Instead of delivering his budget, should Joe Hockey be delivering his resignation, or at the very least be stepping aside as Treasurer until allegations concerning his conduct are resolved, one way or the other.
In yesterdays Sydney Morning Herald very serious questions were published, asking Hockey to please explain his part in secret Liberal Party fund raising in New South Wales.
Hockey is at the center of allegations concerning the “selling” of access to him, the Federal Treasurer.

SMH QUESTIONS FOR JOE HOCKEY
1. Who are the current members of the North Sydney Forum?
2. What role did you have in setting it up?
3. Why was it set up?
4. What is the extent of your involvement in the administration of the forum?
5. How many VIP briefings/meetings did you grant forum members in the last 12 months? Where were they held, who attended and what was discussed?
6. How many of these have occurred since you became Treasurer?
7. How many other meetings did you grant forum members in the last 12 months? Where were they held, who attended and what was discussed?
8. How many of these have occurred since you became Treasurer?
9. What discussions have you had with forum member the Financial Services Council regarding the Future of a Financial Advice legislation? Who else was present?
10. What discussions have you had with forum chairman John Hart regarding the review of the Fair Work Act? Who else was present?
11. How many forum-related meetings have you attended with Nick Di Girolamo?
12. How many forum-related meetings have you attended with Eddie Obeid jnr?
13. How many forum-related meetings have you attended with Arthur Sinodinos?

The totally unsatisfactory response from Hockey was:
"Questions about the function and administration of the North Sydney Forum should be addressed to them. The Treasurer's diary is confidential."
Until the Treasurer is willing to come clean on these serious allegation, I believe he should step aside in the short term, and if proven of wrong doing, then resign

Paul,

I hope you don't mind if I put this here as well...seeing as it concerns the big faker, Eleventy Joe.

http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2014-05-06/has-the-government-doubled-the-budget-deficit/5423392

"The August PEFO said the underlying cash balance in 2013-14 would be a deficit of $30.1 billion. The following year's balance would be a $24 billion deficit, and in 2015-16 a $4.7 billion deficit, before returning to a surplus of $4.2 billion in 2016-17.

These forecasts total a deficit of $54.6 billion over the four-year forward estimates.

The December MYEFO estimated the underlying cash balance for 2013-14 would be a deficit of $47 billion. The projections for the following three years were deficits of $33.9 billion, $24.1 billion and $17.7 billion.

These total $123 billion over the four years of the forward estimates.

The difference between the two projections is $68 billion. The combined projected deficit in the coalition's MYEFO is more than double the corresponding number in the PEFO. Mr Bowen is correct on this figure."

"Mr Bowen accurately quoted changes totalling $68 billion in the Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook.

The MYEFO forecasts a budget deficit twice as large as it was in the PEFO. The economic assumptions in MYEFO are different from those used in the PEFO, and there is spending in the MYEFO that was not in the previous forecasts.

It remains to be seen how the two sets of forecasts stand the test of time, but as of today, Mr Bowen's claim checks out."

An interesting experience to have our govt run by spivs.

Poirot,

Of course I don't mind, any concerns any Forumite has about Joe Hockey, please feel free to post em' here! In the interest of fairness and balance if anyone has something good to say about the man feel free to post that as well!

The SMH devoted the front page yesterday to Hockey and a 2 page spread inside. Hockey like Baird the new Premier is a member of the Liberal North Shore Mafia in NSW. they have a lot of explaining to do.

I have something good to say about Joe Hockey. He is not Tony Abbott.

Joe Hockey - like everyone else in his Party
is simply doing as he's told. They either toe
the Party line, or they're out of a job.
They all follow exactly the same line - no is
allowed to deviate. And before they speak - it
must be approved by the Party. The Liberal Party
is not longer the "broad church" it once was.
That's why Malcolm Fraser resigned from the Party.
As Malcolm stated - "These guys are not Liberals,
by any stretch of the imagination!" (or words to that
effect). And he's right. No matter who speaks -
whether it's Christopher Pyne, Malcolm Turnbyll - or
any one else in the Party - they all sound exactly
the same. No one is allowed to give their own opinion
on any issue.
No - Joe Hockey should not resign - the entire Party
should be thrown out of government!

When the commission was announced Mr Abbott said it would shine ‘‘a great big spotlight’’ into the ‘‘dark corners of our national life’’.
Mr Oliver has now used revelations about secret Liberal Party donations aired at the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) to demand ‘‘this murky underworld of non-disclosed fundraising’’ also be put under the microscope.
‘‘If he’s serious about shining a light on this, he can easily extend the terms of reference into the royal commission to start looking into this area that we’re reading about in the newspapers now on a daily basis,’’ Mr Oliver told ABC radio.
The ICAC has exposed a web of slush funds involving NSW Liberal party MPs and staffers and its inquiry last week lead to the resignation of NSW police minister Mike Gallacher.
Former energy minister Chris Hartcher and fellow Liberal MPs Chris Spence, Darren Webber and Marie Ficarra have all withdrawn from the Liberal party as a result of the ICAC investigation.
Two weeks ago, Barry O’Farrell quit as premier over an undeclared gift of a $3000 bottle of wine.
with AAP
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Poll: Do you think it is reasonable for companies to have access to the Treasurer in exchange for donations to the Liberal Party?
Yes
4%
No
96%
Total votes: 6579.