Poirot, onthebeach wrote:

>>Regarding Abbott, "The Labor minister at the time was perfectly satisfied that there had been nothing that was deliberately done wrong and the matter was closed" and that is fair enough. It speaks volumes that it was seen as an error by the Labor minister at the time, and was repaid.<<

You replied:

>>Yes, onthebeach.

No probs at all.

Slipper is reported to the AFP and pursued through the courts...for $900

And Abbott is allowed to pay his ($9,400) back - claiming it was all a mistake.

No conflict there at all.......<<

How is that a response Poirot, you just disregard the rather pertinent point that the Labor party accepted it as an admin bungle.
Do you dispute that?
If not why answer like an acolyte defending the hill.

A brilliant diversion, Poirot ! You the man !

Any chance of BTT ?

Joe

Lexi first we should ignore folk who claim they always vote Labor.
But so they claim, not this lot, straw man stuff.
Few doubt my absolute wish for a victory for us and Kevin.
But we should fight till the end , not pause to celebrate before crossing the line.
It is standard election time stuff, playing the under dog.
Self confidence should be hidden until we cross the line.
Yes Abbott is shell shocked and unwanted.
What however if the put Turnbull in his job?

We can tell by the posts of the "usual suspects" that the geeky kid from the library, wearing glasses, has got the Bully Boy in his budgie smugglers on the ropes. Geeky has come out swinging, delivering the old one two, gives BB a black eye and a bloody nose, Bully Boy don't know what's hit him, yells to his mate Hockey Joe, "gee this kids got a punch." "Sorry Tone, just because you belted the red head chick around the playground don't mean ya can handle the geek! I'll see if Money Bags Mal will step in for ya!
p/s It was Bully Boy who pinched the other kids "lunch money", spent it on Phantom Comics, had to pay it back. Shame about that.

There are still a whole lot of possibilities to play out, including a concerted campaign against Rudd, probably like nothing before seen in federal politics.

In any case, if Abbott proves not up to reversing polls, I would be surprised if the Coalition did not go to a more popular leader if need be.

However, I still think Abbott is only warming up to the task

sonofgloin, onthebeach,

"...Abbott's claims were accepted by the responsible Labor Minister as a simple error. It was also repaid, which rather underlines the point."

It "does" rather underline the point. Procedure usually dictates that when this occurs, parliamentarians are afforded the opportunity to "offer to repay - and then "to repay".

Why hasn't this been afforded to Slipper?

Can you point me to where Gary Gray said he accepted it was a "simple mistake"?

As far as I can read, Gray wrote to Abbott:

"Given the repayments made, I do not intend to take further action in relation to this matter..."

Furthermore, regarding the "simple mistake" (staff supposedly inadvertently booking private travel and claiming expenses), Gray warns Abbott that it was inappropriate under the Members of Parliament act for his Ministerial staff to be booking his personal travel.

http://nofibs.com.au/2013/07/06/exclusive-abbott-forced-to-repay-taxpayers-9400-he-charged-taxpayers-to-promote-his-book/

Main point:

It has been standard procedure under these circumstances for parliamentarians to offer and be allowed to repay expenses outside of entitlement....under what is known as the Minchin Protocol.

In Slipper's case, however, someone reported him to the AFP, which changes the game. (I believe an FOI request has been lodged on that matter)

http://nofibs.com.au/2013/07/04/a-familiar-afp-smell-over-slipper-and-ashby/