Gold Coast Council’s 25 member Propaganda team costing ratepayers $4.8 million yearly – Perceived abuse of privilege and threat to democracy.
CAN SOMEONE PLEASE EXPLAIN to me why, if a Council is genuinely representing the interests of the people with integrity and transparency, it needs to employ a media team of 25 or so people at an estimated cost to ratepayers of c.$2.5 million with a total annual budget of $4.8 million?
I OFFER MY FOLLOWING OBSERVATIONS WITHOUT PREJUDICE, that over the past few months it appears that a member (or members) of the GCCC Media group have been constantly crawling over/smothering local radio, print and television, pushing the agenda of the incumbent administration and not necessarily in the interests of the majority. I have fallen victim to these people as have many others. They criticise, mock and attempt to intimidate those who try to offer a balanced or counter view in, for example, online news comments. The same applies to their approach to social media, where views running contrary to the Council’s narrative or that of our elected representatives, are often met with vile, malicious and cowardly personal attacks using false Facebook profiles. Alternatively, the Media/PR group will cunningly craft a response to serious matters of public heath by ignoring the real issue and present a similar but different focus.
AN ATTACHMENT BELOW demonstrates this Troll behavior going by the false name of “Raymond Ward”, which appears to link the offender in this instance directly to GCCC or certainly appears to implicate it, with its reference to how ‘they’ treat Polls and Surveys. ‘His’ statement was in regard to accusations that ‘He’ representing the GCCC media team, which conducts the various online polls and surveys appeared to manipulate the results of a poll regarding residents responses to the light rail in the southern suburbs, dramatically skewing the outcome in favour of the light rail and against the preference of the majority of the residents. This continuing nonsense reflects poorly on the GCCC.
I THEREFORE ASK COUNCIL CEO WITHOUT PREJUDICE, that if this behavior is not countenanced by you please investigate internally and assist in identifying the culprit(s) or provide conclusive evidence to the contrary.
PLEASE FIND SOME EXAMPLES AS FOLLOWS:
1. ROSS RIVER FEVER OUTBREAK. The group will ignore serious issues such as the local outbreak of Ross River Fever. The issue appeared in the Gold Coast Bulletin [to their credit] in support of Cr. Peter Young’s genuine concerns about the plague and not by GCCC attempting to warn residents. I asked various Councillors on their FB pages why GCCC has failed since April this year, to issue a public health warning. The response ignored the health threat and instead released a disarming statement focused on nuisance mosquito numbers and scheduled spraying, leaving residents and their families unwittingly exposed to the risk of infection of this and other debilitating diseases [examples of responses available on request].
2. GC BULLETIN ONLINE COMMENTS. My wife and I being readers/subscribers often attempt to express a counter opinion to that being pushed in a Council focused article and have often found it difficult if not impossible [even after several attempts] to have the comment no matter how reasonable, approved and posted by the Bulletin’s mediator. Only to watch as regular Trolls to the site are permitted to post their shallow, mocking criticisms at will, resulting in drowning out the ‘reasonable’ argument.
I THEREFORE ASK the Owners/Editor of the Gold Coast Bulletin and AGAIN WITHOUT PREJUDICE, to please define for us the guidelines, authorities and restrictions you place on your ‘Comments’ mediators. If, on the other hand approval is left to the discretion of your mediators, would you please identify the various prejudices of these individuals and attempt in future to offer a more fair and balanced view.
QUALITY JOURNALISM has been historically the marque of a valid and credible media where owners demonstrated courage and commitment to a community. Qualities which showed an owner’s willingness to investigate and have the courage to print both sides of an argument, offer an opinion based on findings and then let the readers decide. Sadly, it is my observation over the past 12 months or so, that responsible, independent journalism on the Coast is becoming a thing of the past.
IT IS MY PERCEPTION that Gold Coast media is being bullied into publishing a barrage of one-sided statements or bland magazine style articles more propaganda than journalism. This has become an obvious, increasing and significant threat to democracy and freedom of speech…I ask media owners/editors, please, if you don’t believe that this is the case, let us know why. It may help to alter our perception.
Folks, this has been my experience and the experience of many others I speak with. I am truly seeking some clarity on this issue and invite your constructive feedback, but, in spite of whatever frustrations you may feel in this regard, please keep it civil and that way starve the Trolls.
[EDIT – 18 Nov, 2023. ‘Mayor’ Tom Tate is now driving the insidious Agenda 21/30 ‘Sustainability’ objectives on behalf of the treacherous United Nations/World Economic Forum “You will own nothing and you will be happy” WEF Chairman Klaus Schwab.]
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I believe ‘IT’ continues to watch through the worm-hole ‘IT’ created in the FB platform.
IT’S BACK!
Brilliant comments. Well said Wetlands Conservation. I complained to the “mayor” on a private message (13th Dec) about exactly this when he “liked” a devisive comment on his “official” page and I received no response.
UPDATE #2…I’ve just learned that a Media Group of about 5 members was seconded from Council to the Mayor’s office several years ago and then expanded to its current size of 15 or so and budget of $4.8m. We need to understand the reason, their role and the motive. This is ratepayers money and we need transparency.
I emailed council yesterday.
After Sandy Grisham decided to use my old profile picture which is a painting of me as their own.
GCCC denied any involvement in these accounts but also failed to say they’ve investigated the IP addresses rule this out with certainty.
Follow the money. Someone on the council is getting kickbacks from this sham????
RAYMOND’S GONE! And all his stupid comments…NOW we have a starting point and we know where to continue looking!!
Anyone notice that Raymond’s deleted himself since I put up the post???
What the heck!! A one man camera and one on sound is all that is needed. The rest is Tate’s vanity (thinks he’s a movie star), someone getting kickbacks, and a criminal waste of ratepayer money.
Hmmmm I’ve had a couple of strange freind requests lately????
“Raymond” has agreed to meet with me for a coffee this Saturday at 1000 to discuss his recent spate of lying. Let’s see if anyone shows up…
UPDATE…Article and request sent to GCCC CEO this afternoon. GC Bulletin Editor difficult to find contact details so forwarded part article and request to investigate through online enquiry.
Unfortunately there is a strange pattern revealing itself of where fake accounts are tolerated where others blocked.
If your opinion or view can only be liked by a fake profile then that may be telling you something
Wayne suddenly gets a lot of spare time on his hands, coincidentally the incidence of troll pages and posts like this skyrockets at the same time.
