Phil Tolhurst Park Official Opening

For those of you who knew and/or worked with the Late Phil Tolhurst General Manager of Liverpool City Council a park named in his honour will be officially opened tomorrow.

11am – 12noon Tolhurst Park Opening cnr Maddecks & Travers  Georges Fair

rsvp’s to  Sonja Morgan at council on 9821 9189.

For those of us who feel the sadness of the loss of this fine gentleman, this small gesture is a welcome sign of our rocognition and appreciation of his dedication and passion for Liverpool. 

I hope to see you there (in droves) to recognise his contribution to our city.

Guest post:The Adventures of Political-Girl, or How I Stopped Worrying and Learned to Love the Stupid

Guest post by: Inga Westerberg

(who is getting rave reviews on a sister blog so thought I would share also)

There are a handful of people who have had the luck to be bitten by the radioactive spider of thought. Truly, a handful. A minority that can actually dissect an argument, understand the premise, know what one is, even. Weigh up the supporting arguments as logical, factual, relevant and come away with an in depth understanding. A judgement. The ability to understand the difference between an ethical and a moral argument. This is a rare gift. And half of those gifted thus do not care to practice their super power in regards to ‘national discourse’. Because it’s unattractive for the most part. It’s dirty work. It comes with the same look of horror that accompanies the revelation of the super hero’s injuries underneath his dinner suit, and a decent helping of “WTF?!” It’s like dropping your shark repellent spray at the dinner table; people begin to back away slowly.

I wish someone would have told me. I have not had the fortune of happening upon a partner, because of my well, unattractive habits of talking politics at the table, my dog is the most politically informed subordinate I have in life! Damn. And who doesn’t have those dark moments when they wish they could ‘trade up’? Batman did. Those Charmed girls when I was a teenager had super powers and fought demons, but they still wanted a ‘normal life’. Even Buffy ran away at one point.

Eventually though, they all come to realise something very important. If they stopped being what they were, if they did ‘trade up’ for benign beauty and blissful ignorance who would fight the demons and the criminals? No one.

When I was learning about how my nation worked as a young person, I figured that the people in the parliament and the very important Houses I liked to visit must be such people. Superheroes fighting for the health and happiness of the citizens. That was naïve, and perhaps my continued belief that those who enter the fray, for the most part are good people wanting to do just that is still naïve. The truth of the matter is, that there are some who grace the seats of those Noble Houses nation wide, who are not so capable, and who even if they are capable, have no interest in addressing the needs of the citzenry.

Never has this been so evident as in the person of Tony Abbott. Watching his Budget Reply Speech was like watching a H.S.C. Student who did not read the book in question write an essay on the subject. I had to go back. I didn’t recall either Peter Slipper or Craig Thompson mentioned once in the Federal Budget. Clearly, Abbott either didn’t understand the nature of the question, or he has some other plan afoot! Thankfully, I happened upon Senator Milne’s reply, given there was no coverage besides the live stream, very thankfully, because if I was a H.S.C. marker, she would have rode the wave of the bell curve over Abbott’s head on addressing the question alone. Agree or disagree, point form, POW!!.

It’s been a week of reading friends and family, politicians, commentators prattle on about the budget that got me to thinking about the fact that only few of us actually have the power to know. Some comments have been personally hurtful as FB provides me with a myriad of opinions about how single Mum’s and those on Income Support are taking money from those who deserve it, those who work. We’ve all had to listen to the erudite arguments about foreigners in regards to foreign aid. How businesses are people too. The truth is, for the most part they are not even personal opinion, they certainly lack the weight to qualify as arguments. They’re the reaction of children being told they can’t have the last chicken wing because someone else missed lunch. There is indignation without reason. They are catchphrases hit upon in a moment of fear, somebody think of the children! Without much thought about who those children are.

If you have a mind to follow the thought threads of budget ramifications, you might know who those children are. You might, like me, get angry at those who fail to understand what you do.

So after an extended period screaming in the silent safety of the bat-cave, it’s time to put the cape on.
I’m not a scholar, an economist, I’m not even a politician. That is all true. But I am a citizen, and I know something. Maybe I can be an agent for good. Perhaps there are people reading this who feel the same way. That maybe there ought to be a little more truth and justice, and a proper fight against fear and fear mongers. I don’t know that dissecting the budget is actually what people need to hear, if there is uncertainty in the first place, maybe they just need someone to roll out the bat signal. Or, in fact, take it in hand and make an effort to put the damned thing away!

Say “yes!”. Put on your Superman cape or grab your stake for some good ol’ fashioned demon slaying! Be fearless! Those of us who have that little bit of knowledge, who can see a little bit further, who are insane enough to actually sit through and listen to Question Time (in the Senate, no less), or can read a piece of legislation, don’t worry about the essay style answer and 50 ways you would improve the budget. That is not important right now. That is not what our nation needs. There will always be those not interested, not able to negotiate such bland and tedious thought threads. But you can effect the mood. You can slay the demons of fear. You can be positive. What you know does make you powerful. And we need to get a bit old fashioned about how we wield this power.

We need step out of the blog sphere and tell people with our voices again. We need to say it at dinner, and we don’t need to go through the details. No one asks Batman how the Bat Mobile works, they just like that it shows up. It’s time that those citizens with power show up in brightest day and darkest night and point out the fact that they are not afraid, that they understand and they are not concerned that tomorrow somehow all hell will break loose. And even if it did, we should be confident we’ve got that covered.

When it comes to things like the Federal Budget which, pertaining to money, always send the majority quivering and head shaking to find shelter, there is only one superpower we have that will do any good against the terror of a doomsday-ist opposition.

I don’t think this a bad budget. I think this budget is good. Treasure Swan is a world renowned finance minister. He did the best job of all the people who are finance ministers in the world steering our little ship we call Australia through the GFC and the aftermath. He is competent. He has all the details regarding our common wealth. He is unlikely to miss anything so dire to warrant fear. He has organised it so we will have a little buffer as we navigate still further into the murky waters of the global economic future. Really.

I don’t think this is a bad budget, I think this is a good budget. A budget negotiated by a minority government. I am not afraid of minority government. Our system is designed precisely to accommodate a myriad of voices and find compromise and ways to move forward as a whole. It is only the media that is afraid of minority government, because too many players make it too hard for them to write. Do not listen to them. They’d pull out the bat signal for a huntsmen on the ceiling of the Senate. Be glad your diversity is represented. I am not afraid of diversity. I am not afraid of compromise for the benefit of all. Really.

I am not afraid to help people who earn less than me. I am not afraid to say that companies are NOT people. I am not afraid of the Carbon tax, or the MRRT. I am not afraid that we can’t change our economy and how we use energy. I have faith in those learned people who are scientists and engineers and technicians to advise us and that we will move forward as a whole towards positive change, slow, though that may be. I am not interested in the voice of a minority of very rich people having a tanty about losing a few million of their billion dollar bottom lines. I am not afraid to tell them to kiss my grits. Really.

I will not stand idly by and listen to people who will tell you that those doing this work, those representing the majority of our citizens and formulating our nations budget are not doing good work. Abbott’s ad nauseum chanting that our government is incompetent is the problem. His fear mongering is the problem. Even the press have taken to calling him “Mr No”. And he is, for the sake of it and his own political interests. We remember the Howard government. Really.

It’s time to put that furrowed brow away. The stupid need you. They need you to smile. Those closest to you in their hearts know you know something they could care less about. Try “that Abbott’s a wanker! Relax, guy! It’s all good!” And then talk about the fact that the Greater Western Sydney just won a game in their first season! Disconcert the disconcerted with your quiet confidence. The truth is for the most part those secret agents are agreed. Poll after poll of people who give a rat’s backside show majority support for a great many things like marriage equality, ethical treatment of refugees and a faith that climate scientists are not trying to undo the world through evil conspiracy. Arguing the finer points is important, but you don’t bring spectators into the Fortress of Solitude.

We need to maybe consider ourselves alike to those superheroes who smiled, looked good and only show up in a crisis. The only super power that is universal, across the multiverses, is that the superhero knows something that everyone else doesn’t. He is empowered and he is not afraid. And it is always that superpower that works to the best effect.

Inga Westerberg is a member of the Tasmanian Greens and currently lives in Hobart. But still goes for GWS in the AFL

 

feel free to check out Cafe whispers: http://cafewhispers.wordpress.com/ a very inspiring group it is

 

Dental Health and more

I don’t usually post Federal issues on these pages, but today, I am. Because this Federal issues affects our residents.

Today in a classically ‘leaked’ Federal budget item, The Greens gleefully announced that our long awaited and much needed Denticare program is to be funded in the Federal Budget to be announced tomorrow.

From the media release from Dr Richard Di Natalie:

When Treasurer Swan hands down the Budget on Tuesday night, a package of dental reforms that we’ve negotiated with the Government will help people get dental treatment faster and get the workforce ready for a national scheme.

The reforms we’ve negotiated for this week’s Budget will mean:

• $345.9 million for a public dental waiting list blitz, to help the 400,000 Australians on public waiting lists get treatment faster;
• the Chronic Dental Disease Scheme will be saved from Budget cuts, until we can develop a comprehensive national scheme with the Government to replace it;
• $158.6 million to train more dentists and oral health therapists, and help dental professionals set up practices in rural areas; and,
• $10.5 million to promote good oral health.

This package is exactly the outcome we needed in this year’s Budget to start Australia on the road to Denticare.

Now what we need is for the work being done by Senator Rachel Siewert to garner the same attention;  Newstart reforms are required, too many of our unemployed are being forced to live on hand outs and charity to simply survive, not live, merely survive.  During April, Rachel lived on Newstart  for a week to really experience the difficulties faced by those who are unemployed. She walked away understanding that she had only seen the tip of the iceberg in terms of the long term medical, emotional and physical effects of not eating properly, the stress of not being able to afford train tickets to interviews, let alone purchasing new clothes, and the long term mental health impacts of continued stress.

Anyone who says this present Government Labor/Greens arrangement isn’t working clearly has not bothered to actually check the results.  300+ pieces of legislation being passed,  now, dental care for all. If this is what an ineffective government does let’s keep it that way. More being done for those who need help, better distribution of the common wealth, and finally, a country taking baby steps towards a healthier environment. NICE!

Does Money buy your Vote?

Firstly let me clarify, I’m not suggesting anyone has or will be actually paid to vote. What I am suggesting or better still asking is; does the flash and fancy of politicians sway you?

 One local organisation is investing considerably in a pre-emptive ‘who do you vote for to get Liverpool out of debt’ marketing/poll. For the record, government debt is a complex issue, and last year we invested so much in real estate.  We do have an infrastructure backlog, which is huge, but so much like every council in Greater Sydney.  And arguably this is a national issue. There are a number of governments in NSW who have preferred and do prefer to spend money on everything else but upkeep. But looking at the complex issue of council debt and spending is not really the purpose of this post.

 A number of our local residents have received automated calls asking if they would vote for Liberal, Labor, Independent or other (“other” I assume means Greens, I guess that’s a topic for another post).

 I had a chuckle really, if asked who is responsible for council debt, since Greens have never been on Liverpool council, any financial failings fall quite directly on to the Labor and Liberal (& independent) dominated councils of the past. Perhaps it’s time to enlist the expertise of the NSW Greens, after all they are the only registered party who doesn’t accepted corporate donations and has strong policy regarding sustainably economy and infrastructure.

 But my question is a) who is paying for this polling; and, b) will the fact they call and ask sway you? Will fancy flyers and huge amounts of local advertising sway you to one group or another?

Personally I’d prefer not to weigh in on the waste. We Greens, locally keep our corflutes (picture boards) to a minimum, flyers that the majority of people throw away to an absolute minimum and at the last election actually produced ‘How to votes’  on boards at some schools so as to not waste paper at all. I prefer to walk, having visited almost every house in the local council area last election on foot. For me, the financial responsibility and environmental responsibility of many parties is never best examined than in their election campaigns.

 These automated calls, whilst irritating, are also telling of a major party that doesn’t really want your ideas. They are not asking you if you have read the budget currently on public exhibition by council, they are not asking you what you would do, what programs you would like to see to address infrastructure and sound management of Liverpool’s finances. They want  to know if you associate one party with good economics primarily. It’s a dummy play designed to get your attention, simplify issues and save the major parties being properly examined for being responsible for many of the financial issues Liverpool currently has.

 Are you convinced? Is the appearance of election funds instil in you a sense that here is a financially able candidate? Does fancy advertising sway you?

 In a day and age where people can’t pay their electricity bills, and others are living on the streets do you feel this is an appropriate way to get elected?

 So now it’s your turn.

What are you looking for in a candidate?

What sorts of things irritate you during election campaigns?

Does the bellowing mouth piece of call you at home during dinner truisms, one liners and subtle word association games invigorate your sense of political participation? Or does it make you wish they would just go away?

Do you think there are more important things we should be talking about as we prepare to elect a new council, things beyond 1980′s economic word association games and one liners?

1.5.12 We are being played

Sometimes, like everyone, I feel greatly disheartened by our representatives in Council. Really, is this the level of contempt we can expect from here until the election?

Item one on last night’s agenda was a Notice of Motion from Councillor Anne Stanley, though it appeared to being ‘electioneering’. Very quickly it descended in to utter chaos. The first Notice of Motion from Councillor Stanley received no support outside Labor. This was described as an election stunt by other councillors. Councillor (correction) Hadid supported by Mannoun then put forward another motion to cancel the parking strategy all together.  In one fell swoop the councillors threw away $1.7million dollars in infrastructure and countless man hours and scrapped everything. The only three councillors against were the Liberal/Independent trinity of Lucas, Harle and Napolitano. A third option was put together which was a little bit of this and a little bit of that, as they argued and grandstanded.  Lucas, Harle and Napolitano immediately began calling other councillors all idiots and called for a rescission motion. The next hour was spent skimming over the rest of the agenda (appalling in so many ways as things were inadequately addressed) while (someone) found out if we could address the rescission motion at the same meeting. Chaos. During a break Councillors Stanley, Napolitano, Waller, and others rescued portions of the parking strategy with a new motion, agreed upon before coming back into session. A do over of sorts!

This is appalling. And the gallery last night was shocked, some livid, angry and outraged. It may not seem so in print as I describe it here, but the issues of the parking strategy have been in planning for a long time. They have been addressed by the CBD committee in consultation with community, large amounts of money have been spent to get this strategy off the ground. It had already been ratified and was being brought back to council for the election agenda of a councillor.

 Councillors (some) were present at the CDB committee when this was discussed. They continue to act in ridiculous ways in council meetings without any consideration for the work done in order to draft plans and strategies, with no consideration for those involved in these things. And they behave this way because they want to make a political point against the other side of the bi-partisan coin for the sake of it. There is nothing in the councillors’ behaviour last night that would lead me to assume they care a jolt about any of that. $1.7 million is the infrastructure cost so far of the parking strategy. For a moment, all I could do was thank god they didn’t have to deal with the federal budget.

 There is a complete lack of respect for the community and the staff and a display of blatant one-upmanship I’ve never seen from this appalling excuse for a council. The saviours in this instance are the Liberal/Independents who last night were lucid enough to prevent $1.7million dollars spent on a strategy blown on a whim. But let us not forget that it was their contribution that began the decent into chaos in the first place. So the initial sacrifice allowed them to come up trumps later. Nice. Especially for those invested watching from the gallery.

Michael Byrne took the opportunity in the speakers forum last night to announce his candidacy for Liverpool once again. I’m not surprised, he is sort of like a ghost that only haunts the place around election time, I can’t for the life of me recall having seen him since the last election! Thankfully, he speaks highly of himself as a local saviour so we can all be confident. (Removes tongue from cheek…)

After last night some council  staff are clearly gutted. The community who watched from the gallery  are in shock. People are scratching their heads wondering what else this moronic lot could possibly do given half a chance. Let’s not give them one. We deserve better representation than the debacle this council has been since they were first elected.

Guest Post: Missing the Forest for the Trees

It has been a week since Senator & leader of the Australian Greens, Bob Brown announced his retirement from both positions, & Senator Christine Milne as his replacement as the party’s leader. It has resulted in a news week decidedly more green in colour as journalists & commentators dissect  & analyse Brown’s legacy, 4 decades of activism & political representation, & pointedly, the impact of his resignation on the party. A key consideration, of course, has been the analysis of Christine Milne in the role of Deputy Leader, & hypothesis regarding her impact on the Greens as its leader.

 All of this is, well, completely understandable. Because there are few things the Australian media love more than a political party leadership- er, challenge? Change-over, is the better word, but let’s face it, once again, the Australian Greens have outed themselves as the glaring anomaly in the Australian political landscape.

 Firstly, because there was no challenge. The integrity & continuity of the party proper remains intact & unchanged. Australians might not recognise it. They have simply failed to understand its significance. But there it was, Brown with every ounce of class & integrity he always brings to any public appearance, & the party proper consolidated behind him. There was no challenge. The two major parties have for a very long time set the bar very low in terms of leadership change-over. More to the point, a change in leadership has had huge ramifications in terms of policy in both the ALP and the Coalition. From Howard to Turnbull to Abbott and we’ve seen three separate positions on climate change policy, particularly in the more recent change-over. Between Rudd to Gillard there was a shift (& back again) in both climate change policy regarding both the carbon tax & the MRRT. Further, at the core of the leadership change-overs has been the ad nauseum discussion, dissection & debate about who within the party is actually pulling the strings. Faceless men, factions & corporate contributors all & each playing a role in policy direction, politicians kowtowing to lobbyists, union bigwigs, Gina & Clive. Leaving the average Aussie sure of only one thing; politicians have a goal, power for its own sake, & the benefit of the fewest, either for themselves or for the puppet masters behind them, & certain of the bad taste it leaves in our mouths. On a week to week, almost day-to-day basis there is barely a reference to politics & policy without reference to broken promises, back-flips, parties bowing to pressure, liars & shifting positions.

 It seems impossible to consider a political party, consolidate around a core belief, and progressive enough to consider change of any sort as an opportunity for growth. Yet, over the last week, we’ve been given a glimpse into such a party. Is this a case of having missed the forest for the trees?

 Annabel Crabb said it beautifully in the opening paragraph of   her piece for the ABS’S The Drum ‘Bob’s bombshell a turning point for Greens‘. The fact is, there’s no previous leadership change-over at a Federal level in the party to compare to this current event. Crabb suggests another interesting point, for most, Green equals Brown, both in terms of his negotiating historic minority government agreements at a Federal level, the target conservative media has long time pinned to the leader’s back, & in terms of “the extent to which he has managed to persuade his notoriously hardline followers to accept hitherto-unthinkable concessions.” (Not that anyone wants to generalise  about the Green’s membership, much.) The question is: is it possible for Milne to live up to task she conceded “was a daunting” one?

Or is it? The truth is, Milne is being handed an entirely different party to the one Brown took to & through a myriad of firsts; in the Tasmanian parliament, the Federal Senate, not to mention the fact that Brown is a trail-blazer of the most personal kind being the first openly gay member of the Federal Parliament. Milne doesn’t need to be any of those things. As Ben Eltham pointed out in his article, Milne has an entirely different political climate to negotiate going forward, particularly in the event of a Coalition minority or majority outcome of the next Federal election. With which she has experience at a State level. More to the point, she has an entirely different party to lead. Where Crabb speaks of the green hard-liners, the party has progressed considerably, the facticity of which was better addressed by the stable polling in the high teens in terms of preferred party Federally for some time now. And the record votes for Green representatives counted Australia wide in elections since 2010. As our erstwhile eyes & ears on the ground in Liverpool, Signe Westerberg said in her blog post regarding the local NSW Greens branch meeting, the leadership change over didn’t rate a mention, given the important policy issues that needed to be discussed.

 Surprised we might have been at Brown’s announcement, but not in the new leader who has as long & as diverse experience in the party & the political arena. Certainly, there is a sadness for many as we farewell from the high profile role a visionary leader who has been a most passionate & intelligent politician where such people are thin on the ground in Canberra. But comparing Milne to Brown is not going to address the significance of the Green leadership change-over. Milne has the experience, has been Deputy of the Australian Greens, one of Brown’s closest advisors, has in recent years negotiated in the minority government environment resulting in Green’s policy outcomes being met, & represented the party in global forums.

 Like her or not, she is a passionate advocate of core Green values, she is a woman of integrity, and of her word, & no-one who has seen her speak in public, the media  or the Senate would argue she lacks the nous to lead from either a minority government position, balance of power position or from opposition. Whilst the other Woman in Power, PM Julia Gillard can scarcely convince a puppy she is a hard nosed negotiator, Milne was swept into the leadership by a confident party room and membership who are in no way confused about her ability to do just that. & in classic Milne style, she has hit the ground running, today calling out the Opposition Leader in no uncertain terms.

 The comparison should not be between Brown & Milne, but between parties. Whilst a leadership challenge can see a complete halt to policy discussion in either the ALP or the Coalition, (or, let’s face it, complete turn around in policy platforms) for the Greens, it was business as usual. They did not skip a beat, & at no point has the party had to stop to consider that the new leader will bring a host of new party sound bites. The lines are the same, the core values aren’t being called into question. No lines drawn in the party room sand, no factions, no faceless men. Just a man retiring and a woman deemed most competent moving into a new position.

Well wishes for Brown and confidence in Milne were expressed as brief comments before the matter at hand was discussed. None of the Greens representatives were hassled to declare their position. The positions was the same. There was a seamless continuation of policy debate. Senator Rachel Siewert embarked on her week of living with off only the equivalent of the Newstart Allowance, highlighting the issues faced by people looking for work and the need for an increase.

Senator Lee Rhiannon continued meeting with people in rural NSW & Senator Milne threw down the gauntlet to Opposition Leader Tony Abbott, whilst maintaining the pressure in regards to sustainability & economic outcomes as outlined in Mike Seccombe’s article in The Global Mail that presents Milne with her finger firmly on the economic pulse of the nation. Just to sample some of the diverse policy passions of the Greens representatives.

 And THAT is the point. If we allow ourselves to lose focus on Brown who has been the face of the Australian Greens for so long, we might see a rich forest of talent, passion, integrity & a well spring of policy ideas. We might see what it is that the Australian people have long considered an impossibility, or a fallacy; a cooperative of people, a true grass roots party, centred on tangible core values, busy working towards the future of our nation.

Written by Inga Westerberg

Inga Westerberg is a member of the Tasmanian Greens & currently lives in Hobart.

Good times and great information

Last night I had the pleasure of working and participating in the Liverpool Branch of NSW Justices Association meeting. We gather once a month to discuss changes and learn about new processes for JP’s here in NSW and support each other. www.Liverpooljps.wordpress.com is our website and that will show you locations and times to get free assistance from a JP.

Last night our Patron, Superintendent Ray King was our speaker, he is a passionate police officer and gladly shares news and views with locals who care about what happens here in Liverpool.

He also offered to support this year’s Relay for Life, which as you know is sneaking up on us and will be held rain hail or shine on the 24th & 25th March at Hillier Oval on the highway. He and his officers may even put their own team together next year which will be fun and have kindly taken some of our fund raising boxes into the station.

I love how our community comes together for this event, it’s the one time a year I send an email to everyone in my address book and ask for support because I believe each and every one of us has been affected by cancer in some way, either a family member, a friend or an acquaintance and this insidious disease needs to be gone, those who suffer need to be supported and those we have lost need to be honoured.

Don’t forget to put this in your diary, between 10am Saturday 24^th March and Sunday 10am the 25^th March, someone from the Green team and each of the 17 other teams will be on the track walking. There will be tonnes of food and drink, amazing entertainment and lots to do with the kids… so consider this your formal invite.

Come up and say hi, walk with us, enjoy the stalls and listen to some amazing talent, all right here in Liverpool

They’re Baaaccckkk

For those who may have missed them (as have I) forums (& Committees)  return next week, we’re down to two, one Rural and one Urban and there is a new starting time, so heads up and see you @6.30pm on Tuesday nights 2nd & 3rd of the month excluding January & December. Some of us fought to keep them running so come along, meet some new and not so new friends. Find out first hand what is happening in your community.

Involvement in the community is very rewarding and a little addictive.

for my on line subscribers

Just a quick hi and thanks for your interest.

Yesterday you received an auto advice about my most current piece, sadly this was a draft inadvertently sent in error…. it’s happened a couple of times in the past…sorry about that. The actual piece is on my site so please drop by and read it on line. Sorry for any inconvenience.

Best regards Signe

Sir David Attenborough

I saw this and had to share… thanks to BBC and my daughter for bringing it to my attention. Click here and be inspired..,.

http://youtu.be/B8WHKRzkCOY