Spin City

MEDIA RELEASE

Spin City out of Control at Clover Moore's Town Hall

Liberal Sydney City Councillor Shayne Mallard has criticised the dramatic growth in expenditure under Clover Moore's administration for ‘Communications Consultants’ at the City of Sydney.

“Clover Moore’s generous spending on communications consultants is just another example of her shameless self promotion,” Shayne Mallard said.

Council is being asked to approve the appointment of a panel of communication consultants for an unspecified amount and with little information provided on their role or cost to the ratepayers. This is in addition to the $30,000 per month now being spent on “Spin City” in her Lord Mayor's office as well as the significant cost of a newly appointed communications director and his staff.

“City News”, a City of Sydney bi-monthly publication which is distributed to residents and ratepayers at enormous expense is already heavily biased in favour of the Lord Mayor and her group and against the other five Councillors”, mallard said.

“City News October edition has one reference to non-Moore Councillor Verity Firth and 19 pictures and references to Clover Moore and her village people.”

"If that's not proof that Moore and her staff can not be trusted to act responsibly with Council's communications budget, I'm not sure what is needed."

Residents could easily forget there are five other hard working City Councillors working for the interests of Sydney residents and ratepayers.

Much of City News, even its format, is indistinguishable from the cascade of self promotion the Member for Bligh and Lord Mayor unleashes on residents and ratepayers every other month at taxpayer and ratepayer's expense.

The cost of the Lord Mayor’s self promotion could go along way towards other more useful city services.

Councillor Mallard estimated that Communications expenditure at the Council had blown out from approximately $250,000 under Frank Sartor to potentially over a $1 million under Clover Moore.

Councillor Mallard's motion to establish an editorial balance oversight committee was defeated by Clover Moore's casting vote tonight as accountability and transparency was rejected.

RELEASE ENDS

27 February 2006

Shayne's Web: www.shaynemallard.com

Shayne's Blog: www.shaynemallard.blogspot.com

City of Sydney:www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au

Cycling finds A list champion

eCouncillor riding his new Norco VFR 4 series bicycle up and down William Street or across Hyde Park hardly raises an eyebrow other than the abuse of ignorant taxi drivers who seem to feel the road is there for them only. Put Hollywood hero and South Sydney's white night Russell Crowe on Elizabeth Street and cycling takes a whole new edge.

As a member of the City of Sydney's Bicycle Steering Committee I will move quickly to enlist Russell's support in building Sydney's engagement with cycling as a viable alternative to walking, driving and public transport. With inner city daily commuter trips by bike as low as 2% in Sydney (with a target range of 6% in Melbourne to 33% in Copenhagen) there are real opportunities and proven positive health, environment and economic benefits by encouraging more cycling. At the same time Council and the State government must continue their investment in cycling infrastructure.

Today's Daily Telegraph carried the pic and story on page 7. On line the picture of Crowe could not be found so I have scanned it in for eCouncillor's cycling friends.

On yer bike
By Dora TsavdaridisFebruary 21, 2006

THE last time he wore a helmet was in Gladiator.Yesterday, Elizabeth St was the venue as Russell Crowe engaged in a different kind of combat - with Sydney's peak-hour gridlock.
And while Crowe is used to stopping traffic as one of cinema's biggest stars, he got a reaction of a different kind yesterday.
One driver was unimpressed with his bike-riding skills and honked him when his bike strayed into the middle of the road.
Crowe is taking a break from films at the moment and is focusing on winning his privatisation bid for the South Sydney Rabbitohs with business partner Peter Holmes a Court.
His dream to own the rugby league team, which he has followed since he was a young boy, will only come true if 75 per cent of club members vote to accept the $3 million deal.

The Woolloomooloo based actor recently finished filming the lead role in a film by Gladiator director, Ridley Scott called A Good Year, which also stars fellow Australian Abbie Cornish.
He plays Max Skinner, an Englishman who inherits a vineyard in the south of France.

Westfield CBD Proposal goes on Exhibition

CENTREPOINT DA ON EXHIBITION

I attended the Council's information session held on Valentine's Day this week to give residents, businesses and the public the opportunity to learn more about the $430 million Development Application (DA) lodged by Westfield for CBD commercial and retail premises surrounding Centrepoint.

The City has placed the proposal on public exhibition until 7 March to enable the community and stakeholders to lodge submissions. Westfield is seeking development consent for the Centrepoint, Convention Centre, Imperial Arcade and Skygarden sites, including demolition of parts of the buildings and construction of a new commercial tower and basement parking.

There are a range of legitimate concerns including construction impacts (estimated to be spread over three years), car parking and traffic management and design issues. Consistent concerns are raised about the impact that a mega retail complex will have on the economic viability of neighbouring CBD shopping areas. One retailer from Bondi Junction pointed out his experience with that Westfield project. He noted that the economic impact report for the huge Bondi Junction Westfield development estimated a 3% negative impact upon the surrounding area. He claimed the figure is in fact closer to 30%. In response I am supporting an independent economic impact study to be undertaken. However - the question is; "what can Council do on this front?" At last night's meeting of the Paddington branch of the Liberal party it was suggested by one that the City of Sydney simply refuse the DA. That is reject the $430 million investment in the tired looking Centrepoint and Pitts Street Mall retail core of the CBD and effectively hand the decision to the courts. It should also be noted that Council is not the consent authority on this DA but rather it is the CSPC of which I am a member. I would welcome any feedback on this DA.

To view the full application, visit the CityÂ’s website.

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Green Square another step closer....Not before time.

The City has finally at long last released the next phase of the Green Square Town Centre development, with the latest Draft Local Environment Plan (LEP). The current LEP is a revised draft of the original version prepared in 2003 by the former South Sydney City Council prior to amalgamation.

There has been a further 2 year delay in reviewing the original Green Square LEP proposed by South Sydney with no significant differences in the two proposals. Simply another delay to frustrate land owners, investors and the community in Green Square who are keen to see new shopping centre and other amenities promised.

Meantime the Lord Mayor Clover Moore is using ratepayer's money to seek legal advise and gearing up Council to fight the proposed Sydney Airport redevelopment in the Botany Council area. One of her arguments is the damage the airport development could do to the Green Square area. Now that the Council will finally adopt a new LEP for the area the property industry might take seriously the years of Green Square hype and glossy brochures and look at making some real economic and job creating investments. The race is on and the City of Sydney needs to be out there ahead of the Airport Corporation with sleeves rolled up prepared to work with the property industry to achieve excellence in economic, social and urban design outcomes. If the airport developments do damage Green Square's viability and future growth then the Council must accept part of that blame.

From the Council report:
"With the cost of essential infrastructure expected to exceed $103 million, full implementation of the new Town Centre is anticipated to evolve over a period of more then 10 years.
Based on a number of technical studies to ensure the best outcomes are delivered, the vision for Green Square is to provide a new and vibrant town centre where people will live, work, shop, dine out, be entertained and take part in cultural and community activities.
The proposed development will include two key public plazas, a landscaped boulevard with cycle and pedestrian paths, parks and other communal spaces.
City of Sydney will host a planning Forum on 18 February 2006 from 12.30pm to 2.30pm at the Green Square Community Facility, 3 Joynton Avenue Alexandria. "

Kung Hei Fat Choy!!!

The biggest parade outside China

On Sunday a massive crowd of fifty thousand lined George Street to celebrate the Chinese new year. Hundreds of performers from Beijing joined local groups to put on a spectacular show. "Brilliant colourful costumes" said one observer. Organiser Robert Kok was qouting saying "This cements Sydney as the largest Chinese New Year festival outside of Hong Kong". It was indeed a chance for the local Australians to see Chinese traditional culture, the Year of the Dog brings friendship and good fortune.

The Australian reports:

Fifty thousand spectators turned out to watch more than 500 performers from Beijing, promoting the 2008 Olympics with the Games' slogan "One World One Dream", lead the parade of more than 2000 performers from 50 different groups. But something you won't be seeing in Beijing -- spiritual group Falun Gong -- took up the rear.
The group, banned in China, used the parade to spread its message that the Chinese Government has oppressed and terrorised it unmercifully.

My PA James Farrar took some great photos and they are available to view here: http://www.digifolio.biz/feature-2006parade.asp

Flag Burning for Democracy & Danes Singled Out

There has been a bit of good old fashioned offensive flag burning going around in the past few days. You couldn't help but notice the in-your-face offensive action on 26 January, Australia Day when a disgraceful Aboriginal protest in Brisbane not only climaxed with the burning of the Australian flag on our day of national celebration but to add class to the occasion the gathered rat bag Aborigines spat on the flaming flag. This action captured in all its vulgarity on TV failed to make the printed press with any pictures (if I'm wrong please let me know where it is on-line). Seems a bit of press PC editing. A great way to help the rest of Australia understand and sympathise with their feelings about white settlement and civilisation of Australia.


Clover Moore used the Australia Day ceremony in Hyde Park to tell all gathered that to Aboriginal people Australia Day is not a day of celebration but marks the day of invasion. Well it is always helpful when Clover Moore presumes to represent the views of the 'community' and in particular a very diverse community - many of whom disassociated from the 'sorry day' agenda and Brisbane flag burning. Much like she did when Aboriginal radicals squatted and set up a camp network in Victoria Park in 2004 declaring it a sovereign nation - abusing Clover's naivete and resulting in a secret deal and midnight Council eviction.

The Australia Day ceremony was climaxed by a dog fight metres from eCouncillor and triggered by an off lead pit-bull terrier ironically owned by an Aboriginal man (again not reported in the press) - the nasty dog fight was settled by a dozen police with battens and capsicum spray that drifted across the gathered crowd. eCouncillor's picture taken immediately after the fight, of the pit-bull owner forced to sit by police as the savage dog is removed from his possession. Clover Moore might overlook the diversity in views (if they don't agree with hers) but the Prime Minister can understand diversity when he dismissed the Ausie flag burning by Aborigines as an offensive action but not representative of mainstream Aboriginal views. A very mature political response. The PM rightly went on to oppose any laws to outlaw flag burning.

Laws against flag burning raise mixed emotions and responses particularly in the nation with more flags burnt than any other - USA. State laws to outlaw flag burning have been struck down by the US Supreme Court as violating the first amendment protecting the rights to free speech. As a traditional liberal who views freedom of speech as a fundamental plank of democracy, I support that view. But what happens in Australia if at an anti-war rally the Australian flag is incinerated? Would that be sedition under the new laws? and what if the religious right burnt 'rainbow gay flags' in an anti Mardi Gras protest? would that trigger NSW anti-vilification laws? If an Aboriginal flag were set alight by far right activists? What of the young man gaoled for 3 months for stealing an Australian flag and setting it alight during the shameful riots in Cronulla. Where does freedom of speech end and inciting violence begin? Burning any flag whilst insensitive and offensive is a freedom of speech right and generally serves only to polarise opinion and often isolate the provokers.

Talking of over sensitivity - the Muslim nations attacking Denmark for the publishing of several cartoons offending their religious sensitivity are clearly an over-reaction frenzy with another agenda.

"We have from the beginning said that these drawings are making Muslims angry and hurt. But we honestly never thought that this case would develop to the point where Danish products in the Middle East are being threatened to this extent," Ahmed Abu Laban, a prominent imam in Denmark, said in a statement.
Saudi Arabia has recalled its ambassador to Denmark, Libya has shut down its embassy, and Iraq's Foreign Minister has summoned Denmark's ambassador over the cartoons.
Interior ministers from 17 Arab countries have called on the Danish Government to "punish the authors", while thousands of Palestinians have demonstrated in Gaza City and Tel Aviv.

The burning of the Danish flag, withdrawal of ambassadors (why would you re-admit the Libyans anyway?) and painful economic boycott of Danish exports has more to do with Denmark's significant role in Iraq and the Danish government's strong proactive management of the 200,000 Muslims in their essentially Lutheran mono-culture. Publishing a few cartoons in the independent and free press that make an extreme comment about another culture is no more offensive than burning flags. Reports that a fatwa has been issued against Danish troops in Iraq are proof of the extremist agenda.

"I can confirm that we've heard about the fatwa from a reliable source in Iraq ... so we believe it's true," Defence Minister Soeren Gade's spokesman Jacob Winther told AFP.
The report came amid rising Muslim anger over 12 cartoons published in Danish daily Jyllands-Posten last September depicting the Prophet Mohammed. The crisis is threatening Danish trade relations with the Muslim world.
Danish flags have been burnt, products have been boycotted and threats of violence have been issued against Scandinavians in Muslim countries in recent days.

When President Bush visited Copenhagen last July left wing Danish protesters burnt both the US and Danish flags. A debate ensued about laws against burning flags but the Danes came down on the side of freedom of speech. It's a shame that other cultures and nations are not (more?) tolerant.

This morning we awoke to some spine from the Europeans and a stand to protect freedom of speech.

Europeans back Danes over press freedom
By Molly Moore in ParisFebruary 3, 2006

Religious uproar … an Egyptian supermarket is stripped of Danish products.Photo: AFP
NEWSPAPERS across Europe have reprinted cartoons ridiculing the prophet Muhammad, saying they wanted to support the right of Danish and Norwegian papers to publish caricatures that have ignited anger among Muslims....

France Soir said it had published the "incriminating caricatures" because "no religious dogma can impose itself on a democratic and secular society".
The newspaper's front-page headline declared: "Yes, we have the right to caricature God", accompanied by a cartoon depicting religious figures from the Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist and Christian faiths on a cloud. The Christian is shown saying, "Don't complain, Muhammad; we've all been caricatured here."

We await eagerly the publication of the cartoons in Australia....

See the Danish cartoons causing all the fuss in the Muslim world here.