And Townsville is betrayed and abandoned yet again by Brisbane …. if the current situation stands, the change of government has changed nothing. Worse than the deal that Thompson has manufactured for himself, is the self congratulations that ninny Ann Leahy is giving herself. This is shaping up as a major blunder and it’s time for Crisafulli to step in and show the leadership and guts his minister is clearly incapable of.
We’ll talk more on that shortly but we musn’t let that overshadow other matters of note.
Like Who got what and why? Councillor Suzy B asks the question for all of us, but gets no answer. But there must be accountability for this inexplicable generosity towards three totally undistinguished TCC staff and their golden farewells.
Think the Bulletin couldn’t go lower … the paper plays the race card for clicks, but the hypocrisy is breathtaking.
And in the US, some of The Chosen One’s choices are being unchosen … one of the most vile ones has already chucked in his Mar a Lago monogrammed towel.
A great deal of work goes into this weekly effort, and it is time happily given. But the truth is, costs add an extra burden to the operation of The Nest, and any assistance in this area will be greatly appreciated, things are starting to pile up a bit. The donate button is at the end of the blog.
It Isn’t Just Thompson Who Has Been Suspended For A Year, – Townsville Has Been, Too.
On full pay? For 12 months? Bentley for one feels for the poor bugger.
On every level, the decision to suspend Townsville’s accidental mayor Troy Thompson on full pay for 12 months is insulting, it is wrong, it is cowardly and above all else, it rewards fraud and dishonesty.
This city has been shafted, and any trust in governance for investors has been effectively shut down for a year. At least.
Of all the possible scenarios, this is easily the worst, and the cost to our future is inestimable. A year in which this city’s future will be further damaged by investor uncertainty and distrust of council processes. It always fascinating the speed with which political expediency can become a political explosion.
Put simply, Townsville have been abandoned, betrayed and financially penalised by that clearly incompetent and shifty nitwit Ann Leahy. .David Crisafulli,, you need a savvy politician in the portfolio handling the much aggrieved regions, especially given the damage the Olympics will do. This patronising frump is definitely not the person for the job … and you need to move swiftly to avoid further damage to the LNP’s brand.
It’s noted Leahy does a nice sideline in patronising insults to those she has just shafted. She had both the hide and the dumb ignorance to tell The Bulletin she has now cleaned things up and, oozing with enough self-satisfaction to match her waistline,, says she has freed the the council up and councillors ‘can now get back to work’. Oh, we humbly thank you, Your Condescensionness , for your wise words. But The ‘Pie makes bold enough to inform you this council has been getting on with it’s work just fine, without any need for Thompson,. The meetings have consisted of civil and mostly sensible debates and discussions on a series of issues, and then voting on them in the appropriate fashion. Tell us, just what matters have been held up because of the Thompson sideshow? None that The ‘Pie knows of, the agendas for all meetings since the election have by and large been handled as they normally would.
Ms Leahy, you are a very rude and stupid person.
And while we’ve got you ear, Premier (ha! as if ) why is this person even a minister at all? Is it appropriate that she was appointed even though it is known she is under CCC investigation regarding a political donations matter? On top of that, Premier, you will be well aware that in more than one reported conversation, she is on record as saying she didn’t think there was much wrong with Thompson as mayor anyway. Yes, really, and if you weren’t aware of that, WHY weren’t you aware of that?
But it is quite clear this is not going wash, Kid, dismissive nods north to Townsville’s outrage at this decision is likely to make vocal opposition to Strand parking meters look like a mere sniff and grumble. Seriously, mate, people are ropeable and the town is fuming.
The only answer is sack Thompson outright, and let him take his chances in court and other arenas …if you take in the calculable costs to Townsville over a year – and further if Thompson remains on the scene the difference in cost of him taking his (slim) chances in court won’t be much different. Waiting for the highly choreographed and inexplicably slow motion of the Tortise Farm aka CCC is not leadership, because an adverse finding is going to result in Thompson going down the same legal path. And if somehow he is cleared, the fallout at all levels will be …. let’s say … interesting.
And Most Interesting Will Be If We Note Any Difference In Another Area
We’ve just replaced these three MINO’s (Members In Name Only)…
… with these three, who are more MIAs rather than MINOs – as yet anyway.
So far, Marr, Poole and Baillie have had hardly anything to say. Let’s see if they really are going to make a difference in our representations to Brisbane, or if we’re in for more post election ‘let them eat cake’ politics. The ‘Pie can sympathise with this trio at the moment, bercause in truth it is pretty fuzzy as exactly what the party line is … and they won’t know that until Crisafulli man’s up, and sorts out what is clearly a cock-up. One that is, to use his favourite word on this issue ‘untenable’.
‘Untenable’ WasThe Word Of The Week In nother Matter, Too
The ‘Pie has to admit, he’s a bit of a fan of the Suzy Batkovic Attack Method, she’s a journalist’s delight. Suzy B can be a bit tetchy when she’s dealing with arsesoles like Thompson, she clearly doesn’t suffer fools gladly, but on other issues, she doesn’t pose or posture, she goes to the heart of a matter in plain language and a polite and deceptively conversational way.
And that is exactly what she did at the council meeting last week.
When the issue of the disgraceful and seemingly corrupt matter of severance overpayments of three executives came up, certain other councillors were as skittish as a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs,. But not Clr Batkovic – she cleverly tackled head-on a subject which appeared to implicate several councillors, including herself, in, at best, lazy oversight. Here’s The Magpie’s contemporaneous notes on that issue and other matters flowing from it. No one is going to get out of this with any honour
Does Iditor Cas Garvey Lisp?
That could explain why she thinks ethics is a country in England. The paper pulled the worst racist rage farming click-bait stunt imaginable last Wednesday, when they hit our streets and screens with this front page.
This is perhaps the most irresponsible of front pages lies that the Bulletin regularly trots out purely as click bait, and it is only a racist matter because the Bulletin and editor Garvey wanted it to be seen as such.
But it wasn’t anything to do with racism, and the paper’s story itself clearly showed the base manipulation of the facts and,opinion masquerading ss facts. .
The story is that a group of indigenous students (‘dressed to the nines’ – the paper’s flourish of setting the victim scene of ‘good little niggers’, a false portraiture of blameless, well behaved indigenous youth) arrived in a vehicle for the Kirwan High School formal. School authorities denied them entry when evidence of drinking was found in the vehicle. A minor confrontation developed, and the youths were allowed to do a pre-planned ceremonial dance on the red carpet but were still excluded from the event. But some of the teenagers parents instantly claimed racism, got lawyered up, and made a joint statement to the Bulletin about the treatment of the seven ‘first nations’ graduates.
The parents legal team is Levitt and Robinson (specialists in making a quid out of the aboriginal industry … Stuart Levitt did sterling work for the Palm Islanders over police behaviour compensation but then he realised the gold mine he had discovered and is available at the dop of a misinterpreted sword or act), So thet have or will be lodging a complaint with the Human Rights Commission FFS.
But, as is their habit in line with never fucking up a good story with facts, the papern left the bit that would’ve killed the story stone dead until the end.
So Cas, the kids were drunk or at least affected by alcohol, according to those who we put in charge of our school children’s welfare They were also under age. And parents clearly thought they shouldn’t;’t be discriminated against because they were pissed, which says volumes about from whence so many of our problems with indigenous youth stem.
It’s sad that these seven apparently diligent students finished school, were due to receive diplomas, and were reportedly good athletes and respected members of the student body. They made a mistake, – basically a small life lesson – which resulted in them being denied entry under clearly stated rules. But now, thanks to you, Ms Garvey, the parents and greedy lawyers, the wrong life lesson they have learnt is that you have told them no matter what they do, they are victims of whitey.
And by extension, you are undeniably suggesting drunk white kids would’ve been allowed in. Seriously that is beyond disgraceful.
‘Here’s a question: how would the paper have covered the story if the kids were allowed in, started trouble because they were on the turps, and someone was injured or worse. Without a doubt, you would come down on the ‘lax supervision of the Department of Education’ with some headline like ‘Kids Allowed To Run Wild.’
These kids did the wrong thing, tought it was a lark, but got caught out. But you, the parents and a rapacious mob of blow-in outrage farming lawyers are now saying the school officials (whatever race they may have been) unlawfully discriminated against these children because they were aborigines. In other words, you are saying those officials – teachers probably – are racists. No wonder we’re having trouble finding teachers, especially when they cop this crap from the likes of this cohort, led by the paper.
This is a fucking disgrace, it’s a big, nasty call, Ms Garvey, and you definitely owe the staff of Kirwan High School an apology.
On the front page if you had any decency.
Oddly enough, the best front page from a journo’s view was related to more serious indigenous bad behaviour. A clever headline that also summed up the problem.
Another Blow For Townsville
BREAKING NEWS.
Australia’s leading political and social satirists have decided to drop Townsville from its national political comedy tour.
“It’s a bloody long way up there, mate,’ a spokesthingy told The Magpie. “ I mean, we reckon you lot are probably maxed out with political comedy, given your council, whacky crooked mayor, three former state members, a weird newspaper and Bob Katter always around. Why would anybody pay to see us make jokes about politicians when you get all that for free. So we just thought, Nah, it’s Townsville.’
“We decided Gosford was a better bet.”
Bloody Gosford?!? Our shame is complete.
And A Trivia Quiz For You
Has it ever occurred to you that there are two entities with the acronym TCC …
…there is this TCC … Townsville City Council …
… and then there is this TCC … Townsville Correctional Center.
Given events over the years, how do you tell one TCC from the other?
Easy … the crooks in one TCC go home at night. Let you guess which one.
GOT ‘IM!!
Around this bend in the river, we don’t have to ask who this oily crook is none other than Jenny Hill’s favourite curry muncher Gautam Adani. Very uncomfortably and suddenly, Gotim, As he is known hereabouts, has had his world shrink somewhat, with the US issuing arrest warrants on charges of bribery … and sending those warrants to various other countries. One is almost certainly Australia, which no matter which party is in government, tend to honour obligations to act on such matters.
Gosh, bribery, eh? Like getting someone to use public money to build and gift him an airport next to his coal mine? Nah, make ‘em feel special with a jolly to india, that’ll do the trick. (But it didn’t … fucking journalists.)
But like they say, when you’re as rich as Gotim, (India’s second on the greasy pole) he’s got fuck you money. to spare. Which he makes clear at every opportunity.
And what’s more, he can use whatever finger he likes – billionaire’s privilege.
Pick And Choose … Then Choose Again … and Again Etc.
As ‘Nineteen Eighty Four’, ‘Brave New World’ and ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ approach reality in the United States, Trump’s cabinet choices are a mix of fake favour repayments but really just show business hokum which he knows will never get up, and some truly demented threatened appointments … even Republicans are likely to baulk at Kennedy as Health Secretary … one hopes the brain worms are hungry. And it seems the Mobster In Chief won’t be troubled by any court appearances anytime soon. For those of us enjoying this circus, it’s a bit redundant saying you wouldn’t be dead for quids. Because you may well be in the not too distant future.
….
She Knows The ‘Pie So Well
Nikki Osborne, who pens the occasional funny piece for the News Ltyd’s ‘lifestyle’ magazines, had a flight of fancy this week, imagining which Australian animals would be chosen to replace traditional star signs. Clever and amusing stuff, and The ‘Pie is sure Nikki must’ve had this old bird in mind when she chose the animal for his star sign. So accurate.
The first part is well known to Nest readers, the second part scumbag lawyer Barry Taylor found out for himself.
Computer Tip Of The Week
From The Growing Magpie File As A Species, We Are Fucked’.
Exhibit A: (or perhaps it should be Exhibit B)
Note the last line, clearly the original 2019 banana has long become monkey poo, so what the demented owner actually has bought is ‘the right’ to duct tape a banana to a wall and call it ‘Comedian’. The exclusivity of which will be harder than Albo’s Misinformation Bill to police. But maybe not much of a worry, bananas have always had various uses for various people, but whacking one on the wall with duct tape is not likely to start trending anytime soon.
You know, maybe Troy Thompson is right to thieve as much public money as he can, to enjoy what years we have left on this planet … which ain’t many in light of this art purchase.
The ants are ready to take over.
………..
It’s been hard keeping up with comments this week, have to admit Thompson and other council shysters are gold for Magpie numbers. Make your feelings known, grab a name to stay anonymous and share free slather. And if you feel the Nest is worth the trouble, you can help ease the cost burden with a donation … normally, The ‘Pie wouldn’t bother you with this, but unfortunately, he is not in a position to extort any money from the ratepayer piggy bank.
Bentley 
The Magpie 
WHO GOT WHAT AND WHY?
Suzy Batkovic asks the question on every ratepayers lips …. but gets stonewalled by ‘the rules’. But at least we have the assurance of that executives awarding themselves unexamined hefty bonuses won’t happen again.
And CEO Joe McCabe for some reason wimps out for some reason, refusing to answer a straightforward and reasonable question the answer to which Townsville ratepayers are entitled to know.
Clr Batkovic led the charge on asking tricky questions when the Queensland Audit Office Final Management report 23/24 came up for discussion. She was champing at the bit when the matter was opened up for councillor discussion, and went straight in.
She asked who signed off on separation agreements, and when McCabe confirmed it was the CEO,
Clr B went on: ‘So to clarify, the employee separations do not come to councillors, as it’s an operational matter?”
McCabe: That is correct.
Clr. B: Who signs off on the CEO’s separation?
CEO McCabe, looking a worried man, (he knew this was coming), gave a complete non-answer by reciting the policies council adopted last September to give more oversight by councillors on these matters. The new policy will be adopted at the next council meeting.
But Clr B is not someone to be toyed with by such an ingenuous answer, and refused to be deflected.
Clr B: So that ‘s in place now, but prior to that policy coming in, who signed off on CEO separation?
McCabe: (Indistinct but probably) I’ll take that on notice.
That was the first wimp out, there is no way McCabe doesn’t know … it was either himself, or there has been a major breach of regulations by someone else signing. He is clearly soiling his dainties because he is now clearly in the crosshairs of this matter.
But Clr B let that one through to the keeper, knowing all her questioning would be in the public domain and the problems belonged to the CEO (and presumably Sewell in the legal department).
She then asked if in any of these negotiations’ legal advice had been sought on the matters, and if so, was the legal advice external.
Again, the CEO, playing pigeon to the Batkovic cat, ‘took it on notice’.
Again, what he really meant was he needed time to see if there was a way out for him.
Clr. B then questioned why councillors were not provided details of these matters, even if such details remained confidential.
Clr B “I don’t understand what councillors wouldn’t be privy to understanding how these were itemised and this all came about and what that looks like, because at the moment, we have a total amount and I don’t know how it all looks and who got what and why’.
McCabe: “Regarding what information wasn’t provided to councillors, I will take it on notice.”
Clr Batkovic ended her target practice by saying she welcomed the newn TCC policy that will be clear about termination payments over and above what is agreed in employment contracts ‘because it was tremendously concerning to read (about that).”
(Quick explainer for those not familiar with all these officious s metaphors – taking something on notice is a pompous way of saying I don’t know and will find out and get back to you. Which the speaker often doesn’t do without again being prompted.)
But Joe’s discomfort was over yet, and it showed that he was a bit rattled when Clr Robinson asked a perfectly straight forward question whether any investigation was underway into the overpayments. On McCabe’s signal, legal boss David Sewell was quick to jump in from the sidelines, advising that it would inappropriate to answer that question.
But why? A simple yes or no would do no damage to anyone – unless it was no, then the shit would really hit the fan.
Was Sewell’s advice of secrecy perhaps hide his own the slackness and/or complicity in this rorting – he must surely have seen the final documents for legal approval. . And tell you what David, you needed that little Magpie slur, because if it’s an external investigation, you are in it yourself, up to the armpits.
But it was a question from Clr Dirou which elicited the a most interesting reply from our legal waffler when she asked just what would trigger a payment over and above the termination agreement. ‘if it was an employment contract, you’d think you’d need to pay as per an employment contract’, she said.
Sewell knew where this was going, but then got tangled up in his own skipping rope.
He said it was not uncommon for payments be above contractual arrangements in certain circumstances.
“For instance, there may be potential litigation relating to that termination, and litigation can be expensive relating to terminations, and there’s always the possibility of unfair dismissal or adverse action.’ So the council can be buklkied and threatened into an overpayment, is that it?
Sewell droned on for some time with statements of the bleeding’ obvious, but that opening line might give a BIG clue as to why the overpayments under discussion were made by executives well seasoned in the riches of litigation … they know, win or lose, how the very threat can blackmail councils and corporations into extortionate payments.
This is nothing new, it goes on all the time, but when it’s a council, they at least, if not the public, are entitled inform elected councillors what has happened to the money for which they are responsible. Any why.
Mr Sewell (who is never going to threaten the celebrity speaker circuit.) gave the game away as he droned on:’ “I’m not saying termination beyond contract is necessarily unlawful or a bad thing, it is just that you need to have appropriate processes and procedures in place for those kind of settlements.’
But, but, Dave, old mate, if such terminations are not unlawful or a bad thing, – that is, they are based on solid legal grounds – how come they can they be challenged with extortionate threats of legal action? Are you a tad unsure of your own professional judgement, you know,m the judgement we are paying for?
Could it be that the terminations were made on bad legal advice? In-house legal advice?
Could it be possible you’re in it with all the others, up to you neck and sinking.