Tag: ipswich city council

Ipswich’s Joke is Coming Down.

Like many watching the day by day shenanigans unfold with our Council one can’t help seeing the comparison of them and the Trump town. Shocking revelations, denials, secret deals, lies, and counter lies all resembling the history of the infamous “Joke” that was part of the culture among the Queensland politicians and public servants in the Bjelke Peterson era.

As it was then and now good people will be tarnished with the guilty but over time the truth will emerge as it did Fitzgerald inquiry .

Ipswich people needs root and branch inquiry to clear the decks and regain confidence as did Queensland and probably as do other councils, but my concern is our employees that know the culture, are probably afraid to come forward without that legal protection or preferred anonymity.

Reinstatement of the status quo will bury that opportunity for the honest or the ones feel unjustly treated to have their time in front of a independent entity to tell their story without bullying or intimidation because with the evidence already revealed that must have occurred by some officials.

And yes to get the record straight the media must take responsibility for its role as well as the Government for not taking Millers voice seriously being ridiculed, and demonised and reputation tarnished, by those elected members now wishing to divorce themselves from those currently under investigation. Her lone voice was was proven right in this case and a apology from both would be a indicative of how seriously they view current situation support a outcome in which Ipswich people can regain confidence and without that full shakedown Investigation occurring no elected official in this era will clear the stigma that started with the red silk pyjamas

Edited on Publishing .. QT.

Council Amalgamations have Collateral Damage in Moreton Shire.

How quickly we forget.

Maybe Council Amalgamations may have consolidated administration but when it comes down to what the actual ratepayer gets their certainly is collateral damage.

Moreton Shire Council ratepayers are still suffering.

Facts were Ipswich Council was broke, machinery and equipment in disrepair while Moreton fully financial and progressing then came the amalgamation and Moreton got the Mayor and surrendered its autonomy and assets to Ipswich as a trade off.

Since that day we old Moreton ratepayers have played second fiddle to its Ipswich counterparts.

Our money has been redirected to the “Big Picture” fantasy while the only thing we have have gained was a recycle bin.

Our roads are a patchwork quilt, little or no kerb and channeling outside townships, while entire suburbs and towns and communities are being created brand new from our contributions while our rates in the old shire have tripled.

Sounds fair doesn’t it?

Whatever spin you put on it today will not negate the fact that Moreton ratepayers were dudded in the name of progress and that debt has not been repaid unless we count that very expensive recycle bin.

Change of Blood is Good 

To sell or not to sell. That was the question.Well, how delighted I was to see we had some differing opinions that brought councillors out of their boxes. 

It’s a pity that attitude didn’t extend under the the former mayors tenure and this city would not be in this embarrassing predicament. 

We the punters are not naive and realise councillors rode into office on the popularity of the former mayor and the data confirms that fact and I’m sure they were reminded, but now we have differing opinions on strategic directions which is what we pay them to sort out in the ratepayers interest only. 

This change supports my theory that elected public service at local government level is not a career and a three term time line should be drawn then stand down a term then go for reelection by all means, minimising the risks of dangerous dynasties being established and injecting new ideas into the public arena. 

Whistleblowers need Protection 

The dust has settled after our council election and punch lines of transparency daily as the CCC continues its investigations I cannot recall one statement or assurance that council employees would be covered and supported by whistleblower indemnity locally. We many have reorganised the deck chairs at the top table but until this council is prepared to guarantee no employee will be sacked or discriminated against on the record the words of change are sceptical to say the least. 

The former council structure was in power for 17 years and culture does not change on one Saturday night so if we are to believe total transparency, then these employees must not be impeded if they choose to stand up and should be encouraged. 

Jo Anne Miller is that Messanger 

We are a fickle lot. How often do we ostracise the politicians for following the Party line on issues like the upcoming postal vote, climate change and others knowing full well the person you elected was in favour of the direction the electorate wishes but had to vote to keep his or her job or endorsment.

On the other hand we get a politician will step outside the tent and we ostracise them for being not a team player, a traitor even and they demand resignations.

On both scenarios the polly is well aware how they got their leather seat but sometimes their comes a time when your personal principals and the brotherhood’s directions clash and a personal decision has to be made on what is good for me and what is the right thing to do according to his or her principals with the full knowledge of the inevitable backlash, loss of friends or acquaintances, family exposure to innuendo public and private, some may say comes with the territory once you sign on to politics and depending on who’s side of politics you support

Taking the above into consideration surely the member for Bundamba’s revelations on have to be investigated throughly by the CCC from top to bottom with no exceptions or the new direction we have been promised with still have the dirty washing sitting in the Council Chamber every time it sits .

Let’s not shoot the messenger here, let the truth be heard warts and all.

The Law over Public Empathy in Ipswich. 

The Australian empathy for the Ipswich Robin Hood has been well broadcast across our media reminding us of the good done in his reign of mayor, however when one takes on the role of a public servant the rules change, the latitude for good outweighing the bad ceases.Although the the presumption of innocence must apply, the simple fact is charges laid need to be answered and we all need to think if it was not the ex mayor but local Joe Citizen charged with a similar offence would the same empathy exist?

No, because Joe has no profile, could have personal issues just as severe but no relationship with the media in his day to day life. 

So as we march to the polls let’s think of our future and let the courts do their job, and when the dust has settled then we can write the history accurately. 

Keeping your Job 

With every administration comes culture some good and some bad and that culture trickles down to every employee in the organisation regardless of what level they are at.As we march to the polls in Ipswich too are being fed trickle down facts, rumour and innuendo from various news sources, our loyal council employees are wedged between the legalities of sub judiciary, and on going investigations.

Often in situations like we have presently we forget that our public servants have to abide by the culture or loose their livelihood, and that is a daily decision to those who prize their professional integrity.

Not all will be called to the bench for evidence, fewer will whistle blow and risk public judgment, so the vast majority will just go home a keep their experiences private for the sake of their careers and live in hope of better days ahead.

They say a fish rots from the head down and my question is how much did the rest of the inner council and councillors know about that culture and why did no one stand up? 

Ethical Standards Check on The Miller Burning.

As a 2 time failed candidate in a council election I understand how the wanna bee’s for Mayor feel when running against a experienced sitting councillor, however when you decide to get inside the ropes you have the accept you have to work harder as you do not have the tool box of contacts, media, knowledge, and interaction with businesses and authorities acquired over time by the sitting member. However when circumstances change drastically as it has in Ipswich we have to look back and see how that tool box was used and was it used ethically.

I’m on the record for asking what was the issue when Joanne Miller wanted to centralise police communications away from Ipswich as I believe all essential services should be within arms length for quicker response time especially now when we have GPS, Instant video, Helecopters, mobile, ect. so having a individual outpost like Yamanto was a little odd especially if no employee would be relocated or displaced, in fact as I recall Ipswich would have a slight increase in staff as a result.

But, as we witnessed a open war was declared by the Mayor and the media on Millar in one of the most vindictive, vile and personal attacks ever seen in my time in this great city. Yes politics is tough and when your inside the ropes that comes with the territory, but when attacks extend to family and even down to a jeans belt, I think we in Ipswich deserved better balanced journalism.

Time has moved on, editors change, circumstances change, as well as the political landscape, so I feel it’s time to ask why that issue exploded as it did, and why the viscous ness?

I get very sceptical when I see politicians and media combining to close down a individual from doing his or her job with such venom so I believe this issue should be investigated by a Ethical entity Under Oath., so we the punters can be sure we have no skeletons that may revisit us later from former are administrations.

Footnote.

Serious questions lay here of the closeness and availability of confidential information regarding police operationns to Council.

All may be in order however as I have stated the joining of media and Mayor to destroy a Minister and MP locally raises questions that should be answered Under Oath.

Edited by QT on  print. 

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