At the Association's AGM on November 30, a new committee for 2009 was elected. Community planning consultant and former vice-president Ian Wood is the new president of SOS, replacing Ian Quick who has stepped down to have more time for private interests but who is still on the committee. Other office bearers are Cheryl Forge (secretary) and Gary van Prooyen (treasurer). Ian Quick stood for Yarra Council as an independent last November but was unsuccessful, due mainly to the string of dummy candidates supported by the ALP in his ward. Ironically, they were too successful - one of them drew ahead of Ian and was thus elected with his preferences, knocking out the ALP's preferred second candidate, an "independent" former mayor.

PROTECTORS OF PUBLIC LANDS VICTORIA INC. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM) FOR 2008 SATURDAY 6 DECEMBER 2008 Event: AGM 2008 We are hosting a panel of speakers from member groups of PPL VIC, who were also candidates in the Local Government Council elections on 29 November 2008. We want to hear about their campaigns. Our panel is: Adam Bandt, Greens candidate for Lord Mayor of Melbourne; Marion Manifold (Port Campbell Community Association) independent candidate for Corangamite; Ian Quick, (Save Our Suburbs) independent candidate for Yarra; Janis Rossiter, (Seddon Residents' Association) independent candidate for Maribyrnong; and Jane Touzeau (Unchain St Kilda) , independent candidate for Port Phillip. Chair of Meeting: Brian Walters SC President of PPL VIC Time: 12:45 pm for 1 pm to about 3:30 pm. Afternoon tea to follow. Date: Saturday 6 December 2008 Venue: Meeting Room 1 Upstairs, North Melbourne Library 66 Errol Street. Parking in surrounding streets. Tram up Elizabeth Street to Errol Street North Melbourne.

SOS Media Release 21.11.08

ALP internal conflict over new residential zones shows city needs new councillors to stand up to Brumby

Save Our Suburbs has discovered that a number of dissident Labor MPs are concerned about the undemocratic nature of the State Government’s proposed new residential planning zones and potential voter backlash against suburban Labor MPs. A critical paper on the new zones was posted on the website of Essendon Labor MLA Judy Maddigan. The same paper was also one of over 400 submissions on the new zones to the Department of Planning and Community Development. Other Labor MLAs who signed the document include Carlo Carli (Brunswick), Steve Herbert (Eltham), Rob Hudson (Bentleigh), Janice Munt (Mordialloc) and Bob Stensholt (Burwood). However, the Maddigan website was removed several days ago. SOS president Ian Quick said that the document was another sign that the Brumby Government had lost touch with voters and was riding roughshod over residents’ rights, with a particularly poor record on genuine community consultation.

SOS Notice of 2008 Annual General Meeting Nov 30th 2008 Save Our Suburbs (Vic) (SOS) will hold its 2008 AGM on 30th November 2008, at 3pm at the Elsternwick Club, 19 Sandham St, Elsternwick. At this meeting SOS will

We have notice quite often that the Victorian Local Governance Association (VLGA) seems to be just a media department for the ALP State Government. What typically happens is that they get advanced notice that the State Government is doing something, then they pre write a glowing media release about how good the government is.. Take the accidentally released email today (below) - "Embargoed until 6am Tuesday 28 October 2008 Responding to the State Government’ s announcement to amend and clarify the application of proposed Section 78D of the Local Government (Councillor Conduct and Other Matters) Bill 2008, VLGA President Cr Beth Davidson said “ …sometimes you just have to stick your neck out to get results. “ The VLGA took the lead in expressing strong concerns at the democratic barriers contained in the Bill, calling for amendments and greater clarity. “ The Minister has listened to our concerns, and we now feel vindicated by the State Government’s reaction. “ Incumbent Councillors and new Candidates can now confidently stand at the forthcoming elections knowing that their prior participation in democratic debate will not be constrained by the Bill. “ The VLGA will seek further discussions with the State Government prior to the 2012 elections to argue that the effective date of future provisions should also be limited in the same way as today’s announcement, “ Cr Davidson added." From this we can conclude that the State Government is making an announcement in the morning, and the VLGA - as a media unit of the Government - have their press release ready. Pity they sent it out a day early!