FABAH (Flood Affected Businesses and Households) was established on Brisbane's southside after the devastating Brisbane River flood of January 2011.
But the organisation appears to have split - much to the consternation of business owners and householders.
There are now two websites - www.fabah.com and www.fabah.net - both proclaiming the virtues of FABAH.
Ipswich and Greater Goodna residents are concerned about the possible mixed messages from this double-headed duet.
One FABAH member has been seen hanging around meetings held in Brisbane by Maurice Blackburn Lawyers cautioning members of the public about the alleged pitfalls of joining the Maurice Blackburn/IMF (Australia) class action.
Whose side is FABAH really on?
FABAH should be working with all flood victims and other like-minded groups to achieve the best possible outcomes for all businesses and householders.
Raw criticism of Maurice Blackburn/IMF is quite unfounded and simply serves to instill fears in the average member of the community and to undermine what is currently the only flood class action on the horizon.
Those fears being engendered by persons who should know better could easily result in thousands of flood victims being too scared to join a class action and missing out on their just legal entitlements.
The www.fabah.net site gives some clues to the history of this sad situation reminding us all of the old political adage - Disunity is Death:
FEBRUARY
Rod Williams and Ken Madsen agreed that FABAH would pay for some of the legal expenses of the Mid Brisbane River Irrigators, who had standing before the Inquiry. However MBRI refused to allow David Stark to brief its barrister, resulting in questions not being asked that could have destroyed the credibility of SEQWater and its supporting ‘experts’. This might have led to truly independent experts revealing the truth, but that opportunity was lost.
Rod Williams and Ken Madsen agreed that FABAH would pay for some of the legal expenses of the Mid Brisbane River Irrigators, who had standing before the Inquiry. However MBRI refused to allow David Stark to brief its barrister, resulting in questions not being asked that could have destroyed the credibility of SEQWater and its supporting ‘experts’. This might have led to truly independent experts revealing the truth, but that opportunity was lost.
MARCH
Prior to 12 March, David Stark had publically drawn attention to Maurice Blackburn/IMF deceptively inducing flood-affected people to join their Class Action.
On 12 March, IMF complained about this publicity. Rod, Ken and David conferred and concluded that as FABAH was not incorporated there could be no legal action taken against FABAH, and that only David would be liable for any legal action as he was the author of the criticism. David, suggested that FABAH should register its business name to ensure Maurice Blackburn/IMF could not stop criticism or comparison of possible Class Actions, if they registered the FABAH name.
As Rod and Ken did not think that was necessary, David then registered in his name FABAH Flood Affected Businesses and Households, to ensure there would be no curtailment his work or commentary to assist those flood affected.
14 March, on Greg Cary’s radio program on 4BC, David obtained a commitment from Campbell Newman to fairly compensate those flooded once negligence was proved, and that folk would not be forced to take legal action to obtain compensation.
The public no longer understands who FABAH really is or who officially speaks for FABAH.
Until FABAH gets its act together and shows a willingness to work with the community, its presence at future meetings in Ipswich and Greater Goodna would be untenable.
An amusing side to all of this intrigue is revealed by a simple Google search of "Fabah":
Fabah - Bint Al Bahr Babson Arabians
Fabah sired 67 foals form 1957 through 1975. His grandget number more than 740. His influence in the Babson group has been extensive. He was well ...
Fabah might have sired 67 foals in the United States but in downtown Brisbane, Fabah is proving to be nothing but a poor-performing gelding!
7.7.12
