• Home
  • Archives
  • Profile
  • Subscribe
  • Search
Home Archives Profile Subscribe Search
Previous month:
January 2018
Next month:
March 2018

February 2018

Deputy PM Michael McCormack campaign ad - he'll fix health, education, aged care, roads and other unique goals.

Monday, 26 February 2018

I thought Kevin Rudd already promised he'd fix that list.

If it's a bland, me too campaign promise he'd be better spending his time and money on something else.

DW7u6wvVAAAgf1Q.jpg-large


Posted at 02:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (14)

|

ANU Too dangerous for lecturers, professors and uni students ....but ok for children in child care

Monday, 26 February 2018
Says everything. ANU Too dangerous for lecturers, professors and uni students ....but ok for children in child care:
 
“Childcare centres on campus and University House will open as usual on Monday.”
 
Thanks to JM for the tip!

 

Subject: ANU EMERGENCY STATEMENT: ANU to close on Monday 26 February after flooding

 

ANU EMERGENCY STATEMENT: ANU to close on Monday 26 February after flooding

 

The Australian National University (ANU) Acton campus will be closed tomorrow, Monday 26 February, following weekend flooding.

The closure is to ensure the safety of all students and staff as the University conducts essential safety checks on infrastructure including bridges, creek banks and electrical switchboards.

All classes and all events on campus will be cancelled on Monday 26 February and all ANU libraries will be closed.

Students should not come onto campus, and residential students should stay away from affected areas.

Staff should not come onto campus unless requested by their Directors for essential work. All ANU staff should check their emails for updates from their directors and for instructions. All meetings and interviews should be rescheduled.

Childcare centres on campus and University House will open as usual on Monday.

Students will be advised by course conveners of make-up arrangements for missed classes.

Students and staff should continue to check emails and the ANU web page for updates.

Unless advised otherwise, the ANU campus plans to re-open for normal activities on Tuesday 27 February.


Posted at 09:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (13)

|

New Deputy PM Michael McCormack beats George Christensen in Nationals leadership ballot

Monday, 26 February 2018

"I look forward to having a very, very good discussion with the Prime Minister in the next few moments.  He has been an outstanding Prime Minister for Australia".

That's new Deputy PM Michael McCormack a few moments ago after winning Barnaby Joyce's job, a job that only became available courtesy of Turnbull making Barnaby's position untenable.

Screen Shot 2018-02-26 at 5.45.14 am

McCormack is an uninspired choice for the Deputy Prime Ministership of Australia.  There's not a lot to be excited about.

Here's a reminder of the style of bloke he'll be working with - Turnbull.

This is Turnbull with Barnaby Joyce "putting the band back together" on the night of Barnaby's by-election win.

Screen Shot 2018-02-26 at 5.51.38 am

Turnbull knew all about Barnaby's personal circumstances on that night.

He didn't seem terribly concerned about Nat and the girls.

He had nothing but praise for Barnaby.

It's amazing what a few days bad press can do.

This press conference was the death knell for Barnaby.

https://www.pm.gov.au/media/press-conference-parliament-house-canberra

PRIME MINISTER:

Good afternoon.

This week, most attention has been focused on Barnaby Joyce and his conduct. There has been a lot of discussion about whether he complied with ministerial standards. Whether he complied with the requirements for disclosing use of government entitlements. Barnaby has given me - as I said in the House - an unequivocal assurance that he has complied with the ministerial standards and with both the use and reporting of ministerial and other entitlements.

But I think we know that the real issue is the terrible hurt and humiliation that Barnaby by his conduct, has visited on his wife, Natalie and their daughters and indeed, his new partner.

That's the real issue for the government of Australia is it Mal?

Turnbull is in power only because Barnaby Joyce and his Nationals not only retained all their seats at the last election, they gained one seat.   Turnbull reduced Tony Abbott's 30+ seat margin in the House of Representatives to a one seat buffer retaining government courtesy of that National seat won by Barnaby et al.

Barnaby's reward from Turnbull?

Screen Shot 2018-02-26 at 6.17.43 am


Posted at 09:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (33)

|

CFMEU and associates up to their usual tricks

Monday, 26 February 2018

Thanks to the incomparable Seeker of Truth for writing up another episode in the criminal history of the CFMEU.

Cfmeubuyerbeware_v01

Hi Michael
This little matter slipped under the radar last week, as did a previous
announcement in December 2017, of fraudulent misappropriations in Comet
Training Pty Ltd, an associate entity of the CFMEU NSW branch.

“Labor councillor charged with more than $220,000 fraud”  - 23 February 2018

A NSW government minister has called for a Labor councillor charged with
allegedly defrauding a training organisation part owned by the CFMEU of
more than $220,000 to step aside from his public duties.
NSW Police has confirmed Hills Shire councillor Ray Harty has been charged
with dishonestly obtaining more than $220,000 by deception from Comet
Training, which is jointly owned by the NSW divisions of the Construction,
Forestry, Mining and Energy Union and the Master Builders Association.
The 72-year-old former general manager of Comet Training, who received the
Medal of the Order of Australia in 2012 for services to the construction
industry, will face the charge of allegedly dishonestly obtaining
financial advantage by deception at Burwood Local Court on Thursday April
12.
Comet Training's former financial controller, Amy Cai, has also been
charged with fraudulently obtaining more than $200,000. Police said a
56-year-old woman was charged on Thursday with dishonestly obtaining
financial advantage by deception. She was granted bail to appear at
Burwood Local Court on Thursday, March 1.
Flemington police investigated complaints by Comet which last year
reported a number of accounting irregularities. Police will allege a
number of fraudulent payments totalling $445,000 were made into two
personal bank accounts between 2011 and 2017.
The company has since gone into liquidation.
NSW Corrective Services Minister David Elliott said Mr Harty should step
down from his position on the local council.
"Like any politician, once he is charged, he should step aside until he is
given a clear verdict," Mr Elliott said.
The Federal Court of Australia found Mr Hardy rigged his election as
secretary/treasurer of the NSW Public Service Association in November
1988.
In declaring his election to the position as void, Justice Murray Wilcox
said at the time that Mr Harty was not worthy of holding office in any
union.
"It will be for others to judge, but my own opinion is that people who
debauch the electoral process are unworthy of office in any union,"
Justice Wilcox said.
Fairfax Media contacted Mr Harty for comment but he said: "I have no
comment, contact me lawyer".
http://www.smh.com.au/business/workplace-relations/labor-councillor-charged-with-more-than-220-000-fraud-20180222-p4z18k.html
The fraud first made news on 12 December 2017 –
“……Allegations of fraud totalling almost $450,000 at an organisation
part-owned by the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union and
whose general manager is a Labor member of The Hills Shire council and
Medal of the Order of Australia recipient, have been referred to the NSW
police.
Comet Training – jointly owned by the NSW division of the CFMEU and the
Master Builders Association NSW – is alleged to have been defrauded of one
amount of $223,000 and another of $220,000 over the course of more than a
year.”
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/unionowned-training-organisation-referred-to-police-over-alleged-450k-fraud-20171211-h02gve.html

The articles mention that the company is in liquidation.  ASIC notice of
appointment of Liquidator for Comet Training Pty Ltd made 28 November 2017
–
https://insolvencynotices.asic.gov.au/browsesearch-notices/notice-details/Comet-Training-Pty-Ltd-073244407/a99a2bef-f14f-43c5-86b5-a87c4447f42f

Comet Training occupies offices at 6-8 Railway Street, Lidcombe which
premises are owned and occupied by the CFMEU.  The CFMEU also owns and
occupies 10-12 Railway Street.  The Union put up both addresses for sale
in March 2017.  Note how much the union anticipates to gain from the sale
– more than $40million
https://www.commercialrealestate.com.au/news/cfmeus-lidcombe-site-tipped-to-fetch-more-than-40-million/
http://www.colliers.com.au/news/2017/development-opportunity-with-holding-income-in-lidcombe/

The above link states that there will be a two year lease back arrangement
written into the Contract.  Therefore the CFMEU will be staying on site
for a further two years.  Comet Training would have done likewise except
that it was found that its books were crook and so it had to go.

This is what was said by the Comet Board at the time the financial
discrepancies were reported to the police in late 2017 –
"Independently from becoming aware of this issue and prior to this
information being received by the Board from its financial adviser, the
Board had already had resolved to wind up the company and cease operation
due to the premises where the Company is located being sold.
"This matter is being independently investigated, and all further action
as appropriate will be taken to ensure any damage to the organisation is
mitigated fully. The Company is able to meet all its legal obligations to
all staff and creditors".
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/unionowned-training-organisation-referred-to-police-over-alleged-450k-fraud-20171211-h02gve.html

It turns out that the Board was telling untruths as to the reason for
Comet’s liquidaton.  It had nothing to do with the premises being sold but
everything to do with the discovery of discrepancies in the financial
records.

This is what the liquidators Worrells reported on 13 December 2017 –
“The liquidation was prompted by financial irregularities reported to the
board by the company’s external financial adviser and shareholders
resolved to complete the final step in the business’s wind down of the
business.”

https://worrells.net.au/press-release-comet-training-pty-ltd-members-voluntary-winding/

It was no coincidence that the liquidator was appointed on 28 November
2017 then a fortnight later Comet makes the news that the police were
called in.

The fraudulent payments totalling $445,000 were made into two personal
bank accounts between 2011 and 2017.  It doesn’t say much for the auditors
of the Comet Training Trust's accounts for the period 2011 to 2016.  The
audited accounts were presented to the CFMEU NSW branch.  The CFMEU NSW
branch along the the Master Builders Association each hold a 50%
shareholding in Comet.  The CFMEU received $74,104 from Comet Training
Trust up to 31 March 2017 – shown as receivables.  It doesn’t say what the
receivables relate to.  It is possible that it is for rent of premises 6-8
Railway Street, Lidcombe owned by the CFMEU NSW branch.

http://www.comet-training.com.au/site/about.php

This is from the CFMEU NSW Financial Statement to 31 March 2017 –

“Loan – Comet Training Trust - $362,544”

“The Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union Construction and
General Division New South Wales Divisional Branch had previously advanced
funds to
an associate, the Comet Training Trust. The funds advanced have no set
repayment date, with the timing of cash flows uncertain and dependent on the
profitability of the associate. Each balance date an assessment of the
recoverable amount is performed, with any excess over the carrying value
provided for and charged to the statement of comprehensive income, thus
ensuring that the carrying value does not exceed its recoverable amount.
For the three month period ended 31March 2017 no movement of the provision
was
required (year ended 31 December 2016: decreased by $8,486).”

https://nsw.cfmeu.org.au/sites/nsw.cfmeu.org.au/files/CG%20NSW%20Federal%20Financials%20310317%20110817%20signed.pdf

Here is the 2017 financial report for the Master Builders Association of
NSW.  The MBA does not receive funds from Comet.

http://www.mbansw.asn.au/uploadedFiles/Content/Members/MBA%20and%20Consolidated%20Entities%20(with%20signatures)_Nov%2017%20FINAL.pdf

Brian Parker is a Director of Comet Training Pty Ltd.  Could it be the
unexpected announcement of his resignation from his role of Secretary of
the CFMEU NSW branch has something to do with Comet’s troubles?
Comet came up in evidence at the Trade Union Royal Commission –

U-Plus-Coverforce-MFI-7.pdf
… 429,095.00 8531 Advance - Comet Training Trust 362,544 … 4,503.56 8537
Shares-Comet Training 100 8610 Motor … 436,126.00 8531 Advance - Comet
Training Trust 362,544 …
Date: 3/11/2016 Size: 1MB
http://www.tradeunionroyalcommission.gov.au …
-15-October-2015/U-Plus-Coverforce-MFI-7.pdf

UPlusMFI1-V2-Tab61.pdf
… respect of the operations of COMET, particularly in relation … Harty
further reported that COMET was still pursuing a training … to increase
the profile of COMET more generally. A number …
Date: 3/11/2016 Size: 502KB
http://www.tradeunionroyalcommission.gov.au …
Evidence-24August2015/UPlusMFI1-V2-Tab61.pdf

DAMFI-4-Tab00-Part3.pdf
… Advances to Associate- Comet Training Trust LESS: Provision … Advances
to Associate - Comet Training Trust The … also has an interest in the
Comet Training Trust in which …
Date: 11/08/2015 Size: 9MB
http://www.tradeunionroyalcommission.gov.au …
Evidence10August2015/DAMFI-4-Tab00-Part3.pdf

DAMFI-4-Tab00-Part1.pdf
… Advances to Associate- Comet Training Trust (ii) LESS … also has an
interest in the Comet Training Trust in which … During the year the loan
to the Comet Training Trust was reviewed …
Date: 20/10/2015 Size: 9MB
http://www.tradeunionroyalcommission.gov.au …
Evidence10August2015/DAMFI-4-Tab00-Part1.pdf

U-Plus-Coverforce-MFI-8.pdf
… NSW Pty Ltd UPlus Pty Ltd Comet Training Committee to Defend … 194
NON-CURRENT Loan - Comet Training Trust 362,544 362 … funds to an
associate, the Comet Training Trust. The funds …
Date: 20/10/2015 Size: 7MB
http://www.tradeunionroyalcommission.gov.au …
-15-October-2015/U-Plus-Coverforce-MFI-8.pdf

DAMFI-4-Tab00-Part4.pdf
… Advances to Associate- Comet Training Trust Provision … II) Advances to
Associate - Comet Training Trust 2011 … Union has an interest in the Comet
Training Trust in which …
Date: 11/08/2015 Size: 6MB
http://www.tradeunionroyalcommission.gov.au …
Evidence10August2015/DAMFI-4-Tab00-Part4.pdf

DAMFI-4-Tab00-Part2.pdf
… Current Advances to Associate- Comet Training Trust (i) 362 … also has
an interest in the Comet Training Trust in which … During the year the
loan to the Comet Training Trust was reviewed …
Date: 11/08/2015 Size: 9MB
http://www.tradeunionroyalcommission.gov.au …
Evidence10August2015/DAMFI-4-Tab00-Part2.pdf

CFMEU-MFI-16.pdf
… 2013 3‐Mar 50 45 28 22 219878 COMET TRAINING … 15/04/2013
4‐Apr 61 3 31 23 COMET CARPET COMET CARPET 9,600 …
Date: 20/10/2015 Size: 6MB
http://www.tradeunionroyalcommission.gov.au …
ry-evidence-20-october-2015/CFMEU-MFI-16.pdf

UPlusMFI1-V4-Tab03-Part2.pdf
… 15 Jun Direct Credit 301500 Comet Training lnv#5654 15 Jun … 15 Oct
Direct Credit 301500 Comet Training lnv#5745 15 … 15 Oct Direct Credit
301500 Comet Training lnv#5745 15 Oct …
Date: 14/08/2015 Size: 8MB
http://www.tradeunionroyalcommission.gov.au …
ce-24August2015/UPlusMFI1-V4-Tab03-Part2.pdf


The other offender in this fraud is  allegedly Amy Cai. Amy is listed as
the Training Manager at Comet.
RTO Report - Training.gov.au
https://training.gov.au/Organisation/DetailsPrint?Format=pdf...3acbbf36...
Aug 19, 2015 - Organisation name: Comet Training Pty Ltd. Phone: (02) 9649
5000. Fax: (02) 9649 8500. Email: raymondharty@comet-training.com.au.
Address: Locked Bag 303. Lidcombe. NSW. 1825. Registration Enquiries.
Contact name: Ms Amy Cai. Job title: Training Manager. Organisation name:
Comet Training ...

Comet is just another dirty side business of the CFMEU controlled by crooks..

Cheers
Seeker of Truth


Posted at 08:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (10)

|

George Moore and Paul B Kidd move to 2GB

Monday, 26 February 2018

George-paul

Congratulations George Moore and Paul B Kidd!

Next Saturday their weekends radio show moves to 2GB after 15 years at 2UE.

What a team - and what a lovely pair of blokes.

George and Paul have been a phenomenal success at 2UE - in spite of being at 2UE.  It speaks volumes about the place that their slot is the only one on the station that's remained "unimproved" by the Errol Flynn management that's turned 2UE into a shadow of the Sydney institution we loved for decades.

George and Paul have been on top of the weekend ratings for as long as I can remember - as Jason Morrison pointed out to me over the weekend, that's no mean feat when you're on the number 10 station.

Here's Jason's recording of their last moments on 2UE - along with sounds like the latest Morrison addition in the background!

 


Posted at 08:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (9)

|

WA's Corruption & Crime Commission smashed in damning report - unlawful warrants, false testimony - keystone cops

Sunday, 25 February 2018

John McKechnie was the WA DPP who stopped Dave McAlpine's investigation into the AWU - including his search warrants for Slater and Gordon et al.

I know of several of our readers who've made complaints to the CCC about the forged letter purporting to have been signed by Ray Neal - all of those complaints were written off by McKechnie's CCCC.

Now this.

More to come from me this week.

Screen Shot 2018-02-25 at 7.36.50 am
Screen Shot 2018-02-25 at 7.36.50 am


Posted at 10:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (28)

|

Lee Kuan Yew CH GCMG SPMJ explains the intractable problems in living with Islam

Sunday, 25 February 2018


Posted at 01:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (19)

|

This is a romance novel, not journalism. The Guardian is shit, but this is the next level.

Saturday, 24 February 2018

Thanks to reader JM for the tip on this "news" report from The Guardian.

 

 

'I will be unemployed if I lose': Ged Kearney and Labor's uphill fight to save Batman

Bill Shorten’s star candidate is fighting for every vote while defending Labor’s stance on Adani and asylum seekers

Calla Wahlquist

Calla Wahlquist

@callapilla

Mon 19 Feb 2018 17.00 GMTLast modified on Wed 21 Feb 2018 08.04 GMT

Shares

673

Comments

650
The Labor candidate for Batman, Ged Kearney, and the deputy Labor leader, Tanya Plibersek, visit Preston West primary school in Melbourne
The Labor candidate for Batman, Ged Kearney, and the deputy Labor leader, Tanya Plibersek, visit Preston West primary school in Melbourne. Photograph: David Crosling/AAP

It’s Thursday afternoon on a suburban side street in Preston and Ged Kearney is running along the pavement to knock on the door of one more house before driving across Melbourne in peak-hour traffic to meet Labor’s deputy leader, Tanya Plibersek.

The union boss turned Labor candidate does not have time to visit another house but promised a woman who spoke to her farther up the street that she would look in on her son before heading off. With just over four weeks until the Batman byelection on 17 March, she will risk being late if it means one more vote.

The visit is successful. The son, who was already going to vote for Kearney, has now pledged to volunteer for her campaign as well.

Running back up the street, Kearney clambers into the 4WD she shares with her partner and adult children for the purpose of transporting dogs and grandchildren and, just lately, journalists. She doesn’t own her own car, preferring to catch public transport to get around the city. Her house in Brunswick, which has been the subject of some criticism because it is located on the wrong side of Merri Creek, in the neighbouring electorate of Wills, was chosen in part because it sits on a bus line.

Batman byelection: Adani casts long shadow over former Labor stronghold

 
Read more

In 40 minutes, the 4WD, with an electoral map of Batman stuffed into the car seat usually occupied by Kearney’s two-year-old granddaughter, pulls into a carpark next to Labor’s Victorian headquarters in Docklands.

Upstairs sit more than a dozen women, volunteers who have already begun calling houses in Batman identified by the Labor party machine as belonging to “persuadable voters” that might be inclined to lift its sinking primary vote in the inner city.

The theme of the evening is women calling women but no one begrudges the one man who did not read the event description before arriving.

Middle-aged women, Kearney says, have been most open to changing their vote back to Labor. The kitchen table issues of education, health, and secure employment, which had been playing with limited success in younger, more gentrified areas of the electorate, still connect with mums.

She speaks to each of the volunteers individually, urging them to emphasise her professional background as a nurse and that she raised her children in the electorate. When Plibersek arrives, pressed flat from the first sitting fortnight of the parliamentary year, Kearney introduces her as a hero of the party.

The admiration – and apparent personal affection – is mutual. Kearney was one of the leaders of the campaign opposing WorkChoices and a champion of the labour movement, Plibersek says.

“Obviously this is a seat that we have to win, that Labor is committed to win,” she says. “But it’s more than that. I am here because I support Ged. I want Ged Kearney in the Labor party in Canberra.”

The Greens candidate for Batman, Alex Bhathal, and the Greens leader, Richard Di Natale
FacebookTwitterPinterest
The Greens candidate for Batman, Alex Bhathal, and the Greens leader, Richard Di Natale. Photograph: Julian Smith/AAP

For Labor, the prospect of losing Batman, a seat that it has held for 84 years, is both unthinkable and quite likely.

The Greens candidate, Alex Bhathal, a social worker whose personal demeanour and sensible yet progressive politics are quite similar to Kearney’s, achieved a 9.8% uptick in her primary vote in the 2016 general election against former MP David Feeney and narrowed the margin from 10.6% to just over 1%.

Had the Liberal party not preferenced Feeney, who triggered the byelection this month by resigning from parliament over dual citizenship issues, Bhathal would have won. The Victorian Liberal party president, Michael Kroger, confirmed on Friday that they would not run a candidate in the byelection, all but securing the seat for the Greens.

But Kearney is not Feeney, whose many public bumbles before misplacing key citizenship documents included forgetting to declare a $2.3m house in the electorate, which had since been rented by Greens voters who put a poster of Bhathal in the front yard.

Kearney was born in Melbourne, the eighth of nine children, and worked as both a nurse and a nurse educator for 12 years before being elected to the Australian Nursing Federation in 1997. She was made federal secretary of the federation in 2008 and became president of the Australian Council of Trade Unions in 2010.

Despite eight years at the top of that powerful organisation, she remains a nurse down to her sensible shoes.

For the Greens, the 55-year-old is that most dangerous of adversaries: a practised politician with an excellent bedside manner.

Labor's David Feeney resigns, triggering byelection in Batman

 
Read more

“I can’t tell you what a huge difference it is to have a nurse putting her hand up for parliament,” Plibersek told Guardian Australia. “Politicians aren’t necessarily particularly well regarded by the general public but nurses are, and she was a nurse for 20 years … That is, for most people, a sign of character.”

Plibersek says the Liberal party’s decision not to run a candidate was a “cynical move” by Malcolm Turnbull who, after scandal-filled weeks caused by the deputy prime minister, Barnaby Joyce, “doesn’t want this to be a referendum on him.”

Turnbull won the prime ministership off Tony Abbott during a byelection campaign in 2015, when dismal polls showed Abbott’s popularity was waning.

“If you want to make Malcolm Turnbull’s life easier, then allow this seat to fall to the Greens,” Plibersek says.

Kearney was asked to run by the opposition leader, Bill Shorten, who she says called her “a matter of days” before her candidacy was announced, which happened the day after Feeney’s resignation.

The captain’s pick has been compared to the decision to run the former New South Wales premier Kristina Kenneally in another citizenship-induced byelection in Bennelong, which Labor lost after achieving a 7% swing. Keneally was then named replacement for the former NSW senator Sam Dastyari and has already taken her seat in Canberra.

Kearney says she has not been promised a similar position if she fails to win Batman.

The Labor candidate for Batman, Ged Kearney, while door-knocking in Preston with volunteers Matt Zammit and Christine Ewing
FacebookTwitterPinterest
The Labor candidate for Batman, Ged Kearney, while door-knocking in Preston with volunteers Matt Zammit and Christine Ewing. Photograph: Calla Wahlquist for the Guardian

“No, there have been no political promises made to me at all if I lose this, and I do realise that I will be unemployed if I lose the election,” she told Guardian Australia. “But right now I just really want to win … I am not thinking about that at all.”

Winning would require persuading voters south of Bell Street in the suburbs of Northcote, Alphington and Thornbury, where the Greens won all but one booth in 2016. It is the same area covered by the state seat of Northcote, where the Greens candidate, Lidia Thorpe, beat union organiser Clare Burns with a swing of 11%.

That election, the Greens say, was won on issues such as the proposed $2bn Adani coalmine. Labor has been rapidly cooling toward the project since January but it is yet to match the Greens in declaring outright opposition.

Kearney says few people in the electorate has raised Adani as an issue with her and adds that Labor needs to be “sensitive to the communities” in Queensland that are facing a jobs shortage.

“I think I have been really upfront about my view of Adani that … I sincerely don’t think it stacks up, particularly financially,” she says. “What I have learned at the ACTU is you can’t just say, ‘Stop something’. There’s a whole complexity and a whole raft of social, economic and legal issues that has to be dealt with. It’s a hard message, it’s not a two-word slogan, it’s a complex message.”

Shorten tests weather on Adani but can he be Batman’s climate crusader?

Katharine Murphy
Katharine Murphy
 
Read more

Australia’s treatment of asylum seekers is another issue on which the Greens are beating Labor in the inner city. Kearney has criticised the policy in the past and said her personal position has not changed.

“The Labor party policy is what it is right now,” she says. “What I say to the people of Batman is that I will continue to be a progressive voice both within the party and hopefully within a party of government on these issues.”

Back at Labor HQ, Kearney is on the phone with a swinging voter who has questions around local school funding. Swinging around, she waves Plibersek over.

“Do you want to speak to Tanya?” she asks the caller, before holding the phone out to Plibersek, who is Labor’s education spokeswoman. Plibersek speaks about the loss of funding to schools in Batman, which will receive $9.5m less in the next two years than they would under Labor’s version of the Gonski model, before handing the phone back to Kearney, who says goodbye and puts it down with a smile.

Another vote saved, at least for today.


Posted at 11:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (25)

|

The Craig Emerson expose on his relationship with GILLARD

Saturday, 24 February 2018

Here's the intro at the top of The Australian's home page.

Screen Shot 2018-02-24 at 4.33.09 pm

And here's the start of the 2,483 word piece authored by Emo in The Weekend Australian Magazine.

Screen Shot 2018-02-24 at 4.33.42 pm

2,483 words, promoted as Emo opening up on his relationship with Gillard.

So what did he say about that matter?

In Canberra I formed a close relationship with Julia Gillard that, over time, developed into a romantic relationship. Cathy (his wife) asked me to leave the family home; we agreed to separate but that we would spare our three children any rancour. We continued to raise our children as loving parents. Julia and I bought a house in Canberra and stayed together for three years. We shared good times and hard times.

Craig Emerson and Julia Gillard together at the annual Press Gallery Ball in 2004. Picture: Mark Graham
Craig Emerson and Julia Gillard together at the annual Press Gallery Ball in 2004. Picture: Mark Graham
ENDS

That's it.

There ain't no more.

Thanks for "opening up' Emo and Oz.


Posted at 07:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (55)

|

A couple of old bulls with some unfinished business

Friday, 23 February 2018

Screen Shot 2018-02-23 at 11.34.35 am
Screen Shot 2018-02-23 at 11.34.35 am


Posted at 07:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (38)

|

Previous MORE ARTICLES CLICK HERE

Search

Become a Fan

Recent Posts

  • I have major medical stuff on today - will be a bit quiet here!
  • Seriously Kamala.
  • David Speers' Insiders bitten by the irrational diversity bug
  • Albanese says 'climate action' is the long term solution to flooding.
  • Federal Government flood disaster relief payments
  • It all started 50 years ago today.
  • Hits keep coming for party-boy woke Boris Johnson - UK Solicitor General resigns
  • Victoria's despot extends pandemic emergency declaration until October
  • It's on in the UK - Boris Johnson's cabinet falling apart
  • A message from a man who thinks he's the boss of the world.

Recent Comments

  • Up The Workers! on Albanese says 'climate action' is the long term solution to flooding.
  • Mantaray on Albanese says 'climate action' is the long term solution to flooding.
  • Graham on David Speers' Insiders bitten by the irrational diversity bug
  • Charlie Foxtrot on It all started 50 years ago today.
  • Enyaw on Federal Government flood disaster relief payments
  • Iain Russell on David Speers' Insiders bitten by the irrational diversity bug
  • Bob Hay on David Speers' Insiders bitten by the irrational diversity bug
  • Bonio on Albanese says 'climate action' is the long term solution to flooding.
  • Bob Hay on David Speers' Insiders bitten by the irrational diversity bug
  • Peter Winch on Albanese says 'climate action' is the long term solution to flooding.
DATE EVENT/DOCUMENT
1990 Julia Gillard becomes a Partner at Slater and Gordon and is in the Industrial Relations Department of law firm
20-08-91 Letter to Bruce Wilson from Julia Gillard concerning a vacancy at the AWU
1-05-91 Julia Gillard brought her property at 36 Phillip Street, Abbotsford Vic property settled in July and she borrowed $40,000 from Slater & Gordon for the deposit and the rest from Westpac bank
6-03-92 Advertisement appeared in the paper for Incorporating the Workplace Reform Association - Theiss may have used it for reference
click here to show more..

17-03-92 Locals concerned the Accident and Death Fund was being used to buy property and office equipment with the funds they paid into the fund.
18-03-92 Boulder fund suspended
15-05-92 Bruce Wilson and Julia Gillard go to a meeting with the miners in Kalgoorlie
18-05-92 AWU announce it is taking over the fund at Boulder paper article
13-02-93 Contract of sale signed by Bruce Wilson
13-02-93 Purchase of 85 Kerr Street Fitzroy by Julia Gillard and B Wilson who attended the Auction
13-02-93 blewitt-getting-his-addres.html Purchase of 85 Kerr Street Fitzroy by Julia Gillard and Bruce Wilson who attended the Auction
15-02-93 Letter to Slater & Gordon about the 1/85 Kerr Street sale
15-02-93 Ralph Blewitt is appointed Western Australian Branch Secretary in the week 15 to 19 February
16-02-93 Olive Brosnan and Heidi chasing up the Power of Attorney - notes
17-02-93 Olive Brosnan makes this further note regarding Heidi, a sales person with the Real Estate firm GA Thomson. Note that Heidi returns the call and says that she will let Olive Brosnan have the original Power of Attorney (when she gets it?) and will need a certified copy in return
22-02-93 Slater and Gordon acknowledges that it has received the Contract of Sale, Section 32 Statement and the Power of Attorney from GA Thomson.
23-02-93 Olive Brosnan certifies Power of Attorney
3-03-93 A memo from Sylvia to Olive Brosnan about the application for the loan for Ralph Blewitt and the Kerr Street property
4-03-93 Letter/fax from Hewitt & Company stating Ralph Blewitt Wages Ref VB/CS
9-03-93 Memo to Olive Brosnan from Sylvia about the loan approval and the return of the chq for $500 from Ralph Blewitt’s personal account
10-03-93 Letter from Slater & Gordon addressed to Ralph Blewitt explaining mortgage details Page 1, Page 2, Page 3
10-03-93 Memo Julia Gillard wants details of penalty interest rates
12-03-93 Memo to Julia Gillard from Olive Brosnan about penalty interest rates
17-03-93 Memo of fees for house - Bill of costs
18-03-93 Letter to Ralph Blewitt requesting Cheque for $67,772.30
18-03-93 The cheque for $67,772.30
22-03-93 Settlement date for Kerr Street purchase
23-03-93 Land Transfer document
31-03-94 Dawesville project costs
Aug-Sept 94 Julia Gillard went on holidays while Bruce Wilson organised house renovations
Aug-Sept 94 Interview with Slater & Gordon about the Renovations
6-02-95 New bank accounts for Construction Fund
17-02-95 AWU-FIME amalgamate (2 Victorian Branches)
12-04-95 Cheque from AWU WRAI account $46,550
27-04-95 Cheque for $15000 - $10 000 for K Spyridis and $5000 cash
30-06-95 AWU went back to central funding arrangements
25-07-95 Letter from Robert Smith (AWU) to Ian Cambridge and Steve Harrison about the unknown AWU bank accounts
27-07-95 Letter to the National Executives about the freezing of the accounts
2-08-95 Union National Finance committee meet to discuss what was going on start of investigations into the frozen accounts
4-08-95 Bob Smith wrote to Ian Cambridge to say the AWU was going to charge Bruce Wilson
10-08-95 Ian Cambridge visits QC Richard Kenzie from Maurice Blackburn for discussions to fix it (get union money back)
14-08-95 Internal Review into Julia Gillard’s involvement of the AWU -WRA and she is put on restricted duties
14/15 Aug 95 Other Joint secretaries of the Unions paid out the signatories of the accounts - hand writing on the cheques Link 1 Link 2
16-08-95 Bruce Wilson redundancy cheque $55,204
17-08-95 Letter to stop the cheques Ian Cambridge
17/18 Aug 95 All accounts were closed bar 2 general and grants accounts and redundancies given out
18-08-95 Affidavit - Bill Ludwig - Bruce Wilson get sprung
11-09-95 Julia Gillard interviewed by Geoff Shaw, Peter Gordon and Nick Styant-Browne at Slater and Gordon - It’s recorded and she goes on leave of Absence until May 96 (WA AWU-WRA not yet discovered by AWU yet)
31-01-96 Ian Cambridge addresses AWU Qld Branch meeting
3-04-96 Ian Cambridge talked with Commonwealth Bank - Diary entry - Discovery of Workplace Reform Association INC. WA branch
6-05-96 Discovery of Accounts in AWU name by Ian Cambridge letter from Commonwealth Bank
7-05-96 Fax from Com bank listing the accounts in the AWU name - for Ian Cambridge
1-06-96 Newspaper article about Joe Trio and the AWU fraud article from sometime in 1996
3-06-96 Ian Cambridge received bank records after the discussions with the bank back in April Ian Cambridge spoke to AWU Officials in Perth and they never heard of the Workplace Reform Association Inc.
5-07-96 Diary entry Ian Cambridge - spoke to Branch Official Russell Frearson about the $400,000 going through the account
31-07-96 Geoff Shaw Slater & Gordon General Manager gets Subpoena to supply all documents relating to purchase of 1/85 Kerr Street
13-08-96 Court proceeding where Geoff Shaw is to produce the documents from the Subpeona Link 1, Link 2
6-01-97 Memo from Investigating Detective Dave McAlpine about the AWU fraud
6-02-97 Memo to fraud squad from Theiss stating they hadn’t been defrauded Link 1, Link 2, Link 3, Link 4
17-02-98 Memo fraud squad about Theiss - Ralph Blewitt said Theiss auditors required that the WRA needed to be Inc.

Connect

Facebook Twitter YouTube
  • Michael Smith News •
  • Powered by Typepad
Top