While I don't agree with much of what wre sys, I think his the point about the reason for Rein ditching her company is right. It's nothing to do with conflict of interest, or double standards for pollies' wives, but is because her actions are not compatible with the party's line on the preferred behaviour of employers. Just as the media have great fun with the ideological differences of the Costello brothers, the fact of Rein not practicing what Rudd preaches would be a source of endless entertainment and would undermine the plausibility of Rudd’s IR policies.

Kenneth Davidson writing in THE AGE yesterday, goes to the core of the confliction.

http://preview.tinyurl.com/37jsmj

Rhian, Rein's business would have no doubt also drawn a lot of unwanted attention to the business doings of politician's spouses on both sides if she kept it.

Personally I think the biggest tragedy in all this is the missed opportunity for a clear set of guidelines for all of them. On the other hand, if we had some mechanism to really keep them honest we wouldn't have the fun of the occasional scandal.

Frank

I think you overlook the fact the Union funders of the Labor Party actually control the preselections of Labor candidates and therefore the actual Members and their tenure. The members of the Liberal Party fundraisers don't.

The liberal party members just buy their preselection, like Malcolm Turnbull, Peter Costello and the member for Indi, who represents a rural electorate from Toorak.

The ALP practice their own form of political distraction.
Whenever the spotlight is directed to their retrograde IR policy, the ALP resorts to its favorite stalking horse - global warming.