Oh dear. With all that has been happening this year, I missed this little gem. But when I really did need a laugh, this gave it to me.
What prompted this eventual hilarity was Facebook reminding me that 12 months ago today, I posted a comment that bankruptcy proceedings had just started against Fraser Anning. (more…)
I just discovered a big error of fact in what was originally posted. So for now it was easier to just delete. But this piece shall return once I have edited appropriately.
There was one thing that came out strongly in the 2019 Federal election. It needs urgent attention. And all in parliament are simply ignoring it,
The last election proved once and for all how utterly useless and powerless the Australian Electoral Commission is, through no fault of their own. The Electoral Act and associated legislation and regulation are in urgent need of remedial attention. But the whole subject is subject of deafening political silence. (more…)
Corruption. Dodgy expenses. Illegal donations. Self-interest before all else. In Australian politics, it never seems to stop. But why? If they know it is wrong, why do they keep doing it?
The reality is that, despite everything so far uncovered by the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption, which has even resulted in convictions and prison sentences, there is still a culture in Australian politics of the ‘untouchable.’ (more…)
Anyone who knows me will be aware that I am no fan of politicians in general and the Coalition in particular. But there can be exceptions – Tim Fischer was definitely one of those.
I recall a story about the younger Fischer one time leading a party on a trip through the Snowy Mountains. Coming across a nice pool of water, Fischer stripped off in front of everyone, dropping into the water for a pleasant soak, hat still on his head. He kept doing that with other parties but for modesty’s sake took to wearing some bathers underneath. (more…)
Welcome to Australia, the land so magical that we can’t even be sure that we exist. There was even a claim in the USA that we don’t exist and that any ‘Australians’ were just actors being paid to pretend we come from that mythical land.
SloMo the MoFo, Mr Fuppet (pic credit Dominic Lorrimer)
What a wonderful setting this is to be the home of Morrison the Magnifique.
Who else but El Magnifico could make entire things disappear with a dash of the pen or a quick press announcement? (more…)
Craig Kelly, Liberal MP (photo credit AAP)
As little as a year, ago hardly any of us had heard of Liberal MP, Craig Kelly. Yet now he keeps popping up in the news. So, who is he and just what changed?
Kelly was elected to the House of Representatives for the electorate of Hughes in Sydney, in 2010, being re-elected in 2013, 2016 and 2019.
The best part of a decade is long enough for a politician to make their mark. Yet Kelly’s parliamentary record is quite scant. One thing that never goes begging is the availability of parliamentary committee positions. Most MPs and Senators of the same duration as Kelly have a respectable list of committees they have served on. Kelly, however, has very little. And he has nothing even remotely approaching Ministerial or portfolio activity. (more…)
George Christensen – he is quite a puzzle.
I am pretty confident he holds onto his seat through some sort of influence at the local level of the Nationals. Holding some pretty good dirt on someone there? (more…)
Senator Ian MacDonald has a point. Our politicians really are terribly poorly paid. They could have stayed in their original ‘real’ jobs and been paid a proper, living wage. But no, through such determination to serve the public these heroes survive on a mere pittance, only to be tossed to one side like last week’s caviar wrapper. A defined benefits superannuation which provides a hefty guaranteed pension? That is merely a minor recognition of all those years of sacrifice for the nation. We should consider giving them all that free air travel in retirement as a way of saying ‘thank you, oh great one.’ (more…)
One of the Fairfax stable said they were going to take this only to change their mind at the last minute, so you get to read it for free.
As Rod Culleton learned the hard way, getting into parliament is not as easy as it sounds. Your past can have an impact. But once you are safely there, you can do pretty much what you like. You may get booted from a Ministry or something if you mess up badly enough, but you are still there, earning $195,000 at the bare minimum with your backside polishing a red or green leather seat. And this allows a nasty, unintended loophole in the Australia Constitution that far too many politicians have taken advantage of. (more…)
