ECHO7250: IT IS GETTING INTERESTINGER AND INTERESTINGER AT LAUNIE’S TOWN HALL

There are days when you just know that theBUDDHA was on the money when he said that there three thing that ust cannot be hidden ... THE SUN THE MOON AND THE TRUTH. 2023 is the year of the rabbit and theRABBIT is a sign of peace and prosperity. In 2023 in 'Launceston' there is every prospect of the year meaning a peaceful year, a gentler year, and for most of us it will hopefully be a smoother life after big changes in the year of tiger 2022.

The year of theRABBIT is one where the sacrifices of the past are rewarded generously. All the seeds of effort we have sown shall finally bear fruit whose sweetness is determined by the purity of our heart’s intent so the teachings tell us.

Investors may well find an extra ounce of ‘good-luck’ this year.

The year of theRABBIT is a rewarding one for those willing to take risks. Owing to rabbits being a fertility symbol, this year is also a powerful year to not only start new business ventures, but also, it will be beneficial for artists to get inspired and move in new directions. All this Launceston needs given all that has gone before.

SO, Nick Clark's contribution in The Examiner today may well be a sign of theRABBIT doing its thing. Now that Launceston seems to be emerging out of the darkness at Town Hall where everything was, by managerial convention, carried on in camera, hope springs eternal – especially in the year of theRABBIT.

Embedded in Nick Clark's contribution are questions upon questions about the actual goings on in camera at Town Hall. That littleBIRDIE who frequents the Brisbane Street Mall is squawking about the enlisted smartONE at STATE GROWTH – Tasmania's very own version of UTOPIA – and the idea that this whole 'Birchalls Debacle' originated right there as an off-the-shelf project for Launceston Town Hall to run with. Ever since there has been a looming cloud over the Birchalls carpark also known as Paterson Street Central Carpark.

It needs to be understood that ethically and morally Launceston was NEVER truly eligible for the $10Million Grant given that Launceston had not actually experienced a drought.

For whatever reason at Town Hall the MORALcompass was put in the drawer and the 'she'll-be-right' factor was given a 'full go'. Politically, this money was only ever 'Feel-good project for a marginal Liberal seat'. Now who can spot the UTOPIA model at work here?

Ever since the ink was still wet on the signature of the grant application this whole project has blighted the moral fibre of the city and its governance. It might be that at Town Hall Jim Elliff's words may have somehow subliminally influenced the judgements made. He has said "The blood of Jesus unfailingly cleanses the believer from his sin at all times. There could be no sin that the blood does not cover, confessed or not confessed. Though our sins were taken care of in the cross of Christ, and by His blood being spilled for us, it is applied immediately in time to every sin we commit the nano-second we commit it." it is an interesting reason to put a moral compass away.

However, in the world where another wisdom prevails Confucius tells us that "It is man that makes truth great, and not truth that makes man great." More recently Robert W. Fuller called out "rankism" and sadly that is something we find too much of in governance –at all levels.

Rankism is "abusive, discriminatory, and/or exploitative behavior towards people because of their rank in a particular hierarchy. Rank-based abuse underlies many other phenomena such as bullying, racism, hazing, ageism, sexism, ableism, mentalism, anti-semitism, homophobia and transphobia.

Fuller asks and says, "Who are the nobodies? Those with less power. At the moment."

"A somebody in one setting can be a nobody in another, and vice versa. A somebody now might be a nobody a moment later, and vice versa."

The abuse of power inherent in rank is rankism. When somebodies use the power of their position in one setting to exercise power in another, that's rankism. When somebodies use the power of their position to put a permanent hold on their power, that, too, is rankism. Be aware, be alert!

OK, so this is all a bit preachy but looking back and looking forward and musing upon theRABBIT there is much to muse upon in Launceston. Nick Clark's contribution in The Examiner today is indeed a sign that change may well be in process. When truth is outed, in whatever form that turns out to be, the likelihood of diverse and inclusive placemaking taking hold somehow expands.