<GREENS Senator Larissa Waters spent a whopping $414,000 to fit out her trendy Paddington office – more than any of her Queensland political colleagues at the time.

The office, on the top floor of a pristine-condition, split-level building on Given Tce, includes a rooftop patio with timber outdoor furniture and artificial turf.>

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/queensland-greens-senator-larissa-waters-spent-414000-on-fitout-for-paddington-office/story-fnihsrf2-1226889449998

It was already a plush pad in trendy Paddington close to the Governor's mansion. The cool $414,000 would have added those little extras.

It is only taxpayers' money.

just wait till they get carbon credits..and all need drive priass

here wego again
OH FOR FREAKS SAKE
im watching some program..[the tipping points]
they talk of brown smoke..[that is heating the atmosphere
but cooling the oceans..[as usually the greenies trick the data]

but lets move on/this brown smog/cloud whatever
is caused by cooking fires..so they have invented a super efficient 'stove'..that looks like its made from a 4 gallen coffie can..they could make cheaper than a bucket[say 4 buCKS..TOPS]..TO MAKE IN INDIA

..BUT WAIT.. its raising money for this poor lady unable to buy a 5 dollar stove..[how you may ask]..well the tin can is hooked up to a phone

YEAH THATS RIGHT THESE POOR FOLKS CANY BUT A 45 DOLLAR STOVE
SO WE SELL THEM A 50 DOLLAR?..PHONE..BUT WAIT..IT GETS BETTER
THE PHONE GOES INTO THE TIN CAN..sorry cook stove..via a sensor
that hooks up to the phone/that hooks uP TO?,,SAY A SOLAR CELL

THAT HOOKS INTO THE PHONE SYSTEM/VIA THE CELTOWER..TO GO TO USA
SO THEY CAN SELL THE HEAT CREATED BY BURNING DUNG IN THE POT..INSTEAD OF THE OLD OVEN

NOW BY TONIES DIRECT ACTION..we could give them a billion stoves
at 5 BUCKS A Stove..and buy more carbon abatement/wholesale/than 500 mobile phones ringing home

but it was so STUPID..i just had to note it
5 billion tony..we build the stoves gift em to india
run the numbers buying mobile phones with carbon credits/mate thats insane

ps the solar charger..could be making methane stoves
but see how these elites waste the crapp..out of our hard earned carbon debt.

direct action
or nuthin

hang*em high/6 million can return normality to india
forget carbon credits[ps also im noting the highest cause of death is lung cancer/[from woodsmoke]]..stop the woodsmoke..and the cancer rate drops/then the mongels will say the drop in lung cacer was cause of the stop smoking sin taX AND THE PHOTOES OF DEAD PEOPLE WE MUST SUFFER THROUGH BECAUSE OF THE SAME CARBON NATZIES THAT SOMEHOW MADE COOKING AN ONLINE CASH COW

WELL,WELL,WELL.

Paul1405 is always slagging off at Liberal and Labour about unsavory arrangements. LOL

Sooo it is starting to come out now, eh!

Yoohooo Paul where are you?

strange times..strange bedfellows make
but even a dead clock is right twice a day

anyhow..A BIT OF...A REWRITE
YEAH THATS RIGHT THESE POOR FOLKS CANT
BUY A 4..OR.5 DOLLAR STOVE..SO WE SELL THEM A 50 DOLLAR?..PHONE..

BUT WAIT..IT GETS BETTER
THE PHONE GOES INTO THE TIN CAN..sorry cook stove..via a sensor
that hooks up to the phone/that hooks uP TO?,,SAY A SOLAR CELL.AS CLEARLY THEY GOT NO INSIDE POWER ACCES

THAT.mobile cooking monitoring/phone..HOOKS INTO THE PHONE SYSTEM/VIA THE Cell Tower..linked inTO GO TO USA.SO THEY CAN SELL THE *HEAT[read pollution] CREATED BY BURNING the same DUNG IN THE new POT..INSTEAD OF THE OLD OVEN..so the pollution/c02 wood Smoke/poop\smog is still ..'there'

NOW if/BY TONIES DIRECT ACTION..we could give them..totally paid-in/full...a billion stoves..[at 5 BUCKS A Stove]..and buy more carbon abatement/wholesale/than 500 mobile phone cooking cans ringing home..could ever actually REBATE..via carbon credit [paid pollution]

but it was just/so STUPID..i just had to note it
5 billion tony..we build the stoves..HERE..[jobs jobs jobs]..then gift em to one billion..poor polluters..in india

run the numbers..of just saving from the buying
of the immobilised mobile...phones..charging devices/tin/cook pot..sensor..etc..[with carbon credits/mate thats insane

ps the solar charger..could be making methane for tire-tube storing methane BY Electrolysis.. FOR GAS STOVES/stoves

but see how these MIDDLE MUDDLE In your puddle middling CLASS/elites waste the crapp..out of our hard earned carbon...debt...incured via lies ansd sin taxes

i told you them smoker hating lot would get you poluters in the end too/now this mobilephonecooking device is the equivelent..of putting bad taste non burn chemicals in my ciggie papers

hOW MANY PHOnes melted/by hot ashes?
these people though well meaning/have bought INTPO A GODLESS THEORY

ITS MIND CONTROL/WE ARE THE TERRORISTS
http://rss.infowars.com/20140418_Fri_Alex.mp3

direct action..?
or nuthin

hang*em high/6 billion SPENT/IN INDIAMPRODUCTION..in these stoves.can return normality to india..WITHOUT THE 30 BILION WE NEED SPEND IN CARBON CREDIT/cooking cow poo/via mobile phones

forget carbon credits

[ps also im noting the highest attributed/cause of death is lung cancer/[from woodsmoke]]..stop the woodsmoke..and the cancer rate drops/

but..then the mongrels will say the drop in lung cancer
was because of ...the stop smoking ,,,sin taX.

I'm in Qld, beat up from the fish wrapper. All I can say is; The Mad Monk, Kirribilli House, $1,200,000. Nothing to it.

@Paul,

<<Kirribilli House, $1,200,000....backpedal backpedal backpedal ]

Two wrongs don't make a right!

Where are your high principles now Paul?

Where is Christine Milne...sorry she's on some overseas junket (perhaps we should investigate how that was funded too!)

Where is Adam Bandt --the *acting* commissar of the Greens --why hasn't he spoken out?

Better still, where is ICAC?

Paul1405, "All I can say is; The Mad Monk, Kirribilli House, $1,200,000"

Are you sure of that? The Greens are notoriously out of their depth where numbers are concerned.

The cost of renovating heritage listed Kirribilli House, which is the residence of PMs was $120,000 and Abbott was blamed for it, although the Kirribilli contracts were managed by the Finance Department and the property is part of the national estate. See here,

http://www.news.com.au/national/luxury-renovations-for-prime-minister-tony-abbott-at-kirribilli-house/story-fncynjr2-1226796848301

Now if $120,000 is to be regarded as horrendous for alleged luxury renovation of the very substantial, heritage-listed and taxpayer owned Kirribilli House, what could be said about the whopping $414,000 Greens Senator Larissa Waters spent just fitting out her office in an already top-shelf private property?

If you are in Brisbane you could go and look. Maybe drinks on the terrace and check out the powder room?

And more questions:

<< The office, on the top floor of a pristine-condition, split-level building on Given Tce, includes a rooftop patio with timber outdoor furniture>>

How many old growth native trees were sacrificed for that?

<<and artificial turf.>>
How much CO2 did the manufacturing of that produce?

ok..i admit..i changed sides/long AGO
AND then the endless guilt..where the guilt lies in the lies

its the lies that i dispise
then..THE PHOTO'S OF DEAD PEOPLE..ROTTED BODY BITS..AND cancerous bits..smog as pollution..steam discharge=pollution..WE MUST SUFFER THROUGH all if iT in silence..helpless..legislation without representation..whY?

BECAUSE OF THE SAME CARBON NATZIES..that killed smoking
became..THAT ..easy subverted industry lobby...SOMEHOW ..now has MADE COOKING AN..online..carbon credit CASH COW

ps im noting they have actually taken my advisement..to stop tricking up the photo's..on the plain label/scam they arnt near as gory as some..haters would like...but heck..its the same type of thinking

guilt us
then loot our cash flow

that then..says no to electric/smokeless ciggies
and yes..10 dollar nicotine gum and nico-pharma/patches..to give big pharma..bailout/as bad as obama care

its a classic scam bigger than the light bulb conspiracy/that achieved its highs in the 'free' bulb's govt gave away/WITH CREDIT THEY GOT FROM MORTGAGING OUR INFRASTRUCTURE/THEY JUST PUT ON THE TAB...OF OUR POWER BILL..

BUT THOSE.in the know got roofs /factories farms..ofof free POWER of buy back..at three times peak price...for our pain..and are smug about how it hasnt changed a single thing.

not for good../nor\..4 ill
its classic end time..nest feathering
http://wakeupfromyourslumber.com/news/irish-windfarm-owners-were-paid-10m-not-produce-energy

but/dont get angry
http://www.wakingtimes.com/2014/04/19/nearly-thousand-environmental-activists-murdered-worldwide-since-2002/

but..can we believe it?
jail the civil/service..that allowed these..ongoing/treasons
http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?discussion=6293&page=11

the free/light bulbs..?..MINE DIED LONG AGO
FORGIVE-US...we were under the influence
http://www.bobtuskin.com/2014/04/19/david-icke-mass-hypnosis/

Of cause there was no fossil fuels burned to provide the power for the tools used, and of cause the outdoor furniture is actually made from hand cut straw, made to look like wood. I also assume there is no elevator in the building as this would mean the use of minerals that were taken from the ground. Perhaps there's even a provision for her visitors horses to be tied up.

Hypocrites, always have been, always will be.

Time for a tax revolt from all working people. None of those parasites deserve a another cent of our hard earned money. It's the only way to put a stop to all this leeching!

You guys are a hoot!

Why don't you peruse this "long long list" of rorting gems - mostly from the LNP (with a smattering of Labor).

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/MPs-expenses

All on one page - and they're mostly all for personal gain, not even office refits.

So who're the royalty of rorting tax payers in Australia?

I'll give you one guess....

Lol!

Well if we're going to point finger at members
of one political party in all fairness we should
take a look at the goings on of some other MPs
current and former MPs.

Take Attorney-General George Brandis - who defends
spending more than $20,000 of taxpayer's funds on a
personal library and a custom-built book-case.

Take the current PMs charging for charity events,
sporting challenges, personal book tours, and for
his and five of his colleagues to attend personal
weddings and so on.

Then there's the case of Arthur Sinodinos who defends
$200,000 salary that he received at the ICAC inquiry.
He's said to make up to $20 million if AWH won a
lucrative contract with the Sydney Water Co on which
Mr Sinodinos was a Board Member.

Then of course lets not forget Australia's 5 living
former PMs who cost the taxpayer $3 million each year.
Mr Howard is the biggest spender apparently.

Mr Howard is costing the taxpayer more in retirement
than he did while running the country.

John Howard's salary was $33,000 as PM since
retirement he's racked up over a $1 million at taxpayers expense.

He has a lavish Sydney Harbour office. He's spent
$1180 for TV and video system, $3622 for office equipment,
$2510 for office furniture, $6082 newspapers and periodicals,
$7739 mobile phone bills,$1432 for calls from a home phone,
$1834 on office calls, $4300 office security, $21,361 on
airfares, more than $21,600 on cars and more than
$318,000 on private staff.

And the list goes on.

Yes, some certainly do know how to live and milk
everything for what it's worth.

cont'd ...

Ooops, excuse my typo.

It should read that Mr Howard's salary was
$330,000 as a PM. Not $33,000 as I typed in error
in my previous post. Wishful thinking on my part.

Tut, tut, Foxy...they've found an instance where someone from the other side has refitted their "parliamentary" office.

They've found an example - we shouldn't spoil their enjoyment.

Of course, we won't mention things like:

"Mr Abbott has defended his expense claims yesterday after it emerged he had charged taxpayers to travel to Port Macquarie to compete in an ironman event in 2011 at a cost of almost $1300.

Department of Finance records also show Mr Abbott has used travel entitlements to take his family to AFL Grand Finals and Derby Day in Victoria.

The family trips cost taxpayers more than $10,000 and a charter flight to the Tamworth Country Music Festival, which he attended with one of his daughters, last year cost $8800.

Mr Abbott last week paid back $1700 he claimed for attending the 2006 weddings of former Liberal MP Sophie Mirabella and expense-scandal-plagued ex-MP Peter Slipper."

That's:.... "a charter flight to the Tamworth Country Music Festival, which he attended with one of his daughters, last year cost $8800."

http://www.news.com.au/national/prime-minister-tony-abbott-claimed-over-10000-for-family-travel-in-2012/story-fncynjr2-1226735051089

And I can go past John Howard's own contribution to the subject.

"PRIME Minister John Howard has set a record for his taxpayer-funded RAAF VIP jet taxi service between Sydney and Canberra.

Because Mr Howard chooses to live at Kirribilli House on Sydney Harbour and not at the prime ministerial official residence at The Lodge in Canberra, he uses a VIP jet to commute from home to work and back whenever Parliament sits.

Last year, the flight bill to taxpayers was $187,530 for direct operating costs (fuel, spares, crew) or a massive $1.6 million based on the full cost (lease, overheads) to the RAAF of operating two Boeing 737 business jets and four smaller eight-seater Canadair VIP jets for the Government.

If Mr Howard had flown Qantas business class, the bill to taxpayers for 123 flights would have been a mere $50,709."

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/national/pm-racks-up-16m-jet-bill/story-e6freooo-1111114448364

otb,

Would you care to look up all the other pollies and give us an update of their office refitting expenses....you know, just to be fair.

@P'rot,

<<You guys are a hoot!>>

What a quaint retort--very 1920ish

<<Why don't you peruse this "long long list" ...mostly from the LNP >>

Yes dear, we know, you've been rattling-on about such things since before the Abbott govt was sworn in--remember?

The OnTheBeach esposé about the Greens is notable because holier-than-thou Paul was foremost --along with (noiser-than-thou) you -- in his ridiculing of others.

Foxy,
You must have overlooked the $196,000.- salary incease when Rudd got the job. i'm sure you meant to mention that but just simply forgot.

Dear Individual,

Just as you seem to have forgotten Mr Campbell Newman's pay
increases -and Mr Abbott defending the increase in
MPs salaries just after the Federal MPs went up by
44,000 and they got another boost of $5,550. Mr Abbott
explained that he's "working hard for every Australian!"
I guess they're all doing that - even Mr Rudd. ;-)

Politicians' pay?

The grandstanding Greens Senator Larissa Waters pulled a stunt on that too. Here we go,

<Greens senator Larissa Waters uncomfortable on pay rise
December 15, 2011 4:02PM

AUSTRALIAN Greens senator Larissa Waters has refused to commit to donating her pay rise to charity, following Thursday's decision by the independent Remuneration Tribunal.

Senator Waters will get a $44,000 boost to her annual wage - taking it to $185,000 - under a review released by the tribunal.

At the Queensland Greens' state campaign office launch in Ashgrove, Senator Waters told reporters she felt very well paid.

"I feel a bit uncomfortable about it really," she said.

"... I feel like I'm very well remunerated, I love this job, I do it for the love of it, I do it for the outcomes, (and) certainly not for the money."

But when asked whether she would consider donating the pay rise to a cause, Senator Waters demurred.

"I'll be looking at my finances," she said.

"I do have a very large mortgage because I'm one of the ones fortunate enough to be able to have a house ... and I have a little daughter whose future I need to think about as well.>

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/latest-news/greens-senator-larissa-waters-uncomfortable-on-pay-rise/story-fn3dxity-1226223111169

Actually Senator Larissa Waters had nothing to do
with her pay increase. Most Queensland MPs are
getting a wage rise with new scales determined
for the Premier, Opposition leader,
Ministers and Committee Members. The Queensland
Premier Campbell Newman gets $70k pay rise as
the Tribunal increases all politicians pay in
Queensland. Pointing the finger at one particular
politician for a decision made by others -
smacks of - hmmmm - what's the word?
Bias?
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-03-27/qld-premier-campbell-newman-gets-70k-pay-rise/5349186

As Liz Taylor once said,

"If they're stupid enough to pay me over $1 million
I'm not stupid enough to turn it down!"

Gawd...you guys are cutting edge!

SPQR;

"The OnTheBeach esposé..."

Yep, Watergate has got nothing on this!

otb,

"But when asked whether she would consider donating the pay rise to a cause, Senator Waters demurred."

Er...scintillating.....

This stuff is dynamite!

How could Greens Senator Larissa Waters spent a whopping $414,000 to fit out the top floor of a pristine-condition, split-level building in prestigious Paddington in Brisbane?

What could she require that would tot up to $414,000?

By comparison, the work federal Treasury supervised on heritage-listed Kirribilli House which is the residence of PMs was a fraction of that and a lot was landscaping to counteract tree root damage on the structures, restore broken paving and so on. That was an investment for the nation.

But $414,000 to outfit an already plush Paddington executive suite? What did Greens Senator Larissa Waters find was so necessary as to cost that amount of taxpayers' dollars?

It is mysterious.

otb,

Here's a bit more on pollies expenses.

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/sa-liberal-senator-anne-ruston-splurges-650000-on-expenses-but-says-it-was-costly-to-establish-a-regional-office/story-fni6uo1m-1226782181822

"FEDERAL politicians claimed almost $50 million to cover their travel, office and phone expenses in the first six months of this year - and it was a South Australian Senator who had the biggest bill.

SA Liberal Senator Anne Ruston claimed almost $650,000 in expenses, including more than $420,000 for an office fit out."

All the biggies are in the article

"Greens Senator Penny Wright and Liberal Senator Rowan Ramsey were the next highest spending SA MPs, claiming bills of about $453,500 and $430,000 respectively.

Office fitouts were the most expensive items each Senator claimed for, while Senator Ramsey also had a sizeable travel bill which came in at just under $78,000."

Just to be fair....

Green is Green, what's new?

It is a mystery that maybe readers of Vogue Living - Vogue Australia might have an answer for.

$414,000 to outfit an already plush Paddington executive suite. What did Greens Senator Larissa Waters find was so necessary as to cost that amount of taxpayers' dollars?

There was a trend of certain pollies a while ago to have theme like Egyptian fit-out. That cost an arm and a leg (taxpayer's arm and leg).

What manner of Vogue elegance costs $414,000?

Just as you seem to have forgotten Mr Campbell Newman's pay
increases
Foxy,
Either you have selective memory or you're desperate to counter anything that doesn't agree with your public service-the country owes me a living mentality.
May i remind you that I have actually started a thread re Newman's pay rise recently on which most of you lefties were conspicuous by your absence.
And, I also expressed my disagreement & disappointment at the Coalition's agreement to Rudd's payrise on quite a few threads. You may not like being reminded on public servants' rorts but there's nothing you can morally do or say in defence of them.

Dear Individual,

My public service?
Really?

The country owes me mentality?
You mean like the mentality unfit, stupid, morons,
you're constantly banging on about.
Who are they again?

Defence of public rorts?
Who's defending them?
On the contrary - I'm trying to expose
all the rorts not only the biased selection
being presented on this thread - just to
balance things up.

And while we're on the subject:

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/sa-liberal-senator-anne-ruston-splurges-650000-on-expenses-to-establish-a-regional-office/story-fni6uo1m-1226782181822

cont'd ...

Talking about rorts, here's more:

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/12/politicians-expenses-tony-abbott-spent-474707-in-first-half-of-2013

I think we can safely assume that 'rorts' happen in all political parties.
Although I doubt the Greens are in the same league as the two major parties.

At the end of the day, I doubt anyone would go into politics if there weren't some perks to the job!

Foxy,
nicely attempted diversion, just doesn't work on me.

When it comes to usefulness Suse, the greens wouldn't even make the little league, let alone match it with the big boys.

Now onthebeach, I am surprised at you. I thought you would understand just how hard it is to establish a rain forest in a plush Paddington executive suite.

First you have to design the rain system, then the drainage, but the big cost is the electrified fence, & the minefield, to keep those dreadful loggers, miners & [shudder] the nuclear mob out.

It's tough being a green, you need a little comfort.

Just a thought but since Australian taxpayers paid for this hundreds of thousands of dollars renovation, if you are nearby and homeless go and see how generous and caring the Greens really are ask to stay there the night, I would give it about 5 minutes before the police turn up in force to cart you away to less luxurious accommodation but still at taxpayer expense.

individual,

"Foxy,
nicely attempted diversion, just doesn't work on me."

(Psst, Foxy - I think he's onto you)

Phillip S.

<<if you are nearby and homeless go and see how generous and caring the Greens really are>>

LOL

Yes!

That would test their COMPASSION.

Perhaps we could distribute a few brochures to the homeless in the parks giving the location and an invite over for dinner.

Dear Poirot,

I suspect he's trying to save both his
faces. ;-)

Dear Hassie,

If the Greens are so useless why do some
people continue to attack them then?
I suspect that the contrary may be true.
The Greens are seen as a threat.

Lets look at the facts.
Increasingly Australians are sick and tired of
both major parties - whose shrinking and
demoralised membership and enduring under current
of corrupt practices is matched by their
increasing remoteness from the electorate they
represent.

The Australian Electoral Commission estimates that
roughly 2.7 million Australians or 18.5 per cent of
enrolled electors did not vote in the last election.

Now the good news for the Greens - despite the fall
in primary support - the Party increased its
representation in the Federal Parliament.

All existing Greens seats in both houses were retained
and Janet Rice was elelcted as Victoria's second
Greens Senator giving the Party 10 Senators in the
next Parliament.

This will be the largest 3rd Party representation exceeding
the representation of the Democrats at their zenith.

Maybe that's why - threads like this one - are now
appearing. I suspect there will be more of them from the
likes of people like - Shadow Minister et al, in the
future

Plenty of inventive diversions, but still no closer to resolving the mystery. It is quite a conundrum.

To re-state,

"It is a mystery that maybe readers of Vogue Living - Vogue Australia might have an answer for.

$414,000 to outfit an already plush Paddington executive suite. What did Greens Senator Larissa Waters find was so necessary as to cost that amount of taxpayers' dollars?

There was a trend of certain pollies a while ago to have theme like Egyptian fit-out. That cost an arm and a leg (taxpayer's arm and leg).

What manner of Vogue elegance costs $414,000?"

there is much..prattling on/at the other greenie warmist thread
http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?article=16208&page=0

referring/in extacy..on their 'latest'..IN-GLORIOUS LINK
http://nsidc.org/cryosphere/sotc/sea_ice.html

,,..<<..Passive microwave satellite data reveal that, since 1979, winter Arctic ice extent has decreased about 3 to 4 percent per decade (Meier et al. 2006). Antarctic ice extent is increasing (Cavalieri et al. 2003),..but the trend is small.>>

AND NOW ITS NON EXISTENT
http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?article=15257&page=38

http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?discussion=6292&page=0
YOU GUYS LIVE IN THE PAST/
the green carbon credit..scam..is winding down.
http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?article=16076&page=0

its lobby will no doudt move onto some other moralizing regulation...sin-tax..cash cow..as scientists will always sell their souls for funding[and lets face it there is riches in taxing a weightless gas/by the ton..just like having a money tree.only you sell licences to polute...thats really catholic of you.

what motivates my anger is the one tax fixes it all
plus those 'in the know'..selling their free-solar cell power for three times the rest of us must buy it for..how low can you go..how much cash have you sold your soul..for>

YOU DONT TAX AIRPLANE FUEL..NOR SHIPPING DUEL
BETWEEN THOSE TWO..plus transport they use 2/3 rds the petro pollution

yet bug abusers still get the fuel tax excise exemption of 12 billion
yet these huge polluters still get govt cash..[so much for ya stinking lobby..you avoid taking on the biggest poLLuters

then all ya freaking lies..and the nutters keep coming and comming like greedy cash monkeys..seeking the next carbon credit fication[on stale data

your stinking models made absurd predictions
they were wrong/but because we dont resist you mongrels professionally the useful idiots keep parroting on the babble.

ITS YOU MUGS/HOLOW/CAUSE AFFIRMATIONS..THINKING WE BELIEVE YOU
when mostly their just ignoring your latest blaH BLAH BLAH

AND THEIR RIGHT.so what motivates you some greenie bonus points
or the cold hard cash they give you for fooling and foiling the opposition.

regardless you professing fools win/not by the science/but by persistence akin to rape..and the thief caught lying yet again
http://rss.infowars.com/20140421_Mon_Alex.mp3
and still you lot bounce back..pretending its true
then one day you going to look and see the fruit..of all you screwed

http://board.freedomainradio.com/page/books/the_handbook_of_human_ownership_a_manual_for_new_tax_farmers.html

Beach,

You are way off the track on this one. Other than one local rag from the Murdoch stable of gutter press, none of the reputable media outlets, such as the ABC or Fairfax, took up the story. Like any MP's office the department in charge gets the office up to standard. What we have here is excellent value for money for the taxpayer. Senator Larissa Waters being one of the best representatives in the parliament.
Possible you are a little bit peeved that your man Jim Slime failed to even get the deposit back at the last election. I do believe Larissa has put in for a 6' X 4' autographed photo of Bob (We Love you) Brown for the the new office. Before you jump onto your high horse and rile about it being a waste of taxpayers money. Note this, the cost of that lovely pic of Bob, is only $500 the exact same amount your man Dr. Slime forfeited at the last election, its a win win situation. Don't you love it.
p/s When it comes to spending a quid, I see your party HQ in Tempe (Sydney) is looking a bit grubby. could do with a spruce up. Sorry, nothing from the taxpayer for you.

Dear Paul,

Perhaps Anne Ruston, the Liberal Senator could
explain the cost of splurging $650,000 on her
regional office in South Australia. It makes Senator
Larissa Water's office splurge look miniscule in comparison.

....Time for a tax revolt from all working people. None of those parasites deserve a another cent of our hard earned money. It's the only way to put a stop to all this leeching!

For years I have said we should engage a high profile accounting/law firm to hold our taxes for us, then release them once governmentS get it right. We would have paid our taxes, but have more say in how they are spent

Paul, my point is that how can a green minister use goods and chattels fir her office when they are extracted, made from the very goods they fight so hard to protect and ban the use of.

Either you're green, or you're not.

Dear rehctub,

Don't be upset.

We know what happens when you take a one-legged man's
crutch away.
He learns to hop. ;-)

Hi Foxy,

Thanks for that, I'll refrain from comment just yet on Senator Ruston. Others may say, a scandalising expenditure of taxpayer money. I will not say its an obscenity, nor will I say its a national disgrace, or an unmitigated waste of public money. I will not dishonor the good senator by claiming she is the worse senator in Canberra bar none.
I will leave all that to 'Onthebeach', who I'm sure has already submitted a new thread with the title "Liberals know how to live! (Even better than the Greens)."
I'm sure Beach will fill his new thread with copious quotes from that meritorious journal 'The Courier Mail' a finer quality newspaper there's never been. Its goes without saying another journalistic wonder sheet from our very own, dear Mr Murdoch, god love him.

Good Lord, such a simple question, but it attracted abuse against the media outlets that published the story and all manner of diversions including a questionable disabled 'joke' from the site's universally acknowledged most sensitive poster. A good one(NOT)with ANZAC Day upon us and the crippled soldiers will be borne again on vehicles not unalike those that took them to war.

Sadly, what hope for online independent sites for the public to participate? I will leave that question for another day. This one has been long enough for other (good) reasons.

It is only to be expected that Brisbane's major metropolitan newspaper The Courier Mail and other news outlets that covered this story would be criticised by Greens spin doctors and party faithful. However by any objective measure, The Courier Mail and others were reporting in the public interest and they did it very fairly indeed. Contrast that with the posts in reply on this independent site.

Anyhow, back to that vexed conundrum that was the subject of my post and I will quote again in the hope of solving the mystery,

To re-state,

"It is a mystery that maybe readers of Vogue Living - Vogue Australia might have an answer for.

$414,000 to outfit an already plush Paddington executive suite. What did Greens Senator Larissa Waters find was so necessary as to cost that amount of taxpayers' dollars?

There was a trend of certain pollies a while ago to have theme like Egyptian fit-out. That cost an arm and a leg (taxpayer's arm and leg).

What manner of Vogue elegance costs $414,000?"

Paul1405, you have an 'IN' with Greens, so what about a photo shoot as in Vogue Living?

beach bum..why do you keep repeating the same freaking mantra
when ypou know THE QUESTION COULDN'T BE COMPREHENDED..even i expert at unraveling[and raveling][..the fathonable..know the young need that which is fashionable

YOU ASK<<..What manner of Vogue elegance costs $414,000?">>

oohmmmmm
*first you need a party size spa
[to release the chutzpa]

then you need a bbq..oops no better make that two
[see true vegans cant eat if its previously cooked meat]

so we need bbq pits by two..plus the spA..times two because some woman wont hop into a spa a 'man has jumped into

ok so we need some SEATING[NOT PLASTIC OF COURSE
we need a fridge to kep the whine in [better get a wine cooler too'

ok so thats fixed the problem..but wait..were on the grid
so we need to put in 1000 solar cells/because they took back the buy back..but we must not be on the grid..except at night when we party hearty

ok so now we need food preparation area[better make that two
mustnt forget the vegans fridgerators two too

so there you go/ezcept we dont want plastic grass
[its tough on the ar..[butt]..ok we need some shade..no better roof it off

oh dear look at the cost
thank god we won..imagine what we could have lost

ok there ya go
i could get a price..for the top of the line spa/no better make that two?..it could have been done for half price..but vegans mate..its a religion..musnt mix the free range eggs with the vegan soy eggs..by the time ya buy the vegan plats cups glasses and cutlery

then dont forget the kosha from the halal
mate they economized..int mightn't look it mate..but really they did

i think the top of the line 12 deciles spa..runs into the tens of thousands..mate we got off cheap..some tibetan throw rugs and some indian WIKKER/knickER KICK-back..

MATE ASK SPECIFICS/
GIVE real PRICES..PUT IN SOME FREAING EFFORT YA LAZY BUM

one under god,

That gave a good belly laugh, but I was suffering from some intercostal muscle strain after pretending I was twenty again yesterday.

otb,

Er...lets concentrate on the really big bickies ..like Tones spending up a storm on some fighter jets of dubious quality.

A snap at $12.4 billion.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-04-23/australia-to-buy-58-more-joint-strike-fighters/5405236

"But the plane's development has been beset by delays and cost overruns.

The head of the JSF program, US Air Force Lieutenant General Chris Bogdan, visited Australia earlier this year and declared the reliability and maintainability of the aircraft was not yet "good enough".

In late March the US House Armed Services Committee was told the planes were not affordable to use at the moment.

The committee heard software problems could delay the fighter's production, and foreign buyer delays could see countries like Australia paying millions of dollars more per aircraft."

Isn't it remarkable that despite being told we're in such dire straights with no money - and to expect cuts to health, education, pensions etc, that Tones & Co decide the time is ripe to buy some "expensive" dud jets.

Victorians can still remember the former
Premier - Jeff Kennett's era where cuts were
made that affected so many vulnerable Victorians badly.
However during this time Mr Kennett while preaching
"tightening the belts" still managed to spend over $1
million, on refurbishing his office as soon as he was
elected. And as people who worked on the project -
testified - there was nothing wrong with the old office.

If questions are going to be asked about one MP - why not
broaden the question to include them all?
Otherwise it does appear to be selective and one needs
to ask the question - why?

Foxy says: <<If questions are going to be asked about one MP - why not broaden the question to include them all?>>

Fair point --but that is exactly what OnTheBeach is doing.

Paul1405 has been mouthing off about the questionable spending & associations of both the ALP or NLP in about 500 threads since the last election.

And Poirot has NOT written a single thing since the last election which is not a permutation of BAD BAD TONY --look now, because no one is paying her any attention on that other anti-Tony thread she's moved her soap box over here!

Dear SPQR,

Giving this thread the title of -
"Greens know how to live!" and banging on only about
Greens Senator Larissa Waters and her office
restyle - is not presenting a balanced and fair point
of view. Obviously you think otherwise.

Beach,
You have an axe to grind when it comes to The Greens, I freely admit I have an axe as well, which I regularly take to the Coalition, particularly the Mad Monk, along with a few other odd bods. That's how a political forum is, you give as good as you get,no one should be too offended by us.
As for your article in the Murdoch rag, it was totally biased with such clap trap as; <<GREENS Senator Larissa Waters spent a whopping $414,000>> Waters spent nothing, it was spent by the relevant government department, all above board, and that doesn't rate a mention. As for being "whopping" simply added for dramatic effect, who said its "whopping" other than the crud who wrote the article, which is designed for no other reason than to attack The Greens. Then its <<her trendy Paddington office>> I suspect this crud journalist has not been with a mile of the joint, and reports its "trendy", all from a photo of some building taken by one of the papers flashers. Would not put it past any Murdoch rag that if the actual building didn't look "trendy" they would take a pic of one that suits. The Sydney Daily Telegraph is well known for touching up photos. The story is nothing but a beat up to score cheap political points.
I am far more concerned by the likes of the scum bag Liberal Sinodinos and others, including O'Farrell, as to what shenanigans that mob have been up to, and the monumental ripping off, of the taxpayer by both major parties. I would trust a Green in her trendy Paddo office any day, compared to anyone from the big two.
I note with a degree of satisfaction, that with all the crap that is flying about regarding politicians ripping off, there is not one word against a Green. If there was even the slightest bit of dirt, Murdoch would be on it like a dog with a bone. The best he can come up with is a trendy Paddo office with artificial grass! Please.

Foxy

Here's the tally to date:

Paul 24 anti-ALP or NLP threads

Poriot 2400 Anti-Tony threads

Yes you're right, OnTheBeach needs to pull his finger out and open a few more anti-Green threads --to *re-balance* things!

poirot..here is something you will enjoy
http://www.google.com.au/search?q=Donald+cook+fly+over&

it mightnt make sense till you heard the first hour 28 minute mark
http://whatreallyhappened.com/WRHARTICLES/podcast.php
first hour

it seems there is a super duper usa boat defense system
the best capitalist money can build for paper money

anyhow a single Russian plane over few/the egus defended boat
12 times..[the plane shut the defens system of the boat down

dont even think about the planes
yes in light of the facts..toney..its clear treason

you lost the arms RACE..[the planes suffocate the pilot[34 minute mark]

HERE WE ARE AT THE BEGINNING OF WORLD WIDE WAR..AND all that offensive over spending..de fence /SPENDING IS WASTED

only an idiot would push this any further
but they dont care/they done worse..no really ya dont want yo know what you need do to become pres or pm..so in time they sellout of leave..and no one said greens are dumb/heck they were founded by prince phylip..[you know him]..he has said some really revealing things over the time

greens are all monarchists..and Fabian[or so im told]
all i got against them iS THEY TOOK MY MONEY DIRECT FROM MY BANK..I COME ACROSS A GREEN MEETING WASNT LET IN..but by that i know them.just filling the caps to make it l..took as if its not two party majortity overlord rule.and yet i declare peacehere must be a better way

like re the tub said recently..acountants and banKS TO HOLD OUR MONEY IS ALL THE GOVT WE NEED...[FEDERALLY]..WE DONT NEED ARMIES ANYMORE DOING STUFF ON OTHER SHORE/KEEP EM AT HOME KEEPING OUR OWN HOMES AND WORKPLACES ROADS AND BRIDGES WATER SYSTEM RAIL SYSTEM..GOING

DAMM CAPS
no more freaken war..12 times the one boat gave warning
dont tempt number 13..thats my number..lot 13..in my 13 by 13 meter home..13 steps..yeah..with planes that big capitalists build..onlY THE QUEEN CAN SAVE US

[as if phylip wasnt told]
http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?discussion=6152&page=0#178808
http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?discussion=6293&page=11

SPQR,

"And Poirot has NOT written a single thing since the last election which is not a permutation of BAD BAD TONY --look now, because no one is paying her any attention on that other anti-Tony thread she's moved her soap box over here!"

Lol!

You have to admit I'm spoiled for material.

It's not every election you have a lying deceptive incompetent turn up purporting to be an "adult" Prime Minister.

The words fairly tumble off my fingertips.

: )

SPQR,

Please get it right Paul 24 anti-ALP or NLP threads, and NONE pro ALP or NLP threads. Only 24 blot! hummmm must be slipping, time to up the ante.

The diversions have come quick and fast as have the attacks on the humble messenger. However as stated before, the Courier Mail is Brisbane's major metropolitan newspaper and it has a duty to inform the public. This is a democracy and the public has a right to know and to question politician who represent them. A Greens Senator is supposed to reperesent all Queenslanders and not just the few Greens who put her there.

The question is very simple indeed, but it continues to defy explanation. Here it is and it really is a mystery that maybe readers of Vogue Living - Vogue Australia are the only ones who can answer it,

"$414,000 to outfit an already plush Paddington executive suite. What did Greens Senator Larissa Waters find was so necessary as to cost that amount of taxpayers' dollars?

There was a trend of certain pollies a while ago to have theme like Egyptian fit-out. That cost an arm and a leg (taxpayer's arm and leg).

What manner of Vogue elegance costs $414,000?"

It is a genuine question.

Dear SPQR,

Sorry, not buying it.

It's one thing to keep banging on about $414,000+
but what about the $650,000+ and the $1 million+
that's being spent by the Libs.
Not a word about any of that - while at the same time
claiming "fairness" (oh and "victimhood") and "diversion"
when being challenged.
Classic!

Foxy,

<<Sorry, not buying it.>>
And, I'm not trying to sell it to you, either! I am fully aware that you do all your shopping at the New Matilda Mega-Waffle super store . And no amount of marketing on my part could win you away from their generically modified, MSG fortified, fully imported merchandise …I’ll just have to wait till one of their brands gives you food poisoning..or makes you grow a third arm.

<<It's one thing to keep banging on about $414,000+ [but what about the Libs] >>
BECAUSE --this is an exposé about the Greens --who Paul assured us were squeaky clean.

It is a really weird sense of equity which mandates that before we examine any (potential) Green misdeeds we have to first examine (potential) misdeeds of everyone else –-weird stuff!

<< while at the same time claiming "fairness" (oh and "victimhood") >>
Who mentioned victimhood? certainly not me. I aware that you have the OLO patient on victimhood and I wouldnt do anything to infringe on your rights--no siree!

Dear SPQR,

New Matilda?

Don't judge others by your narrow standards.

My sources are much broader than just one.

I didn't realize that this was an "expose" about
the Greens - because all that's being offered
is the same single example over and over again.

I guess the News is Limited!

Me a "victim,?"

No. I believe in being a solution.
Victimhood is not my thing.
It's more the author's of this thread.
He sees "victimhood" everywhere.
Capable, generous people do not create victims.
They nurture them.

To get some perspective into this, local builders can construct a quality four bedroom, two bathroom house with all fittings and inclusions in the same suburb for $120,000. Full 'Resort Options', a very high standard of inclusions would add a maximum of $10,000.

However the Greens Senator expended $414,000 to outfit an already plush Paddington executive suite in a feature building.

The computers, conference table, chairs and so on must have cost a bomb.

What else cost the big money? That is the mystery, isn't it?

One might also wonder why Paddington, which is niche with a capital 'N'. Maybe Greens are all highly paid inner city professionals - double income, no kids. Still, that is another question and we are gamely trying to sort the $414,000 at present.

Paddington, for people who are unfamiliar with it,

http://www.cityhobo.com/cities/brisbane/paddington-brisbane-0-5km

otb,

"To get some perspective into this, local builders can construct a quality four bedroom, two bathroom house with all fittings and inclusions in the same suburb for $120,000. Full 'Resort Options', a very high standard of inclusions would add a maximum of $10,000."

Yes, it's interesting. Makes you wonder why "SA Liberal Senator Anne Ruston claimed almost $650,000 in expenses, including more than $420,000 for an office fit out."

And further: ""Unfortunately, due to a lack of suitable premises being available it was necessary to extensively renovate a dilapidated building in Renmark in order for the new electorate office to meet Government standards and regulations, resulting in a significant fit-out cost."

I wonder why she couldn't have chosen the cheaper option of a new build?

What do you reckon, otb?

LOL, another diversion.

You have no idea either of what could have added up to $414,000 and nor does anyone else.

The Courier Mail was balanced in its reporting which was pleasing and as the major newspaper for not only for the capital, Brisbane but for the State of Queensland it was its duty to report on this case which involved a Greens Senator for Queensland.

That is how democracy works. The people of Queenslander have a right and a duty themselves to scrutinise the decisions and performance of their political representatives. You would deny them that right, but so what?

Lol! yerself, otb.

This thread is about pollies and their office refits - or is it the case that we can't discuss such things if the pollie in question is a Liberal - and doesn't go by the name of Larissa Waters?

Why do you reckon Liberal Senator Anne Ruston ran up a more than $420,000 expense for the refit of a dilapidated building instead of going for the cheaper option of a new build?

LOL, yet another diversion and attempted hijacking.

BTT

Here is the original post,
onthebeach, Sunday, 20 April 2014 10:53:30 AM
http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?discussion=6343&page=1

Gov't Study Concludes Ethanol NOT Better
for the Environment than Gasoline

http://www.thedailysheeple.com/govt-study-concludes-ethanol-not-better-for-the-environment-than-gasoline_042014


Remember how we have to pay to subsidize a crap ton of genetically modified corn (yes, not just a ton, but a "crap ton"), because we have to make the supposedly green biofuel ethanol? We are told it is so much better for the environment, right?

The Obama Administration and others claim it's truly a 'clean oil alternative' that will help 'combat climate change', after all.

Well according to a new study — a study our government spent half-a-million dollars on that was just released in a peer-reviewed journal — that is simply untrue, as AP reports:

...biofuels made with corn residue release 7 percent more greenhouse gases in the early years compared with conventional gasoline.

http://intellihub.com/doctors-scientists-immune-error-research-vaccination/?
http://www.blacklistednews.com/False_flag_casting_call%3A_Marines_looking_for_a_few_good_actors_to_play_terrorists_in_training_exercises/34646/0/38/38/Y/M.html
Russian Su -24 scores off against the American "USS Donald Cook"

http://indian.ruvr.ru/2014_04_21/Russian-Su-24-scores-off-against-the-American-USS-Donald-Cook-5786/

Russian Sukhoi Su -24 with the newest jamming complex paralyzed in the Black Sea the most modern American combat management system "Aegis" installed on the destroyer "USS Donald Cook". Pavel Zolotarev, Deputy Director, Institute of USA and Canada, shares details about this version which is being actively discussed in the Russian media and by bloggers.

Why can't the government simply rent or lease existing premises perhaps even the previous members office?
What happens to these places when they vacate them?
Senators seem to be a law unto themselves.

It was therefore..not only a nervous reaction..to the fact of flying around by the Russin bomber..which was common practice during the Cold War...The reaction of the Americans was due to the fact that most modern system,..especially its informative or radar part, did not work adequately...Therefore, there was such a nervous reaction to the whole episode.

After the incident, the foreign media reported that "Donald Cook" was rushed into a port in Romania...There all the 27 members of the crew filed a letter of resignation...It seems that all 27 people have written that they are not going to risk their lives.

This is indirectly confirmed by the Pentagon statement according to which the action demoralized the crew of the American ship.

What are the possible consequences of the incident provoked by the U.S. in the Black Sea? Pavel Zolotarev forecasts:

I think that Americans are somehow going to reflect on improving the system “Aegis". This is a purely military aspect. In political terms, there is hardly any likelihood of demonstrative steps by either side. That is enough.

Meanwhile, for Americans it is a very unpleasant moment. In general, the missile defence system which they deploy involves huge expenditures. They have to prove each time that it is necessary to allocate funds from the budget.
..At the same time, the ground component of the ABM was tested in ideal conditions and showed a low efficiency. This fact is concealed by the Pentagon. The most modern component, the sea-based system "Aegis" also showed its shortcomings in the present case.

The system with which the Russian Su-24 shocked the American destroyer "Donald Cook" has the code name "Khibiny". This is the name of the mountain range on the Kola Peninsula in the Arctic Circle. "Khibiny" is the newest complex for radioelectronic jamming of the enemy...They will be installed on all the advanced Russian planes .

Recently the complex has undergone regular testing exercises on the ground in Buryatia...Apparently, the tests which were conducted under conditions as close to real as possible, were successful.
Read more: http://indian.ruvr.ru/2014_04_21/Russian-Su-24-scores-off-against-the-American-USS-Donald-Cook-5786/

Dear Poirot,

Talking about the Courier Mail ...

Here's an interesting article on Queensland MPs
who will pocket more than $3 million in backpay
after they were awarded a lucrative pay rise
which will place them among the nation's highest
paid politicians.

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/huge-pay-rise-to-place-queensland-mps-among-nations-highest-paid-politicians/story-fnihsrf2-1226867001953

BTT please.

Here is the original post,
onthebeach, Sunday, 20 April 2014 10:53:30 AM
http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?discussion=6343&page=1

Foxy, I note the difference in the style of reporting of both articles. The Larissa Waters story is full of emotive lingo but light on fact. Whilst the Queensland poly pay rise story is simple reporting of the facts.

Beach ans SPQR. you are trying to imply that Larissa Waters was in some way acting dishonestly with this <<What else cost the big money? That is the mystery, isn't it?>> and << that before we examine any (potential) Green misdeeds>>. This is all above board, unlike the actions of Liberals, Senator Sinodinos or NSW Premier O'Farrell.
If there was the slightest chance that any Green had been in anyway involved in any kind of impropriety the 'Murdoch's Muck Rakers' would be having a field day bringing it all to you in glorious black and white in all of Rups notorious fish wrappers! I fully expect a huge swing to The Greens in next years NSW State election, as we are the only creditable party that can claim to be free of corruption. To vote for a Coalition or Labor candidate the voter has no idea what he's getting, an honest person like Bob Brown or a Arthur Sinodinos or a Eddie Obeid.

Dear Paul,

You might enjoy the following from the web:

"I love to have a wine with Arfur
'n' I love to a glass with Bazz
Water Board deregulation
See the ICAC razzamataz
The corruption there is great
And every crooked Liberal
Is Eddie Obeid's good mate."

After I'd waded through the usual morass of who hates who more, I realised that most of the posts totally miss the point.

These politicians aren't getting the money themselves, they are working on behalf of their constituents by channelling most of it to ordinary workers. This is especially important in regional areas.

Think about what's involved in these projects. The politician need a private office, there will be 4-5 staff, one probably a receptionist. They may each need an office (privacy when talking to constituents). There will be a waiting or reception room, meeting room(s), bathroom and toilets, a kitchen, probably also a laundry with storage for clothes changes needed for formal events, maybe one or more bedrooms - the staff may need to stay overnight to man the office to be available during late night parliamentary sittings. There will need to be an office management room - storage, bookcases, filing cabinets, maybe a compactus, with a multifunction scanner-printer, fax etc. Each staff member will need a desk, desk chair and visitors' chairs, the reception meeting area will need appropriate furniture.

To do this in an existing building especially a 'dilapidated' one may require structural change (walls, doors etc added/removed), but definitely kitchen/bathroom updates, painting, flooring (sanding/carpet), light fittings suitable for office work, etc. Everyone will have a computer, and these will need cabling etc.

So, the money doesn't go to the 'those parasites' of politicians - it goes to local small business and their employees: brickies, carpenters, electricians, floor sanders or carpet layers, bathroom/kitchen fitters, tilers, and so on. Apart from computers and other electronic items, most of the office and other furniture will be bought in Australia.

Perhaps they orta be congratulated. Much better than money funnelling into the personal pockets of really corrupt politicians.

PS Re the roof top garden. Most timber we use is from plantations, and furniture made from such harvested timber is a carbon 'sink' - the carbon is taken out of the atmosphere. Growing the next crop of trees takes more carbon out. The old growth forest issue is a different one - about maintaining biodiversity. Plantation forest are monoculture, no variety of other plants, animals. We need biodiversity because we don't know yet all the current and future benefits - potential medicines, refuges for birds and insects we need to pollinate out crops, and so on.

The artificial grass have been cheaper than tiling, part of an insulation set-up, etc. or just looked good in an area used for formal receptions, events etc. Setting this up on the roof is an effective use of space.

The criticisms of this are just silly.

Cossomby,

<<artificial grass ...cheaper [looks good] >>

No you are not giving the matter proper consideration.

In the Greens we are talking about the staunchest opponents of waste and conservation --and,they are promoting the use of artificial grass?

Think of how damaging that could be if everyone copies their example --à la the Greens are doing it it must be environmentally sound.

Artificial grass should be a complete anathema to a party with the Greens platform!

@Cossomby, Wednesday, 23 April 2014 11:30:04 PM

First, government does not have its own money. It is taxpayers' money and it is very limited, according to the previous and present federal governments and so limited that the 'must dos' of government are not being adequately funded. Public infrastructure is stretched to the breaking point, as any living in the capitals outside of favoured Canberra would attest.

That being so, it is even more important that government and all with a siphon from the limited bucket of taxpayers money demonstrate why their allocations are necessary and prove value for money was obtained.

Secondly, your comments about the entry condition and provisions of the property that is the subject of this thread are ludicrous. It is executive standard and in a highly prestigious location. By not stretch of the imagination could it be regarded as 'dilapidated' as you suggest. Please read the balanced report in The Courier Mail that was linked to in the OP.

As for the costs of fit-out, that is what the OP is about. It is hard to believe that any practical and not necessarily budget but acceptable fit-out of an already executive suite could tot up to $414,000. I cannot imagine that the CEO of a small firm, niche architects, who needed a prestigious building in a prestigious location to market itself would contemplate $414,000 as reasonable. There may be other high expenditures elsewhere but The Courier Mail and the public are interested in what affects Queensland representation.

What about transparency to the public, with reasons, a break-up of costs and photos? It is not illegal yet for the public to ask questions about how their tax dollars were spent and the priority for allocations from the tax bucket.

hey tHERE SOMNAMBULIST..YOUR RIGHT
must buy the votes of the trades people
its sure vote..vote for me i buy your good guy tv
vote for me..i buy your TRADE..politricks is about trade offs

vote for me..i wiLL GIVE 9 BILlion to bailout the fed .who didnt directly[officially]..'ask'..then the 12 billion dollars on planes that suffocate ITS PILOTS/just those two has put us all[each one of us into 5000 extra debt..that we must pay for by semi privatized NOT MEDICARE SYSTEM..THEY ARE PREPARING TO SELL JUST THE RICH ONE THE LOT..

MUCH like obama diD HIS BIT IN DOUBLING UP INSURANCE..FOR YANKIES
THE YANKI PRIVATIZATION CONTAGION IS RAPING US FINANCIALLY/AND WE TAKE IT..buy their over engineered scemes scams planes and plans..

<<The criticisms of this are just silly>

no..The criticisms of this are just THE YIP OF THE ICEBERG,,silly
http://rss.infowars.com/20140423_Wed_Alex.mp3

the worst thing..is..this 'increase...of THE age/of entitlement
and graduated pension incomes..allows those exploiting the top-up/..read free govt cash grab..for those too rich to ever qualify for any other govt bailout/PENSIONS.. any other way.

FOR GOVT TO DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR
THOSE WHO NEVER COULD HAVE GOT A CENT/THATS JUST ELITES p[ayinbg each others rent...middle class welfare shouldn't go to giving cash upfront to the rich/who other wise couldn't get at one cent

yet they tax avoid..and now get paid to grow kids
according to your station/pay scale..its time for a one size peNSION FITS ALL.

FURTHER..RE FOLLOW THE MONey
see how the bailout..of the fed..[9 billion]
then the bying [hidden slush fund..of 12 billion..of over engineered yanki hanger ornaments]..that are suffocating our pilots/please see only 4 could be flown for the fly past for our future king

think of all that f111/fly overs of times gone past
paid in full by the same burdens..its time to cut the cost of war

what..really is us working to death to buy yanki war junk
that is that debt..we can drop..instantly..figure it out with what you got/then inquire why every defense ;procurement'..minester'ss globally is a billionaires..inquire re that onE.

THEN SEE ALL MEDIBANK IS GETTING SOLD/NOT JUST THE PRIVATE ONE
THUS THE FEE UPFRONT..TO MAKE IT MORE COMMERCIAL...ENRON-SCUM

further/the govt is frontloading in a huge burden/blowout
it can then blame on alp..then claim to have fixed[/by working us/taxing us to death
http://rss.infowars.com/20140423_Wed_Alex.mp3

It's sooo easy to get a bite!

Yes, the cost was ridiculous, and yes it's taxpayers money.

However I was pointing out (as others have done) that the money did not go to the politicians themselves, but was recycled to other taxpayers. The fault lies with the department that organises and approves these office fit-outs, and from examples given it seems to be even-handed in treating the offices of politicians of all parties the same way.

Fair enough to attack the system, but using this to pick on the Greens Senator shows a bit of bias.

I was also referring generally to both examples, the city and regional one: I qualified 'dilapidated' to show this and used the term regional.

Also, SPQR, I stand by 'silly'. The artificial grass would be a conservation issue if real grass had been dug up and replaced by artificial. It wasn't. The artificial grass was floor-covering on a rooftop. I imagine it would have been hard to get real grass to grow there without all kinds of other conservation issues - excess water use etc. We could go into the relative carbon production of artificial grass v. tiles v. other floor covering etc.

The artificial grass was clearly a symbolic decor statement - Green - and yes, the roof top could have been painted green instead. But I don't think this was intended to encourage people to replace all the grass in Australia with artificial.

How a Small Town Fought Back Against Corporate Giants
for Toxic Dumping Linked to Cancer
http://rinf.com/alt-news/editorials/small-town-fought-back-corporate-giants-toxic-dumping-linked-cancer/

Environmental reporter Dan Fagin joins us to discuss his book, "Toms River: A Story of Science and Salvation," which has just won the Pulitzer Prize for General Non-Fiction. Fagin tells the story of how a small New Jersey town fought back against industrial pollution and astronomical rates of childhood cancer, and ultimately won one of the largest legal settlements in U.S. history.
http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2014/04/war-big-picture.html
"We don't look for patterns, we don't analyze those patterns.
That is a terrible tragedy," Fagin says of the failure
http://wakeupfromyourslumber.com/news/cybergeddon-survey-warns-internet-disruption-scale-2008-crisis
http://rinf.com/alt-news/latest-news/america-almost-done-suckered-privatization/
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2611137/Have-MH370-parts-washed-ashore-Western-Australia-examine-unidentified-material-links-missing-Malaysian-plane.html#comments
http://investmentwatchblog.com/u-s-navy-to-deploy-combat-dolphins-for-black-sea-military-drills/

http://investmentwatchblog.com/nypd-twitter-campaign-backfires-in-a-big-way-mynypd/

Lets take another look at the link given
in the opening post:

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/queensland-greens-senator-larissa-waters-spent-414000-on-fitout-for-paddington-office/story-fnihsrf2-1226889449998

We're told that:

1) The fit-out was approved by the Department of Finance.
2) Not certain if taxpayers had forked out for the roof top area.
3) SA Senator Anne Ruston racked up more - up to $438.800 bill
on her fit out.
4) It was a one-of-expense for a new office for a first-time
Senator.
5) Other Federal Politicians are billing taxpayers millions
of dollars for their office decor and their kids' business
class airfares and pensioners are relegated to the Budget
hit list.
6) Politicians generous perks - including tag along overseas
trips for spouses, business-class air-fares for kids and
chauffer-driven cars persist, despite Abbott government's
scrounging to repair the Budget in six months.
7) $35 million dollars was spent on office fit-outs and
travel costs for politicians and their families, figures show.
8) Mr Hockey has flagged the coming generations may have to
work until they are aged 70 and pensioners would have to chip
in to repair the Budget.
9) How Joe Hockey could trim the fat - some suggestions
given are -
a) Rein in chauffer-driven cars. More than $4 million dollars
is spent on being driven around.
b) Stop spouses on overseas study-trips. The taxpayer pays
for airfares, accommodation, meals, insurance, laundry costs,
curency exchange and even passport photos.

The article states that there are not enough checks and
balances and guidelines. Politicians more than ever should
have to account for their actions and the way they spend
taxpayers money.

That is - all politicians. Not just one. Becaue the amounts
spent by them all - as is this article shows - are huge!

So you now admit that it was a fair, balanced report by The Courier Mail, after all.

Now all you have to do is accept that in a democracy The Courier Mail as the major newspaper serving SEQld and the people of Queensland have a right to ask questions of their political representatives.

Having settled that, what about you return to the subject. Here again as a reminder,

<The question is very simple indeed, but it continues to defy explanation. Here it is and it really is a mystery that maybe readers of Vogue Living - Vogue Australia are the only ones who can answer it,

"$414,000 to outfit an already plush Paddington executive suite. What did Greens Senator Larissa Waters find was so necessary as to cost that amount of taxpayers' dollars?

There was a trend of certain pollies a while ago to have theme like Egyptian fit-out. That cost an arm and a leg (taxpayer's arm and leg).

What manner of Vogue elegance costs $414,000?">

It is a genuine question, and the wonder is that have been so many diversions and attempted hijackings.

Maybe you have some of those Vogue magazines in the library and can find a photo shoot of elegance that could tot up to the said $414,000? Your boss seems very flexible and this is research.

Not at all.

I am merely adding information from the
article in the opening post that
has been left out in this thread.

As for doing your research for you.
Librarians don't do that. They guide people
to the information - but people have to do their own
research. You as a pensoner must have more time
on your hands so go to your local library and ask
a librarian who shall be able to help you with
anything in "Vogue."

Foxy,

What you post is all true, but Beach isn't interested because its not being wasted by The Greens.
p/s I understand this Liberal Senator Ruston isn't even an elected member being appointed to the Senate in 2012. Her only claims to fame are she worked for the National Wine Centre foe about 10 years, could give our Barry a tip on a good drop, and then ran some weed selling business before getting the nod for Canberra and spending a whopping 420,000 taxpayer dollars. You would think she would wait until she's been elected by the people before blowing so much of our money. Can't find any parliamentary speeches from her either, so she has nothing to say as well.

@Foxy, Thursday, 24 April 2014 11:52:09 AM

As you would be aware from my posts on previous threads I am not a pensioner and never will be. Not that I object to any who are, they would doubtless wondering what $414,000 outfitting an already well appointed executive suite might buy.

Again, what about returning to the subject of the thread and eschewing those endless diversions and hijacks?

Cossomby,

<<Also, SPQR, I stand by 'silly'. The artificial grass would be a conservation issue if real grass yada yada yada ...>>

I think you've been smoking some of that real grass!

1) Why does it have to look like grass?

2) Surely, if they wanted something that looked like it was living
[ in contrast to the non-lifelike/alien appearance of many of its leaders --see here: http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/201008/r624472_4214244.jpg ]
the Greens might have found some native plant in the bush which gets by on little water and light.

Dear Paul,

Spot on!

otb,

Diversions and hijacks?

Avoid using words like those.
They don't make you sound clever.
Keep them to a minimum.

Why does it have to look like grass?

Why not?

This is a silly issue, purely for the purpose of denigrating a Green politician, or should I say devertigrating.

Premium synthetic turf is not cheap, but it wouldn't make much of a dent on that $414,000.

The question remains, how to spend that sum of money on an already plush executive suite.

Sadly, Greens Senator Larissa Waters doesn't seem to have responded to the article in The Courier Mail.

If she continues to ignore and side-step questions from the public it is 'Not a Good Look' for a Party that always demands full disclosure from others.

On the beach: I couldn't find in the Courier article where its says the Paddington office was "an already well appointed executive suite".

How do we know that?

Yes, and how do we know whether the Senator
responded to the Courier article or not.
Did you check with erh office or with the
Courier Mail - and would they tell you?

Your assumptions are just that - assumptions.

Cossomby,

The report says, "The office, on the top floor of a pristine-condition, split-level building on Given Tce". That is precise.

Executive suite is conservative. Maybe you need to read up a bit on the prestige suburb or Paddington. Quite the place to be for inner city trendies with $$ to spare.

What fitout do you imagine could have cost $414,000? Not the roof top synthetic turf (which I didn't raise either).

An Unprecedented Plague Has Hit Oranges And Another Has Hit Bananas
http://investmentwatchblog.com/an-unprecedented-plague-has-hit-oranges-and-another-has-hit-bananas/

What is causing all of these plagues to hit our food supply? Have you heard of citrus greening disease? Probably not, but it has already gotten so bad that it is being projected that Florida’s orange harvest will be the smallest in 30 years. Have you heard of TR4? Probably not, but it has become such a nightmare that some analysts believe that it could eventually wipe out the entire global supply of the type of bananas that Americans eat.

In addition, another major plague is killing millions of our pigs, and a crippling drought that never seems to end is absolutely devastating agricultural production in the state of California. Are we just having bad luck, or is there something else to all of this?
]

http://investmentwatchblog.com/we-are-on-the-brink-of-world-war-iii-farmers-in-eastern-ukraine/

http://rinf.com/alt-news/breaking-news/3-million-jury-verdict-texas-fracking-nuisance-case/
http://intellihub.com/committee-benghazi-obama-switching-sides-providing-weapons-al-qaeda-led-benghazi-attack/
http://www.examiner.com/article/resolving-developed-nations-obvious-complicity-lie-started-us-war-crimes

http://investmentwatchblog.com/police-state-rising-to-control-the-people-during-the-economic-collapse/
http://investmentwatchblog.com/the-terrible-fate-of-the-u-s-middle-class-rusty-humphries/

How do the sins of all the other politicians absolve the Green Senator?

oh is mise..you do know how to provoke a reaction/hope this explains it for you..[no-one..in politics is guilt free/its come and jOIN US/NEVER BETRAY US..and one day..all this will be yours..IF NOT WE WILL GET YOU/OR YOUR KIDS..organized crime took over governing long ago

http://www.redressonline.com/2014/04/targeted-killing-could-become-a-game-for-all/

That Bay of Pigs Thing"

Back in 1973, Richard Nixon was tape recorded worrying about the truth coming out about "that Bay of Pigs thing."

What the heck was he talking about and why was he so worried?

For the first time ever, we answer that question is greater detail than you've probably ever heard.

When Nixon was Vice President under Eisenhower, Eisenhower gave him the job of putting together a global assassination team to look after America's interests.

One of their first projects was providing logistics, training, and intelligence for the Bay of Pigs invasion. When that failed, they went after Castro.

Along the way, they killed a few other folks like John F Kennedy and then his brother Robert F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King.

The same team of people were involved in all three assassinations as well as countless other murders and "dirty tricks" of various kinds.

Guess who was given the job of paymaster for this team?

Skull and Bones man George Herbert Walk Bush who was, in effect, president from the time Reagan was shot (very early in his first term) though puppet/cokehead rAPIST Bill Clinton and all the way through the present day Barack Obama puppet/dopefiend...AND war gamer/with real..bombs.

Get the picture now?
http://xrepublic.tv/node/8583
seal-team/6..former-vets/bankers..even 911/and ken delay
problems hidden solved or simple put away...now your know...jump

The last 50 years of American behind the scene/history explained.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=gVnnYUat-Q4

http://12160.info/photo/tsa-fail?context=user
http://xrepublic.tv/node/8579

Beach said;

<<If she continues to ignore and side-step questions from the public it is 'Not a Good Look' for a Party that always demands full disclosure from others.>>

Since when is a beat up in the 'Courier Mail' "questions from the public". Since when does a foreign owned (Murdoch ditched Australia in 1985) fish wrapper speak for Australia. As for "full disclosure", its no secret, its all there in black and white for all to see. Unlike those Coalition members, like the Mad Monk, who sneak in claims for attending private doo's, and personal fun day outs and then bill the taxpayer. Quick smart they repay, how much do you think Larissa Waters should repay?

Beach can we have a comment from you on the money spent on an unelected Liberal from South Australia?

<<How do the sins of all the other politicians absolve the Green Senator?>>

Is Mise, "SINS" are what the likes of Labor's Eddie Obeid and Ian Macdonald or the Liberals Barry O'Farrell and Arthur Sinodinos commit, Arthur has gone as far as having SIN as part of his name LOL!
Larissa Waters who was ELECTED in 2010, note, elected, not undemocratically appointed like the SA Liberal, has been one of the best performing Senators. If the relevant department spent $400k on her office, all I can say is "Excellent value for money, considering whan an asset to the Australian people she is. If 4 bob was spent on the useless Liberal from SA, I would say "What a waste of taxpayers money!"

Foxy, I to was under the misapprehension that Beach was an old aged pensioner. In fact, I though all the 'Usual Suspects' on here were pensioners, I even though they all resided at the same nursing home somewhere in the wilds of North Queensland, wore white shoes and played bingo on Tuesday afternoons. Sorry Beach and the rest of the gang, I may be wrong on that score, but right on everything else.

BTT

See here,

onthebeach, Thursday, 24 April 2014 11:38:18 AM

http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?discussion=6343&page=14

Beach,

Could you please refrain from referring to a trashy beat-up in a rubbishy foreign owned gutter rag as a "report". It sort of implies some kind of legitimacy, which it clearly does not possess!

I remind you of the meaning of the word report;

"an account or statement describing in detail an event, situation, or the like, usually as the result of observation, inquiry, etc."

Now, the meaning of the word twaddle;

"trivial, feeble, silly, or tedious talk or writing."

Even you must now realise what Rupert wrote (Rupert writes everything in his fish wrappers, even the ads, unless he's busy lying to some government inquiry in Britain, then Rups Jr writes it all) was by any stretch of the imagination... twaddle!

So true of a green.

It is only us that are supposed to go back to living in caves, not them. They believe that their superiority [joke] entitles them to the fat of the land. They just deny it to all others.

It only takes the reading of a single post of Paul to see how disgusting they are.

Hasbeen,

"It is only us that are supposed to go back to living in caves." That would be a step up from living under a rock! Besides Neanderthals like caves.
p/s Who are us?

Paul is doing a poor job at defending the Greens. All he seems to be able to say is: "What about them, they did it too" or, "Ï don't believe it 'cause it's from the wrong paper"

Christine will not be happy and may well demote him. Next time we see him he wont be Paul 1405 --but Paul1406.

But he needn't worry --he can't be demoted much lower because all Green membership identities beyond 1407 are fictitious.

Dear SPQR,

If the Greens are really so insignificant
why bother attacking them? And even dedicating
entire threads to them?

Foxy,

I have never said the Greens were insignificant. They have great ability to fool too many of the people too much of the time.

But more importantly: I enjoy seeing (holier than thou) Paul squirm.

Dear SPQR,

I'm glad that you do after all recognise the significance
of the Greens.

As for Paul squirming?

I don't think so.

I think he's also enjoying the verbal jousting very much.

Thanks Foxy, I can never take our band of 'usual suspects' seriously. They are for ever referring to "reports" that support their line of argument, one would think, all good and well, fair enough. Unfortunately time and again these so called damning reports of theirs can't be located, so as to provide a link. The best the 'usual suspects' can come up with is some trashy references to a beat-up in one of Murdoch's rubbishy fish wrappers.
This mob remind me of a kid I went to school with, when the teacher demanded his report on Shakespeare's Macbeth, Steve true to form, exclaimed with excitement what a magnificently fine report it was indeed, but, there always was a but with this kid, Steve then presented the teacher with the miserable excuse that unfortunately the dog had eaten his fantastically fine report, Steve then proceeded to produce a Loony Tunes Comic from under his desk and then proceed to read aloud from it, all the while claiming it was a very good substitute for his report on Macbeth, Needless to say the teacher gave poor Steven six of the best!

Such simple questions, yet so problematical for some on here. Although the subject Greens senator apparently hasn't bothered to reply to the public or to The Courier Mail.

Not a good look for the Greens who set a high standard for others.

Come on now, your ideas please because everyone is stumped,

<$414,000 to outfit an already plush Paddington suite in pristine condition. What did Greens Senator Larissa Waters find was so necessary as to cost that amount of taxpayers' dollars?

What manner of Vogue elegance costs $414,000?>

otb,

Lol!....are you still banging on....

@Poriot,
<<Lol!....are you still banging on....>>

Says the mother of all bangers-on (she hasn't stopped banging on about bad Tony since before the last election)

_____________________________

@Paul,
You're acting like someone who has just been told Santa Claus isn't real : "no, no, no I don't believe it...Foxy tell me it isn't so"

Dear SPQR,

Go on admit it - you really have a thing
for Poirot, Paul, and myself.

We're always on your mind and in your
posts.

I must admit I rather like it! ;-)

Foxy,

They've all got crushes on us.

Quite endearing when you think about it.

Dear Poirot,

Sigh! ;-)

Foxy,

Actually you could be right ...I keep getting this weird dream...We are all trapped on a desert Island together à la LOST.

You, Poriot and I are on the big island.

But Paul isn't with us...

Paul did something dastardly to sabotage the plane, then bailed out early with the only parachute (typical Green)– and he landed on a smaller island further north …and his only companion is One Under God who survived the crash and floated in.

Here I am making post NUMBER 111 and STILL no REPORT! 'Usual Suspects' Give us this bloody fantastic REPORT of yours. No, Beach I'm not going to find the thing for you as you demanded. SPQR unless your mob produce the REPORT, We've got ya on toast! No REPORT, no story.
Rups must be a lousy payer, being illiterate doesn't exclude one from working for the Yank as a "journalist"! Want proof, a couple of toady's who go with the by line of Renee Viellaris and Matthew Killoran got jobs writing rubbish in Rups Queensland rag, so lads there is still hope for you two yet.

Everyone, including the "enemy" (your not really the enemy) have a good evening. We're, off to see one of our favorite Island (Fijian) Bands "Takia" great bunch of guys, play some cool music, reggae, Bob Marley, Maori, old school, try this the message for today!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaGUr6wzyT8

Paul 1405,

There is no report detailing exactly how Larissa Waters spent a whopping $414,000 to fit out her trendy Paddington office.

That is because the Greens senator is showing her contempt for the public in ignoring them and has not replied to the report in The Courier Mail.

Yet the Greens tout themselves as the party to keep the other bastards honest. Words from the ex-Democrat rump of the Greens no doubt. The Democrats knew how to live too.

$414,000 to refit an already pristine office building in a prestige locale is a huge sum. The Queensland public are due an explanation but are not getting one.

Little Buddy, you keep banging on about a measly $414k of taxpayers dosh being spent on one of Australia's best performing Senators. Surly even you realise Senator Larissa is top notch , she's up there with your personal favorite, Senator Lee Rhiannon when it comes to sticking it up Abbott and his rabbit government, all being done for your behalf! Yet you don't blow up about the shocking waste by that Liberal log from South Aussie! Come on Little Buddy be fair, just like I am.
I drove past party HQ in Tempe again, as I said, it could do with a lick of paint, those Swastika's on the front fence, not a good look, clash with the pink petunias. A bit of artificial grass would do wonders, set the joint right off. If ya like I'll check with our gal Larissa to see if she's got a bit left over from the 10,000 meters she bought for the new Taj Mahal, there wont be much. Larissa said to tell you, its amazing what you can get on a Government Diners Club Card, especially when the sky's the limit! Back to your pathetic hovel, that serves as party HQ, you could tell Jim to stop running in elections and save the 500 bucks for a decent paint job.

Paul 1405,

$414,000 is a lot of money to many Queenslanders.

What prevents a reply to The Courier Mail and the public?

It should be simple, but not so, apparently.

Beach, Good Buddy, I don't know what Greens policy in Queensland is when it comes to the Murdoch gutter press. Here in NSW the party feels there is no compulsion to reply to lying garbage written by Murdoch Toady's that regularly appears in 'The Telecrap' and 'The Un-Australian'. This garbage is written in an attempt to discredit the good name of The Greens and its representatives.
Any constituent that make inquires are give prompt and proper reply. Why don't you try asking the Senator yourself?

It is good that you find so many inventive excuses for Greens senator Larissa Waters.

Because the Greens senator and her electoral staff have steadfastly ignored The Courier Mail report and the public.

The same Greens senator is red-hot on demanding public disclosure from others and is a prolific user of social media to do that. However sauce for the goose is not sauce for the gander where the Greens are concerned.

"This garbage is written in an attempt to discredit the good name of The Greens and its representatives."

Good name of the greens! ROTFL

Has anyone heard about the Greens having a good name?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0Op4PZzwwU

Yes. Here's just one of many examples:

http://www.smh.com.au/comment/smh-letters/greens-lead-by-good-example-in-wa-senate-poll-20140406-zqrgk.html

WA Greens Senator Scott Ludlam shows the major parties
how it should be done.

Thank you Foxy,

Beach, Hasbeen, Spud let me remind you, in case you are under some illusion.

Eddie Obeid, Barry O'Farrell, Craig Thomson, Arthur Sinodinos, Ian Macdonald, just to name a few, are not, and never have been members of The Greens. If you are members, supporters, hangers on, lackeys, or sycophants of either the Liberal or Labor Parties, then you may well be supporting political parties with corrupt and dishonest representatives. These two parties, unlike The Greens do not have a good name, with the Australian people. Which are you chaps, Labor or Liberal?

I seem to remember the Greens' MsP in the NSW Parliament lying like pigs about one Brian Boyle and he having to have recourse to a Parliamentary Committee to get the truth to come out.

Only cowards lie about fellow citizens under the protection of Privelege.

Dear Is Mise,

I agree that only cowards lie about their fellow
citizens under the protection of parliamentary
privilege. And that means that all of our
politicians have a lot to answer for. Including
the current PM and his front-bench.

Foxy,

<<all of our politicians have a lot to answer for>>

But weren't you implying just one post ago that the Greens were above all that?

Most of us acknowledge that a lot of politicians do dishonest things.
But Paul has been tell us that the Greens are the exception.

You & Paul will have to put your heads together and get your alibi straight!

Dear SPQR,

Actually,

I was replying to your question about the
Greens by giving you the link on WA
Greens Senator Scott Ludlam who showed
the major parties how it should be done.
Read it - it's quite interesting.

Foxy,

Ok. Let's walk through the last few exchanges:

1) Paul says: "This garbage [ie the report of spending rort] is written in an attempt to discredit the good name of The Greens"
[Here 'good name'refers to the Greens supposedly behaving exemplary -- unlike all other parties]

2) Then SPQR & some others ask (paraphrased|) *What good name--has anyone heard about this*

3) Then Foxy pops up with --"Yes. Here's just one of many examples..."
what was that again? "Yes. Here's just one of many examples (of that good name)".
[Note in replying as you did you are supporting Paul's claim that the Greens are special/exemplary]


So yes, you were doing your best to deflect my question --but in doing so you were defending Paul's farcical claim that the Greens were squeaky clean

Dear SPQR,

It should be obvious even to you that WA Greens
Senator Scott Ludlam who was able to show the major
parties how it should be done must have had a good
name - in order to win the seat. The voters thought
so!

You must mean disaffected Labor voters, Foxy.

What Ludlam does has nothing to do with the subject at hand. Unless using you are comparing Ludlam's more modest electorate office with the prestigious and very expensive pad that was chosen by Greens senator Larissa Waters in Paddington, Brisbane.

Greens senator Larissa Waters and her staff are remaining zipper-lipped as to what could possibly have cost $414,000 to 're-fit' her already pristine suite. Maybe she was hoping that long weekends would make the public forget.

If there is nothing to hide and The Courier Mail somehow got it wrong, the simple, obvious, right thing to do is give the public the facts and set the record straight. What possible reason could there be for the secrecy?

...and Al Capone was framed by the FBI!

Is Mise, refers to the same Boyle who was lanced by the NSW State Government following an independent investigation into the activities of the NSW Game Council. The investigation was instigated following questions being raised in the NSW Legislative Council by The Greens. Featuring prominently in that investigation which resulted in the sacking of the NSW Game Council was its head, one Brian Boyle.

If I was looking for someone who had been wronged by The Greens, I certainly wouldn't pick Brian Boyle. Instead of condemning The Greens over Boyle, you should be commending them.

otb,

Disaffected Labor voters?

No. The Liberal Party did no good either with
the campaigning styles of Michaela Cash and Julie
Bishop offering nothing more than matching outfits
and bouffant hairstyles. The voters found something
to admire in Greens Senator Ludlam whose grassroots
campaign got through. Voters were looking for
authenticity and vision. The same type of
authenticity and vision that apparently
voters saw and admired in Greens Senator Larissa Waters.
It got her elected. A good grassroots campaign from a
good candidate always wins the day. And most voters don't
seem to begrudge a first time senator her office. As long
as she continues to do a good job. Which I'm sure she
will along with the other Greens senators - whose numbers
have now increased in the Senate.

To all the 'Usual Suspects' I just done a Google on Liberal Party Good Name, like over indulging on a cheap bottle of 'Penfolds' plonk this is what it threw up;

http://www.smh.com.au/comment/bottle-of-wine-revealed-liberal-party-was-under-the-influence-20140420-zqwzr.html

BTT

If there is nothing to hide the simple, obvious, right thing to do is give the public the facts and set the record straight. What possible reason could there be for the secrecy?

What prevents Greens senator Larissa Waters from making a public statement?

Beach good buddy, because no one except you are demanding one.

Since we are putting political parties under the microscope to check their honesty, and since the dishonesty of both the Liberal and Labor Parties has been well exposed. We should now move one and check out a couple of the micro parties, popular with some of the OLO 'Usual Suspects' ie. One Nation and Australia First.

Start with One Nation. Pauline Hanson and David Ettridge, co-founders of One Nation with David Oldfield, were convicted and jailed on fraud charges.

Australia First, headed up by Dr Jim Saleam, Saleam was sentenced to three and half years jail.

These are two of the more popular political parties with some on here as well as right wing political nutters and red necks. They are run by convicted criminals. I ask, would you vote for either of them?

The only party of honesty and integrity, worthy of the support of the Australian people is obviously THE GREENS.

Paul 1405,

All of that stuff is irrelevant to the simple issue here, which is the democratic right of the Queensland public to timely full disclosure. The Courier Mail did what a newspaper should do, it informed its readers of news that was in the interests of its readership. Nothing wrong in any of that. In fact it is all good.

However what isn't good is the apparent lack of response from Greens senator Larissa Waters, who would be aware of the news report from her clipping service, her staff, from her own social media site and probably from her own reading of the major Queensland newspaper.

You want to blame the public and deny them access to information. However you and Greens senator Larissa Waters need to remind yourselves that it is the politicians who are in fact the servants of the people and not the other way around.

Beach,

You keep banging on, demanding a response from the good Senator, obviously you have not read the rubbish in the Murdoch gutter rag. I'll quote for you.
<<Contacted for comment, a spokeswoman for Senator Waters said the fitout was approved by the Department of Finance>>
<<Senator Waters’ spokeswoman said it was a one-off expense for establishing a new office for a first-term senator.>>
Except for you, no one is asking for any further explanation, the gutter rag didn't say it was dissatisfied with the comment supplied, and it so "reported" that comment. There are no reports of any community dissatisfaction in any follow up article from the gutter rag, and frankly none of this was reported in any quality media outlet such as the ABC or Fairfax. The quality media obviously didn;t consider the "story" news worthy.

Beach little buddy, if you are going to bang on about rubbish published in you own acceptable propaganda sheet, at least have the decency to read it first. In that way you will not only avoid misleading us, but you will also avoid misleading yourself. You can now turn off the cracked record, and amuse yourself once more with your favorite pastime,of pulling wings off fly's, or sticking pins in your 'Julia' doll, or both!

Paul 1405,

The news report on Greens senator Larissa Waters' expenditure of $414,000 to re-fit an already pristine office suite is, contrary to what you pretend, of continuing interest to the Queensland public.

Anyone who goes to news story in The Courier Mail (linked to in the first post), will find over 240 comments and many more with a watching brief on the story.

Contrary to what you believe, the public of Queensland have a right to know and it is a very great pity that you and other Greens apparently do not see elected Greens as the servants of the people but rather as a law unto themselves, unaccountable to the electorate that elected them.

Such arrogance is not easily forgotten. The next election is never so far away that a Greens Party that holds the public in contempt will not be held accountable.

Hmmmm.... I wonder if Larissa Waters also bills the tax payer for office stationary?

Of course, we should investigate that fact, particularly because she's a Green.

Every other pollie of every other persuasion uses stationary and charges the tax payer, but we should ignore that because they aren't Larissa Waters and they aren't Green.

Just as in the same vein, office fit-outs should only be questioned if they're undertaken by a pollie who happens to represent a party we don't support.

I think that's fair

Otb is absolutely correct when he says: "...Greens apparently do not see elected Greens as the servants of the people but rather as a law unto themselves, unaccountable to the electorate that elected them."

Goodness me, who do these pixies think they are fitting out their offices and charging tax payers for all manner of goods like Members of other political persuasions.

Eg:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-10-10/green-why-the-expenses-scandal-still-has-legs/5013230

"Department of Finance records also show Mr Abbott has used travel entitlements to take his family to AFL Grand Finals and Derby Day in Victoria. The family trips cost taxpayers more than $10,000."

"A charter flight to the Tamworth Country Music Festival, which Mr Abbott attended with one of his daughters, last year cost $8800."

"Mr Abbott repaid more than $1,000 he claimed for a trip to [Sophie] Mirabella's wedding ... he also repaid more than $600 he claimed to attend [Peter] Slipper's wedding."

"On another occasion in 2010, Mr Abbott claimed $9,400 in travel expenses while promoting his book Battlelines. The money was later repaid by the book's publisher, Melbourne University Press"

http://www.independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/tony-abbotts-costly-indigenous-community-volunteering,5628

"Now, I don’t know about you, but when I volunteer to hammer in a few nails for a day or two I don’t ask the people of Australia to cough up 10 grand. That isn’t volunteering — that is the most expensive labourer in the history of Australia. I wonder what the sandwiches cost?....Three days and nearly $45,000 in flights alone — if that’s volunteering, the rest of us are really doing it all wrong."

Now there's a real servant of the people.....

I'd like $5 for The Kids' Cancer Project for every time Poirot has recycled that same old stuff on yet another thread:

'Blame Abbott.....scraaatch, clunk.....

blame Abbott......scraaatch, clunk.....

blame Abbott......scraaatch, clunk......'

I am absolutely certain all of that and his 'trash Peta Credlin' theme have been thoroughly dealt with sooooooo many times before. So, no need for more of that stuff here.

BTT

Spot on, OTB

Poirot has no cred.

"I'd like $5 for The Kids' Cancer Project..." how self serving is that. Look folks I'm a regular Mother Teresa. Invoking such sentiments when you know full well there is no possibility of that event taking place is posted in my view to paint yourself in a good light using the needs of kids with cancer to make such a point is crass. We don't need such sentiments as that posted here. If you want to have a go at others, including myself, about what is posted, fine.
Beach, you have fed this argument using the same boorish line over and over, without success. Time to move on.

Lol!...beachy and SPQR.

As I've mentioned before Our Glorious Leader provides so much material, I'm spoiled for choice.

Anything to say, otb, about the govt ripping off money from "kids" of deceased soldiers?

Imagine if a Green had done that?...we wouldn't hear the end of it.

The one's with no cred are Mr Abbott and his band of rogue cretins currently serving as the govt of this country.

(Btw their push to bring back bigotry appears all but sunk. It seems their are still some people of integrity in the LNP after all - Hoorah!)

Dear Poirot,

Take a look at otb's posts on this thread.

And you're the one being accused of repetition?

Yes, Foxy...that just occurred to me which is why I dropped back.

How shall we sum them up....?

Blame Larissa/Greens....scraaatch, clunk...........

Blame Larissa/Greens....scraaatch, clunk...........

Blame Larissa/Greens....scraaatch, clunk...........

I am absolutely certain all of that and his 'trash Larissa Waters' theme have been thoroughly dealt with sooooooo many times before.

etc....

Poirot and Foxy,

We could be barking up the wrong tree here with my little buddy Beach. The political opinions and the issues he pursues with such dogged determination, such as his relentless attempts to discredit The Greens and his past fixation with everything Fabian and Gillard, mimics the beliefs of another political party Australia First. Many times I have offered beach the opportunity to distance himself from such extremism as AF or their brothers in arms One Nation, alone with their radical leaders including Jim Saleam from AF, but Beach always ignores the invitation. Must be a closet member.
If you were to see their party HQ here in Sydney you would understand why Beach is dirty on a Green have a nice office in Brisbane, their HQ is a hovel.

BTT

Still nothing from Greens senator Larissa Waters.

$414,000 to re-fit an already pristine executive suite in trendy and Paddington is a big spend indeed.

It is a mystery.

No-one can venture any suggestions as to how such a mammoth sum became necessary to 're-fit'. Not build, just re-fit an already pristine suite.

The Greens know how to live. Sauce for the goose if not sauce for the gander. There is no disclosure, no accountability from the Greens. That is for everyone else, obviously.

That should have been,

"$414,000 to re-fit an already pristine executive suite in trendy Paddington is a big spend indeed."

Worth repeating as is the question, 'What was it spent on?'.

The Greens excel at spending other people's money.

...scraaatch, clunk.....