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What we're talking about
- claude on Demons sack Neeld Melb need to completely rid them selves of Schwab and Connolly .They guided Freo to many dark years and then did the same ... more
- Dellas on All poll point to Rudd Latest opinion poll run by Nielsen contracted by Fairfax.Need I say more? more
- Matt of Lockridge on Furor over Justice Centre location With the Lord Street site, it's just down the road from the existing Women's Prison (Bandyup) and I don't get what the huge ... more
- Rusty of Fremantle on Demons sack Neeld Would Neil Craig be minding the post for Chris Connolly to resume from his suspension?Chris as List Manager, with Cameron ... more
- ken on PM's gender attack criticised Oh dear, I think the comments above are called shooting the messenger.In fact this minority government has been very good at ... more
- david on Demons sack Neeld about time, bring on jeff kenett,get hard line management happening.gary lyon needs to stay away from the club, too much ... more
- Alan on 24/7 Cop shop Armadale priority Armadale, and most metro stations already operate 24/7. Just because the front counter isn't open doesn't mean it isn't ... more
- harry on PM's gender attack criticised I have never seen an Australian PM as divisive as Julia Gillard. She and her team should be focusing on running the country ... more
- Steve on Fine dodgers clogging prisons and what percentage are waiting to have their case heard before the court? You may find that the backlog is similar to the ... more
- Steve on Jobs to go Why then does the Premier need expensive offices to work from when he is hardly ever there and most consultation should be ... more
- Steve on Furor over Justice Centre location Why are they not sent to Rottnest and kept away from law abiding citizens? Surely there can be zoning restriction keeping ... more
- Terry gosling on $10m gift to Dockers 10 million contribution for fremantle new stadium is so excessive.What about homeless people of Perth.Eduucation cutbacks, ... more
- Terry Rogers on Jobs to go I am not a fan of Colin Barnett or the current Liberal government, they have squandered the states inheritance, however, I ... more
- Glenn on Fine dodgers clogging prisons It really is a disgrace to have parking fine dodgers in prison. How much sense does it make to spend many many multiples of ... more
- Laura on Furor over Justice Centre location I think it is outrageous to suggest building a home for the criminally insane next to a highschool. Or to suggest that ... more
- Liz on Cuts to public jobs What a selfish, egotistical little man! How DARE he give his own staff pay rises and then sack hard working people who ... more
- Dave Wane on Jobs to go It was obviously too little, too late to reduce the size of the WA Government and possibly save the state from ... more
- David Lloyd on Furor over Justice Centre location Why doesnt minister morton build the centers in her suburb or in the premiers neighbourhood more
- RayH on Rescue at 2100 Hours I have just finished this. Wow, if the author set out to write a fiction thriller this would fit the bill. Amazing is the ... more
- Rusty of Fremantle on PM's gender attack criticised Can PM Gillard, Wayne Swan and all the other "gender debaters" try focussing on running this Country for a change. Labor ... more
Caretaker excuse
When Colin Barnett officially launched the 2013 State Election last week his government automatically adopted “caretaker” mode.
Nothing unusual about that.
Prior to elections, once the vice regal representative has approved the poll date and writs are issued, it is standard protocol that governments and their Ministers be constrained from signing off on significant projects.
Public statements must also be confined to election campaigning.
Until this week I was under the distinct belief this did not apply to government departments which must necessarily continue to service the community and respond to hiccups in their systems.
The issue that alerted me this rule was being exploited by bureaucrats was that Synergy had disconnected the power to more than 7, 700 customers last year, almost one third of them concession card holders.
I wanted a Synergy representative to explain its action to my audience.
Its spin doctors declined, citing the “caretaker” provisions of the electoral rules.
Taken to its logical conclusion that would lead to all government departments buttoning their lips till after March 9.
Police and fire authorities would be barred from releasing warnings, transport spokesmen could not issue traffic notifications, even the Water Corporation would be forced to withhold sprinkler rostering days.
There is no evidence that these, or any government entities are hiding behind this sham smokescreen.
Synergy’s double standards were exacerbated by a written explanation of its hard disconnection policy that I was invited to read on air.
I’m nobody else’s mouthpiece so that won’t be happening anytime soon…except to say that Synergy is clearly abusing its position as a government entity.
