Update #5   

Thursday, March 09, 2006.

I trust that this update finds you healthy, happy and wise, as I know you are!

Our Association is nearing its second birthday and we can look back at successes in the number of independent (from bureaucratic influences) community representative councilors in council. Encouraging improvements have been noted in attitudes towards Green (and women) councilors in council and we may see more of that in State politics as well.

Our course for prospective councilors, and other leaders in the community, with funding from the Office of Post Compulsory Education and Training (OPCET) in August 2005, was particularly successful and clearly showed our commitment towards pro-active community education about how Local Government works, or should work.

There are signs that council bureaucrats are taking notes, especially after we wrote to authorities that section 314 of the Local Government Act, ‘Bribery and Undue Influence’, may have been breeched when council handed large community grants to sporting clubs (golf), during the 2005 election period, in support of their preferred mayor and deputy mayor, as extensively covered by Huon Valley News. This, if proven valid, amounts to vote buying with public monies. We also registered our concern that council management actively promotes community division against the Greens and other environmentalists.

It is encouraging to see ornamental trees planted in Huonville and we trust that other tourist friendly towns will be next. Support for community banks in Cygnet and Huonville is also promising, unfortunately no mention was made that a local business man and HRA initiated the drive.

Some pressure from Local Government Division may insist that senior council bureaucrats improve their openness and accountability to the community and there are reluctant moves to improve electronic communication between council staff and all councilors and democratic leadership training for councilors may be introduced. Of course we can’t be seen to have shown the way but that’s ok.

Predictions are that some in council will try to contain the fall out of previous mistakes they made and convince the masses how good and responsible they are, gag those who know better, award friends for their loyalty and continue to make things legal that perhaps shouldn’t be but it is likely that the past will catch up, hopefully with the assistance of a wiser State Government after March elections.

Currently, HRA is assisting several members with information to help them improve accountability from authorities, with likely successes. Attention to responsible tourism developments, efficient reticulation and sourcing of safe water, affordable public transport and reduction of bureaucratic dogmatism had to be scaled down due to a lack of resources.

Our Association has earned respect from those who know how important it is to remind our leaders of their duties and, with continued vigilance, we will grow in recognition as a positive force in the Huon Valley.

Please attend our AGM on Sunday 2^nd of April, 2pm at the Huon LINC centre, 1 Skinner Drive Huonville. Contact us for the details.

       Letters since October, some published  

Leaders and Managers Last Saturday was the final day of HRA’s intensive 18 hour Training Course for Councilor Candidates and other leaders in our community. Superb speakers like Eva Ruzicka, Michael Field, Kerry Boden and others shared their wealth of experience with the 18+ students while healthy debates ensured that all learned what they decided to learn. The last subject, presented by Vaughan Smith of Axiom Training, was about ‘Working Smarter, Not Harder’ and the Pareto Principle, which says that 20% is responsible for 80% of the results. Mr Geoff Cockerill, General Manager of the Huon Valley Council, spoke to the group as an invited guest and made many sensible comments, about 80% worth. Unfortunately, the remaining 20% of his comments alienated most of the listeners and scared more than a few. We are particularly concerned with his unwarranted claim that the Huon Ratepayers Association is biased and we ask him to repeat that in writing for the Association to defend in a fair and Democratic manner. (published)

Bias Not surprisingly, Mr Cockerill, General Manager of Huon Valley Council, has not seen fit to publicly support his accusation of bias he leveled against the Huon Ratepayers Association. Perhaps he, as Council General Manager, sees a bias that ought to be owned by Council, not the Association challenging it. (not published)

Vote Wisely Think back to the lofty promises Councilors made before last Elections and check what they’ve accomplished; Rates, Taxes, Fees, Charges, Bureaucracy and Unemployment are up, down are Accountability, Reliability of Services and Trustworthy Leadership. Ask yourself if we need more of the same or is it time to support those who stand for what is right and dump those who take more than they should. (not published)

Tasmanian Electoral Commission.... possible breaches to the Local Government Act as it relates to electoral advertising, section 314 ‘Bribery and undue influence’... copies of articles and advertisements, as published by the Huon Valley News during the prescribed election period (Sept 10^th to Oct 25^th), which may have contravened the Act; September 21^st issue carried articles, with photos, highlighting Mayor Armstrong with Council community development projects. September 28^th issue carried a feature article, with photos of Mayor Armstrong and Deputy Mayor Dillon, handing a $1000 community grant to the Geeveston golf club. October 5^th issue carried articles, with photos, highlighting Mayor Armstrong with Council community development initiatives, plus an advertisement for Australia Day Award nominations. October 12^th carried a feature article, with photos, showing Mayor Armstrong and Deputy Mayor Dillon playing bowls at Geeveston. October 19^th saw Mayor Armstrong handing $1600 to another golf club, this time at Dover, and the publication of a letter by retiring Councilor McKibben praising Council performance while submissions critical of Council and Mayor Armstrong were rejected.... feature articles where Mayor Armstrong is seen handing community grants to golf clubs during the electioneering period.

The timing, size of grants and selection of recipients suggests that council ulterior motives were to encourage votes for Mayor Armstrong and endorse council policies as part of his leadership. This, if considered a valid concern by the Electoral Commissioner, amounts to bribery and undue influence. Of concern is an apparent bias by Huon Valley News in favor of Mayor Armstrong and current Council management. Other candidates for Mayoral and Councilor positions, especially those disapproving of Mayor Armstrong and Council management, did not receive the same level of support and exposure in this news paper unless submitted and paid for as an advertisement.