In the lead up to the 2015 NSW State Election there are the final rounds of pre-selections going on to see the who will be waving the flag for the major parties. The pre-selection process can be quite an ugly episode and I have written on some of the questionable decisions within the Labor Party and thought it was time to look at one candidate apparently hoping to have his smile adorning the Liberal Party corflutes hanging from telegraph poles.
With 10 Liberal Party State MP’s either forced out of parliament or now sitting on the crossbench as independents, you’d think the Party would flee from controversy like a rat running from a burning building, but apparently not.
Even losing a sitting Premier due to evidence before ICAC hasn’t taught the Coalition anything it would seem.
Current Premier Mike Baird is seeking to make changes to the legislation involving political donations while all these members now forced onto the crossbench for ICAC revelations involving political donations are there to vote on the very issue that saw them in their predicament. This would appear to me like inviting all of the Australian citizens who have gone overseas to fight with ISIL back to vote on terrorism legislation.
However it would seem the message fails to reach those who make the decisions at Liberal Party headquarters.
One of the area’s hit hardest by the ICAC hearing was the Central Coast, with electorate offices raided and three members reputations shattered, including that of front bencher Chris Hartcher.
These amongst other things are just some of the reasons it defies belief that the Liberal Party hierarchy would even consider the notion of someone like Doug Eaton being pre-selected to represent the electorate of The Entrance, many question why he has even been allowed to be a member of the Liberal Party at all.
The seat of The Entrance is being vacated by former Liberal MP Chris Spence who was disgraced before ICAC corruption hearings.
Doug Eaton is the current Mayor of Wyong Shire Council, where there have been some questionable goings on, some of these have been recently reported in the mainstream media.
There is the bizarre “Chinese Disneyland” theme park proposal that has residents scratching their heads. Old Sydney Town failed to survive in the region, and Mike and Mal Leyland’s theme park featuring a miniature Ayers Rock is now an embarrassing eyesore being used a service station and local flea market.
Another is a building supply company owned by Eaton & Sons that has been operating since 2007 without a development approval, and there is an ongoing battle involving the driveway to the site. Added to that there is also the matter of a hardware store owned by Eaton & Sons that has been added to the site of The Big Flower nursery without any Development Application being lodged.
Doug “nothing to see here” Eaton
Image News Ltd
Even Doug Eaton’s wife has not been able to escape controversy.
Doug’s wife it would seem not only has to choose her wardrobe each morning, she also has to choose which name she will go by. Ruby Eaton also goes by the name Hongyi Yang, and sources allege there are other names she uses also.
Ruby, or Hongyi has organised a lunch offering local business a unique opportunity to “directly influence” the Mayor and in particular council planning, for the bargain price of $150 a head.
Doug Eaton’s recent membership of the Liberal party came as a surprise to many, particularly those who have known Doug for a while.
In 2004 Doug Eaton who was then a member of the Liberal Party was seeking donations to help with the local campaign.
Doug and his right hand man Greg Best were involved with a businessman keen to donate the Liberal Party, that businessman was Morris Wheeler.
In a letter to Doug Eaton from Mr Wheeler it states;
“Further to my telephone discussion with you and Greg Best I now attach three cheques as contributions…”
These contributions came in the form of three separate cheques of $900 each, drawn on Arjuna Pty Ltd, Quintet Pty Ltd and Rustrum Pty Ltd made out to the Liberal Party, Berkeley Vale Branch.
Another notable member of the controversial Berkley Vale Branch was none other than Karen McNamara who is now the Liberal’s Federal Member for Dobell.
Karen McNamara shows off her happy face
Image Fairfax
However when the Liberal Party claimed no knowledge of the donation and a trace was put on the cheques it turned out that they had ended up in Doug Eaton’s company account of Eaton & Sons.
After all the tall stories the final result was that Doug Eaton was no longer a member of the Liberal Party however he was not referred to police as most would say he should have been.
It would seem once bitten twice not so shy in terms of the Liberal Party who have once again embraced Doug Eaton as one of their own.
So who would be crazy enough to back someone like this in an electorate that has already bore the shame of having a member bow out over evidence at a corruption hearing?
Quite a few it would seem, but it is interesting to hear who some of those are.
Doug Eaton was part of the Berkley Vale branch where Federal Member for Dobell was the Treasurer and sources have claimed that she has been instrumental in seeing Eaton reinstated into the Party. McNamara’s husband is also known as a close friend of Greg Best, Eaton’s long term right hand man.
McNamara who has already been dragged into ICAC regarding the Liberals dodgy donations scandal was keen to distance herself from Doug Eaton now the wheels are falling off his campaign bus.
In an emailed response to me McNamara has called claims of her support to be
“completely unfounded and untrue”
McNamara also refused to make any comment on his bid for a state seat or his suitability for the role.
Perhaps McNamara seeks to distance herself due to the sheer amount of evidence that has been forwarded to ICAC on Doug Eaton. That evidence is rumoured to be a mountain of information so high that you would require an oxygen supply and safety rope to scale it.
Interestingly enough Doug Eaton’s Liberal Party Nomination form was signed off by Laurie Litchfield and Ray Carter.
Laurie Litchfield is a local property developer which makes for an interesting supporter given he is signing the nomination of a local Mayor for the Liberal Party. Nothing to see here I’m sure.
The other name Ray Carter may sound familiar to some.
Ray Carter was an electorate officer and alleged “bagman” for disgraced Liberal Energy Minister Chris Hartcher.
Chris Hartcher orders a McHappy meal
Image News Ltd
Hartcher was forced out of his front bench and Ministerial Office after evidence before ICAC that supported allegations he was at the centre of a web of illegal donations and money laundering that saw a river of dirty money flowing to Liberal Party coffers.
As part of his evidence before ICAC Fairfax reported that Carter testified;
“that he might have dishonestly used more than $1000 from two Sydney developers”
I have to hand it to Doug, to obtain the signatures of a property developer and a bagman who admits before ICAC that he may have dishonestly used donations from developers for your nomination form is either a brave thing to do or a bloody stupid thing to do.
For the Liberal Party the welcoming of Doug Eaton back into the fold shows that they are a Party that chooses to embrace claims of corruption rather than being bothered to fight them. They have shown themselves to be completely out of touch with a society that demands that politicians serve their electorates over their own self-interests at all times.
For Labor to still be slumping behind in the polls against Liberal Party that is in this much disarray is testament to the current leadership of Jamie Clements in Sussex St.
Maybe both Parties have something starting with C they need to weed out.
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I think with Labour it starts with Sussex st the factional heavy’s and federal members also branch stacking a long list those swine really do need to GO,resign or better stil join the Liberal party birds of a feather and all that.
I despair of Labour some times here in the West we have a hopeless premier a crappy Govt but the Labour Faction warlords who gave us Bullock the Senator no one wants still keep serving up the same rubbish,Left wing in WA right wing in NSW all useless AS TITS ON A BULL
It is common for women of Chinese descent to use both their “English name” and original Chinese maiden name. My wife does this, and I don’t see anything wrong with that.
We are both scratching our heads about that bizarre “Chinese Disneyland”.
It just doesn’t make any sense at all. It doesn’t even appear to have any rides or other things people would normally associate with a theme park.
Surely the Central Coast have enough embarrassing eyesores and weird things going on up there.
Good you mention McNamara in association with Eaton and some of our more corrupt/deeply suspect Liberal state politicians………..along with Sinodinos et al…
Standby for more to become exposed very soon…………….
Again, excellent investigative work, Peter. You have given Eaton and Best a very well-deserved grilling. It reminds me of Paul Keating’s comment to a former Liberal opposition leader. He said, “I want to do you slowly.” When Eaton and Best get their final come-uppance, perhaps the newspaper headline might read, Best Eaton cold”.
Thanks Dez, I understand it is common for an Asian woman to use 2 names, however Dougs wife allegedly uses several names
I live and work in the Wyong shire. Last election we where sure we would be rid of Dougie.
Only thru, preferences he made it in. How would we know he had “Save the lakes” (big issue here) in his back pocket.
I guess freedom of information is exempt to the pollies. Hell, if your voting for a minority party shouldn’t they have to advertise to whom preferences go to? Big letters eg “Vote for us” our preferences go to…
why hide it? is it money? promises? Hell the lakes still suck after 3 terms!
Best isn’t much better, Claiming a want for a better community.
Which is sad, as he started out wanting to help the community, not deceive it with Eaton.
Around the tradies smoko, I asked? Who is gunna vote Dougie back in? Most said, ” his mayor, his not up? I haven’t seen his name anywhere? why is that? where”s Dougies name? how can he be elected for mayor or state without sign post, adverts”?
other comments
“No way, fancy spending that much money on a mayors cloak when one offered from Gosford council”.
“Doug only got in via preferences last time, no way”.
” Wyong and Long Jetty councils where in the black, now they in 105 mil in debt. retrenching workers and promoting failures’?
“They promised to fix the lakes with no more consultant bullshit’! “What has been done”? Canton beach was nothing short of a toxic fuck up”! They should replace the entrance bridge and build a seawall to suck the sand out of the lake” “as if we don’t know a seawall would collapse the shallow built, cancer ridden bridge”!
“Why wasn’t Dougie prosecuted for bribes” “what kick back is he getting for the Chinese park”?
All in all, not good. I told all, I don’t care who you vote for, just ask where preferences go to.
Dougs smart his gone to the Entrance?
I didn’t entice answers from, these guys are rate/tax payers and feel screwed by the fact the state government is willing to back this guy they know is a egotistic person of concern.
Personally the current government deserves a chance but not if they are willing to forego our interest over theirs.
Maybe, our constitution should be readdressed. To represent the people, for the people maybe American but it also made them accountable. The Australian constitution falls far short. So much so it was changed to included “income tax” (war) due a clause of “national defence”. Most Australians at the time agreed, we where at war. We supported our men. The war ended it was never reprieved.
Without accountability invading countries is a open ticket. Politicians must be held accountable for actions.
I hope someone way smarter or a word smith will release our children from such guilt. They might even consider scratching together a Australian Constitution for Australians not for government.
The latest being to split Wyong Shire in two between Gosford and Lake Macquarie, I say bring it on. I’ve had enough of this Mayor and it seems also the General Manager has also. What type of man has a invoice hand delivered on a Saturday at a local beach for a disability group taking a the disabled surfing and then wants to go further by continually sending statements for months later. Thank God for the Human Rights Commission.
This man also failed to congratulate the many volunteers who constructed the Lakes Beach Accessway with not one Councillor coming down to lend a hand during the 66 day effort.
Dealing with many councils around Australia has taught me many things, the best being my own Council (Wyong) has no understanding of true community consultation or support. Bring on the split!
In response to Rod March 23 2015.
Mate, I agree with every word you wrote.
To think that I was stupid enough to get sucked into voting for the “dodgy brothers” that got elected on the pretext of Save Tuggerah Lakes and then to find out they are in Eaton’s pocket is unbelievable.
I am one of a group from Chittaway Point that has formed post April floods to “truly” Save Tuggerah Lakes.
So far we have had a meeting with David Harris, our local member and Brigadier Darren Naumann who have been very helpful and have referred us to the State Parliamentry Secretary, Scot McDonald. Scot has written to WSC expressing our concerns. We are now waiting for a response from council.
I’ve spoken too and many other residents of low lying areas surrounding Tuggerah Lakes and have there valued support. The more we can get on board the better.
We would love to hear for you.
Cheers, Peter.
Puppets in politics is what is bringing down our community. Vested interests from those who have no understanding or credentials to make decisions on our behalf. They wouldn’t know what a hard day of bush regeneration, working with the disabled or just plain Yakka was.
As we grow closer to the amalgamation of councils or closure of one, the public are no better off know what it means to them in real terms. All I know is the proposed Greater Central Coast Council will have the same population as Tasmania. Very Little Federal or State funding and a bunch of ignorant Councillors running the show. I think it will be time to look for greener pastures, if the incumbent make it back?
As someone new(ish) to the area, I would be really interested to know just how much people give a toss. The reason I ask is that Red Vest Mayor seems to have been building up his nest egg for years and years now and yet… he still is. How has this come to pass?
As someone who has mainly lived interstate, and overseas, I reckon that Wyong Council would have to be the worst I have ever seen, which really sucks as I live here now. The lakes are polluted, the forests are full of bike tracks, rubbish, burnt out cars and more, the roads are full of potholes and public amenities (kids playgrounds etc) are almost non-existent. And yet Eaton is still Mayor!
He talks about putting a light rail from The Entrance to Terrigal and Erina (as he may still be wanting to get on the state ticket for The Entrance this makes more, and yet still no, sense), the council is moving the wonderful Entrance Farmers Market from… The Entrance up to Wyong Racecourse. Really? I’ve been to the farmers market at Gosford Racecourse and, well, it sucks. No space, less sellers, no atmosphere, no other shops to walk amongst or cafes/ restaurants to go and eat/ drink at. As soon as I heard of this move I wondered… who is making some money from this? Reckon it would be ol’ Red Vest…
As it is such a massively ‘advantaging a few select individuals’ project, I won’t even get started on the great Chinese ‘amusement park’. Wow, just wow…
So, people of the Central Coast, just how sick are you of being lead around by the nose, by those how are appearing to be VERY self serving?? Are you ready to take responsibility for those who do this and make a change so as to better this wonderful part of the world?
If so, spread the word and get ready for the next election.
We have to do better! We deserve to do better!
Go the Central Coast!
Looking worse than ever when local government’s do deals to keep them in power. Looking like the merger will go ahead with three wards. One controlled by Liberals, one by Labor and the other an Independent. I wonder who has put his hand up for that position, not Cl Best ?
As for the Liberals taking back Eaton, they need their head read. I say bring in an Administrator for both Wyong Council and the NSW Government, neither are doing it for the community, just their egos!