We can definitely go deeper on the Ley thing though. https://www.theguardian.com/austral...-for-gold-coast-events-with-multi-millionaire
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AusPoliGaf |Early 2016 Election| - the government's term has been... Shortened
- Thread starter Bernbaum
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Speaking of deeper, look what the cat dragged in.
https://www.theguardian.com/austral...ists-for-criticising-sussan-ley-over-expenses
Fucking helicopters.
Elaugaufein
Member
I can't believe I'm saying this but maybe entitlements/expenses is one area where we should take a leaf from business: Politicians pay for their own expensive and then claim legitimate expenses back. For things that are mixed personal / political business keep a time log and refunds are done proportionally.
bobnowhere
Member
Can't have the unwashed masses seizing the means of helicopter transport.
D.Lo
Member
But I do know that there are socialists out there who want to attack free enterprise and anyone who sticks up for it.
And I know that socialists, like alcoholics, will blame anyone but themselves. And whereas alcoholics can damage their own family, socialists can destroy the whole country.
Literally one of the most insane things I have ever heard from a politician.
And I know that socialists, like alcoholics, will blame anyone but themselves. And whereas alcoholics can damage their own family, socialists can destroy the whole country.
Literally one of the most insane things I have ever heard from a politician.
Elaugaufein
Member
XD, she's an ex-polly now so no staff to suggest to her that her statements could "use their phrasing improved" I'd guess.
bobnowhere
Member
It's all coming out of the woodwork now.
Ministers bill taxpayers to attend PM's private New Years Eve function
Dutton, Brandis, Fyfield and Birmingham billed the tax payer to go to Turnbull's private new years eve function in 2015.
The other 18 ministers must have had an attack of conscience and didn't bill the Taxpayer.
Brandis, Fyfield, Birmingham and Ley are firmly in the Turnbull camp, I'm starting to think this is leaking from within the conservative wing to destabilise Turnbull even further.
She's paid by Sky to say stupid shit, a role she's taken to with great gusto!
Ministers bill taxpayers to attend PM's private New Years Eve function
Dutton, Brandis, Fyfield and Birmingham billed the tax payer to go to Turnbull's private new years eve function in 2015.
The Menu said:
The other 18 ministers must have had an attack of conscience and didn't bill the Taxpayer.
Brandis, Fyfield, Birmingham and Ley are firmly in the Turnbull camp, I'm starting to think this is leaking from within the conservative wing to destabilise Turnbull even further.
She's paid by Sky to say stupid shit, a role she's taken to with great gusto!
Elaugaufein
Member
Dutton's apparently got ideas about being the next conservative leader so if it's someone from the Abbott again camp or similarly opposed to Dutton that would make sense. Probably not Morrison I imagine since the last thing he wants is more drama now.
I think the irony is lost on helicopter bronwyn.
She never apologised. She never accepted any wrongdoing was her own. She blamed everyone else and along with the LNP, nearly destroyed the whole country with the 2014 budget and the end of the age of entitlement unless you are a politician in which case anything goes.
The hottest of takes.
I can't decide whether this is just Bishop being as oblivious as ever or if she's trying to fuck over Ley or the LNP.
Probably the former.
Do we base it on Twitter outrage?
It should be based on failing to adhere to a code of conduct at the least. Not that it necessarily applies here, but substantial conflicts of interest, defrauding the commonwealth, abuse of office power are all themes that should warrant some serious investigation with teeth.
It took years for Obeid to see consequences and I dont think for a second he was the only corrupt one. Whether Ley did anything on that scale is obviously unlikely, but there also needs to be some scale of consequences too. Demotion, loss of entitlements, pay cut, external approval of travel expenditure before the fact, and in cases of extreme conflict of interest (let's say a hypothetical defence minister gave a contract to a company he or she part owned to build some new gear) the people responsible should lose their parliamentary pension.
bobnowhere
Member
I think I read that ~18 other MPs didn't charge anything.
That's quite encouraging by the usual news standards.
D.Lo
Member
Yeah, it makes those that did look like absolute snouts.
bobnowhere
Member
Yeah, of the 22 minister invited, 18 completely paid their own way, Birmingham had a legit meeting on the same day and billed the cabcharge vouchers there and back and nothing else so no problem there while Brandis, Fifield and Dutton got a nice paid holiday on the back of taxpayers and have gone to ground on the matter.
I'm waiting for someone to find a moat cleaning claim, Brandis again seems the most likely candidate!
Also as of 1/1/17 the 6 year statute of limitations for centrelink debt is gone, they can basically go back as far as they want now. It's extraordinary that they have let this run and run with only the bare minimum of comment/BS from Porter and nothing from Turnbull. While the Terror is supporting them in bashing dole bludgers they are going full throat on the LNP rorters. The next newspoll should be a doozy, they are getting smashed by the left and the right.
If the right wing had a star candidate Turnbull wouldn't even make the next budget but without an obvious successor he'll probably limp on for a while longer.
I'm waiting for someone to find a moat cleaning claim, Brandis again seems the most likely candidate!
Also as of 1/1/17 the 6 year statute of limitations for centrelink debt is gone, they can basically go back as far as they want now. It's extraordinary that they have let this run and run with only the bare minimum of comment/BS from Porter and nothing from Turnbull. While the Terror is supporting them in bashing dole bludgers they are going full throat on the LNP rorters. The next newspoll should be a doozy, they are getting smashed by the left and the right.
If the right wing had a star candidate Turnbull wouldn't even make the next budget but without an obvious successor he'll probably limp on for a while longer.
Aarglefarg
Member
Julie Bishop charged taxpayers $2716 to attend a polo event last year. Her office responded that it was in her official capacity.
http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2017-...axpayers-for-trip-to-polo/8173542?pfmredir=sm
http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2017-...axpayers-for-trip-to-polo/8173542?pfmredir=sm
TheWasTheJoke
Member
Fuuuck I forgot about that, must really riled up student bodies
bobnowhere
Member
Looks like Cullerton might finally be gone though he's still trying to dig in sending nonsense letters to the queen and claiming the 21 day extension means he's not yet a bankrupt when in reality it was to give him time to get affairs in order. He apparently owes millions to someone else and is still involved in multiple civil and criminal court cases. I'll miss his nuttiness.
Elaugaufein
Member
Looks like Cullerton might finally be gone though he's still trying to dig in sending nonsense letters to the queen and claiming the 21 day extension means he's not yet a bankrupt when in reality it was to give him time to get affairs in order. He apparently owes millions to someone else and is still involved in multiple civil and criminal court cases. I'll miss his nuttiness.
This might not be the end of him in the public spotlight yet. It still needs to be settled if he was elligible to run in the first place since that changes if PHON gets to appoint a replacement or if it goes to a countback which will elect the second person on the ticket (who I believe is Cullerton's Brother in Law).
bobnowhere
Member
Apparently his brother in law was guarantor on the loan and is probably bankrupt or going through the process and his wife is also bankrupt with Rod!
Another PHON candidate has shown his true colours: super homophobic, believes the poor kid who drowned crossing from Turkey to Greece was invented and finally the Port Arthur Massacre didn't happpen! I suspect PHON's tactic of setting up a table with nomination forms outside of the local Asylum isn't working out.
Oh god, even more PHON news. It looks like the LNP in queensland have lost a state MP to PHON over medicinal marijuana. Steve Dickson.
Elaugaufein
Member
A Queensland LNP state MP has apparently defected to One Nation. But I have not the foggiest idea why, Buderim isn't a seat that PHON is likely to take (except by the defection of a sitting member). Even if PHON got double PUP's vote (unlkely given the area*) it'd still be a LNP seat. Unless he's in one of the seats they are shifting boundaries of but it's a relatively new seat so that seems unlikely.
*Its not a great target for One Nation because parts of it are affluent Lib types having done the move to the Sunshine Coast thing. I guess their hoping the Nationals parts will defect and the sitting member will be enough to get them over.
ETA - Ahaha. That makes far more sense. Medicinal marijuana would be fairly popular in that region (also 'medicinal' marijuana).
ETA2 - The timing of the resolution of this could be hilarious. It could potentially cost PHON the seat of it resolves as a coubtback while they have no one eligible. But seems most likely it'll go to the BIL who'll be almost immediately DQed then back to PHON for appointment.
*Its not a great target for One Nation because parts of it are affluent Lib types having done the move to the Sunshine Coast thing. I guess their hoping the Nationals parts will defect and the sitting member will be enough to get them over.
ETA - Ahaha. That makes far more sense. Medicinal marijuana would be fairly popular in that region (also 'medicinal' marijuana).
ETA2 - The timing of the resolution of this could be hilarious. It could potentially cost PHON the seat of it resolves as a coubtback while they have no one eligible. But seems most likely it'll go to the BIL who'll be almost immediately DQed then back to PHON for appointment.
bobnowhere
Member
And Ley is gone.
One person gets the axe and now Turnbull talking about a cross party bill and independent expenses commission. I imagine there will be a "truce" of sorts now so no one else loses their job. One person was thrown to the lions to entertain the masses/media so the rest can keep theirs.
Yeah Buderim seems like an odd seat for PHON, he'll probably get rolled next election unless there is a massive exodus from the LNP to PHON and that seems pretty unlikely.
One person gets the axe and now Turnbull talking about a cross party bill and independent expenses commission. I imagine there will be a "truce" of sorts now so no one else loses their job. One person was thrown to the lions to entertain the masses/media so the rest can keep theirs.
Yeah Buderim seems like an odd seat for PHON, he'll probably get rolled next election unless there is a massive exodus from the LNP to PHON and that seems pretty unlikely.
D.Lo
Member
Elaugaufein
Member
News Corps been throwing out expense claims about Labor and the Greens for like the past two weeks straight , ever since this broke.
TheWasTheJoke
Member
An expenses commission makes me uncomfortable, is establishing another layer of bureaucracy, one which will likely cost millions every year, an actual cost-effective solution to what is currently a very small problem in the grander scheme of things? Surely there can be a solution that doesn't involve an office on a register on a commission.
Elaugaufein
Member
Seems like Newscorp doesn't have much hope for the LNP at the next election. Dedicated an entire piece to freaking about the Labor Left having any influence at all and also vaguely suggesting that sitting Right MPs would get primaried (which is wildly unlikely, this is a party which keeps Right members in seats that are actually vulnerable from the Left).
Seems a bit early for this honestly, the election is at least 2 years away and more likely 2.5 years to keep the Senate in sync after a DD.
Seems a bit early for this honestly, the election is at least 2 years away and more likely 2.5 years to keep the Senate in sync after a DD.
bobnowhere
Member
Unless they change the rules about what can be claimed and what can't there will be no change. It will just outsource responsibility to this new independent office. Instead of Julie Bishop deciding herself that it's fine to go to the Polo on the taxpayer she can just say that the independent office said it was fine when she asked so don't blame me, blame the system and around and around we go again.
Oddly she's cancelled her yearly trip to the Polo.
Steve Ciobo made me laugh when he said the populace expected pollies to go to sporting events on the taxpayer. Talk about completely and fundamentally misreading the mood of the electorate!
Oddly she's cancelled her yearly trip to the Polo.
Steve Ciobo made me laugh when he said the populace expected pollies to go to sporting events on the taxpayer. Talk about completely and fundamentally misreading the mood of the electorate!
Elaugaufein
Member
Its sort of true, we expect local MPs to go to significant games for local teams, etc in an official capacity. But it's pretty specific what's expected (Qld or NSW premier or sports minister going to State of Origin = Okay, Western Australian Justice Minister going to the Ashes = not okay. )
D.Lo
Member
Why should a politician ever get to go to a sporting match and get paid for it? They're not getting paid for that, they're getting paid for lawmaking. It's just paying for them to campaign and promote themselves by showing their face at a game. Even a sports minister (stupid ministry anyway), it's just promotion, go to local kids soccer game to promote community sporting funding or whatever. If they want to show they're a great cricket fan or whatever, pay yourself, pal, or get your party to fund it, not the public.
bobnowhere
Member
I don't think it's too much of an issue in Sydney. The left have the inner city seats and the right the outer ones. There's a massive Labor right ring around the west and they are all ministers as well.
It's a bit different in Victoria and people like Danby and Feeney should be primaried out as they will both lose those seats if not at the next election, the one after that.
I don't see too much growth from the left. They have always dominated in Tasmania, been very strong in the west, it's pretty even in SA and QLD and they are well behind in NSW and VIC. Just a sad dogwhistle from uncle Rupert.
TheWasTheJoke
Member
I don't think anyone fears a swing to the left all that much considering Shorten's weak polling figures and the inability to capture to mantle in regard to key issues, entitlement being a recent example. However a populist swing seems very likely and that would be one that hurt the LNP more than anyone else simply seeing how many of their voters are old racist conservatives who love a bit o' Hanson.
I mean electorally I'll concede it's pretty far-fetched to see One Nation scalp a seat in Western Sydney but their are certainly pockets of discontent that could fester into Senate seat.
Elaugaufein
Member
One Nation is majorly dangerous in Queensland. I'd say they are a lock for the 6th Seat (if not 5th) there from now on (unless they explode). And the demographics of Queensland mean they can win Rural / Suburban HoR seats and also put the LNP in a vice (the SE corner (Parts of the Sunshine Coast / Brisbane / Gold Coast ) will punish the LNP for deals with One Nation* and in Rural Seats One Nation could potentially ride LNP preferences to victory).
D.Lo
Member
If neither major party turns it around, with a message that gives hope and resonates with more of the population, yes ON will continue to grown in Queensland.
But it's kind of like there's nowhere for the disaffected votes to go in the more populous states. If we were a younger country now would be a ripe time for a new party.
But it's kind of like there's nowhere for the disaffected votes to go in the more populous states. If we were a younger country now would be a ripe time for a new party.
Elaugaufein
Member
Frankly keeping the people One Nation most appeals to happy is supposed to the Nationals job in Queensland. They've just increasingly sucked donkey balls at it since at least the 80s (many of them are just economic Libs with bonus social regressiveness).
Candescence
Member
Meanwhile, Liberal MP Jai Rowell, a Lib powerbroker from NSW, has been accused of leaking to Labor in order to 'destroy' a party colleague at the last election. Said colleague was removed from his seat, and one major leak was a road repair promise that Labor proceeded to outplay the government on, causing a major fit of embarrassment, not to mention the government being forced to promise to pay $20 million more than they wanted to on the road repair funding.
More infighting, ahoy!
More infighting, ahoy!
something something adults something something
Dastardly Jerks
Banned
I reckon we're gonna be inundated with expense claim rort claims so much that the general public will grow apathetic of it and just blanket accuse all of overspending.
Do you still see people caring about Dastyari? And even referencing a mere cabcharge with Peter Slipper makes the situation retroactively look embarrassing.
Candescence
Member
ReachTel poll shows a further degrading 2PP result for the government with 54/46 in favor of Labor.
We're getting into spill territory, now. Granted, there's nobody in government who can hope to recover the government's poll numbers. The government are in for a miserable two and a half more years.
We're getting into spill territory, now. Granted, there's nobody in government who can hope to recover the government's poll numbers. The government are in for a miserable two and a half more years.
Dastardly Jerks
Banned
I look forward to Prime Minister Peter Dutton and Deputy PM George Christensen..
D.Lo
Member
Death by a thousand cuts for Turnbull.
Australia needs a clear choice either way I think. Like for example if there were a huge scandal or infighting in Labor, the Libs may feel safer, and be emboldened to actually govern, and impressions would improve because they look competent in comparison etc. This is what happened in NSW for a while, though Baird managed to fuck that up too. But we're stuck in a mire of hatred of both parties, because one has a leader fighting his own party, and the other a poor performing apparatchik.
Elaugaufein
Member
Hum. GetUp poll has One Nation slightly outpolling the Greens, that can only end well.
The numbers suggest it's disillusioned Coalition voters swelling One Nation ranks though, given they are polling awfully, the Greens polling number is pretty normal. We need an election to see if PHON support is soft or hard (Greens support is notoriously soft). If One Nation support follows it's usual trend though it's concentration pockets will probably less to House seats in Rural / Suburban areas of Queensland. Given current polling though we could easily end up with a split senate where One Nation + LNP = Labor + Greens leaving Xenophon and Lambie with the balance of power.
The numbers suggest it's disillusioned Coalition voters swelling One Nation ranks though, given they are polling awfully, the Greens polling number is pretty normal. We need an election to see if PHON support is soft or hard (Greens support is notoriously soft). If One Nation support follows it's usual trend though it's concentration pockets will probably less to House seats in Rural / Suburban areas of Queensland. Given current polling though we could easily end up with a split senate where One Nation + LNP = Labor + Greens leaving Xenophon and Lambie with the balance of power.
Elaugaufein
Member
What I don't understand is why PHON numbers continue to rise despite the candidates being demonstratably nuts / incompetent. The racism / sexism / longing for Christian White Australia part I get, the lowbrow language I get. The babbling lunacy and complete inability to function I don't get.
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