IT'S COUNCIL NOT KINDY

It is time for the factions within Council to stop trying to shoot the messenger.

The behavior of Deputy Mayor Cr Elliott and his faction at last weeks' Council meeting is a clear demonstration of a Council that has lost its way and still doesn’t understand that the Chamber is for debating relevant decisions in the interest of the community not an opportunity for a pack mentality ambush. The motion that was presented is not even enforceable – as stated by the CEO, yet regardless councillors insisted on voting for it.  Allowing this item to be accepted as “urgent business without notice” was farcical. Comparatively, a few months ago, my attempt to review Koala Strategy operational expenses was refused as a business item on a Council agenda.  

What was witnessed was a shameful attempt to shut down any meaningful dialogue that points to three years of shortcomings on their behalf.

This is not the first time that debate and dialogue has been shut down.  The last three budgets have been manipulated by Councillors through procedural motions to ensure there is no “speaking against” individual budget items – forcing me to vote against the entire budget without any opportunity to highlight what I am now presenting.

Not only am I happy to answer and address my claims to the people of Redland City, but I'd be happy to take these Chamber dwellers out into the real Redlands, to meet with real residents, and to show them first hand what their neglect and incompetence has caused.

One questions their interpretation of democracy, when anyone daring to have another opinion comes under attack from this group for statements based on resident feedback.

One of the reasons I have decided to stand as Mayor is to end this sort of nonsense and to encourage a focused Council, with every Councillor getting off their chair in the chamber, and actually doing some real, measurable and cost effective work for the rate payers and residents. Hiding in the Council Chamber and acting like the schoolyard bully is rather childish and like most Redland City residents I have had enough.

This attempt at politics looks more like a kindy class that is allowed to get out of control.

It would be funny except for the fact that we pay them for this. It is laughable to think that these elected representatives refuse to hear criticism, refuse to deal with factual realities and demand that I “represent the administration” rather than the residents.

I welcome the Mayors comments during the outburst, that she "would write to the Bayside Bulletin to set the records straight" in reference to the spending on the Koala Communications Strategy.  It will make for interesting reading.  

It is time for the Hobson/Elliott team to stop playing and start governing in the interest of all the people of Redland City.

   

It is Redland City’s future and the future of its residents that we're talking about here, not Cr Elliott’s career or his feelings.

Last weeks display is a clear sign of the need for a fresh start with a fresh approach and fresh leadership.

I am looking to leading a strong Council that has a clear focus on its people and one that is prepared to push to have our City, the jewel in the South East's Crown, recognised and supported for all that it brings to Queensland. Not a Council with Councillors who treat criticism as a personal insult and make ill-informed decisions based on extreme partisan ideologies.

Redlands needs to be a city of the future with a firm focus on family, affordability, beneficial growth and balanced and responsive representation.

A lock us up and leave us alone attitude has created a city that is failing environmentally, failing in affordability and failing to establish jobs growth or opportunities for its most valuable asset - our young people.

All I can say to these Councillors is remember...It is your job to listen, you were elected to place first the broader community’s genuine best interests.  Not your own personal ambitions and agendas.

Leadership

It is coincidental that I have been asked to address a primary school this week as part of their induction for their school leaders.  Clearly the subject given to me was "leadership".  In light of the journey ahead, it was rather timely for me to take the time to prepare this speech.    So here it is...

Leadership

The word “leadership” is a word that I find really interesting.  It is one of those words that is abused, misused and well and truly overused.

It is a bit like the word “vibrant” – when I was young, you hardly used that word.  But when you heard it, ”vibrant” really felt like a truck full of colour hitting you in the face.  Today, I feel it has become a bit washed out.  You hear “vibrant personality”, “vibrant colour scheme”, etc etc.  It just doesn’t paint that colourful picture anymore.  Similarly, the word “Leadership” – we relate it to popularity and having followers that listen and support your every opinion.  It just doesn’t seem to paint the same picture anymore.

Leadership is about so much more than being popular.  In fact, demonstrating leadership is doing what you know and believe is right for the greater good and is not always easy, palatable or popular for everyone around you. Great leaders demonstrate foresight and vision regardless of contemporary opinion. A great leader is someone who has a vision of what the world ought to be.  A great leader has the desire and drive to turn dreams into reality. Great leaders can see the sparks in young peoples eyes and encourage them to use that spark to ignite their imagination, because good leadership is contagious.  They don’t do or say things just to look like they have made cool decisions. They commit to making it happen and then (like the Nike logo), "Just Do It".

Former American President Harry Truman once said, “that in periods where there is no leadership, society stands still.  Progress occurs when courageous, skillful leaders seize the opportunity to change things for the better”. 

I believe that, today, leadership is a tough task for you as students because there are few role models for leadership today. This is why in some places our society stands still.  That is because people are mistaking popularity for leadership.  We need a new generation of leaders who understand the real meaning of leadership – not the washed out version. We need leaders that understand its demands, its need for vision and most importantly virtue.  We live in a world where it seems the creed has become “get as much as you can as quickly as you can with the least amount of effort”.  We live in a world that has a focus on our individual rights and a “not in my back yard” opinion.  Sadly, this perpetuates bad decisions and a sense that we should believe in no one and trust no one.  Without this trust no one wants to take responsibility for any one else - not even for themselves. It is much easier to blame someone else when things don’t go their way. It makes leadership seem almost impossible with that in mind.

But true leadership has great long lasting rewards – it allows us to leave a legacy and influence a better world. I have great faith in you, our young people, our future leaders and I believe that there is leadership potential in each of us as long as we desire for a better world.  Perhaps it is a world where we are a “WE” community again instead of a “ME” community. Maybe that is what you will achieve as leaders and that will be your legacy.   What an amazing legacy!  Whatever it is ...you need to believe there is a time and place better than now and have a glimpse of the future. 

Remember, you don’t need to wear a badge or be called captain to be a leader. You need to approach your life and studies with consideration of values such as truth, integrity, competence, commitment and most of all compassion and by this you will be demonstrating leadership to your fellow students and the community.  Leaders don’t pretend to know everything but learn from errors and do it better next time. 

Another former American President John F Kennedy once said, “Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.”

Remember this as you head into your year of study here and I wish you all the best of luck for your futures as our new vibrant generation of young leaders.