IN YESTERDAY’S Voice of Byron article we covered New South Wales MLC Catherine Cusack’s attack on the Byron Bay Community Centre.
She alleged, under parliamentary privilege, that the Byron Bay Community Centre “provides almost no services.”
The table we ran in the article, while taking a clever cheap shot at Ms Cusack, als clearly showed she was as wrong as one can get, in saying that BBCC provided almost no services to the Byron community.
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The chart didn’t in fact cover all that BBCC achieved in the last year. They were also instrumental in assisting to raise over $40,000 for Shire flood victims in recent times.
Note here that a former member of Ms Cusack’s government, retired MP Don Page, was so impressed with the activities of the Byron Bay Community Centre that he served on the BBCC management committee during 2016.
Ms Cusack also made other allegations under privilege
She gave Byron Shire Council a fair dinkum pizzling about its management of the the Butler Street Reserve, seemingly ignorant of the fact that the Reserve is Crown Land, and is managed by the NSW State Government.
The government allows Byron Shire Council one day’s use per month to run the Byron Bay Markets – a contract Byron Bay Community Centre won fairly through a fully transparent public tender process.
She made much of Council’s plan to build a bus terminal on the Reserve. But this was in fact a NSW Government plan.
Ms Cusack also made accusations of bullying against Cr Paul Spooner.
The facts are that a markets stallholder was suspended for three months for Breach of Markets Code of Conduct. Allegations of bullying and harassment had been made against him.
The stallholder was given his due right of reply, and right of review.
At this point it should be noted that, as General Manager of the Byron Bay Community Centre, Cr Spooner never votes on any Council resolution involving the BBCC.
He invariably leaves the room for the debate and vote, to avoid any conflict of interest.
Ms Cusack also made serious allegations that income from the Byron Bay Markets “is going into Paul Spooner’s pocket.“
This is not true. Moreover, it is not possible.
As a not-for-profit charity, Byron Bay Community Centre is audited by independent auditors and its annual financial reports are publicly available on the Australian Charities website.
How did MLC Cusack get it so wrong?
Set aside her vitriol and spite in making her claims to parliament. These aspects are personality-related and have nothing to do with what she said, only how she said it.
To get so many things wrong in one speech, there are only three possible explanations: She is mischievous, she is stupid, or she has been fed garbage.
Personally, I opt for a combination of the last two. That she has been fed garbage and has stupidly not diligently checked the facts.
John Wright – Admin/Editor, Voice of Byron
FOOTNOTE: In my opinion, using parliamentary privilege to libel someone, making claims that would result in defamation proceedings against the speaker if uttered outside parliament, is a rotten thing to do.
Parliamentary privilege should be abolished, or at the very least, severely curtailed.
I am amazed John how quickly you have jumped to the conclusion of innocence and total respect for BBCC and Paul Spooner before researching this article.
At what time did BBCC or Paul Spooner fight to keep the Butler St reserve for the common use of Byron residents and the Markets of 30 years, which he received such a great income base from since the announcement of the Bus terminal. NONE!
Byron bay Council Nominated the Butler St reserve as the preferred site for the bus terminal back in 2015 in an email to transport NSW and were aware then of the impending changes. Cr Spooner was on council at that time.!! And should have known this or did he? when opting for the Beach front as a new option to stall holders back then , Which was voted down.
Liberation Larder supply and deliver the 18,500 meals Via the kitchen made available ( when available ) by the BBCC and the Liberation Larder also supply the frozen meals.
The Ian Brown saga is incorrect and I am disappointed you did not research that part of the equation.
I appreciate the Voice of Byron and the statement ( Have your Say) but this is bigger than taking sides.
Members of the Upper house do not lack research before firing off a volley.
There is journalism, then there are opinion pieces. I guess this one is the latter. For a more balanced article I would suggest readers go to https://www.echo.net.au/2018/03/mp-cusack-attacks-community-centre-councillor/#comment-2948397
The statement you make about Reserve management is incorrect. Butler St Reserve is managed by a Reserve Trust, ie Byron Shire Council. I think Mr Spooner is a member of the Trust.
Ian Brown ran a concerted campaign to save Butler St Reserve, and was then sacked from the market by BCC. It is difficult not to see a disguised attempt to bully him by producing charges against him. These ‘charges’ apparently remain confidential (Ian has not been allowed to see who made them).
Complaints about parliamentary privilege fall on my deaf ears, because for too long there have been attempts to withhold information, misuse of power by those in charge and a complete lack of transparency towards the community it’s meant to serve.
I’m grateful Ms Cusack has given a factual account of events and issued some challenges. So far, there have only been accusations and character slurs regarding her claims.