Post by curious on Dec 4, 2007 8:54:08 GMT 10
www.smh.com.au/news/a-league/ambitious-jets/2007/12/03/1196530576882.html
Sections of the above article by Michael Cockerill in today's SMH I'm calling total bullshit, in particular the comment underlined below.
I don't mean for this to be political, but by nature it can't be avoided.
' Plans have been drawn up, and discussions have been held over the past two years, but last month's federal election result might have slowed down the process. Outgoing prime minister John Howard had pledged to match the State Government's $30 million commitment in a personal meeting with Constantine, but it's believed new Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is committing only $10 million to the project - leaving a $20 million shortfall.'
- It's a fact Howard had stated on many occasions he would not support federal funding for EAS, including in the lead up to the election.
- Federal MP for Paterson, Bob "give me another pie" Baldwin stated just a week or so from the election when asked about federal funding for EAS, (from memory & not verbatum) "nine out of ten people in the Hunter want funding for roads ect. & not a sports stadium." This was in support of the liberal's local funding policy.
- If the government had pledged 30 mill. in funding for the stadium it would have been major local news, especially considering it was an election year, but Constantine would have us believe he was the only person privy to the information.
- Newcastle is a safe labor seat by a very big margin ( Lab 64.8 2pp - Lib 34.2 ) so libs never have & never will throw funds at a lost cause.
Cockerill quotes no source for his claim, nor does he state it as hearsay. I can only presume he was told this by Constantine, again trying to big note himself in stretching the truth.
He doesn't need your help to do so with unsubstantiated articles pushing his propaganda Mr. Cockerill. Your peers in the Hunter Valley learned long ago to take his claims with a grain of salt & it seems your slow on the uptake.
Sections of the above article by Michael Cockerill in today's SMH I'm calling total bullshit, in particular the comment underlined below.
I don't mean for this to be political, but by nature it can't be avoided.
' Plans have been drawn up, and discussions have been held over the past two years, but last month's federal election result might have slowed down the process. Outgoing prime minister John Howard had pledged to match the State Government's $30 million commitment in a personal meeting with Constantine, but it's believed new Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is committing only $10 million to the project - leaving a $20 million shortfall.'
- It's a fact Howard had stated on many occasions he would not support federal funding for EAS, including in the lead up to the election.
- Federal MP for Paterson, Bob "give me another pie" Baldwin stated just a week or so from the election when asked about federal funding for EAS, (from memory & not verbatum) "nine out of ten people in the Hunter want funding for roads ect. & not a sports stadium." This was in support of the liberal's local funding policy.
- If the government had pledged 30 mill. in funding for the stadium it would have been major local news, especially considering it was an election year, but Constantine would have us believe he was the only person privy to the information.
- Newcastle is a safe labor seat by a very big margin ( Lab 64.8 2pp - Lib 34.2 ) so libs never have & never will throw funds at a lost cause.
Cockerill quotes no source for his claim, nor does he state it as hearsay. I can only presume he was told this by Constantine, again trying to big note himself in stretching the truth.
He doesn't need your help to do so with unsubstantiated articles pushing his propaganda Mr. Cockerill. Your peers in the Hunter Valley learned long ago to take his claims with a grain of salt & it seems your slow on the uptake.
