Kitty now famous quip about David Frost’s early career – ‘he rose without a trace’ – certainly applies to Ms Brumme in the past year, but is only halfway apt in her case. Unlike Frost, who went on to great success in the media, no such trajectory can be safely predicted for this emptily ambitious and totaslly unaccountable dud executive. However, always the publicity hound, Ms Brumme’s recent slather of blather and vamping for the photographers – in the Bulletin particularly – is open to conjecture. Are we seeing the start of an so-far undeclared political campaign, unwittingly financed in part by the Townsville fatepayer?
Also this week, a no-brainer that could be an all round win-win for the council and ratepayers next wet season. But it’s so obvious that The ‘Pie worries that he’s missed it, and this cutting edge forward thinking council is on top of the icost saving, property protecting issue.
And again leading with his chin …. although distraught at The Magpie’s enforced break from The Nest, old mate Lighton Smith has wasted no time in re-entering the fray and crossing swords with The ‘Pie. Resulting with the usual Steggles Award of Egg On Face.
And two of the week’s best grim quips from a largely unfunny Trumpland to accompany this week’s small Gallery USA.
The ‘Pie is still settling into what he hopes will be return to a regular routine, but relocation still remains a bit of a whirl. Working on sprucing up the blog, and in readiness, have invested in a recommissioned computer to replace the ageing old war horse that has done the job for 16 years. But its a bit of a learning curve, so Nesters won’t be noticing anything immediately, and just at the moment, the regularity of a weekly missive can’t be guaranteed. However, The ‘Pie will do his best to meet the usual Sunday morning deadline, and of course, comments are back up and running 24/7, so dive in. A helping hand with blog finances remains a necessary ask, especially since The’Pie has taken an unexpected financial hit when he discovered Victoria does not provide rental assistance to pensioners, as Qld does. So any assistance – which will go on blog related expenses, not rent – will be as always greatly appreciated. As will emails with any Magpie-worthy info worth the old bird’s attention. I might not be in the immediate locality, but I still know where the bodies of the past 35 years are buried heh heh heh.
What a Brummer!!
Why wouldn’t she be laughing? TEL CEO and perennial underachiever Claudia Brumme.
Since being appointed to the TEL CEO in 2021 as the permanent replacement for Patricia ‘Lil Patty’ O’Callaghan at TEL, the then Ms Brumme-Smith (the Smith bit recently discarded which is a shame since the nickname Ms B-S was so apt) has presided over a primarily publicly funded operation which has been allowed to continue its historical ineffectiveness and unaccountability to this day. She has made a speciality of seeking credibility by clinging to the coattails of the achievements of others.
So what’s behind the sudden frequency of this woman in the news? Are we actually looking at an undeclared election campaign? Maybe, but first, a look at what’s been happening.
With the complicity of the equally inept and mistake prone Jill Poulson, the latest ill-starred editor of the Bulletin, it appears the unelected Ms Brumme has been elevated to the totally undeserved status of community spokesperson. Poulson has afforded her an occasional op ed column in the paper which amounts to a self-promoting albeit dishonest free kick that has yet to say anything substantive or relevant to her position ….
True … and virtually none of which had anything to do with TEL.
….and apparently at Poulson’s insistence the paper constantly sought out her comment on all manner of stories with only the most tenuous links to TEL, if any at all. More often than not, these are often accompanied with madam voguing and vamping in various vacuous fashion-plate poses.
In that last one, our gal is with the NSW (yes, NSW!) Treasurer Daniel Mookhey in Sydney at the inaugural Australian Data Centres Power & Water Summit. One can only hope that she is not going to blunder into that growing socially divisive issue of data centres. And certainly not to advocate for one in Townsville, or Lansdown. But if she does, whose interests does this unelected person represent?
This public visibility in never-repeated and expensive-looking outfits leads one to wonder if Ms Brumme’s lucrative but undisclosed contract, rumoured to be north of $300k per annum, also has an added extra clothing allowance courtesy of the ratepayers’ largesse. (An allowance, BTW to which the Townsville mayor is not entitled … which could explain the rise to fame of Mayor Mullet’s infamous Michelin Man ‘purple doona’.)
And the Bulletin, as well as Brumme’s own fantasy factory, the TEL media unit, has helped her elbow her way to the fore front, figuratively and literally, like this.
Our Claudy front and centre, holding the only thing she got out of the Canberra jaunt to meet Federal Government underlings.
Now, dunno about you, but The ‘Pie finds something offensive and demeaning about an unelected proven incompetent placing herself literally and figuratively in front of those mayors, that we have for better of worse, actually elected to represent us She is a figurehead and unaccountable chief apologist for one of the cruellest and entrenched hoaxes on the ratepayers of Townsville, other councils in the area, and the taxpayers generally. She has consistently refused to accept or meet any KPIs on any issue at all, and claims that TEL, despite its enormous public funds, is a private membership-driven outfit which doesn’t have to meet any disclosure criteria.
Which makes the latest Brumme broadside all the more hilarious in its basic if inadvertent admission of abject failure.
Led by chief advocate Claudia Brumme, the NQ TEL delegation got the bum’s rush in Brisbane in a pre-budget begging bowl session.
The TEL CEO, not helped by a happy snap of the her delegation’s abortive Brisbane visit, said she was ‘disappointed’ and ….,
So you expected nothing more from a mid-term budget, and got what you expected? FFS, woman.!! This for $300k plus per? ‘Disappointed’? Join the bloody club, lady.
A council that continues to throw money at this pretender need to take a hard look at itself. If it doesn’t, the electorate will eventually have had enough and take their own hard look at their councillors.
But There Seems To Be More Than Just This Outrageous Lying Just To Keep Her Job.
Is a political tilt on the horizon? By the nature of her position, Ms Brumme has had frequent contact with politicians of the day. Could she be a bit star struck and perhaps hope to join Susan McDonald in the Senate?
And she seems of late to be getting some political insights from a dubious source, in the shape of the booze bloomed political former dud Minister for Resources and Critical Minerals ,ex Member for Townsville, Scott Stewart, whom she has known for some time.
(shudder!!)
But that apparently blossoming Stewart friendship , no doubt containing an element of mutual personal consoling over similar changes in their private lives, might be of little use if Claudy is hoping that a leg over will get her a leg up with Labor. The ‘Pie is reliably told that our beloved ex-mayor Mullet has recently become quietly active again in branch politics, and she would not take kindly to an upstart trying to muscle in on her cherished ambition of a spot on Labor’s senate ticket. But if any ol’ party will do, there a few other possibilities for our neophyte pollie. The Katter Party might find her a slot, considering she has been championing the Katter family’s personal money factory, the Copperstring Project. Or any of the local seats if Crisafulli’s mob fall into disfavour .
Why not, on her current form of self-interest and evasive wordplay, Claudy would be a perfect fit to join the local Mardi Gras of drongos who have represented us for almost four decades.
Here’s A Suggestion For A Far Better Use Of The $750k Ratepayers Pour Into The TEL Sinkhole.
In his travels around cyber space, The ‘Pie believes he has come across a brilliant no-brainer for the TCC and its disaster burdened ratepayers. (Sorry folks, this is a serious bit.) There is a proven way that the days of the perennial scramble for sandbags at council sites when the usual torrential rains threaten could be a thing of the past … householders will have to do no more than go to the their garage or back shed to quickly deploy this brilliant new protection kit against residential and business flooding. At first glance, it seemed like some sort of scam … but, no, it is a very clever recently refined scientific breakthrough in flood control, based on sound principles of physics.
See the simple explanatory video here
https://www.facebook.com/reel/624548263669842
and then you can just google L shaped flood barrier and get a fuller story, there lots of well documented proof that these simple devices work with up to a metre of water. Of course, big floods will always be with us, but it is the frequent, almost annual sudden downpours where these barriers could come into their own. Houses like these could have damaged minimised if not completely avoided.
And these typical style of home … and there are literally thousands like it in Townsville and surrounding new suburbs, … would be greatly protected.
In fact, since successive councils have disgracefully allowed so much development on flood plains. new houses should come equipped with the devices.
The advantages for Townsville and surrounds are so obvious to be laughable. These barriers can be stored in. small spaces personally by residents and businesses, and the council can have its own store for wider operation on roads. Stacked away in a space saving corner, they can be quickly and easily deployed to strategically divert those frequent, widespread and damaging minor floodwaters. Because these barriers are reusable, being made of lightweight durable PVC – often recycled materials , another advantage – they are not just far more convenient, they can be put in place in a matter of sometimes crucial minutes. They also save the considerable council expense of trucking sand to bagging pointsand monitoring the regular mad scramble to bag up.
Which brings us to another point that should not be lost on those who depend on being voted back in to keep their well paid jobs … this would be a great and deserved vote winner if the council had the wit and the will not just to buy a store of the barriers for their own use, but also to create a subsidised campaign to offer ratepayers and businesses a substantial discount. The ‘Pie estimates the adequate protection for the average home on prices so far seen would be between $1500 and $3500 at retail cost. The bulk buying power of an entity like a Townsville-sized council would bring this cost down substantially, so along with the saving of greatly reduced sandbagging requirements and staff overtime, traffic control and public advisories, a reasonable price for such DYI household and business protection could be easily achieved.
If you think this is a good idea, pass it on to your local councillor, and let The ‘Pie know of any response.
Another plus is that these devices are now readily available from several importers (from the US and India primarily), so no 6 to 10 person delegation need to fly to Sweden, India or the US for a six week ‘evaluation’, jaunt, it’s a proven already at hand in this country.
Hmmm, come to think of it, The ;’Pie knows where the council bean counters could find a currently wasted $750,000 annually to cover these costs.
And the benefits would be real, immediate and tangible, not imaginary.
If you get my drift.
Oh, Lighton, Still Your Beating Heart, The ‘Pie has Returned.
The Magpie greatly appreciated and was deeply guilty on receiving your fevered email shortly before he departed North Ward. In your anguish, you in turn wailed in grief and howled in jilted anger at the relocation plans. But mate, The ‘Pie is back. And you have wasted no time in re-establishing loving relations with the old bird, via comments during the week. You were particularly taken with a throwaway line in last week’s Nest.
| It was mentioned email hidden; JavaScript is required 49.177.44.142 |
Submitted on 2026/07/02 at 9:46 pm
“Always rich pickin’s there” in Daily Astonisher yet you were uncharacteristicly light on for criticism of the paper in your first blog back. |
| 116.91.213.210 |
Submitted on 2026/07/03 at 3:28 pm | In reply to It was mentioned.
Now, now, Lighton, think before you comment …. unwisely saying ‘these days’ is a clear admission that the paper was previously lacking competency. And not sure why NOT writing about the paper would enhance the readership, but that theory will be put to the test next Sunday, old chum. But anyway … right track, eh? In the past 6 months, the editor has been forced to acknowledge and apologise for two major sloppy fuck-ups in production, one of the front page as previously reported here. Plus frequent and continued lesser bits of unprofessional fuckwittery.
One instance was your one dimensional profile on the end of the Townsville infestation by Mike Capt Sooze Reynolds. (40 years too late, but there you are, Townsville).Your stenography, Lighton, was at its shining best, word for word what the egoistical minor political footnote had to say about himself, which you swallowed hook, line and stinker. Interesting that, obviouslyo quaking in your usual bout of questionphobia, you didn’t ask one single other local identity for comment on the departure of a person you allowed to claim to have had major impact on Townsville as it is today – well, correct but not in the way you implied. For instance, it might have been most instructive if you had asked Tony Mooney about Snooze’s tommyrot claim that they were friends. The internal party enmity was such that towards the end of both political careers, Snooze and His Radiance had to be physically restrained in one fiery meeting before blows where exchanged. Such was/is the shallowness of your reporting but then you are deeply, shall we say, ‘embedded’ with Labor, aren’t you, mate? And just a small sample is this picture used in a Jill Poulson story a few days ago to honk on about totally unsubstantiated claims of a huge tourism boost due to TEL’s latest ad campaign.
Read the caption which appears with the photograph, a dated administrative instruction that makes the paper look foolish, careless and slapdash. BTW, try as he might, The ‘Pie has been unable to spot the claimed picnicking couple. Must be off in the bushes for a little recreational desset. |
But you weren’t finished yet, were you, old chum?
| It was mentioned email hidden; JavaScript is required 49.177.44.142 |
Submitted on 2026/07/03 at 10:00 pm | In reply to The Magpie.
The format for Characters of the North doesn’t typically include additional people’s interviews and quotes. |
Now there The Lazy Fuckers Excuse if ever there was one. And The ‘Pie is having none of it.
| The Magpie email hidden; JavaScript is required 116.91.213.210 |
Submitted on 2026/07/04 at 11:20 pm | In reply to It was mentioned.
Les isn’t leaving, is he, whereas someone who has been so involved in the city, often controversially, decides to up stumps, the wider view of others adds absolutely necessary context and counterpoint to onanistic self-praise. It needs some sort of peer review to be considered more than … wait for it …. stenography. |
All in all, it’s going to be fun being back giving you occasional tips about what your job actually entails.
Next time, let’s discuss you’re on-going wrestle with numbers, especially in relation to the V8 SuperPests attendance.
Two Quick Notes From The US
Given the multiple disasters the man/child in the White has inflicted on not just other nations but also his own, the the complete fuck-o-rama of the repainting of the Lincoln Reflecting Pool hasn’t had that much airplay over here. So just to summarise (courtesy of AI) …
President Trump’s $15-million renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool turned chaotic when the “American flag blue” pool quickly bloomed into pea soup due to summer algae. When crews added hydrogen peroxide to fix the green water, the blue paint began to peel, prompting the administration to blame vandals.
What is suspected is that Trump awarded the no-tender contract for the work to a crony for a suitable kickback and got what he paid for. It is also a verified fact (video is floating around, that before it was painted, this childish imbecile had his motorcade drive across the emptied pool before painting was complete, causing further damage. (Seriously, this bloke is beyond any doubt certifiably mad, he should be sectioned).
Anyway, all this fucktagled shittery prompted one frustrated Wall Street wit to suggest that added to Trump’s nickname TACO -Trump Always Chickens Out – should be another Mexican delicacy, NACHO, Not A Chance Hormuz Opening.
AND THIS WAS EVEN TOPPED BY ANOTHER POSTER WHO TIED THE TWO COCK-UPS TOGETHER, with …
The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool should be renamed to The Strait of Warm Ooze.
And one cartoonist tied it to a popular recent film.
And comedic curmudgeon Bill Maher had some sage advice for Trump when he said ‘If you want to stop being mocked, stop being funny.’
Quite so.
The ‘Pie will endevour to retablish te full US Cartoon Gallery next time around (hopefully next Sunday).
And Finally …
Naughty, but like the wordplay. The last word on the tedious beat-ups about who, what colour and which gender the next James Bond should be.
…………..
Cheers for now. Comments running hot already, get in for your chop. And a hand with Nest finances will be always be greatly appreciated. Donate button in the usual spot.
Ahhh, Sunday mornings are normal again, a cuppa and a read of the Magpie, bliss!
Not that I have any time for Captain Snooze, my first & only contact with him as mayor when trying to find the reason for a strong petrol smell in the Mayoral VK Calais. The first mayor to a have a car supplied. I did see an article, probably facepoop, that he is leaving the city for medical reason.
Yes, Snoozey is leaving to have a lobotomy done. No loss. Another leech leaves the city. Perhaps he is going to be Prins neighbour in Brisbane? Snoozey, please take that skidmark Thompson with you.
Hey Maggie,
Good to see you back on song.
Thanks, Sean.
Regarding your questions about the computer … the desktop Mac was 12 years old and would not accept the latest version upgrades. And like everything and everyone who ages, was slowing down Hence the necessity for new hardware able to accept the latest software (if hat’s the right terminology).
However, to avoid embarrassing himself, The ‘Pie isn’t keen to enter into comment exchanges about computers … they fall into the same discussion category as ‘what do women really want’ … i.e mostly unfathomable to the old bird.
Great to have you back, ‘Pie, and you’ve certainly given everyone plenty of food for thought in your most recent despatch.
It certainly seems as though Ms Brumme has enjoyed a surge of exposure in the local rag recently. Thinking it would be interesting to look back over the past few years to see how her Astonisher mentions have ebbed and (mostly) flowed, we come up with the following:
Jan-Jun 2023 – 12 (of which four pieces were self-servingly penned by Ms Brumme herself – surely these are paid advertorials, or should be, rather than ‘columns’?)
Jul-Dec 2023 – 25 (including six self-penned pieces and four same-day rehash editorials)
Jan-Jun 2024 – 50 ( incl six self-penned, four editorials) Also, she placed #6 in their list of most influential / powerful women in that year’s presumably highly subjective survey
Jul-Dec 2024 – 45 (5 self-penned, 4 editorials)
Jan-Jun 2025 – 53 (5 self-penned, 9 editorials) #12 most influential
Jul-Dec 2025 – 33 (3 self-penned, 3 eds)
Jan-Jun 2026 – 56 (7 self-penned, 7 eds)
Grand total: 274
(It’s worth noting that there has been the rare letter or text, skeptical if not downright critical of TEL, that has snuck past the Astonisher’s gatekeeper…but not many. I make it around ten, in all that time.)
Of equal interest, however, is TEL’s Board of Directors, operating in virtual silence in the background, and to whom Ms Brumme, presumably, is answerable. Kevin Gill, still Chairman, has had fewer mentions in that capacity (15, including two editorials) in the same 3 ½ years as his CEO has enjoyed in just about any six-month stretch. Then there’s council’s outsized Board representation, with both the Mayor AND Training-Wheels Mooney serving as Directors.
(Just for laffs, I also checked out how often their Marketing lass Lisa Woolfe has been allowed to take centre stage – or at least share the stage – in Astonisher articles during the same period: 74)
I totally get that TEL’s role as advocate for Townsville and the wider region is an admirable one which should – in theory, at least – be supported with full throats…but the person who’s been chosen as the public face of the outfit is arguably making things more difficult for them, and by extension the city / region. Any setbacks (such as annual state and federal budgetary disappointments) are airily dismissed as out of their hands (which, to be fair, I suppose they often are), but EVERY putative win (rock concerts, international sporting fixtures, cruise ship schedules, international flights, V8 attendance figures, etc, etc) is aggressively claimed by TEL, for TEL, without any science to back it up. If any of these victories could be quantifiably laid at TEL’s feet, no doubt they would be happy to show the worksheet showing how their hilariously ambitious local-economy-injection figures were reached. It also makes it harder to filter out any wins – major or otherwise, but any win they claim is inevitably ‘major’ – that they genuinely CAN take credit for, if they take without-us-it-never-would-have-happened credit for ALL of them.
What bugs me most is their smug attitude of, “we’re all that stands between North Queensland and economic oblivion”. That, and how successive Astonisher editors have given TEL a sense that they’re a law unto themselves and entirely exempt from scrutiny. They’re not even coy about it.
Truly disgraceful. You have one job, Astonisher: Journalism. Do it. Please?
Impressive research CHF.
The relationship between Ms Brumme and the paper seems to be a girls’ club one with Jill Poulson at the other end, a suggestion bolstered by Ms Poulson’s highly unusual move (almost unheard for the editor of any worthwhile paper)in direct general reporting instead of just her usual mimsy, fence-sitting iditorials. Especially that recent splash – more of a splatter really – about the you beaut tourism figures spuriously and without any evidence sheeted home to the TEL-managed advertising campaign. There was none of the usually expected explanation of the methodology of how the empirically unbelievable figures themselves were reached. It seems that the advertising department has advised the toothless editorial tiger to favour what is perceived to be a business friendly approach.
A couple of other points … although on the surface, the standard business arrangement of a CEO reporting to the board is almost certainly reversed in TEL’s case … they appear to accept whatever Brumme says is the strategic path ahead. Which means we are at least spared an alternative of a bumbling, stumbling directive from the failed airline executive Gill.
An it has been strongly suggested by The ‘Pie on previous occasions going well back, there are certain legal and ethical questions to be asked about a mayor and councillor having places on a board where they hold crucial council chamber votes on annual ratepayer contributions to this secretive organisation.
Claudia Bumme-Smith is a protected species. Jo McCabe missed an ideal opportunity to gut and restructure TEL when he commenced his tenure. Gill is yesterday’s news and is jot capable of being an effective Chair of TEL. Claudia has been with TEL for around 5 years now and proven herself to be a non-achiever and only capable of parroting bullshit. Birthday cakes around the tea room while engaging in all-girl talk about periods, bloating and facial hair is the normal activity of the mostly female stacked workforce. It’s time to shut this shit show down and construct something more valuable and tangible, including a new CEO, a new board, and some testosterone.
Leighton Smith is a joke. He can’t get a real journalist posting in a city because he is lazy. He copies and pastes news material because he doesn’t have the necessary skills to do his own investigative work. And as has been pointed out previously in the magpies nest, Leighton has pinched scoops that have been unveiled by the magpie, and then Leighton has used that information in his own paper, albeit several days after the event. No wonder the local news is so shitful.
Well, we need a little context to that claim, which has been made before. To The ‘Pie’s knowledge, only two or three things have come to his or the paper’s attention through the Nest. It always best to remember in this area that as an impecunious blogger, The ‘Pie can write things that a cashed up vey suable paper cannot. And the way things work, there is no ethical reason to credit the originator of a story if it is a follow on after the fact, and not a claim to have broken it themselves.
The real problem with Lighton … apart from either being lazy or a bit dull … is his one dimensional reporting and a o toal lack of inquiry to balance a story before writing it. He also seems to lack the required work ethic of asking difficult or awkward questions up front.
Is Gill being paid as Chair of a NPF organisation.?
I haven’t been able to access their annual reports, but I think it needs to be asked. If he is, how much?
If it is $0.00 he is doing a great job,
Nope. Available info says he and board members are all unpaid positions.
Which raises the question about how does sad sack make a living.
Gill the dill was a joke when employed by Queensland Airports Limited. He wasn’t wanted on the Gold Coast at their headquarters, so he was banished to Townsville. He is a complete dud, always has been and always will be. It’s funny though, Queensland Airports Limited is another organisation that has mostly females in its management ranks, just like the TEL. Wonder if thissignifies anything.
As has been mentioned, Gill is an arseclown. Regardless of if he is being paid or not, he is still the Chair and he does a fucked job of it.
For all the persecution of the poor downtrodden Lighton, I spring to his defence. Were it not for him, who else would accept the riveting reporting of the opening of the latest coffee shop or small niche delicacy purveyors. And, sadly, his talents are called for chronicling the demise of similar establishments. Mediocre stories only need mediocre journos. Hmm, not much of a defence after all.
Heard on Radio Dill is leaving TEL and the Board will be looking for another Chairperson. Also behind paywall of the Courier Mail.
As the Magpie would know by now, Gill the Dill has stepped down from the TEL chairmanship, apparently because “the time is right”.
Actually, the time was right years ago.
In fact, TEL has never explained how he got the nod in the first place. As I understand the situation, you need to be the head of a local company or organisation to sit on the TEL board, let alone act as chair.
Which also raises the question: How does Liam Mooney qualify?
Of course, TEL may have amended its constitution, or could it be they thought nobody would notice, or care?
This story should’ve come with a medical warning for diabetics, such is the cloying sugary claptnrap the expected load of old codswallop.
Interesting point that The ‘Pie has mentioned before in the blog about The Dill’s eligibility for the position, and another questions indeed occurs. We all know he was booted from the airport job, but if the board position attracts reputedly unpaid, what has Gill been doing for a crust? Or has there been 15 years of under-the-table ‘honorariums’ that have somehow slipped by the TEL beancounters? For 15 years? The Magpie has never heard a whisper of what he has been doing outside the TEL boardroom, for a crust, anybody know anything?
You will notice the Bulletin article does not carry a reporter credit. That is no doubt because this was all dictated from TEL House (wherever that is nowadays), and ordered transcribed by the iditor herself. It was bereft of a single inquiring question of what facts actually merited the masturbatory description of ‘a stellar 15 years of leadership’. FFS, Poulson must think we’re all eight years old.
This departure – yes, Tap Dancer, the time was right oh, let’s say, 15 years ago – smacks of some sort of nudge to create an already chosen heir to this poisoned chalice. What gives the game away that this dullard was sacked is the deliberate outright lies the iditor shovelled into this iditorial load of laughable praise for one of this city’s greatest drag anchors.
In among the deliberate lies of this disgraceful flapdoodle The ‘Pie must admit he was flattered when he copped an indirect but clearly targeted swipe from Polly the Parrot Poulson’s usual literary style.
The politest thing that can be said for Polly’s the Parrot’s news values is that they’re a touch inconsistent, The’Pie didn’t see any such gush about another undeserving but far more involved player when Mike ‘Capt Snooze’ Reynolds was leaving town.
The Townsville Bulletin and Jill Poulson have now established themselves beyond any doubt that they are a major part of the problems facing Townsville’s progress, and any good things that eventuates will come along in spite of, and because of, them. As it always has.
A community without an independent champion to watch out society’s interests is at the mercy of the worst sorts of predators.
About fucking time. 15 years is way too long in the same role. Absolutely ridiculous. 3 to 5 years is long enough for a board chair or CEO to be at the helm of an organisation. Alan Joyce did 15 years at Qantas and look at how he fucked up that business – outdated aircraft, ASIC fines, and the illegal sacking of workers. Gill should’ve left TEL when he finished his role with the airport, it’s in Council’s charter that the board member must also be head of a business. That mistake in having Gill the dill stay on was a lack of oversight and governance.
Now McCabe needs to get rid of Claudia Bumme-no longer Smith, restructure TEL and hire a board chair that isn’t a complete dud. Then again, pigs can fly can’t they….
But again, The ‘Pie asks, does anyone know what job he had for those 15 years, since the TEL Board Chairman is said to bean unpaid position? Is this a matter in which the CCC should take an interest?
The ‘Pie bases this on the fact that while hearing all sorts of trivia, facts and gossip (most unpublished in the Nest) over those 15 years of ‘stellar leadership’ according to the Bulletin’s main fluffer), the old bird never once heard of Gill in any business position in Townsville, or anywhere else. This is all highly very sus unless Gill was super reticent about embarrassing whoever was dopey enough to employ him.
According to the Dill’s LinkedIn profile (if it is accurate and true), he finished up with Queensland airports limited in 2020. So he has likely been retired or out of work for the past 6 years. Now that doesn’t mean he hasn’t worked, maybe he has been pushing trollies or painting fences and doesn’t want that tarnishing his LinkedIn profile?
Magpie, funny that you say you don’t have any knowledge of Kevin Gill’s personal income over the past 15 years and can’t find anyone in the ‘Nest who has a clue either and therefore you wonder if he should be referred to the CCC? Is your middle name McCarthy or something? I mean, is there something unAustralian going on here?
Prince Rollmop might as well be your lead investigator with his claim that it’s in Council’s charter that a board member of TEL must also be head of a business. What’s the “Council’s charter”? Is that a formal document or a figment of the imagination? Not that I really care but if you want to change the constitution and shake up the organisation it would help if someone knew how it actually works.
The ‘Pie hasn’t the foggiest idea what you’re trying to say, Bob. Have another go when the fumes have dissipated a bit.
Bye bye Kevin. Perhaps you will also leave town. Hopefully you do. You always were and always will be an idiot.
Well that question re Gills income needs to be asked of good old Leighton and the Astonisher. My suspicious mind tells me that this may be the start to some serious back handed funding exposure for Gill (and others) and how he stayed financial afloat in his role. Who’s the funding coming from ? Who’s potentially cooking the books and hiding such funding under other outgoings ? Maybe he owns several investment properties and collects the rent. Interesting days ahead possible !
There is no doubt that Claudia is being groomed for a life in politics. Traditionally there is a shortage of capable female politicians in state and federal politics. It would be no surprise if she popped up as a candidate for a state or federal role in the next 12 months. Personally, I don’t rate her at all. She is just a mouthpiece and is full of hot air, but then again, all that you need to be a good politician is to be a good talker and incessant liar.
You’re a bit indiscriminate with the word ‘good’ mate.
One question remains: what are ratepayers getting for the millions handed to Townsville Enterprise each year? Advocacy is important, but it has to be measurable. After years of public funding, the community deserves transparent reporting on outcomes, clear performance measures, and independent evaluation. If an organisation receives millions of taxpayer dollars, it should be accountable to the taxpayers who fund it.