HIA has today called on the Victorian Government to engage in meaningful dialogue with all industry groups, not just a select few around the proposed State Infrastructure Levy known as Growth Areas Infrastructure Contribution.
Brumby's deal only has the support of the Property Council and the UDIA. Four industry groups signed the joint letter against the GAIC last year. Brumby couldn't get all of them to agree to his little deal - it sounds like he didn't even let them join the secret negotiation table.
This "deal" was a lame stunt to get a head start on the dispute resolution committee. More spin from the master! This is not signed and sealed by any means.
We should keep fighting until we get a fair deal.
I suppose by now people have seen the article in yesterday's Age, "ALP suspends trio for breaking ranks", about Moreland councillors being suspended from the ALP for not voting for Labor's pre-approved mayor. If not it's at http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/alp-suspends-trio-for-breaking-ranks-20100325-qx1c.html
Quotes of note: "According to a decision by the ALP's internal disputes tribunal, the three female councillors had met the five male ALP councillors in November 2009, when it was decided Cr Erdogan ''would be nominated and supported as mayor''.
"The tribunal found this constituted a meeting of caucus and that the councillors were bound by ALP rules that ''no member shall oppose in debate in council any matter which has been determined by caucus, except by agreement of the caucus''.
"The women's decision to change their votes was a ''flagrant, calculated and deliberate breach of the rules'' that required ''severe punishment'', the tribunal stated."
At least now we know for certain how ALP candidates are supposed to operate: they represent ratepayers and constituents at their peril.
