Media release, 9/11/14 Accountability and transparency in government are fundamental to the democratic process. Any government that would monopolize the media and shut down public debate is an affront to what our fore fathers fought to protect. In late October I contacted the Latrobe Uni Mildura, to secure the auditorium for a candidate’s forum. My involvement was limited to organizing the place and the trestle tables for candidates to sit at. At this stage the night was then to be facilitated by Tony Alessi of the Northern Mallee School council presidents. Absolutely no agenda, no influence from myself or any other candidate or lobby group would be tolerated. They were Mr. Alessi’s terms. It was to be exactly as the federal forum was last year, held at the same venue. When I contacted the head of Latrobe Dr Deb Neal, she was enthusiastic about the concept. I was emailed the relevant documents, filled them in, was offered the auditorium free of charge as it was a community event and when I returned the paper work on Monday the 3rd November, I was enthusiastically received by the office staff who were expecting me. Come the next morning, Melbourne cup day, I received a short sharp call from DR Neal, stating ‘that she had received advice and that the Uni was politically neutral’ after some protesting by myself stating the obvious that the federal event was held there the year before, Dr Deb Neal then stated “oh …..Oh and we may be doing some renovations that week’. What is not widely known is that over 90% of all paid board positions in the Mildura region are held by national party members, including the board from Latrobe Uni. With the incumbent member for Mildura in all kinds of strife in the polls, the last thing the National party want to see is the sitting member brought to account by the general public and his record exposed or questioned. This is all general knowledge, but, it was not until the board members pulled such a shamelessly obvious maneuver that anyone could actually publically step forth and call them out on it. You see, what these board members and anyone else on the National Party gravy train fear the most is someone like myself being elected who will not tolerate the ‘job’s for the boy’s’ culture that is rampant in this electorate. In the meantime, this is Crispy’s last stand. The Nats are circling the wagons. Protecting their hold on power at the cost of our democracy. Mark Cory, Independent candidate for Mildura.
Posted on: Sat, 08 Nov 2014 21:08:40 +0000
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