Perth Voice Interactive

Stirling city council and the Mount Lawley Society are using “scaremongering tactics” to whip up opposition to council amalgamations, says Bayswater mayor Terry Kenyon.

Cr Kenyon slammed the “Stay in Stirling” rally held at the Astor Theatre last week, which disparaged the notion of Mt Lawley becoming part of Bayswater

Pamphlets declared, “Don’t make Bayswater your future! It could ruin your heritage!” and

“[Bayswater] higher rubbish levy—$310 per annum”.

“There seems to have been a lot of misinformation presented during the meeting,” Cr Kenyon says.

“For example, the city’s current waste service provides residential properties with three 240 litre bins—residents enjoy a weekly household waste collection, as well as a fortnightly recycling and green waste collection.

“As for heritage, just look at the Maylands experience where council has invested large sums in preserving the Peninsula Hotel, the former Senses heritage building now houses the WA Ballet and we have just adopted a conservation plan for the historic Maylands brickworks.”

Perth Liberal candidate and property tycoon “Dazzling” Darryl Moore is learning the hard way that what you post on the net stays on the net—forever.

It’s emerged this week that on a property investor website eight years ago he’d referred to tenants as “ferals” and “illiterate” and “whinging”.

Under the username “Dazzling” he’d noted that when it came to dealing with women he’d made it “a particular point to be extra tough”.

The comments were found by The Good Oil, a website run by ex-Liberal staffer Darren Brown. The Voice has since found more posts at other online property forums where Mr Moore jokingly referred to himself as a “slumlord”.

“I don’t suppose there’s a hotline number for landlords to call at the local Hells’ Angels chapter that anyone knows about ?” he’d mused.

“Any other landlords had success with non-conventional methods [of eviction]?”

Media shy of Jaymes Diazian proportions, Mr Moore elected not to answer questions directly about his views on women in business and troublesome tenants. Instead, Liberal HQ released a statement on his behalf that was not nearly as interesting as his posts.

“Eight years ago I contributed comments to an online property forum,” he says in the statement.

“Some of these comments were poorly worded and could be misinterpreted.”

He maintains he always abided by the law with tenants—who were commercial, not residential—including “when the rent was unpaid for several months”.

Perth Labor candidate Alannah MacTiernan reckons the Liberals fluffed their preselection for the seat: “Did they do their due diligence before they selected this guy?” she asks.

She says Mr Moore’s post “goes directly to his attitude towards fellow human beings” and she questions how he could represent areas like Maylands, with a large proportion of tenants.

by DAVID BELL

Perth Liberal candidate Darryl Moore says he has no regrets about entering public life.

The former petroleum engineer and landlord has adopted a cautious strategy with the media after claiming his views on equal marriage were misrepresented by both the West Australian and the Voice.

He now communicates with the Voice through Liberal media minder Joey Armenti.

“It has been a good experience and I genuinely believe locals deserve better than what Labor has to offer them,” Mr Moore says.

“I have spent a lot of my time meeting thousands of people in the eastern part of the electorate which has been overlooked and ignored for many years.”

But Notre Dame political analyst Martin Drum says the Liberal campaign has suffered from “several blunders”, “including telling a constituent not to broadcast his views on same sex marriage, and his reluctance to engage with the media”.

“This week we have now seen some other comments he has made in the past come back to bite him.

“I’d expect the seat of Perth to be the one and probably only seat in WA to see a swing towards the Labor party this election.”

While Julia Gillard was PM and Stephen Smith the incumbent, the Liberals held high hopes of taking the seat, particularly given the Liberals’ stunning 10 per cent swing in the area for the state election. With Kevin Rudd back as PM and Mr Smith retiring to make way for Alannah MacTiernan, few now rate Mr Moore as a serious chance.

Mr Moore—in comments filtered through Mr Armenti—says he is not intimidated by his high-profile opponent.

“Regardless of whose name and face is on the poster, a vote for Labor is a vote to keep the current chaotic and dysfunctional government in place,” he says. 

“With WA having suffered so much at the hands of the Labor government I hope that people understands that to change the government we need to send as many Liberals to Canberra as possible.”

by STEPHEN POLLOCK

English-born mayor David Boothman will do anything to stop Colin Barnett’s council amalgamations—he’s even allowed his staffers to Photoshop his face into Scottish “Braveheart” William Wallace.

The poster is the latest in a series of iconic images created by Stirling city council to protest its boundaries changing in the amalgamations.

The first poster in the series was a spoof on the Obama poster “HOPE”, with staffers subbing in the comparatively feeble verb “STAY”.

The Voice called Cr Boothman for comment, but he didn’t answer—probably busy polishing his claymore.

Wallace was one of the main leaders of the Wars of Scottish Independence and cuffed the English at the Battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297. When caught he was drawn and quartered (guts cut out of him while still living and then he was chopped up). He was famously portrayed by Mel Gibson.

by STEPHEN POLLOCK

Stirling is set to go all rad with BMX bikes and skateboards.

The council will investigate building eight skate and BMX facilities across the city, including satellite sites at Dianella and Inglewood.

One-quarter of the city’s population is aged between five and 24, but there is only one skate park, at Carine.

Mayor David Boothman—a closet fan of the film BMX Bandits—says locals want more parks.

“Skate and BMX activities have developed into a mainstream sport and the industry has reacted by designing more interesting and creative facilities,” he says.

Public consultation has revealed locals want:

• footpaths, public transport and parking facilities;

• safe and inviting facilities located in highly visible and used areas;

• challenging designs for beginners as well as advanced skaters and riders.

The main hub will be in Hertha North Reserve, with five satellite and two incidental sites spread across the city. Concept designs will go out for public comment.

by STEPHEN POLLOCK

Hundreds of education assistants attended a rain-soaked rally at parliament house Tuesday to protest job cuts.

Last month’s WA Budget included the shock loss of 500 education assistants and support staff from public schools across Perth. The State School Teachers Union is demanding the Barnett government reverse the cuts or face strike action over three weeks.

The government says the cuts stay.

United Voice WA assistant secretary Carolyn Smith said industrial action by support staff was a last resort.

Reverse cuts

“We are calling on Premier Barnett to reverse the cuts!” Carolyn Smith from United Voice told the rally.

“Our education system has reached crisis point. Members are angry!

“Education assistants do invaluable work in the classroom every single day yet the premier cut their jobs to sort out his budget problems.

“Members deserve better. The children of WA deserve better.”

Also at the rally were federal workplace relations minister Bill Shorten, WA education minister Peter Collier and WA Labor leader Mark McGowan.

by STEPHEN POLLOCK

 

Dudley Maier says he’s considering a run for mayor of Vincent.

“The next couple of years are going to be really critical for our community,” he says.

“I think the writing’s on the wall that there’s going to be change. The people who think we can stay separate as Vincent are living in fairyland.

“We need someone who’s apolitical and can work for the benefit of the community.”

His number one preference “in a perfect world” is to keep Vincent as it is, but given premier Colin Barnett’s announced he only wants 14 metro councils Cr Maier says the pragmatic approach is to lobby for all of Vincent to go into Perth rather than be split down the middle.

With that, he mirrors fellow Cr John Carey, an ALP member already running for mayor (and who’s secured the backing of incumbent Alannah MacTiernan).

Cr Maier says his decision will be “partly about who else might be running”.

Whispers are doing the rounds that Labor-aligned Izzi Messina might also run and Greens-supporter Ian Ker is another tip (though the former councillor this week poured cold water on the suggestion).

While Cr Maier says he’d “rather not comment about other people”, he did say that as a non-party aligned mayor he’d have the best chance of negotiating with the state government over mergers.

“We’re going to have to … deal with state government, and it has to be seen as apolitical.

“I think when you negotiate with someone who’s holding all the cards you have to treat them with respect and argue on the merits of the case and not along party lines.”

Cr Maier, who turns 60 next year, is the longest-serving member on the council, having been elected in 2005. He says he has a history of closely scrutinising financial figures and keeping rates low, and a good track record on environmental and planning issues.

by DAVID BELL

Lawyer Laine McDonald has put up her hand to run for Vincent council.

In her day job with Slater & Gordon, Ms McDonald represents people suffering asbestos-related diseases.

The 31-year-old says with mergers looming, “we need a strong council and people with experience in advocating”.

“As a lawyer, that’s what I do every day. I strongly believe Vincent needs to stay as one”.

Her first preference is to keep council boundaries where they are, but she says the most pragmatic approach now is to push for all of Vincent to go to Perth.

A Highgate local involved with the Beaufort Street Network, she wants to expand on what makes the area good for people and families.

That includes making sure there’s enough infrastructure like parks, playgrounds and playgroups, creating opportunities for business by activating laneways and vacant buildings, and greening the city with more trees and parklets.

“I love the vibrancy of Vincent and want to see that continue.”

Ms McDonald spent two years in Cambodia working for an anti-human trafficking organisation, and worked for the child protection department at home before signing up with Slater & Gordon.

by DAVID BELL

It’s the year of the political comeback: First Kevin Rudd and now Nick Catania?

The Voice hears the former Vincent mayor and before that Balcatta state Labor MP will make a tilt for Stirling city council’s Lawley ward at next month’s elections.

“He’s fuming at the government’s plans to make Mt Lawley part of Bayswater,” says a close friend, speaking on condition of anonymity. “He’s really fired up and told me he wants to run.”

When asked directly, Mr Catania refused to say: “I’m not going to confirm or deny it,” the 67-year-old said. “In the past, the Voice had a habit of misrepresenting what I said. Nominations close at the end of the week, so you’ll find out then.”

Mr Catania, who lives on the Mt Lawley side of Alexander Drive, was Vincent mayor from 2001-2011 and Balcatta MP from 1989-1996. If he runs he’ll be up against Cr Rod Willox, a Liberal who’s lived in Mt Lawley for 40 years and has been a councillor for 20.

by STEPHEN POLLOCK