Fighting corruption in Australia

[Bruce Tuncks]

I hate how they say that the "remuneration tribunal" is independent....  who hires and fires them I wonder.

But I do agree that the WA thing is a step in the right direction.

[onetrack]

I found an interesting AFR article outlining how Morrison has stayed in Parliament because he's not entitled to a PM's pension. He and Turnbull are the only two incumbents who no longer qualify for a generous PM's pension - unlike other PM's, who didn't need the money, anyway.

 

Turnbull, as a banker, has no need for any form of Govt pension, but Morrison hasn't set himself up as comfortably as many other PM's. There's discussion in the article how a reasonable indexed pension for former PM's, is possibly a good anti-corruption measure. The previous PM's pensions were outrageous, and Johnny Howard knew it.

 

https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/how-to-avoid-scott-morrison-hawking-himself-around-the-jobs-market-20230502-p5d4tj#:~:text=Malcolm Turnbull and Scott Morrison,upon their retirement from politics.

[old man emu]

Karma kicks back!

After ruining so many lives with Robodebt, it's good to see that Scomo has had his snout removed from the trough. 

[Jerry_Atrick]

I agree... But as of yet, it has not kicked back enough...

 

I only hope the CPS is taking its time to ensure their case is bullet-proof.

 

[facthunter]

IF you've had a crook meal you want to get rid of, read his Maiden speech to the Parliament.   Nev

[red750]

Something to gladden the heart of Nev.

 

Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott has been nominated to the board of global media giant Fox Corporation. The nomination comes a day after Rupert Murdoch announced he would be stepping down as chairman of the company in favour of his son Lachlan. Also nominated to the board of directors was tech executive Peggy Johnson.

[Bruce Tuncks]

I hated how he treated australians as fools over the pro-monarchy campaign. There were some good arguments but Tony lied. The lie I hated worst was how he said that we would finish up with a "politicians" head of state, when the requirement of 2/3 of the house would ensure a bi-partisan head of state.

That these lies went unanswered by the republican lot led ( or misled ) by Turnbull made me wonder if he was just there to sabotage the republican's case.

Edited September 23, 2023 by Bruce Tuncks

[facthunter]

I'm not surprised T A Bot is going where misinformation thrives. Red.  He's certainly well qualified. His electorate disposed of him  to put Zali Steggall in. and it WAS a safe Liberal seat. so I'm not alone. The Merde Ock show is losing it's influence too so I have hope yet that GOOD will triumph over evil.   Tony was a good little servant to the Merde show doing everything they and the IPA asked of him. Nev

Edited September 23, 2023 by facthunter

[old man emu]

What sort of business acumen would a career politician have to suit a Boardroom seat? 

[facthunter]

He's a proven FAILED Politician who thought HE was DESTINED to be some kind of leader. Illusions of greatness.  Failed Priest  AKA  the MAD MONK. He's more of an  untrustworthy WRECKER. (Think NBN). and misogynist. Nev

[willedoo]

1 hour ago, facthunter said:

I'm not surprised T A Bot is going where misinformation thrives.

I just heard some referendum talk on the radio and they noted the difference between misinformation and disinformation. Misinformation is where the spreader of it believes it to be true. Disinformation is when incorrect information is spread on purpose.

[facthunter]

Well we will go to disinformation then. Nev

[facthunter]

Can't see how that is a plus for Murdoch. The News corpse influence is considered to be declining fast so maybe there is a Dog, after all.  Nev

[Jerry_Atrick]

God just stepped down from the Chairman's role - he is still around..

 

[Bruce Tuncks]

Disinformation? What about calling a scrub-tree a "birthing tree" when it is not old enough for real tribal aborigines to have so used? And just who is going to carry the legal responsibility for those killed on the road that would have been duplicated if not for the birthing tree nonsense?

I hereby accuse the "yes" campaign of disinformation.

( trees get old too... on the farm here, we have lots of trees planted by the previous owner of the place, and they are starting to show signs of getting old at just 50 or so years)

[facthunter]

I can't see anything about said "birthing tree" in the Voice so where's the disinformation there?   Nev

[Bruce Tuncks]

You are right as usual Nev, but I'm still cross about the stopping of the road to Melbourne stuff around here.

Can you give me an example where abos have used their political clout to achieve anything useful?

I only see examples like "stop climbing rocks in the Grampians and Mt Arapiles" while in WA, they repealed some legislation which went much too far. A good thing, thought I, that this was not locked up in the constitution and so could be repealed when it was found to be ineffective.

I've said it before, but I reckon "tough love" is what is needed here. For example, I could eradicate trachoma almost immediately if whole families had to come with washed faces to collect their siddown money. Yes, this would be argued against by white politically-correct ladies.

 

[octave]

4 minutes ago, Bruce Tuncks said:

A good thing, thought I, that this was not locked up in the constitution and so could be repealed when it was found to be ineffective.

 

If the yes case passes the only thing that will be in the constitution and therefore difficult (but possible) to change is the voice itself.  The voice does not have the power to put things such as restrictions on climbing rocks into the constitution.   Anything the voice recommends will not be in the constitution, at least not without another referendum.  

 

 

[red750]

7 hours ago, octave said:

The voice does not have the power to put things such as restrictions on climbing rocks into the constitution.   Anything the voice recommends will not be in the constitution, at least not without another referendum.  

 

Then what's the point of it?

[octave]

2 minutes ago, red750 said:

Then what's the point of it?

 

Red, why you you put advice to the government in the constitution?  If an Aboriginal advisory group advised the government to introduce alcohol restrictions in indigenous communities are you seriously thinking that that should be in the constitution?    Something I find frustrating is how many people many people haven't read or don't understand the Constitution.   The Constitution is not a place where health or educational programs are written.  The Constitution sets down things like how parliaments are constituted, the relationship of state and federal governments, the role of the high court, etc. 

 

https://www.aph.gov.au/constitution

 

 

[Jerry_Atrick]

45 minutes ago, octave said:

Something I find frustrating is how many people many people haven't read or don't understand the Constitution. 

+1

59 minutes ago, red750 said:

Then what's the point of it?

Using that logic, what is the point of the constitution, at all, because virtually every power, obligation, and restriction contains much less detail and lesser accountability than the wording of the Voice, and there is no complusion to meet any standards at all?

 

Edited September 25, 2023 by Jerry_Atrick

[octave]

Whilst I can't claim to have read the whole Constitution, I have read a lot of it a scanned the rest of it.  The Australian Constitution is the equivalent of the Constitution of your local flying club.  It tells the committee how it should organize itself, how it should elect members, how often elections should be held etc.  It is not the document you would write the rule that for example people should not leave dirty cups in the club kitchen or perhaps.  

 

constitution

/ˌkɒnstɪˈtjuːʃn/

noun

 

1. 1.

   a body of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is acknowledged to be governed.

[facthunter]

Murdoch has a "Voice" like no other and  he's an American citizen. . Likewise People like SANTOS etc when Sco  Mo was there..  Nev

[spenaroo]

On 19/09/2023 at 7:07 PM, spacesailor said:

Macquarie bank CEO,  took home $ 53 million annually! .

One $ million each week , ! for one , couldn't spend that amount of money .

I mean , you could buy " the evil leprechaun " s . $ 25million house twice-over .

And still have $ 3 million left over .

 

Retired ex primeministers  have 3 fully paid for advisers with fully funded offices. 

As well as their six figure pensions.  ( a quick google ) .

spacesailor

See the ex-PM's I have no issue with that,
not like they are able to go back into the regular workforce.
so if they did it would be straight to political lobbying for some major corporation - rather pay  them to go do handshake opportunities and make speeches at community events. plus they expand the influence with diplomacy.
used correctly with the staff to respond and manage requests its would be a great set-up for everyone.

[facthunter]

Most of them suffer from the Illusion of "The Older I Get the better I  was".  Keating and Howard illustrate that best.  Howard's legacy is such a mess It will probably never be able to be corrected. Short term gain for HIM and long term loss  for US Nev