The number of blind devotees to the Labor party are many on this site. They don't need my help.

It is not about help, it is about honesty (given this post touches on issues of integrity). Your attention to it assumes a sense of justice and honesty - or is it only one-sided.

Pelican,

I fail to see what point you are making.

That Rob Oakeshott's dealings have been exposed as ethically questionable is not in dispute, as there are several articles about the subject in the media. If I have said anything that is untrue or a poor interpretation of the facts then feel free to comment or challenge me.

That I am enjoying his discomfort after his treachery does not take away anything from the validity of the facts, and debating my personal motivation is actually irrelevant to the debate as a whole.

My personal feeling is that he is in politics more for himself than his constituents, and his secret approach to the NSW labor government for a cabinet post, parliamentary reforms, support of Labor, and subsequent shots at federal cabinet and speaker were primarily motivated by self interest.

That RO's loss of integrity must be of concern for Julia Gillard, as his support in the conservative electorate does not come from his alliance with Labor. If it erodes too far, he might have to switch allegiance to prevent being unemployed in a couple of years.

Perhaps you are right about RO, ShadowM, but if RO had sided with the Coalition I suspect you would not be making this post. That was my point.

Pelican,

Your point has nothing to do with the issue.

If RO had expressed the wishes of his electorate and sided with the coalition, he would not have made so many enemies with the time to dig out his malfeasances, refer him to ICAC and ensure it made the papers.

If he had not been so duplicitous, it may not have peaked my interest.

However, the underlying fact is that if he had followed ethical procedures there would be nothing to refer to ICAC or make the papers.