Doyle leading Lord Mayor race is close and still not over

Early analysis with 27,000 votes counted indicates Robert Doyle is set to scrape home with ALP Peter McMullin coming in second place.

The electron count is not finalised and the projected results are subject to final analysis. There are two very close conjunctions between Catherine Ng and Gary Singer, Catherine Ng and the Greens with less the 100 votes difference between the the two. If the Greens survive its a McMullin Doyle toss with Doyle winning.If Ng surveys its still Doyle. Doyle looks unbeatable have caught all the drift.

Inverse donkey vote or well known name. A recount is looking more and more less likely as the count progresses. The only chance of a surprise win is if Singer and out poll Ng but with a gap of 600 votes this is unlikely.

Update: 50% of the vote counted the gap has widened and Robert Doyle looks as if he is unstoppable. There is a close call that keeps changing the order of elimination between Catherine Ng and The Greens but Doyle still comes up trumps.

Candidates	Vote Counted	Percentage
DOYLE, Robert / RILEY, Susan	8672	26.76%
NG, Catherine / MAKINGS, Terry	3561	10.99%
TOSCANO, Joseph / ELY, Margaret	495	1.53%
COLUMN, Nick / CALDWELL, Sue	1524	4.70%
BAND, Adam / MALTZAHN, Kathleen	4799	14.81%
CRAWFORD, Robert King / KENNEDY, Michael	391	1.21%
ROBERTS, Shelley / FARAH, Abdiaziz	391	1.21%
SINGER, Gary / PAINTER, Joanne	3314	10.23%
FOWLES, Will / WILSON, David	2750	8.49%
McMULLIN, Peter / WILSON, Tim	4035	12.45%
MORGAN, Gary / ANDERSON, Michele	2473	7.63%

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Denied a vote Tens of thousands of voters disenfranchised by Friday's Closing

Tens of thousands of Victorian voters have been disenfranchised with hundred of voters turned away from Town Hall on Saturday expecting the right to vote. No effort was made by Town hall to register the names of disenfranchised voters.

These voters are subject to a $57 fine.

The VEC has refused to provide statistics on the number of late vote returns for each municipality.

Whilst some municipalities held attendance voting last Saturday most Council's opted for a Postal voting system where the voting closed earlier on a Friday.

many voters are angry that they will now face a fine for not voting. In the past they are use to voting taking place on a Saturday with many City shoppers and business people expecting they could cast an absentee vote.

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Close call VEC conduct under review

Time to reflect on days events.

Question: "How can someone win on 10% of the vote?"

Well it is 11% actually and it not clear if it is Singer or Ng on the hunt. It is close by all accounts which is why we believe there will be a recount. There is a huge unknown factor with the drift away from the book at around 40% or more.

We try and explain how the fold up might go.

The interesting close junctions are Singer/Ng virtually neck to neck at around 11%

The combined vote of Singer and Catherine Ng out polls the Greens in each case.

If Singer survives *** Morgan/Columb votes go to McMullin with drift from Morgan( now 27%) the Greens (now 19-20%) Doyle (29%) Singer 23%. Greens next eliminated bring Singer to the lead above Doyle and McMullin there is a close nexus between Doyle and McMullin exact value unknown due to drift to Doyle from Morgan But again it is close. With a McMullin/Doyle toss up Singer is best position to jump of the line either way

If Ng survives *** Morgan flows to Ng but with some leakage to both Doyle and McMullin. Ng is now on around 26-27% McMullin who is on around 25-26Doyle moves into the front at around 31% the Greens at 18% Greens are eliminated and the drift see McMullin at 33 Doyle 33% and Ng 34% It is potentially very close and the spilt can go either way Ng is in the best position as she collects most of the ticket vote and if she is ahead then the other is eliminated. So it is a question of who goes out and what value the drift is at this stage. No one is prepared to place bets at this stage. Some think it could be decided by a hand full of votes who is excluded and who is not. There is now two major junctions points Ng/Singer and the final three.

VEC Count under review

To add to the frustration the VEC failed to undertake a preliminary distribution into primary votes. reason unknown. They did do a manual sort for the city Council above the line which is the same size and effort had they distributed the leadership primary vote and did a manual count we would know the result by 12 noon tomorrow.instead it will take a good 12-14 hours to complete the data-entry and chances are there will be a recount. Under the circumstances where the VEC refused to maintain an open and transparent count and rejected the Parliamentary recommendation to undertake a preliminary first preference distribution anything within 1.5% merits a recount. (Had a preliminary sort taken place a recount would only be justified if the result was within 1%)

The Council seven have been decided on above the line preferences.
The winners are (With Primary vote indicated) Quota 12.5%

Candidate (Primary %)
JETTER, Carl (21.5%)
OKE, Cathy (18.7%)
CLARKE, Peter (9.1%)
LOUEY, Kevin (12.0%)
ONG, Ken (11.4%)
SHANAHAN, Brian (9.9%)
KANIS, Jennifer (10.4%)
(1% diff unknown)

I hope I have my maths right.

Again had the VEC undertaken a preliminary primary vote count as had been requested by most candidates the process and results would be much more clear and the count more transparent.

Apology in the offering but not good enough

I am also told that the returning Officer, Bill Lang, offered a private apology to Ray Collins who had been falsely accused by Steve Tully of threatening and intimidating VEC staff. This allegation was false and malicious.

A private apology is not good enough, Bill Lang and Steve Tully owe Ray Collins a public apology for what was clearly an act of intimidation on behalf of the VEC if not defamatory against Ray Collins. Ray Collins warned the VEC that the result was close and that a preliminary sort or manual count was the best way to proceed. They would not listen and Steve Tully made a false statement to cover up his wrong decision.

More on that soon when the count is over.

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Singer's Team Melbourne shows promise Breaking away from the chorus Singer moves ahead of Catherine Ng in preview

The City of Melbourne count is labouriously proceeding as the numerous electoral officials proceed to deflap and open ballot paper envelopes. We are told that there are all up around 61300 envelopes received. The VEC could not provide an accurate figure as such we are left with an approximation only.

In the absence of a preliminary sorting of ballot papers as is the case in a Federal Election it is virtually impossible to properly scrutinise the ballot, The VEC rejected the recommendations made the the State Parliament that ballot papers be resorted into primary votes prior to data-entry. So it is now left to a random sampling process.

Whilst it is still too early to give an accurate trend, indications are that Robert Doyle is receiving 20% of the vote sampled to date. In a surprise, yet welcomed outcome, Gary Singer from Team Melbourne is doing better then expected and could outcall his running mate Catherine Ng. The combined vote of Singer and Ng, who preference each other, would be greater the the Greens. This could prove interesting as Shelly Roberts also tops up Singers vote before being distributed to McMullin. Singer could retain the vote and out poll McMullin. If this trend holds then we could see Gary Singer take Catherine Ng place rising above the chorus and becoming the lead vocal. His main competition would be Robert Doyle. Doyle's campaign was noted for his absence from the campaign, relying purely on the name recognition factor.

Now I am not a Doyle backpacker, you understand, I think he would be a disaster for Melbourne (Mainly due to his choice of deputy lord mayor and his lead candidate in the Council ballot)

Again the information available is too patchy and too few to determine the outcome overall.There is also a built in bias in the count in that ballot papers are batched in a pseudo order based on the delivery time and collection, information that is not readily available to scrutineers. Unfortunately the count is not open and transparent, But we will keep you posted as results and trends become more clear.

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VEC occupational hazard Not enough room to breath let alone to work

Scrutineers are reporting that the data-entry of preferences is being held in a 10 x 15 metre room with 18 data-entry personal crammed in and no room for scrutineers.

It is hot and oxygen is in short supply. It is reported that many mistakes in the data-entry are being made as a result. First data-set should be available around lunch time. With 18 data-entry operators and 11 candidates in theory the room should be able to accomodate over 200 people. Fantatic logicistial planning on behalf of the VEC. If a recount is on the cards you can expect a full house

Estimated time to data entry is 14 hours based on the VEC estimate of 15 sec per vote

Crikey.com has edited censored comments about Bill Lang and Steve Tully. "Censorship at its worst", Thanks to Vex News for publishing the facts.

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Steve Tully Under review

Allegations of threats and intimidation is an abuse of authority.

There was no act of bulling or harassment as claimed by Steve Tully, Chief Electoral Commissioner.

Mr Steve Tully's accusations are false and not supported by the facts.

Mr Tully was not even present at the briefing in question.

Having spoken to a number of people present at the meeting all stated that Mr Tully's statement is a gross over-reaction to criticism at the way in which the VEC elections are to be counted.

There was no grounds or justification to Mr Tully's statement or his accusations.

The reason behind Mr Tully's emotive outburst is simple, Steve Tully had come under serious criticism in relation to his conduct of the 2006 State election along with concern that he may have deliberately mislead the parliament in his evidence given to the State Parliamentary committee on electoral matters.

Mr Tully had cut corners and in the process he made a number of serious mistakes during the conduct of the 2006 State election.

Under the terms of the Local Government Act and regulations the Returning Officer is required to preliminary sort ballot papers into primary votes which in turn is used to reconcile the number of votes pertaining to the election as part of the process of scrutiny of the ballot.

Mr Tully has opted to once again cut corners and ignore requests that the count be open and transparent and that the ballot papers be subject to a preliminary distribution as required under the Act for a manual count.

There is no justification for a computerised counting of the Lord Mayors ballot. A majority of candidates had supported calls for the ballot to be counted manually so that it could be subject to proper scrutiny.

The Victorian Parliament in reviewing the mistakes made during the 2006 State election recommended that the VEC preliminary presort ballot papers into primary votes as is the case with Federal elections. Mr Tully chose to ignore the parliament's recommendation and the request made by candidates and others. Mr Tully directed Mr Bill Lang, City of Melbourne's Returning Officer, to reject the request for the preliminary sorting of ballot papers undermining the independence of the appointed Returning Officer.

The Chief Commissioner misused and abused his position of authority.

At no time had staff been subjected to any threats and any act that warrants or requires police presence. Steve Tully's statement calling for police protection is a further act of intimidation and harassment against his critics and an abuse of authority.

Mr Tully made similar false threats of intimidation in the leaduop to and following the 2006 State election in which votes went missing during the count and the data recorded seriously flawed. Mr Tully was unable and unwilling to provide access to crucial data related to the 2006 count.

In giving evidence to the parliamentary Electoral Matters Committee, Mr Tully stated that the data records of the 2006 Western Metropolitan Province count had been destroyed and were no longer available. An extraordinary claim given that it costs millions of dollars to count the ballot and it turns out that backup copies of the data were not recorded.

The complaints and submission lodged in relation to the proposed City of Melbourne count were seeking to prevent a repeat of the mistakes made by the Chief Commissioner in 2006. Mistakes that were made as result of a lack of due diligence and denial of access to crucial data by the Chief Commissioner. Mistakes that should be avoided and not repeated with the Melbourne City Council elections.

It is fundamental to our democracy that elections are open and transparent in order that public confidence in the electoral process is maintained, This issue does not just effect the City of Melbourne but the entire State.

The actions of Mr Tully are a form of retribution and intimidation of critics to his administration. This is not the first time Mr Tully has acted in such a manner.

Members of Parliament are very much aware of Mr Tully's acts of intimidation and abuse of process against those who gave evidence to the parliamentary inquiry.

Mr Tully in making false accusations of this nature has raised doubts and questions as to his suitability to hold the office of Chief Commissioner.

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Voting Closes 6:00PM

The Victorian Electoral Commission has received back 61300?? envelopes for the City of Melbourne Election as of Friday November 28. With just over 60% of the total number of voters on the roll recored at the close of the poll. A further 10,000 votes are expected to arrive on Monday or Tuesday.


Your ballot papers had to be received by the Returning Officer
BEFORE 6.00PM ON FRIDAY NOVEMBER 28, 2008

Level 6, Council House 200 Little Collins Street
Melbourne VIC 3000
Phone: (03) 9639 0046

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Spring Carnival Closing Event Punters bets close 6:00PM today

An additional 10,000 votes arrive in the mail today. Punters have until 6:00 PM to place their bets. Sportingbet Australia is offering 5:1 on Catherine Ng. Catherine is the favourite to win the race with Peter McMullin (3.5:1)expected to be the other contender left standing as the horses cross the finish line.

The race guide promises an exciting bout and most punters will be hanging to their tickets until the end, with at least three conjunction points where the outcome of the race can be decided.

Race Guide anticipated fold up

The first three contenders to tap the mat are Shelley Roberts, Bob Crawford, and Joseph Toscano each polling less then 600 votes. Crawford and Toscano votes will top up the Greens and Roberts will go to Singer.

The next out will be either Singer or Column or Morgan. Singer's votes will flow to Catherine Ng and Columb Morgan votes will combine into one team.

The next elimination head to head will be between Will Fowles and the Greens. If Will is ahead of the Greens then the Greens vote will top up Fowles which would put him a head of Peter McMullin placing Robert Doyle back in contention. The odds are the Greens will out poll Fowles, in which case Fowles vote will top up McMullin placing him in the top three and the Greens set to top up Catherine Ng at a later stage in the race.

It is here the race gets exciting and punters begin to hold their breath and cling on to their form guide as they stare at their betting coupons and begin to pray.

If the combined vote of Morgan and Columb do not out poll the Greens and the two minor candidates then they are next to fall over Morgan's initial votes will flow to Catherine Ng and Columb's are expected to flow to McMullin/Wilson. There will also be an expected preference drift from both camps to Robert Doyle, who should be still standing at this stage of the race. However if Doyle polls at the lower end of expectation then the Doyle will be excluded and his vote will flow to Catherine Ng giving her the Yellow jersey earlier then expected. Doyle collects no support from other players and is relying on name alone drift to stay in the race.

The next elimination is the key when the Greens are exclude from the race. With Will Fowles out of the race the Greens top up Catherine Ng with some drift to Peter McMullin. At which time Catherine will be in a position close to the inside rail and a certain to win the race having came from behind and crawled up the middle. If for some reason Catherine Ng pulls up lame early in the race and Robert Doyle out polls her then McMullin is in a winning position.

Place your bets now while the odds are good and pray that the lord of the turf smiles on the last event.

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Orders from Above Bill Lang denies Melbourne an open and transparent election count

Bill Lang, City of Melbourne's VEC Returning officer rejects call for an open and transparent count of the City's vote bringing the conduct of the election into disrepute.

Acting from orders above, in spite the Greens support and their “unofficial” plea - Melbourne City Council’s VEC Returning Officer, Bill Lang, has refused to undertake a preliminary sorting of the ballot papers before data-entering preferences.

Lang's refusal under orders "from above" indicates that the returning officer is not really in charge.

The decision of the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) to not undertake a preliminary primary vote distribution undermines public confidence and demonstrates the VEC's Chief Commissioner's level of contempt for the Victorian Parliament which had recommended as part of its review of the 2006 State Election that ballot papers should be presorted prior to data-entry. Presorting would have enabled better and proper scrutiny of the count, ensuring that the conduct of the election is fully open and transparent It also provides a check digit to ensure that the data-entry count is correctly reconciled so no votes can go missing unexplained (This was something the VEC failed to do in the 2006 State Election).

The VEC's refusal to respect the determination of the State Parliament demonstrates its unwillingness to self-regulate its affairs and its inability to conduct an open and transparent count of the vote.

The VEC will prevent scrutineers from properly scrutinising the count which will now be hidden behind the vail of technology undermining overall public confidence in the Victorian Electoral Commission.

If it is tight, as expected (Within 1.5%), then a recount will be required.

The VEC claim that it will take them 15 seconds to data-entry each vote (This does not include time required for batching and administration of the count). There will be 18 data-entry operators keying vote preferences into the VEC database. The counting of the vote will be done in cyberspace, removed from the watchful eyes of Candidate's scrutineers. The time taken to count the Lord Mayor's vote is estimated at 13 hours (18 x 13 or 234 data-entry hours) to count 56000 votes. (We expect it to take much longer then that. - It would have been quicker and better to have counted the Lord Mayor's vote manually est. time 9 hours).

Under the provisions of the Victorian Local Government Act the Returning officer is required to presort ballot papers into primary votes.

Your vote is in the mail. To date, with one day to go, the VEC has received 51176 envelopes back. Voting closes Friday 6:00PM 200 Little Collins Street.

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McMullin-Wilson present their credentials laying down a challenge to the big end of town

Peter McMullin and Tim Wilson have presented their credentials to Melbourne's business community. McMullin-Wilson team is without doubt the most experienced and professional team in the Lord Mayor's race offering Melbourne strong leadership and fiscal management.

Tim Wilson, who is a senior consultant at the pro-enterprise think tank "the Institute of Public Affairs" and a senior member of the Liberal Party, has sent out a personal letter to try and shore up the business vote in hope of securing 4,000 votes that otherwise would have gone by default to Robert Doyle.

Robert Doyle has run the most lack lustre campaign of all the main contenders, showing contempt and disengagement from the political process. Doyle is relying on the recognition factor. In the process he has undermined and divided the liberal conservative vote that would have normally been allocated to the likes of Peter Clarke (Gary Morgan) Fiona Snedden (Nick Columb). Doyle appears to be coasting, not taking the election or the electorate seriously. He is expected to help top up Catherine Ng, who is being backed by Ted Baillieu, in what is shaping to be a close contest with two main players, Catherine Ng and Peter McMullin.

Robert Doyle's disengagement in the campaign has erroded his initial vote pull expectation. There are some people who think that Doyle may bottom out and receive as low as 12% of the vote. Expectations are that he will attract around 18-20% but that this level of support will not flow on to his Council Ticket which is headed by Carl "jet set" Jetter.

The McMullin Wilson letter should give McMullin that extra edge in his campaign. Voting closes at 6:00PM Friday November 28.

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Officially Its unofficial But there is hope that Melbourne's Democratic Elections will be open, transparent and subject to proper scrutiny

The Melbourne Greens have come on board and Officially supported the campaign to ensure that the counting of the ballot will be open and transparent and that scrutineers will not be denied the opportunity to properly scrutinise the electronic count.

We welcome the Greens official support even though it is unofficial. We only hope that Bill Lang also excepts the need for the count to be open and transparent.

Under the terms of the Local Government Act ballot papers MUST be presorted into bundles of primary votes as part of a manual count. The problem is that the VEC has the right to vary the procedure any way they see fit under a computerised count. Descension in the absence of regulations.

The Victorian parliament in reviewing the 2006 State Election recommended that ballot papers be presorted prior to batching and data-entry. We support the Parliament's recommendation and note that there is nothing that prevents the Returning Officer from undertaking a pre-sorting of ballot papers prior to the data-entry process.

It is a question of self regulation and honesty. The Victorian Electoral Commission has an obligation to ensure that the election count is conducted in an open and transparent manner in order to maintain public confidence. The count must be seen and be above board. (The same policy should also apply to the Below-the-line votes in the Council election)

The Offical Unoffical responce to our concerns

The Greens have made an unofficial request to Mr Lang [VEC Returning Officer for the City of Melbourne] that the VEC bundle the primary votes of the leadership ticket candidates before the data-entry stage. I have reason to believe that Mr Lang will seriously consider doing this despite being under no obligation to do so.

As we are only two days before 'election day', but already some months after the contracts for this election were agreed on, we consider it inappropriate to support any calls for an injunction.

We are happy for you to indicate on your blog (without copying any part of this email) that The Greens give in-principle support to the bundling of primary votes of the leadership ticket only.

Best regards,

Rohan

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VEC denies opportunity for proper scrutiny of the Lord Mayor ballot Another Candidate calls for a manual or more open and transparent count

Another candidate has written to the VEC requesting a manual count and or presorting of the ballot papers prior to computer data-entry of preference votes.

Any savings in time by not presorting the ballot into primary votes(Which is debatable) come at the expense of the scrutiny of the electronic ballot denying candidates the right to an open and transparent count.


-- Copy of open letter to Bill Lang --

To: "Bill Lang"
Sent: Tuesday, November 25, 2008 1:39 PM
Subject: Count of Lord Mayoral vote


Bill,

After consultation with Shelley Roberts we would like to support a manual count of the Lord Mayoral vote. We believe that this will enable a more open and transparent process than the proposed computer only count. We can understand the usefulness of a computer system in the more complex councillor ballot (but even here the presorting, checking and manual count of primary votes would be appropriate). We believe that the straight forward preferential nature of the simpler Lord Mayoral ballot (the same as state and federal lower house ballots) lends itself to a manual count with easier scrutineering. If it is your decision to proceed with a computerised count,we would request that the ballots be at least sorted, checked and counted according to primary vote prior to any data entry.

Nothing in this request should be taken to reflect on or infer in any way a want of confidence in you and your dedicated staff, rather we have a preference for a simple manual count which would avoid any inadvertent mistakes during data processing and allow scrutineers to undertake their role in the more tried and true fashion.

Yours sincerely,

Garth Head
on behalf of Shelley Roberts.
Candidate for Lord Mayor City of Melbourne

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So why did John quit? Talk around town points to Ngp>

With the Spring Carnival Circus event coming to a close we are left to ponder why John So decided to not run for a third term? Surely if he stood he would have been elected? So why did he not stand again?

John is a likeable person, you can not help but smile and enjoy a conversation with him.

The answer to the question "Why did john not stand for a third term?" lies with Catherine Ng, John So's lead candidate in 2001 and 2004.

Take a walk down China Town and you will see just how divided they are. Peter McMullin with the support of John So and Kevin Louey have been actively campaigning within the Chinese Community. McMullin's poster's are on display, but as is often the case in the Chinese community, the real decisions are made in quite on the street and in the Chinese community newspapers where Catherine Ng has not been doing so well. Peter McMullin/Keven Louey have been doing extremely well in China Town, just how well will not be known until the weekend when the ballot is counted

Talk around Town Hall has it that John could no longer work with Catherine Ng, which explains why John had not openly supported Catherine Ng's bid to succeed him. Instead he has backed Peter McMullin and Gary Singer to be he replacement as Melbourne's next Lord Mayor.

There is no doubt that many of the negative issues surrounding John So's leadership are connected back to Catherine Ng. If this election is close as most expect it will be then it is the Chinese community that will decide which direction Melbourne will head.

The Melbourne Chinese community, which represents around 13% of the electorate, is divided.

The Chinese community is well aware of the fallout between John So and Catherine Ng. It is ear as daylight as John has not embraced Cathrine's campaign. John So is reported and having said that he and his wife can not get on with Catherine. They no longer talk to each other. It would have been wrong for John and Catherine to be publicly seen to be at odds with each other. Rather then try and force her out John decided to not contest the next election.
Catherine Ng has been the subject of a number of complaints within the town hall of harassment and abuse staff. Catherine is on the nose with many from the Chinese community she can not count on the level of support that was given to John So.

If Catherine can manage to secure more votes then Peter McMullin then yes she has a chance of becoming Melbourne's second Chinese born Lord Mayor. Catherine Ng is best placed in terms of the various preference deals that are on the table, she collects preferences from just about everyone, but I would not throw the IChing dice just yet.

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Melbourne's most Travelled Consolidated Travel Expenses Revealed

We reveal the list of the MOST TRAVELLED Councilors and Council Staff over the last four years of John So's rule.

Five of the top big spenders are candidates for the City Council election.

They include Gary Singer, Kevin Louey, Fiona Snedden, Brian Shanahan and Carl Jetter.

This is just the tip of the iceberg as the City Council's Creative Accounting prevents the real cost from being disclosed. The City Council staff go to extraordinary steps to avoid disclosure and accountability including the scam of pocketing QANTAS Frequent flyer points earnt by spending Council money. They are all in on the racket and QANTAS is the master fraudster/bag man.




City Council Big spenders over $10,000 in Overseas and Interstate travel

Name	Position	Total Cost	No of Days	No of Trips
Scott Chapman	Director Economic Development	$107,569.35	115	24
John So	Lord Mayor	$67,538.62	59	15
Geoff Lawler	Director sustainability and Regulatory Services	$59,478.31	63	14
David Pitchford	Chief Executive	$52,095.08	65	18
Fiona Snedden	Councillor	$46,337.52	53	8
Kevin Louey	Lord Mayor's Chief of Staff	$46,286.52	39	9
Gary Singer	Deputy Lord Mayor	$36,563.46	33	5
Linda Weatherson	Director Community and Culture	$32,051.69	32	7
Peter Chaffey	Knowledge Capital Executive	$28,039.16	32	5
Jane Sharwood	Manager, Melbourne International	$24,689.19	34	5
Brian Shanahan	Councillor	$22,492.63	57	5
Michael Anderson	Principle Project Officer Business.Development	$21,827.00	16	1
Kristy Taylor	Program Manager, Melbourne Destination Marketing	$18,249.28	13	2
Edgar Dong	Team Leader - Global	$15,820.68	39	3
Carl Jetter	Councillor	$14,873.86	22	2
Mark Drew	Manager - Customer & International Relations	$13,489.18	14	2
Tom Parker	Senior International Relations Coordinator	$12,740.81	56	5
Stella Zhang	Trade Advisor	$12,589.14	10	1
Colleen Lazenby	Manager Community Safety and Well being	$11,270.69	25	7
Keith Williamson	Manager Governance Services	$11,176.42	12	3
Trudy McPhee	Project Coordinator - Melbourne International	$11,170.12	33	2

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Club Melbourne QANTAS Frequent Flyers points paid for by Melbourne Rate Payers

The Herald Sun has reported that the City Council administrators have spent over 250,000 on overseas junkets this year. This is the tip of the Ice berg as many Overseas junkets have been hidden.

The City Council administrators also have another scam going which we reported on earlier. They ring up large sums of Council expenditure on their "personal" credit cards and have the Council pay off the cards but they collect massive QANTAS Frequent Flyer Points in the process. QANTAS has become the under the counter bride Airline. If it's not trying to bribe Police commissioners it is being used as a way of laundering corporate/government funds without fringe benefits tax. As the saying goes there is no such thing as a "free flight" lunch.

Council must put an end to the QANTAS Frequent Flyer scam but with Staff and Councillors all invloved there is little to no incentive to stop the rort which includes those at the top. QANTAS holds its Annual General Meeting on Friday in Brisbane.


$200,000 splurge on staff trips
Herald Sun - Ian Royall

JET-SETTING Melbourne City Council bureaucrats have spent more than $200,000 on overseas and interstate travel in just nine months this year.

The Town Hall staff have even earned frequent flyer points, racking up thousands of personal credits from the ratepayer-funded trips.

Melbourne's most-travelled employee is commerce and marketing director Scott Chapman, who has made five overseas and four interstate trips this year.

His $44,000 travel and accommodation bill includes flights to Britain, New York, Beijing, Osaka and Auckland.

In total, he spent more than a month away from Town Hall.

Mr Chapman's itinerary included a nine-day, $20,000 trip to New York for the G'Day USA conference in January.

Town Hall chief executive Kathy Alexander said Mr Chapman was invited to New York by the Victorian Government because capital city representation was critical.

Melbourne was also represented at trade and investment forums, and also helped to secure the Jersey Boys theatre production for Victoria.

"Melbourne can't remain a recognised international city without building extensive international relationships and maintaining them," Dr Alexander said.

Kevin Louey, Lord Mayor John So's chief of staff who is now running for council, flew to China, India and Japan on the city's Asian mission.

His bill reached $19,011.

Other trips included:

AN expert in IT flew to Las Vegas for an "online virtualisation conference".

A RESEARCH manager ran up a $6378 bill for a one-week jaunt to a "international regions benchmarking consortium" conference in Seattle.

ALMOST $15,000 was spent on sending community and culture director Linda Weatherston to New York to share information on homelessness.

The Town Hall staff total of $209,091 covered 125 separate trips between January and September.

Some trips were paid or part-paid by conference hosts, not the council.

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The vote is in the mail Melbourne voters who do not vote face $57 fine

Herald Sun

VICTORIAN councils are expected to reap millions of dollars from voters who fail to vote in next week's local elections.

Melbourne City Council voters have until 6pm on Friday to get their ballots to their returning officer, or they face a $57 fine.

Non-resident voters and voters older than 70 are not obliged to vote at council elections.

But if the Victorian Electoral Commission fines only 10 per cent of non-voters, councils could reap a revenue windfall of more than $2 million in fines. And some predict the sum may be higher.

On Friday evening, only 24 per cent of the ballot papers had been returned in the Melbourne Council election.

"We would normally expect about half the votes to in by now," Lord Mayoral candidate Peter McMullin said.

The VEC said yesterday it would not fine people whose ballot papers arrived on the Monday after the election, but their votes would not be counted.

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Double standards? The Age under review

The Age newspaper has published a review of Melbourne City Council Lord Mayor candidate Peter McMullin. (Copy below)

It raises some interesting questions but in the process it has also brought into question why the Age had not applied the same standard of questions and inquiry to other candidates? It most certainly has gone light on Robert Doyle who is seen as the favorite and most likely candidate to win the election. Likewise it failed to question the validity of the catch phrase "Keep politics out of politics" as it makes good media copy.

Robert Doyle, former State leader of the Liberal Party, has hardly been seen in this campaign. yet he is expected to win hands down on recognition factor alone. By Contrast Peter McMullin has attended all functions and all public events and by doing so has demonstrated a commitment to Melbourne and the seriousness of the campaign.

Running as an independent Peter McMullin has put together an impressive bipartisan professional team. His deputy lord mayor candidate Tim Wilson is a prominent conservative member of the Liberal Party and his lead candidate is Lord Mayor, John So's former chief of staff, Kevin Louey.

Peter McMullin, like other candidates who are seeking election, is also a long standing member of a political party - The Australian Labor Party (something he has not tried to hide).

The Australian Labor Party, along with the Liberal Party, have not endorsed candidates for the City Council election, yet Peter McMullin is coping flack for his party membership even though he is running unendorsed as an independent using his own resources and money.

The fact that McMullin's team is bipartisan gives testament to the level of his independence from party politics.

Nick Columb, Gary Singer, Gary Morgan and Catherine Ng have all criticised party involvement in Town Hall, even though each of them also have members of the major political parties on their teams. Nick Columb is supporting Fiona Snedden (Liberal), Gary Morgan is promoting Peter Clarke (Liberal), Catherine Ng's lead candidate is Brian Shanahan (Labor), Gary Singer's Ken Ong (Liberal).

The only political party that has endorsed candidates for election is the Greens. So why is it that Peter McMullin is the only one that comes under the spot light for his party membership?

As to the question of his wealth there are others running in the Council election who are much more wealthy then McMullin. Will Fowles, Gary Morgan, Nick Columb all have a few grand to throw away. The direct election model is expensive and without party backing someone has to pay the bills. The Greens have their party machine and a pool of cash handed them by the Government. Yes McMullin is not the ideal choice but in comparison he is the best of a bad lot.

The answer to the question of why has the Age gone light on other candidates? Who is paying Catherine Ng's bills? The answer to the Age go easy policy of support might be found in the fact that Catherine Ng has a very expensive graphic paid advertisment published on the Age online -displayed very prominently on the same page as the article in question. (Update: The Age has now removed Catherine Ng's ad which was displayed until 12:00 noon on Sunday)

McMullin firms for lord mayor role, but is he a little bit stale?
The Sunday Age

NEXT Sunday Melbourne will have a new lord mayor. There's barely a political commentator in the state brave enough to predict the winner - the city's electoral system is too quirky and the preference flows too unpredictable. But yesterday the bookie's favourite was a man called Peter McMullin.

So, who is Peter McMullin and what sort of lord mayor would he make?
...

McMullin has also secured two important endorsements, one from former premier Steve Bracks, who said he "couldn't think of a better person" to be the city's next mayor, and the other from Lord Mayor John So, who described McMullin as "someone I have always held in the highest regard".

Full text of article click

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Who should you vote for? Peter McMullin and Nick Columb should be your first and second choice for good governance

The issues are not which project or ideological dream is good. Every candidate has their pet projects.

The real key issue is corporate governance.
Who will hold them (the administration) to account? In this difficult economic time we believe there are only two candidate groups worthy of support - McMullin Wilson Melbourne's future or Nick Columb's Passion for Melbourne.

Peter McMullin has put together a by-partisan independent team of professionals. Nick Columb has hit the nail on the head with his passionate concern to put an end to the City Council's extravagance and waste.

We need a professional and effective Council who will put an end to the high spending feather bedding empire building. The administration must be held in check and held to account.

Both Peter McMullin and Nick Columb should be your first and second preference choice in this election. -

Voting closes 6PM Friday November 28.

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Columb's touch of relish in town hall street fight

Jo Chandler The Age
November 22, 2008
Photo: Vince Caligiuri

Nick Columb: In the race for lord mayor.

LORD mayoral aspirant Nick Columb might choke on the comparison, as he's no fan of the incumbent, but there's more than a touch of the John So's about his own history. Both are the sons of wealthy businessmen whose fortunes were lost to the march of communism — in So's case, it was the 1949 Chinese Revolution, while Columb's inheritance vanished when the Russians arrived in Romania at the end of World War II.

So's family were insulated by some investments that underwrote a new life in Hong Kong. The Columb family also fled to a new country, using the last of their money and connections first to buy his father's way out of a Bucharest jail in 1946 — "one key at a time" — and then to furnish a railway car with a secret compartment in which father, mother and infant Nick hid for the ride across the border to Austria, later travelling to France and, eventually, Australia.

John So and Nick Columb both ultimately capitalised on capitalism, accumulating new fortunes with the single-mindedness of so many migrant sons. But while So, who arrived in Australia as a 17-year-old student, never did get a handle on the language, Columb, who landed at Station Pier as a four-year-old speaking "Romanian, German with an Austrian accent, and French", lost no time acquiring a firm grasp of the Australian vernacular. "Get f---ed," he was famously quoted as telling a turf writer who second-guessed his horse Imposera's narrow 1988 Caulfield Cup win as he bolted to the mounting yard to collect the trophy.

Finally, John So was also considered a rank outsider for the job of Lord Mayor when he first won it in 2001.

Now the migrant melting pot of Melbourne has thrown up Columb as one of the 11 starters in the race to replace So in the job. "I think I'm a rough chance," says Columb over coffee at Southbank, a stroll from the city apartment that's been the nexus of his move into city politics.

In truth, he's more fancied than that and in terms he can appreciate. According to Sportingbet he's gone from 11-to-1 odds to now be ranked in third place behind the favourites — Labor-backed Geelong councillor Peter McMullin and former Liberal Party leader Robert Doyle. And no, says the long-time punter, he did not put money on himself, though he does admit to putting about $25,000 into his campaign.

So who is this dark horse?

Columb, 62, is no household name, though he's a player in sporting and business circles. Most of his adult life has been preoccupied with making money, losing it, and making it again. And with horses. He spent almost 20 years as chairman of the Thoroughbred Owners' Association. The only position he has held that might approximate to public office was as president of the Footscray Football Club. But as the man who signed the failed merger with Fitzroy in 1989, for many supporters his era was less than glorious.

Columb says his involvement with Footscray dates to his earliest days in Melbourne. The father of one of his kindergarten mates played for the reserves. "His mum would take Chris and I to the footy, and we'd watch his dad and meet Charlie Sutton and Teddy Whitton and all those blokes who became my heroes, and later in life became my friends. I remember going home to my mother and saying, 'I need you to knit me a jumper, red, white and blue'." She did, but got the colours in the wrong configuration. "I cried and cried apparently. She unravelled the jumper and she knitted it again."

Columb loves to spin a yarn, especially one that draws on the rich pickings of a varied life. Telling stories was his trade for a brief while, when he was a cadet journalist at the Herald, until his editor suggested he might be better off seeking his fortune somewhere other than newspapers. After a journey through public relations, he made his first pile capitalising on the '70s penchant for handicrafts by setting up a fair selling the wares of Eltham artisans out of a stadium in Albert Park. "In three days, 57,000 people came through, and they paid me $2 each. The chairman of BHP wasn't making that sort of money. So I was off."

It spun into a deal to manage and sell space on the prize wheel for Channel Nine that endured from the days of Graham Kennedy right though to Don Lane, and then to music expos that brought the youth market into the Exhibition Building in droves.

The empire grew to a pub, private hospitals and the magnificent Morning Star estate at Mount Eliza. Then, when the economy hit the skids in the early 1990s, the banks revalued the assets, called in the loans and it all fell over. "I went to bed a rich man, woke up a poor one."

He started over again, and in the past 15 years property development has largely underwritten a financial recovery, though never, he says, back to the scale of his earlier empire. Throughout it all, his distraction and passion were his horses. He's had 17 group one winners over the years. "I grew up watching horses and watching the old man have a bet, and that was where I guess I got the bug."

Why now, in his 60s, a different race? He says he's worried about city safety — "where I live, I hear screams, I see fights. It's not a safe city … As a 62-year-old, I can't walk up to town to have a plate of pasta and walk home at midnight. I can't."

He's also concerned about what he sees as the erosion of the power and relevancy of Town Hall, and the party political plays that occur there. Which is why he says he's putting his hand up for the job, as an independent.

His ticket essentially gave his preferences to Labor's Peter McMullin, and he was expecting a similar arrangement in return, which didn't happen. McMullin apologised. "That's like stabbing someone in the back and when you notice he's still alive, offering to pay his hospital bills," Columb said.

While he continues to deplore the party games, there's more than a touch of relish in his engagement in the city street fighting.

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VEC's contempt Bill Lang refuses to ensure that the conduct of the municipal election is open and transparent

The Victorian Electoral Commission is set to repeat some of the mistakes they made in 2006.

Bill Lang, Melbourne City Council’s Returning Officer, has refused calls for the Lord Mayor's election to be counted manually. There is no justification for a computerised data-entry count. A number of candidates in the election have supported the call for the count to be open and transparent.

If the computer count is to proceed then the VEC should presort ballot papers prior to batching them ready for data-entry.

Whilst there is nothing in the legislation that requires a presorting of the ballot, other then the obligation to ensure that the election is open and transparent, there is nothing that prevents the VEC from presorting ballot papers into primary votes, as is the case in Senate elections.

The election of Lord Mayor of Melbourne is expected to be close and the presorting of ballot papers would significantly assist in the orderly scrutiny of the ballot whilst maintaining an open and transparent counting of the ballot.

Without presorting of the ballot it is impossible to effectively scrutinise a computerised data-entry count of the election.

The Victorian State Parliament in its report on the Conduct of the 2006 Victorian State election had recommended that ballot papers be presorted prior to data entry. (See comments below for copy of extract from the Parliamentary Inquiry)

By refusing to initiate a presorting of the ballot papers the VEC has thumbed its nose at the State Parliament demonstrating its level of contempt and inability to self-regulate the conduct of the election in order to maintain an open and transparent electoral process.

A complaint has been forwarded to the Minister, Richard Wynne and the Victorian Parliamentary Electoral Review Committee.

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Seven days Less then 25% votes received back

With less then one week to go, as of Friday November 21, the VEC has received back for the City of Melbourne in the post 23844 envelopes. This is less then 25% of the number of voters on the roll.

Voting closes on Friday November 28 at 6:00PM Ballot papers must be received by the Returning Officer prior to this date and time

Bill Lang
Level 6, Council House
200 Little Collins Street
Melbourne VIC 3000
Phone: (03) 9639 0046

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Morgan Gallops towards the finish When your losing just go for it

Gary Morgan, eccentric millionaire with a twist, gave an impressive performance in the Herald Sun live blog. He powered through the hour answering more question then any other candidate and it was not just quantity, he answered over 52 questions, but also quality that counted.

Morgan who is running to support Peter Clarke in the Council election has published

One mailing and a small amount on printing. I've taken money from nobody.

Unlike Robert Doyle, Gary Morgan has attended all public functions and participated in the public debates. He was quick to attack Catherine Ng and Robert Doyle over their participation and attendance of meetings

[Comment From Tony] What do you say about Councillors who don't show up to council meetings like Catherine Ng? How will you raise the standard of our representation?

It's outrageous Cr Ng didn't attend the meetings. Particularly, as she was chairwoman of the building and town planning committee. I will request that all councillors attend, unless they have a genuine excuse - Robert Doyle hasn't attended many of the residential meetings over the [last] two weeks.

[Comment From coasting] Robert Doyle appears to be coasting to victory in this election, mainly on name recognition. Do you think it's right someone could be elected with little scrutiny?

You're correct. Blame the media. They have done a poor job in bringing the issues to the attention of the voters. He has to be favourite to win.

It is this last point that I particularly want to support "Blame the media"

The media has been rather remiss in not addressing the issues and being more critical of the various statements being made. The Age in particular has been appalling, pushing its hidden agenda and failing to publish or report faithfully replies to allegations made by Catherine Ng and others promoting a false ethos of "Keep Politics out of Politics."

Peter McMullin whilst a prominent member of the ALP is running unendorsed. He has put together an impressive team which crosses the political divide. His candidate for Deputy Lord Mayor, Tim Wilson, is a senior member of the Liberal Party.

Just because someone has a commitment to public debate and the political process does not preclude them or limit their ability to represent Melbourne. To the contrary it is in many ways an added bonus as they can bring to bear their considerable experience and networks into play to benefit the city.

Catherine Ng herself is promoting Brian Shanahan as her lead candidate. Brian Shannahan is a member of the ALP who prior to the campaign had supported the notion of ALP endorsement.

Yes Political parties should not endorse candidates in local government (The only party that has is the Greens) but that should not preclude or prevent any candidate who is an active member of a political party from participating in community affairs. It is a cheap shot and one that does not stand up to proper scrutiny. Scrutiny that the media has not provided.

Morgans comments are worth reading. I have a soft spot for the Morgan family, Gary's Morgan's brother, Geoff (now deceased) was a strong supporter of local issues and yours truly.

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Robert Who? Doyle Missing in Activation

No comment VEXNEWS

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Night Stalker Catherine Ng proposes city's museums, galleries and churches open 24 x7

Melbourne City may soon have a 24 hour Art Gallery and City Museum if Catherine Ng has her way.

In a desperate move to attract attention

Catherine Ng who is chairwoman of the City Council's planning committee has proposed that Melbourne Museum Art Galleys and Churches be open 24 hours a day so that Melbourne night life can benefit from the cultural and religious experiences. (Herald Sun) Cr. Ng failed to provide a costing for the proposal which came under criticism by other Candidates. Cr Peter McMullin, who is also chairman of the Melbourne Museum, said there Catherine Ng's is in cloud cuckoo land, "there is no demand for a at night opening of the Museum" which is situated in the Carlton Gardens.

Meanwhile scare tactics have infiltrated Gary Singer's campaign who came out and criticised proposed development of the Queen Victoria Market car park site. The QV site has long been the subject of proposed development and McMullins plan of action is not new but loNg over due. The Queen Victoria market was built on an early colonial settlement grave yard and if any development takes place any remains would be exhumed and reburied as was the case when the Market was first built.

Gary Singer like Catherine Ng are showing signs of desperation in promoting horror stories of "digging up dead" and their desire for more night life activity.

Could it be that Catherine Ng and Gary Singer are night crawlers and if so could be of great interest to Buffy?

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Cyberwar or Hanke panky Catherine Ng 's "Children Overboard" scam

War of words and a free plug for Catherine Ng.

The Age newspaper published yesterday a free campaign plug for Catherine Ng who has falsely claimed that her opponents had initiated a google cyber attack against her site.

Catherine Ng's claims are another example of the false and misleading statements of wrong doing that is being pumped out by her campaign director Ian Hanke - The Liberal Party "Spin doctor" who promoted the "Children Overboard" lie used to win votes for John Howard in 2004.

The Age, keen to promote Catherine Ng and cash in on the false and misleading statements, demonstrated an alarming lack of professionalism and bias in its reporting. If you look closely at the Google screen shot shown in the Age article you will notice on the right had side (slightly obscured) an ad placed by Gary Singer. The Age had deliberately sought to crop that out from the photo.

Catherine Ng's spin masters tired to make our and imply that there was some of hanke panky going on in cyberspace. The only Hanke panky is coming from Catherine Ng herself. So desperate is Catherine Ng to seek headlines and attract media attention to her campaign that she has stooped to making false claims. There is nothing wrong or underhanded in a person buying advertising space on the Internet. in fact is is very much apart of the free market economy and a open democratic society.

Gary Singer, Catherine Ng's running mate, admitted that he also had brought Google advertising space to promote for his campaign.

It should also be noted that both Ng and Singer also have placed ads using Google keywords.

Honesty overboard

Contrary to the statements published in the Age article hotlinks to Catherine Ng and Gary Singer's web sites appear more regularly then they do for Peter McMullin who has been the target of envy, dirty ticks and lies by the Singer and Ng camps.

A simple Google search on the keyword "Lord Mayor" shows that all three candidates appear in the Google hot links page, proving that the statements made by both Ng and Singer that their ads only appear when you do a Google on their names are false.

False statements or deliberate lie published in The Age dirty tricks campaign?:

Cr Singer has an ad on Google. But like Cr Ng's, his ad only appears when his name is typed.

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Doyle Puppertry Candidate failed to turn up (again) to face the press

Melbourne City Council, front runner and celebrity candidate, Robert Doyle failed to front up to the Press Council's grill the candidates' breakfast.

Doyle's absence and lack of commitment to the City election has been a notable talking point throughout the campaign. By not turning up to meetings and public events Robert Doyle has avoided public scrutiny and questioning over his leadership and policies for Melbourne. The level of contempt shown by Robert Doyle seriously undermines confidence in the the direct election of Lord mayor.

Robert Doyle has been a silent puppet candidate with his Deputy candidate, Susan Riley, pulling the strings. Susan Riley was John So's former Deputy Lord Mayor before being dumped by John So in favour of Gary Singer.

He has thumbed his nose at the people of Melbourne and expects to be elected Lord Mayor on the strength of his name alone. Robert Doyle's lack of participation and minimial activity in the campaign does nothing to support his billboard campaign slogan "Activate Melbourne".

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Questions of Law pollster calls halt to illegal election

Never to let a chance go by Pollster and wana-be Lord Mayor candidate Gary Morgan today called into question the legality of the City Council election. Claiming that over 20,000 corporate representatives had been added to the roll without their consent. How much of this claim, like the recent hype of Catherine Ng who falsely declared a Cyber war, was designed to attract some free media is unknown.

Herald Sub - Hamish Heard
November 19, 2008 04:25pm

OUTSPOKEN mayoral candidate Gary Morgan called today for the election to be cancelled, claiming 15,000 voters were illegally enrolled.

At a meet-the-candidates breakfast at The Hotel Windsor this morning, Mr Morgan said Melbourne Council had added about 20,000 corporate representatives to the electoral roll in the lead-up to the election based on information gleaned from ASIC.

However, only about 5000 had been properly authorised with signed consent forms, Mr Morgan told the Melbourne Leader.

“Under the Local Government Act electoral regulations it says that enrolment applications must include a written, signed declaration that verifies they are the owner, occupier or authorised company representative and that they consent to the application,” Mr Morgan explained after the Press Club breakfast.

“I have very good legal advice that this is illegal and we will write to (Victorian Electoral Commission returning officer) Bill Lang and ask to have consent forms available to our scrutineers and we’ll check every signature.

“If they dont all have consent forms the only fair thing would be to have another election.”

Ten of the 11 candidates for Lord Mayor were questioned by journalists and other interested parties at the breakfast, with less than a week before the close of voting.

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Boys with Toys VEC denies Melbourne the opportunity to effectively scrutinise the election of Lord Mayor

The Victorian Electoral Commission to is set to deny proper and effective scrutiny of the Municipal ballot - setting the scene for a repeat of the mistakes made in conduct of the 2006 State Election.

The Victorian Electoral Commission intends on using a computerised counting system to count single-member electorates and in the process will limit opportunity for the proper and detailed scrutiny of the ballot which in turn brings the electoral system into disrepute.

There is no justification for a the use of a computerised count for single-member electorates or the City of Melbourne 'Lord Mayor' Leadership Team.

In multi-member electorates a computerised count can assist in the filling of casual vacancies but there is no advantage in conducting a computerised count for single-member elections. Any savings in time comes at the expense of the scrutiny of the ballot. We could very much see a repeat of the mistakes made by the Victorian Electoral Commission during the 2006 State Election. In many cases it is quicker to count the ballot manually tehn by a data-entry tabulation.

Unlike the State Election the Victorian Electoral Commission will not pre-sort ballot papers into primary votes before subjecting the ballots to a computerised data-entry count.

The process adopted by the Victorian Electoral Commission is akin to the three shells and a pea used by con artists. A ball is placed and hidden under a shell and then the shells are rotated and mixed-up and the punter has to guess which shell the pea is under.

Ballot papers will be randomly collated and batched before preferences are transcribed and data-entered into a computer. Whilst scrutineers will have the limited opportunity to observe the data-entry process they will not be able to effectively observe all ballot papers.

The quality of the count would be better if single-member electorates where counted manually as it provides more opportunity for the proper scrutiny of the ballot. By pre-sorting the ballot papers into primary votes scrutineers can follow the count and focus their attention on the votes that count. The randomisation of the data-entry process prevents the proper scrutiny of the ballot.

The Victorian Electoral Commission does not use a system of double entry validation, instead they use what is referred to as random sampling quality checking. This system has a number of short comings which is unacceptable where the results of the election are likely to be close.

Radom sampleing is fine in a manufatoring process, where strict control is not required but it would be unaceptable for a bank to use a random sampling process in the counting of money. It is also unacceptable in the counting of votes.

The time and resources required to undertake a computerised count for single-member electorates is the same, if not more, then a manual counting process. More important is that the quality of the count and the scrutiny of the ballot is significantly reduced as a result of a computerised count.

The use of a computerised counting system for single-member elections is a case of Boys with Toys.

The Victorian Electoral Commission has spent millions of dollars duplicating resources and developing a computerised counting system. having spent allthis money dupolicating systems atht are already used by the Australian Electoral Commison the VEC consider it is necessary to use the computersied counting software even though the results and savings in the process are minimal if not worst.

A computerised counting system should not be used for single member electorates.

Where a computerised count is undertaken, ballot papers should be pre-sorted into primary votes before being transcribed and data-entered into a computerised counting system.

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Going Solar A shadow of doubt and practicality hangs over the Greens

The Greens candidature for the City of Melbourne centers around a catch phrase of "A solar panel on every roof" delivering renewable energy for Melbourne.

Whilst the push for clean renewable energy is a worthy cause issues of practicality make it impossible to install a solar panel on every roof. Most of inner Melbourne with the exception of the tallest buildings are in shadow. Solar panels just would not work in a high density built environment. What happens if you or your neighbors invest in the installation of a solar system and a building near-by is later built that casts a shadow across your roof, do you have the right to claim or seek compensation for the loss of sunlight. Melbourne's planning scheme provides for four hours of sunlight at the equinox and in many circumstances in the inner city this is not achievable. The Solar dream is just that. A dream limited by the practical realities of physics more so then political policy. The City Council's luxury six star administration building itself has failed to deliver in the promises with many features of the building's design not living up to expectations or functionality. An independent building performance audit should be undertaken and less self adulation and promotional activity. But that would place another dent in the City Council's reputation of competence and an honest performance appraisal is beyond comprehension.

The Greens are not in a winning position to secure the Lord mayoralty but they will secure a seat at the Council table. Hopefully the Green's will make a positive contribution to Melbourne's future development but ideology should not supersede or dictate realities on the ground or as the case may be "up on the roof".

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Pumping the parish Melbourne 's want-a-be clowns star lineup

Melbourne City Council hopefuls met last night for auditions for who will be elected and who will eliminated. Voters had a chance to attend one of two public meetings held within the City (Kensington and Carlton)

Less then 100 people attended the Carlton "All Nations Church" most of tyhose in attendance were directly connected with various campaigns. It was difficult to know who, if any, where truely undecided in who they will vote for.

Most punters will decide who they will support based on political alliances and or the statements published in the information instruction booklet that has been set out with ballot papers. Reports in the Herald-Sun have indicated that there is a delay in the dispatch and delivery of ballot papers with many voters reporting that they had yet to receive their ballot papers for the City Council election. Somay voters have not been engaged in the campaign.

Ballot papers must be received by the Victorian Electoral Commission before 4:PM on Friday November 28.

The meeting in Carlton, whilst not that well attended, was never the less informative. If anything it provided an opportunity to meet face to face the candidates for office. The focus of the meeting was generally on the position of Lord mayor with little to no attention given to the Council representatives who are seen as secondary support acts not not the main game.

One of the greatest problems with the current City of Melbourne electoral model is that candidates that nominate for the "leadership team" of Lord mayor and Deputy Lord mayor are in a win or lose election. If they win they are handed the keys to the Limousine and have the right to wear the gold chains and robes of office if they lose they have no opportunity to directly contribute to the cities governance.

The choice of who is elected Lord Mayor is not based on ability, questions of good governance or even policies of the various candidates. Most punters will decide who to support based on public perception and popularity not policies. Many of the Lord mayoral candidates no not have well thought out or detailed policies of governance. Will Fowles "A fresh approach" is still to publish his policies on his web site.

Catherine's Policy of Opposition

Incumbent hopeful Catherine Ng had difficulty after seven years at the helm, in justifying her position. She put forward a range of pet projects and which included a planned Town Hall campaign of opposition to the Labor State Government in 2010. Who whe was proposing to support was not clear. If you listened and believe what Catherine Ng had to say all the faults and problems facing the City where problems of State administration and that her failure to deliver on governance issues and representation did not come into consideration.

Catherine Ng, once again, was in denial about her refusal to subject the City Council to open public review of its representational model. Catherine, along with other candidates, paid lip service and supported a public review of the system sometime in the next term of office, but she failed to explain why on three previous occasions she rejected outright proposals for a public review to take place prior to current election.

Clearly there is an overwhelming need to review Melbourne representational model. Having to endure another four years of poor representation before a review is implements does not instill confidence in the existing incumbent councillors.


Professionalism versus adversarial politics.

Of the nights performances two candidates' political forces stood out as being the only candidates worthy of support.

The star performers would have to have been Nick Columb and Peter McMullin's future team. The rest just fell by the wayside.

Both Nick Columb and Peter McMullin team presented two different and diametrically opposed approaches to governance.

Compliance and perpetuation of much the same with added professionalism.

Peter McMullin has put together an experienced and diversified team capable of working closely with State Government to deliver certain outcomes for the City's future, although they did not come across at the meeting as a dynamic team they are never the less a team worthy of consideration an their campaign is extensive and costly. If you believe that Local government can best meet the needs of ratepayers, residents and business by working closely with the State Government then McMullin is your best choice.

Adversarial polices for Melbourne

If you believe that the role of Local government is to act independent and in an adversarial role then Nick Columb is a candidate that deserves consideration. Nick has provided a fresh, articlulate and passionate campaign even if he is short on campaign funds. He has pulled no punches and calls a spade a spade following the long held tradition of Australian parish politics of old. He was not proposing a people's uprising nor was he proposing compliant subordination to Spring Street or pandering to the wishes of the governing tenants of town hall. If elected Nick Columb would provide an interesting four years to come, his style of leadership would be colorful and as vibrant as Melbourne's Spring Carnival. His forthright criticism of the waste and exuberance in town hall and his manner of doing business gave a clear indication that he was more then capable of advocating a change in direction for the City of Melbourne.

Doyle a familiar dud

The award for dud candidate for the night would go to Robert Doyle's "Activivate" team. Robert Doyle continues to demonstrate his lack of commitment to Melbourne. Doyle did not turn up to either the Carlton or Kensington meetings, instead he left the campaign to be run by his Deputy Lord mayoral candidate Susan Riley. Susan Riley, who was John So's first Deputy Lord mayor back in 2001-2004 (before John So dumped her for Gary Singer) was one of the worst Deputy Lord mayors in Melbourne's history. Her groups policies of reopening Swanston street and building the Edditington tunnel are at complete odds with the direction Melbourne has been heading.

Doyle's "billboard campaign" relys solely on the recognition factor, Doyle is the most well known of all candidates. The fact that he is considered favourite to win highlights one of the greatest problems of the direct election system. It is about recognition not polcies or ability. A tell tale saign of dislike for fpoyule's nomination is the fact that all candidates in this election have placed Doyle last or low on their HTV cards.

Nick Columb summed up more or less the prevailing opinon "Robert Doyle is the sort of person you do not want as Lord mayor". His lack of commitment to this election demonstrates why he failed as opposition leader in 2002 and why, as Nick Columb puts it, "failed politicians should not be allowed to be elected to Town Hall".

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Melbourne City Council Consolidated Councillor Expense Statements 2 December 2004 to 30 September 2008

Note: The above Consolidated expense statement graph does not include an estimated $710,739.72 (John So, Lord Mayor) and $162,049.42 Garry Singer , Deputy Lord Mayor) associated with the cost of proving Limousines for their personal use. The Councillor expense statements also do not include the costs of internal catering, free booze and support staff, which would add a further estimated 400,000-800,000 dollars to the rate payers tab.

Missing (estimated) Local Travel Costs from December 2004 to July 2008(based on last quarter)
$66,694.88 (John So, Lord Mayor) and
$43,540.56 (Garry Singer, Deputy Lord Mayor) for the private use of Council funded Limousines.

Plus

Estimated additional costs (not included above) for the Lord Mayor and Deputy Lord Mayor's Local Travel expenses over four years

Item	John So	Gary Singer
	Lord Mayor	Deputy Lord Mayor
Driver	$500,000.00
Registration	$4,000.00	$4,000.00
Insurance	$6,000.00	$6,000.00
Depreciation/lease	$50,000.00	$50,000.00
Total additional est. costs	$710,739.72	$162,049.42

The 1999 Auditors report called on the City Council to make a budget allocation for Councillor expenses and to report on the YTD so as to facilitate budget monitoring of Councillor Expenses

A budget was set for one year but subsequently reporting of budget YTD comparison has been dropped. Reasons unknown. Councillor expenses have an unlimited budget that comes from the general administration budget.

The City Council, on the motion of Carl "Junket and local travel reporter' Jetter refused to provide back dated Council expense statements for the Lord Mayor and Deputy Lord Mayor's Local Travel - the value published in the last quarter expense statements does not include the costs listed above. Carl Jetter claims his full costs for the use of City Link against the City Council (Even costs associated with private travel by the looks of it. Gary Singer has 100% of his vehicle costs paid for by the City Council including free petrol, insurance,registration, service and depreciation costs. There are questions as to his entitlement to receive this benefit as the the limousine which is also used for personal travel.

The extent that the Council administration will go to to avoid detailed disclosure of Council expenses (You scratch my back and they will scratch yours) never ceases to amaze. This culture of cover-up demonstrates how corrupt and unreliable the Council expense statements are. It is an embarrassment to the Council Auditors who have to endured such unprofessional conduct.

Below a revised comparative graph which includes estimated costs associated with the Lord Mayors and Deputy Lord Mayor (Excluding costs associated with the Lord Mayor's chauffeur [$500,000.00] and Cr Sneddon's child care [$31,898.66])

For a detailed break down and copy of the data table - click here (pdf)

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Doyle campaign blog suffers from technical difficulty

The planned Herald-Sun Live blog with Melbourne City Council Lord Mayor candidate Robert Doyle was hampered by technical difficulty. the blog was supposed to commence at 2PM today. The link proved by the Herald Sun failed to work.

It is unknown if the fault was due to Robert not showing up or if the Herald Sun just stuffed up. It happens.

Roberts live blog was arrange at short notice Robert had originally refused to participate.

Maybe it was cancelled as a result of a policy free zone... No sign or advertisment

UPDATE BLOG IS NOW LIVE Started late.

Running commentary:

Negative campaign comments

2:16 [Comment From Debbie]
I have received a lot of negative stuff on Cr Ng. I don't like grubby politics in local government. Was that from you? What will you do to make sure all councillors get along in the best interests of this city? Given you have a background in partisan politics (ie as opposition leader), how can you deal with all councillors in a non-partisan way. The Greens will surely go bananas if you get elected?

Robert's response:

Thanks Debbie. It certainly wasn't from me and I make the public pledge that I will only campaign positively. I won't comment on other candidates' campaigns nor will I stoop to negative smear campaigns. I deplore them and I always have. One of the reasons I'm putting my hand up for this job is that I want leave partisan politics behind. Although I belong to a political party of course, I am standing as Robert Doyle with my Activate Melbourne team and I am receiving no support in any way from the Liberal Party. Partisan politics has no place at our Town Hall. I hope I do have the skills to get councillors to work together. We are, after all, there for all of you, not for us. Will I be successful? I'll give it my best shot. As for the Greens, I'm happy to work with them and I hope they would want to work with whoever was the lord mayor.

Robert must have a very short memory (Maybe he has been drinking again over lunch) I recall a very angry Nick Columb commenting on Robert Doyle's negative smear campaign against Nick Columb.


Eddington's Cross City Tunnel

2:21 [Comment From Julianne Bell]
Robert The previous Council voted unanimously to oppose the road tunnel through inner Melbourne, as proposed under the Eddington Review. The community is overwhelmingly opposed to the tunnel which will - if constructed - destroy Royal and Holland Parks plus result in compulsory alienation of homes. Will you attempt to overturn the decision by the previous Council given you are pro tunnel?

Reply:

I am pro East-West links, Julianne. The model on the table now is the Eddington proposal which I understand the council originally supported, then opposed. I think government would understand that while an east-west solution was required - whether that is at-grade tunnel or rail link it needs to be successful in reducing traffic congestion but also of minimal disruption to existing parkland. So, for instance, is the brickworks and alternative to Holland Park? These would be complex and lengthy negotiations with representations to state government. One final note: given the state of the economy and the withdrawal of a number of private enterprise firms from ppp infrastructure projects, I would seriously enter discussions with the state government about whether this was still on the agenda at all.

Where is the cost benefit analysis? Little wonder Robert did not become premier of Victoria

Scrape the Direct Election of Lord Mayor:

2:26 [Comment From Side show ally]
The same question asked to McMullin before.. The direct election model for Lord Mayor has failed to deliver good governance and has become a side show where only well healed multi-millionaires or celebrities can afford to run for office. What is your policy and what steps will you take to get rid of the direct election system and return Melbourne to a system where the Lord Mayor is elected and held accountable by the City Council?

Reply:

I think there are strengths in the system of direct election of the lord mayor, although I concede that a weakness that it could become a plaything of the wealthy. However, in council-elected mayoral contests, I have seen more grubby, backroom, non-transparent back-scratching than you can spoke a stick at. It is rarely a meritocracy and, by the way, you don't get a clear vision and understanding of what the city's leader stands for.

What is his policy? For or against or is he also in a policy vacuum? Looks like he is trying to have it both ways. Non committal and lost for ideas.

Junkets are us

2:30 [Comment From Melbcity]
Susan Riley and Carl Jetter, both on your team, were the City of Melbourne's highest spending and most travelled Councillors. Susan Riley, as John So's Deputy Lord Mayor, spent over $20,000 on a junket visit St Petersburg. Will you reign in the costs and number of overseas trips spent on junkets and will you scape the LM limo or can we expect more or less the same as under John So.

Response:

No junkets.

Again non commital and avoidance. he failed to address the question on scraping the Limo aand other questions aksed about Free Booze at counil functions.

Columb bun fightcome to the focus.

2:31 [Comment From Preferences]
There seems to be a bun fight between you and Nick Columb over preferences. Wht happened that caused such this fight?

Doyle's reply:

No good crying over spilt milk. I have made the commitment that I will campaign positively and I won't campaign on other candidates or their campaigns. I hate the negative stuff. With me, my word is my bond. When I say will do something, then I will do it.

See above comment and link

Policing Melbourne

2:35 [Comment From Brian Constable]
Dear Mr Doyle, I was at the Police/Safety Seminar on Monday night and listened to everyone's comments and I think it was Mr McMullin who said that he was going to use Council funds to pay for extra police in the city - Is this possible?

Reply:

I do not believe it is. No lord mayor can promise you more police in the city. Not even the police minister can do that. Police Command decides. However, I believe we can make convincing arguments to police: we can provide infrastructure to support police; can police return the academy graduates, probationary constables who used to spend their first month in the city back to these duties rather than scattering them throughout Victoria? This would give us 50 to 60 more police every month. Finally, senior police tell me that police now do 25 per cent less foot patrols thatn they did in 2000-01. Can we return to those levels of visible proactive policing through more administrative support for those officers, or conceding that security and safety in our streets and homes is such a critical issue, can we make visible policing our No. 1 priority until we get the problems under control. To me, those uniforms are a deterrent to crime. But they have to be seen on our streets

Open Street Policy

2:40 [Comment From Marco]
Why on earth do you want to open Swanston St up to traffic? That is one of the nuttiest ideas I've heard during this campaign. A good city is one that is pedestrian, cyclist and public transport friendly. Why this regressive policy?

Reply:

Swanston St is a failed experiment, Marco. It still has cars, trucks and of course trams as well as frequent taxi and courier traffic. Melbourne is not laid out like a European city around a central square. Our forefathers were not nutty when the city grid design shaped our CBD. The corollary of what you suggest would lead to even greater traffic congestion in Melbourne and begs the question of how we are going to cope when there are 1 million people a day coming into the city. The answer has to lie in a range of solutions - public transport, bicycle, pedestrian, car and motorcycle. Why would we choke one of the major arteries of our city?

Meeting Attendance

2:51 [Comment From jane]
What will you do to ensure councillors attend council meetings. Catherine Ng said here that she'd only attended 50% of them. Is that good enough?

Reply:

2:52 Jane, my expectation is that councillors attend unless there is an urgent or legitimate reason like an emergency.

Cost of campaign

2:52 [Comment From campaign]
Who is paying for your campaign? How much are you spending?

Reply:

2:54 My campaign is being paid for by donation and fund-raisers. That will be transparently and completely declared at the end of the campaign, whether I am successful or not.

What part of the question did Robert not understand. Like Peter McMullin he failed to outline how much he was spending and who was picking up the tab. As they say there is no such thing as a free lunch

Missing Campaign

2:54 [Comment From Gianni]
I live in Carlton and have seen none of your material, do you not care about the residents?

Reply:

2:55 Hello Gianni. I'm afraid I do not have the budget to deluge you with materials, but you will certainly be receiving a letter from me in the next couple of days. One of my Activate Melbourne team is Luciano Bini, a long-time Carlton resident and identity who was instrumental in beginnign Spoleto and the Lygon St Festa, and he brings a wealth of Carlton experience to our team

Ballots are out there and his promises are still in the mail...

Business as usual

2:57 [Comment From Charles Oscar]
Hi Robert, what role do you see the City of Melbourne playing in promoting Melbourne as a place to invest and do business? cheers Charles

Reply:

2:59 Hello Charles. This is one of the most critical questions facing us, particularly as we head for what may be a recession. There are models around the world - New York, London, Singapore - which fulfill this function for cities in a way far superior to what we are doing. It can be done within the existing resources of the City of Melbourne. This will be my major policy release for this weekend, and we will announce our plan on Sunday. It will be called the Melbourne Economic Development Agency

Mosquing Melbourne

3:03 [Comment From Jonathan]
Do you support plans to construct a mosque in Melbourne?

Reply:

3:03 I don't know of any such plans, Jonathan.

Not well informed of the issues. A mosque shoudl be sujevcted to the normal planning process as would apply to another development. No more and no less.

Monumental Advances

3:04 [Comment From Jeff]
Do you support the erection of a statue commemorating Jeff Kennett's service to Victoria?

Reply:

3:06 Hello Jeff! (only kidding) Premiers who serve a nominated period of time have a statue erected outside 1 Treasury Place. Unfortunately Jeff did not quite make it but I'm still very proud of the acheivements of his government, particularly during the first term, 1992-96, and getting the state back on its feet, restoring our pride.

Anna fan

3:09 [Comment From Anna]
I hope you win! I am a huge fan...we desperately need a change :)

Reply:

3:10 Thanks Anna. I think this is a great place to end my first blog experience. Thank you to everybody who wrote in, and sorry that we had more questions than we could answer, even going a few minutes overtime. Robert.

He started late.

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McMullin's mullings Avoidance and deception

Peter McMullin's Herald-Sun Live blog was uninspiring. Below highlghted extracts

Side Show Alley

12:14 [Comment From Side show ally]
The direct election model for Lord Mayor has failed to deliver good governance and has become a side show where only well healed multi-millionaires or celebrities can afford to run for office. What is your policy and what steps will you take to get rid of the direct election system and return Melbourne to a system where the Lord Mayor is elected and held accountable by the City Council?

McMullin failed to elicit on his position of support for the side show direct election circus by avoiding the question his pathetic

His reply was:

12:16 I am on the record as supporting a review of the election model and boundaries which needs to be independent. The City of Melbourne's model should be reviewed every two terms like every other council in Victoria

The question was what is his position? What action will he take to scrape the direct election system.

Car Parking at Queen Vic.

12:27 [Comment From Shayne]
It's impossible to get a park at the Vic Market on Saturdays especially. The last council did nothing about this. Will you do anything?

McMullin's reply

One of my proposals, Shayne, is to underground the car park to increase the level of parking and increase the parkland in that area. I propose that the underground car park be linked to Flagstaff station and a travelator installed to make it easier for shoppers and visitors to Melbourne to use public transport getting to our wonderful Queen Victoria Market.

Why would you build a carpark in the city and connect the car park via a travelator to the train!! Ummm...if they are travelling by public transport why would they want to visit a carpark? The main issue and problem with an underground carpark or shopping center at Vic Market is the graveyard. There has been a long standing proposal to construct a dry goods/supermarket on the carpark site. Never happens.

There were a number of Dorthy Dixers about the Green's policy on closing down Melbourne's elite schools and the like...

Accessible Council

12:55 [Comment From listening]
Steve Bracks has endorsed you and I always thought he listened to the people. But the council structure makes that quite difficult in my view because we don't get a local councillor we can talk to. What can you do to ensure the council is accessible?

Reply:

am quite humbled by the fact that the former premier Steve Bracks has endorsed me to be the next lord mayor. I have committed to supporting a review of the current representation arrangements.

Again McMullin avoided the question and failed to provide and solutions or policies.

Campiagn Cost and funding

1:04 [Comment From Accountability needed]
How much are you spending on your campaign and where is the money coming from?

Reply:

I am funding my own campaign. We have had a couple of fund-raising events which have been well supported. It is an expensive campaign because communicating with 100,000 voters is a big job. It's worth it because I'm passionate about Melbourne.

Missing was "How much was his campiagn costing him". Under Victoria''s electoral laws McMullin, Win or Lose, will be required to disclose in fill all campaign costs .


In closing Peter McMullin said

1:11 My blog time has come to an end. Sorry I didn't get to all your questions but thank you for them all. I hope to be an approachable and accessible lord mayor. If you would like more information please do not hesitate to contact me via our website www.petermcmullin.com.au Thank you. Peter.

Question unanswered

We submitted the following question early on the live blog buit the question was never published...

Peter, In 1996 you were elected to the City of Melbourne on a community platform
opposed to the development of the Museum in the Carlton Gardens. Within months
of being elected you capitulated, cow-tailed and backed down to the then Kennett
State Government (even going so far as refusing to call on the State Government
to subject the Museum development to a proper planning process - A once in a
life time opportunity lost to Melbourne)

What guarantees and commitment will you make that you will act independently and not cave in and back down to pressure by the State Government when push comes to shove and Melbourne's future is at risk?

Which brings into question the moderators policy of selective sensorship.

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Under Pressure Doyle backs down and agrees to live blog

Robert Doyle, who earlier this week was criticised for running a half committed billboard 3AW only campaign has backed down under pressure. Having previously refused to participate in the Herald Sun live blog Robert Doyle will follow Peter McMullin in answering readers questions. Could it be that Doyle wanted to make sure he could chose his time slot as opposed to being subject to the luck of the draw?

Interested participants can logon to the Herald Sun live blog

Peter McMullin 12:00 to 13:00

Robert Doyle 14:00 to 15:00

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Betting on the outcome Odds have swung on the expected results of the Lord Mayor's race

Sportingbet Australia have made a surprising change in the odds on offer for the outcome of the Lord Mayors Race, just as the Melbourne leader publishes a story on the Sportingbet's "A" list candidates.

Prior to today Sportingbet had Peter McMullin (3.25), Robert Doyle (3.5) and Catherine Ng (3.8) listed as the favourites to win the Melbourne Spring Carnival closing event.

For reasons unknown the "A" list of candidates has changed overnight. Racing identity, Nick Columb (4.2 up from 11.0) has come from behind and overtaken Catherine Ng (5.0 down from 3.8) who has lost ground. Robert Doyle remains steady on 3.5 with Peter McMullin (3.4 down from 3.25) dropping slightly in his lead as the gap narrows.

The reason for this change of odds is unexplained as are the positioning in the betting table.

Could Nick Columb and his mates down at the track know something we don't?

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Sail me a river Gary Singer river cruising

Here is another example of the hypocrisy coming from the John So team looking to become Melbourne's Next Lord Mayor.

Singer wants to "engage the community" in consultation and feasibility studies to establish a River ferry service up the Yarra.

The idea of a Bayside ferry has been around before.It is not new, but always gets an airing come election time. Melbourne is not Sydney nor is it Brisbane. A Bayside ferry service from Frankston to Melbourne and Williamstown to Docklands has some merit But does it need to travel up the Yarra to Crown Casino?

The environmental and safety effects of a high speed river transportation service is prohibitive for a river the size of the Yarra. But hey Singer needs something to get his name out and about town.

Gary Singer's proposal for a river ferry service one the Yarra has not been well thought out or researched. Why has it taken him so long to come out and promote this issue? He has been on Council for four years. It's just another electoral pipe-dream to try and make Singer look good.



Singer is only interested in consulting when it suits his agenda and not the electorate.

Whilst Singer claims he is all for community consultation, like Catherine Ng, Singer thrice refused to allow the community the opportunity to consult and review Melbourne's representative model. Thrice he and his team voted against consultation and refused to calling on the State Government to include the City of Melbourne into the formal review process. Every other Municipal Council is required to undertake a review every second term. WHY NOT MELBOURNE?

This will be Singer's farewell swan song and I guess a bottom of the Yarra scheme is well suited to his professional experience. (See Singer trust 1 2 )

Singer is expected to attract no more then 5% of the vote. He is in effect a stooge candidate to collect preferences for Catherine Ng.

3AW - Media Player

Click here if media player does not play

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Your vote is in the mail Calls for review of Victorian Municipal election system

Ongoing public concern has been expressed at Victoria's Municipal Postal voting system and its susceptibility to voter fraud. Herald Sun Ian Royall


Mayoral candidate Gary Morgan said the current system was open to manipulation.

Signatures, names and addresses on the back of ballot papers are checked by election officers, but there is no way of verifying signatures, he said.

Claims of people collecting bulk ballot papers dogged the city election in 2004, but nothing was proven.

Calls for an electoral review for the City of Melbourne fell on deaf ears this year. The council thrice rejected such motions, and the State Government was unmoved.

Cr Ng, who voted against a review, yesterday said she supported an inquiry into the current system.

The Melbourne Business Council has also said the city should return to attendance voting.


Melbourne City Councillors had thrice called for a review of the Council's electoral system and thrice John So and his team , including Lord Mayor candidates Catherine Ng and Gary Singer, rejected a review preferring to leave the system wide open to abuse.

A number of candidates have taken up the issue of Melbourne governance but many have been silent.

Governance is what the Council should be about. It is what prevents the Council from being corrupt. The electoral process is a fundamental part of governance,

There is no need for a Postal voting system. A vaste majority of electors live within the state of Victoria and with the implementation of a single "election day" it should be possible for every Victorian to cast a ballot for their Local Council.if they do not live in the municipality they should be entitled to cast an absentee vote anywhere in Victoria. Electoral officers should be able to verify the identity of the person claiming to vote and in the process prevent voter fraud. Those persons who reside outside of Victoria or who are unable to attend on election day should have the opportunity to either cast a pre-poll ballot or a postal vote.

Many voters will be disenfranchised as a result of the system put in place by the Victorian State Government

Voters are expected to attend a voting center expecting to cast an absentee vote only to discover that the ballot has already closed. Not enough has been done by the Victorian Electoral Commission to ensure that voters are made aware of the different closing dates.

Under the current system voting in Municipalities that have adopted a postal voting system will close on Friday, November 28 where Municipalities that maintain attendance voting will close on Saturday November 29. Australia normally goes the polls on a Saturday and the early closing of postal ballots will result in a significant number of Victorian being disnefranches and their vote not counted. the Victorian Electoral Commission should have advocated for postal votes to close on the Monday following the Saturday Election date not one day before.

The State Government have known of the potential problems that will arise on voting day but have done little to nothing to address the issues. Much more could have and should have been done.

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Robert Doyle Coasting to victory

Is Robert Doyle serious about his campaign to be Melbourne's next Lord Mayor?

Doyle expects to win the race for the gold chains, robes and keys to the limo by laying low. He has a policy of non-engagement expecting that his name is well known that we will be able to win the election without doing a thing other then talk to 3AW Neil Mitchell.

The Herald Sun on Remembrance day published an article on Melbourne's missing Candidate in which Robert Doyle came under fire`for his blaze-affair approach to the City Council election. Robert Doyle is the only candidate for Lord Mayor to not participate in the Herald Sun Live blog. if he is not pout there campaigining then the voters will have no opportunity to evaluate his candidature.

Robert Doyle hopes that his name alone will see him secure enough preferences that he will skate across the line as other candidates fall by the wayside.

Lord Mayor Candidate Nick Columb came out and attacked Doyle for his grabby politics and false claims that the Age and Neil Mitchel were supporting his campaign. A claim that Neil Mitchell firmly denied.

Robert's campaign is a paste them up bill-board promotion. His campaign is being run by Doyle's Deputy Lord Mayor Candidate Susan Riley and "Jetset" Carl Jetter" both who are associated with John So's team. Susan Riley was John So's Deputy Lord Mayor between 2001 and 2004. She holds the record as being the most travelled non productive deputy Lord Mayors in the history of Melbourne. Carl Jetter's Qantas frequent flyer account is not far behind.

The fault lies in Melbourne's model of directly elected Lord Mayor. It does not provide effective good governance or accountability. It should have been reviewed but John So and his team refused to support a call for the City Council to be subjected to a representative review. WHY?

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Columb Nics Doyle in the butt Neil Mitchell 3AW Interview

Colorful Nick Columb calls a spade a spade and a Doyle a dude. He correctly highlights the shortcomings of Doyle's campaign and his suggestion that Doyle is supported by Radio joke Neil Mitchell.

Doyle does not deserve the job of Melbourne Lord Mayor.

Herald Sun Live Blog - Nick Columb

12:33 [Comment From Robin]
Why didn't you honour your deal with Robert Doyle and why are you running him down when he's such a strong candidate? Are you jealous of his public support?

12:36 Hi Robin. Robert Doyle could not handle the fact that he was unable to obtain the preference deal he was seeking, and reacted inappropriately. He was informed more than 30 hours before preferences closed that he would not be getting our second preference, and then threatened to destroy our campaign on the Neil Mitchell show. By the way, he claims Mitchell is endorsing him which Mitchell publicly denies. I don't think people will forget that Robert Doyle led the Liberal Party in this state to what is historically its worst election result, in 2002.

3AW - Neil Mitchell Interview

Click here to hear Neil Mitchell with Robert Doyle


Extract of transcript from Columb's rebuttal and reply to Doyle's negative comments

[Nick Columb] Robert Doyle is on about nothing in particular, he wanted to get a preference deal which was to put him number two on my ticket. We decided not to put him number two on the ticket and my campaign manager spoke to him a day and a half before that, He ranted and raved and carried on like a spoilt brat and threatened that he would come on your [Neil Mitchell's] program and destroy my campaign and he was good to his promise, because he came on and attempted to do it.

I hope the people of Victoria can see through him this time like they did in 2002. because it is not on that he should do that.
...
I was very angry. It is no good for a candidate to personally attack another candidate without it being true. It's untrue. He just did not get his way, his petulant, he was abusive, he was threatening. He came on he claims that you [Neil Mitchell] are behind his campaign and he is using you to forward his message. In fact your the only message that he is distributing. [Reference to Herald Sun article] he is arrogant enough to not to bother talking to the electorate. He does not send out his policies, he does not talk to anybody. He is just going to put a big billboard up with his face on it.

[Neil Mitchell Comment] I am not part of his campaign.

[Nick Columb] He claims that you are and he claims that the Herald is and the Herald says they are not too. So he is wondering around and making claims attacking people like me. Hopefully people understand that he [Robert Doyle] is not the sort of person that ought to be in the town hall. In fact he is a great example why failed recycled politicians shouldn't be allowed to get into the Town Hall. In fact independents is what the town hall needs, not party political people.

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Maze of interconnections Candidate's Affiliations

Oh what web they weave when at first they seek to ....

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Shark fin inn Nick places a bet

Extract of the presentation speach by Lord Mayor candidate Nick Columb at the Precinct Dinner - Meet the Lord Mayor Candidates night - Source provided by Nicks Campaign team.


Melbourne encompasses many different neighbourhoods, issues, interests and priorities - and your attendance tonight is testimony to that.

So how are we doing? Well, for starters . . .

Rates have gone up, and services that you want have diminished, slowed down or disappeared.

Is Melbourne a better, safer place than it was four years ago?

As someone who lives and breathes Melbourne 24/7, I say NO, and that is because the voices of the local neighbourhoods have been ignored for the nonsensical and utopian dreams of Town Hall bureaucrats and a compliant Council.
John So, elected so overwhelmingly four years ago, with his deputy and three councillors, has presided over an administration of waste and wasted opportunity. They all stand condemned.

Instead of dealing with the many issues facing Melbourne and its ratepayers and residents, the Lord Mayor has curried favour with a state government that would rather sack the Council again than have someone stand up to it - would rather keep its hands in the city’s pockets than grant it the authority to pursue its destiny.
Melbourne needs a leader, not a cheerleader. The CBD needs police, the Docklands needs footpaths, Carlton needs better transport links, East Melbourne and Kensington need a stronger voice and more importantly, a sympathetic ear.

Yet here we are, as the ballot papers go out in the mail, with every one of John So’s team seeking another go-around, scattered on the various So Council tickets, with two of his team running for Lord Mayor. After their performance these past four years, all should have run alright – RUN AWAY!

My deputy Sue Calwell and I will deliver real change to the Town Hall. Passion for Melbourne will:

•establish a culture among councillors and bureaucrats where listening replaces preaching and restore the local representation we need;
•put accountability and transparency back into the Budget process, cutting waste and funding projects on the basis of need and not whim;
•make Melbourne safer by getting more police and more cameras on our streets, and persuading businesses to do more to help drive out the vandals and the violent;
•revitalise Swanston Street by opening it during the week; and
•conduct a thorough roads and traffic audit of the city and act to get Melbourne moving, by tram, bus, bicycle and car.

This city needs a fresh coat of paint. My team has the energy, enthusiasm and experience to do the job. We run because we are passionate about Melbourne, not because we want to revive stalled political careers.
We run because we want to serve, not because we would suffer separation pains if dragged away from the petty Town Hall politics that have cheated Melbourne for years.

I ask for your support. Nick Columb.

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Wu.. who is telling porkies Catherine Ng in denial

IN today's Herald-Sun Live blog on the City Council Lord Mayors Race Catherine Ng (ng/Wu)claimed in response to a question on review of the City Council representative model

12:27 [Comment From Review denied]
You recently criticised the State Government for denying the City a voice? Why did you and John So oppose the City of Melbourne's electoral system being subjected to a review? Where you trying to deny citizens a voice?

Catherine replied

12:29 I support a comprehensive review of the electoral system, structure, voting methods to ensure we have a fair representation on council. I am independent with no political agenda. I will represent the local community without favour nor fear.

Yet when the question of a review was before the City Council earlier this year she and her factional colleagues voted it down every time. Was she polly speaking and lying to the electorate? She most certainly provided a false and misleading answer to the question asked.

Many questions where not published and many go unanswered.

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So and Bracks - Lord Mayor's Endorsement McMullins bid for the Lord Mayor's gold chains receives a boost

IN a bold statement of support former ALP Victorian Premier, Steve Bracks, and outgoing Lord Mayor, John So, have teamed up to support Peter McMullin's bid for the keys to the Limo and Melbourne's Gold Chains and Mayoralty Robes.

John So's tacit endorsement has placed at odds Catherine Ng and Garry Singer's chances of winning. Both Singer and Ng were key players in John So's Team.

Garry singer was John So's running mate and Deputy Lord Mayor in 2004 and Catherine Ng was So's number one "Lead Candidate" for the Council.

John So's support for Peter McMullin is a slap in the face and a final act of betrayal. It has been common knowledge around Clown Hall that John So could no longer work with Catherine Ng and that she had played a pivotal role in John So's decision to retire and not to seek a third term of office as Melbourne's "Favorite" Lord Mayor.

Backs and So's endorsement has added fuel and fire to McMullin's campaign which got off to a poor start when McMullin preferenced his main opponent Robert Doyle ahead of the pack. (See McMullin reconsiders preference recomendation)

Steve Brack's clearly places the ALP stamp of approval on McMullin's bid for office ahead of young Will Fowles' fresh and green team. John So's approval has given him that extra edge over his other rivals Catherine Ng and Garry Singer putting McMullin back into contention for a possible win.

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Herald Sun Filling the vacuum

From Monday, Herald Sun online gives you the opportunity to ask questions to the people who want to be Melbourne's next Lord Mayor.

Each day for two weeks, a mayoral candidate will participate in a lunchtime blog. So, if you care about your city and who will be its leader, join the discussion. It starts at noon on Monday.

Ballot papers will be issued later this week so if you not in a hurry to cast your vote you may get a chance to hear what's not being said in this "Policy vacuum election".

Governance issues are one Policy free zone that candidates have avoided, along with lurks and perks scams that comes with office (Stay tuned as we expose the Great Australian Qantas Tax payer Rip-off ).

In case your wondering this election will cost each voter around $25 in direct and indirect costs with the City Council paying out more then 1.5 Million dollars.

Monday, Nov 10:
Bob "King" Crawford: Arts pioneer, song-writer and author. Wants to bring the fun back into the city.

Tuesday, Nov 11:
Adam Bandt: Greens candidate and lawyer. Wants better public transport and the city to run on renewable energy.

Wednesday, Nov 12:
Catherine Ng: Current councillor. Wants 20 safe city ambassadors to patrol the streets at night.

Thursday, Nov 13:
Nick Columb: Businessman and racehorse owner. Wants to use his passion for Melbourne to forget the politics and get things done.

Friday, Nov 14:
Peter McMullin: Geelong councillor and former Melbourne deputy mayor. Lawyer. Labor Party member but has a Liberal, Tim Wilson, as his running mate.

Monday, Nov 17:
Gary Singer: Deputy Lord Mayor. Lawyer and arts patron. Wants to continue the city’s transformation into a global business and cultural centre.

Tuesday, Nov 18:
Will Fowles: Businessman and Labor Party member. Offering "a fresh vision" and generational change.

Wednesday, Nov 19:
Shelley Roberts: CBD architect who wants fairer rates for residents. Also passionate about the city's living environment.

Thursday, Nov 20:
Joe Toscano: Doctor and anarchist who wants radical activism to shake up Town Hall and the State Government.

Friday, Nov 21:
Gary Morgan: Pollster who will forgo the mayoral allowance and limousine. Promising rate cuts.

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McMullin preferences back in the race

Peter McMullin, faced with Robert Doyle not delivering a dodgy preference deal has backed down and reallocated his recommended preference distribution. Punters are expected to receive the new Preference How-to-vote card in the mail next week.

Whilst this is a good move on McMullin's part, and it does help restore the balance, the damage is never the less done. Most voters rely on the published statements and preference allocations provided by the VEC sent out with the vote. These will not be changed.

McMullin is struggling to gain a foot hold in the race but it is still early days and he may yet catch the palleton and make a sprint for the finish. Meanwhile Robert Doyle has received negative publicity over his love of the grape and fine wine. He is regularly reported to be sitting alone in Restaurants getting drunk on the local hospitality. problem is he favours Albert Park not Melbourne.

Race on..


Preference backdown

Artcile by Ian Royall, Herald Sun

MELBOURNE mayoral candidate
Peter McMullin has made an embarrassing
back down over a preference
deal for this month's city election.

Mr McMullin was earlier this week
accused of reneging on a preference
swap deal with rival Nick Columb.
But Mr McMullin said yesterday he
would honour the original agreement.

His how-to-vote cards will give Mr
Columb's Passion for Melbourne ticket
his third preference.

But it is too late for anyone who will
vote above the line on the ballot paper,
which will automatically trigger the
preferences that were locked in with the
electoral commission on Monday.

Under the latest deal, Robert Doyle
will drop from third preference on Mr
McMullen's ticket to 10th.

The campaign yesterday turned to hip pocket
issues with Deputy Lord Mayor
Gary Singer promising a rates freeze for
Melbourne rate-payers next year.

Getting more revenue from parking
meters and fines would fund the estimated
$5 million shortfall.

"Parking in the city has been inefficient
for years due to unacceptably high
parking meter downtime and enforcement,"
Cr Singer said.

"Inefficient operation of parking meters
is costing the council millions each
year — money that should be returned
to ratepayers."

His pledge follows a promise by
election rival Gary Morgan who wants
to slash rates by 5 per cent.

Mr Morgan said there was room in the
council budget to cut costs.

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Catherine Ng Testimonial Payout

Melbourne City Councillor and Lord Mayor contestant, Catherine Ng, is subject to scrutiny by race Stewards for what could be false and misleading testimonials.

Catherine Ng without the knowledge and consent of those listed on her web site has published what she claims are "testimonial statements in support of her candidacy".


The list of testimonials includes former ALP Councillors Lorna Hannan and Kate Redwood.

Lorna Hannan, was understood to be supporting Will Fowles' bid for the keys to the Lord Mayor's Limo. Which has brought into question Lorna's statement of support for Catherine Ng. Is Lorna Hannan working against Will Fowles' campaign or is Will, unknown to himself, a running mate and stooge for Catherine Ng? Has Will been set up to support Catherine's bid of Lord Mayor? (Will Fowles' registered preferences goes to McMullin, Morgan then to Doyle before Catherine - Editor.)


The Redwood and Ng "Sweet Heart deal" payout conspiracy

Kate Redwood, a part time opportunist ALP member and former City Councillor, has also "endorsed" Catherine Ng. Kate Redwood was Will Fowles' Deputy Candidate until she was dumped in October 2008. Is her support for Ng an act of revenge?

Catherine Ng was at the centre of a "sweet heart deal" allegation in 2005 in which Kate Redwood was offered paid employment by the City of Melbourne Library Board. The position offered was considered by many as thanks and appreciation for Kate Redwood's support for John So and Catherine Ng's election back in 2004. The deal came unstruck then it was later discovered that the Victorian Local Government Act prohibits former Councillors from receiving paid employment by the City Council. The contract offered to Kate Redwood was illegal and had to be withdrawn. (What happened to the professional advice given by Alison Lyons, Council's legal advisor at the time?) It is understood that the City Council subsequently paid Kate Redwood compensation of around $35,000 for what was an unenforceable illegal contract. The "Sweet Heart payout" was made behind closed doors in a confidential session. Questions are still outstanding as to the legality of the City Council's compensation payout - an issue that would surely interest the Auditor General.

Questions of consent not given

Another person listed on Catherine's web site is Trevor Huggard, former Lord Mayor of Melbourne. Trevor Huggard when contacted today said he not seen the statements attributed to him and denied supporting Catherine's candidature for the Lord Mayor. Trevor was not aware of his name being used in her campaign and that he had not authorised any statement of endorsement. He was on the road at the time and said he would look into to the matter on his return to Melbourne.

This begs the question as to the sincerity and appropriate use and authorisation of the names listed on Catherine Ng testimonial page.

C Testimonials under review

“Competent and a voice of reason”
Trevor Huggard, former Lord Mayor of City of Melbourne

“As an elected Councillor I worked closely with Catherine 2001 – 2004, Catherine is ethical (sic), hardworking and well enabled to carry a shared vision for the city.”
Kate Redwood, former Councillor of City of Melbourne

“Catherine Ng has been a friend and colleague for more than a decade. Over her term on council, I have seen her bring her customary drive and enthusiasm to its work. She has earned support because she can be trusted to listen and to follow issues through.”
Lorna Hannan, former Councillor of City of Melbourne

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Polling Pollies Morgan polls Morgan

By VEXNEWS

Only in the bizarre world of the Melbourne City council elections would a poll conducted by the candidate himself be accepted as legitimate.

Gary Morgan, who inherited the Roy Morgan Research company which was once the leading political polling company before Newspoll and others came along, has published the results of a survey of 330 electors.

The Herald Sun and the ABC republished them, with little questioning of their origin or methodology.

The poll description says both residents and business were polled. And then also suggests that only residents in the municipality were polled.

Disturbingly, it appears that only one candidate - Adam Bandt - had his party affiliation read out to survey respondents.

Confirming the largely useless nature of the poll is the fact that 31.5% of those surveyed said they were undecided about their first preference and a further 25% were undecided about their second.

Certainly the polling - if accurate - suggests that Doyle at this stage has the most visibility of all the candidates with 87.45 people of 330 supporting him . No surprise there, as a former state Liberal leader that he'd have the most visibility. Although some people might think it's a surprise that it is possible to have .45 of a voter.

The other extremely odd aspect of the poll is the claim that the bloke who conducted the poll had 3.5% of first preference support with 18% giving him a second preference.

Leaving aside the ethical implications of a pollster candidate conducting polling on himself, these numbers don't make a lot of sense at all.

Comment:I would not read much into this poll. It clearly has no statistical merit. For example the 2nd preference and aggregated 1st and 2nd preference data does not take into consideration the fold up of the election and is in effect double counting votes. IE Gary Morgan would not receive any preferences from Robert Doyle as Robert Doyle out polls Morgan. Little wonder why Morgan gallup poll is being out performed by other polling agencies. - Melbcity

Published results of Morgans flawed survey (October 29/30, 2008)

Candidate	1st Preference	2nd Preference#	1st or 2nd Preference
Robert Doyle	26.5 %	16 %	42.5 %
Adam Bandt (Greens)	16.5 %	4.5 %	21 %
Catherine Ng	10 %	15 %	25 %
Gary Singer	5 %	6 %	11 %
Gary Morgan	3.5 %	18 %	21.5 %
Nick Columb	3 %	2 %	5 %
Peter McMullin	2 %	8 %	10 %
Will Fowles	1.5 %	3 %	4.5 %
Others*	0.5 %	2 %	2.5 %
Can’t Say/ Undecided	31.5 %
TOTAL	100 %

* Other candidates for the role of Lord Mayor of Melbourne are Joseph Toscano, Bob Crawford & Shelley Roberts.
# The 31.5% of people who were can’t say/undecided have been eliminated from the 2nd Preference

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Bring out the clowns Race to the winning post

Analysis of the Melbourne City Council registered Council voting tickets show that five candidates are most likely to win spots with the last two spots up for grabs

The following are assured a seat in the Council Chamber

JETTER, Carl	(ACTIVATE MELBOURNE)
OKE, Cathy	(THE GREENS)
LOUEY, Kevin	(McMULLIN-WILSON FOR MELBOURNE'S FUTURE)
KANIS, Jennifer	(FOWLES A FRESH VISION)
SHANAHAN, Brian	(C MELBOURNE GROW - CATHERINE NG)

The last two spots will be a contest of exhaustive ballot between

SNEDDEN, Fiona	(PASSION FOR MELBOURNE)
or
CLARKE, Peter	(MORGAN CLARKE - OUR CITY - YOUR COUNCIL)
and
BINI, Luciano	(ACTIVATE MELBOURNE)
or
ONG, Ken	(TEAM MELBOURNE)
or
SHELTON, Jane	(McMULLIN-WILSON FOR MELBOURNE'S FUTURE)

Ken Ong is expected to win a spot on the Council if the Doyle "Active Melbourne Ticket" polls less then 23% of the vote. Ken Ong picks up the surplus from Peter McMullin/Ken Louey's team (Assuming Jane Shelton is excluded first) ahead of sitting Councillor Fiona Snedden. If Doyle's team polls more then 23% then 70 year old Carlton Lawyer and former ALP member Luciano Bini will be elected instead of Ong. One scenario which had Peter McMulin above 16% showed McMullin's Jane Shelton winning over Ong and Bini. We had factored in a 5% Ong vote but some punters say he will poll less (estimated at 3.5%).

Both Fiona Snedden and Peter Clark will fight it out, in a game of musical chairs, for the last seat. Peter Clark has a distinct advantage in that he collects preferences from both of the Independent candidates ahead of Fiona Snedden. (Both independents preference the Greens Candidate, Cathy Oke, who should be elected on quota of 12,5% primary vote with a small surplus) Both Peter Clark and Fiona Snedden are Liberal Party sitting Councillors. Fiona Snedden will have to poll 2% to 3% above Peter Clark who is standing on the Garry Morgan Ticket in order to win the seat. Fellow Liberal member, Robert Doyle has placed both Fiona Snedden and Peter Clark at the bottom of their ticket adding to speculation of dissatisfaction at Doyle's candidacy.

The main winner in the Council election will be John So's refugees who are likely to win 4 out of 7 Council seats (Jetter, Ong, Shanahan and Louey) If either Catherine Ng or Robert Doyle win the Lord Mayor's election John So's team will directly influence six of the overall nine council positions.

* There is a conspiracy theory that Jeremy Simpson, John So's Strategist, has played all sides of the political spectrum by placing his team members in each of the camps.

If voting below the line for the Council (7 positions) we would advocate a first preference for Jane Shelton. Jane has the experience and credentials to be our candidate of choice from a Labor Party perspective.

If voting Liberal then we would advocate a vote for Fiona Snedden.

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Race for the keys to LM001 Limo "How To Vote" Ignoring the registered tickets by Category

The Melbourne Lord Mayor Race 2008

Voters should ignore the recommended group "How to Vote" Preference deal tickets and send a clear message that they think the deals stink.

To assist voters in making their selection we have prepared the following recommendations based on the following Voter Support categories.

(Candidates listed in ballot order)

Reverse Donkey with Doyle Last	Preference
ACTIVATE MELBOURNE	11
C MELBOURNE GROW - CATHERINE NG	10
SHIFTING THE BURDEN	9
PASSION FOR MELBOURNE	8
THE GREENS	7
MELBOURNE SUPERCITY. WORLD	6
RESIDENTS EQUITY - AFFORDABLE RESIDENT RATES	5
TEAM MELBOURNE	4
FOWLES A FRESH VISION	3
McMULLIN-WILSON FOR MELBOURNE'S FUTURE	2
MORGAN CLARKE - OUR CITY - YOUR COUNCIL	1

Residents Voters	Preference
ACTIVATE MELBOURNE	11
C MELBOURNE GROW - CATHERINE NG	10
SHIFTING THE BURDEN	9
PASSION FOR MELBOURNE	3
THE GREENS	5
MELBOURNE SUPERCITY. WORLD	2
RESIDENTS EQUITY - AFFORDABLE RESIDENT RATES	1
TEAM MELBOURNE	8
FOWLES A FRESH VISION	6
McMULLIN-WILSON FOR MELBOURNE'S FUTURE	4
MORGAN CLARKE - OUR CITY - YOUR COUNCIL	7

Business Investor Voters	Preference
ACTIVATE MELBOURNE	5
C MELBOURNE GROW - CATHERINE NG	4
SHIFTING THE BURDEN	11
PASSION FOR MELBOURNE	2
THE GREENS	10
MELBOURNE SUPERCITY. WORLD	9
RESIDENTS EQUITY - AFFORDABLE RESIDENT RATES	8
TEAM MELBOURNE	6
FOWLES A FRESH VISION	7
McMULLIN-WILSON FOR MELBOURNE'S FUTURE	1
MORGAN CLARKE - OUR CITY - YOUR COUNCIL	3

Green Voters	Preference
ACTIVATE MELBOURNE	11
C MELBOURNE GROW - CATHERINE NG	9
SHIFTING THE BURDEN	3
PASSION FOR MELBOURNE	8
THE GREENS	1
MELBOURNE SUPERCITY. WORLD	5
RESIDENTS EQUITY - AFFORDABLE RESIDENT RATES	4
TEAM MELBOURNE	7
FOWLES A FRESH VISION	2
McMULLIN-WILSON FOR MELBOURNE'S FUTURE	6
MORGAN CLARKE - OUR CITY - YOUR COUNCIL	10

ALP Voters	Preference
ACTIVATE MELBOURNE	11
C MELBOURNE GROW - CATHERINE NG	9
SHIFTING THE BURDEN	6
PASSION FOR MELBOURNE	7
THE GREENS	8
MELBOURNE SUPERCITY. WORLD	5
RESIDENTS EQUITY - AFFORDABLE RESIDENT RATES	3
TEAM MELBOURNE	4
FOWLES A FRESH VISION	2
McMULLIN-WILSON FOR MELBOURNE'S FUTURE	1
MORGAN CLARKE - OUR CITY - YOUR COUNCIL	10

Liberal Voters	Preference
ACTIVATE MELBOURNE	4
C MELBOURNE GROW - CATHERINE NG	5
SHIFTING THE BURDEN	9
PASSION FOR MELBOURNE	1
THE GREENS	10
MELBOURNE SUPERCITY. WORLD	8
RESIDENTS EQUITY - AFFORDABLE RESIDENT RATES	6
TEAM MELBOURNE	7
FOWLES A FRESH VISION	11
McMULLIN-WILSON FOR MELBOURNE'S FUTURE	3
MORGAN CLARKE - OUR CITY - YOUR COUNCIL	2

John So Voters	Preference
ACTIVATE MELBOURNE	4
C MELBOURNE GROW - CATHERINE NG	2
SHIFTING THE BURDEN	11
PASSION FOR MELBOURNE	7
THE GREENS	10
MELBOURNE SUPERCITY. WORLD	5
RESIDENTS EQUITY - AFFORDABLE RESIDENT RATES	6
TEAM MELBOURNE	1
FOWLES A FRESH VISION	8
McMULLIN-WILSON FOR MELBOURNE'S FUTURE	3
MORGAN CLARKE - OUR CITY - YOUR COUNCIL	9

If voting below the line for the Council (7 positions) we would advocate a first preference for Jane Shelton. Jane has the experience and credentials to be our candidate of choice from a Labor Party perspective. If voting Liberal then we would advocate a vote for Fiona Snedden.

The above preference allocation is a recommendation How to Vote only. Voters should list (1,2,3 etc) in order of their preference the candidates of their choice. Remember you must number every square in order to maximise your vote

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Race for Clown Hall Order of Preference negotiations revealed

The table of performers and appearance negotiations based on registered voting tickets. (Columns: Group registered tickets; Rows: Candidates in ballot paper order)

Group	Candidates	A	B	C1	C2	D	E	F	G	H	I
A	KANIS, Jennifer	1	6	31	31	8	18	7	16	31	6
	MUSCATELLO, Lisa	2	13	32	32	10	19	16	17	30	26
B	CLARKE, Peter	6	1	5	5	12	20	11	26	5	11
	WATTS, Jackie	5	2	13	13	11	21	10	27	11	15
	WOOD, Margaret	21	3	14	14	13	22	17	28	12	16
C	FORDE, Brian Michael	11	11	2	1	6	23	12	14	29	14
	McEWEN, Sophie E.	10	5	1	2	5	24	13	15	28	27
D	OKE, Cathy	8	7	8	8	1	11	14	18	27	7
	LEPPERT, Rohan	7	27	3	3	2	12	26	19	9	8
	AIR, Alister	12	28	6	6	3	25	27	20	26	28
	LANCASTER, Donna	13	29	4	4	4	26	28	21	25	29
E	ONG, Ken	29	8	9	9	24	1	5	5	14	12
	BORAZIO, Jerome	9	21	15	15	23	2	18	6	24	30
	SMYTH, Trent	17	22	16	16	22	3	22	7	23	31
	BISHOP, Marion	16	23	17	17	21	4	29	8	22	32
F	LOUEY, Kevin	31	12	11	11	32	5	1	22	7	9
	SHELTON, Jane	4	30	18	18	29	6	2	23	6	17
	COATE, Celia	15	31	19	19	26	27	3	24	10	18
	CHERRY, Rebecca	14	32	20	20	25	28	4	25	32	19
G	JETTER, Carl	30	10	7	7	31	7	15	1	13	13
	BINI, Luciano	20	24	21	21	30	8	19	2	21	20
	DIAMANDIS, Michael	19	25	22	22	28	9	23	3	20	21
	SWEETMAN, Fiona	18	26	23	23	27	10	30	4	19	22
H	SNEDDEN, Fiona	32	4	12	12	14	29	6	29	1	10
	RANKIN, Keith	27	14	24	24	15	30	20	30	2	23
	CHALKER, Vernon	26	15	25	25	9	31	24	31	3	24
	LEE, Wellington	25	16	26	26	16	32	9	32	4	25
I	SHANAHAN, Brian	3	9	27	27	7	13	8	9	8	1
	PAGLIANITI, Connie	28	17	10	10	17	14	21	10	15	2
	DASTAN, Neslihan	24	18	28	28	18	15	25	11	16	3
	CHRISTOPOULOS, Con	23	19	29	29	19	16	31	12	17	4
	DAWSON, John	22	20	30	30	20	17	32	13	18	5

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Race for the keys to the LM001 Preference deals

The following table represents the published preference recommendations for each of the groups nominating candidates for the City of Melbourne Lord Mayor's Race 2008
(Columns: Group registered tickets; Rows: Candidates in ballot paper order)

Ticket	Group	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H	I	J	K
A	ACTIVATE MELBOURNE	1	4	10	6	11	11	6	3	9	3	8
B	C MELBOURNE GROW - CATHERINE NG	3	1	3	7	6	8	8	2	10	5	3
C	SHIFTING THE BURDEN	9	8	1	11	5	7	11	8	8	11	9
D	PASSION FOR MELBOURNE	11	7	7	1	4	5	9	5	11	7	2
E	THE GREENS	8	6	2	4	1	3	7	9	4	9	5
F	MELBOURNE SUPERCITY. WORLD	6	11	4	9	3	1	2	10	5	6	10
G	RESIDENTS EQUITY - AFFORDABLE RESIDENT RATES	5	9	6	10	8	4	1	11	7	8	11
H	TEAM MELBOURNE	2	2	5	5	9	9	3	1	6	4	6
I	FOWLES A FRESH VISION	7	10	9	8	2	2	5	6	1	2	4
J	McMULLIN-WILSON FOR MELBOURNE'S FUTURE	10	5	11	3	10	6	4	4	2	1	7
K	MORGAN CLARKE - OUR CITY - YOUR COUNCIL	4	3	8	2	7	10	10	7	3	10	1

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The Race for the keys to the Lord Mayor's Limo VEC publishes form guide details

The Victoria Electoral Commission has published the form guide to the Spring Carnivals closing event just in time for the other main event the Melbourne Cup.

We have already seen one to contender fall over at the starting gates leaving Robert Doyle is now set to win thanks in no small part to to Peter McMullin team.

Peter McMullin is no longer the favorite to win the race having suffered a serious blow in the pre-race preference deals. Robert Doyle has been accused of fowl play when his supports kicked Peter McMullin in the groin just before the starters gun was fired.

It still early days and as we have previously stated the race for the Lord Mayor's robes, gold chain and keys to the limousine is a marathon and anything can happen in the days to come.

The guide shows the proof of betrayal and spiking of the race. Be it stupidity or recklessness based on the recommended preference allocations the McMullin Team is out of the race. The Greens also are in a unwinnable position. The Greens as expected have backed Catherine Ng who will most likely face Robert Doyle in a run off. Doyle has now taken a commanding lead in the race that the paleton can not catch up.

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Rats in the Ranks (Part 2 Update) Will McMullen's betrayal cost him the race?

No sooner had the preference deals been locked in place that the ramifications of betrayal and heavy handed politics has taken its toll

McMullin (alias McClown) has made the first big fall in the race, sliping back 6-9 percentage points, it is unlikely that he will recover let alone catch up with the paleton.

Peter McMullin has been shafted by the Doyle team who have put McMullin 10 on their recommended How to vote card whilst Peter McMullin reneged on his preference deals and placed Doyle number three, immediately below Will Fowles, destroying sny confidence and trust in McMullin's preference honchos who have lost all credibility as a result. McMullin will be ridiculed out of the race following the weekend of betrayal. No longer seen as a serious contender, McMullen's preference deal may remove the Greens from a winning position or could have the reverse effect and may make them a martyr, unable to win this race but stronger as the result.

Will Fowles is now in a position where he will most likely take the ALP lead from the McMullin ticket. This one act of betrayal and gamesmanship has spread the field wide and the flow-on effect is yet to be determined.

This is marathon and public perception plays a major role in the outcome.

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Rats in Ranks Melbourne Lord Mayor's Race for the Limo

With the closure and disclosure of registered preference deals Melbourne's premier Spring Carnival closing event is off and racing. The horses have drawn poll positions and the starting gates are open.

As from today voters can start casting their ballots. Each of the political contenders have registered their final preference allocation recommendations.

The battle lines are drawn and the game begins as the pretenders to the Lord Mayors Gold chain and gown now need to win over the general public.

There are three main contenders in lined up to win the race. There is no trifecta betting only one winner the rest losers.

Whilst Sportingbet Australia have offered tempting odds, the fold up of the ballot will be decided on the order of elimination and preference flows. 60% of voters choice their main candidate and follow the recommended preference allocation with the exception of Green voter. the Greens are at a disadvantage in recommending preferences as they are unable to direct their supporters preferences many who will favour young Will Fowles ahead of the other contenders.

Unlike the election of the Council which has above the line "Senate style" voting the Lord Mayors race is a open field with the order of the ballot providing a significant poll advantage. The number one position holder in the best position to collect not only the donkey vote (Straight down the ticket) but also the inverse donkey vote (Where voters select their main supported candidates then complete the ballot by filling in the remaining squares from top to bottom)

Anticipated order of elimination

First to be excluded from the Lord Mayors race will be , Joseph Toscano (1%) followed by Shelley Roberts (2-3%) and Garry Singer (4-8%) Their votes will travel in all directions with many ending up either with the Greens, McMullin, Ng or Doyle who heads the ticket.

UPDATE: See Melbourne's rats in the ranks The Betrayal Peter mcMullin is no longer considered a serious contender as a result of bad preference deals. McMullin is nolonger in a position to win the Lord Mayorality.

The remaining candidates are expected to poll after distribution of candidates above preferences (In ballot paper order)

Candidate	Support %
DOYLE, Robert	18-22%
NG, Catherine	9-12%
COLUMN, Nick	7-11%
BANDT, Adam	15-17%
FOWLES, Will	9-11%
McMULLIN, Peter	12-15%
MORGAN, Gary	6-10%

* Revised based on lasest intel (Nov 5 17:00)

Robert Doyle has the highest public profile and he is also assisted by having the top of the ballot position. His main drawback is his running partner Susan Riley and his lead Candidate for the Council Carl Jetter. Both of whom would have to be the worst possible choices one could make if you where seriously looking at who would be the best choice to run Melbourne.

The Greens Adam Brandt is a long shot and is not considered to be in a winning position in terns of support and preference collection. but the Greens have a brand name and they could still surprise us all, but the odds of winning are slender.

Millionaire playboy and leftist candidate Will Fowles,Heir to the Fowles Action house, needs to fight it out with fellow ALP contender Peter McMullin. If Will can secure a higher vote then McMullin then the Greens are out of contention and Doyle moves closer to winning.

On the conservative side of the course is Columb and Morgan whose chances have been significantly been reduced by Doyles late entry. Both Morgan and Columb will fight it out for lead position and hop to collect each others preferences. Whilst Morgan has the money and he is unlikely to spend the money required to be a serious challenger and Columb team is spending even less. Column is assisted by Fiona Snedden who is running a solid grass roots campaign in the Council. To what extent her support will flow on to the Lord Mayors tickets anyone's guess. But as the betting stands Column is likely to poll less the Morgan unless they pull a fast rabbit out of the hate.

Catherine Ng is the real long shot. She comes from the So stable but she is not highly recommended by John So as the lead Candidate. If she can survive the starting gate rush and collect Gary Singers preferences she would stay in the race and pick up preference drift and come uop 0 the middle.

The starters gun has just been fired and this is a marathon and not a sprint and anything can happen. Much depends on the extent of campaign funds which in turn determines their reach. 55% of voters do not live in the City of Melbourne and they will be relying on the media and brand naming for their selection. The more money you have the better your chances are of surviving.

In terms of money you can expect Peter McMullin, Will Fowles and Gary Morgan all millionaires with money to burn and the Greens who have federal and state public funding along with the resources of public office to boost their campaign.

Both The Greens and Doyle have the advantage of brand naming all of which seriously brings into question the merit of the direct election model where the rich and famouse have the lead over the good governance and sound public policy.

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Doyle and Ng in the race to the winning post in the Melbourne's Spring Carnival closing event

A contest between Doyle and Ng for Lord Mayor is the most likely outcome in the Melbourne Lord Mayor's Spring Carnival closing event.

According to Sportingbet Australia the three main contenders are Peter McMullin, Robert Doyle and Catherine Ng.

Whilst the ALP and the Liberal party candidates struggle at opposite end to gain voter recognition Catherine Ng is set to make a last minute sprint up the middle with John So's refugees posed to influence up to six spots on the City of Melbourne.

Catherine Ng, assisted in the race by incumbent Deputy Lord Mayor Gary Singer and the other minor candidates, who are all expected to all preference Ng before either Doyle or McMullin ahead of the Greens. The Greens are expected to go out forth last and in doing so will top up Catherine Ng handing her the keys to the limo.

The anticipated results of the election, highlight the fact that the direct election model for Lord Mayor does not deliver the best out-come for Melbourne

In our assessment the best of a motley crew would have been either Nick Columb/Sue Calwell or Peter McMullin/Tim Wilson. Had the Lord Mayor been elected from and by the City Council they would have been the main contenders.

Peter McMullin, whose preferences will play a decisive role in the outcome of the LM race, has put together a interesting team crossing the political divide. Tim Wilson, a senior Liberal Party strategist, has an impressive CV and extensive experience in business and governance issues. Peter McMullin brings to the table four-years experience on the Geelong City Council and one-term on the City of Melbourne back in 1996. Kevin Louey is the back room engine behind John So's Dragon Boat.

Melbourne will not get the best of the best.

Under the direct election model, the losers of the Lord Mayor's race will be out of the game. You either win or lose. There is no fallback and no option to serve in a supporting or review role.

Council set to give John So power by proxy.

Estimations at this early stage of the jocking for poll position is that no single group will elect more then one candidate. Anyone that is placed 3 or greater in a group will be eliminated early from the count.With most voters opting for above then line voting the results of the elections will be known soon after counting begins.

There are nine groups running for seven positions. Two groups will have to lose. The unaligned Forde/McEwan, who teamed up in the last minute, are expected to be the first group eliminated from the count.

Carl Jetter, hitching a ride on the Doyle ticket, is expected to top the poll followed by Kevin Louey (McMullin), Cathy Oke (Greens), Brian Shanahan (Ng), Jennifer Kanis (Fowles) with Clark (Morgan), Snedden (Columb) and Ken Ong (Singer)fighting it out for the last spot. There is an outside 5:1 chance that Doyle may secure a surplus over 0.6 which could play a significant role in who wins the last two positions. We will know more on Monday when group preference tickets are finalised.

If Ng wins the Lord Mayor's race John So's refugees, who have spread-out across the field would influence six out of nine positions on the City Council.

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