Tuesday, October 31, 2006

The State of the polls

Commentary on the Victorian State election from an inner city perspective

Governments are voted out of office never in.

Third terms are always the hardest. The pendulum is on the rebound but is the magnetron strong enough to cause an unplanned 1999 Kennett style upset.

Bracks/Brumby have run a good show overall. They have shown restraint and professional responsibility. There is no reason to throw them out of office. Labor will lose around 5 to 12 seats max. It may even consolidate hold on some.

Electors are also mindful that with a Liberal Federal Government with absolute power in Canberra a Labor State Government is a good way of keeping the Howard Liberal Federal Government in check.

Now is not the time to change lanes.

Legislative Council

In terms of the upper house you should look closer at a comparison we did with the 2004 Victorian senate vote. Yes I am aware that there is a difference in voting between Federal and State elections. BUT the senate vote is the same system of election as the new upper-house system. Voters when faced with the above-the-line senate style ballot paper will fall into old habits. The 2004 senate results was the Liberal party's high and the ALP's low. The Greens failed to generate enough steam to climb the hill. Whilst they are strong in one seat they will only win on the back of preferences which are still under discussion. Once the party above-the-line registration is finalized and hopefully backed up by a credible public opinion poll based on voter intentions in the eight new upper-house electorates we should know the outcome. +/-2%

The Greening of Melbourne

The Greens have an outside chance of an upset in Melbourne but even then its a big ask.

Melbourne has seen a demographic shift which, if they can reproduce the 2002 result, might, and its not certain, favor them. The Greens came close in 2002 only because the Liberal Party polled badly. The same can not be said for this election. The pendulum is on the rebound (although slowly). The Liberal Party should out poll the Greens

The Liberal Party can not afford this time to hold back their vote, to create an upset, as was the case in 2002. All parties need to maximise their vote state-wide not just to maximise their chances in the upper-house but to also secure valuable public campaign funding.

For the Greens to win Melbourne they will need every preference to go their way and they will need to top the Liberal Party who would need to be below 25% primary vote. A big ask. There is no news as to if Kevin Chamberlain will re-contest the seat of Melbourne.

The main upset in this election will be the Greens failure to cross the line as happened in the 2004 senate vote.

Prahran is the inner city seat to watch. It has always been the inner-city litmus test. Labor held it under Cain and also holds it now. It is vulnerable to a 5-6% swing and yes the Greens can influence the outcome but they will not win it. (It is easier for a smaller based party to win a safe seat then a marginal seat. The key being the weakness of one of the major parties which are always seen as the one to beat and attract lower preferences then other minor parties) Eltham is another seat that comes to my mind worth watching. Ivanhoe may alsoi see a big shift in support.

The Greens will not cross the line in the lower-house for reasons I have highlighted above. More analysis and public scrutiny on the Greens, its structure and policies will be more negative then positive. Their record on governance issues in the City of Melbourne is not good with the Greens supporting the holding illegal meetings of Council behind closed doors. David Risstrom, who was a candidate of note, is not running in this election.

John So - Big Fish in small Pond syndrome

There was a rumor about John So entering the field but I think he will opt not to run. John can not win Melbourne. He is a big fish in a small pond. At the age of 60 he might decide to have a go in the 2007 Senate election in the hope of extending his shelf life and influence but such a move would require him to hand over the keys to the limo, the mayoral chains and robes. (Something John might not want to give up just yet) John So's resignation would costs the City of Melbourne over one million dollars to hold a by-election, a cost that would rebound against him. But as they say it is not over until the fat lady sings.

Nominations close November 12.

Saturday, October 28, 2006

Seventh Sister "unplanned birth"

Melbourne City Council jetset to adopt another sister city as overseas travel costs soar

Melbourne City Council is gearing up to adopt a Seventh Sister city.

The City Council already has six sister cities on its books which is one more then was originally approved. The City Council had previously placed a limit on the number of Sister cities at five but this was extended in 2000/2001 to include the Italian city of Milan. Now the City Council administration is planning on adopting a new sister city this time based in Delhi, India.

We already have a smorgasbord of international cuisines including Japanese Osaka sushi; Chinese Tianjin stir fried, Greek Thessaloniki salad, American Boston buns, Russian St Petersburg borsh and Italian Milan pizza on the menu. Now they want authentic Indian Delhi curry.

All are in the northern hemisphere not one in the south. Create a virtual foster family and forget expanding the sister city program.

With every sister city the extent of opportunity for our city council to travel abroad increases as does the Council's overseas travel costs.

With every new Sister City our existing sister city relationships begin to suffer. We should not adopt another.

Enough is enough. Melbourne must say no to another sister city. Already the existing siblings are suffering from a lack of attention with China being the latest exotic must visit destination.

Oblivious of the costs John So is prepared to spend up big on what ever comes his way.


If the City of Melbourne is allowed to increase the number of sister cities then we can expect that India will be the next exotic destination for our City Councillors and staff to spend corporate, ratepayer funded, holidays abroad.

Under John So's leadership our City Council has become the biggest spending Council in the history of Melbourne and John So shows no sign of fiscal restraint. John So is willing to close his eyes and block his ears to a Greater Melbourne at home but is happy to expand Melbourne abroad.


John So should put the idea of another sister city to a referendum of ratepayers along with the full costs and implications of having a new sibling and see if ratepayers support his global expansion plans.

Melbourne's current sister cities include



Talk to Kevin Chamberlain or Trevor Huggard (both Former Lord Mayors) and they will explain the past policy in more detail.

Most Travelled

City Council ratepayer funded travellers list in order of costs

Melbourne City Council's big spenders based on information the published City of Melbourne Travel Register. 2 December 2004 to 30 September 2006.

* Note there are a number if questions outstanding in relation to the accuracy of the published data. (See previous post) When the CIty Council repsonds to our query we will update this list if required.

The most travelled and biggest spenders in order of costs

Division

Name

Position

Costs

Days

CORPORATE PERFORMANCE DIVISION

David Pitchford

Chief Executive

$45,818.06

57

SUSTAINABILITY & INNOVATION DIVISION

Geoff Lawler

Director Sustainability & Innovation

$45,180.65

48

MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION

Scott Chapman

Director - Marketing & Customer Relations

$45,011.26

44

COUNCIL

Gary Singer

Deputy Lord Mayor

$36,563.46

26

COUNCIL

John So

Lord Mayor

$28,584.43

26

SUSTAINABILITY & INNOVATION DIVISION

Peter Chaffey

Manager Sustainable Business & Trade

$24,206.00

25

CORPORATE PERFORMANCE DIVISION

Kevin Louey

Chief of Staff for the Lord Mayor

$22,948.54

21

SUSTAINABILITY & INNOVATION DIVISION

Michael Anderson

Principle Project Officer Business.Development

$21,827.00

16

COUNCIL

Brian Shanahan

Councillor

$17,615.55

25

MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION

Kristy Taylor

Program Manager Destination Marketing

$17,441.04

11

SUSTAINABILITY & INNOVATION DIVISION

Edgar Dong

Principal Officer Trade Development

$15,200.00

32

MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION

Jane Sharwood

Program Manager - Melbourne International

$10,981.54

10

COUNCIL

Fiona Snedden

Councillor

$9,370.14

10

COUNCIL

Fiona Sneddon

Councillor

$9,369.42

7

COUNCIL

Carl Jetter

Councillor

$7,696.00

15

MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION

Mark Drew

Manager Customer & International Relations

$7,442.25

9

MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION

Mark Drew

Manager - Customer & International Relations

$6,046.93

5

DESIGN & CULTURE DIVISION

Shane Power

Manager Major Project Delivery

$5,929.38

21

MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION

Tom Parker

China Projects and Communications Coordinator - Melbourne International

$5,903.81

17

MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION

Tom Parker

Senior International Relations Coordinator

$5,337.00

20

SUSTAINABILITY & INNOVATION DIVISION

Russ Wood

Senior Project Officer

$4,980.00

9

DESIGN & CULTURE DIVISION

Martin Paten

Team Leader City Culture & Collections

$4,604.00

7

FINANCE DIVISION

Ian Rowan

Manager, Street Activity

$4,602.01

7

SUSTAINABILITY & INNOVATION DIVISION

John Tunney

Manager City Sustainability

$4,547.44

11

DESIGN & CULTURE DIVISION

Bob Rosen

Manager Works Program

$4,455.80

7

DESIGN & CULTURE DIVISION

Rob Adams

Director Design and Culture

$4,431.64

7

CORPORATE PERFORMANCE DIVISION

Linda Weatherson

Director Corporate Performance

$4,425.78

6

CORPORATE AFFAIRS DIVISION

Hayden Cock

Director Corporate Affairs

$4,178.31

3

ASSETS AND SERVICES DIVISION

Bill Keon

Manager, Asset Services

$4,024.93

8

DESIGN & CULTURE DIVISION

Simon Spain

Creative Producer, Artplay

$3,900.49

16

DESIGN & CULTURE DIVISION

Peter Hornidge

Senior Landscape Architect

$3,870.77

9

DESIGN & CULTURE DIVISION

Garth Bradbury

Manager Facilities Management

$3,538.74

6

COUNCIL

Fraser Brindley

Councillor

$3,446.92

5

ASSETS AND SERVICES DIVISION

Bev Murray

Senior Indigenous Policy Officer

$2,938.79

4

CORPORATE PERFORMANCE DIVISION

Cecilia

Continuous Improvement Consultant

$2,735.48

3

ASSETS AND SERVICES DIVISION

Terry Makings

Director Assets & Services

$2,593.24

3

FINANCE DIVISION

Craig Liddy

Chief Information Officer

$2,588.40

10

ASSETS AND SERVICES DIVISION

Sue Morrell

Manager, Community Services

$2,466.82

8

ASSETS AND SERVICES DIVISION

Oliver Pohls

Tree Planner

$2,319.41

6

SUSTAINABILITY & INNOVATION DIVISION

Peter Chaffey

Manager Business Melbourne

$2,252.52

3

SUSTAINABILITY & INNOVATION DIVISION

Jodie Harris

Strategic Planning Co-ordinator

$2,252.00

5

ASSETS AND SERVICES DIVISION

Danielle Thomas

Park Ranger

$2,122.80

6

CORPORATE PERFORMANCE DIVISION

David Appleby

Team Leader Contract Services

$2,090.34

9

SUSTAINABILITY & INNOVATION DIVISION

John Noonan

Manager Sustainable Regulatory Services

$1,985.00

4

MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION

Phillipa Powell

Project Coordinator - Melbourne International

$1,979.70

15

ASSETS AND SERVICES DIVISION

Cathy Kiss

Senior Planning Officer

$1,972.90

6

ASSETS AND SERVICES DIVISION

Francis Khoo

Manager, Contracts & Operations

$1,965.40

5

ASSETS AND SERVICES DIVISION

Sharon Sykes

Senior Planning Officer

$1,951.90

5

ASSETS AND SERVICES DIVISION

Elizabeth Brown

Team Leader Children's Services

$1,948.00

10

CORPORATE PERFORMANCE DIVISION

Kevin Louey

Lord Mayor's Chief of Staff

$1,875.24

2

ASSETS AND SERVICES DIVISION

Hok Sie

Senior Coordinator Infrastructure

$1,843.20

3

ASSETS AND SERVICES DIVISION

Nancy Di Santo

Team Leader City Issues

$1,825.36

4

SUSTAINABILITY & INNOVATION DIVISION

Andrew Korr

Transport Program Manager

$1,785.36

3

ASSETS AND SERVICES DIVISION

Chu Tran

Vietnamese Family Support Worker

$1,782.94

8

CORPORATE PERFORMANCE DIVISION

Peter Athanassiadis

Team Leader Insurance Services

$1,760.59

4

ASSETS AND SERVICES DIVISION

Jacqueline Connell

Co-ordinator - Immunisation

$1,754.44

5

ASSETS AND SERVICES DIVISION

Robyn Daff

Team Leader Children's Services

$1,716.50

4

DESIGN & CULTURE DIVISION

Eddie Butler-Bowden

Arts & Heritage Program Manager

$1,675.00

4

ASSETS AND SERVICES DIVISION

Colleen Lazenby

Manager Community Safety & Well Being

$1,664.17

9

DESIGN & CULTURE DIVISION

Rob Adams

Director Design & Culture

$1,654.50

3

MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION

Jane Sharwood

International Relations Program Manager

$1,619.34

5

DESIGN & CULTURE DIVISION

Ian Dryden

Senior Industrial Designer

$1,605.76

4

ASSETS AND SERVICES DIVISION

Darren Comi

Corporate Fleet Services

$1,596.00

3

ASSETS AND SERVICES DIVISION

Nalika Peiris

Acting Senior Policy Officer

$1,557.00

2

ASSETS AND SERVICES DIVISION

Dale Stewart

Leisure Management and Sports Planning

$1,551.24

5

FINANCE DIVISION

Susan Kempson

Team Leader Spatial Systems

$1,545.49

6

MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION

Linda Bee

Senior Coordinator - Events Melbourne

$1,518.44

3

CORPORATE PERFORMANCE DIVISION

Trudie Balthazaar

Manager Continuous Improvement

$1,480.00

5

CORPORATE AFFAIRS DIVISION

Holly Shorland

Corporate Communications Adviser

$1,478.00

2

ASSETS AND SERVICES DIVISION

Tasia Karlis

MetroAccess Project Officer

$1,420.18

2

FINANCE DIVISION

Noel Reid

Manager Parking & Traffic Branch

$1,392.29

5

ASSETS AND SERVICES DIVISION

Vicki Main

Children's Services Resource & Development

$1,298.97

6

ASSETS AND SERVICES DIVISION

Marianne Glen

Team Leader Family Services

$1,276.31

9

FINANCE DIVISION

John Kanelopoulos

Team Leader, Street Trading, Street Activity

$1,269.08

2

ASSETS AND SERVICES DIVISION

Sarah Kaushik

Senior Policy Officer City Safety

$1,257.66

3

DESIGN & CULTURE DIVISION

Jane Crawley

Team Leader Cultural Development

$1,227.00

4

DESIGN & CULTURE DIVISION

Jenny Rayment

Senior Landscape Architect

$1,207.09

16

ASSETS AND SERVICES DIVISION

Michael O'Hanlon

Community Development and Aged Care

$1,176.32

3

DESIGN & CULTURE DIVISION

Matthew Plumridge

Superintendent Representative CH2

$1,154.70

4

ASSETS AND SERVICES DIVISION

Ron Nelson

Senior Coordinator Urban Services

$1,104.46

2

ASSETS AND SERVICES DIVISION

Michael Norton

Principal Engineer Services

$1,080.83

2

DESIGN & CULTURE DIVISION

Ariel Valent

Arts Project Officer

$1,060.00

4

MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION

Simone Carrel

Project Coordinator - Events Melbourne

$1,023.60

3

MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION

Kate Letson

Project Coordinator - Events Melbourne

$1,023.60

3

MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION

Andris Blicavs

Program Manager -Events Melbourne

$1,023.60

3

FINANCE DIVISION

Kim Eishold

Parking Officer (Parking & Traffic Branch)

$1,021.81

3

DESIGN & CULTURE DIVISION

Janina Harding

Indigenous Arts Officer

$995.00

5

FINANCE DIVISION

Troy McDonald

Technical Support Officer

$984.55

3

FINANCE DIVISION

Ian Frazer

Business Analyst Team Leader

$933.80

3

MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION

Trudy McPhee

Project Coordinator - Melbourne International

$930.16

14

CORPORATE AFFAIRS DIVISION

Lucy Perera

Corporate Communications Adviser

$916.88

3

SUSTAINABILITY & INNOVATION DIVISION

Jodie Harris

Manager City Strategy

$875.12

3

SUSTAINABILITY & INNOVATION DIVISION

Mark Woodland

Manager Policy & Planning

$874.00

3

ASSETS AND SERVICES DIVISION

Vince Haining

Group Manager - Parks & Recreation

$856.42

4

FINANCE DIVISION

Graham McKinnon

Acting Team Leader - Enforcement (Parking & Traffic Branch

$854.57

3

ASSETS AND SERVICES DIVISION

Ian Harris

Group Manager - Parks and Recreation

$821.48

2

FINANCE DIVISION

Roger Nicholas

Team leader, Application Systems

$818.86

7

COUNCIL

Catherine Ng

Councillor

$787.14

1

CORPORATE PERFORMANCE DIVISION

Kevin Louey

Chief of Staff for the Lord

$748.54

1

ASSETS AND SERVICES DIVISION

Bill Keon

Manager - Asset Services

$728.63

1

SUSTAINABILITY & INNOVATION DIVISION

George Konstantinidis

Team Leader Development Activity

$671.08

8

ASSETS AND SERVICES DIVISION

Nanette Mitchell

Senior Social Planner

$670.00

2

MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION

Scott Chapman

Director Marketing, Tourism & Major Events

$658.80

2

ASSETS AND SERVICES DIVISION

Geoff Robinson

Group Manager Engineering Services

$618.00

1

DESIGN & CULTURE DIVISION

Andrea Kleist

Public Art Program Manager

$606.09

4

ASSETS AND SERVICES DIVISION

Helen Bnads

Acting Senior Indigenous Policy Officer

$582.00

3

ASSETS AND SERVICES DIVISION

Roger Berriman

Coordinator Contracts Specifications

$557.83

1

DESIGN & CULTURE DIVISION

Steven Richardson

Creative Producer Artplay

$550.00

5

DESIGN & CULTURE DIVISION

Eddie Butler-Bowden

Manager Arts & Heritage Collections

$520.00

3

FINANCE DIVISION

Adrian Ong

Application Services Manager

$511.80

1

FINANCE DIVISION

Richard Frost

Senior Applications Analyst

$508.17

1

ASSETS AND SERVICES DIVISION

Colleen Lazenby

Manager Community Support

$507.84

2

ASSETS AND SERVICES DIVISION

Ian Harris

Group Manager, Parks and Rec.

$450.00

2

ASSETS AND SERVICES DIVISION

Murat Sezar

Education & Public Program Co-ordinator

$444.21

1

MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION

Jenny Ford

Manager Melbourne Moomba Waterfest

$419.11

1

MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION

Paul Davies

Director 2006 Moomba Parade

$419.11

1

MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION

Richard Jeziorny

Designer 2006 Moomba Parade

$419.11

1

DESIGN & CULTURE DIVISION

Ros Rymer

Urban Design Researcher

$372.78

2

SUSTAINABILITY & INNOVATION DIVISION

Austin Ley

Manager Sustainable City Research

$313.00

7

SUSTAINABILITY & INNOVATION DIVISION

John Tunney

Sustainability Projects Coordinator

$295.68

1

FINANCE DIVISION

Colin Fairweather

Customer Services Team Leader

$291.47

1

MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION

Karen Gilbert

Program Manager Event & Sport Promotion

$290.53

3

MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION

Rachael Dacy

Project Manager - Commonwealth Games

$265.33

1

ASSETS AND SERVICES DIVISION

Chris Adams

Asset Management Officer

$178.00

2

CORPORATE PERFORMANCE DIVISION

Kevin Louey

Chief of Staff

$155.00

2

FINANCE DIVISION

Peter Milne

Business Analyst Team Leader

$0.00

2