Humble servant of the Nation

Malcolm Turnbull’s ticking clock — Newspoll noose around PM’s neck

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Another year, another polly on the ropes over expense claims. Sussan Ley has been on the receiving end of a media pommeling and the collective wisdom is she’s been a naughty minister. She has been dispatched to Coventry and the view is she should settle down and grow accustomed to her new home.

As an observer of various entitlements farragoes over the years, I think Ms Leys’ spending puts her in exalted company, somewhere between Peter Slipper and the guv’nor, Labor’s Mal Colston. Spending $21,000 in a week or so on transport is extraordinary. I didn’t even think it was possible. With those frequent flyer miles, you can forget about the carrot sticks and chardy in the Qantas club. It’s foot-long lobster subs and Moët by the schooner. Hell, they’ll get you your own plane. Maybe even let you fly it.

The Minchin Protocol always sounded like a bad novel and now as it comes to its denouement, it is about as satisfying as an EH Holden Mechanics’ manual or anything knocked out by Clementine Ford.

Full column here.

966 Comments

  • Trevor Snott says:

    Baptiste I see Chucky Windsor has co-authored a book on the challenges and possible solutions to climate change. You might like to rip out and get it so to be ahead of poor old Coast. Chuck has time on his hands while mummy Liz Windsor sits on the throne and we know he likes a good chat to his tomato plants too.
    http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/celebrity-life/royals/prince-charles-coauthors-book-on-climate-change/news-story/d6d12382278cfdb6db3e7aa8bd573551

  • Carl on the Coast says:

    Jean Baptiste
    January 16, 2017 at 11:37 a
    Describes: “How to explain a good German? Lets put it this way …… “Just smart enough to operate the machines……………….”

    Lets not JB. What a weird thing to offer. It lacks aesthetic and is just plain tacky.

    I cautiously suggest that you appear to have pulled that one from John Koering’s dictionary of ‘obscure sorrows’ me old mate.

  • Yvonne says:

    How’s your health JTI? All going well I hope? 🙂

    • JackSprat says:

      We will probably never know the true costs but I would be interested to know what the current view is.

      In this world where there is a battle for jobs like the automatic industry, the Libs sure handed a bucket load to somebody.

  • JackSprat says:

    Mack the Knife

    No – it’s all about budget surpluses.

    Dismayed’s argument is that if Bush had followed Clinton’s example, there would have been a cumulative $5 trillion surplus, based on the Treasury Chart, at the end of his tenure. Instead, the result was a huge deficit with the subsequent addition to the national debt.

    It looks as though the Oz Treasury takes lessons from the US Treasury on forward projections.

    My analogy would be taking Howard’s surpluses and projecting them through to the current time.

    Alternatively, Rudd and Gilliard should have put $300 billion into the future fund. They did not follow Howard’s philosophy.

    It is all a nonsense.

    My last word on the subject – everybody can breathe a sigh of relief.

  • Jean Baptiste says:

    Yvonne 8:29AM

    How to explain a good German? Lets put it this way, on a scale of 1 to 10 , Rodent would be a 15.
    As St George would put it “Just smart enough to operate the machines……………….

  • Rodent says:

    Mack the Knife 12:18am.
    Thanks Mack on your knowledge on ME far ahead of us talking about it clarifying my case on the Gulf War .Lets hope this will penetrate those bloggers whinging on me .Thanks putting the full stop in . That subject is finished by me.
    Yvonne 07:25am Yes my fingers get wound up too much hitting letters nearby with sloppy reading following.
    Bassman on the tablet says the same .
    Cheers.

  • Yvonne says:

    It’s the Herald Sun today over a coffee. Not my preferred choice of rag but them’s the pickings.
    Lo and behold on page 2 we have an article that informs us that Rudd spent $6,700 on personalised stationery btw. July 2014 and June 2016.
    That is outrageous – and a first for ex MP’S apparently..
    Can anyone here understand why we are paying for this man’s stationery? How can that happen?
    To put a perspective on it, that amount would be what some pensioners have been slashed and face hardship as a result.

    • smoke says:

      And tin tin reamed his gov’t members about this?? tsk tsk

    • Henry Blofeld says:

      Shocking Yvonne hopefully we wont ever see someone like Rudd again as PM, he was an abject failure and spent Taxpayers money like it was confetti.

      • Yvonne says:

        It’s one thing being PM and having personalised stationery – but how the heck can he be spending $7k on the same when he is not even in parliament!! I don’t get it and it makes me really mad.

        • Trivalve says:

          Bought stationery for a wedding lately Yvonne? And $6,800 is what against the GDP?

          There needs to be a little more analysis of these alleged rorts, now that the tabloids have their teeth in. But I don’t expect it any time soon.

          • Yvonne says:

            All these little ‘under the radar’ perks add up Triv.
            Was he getting married? Doubt if there would be any takers TBH.
            Suggestion is he was bulk-mailing the world in his quest for the UN.
            I still don’t see why we should have been paying for that.
            Geez, this gets me hot under the collar………….. 🙁

    • X says:

      And no doubt nicely scented too I’d venture. Mr Rudd had good taste. A bit light on people skills, and in my kindest voice, chaotic, but good taste.

    • BASSMAN says:

      AVON……REMEMBER THIS:- “Yesterday I was asked by the honourable member for Wannon [David Hawker] a series of questions relating to postal allowances. I can confirm that Dr Hewson, as Opposition leader, spent $3,000 on postage. Mr Peacock spent $5,100. The former Democrats leader, Mrs Janine Haines, spent $5,500. I spent $10,255. AND Mr CHARLES BLUNT, THE FORMER NATIONAL PARTY MEMBER…. $278,922.”

  • The Bow-Legged Swantoon says:

    jack in Honkers – re shopping, I once read an article that said the physiological reactions of the average man to the average Christmas shopping frenzy was akin to that of a fighter pilot in combat. Meaning their blood pressure, situational awareness and desire to kill anybody that got within their reach.

    Sounded plausible to me.

    • X says:

      To reply to an earlier post, I can see the reason for the diefication of Turnbull. In that skull cap and togs hes wearing in the picture, and the uncute belly, he sort of resembles a Chinese Buddha. I’ll burn some incense at once. Still not sure if your a priest though, but my instincts tell me I got that wrong.

      • Milton says:

        You did get that wrong, X but an easy mistake. You should note that The Bow-Legged Swantoon spelt backwards spells Aleister Crowley! I know, scary stuff, and lots of spells.
        ps, and I agree with the many, a very insightful, sober and intelligent offering on the Hird business (and the herd mentality). Top stuff.

        • X says:

          Thank you Milton. Sober you think? That ‘brew’ with me porridge was black, but not caffeinated. My secret good health and a happy day. 😉

    • Trabvitch says:

      Happens to me most times I go into the city….

    • jack says:

      TBLS, it’s a shame shopping is not an Olympic sport, Singapore and Hong Kong would be on the podium.

      got down to 14 degrees the other day so out come the super winter clothes, you would think they were heading to wisconsin,

  • Razor says:

    I didn’t think Clancy Longfellows reply to Yvonne was too bad JTI. Anyway catching up for a beer with Dwight today in the far north. We’ll have a couple for you.

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