Reinventing Myself

Peter Tagliaferri, Jamie and John Murdoch

2010-11-10T16:24:00.000+08:00

All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing ....

Remember this: Peter Tagliaferri, Jamie and John Murdoch and Fremantle council. And the little squeeks fittock and pettit.
...and that's all she wrote.

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When you bite the hand that feeds you

2010-07-14T07:22:00.004+08:00

J. the brat had a long silver spoon
And was eaten by envy and greed
His baby face and voice so soft
Made it easy for him to deceive

This shallow man without compassion
had money from mummy and pop
it expressed thro him a tyranny
which proved too hard to stop.

No one knew what happened
You couldn’t see the source
Compatible energies blended
By some magnetic force.

The ghosts of convicts on the hill
Seeped through the market floor
Driving out the good folk
Til there were no more.

Many felt the evil air
And wondered what took place
The laughter of a yesteryear
Became a nameless face.

The townsfolk showed their discontent
By staying well away
The place has lost its soul
Is all they had to say.

I will fix this when I can
The old mayor once lamented
Proving what they all had thought -
That he was quite demented.

A rally in the market square
Cried out with cheers and bells
Something’s wrong in city hall
Something really smells

Bureaucracy – a wimpy lot
Hid behind their writs
Cowering in closets
A bunch of feeble twits

Good men fought until they fell
Hearts were torn away
Karma spoke with justice
“I will have my day!”

What’s happened to my cash cow?
J-boy knits a frown
He didn’t even notice
When it all fell down

I demand some loyalty
I demand respect
What was he ever thinking?
What did he expect?

If you bite the hand that feeds you
You lose much more than money
A man can lose himself as well
Isn’t life too funny?

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Fremantle Markets - Ann Meyer and grand visions

2010-05-05T19:42:00.004+08:00

Ann Meyer put people offside right from the beginning. Another business was reduced in size to make way for her coffee shop. She moved someone else’s stock from the coolroom and took over that space; the tenant left the market because of that shabby treatment and the newly announced rental increases.

Soon after, Ann introduced herself as the new Business Development Manager. People came out of her introductory meeting seething with anger. She took a hard line and said she was not there to talk about the past or problems or to answer questions. Basically it was “I’m here to speak and you are here to listen”. That was incredibly insensitive considering that the stallholders had just heard of the rental increases and felt betrayed and afraid.

It was generally understood that the Murdoch brothers had employed her to avoid the angry conflict that was festering; she was now the ‘go to guy’ and the Murdoch’s referred everything back to her. She was generally disrespected and disliked and many of the changes she instigated had dire effect on previously well run, successful businesses.

No one has ever mentioned a good idea that Ann Meyer implemented but there are many accounts of extreme chagrin at the detrimental changes she has made. What enflames everyone most of all, is that she over-rides experience, logical argument and even obvious facts by quoting or stressing her research. She is often mimicked with statements like, according to my survey, my data says, our market research, due to customer demand…

Her coffee shop was taken over by her daughter. There has been a lot said about ‘conflict of interest and nepotism’ and a lot of animosity has brewed as the daughter took over prime positioning and other advantages.

What I find most interesting about this shop is that it should reflect the validity of Ann’s qualifications and must be an example of how a shop should be run and how successful a shop can be according to the management’s expertise, positive attitude, qualified research and visions of their 21st century innovation. One would think that this shop would be a prototype for all others to aspire to – wouldn’t one?

Without even going into the fact that the coffee shop is for sale and everyone is really angry that a casual stall is for sale, when permanent stalls can’t sell and are being walked away from, let’s compare advantages and disadvantages.

The first point is that not only is this a casual stall which has only operated a little more than a year but the sale comes with an exclusive right to take over a permanent shop which has never even been occupied by the girl. The previous owner was ousted after paying around $30,000 for only ½ the space. He has recently walked away with nothing. How is it that his shop becomes her asset?

This might make her sale look more secure or more appealing but on closer inspection a potential buyer would find that that space needs to be fitted out and equipped according to regulations. I would estimate they would be looking at another $50,000 to do that.

Currently the girl is in a casual location of 3X3 metres. If you put a table at the front and side that gives you enough space to work in equivalent to a baby’s playpen. The rent on this little space is $100 per day. If the buyer takes on the permanent shop it is probably triple that size so I assume it would be at least double that rent.

The casual 3X3 shop is for sale for $20,000neg. If you take on the permanent shop your outlay would be around $70,000 plus rent around $600 per weekend. My figures are rough of course, but close enough for this estimation I am sure.

According to the girl, her profit is around $1,000 per month or $250 per week. If you round that out at 8 hours a day, trading 3 days at the market, and include another 8 hours to do all the things that need to be done to run the business, you have around 32 hours work. That means you make around $8 per hour!

The minimum basic wage for an employee would be twice that. Who in their right mind would pay $20,000 to do that? This of course, this is only if you take the 3X3 casual. I can’t imagine that anyone would take on a lease with the larger shop based on these figures.

I must also add that the figures did not include outgoings, insurances, car, phone or office expenses and other costs that would be usual in running a business so I do believe that the profit was exaggerated.

So, if this is the baby of Ann Meyers and Jamie Murdoch; with all of that management advantage, market research, the questionnaires, positive/professional attitude, retail experience, expertise and grand visions for everyone – then let the proof be in their puddings.

On another note though, I will add, that a potential buyer contacted Jamie Murdoch and enquired about the 5 year lease and also asked for information about the 3 month trial. The request was ignored. An EOI was sent instead. A second request to see a copy of the lease was also ignored.

Yes, you get to buy the coffee shop but you are only given a 3 month trial – and then… (???)

If this is the outcome for the ‘favoured one’ then what hope does anyone have?

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Starting or buying a business at Freo Markets

2010-05-05T12:29:00.007+08:00

According to FMPL:
“The Markets’ philosophy is that a wide range of traders should present goods of quality, value and interest at competitive prices. Fremantle Markets is an entertaining place, whether you are visiting or bargain hunting.

Fremantle Markets is a community amenity and meeting place, and over the past 35 years has become an outstanding cultural, entertainment, restaurant and retail centre, without equal in the State.”

The tricky spin or blatant propaganda is just mind-boggling. Value at competitive prices and bargain hunting? The massive rent hikes drove out almost 30% of the tenants and the rest have had to index the cost into product prices.
Community meeting place and cultural centre? It used to be the community hub of Freo, but now it’s just a few plastic chairs, hiding empty stalls, that they refer to as relaxed sitting areas or now a community meeting place.
Is there a restaurant in there?
Entertainment? They must mean the buskers outside the market wall or the music in the bar which I believe is provided by the bar owner not the market management. Perhaps they think that the food hall in the mall is theirs as well.
Well, it all sounds good and might impress a naïve potential tenant and that’s what it’s all about. A nice little lead in to their Expression of Interest application form.

It doesn’t quite come right out and state that before you get to see the lease agreement the need to supply your first born child as collateral but it comes pretty close.

It is really hard to sell a business in the markets for a number of reasons; high rents and lack of facilities being the most obvious.

A lot has been said about people who have signed onto a 5 year lease because they thought that it offered secure tenure and that would make selling a business more viable or at least more stable for the buyer. Many of those people now feel stuck; locked in for 5 years with no way out. It’s no secret that due to the amount of empty stalls the management is now offering those spaces at no cost to new tenants. The bottom line of course, is that they are only interested in the rent coming into their pockets. The value of an established business is of no concern to them and might in fact hinder their agenda.

Some people have employed a business broker and others have advertised businesses for sale. A number of people have found a buyer and then the sale has fallen through when they have contacted the management to discuss the lease.

I am not even going to mention the lease other than to reiterate what I have said before, “Get legal advice before you sign.”

What many stallholders did not realize is that the potential buyers must sign an expression of interest form before they are offered a lease. Basically, the form is to guarantee the management that the potential buyer has enough assets to cover them if they should fail. I wonder if FMPL would provide the same information to their tenants. What guarantee do the tenants have should FMPL go bust?

What really concerns me most though is that FMPL demands a trail period. So, if you are lucky enough to find a buyer, your buyer pays you for your business, fits out the shop, buys stock and then after 10 weeks they can be told that they are unsuitable!!!!

If you haven’t read through the EOI form have a look at these excerpts:
Tenant Licence Agreements.
The successful applicant will be required to enter into a Licence Agreement with Fremantle Markets Pty Ltd for a period of 10 weeks to see whether it is successful for both parties. Nearing the end of that time both parties can sit down and discuss the option of entering into a long term arrangement.

Or this little beauty which says it all:
Whilst an attempt has been made to ensure that information contained in this document is accurate at the time of publication (April 2010), Fremantle Markets Pty Ltd does not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy of information contained in this document.

What Happens Next?

Applicants will not automatically be offered an interview and it is therefore important that you complete the attached Application Form as fully and accurately as possible. Photographs and other information relating to your proposed merchandise will assist in reviewing your application.

The assessment of application takes approximately 1 month and all applicants will be notified in writing of the outcome of their application.

The decision and outcome of your application is not open to appeal.

Please provide an itemised listing of your proposed product range (You must include photographs of merchandise to be sold).
What are your unique selling points?
What type of products could you could sell at cost price as per the Market Rules?
“Tenants must have at least 1 item of goods made available for sale to customers at Cost Price as an attraction to patrons on each trading day.”

How would your stall and product contribute to a vibrant and interesting Market? (Please give a full explanation eg. it is not sufficient to merely state that you are or have previously been a Tenant for any period).

Who are your competitors and what are the main points of difference that you will offer? (You should consider competitors both internal and external to Fremantle Markets)
Who is your target audience/customers?
In what ways will you ensure your stall operates in a sustainable and environmentally friendly way?
How many staff do you intend to employ?
What other tasks relating to the stall do you do during non-trading times and how many hours are spent on them?
How do you intend to train your staff so they will add value to your business and the Fremantle Markets as a whole?
What is your merchandising theme/display method and how do you propose to continuously improve your stall setup?
What capital improvements will you make to the stall including signage? What improvements will you make to the appearance of the stall? Please include estimated costs of improvements together with a detail plan of proposed changes. Please staple proposed plans to this application.
What is the proposed maintenance and cleaning program for the stall?
Briefly describe your marketing plan. (Other than relying on passing trade or word of mouth, how do you plan to get information about your product to your prospective customer?)
Please provide details of any previous retail business owned by you or retail experience (in each instance please provide dates). Include any relevant details such as qualifications or awards.

Financial Background
Plant & Equipment (currently owned and situated in stall, if any)
Already Owned – Item – Market Value – Service Cost

Plant and equipment to be purchased and installed in stall if application successful
Item – Purchase Price – Service cost

Personal Assets and Liabilities of Applicant
You Own: Cash available, Own Home, Other Real Estate, Superannuation, Savings/Shares, Furniture, Personal Effects, Vehicles, Other Assets. Total Value?
You Owe: Bills unpaid, Home Mortgage, Other Mortgage, Credit Cards, Vehicle Loan, Other Loan. Total?

What was that about a place for artisans, hand made products and an incubator for new start up businesses? I don’t think so…

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Cr Doug Thompson's mysterious abacus

2010-04-16T17:41:00.005+08:00

Fremantle market business owners have often commented that they feel that they have been thrown to the dogs by Fremantle Council. That, and a whole lot more, but I’ll use this as the milder version of the general dismay and overall frustration and disappointment repeatedly expressed.

To hear themselves referred to as ‘dislodged’ or their diabolical treatment described as ‘unintentional consequences’ is sickening and abhorrent. How can they claim the consequences were unintentional when they were made aware of them loudly and publicly right from the beginning?

When the swearing, anger, outrage and confusion subside there are always the questions: why, what’s going on? How did it happen? What don’t they get….?

Of course, there are conspiracy theories; who is in bed with…? Are they incompetent, lazy or ignorant? Is it personal? Was it deliberate?

Well, I don’t have any concrete answers myself, but like many others, I have held the belief that at some level they all know they did the wrong thing, and providing they can find a solution which saves them publicly admitting fault or being held accountable or liable they would, at the very least, try to band aid what they could.

Last months council meeting ended any delusions we might have entertained; the meetings, reports, mediation, blah, blah and blah…

I have been contacted by people who were appalled at Robert Fittock’s comment, and one person said:

…Cr Fittock of course had his turn. What a nasty piece of work he is. He has obviously forgotten he was elected to assist the people of the community, instead he relishes in demeaning and insulting the disenfranchised stallholders. He stated - the disenfranchised stallholders made their bed! I can’t remember if he actually said 'they deserve what they get, but he certainly inferred it. He was definitely out of line and the mayor should have told him to pull his head in.

However, the real knife in the heart came from Doug Thompson. Crowing like a Cock in a hen house, he delivered his facts about the 43 ‘dislodged’ businesses:

4 left before negotiations
16 Sold their business at an average $59,000.00
3 Retired
5 signed a new lease
1 on a new agreement
6 were month by month due to future relocation
7 were casual and
1 was terminated

Jamie Murdoch’s outrageous claims that the average takings per stall was $10,000 per week-end, 40,000 customers each week spend around $35 per head, average rent at $300 per week and that only one person has been evicted. Council has accepted all of this as fact and we have not only disputed this but given truer figures. Why won’t council do the numbers themselves?

The stallholders association not only counted the 43 but publicly read them all out by name. They didn’t even include the employees in that count and as that was a few months ago we could now add more names and numbers.

None of our 43 people had signed any new lease so please explain how 12 of your ‘facts’ are classified as having left the market whilst at the same time signed onto new agreements?

If Thompson asserts that he has factual knowledge of 16 people selling at an average of $59,000 then I ask him publicly to supply us with the names of those people. Also, was this ‘one termination’ (eviction) Steve, Richard, Colin or Ed?

After two public rallies; one on council steps, dozens of letters and emails from stallholders, council meetings overflowing with angry stallholders, countless media articles and the obvious vacant spaces at Fremantle markets, I can not accept Cr Thompson is that ignorant - it appears to be malicious or deliberately incompetent.

Mayor Pettitt, Cr’s Fittock and Thompson would serve the people of Freo more effectively if they were to visit the office of Adele Carles and do a thorough tally of the financial losses reported to her office and gain some insight into the trauma and heartache of their actions rather than crow out Murdoch cronyism.

Or, for that matter - read through their own transcripts!

Cr Fittock was honest enough to admit that he didnt read through all that mail but this seems to suggest that Doug Thompson hasn't seen, heard or known anything and yet he claims to understand everything.

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Freo councils unintended consequences

2010-04-14T10:14:00.005+08:00

Whenever I speak about Fremantle Council I feel I should add a disclaimer. Some members of the council have given us so much support that I want to exclude them from the generic term of council. For the purpose of this blog I say Fremantle Council as a body or as a process, rather than as a collective mix of members.

I think it is important that the people of Freo know who has or will have the integrity to fight for them; after all, isn’t that why people vote for their members?

Kudos to: John Dowson, Georgie Adeane, Donna Haney, Sam Wainwright, Bill Massie, Andrew Sullivan and I will also still include Les Lauder for his enormous contribution.

The genuine depth of compassion, the tireless work and attention to detail, the stress and opposition they have endured and the ongoing tenacity is awe inspiring.

Reading through this month’s council minutes I feel we are all trapped in ‘groundhog day’. The issues or the arguments appear to change but basically it comes down to this:
Half the council know they screwed up but want to put it to bed and move on.
The other half tried to prevent it before it happened and have spent all this time trying to fix it.

John Dowson has spent months trying to create an alternate trading environment for the victims of the new market lease debacle. His vision not only offers great prospects for the stallholders but will potentially bring more visitors into the area and actually compliment the other market.

But, as is the way with bureaucracy, it all appears to be nit picked to death; the customary reports, meetings, financials, legal implications, proposals, terms and conditions, strategies and blowing smoke rings in the air. It will end up where it always ends up – just shredded paper for the next ticker tape parade – probably the next mayoral election.

It has already taken months to get it to ‘consideration’ stage. It will take at least a year before it could possibly become an actuality. If and or when it ever gets an affirmative we will find that all the king’s horses and all the king’s men couldn’t put humpty together again.

Glen Dougall will probably write something along the lines of: due to the severe lack of public interest, the decline of the Fremantle Markets and the disinterest of ‘dislodged’ stallholders we have deferred making further considerations - but will continue to monitor the situation.

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Fremantle councils dislodged stallholders

2010-04-14T08:50:00.002+08:00

In my last post I referred to the ‘pollie speak’ of Fremantle Council. In a carefully worded document they explained they were unable to include a representative of the stallholders association into the working group because the association no longer had any members left. Then they went on to say that they will continue to monitor the situation. (Really?)

In layman terms what this means is:
Due to the fact that we have been fart-arsing around for a year the problem seems to have gone away.

This month’s council minutes offers this gem:
“…or is council seeking to provide support for those stallholders that have been dislodged by unintended consequences of the new lease at the Fremantle markets…”

Dislodged stallholders? Unintended consequences? Oh please!

In layman’s terms:
Dislodged stallholders means: Shafted stallholders.
Unintended consequences means: Predictable outcome of our big F up.

For the full report see page 148 http://www.freofocus.com/council/resource/2010.03.24_Council.pdf
As usual, it seems that Freo Council are never sure if they are coming or going; on page 165 Cr Fittock gave us an insight:

LATE ITEM
At 8.28 pm Cr R Fittock left the meeting and returned at 8.28 pm.

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Fremantle Council and Fremantle Markets. What Tha?

2010-03-26T14:36:00.006+08:00

Fremantle Council’s Report for March 2010 re Update on Fremantle Markets Alleged Breaches. For full report see:
http://www.freofocus.com/council/resource/Council%20Agenda%2024%20March%202010.pdf Page 84.

It just gets sillier as we move forward. The ex mayor pretty much wrote the proposal for the Murdoch’s as we saw in a 2006, Fremantle Herald front page article. He strongly promoted the idea of turning the market into a food venue. In that same article he even suggested that if the Murdochs opposed his vision he was prepared to buy them out of the remainder of the lease. When you look at the Murdoch proposal it almost looks like Tagliaferri could have written it himself.

Rather than put it out for tender council allowed a one horse race. The new lease was renewed years before the old lease expired; there was no urgency other than the fact that the ex mayor was soon to be vacating his seat and a well publicised threat by the Murdoch’s that they would run the markets into the ground, and some mention of flimsy litigation. More than one councillor later stated that they took these threats seriously and were persuaded to vote for the Murdoch’s on these issues. Some have since said that they regret that decision. Others stated that it was the very reason they strongly opposed the Murdoch application.

When hundreds of letters and emails were sent to council opposing the renewal, one councillor had to ask twice before she and the others got to see them. Another councillor later stated that he did not have time to read them. That same councillor recently stated that to his knowledge only one person had been evicted from the markets! I very clearly remember that councillor sitting in on all of the meetings in which stallholders spoke of evictions and being forced to walk away from businesses. Clearly, there were scores of articles about this in the papers and two public rallies. The last rally included the reading out of forty five names of people who had left the market since the new lease agreement.

The chairperson and the secretary of the stallholders association were evicted. When Mark and Gerry came on board and spoke publicly about their plight they were defamed in newsletters, had their stalls downsized, rents increased and offered only a monthly tenancy instead of the 5 year lease previously promised by both the Murdoch’s and the council; all making it impossible to continue and in effect ‘bullied’ into walking away from previously successful businesses with nothing. Many others who spoke out have also left due to similar treatment.

Within a year the stallholders association collapsed due to key people being evicted or shafted and no one else is now prepared to step up or speak out. Both the Murdoch’s and the council have robbed the market of any feedback, advice or protection from the people at the front line – the collective voice of the association . Stallholders are now as potent as pawns on a chessboard and are treated as such.

Brad Pettitt campaigned hard to be elected new mayor and made sweet statements about his concerns and made wishy washy promises about mediation and moving forward. Within weeks of being elected there was no stallholders association left and the best he has had to offer is a glib comment about the personality conflict between the parties. Meanwhile, more businesses have failed, customer numbers have greatly declined, businesses throughout the CBD are claiming it has impacted on them and there are now a number of official inquiries in progress.

Wouldn’t you think that the mayor and elected members would be scrambling to put things right? No. Everyone is blaming someone else and there is plenty of covering their tracks going on. But, getting back to the report and a very clear insight into the mindset of Glen Dougall, Director Corporate Services:

“Part 3 of the resolution of council in March, 2009, sought for a Working Group to be expanded to include a representative of the Stallholders Association. Whilst this matter has been discussed with FMPL on a number of occasions no agreement has been reached. The main reasons are that during the process the Stallholders’ Association were no longer viable due to lack of committee nominees and now lack of committee members. The City is of the opinion that it will continue to monitor the situation. With City officer members of the working group meeting with stallholders from time to time it is thought that any significant issues involving stallholders can be raised by the working group or by stallholders to ensure that matters are considered by the working group.

Officers will continue to monitor the situation and take action where it is deemed that FMPL are not operating in accordance with the Head Lease or the Operating Strategy. Any action will be so under the direction of the City’s legal team.”

It has taken them a year to talk about this one issue; private enterprise would have had it sorted in fifteen minutes. When you look back on all of the fart-arsing around that FCC has displayed you can only conclude that they deliberately stall making decisions knowing that if they wait long enough the problems will go away. This time - They are soooooooo WRONG. We will chase them down like rats in a drainpipe until we get answers.

It's all just another example of pollie speak and seeming to appear...I am so staggered by this that I am speechless.

Only one comment left in me, “Is this legal team the one who put the lease and the operating strategy together?” Of course it is.

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Fremantle markets - fair suck of the sav

2010-03-13T17:02:00.029+08:00

Oh Jamie, “Fair suck of the sav old mate”. A little Aussie slang we little people use as an exclamation of incredulity. Truly, I was gobsmacked at your Feb ’10 report. (Interestingly, this report was only handed out to selected tenants: why?)

Quote:
“We have seen outgoing tenants working hard to generate negative publicity for the Markets, and to deliver on a prominent ex-stallholders promise to ‘do as much damage as possible before we go.’ In this they have received a lot of support from certain Councillors who should know better. The very public campaign against Fremantle Markets that has been waged by these people through the media, the internet, public protests and misguided comment in Council Chambers has had a negative impact on attendance numbers, and this is unconscionable*.

Be very clear – some outgoing tenants and misguided Councillors have demonstrated by their actions that they do not give a damn about the future of Fremantle Markets or the welfare of the current stallholders. They would like nothing more than to see the Markets fail.”

Oh dear, everyone in the world is conspiring against your good will and genius visions.

Facts:
When Donaldson and Murdoch Seniors ran the markets they were popular, successful, profitable to all parties and world renowned.

They did not compete nor compare with others. They were iconic within their own uniqueness.

Leases were frivolous but behind them was a ‘gentlemen’s agreement’ or a handshake that gave many security of tenure which held for twenty or more years.

No one needed to wear a name tag to contrive an insincere relationship with customers.

Stallholders mentored and nurtured each other and worked as a community within a community. No marketing guru will ever formulate or sell this X factor – it evolved over many, many years and included the hearts and personality of real people.

Previous management knew not to try and fix what wasn’t broken. Businesses relied on customer feedback for direction. Quite simply, if it didn’t sell, the business folded. Books do not teach anyone how to read a customer – only experience does.

Markets by definition must be good value for money with lots of atmosphere and offer an exhibition style of shopping. You have engineered it into a structured and disconnected meccano set. You can’t even figure out your trading hours.

Instead of supporting or protecting your tenants you have repeatedly bought in competitors who not only fail but take other well established businesses down with them.

You have relocated stalls into inappropriate positions and that has made it impossible for them to trade. They are a good number of the people who have been forced out of business and you have further robbed them of the right to sell what would have been a substantial amount of goodwill for a previously good business.

You have bullied people into dismissing their staff and you have demanded that some stop stocking some of their most popular lines. In some cases you have allowed others to then take on those same lines.

People have signed onto a long term lease believing they could sell the security of that only to find that you are now offering free entry into other vacant stalls. The promised security of tenure has now become a shackle.

The nepotistic advantages afforded Ms M's daughter has created a lot of acrimony and greatly disadvantaged the other coffee shop and to some degree other traders. This covert destruction and manipulation is being closely watched…

You doubled rents, increased outgoings, reduced advertising, relocated and reduced stall sizes. In doing this you forced product prices up and lost customers as well as successful traders. Some claim that this is now having a negative impact on other businesses throughout Fremantle.

You have even changed the nature of the markets - the very thing that made it a market.

On your one month to decide to “take it or leave it lease” many were unable to sell but in the few exceptions almost all of them who managed to sell, sold at less than cost. You had the audacity to write a cheerio in your newsletters making mention that they had sold and moved on. Truth: you forced them to sell out – they lost their livelihoods, their much loved business and their goodwill as well as most of their initial investment. Not to mention that most walked out with nothing at all.

Almost 25% of the stallholders have gone since you took on the new lease. A greater percentage of customers have also disappeared. Probable reason: they think the market is crap now!

Ann Meyer acts as your ventriloquist dummy and as irritating and disruptive as she is it is still your deeds which she does. You are backing her now but I suspect that she will be the fall guy when the ‘nice us up’ campaign gets underway. You are slick and you are in damage control. Miss M had better remember the many stallholders who backed you, campaigned and promoted for you - who you have now betrayed, dismissed and finacially devestated. Beware Miss M - the nature of the beast.

You sat in council and took names of all the people who had something to say about the predictable outcome of your megalomaniacal overtake. All but one or two of those people have since been shafted. You have systematically culled the people who opposed your ideas. They were right in their predictions and had you have been more open minded you would have realized that they were working to protect stallholders and trying to prevent this current chaos.

But now, seeing the insolence of your suggestion that stallholders should be entitled to expect you to be:
Helpful, friendly and ready to listen and;
Prepared to counsel, in a positive manner
Or that you ask them to:
Work with us as a team
Listen and respond and;
Avoid negative comment

Holy Moley you actually said:
“If you feel there are areas that need attention within the market please know that we are only a call away, or an email. We will make time to meet you to discuss your concern…We are committed to take all comments seriously.”

Excuse me, but wasn’t that what the stallholders association was all about? Do you honestly think that after the public flogging they received that there is anyone brave enough to offer any view that is not in line with your own dogma. Glaringly obvious, is the high rent. Do you wish to discuss this or can we take your quote from your Guru John Stanley’s website, “Jamie Murdoch, one of our clients in Fremantle, has just discovered a great article on “Only Losers Cut Their Prices”. Sounds pretty set in concrete to me….Discuss anything but the outrageous rents - the real issue!

This and your continued assertions that the rent is justified is ridiculous* when as soon as a rival and cheaper market was put on the drawing board you bleated something to the effect that stallholders would walk away on a daily basis. How can that be, I ask sarcastically, when you have said over and over it’s just a matter of ‘more professional traders’ Surly a new market housing your ‘cast offs’ is of no threat to your empire?

You talk about bullying in the workplace and yet most of the people there are intimidated by the victimization of all those who have been evicted or bullied into walking away. Such tensions currently exist that at least two assaults have occurred within the markets; bitchy and sarcastic comments are rife and even Ms M and Councillors have mentioned intimidation and feeling threatened – such is your leadership. This is all about you or because of you. How dare you suggest that ex-stallholders are ‘the trouble makers’? Let’s remind you once again that it was You who threatened to run the markets into the ground if You didn’t get what You wanted. You created bad blood with councillors and between stallholders and You gave the press the stories to write - they simply recorded your actions. There is a huge difference between retaliation and aggression – don’t you dare boo hoo when people push back!

Talk about intimidation, you have wiped the floor with the very people who fed you for most of your life. You glare and posture as people pack up and walk away, having lost everything, and in so many instances you felt the further vindictive need to stand security guards nearby to intimidate or humiliate; you changed locks prior to vacation, you made access difficult and gave limited time and extra pressure to get out. You didn’t even afford the decency to offer a note or word of thank you or good wishes.

Even your own parents put energy, effort and expertise into the market. They worked with stallholders to make it the success that it was – the successful enterprise handed to you on a plate. Can’t help but link that to your comment about 'in nature they eat their young!' I wish…

As for your inflammatory comments about ex-stallholders trying to damage either the markets or other stallholders I take strong objection and reiterate the intention has always been to fight you in regard to fair market rent and secure tenure. Reread your press coverage, this blog and the council transcripts – it is there over and over again. Ex-stallholders have lost their businesses and could easily move on without the aggravation but they are still campaigning collectively to fight for the success of Fremantle Markets (as a real market) and the security of all stallholders.

You are trying to suggest that there are 2 camps of stallholders and you are deliberately trying to pit them against each other. We are not so foolish that we don’t see that for what that is. We don’t consider ex stallholders and current stallholders as being on different teams. All stallholders are equally respected; many are very close friends and the new guys are as vulnerable as all of the rest. Our position is also inclusive of the customers and the Fremantle community as a whole.

Oh, and to blame everyone else for the decline in customers is just pathetic. Customers rarely complain officially or verbally, they simply walk away – doesn’t that say something?

You claim that the media, the internet, the public and the council are campaigning against Fremantle Market. What don’t you get? Let me help you with this with a very clear statement; we all loved the market – We dont love greed, ineptitude, arrogence, victimization or betrayal. Where or who is the common denominator?

*Unconscionable: Unusually harsh and shocking to the conscience; that which is so grossly unfair that a court will proscribe it. When a court uses the word unconscionable to describe conduct, it means that the conduct does not conform to the dictates of conscience. In addition, when something is judged unconscionable, a court will refuse to allow the perpetrator of the conduct to benefit.
*Ridiculous (John’s favourite scrabble word)
worthy of or exciting ridicule; absurd, preposterous, laughable, or contemptible

(Im sure all stallholders can drop by the office and ask for the full version of the progress report - in case they missed out on being given one)
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E-shed markets vs Fremantle market and Fremantle council

2010-02-26T07:32:00.004+08:00

Hi Sonya,

I thought I would give you an update on some of us ex stallholder. We are VERY happily trading at E Shed markets: Scotty, Gerry, Sue, Billy & Fan, Richard and Myself. The management actually greet us with 'good morning' when they walk around the markets (yes, actually walk amongst the stallholders). Each week I have been at the E Shed the manager and/or property manager have approached me to enquire how the business is going and if there was any thing they could help me with. They also talk to other stallholders, listening if they have a problem (and then endeavouring to solve that particular problem) or asking for any input on how to improve the markets. Amazing!

This management are working towards filling the void the Freo Markets has left in the community. They are welcoming new stallholders without evicting old ones. They are building a market for locals to wander through (wondering what is around the corner for them to discover) a market where friends can meet or bump into each other, a markets where you can spend time enjoying yourself wandering through the diverse stalls, or a market to sit for breakfast, lunch, dinner or just a coffee and cake. We as stallholders are excited about the improvements and the positive attitude surrounding us at the E Shed markets.

I have also been approached by many customers, locals, and out of towners who express their sadness about how the Freo Markets are looking at the moment and of how the ex stallholders have been treated. They vow they will never set foot back in the Freo Markets and will be shopping at E Shed and supporting us all here.

I went to the council meeting last night and attached are a few comments I emailed to Georgie Adeane;

Hi Georgie,

I thought I would email you and give you my thoughts on last night’s meeting.

I’m pretty much a novice at this sort of thing and the procedures of Council meetings, so I must admit I don’t really understand a whole lot of what is going on. For example when the Mayor suggested going for dinner the first time, I think about 8.30-9pm, some of the Councillors suggested they jump ahead so as not to keep the people waiting any longer than needed and the Mayor agreed with this. The mayor then jumped ahead to item # 1002 which was debated for more than 45 minutes. Although I found it interesting I was also puzzled as to why Item # 1002 was discussed before Item # 1001. When this debate was finished, about 10pm, the Mayor then strongly suggested a break for dinner again, even though we were still sitting & waiting for item #1001, which to my mind was quite rude of him considering he had agreed before to not keep people waiting unnecessarily & he could obviously see we were still waiting. Thankfully he was out voted. This may seem a petty point, but for me I felt he was being pointedly inconsiderate.

Listening to some of these Councillors speak I was gobsmacked that one of them actually admitted that to ‘his knowledge’ only one stallholder had been evicted. Where has he been for the last 6 months? I would have thought as a councillor he would have felt it his responsibility to keep up to date on an issue affecting the community as much as Freo Markets issue has been. Does he not feel embarrassed to actually have said what he said? Also, beside the fact that more than one stallholder has been evicted, it is a very small line between total eviction and being evicted from a stall you paid a lot of money for and being offered a lease for an unsuitable, smaller stall in a back area near the toilets. He commented some stallholders had not taken up a lease they had been offered, it would be similar to him having invested time and money to be an elected member of council and being told by the mayor his seat was now delegated to the lobby during Council session. I actually could go on and on disputing what he said but I know you ask the same questions.

One more point I felt strongly about was another of the Councillors mentioned that ‘Council had no obligation to ex Freo Market stallholders’.
‘It also does not have an obligation to find other premises for their businesses.’
Amazing that they feel they have an obligation to the pine warehouse tenant but not to ex stallholders of the Freo Markets. 41 of them who have helped build the markets into the most popular markets in the state, or at least they used to be. The many businesses that have left the markets attracted customers into Fremantle who would have payed to use council facilities, and spent money at other businesses in the vicinity of the markets. And Councillors think they have no obligation to these people who are no longer at the market. Have any of these Councillors been through the market lately? Are they aware many locals will not support these markets? Is he aware many customers in the surrounding areas no longer support the markets? Is he actually aware of how few people purchase goods at the markets now? Is he also aware of the ill feeling towards the markets by the people of Perth who have been keeping up to date with what has been happening at the markets?

We sat and listened to a debate on the farmers market and heard that council does not want to lose these markets, but if you think about it, the number of stallholders lost out of the Freo Markets is equivalent to a farmers market and these stallholders lost to the Freo Markets are all stallholders that were popular with the people who visited the markets every week, and because it was in the centre of the town these were the people who paid for parking and then went on to buy a coffee or have lunch or breakfast at one of the other business along Markets St. This was for 3 days not just for 1 morning. Again these ex stallholders were more valuable to the economy of Fremantle than a farmers market.

I’m not trying to disparage the farmers market, more trying to give a comparison.

Most of the ex stallholders were permanent tenants, which should be a consideration, as any market that does not have lock up facilities would not be appropriate.

Georgie to be honest I am now at the E Shed Markets, as are a few other ex Freo Stallholders, and I am very happy with these markets and the management. Although I am making very little money it is a much nicer atmosphere and a lot of locals have expressed their support for myself, the E Shed and the other ex stallholders now also at the E Shed. I personally don’t feel an urgent need for another market at the pine warehouse but if it should eventuate as a market I would love to be part of it and will also support any other stallholders who do have an urgent need to lobby for this.

Many thanks for you support and I look forward to speaking to you again in the near future.

(Name withheld on my advice)
For the latest post:
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John and Jamie Murdoch - Too many Chiefs and not enough Indians

2010-02-20T06:51:00.002+08:00

I wonder if this guy will work out that the rents and high costs have killed the markets? (Probably too simple.)
I wonder if this guy will see that the markets have become a food hall and no longer hold appeal to people from outer suburbia or the tourist industry? (Not even the locals are returning)
I wonder if he will feel the resentment and disrespect that the Murdoch’s have created?

Will he:
Crunch the numbers on the futility of mid-week opening. (It’s guaranteed rent increase for the Murdoch’s but pure loss for the stallholders)
Check the authenticity of the outgoing costs or take seriously the expertise of the stallholder?
Can he work with the Murdoch’s blind resistance to the idea that costs and stallholders concerns are vitally significant?
Will he be ‘directed’ to conduct his surveys to come up ‘within the range’ of possibility.
Can people speak candidly and anonymously or will they be intimidated into saying what they need to say to appease their rulers.
Will he acknowledge the contribution and value of long term (and evicted) stallholders?
Will he study the lease agreements – secure both parties?

Maybe he is just another expert being paid big bucks to write yet another biased justification for the filing system. How many experts does it take? And is this where the ‘advertising’ fees are being absorbed?

I heard that one guy, when asked how he viewed the markets and the management, went into a tirade of its all F…ed

And is he just another Ms M or is this the end of her?

For the latest post:
http://sonyagreen.blogspot.com

Fremantle Markets - May be time for a tax audit?

2010-02-13T11:23:00.016+08:00

A couple of interesting pieces from the Catalyse Survey, Council commissioned in the months before the lease was signed. Notice on the Intro page the Murdoch’s were uncooperative, not just to the survey company but also the Council, about releasing stallholders details - no surprises there.

The "suggestions" on page 2 reads like a Council list of "What should we ignore".

Introduction and research method

Under the terms of the Local Government Act 1995, should a Council be proposing to dispose a property with a transaction value over $1,000,000 then the sale is classified as a “Major Land Transaction”. Before entering into a Major Land Transaction the Council must first prepare a Business Plan, advertise the availability of the Business Plan for comment and then consider any submissions received in relation to the proposed transaction.
In September 2007 the City of Fremantle released an updated Business Plan for public comment.

In February 2008 CATALYSE was commissioned to conduct an independent research study among stallholders to determine levels of awareness and support for the Business Plan.

The study was designed by CATALYSE and administered by the ECU Survey Research Centre using Computer Assisted Telephone Interviews (CAT)
On request from the Market Managers, all interviewing was conducted between Monday 18February and Wednesday 20 February, 2008.

Stallholders’ details were sourced at (broken link) www.fremantlemarkets.com.au/whattosee.asp

- Additional contact information was supplied from the Fremantle Markets’ Stallholders Association, and from current and past Stallholders.
-While the City of Fremantle requested an up-to-date list of Stallholders from the current Market Managers, and also sought permission from the Market Managers to conduct an audit of stallholders to update contact details, both requests were refused. (WHY?)

111 stallholders completed a survey (from 146 contacts in the database.
- 21 contacts were unobtainable during the study period (incorrect details / called more than 10 times with no contact / etc)
- 14 stallholders were unable to participate (too ill) or refused.
- Of those who completed the survey, 86 were permanent and 25 were casual stallholders.

Survey data as received by CATALYSE and analysed using SPSS. To protect the privacy of individual participants, we only presented anonymous and aggregated responses in this report, individual survey responses are not released to the City of Fremantle, nor any other parties.

Strategic Insights

-Given that the new Business Plan affects all stallholders in Fremantle Markets, it is concerning that 1 in 5 stallholders surveyed have not read or heard others talking about the new plan
-When changes in the new Business Plan were tested among all respondents, the study revealed that there is majority support for the five year leases and for disputes to be handles through the State Administrative Tribunal.
-While most stallholders (68%) would like the City of Fremantle representatives to be included in the Work Group, a large minority (23%) oppose the involvement of the City of Fremantle in this group.
-Just over half the stallholders rated the performance of the current Market Managers as quite good or very good.
-Among those who have read or heard others talking about the Business Plan, many (64%) would be happy for the City of Fremantle to enter into a new lease with the current Market Managers.
- However, it should be noted that a large minority, 1 in 4 stallholders (27%) are NOT happy for the City of Fremantle to enter into a new lease with the current Market Managers.
-Furthermore, 24% of stallholders who participated in the study rated the performance of the current Market Managers as quite poor or very poor: 18% said performance was only ‘just acceptable’.

To address stallholders concern, consider the following suggestions:

-Consult the Fremantle Markets Stallholders association about the new Business Plan
-Include the Market Managers and representatives from both the City of Fremantle and the Fremantle Markets stallholders Association in the Working Group
- Agree on rules / guidelines for 1) setting and managing rent increases 2) tenure (including the location / relocation of sites) and 3) selling / purchasing stalls
-Consult stallholders about changing / extending trading hours for Fremantle Markets
- Improve the way the markets are managed (including greater transparency and fairness with decision –making, improved professionalism and better communication with stallholders)

My take:
None of the above concerns or suggestions have been taken seriously or implemented.

Why, with all the accountancy background of the Murdoch’s, would there be no complete or accurate database of stallholder contact details? Why has council not insisted that there should be one? Perhaps the ATO should do a thorough investigation on the record keeping at Freo markets; what other vital statistics are missing?

In light of the support in this study, might I refer you back to the letter sent out to stallholders by the Murdoch’s, asking for backing and making promises that persuaded stallholders to back them. You will clearly see why the stallholders and council now feel so betrayed. http://sonyagreen.blogspot.com/2009/12/trust-me-would-i-lie-to-you.html
Or, how about repeating the study Now.

For the latest post:http://sonyagreen.blogspot.com

Adele Carles seeks compensation and justice

2010-02-05T09:31:00.008+08:00

Hi Sonya,
In your most recent blog post you say people need to contact Adelle Carles. What sort of information is she wanting and to what end? Is there a possibility that the lease will be overturned and in that case would some or all of the people who left (excluding those who sold) return to the Market. In that case what will happen to the new people who have come in? Or is best case scenario that management will simply be made to behave more fairly in the future? Also you promise safety.
There is a real concern amongst some who supported the Murdochs in their bid for the lease that they will be punished by whoever takes over if the Murdochs are ousted. Obviously anyone with a brain and a heart is appalled by what is now happening but they can't help being afraid that they will be blamed and punished for past ill advised actions and decisions. What do you feel about this?
Regards
S

Dear S..,
Great letter and it addresses the feelings and thoughts of many. Can I post this? Without your name of course.

I have been a bit careful to not say too much about the plan of action. I am waiting on a press release from Adele but I'm sure the Herald today will have a public statement. The Gazette, next Tuesday, should also have a statement. I also expect other media to pick up the story within the next few days.

The main point she made on Sunday is that she is going to seek compensation for people who have suffered loss since the lease signing. What she needs is a record of who has been hurt and how the changes have adversely affected them. Stall downsizing, inappropriate relocation, profit downturn, high rents and monthly leases as opposed to the promised 5 year tenure. Writing a personal story and marking it confidential is all that is required at the moment. Anyone who believes that they have been forced out of the market.

She has also identified breaches and has a very strong case for legal action against the council. It will then be up to council to take action against the Murdoch's. It should never have been left to the stallholders association to do all the leg work and finance legal action. She has all the documentation now and the great news is that it is her team who will be financing the investigation. People in high places are now onboard...

I doubt that new stallholders will be disadvantaged in any way. These people are not the enemy and like everyone else they deserve a go. Backing the Murdoch bid was totally understandable as many were completely misled. Many needed to play under the radar and we understand that. This is not, and I stress not, about stallholders turning against stallholders. People have debts and mortgages and families and it is their right and obligation to do the best they can to protect themselves. Also, the Murdoch's charmed and courted a number of people, even councilors admit that with the information they had at the time they felt that the vote was qualified. We all get wiser in retrospect. Now is now and we know what we know...more will be revealed soon.

No one is seeking a slap on the wrist for the Murdoch's. Who would accept an apology or a promise from these people? The markets need to be stabilized and they need ongoing checks and balances. People need to be put right and for the ones who remain there needs to be a level playing field.

Stallowners need to support each other. There is no such thing as new stallholders, old stallholders, Murdoch supporters or any other camp. There is a collective body of hard working people who need a fair go and equal opportunity. Stallholders have always traded off each other and that ecology needs to be bought back into balance.

The photos above are more of the missing shops at the markets.

Is this the future of Freo Markets?

For the latest post:
http://sonyagreen.blogspot.com

Adele Carles fights for fremantle markets

2010-02-04T12:37:00.004+08:00

Last Sunday Adele Carles impressed everyone at the Fremantle Market rally. Unlike many politicians, there was no double talk or empty promises or excuses. She went straight to the point and made her intentions clear. It’s time to act and it’s time to right a wrong.

Adele has been thorough in her research and has put in a massive amount of time and energy. True to her word, she was off and running Monday morning. Stallholders and the community need to step up now and back her.

She has spoken with a lot of stallholders and has most of the detail but some people have been hesitant to speak and I fear that they may not realize that someone is there to help them. There are a few people who have language difficulties or fear authority. I ask all stallholders to unite and make sure that no one is forgotten. Take people by the hand if they feel intimidated. Everyone needs to know that they are safe and they can speak candidly and honestly with her.

She said at the rally that she needs everyone to contact her within the next two weeks.
Please call her office on 336 7000 or email adele.carles@mp.wa.gov.au or just write her a letter.

Mayor Pettit did not show at the rally and since the eviction and dismantling of the stallholders association we have heard nothing from him other than: let’s move on and his suggestion that all the fuss was a personality conflict. Sad to say, it looks like the new mayor is just another Tagliaferri; a missing mayor.

There is no doubt that the council is responsible for this destructive lease, and so far, every indication is that they would rather have the markets collapse than admit fault or show leadership. 25% of the stallholders have already left; more are trying to sell out or are planning on leaving within the next few months. Even the building itself is in a state of neglect. The council is willing to throw 5Million bucks at it, but who is keeping watch? Why has council allowed the repair and maintenance to go unchecked? Are the ratepayers of Fremantle expected to finance the Murdoch Empire? I thought the markets were a Fremantle asset.

Is Fremantle council just lazy, incompetent or indifferent? Those lawyers knew exactly what they were doing when they drew up that lease – they were blowing off the stallholders, totally excluding them and the people of Freo.

It is on record that the Murdoch’s threatened litigation and stated that they would run the markets into the ground if they didn’t get a lease renewal. Obviously, council caved in due to bullying and the stallholders have become the sacrificial lambs.

Council lawyers knew there was no legal threat. But surely the point was that if they were making these threats with only a few years to go on the lease then why did council think that signing them up for another 20 years would be a solution? It would be the very reason to NOT sign them up.

Do the people of Fremantle know that the custodians of their properties are making decision based purely on intimidation?

For the latest post:
http://sonyagreen.blogspot.com

The glare of the obvious is blinding

2010-02-02T07:38:00.012+08:00

Air conditioning is and has been of great concern in Freo markets. The argument continues and temperatures continue to rise. Jamie Murdoch says it is a matter of priority. Stallholders and customers often mention feeling ill but at least the customers can avoid the markets and they do. The 43C heat over the Christmas period robbed the stallholders of the expected high trade and drove the final nail into the coffin for a number of people who were just hanging in, waiting for Christmas to pull them over the line. The Murdoch visionaries of the future had this 21st century solution.

Another example of the slick promo speak. Ann Myer referred to the relaxed sitting areas as a customer request with positive feedback. I would argue that plastic tables and chairs with overflowing garbage bins are nothing more than strategically placed fillers hiding empty spaces which used to be stalls.

Another relaxed sitting area around another garbage bin doesn't camouflage the locked door which used to be the ever popular bonsai shop. New tenants are lining up to take possession? NOT.

These shops cost the previous tenants a bomb. With the new development they were offered temporary relocation in inferior positions inside the main market. Robbed of the initial investment and unable to trade effectively they chose to walk away. Rumour has it that Ann Myers daughter is getting ready to take possession of one of them. At what price, mmmmm? Boy that is one lucky girl. Dancing on graves must be some special magic.

What is it that the Murdoch's and the council can't see? How long are we all going to stare at the elephant in the room? How do these pictures exemplify the original business plan? I haven't even posted all the pictures of empty stalls or the ones up for sale or the others hidden by expanding stock to hide vacancies. When will the promises and the reality meet?

Unbelievably, in last weeks Fremantle Gazette, Jamie was quoted:
With the exception of an area in the yard which is being remodelled, there is only one vacancy and this is consistent with our ongoing occupancy rate. One?

Check out the highly promoted 'celebrity cooking school'. Talk about delusions of grandeur.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAO3LcfUTRc&feature=related

For the latest post:
http://sonyagreen.blogspot.com

Stallholders plea to Fremantle Council (again)

2010-02-01T12:31:00.014+08:00

Colin Wright speaking at the rally in Jan 2010.

2 years ago, many stallholders attended the Special Meeting of the Fremantle Council to hear the decision on the Market Lease. It would affect many of our lives and we were all interested in the outcome. Stallholders were divided on who should run the markets, as was the council, and this was reflected in the 7-6 vote to return the lease to the Murdoch family.

During this period many promises, guarantees and commitments were made but one outstanding quote by Jamie Murdoch sums up the duplicity of what has been allowed to happen since that evening.

In response to this question from Cr. Bill Massie

“So the current stallholders are guaranteed security?"

Jamie answered: quote
“We don't want to lose any stallholders, we want all the stallholders we have to come along. We have 200 stallholders who are all fantastic people, who we want to continue. We don't want to preclude any stallholders from anything. We want to give them the opportunity to come along for the next 10-20 years.”

He also went on to tell councillors, on many occasions throughout his presentation, that the Fremantle Markets would remain:
Firstly: a secure low cost trading environment and that they would put policies in place to do this.

And Secondly: as part of their Fremantle Markets Business Plan they would offer stallholders security of tenure with new 5 year agreements and 5 year options .

So as you can imagine, to the councillors listening to his presentation, the stallholders were going to be looked after, and I believe that that was important to most of them.

So what changed once the lease was signed?

What’s happened inside these walls and at Council that continually keeps the Markets dispute in the papers and causes a stallholder like Ed Seah to organize this rally.

Simple…the guarantees weren’t honoured and now about 40 of those stallholders… “the ones who Jamie said were all fantastic people” were, either priced out, relocated, downsized, or simply no longer wanted at the markets i.e. evicted.

The problem then for council was that they had also had made guarantees, in a public meeting, to all the stallholders and six of the councillors, that our businesses would be safe, under the new lease…Mark Scott even asked the question twice … he wanted to be sure. The ex-mayor also endorsed this point of view…

So what ever happened to those guarantees …We’ve asked Council, many times, but they have never answered those questions. We’re asking again today, for Ed and all the others who have lost their businesses:

…why have you failed to honour your guarantees?

Let’s also look at another of the Murdoch commitments,that of a:

“Low Cost Trading Environment”. This was a crucial component for stallholders and also a cornerstone of their presentation to Council. Markets need low rents in order to remain competitive. What has been allowed to happen, with the exorbitant rent hikes, now sees our rents higher than most in the Freo CBD and up with the most expensive market rents in the country. These unsustainable increases coincided with the Global Financial crisis, a weakening retail environment and greater insecurity surrounding small business. The timing couldn’t have been worse.

With these rent hikes we’ve lost our competitive advantage, prices have to go up or you go broke; and that’s what is happening. A market by definition must offer value for money, otherwise it becomes another shopping centre minus the trimmings; no air conditioning, no free parking and no terrazzo floors. How can stallholders possibly maintain market prices on their goods when they are being slugged like this? The high rents and overheads are driving established businesses out, while at the same time, new stallholders are apparently given the incentive of subsidized rents - to fill the empty stalls which are starting to appear.

Empty stalls are a new phenomena - it’s unheard of over the last 30 years.

Remember in all this, Council only passed on a modest 12% rent increase with the new lease to the Murdoch’s. Stallholders on the other hand have been slugged between 50% –100% and in some case considerably higher. They say it’s “Fair Market Rent” and the independent valuation proves it. We say it’s no longer the low cost environment you promised and the exodus of stallholders shows this.

If 40 businesses disappeared from along South Terrace, Market or High Street, Council and the Chamber of Commerce would swing into action as a matter of urgency. When it happens inside these walls everybody, including the new mayor, duck for cover. They hope it will eventually go away but it won’t, not before, before more lives are shattered through the decisions and unwillingness to act by the council. These are small family businesses and in Ed’s case, he supports three children as a single parent and a sick and aging father who started this souvenir business 30 years ago.

It’s ironic that the Murdoch’s, who threatened to run the markets into the ground if they didn’t win the lease cited their family’s long and successful connection with the market as a major reason why they should retain it.

It’s typical then of this management, that Ed and the other long term family businesses, which have been forced out, could not argue their long term connection with the markets entitled them to have their lease renewed as well. (photo of Eds dad who also ran the stall for many years)
What’s also maddening is that these very stallholders, who have lost their livelihoods, are now publicly criticized by Jamie Murdoch for generating bad press and ruining the trade for those who remain. Nothing could be further from the truth! However, we should not be manipulated into silence through guilt, when the real reason for poor trading and loss of regular customers can be levelled at management decisions, rather than ex stallholders telling their story to the papers.

On a Wednesday night, 12 months ago, 100 stallholders filled the Council Chamber and told their stories of how they were being affected. Emails flooded the CEO’s in box, the message was clear and unequivocal: Our businesses are under threat, we cannot sustain the rents, people will leave - what are you going to do? Fremantle Markets is an icon - the time to act is now.

One possible conclusion to draw from this is that the Fremantle City Council condones the action of the Markets management and their treatment of stallholders.

Brad Petitt told the Herald that “Council is bound by the head lease and are not responsible for the day to day running of the Markets.” That’s not completely true because through the “Fremantle Markets Operating Strategy”, a key component of the head lease: Council has the flexibility to alter the lease, hold management accountable and to govern the direction the market takes. Changes can be made through the Markets Working Group but they haven’t chosen to take this course of action.

Maybe they are comfortable with this mayhem?"

I don’t believe they are; and for the councilors, both those who supported or opposed the lease, there is a growing sense of injustice and wrong in the way this is being handled. The councillors, who voted for this lucrative lease, and the officers who recommended it, should acknowledge that what was promoted and sold to them by the Murdoch’s, to support the Markets remaining in their hands, is not what has been delivered.

The awarding of the Fremantle Markets lease, without an open tender process, was always going to be clouded in controversy and what has happened since reinforces that view:

1. “Why hasn’t the Council enforced the Business Plan”?

2. Were misrepresentations made to council which contravenes the Trade Practices Act?

3. Would the council seriously investigate this for fear of uncovering incompetence within their own walls?

In the meantime, the Ed’s and other small business operators who believed the Council were looking after their interests now find themselves without their business - their livelihoods - their goodwill - their income or their superannuation.

To Brad Petitt, the Fremantle Council and the new councillors: This fiasco continues to degenerate; it’s an ongoing public disgrace. Six more stallholders have left this month; more are lining up to go.

Don’t keep sweeping it under the table, act to defend what is right and just here…show leadership on this issue.

For latest post click
http://sonyagreen.blogspot.com

The Human face behind the stories

2010-02-01T11:33:00.008+08:00

The photos below are just a small snapshot of the human faces behind the current carnage. The Murdoch's have referred to ex-stallholders as 'yesterdays people'. Are these today's people and who are tomorrows people?

Julia as pleasant as ever pretending it's business as usual. 2 hours after I took this photo she was packed up and on her way out. Within weeks of buying her shop she was advised of the rent increases. In just over a year she walks away with nothing but heartache and lose of initial investment.
Ed closing down the previously owned family business. His mum and dad are at a loss to understand. No reason, no explanation just 'go'.
An Australiana shop. Perfect for a tourism icon, but not so, according to the Murdoch's. Gone by the end of the day.

Sweet enough to pose for a photo. The smile hides the sadness of packing up before the sun sets.
Pretty box's don't hide the fact that the shop is no longer occupied. Perhaps they contain her Christmas surprise - a vacation.

PAST MEMBERS & FRIENDS

It is also appropriate to recognize the contribution made by the following long term stallholders to the markets who have left the markets, for one reason or another, since the lease negotiations commenced just over 2 years ago. Some have been evicted, others decided to leave because of the high rents and outgoings, others who weren’t offered the 5 years tenure promised and yes some, who have sold their business but, in most instances, for far less than it was previously worth.

Richard Murphy - Aromatica Soaps, Chris Jones - Mosaics, Alison Viera - Freo Hats, Steve Beard - Hammocks, Cuong - Leather Bags, Mary Cole - Antique Corner, Bob Williams - Fish Corner, Kylie Larsen - Artist, Penny Bannister - Antique Books, Nathan Baws - Naturopath, Bill Hopkins - Toys, Sue Smith - Asian Handicrafts, Mick Marlin - Art Prints/Framing, Sue - Bushtucker Foods, Peter & Lam - Farmers Lane Food, Herman Visser - Sunglasses, Wen - Fruit & Veg, Carol & Ralph - Paramor Crystals, Hulusi Atahan - Wildflowers in Resin, Mick - Candles, Anne Hughes - Rainbow Magic, Lorraine Ryan - Reiki, Annie - Artist/Silk Scarves, Wayne Bynder - Bootja Aboriginal, Ant & Julie - Photographer/Prints, Nellie - Ceramic Artist, Pat Mason - Woodturner,Patrick & Lynne - Wireworks, Lizzie - Cake of Soap, Colin and Marilyn Wright - Bonsai, Jerry Drenthe - Mr. Organic, Billy Ho - Fruit & Veg, Fan - Fruit & Veg, Scotty’s - Fruit & Veg, Gloria Stewart - High as a Kite, Richard Dixon - CrocodileMagnets, Gloria - Aladdins Kebab, Kerry & Lyn - The Bali Shop, Looch - Tricycle Clothing, Lee - Fruit & Veg, Maureen - The Box Shop, Mei Mei - Chinese Emporium, Subhi & Annupo - Floonies, Ken & Julia - Ken’s Art,
And ...

sonyagreen.blogspot.com

Fremantle Market rally pictures

2010-02-01T08:03:00.010+08:00

Hundreds of Fremantle locals came to the Jan 31st rally to protest and show support for the Fremantle Markets. This is only a small glimpse but a poignant one, as once again, the same councillors who fought in the beginning are the same ones who showed up to let us know they are still listening. Donna Haney, John Dowson, Georgie Adeane, Bill Massie and the always present Les Lauder's energy.
Adele Carles; a politician who gets things done with intelligence, honesty and heart. (Watch this space for greater things to come)
Colin Wright's speech had me in tears and the people cheering and ringing bells.
Georgie Adeane: A councillor who still remembers why she joined council. When the soul of the city is respected and valued by it's leaders - it shows.
Ed's shop - closing down. Ed organised the rally and the sadness of this eviction was heartfelt throughout the port city.
sonyagreen.blogspot.com

Community rally for Fremantle Markets 31/1/10

2010-01-21T15:32:00.007+08:00

A public rally has been organised for Sunday 31st of Jan 2010 for Fremantle Market supporters to come along and hear what's really going on in the market and what Fremantle Council is doing about it. It starts at 4pm in the Henderson Street mall (Near the Fremantle Markets)

No more double talk, no more rumour or innuendo - just the facts. Listen to the people tell their true stories. This is a Fremantle issue; ratepayers, customers, families and local businesses are all being effected. Fremantle Market is not a joint venture between the Murdoch bothers and the council it is the peoples market.

When big business and bureaucracy destroy families, hard working battlers, and suck the soul out of a community - it's time to step up.

The greatest atrocities throughout history have occurred only because they were executed in small increments. A few here and a few there and no one pays much attention. By the time we realise what has happened: fear has become the weapon. Apathy and silence is not the solution.

These people are your neighbours, customers, friends or family members - these people could be you one day.

Say no to greedy landlords. Say no to political agendas. Say no to artificially inflated prices. And say Yes to Aussie battlers having a go.

http://sonyagreen.blogspot.com

Brad Pettitt - Remember Freo Markets?

2010-01-21T14:38:00.011+08:00

This week I sat with yet another group of people who have been financially and emotionally traumatised by FMPL. The majority were long term successful operators and I found it particularly poignant that some spoke of knowing Jamie Murdoch as a child, working for his dad who had the lease at the time. It’s hard to imagine that that small boy would become the man who would so easily and clinically wipe them out.

The sense of betrayal was probably greater than the confusion and anger that they felt. Some of these people had not only backed the Murdoch bid on the lease renewal but they also actively wrote letters of recommendation and rallied on their behalf.

Even as the rents and outgoings skyrocketed and they witnessed the conflict, evictions and the loss of friends and colleagues they still believed it was all probably a part of a higher plan. They trusted the Murdoch’s and offered support and loyalty.

When it comes to retail it’s really just a matter of convenience, location, cost and value for money. Retailers come and go and that’s a fact of life. Buying an apple at the supermarket and comparing it to buying an apple from Scottie at the Freo markets is hardly an earth shattering event – so what’s all the fuss about?

It's about community and it’s about belonging. Sure, you shop at the markets and yes it is a commercial venue and of course it must be financially viable and competitive. Shopping centres are light, spacious, organized, structured and well facilitated. You will pay more for products but the advantage is fast and efficient service and it’s perfect for quick in and out shopping.

Market shopping is almost opposite that style. Market shopping is an outing, relaxed browse or exhibition. Going to the markets is not a task – it is somewhere to go or something to do. People don’t necessarily go with a set plan or list of what to buy. They want to be surprised; to find something unusual or a bargain or a treat.

People can rush into a supermarket in their lunch hour but in the markets they want to wander around, talk with shopkeepers, catch up on the news on the street, people watch, try products, smell exotic fragrance and aromas, sample foods, listen to a cacophony of sound, be teased and entertained, to buy without pressure or slick sales spiels, grab an ice cream or a beer and watch the busker and the passing parade of interesting looking characters.

In short, they want to be a part of a community, to feel comfortable and to feel like they fit in as individuals not as something attached to a credit card. For tourists or out of towner's it is an exciting place. Veteran stallholders might not speak all languages but they do speak the language of “welcome stranger – how can I assist you”.

Like cab drivers and barmaids around the world these are the people who know where to go, how to get there, what is safe. These people are the ones you trust, people who still take the time to ‘shoot the breeze’ with the customers. Locally though, it is so much more than that.

I heard about a lady the other week and I think she summed it up nicely. She just said “What has happened to the markets - it feels like it has lost its soul.” She went on to say that she has come to the markets every Friday after work (for more than 10 years) to buy her veg from Scottie, grab a pancake and then wander over to the antique shop to chat with the owner who she befriended many years ago.

And this is the Magic that the Murdoch’s don’t understand and will never replicate again. There are thousands of locals who came because Penny Banister knew their name, Herman teased them as they walked by, Phil talked astrology, Col knew his horticulture and many said it was the best stall there, Richard stocked their enviro friendly products and knew what he was talking about, Marilyn had warmth and kind words, people like Mary Cole were just loved and admired, people like Milton, who could have retired years ago, is held up as an example and all the locals know and respect him.

We expect to see Ed, Gerry, Gloria, Sue, Angelo, Liz, Richard D, Bob the others who prefer not to be mentioned, but you won’t see them and you won’t hear laughter coming from the magnet shop, or de-stress in the bonsai shop, joke or haggle with the veggie guys; in fact you won’t hear much laughter at all.

There are so many more; many go back twenty or thirty years. They have seen each other go through tough times and celebrated marriages and births and grieved together more than a few times. They have watched children become adults and now some of those children have taken over the family business. For many people this has become the second family or the community’s family, something which evolved over many years and it is this that held the secret of the markets former success.

An accountants’ mind might argue that this is business and that the markets are not there for the psychology or wellbeing of the community. It’s about profit. And this is the fundamental flaw in their thinking - because loyal, repeat custom is profit. This is your free multi million dollar advertising, marketing and customer base. This is why your apples are better than any other apples. You can bank on that!

That guy from Singapore who dropped into Ed’s shop to buy a cheap postcard left with a few good tips of where to eat, catch a bus or find good accom. Mostly what he left with was a reason to tell his friends and his family about the friendly helpful people at Freo markets. He might be the guy who will post his holiday pics on his facebook or blog. He might be the guy who comes back a week later with a bunch of new friends he met at the backpackers. He might be the new unofficial Singaporean representative for a holiday in Fremantle. He might have only bought a $2 card on the day, but his word of mouth might be bringing in exponential dollars for years to come.

What really infuriates me is that Fremantle council knows this. Fremantle markets have been a magnet for tourist, an incubator for new business and innovative ideas, a community meeting place, the local town crier, and financially in their own words ‘the jewel in the crown – the icon’. The money in their parking metres, the prosperity throughout the CBD, the week end boom-time is their commercial bread and butter. When the markets go the dominos fall and businesses (rate paying businesses) will be effected and leave.

So don’t tell me that the little second hand bookshop is insignificant!

And stop telling me about cheap rent. The mere pittance of your so called ‘low cost environment’ translates into millions of dollars for you and the Murdoch’s. Rent was never, ever, a gift or charity nor was it cheap if you break it down into how limited the facilities and spaces are. It was to some extent just smart business - with you and the Murdoch’s cashing up in dollars by saving them a few cents. You gave them crumbs but you ate the loaf and asked for more.

If you want to talk about dollars and cents try some real number crunching. Take the markets out of Freo and work out an advertising, marketing and promotional campaign to bring people and business back to Freo.

While you are now budgeting for the mammoth restoration work of the bricks and mortar we are still wondering why the ratepayers are forking out the millions to repair what should have been maintained and repaired throughout the last lease. Why has council not been doing thorough annual checks on the building? You are the custodians aren’t you? Why are the Murdoch’s not being bought into question about the neglect of the building or being accountable financially?

My question to Fremantle council is why they are investing this kind of money in the building if the business within the building is in such a vulnerable state? Cynically, I could assume that council will be paid rent by the Murdoch’s until the lease expires no matter what happens. But, that will be cold comfort if you lose business and reputation throughout the entire CBD. It’s time that both parties stopped thinking in terms of real estate; this is not just about rent and both of you had better work that out fast.

The council screwed up badly and they know it. The X mayor couldn’t cope and ran away and hid. The new mayor said it’s a matter of mediation and that he would be having talks…no one has heard anything more than his airy comment about moving on. We might as well move on, but let’s move on from the point that we all know that mistakes were made, litigation and intimidation played its part, personality conflict hindered communication, time and money and effort is still daunting but all of that is getting bigger and bigger and it is not going away.

You can blame the recession and you can blame the stallholders association and you can blame bad press, but truth is truth, and no one is fooled. It’s costly, stressful and acrimonious now, but it will be more so, if everyone refuses to get real.

No matter how much you didn’t want to hear what the stallholder association was saying they did at least keep it contained. If you think that removing them put it all to bed then you are delusional. You don’t have a rational voice speaking on behalf of the collective stall holders or the ratepayers. What you have now is countless angry voices rising up to meet you.

Facts:
At least thirty businesses have been forced out of the market – legally robbed by your error. More are leaving this week and more in months to come.
New casual tenants are either refusing to sign on or are being offered subsidized rents.
Vacancy rates this Christmas were the highest it has ever been.
People who have re-signed have been backed into a corner and many are just trying to hang in long enough to be able to sell out or get out debt free or break even.
Customer traffic is declining rapidly
Stalls are currently empty
Morale and atmosphere is depressing
The place looks shabby
People are getting sick from the lack of air cond.
Advertising is minimal or ineffective
Christmas trade was so bad some paid rent out of pocket
Wednesdays ‘trial’ was embarrassing and grossly overstated and misleading
Most of the promises in the original proposal have been broken
The operating strategy is a joke
The working group is ….can’t even describe that
Tagliaferri and council promises have been broken
Stallholders are too fearful to speak up
Members of the association have been victimised and evicted
Stallholders have been warned not to speak to the press of even each other about their grievances.
People have been told they can no longer sell established products or deal with established suppliers.
Stall holders have been ‘advised’ to sack their own employees
Part time jobs have been lost
New people are being bought in with competing products and favourable advantages creating conflict and resentment between them and established businesses.
People have been given notice without reason and by a note being left on their counter

The stallholders are obviously bitter and angry and devastated but it’s now the customers who are only footsteps from your door. You won’t hear them coming but more importantly, you won’t even notice as they walk away.

Of course I could be wrong and this might just be my point of view and maybe the stallholders and customers might just be of the same mind. Perhaps Jamie Murdoch is the only one who really understands. Apparently he thinks so as he sent out this masterpiece last week in a newsletter:

2009 was a difficult year for retail… We’ve had feedback…For example…our research…Our statistics….When speaking to our customers we have learned …
Well, it’s been tough but we fared pretty well by comparison.

But this:

“2009 was a difficult year in terms of relationships with some stallholders and, sadly, some Councillors. Things were not made easier by some very one-eyed reporting by the Fremantle Herald. But the biggest disappointment of 2009 was seeing outgoing stallholders, who have always claimed to have the interest of the Markets at heart, handling their departures in a way that was clearly designed to damage Fremantle Markets, with no regard to the harm their actions might do to the business of loyal stallholders.”

I wonder if Freo Council is living in the same alternate Universe. Mayor Pettitt, is that how you see it? Troublemakers and paparazzi?

Go to latest Sonya Green post:
http://sonyagreen.blogspot.com

Fremantle Council and Fremantle Markets - It's on again

2010-01-18T18:58:00.007+08:00

Why are we asking the same questions today that have been asked over and over for the past year or two? Why are we still showing up with the dead bodies and still wondering why this is happening and who is responsible and who is going to do something about it?

It seems to me that we are all just playing a role in a melodrama and ooing and ahhing and aint that a shaming throughout. Sad stories about ‘little Aussie battlers being done over by the greedy landlords’. Ironic really, as we approach Australia day next week end.

Ironic also, that Ed sells Australiana products and souvenirs. The little flags that people wave to celebrate the Australian way. What are those little Aussie catch cries again? She’ll be right mate. A fair go for all. Mates help mates. Equal opportunities…

Except this Australia day Ed is another of the “Tourist icon’s” latest casualty.

The Murdoch’s might have reasons for this culling but it seems pretty clear that many of these businesses are being stolen due to their location and should be bought out by the Murdoch’s at fair value.

The very people who have made the Murdoch’s, the council and the markets both successful and prosperous are the very people who are now walking away or being forced out and left financally and emotionally devastated.

This of course is only a matter of fair play, ethics and community good-will but it would be naïve of me or anyone else here to pretend that those qualities matter in this day and age or in this town or indeed in business. The bottom line is the bottom line. We just like to appear to uphold these ideals.

So let’s not even pretend today that we are here save another victim. Let’s not pretend that we don’t know that more are only weeks or months away from leaving. Let’s pretend that the stallholders association did not predict all of this more than a year ago. And let us pretend that we all believe that the original business plan set out by the Murdoch’s was examined or analysed or that measures were put in place to make sure that the Murdoch’s would comply with those promises or that there would be accountability or consequences or even a course of action by council. Let’s pretend that the council, the custodians of the peoples market, have some control or authority.

Or instead of pretending let’s just ask questions of the council:

If 30-40 small businesses were forced off High St would council have a workable damage control? Or is there some discrimination about a small business operating within a market environment that would make that somehow different?

If rents and outgoings doubled along the café strip would council be a little more concerned or pro-active?

What exactly is an operating strategy? Can anybody approach council with one of these “Appear to be seen… documents” and then be left to do as they please? Does council actually exercise any control or even follow up on these things?

Is council’s lack of action and lack of control really just a subtle form of condoning such disregard for these documents and contracts?

Why did the head lease not include any rights, security, protection or indeed acknowledgement of the sub leases?

Is the Fremantle Market a joint venture between council and the Murdoch’s or do the ratepayers and small businesses actually have a say?

It seems to me that the stallholders are pulling the rents through the door and the ratepayers are about to fork out nearly 5 million dollars worth of restoration work; not to mention the discrepancy of a 12% council increase in rents as opposed to the 80% Murdoch increase. Has anyone there even pondered the near 60% dupe to the ratepayer? Or the ten years council will need to break even while many millions will go straight into the Murdoch pocket - if the market still exists in ten years

Is anyone still holding true the 'directed and confidential' evaluation even though new casual traders are being offered subsidized rents or the fact that tenants are NOT being replaced at all?

And last but not least, can council or management please define what you actually think a market is?

Because the big question will be, “What are you going to do with the newly restored empty asset that used to be a market?”

Sonya Green
http://sonyagreen.blogspot.com

Talking into the wind - Fremantle markets

2010-01-08T08:13:00.005+08:00

Our research, data, statistics, evaluations and costly market advisers tell us blah, blah, blah. We must be right. We are the boss and this is a matter of autocratic rule, it must be that way, otherwise the little people would de-throne us!

Shop owners with decades of experience couldn’t possibly know about product demand, competitive pricing, stable long term profit, natural evolution, effective trading hours, customer preferences, demographics, product display or ‘The X Factor’ which was the key to the markets previous success. Least of all, the symbiotic relationship and personality of the whole.

If more than 150 business men and women got together and all had a say it would be anarchy and mayhem; they would form an association and try to influence or even disagree with us. They might even start wanting some of our profits to go into their own pockets.

Just take a look at that last association tried to argue:

Rents. We have had 2 evaluations and the massive price hikes are Fair.

Those 30 businesses that walked out chose to do so. Others are up for sale and not selling, many have decreased their stall size to a more affordable rate and we hear the whispers that many more are winding down but that will sort itself out. There are always others lining up to replace them. If they have to increase product costs to get by then that is just business. It is not our fault if customers stop buying and then stop coming. We expect more professional people will come in and replace them. Well, so far there is a severe downturn in interest but that could be the recession and we can offer new people cheap rents for a while to give them a start.

A Working group. The Council, Stallholder Representatives and Us - all getting together to discuss different points of view or negotiating and troubleshooting.

Well we tried that and it didn’t work. You can’t work anything out if 3 perspectives are considered. It’s our market and we do things our way. What would shop-keepers know about rent? It’s about rent not retail!

Air-conditioning. For years now they have complained that it’s too hot in summer (40C) and too cold in winter (Gale force winds and rain)

Well we have said it is a matter of priority and we will get to it. We painted the roof didn’t we? They don’t understand all of the complications and costs involved. All they moan about is people feeling sick and losing on average 2 months trade each year.

Trading Hours. That’s a no brainer for us; extra days guarantee extra rent. 5 days rent is obviously greater than 3. We can double OUR profits by doubling the rent and then double that again by doubling the days of trade.

They are so negative about this. All they say is that no one shops at the markets during the week. We believe that if we open then the people will come. They all sit there reading books and falling asleep and whinging to each other. It’s this kind of negativity that is the real problem. We tried opening on Wednesday and it was a huge flop because they wouldn’t give it a fair go. We opened on Thursdays and they all whinged about paying rent out of their own pockets. It’s just the negativity and resistance to change that is the real problem.

Redevelopment. Separate the market into 2 areas. Food is the way of the future and our outdoor area can be a food Mecca in Freo.

I can’t even comment on this again it’s just too obvious. Read about the wise old King Solomon – just go ahead and cut the baby in half.

Leases. People are happy to sign our leases. These are private contracts and should not be discussed in the public arena.

Lease? Leasing agreements? What exactly are these costly documents? Secure tenure? Month to month tenancy? rules and regulations?

Run – don’t walk; straight to your legal advisor.

Evictions. We had to evict the spokespeople of the association – they were troublemakers.

They were ‘troublemakers’. They argued about the rents, held discussions with the Fremantle Council, wrote letters of complaint and even had a public rally calling for our eviction. They have spoken with the media and there have been many articles about stallholders losing their livelihoods, our intimidation, questionable outgoing expenses and our ability to communicate with them.

We bought Ann in to meet with them but when she said she didn’t want to hear about their problems or criticisms they froze her out. When she met with the spokespeople all they wanted to talk about were leases, evictions, relocations and the bloody rents again.

We only wanted to address the problems of the bus stop, cigarette butts and products made in China. The meeting was a waste of time. Like Annie says, they don’t respect us.

All of this is just another outline of issues already addressed by the stallholders association. I’m talking into the wind. The irony is that if the Murdoch’s will pay out a lot of money to professional researchers when all of this is information is freely available to them. It’s not what they want to hear and it’s not from the source they wish to hear it from.

I am offering this with the best of intention and with the hope that an open mind can comprehend it. I can even make it really, really simple.

Affordable rents.
Secure tenure.
Safe and suitable environment.
Respectful communication.
Clear definition about what a market is.
Appropriate trading hours.
Unity.
Win-Win for all party’s.

*Buy stalls back - If YOU want possession.

Sonya Green blogspot.
http://sonyagreen.blogspot.com

Fremantle markets. Golden goose is a swan song

2010-01-03T11:11:00.008+08:00

It's a new year. Last year there was hope and an opportunity to turn things around but the time has come to accept what is and walk away. Too many talking and too few listening. I think it's important to speak up and it's important to fight against injustice and or stupidity. It's important to throw all you have at it. But there comes a day when you must accept that there are higher pictures in place and quite often good things come from bad.

Future consequences are usually preditcable from past experience if one maintains awareness. Empathy is an excellent teacher but for some, failure, loss or grief needs to be experienced before they get the lesson.

When people are in the right place it feels right. When stress, fear, worry and anger take over your life it's time to move on. There are infinite ways to make money or replace money. There are infinite ways of enjoying your life. New pathways rarely appear if you won't turn the corner.

The Murdoch's were given the goose that laid the golden eggs. They jumped on its belly to see if it would lay more. I don't get it, you don't understand it, we all tried to explain that if they fed, nurtured and protected it they would have eggs for ever. We warned them that they would kill it. We sceamed when they jumped. But, that's just the way some people are...

For reasons very different to Brad Pettitts - It's time we all moved on.

http://sonyagreen.blogspot.com/

Fremantle markets - the year that was

2009-12-31T10:11:00.004+08:00

Looking back on the last year I can’t help but note how predictable it was back then and how nothing much has been done to prevent any of it.

The market now operates as two separate entities; a food market and a merchandise market - both have different operating hours. Around 30 businesses have left the markets, stall vacancy is at an all time record, new merchants are being given discounted (subsidized) rents just to pull them in, further rent increases have occurred, ex stallholders are operating outside the market, Thursday trade was reintroduced and left many paying rent out of pocket, priority air conditioning has not been installed and temps reach in excess of 40 degress, customers have greatly diminished, Christmas profits were down by half, stalls have been relocated and downsized, anger and hatred have halted all communication between stallholders and management, the markets look tacky and the food area is extraordinarily ordinary, Key members of the stallholder association have been evicted or forced to leave, some have sold out well below value and many more have walked away losing their investment and livelihood, month-to-month tenancies have been offered instead of secure long term leases, council and the Murdoch’s have been questioned and exposed by the media and both have lost reputation within the community, the new Wednesday market flopped and finished within weeks of opening, almost everything in the Murdoch proposal or business plan has either not happened at all or has been the very opposite of what they promised.

It's new years eve today and we can now start the count down… In the end, it might well be the Murdoch’s walking in the same shoes; no stallholders, no customers, no profits. Just a nice long secure lease and a big fat rent to pay.

But of course they will blame those “trouble making stallholders”
What was it again? Oh, that’s right – a personality conflict!

http://sonyagreen.blogspot.com/

Fremantle Market 'Bollocks"

2009-12-27T11:00:00.009+08:00

Pre-Christmas is usually the time of year that the Markets do a roaring trade. This year many of the stallholders have stated that profits were down by as much as 50% compared to previous years. The heat didn’t help and the lack of effective promotion and advertising also had an effect. Rents have doubled which is an obvious cause but the enforced Thursday opening also incurred significant additional costs. Many people were furious about the wasted time and in some cases loss of perishable stock. Some took advantage of the free time by chatting to other stallholders, reading books and one or two had a little siesta behind the counter. That’s how bad it was and some even confided that the Thursday rent was paid out of pocket.

Management sent out a newsletter suggesting that it would be a good idea if stallholders had a 10% discount on Boxing Day!!! How about a 10% Rent Reduction Day?

I have already said too many times that the market is in a state of decline and everyone is well aware of the mass exodus of long term stallholders and their regular and loyal customer base. I have covered the emotional and financial devastation as well as the covert intimidation and manipulation; stall relocation and down sizing and monthly leasing rather than long term secure leases.

Many times I have been staggered by the perceptions or the spin doctoring of the market management. I have directly quoted many of the written documentations stating outright propaganda.

The Wednesday Farmers market fiasco was there for anyone to witness and yet all the press releases asserted how wonderful and successful they were. I’ll not even bother commenting on it again.

In a recent newsletter the empty stall spaces were described as resting benches for shoppers to sit and chat. Apparently ‘customer feed back’ about the little resting bays was very positive.

I have excerpted a few recent newsletters as I see the irony and marveled at how these people think. They whine about whining, accuse stallholders of bullying and see their victims as ‘troublemakers’ for expressing the truth of what has happened to them and to the market itself. It’s all just a bit perplexing but insulting and callous none the less:

“We have had complaints from customers and from stall holders who have lost customers about the attitudes of some of our merchants who think whining during trading times is going to help trade.

Please concentrate on your own business and if you want to whine and moan please do it when we have closed our doors to the public not when they are trying to enjoy a day out. It is incredible to think merchants assume our customers are remotely interested in negativity.”

“Merchants that continue to read books while trading or fall asleep in front of customers will be asked to explain why they are here. You would be better off staying home and letting us have the space for the traders waiting to get in.”

(Isn't the real question, “Why are traders reading books and falling asleep? Who are these traders “waiting to get in”? Surely those plants and benches could have made room for paying tenants.)

“Never let facts get in the way of a good story!!!
So far we have heard amazing stories from some of our merchants, customers and other news sources concerning… the licenses that were offered, taking away stalls, driving people out.

If you are interested in facts and not bollocks keep reading….

The Fremantle Markets is being constantly bagged by the same stall holders who would have us believe they care about you. If that was the case then why are they trying to destroy the very environment where you trade?

The departure of certain operators means we can finally get on with the business of making The Yard the best place to source quality, local and grower direct produce and WA foods.

It will allow us to open The Yard in March 2010 and then turn our attention to The Hall and begin work in there.
The merchants who will continue to trade in The Yard alongside all the new operators are here to work with us and are committed to our vision for the improvement of the markets.
The new merchants are productive, proactive and professional operators and we welcome them with open arms and thank them for their support through a very long year.”

“The Fremantle Market considers that bullying in the workplace is inappropriate and unacceptable behaviour…

Bullying is unlawful under the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984 and the Occupational Safety and Health Regulations 1996.
The Fremantle market is committed to providing a working environment that is free from bullying…

The conduct sets out principles for behavior required in the workplace, namely that:
Anyone that works or trades within the markets should be treated with respect.
All Stall holders and Management should develop awareness about the impact of their behaviour on others.There is a continual agreement about what is appropriate behavior at work.
The Fremantle Market considers that bullying in the workplace is inappropriate and unacceptable behaviour.
Stall holders or Management found to have either committed or condoned such behaviour in the markets will be subject to immediate disciplinary action.The purpose of this document is to provide an effective means to assist management and stall holders.

DEFINITIONS OF A BULLY:
A bully is a person who uses strength or power to coerce others by fear. To bully is to oppress, persecute, physically or morally by threat of superior force.
It is anyone who uses their position in power or strength of personality to misuse their authority against stall holders and management.While bullying is normally associated with unequal power relationships, peer to peer bullying is not uncommon and is equally unacceptable behaviour at the Fremantle Markets.
A variety of behaviours and acts may constitute bullying which create a negative workplace”

(Ah, that’s too funny. I believe you can pick up an official complaints form from the management. Good luck with that)

“Another form of despicable behaviour which seems to go unchecked is the constant running down of the Fremantle Markets and in particular FMPL and its staff to customers…Real customers are not interested…

(Do you think? I think Real Customers are very interested in what is happening to THEIR market and indeed are asking why the vibrant, friendly community feel is missing or why their regular people are missing – Seems management doesn’t know where they are. I have had a number of people contact me to ask about stallholders who are missing after calling the markets and being told that they have no contact for those X tenants!!!)

“The attempt by a minority in trying to destroying the reputation of the Fremantle Markets has and will continue to affect your business’s turnover.
There is a wonderful saying that a stall holder reminded me of the other day.
DON”T P… IN YOUR OWN POT… I think that sums it up nicely.”

(That minority are your own tenants, the Fremantle community and the media. Couldn’t possibly be ‘Your actions’ that are destroying that/what reputation.)

John and Jamie - The Melanoma Brothers

2009-12-16T10:22:00.004+08:00

I have heard John and Jamie Murdoch called many derogatory names in the last year or two. I have seen a lot of jokes, cartoons and ditties that were funny but served no positive purpose on these pages. I have tried to keep things factual rather than personal. I have even deleted comments from this blog because I thought they were inflammatory. (although, true and justifiable)

Some months ago I noticed more and more people were referring to the Murdoch’s as “The Melanoma Brothers”.

Today John Murdoch has sunk to a new low and I can’t help but think that like a cancer, he should be removed.

While most of the City of Fremantle are still reeling from last month’s evictions and walk-outs he sent out this letter:

Entry not permitted in Fremantle Markets

The Management of Fremantle Markets has received several complaints from stallholders that you were in the Fremantle Markets between 10 December and 13 December 2009 behaving inappropriately and making abusive and rude comments to some stallholders.

These actions were disruptive to our business and to the businesses of our stallholders and to the experience of customers of the Markets.

Accordingly, please note that Fremantle Markets Pty Ltd:
Has determined to exclude you from entry to the Market; and
Will regard you as a trespasser and take appropriate action accordingly if you enter the Markets.

(signed John Murdoch)

Let's not forget that these evicted stallholders were the very people who were ousted because they spoke up FOR the stallholders.

There were no questions asked - no reference to whom or what was alleged – no dialogue at all; just a spiteful and petty email, for what, one last act of violation.

If a melanoma is not detected early and removed it will eat away at the entire organism, often resulting in death.

http://sonyagreen.blogspot.com/

Trust me - would I lie to you?

2009-12-14T10:56:00.003+08:00

I have just gone through a letter to the stallholders, written in 2005 by the Murdoch's, asking for help in securing their new lease with the council. I held it up in front of a mirror just to see if it read in reverse!
No wonder so many people feel betrayed. Just for fun, go through it with a red pen and circle the BS.

5th Dec 2005

Dear Stallholder,

FUTURE of FREMANTLE MARKETS

As many of you will be aware, we have put to the City of Fremantle a proposal whereby we fund a number of improvements to the Fremantle Market building (owned by the City of Fremantle) including:

Cooling the building (an urgent issue)
A new electricity system (an urgent issue) and
New signage on the exterior of the building.

We also have a number of other ideas to revitalise the Fremantle Markets business and to keep it West Australia’s premier tourist attraction which we would be keen to explore and implement.

It is not financially viable for us to fund the above improvements (and any other future necessary improvements) under the current head lease which has less than 5 years to run. Accordingly we have asked the City of Fremantle to enter into a new long term lease with us we believe will benefit the Fremantle Markets as a whole and Fremantle in general.

We consider the Fremantle Market business important to us, to stallholders and to Fremantle. Like many of you, we have spent 30 years working to make the business a success and would like to continue.

We believe our business model in trying to keep the Fremantle Markets a relatively low cost environment for small operators like you is the key to long term viability of the business. Integral to this business model is long term tenure (for all of us)

In short, the positives for the business plan being adopted by the City of Fremantle are:

Capital improvements being carried out as soon as possible;
Continuation under same operators who have an understanding of what makes the business a success and what is needed to continue its viability long term;
New management (John and Jamie Murdoch) but in the same family;
Certainty and continuity of stallholders;
Possibility of longer tenure (written into licence agreement) for stallholders if Murdoch company has longer tenure.

Negatives to be considered should the City of Fremantle not approve this Business Plan include:

No improvements will be made to the building in relation to cooling and new electricity supply.
License fees will be higher. Current operators (Murdoch Company) will be forced to view the business as a 5 year cash flow and must assume that at the end of the lease that another operator may be appointed by the City of Fremantle. We cannot guarantee that the market will not change completely with a new operator clearing out all stalls and only replacing them with stallholders willing to pay the highest price.
Your current goodwill you have built up over a number of years or goodwill you have purchased from a previous stall owner will diminish in value as each month goes by and, at the end of 5 years, could be worth nil given the uncertainty of what the markets will be and who will operate them and how they will operate them.
Your ability to sell your stall in the next 5 years will also diminish (along with its value) as who would buy a stall which could for all intents and purposes disappear in less than 5 years give Murdoch company cannot guarantee the Market will be here or who will run it and how in 5 years time.

If you believe the Business Plan should be adopted by the City of Fremantle, we strongly urge you as individuals or as a group to let the City of Fremantle know as soon as possible your support by writing or emailing (and marked as “Fremantle Markets Business Plan Submission”) and addressed to: …

We urge you to consider this letter carefully as the future of the Fremantle Markets as we know it today could be a thing of the past.

(Signed John and Jamie Murdoch)

http://sonyagreen.blogspot.com/

Fremantle Market money song

2009-12-13T11:20:00.008+08:00

One of Freo's popular buskers has been taking note of the word on the street and has composed this little song.

Money Market

There once was a market
Where trading was fair
The people came from miles
To laugh and to share
The traders all smiled
And sang as they worked
And the people all knew
This was the salt of the earth.

The market was held
In an old western town
A place on the edge
That the badlands surround
Out of the wilderness
Came a renegade band
That hid behind the sheriff
And the law of the land.

Then plundered the market
And took all they could
While the lawman smiled and winked
Which made them look good
Most of the people knew this was wrong
But they turned a blind eye
‘cause the law was too strong.

Some of the townsfolk tried to resist
They didn’t have the strength
To fight men such as this
The resisters was tarred n feathered
And thrown to the ground
Then to make an example
They were dragged out of town.

Much law is unjust, the law is an ass
Will the people rise up or just lay in the grass
‘tis not the beginning
Nor is it the end
To end an injustice you need Honest men.

Murdochs evict spokesman and force out long term tenants

2009-12-07T11:47:00.004+08:00

New councillor Andrew Sullivan’s comments in last weeks Herald should make the new mayor sit up and pay attention. Andrew is impressive on two counts:
His refusal to be censored (gagged) and the balls to speak his truth.
He seems to grasp the importance of looking at new ideas or better options to help the disenfranchised stallholders. He simply states that the stallholders don’t need to be told to get on with it when they are obviously working through grief and suffering.

To me, the mark of a great leader is the rare combination of intelligence AND heart. This is a guy to watch.

Mayor Brad Pettitt’s rather beige comment about the eviction of Colin Wright was not much more than a political exhalation. “Colin and the Murdoch’s are clearly not able to work together any more. It’s best for everyone if they go their separate ways. I can’t see any way forward.” So what’s that – a personality conflict?

Has Brad completely missed the point? Colin Wright was elected by the stallholders to represent and speak on their behalf. Elected and supported because he had the ethics, intelligence, tenacity and most of all the courage to risk his own successful business to protect the vulnerable. Through Colin Wright the council was alerted to very major problems more than a year ago and his predictions and warnings have all now come to this final conclusion.

Removing Colin Wright is not the end of the plight of the stallholders or the predictable conflict to come. The markets are very close to collapsing and when Colin Wright is out of the picture the power of play will be between the Murdoch’s and a council who has so far been happy to deflect their responsibility in the whole sorry saga.

With council planning to spend in excess of 4 million dollars on the markets my suggestion would be to work out first of all if there will be a market by the time the debt is repaid. At a very rough estimate the Murdoch’s will be making squillions but the council will be lucky to break even after ten years.

It would do council and the Murdoch’s well to firstly define what a market is.

Exorbitant rents, lack of savvy traders, loss of customers, inappropriate stall positioning and unviable businesses are what this year turned up – where to now?

http://sonyagreen.blogspot.com/

Fremantle market - evictions and heartbreak

2009-12-05T12:37:00.004+08:00

When Richard Murphy and Colin Wright took on the role as spokesmen for the Fremantle Market stallholders they had no idea of the grief and personal loss to come. This was a voluntary, unpaid position and they were both elected by the stallholders as ideal candidates. Both had operated successful businesses within the market for more than twenty years; they are intelligent, rational, objective, astute and fair negotiators.

Originally, and probably now with hindsight - naively, they expected their role to be representative of the stallholders point of view in matters concerning the smooth operation of the markets. It was never meant to be adversarial, in fact quite the opposite, they could sort out most minor issues on the ground and save management being involved or speak for the collective and negotiate with management. To a very large degree they acted as mentors and advisors to the stallholders.

They never wanted to act as critics or antagonists by any means. Ideally they would work with management and local council as part of a team to maintain or improve a highly successful retail business, tourism icon, heritage building and real estate asset.

The council needed to work on behalf of the ratepayers and care for the heritage aspect and physical structure of the building; its tourism status and commercial viability. It should have positioned itself as the main body or major stakeholder in the three part enterprise. The Murdoch management held the main lease on the Market which made their role primarily landlord and administrators. The stallholders input should have been in regard to customer requirements and satisfaction and the smooth running of the retail and service side of things.

The stallholders pushed hard to be part of a working group so that the three parties could get together on a regular basis and exchange ideas. When the new lease was signed off the stallholders found they had not been included as a voice in the new working group.

For reasons unknown and incomprehensible to anyone, including a number of commercial lawyers, the new lease appears to give the Murdoch’s full power and the council very little if any recourse. Although the lease was drawn up after much discussion, many promises and grand ideas nothing was committed to paper.

There were approximately 150 independent businesses operating under the Market roof. Most had paid tens of thousands of dollars for their businesses and many have been there for more than 10 years. These are the people who have created and nurtured repeat custom and are the real reason the markets evolved into such a phenomenal success. They understand customer relations, pricing, marketing, promotion, display, atmosphere, product and service supply, demand and competition.

Overall the markets have never and will never be a matter of bricks and mortar or administration. The markets exist only to the service of the customer.

The very obvious and most destructive element at the moment is the Murdoch’s delusional grandeur and posturing as The Boss of the Minions. The attitude that the stallholders are disposable ‘workers’ makes us wonder if they actually believe that they run a third world sweat shop. Even in their presentation they said they had never ‘sacked’ a stallholder. Was that a Freudian slip or an insight into their opinion of themselves? Well, let’s be clear about this: landlords don’t sack anyone; stallholders are not unpaid employees. They might argue that they meant to say that they hadn’t EVICTED anyone - but then that would be a lie.

When Richard Murphy (a previous surveyor) disputed the Murdoch’s estimate of his stall measurement and questioned the insecurity of the new lease proposal he sought legal advice. As president of the stallholder association he had every right to challenge and define the legal implications of what appeared to be a rather dodgy document.

He was evicted.

And the Murdoch’s might give all kinds of reasons now for that eviction but at the time he was evicted without explanation. I doubt that anyone else would argue that he wasn’t victimised and persecuted for one reason only: he was too effective as the stallholders’ champion.

In a democratic system, in a land of free speech and social justice this is diabolical. This is akin to sacking a Union leader. In mainstream workplaces this would be illegal and Unions throughout the country would have closed down shop. But once again the new lease proved that everyone is vulnerable and no one is protected.

When Colin Wright stepped into Richard’s position he was well aware that he risked the same treatment. Ethically, he could not back down. Very few people would be aware of the hours he worked; the thousands of phone calls, the meetings, reports, the out of pocket expenses, the research and overall stress and heartache he endured.

Colin Wrights shop was probably one of the most popular and most profitable shops in the markets. He could afford the higher rents and he could have kept quiet and continued a successful business. Richard Murphy and Mark Scott were also running successful businesses. It was never about self-interest but the integrity of the markets and the fair treatment of everyone.

Communication with the Murdoch’s became impossible. The only course of action was to address the council and hold them accountable for signing off on the lease. They had dug themselves into a hole and by the time they sat up and took notice most of them were astounded at the repercussions unfolding and the indifferent and belligerent response by the Murdoch’s.

Initially, half the councillors were fiercely opposed to re-signing the lease with the Murdoch’s. Others were not convinced but reached a stalemate and reluctantly swayed under legal advice. Ex mayor Tagliaferri seemed very pro Murdoch for reasons unknown but highly speculated about. When the Shit hit the fan Tagliaferri retreated. He ended up losing his campaign in the by-elections and gained himself immense negative media attention. Outside of council offices you would be hard pressed to find anyone who wouldn’t say they screwed up big time.

Throughout it all the biggest problem was that the council would have had to deem themselves responsible and accountable and in effect the council lawyers were being asked to find themselves at fault. Legally this could have exploded, so understandably, it was never in their interest to find fault with the lease, and without doing that, the lease became ironclad. Long term, the council is stuck with the Murdoch’s for near on twenty more years and pretty powerless in a volatile partnership.

Anyway, that’s their problem now. Although, from the sideline, I might just point out that truck loads of money have been spent by the Murdoch’s and the Council and although they have treated the stallholders as the enemy they really should be grateful for the education they have both received this early in the game. Ironically, if the council had been more open to constructive criticism and the research done by the stallholders they probably should have paid them for this work. If they had not been so defensive and had listened to their predictions they would have saved themselves a lot of money, a lot of heartache and public embarrassment.

As for the Murdoch’s, I imagine that their ineffective market research and legal costs would be so substantial that had they have been more honest and ethical right from the beginning they could have paid out the few stalls that they wanted to remove and not only would that have given them smooth access but would have saved them the expose of their reputation as well as their almighty $’s.

Much of this has been said before, but I wanted to recap because this month the saga has hit an all time low. The vindictive actions of these nasty little creatures have stunned the Port City with the news that Colin Wright has now also been evicted.

It seems very obvious to me and others that the timing has been very well calculated for maximum impact. Knowing full well that pre-Christmas is the most profitable time of year for the stallholders, to evict someone on the 30th of November just shows how spiteful these people are. In normal circumstances retailers would invest as much money as they could afford to buy in their Christmas stock.

As disgusting as this is, it was also predictable so no, Colin was not caught out. But many others were hit up with notice to sign on or move out and this week-end at least six people have been forced to walk away. Unbelievably, they have been offered, or actually been manipulated into signing, what is nothing more than a month to month tenancy.

Let’s be very clear about one fact: Colin Wright has been evicted for speaking up for and on behalf of the majority of vulnerable and intimidated stallholders. He has never acted out of self interest and his words have always been the words of the collective. Getting rid of Colin or getting rid of the association does NOT get rid of the anger, resentment or the complaints to come.

It is also very obvious that the other people being forced out this week, and previously, have been those who have supported the stallholders association. Mark Scott has been a much loved market character who has mentored most of the fruit and vegetable traders over a span of more than twenty years. He has worked as the unofficial ‘go to guy’ and has done much to promote and improve the markets. Last year the Murdoch’s didn’t mind taking a photo opportunity with Mark to bask in his success and award for trader of the year. Ann Meyers didn’t mind calling on Scotty when she needed support or advice when she first started out either. Both she and the Murdoch’s have now shafted him -they have refused to offer him the 5 year agreement that they promised.

There are so many stories that I would love to write about to allow people to really see what has taken place, but as many are identifiable, I can not break their confidence at this point. Many people have been forced to walk away and have lost their investment, have been left with unsold stock and without an income. Some don’t have the luxury of leaving with nothing. These people have families and mortgages and unpaid bank loans. To walk away would mean certain bankruptcy and their only option is to sign onto another lease, pray they can manage the high rents, hope they might break even or sell out and try to make enough to walk away someday - managing their loses.

When you hear the Murdoch’s make statements like most of the stallholders have happily accepted the rent rises or some people have chosen to leave, I just want to slap them.

I would challenge anyone to ask the 30, yes that is 30, stallholders who have ‘chosen to leave’ WHY? You might also ask the 6 leaving this week why they would choose to leave a month before Christmas after investing in additional Christmas stock.

I also take offense at Ann Meyer's in this week’s newsletter when she expresses her cheerio and good wishes to Gloria; stating that Gloria has sold her business and moved on. Actually, there has been a few references to people having sold their business but never once has it been mentioned as to how much less than value it has been sold for; how much each of those people have lost. Gloria had no choice – she wasn’t offered a new agreement.

Nothing is said about the people who have paid for a business, which has now been relocated into a smaller space, in a lower traffic area, and has lost the right to on-sell their lease or goodwill. Robbed of a business but compromised into a shadow of hope. These are ‘the happy’ ones.

One lawyer stated he had been contacted by eight stallholders in one week; three had been terminated without negotiation or notice.

Jamie Murdoch claimed that 15 of the 20 stallholder who had left this year had sold their licenses for an average of $40,000. Again it is 30 stallholders that have left, a good number are there on monthly tenancies and planning to pull out or are probably going to be forced out. This outrageous statement can be easily disputed by asking the X-stallholders for the correct figures and if anyone did sell for $40,000 then it is also worth asking how much they lost. I don’t think selling out for forty grand is much to sing about if the seller paid seventy grand to buy it.

Let’s also talk about the accuracy of Jamie’s statement that the Wednesday’s growers market was “A successful trial”. Let’s ask those stallholders who invested in the plans, promises and propaganda of that venture if they were aware they were investing in a trial. Successful? It lasted about 6 weeks and it was an abysmal failure.

Or the claim that closing down Friday night trade was based on ‘research’ and had also has been a trial.

We have it in black and white that the markets would not trade on Thursday and yet here it is again dressed up as a Christmas trial. Then there were the opening and closing hours on trial; the sheer stupidity of closing Friday nights but opening early on Sunday mornings. The only person who would have had any customers would have been the girl selling coffee to the other stallholders who sat around in the cold waiting for customers to arrive at the usual time. Did I mention that Ann’s daughter owns that coffee shop? (A prime location fortuned to her after only a few months trading when normally it would take years. – I would love to know how much rent She pays?)

I guess if your market research consists of asking the new coffee seller if it was worth opening earlier in the morning and closing Friday nights she would probably agree. My guess is that not too many people are looking for caffeine late in the day but probably business is very good for a captive early morning crowd of stallholders.

No one I spoke to recalls being asked if they thought they should close down Friday night. In fact, I hear there was disbelief and outrage from the stallholders and the customers.

Anne claims she discussed closing with stallholders and was surprised that those same people objected when she followed through. They tell me that she didn’t say she was planning on closing, she asked how business was and many said it was slow. They thought it was casual chit-chat and they meant slow compared to other years. She never stated that she was researching the viability of being open and she later acted like they had deliberately misled her.

This week she issued a newsletter entitled Bollocks and sarcastically claimed that some stallholders were speaking disrespectfully of the Murdoch management. Jamie has also made public statements which lamented that the stallholders were casting aspersions on their reputation. Ha! They are wiping the floor with people, destroying lives and have bought heartaches and devastation into the city and yet they blame the publicity. No, they blame the stallholders for the publicity. Poor babies, they feel they are being bullied – Boo Hoo.

NOTE: You have been exposed and put under a spotlight and we see who you are. That IS your reputation. No one is doing anything to you - we are all just observing. Everything that I have said, the press has said, the stallholders have said - is all on record and can all be checked and double checked. Your reputation is directly related to your actions and your word.

I am pleading with people to seek legal advice before signing any agreement with these people. It is always good business practice to understand the fine print in a lease and it’s essential with this one.

Although the Murdoch’s have made grand statements about the new restoration work and renovations, I am amazed that more people have not asked how business will be trading whilst that work is being carried out. What does a lease mean if you are entombed in scaffolding? Will customers be wearing hard hats? It seems clear to me that it will be impossible for anyone to trade for some months while this work is being done. It’s obvious that there is not space for relocation and I can’t see that it can happen without stalls being put out of business for a matter of months. Has anyone even seen the plans? If people are setting up and equipping businesses now will they be dismantled soon? Will those fittings and fixtures work in the new version or are stallholders expected to refit all over again if they make it back.

The council estimated over $4million dollars worth of works a few years back but since then there has been mention that it might be much greater than that. Sounds like very substantial work to me. I won’t even go into how or why the council or really the ratepayers ended up footing the bill for this, when clearly, it is primarily to the advantage of the Murdoch’s. Why? Has anyone even done the sums? I can see that while the Murdoch’s will be making huge profits the ratepayers will be waiting at least a decade before they see a cent of rent from the Murdoch’s. That is, if the markets are still operating in ten years; could be a very expensive white elephant.

It still remains perplexing that the city didn’t take control from the beginning and then re-lease it after the work was complete. If the council had taken control then, all of the profit could have gone towards the restoration and been paid for in a fraction of the time.

Do the ratepayers even know that more than 4+ million of their dollars are going into the markets and that the council has very little power to ensure that the markets are well run or even viable as a long term business?

Well, it’s worth thinking about if anyone cares, but right now, I can see that the people who have cared and did try to do something are the ones who will be under the guillotine this week-end.

To Richard Murphy, Colin Wright, Mark Scott and the stallholders who can’t be named yet - we thank you.

To Les Lauder, Donna Haney, John Dowson, Georgie Adeane, Shirley Mackay, Alice King and Bill Massie we thank you. Also a special thanks to the other councillors who jumped on board a little late but at least you stood up.

To the Fremantle Herald, especially Jenny Danger - we thank you.

Adele Carles, Annie St James, Paul Masten, Rod Hagar, and the people of Fremantle – we thank you.

To John and Jamie Murdoch, Ann Meyer, Phil Dawson, Robert Fittock, Freo Council legal team and Peter Tagliaferri – shame on you all.

To Mayor Brad Pettitt – Good luck.

http://sonyagreen.blogspot.com/

John and Jamie Murdoch - spiteful revenge

2009-11-29T10:08:00.010+08:00

The Fremantle Markets farce
By Beatrice Thomas, Local Government Reporter

Copy of West Australian Newspaper article Nov 25th 09

The deteriorating state of affairs at the Fremantle Markets is nothing short of farcical.

What started as a dispute over the awarding of a new lease to the Murdoch family, and later rent increases of up to 300 per cent, has now escalated into a vicious stoush where long-time, reputable stallholders are leaving or having leases terminated with little warning and it seems with even less prospect of any recourse.

When a new 18-year head lease was awarded to John and Jamie Murdoch, whose father operated the 112-year-old markets for more than 30 years, the City of Fremantle, which owns the building, said it would guarantee a security of tenure for permanent stallholders.

"From the very start of the new lease process the Stallholders Association wanted their security of tenure (to) be protected," the City's corporate services director Glen Dougall said in November last year.

"The City ensured this by allowing stallholders access to sub-lease or licence agreements of at least five years unless otherwise negotiated by the stallholder."

Not only was this supposed to protect the long-term stallholders who rely on business from the three-day operation for their livelihoods but the addition of the Retail Tenancies Act in the new agreement was supposed to ensure "fair commercial principles" were enforced.

What has emerged over the past year suggests anything but that has transpired with monthly leases, reduced space and little communication all complaints from long-term traders.

And the City's statistics that only 70 per cent of stallholders have signed new lease agreements is proof of the unrest.

The parties are even in dispute over the number of stallholders leaving with the Stallholders Association saying up to 35 traders have left, while Jamie Murdoch says the number is at most 20.

Earlier this year, the Murdochs, trading as Fremantle Markets Pty Ltd, began issuing stallholders with notices outlining rent increases of up to 300 per cent.

At the time they said the head lease with the council demanded "a fair market rent" be established, meaning a big correction because rents had been artificially low.

However, acting on the growing number of complaints from stallholders who said the increases were unjust, the City in April found Fremantle Markets had failed to negotiate with stallholders over rent increases and as a result had breached its lease.

Rejecting legal action, the City opted for "an urgent dispute resolution".

Not only has this failed dismally but the City is now faced with the embarrassing prospect of stallholders setting up a rival market across the road at the South Fremantle Football Club, of all places.

The stallholders can take up the issue with the State Administrative Tribunal and Supreme Court, but as lawyer Rod Hager pointed out they could at most seek damages and at the end of the costly process there are still no guarantees that they get their stall back.

To date the Murdoch brothers have maintained that they have followed the requirements of the head lease and have effectively dismissed most of the criticism as coming from a bunch of disgruntled troublemakers unhappy with having to pay what their stall is worth.

Irrespective of whether this is completely true, the people leaving the markets are more often than not long-time tenants whose quirky, colourful and popular stalls have helped shape the character of the century-old operation.

They may be disposable for the Murdochs, who are more than too happy to point out that they can be replaced, but their loss should be a wake-up call for a council that promised to look after them but has failed to do so.

* My comments.
* Those disgruntled trouble makers would be the ELECTED stallholders association that speaks out ON BEHALF of the others. Needless to say that the spokespeople for the association have been evicted and others who have spoken out have been forced to leave by having shop sizes greatly reduced, rents increased and inappropriate relocations. Most at best, were promised a month to month lease agreement which makes it impossible to trade or sell out. John Murdoch said publicly that some stallholders have chosen to leave!

* The proof of the lack of replacement stalls is now obvious with vacant stalls and rent subsidies being offered to new and casual tenants.

The Murdoch's and the Fremantle City Council

2009-10-29T06:17:00.004+08:00

Hi Sonya:
I tried to post my comment to your Blog, but keep getting an error code and message:
Can you post this for me under an open ID: P Hunt, Dallas, Texas

As usual, Sonya has hit the nail on the head! The Murdoch's and the Fremantle City Council have caused unimaginable damage to the lives of people who have been staunch supporters of the Murdoch's business for decades.

Market stalls are just that - stalls. The tenants can't afford to pay the outrageous rents that are now being demanded of them. Many are staying in hopes that they can at least recoup some of their losses over the Christmas trading period, before being forced to walk away from their livelihoods.

To the many people who have contributed to the downfall of the once magnificent Fremantle Market atmosphere and experience: "It is time to take the bull by the horns, own up to your errors in judgement and take an active roll in fixing what you have broken."

The Murdoch brother's greed at a time when the world is in such financial turmoil is unfathomable. They clearly have no conscience - for their benefit, the definition of that word is "the inner sense of what is right or wrong in one's conduct or motives, impelling one toward right action."

Sonya's Blog is a true reflection of the way the people of not just the City of Fremantle, but the State, the Country and many of those of us living overseas feel about the situation at the Fremantle Markets. Living in the USA hasn't stopped me being aware of what is happening to the Markets.

When I was in Perth this past June I took friends from Dallas to see the Fremantle Markets - considering it to be a "must see" for them as tourists who would enjoy the atmosphere and diversity. What we found was not the Markets that I know so well and love, but a mere shadow of a world famous Fremantle landmark destination.

Those of you who are responsible for the sad decline of this world famous tourist destination need to 'wise up' before the City loses this amazing Tourist asset!

http://sonyagreen.blogspot.com/

John and Jamie Murdoch - Retail 101

2009-10-28T10:56:00.007+08:00

“The Fremantle Market is one of the key elements to the growth of Fremantle and an integral part of the local community providing various social and economic benefits.”

The above quote is just another example of the delusional statements made by the Murdoch management. Their ‘key elements to the growth of Fremantle’ should be compared to the growth of a melanoma. Regular visitors and long term stall holders have complained bitterly all year about the decline of the markets; the loss of soul, loss of customers, loss of livelihood, loss of businesses and traders and loss of goodwill.

Fremantle council meetings were filled beyond capacity as angry stall holders’ and their supporters pleaded with the mayor to undo or redo the lease with the Murdoch’s. A public rally was also held outside town hall to encourage council to ‘evict the Murdoch’s’

Is that what they meant by ‘an integral part of the community’?

Many speakers told stories of intimidation, desperation, loss of livelihood, insecure tenure and the sadness and shock of seeing their much loved and respected Richard Murphy being evicted. Richard had been their spokesperson, articulating professionally and calmly THEIR voices.

Most spoke of being crippled by high rents and as many as thirty businesses had to walk away as it was no longer financially viable to continue. Many of these people had paid many thousands of dollars for specific stall spaces, but were unable to sell out due to their inability to secure a long-term secure lease.

Would that be the social and economic benefits referred to in the above quote? No, economic benefit is a one way street and that street runs a truck load of money to the doors of the Murdoch kingdom.

Many of the stall holders have had their stalls downsized or relocated to inferior or inappropriate positions. New traders have been bought in and are in direct competition with others. Apart from massive rent hikes, many new administrative charges and costs have been introduced as well as some stalls having to re-equip or re-fit their shops.

Their grand vision and media hype about the ‘New Wednesday Growers Market’ contradicted their previous promises about trading hours. They grossly exaggerated its viability and it badly impacted on the rest of the markets. They talked it up with statements like ‘food from heaven’.

It ended up being a complete embarrassment and a total flop. It was a small, dark, dingy collection of trestle tables, selling nothing more than common grocery items. AS PREDICTED. The gourmet cheese and wine tastings were pathetic and the celebrity chef cooking school was akin to watching a bloke cooking a barby in any local picnic area.

Sadly, the twenty or so vendors who believed in the Murdoch propaganda have lost whatever costs they incurred and have become the new collateral damage at the Fremantle Markets. True to form, the Murdoch’s statement about the closure of the Wednesday market completely dismisses the abysmal failure and they were recently quoted as saying that it was “A successful trial”.

“Mr Murdoch, did you ever tell the press, the community or the vendors that the Wednesday growers market was a TRIAL?

Would you please define successful?

Your trial lasted about 6 weeks. Each week saw less customers and less stalls and finally it simply snuffed out. The traders have done their dough and you are in denial. I am not the first to say “I told you so,” nor will I be alone in saying Ha ha!

And now for your further edification, let me address your preposterous claims about local artists and craftspeople:

So far, you have lost most of the great crafts-people you already had. As they have pointed out, they can’t afford those rents. Also, most of the work they do is done from home in workshops. They might retail on the weekend but they work and create throughout the week. Your vision of having potters, ironworkers and artist working on site is simply another example of ignorance. Why not do the unthinkable and actually ASK those people what they require?

Let me give you just one example:

A potter works with wet clay. The wet clay takes days to dry and can not be moved or relocated – it is very fragile. The pieces then need to be baked in a big oven called a kiln. Do you expect a casual potter to bring down their wheel, tools and kiln each week or will they need to pay for a massive space and set up a permanent stall? My estimate is that such a potter would need to turn over a couple of thousand dollars a week just to cover the costs. How do they sell the pottery with their arms up to the elbow in mud?

Why not speak with a welder before you encourage ironwork on site. Ask a glassblower about trestle tables and Fremantle winds. Ask a dressmaker how she will fit, draft and sew a frock while serving her customers. I notice on one of the newsletters a suggestion to demonstrate sheep shearing. Now that’s probably worth serious consideration…

I know you will take offense at what I am saying. You will probably run this by the legal team. You seem to interpret constructive criticism as possible defamation, but wait and think…

You have forked out a bomb on market research, legal advice, advertising, additional office staff, security, evaluations, PR and loss of time in disputes and conflict. Your reputation is sullied and your working environment is toxic, hostile and stressful. Do the unthinkable – just listen and put the ego back in its cage for a minute.

I am not trying to attack you, I am simply pushing you to step up and be a leader. The Stall Holders are not employees; they are savvy, experienced business men and woman. Many have been trading successfully there for more than ten years. This in itself is evidence that they know their demographic and are catering to it.

Richard Murphy and Colin Wright have not been your enemies and have never tried to be adversarial or counter-productive. Both were elected to speak on behalf of the Stall Holders in view of fair treatment, market improvement and ongoing success. Both these men have been supported and endorsed by the collective. You have victimized and persecuted them!

Richard Murphy had one of the nicest and most patronised stalls in the market. Colin and Marilyn Wright's shop is arguably the best stall there; bringing regular repeat custom and they have over twenty years experience.

Mark Scott, Richard Murphy and Colin Wright have mentored so many and have acted freely and generously in holding a large section together; acting as spokes-people, settling disputes, supporting new traders and bringing competitors together to compliment each other.

These three men have sat and consoled crying and distressed stallholders, arbitrated and resolved conflicts, advised, supported, mentored, encouraged and advocated of their own accord; for no reasons other than decency and caring. Not one of them has been paid to do these things, but God only knows how much time, money and grief they have saved you in taking on this position. Most of this went unmentioned and certainly unrewarded.

These guys are worth a thousand Annie Meyers’ who seems to live in her ‘happy place’ and quotes facts and figures like little tom-thumb crackers. Is she there to feed you or is she just an apron to hide behind? We’ve all heard what she says, but what has she actually done?

I mention these three men specifically, but I also call your attention to the many that believed in you, supported you and championed your bid on the new lease. Without naming names, I remind you that you wiped the floor with them and continue to ruin them. Why?

There is a wealth of knowledge there from the front line and the common interest is to maintain and improve what works. The hay days of the market were the result of minimal interference from management. Every stall has a vested interest in doing well and to be successful; they need to know their business, their product and their customers. Why do you disregard knowledge and experience in favour of external market research or Annie’s magic wand and fairy bread or Tagliaferri’s self-interests?

Your need for control and structure is interfering with the natural ecology of the market. It has always been the eclectic mix that worked. Departmentalising the markets takes away the free flow and the leisurely browsing which encourages impulse buying. The markets are an exhibition or an entertainment - not a snatch and grab venue. Vendors used to compliment each other and feed off each other, but now you are creating competition and aggravation.

You need to encourage people to wander the full circuit, not direct them in and out in the shortest possible time. This is not a hardware store. This is also why the markets work as a week-end business and why other retail functions mid-week. You can’t have it both ways – stick with what works.

One of the best things about the way things were is that the blend of aromas and sounds created atmosphere. The smell of coffee beans led gently through to fresh bread and then incense or mangoes. Now with all the food being compressed you have garlic, sausage, fruit, ice-cream etc and everything fusing into an obnoxious stench.

The spaced music of the cd shop, the bar, buskers, meditation and other genres worked very well, but now there is an irritating din creating a stressful noise. Most of the excellent buskers are now outside the market and in the mall – no longer at Freo Markets.

You are pushing to exclude merchandise made in China or other such countries but your understanding on this is quite ignorant. China, India, Taiwan and other such countries are the manufacturing Mecca’s of the world. Most of your so called designer label products are imported from these countries. In recent years, most western manufacturing has gone offshore and it will continue to do so. Get real, be discerning and get yourself educated. Again, talk with the guys on the ground – you must.

Obviously the markets can do without tacky junk but you fail to understand that there is a huge demand for bargains; cheap T-shirts, sunglasses and $2 bits and pieces are as valid as anything else. No one goes the market to buy Vuitton or Prada. Do you have any idea about your demographic?

Closing down half the market on Friday evening is ludicrous. It’s one of the busiest trading times of the week. You don’t seem to fathom how embarrassing and insane that was. Chasing customers out of an establishment has never been written into the retail act, simply because, no retailer other than you, would have ever considered such a thing.

Retail 101 – Don’t yell at customers to F…Off.

Seriously, you have been pathetic, cruel and vindictive. Unless you get back into the drivers seat and work with the people who matter you will destroy the markets and be shamed out of town. No one wants you to fail and perhaps you don’t like the teacher, but at least be smart enough to learn the lesson.

http://sonyagreen.blogspot.com/

Les Lauder - You really impressed me

2009-10-27T07:07:00.002+08:00

Dear Les,

You have really impressed me. I hope that you are proud of yourself and always remember that the critics are always the loudest, but rarely the majority. Sad but true, that people are outspoken and harsh in disapproval and yet silent or frugal in acknowledgment or praise. You have been phenomenal and as I have already stated, to me, you will always be remembered as the ‘brave heart’.

You have been removed from a toxic environment and have been given the freedom to work your magic in areas which matter most to you.

I just know that great things are lining up to meet you now. You have choices and personal freedom; let yourself be restored and energized.

With love to you,
Sonya Green

http://sonyagreen.blogspot.com/

michael willicombe - too easy

2009-10-16T09:16:00.004+08:00

Prior to the Murdoch’s lease renewal, mayor Tagliaferri suggested that the council could buy out the last couple of years left on the lease. He had been looking into Eastern States markets and wanted to adopt some of their ideas.

Most, if not all, council owned markets are managed within council. Not only are they well run but the highly lucrative returns stay in the pocket of the ratepayers rather than private companies.

There had already been disputes and tensions between council, stallholders and market managers. Many of the councillors did not want the Murdoch’s to have the lease renewed. There was some talk that the Murdoch’s had threatened to run the markets into the ground and they also threatened legal action. At the time, they still had about 2 years left on the current lease.

Buying them out was an ideal solution and one that the stallholders association has suggested many times. No one seems to know why council suddenly turned and allowed the renewal to go ahead without fully exploring other options.

Now with 20-20 hindsight it all seems so logical and simple. Interesting though, that in last weeks Herald, Michael Willicombe put it together in nice bite sized pieces just on the off chance that any new mayoral candidate might step up and actually do something.

This would be the way to go in the interest of ratepayes, council, customers and stallholders. Perhaps, it’s even a perfect out for the Murdoch’s. Take the money and run. Retail is obviously not their forte and they could make as much, if not more, doing something they are more suited to. Surely the money is not worth the aggravation or humiliation of the last year or two.

Excerpt from an article in the Fremantle Herald’s thinking allowed column.
Written by Michael Willicombe.

A dedicated market manager employed full time by council could easily manage the markets. All the profits from stallholders would then come direct to council instead of the head lessees.

Genuinely affordable rents could then be set directly by council at the same time as it achieves a much higher overall income return for ratepayers; a genuine win-win scenario. The much greater income coming to council under this plan would then allow for proper maintenance and the final full restoration.

All council has to do to activate my market plan is get out of the new 21 year lease agreement without crippling penalty…D’oh

More market madness at Fremantle

2009-10-13T10:56:00.008+08:00

In the words of the great philosopher Forrest Gump,‘Stupid is as stupid does’. The mayhem and madness at Fremantle Markets continues.

Although daylight savings has recently been voted against in Western Australia the Murdoch management has turned around and right in the cold, dark, wet days of late winter / early spring, they have extended trading hours. Although most customers have left by about 4 pm the stallholders are now forced to sit around until 6pm before they can pack up and leave. Many need to make multiple trips, carrying boxes of stock, to cars parked down the road, in near dark and often wet conditions.

Lately, the trading hours look like something from a lotto draw. As previously predicted the markets are now operating as two separate entities. The outdoor area has become known as the yard and the indoor area is now referred to as the hall.

Actually it’s really three separate markets now that they have the new Wednesday markets.

The yard is almost entirely food related and the hall is predominately merchandise. Not to forget the little table with the thimble sized plastic cups set up as the new wine tasting area and now grandiosely referred to as Fontes Pool.

The hall is open Friday from 10am til 8pm. Saturday and Sunday from 10am til 6 pm.

The yard is open Friday Sat and Sun from 8am til 6pm, although on their website today I noticed they still advertise Friday as open 9am til 8pm and Sat and Sun from 10am til 6pm, and no reference to halls and yards. Also noted is that public holidays are open from 10am til 6 pm. (not sure if that's halls and yards)

Wednesday the yard is listed as 10am til 3 pm or maybe that is 8am til 2pm. Doesn’t really matter much, as talk is that it might be changed to 12 til whenever. This is because they now look to be opening Thursdays throughout the Christmas season and it has been bought to the attention of management that the regular stallholders can't set up to trade on Thursdays if the new markets are operating on Wednesday.

The Wednesday market is a huge flop already but how do those people even imagine making a go of a business which opens at noon. (Will they still pay the same rent?)

Confusing? Not really, when you remember the Murdoch’s stated clearly that after the previous dispute about Thursday trading hours they had agreed that the markets would not be opening on Thursdays.

And now it just gets stupider. They have decided to close down the fruit and veg section on Friday night. Friday nights and Sundays are the two busiest times for trading and regular customers have shopped for fresh veg’s on Friday night for years and years. Last Friday the stallholders were horrified as market management herded out their customers by dropping tarpaulins, pinning up signs and calling out something along the line of 'everyone out - you must leave now – this section is closed'.

Yep, believe it or not, customers were cattle called out of the outdoor area but told they could walk around the outside of the market to re-enter the hall area.

There you have it, the produce guys can open on Thursdays when there are very few customers and close on Friday nights when they have established huge customer following. Not to mention the almighty $’s in the Murdoch pocket once again; Thursday trade is of course another way of increasing rents even more.

Friday night you can shop in the hall but you can't continue through to the yard for any food related product. Sunday you can buy your lunch at 8am but then you would need to wait around a few hours to enter the indoor area.

Seriously, if you would like to shop at the markets, don’t rely on the website it’s a bit complex and contradictory at the moment. When they do get it streamlined it will probably look like a train timetable. Why not just email or phone and ask for today’s hours. If enough people call they might put a recorded message on which they could update each week. They could even add a press 2 button for people wondering what stalls might still be operating each week.

If this year's mayhem is an indication of their 21st century vision then I have a great idea:
Why not put the stalls on ebay and auction trading times? Customers can bid on when they would like to shop and even select what stalls they would like to browse. Stall sizes and location are already being changed at whim so why not trading hours? Why not individualize it rather than section it?

Phone (08) 9335 2515
Fax (08) 9336 1704
email info@fremantlemarkets.com.au

http://sonyagreen.blogspot.com/

Cr Robert Fittock made sexually charged remarks

2009-10-13T09:11:00.003+08:00

Copy of article in the Fremantle Herald by JENNY D'ANGER Sept 26th 09

Complain and keep quiet, ok

Sonya Green wont formally complain to Fremantle council about hummilitating comments made by a councillor because she doesnt want to be gagged.

Under council policy both parties are required to keep all aspects of complaints confidential "until such time as the complaint is deemed to be no longer confidential by the person recieving the complaint".

Ms Green remains angry and fears her case will simply disappear into the beauracatic ether.

"It could drag on," she said bitterly.

Cr Robert Fittock made sexually charged remarks in an email to the mayor, councillors and CEO Graeme Mackenzie in response to Ms Green's blog criticising the Fremantle Markets("Fittock under fire for sleezy email," Herald Sept 19, 2009)

At this weeks council meeting he offered a "sincere and unconditional apology".

"My misguided and regrettable attempt at humour was partly an expression of my frustration in response to such blogging," he said.

Cr Fittock said he tried to contact Ms Green to make a personal apology "but she declined to speak with me".

http://sonyagreen.blogspot.com/

Cr Fittock apologises. Local government complaints

2009-10-13T08:33:00.007+08:00

Fremantle Council Minutes re Fittock's apology (23rd Sept o9)

Cr Robert Fittock requested the opportunity to make a statement to the Council and Members of the Public in which the Mayor accepted and the statement was as follows.

I wish to offer my sincere and unconditional apology to Sonya Green for the offensive comments made by me in an internal email to fellow Councillors. I tried, through an intermediary, to contact Ms Green to apologise in person but she declined to speak with me.

She has, however, recorded on her blog that she is deeply offended and would not accept any apology from me.

I accept that I’m not the most subtle kid on the block. From time to time I am given to impulsive comments and I know that must change. I also accept that with contentious community issues the one who raises his head above the crowd makes himself the target for those who disagree.

Personal blog attacks are new to me and who really knows if they are meant to be real, truthful, or even an attempt at humour. I struggled to genuinely deal with this.

My misguided and regrettable attempt at humour was partly an expression of my frustration in response to such blogging. However, that does not excuse the hurt and embarrassment that it has brought upon not only to the blogger in question, but also to my fellow Councillors, Council, the community and in particular, to my wife, my children,family and friends. For which I am truly sorry.

Note: Cr Robert Fittock requested that a copy of this statement be tabled in the Minutes and form part of the attachments. He also issued copies to the press.

PUBLIC QUESTION
Cr John Dowson - Through the Mayor, Cr Dowson ask two question for a response from Mr Glen Dougall, as follows: The first question is in relation to complaints against Councillors from other Councillors or from the Public. When Mrs Green complained about the e-mail that Councillor Fittock address at the beginning of the meeting, she was given advice by you and two other Councillors that complaints should go to the CEO. I would like Mr Dougall to clarify the process for complaints?

Summary of Response from Glen Dougall, Director Corporate Services
In relation to the first question, if a member of the public wants to make a complaint against an Elected Member, there is two ways to do that. One is through the City of Fremantle Code of Conduct which requires that to be done through myself as the complaints officer and will then be passed onto an assessment panel, which under the Code of Conduct are the Mayor and Deputy Mayor and Cr Thompson is a 3rd party just in case the complaint is against the Mayor or Deputy Mayor. The second way to do that is to make a complaint under the Rules of Conduct Regulations under the Local Government Act, which can also be made through myself and then passed onto the Department of Local Government.

Cr Donna Haney - Asked a question for clarification as follows: The ability of a member of public to make a complaint that's heard under the Rules of Conduct Regulations by thedepartment's panel. But I understood that because our Standing Orders are not a Local Law that that panel has no jurisdiction to hear complaints in that manner.

Summary of Response from Graeme Mackenzie, Chief Executive Officer
No the standards panel certainly does have jurisdiction. The Rules of Conduct is a piece of legislation, our Standing Orders are not a Local Law that is correct, our Code of Conduct has no force of law either it's a voluntary code, all be it that the Council's are required by law to have a Code of Conduct, there is no repercussion for a breech of the Code of Conduct other then an internal breech and perhaps a censure motion or something to that affect may occur if an Elected Member has deemed to have acted inappropriate. The Rule of Conduct are quite different, the Rules of Conduct lay down seven areas where a Councillor can breech the Rules of Conduct and if he or she does so and a complaint is made and an Elected Member has been found to be guilty of that, by the Standards Panel, they can issue a great raft of remedies from an apology right up unto a sacking.

http://sonyagreen.blogspot.com/

Cr Robert Fittock curious about my sex

2009-09-19T11:22:00.012+08:00

It’s been a crazy week, ending up with a somewhat severe looking photograph of me on the front page of the Fremantle Herald. I never imagined that my fifteen minutes of fame would involve a Fremantle councillors curiosity or fascination about my genitals.

The huge headline “Fittock under fire for ‘sleazy’ email” was undoubtedly an embarrassment to Fremantle council. The email in question was and continues to be an embarrassment to me. Although I am offended and angry I am also quite willing to bring it out into the public arena.

Apart from the obvious intention to belittle or insult me, the sexual undertones suggest a bullying implication. If he had said it or even emailed it to his like-minded colleagues it might have been viewed as schoolboy smut or immaturity. Sending to all councillors was disrespectful and as one person mentioned it had a subtle sense of intimidation; a covert suggestion that this is what happens when you cross him.

Initially I wrote a somewhat provocative and critical letter to all councillors in reference to the decline of the Fremantle markets. The exact copy is on this blog under the title of back yard piss up. Yes, I acknowledge that this is a little crass but deliberately so for effect.

Only three councillors replied. Cr’s Lauder and Dowson wrote to express understanding of my concerns and frustration. Cr Fittock wrote nothing more than a sarcastic quip about my blog and it was something along the line of the internet being the dunny wall of the world. (Dunny is Australian slang for toilet)

He then shot of his email to the mayor, CEO and all councillors:
“Don’t ya just love her…if in fact she has a womb…hermaphrodite maybe…or just someone with a teensy weensy weenie.”

I am not so precious that I get offended by dirty jokes and I really don’t care if people blow off steam in-house. It is my opinion that a joke must be clever or funny and this is clearly neither.

This says nothing about me but it does say an awful lot about cr Fittock. Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung or indeed any psychiatrist or psychologist would have their work cut out in analysing this subconscious.

Cr Fittock is an elected member and is expected to represent the people. When he was asked by the Herald to comment he said he had never spoken to me personally and his ‘flowery’ wording was his way of asking whether the blogger was a woman. He followed this stupid statement with “If I need to apologise I will but I wont do it until I get advice.

He then complained that he should be able to email colleagues without fearing his comments will leak. He said he would lodge an official complaint with the CEO.
(Interesting priority – good luck with that. Must be reassuring to the public that you put yourself first and appear oblivious to the trouble you’re in and the trouble you have created.)

The incident happened over a week ago. He has had time to prepare a reasonable statement and if this is the best he can do then we can only wonder about the mans intelligence or right to represent his constituents. I have not had an apology from him and after that comment, why would I accept one now? I will mention that Cr’s Lauder, Haney, Adeane and deputy mayor Dowson have all contacted me and apologised on behalf of council.

Adele Carles called me as soon as she read the article to see how I was and offered assistance and support. No wonder she blitzed mayor Tagliaferri at the last bi-election. His only comment to me was something along the lines of what email are you referring to?

The Herald quoted him as saying that the comments and their public disclosure would both undergo ‘due process’ but he too was concerned councillors might feel hesitant about open expression if they couldn’t trust that internal emails would remain private. He foolishly continued with “There have been emails in the past that were seriously on the edge but they haven’t gone outside.

When I commented that cr’s Dowson and Lauder has expressed their embarrassment and put forward their apology other councillors turned on them in a witch-hunt manner and accused them of leaking the email to me. In-house the biggest debate was about the leak not the offense!

The Herald did get comment from the councillors who were still focused on the main issue and not playing into the diversionary tactics of the others:
“Sleazy, almost a sexual put down,” Cr Georgie Adeane said.

“It's belittling for everyone on council…It’s horrible” said Shirley Mackay, a mayoral aspirant. “I can understand someone calling for his resignation.”

Cr Donna Haney was “Disturbed” such comments could be “made by an elected member about someone in our community.”

Cr Les Lauder was “utterly disgusted” adding “I don’t believe that such a person should be on council.”

Although this is a very ‘unsexy’ cause, I will push on and allow my face to expose this type of nastiness. It seems to me that Fremantle council is divided in many ways and it is apparent to me that one team works so hard and ethically and the other works defensively, neutrally or politically. I don’t want to be involved with politics but it appears to me that it is always the same people who step up and show themselves.

Fremantle is about to elect a new mayor and of the in-house aspirants Shirley Mackay was the only one to comment on this issue and didn’t run for cover.

Pettitt, a good mate of Fittock was silent, overall they all did the old Tafliaferri shoe shuffle or played under the radar. Perhaps it would be wise to bring in someone from outside the clique. I fear a Tagliaferri protégé will allow this old boys club to continue.

I still haven’t had any real answer to my original email about the markets but Colin Wright challenged Brad Pettitt to put his ideas to the public in plain black and white. Brad wrote to the editor of the Herald and this is what he said:

‘As Colin Wright’s letter (Pettitt’s too little too late, Sept 5, 2009) attests the recent angst over the markets lease made it very difficult for a useful dialogue to occur between all parties.

Now the head lease and rental issues have been resolved I hope council can work in a more productive fashion to revitalise the markets (the Growers Market is an exciting first step) while addressing stallholders concerns over the transition.

Is that the best you can do Brad? All parties exclude the stallholders completely and the Growers Market looks like a school fete.

Fremantle to elect new mayor

2009-09-14T08:39:00.003+08:00

Politically, the Fremantle Markets is a big issue. It played a big part in Adele Carles triumphant win in the election earlier this year and not only influenced Mayor Tagliaferri’s embarrassing loss but more importantly forced him into the limelight.

Under such close scrutiny he was forced to show who he really was and what he was really made of. The general consensus is evident by the result.

Now, with the upcoming election for a new mayor the pressure is on again. A few of the present councilors are vying for the job and a lot of soft shoe shuffling is going on. Obviously, aspirants would like to look like they are capable of fixing the market issues. Some have, up until now, shown no interest or indeed opposed intervention and opted for a wait until it goes away approach.

A few outsiders are running for position and might be worthy of consideration. Someone fresh; without Tagliaferri’s influence, personality bias or emotional baggage might be the better option. Michael Martin is looking good at the moment and I would be very interested to hear more of what he has to say.

So far all that has been offered are platitudes and vague definitions. No-one can even get clear about definitions such as;
Security of tenure
Low cost environment
Fair market rent

Let’s just lock in straight forward plans and then work out from there. Follow through, modify, disagree or deny them but stop all the smoke and mirrors and stop pretending to look into it. A real leader must have a strategy and put it into action. If it can’t be done or won’t be done then step up and say so.

A number of points keep being raised but never addressed; let’s start here:

An effective working group; council, management and stallholders working together until decisions are made and carried through. So far meetings appear to be casual chit-chats, stallholders have been excluded, attendance seems optional and nothing constructive has ever happened. There must be quarterly meetings with everyone attending.

Tenancy agreements offer no real security of tenure. What has happened to the 5 year+5 year option? At the moment some stallholders can not sell businesses as FMPL will only offer prospective purchasers a 6 month trial. No one in their right mind would pay out tens of thousands of dollars for a stall with only a 6 month trial period.

Instead of paying out phenomenal fees to lawyers why not compensate businesses which are being forced out? Not only a cheaper and cleaner option but a fairer, faster and easier solution.

Offer and then support a transition period to allow people to modify, sell or reinvent their businesses.

Define what a market is. Much of the redevelopment plans sound like imitating Harrods or David Jones; then it’s a growers market and food emporium; next it’s an arts exhibition - what is it? Previously it has been a bazaar style shopping experience with an emphasis on value for money, eclectic and unique merchandise, vibrant and casual entertainment, artistic and handmade products, busking, exotic smells and heaps of personality and community spirit. It has always been, and successfully so, a leisurely weekend outing. Does the council or the community want to change the nature of the markets?

Fremantle Markets back yard piss-up and sexy apples

2009-09-12T11:43:00.004+08:00

“At Fremantle Markets, we will create ‘WA's Gourmet Heaven’. A food retailing, entertainment and educational centre that will rival...”

That quote by the Murdoch’s came from the business plan they submitted to council and pretty much sums up the crap that influenced the decision to give them the renewal of the lease.

Not only did their grossly overstated or deluded proposition get them the lucrative lease but it also plays a great part in the present chaos, the predictable destruction of the markets and tragic circumstances of the stallholders.

Originally, it was mayor Tagliaferri’s vision, although he at least, justified his redevelopment plans by asserting that a gourmet, upmarket food area could bring greater custom into the Fremantle area during the week. He compared the markets to Eastern States markets and also had previous experience in a similar business. A stupid or ill-conceived idea all the same.

For reasons I will never understand, both he and the Murdoch’s, talked about wine tasting, cooking demonstrations, cheese, olives and specialty meats like doorways to Utopia. They imagined tens of thousands of tourists and locals flooding Fremantle and bringing it into a state of excitement. Apparently, some councilors took that as fact.

The stallholders, (they are the ones on the floor every week; year in and year out; talking with customers, creating and maintaining goodwill; investing their time, money and talents and most importantly, having the knowledge, experience and expertise which has made the markets the success story of Fremantle for the past thirty years,) repeatedly pointed out that it would not only fail but it was in great part the reasoning behind the massive rent increases, it would separate the markets into two separate operations, it was not commercially competitive or demographically viable.

The first serious question is, “Why is a business plan not significant?” Is it nothing more than an idea or a possibility at the time; a marketing ploy? I would have thought it was an agreement – a promise or reference point.

If the business plan determines the vote then why is it superfluous?

Unless this is addressed, then I can only assume that anyone is welcome to show up at council and tell them what they want to hear, and then be granted whatever they want. With no obligation to fulfill any of it!

In a nutshell, Tagliaferri gave the Murdoch’s the criteria required to get it over the line, they ‘talked his talk’ and then it was all filed away under ‘meaningless paperwork, stamped and complete.’

Well, we are now a year down the track and we are no longer talking hypothetically; the reality is there - amongst the carnage. No longer much point in harping on about the stallholder’s atrocious treatment, but certainly and urgently, we must talk about the present state of decline and the impending trashing of the market itself.

We had Tagliaferri’s description of a superglam gourmet emporium, the Murdoch’s food from heaven and my observation of Carnival Fare.

Two weeks ago, they opened their Wednesday growers market. The launch seemed to be promoted by nothing more than baskets of apples with, “I’m a sexy apple…” as the marketing slogan. (vomit)

Long term, stable, savvy operators have been downsized, forced out, evicted and repositioned for what? A back alley, tacky, desperate looking collection of food vendors selling paper-bag-walk-around snacks and a few common grocery items.

The suarve-o wine tasting is a little corner booze table catering to John Murdoch and a few stragglers and the cooking school appeared to be something happening from a wok!

The crowds showed up in their tens!

The new food vendors tried to look cheerful but, Sesames Street’s Count, would tell you that it’s unlikely that many would have made enough to cover their subsidized rent. How insulting to the stall-holders having to pay increased rents to cover the low rents of the new casuals.

The first week could only be described as ordinary at best, but the decrease in return vendors the following week was obvious and next week will be predictably less I am sure.

Where were Fremantle councilors? I would strongly suggest that bickering time is over, and unless someone steps in right now and does something to gain some control, then you can all walk away in shame. This is no longer a stall-holder problem. This is a glimpse of the next 17 years. This is the Fremantle Markets falling down on your shift.

Do you think it might be worth getting your arses down there next Wednesday and having a look at your legacy?

Robert Fittock. No time to read mail.

2009-09-12T08:39:00.002+08:00

I was a bit surprised by last week’s letter to the editor by Cr Robert Fittock. His indifference to the plight of the stallholders has been obvious but to publicly state his desire to get over it and move on shows how oblivious he is to the long term repercussions of the real issues.

When hundreds of public submissions were sent to council protesting against the Murdoch application, he openly stated that he didn’t have time to read all that mail. What does that mean? Is that the attitude we expect from the people we elect to represent us?

The Murdoch’s were granted the lease because they stated:

Commitment to continue to provide a low cost trading environment despite capital expenditure and trading initiatives

At Fremantle Markets, we will create WA's gourmet heaven. A food retailing, entertainment and educational centre that will rival...
More efficient and effective use of the community asset, but retaining existing traditional 3 day trading market.
We support internal changes but only if space is used effectively, maximize stallholder/customer interaction.
Number of stalls must not decrease.
To provide goods and services that exceeds the shopper’s expectations.
To provide quality, range, uniqueness and value for money
Develop range of local produce - uniquely West Australian Goods; handmade on site to encourage interactivity.

It’s easy to see why the stallholders feel betrayed. Rents have increase by around 80%.
They have been relocated to inferior positions, out priced and forced to leave; unable to sell and at a loss of livelihood and goodwill, or evicted.
‘Gourmet Heaven’ is nothing more than food served in paper bags.
Trading hours keep changing.
Artisans have been priced out.
The markets are being sectioned into two separate parts.

Above all else though, the markets are already showing signs of decline and chaos. The new rents will set a new bar for rents throughout Fremantle and the whole community will be picking up the tab in increased prices across the board.

Thankfully, most of the councilors do not take the easy or disinterested view of Cr Fittock. If a business plan is nothing more than paper work with no accountability and promises are meaningless then where does that take the future of Freo?

Robert Fittock - outrageous!

2009-09-12T07:44:00.010+08:00

ROBERT FITTOCK'S letter about the Fremantle Markets
(Market man, Herald letters, August2 9,2009)
is one of the most outrageous I have read for years.

He criticises a decision of his own council to investigate massive rent increases at Fremantle Markets and alleged mistreatment of stallholders by the head lessee.

He says the review was initiated by a"few"councillors "who appear to hold an unhealthy and vindictive grudge against [FremantleMarkets Pty Ltdl".

In March a special meeting of council was called. One hundred aggrieved stallholders and others turned up to vent their anger, hurt, and distress at the treatment they alleged they were getting.

Question time went on for two hours as speaker after speaker in the packed council chamber told their stories.

The mayor, along with Crs Brad Pettitt, Doug Thompson, Jon Strachan, John Alberti and Robert Fittock - all of whom had voted to give the markets to FMPL for 18 years - were absent.

Cr Fittock did turn up late but voted against investigating the alleged abuses.

Cr Fittock may like to explain who is going to paythe $4.5 million needed to fix the markets, since the lease he voted for does not require the Murdoch's to pay for it.

John Dowson
Deputy Mayor
Fremantle
Editor's note: This letter has been substantially edited for length.

John Dowson not interested in being new Fremantle mayor

2009-09-12T07:35:00.004+08:00

Media Statement

Why I am not running for Mayor of the City of Fremantle

I am not nominating as a mayoral candidate. For the past 4 years as Deputy Mayor I have worked very hard to represent the community interest in the face of mediocrity and vested interests.

The community, while tired of internal bickering, has not fully appreciated the necessity for the battles waged to get better decisions and a better future for Fremantle.

I believe that a fresh and mature face such as Michael Martin will unite the council. A vote for Brad Pettitt, who is backed by Peter Tagliaferri, and the very people who, for example, have given us the Fremantle Markets and SMRC Waste Management fiascos, would be a vote for a continuation of big business and factional interest over community interest.

It is obvious that political parties such as Labor and the Greens want to have a major influence in these council elections. For the mayoralty and in the wards, Fremantle needs to elect community candidates, not party ones.

Good luck to all candidates.
John Dowson
Deputy Mayor
City of Fremantle

Look before you lease. What didn't they get?

2009-08-05T12:43:00.004+08:00

Fremantle Markets Pty Ltd presentation to council Feb 26th 2008.
(Some of the questions raised by councillors prior to the lease being granted)

Summary of question asked by Cr Bill Massie: So the current stallholders are guaranteed security?

Summary of response from Jamie Murdoch They are guaranteed security under the working group and under the lease. The lawyer that the stallholders have engaged, there was a meeting that a couple of the Councillors went to prior to Christmas and the lawyer said that the stallholders will have more security under the new lease then the old lease. The new lease allows us to offer our stallholders a 5 year lease, with the opportunity for a 5 year option. We want our stallholders to continue, we have a database, as I said, of 200 stallholders who are all fantastic people. There are initiatives that we want to implement, so the 3 day a week markets stays but there are various sections of the market that can come alive on the Tuesday or a Wednesday or whenever to suit the various need that Lee and Anne have identified.

Summary of question asked by Cr Bill Massie: So the weekend market would not be forced into working 7 days?

Summary of response from Jamie Murdoch

No. We have gone through that process with the Thursday trial. These initiatives are just initiatives, to sit down and discuss and consider. )

Summary of question asked by Cr Les Lauder: In your presentation you showed a food court, is that towards the centre.

Summary of response from Jamie Murdoch

It is between the fruit and vegetable section and the main building. We think there is an ideal opportunity to explore having that as a food court, it's a good link between the Henderson street mall foot court, down the lane way and into a nice area under the tarpaulin before you get into the main heritage building. We think that could be created into some sort of food court and entertainment area, which is one idea that we have.

Summary of question asked by Cr Les Lauder: What would happen to the stallholders that are currently there?

Summary of response from Jamie Murdoch

They would be relocated to other places. These are purely ideas and we are going to
have to discuss them further. They have not been discussed with anybody outside of this room. We don't want to loose any stallholders, we want all the stallholders we have to come along.

Summary of question asked by Cr Les Lauder: But you said that the ones that will be displaced by the food court will be put elsewhere. I don't understand what would happen to the ones who are elsewhere now.

Summary of response from John Murdoch A lot of those stalls that are in that section, are casual stalls anyway, so they would be easily relocated to other casual spots and if it got turned into a food court, we would look after the stallholders that are there.

Summary of question asked by Cr Bill Massie: If you open 6 or 7 days a week, the current stallholders, are they going to be mobile or will they still have their positions?

Summary of response from Jamie Murdoch They will still have their position. The whole Market will still come alive on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. All stallholders are welcome to come along for the future of the Fremantle Markets for the next 20 years that the Council and the Working Group will govern, we are not precluding anyone. We have a database of 200 fantastic stallholders and we want to give them the opportunity to come along for the next 10-20 years.

Listed below are some of the concerns raised by stallholders at the time:
(on record - verbatim of some of the responses from those aware of the business plan)
- Have heard that the rents will be going up 10% market rent...if rents go up crafts people will not be able to afford the rent and I feel that $2 type shops would move in and change the markets.
-Only that rents remain at a fair and reasonable rate given that it is a market, markets are a low rent situation
-I'm concerned that not enough attention has been put into the size of rent increases that we can expect the new business plan. Rent increases need to be strictly controlled.
- Fee increases have occurred.
-They are putting up rents unnecessarily to squeeze people out and put more tenants in.
- Stop putting up rents.

Uncertainty about tenure:
- They are stripping the stallholders of all rights, they can ask you to leave or move your stall.
- No protection to stallholders
-Make sure that leaseholders rights are protected when it comes to resale of stalls
-Regarding relocation of our site or moving us out all together - I would like some clarification on this.
-Will they start anew and will we lose our current location.

Lack of involvement and representation of the stallholders association:
-Why is the stallholders association not recognised in this lease?
-We don't have a voice anymore, the association of the stallholders will be eradicated and not given a voice
-Meeting should be more open and not behind closed doors, it seems too buddy-buddy; you scratch my back. They are unprofessional and unapproachable. They should include a stallholders representative in all meetings.
-The stallholders association has not been mentioned in the new business plan.

And then the amazing quotes and promises from the Murdoch's;

At Fremantle Markets, we will create WA's gourmet heaven. A food retailing, entertainment and educational centre that will rival...

More efficient and effective use of the community asset,but retaining existing traditional 3 day trading market.

Commitment to continue to provide a low cost trading environment despite capital expenditure and trading initiatives

We support internal changes but only if space is used effectively, maximize stallholder/customer interaction. Number of stalls must not decrease.

To provide goods and services that exceed the shoppers expectations.
To provide quality, range,uniqueness and value for money
Develop range of local produce - uniquely West Australian
Goods handmade on site to encourage interactivity - glassblowers/metalworkers/pottery makers

In Summary:
We subsidise rents to make a low cost trading environment
We have the support of a large majority of stallholders
We have NEVER "sacked" a stallholder
In conclusion:
It's time to end the uncertainty
Time to allay stallholders' fears about the future
Time to give ratepayers a better return on their asset
Time to stop the bickering and let us get on with the job

Jamie Murdoch's curious bean counting

2009-08-04T06:39:00.009+08:00

John and Jamie Murdoch have an accountancy background. They understand that if you double a tenants rent you can make off with a truckload of money. As businessmen though, they don't quite grasp the fact that if you kill the golden goose it stops laying golden eggs.

Reading through the transcript of last Fridays nights Stateline telecast leaves me very curious about their sums.
http://www.abc.net.au/stateline/wa/content/2006/s2644274.htm

Quote JAMIE MURDOCH: The average stall is still paying about $300 a week to trade at the Fremantle markets for a Friday, Saturday and Sunday. It equates to approximately $12 per trading hour. So we still think that's a low-cost environment.

Quote PENNY BANNISTER, FORMER STALLHOLDER: I'm told my rent is going to be times three, like treble what it had been. So I thought - I laughed at first, I think, it was so over the top it was ridiculous.

Quote BOB WILLIAMS, FORMER STALLHOLDER: I was told I couldn't sell it as a fish shop and what was the future? - $1,700 extra out of my pocket each month. So I thought it was the time to leave.

REBECCA BOTELER: Mr Murdoch says he's been forced to increase rents because the owner of the building, the City of Fremantle, put his rent up by about 12 per cent. But that doesn't wash with the Stallholders' Association, which says the Murdochs have passed on increases of 50-100 per cent.

GRAEME MACKENZIE, CEO, FREMANTLE COUNCIL: The Council's intent was always to recognise that it's a market. It's not a shopping centre, it's a market, and it's a low-cost environment. And I guess that's probably where the rents that have actually been imposed under the valaution have been unexpected, because we don't think it's probably a low-cost environment anymore under those arrangements.

Of course we all laughed when we heard the Murdoch's research (The council didn't check the figures but the stall-holders crunched down the numbers)
The asserted that 40,000 people attend the markets each week end and spend on average $45 per person =$1800000 that divided by approx 170 stall holders means that they average a weekend turnover of $10,588. (Is there a stall in there that would even hold that amount of stock? Aparently most of them are millionaires!)

And beautifully put by Penny Bannister when she spoke about how it was:
The whole place was like an ecological system, you know, a really wonderful dynamic system that fed off each other and itself and the energy in there was great.
It's changed because they've upset the balance, and in the process of doing that, by trying to take far too much money out.

http://sonyagreen.blogspot.com/

Fremantle council have failed miserably

2009-08-03T09:18:00.003+08:00

Fremantle council have failed miserably as custodians of the Fremantle markets. As a public asset they need to address the fact that they have allowed private enterprise to pocket ratepayer money. The council has written themselves out of the controlling seat and allowed the very nature of the markets to be vulnerable and compromised. There are very serious questions which must be asked and answered:

How professional are your processes and outcomes.
Did you achieve the best deal for the ratepayers?
How much has this debacle cost the ratepayers in legal fees and council administrative time?
What happened to your stated intent of the “Low Cost Environment?”
Jamie Murdoch said on Stateline that average rents are *$300. (3 days trade)
That figure multiplied by 173 stalls x 52weeks = $2.7 million. Rent to council $550,000.
Who got it wrong? Council valuer or Murdoch valuer? Is a 400% Murdoch profit ethical or acceptable?
* $300 is understated but not worth arguing about, I think the figures above make the point.

And even now, a year later, all parties agreed to review the valuations and accept the umpire’s decision but the council has once again been wishy-washy in their instruction. Why have they not called for a full and independent evaluation without biased instruction? Why is the report marked confidential rather than have full transparency to all concern parties. The specific brief only questioned if the Murdoch valuation was ‘within the range of fair market rent’. The conclusion was that it was but, that is not a defined estimate of value.

This is of vital importance as the repercussions will be far reaching. This valuation will impact on commercial real estate throughout the Fremantle CBD. The council is already lamenting the recent loss of a number of large retailers and the impact of that on surrounding businesses. It’s no secret that the markets have had enormous pulling power over the years and that businesses through the town have profited by the overflow of traffic. It seems that the council, like the Murdoch, view the markets as just another shopping venue but time will tell the story.

Most recent post http://sonyagreen.blogspot.com/

The Murdochs have proved their point

2009-07-31T18:48:00.004+08:00

There is one glaring fact to consider. The Councils rent rise was 12% and the Murdochs themselves have openly confirmed that thier true value is 80%. Obviously the Murdoch's will concede that they owe Fremantle council the difference. Surely Fremantle council will now amend their figures and pass on the 'correct' increase to the Murdochs.

Divine retribution? Can't wait for the next rental review on the head-lease.

http://sonyagreen.blogspot.com/

Letter to Fremantle council and The Hon G.M. Castrilli

2009-07-31T18:45:00.007+08:00

Letter to Fremantle council and The Hon G.M. Castrilli

I am so sickened by Fremantle Council’s blatant disrespect for the Fremantle Market stall-holders that I submit this as an official complaint.

After almost a year of pleading with council to have an independent valuation done on the Fremantle markets, to settle the dispute between the Murdoch management and the stall-holders, we finally discovered that the report was in a month ago. (or being edited by the lawyers no doubt?)

The stall-holders were notified by the press!

Colin Wright, the stall-holder spokesperson, contacted the council twice to see the report. His lawyer requested it twice as well and he was also blown off. Finally, it was found posted on the Councils website. (The condensed version - all details hidden by confidentiality) They didn’t even have the courtesy to direct him to the website.

What kind of professional standard is this? Just common decency I would expect; especially knowing full well the repercussions and sheer devastation that this decision has on so many people.

Shame on you all

2 weeks later: The Hon G.M. Castrilli replied with a letter saying he is in no position to act on these matters - basically, no rules were broken.

http://sonyagreen.blogspot.com/

The end of an era for Freo markets

2009-07-31T14:59:00.003+08:00

I have the highest respect for most of the councillors at Fremantle council. In a previous post I have named the extraordinary people who have stretched themselves in their determination to get things right for Fremantle and specifically the Fremantle Markets and the stall-holders.

Personally, I don’t understand the motivation of community-minded, ethical and passionate people taking on the thankless and sometimes sacrificial tasks of council. It impresses and heartens me to see the hard work, long hours and commitment they have demonstrated. But, how they function in such a dysfunctional environment is truly beyond my comprehension.

Obviously it is naïve of me to believe that government operates on a system of ‘the ultimate good of the majority’; fair play, common sense, community protection, environmental respect, prosperity and progress, heritage and tradition, well equipped services and support. I think some of these issues are the motivations for good people to step up and serve on council, but cynically, I do seriously wonder how anything can be done without enormous frustration, delay and nit-picking. On a more subtle level, are the personality conflicts, political posturing and personal agendas. You need to understand the languages of jargon, spin, dodge, bamboozle, gobble-de-gook, dismiss, talking without saying and open-minded-non-commit. You might receive an answer as a synopsis which has no content or a lengthy document which numbs the brain and convinces you that you don’t understand the answer. Unless you are very tenacious, you just might not get an answer at all.

Probably the most frustrating and time consuming but seemingly vital consideration, is ‘the legalities’. Everything is filtered through legal rights and responsibilities and the interpretation of…

And this leads me to where we are today.

The council renewed the Fremantle Market lease with the Murdoch brothers after much opposition, debate and legal advice. The councillors voted 6-7 in favour. It later came to our attention that the councillors were not privy to confidential information and had to vote according to direction given by the council’s lawyers.

Three, have since stated off record, that they would not have voted in favour if they had known then what they now know. Well that and other discrepancies are all water under the bridge now and I won't go into all the details but to say that the lawyers who drew up the lease and the councillors who were either ill-informed or indifferent to the predictions of the stall-holders or the 500 letters of opposition are now left with the reality that the Fremantle Markets are in a state of collapse.

As much as I would love to tell of individual and tragic stories of betrayal, intimidation, vendettas and sheer nastiness, I can not at this point, as it would identify people still struggling with the reality that they will soon need to shut up shop and walk away from their business. The council was warned this would happen and gave reassurances (not in writing) that stall-holders would be protected. And yet, no consideration or legal protection was written into the head lease. The stall-holders association was actually taken out of the renewed lease. (How could the lawyers get it so wrong?) Not only that, but they didn’t even give the council itself any real power. In effect they basically gave the Murdoch’s a free run for 20 odd years with virtually no accountability to either the council or the stall-holders.

The new head-lease did come with a rental increase of 12% which was probably fair at the time; considering it was at the height of the real estate boom and economic times in Western Australia were very, very good. The council confirmed that they had the rent valued by a licensed valuer. How the Murdoch’s could justify passing on an 80% increase to stall-holders is gobsmackingly incredulous! Why the council didn’t jump into action at the first notification is beyond me. No one said anything until the stall-holders showed up, and even then, the council dived for cover and said it was out of their hands and a matter for the Murdoch’s and the stall-holders to sort out. (Legally we don’t need to do anything, we are not accountable. Basically, ‘go tell someone who cares.)

The stall-holders had nowhere to go but to their own lawyers and begin what was to become a year long battle to get council to agree to another valuation. This was only done after the stall-holders themselves employed a valuer; who strongly confirmed that NO rent increase was justifiable. Understandably so, due to the current economic recession, falling interest rates and estimated 20% drop in real estate right across the board.

Strangely, the head lease stated a 12% rise between council and the Murdoch’s and yet the stall-holders rents were to be determined by “Fair Market Rent”. Why? And this is the main issue of contention.

How is fair market rent determined or interpreted and how flexible is the scale?

Wouldn’t you think that the fastest and easiest way to sort this out would be to have a completely new independent valuation done? That’s what the stall holders thought when they had theirs done, but unfortunately, as they were not given access to the markets, the valuation was considered incomplete. However, it was compelling enough to force the council to have their own done – even if it took a year! I also mention that the stall-holders report was completely transparent and the methodology was explained throughout; price comparisons to other markets in the Eastern States as well as WA, shopping centres and businesses within the Fremantle CBD.

This week the Murdoch’s sent a press release out stating that the new appraisal has justified their 80% increase. No one from the council informed the stall holders and even after two requests from Colin Wright and two more from the stall-holders lawyers the council did not speak with or notify the stall-holders. Colin Wright found a synopsis of the findings on the Fremantle council website. The council did not even have the courtesy to direct him to the website! I find this contemptuous act of disrespect so offensive I will be writing to the Minister of Local Gov and the council myself.

It was NOT a new and independent valuation. It is a report given under the direction of the lawyers to assess if the Murdoch’s valuation was done by acceptable methodology and that the increase was “WITHIN THE RANGE” of fair market rent.
(Would zero to 100 be within the range?)

The details of the report remain private and confidential. No one, not even the councillors get to see how the report was compiled and I don’t think anyone (other than the lawyers and the council administrators) knows what the lawyer’s direction was.
(Bear in mind the same lawyers implemented the lease and it is in their own interest to find in favour of the Murdoch valuation)

Why is this report not transparent to all concerned parties?

The report is dated 30th of June. Why has it been with the Murdoch and Council lawyers for a month?
(Surely, the valuers report, written in his own words and in full should be presented without any tampering or interpretation by biased parties.)

The bottom line is that the Stall-holders have agreed that they will accept the umpire’s decision and unfortunately this is it. No-one is fooled by any of this, but it is blatantly obvious that this is how the game is played and will continue.

Semantics aside, there is only one definition of fair market rent. The tenant’s right to refuse to pay it.

Already the markets are struggling to find new tenants. There are empty stalls there now and new, casual traders are being offered reduced or more succinctly, ‘subsidized’ rents. Long term tenants have walked and I personally know of at least twenty more making the transition out within the next few weeks. The markets over the past twelve months have taken on a tired, tacky lifelessness and still the Murdoch’s and the council live in denial.

Ironically, if they hadn’t been so defensive and hostile with the stall-holders they could have saved and maintained a much loved icon. Greed, incompetence and arrogance basically, but totally ignorant of the fact that it was always the stall-holders and the customers who made the markets the success that it was. 20 years is a long time, but hey, they climbed into bed together...

http://sonyagreen.blogspot.com/

Deputy John Dowson should stand for mayor of Fremantle

2009-07-23T10:37:00.007+08:00

The following questions were asked of Fremantle council at last months meeting. The questions were not really addressed at the time and the stallholders were left feeling no wiser. Funnily enough and quite by accident I found some attempt at answers on this months agenda. (no one was advised that thier response would be delivered via a synopsis on the councils website) . I'm not too sure what most of it means as it's written in that strange language that only politicians seem to understand.

I think I have a reasonable understanding of English but it seems that "Bamboozle English" is becoming a regular and acceptable means of communication and no one is standing up and saying that they expect language to clearly convey a meaning which is easily comprehended by everyone.

It's obvious to me that Bamboozle English is meant to intimidate, confuse and mislead. Look at insurance policies, warranties, legal documents and terms of condition...

Let's all stop pretending we are stupid and insist that communication, especially legal and political, be clear to the audience it is meant to inform!

And while I'm on about the Fremantle council again, let me just state to those few politically motivated people, now appearing to be interested in cleaning up the market mess, your agenda is quite transparent. You were not there in the beginning, you have played under the radar and now step up in your hero tights and think no one remembers you by your past deeds and actions or lack there of.

There is a huge difference between a soft glove massage and true grit.

The upcoming election for a new mayor will be decided by the people, not spin doctored and definitely not Tagliaferri's Johnny-come-lately proteges.

Deputy John Dowson owns that seat. He has the intelligence, experience, class, ethics and dare I say it, THE BALLS to do the job. Most of all he has the respect of his colleagues and the people of Freo. Seems to me though, that those who would best serve in politics are those who have too much heart for politics. Maybe, just maybe, we can encourage him to step up!

RESPONSE TO PREVIOUS PUBLIC QUESTIONS TAKEN ON NOTICE

Mr Richard Murphy asked a question in relation to a clause in the Fremantle Markets Head Lease in relation to the protection of the stallholders and asked where that clause came from?

Response: That part of the lease comes from the document provided by the City’s solicitors when putting the document together.

Mr Colin Wright, Secretary of the Fremantle Stallholders Association at the Fremantle Markets, asked the following questions:

1. Does the City have the power to enforce the Markets not to increase rent until the alleged breach has been resolved?

Response: Part of the resolution of the current process requires that no further EOI’s are requested from stallholders and there is no requirement for stallholders to respond to them while the review is taking place. FMPL have sought to increase rents under the old licence agreements and Council has agreed to these where rents have not increased for the last two years.

2. Why has the Working Group ignored the quarterly meetings set up by the Stallholder Association to discuss various issues?

Response: The City has requested that copies of minutes of these meetings be provided to the Group.

3. Mr Wright has been told by the Murdoch's have now identified another 20-30 stalls that are incompatible with the new direction of the markets, what will happen to these stallholders?

Response: The Operating Strategy requires a Plan for the turnover of stalls. The Working Group will address any issues relating to to any changes, if approved in this Plan, through that process.

4. Why have all of these breaches, other than the rent increases, not been addressed as a matter of urgency?

Response: As advised last month to Council, the rent issue is being progressed first and the other matters have been put aside whilst this occurs.

5. Who developed the Terms of Reference? Did the City engage Hochkin Hanly? Why didn't the City prepare the brief?

Response: The Terms of Reference for the independent consultant for the rent review was determined by the Working Group in consultation with our solicitors.

6. Can he get a copy of the Terms of Reference?

Response: A copy of the Terms was emailed to Mr Wright on Thursday 25th June, 2009 – the day following the June Council Meeting.

http://sonyagreen.blogspot.com/

random acts of kindness

2009-07-22T14:58:00.001+08:00

A few years ago, I was standing in a supermarket line, feeling my usual impatience and caught up in my mental list of things I needed to do. I was vaguely aware of and irritated with the old man at the counter who seemed to be deliberately moving in slow motion.

He hadn’t bought much but spent a long time excavating long pockets and bringing up a few coins and slowly counting them out. The cashier was mentally smacking the old man into action and looking apologetically at me and the line getting longer behind me.

I realized that the old man had run out of coins and was becoming anxious about not having enough to pay for his groceries; I could feel him imagining what he could take out or do without. He was 70c short.

Without thinking, I pulled out a dollar and handed it to the cashier. I would love to claim this as a random act of kindness but I think the real truth is that I was just being practical about moving the man on so I could get through.

I swear I felt a spotlight shine down on me. The old man looked straight at me and his smile hit me like a wow. The cashier grinned and the people behind me leaned forward. Nothing was said; the man moved on and I stepped into position. But, the goosebumps I felt and the after image of his gratitude left me feeling expanded and floating for hours afterward.

It was an impulse not an intention and certainly the 70c meant nothing to me, but in that moment, to that man, it was a big deal. That man’s smiling face stayed with me for hours after and more than that the sheer expanded lightness I felt was pure magic.

People often say they get more out of giving than receiving; this was the first time that I really got it. I usually think of people’s gratitude as being a matter of politeness; I give, they say thanks and I reply that’s okay – end of story.

Of course, I don’t know the full story behind the old man, but I have thought about it a number of times. It might have been about his need for the food, the anxiety of being hurried or the embarrassment of the situation. Regardless, the man was touched by a kindness and the gratitude he felt was tangible – my heart was expanded and I do believe that the same was true for those who were witness.

Here is what I have learned about kindness:
Kindness has no agenda; it has no expectation, no demand for reimbursement, it comes from the heart or the soul’s desire to lift, heal or fulfil. When an act of kindness comes with an expectation of return it is a covert agreement, a mental form of commerce or manipulation – psychic bartering.

That man doesn’t know it and it took me a while to see it but the kindness was not from me to him; it was from him to me. For only 70c I learned the truth about how the Universe’s economy operates.

Most of us are tunnel-visioned about prosperity - the old world view of work ethics; an honest day’s work for an honest days pay or just the strong belief that nothing comes from nothing or no such thing as a free lunch. The greater part of our survival, commercial/financial belief is based on direct exchange; we exchange goods and services by negotiation and perceived value.

We are very confused about abundance and prosperity and often quite neurotic about receptivity or worthiness.

What most people don’t know is that the Universe has a whole different system operating and it can be viewed as karma, like attracting like or paying forward – it’s a system of gifting. I personally like to refer to it as God’s Shop. It’s a matter of allowing life to gift back to you without any preconceived idea or expectation of what or how or when you receive back what you added to the overall mix.

Unlike physical commerce it is not an agreed exchange. It is an investment in kindness. You just give whatever and whenever you find an opportunity. It’s like a great big charity drive; you gather all of your excess, your overflow and release it into an infinite pool of requirements. Give away all the stuff you no longer need or require or use. Give as much affection, encouragement, compassion and nurturing as you can. Look for opportunities to help; give time, strength, knowledge or action where it’s needed.

It might look like you are throwing out stuff but what is really happening is that you are adding to the invisible and immeasurable pool of the human heart. Kindness creates kindness. There is an infinite supply of goods and services being gifted everywhere you look once you become a participant in the system.

If you look for a reward, insist on repayment or try to manipulate the system it will not work. Everything here works by surrender and being open to receiving. There are infinite possibilities in how it comes back and most of the time you won’t make the connection. If the only reward is the sense of feeling like a good guy for giving away a pair of shoes you didn’t want then let that be it too. But I have seen amazing things happen around me by gifting.

One of the best things about being a gifter is that you stop being attached to things and realize that everything you need will come back to you in better ways when space has been created. Most people hoard when they believe in lack and they end up with a lots of useless junk (physically, emotionally and intellectually) because they won’t let go of the old. More importantly, their belief in lack or habit of hoarding is universally maintaining or creating more lack.

This has been happening all around me and for the most part I have been oblivious to it. One of my biggest obstacles was my impulse to refuse help or my perceived idea of charity. Mostly I saw gifting as an IOU and I said no to so much because I didn’t want to feel indebted or unsure that I could repay.

It wasn’t until my 70c lesson that I realized that there is no debt. Unless I contractually agree then there can not be a debt. If someone gives me something but has a personal agenda without making that clear then that is not a gift - that is emotional blackmail or manipulation and I am not responsible for any disappointment they may experience. I am sorry if they have confused their intention and sorrier if they don’t realize that they are creating more of whatever that is in their own life.

Another interesting twist to gifting is that it is not tit-for-tat. There is no direct exchange between two specific people. If I gift to my friend, I might get nothing back at all or, I might be gifted to from my sister. I might gift out a pair of shoes but be gifted to with a meal. None of that matters; it’s the process or just keeping the ball in the air. I acknowledge that gifting comes back to me multiplied but that is not my motivation.

I want kindness to replace or compete with commercial commerce. I love the idea of recycling, would love to minimize materialism, dismantle greed and envy, and alleviate insecurity, poverty and neediness. People are making themselves sick by working too hard and too long to accumulate and hoard stuff. This is about fear and the belief that life is harsh and that there is not enough to go around. I don’t just mean in a material sense but also within the sheer panic of feeling unsupported, unappreciated and alone. Gifting is not just giving out stuff but giving from the heart; a touch, a kind word, a day’s assistance, sharing tears or fears – caring.

I could (and maybe I will later) write about the phenomenal good fortune and generosity which has come my way in recent years to show examples of how this system works. There have been bigger and grander examples which might be more impressive but to me none compare with the love I felt seeing the beauty of that old mans smile and his gratitude for that 70c.

I would love you to feel that; to feel the surge of your spirit when it connects with the heart of a stranger. I hope my message to you today inspires you to lend yourself to God’s shop. I encourage you to open your arms wide and say yes to life and all of its gifts and remember yourself a creator of your world.
Copyright Sonya Green

a typical example of pollie speak at Freo council

2009-07-02T07:00:00.007+08:00

Fremantle council June 24th meeting - questions and answers (?)

The Deputy Mayor, Cr John Dowson declared the meeting open at 6.00 pm and
welcomed members of the public to the meeting. He made a special welcome to
Fremantle MP Adel Carles and former Fremantle Councillor, Frank Acacella.
(Adel spoke passionately about her concerns about the Fremantle Markets but I was unable to find anything in the minutes to refect her statements)

Deputy Mayor Cr J Dowson made the following statement:

With reference to the front page story in the current Fremantle Herald where the Mayor
accuses me of ‘blatant politicking’, of putting three notices of motion to Council knowing
that he and Cr Thompson would be away, and of preferring ‘to talk to his Liberal mates
rather then his fellow councillors’, I wish to set the record straight.

Firstly, in terms of politicking, I am simply trying to have Council deal with urgent and
important issues which the Mayor has ignored.

Secondly, I did not know that the Mayor and Cr Thompson would be away. I did not know
that Cr Thompson would be away until I sat down with him to discuss my Notice of
Motion regarding the SMRC. And, the Mayor certainly never told me he was going to be
away. In my four years as a Deputy Mayor he has never had the courtesy to give
adequate notice of any absence.

"The Mayor is absent tonight for the forth full Council meeting in a row (except for one appearance during public question time)."

Regardless of their presence or absence, the three Notices of Motion I have tabled are
urgent and need to be dealt with.

Thirdly, it is to be deplored that the Mayor, who ran for the Labor Party in the recent state
election, brings party politics into this chamber by deriding my talks with two
parliamentarians for the areas affected by the SMRC plant, who just happen to be from
the Liberal Party.

Mr Richard Murphy spoke in relation to the Fremantle Markets on a clause in the Head
Lease in relation to the protection of the stallholders and asked where that clause came
from? He also asked who is responsible for there being no adequate protection for the
stallholders in the head lease?

Director Corporate Services, Glen Dougall replied that he would have to take the first
question on notice and believed that the second question was rhetorical.
Seems pretty clear to me - where is the rhetoric? What was that answer?

Cr Dowson asked why he still has no response to his questions asked to the Mayor now
two meetings ago.

(Q1 Resignation: On 14th April I wrote to you concerning the Fremantle By-election
and asked that you resign your position as mayor immediately because you are a
candidate for a Labor Party seat and that in my view your resignation would be “in
the best interests of focused and clear governance.” I have not received a
response to my question. Will you please answer my question.
Q2 Governance: Council passed a resolution that the mayor could not meet with
government or business leaders without the presence of the relevant Senior
Executive model. It appears that this Council resolution has been ignored. Please
indicate:
a) How many times and on which occasions you have breached this resolution?
b) Why the Council resolution has allegedly been breached?)

Director Corporate Services, Glen Dougall replied that under the Local Government Act
an Elected Member is not required to answer a question asked by another Elected
Member. Mmmm

Mr Colin Wright spoke as the secretary of the Fremantle Stallholders Association at the
Fremantle Markets, he spoke in concern to a number of breaches he believes that the
Fremantle Markets Pty Ltd have committed and are continuing to commit. He asked the
following questions:

1. Does the City have the power to enforce the Markets not to increase rent until the
alleged breach has been resolved?
2. Why has the Working Group ignored the quarterly meetings set up by the
Stallholder Association to discuss various issues?
3. Mr Wright has been told by the Murdoch's have now identified another 20-30 stalls
that are incompatible with the new direction of the markets, what will happen to
these stallholders?
4. Why have all of these breaches, other than the rent increases, not been
addressed as a matter of urgency?
5. Who developed the Terms of Reference? Did the City engage Hochkin Hanly?
Why didn't the City prepare the brief?
6. Can he get a copy of the Terms of Reference?

Director Corporate Services, Glen Dougall replied that as a result from meetings with
lawyers and Fremantle Markets Pty Ltd it was decided to concentrate on the rent
increases as it was considered as the most urgent issue as some of the other issues
were being challenged. Mr Dougall will provide Mr Wright with a copy of the Terms of
Reference.
Nice little side-step. Howerver, Deputy Mayor Dowson caught it and gave confirmation that the information would be emailed asap (Dowson should run for mayor in the upcoming election - right on the ball!)

Mr Nicholas Gerr asked the following questions:

1. On what basis can the Mayor or any Council Officer arbitrarily refuse to answer a
question or questions asked of them during the question time of a Council
meeting?
2. Does the CEO of the City have the authority to demand that the Mayor or Council
Officer provide an answer to a question or questions asked of him during the
question time of a Council meeting?
3. On the occasions that a question is Taken on Notice what is the usual time
interval before a response can reasonably be expected to the question?
4. Are there any legislated penalties applicable to those Council staff and/or Officers
who refuse to answer a question or questions presented to them by the public
during question time?
5. I would like to take the questions asked to Mayor by the Cr Dowson two meetings
ago on as my own. Which are:

Q1 Resignation: On 14th April I wrote to you concerning the Fremantle Byelection
and asked that you resign your position as mayor immediately
because you are a candidate for a Labor Party seat and that in my view
your resignation would be “in the best interests of focused and clear
governance.” I have not received a response to my question. Will you
please answer my question.

Q2 Governance: Council passed a resolution that the mayor could not meet
with government or business leaders without the presence of the relevant
Minutes - Ordinary Meeting of Council24 June 2009Page 4
Senior Executive model. It appears that this Council resolution has been
ignored. Please indicate:
a) How many times and on which occasions you have breached this resolution?
b) Why the Council resolution has allegedly been breached?

Director Corporate Services, Glen Dougall replies:

1. Questions taken on notice at public question time are supposed to be responded
to on a reasonable basis.
2. The Local Government Act is the governing body that requires for questions to be
responded to that are taken on notice.
3. Under the Local Government Act it states that a reasonable response in a
reasonable time is to be provided. Generally a month is considered reasonable.
4. There are no penalties I am aware of provided under the Act for failure to answer
questions that are taken on notice, however I am sure the Department of Local
Government to the issues and they would look into it, if it was raised with them.
5. I have also noted that you have now taken Cr Dowson’s previous questions on
notice.
I also notice it has still not been answered

http://sonyagreen.blogspot.com/

unconscionable conduct in breach of the Trade Practices Act 1974

2009-06-30T07:04:00.002+08:00

A case so similar to the Freo Market issues I just had to print it. The days of greedy landlords and the lack of ethical behaviour and bullying tactics are over. People are fighting back and winning!

Federal Court finds retail landlord's conduct unconscionable.

The Federal Court has ordered a Melbourne retail landlord to compensate four tenants after it engaged in unconscionable, misleading and deceptive conduct.
In a victory for the small business operators, the court declared Dukemaster Pty Ltd engaged in unconscionable conduct, misleading and deceptive conduct and made false representations.

The court also declared Dukemaster's general manager of the Paramount Centre, Ms Patricia Wong, was involved in Dukemaster's contravening conduct.

The ACCC alleged Dukemaster, which is a landlord of retail outlets in the Paramount Centre (Bourke Street), engaged in unconscionable conduct in breach of the Trade Practices Act 1974 by taking unfair advantage of its stronger bargaining position, exerting undue pressure and using unfair tactics against four tenants in connection with their leases.

The ACCC also alleged Dukemaster represented to these tenants that it believed rental it proposed was very reasonable and below the market value when in fact this was not the case and that the company did not have a reasonable basis for such a belief.

ACCC Chairman, Mr Graeme Samuel, said the case demonstrated the ACCC's resolve to vigorously protect the interests of small business operators simply unable to stand up to the unconscionable conduct of a party in a superior bargaining position.
The court's declaration of unconscionable conduct by Dukemaster in respect of the four tenants was largely made against a backdrop involving:
small business owners who had no or little ability to speak or read English and Dukemaster's knowledge of that fact;
a proposed rental which was represented by Dukemaster as being reasonable and below market value when this was not the case and where there was no basis for Dukemaster to seek the amount stated;
Dukemaster imposing, without justification or explanation, a very short time frame for the tenants to respond to the proposed rental (often a matter of days was sought and, in one instance, when independent advice was not readily available);
Dukemaster's ongoing failure to comply with Victorian retail leasing legislation; and
Dukemaster threatening to evict or sending letters of demand to certain tenants.

In relation to her finding of unconscionable conduct by Dukemaster against one tenant, Justice Michelle Gordon stated that what had occurred was not a negotiation but an ultimatum and that the tenant had no choice but to accept the rental amount Dukemaster proposed.

Later in her judgment the judge observed in relation to the same tenant that, '…the actions of Dukemaster were deliberate (or at least reckless), showed no regard for conscience and were irreconcilable with what is right or reasonable.' She made similar observations in relation to other tenants.

In addition to the declarations of contravention of the Act, the court made orders including:
injunctions which restrain Dukemaster for a period of three years from engaging in similar conduct; and an order that Dukemaster and Ms Wong pay compensation to the tenants in excess of $275,000 for their loss and damage suffered as a result of the contravening conduct.
The ACCC's proceeding which involved a representative action for four tenants affected by the conduct of their landlord required in effect four separate cases to be run in the one proceeding. The court had to undertake a separate analysis of Dukemaster's contravening conduct in respect of each represented party.

"The approach that had to be taken in this case underscores the fact that the concept of unconscionable conduct is not capable of any easy or ready definition," Mr Samuel said.
The Trade Practices Act 1974 prohibits conduct that is unconscionable 'in all the circumstances' and provides, in effect, that the court may have regard to any relevant matter it thinks fit in forming a view as to whether the conduct is unconscionable.
Mr Samuel said this case served as a further warning that the ACCC would not tolerate conduct which it considers unconscionable.

Recently the ACCC was also successful in another court action on unconscionable conduct, against Craftmatic Australia Pty Ltd which involved the use of unfair pressure tactics on vulnerable citizens.

The ACCC's action in the Dukemaster case followed an investigation which commenced as a result of a referral from the Small Business Commissioner, Victoria.

http://www.accc.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/878829

Fremantle market breaches and council promises

2009-06-25T12:25:00.002+08:00

Stallholders addess to Fremantle council 24th June 2009.

Council’s April Report identified a number of breaches to the Fremantle Markets head lease by the Murdoch’s. At last months Council meeting I emphasized the need to address the breaches as quickly as possible because the longer they drag on the more difficult it gets for many stallholders. We are therefore understandably concerned to find out that only one of the breaches is currently being addressed… the determination of “fair market rent” through an independent review.

Also as a result of the report and the upcoming review, you wrote to the Murdoch’s asking them to cease any further rent increases until the matter is resolved. They have defied you…. At the start of June the rents were increased. These increases were in the vicinity of 25%. Did you merely make this recommendation as an option or do you have the clout to follow through?

In respect to the enforcement of your authority, the council appears to be constrained by the head lease, vulnerable to the litigious nature of the Murdoch’s and lacking in power or recourse.

Another of the breaches which has also been flaunted since the April report is the Murdoch’s failure to hold the May quarterly Working Group meeting with stallholders. In the first year of this new lease only two of four, of these important meetings, have taken place and only one of these meeting was attended by a council officer. These meetings were devised as a way to expedite information between the Working Group and stallholders and also to substitute for not including a stallholder representative on the Working Group. They are also a farce.

So, we made a submission to council 3 months ago on how they could be improved, to produce tangible outcomes. We based this submission on discussions we had with the Adelaide Central and Queen Victoria Market management. To date we have heard nothing regarding our suggestions.

If these meetings had been taken seriously and conducted in accordance with the spirit and conditions of the Operating Strategy they may have helped to identify and overcome some of the issues we are currently facing. Glen…why has the Working Group ignored these meetings?

A fortnight ago the Stallholders Association initiated a meeting with the Murdoch’s in an attempt to recommence dialogue after a long period of silence between us. They said it wasn’t their responsibility to call a meeting with us. We have attempted to do this in the past and have also invited them to some of our Association meetings but they have declined. I’m telling you this so you know we are not uncooperative or opposed to constructive dialogue.

We were told then by Jamie another 20-30 stalls have now been identified as incompatible with the new direction for the Markets. What will happen to these stallholders? This is nothing short of culling; long term tenants are being sacrificed and families left financially devastated. This is not looking good and I can see more bad publicity coming from this.

It also became clear in that meeting that there is a major difference in perception between the Murdoch’s and the City. Prior to the lease being signed both Glen and the Mayor told stallholders “our businesses would be safe and we would all have security of tenure”. The problem with this undertaking was that it was either never clearly conveyed to the Murdoch’s, or if it was, they know, because they hold the “head lease”, they have ultimate control of the markets ... irrespective of the Working Group, the Operating Strategy or the City’s commitment to stallholders.

I want to make it clear to all the council that many of our members feel as if they were conned into supporting the Murdoch bid based on what council had said and what the Murdoch’s had told them. Addressing the “fair market rent” issue is one thing but council must take seriously the number of times that the Murdoch’s made apparent misrepresentations during the business plan and also the City’s role in creating this perception that our businesses would be safe. . …these are serious concerns for everyone.

At least half the councilors here tonight heard Glen make those commitments not once but twice at our Business Plan Meeting in December 07 at the South Fremantle Football Club. The safety and tenure of our businesses were always a major concern for stallholders during the lease negotiations and is the reason why on that evening Mark Scott asked Glen the same question twice. We wanted reassurance. …and you gave it to us…or so we thought.

Glen, you would be well aware of the emphasis we placed on this and also the “transition period” between the leases. In our public submission we said “Stallholders impacted by the turnover plan should be given a “transitional period” to allow them time to either reinvent their business or sell up and realize their “good will”. We also suggested these stallholders should have a right of appeal.”

Stallholders now question if the City has the will or commitment to address our plight. Most believe you will just batten down the hatches, ride it out and consider the stallholders who have had their lives turned upside down as “collateral damage”. Remember many of these small business owners have invested in the Markets and can see their savings and hard work evaporating… that’s not to mention the Richard Murphy’s and others who have lost everything.

Yesterday we met with the valuer undertaking the “independent rent review”. His terms of reference for that review have been prepared by Hotchkin Hanly, the Murdoch lawyer’s … Jackson Macdonald, the City’s lawyers did have input but it is unbelievable, with the rent issue being so contentious, the City would have followed this path. The stallholders and ratepayers want transparency and this seems to be a conflict of interest. The questions therefore are;
Did the City engage Hotchkin Hanly? Who determined the terms of reference? Why didn’t the City prepare this brief?

Most of you who want to wear the mayoral chains supported the Murdoch’s bid for the new lease. If there is a real Mayor in the room please step up now with a plan of action. It is up to all the councilors who backed the lease to make sure that what was in the business plan is followed through on. Don’t leave it up to the other councilors and please don’t insult us by suggesting the softly, softly approach will work. Unless you address the issues responsible for this debacle and put them right then you are only band aiding the sores…. It will be a never ending headache for the City.

Plea to Fremantle Council to ACT.

2009-05-30T06:18:00.007+08:00

Stall-holders association - Plea to Fremantle Council to ACT.

What I am going to propose to you tonight is a drastic measure but one that should be carefully evaluated for the sake of the Markets, the council, the stallholders and the ratepayers.

Over the previous 30 years the council, the market management and the many small businesses at Fremantle Markets have had a successful and mutually supportive relationship. It was a winning formula for everyone. With the granting of the head lease most thought that the conflicts and debate of the previous 31/2 years had come to an end. The decision had finally been made, the conditions set and we were ready for a new era.

We had no reason to believe the Markets would be any different in fact they would be better with the promise of 5 year leases with 5 year options to replace our one month agreements and periodic rent increases linked to cpi. Stallholders could see their businesses would be more valuable through increased goodwill.

Then everything changed. In June the head lease was signed and by July we were notified that there would be no leases and options - only license agreements.

In September we first heard of the size of the rent increases. Then in November with the first batch of EOI’s the realization that what was promised was not being delivered. Overheads more akin to a shopping centre than a market were imposed and then came the news of the redevelopment of the new food area and how this would be achieved by downsizing other stalls or forcing others out through prohibitively high rents. The fruit and vegetable traders also learnt their shops would be downsized but their rents increased. And this is just the start.

What’s behind those changes, we believe, amount to a serious abuse of trust of both the stallholders and the council. What was publicly promoted as a carefully crafted and thoroughly researched business plan has turned into a mess…not just from a stallholder’s perspective but increasingly in the opinion of the broader community.

Stallholders and councillors now must question why, what was promoted and promised has not materialized? These were black and white commitments, fundamental to the awarding of the lease.

The marginal support the Murdoch brothers once had at the Markets disappeared with the broken promises…, once stallholders realized what the new agreements, the rent increases and the Markets redevelopment meant, they knew they had been manipulated.

Remember Jamie Murdoch’s comment from last year’s Special Council meeting:
“We don't want to lose any stallholder’s; we want all the stallholders we have to come along. We have 200 stallholders who are all fantastic people who we want to continue. We don't want to preclude any stallholders from anything.”
What a load of garbage!
Question Time FCC Council Meeting 27th May 2009

They knew then what was planned but misled and betrayed us.

They needed both the stallholders and councilors support to secure this lucrative lease. Now that they have it, we are all being treated with contempt.
The Murdoch brothers are difficult people to deal with, which we all now fully appreciate.

The question for council is not just in addressing the apparent breaches of the head lease but more importantly how and if you address the many misrepresentations made to both stallholders and yourselves.

We have legal advice which confirms the Murdoch’s may have breached sections 51A and 52 of the Trade Practices Act….that is “where they have engaged in conduct that is misleading or deceptive or likely to mislead or deceive”. Such conduct is unlawful. We have provided Council with our legal advice on this matter and a proposed resolution for council.

The stallholders do not have the resources nor should they have to mount a challenge against this deception. It is the council who voted to support the business plan based on the information before them and it would be open to the City if they were so inclined to bring an action against the Murdoch’s for the apparent breaches.

If the City and the councillors now believe what has occurred, is not what the council was led to believe would happen, then the question is …what do you do to rectify if? The unlawful activities have already taken place and there is nothing that can be done to undo it.

For the Stallholders Association we believe there is only one answer and that is to…terminate the lease under Clause 20 of the head lease?

The Mayor and Mr. Dougall made public assurances to stallholders in relation to the safety of their businesses under the new Murdoch regime. These assurances meant nothing to the Murdoch’s. They have totally disregarded them as they did with the Mayors attempts to have Richard Murphy reinstated. Those assurances now also mean nothing to the long established stallholders who have lost their livelihoods and their goodwill. Bob Williams, Mary Cole, Richard Murphy, Penny Bannister and many others. What is their compensation in this sorry saga?

Our Association has the strong support of our many members at the markets… these are small business people who through their dedication and loyalty have helped make the markets what it is today. They are totally disillusioned with the Murdoch’s and how they have turned their lives upside down.

Unless something is done within a very short timeframe, stallholders will fall apart as both the financial pressure and continued stress will prove too much.

This proposal cannot happen without your support. You have heard over the past months many stallholders stand here and recount how their lives have been dramatically affected by what has taken place. These are genuine hard working people who this should never have happened to. It can never be undone. It now urgently needs your commitment to make sure that it won’t happen in the future.

My question is to the CEO….. If your legal advice, like ours, supports the allegation that breaches to the Trade Practices Act have occurred in relation to misleading or deceptive conduct both during and after the awarding of the Markets lease, will you convene a Special Meeting of Council, to determine if councilors support the action to commence legal proceedings against the Murdoch’s and terminate the head lease?

Most recent post http://sonyagreen.blogspot.com/

Jamie Murdoch - lies and betrayal

2009-05-28T13:53:00.012+08:00

Remember this comment from last years March 6th Special Council meeting. Jamie Murdoch stated:

“We don't want to lose any stallholder’s; we want all the stallholders we have to come along. We have 200 stallholders who are all fantastic people who we want to continue. We don't want to preclude any stallholders from anything.”

We are committed to a secure low cost trading environment despite capital expenditures and trading initiatives.

Once stallholders realized what the new agreements, the rent increases and the Markets redevelopment meant, they knew they had been conned.

Mayor Tagliaferri and Mr. Dougall made public assurances to stallholders in relation to the safety of their businesses under the new Murdoch regime. Those assurances have meant nothing to the long established stallholders who have lost their livelihoods; Bob Williams, Mary Cole, Richard Murphy, Penny Bannister and others. Just this last week-end further rent increases have been issued and more stallholders are preparing to leave. The assurances meant nothing to the Murdoch’s. They have totally disregarded them.

And from the minutes 6th March 2008.

Summary of response from Jamie Murdoch:

They will still have their position. (Many will be relocated into smaller and totally unsuitable places, so much so, that continued business is impossible - they have been forced out of the market!) The whole Market will still come alive on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. All stallholders are welcome to come along for the future of the Fremantle Markets for the next 20 years that the Council and the Working Group will govern, we are not precluding anyone. (No, they are culling them ) We have a database of 200 fantastic stallholders and we want to give them the opportunity to come along for the next 10-20 years.

Summary of question asked by Cr Bill Massie:

So the current stallholders are guaranteed security?

Summary of response from Jamie Murdoch:

They are guaranteed security under the working group and under the lease. (The only security offered through the Working Group is a new lease, they are not actually guaranteeing that existing stallholders will retain their businesses or premises. The Working Group does not include a stallholder representative) The lawyer that the stallholders have engaged, there was a meeting that a couple of the Councillors went to prior to Christmas and the lawyer said that the stallholders will have more security under the new lease then the old lease. The new lease allows us to offer our stallholders a 5 year lease, with the opportunity for a 5 year option. ( No, they have reniged on this and are not offering the 5 year options) We want our stallholders to continue, we have a database, as I said, of 200 stallholders who are all fantastic people. There are initiatives that we want to implement, so the 3 day a week markets stays but there are various sections of the market that can come alive on the Tuesday or a Wednesday or whenever to suit the various need that Lee and Anne have identified.

Summary of question asked by Cr Bill Massie:

So the weekend market would not be forced into working 7 days?

Summary of response from Jamie Murdoch:

No. We have gone through that process with the Thursday trial. These initiatives are just initiatives, to sit down and discuss and consider. (They are now talking about running the markets in 2 parts with the new food area operating 4 or 5 days a week)

Most recent post http://sonyagreen.blogspot.com/

take the money and run

2009-05-23T16:24:00.003+08:00

Richard Branson is a very successful and clever businessman. He has a lot of fun, he is admired and respected and he is very, very wealthy. When asked about his phenomenal success he says simply, ‘I look after my staff’. His formula is simple; he believes that when the staff are happy they work like they own the business. They take on the responsibility of making the customers happy and when the customers are happy they keep coming back. This makes Richard Branson and his shareholders very happy and very successful.

In light of the current recession it’s pretty easy to see that many of the huge business collapses are the result of administrator’s obscene and reckless greed. With an insatiable lust for profit big business has replaced good personnel with cheap technology; they have severely reduced staff, abandoned customer service, invented dodgy service fees, taken jobs overseas and returned inferior products and services. Short-term they all made out like bandits but it never was sustainable. The world economy is collapsing and look who is being asked to bail them out – the taxpayers! Yes, the working man is now being asked to pick up the tab and bail out the very people who have robbed and betrayed them.

If we ever manage to find our way back will we know better and will we do better? I think not. Just look around and you can see the same scenario playing out all around you.

A successful business can not survive on a smash and grab basis. Richard Branson’s very simply formula applies to any business; if they have any intention of going the distance. Overpricing or under servicing is either a matter of stupidity or it is a deliberate attempt at grabbing the money and running.

This of course brings me back to the madness of the Fremantle markets. When the management appears to be destroying a successful enterprise you can’t help but wonder why. There really isn’t much to manage; basically they are landlords and although the markets are under one roof they are actually run by all of the small businesses operating within. It is not a matter of real estate, it is fundamentally a retail outlet, but over time it has evolved into something much more than just that.

People don’t just pop into the markets to shop. It’s a place to go on weekends, almost like a work of art in motion. You go and spend time there like it’s an exhibition; you take visitors down to check it out, you look for unique and unusual products, listen to buskers, interact with merchants, find bargains and homemade things and get caught up in the sounds and smells and colours.

Freo markets is not just another of the cheap junk markets which most cities have and until recently they have attracted innovative people and ideas. Many of the stallholders have been there for at least 10 years and some for almost 30. They have relationships with customers and are as much a part of the markets as the products are. It is a community within its own right and it is filled with character and characters.

When the Murdoch brothers (the management) renewed their lease with the Fremantle council everything changed and became crazy. They both make a lot of money from the rents and have done pretty much bugga all as the stall holders evolved and went about making the markets what they are today.

For reasons beyond comprehension the Murdoch’s increased the rents by around 80% and then announced that they would change the very nature of the markets and redevelop the outdoor area into a glorified ‘Italian style’ delicatessen. Established businesses were stolen by legal technicalities, others were so severely downsized that they were pretty much bullied into leaving and no matter how they want to dress it up or justify it they have betrayed, lied to, mislead and robbed the people who are the markets.

I know that I have been accused of conspiracy theory before and that much of my questioning does not provide answers or facts and details. All I can say is that when something doesn’t make any sense at all it’s because it is either untrue or because someone is hiding something.

Why won’t the Murdoch’s show their valuation? Could it be that they never had one done?

Why was that lease renewed before the old one expired?

Why didn’t the lease go out to public tender?

Why won’t the Murdoch’s or the Council buy out the stalls that are being destroyed by the redevelopment?

Why does the head lease exclude the stall-holders rights and give carte blanche to the Murdoch’s? Did the Murdoch’s draft this lease? Did the council really examine it?

Why weren’t stall holders or their association consulted about the changes?

Why was Richard Murphy (Stall-holders spokesperson) really evicted?

Who can’t predict that the redevelopment is going to be a complete failure? Wasn’t that Mayor Tagliaferri’s idea to begin with? Was that a condition of the lease?

Who doesn’t know that Morley markets, e-shed and Canningvale aren’t offering great deals for Freo stall-holders to come and join them?

Who can’t see that when the stall holders leave or fail then the market collapses?

Who doesn’t understand that when rents go up - prices go up and sales go down?

Who doesn’t know that when the markets go - the tourists stop coming and that business's throughout Freo lose?

WHO CARES?

Not the Murdoch’s. Why? Could it be that they have no intention of going the distance? Why else would they destroy or disregard the stallholders?

It would make sense if they didn’t care about the longevity or the success of the markets. What if they doubled the rent - which would makes the books look very attractive and then just on-sold the lease?

If this is true then let me laugh out loud now, because the stallholders will be long gone and the council and the Murdoch's will be left riding their big fat white elephant because I don’t believe that anyone will be lining up to take all of that on.

Most recent post http://sonyagreen.blogspot.com/

Fremantle council has made a terrible blunder

2009-05-23T09:50:00.001+08:00

Michael Willicombe wrote an interesting article in the Fremantle Herald this week. Michael, a former heritage planner with the council, says he fears Fremantle council has made a terrible blunder chasing the highest dollars at Fremantle Markets.

In part, he wrote: Either the council received bad legal advice when setting the lease up, had no clue what it was doing or it simply didn’t care.

What council seems to have failed to consider in its deliberations is the value of the character of the stalls existing in the markets.

I suspect that others, like me, don’t really care about getting ‘best ratepayer dollar value for the lease’ if it kills off local product and interesting stalls in the process. And for business in Fremantle generally, if the markets become as dull as other Perth markets that will hurt Fremantle across the board.

Better to care about enabling the long-running and existing diversity of stalls to survive rather than cast aside for cheap and cheerful, yet more profitable stalls. ‘Made in China’ will be an increasing sight in the markets I fear, maybe a stall in its own right!

It’s a crying shame and a black mark on the council. Let’s hope it serves to give the council pause for thought when reviewing other iconic property holdings such as Moore’s building and Gino’s, Dome and Kulcha.

Council’s job is to retain and enhance the character appeal of Fremantle as a whole and it is through its own property holding that it has the biggest responsibility to do this.

John and Jamie Murdoch- Fremantle Markets

2009-05-18T10:27:00.002+08:00

ABOUT 100 stallholders crammed into the Fremantle council chambers last week for a special meeting to review the Fremantle Markets head lease, but half the councillors did not even attend.

Council agreed to review the head lease following allegations of breaches relating to the terms of subleases, the negotiation of fair market rent, quarterly meetings with stallholders and having constructive dialogue between stallholders and management.
A report will be made to council later this month and no further rent increases or lease and license terminations will be made until all the alleged breaches are resolved.

Mayor Peter Tagliaferri said he would attend the meeting but pulled out at the last minute while other councillors known to be supportive of the Fremantle Markets’ directors, John and Jamie Murdoch, were also absent.

Deputy mayor John Dowson chaired the meeting and said the “outpouring of grief and shock” by stallholders at the alleged rent rises and management practices at Fremantle Markets was “upsetting”.

Cr Haney was quick to explain at the meeting that she had not refused to meet with the Murdoch brothers as they had alleged the previous week, and had actually tried to meet with them before the council meeting.

Cr Georgie Adeane said she was particularly impressed with Cr Bill Massie’s suggestion that displaced or adversely affected tenants receive compensation from management for loss of income.

“I have great confidence in the council’s conviction and the ability of the officers to amend the problems and bring the tenants of this iconic building into line,” she said.
Stallholders Association secretary Colin Wright’s speech was met with applause from the gallery.

“Jamie claims publicly that ‘over half have happily accepted these increases’ but what he doesn’t say is this group is predominantly casual stalls who have to be happy,” he said.
“We are already seeing more empty casual stalls, and permanents who have been hit with their increases are starting to feel the reality of falling returns.”

Jamie Murdoch attended the meeting and was booed by several stallholders.
He said the matter hinged on several legal issues, which would hopefully be resolved soon.

http://fremantle.inmycommunity.com.au/news-and-views/local-news/Head-lease-gets-review/7522625/
Fremantle Gazette 7th April 09

Most recent post http://sonyagreen.blogspot.com/

Tagliaferri has lost his Job!

2009-05-18T08:59:00.000+08:00

Ripper under pressure after Greens win in Fremantle

Eric Ripper's future as the State's Opposition Leader has been called into question after the Greens claimed victory in the Fremantle by-election last night.

The Greens made history last night when they wrestled the traditional working class seat from Labor for the first time since 1924.

Greens candidate Adele Carles has officially claimed victory over Labor candidate Peter Tagliaferri, describing the win as “a wake-up call to the two big parties”.

But the win has thrust Mr Ripper's leadership of the State Labor Party into the spotlight and placed pressure on the party to consider alternatives.

Alannah MacTiernan has been widely tipped as a successor to Mr Ripper, but she is also believed to be considering a tilt at Federal politics by contesting the seat of Canning held by the Liberal Party's Don Randall.

WA Premier Colin Barnett said today it was not a good day for the WA Labor party.

“That is an historic victory after decades of being in Labor's hands,” he said.

“Yes it does change the dynamics of State Parliament, for the first time the Greens have a member in the Lower House.

“It's not a good day for Labor.

“There's no positive spin the Labor party or Eric Ripper can put on this, they have lost probably their prime Labor seat, the seat of Fremantle.

Mr Barnett said dyed-in-the-wool Labor voters had not supported Mr Tagliaferri.

“I think many Labor true-blue, if you like, long-term Labor supporters did not support Peter Tagliaferri as their candidate - that was one of the problems,” he said.

“When you have a division within a party whether it's Labor or Liberal then that usually leads to disaster and it did yesterday for the Labor party.”
Last night a jubilant Ms Carles described the victory as sweet.

Ms Carles said the result was “beyond her wildest dreams” and she was honoured to be the first Greens MP to ever be elected to a Lower House of State Parliament.

She said the fact that the Greens would now claim official party status, which entitled them to more resources and staff, held national significance.

Respected political analyst Harry Phillips called the result earlier tonight, saying Opposition Leader Eric Ripper had “hardly put a foot wrong” as leader but his leadership would “inevitably” be questioned due to Labor’s defeat.

Ms Carles addressed about 100 supporters earlier tonight.

“I am really overwhelmed, I do talk a lot but I am speechless,” Ms Carles said.
Mr Tagliaferri is still refusing to concede defeat, saying a Labor victory was still mathematically possible considering 2000 postal and early votes were yet to be counted..
When counting ended last night, Ms Carles had 7950 votes ahead of Mr Tagliaferri's 6926 votes.

Ms Carles led on the two party preferred votes 9687 (54.01 per cent) to Mr Tagliaferri's 8248 (45.99 per cent).

Opposition Leader Eric Ripper yesterday conceded Labor faced an uphill battle to keep its strong-hold on the seat of Fremantle.

The West Australian News
http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=77&ContentID=141886

Simple questions not yet answered

2009-05-14T14:16:00.002+08:00

Justice, fairness, equality or just good old fashioned common sense used to be such a simple thing. A man’s word and a hand-shake would seal the deal and a man’s integrity was as important as his kingdom.

These days it seems that everything requires legal definition, procedures, protocols, laws, contracts, insurance, liabilities, meetings, arbitration, triplicate documentation and litigation.

The past 18 months of dealing with the Fremantle Council and the Murdoch management would have been satirical theatre if anyone had any humour left.

Let’s just get it down to basics and stop all of the nonsense. Simple questions have not been answered.

(1.) Why do the Murdoch’s refuse to show their evaluation? If ‘Fair Market Rent’ has been assessed by an independent licensed valuer then give us his name and credentials and let us look at how he has arrived at these figures.

The council must have had a valuation done prior to renewing the head-lease; they increased the rent by about 12%. Why didn’t alarm bells ring when the Murdoch’s increased stall-holder rents by 80%? Why didn’t the council query this? Didn’t the Murdoch’s submit a proposal prior to them being granted the lease?

Even when the stall-holders spokesmen confronted the Mayor and predicted the fall-out and long term repercussions they were met with disinterest and dismissal. It was only after delivering a report from their QC that the Mayor sat up and took notice.

Months later very little had been done and again the stall-holders had to chase up their own evaluation to point out the obvious. Their figures also confirmed that ‘Fair Market Rent’ was approx 12%. However let’s not forget that the Murdoch’s lease was signed prior to the recession. The stall-holders were hit with their increases just before Christmas and just after it became apparent to Governments and businesses world-wide that retail in particular was going to do it hard.

Meanwhile back at the markets small businesses were being forced to shut down and walk away with nothing. Many letters of distress were sent to the Mayor and much was said about being bullied or priced out of business. To have security of tenure they had to accept the rent rises and without some form of lease agreement they were unable to sell anything. Many had paid tens of thousands of dollars for their shops and had built up their businesses and established goodwill and could have sold at justifiable profits. However, they could not risk signing onto the new agreements as the new rents would probably lock them into considerable debt or failure if they couldn’t sell out quickly.

Why was the term ‘Fair Market Rent’ used anyway? It’s a difficult definition by any means. Why not use CPI or not more than...?

Of course Fair Market Rent is usually determined by valuation and within the valuation comparisons can be made and explained. The Murdoch’s could easily show their evaluation and it would help to justify their argument. This lack of transparency creates suspicion and I’m sure I'm not the only one who has wondered if perhaps there never was one done?

While everyone is fart-arsing around stall holders are left without leases and feeling enormous pressure to just sign and hope for the best. Their option is simple: walk away with nothing, lose their initial investment, goodwill, and their livelihood and be left in debt and jobless or sign the new agreement, try to pay the high rents and pray that they can keep afloat or sell out.

This then becomes an even bigger problem for the others. The more people who sign on, the more the Murdoch’s can justify ‘fair market rent’. The definition of fair market rent can be argued that ‘this is what we have people agreeing to pay therefore it becomes fair market’.

If this happens then rent per square metre becomes a measure throughout the Fremantle CBD. All rent renewals throughout Fremantle will be evaluated on this artificially inflated price. Every business in Fremantle will be forced to either pay the higher rents or index the cost into their sales. That means that everything in Freo will cost more!

(2.)
Why did Freo council renew the Murdoch’s lease 2 years before the old one expired?

Conflict between the Murdoch’s, the council and the stall-holders began soon after the Murdoch juniors took over the lease from Murdoch senior. At one stage the Mayor was talking about buying out the remainder of the lease. I’m not sure of the finer details but it is on record that the Murdoch’s threatened to run the markets into the ground and sue the council. So what really happened? This is pure speculation but it seems to me that the council was bullied into that renewal.

One councillor stated outright at a meeting that he had felt personally threatened; another said she had felt intimidated and I noticed two other councillors nodding in agreement. Regardless of this, half of the councillors fiercely opposed the renewal but when two of these councillors were out of town the decision was made.

It’s really a matter of ‘the nature of the beast’. I have always believed that when someone shows you who they really are then it is very wise to believe them.

Why would anyone marry up for an additional 18 years when they only had two to serve? In retrospect it seems like there were other options so were those threats really the issue or was there something more going on?

With Tagliaferri’s term as mayor ending soon, I am left wondering if it was a matter of making sure the deal was done before Tags left office. If so - why?

Tagliaferri- Wearing the Emperors new clothes

2009-05-13T08:55:00.005+08:00

Turncoat
A turncoat is a person who shifts allegiance from one loyalty or ideal to another, betraying or deserting an original cause by switching to the opposing side or party.

Even in a modern historical context "turncoat" is often synonymous with the term "renegade", a term of religious origins having its origins in the Latin word "renegare" (to deny). Historical currents of great magnitude have periodically caught masses of people, along with their leaders, in their wake. In such a dire situation new perspectives on past actions are laid bare and the question of personal treason becomes muddled.

The English word 'turncoat' apparently originated in a ruse de guerre whereby soldiers were issued with uniforms that are their own country's on the inside and the enemy's uniform on the outside. The purpose was deception in order to get within the point blank range area of the enemy, suddenly opening fire. The expression "turn coat" comes from the act of physically turning the uniform inside out.

The Emperors new Clothes
...This cloth, they tell him, is invisible to anyone who was either stupid or unfit for his position. The Emperor cannot see the (non-existent) cloth, but pretends that he can for fear of appearing stupid; his ministers do the same. When the swindlers report that the suit is finished, they dress him in mime. The Emperor then goes on a procession through the capital showing off his new "clothes". During the course of the procession, a small child cries out, "But he has nothing on!" The crowd realizes the child is telling the truth. The Emperor, however, holds his head high and continues the procession.

Or Just a Duck
If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck - it's probably a duck.

In life and in politics it's wise to understand the nature of the beast.

Tagliaferris colleagues vote for Adele

2009-05-12T07:37:00.001+08:00

In the real world people need references from their last job to validate their work ethics and performance. Tag’s has been mayor of Freo for 2 terms and has worked closely with his councillors. Why has Labor not taken on board the opinions of these people?

It seems to me that when your co-workers take out 1/2page ads in the local newspapers and at their own costs then something very serious is being said.

When Tagliaferri’s colleagues call him a liar to his face and accuse him of publicity stunts, dodging questions, arrogance, ego and opportunistic dealings surely we don’t need to read between the lines? When they publicly announce they are voting for Adele Carles you must realize what a big statement they are making.

When Tagliaferri says “God knows what I’ve voted for..” and “I can’t remember what I’ve voted for..” AND then follows up with “My eldest daughter voted Green’s last time..” What Tha?

Some people will vote Labor no matter what; just because they always have. Bart Simpson will get their votes. It’s time we stopped voting roboticly and looked at the people not ‘the club’. Who will do right by Fremantle. Who will listen and act on behalf of the people of Fremantle?

Tagliaferri hasn’t even bothered to show up at his last 2 council meetings and yet he will stay on as mayor until October and insists he can do both jobs in the one time frame. Ego? Or just the 2 paypackets?

Fremantle Council records and minutes

2009-05-10T14:01:00.002+08:00

I have only ever been to three council meetings in my life. There have all been at Fremantle Council and in reference to the Fremantle Market Mayhem.

You can’t just call up the mayor and arrange a meeting with him and the councillors to ‘shoot the breeze’. Anyone and everyone must show up at a council meeting and all issues are discussed within an hour or two. You sign your name onto a book in the foyer if you wish to speak. At the beginning of the meeting you are told you have 3 minutes to have your say.

Occasionally you will get a straight answer right away but in most cases you need to wait for the other speakers to have their say before you are responded to. I have noticed a couple of times that people have waited to hear their outcome only to find that their answer is something like:

I don’t have that information at hand right now.
I will need to look into that
I will contact you when more details come to hand.
Or they say Thank you and you are finished – dismissed.

I went into the last meeting determined to get a straight answer to my question. I even wrote it out before hand to make sure I would be clear and concise.

The mayor did not show up. This was the second time he had not chaired the meeting. I addressed him as ‘the missing mayor’ and spoke as if he was there. I did this as I wanted to be sure that the statement and question would go into the transcript as I wanted it on record.

The transcript should be a record of everything said at the meeting. That way the mayor could, if he chose to, have a verbatim copy and a future reference of exactly what is discussed at the meetings.

Minutes should be a synopsis of the main points raised. Minutes are like looking at small descriptions or chapters within a book. Minutes should also direct you to the relevant issue in the transcript.

The council minutes are uploaded onto the council’s website and the public can get an overall picture of the meetings. They should name the speaker and reference the issue and then in a sentence or two give an outline of the main points raised by the speaker.

The thing that really irritates me about the public service is that too many, and too often, public servants act as if they are the authority of the general public. NO. If you are elected into office by the people then you must never forget that you work on behalf of the people and you are being paid by the people. You might be President, Prime minister, Police Commissioner or Mayor but you are not The Boss and you do not Dictate. As a public servant you Serve the people. That is, you are transparent, you act in an honest and ethical manner and you are accountable to the people.

If the public choose to look through council minutes then they expect and deserve to see what was discussed at the meeting. When I looked over the last couple of postings I was appalled to see nothing more than peoples names and a reference to their agenda. See Public Question Time: http://www.freofocus.com/council/resource/2009.04.22_Council.pdf

I wrote a letter to the councillors to point out my objections (see below*) and I received this reply from Glen Dougall:
Good morning Sonya

Thank you for taking the time to raise this correction, I will have the minute taker review the records to ensure we accurately reflect who you are.

The Council minutes are to provide the name of the person and a précis of question/s asked during public question time and the response, if a response is provided at the meeting. The other information recorded is to identify what item they were speaking to - if they were speaking to an item on the agenda – or what issue they were speaking to.

Elected Members and officers present at the meeting certainly have the opportunity to listen to any other information provided with the questions. Council has always been open to allowing members of the community to provide some additional information and support the opportunity for the community to be heard. This may add value to their decision making. This does not form part of the official record of the meeting however.

(Seems he thinks I was being precious about my name and either missed my point or chose to spin it).

However Deputy Mayor John Dowson replied with:
Like you I have concerns about the Minutes and sent in a long list of corrections, which have not been addressed yet to my knowledge.

As Chair of the meeting I will not be signing off on the Minuted until I am satisfied.

And Cr Haney replied:
Minutes are the official, public record of a meeting so really important. I have requested 2 amendments to how my voting was recorded at that meeting and your email promoted me to follow up and ask if the minutes will be amended.

I also contacted the Minister for Local Government but as yet I have not heard back.

My Letter to Council:
*Who writes these minutes? They certainly don’t reflect the things I said or heard on the night.

Firstly, I am not a stall-holder and have never stated that I was. I did not even mention Richard Murphy’s name nor did I make any mention about the breaches. I have sent the mayor and the councillors a hard copy of what I said as I wanted to be very clear and have on record my concerns. The gist of what I said is that I believe that Mayor Tagliaferri is behind the market redevelopment scheme and that this is the real reason why rents have dramatically increased, businesses forced out and ultimately the markets will lose their iconic status and tourist appeal.

“Regardless of the fair market rent argument, it seems pretty clear that the proposed Market Super Deli is equally responsible for the price hikes. Basically, the current stallholders are being bullied into financing a venture, which will ultimately destroy their business as well as the markets.”

The mayor has since responded to my Question, “Do you, or will you have any financial or personal interest in the market redevelopment?”
He replied, “No.”

And I don’t know what this means, but is minuted as the reply to my question: “The Mayor was and apology at this meeting therefore was not able to answer the question.”

Colin Wright said much about Richard’s eviction but also put forward the idea that the Murdoch’s should be evicted and Richard reinstated. The gallery applauded this idea.

Richard Murphy spoke of his eviction and received a very glib response which ignored his questions and spun off into irrelevant mutterings about waiting on info from SAT. The crowd let out an audible groan and hiss. He also questioned the mayor’s promise of keeping stall-holders safe.

Robby Lang spoke of the need to keep the markets interesting and vibrant; stating that the redevelopment would be counterproductive to this and the disadvantage of no longer incubating new businesses.

Your minutes make us all look like a bunch of puppets repeating the same issue over and over. Your minutes have completely dismissed the concerns raised on the night.

Your Take:
Mr Colin Wright spoke in relation to item C0904-9, Report on Alledged Market Breaches he is a stall holder and would like to see the evicted Richard Murphy back and the alledged breach with the head lease dealt with as a matter of urgency.

Ms Marilyn Wright spoke in relation to item C0904-9, Report on Alledged Market Breaches she is a stall holder and would like to see the evicted Richard Murphy back and the alledged breach with the head lease dealt with as a matter of urgency.

Ms Sonia spoke in relation to item C0904-9, Report on Alledged Market Breaches she is a stall holder and would like to see the evicted Richard Murphy back and the alledged breach with the head lease dealt with as a matter of urgency. She asked if Mayor Peter Tagliaferri had any personal or financial interest in the markets.

The Mayor was and apology at this meeting therefore was not able to answer the question.

Mr Robby Lang spoke in relation to item C0904-9, Report on Alledged Market Breaches he would like to see the evicted Richard Murphy back and the alledged breach with the head lease dealt with as a matter of urgency.

Ms Anna O’Sullivan spoke in relation to item C0904-9, Report on Alledged Market Breaches she would like to see the evicted Richard Murphy back and the alledged breach with the head lease dealt with as a matter of urgency. She stated that the markets helps to bring the Fremantle community together and it is getting distroyed.

Mr Richard Murphy spoke in relation to item C0904-9, Report on Alledged Market Breaches he was a stall holder and was recently evicted; he believes illegally he would like the alledged breach with the head lease dealt with as a matter of urgency and to be able to return to his stall.

And so it went for all the speakers…

Letter to Mayor Peter Tagliaferri

2009-05-09T09:59:00.005+08:00

Dear Peter,
I have just read the article below by Jessica Strutt. (West Aust News 8/5/9) It seems to me that there is a subtle suggestion that a labour candidate may do favours for donations. Now, don’t get me wrong here, I’m not making any accusations. It’s just that I saw Adele Carles and Alan Carpenter state outright that they were totally against this development.
You said you had not decided and were staying open minded about it.

I thought that was curious.

So, rather than make any judgments without the real facts I thought it would be wiser and fairer just to ask you point blank and that way we can avoid rumours and or innuendos.

Of course this kind of thinking can’t help but open up the possibility that something similar could have happened with the Freo Markets. Since I have had difficulty finding you down at city hall I thought you might do me the courtesy of shooting off a quick email. I has happy with your simple reply of ‘no’ the other week so a yes or no answer would be great now.

Questions:
Are you accepting donations from the north port development group?
And
Did the Murdoch’s offer donations for your campaign? If so, when? The exact date doesn’t really matter but was it around the time that the renewed lease was signed off on?

In anticipation of your reply I thank you. I know you are very busy at the moment but I would just hate to think that some people might think that a donation and a bribe would be similar.
Best Wishes
Sonya

An independent candidate in the Fremantle by-election claims people linked to the proposed North Port Quay development offered to assist his campaign if he agreed to preference Labor ahead of the Greens. Carmelo Zagami said two people connected with the $10 billion project, who he refused to name, made the offer during two meetings over the past week but he declined. The former Liberal Party member, who will direct preferences at the May 16 poll to the Greens’ Adele Carles, said yesterday he was concerned other candidates could be getting funding from those associated with the development but it was “difficult to trace”. Mr Zagami said the offer included volunteers to help on polling booths and paying for political advertising. “Basically the words were ‘we’ll give you whatever you want’,” he said. “They are of the belief that their project will not go anywhere if the Greens win.” Ms Carles, who is locked in a tight contest for the seat against Labor’s Peter Tagliaferri, was also concerned whether some candidates were receiving political donations from those linked to North Port Quay. “If this is actually happening this is a major concern to our democratic process,” she said. “I would like to see that investigated and come out in the open arena before Saturday, May 16.We saw what happened at Smiths Beach, we’ve seen what’s happened at Port Coogee. The public are sick and tired of this kind of corrupting influence in West Australian politics.” etc…

Replied the next day:

I have always had serious environmental concerns regarding this NPQ development .The answer to the two questions is No. No.

Tagliaferri moving on to geener fields

2009-05-01T12:02:00.003+08:00

The Markets, the Murdoch’s and the Mayhem
Who is running the show down there?

For 30 years the Fremantle community, the council, the market management and the stall holders have had a successful and mutually supportive relationship. The Fremantle Markets have been one of the most popular shopping experiences in Australia and it has all come together and evolved effortlessly.

Since the Murdoch Jr takeover there has been nothing but aggravation, intimidation, litigation and now almost 150 small businesses or around 300 jobs are at risk, the magic formula is being bastardized and the markets are in a state of Mayhem.

Everyone is stuck between 2 leases; one is ill conceived and ineffective and the other is nothing more than a list of rules, rights and regulations which give exclusive power to the Murdoch management. The integrity of the markets, the security of the stall-holders and the consideration of the community have all been ignored.

Highly inflated and unfair rents have already seen businesses being forced to close. Those people have lost thousands of dollars in initial investment and thousands more in their inability to sell out. In effect, they have had their livelihoods legally stolen from them.

The most vulnerable are also the most interesting; the artists, the handmade and creative products, the unique and the quirky. These are not highly profitable businesses but they are the ones which draw in the crowds and keep them coming back.

The small business operators who are hanging on by a wish and a prayer are living in a state of relentless anxiety and many are just living week to week. Walking away will mean bankruptcy for many, staying might give others a chance to break even. There are a few who are actually subsidizing their shops at the moment in the hope that something will be done.

Richard Murphy tried to do something. Richard took up the challenge and ran the risk of persecution but also believed in speaking out against injustice. Richard took on the job as spokesman for the people. Volunteering hundreds of hours of his time and contributing a substantial amount of his own money - he begged the council to Listen. He predicted the consequences long before the deal was done – you didn’t listen. Richard was evicted. After 22years his successful business was obliterated and he has been left with Zero.

Mr Tagliaferri, are you listening now?

You have given us 18months of “I’ll look into it” and we are still waiting. You signed off on this agreement; you created this chaos and you didn’t even think to put yourself and your council into the driver’s seat! Who is running the show?

The repercussions of this will affect business and the community of Fremantle right across the board. If the stallholders accept the rent hikes it will raise the bar on commercial rent valuations throughout the CBD. With rent hikes comes price hikes.

You are changing the markets into a common shopping barn; risking hundreds of jobs, artificially inflating prices and leaving carnage in your wake. You have supported and secured the Murdoch management, thrown the hot potatoe to your chagrined colleagues and dashed out the back door, yelling, “Vote for me, I’m the man of the people.”

Richard Murphy is “The man of the people,” and you have allowed him to be sacrificed. The stall holders are the people and you are walking away from them. The community are the people and you are not listening to them but you are now calling on them to listen to you.

Mr Tagliaferri,
Go back to the drawing board, tear up the head lease and evict the Murdoch’s
Reinstate Richard Murphy
Compensate for the losses that have occured.
Protect and support the markets, the businesses and the community.
Honour your promises of secure tenure and fair market rent

Mr Tagliaferri,
LISTEN.

Masquerading as a labor man

2009-04-28T09:44:00.000+08:00

Kim Macdonald (west Australian news 25/4/09) wrote: Senior unionist are leading plans for a hostile campaign opposing the ALP’s new candidate for Fremantle, Peter Tagliaferri, amid claims he is only “masquerading” as a Labor man.

Mr Tagliaferri defended his Labor credentials with claims that even though he had only joined the party a few weeks ago, he had lived his whole life with Labor’s values of fairness and equal opportunity.

I can’t imagine what ‘Fairness and equal opportunity’ could possibly mean to Mr Tagliaferri. Just last week Deputy Mayor Dowson queried the mayors push to give the Italian Club a 99 year lease on its prime location next to the Esplanade. He pointed out that in 1994 it was on a $6800 a year lease and supposedly tied to a 10% annual increase. In 15 years it has been increased to $7200. That’s only $400 in 15 years or about $26 per year increase. Cr Dowson also pointed out that the current rental value should be around $100,000 per year.

Meanwhile Dowson and the other councillors are madly trying to make sense of Tagliaferri’s market agreement with the Murdoch brothers. Fremantle markets have had 3 rent increases of 10% in the past 3 years and now a massive 80% increase or more.

I don’t begrudge the Italian community being supported or honoured. If they are gaining favours in respect for their valuable contribution to Freo, then that’s great too. My issue with the Mayor is that many groups and individuals have contributed to Fremantle. If we are going to isolate minorities then let’s at least consider the ratepayers as worthy beneficiaries.

I also call attention to the abundance of members only parking down there at the Italian club. You might notice that the unauthorised parking notice threatens a $5000 penalty; elsewhere in Fremantle unauthorised parking has a penalty of $500.
Mr Tagliaferri, is the son of Italian migrants. His father was a founding member of the club, which opened in 1974. It seems pretty obvious to me that this is personal sentimentality not fairness and equal opportunity.

Reinstate Richard Murphy

2009-04-26T07:35:00.000+08:00

In two weeks time a new operator will move into Richard Murphy’s Soap shop. That gives you just 14 days to right this wrong and have Richard reinstated. For 22 years he has been a wonderful asset to the Markets. This is no way to see his livelihood end.

Stallholders are devastated that this could happen. It seems as though you Mr. Tagliaferri and your Council have no control over what the Murdoch’s can do. You have tried to intervene on three occasions now to save Richard, but each time the Murdoch brothers refuse your requests.

A simple act of good faith in reconciliation would have been the appropriate course of action, but they are determined to remove Richard because, he has been a thorn in their side as Chairman of our Association. Tenants are allowed to join associations under the Retail
Shops Act and their principle role are to protect the interests of their members.

The content of tonight’s report and the Porter Matthews valuation strongly validates Richards stance and reinforces that he has acted professionally in alerting the council to the probable breaches of the head lease. Without Richard, this would not have happened.
Evicting him is ludicrous…

My two questions are to the Mayor.
1. Will you now move to have Richard reinstated immediately before his shop is occupied by another owner?
2. Will you now move to stop the signing of any agreements already issued and stop the issuing of any new agreements until the breaches are dealt with?

Plea to Mayor to evict the Murdochs

2009-04-25T07:35:00.000+08:00

The Stallholders Association is here again tonight attempting to do for stallholders what the council has so far, failed to do. With the tabling of tonight’s report you have the chance to rectify what has developed into a major embarrassment for Fremantle.

Last week our popular chairman was thrown out of his stall.
Richard Murphy was trying to do what the Mayor had said his council would do…..Make the stallholders safe.

That’s cold comfort for Richard now. In standing up for others he lost his 22 year livelihood. Your attempts at intervention to stop his eviction were never enough.

Here are some of the broken promises, commitments and threats that we have been forced to swallow through this grimy mess. These were issues Richard tried to confront in his role as Chairman.

Where do I start?
• Was it when the Murdoch’s threatened Council to run the building into the ground if they didn’t get the new lease.
• Was it 3 years ago, when stallholders told council if we were written out of the head lease, we would have little or no protection?
• Was it when you chose to exclude us from the Working Group?
• Was it when the Mayor promised stallholders everybody’s business would be guaranteed?
• Was it when you voted for a head lease that promised a low cost environment?
• Was it when you determined our rent be set at “fair market rent”… and it’s ended up the highest market rent in Australia?
• Was it when you voted for a head lease that, promised stallholders 5 year sub leases with 5 year options, which were never delivered?
• Was it when you decided to send stallholders off to face their landlord in court to argue for fair and reasonable treatment… when, your own head lease includes provision for arbitration which we had also wanted.

Is this what Council meant by making stallholders safe !!!!

You have presided over a bleak chapter in the Fremantle Market history.
The people who have contributed the greatest to making this one of the best and most interesting markets in Australia have been forgotten?....

There’s only one long term solution for this. The Murdoch’s have to go. They have set the precedent. Do to them what they did to Richard Murphy…he tried to negotiate his lease and was evicted. If they have breached their head lease they should suffer the same fate. We can’t operate on two sets of rules…what’s good for the goose is good for the gander.

The situation at the Markets is now untenable. We have been deceived, you have been deceived, and key elements of the Business Plan misrepresented.

The councillors who voted for this lucrative lease, and, the officers who recommended it, should acknowledge that what was promoted, in support of the Markets remaining in the hands of the Murdoch family, is not what has been delivered.

Peter, this is a public disgrace. Don’t sweep it under the table, act to defend what is right and just. Like you said on Howard Sattler’s program “Nobody is a winner out of this”

So what about our chairman, our evicted friend, and much admired colleague Richard, who must ponder, what all this has been for?

If there is one thing that we are all united on …Richard Murphy must be reinstated.

My question is then to the Mayor?

You have presided over the most tumultuous time in the Markets 30 year history.

You were instrumental in supporting the Murdoch bid for the Markets based on their past record, their willingness to bring into fruition your dream of a 7 day a week fresh produce market.(Herald June 2006) and your concern that they would “run the markets down” or “sue the City” if their bid was not successful. You were prepared to extend their control to 2026. That’s 50 years in the hands of one family.

Will you now, Mr. Tagliaferri, show leadership, and act to support tonight’s Item C0904-9 report. If breaches have occurred, act on the only long term solution possible …
End the Murdoch dynasty at the Markets and start a new.

The Missing Mayor

2009-04-23T09:17:00.007+08:00

Last nights rally for Richard Murphy and the following meeting of Fremantle Council was inspirational. Politics is not my gig but this one has me completely fascinated. Im not sure if its about Greed, Ego, Personal agendas or Ambition but things are out of control and people are being hurt. Mayor Tagliaferri seems to be largely responsible for the mess that the other councillors are desperately trying to clean up. He has had 18months (and more) to "Look into it" but last night he didn't even bother to chair the meeting.

Green's candidate Adele Carle has only had the story for a little over a week and yet she spent last week end walking the streets, talking with people and arranging a rally. SHE has done more this week than Tag's has done in the last few years.

Expect great things from this girl. Our 6 beautiful, passionate and ethical councillors finally convinced the others to step up and do something - the agreement was unanimous. Tagliaferri is now on his own and has been asked by Deputy Mayor John Dowson to resign.

Colin Wright called for the Eviction of the Murdoch's and the crowd roared in agreement. More on Colin's speech in the following blogs. Below is my little piece - addressed to "The Missing Mayor."

"I was offended by the mayors absence at the last meeting. Tonight, I am glad to see that he is not here again. It just confirms that he acknowledges his redundancy."

The old adage, “Don’t fix what aint broke” should be the catch cry of this fiasco.
.
The Markets have been the jewel in the crown of Fremantle for decades. Popular, profitable, successful, world renowned and much loved.

To take something that is unique, and turn it into something commonplace, is mindboggling.

Regardless of the fair market rent argument, it seems pretty clear that the proposed Market Super Deli is equally responsible for the price hikes. Basically, the current stallholders are being bullied into financing a venture, which will ultimately destroy their business as well as the markets.

Any fool can see, that people will not come from the outer suburbs to buy smallgoods which are readily available in most supermarkets. Who wants to taste wine at Freo markets, when they can sit at the Sail and Anchor or the Norfolk and drink what ever they like? Or they can cruise away, up to the swan valley. Fremantle is famous for fresh seafood and cafes, so why would the Markets want to compete in such an inferior way. Do you really expect tourists to come to Freo to experience the excitement of packaged meat?

No, Mr Tagliaferri, this is your pet project, and it’s personal for you. Go back to your deli and do what you love, but don’t inflict your emotional or psychological attachments on the Freo Markets.

There is so much I would like to say about the Murdoch’s, but what’s the point? We don’t expect anything from either party now –it’s up to the people of Fremantle to sort this out. After all, they do OWN the markets.

There is only one question that I would like to have answered, on record.

Do you, or will you, have any financial or personal interest in the market redevelopment?

Update: The mayor has replied and he said "No."

Rally for Richard Murphy

2009-04-22T07:35:00.006+08:00

FREMANTLE MARKETS
Rally for Richard

Special guest speaker Greens candidate
Adele Carles

Richard Murphy, Chairman of the Freo Markets Stallholders Committee has been evicted after
22 years at the markets.

Please show your concern for the dire situation Stallholders now find themselves in.

-Created by-

Fremantle mayor Peter Tagliaferi
CEO Graeme Mckenzie

And councillors
John Strachan
Doug Thompson (chair of Markets Committee)
Brad Pettit
Robert Fittock
John Alberti

Who still support this unfair situation despite huge community opposition.

This Wednesday, 22nd April, 5pm
At Council Chambers steps
Kings Square (opp. Myres).

Richard Murphy has been evicted from the Fremantle Markets. Richard has owned his shop in the markets for 22 years and a year ago he could very well have sold his business for around $100,000. This weekend he left with nothing but stock. His livelihood has been stolen.

The Murdoch management has not just filled his vacant space but have given the new occupants the opportunity to walk into Richard’s business and reap the rewards of repeat custom, reliable wholesalers, expertise and good will. In effect, someone has just been given a $100,000 established business.

Although this seems highly unlikely and many are left wondering…

As chairman and spokesperson for the Fremantle Stallholders Association, Richard has been intimidated and victimized by management.

Richard has been confronting, outspoken and fearless in trying to get to the truth and the agendas behind massive and unfair rent increases at Fremantle Markets. At substantial personal costs he has championed those who have been intimidated, supported many who have had to close down and walk away and prevented a mass walk out. And all the while, trying to educate the council about long term repercussions.

Fremantle Market is not just a real estate investment. It is a Fremantle icon and tourist destination. It is commercially successful and ironically it is this winning formula that is now being dismantled. The Markets in its current format brings people from outer suburbia and overseas into Freo.

Peter Tagliaferi and the Murdoch’s vision of turning half the market into a glorified Deli will destroy the Fremantle markets. Rents and dubious outgoings will destroy many established businesses. Half of Fremantle councillors are heartbroken at the lack of information that they have been able to work with. These councillors are working hard to rectify the situation and it looks like Peter Tagliaferri is stepping out and leaving carnage in his wake.

The Fremantle Herald and Gazette have had all the twists and turns running as front page news for almost 2 months. Have you been paying attention?

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