The difference between modern democracies and tin pot dictatorships is the rule of law and due process. In scrapping a tender process that twice made the same recommendation that Stephen Conroy didn't like, the minister has made the cabinet look like a bunch of whimsical chieftains.

"THE Auditor-General has driven a stake through the heart of Julia Gillard's claims of cabinet competence and exposed a government that is prepared to manipulate, dissemble and scheme to defeat honourable commercial and public service processes to advance Labor's political prejudice.

In a scarifying inquiry into the tender process for the $223 million contract for the Australia Network international TV service, the audit office has condemned the Gillard government for acts of incompetence and a lack of due process that have endangered Australia's commercial reputation."

When Julia Gillard asks the question "Who do you trust to manage the economy?" The answer can only be "Not you."

SM,
I must commend you for bringing yet another stuff up, by this government, to the attention of OLO posters.

The Ausitor Generals report clearly shows that this government is not honest and lacks any integrity what so ever. This time not only was a minister involved, but the Cabinet. This is what happens when we have a government that is totally incompedent a will put aside due process to gain a favoured outcome.

It is not only the PM that is incapable, it is the whole government.

On top of this, we have minister Shorten just a week ago, trying to tell us that the miners tax would increase the super benefits for workers. Is there any member of this government that does not take electors for complete fools or will say anything to try and gain advantage?

All to be added to the ever growing 'stuff ups' list.

I do not feel I need to lie, to defend my party on this issue.
Yes it is a mess, and yes factions did the damage.
Anti Rudd is stamped all over this.
And power brokers, very much so.
Banana Republic?
50% of Spain's youth is unemployed.
Greece, no matter what is done to help, can never pay its debts.
Europe is ,every day, one wrong step away from disaster.
Labor,as badly bruised by its internal troubles as by Abbott,still remains the only party worthy of governing us.
Every charge, ever leveled by SM is one sided, Labor has its policy's out there.
Conservatives, posing as Liberals, have policy's they promise, but can not implement.
Welfare, any Liberal/Conservative party,will say needs cutting and controlling, Tony Abbott extends it to the middle class.
While planning cuts to education/health pensions.
Yes Conroy got it wrong, if I knew I would live to see some say that about Conservatives, Shadow Minister I would live a very long time.
ALP, look at these facts, it is not SM or me we need to win, but those who fall for such as this we not anyone else, got this one wrong.
It never should have gone to tender never should have been offered to Murdock, but once done?

Belly,

This level of staggering incompetence was never shown in the Howard government. This is yet another example of the arrogance and incompetence of Labor in a long, line of stupidity.

Dear Belly,

Tha Howard government neglected our surface transport-
our interstate roads, railroads and urban public transport.
It starved our tertiary education sector of funds.
It neglected investments which could help us cope with
the challenges of water shortages, climate change and
fossil fuel depletion. In other words it directed its
attention to only one side of the public balance sheet,
the debt side, while ignoring the asset side.
As a matter of fact the Howard government's economic
report card is overall a dismal one.

And as for the current state of affairs. The following
link may give you a bit of a laugh:

http://newmatilda.com/2012/02/02/lets-catch-flying-fish-prosperity

I have been looking at a Privacy dept complaint recently. After more than 3 years of time wasting and incompetent bungling, including a preliminary opinion that was overturned, the dept found in favour of the complainant against iiNet, who had given the account of the individual to another person, destroyed a significant portion of over 10 years of data and otherwise locked them out from their own affairs.

Amongst other things, the dept found that iiNet's security protocols were flawed and that they had refused point blank to write even once to the individual concerned.

Whilst a resolution was offered by iiNet, no public apology was requested by the dept out of regard for the public interest in such a matter, and due to the absurd insistence upon so called "concilliation" the effected individuals account is only to be returned with the consent of the thief who stole it and no compo!

To rub salt into the wound, it has been more than 6 months since the file was closed by the dept and iiNet have flatly refused to provide the resolution. Worse still, the muddle headed muggles in the dept refuse to do anything to enforce their own decision and will no longer reply to queries.

It is just a matter of contempt upon incompetency upon contempt.

The ombudsman has declined to investigate on the grounds that they (blindly) accept decisions from the dept, can't compel the department in any event and cannot see that they could achieve a better outcome even if they could. They additionally refuse to comment on the argument that an investigation could well lead to better outcomes for future complainants.

Another complaint has been accepted by the Ombudsman however regarding the refusal of the department to act to enforce its own decisions which remains in process, but no one is holding their breath.

No comment has been received by the clown minister conroy. Gee, what a surprise.

Let me give you all the hot tip, guard your personal information closely, as so called protections afforded by the tin pot law are largely illusory.

Lexi,

Other than most of the issues you blame Howard for were the responsibility of the State labor governments, none of you have provided one issue of bad governance.

I see your sole source of reading material "The New Matilda" 's author Ben Pobjie has produced yet another "opinion piece" dripping in sarcasm and little else. This article like most in the TMW avoid dealing with facts as they might derail their self gratification.

Dear SM,

Hard to penetrate concrete so I'm not even
going to try. The facts are there for anybody
willing to do their research. The Howard government left
Australia with significant liabilities in terms of our
physical and intangible assets - our common wealth.
And if the Howard cabinet had been the board of a
publicly listed company, the shareholders would have
thrown them out for weakening the company's asset base.

As for the New Matilda article. The author is a satirist
and one has to have a sense of humour to be able to
appreciate him. But as you pointed out on another thread
people with certain brain deficiencies aren't able to
appreciate humour.

Lexi,

If the facts are there, please share them. I suspect you can't. You are only able to repeat vague accusations floated by unsupported "opinion pieces" in greenie rags such as the New Matilda.

Major infrastructure projects are best suited for times of low employment, as these provide jobs and don't take valuable labour from private industry. The GFC saw no major infrastructure from labor, and the money was wasted.

Dear SM,

Hmmm, let's see. Should I go into detail for
you and do your research. No - can't be bothered.
Because no matter what I post - you only have
the capacity to follow your leader.

The facts are there to be found. All one has to do
is one's research.
There are many sources to chose from on the web - not
only the partisan media that you seem to select and
prefer.

As for the key achievements of the current government -
they are many - and cover more then just decisive action
during the GFC. Again - do your research. Although -
I suspect - you'd prefer to start new threads telling
all of us - how bad Labor is. I shall leave you to
do your job. I notice you've started a new thread -
can't wait to read how much diversity it will contain.

Lexi,

You are very fond of spouting your opinion, but never bother to back it up, other than with the occasional link to yet another factually deficient opinion piece in the almost readerless New Matilda.

I would like just once for you to put your money where your mouth is. Presently I don't believe you have the IQ to do so.

Dear SM,

Unlike yours old chap - my information is always based on
facts. I do my research before I post. And I get the
information from a variety of sources. I did tell you to do your
own research. If you want facts
and don't know how to get them - go to your local library
and they shall be more than happy to assist you.

As for my IQ - its not, unlike some people's,
based on shoe-size.

Judging from your posts -obviously continuous effort (not intelligence) is the key
to unlocking your potential.

Lexi,

Based on facts, please support your earlier comment that the federal government under Howard is responsible for the neglect of the urban public transport, which was the responsibility of the state labor government.

You can't because it goes against the facts that you claim your fantasies are based on.

And it is tipped that the NBN may well be yet another flop.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but that puts them and their stuff ups into double figures. Not bad for a little more than four years.

What a joke they are.

For gods sake, call an election so we can toss these fools out, for good, I would suggest!

Dear SM,

You don't want proof. At least not the proof that I provide.
You accuse me of using "biased" sources - that don't agree
with your political inclinations. For example, I've
provided you in the past with the article written by Ian McAuley, "The Howard Years Were No Golden Age." Ian McAuley
a lecturer in public sector finance at the University of
Canberra and a fellow at the Centre for Policy Development -
gave an excellent summation of the Howard Years - citing
examples - both pros and cons. Yet
you accused him of bias - even though by any standards
his article was a balanced one. At the same time -
you don't see the
hypocrisy when you cite from the Murdoch Press and other
partisan media sources. It's for that reason that I
referred you to go
to any library - and get them to find sources for you that
you will be happy with. Now you again ask me for "proof."
I am beginning to doubt your comprehension skills.
Perhaps I should demand that you give me proof that you
have a brain. Because so far you have not shown a capacity
for logical thought. All it appears that your agenda is -
on this forum - is to spread the negativity of your
political party.

Until you present more balance in your posts you will
continue to receive an adverse reaction to your comments.

See you on another thread - and hopefully one with more
positivity.

Lexi,

That you would find an opinion piece in a far left news blog balanced shows how poor your comprehension skills are.

Ian happily shrugs off the measurements of fiscal management that most countries use i.e. balancing the books, record low unemployment and record economic growth, and claims "financial mismanagement" due to not intervening in the economy more. A first year economics student would be able to tell you the consequences of government intervention in times of "full" economic employment. Perhaps you should look it up.

Peter Van Onselen (who recently voted Labor) published an opinion piece scathing of this complete interference in an independent process, and compared it to the PM's refusal to intervene in the clearly dysfunctional FWA.

The auditor general's report was the most damning report on any government function in decades and said that it came close to actually breaking the law. Conroy if he had been in business would have been fired if not jailed.

I must admit I prefer people to back up their assertions of the time with concurrent facts too *Lexi*, however ...

..

Of course *Shadow* the fact that more politicians aren't locked up for their crimes is also of concern to me, but given that you have had plenty of time to correct some of these problems in times of guvment, one can but assume that you have not done so in the past as you yourselves do not wish to be held accountable either.

No surprise there though is there?

Of course, that doesn't stop you sabre rattling in public, even if it is somewhat disingenuous does it?

As to the FWA matter, like the OAIC processes they are likely to be largely operating within the confines of their legal framework, so why don't you tell us where exactly in your opinion the framework is deficient, and then what you intend to do about it? After all, clearly these problems aren't limited to these 2 departments in question are they?

How can you allege maladministration/dysfunctionality without having read the report and also not being aware of the relevant time periods taken at each stage and why?

Or do you have a piece of legal advice that you would like to share with us?

DreamOn,

I am trying to make sense of your somewhat incoherent post. You do realise that I am not actually a politician? The coalition didn't have to lock up their politicians primarily because they didn't commit crimes. Would you prefer a quota system where they lock up one MP a year?

As for FWA, that they were appointed as the tribunal for union affairs, the expectation should be that they perform their work competently. Taking more than 3 years on a simple case to finally prepare and give a document to the DPP that was effectively useless and didn't contain even the source documents required for a prosecution is either rank incompetence or deliberate corruption. Given the almost complete stacking of the FWA with ex union officials both are probable. If you want proof, then the fact that the DPP threw their document back in their face after one day says it all.

Shadow Minister & Lexi:

I feel somewhat saddened to see the deviseness that
is examplified by your continuing posts. You both
appear to be reasonably intelligent members of our
society, but are both indicating a blossoming enmity
towards each other as the discussion unfolds!

We should all take a deep breath and stop to think
carefully as to the reasons why we choose to support
either one side of the political spectrum, or the other.

If we are to be truly sensible and honest with ourselves,
we should have enough nouse to realise that both sides
of the political spectrum have their good points and
their bad points, however, at the end of the day ALL are
interested in firstly their own remuneration and the
chance to progress to a higher political position, with
an even higher remuneration and even more electoral power,
as the ultimate target, ..all else is secondary.

We should be accepting the hard cold fact that whoever is
holding the power of the day, will control the electorate
as they see fit until another election is imminent, when
they will once again offer many goodies to entice us, the
suckers, to cast our vote in their direction.

All too many times have I voted for an individual Politician
who has promised to do this and do that for the electorate,
only to find that upon election he has planted his fat bum
firmly in his chair of office and conveniently "forgotten"
ALL of his promises to the community.

We should simply view these politicians as an evil necessity,
but not expect any reasonable standard of performance from
them,.....those days are long gone, and we are now relegated
electorally to the position of Stone-age dwellers rubbing two sticks together to see what happens?

Dear Crackcup,

Thank You for your calm, reasoned and
intelligent post. I feel obliged to react to
Shadow Minister simply because of his "one-eyed"
attacks on the government. I realise that we
can all have different points of view. However,
he tends to go over-board - and I feel obliged
to provide some balance. But you're right. I should
simply not react (becaue in doing so I give him
whay he wants).

Lexi:

I think that we are all victims of a political system
that is far from perfect, but for now it is all we have
got until something better comes along such as a
Referendum controlled system or the like!

I certainly resent seeing my tax money being wasted on
pay increases for parliamentarians who are generally a
waste of space, but that is the nature of the beast, and
I suppose that we could not expect a much different type
of behaviour from these electoral elite. It must be good
to be able to manipulate yourself a pay rise and then
offset the cost of it by allowing the increase in the cost
of a majority of services and commodity items.

I think that we will see an horrendous Budget in May as the
current government endeavour to appease big business, whilst
at the same time cutting many services and projects that
benefit the little people. After all THEY know that only a
miracle will keep them in power at the next election, and no
doubt they will have all aquired their own future retirement
funds well before that actually happens!

Dear crackcup,

If you think things are bad now - and you obviously do.
Then wait and see what happens if and when the Coalition gets
into power under Tony Abbott whose wild policy gyrations
suggest chaos rather than stability.
And the cuts that will be made will cost
the "little people" that you speak of - very dearly indeed.

Oh come now *Shadow* you were doing so well, but when challenged you appear to feel threatened and have levelled against me unsubstantiated criticism, which in principal, is no different from some of *Lexi's* comments which also have been made here in the absence of any basis.

That is not to say that she may not well be correct, but she hasn't demonstrated that concurrently here, and instead referred to comments made in the past and suggested that you do your own research, which I have to agree, doesn't assist much.

But then, I strongly suspect that *Lexi* is none to keen when the things become heated, and like another poster I recall, *Foxy Loxy,* usually does a quick stage exit when it gets "hot in the kitchen."

I think that is a shame actually, as she makes some worthwhile comments i.m.o. when she substantiates them.

As for the FWA matter, I am wondering how is that you fail to recognise that it is in the first instance it is irrelevant who staffs the place or how long it took, as that in itself does not evidence maladministration.

The reason for that of course is that the underpinning legislation and regulations may well make it quite reasonable for this to have taken so long.

That is not to say that I do not accept that there may be maladministration or similar, but simply claiming that there is does not make it so.

Likewise with your claim that the fact that there hasn't been a brief of evidence produced for the D.P.P. If the framework underpinning the statutory body provides for them to produce such a document then you may well have a point, but if not, then of course it does not.

As you have failed as do the LNP to substantiate your claims of incompetent time wasting, it does again appear that you are either ignorant or disingenuous.

The solution of course is to advocate for the specific necessary changes to the framework.

As for the LNP, if they are aware that it is to be expected that such cases pursuant to the FWA's framework will take as long as they do and continue to carry on about incompetence, then that in and of itself is a form of contempt of the law.

Here again though, as to exactly what constitutes criminality and how it applies to politicians is a matter for the law as it stands, and the fact that more aren't prosecuted is due to the fact, that like increased remuneration, the major parties are thick as thieves and do not wish to be held to account.

One case in point is Garret's involvement with the insulation debacle which led to deaths.

*CrackCup* the simple solution is not to vote for either of the mainstream parties, and give others a go, but unfortunately, most Australians are too stupid and bigoted to realise that, which of course ultimately, they will pay the price for.

Dear DreamOn,

What utter nonsense. I don't exit when things "get hot,"
as you claim. I pride myself on being extremely
patient. The only time I exit is when I see
the futility and pointlessness of continuing. And
even then I make attempts in trying to explain as to why
I'm leaving the discussion. As for substantiating my
claims - I've always done that and provided the links
as well. However, some people, no matter what's provided,
unless it matches and agrees with their political
inclinations - the links will be brushed aside as being
"biased," or mere "opinion pieces" even though they've
been written by subject specialists in the issues under
discussion. Therefore - when one sees what's being
done - it's no wonder that one prefers to leave the
discussion.

Lexi,

You only ever provide links to left wing opinion pieces.

Try this for this topic: (Warning, it contains facts)

http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/auditorgeneral-slams-government-over-australia-network-20120403-1w9pt.html

Shadow Minister, Lexi, DreamOn:

Although we all may mean well in our daily rant about
the petty subject of politics, as it affects us, each
and every one of us, we should be showing more concern
at the sinister and very dark occurrences that are now
accelerating across the globe!

We are all unwittingly side-tracked from the REAL issues
by our pitiful political system, which in all its glory
is simply a play-tool for the bored and the introverted
members of our society, who see personal politics as the
easy road to instant power and wealth. These people are so
into themselves that they achieve self-gratification from
being able to formulate and enforce their own and their
fellow member`s ill-formulated rules and regulations with
the impunity offered by their status in society.

We are living in a so-called democracy, ruled by a Monarch
living in a foreign country, who it is alleged refuses to
intervene in affairs of state (Australia) and passes the
buck to the Governor General of Australia, who is allegedly
unable to act "due to conflicts of interest" (Her Son-in-Law
is a Minister) thus condoning questionable acts of bastardry
against the people of Australia (The Carbon Tax).

Whilst we are being side-tracked by all of this petty hoo-haa,
there are forces afoot who are gradually putting in place their
grand plan to dominate the world by the use of very undemocratic
militarist methods of human enslavement, whilst the thinking people
of the world are being bamboozled by these petty events that are
occurring within our own country!

Please people, open your eyes and read, read, read and accept
that what is being foisted upon as "conspiracy theory" and "the rantings of the loony left" is actually the weapon that they use
to denigrate and deny the disclosure of the truth!

Dear SM,

I don't intend
to have any more arguments with you as far as
politics goes. You have your opinions and I shall
leave you to enjoy them. Only because - I really
think that arguing with you achieves nothing
constructive - and I have better things to do with
my time. I simply can't be bothered anymore - and I
don't want to lower my standards - by trying to
explain myself or my views to you - who I suspect
is too set in his ways to change and refuses to
achnowledge anything positive at all from another's
point of view. I don't believe in continuing with
exercises in futility.

Dear Crackcup,

Again, Thank You for being so honest and open in
your views. I agree with most of them and shall
certainly take on board what you're telling us.
I must say - I'm quite impressed with your arguments.

Lexi,

You only ever have anything positive to say about Juliar, Labor and the greens, and only negative to say about Abbott, and the coalition, and you only ever quote opinion pieces from left wing commentators.

You are even more one eyed than you claim me to be, as many of the links I provide are on news articles (many from the supposedly left of centre fairfax media) and from commentators from all persuasions.

*Lexie Pexie* I think that this thread and your contributions to it sufficiently substantiate my comments regarding your standard ala Pink Panther:

" ... exit -> stage left ..."

comments.

Further, whilst your may find it frustrating getting over *Shadow's* forward defences, I would remind you that there are many other readers and posters who have and are considering your views.

And *CrackCup* whilst your claims are of interest, you are only talking about a subject, but not really identifying it or backing it up.

..

Thanks for the linky to the article *Shadow* but I note that it is a shame that the apparent applied bias of the guvment against *Sky* doesn't carry administrative penalties.

It is amusing that the guvment claim the principals of non-interference in the FWA matter but that in this case, their interference is quite gross and ham fisted. It would be laughable if it wasn't so serious.

Heavens to Murgatroyd!...Snagglepuss is right put out. (That dratted Pink Panther always gets top billing :)

Exit, stage left....

Dear SM,

Again, just because you say something.
It doesn't make it so. You accuse me of
only using "left-wing" sources. Even though
I tend to use a variety of sources, and
I select them not on a "right or left wing"
basis - (I hate labels)
but on the qualifications of the
authors (subject specialists in their fields)
who know what they are talking about. Unlike
you I don't chose them for their supposed
political inclinations. I could care less
what those are - I cite the articles if they
appear to be well reasoned and intelligent.

As for my support of the current government.
I don't support everything they have done by
any stretch of the imagination. However compared
to the Opposition's actions under the current
leadership - which I find appaling -
I find myself not having any
choice but supporting a government that is simply
trying to get on with the task of governing.

Anyway, as I said earlier. We're both entitled
to our opinions. I simply happen not to agree
with yours.

Dear DreamOn,

You're doing an excellent job.

Keep on stirring!

Wahoo!