Not the 6 o'clock news

Rest Break

2006-07-24T17:20:00.000+09:30

Hello to the few dedicated readers and those others who, from time to time, check out this space.

It's time for a bit of a rest. My interests are realised in other fields of endeavour and as no one has reported me to the Ombudsman, written letters to my employers (Did I ever mention I'm retired....?) it's time to hang up the typing gloves for a while.

Happy trails............Good night and good luck!

Good grief!

2006-07-01T08:18:00.000+09:30

The publics right to know 2 Replies
Posted by: Jack Medcraft
Posted on: Wednesday, 28 June 2006 10:58 PM
One can only hope that the person who murdered that young girl in W.A. is not who the public is being told and that is one of the Bolger killers from the UK. I was assured some 2 years ago by the Federal Attorney General that neither of them would be allowed into the country but then he could not tell me how the Government would be able to find out if they were in fact here anyway as their identity was being held secret.
This ludicrous situation is also in place here in Victoria thanks to the Attorne General allowing a similar order to be placed on the 2 granny killers.
These murderers will be free next year and no one out there is allowed to know who they are or where they will be living unless you know someone close to the action. This is an obvious breach of OUR civil liberties and should be addressed before they get out. At least I know their names and identities but I cannot tell anyone for fear of being imprisoned. Lets just hope they dont attack another innocent family member when they do get out.
Victoria, the protector of the Guilty!

Talk about trying it on for free publicity...and exactly HOW do you know their identity when the police and government officials DO NOT????

Workers' Rallies Across Australia

2006-06-28T05:51:00.000+09:30

Say No to the Howard Govt's IR Laws

MAIN NATIONAL RALLY VENUES & CONTACTS

MELBOURNE - 10am and 11am 28 June

Where: Starting at four locations at 10am: Trades Hall (Carlton); Federation Square; Spring St, Parliament; and Southern Cross Station (formerly Spencer St).

What: March from starting points to converge on Bourke St Mall (approx. 11am) for main rally.

Speakers: Steve Bracks, Victorian Premier; Kim Beazley, ALP Leader; Sharan Burrow, ACTU President; Brian Boyd, VTHC Secretary.

Contacts: VTHC c/- Lisa Ballard 0414 694476

Major union speakers at the rallies will focus on the human cost of the new IR laws in terms of the rash of unfair sackings which have occurred and the changes to work contracts that have substantially cut the take home pay and employment conditions of many workers.

When we're united, we'll never be divided!

AWU celebrates 120 years as voice for the worker

2006-06-25T08:58:00.000+09:30

AUSTRALIA'S oldest and largest union was born in a Ballarat pub in 1886. Union organiser William Spence and firebrand shearer David Temple, 24, mounted a campaign against pastoralists who had cut the shearers' pay from 20 shillings per 100 sheep to 17 shillings and sixpence. Responding to an advertisement in the local paper, 40 shearers signed up for the new shearers' union, which was to become the Australian Workers Union.

National secretary Bill Shorten told the rally that the AWU had seen off many conservative governments in its 120-year history, and the Howard Government would be next. "We'll be celebrating on election night when there's a change of government and these unfair industrial relations laws are consigned to the dustbin of history," he said.

NATIONAL DAY OF PROTEST

2006-06-23T17:59:00.000+09:30

Wednesday 28 June, 2006

The 2006 Budget clearly showed the Government looks after corporate Australia at the expense of working families. As petrol prices and interest rates continue to rise, the average employee got tax cuts of only $7 or $10 a week. At the same time our job security has been undermined by the new IR laws, which attack the pay and conditions we all rely on.

National Day of Protest - Wesnesday 28 June is:-

The day the records were broken?
The day when there was an overwhelming demonstration against the Howard Government?
The day when 'we the people' stood up and said, NO MORE?
The day when we took back, what was ours?
The day we said we want a government for the people?
The day we said - I am one, together, we are many?
The day we said, I'm sick of being sold out, traded, overpassed, discounted and disposable - the day we said - NO MORE!!!!!

STAND UP, BE COUNTED

Truth and justice have prevailed

2006-06-20T05:54:00.000+09:30

Extrate from Guruann's Blogsite

A win is a win is a win!

Some of you may know that I have been subjected to defending certain things that I have posted on my blog at the Municipal Electoral Tribunal. Well today the decision was handed down and all allegations were dismissed and I was awarded costs. Thanks to those out there who have supported me throughout this ordeal especially my community of online friends in no special order Supamum, Weez, Not the 6, Cam, Sean. There should be a story in The Age tomorrow, will post a link if it's online.

A special thanks to my solicitor who represented me without fault and used his vast knowledge of the LG Act and previous case law to ensure that the case went my way.

Certainly, it was a pleasure.....

2006-05-31T06:09:00.000+09:30

JOHN Howard's workplace revolution is transforming pay deals rapidly, with every individual work contract surveyed in the first month of the WorkChoices regime axing at least one protected award condition.

And one in six new contracts paid staff only five basic entitlements, depriving them of 11 other award conditions such as overtime, rest breaks, holiday leave loading, and extra pay to work on public holidays.

The swift pace at which the new laws have begun to transform work contracts caught Workplace Minister Kevin Andrews by surprise. Only last Friday he suggested most new contracts still had many of the award conditions that employers were forced to include — or compensate workers fully to sign away — until March. "The evidence from the Office of Employment Advocate is that the vast majority of agreements which have been lodged with the employment advocate continue to contain things like penalty rates and overtime," he said.

Labor's industrial relations spokesman Stephen Smith said it was proof that the new laws "cause a race to the bottom" by employers. In a question time stunt, Labor MPs held up copies of the Coffs Coast Advocate reporting how local woman and lifelong Liberal voter Annette Harris was asked to trade away $90 a week in penalty rates for compensation of just two cents an hour by her employer, fabric retailer Spotlight.

In a sign of growing concern within senior Government ranks about the lack of bounce in the polls from the big-spending budget, Treasurer Peter Costello yesterday urged all Coalition MPs to step up their budget sales pitch in the next two months.

Mr Howard played down the latest poll, which gave Labor a 52-48 lead over the Coalition, saying "the full electoral and political impact of the budget will not be felt until it is received".

....you morons! Now do you believe the unions and; we, the people.....?

Sackings justified under work laws

2006-05-27T11:34:00.000+09:30

A PORT Melbourne company that sacked nine union members the day after new workplace laws came into effect argued yesterday that it was exempt from unfair dismissal claims because it employed 97 people.

Triangle Cables said the Industrial Relations Commission did not have the jurisdiction to hear the workers' unfair dismissal claims because the Federal Government's laws prevented such claims against companies employing 100 or fewer workers.

The workers were sacked on March 28 and given no reason other than that their services were no longer required.

Australian working families would have their wages slashed, entitlements stripped and conditions removed under the Federal Government's independent contractors legislation, Labor claimed yesterday.

Opposition industrial relations spokesman Stephen Smith told Parliament that a Melbourne industrial relations consultancy was advising employers that the proposed laws would free them from restrictions negotiated in enterprise bargaining agreements, abolish redundancy payments and cut labour costs.

Not all enterprise agreements will fall into this category, but many will.

Prime Minister - The World is Watching

2006-05-21T10:38:00.000+09:30

Canberra is flouting global standards of fair play, writes Sharan Burrow.

Since 1997, the Howard Government has shown flagrant disregard for ILO standards, especially the rights of unions under international law to collectively bargain. Legislative changes to the industrial relations system under this Government have been continually criticised by the ILO and the disdain shown by the Government towards this eminent body has been to the dismay of most world governments.

Australia is also the only country where it is prohibited to negotiate on a multi-employer or industry-wide basis. The Work Choices prohibition of pattern bargaining goes well beyond US or UK labour law, let alone the systems in Western Europe.

Australia will be the focus of the ILO again next month. The Work Choices legislation does not meet the fundamental tests of international standards. It throws the balance of power over to employers.

The world is watching Australia closely. Respect for core labour standards is taken very seriously in other countries. Rights at work are treated as a joint responsibility and are integral to the realisation of human rights and dignity. Rights at work are not seen as some marginal issue for narrow interest groups to be summarily dismissed but rather the responsibility of society as a whole. At the ILO, Australia is called to account, along with countries such as Zimbabwe, Colombia and Burma. Not proud company. Laws that undermine fundamental international standards have no place in a vibrant and respectful democracy. There is much to defend and to defeat.

National Day of Protest has been declared 28 June to commence at ACTU. The IR laws Howard is forcing on us is hurting families - as it's school holidays - bring along the kids and let them be a part of a peaceful protest that may well affect their futures.

The costly truth behind ATMs

2006-05-14T07:48:00.000+09:30

TO THE banks and private operators, the ATM has become a "magic pudding" — an avalanche of easy money made mainly from a select, and highly profitable, ingredient called the foreign transaction fee.

About half of the 24,000 ATMs peppered around the nation are now owned by non-banks, lured by the fees — the money customers are charged for using an ATM that is not owned by their bank. Customers are forking out $45 million a year for using "foreign" ATMs — about four times what it would cost at their banks' ATMS and possibly three times the real processing cost.

The cost of convenience runs high...

Firm sacks 35, keeps guest workers

2006-05-09T05:58:00.000+09:30

A BALLARAT company has sacked 35 Australian labourers but kept on up to 25 Chinese welders it imported last year, sparking union anger over failing to train locals in vital trades.

....federal Labor MP for Ballarat Catherine King blamed Government policy for letting companies import foreigners while Australians got the sack.

"What we really want is local people trained and employed. It smacks of absolute policy failure by the Howard Government that a regional company like this one is in this position," she said.

Ballarat Trades Hall secretary Graeme Shearer said the company should be training its Australian workers rather than importing foreigners.

"We think it is a ploy to undercut their labour costs."

One of the sacked workers, who did not want to be named, said the decision to lay off Australian workers was "disgusting".

"We got an ironclad guarantee from the managing director last year that the Chinese would be the first to go if there was a downturn," he said.

Hello - isn't that the Howard government showing us our future...?

IR High Court Challenge

2006-05-05T07:05:00.000+09:30

High Court challenge to IR laws begins

Unions and state and territory governments have begun their legal challenge to the federal government's new industrial relations laws in the High Court.

One of the central arguments in the case is whether the Commonwealth has the right to use the constitution's corporations power to intervene in an industrial relations matter.

Appearing for NSW, state solicitor-general Michael Sexton, SC, said the WorkChoices legislation would have been considered beyond the power of the federal government since Federation.

Fingers crossed....

Fund set up for sacked workers

2006-04-29T08:17:00.000+09:30

Lucky us

Cash-strapped Australian workers who believe they have been unfairly sacked will be able to access up to $4,000 for legal advice under a new federal government scheme.

But the funds cannot be used for any court action.

"The Australian government has a clear message for employers who believe they can terminate their employees for an unlawful and discriminatory reason," Mr Andrews said in a statement.

"Such employers have no place in a modern, productive Australia."

We can be sacked for smirking or wearing an ugly shirt or failing to sleep with the boss. But we can't be sacked if it's discrimination. And if it's discrimination - we get to access $4000 for legal advice. Last time I heard, solicitors were charging like wounded bulls.

International Workers' Memorial Day

2006-04-28T17:17:00.000+09:30

Today, Friday 28th April is International Workers' Memorial Day.

This was sent to me by a friend - certainly something to think about!

"Across the nation today unions, workers and their families and friends will participate in special ceremonies dedicated to all those people who never return home from work and to those whose lives have been cut short in pursuit of earning a living.

Official government figures show that 2,200 Australians die from workplace diseases or injuries each year and receive workers' compensation. However, there are many more that die without compensation and the United Nations (ILO) estimates that as many as 6,700 Australians lose their lives in a workplace accident or through work-related disease each year.

Let us also give a thought to those workers and their families in the dreadful mine disaster in Tasmania.

no WORKchoices

2006-04-20T05:42:00.000+09:30

The cleaners' union, the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union, and community groups say that new workplace laws passed by Federal Parliament will put more pressure on workers...

At issue are wages and conditions for some some of the lowest-paid workers in the country. The army of cleaners, who have largely withstood the casualisation of labour that is rife in other low-paid sectors, face new pressure on their incomes when new agreements or individual contracts are struck, union state secretary Brian Daley says.

Two traditional components of a cleaner's wage — shift allowances and part-time loadings which can add up to nearly a third of an average pay packet — are no longer protected under the new laws, he says. "Already, the hours in the industry have been progressively dropping over a number of years."

IR laws behind Optus sackings, ACTU says

Government drops worker prosecutions

Pay docked for taking up collection

Unions will mount a legal challenge after workers were docked four hours' pay for stopping work for 15 minutes to collect money for the family of an employee killed on a construction site.

The workers were docked for taking unprotected industrial action under the government's new workplace legislation.

Workers unite....

Four Things MEME

2006-04-17T13:12:00.000+09:30

…sigh……Thanks Supamum...

Four Jobs I've Had :

Auditor
Bookkeeper
Skillshare
Safety Officer

Four Movies I Can Watch Over And Over :

Star Trek movies
Green Mile
Forest Gump
Walk the Line

Four TV Shows I Love To Watch :
Don’t watch TV but have bought the following DVD’s which have been on TV

Stargate
West Wing
Alias
The Shield

Four Places I'’ve Been On Vacation :

Hong Kong
Fiji
Tasmania
Queensland

Four Tunes That Play In My Head :

ummmm

Four Favorite Dishes :
Chicken anything
Seafood anything
Pasta
Roast lamb

Four Websites I Visit Daily :

The Age
The Australian
The Financial Review
ACTU

Four Books I Really Love :

The da Vinci Code
The Magician – Raymond Feist (all his works)
David Eddings – all his works
Robin Hobbs (all her works)

Four Places I'd Rather Be (with cash):

New Zealand
Greek Islands
Myer
Any (good) furniture store

Four Bloggers I'm Tagging :

Nah – not as heartless as Supamum

Plausible deniability

2006-04-14T07:41:00.000+09:30

A well rehearsed and well presented Mr. Howard faces the the Cole Inquiry :

JOHN Howard looks heaps better behind a lectern than in a witness box. In 45 minutes giving evidence at the Cole commission, Howard wasn't caught out but failed to impress.

Here was a PM who had raged about Saddam Hussein rorting the oil-for-food program but didn't get a whiff of the corrupt behaviour of its biggest supplier, our own AWB.

The issue of AWB culpability "did not really enter my mind until 2005", he said, belying his usual eye for detail.

The Prime Minister's appearance may have shed little light on what is arguably the most embarrassing scandal to emerge during his 10 years in office, but it wasn't without purpose. When he faces his next parliamentary barrage from Kevin Rudd and Kim Beazley, the PM will no doubt remind them that he went before Cole and opened himself to the ultimate scrutiny.

PRIME Minister John Howard has launched a bitter attack on AWB, accusing it of deceiving the Government and trading on the trust it enjoyed.

Fresh from giving evidence to the Cole inquiry, Mr Howard went in boots and all against the company, telling a news conference it had systematically misled the Foreign Affairs Department.

My friends....?

anti WORKchoices

2006-04-11T12:37:00.000+09:30

Opinion from todays Age:

To "deregulate" the 904-page Workplace Relations Act, the Government produced a 687-page amending act, a 565-page "explanatory memorandum", and 428 pages of regulations. Even after consolidation, the amended act is now 1397 pages, almost 500 pages bigger, and must be read with another 1000 pages of memorandum and regulations.

Pay docked for workers' whip-round

2006-04-11T08:05:00.000+09:30

BUILDING workers have been docked four hours' pay for briefly stopping work to collect money for the family of a colleague killed on a construction site.

The workers were docked under the Federal Government's new workplace laws, which require bosses to deduct a minimum four hours' pay for any unauthorised stoppages.

The workers stopped for about 20 minutes on Friday to collect $470 for the widow of Christos Binos, 58, who was crushed to death by a concrete panel at a Pakenham building site on March 8.

Mr Kingham suggested that in future, workers would stop work for at least half a day if they were not going to get paid.

"Employers are going to lose four to five hours' production rather than 10 to 15 minutes," he said.

Common sense is rather rare, I find...

The future of work - is there one?

2006-04-08T07:35:00.000+09:30

The Future of Work is an outline of some of the key challenges facing Australian working families. The ACTU believes new standards are needed to underpin the process of economic change. Economic prosperity should be strengthened and supported by policies promoting economic and social justice, fairness and opportunity.

income inequality, job insecurity and the increasing intensity of work are the key issues for unions arising from workplace change says ACTU Secretary Greg Combet.

It's a bit bleak if you ask me

You're fired - the harsh reality

2006-03-30T05:31:00.000+10:30

The Howard Government needs to come clean with the Australian people and explain the real impact of its new laws. Not only is no reason required to sack someone in small and medium businesses, but no warning need be given and the worker has no come-back.

No reason, no warning and no come-back - you are fired. That is the cold hard reality of the Howard Government's new industrial relations laws," said Ms Burrow.

ABC RADIO AM PROGRAM 29 MARCH 2006

ALEXANDRA KIRK: And what's your view about workers being sacked and given no reason? Do you think that workers should be told why they're being sacked?

KEVIN ANDREWS: Look, people are dismissed every day of the year. There's not something new about this. I don't know how many people would be dismissed in any year, but it's not something new. There are some relationships that don't work out and that's the reality and I think we all know that...

Game set - IR laws have kicked in!

2006-03-29T17:40:00.000+10:30

Unions will hold a national day of action against new workplace laws after reports of sackings around the country on Monday when the legislation took effect.

Protests are set to take place across Australia on Wednesday, June 28, a rally of up to 4000 unionists in Melbourne heard this morning.

Unionists will assemble at four sites in Melbourne on the day — Trades Hall, Spencer Street, Spring Street and Federation Square — before marching together to Bourke Street.

EIGHT long-term employees — all union members and several receiving WorkCover payments — were sacked yesterday from a multinational cable company in Port Melbourne using the Federal Government's new workplace laws.

The heat is on....

Medcraft's Barrister

2006-03-23T06:14:00.000+10:30

The State Opposition has been embarrassed after a police investigation found that a former policeman, who is the president of the Liberal Party's Woodend branch, twice looked at the file of a fellow Liberal.

...... uncovered by a 12-month police inquiry into the files of 22 Liberals, former police prosecutor Serge Petrovich was found to have twice checked former Liberal MP Bernie Finn's file in 2002.

Mr Petrovich (who stood for Burke as Liberal candidate in 1998), who yesterday denied any wrongdoing, has left the police force and is now a barrister. He said an ethical standards department investigator had interviewed him about the incident and told him his explanation for looking at Mr Finn's file was acceptable.

The plot thickens......

Vexatious litigation

2006-03-13T08:21:00.000+10:30

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Vexatious litigation is legal action which is brought, regardless of its merits (which it typically lacks anyway), solely to harass or subdue an adversary. It may take the form of a primary frivolous lawsuit or may be the repetitive, burdensome, and unwarranted filing of meritless motions in a matter which is otherwise a meritorious cause of action. It is considered an abuse of the judicial process and almost always brings down sanctions on the offender.

Mr HAERMEYER states in part:

People Against Lenient Sentencing is an organisation that cropped up after Bernie Finn was tossed out as the honourable member for Tullamarine. Mr Medcraft has announced his intention to run as an Independent for the seat of Macedon. Mr Medcraft is a good friend of Bernie Finn. His sole reason for running is to pump preferences into Bernie Finn.

I see you've got your Liberal mate/s to assist.

Industrial Relations Domino Effect

2006-02-26T09:42:00.000+10:30

Extract from The Age:

REDUCE workers' conditions if you want to stay competitive — that is the stark choice employers face under the new federal industrial relations laws that come into effect next month, according to the State Government.

Attorney-General Rob Hulls has warned employers could be forced to cut the pay and conditions of workers if their competitors slashed conditions under the new laws.

Violent Robbery in Sunbury

2006-02-20T17:25:00.000+10:30

Extract from The Age on 20 February

Man faces court over violent robbery

A 21-year-old man will appear in Melbourne Magistrates Court today for his alleged part in a violent robbery in Sunbury, north-west of Melbourne, yesterday morning.

Police allege the accused and a 16-year-old boy ambushed a man as he walked to work in Gap Road about 7am.

The 18-year-old man was grabbed around the neck, punched, kneed and kicked to the ground and his wallet was stolen.

The man, from Sunbury, was charged with armed robbery, intentionally causing injury, assaults and conducting endangering life.

The boy, also from Sunbury, has been charged with armed robbery, robbery and assaults and was bailed to appear in court at a later date.

Sadly, it appears we are no longer a quiet country town...

Spike in IR deals ahead of new laws

2006-02-19T07:35:00.000+10:30

The Age
By Meaghan Shaw
February 16, 2006

THOUSANDS of businesses have established new workplace deals with trade unions ahead of the implementation of the Federal Government's industrial relations laws next month.

Nearly 3400 union-negotiated agreements were certified in the second half of last year after Prime Minister John Howard announced his Government's industrial relations plans. This was more than double the 1450 certified by the Australian Industrial Relations Commission during the first half of the year.

More than 700 agreements, including non-union agreements, have been certified this year.

ACTU secretary Greg Combet attributed the rush to a union campaign started in November 2004 to negotiate three-year agreements to protect workers' pay and conditions ahead of the legislation.

The writing is on the wall....anyone got a rubber?

Sunbury Online - is online

2006-02-18T09:49:00.000+10:30

The return of Sunbury Online comes with little surprise. Thank goodnes the political component has been removed.

Currently has 5 registered participants and - lol one of them is an advertisement (SPAM?)

There are those who still like have a dig however.

Posted by: Jack Medcraft
Posted on: Wednesday, 15 February 2006 10:22 PM
Gee it is good to be able to post things without being labelled or even worse.
Lets just hope that the forum gives people a chance to express what they think without the sniping and bickering that we had before. As you would know Trevor I am an easy person to get along with and have only ever had Sunbury's interest at heart. Boy wouldnt it be great if it was just Sunbury!

Authorised by Jack Medcraft 23 Westwood Ho Drive Sunbury

One of the very worst offenders in my view for snipng and bickering - not to mention bullying and intimidation.

Barristers don't come cheap, do they...

Stick to the facts

2006-02-17T11:29:00.000+10:30

Don't just make them up to suit. Regarding the motor cyclist killed in Horne St. Had nothing to do with the intersection of Horne and McDougall Rd

Extract from The Age:

"He's believed to have come off his bike sometime earlier this morning."

Investigators believe the ran off the road after losing control of the motorbike but have not ruled out the involvement of another vehicle.

Police spokeswoman Stacey Mair said the man may have died as early as 2am.

The stretch of road where the man's body was found is the major link between Sunbury and the nearby Calder Freeway.

His name has not yet been released. A report on the incident is being prepared for the coroner.

Any witnesses to the incident are asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Sea of uncertainty on IR

2006-01-07T07:52:00.000+10:30

Bob Whyburn, Maurice Blackburn Cashman Pty Ltd, Lawyers Incorporating Whyburns Legal, Sydney, NSW
Wrote to the Australian Financial Review, click the above to read the whole story.

So 63 per cent of businesses surveyed by Australian Business Ltd said that they only partially understood the massive industrial relations (IR) changes effected by the Howard government late last year despite the $40 million of public money being spent on promoting it ("Bosses batter $40m campaign", January 5).

"Not surprising," says a government person, "as the legislation had been passed only on December 9."

Not surprising indeed when you consider that the draft legislation first emerged on November 2, was subject to a Senate inquiry that lasted for five days, was pushed through the Senate using the parliamentary gag and was confirmed by the House of Representatives just a touch over five weeks from the time it was first introduced.

Do try and have a Happy New Year....

Another New Year looms

2005-12-29T07:02:00.000+10:30

Whilst reading The Age this morning, I came across this article which amused me. How many of us still make New Year resolutions? Read this fellows thoughts

Age article

A safe and Happy New Year to you, and yours.

Wages for Working Families WILL Fall

2005-12-22T06:59:00.000+10:30

Treasury Says Wages for Working Families will Fall Under IR Laws

Wage rises for Australian working families are likely to be lower in the future under the Howard Government's new industrial relations changes a previously unreleased Treasury Report has revealed...

The report obtained under freedom of information laws show that the Federal Government's own Treasury Department believe that John Howard's industrial relations changes will mean that 'increases in minimum wages are likely to be lower' and that this will 'slow award wage growth and flow on' to other workers.

Click here to review the whole story, and a copy of the Treasury Report

ACTU Secretary Greg Combet said:

"These documents prove that the Howard Government has known all along that its industrial relations changes would lead to lower wage rises, cuts in the take home pay of workers and more pressure on working families.

Campaign To Overturn ‘Destructive’ IR Laws

2005-12-22T06:56:00.000+10:30

Workers Plan Long-Term Campaign To Overturn ‘Destructive’ IR Laws

Unions plan a long-term campaign to overturn the destructive new WorkChoices IR laws and unseat the Howard Government at the next federal election.

Announcing the campaign in Canberra today (Monday), ACTU President Sharan Burrow said:

"The Australian people did not vote for an attack on their rights at work at the last election and the Prime Minister is mistaken if he thinks the public will forgive or forget this fundamental change to Australia's workplace relations system.

The Howard Government is now ramming through Parliament the most far-reaching and destructive changes to workplace laws in our history.

These destructive new laws will remove the basic rights of working people, cut the take home pay of workers, reduce job security and hurt families.

We are here today to show that ordinary working Australians will not stand for it. Our community campaign does not end with the passage of these IR laws. It intensifies.

At the same time that the Liberal and National parties bring in new laws that threaten the job security and living standards of working families, we are beginning a relentless new effort to threaten the job security of Coalition MPs and Senators at the next election.

Key elements of the co-ordinated union campaign include:

1. A campaign fund set up by unions to pay for a national series of television advertisements during 2006 and 2007 on the impact of the new IR laws on working families.

2. A new plan endorsed by the ACTU Executive to strategically direct local press, radio and TV advertisements in key marginal Liberal and National Party seats.

3. An 'online mobilisation' strategy using an email list that already has more than 50,000 subscribers -- the majority of whom are supporters from outside the union movement.

4. Thousands of people around the country who have committed to co-ordinate local information and lobbying campaign activities in their electorate for at least the next two years. This aspect of the campaign will target all Coalition MPs and Senators that have voted for the new IR laws with a special focus on key electorates.

Working families are already struggling to keep their heads above water and our campaign will make sure that the Liberal and National parties will be held accountable for the drop in job security and living standards the new laws will cause," said Ms Burrow.

Contact Details
Susannah Greenleaf
Ph: 0418 479 455

Which bank fined $750,000 for breaches?

2005-12-17T07:36:00.000+10:30

THE Federal Court has imposed a record $750,000 penalty on the Commonwealth Bank for deliberately discriminating against its employees and breaking an agreement with a union.

Maurice Blackburn Cashman lawyer Anne Gooley said the success of such action against employers in the future had been made more difficult because of changes under the Federal Government's Work Choices laws.

"We are very concerned about the changes, not only to this section of the act, but so many rights previously available to employees have been taken away by this Government," she said.

Look what we're heading towards - big businesses intent on higher profits at the expense of those who make management look good - the employees.

JAKAS has his eye on Macedon

2005-12-10T06:56:00.000+10:30

Well, well, well, - this was first mentioned on Sunbury on line I believe, but not supported by JAKAS.

From The Age; 5 December

Mirror image

THE man known as Jack Medcraft lost his seat in the Hume Council elections but his political career ain't over yet. His alter-ego JAKAS - Jack Also Known as Steve - prez of People Against Lenient Sentencing, will try his luck in the state election, with - surprise, surprise - a law-and-order platform. "Steve Medcraft is back," Jack/Steve told Diary. As much as the PALS prez enjoys sticking the boot into Attorney-General Rob Hulls on talkback radio, he has ruled out contesting the seat of Niddrie, instead eyeing Macedon or an upper house seat. At least Steve has Jack to help him campaign.

Some people should just fade to gray.....

Howard's longest-held goal

2005-12-04T08:22:00.000+10:30

The Age - 3/12/05

John Howard yesterday achieved his longest-held goal - the biggest shake-up of workplace laws since Federation. For more than 20 years, Mr Howard has campaigned hard for labour market reform, first in opposition as industrial relations spokesman and then as Prime Minister. After winning control of the Senate and negotiating minor changes with the Nationals' Barnaby Joyce, Mr Howard's wish list for workplace changes has passed largely intact. Following passage through the Senate yesterday, the legislation will return to the House of Representatives next week for the amendments to be passed before becoming law. It is a testimony to Mr Howard's determination and, indeed, political courage, but his success should not lead to triumphalism.

After last year's election victory, Mr Howard promised the Government would use its Senate majority "very carefully, very wisely and not provocatively". The rush with which the Government introduced its WorkChoices package makes a mockery of that assurance. Parliament was given one month to consider the draft 687-page bill and its 565-page explanatory notes, while senators on Thursday had only 40 minutes to digest the subsequent 337 amendments negotiated with Senator Joyce. Employer groups said the amendments were hastily drafted and added extra inflexibilities to the system.

The Age is not convinced the amendments offer enough protection to vulnerable workers at the hands of rogue employers. Opinion polls also show an initial negative response to the measures, and unions have received a fillip from the public response. The greatest test of the laws is still ahead: its effect on the economy and workplaces across the country could determine the Government's fate.

Unions vow to fight IR changes

The union movement will unveil next week a new campaign against the government's workplace reform legislation

ACTU president Sharan Burrow said the laws were a betrayal of working Australians and the union movement would announce a major campaign against them next week.

"For today, Australia needs to mark the end of 100 years of struggle to establish the fair go that has characterised the Australian way of life," Ms Burrow said.

"Labour has just been reduced to a commodity by the Howard government and we will continue to fight these laws."

....what of our childrens, children?

Ann Potter - WINNER !!

2005-11-27T15:29:00.000+10:30

Congratulations Ann. Hume now has two women on Council, Moya White - Aitken Ward and Ann Potter - Jackson Ward.

Council also has one of its employees on board - Cr. Geoff Porter. Geoff of course will have to resign from Leisure Services.

Times; they are a changing at Hume.

Sunbury Snobbery?

2005-11-26T18:13:00.000+10:30

Sunbury is predominantly Anglo Saxon, reasonably well educated with a steady home life. Our children are not noticeably behind the 'black ball' as their counterparts in Broadmeadows. Is this the basis of the old dead horse ‘Sunbury out of Hume’? Because we see ourselves as better than our neighbors and look down, our Anglo Saxon noses at them.

ALMOST one in four Australian children is having difficulty completing key development tasks in at least one area, research shows.

The study of more than 16,000 children in their first school year has found 22 per cent were "developmentally at risk" in areas such as physical health, social competence, emotional maturity and communication skills.

The study, which included children from rural and metropolitan regions in Victoria, Queensland, ACT, Western Australia and South Australia, found 11 per cent were "developmentally vulnerable" on two or more indicators.

Of the seven Victorian areas included in the project, Broadmeadows reported the highest number of children developmentally at risk on one or more indicators, with 41 per cent falling into this category. This was followed by Maribyrnong, where 33 per cent of children were at risk of having development problems on at least one indicator.

Have a think people....

Say NO to IR Reforms

2005-11-23T17:45:00.000+10:30

Dear Members

The following is a Message from the ACTU - a valuable way to participate
in the ongoing fight against the proposed IR changes.

Nationals Senator Barnaby Joyce is faced with a tough decision next week.

If he votes No on Work Choices in the upper house, the most radically
unfair workplace legislation we've ever seen in this country will be torn
up. We have four days to persuade Senator Joyce to do the right thing.

Sign our "Take a Stand Barnaby" petition now

To get "WorkChoices" through the Senate, John Howard needs Barnaby Joyce's
support. But Senator Joyce has spotted crucial flaws in the bill.
The concerns he, and others, have raised are not mere technicalities; they
are examples of the unfairness inherent in "WorkChoices." At this critical
moment, we need to help Senator Joyce understand that these problems
cannot be addressed through a few hasty amendments. If Senator Joyce is
serious about his concerns then he must oppose this legislation.

The Senate next sits on November 28. We have a little under a week to let
Senator Joyce know that the concerns he holds are valid, and that we need
him to Vote No.

Sign
the petition imploring Senator Joyce to "Take a Stand Barnaby - Vote No on
Work Choices" here

Add your own message to help persuade Senator Joyce.
Pass on the link to the petition to your friends, family and colleagues:

The clock is ticking - we need your help now. Together, we can protect our
rights at work.

Many thanks,

Sharan Burrow, Greg Combet,
& the Rights at Work Campaign Team.

Who profits from IR reform?

2005-11-22T18:02:00.000+10:30

Would it be the Business Council of Australia

(Don't see Fred's Fish and Chip in that group, do you?)

Because it certainly won't be the workers!

New look PALS site

2005-11-19T16:32:00.000+10:30

No Police badges!

Amy thinks it looks swell....!

We are ALL Hume!

2005-11-19T07:56:00.000+10:30

Don't give me grief that Broadmeadows gets everything and Sunbury nothing. Broadmeadows waited 39 years to get a library. Sunbury has had one for 30 years. I perceive many more disadvantages living in Broadmeadows, than Sunbury. Wake up people and let's work together.

IN 1963, Broadmeadows residents petitioned for a library. By the time their request was granted, almost four decades later, some of the most successful members of a generation that grew up in a neighbourhood starved of public services were determined the facility should be much more than a shopfront for people who needed to borrow a book.

Another is County Court judge Irene Lawson. She is delighted that local students no longer have to catch the train to Moonee Ponds to use a library as she did.

Growing up as one of six children in the Housing Commission area on Camp Road, she learned both about the value of education and community involvement.

"I lived in Broadmeadows for 17 years. It was a real struggle for our parents because there was just nothing in the way of services.

Support for the showpiece Hume Global Learning Village, opened in 2003, came from present and former residents led by media adviser Frank McGuire, Hume Council, businesses including Ford, Visy and The Age, and the State Government.

Hume Council, The Age and Ford this month shared an Australian Government national local government award for their work in developing the Hume Global Learning Village.

Tagged by Supamum (groan)

2005-11-18T09:09:00.000+10:30

Supamum said...

It only 2 things, Not the....come on be a sport, pleeeeeze.............

Thursday, November 17, 2005 9:18:55 AM

Two people I haven't talked to in a while --
1. JAKAS
2. The Pope

Two of Your Favorite Hobbies --
1. Reading
2. Gardening

There you go Supamum - 2 things!

History in the making

2005-11-16T05:54:00.000+10:30

SOMETIMES — not often — you can walk away from an event feeling that you have seen history forming.

That is how it was yesterday when a huge Melbourne crowd, primed by indignation and buoyed by unity, effectively told Prime Minister John Howard to pick up his proposed workplace laws and walk quickly over the hill and out of sight.

But this was no angry mob chanting hackneyed catch cries for the television cameras. It was a vast — some said the biggest — communal gathering in which all sectors of society and age groups assembled to hear and be heard on workers' rights.

"And we must NOT be the first generation of Australians that leaves our kids with fewer rights at work than we inherited. And we won't be." said Sharon Burrows

JACKED OFF: Sunbury Intrigue

2005-11-15T18:54:00.000+10:30

JACKED OFF: Sunbury Intrigue Sees Old Jack Trump Young Jack

COUNCILLOR MEDCRAFT OF HUME THINKS HE IS... scroll down on site....

...with thanks to the OC (and much sniggering...)

The very wise Sun Tzu told us from the battlefields of ancient China that:

the general who wins a battle makes many calculations in his temple before the battle is fought. The general who loses a battle makes but few calculations beforehand. Thus do many calculations lead to victory, and few calculations to defeat: how much more no calculation at all! It is by attention to this point that I can foresee who is likely to win or lose.

It seems unlikely to me that incumbent Councillor Jack Medcraft of the Hume City Council is familiar with the works of Sun Tzu. Some say he does not read a great deal. However his fellow Councillor wily paint entrepreneur Jack Ogilvie might well have a copy of the wise one's pronouncements in the van.

For it transpires that much craftiness has occurred in my old home town of Sunbury where life is generally relaxed and comfortable and neither alert nor alarmed.

May the force be with you....

2005-11-14T17:05:00.000+10:30

thanks to Supamum and Ann.

Am I shy quiet and retiring? NAH!!

This Is My Life, Rated
Life:	8.7
Mind:	7.7
Body:	8.6
Spirit:	7.1
Friends/Family:	7.8
Love:	9.1
Finance:	8.5
Take the Rate My Life Quiz

For an 'old coote', I simply love life and all its adventures....

The Sooks are out ?

2005-11-13T16:07:00.000+10:30

Posted by: Cr. Jack Medcraft (Verified)
Posted on: Sunday, 13 November 2005 10:13 PM
It appears that if you question anyone who is a candidate at this Council election on any issue they can run and sook to the E.C. [E.C. means Victorian Electoral Commission] You cant even eat in Sunbury now for fear of being dobbed in for something. How precious is that!
Gee I wish he would have a look at some of the other feral blogs that have been so complimentary of what I have been doing. If they think it is so bad sue! I dare you.
Authorised by Jack Medcraft 23 Westwood Ho Drive Sunbury

Posted by: Margaret Abernethy (Verified)
Posted on: Monday, 14 November 2005 10:10 AM
Don't worry about the blogs. Most people don't even know what a blog is. Just talking to my neighbours they don't know anything about the Candidates which is a shame. They have not got the luxury of going onto computers and having a look.

If you have done nothing wrong, then there is no problem, is there? By the way that's WESTWARD HO - not WESTWOOD Ho. After all, got to get those election signs correct now.

Lest we Forget

2005-11-11T10:13:00.000+10:30

RECENTLY, I saw a father with his young son standing in front of the statue of Weary Dunlop in St Kilda Road. The boy held his father's hand while Weary smiled down on them, benignant and avuncular.

As the father pointed to the red Flanders poppy in Weary's lapel, there was a sense that this was somehow a rite of passage. A son was learning the story of a legendary Australian war hero.

and....

'Nothing will save the governor-general'

Three decades ago today, Sir John Kerr handed Gough Whitlam the letter that removed Whitlam from office. In the last of a series, Meaghan Shaw looks at the final days of Labor's rule.

Great community work, Graeme?

2005-11-10T22:16:00.000+10:30

Yes indeed!
Site with compliments of Other Cheek

QUEENS BATON RELAY 2 Replies
Posted by: graeme marr (Verified)
Posted on: Thursday, 10 November 2005 12:53 AM
HEY FORUMERS, GET TODAYS HERALD SUN, AS THEY ARE PRINTING ALL THOSE HARD WORKING COMMUNITY PEOPLE WHO WILL CARRY THE QUEENS BATON.
LOOK FOR YOU COMMUNITY HERO. EACH WILL RUN 500 METRES.

Authorised by Graeme Marr 31 Lightfoot Cresent Meadow Heights
Posted by: Cr. Jack Medcraft (Verified)
Posted on: Thursday, 10 November 2005 7:48 AM
Well is that the same Graeme Marr who has been chosen to run the baton? If so congrats for your community work.
I wonder if Cr. Yigit nominated you Graeme as he speaks very highly of you in Council.
You should send out a FLYER to let everyone know.
Do you know anyone who can print it in Turkish?lol

Authorised by Jack Medcraft 23 Westwood Ho Drive Sunbury
Posted by: Margaret Abernethy (Verified)
Posted on: Thursday, 10 November 2005 8:43 AM
How wonderful Graeme. Enjoy. What an honour. You must be a very special person. I don't know much about you Graeme so feel free to use this topic and let us know.

You thinking what I'm thinking???

BINGO!

2005-11-07T15:52:00.000+10:30

Nice if you have the 'stamina', don't play it myself, I prefer chess - more strategic. Don't gamble either, prefer a challenge!

Glad you like BINGO, gentlemen;

Check.....! Three moves to Checkmate!

Workers need court on consent

2005-11-07T05:58:00.000+10:30

BUSINESSES will be able to impose workplace agreements on staff without seeking their approval -- or even consulting them - under John Howard's new industrial changes.

The Prime Minister's historic reforms, WorkChoices, will put the onus on employees to go to court if they want to challenge that consent was given and have an agreement ruled invalid.

Labor said yesterday that the ability of employers to potentially dictate employment conditions was further evidence that the balance in the workplace would swing too far towards employers.

To read more from this extract from The Australian 7 November, click here.

Glenn Milne, The Australian: Arrogance rules the IR debate

ARROGANT? Anxious to close down debate and curb dissent? What, this Government? You betcha. We had another example of the creeping hubris that may yet consume the federal Coalition late on Thursday. Labor's chief whip, Roger Price, was informed by the Government the parliamentary debate on its contentious industrial relations reform package was going to be shut down early. No ifs. No buts. No beg your pardons. That's what you can do when you have the numbers in both houses.

Electoral Roll & JAKAS back in the news?

2005-11-06T09:52:00.000+10:30

Well, he wasn't actually cleared last time, was he.

According to the Guru:

He has finally worked out that mothers name is Frances Joyce Wallace, not hard to do when you have access to an electoral roll, but is it appropriate usage. Guess what she has been in Sydney for the past month and has little internet access, just enough to email me with updates on family matters, he is accusing her of being Joyce W, which she ain't sorry folks another conspiracy theory out the window. I don't know how many Joyce W's there are in Sunbury, a few I suppose, maybe he should look up the Electoral Roll.

Makes sense regarding some of the more 'unusual' postings he recenly made.

Snapshot of (a) JAKAS

2005-11-05T07:45:00.000+10:30

Is this the person we want to represent us? JAKAS

But don't let me be the only one - there is an alternative forum - see what others opinion is.

Rumours....whoa!!!????

2005-11-04T17:22:00.000+10:30

Is it true that Nada Pali really is in fact... and that Ray is doing....using whose copier? nah.... I just can't do it....Don't want to step, where morons have preceded me.

Fictitious garbage, you make it up as you go along pal. Keep it up, big brother watches....

Dirty campaign tactics ? Ubetcha!

2005-11-03T06:24:00.000+10:30

Medcraft gaged for a week

2005-10-28T16:45:00.000+09:30

peace for a week!

Posted by: Cr. Jack Medcraft (Verified)
Posted on: Tuesday, 25 October 2005 8:06 AM
This reply has been blocked by the moderator.

Posted by: Cr. Jack Medcraft (Verified)
Posted on: Tuesday, 25 October 2005 8:06 AM
This reply has been blocked by the moderator.

Posted by: Cr. Jack Medcraft (Verified)
Posted on: Tuesday, 25 October 2005 8:15 AM
This reply has been blocked by the moderator.

Good hat trick pal

Is Doug Bishop Running for Council?

2005-10-26T05:51:00.000+09:30

Actually no, but these are:

Aitken Ward:
Nayler
Haddad
Bourne
Perroni
Atmaca
Mustaphah
Aykan
Marr
White
Deol
Jessop

Jackson Ward:
Pali
Mcleod
Ward
Potter
Ogilvie
Medcraft
Burgess

Airport Ward:
Elhajj
Porter
Jungwirth
Ansewll
Atmaca
Sammaan
Cakir
Marr

Merri Merri Ward:

Stephens
McCormack
Gagen
Scarcella
Suzer
Abbouche
Stock
Jenkins
Notely
Contarino
Ostas
Yigit
McNaughton
Marr

Jackson Ward should prove interesting, with Ogilvie a cert then who? Potter, Medcraft or Burgess? Perhaps a rank outsider....who knows

Attack is the best form of defence?

2005-10-22T07:04:00.000+09:30

Someone has been busy posting to Sunbury on Line - some things never change, your still sarcastic,rude and arrogant.

If you think its a good campaign tactic not to answer questions, attack anyone who objects or questions one of your crazy statements, well you go for it, pal!

Like to hear how you propose to implement at least one of your impractical campaign promises.

Doug Bishop Running for Council

2005-10-20T17:58:00.000+09:30

Seems Doug is giving this serious thought at present. Or is he just teasing us out until candidate closure date? Stay tuned.....

Cr Medcraft Mentioned in Parliament

2005-10-18T02:11:00.000+09:30

From Sunbury on Line

Posted by: Cr. Jack Medcraft (Verified)
Posted on: Sunday, 09 October 2005 10:14 PM
Now Joyce you are playing with fire there, be careful. Totally innocent and gracefully excused by Candy's office.

Publication: Leader-Sunbury/Macedon Regional, Page 003 (Tue 16 Aug 2005)

Roll probe dropped
>
>A TECHNICAL hitch has prompted the State Government to abandon an inquiry
into claims Sunbury councillor Jack Medcraft illegally used an electoral
roll.

Extract from potential Council candidate Doug Bishop

I contend he breached the Local Government Act if he was quoted accurately
in the Sunbury Leader when he said ``there is nothing that I have done that
other people have not done'' in response to Melton State Labor MP Don
Nardella's speech on the subject in the parliament.

Hansard shows Mr Nardella was referring to responses posted by Cr Jack
Medcraft on sunburyonline.com to comments implying criticism of Cr Medcraft's performance.

It shows Cr Medcraft stated online that the people who wrote the initial
comments were not on the electoral roll in Sunbury.

Cr Medcraft says ``put up or shut up. I never asked for, nor received, an
electoral roll end of story''.

Why, then, did Cr Medcraft say on sunburyonline.com on 21 July, 2004, and
again on 20 December, 2004, to Dorothy and Sean respectively, that they
were not on the electoral roll?

If he never had an electoral roll, as he now implies, how would he know?

State it like it is Councillor.

So far and no farther

2005-10-17T05:29:00.000+09:30

Sir, like the proverbial chicken, you have not only crossed the line - you have crossed the road!

Howard blinks, I burp

2005-10-09T07:18:00.000+09:30

15 NOVEMBER, 2005 - UNIONS TO MARCH "UNITED" IN PROTEST OVER THE HOWARD GOVERNMENTS PROPOSED INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS CHANGES

The Australian

Seems the unions are having an impact. Pigs to Howard spending $100 million on advertising for this campaign though.

Mr Combet said the real test would come tomorrow, when he found out whether there would be a legally enforceable guarantee that no worker would be worse off under the changes.

"Because without that legally enforceable guarantee that no one will be worse off, these proposed or pretend safeguards will be worthless," he said.

IR Court challenge 'still an option'

October 08, 2005

STATE and territory Labor leaders will wait for details of key industrial relations (IR) changes before making a final decision on a High Court challenge.

Prime Minister John Howard and Workplace Relations Minister Kevin Andrews are expected to reveal details of the changes tomorrow.

The proposed laws include a single national industrial relations system and exemptions for businesses of up to 100 employees from the unfair dismissal laws.

Queensland Premier Peter Beattie today said states were determined to ensure worker's rights were not undermined by the changes and would not rule out a court challenge.

Industry groups are being briefed about the changes over the weekend but Mr Beattie said he was yet to see the detail.

Works computer

2005-10-02T15:48:00.000+09:30

From one of my previous posts.

I shouldn't use works computer however, they may take a dim view.

Quote compliments from Creative Mechanism

This blog has been viewed by members of the Police force over the last few days.

I use Statcounter to monitor people who access this blog. A copy of the last Victoria Police access to this site is shown below:

VISITOR ANALYSIS
Referring Link http://www.haloscan.com/comments/guruann/112791105898846176/
Host Name
IP Address 203.25.230.27
Country Australia
Region Victoria
City Melbourne
ISP Victoria Police

Advice - next time listen

Ann Potter running for Council

2005-09-29T17:41:00.000+09:30

Ann's finally made a decision, a difficult one no doubt. A single mum raising two special needs kids with a career to boot. Got her hands full in my book.

Well the countdown has begun, 2 months to the next council elections. For all those who have been asking YES I will be standing. The campaign starts from now onward. The press release has been sent to the local press. Flyers and posters are being designed.

Ann also requests a good clean election and to leave her family out of it:

I will run a clean campaign, unlike my opposition. They are running scared, spreading rumours, threatening my supporters, but I am one tough gal and will not let them defeat me. Firebomb my house, say that I am a drug dealer, do whatever you want but I will not go down without a fight. Just leave my family out of it please.

Goodness Ann - bit drastic isn't it "fire bomb my house"?

I'll bet there is a tale there!

Fabian AKA Jim

2005-09-26T16:51:00.000+09:30

Quite right, Jimbo - it doesn't take very long at all. :-)

I shouldn't use works computer however, they may take a dim view.

Posted by: Jim Lang
Posted on: Monday, 26 September 2005 6:34 PM
Hmmmm
You're probably right.
Using an internet forum to idly speculate and spread vitriol, gossip, rumour, and unfounded innuendo about people would be a shocking abuse of the (apparent but not really) anonmity that the internet offers.

The internet is a marvellous thing, just the other day I used it to look up the personal details of some of my new friends. Some of them were a bit shy but I managed to find them.

Then I downloaded some information from a few legal websites about libel, and defamation case law.
Is there nothing you can't do in cyberspace.
Well maybe one thing, ( Hide all that well)

And what's good for the goose......

DEFAMATION WARNING!

2005-09-24T07:34:00.000+09:30

Well, well, well, some busy little bee has sent me the following warning:

****** You are not immune from a defamation
lawsuit. Don't think you can hide in cyberspace It took me two days to
find you. The rest of your SCF mates are next

This was posted by Anon (of course)!

http://www.uow.edu.au/arts/sts/bmartin/dissent/documents/defamation.html

When threatened with a defamation suit, most people focus on whether or not something is defamatory. But there is another, more useful way to look at it. The important question is whether you have a right to say it. If you do, you have a legal defence.

Sunbury Community Forum

Troubles at the Sunbury Police Station?

2005-09-20T20:35:00.000+09:30

in light of the Sunbury Community Forum having removed this topic, I no longer have any reference materials regarding the quotations I used. Therefore, I have removed all but the last item.

Fabian - you know jack

Mark Latham - sour grapes

2005-09-18T10:44:00.000+09:30

I won't be buying the book. I won't be watching Latham on Enough Rope. I won't be following the ongoing saga. He's had his time and now it's time to move on.

I think Rodney Olsen summed this up nicely - I too believe it's time to move on, Latham's sour grapes attitude will no doubt make him a few bucks but as far as I'm concerned - what price, honour? Mine cannot be bought!

An alternate read is:
Losing it, by Annabel Crabb, published by Picador Australia, is released on September 28, rrp $25. Annabel Crabb is The Sunday Age's European correspondent.

September 11, 2001

2005-09-11T08:52:00.000+09:30

Memories

The United States Library of Congress has selected September11News.com for inclusion in the Library's
September 11 Historic Internet Collection. This Collection is a pilot project of the Library in connection
with its mandate from Congress to collect and preserve ephemeral digital materials for this and future
generations. The library shares your vision of preserving web materials about September 11 and thanks
September11News.com for permitting researchers from across the world to access your archives.
- The Library of Congress, Internet Archive

Global Learning Village - Broadmeadows

2005-09-10T08:53:00.000+09:30

Frank McGuire, brother to Eddie McGuire, and seeming friend of the ALP has come a long way.

Already Mr Frank McGuire runs an advertising and public relations business, and is involved in a vast array of community groups, from the Lord Mayor's Charitable Fund to chairing a social justice taskforce in that battlers' heartland, Broadmeadows.

He says one of his greatest achievements so far was helping bring Broadmeadows its first library, in 2003 — the $16 million, high-tech resource centre the Global Learning Village. Mr McGuire notes the village has been so successful that "we've now got kids wagging school to go to the library".

Couple face jail in Wendy's finger case

2005-09-10T08:44:00.000+09:30

A Nevada couple pleaded guilty to charges that they planted a severed human finger in a bowl of Wendy's chili in a scheme to extort money that hurt sales at the No.3 US burger chain.

Anna Ayala, 39, and Jaime Placencia, 43, pleaded guilty in Santa Clara Superior Court to felony charges that included insurance fraud and attempted grand theft in a hoax that Wendy's International Inc said cost it $US2.5 million ($A3.28 million) in lost business.

Ayala faces nearly 10 years in prison while Placencia, who also pleaded guilty to unrelated charges of failing to pay child support, faces about 13 years.

The incident made international headlines after Ayala hired a lawyer and filed a complaint about biting into the finger after spooning up a mouthful of chili at a Wendy's restaurant in San Jose on March 22. She dropped the legal fight after police searched her home.

Police later determined that the finger came from a male acquaintance of her husband who lost it in an industrial accident.

I can just see the run of copy cat crimes after reading this little ditty!

Biggest Ever Workers’ Meeting

2005-09-09T14:40:00.000+09:30

Australia’s Biggest Ever Workers’ Meeting To Take Place 15 November

The ACTU today (6 September) announced that unions would convene a National Day of Community Protest to protect the rights of working Australians on November 15.

The National Day of Community Protest against the Howard Government’s radical industrial relations changes will include Australia’s biggest ever meeting of workers.

Announcing the 15 November date, ACTU President Sharan Burrow said today:

“The ACTU is planning to hold Australia’s biggest ever meeting of workers by linking up hundreds of separate locations across the country in a satellite broadcast using Sky Channel.

Hundreds of thousands of workers across Australia are expected to participate in the event.

The Australia-wide hook-up will feature a briefing on the details of the Government’s industrial relations reforms that Workplace Minister, Kevin Andrews has said will be tabled in Parliament by late October.

Community rallies and marches will also take place on 15 November, in most cases following people’s participation in the national hook-up.

As well as screenings at major venues in all capital cities, the broadcast will be beamed to workers in rural and regional areas.

Local union branches will arrange screenings in clubs, sporting venues, community centres, and other convenient locations.

Australian’s are rightly concerned about the impact of the Government’s extreme industrial relations changes on their jobs and their living standards.

We encourage anyone who wants to find out more about the changes to attend the Australia-wide hook-up.

This is an important opportunity for all workers and concerned members of the community to get information and to demonstrate their opposition to the Government’s industrial relations reforms.”

Further details of times and venues as they come to hand will be posted on the union website: www.rightsatworkcom.au

For more information visit the Victorian Trades Hall Council

Or here for additional information

Hurrican Katrina

2005-09-03T14:50:00.000+09:30

The Age said:

Overnight gunfire and pre-dawn explosions had heightened the panic in New Orleans where tens of thousands remained trapped amid fetid floodwaters, rotting corpses, armed gangs and troops with shoot-to-kill orders.

Aftermath of a tradgedy

Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco said the guardsmen had been authorised to open fire on "hoodlums" profiting from the destruction.

"These troops are fresh back from Iraq, well trained, experienced, battle tested and under my orders to restore order in the streets," Blanco said.

"They have M-16s and they are locked and loaded.

"These troops know how to shoot and kill and they are more than willing to do so if necessary and I expect they will," she said.

Four days after the killer storm hit, New Orleans was still plagued by gunbattles and rapes, with gangs of looters and carjackers roving the streets and bodies just left lying by the roadside.

From The Australian

But now there's no one to hunt down. You can blame Mother Nature, but all the talk here is about the ineptness of the federal and state governments, which many claim failed to prepare for a catastrophe experts have warned against for years.

And the horrendous situation has been made worse by the botched relief effort.

While the US President spoke yesterday of the orderly delivery of humanitarian aid to New Orleans, desperate refugees outside the convention centre in the heart of the city screamed at the television cameras, begging for food and water.

The so called civilised people - the questionably, wealthiest nation on earth, reverts to base instincts. Each man for himself!

While the politicians blame anyone but themselves for not being prepared.

Seven Things

2005-09-02T17:33:00.000+09:30

I got tagged (suckered) by Supermum to do the meme of SEVEN:

SEVEN THINGS YOU PROBABLY DID NOT KNOW ABOUT SUPAMUM

1. She’s secretly running for Hume Council
2. Writes for The Financial Review
3. Leading Barrister with a major Melbourne legal firm
4. Drives a red 2005 Chevrolet Corvette (C6)
5. Cheats at Myers Briggs personality tests
6. Types 125 wpm (like me)
7. Has a secret identity

SEVEN THINGS I HAVE NEVER DONE AND MAY NEVER DO:

1. Have a sex change
2. Lesbian relationship (bit hard for a man, but I wanted to write the
word‘lesbian’)
3. Ride an elephant
4. Brain Surgery (but would like to try)
5. Drive Supermum’s new car
6. Give up on a friend
7. Spend a million dollars in a week

SEVEN THINGS I DID NOT DO THIS PAST WEEKEND:

1. Go to the movies
2. Tell a lie
3. Fart at an inappropriate moment
4. Drive Supermum’s new car
5. Read The Financial Review (sorry Supermum)
6. Jet ski
7. Bungy Jump (going this weekend instead – yeah right - ya think??????)

SEVEN TIMES I HAVE ALMOST DIED OR BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED:

Sorry, there are only 2:

1. Horse riding accident
2. Car accident

Ok that’s enough, I feel guilty and have to read last weekend Financial Review……zzzz

Is Medcraft incompetant?

2005-09-01T18:56:00.000+09:30

Had a laugh at this one - alluded to Medcraft being incompetant and SOL approved. Clever I thought.

Posted by: Jennifer O
Posted on: Thursday, 01 September 2005 5:32 PM
I'm not bush lawyer - but it seems to me that no one could sue if someone said they were "incompetant". My standards of competancy might be higher or lower than others standards. Therefore I might be weighing competancy differently than someone else.

Others standards may be linked with a performance objective - in which case there is a standard measure.

To say someone performs less than expectations in a category - to say they are incompetant, could well be considered either way.

So - having said that let me say further, because this is free speech, that I don't disagree with the 'supposed' blog which stated 'incompetant'.

I would be interested to know which sites said this so I could judge for myself, however.

I'd like to see this one added to your defamation suit mate - haven't seen a good laughing stock in action for some years.

Mob Rule or mob cruel?

2005-08-31T19:48:00.000+09:30

Supermum made a good point at when she stated

I think memyselfandi sums it up eloquently.

Posted by: memyselfandi
Posted on: Wednesday, 31 August 2005 9:03 AM
I think that bothe sides of the coin need to be looked at. I am a qualified criminologist AND a mother and to be honest I was disgusted with the behaviour of individuals at the protest rally.

The fact that people feel that they have to take the matter into their own hands is simply wrong. Obviously you have no faith in our justice system, our prisons to punish and rehabilitate (YES - that IS their aim) and no faith in our police force to protect the community. Honestly, what did you hope to achieve? Did his family/friends commit the crime? I won't even go there with scaring the children...

I understand that people need to express their opinions *but* committing a crime while doing so is not the answer.

I know many people won't agree with what I have said and thats ok - the beauty of this country is that we are free to express our opinions but I have one final comment from a criminological view - its not the person who HAS committed the crime and been caught you have to worry about, it's the person who has committed the crime and hasn't been caught.

Posted by: memyselfandi
Posted on: Wednesday, 31 August 2005 12:08 PM

Johno - I suggest that you have a look at the term "rehabilitation" and what it means. You might find that keeping an offender with his family is actually a way of completing the rehabilitative process within a supportive environment.

Of course Johno, being so predictable with his Bachelor of Electrician had this to say:

Posted by: Johno
Posted on: Wednesday, 31 August 2005 6:18 PM
mrs my self and who ever. Tell me how many of these creeps ,are ever rehabilitated. VERY FEW if any.Well done sunbury keep this creep out.

Don't let logic get in the way of poor brain function. And stick with Medcraft, you make a fine team.

Vigilantes and Attack

2005-08-29T16:30:00.000+09:30

Taking the law into it own hands today were our fearless leader Steve (PALS) Medcraft and his gang of galloping cohorts(followers) as detailed in the fiollowing snippet.

Posted by: margaret peterson
Posted on: Saturday, 27 August 2005 11:11 PM
Parents and Teachers at Sunbury Heights were alerted of his where abouts on Thursday By Cr. Jack Medcraft. Thank goodness we have people like him who care about the safety of our kids. By the way it is [Address Removed by Moderator] just in case you didnt know Lets not make this warning a political bunfight please it is too important

So Margaret - how do you feel that those children in that house were terrified?

Victoria's Corrections Commissioner Kelvin Anderson has said the public could not be told of Smith's whereabouts for reasons of privacy and fear of attacks by vigilantes.

This 72 year old has served 8 years behind bars of a 15 year sentance. Whilst I agree, fit them with satellite tracking, but please be legal.

Wacko Jacko actually went door knocking yesterday to let all the good people know the whys and wherefores. This resulted last night and today in the good ol' boys causing and instigating damage to property, terrifying children and generally, behaving outside the law.

Overnight, vigilantes had broken a passenger car window parked in Leanne's driveway. Glass littered the pavement, while dried eggs covered the house's front windows and a smashed beer bottle lay on the doormat.
But Leanne told the Herald Sun her father was not living with her or mother Val, 72, but said she saw him regularly.

"No, he's not here," Leanne said. "But I'm trying to keep it as low key as I can because of my mother.

"I understand where people are coming from. I really do, but hey, he's served his time.

"Let him get on with his life.

"He's done everything he's been asked.

"What more can he do?"

But Mr Medcraft said his concern was a talk he had had with Smith's daughter, Leanne.

"I do feel sorry for her as she's not the one we're targeting," he said.

"But I said to her, 'your father is the Mr Baldy of WA' and she said 'his offences weren't that bad', that's when I lost it."

But Leanne said she was trying to protect her fragile mother who could "go to pieces at any time". "Mum's scared stiff," she said.

"She's had to live through it and live through the ridicule." Leanne said she still loved her father and would stand by him. "He's never done anything wrong to me," she said.

"But I said to her, 'your father is the Mr Baldy of WA' and she said 'his offences weren't that bad', that's when I lost it."

Why did you lose it with an innocent woman who simply loves her father and wants to protect her mother? What of Leanne's children who were int the house at the time.

No, I don't like vigilantes. The KKK were vigilantes too - were they right?

IR News: Give Workers a Genuine Choice

2005-08-24T16:48:00.000+09:30

Speech to the Australian industry Group by Greg Combet, ACTU Secretary. 23 August 2005

The Government’s industrial relations changes, and why they fundamentally undermine employee rights. Greg Combet, ACTU Secretary. Speech to the Australian industry Group.

This is the vision of John Howard's 'enterprise worker' - a person of enlightened self-interest, employed on an individual contract, free of 'outside' interference from awards and unions, who recognises that their personal hopes and aspirations can only be realised through their commitment to the enterprise.

Maybe you'll find some swingin' dudes like this in the financial services or IT industries.

But you won't find too many working in department stores, coal mines, on production lines, in hospitals and nursing homes, or working as cleaners or security officers or transport workers.

Australian people don't mind hard work, they understand how important it is for them that their employer is successful and commercially viable, but they overwhelmingly support institutions which safeguard their right to decent and fair treatment.

Most of John Howard's enterprise workers will in reality be enterprise servants.

Thought we had grown past the old servant - master relationship. Guess the plantation owners want their slaves back.

Workplace Office reveals IR flaws: ALP

2005-08-21T07:01:00.000+09:30

From The Age

A report that the federal government is ramping up an almost forgotten workplace inspectorate hints at bad government policy on industrial relations, Labor says.

The Australian newspaper reported that a little-known government agency, the Office of Workplace Services, would be given a much enhanced role in protecting workers from having their wages or work conditions stripped.

It's unlikey Howard would back peddle on the proposed IR laws, however they might be 'softened' so as to become more palatable to the Australian worker.

Gandels to inject big bucks into shopping complex

2005-08-20T05:59:00.000+09:30

Another shopping centre on the move - Broadmeadows Town Centre, owned by Gandels

"Our Broadmeadows development will involve the integration of cinemas into the centre and bringing in a youth precinct and some entertainment-type retailers," Mr Towning said

One can't help but think Sunbury is being left behind - but isn't that what it's all about - remaining semi-rural, with that 'country feel'?

$50m plan for downtown Craigieburn

2005-08-20T05:35:00.000+09:30

As reported in The Age last Thursday:

The 64.9 hectare greenfield site earmarked for the Craigieburn town centre has been bought by the Sydney-based Valad Property Group.

The commercial precinct would incorporate offices, health, community, entertainment and recreational facilities.

The $98m rail project is also facing delays as reported in The Age last July. Hopefully the rail project will get 'back on track' (pardon the pun, I just couldn't help it) well before the shopping centre commences.

This will be significant economic growth for Craigieburn.

Anderson Cinema Former Owners

2005-08-18T15:05:00.000+09:30

Missed this item the other day...

Cinemas owner to stand trial on fraud
By Marc Moncrief
Regulation reporter
August 13, 2005

The former chief executive of Anderson Cinemas has pleaded not guilty to three charges of fraud and has been committed to stand trial.
Stephen Michael Anderson, of Ballarat, appeared yesterday in the County Court charged with two counts of obtaining financial advantage by deception, involving $1.7 million, and one count of false accounting.
Mr Anderson's family would not comment last night. The alleged offences relate to Mr Anderson's involvement in cinemas in Sunbury and Melton that were once owned by the Anderson Cinema Group.
The Anderson Group, of which Mr Anderson and his brother John are directors, operated multiplexes in Sunbury and Melton, as well as the Victoria Gardens complex in Richmond.
The assets were only two years old when the Anderson Group was placed into receivership in March last year at the request of ANZ Bank.
US-based Reading Cinemas acquired Anderson's complexes in Melton and Sunbury, and Hoyts acquired the Victoria Gardens.
Stephen Anderson is also a director of Anderson Cinema Holdings, which owns cinemas at Epping and Colac. Those operations are not in receivership.
Mr Anderson was granted bail and will next appear in the County Court on October 21.

lot of testosterone in the parliament this week

2005-08-15T17:36:00.000+09:30

Extract from Lateline 12 August, 2005:

LINDSAY TANNER: Unlike the taxpayers' money that you're going to waste on a vast amount of government advertising. Union members in this country are in the peculiar position of funding both sides of the campaign on this issue. They are paying, quite properly, union fees in order to support the trade union position. But they are paying through their taxpayer funds - they are paying for your propaganda as well. Blatant Liberal Party propaganda. What we've seen over the past 10 years are enormous amounts of government money wasted on propaganda for the Liberal Party and this is just another example of it. So when you're talking about union members' funds not being wasted, how about you cut those outrageous government ads that you are already running and will be running a lot more of. That'd be good for their funds.

NICK MINCHIN: Well, factual campaigns are only necessary in the face of lies from the Trade Union Movement.

MAXINE McKEW: Gentlemen, gentlemen. OK, gentlemen, we are out of time. I can see there was a lot of testosterone in the parliament this week and it spilled over here. Thank you very much, indeed, for joining us tonight.

This is the whole interview, commencing with the Telstra update.

Protection For Young Workers Against Individual Contracts

2005-08-14T08:39:00.000+09:30

This is exactly what the unions are fighting for. Today a 15 year old school girl, tomorrow a family man in his mid 50's, the day after - YOU!

Protection For Young Workers Against Individual Contracts

I've been moderated!

2005-08-14T06:38:00.000+09:30

Seems like the moderators of the Sunbury Community Forum consider a couple of items I submitted yesterday were a little too hot to handle. Ergo, I've been moderated.

Topics are: Johno

and Dreadfull behaviour by Cr. Medcraft

OK, my bad!

Also answers Clive M over at Sunbury On Line with his "Free Speech" topic

In conclusion, Andy T from the same topic stated it precisely, with:

Defamation does not apply where a statement was made honestly and without improper motives. You can raise the defence of “fair comment” if the views stated were expressions of opinion, not conclusions of fact.

Family Friendly could tip the balance

2005-08-11T17:14:00.000+09:30

As the Government prepares an industrial relations package it says is aimed at more "flexible" workplaces, the new Family First senator raised grave doubts about some assumptions of progress.

Read the maiden speech here of Senator Steve Fielding.

But do check out the last paragraph, I thought it was a hoot!

PM throws doubt on parental leave award

2005-08-09T18:48:00.000+09:30

Yesterday was a landmark decision by the Industrial relations commission for families.

Today, Mr Howard casts doubts on that decision

But I ask - a full time employee, wanting to utilise 24 months part time employment after returning to work from maturnity leave, why not 'job share'?? Not a major cost to even the smallest employer I would have thought - gets another person a job/experience - what's the big issue here?

If only politicians could think outside their square more - and empathise with the workers a bit better, issues would be resolved sooner. Not rocket science!

Liberals take over Parliment today

2005-08-09T18:35:00.000+09:30

For Labor, the new Senate dynamic presents a significant challenge. The ALP remains competitive in the polls and there are signs of an alternative reform agenda emerging from Kim Beazley.

The Opposition will have less capacity, though, to influence the texture and tone of legislation.

Instead, it will be forced to take its campaign to the streets. As Labor's treasury spokesman Wayne Swan bluntly put it yesterday, "we have to keep the bastards honest".

Now more than ever.

Steve Lewis is The Australian's chief political reporter

The government is rattled !

2005-08-09T06:16:00.000+09:30

The new GetUp movement writes:

Thanks for being there at the beginning of a new movement to build a more progressive Australia .

Because of you, something exciting happened in our democracy last week. From every corner of the country, more than 20,000 emails were sent to the Coalition Senators. Our message was simple: now you have control of the Senate, we will be holding you to account. Thousands of you added personal messages to your representatives about the issues you care about.

Now you answer to us, we the people!

The Government's response to this outbreak of political participation was anything but democratic. Coalition MP and key strategist Andrew Robb appeared on national television to condemn the emails you sent to your elected representatives as "highly irresponsible" and "spam". Coalition MP Tony Smith called your messages an "email scam". And Senator Eric Abetz was so upset he complained to the Australian Electoral Commission!

This government is already rattled. But our work has only just begun. This morning Senator Robert Hill announced that the Government plans to roll back the Senate budget estimates process, which plays a crucial role in exposing government bungles and cover-ups.

The traditional checks and balances in our parliamentary process are under threat, and we know the other political parties are incapable of a strong or effective opposition. If this government is going to be held accountable, GetUp needs to grow in strength and numbers - and we need your help to do this. Please forward this email to your friends and tell them to join the campaign:

Now you answer to us, we the people!

As we write, the government is preparing to unveil a raft of new legislation that we deserve a say on. In the crucial period ahead, GetUp will help you take action on the major issues of the day. Stay tuned -- we are just getting started.

I for one will do all I can to avert as much as possible these proposed industrial relation changes as working class Australians have fought long and hard to achieve what we have today. We do not want a master sevant relationship with our employers, which is what these changes will produce.

Community Angst about the Proposed IR Changes.

2005-08-08T17:27:00.000+09:30

Caucus should be interesting today - Beazley appears not to be the leader his party thought (again).

Brendon O'Connor and Sharan Burrow hopefully will recify any notion of individual work agreements.

Meanwhile at AIRC today, a land mark decision for families. The full saga is too long to plough through, but by all means it's an eye opener. The Age has a working persons version, it's a quicker read.

...and on a sadder note, Cuban Legend dies.

Labour Slams Immigration Department

2005-08-08T17:22:00.000+09:30

Addendum to the Vivian Alvarez debarcle:

Not happy with the cover up guys and I dare say many more tidbits of interest will come out of this - possibly another 'Palmer Report'?

Your Rights At Work

2005-08-05T16:37:00.000+09:30

Vote NO to proposed Industrial Relation Changes.

Vote NO here!

Chris Merritt The Australian's new legal affairs editor states:

"The greatest potential threat to individual liberty is an over-mighty government. By shackling the states and the commonwealth to a constitution that limits their powers, the founding fathers were designing a system to keep that threat at bay."

For the full story click here:

STILL NOT MODERATED!?

Posted by: Jennifer O
Posted on: Monday, 01 August 2005 7:17 PM
Awaiting approval by moderator.

Posted by: Johno
Posted on: Monday, 01 August 2005 7:37 PM
Awaiting approval by moderator.

Posted by: Marg
Posted on: Monday, 01 August 2005 8:46 PM
Awaiting approval by moderator.

Can't imagine what the holdup is??

Who are the Bully Boys?

2005-08-01T18:16:00.000+09:30

Recent events over the last several days, lead me to (try to) enlighten a few Sunburyites:

Posted by: Clive M
Posted on: Monday, 01 August 2005 12:41 PM .............. If anything, these sites convinced me to vote for you.

Let’s look at some facts, shall we. Cr. Medcraft has been the hot potato in numerous allegations over the past couple of years within the SOL forum and more recently in the newspapers. I won’t bore you to death with the entire diatribe however after regarding Clive’s statement above, I'm surprised he is so naive. There is no smoke, without fire, is there?

It's obvious that Cr. Medcraft's ‘cronies’ are simply a set up to boost naive peoples opinions, like Clive. Yes, I’m talking about Margaret Peterson, Johno and others.

Pleased to see Cr. Medcraft has had a rethink on running his political campaign via Sunbury on line, more often his foot was in his mouth and his many statements were considerably less than brilliant.

Cr. Medcraft has time and again attacked others within SOL as has his cronies. Subtle is his approach in many ways and I'm not surprised that those less savvy with his sparkling scarcasim don't quite understand where he is coming from. Thus, it appears that he is being set upon, when this is not the case at all.

I have no doubts that Cr. Medcraft is not only a bully but also a sneak. He is not wearing that tag alone however.

Beware the identity Card - Big Brother Watching

2005-07-31T15:14:00.000+09:30

An identity card was considered by many to fundamentally alter the relationship between citizen and state. It was also seen as opening up the possibility of mass surveillance.

For the full story click here

Addendum - poll by The Age suggests....

Identity Card : Would you support the introduction of an ID card in the wake of recent events?

Yes, times have changed since we last considered them - 39%
No, under no circumstances - 61%
Total Votes: 3946 Poll date: 15/07/05
Related: PM puts ID card back on age

Proposed Industrial Relations Laws

2005-07-30T21:48:00.000+09:30

Be educated people - you are about to be screwed. View these opinions and check out the sites:

Sunbury Online

and

Sunbury Community Forum

If you at least have a look, you are taking just one step forward!

another thing to thing about, from The Age:

Victorian Industrial Relations Minister Rob Hulls said the changes heralded a return to the days of having "an employee underclass" and that workers could lose overtime, shift penalties, weekend rates, leave loading, redundancy pay or public holiday loading.

Mark Wooden, deputy director of the Melbourne Institute, warned that the unfair dismissal changes may discourage firms from expanding beyond the 100-worker threshold. "It could be anti-employment," he said.

Council Elections - the race is underway

2005-07-30T07:16:00.000+09:30

I've been rather tardy in not maintaining this site - it happens when you forget your password.

Things are really moving in this fair town and by fair means or foul, Cr. Jack (Steve) Medcraft is in the thick of it, and it's foul to be sure.

If he objects to anything you might say in public he has no hesitation in getting a stooge to do his dirty work. Just look at what he did to this poor sod

Apart from not liking an alternative forum too much, he's really rather miffed that people are voicing their opinions, without overt moderation. Apparently his cronies are a bit over zealous in their attacks as well.

Brookstreet,

It is my opinion that Jack Medcraft is posting to the forum under false names, and in particular, that he is "margaret peterson". The similarity in "sense of humour" is so acute that it could not be a coincidence.

I've put it to Jason that there is a need to ask all those who use a full name to verify themselves, on the grounds that anonymity could not be a factor when someone uses a full name. If I wanted to know who they were, I could look them up in the phone book (or not, as the case may be). I think this goes to the credibility of SOL as a forum, and this is the least a moderator could do to help clean it up.

It seems I'm on the naughty list, as he has not bothered to reply.

Sean.
_________________
Sean Payne

Now it's come to my attention, that a posting was made by Margaret Peterson on an evening when JOIIS was in a council meeting - so I do have my doubts, however there are ways and means around that, so I'll leave it up to you.

No longer whispers - now fact!

2005-06-16T19:17:00.000+09:30

For a more liberated forum, check this out

Sunbury Community Forum

Is it Jack or is it Steve?

2005-06-08T20:34:00.000+09:30

Hume clowncillor Jack Medcraft

The Age 7 June, 2005

Didn't think they had a sense of humour......

Take it up a notch and explain this!

2005-05-29T08:54:00.000+09:30

SPIN DOCTORING??

Councilors under attack
Posted by: Cr. Jack Medcraft
Posted on: Wednesday, 28 July 2004 10:25 PM

".....I trust that Jen [surname removed by moderator] is not one of them, cause she was happy with our meeting and reply......"

SO HOW DID YOU GET THIS PERSONS SURNAME? MORE BREACHES?

Posted by: Cr. Jack Medcraft (Verified)
Posted on: Saturday, 28 May 2005 8:33 PM
".....I never asked for nor received an electoral roll.
2. After numerous attacks on me, a fellow reader of SOL rang to tell me that neither Payne OR Reynolds appeared on the electoral roll at the time of the last council election.I did ask these people payne and reynolds to ring me and discuss their grievance but they chose not to so I let it be. No further discussions!......
.......In closing, I trust this answers some of your questions and I look forward to continuing to put the interests of ALL Sunbury residents ahead of the rest of Hume.Councillors under attack."

from Medcraft Watch....

2005-05-26T19:39:00.000+09:30

You have learnt well. You sought, and found the answers. I, but lead the way.

click here

search topic "medcraft"