FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL, 2018 ISSUE 41 WWW.CBDNEWS.COM.AU 见 25 页 FREE QVM TRADERS FEEL TRAPPED THOMAS' MUSIC CLOSES CBD HOME TO EVERYONE WELSH CHOIR IN CBD - page 7 - - page 8 - - page 10 - - page 14 - Welcome new students Newly-arrived international students in Melbourne received warm welcome at the Lord Mayor’s Student Welcome held at the Immigration Museum on March 17. The event started with a documentary screening of Act of Translation, a theatre program featuring international students’ daily struggle and experience of studying in Melbourne. The Act of Translation cast gave a short live performance following the screening. Vegemite toast and Tim Tam eating contest, Bollywood dance workshop, Vietnamese dances and Aboriginal smoke ceremonies were some of the highlights at this annual community event. The "Act of Translation" cast, directors, Acting Lord Mayor Arron Wood and Cr Philip Le Liu at the Lord Mayor's Student Welcome. Photo by Andrew Coutler. CEO buries Freckelton investigation By Shane Scanlan February, it comes as no surprise that the chamber just in time to catch the nightly What was less apparent on the night was the leader of Victoria’s most secretive council is news bulletins. The apologies, the tears, the relative insignificance of what Mr Rimmer now hell bent on preserving what’s left of its hugs and the promise by councillors to make chose to release. The full extent of allegations reputation. the City of Melbourne a better place was the His material added nothing to what was story of the day. against former lord mayor Mr Rimmer on March 13 released to already publicly well known about a small Robert Doyle will probably councillors and the public a mere 805 words And, considering that councillors were given number of accusations. And the “First from a 100-page, so called “First Report” just a few hours and the press about an hour never be known as council CEO from investigator Ian Freckelton QC. before the meeting to digest his 3345-word, Continued Page 4. Ben Rimmer tries to kill off His strategic timing, stage management and carefully crafted report, it is no surprise that See also: the theatre of the occasion took centre stage. content of a 4pm special council meeting Lord mayoral election is a lottery - Page 3 the $1million investigation he and its resulting human drama and pathos Like the ancient Romans, who maintained All this ... and ripped off too! - Page 5 started last December. conspired to divert attention away from his control of their population by providing Doyle damned - Page 6 intention to kill off the investigation process. “bread and circuses”, Mr Rimmer is an artful Having achieved Mr Doyle’s resignation in It was “lights, camera, action” in the council bureaucrat. What can a lord mayor do? - Page 6 SERVICING THE MELBOURNE CBD COMMERCIAL PROPERTY MARKET 24 HOURS A DAY, 7 DAYS A WEEK CALL US TODAY 1300 666 888 CBREMELBOURNE.COM.AU 2 CBD NEWS ISSUE 41 Suite 108, 198 Harbour Esplanade PO Box 23008 Docklands 8012 Tel: 8689 7980 www.cbdnews.com.au Advertising Tel: 8689 7980 [email protected] Reader contributions are welcome. Please send articles and images to [email protected] The deadline for the May 2018 edition is Thursday, April 19. Follow us on Twitter @CBD_News_3000 Sean Car and Shane Scanlan. Like us on Facebook cbdnewsmelbourne Publisher: Hyperlocal News Pty Ltd ABN: 57 623 558 725 Changing of the guard Editor: Sunny Liu [email protected] Journalist Sean Car has bought into "CBD News" and will become its sole director in July 2019. 20,000 copies are printed and distributed exclusively within Mr Car, 26, and Shane Scanlan have formed and, in 2014 he started CBD News. Mr Car Mr Scanlan said he hoped to maintain a Melbourne's CBD each month. CBD a new company, Hyperlocal News Pty Ltd, has edited Southbank Local News since 2014. strong involvement in CBD News beyond News works for advertisers because to publish CBD News and sister publications Mr Scanlan said: “Sean has excelled in July 1, 2019, when he intends to resign as a people like to know what is happening Docklands News and Southbank Local News. all aspects of the business and has taken director. in their neighbourhood. 60-year-old Mr Scanlan acquired Docklands Southbank Local News to new levels of “I’ve got plenty left to give but am happy Views expressed by contributors are not News from the state government in 2007. On quality and commercial success.” to hand over responsibility to a younger those of the publishers. the strength of succcess in Docklands, he “I have no doubt that CBD News will remain person,” he said. “The publications will thrive established Southbank Local News in 2011 in the best possible hands in the future.” under the direction of a new generation.” The Rarest of Opportunities Apartment 6908 Eureka Tower, 7 Riverside Quay, Southbank Situated on level 69 with panoramic views across the city, bayside and garden precincts, this spectacularly presented three bedroom apartment is of exceptional calibre, a rare opportunity to acquire a residence of this quality and appeal within a building of such integrity. Live within an icon. • Beautifully configured three bedroom accommodation (2 car spaces). • Expansive light filled open plan kitchen/dining/living areas with exceptional views. • Master bedroom suite with retreat, fully appointed ensuite and extensive robes. • Large second and third bedrooms, separate laundry and central bathroom. • French Oak timber flooring, electric blinds, contemporary appliances and Sonos sound system. • Access to concierge, 25 metre swimming pool, private theatre and gymnasium. Sam Nathan Sam Nathan Brett Jarvis Managing Director 0407 552 922 0418 317 158 [email protected] [email protected] 561 Little Lonsdale St, Melbourne VIC 3000 T: 9329 9432 E: [email protected] W: www.npm.com.au ISSUE 41 CBD NEWS 3 Lord mayoral election is a lottery By Shane Scanlan But there are also other factors to explain the to one. Supporters of this anomaly justify it poor participation rate of two years ago. on the basis of the percentage of commercial rates underpinning the council’s operations. Melbourne votes for a new Postal Critics say it just isn’t fair. But this cuts lord mayor this month, but the Does anyone maintain faith these days both ways. Up to two residential renters winner won’t necessarily be the that a correctly-stamped item entrusted to per property can apply to be added to the Australia Post will reach its destination? council roll – and they don’t even have to be most popular. Australian citizens. The only prerequisite is City of Melbourne elections are run purely as that they had lived at the address for a month a postal ballot. And ballots have to run the Without the dominant figure of Robert Doyle before applications closed (March 16). No postal system gauntlet twice – once from the in the race (with 45 per cent of the primary proof of occupancy is required. Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) to the vote in 2016), the field is wide open and the voter and again on the return journey. prize is likely to be claimed by the candidate Dummies and stooges who organises the best flow of preferences. This system is open to routine abuse. Stories abound of theft of ballots from letter boxes Like other Victorian municipal elections, It is even possible that the eventual winner on the day they arrive. And hundreds, if not candidates routinely enlist others to direct could poll the least number of primary votes. thousands, are discarded (to be harvested preferences their way. There is a current Melbourne councillor by others) by residents who receive mail As in the past, voters can expect to select whose team in 2016 received just 1534 votes. addressed to a previously-correctly-enrolled from candidates whose sole role is to attract voter. Voting within the City of Melbourne is or block votes that may have otherwise unlike any other municipality. Its special than anywhere else, which goes someway to And, because the VEC does not have flowed to an opponent. explain the poor turnout. electoral system has morphed and evolved matching signatures from actual enrolled The Greens are the only major political party from a desire from both Labor and Coalition While the city in 2016 had an estimated voters, there is no way of validating that the to officially endorse candidates in local state governments to prevent the capital residential population of 148,000, only ballots being received are genuine. government elections. Labor and Liberal city council falling into the hands of local, 54,791 were on the state electoral roll. On top of all this potential abuse, ballots interests are unofficial. But they are there in parochial interests. the mix. A further 77,939 voters were on the City of destined for absentee landlords are routinely But is it fair? Is it democratic? Is it corrupt? Melbourne’s roll which, combined, added sent in bulk to real estate agents acting on Motivations of parties and candidates vary. It is certainly unique. up to 133,801 eligible voters (before 1607 their behalf. No audit is conducted about For Labor, blocking Greens influence in additions and 536 deletions). what happens to these ballots. the inner city is high on the list. Last time Lowest participation around, Robert Doyle was supported by The numbers show there were tens of Gerrymander Labor as a brake on Greens’ ambition. To start with, Melbourne has the lowest level thousands of residents who were not of voter participation.