The Nest has never been about me personally or my private affairs,   but all you folks who have stuck so loyally with The Nest – some from day 1, or even further back to my Bulletin days –  deserve the respect of an explanation for my departure from the city I have happily called home for three decades.

A combination of finance, health and family matters have conspired to call time on my 37 wonderful years in Townsville, the last sixteen completely consumed by The Magpie”s Nest. After discussions with my daughter, I have reluctantly agreed that at 80 years of age, I am now entering a period where it is wise – indeed responsible – to be with my family in the coming years, especially given that I have limited communication nowadays since cancer took my voice.  Besides, on consideration, while it’s been a voluntarily and happily solitary life in recent years, it will be nice to have family around me, .

So I find myself Ballarat-bound.

I will not attempt to individually thank everyone who deserves it – whether anonymous or known – who have been integral to the success of the Magpie’s Nest … there are many and I would be sure to inadvertently miss some. And, as is the way of the world, there are some sadly missed and no longer with us to thank.  Principal among these was my great,  generous friend and legal champion, the much missed Greg Humphries. Greg and his wife Heather were staunch support through turbulent legal times, along with the equally generous barrister Tony Moon. And there are three other people behind the scenes who, while totally unrelated to any content in the weekly blog, were unknowingly instrumental in its success.  Caroline McManus (now Zeller) was the Nest’s property owner back in 2002 when The ‘Pie fell in love at first sight with what was to become his Nest,  and for many years,  she was always generous in allowing me my champagne view across to Maggie on beer money.  And when the property changed hands a few years ago,  new owner Mark Adams and his Smart Rentals property manager Grace Battershall also went beyond the norm, apparently taking into account my personal situation and giving generous regard to my long tenancy … I was never just a name and number in a ledger,  they always afforded me individual dignity, consideration and respect.

Nevertheless, through time, the beer money has become shandy money, and despite a flattering minimal rise offered on a new lease,  the point had been reached where it was becoming untenable – probably unfair – to stay.

Despite the wrenching chore of packing up my home of 24 years,  I have spent the last otherwise listless few weeks realising how much the blog had so happily dominated my daily routines for a decade  and a half.

With that reality refusing to fade, my intention is to make this just a break from your regular Sunday morning read, and plan a spruced-up, re-designed Nest, again largely featuring all matters Townsville, but expanding more into other areas that it is becoming apparent people wish to talk about … given that 95% of the previous content has been reactive to the less-than-adequate performance of local entities (the totally compromised and selectively incurious Astonisher, the Dudley Do-Nothings at TEL and the Wirth’s Circus of Walker Street et al)  as reported across the web, I was rarely if ever required to be on the spot physically.  And the growing number of ‘citizen journalists’ who entrusted often sensitive information to the Magpie,  tended to make the regular Sunday missive just a starting gun for the often informative, always entertaining comments throughout the week.

BUT WILL REPORTING ON  TOWNSVILLE WHILE NOT LIVING HERE  WORK, IS IT AN ETHICAL THING TO DO?

The answer to both those questions will be entirely up to you, the readers.

When the Nest starts republishing, the readership numbers and interest will determine whether it continues.

If the answer is no, it doesn’t work like that,  then no harm done. COMMENTS REMAIN OPEN FOR THE TIME BEING, I WILL ADVISE YOU ALL WHEN I PULL THE PLUG .

In all it’s phases, successes and failures, adventures and misadventures both amorous and actual, turbulent times and great friendships, it’s been an absolute  blast for the past 37 years.

I will dream about Townsville, what it was, what it is, and what it will eventually forge on to be.

Thank you.

Malcolm Weatherup – The ‘Pie

… what the hell is council’s resident Dad Joke specialist  Brady Ellis up to …

The ‘Pie has an ‘event attraction’ theory, which he explains in an imagined conversation between TEL and The Astonisher.

Good old News Ltd,  always good for a few laughs and head scratches ..

Two Labor stalwarts remembered … one dead, one alive.

And a few laughs along the way, including a great spoof on Trump’s bimbo press secretary.

This is the last blog for the 2025, The ‘Pie will be taking a break with some vague plans for a site rebuild in 2026. We’ll see how that stacks up, but in the meantime, a special thanks to those of you who have materially supported the Nest throughout the year; without you, we probably  would not have been here. And to all readers,  whether you love him or love to hate him, The Magpie wishes the merriest of Christmases and a more uplifted New Year than those past.  BUT a big heads up … we’re closing in on the annual Silly Season when people are distracted and governments  find it the ideal time to announce  controversial decisions. So keep an eye out, because comments will continue to be published over the holiday period.

A Good Team At The Top … That’s The Long And The Short Of It.

And the future will hold plenty more japes just like that. there’ll be plenty more japes like that as we move on. There was already this exchange in comment.

The Magpie’s only reservation with all this is that with the Thompson affair, Suzy has shown she does. not suffer fools gladly (she read the no confidence letter to the media) and is happy to shirt-front anyone she thinks is being devious or stupid. It has been widely felt for some time that Nick Dametto isn’t all that bright,  and has some regrettable social attitudes, so let’s hope it doesn’t lead to any tension at the top.

But that said, perhaps it’s time for us all to take a breath, and give all our councillors some space to fully morph into the team we need to lead Townsville forward.

You Can Depend On The Bully Not To Be Too Nosey

There’s something serious amiss with this story, and with the reporter.

While we’re all aware of Lighton Smith’s aversion to questions, this is pretty unforgivable. When someone stands down from a position of community significance, surely the very first thing that you ask is ‘Why?’  All the readers of this Bulletin story almost certainly did,  but reporter Goofy didn’t.  Even if Greaney had scuttled off without a word (she she apparently did)  you’d imagine a reporter would say they ‘reached out” (ugh!! stupid phrase) to her but didn’t respond.

But Here’s An Even More Mysterious Question Mark 

This is just fucking weird.

Putting aside the pathetically silly headline, the unattributed story quotes the only two people mentioned,  Port Authority executive Drew Penny and the ship’s passenger spokeswoman Jessica Hoppe. Which is fine. But the accompanying picture features neither, but instead Port cruise coordinator Monica Cazzulino, Townsville Enterprise waste of space Lisa Woolfe … and Clr Brady Ellis.

WTF! WT actual F?? OK two out of the three can be explained away, but Brady fucking Ellis? What possible reason is there for him to be at the Port, let alone in this pic?  Is he using the Mullet Method of getting moist and excited when a camera is around? Someone in comments suggested that he will make a run for mayor in 2028.  Good luck with that, boyo.

Simply weird.

But then there was a truly rude public moment for the paper on this small story.

Thaty would be councillor Vera Dirou doing the honours in the photogrph, and the story does name her. But have a look at the caption.

Now that is just simply rude,  unprecedented and unprofessional …  wouldn’t have happene if it was the mayor, his deputy, or for that matter, anyone else. it merits a apologetic call from the editor, at the very least, and a kick in the coit for whomsoever was responsible..

But let’s stay with the paper a bit longer.

What A Load Of Fooey!!

The beady avian eye caught this low level tripe in the Astonisher during the week (who’s The ‘Pie kidding, it could hardly be missed,  front page pointer page 5 for this nonsense. )

In a nutshell, the band Foo Fighters have announced a one-off return to Australia, for a concert in Tasmania (weird choice, but we’re talking rock bands here). And suddenly, the above story turned up in The Astonisher on Tuesday. Reading through this hyperventilating codswallop (the things the ‘Pie does for you folks), he noted the local fan club spokesman Michael Chamberlain (no relation) reckons a national tour may follow. And The ‘Pie thinks he well may be right.  But not for his naive reasons.

Given that we were graced with an iditorial on something that isn’t news …

… here’s what The ‘Pie reckons may have happened, spelled out in an imagined but highly likely phone conversation between ….

Bulletin Editor Jill Poulson

…. and …

CC: Hey,  Jilly, have I got a front page for you!!  I’ve just snared the Foo Fighters for a Townsville gig at stadium.  They used their ‘one-off’ Tasmanian (eye roll) gig to see if a wider tour was worth it. When I got wind of it, I chucked more than $100k to the promoters to include Townsville …. and they agreed!!! (Yippee, clap, hands, skip). But they won’t be announcing it just straight away, so nothing much for the paper yet.

JP:  Your kidding, sweetie, but hey, great get, Chels,  I’ll get on it right away.

CC: But Christ, Jilly, don’t break the embargo, that might make them have a rethink.

JP: Oh, Chels, you really are a bit new to this game, aren’t you? Let me tell you how it works.

CC Huh?

JP: I’ll get our troops to dig up and organise some local loser to create an online Foo fan club, give them a big spread about how Townsville is ready for a Foo concert, how we deserve it and the usual claptrap, and we’ll then push them to start a petition to get the band here. I’ll rev ‘em up with a mindless editorial and we’ll use that to run one of our famous polls in the Bulletin with a 95% support result. 

CC: But the Foos already coming, I’ve sent the cash.

JP: No worries, we’ll run a few more stories about momentum building, probably can get our new ninny of a mayor involved, (he’s not too bright, apparently) ,  maybe Crisafulli too with a regional Queensland booster statement. Then, when the tour is announced, we can go big … front page,  that is, if there isn’t some kid dying of an obscure disease on that day. We’ll lay it on thick, you can’t believe how the locals fall for this bullshit about using the power of the press blarty dah and so … a sensational win for the little people.  And how Townsville again proves it is the events capital of the north etc etc. Big mention of TEL and all the work you did on this, Chels, luv. Lots of quotes from you and no doubt Claudia will want to stick her bib in, too.

CC: But you won’t mention the dough to the promoter, will you? There’s always some bastard, like that bloody Magpie twit, who thinks we have to tell the public what we’re doing with their money. 

JP: Course not. By the by, how much was it?

CC: (giggling) I’ll tell you if you tell me the paper’s real circulation figures.

JP: (pause) See you sometime for lunch, thanks for the call.

But even if that is might not be true but the Foofies still come to town, the bit about money to the promoters will definitely be right.

Bread and circuses ain’t cheap.

Why The Political Posturing Of The Social Media Age Ban Won’t Work

This is gesture politics at its most cynical.

Remember the old saying that 70 is the new 60, now up-dated to 80 is the new 65, a reflection of  better informed health outcomes  as a new ageing generation of oldies starts coming  through.  While there’s increasing truth in those words, the real question is why aren’t we looking at the other end of the spectrum Why aren’t we looking objectively at the reverse happening at the other end of the life span? And applying it to the new reality.

And that new reality, thanks almost entirely to social media over the past two decades,  is that 12 is the new 16, and 14 is the 18, maybe 20. It may be argued that that is a doubtful benefits of social media, but it is fact.  That much of the information filtering through young minds may be false, insidious or just downright dangerous, but one thing is constant – the little buggers, brought up with it, know how to use it.  And you can bet the current adolescent generation sure know how to use it better than the generation in Canberra making unenforceable laws kicking them of various platforms until they’re 16.

Another saying was from a wit who said ‘time is just God’s way of ensuring everything doesn’t happen all at once’.  Then God didn’t envision the tsunami of information in which social media swamps people,. It’s instant everything, all at once,   and while more mature people may work out defences and processes, that’s not how many young minds work. And it cannot be denied that social media is an addition, just as damaging in a way as online gambling. No wonder some overwhelmed youngsters top themselves.

Already there are huge breaches in the dam wall that’s being put up against the sea of information out there, with stories flooding in of youngsters laughing at how easy it is to get around.  And the technology and clunky verification process apparently works mainly as a deterrent rather than an effective blocking.  And there’s nothing more dangerous or as ruthlessly efficient as a bored, mildly tech savvy youngster. Already, they can pretty simply cheat the system in a number of innovation ways,   with the irony that almost all the platforms that are ‘banned’ have for weeks sharing ‘work around’ hacks.

But in pointing this out, The Magpie is not endorsing kids smartness, but more criticising a legacy seeking Prime Minister’s who has forgotten the golden rule … never create laws that you can’t enforce.  Australia waving a big stick at big tech is a Canute-like exercise at best, and inevitably a ruinously expensive one.  So taxpayers, brace yourselves. Albanese wants a legacy that puts him beside the past global leads of Australia, notably national compulsory wearing of seat belts (1972) and plain packaging for cigarettes (2012).  But both those measures were easily enforceable. Use of social media, usually in a private space,  offers no such possibility, which is why the government has put the onus on tech companies.  Age bans have always been notorious for attracting workarounds, especially booze and the aforementioned cigarettes (when they were affordable with pocket money).  And consenting teen sex for that matter. Whether this ban will hold up in our courts is anybody’s guess , and one imagines it will never work in the US,  although some states have limited laws in this regard that are already that are being challenged.

One positive upside as The ‘Pie sees it s a greater awareness and discussion within families on handling the ban. And it’s not a cynical joke that the ban may bring about some old style family togetherness … if the parents can get their noses out their own phones and devices long enough to enjoy their kids more.

You Might Have To Trust The ‘Pie On The Visual Here

An eagled-eyed reader sent in this photo, taken at Richo’s recent funeral. Resolution is the best The ‘Pie could do.

The white-haired bloke looking towards the camera is Shane Hill, and partly obscured next to him is wife,  Jenny, our own beloved ex- Mayor Mullet. What The ‘Pie’s  sharp-eyed mate wondered was just how close was Jenny Hill’s relationship with the late (and as far as The ‘Pie is concerned, unlamented) Richardson., one of the great political crooks of our time. For someone who never rose above a provincial  mayoralty to be seated in the second row of a political and celebrity-studded affair is worthy of contemplation.

Has The Mullet been rehabilitated in the eyes of the Labor hierarchy, and finally get her desperately yearned for spot on Labor’s senate ticket?  Or was it just an old mate’s act?

Stayed tuned.

The Best Cartoon Of The Week Goes To Harry Bruce In The Bulletin

Cartoonist Harry Bruce

Harry Bruce, the paper’s cartoonist, amazes with his unfailing output … in fact The ‘Pie cannot remember a single day when a Harry ‘toon did not appear as required on the editorial page, often making more sense of the written silliness of recent iditors.  Harry does work on a regular basis for other publications, Cairns, Mackay et al, buggered if if I know how he does it. Given this pressure, his humour is sometimes hit and miss but when he gets a bullseye, it’s a humdinger. This week, he was undoubtedly the very best in the entire country on a national story … no words can match Harry’s thousand word picture on Barnaby’s defection to One Notion.

Not another word need be said. A bewdy, Harry.

The Astonisher also can claim one of the intentionally funny comments of the week, too, and not unsurprisingly, it came from a reader in the letters column.

Given that everything else that moves or stands still carries advertising these days, why not?  Worthy idea, Mr Worth.

And it’s always good to take a leak for a laugh in The Australian.

And what better way to enjoy a few laughs that a round-up of The Shovel’s take on the week’s news.

 As always nowadays, not sure that last one’s a joke.

But that neatly brings us to this week’s visit to …

AMERIKA

A recent poll in the US indicated that 7th among the top ten most loathed people was Trump’s air head, hair flicking bimbo press secretary Karoline Leavitt.

Always sporting a crucifix necklaces, (it is a wonder the Pope hasn’t excommunicated her)  this deeply offensive woman/child daily parrots the crass immoral effluvium produced from the bowels of the Orange Abomination.  A practising Catholic, Leavitt usually leads team prayers before she steps forward to endorse and promote sin after sin.  Now,  a Canadian TV show has hilariously lampooned this passive/aggressive trollop.

Elsewhere, Trump’s Christmas wish list and playing Santa were on the cartoonists’ agenda. The first one’s a rip snorter.

And Finally, The Fashionable Lunacy Of Our Times 

…………..

That’s all for 2025, folks. Thanks for hanging around, giving us the heads up on stories, a great array of comments and of course, a special thanks to those who have financially supported the blog throughout the year, without you, there’d be no Nest.  Plan to be back sometime early-ish in the New Year. In the meantime, sincere best wishes for a safe and happy holiday period. Malcolm Magpie

More smoke and mirrors tripe from the Dudley Do Nothings,  but The ‘Pie tells you why you’ll never hear a discouraging word about TEL from the Bulletin.

Chris’ Biffo’ Condon KO’s the cops …. again. It’s 10-nil to date. But the latest bungle raises some questions about the AFP’s motives for the spectacular failure of Operation Biffo.

And a touching pictorial farewell to our former mayor-for-a-minute and his testicle-kicking pal.

Plus the latest unbelievably crass week on Planet Trump, as seen by American cartoonists.

You can support The Nest with a much needed donation to help meet the blog’s on-going costs. The appropriate link to help out is at the end of the blog.

What Sort Of Shape Will The TCC Be In, Going Into 2026?  Actually, Not Bad … 

…that is according to an experienced researcher. The regular commenter known hereabouts as Southern Comfort, is accustomed to sifting through the entrails of local government, and has concluded the Chicken Little prediction the imminent collapse of Walker Street was way off the mark.  This a lengthy report, but one worth the read as we gird our loins for 2026.

Southern Comfort 153 approved email hidden; JavaScript is required 2a09:bac3:396:355::55:3e

Submitted on 2025/12/05 at 4:53 pm | In reply to Bordeaux Bob. I will say this, TCC does itself no favours when it comes to making information accessible. For the most part, a lot of the answers to questions increasing numbers of people are asking are already buried around a myriad of places via the TCC website. The problem they have (and this was apparent in Friday’s Special Meeting on the Advisors and committee roles) is they use some web service called Resolve, which is probably where a lot more anger and attentions should be focussed). Even Cr Dirou pointed it out at friday’s meeting that Councillors weren’t able to access the full document pack for the morning of the meeting via this system: So let’s have a look at some of the major areas where copncerns have been raised. -Debt – is well reported, and appears reasonably well managed through a Treasury report you will find in every second Ordinary Meetings doc pack in Resolve. It’s not searchable this way, but when you find it, and track it, as I do monthly, you find this fairly well managed, in line with all State Government guidelines and currently running at just 6% of TCC’s total market value equivalent. It’s not the dire picture everyone believes when you put it in context. $429m sounds a lot, but in context of what it’s covering, it’s just slightly under current market interest rates, and is being serviced well. (Magpie note: Many people get over-awed and intimidated by large debt amounts like that, but it must be remembered that we are dealing with in essence a billion dollar corporation, not a used car yard on Bowen Road.) There’s action at the North Rail Yards: Brad Webb is a doer, not a yapper. -North Rail Yards – QAO flagged issues with the TCC SPV corporate entity. It’s being dismantled, and money from Brisbane flowing for site remediation. Given current property prices, and as Pie pointed out, Webby working hard on his side of the deal, I’d expect this to turn into a positive news story for TCC before to long. Haughton Pipeline All pipes, but no pumps. -HS2 – This is the only item that really is lacking in good detail. Hunt through the site as you may, you will find it woefully lacking in current updated information. Reconfirmed statements from the CEO that it won’t cost TCC ratepayers more than $79m. But nothing on how. This is the pressure button that people should be pressing for answers. And transparent information from TCC is yet to materialise. One hopes this is where the new Mayor will deliver some Brisbane and Canberra monies to shore up the project. Whilst completion times have been updated this year, they already look like a joke. But the “money” questions are what needs to be answered. There is nothing apparent in the Treasury reporting that indicates that TCC are spending anything differently to their claims. But the project is late, and no matter how you cut it, late generally means more. So far you’d have to ask serious questions on who is holding those extra costs. They’re not on the TCC books. -Lansdown is well documented and on plan. New loan put in place at the end of last FY, drawdown on schedule, and delivery appears to be consistent. This one seems to be more of a PR disaster than any other. No one has ever properly laid out the timelines in this project. It’s meeting them. But payback has not, and was not ever expected to start materialising until 2030-2032 timeframes. And this is a 20 year project. Not an overnighted instant success. TCC (and whoever you want to consider in the Mayors chair at any time) have been crap for years on communicating about this, and let everyone believe the holy grail is closer than it appears. It’s not. But it is on documented target. My two recommended takeaways: 1) Push for TCC to join at least the 2020’s with technology on how they document and present information to the public. They are years behind Council’s like Scenic Rim, Noosa, Redlands on having more transparent, publicly accessible information. Like I said, I have to painfully trawl through this Resolve system constantly to get updates on status. They are there for all but HS2. Just buried so deeply that they can’t demonstrate to anyone that they are doing the basic jobs on schedule. Perception gets damaged, as no one gives easy to understand answers, or points at a simple online dashboard where you can draw your own conclusions. 2) HS2 is still where the answers aren’t. And the questions are. Now everyone is going to ask me to “prove it” and “where’s the link?”. And to that I go back to my issue 1 and the whole story. As you go through the TCC website (especially Council Meetings where a lot of this is in Officer Reports, you hit Resolve Red. The proprietary system used by TCC IT, built in decades past, And a PITA to work with. I post links, and they are likely invalid and dynamically regenerated in minutes. I have to use a range of different tools just to pull copies of the video livestream down to my PC to review. You’d think that when there is a nice camera style icon that you push, and the livestream plays (on a different tab or browser window than where you pushed the icon) that just getting a copy of the livestream for download would be easy. It’s not. Apparently TCC and Resolve are worried everyone will be pirating TCC meeting videos and the future of Netflix is at risk. If Netflix actually gave a flying…..follicle about TCC meeting videos. The information on 3 of  the 4 main topics is readily available, once you know where to look. It seems to be constantly misrepresented (“Oh we’re teetering on insolvency” prior to budgets to soften everyone up for the state Rises, to “we’re about to deliver surpluses” when you have a Mayoral by-election – funny how the good news only comes out when it’s useful – or wasn’t in that individuals case). If I look at your list and want to hammer home the one point that needs answers, it’s HS2. That is the elephant (mostly now) in the ground.

In The ‘Pie’s book, a fine analysis, in part because it completely lacked any party political commentary, which may be fun, but never gets anyone anywhere. But the TCC communication and tech issue is no sidelight if they are serious about transparency.

And a final thought.  Financially, we may not be where we would like to be, but in the way of these things it is now no biggy, and as Southern Comfort says, it is being handled without stress. So why did Greaney, Richardson and Sewell, try to sell us such a pup on Strand parking meters, basing their misjudged call on the parlous state of council finances? Thank Christ Robinson and Batkovic weren’t as gullible or personally as fawning towards ‘our wonderful CE to whom we owe thanks’ as Greaney was.

You really are a dud, lady.

A Surprise Candidate In Line For An Mayoral Adviser Gig? 

This is from the ‘strong rumour’ file

At first blush, as they say in court, it seems a very savvy possibility , but a closer look shows that nothing is quite that simple.

Miranda Mears, immediate Past President of the Townsville Chamber of Commerce

On Friday, councillors agreed their new mayor Dametto should have proper back-up,  and  that he is entitled to and needs three advisers. While that went through with a warning from Robbo not to try for stupid choices, candidates are yet to be put forward, and be appropriately vetted in the approved  LG process.  So a solid two-year run at the helm of the Townsville Chamber of Commerce, with nary a ripple rocking of that boat,  is an ideal CV entry to fill one of Mayor Dametto’s three adviser positions.  So it’s now floating around among The Magpie’s usual unreliable sources (who, strangely enough, are so often right) that Miranda Mears might be tapped, or she may herself ask, for  one of the spots.  And on the face of it, she would be a well credentialed, well connected and experienced addition to the TCC wheelhouse.

But nothing ever that bloody simple in this town … or state.  So councillors now need to resolve some ticklish questions, should Ms Mears be a candidate.

First the undoubted upside.

Mears has held prominent roles in regional business and innovation networks, including leadership in chamber-of-commerce structures and involvement with innovation precincts. This
positions her as a well-connected figure in North Queensland’s business and government-funded innovation ecosystem.  She is also very tech savvy, something which we have already pointed to as needing urgent attention in Walker Street.

However, it is that bit about government-funded ‘innovation ecosystem’, (in other words, government work) why this could get tricky. You see, Ms Mears is the Managing Director of Australian Impact Group (AIG), a Queensland-based advisory consultancy focussing broadly on areas such as business strategy, cyber security issues, strategic innovation, entrepreneurship and founder support,  AIG has been a delivery partner or subcontractor on various Queensland Government–linked contracts.

Now that all sounds tickety boo you beaut,  but there may be some clarification needed when AIG sub-contracted some former Labor state government work on cyber security from a crowd called Cryptoloc. The Crisafulli Government nixed that Labor-granted contract in January,  wondering not only why the contract jumped from $5m to $15m, but how the extra money  suddenly migrated on receipt from Cryptoloc to the personal bank account of Cryptoloc’s founder  and big Labor donor Jamie Wilson.  He’s since gone bankrupt,  and AIG appear uninvolved in any hanky panky, and seem to be more stranded business victim of Wilson’s fall from grace. To be absolutely clear, The Magpie is not suggesting or has any reason to believe that Ms Mears or AIG have done anything illegal or unethical, but if there is any lesson to be learned from the Thompson debacle, being up front, taking charge of the narrative from the outset  and clearing the air is the only honest, sensible – and successful –  way to go. 

So the point is AIG and Mears have done business with the government, and for all The ‘Pie can discover, may still do. AND THAT is what raises a possible question of conflict of interest.. So the The ‘Pie guesses it falls to him to ask these questions, because the Townsville Bulletin still think ‘proactivity’ is an Swiss energy drink made by Red Bull.

Questions to Mayor Nick Dametto
1 What selection process will be used to appoint the three mayoral advisers? Will the
positions be publicly advertised with clear merit-based selection criteria?
2 Have any individuals already been approached, shortlisted or informally sounded out for
these roles, including Miranda Mears or Australian Impact Group?
3 Will any adviser roles be filled via consultancy contracts with private companies rather than
employment contracts with council? If so, which companies and under what procurement
process?
4 What safeguards will govern conflicts of interest for advisers who have existing commercial
relationships with state agencies, councils or regional precincts in North Queensland?
5 Will advisers and their outside interests be disclosed on the council website, including any
company directorships and current consulting clients in the region?
Questions to Miranda Mears / Australian Impact Group
1 Can you confirm whether you have been approached or are under consideration for a
mayoral adviser role at Townsville City Council, either personally or via Australian Impact
Group?
2 If appointed, would you take the role as an individual employee of council or through a
consulting contract with Australian Impact Group? Why?
3 What measures would you put in place to manage conflicts of interest between your
advisory role and any ongoing or future work by Australian Impact Group for Queensland
Government, councils or regional partners?
4 What lessons did you draw from Australian Impact Group’s subcontractor experience on the
Cryptoloc cyber-security program, and how do those lessons inform your approach to
governance and risk?

Questions to the TCC Chief Executive Officer
1 How will council ensure procurement and employment processes for mayoral advisers
comply with the Local Government Act and associated regulations, particularly on political
activity and conflicts of interest?
2 Will the CEO or an independent panel oversee the recruitment and vetting of adviser
candidates, and will councillors be given adequate detail to exercise their oversight role?
3 What policies are in place to prevent advisers (or their companies) from later bidding for or
receiving council contracts in areas where they have had influence over strategy or
program design?

With Those Questions Put, The Pros And Cons In Summary:

And please forgive the buzz word blather.

Miranda Mears’ expertise lies heavily in innovation ecosystems, accelerators, founders, digital skills and
government-funded programs. If she becomes one of only three key advisers, there is a risk
that strategic attention within the mayor’s office could skew towards programmatic,
grant-driven initiatives at the expense of more mundane but politically salient issues such as
core service delivery, rates and long-term governance reform.
• Supporters may argue this expertise is exactly what is needed to reframe Townsville as
“open for business” and attract new investment.
• Critics may counter that it entrenches a particular “innovation precinct” worldview that has
not yet convincingly delivered broad-based civic or financial improvements for ordinary
ratepayers.

If Ms Mears think it appropriate (although unlikely she will) The Nest will be happy to publish unedited any response she would care to make to the above.

Like The ‘Pie said before, nothing is simple in this town … but neither should it be, the TCC is not a mum and dad corner store.

STOP PRESS STOP PRESS STOP PRESS  (as we oldies used to say)

Sunday Dec 7 10.30am 

Miranda Mears has provided a comprehensive reply to the above this morning. Go to comments to read her response.

Why You Won’t Hear The Bulletin Support Calls For A Close Look At Townsville Enterprise

The ‘Pie has again noted this highly questionable relationship between Townsville Enterprise and the Townsville Bulletin.

The Bulletin is listed as a partner on the Platinum membership level,  which costs an eye-watering and totally wasted $100,000 p.a. In the paper’s case,  it would almost certainly be entirely  an ‘in kind’  quid pro quo arrangement.  While on the face of it, this looks like responsible community involvement, it is anything but.  Anecdotally, the amount of actual advertising for which TEL uses the newspaper wouldn’t get anywhere near a hundred grand (not even at Murdoch’s avarcious rate card asks) , so it’s reasonable to believe that the membership quid pro quo is lots of uncritical stories about TEL and the occasionally empty simperings of Claudia  Brumme as an occasional columnist.

This is a deeply unethical position for the paper to allow itself to assume, especially when any professional media organisation should be an observer, not a player participant in any area of the community that could come under criticism.  Even if the Bulletin ran a story about calls for a re-think and restructure of TEL, (and pink pigs named Asif to that happening) why would anyone believe whatever they reported (which would certainly be an anodyne nothing-to-see here report)?

It becomes more apparent by the day that the Townsville Bulletin is part of this city’s underlying problems,  and it’s lack of professional standards and self-serving ‘ethics’ are certainly not part of any solution.

Will The Bromance Survive? 

This just missed last week’s Nest,  so let’s give it another run from comments.

And there’s really not much more to say on this subject.

Speaking Of Mates … The Dudley-Do-Nothing’s Annual Smoke And Mirrors Rort Is On Again.

What has become the equivalent of a vote-buying exercise using public money is back again … only it’s not votes TEL are after, it is a basically a bribe using taxpayers money to counter the growing disapproval of this pointless money pit that continually refuses to be accountable.  Have a read through this upside down back to front load of hot cock.

Boy aren’t there ever a couple of prime quotes in there that give the game away. First from that vacuously-grinning oaf Lisa Woolfe, who noted last year, this subsidy ran out in less than a week. “We love bringing back this campaign – both times it has sold out within days of launch. Locals love a sale, but more importantly they love supporting the local businesses that bring our region to life.”   So that settles one issue: this isn’t about attracting out-of-towners – you know, like TEL’s remit stipulates, tourists  with out-of-town money – because visitors will not have the time or inclination  to make the hike to this neck of the woods on the basis of this offer.  So if this is primarily for locals, why the fuck is TEL involved at all?  Oh, that’s right … they’re in it because the Townsville Council chucked  them a big chunk of government lolly to do whatever they liked with it.  And please do not confuse the largesse for we locals with that million plus earmarked to attract major events. Ms Woolf’s abilities were held in such high regard that they had to hire a separate someone else for that gig, which has already slipped into a comfortable non-accountability posture.

And our new head honcho Slick Nick confirmed this popularity boost using public money when he said , “We’re proud to see locals supporting locals, so it’s a no-brainer for Council to get behind this campaign once again. The success of the previous rounds shows the real appetite for locals to experience our city like a visitor and support Townsville businesses at the same time.” 

Locals supporting locals? Whether we want to or not, in a give-away discount lottery? This is like we are a city of cafes selling each other cups of coffee. Now, folks, don’t start thinking that The ‘Pie has gone into Grinch-mode,  it is great they we can get some respite from the often grim grind of local politics, not to mention some material get-back, but The’Pie’s point is this: you are actually shouting yourself a discount with this offer (presumably the discounts on offer are returned by the council via TEL to the businesses partaking in the scheme). Because the TCC … through TEL … are using government funds … which come from where? Yes, you, the taxpayer.

Look, if that’s what they want to do, it’s a great  chance for the ordinary Joe and Jenny  to be self-subsidised into an enjoyable break. But for Townsville Enterprise and the Woolfe ninny to make it out as some achievement is … is … well, it is about par for the fucking course with this mob.

BIFFO CONDON 10 – THE POLICE 0.

Oh, dear, a policeman’s lot is an even unhappier one this week.

The dropping of weapons and other charges against Chris Condon chalks up another win for the serially charged show ground boss. Perhaps more significantly, it also chalks up another abysmal face full of egg for police, in this latest case, the AFP.

During a raid on Condon’s show ground offices in 2020, the Feds said they found a pistol, two silencers and ammunition for which Condon did not have the necessary permits to possess. Although no charges seem to have been lodged, the bluebags also took possession of $11000 in cash.

As is the way with these things, when the police prosecutor dropped the charges, he offered not even an evasively worded reason for the blunder. All the property is to be returned to Mr Condon, which raises a few questions.

The Feds seized the money and charged Biffo with some sort of fraud on the government, but that charge were dropped in 2022 …. so why did they continue to hold the money for another three years, and not return it then and there? And will it be returned with suitable interest added?

And if the weapons and ammo are also being returned, that surely means Condon was in legal possession of them in the first place. The ‘Pie wonders if Biffo’s lawyer, the canny Andy Telford, might be sniffing a juicy defo case?

Over the years, The ‘Pie has followed the Condon v Police saga with bemusement. Suffice to say, in that time, nine matters (usually to do with weapons) were brought before the beaks, and all were dismissed – mostly for sloppy evidence – one way or another (including a spurious assault case of assault against a nutter Condon smacked around the ear for trespassing on show ground property – a biased Townsville jury found Biffo guilty, he appealed, got a new trial in Mackay and was acquitted). Back in the noughties, there were clear indications that some of the charges were driven by the personal animosity of a senior copper, who has long left the city.

So yesterday’s latest pantomime nicely rounds off to ten -nil the Condon v coppers saga.

But if Andy Telford is wringing his hands in anticipation of a damages claim, the Bulletin better keep an eye out.

Of all the dozens of file photos of Condon (including a couple The ‘Pie himself took way back when) – like the one above that ran in the online edition the junior boofhead in charge of click bait decided to use the one pic from the Covid era that subtly suggests Condon was a bit of a mafia-looking crim.

It was otherwise nonsensical to put up a pic that clearly made recognition impossible. Unless the paper was trying to say something subtle.

Something subtle as a grenade in a bowl of porridge

Oh, For Cod’s Sake, Bulletin!!

Memo to Iditor Jill Poulson: Do you really think it’s a good idea to encourage this sort of headline?

Even you yourself have publicly ‘fessed up to the Bulletin’s continual grammatical shortcomings,  Jill,  so is it smart to attempt this sort yuk-yuk-yukery in a headline?  Or will it make readers just think it is a sloppy, ignorant mistake?  And add to that the fact that ‘plaice’ is a northern hemisphere fish that does not live in Australian waters, let alone be served at  the quite highly  commendable C Bar.

AMERIKA

The deadly excesses of the Orange Abombination continue apace (and, oh, I say, Donald, how’s that bigly beautiful peace deal going in Gaza … Bibby sends his love.) The ‘toonist’s have had field week, if there is such a thing.

What A Bloody Wonderful Name!!!

Regulars around here will be aware of The ‘Pie’s interest in names, particularly those that are ‘aptonyms’ … names to suit the owner’s work or profession.  A favourite has always been the Gold Coast City Council staffer who worked in the drainage area, Dwayne Pipe. The ‘Pie also loves accidental blunders, like the Melbourne Peacock parents in Melbourne who called their son Drew. Even good inventive joke names … back in the day, The ‘Pie was always hoping that starlet Tuesday Weld would marry Fredric March the Third, which would make her … ta da … Tuesday March the Third. During his court reporting days, the ‘Pie kept a list of interesting names that popped up in proceedings, Jimmy Starlight, the Bumble sisters from Mt Isa and the magnificent (real name ) Throsland Jupiter, also from out west. The ‘Pie suspects may have some connection to Jupiter Mosman, the first bloke to discover gold at Charters Towers.

This twilight ramble down memory lane has been prompted by a name that has been popping up on The ‘Pie’s social media beakings around the internet, especially twice now being suggested as a suitable ‘friend’ or contact. The urgings coming from a FB bot, not the lady herself.

Now as much he would be happy to, interact with no doubt delightful Ms Mckissock,  The Magpie cannot see any mutual benefit in corresponding, and he may even run the risk of being labelled DOM, given the age disparity.

But what The ‘Pie wants to say is, what a bloody magnificent name,  it deserves wider recognition than just languishing in our humble town, unknown to the world at large.

EBONY MCKISSOCK is a moniker worthy of a beleathered Bond heroine/villainess, tempting James into hard thought as she stands akimbo in her high-heeled kneeboots, whip in hand.  Or perhaps a more demure role as the brilliant forensic scientist in a TV show ‘Mckissock M.E’  .. ‘Police medical examiner Ebony knows death’s dark secrets and where they hide’,  This wonderful name lends itself to all sorts endeavours that demand a strident individuality, from a lithe beauty stalking the fashion catwalks of Paris to an acclaimed novelist of deeply insightful content. Or an archaeologist uncovering the secrets of past civilisations, (The fabled Mckissock Tablets of Upper Volta), or maybe an architect of acclaimed new buildings that revolutionise the whole concept of design, the Mckissock Style.

Ebony, The ‘Pie knows nought of your hopes, dreams and abilities,  but please don’t settle for obscurity and a hum drum life … your name, and the world,  deserve more.

But While We’re Speaking Of Names

When will one of those manufacturers of obscenely huge and pointless monster ute/trucks, like the RAM range, come out with an honest model name like ‘The Compensator’? This question occurred when The ‘Pie spotted this number plate in the Coles car park.

Well, he said it, and maybe a more honest TINY WILLY was already taken. Chances are the owners name is Wayne Kerr.

………………..

That’s all in the penultimate Nest for 2025, just one final council meeting to come. Catch you again next week for The ‘Pie’s final burnt offering for the year. PS Nest bills don’t take a holiday period, the donate link to help out is below.

But even before there was a lick of the pencil and a shaky X put to paper, one loser had already been established … the Queensland taxpayer.  How will the government justify their blatant $100k+ vote buying with public money?

The Premier’s memory suffers a senior moment on the campaign trail, forgetting the rule of pots and kettles.

TwoNames Thompson has just learnt one of life’s core lessons: karma might dawdle along sometimes , but it eventually arrives at its destination.  The man the Astonisher front-paged as King Con is gone from our public life with a blaze of shame in the national media. But like a fart in a lift,  his presence remains, although he’s got off at the basement..

Once again, The sensation-seeking Bulletin makes a total ass of itself,  this time,  making a spectacular show of the local ignorance that would be hilarious if it wasn’t so embarrassing.

If hanging from coat tails was a sport, Townsville Enterprise would be Olympic class … during the week, they made or implies two phantasmagorical involvements.

The stunningly stupid verdict of a NSW judge, who has done her judicial best to further sour police/indigenous relations.

And an AI video that is one of the best funny/sad potted history of the mob-boss US President, as seen through the eyes of the founding fathers.  .Enjoy the sensation of being being appalled and amused at the same time.

If Black Friday hasn’t completely vacuumed your purse, the Nest could do with the helping hand of a donation to meet on-going costs. The link to help out your favourite weekly read is at the end of the blog.

HINCHINBROOK.

Don’t be fooled by an 11% lead by Cheezy, ahead of Frothy. Check out your guess how preferences will flow from this, which is how things stood when counting closed last night shortly before The Magpie’s own deadline.

Here’s the link to check out the latest.

Richo Famously Said Of Politics ‘Whatever It Takes’ –  David Crisafulli Said ‘Where’s My Chequebook?’

Of course, The Ingham Kid meant   ‘where;’s the taxpayers’ chequebook’.

There can be no doubt that the taxpayers of Queensland have footed the bill for the LNP campaign for Hinchinbrook, and any snivelling justification when questions are asked will be the shame of the Chrisafulli Government.  How Ingham became host to so many government jetsetters (17) in the last two or three weeks than have graced their portals decades isn’t hard to figure out? The Premier’s almost maniac desire to bring his home town back into the LNP fold was a plan with many components, one of which turned out to be the morally dishonest power of incumbency.  Even the Bulletin was on to the brazen scam.

And for once, the paper not only asked a question, it was the right question.

This is a clear use of incumbent advantage, which is not illegal but is a cynical use of position, especially in a humble by election.   And for a seat that is ostensibly in no way crucial to our state government. I say ostensibly, because this is funding an internal LNP power struggle, with Bleijie holding the hard right majority numbers in the party room, and is waiting for an excuse for a spill. That seems unlikely any time soon,  Crisafulli is doing a pretty good job as far as the majority of the public is concerned – but it takes just one stumble that can be amplified to bring the leadership to a head – especially when there is a well planned strike waiting in the wings.

On the question of stumbles,  Crisfulli is running a fine line here.  KAP HQ have threatened legal action over this campaign ads comparing Molachino with disgraced former mayor Troy Thompson.

Tenuous to say the least, to compare the open knowledge and admission of once having been in the Labor Party (which is not a criminal act – I think) to the outright deceit and immorality of Thompson, it was really quite ridiculous. But the LNP smarties  figured when the KAP-leaning Lil Abners of the Hinchinbrook back blocks took time off from impregnating their sisters long enough, they’d buy this deeply flawed argument. But while that is as it may be,  Crisafulli had a moment of hyper hypocriticality when he said: ” It is important that anyone running an election has to be honest about record”.

Oh, right, David, like how when you moved south and ran in Broadwater, you laid out all your murky dealings this serial shyster Rabieh Krayem, the collapse of a company you’d taken over from him,  unrefuted claims of trading insolvent, and the $200k payout you say you made in the wash-up. Of course, none of this was known until well after the election and you were rising though the LNP ranks. And while it may not put much of a cloud over your basic overall honesty,  might be good to stay away from the questions of transparency in others …  very shaky ground for you, some might say.

(Sigh) Our Bipolar Paper Was At It Again During The Week

Talk about highs and lows! In The ‘Pie’s view, the Bulletin made a pretty good fist of its campaign coverage,  and they even managed to keep the crowing to the lower levels of the upper decibel band about the long awaited Fall of Troy, a story that offered them a chance for a great front page  they’d no doubt been sweating on for more than a year.

They nailed this egregious shyster comprehensively, with statistics, timelines and damning quotes from the CCC investigation, many from the grub himself.  All round good work, but as the age-old saying in newsrooms have it, you’re only as good as your last story. So out of nowhere, we were treated to this bit inanity, as reported in comments on the day.

The Magpie

This is a serious question, not a cheap sneer.

Doesn’t anyone at the Bulletin, top to bottom, have the faintest idea of how utterly stupid this makes them look?

For those who’ve been here more than two seconds … make that, say five years, no, just this year, say last January … this is a mystifying head scratcher, the ultimate WTFF headline. No sleep is heavy enough to miss such an event.

But it gets even more idiotically puerile when we read the ‘evidence’ in the story …

Seriously, Bully peeps …. don’t you ever … oh, forget it, words really do fail us on this one.

 TEL Tells Us Another Whopper Or Two.

Has this bloody council not learned a thing about the disadvantages outsourcing services that rightly should remain within the council’s immediate purview? Like a mass staff purge, with vacated positions going to contractors at vastly dearer rates.

There is disquiet in the local arts community with the recent lily-livered council decision to ‘outsource’  responsibility for the creative community’s future to Townsville Enterprise. A move that shows they really are just toying with us, but it seems no amount of indignant complaint about the wasteful TEL support package will have any effect (such complaining rarely does unless parking meters are involved).

Regular Nest commenter ‘Bob’ posted this during the week.

Magpie, I can’t think of a Townsville mayor ever who wanted to ‘reform’ TEL. I thought the main purpose of TEL’s creation was to remove certain functions from TCC in order to distance the council from them, just as building inspection, road making, engineering etc. has been privatised and no longer resides as council core business. Quite recently arts/culture/tourism promotion has also been shifted out of council into TEL and another TCC office downsized – it looks like cost saving although it still costs council. Can’t think of a single reason why the new mayor would want to pull the scab off TEL. The more incompetent TEL is, the better TCC looks.

 Perhaps the outsourcing of the yarts and Kluchur is why  Clr Liam ‘Dynasty’s Child’  Mooney is now the TCC rep on the TEL board.

Meanwhile,  The Dudley Do Nothings blithely continue their conning of the public. Twice this week, they tried it on that they played a part in a couple of otherwise excellent coups for the city.  The first instance was when they carried on like a puppy wetting itself about something they tried to make suspect they had something to with – negotiating with the NRL (as fucking if!)

Now The ‘Pie welcomes this as much as anyone else, even if the opponents are the Cook Islands minnows( amazing they’ve kept their name, but maybe we speak too soon). But what is annoying is the very careful wording – especially the word ‘securing’.

From the release:  Our CEO Claudia Brumme said, “securing matches for the Rugby League World Cup 2026 is a tremendous win for Townsville and further cements our city as the Events Capital of the North. We’re proud to see global events of this scale choose Townsville and our world-class stadium as part of their destination line-up.” 

Like I said ‘securing’ is a wonderful ‘plausible denial’ word should anyone question this, but few would, and assume the suggestion is that TEL had something to do with the choice. They did not, and it’s laughable to think so.

Then there was the announcement of a Rugby Union match much further up the world pecking order. And any TEL claim was wisely watered down.

This time, the general suggestion of TEL involvement was more muted but the inference was there, although not attracting the attention of  the CEO. this time,  it was TEL’s new Director Major Events Acquisition Chelsea Cavanah who gushed that the announcement puts Townsville firmly back on the international sporting map. (Were they ever firmly on it, one asks?)

‘We’d like to thank the Crissafulli (sic) Government for securing this opportunity for Townsville. Their ongoing support highlights our region’s capability and proven track record in delivering major events that captivate Queensland and the world.”

Yes, they actually did manage to get the Premier’s name wrong … great look when you’re thanking someone.  But this raises a question or two …. why is the CEO and a middle management executive of this ostensibly private outfit announcing anything, especially things they absolutely fuck all to do with? Don’t recall the ratepayer and taxpayers electing them to speak on our behalf.  Seeking undeserved reflected glory is a dangerous route to do down, (just ask Troy TwoNames) But here’s a more serious question for Ms Cavanah. When the TCC handed over the million dollars+  of government money and responsibility for ‘event attraction’, if memory serves, the boast was that there would now be a dozen events valuable, money-spinning events within ‘the next year’.

Well, Chelsea, m’dear, the year’s almost up. care to mark your score card?

No, I didn’t think so.

Widening the Gap – A Grossly Irresponsible Judgement By A NSW Beak Is As Damaging As It Gets

One of the most misleading factors in this story is the fact that the dead boy was indigenous, a fact that had nothing whatsoever to do with his self-inflected death or the manner in which it came about. But his family and  the usual suspects in the Aboriginal Grievance Movement managed to apply plenty of pressure on this woman … although she would never admit it, and she did not make any pivotal observations about race in her loopy judgement..

NSW District Court Judge Jane Culver

And one would think think in any semblance of a sane world, this absolute dimwittery will certainly to be overturned on appeal.

Unasked and unanswered questioned abound in a judgement bound to bolster that sector of the indigenous community who insist on continuing their  campaign of ‘no responsibility victimhood’.

The ‘Pie will ask some of those questions  but first the background detailed in this balanced article in the respected National Indigenous Times.

And here is a brief overview of what happened.

In brief, in February, 2022,  this teenager, 16-year-old Jai Kalani Wright stole a trail bike and sped away from police, who, following safety protocols, did not give chase. Two other car thefts had happened in the same inner city area about the same time, so police were told to remain in the area.

Nsw Police Sgt Benedict Bryant

This man, Sergeant Benedict Bryant was told the bike was being ridden along a well-known bike path.  So in order to protect the public from a dangerously speeding motor bike thief, he parked his unmarked vehicle across exit of the bike path at an intersection. He turned off his lights, and sat waiting. Wright, travelling at speed, refused to stop and tried to take wild evasive action, but crashed and became airborne. He landed on the police car in which Bryant was sitting.. Wright died of head injuries in hospital the next day.

After a coroner’s inquest, the DPP decided to charge Sergeant Bryant with – can you believe it? – dangerous driving occasioning death. One supposes reasonably cars deemed to be parked dangerously are covered by this charge

On Friday,  after a judge only trial (this surely a matter that demanded a jury?), District Court judge Culver came to the incredible conclusion that Sgt Bryant ‘should have known placing his car without its lights and sirens activated could have caused a collision which posed a serious risk to the 16-year-old.’  Yes, folks, this judge put the safety of a fleeing lawbreaker above the  serious public risk posed by a motor bike thief speeding at up to 70kph along a public pathway.  The thief, she implied,  should’ve been allowed to to see a police car in plenty of time to avoid it, and get away.

Give us a fuckin’ break, lady.

In essence, – speaking in the real world –  Jai Wright killed himself through irresponsible and criminal misadventure,  and Sergeant Bryant did his duty in protecting the public from injury or death.

But weirdly,  Judge Culver accepted the prosecution case saying  “The accused so seriously failed to properly manage the vehicle that he created a real danger.”   And the fucking kid didn’t? FFS, what planet are you from,  Judge? With this skewed conclusion, Judge Culver will be a big hit on the Eastern Suburbs dinner party circuit of woke wankers.

The ‘Pie should point out here that nowhere that he can see was Wright’s aboriginality ever referenced, it was not part of the case, it seems.  You’d think if the it would’ve been had there been any evidence of racism or police targeting. But there wasn’t single mention relevant to the matter.Yet guess what happened?

When it was revealed that Wright was indigenous (apparently), his father, his extended family and some of the usual professional activists made sure the court was packed throughout the trial,  even requiring a spill-over room, putting some very unsubtle pressure on the judge.  We will never know if this played a part in her findings.

It is impossible to believe that this won’t be chucked out on appeal, but let’s get to the real problem in this whole situation.

A copper being charged with dangerous driving while sitting in a parked car in a manner designed to keep the public safe from a motorcycle thief is one thing, but here is an interesting question – did Sgt Bryant know the identity of the thief, and that he was aboriginal? Or was he just trying to stop and apprehend a vehicle thief?

Not that it matters, EXCEPT for one thing.

That whole cohort that packed the courtroom rallied outside after the verdict to claim police racism had caused the death and justice had been done.  Led by Wright’s father,  they claimed the boy’s death  was another example of police unfairly targeting aboriginals. But if the sergeant was unaware of Wright’s ethnicity, or even if he was, how in any sane world is this race related?

So 97% of the population might see this as a police officer taking prompt and reasonable steps to keep the public safe from an out-of-control motor bike thief travelling at dangerous speeds that would likely to kill innocent members of the public.

But because this kid, who in essence, killed himself, was part pf the blessed blended three per cent, activists (and the father) jumped in for a bit of copper bashing, doing untold damage to their constantly trumpeted desire for ‘reconciliation’, whatever they mean by that. And yet again, not a single word that the parents took any responsibility, for their boys actions,  adopting the usual the general victimhood attitude promoted amongst aborigines.   NOT-A-SINGLE-WORD.

But hey, you can’t keep a good, blindly biased activist down, so we also got this:

In a statement after the verdict, Principal Legal Officer of the Aboriginal Legal Service (ALS) NSW/ACT, Nadine Miles, said it is “rare for police officers to face criminal charges when they are involved in the death of a community member, and even rarer for a court to return a guilty verdict. We are not aware of a previous instance where a police officer has been held criminally responsible for the death of an Aboriginal person in custody or in a police operation in NSW,”  Ms Miles said.

You are a deeply dishonest person, Ms Miles, because in this case he was a motor bike thief behaving dangerously… and just happened to be an aborigine – apparently.

There deep and systemic problems in police/indigenous relations,  and in all states, the police and governments are addressing the issue.  It just seems that no action for solving the issue falls to the indigenous community except blind, stupid insistence on total victimhood.  People like you Mr Wright are part of the problem, but you stubbornly refuse to acknowledge that reality, despite the terrible lesson you have been dealt.

Amerika

Came across something clever during the week, it is both funny and appalling at the same time.  How have Americans allowed themselves to get to this? Hope this link works for you, if it doesn’t have a poke around the internet for a format you can watch, It will be worth it. Much of the rest of the week had cartoonists concentrating on turkey pardons, thanksgiving,  and the peacemaster explaining his boss Putin’s wishes in Ukraine.

Finally …

… a few blasts from the past,  to lighten the mood. For reasons known only to my computer, a few archived bits from old Nests popped up, and thought two or three were worth a guffaw again.

First up …. run, don’t walk.

And a message from Ergon: Never attempt to fix a power sockets, especially with a fork.

And there was never any mystery …

It was Monty.

…………..

Ah, can we now head to the sunlit uplands of an election-free future?  The ‘Pie’s sure going to enjoy it while it lasts.

The donation link is below, if you’re of a mind. see you next week.

We’ll also take a more sober, morning-after-the-night-before look at what lies ahead in council for the next couple of years,  and Slick Nick’s most serious challenges.

But while some of his more mega-campaign promises like an extravagant and unnecessary Strand makeover are unlikely to come to pass in a hurry,  if at all, perhaps Slick might like to adopt the Magpie’s no brainer for future growth. Or just run with a very doable idea for the Strand that may well cost the ratepayers nothing.

The Dudley Do-Nothing’s tourism barker Lisa Woolfe outs herself as useless in the job … in her own words.!!!

Bit of a thigh slapper from the Astonisher,  getting into a fucktangle of words when being forced to acknowledge the ABC  scooped them on a story. Rather than do a late-on=the-scene follow-up,  they had hoped it was quietly going away … but then24 hours later,  Clr Batkovic breathed new life into  the yarn and they had own up to missing it in the first place.

And why Australian soccer fans could be hit with massive hidden costs by Donald Trump – not joking.

Fin Year first quarter bills are falling due for The Nest at the moment, and any financial help you can offer is a bit more urgent than usual.  Anything you can do to help will be of great material assistance to keep The Nest intact.And it hasn’t helped that Telstra’s billing department have been incompetent bastards over the past three months, swapping over from a month in arrears to a month in advance … and not keeping proper track of it, and sending incorrect overdue notices.  Anyway,  hope you can help out, the required link is at the bottom of the blog.

Will The Premier’s Punt On Ingham Cone Off, Or Will Ingham Chicken Out?

It’s a bit of a dog’s dinner of an electorate … and the same goes for line-up of hopefuls.

With full preferential voting as an option,  David Crisfulli’s stage two of winning Hinchinbrook for the LNP (bribing Slick Nick out was stage one) is looking like a risky gamble. The Kid is no fool when it comes to political analyse, and frankly, he’s got nothing to lose by arbitrarily side stepping local LNP members to parachute in old chum and business associate Wayde Chiesa as a captain pick. While this has mightily pissed of much of the membership, who have refused to man booths, forcing the LNP to bus in troops apparently from Brisbane, the somewhat arrogant move is likely to have little effect on the vote. Experience would suggest that while actual party members of any persuasion get the shits with their leadership from time to time, that rarely results in a mass defection at the ballot box, usually spoiled ballots at worst.  And the Kattertonics have managed to scrounge up a reasonable candidate in Frothy Molachino, former Townsville deputy doo dah.

But with preferential voting in play, this could end up a Steggles election, with someone ending up with plenty of egg on their face.

The Bulletin was at it’s over-gushing self this weekend, with state political editor Hayden Johnson doing an excellent colour piece that only a professional outsider could perceive and winkle out of interviewees.

That heartland is apparently not a quotation, so of whose heartland do you speak, Mr Johnson?  It is good that News Ltd has assigned their state political editor to cover this unique political barn dance. But you have to get past the reporter’s pen filled with purple ink, the prose is occasionally blush-making -“romance, revenge and Crisafulli’s desperate hometown battle’ – … calling Quentin Tarantino! And he demonstrates a typical southerners wrong perspective when he writes that this election ‘will be a judgement on Crisafulli’s government’. This election will be anything but,  with local historical, social and personal factors involved that aren’t usually seen, even up here.  Truth is, even if the Kattertonics prevail, it will be personal judgement on Crisafulli alone, almost a friendly warning not to get too big for his polished Florsheims.  Ingham is justly proud of David Crisafulli, his family have long been a respected part of the district’s fabric but they are a pragmatic people throughout the scattered electorate. They know that a Katter victory won’t affect their boy’s premiership or government.  They might deliver a general nip to make sure he keeps focused, either way, the outcome will be a very personal. For all three main protagonists.

As Mr Hayden says, this is about wooing the majority right wing vote,, and preferences will play a part. that’s why Bob Katter was at his snarling high-pitched screeching best on the phone to One Notion’s Hanson when she decided to preference Labor ahead of the Kattertonics,. But that Hanson move might backfire,  the locals don’ like that sort double-cross.

State wide polls have recently had the government wobbling a bit, but people need to be aware that the outcome of this by-election is very much a home town matter that cannot be accurately reflected onto whole-of-Queensland trends.

Meanwhile, Back Here In Slick Nick’s Domain

From a well written, polished colour piece from a serious journalist, we return to the local muppets to be spoken to like we are five year olds, with this idiocy

One would think that if interested in journalism, a basic knowledge of English, grammar and definition would be handy, but it seems somebody has been fast tracked from 6th grade.

Ultimatum FFS?

An ultimatum is a final demand with a threat of consequences for noncompliance  typically issued after other demands have failed. It is a last-resort communication that can end negotiations or relations if its conditions are not met.

So what ,  my little sugarplum, do you imagine Nick saying to the Premier, the man who put in the job? Give me what I want or … or … I’ll hold breath until I go blue in the balls? Patronisingly stupid stuff, and childish when we look at the story itself.

FFS, in the story, he demands no such thing, but you, Bulletin, are complicit in promoting  the big swinging Nick image of a tough, can-do character. Which is utter bollocks.  There is without a shred of doubt that ‘ultimatum/demand of Brisbane is  for a pricey but much needed Woolcock street upgrade. He campaigned on it, because it was a deal done long before the campaign started, … indeed,  may have been suggested by the more savvy Crisafulli himself as a campaign highlight, or possibly because the DTMR had already planned to do it anyway, quite independent of the local political polka.   So in a neat arrangement,  Dametto appears to have engineered a campaign promise and after it is announced  – WHAT A SURPRISE!! –  our newly minted mayor will ramp up these bullshit garglings to burnish his don’t-mess-with-me image.

This sort of demeaning crap is to be expected from a political grandstander, but the paper has a different duty to its shrinking readership. And good luck with that.

When Reality Bites

Anyway, reality is going to strike Slick like a taser when he gets into the chair. He will undoubtedly do the necessary suck-up to McCabe and the executive,  who will in turn do the ‘spider said to the fly’ job on him, Crisafulli isn’t interested in trying to herd a bunch of slack-jawed councillors in a hick city into shaky compliance.  And if Slick stays in the ultimatum business, he might want to tread carefully. He is but one vote of 11,  and if the last year has taught the other ten anything, it is that they actually can speak out.

Let’s look at the current council.

With few deserving the benefit of the doubt  – Batkovic and Robbo certainly do for their diligence in actually reading things,   and forthrightly looking into and speaking out on matters.  The rest are there either for money and considerable perks (add at least $30k for car, phone, laptop, travel added to the take-home).  Or, like Greaney, they have misplaced ambitions to climb the greasy pole of political ambition, and any good deeds they do on their upward scramble are incidental and sometimes accidental. Mooney (Dynasty’s Child for Labor) Paul Jacob  (dresses like Jackson Lamb, but lacks the smarts) and footslogger Dirou are all in the latter class.  Rehebin just wants to be loved, and newbies Ellis and Phillips appear to be learning on the job, and treading carefully. Price is there for the undisturbed nap – Christ man, you could at least pretend to look like you’re following matters and feign a bit of interest.

These are now Slick’s work colleagues from the electorate,  not the public service, and he will need to turn down the volume on ‘ultimatums and demands’ and take in the reality of his position. We’ve just had a brief taste of a boofhead and a bully, we don’t need another one.  And as yet, Mayor Dametto doesn’t exactly inspire confidence in his negotiating skills, awareness of trapdoors(especially at photo opportunities involving nazis) or stances on touchy social issues.

Anyway,  he’s there,  preferable to any other choice,  and The ‘Pie is happy to give him a go.

But The Magpie’s and Nest readers’ Forgiveness Cup springs leaks very easily. For whatever that’s worth.

But Hey, Mayor Dametto, If You Want A Legacy Project, Why Not This?

The ‘Pie sees the following as a no-brainer, which could be promoted – but not paid for – by the council.  The idea was floated in The Nest a couple of years ago, which no matter its merits was realllly bad timing.  The ‘Pie revisited the idea during the week when someone was commenting about our public transport centred on buses and traffic log jams.

Maybe. But those stuck in cars have air conditioning and whatever entertainment they choose to have in their own private space. Not being surrounded by randoms, some with dubious motives … and odours. Because of its sprawling geography, Townsville will always have cars as its preferred transport.  It’s a mindset we’re talking about here, something people in big cities have become accustomed to, but unlikely we ever will. .

But on the subject of the northern suburbs, Slick Nick’s Woolcock Street promise and the congestion in that general area, The ‘Pie has for years been advocating the relatively inexpensive re-introduction of motor rail, as successfully existed to the end of the 90s.

Inexpensive for the simple reason no special lines have to be laid, often across expensively acquired land, because modern rolling stock rail motors can be modified to fit existing line gauges. Stations to serve these rail motors are also another cost saving, since rail motor passenger can enter and exit at ground level (or optionally at an existing platform), obviating any need to build expensive old style platform station whose usage could not justify the costs. And the modern units, appropriately dubbed EMUS (Electrical Multiple Units) will exactly lower the amount of co2 equal to the number of cars it takes off the roads.  As acceptance grows, extra units can be added – that the Multiple part of the acronym). So they are also environmentally friendly.

A small efficient network could radiate out from Townsville north, west, and south, and with modern rolling stock, could even promote the idea of dormitory suburbs all along the strip from Ingham to Ayr. If you look at the explosive urban growth, much of it where it shouldn’t be on flood plains, don’t laugh when I suggest to you this rail motor initiative could see, say, Woodstock and even Mingela become  thriving little commuter communities.  And in that instance, that line could also service Lansdown, vital if anything like the thousands of jobs we’ve been repeatedly promised ever happens.

It is not fanciful to believe the introduction of this service to also play a major role in easing the land/housing costs spiral.

And if there was an extended service daily, say, as far north as Cardwell, (using existing lines over the range) as well as through the wetlands on the way to Ayr, these services could indeed be a tourist attraction.

Such services would of course have to be underwritten, but taking cars off roads is a major saving in itself, with all the attendent safety benefits.

These motors could also have a bar service for homeward bound workers and tourists which might make a bob or two heh heh heh.

And no, I haven’t costed it out, and you can bet opponents of such an obviously good idea which is at least worth exploring, will do a financial hatchet job on the idea. And that will prove old Oscar right, we are ever at the mercy of people who know the price of everything but the value of nothing.

Let’s Stay Outside The Envelope A Moment More And Look At The Strand

Slick Nick’s grandstanding about a massive and totally unnecessary makeover of the entire the Strand is most likely going to die a merciful death in the face of economic reality  – besides, there is nothing proper basic maintenance could fix up . But there is an initiative that would make the place more attractive to tourists and other visitors, as well as being cost neutral to the council.

The inspiration comes from Ipanema and Copacabana Beach in Rio. The wavy and the patterned sidewalk.

Those pioneering examples are now heritage protected,  and perhaps not even a scaled down copycat version would be suitable here.  But Townsville could make a name for itself if it commissioned a colourful,  maybe indigenous style,  footpath to replace the current walkway which, excuse the pun, is pedestrian in every way. Maybe dreamtime legends explained along the entire length from Tobruk to the Rock Pool. Local artists – not just indigenous ones  – could submit designs for a specific section of footpath, say 25 metres sections. These could be designed to interconnect and make a casual stroll a whole different visiting experience, while not interfering with the established jogging and dog walking crowds. Imagine a 25 metre dreamtime serpent, or one of the night sky, another of waves.

Cost? A weatherproof embedded material and its installation would not be cheap (but sections could be pre-fabbed elsewhere and trucked in to avoid undue disruption).  To underwrite this,  there would certainly be some government funding, but also a program of sponsorship, selling each section’s boasting rights to private companies, whose public-spirited support could be acknowledged with small brass plaques either embedded at the end of the sponsored section or on the side, like a mile marker. Not just local entities, but national and international companies could be approached (Rio Tinto,  major car manufactures,  and certainly a cruise line would be there to be approached. And not a penny from the ratepayers apart from normal upkeep.

Look, some may think this too fanciful,  just cleverdickery – or pie-in-the-sky if you need another pun – but folks,  we have to start thinking along these more innovative lines if we are to ever become a memorable destination for anyone … tourist, business person, family visitor, parents with kids,  or residents from outer suburbs.

And wouldn’t it be wonderful to walk along such a wonderful pathway to The Pie’s proposed ferris wheel down near the Rock Pool?

CLASSIC The Bulletin’s Masterclass In How To Play Catch-up From Behind.

Let’s set the scene.

Around midday last Tuesday, the ABC broke this story.

And the Bulletin completely missed it,  and was wrong footed by being scooped on an important local story broken by national media, apparently  made a decision to ignore it, bugger the public’s right to know and the paper’s obligation to inform them . Nary a single word was published on any of papers various platforms. A nice little fuck you to the community.

So The Astonisher looked pretty silly – SNAFU – and they just hoped the story would die a quiet death.

But then,  to their horror,  the TCC meeting very next day,  Clr Suzy Batkovic offered the paper a brilliant way to squirm out,  when she decided to give the ABC one in the ribs.

Being the Bulletin, they managed a neat little lie in the headline. Nowhere in their story did Batwoman use the word untrue, which is in quotation marks in the headline, meaning she had said literally used the word. And this is important, because Batkovic’s criticism was more an accusation of omission, lack of balance (‘telling only half the story’, she said) and in her opinion, wrong emphasis. Which is as it may be, but that is a long way from the most serious allegation that can be. laid against any media organisation, that of lying and outright fabrication.  And anyway, if in fact Batwoman did use that word, why wasn’t it in the story?

But the Banquo’s Ghost-like reappearance of this story put the reporter in a tricky position. Despite the editor still smarting from being scooped yet again by the ABC, the reporter had no choice but to explain the ABC story in detail so readers could understand what Batkovic was complaining about. Thus revealing  the ABC had reported this issue 24 hours earlier, and by implication, the paper hadn’t.

Thus magnifying their arrogant pique at being scooped, and the poor decision not to mention it until forced to 24 hours later.

They must’ve be rolling around on the newsroom carpet tiles in Wickham Terrace.

Speaking Of Accurate Reporting

The ‘Pie is privy to much private tattle about town but has strict rules about what is the readers’ interests – private lives stay exactly that in The Nest unless legitimate public interest is involved.

But this snippet during the week raised a question about how up to date the Astonisher’s staff keep themselves informed about frequently mentioned subjects.

Some weeks ago, The ‘Pie’s readers  commented on the fact that in TEL publications, Ms Brumme-Smith suddenly started referring to herself as only Ms Brumme – the Smith had disappeared. Now why this had happened may seem obvious, but is no one’s business but hers.  However, it is clearly the wish of the woman herself, and that should be respected.

And if its good enough for the Nest readers to be alert to the change, it is surely good enough for the journalists of the paper that is for all for us.

PS The Magpie will not change his favoured nickname for TEL’s boss whom he has long dubbed Ms B-S … on the grounds that the ‘S’ never had anything to do with Smith anymore than the ‘B’ had anything to do with Brumme.

Besides, if unpublished social rumours are correct, the ‘S’ will remain correct.

Crikey, talk about condemning yourself out of your own mouth.

During the week there was a gabfest at the Mercure that had the Dudley Do Nothing’s tourism squawker Lisa Woolfe all a-gurgle.

But in her excitement,  Ms Woolfe didn’t realise what she was revealing when she said:

A major highlight of the Forum will be the release of interim results from Townsville Enterprise’s new 12-month national marketing campaign.

“For too long Townsville North Queensland has been Australia’s best-kept secret – but this is changing and quickly,” Ms Woolfe said.

Err, Lisa, honeybunch, is this a startling admission, a mea culpa of incompetence? Is a resignation and apology in the offing?

‘Townsville too long a best kept secret’.?!? 

M’dear, you are Townsville Enterprise Director of Visitor Economy and Marketing,  and have been involved in TEL’s tourism debacle – that ‘best kept secret’  for more than a decade, according to your Linkedin notes

No doubt you’ll cling on to your job as long as you can, but given this wonderfully funny faux par, you might want to brush up on those ‘written communication skills.’

Whimsy Corner 

Sometimes a phrase can stand out from a page or a speech, and start an unexpected train of thought stick in the mind. This happened for The ‘Pie when listening to the painful eulogy by the father of teenager Ben Austin, felled in the practice nets by cricket delivery.  Ben’s father said he wanted to thank the soul of his son ‘for choosing us to be his parents’. 

It was a nice and self-effacing sentiment under the circumstances, but an unusual one  – even confirmed reincarnationists (or if you want go full academic smarty, metempsychoists) seem to baulk at the idea of choice for a return stint in this vale of tears.  The Hindu and Buddist religions are big on this, some believing you progress through all parts of nature, perhaps starting as an ant, progressing through gerbils (hoping to avoid Richard Gere)  through to maybe a dog (hoping to avoid Korea) then it could be a horse (hoping to avoidd Clive Palmer and Gina Rinhardt) until you’re back sinning on two feet again.

One school of thought is the ‘pot luck theory’, and this seems to be borne out (pun intended) when you see some parents and wonder why any phantom soul  with a smidgin of choice would willingly choose them.

But what if the celestial powers make your next journey not a matter of merit, but a lottery,  maybe a bit like the AFL draft.  But applicants can put up their hands for their choice of return hosts, and get in a special line if previous transgressions haven’t been too out of line. The its pot luck.

There are endless possibilities about something we will never know for sure,  but The ‘Pie had a fevered thought of bitter jostling  rivalry up in the clouds under certain circumstances.

Like, what say if, back in the day,  Dolly Parton, Julia Roberts or Angelina Jolie had  announced they intended to have a child, and yes, trumpeting that they intended to breast feed it … the jostling queue of eager souls would stretch back over the ridge into the next galaxy.

Why Cashed Up Aussie Soccer Fans Could Become Victims Of Trump’s Megalomaniac 

When the world’s second most corrupt man teams up with the world’s most corrupt man, you can be sure that something evil this way comes doesn’t even start to cover it. But that’s what the world’s biggest sporting public now face.

Donald Trump and FIFA boss Gianni Infantino hold an open mafia meeting.

Blindsided by the Orange Abomination, Infantino eventually dropped his daks and assumed the position of touching his toes,  announcing it was OK by him if the President decided at the last minute to move FIFI World Cup matches from designated cities ‘because of the threat of lawlessness’ .   This wholly politically motivated bit of demented fuckwittery was designed to punish Democratic-run cities on the FIFA schedule by depriving them of the business bonanza matches would bring.  Trump hinted that the order to move games could come very soon before matches were due, on the pretext of planned, or more likely, imaginary street protests. As usual, this shit of a person gave no thought to those not involved in his criminal game playing. He refused to address questions about the plight of international travellers suddenly stranded in a matchless city and being caught up in travel chaos across the nation. The cost to visitors could double or even triple their initial outlay. So Aussie ticket-holders beware,  pack an extra bit of platinum plastic

But Infantino,  pissed off at playing Robbin’ to Fatman’s number one status,  pulled a new stunt, one which amounts to not only making scalping legal, but actually encouraging it. Because it will be FIFA sales that will be manipulating the prices, which could make ticket sales run into thousands of dollars. Going under the name ‘dynamic pricing’, it’s similar to surge pricing Australian airlines use here in Australia at peak travel periods. Horror stories are already emerging, and more are certain to make this one of the most chaotic sporting tournaments in history.

The ‘Pie will stick with AFL or NRL, both far more entertaining anyway.

So We’re Going To See The Epstein Files At Last, Are We?

Well maybe. Sort of.

There’s a method in the madness of the man Marina Hyde calls the ‘Orange Organ Grinder commanding his troupe of winged monkeys’.

When he suddenly u-turned and agreed Congress should release the Epstein Files  but not explaining in that case why he just didn’t use his Presidential powers to do it himself straight away.  But the reason he wanted the process to go through both houses soon became evident … after his surprise announcement, he ordered the Justice Department to start an investigation into several Democrats, including Bill Clinton, for any connections to Epstein.  While this just sounded like another episode of making it up as he goes along,  it was a actually neat deception. because the whole files will be released MINUS any files being used in current investigations. So with the criminal flying monkey Pam Bondi in charge of Justice, just about anything could be withheld using that excuse. Or lose some down a gold toilet at Mar-a-Lago.

That issue, and the stomach-churning tete-a-tete and brown nosing and hand patting (literally) with the Saudi leader were the main matters pre-occupying US cartoonists, which again have proved to be the only source of honesty and opposition to this dangerous lunatic.

 Another Entry For The Why We As A Species File

Given the parlous state of the planet and societies generally, there is definitely something missing in the human genome when we read stuff like this.

But while that might have smashed the glass palette, the obscenity of it all was easily eclipsed by this.

The ‘Pie is no commy,  and is a socialist only on certain basic issues (water, energy, health, education, roads and the law) and  good luck if you have a goodly pile of the folding stuff, but surely there must come a point of change when a painting goes for the equivalent of three or four hospitals, a dozen schools or ten thousand homeless food kitchens.

Anyone who does not believe we are an extended global epoch of ‘while Rome burns’ is not paying attention. And The ‘Pie is not talking about global warming.

……………..

Crikey, the mayoral mud fight done and dusted., now to get Hinchinbrook tucked away before a welcome breather over Christmas/NY.  You’ll find the link to help The Nest with a much-needed donation below.

So please read parts of this week’s Nest  with the tricky timings involved, The ‘Pie is too buggered to tinker around after a day at the keyboard. Apologies.

But  the voting process remains an issue in itself: wait is the operative word … probably about two weeks for an official full count verdict, because of the ECQ’s cheapskate model for this election. That the result appears overwhelming is irrelevant, which might not be the case if this is used as a precedent..

Anyway,  not much left to do much have a laugh where we can. We take a look at the campaign for a guffaw or two through our tears.

It took a couple of weeks, but The Astonisher catches up with The Nest’s  suggested solution to the CBD’s woes,  then the gets it wrong when the paper’s  famous lazy lack of curiosity strikes again …

That blasted rock holding up the Mt Spec Road repairs is now just that … blasted … and how. The ‘Pie pass on some great vision.

What Australia’s tobacco wars can teach Americans about tariffs

You can support the Nest financially with a much needed donation. The link is at the end of the blog.

An Unpopular Election In Every Sense, And It Ain’t Over Yet

It was foisted on us by a crook and conman, the political cowardice of Brisbane and a hapless and hopeless minister. But in another kick in the teeth, TCC CEO McCabe colluded with the ECQ, running the insincere line of ‘voter fatigue’ (like Joe would give a fuck) and cost (allowing  the weak-kneed Thompson scam of full pay for a year sitting on his bronzer and jeering at us does not even hint at fiscal prudence) so we ended up with a cumbersome and questionable postal vote only (PVO). So whatever outcome we get, it will always be tainted by the suspicion that it had too many variables to be an honest count. Not that the end count will matter,  with early figures suggesting Dametto  will easily get a primary vote majority,  making preferences superfluous. This was how the Bulletin reported it at 8 last night.

The figures show an almost certain victory for Slick Nick, because it’s unlike other elections where the Anthony Green wannabes examine booth returns tied to certain political demographics, to predict an outcome.  These postal votes cannot be grouped in any particular way. If this trend above is reversed significantly, a whole new set of questions arise. But we’ll leave that for then.

Nevertheless, the less-than-surprising first returns still leave lots of questions about the process itself and cut-off.  Nest reader ‘Maggie’ sent this in yesterday afternoon.

I spoke to the returning officer last week about the fact that the mail box in nth ward is only emptied Mon to Fri at 3pm. I pointed out that the closing date for ballots was a Saturday at 6pm. She stated that the electoral office took no notice of the po date stamp. Its actually up to people to sign their ballot and by signing it they state they have voted by 6pm on sat 15th. They also need a witness signature. Basically it relies on peoples honesty.

If that is correct, what’s the point of a supposed cut-off yesterday, with any signed ballot received by the 25th considered valid? Sir Humphrey would be proud.

However, we are never likely to hear of any difficulties or any admission that it was a misjudged call for PVO from the ECQ,  they will tell only what we are entitled to know. That’s called the power of agency. And we’ll get even less believable tosh from that sock-puppet minister – that this woman got elected in the first place makes you wonder about her opponent and if he/she was caught out committing unnatural acts with small furry animals. The people of Warrego have a lot to answer for.

But At Least We Will Now Be Spared The Verbal Flatulence

It’s been a campaign worthy of Francois Rabelais and his ribald truism ‘A happy fart never came from a miserable arse’.   The over-riding theme for the last three weeks has been unhappy back-biting of other candidates,  attacking either their past or their policies, often both. All of which was neither entertaining or enlightening, with all serious candidates miserables arses every one.  And as far as The ‘Pie can recall,  not a single policy from anyone that caught the public imagination.  By now, we just want the shredding of the city’s reputation to stop.

And it is old mate Frankie Rabelais who has a very apt aphorism for candidates Keune and Thompson.

Unless of course you’re a lawyer is sore need of a new spinnaker for the yacht.

Thompson no doubt has been and will continue to learn the truth of this bon mot, but Keune had a total bimbo moment when she foolishly challenged the election itself, a move which, justified or otherwise,  is a always an unwise move for a candidate – as Donald Trump has discovered.  She flew the matter up to the High Court, where it lasted less time than a fart in a fan factory.  The speed of the ruling was embarrassing,  our Joanne must know how Wily Coyote feels.

No, not the Mt Spec Rd.

This coming on top of her Chinese tourist debacle –

…recruiting a lost cruise passenger with no English to a hold placard for her in exchange for her later taking him back to he ship – seems to have put paid to her weird campaign. Such hospitality.

There was also not a shred of wit,  no sly irony, not a hint of enough confidence to make a telling jab at an issue or an opponent. God knows, Townsville is a target-rich environment for a bit of good natured buffoonery. While the problems facing this city are deadly serious, a light moment or two is always a welcome winner with we swill.  It was left to a couple of public commenters to offer some much needed satire. One, who commented on the quite startling transformation in The Kipper’s stature – outwards and not upwards –  suggested  David’s belt size was ‘equator’. And regular letter writer to the Astonisher, Barry Davies had a vey funny take on the ‘race’ in the weekend paper.

The ‘Pie has a theory as to why well informed and often funny Mr Davies isn’t a regular columnist for the Astonisher : it’s because they’d have to pay him.  He’d be worth the money, Jill. (And no, The ‘Pie doesn’t  know Mr Davies, never seen or spoken to him, just like the style. )

Dametto’s white bread, painting-by-numbers campaign has earned him the Nest nickname Slick Nick, a reference, as mentioned last week, to the old 17th century saying ‘he’s as slick as a trollop’s slot.’ Which may be an unfair comparison to the street walker’s … ummm …  CBD, but there we have it.

And Foodtrucks Greaney continued to flounder to the last gasp, on Friday dishing up this prize bit of unawareness. In an unbelievably gauche and desperate search for something meaningful to say, Greaney offered this proof she had nothing to say.

Ann Maree Greaney (on the left) with a sufferer of voter fatigue.

Ms Greaney announced her liveable suburbs plan, and she said she been focusing on a number of issues that affect Townsville and the plan wraps it all up. She said that enhancements to parks, walking tracks, have been talked about, the plan would also include more bins, a greening strategy for the suburbs and a co-ordinated effort to tackle housing crisis. “Whilst these have been a number of policies, I think we need to tie it all together to actually deliver for the suburbs,” Ms Greaney said.

But isn’t that the bread and butter stuff of councils everywhere, including Townsville.  Surely it is exactly what the council is already doing, or should be be if finances allow it, nothing new, no spark.  And if finances don’t allow it, that’s what you should be concentrating on, madam. This inanely grinning drudge surely must know she’s now in a political twilight zone,  comforted only by the fact she knows she has two more years on the public dollar before shuffling off back to putting up tents and setting out chairs for council events.

Anyway, The ‘Pie is done fretting about whole thing , with the realisation that it doesn’t really matter who gets the ridiculously outdated ratty scarlet robe, there isn’t a single one demonstrating any leadership skills (negotiation, persuasion, horse trading) that will give the city and it’s various discrete communities – business,  sports, arts,  – and ratepayers generally both confidence and fair consideration.  So let’s leave it for now, with a final suitable Rabelaisian quote covering our next two years.

 Well, Once Their 5-Week Smoko Was Over, They Didn’t Fuck Around

That Paluma road rock took ages (see what I’ve done there?) to move, but when it did … well, it sure fuckin’ did.

To increase your pleasurably adrenalin rush, before you watch the big bang,  imagine that the all the mayoral candidates were making a close-up inspection in the hope of photo bombing.

Not sure the Paluma resident, seeing this, have any high hopes of things moving along at a good clip.  One has suggested the WETMA nanny staters will be sending down a team of nurses, vets and a mobile frog and insect hospital to check the well being and hearing of endangered and vulnerable species caught out on their morning ramble looking for brekky.

On a more serious note, there are questions already being asked if the big bang may have damaged the ageing span of the historic (and Bulletin note correct usage) iconic Crystal Creek bridge. Don’t expect too much from DMR boffins, though, they are so shy of informing the public that they apparently refuse to allow their surnames to be revealed.

Funny and mildly insulting way to do PR.

This Would Be Hilarious If It Wasn’t So Pathetic

In the realms of the phantasmagorical bullshit this cowpat of a paper regularly serves up,  this one should come with free splatter glasses for its dwindling readership.

Where to start?  Well, first up, this is a word for word regurgitation of some hot steaming tripe,  self-serving (and unproven) research from a lobby group for vested interests. Now the Property Council of Australia is a legitimate advocacy group and plays a valuable role representing the the interests of builders and developers around the country.  But this is an ill-informed cherry-picked piece of unpleasant boosterism, which is basically saying the government has to give developers public funds for anything to happen in the CBD.  OK, that’s an argument we should have, maybe,  like the one The Magpie kicked off  two weeks ago, when he theorised only large entities could do anything for our CBD.  A block-size shopping mall with parking, a proper university campus maybe, or even a concert hall covering a city block.

We then were treated to this bit of patronising hucksterism from the head of the Queensland Property Council.

This is pretty close to meaningless in practical terms, and is nothing new at all.  It’s a variation of the recently popularised and highly suspect mantra about getting rid of red tape. Basically, the message is that it’s been the council that’s been fucking up the CBD with approval requirements. That would state-mandated local government regulations governing approvals created by the state government. This idea that it is the council’s fault si reinforced in the next bit of this flummery.

Ms Caire is pushing a barrow full of her own bullshit,  but there are a couple of more interesting things here.

An initial spark? Yeah well, that’s one answer, burn the whole fucking area down.  It is at this point, The Magpie must point out that reporting on this CBD malaise for more than 15 years, there have been doleful and totally justifiable wails about the parlous state of the place, and yes, the council should do something. BUT IN ALL THAT TIME, NOT ONCE, HAS THE MAGPIE HEARD FROM THE UNHAPPY CHAMBER, CBD RETAILERS, THE COUNCIL OR THE BULLETIN ONE SINGLE SUGGESTED WORKABLE SOLUTION, TO ATTRACT PEOPLE BACK TO THE AREA,  EVERYBODY HAS WANTED SOMEONE ELSE TO TO SORT OUT A PROBLEM. WHICH CANNOT BE SORTED OUT UNTIL ONE CRUCIAL ISSUE IS SOLVED.  

That issue is parking.

But guess what?  When The ‘Pie said this piece was ‘ill-informed’, he was referring to the fact that Ms Caire  provided a silly wish list of five sites she said should be redeveloped (strangely didn’t get too specific about just sort of developments should created ).

Anything catch your eye? Anything stand out like Dolly Parton on a cold morning? Yup, four of the five are car parks. And they aren’t adequate to handle the current business load.

And she wants them built on. Now maybe we should give Ms Caire a bit of a break here, and let’s turn to  the iditor, goofy Jill Poulsen, who lowered herself to be a stenographer but put her name to a story which you can bet  she did not write one single bloody.  The fact that’s she has put her name to this suggests she is doing the GM’s bidding and keeping the Chamber and the business community on side. They will be upset enough that in the mayoral stakes, the business lobby’s man Candidate David Kippin is going to beaten worse than a rented mule.

Did it not occur to you, Jill, about the car parking issue, and that at the very and unlikely best, any developer would only replace the parking spots he builds on, while quadrupling the needed capacity?

And wouldn’t it be a journalistic nicety if you rounded out the ‘exclusive’ – FFS !!- yarn with some stats of the research that showed current projected ideas were ‘unviable’?  Or what might be viable, and why.

Once again, Jill, you have irrefutably demonstrated that the paper under the stewardship of you and more pointedly the paper avaricious GM Suzanne Wilson, are a large part of the Townsville problem, not part of any solution.

Shame on you both.

What Americans Can Learn From Our Violent Tobacco Wars 

It’s just occurred to The ‘Pie while reading about the illegal tobacco trade and associated violence that our dilemma could be instructive for  Americans.  What the US seems to need is a simple explanation for the simple-minded majority to understand how Trump is scamming them with his loopy tariff boasts. But what is a simple way to highlight how the Orange Abomination makes it sound like he’s punishing the foreign manufacturers when he is actually hitting Americans with a the double whammy of paying the higher prices  caused by said tariffs, and limiting free market choice at the same time stifling  competition, a move big corporations love.

So all the Dems, reporters and/or social media activists have to do  is briefly explain  – bullet points will do –  what has happened with cigarettes and tobacco in Australia. In a nutshell, the government puts a tariff on cigarettes and tobacco, on an increasing scale to make smoking too expensive for the average person.  But the government, unwilling to outlaw smoking entirely, has now managed to hike the price to the point where criminals have created a whole black market worth close to the fashionable drugs .  When addiction involved, there’ll always be under-the-counter customers.

And now there is so much black market money involved, the crims are trying to stub each other out.

THAT is exactly how tariffs work , by any name you want to call the tax, and when the impost reaches a certain level, crime takes over.

So tariffs come with lots of accompanying ‘unintended consequences’,  one of which is the original and still stated reason for the high fag tax is becoming questionable … saving the health costs of people with smoking related health issues.  An outright ban would’ve had exactly the same criminal effect, but our government would not then be raking in their misery tax.The strain on policing, legitimate business and public safety must be getting close to negating the cost savings in the health care area.  It won’t be long before American tariffs barriers create a thriving black market over there on any number of goods  that cannot be domestically produced and have become too expensive to buy over the counter.  Mobile phones, IPad and computers – anything that requires mainly Taiwanese chips,  come to mind.  Thefts of foreign cars will reach even higher levels in the states in coming years – we’ve got chop chop, they’ve got chop shops.

The grocery bill is just the start for American unaccustomed to staples moving toward luxury.

The Magpie, who had no hassle giving up the fags 45 years ago,  has a firm view on this. Much of democratic Australian law accommodates the undemocratic notion of saving people from themselves, by taking away many personal choices which rightly should be theirs to police privately.  Cigarettes should be brought back to high but affordable levels, with accompanying laws that make it clear that anyone presenting to health care bodies for damage caused by smoking has to pay their own costs of care.  The now established rules regarding passive smoking remain, as does the growing stigma surrounding those who just are dying for a gasper. Which they probably will. But it’ll be up to the individual.

The Week In Amerika

The delusions from the White House continue to flow out regularly, with Trump now even more blatantly saying that black is white. But the Epstein matter  and the rising price of household living is starting to close in. And the ruinous government shut-down has now ended,  with neither side coming out with any honour.  The week’s story in pictures.

Socking It To Apple 

The ‘Pie initially thought this was an item for the growing ‘Why Humans Are Fucked As A Species’  file, but the hilarious widespread response gives one hope that there is still a glimmer of sanity in our collective conscious.

Apple is promoting its latest accessory as “a beautiful way to wear and carry an iPhone”. To the more cynical ­– and anyone over the age of 30 – it’s a very costly knitted sock that your nan could probably replicate for the price of a couple of balls of wool.

The iPhone Pocket, unveiled this week and available from Friday, is basically a limited-edition knitted sleeve available in an array of colours and designed to carry an iPhone or other small items.

This particular piece of ribbed cloth will set buyers back an eye-watering $US149.95 ($A228) for the short strap or $US229.95 ($A350) for the long strap.

This corporate over-reach from a company known for its lucrative sideline frippery was a welcome gift for those who love returning serve to moronic marketers. This was one of the best. 

 And A Few Final Thoughts

Lost in translation for sure, but The ‘Pie cannot even start to think what they meant to say.

On the other hand, this was refreshingly straightforward.

And IKEA’s always good for a laugh.

And a last cautionary  warning.

………….

Phew, will The ‘Pie be able slow down and take it easy now the mayoral hoopla is over?  Nope, now we’ve got bloody Hinchinbrook. Stayed tuned, and head to comments. . The link to offer some much needed assistance with Nest finances is below.

The Mayoral mess has continued throughout the week,  without a shred of enlightenment. It is now clear that whoever you vote for, you’ll have to be giving someone the benefit of the doubt.  It’s hard to believe a single word any of these fuckers say so any attempt at a serious examination of this hack’s handicap is totally redundant.   The ‘Pie will restrict himself to a few observations … including one brief meteorite of lucidity from one candidate.

But just because the mayoral race is winding down (certainly not up) weep not, poll junkies, the Hinchinbrook by-election will have plenty of similar entertainment … it’s started already, with the LNP’s galoot getting the school cap with the propellor.

Townsville hospitality identity carks it, reviews mixed.

Move over, Monty Python … you will not believe the latest bit of fuckwittery from the DMR over the Mt Spec Road repairs to Paluma.  Calling Inspector Clouseau.

Plus our regular report on the American death spiral … but are they about to pull out of the dive? The ‘toonists tell the story.

Commercial break, make a cuppa: You can support the blog with a donation to help meet the on-going, never ending costs of producing The Nest. You can cleverly  achieve this by bashing the appropriate button at the end of the blog. On the other hand, make a suitable offer (think six figures) and you can have the whole shebang. Cards not accepted.

They’ve Sure Kept This One Quiet

And if you’re not  interested in island matters,  still read right through, this isn’t just a Magnetic Island story.

It’s all a bit murky at this stage,  and further details will no doubt emerge, but this what we know for sure.

A two year study (read consultants picnic)  led by waste management expert Ann Prince has just been completed last month. The study was funded with a $600,000 grant from the Barrier Reef Association to the Magnetic Island Community Development Association (MICDA), and a Magpie contact says the money went entirely on consultants, a couple of part time jobs and a couple of interim reports.  The final one has now been completed and will go before council. Read the MICDA overview of the project here.

Ms Prince appears to have a solid reputation in her field, The ‘Pie knows nothing about her, but he knows a hell of a lot about the way the TCC works with consultants.  So the contents of the final report will hardly be a surprise to anyone in Walker Street,  since Ms Prince has been in constant meetings on her FIFO consultancy mission over the past couple of years. So one wonders about the old truism that, with consultants, tell them what outcome you want and leave them to it.

The basic premise seems to be  that anyone who visits Maggie creates waste, and that shouldn’t be the burden of Maggie ratepayers or the council.

We’ll learn more about that in the near future, but try this for starters from the report.

And that levy is going to have some councillors some Olympic standard buttock clenching when they find out this isn’t just an island matter concerning tourists, it indirectly involves their rate-paying constituents.

First things first, how would such a tax on day trippers and stay-overs be collected? The ‘Pie hasn’t been able to find any conjecture in the report (he hasn’t seen the whole report yet anyway) but the idea apparently is that it will be added on to ferry fares. The ‘Pie understands Sealink has already been involved in talks, and the seperate car ferry company will also have to be on board.  Sounds simple? Well, collecting the dough … $2 has been mentioned … itself will involve minimal cost, because there will have to be ID checks if you’re a Townsvillian just on a days outing. Then the tax is tabulated, passed back to the council and … wait for it … be handed out to Magnetic Island groups for various ‘environmental, net zero’ purposes!! That means an overview nightmare, typical of TCC bureaucracy and higher, all of whom keep claiming to be cutting down on red tape. And as one informed contact pointed out, the $2 figure could rise if they also include a Tourism Tax  for Infrastructure/Marketing mentioned in the MI Tourist Master Plan. And guess who is involved in that masterplan? Yup Townsville Enterprise, the good old Dudley Do  Nothings.

Currently,  the island sends 1677 tonnes of mixed waste by barge annually to mainland landfill, and the consultants estimate by implementing all sorts of household, business and public reforms,  waste can be reduced by 527 tonnes – equivalent to ’17 barge trips’ – and assist climate action.  But that still leaves over 1100 tonnes to be barged back to the Big Island, with that cost met by the TCC i.e the ratepayers.  The Nest’s correspondent on the island makes a very valid point when asking if it would not be more sensible if this money is to be collected (at $2, it is estimated at $800,000 yearly) was used to fund the barge operation.

And thus lift the burden of an island operation off the entire ratepayer base.

Early days yet, and this scheme is to be further fleshed out publicly, so there are two more questions – while sections of the report have been released in an up-beat favourable way for to Maggie island groups, when will the main report be released to the public?

And there’s one where you Nest readers can help – email mayoral candidates and ask them if they support a visitor tax on travellers to Magnetic Island? Or candidates,  you just get back to The Nest at email hidden; JavaScript is required

The Magpie’s view is that such a levy is not in itself an unreasonable idea, but experience will show that its implementation will pose challenges that may well not make it worthwhile, with much of it frittered away on public servants tasked with overview. and internal ructions within the various island groups.

Until the situation  gets too unwirldy and demands an overhaul … and consultants are called into again.

One Bright Moment In The Mayoral Murk

Ploughing through the deja vu dross of the mayoral campaign this week,  the Magpie was somewhat jolted when he read some words that David Kippin had said.  The old bird almost didn’t read on, because he is continually annoyed with the dreary back-foot tactic of all candidates attacking others in the field, more often than not ignoring issues and going full frontal ad hominem.  But here is a quote that ALL candidates should take to heart.

That last line is what every single Townsville voter has top of mind. It also a signal a return of some dignity, both to the office and the city generally.

Noble sentiments,  but the question remains whether The Kipper can overcome both his poor business track record and his emerging bombast where his confidence is spilling over into boasting – with a hint of bullying.  And remember, being a successful bank manager who by virtue of his position is unquestionably in the driver’s seat,  is the business  equivalent of painting by numbers. Not a position that readily promotes leadership through loyalty and respect.

But let’s have a look at a few other folks tilting for the possum fur.

Joanne Keune, dressed by Steve Price.

It’s kinda mesmerising watching someone seeming to deliberately sabotage their own election campaign, but right now, The ‘Pie’s attention is firmly on Joanne Keune and what she will do next to alienate voters.  Joanne is well intentioned,  and passionately believes in progressive causes, absolutely no doubt about that, but in politics at any level,  being so and saying so  are two vastly different things.  The ‘Pie is surprised at the way she has gone full frontal on certain subjects, some of which have no place in this campaign.  Conviction in causes is all very well but that’s a luxury only available to those who first gain office. And unfortunately, many of her stances on certain matters are clearly opposed by some or all councillors … particularly kiddy crime where silence would’ve been her best option since there is bugger all the council can do in that arena.  And attacking the postal vote process  was also questionable tactics, although she has apparently uncovered some unsettling information from ECQ. The ‘Pie is trying to follow that up.

Her woke notion that bats rights trump human rights probably killed off any hope she had,  it demonstrated a tin ear towards the average denizen especially since those critters are often a health hazard. Doubly strange position to take, since she has been in constant contact the election savvy Jenny Hill, who has also been busy behind the scenes with Greaney. Shame really for such a live wire candidate,  despite some rabid comments here, many were saying good things about her personally to The ‘Pie.

Jo, maybe you should start thinking about a medium term campaign, there’s only two years to go before we do it all over again, take the time to put together a far more coherent and better funded campaign, it seems you came to this one far too late.  Shame, you’ve put in a helluva lot of sweat into it.

Nick Dametto .. “slicker than a trollop’s slot’.

As reported in The Nest yesterday morning.

News flash: FORMER PARTNER IN TOP TOWNSVILLE RESTAURANT DIES.Graham Richardson, at one time co-owner of The Watermark has died in Sydney, aged 76. Along with his high profile in the dining industry, Richardson was also a former Senator, a notorious tax evader,  and a prominent commentator on political affairs in the media. He always found time for family, friends and intimates when he visited Townsville, like deeply respected local businessman Rabieh Krayem and then iditor of The Daily Astonisher, Ben English. He was famous for his saying ‘Whatever it takes’, but always denied that it was a reference to the cost of a meal at The Watermark. And here’s a fun fact. Richo son is named Mathew, which makes him Matt Richardson. But still your beating hearts, it is not the billowing spinnaker we see striding the council halls. No relation.

Can’t Be Too Careful – Those Damn Kiddy Crims Will Pinch Anything

It seems this is the latest policy of the DTMR, with their on again-off again clowning around with repairs to the Mt Spec Range Road to Paluma (damaged in last January’s dampness.) The sequence of false alarm closures of the permit holder-only road centres on the blasting of a particularly large boulder left in a dangerous spot. Twice Paluma residents have been told of four day complete closures to accommodate the blasting, only for both occasions to be called off at the last minute.

As of last Friday, , the Range road was closed off for the weekend, which led to an exodus of Paluma residents who didn’t want to be trapped there in case the TMR plans met with some disaster which closed the road for weeks … meaning no access to doctors, dentists , or food supplies. There is no word yet if the blasting crew remembered the dynamite and matches this time around, unlike the two previous cancellations.

But get this …  there is a report that The ROCK is being guarded for some mysterious reason by a single guard overnight. In normal circumstances, we’d all fall about with a good laugh and a round of ‘yeah, right’s., but, hey we’re dealing with the DTMR circus here. And its supposed to be true.

The very thought is interesting enough of a black clad no-neck with holstered gun keeping vigilant look-out on a CLOSED road at night so no one – and I mean NO ONE, buddy, right! – is going to interfere with our rock. But why?  If they thought someone was going to steal, or tamper with the damn thing,  why guard it, let the buggers do whatever. Maybe the brains trust at the DMR office was suddenly seized with the idea that Macca, Wozza and Jacko planned to sneak down and do their darnedest to  the rock themselves with some left-over gelly from the boys last fishing trip to the dam.

Months ago TMR were asked why not give the  the Laws of Nature & Gravity a nudge to enable the ROCK to join other fallen rocks in the creek bed below by simply heaving it over the side of the road.

Apparently , according to TMR, this very cheap and prompt solution is NOT permitted as “ there might be endangered species below”
eg Scrub Ticks (and cane toads ,which have eaten out most of the native creatures eggs and young,)

One sincerely hopes that the noise& big vibrations from excavators, concrete trucks, heavy machinery , powerful  rock drills and , eventually , the sound of exploding& splitting sacred  ROCK will not cause these ,as yet unidentified ,creatures to suffer hearing loss!

If so, TMR might have to attend the WET TROPICS Headmaster’s office for a dammed good thrashing!!!

This Is More A Matter Of Jail Fail

The ‘Pie intended to leave the Hinchinbrook hootenanny to its own devices until we get the mayoral crap out of the way, but it was suddenly clear that LNP candidate Wayde Chiesa was in sore need of The Magpie’s advice. And who would the old bird not to help when a dumbo is in need of a helpful word.

Wayde, buddy, old mate, you say ‘if you breach bail, you should go to jail – no ifs, no buts, no maybe’.

Hmmm,  but maybe a small  ‘if‘ question  should be asked … what if there is no place for them to be slotted, since successive governments haven’t dared to risk the bad look of being the ones to build more jails. Because their laws proved inadequate. A lot of these offenders are out on bail in the first place because there is nowhere for them to be locked up in any acceptable manner.  No use saying cram ‘em in 20 to a cell,  reality suggests this is completely unacceptable in any sort of society,  not to mention an electoral death knell.  Crime victims saying they couldn’t care less how many are in a cell,  just lock them away, is understandable on an emotional level, but our elected members are supposed to think a little more deeply. So mate, you’d better change your tune swiftly and advise your boss that the real issue is more jails, and that’s what yer gunna campaign on, by gum, oh, my word.

Seems Dametto isn’t the only meathead spawned up Hinchinbrook way.

The mantra ‘adult crime gets adult time,’ is fair enough in itself,  but is one of the most shortsighted policies possible, if you can’t carry it through.  The old rule is never pass laws you can’t enforce. Sometimes, it is the right time to do the politically unpalatable, and this is definitely the time when the public mood is more than ever receptive to allocating funds for more jail beds.

Early book … Molachino looks pretty set, but with the quality of these candidates, who knows.

Seems The Poms Have A Similar Problem

The renowned Matt in the London Telegraph has it covered.

Speaking Of Someone Who Deserve Jail Time

Andrew Mountbatten is now – as one newspaper headline had it – the banned old Duke of York, but it seems he has secured his place in the twisted history of the royal spawn.

Amerika

Just One SNAP Of The Trump Fingers …

… and presto, today, 42 million Americans are going without food and daily essentials courtesy of the Orange Abomination’s (the OA) grave new world.  And that world is looking more ‘third’ than ‘first’. The loopy US statutes  – akin to our blocking of supply – have shut down all US government monetary supply, with the country being thrown into chaos as air traffic controllers for no pay so moonlight on other tiring jobs just to eat,  tens of thousands of government workers are locked out and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) has come to a sickening halt. And the root cause is that Trump didn’t get his way with plans to legislate for further breaks for his billionaire pals.  But the dire situation at the lower ends of society – many there because of Trump’s fascist policies – didn’t stop this unspeakable sleaze from throwing a lavish Halloween party at Mar-a-Lago. This was just the start of a bumper week for America’s cartoonists, which also included the stunning Democratic election victories in crucial state polls for top government posts, including the game-changing New York mayoral victory of Zohran Mamdani,. Then there was also the death of one of America’s greatest war criminals, former VP Dick Cheney, who thought up his Weapons of Mass Destruction as a weapon of mass distraction for his boss, George Bush. Only cost a million lives, ho hum.

But there was one absolute standout toon this week, a perfect illustration of a hard truth that the bombastic Mobster president  hasn’t learnt – yet.

And so it goes.

…………….

While next Saturday is the latest to post in your vote, don’t be expecting any definitive outcome too quickly. If the ECQ does grace us with any progress counts, the field is so big and preferential voting optional,  it could take a while. And if it’s a close run affair (doubt it, but …) votes will be received up to November 25th. So we can bitch away to our hearts content fo another week or two, so keep diving into comments.  The link to make a donation to help keep the Nest in financial shape is below.

Electrifying stuff:  seems all mayoral hopefuls have discovered what we really want to know  What They Think Of Each Other. Much of the campaigning week was taken up with exactly that, bitching and backbiting at each other while we the great unwashed waited for someone to say something that showed these buffoons had an inkling of what really bothers us. And in the middle of all this, the Bulletin mounted the most unedifying stunt of a highly restricted (you had to be a subscriber) yodelling contest that they called a candidate debate.

And those questions for the mayoral candidates … The ‘Pie has distilled the list,  explains his thinking behind the questions and posts it for your final input before the email goes of to all candidates.

Tis the season to be wary. While all this was going, Crisafulli slipped in a story of LG changes  briefly mentioned here last week, but it has subsequently shown to need closer scrutiny.

The DMR’s Mt Spec Road repair project descends further into farce, making the parroting in the  Astonisher more out of touch than usual  You ain’t gonna believe this …

This is the bit where you stop reading to go grab another beer, to avoid any guilt about accepting this weekly burnt offering for nothing.  But you can ease the pang and the beer will taste better if you can help out with a few bob to help meet the ever on-going costs of producing The Nest every week … not to  mention handling the asylum of comments. The appropriate link is at the end of the blog.

TCC Chief Legal Officer Falls On His Sword … Or Was He Pushed.

EXCLUSIVE: (read: The Bulletin hasn’t a clue about this.)

Former TCC Chief Legal officer David Sewell

A week or so ago, TCC CLO David Sewell cleaned out his desk, and marched out of Walker Street, with no fanfare and no announcement … and there has not been any confirmation or explanation since.

And before we go any further, the very first question The ‘Pie asks is this: has the CEO and executive tried to use the distraction of our mayoral election circus to ditch this bumbler, hoping no one will notice? Which means it was probably planned some time ago and the right timing was the only road block.The distraction of an election provided the answer.

What The ‘Pie has managed to glean is that it is said he ‘resigned’, but that word can cover more territory than Kippin and Greaney’s wardrobes combined. No one – including councillors, according to The ‘Pie’s information … knew of the departure prior to or for some time after (well, it was a matter solely for the CEO). The exact date of Sewell’s ‘horizontal defenestration’ is not known, but it’s certainly now well over a week. But still not even a lying anodyne announcement wishing goofy all the best, let alone any real reason.

SO not a single dickybird about the departure of the third or fourth most senior council bureaucrat. Like the song says ‘something’s going on around here’, a senior executive who has been so prominent in meetings and publicly involved in a number of high profile matters doesn’t just slope off because he felt like it or because he nicked someone’s packet of Ice VoVos from the executive kitchen.

It is exactly this sort of behaviour that makes The Townsville City Council one of the worst advised councils in the state (and looking at a couple of others, that’s really saying something). It virtually begs for speculation, which The ‘Pie – unaccustomed as he is to such activity – will happily supply.

So several things spring to mind. Sewell’s inept handling of presentations to council meetings, including his stumbling, bumbling attempt to dishonestly sell the idea of delegating significant councillors’ powers to the CEO, and his equally inept ‘expert’ support for Greaney’s Strand meter misadventure, may have been a hay bale too much for the council camel. There are other matters but mostly in the peccadillo province.

But for The ‘Pie, he’d bet that Sewell has become a victim of the Thompson tomfoolery, not by Thompson directly, but maybe by the atmosphere the grub has created, an atmosphere that  makes all TCC executives about as calm as a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs. Did our boy do something rash like nosing around where he shouldn’t when seeking to protect himself from threatened Thompson legal action? And has been found with his hand in this legally off-limits cookie jar?

Trespassing on the secretive CCC turf is the surest way to get a judicial kick in the cods. So it’s a good bet Mr Sewell is nursing his bruised testicles, although there’d always been doubts about their existence. If, of course, this conjecture is correct.

It is now that The ‘Pie was about to look like a smarty and give a clever Shakespearian quote like ‘the truth will out’. But on reflection, with the Queensland CCC, the Queensland Government and this fucking council, the truth has no fat fucking chance.

The Campaign:  Let’s Get Off To A Rollicking Start

Rollicking?  Maybe, but perhaps one candidate is thinking more about a bollocking …  for the paper.

Ann-Maree Greaney penchant for the Hill habit of photo bombing stories with which she has no logical connection has suddenly brought her an hilarious cropper. This from yesterday’s comments.

GASP!!! WHEEZE!!! CHORTLE!!!

CAUGHT IN THE ACT??

THIS CANNOT BE ACCIDENTAL … The Bulletin whistling and looking innocent as they lampoon a mayoral candidate.

And serves her right for trying for some free campaigning not open to other candidates. She adds absolutely nothing of value to the story, except hilarious misinterpretation.

 The reason this seems a deliberate jest is the increasingly apparent shift in the Bulletin’s affections away from Greaney, as evidenced in this weekend’s iditorial.

Putting aside the weird use of the phrase ‘played into the hands of many North Queenslanders,’  a phrase which actually means one has been duped by another person or group, the message from iditor Jill Poulsen is pretty clear to all other candidates … ‘we love this policy, you should adopt it’. Thereby nullifying even the damning with faint praise of Greaney. Poulsen might have her nose out of joint because of the paper’s cock-up regarding that woefully uninformative ‘candidate debate’, which forced this climb-down on Thursday.

Poulsen declined the opportunity to expand on the fact that Greaney had lied/fibbed/ or the sanitised ‘misspoke’, which may have highlighted the sloppy fact checking.  And it never seemed to occur to the paper, which seems more hell bent on pursuing Thompson that providing the community a broad base of candidate information. By  severely restricting access to their ‘debate’  (you had to be a subscriber to the paper to get the live stream) tells one all you need to know about the  Townsville Bulletin. One smug snot from the paper suggested it had been selling news for more than a hundred years, (questionable in itself in. recent years) and they were entitled to restrict the ‘debate’.  Which laid bare the attitude of a multi-billion dollar corporation to a community in a leadership crisis.  Poulsen, or more likely the paper’s avaricious GM Suzanne Wilson  lost the chance to claim any community leadership … and besides, technically, the whole hootenanny it was a resounding technical disaster.

Now it seems,  the Astonisher is gravitating to another candidate, the only one with a campaign war chest that can accomodate the swingeing Bulletin advertising rates. From this weekend’s edition (ad rates are higher for the Saturday paper.)

It’s clear that the Premier’s boy is the cashed up favourite in the race, and is bombarding us with the usual anodyne bromides – seems Back To Basics Blitz has been around the block a couple of previous elections … meaningless pap.

And being so cashed up tells a tale in itself when we look at just who has donated to Dametto’s campaign, whacking the wallet to back a bloke with both KAP and Labor connections.

Nest reader Pat Coleman, who is a whiz at digging out stuff, made comment during the week about this.  You can see Pat’s entire comment below last week’s blog,  but here is the guts of wha he submitted.

Rodney Arthur Battle donated $5k to Dametto on 16/10/25 This is associated with Nortrans which is trucks and buses in Ingham .

On 22/10/25 Ranjit Singh donated $2k to Dametto. When you google that name he comes up as a Partner with Holding Redlynch and a previous CCC investigation into a $150k loan to Councillor Manning in Cairns . Developer and developer representatives are banned from donating .

GRAHAM JOHN ROLAND WHEELER and DESLEY FAY WHEELER donated $5k each to Dametto on 23/10/25 . Coincidentally , other people with the Wheeler Name , Peter and D Wheeler donated to Jenny Hill in 2016 . Those names are associated with Colliers. In The Townsville Bulletin 12/7/2018 “Development fight over’ The name Graham Wheeler was associated with the Willowbend development at the time . The council had an objection to this development at the time of the donations and election and it went to confidential court mediation/settlement and got approval.

BELINDA JOHNSON donated $3k to Dametto on 13/10/25 That name comes up associated with the KAP and One Nation. Former Cleveland Prison Officer.

PETER BRADSHAW donated $2k to Dametto on 8/10/25 His name is associated with Aurizon . He donated to Jenny Hill in 2020 and 2024 $2k each time .

KENNETH JOHN WILLING donated $1k to Dametto on 7/10/25 That Name is associated with Civilquip
Peter Keen donated $5k to Dametto on 3/10/25 That’s AZKEEN Industries with is earthmoving.
What interest Aurizon , civil construction and earthmoving companies have in local government, I don’t know .

…. nothing dodgy but very interesting.

But Wait, There’s More … 

Another Nester, independent of Pat’s information was particularly interested in one name on the list.

Well, a few hurdles to clear before we get to any accusatory stage, but while The Magpie emphasises he does not accept that anything untoward is going on,  best remember that nobody, but nobody, donates money to a political campaign from the Christian charity of their pure heart. There’s always some sort of reckoning.  Just like Jesus tells us.

But Barely Any Candidate Is Cutting Through

This is all so tired and disappointing. The time wasted attacking each other may be standard campaigning practice but right now,  personality politics should take a back seat. We have all sorts of frivolous stuff, from Keune’s ‘let’s paint the town in heritage colours’ call, and her whinge about postal only voting (pointless, it’s not going to change)  and Greaney’s back flip call on dump vouchers … you know, the one’s she voted to ditch in the first place .  It’s probably a good idea but hardly an election tipping point (pun intended).

Kippen seems to think it’s enough to tell us his style of management is that he’s a bully and a bore; his  ‘I stand in the doorway until I get what I want’ is among the most unedifying bits of slosh so far. Dametto is playing the safe game, banking on ‘I’m a steady guy’ approach to get him home, but most of his stock standard waffle so far  is like painting by numbers, predictable, safe, colourless. Jacob just doesn’t seem to have heart in it.

So as promised, The ‘Pie has put together a few questions with a view to looking at some of the more intangible issues about which any prospective new mayor should be clear. These preliminary questions avoid the parochial ‘there’s a pothole in my street’ stuff and are more at the big ticket, money sinkhole matters that urgently need to be addressed.  As said,  they’ve been kept down to just a few, and they are only preliminary. Readers can suggest tweaking or pointing out ones The ‘Pie may have overlooked. Once the final line-up is agreed, this is the email to sent to all candidates.

Dear Candidate,

I have taken the liberty of sending you this list of questions on behalf of the many readers of the Magpie’s Nest blog.

Your replies will be published unedited if not too lengthy, otherwise fairly summarised.  These questions address many overriding matters of interest across the entire city that have been of concern to Nest readers for some time.

Attacks and even justified  criticism of opponents will not be published, as we do not believe your opinions of each other are matters uppermost in voters minds.

1. There has been a great deal of concern about public service attempts to erode and diminish the meaningful decision making duty of of councillors elected to be the voice of the electorate. If elected, will you lead the councillors in endeavours to ensure that councillor independence and decision making powers are not diminished, delegated away or otherwise infringed? 

2. Do you believe that the council should involve itself in projects as a developer, no matter what ‘arms length’ company arrangements are put in place, or do you think this is a valid way forward?

3.  Are you satisfied with the current level of council financial support for Townsville Enterprise, or would you review the arrangement between the two bodies, including mandatory KPIs?

4.  Would you support or oppose calls for an independent forensic  investigation of  council finances over previous years?

5. Would you support attempts to reintroduce parking meters to The Strand?

6. What priority and council financial responsibility towards attempts to rejuvenate the CBD, and will the expenditure be justified in whole city terms?

7. What order of priority do you place on rectifying the dangerous and socially untenable Wulguru sewerage debacle?

8. Do you believe that Magnetic Island can be better leveraged to grow as tourism destination?

9. Do you see it has useful in the interests of transparency and integrity to seek a review of the use of the Commercial In Confidence provisions which have been badly abused in past years?

Finally, can you name  two policies, projects or solid costed innovations you would bring to the office. We are not seeking vague mission statements or campaign rhetoric but something tangible that will move the city forward and help repair its unfairly tattered reputation.

Yours Sincerely,

The Townsville Magpie, on behalf of his readers.

It would be appreciated if readers seeking further input to this email could send in their suggestions to comments by midday (or so) by Thursday … that’ll give you time to get over your losses and hangover from The Cup on Tuesday.  Good luck on all fronts.

What Little Regulatory  Nipple Twist HasThe Kid Got In Store For Us

Sometimes, The ‘Pie ponders whether he should change the name of The Nest to the Uh Oh Times. Because ‘uh oh’ has been the reaction of the old bird to so many issues over the past 15 years … and his suspicions often proved true and happily, in many cases, averted. This little bit of weekend whimsy was prompted by a closer look at that bit of Crisafulli chest thumping about his planned gingering up of Queensland councils.

You’ll remember we mentioned this media release in last week’s Nest. It started out like we were being delivered from perfidy by St David.

Further on, it got a little specific … well, sort of, when we read this.

Key changes proposed in the Empowering Councils Bill include: 

• re-empowering councillors to appoint senior council staff, giving them a say in senior, strategic appointments to the council,  
• clarifying the powers of the mayor and other councillors to provide certainty about their responsibilities,
• removing conduct breaches from the councillor conduct framework and streamlining training requirements, so councillors can focus delivering for their communities, 
• allowing election candidates to include contact information other than their residential address, protecting the privacy and safety of participants, and
• making the conflict-of-interest framework clearer and more straightforward, to remove red tape from councillors without sacrificing integrity in government. 

The ‘Pie was a bit blindsided by the third bullet point, and search as he might, he has been unable to find out exactly what that entails but sure doesn’t sound kosher.

But then, contemplating the other points, the second bullet point waved  more red flags than May Day in Moscow. Was this in some sort of response to recent resistance by the TCC councillors to hand over a long list of delegated powers to the CEO.  And in The ‘Pie’s experience, the word ‘clarifying’ is also a warning signal, because when any government body anywhere uses it, it is usually never accurate nor ever good news for we proles … it is usually laying out in bald terms that ‘you will do as we tell you and you can’t argue’.  It may also be a way to Thompson-proof any similar future adventurers in the Local Government forest, but that’s when the baby really could go out with the bathwater. There is no way that any government, LNP or Labor, is ever going to give away any real power to small regional political bodies.

The same concerns exist for the final bullet point, it is rare if any government ever empowers transparency about anything that quasi-,legally can be kept secret.

We need to watch this one closely, it will be beyond disappointing if Clrs. Robinson and Batkovics’  principled stand is overruled by that prized ministerial goof, Ann Leahy.

Last Time They Forgot The Dynamite, This Time looks Like They Ran Out Of Matches

Remember this. Way back in May.

The Daily Astonisher has finally decided to follow up The Magpie’s revelations about the dire situation that has faced Paluma residents all this year.

But hang on, the truth is, works have not started. Due to an unbelievable string of incompetent bungles from the DMR communications. You will recall this from last week’s Nest.

Just As Well The DMR Aren’t Bank Robbers ….

… they’d be like a Carry On comedy.

Paluma residents are still enjoying travel restrictions as seemingly never-ending work to repair the weather damaged (10months ago) Mt Spec road, but they were even less amused recently . It seems the DMR contractors  were recently  confronted with a rock in a hard place – this one, in fact.

It’s a simple enough story. There are a couple of big rocks left from the January landslides that can only be removed by blasting.  So Paluma residents were advised the road would be totally closed on the weekend starting Oct 17 through to Monday 20th.  That meant a major district event planned for the Paluma Community Hall that weekend had to be rescheduled. Which the organisers dulym did, shuffling it along to Saturday Nov 1 – yesterday.  Bit of understandable grouching but all’s well, and everybody eventually advised of the change. But come  Oct 17,  the DMR big bang was cancelled at the last minute for reasons not explained – unless you buy the lame ‘unforeseen circumstances’. As The ‘Pie said, looks like they forgot the dynamite.

So all the Paluma rearranging needn’t have happened, but the rearranging of what is an important annual event for the community had been done after some time and effort, so let’s get on with it, they said.  The DMR again said they’d advise about the rescheduling of the cancelled blast. Which they duly did … rescheduling to this weekend, with the road closed between Friday 31st Oct to Monday Nov 1, then very  same day the big village event had been moved to.  So, the event was postponed yet again… but then (stay with me here, I’m not making this up)  this weekend’s blast was called of for ‘unforeseen supply issues’,  (probably forgot to stock up on matches), so the event could have gone ahead anyway.

Now while the blasting is done by a specialist drilling/blaster crowd brought in by CMC, the head repair contractor, all the coordination and communications have come out of the clearly incompetent DMR office in either Townsville or Cairns. Keeping track of this fairly simple matter shouldn’t result in a frustrating comedy of errors ,  but it seems the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads  couldn’t  keep track of a leaking shit cart in a flour factory.

And these are the clowns responsible for work on the Bruce Highway!!  Good luck, Queensland.

Death, Destruction And Trump Bastardy Took A Back Seat This Week …

… to the housing fate a pampered protected paedophile in England.  The Shovel had Mr Mountbatten nailed.

But for all the dark humour we can have with such a loathsome character, his downfall may well have greater ramifications than first considered in the universal glee. The inestimable Marina Hyde makes a very credible case for why this could be start of the end for the monarchy.

Interesting analysis, and always, written in a sharp, entertaining manner. Have a read.

As For The Orange Abomination …

… he continues to traipse the world, blissfully unaware of the reality he leaves in his wake. According to the Murdoch media this weekend,  he is supposed to have Putin runniung for the hills – which was news the criminal in the Kremlin.

 This is of course complete nonsense, demonstrating News Ltd’s total embrace of ‘alternative facts’ i.e lies. The simple one line truth is that Putin says if Trump makes good his threat to start testing nuclear weapons, he will too. That’s it, nothing more, although. that’s plenty. Trump really doesn’t get the perception that Putin is playing him for a fool … but eventually, that reality will catch up with this buffoon … and soon. Especially with Netanyahu playing him off a break.

And it seems New Yporkers are facing a similar mayoral candidate choice like Townsville.

…………..

Hang in here, folks, just another two weary weeks to go before the ECQ opens up Forest Gump’s  chocolate box and we find out what we’ve got. The link to help out with Nest costs is below.

Crisafulli lobs a grenade into the middle of all this, with an startling raft of LG ‘reforms’ … read deregulation of rorts. One change actually says you can break regulations but nothing will happen to you.  Pretty astounding, but probably a step in the right direction.

Why PM Albanese needs a personal valet … or if he’s got one, he needs a new one, slightly more switched on.

Barnaby’s got One Notion in his head.

And Trump adds to his many titles that of vandal,  this time wrecking American history … literally.

The Nest is as always in need of a hand meeting blog costs, so if you can help out, the donate link is at the end of the blog. Thanks.

Let’s Herd These Electoral cats And See If We Can Get Some Sense Of it All

This past week, every time he riffled through the Daily Astonisher, The ‘Pie couldn’t stop thinking about humorist Stephen Leacock’s famous closing line his his short story Gertrude the Governess: Lord Ronald said nothing; he flung himself from the room, flung himself upon his horse and rode madly off in all directions.

In other words, it hasn’t been a good week for the poor old Bully and iditor Poulsen. Let’s take it in some sort of order, kicking off last Monday with a good plain language spruik by Joann Keune.

October 20, 2025 at 1:19 pm  (Edit)

Well, it didn’t take the Astonisher long to make clear its rating of our mayoral election. At the start of the very first week of campaigning, this pesky old election has been relegated to page 16.

But at least there was a refreshingly direct campaign manifesto from one of the two candidates reported in today’s paper.

Joanne Keune has made a solid and sensible start to her campaign, hitting a few buttons that get straight to the heart of our council’s malaise. It’s not surprising that a professional public speaking coach has managed a plain language opening gambit, and nailed a major point first up in today’s Bulletin.

Keune proposed countering what The ‘Pie has correctly called a council executive power grab by using a mayoral position to bring back committees, which, it is now apparent, were scrapped at the urging of the TCC executive and CEO. As The Magpie lamented at the time, long standing committee system ensured councillors had the opportunity to be involved in discussions across a range of issues, close-up and personal with council officers, to be better informed, and shape resolutions to council without having often unpleasant and unfair surprises sprung on them.

Keune believes she has skills to encourage councillors to be more involved and didn’t mince her words (unusual for a political aspirant) when she said “I feel they (the councillors) have become spectators on what’s happening and not actually in there participating”. Ouch maybe, but mostly accurate certainly!

She also flagged that she will argue for rate rises not to be raised beyond CPI, and seek an overall review of middle management processes.

Not a bad kick-off, but lots to happen before the final whistle. But on this start, Keune might be one to watch.

Fibbing, missteps and misunderstandings abounded in the mayoral campaign coverage,   along with the occasional expected cock-up. Poulsen’s main mental stumbling block was the single-minded fixation with personally nailing Troy Thompson to the cross he has made for himself.  But she did it in such a cackhanded dishonest way that it could be seen as inadvertently getting TwoNames some votes as victims of the media. here’s how The ‘Pie saw it last Wednesday.

Bulletin editor Jill Poulsen has really got her tits caught in the wringer on this issue of Thompson’s participation.

In her red hot rush to lay in the boot, Poulsen slipped into the long outmoded attitude of by-gone media bullies, when she initially falsely claimed he had refused to ‘front a debate with eight other candidates’.

But Poulsen, in her moist eagerness to slip in the knife, straight out lied … and then was dopey enough in the same article to confirm that indeed she had.
In that same story, suggesting he was a cowardly cop-out, we learn what he actually said.

So Poulsen has not only shown she is a first class fibber (to avoid the more succinct ‘liar’) she also committed what used to be a prime journalistic sin of selective bias in reportage.

His Pomposity’s ‘need to check his diary’ certainly was outright wankery, but wanker or not, he had every right to see if he was legitimately committed to a prior engagement on that date, and be taken at his word in this circumstance. He never said no. It doesn’t matter what any other commitment  may have been – a magic crystal convention, or panting along behind Michelle at Victoria’s Secret, or a boiling cauldron coven with his sov cit MyPlace mates – neither he or the other candidates are at the beck and call of the Bulletin. BUT Ms Poulsen seems to think he and the other candidates are, and required to do her imperial bidding, when she plonked this simpering wet lettuce leaf attack in an editorial.

DUTIFULLY?!? Bloody ‘dutifully’?

Just who the fuck do you think you are, Jill? Even when major news outlets actually had that sort of gatekeeper power they NEVER EVER said it. And you sure don’t have any such power with your increasingly discredited rag, ,the real voter decisions will be made via social media in 2025.

There are plenty of legitimate grounds for Thompson to be buried back into Sir Walter Scott’s ‘vile dust from whence he sprung’ but to tell obvious outright lies like this could only engender some sort of skewed sympathy for a man who doesn’t deserve any.

For the record, Thompson found he was free on the required date and said he would attend.

But Poulsen wasn’t finished yet. God know what possessed her to insert this self-promoting, click seeking fuckwit into a serious political campaign.

Although under other circumstaces he is mildly amusing, this unfunny pest thought it would be a merry jape to declare he was running for mayor when he wasn’t … and Poulsen agreed … she knew it was fake but ‘we all need a laugh, don’t we?’ Why on earth she would afford this fuckwit his hearts desire (about five grands worth of free publicity for clicks) AND run it among serious candidates.  Poulsen is clearly not up to the job as head of a responsible community paper … but what am I saying?  She’s not.

Anyway, this Fimmel turkey was brought down to earth with a thud, retrieving his signage when he learned he could be up for a $40,000 fine or even jail. But of course Poulsen gave him another free kick  (about $2000 worth this time), duly reporting his about face. However, that’s possibly because she herself was told she could be the shit for this thoughtless fuckwittery.

Other real candidates were making all the impression of a feather landing on Ayre’s Rock.  This from David Kippin left the breakfast buffet table long enough to fret over how we would fare without him at helm … our need is, apparently, desperate. Talking about the public housing scheme, he told the Bulletin …

Your leadership, David? The leadership that got you sacked from Townsville Enterprise (that’s gotta be the sort of first you really don’t want to own), the leadership that sees you in a legal quagmire as chairman in charge of the stalled West End hospital, or perhaps it was leadership of being on the board of the Oasis outfit when it lost government funding. Yep, your leadership is exactly what we’re after, mate. The ‘Pie will make a bet with you, old chum. If you win, The ‘Pie will do 10 … no make that 5 … laps around you in a pink tutu. There ya go, The ‘Pie’s just given you a few votes there.

Meanwhile, Dametto was looking ready for a punch-up,  when he said he was going to ‘push the state government heavily’ to ensure ‘the roads leading into the northern suburbs were addressed.’ Hmmm, that heavy push of yours is a formidable weapon with the state government, ain’t it, Nick?  Like you showed as KAP member for Hinchinbrook.  Anyway, The Kid loves you now, so you never know. But when he wasn’t posing like a UFC fighter at weigh-in, Nick cut a lonely figure waiting for the line dance to start.

Then there was Ma Greaney, doing her best to put an early end to any slim hopes she had.

October 24, 2025 at 9:33 pm  (Edit)

Having read that story, the whole this is laughable but infuriating nonsense. But two things jumped out at The ‘Pie.

It seems Poulsen has her riding orders to back Dametto and oppose Greaney. But is The ‘Pie crediting the paper with a subtlety hitherto not in evidence? Take this Greaney quote:
“We see it at Riverway in those green spaces where, you know, it’s sort of a safety aspect as well that, you know, mums and bubs, you know, have a place to enjoy a coffee and some time out with that validated parking,” she said.

It is a given in traditional media that a subtle way of editorialising against someone on any matter is to really quote them verbatim – the gurgling tee-heeing Bob Katter comes in for this treatment regularly. Here’s something to note: while they do so more for their readers sake than their subjects, reporters usually drop all verbal tics like ‘ummm’, ‘err’, and repeated unnecessary connecting phrases like ‘sort of’ and ‘you know’, but in this story, four times in a single sentence we get ‘sort of’ and ‘you know’, which makes Greaney sound like a woman who doesn’t really know what she’s trying to say. Which she clearly doesn’t.

This single story is a campaign disaster, proof of a candidate without a cause, floundering around for something meaningful to say. BUT  meaningful is what she avoids at all times in the deeply ridiculous, vague policy search on something worthy but  hardly of majority interest to beaten down residents. She doesn’t say how the validated parking scheme could work, or if businesses doing the validation will be the ones eventually charged for parking instead. It sounds like intensifying the current nightmare that is visiting the CBD.

And a fucking kids playground, FFS!!!

And Greaney airily dismisses the idea that she might’ve taken the trouble to cost this out, with the paper reporting “On the costs for the plan for parking validation, Ms Greaney said all council projects will be considered in the Mid Year Budget which is coming up at the beginning of 2026″.  That is one of the most blatant non-answers worthy in it’s lofty arrogance of Capt Snooze Reynolds, and begs a major question that the Bulletin yet again did not ask. So it is likely to cost anything, or more likely, being so deliberately vague, dumped altogether. So Ms Greaney, you’re happy top promise things that you have no idea what they’ll cost, and therefore may not be possible.

And you asked a few people if ghey felt safe in the CBD, and they told, you triumphantly tell, they all felt ‘somewhat safe’.  SOMEWHAT?!?   Come on, madam, you’re ust embarrassing yourself now, give it a miss for your own sake. Let alone ours.

There’s more but suffice to say, Ann Maree Greaney is a deeply stupid woman way out of her depth. She is desperately seeking the relevance she needs to gain an office she deeply believes it is her’s by right. Her attacks on Dametto show she has panicked, and that she also see the Chamber of Commerce’s candidate, Michelin Man Kippen, taking votes from her narrow view of her constituency. She has shown no inkling that this is a city wide contest which comes with whole-of-city responsibilities and city wide concerns. She has also been spooked by the vociferous attacks from the Magnetic Island, mob which is her divisional turf.

And she hasn’t the wit to realise that meaningless word salads like this do one thing only … they help the biggest arsesole in this race, Thompson, by comparison … what Thompson says is wrong, unworkable and populist crap but he broadcasts his message in plain everyday language, making false promises in words that people can understand if not interpret for their real worth.

We’re still paying this silly woman to be deputy mayor and a councillor, so she should have the decency to step aside from this race, stop making a ninny of herself and be happy with her swindled wage.

Meanwhile, Back At The Astonsher …

Down at the paper the pressure was on to grab as many readers as possible, but they should’ve remember the old cliche ‘more haste, less speed’, because this popped up on their Facebook page on Wednesday.

Everyone? Where’s the frontrunner Nick D? Is this blatant bias? Or just another incompetent cock-up?

While the illustration even looked like he’d been airbrushed out, it turned out it was just another of the fuck-up by the kiddies in charge of the FB page … it was hastily amended when the person on Magpie Watch at the Bulletin found out about the glitch. Kippin had breath in a bit to make room.

What does it say about three aspiring mayoral candidates who want us to believe they are law abiding, thoughtful people whose foresight and leadership we desperately need, who then flagrantly break the law in their quest for a vote?

The North Ward roundabout on Eyre Street is one of the busiest roundabout in Townsville. THIS SIGNAGE IS NOT ONLY DANGEROUS, IT IS ILLEGAL.

In 2019, when Jenny Hill was worried about rival signage, the council issued a warning: “A Townsville City Council spokesperson said Council crews would be removing any election material that was positioned in areas that are unlawful.
“Council is very mindful that the community is subject to significant visual pollution during elections and we want to do what we can to reduce that impact,” the spokesperson said.
“All candidates have been notified that Council crews will be removing election signs or material that are positioned in areas unlawfully.
“Council crews will be patrolling the entire community from the city to the suburbs to ensure that candidates comply with the rules governing election campaign materials and the impact on residents is reduced.”
Council crews can only remove illegal election signage on Council-owned land and assets.

But ah ha, you might say, that’s not a council controlled road area. Well, maybe (honestly, don’t know) but it doesn’t matter, Dametto, Kippin and Greaney are in the shit anyway then, with the DTMR, who make it clear this is a big – and dangerous … no no. Their page on the matter says:
Election signs must not:
• distract road users
• obstruct road users’ clear line of vision
• obstruct pedestrian or vehicle movement
• block official road signs
• otherwise cause a hazard to road users.
If you would like to place election signs on state-controlled roads you must complete a self-assessment for each sign.

These dangerously-positioned signs clearly do not meet the requirements of the first two bullet points. If there’s a prang, it will be interesting to see if those involved claim distraction or blocked vision … then the faeces will really hit the rotational cooling device.

Anyway, only 20 more days before this unique entertainment ends. Probably in disaster of one sort or another, but at this stage, Dametto is the only candidate with a coherent campaign plan, and with some undoubted Brisbane money in his dilly bag and likely some professional help, he is the man to beat. Hmmm, wonder if, since there is no declared Labor candidate in the field, if Dolan Hayes is doing his mate Premier Kid a favour and helping Nick out?  Nah, perish the thought.

And Just When We Aren’t Looking, The Government Drops This Little Time Bomb Into The Local Government Playpen

This seems crystal clear … parts of this reform are to ensure there won’t be a repeat of the Jenny Hill hijacking a council administration, stacking it with various rorters and favour seekers. But should we be careful what we wish for?

Most of this sounds all bright and sparkling, the start of a yellow brick road to the sunlit uplands of community peace and contentment and …. WHOA, WAIT ON !!! what the hell is that third bullet point

• removing conduct breaches from the councillor conduct framework and streamlining training requirements, so councillors can focus delivering for their communities, 

A sensible reform perhaps, but the devil will be in the detail of this one, so let’s hope the baby doesn’t go out with bathwater. Because it is reasonable to believe this is Crisafulli’s way of easing the burden on the silly Labor-inspired of having the Office of the Independent Assessor.  The OIA was a bureaucrat brain fart by Palaszczuk in 2018, and created another layer of nanny-state fuckwittery which was as useful as a button on a sock. But just how far will councillors now be able to go, when they couldn’t before?  And if they do clearly fuck up, what will happen then? Nothing, it seems, except some Nanny McPhee private instruction. add another button to the sock. We will need to be on the look-out for any jiggery pokery by our representatives, but don’t fret, The ‘Pie is sure the Bulletin will keep a fearless close eye on matters.

TwoNames had better not start crowing too loudly about this, because his lying and cheating was involved before he was in office, which took any real judgement away from the hopeless OIA and plonked in firmly in the CCC’s lap. Where it still sits, soiling itself very day it stays there.

A Smart Choice To Attract The Younger Vote

Having showered and freshened up after his visit to Donald Trump’s colon, God only knows who advised Albo that it’d be a good idea to walk back into Australia wearing this.

Our finger-snappin’,  rare earth rappin’ PM’s choice of a T-shirt spruiking an ancient and defunct band is strange enough in itself , as is the spooky, Epstein-like words ‘Unknown Pleasures’,  but Albo apparently overlooked the fact that Joy Division’s greatest hit was ‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’.

Maybe the Libs and Nats should sue for plagiarism. But they have others problems now that Beetroot Barnaby has … we shall we say … fallen in – or over – with One Notion. The Shovel had it covered.

But even the hardened Canberra media mob, used to handling such diverse challenges as anything Bob Katter says or listening to Craig Emerson’s karaoke policy speeches,  will now have to contend with a new hazard.

 Two New Records For Trump in One Week

Fresh from claiming a peace that wasn’t … the ultimate in alternative facts is describing as peace more genocidal bombing of Gaza by Israel … Donald Trump didn’t even have to announce his latest achievement, it was noisly evident next to the Oval Office.  He has robbed the office of the President of the President of The United States of its final, dangling, twisting-in-the-wind shred of dignity.

Incensed with the millions of Americans from across the political spectrum who marched across the country in the No King protests, the Orange Abomination proved worthy of that title by responding to the demonstrators with this, a video of him as King and pilot,  swooping in a fighter jet to bomb No King demonstrators with shit. One supposes he should get some sort twisted points for an accurate metaphor.

But the other record he can claim is that of the greatest vandal ever to occupy the Oval office, by ordering the destruction of the entire East Wing of the White House. He is replacing it with a gaudy faux renaissance ballroom.  It was this attack on the nation’s history that has most triggered the population … and the nation’s pen men.

And Finally …

Don’t know why but this reminded me of our Townsville  mayoral election.

…………….

That’s it for the first full week of unenlightenment, there’s a couple or more to come … feel free to vent your frustrations in comments.  The candidate questionnaire is waiting to see what coms from the Bulletin meet and boo get togethers.  If you feel you can assist with Nest finances (the word ‘dire’ is always hovering around these requests) the link to donate is below.

If the field is not all we could hope for, then opening campaign salvos are even less so, demonstrating a weird reading of community priorities. But one candidate missed a golden opportunity to sock it to the present regime.

The incurious Bulletin bellyflops into the water park wet dream, with nary a question in sight.  Our councillors were just as mute.  But The Magpie says there is good evidence to call out this as utter bullshit.

And is old mate Dolan Hayes involved in reviving the failed cheap-end Hilton Hotel that had been proposed next to the stadium? You’d be excused for thinking so, unless you believe in coincidences.

The DMR fuck-ups for the long suffering Paluma residents never ends … the latest social disruption is because someone apparently forgot to bring the dynamite.

If you think it’s worth it, you can support the Nest with a donation by hitting the link at the bottom of the blog. If you don’t think its worth it, it’s still nice to know you’re reading it.

First,  For The Record

To quote old Gilbert & Sullivan: oh, joy and rapture unforeseen.  Except this recipe for further turmoil was so easily seen a mile off.

We will look at them all over the coming days,  but first, a Magpie advisory just in case you thought things couldn’t get any worse.

What could possibly go wrong?

But We’re Off And Running Anyway

Given the not totally unexpected out-of-touch start to the mayoral campaign, The ‘Pie has decided to delay finalising the questions to be put to all candidates by email. We have plenty of time, and all your helpful, sometimes funny, occasionally insightful, sometimes balmy, and sometime bullseye suggestions have been collated and are being refined down.  A bit more time will allow us to perhaps include glaring questions the Bulletin is sure not to ask. Keep an eye out and sent anything noted to comments.

But so far, it’s been an unedifying start,  with Dametto and Greaney attacking each other with negative salvos, a most ill advised way to go about things in Townsville.  We simply couldn’t give a fuck what you two think of each other, we are, strangely enough, only interested in what you say you will do for us and for the city’s tattered reputation.

Things didn’t improve when by some strange reasoning,  there was a group-think misreading of community priority concerns which decided that the current dead letter issue of parking meters on The Strand and parking in the CBD were the uppermost concerns  in voters minds.  Not hard to guess where a candidates stands on this (big surprise, they’e all against the meter issue, possibly because it sparked the most genuine outcries of public rage of recent times.) With the major exception of Ma Greaney, who was silent on the issue.

Reflecting his Italian background, Nick ent all operatic for The Astonisher.

He went full pelt down the bread and circuses route. Somehow,  Dametto has  decided what we all want is a makeover of The Strand. Which makes one wonder who the hell he’s been talking to. The council has already said (ho hum) they plan to refresh the Strand, particularly the Rockpool, so what was this upsizing of the already announced plan all about. Ah, maybe it was this surefire vote winner.

Strangely, right after this statement, one of those councillors, Ma Greaney is quoted saying council has already put a Strand upgrade in motion, and fired off a pathetic popgun at Dametto saying‘What I’m concerned about is how long Nick wants to lock up public access to the Strand for (his) major changes that will have minimal improvement.” But funnily enough, although Dametto (and Kippin – see next)  appear to have emphatically ruled out Strand meters,  Greaney did not say a word about the issue. This although she was the one who initially pushed it in council, and clearly had workshopped it with our Infrastructure pomposity Matt Richardson.  You can bet she’ll say something this week, but anything short of definitively ruling out Strand meters permanently will not be enough. Just having the possibility  hanging around in the background  is dishonest dealing of the most arrogant sort. And a vote killer.

The Kipper Was Onto It As Well

David Kippin wants to tackle the overall issue of parking around the city but was also besotted with Strand parking.  Surprisingly, he had the the wit to link it to a much broader and concerning issue, calling for an overall review of council parking policy.   He’s under pressure from the Chamber – he’s the business lobby’s  dog in this fight – to back their calls for free parking in the CBD … about the only option left to be of real assistance to the struggling area.  But any review that disagreed with his call for change would leave him weasel way out  of flipping, saying ‘I tried’.

BUT he revealed  something most of us did not know, most certainly The ‘Pie didn’t.  He called for a disclosure around costs around the cancelled meter expansion onto the Strand and other areas like Palmer Street.  The Kipper indicating council bureaucrats had started preliminary physical work on the installation in apparent  secrecy .  But he posed with this pic on the southside purportedly showing where some of that  preliminary work had been jackhammered, stopped and repaired after the outcry.

The middle of a footpath seems a funny place to put parking meters, but maybe it was temporary wiring works. Or not.  Or maybe The Kipper’s advisor Max Tomlinson had just had a public whoopsie.

As for the other galoot in the round-up, Sean Gleeson, he’s just in it for the nuisance value, but apparently has plenty of time on his hands, since the Bulletin reports

One wonders if that experience in hospitality was this bit of bio info on Linkedin under the name Sean Gleeson.

Ironically, going by recent history,  that seems to make him ideal mayoral material.

It will be interesting to see if the Bulletin can come up with some questions about subjects we actually want to know about.  Maybe the ABC can make one of its occasional forays into investigative reporting.

Polite Question 

“Commercial in confidence” refers to sensitive commercial information that parties agree to keep confidential to protect business interests. This typically includes details like pricing, profits, and proprietary information, and it is legally protected through clauses in contracts like Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs). The goal is to prevent disclosure that could harm a party’s business, market position, or competitive edge. 

The  rules regarding Commercial in Confidence are very much a flexible and often abused government and business tool, but on paper they are straightforward and when used with integrity, are fair enough.  But they come with one major flaw. Just who decides what may be adversely affected by disclosure? And btw, one legit reason for CinC is to protect intellectual property, so it’s safe to say this doesn’t apply to anything to do with this council executive.

The ‘Pie asks this, because here is the real question: why was this matter discussed behind closed doors? Why are we not entitled to know firstly why there needed to be an exemption (all the more reason for this to be out in the public), and why are we not entitled to know who is providing services we pay for? Jenny ‘Mayor Mullet’ Hill was a past master in trotting out CinC on the most transparently unqualified matters,  particularly around dodgy financial matters  But wait, hasn’t everyone agreed that with her departure, we have travelled into the sunlit uplands of transparency and accountability?

Like fuck we have.

This will be added to the questions to candidates we are putting together.

And About That …

Given the not totally unexpected out-of-touch start to the mayoral campaign, The ‘Pie has decided to delay finalising the questions to be put to all candidates by email. We have plenty of time, and thank you, all of your helpful, sometimes funny sometimes balmy, sometime bullseye suggestions have been collated and are being refined down.  A bit more time will allow us to perhaps include glaring questions the Bulletin is sure not to ask. Keep an eye out and sent anything noted to comments.

From Comments On Monday.

DOLAN HAYES TO THE RESCUE. CLASSIC!!!!

Hahahaha, you can take the boy out of Townsville, but you can’t the boy out of Townsville affairs.

This story has all the hallmarks, the classic stamp of Dolan Hayes canny professionalism all over it …. The uncertainty of an mayoral election, unrest about jobs and progress, and even a welcome swipe at council bureaucracy. And anything to help a pissed-off mate and former business partner. Focus Pacific’s director Michael Graham is a long standing chum and former business associate of the now Brisbane-based lobbyist and backroom boy Hayes.

Mr Hayes … sorry, Mr Graham argues that the last minute pin-pull of the on the on again- off again, constantly down-sized project was all because of some faceless bastards at the council cooked up a story that he’d missed too many paperwork deadlines.

Which is as it may be , but Mr Hay … Graham unwisely says in the story “I remember Troy Thompson and Ann-Maree Greaney accepted our invitation to attend a soil turning ceremony, but two days before they cancelled,” Mr Graham said.

So two of the most unfancied – make that least desirable – candidates get a tick from Mr Graham?

And the Astonisher follows that up with this later in the story:
‘On Friday, October 10, Troy Thompson posted on his Facebook page about the lost Hilton hotel.
“When opportunity knocked, our own council fumbled it,” Mr Thompson said.
“Council refused to negotiate or grant extensions, despite the developer’s readiness to proceed.”

Maybe five years of chopping, changing and dicking the council around, with all decisions being made off-shore,  had something to do with it, but that’s not how dog whistling lobbying works.

Nowadays, Mr Hayes is deep into state matters, and remains a Crisafulli friend despite being a solid Labor man, so we await the premier’s boy in the mayoral race, Nick Dametto, to suddenly find this a worthy project suitable for rejuvenation.

Gotta love this town.

Any Flucking Questions?

Listening to the bullshit about the proposed Cluden water park cum hotel complex, The ‘Pie is reminded of the old joke about the Japanese pilot in WW11 who was inadvertently drafted into a kamikaze squadron. He wasn’t aware of the mistake until the briefing explained in detail what lay ahead for his last flight.  At the end of the briefing , the officer asked if there were any questions. All was silent until the shocked and confused newcomer stood and said  ‘Any flucking questions?!?’ (Better said than written, but you get the idea).

Well,  The ‘Pie isn’t suicidal but, boy does he have some flucking questions about this you beaut water park and the paper’s reporting of it.

The old bird was dismayed when not one single councillor  (shame on you, Robbo, Suzy) or the acting mayor (or subsequently the Bulletin) thought to politely ask: where is the $550million for this venture coming from? That’s $550 fucking million, folks.

C’mon.

From a ex-footy player from Ayr whose business claims don’t go anywhere near matching the simplest research, which make him sound like he’s had more head knocks that Troy Thompson? And more disgracefully, the paper didn’t have the tiniest tinkling bell suggesting a bit of a look at available background evidence might be a good idea. Oh, well, let’s face it, the reporter was Leighton Smith.

So The Magpie will, as usual, do the Bulletin’s job for it, because it has  again been selling false hope for a cheap headline and (it hopes) readership, all through sheer laziness. Because if they looked into the following, it may well turn out to be a much better story than honeyed words and unsupported assurances of ‘she’ll be right.’

Of course, all of us in Townsville would love to have a water park, why wouldn’t we,  always have, but what we don’t need is another half-arsed chancer developer yet again causing community despondency when grandiose blather turns to bitter ashes. We don’t deserve it.

So first, the Mexican restaurant franchisee turned developer Shaun McCarthy.  Now Mr McCarthy, you will no doubt be reading this (probably at the behest of a misguided lawyer), The ‘Pie does not know you,  and bears you no personal ill will, and is just working on available information which you are at liberty to correct on this blog.

You have claimed (or at the very least, have not refuted) in the Bulletin and on another site (we’ll get to it in a moment) that you have opened 56 restaurants in Queensland and 26 in Ireland.  Any timeline on this unbelievable (and I mean un-bloody-believable) claim is not available, but christ, man, you must’ve been a juvenile genius,  because guess where you’ve been for the past 14 years.

But let’s be generous here, and suppose your claim of ‘opening’ 56 restaurants in Queensland  are just franchises … well that’s some feat in itself, even if you just rocked up with the keys on behalf of franchise owner, because Zambrero only have 59 Queensland outlets.  ‘Opened’ is very different to founding, owning or operating, so mate, if it sounds like bullshit … you know the rest. And 26 in Ireland? Now that is interesting. When were you there, because according to your Linkedin bio,  you were busy giving the squitters to  a Townsville clientele. (Was that the one in Flinders Street that under recently?)  But it seems you rugby players have a thing about Zambrero, although it can’t be the 26 in Ireland you claim, because we just came across this – from August last year.

Maybe Darragh was a team mate and you got the idea for a Zambrero story from him … along with a good dose of his Irish blarney. Shaun, by all appearances (including some of your own incredible words – 35 chefs indeed!) you got out of the Anelay venture by the skin of your teeth. You certainly didn’t get out with $550m.

Which brings us to this gentleman, one Neville Smith, of the commercial real estate crowd Burgess Rawson.

Just what he’s got to do with this isn’t clear, but Mr Smith penned a pants wetting article about the proposed water park in the industry magazine  The Hotel Conversation (which includes Mr McCarthy’s restaurant claims). It’s a gusher big enough to be  a water park feature. itself

Mr Smith is the head of the Townsville office of Burgess Rawson, which describes itself as ‘one of Australia’s leading property agencies and is full service agency, we sell, value, lease and manage commercial and residential investment assets for a large private investor community. ‘ Ah, so you’ve got some money tied in, a few lazy hundreds of millions from a magic investor?  Did they stump up the not inconsiderable cost of getting approval through council … and this is, remember, only a preliminary approval, for a major development in the troubled sewerage corridor that takes in JCU, the TU hospital,  Lavarack Barracks,  and the nearby Fairfield shopping mall.  Mr McCarthy, your breezy assurances of ‘no worries, she’ll be jake’ to the council are far from convincing.  But if that is the case, and all is … shall we say, … watertight,  The ‘Pie humbly apologises for asking so many questions.

Still, The ‘Pie is happy that he doesn’t live in Wulguru.

By the way, how are things progressing with the Turf Club, owners of the proposed site? At last report, they still own it, and no indications that a sale is imminent.

But For Their Age, Sterilisation Would Be Justified

If the Bonking Beetroot started humping Hanson,  and offspring arrived, the outcome would be inevitable.

Fortunately, that possibility is , well … inconceivable.

Just As Well The DMR Aren’t Bank Robbers ….

… they’d be like a Carry On comedy.

Paluma residents are still enjoying travel restrictions as seemingly never-ending work to repair the weather damaged (10months ago) Mt Spec road, but they were even less amused recently . It seems the DMR contractors  were recently  confronted with a rock in a hard place – this one, in fact.

Yup, a bloody big un from the Dreamtime.  After half a dozen hi-vized blokes stood around for a couple of days weighing up their options, it was decided that crowbars wouldn’t do the job (‘Bugger that, Neville, me back’s already crook, let’s blow the fucker up.)  So the DMR’s award winning PR team (don’t ask what award, please) advised Paluma residents that they wouldn’t be able to use the road between Friday 17 just gone and tomorrow Monday 20.  So Paluma residents , a stiff upper lip lot by now,  rearranged social plans,  including a large district social gathering in the Paluma Hall, and weekend shopping trips.    DMR crews were assembled, safety blokes with lollipop paddles were lined up,  the essential mobile canteen moved a safe distance away, and they were all set.

‘OK, all looks safe and ready. Lug that bloody dynamite up here, Nev, we’ll pack it around the base.’

“Dynamite? What bloody dynamite, Cyril? That’s not my job, bloody dangerous, that stuff.  Mick’s supposed handle that side of things.”

‘Yeah, but Mick’s off sick with that blonde up at Cairns HQ. You were told to get it instead.’

Was not.’

“Were too.’  And so forth

So the day before the supposed closure, Paluma residents received this.

And it just so happens that the large social gathering was rescheduked for … you guessed it …  November 1.

The One Brilliant Success That Benjamin Netanyahu And Trump Don’t Want To Claim … But It’s Theirs Alright

What is happening right now is just a small pause in what has been happening for 2000+ years,  and there is the logic of bitter experience in believing peace is nowhere in sight. The reason is that for the past two years or more, Benjamin Netanyahu, with Trump’s acquiescence, has conducted one of the most successful Hamas and terrorist group recruiting  campaigns ever, to promote further generational warfare.  It’s been the ultimate radicalisation.  And not just among Palestinians and other intractable groupings of the region.  Ironically,  Netanyahu’s relentless genocidal campaign, so resembling a Nazi strategy,  has given energy to extreme right wing groups around the world, most of whom are antisemitic.

And strutting through all is the cartoon figure of Trump,  claiming he deserves the Nobel Peace Prize.

Wonder If We’ll Get Something Like This During Our Election Campaign

A couple of councillors have already shown they are getting savvy with social media to push their arguments, so wonder if we’l start getting ‘messaging’ like this, from New York mayoral front runner and maverick Zohran Mamdani.  

…………….

Well, we’re off and running, The ‘Pie will do his best to keep up with things, keep an eye out for any developments in comments.  Donate button to help out with Nest costs is below.