Starboy – Oh – was that Sandra Bull from Fairfax sitting near me tonight?

Get it right before making stupid and false comments

Furthermore, councils are good fodder for news stories because they spend ratepayers’ money and, according to most people, not very wisely. It’s all about writing stories that people want to read. So at no stage, has my editor told his staff to ‘go easy’ on council or, for that matter, on any possible news story out of fear of losing advertising revenue. For our Casey adversaries to allegedly do this, would be out of character at the Independent and it’s never been an instruction from Star management, either.

“Casey council’s “community directory” claims that there is only one local newspaper in the municipality: There is one result found in News & Postal Services / Newspaper. You guessed it, the Star News Group.”

That’s true – technically. However, a whole-site search on the Casey Council webpage does bring up Fairfax (3 mastheads) and Leader (News Ltd – 2) as well as the Star News Group – altho both are listed below SNG.

But hey, why let the facts stand in the way of a good story?

6th November 2008 02:07:44 AM (Star Cranbourne)
WEARY methane gas affected property owners face another blow as a News investigation reveals that banks have mortgage blacklisted properties within two kilometres of the estate.

The dilemma comes one week after the CFA announced it was safe for residents to return to their homes after the emergency status at the Cranbourne estate was downgraded.

Bank insiders have confirmed widespread rumours among local real estate agents that banks are not approving finance for houses within a two kilometre radius of the estate.

The News has been told that two major banks in Cranbourne were not approving finance because they were worried about the risk to properties in and around the estate.

The decision leaves homeowners unable to sell their properties as would-be buyers are unable to get a mortgage on the affected homes.

If they are unable to sell their properties, homeowners are also left paying mortgages on properties that are of little resale value.

The latest blow comes on an already depressed housing market.

The Cranbourne Chamber of Commerce will meet City of Casey council representatives today (Thursday) to discuss the problem.

LJ Hooker Cranbourne real estate agent Paul May said all but one of the estate’s houses which were for sale have been withdrawn and that there had been no interest in the one that was still for sale.

“I would think that the methane has been negatively affecting all agents, home owners, and tenants.”

Isnt this the real story? Here, at the end of 2008 in Australia, we have a situation where hundreds of people’s equity in their homes is suddenly zip because of

Yeah and Leahmann Bros had some 800billion in assets and see how they went.

No doubt like Lehmann, SG books are cooked.

hahaha funny one.

Not worth a cracker as a journo. Those who do, do, those who can’t, teach.

Little wonder she’s got her employers in the shite.

They are saying Mike Tyler has bought them off. And that appears to be true. I think the Ombudsman should be called in to look at this.

Boycotting other newspapers, failing to even list them in a community directory and launching attacks on those who want a new CEO doesn’t past a smell test.

If we were in WA the Crime and Corruption Commission would already be onto this.

Heads down to Casey Council and it’s senior staff who don’t deserve any accolades.

The debt crisis of Star News is a pity, but they bring it on themselves in dodgy deals with suburban councils of low quality, like Casey.