Shire of York

Shire of York

Saturday 20 December 2014


 Sound familiar ? 

 
June 2004 was about the same time Ray Hooper resigned from his position as CEO Shire of Chittering, he then moved on to York in August 2004.

And this from Kalgoorlie in 1989:

40 comments:

  1. Who the f*^k gave Hooper the job at the Shire of York?

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    Replies
    1. 'History always repeats itself: the first time as tragedy, the second time as farce'.

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    2. Well well well, looks like Hoopers past is starting to catch up with him.

      Is it any wonder so many questions were being asked about his ability (or lack of) .

      It is time the truth was revealed - did RH actually have any qualifications for the job of CEO?

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    3. The DLG can no longer deny there have been problems where ever RH was employed in local government.
      Seems finances have brought him unstuck where ever he has worked. It is pretty obvious now why he jacked up when people starting asking questions about his credit card usage. He could see history repeating itself.

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    4. What qualifications does Mr Ray Hooper possess? Where did he get them?

      What qualifications, if any, does the DLG mandate for shire CEOs?

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    5. What qualifications does Mr Ray Hooper possess? Where did he get them?

      Answer. He was once a dozer driver and knows how to operate a fork lift truck

      What qualifications, if any, does the DLG mandate for shire CEOs?

      Answer. Just pay membership to all Government Associations and take out Government Insurance.
      York paid for him to go on about 30 Conferences/training courses in the past 10 years so, presumably that makes him very qualified, there may even be an attendance certificate that comes with each course!

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    6. RH a dozer driver, that could explain why he was pushing every one around like they were dirt!
      Did anyone check his qualification?
      Were they downloaded from Google University?

      Delete
  2. I have lived in Chittering for thirty years, sadly we are still recovering from Mr Hooper's time here as CEO. Many of the things I have read on this website have happened in Chittering, unfortunately digital media was not so accessible in those days so the matters were not reported so widely. Mr Hooper's treatment of members of the public as highlighted in the Fitzgerald Report, are remarkably similar to those which occurred here in Chittering.
    Good luck things will get better.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you for confirming Hoopers track record - our stupid councillors here in York would not believe anything they were told about Hoopers past.
      Not one person bothered to check him out before he was employed.
      Three of Hoopers mates on council met secretly and blocked the report from being given for 'proof reading' to those who had been interviewed.

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  3. Our illustrious Minister Simpson and the DLG JM and her band of intrepid "investigators" are further exposed for their cover-ups and burying anything that does not suit them, such as doing their statutory job under Part 8. It is only 12 months ago that the CCC report recommended that the Department of Local Government give consideration to the prosecution of the ex CEO of Kalamunda Mr James Trail pursuant to section 5.89 of the Local Government Act 1995 for a failure to
    declare gifts in his annual return. The penalty is a only a paltry $10,000 or two years imprisonment (nothing serious like). But would you believe a full year later and no prosecution!!!! So the CCC do all the hard work, the DLG just have to pick up and finish the job but oh no, can't prosecute a CEO for a serious breach of the Local Government Act. So no doubt JM and her band of cronies have been very busy plotting how this recommendation can be buried and just go away, and doing nothing and letting the dust settle is part of the tactic to avoid doing their job. Helps explain the "time-line" tactic - ignore everything that does not suit their objective and instead pick on a soft target like the current York President, manufacture some smoke (don't worry about proper evidence) and suspend the council. There job done and RH and his gang protected - again. Can the Minister please explain exactly what offences the council have committed, and how this compares with the failure to prosecute James Trail as recommended by the CCC. Just seems some small inconsistency in approach!!!!

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    Replies
    1. because your so clever, you would already know that none of the evidence collected by the CCC in any of its investigations can be used by any other agency to prosecute. It can only be used by the CCC!!. But you knew that cause your so clever and didn't want the truth to get in the way. Perhaps DLG has to go out and collect all the evidence and interview all the players. Seeing it took the CCC nearly 3 years, DLG might not be doing so bad !!!

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    2. DLG are falling over themselves to cover the whole thing up. They do not need to go out and collect the evidence, they had 8 or 9 years of complaints and evidence handed to them.
      Exactly how long do you expect us to give them to read through the information and admit there was a problem here?

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    3. That is a very childish response.

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    4. Collect all the evidence and interview all the witnesses - for a failure to disclose gifts - and after the CCC has done all the hard yards. Wow that is a really hard task for the DLG investigators and obviously 12 months is not long enough. But obviously a bit of a raw nerve in the DLG. Perhaps tell us just when did the DLG last prosecute anyone for anything?

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    5. Why hasn't the DLG checked out the information in the Fitzgerald Report? The report was backed up with evidential documents, so it is all there for them to verify. Perhaps it is beyond the Public Servants to read and understand what has been happening in York.
      It seems they (the DLG) are just there to protect those who have lied, bullied, spent our money on trinkets and grog and left our Town with a big mess to sort through.
      Surely the information from the Kalgoorlie Miner and Chittering letter must tell them RH leaves a mess where ever he has worked.
      Have the DLG forgotten they were the ones who carried out the investigation on him in Chittering which is why he resigned.

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    6. This has been the best Christmas York has had for ten years.
      RH has gone, and will never be the CEO here again.






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  4. The following press release is from the CCC. Compared to Ray Hooper, the "46-year-old man" is a choir boy.

    MEDIA STATEMENT
    Former public officer charged with credit card theft
    26 June 2014
    A former Department of Commerce officer has been charged with seven counts of stealing as a servant following an investigation by the Corruption and Crime Commission.
    The Commission alleges the 46-year-old man unlawfully used his Government credit card to purchase a range of goods and services for private use between May 2013 and January 2014
    The expenses incurred on his Government credit card include jewellery, restaurant meals and resort accommodation as well as repairs to his private vehicle. The alleged offences total $1,676.
    The man's employment was terminated in April this year.
    He is due to appear in the Perth Magistrates Court on 28 July.
    Media Contact: Amanda O'Brien, Manager Communications (08) 9215 4802 or 0428 293 420

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    Replies
    1. Ray Hooper should be charged by the police. Then the police can investigate which will cost he community nothing.

      Perhaps I could write a letter to the magistrate saying it wasn't his fault as the council did not have good governance in place and it enticed him to do it.

      I owe him that much after he kindly did the same in the YTB vs Katrina Watts case nearly corrupting a case which took three years to be heard at great personal cost to my family.

      If there is no case to answer the police will drop the charges. At least it will get moving though and the Minister cannot interfere.

      Fraud is fraud is fraud and I don't care if it is for $100 or $1M.

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    2. Tanya, I believe you are correct. I think residents have to bi-pass the Minister and the Council on this and get things progressing. There are clearly moves from the DLG and Minister to cover this whole thing up. The TB fraud would never have got to court if you and Sandra had not taken action yourselves. The people of York should be very grateful to you both. How can this be implemented? What is needed to present to the Police?
      Because the credit card records belong to the SOY, how can a resident use them to press charges?

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    3. I agree, lets get the ball rolling. If we wait for the DLG and Minister nothing will ever happen.

      Delete
  5. Interesting comparison. I thought I was reading about someone else at first. (didn't see the lead comment till after I read the MEDIA STATEMENT)

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    Replies
    1. But for the age and the amount of money involved, readers could be forgiven for thinking justice had been metered out to Ray Hooper and that somehow we missed the CCC hearing.

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    2. The York Shire President Matthew Reid has done nothing wrong. The Minister is hoping by placing him under scrutiny and having his DLG watch dogs come up with bogus wrong doings, all the problems created by RHooper will go away.

      Something has gone very very wrong with our society when people are punished for exposing corruption and telling the truth.

      As the person from Chittering wrote above, they did not have the digital media to use to warn people and expose the truth about their time with Ray Hooper. We do, thanks to the ingenious person who has set up this blog site.

      If the Minister really thinks this whole thing is going to go away he is wrong.
      How he handles the York 'problem' will make or break his political career.

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    3. It's politics. York faced the same scenario when we were not informed about the mess Michael Keeble and Paul West left behind at the Wheatbelt GP Health Network. It costs less to get rid of someone when you give them a glowing reference (or in MK's case a vote of confidence in him.) If you tell the truth about a departing senior officer you damage their chances of obtaining future employment and leave yourself open to a much large final payout.For the next person who hires them its just too bad. Hard to believe but true.

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    4. To hell with what it costs to rid the system of these people. It is so irresponsible to give false references and votes of confidence, when in fact these people are clearly unemployable, trashing through towns, feeding their egos and laughing all the way to the bank. Residents are left to clean up the mess.
      In RH's case, this blog site is a warning to anyone considering employing him. Suggest future employers drive to York, spend a week here talking to the locals - you will be given all the references you need!
      Unfortunately for York, information only came from Chittering AFTER the West Aust. inside cover articles alerted them to where he was working.

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    5. Not true. Chittering told us years ago about RH, it has never been a secret. It just fell on deaf ears. None of this is new information. It's just that now the residents of York are finally taking notice instead of just assuming all the lies told about those who challenged RH's, PH's and TB's regime were just few trouble makers. For 8 years they have told absolute lies and damaged the reputation of anyone who challenged them. Pat Hooper has told so many untruths about us (the troublemakers,) the most upsetting part is how many fools believed and still believe him. Where is my glowing reference and final payout?

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    6. Yes I know it was years ago (9.5 to be exact) Unfortunately it was not until after RH had served his 3 month probation and stitched up his contract for four years.
      The York 'trouble makers' can wear their badges proudly.They stood their ground and challenged the liars on Council and those within the Administration.

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    7. People who tell untruths about others whilst tagging them as 'trouble makers' are generally trying to deflect attention away from their own misconduct. Pat Hooper is a classic case.
      What is that saying? Something like 'He who shouts loudest'.

      Delete
  6. The press release below identifies that falsely claiming rent subsidy is a crime and punishable by a custodial sentence.
    Regardless of the amount involved and contrary to minority belief, it is not a victimless crime.
    According to his contract of employment, Ray Hooper was entitled to receive $30.00 only per week, rent subsidy for the publicly owned house at 17 Forbes Street, York.
    For nine and a half years Ray Hooper was paying himself $150.00 per week rent subsidy, $120.00 too much.
    $120.00 per week X 494 weeks = $59,280.00. A nice little bonus!
    Shire Presidents Hooper and Boyle signed Ray Hooper's contract extensions in 2009 and 2013 respectively. Both Presidents were aware of the conditions in Ray Hooper's contract of employment.
    A futile argument from a curious source was that due to the passage of time and that it had not been picked up, this somehow equated to tacit approval, how that works, I have no idea!
    If Ray Hooper can produce a document which proves he had the authority to award himself nearly $60,000.00 from municipal funds, I will retract the statement; that in my opinion Ray Hooper is a thief?
    ______________________________

    Former public servant jailed for fraud
    • From: PerthNow
    • August 13, 2010 2:17PM
    A FORMER senior Pilbara public servant was today sentenced to two-and-a-half years jail for defrauding the Pilbara Development Commission of $72,000.
    District Court judge, Simon Stone said Allyson Joyce Grant, 42, was motivated by greed when she falsely claimed a State Government subsidy which encouraged employees to work in remote and regional areas.
    Grant, who was the Chief Finance Officer at the PDC, signed a false statutory declaration in 2003 to receive a $175-a-week subsidy which she was not entitled to claim.
    She submitted another application for the subsidy when it was increased to $500 a week in 2007.
    A jury found her guilty of two counts of fraud.
    Judge Stone said Grant, who was charged following a Corruption and Crime Commission investigation, was in a position of trust and described her offending as sustained.
    He said a victim impact statement from the PDC stated her actions had harmed staff morale and damaged its reputation.

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    Replies
    1. Don't worry Simon, you can bet Boyle will sign a back dated document in an attempt to get Ray Hooper off the hook on this one.
      Just remember, York Ex Shire President John Gregory is a highly qualified and respected forensic document investigator, I am sure he would be only too happy to check out any document produced for authenticity. Particularly if it is one that suddenly surfaces after being 'misfiled' somewhere in the Administration.

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  7. It is apparent the DLG is now trolling this site which shows it is hurting them badly. But makes you wonder if it is an official act or some very worried "investigators" and if so they are misusing government resources. We are not going away so they will have plenty to worry about as the expose gathers pace.

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  8. If the DLG had done their job properly in the first place, instead of believing the lies and propaganda they were drip fed by RH, Boyle, Hooper and Duper then this site would not even be operating.


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  9. Does anyone know how many Public servants are employed in the DLG?
    I would like to know what purpose these Public Servants actually serve here in Western Australia. They have proved they do not deal with issues sent in by the public, so why are they called Public Servants?

    It seems rather strange the DLG was not mentioned in the Public Service staff cuts. Perhaps the DLG was 'publicly' left off the media release to avoid being inundated with West Auzzies agreeing with the decision. A list of potential candidates to consider for redundancies would be easy to compile.

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  10. If anyone from the DLG is trolling this site using Government resources they are in breach of the Public Service Act.

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  11. There is a saying don't lie in order to make yourself look good when the truth would destroy you.

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  12. It's interesting that while Ray Hooper was CEO at Chittering, his administration staff refused to give councillors documents. We have seen exactly the same in York, it's on public record that Gail Maziuk has refused to give documents to councillors. How and why has the Department failed to pick that up?
    The Department will not censure its own kind - public servants. Ray Hooper, Tyhscha Cochrane, Gail Mazuik and a few others who have recently jumped ship, all fall in this category. Ray Hooper groomed these staff members by instilling his own authoritarian beliefs and management practices.
    There is no way forward until the remaining 'Hooperites' are replaced with staff who understand that there mandate is to look after the public's interest and not their own!

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    Replies
    1. Gail Maziuk recently refused to provide FOI documents on the REC centre.
      She should not have handled the FOI application because she was the project Manager for the Rec centre and handling the FOI application gave her the perfect opportunity to filter (destroy??) documents.
      It is starting to look like the Dept. of Local Gov. supports cover ups and corruption.
      Mazuik and Cochrane would not last five minutes out of the Loc. Gov. system, because they lack integrity and ethics which is why they bonded so well with RH.

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  13. For any one that doesn't understand Freedom of Information you can under your LEGAL RIGHT ( Mrs Boyle) ask for any file or information held on you for free the only thing that you can't get and that is the third parties information, for other words you can get a document with the comments of the third parties just not the identifying name maybe address of the third party that has to be blocked out. funnily enough I was not able to get documents from the Shire of York because they had been written to a third party so they said so now I have them from the professional third party who followed the FOI Laws. incredible I hear you say. ridiculous and the shire of York have been told warned etc regards FOI, and they still flaunt the law and deny the community their LEGAL RIGHT.

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    Replies
    1. Why would Mrs. Boyle need to lodge a FOI application? Wasn't she running the show from behind the picket fence?

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  14. Ms. Boyle (like her husband) did not comprehend the FOI system.
    The ex grader operator used his trusty magnifying glass when listing $90,000 cost to the York Community for FOI's. (This magnifying glass when reversed came up with his Credit card figures!)
    The over whelming cost for York FOI's was born by the West Australian Tax Payers because good old Ray insisted on playing hide and seek with residents. Residents got a little sick the same person hiding and went to the FOI Commission to make the game fairer.

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