A COMMUNITY DIVIDED |
A COMMUNITY DIVIDED |
|DIVISIVE POLITICS|HOLSWORTHY ACTION DAY|
|THE PUSH FOR HOLSWORTHY/BADGERYS CREEK|
WHO IS PUSHING WHAT ON HOLSWORTHY?
(GRAPHICAL REPRESENTATIONS ARE UNDER CONSTRUCTION)
POLITICIANS PLAY DEADLY DIVISIVE GAMES WITH RESIDENTS OVER SYDNEY AIRPORT ISSUES
WHY HAS DANA VALE TURNED HER GUNS ON THE PEOPLE OF BANKSTOWN?
Peter,
Just another viewpoint on Dana Vales antics at the July 27 "Action Day" Rally.
Let me first say that I was disgusted by the efforts to gag her prior to the Rally (and similar efforts at the Bigge Park rally last year). Equally, I was disgusted none of the Liberal Minister's who'll make the decision had the guts to face the music on Sunday ( I understand a number of them were invited, including John Fahey - a local member).
However, I was totally apalled by Dana's headless chook antics on Sunday. I could forgive all this as being the result of a stressful week. But then, towards the end of her rave, she made one unforgiveable mistake.
She turned her guns on the people of Bankstown.
She suggested that extension of KSA and transferral of smaller aircraft into Bankstown was "her solution". Residents of Bankstown have been mindful of this prospect from the outset. Holsworthy is, from our NIMBY perspective a better solution than 737's over our houses. And there is clearly some peril to us in continuing to oppose Holsworthy.
After getting over initial thoughts that the best thing Dana could do was choke on her Weetbix, I tried to make sense of this.
All I could come up with is that, like a truly crass politician, Dana and probably her Liberal leaders are playing hatefull divide-and-conquer politics.
After Friday's interim AHC listing, Holsworthy was looking decidedly less capable of dividing the community, so maybe Dana thought she could stir up some more divisions by talking up the KSA/Bankstown plan. The Holsworthy red-herring's dead, so Dana tried to find a new divider.
Like her political adversaries, she hasn't the slightest interest in unified community action, and probably lives in fear of it.
There's a comforting thought in this: Holsworthy has been a red-herring all along - a charade to divide opposition to Badgery's Creek, and to give false security to those in Badgery's back yard. The "other" side of politics is going along with the charade, supporting Badgery's, and appearing to fight Holsworthy in an attempt to cash-in on the disenchantment.
I nearly said "pretending" to fight Holsworthy. If you've heard about the contest of raffles last Sunday, you might know about the pretense.
Sunday's "united front" is a very thin veneer, and we will have to struggle to strengthen it as long as the likes of Dana and her opposites draw breath from this issue.
Email received August 2, 1997
HOLSWORTHY ACTION DAY
JULY 27, 1997
THE LEGACY OF HOLSWORTHY ACTION DAY JULY 27, 1997 Residents do not want to hear any more political diatribe on Holsworthy, or witness any more attempts from any interest group or politician to divide or divert our efforts. Reject the Holsworthy idea outright because it is a tainted, undemocratic, and environmentally flawed proposal - potentially a gross impost on the lives of residents throughout the Sydney basin. Simply, the single unifying task for residents is to force the Federal Government to remove Holsworthy off the agenda - NOW! AND DO THIS FOR ALL AIRPORT-AFFECTED RESIDENTS JOIN THE GROWING UNIFIED RESIDENT FIGHT THAT DEMANDS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SEARCH FOR SECOND AIRPORT SITES OUTSIDE THE SYDNEY BASIN |
(H.A.D. I.T. has received brickbats and bouquets for its coverage of the Holsworthy Action Day originally published on the internet on July 27, 1997. This has forced amendments to this page. Many thanks to residents for their submissions - keep them coming in)
OVERVIEW: TODAY 20,000 IRATE RESIDENTS FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE GATHERED AT HAMMONDVILLE FOOTBALL OVAL TO VOICE THEIR UNIFIED OPPOSITION TO THE SELECTION OF HOLSWORTHY AS A POTENTIAL SITE FOR SYDNEY'S SECOND AIRPORT. A VERY SUCCESSFUL RALLY INDEED IN A VALIANT EFFORT TO UNIFY ALL GROUPS, INCLUDING POLITICAL ENTITIES, CONTROVERSIAL LIBERAL MP DANA VALE SERVED A BLAST AT ALL THOSE EXHIBITING DIVERGENT MOTIVES ON THE ISSUE, WITH SPECIAL FOCUS ON THE LABOR PARTY'S APPARENT ATTEMPT TO GAG THE LIBERAL MP AT THE RALLY - SHE WAS NOT ORIGINALLY INCLUDED IN THE LIST OF SPEAKERS. IT IS REPORTED THAT MAYORS REPRESENTING THE 7 COUNCILS OPPOSING HOLSWORTHY WERE NOT INVITED RIGHT UP UNTIL THE LAST MOMENT. WHAT IS GOING ON? ACROSS-THE-BOARD MUM AND DAD SUPPORT EVIDENT AT THE RALLY RESIDENTS FROM DIVERSE MULTICULTURAL AND SOCIOECONOMIC BACKGROUNDS WERE PRESENT 20,000 RESIDENTS FORM A HUMAN "NO" AT THE RALLY AND TRY TO ENTER THE GUINNESS BOOK OF RECORDS! (PICTURE BELOW)
ALL IN THE NAME OF UNITY!!!!!!! 20,000 ATTEND ACTION DAY AND DANA DOES HER NANA AND TICKS OFF TICKNER. NOT A GOOD MOVE! PROTESTERS FOCUS ON THE THREE FEDERAL "JONNIES". H.A.D. I.T. SAYS THEY ARE "AS USELESS AS WING TIPS ON A FAHEY BULL" OVER HOLSWORTHY ILLAWARRA PROTESTORS FORM AN IMPRESSIVE VEHICLE CONVOY - DID ROBERT TICKNER HAVE A HAND IN THIS? - WELL DONE SENIOR ALP MP'S FAULKNER AND KNOWLES DECLARE THEIR ANTI-HOLSWORTHY STANCE DESPITE OTHER ALP POLITICIANS WHO ADVOCATE RAPID DEVELOPMENT OF THE SITE BARRY O'KEEFE FROM THE NATIONAL TRUST OFFERS UNILATERAL SUPPORT FOR THE FIGHT AGAINST HOLSWORTHY. HE WILL FIGHT THE PLAN "RIGHT DOWN TO THE WIRE" CRASH CHAIRWOMAN LORRAINE RODDEN TOLD THE RALLY THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD RECEIVED COPIES OF A SUBMISSION FROM A DEVELOPER IN APRIL 1996, JUST PRIOR TO THE SELECTION OF HOLSWORTHY AS AN ALTERNATIVE SITE THE AUSTRALIAN CONSERVATION FOUNDATION'S PENNY FIGGIS WEIGHS IN WITH SUPPORT AGAINST HOLSWORTHY JIM MCGOLDRICK, TIRELESS ANTI-HOLSWORTHY FIGHTER, SAYS "HOWARD WILL PAY IF HOLSWORTHY GOES AHEAD" THE AUSTRALIAN DEMOCRATS LEND THEIR SUPPORT TO THE FIGHT AGAINST HOLSWORTHY |
H.A.D. I.T. SENDS A MESSAGE TO LIBERAL MP DANA VALE
Dana, you know that we think your fight against the Holsworthy proposal is commendable, perhaps heroic considering that your boss, the Prime Minister, has completely different motives - perhaps he is not even listening to you. You are on public record as being a staunchly proud anti-Holsworthy fighter and you should have capitalised on this today, but I believe you messed up.
The contents of your speech stunned the crowd - they did not know whether to laugh or cry. You launched into a loud lengthy diatribe condemning past Labor Governments for their failure to solve Sydney's airport problems. You lowered your voice when finally addressing the issue at hand - Holsworthy. Your protest appeared weak and weary because of this. If it was in an attempt to unify the community - it confused them even more. They simply were not aware of the backroom shoving and political posturing over this protest event.
Dana, I guess I am saying that you cannot really blame others for not wanting to roll out the red carpet for you today. Although we shun the "backroom bully boys" and those trying to extract something out of the issue for themselves, we still love you for all your efforts. But, we despise your boss the Prime Minister, over this issue (and that is human nature - not political bias). And that puts you in a difficult position. Although your credentials are well established, you sort of represent the enemy in this issue - the Federal Government. We have no other face-to-face contact with these officials.
Look. Let me give you some friendly advice. Warn the Prime Minister that the chilly winds from Holsworthy will be with him for a long time to come. He should rug up. Although we plan to turn up the heat....................
H.A.D. I.T. sends a message to all Politicians: Your political infighting on this issue is deplorable but not unexpected. The residents of Sydney have suffered through many years of perverse politicising of these airport issues. Enough is enough. For example, we know the Federal Labor Government in office prior to 1996 did not really advance the resolution of Sydney airport issues until an election loomed (some might remember Federal Labor's rushed effort to bring Badgerys Creek on line 6 weeks before the last election to appease third runway opponents for example - they reluctantly set up an EIS after they received advice that their 1980's EIS might be slightly out of date) - and yes, it has left the current Federal Government with an unwelcome legacy. But we fail to understand why the current Liberal Federal Government, (who did not reveal the nasties they were about to impose on Holsworthy before the election, yet imposed them within a month of winning Government) continue to refuse to publish their reasons for elevating Holsworthy from ninth on a short list to number one. This is where all the bitterness creeps in - we have been pushed from pillar to post for too long.
It is a dud idea - period - lets not prolong our pain and your political misery. This message translates to all political parties. Unify with us on this message alone. And focus on a second airport site(s) further afield for the sake of all residents and environment in the Sydney basin.
H.A.D. I.T. PUBLISHES THESE COMMENTS FROM RESIDENTS REGARDING THE RALLY
We should hire a few buses and go to Canberra with this lot (residents attending the rally) and really tell them what we think about Holsworthy. I dont think people would mind chipping in for the cost of the bus. They just dont know or care about our fight against this airport.
I was offended by the ALP stickers saying to oppose the liberals airport when ALP Mayors such as Barry Cotter from Marrickville had less than 2 weeks ago been advocating an urgent start on either Holsworthy or Badgery's Creek.
I think your (H.A.D. I.T.'s page) on Dana Vale sucks.
Why wasn't Mayor George Paciullo, the Mayor of Liverpool invited to speak.
Your web page needs more balance (a comment on yesterday's H.A.D. I.T. page on the rally). What about the good points of the rally? Arn't there good things about having an airport a Holsworthy anyway?
Who makes up the organisational list for this protest?
Superb oganisation on the day....................I enjoyed it and the carnival atmosphere.
TODAY, CERTAIN SYDNEY METROPOLITAN-BASED COUNCILS AND POLITICIANS BOTH LIBERAL AND LABOR, DECLARED A UNIFIED FRONT DEMANDING THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT LOCATE, AND CONSTRUCT PRONTO, A SECOND AIRPORT AT EITHER HOLSWORTHY OR BADGERYS CREEK - COME HELL OR HIGH WATER. REGARDLESS OF ANY ADVERSE EIS FINDING. THIS MOVEMENT IS IN DIRECT OPPOSITION TO A GROWING ALLIANCE OF RESIDENTS WANTING TO PUSH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO CONSIDER OTHER SITES OUTSIDE THE SYDNEY BASIN RATHER THAN THE CURRENT TWO SITE FOCUS. |
H.A.D. I.T. COMMENT: Well anti-KSA fighters, you will be pleased to know that the Federal Government has already imposed HELL on residents affected by these second airport proposals. There is already a high level of stress in these communities and property values have plummeted. This is due in part, to the confusing and downright clandestine push by various interest groups, hell bent on severely limiting the capacity, or closing down KSA operations and therefore wanting to shift the burden to the residents and environment South and/or South-West of Sydney and the Illawarra. You will also be pleased to know that the Feds have accelerated the EIS process to warp speed to appease and compensate you for your frustrations. Regardless of due process.
What a fool - I shared your concerns about the "sharing" principle brought to KSA flight path operations even though your constituents chose to live in one of the world's premier gateway cities and near a major international airport. I was on your side and thought about the wider issues in order to minimize the impact of airport operations on both residents and environment in the Sydney basin. Thanks for nothing. Or were you always in the background during these lean times - in bed with the Federal Government and the economic rationalists pushing your self interests?
WATCH THIS SPACE - H.A.D. I.T. WILL IDENTIFY THESE PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND EXPOSE THEIR MOTIVES - I THINK IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH POLITICAL SURVIVAL EH?
OR IS IT EVIDENCE OF A FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PLOY TO PITCH RESIDENT AGAINST RESIDENT TO DILUTE THE EVER GROWING ANTI-HOLSWORTHY CHORUS?
ITS ENOUGH TO MAKE YOU GO ALL NIMBY
THE
HOLSWORTHY AIRPORT ISSUE