We extend best wishes to all our readers for a healthy and rewarding 2013. We especially thank all those individuals who have bothered to comment and all who have sent us emails of support and commendation. We would also be remiss if we did not thank our councillors and officers for their contributions. Their words and actions, as well as non-action, have provided plenty of fodder. We have no doubt this will continue!
2013 promises to be a landmark year as we’ve previously stated, with numerous vital policies up for determination. We will continue to analyse, comment, and attempt to ‘keep the bastards honest’. To our way of thinking, the current catchcry that we are ‘critical’ is a compliment. We will continue to be critical of all practices that are not transparent, that are conducted in secrecy and that fail to respect and truly represent residents. When shoddy, illogical and even puerile arguments are trotted out as justification for actions instead of facts and figures, we will continue to highlight these shortcomings.
Have a safe and happy holiday!
Glen Eira Debates 
December 31, 2012 at 9:33 AM
Thanks for a great year’s effort.
December 31, 2012 at 12:22 PM
I’m also adding my thanks for all the hard work that’s gone into keeping this blog going. If I ever want to know what the real story is about council then this is my first stop.
December 31, 2012 at 10:57 AM
Hope you could add that when Council acts, as it normally does , in the interests of us and delivers at it should, then this will be acknowledged.
December 31, 2012 at 11:51 AM
I’m sure should that ever happen GE will do just that. 😉
The blog has been important in pointing out the shortcomings of Council and, despite utterances to the contrary, is clearly read by those at White Hall.
Best wishes to those of us who regard this time as New Year. And to others whenever there’s takes place.
December 31, 2012 at 6:59 PM
Greetings to all bloggers and the wish for a safe holiday period. Best wishes to the moderators and keep on keeping on. Your contributions are invaluable.
January 1, 2013 at 8:46 PM
This blog has done a great job in exposing certain Councillors “Keep the bastards honest” .A group of Councillors as see. from outside have been
in contact with each other. It is also a fact that they want to keep the Mayoral position to themselves. Tang was made a Mayor twice, Essakof three times and i.e Hyams twice (with Lobo’s help).It appears that Lobo does not know Hyams well and we are not sure if Hyams will return the favour or go in favour of one of his groups. It will be very interesting to see how Hyams pays Lobo
back. We will see the results next Mayoral election. Being residents of Caulfield, it will be interesting to see the reaction of Mary Delahunty and Thomas Souness on which way they will tilt.Carina – well time tell whose stooge she belongs to..
Well done Glen Eira Blog – You need a medal.
January 2, 2013 at 11:14 AM
Whilst I had hoped by attending Council meetings, asking questions, emailing Councillors and writing letters to the Leader newspaper I could find a spotlight for many of Council’s shortcomings, I am still looking for space which provides productive outcomes for GE residents and their issues.
Congratulations GE Debates, your persistance and tenancity are at times enthralling. As a reader (not a blogger myself), I find much of what is written here to be enlightening and thought provoking. My great frustration is Councillors ‘deaf ears’ or shall we call it ‘blogging blindness’.
Debate can provide positive effect if both sides of an argument present their views. If only Councillors would make their own contribution and debate more openly with the GE public, not just within Council itself. Sadly and misguidedly, many (if not all) GE Councillors, believe this site to be nothing more than a small group of rabble rousers who have nothing better to do than find fault with every word spoken by a GE Councillor. They [Councillors] feel aggrieved that their comments and actions are consistently represented here as negative and are frustrated that the site ignores Council successes. Council has its own website, newspaper and media department to espouse every virtuous act and successful venture it chooses. Whilst GE Council has a reputation for reminding us what a great Council it is, this site and others like it are not places where people turn to view congratulatory remarks about their municipality.
Some Councillors believe that there are but a handful of contributors writing here. Certainly there are some blogs which go way beyond the level of debate which would be classified as professional or respectful. However, go to many Hotels or public forums and you will find chatter even less respectful. I find this site no different to any political media which is more likely than not a critique of fact and policy as opposed to a place to celebrate successes. You only have to look at how our Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition are depicted daily to realise that those in public office face ridicule and criticism far more degrading than seen in these pages.
I call on all GE Councillors to individually engage with their electorate in 2013 on a new level, whether it is here or through other channels. The local press is certainly open to receive their comments and each Councillor has the freedom to use social media as a means to engage; Facebook, Twitter or other sites are regularly utilised for such purposes. Councillors would do well to express opinions and ask questions of their constituents outside the restrained vacuum of the Council chamber, before making decisions which affect their electorate. As for those who contribute to this space, I hope you find a platform {albeit acceptable to Councillors), which allows the community to read and deliver constructive criticism and which will be heard and acted upon, rather than dismissed as it so often is today.
January 2, 2013 at 11:59 AM
I wholeheartedly agree with the sentiments expressed here. In the time that I have been following this blog and council matters in general, there has rarely been what one could classify as genuine engagement with residents, or genuine debate in council chambers. The same voices are heard time and time again; each pontificating and espousing the council line of solidarity and “we know best”. The reality is that councillors and officers cannot always know best, especially when any counter views are summarily dismissed and decisions made on the basis of scant information and massaged officer reports. Even more insulting to residents is the silence of so many councillors. For over a year Lobo sat in chamber in total silence. The code of conduct includes the meaningless clause that councillors are responsible for their vote. When there is silence there is no accountability.
I am convinced that much needs to change in Glen Eira and all is bound up with the relationship between management, councillors and residents. Councillors do have the legal power to insist on better professional service from officers. They also have a legal and moral obligation to work in the best interests of the community by including the community in its planning and vision statements. As far as I can see, this is yet to occur. This has been the history of Glen Eira under Newton. My hope is that in 2013 this will no longer be the case.