Fractured Political Fairy Tales: Once upon a time in Clarence.............

Nationals MP for Clarence ‘Steve’ Gulaptis addressed Clarence Valley Council on 15 May 2012.

His subject was listed in council minutes as an update on general NSW Government issues.

Given this NSW parliamentarian’s dismal record with achieving any balance between reliable facts versus spin, one has to wonder just how many erroneous ideas shire councillors now hold due to his presentation.

05.004/12

PRESENTATIONS

Mr Chris Gulaptis MP addressed Council and gave an update on general NSW Government issues affecting local government and/or Clarence Valley Council, including:

·

Gazettal of Clarence Valley Council’s LEP

·

New legislation regarding the dual role of councillors who are also members of the NSW State Government

·

Plans for councils to be given the capacity to do spot rezoning

·

Community Building Partnerships projects

·

Completion of Iluka sewerage facility

·

$70M Local Infrastructure renewal scheme

·

Legislation for councils to jointly manage libraries

·

$7000 relocation grant

·

Destination 2036

·

Planned review of the Local Government Act

Mr Gulaptis answered questions from Councillors regarding:

·

progress of a second bridge at Grafton

·

the upgrade of the Pacific Highway and the possibility of having State budget funds reprioritised and diverted to the upgrade

·

which organisations received Community Partnership Grants

·

floodplain management with a view to meeting with Mr Chris Holstein MP

·

proposed changes to the Local Government Act

Daily Examiner's leading opinion piece contains errors of fact

Without commenting on the merit or otherwise of the damages claims a number of persons have launched against the State of NSW in relation to the so-called 2010 Valentines Day Yamba riot, it needs to be pointed out that the local newspaper, The Daily Examiner, has started things off rather poorly with an opinion piece in today's paper. Written by Tim Howard, the piece contains errors that should be corrected.

According to Howard, the criminal trials were conducted "last year".
Wrong - the trials commenced in 2010 and concluded in 2011.

Also, according to Howard, the trials involved "a judge and his associate, the police prosecutors, eight barristers and two solicitors".
Again, wrong - the trials were conducted in the local court before a magistrate who did not have assistance of an associate. The adult defendants were represented directly by seven barristers and three solicitors. A fourth solicitor appeared as an instructing solicitor for two of the barristers.

Elsewhere in today's paper, Howard has a piece "Damages claims over riot arrests" where he wrote:

"Coffs Clarence patrol commander Superintendent Mark Holahan said he was aware a number of people were taking action against the police force.

He said, as the matters were the subject of legal proceedings, it would be inappropriate for him to comment on them.

He said court was the best place for these matters to be dealt with."

Perhaps Howard should take the Superintendent's advice. Otherwise, Howard and the paper may have to answer to a case or two of their own.

Source: The Daily Examiner, 24/5/12

Growing dirt pile is getting closer to NSW O'Farrell Government Resources and Energy Minister, Chris Hartcher - Part Two

Is this the clumsiest political cover up on record? What does it say about the veracity of the Minister for Resources and Energy generally? Should the NSW North Coast bear this (and other questionable issues surrounding the Minister) in mind when they weigh his undertakings regarding mining in this state?

The NSW Parliament Hansard for the Legislative Assembly records these questions on 23 May 2012:

Ms LINDA BURNEY: My question is directed to the Minister for Resources and Energy, Special Minister of State, and Minister for the Central Coast. Why does the website of the lobbying firm Waratah Advisory list the Minister's chief of staff, Andrew Humpherson, as its principal with a contact number leading directly to his mobile phone?

Mr PAUL LYNCH: My question is to the Minister for Resources and Energy, Special Minister of State, and Minister for the Central Coast. Can the Minister guarantee that the mobile number listed for his chief of staff, Andrew Humpherson, on the lobbying website www.waratahgroup.net.au is not taxpayer funded?

After refusing to answer either question, the NSW Minister for Resources and Energy, Special Minister of State, and Minister for the Central Coast, Chris Hartcher, later the same day sought leave to make this statement to Parliament:

Mr CHRIS HARTCHER: I seek to give a supplementary answer to a question I was asked earlier. My chief of staff, Andrew Humpherson, worked in his own consultancy business for seven months up to March of 2011. His website has been dormant and was not switched off due to an administrative oversight. He transferred his mobile phone number when he commenced as my chief of staff. His LinkedIn profile confirms that his government relations business discontinued in March 2011.

This is the LinkedIn entry to which the Minister referred:

In the Google Index on 24 May 2012

This is what that same entry looked like when the Google search engine cached it for posterity on 5 May 2012 18:18:03 GMT:

Google Cache retrieved on 24 May 2012

Humpherson’s company Waratah Advisory was still displaying on the Internet on 11 May 2012 at 13:30:58 GMT according to Google Cache and stated on one page; As the Principal of Waratah Advisory, Andrew Humpherson has over 30 years experience in politics and public affairs roles.

Whois listed www.waratahgroup.net.au as being owned by PRATTENMOORE PTY LIMITED** with the contact person being Andrew Humpherson.

Unsurprisingly on 23 May 2012 at 05:03:55 UTC Humpherson appears to have requested deletion of this record below – less than an hour (EST) after his Minister gave that highly misleading supplementary answer to Parliament.

Snapshot taken on 24 May 2012

According to The Sydney Morning Herald on 24 May 2012:

A spokeswoman for Mr Hartcher said Mr Humpherson changed the profile after it was raised in question time because it was incorrect.

Thereby admitting that the alterations were made before Parliament adjourned for the day and a Hansard proof had been posted online which would have alerted NSW Voters to what was afoot.

Updated on 16 June 2011, approximately two months after commencing as Hartcher’s Chief of Staff, Humpherson still had this entry online at Zoominfo:

** Rather interestingly, Prattenmoore Pty Ltd with its registered office listed in Chatwood NSW is elsewhere described as an investment company. Waratah Advisory appears to be one of the business names under which this company operates.

Background:

Growing dirt pile is getting closer to NSW O'Farrell Government Resources and Energy Minister, Chris Hartcher, 15 May 2012

The Tony-Abbott-Andrew Bolt-Alan Jones Army out in force? WARNING: Coarse and explicit language

Finally, courtesy of ABC TV Media Watch some of the abusive emails sent to two scientists in Australia are reproduced with identifying details redacted.

Click on images to enlarge