He might have once been a garbage collector but has new NSW Premier Nathan Rees really got what it will take to clean away all the rubbish that has accumulated in the more recent times of the former Maurice Iemma led State Government?
There are a lot of overfilled bins around particularly in such areas as transport, education, roads and health.
He certainly seems to have started well enough with the help of Labor factions in moving Frank Sartor from the Planning Ministry, Reba Meagher from Health and controversial Michael Costa from Treasury.
But one wonders about the move of our own David Campbell from Police to Transport. He’s not renowned for getting things back on the rails, but rather he seems good at picking the right political side to sit with and to keep his nose out of water.
And what about the report in one weekend newspaper that Campbell had in his eight years as Mayor of Wollongong helped its stabilisation and progress?
There are still a lot of people out there who regard these years as a time of some stagnation in the city as far as the city council was concerned, and a time when some senior managers, including the then CEO Rod Oxley, took control of the running of the city.
Sure, stabilisation might have resulted but it was also surely the opening of the door for developers to make their presence felt.
One also wonders where Wollongong MP Noreen Hay will continue to get her support from in the future and whether or not the ICAC findings will be released any time soon.
Certainly, one would hope David Campbell can fix the ailing transport service, but on his past form I wouldn’t bet on it.
Interesting times in politics!!!
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A breath of fresh air
From what we’ve seen in the short term the Republican Party’s choice as second – in – command for their tilt at retaining the Presidency etc in the United States is something of a breath of fresh air.
Sarah Palin certainly wowed them at the recent Republican convention and most people I have spoken to in the past few days, even though we are thousands of kilometres away, are talking about her impact.
Where are our free – speaking, colourful women politicians? Bring back Pauline Hanson - at least she dared to be different.
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It wasn't right
You could have bowled me over with a feather. Surely I was seeing things? And I was.
Watching TV and up popped our former Mayor Alex Darling talking about support for the Independents in the upcoming Shoalhaven Municipal elections, and one got the impression that Alex was standing as an Independent.
Not so as it turns out. He was only supporting that municipality’s Mayor Greg Watson and the Independents.
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At last, but??
The announcement by NSW Arts Minister Frank Sartor that he would make available $2m to help our town hall be restored to its former grandeur was most welcome, but with the weekend’s political upheaval the status quo might remain, which would be a pity.
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How did you go
The answer to my question last week of how would you get to freedom was quite simple really. You’d say to the non liar if I asked your brother which door he’d say “go out the opposite one”. No more, I promise.
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Phew
Did you know that scotch whisky is the only alcohol sold globally from all recognised liquor outlets? And it has become the most consumed alcoholic beverage in India and sales in China have gone up tenfold in the past few years.
My information comes from a recent item sent to air by the acclaimed and respected international financial news agency Bloomberg.
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Worrying figures
The fact that fewer than 20 000 people turned out to watch Sydney Swans win their qualifying semi final on Saturday was pretty woeful and must have made some of those Aussie Rules administrators who want a second team in Sydney think twice about their earlier eagerness to achieve same.
But at the same time NRL attendances at weekend games were even worse with 6000 at the Sea Eagles versus Panthers clash, 7000 watching the Sharks defeat the Cowboys and only 14 000 lobbing up to watch the Sydney Roosters play the Dragons.
Sure, the abysmal weather can take some of the blame, but what about the admission prices and the ridiculous costs for food and drinks inside the various stadiums?
Time perhaps for the club officials to think a bit more about their customers at the gate rather than just player payments and the like.
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