HOORAY FOR RAY.

It is official. Local Government Officers such as Ray Hooper and local government nefarious activity as described in an article in The West Australian Newspaper, by Kate Emery, titled “Councils collecting rubbish”, all about robbery, deception, graft, shonky gifts, and council member enforced censorship is entirely the fault of the local government election candidate choices made by WA ratepayers.

The State Government and the Department of Local Government and Communities bear no responsibility at all for the self-inflicted calamities befalling way-too-many Local Government Councils.

This evaluation comes from the very pinnacle of power, The WA Premier, Mr. Colin Barnett.

It is in the Premier’s response to a letter sent to him and the dearly departed Minister, Tony Simpson regarding the appointment of Ray Hooper as the Acting CEO of the Shire of Mukinbudin.

The Premier admits that there is an ongoing perception of some members of the community regarding Mr. Hooper’s tenure as CEO of the Shire of York. (Taken in his context ‘perceptions’ could mean ‘a matter of opinion only’ and ‘some members’ mean- a disgruntled few.)

He goes on to say in particular there has been some disapproval over financial and other decisions made by Mr. Hooper, particularly in relation to projects such as the York Recreation and Convention Centre. (Once again ‘some disapproval’ could mean from a disgruntled few.)

Now here come the best bits.

In the Premiers’ opinion such projects and the budgetary decisions associated with them, were overseen and supported by the elected council members at that time. (The fact that the YRCC was partially funded by his government, through its Royalties for Regions scheme, does not get a mention in accountability. So- obviously such expenditure, now $6 billion state-wide, is not monitored by his government as the Pilbara Real Estate financial fiasco shows.)

The Premiers’ assertions cast a wide discriminatory net, placing a vast cumulonimbus cloud of doubt over the reputations of every York Council Member who served during the time of Ray Hooper. These are Messrs Pat Hooper, Boyle, Scott, Fisher, Deleich, Randell, Smythe, Duperouzel, Lawrence and Walters. Even David Wallace and Matthew Reid were there. Some deserve it, but some do not.

The community itself does not come off lightly either. According to the Premier the elected members are accountable to the voters of their community for the elected council’s governance of that performance.

When you finally decipher what that means it suggests a Barnett Government policy of ‘caveat-emptor’ for ratepayers- insisting you voted for the councillors- you pay the price. Not one mention is made of the $108 million dollar per annum Department of Local Government and Communities which appears to be responsible for jack-shit where local government is concerned.

Now here comes the best ever Pontius Pilate impression. Views expressed to the Premier regarding the need for administrative and financial transparency in Local Government are appreciated but under The Local Government Act, 1995, Ray Hooper’s appointment by the Shire of Mukinbudin is another ‘buyer-beware’ situation. So if you get yourself a lemon?- learn to suck it up!

There are three impressions that you can get from this letter, besides being gold-logo embossed and personally signed, is that the 21-year-old Local Government Act is about as useless as mammary glands on a male bovine and in the end, any robbery, deception, graft, shonky gifts and local council enforced censorship, is the ratepayers fault.

Last but not least is that all the above also applies to the next State Election. So make sure you do not vote for a lemon.

David Taylor
Shire of York ratepayer.

Friday, 9 September 2016

APOCOLYPSE NOW- MUKINBUDIN STYLE.

WALGA’S RAY OF SUNSHINE-Behind the scenes ‘the voices of York’ have been loud and clear in condemnation of State and Local Government bureaucracy in its inability to engage with local communities to establish what their wants and needs really are. Also regarding a regime of Local Government, senior employees with no abilities and ethics who are continually reincarnated by inglorious bastard, finger-in-the-pie groups such as WALGA which make protectionist, militant, left wing union’s look like a church choir. Our community wants and needs are strictly limited to the wants and needs of WALGA’s often incompetent membership. So why bother giving any of these useless bureaucratic departments and agencies a spray? It is because they deserve it, and the day we stop- they have won.

Letter sent to Lynne Craigie, President WALGA, September 14, 2016.
Your Ref: - Acting CEO Ray Hooper.Congratulations

It appears that WALGA in an ersatz Local Government Mafiosi encouraging and perpetuating the lowest standards of officialdom within Local Government Areas, while retaining the highest level of poor quality administration and lack of ethics and morality among your members.

As you can see both Tony Simpson and the Premier have been in the past, and now in the present, made aware of local government community disrespect of the likes of Ray Hooper and by association, WALGA.

Yours sincerely
David Taylor.

Letter sent to Tony Simpson and Colin Barnett, September 11, 2016
Your ref: - RAY HOOPER former CEO- SHIRE OF YORKThe disgraced former CEO of the Shire of York, Ray Hooper, has resurrected himself as Acting CEO of the Mukinbudin Shire.

Two years ago it was reported in the press that Hooper had resigned amid accusations of misuse of a corporate credit card, using improper auditing procedures and engaging in the personal harassment of local ratepayers.

It has been alleged that Hooper left York with a multi-million dollar debt including a new convention centre and Shire-owned tavern in extreme financial difficulty and crumbling assets such as unmaintained and unsafe local roads.

Hooper’s activities were brought to the attention of the Major Fraud Squad and the CCC, but no charges have been laid (nor has he ever been officially exonerated.)

Hooper’s appointment has come at a time when the Auditor General, Colin Murphy, has continuously expressed grave concerns regarding the quality of the financial auditing of nearly 50 per cent of Local Governments in WA and questions have been asked regarding the capabilities of the Minister for Local Government and his department.  

Yours sincerely- David Taylor


Ray’s resurrection!

The only living creature that can survive a nuclear holocaust is believed to be the humble cockroach.

However, there is another great survivor, a humble Local Government love-child named Ray Hooper.

Now this brilliant example of local government administration aficionados’ is the Acting CEO of the

Shire of Mukinbudin. 

How lucky are the 491 locals who can look forward to his friendly smile, his personal generosity with the Shire’s Corporate Credit Card and getting a postcard when he attends an obscure conference in some Far-North Queensland holiday resort at their expense.

The Mukinbudin Council must have seen Ray’s enthusiastic referee statements from Kalgoorlie, Chittering and last, but not least, York. Then there are all the glowing testimonials in the Fitz-Gerald Report.

I am sure the Mukinbudin’s are mightily impressed with the lovely article which appeared in The West Australian after York’s much-loved leader resigned suddenly leaving the town physically, emotionally- and financially devastated.

Yes Mukinbudin now feels like it has just won ‘Lotto’.

So ring them up and ask to say ‘Gooday Ray’ or drop him a friendly email wishing him well.
The number is 9047 2100 and the email is admin@mukinbudin.wa.gov.au .

He is not wanted by the Major Fraud Squad or the Corruption and Crime Commission. So make him feel wanted by somebody!