We were assured that Carr would be a fantastic addition to the Labor front bench because of the former NSW premier's consummate skills in the foreign affairs arena.

The reality has been somewhat different. His performance has been underwhelming. Carr told close friends that he would change the tone of the political debate when he arrived in Canberra, using his political skills to turn attention on to Tony Abbott's failings. He was supremely confident. Instead, Carr has made blunder after blunder - both in terms of silly gaffes and more serious ministerial missteps. The list is surprisingly long for someone who has been in the job for only a couple of months.

The most recent incident was Carr's decision to openly discuss the details of a bilateral meeting he had with the Chinese leadership on his first trip to the emerging superpower. Rather than playing the role of Foreign Minister, Carr fell into the mould of a BA graduate playing professor, lecturing journalists on international affairs. It was inappropriate, and incompetent diplomacy.

The list of Gaffe go on and on, as a replacement for Rudd he is a disaster. Steven Smith could not have produced such a long list of stuff ups and is dying to get away from the defence portfolio where he is despised by those reporting to him.

I want a pair of those labor glasses, as they see right through anyone's incompetence and previous failings.

I mean, what did we expect, he left the state of NSW in a train wreck.

Anna Bligh did the same here in QLD.

If only they were accountable, just like business is.

does this relate to that?
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/obeid-family-and-friends-reap-millions-from-lucrative-coal-licences-20120520-1yz31.html

i heard it discussed on radio[that john laws one]..
in the middle of the night

its shokking..but media sems to be ignoring it
but it indicates truely the evils of familily trusts and shelf companies..[and alp/liberal selling us out for their mates gain]

but im over trying to change things
all party people...MUST..put the party before honour
before family before anything..even governing for all of us

but im too angry to talk
cheers

this must relate*.

""""Obeid family and friends reap millions from lucrative coal licences

KATE MCCLYMONT, LINTON BESSER A FRIEND and financial adviser to Eddie Obeid and his family, who had no mining background and a $1 company, won a coal exploration licence worth millions of dollars in a controversial tender run by... ''''

cronies?
criminals?

mates?

that joins to this
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/millions-owed-obeid-in-councils-firing-line-20120515-1ynwr.html

THE City of Sydney..will push on with its bid
to recover millions..owed in royalties and legal fees..from the son of controversial former Labor Party powerbroker..Eddie Obeid.

Council unanimously voted..to approve proceedings
to bankrupt Moses Obeid and wind up his company[Streetscape,]when it met last night.

Mr Obeid was ordered to pay council $12 million..in damages and interest by the Supreme Court in February..

when it found that he and his company had deliberately gone..behind the council's back to sell more than 10,000..of its multi-function street poles,..known as "smartpoles",to overseas customers.


Mr Obeid sought to delay payment..*pending an appeal of that judgment,..claiming that neither he!..nor the company was able to meet the awarded damages.!

But
evidence.,.during that unsuccessful court application..revealed that millions of dollars..were available to Obeid family members..*through a series of trusts.

The council is also pursuing him for court costs..of $4 million.

edited


The city's chief executive Monica Barone told council..that if Mr Obeid was made bankrupt,..he would lose control of the appeal to a council-appointed trustee..who may not decide to pursue it.!

The trustee would also hav. broad powers to investigate Mr Obeid's affairs..and determine if income earned from overseas smartpole sales were payable..to him or his company in Australia,

she wrote."If such income is payable to Streetscape..And Mr Obeid in Australia,..a trustee in bankruptcy may be able to trace such funds," her report read...

edited
lol

[THERE WAS ALSO RIVERSIDE LANDS/LEASED]

Mr Obeid,..who secretly manufactured and sold the council-designed smartpoles in Singapore..and the United Arab Emirates without paying royalties or licence fees,..would not be permitted to direct a company or travel overseas..without permission while bankrupt.

Ms Barone told council..even these measures m
ight not be enough to recover all or any of the outstanding money."

But given the size of the debt and the "substantial assets" of the family trusts,..it was appropriate to continue with the proceedings.."in order to attempt to recover..the substantial amount of public money that is owing to council,"..her report said.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/millions-owed-obeid-in-councils-firing-line-20120515-1ynwr.html#ixzz1vSVJok1Z

a lot more here
https://www.google.com/search?q=sydney+morning+heral;d&shva=1#hl=en&gs_nf=1&tok=rvVTE8O0lfB0i7I9IiSNHA&pq=sydney%20morning%20heral%3Bd&cp=33&gs_id=10&xhr=t&q=sydney%20morning%20herald%20court%20Obeid&pf=p&sclient=psy-ab&oq=sydney+morning+herald+court+Obeid&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&gs_l=&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&fp=eae8c8359ba22f8e&biw=1280&bih=671

SM, if you want someone to fail, it is easy to highlight the negative comments or perceived negatives and omit mentioning the neutral or positive comments.

There is plenty of interest from the opposition, media, and disaffected people of all sorts, in highlighting if not beating up out of all proportion any comments that could possibly have any negative connotations, from any of our politicians.

Given this enormous pressure, Bob Carr is not doing too badly.

Who could do a better job as Foreign Minister? Possibly Stephen Smith. Can’t think of anyone else though.

<< Rather than playing the role of Foreign Minister, Carr fell into the mould of a BA graduate playing professor, lecturing journalists on international affairs. It was inappropriate, and incompetent diplomacy. >>

I’m not familiar with the incident but I would suggest that Carr, with his very detailed and broad knowledge of international affairs, should be expressing it fairly often rather than always staying narrowly focused. If it was perhaps a little inappropriate in this particular instance, - I’ll just take your word on that – it is overall a very good thing to express his broad knowledge and be a bit professorial about it, yes?

And hey, minor ‘gaffes’ or comments deemed to be inappropriate can actually be very beneficial in producing more publicity and giving a person more media opportunities to clarify or expand on such comments. It is not always a bad thing.

We cannot expect perfection, even from the best in the business.

One thing that Bob Carr has got that most others don’t have is a total genuineness about doing the right thing for the future of this country. And he’s not afraid of expressing it where it is at odds with his party’s direction.

THIS is the thing that makes his appointment to the top echelon of Australian politics so important.

As we have seen from the various posts on various
issues on this forum - people in different walks of life
may interpret the same phenomenon - whether it is
a PM's policies, a religious doctrine, a political
scandal, or the actions of a politician in very different
ways. People tend to see the world from a viewpoint of
subjectivity - an interpretation based on personal
values, experiences, and of course - their political
inclinations. Inevitably - there will be some measure of
bias - and it will be particularly acute in issues whose
subject matter involves issues of deep human and moral
concerns.

Bob Carr has not been in his job for all that long. Just a
few months. Some may even suggest that it is too early
to judge the man - just yet.

A recent poll taken by the Sydney Morning Herald
asked the question - "Will Bob Carr make a good foreign
minister?" 64% said yes. The man certainly is not afraid
to say what he thinks - and that's not a
bad thing - as Ludwig points out.

Gareth Evans, the longest serving foreign minister summed up
Bob Carr as having "Policy smarts with really brilliant
communication skills... Frankly the government could
use a bit more of that."

Diplomacy is not just about flapping your gums. It is about achieving Australia's policy objectives by persuading other countries to act in Australia's interests. Pissing off China by discussing private discussions to gain kudos with a few reporters is a serious blunder.

Peter Van Onselen who voted Labor, and who publicly declared the appointment of Carr as a Labor triumph, is the one whose comments I have posted here. Yes, everyone thought he would be an asset, but it now appears that he is a liability. He has had more gaffes and blunders in a few months than most FMs have in a career.

Dear Shadow Minister,

While we understand that your views of Bob Carr reflect
your particular view of politics. I would like to remind
you of the many errors made by another foreign minister
at the start of his international career. Alexander Downer.

Bob Carr given enough time - just might pleasantly surprise you.
Both men have expressed the fact that "It's an immense
honour to serve your country in a senior position." If one
could do well given his difficult start - why not give the
other the same benefit of doubt. Or are you only interested
in only seeing the negative in one political party and only
the positive of your own.

Come on Lexi, Bob Carr, given any time at all, will simply become even more senile than he has proven to be so far.

He was a catastrophe for NSW as premier, & is proving even worse in the federal sphere.

My initial post was direct comments from Peter Van Onselen who initially vigourously supported Carr and voted Labor in 2010. Are his comments tainted by his political support? Really Lexi!

Carr has already made more errors than Downer in his 11 years. For all the fanfare, his performance has been disappointing. Rudd for all his failings far out performed Carr.

Dear Shadow Minister,

It seems that as usual - we won't be seeing eye-to-eye
on this issue. But at least it's fun sharing our different
points of view.

AWL - (aren't we lucky in this country) - to
be able to do that. And aren't we lucky to have a forum
such as this one on which we can do it.

See you on another thread.
Have a nice day.