Tony Abbot has been accused of using taxpayers money to promote his book "Battle Lines".

http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/stories/s2965933.htm

Glenn Milne is a respected investigative journalist well known to have conservative leanings.
Why is this not being reported in the MSM and why hasnt Abbott been asked to respond?
If this is true shouldnt Mr Abbott be investigated and prosecuted?

Is defrauding the taxpayer for personal gain worse than opposing the rise in the pension or payed parental leave?
If so why are all the papers/online sites leading with the leaks concerning Ms Gillards cabinet discussions?

A book?. He hasn't done anything yet...

mikk,

Your comments are looking extremely stupid in the light of Ms Gillard opposing pension increases and maternity leave. You opened your trap to quickly.

runner
Hang on isnt opposing such spending exactly what the coalition lives for?
How can they (and you) be such hypocrites?

What about Abbott spending taxpayers money on promotional events for his book? A blatant rort of his travel allowances.
Where are the answers?

Opposing pensions and maternity leave?. Cherry picking there much?.

Quote from news.com

"“Of course I wanted to see a pension increase and paid parental leave.

"I want to make it very clear ... between the pensioner rise and paid parental leave scheme we are talking about expenditure of more than $50 billion over the next 10 years. That's a lot of money. The question [then] at the forefront of my mind was, are they affordable?," Ms Gillard said.

"I believe that is the appropriate approach to take. “I understand that some might say if you don't sign on the dotted line that somehow you lack passion for it. Frankly, that analysis is ridiculous and absurd. You can be passionate about something and smart-headed about getting it done."

“So, if people want a Prime Minister who has $50 billion spending put before them and sign it without question, I am not it. The central thing to ask is, are they affordable?" she said."

Have a look at the front page of the daily telegraph.

Then have a look at the Newcastle herald.

Newcastle labor/union central cant tell the people about the bad stuff.

'Opposing pensions and maternity leave?. Cherry picking there much?.'

Certainly no opposing or scrutiny on the pink bats debacle and the school sheds rip off. You are right st George, Ms Gillard is now very selective in claiming diligence with the tax payers money.

Sorry but the replies are just silly, if any Polly miss uses our cash we should be concerned runner, in my view you are a danger, an outstanding danger to any true follower of God
You present your self as Christian but taunt those who speak the truth if it harms your radical view.
Tapp? why bother.
on one hand this Abbott family screams that Labor is wasting money then pillory's Gillard for saying can we afford this?
Good thread let us wait and see if the conservative biased press looks closer.

Belly

you write
'You present your self as Christian but taunt those who speak the truth if it harms your radical view.'

Belly it seems you rejected Jesus well before being in contact with me. If you are not convinced by His life and miracles then claiming unbelief because of my views are simply dishonest. Hopefully you will come to your senses before its to late.

Well madam PM has just shot herself in the foot, big time.

She says herself that she is one who looks at things from every angle before giving the green light, yet, the schools building programe, HER BABY' is an utter mess and smells of further government goss incompitence and she wants us to vote for her.

You're kidding!

runner
Many on this forum have acknowledged some of the problems with the pink batts and BER schemes but why do you think it okay for the Conservatives to rort but not the ALP. Wouldn't it be better if we took off our rose coloured glasses for one minue. Do you think it okay that Mr Abbott used his entitlements to market his book?

A simple yes or no will suffice.

If Julia Gillard or Kevin Rudd had done the same you would be the first up here ranting about rorts.

Runner it was people like you that made me look again at the God myth.
I looked up and found the search for power that infects every group union to church, that miss uses that power.
Your God did not ask what party you voted for he never gave you the right to judge others you are a fraud bloke a bitter self centered fraud.
Yes if this shameful story was about a LABOR person it would be on every front page read the Murdock press this morning look at the questions asked in polls that only give and anti Labor possible out come why no follow up?
Because conservative press is biased against true debate.
ALP victory in any case.

Mikk,

This is completely disingenuous.

After Julia Gillard's $100 000 flit in an air force jet for a political fund raiser, it was pointed out that MPs have a travel allowance for personal and political purposes for which the book promotion easily applies.

This pales compared to JG's abuse.

SM
I am surprised you are finding retaliatory excuses for Mr Abbott's misuse of entitlements. I prefer that none of our representatives abuse their priveleges and use of taxypayers money, especially to increase their personal incomes whether it be bribery and corruption, ignorance of entitlements or just plain greed.

pelican

'Do you think it okay that Mr Abbott used his entitlements to market his book? A simple yes or no will suffice'

No.

Everyone
Strewth this post is drawing out the irrational responses.
The post clearly asks is Abbott stealing taxpayers money via promoting his book?

JG arguing in cabinet are irrelevant what is important is what comes out of those arguments. Who knows,what here arguments were or what motivated them AT THE TIME? We don't
This is simply media/libs wanting sensation.

Objectively JG's critics are so self-servingly myopic they lack any consistency and therefore credibility.
On one hand SM and his increasingly irrational cohorts criticised Rudd for being a one man band and now criticise JG for adding input.
As for this being indicative of her propensities and then claim that All that Abbott wrote in his book is now irrelevant ...give me a break.

Abbott's book explains his motivations yet we have no Idea of JG's.

Time for another euphemism fair crack at the sauce bottle!
I voted for Howard once too does that mean I'm a liberal oyster? there were circumstances that prompted that.
By the way none of JG alleged action are on topic or relevant.
Jees kiddies play nice.

Eeek wrong button1! I should learn to think in english not gibberish
ignore the last post.

Everyone
Strewth this post is drawing out the irrational responses.
The post clearly asks is Abbott stealing taxpayers money via promoting his book?

JG's arguments in cabinet are irrelevant. What is important is what comes out of those cabinet decisions.

Who knows,what her reasoning was or what motivated it AT THE TIME? We don't!
I voted for Howard once too does that mean I'm a liberal oyster? there were circumstances that prompted that.

This is simply media/libs wanting sensation. I would point out that the media aren't neutral they simply don't care all they want is sensation.

Objectively JG's critics are so self-servingly myopic they lack any consistency of integrity and therefore credibility.

On one hand SM and his increasingly irrational cohorts criticised Rudd for being a one man band and now criticise JG for adding input.
As for this being indicative of her propensities and then claim that All that Abbott wrote in his book is now irrelevant ...give me a break.

Abbott's book explains his motivations/reasoning, yet we have no idea of JG's.

By the way none of JG alleged action are on topic or relevant.

Can we play nice and stick to the topic not BS side issues.

mikk:>> Why is this not being reported in the MSM and why hasnt Abbott been asked to respond.<<

Tis bloody amazing mikk, I have been saying the same thing for almost three years. Between the socialist press gallery and the buying off of the free to air networks I had to actually talk to people affected by or employed in the mechanics of the string of Labor generated failures the media kept quiet about.

Examinator and Mikk,

The issue of JG's use of the military jet to attend a Labor fund raiser is actually directly on topic as the whole issue of misuse of "perks" was brought to the fore by this particular incident.

Secondly, the book is part of publicity promotion for the liberal party, for which the travel allowance is actually for. As the book is hardly going sell millions of copies, (the cost of producing it is probably just going to be covered by the royalties), any claim of self enrichment is puerile.

As far as your off topic claim that first we blamed Rudd for everything, and are blaming JG is BS. As PM Rudd was ultimately responsible for most of the actions of the government, even more so as he tended not to consult outside his "kitchen cabinet" and more often than not did not even inform his ministers when he made decisions affecting their portfolios.

JG as part of that inner sanctum cannot distance herself completely from the previous administrations utter stuff ups. This is especially true for the waste and incompetence that occurred directly under her management, especially the incredible waste of billions and billions on the BER.

The $6000 spent by Abbott in political self promotion pales into complete insignificance.

SM stretching it a bit the six grand would be fraud the rest if true waste.
But you know that whitewash only covers some colors not this bloke.

No way around this.
One of the most conservatively biased reporters in our country wrote this.
Look at our national news paper and it CONSTRUCTED NEWS know at the very last minute they will suport Labor.
Ask why the intention to play games ,controlling minds in this election.
Why the failure to report.

Three days have the media ignored this story.
The stench of corruption and cover up is overwhelming.

Mikk and Belly you are grasping at straws.

All MPs have a travel allowance, for which they have very little in the way of restrictions, and are free to use it for government, party political, or even personal reasons. The $6000 odd travelling in economy class is a non issue, which is why no one cares.

The shrew has one too, and the outcry was that she used the airforce jet at $100 000 for a party fund raiser when she could easily have used commercial transport.

If she had used commercial transport at tax payer's expense, it too would have been a non issue.

With all the Labor pork barrelling, waste, and jobs for pals, the stench of corruption is coming in waves from Labor.

Good point 3 days and nothing.
SM not buying that from you here we see media bias in action.

Belly,

If you don't believe me, then perhaps you could enlighten me as to my misconception as to the purpose and protocols of using the travel allowance. Please don't hesitate to point to where the law was broken, or even where any protocols were broken.

I'm pretty sure that you have absolutely no idea and are just huffing and puffing at nothing.

I dare say part of the reason for the silence is that both parties do it and they each have just as much dirt on each other to bring about their mutually assured destruction if either side pulled the trigger.

This however does not let the craven and cowardly media off the hook. What else are they for but to expose such malfeasance? Who else is there to do it?
Could it be that the concentration of media ownership is having the exact effect its detractors warned of?
Too many otherwise good and competent journalists beholden to the likes of murdoch for their lively-hood and thus too scared to do any real investigative journalism and expose those who defraud the taxpayer and the country in case it upsets their employer?
The subsequent silence from the ABC condemns them and their government masters just the same as newslimited and fairyfax et al.

I absolutely agree Mikk, manipulation of public opinion by the press/media
is a major problem in this country. Thank you for drawing attention to it.

SM you are trying to hide some facts the bloke was on private business selling HIS book.
todays national news paper and its whole stable are shameful.
Look for outcomes of the hidden agenda.
this story would be on every front page if it was an ALP one
IF conservatives win on such deep mud this country has hard times ahead remember no GST a pledge from Howard?
How long would it be before a return to workchoices?

Belly>>
IF conservatives win on such deep mud this country has hard times ahead remember no GST a pledge from Howard?

Just remember, he took this to the electrate and won. The people chose the GST, not John Howard.

How long would it be before a return to workchoices?

I can assure you that if something is not done, and fast, about the removing of hoops between small business employers and employees, there will be far less jobs out there to protect.

Factory workers, office workers, no worries, but hospitallity and retail have been hit hard with the new IR laws and it's going to kill off jobs if something serious is not done, and fast!

My guy with the three restuarants has just closed one on Sundays because wages went to 50% of the takings for the day. This is in Cains where jobs are at a premium.

16 staff have no shift now on Sundays, yet they were happy with the previous arrangements.

So much for 'no worker will be worse off', hey!

As I say, it's back to the 70's we go!

Belly, Mikk, thinker2,

Can you honestly claim that the book "Battle lines" which was about his life and policies has nothing to do with the political campaign?

If his book was a cook book, then you might have a case, otherwise this thread is complete BS.

Shadow Minister,

Whether Abbott's book was written on the subject of politics, cooking or Feng Shui is immaterial. The question is who profited from the promotion of it?

Shadow Minister, This should put thier argument to bed.

I recall that Bob Hawk, Paul Keating and Mark Lathum all released books AFTER THEY LEFT POLOTICS.

Now in the case of Bob and Paul, these books were indirectly paid for by the tax payer, as they are both provided for (financially) by the tax payers in thier post polotical lives, so, in essense, they are stealing from the tax payer while giving nothing back.

Who pocketed the cash?

At least Tony is still in polotics and still producing something for the tax payers dollar. In fact, after the release of his book he has advanced to the leader of the opp and may well become our next prime minister.

So, this begs the question, if Tony Abbot is stealing, what on earth are Bob and Paul doing?

More importantly, why do those who continue to support labor, no matter what, continually try to discredit those who oppose?

Unfortunatly, I have a bad habbit of letting the 'facts' get in the way of a 'good story' which often results in the ending of a thread.

Let's hope they don't run and hide here, hey!

thread has died but so too has fair media reporting.
we would have seen thousands of words if it had been ALP.
Look deeper in to the body Gard story ,not a body Gard as the headlines say but a junior minister.
some who vote in this election do so after a subtle form of brain washing by a media without shame.

There you go SM, not a sinle reply. Even old mate Belly won't broach the subject.

These labor puppets just hate to be proven wrong, so much so that they just change the subject.

Care to offer an opinion on the halk keating books belly and crew?

Or has the cat got your tongues.

rehctub,

Yes, you are scintillating.

Could it be , however, that everyone thought your post was irrelevant and didn't bother to reply? (Surely not)

P,S. What is a halk keating book?

Whether Abbott's book was written on the subject of politics, cooking or Feng Shui is immaterial. The question is who profited from the promotion of it?Posted by Poirot, Sunday, 1 August 2010 5:50:54 PM

This was your post, going along with the lines of the other posters that Abbott was stealing from the tax payer because he has profited from his book which may have been funded by the tax payer.

Sorry, but I think my comments were relevent.

>>>P,S. What is a halk keating book?

My comment>>>I recall that Bob Hawk, Paul Keating and Mark Lathum all released books AFTER THEY LEFT POLOTICS.

Note the words 'AFTER THEY LEFT POLOTICS'.

Your words>>The question is who profited from the promotion of it?(them)

Now remember, BH and PK are both provided for by the tax payer.

Now rather than trying to belittle me, perhaps you can explain why tony is a crook, while your labor buddies are not!

rehctub,

I suppose you'd be thrilled if one of your employees spent time promoting their private wares over "your" counter while they were employed by you to be doing their job.

Shadow Minister, rechtub, jump right in, you are swimming in an open septic tank try not to do the butter fly and you may be ok.
OUR media is shameful remember this story came from a conservative puppet not us rechtub.

So as usual, none of you have answered the question.

Why is it ok for the likes of Hawk and Keating to use tax payers funds to write a book, but not Abbott?

After the election Abbott will be asked questions about this.
He will be still thankfully be leader of the opposition and much harder questions will come from the media.
Today in Sydney's papers he is called boatman, and references to his high fiber answer about NBN are being seen now.
After his defeat we are going to see the old Abbott in the media why has it taken so long.

Give it one month it will not be more.
The same media that would not publish this will make a huge story out of it.
This underlines in red ink our media is shameful.
It would not let us read about it but still after it can do no harm will use it.
Lessons?
It need not be true media more and more learns from Gobbles, more and more sells its own lie.