Newcastle Mayor and Three Liberal MPs Stood Down- ICAC Inquiries 2014

Update on: Newcastle Mayor Liberal Jeff McCloy and Ten NSW Liberal MPs Stood Down Due to Corruption - ICAC Inquiries 2014

Newcastle swung back to Labor with increased Greens votes (Labor preferences) in the NSW State elections last weekend after eight months of political turmoil, and by-elections following the resignations in 2014 of three Liberal MPS and the Newcastle Mayor on charges of corruption over political donations and slush funds, in Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) inquiries in the Hunter and Newcastle areas. Overall ten Liberal MPS have resigned over the course of the inquiry into political donations and links to mining and property development. In contrast, during the same term of the NSW Liberal government there were cuts of $1.7 billion to education introduced by the Government, resulting in the axing of fine art courses in the Hunter TAFE.

Background
August 2014: Then Newcastle Mayor and property developer Jeff McCloy stood down following an inquiry into corruption by the ICAC for his history of political donations- it is illegal for property developers to make political donations in NSW. This was the charge that all ten MPs faced and were found guilty of and stood down over.
August 2014: Three Liberal MPs for the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie area, Tim Owen (Newcastle), Andrew Cornwell (Charlestown) and Garry Edwards (Swansea) stood down on the same charges of corruption accepting illegal political donations from Jeff McCloy, who argued that he was not a corrupt property developer in this capacity when he donated as he said not all his companies are in property development, which was rejected in his defence by the ICAC.

"Mr McCloy said he'd given Mr Edwards [Swansea Liberal MP] about $1,500 in cash during the last state election campaign. That's on top of the bundles of $10,000 he'd given to two other candidates: the former member for Newcastle, Tim Owen, and the former member for Charlestown, Andrew Cornwell." (ABC news transcript 8.14.2014).

This is now well documented in the media, but for several years corruption over development coal loader plans for the former steelworks in Newcastle was implicated in the 'dirty tricks' against former Labor Newcastle MP Jodi McKay who lost her Labor seat after an insider Labor driven campaign against her (Labor's) plans for a container terminal project at the former BHP steelworks site at Mayfield - which a widely distributed leaflet falsely claimed would see "1000 trucks a day in the suburban streets'.
 An ICAC inquiry in September 2014 found that former Labor powerbroker Joe Tripodi was the anonymous face behind the leafletting and that he had designed and organised its distribution to households across Newcastle. The ICAC inquiry found that Tripodi was interested in employment by Buildev owned by Nathan Trinkler mining magnate which planned to use the Mayfield site for a fourth coal terminal, in conflict with Jodi McKay's Labor plans. The health implications of a fourth coal terminal in Newcastle are dire, and have been researched as such.
This was evidence of dirty tricks in the NSW Labor party, which lost the 2011 election, and which showed that Labor were not immune to the corruption of property development and mining interests.
The Australian Greens party remains the only party in Newcastle that avoids corrupt dealings over the future of the city and its development in transition from a former major steel city.
Newcastle, New South Wales, needs the Greens Party to counter the corrupting influences, and hold the major parties to account and can play a vital and socially necessary role, in enabling artists to have a place in society and supporting arts education in TAFE again.  The Greens are the only political party in Newcastle and the Hunter that has not been subject to an ICAC inquiry, and has not had party members involved in corrupt dealings. This and the political opposition to big mining and coal seam gas mining and opposition to ruthless roadway development plans in Sydney, has resulted in a big swing to the Greens in NSW gaining three so far counted, and perhaps four, seats in the Lower House.

Ruth Skilbeck

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-08-14/eighth-nsw-government-mp-stands-down-over/5671816http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-08-14/eighth-nsw-government-mp-stands-down-over/5671816

http://ruthskilbeck.blogspot.com.au/2012/11/could-this-really-be-last-grad-show-at.html

http://www.nswlabor.org.au/jodimckay

http://www.theherald.com.au/story/2489538/icac-strike-10th-liberal-mp-skittled-at-inquiry/

http://www.theherald.com.au/story/2527325/icac-stop-jodis-trucks-wasnt-my-idea-says-joe-tripodi/

http://www.theherald.com.au/story/2497761/icac-joe-tripodi-organised-and-designed-stop-jodis-trucks-brochure/

Save Art in Education’s Week of 'ArtRage' Action

 By Ruth Skilbeck

No good at Art and slippery at Maths: NSW Liberal gov “loses" $1 bill

In September the Barry O’Farrell Liberal Government of NSW announced cuts of $1.7 million to public education, specifically targeting Fine Art courses in TAFE technical and further education colleges, which if carried out will result in widespread job losses and threatened closures of art schools across the state in regional and rural areas. The economic rationale given for the cuts by the NSW government was supposedly that the NSW economy is in the red. However it has recently been revealed- after the cuts were announced- that mistakes were made in the accounting figures and that the NSW economy is really $1 billion in the black.

Rather surprisingly there have been no retractions announced, or proposals for how this extra $1 billion is going to be spent.

All of this adds up to a picture of gross inefficiency, non-transparency and bungling –or even worse- on the part of the incumbent NSW Liberal Government. For a start how could they manage to “lose” I billion in their sums- where was that 1 billion going to go to when it went missing- and at the same time the government announces that to “pay for this” Art and public education is being axed and artists and art teachers are to lose their jobs and students across the state?

These questions need to be asked publicly, loudly.

The government has to be accountable.

 Friday 

PREMIER O’FARRELL’S FAILURE TO SHOW UP TO OPEN THE FRANCIS BACON EXHIBITION AT THE ART GALLERY OF NEW SOUTH WALES AS HE WISHED TO AVOID THE PROTESTERS AGAINST HIS FINE ARTS EDUCATION CUTS ON THE FRONT STEPS, SHOWS A VERY VISIBLE LACK OF FACE BY THE PREMIER.

Sunday

An estimated 4,000 people turned out on Sunday at a day of family action at Tumbalong Park in Sydney’s Darling Harbour, to protest Education cuts and show support for the activism against the NSW Liberal government’s increasingly unpopular anti public Education and Art education measures.

Monday

TODAY AT 6PM AT DAMIEN MINTON GALLERY IN SYDNEY THERE WILL BE A GATHERING OF ART GALLERISTS, AND ART WRITERS WITH THE MEDIA TO PROVIDE A PHOTO OPPORTUNITY AND PRESS CONFERENCE ON THE SITUATION CREATED BY THESE PROPOSED CUTS AND THE IMPACTS ON LOCAL ART AND ARTISTS AND THE NATIONAL ART SCENES.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-10-31/nsw-27s-surprise-surplus-after-241bn-budget-error/4343752.  ABC NEWS, WED OCT 31

Bad at Art and worse at Maths: NSW Liberal gov “loses" $1 bill?

By Ruth Skilbeck

In September the Barry O’Farrell Liberal Government of NSW announced cuts of $1.7 million to public education, specifically targeting Fine Art courses in TAFE technical and further education colleges, which if carried out will result in widespread job losses and closures of art school across the state in regional and rural areas. The economic rationale given for the cuts by the NSW government was supposedly that the NSW economy is in the red. However it has recently been revealed- after the cuts were announced- that mistakes were made in the accounting figures and that the NSW economy is really $1 billion in the black.

Rather surprisingly there have been no retractions announced, or proposals for how this extra $1 billion is going to be spent.

All of this would appear to add up to a picture of worrying inefficiency, non-transparency and bungling –or even worse- on the part of the incumbent NSW Liberal Government. For a start how could they manage to “lose” I billion in their sums- where was that 1 billion going to go to when it went missing- and at the same time the government announces that to “pay for this” Art and public education is being axed and artists and art teachers are to lose their jobs and students across the state?

These questions need to be asked publicly, loudly.

The government has to be accountable.

Save Art Education in NSW Gathers Momentum

By Ruth Skilbeck

Save Art Education in TAFE NSW protestors from art schools across NSW handed member for Marrickville in the NSW Wales Legislative Assembly and shadow minister for education and training Carmel Tebbutt a petition with over 35,000 signatures, outside Parliament House in Sydney yesterday.

Barry O’Farrell, Liberal Premier of the NSW state government recently announced that it will cut $1.7 billion in funding and axe 1800 jobs in the biggest cuts ever to NSW public education and independent schools sector.

In the Hunter Region, TAFE’s historic Newcastle Art School in Hunter Street, is to be affected by the 4-year “budget savings” program of planned redundancies of up to 20 part time teachers,  and fees increases in savage cuts to its visual arts, painting and sculpture programs, as reported in the regional news media (The Newcastle Herald and NBN).

Established in the late 19^th century, Hunter Street Art School has been a cultural fine arts oasis, in a heavy-industry city, and training ground and alma mater for many accomplished studio-based artists, as well as generations of graduates who have pursued successful careers in the arts as curators, gallerists, photo-media professionals, independent arts entrepreneurs of many a stripe.

Many notable and well-known Australian artists have taught, and trained at the Hunter Street Newcastle Art School. Currently teaching there is Michael Bell (who is represented by Ray Hughes Gallery, Sydney).

Michael Bell, The Great Fire of Sydney (MCA)

2010

linocut on paper

30 x 30 cm   Ray Hughes Gallery

The Hunter Street Art School, in line with TAFE art education, feeds into university art based courses for students who are dedicated and passionate artists- the diploma courses can convert into foundation university courses, enabling successful students to move into university to pursue research and research based study. The University of Newcastle has an affiliation with Sydney College of the Arts, and conversion pathways from Hunter Street Art School courses at TAFE.

This enables local, regional students who would not otherwise have the opportunities and benefits of studying art in practical training, and research degrees in universities, which are linked with the wider national and international art world.

TAFE education therefore provides an equitable opportunity for those students who may otherwise by disadvantaged by distance and lack of educational and cultural opportunities in regional Australia.

The proposed cuts are only going to increase that lack of opportunities, and inequity between urban and regional (and international) life, making the TAFE art course even more necessary to increase rather than cut funding.

Value of art is not monetary and art is not for profit

Skilbeck, Ruth (1997) ‘Getting Your Goat’. Interview based profile of Mambo artist, Michael Bell. Australian Style. Issue 27.68-78.

Skilbeck, Ruth (1997) ‘Off beat Partners’ interview-based profile of Michael Bell and Steven Abbott. The Newcastle Herald. December 7

Ruth Skilbeck designed and taught the inaugural media and communications course at the Newcastle Art School in 1997.

Artrage Protests Against Cutting Art and Soul from Tertiary Curriculum

This media release has been sent to my inbox, on the cuts to fine arts  in TAFE colleges, in the NSW government cuts to tertiary spending.

Artrage Rally – Fun, Visual and Loud!

Yesterday’s ArtRage rally had about 500 people attend – after some suitably chaotic moments in the Domain we formed into word groups of the colleges facing closure and took our positions along Macquarie Street, stretching from the State Library to past Sydney Hospital.

We presented the petitions to Carmel Tebbutt and John Robertson – 23,000 handwritten ones and 14,000 online ones – on the street after not being allowed to enter the Parliament forecourt with our large artwork of the Art Petition. But it is hard to break through to the media – despite much work being done only the Daily Telegraph has reported the event! There are photos online, though, including a gallery at CommunityRun's facebook site. And here's one by Meadowbank graduate Kate Scott:

We are hopeful that Friday’s protest outside the Art Gallery of NSW at 5.30 will also be loud and will get media coverage. If you intend to join us, we do not have police permission (which should be fine as we will be on public land). Bring colourful placards, dress up and we will again let the government know our ArtRage!

On Sunday 18 from 11 am there is a Community Day of Action in Tumbalong Park, Darling Harbour. The Teachers Federation has organised this day to protest all of the $1.7 billion cuts to education introduced by the Government. I recently spoke at a community forum in Leichhardt and got to hear how the cuts will impact on schools – it was much more shocking than I knew from press reports. So if you can make it do come – its designed as a family event with entertainment all day. There will have a TAFE Art stall that encourages people to make art while they are at the event.

On Monday 19^th we have organised an Arts industry event to bring together prominent artists, gallery owners, curators, art writers, art businesses and arts organisations to express support for TAFE art education. A joint statement will be put out from the arts industry and again we aim for greater media coverage.

Next week I will do a report on what we know is happening around NSW and strategies for maintaining pressure on the government. We know they are waiting for the campaign to wind up as a result of the end of term and Christmas – leaving it much more easy to quietly close art schools and  sack teachers. We hope to prove them wrong! "

* Technical and Further Education- TAFE colleges