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.
Do these people have some kind of ethics gland missing from their brains or something? Some ethical issues are complex or not immediately obvious or at least require some thought, but most of the time, if it feels wrong, it probably is. These rorts are in the news because they are very much in that category.
For example, today Steve Ciobo shamelessly weighs in with this gem re his jaunts to footy matches etc:
“I was invited because I’m the Trade Minister … Ministers … are invited to go along to these events specifically by businesses and organisations who are taking the opportunity to showcase themselves there, to take the time to have a conversation in relation to important matters, absolutely [it] is work related”.
Any five-year-old could tell you that if businesses want to “showcase” themselves, they should be paying, and MPs should only be going if the _destination_ is genuinely relevant to their portfolio and if the time taken doesn’t impact on more pressing duties. Even then, such invitations carry an unhealthy implication that the business would expect favourable treatment for its generosity.
The moment a business offered to pay for a minister’s expense it would be classified as a bribe.
Sure, but IMO any invitation that would look like a bribe if it were privately funded shouldn’t be happening at all, and certainly shouldn’t be funded by the taxpayer. The appearance of influence is the problem. A bribe is still a bribe, even if you get someone else to pay for it. Insult is added to injury when that someone is us.
i have spent quite a lot of time in the corporate seats and boxes and marquees at sporting events, and there are always plenty of politicians around, for all you barrackers, both coalition and labor, more of whoever are in government at the time.
there are lots of different people there. i suspect that the clients are invited to keep them happy and keep them as clients, and most everyone else is invited to provide a bit of interest and entertainment for the clients.
Business likes to establish a bit of a relationship with politicians as they think it gets them access. up to a point it does, but not much more than that, at least at the federal level.
my observation is that there is little corruption at a federal level but it increases as you go to state and local government.
My observations exactly!
Your observation tallies what I’ve heard from people who work in anti-corruption in Victoria.
However, I think for most people, who have never been inside a corporate box, the notion that our taxes are paying for MPs to do so, so that private interests may have “access” to government, feels close enough to corruption to warrant closer scrutiny.
IMO these kinds of events should go the way of the pre-FBT business lunch. Just send an email FFS.
like i say i never saw anything that i would describe as corrupt, or even close.
no doubt that it can be handy to develop a bit of a relationship with both business and government people, and spending the afternoon or evening having a few drinks and watching sport together does that, as does sitting at a small dinner.
it probably means when you are looking for a meeting to discuss something you are more likely to get a spot, but no more than that.
you also get a bit of gossip and the clients of the host company love that. they love meeting the players, but if you can’t do that, a few ex players and a host of political or business heavyweights does the trick.
they like to be able to go back and say, i went to a dinner with the PM last night. it was at lucios and there were just ten guests, quite liked her, she is so different to what you see on TV.
that one i can vouch for.
as to client relationships, one of my old mates who does a lot of this says, turn them into mates and when something goes a bit astray they will keep you on as they value the relationship. now that is not corruption in my view.
i don’t see the need for a dedicated federal anti-corruption outfit myself, but the expenses thing could use a tidy up.
I think what the people being entertained miss is that you do not have to be doing anything corrupt for the punter to be mightly pissed off, it’s as much about the perception of things not being kosher as anything else. The perception alone is enough to undermine our public institutions and that’s no good for anyone in the long term.
razor, maybe you’re right, i have been watching sport in comfort and for free so long it might be that i don’t see it clearly.
no point asking our host, he’s been doing it even longer than me. his late father was Olympic and Commonwealth at getting folks in somewhere, and generally to the best seats or the inner sanctums.
never thought it involved corruption or unethical behaviour myself, or not what i saw.
the brits have tightened their rules a bit but still allow it,
goo.gl/O0Ms6j.
a bit different up here, there are parts of asia where that rarely means a power point presentation, but it is more likely to involve coke and hookers.
that being business development
2013eh? trade minister my arse
Not to mention that he apparently *wasn’t* Trade Minister at the time.
He was just doing a bit of homework, TV. It may even be called networking. Personally i’d be pissed off if I was trying to watch the cricket or some such and some bastard was chewing my ear off about work. I’d tell ’em to get a life and while there at it grab me another beer (and none of that plastic cup or light beer shit). Don’t these people have offices where they conduct business?
JTI,
Going a little against the trend of criticism of Pollies, may I put in a word for one sub-set that I think do not received due recompense.
The spouses of ‘Very Senior’ pollies, such as Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition, certain Cabinet Ministers (and as an aside Chiefs of Defence Force and Senior Departmental Secretaries and Diplomats).
Most of such ‘spouses’ are required by ‘public expectation’ either our public or indeed international public to participate in a range of activities, including hosting or attending dinners, receptions, conference programs etc.
Unlike the ‘White House’ example, none of ours have a dedicated office with staff etc.
From very close interaction with the same, I can vouch that the often held view of ‘glorious perks’ soon wears off after the first five or so activities (in a week!).
I do think that if we concede the ‘public expectation’ then some sort of staff assistance and allowance would be appropriate.
But of course given the terrible mess the rapacious hoards have made of the public purse argument, chances are somewhere between zero and buckleys’.
Had a presentation yesterday about what 5G will bring! What a world! What opportunities!
How much for a ?gig load that you MUST use in 30days? That is wot I wanna know.
A couple of gig on a fone costs U an arms and a leg with Telstra.
Didnt even go there Bassy and they wouldn’t have known anyway. No NBN needed just do it on your chosen device!
Didn’t Google or one of the other big players pull plans earlier this week for the satellites for the 5G wireless? Cost of delivery being the main reason behind the decision.
Not sure about that Dismayed. I didn’t see it but it’s possible.
No they were goimg to use drones to spread the word. Not 5G. Unfortunately they forgot that big aluminium death tubes like the A380 and the Boeing 777 uses the same airspace. Just another thought bubble that google had. Bit like the incompetents festooning parliament now
Razor.
“Equestrian Partnerships for Life Inc”
Dear Mr Razor,
Regarding your enquiry. Arrangements between yourself and any eligible filly you contact via this service is entirely up to yourselves. We will need more personal details from you and your preferences but we include a selection of attractive Shetlands currently on our books. May we take the liberty of suggesting , especially if you live in a town house or flat, a miniature horse?
Many of our clients report very satisfactory relationships not the least because they don’t require a float for outings. Even the in-laws can be accommodated in a medium sized sedan.
Best wishes.
Palomino Baptiste. Managing Director.
https://www.google.com.au/search?q=shetland+pony+fancy+dress&biw=1314&bih=598&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjvs4nU5L3RAhVKFJQKHX5jAL8QsAQIGA
That would be Percheron Baptiste yeh: Bloody spellcheck strikes again.
Neigh, that’s my sister, Percheron.
Dear Mr Baptiste,
Re your correspondence dated the 13th instant.
Many thanks for your kind offer. Whilst I had not considered a miniature horse as a life partner I would be being less than truthful if I didn’t admit I am quite intrigued, if not a little excited. No pun intended.
Does your organisation have a website cataloging the available fillies? Please note It must be a filly or a mare as I could not bare for others to think I was some sort of pervert.
Yours in Shetland love,
Razor
Really, this entire matter is your fault JTI – well not you personally but the media collectively, including The Australian. If only Joe Hockey had been quoted in full, there would be no public discontent. I believe what he actually said was ‘The age of entitlement is over – for you proles’, but the last three words were never picked up by the media . Everything then would be clear. Sussan Ley is not a prole and his remarks therefore did not refer to her. And those Green members in The Australian this morning? They may be left leaning but they are not, repeat not, proles.
Grow up everyone, accept your lowly place in life.
er but we ALL knew what he meant Bald.
He is certainly not practising what he preaches.
Poor peole dnt drive cars either!!
I think the Oz is missing the mark here. Now I’m the first in line to give the Greens a deserved kicking but they do have very few members, who have multiple portfolios, so they probably do need to travel more. I do not see this current mess as being about MP’s travel generally, but more about travel for non work related purposes.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/greens-in-top-10-spenders-on-flights/news-story/dc035cd64ef16582f8acde3081d055e0
This is Kama!
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/wall-street-journal/george-soros-lost-nearly-us1-billion-in-weeks-after-trump-election/news-story/95a6e752dc6d04a9efd3bc57bf25eb5a
Should be more of it. Did deep about that guy’s past and present activities and you find some interesting details.
Spot on!
Yvonne go back and check the 2012/13 budget. The NDIS was fully funded before Hillsong Morrison and Hockey started stripping funding and using their 1 to eleventy accounting methods. Razor will attest to this as I have provided evidence several times. The NDIS was bipartisan and indisputably funded prior to the election of the coalition.
Did I accuse any particular party for the stuff up Dismayed? No, I didn’t. Look before you leap
Yvonne, I was giving you a place to look at the funding. You don’t go anywhere without your victim placard do you.
No you did not provide evidence – you provided ALP propaganda which does not even come close to realty
well, they said we think it will cost X, and put X in the projections in the budget papers, as both parties do.
me, i don’t consider that fully funded, that’s a sort of promise to pay for it later. you know, of course i will call you in the morning sort of thing.
BTW i don’t think either party really has a clue what the thing will cost, and they will be re-designing it on the run to keep it affordable.
Wasn’t funded Jack. As you say, just numbers, meaningless numbers – because at that stage it didn’t matter anymore. It was to be the next government’s problem. And it sure is! In all ways – rorting, lack of funds, lack of an understanding or ruling of what constitutes a ”disability” – as opposed to an illness. – and so on – and on, and on……….
spot on Yvonne, there is a potential for this scheme to grow out of control, i have yet to see a sensible explanation of who will be eligible.
Too right, Jack. I have now heard of a couple of cases of depression. The person concerned is too depressed to go to work. Calming apparently to sit and play computer games all day – on NDIS.
IMO, depression is an unfortunate illness treatable with drugs or psychotherapy. It is not a disability
Read the article. Funded because they counted savings twice! Also you have never provided me with any evidence other than evidence of stupidity.
Trevor Snott 6:23AM
You’re amazing Mr Snott. And absolutely correct again! I should not be trusted, that’s why I link to those you can trust.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/sep/1/pope-francis-calls-climate-change-sin/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98zm-AGmckE
Mr Snott, if you can’t trust Arnie, who can you trust?
Thanks for coming.
Storm in a tea cup. Nothing to see here. Ciobo has advised us all and decided that there is NO issue the entitlements is all part of the job.