With ratepayers money.
Seriously, has she lost the plot? Or misread the mood? Or simply thought she could get away with it? jenny Hill’s planned investment of $18.5million of ratepayer money in a bush airport for the Adani mine has Townsville in uproar. Some are asking if it amounts to corruption? The ‘Pie reports on this mega shit storm.
The power players behind the tangled web that Adani has weaved together both in George Street and here in the ‘Ville … The ‘Pie does the familiar exercise of joining the dots.
Why Damien Tomlinson wins The ‘Pie’s occasional award The Janus Two-Faced BUMM Chalice for the second time in two weeks …
And we again prove that there is indeed a word for everything in this world … but what a choice; did we this week witness ‘malverse’ actions, or rampant ‘ultrafidianism’, or perhaps just ‘ostrichism’. The ‘Pie has unearthed some great Words For Our Time.
But first …
… this week, we give pride of place to Bentley, and his eloquent depiction of the great American Dilemma … and the stupidity driving it.
Says it all, sadly. Great comment, mate.
Mayor Mullet’s Muddled Mandate
When Jenny Hill campaigned for mayor at the last election, she was at pains to trumpet herself and her team an ‘independents’, unaffiliated with her life-long love and membership of Labor. While that didn’t really fool anyone, it played well with an electorate tired of perceived council in-fighting and a mayor powerless to push through her own agenda. She romped home with her ‘independents.
So we have an electorate that acted in haste and is now repenting at leisure, in large part because Mayor Mullet has allowed hubris and over-weaning arrogance to delude her into thinking she has a mandate to do as she wishes. Even if this includes by-passing normal communication with the electorate and imposing untested and undebated ‘Jenny knows best’ measures.
But her latest unilateral bombshell … pledging $18.5million of ratepayer money to Adani to build a FIFO airport for the proposed Adani Carmichael mine … has clearly defined her wilful confusion over her ‘mandate’. Along with it comes the loopy idea that Adani will be obligated to employ a certain number of Townsville residents as workers (750} or have to pay the council a ‘rebate’ per worker for any shortfall. Just how this would be policed is fanciful in itself … the mayor has outlined a fairy floss scheme to check numbers, which no one for a moment believes – but hasn’t given any thought to what barriers there may be to this, including national privacy laws.
All this is almost certain to result in her most embarrassing back down since her campaign claim that ‘there is no water crisis’.
The Core Of The Problem
Simply put, Jenny Hill was elected to be the champion of the ratepayers, but instead – in direct conflict with that traditional local government responsibility – she has decided to paint herself as the champion of the jobless.
Unemployment has never been a direct remit of local government, but Jenny Hill sees this as a populist vote catcher which will position her as champion of the working person and of the city. Straight out of the ALP playbook, which is fine – unless you’re in local government. Outraged ratepayers by the hundreds have already swamped social media, and that will soon be thousands, dismayed at this proposed use of council funds. This blog’s comment section has never in its seven years received so many angry comments on a single topic. Or so quickly. This one, although couched in more reasonable tones that most of the other naysayers, reflected the community’s deep concern with this idea in a neglected city.
The secrecy surrounding the formulation of the scheme – a total the lack of public input – has also raised serious questions, including some very pertinent ones about the role of the Townsville Bulletin. This dying paper is widely seen and derided as the mayor’s public relations unit. it is also being lampooned as the Adani Argus. There was not a hint of this airport idea in its pages until the plan was presented as a fait accompli this week. But just before we read of the airport scheme, we were ‘softened up’ with the usual insult of treating the community like prepubescent children.
Casting Mayor Mullet as Snow White is pure fantasy land, anyway. So it certainly was exclusive, no one else would be deluded enough to make that claim.
So Is This Corruption?
The Magpie has been flooded with commenters deriding the airport idea, with some even contacting the Crime and Corruption Commission asking for an investigation. (You can too, it’s an easy process, go here https://secure.ccc.qld.gov.au/corruption/online-complaint-form/wizard_form).
Incidentally, Rockhampton will pony up an equal amount to the Adani coffers for the proposed airport. there is a similiar uproar about that down there. Rocky’s mayor who approved the deal, Margaret Strelow is a Labor stalwart who went on the Indian trip with the premier, but she may not have to face the consequences of her airport pledge … good chance there’ll be an election or a by-election in Rocky soon, and the premier is pushing for her to stand for Labor. It’s just all so cosy, as you will further see in a moment.
So what would the CCC have to look at that might interest them?
Well, both mayors and the Queensland premier journeyed to India to be duchessed by Adani, which picked up the tab for various parts of the trip, including sanitized tours of some of its operations there. Ostensibly, it was the premier and the mayors seeking something from Adani … primarily jobs and the political benefits that flow therefrom.
But you’d have to be stupid – and the CCC ain’t – to not realize that Adani was then, and is now, waging an aggressive and expensive PR exercise to soften up the Federal Government for a low cost billion dollar loan for a mine-to-port rail line. So a closer look at that Indian trip, any subsequent contact and possible illegal inducements could well be in order. Also, although perhaps not directly of CCC concern, it is yet to be revealed where the airport idea came from. It seems Mayor Mullet would like us to think it was her brain wave, to bolster her standing as the champion of the jobless, but it is a safe bet that it was condition hammered out by Adani to split the illusory FIFO preference between the two cities.
It’s JOIN THE DOTS Time Again!!!
This whole Adani thing actually has very little to do with coal. The dodgy Indian corporate giant is in deep financial do-dos, and is conning various levels of Australian politics to save its arse. This report tells you everything that the Bulletin, Mayor Mullet, Premier Alphabet or Adani’s flack army will not. And this one tells you why Mayor Mullet and her back room crew (more on them in a sec) should hold off popping the champagne corks just yet.
And this from today’s Astonisher tells you just how fit this man is for a role in national affairs.
The ‘Pie would love to know how the ads, in several Murdoch papers, were paid for. If they were paid for at all.
You may remember that last December, the SMH carried a story that said Adani didn’t need the Feds $1billion loan for the rail link. It included this par: ‘But Adani spokesman Ron Watson said while such a subsidy could fast-track the project and underpin about 1500 jobs, it was not a prerequisite for the crucial rail line to proceed.’
The somewhat elusive Mr Watson, used to be a media flack for Goss Labor. Ronny worked under Dennis Atkins and Dave Barbagallo. Big Dave is back as Anna’s CoS. Adani also have former ALP State Secretary Cameron Milner on the pay roll. Figure they’ve got the ALP by the short and curlies.
But the real one to watch here is a crowd called Next level Strategic Services, they’ve got more fingers in pies that the Collingwood proctologist. One of those pies (no relation) is the Townsville City Council, but that is just small fry next to the main game. A Magpie mate confirmed the VERY interesting tie-up. See if you recognize any names.
Magpie mate says that it seems Next Level Strategic Services has a gig with ALP moonlighting on a number of fronts – Adani cheer leading, coaching TEL and the Bulletin of Adani ‘benefits’, downplaying-silencing State Govt role in TSV water storage issue ahead of election (TCC all very quiet on water management advocacy at present) and trying to hold together the sagging State Labor vote in the ‘Ville.
Adani lobbyist and Bill Shorten’s former chief of staff Cameron Milner helped run the re-election campaign of Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. This support, according to The Australian, has been given free of charge:
Mr Milner is volunteering with the ALP while keeping his day job as director and registered lobbyist at Next Level Strategic Services, which counts among its clients Indian miner Adani…
The former ALP state secretary held meetings in April and May with Ms Palaszczuk and her chief of staff David Barbagallo to negotiate a government royalties deal for Adani, after a cabinet factional revolt threatened the state’s largest mining project.
And then there’s this fellow.
That’s the Impaler-appointed and imported TCC Community Relations Manager Stephen Beckett. Announcing the appointment, CEO Ms Impaler Young said ‘Stephen has extensive experience in both Government and private sector. He has most recently worked as a senior manager at advisory firm Next Level Strategic Services. Previously he Deputy Chief of Staff, to Premiers Anna Bligh and Peter Beattie.’
He also worked on the premier’s initial election defeat of Campbell Newman, which means he is a MIlner mate.
Seems like a cosy club, but we up here should feel the warm glow of not being left out, we’ve got Mr Beckett. And The Impaler.
All this may mean nothing at all, but at least you know. Someone has to tell you these things.
Geez, with all this Labor love around, bet mayor Mullet is regretting becoming an independent, wink wink nudge nudge know what I mean.
There Always A Word
The Magpie often indulges his habit of seeking out unusual words to annoy his less tolerate readers. In one of these ambles around the web, he came upon a cluster that seemed tailor-made for our current debates. These were found on the excellent Haggard Hawks word blog. Insert your own characters to fit.
MALVERSE
To malverse is to act corruptly in an elected office or position of trust.
ULTRAFIDIANISM
‘Ultrafidianism’ is blind, unquestioning credulousness or gullibility.
OSTRICHISM
‘Ostrichism’ is the act of dealing with a problematic situation by ignoring it and refusing to face reality.
And one of which The Magpie has ben cruelly accused by the less gifted …
CACOZELIA
‘Cacolzelia’ is awkwardly or pretentiously dropping foreign words into everyday conversation so as to appear learned or sophisticated.
To which The ‘Pie can only reply Quell horreur, moi, une mere jacasse, moi!?! Merde!
But speaking of merde and the week’s happenings both with Mayor Mullet and Prez Trumpet in the US, this bobbed up …
It is the depiction of a mythical beast that has been around for thousands of year and is called a bonnacon. This bull-like creature has horns that are turned inward, and so uses as its defence high powered streams of toxic, burning poop that it sprays at pursuers to dissuade them from the chase. Like say …
Reminds one a bit of Barry The Legal Foghorn Taylor’s favourite tactic. Too bad its hasn’t worked on The Magpie, eh, Bazza? Waiting to see you and the Rabster in court at your convenience mate, can’t wait.
Goofy Is As Goofy Does
Damien Tomlinson is becoming an embarrassment … to himself. Perhaps he’s living up to his initials, or he’s suffering early on-set Alzheimers.
He indignantly burst forth in print this week, taking a big stick to the ABC Four Corners expose of the Adani mob. The much-lauded program laid bare the considerable shortcomings of corporate, social, environmental and legal responsibilities of this shonky outfit. But Damo is a loyal little puppy dog, so he dutifully wet himself all over the paper. The Astonisher’s self-appointed attack chihuahua really snapped around Aunty’s heels, not that she would notice. Or care … it is the Townsville Bulletin after all. And only Damo. But the hypocrisy shone like a beacon from the start.
Quoth Mr Tomlinson:
‘The ABC has a long history of attacking the Adani, as we reveal today. The Four Corners team knew exactly what kind of story they were going to do before the plane took off.’ Oh, the rotters!
Hahahahahah … wheeze – but seriously now.
You mean like when the Bulletin sent reporter Kieran Rooney as a sponsored bag carrier for Mayor Mullet on a ratepayer-funded jolly to India to brown nose Gautam Adani. Mr Rooney managed perhaps three insipid, forelock tugging stories as good old Gautam played him, the premier and Mayor Mullet like a seasoned game fisherman. Perhaps The ‘Pie does Mr Rooney a disservice, and he courageously filed a scathing story or two about the dangers of dealing with this twister, but they never saw the pristine pages of the paper that is now being called the Adani Argus.
The ratepayers got nothing more from Mr Rooney’s sparse dispatches from the subcontinent than they would’ve got from PR handouts from Adani Spin Central. And as the paper’s deputy iditor, Mr T, you certainly knew what you boy was going to write … because you no doubt told him before he left.
Park And Pay – Eventually
Times once were when you went to the Townsville Hospital, you parked in an asphalt paddock, went into the hospital for whatever reason, you left and drove away.
That then changed to you parked in a paddock, went into the hospital for whatever reason, then paid $5 to get out of the paddock to drive away.
Now, the Townsville Hospital Administration, chaired by former mayor His Radiance Tony Mooney, apparently has a new policy … you park in the paddock, go into the hospital for whatever reason, then QUEUE , pay, then leave the paddock. This was the recurring scene this week, and many other weeks as well.
When parking was introduced three or four years ago, there were predictable and forgivable glitches with the four or five ticket machines which demanded your five bucks. But there’s always been problems with what are complicated, not user friendly, machines. But lately ONLY ONE has been working. So this is a regular scene. And they’re still not easy to immediately work out, so as you may spot, a security guard is on hand to help with the legalized thievery. How appropriate that the hospital has come up with a bandaid solution.
But then, the modern curse of language is the twee metaphor to avoid the hard truths of life … and death. Especially in the US.
You’d think they’d at least change the address of the cemetery. Or is this a mafia business?
And finally …
Proof that home ownership is dramatically changing with the generations.
…………….
That’s it for this week, but the comments are guaranteed to be a lively arena throughout the week, hop in and have your say. And if you’re of a mind, a donation to help the costs of the blog would be a great help. The how-to-donate button is below.