Della Bosca and Neal’s feudal power
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Stop press: NSW premier Morris Iemma has called a press conference this afternoon at which his most senior minister John Della Bosca faces either suspension pending the outcome of a policy inquiry or the sack. Meanwhile … Some extraordinary political jiggery pokery is taking place in the Labor Party on the NSW Central Coast where the ALP’s “golden couple”, John Della Bosca and his wife Belinda Neal, live and rule. They have almost feudal power in the area: apart from being Education and Industrial Relations Minister, Della Bosca is Minister for the Central Coast and Neal’s federal electorate of Robertson covers the area. So when the party’s local government committee makes preparations for the council elections in September there is great interest in the ticket. Or, in this case, the tickets – two of them.
The primary ticket will comprise Gosford’s current mayor and state president of the electricians’ union, Jim Macfadyen (repeat Macfadyen), Vicki Scott and Craig Munnings, who previously worked for John Aquilina, a former education minister and speaker. The “other” Labor ticket will be David Humphreys and George Sidiropoulos, who are both ardent “Della” supporters. Does the NSW Electoral Commission have a view on members of the same party standing on two different tickets? Isn’t that going to confuse the upright voters of Gosford? Interestingly, the branch members who are party to this strange electoral ploy include Despina Karlsson and Chris Keating who have recently shared the media spotlight following the Della Boscas’ notorious night out at Iguana Joe’s on the Gosford waterfront. Ms Karlsson, an industrial officer with the NSW Textile, Clothing and Footwear Union which keeps Sydney’s sweatshops up to world’s best practice, helpfully produced her recollection of the Iguana’s fracas in a statutory declaration stating:
Keating, Neal’s media spokesman, was equally obliging. In his sworn statement he said the group was having “a pleasant meal” and “no one was drinking excessively and Mr Della Bosca was drinking mineral water”. “I did not hear anyone swearing, being aggressive or threatening any of the restaurant staff,” adding that he then stepped outside for a cigarette. So, it seems, the staff who wrote statutory declarations saying they heard Ms Neal say she would have the club’s “f-cking licence” and she would have the “f-cking police down here every weekend to close you down”, are lying. Now that Della Bosca has admitted writing the fulsome apology given to him and his wife by the Iguana’s general manager last Sunday, questions will be asked about whether Karlsson and Keating received editorial guidance in writing their sworn statements too. Coalition leader Barry O’Farrell has received an assurance from the NSW Police Force that the conflicting statutory declarations will be investigated to see whether a criminal offence has been committed. Knowing the strong Labor loyalty of the police hierarchy, it can be safely assumed that the bar staff will be rounded up for swearing false statements and locked away and the Della Bosca partygoers will be given a clean bill of health. That’s the way NSW works. |
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11 Comments
Nelson-I have no idea what happened that night but I’d seriously question your rediculous claim that “what would wait staff have to gain ?”. You either have been living in dark room or don’t get out much. People do all sorts of strange things for all sorts of reasons and it’s not yours or my right to assume that your question somehow negates the truth of what others have claimed. But I do know that a sustained media campaign by the Reptiles ( iguanas ?) of the Media have is shameful campaign and full of hate and extremely unjust against the pair who I don’t from Adam. From the Telegraph’s Malcolm Farr ( laughingly labeled “the most interesting) astonishing discovery that Belinda Neal gave a cameraman the finger one day-to Bernard Keane’s vacuous crikey piece yesterday that Belinda Neal hadn’t achieved much in Canberra. Just as every other backbencher presumably and most of the Opposition ministers. But she has done something in the 7 months she’s been there-she has voted on government bills and her work is, like all backbenchers, dealing with her constituents. If he had bothered to investigate that aspect he might be entitled call himself a Canberra Correspondent.
But in the demolition of the Bonnie & Clyde of the Central Coast has been the running theme, pushed by Alex Mitchell and others that Belinda Neal was foistered upon her electorate and is somehow undeserving of her position ( and the fact she isn’t terribly “pretty” ). Untrue-voters had a clear choice at the General Election and they chose her over anyone else. It’s a trickle down effect-find any disgruntled neighbour, drinker etc and trot them out to add to their alleged sins until silly Morris Iemma, like his pseudo-intellectual predesesor has fallen for the media hype and sacked Della Bosca on nil eveidence. Fortunately, Iemma has just cut his own throat by doing it so there is a God after-all.
Probably the truest word said so far was John Della Bosca’s exhortation to a photographer who snapped him in a private moment riding his bike-“why don’t you get a real f***ing job ?”. The poor petal of a newspaper snapper ( famous for their sensitivity of others privacy) should have taken it as sound advice the way media jobs are disappearing overnight.
And I think if anyone needs a waiting job on the Central coast there will vacancies in the near future.
So there you have it-government in NSW run by the media with a gutless premier unable to stand-up to a bunch of assorted hacks.
Who’s next to put their head above the parapet?
Hey Miranda, I agree with Connor come out and tell us who you represent. For someone claiming no association you have a strong position on this matter. Also regarding my “rediculous (sp) claim that “what would wait staff have to gain ?”. It wasn’t a claim it was a question. I think it’s a bit of a stretch to simply write off the combined staffs actions as “people do strange things”. I’m interested in your theories; as you seem to think this is all a media beat-up then how did the media get the staff to make their statements? If it’s not triggered by the media then what caused a number of staff to write their statements? Were they paid to do this? Is so by whom?
Finally these are questions not claims. You can spot questions by the question mark at the end of the sentence. Also you should consider using a spell checker, I find it helps me look less stupid.
JamesK: I’ll have a go!
Miranda please declare your associations. You do not appear to be unencumbered in IguanaGate. Are you Belinda? Are you Della? Either way, you’ve jumped the gun.
Hang on a minute, what a surprise, Della wrote the manager’s apology! Not completely truthful then is he?
Oh, Miranda, did you catch that Della told parliament that he wouldn’t drive his car and then drove it home that night? Does he have a license? I missed that.
Occam’s Razor needs to be applied. The simplest explanation is that Belinda and Della are objectionable threatening toads when drunk to the eyeballs (and perhaps when sober too).
Someone is lying, and THAT is becoming the story (and now a very valid Police investigation).
It’s a beat up.
I for one have no idea who did what at Igaunana Joe’s.
However it’s welcome that we’re getting something which may approach an independent inquiry into the events, in the form of the police investigation into the Stat Dec discrepancies. It may not be the perfect solution, however it should help to clear the air and stop the insane protestations of certain members of the community.
Unfortunately the events at a public restauarant and bar only serve to remind everyone that we are all governed by rules of propriety and behaviour, but especially our publically elected officials.
Why are we expected to make allowances for those people who have apparently made the ultimate sacrifice in order to serve the poeple of their community, living their lives in the public eye.
If these people were so committed to civic duty they might try to show some respect for and to those that they represent, and even for those who might have a view that was contrary to theirs.
The media reporting the events on the Central Coast certainly had their axe to grind, however Belinda and John could scarcely have provided a better grinding wheel.
Unfortunately the Iemma cartel has shown a callous disregard for the grass-roots support which once existed amongst the voters of New South Wales and they have become like the pigs in “Animal Farm”.
The Iemma government now appear to be adopting a “Nero-esque” approach to governance and while this may ultimately be their undoing we will be celebrating only in the ashes of the state.
Crikey!
Check out http://www.thehenryreport.com for the latest. Its a new Australian-Drudge like website.
Iguana, Shmiguana … wake up you Central Coaters! These two, Neal and Della Bosca cannot and must not be re-elected by YOU the voters. Forget this incident, it is a pimple on a pumpkin, their long term contribution, conduct and the benefit they bring to their respective jobs is the basis on which they should be evaluated. Is it not about time that we demand better representatives? You Central Coasters can send all politicians a timely wake up call by turning these two into “consultants”.
Yep, that Miranda is like a dog with a bone, isn’t she? I left a message on the “Tips and Rumours” page from this edition of crikey that referred to Della in what I thought were relatively complimentary terms, but she’s still had a go at me too. Wacky.
She’s a pollie - people don’t have to vote for her. Last I heard, Robertson was a swinging seat anyway. She’s gone. Very boring stuff.
McKnight: you say you do not know what happened at Iguanas (as I don’t) but then the rest of your post implies that Della Bosca and Neal were in the wrong. And this has been the problem all along -people simply accepting a media campaign of raking up anything they can about these 2 MPs and cobbling it together to somehow imply that they were in the wrong on the night when no such proof exists at this stage. There are 2 conflicting sides with neither agreeing. It is -no matter what people think of the 2 MPs personally, an ugly witchhunt that is becoming too frequent and it’s being conducted by the media. Worst of all-it is completely un-demcratic and denies Della Bosca and Neal natural justice. They deserve it as much as anyone else.
But some small facts can be gained by looking at what has been presented with meaningless inferences. The much touted video from day one was claimed to show an argument. It does no such thing as no sound is recorded. It merely shows people moving about. It most certainly DOES NOT show 6 waiters hovering about Della Bosca or Neal. This is odd considering they all agree upon words said. Perhaps some have super hearing that can hear words from the other side of a huge room with flashing lights and music.
And this is where the police will be effective-when people are questioned seperately if they are not telling the truth stories unravel. And that includes everyone involved.