One million words...

According to Google, there are over 1 million words in the English language.

Unfortunately, I have not been able to find a single one which sums up the way I feel right now. As shareholders, we had a chance. A red hot, take control, here's our rights chance, and with the large holders throwing in the towel, some no doubt out of exhaustion, others to make a quick buck, our board and the get-rich-quick traders have stuffed it up. Our one chance to make the government accountable. Our one chance to put the facts in-front of the courts. Our one chance to make this whole thing end amicably and decently for all involved, and now it is gone. The shareholders are the only ones who have done nothing wrong all this time, and yet they are the only ones to end up with nothing! The government has proven that it can pull any string it wants, at any time, and get away with it. What a sad, sad day it is for the NSW investment community. Nothing can ever be taken as a given from this point on... Not laws. Not rights. Not agreements signed in good will. Nothing.

I can already imagine the wild celebrations going on in the Northern Rivers. Yep, if you are still reading... You have won. End of the Metgasco story. Just know, we wanted to work with the community, in the community, to become a part of the community. If I can suggest one thing: Use any leftover energy to guarantee that the Northern Rivers will remain gas free forever, otherwise the beer and wine you are drinking tonight will be tomorrow's vinegar. When the next mob come in (and without a complete ban, they will), they will have paid a hefty price, have far more political sway, deeper pockets and far less of a social conscience than Metgasco. Except when the war cry goes out to block Bentley again, with the residents expecting the same warm and fuzzy result, the support of the government won't be there, because that's what governments do. Metgasco was made to become a political thorn. The next company that comes along will no doubt be bed-buddies with the government, and then it will be open season. I do not mean that with animosity, nor do I wish to see industrial chaos in the region - I just know that the gas will not be ignored forever. Someday, a leader is going to make the call.

To my fellow holders, I am sorry. I am sorry for the huge losses. I am sorry for the sleepless nights. I am sorry for the optimism that has turned to pessimism that has turned into a devastating reality. I am sorry for the hope of better things that went to waste. I am sorry for the conversations you will have with loved ones, having to explain that there is no retirement money or reward for a hard life's work. I am sorry for the helplessness, and the feeling of having nothing left. Most of all, I am sorry that you were robbed. The investment always made sense. It was a good investment. One that was needed, and is still needed, in NSW. It was just bad governance that got in the way. To the one's who have lost so much, I truly am sorry.

I hope the money is returned to shareholders. I do not trust this board as much as I would trust a brown snake in my bed. Despite what the vote says, I believe they got it wrong. Maybe with the pittance that comes back, people can look towards other opportunities in the hope of reducing past losses in some small way. If left at the helm, I believe this current group will just squander the funds through bad decision making, late decision making or no decision making, all while collecting their 6 figures. What a joke.

I am totally, utterly and completely gutted. That is all I can say.

No use saying good luck anymore. What use is luck when everything you stand for got trampled into the dirt by political muscle-flexing.

Perhaps "better futures" is the way to sign off this time.

-shakes head-

AP