Anger at Community Cabinet Visit

FRUSTRATION and anger spilled into the street yesterday as teachers and other union members took their protests straight to the top during Bundaberg's community cabinet.

Flanked by advisors and security, Premier Anna Bligh walked a gauntlet of more than 100 members from different unions to get into Bundaberg North State High School's hall.

About 300 protesters, irate over plans to sell off government assets and low teachers' pay, chanted and held up signs as Premier Anna Blighand her cabinet colleagues arrived.

Inside, a man used the public forum to criticise the Building Services Authority (BSA) for not helping him after he lost "everything" to a dodgy builder who promised to build his house.

"I voted for you. I'm sorry I did," he told Ms Bligh.

Afterwards, he met with Public Works Minister Robert Schwarten to discuss the matter one-on-one.

However, the man was escorted outside by police after he threw a jug of water at the minister and then tried to hit him with it.

Mr Schwarten put his hands out to defend himself as police officers pulled the man away.

The man lost his shoes in the scuffle.

The man arrested was Shane McMullen, a pensioner who lost everything following the collapse of Coral Coast Homes earlier this year.

Mr Schwarten is not pressing charges and said he felt sorry for Mr McMullen who was not covered under the BSA's powers due to the nature of the fraud.

It's understood Mr McMullen paid up front for a kit home but did not sign the appropriate contract that would have afforded him insurance under the BSA.

The 48-year-old man was charged with public nuisance and obstructing police and will face the Bundaberg Magistrates' Court on September 18, a police spokesman said.

Bundaberg Police Inspector Kevin Guteridge said that apart from one disturbance, the event ran safely and smoothly.

Premier Anna Bligh and her ministers covered a range of issues and made a number of announcements during her Bundaberg trip.

She also welcomed outpouring of community suggestions and opinions.

“We want to know what the next things are that you would like us to invest in,” she said.

Sunday's community cabinet, which gives residents outside of Brisbane the chance to meet one-on-one with government ministers and senior departmental officers, attracted the largest number of registered attendees.

Messenger shoots himself and LNP mate in the foot?

Written by Robert Schwarten:

A meeting planned in Bundaberg tomorrow night by Member for Bundaberg Jack Dempsey has been hi-jacked by his LNP colleague, the Member for Burnett, Public Works Minister Robert Schwarten said today.

Mr Schwarten said Mr Messenger had done the equivalent of shooting himself in the foot and shooting Mr Dempsey in the foot at the same time.

"Mr Messenger has made a complaint to the Crime and Misconduct Commission regarding Building Services Authority leadership and, as such, it is entirely inappropriate for the BSA General Manager, Mr Ian Jennings to attend such a meeting," Mr Schwarten said.

"I have no problem with Mr Dempsey organising a meeting of his constituents, but from the correspondence I have received from Mr Messenger it seems to me that he has pushed Mr Dempsey out of the equation.

"Aside from the political rudeness to his own Liberal National Party mate, this does nothing to help Mr Dempsey's, or for that matter, Mr Messenger's consti tuents."

Mr Schwarten said that he was more than happy to have Mr Jennings attend a meeting of concerned sub-contractors or other individuals who had been affected by the recent failure of building companies in the Bundaberg area.

"It is clear that Mr Messenger has a political agenda. He is not interested in helping these people, he is merely interested in scoring political points from them."

Mr Schwarten said he was advised that the BSA had assisted nine customers of failed builder Coral Coast Homes, and Mr Jennings or his Deputy had been to Bundaberg on three occasions.

"I am more than happy for Mr Jennings to attend a meeting with Mr Dempsey and his constituents but given there is a CMC investigation of BSA leadership instigated by Mr Messenger, it is pointless having Mr Jennings there while this matter is under investigation.

"Mr Messenger has made it clear that he has no confidence in the leadership of the BSA and I am truly amaze d that he would want the BSA General Manager to be at a meeting.

"I am advised that the BSA has reserved a room at Bert Hinkler Motor Inn, Bundaberg, for a meeting with Mr Dempsey's constituents at 6:30pm tomorrow night, which will be paid for by the BSA. Mr Jennings will be present and will chair the meeting.

"This is not Mr Messenger's meeting and if he wishes to book and pay for another venue then so be it. That's a matter for him.

"I received today an invitation from Mr Messenger to attend a meeting tomorrow night and I have declined due to previous commitments, which I will not be cancelling simply because Mr Messenger clicks his fingers.

"I am currently considering my forward diary commitments in light of a letter from Mr Messenger which came to hand on 19 June.

"All members know my door is always open and not once has Mr Messenger come knocking. Not once has Mr Messenger ever made an appointment to see me to discuss this issue w hile the Parliament is sitting.

"I have made it clear to the BSA that it is to help however it can in these trying circumstances and I believe the BSA is doing just that.

"But I won't tolerate a Member of Parliament bullying public servants for their own political ends," Mr Schwarten said.

No faith in BSA!

CUSTOMERS and tradespeople affected by the collapse of Coral Coast Homes and Steelsmart Homes gave a vote of no confidence in the Building Services Authority at a meeting on Thursday night.

Emotions ran high at the meeting, when about 45 people met with Member for Burnett Rob Messenger to air their grievances.

“We are calling for an independent investigation and legal assistance from the government so that people can pursue civil action,” Mr Messenger said.

“We plan to hold a public meeting and invite the Minister (for Public Works Robert Schwarten) and senior department officials.”

Meanwhile, a trailer full of office furniture was removed from the Bourbong Street offices of the company yesterday as liquidators moved in to count its assets.