Answer: nothing whatsoever – the paper has proved beyond a doubt this week it is a often just repeater station other untested voices in the information areana And even this weekend, taste and judgement remain on long service leave from this busted arse disgrace of a paper. A repetitious view – sure, but now hardly try to hide they have marked us for mugs.
Some VERY interesting info about the Special Development Area (SDA) near the Port, adjacent to Sun Metals …
It couldn’t be starker – The Magnis Man says it himself in so many words, ‘Forget it, Townsville’ … even through the fog of his usual glib buzzword waffle, George Poullas couldn’t be clearer.
George Anti-Christiansen does a Mooney and goes looney in his closing stages of public life.
And while there’s lots to huff and puff about this week, we’ll concentrate on some laughs – including a clever but naughty poster doing the rounds – Gawd, we don’t half need a laugh.
And there are other worldly, temporal needs of an immediate nature, especially here in The Nest. Title registrations are just around the corner, joining the other steady flow of demands on the blog which don’t stop for holidays. A hand with meeting these obligations would be greatly appreciated. Not to mention a relief. The donate button is at the end of the blog.
Now onward.
Our Manila Bar-Hopping Love-Seeking Part-Time Parliamentarian Turns Scientist
“You can have your Manila bars, George, in Thailand you know what you’re getting … that’s why it’s called Bangkok.”
XXL lardo George Christiansen, whose seat of Dawson takes in certain southern suburbs of Townsville already awash with real shit, has added to the sewage quotient this week.
He has ramped up his anti-vaxx rhetoric, especially telling parents not to get their children jabbed, but has now added his own international deep state theory, with spittle flecked rants on FB about ‘the big reset coming soon’ where we will have to ‘fight for our sovereignty’ against an unelected global elite’. Sounds all similar to the Hillary Clinton cannibal club in the basement of a pizza shop, not that George would get down the stairs, he wouldn’t get past the ‘dollar a slice ‘daily special just inside the door.
Bentley for one has had a gutful of this dangerous blimp.
But Crazy George gave the game away when talking at the online Prayer and Pushback event on Friday, making it obvious that he was after social media clicks for his planned venture into political commentary when he finally has mercy on the voters of Dawson and pisses off at the next election as promised. If that comes about, Christiansen will make Alan Jones look like Dr Fauci by comparison.
At least a small amount of shit will be removed from Wulguru residents vicinity.
Now Here’s A Challenge That Could Cause Mayor Mullet To Declare A ‘Code Brown’ Alert
Could there be competition to the mayor’s beloved Lansdown Eco-Park. Perhaps something that we could best describe at Brad Webb Bohle Industrial Park South … not that The ’Pie knows if Webb is involved.
This floated into the Nest during the week, and The ‘Pie admits, it’s news to him, but has enough detail and names to sound plausible. Anyone seen anything about this in The Astonisher?
This from regular commenter ‘Addled’ on Thursday.
Magpie, you ask why was Lansdown even considered when the SDA near the Port stands glaringly empty and neglected almost a decade after it was declared so ‘special’?
You’ll have to do some of your own homework on this one because you don’t seem to have the story so far about what is happening in the SDA (which might be because certain media and political interests avoid revealing it).
A business called Cleveland Bay Industrial Park has been negotiating with the Commonwealth for a couple of years to work up something similar to Lansdown in the SDA. (EPBC 2020/8810). Their proposal, over a “159.25 ha disturbance footprint” will involve:
1. bulk earthworks
2. construction of a signalised intersection and internal roads
3. water, sewerage and stormwater infrastructure
4. electrical and communications services
5. drainage works to improve stormwater quality
6. subdivision of the land into individual industrial allotments.
This particular application engages the Commonwealth Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment and the EPBC Act – giving a teensy hint as to why Lansdown (largely overseen ONLY by TCC) has certain attractions.
Now, while Addled has got some seemingly solid information in there, he seems to have either ignored or got his political reasoning arse-about. This state land is obviously overlaid with various touchy-feely federal considerations mainly the environment, one assumes. But given there’s a federal election in the air, this would appear the right time for our puddin’ head PM to reach an accommodation with his enviro bods (surely can’t be too much that needs safeguarding there) just in time for Phil Thompson to make the you beaut announcement that the Cleveland Bay Industrial Park is cleared to start business. Mind you, The ‘Pie isn’t that ingenuous to ignore that the enviro depts everywhere are 100% Labor/Green groupies, bit Smirko is so devious, don’t write it off.
The political implications ago beyond the federal election if the Libs get back in, it would be another poke in the eye for our loud-mouthed Labor mayor who is always hopefully sticking her beak in well above her pay grade. But she would have a tricky task arguing against such a job-generating proposal so close to the city, and one that is not 40ks away in the scrub. And tricky ain’t included in Jenny’s skills CV.
But Even Thommo Has A Language Problem
This wafted into the inbox on Friday.
Hmmm … ’a free sausage sizzle and a drink on me’?
That would actually be an invitation to come to a sausage sizzle and a drink … on yourself, punters’. Or has The ‘Pie misunderstood, Thommo, and you are actually dipping into your own personal kick to fund a knees-up likely to cost in the thousands? Or is this just a taxpayer funded campaign event in an election year hiding behind Australia Day? Bit bloody obvious, mate … but no doubt plenty of taxpayers will take advantage of your generous offer to shout themselves a snag and a beer.
Will someone around here … anyone … stop trying to take us for mugs?
Don’t Look At Our Mayor, Then
The English language takes another battering from the witterings of the TCC media shills and Mayor Mullet, in her desperate attempt to burnish her tarnished image (see latest Magnis bit in a moment). On Friday, we copped this – including the mangled ‘endemic’ instead of ‘pandemic’ … don’t they read this stuff?.
Its starts out …
Townsville locals are being urged to back local businesses as shops, cafes and suppliers adjust their services in light of the endemic.
Townsville City Council is encouraging residents and visitors to focus on putting their money back into the local economy. “Local businesses are the heart and soul of our city, whether they’re eateries and boutiques, tourism experiences, business services, or any other number of business type,” Mayor Jenny Hill said.
“It’s imperative that we continue to support these businesses as COVID continues to impact them.
This is meaningless twaddle. What the fuck is she actually saying? It defies any logical parsing of the words used here, and not just by Mayor Mullet, trying to bamboozle us with a false virtue signalling message.
Just for starters, is the mayor suggesting some sort of two-tier division of Townsville businesses, each and every one of them by the way who pay rates and employ local people? The simpering reference to ‘mum and dad’ corner shop businesses and residents and visitors ‘putting their money back into the local economy’ is simply weird. Is Mayor Hill saying we should boycott the likes of Coles, Woolworths, JB Hi-Fi, Bunnings, Harvey Norman et al, because they aren’t local’. Seriously what the fuck is this addled woman saying?
Others chimed in with gum=flapping vacuity. The most robotically ‘well, duh’ bit is this:
Townsville Chamber of Commerce CEO Ross McLennan said his team had a strong focus on putting local businesses first. As Townsville Chamber enters its 140th year, we will continue to promote local businesses and encourage everybody to Think, Support, Celebrate and Go Local”.
Here’s a clue, Ross, old mate … that is what Chambers of Commerce everywhere created for and are tasked with doing. Nothing else! Like, really, what other purpose does a Chamber have? Be a real fuckin’ surprise if you said ”fuck our members, buy wherever you like, on line or whatever. Rush the high end delis in Charters Towers, drive to Ayr for a coffee and croissant, or head out to the fashion boutiques of Mt Isa, open slather, folks.’’ You crapping on in this manner is making it a chamber pot, and we all know what that’s full of.
But then, your empty buffoonery strays into dangerous territory, old chum
“It’s critical to think local with not only retail but also when it comes to other services. Things like professional services, engineering, your accountant, legal advice just to name a few. Small behavioural changes with purchasing decisions can make a big difference to local businesses and our city.” Gosh. Roscoe, really, who in their right mind would, for instance, choose legal services outside our city, the biggest legal community outside Brisbane?
OH SHIT wait a sec, oh, dear, mate, your up to your dried apricots in it now!! … have you forgotten our mayor by-passed dozens of local options and scooted off to Brissy for a legal foghorn when she collided with a motorcyclist who was killed? Or that she found a procurement officer for the council who was a pal of a Nous pal who lived permanently in Melbourne and did the job from there? That would be the same mayor who championed the appointment of the current FIFO CEO? Or a mayor who out of spite and revenge, bought her first mayoral car in Brisbane and had it shipped back here at ratepayers’ expense because she had been slighted by the local dealer when he refused her request to be dishonest about vehicle damage previously?
But here’s the bad news for you Roscoe, you miss on the prize for the greatest load of meaningless tripe, you’ve been pipped at the post by one Kellie Stephenson. There can be no doubt that Ms Stephenson’s heart and motives are pure, and she is a selfless local champion, but she seemed a little too keen for her 15 minutes of fame. “During these unprecedented times, it is an absolute honour that Townsville City Council has jumped on board, an organisation with the means to be able to take it to the next level in showcasing and supporting our local business community,”
Absolute-bloody-honour!?!
The Magpie has a simple and serious question for which he is seeking an answer. Think about that statement and then tell us all …
What. The. Fuck. Does. That. Statement. Actually. Mean?
Especially in light of our mayor’s personal performance. It’s got this old bird beat.
Anyway, Kell, the good news for you is the weekend Daily Mulletin cut all your stuff out. Count your blessings.
The weekend paper, still wonderful value for original reporting at the increased price of $3, did a straight copy and paste job, with a few cuts (Townsville Council became Mayor Jenny Hill, and, bless ‘em, ‘endemic became ‘pandemic’), but provided our now regular laugh-out-loud moment with the photo caption.
Maybe they meant Major Disaster? Nice pic of fruit and nuts, though (not you Mr Burge, you actually do something).
Not Sure Why They Put The Price Up
Ersatz reporter Sam Flanagan should be ashamed … but hey, kid, don’t be, that’s not allowed at News Ltd. Cruising FB for story leads in thing, but lifting a whole load of stuff without a single phone call – obviously the case here – is journalistic fraud if you put your name to it.
The odds are you didn’t write a single word of this story, or make a single phone call, all facts and the tributes were posted on FB.
Want a tell tale or two for this conclusion, Master Flanagan? Since time immemorial, journalists are trained to ask all their subjects of stories their age, which is often silly and irrelevant unless something eventuates where it isn’t. And it is anything but irrelevant when someone dies, it is one of the pivotal pieces of information the reader is seeking. And in a matter like this, had a phone call been made, another question would have been the cause of death … especially of an attractive and healthy looking person. Even if the request is declined, it is worth saying that the cause of death was not available, because it is a question readers understandably seek to know. No point in saying it’s nobody’s business … otherwise why write the story in the first place. Or that should be ‘copy and paste’ the facebook story.
And, Oh What The Hell, Since We’re on About The Paper
Sorry if The ‘Pie is going on a bit, but he’s been meaning to broach this subject for a while. Where the fuck has front page judgement on juxtaposition gone? It used to be major consideration, but look at this.
A story that really did galvanise this city with disgust, horror and a feeling of hopelessness … the death of Jennifer Board … is still part of the on-going crime debacle in Townsville. The outcome of the vigilante trial is of vital interest and importance.
To front-page this story underneath a tits and bum light-weight piece of flummery is simply insulting to Jennifer Board’s memory … and continuing proof that the Townsville Bulletin is out of touch with this community.
Crass hardly covers it.
Straight From The Mouth Of Magnis Man
Business oil slick, Frank Poullas, CEO of Magnis Energy, was interviewed by an ASX investors program this week. And seems Jenny Hill’s BFF has just ghosted her, casting further and almost conclusive doubt over the unicorn battery plant at Lansdown.
Won’t go on about this, decide for yourself …. Scroll through to 19.50 to 21.16.
Buttsy Honoured
One of the best known … and in many places, best loved … local characters, Terry Buttsy Butts, has received a rare honour. And unexpected too, given he has always been forthright in his view on everything but especially racing. This arrived this week.
Melinda Butts
January 19, 2022 at 5:07 pm (Edit)
Hi Magpie and everyone reading here, I’m Melinda Butts – Terry Butts’s eldest daughter. I’m now usually based in London/USA but came home two months ago to spend some time with daddy whom as you know, has been seriously unwell last year. Well, firstly I am happy to say that as usual, Terry has defied the odds and since I landed here last November – and much to the delight of Townsville’s racing fraternity – he has proceeded to stage the biggest comeback and resurrection since Lazarus! While he probably won’t fully recover, it’s a nice comeback that we’re all making the most of.
And I’m really pleased to report a great boost to all our morale … Terry has been nominated to be inducted in the upcoming Queensland Country Racing Awards – something that’s given him a bit of joy (and amusement) in recent days. His nomination was posted on the Qld Country Racing facebook page on Friday night and has since received a record breaking over 12,000 views! His nomination is a fitting recognition to the significant contribution he has made to Queensland country racing in the last four decades in a remarkable career from the bookmakers ring to the winning stalls and stables from Brisbane to Birdsville, I doubt if there’s a more fervent supporter Qld country racing in all its aspects.
His nomination bio is here is on the Qld country racing page
Buttsy Might Have Been Outspoken In His Day, But That’s Nothing Next To This Bloke
Talk about calling it as it is!!! This is brilliant on several levels, one for the history books.
https://www.townsvillemagpie.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/James-Obrien-LBC-Screen-Shot-2022-01-19-at-11.18.02-am.png
This bloke, James O’Brien, on London radio LBC delivers one of the best unscripted monologues you will ever hear. When I first looked at the time – 7 mins – I thought I’ll give it a couple then move on … but the Pommy brilliance of ‘off the cuff’ wit and anger mesmerised me …. and guess what? Not one single swear word in all the 7 minutes. He gives Ricky Gervais at his most exasperated a run for his money.
And just change the names and some of the references and you have Australia to a tee.
On media: ‘I hate how much they hate you. They hate you so much.’
Leadership: ‘Through a combination of a ridiculous newspaper industry, the over-promotion of halfwits, a political underclass that have careered to the front bench of the conservative party, and the celebration of some of the stupidest people ever to draw breath in parliament, we’ve ended up with these two men (Johnson and Dominic Cummins) presiding over our nation, until the point where one of them fell foul of the other one’s coloured wife.”
Biden Gettin’ A Hidin’
The honeymoon sure as hell is over, but there’s still three years for Joe Biden to patch things up with Mrs America. But he’s got a challenge on his hands. His plunging polls are in a good part due to being stabbed in the back by two rogue democrats, who are allowed under the loopy American system, to defy the wishes of 69% of Americans on reformed voting rights and job-creating infrastructure reforms. This week’s gallery reflects the coming battle for cred.
To End, A Few Miscellaneous Chortles
Mr Loaf is now just Meat.
Kids, don’t mess with Mum.
Now that’s a real panty dropper. Only in Australia would you see this.
Fashion show planned for Tom’s Tavern … or maybe not.
And the cleverest to last …
Humour can be a great equaliser.
…….
Comments have roared into ’22 with loads of great info, lotsa larfs, and some colourful exchanges expressing different ideologies … join in, choose your comment name and your subject and go for it.
If you can help out with a few bob to meet costs, that will be greatly appreciated. The donate button is below.
Pie , another enlightening couple of blogs these past weeks asking questions about Townsville State Development Area declared in 2003 . 4915 hectares a defined area of land dedicated to ” Industrial Development ” . A drive south you will see Civil works have commenced for parcels of industrial land that have already been sold to businesses that have $ and want to be located close to the Port as part of Cleveland Bay Industrial Park . Regarding T.C.C. a reflection of Team Hill performance is their string of misfires and not even being able to have CBD and Aitkenvale libraries open on weekends until 7 th March as well as current Haughton stage 2 $79 mil blowout funded by the bank of ratepayers . While you are raising Townsville SDA what about the PDA , 2018 , 122 page document Townsville waterfront priority areas . The Bulletin has been a few days behind your blog so hopefully they will put some questions to T.C.C. .
Wonder why the bulletin hasn’t followed up on the Ross river developments that were meant to join the stadium to city. Old Tim’s surf and turf was by far the best eating I’ve had in the city area, now just a block of overgrown weeds. Meat to be high rise blocks with dinning underneath. Where??? It was printed in the artist’s impression section of the paper once. Until the people of this city awaken to realise nothing has been done since les tyrell was in charge then the city will always be a backwater for crime and misfortune. Townsville hasn’t changed in over a decade apart from the tools stadium. What has that bought the city?? Cairns is further away from the capital but has changed dramatically.
Think they canned all the development ideas when it was discovered that the mayor’s plan for a ferry link from the ‘ville to the stadium was a non starter .. cost of lifting the bridges to allows ferries to pass, and engineers just shook their heads when Jenny suggested, ‘in that case, just lower the creek.’
The chamber of commerce is nothing more than a pack of grovelling pissants these days, why any business of substance would want to be associated with them is beyond me, it has been sucked in by the Mullet and other Govt leaches to be nothing more but a conduit of spin and shit to be pumped out through the media. If you look at any of their photos posted online you will see lots of government and Govt funded training or business promotional organisations plus other freeloaders lining up for happy snaps. The fact is most of these people produce fuck all of substance and wouldn’t exist without Govt or council subsidies, they are merely parasites sucking off the system and adding little to it. The real business people of this town are too busy running their businesses to worry about that sort of crap and that includes the managers of our largest employers as well, employing tens of thousands of people in this town, without all of the worthless garbage and gimmicks the chamber of commerce carry on with.
The Magpie doesn’t agree with your degree of scorn, the C of C helpless dithering is at least sincere, but there is a good question in there which is: would any paid-up member of the C of C … not the executive’s vested interest viewpoint, just an everyday member … give a simple and plain English explanation of the value of membership? This is a serious question when Jenny Hill skews a lot of what used to be the Chamber’s advisory and informed role towards Townsville Enterprise; she controls the Dudley Do Nothings (and often doing nothing at her behest) through the board and the pursestrings. This is not some ranting ‘Pie rhetoric, it is an observation of a quite clever political power play by the mayor … she has successfully neutered what could have threatened to be a powerful voice acting not politically but in the interests of their members and thus the overall community.
Oh and while we’re about … that question to any Chamber member is also offered to any paid-up member of TEL about their membership benefits … two or three piss-ups a year is not an answer.
G’day Magpie, so many points to react to today, where to start. The passing of Meatloaf brings so many musical memories, the Bat out of Hell album was the first album we bought as a married couple in 1976. His voice and Jim Steinman’s music/lyrics were such a powerful combination. Loved all their music. Vale Meatloaf.
And on to the 9th cartoon – hits the nail on the head re male/female violence etc, particularly in the US where they even have the ludicrous Daddy/Daughter proms where Daddy vows to protect Daughter’s virginity till she marries! Too bad they don’t teach their sons to respect the girls also.
And, as resident of Wulguru, we can only wait to see what replaces the dreaded George C. He has been notably absent, physically and vocally about anything that happens this far away from Mackay, except when dragged like a petulant schoolboy by his leader. Aka his presence behind the Scomo after the floods in 2019. His face is a picture of sullenness. Major developments like ‘The Oasis’ at the old DPI site Oonoonba, in his electorate – absent; the closure of the Biosecurity Lab Oonoonba/JCU, in his electorate – absent; flooding of Idalia etc, in his electorate – absent after the photo ops; physical presence before and after the last election – noticeably absent. I believe the only reason this area is part of Dawson is the local Labor vote is negated by the strong Nationals vote South of here.
So some whispers doing the rounds out the amount of Queensland taxpayer money put into the Wagner COVID motel at $200m. As most are aware, the figure is COI. Not a bad earner for Wagner’s, and what a gift considering hotel quarantine has basically been done away with. $200m for a facility that won’t hardly be used, if at all. I cannot believer that this does not have the attention of investigative bodies. It’s a scam, it’s a sham, and it’s a filthy deal and waste of our money. The Palasczuk government is a complete and utter disgrace.
But like the steak knife man said, wait, there’s more. The latest word (two days ago) is that the government has appointed – with going to tender – a medical crowd to run the facility at a (no doubt humungous) cost to the taxpayer of …. oh, sorry, commercial in confidence.
Anyway, no guarantees that anything will come of it, but Wellcamp is among the top three war targets on Crisafulli’s agenda.
Magpie, on the Cleveland Bay SDA you warbled:
“But given there’s a federal election in the air, this would appear the right time for our puddin’ head PM to reach an accommodation with his enviro bods (surely can’t be too much that needs safeguarding there) . . .”
Not sure how much time you’ve spent on the ground in that 4,915 ha (12,000+ acre) area but you should know that wetlands and their sometimes critically endangered species are all the rage in the 21st century. There’s a RAMSAR international wetland nearby in Bowling Green Bay and Mark Stoneman’s Cromarty wetland project is almost next door. Of course, if you don’t think you need to give a fuck about this “safeguarding” stuff you can go down the Rio Tinto route and just blast Juukan Gorge regardless – but don’t be surprised if you find yourself out of office via the Jean-Sebastien Jacques technique. Even ScoMo can see that.
A second reason ScoMo might be looking the other way on the SDA is that his government has just put its eggs in the Lansdown basket. In September last year, Minister Paul Fletcher announced:
“$12 million for enabling infrastructure to support the Lansdown Eco-Industrial Precinct – Northern Australia’s first environmentally sustainable, advanced manufacturing, processing and technology estate powered by locally generated renewable energy. This is in addition to a $12 million commitment from the Queensland Government and $4 million from the Townsville City Council.”
With or without Magnis, Lansdown has a few things going for it that the SDA cannot boast, particularly the relatively low level of government oversight (but plenty of government overdraft). I’m not suggesting I approve or ignore that feature, I’m just pointing it out as a pragmatic consideration.
Reasonable argument butlet’s lay that $12m of Fed money to rest … that’s peanuts to keep the moneys happy until Canberra can doi whatever vit wants to do. And let’s see how Lansdown fares if Smirko gets back in. And unfortunate you compare re-nesting a few birds in (as you pointed out) similar adjacent protected areas with one of the greatest acts of vandalism against human history by unconscionable corporate thuggery.
(Note the clickbait attempt with the reference to ‘a few birds’ … The ‘Pie awaits the foaming tsunami of indignant howling replies.)
OK, had time for a little more research and there is a major question now raised for both our conniving mayor and the Townsville Bulletin. And if you think that is conspiratorial hyperbole, why have we hardly heard anything about the following, but are regularly treated to regular breathless (and wildly optimistic untruths) of the health and prospects of just about every blade of grass and tree stump at Lansdown. Compare the media coverage of the mayor’s pet project and the following, and then tell us that something is not afoot … and it’s all about jobs and progress being used as a political plaything.
Cleveland Bay Industrial Park isn’t new, it’s been in progress for a few years through the initiative of Ross Kiernan’s Kiernan Investments, which developed a lot of the Roseneath Industrial area.
Civil works started last November with industrial blocks (mostly Port related), with several already sold.
Check it all out here …
https://mendi.com.au/project/cleveland-bay-industrial-park/
… but the overview sums it up.
CLIENT: Kiernan Investments Pty Ltd
OVERVIEW
The Cleveland Bay Industrial Park (CBIP) master-planned industrial estate, will provide 90 hectares of fully serviced freehold industrial lots for development. Suitable industrial uses will include medium-impact industry such as freight terminals, transport depots, research and technology industries, warehouses and infrastructure facilities and the location will allow for 24/7 operations. The CBIP has direct access to the Townsville Port Access Road to connect to the Port of Townsville, nearby connections to the Bruce and Flinders Highways and planned infrastructure includes a signalised intersection to cater for Type 2 road train access to all sites.
A knowledgeable business insider who keeps The Magpie informed on all sorts of matters says Cleveland Bay Park is why local businesses shake their heads about Lansdown, and ask why, when there is all this land with better Port access.
“If you are talking SDA Council doesn’t seem to have done anything on the PDA 122 page “ Port Development Area “ another project T.C.C. has dropped the ball on.”
While remarks in the blog remain valid, they are obviously incomplete, and The Magpie apologises for not being more diligent before writing this week’s Nest. Multitasking is sometimes beyond the old bird.
“And let’s see how Lansdown fares if Smirko gets back in.”
It might do alright. A duplication of the Port Access Road with a Port Access Rail link would benefit both industrial areas (SDA and Lansdown) but also finally connect the northern Galilee Basin coalfields at Hughenden and Pentland (north and south of the highway/rail link) directly to a potential coal stockpile and shiploader on the soon-to-be expanded Townsville port. No more industrial rail traffic through the middle of town. An MOU between the Port and Guildford Coal (now TerraCom) to that effect has been on the table for about ten years. The Port buys advertising so the TBully won’t go there. Labor might though. Labor people are in to thermal coal exports and the party’s factions and unions control the electoral pursestrings in Queensland. Look what happened last time in Herbert.
If I remember correctly it was his Radiance, Anthony Mooney, that purchased Landsdown for a million of ratepayers money, hence the urgency to say what a great business decision it was. It reeks the same as WA Inc. where pollies think they can become developers instead of looking after rates, roads and rubbish. Conflict of interests (COI) become (CIC).
The Magpie’s memory is imperfect around this, but His Radiance was up to his neck in land deals … Elliot Springs comes to mind … and the Lansdown purchase was aimed at yet another satellite village. Didn’t work out, then Jenny thought ‘My legacy … an eco industrial park’, and the rest is a disastrous, disintegrating history of lies and hubris. Look, something may well come of Lansdown, but if and when it does, it will be in spite of, not because of, Jenny Hill … a good luck more than good management scenario.
But Magpie, Elliott Springs (as we understand it now) is on the Bruce Highway whereas the old Rocky Springs is the same cattle station land but on the Flinders Highway frontage. So an industrial estate at Woodstock could bookend a Rocky Springs residential development over kilometres but also decades – helped along by a long awaited water supply from the Haughton pipeline (and a new treatment plant for the whole area), enhanced road and rail connections to the port, gas from that pipeline we now know about and that solar farm hooked up to the hydrogen at Lansdown. I think the duck herders are finally getting a few in a row though there’s a long way to go. I reckon Liberal, National and Labor all want a piece of that action – a development anchored in the taxpayer funded port expansion at the expense of World Heritage Cleveland Bay and the GBR, each in the same class as Juukan Gorge.
if you say so. No time to play right now, BBL is on.
Mooney and his mates have been developers for years. Look at the nice little earner they made when they sold off Lucky Springs to LendLease.
It was always referred to as Mooney’s super fund throughout council.
I don’t think Mooney owned “Lucky” Springs so he couldn’t personally have sold it off. Don’t know where you live Ala but it was probably a ‘development’ once. Someone has to do it if we demand a big Australia with jobs for all.
Addled, I’m being deadly serious here.
Do you realise that you have just endorsed and excused deep corruption? As well as tarring all developers with the brush of said corruption? Forget Mooney, no proof in that direction, but you have clearly indicated that get developments done, anywhere in Australia, corruption is necessary because ‘someone has to do it’ … apparently in any way possible. Of course corruption exists everywhere, but you endorsing it?
Silly thoughtless comment.
Bollocks. Do you mean TCC should never have purchased the Lansdown property? Or ‘donated’ the site for the stadium? Or the square mile for the JCU campus? Of course you don’t. But did some individual get ahead in some way because of their role in ‘facilitating’ these transactions, even if it was years down the track? Probably. They might have been preselected as a party candidate, they might have ended up on a board or in a government sinecure. Did they break the law? No evidence apparently.
That neatly sidesteps (as usual) a difficult question, especially when you put facilitating in quotes … the written version of a raised eyebrow. What laws, regulations and/or requirements were bent or broken in deals over the sidelines of the playing field, and were other ordinary, tax-paying businesses defrauded of the opportunity to participate. The reward made not have been illegal, but the ‘facilitating’ may well have been.
Once again, you have endorsed corruption in this case, bribery by promise – to further the darker side of capitalism, Addled. It’s time we stopped regarding all developers as crooks. And all commenters not having hidden agendas.
Addlec, The ‘satellite city’ devised by Mooney years ago. The syndicate that purchased the old Rocky Springs that the developer now calls Elliot Springs, was Mooney, Taylor, Richard Ferry and another. I was told recently that the fourth partner was Lancini ( no proof however).
Magpie, not “(as usual)” as you imply. When I wrote that ‘someone has to do it’ I was not suggesting that someone has to do the corrupt act. I was making the connection between the demand for government to make more and more land available on the outskirts so that our (Australia’s) fast growing population can live somewhere. So the developers like Stockland etc are the ones I was thinking of who become the large scale suppliers of this developed land.
Of course that’s what you meant … you just forgot to say it the first time.
So there you go, Ala. A group of mates put up the dough to buy a property which will one day be on the edge of town. It’s what they do because they are good at it. They know the rules, the stakeholders and how the ropes of government work. And so they put them to work. No one was denied an opportunity to do what they did. It just didn’t occur to someone else or they didn’t have the dough or the mates. It looks like it’s a fairly long haul but there’s always your children or grandchildren that might see the fruits of your labour.
You’re such a mensch sometimes, Addled.
Unsurprisingly, it takes another media outlet to ask questions about the future of 1300 Smiles Stadium, because the Bullsheet certainly wouldn’t. The Brisbane Times asked possible interested parties as well as State representatives as well as our illustrious Mayor with nothing more than a short shift. The history of the site in this article is also very interesting. https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/future-uncertain-for-townsville-s-original-field-of-dreams-20211126-p59chs.html
The State Government is considering the results of a feasibility study on the formerly 1300 Smiles Stadium, said Treasury Secretary, Cameron Dick, but a Brisbane Times “right to request information for that feasibility study was denied, due to Cabinet Confidentiality”. (Brisbane Times 22/1/22)
The study reportedly cost taxpayers $500,000 – what’s to hide Harper and Stewart?
And did The ‘Pie miss it or was there a ‘community input and consultation stage’ with the people who live less than 1500kms away from the site? New sewerage farm maybe?
Of course, the ultimate irony would be if the top recommendation is to turn it into …. a trotting track!! ‘Hey, guys, let’s call it The Willows’.
I have heard that land at each end will be flogged off to Brothers leagues club and Ryan School respectively with the main building and surrounds converted into a regional HQ for Police.
Wonder if a new Police HQ is a strategic move hoping to quieten the masses and scare the little shites currently running riot? Look forward to reading details in TB tomorrow.
Just means they won’t have drive as far to do burnt out at the front door and challenge the coppers to catch them. Save on fuel. very responsible.
Brothers had a plan to build a retirement village next to the club. Sort of like a feeder battery for their pokies. It had apparently all been agreed to with the State when some locals started kicking up a stink about the State selling assets (they never sell assets, only Campbell Newman does). It’s all gone a bit quiet since.
Maybe the $30 million election commitment for the “transformation” of the Kirwan Police Station if the State government was re-elected is no longer in the kitty.
It would appear that all those fast food chemicals have not only added to George’s waste line but have also severely impacted his cognitive abilities. His conspiracy theories most definitely align with the tinfoil theories that Pete Newey is proud to promulgate. I’m just waiting for an ‘end of the world announcement’ linked to the Mayan calendar or something that Jenny Hill might announce. Strange days indeed.
Jungle, are you suggesting he had some cognitive abilities to start with? If so, where’s your proof?
Good one Hugh! He also has a ‘hugh jarse’ to boot!
And a waste line apparently. Is that a sustainable development?
And that folks, is why rain trees, like those at Riverway (Pioneer Park) are called rain trees. Don’t look up.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-01-23/isolated-rain-coming-from-trees-could-be-cicada-rain-/100770058
Those clever Taiwanese were way ahead on this and seems have known about this fact … but have decided to make it a fun thing.
This is their GOLDEN RAIN TREE.
I’m sure Trump and his Russian hookers know all about the golden rain tree.
From my perch at the Civic Theatre – I can see the line for COVID testing at Reid Park is snaking behind the theatre. Not saying anyone is gaming the system, but test, stay at home at another 2 days just in case, and we run into the public holiday on Wednesday. No lines yesterday.
Also – come and see Little Mermaid- it’s brilliant.
I tend to find George Christensen’s dialogue to be fair, reasonable and refreshing. The man is a thinker and he isn’t afraid to ditch the silly mainstream COVID narrative. Instead, he searches deep where the most complex answers lay. He didn’t receive the required votes to be elected by his community because of speaking shit. People like his style and like how he is willing to stand up for what he believes in.
Geez, Dredgers, thought you were still in ICU after you read about the Woomera, Australia’s biggest dredger, arrived in Townsville to dig out the new port channel. Hope UROK, we’ve missed your humour, a fine example which is your above comment. You droll old fox, you.
What the actual fuck are you smoking NMD?
Extract of seaweed, probably.
“he is willing to stand up for what he believes in.”
OK, Suppose I believe in child labour, a flat earth, and defunding the health care system, am I to be applauded for standing up for my beliefs. No, I should be slapped down as a dangerous fuckwit and so should George bloody Christiansen, who, by the way promoted this anti-vax protest.
How the hell was this ignoramus preselected in the first place? It seems that some voters would vote for a cloth head on a stick if it was branded with their political party.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-01-23/mackay-anti-vaccination-rally-at-caneland-shopping-centre/100776394
PS. And for the sake of crystal clarity, I do not believe in child labour, a flat earth, or defunding the health care system.
Why not?
Because I believe in free love, sparkling rhinegolde, and flared corduroy trousers.
The effect of the second on the first is totally negated by the third … which are orange no doubt.
Yellow.
The only thing is, he’s supposed to represent the people of his electorate NOT what he believes in.
So whatcha doin’ tomorrow? Are you getting out there and going big this long weekend?
If the boss gets up me for not coming into work next Monday can I just say the Bulletin said it was a long weekend?
Sounds more like the Bulletin Is all for getting you fired.
Also wins a prize for awful alienating amateur alliteration.
And even if it wasn’t a monumental dfuck-up, the copy makes you wonder just who they think they are talking to with this childish drivel.
It’s going to be pissing down all next week, better get the internal Webers fired up.
Old Tradesman, worth noting that you didn’t come down in the last shower did you?
Thinking our Lady Mayor could ‘harness’ your services!
One rule around here, we don’t name real names, give direct hints or try to out anyone in the debates that go on here. so your comment has been edited.
If you’re wanting to know the wait times for tests at Smiles1300 or Reid Park and are on Instagram download the townsvillehhs page as this page gets updated a few times a day on wait times at both sites.
Mr. Pie, you do make me giggle sometimes!
“Wellcamp is among the top three war targets on Crisafulli’s agenda.”
“WAR TARGETS?”
Davy “Do Nuthun” is in one of French tanks from World War 11…you know, the ones with one forward and 10 reverse gears!
Reply
Deep analysis of the subject under discussion … which wasn’t Crisafulli BTW, but easy to understand why you want to deflect attention.
EB- was that insult not for Italian tanks in WWII? The Frenchies did OK at Verdun – tanks included. If you are going to be a cu*t, at least try not to be a racist cu*t.
Oh Butter-FLOG, that’s about as funny as a sloppy fart in a lift full of people!
Easy to understand I want to deflect attention from what…Mr. Pie?
The QLD LNP needing a good mechanic?
Work this out, and make note: The ‘Pie mentions Wellcamp … a scandal hardly hidden but certainly in plain sight … and he make an obvious statement that it will be a major election issue … you then clumsily try to deflect away from the issue by making a juvenile (and from a humorous point of view, very clunky) spray about Crisafulli. The Magpie is getting a tad tired of the immature parroting of party politics and cliches without ever addressing the subject matter … it’s rude, unproductive and tedious. And that’s from all sides of politics, many comments from the whole spectrum have not seen the light of day for that very reason. So The ‘Pie will increasingly adopt the rule of deleting tiresome and time wasting diversions down irrelevant rabbit holes which do not add to a debate.
This would apply, EB, even if your comment had been wildly witty. It wasn’t, not even close.
Try harder … for all our sakes.
The CoC in Townsville has lost its way and does deserve a pineapple in its ass. In most cities the CoC are good advocates for local business and support community projects. Cairns is actually a good example. However, like TCC and TeL, in recent years CoC is all about serving its own interests and agendas first. Don’t get me wrong, they still do good work and they most certainly piss all over TCC and TEL, but their focus has drifted and they really need to refocus on their core reason for existence.
Yes but that’s not going to happen whilst the govt funded freeloaders who have infiltrated the joint continue to spread their influence. Many members who don’t pay much attention and are busy running their business probably don’t even know what’s going on, the organisation is too scared to criticise the Mullet or TCC, because that would make it uncomfortable at the next social suck when you have to pose for photos with them, the board and particularly that pathetic CEO have sold out their own members by inviting these Govt stooges into the place all for a few bucks and a photo in the Astonisher.
A bit unfairly harsh on the C of C about your supposed motives … there is a genuine if ‘scaredy cat’ element of self preservation in there, so many business people have told The Magpie of the real fear of the Mayor and Labor in Townsville, because of her proven vindictiveness. Her every move is made in the interests of Jenny Hill, and anyone or anything that endangers that will find life genuinely, not just socially, uncomfortable.Many stories of how she has used her power to satisfy her spite, but of course, none that The ‘Pie has permission to quote.
A very good point that you raise Magpie. Elected officials are elected to represent community interests and advocate on behalf of the regions stakeholders – residents, local businesses, community groups and other assorted linkages. Our Mayor does not foster such cohesiveness or fulfil her obligated duty. As mentioned, she is vindictive, nasty, spiteful, and happy to squash a good business prospectus or investment opportunity if it does not suit her own personal agenda or bias. She is emotional, unreasonable and anti-competitive, not to mention that she is a poor decision maker (Magnis). In plain English, she costs this region many many dollars and opportunities. As a so-called leader she is unpalatable, untrustworthy, and incompetent.
We need a plan in this city to reduce debt and foster growth. An actually map of how to navigate out of the current malaise, into the future. The Mullet has failed. Until the Councillors grow a set of nuts (excluding Fran) and make her take a backseat in decision making processes, we will continue down the same shitty path we have travelled for the past decade.
And it will be ever thus until someone … not any of the current mob of neutered aerobics club … stands up to oppose her. It will take guts and self-sacrifice to take back Townsville and our future, but if the right person of vision and integrity were to step forward, others will be encouraged to follow. Jenny Hill is not invincible unless community cowardice is allowed to remain her chief ally.
Oh, Mr. Pie…that exactly what my partner says every night… I wish!
Oh Christ, peeking into your mind is distasteful enough, leave us out of your bedroom.
Really Butter-FLOG and what do you say/do in return?
Jealousy is a curse Mr Pie!
Elusive Butterfly, NMD, Not the ECQ – all the same person. An idiot obsessed with a hatred for Crisafulli and the LNP.
EB, Get a life you tool.
Why does it keep getting reported that Townsville City Council is contributing $4m to Landsdown and is seeking $22m this Federal election cycle after both State and Federal contributed $12m each? When last years TCC Budget papers clearly state $8.6m for Landsdown? Where did $4.6m? go into thin air.
https://www.townsville.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0015/122730/Budget-and-Operational-Plan-2021-22.pdf
https://issuu.com/townsvilleenterprise/docs/2022_unlock_the_north_document?fr=sMGY0ODQ0ODI2MTk
C in C … same thing as thin air.
Where did $4.6m? go = Nous (French for We(e), meaning TCC pissed it away. Good news they probably pissed in Townsville’s Water supply, so ratepayers you’re drinking it…….
https://insidelocalgovernment.com.au/lansdown-eco-industrial-precinct-reaches-important-milestone/
Interesting comments from Jenny Hill July 2021 before the feds commitment of the $12million where she states in the article..
“The State Government will contribute the lion’s share of the funding, with a $12 million commitment. Council will contribute $2 million, and a further $2 million will come from the Australian Government’s Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program.”
So TCC is only contributing $2 million it seems and the other $2 million they have been trumpeting was a contribution from the feds all along.
Also I don’t know if Jenny Hill has said this publicly yet but I also found a link to a letter she sent to DFAT April 2021 (Feasibility Study on Strengthening Trade and Investment with Israel Submission from Townsville City Council) and it states a few of her future intentions for Townsville and interestingly says about Landsdown and the Haughton Pipeline:
-Future connection of the Precinct to the Haughton Pipeline which will provide raw water supply for industrial users.
https://www.dfat.gov.au/sites/default/files/feasibility-study-israel-submissions-townsville-city-council.pdf
Very Interesting.
Good info.
TCC/ Jenny Hill also released this update on the Haughton Pipeline the day after Jenny Hill sent the letter DFAT:
https://www.townsville.qld.gov.au/about-council/news-and-publications/media-releases/2021/april/progress-being-made-on-second-stage-of-haughton-pipeline
Knowing full well her intentions for the future use of the Pipeline.
In WA councillors may sue members of the public. We may all be in trouble if this comes to Townsville.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-01-24/defamation-claims-councillors-vs-public-ratepayer-dollars/100769548
You can bet your bottom dollar that the LGAQ is studying the WA proposals closely.
If that becomes the case, then it would only be fair if it is reciprocal.
Hey all you fellas out there! Can you please STOP writing that TCC Councillors need to grow some nuts and take on The Mullet. How the fuck are women supposed to do that you silly Billy’s!
Better turn of phrase might be, “screw your courage to the sticking place.” fron Billy Shakespeare’s Macbeth.
It’s only defamation when it’s not true
From a legal website:
Is it only defamation if its false?
A defamatory statement must be false — otherwise it’s not considered damaging. Even terribly mean or disparaging things are not defamatory if the shoe fits. Most opinions don’t count as defamation because they can’t be proved to be objectively false.
‘If the shoe fits’ sounds a bit flexible (read expensive) The Magpie has never for instance claimed any councillor or the mayor corrupt or guilty of other criminal actions – mainly because he has no solid proof of the same, in the same manner that smoke coming from a window doesn’t prove the house is on fire – but he forms questions about integrity, motive, responsibility and ability that deserve examination by authorities. But the political arena is very different from the private arena.
However all that said, because of out of control social media, The ‘Pie would agree with the WA laws if at the same time suitable shield laws are put on the books to protect legitimate journalists and their sources.
Pie, Still looking for a good investigative journalist to bust this lazy labor government apart. Or are they too scared.
Apparently not new information but is anyone else shocked to learn that not only is TCC asking for $50M for Landsdown Industrial Precinct but they are also seeking an extra $23M for a water pump station to connect the Haughton Pipeline for Industrial Water use.
https://treasury.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020-09/115786_TOWNSVILLE_ENTERPRISE_LIMITED_-_SUBMISSION_1.pdf
It states without these investments, the proposed developments will not proceed.
I suppose that’s what happens when the Mulletin keeps the community in the dark. No wonder Jenny says she will fund at any cost to the community.
Tropical, mate, everything Ok? Take a breath, unclench the fists, wipe the spittle of the screen. The abusive pointless rants you have posted have of course been sent to delete heaven, but because The ‘Pie is worried about you needing your own intervention, here’s one of your heroes, Don Junior, so you know that The ‘Pie isn’t ignoring your point of view.
https://twitter.com/Angry_Staffer/status/1485397368015097856?cxt=HBwWgMC47ajCmJ0pAAAA&cn=ZmxleGlibGVfcmVjcw%3D%3D&refsrc=email
Cutie Pie
Up a bit late deleting comments last night, way past your dementia addled bedtime.
Anyway my comment stands – you are still a fuckwit along with your butt kissing mates who are incapable of thinking for themselves.
We know they’re dirty young arsesoles, but really ….
At least they quickly corrected it … they should make it a habit.
But more often or not, this shower leave things hanging. The most mysterious statement that begs explanation – but gets none – is in the yarn about a person who died in a single vehicle accident overnight.
Police spokesman Sen Sergeant John Searle is quoted:
Get a lot of that, though, do you, Sarge?
FFS, can’t someone train these reputedly reporters to think like the average reader and ask the polite but obvious question, like maybe ‘Why did you say that, Sergeant?. By not doing so, it suggests the possibility that the driver did himself in, they just don’t know yet, which no doubt brings a new level of anguish to his grieving family. Really you lot, what shits.
Jesus, Leyton Smith, you might even get a yarn about the number of accidents suspected of being, or subsequently proved to be, suicides. You gunna be surprised at the answer, if any walloper will talk.
Cheesed off.
Definitely not ‘con brio’.
The expectations of a Gouda time in the dairy aisle is un-brie-lievable.
Very il-haloumianting. The ‘Pie knew posting that pic was going to result in a fetta worse than death, and now, he’s tempted to tell everyone where they can cherve their comments. Whey too much already!
Re: Jennifer Board. Did it occur to anyone that the the defendants bail hearing was before Christmas and that the day after reports of stolen cars ramming police cars, the bully puts out a story about the most hated man in Townsville???
QPS data shows 46 unlawful motor vehicle and 116 unlawful entry offences this week, despite the police blitz. What’s the response from the Mayor and our MP’s to the just released JCU report stating Townsville’s crime rate is 56 per cent higher than the state average?
Don’t really care anymore, half the dickheads of this town voted for this, if they thought anything was going to change then they are just gullible and ignorant.
One of those cars ended up crashed into a power pole and set on fire near my place just before 5 on Saturday morning. Neighbours who were already up and about saw the kids get picked up by another (assumed stolen) car before the police arrived and the Police were there within minutes.
Townsville’s biggest problem is the three do nothing MPs who are too scared to speak up for their constituents, rather than toe the party line.
Just in.
With Demolition to start in mid 2022, construction finished in late 2024 and commissioning 2025*.
* taken from AP’s presser.
What was missing is what they will do with the rest of the site. Those announcements will be at a later date (again as per the presser).
I am sure that the Bulleting will take up the question about the Qld Govt privatizing a government owned asset to fund this.
In good news, by 2025, crime will be licked.
So committed to 250 officers “BY 2025”. There in itself says that labor should never be voted back in in Townsville. That timeline is an election and a half away. The so called 10 day blitz on again just to catch the same kids from last one with the special task force it was called then. Same results no action. The stadium needs to have fences erected and no shade and let them all stay there when caught in any weather conditions. Yay I’m so excited that an ANNOUNCEMENT is made for something that just keeps the sheep saying labor is protecting us. I call bullshit.
What a load of shit!!
Very succinct … and spot on. 4 years too late, but goes well beyond the electioin cycle, that’s the reason for the ‘Pie’s question.
Planning on the precinct is well underway & rumoured to include;
– The Les Walker Drunk Tank
– The Aaron Harper Dog Squad
– The Scott Stewart Missing Persons Unit
and Jenny Hill Chamber of Secrets
It’s like the water pipeline to nowhere, completed by 2025, a year after the election, if this were to happen in it’s present form, the new government will be left with the pumping costs. Pallachook is in Townsville today, and will attend the Aussie Day ceremony with Kim Jen Hill tomorrow, I’m sure she will be resplendent in her mayor robes, as together they watch the raising of our flag. Meanwhile Queen Anna will deflect questions on how much Wellcamp is costing, and why the Commissioner of Integrity, Dr Nicola Stepanov, has resigned, after her office was raided and her personal laptop compromised and data wiped.
Breaking news, McSporran has resigned.
Old news Pie, we knew that days ago!
Only because you read it here … took them a while to catch up with the Nesters to make it official.
McSporran gave Queen Anna and some of her foot soldiers a rough ride. He also stepped on the toes of various LGAQ ‘affiliates’ which also pissed them off to no end. You can only expose crooked politicians for so long before the hammer eventually falls on you. He did a good job while he was in his role. Other politicians play a different game, such as the Libtards. Scotty from marketing is slowly starving the ABC to death. Chipping away one brick at a time. Our most Honourable ones do hate being exposed for the pieces of shit that they generally are.
So not fixing up Trad for Insider Trading was a good idea?
We can have all the police in the world catching the little snots , but without legislative reform to protect the public, and commence intergenerational interventions, (mainly education focused) the judiciary will continue to release the little snots.
Meanwhile the Three Useless Fuckards continue to receive a salary.
Agree, and have to say, the ‘Pie has never blamed the cops for the situation, it’s not as they’re corrupt, lazy or incompetent, precisely the opposite. This is a welcome announcement – if it ever actually happens – but if it a forgive and forget balloon floated to bolster local seats, good bloody luck with that.
“Queensland Government to deliver new police precinct in Townsville”
Published Today at 11:22 AM on the QLD Government’s website.
Four and a half hours later, nothing on the Bulletin’s online site.
I didn’t know government media release re-writes took so long, Mr. Pie?
And, it will be a re-write, with a byline!
Unbelievable!
I’m surprised that you haven’t mentioned this Inquiry into Australia’s Regional Newspapers in the blog or has it just escaped your sharp eyes over the festival season.
https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/House/Communications/Regionalnewspapers
Had that on the backburner, waiting for the holiday numbers – traditionally and understandably low – to pick back up, which they have now started to.
Appreciate the reminder though, thanks.
Does anyone have any info on Graham Finlayson’s departure from TCC? Who is running their legal department now?
Well Tony Bligh is running HR which explains why all the HR staff have left.
Shit! Is Bligh still there. Must have photos of someone.
Tony Bligh running HR? Good god … or is that just your sick joke?
Unfortunately not a joke. And good riddance to Finlayson, he can inflict is bad manners and poor temper somewhere else.
Thank you 7 local news, needed a laugh today. Story on old cowboys stadium being turned into a police precinct. Every time the word police was uttered by a speaker the memberless member for Mundingburra Les the loser twitched nervously. Hope the footage is able to be used at the election would make a great ad.
Don’t forget that these posters should be pretty effective as well:
Welcome to Townsville Anna! Are you staying long? I bet you brought extra security guards with you and you left all your jewellery back at home. If you stay for a few nights make sure you are home before dark, your hotel room has triple deadlocks and don’t leave any sensitive paperwork or loose change in the console of your limousine. And if you head out to the Mad Cow make sure Messagebank Walker doesn’t get you involved in any pub brawls, the fuckwit has a habit of getting pissed and starting some shenanigans.
The announcement said “250 police”, not “250 EXTRA police”.
So, down through the mists of time these Mr and Ms Plods will most likely replace the 350 officers who have left Townsville.
Has a political promise of more police ever eventuated?
Our less-than-honourable ones are very sneaky and crafty when wording their promises, you have to read between the lines and examine each word. You are probably onto something Tas, potentially another sneaky and misleading statement from the muppets down south. I remember years ago when the ayatollah of bullshit, Peter Beattie, released figures regarding hospital bed numbers in Queensland. They including ambulance beds/gurneys in those numbers. Absolute BS. And they love promising to ‘do something’ in 2 or 3 years time, knowing they will be voted out before then. Crooks.
And come someone tell Harpic the meaning of the word ‘unprecedented’
Christ, Ala, you’ve caused a panicked search for the dictionary at the Bulletin.
I have a relation that was part of the cull from the Newman years in Qld health. From her opinion she says she was hard done by as a 3rd level manager in a department full of management with not enough frontline staff. I said straight out to her the day she said she was sacked that her employment was unsustainable. It was a con job by labor to tell everyone that the sackings were frontline which was bullshit. Now we are seeing the same with the police force and this new super station. I’m betting that the 250 police will be paperwork pushers like my relative and not an actual person out stopping crime. That was one thing I thought Newman had the right idea with but fucked up tremendously, sack the office staff to save money and put more frontline in. Both in dealing with health and crime. Let’s hope Dave C will finish what was started but done better.
The cause of the spectacular demise of the Campbell Newman experiment is best summed as The ‘Pie did at the time … way too much, way too soon.
Don’t think The Kid will make the same mistake, his a fast learner, and Newman’s agenda cost him a jobb he was doing well.
and gave us Annie bloody Puddleduck.
Us
How many of your relations were culled by Goss and Rudd.
Goss and Rudd culled 16,000 useless PS chair shiners.
Suppose it’s inevitable that there will Oz Day comments when ceremonies and demos have been done for the day (doubly loving the rain for that latter reason).
What did The ‘Pie do to celebrate? Nothing, why would he, he both celebrates and despairs being an Australian every day of the year.
But here’s something. The old bird thought he’d make a jest about the Australia/Invasion Day argument, but then when he read what he’d said, maybe it’s not that silly after all. The idea actually seems to tick all the boxes.
Why not make Australia Day the last Monday of January every year? We use this formula for the Melbourne Cup – which some would claim has just as great cultural significance as Australia Day – and for both Rugby League and AFL grand finals. There are many events at local and state level that also follow this pattern (is the EKKA one?). And there’s little or no dissension about these annual hootenannys. The big upside for those who which want to cling to Jan 26 is that this way, a long weekend is guaranteed … and that, folks, is as foolproof way of bribing Australian to vote for an idea as free beer.
Oh, and indigenous groups and their supporters who want a designated Invasion/Survival Day … sure help themselves to whatever date deemed appropriate, and if that is declared a holiday, what greater way for Aussies to come together and agree, k’noath, mate.
Simples, no?
and Easter is “the first Sunday after the full Moon that occurs on or after the spring equinox, so how ’bout Aus day is the first monday after 100 cars stolen after the first professional sportsman cries to mummy for being called names
Hmm, OK, but wow quick off the mark, just 10 minutes to go through the commenting process. Cor!
Let them celebrate it in NAIDOC WEEK
‘Them’? How about we all celebrate NAIDOC Week.
I wonder which government bureaucrats and former Liberal politicians will receive Australia Day OAM’s this year? It’s always a crock of shit and yet another opportunity for serving politicians to reward their buddies. It’s getting really old. Most people know that the awards are gamed towards mates. Fuckwits. But didn’t Morrison look like the prize goose that he is when Grace Lame gave him the sideways death stare! Funny shit.
PR, “Funny shit”. Most people have commented on how rude & disrespectful she was.
Can only half agree with you, Ala, she has absolutely no reason to respect Scott Morrison, the man, but as a much admired public figure holding an office of national recognition, she has an obligation to behave without teenage truculence towards the Prime Minister of the country and in the presence of others attending a major annual ceremony. Apart from her supporters who were taken aback at her behaviour, the person she most let down was herself, missing a moment to stand above the political grubbiness with dignity, leadership and clear purpose. She was badly advised, if she was advised at all. Maybe all the fawning on social media which she has actively courted in recent times went to her head.
Shame.
All I can think of is the poor bastard that’s going to marry her.
I’m not disagreeing with you Ala – she was and is an immature brat. But I do enjoy seeing Morrison being treated like shit. After all, it’s pretty much how he treats us Australians – like shit. Anyway, let them have their irrelevant and fruitless celebrations, it’s all a load of baloney.
Rollmop, some one’s got to lead this country, and if people like you think they can do any better- line up now! This is a poisoned chalice- what with all the disasters, natural and self caused that have infested the Morrison Government. Rest assured, nobody from any other party could have done better, given the circumstances of infections the world has no answer to, plus the natural fires etc. Make sure your name is on the roll to lead us out of this morass next election please!
Reading that load of easily refuted codswallop, Hondaman, make sure your name isn’t.
I think you will find that Grace Tame assumed her standard spoilt brat persona and ended up looking like a fool
Congratulations to to Dylan Alcott, very well deserved.
If my dear old Mum was alive and if, happily she was the mother of this brat that scowl would have been wiped from her face with a full-blooded slap!! That’s how we learnt respect in my day!
Think you’re missing the point of Ms Tame’s ‘possum-having-a-difficult-shit’ face – it is reasonably argued that she is not obligated to show Scott Morrison any respect after his disgraceful behaviour towards her and abused women over the past year. But there are ways of letting your displeasure being known with dignity and maturity.
It is also worth noting – for this photo op side issue only – Ms Tame is on the spectrum, and that may have informed her decision on her behaviour.
What’s up Mopsy? Did you miss out again??
Yes mate, I missed out again. Apparently because I’m not an incompetent former politician or a senior bureaucrat that has sucked on the public teat for 40 years, I don’t qualify for a medal! How rude!! But seriously mate, I have spent many decades helping charities and doing things sight unseen, to help my community. As have many others. For my work, I don’t ever seek out recognition and not would I accept recognition if offered. And for the record, there are some worthy candidates who receive Australia Day honours and I congratulate them. But I despise the political vermin who award mates who have spent their bureaucratic life looking out for their own interests, that’s all.
Rollmop, apparently there were 900+ of the various Australia Day awards and most of them went to people just like you – unheard of local achievers. Instead of bitching about mostly unheard of bigshots who you think piss in each others pockets to pull an award, why not celebrate the locals who we know really do make a contribution to local quality of life and who deserve every bit of the credit that is acknowledged by the gong. Here they are courtesy of a (sorry) TCC press release:
Citizen of the Year – Douglas Millican
Young Citizen of the Year – Kate Pemberton
Arts & Culture Award – Robyn Croft
Community Volunteer Award – Malcolm Marks
Senior Sports Award – Andrew Walters
Junior Sport Award – Jacob Fowler
Environmental Excellence & Sustainability Award – Carolyn Dixon
Watching the Oz Day fly past by the RAAF just one F-35A Lightning II, is that because all the rest which we bought are un-airworthy, as reported?
Mr. Pie, Grace was given the opportunity to express her feelings about the man, Morrison, and took it with both hands, knowing the furore that would follow.
Her objective succeeded brilliantly!
Morrison will never, personally, address the issue…it’s political dynamite…but now, his lackeys, under instruction, and others, clamour to denigrate last year’s Australian of the Year.
Meanwhile, the “immature” Grace, is quietly sitting back, sipping on a Chard, smiling at red-faced clowns, continuing to make the issue front-page news!
It would seem you are ascribing to Ms Tame a motive and strategy which doesn’t fit the scenario for the outcome, when many of her supporters were dismayed and critical of her behaviour.
Have you noticed the current very irritating verbal trend by interviewees? they all start by looking at the ceiling and uttering the meaningless ” I think” blah blah et al.
I thought they mostly start with the word ‘well’.
Mike ‘Captain Snooze’ Reynolds was an egotistical and patronising blowhard who had his favourite deflection of … ‘First let me say this.’
The ‘Pie well remembers questioning his disgraceful move to have an ambulance levy included in electricity bills, which meant businessmen and women would be double dipping by paying at home and at work. I pointed this out to him at a media call, asking didn’t he think this was unfair; he looked mildly startled and then off he went with ‘First let me say this …’ and loftily declaimed a load of irrelevant guff for a minute or so, and seemed he felt that was that when he finished. To which The ‘Pie said directly and loudly to him ‘I’ll take that as a yes’. Frankly, he nearly shit himself, no one had pulled that on him. It was the start of a less than beautiful relationship. Easily one of the useless and most egotistical men we’ve ever had the misfortune be send to parliament, forever preening himself and checking his appearance, especially his hair. He was quite upset when I wrote in the Bulletin that the opposition found a way to make him late into the chamber by putting mirrors all along the corridor to the chamber doors. And a prominent local businessman in an election strategy meeting once addressed him as ‘Snooze’ … he went thermo-nuclear, screaming ‘Never call me that’.
Ah, happy days.
My personal peeve was the way he kept stroking his tie down over his stomach as he leant back in his chair during meetings/hearings of community submissions. It always struck me that he was too busy stroking himself to bother leaning in and engaging.
Body language is an important tell tale to a politicians attitudes and sincerity. Perhaps a Nester could let us know impressions of Aaron Harpic, if and when they ever see him.
Hmmm, do we have another apt nickname for Harpic now? ‘THE STROKER’! Onya Constituent.
No. We’ll stick with Harpic, because he';s still clean round the bend.
Pie, And before state parliament he was our useless Mayor.
Have met a few politicians in my time. Walked past Mike a few times boarding on QF tagged flights, body language is exactly as you described. Hey as an added bonus he still lives on with the traffic snarls on the upgrade to the ring road stage 2 for however long that will blow out.
I heard from second hand info he was influential in squashing the better dual lane proposal.
You heard right, so The ‘Pie is also told.
Or “So…”
“Juvenile Gabfest running out of Wind” is the editorial header in today’s Gold Coast Bulletin, responding to a GC car theft epidemic up by 10.3% in 2021.
“Brisbane’s long-winded response to juvenile crime is no longer a political gabfest. It is becoming white noise” (GCB 27/1/22)
Nailed it!
So the heavens have opened up and what do we have – a depleted Council workforce that cannot handle the current flooding issues. Well done Jenny. Well done Prince Ralston. You morons. You didn’t see this coming did ya, fuckwits.
This is what happens when an idiot Mayor and an out of his depth part time CEO allow a workforce to be destroyed. After the water recedes who is going to do the cleanup, fix roads, bridges and drainage, clear stormwater pits and sewerage system, mow lawns and attend to the incoming weed infestation? Just to name a couple of problems. TCC has so many holes in its workforce structure you could drive a truck through it. This will cause more pressure and stress on an already battered workforce. Will the Prince put on some gumboots and get his manicured fingernails dirty? Will Jenny get her pristine hi-vis vest dirty? Ha, I doubt it.
So it looks like we are all set for a new federal government in May with a Labor landslide highly likely.
While I think country is travelling comparatively ok I am sure there are many Nesters who think there are some huge advantages of a Labor government.
This is a question from a regular swing voter…
OK, here’s an early Magpie advisory … it’s inevitable that the Federal election will be a hot button topic in the coming months, so The ‘Pie is setting some parameters … keep it civil, debate a point as strongly as you like -preferably including a few facts but keep the verbal character readings to an adult level – playground ad hominen invective which does not address an issue not welcome.
BUT Pie, that’s all part of the fun AND some of it is very, very funny old mate! How about letting a few through………?
Funny how fun can become tedious so quickly … The ‘Pie always forgives anything that is clever and witty … which is why so many comments (including a few of yours, Plucker) get dumped. But yes, the very, very funny ones will get through.
So Nickster, what are the advantages of a Labor/Green government. Are they the woke rubbish like Tame has shown us, along with the Climate 200 greenies, free RAT tests, and everything else free, along with plenty of new taxes and a reduction of our defence force by 50%?
Anal will be a complete fucking disaster as PM, and his Govt the same, but if he does win I am looking forward to it in a sort of way as I think the place will shit itself and will be most entertaining to watch as Australia becomes one big Townsville, full of dickheads who don’t think before they vote and will then whinge like shit when it all goes to crap, I love watching that.
Nickster, I wonder what media you are following which would give you the impression that a Labor landslide is likely? Surely not the same sources as the Miranda Devine story about Grace Tame with 1200 commenters apparently mostly calling the witch a bitch? Do you really think that Phil Thompson’s seat of Herbert is in doubt after his $195m pork barrelling of everything from a shed on Castle Hill to the Lansdown eco-industrial precinct? Can’t see it myself. Although looking at the southern Townsville suburbs that are part of George Christensen’s neglected if not actually abandoned electorate, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if a drover’s dog got up there. But not a Labor dog. Labor is still saddled with its Galilee Basin thermal coal development legacy which will ‘dog’ it all the way through central and north Queensland whilst ever there is a CFMMEU/AWU. And isn’t that all the time?
Nickster, “While I think the country is running ok”
And you’re saying we need a change. “Swinging voter”. Is that being ‘woke’ these days.
So you’re a swinger Ala???
My swinging is all about what best for me.
I am a broad consumer of media state funded to commercial local and international where my analysis is my only own, where my read is it’s a Labor Landline think Kevin07
Seems you’re an ABC watcher … specifically Landline is on your mind. Was that ‘landslide’?
So anything that’s free Nickster, what am I not surprised.
Kerrr-ist!!
Look who’s fucking talking!!…
Well Pie, she had 1200 comments to her story and 90% agreed that Tame was pure bullshit.
(Sigh) … geez, you make this a hard slog sometimes OT …
Read closely and slowly: The ‘Pie said ‘Look who’s talking’, a clear reference to the fact that Devine is a pot calling the kettle black, if ever there was a graceless sourpuss, it would be Ms Devine. ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH THE TAME ISSUE, which The ‘Pie has commented on elsewhere. Which, if you have been keeping up, The ‘Pie agrees less stridently and in a more nuanced way that Ms Tame did herself and many of her followers a disservice.
Devine is a relentless sourpuss about anything to left of the late Kaiser Wilhelm, and graceless with it. For Devine to make this judgement is akin to the editor of the Bulletin chipping The Magpie for a grammatical error. Get it now?
Frank Devine would be spinning in his grave.
Ok, please people, stop saying things such as ‘free RAT tests’ and ‘free this’ and ‘free that’. Nothing is free in life. Our country is now almost $1 trillion in debt. Inflation is out of control and interest rates are about to head upwards. Our ‘free’ RAT tests, amongst other ‘free’ things from the Government, comes out of our taxes either now or farther down the road. Governments are givers, not takers. Do not believe their bullshit.
Hmmm, let’s slow down a sec, Dollar Short. Certainly, any RATS test freely distributed by the government are paid for from our taxes, but if we are required to pay for them, especially when the government has cornered the market, means double dipping on us muggins. So the term ‘free’ while conditional, is right in the everyday sense.
I saw the Premier delivering the latest COVID propaganda yesterday with Messagebank standing right beside her. Rubbing our noses in it and reminding us that she doesn’t give a damn what that clown gets up. Doesn’t matter what party/independent you vote for we always end up with a politician with varying and diminishing degrees of personal qualities and aptitude.
Well, yes, OK, but what choice does she have but to have the nodding pisspot around when here. From a political point of view, be bigger story if she didn’t.
What do you mean “Nodding pisspot”, His real name is mugshot number, 272043.
I went back through the news articles to find out what the Grace Tame kerfuffl is all about.
It seems that she has little grace and is far from tame.
Suggest you do a little deeper checking before you reach conclusions on this one.
Grace is bloody fantastic. She has done more in 12 months to raise awareness about paedophilia and sexual assault at a national level that any of our politicians ever have. She has called them out for poor behaviour, and she has established a foundation to continue her work in raising awareness and making changes to the system that protects abusers.
No argument there – although Brittany Higgins brave actions without award or reward is up there too – but the current noise is about Grace’s choice of behaviour at the handover ceremony. Nobody expected kisses and cuddles, but more dignity by the person who is the clear winner between these two might have achieved more for her cause.
Will Grace Tame put her hand up for a spot in AnAl’s team for the Fed election? AnAl and Tame are both giving signs of playing those cards at the moment. Female, Australian of last year, advocate for anti abuse, Scomo hater, AnAl lover; what more could AnAl ask for?
He could ask for a speech therapist. He stammers and froths up lickspittle far too much.
She reminds me of The Taming of the Shrew.
And cute, KK…
If you insist EB. The scowl somehow doesn’t indicate “cuteness”. But whatever you reckon.
Hmmm…wouldn’t call it “scowl” Russell, but a look of total disdain.
Very appropriate!
Yeah, EB, cute like a cobra.
1 in 50 years?
This morning it was reported that yesterday’s rain was a one in 50 years event. Today’s rain is much the same, therefore another 1 in 50 in two days. Then there was the rain in 2019 that assisted the Mulett to flood most of the town. Not 50 years ago. Then the Night of Noah in 1997 or thereabouts 25 years ago. We seem to be having a lot of these 1 in 50 years events. Is this a meaningless term, or a tool of the insurance industry?
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-01-27/bom-rain-weather-townsville-qld-forecast/100784382
Yes Dave rainfall recurrence is a fairly meaningless pseudo-statistic. Its only relevance is to newspaper headlines.
What is important practically are the minimum building levels, where a minimum height above the Australian Height Datum is specified as the minimum height that a habitable floor can be constructed. This level is calculated by flood models (averaged over a whole suburb) that mean a floor of a building will be inundated on average no more often than once in fifty years.
The flood models are statistical, which means that it is completely feasible that the inundation level might be exceeded twice in consecutive years (or even three times) then not at all for two hundred years.
The minimum levels are also not a guarantee that flooding will not occur more or less often. The models are on a best guess basis, are historical, with limited data points- also things could change- the climate could change, the water run off varies as drainage is improved, (or worsened), roads and concrete affect run off, etc
W,
Thanks for that.
It’s not once in 50 years. It means that there is a 1 in 50 chance every year that there will be so much rainfall in an hour. 1 in a 100, 1 in 500 etc.
Now you’ve completely confused the toddlers in the Bulletin playpen.
M NQ,
Your explanation does make sense but below is a copy and paste from the ABC News link attached to my original comment on this matter.
Senior forecaster Grace Legge said the intensity of the rain in such a short period of time was unusual.
“For us, it reaches an intense threshold, which is over a long enough time you should only see this once every 50 years,” she said.
Mick, I don’t know you from Adam (of the Garden of Eden), but where do you get your information? Surely not from the Holy Bible? A ‘once in a hundred years’ flood event – such as Fairfield Waters was (apparently) able to withstand but couldn’t deal with the 2019 event which was described as ‘one in five hundred years’ – is exactly that. It has nothing to do with the ratio 1:100.
From my survey degree addled. 1 in 100 year means 1 in 100 (1%) chance of exceeding IFD Design Rainfall Depth for a given period of time (Usually 1 hour). In Idalia the 1 in 100, One Hour Rainfall Depth is 111mm. So there is a 1% chance of every year of exceeding 111mm per hour of rainfall. See this link. http://www.bom.gov.au/water/designRainfalls/rainfallEvents/why100years.shtml
The chance of tossing a coin and getting tails is always 50%. Even though you can get 5 tails in a row, the probability of getting a tail on your 6th toss is still 50%
Now we await the inevitable tragedy and thundering stories about the dangers of children playing in floodwaters. If either or both of these kids had slipped, the result could’ve been serious up to fatal.
Evan Morgan (who undoubtedly got the kids to pose) and the paper would have some face awkward questions from the coroner.
Sad to say, Evan Morgan, great photographer though he is, he’s a serial offender at Aplins Weir. He lets his desire for a great shot overcome his judgement and responsibility. This is from February 2020.
‘Kids doing ill advised, often dangerous things is all part of growing up. What’s not Ok is an adult encouraging them to put themselves in danger, the carrot being ‘your pic will, be in the paper’. If the worst ever happens, so will their obituary.
Slow Day in. Medialand?
This is the most irrelevant and pointless piece of news today. SFW?
In regards to Phillip Thompson’s Australia day bash, the bangers were donated and the rest came out of his own pocket.
Errr, who pays his salary?
That’s such a lazy response. His wife pays tax, so she pays his salary? He pays tax, so he pays himself? I pay tax, which pays for your pension? Yet you still ask me for more via donations to fund your blog? And before you go to the usual “I’ve paid taxes my whole working life” argument, keep in mind so has Phil and his wife. But if it makes you feel better just think that whatever tax you paid in the past might have helped fund the Cleveland Youth Detention Centre. And so it goes, on and on. C’mon Magpie, you’re better than this.
All of the above is correct. Your argument is?
Anyway, trust it was a good knees-up.
No argument, I just thought a little boring to try and diminish the event and the intent of it with such a rote argument about who paid for it.
Your kidding, right? ‘…such rote argument about who paid for it’? Rote? Now while this has got nothing to do with Phil’s apparent philanthropy, The ‘Pie must take you to task on that misuse of the word on this issue.
In this materialistic, ideologically chaotic capitalist/socialist country – the world in fact – who pays for anything is not a ‘rote’ argument, it is a vital informational plank in the platform of democracy.
Is one to suppose that because of your view that questioning about use of public money is ‘rote’ i.e. about who pays for something, makes it redundant and out of order to question oh let’s say, at Federal level, sports rorts and carpork, at state level the Wagner-Wellcamp stitch up of taxpayers (including the untendered appointment of a private company to run it for an unspecified Comm in Conf secret sum), or on the local level, promise $18m of ratepayer funds to build a distant airport for a mining billionaire?
rote | rōt |
noun
mechanical or habitual repetition of something to be learned
You seem fired up today Pie. Any particular reason, or did you swallow a dictionary for morning tea?
Just another day like any other.
Easy going there Dear ‘Pie.
Regardless of who pays his salary, and you would be amazed at the act of parliament 1st March 2002 or thereabouts that pays my pension, if Phil paied for this knees up from his own housekeeping good on him. If other wise he would be doing a Gordon Nuttall.
RAINFALL RELIEF OVER COVID CARE
The Mayor of QLD’s largest regional city has astonished Australia’s medical fraternity suggesting that Covid should take “second place” to rainfall.
Cr. Jenny Hill, Mayor of Townsville, a city of 200,000, which boasts 320 days of sunshine, second only to Western Australia’s capital, Perth, said efforts to prepare for rainfall had been hampered by the current spread of Covid.
She said protecting people is the ultimate priority, but Covid takes second place.
Ms. Hill’s comments come after the local daily newspaper, the Townsville Bulletin, reported that “at least one vehicle in Deeragun (a Townsville suburb) needed rescuing after it became trapped in floodwater.”
The Mayor assured Townsville residents that “we are making sandbags and sand available to our community”, but “Covid takes second place to protecting human life.”
The three local, State MPs were contacted for comment.
One said “contact Dolan”, another “at least she’s not as mad as Christensen” and the third was heard demanding “whose shout is it?”
You wouldn’t be dead for quids, Mr. Pie!
She’s quite mad!
Regarding Phil Thompson throwing a few snags on the barbie – individual politicians have budgets for all manner of things, great and small. It’s hard to tell where the BBQ money came from without seeing his annual budget paperwork line by line. And regardless, even if he used taxpayer money, it’s all loose change when compared to Scotty from Marketing and his pal Fraudenberg giving away billions to big businesses under the guise of ‘Jobkeeper’ ‘jobseeker’ or whatever else they call it. As much as I hold great disdain towards the majority of politicians, Phil Thompson has done more for Townsville (in opposition) than the current 3 muppets and the purple doona wearer.
Hey Phil, with the current flooding concerns, now is a great opportunity for you to chat with Scotty and get some more money for flood mitigation. Bang another nail in the inept Mayor’s coffin.
Last time I looked, Thommo was a part of the Morrison guv’ment, not in opposition.
Thompson is most certainly part of Scomo’s Liberal team. But he is in opposition to the Labor Mayor of our city, hence the reason I use the term ‘opposition’.
If I’m reading this correctly, tax payers forked out $20Million to acquire the Aboriginal Flag license, but it seems that all we got was the right to wear or display the flag but can’t manufacture it, That is still the exclusive right of the original owners.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/jan/27/company-that-retains-exclusive-right-to-make-aboriginal-flags-says-government-has-misled-community
Just so you know, and panic because the city might go broke.
And here’s a moment of mystery .,.. but we should be getting use to them.
in the Astonisher today, the story about some council services being cut back because of COVID contains this unfathomable par.
“Mr Ralston said a pick-up in the Townsville economy had delivered a big boost to the council’s budget which was helping to provide a financial position that was better than initially envisaged.”
Now … and serious here, actually asking … can someone more versed in the arcane accounting ways of the TCC please explain to this befuddled old bird just WHAT sudden new revenue stream mysteriously and unnoticed came on tap during one of the worst business years in the city’s recent history? Elsewhere in a media release, the mayor jousted with the truth when telling us smart initiatives and staff shuffling had resulted in an $18m ‘saving’ in the past year, but that is hardly has anything to do with some phantom ‘pick up in Townsville’s economy’. Maybe he’s confusing Townsville with Gladstone?
Surely he can’t be speaking of outside state and/or federal money tipped into the coffers but clearly earmarked for particular purposes?
Anyone?
I call ‘bullshit’ on Ralstons claim of a financial windfall. How about he open the books up for all of us to see? Or maybe Councillor Fran, the only financially competent Councillor on the payroll, can scroll through the books and verify Ralston’s comments by showing us how, where, when and why this big windfall came about? It’s amazing. The part-time CEO’s accounting skills could be marketed and sold to other Councils who are up to their tits in debt.
Is the $18m a refund from Adani for the failure to hide the fucking stupid and (allegedly) unlawful TCC’s half contribution to the Adani airport runway?
Have to agree with you Pie, seems the CEO might have been caught out in misleading the public. Pity there is no one that you can complain to other than the Mayor.
The big boost to the budget has been the huge number of staff departing. Massive wages savings. However, it is also contributing to the inability to provide services. So no staff, no services, no work getting done, no operational costs and no overheads. I can’t think of a more effective way to boost your budget.
But the crucial words were ‘pick up in the Townsville economy’. Which all of that is not, nothing to do with the city’s business’s performance, and as GST SHAM has suggested, neither is the cancellation of projects through floods and COVID, which cannot in the wildest of bureaucratic economic fantasy be described as a pick up of Townsville’s economy.
Voodoo economics is back.
Have you learned nothing from TCC media releases?
Put a positive spin on it no matter what. It you fell in a mud puddle, say it’s the start of a new trend. Picked up a stray dog, make a big deal of it, pretend the Mayor did it and promote the Mayor.
And regarding projects taken off the table due to floods, TCC never had the money anyway. These were all blue sky projects that were never going to come to fruition.
https://www.google.com.au/amp/s/www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/news/townsville/the-projects-that-floods-and-covid19-took-off-the-table/news-story/56d91a1510f42fefe1479beb84f440ec%3famp
Perhaps we start here ?
About time Tony and the new Editor.
That excellent story was back in August last year, Craig Warhurst was the editor but you can bet it was Tony Raggatt’s initiative. Nothing to do with the new guy, who don’t think is in the chair yet. Which maybe why the paper’s had a few teeth recently.
Pay wall.
It seems to me a lot like the Premiers “we did better than expected” with COVID.
You pick a really pessimistic number at one end of the probability curve then claim a win when it’s not quite as stuffed up as you guessed.
Had to laugh at cutting back on parks and maintenance – what bloody parks and maintenance?
The ‘Pie’s initial thought exactly … how would we know the difference?
I would say a sharp and unexpected lift in building approvals due to the feds homebuilder schemelast year, the council make plenty out of those for little extra work. The building approval numbers have returned to the normal shit levels so I doubt it will happen again.
How would the Council CEO know that the economy has picked up? He spent the good part of the last 12 months as a FIFO employee. From what I have heard he spends most of his time doing non-Council related things. Perhaps Council could save another half a million by sacking the clown.
And give our regards to your missus, hope her job is safe at the TCC.