Fester I agree with most of that.
Once, believe me it is true, we bragged about our following the Westminster system.
We at least then had a bottom, we no longer have.
Fragmentation, is not helping our politics.
I believe, truly, we should aim up, return to accountability in politics and in life.
I do not see some of your stuff ups,climate is not one, but gee why lie?
I still do not know why they dumped Rudd, mid first term.
And in fact keep Gillard on lower polling.
Robo, NSW opposition leader former head of Unions NSW is quite right, he shares my view and is calling for the sacking of this unions head.
So he should,goodonya bloke!
Self interest is seeing the wrong type enter politics, on both sides.
Hung Parliament is choking Democracy.
Abbott would have done no better had he been installed.
You may expect, I do, a greens blood bath next election.
But if Labor has not cleaned much up, including the Rudd painful event,greens will be once again a refugee.
For anti Labor but not conservative votes.
Conservatives will win.
Unless Labor stops leading with its chin.
Good men and women ,now is the time to be heard stand for honesty accountability and we are still a chance.

As the thread settles in to the mud, as action now takes place on all fronts I have something to say.
First to the Australian Union Movement.
I am proud of a small but important part I played,along with my ex work mates,and the excellent roll played by the man I called WORK PLACE BULLY
In removing, *instantly*, some one who committed one tenth of one percent of what this issue is about.
It always has been so,in my union.
You gentlemen sell a product that by its very existance says fairness, equity, fair go mate!
And you, as I do, know,some within our membership, feed on these issues.
We are better than that.
We gave birth to the ALP, at a time workers stood alone,it is the actions of those who came before us that gave us todays lifestyle income home ownership.
Can you not see,this union,its leadership, acted as badly toward its members as any boss?
Convict me, for caring, but if we are not better than this?
Till I die I will be proud of my service,and that my members trusted me,and my union.
Aim up gents and Lady's be proud to be union.
Our past our present our great future.

Now to my party the ALP.
I never will dog on my party.
But turning my back pretending this never took place is in my view dogging.
Once slipper came over we could have put this bloke on the middle bench's.
He would still vote for us,but at least we would have looked a little better.
I know, even understand why, factional heads will think me traitor.
I know some Branch's put dills in the house, and that stars are hand picked for seats, that this seat was extremely important.
WHY pick this bloke?
Who next? are we the only true alternative to Liberal government, so unable to find good candidates from our branches?
Is it time for one vote one value within the party?
Why do unions hold the strings?
Are we better for selecting the best or must we reward in giving seats?
Julie Gillard did not lie,she had no clue us too, a hung Parliament was going to be the result.
Tell Australia she did not.
Then why would they not think Thomson is unfit for Parliament.
Rudd.
You consider it a dirty word, but why is it we still do not know the full truth?
Why do Australians still want him more than Gillard and Abbott?
My party is confronted by oblivion,no not death, just 1975.
Do we stand back and let it happen?
Or just maybe recommit to change to accountability to being the best?
I want power brokers to put party not factions first.
The very left can not turn us from middle Australia, but we need action.

Gough. What a character, and what a legacy. At the time it all seemed like total chaos and disaster, but afterwards I looked back and saw a great many reforms and achievements. Perhaps I will look back on the current administration and see more sense in the direction taken. Putting Carr in the Senate was a good move I think. He had an impossible job as Premier.

http://www.smh.com.au/national/hsu-boss-put-30k-a-month-on-amex-20120410-1wn1n.html
It will be so Fester.
But first?
Let us look at my link.
Yes painful.
But UNIONS and Labor must consume it,see it openly.
Feel as I do this morning the filth , as if I have plunged in to a sewage out fall.
About now warn and weary Hospital workers are nearly bound for home.
Some to briefly see kids and partner before they leave for school and work.
A consideration must be made later in the week.
Can they after paying the bills take the kids to Macas?
Here today above is a question.
Are unions able to draw a line under this?
I think yes but less unions bigger unions more accountable unions
And much more focus on members money how every cent is spent.
I this morning am shattered knowing a very few will not want an end to rorting members funds or changes that slim down over heads
It is time to face our past and address our future.

Belly,
Yeah, I read the story, it does not surprize but still disgusts. I trust that these fraudsters will be brought to book.

Yesterday, the two major Sydney papers both had stories about whistle blower, Cathy Jackson, so looks like this saga will continue.

Assuming the articles are correct, if what Jackson found when she took over as secretary and did nothing, she would become party to the fraud. Many do not know that if one is aware of or suspects criminal activity and does not report it, then they themselves can be charged with an offence.

It seems to me that Jackson was fobbed off by the union excutive and had no alternative but to report it to the police, in her own and the members interests.

It also appears that many of the board are holding meetings, without her, and conspiring to fit her up with a bogas charge and no confidence resolution. Jackson herself wants the whole board to resign, including herself, and members elect a new board.

Jackson also claims to have warned Labor officials about the suspected fraud of Thomson, prior to his election, which was ignored.

Labor has got itself into this mess and has tried successfully to delay investigations, but the longer it goes on the more damage it will do to both the union movement and to Labor.

What i do not understand is how the ACTU has suddenly got information to the extent that it abandoned the HSU. Jackson claims to have informed the ACTU very early, but nothing was done. The FWA reprt is supposed to be confidential as is the report by Tenby QC.