Media Update

Media Man Australia Profiles

Politics

Social and Community Entrepreneurs

Coastal Directory

Moves afoot to remove Wong - The Manly Daily - 14th August 2007

Moves afoot to remove Wong, by Chelsea White - The Manly Daily 14th August 2007

MANLY councillors have begun action to review the contract of general manger Henry Wong after a series of controversies.

Deputy Mayor Brad Pedersen told The Manly Daily last night that a move to overturn the recent re-signing of Mr Wong's contract was definitely on the cards.

A number of members of the council were looking at a rescission motion to reverse their March decision to re-hire Mr Wong for a further four years.

``A rescission motion regarding the general manager's contract may be forthcoming,'' Cr Pedersen said.

``There have been ongoing discussions among a number of councillors - this matter needs to be resolved sooner rather than later and in a civilised and professional manner.

``Tough decisions need to be made, but as councillors we must always act in what is in the best interest of the community.''

Yesterday Mayor Peter Macdonald described his relationship with Mr Wong as ``strained''.

``I can tell you I am getting increasingly frustrated at some of the mishaps and miscalculations and my relationship with Henry has become a bit strained,'' Cr Macdonald told the Daily.

Mr Wong agreed their relationship was having its difficulties but felt once matters like the outdoor seating fiasco on The Corso were fixed those problems would dissipate.

``I love my mayor dearly and we will sort those things through,'' Mr Wong said.

``He has my support 150 per cent and I'll always stand by my mayor.''

The developing rift comes after a serious of issues that have caused tensions between the two men including The Corso paver problems, rate rises and the decision to tender outdoor eating areas.

Most significantly is the issue of tendering the al fresco area outside Corso restaurants Cristals and WaterVue. The breakdown between the eateries and the council has seen Cr Macdonald, and now an independent mediator, having to step in to try to find a resolution.

Any settlement will most likely see the council having to pay costly reparations or concessions to WaterVue who originally won the controversial tender.

Cr Macdonald publicly criticised Mr Wong and council staff mostly recently when commercial rate notices had to be recalled after it was found businesses were paying up to 13.6 per cent, as opposed to the pegged 3.4 per cent rise along with a 2 per cent special levy authorised by the State Government.

``There are a number of us getting pretty frustrated at this blunder,'' Cr Macdonald said following the council decision.

Cr Macdonald said the error had left staff red-faced and was just ``another example of the elected councillors having to come in and fix a problem created by the bureaucracy''.
``I get a little tied of putting out fires,'' he said.

When asked if Cr Macdonald could use a rescission motion to remove Mr Wong from his post he would not confirm his intentions.

``If there was a rescission motion on that matter I would have to seek legal advice. It's a fairly serious matter,'' Cr Macdonald said before refusing to comment further.

Defamation case: Mayor faces court - The Manly Daily - 26th June 2007

Defamation case: Mayor faces court - credit: The Manly Daily

Manly Mayor Peter Macdonald will front the Supreme Court next month to face claims he used his authority and influence to defame a Seaforth resident during their run for State Parliament.

Penelope Wynne, who stood as an independent in this year's state election, is seeking to recoup damages and legal costs following questions about her motives in running for office.

The suggestions were made in the April issue of Cr Macdonald's newsletter distributed to more than 1800 people via email.

According to the statement of claim filed in the Supreme Court Mrs Wynne is seeking damages as she ``has been and will be injured in her credit and reputation, held up to ridicule and contempt, shunned and avoided, and has suffered and will continue to suffer loss and damage and injury of feelings''.

The claim is also for aggravated damages for a number of reasons including:

``The defendant (Macdonald) used his position of authority and influence as mayor of Manly to impart his views on matters unrelated to the jurisdiction of Manly Council or the Manly local government area''.

The suit comes despite Cr Macdonald issuing an official apology.

The apology was circulated around Manly Council, to all those who receive the newsletter and published by The Manly Daily.

Last-ditch pitch - The Manly Daily - 24th March 2007

Voters will go the polls today after considering their options from a wide range of candidates. We asked all candidates to outline why they deserved a vote from peninsula electors, as they head to the polls today.

MANLY

Daniel Pearce (ALP):

``The choice is simple: Morris Iemma's practical plan to improve essential services or Peter Debnam's crazy promise to slash 20,000 public service jobs and hand over NSW's industrial relations powers to John Howard.''

Wally Vanderpoll (CDP):

``Voters will get first-class representation from a party without dubious financial alliances or under-the-table promises or hidden agendas of any kind but one that firmly stands for the retention of family, Christian and Aussie values.''

David Barr (Independent):

``Working with the community has saved Manly Hospital's maternity, Balgowlah Boys, Nolan and Passmore Reserves and John Fisher Park. Working constructively with the Government has led to unprecedented funding with more than $400 million in projects for health, transport, education, and the environment.''

Mike Baird (Liberal):

``I am committed to working tirelessly to give Manly a voice rather then the current approach of accepting handouts from this Labor Government. It is time for fresh leadership. It is time for change.''

Penelope Wynne (Independent):

``A better deal for Manly is needed. All your concerns will be heeded. Manly Council issues I refute. But vote for me most of all because I'm cute.''

Neil Hamilton (Australians Against Further Immigration):

``Halting net immigration would stop the water shortages while simultaneously improving our transport, health, legal and education systems.''

Sarah Weate (Greens):

``We must stop digging. We must clear the air with solar, wind, bikes and buses. Vote Green and rescue the future.''

DAVIDSON

Jonathan O'Dean (Liberal):

``Mike Baird, Rob Stokes and myself are fresh Liberal candidates with solid professional backgrounds who will deliver better services for the northern peninsula and NSW.''

Bruce York (CDP):

``I am the only candidate who is offering a real alternative for disaffected Liberal voters with a free enterprise independent Christian family values stance.''

Doug McLeod (ALP):

``The values of the north shore are education, achievement, community, personal responsibility and good management. We are all concerned about problems in these areas, so what can we do about it? We can put someone in government where they can do some good.''

Jo-Anne Lentern (Greens):

``For our grandchildren's sake, let's change the way we use energy. Let's leave them a healthy planet, a healthy atmosphere and a hopeful future.''

Clinton Barnes (Australian Democrats):

``The Democrats strive to make politicians honest, accountable and to make the processes of government open and transparent. We don't sell out to any interest groups.''

Australians Against Further Immigration candidate David Kitson did not respond by deadline.

WAKEHURST

Patricio Chavez (ALP):

``It is time we made the seat marginal and received the rewards that other marginal seats manage to attract.''

Georgina Johanson (Australian Democrats):

``We stand for a fair society that values justice, democracy, individual freedom and diversity; a prosperous, environmentally sustainable and equitable economy; and good, accountable governance.''

Conny Harris (Greens):

``Vote for: environmental protection, greenhouse gas reductions, water tank rebates, grey water use, safe bicycle lanes, better public transport, bottle refunds, waste avoidance and retaining public assets.''

Brad Hazzard (Liberal):

``I have worked to achieve the best outcomes and support for those who need assistance against the arbitrary/inappropriate/unfair decisions of government. Better overall services are my priority.''

Australians Against Further Immigration candidate Thomas Moody did not respond before deadline.

PITTWATER

Rob Stokes (Liberal):

``I will not support a massive land release at Ingleside without supporting infrastructure. I will fight to improve our hospital, roads, policing and natural environment.''

Pat Boydell (ALP):

``I will be an advocate for improving health services, especially mental health. I support protection of working families from extreme WorkChoices legislation and will work for security of employment for nurses, police and teachers and protection of wildlife.''

Patricia Giles (CDP):

``I believe that the voters would support our Christian values, our family values, our Aussie values. Pittwater has been neglected for too long. It is time to get back to the basics.''

Craige McWhirter (Greens):

``Vote to take genuine action towards stopping climate change and transitioning to a sustainable future for our children. Vote to change the political climate.''

Mario Nicotra (Australian Democrats):

``I believe in honesty, compassion and tolerance, in open and transparent government and in participatory democracy where the community is involved in all aspects of government decision making.''

Alex McTaggart (independent):

``I have made the Government and the Opposition see that they can't take Pittwater for granted and we have started to see results. The community needs an independent in Parliament, not a party hack whose primary loyalty is to head office.''

Australians Against Further Immigration candidate Charles Byrne did not respond before deadline.

Clean sweep for Liberals is official - The Manly Daily - 4th April 2007

The state election results are now complete and the polls will be declared in all four peninsula seats today.

The returning officers will announce the winners - Liberals Mike Baird (Manly), Brad Hazzard (Wakehurst), Jonathan O'Dea (Davidson) and Rob Stokes (Pittwater) - about 10am. The primary votes for all candidates are listed below:

MANLY (4.6 per cent swing to Liberals)

Wally Vanderpoll (CDP) 573

Neil Hamilton (AAFI) 443

Mike Baird (Liberal) 18,284

David Barr (independent) 12,655

Sarah Weate (Greens) 3931

Penelope Wynne (independent) 660

Daniel Pearce (ALP) 3981

WAKEHURST (4.2 per cent swing to Liberals)

Patricio Chavez (ALP) 10,305

Thomas Moody (AAFI) 1249

Brad Hazzard (Liberal) 24,488

Conny Harris (Greens) 5436

Georgina Johanson (Australian Democrats) 1528

DAVIDSON (3.7 per cent to Liberals)

Bruce York (CDP) 1934

Clinton Barnes (Australian Democrats) 1143

David Kitson (AAFI) 807

Doug McLeod (ALP) 7058

Jonathan O'Dea (Liberal) 25,358

Jo-Anne Lentern (Greens) 5671

PITTWATER (14.8 per cent to Liberals)

Charles Byrne (AAFI) 648

Craige McWhirter (Greens) 4039

Patricia Boydell (ALP) 3046

Mario Nicotra (Australian Democrats) 363

Alex McTaggart (independent) 11,107

Rob Stokes (Liberal) 20,807

Patricia Giles (CDP) 1350

Manly on knife edge, by Scott Richardson and Natalie Muller - Sydney Morning Herald - 21st March 2007

In what could be a repeat of the last state election, preferences will decide the winner of the tight race between the Liberal and independent candidates in the crucial seat of Manly.

In 2003, Liberal candidate Jean Hay won nearly 3000 more primary votes than her independent rival, David Barr, but she lost the seat by 1.2 per cent after preferences.

Now another Liberal candidate, Mike Baird, a corporate banker and son of Federal MP Bruce Baird, is vying for the seat and the competition looks closer than ever.

Manly has been an independent seat since 1991 and Mr Barr has held it since 1999.

Speaking to a Manly candidates forum this week, Mr Barr said: "We've had a tradition of independence in Manly and I'm proud of that tradition.

"It's a source of pride among local people that they are separate from the big parties. There is no love lost with the big parties, as far as the people of Manly are concerned."

Mr Barr has the support of the Greens, who won 8.3 per cent in 2003 but he must also contend with another independent candidate, Penelope Wynne, who has announced that her preferences will go to Mr Baird.

If Ms Wynne can win even a small percentage of votes (pollsters have predicted no more than 5 per cent), she could upset Mr Barr's chances of winning the seat.

Votes for Labor, although relatively low (just 12.3 per cent in 2003), are important to detract votes from the Liberals. Labor candidate Daniel Pearce, 18, has openly admitted he is standing for election simply to preference Mr Barr.

While predicting that the Labor Government would be returned, Mr Barr said electing a Liberal representative would destroy Manly's bargaining power with government because "[Mr Baird] will not go to the heart of Government but the back door and [he] will not get a foot in".

Mr Baird said "the independent mantra has not worked" on the issues that matter to the electorate, especially transport.

As gridlock continues to choke the Spit Bridge, Mr Baird has seized on the Government plan, which Mr Barr supports, to widen it.

The plan has been denounced by the RTA as likely to shift the traffic problem further up Neutral Bay. Widening the bridge is a promise left over from the last state election that has not been fulfilled.

"If the widening of the Spit Bridge was going to happen, don't you think this would be announced at this election," Mr Baird asked.

Scott Richardson and Natalie Muller are undergraduate journalism students at UTS.

'Erin Brockovich of Seaforth' preferences Coalition, byNatalie Muller - The Sydney Morning Herald - 22nd March 2007

A woman who sees herself as the "Erin Brockovich of Seaforth" and who is standing as an independent in the crucial marginal seat of Manly is directing her preferences to the Coalition.

Penelope Wynne, commonly known as the "goat lady of Seaforth", said she was "standing up for the little people" in the election and said she would campaign for more stringent accountability by council.

Ms Wynne has become a well-known figure in Manly through her public stoushes with council over a development application and for helping local businesses fight a trading curfew on the Manly Corso.

Ms Wynne got her nickname after she put two goats on a block of land she owned at Seaforth after Manly Council rejected a development application for a house and ordered her to pay an outstanding levy of $50,000.

A billboard on the site read: "The only kids that can live here are goats."

Ms Wynne won the case at the Land and Environment Court and said that since then more than 100 people have contacted for help with development application disputes.

"There's no transparency," she told Grassroots. "It's like a black hole. Some people are waiting two to three years for a DA approval."

An independent report on council's development application assessment process was released last December, with recommendations to make major changes.

However, council manager Henry Wong dismissed the report, telling the Manly Daily it had factual errors.

Ms Wynne said being known as the "goat lady" had worked to her advantage.

"It's just the thing everyone remembers about me. I'd rather be known as the Erin Brockovich of Seaforth than the goat lady, because I see myself as standing up for people."

Manly is a crucial marginal seat for the Coalition, with Liberal candidate Mike Baird and sitting independent member David Barr battling over a 1.2 per cent margin.

Ms Wynne said her preferences would go to Mr Baird. Even if she wins a small percentage of the votes, it could spoil Mr Barr's chances of holding on to his seat.

"I've got a commitment from him [Mr Baird] that if he's the winner, he will do something about these issues, and I'm holding him to that," Ms Wynne said.

Natalie Muller is an undergraduate journalism student at UTS.

Surprise twist in poll, by Lisa Muxworthy - 9th March 2007 - The Manly Daily

The party against further immigration was a surprise addition to the state election contest when the Pittwater candidate secured top position on the ballot paper yesterday.

Australians Against Further Immigration candidate Charles Byrne was drawn first by returning officer Chris McGuckin at the Pittwater electoral office.

The other party candidates are: Neil Hamilton for Manly, Thomas Moody for Wakehurst and David Kitson for Davidson.

The draw for the March 24 election was held yesterday afternoon at each electoral office.

At the Manly electorate office in Brookvale, Christian Democratic Party candidate Wally Vanderpoll walked in just in time to hear returning officer Jane Harris call his name for the top spot.

``I didn't even pray for that,'' he said.

The two main contenders for the seat - Mike Baird (Liberal) and David Barr (Independent) - were drawn third and fourth, respectively, on the ballot paper.

Independent Penelope Wynne - known as the "Goat Lady of Seaforth" - was the sixth name drawn yesterday.

She said it was time for a "fresh face" independent in Manly.

"If the people of Manly want to have an independent as the representative in Parliament, then they should have a choice in the type of independent," she said.

Ms Wynne, a mother of four, fought Manly Council to build a four-bedroom home on land in Seaforth. The "Goat Lady'' nickname came after she launched a protest by putting goats on the land with a sign saying "These kids can live here but mine can't".

Kidding around, then and now, by Damien Murphy - Sydney Morning Herald - 1st March 2007

Kidding around, then and now

Politicians come and go, but goats remain in the election. Penelope Wynne, best known as the "goat lady of Seaforth", is to stand in Manly as an independent. Two goats starred in a stunt she used to draw attention to a development fight with Manly Council last year. Mrs Wynne objected to the council's demand she pay outstanding levies on a property she had just bought. She put the goats on the property, declaring that the four-legged kids could live there, but her own kids could not. Of course, Brenton Pavier is the candidate who got everyone's goat this time around, with the text he sent to every man and his dog on the Central Coast containing a joke about a sex-with-goats video being past its return date.

Goat Lady chews fat on running - The Manly Daily - 21st February 2007

The woman known as the "Goat Lady of Seaforth'' may join the battle for Manly at the March state election. Penelope Wynne confirmed yesterday that she was considering standing as an independent candidate against sitting MP David Barr. Full article here