The Questions Just Keep Coming !
In the Press Release put out by Wagga Wagga City Council ( see below ), more questions than answers are raised.
Fast forward from the days of Jimmy Foo and the grand plans for Dubbo to the current situation unfolding regarding the proposed Chinese State owned trade centre development in Wagga and questions must be asked.
It is noted the Mayoral taskforce is made up of people who are either members of the Liberal Party, people with established Chinese business links and vested interests in this development going ahead at all costs.
Hardly impartial or objective.
The Wagga council Press Release states, this proposal must pass the critical "good for Wagga test".
Good for whom in Wagga ?
The Press Release goes on to say; The proposed trade centre is an initiative of the Liberal state government and Chinese investors. The Press Release claims this proposal will create jobs, strengthen the retail base and industry.
Create jobs for whom ? and our retail base and industry will be wiped out as a result of this proposal.
Some Questions:
What are the connections to the Liberal Party and any Chinese businesses and the members of the Mayoral taskforce ?
How many people on the Mayoral taskforce have been to China as guests of the Wuai group ?
Who will be building the trade centre and where will the labour be coming from ?
What percentage of stalls at the trade centre will be exclusively Chinese ?
Who will be running the stalls at the trade centre ?
Will there be special visas granted for people attached to the trade centre ?
Do any of the people on the Mayoral taskforce have any personal interest in the proposals outcome ?
Do any of the people on the Mayoral taskforce have any relationship with Gary Knight ?
Why are there no Aboriginal peoples on the taskforce ?
What if any concessions do the Chinese wish to negotiate before a decision is finalized by them ?
Does Mr Bruce Dicker currently have a business located in China ?
What link if any does Mr McLaren have with people in Wagga, Sydney or China connected to this proposal ?
Does any member on the Mayoral taskforce have any connection to developers ?
Of course there are still the unanswered questions for Mr Maquire regarding his relationship with Mr Knight and Mr Foo.
It is also noted in the Wagga Council Press Release, Mayor Kendall said "The Mayoral taskforce will lead the discussion with the community".
Really ? What discussion, everything is "in confidence", the community have been privy to nothing regarding the discussions and issues surrounding this proposal.
Press Release Wagga Wagga City Council 28.2.2013
Mayoral forms taskforce to support International Trade Centre in Wagga Wagga Mayor of the City of Wagga Wagga, Clr Rod Kendall, has established a Mayoral Taskforce with key Council officials and local stakeholders to work together to support the development of the Wuai Wholesale International Trade Centre in Wagga Wagga.
The Mayoral Taskforce is made up of the Mayor Rod Kendall, Deputy Mayor Andrew Negline, Member for Wagga Wagga Daryl Maguire, Wagga Wagga Business Chamber President Julian McLaren, Wagga Wagga City Council General Manager Phil Pinyon and local businessman Bruce Dicker.
“The role of the Mayoral Taskforce is to provide a proactive role in facilitating and advocating for the development of the proposed Wuai Wholesale International Trade Centre in our city,” Mayor Kendall said.
“The Wuai proposal has vast potential to diversify the economic base of Wagga Wagga, but must only occur if it passes one critical test - that test is the ‘Good for Wagga Wagga and the region test’.
“There are many factors that need to be considered and our task will be to work through all identifiable issues and identify solutions so that this project passes that fundamental test.
“The proposed trade centre is an initiative of the State Govt and private Chinese investors, but there are many benefits for our city in being able to attract a development of this size, including the creation of jobs and the strengthening of our city’s current retail base and industry generally.
“Wagga Wagga has a lot of positive attributes to offer a development of this size, including its strategic location relative to the population centres of Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra and its prime location on major transport routes.
“The Mayoral Taskforce will lead the discussion with the community, the State and Federal Governments and the developer and will play a vital role in enabling the identification of both issues and solutions relating to this proposal.
“Whatever the final decision, the taskforce will endeavour to ensure that no stone is left unturned to get an outcome that is good for Wagga Wagga recognising that the State Government and the developer are the parties that will ultimately determine if the proposal proceeds in our city.”
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Trade Centre Hits Another Hurdle
Daryl Maquire: Some Serious Questions
The MP for Wagga Wagga, Daryl Maguire, has been at the core of the Chinese Trade Centre proposal. He has boasted that he has spent ten years working on the project.
The persistence and the energy he has brought to the scheme and the fawning subservience that he has shown to the Chinese imperialists and their money has earned him a secure place in the ranks of the traitor class.
Questions around Mr. Maguire now gather and deserve to be answered by him. In raising matters of public interest, Australia First Party performs its duty to the citizens of Riverina.
The Chinese Con Man
The notorious Chinese con man, ‘Jimmy Foo’, lurks in the corner of Mr. Maguire’s past.
It is a matter of record that Foo stayed illegally in Australia in the period 1994 – 2003 after avoiding an arrest warrant in Singapore. While his ‘nationality’ is actually uncertain, his ability to deceive his victims and move in influential circles is just a given.
While in Australia, Foo socialised with top politicians. Foo met then Prime Minister, John Howard, the Employment Minister, Tony Abbott, the NSW Premier, Bob Carr, former Prime Minister Bob Hawke and former Labor leader Kim Beazley, All were photographed rubbing shoulders with Foo. Foo was also introduced to former immigration minister Philip Ruddock through the efforts of a Lebanese businessman Karim Kisrwani - a friend of Ruddock and a central figure in the so-named cash-for-visas affair of 2003-4.
Foo made it part of his ‘angle’ to donate to the Liberal Party. Donations to the Liberal Party also came from another wayward criminal connected to Foo through another businessman. See:
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/12/13/1071125685412.html
Of course, a lot of smoke has drifted around the facts and while it appears sure that Mr. Ruddock committed no offences in dealing out visas to a few shady persons, it is equally true that the Liberal Party kept the cash benefits.
Foo came unstuck after a report in the Dubbo Daily Liberal about a falling-out with a former close associate, Gary Knight, who was the public relations chief for Pioneer Spirit Development. Pioneer was Foo's brainchild - a $50 million, five-star resort in Dubbo, set on 28 hectares, which was to combine a 189- room hotel with 120 condominium-style villas to be sold off the plan. See:
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/07/22/1058853078543.html
Pioneer Spirit Development also donated to the Labor Party, obviously covering both bases.
Since that time, Mr. Knight has distanced himself from Foo.
Ultimately, Foo ended up back in Singapore where he was imprisoned for a large fraud. The businessman was imprisoned for six and a half years over a property scam that cheated a friend out of more than 1.7 million Singapore dollars ($A1.3 million).
Yet, the spirit of Foo is with us still.
Gary Knight - What Sort Of A Knight ?
Mr. Gary Knight these days fronts for Australian Rural Expo (ARE)
See: http://www.ausruralexpo.com/index.php/about/our-team
Mr. Knight is also a migration agent and is a strident advocate of utilising the supposed business acumen of Asia (and China in particular) to ‘revitalise’ rural Australia. He has suggested the watering down of visa rules and regulations to get such businessmen into the country.
Interestingly, the brand ‘rural expo’ sounds just a little like the permanent expo that is supposedly the Chinese Trade Centre. That is an oddity too.
The notion of grand projects operated by Chinese businesspeople, with local pollies in support seems part of a pattern.
Knight explained back in 2003 that despite Foo's dealings with the Immigration Department over his proposals to bring migrant workers to Dubbo, he received "no favours from the minister”. But that was then in Dubbo and the new gold mine is Wagga Wagga and the Riverina.
But we should remember that in the Dubbo affair, many local councilors were friendly to Foo. And the notion of an investment link to China dies hard. Indeed, the Mayor of Dubbo in 2012 made reference to Chinese business penetration of his city as a positive thing.
In Wagga Wagga today, from the Mayor Mr. Rod Kendall, to Mr. Maguire and Federal MP Mr. McCormack, the cry is on to steam-roller over every interest and the people to get the Centre. They also have a Premier on heat to see it all through.
It is understood from a reliable business source in Tumut that Gary Knight has also been active in the Waui Corporation’s drive to secure the Trade Centre. However, Mr. Knight does not hide his interest in this project either. There is too much money to be made.
Questions For Maquire
The Chinese Trade Centre proposal is hardly the Dubbo circus of Mr. Foo even if the style is the same. It is a serious grab at economic power over our Riverina region.
Yet where credibility is a key thing, there are some questions that need answering by Mr. Maguire.
1. Have you met with Jimmy Foo?
2. If you agree that you have met Mr. Foo, would you stipulate the discussions?
3. If you agree that you have met Mr. Foo what did he counsel over the current proposal?
4. Have you been involved in giving references to Chinese business persons in order that they receive visas?
5. What is your relationship with Mr. Gary Knight?
We must also note that Mr. Maquire has done little for the electorate of Wagga in his extended term as Member. He may beg to disagree and now point to his grand project. If he goes down in history as a trailblazer for Chinese imperialism, a footnote in someone’s (sic) school textbook a half century hence, then he would have done much – for the wrong side.
The MP for Wagga Wagga, Daryl Maguire, has been at the core of the Chinese Trade Centre proposal. He has boasted that he has spent ten years working on the project.
The persistence and the energy he has brought to the scheme and the fawning subservience that he has shown to the Chinese imperialists and their money has earned him a secure place in the ranks of the traitor class.
Questions around Mr. Maguire now gather and deserve to be answered by him. In raising matters of public interest, Australia First Party performs its duty to the citizens of Riverina.
The Chinese Con Man
The notorious Chinese con man, ‘Jimmy Foo’, lurks in the corner of Mr. Maguire’s past.
It is a matter of record that Foo stayed illegally in Australia in the period 1994 – 2003 after avoiding an arrest warrant in Singapore. While his ‘nationality’ is actually uncertain, his ability to deceive his victims and move in influential circles is just a given.
While in Australia, Foo socialised with top politicians. Foo met then Prime Minister, John Howard, the Employment Minister, Tony Abbott, the NSW Premier, Bob Carr, former Prime Minister Bob Hawke and former Labor leader Kim Beazley, All were photographed rubbing shoulders with Foo. Foo was also introduced to former immigration minister Philip Ruddock through the efforts of a Lebanese businessman Karim Kisrwani - a friend of Ruddock and a central figure in the so-named cash-for-visas affair of 2003-4.
Foo made it part of his ‘angle’ to donate to the Liberal Party. Donations to the Liberal Party also came from another wayward criminal connected to Foo through another businessman. See:
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/12/13/1071125685412.html
Of course, a lot of smoke has drifted around the facts and while it appears sure that Mr. Ruddock committed no offences in dealing out visas to a few shady persons, it is equally true that the Liberal Party kept the cash benefits.
Foo came unstuck after a report in the Dubbo Daily Liberal about a falling-out with a former close associate, Gary Knight, who was the public relations chief for Pioneer Spirit Development. Pioneer was Foo's brainchild - a $50 million, five-star resort in Dubbo, set on 28 hectares, which was to combine a 189- room hotel with 120 condominium-style villas to be sold off the plan. See:
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/07/22/1058853078543.html
Pioneer Spirit Development also donated to the Labor Party, obviously covering both bases.
Since that time, Mr. Knight has distanced himself from Foo.
Ultimately, Foo ended up back in Singapore where he was imprisoned for a large fraud. The businessman was imprisoned for six and a half years over a property scam that cheated a friend out of more than 1.7 million Singapore dollars ($A1.3 million).
Yet, the spirit of Foo is with us still.
Gary Knight - What Sort Of A Knight ?
Mr. Gary Knight these days fronts for Australian Rural Expo (ARE)
See: http://www.ausruralexpo.com/index.php/about/our-team
Mr. Knight is also a migration agent and is a strident advocate of utilising the supposed business acumen of Asia (and China in particular) to ‘revitalise’ rural Australia. He has suggested the watering down of visa rules and regulations to get such businessmen into the country.
Interestingly, the brand ‘rural expo’ sounds just a little like the permanent expo that is supposedly the Chinese Trade Centre. That is an oddity too.
The notion of grand projects operated by Chinese businesspeople, with local pollies in support seems part of a pattern.
Knight explained back in 2003 that despite Foo's dealings with the Immigration Department over his proposals to bring migrant workers to Dubbo, he received "no favours from the minister”. But that was then in Dubbo and the new gold mine is Wagga Wagga and the Riverina.
But we should remember that in the Dubbo affair, many local councilors were friendly to Foo. And the notion of an investment link to China dies hard. Indeed, the Mayor of Dubbo in 2012 made reference to Chinese business penetration of his city as a positive thing.
In Wagga Wagga today, from the Mayor Mr. Rod Kendall, to Mr. Maguire and Federal MP Mr. McCormack, the cry is on to steam-roller over every interest and the people to get the Centre. They also have a Premier on heat to see it all through.
It is understood from a reliable business source in Tumut that Gary Knight has also been active in the Waui Corporation’s drive to secure the Trade Centre. However, Mr. Knight does not hide his interest in this project either. There is too much money to be made.
Questions For Maquire
The Chinese Trade Centre proposal is hardly the Dubbo circus of Mr. Foo even if the style is the same. It is a serious grab at economic power over our Riverina region.
Yet where credibility is a key thing, there are some questions that need answering by Mr. Maguire.
1. Have you met with Jimmy Foo?
2. If you agree that you have met Mr. Foo, would you stipulate the discussions?
3. If you agree that you have met Mr. Foo what did he counsel over the current proposal?
4. Have you been involved in giving references to Chinese business persons in order that they receive visas?
5. What is your relationship with Mr. Gary Knight?
We must also note that Mr. Maquire has done little for the electorate of Wagga in his extended term as Member. He may beg to disagree and now point to his grand project. If he goes down in history as a trailblazer for Chinese imperialism, a footnote in someone’s (sic) school textbook a half century hence, then he would have done much – for the wrong side.
Saturday, April 13, 2013
Fire Sale
Chinese conglomerate buys veggie supplier
http://www.theland.com.au/news/agriculture/agribusiness/general-news/chinese-conglomerate-buys-veggie-supplier/2653730.aspx
A CHINESE conglomerate with interests in cars and construction will become a major supplier of fresh produce to Woolworths and Coles after acquiring control of Australia's largest fruit and vegetable wholesaler, Moraitis Group. After almost a year of negotiations, Hong Kong-listed Chevalier Group has acquired a 70 per cent stake in Moraitis in a deal that values the company at about $210 million, including debt. The founding Moraitis family, led by Melbourne Cup winner Nick Moraitis, will reduce its stake to 15 per cent from 50 per cent and Catalyst Investment Managers, which acquired a 49 per cent interest in 2006, will hold 15 per cent. Moraitis supplies supermarkets and greengrocers and has interests in growing, processing and packing through joint ventures and alliances. Its annual revenue has doubled over the past five years, reaching $517 million in 2011 and $490 million in the 12 months ending June 2012. Chevalier plans to increase Moraitis's market share in Australia and boost exports to China while using the group as a platform for investment, farm management and distribution services to investors looking for local agricultural opportunities. In the medium to long term, Chevalier plans to replicate Moraitis's vertically integrated business model and skills in farm management and retail supply chain to expand in China's fresh produce industry. Chevalier has an existing relationship with CRE, which is the largest supermarket chain in China with about 8000 stores. "Looking ahead, with the world's, and especially China's, continued rising demand for food to feed the ever-growing world population as well as the increasing emphasis on food safety, the group believes the acquisition will provide a platform to capitalise on the trend," Chevalier said. It has secured Foreign Investment Review Board approval.
http://www.theland.com.au/news/agriculture/agribusiness/general-news/chinese-conglomerate-buys-veggie-supplier/2653730.aspx
Interesting article, this is where the Chinese take over our farms, our food processing and distribution and are now in control of the supply to Coles, Woolies etc. Note some of the reader comments under the article on the above link.
We will see the exporting to China of our clean safe foods and in return the Chinese have themselves in a position to dump their toxic crap on us. Similarly with the Chinese buy up of Australian wineries for export to China and Australia will receive toxic Chinese wine dumped on them in return. Could this be a coincidence that our Aussie farms are collapsing by the day and now farmers are to be paid to leave their orchards ?
The concept of distribution is interesting perhaps the Chinese will set up their own transport companies, as we have heard is the intention of JBSwift to use their own transport for their operations.
Whatever is not in house transportation, will be 457 visa with companies such as Linfox. Perhaps Aussie subbies and Aussie drivers will get the scraps no one else wants, the crap and crap money and they too will be forced to leave their industry ?
The additional interest of the Chinese Chevalier Group in construction should have Aussie builders and tradesmen on edge and nervous about their future prospects in the construction industry.
To Australia First the future is obvious while the greedy, self serving globalist Labor/Green or Lib/Nat are in power.
The additional interest of the Chinese Chevalier Group in construction should have Aussie builders and tradesmen on edge and nervous about their future prospects in the construction industry.
To Australia First the future is obvious while the greedy, self serving globalist Labor/Green or Lib/Nat are in power.
Death Knell For Australian Food Producers
Victorian growers contemplating future after SPC cuts
Friday, 12/04/2013
Growers estimate SPC Ardmona's latest cuts to quotas for canning fruit in Victoria's Goulburn Valley could cost the industry tens of millions of dollars.
Next year the fruit processor will reduce its intake of peaches and pears by 20,000 tonnes, leaving many growers without a home for their fruit.
John Wilson, general manager of Fruit Growers Victoria now hopes the state and federal governments can step in and offer assistance.
"We're looking at putting together a program which will have support for transition and for exit for the industry," he said.
"Of course that means we'll be asking government to put some money into the program.
"That'll be a painful experience both ways, but a necessary one."
SPC expects to meet with all affected growers over the coming weeks.
The company says it continues to lose market share against imported private label canned fruit and high Australian dollar isn't helping.
Mr Wilson says he supports the company's push to convince major retailers to stock only Australian fruit in their home brands.
What a sorry situation we find ourselves in, paying orchardists to exit their farms. Perhaps the Chinese and other foreign investors will buy them up at the fire sale, seemingly this is the trend ?
Will multinational SPC ( Coca-Cola Amatil ) then look to buy cheap imported fruit for their operations, when the local farmers are gone ?
So much for the National Party being the farmers friend, they are so caught up in the globalist free trade politics and foreign investment they couldn't do anything even if they wanted to, they are redundant.
Sadly for Australian consumers the story is no better, all that will be on offer for consumption is toxic and dangerous imports.
The big money men and their political connections will still be turning a profit, while the rest of Australia and Australians crash and burn.
Friday, April 12, 2013
Labor And Lib/Nat Coalition, They Are All In It Together. They Are One In The Same !
Revealed: 'Obeid's grand plan'
for Torbay as premier
EXCLUSIVE
Sounded out: Retired News Ltd chief John Hartigan. Photo: Michele Mossop
Former News Ltd chief John Hartigan was sounded out about whether his media organisation would support a plan to install Richard Torbay as NSW premier.
Mr Hartigan has confirmed that in late 2009, controversial businessman Greg Jones organised a meeting with him and Mr Torbay, the speaker of the Legislative Assembly.
The meeting took place over a drink at the East Sydney Hotel to ask what News Ltd's influential chief executive thought of the plan to make Mr Torbay the independent premier.
Unsuccessful: Richard Torbay's meeting with Hartigan.
Mr Torbay said he would want the Liberals' Mike Baird and Gladys Berejiklian parachuted into his cabinet - although they knew nothing about his plan.
After the Torbay meeting Mr Jones asked the News chief to meet Mr Obeid, a request Mr Hartigan refused.
Behind the plan: Eddie Obeid. Photo: Michele Mossop
Three weeks ago Mr Torbay dramatically resigned from State Parliament and as chancellor of the University of New England after allegations concerning him were referred to the Independent Commission against Corruption.
Channel Seven has reported that those allegations concern Mr Torbay receiving up to $50,000 cash from Mr Obeid and his son Moses. The money was understood to have been handed over at a Birkenhead Point cafe, before the state election in 2011.
Seven's state political reporter Lee Jeloscek had been unable to substantiate the story but last week he unexpectedly ran into Mr Torbay in Martin Place. ''He confirmed that this was the nature of ICAC's investigation,'' Jeloscek said.
Mr Obeid has denied providing any money to Mr Torbay and told News Ltd papers if anyone was suggesting this he would be ''suing the hell out of them''. Moses Obeid also denied the allegation.
Officers from the corruption commission raided Mr Torbay's Armidale home and electoral office within a week of Mr Torbay's sudden resignation.
It was Mr Torbay who informed senior National Party officials of the allegations, which they then reported to ICAC. Mr Torbay also quit as the Nationals' candidate to challenge independent Tony Windsor at the federal election.
Mr Torbay's unsuccessful meeting with Mr Hartigan is understood to have taken place after then premier Nathan Rees dumped Mr Obeid's close ally, the now disgraced mining minister Ian Macdonald.
During the recent ICAC investigation, evidence was given suggesting that Mr Macdonald was to be paid $4 million from Mr Jones' share of a potential $60 million profit from an allegedly rigged coal tender which Mr Macdonald oversaw. And notes tendered during the inquiry indicated that Mr Jones, a former Labor staff member and lifelong friend of Mr Macdonald, had previously channelled thousands of dollars in secret payments to his old mate.
The inquiry has also heard that the family of Eddie Obeid received $30 million from the allegedly corrupt coal deal.
On December 3, 2009, Mr Rees was deposed as premier and replaced by Kristina Keneally, prompting Mr Rees to accuse his successor of being a ''puppet of Eddie Obeid and Joe Tripodi''.
Sounded out: Retired News Ltd chief John Hartigan. Photo: Michele MossopMr Hartigan has confirmed that in late 2009, controversial businessman Greg Jones organised a meeting with him and Mr Torbay, the speaker of the Legislative Assembly.
The meeting took place over a drink at the East Sydney Hotel to ask what News Ltd's influential chief executive thought of the plan to make Mr Torbay the independent premier.
Unsuccessful: Richard Torbay's meeting with Hartigan.
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Mr Hartigan was incredulous. ''This was Eddie Obeid's plan,'' he said. ''The way I read it, Eddie Obeid was willing to blow up the [Labor] party in order to retain power through Mr Torbay.''After the Torbay meeting Mr Jones asked the News chief to meet Mr Obeid, a request Mr Hartigan refused.
Behind the plan: Eddie Obeid. Photo: Michele Mossop Channel Seven has reported that those allegations concern Mr Torbay receiving up to $50,000 cash from Mr Obeid and his son Moses. The money was understood to have been handed over at a Birkenhead Point cafe, before the state election in 2011.
Seven's state political reporter Lee Jeloscek had been unable to substantiate the story but last week he unexpectedly ran into Mr Torbay in Martin Place. ''He confirmed that this was the nature of ICAC's investigation,'' Jeloscek said.
Mr Obeid has denied providing any money to Mr Torbay and told News Ltd papers if anyone was suggesting this he would be ''suing the hell out of them''. Moses Obeid also denied the allegation.
Officers from the corruption commission raided Mr Torbay's Armidale home and electoral office within a week of Mr Torbay's sudden resignation.
It was Mr Torbay who informed senior National Party officials of the allegations, which they then reported to ICAC. Mr Torbay also quit as the Nationals' candidate to challenge independent Tony Windsor at the federal election.
Mr Torbay's unsuccessful meeting with Mr Hartigan is understood to have taken place after then premier Nathan Rees dumped Mr Obeid's close ally, the now disgraced mining minister Ian Macdonald.
During the recent ICAC investigation, evidence was given suggesting that Mr Macdonald was to be paid $4 million from Mr Jones' share of a potential $60 million profit from an allegedly rigged coal tender which Mr Macdonald oversaw. And notes tendered during the inquiry indicated that Mr Jones, a former Labor staff member and lifelong friend of Mr Macdonald, had previously channelled thousands of dollars in secret payments to his old mate.
The inquiry has also heard that the family of Eddie Obeid received $30 million from the allegedly corrupt coal deal.
On December 3, 2009, Mr Rees was deposed as premier and replaced by Kristina Keneally, prompting Mr Rees to accuse his successor of being a ''puppet of Eddie Obeid and Joe Tripodi''.
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/revealed-obeids-grand-plan-for-torbay-as-premier-20130411-2hojs.html#ixzz2QEL3u4wu
Saturday, April 6, 2013
The MP, The Jail Visit And The Dole Deals
KATE MCCLYMONT
Richard Torbay is the only story in his home town. THE detectives at Armidale police station could not believe what they were hearing. Late on Friday night of June 29, 2007, they had arrested one of Armidale's richest men, property developer Phillip Hanna, who was charged with the attempted murder of his business partner. But within hours of Hanna's arrest their boss, the local area commander David Cushway, who was on sick leave, and the high-profile local MP Richard Torbay held an unauthorised meeting with Hanna in the police cells. Cushway directed a junior officer not to record their visit in the custody book. Fast-forward six years, and Armidale is consumed by the mysterious recent resignation from public life of Torbay. ''It's all anyone is talking about,'' said one local. As well as resigning as the Nationals' candidate for the federal seat of New England, Torbay quit as a state MP and also from the prestigious position as Chancellor of the University of New England. In February Cushway was appointed to the $200,000-plus position as the university's chief financial officer. Adding to the drama was last week's raid on Torbay's house and electoral office by the Independent Commission Against Corruption. A recent Herald investigation uncovered a string of property dealings in which Torbay, Cushway and others, including local developer Nick Rice, are involved. One of their companies, Palanko, owns a commercial building in Kurri Kurri which is leased until 2016 to Centrelink for a total of $1.8 million. Another of their companies, Dalbridge Developments, owns a building in Dalby, Queensland, which has a lease worth $2.6 million with Centrelink. Since then the Herald has discovered that Torbay and Cushway's business partner Rice, as well as Hanna and his relatives, between them have leases on 14 Centrelinks from as far afield as Tennant Creek in the Northern Territory to Deniliquin in the south-west of NSW which have leases worth $48 million.
The pattern appears to be that their respective development companies buy a building in a town and within six or so months Centrelink chooses that building to lease. Rice's development company has also received millions of dollars in government contracts to refurbish some of these buildings. A former employee of Hanna's said that Hanna had a contact in Centrelink who provided information to him about ''what leases and sites were coming up''. At 5am on the day he was arrested in 2007, Hanna had driven to his business partner's house with a .22 shotgun hidden inside a rolled-up bundle of building plans. Hanna and his partner, Doug Jackson, were planning to make an early start to inspect one of their developments at Inverell. But in the pre-dawn darkness, as Jackson leant forward to turn on the kitchen light to make his mate a cup of tea, Hanna fired the gun. The bullet whizzed only millimetres above Jackson's head. Jackson and Hanna wrestled over the gun. ''He kept jamming it in my face and was trying to fire another shot,'' Jackson said. Her husband's shouts brought Robyn Jackson running into the kitchen, where she found Hanna trying to wedge the gun under her husband's jaw. Once overcome, Hanna resorted to what he does best - bargaining. ''We got the gun off him and then he offered me all this money to not say anything about it. First it was $300,000 and then $400,000,'' Jackson said. Perhaps Hanna thought a deal had been struck, because when police arrested him at a dinner party in Armidale that evening, the gun was in the boot of his Mercedes, with a bullet hole through the plans it was still wrapped in. That same evening, police chief Cushway was dining at a local restaurant with Torbay, who had recently been elevated to the prestigious position of speaker of the NSW Legislative Assembly. Other diners wondered what was going on as the police chief and the well-known local MP spent most of the night in a flurry of phone calls.
Although Cushway was on sick leave, he got word from the station that Hanna had been arrested. ''Cushy wants to know everything,'' said one of the police at the station who had taken a call from the boss. News of Hanna's arrest sent a raft of high-profile townsfolk into a spin. Many had poured money into Hanna's property trusts, which in turn had invested millions of dollars in the Centrelink buildings. One of Hanna's previous employees said that before Hanna's arrest he had heard Hanna speaking to Torbay about various developments, and that he was aware that Torbay had invested in Hanna's property trusts. The former employee said that Hanna also talked about investments with his wife's cousin, Eddie Obeid, who at the time was a powerbroker in the ALP and a close associate of Torbay's. When Cushway's underlings got wind of the secret visit to Hanna in the cells, they were furious. Not only was it a breach of police protocol not to inform the officers in charge of the investigation of what was discussed in the cells with Hanna, but there was also the potential for the investigation to be compromised or evidence to be removed. ''The investigation was still in its infancy and Cushway allowing a close ally of Hanna - and for all we knew at the time a possible accomplice - to talk to Hanna, it was wrong,'' one officer said. It was well known Torbay and Hanna were close. Hanna was not only one of the largest donors to Torbay's campaigns, but when Torbay, who was the Armidale mayor, decided to stand for State Parliament as an independent in 1999, Hanna was his campaign manager. The Herald has learnt that one of the last things Torbay did as mayor was to sign off on a deal to sell council land to a company associated with Hanna and Rice. The land was later used to develop a supermarket complex. Back at the police station, one detective was so alarmed by Cushway's actions in organising the secret meeting with Torbay and Hanna that he began his own clandestine investigation. This officer told the Herald he collected all the CCTV footage and the swipecard records showing how Cushway had entered the building using a junior officer's card. He also discovered Cushway's instruction to another young officer not to record his and Torbay's meeting with Hanna in the cells
.
''It took me a week or two to get it all done … and then I sent [it] off to PIC [the Police Integrity Commission],'' he said. PIC made a preliminary investigation, then passed the material on to police internal affairs. And that was the last he heard of the matter. Jackson was furious that when the matter came to court, the charges were downgraded. Hanna pleaded guilty to lesser charges. He did not spend one day in jail. Cushway resigned from the police in May 2009. He is understood to be collecting a pension in excess of $100,000 a year for a shoulder injury he suffered while in the force. After a stint as general manager of Guyra shire council, he was appointed the university's chief financial officer. Cushway told the Herald he had never had any commercial dealings with Hanna. Of Hanna's arrest and prosecution, he said: ''I was not a party to those proceedings, nor was I involved in any way in the investigative process. I am not authorised to comment further on such matters in accordance with the confidentiality obligations that still bind me.'' One person not surprised by the recent turn of events is Tamworth magistrate Roger Prowse. For two decades Prowse has dedicated himself to the pursuit of Torbay: ''He perjured himself and perverted the course of justice, and in the process my client's life was destroyed.'' In 1992 Prowse was representing a student, Tom Hudson, who was charged with stealing university student union cheques made out to the Armidale Youth Refuge. The cheques were signed by Torbay, who was the financial manager of the student union and the secretary of the refuge. The $20 cheques were payment for Hudson hosting a lunchtime trivia quiz at the university. Hudson said it was Torbay who decided to pay him by cheques made out to the refuge, where Hudson was the co-ordinator. Torbay wrote to him explaining why he was structuring the payments in this way. ''Torbay referred to it as 'administrative tidying-up or rearranging the deckchairs,' '' Hudson said.
If Hudson was shocked by his arrest, he was even more shocked when Torbay did nothing. ''I looked to Torbay for support but it was not forthcoming,'' he said. At his later trial, requests for documents from the union as well as Torbay's letter produced nothing. Torbay gave evidence that the union's cheques were donations to the refuge. Under cross-examination, Torbay denied all knowledge of the letter. Hudson was sacked from his job and now has a criminal record. But mysterious things seem to emerge when Torbay stands for public office. In 1999, on the eve of Torbay's campaign to become an independent state MP, Hudson found a pleasant surprise in his letterbox. ''[It was] the evidence that I had requested for my court case … including the letter sent to me by Torbay.'' Neither Hudson nor Prowse know who put the letter in Hudson's box, but armed with Torbay's letter, Prowse complained to various authorities, to no avail. He warned the Nationals when they pre-selected Torbay. And this week he formally complained to the police. As to who was responsible for the most recent bombshell which has seen Torbay being referred to ICAC, quitting public life and vanishing into thin air, no one seems to know.Do you know more? kmcclymont@fairfaxmedia.com.au
The pattern appears to be that their respective development companies buy a building in a town and within six or so months Centrelink chooses that building to lease. Rice's development company has also received millions of dollars in government contracts to refurbish some of these buildings. A former employee of Hanna's said that Hanna had a contact in Centrelink who provided information to him about ''what leases and sites were coming up''. At 5am on the day he was arrested in 2007, Hanna had driven to his business partner's house with a .22 shotgun hidden inside a rolled-up bundle of building plans. Hanna and his partner, Doug Jackson, were planning to make an early start to inspect one of their developments at Inverell. But in the pre-dawn darkness, as Jackson leant forward to turn on the kitchen light to make his mate a cup of tea, Hanna fired the gun. The bullet whizzed only millimetres above Jackson's head. Jackson and Hanna wrestled over the gun. ''He kept jamming it in my face and was trying to fire another shot,'' Jackson said. Her husband's shouts brought Robyn Jackson running into the kitchen, where she found Hanna trying to wedge the gun under her husband's jaw. Once overcome, Hanna resorted to what he does best - bargaining. ''We got the gun off him and then he offered me all this money to not say anything about it. First it was $300,000 and then $400,000,'' Jackson said. Perhaps Hanna thought a deal had been struck, because when police arrested him at a dinner party in Armidale that evening, the gun was in the boot of his Mercedes, with a bullet hole through the plans it was still wrapped in. That same evening, police chief Cushway was dining at a local restaurant with Torbay, who had recently been elevated to the prestigious position of speaker of the NSW Legislative Assembly. Other diners wondered what was going on as the police chief and the well-known local MP spent most of the night in a flurry of phone calls.
Although Cushway was on sick leave, he got word from the station that Hanna had been arrested. ''Cushy wants to know everything,'' said one of the police at the station who had taken a call from the boss. News of Hanna's arrest sent a raft of high-profile townsfolk into a spin. Many had poured money into Hanna's property trusts, which in turn had invested millions of dollars in the Centrelink buildings. One of Hanna's previous employees said that before Hanna's arrest he had heard Hanna speaking to Torbay about various developments, and that he was aware that Torbay had invested in Hanna's property trusts. The former employee said that Hanna also talked about investments with his wife's cousin, Eddie Obeid, who at the time was a powerbroker in the ALP and a close associate of Torbay's. When Cushway's underlings got wind of the secret visit to Hanna in the cells, they were furious. Not only was it a breach of police protocol not to inform the officers in charge of the investigation of what was discussed in the cells with Hanna, but there was also the potential for the investigation to be compromised or evidence to be removed. ''The investigation was still in its infancy and Cushway allowing a close ally of Hanna - and for all we knew at the time a possible accomplice - to talk to Hanna, it was wrong,'' one officer said. It was well known Torbay and Hanna were close. Hanna was not only one of the largest donors to Torbay's campaigns, but when Torbay, who was the Armidale mayor, decided to stand for State Parliament as an independent in 1999, Hanna was his campaign manager. The Herald has learnt that one of the last things Torbay did as mayor was to sign off on a deal to sell council land to a company associated with Hanna and Rice. The land was later used to develop a supermarket complex. Back at the police station, one detective was so alarmed by Cushway's actions in organising the secret meeting with Torbay and Hanna that he began his own clandestine investigation. This officer told the Herald he collected all the CCTV footage and the swipecard records showing how Cushway had entered the building using a junior officer's card. He also discovered Cushway's instruction to another young officer not to record his and Torbay's meeting with Hanna in the cells
.
''It took me a week or two to get it all done … and then I sent [it] off to PIC [the Police Integrity Commission],'' he said. PIC made a preliminary investigation, then passed the material on to police internal affairs. And that was the last he heard of the matter. Jackson was furious that when the matter came to court, the charges were downgraded. Hanna pleaded guilty to lesser charges. He did not spend one day in jail. Cushway resigned from the police in May 2009. He is understood to be collecting a pension in excess of $100,000 a year for a shoulder injury he suffered while in the force. After a stint as general manager of Guyra shire council, he was appointed the university's chief financial officer. Cushway told the Herald he had never had any commercial dealings with Hanna. Of Hanna's arrest and prosecution, he said: ''I was not a party to those proceedings, nor was I involved in any way in the investigative process. I am not authorised to comment further on such matters in accordance with the confidentiality obligations that still bind me.'' One person not surprised by the recent turn of events is Tamworth magistrate Roger Prowse. For two decades Prowse has dedicated himself to the pursuit of Torbay: ''He perjured himself and perverted the course of justice, and in the process my client's life was destroyed.'' In 1992 Prowse was representing a student, Tom Hudson, who was charged with stealing university student union cheques made out to the Armidale Youth Refuge. The cheques were signed by Torbay, who was the financial manager of the student union and the secretary of the refuge. The $20 cheques were payment for Hudson hosting a lunchtime trivia quiz at the university. Hudson said it was Torbay who decided to pay him by cheques made out to the refuge, where Hudson was the co-ordinator. Torbay wrote to him explaining why he was structuring the payments in this way. ''Torbay referred to it as 'administrative tidying-up or rearranging the deckchairs,' '' Hudson said.
If Hudson was shocked by his arrest, he was even more shocked when Torbay did nothing. ''I looked to Torbay for support but it was not forthcoming,'' he said. At his later trial, requests for documents from the union as well as Torbay's letter produced nothing. Torbay gave evidence that the union's cheques were donations to the refuge. Under cross-examination, Torbay denied all knowledge of the letter. Hudson was sacked from his job and now has a criminal record. But mysterious things seem to emerge when Torbay stands for public office. In 1999, on the eve of Torbay's campaign to become an independent state MP, Hudson found a pleasant surprise in his letterbox. ''[It was] the evidence that I had requested for my court case … including the letter sent to me by Torbay.'' Neither Hudson nor Prowse know who put the letter in Hudson's box, but armed with Torbay's letter, Prowse complained to various authorities, to no avail. He warned the Nationals when they pre-selected Torbay. And this week he formally complained to the police. As to who was responsible for the most recent bombshell which has seen Torbay being referred to ICAC, quitting public life and vanishing into thin air, no one seems to know.
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Contributed By A Concerned Member In The Riverina
Picture: Gary McCartenHUNDREDS of tonnes of citrus is being dumped in the Riverina and Sunraysia after an oversupply of juice fruit.
(Weekly Times)
Australia First Have Grave Concerns For the Future Of Australian Producers.
The citrus industry in the Riverina is at crisis point. Decimated by free trade many farmers have decided it is easier to tear out Citrus tree's that have produced for generations rather than try and compete with Brazilian juice concentrates flooding the market. To add insult to injury, Coles and Woolworths dictate the buy price of around 20c a kilo. It costs growers more than that to pick the fruit so rather than throw money away they let it rot on the ground.
Recently growers have been asked to consider a new range of citrus varieties. http://www.theland.
Now the NSW State Liberal/National government is about to cut funding for fruit fly prevention. http://www.abc.net.au/news/
Australia needs to take a good hard look at free trade and the destruction it has reaped on our agriculture and manufacturing. Tariffs need to be reintroduced to protect food production. We need to regulate the price at the farm gate to protect our farmers from greedy corporations and we need to build better Australian infrastructure to lower the cost of doing business. This includes red tape and over taxing as Australian individuals and small business pays the lion share of taxes while corporations especially foreign owned pay next to nothing. We produce the best quality and cleanest food on the planet and will always have a market for it no matter what the alarmist free trade supporters say.
Now comes the crunch part. Labor, the Liberals or the Nationals will not stop the free trade rot. They all subscribe to this madness and are openly chasing new agreements all of the time. They will continue on with their globalist policies that help no one except, foreign corporations and the elite. Only Australia First will make the tough decisions and take us back to a strong and independent Australia.
http://www.perthnow.com.au/
http://www.areanews.com.au/
http://www.areanews.com.au/
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