Bundaberg Election 2006 - Sonja Cleary, Jack Dempsey or Greg McMahon?
I've been puzzled by the recent polls which show Labor might romp it in, in the forthcoming election.
But then I reflected on our situation in Bundaberg. Just who are our choices?
There's a nurse/academic Sonja Cleary. I chatted to her once in town and heard her once on ABC radio. Somewhat inarticulate - at least on radio - and doesn't come over as a forceful individual with the passion to help Bundy and its people identify and solve current problems. The only thing I recall from chatting with her was her concern about Federal Government policies, and I personally don't want another politician (like Nita Cunningham) who hides her head in the sand about State issues and floats on the 'blame the feds' platform. Also Sonja was on the district hospital council at the time the council wrote in support of Jayant Patel. She claimed "we were as disturbed about the letter as members of the community". As a nurse wouldn't she more than anyone have the inside running on scuttlebutt from the hospital staff? And if she didn't, can Bundaberg people be convinced of her ability to keep in touch in the future?
If Sonja gets elected along with a continuing Labor government there's a danger that she'll be (or end up being) a compliant mouthpiece for Beattie and of no practical use to Bundaberg.
Our other main party choice is Jack Dempsy. Nationals candidate and Bundaberg police officer. Already failed opponent when he stood against Nita Cunningham in the last election although I believe there was a swing in his favour. He's had a very low profile in Bundaberg since then, and I was surprised the Nationals put him up again. I just googled on "jack dempsey" national party candidate bundaberg and got only 12 hits. Take out the quite good and long articles from the southern papers, the last election, and the National Party site and there's not much left to indicate a positive local profile.
I've never met him, but had cause to speak to him on the phone once and wasn't impressed. Has he got what it takes? I don't know, but he hasn't got much time left to covince the Bundaberg electorate so he'd better get active.
Also anyone contemplating voting for him has to wonder what will happen to Bundaberg if a) he wins Bundaberg but the State stays with Labor, or b) if he wins Bundaberg and the State goes to a National/Liberal coalition with leadership uncertainty.
Finally there's independent Greg McMahon. Googling on 'Greg McMahon independent candidate Bundaberg' gave me a lot of background about his work with Whistleblowers Australia which goes back a long way. He was apparently kicked out of the labor party some months ago after revealing (via National party member Rob Messenger) some questionable financial goings on in the local Labor party. His reported vitriole against the Labor party since then makes you wonder about one report which suggests he nominated (or planned to nominate) as the Labor candidate for this election.
And although it shouldn't make a lot of difference, I couldn't find out anything from the 'net about other things I'd like to know. Like how old is he? what does he look like? where does he live? What does he do for a living? The only telephone number I could find for him was in Queensland but not Bundaberg.
Many people will be tempted to vote for an independent in this election, but as well as knowing the candidates (which is proving to be difficult) the issues of the unknown impact of preferences, and the outcome if the independent should win office, are key considerations.
The voters of Bundaberg definitely have some deep thinking to do in the next couple of weeks - and the candidates had better get cracking and make meaningful information available to the electorate to help them reach a decision.
I apologise in advance if I've missed finding information on the internet or misrepresented anyones position. Like many other older people in the community I rely mainly on the 'net for information. I've given up subscribing to the local newspaper because of it's lack of coverage of major issues, and large amount of group school and sport photos which it presumably resorts to to boost sales.
If you do want to make a comment on what I've said, in support or otherwise, please go ahead. Comments aren't moderated, but if I find later that you've put up something totally offensive or obscene I'll probably hide it from pulic view.
But then I reflected on our situation in Bundaberg. Just who are our choices?
There's a nurse/academic Sonja Cleary. I chatted to her once in town and heard her once on ABC radio. Somewhat inarticulate - at least on radio - and doesn't come over as a forceful individual with the passion to help Bundy and its people identify and solve current problems. The only thing I recall from chatting with her was her concern about Federal Government policies, and I personally don't want another politician (like Nita Cunningham) who hides her head in the sand about State issues and floats on the 'blame the feds' platform. Also Sonja was on the district hospital council at the time the council wrote in support of Jayant Patel. She claimed "we were as disturbed about the letter as members of the community". As a nurse wouldn't she more than anyone have the inside running on scuttlebutt from the hospital staff? And if she didn't, can Bundaberg people be convinced of her ability to keep in touch in the future?
If Sonja gets elected along with a continuing Labor government there's a danger that she'll be (or end up being) a compliant mouthpiece for Beattie and of no practical use to Bundaberg.
Our other main party choice is Jack Dempsy. Nationals candidate and Bundaberg police officer. Already failed opponent when he stood against Nita Cunningham in the last election although I believe there was a swing in his favour. He's had a very low profile in Bundaberg since then, and I was surprised the Nationals put him up again. I just googled on "jack dempsey" national party candidate bundaberg and got only 12 hits. Take out the quite good and long articles from the southern papers, the last election, and the National Party site and there's not much left to indicate a positive local profile.
I've never met him, but had cause to speak to him on the phone once and wasn't impressed. Has he got what it takes? I don't know, but he hasn't got much time left to covince the Bundaberg electorate so he'd better get active.
Also anyone contemplating voting for him has to wonder what will happen to Bundaberg if a) he wins Bundaberg but the State stays with Labor, or b) if he wins Bundaberg and the State goes to a National/Liberal coalition with leadership uncertainty.
Finally there's independent Greg McMahon. Googling on 'Greg McMahon independent candidate Bundaberg' gave me a lot of background about his work with Whistleblowers Australia which goes back a long way. He was apparently kicked out of the labor party some months ago after revealing (via National party member Rob Messenger) some questionable financial goings on in the local Labor party. His reported vitriole against the Labor party since then makes you wonder about one report which suggests he nominated (or planned to nominate) as the Labor candidate for this election.
And although it shouldn't make a lot of difference, I couldn't find out anything from the 'net about other things I'd like to know. Like how old is he? what does he look like? where does he live? What does he do for a living? The only telephone number I could find for him was in Queensland but not Bundaberg.
Many people will be tempted to vote for an independent in this election, but as well as knowing the candidates (which is proving to be difficult) the issues of the unknown impact of preferences, and the outcome if the independent should win office, are key considerations.
The voters of Bundaberg definitely have some deep thinking to do in the next couple of weeks - and the candidates had better get cracking and make meaningful information available to the electorate to help them reach a decision.
I apologise in advance if I've missed finding information on the internet or misrepresented anyones position. Like many other older people in the community I rely mainly on the 'net for information. I've given up subscribing to the local newspaper because of it's lack of coverage of major issues, and large amount of group school and sport photos which it presumably resorts to to boost sales.
If you do want to make a comment on what I've said, in support or otherwise, please go ahead. Comments aren't moderated, but if I find later that you've put up something totally offensive or obscene I'll probably hide it from pulic view.
posted by GrannyLynda at 4:11 PM
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