Thursday, April 3, 2008

Conflict of Interest: "Water under the Bridge"

Well, Well. Just who is reading the Fraser Coast Free Clarion? Someone at the Chronicle perhaps? 
To my knowledge absolutely nothing has appeared in our daily paper about a possible conflict of interest in Cr Julie Arthur's previous and present chairmanship of a water/sewerage portfolio, while her husband John was/is the Maryborough water officer. (see Portfolio Chair may constitute conflict of interest, below) Yet in today's paper Quick Draw, which normally comments on the Chronicle's big stories, alludes to it. 

The cartoon shows three koalas fishing off a bridge, the first said: "Why shouldn't Julie Arthur be in charge of the Fraser Coast's water - it's not as if she's wet behind the ears!" The second, quoting Belinda McNeven said: "And she always looks at the glass as half full - not half empty!" The third koala, looking stressed, said: "All this controversy should be water under the bridge!"

That the editor was so quick to damn Cr Sue Brooks in the eyes of the public, over what can only be called a weak and nebulous claim of conflict of interest, before the election, (Click on March Archives - Popular Hervey Bay Candidate targeted) yet when there was an obvious one sitting under her nose for the past 17 years, she makes a joke of it. Hypocrisy writ large! 

The hard questions do need to asked and they need to be answered by those who are accountable to the electorate. Just not in the Chronicle if it doesn't suit the editor's purpose.

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