Fast Buck$, Coorabell.
I was intrigued to read the (Byron) mayor’s extensive and self-indulgent putdowns of Cr Tabart. Simon says that Cr Tabart never presented any evidence to back up his criticisms.
However, there are none so blind as those who will not see, and if you read between the lines you will notice he mentions things which might bring him into conflict with the staff, lest ‘doors be closed on me’.
This is in stark contrast to the outspoken Jan Barham, who got such a bad vibe from the senior staff that for the last few months of her tenure she only went to the council chambers when she absolutely had to. That’s what happens if you don’t automatically respect the senior staff as Simon does. At least she emerged with her integrity intact.
I offer Simon a challenge: select any council meeting agenda of the last five years and I will show you at least one item where the senior staff have presented information selectively so that Council will vote in favour of influential vested interests – such as Splendour and the holiday-letting industry.
I don’t know why Simon feels that it’s his job to protect the staff.
It’s one thing to personally refrain from criticism but quite another to close down others who don’t agree with him.
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
