Christmas
THE BYRON SHIRE Volume 27 #26 Tuesday, December 4, 2012 Mullumbimby 02 6684 1777 Byron Bay 02 6685 5222 Fax 02 6684 1719 editor@echo.net.au adcopy@echo.net.au www.echo.net.au 23,200 copies every week
A swag of great gift ideas CAB
H O W TO M A K E T H E W O R L D B E T T E R ? B E M O R E AW E S O M E
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Classies lovingly Safe Health & Inside A quiz of northern Gigs? arranged on NSW newspapers Beauty feature Motoring this we got ‘em news print – p42 feature – p24 – p19-21 on CSG – p7 week listed – p31
Byron Shire Council Notices Pages 47
Local newspaper group Art on our border re-emerges after collapse Hans Lovejoy
Taxpayers may foot the bill for unpaid wages after beleaguered newspaper publishing company Evans Publishing became insolvent on November 8. But staff are still employed – Evans Publishing now trades as Independent Publishing Australia (IPA) and retains a largely familiar board, according to Echo sources. IPA publishes seven newspapers in regional and coastal areas of Qld and NSW, including the Tweed Coast Weekly. A spokesperson from the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) told The Echo, ‘the department has received a number of claim forms from employees of Evans Publishing and we’re also aware of the circumstances in regard to Independent Publishing Australia.’ They added that ‘no assistance has been paid as the claims are still being assessed.’ Creditors, including the Australian Tax Office (ATO), were apparently left footing the bill for $2.8 million after liquidation on November 8. It’s understood that liquidators RMG Partners sold the company’s titles to a consortium of previous owners plus businessman Scott Williams of Armidale. According to The Echo’s sources, Independent Publishing Australia is 51 per cent controlled by Mr Williams while wife of former Evans Publishing director, Alison Evans, holds 49 per cent (under Evans Family Investments). The restructure – which appears completely legal – also comes after Evans Publishing entered voluntary administration in September last year, owing substantial debts to creditors and the Australian Tax Office. Then-director Brad Evans emerged from the administration after win-
ning creditors’ support for a Deed of Company Arrangement (DOCA) that would have seen Evans pay unsecured creditors including the ATO less than 13 cents on each dollar owed. That forecast appears to have vanished altogether following the company’s liquidation. ASIC records show the company had just $649 in the bank on October 17, 2012 after the administrator’s fees and expenses of more than $200,000 were paid.
Entered voluntary admin According to the Voluntary Administrators’ report from September 6 last year, when creditors convened to consider the company’s future, a key feature of the DOCA that was to govern the company’s affairs included Williams taking over as controlling shareholder and chief financial officer. This was later amended to Williams becoming chief executive officer of Evans Publishing. However, according to Echo sources, Williams held the CEO role for just five months before relinquishing the company’s management back to Brad Evans, who simultaneously resumed his role as the company’s director. It’s not known what role IPA plays in the management of the newspapers bought by IPA.
No comment None of the officials involved in the Evans insolvencies – IPA, the ATO, ASIC or the liquidator – would speak to The Echo about their involvement in the company’s collapse or its subsequent sale back to Williams and Evans. It’s understood IPA has offered more than $290,000 for the titles to be largely paid in deferred instalments. The Echo’s source added that the ATO has now lodged another proof of debt with RMG liquidators.
Byron-based artist Bek Kinsey admires Mick Parr’s ‘self portrait’ sculpture, which was one the 240 pieces on exhibition at the Tweed Gallery’s opening of this year’s Border Art Prize last Friday night. Photo Jeff Dawson
Mullum retains overnight doctor Bureaucrat Chris Crawford’s plans jettisoned by nurses Hazel Bridgett, the chair of the Northern NSW Local Health District The bureaucrat behind the push to re- board, announced the scrapping was place Mullum Hospital’s night doctor made ‘after careful consideration’, with a video link to Tweed Hospital and ‘following significant clinical and has had his plans rejected by nurses. community consultation’. Health district chief executive Chris Crawford, who is married to Decision was expected ‘The board has agreed with this Liberal MLC Catherine Cusack, spent months pushing the controversial recommendation and a decision has plans despite public outrage which in- been made not to pursue this model,’ cluded public meetings and petitions. Ms Bridgett said. ‘The board has been pleased to Campaigners who fought against the move welcomed the decision by note staff and community support the local health board on Wednesday, for the Connecting Critical Care Telehealth system to be progressively saying common sense prevailed. The proposed trial at Mullumbim- implemented at sites across the Local by was considered a test case for simi- Health District. ‘It has, however, been decided that a lar telehealth models at small rural doctor will continue to provide overhospitals across the state. Luis Feliu
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night support at Mullumbimby Hospital emergency department. ‘The board has asked the management at Mullumbimby Hospital to look at more cost-effective methods to mitigate a reliance on locums. ‘The board has also asked management to continue to consult with local clinicians and the community to ensure the best for the patients of Mullumbimby and neighbouring communities.’ Senior nurse at the hospital, Shauna Boyle, told The Echo the decision was expected, given they had been promised the trial would not go ahead without nurses’ agreement. Ms Boyle said the NSW Nurses Association (NSWNA) members felt continued on page 2