Welcome To The Lunar New Year – Or, As We In Townsville Call It, The Looney New Year.

And what a hand-waving, eye-rolling festival of looniness it promises to be. A year with three elections cannot be otherwise, as we watch the council election next month have the hobbles again put on Townsville’s progress, at state level, Queensland will surely make a move towards hope and confidence, and from afar, we can but watch the one election that could bring all other elections undone, if America dumps democracy. Looney indeed.

Recent times haven’t been good for Channel 9, sloppy overconfident reporting has brought them undone on a number of fronts. And really, they have no excuse. But then again, they never have.

Of course, it’s never a looney week without someone at the Bulletin putting on the clown shoes … lazy journalist/stenographer Cameron ‘Master’ Bates got embarrassingly  tipped out of his hammock during the week. And the matter also raises the question, how much privacy ya gunna get for $20,000 a night. Not much really, thanks to the outstanding egalitarian law in Australia.

It’s back to the drawing board for the scamming Bega family’s attempted takeover of the management of the Solarus Apartments on Palmer … you’ll be astounded at the stunt Mathew Bega tried to pull off.

And a funny thing happened on the way to the TCC election … a fine example of citizen journalism that spooked some candidates into action played out in Nest comments during the week. The Magpie summarises.

Times remain tight around the Nest at the moment, and any support through a donation will be as appreciated as it is needed. The donate button is at the end of the blog.

Coming Or Going?

Like the rest of us, Bentley doesn’t know.

And as far as memory goes, The ‘Pie can’t remember a bigger circus than ths one. We look at some startling developments and a wonderful insight in the MAGA madness a little later.

On The Local Scene, A Couple Of Outcomes During The Week Suggests All Sorts Of Folks Read The Nest

But this is not humblebragging by The ‘Pie because it was two cases of sorely needed citizen journalism by others that have had a bearing on two matters.

First there’s the matter of the ethically challenged (at the politest) Mathew Bega. who, in the old vernacular, has got more front than Clive Palmer at Oktoberfest. He and his family almost sank the Solarus Apartment project on Palmer Street during construction, and when all sorts of dodgy dealings were exposed, father Peter took one for the family and his business went belly up, leaving a group of local businesses  and tradies to carry the financial can. His mum was reportedly forced to sell their Sydney home after a related court case. But still, they carried on their machinations with Allure development next door to Solarus. Much of the action surrounded the intertwined activities of the Bega vehicle South Townsville Developments Pty Ltd.

This excerpt from the Magpie’s Nest Dec 9 2018 sums up the low life shenanigans.

“In simple terms, when Peter Bega went bankrupt and was  forced to put the Solarius Apartment project into liquidation (it was finished by another group), he did some fancy financial footwork and managed to transfer the adjacent Allure Apartments to another company controlled by his son Mathew, but in which he clearly had an interest, despite being bankrupt. Consequently, through illegal stacking of Allure’s body corporate, Mathew Bega, acting as the letting agent for Allure, effectively  appropriated the common area of complex – an area which in any such development is there for the use, benefit and enjoyment of all unit owners and tenants.  Bega – converted it into a function centre which they operated for their own personal gain.

Now, old mate The Adjudicator for the Commissioner (etc) has comprehensively knocked that on head, ruling that all the Bega family members and associates, who were not transparently linked to each other in their dealings in this matter, were  not eligible to sit on the Body Corporate committee and has made null and void the whole scheme.”

And this is the link to whole article back then.

Then there was also followed a mysterious involvement with the short lived pub on the Solarus ground floor, which was ‘managed’ by a mob of Sydneysiders who, when it came to the hospitality business, couldn’t find their own arses with a torch and two hands.)

But despite all this pestiferous behaviour, this untrustworthy turkey is back like a dog revisiting his own barf.

Astoundingly, in recent days, fully ive or six years on, Mathew Bega has been in negotiations to buy the management rights to Solarus (that would effectively make him the letting agent for investment apartments) and get this: as part of the take-over, this little cherub wanted to install electronic locks on all apartments, which he could control and access 24/7.  It’s understood some similar arrangement may be in place in Allure. Mate, seriously, you’ve gotta get some award for chutzpah.

Anyway, when apartment owners were advised of this, they not surprisingly and overwhelmingly rejected the idea and Bega has backed away for the moment, in part because of the publicity provided by Solarus residents to this blog. Like many of his ilk , he didn’t like the light being shone into his rat infested dark corner. But given the brazen ‘up you, Townsville’ attitude of this noisome twerp, we now await with interest to see if he has another run at management rights. Nothing would surprise.

Too Much Info

The other matter which had an immediate effect and was brought to light was the dogged and persistent work from the blog’s old mate Phillip Batty down at Airlie.

Some background: Over the past couple of years or more, Phil has been a waging a battle with the Whitsunday Regional Council over its response to his proven allegation that Mike Brunker had flouted campaigning rules at the last election.  Brunker was subsequently admonished and fined, but although Phil proved his case, he was mightily affronted by the council behaviour and attempted manipulation of facts in relation to the matter. He took on the perfunctory and unsatisfactory nature of the ‘independent’ external investigation, which itself raised questions of both probity and integrity. Phil’s meticulous research and refusal to be fobbed off ,guided through labyrinthian bureaucracy, and the matter is now still on going, with some f Phil’s key questions yet to b answered by the CCC.

Mike Brunker has now announced his retirement (no reason given and no loss) and suddenly WRC mayor Julie Hall says she won’t stand again (friends are reported saying the pressure of the investigation has proved too much.)

That was then, now to the past week. there was a long running battle in comments started by some paid wanker calling him/herself ECQ Anon (aided by another paid disruptor Spielcheque) made the grave mistake of challenging Phil Baty’s comment a few days ago that all the sitting councillors were breaking exactly th same electoral rule that brought Brunker undone – that is, while they had created new FB pages for campaigning, they had included their council phone numbers as an email addresses for contact, a clear breach of the rules. Not one to be baffled by bullshit from paid haranguers, Batty said he could prove what he said. And did.

There followed a deathly silence from his critics, and little wonder. Because hey presto, within 24 hours, the illegal contact details were gone from from most the sitting councillors’ campaign FB pages … for brevity here’s just a couple.

All The ‘Pe can say is that Mayor Mullet and cheap shot cut price legal bullies like Tony Bligh can thank their lucky stars that Phil Batty doesn’t live in Townsville any more.

This has ben exhaustive stuff, but that is a realistic indication of what is needed to challenge authority, authority that goes out of its way to make such bureaucratic sleuthing possible.

This is a shining example of what citizen journalism is all about, and yes, The Magpie is proud that he provides a unique platform for the people of Townsville to be informed about things that media indifference would shield them from.

Bulletin Stenographer Cameron ‘Master’ Bates Is A Plagiarist…

… but he’s unlikely to sued. That matter at hand is this little free ad for the Morris Group.

Now the problem here from a news point of view is that if you are transcribing word for word a favoured client’s  promotional guff, you never, never, ever claim it as your own and put your name to it. (This is a lesson The ‘Pie learnt the hard way many years ago).  Master Bates has not and never will be within cooee of Pelorus Island resort – that is clear that all the photos accompanying the story are credited “Morris Group”.  So he just transcribed in good faith (ha!) what he was given. There was a time when real Chiefs of Staff existed, confronted with a request to run this sort of stuff,  would’ve replied ‘Fine, when and where does out reporter/photographer catch the helicopter?’ But that was back in the Dreamtime of news.

But hey, no harm done, stop whining, Magpie, the old bird hears you say. No one around here here ever going to cough up $20k per night to enjoy what north Queenslanders have always enjoyed … free access to wonderful beaches. And therein lies Master Bates second blooper, not a twinge of a question about the word ‘private’ in relation to the story.  Which was most certainly The Magpie’s first query. It apparently took some ‘concerned citizens’ to ask the question and one hopes Bates was red faced and chastened when the paper was compelled – at Morris’s request, no doubt – that there are certain things a reported and highly questionable 20 grand a day can buy.  Of course, we’ll never know if that tariff is just chest thumping bullshit … because it’s none of our business, is it.

 Another reason it was strange oversight by Bates in the first place is that the one thing that greatly offends Australian travellers who believe in their mythical egalitarian lifestyle is the concept of private beaches in so overseas countries. Because, with rare anomalies, usually defence related, there are no such thing as a private beach in this country. The public has the right to sun, sand and water right up to the annual high tide mark.

So a group of Palm Island revellers from across the way or an end of year footy club outing can front up on Mr Morris’s beach and add as much Aussie colour as they like. Where’s King Billy Cokebottle when you need him?

Quick Question Without Notice

So will we be able to publicly name this woman? If not, why not, what right dos she have to anonymity when she has been judged to have made up her (w)hole  story up? Should Beale not have a balance of public justice in all this? If this woman who for whatever reason dragged Beale’s name through the media mud with outright lies , cannot be named, then current moves to change to the relevant laws need to be expedited, where NO PERSON, accused or or accuser, can be named in sexual offence cases.

Even some feminist groups do not oppose the current federal moves in this direction, but where the states stand will be interesting.

Like They Say, Karma’s A Bitch

Listen, you really don’t wish this to happen to anybody, but the irony must be mentioned.

The Much-Vaunted ‘American Dream’, Where Anybody Can ‘Succeed’, Is Exposed As The World’s Biggest Ponzi Scheme.

And more irony, guess whose left at the bottom of the pile in Trump’s universe? Yup, these folks …

Our regular cartoon round-up of all matters American always offers sharp, grim laughter at the often inexplicable shenanigans that are turning increasingly sinister and dangerous. But many, including The Magpie,  haven’t been able to fathom what the hell is going in the minds of MAGA morons.

Until now.

This article, by the consistently intelligent and measured writer George Monbiot, offers the convincing view that Donald Trump isn’t the originator of the looming crisis, he is simply the opportunistic effect, a symptom of a hitherto dormant vein of … well,  of special looniness that has always existed courtesy of the selfish mantra of the American Dream. Now, that dream is being exploited by the ruthless oligarchs of the Republican Party , and turning the United States into the biggest and most unstable Ponzi scheme ever conceived. And like those who supported Mr Ponzi, MAGA people are supporting the very person who will destroy them.

If he doesn’t destroy himself first.

And One The ‘Pie Has Saved For Last ..

As they say, many a truth in jest. Only it an’t that funny.

………..

That’s the week that was, let’s hear what you’ve got to say in comments, lively, irreverent but above all, informative and thought provoking.

And the donate button to help The Nest stay aloft is below.