The Australian opposition leader, Bill Shorten, says the “stupid” behaviour of a group of young Labor party members working on a US presidential campaign is unacceptable.
The opposition leader hinted his party could pull out of the government-funded Australian Political Parties Democracy Program, which paid for four ALP members to travel to the US and volunteer with a presidential election campaign.
The Australian volunteers were secretly filmed boasting about using their government’s taxpayer funds to work on the US Democratic senator Bernie Sanders’ campaign and interfering with Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump campaign signs.
Federal Labor’s national secretary, George Wright, is investigating their conduct after the conservative undercover campaign group Project Veritas Action posted video of the volunteers online.
“The behaviour which has been reported is completely unacceptable,” Shorten told reporters in Melbourne. “Stupidity never paints anyone in a good light.”
Under the Australian Political Parties Democracy Program, established in 2005, political parties get access to hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants to send party officials overseas to “strengthen democracy internationally”.
Shorten raised the prospect of Labor pulling out of the program. “I’m not convinced of the value of this program of sending people overseas, full stop,” he said.
Didn't a "client" fund you election staff Bill?
They are only following your example Mr Shorten.
Posted by: john greybeard | Monday, 29 February 2016 at 06:22 AM
Somebody should ask him to elaborate on the Globe Trotting Provocateur McTernan in light of these comments.
( you get what the taxpayer ultimately pays for Bill!/sarc.)
Posted by: pattoh | Monday, 29 February 2016 at 06:33 AM
Internartional Labor Party, The Fabian socialists world-wide associates.
Posted by: Dennis Thompson | Monday, 29 February 2016 at 07:28 AM
Caught out again Bill....you people are beneath contempt.
Posted by: Glenn | Monday, 29 February 2016 at 07:35 AM
Things you said that you wished you could take back, but you can't.
This is going to cause a bit of a stir. Well played Mr Smith, well played. :-)
Posted by: underminder | Monday, 29 February 2016 at 08:17 AM
Didn't bother reading the MSM article; I got it here first.
Posted by: TazSpinZone | Monday, 29 February 2016 at 08:47 AM
Isn't this scheme funded by the Federal government? Wouldn't the Federal government be responsible for investigating any allegations?
So where is the accountability in this program on the part of the DFA? Seems like JB has dropped the ball.
Sounds like the ALP's reaction to some kiddie behaviour is correct, i.e. to review their involvement in the program.
BTW, has this story actually been verified as accurate?
Posted by: Peter B | Monday, 29 February 2016 at 08:54 AM
Absolutely agree Peter B.
For once the federal parliamentary leader of the Labor Party Mr Shirten is off the hook and should in no way have to answer for the behaviour of these twats.
It's a federal government/DFAT funded program and the foreign affairs minister Ms Julie Bishop is the responsible parliamentarian.
Hope she remains in blissful unawareness though, or she'll be back on the big bird to resume her glamour filled global flits ("ght" deliberate omission).
Posted by: Reggie | Monday, 29 February 2016 at 10:42 AM
Bill Shorten you have been a Labor Party team player for decades. Some say far too long! Every election be it Local, State or Federal your Labor team go out and conduct the election campaign outside the law. What has been exposed here and in the US is certainly stupid Bill you are correct. I'm certainly pleased to see some of the usual suspects exposed doing their political thing "dirty tricks". Lets be clear Bill as leader you would know what we are being informed about, your team members entering private property to remove / steal campaign material is law breaking. And it should be treated as such. Just as putting Labor Party core flutes on roadside power poles and palm trees in the middle of roundabouts is illegal every time Labor Party team players go out and put them up Bill. Political allsorts shonks and cheats, by their public actions they are clearly not to be trusted! Take it on board Bill and do something about it!. Edward James from the Dolks House
Posted by: Edward James | Monday, 29 February 2016 at 11:20 AM
The program is a waste of money- I see no value.
The people involved should be ashamed of themselves. They shouldn't be on there boasting about how its a tax payer funded exercise. They treat tax payers like grabage.
The funny thing is the idiot involved- Ben Kremer says that he hopes it doesn't get on social media and sure enough where does the video end?? all over the internet. First rule of life- don't video anything you don't want anyone to see.
Posted by: Alf | Friday, 04 March 2016 at 12:51 PM