So... who was that unmoderated moderator?
Date: 22-Aug-08
Author: Peter Firminger
At the Sydney Gas meeting in Broke on Wednesday evening, the audience was accosted by an aggressive and unattractive personality in the form of (in his words) an "Independent Chair for this meeting and I'm assuming that I'll also be the independent chair for any future meetings" (yeah right Phil) - Phil Burfurd.
So who is - or was - he?
A "Crisis Management" expert and CEO and Chairman of ICON who has apparently "developed an international reputation in... reputation and issues management..." (a little repetitive but hey, not my words).
- Why did he, nor Sydney Gas, not provide that information to us?
- Why do Sydney Gas deem it necessary to hire a Reputation and Issues Management guru to meet with a bunch of mums and dads in the country?
- How did this increase or help repair the Reputation of Sydney Gas and their relationship with the Broke-Bulga (and Wollombi Valley) communities?
Well of course it didn't. See for yourself (and no I'm not going to bother transcribing this one... we'll wait for the "accurate minutes" of the meeting from Sydney Gas which will no doubt be supplied to us in an inaccessible PDF image). Click on the play button to play the video.
[video7]It starts out civil enough... but then on a reasonable point of order by Barry Smith, he treats the audience, ordinary every-day people that have been invaded by Sydney Gas with no democratic right to oppose their invasion, like a hostile media pack. He's an expert alright... Man did he mis-read his audience! Not a board room, nor AGM, nor Press Briefing... a community meeting in a rural village.
NB: Some concern has been expressed by readers that this was the entire meeting which is not the case. This is just the first 6 minutes or so. Mr Harper's presentation went on after this point without interruption from the audience. [PF 26-Aug-08]
The issue that needs management here, Mark, Colin, "Fridge chick", "Eagle girl"... and of course Phil, is the truth. Transparency and truth. You can't buy that.
Mark Harper, Dana Hollis, Colin Stace etc. You've failed us yet again. In the absence of any other influence, tell the truth, simply because that's the easiest thing to remember. We don't want any more apologies for previous behaviour, we just want - and demand - the truth.
You are lying through your teeth, and the Broke-Bulga community are too polite and decent to tell you that to your face.
Mark, if you have no issue with the truth, answer the damn questions asked of you without employing a two-bit spin-doctor to cover your butt. And may I add, a company that was employed to rectify the reputation of Wollongong City Council. Nice work there Phil :) You're on a real winning streak of truth, justice and... um, faster than a speeding bullet? Sorry, the reference evades me.
Shame Sydney Gas... Shame.
All part of the transparent public service here at WAGE.
Comments (9)
Posted: 22-Aug-08 08:28 by You Permalink
After reading, researching what gas exploration can do to the environment, I was most interested to hear what Phil Burtron and Mark had to say, as I could not be present, but unfortunately it seems we were unable to get past immature arguing.
A pity, and doesnt help our cause.
Posted: 22-Aug-08 10:39 by You Permalink
How can we not get personal?
We are all personally affected by thiS
I am so angry with these people!they treat us like idiots, who do they think they are? Mark Harper does not tell us where he lives?none of them do.
They know where Mulla Villa is and where we live.
but we have nothing to hide , they do!!
Posted: 22-Aug-08 10:45 by Peter Firminger Permalink
Phil had absolutely nothing to say about the subject, and Mark went on after this point to present his case without interruption.
The WAGE committee will discuss whether we will publish that presentation but it is my opinion that Sydney Gas should publish it on their website as they have a camera angle that includes the screen.
Of course that won't happen. They can't even get Mark Harper listed as their GM on their own website or the ASX register.
Posted: 22-Aug-08 10:53 by You Permalink
Mark Harper agreed to provide a copy of the Sydney Gas record of the presentation to the Broke Group. We look forward to receiving a copy for WAGE.
Posted: 22-Aug-08 14:10 by You Permalink
Having witnessed personally the meeting myself. I feel if the audience had acted more with self control, Phil Burford would not have needed to be so outspoken in the first place. After it settled down he was o.k. I also feel the "Frige Chick" and "Eagle Girl" is a bit insulting. If you want respect, you should also give respect.
Posted: 22-Aug-08 14:25 by Peter Firminger Permalink
You earn respect, one way is by being honest.
The audience listened quietly to his intro, and Barry interjected politely at an appropriate segue point.
Phil then went off the deep end without cause and that was how he lost the respect of the audience.
Am I wrong? Watch again. This is unedited footage.
Posted: 22-Aug-08 21:48 by You Permalink
Watching this footage again in retrospect, after having been at the meeting does everything to confirm the incredible hypocrisy of Sydney Gas! It would have been a good start if the so-called moderator had actually adhered to his own rules and allowed community citizens to speak without interjection on his part!
I have to say that I am amazed that anyone at the meeting could make any kind of comment to the effect that community members should have acted with more restraint! On the contrary, people were much too restrained and polite under the circumstances.
Having witnessed the said female employee of Sydney Gas in action, these labels are also mild. She behaved in a disgraceful manner, prostituting herself in her role for Sydney Gas. She certainly showed no respect and absolutely no mercy to anyone present other than her colleagues, to whom she was trying to ingratiate herself. How could anyone such obvious lack of self-respect ever earn the of respect of others?
It was blatantly obvious in watching this again that the so-called moderator is nothing but a rabble-rouser, who did his best to inflame, offend and incite a hostile response from the community. He then had the gall to disown the part he played in destroying this meeting from the outset.
How is it possible to give respect to any individual/s who behave in such an incredibly disrespectful and abusive manner? You are so right Peter!
Posted: 24-Aug-08 15:09 by You Permalink
Sydney Gas is incorrectly named.It should be Snowy Mountain,s Gas as there imformation metting,s are nothing but SNOW JOB,S.
Posted: 24-Aug-08 15:27 by Peter Firminger Permalink
All comments by "F Moore" aka "Francis Moore" and most recently "Caroline", all from the same computer, have been removed and the user has been banned from the Wollombi Valley Online system for abusive behaviour.
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