Editorial

We often talk about the need for leadership on the Central Coast – strong, visionary leadership. The sort that sees the opportunities the Central Coast offers and can think strategically and long term and are prepared to put some of their own time and occasionally some money into it. There’s not much of it around. Generally most people, the successful ones, are too preoccupied in their own affairs or don’t want to get caught up in the inevitable politics that blight our Region. I don’t come across too many people who can get their minds around the whole Region, so it’s very refreshing when you do come across some visionaries who have the clout and passion to do something good for the Central Coast as a whole.
This was the case fifteen years ago when the tourism industry was falling into a hole. Fortunately, though this industry had some leadership – real leadership. Ed Manners saw the light, knew that the industry had to be taken by the throat, given some strategic direction and professionally marketed.
He got Walter Immoos, John Osborne, Peter Hale and Paul Kiley – all professionals – together. They had the ability, the passion and understood the opportunity for our Region. They were soon joined by another two leaders who were big picture thinkers. Tony Sansom and Tony Sheridan at the time were the Mayors of Gosford and Wyong Councils respectively, and saw what could be achieved for our ailing tourism industry.
And so Central Coast Tourism was formed and what a fantastic success this organisation has been. It hasn’t been all beer and skittles. There are people out there with their own agendas sniping away at the management. Some are petty politicians, others are people who have think they know it all but in fact don’t and then there are those who flit into the region in management roles, know nothing about what the organisation does.
But through all of this we have kept the same Chairman, Peter Hale, for thirteen years and the same CEO, Horst Endrulat for the whole time. It is that stability and their commitment, apart from their professional abilities, that has made CCT Australia’s leading regional tourism organisation.

This will be the last opportunity we have to comment on the Federal Election.
We keep talking to businesspeople who are really worried about the implications of a change of government. Particularly, the type of government we will get if the Howard/Costello duo go.
Before we vote on November we need to take stock of what has happened in NSW under Carr/Iemma – a government of mates for mates.
Under this government the bureaucracy has been totally politicised. Anyone with any professional expertise has gone, to be replaced by union mates or party hacks. They have no professional knowledge of the jobs they are in or administrative ability whatsoever.
The result is that NSW has been run into the ground during a period when Australia has been going gangbusters. The Central Coast is going nowhere thanks to our politically myopic state members. And that goes for the so-called Minister for the Central Coast.
Back to Canberra.
Howard is right. If Labor goes in we will be governed by the Unions. Union membership is the lowest in history but they are now irrelevant. All the union leaders can see it and are jumping ship. Right into the government.
With a Federal Labor Government and six state Labor Governments the unions will have unfettered power. For business it will be very scary.

Edgar Adams
Editor

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