"[88] In about the middle of January 2004 the defendant rang the plaintiff and told her that there would be a newspaper story published which would be critical of him. He said, “if Ben Hills contacts you, you are to deny everything. I cannot transfer the shares to you now as everyone is watching me”. He also said to her “tell anyone who asks not to sell their shares, the price will probably drop, but it will go up again”. Ben Hills is the journalist who wrote the newspaper story. [89] On the weekend of 17–18 January 2004 the article that the defendant had been talking about appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald. It was critical of both the defendant, and of Unitract. It raised allegations that Roger Williamson, who held about 24% of the shares in Unitrac"
...and now move forward to now it starts to appear like groundhog day to me. I pattern could easily be argued through this and other issues.
I believe there is an awesome product developed and award winning (Geneva Award)at that. Commercialising it seems an issue with this management. If the job costing of 55c is accurate then clearly "there is a problem Houston".
Given AS's understandable enthusiasm to quell anything negative it would be reasonable to see him protecting his company by a little play acting. Having journeyed to the USA on 6-7 occasions and worked behind the scenes in some things, I have seen first hand how the staging can occur and the way staff fall into line so much more than Aussies would. They do this without question over there, maybe this is a guy [Talbot Smith]who we should at least listen to first...albeit while holding a gun to his head.
But, where does a play act become something more?
To indulge a little more. I remember doing a management job for an aged care centre. I have a clear vivid memory of a staff member having difficulties with a difficult resident... I totally empathised with her and the situation. Some members of the public walked towards them - I didn't realise at that point that it was the children of the resident but maybe the staff member may have.
You should have seen the laughter and giggling and jocularity that suddenly took place. We left them and her only comment to me was "that was close". It was apparent that there is a LOT of play acting at these places...again, does that make it wrong? Where is the line? That's the question I would like to explore.
