Orange Is The New Black – Black Mark, That Is, Against Our Mayor And Her Council

Is the introduction of those orange e-scooters a tragedy waiting to happen? It appears that this whole idea was not thought through at all , and is already proving to be a dangerous dog’s dinner of an idea. And the public need an explanation from the council about what safeguards, if any, they have insisted on for this operation. The Magpie sees a big downside.

The Townsville Bulletin’s delivers a slap in the face to Townsville, attempting to make the city’s criminal low life of trollops and lawless spivs sexy and glamorous by dubbing ten chosen ones as the ‘hottest criminals’. And yes, they mean in the sexual sense. It’s an inexplicable new low bar for the Bulletin. And in another bad week for the paper, they manage a blatant biased lie about the Vice Presidential debate.

And ‘not guilty as charged, your honour’ …The Magpie replies to a barrister who suggests he was in part responsible for the tragic death of Judge Guy Andrew … that boot belongs firmly on the other foot.

And Senator Malcolm Roberts shows that just because you’re not in your right mind doesn’t mean your not right. The One Notion senator calls out the seamy underbelly of the Queensland Local Government Association. Wonder if we should LGAQ board member Jenny Hill for her reaction to allegations of massive corruption.

… and we have our usual gallery of the wildly free-wheeling American political scene.

But First …

Boot Scootin’ 

Often, what seems like a good idea can, with a little research and forethought, be realised as anything but. The cane toad comes to mind, think of all the angst we could’ve been spared if a little more research had gone into that ‘good idea’ before it was implemented. And just in the last week, we were told a similar story of unintended consequences when a mosquito-eating fish was introduced to our local waterways and is now causing havoc for the traditional owners, so to speak.

Unfortunately, our mayor and her council do not learn from history, and so it was that an orange blight has descended on the Strand and to a much lesser extent, the CBD.

Yes, a silent scourge of Pestus Scooteri (genus Electrus Idiotica) has suddenly arrived on our doorsteps … which could be literally, given the rules about leaving these bloody things wherever you like.

Now before you skip the rest of this, dismissing it as the harrumph of an old killjoy dinosaur, there are a few aspects of very real concern to ratepayers and the general citizenry with the sudden and unheralded introduction of the Neuron e-scooters to our parks, walkways and STREETS … yes, they’re ridden on streets and roads, sharing them with normal traffic. Bentley clearly sees the danger and illegality of these seemingly innocent machines.

Businesses have expressed concerns about their liability of these scooters being used on their leased outdoor areas. Dozens have walkers and joggers have also been dismayed about both the behaviour, the abandonment of the scooters and the young age of riders … which was clear evidence during school holidays.

As though business owners don’t have enough of a struggle in these particular tough times , here’s one instance of a more widespread problem. The owner of one of the most popular businesses on The Strand came to work during the week to be confronted with this over his outdoor dining area before it had been set up.

He told The Magpie:

Just had a big argument with a bloke moving them into my outdoor dining area….refused to move them 3m out of this area to the other side  side of the footpath….even after I told him they were in my licensed council approved outdoor dining space…refused to move them cause his boss told him to put them there….refused to give me her number….so I moved the 13 fucking things myself… (bloke said supervisor) was coming down…wouldn’t tell me when. Did I get pissed at him? Of course…yep… but only when after being told they were in the outdoor dining area and he refused to move them 3m…..I think they are getting hit from all angles. Maybe the scooters aren’t a bad idea but they certainly need to be more strictly controlled.

NB The top photograph of the scooters neatly lined up on a grassed public area was done by the business owner himself, who later told the Magpie that the supervisor was apologetic about the representative’s behaviour, but she had also admitted there were problems : “Night time in the park here is a real problem with incorrect scooter activity…to the point that she feels as though creating a black spot of operation might be a solution. There is a discount at end of service offered if left in a particular zone or spot??? 10% off . No further info on that one. There is a guy whose job is to relocate the scooters” …the dick I ran into. But isn’t it interesting that she was shocked in the anti social behaviours of some users? Despite it being their equipment, she felt that the police were on board with policing these things….some 300 of them.

But there are greater problems that present problems in minimising the danger posed by these scooters. Although there is a clear sign on every scooter that riders must be over 18, the overwhelming number of hirers are not, and some not even teenagers. Parents have been signing up on behalf of their kids, using the associated app to set them up. And wearing helmets is mandatory, they say – good luck with that, rules that are readily broken, as highlighted inadvertently by a somnolent Bulletin

The sign on every scooter also says no drink-riding … yeah, well good luck with that, too. And lots of ‘doubling (even tripling) up, but only one helmet is provided. Multiple breaches have been emailed in to The Magpie, including near misses by motorists. Under the present circumstances, it is just a matter of time before tragedy strikes. So with all this in mind, The Magpie emailed the company spokeswoman, with a CC to the Townsville Council.

Good morning, Charlene,

My name is Malcolm Weatherup, journalist and blogger/publisher of the weekly Magpie’s Nest.

I am hoping you might be able to give me an overview of your company’s policy is various areas regarding the release of 300 Neuron e-scooters recently in Townsville.

Specifically, can you address the following questions.

What consultation regarding safety, legality and liability did Neuron have with local police and the Townsville City Council?

Was there any feasibility and risk v reward study done by Neuron before the release in Townsville, or did it just seem like a ‘good idea and money spinner’?

Was there any fee paid to the TCC for permission to introduce the scooters here? Or vice versa, did the council make any payment to induce Neuron
Is your company indemnified for illegal behaviour (including doubling up, necessitating that one rider does not have a helmet? If so, how does that work?

Why do you not have organised and required pick-up, drop-off points for the scooters, which are now left about the place, creating an injury hazard to the general public?

Are you open to legal action should a scooter be involved in an accident on areas leased by businesses?

A small sign on the scooters advises that riders must be over 18, but this is widely ignored with even pre-teenagers seen using the vehicles, so do you have any company staff monitoring and discouraging this behaviour? Or does Neuron expect the taxpayer, though the Queensland Police Service, to carry that burden of duty of care?

Ditto above for the small sign prohibiting drunken ‘scootering’?

Does your company condone putting children and the general driving public in harm’s way with the scooters often mixing with heavy traffic on streets and roads?

What official position will the company take when there is serious injury or death involving a Neuron e-scooter? Will your Asian owners and head office be in any way liable, or is there an Australian franchisee to carry the can?

Appreciate your reply before midday Saturday, for inclusion in weekly blog.

Thank you,

Malcolm Weatherup
aka Townsville Magpie

No reply by time of publication, and won’t be holding breath waiting. But what do we get from our probing, investigative Bulletin … this …

… not one single question The Magpie posed to ‘Charlene’, who will probably get her arse kicked for her comments, anyway.

So, in the wash-up, it seems on early evidence that Townsville is in no way sophisticated enough at this time for the uncontrolled operation of these scooters, and until an acceptable system is devised, permission should be withdrawn before someone … probably a young person … is seriously injured or killed. Mayor Mullet needs to ‘please explain’ why she has allowed her community to be put at risk like this.

Will any one take note of what is said here? The Magpie doubts even the Astonisher will do it’s usual six-days-later follow-up, but The ‘Pie is just satisfied that these dangers are on record for when the inevitable occurs and those responsible cannot claim they weren’t aware of the bleedin’ obvious.

Seems Messagebank Walker Hasn’t Thought Things Through Either.

From comments during the week.

The Magpie 5,130 approved 138.130.42.20

Submitted on 2020/10/08 at 1:29 pm Naughty, naughty … Anybody want to tell Messagebank? If you do, don’t bother phoning, write him a letter. Using a Vehicle Horn Whilst Driving – Qld Road Rules The Transport Operations (Road Use Management – Road Rules) Regulation 2009 (Reg 224) sets out that drivers must not use a horn or a similar warning device unless it’s necessary to warn other road users or animals of the approach or position of the vehicle, or as part of an anti-theft device or an alcohol interlock device which has been fitted to the vehicle.

The Townsville Bulletin’s Contempt For The Townsville Community Couldn’t Be Plainer.

‘What on earth possessed them.

Two matters this week made it clear – as if further proof were needed – that the Townsville Bulletin is a morals-free zone.

The first, a disgraceful error of judgment, continues the paper’s long tradition,  that – in the fruitless chase for a younger readership – idolizing local criminals. The Bulletin delivered this callous kick to the guts to the police, Townsville generally and to victims of local crime specifically.

And there can be no mistaking what they mean by ‘hottest’, setting up a group of pathetic petty crims as –apparently – sexually desirable – ‘hot’ – role models. Looking at this line-up of scrubbers and pimply deadheads, you’d need a HAZMAT suit to venture anywhere near them socially. It is bad enough that the paper continually raids Facebook for ‘larrikin’ and ‘glam’ photos of life’s losers, often showing them making obscene gestures that highlights their disrespect for the law and for their victims. And these vacuous shits are smart enough to seek out the cameras when they leave court, so they can pose for their peer group’s knuckle-dragging adulation.

Seriously, editor Craig Warhurst, you owe Townsville an explanation, and an apology – this is even worthy of a complaint to the Press Council.

But It Is News Corpse Culture At Work Here.

‘Appropriate’ and ‘responsible’ are two words Rupert has expunged globally from the News style book years ago (phone hacking anyone?).

Want proof? Then consider this. News Ltd newspapers under the clear direction of Rupert Murdoch, are now so firmly entrenched in the Trump camp, they openly peddle fake news, in this case by selective, edited quoting. This organisation, which so regularly bleats in its papers and on SKY programs about biased reporting, hasn’t even tried to be clever. This (typically punning) headline is simply A LIE.

And the opening two paragraphs clearly prove the incredibly irresponsible bias of News Corpse.

At no stage does the story give context or expand on its claim. The clear intent through the headline and reporting was that Kamala Harris was ‘discouraging’ people from taking a COVID vaccine- period.

But here’s what she really said when asked if she would be inoculated and should the American people be inoculated if a vaccine was to become available:

Kamala Harris: “If the public health professionals, if Dr Fauci, if the doctors tell us we should take it, obviously, I’d be first in line to take it. Absolutely. But if Donald Trump, tells me, tells us, we should take it, then I’m not taking it.”

And before the frightened little troglodytes start foaming about ‘fake noos ‘, check it out here. (If this link doesn’t open, google it, easy to find.)

The full time score on this debate point: full points to Kamala Harris for recommending not to take Trump’s advice, much to the disappointment of bleach manufacturers and Syringe makers.

Anyway, the debate was won by Louie The Fly (see later item).

It is fair to say that the Townsville Bulletin never disappoints … so long you expect to be disappointed.

(Feeling) Guilty As Charged, Your Honour?

The sad saga of Judge Guy Andrew came to close on Thursday when his body was discovered near a walking track not far from his home. At the time of writing, the death was not being treated as suspicious. But these matters do not end quickly for those who remain; and we can have nothing but the utmost sympathy for his grieving family.

However, the soul searching in this instance is not restricted to family and friends. Some days after Judge Andrew was reported missing, but four days before Thursday’s inevitable conclusion, The Magpie was greatly affronted to receive this email, which accused him of being complicit in Judge Andrew’s situation.

In your publication dates 6 September you refer to the decision of the Full court of the Family Court which dealt with a judgement of Judge Andrew. You refer on page 2 of your publication to some information in your possession that “Andrew has in the past crossed swords with ” me.

I wish to make it quite clear that that information has no substance in fact. I had at no time prior to this trial met with. had contact with or appeared before Judge Andrew let alone appeared against the judge whilst he was at the bar.

I believe that unfounded statements made by you only serve to put additional pressure on the judge in the circumstances that have taken place since the Full court judgement. It completely misrepresents the truth of what occurred.

I trust you will correct your text and offer an apology for the inclusion of that statement.

Graeme Page QC

Barrister Graeme Page was the target for most of the court room attack by Judge Andrew, behaviour that the Appeal Court found to be ‘cruel, insulting, humiliating and rude … which amounted to an abuse of power.’ Being a matter that originated in Townsville, The Magpie of course reported on the matter, and that Judge Andrew had been called back to Brisbane for ‘mentoring’, as judicial babysitting is termed.

So, on review, The Magpie will agree that the possible motivation he reported in the September 6 article, although believed by his informants,  should have been a suggestion and not stated as fact. That has now been suitably amended, although many in the legal profession still find Page’s assertion never to have even met Guy Andrew baffling, and greatly against the odds in the legal world of Brisbane. More than one has suggested there must be some ‘back story’ for the late judge’s behaviour.

Be all that be as it may, The Magpie’s open reply directly to you, Mr Page,  is this.

Sir, your fevered attempt to transfer to me some responsibility for Judge Andrew’s mental anguish and subsequent actions clearly comes from someone who suddenly became alarmed at with his own role in this matter.

I totally reject the impertinent pomposity and illogicality of your ridiculous assertion, and do so with the following in mind.

If a small and obscure blog in north Queensland carries as much moral weight as you suggest, why did you leave it until several days after Guy Andrew went missing to contact me with your email of indignant complaint? Would your indignation not have prompted you to more immediate action, or did things start to weigh more heavily on you as time went by, leading you to aaa a silly assertion to an otherwise correct and minor complaint about my piece?

Why would it weigh on you, Mr Page? Well, perhaps it was the unusual circumstance of your own appearance in the appeal which subsequently brought down the damning judgment, a massive personal and professional blow to Judge Andrew. Is it not highly unusual for the same barrister to appear in an appeal, especially when much of the dispute revolves around that very barrister? Does not that departure from the usual accepted procedure muddy the waters of transparency, legal impartiality and remove any emotion from the proceedings and result?

Is it not fair and reasonable to believe you were insistent on being there to get your own pound of flesh from a person who had so egregiously insulted and belittled you in court? (Please do not try to suggest you were being valiant for your wronged client, no one will believe you.) Are you entertaining some regrets – indeed guilt – about so publicly bringing the judge’s failings into the public arena now, as reasonable and correct as that is in our society?

That being the case, it’s more than a bit bloody rich for you to so generously and erroneously try to share the blame around, to include an obscure blog in north Queensland, which attracts a very limited readership which most assuredly would not normally include Judge Andrew, his family, – unless of course they were alerted to it – or for that matter, you?

If my refutation seems untimely and unseemly, Mr Page, it can hardly be of little import to you. After all, as you say, you didn’t know the man.

PS It’s spelt ‘judgment’.

Speaking Of Judgments, And In A Less Sombre Vein

We’ve all seen those old western movies featuring a plain speakin’, moustachioed wise old judge who calls a spade a bloody shovel and delivers verdict with witty old-west aphorisms. . But if you think that is a by-gone era and certainly never did nor does exist in Australia, then you haven’t heard of Craig William Sanderson, the Master of the Supreme Court of (aptly) Western Australia. Master Sanderson has long been known for his humour and what has been termed his ‘eccentric style of judgment-writing.’

This from Wikipedia: Evaluating evidence given by a psychic detective in a recent case, the Master concluded:

The final witness called by the defendant was Gabrielle Therese Crofts. Mrs Crofts is the elder sister of Ms McNamara. Mrs Crofts has a number of qualifications and has worked for a number of years in the area of domestic violence. She is also a psychic detective… In the end I determined I would not take her evidence into account in determining this application. Given her psychic powers Mrs Crofts probably anticipated this outcome.^[7]

There are other examples but last month, Master Sanderson outdid himself, when he delivered one of the most unexpected, delightful and hilarious judgments ever put on file. From his opening: ‘Ode to a dying corporation … these reasons are not so much a judgment as a requiem’ to his final single word, in signing off on the matter this brief legal summation is a classic for the ages.

But after you’ve read this and get the impression Master Sanderson is some Sal Vasta-type buffoon (albeit far more intelligent), you’d be wrong. Some years ago, he was serious and smart enough to reveal through dogged persistence a grub solicitor who was raiding trust accounts, and who ended up getting 9 years for his efforts.

After A Speech In The Senate This Week, LGAQ CEO Greg Hallam Is Probably Soiling His Small Garments.

But the revelations have been widely ignored by mainstream media.

It was through the unlikely agency of Senator Malcolm Roberts that The ‘Pie learnt some interesting background facts about the LGAQ under CEO Greg ‘Pizza The Hut’ Hallam and a subservient board that includes our mayor Jenny Hill. . (NB The sensitive Mr Hallam once threatened to, or did, sue someone who had likened him to Jabba The Hutt, the Star Wars villain. A fascinated ‘Pie searched images of Mr Hallam and decided his jowly looks and restaurant-friendly figure had a closer affinity to Pizza The Hut, and thus the nickname.)

But The Magpie has long suspected there is a very uncomical side to Mr Hallam and his organisation, and that the empire building of the LGAQ is a rort, verging on corruption, especially the oft mentioned Local Buy. So it was with some satisfaction that Malcolm Roberts revealed a background unknown to The Magpie, when the senator made an anti-corruption speech in the Senate a few days ago.

Well worth a look and/or a read. Hansard text of the speech is here and a You Tube piece of Senator Robert’s delivering from the benches is here. Here’s a few salient quotes:

“The corruption in Queensland local government is systemic and criminal to the extent that people are essentially stealing from taxpayers and ratepayers. Government-provided taxpayer moneys are redirected, not spent on their intended purposes, not spent at all or corruptly provided to persons in exchange for overvalued materials and service.”

“The Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements, NDRRA, governs disaster-recovery funding. The Australian government reimburses 75 per cent of the cost of the works and the state government reimburses the other 25 per cent of the cost of the works. Emergency Management Australia administers NDRRA funding on behalf of the Australian government. The Queensland Reconstruction Authority and Emergency Management Queensland coordinate the NDRRA funding in Queensland. Councils regularly rort this arrangement with the assistance of the Local Government Association of Queensland, the LGAQ, through several of its business entities, including Local Buy.”

Senator Roberts cites some alarming examples, and then details something The Magpie has said in this blog on several occasions. To whit:

‘Local Buy is a wholly LGAQ owned company, set up with the stated aim of meeting the needs of local councils and with a procurement process that arranges contractors to fill council contracts. In reality, it’s a way to rip off ratepayer money, especially where the complaints processes and the anticorruption body, the Crime And Corruption Commission, the CCC, are so ineffective. Local contractors are often sidelined when contracts are given to outside contractors who don’t satisfy the required standards. Once Local Buy gives a contract to a contractor, a percentage of the contract price must be paid to the LGAQ for arranging the contract through Local Buy. The Local Buy concept is widespread and is clearly a front to gouge profits of up to 60 per cent from ratepayers’ money. The LGAQ protects Local Buy.’

Senator Roberts then discusses Queensland-wide council corruption in general terms but then reveals a common misconception about the nature of the LGAQ – it is NOT a government instrument but is a private outfit.

“A common link to this local government corruption has been the Local Government Association of Queensland, the LGAQ, a private company limited by guarantee, which many people think is a government instrument, but it’s not. The association’s principal activity is said to be representing Queensland local governments in their dealings with other governments, unions, business and the community. What makes the Local Government Association of Queensland unique are the special statutory provisions that made the LGAQ virtually unaccountable for their actions. Under rule 234 of Local Government Regulation 2012, a council is exempt from calling contracts to tender or calling quotes ‘if the contract is entered into under an LGAQ arrangement’. This includes a contract made with the LGAQ. Every contract the LGAQ enters involves a substantial fee being paid to the LGAQ. It is the classic cartel arrangement, prohibited in every other state except Queensland, where rule 234 legalised it. Rule 234 must be repealed to ensure transparency and integrity.

As for audits, under section 591 of the then Labor government’s Industrial Relations Act 1999, LGAQ Limited are exempt from appointing an auditor to inspect the accounting records and issue an audit report, as is usually undertaken under the Corporations Act 2001. There is no independent audit. The LGAQ is a powerful organisation that is well protected from revealing the murky side of operations. How such an organisation can have such wide exemptions from integrity checks and balances must be explained and remedied.”

Malcolm Roberts wants a corruption investigation be undertaken.  So do we.

Fat chance.

A Week When The World Was Transfixed By The Biggest Lie And The Smallest Fly

The Magpie has seen and heard nothing to make him change his mind that the mobster president, Donald The Trumpanzee, has ever had corona virus. The old bird’s assertion has attracted all sorts of tin-foil-hat jokes his way but as things have unfolded, all the evidence is with The ‘Pie. This shyster, a proven liar and schemer, has no right to credibility in his claim, and he clearly has engineered his ‘miraculous recovery’ to give his deadly outlook on COVID-19 legitimacy, a ‘I told you so’ chortling of a desperate man. Many credible people are cautiously coming around to The Magpie’s original analysis that it was all staged stunt.

But it was a tiny undiscerning fly, exhibiting an unhealthy curiosity by landing on Mike Pence’s silvery thatch during the debate with Karmala Harris that perked up a jaded audience. Needless to say, the fly was all the buzz with the penmen of America.

…….

That’s it for another week, numbers for the blog have ballooned in the past couple of weeks, so make sure you take advantage of the growing audience to have your say in comments. And as usual, the impecunious ‘Pie extends the begging bowl again, needing assistance in meeting his continual costs associated with the blog (phone, registrations, subscriptions et al). If you can assist, you will know you’ve helped to continue to deliver this regular Sunday missive. The Donate button is below.