as possible, without having the nuisance of ensuring honest and responsible reporting.
Grumpy, you have obviously lived inside a bubble for too long. If you don’t think a billionaire media owner like Murdoch can’t stack stories or influence the uneducated and manipulate election outcomes then you are dumber than the Mullet. Not a conspiracy mate.
“Give me control of a nation’s money and I care not who makes it’s laws” — Mayer Amschel Bauer Rothschild
Not the full inch
Sure he does. Going to get the Townsville City Council he wants.
What’s your view on the moon landings?
The Pie is under attack. Never provoke a Magpie, they can be savage.
Mayor Hill Gagged!
To get results on the city’s crime crisis, I call on Mayor Hill to call out the list of broken promises from the three local State Members of Parliament, Coralee O’Rourke, Aaron Harper and Scott Stewart.
It seems the Mayor is gagged to toe party line rather than speak up for the people of Townville and public safety.
I spoke out against my own government when I was the Member for Thuringowa and I am not frightened to speak up for Townsville again.
Fair enough Sam, it’s long been a sore point and an Achilles heel, but are you definitively saying that Hill has refused to answer specific questions?
Should answer why is there not more pressure being put on the primary people responsible for addressing crime, state government. I am not saying the council has not done its best or held up its responsibility just that this crisis is getting worse and if the mayor wont take the lead who will?
Hasn’t asked any up front questions full stop!
Like when will Townsville have its streets back, public safety be restored and victims of crime in particular stolen vehicles and property come first? To the Premier herself would be better.
Hello Sam, with due respect and before this gets into a free for all on you, the crime in Townsville is a major issue and you deserve credit for that. I’m assuming you read on here alot. So without trying to be negative for your campaign why have you not addressed,
1. floods and the hasty investigation that followed. I’ve been told you don’t want to talk about the most devastating natural disaster this city has faced in modern times. You can’t tell me you havnt ventured in to message banks Fairfield waters and not spoken to people still not in there houses after the mayor flooded them
2. A proper investetgation is needed into the flood and how it was handled.
3. What happened to the 18.5million for ADANI? Where is it?
4. You talk about services, everyday I try catch a bus from walkers bus hub and we always get held up by the garbage truck at the intersection. Might seem little to you but what happens when they cause an accident? Why are they there at 10 am everyday instead of early? Obviously something is wrong in the department because all the dumps are closed. Dump vouchers for plucka again please.
5. How much money has been spent on this stadium from TCC? What % has been handed over without public notice and where in the council departments has it come from because the services are fucked everywhere. Trevor Roberts Facebook page ads say it all.
6. How many TCC employees will be sacked next term since she sacked 600 last term only to replace them with labor party affiliates.
Sorry mate but your not dirty enough for my vote YET!!! you’ve got the get up needed but mate you won’t touch the sides if your not going to campaign about everything I’ve mentioned. These are the things Townsville is concerned about mate, sorry but not 2hr fucked up parking in a dead CBD. My veiws obviously and you can choose not to look at them but I guarantee she isn’t playing clean. She’s the underdog apparently. GET DIRTY MATE. PLEASE.
Cd, in your points 1 & 2 you call on Sam Cox to instigate a “proper” investigation into the February 2019 Townsville floods. I wonder if you have seen any of the reporting about the IGEM review which took place immediately after the flood and was completed in July. Here’s part of a story in Industry Queensland:
“The Queensland Government this afternoon released Inspector-General Emergency Management (IGEM) reviews into the handling of the monsoon trough disaster in North and North West Queensland this year as well as bushfires in 2018.
It said key findings included that the safe operation of the Ross River Dam prevented more widespread flooding in Townsville in February.
The reviews also showed the State should re-assess its risk for heatwaves and bushfires.
Townsville received 1259.8 mm in the 10 days to February 8. The previous record was 925.5 mm (January 1953)
The resulting floods were estimated as between a one-in-500 and one-in-1000 year event.
Operation of the Ross River Dam was a key focus of the IGEM report.
There was speculation earlier releases would have lessened flooding, but the government highlighted review findings to the contrary.
“Arguably there would have been increased flooding’ had the dam been operated differently and ‘the impacts would not have differed appreciably ….had an increased volume of water been released earlier,” the report states.”
In view of those findings, I can’t see how a mayoral candidate could initiate any further review so I won’t be surprised if Sam Cox finds a diplomatic way to not go there.
You have quoted correctly, dredger, but what you might find is that many people, especially those who have been greatly disadvantaged by the floods, have reached a stage of total distrust with the government and their agencies, which are seen as being far from ‘independent’ (like our mayor’s Labor team claims to be). But that aside, the terms of reference for that report DID NOT address the council’s previous assessments and approvals of inappropriately designed housing to be built on known flood plains … and that term of reference will be opposed tooth and nail by various parties, not the least of which will be the His Radiance, former mayor of ‘Boomtown’, Tony Mooney.
Hi Sam, next time you see the mayor could you remind her that our rates are some of the highest in the country and yet our property values are declining. Maybe ask her where the RSPCA is located now? Ask her if we need to keep pouring our rates money into the V8 supercars while they circle the drain. Also if you could ask her how she plans to repay the 500 odd million she’s managed to rack up in city dept with so many people leaving Townsville? Could you ask how come the old railway yards got sold for nothing to get redeveloped and are now being leased to a company that sandblasts and paints sulphuric acid tank trains in the middle of the city? Could you ask her if she had any say in the operation of the Dam spillway gates a year ago?
And yeah. Please get our dump vouchers back.
Thanks for the mention City! Gimme back my plucking dump vouchers you TCC moochers!!!
‘What do we want? Our dump vouchers back’! ‘When do we want em? March this year’!
Give em back you pluckers!!!
Sounds like a labor party press release there NMD? It’s not what the public think.
Cd, I wrote about your desire for a “proper” review, not about what you think “the public” thinks. I’m suggesting that there’s Buckley’s chance of a new flood review so let’s not get Sam Cox distracted trying to find the unreachable. If Sam goes off track chasing rabbits at the Dam, the Pipeline or the Stadium he’ll be lost forever. There’s no votes there.
‘…said Jenny campaign manager.’
‘Pie, speaking of building on known flood plains I see alongside Lakeside Dr as you go past Fairfield Waters towards the Bunnings out there, there’s a new commercial site being prepared at the same level as all the others – presumably for imminent development. But of course, now that the flood has been categorised as a 1:500 year extreme event it will likely be a few hundred years before it is repeated!
Sam, apologies for inundating you with questions but are you aware of any ongoing costs for T.C.C. after the stadium is handed over . Some talk of costs as high as $3 mil a year ?. Add that to the extra $ paid to keep the V8,s that’s imposing hits to T.C.C.,s yearly budget .
Handed over to whom , please.
Sam,
TCC has a significant role in at least part of the crime problem we face. Council designated Aitkenvale as an “activation zone” which just prompted the formation of a ghetto with no direction from Council, no enforcement of the town planning obligations, and no care and maintenance. It’s as though Jenny can’t see the suburb at all.
I have friends who are long-term Aitkenvale residents and the way it has gone downhill is disgusting.
https://www.townsville.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0014/4145/CPInfoSheet_Aitkenvale-Local-Area-Information-Sheet-010319.pdf
‘Downhill’!!! Luv it, there’s a slogan in there somewhere.
Greta in an outback pub.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dq4ZROrbg-Q
Yes that’s been around, worth another gallop BUT a far more important video followed it on Youtube … it is excellent journalism, tough but polite, no abuse, no bad language …. and no answers from Thunberg or her coterie when they lobbed in Alberta just before the Canadian elections. A definite eye-opener. The ‘Pie now expects hysterical flapping and juvenile sly humorous slap-downs from various acadils and boofademics. How dare The Magpie question them with questions for which they have no answers. This child is set up, no other conclusion is possible.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSH-x6DhfW0
Greta is no scientist. She is a 16 year old
kid with mental health issues. At some point in time she has declared the environment as a personal interest of hers, someone somewhere then saw a news story in it and it snowballed from there. Enter her Father and a host of other leaches and you have a sort of slickly packaged product that half the world has gone on al giddy over. They’ve turned her into another Al Gore type of hyped up environmental expert when in reality she, and he, know SFA. Just parrots. She annoys the living shit out of me and should piss off back to school. As for the Tesla shitbox she drives around in, I wonder how she feels about all those rocket failures Elon Musk’s company has been involved in and how much pollutant shit is spread through the atmosphere with each explosion? Not to mention every time a rocket goes into space it causes damage to the ozone layer.
Excellent journalism??? to take clips totally out of context and weave them in as though they are part of the “interview”? To emphasises GT’s “mental illness” – autism isn’t a mental illness. To accuse GT of NOT doing things that the “interviewer” thinks she should be doing? Did he ask whether she knew about Canadian election rules (assuming that his accusations are relevant to them)? Quick to say as a child she can’t know about what she is campaigning, but not so quick to imply she should know about the election rules he claims she is breaking. Ignored her distinction between politics and science, when surely that is at the core of GT’s beliefs.
This isn’t excellent journalism, it’s an excellent example of ad hominem harassment.
And that is an excellent example of ad hominem selective embarrassment at being caught out being duped. Climate change is real, but the manufactured Thunberg hysteria is manipulated child abuse …. but oh it makes her happy, so that’s OK?
Yes, the reporter did ask quite correctly, as much as he was allowed to ask, about her presence during the Canadian elections … and if she was there for his reasonably suspected reasons, she (well her handlers, doubt she has much say in it) would’ve known the situation for such a grandstanding stunt. And this sentence, Mike quote Quick to say as a child she can’t know about what she is campaigning, but not so quick to imply she should know about the election rules he claims she is breaking unquote is a classic example of eristic nonsense … as a journo, The ‘Pie reckons that is a most pertinent question to ask of a child possibly seeking to have an influence over a foreign democratic process, a question seeking to reveal if she is aware of being put into a situation about which she may not have been made aware. (Alternative answer: What? Am I Breaking the law? Daddy, am I?)
Also, Thunberg herself as per the clip, describes it as an illness herself. So does the dictionary.
autism | ˈôˌtizəm |
noun
a developmental disorder of variable severity that is characterised by difficulty in social interaction and communication and by restricted or repetitive patterns of thought and behavior.
But it would appear that those with autism aren’t the only ones ‘characterised by difficulty in social interaction and communication and by restricted or repetitive patterns of thought and behaviour.’
Hysterical smear would be the short version.
What is the evidence of Thunberg being manipulated by others?
Young people in general all over the world are more concerned about climate change than their elders. I suspect this is because (a) young people are better educated about how science works than their elders, and (b) young people have more to lose.
Thunberg does not dispute the accusation that she does not know what she is talking about. Of course she doesn’t- climate science is complex, and the usual approach in complex issues is to follow the advice of experts. It seems that the older a person gets, the more likely they are to have an opinion on the reality of climate change, when seriously- a lay person would not have a clue one way or the other.
On an issue like this, I trust the scientists. Their way of life is truth seeking, and have set up a system of publication and peer review that weeds out the lies and mistakes. They have no dog in this fight. I suspect that Thunberg and many other youngsters understand this, whereas their elders seem more subject to thought manipulation by vested interests. (Remember tobacco, asbestos, poker machines where vested interests made lots of money by deliberately hurting people).
What are scientists saying? They say that climate change is occurring, it’s bad, the matter is urgent, and action can fix it. I don’t question. I take their word for it, like the young people do.
Exactly the wrong question, Westie. Observed handling by parents and others who appear to have no real reason for being around makes the question – what is the evidence of Thunberg NOT being manipulated? Observable behaviour as seen by mature and calm observers is itself a type of acceptable evidence – such people know that Donald Trump should not be allowed to continue as President of the United States, but proving that is a tricky business, now underway an d likely to fail because of the moral and ethical collapse of one of America’s major parties.
Also, in reply to certain other points you make.
1. Young people all over the world always have been and always will be more easily fooled by social media campaigns than people who’ve been around the block a few times. Social media has such a God-like sway iver themn that some kids have topped themselves on that disgusting altar.And The ‘Pie for one most certainly has no evidence young people today are better educated in mass terms, quite the obverse given the appalling language and mathematical standards of the average kid, reflected in even just looking at some of the ill-disciplined grammar on the protest signs around the world. As our local paper has discovered – and as several of the commenters having a beef in these comments have found out – credibility disappears in the small print when even the basics level of communication is not reached. And older people who unquestioningly go along with all this palaver are generally old prune retired academics suffering from Relevance Deprivation Syndrome, unthinking folks who find the need to virtue signal in this rapidly changing social mores of this world, or just plain ignorant suburbanites whose philosophical depth extends to reading fridge magnet philosophy every time they’re getting the milk for a cuppa.
2. It is barking mad to say the usual approach to complex issues is to follow the advice of experts. You follow the advice of the experts who are able to EXPLAIN their conclusions, and not shroud it in masonic-like gobbledygook. But you have inadvertently hit that nail on the head, Westie … a lay person wouldn’t have a clue one way or the other. So the climate debate comes back to The Magpie’s long-held disinterested conviction that is JUST DEPENDS ON WHO YOU READ AND THEN BELIEVE. A decision informed, as you say, by people who haven’t got a clue.
3. Your hopeful and no doubt honestly held view of trusting scientists (a designation that can mean absolutely anything, in the same manner that ‘religion’ can mean the ‘scientology’) and their system of checking each other’s research – peer review – does anything but weed out mistakes and most certainly DOES NOT weed out lies … it multiplies them, mainly through manipulated data that keeps somehow changing to suit various arguments. AND THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT YOUNGSTERS DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHEN THEY ARE UNDER THE SWAY OF POLITICALLY AND IDEOLOGICALLY COMMITTED ADULTS LIKE TEACHERS AND OTHER UNDERHAND MEMBERS OF THE OUTRAGE INDUSTRY.
Finally, the most obvious error in your comment. The scientists are saying whatever you want them to say, and when certain folks have decided which ones they wish to believe, they stoke their arguments with smear, abuse, playground sarcasm and often sheer childish tantrums because someone doesn’t agree with them.
And by the way, if the science of simple, everyday maths is to be trusted, the claim that ‘97% of all scientists agree CO2 is the warming culprit’ is simply a myth … the real provable figure using the demonstrably proven and accepted base mathematical equation is -ta da – 2%. Whether global warming in anthropogenic is certainly up for debate, and is far from a given fact, but this 97% figure is pure manipulated bullshit. Hence forth to be known as the Thunberg Syndrome.
Pistols at dawn?
Nah, let’s drink til 12 and pistol 2.
Magpie, where on earth did you get the idea that only 2% of climate scientists think CO2 causes global warming? A 90-100% consensus among climate scientists and climate publications has been demonstrated repeatedly, so 97% is not “pure manipulated bullshit”! In fact, analysis of the denialist 3% a few years ago showed some basic scientific errors so they can probably be discounted and we can safely say 100%. We’ve known for 160 years that CO2 is a greenhouse gas, it’s the most basic science you can get and to deny its role would mean overturning the whole of physics.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/climate-consensus-97-per-cent/2015/aug/25/heres-what-happens-when-you-try-to-replicate-climate-contrarian-papers
Steve, if you read what The ‘Pie said with unbiased mind, it is about THE MATHS used to reach this number … and 97% agreement among scientists on many things deserves a dose of common sense and healthy skepticism. THIS IS NOT ABOUT THE SCIENCE, IDEOLOGY OR OPINION, it is about how maths were skewed to reach a desired outcome.
Now, but the following excerpt from a research paper could’ve been written by Lisa of the Simpsons as a simple mathematical exercise, but it was in fact written by D.J Easterbrook, Western Washingtyon University, Bellingham, WA, United States.
The 97% number is based on two publications, the first by Doran and Zimmerman (2009) and a later one by Cook et al. (2013).
The Doran and Zimmerman paper was a University of Illinois master’s thesis by Maggie Zimmeran and her thesis advisor, Peter Doran, who claimed that “97% of climate scientists agree” that global warming is caused by rising CO2. They sent an Internet survey to 10,257 people working at universities and government agencies and received 3146 replies. Of these, only 5% identified themselves as “climate scientists.” Only two questions were asked: (1) “When compared with pre-1800 levels, do you think that global temperatures have generally risen, fallen, or remain relatively constant?” and (2) “Do you think human activity is a significant contributing factor in changing mean global temperature?” Of the 3146 replies, Doran and Zimmerman arbitrarily selected 79 responses, of whom 77 replied “yes.” They divided 77 by 79 to get 97%, which was then elevated to “97% of all scientists” by various proponents of CO2. The proper number should have been 77 divided by 3146, which equals 2%.
The Cook et al. (2013) paper was based on counting abstracts of climate papers. The authors contended that “Among [4014] abstracts expressing a position of AGW [Anthropogenic Global Warming], 97% endorsed the consensus position humans are causing global warming.” However, Legates et al. (2013) point out that “the author’s own analysis shows that only 0.5% of all 11,944 abstracts, and 1.6% of the 4014 abstracts expressing a position, endorsed anthropogenic warming as they had defined it.”
Thus, the contention that “97% of all scientists agree that global warming is caused by CO2” is simply not true, and those who continue to assert this are either uniformed or perpetuating a false statement. Legates et al. (2013) and Bast and Spencer (2014) conclude “The 97.1% consensus claimed by Cook et al. (2013) turns out upon inspection to be not 97.1% but 0.3%. Their claim of 97.1% consensus, therefore, is arguably one of the greatest items of misinformation in history.”
The ‘Pie now eagerly awaits the Soviet-style denunciation of this heretic.
There are at least half a dozen other studies endorsing the expert consensus, so claiming that it’s based on a mere two is deceptive on the part of this author, and a red flag about his credibility from the get go.
Furthermore, note the rhetorical sleight of hand when he says “which was then elevated to “97% of all scientists” by various proponents of CO2”! Various proponents! As in, nothing to do with the study itself, and entirely beyond the authors control or what their research claimed.
Suggesting that it should be a mere 2% of 3146 is also risible. What does the opinion of 3000 veterinarians or dermatologists matter? The important thing is the consensus of climate scientists.
And the only flaw in the second paper is taking endorsement as its criteria. It should have counted how many explicitly reject the consensus position, which would have shown the infinitesimal size of the denialist faction (also shown by common sense: if there was a substantial number they wouldn’t be so hard to find!).
English isn’t your first language, is it, Steve? The ‘Pie made it clear – or thought he did – that the mathematics are correct. In this particular niche of the issue, The ‘Pie could not give a tuppenny toss about the prevarications in this debate: if the known facts are correct, the maths are correct. End of story.
Proves nothing in particular in this debate, because the much quoted Galileo said, ‘you only need one (successful challenge) to disprove a theory.’ Not hundreds and not 97%.
Sorry Magpie, I think Mr Easterbrook from West Washingtyon University has lead you up the garden path. His assertions are BS, and designed to mislead.
I won’t explain in detail, but you might check the science of statistical analysis and sampling theory to see how he has done it.
Also you might check your sources. A quick Google of Don Easterbrook West Washington University shows some interesting stuff pertaining to his credibility.
The Doran and Zimmerman, and Cook papers that he criticizes are quite credible and compelling.
The inevitable reply.
You ‘won’t explain in detail’? Typical.
It’s beside the point if Mr Easterbrook’s math is correct if he’s not attempting to answer the same question that the study authors were! It’s just pure obfuscation. And as I said, the results have been verified by half a dozen other studies that he chose not to critique, so we can safely take it as given that there’s a consensus approaching 100%.
Oh, no, buddy, no you don’t – none of your cheap hijacking the argument tricks here … and Christ, have you got a hide accusing others of obfuscation!
No Easterbrook was not trying to answer the question, (not in the part that The ‘Pie quoted anyway) because the question was and is irrelevant in the part that quoted section. FFS – and for the last bloody time – this was about the mathematical trickery used to reach the 97% figure … NOTHING ELSE, YOU TWISTING TURKEY.
Steve, you are seriously a frightened underhanded twerp if you believe that Easterbrook had some obligation to engage in your puerile rules of engagement, which are just simply wrong in terms of reference, English and logic.
Or else you are a frightened little man unable to handle an open argument. But don’t blub, you’re not alone.
Doran and Zimmerman: 77 ÷79 x 100 = 97%
Easterbrook 77 ÷ 3146 x 100 = 2%
Easterbrook’s math is correct, but he’s calculating the wrong thing!
Doran and Zimmerman are calculating the percentage of climate experts who accept that CO2 causes warming.
Easterbrook is trying to calculate the same thing – because that’s what you’d do to expose any trickery, get the real number! Which he claims is 2%.
But instead he is calculating the percentage of 3146 “people working at universities and government agencies” who accept that CO2 causes warming.
Not 3146 climate experts! 3146 “people working at universities and government agencies”. So he’s comparing apples to their oranges.
hahahahahaha …. you are a wheeze. What about the arbitrary selection process involved?
Easterbrook’s flimflam was clear enough from the quote but it turns out from reading the original paper that his deceit is worse than thought. They actually DID ask the 3146 respondents whether humans caused climate change and got 82% agreement. If Easterbrook actually read the study his bogus 2% claim is a bald faced lie.
The survey was of 3146 earth scientists specialising not just in climate science but in other fields like geochemistry, geophysics, oceanography, geology, hydrology, and palaeontology.
The authors assessed the opinions of ALL of these, but were particularly interested in the expert opinion of climate scientists. As you’d expect for climate change.
The 79 were not selected “arbitrarily”, but were a) self-identified climate scientists from the broader pool who b) had published a majority (more than 50%) of their recent research work in the field. The latter seems like a reasonable criterion for verifying the self-identifying climate scientists.
Here’s a link to the paper, it’s quite short, clear, and uncontroversial:
https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/c9c8/0585cb18c23c1eb604659501fa95c6b7564e.pdf?_ga=2.126650189.1142661067.1579786994-1857396008.1579786994
Self identified, eh?
“who b) had published a majority (more than 50%) of their recent research work in the field.”
Which could mean anything, a small paper on the changing shape of raindrops in the Amazon. All two vague on all sides, it’s just who you end up choosing to believe.
Look Steve, we’ve had a good gallop all round on this one, so The ‘Pie is going to sideline the subject for the moment, so that far more relevant local matters (meaning ones that don’t appear in any other media) can be fully aired and concentrated on. Have you heard, there’s two elections on this year that will have an immediate and direct impact on us in this community – three if you count the Tangerine Arsehole in the US. And those elections will no doubt have an impact down the line on your favourite subject. So let’s get through that first, eh?
Yep, Greta the Greens puppet.
Actually, the Mona Loser.
Achilles, perhaps you’d like to consider this article in today’s The Conversation:
http://theconversation.com/scientists-hate-to-say-i-told-you-so-but-australia-you-were-warned-130211
At least NMD can still get on that site. If you disagree or post something they don’t agree with, you are blocked from future posting.
The ‘Pie can sympathise … after three years, The ‘Pie found this … by accident, he’d never bothered before. All the work of the Hitler Youth wannabe Julian Tomlinson (or Damien, one of them, don’t know the difference peas in a pod). Still -sob wail sob – blocked although he is mercifully long gone. Maybe Der Farter Mad Max told ‘em to.
I’m blocked too. We are in good company. They still post my texts to the editor occasionally though.
Amazingly, The ‘Pie has also had not only a couple of comments published under stories (won’t go near the babble of TextTE) but was astounded to get a blatant mention in another Bulletin reader’s comment about Townsville’s Most Influential. After he got over the surprise, The ‘Pie was suitably humbled at the person’s massive misjudgement .
There’s been a bit of involuntary staff turnover at the stadium in the last few months. And a whole lot of new managers employed to replace the old Hospitality Manager. Whoever was in charge of this must’ve got a few tips from the Impaler on managing redundancies, because it was handled with her standard of grace and dignity.
It seems that Trump’s Space Command is expecting trees in space. Cameo uniforms?
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-51160547&ved=2ahUKEwjmwuzejJLnAhVowTgGHTJVBdcQxfQBMAF6BAgEEAg&usg=AOvVaw07S2vsn0aUhXYP0YEoB1CC
Here is recent operational video of early Space Command routine. The uniforms reveal that at this time they did not know there were trees in space .
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3D6ifS2nP53Zs&ved=2ahUKEwi9lb_JjpLnAhWtxDgGHXPqCXMQo7QBMAB6BAgAEAI&usg=AOvVaw3jKWrUMk35MFfEm-MCNRiV
Yea for Trumps yanky-land. Dangerous muppets all!
Feel embarrassed again, Townsville.
What a photo. Two complete buttholes coming together. Their eyes meeting over the flash of cameras. The Mullet wearing her important vest and Scotty from marketing with his sleeves rolled up. Don’t they look totally uncomfortable outside of their security air-conditioned offices, venturing for a brief moment into the real world? I wonder if they prayed together or clapped along to some Hillsong tunes?
Well Townsville definitely is FUCKED if we are going to keep doing the same shit over and keep voting Labor in. I wanted to rip the radio out while listening to Aaron Harper this morning. Talking about a “indigenous reference group” to tackle crime. WTF??? He wants elders helping. Well they’ve been asking to join in for as long as I can remember now 8mth from an election it’s a great idea. He also said programs are needed for offenders coming out of jail. What a great idea Aaron how bout you hold them in your back yard at your place. He said the government can’t do it alone. Well here’s a scoop, scoop! Yes you can you are the ones that make the laws, hire the police, hire the judges and give them the terms to how long there locked up. Townsville it starts with Jenny Hill and ends with O’rort, Harpic, and Cupcake – you want change, vote out Labor.
CW
You are spot on, like most who follow this blog, but who will pay attention, so long as the beer is there and cold when wanted.
WALLY, this is a site for robust adult debate and varied points of view, but your edited comment is way out of line … you will not be allowed to recommend deadly vigilante violence on this page or any other, against a specified minority or any other group (although you could try to Text The Iditor, they might miss and let it through.)
But not here mate, grow up.
The Elders?????
It is the Elders that have failed to inculcate common decency and respect into the Youngers. And the Youngers, having no common decency or respect, cannot pass same on to the little Snots!
To learn more of the daily criminal behaviour of the Snots and the failour of the authorities, talk to the staff at the Rasmussen Woolworths.
It is now all to late!
There is some interesting information in council’s dashboard website. The lowest division for maintenance for 19-20 is in Division 2 which has a former Hill councilor representing it. Division 2 had 41 and Division 3 had 172. More proof of money being funnelled into the city from the suburbs.
Well, maybe, but when taking a short walk on long statistical pier, you can easily fall off the end …. Div 3 includes the Strand, Jezzine, Queens Gardens and the marina precinct, areas where visitors are most likely to go … but then, the division would be among the most affluent, so they would know how to complain more effectively.
Listening to Jenny Hill on the radio this morning with Pricey (7:50am-8:00am). She said that the Wednesday/Thursday before the floods she was speaking to BOM and BOM said “it (the monsoon) would blow over.”
When i was checking BOM the forecast was always for 7-10 days of 100-300mm of rain per day. Dam reached 100% on Wednesday 30th Jan 2019.
Rowdy, presumably you made a submission to the IGEM Review where all these numbers were pored over? Jenny Hill is happy to indulge anyone, including the PM, in questioning about the flood and dam management. She has been shown by the powers-that-be to have acted competently and is more than happy to ride that horse down Main Street. As far as I can see she is not directly responsible for the approval of Fairfield Waters so there’s no political advantage there either unless you want to start campaigning now for the October state election (where there could well be questions to ask about 1:100 year flood levels).
Hang on just one moment there, Dredger. She sees herself as lily-white regarding the flooding (she may or may not be), but you cannot then argue on her behalf that as mayor and putative leader I(ha!) of this city that she is not directly responsible for the approval of Fairfield Waters. Given that the monsoon was of such a catastrophic nature, surely this mayor would lead the charge against allowing developers to put themselves in harm’s way, especially so soon after her heroics ‘for the greater good’ and witnessing the horror of decisions made for that ‘greater good’. And incidentally, also put the council in harm’s way if the worst does happen. If this dingbat woman is happy to lecture the Prime Minister on how to conduct federal matters, then she would surely not balk at having a voice in seeking to overrule LGQ regs that would allow such a dangerous development … oh, what’s that … oh, yeah, forgot, the Feds are libs/Nats, the state is Labor.
Silly old ‘Pie.
‘Pie, correct me if I’m wrong but doesn’t the state set certain standards for (for example) elevations of drainage and infrastructure above flood heights, height of breakwaters (in canals) above high tide etc. Then once the state has set the parameters, local government then implements that in their development approvals. Wasn’t it the state government that decided the development elevations for Fairfield Waters? If so then TCC is not responsible and not accountable and if anything it is the state which will have to pick up the tab.
Don’t be deliberately dense for once, Dredger … if we elect the right sort of mayor and councillors, all sorts of political blow-back can be caused, especially in a city so greatly devastated by the current rules and regs. We need a version of civil disobedience to oppose the government’s one-size-fits-all way of doing things, and if it creates all sorts of swirling media attention, so be it … in fact, whacko.
Dredger, Mayor Mullet’s number 1 fan. Sounds to Dredger like you are;
a) the Mullet
b) one of Frau Mullet’s Family members
c) a current or former TCC General Manager or Councillor, or
d) completely dillusional and suffering from Thunberg Syndrome.
Actually, we have a bit of the Scarlet Pimpernel with the Dredger, seeking him/her here and there … there are those who believe he is a she, Lorna Hempstead, retired from Maggie Island to France some years ago (The ‘Pie would be greatly flattered if that were true but the time difference would mitigate against that), others have gone so far as to suggest it is Sarah Hanson-Young, who has a deep fascination for The ‘Pie. Others, including The ‘Pie think Dredger is your everyday garden variety faux greenie. Whoever, welcome here, even if any of Hedger’s suggestions.
‘Pie, even in France it’s the right time twice a day. Isn’t that enough?
The IGEM review, what a fucking joke, the review only examined whether the dam operators operated the dam in accordance with the dam guidelines, not whether anything could have been done differently or whether the dam operating manual is a disgusting fucking dud, which it is, or what the dam operators should do in the future when facing the same scenario, it was just a mutual arse pumping exercise by public servants reviewing public servants, do you really think anything of substance was going to come out of it.
From memory Jenny Hill was a part of the Labor council who approved those land developments you speak of Lorna (nmd) so she is far from innocent. In fact, was she deputy mayor at the time?
Kenny, I know it is tiresome to find evidence for claims about what has or hasn’t happened in the Ross River flood zone and TCC’s involvement in it but can I refer you to the Dept of State Development and ask you to read the actual document about the state land at Oonoonba rather than relying on your memory:
“The Urban Land Development Authority (ULDA) is a statutory authority under the Urban Land Development Authority Act 2007 (the Act) and a key element of the Queensland Housing Affordability Strategy.
The role of the ULDA is to facilitate:
(i) the availability of land for urban purposes
(ii) the provision of a range of housing options to address diverse community needs
(iii) the provision of infrastructure for urban purposes
(iv) planning principles that give effect to ecological sustainability and best practice urban design
(v) the provision of an ongoing availability of affordable housing options for low to moderate income households.
The Oonoonba UDA covers 83 hectares
of land in the suburb of Oonoonba, about 3.5kms south of the Townsville City Centre.
The Defined Flood Event for the Oonoonba UDA
is the 100 year ARI. This flood level is mapped in the Oonoonba Flood and Stormwater Management Study.”
What this suggests (to me at least) is that in the redevelopment of the old DPI land at Oonoonba, around 2010, the QGovernment set some parameters such as flood heights and housing densities and after that was done TCC implemented those guidelines. I agree with ‘Pie that there could have been a public debate about housing styles (high-set in case of floods for example) and even about the ‘flood heights’ question itself but this didn’t happen. The point I was making is that these questions were kinda taken out of TCC’s hands in similar fashion to the state development land along the Port Access Road.
… and that land along the Port Access Road is all flood prone, declared or not.
NMD – You’ll find that information only applies to The Village which is a QG-developed property and exempted itself from the town plan. Nice try, but no coconut.
I guess the Mullet isn’t bright enough to get her stories correct, especially when there is a tonne of data and information on the BOM site. Forecasters are very cautious by nature so I doubt very much that the BOM made that comment. If anything she would have known, at the very least, that a good measure of rain was coming.
Yeah Rowdy, her statement is a lie. Her opposition candydates need to get off their sweet arses and start holding her to account. BOM contradict that statement (see below).
https://www.northqueenslandregister.com.au/story/5880506/torrential-rain-continues-to-lash-townsville/
Was the Mullet specific about which particular Wednesday or Thursday before the floods she spoke to BOM?
Pricey asked all the right questions – from the Mullet’s point of view anyway.. Dorothy Dix is getting a real workout. Strewth, with the Astonisher, Ch 7 and Pricey on her election campaign team she’s a shoe-in. All that council advertising is paying off.
A shoe-in rather than a boot-out?
Reminded by this blog that he has a self promotion trailer parked in a back yard, Messagebank Walker has now put on Abbot Street southbound.
Was told this morning that Fulton Hogan have had their contract terminated by TCC. They were the last lot who were doing mowing etc in the Annandale/Idalia areas. Can anyone confirm this?
Also, some people calling for Tony Mooney back as Mayor. Mustn’t know about Townsville Sands, Rocky Springs &,Fairfield waters debacle.
Alah, you are correct that FH no longer have the contract for the mowing around the Annandale / Wulguru area.
I am led to believe their contract was up and not renewed presumably because TCC thought they could do it cheaper or better, or both. I hope it was that they thought it could be done cheaper because it certainly isn’t better.
As a regular walker around the area it’s interesting to see some areas Now get maintained regularly (a cynic would cast aspersions about the residents across the road) while other areas, for example the park and lookout at Aplins, have not seen a mower for months and the grass is about a foot high.
Hey, send in pics to email hidden; JavaScript is required, and they will be posted the TattyTownsville face book page. That’s what it’s there for.
I’m out of town until Tuesday. Good chance the Walker St mob will read this and get on to it, but if not I will get a pic and send through then
That contract is usually a 5 year term. Spotless had it for the first 5, then City Wide the next 5 and then, Fulton Hogan. I don’t think they even made 3 years.
I see council have positions available in Parks & Open Spaces. Looks like Cranbrook Depot might return to their former numbers of staff
They did a far superior job than all those contractors.
Dear Pie,
As we now know that Sam Cox is now a Nester I wish to address the follow to him:
Dear Sam,
What is your position on support for the Arts. More tickets are sold to performing and visual arts events than sporting events. It is easy to confirm.
I request you study and consider the detail in the link below and advise via The Magpie’s blog. It has a better quality readership than the Astonisher, and many not on Facebook.
Regards,
DoK
Home | Townsville Performing Arts Centre
http://www.tpac.net.au/
Where do yiu get your statistics from? More tickets might be sold to arts and cultural events because your forced to pay for a ticket to see them.
Let’s think about how many people participate and watch sporting events across the city each year, at both pay to attend events at place such as the stadiums, and as spectators at community sporting venues and I’m certain that your statement on numbers would prove to be quite inaccurate.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://creative.vic.gov.au/news/2018/art-trumps-sport-in-the-latest-figures-from-live-performance-australia&ved=2ahUKEwjcroXm55TnAhV-7XMBHeZJCG4QFjAAegQIBRAB&usg=AOvVaw35-ABJwXfBY1rFou4r5GgU
Trivgo favouring big advertisers and misleading consumers. Sounds like the Astonisher.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-01-21/tirvago-mislead-consumers-on-hotel-pricing-court-finds-accc/11886096
Don’t care, that Trivago sheila is still one of the most bonkable in current TV ads _ the Toyota lass looks like good fun, too.
She’d have you for breakfast
Please!
Pie, hope you don’t mind indulging me just a tad here, but I agree with you immensely – the Trivago lass is smoking hot, and so is the Toyota chick, AND the Ford chick. Now that is three women I would love to have with me in my doona!
Is that a mayoral pink doona?
A Foursome? I presume you meant UNDER your doona. You’re a brave man, Master Swordsman or not!
Oh don’t you start, too, it only encourages them.
Don’t know about you fellas, but I find Mee-Maw more age appropriate and quite delectable.
In fitting with a different Big bang theory.
Attached article is from they Courier-Mail. I’m interested in hearing the thoughts of other commentators on this issue. I’m in two minds about it myself. If they do remove the intention to act dishonestly, does that also that give me an out for the next speeding ticket I get? “Sorry Officer, but I didn’t intentionally exceed the speed limit….”
Article follows:
THE Local Government Association of Queensland has implored the Premier not to cave to pressure from the state’s corruption watchdog and change proposed integrity laws.
They say proposed laws changes championed by Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC) chair Alan MacSporran would see innocent politicians made criminals for mistakes as simple as paperwork errors.
The so-called ‘Trad laws’ have caused a political storm this month after Ms Palaszczuk promised to enact laws based on CCC recommendations that stemmed from its assessment of
Deputy Premier Jackie Trad’s failure to declare an investment property last year.
But the proposed laws have been savaged by Mr MacSporran, who says they will effectively weaken the corruption framework already in place and do not reflect what he recommended.
The proposed legislation would require an MP to have acted “intentionally” in not declaring a conflict of interest, but the CCC says it should be a strict public liability offence, removing the dishonest intent requirement.
LGAQ chief execution Greg Hallam said councillors could face up to two years jail under the planned regime.
He said the element of intent was critical as it would ensure innocent mistakes or errors of judgment weren’t criminalised.
“Elected representatives are entitled to natural justice and a presumption of innocence,” Mr Hallam said.
“Removing the element of intent would see them essentially considered guilty until proven
innocent.
“We cannot have a situation where councillors are hauled before the courts for an administrative oversight, when there was no intention to act dishonestly in order to benefit themselves or others.
“I urge the Government not to bow to pressure and remove the element of intent from the new offences.”
Mr Hallam would be a good addition to the Maroons backline, an expert at ducking and weaving. In his faux-ingenuous way, this former Townsville Council employee (what a training ground – he was there under Mooney), Hallam is actually saying that anyone elected a councillor or mayor in Queensland is undoubtedly so dumb they could make the mistake – accidentally, of course – of committing one of the most basic and glaring rorts available to local government elected officials. A mistake that would stick out like prawns eyes even to an 8 year old, the official medical mental age of a moron.
Wonder if Mr Hallam would like to apply his legal genius to explaining why the LGAQ nice little earner of a scheme, Local Buy, isn’t a rort? Maybe his LGAQ board member colleague ($90,000 per year ta muchly) Mayor Mullet, could out there.
I think you both miss the point Mr Hallam is trying to make – namely that intention (mens rea) is an essential element of the commission of most (not all) offences, and it would be dangerous to remove that element – this is so it seems to me particularly in the case of an offence as serious as corruption – if for instance Ms Trad did in fact not know that her husband purchased the real property in question (and that is what she says) then she cannot be guilty of the offence of corruption.
Of course she didn’t know, the old man’s not under the thumb, hubby just pops out for milk, a carton of gaspers and a small investment property. No need to mention it to the missus, none of her business really, even if she is the state treasurer.
While your point is taken in principle, Polly, The ‘Pie tends to take the same view as The Wulguru Wonder on this issue. Sometime, somewhere, some bloody day, some one is going to take responsibility for something … but don’t hold your breath, it’s always going to be someone else’s fault.
Pam, look up vicarious liability.
“Shucks, Officer, I dunno who put that GLM in my glove box” don’t work.
I’m inclined to agree with you ‘Pie. We elect our office holders at all levels, local, state and national, on the basis of their character, life experience, and ability to apply sound judgment. One would hope that our elected Councillors possess the basic reasoning and judgment to know what needs to be declared, and what situations could potentially place them in conflict of interest. If they don’t have those skills do they deserve to be sitting on what is essentially the board of directors of our city?
And besides that, I imagine that the lawyers would have a picnic arguing what would constitute an intentional act and what would be an oversight or administrative error. Way too much wiggle room for a smart operator.
Vicarious liability in the criminal law Mr/Mrs/Ms Berry? – I think you may have the criminal law and the civil law mixed up – vicarious liability is a concept known to civil law for instance in circumstances where the acts of an employee are acts his or her employer is legally responsible for – I think you might mean strict liability, and only if there is a concept of strict liability applied to a criminal offence can there then be commission of that offence absent intent – I do not know of any strict liability application to the offence of corruption but I stand to be corrected – and ‘Pie I didn’t say Ms Trad didn’t know about the real property purchase on the part of her husband, I said that is what she has said – and Mr Wonder all of the points you make go directly to my point about the requisite intention being a necessary pre-requisite to the offence of corruption – if any of you want the criminal offence of corruption able to be proved absent intent say so now
Indeed you didn’t say she knew, just that she said she knew, and The ‘Pie knows you knew that she only said she didn’t know, not that she knew, all of which is not new news to youse who follow the news. … and The ‘Pie only offered the obvious pub test answer, which is neither here nor there in legal terms.
While we’re in this neighbourhood, wonder if the question of intent will arise in the Brigid McKenzie sports grant rorts … and there can’t be any fancy moral arguments that this really is the moral pits, but bet your bottom dollar – exactly what someone will do – there will be plenty of fancy legal arguments about it.
The ever excellent Cathy Wilcox outlines our dilemma succinctly
As the Australian Law reform Commission has said “…there are legitimate grounds for penalising persons lacking ‘fault’, for example, because they will be placed on notice to guard against any possible contravention.” This is on point on matters such as failing to declare a conflict of interest as is proposed. It also guards against wilful ignorance which seems to be in play if real property was bought without her knowledge, if indeed that were the case. What is to stop someone using a trust or other arms length vehicle to avoid the “intent” requirement? Moreover, the majority of local government penalties are strict liability. For Mr Hallam to say “Elected representatives are entitled to natural justice and a presumption of innocence,” and “Removing the element of intent would see them essentially considered guilty until proven innocent.” is distasteful because ratepayers are not afforded the same benefit.
Put them to the sword I say.
The ‘Pie would go down on bended knee in admiration, if Magpie’s had knees.
Well, oil beef hooked, somethings never change. The TTC and the TCC have for decades been of similar stature. Both infested with shonks, sharks, shifty’s and all-round arseoles.
We only have proof of that with the TCC.
Hey there NMD (Lorna or Charlie), give the keyboard a rest please, for your sanity, as well as us bloggers.
Your tomes are getting tiresome (as well as long- winded). I challenge you to take a week (let’s make it 5 days in a row) without comments – perhaps you could find another hobby, reflect, consider others points of view as legitimate, but stay quiet for the 5 days – please?
Plucka, you batty old chook, if it is OK with you, The ‘Pie would prefer that he curates this blog and doesn’t require requests from you for people to not put forward their points of view. And the worst form of censorship is self-censorship … but in your case, happy to make an exception. Sort of cluck-off.
Fair enough Pie, you’re driving, curate sounds about right. Thanks for the touch-up! Plucka
Probably the only one you’ve had for a while, eh?
SNOOZE!
Another story from the bulletin about a shop owner taking action on criminals trying to rob and bash him. People are now fighting back and rightly so. I’m seeing more cases of a level of vigilant justice handed out by the people who are a direct victim. As your previous post magpie I know you do not and should not condone violence as an answer, but self defense is now being recognized by the police I’m feeling and the public are starting to not fear prosecution. Calling for public violence is not on but obviously people have had enough, they can’t have a cop on every corner and if more crims get a beating the less they will target. Where is our mayor today??? Where is the news conference on crime??? Who is standing up for Townsville at our local level of government?? Not one of them have mentioned this in there silent election campaign.
Afraid you misquoted or more misunderstood The ‘Pie’s previous comment, which was to a suggestion recommending people should use guns to solve the problem. However, self-defence is always a right where possible, but there are two major notes of caution here. Depending on the situation, it is sometimes a better to adopt what can be called the NY Defence … let them have what they want in exchange for not being injured (in NY of course, you’re generally looking down the barrel of a Saturday Night Special). Over there, kids carry ‘mugging money’ which they instantly hand over, but it would be a sad and sorry day if they happened here.. The second matter pertains to laws which won’t and perhaps shouldn’t be changed which could see the victim turned into a perpetrator if the defence turns into a serious or even deadly assault. Think what you like about the law, you will be charged if you go too far.
And another matter: one questions the social responsibility of the Bulletin in showing aggressive pics of people in fighting poses after they have seen off some little (and not so little) snots. … it would’ve been far more circumspect to at least pixilate the faces and certainly not fool them into posing in aggressive poses. Even not pinpointing the exact location of the business would be a safety measure, to not goad these little pricks into some big-swinging-dick retaliatory action.
And The Magpie’s personal defence … always have a small can of Baygon handy, puts an attacker out of action instantly, without any permanent injury. That is if no boiling oil is readily to hand heh heh heh.
Baygon? That’s a bit harsh. Spray them in the face with deodorant. They will stop the attack, breath in deeply, and become your friend.
Spray them with deodorant? Brilliant … most of these grubs would run a mile at the threat of deodorant … maybe wave a bar of Palmolive, that might have them heading for cover … if they know what it is.
Deodorant is the product of choices for chroming, inhaling the spray for some sort of ‘high’, complete with permanent brain damage.
I can’t stand the smell of the stuff on the rare occasions I use it.
Often seems that quite a few of your fellow commentators are fond of it, Dave.
Sniffing or using on armpits?
Thanks magpie, I was referring to a comment you had to edit because of content in my last post. As for the kids arrested and charged the quicker the aboriginal community realize that Australia day isn’t there problem it’s there own attitude of entitlement and there laziness. One wonders if the ABC could be called racists for blacking out the kids faces, everybody knows what colour they are. And that’s not racist it’s fact. As a victim of crime I hold no grudges, however if I’m going hinting for ducks I’m not shooting pigions. The sooner we have a state government that fixes the indigenous problem the better. I don’t see many white ice addicts being arrested.
Now a story on the ABC with video…
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-01-21/teens-charged-after-cctv-shows-bus-assault-robbery/11887486?WT.ac=statenews_qld
Suspended my arse
They are already replacing the Stuart prison boss on the job sites
https://au.indeed.com/rc/clk?jk=8fdb71fb7654ad45&fccid=033d5c6dd090c8a4&vjs=3
Sir Rabs,
The Accommodation Manager is a couple of levels down from the General Manager, so he’s not being replaced just yet. Mind you, a lot of staff out there would be happy to see the end of him.
Interesting you say that, Gal, The Magpie was surprised that in the featherbedded largesse of the Public Service, the job only paid $115k p.a – very low level stuff in the PS.
Pie
You are correct. There are staff out there with the right combination of qualifications and overtime that are on similar pay, without all the BS that management entails.
Are any of the election incumbents campaigning for more Police in Townsville? Whoever becomes Mayor or wants to become Mayor should make it their number one priority to push Nanna Anna for more police resources, make it into a State election issue for October. Really apply the blowtorch. I know there are a lot of variables as well as commitments and promises to be kept, but perhaps such a commitment by the state Government could be legally bound so that if Anna gets back in she can’t break her promise? Then again, she is likely to be punted and we end up with Frecklington. We need more cops, simple.
FFS, why say anything? Or better still, tell how you’re going to mend the city you have had a large part in breaking, you grandstanding fraud.
Now that is a little harsh on our Mayor. Rest assured, once the local election is over, there will be an Olympic style back flip (wait, wait, wait for it, State election) and we are convinced of the great benefit for the Regions and Townsville. We may have forgotten the Commonwealth Games in the South East and if ‘figure skating’ is planned as the regional event for Townsville, we are already training in the sport, also requiring spins, jumps, twizzles and a whole lot of complicated stuff.
If other Disaster Committee members ever decide to go public with the truth about the opening (or non opening) of the dam gates the Mullet will need to do more ducking and weaving than Greg Hallam. I can’t believe the insurance companies haven’t taken legal action in a bid to recoup some of their massive payouts.
It would be logi cal that they have done their sums and the legal costs of suing the council/state/Sunwater would far outweigh just coughing up. Or indeed, they may believe that they don’t have a case.
It may not be because they aren’t sure if they have a case, more likely they have been denied access to the relevant accounts of what “really” happened.
With all of the blurred accounts of who did or said what, its prudent to be cautious, to the best of my knowledge there’s no statute of limitations, so they may just wait for a whistle blower or a new regime in the chair.
‘Pie, by chance I’ve discovered another design ‘report’ on flood levels in the Oonoonba area – this one dated June 2015 – which is just a few months after the Newman government was voted out. VERY interesting stuff about the 100 year flood levels and also about proposed floor levels set at 0.5m above that flood (and tide) height. Funny (not) how it all went to shit:
The Village, Oonoonba, Flood Investigation Report, June 2015
NMD, again, the Village is a special case where QG exempted themselves from the same rules which should have been applied to all others.
For Idalia to flood as it did was unforgivable.
The Village and the stupid golfcourse development frankly got what they deserved for weaseling their way out of the rules.
Engineer, do you mean the government promoters, planners, private consultants, lawyers, ‘developers’, bankers, insurance companies or house buyers got “what they deserved”? It looks like the house occupants are the losers; everyone else is counting their winnings.
Well, well, well, it’s the Chinese year of The Rat – I wonder how much vermin we can dispatch to the bin, in the upcoming Council and State elections?
Now that the ‘wet season’ appears to be underway, with the Ross River dam at 57% capacity, what do our expert commentators think should be done to prepare for the next 1:500+ year flood event? Should the dam be emptied to the lowest possible level forthwith or should we accept that flood mitigation ‘by the book’ is the only way to go?
Not even remotely amusing or droll … sarcasm is the wit of fools.
…but an essential tool for the Labor snappy one-liners
Perhaps apply some of what one of my dear old bosses used to describe as CDF – Common Dog F… might be a plan.
Council’s response to the floods last year was a classic example of a rolling pr-controlled cluster. Lots of big words and grand gestures while those with experience or expertise were ignored or sidelined. Demanding post-fact that BOM, QPS and others back up the wacko decisions of the time was an act of absolute bastardry by people who know that those honourable groups will never tip a can regardless of what information they have.
Well NMD if we listen to Al Gore and Tim Flannery it”s never going to rain again, same with the two Townsville bishops, arsonists didn’t light any fires, and undergrowth build up had nothing to do with the intensity of the fires, and George Pell didn’t like little boys, so the answer to your question is simple, let it fill up again.
NMD,
You raise a valid point. Now is the time for a community discussion on flood mitigation and the Ross River Dam (RRD). Normally such a community discussion would be lead by a responsible mayor, but we do not have one of those, so, perhaps the Pie and reliably informed Nesters can guide the discussion.
First we need to know that the Book of Flood Mitigation – Townsville (BFM-T) actually says. I suggest it says very little, or is in gross error, as demonstrated by the flood last year. Or someone did not read the book?
So what should be in the BFM-T?
I have no idea of the actual figures so I am going to pluck stuff from the air to hopefully demonstrate principles and considerations. (Is that OK Plucker?)
How much water do we need for (say) 2.5 years supply. Lets say 80% RRD capacity. That becomes our Maximum Continuous Capacity (MCC).
Then we monitor two things; 1. The BOM forecast for the RRD catchment area, and 2. inflows into the dam.
Once the RRD is at the MCC water is released at the same rate and water coming in to maintain the MCC. This will get the Ross River flowing but not flooding. Controlled releases.
When the 3 day BOM forecasts heavy continuous rain there are two saving factors; 1. preemptive water release such that the forecast inflow will bring the RRD level back up to the MCC, and, 2. the dam has a 20% safety buffer from the MCC (80%) to the Maximum Capacity (MC) of 100%.
When the RRD level exceeds the MCC water releases are managed, taking into consideration the tides, to keep the river, again, flowing but not flooding and prevent the dangerous possibility of MC being exceeded and return the dam back to MCC.
So in summary;
Pick a MCC
Moniter the BOM
Release to maintain the MCC
Preemptive release guided by the BOM forecast.
A 20% safety margin from MCC to MC.
Does that make sense?
The ‘Pie is drenched in acronyms and sodden with percentages.
Perhaps you Dredger, Jenny Hill’s number one fan and supporter of Councillor inabilities, could advise us how you would mitigate dam issues?
Oh, Christ, you had to bloody ask, didn’t you? Now watch what we get.
No more dredging for to long now you have peddled your utter shit on here. The magpie has been kind enough to let you have your say now it’s time you really should shut your mouth. Im still not in my home and yes its emotional. But your stupid half arse attempt at having a go at people who clearly know that something happened during the floods is just fucking ridiculous. You know and so do your labor friends that shit happened and jenny hill has done her best to cover it up. She had the stupid white vest on and she commanded the power. There are plenty of emergency service members from every branch who were there and will speak under oath of a proper investergation, like the Brisbane floods, to bring out the truth. This is what we want and your defence of the brainless mob you vote for is tiring. Don’t come back and tell me/us all you don’t vote for them because all you have done for the last 6mths is grandstand amd defend with occasional I’m not firbjenny crap. You write endless comments that take for ever to read and I loose interest after seeing your name. When you have walked a day in our shoes come and see me. Your know it all attitude is why Townsville is at its knees. I would rather listen to Clive Palmer then anything you or your labor party ever have to offer. And that’s coming from a union member who has been giving my surport to them for 32yrs. You really need to take a look at yourself and the way you think. We want better here in Townsville not another 4yrs of this lot. Good day!!
IR, listen to Clive Palmer all you want – I think he’s a bloody scoundrel. The grotesque chicanery around the development of the Oonoonba floodplain took place way before February last year and you must know it. I’m sorry that you got flooded and I hope it never happens again but nothing anyone does now can change the elevations that were agreed upon between 2010-15. The expected extent of flooding under every possible scenario is laid out in all those public documents but no one seems to have bothered to read them before (or even after). I imagine exactly the same thing is happening at Woodstock and in the Galilee Basin right now just as it happened at Yabulu in the 1970s. We have to be vigilant but, despite the best efforts of media such as this, often we are not.
Can’t be vigilant when shits been hidden. Just like Jenny hill and state labor do everyday. I’m not anywhere near where your talking about. The worst area was approved by your labor state government that went above town planning laws and the rest was everything to do with Tony Mooney. Remember that name Townsville his son is trying now. Your trying to cover up as well do yourself a favor and go back to jenny and say it didmt work all that hassle in the magpie, nobody listened. Go practice your darts.
We should remember that committee members (including the executive members) in any community organisation, including the Townsville Turf Club are and always have been out and out volunteers. in most cases they own or have owned and operated successful businesses or are professionals who offer their skills pro bono. They are just doing their best as a group of men and women. Most stakeholders in the racing industry are paid but not these members who are instrumental in keeping clubs like the TTC going as well as all those people employed. Pedalling rumour and inuendo and bringing executive members families into it without any evidence of wrong doing serves no purpose other than making committee members everywhere think twice about volunteering hundreds, probably thousands of hours of their life. Time they could spend in their own businesses and with their own families. The reason this committee and every other committee in the history of the TTC do it is because they are passionate for a racing industry to still exist in NQ in 1 month, 1 year and 20 years. Nobody is above the law but how about we investigate and test the allegations privately before introducing them publicly. Surely a persons reputation is still valuable in 2020 and something to protect until there is a good reason to proceed to tread on it? This particular industry is challenging enough without the Magpie sticking his talons in.
The ‘Pie notices that you do not address, refute or disprove any of the matters mentioned in the blog. Happy to publish any evidentiary refutation of same. By the way, who are the family you mention, The ‘Pie purposely did not mention the names given to him? And when you’ve finished your self-serving virtue signalling lecture on ethics, care to enlighten us all on the matters of the $10,000 and the unusual $50k+ bank transfer? Many in the local racing community are mystified.
And please remember Rossco, when you take even a volunteer position where you have access to and responsibility for both the well-being of others and income derived from that group’s activities, you become publicly accountable under various laws. And The Magpie has wider interests of concern than one single entity which may have harmed Townsville’s standing in within that group’s individual community. (PS The Magpie is a volunteer, too … this blog earns no income ad takes more than 30+ hours a week to put together.)
Rossco. Truth hurts hey?
Super-size dishes of karma on its way to those virtuous volunteers you speak of, the TTC Committee. There’s lots of people the sidelines that your shonky committee have trampled along the way buying popcorn and waiting for this long-overdue expose!
Rossco, it is precisely BECAUSE ‘this particular industry is challenging enough’ that we need someone like The Magpie ‘sticking his talons in’. Since we certainly won’t get it from a massively compromised Townsville Bulletin or other media.
By whitewashing the mismanagement of the dam during the flood the State Government has set us up for similar Disaster Committee failings in the future. For the sake of those whose homes were devastated by the dam mismanagement Jenny Hill should be replaced as Chairperson (that’s what it says on her ridiculous Dad’s Army vest) by the local Police Chief.
Yes, or even local Brigadier.
More shit from the Astonisher today about brain fart projects from brain fart developers that are somehow suppose to make everyone think things are actually happening, just before the local govt elections, their blatant support for Jenny Hill is a fucking disgrace. Not one project they mentioned has started construction or has a start date, not one, just more bullshit from the perennial bullshit artists of this town and this paper, what a joke.
The ‘Pie always looks for a positive in everyone and everything, so let him point out the the Astonisher’s cryptic crossword and sudoku are excellent. Must take the iditor hours to put together each day.
Christ I go away for a couple of days and I miss all the fun? Get up em ID. NMD go pluck yourself!!!! ( I’ll pay you in dump vouchers for using your saying) Hey guess what magpie your blog must have worked. No garbage trucks in the way today when I caught the bus. On a sad note, the driver who was robbed the other day by the black throated finches ( endangeigonus species ). Not sure if he’s back at work hole he’s ok. He’s an example of how migration does work. They wouldn’t have got anything from me except my foot in there head.
I know that it’s nearly 12 months since we got flooded and that many people are still under a lot of stress and are experiencing emotional issues as the 1 year anniversary looms and need to support their families and children and yet keep themselves in a good mental health state over the coming weeks.
The arguments about the opening of the dam gates and associated issues could go on forever.
To bring some positivity into our lives, how about putting a hold on these arguments for a couple of weeks and put our energies to supporting people, including businesses, who were directly impacted by the floods and helping them look towards a positive future.
How about we don’t. Unlike LBJ’s assessment of Gerald Ford, we can chew gum and fart at the same time … in other words, mone issue is notm totally exclusive to the other, and keeping both in mind will not interfere, diminish or distract from the other. A year, mate, a whole bloody year … people want to know why.
My mental health is coping if I don’t have to hear the crap coming out of these labor apologist in this town critical. And why say nothing now. This is the time to say something because there’s an election on. And there scared. None of those politicians went through what we did. None of them came it was all said on social media. Nothing face to face. This needs to bevfront and centre NOW!!
Pie’ some of your bloggers and yourself seem to have missed some of my policies and announcements to date and may think I’m not an alternate option to make the changes we need to oust Mayor Hill or Palmer’s representative. Thought I would share here.
I will have a full list of policies released during the campaign, as most of Townsville, unlike your followers, do not engage in local elections until the final weeks when all will be available. I suggest they follow my Facebook page for up-to-date policy releases and for conversations I have with people on it during the campaign period.
• Priority #1 back to basics roads, rates, water and rubbish policy. Better value for the rates we pay and before you scream boring and not sexy, that is where the rot starts, where our council is not performing at present, let alone, thinking past next week.
• NO team needed. I will form council with the candidates Townsville residents want in their divisions, so we get transparency and accountability back in council by having councillors that are not frightened to question.
• New lights at Riverway Stadium – council has let the current ones fall into disrepair. Local sports will benefit by being able to play during cooler evening hours. We can then attract more national and international cricket and AFL games that will be televised and bring visitor’s dollars…your readers know the benefits of that.
• Free 2 hr parking, 6-month trial in CBD … to invite the public back. Then review what else can be done with parking in CBD involving all stakeholders …multi level car park maybe.
• I have pledged to deliver a new Entertainment and Convention Centre which is on the original City Plan Deal that all tiers of government have signed up to. Unfortunately, our current mayor has had put it in too-hard basket it seems. Not to mention the cost yearly of maintaining current old shell.
• Unlike the current council, promote and encourage development in the State Development Area (SDA) adjacent to port rather than ask for rezoning of Woodstock lands. The current Mayor is risking Townsville losing larger projects at present by not supporting what the Beattie government designated as the best area for such industries in 2003 and a current government glowing report, released in November 2019, gives the benefits of our SDA.
• Reopen a transfer dump facility in the Jensen area
• Open Ross Dam to more recreational uses for the benefit of locals but to also attract more visitors and events like triathlon and fishing competitions
• I will deliver my plan and vision for Townville’s water woes in time, unlike the swiss cheese plan from Hill which is still to be fully developed, let alone, delivered.
Yes, we need to address the rising debt level of the Council but until we see the books, I cannot say much more other than the Council administration, from what I hear, is not exactly firing at a level to help bring it back on track.
That will do for now. Oh yes, when you have the latest policy list from Dowling or Hill, please share as I have seen neither.
It’s time for change and I know a lot of your bloggers are saying the same so I hope this helps convince them I am their Mayor of choice. My other driver is to restore confidence back into the people of Townsville while there is still belief in the cities potential.
Thank you, Sam. There will be many questions, most of them sensible one hopes, but all questions to you will be published if they meet the general rules that most of the folks know – like no personal abuse since that are talking directly to you.
The ‘Pie will ask one question that seems to agitate a few folks who comments here: do you think bringing back dump vouchers is a good thing and will you consider doing so? A very basic in your back ton basics.
Absolutely has to be considered , worked from what I experienced.
Please be aware i may not get the chance to check in or reply immediately.
Perhaps not Sam, you’re a busy boy, but you will certainly know what is concerning people.
Sam, how about a proven better alternative to the Mullet’s clusterfuck hard rubbish collection. A lot of Councils around the country, particularly in Melbourne allow residents 2 hard rubbish pick ups a year. The resident books the pick up with Council for a given week and Council register and follow up. It’s very successful and stops the streets from looking like a dump. It also gives the residents the opportunity to name their own date/s rather than have to do it when they are dictated to. It costs nothing as it’s part of the rates.
Like the idea, sounds workable and an effective way to help those that do not have the capability to cart rubbish to the tip. Definitely better then having rubbish all up and down Townsville’s footpaths. Dump vouchers to be returned would be the other most common request i receive by those that have the ability. Dumps have to be run under state legislation we get that and be environmentally sound as possible. The operation of the dumps and or transfer stations and household collection is Council responsibility. We need to do better as a council service and ensure rate payers get value for money and that rubbish ends up in the dump not backyards, footpaths or illegally dumped.
Sam Cox, are you responding to any of the questions asked in the previous posts? I was interested in your responses.
Your last line is your campaign Sam, bring back confidence, get back to our once great city, and only you can run with that, the incumbent can’t, it’s gone, the place is fucked, and she did it. Ditch the change angle, no one gives a shit about change, whether it’s Sam Cox, Greg Dowling or Robert Mugabe, no one gives a shit who, they just want confidence restored, the place lacks confidence, it has collapsed, and whilst Hill is Mayor it will never return, fairly simple message.
Sorry, but your emotions – understandably – have overcome you usual sensible eloquence. Everyone does or should want change, particularly confidence restored.
Have a Panadol with the bottle of Old Paddock shiraz you’re obviously enjoying, mate.
But you should never use “change” in a campaign slogan is my point, change does not represent better to many people, , you have to quantify change and then it becomes interpretive, that then takes away focus from you slogan. Change is also a really poor choice for Sam Cox as he has been in Govt before, many people would identify negative thoughts with his brand of change, he needs to focus on better, not different.
Sure, and without specifics which Sam has now published here, rather than just homilies, in everyday understanding of language, change equals better. It would bizarre – and a very short campaign – if someone openly advocated a change for the worse. Oh, hang on …. that’s happened, Jenny Mayor Mullet Hill wants another four years.
No change is key not the status quo.
1.Change to a council that is focused on its charter which is to deliver services paid for from the revenue it collects as rates. Not a council that finds a problem and puts its hand out to state or federal governments for help. Show you can look after your own backyard first.
2. Return to openness, accountability and transparency for the citizens of the city you are representing not a team rule approach.
If you need a team to make council work why not leave it the administration to make all the decisions and policies like Ipswich and Logan. Councils are formed to represent the people, political parties and teams are formed to represent themselves.
That is why its time for change Townsville.
My, what will i do list ( posted here ) is part of how we make that change and how we get the confidence and belief back bigger and better so we start punching above our weight as we have done in the past.
Cheers
Lipstick and pig anyone?
Not to mention the yearly cost of maintaining the current old shell, have a look at the accounts not a single cent allocated to the TECC last year.
All these thins are akin to putting shiny hubcaps on a 1973 Gemini, get serious ffs
Now is a good opportunity to refresh us with the creative accounting you discovered on this issue, Hee Haw.
Proper flood enquiry Sam???
Be a pleasure Magpie, all from the Annual reports on the website
15/16 Loss of $2.315 million
16/17 Loss of $1.980 Million
17/18 Loss of $.580 Million (Impairment of $23 Million valuing TECC at ZERO.)
18/19 Not a single mention of a P&L at all no revenue, no expenses, no nothing.
Strange, because although we don’t hear much about them, there have several concerts there in the 18/19 year, going by the signs announcing same outside the venue. This is a disappearing act worthy of David Copperfield.
Well someone’s cooked the books then.
Sam, you are starting to gain some traction, very good. One of the major issues with politicians, elections, their promises and (lack of) delivery is that more often not the long suffering rate payer is bullshitted to and once the Pollie is voted in, they break their promises. If you can find a way to deliver on your promises, fully, without bullshitting the ratepayers you might find that you will gain a lot of votes. With no disrespect intended, that is a big challenge to Pollies – going through with what they promised, and deliver it. Dazzle us with something honest, transparent and iron clad and you will get our vote. This town has endured enough of the likes of Doona Hill, Fat Boy Palmer, potential political Muppets like Dowling, and not to mention the Mooney family who simply crave that ratepayer trough. C’mon Sam, you can do it.
You highlight an interesting point, Hedger … running without a team can dilute a campaign, but by the same token, it can free up the candidate to be free of any outside influences or parish pump pork barrelling. Should Sam become mayor but a few of the Team Hill (is that a political party or just a group?), it is likely they will not cause any waves on Jenny’s behalf. She’s not known as a beam of sunshine in her own bailiwick, and a few of them will be heartily glad to be shot of her.
NMD , you spend so much time looking in the rear vision mirror how do you get to the shops . Your verbal diarrhoea that “you imagine exactly the same thing is going on at Woodstock and in the Galilee Basin right now compares to Yabulu in the 70,s “ can’t go unquestioned . When was the last time you were in the Galilee Basin ( I was there last as one of my shifts ) and looked at the environmental compliance checklists the mining companies are using monitored by the Queensland co -existing with the farming industry . How about real facts instead of imaginations .
Sure, Mike, explain what you understand to be Adani’s closure and rehabilitation obligations – and the actual payment of a real money bond as mandated by the bullshit legislation upon which your hopes rest. Not the gumpf uttered by their limp, lying puppets in successive Q governments but their watertight, legally enforceable obligations. And compare these with the utter tripe spewed by successive owners of the Yabulu refinery as they created, over 40+ years, Townsville’s worst ever environmental legacy. And Mike, that’s Yabulu up until this very day, today. The current owner, who is unbelievably feted around the town, appears to think he has no legally enforceable obligation whatsoever to do anything. In fact, if I can believe what’s reported in the media, he, like his mate Mr Adani, believes Queensland taxpayers and us ratepayers actually owe him something and we may have to accept that our government really has sold us down the river. Which river? At the Adani site it’s the Carmichael River, at Yabulu it’s Alick Creek, a tributary of Black River and if the proposed nickel/cobalt ‘refinery’ gets up at Woodstock it will be the Ross River. And if you think these project sites are protected by the strongest environmental conditions in the world blah, blah, blah can you explain why Adani still have not paid fines for their contamination of the Cayley Valley wetlands. Sold down the river like our correspondent in Idalia.
Give up already. Go play darts with your bestie.
What’s your take on Anna Bligh’s responsibility on the whole Palmer / Qld Nickel fiasco?
Nothing … too many more immediate things on our plate.
Here here!!!! She is old news and is where she belongs – in Sydney protecting the Banksters. Wish that face-taker Beattie would go too.
Meanwhile, back at Magpie Central…..
Things will be different when we get a new Mayor, Council, Premier, Prime Minister, Local Member etc etc.
No better, just different
Thanks Einstein Ad, so no matter who is in local, state or federal politics you are saying there will be no difference?
I call BS on that – ‘if you keep doing the same thing, the same way, you will get the same result’. Good luck to you – I want change and someone else to have a crack, in local and state govt to start with!
GG
Not sure what your question is when you say “…you are saying there will be no difference?”
If you read my post, I actually said “Things WILL be different when we get a new …..”
I didn’t say things would be better though
Don’t put words in my mouth, I’m perfectly capable of saying what I want to say.
As am I Nauseous – bring on the local and state govt elections and I hope the possibility of positive change. If there is change, then of course things should get better – fuck me, they couldn’t possibly get any worse!
YES THEY CAN!
The Mulett re-elected.
Dan Ryder and Illich Park. Has anyone else noticed on Dan Ryders LinkedIn profile that he is suddenly no longer CEO of the redevelopment? Interestingly, not long after comments in the December blog of the Magpie. https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-ryder-4365b41a/?originalSubdomain=au
Sam Cox. With regard to the hard waste collection, the initial reasoning given by Mullet was to benefit pensioners that could not move any heavy white goods or had no means to get it to the waste transfer station. Perhaps a better system would be that we get back our vouchers which would be utilised by the majority of Townsville residents and for the pensioners, they can have a pick up at their residence by using the full allocation of vouchers by council. Keeps the streets clean. Ticks the box of hard waste for pensioners and pleases the majority of residents with the return of vouchers.
Reverend, vouchers are great for residents with a ute or trailer, or a mate with one – a minority I would guess. For others, including ‘pensioners’, some sort of pre-cyclone or wet season pick up by Council seems to be a popular idea – except amongst those who don’t think it’s good idea, including a few commenters on this site who argue persuasively it is impossible for this Council (or perhaps any council) to successfully organise, let alone afford some sky-high cost for workers, vehicles etc. How would you envisage ‘pensioners’ notify Council of their particular need and how to distinguish rorters who just want a free ride? Or should Council just do both?
The story of our times, according to Dredger the Defeated.
We can put a man on the moon (yes, it did happen, you drongos) but we can’t organise an orderly and reasonable pick up of rubbish in a small to medium modern western city without making footpaths home for rats and vermin.
You’re a klutz, dredger.
Either we put our shit on the footpath or we don’t. Either way we’ll be whingeing.
Well, you certainly will be.
NMD,
Sometimes you disappoint. Fundamentally we are all responsible for our own welfare and administration. And what are you going on about the poor pensioners. Most are feisty with get-up and go. Think grey nomads. NMD, you seem to be assuming that those without a trailer or ute are also friendless with no community network to fall back on. Such people must be horrible that they have no friends etc.
Government is there to set the environment (for the want of a better word) for people to do things for themselves, not for such things to be bloodywell done by the government..
Let me put it this way, the government provides a sewerage system so you can shit and wipe your arse, in that order. The government is not there to shit for you then wipe your are. Same with the dump.
Tell that to the Reverend who raised the issue.
NMD. You idiot, they contact the council by a thing called a telephone. They would also be registered as pensioners, which in most cases the council would be aware of as they grant discounts to them on their rates. It’s not rocket science for non academic individuals with common sense.
Ever heard of a telephone?
Ok ive been waiting my turn, since idalia resident been doing my job I just can’t hold it in. You must be the only person in Townsville that speaks for every person with a problem and has the answers straight away. I saw a movie once with chalton Heston in it he came down a mountain holding 2 stone tablets with all life’s answers on them, are you catfishing us?? . How do you think pensioners communicate right now with council? I can guarantee its alot harder now since your labor mob took complete control. Especially if you actually want to speak with your local divisional councillor, or there assistant i mean. You speak of impossible to set and cost?? What the fuck then has the mullet been doing this last term with her hard waste? Are you admitting its is just that because you just explained her version to the letter. Expensive unorganized. Dump vouchers are better.
“Once upon a time”. You could contact a council officer direct by phone by dialling 4728—- and you questions were answered. These day it is either by web page or the 1300 number and hope & pray you get a response.
At the moment it is 9 days and counting waiting for action on a dangerous tree near a bikeway.
Photograph to email hidden; JavaScript is required please. For Tatty Townsville page.
Great to hear about your policies Sam but unless you get yourself some media exposure nobody except Magpie bloggers and a few Facebook followers will ever know. The bias of the local media will be a problem but try the proven method of going in and fronting the Bulletin editor (if there is one at the moment) and the Ch7 news director face to face. If they don’t respond bang the table until they agree to put some balance in their coverage. Also might pay to get a supporter to monitor the Bully and Ch7 to keep a record of how much coverage Jenny Hill gets compared to you and Dowling.
Last The ‘Pie heard, there were pretty tight rules about the amount of coverage, but unfortunately, that doesn’t cover the tricks of the trade in downplaying one side in favour of another.
And the cost of advertising for candidates is supposed to be the same. No deals, no discounts based on spend. But I bet the Mullet will have a slippery way of getting around it.
I’d like to see Hill replaced as Mayor, and Cox as good as anyone putting their hand up. However, for me the jury is still out on whether he is serious or just a vote splitter. Time will tell.
More like ‘the fat fools’ man boofhead Dowling being the vote splitter. Still plenty of time for others to nominate. I wonder if Harry will have another go at being a nuisance. Which is his democratic right.
Thanks Ff , i am going ok so far, all the above are giving me coverage
and being fair. I have to balance it with my day job though and with tv in most cases needs to be done during work hours which can be difficult for me. I will be doing more soon. TB does print my letters and journalists take my calls. More to come as we head towards March 28th. Waiting to hear from Team Hill and Palmer’s representative which will provide more opportunity for me to comment. Game on now with three way contest making preferences important in that people need to put their least preferred mayor candidate last. That message is hard to get out! Interested to watch if the other two stay focused on what is good for Townsville or it ends in a dock yard brawl. Greg Dowling’s running will have no doubt rocked Team Hill’s boat a bit.
I will be focusing more and more on the belief most of Townsville holds, that is
this city can do better, we just need to restore confidence and pride back in the city and get a council that will deliver for all of Townsville. Enough from me.
Enjoy Australia Day.
Darwin’s demise is Townsvilles gain, old Numbskull Gill at the airport must be beating his chest in the airport world about Townsville airport appearance in the top 10 airports in Australia for passenger movements for the month of November, it has been a very long time since that has occurred, but before the Astonisher and TEl start telling the gullible masses that this is a clear sign the Townsville economy is about to boom, we are 3000 people up for the year, yep about 9 passengers a day over last year, and unfortunately for Darwin they are about 70,000 down, allowing Townsville to knock Darwin out fo the top 10.
But … but … but … which way were the nine travelling?
Maybe the statistics were misinterpreted, and ‘passenger movements’ referred to the number who got the shits over dirty seats, snail like security processing and being blocked from the Qantas lounge by a very juvenile airport manager.
Factor in the huge number of interstate insurance assessors, specialist tradies building companies reps who descended on Townsville following ‘the flood we had to have’ and those airport figures start to look a bit rubbery !
This is the same circumstance and fact blithely ignored in another story recently, designed to make us feel like we’re all a mob of irresponsible shits.
it was about the pokies, and the deep investigative journalists at the Bulletin must’ve been deep under the doona at the time, because NOWHERE did it dare to suggest that the up-tick in pokie spend (it was only $3 mill or so for the year) that there and are hundreds of out-of-town tradies in town on flood restoration work, most well heeled blokes away from home and with time in their hands at night in a strange city. The pokies are one obvious outlet for bored professional visitors, and they earn heaps as tradies.
The three stooges were on 7 local news tonight in their usual spot standing behind a Labor minister from the south, trying oh so hard not to nod as he spoke.
As the story went on we got some body shots of the trio – Private Cupcake, the insipid member for Townsville was either wearing a very tight shirt, or he has added a fair bit of weight to his frame. In fact side on he looked like he has swallowed a sheet!!!
Another big week Pie. Almost 300 comments again. One thing I’d like to find out is how much money TCC is wasting on new IT systems that don’t talk to each other. Apparently the current IT strategy at Walker St would be blown away by most Cambodian orphanages.
Thanks for the encouraging words, Speedy, but in fairness, probably about a third are The Magpie’s replies, or own thoughts instigated as comments. But still, that does reflect that comments are either engaging enough or stupid enough to keep the old bird hopping from claw to claw rather than nodding off.
Good topic Speed trap. And one that needs investigation. Is there even a strategy?
An integration layer that doesn’t integrate would be a good place to start. I’d also be asking how some of the contracts were awarded; why IT staff were given tickets to the V8s a few years ago by a future contract winner; why the rates billing manager was wined and dined by another company that was awarded a contract.
While you’re at it, why are other departments of council forced to bypass IT to get anything done? Why is the IT department such a giant roadblock to progress? And how come the IT service desk won an award for service delivery when they have proven time and time again they don’t deliver and the manager fobs people off.
From my experience dealing with IT this just scratches the surface of the incompetence.
From my understanding, there was an IT stuff up where tens of thousands of dollars of equipment was left in cupboards for over 6 months because after it was purchased they realised it didn’t do as required. I believe the equipment was for blue collar workers. I don’t know if it ever was out into use.