Who wins the trophy for being our laziest MLA?

What are you saying teepee that she should not exercise some of that lard from her behind? Don’t let Krudd hear that.

Why did you not include figures for Jon Stanhope, Katy Gallagher and John Hargreaves?

According to WIN news the figures for cabinet members (ministers) were not made available.

I wouldn’t want it officially made public knowledge that I do eff all either.

Perhaps someone should do one on how many schooners were drunk by which MLAs in the City Labor Club. Hargreaves would clean up on that one.

I’d agree with those who say that the raw count of representations doesn’t mean a lot. In common with anyone who’s ever looked at representations by legislators (ACT, Federal, State), I can say there is a big difference between sticking a cover letter on something, asking for a reply direct to a constituent and actually presenting and arguing an issue on behalf of someone. (A long time ago, I worked in an agency which received consistent and well-argued representations on a particular legislative scheme – it led ultimately to useful amendments for which the member, from the then-opposition, was credited by the Minister in the second reading. Almost as long ago, an opposition Senator took up cudgels on behalf of a minority group of officials who were victims of an anomaly – it started from one case, but led to a remedy for the whole group).

I guess Karin is eithr lazy or ineffective – since that is the conclusion reached by Labor Branch members when they killed her political career at a very early age. But really that comment by Pandy is uncalled for.

Pandy said :

Karin should get off her back or resign.

What are you implying????

Karin should get off her back or resign.

Government didn’t want to release their figures? Understandable when much time is spent on planning statues and street art instead of debating the future of the territory and how not to screw out schools.

Steve Pratt usually cops a hard time in RA land, and whilst he might lack some of the ‘polish’ of his more media-savvy peers, in my humble opinion, you won’t find a more genuine, caring and community-minded bloke anywhere. Steve’s downfall might be that he isn’t a politician’s politician – he does what he believes is right for the community – not what is right for political gain. I am always wary of lies and statistics, but I really wasn’t surprised to see Steve’s numbers here.

tom-tom said :

pointless statistic; proves aboslutely nothing

Exactly! What he said.

“Perhaps if Brendan Smith did more work for his constituents and less on stabbing his colleagues in the back he would not have lost his leadership.”

Brendan Smyth is a hero of democracy and deserves to have his name spelt correctly, even if eveything else about him is completely forgettable.

“If you are being facetious I tip my hat to you, very good. If you aren’t….oh dear god.”

Of course I was being facetious. I have no integrity.

dodgybranchopolous said :

“Careful now Dodgy. You don’t want to look partisan and threaten the integrity of your previous praising of Mary Porter.”

Thanks Jakez, but no need to worry. Us public servants have the highest integrity and are born non-partisan.

If you are being facetious I tip my hat to you, very good. If you aren’t….oh dear god.

Perhaps if Brendan Smith did more work for his constituents and less on stabbing his colleagues in the back he would not have lost his leadership.

“Careful now Dodgy. You don’t want to look partisan and threaten the integrity of your previous praising of Mary Porter.”

Thanks Jakez, but no need to worry. Us public servants have the highest integrity and are born non-partisan.

These stats are just bizarre, and have really very little meaning.

Any process which is susceptible to an MLA Representation affecting or influencing the decision really isn’t worth having as a process.

pointless statistic; proves aboslutely nothing,
a.) with no ministers figures available its hard to get a handle on how many representations is a ‘good’ figure; for instance why would i seek the assistance of a labor backbencher when i could just go straight to the minister? my point being backbencher figures will be relativley low compared to the total amount of people seeking representations.
b.) same with the lib figures; why would people bother trying to go through the libs when they’re not in govt? again their figures would be artificially low?
c.) what exactly is a representation? for instance if i ring up my local mla complaining about the road needing resurfacing etc, they can do one of two things; go “thats a tams issue, i’ll put you through to hargreaves office.” or take down the details and flick of a letter. both actions get the same result but one counts as a representation while the other doesn’t.
d.) how many people seek representation? a more interesting figure would be how many people with legitmate claims didn’t get a ‘representation’? and again how many people contacted mary porter as compared to say jackie burke, if mary porter flicked off 1500 representations from 3 constituates does this mean she was more or less open to the community than jackie who flicked off 300 from 300 different people? (for the record i made up those figures; but my point remains the same.)
e.)how effective were the representations? karin mcdonald may have only 60 odd of them but how many of those came too something? (i’m pretty sure the sailablity people wouldn’t call her lazy for instance)
f.) they dont actually prove or disprove an mla’s ‘laziness’, they say nothing about how many commitees people sit on, how many questions they asked/answered, how many speeches they gave, how many meetings with community/industry groups they went too, how many caucuses they turned up to, how many public meetings, how many school plays, how many sitting days did they miss, how many pieces of legislation came out of their offices, i could go on for pages.
g.) these stats promote unfair comparisons; mary porter is more effective then the entire liberal party according to these figures and mulchahy is twice as effective as pratt for instance.

these stats are rubbish and just an example of win needing to pad out their news and JR wanting to give people something to talk about

dodgybranchopolous said :

The amusing thing is that Zed’s brother in law/svengali spends the majority of his time smoking cigarettes and striding back and forward with a intense look on his face. Probably pondering how to protect his Caesar from the the first floor Brutus brigade.

Careful now Dodgy. You don’t want to look partisan and threaten the integrity of your previous praising of Mary Porter.

The amusing thing is that Zed’s brother in law/svengali spends the majority of his time smoking cigarettes and striding back and forward with a intense look on his face. Probably pondering how to protect his Caesar from the the first floor Brutus brigade.

Yeah well he’d have to work hard wouldn’t he Jakez, Looking over his shoulder to ensure that none of his ‘party mates’ don’t shaft him and bring themselves into leadership.

“As someone who has known Zed Seselja for a number of years I just want to say that not only is he the hardest working MLA in the history of the Legislative Assembly, he is the hardest working and most effective politician in the history of the world!”

Wrong. That title goes to Robert Poole MP ‘Member for Thailand’

http://www.abc.net.au/news/australia/qld/summer/200603/s1580771.htm

“Umm, Mary had the highest number. What exactly are you disappointed about?”

The criticism of his working in the office.

“but the hardest working team in the history of the LA

Wow, that is some statement!”

I am referring to constituent interactions AND outcomes. Not policy work. And I stand by that statement.

As someone who has known Zed Seselja for a number of years I just want to say that not only is he the hardest working MLA in the history of the Legislative Assembly, he is the hardest working and most effective politician in the history of the world!

Granny said :

Why did you not include figures for Jon Stanhope, Katy Gallagher and John Hargreaves?

According to WIN news the figures for cabinet members (ministers) were not made available.

Why did you not include figures for Jon Stanhope, Katy Gallagher and John Hargreaves?

“Having spent close to a decade working for parliamentarians (including one mega-marginal MP), let me tell you that these figures mean jack shit.”

‘Jack shit’ is a bit strong

“The vast majority of people who go to their local MP are either mad or think the world owes them a living – or both.”

Partly true

“One of the easiest ways of dealing with these types is to “make a representation”; write a letter off to someone else on their behalf, making it look as if you have done something and passing the problem on to someone else.”

Again partly true. But not in Mary’s case. You wait and see what her personal vote is on Oct 18. People don’t vote for buck-passers, and she ain’t one.

dodgybranchopolous said :

I have known both Mary and her partner/COS Ian

Where was that story about nepotism in the LA again?

dodgybranchopolous said :

I have known both Mary and her partner/COS Ian for some years, and can attest to the fact that they are not only the hardest working team at the LA, but the hardest working team in the history of the LA. I am very disappointed in all this.

Umm, Mary had the highest number. What exactly are you disappointed about?

I have known both Mary and her partner/COS Ian for some years, and can attest to the fact that they are not only the hardest working team at the LA, but the hardest working team in the history of the LA. I am very disappointed in all this.

Quantity != quality. Mick Gentleman’s solar tariff work alone, for example, outshines (hah!) anything most of these numptys have ever done.

seekay said :

Having spent close to a decade working for parliamentarians (including one mega-marginal MP), let me tell you that these figures mean jack shit.

The vast majority of people who go to their local MP are either mad or think the world owes them a living – or both.

One of the easiest ways of dealing with these types is to “make a representation”; write a letter off to someone else on their behalf, making it look as if you have done something and passing the problem on to someone else.

An absolutely accurate representation of ‘representations’.

Having spent close to a decade working for parliamentarians (including one mega-marginal MP), let me tell you that these figures mean jack shit.

The vast majority of people who go to their local MP are either mad or think the world owes them a living – or both.

One of the easiest ways of dealing with these types is to “make a representation”; write a letter off to someone else on their behalf, making it look as if you have done something and passing the problem on to someone else.

Well I was originally going to say that perhaps it all depends on whether you are a backbencher/minister and what portfolio. However we can see that first prize goes to ALP backbencher Mary Porter, while last place goes to ALP backbencher Karin MacDonald.

One can’t possibly be surprised that Ms MacDonald would take the wooden spoon.

As my profile states, I am a member of the Liberal Party, I guess that makes me a party hack. However, I don’t have any explanations or defences to give, although I can’t wait to read the ones that come forward. I do know that quite a number of staffers and MLAs read RiotACT, especially when there’s something about them.

steve pratt seems to be popping up everywhere. he4 is the kind of guy that will stop in the street and have a natter, and remembers you even if a couple of weeks have passed. That is the kind of local govt rep i want. one who actually knows what is going on.