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.

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

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.

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?

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.

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".

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.

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

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.

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.

McClown chooses Louey over Huey and Dewey

Melbourne City Council hopeful Peter McMullin (McClown) has chosen John So's Chief of Staff to be his Deputy Lord Mayor Candidate.

Peter McMullin, who held the position of Deputy Lord Mayor for one year in 1996 before being replaced by Liberal Candidate Clem Newton-Brown has sided with his old enemy's team in a second attempt to win the keys to the Lord Mayor's Limo.

McMullin, a known Maoist and supporter of the PLO and anti-zionist, stood against John So in 2001.

Having failed to be re-elected to the City Council in 1999 and also in his bid to become Lord Mayor in 2001, Peter McMullin moved to Geelong where he hoped he would secure ALP endorsement for the Federal Seat of Corangamite. McMullin failed to win pre-selection of the outer Geelonmg Seat and is now seeking a comeback fight for the City's top job.

Members of the ALPs influential Emily's List would no doubt be disappointed in Peter McMullin failure to support a female candidate for the Deputy's Position. Instead of choosing an ALP Women Candidate. A decision that will work against McMullen's campaign.

Kevin Louey has come under fire for his frequent visits to China, mostly paid for by the City of Melbourne or donated by the Chinese Government. Mr L0uey has been criticised for using ratepayer funded visits to China to further his own personal and business interests.

The McMullin/Louey team has placed at odds Catherine Ng who had indicated that she will also be seeking election for the Position of Lord Mayor,

Catherine Ng was John So's number one Council ticket candidate in 2001 and 2004. Councillor Ng has been John So's strongest performer on the City Council. The fact that Kevin Louey is seeking to hold on to the perks and lurks of Town hall has placed Catherine Ng at odds with John So and his chief of staff.

Peter McMillan's bid for a second shot will give a leg up to former Liberal Party State Leader, Robert Doyle who has also indicated his intention to run for Melbourne's Lord Mayor race.

Robert Doyle has a impressive resume and would be seen to be the favorite in what is shaping to be a Melbourne cup field of candidates.

Peter McMullin candidacy is opposed by ALPs SL member William Fowles who under the ALPs rules will be obliged to support and preference Peter McMullin bid for Office

Update: The horses and jockeys for the Lord mayors Race have been spooked. There is a suggestion that Peter McMullin may try and rerun with his former running mate ABC Journalist Elaine Canty with Kevin Louey relegated to his number one Council ticket position. Peter Mullin campaign continues to publish false and misleading assertions that Peter McMullin was deputy Lord Mayor between 1996 and 1999. The fact is Mcmullin retained the Deputy Lord Mayor's position for only one out of a three-year-term of office. He was replaced by Lorna Hannon and Clem Newton-Brown amidst overwhelming community opposition and resentment to his about face policy of appeasement to Jeff Kennetts vision for Melbourne and the siting of the Melbourne Museum in the Carlton Gardens. Peter McMullin was unsuccessful in his bid to be reelected in 1999 and failed to in his challenge against John So in 2001. Elaine Canty was Peter McMullin's running mate back in 2001.

Switching Leagues Geelong versus Melbourne

With the 2008 Grand Final over and Hawthorn basking in glory whilst Geelong is left scarping with their tail between their legs next seasons talent scouts are planning and plotting who will run where in the November Municipal Elections.

Last week Jeff Kennett, Victorious president of the Hawthorn Football club, put to rest any suggestion that he was running for Melbourne's Lord Mayor leaving an open position for his wife Felicity Kennett to seek the Lord Mayor's gold chains and robes.

The Herald-sun add to the list of would be hopefuls by suggesting that Robert Doyle, former State opposition Leader, is also considering his position and possible nomination as the parties seek to renew the old.

There has even been a suggestion that former Councillor and Deputy Lord Mayor for one year Peter McMullin may seek to recontest the Lord Mayor's seat. Peter McMullin made an unsuccessful bid to win the keys to the Lord Mayor's Limo in 2001 and has since been hiding out in Geelong where he did a stint as Victoria's Second City Mayor.

If the rumors are true then Peter McMullin, having lost pre-selection for Corrangamite in 2007, may switch leagues again and return to the Melbourne City playing field .

Meanwhile J0hn So is yet to announce if he will or if he won’t be running for a third term. Pressure is on for John to stand aside and if he does decide to run he will not fare as well as he did back in 2004.

Bookmakers are not taking any bets until the next season players’ selection is known.

Rob honoured by the Crown A Right Royal Stuff Up

The theft and destruction of Melbourne's Crown Jewel at the hands of Rob Adams

If ever there was a excuse (As if we need anther excuse) for Australia to become a Republic it is the news that Melbourne City Council extravagant "Design Me a Job" Rob Adams is included in the Queens Birthday Honours list.

The Age's Clay Lucas reports that Rob Adams has "Turned the City Around".

Cow tailing Rob

In 1996 Rob Adams sat back and watched the City decline and go through one of its major planning mistakes in its limited history. Rather then fight for his beliefs Rob Adams soon cow towed to the destructive wishes of the Kennett Government and Mark Birrell in particular when the then state Government decided to hand over prime river frontage to Crown Casino that now dominates much of Melbourne's cultural precinct.

Along with the Casino land grab Melbourne's Museum was shifted from "Center Stage" to the Carlton Gardens. Instead of the Museum making a positive contribution to the City of Melbourne it has become a burden to the City and continues to compromise Melbourne's World World Heritage Site. Both the Museum and the Royal Exhibition Buildings have languished and suffered ever since thanks in part to Rob Adams who was very much at the forefront of this major planning disaster.

Planners, politicians and Architects at the time all criticised the relocation of the museum stating that the Museum need to be part of Melbourne Arts precinct and that the relation to the Carlton Gardens would be a mistake. Rob Adams at the time also agreed and argued that the museum should be incorporated into an expanded Federation Square Development.

As soon as push came to shove - Rob Adams, threatened with exclusion from involvement in major projects, soon capitulated to the demands of the State Government and in the process compromised his own professional standing . Rob Adams and the then City Council under the leadership of Lord Mayor, Ivan Deveson and Deputy Lord Mayor, Peter McMullin, refused to even call on the State Government to subject the Museum development to a proper planning review.

The Museum and the Federation Square project suffered as a result of Adams and the Council's capitulation. The outcome for Melbourne could have and should have been better for Melbourne. An Opportunity lost forever.

You either believe in a proper planning process or you don't.

The Federation Square Project, in which Rob Adams played a major role, went though a shame a planning review. A classic case of pulling the cart before the horse with the review being held after the project design was decided. Once again compromising Rob Adams professional reputation.

The Queens Birthday honours could single Rob Adams departure as the City undergoes major restructure and reorganisation.

Whilst Adams has done some good work, and Melbourne paid top dollar for the work and designs he oversaw, he will always be remembered for the day he bent over and sold out the City of Melbourne in the process.

The Show goes on Failed ex-former Deputy McClown continues to thrill audiences down in Geelong

The Age, Royce Millar, writes an interesting follow-up article which implicates failed former City of Melbourne deputy Lord Mayor McMullin (alias McClown) Peter McMullin was Deputy for a year only before being ousted from the job. He latter stood for election in the Central Ward and later tried to run for Deputy Lord Mayor but was unsuccessful. Peter McMullin is mainly remembered for rating on his election promises and caving in on demands made by former State Premier Jeff Kennett. McClown sold out on and supported the location of Melbourne's State Museum which was moved from the South banks of the Yarra River, to make way for Jeff's Shed and Crown Casino, relegated to the Royal Exhibition Buildings in 1996. At the time the community debate was against the development and its impact on Melbourne's historic Royal Exhibition Buildings. Peter McMullin was most remembered for his refusal to support a motion that called on the State Government of the time to subject the proposed Museum Development to a proper planning review. Peter McMullin sold out so much he would not even hold the State Government and the City Council to a proper planning process.

Peter McClown, having failed to make his mark in the Melbourne stage, relocated to Geelong were he has been running the show on the second stage. It comes as little surprise that Peter McMullin is now caught up in controversy in his new act.


Regrettable insight into local business

Royce Millar
June 9, 2006

THE report into Geelong's cash-for-councillor scandal gives Victorians a rare insight into how business is too often done at local government level in this state.

While the report cites Labor councillor David Saunderson for a possible breach of the Local Government Act, the alleged transgression is more a sign of a broader problem than a resolution of the Geelong row.

Geelong is Victoria's second city, yet in many ways it operates like a country town. A small group of political and corporate powerbrokers tends to mingle around business and community projects, blurring the line between the public and private good.

Local ratepayers have been understandably unimpressed by the council's handling of this issue since The Age revealed the corporate donations in January.

After initially denying any such support, Cr Saunderson changed his story and admitted receiving assistance. Two other councillors also owned up.

At the time Mayor Peter McMullin said their admissions should be the end of the matter and called for everyone to "move on".

Instead we got the Whelan inquiry. And while its terms of reference were probably too restrictive, it at least reveals the extent of the previously secret business backing for candidates, including for Cr McMullin.

Disturbing to many will be that council candidates believe it acceptable to receive support from powerful businessmen like Geelong Football Club president Frank Costa, and then preside over major development projects proposed by their backers without declaring an interest.

This was the case with Mr Costa's $100 million HomeTown project. When it was first considered by the council last year, not one of the councillors he supported thought to put a hand up to declare a potential conflict of interest.

The Geelong saga also raises questions about whether recent State Government amendments to the Local Government Act, requiring the declaration of council campaign donations, are tough enough.

There is a real irony in this story because it emerged just as Geelong was starting to drag itself out of the economic doldrums and enjoy a mini boom in population and investment. It was people like Frank Costa who insisted Geelong needed a better quality of council to ensure the city made the most of the good times. As is so often the case with Geelong, the city's fortunes seem to run parallel with its beloved football club.

McClown pays visit to Mao Old Habits die hard as Melbourne's former one year term Deputy flys to China at Geelong's expense

The Geelong News reports that Peter McMullin, Former Melbourne City Councillor and currently Mayor of Geelong) has dipped into Geelong Ratepayers coffers to fund a trip to China. McMullen (also referred to McClown) was sacked as Melbourne Deputy Lord Mayor in 1997 having only served one year as Deputy to failed Lord Mayor Ivan Deveson. The reason being he ratted on his collegues and promises givin to the electorate.

McClown is also remembered for his University days where as a devote Maoist he campaigned against the Zionist cause as he sang praise and reiterated quotes from Chairman Mao's little red book.

The Geelong News reports that McClown had spent over $8,000 on a three day visit to China raising ongoing concern about the misuse and abuse of Council funded overseas travel.

Under the provisions of the Local Government Act and regulations City Councils MUST maintain a travel register of all overseas and interstate travel undertaken by City Councillors and or Staff.

It is unknown if any staff from the City of Geelong accompanied Geelong's Mayor on his China tour. Past experiences from the City of Melbourne show that additional costs are picked up and allocated to the staff members travel accounts which tend to go unnoticed. It is also not known if the City of Geelong has adopted Melbourne City Council's creative accounting methods where cost occurred are not disclosed nor recorded on any expense statements.

Peter MCMullin was implicated in the Geelong City Council Campaign funding scandal that surfaced earlier this year.

Conflict of Interest Former Deputy Clown questions conflict of Interest

Melbourne City Council's former Deputy Lord Mayor, Peter McMullin (alias Peter McClown) is in the news again this time in his new stomping ground and new role as Geelong's Mayor.

The Age - Geelong mayors back inquiry

Cr Peter McMullin, who is also supposedly a lawyer having studied Law at Melbourne University, told The Age that the conflict of interest provisions in the act were unclear. "The legal environment is incredibly confused, as to what's an interest, what's a conflict of interest, a pecuniary interest."

We would have thought it was pretty straight forward and that given his years of experience as a Lawyer and Local Government practitioner he would have had some Idea by now. (But according to comments made by John Howie from Howie and Maher who took over representation of Community Radio station 3CR you can never tell.)

If in doubt don't leave it out.

If you have a pecuniary interest either direct or indirect then there is a potential for a conflict of Interest. An interest could come in the form of direct payments or indirect payment such as receiving kick backs, gifts or donations.

The provisions of Victorian Local Government Act 1989 endeavour to set out what those responsibilities are but, as is often the case with Lawyers when their clients who are caught between a rock and a hard place or in the case of Geellong a community and a developer, they never know.

This question is asked all the time down that City of Melbourne Clown Hall.
The City of Melbourne has a clear cut policy where the Council does not provide legal advise to Councillors in respect to issues of conflict of interest provisions.

A sound policy and one that should apply in all cases where personal legal advice is requested.

The City Council is not qualified to provide a free legal advisory service. Any decisions to seek personal legal advice should always be a decision of the elected Council as a whole and then only in the interest of the Council as a whole and not any individual councillor. In the case of a primary assessment advise should only be given with the consent of the relevant committee chairperson or in the course of responding to recommendations before Council . The problem being of course if the Council provides legal advice and that advice is later found to be defective (which was often the case with advice provided by Melbourne City Council's former legal governance officer, Alison Lyons) is that it leaves the City Council wide open to abuse and possible corruption and misuse of council's resources not to mention questions of professional liability.

Councillor McClown, who held the position of Melbourne Deputy Lord Mayor for one year before being dumped from the position in 1997, being a lawyer should know full well this fact.

We often wonder if McClown had a conflict of interest when he all of a sudden backed down and refused to support a call for the State Government to subject the then proposed Museum development in the Carlton Gardens to a proper planning process. (The motion lost by one vote)

To this day no satisfactory explanation has been provided by McMullin as to why he refused to support the motion. Had the Museum Development undergone a proper planning assessment the Museum might not have been built were it is today and would not be in the financial trouble it now finds itself i and Melbourne would have been that much better off.

The problems and accusations of conflict of Interest in Geelong is a one that has captured the attention of all Municipal Councils through out Australia and has spilled over into the bloggersphere. One suggestion that was logged is that Councillor McMullin should set an example and help put the issues under debate to rest by submitting a statutory declarations and
calling on his fellow councillors to do likewise.

In the mean-time we will along with the rest will watch with ever increasing interest the outcome.

The Clown's review Maoist, Anti-Zionist and betrayer of the people. A review of career and the face behind the makeup of Peter (Pan) McClown

Review of the life and career of a Clown based on the true life story of an Aged Sleepy Hollow actor.

Peter McClown, former disgraced Deputy Lord Clown of Clown Hall, the same McClown who sold out his Melbourne audience and supporters is now seeking to sell off Geelong's reputation and past heritage. He wants to build a commercial bridge across Yarra Street cutting off benefits to side alley traders.

Yes the same McClown that was elected to the City of Melbourne Clown Hall in 1996 on a platform of support for tradition, heritage preservation and opposition to the location of Melbourne’s Museum adjacent to the historical Royal Exhibition Buildings in the Carlton Gardens.

Within months of being nominated to the Deputy Clown role McClown soon betrayed his promoters and loyal supporters. He could not have bent over backwards fast enough to assist and please the King Ring Master, Jeffery "Gibson" Kennett, who continued to gamble and was seeking revenge for his past failed efforts to destroy Melbourne’s historic stage.

McClown would not support or advocate even the slightest change to Jeff's script. He was a devoted disciple of destruction and to everyones amazment voted against a motion (which lost by one vote) calling on the design of the Museum development to be subjected to an independent economic review and proper planning assessment. It was a reasonable, simple, request but he McClown would not support it.

Having sold-out his constituent investors, McClown, whose performance was not that good and declining faster then a sinking ship, was soon removed from his role as Deputy Clown and dumped overboard the following year (Two years short of his expected tenure).

Even though he lost the lead-understudy role and the Deputy's title he continued to play up on the fact that he once held the position and always mentions in his repertoire that he was once the Deputy and not just the fool.

His attempt to regain access to the centre ring was unsuccessful. He lost his re-election bid in 1999 and failed again, dismally, to secure the top Lord Clown position in 2000, having spent over $300,000.00 promoting his comeback tour.

McClown’s main achievement and talent, apart from selling out on the Museum issue, was how quick and skilled he was at assuming new roles. He should have been an acrobat given the way he flipped and flopped bending over as quick like he did. He was good. He could stick his head between his legs and grin widely whilst sticking out his tongue, trying to pull a funny face hoping to please the ring master. (With all the make-up he wore you never knew if it was a smile of a frown)

He tried his hand at being an entrepreneur and stitched up a deal with American "exploiter of talent and cheap labour, the god of NIKE, and gave them a $200,000.00 subsidy, sponsored by Melbourne ratepayers, to set up a show in Bourke Street. (We didn't know that Nike made shoes for Clowns)

Rumours and facts have it he was one of the player-producer-writers behind the fooleries, lies and deceit of the junior-understudy Clown whose performance and antics brought the house down in 2000 resulting in the earlier closure of the 1999-2002 Clown Hall season.

Having failed to make it on the Melbourne stage, McClown moved to a new location, the Geelong-Corangamite region, a sea change to try to win a Federal role from the other troop of actors - the Corangamite Liberato Party. Whilst unsuccessful in 2004 he hopes to try again next time and he may succeed as the current incumbent performer is getting rather old and there is no apparent successor in the wings. McClown hopes to ride the wave of fortune as and when the tide changes.

In the meantime McClown has taken a job at the lesser known theatre at Geelong’s Clown Hall and is continuing to work on and develop his old scripts selling out Geelong’s past heritage and reputation.

My uncle, who was a long time Labor voter and resident of the Corangamite electorate said he could not support or vote for McClown in the last election. His assessment and independent review was made before I even had a chance to explain to him some of the history behind his act and the antics McClown got up to when he was on the Melbourne stage. (Not to mention his time as a student Clown at Melbourne’s law review where he would dress up as a Millionaire’s son and pretend to be Chairman Mao. He would recite his lines and make stupid statements like “religion was the opium of the masses” whilst spousing his hate for the Zionist cause.)

Thankfully some people could see beyond the makeup just how sad this Clown really can be.

“You can fool all of the people some of the time, you can fool some of the people all the time but you can not fool all of the people all the time.”