Oscar Lobo came into council all guns blazing. We’ve reported on:
- his demand for cost benefit analysis;
- his support of decent answers to public questions;
- his attempt to get a ‘request for a report’ on ‘unauthorised sporting groups’;
- his battle cry of ‘4 plus 1’ indicating, we presume, his displeasure at the ruling clique of second and third term councillors.
There have also been several clashes with Lipshutz where ‘niceties’ were hurled across the chamber. We’ve also learnt that Lipshutz was definitely not on Cr. Lobo’s list of bosom buddies. So what’s happened? Why the sudden reversal that makes one suspect that Lobo is now nothing more than Lipshutz’s pawn. Ill health might explain some of this reversal. But certainly not all. From the gregarious, outgoing, impulsive, energetic councillor determined to listen to his community, Oscar Lobo has literally turned into a shadow of his former self. He is silent on all issues. All he does is put his hand up. And, most significantly, at last ouncil meeting after what appeared to be some urgent mutterings in his ear from Lipshutz his vote suddenly changed. What this says about conviction and decisiveness in voting we will leave to the reader’s imagination. But it may say plenty about the relationship between these two men.
We’ve learnt the following:
An email from Lipshutz to Lobo asked in part whether any of the Middle Eastern banks he had worked for were involved in channelling funds to terrorist organisations.
Lobo’s response was outrage and hence his attempt at one council meeting to force discussion on ‘racism’. This of course was blocked by the four. Our comments at the time (December 14th, 2010) were: “Lobo gagged AGAIN. Seems like Oscar Lobo attempted to reveal something about an email written to him by Lipshutz in response to the former’s email to Esakoff. Hyams piped up that private emails are private and since councillors have right of reply only when the PUBLIC may draw some inference from comments/press/statements, Lobo couldn’t raise the issue. We strongly suspect that it has something to do with his earlier call of ‘racism’ that he has attempted on several occasions to put before council.”
Apparently, there is also a recording of a conversation involving Lobo that ended up in the hands of Steven Tang.
We are certainly not suggesting anything untoward but, could the sudden change in Cr. Lobo and these events be connected in any way? We simply have to ponder:
- Is there anything in this alleged tape recording which is now being used to advantage by certain individuals?
- Can any of these events help explain the public perception that Cr. Lobo is now tied by a umbilical cord to Lipshutz?
- Has Lipshutz played any role here? What of Tang?
Ah, questions, questions, questions! We invite Cr. Lobo to come forth and explain any of these coincidences and most importantly, to account for the amazing metamorphosis into a Lipshutz disciple over the past 10 or 11 months. The gallery misses the energy, enthusiasm and contributions of the old Cr. Lobo. We believe that residents deserve an explanation for this amazing conversion. Residents also need to understand the rationale behind Cr. Lobo’s voting patterns given his silence in council. After all, ratepayers pay his expenses and we deserve to know why he votes as he does.
Glen Eira Debates 
November 6, 2011 at 8:59 AM
Lobo is an accidental Councillor. It was seen that he stood to divert preferences to Staikos. He got 1157 votes. Politics is a tricky business and as experienced as Oscar may be in business and community pursuits he found himself in new territory. Being open to suggestion shows that he is learning the game.
November 6, 2011 at 9:18 AM
Lobo did get in by default and is learning the game. If I had to choose between a lawyer and a businessman to make decisions on how to run a council I know which way I’d go every single time. Trouble is the game isn’t always played with a straight bat and he might be learning this a little too late.
November 6, 2011 at 10:05 AM
The following comment needs clarification as on the face of it, its misleading: “Hyams piped up that private emails are private and since councillors have right of reply only when the PUBLIC may draw some inference from comments/press/statements, Lobo couldn’t raise the issue.” I’m publishing here the relevant clause from our Local Law again.
238 (1) Subject to sub-clause 238(2) a Councillor or member of Council staff may make a statement in response to comments made or reported as having been made about them by a member of the public, a Councillor or any other party–in any media or forum–which the Councillor or member of Council staff believes requires correction in order to balance the views the public might otherwise form.
BTW 238(2) refers to making the statement in writing. When you read through the clause, it refers to *any* media, so I take that to include email. Given the practice of leaking information at *all* levels of government, I argue that the Right to make a statement applies to information that is being selectively leaked to undermine a person. Actually I think 238(1) goes further, as the information wouldn’t actually have to be leaked.
I don’t really want to comment on Cr Lobo’s personal situation. We need to encourage all interested members of the community to consider being councillors or to contribute to public life in other ways. Councillors do however take an Oath of Office, and at a minimum that should be upheld. It requires them to act to the best of their skill and judgement, and at times from a distance we may question whether they have demonstrated either. That’s part of the game we call democracy.
November 6, 2011 at 10:28 AM
Lobo’s attempts to “discuss” the situation on December 14th were in the public domain. He was therefore entitled to his “right of reply” at least at a subsequent council meeting. Those in the gallery would have and could have assumed whatever they liked following his remarks. A right of reply was therefore within the strictures of the Local Law. Hyam’s comments can only be seen as stated above – a successful attempt at blocking Lobo.
It’s a real pity that our greenhorn councillors such as Forge, Pilling, Penhalluriack and Lobo are not up to speed on the meeting procedures and allow themselves to be brow beaten into silence by the experience and legal mumbo jumbo of Lipshutz, Hyams and Tang. Each councillor should have the absolute right to state what he wants unless it is vilifying someone else or commercial in confidence. Anything less than this is undermining real transparency and good government. That appears to be the result of the antics of Hyams and his friends.
November 6, 2011 at 10:22 AM
Poor councillor Lobo. He is at last learning the motto of bureaucracies the world over: “There are always lies, damn lies, and Machiavelli”. Or, as the Romans used to say, beware of the lean, mean men like yonder Cassius. Perhaps that is why they always fed bread and circuses to the Senators to confuse them.
November 6, 2011 at 10:47 AM
You quote lots of laws. You must surely be aware of of the maxim, ‘politics is the art of the possible”.
That is the way of democracy is practiced in Australia regardless of the rules. This way is fully supported by an generally apathetic electorate. That is the way things are.
Trying to overlay a rule book with what really happens will only lead to disappointment.
November 6, 2011 at 4:38 PM
We’re continually disappointed but that doesn’t mean that we have to turn a blind eye to everything and allow certain kinds of behaviour to go unchecked or at the very least questioned. The other maxim, if we’re into maxims is “I mightn’t agree with you but you’ve got a right to say it nevertheless” or something along those lines.
November 6, 2011 at 7:23 PM
Yes Peter you are also right. Don’t give up.
November 6, 2011 at 3:33 PM
Come on now
Tang has a secret recording of a dummy spit by Lobo
That would sink him and the 4-Gang as quick as it would sink Lobo, if it were to be true and of course ever used
This sounds like Glen Eira’s version of the White House tapes, for an otherwise weather wise pleasant but slightly boring weekend, being devoid of birthdays and other social type functions, that would have kept one’s hands busy and off the keypad
But who am I to complain
This blog scripts should handed to the ABC for 10 part mini series, it would shame underbelly
Does anyone think Lobo’s name sounds like a call sign you’ve heard on a war moive
calling OCAR LOBO can you hear me
please come in
come to think of it,
Tang for T would work as well,
This is T-for-TANG
crackle .. crackle
calling O-for OSCAR
crackle … crackle
I repeat T-for-TANG calling O-for OSCAR … L – for LOBO
can you hear me …
I repeat ……..
I swear I had it on one of me, old VHS’s, I chucked it down the OP shop a few months back.
PS…. Does, Ocar Lobo by any chance come from Lima?
November 6, 2011 at 5:15 PM
No he is,
I for Indian
“Calling” O for Oscar, send us the E… mail
By the way …. it takes two to Tang-go
November 6, 2011 at 6:06 PM
Tang-go damm it, I wish I had thought that,
If we had home grown Aussie call signs, B would be Burke as in “you great Burke” synonymous with one of the nations biggest stuff ups although with a happy ending. Unlike our B
“A Newton” would be the force it takes to stop a city council working.
got to go, my wife is spraying the cat with water, for digging in the aspidistra’s pots
November 6, 2011 at 6:06 PM
This is just garbage. Let’s play the ball and not the man.
November 6, 2011 at 7:55 PM
Everyone’s skirting around the issue. Exactly what did Lipshutz whisper in Lobo’s ear? If entirely innocent chit chat after the first vote then Lobo needs to explain why he changed his vote a minute later. If it wasn’t so innocent then Lipshutz has got plenty of explaining to do.
November 7, 2011 at 7:09 AM
No one needs to explain anything. Once they are voted in then they can do whatever they like. They are only accountable when they stand to be re-elected. Lipshutz will be easily re-elected, he is seen as a very effective councillor. I would take bets on that one. I think Oscar may struggle. That’s life.
November 7, 2011 at 7:19 PM
Cr Lipshutz will get reelected on the back of the Jewish vote but still won’t be within a bulls roar of Penhalluriack. Yet our most popular Councillor in the history of Glen Eira still can’t get a say in who should be the CEO – incredible but only in Glen Eira…
November 6, 2011 at 10:01 PM
hey anon, I prefer rugby were you play the man, and the ball seems incidental, wipe out the men and the balls all yours, lots of lawyers play rugby.
November 6, 2011 at 10:13 PM
Cr Lipshutz, may have said, but don’t quote here, just in case I am wrong
I love you O for Oscar, please don’t betray me in my moment of greatest need
November 7, 2011 at 11:43 AM
The gang have a new pet. His name is Oscar, nice little fellow he is. The gang of four take it in turns to walk him, they have taught him to sit, be quite, rollover and now he is learning to beg.
That’s a good boy Oscar.
November 7, 2011 at 12:42 PM
“This is just garbage. Let’s play the ball and not the man”
This comment possibly came from Paul Burke, this blog has such celebrity advisers.
OK, Paul we will do that.
What was that advise again,
Be a man and don’t play will your balls.
This could alienate, tennis player and bowler, cricketers etc.
But still it sound wise, we’ll take it on-board.
November 17, 2011 at 5:48 PM
It is a Councillor’s prerogative to respond or just to listen to both sides of the debate i.e. positives and negatives. Just speaking for the sake of it or repeating what other councillors have said iin the chambers is not only waste of time but displays copy cat actions. Case in point is Magee and Forge. Lobo could have been disappointed last year when he asked so many questions and when it came to request for reports he was let down by others, especially those Councillors of Tucker Ward. In politics amongst things one has to be cunning and I do not believe Lobo is in that category. We have seen and people have told us that Lobo responds quickly to the request received from residents. Those who have time to write on such forums should put themselves forward for election in 2012 rather than using the key board for criticism.
November 17, 2011 at 6:29 PM
YOu can hardly call what mostly happens in the chamber a debate. Decisions arent made in chamber they’re made in assemblies. Oscar can listen all he likes but his vote has been engineered long before as it has for all councillors. This doesn’t excuse him though from at least going through the pretence of having an independent mind. Trouble is that we have absolutely no idea what’s in his mind since he hasn’t uttered a word for ages. The silent mummy is what residents are now left with or Lipshutz’s ventriloquist’s doll if he ever opens up. All this does deserve criticism because it is warranted. Be honest Shrek, do you really think that councillors know what people think. Newton makes sure that all they’re ever told is the positives rather than the negatives. It’s spin, spin and more spin. This way if councillors ever bother to read this blog they can get a real feel for the frustration and anger that is brewing out there in the real community – not the rarified atmosphere and manipulated versions of the truth found in councillor assembly rooms courtesy of Newton and Burke.
November 17, 2011 at 7:53 PM
The crazy thing is that Lobo goes out of his way not to be involved in critical Glen Eira matters. He created a false excuse of conflict in respect of C60 when there was none. Lobo is Loco.
November 17, 2011 at 10:11 PM
Further to Shrek & Fiona’s response, do people know that Lobo has on three Saturdays made himself available to the residents of Tucker ward for a minimum of 34 hours in each shopping location in Bentleigh and East Bentleigh? He placed his table and chair to pick up first hand what people had to say on the running of the council. He listens to people and sorts out their complaints. Which other councillor has done that in 2008 – 2011?
It is easy to criticise and say things which are not true. We do not believe that Lobo
has given false excuse of conflict in respect of C60. Have you seen the minutes where his name has appeared having conflict? People having conflict were Magee, Forge and Tang.
Regarding decisions: they are not made in Assemblies; where do you get this information from?
It is a well known fact to everyone that there are just a handful of whingers who are either unemployed or have not much to do, when they can better use their time in ddoing community service to justify their contribution to the the society.
November 17, 2011 at 10:16 PM
Dear Peter,
we’re somewhat confused by your comment since Cr Lobo played no part in the C60 Special Committee and thus had no reason to declare any conflict of interest!
November 17, 2011 at 10:13 PM
Please read 4 hours instead of 34 in my earlier response.
November 18, 2011 at 8:03 PM
Oh so he was dumped from the C60 special committee because he may have voted against the amendment. C60 was voted for by 4 out of 9 councillors yet was approved. Democracy in Glen Eira is dead under Herr Newton.