THE seven protesters who were arrested and charged with trespassing after refusing to leave the Hastings office of Flinders MP Greg Hunt all say they were frustrated by the refusal of governments to be more compassionate in their treatment of refugees and asylum seekers. The sequel to their protest played out in Frankston Magistrates Court last week, more than a year later. Despite prosecutors offering six of them the chance to avoid a court appearance, they elected to appear as charged and read out statements to explain their decision to deliberately flout the law. Here are some edited extracts: Cameron…
Month: June 2016
LIBERAL candidate for Dunkley Chris Crewther has distanced himself from previously held views on limiting penalty rates. A ReachTel phone poll released last week found more than 83 per cent of undecided voters questioned in the marginal seat of Dunkley said they would be less likely to vote for a candidate who backs any cuts to weekend loading rates. Now, five weeks out from the 2 July election, Mr Crewther has deleted a self-penned article from his campaign Facebook page in which he put forward a plan to only pay penalty rates on the sixth or seventh day straight that…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire Council’s reversal of a decision not to pursue Cr Antonella Celi for thousands of dollars she allegedly spent over her allowances has sparked an intense backlash through social media. Since the decision was published by The News social media came alive with descriptions of the backflip being “disgusting” and “double standards” to questions of whether residents should be pursued for not paying rates (“Council drops costs recovery bid” The News 31/5/16). At their 23 May meeting, a majority of councillors voted to reverse an earlier decision for the shire to seek repayment from Cr Celi of what appeared to…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire is considering revoking its lease with Mt Martha Tennis Club because of the club’s objection to a skatepark being built near its courts. In an embarrassing gaffe, the shire has earmarked the site for the $800,000 skatepark within the boundaries of land it leases to the tennis club. After first being held up by Heritage Victoria because of the site’s historic use as a military parade ground, the shire now appears to have been aced by the tennis club. Cr Andrew Dixon says the club is “effectively holding the rest of the community to ransom”. “The club,…
COUNTRY Fire Authority volunteers across the Mornington Peninsula are “completely gutted” by what they see as a sell-out by the state government in enterprise bargaining negotiations between the United Firefighters’ Union and the CFA. Fair Work Australia has backed a log of claims governing future UFU wages and work conditions “which could effectively give them control over the CFA”, the volunteer body says. Volunteers are concerned the union seems to have the backing of Premier Daniel Andrews – although nothing is signed off as yet – but are buoyed by the support of Emergency Services Minister Jane Garrett. The ramifications…
TRIPLETS born in England 80 years ago reunited last week for a special occasion in Mt Eliza. The Aburrows, two boys and a girl born at Kingston-Upon-Thames in May 1936, celebrated their birthday at the home of younger brother Barry, in Nepean Highway. The eldest, now Joyce Carlin, was followed hours later by Peter and then Barry, and the rarity of a set of healthy triplets in England as war approached was “a fair sensation”, Mr Aburrow said. “There was a little story in the local paper at the time, and a cute picture of the three of us as…
CAFE owners across the Mornington Peninsula and Frankston are rallying to help Victorian dairy farmers under financial strain from an unprecedented drop in the price of milk after Australia’s two biggest dairy companies slashed farmgate prices. A trio of community-minded activists under the banner of the Mornington Peninsula for Dairy group – Sam Keck, Josh Brown and Lisa Brassington – aim to raise at least $10,000 with the help of small cafe businesses across the state who will donate $1 from every milk coffee sold on a ‘Dairy Day’ tomorrow (Saturday 4 June). Customers can also buy limited edition Snake…
Missing Persons Squad detectives have charged a second man following the death of Chelsea Heights’ teenager Cayleb Hough. The 27-year-old McKinnon man handed himself into police last night and has been charged with murder. He was remanded into custody and will appear at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court this morning. A 28-year-old Kawarren man, charged with murder will also appear at court this morning. The 17-year-old boy’s remains were located in a shallow mineshaft in the Lerderderg State Park in Bacchus Marsh on Thursday 10 March.