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
Follow us on Twitter

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.

One term Tony.

Firstly if Hockey and or others have been breaking the law they should face the appropriate consequences. If there is a solid case they should step aside from any role in the government while the issue is investigated and finalised.

On a slightly different matter those with an interest in something other than entirely partisan politics might like to have a look at the approach a couple of posters who have already posted here took to the presumption of innocense on the Craig Thompson issue. http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/index-general.asp I suspect a number of posters will exhibit a similar about face on the issue of presumption of innocense on this issue.

R0bert

God you lot!

You are really desperate to find someone in the government as lying, immoral, incompetent, spendthrift, or in any way a s hopeless as labor.

You won't do it legitimately, but you are going to keep it up.

I can almost feel sorry for you.

RObert,

Would you mind checking that link?

With thanks, I am interested.

See what Hasbeen just wrote, and say he doesn't live under a cabbage.
Abbott has defended twice so far and he will get his turn. Hockey is said to be a treasurer for hire, which is unbelievable. But the extent of corruption involved is gigantic, our resident followers can see no wrong. You have to be extraordinary to let such dealings blow over.

Onthebeach, not sure how that happened. Start here and read through some posts. http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?discussion=5069#136212

None of that is to suggest that if true the allegations against Hockey are nothing to worry about. Rather highlighting the double standards some seem to thrive on.

It should not matter which side of politics is involved, the rules and levels of accountability should be the same.

R0bert

Spot-on, Robert!

<< have a look at the approach a couple of posters who have already posted here took to the presumption of innocense on the Craig Thompson>>

Yes indeed. I wonder if you are thinking of the same serial pretenders I'm thinking of?

Tell you what, --not wanting to out & embarrass them --I'll write their names back-the-front below and you tell me if my list corresponds with the ones you are thinking of, okay ;)
1) TORIOP
2) YXOF

Joe Hockey should introduce a moron tax because that's the only way lefties will ever contribute to the coffers.

Joe Hockey should introduce a moron tax because that's the only way righties will ever contribute to the coffers.

Abbott needs to come clean about a $25,000 donation to the 'Warringah Club' later re-branded as the 'Sydney Small Business Club' Abbott is the member for none other than Warringah. Like Hockey and Baird, Abbott is another member of the NSW North Shore Liberal Mafia. The donation remained hidden for 4 years until it was "declared" to the AEC, 5th April 2014, just before the ICAC began hearing into Liberal slush funds. When asked about the donation a spokeswoman for Abbott, gave the stock Liberal answer "Questions about the Sydney Small Business Club (and its activities) should be refereed to the club." Nothing as yet is known about the origin of, or to what use the "donation" was put. Not good enough Mr Abbott, come clean!

MORE TO PUT forward additive info
but govt federally is in a pannic..over what 30 billion[us queenslanders..are stuch WITH PAYING OFF 3 TIMES THAT]

ok 85 BILLION..THEY TOO WANT TO payoff[by selLING OFF]....SO THEY CAN BUILD MORE STUFF ''TO SELL OF''

BUT WERE LOOSING IN SO MANY WAYS
in all ways..we pay too much to build them/sell them too cheap for mates
to wit those mates are then over charginG US TO ACCES THAT WE BUILT

its the axcess fees more than the use c
TO ACES THE ROAD..ONCE Per MONTH.. of tWICE IF YOUR on the dole
you need pay the same as anyone on the road twenty four seven
and so govt HAS THE SET FEE/RATHER THAN THE RISK fee..thing in nothi9ng will change ti we sue these people for the evil 'consequences they set up.

how to get lawyers to sue
SHINE LAWYERS?

HOw have joes lies affectED YOU PERSONAlly..
thats the standing of the point/then join colectivly[and get dissapointed/BUT THEn the endless apeals.. stuff it all ..HOW DO WE FIX IT..

I CAN SEE THE GREENS..as seeing the light/but it WILL JUST ENDUP WITH THE SAME ROTTEN CROWD/OR JUST A NEW SET OF ELITES..as the next incrowd

we need more from the greens/like gettinG POLICE TO ;POLICE crime/not morals..likeDECENTRALISATION..SPREASDING[DISPERSing the powers]

to make the decisdions properly on line..wHERE THE BUK OF THE INFO IS On a wikilike summery page/people iM TOLD WONT read ,uch past a second PAGE AT Best[i noted one nation got a lot of seats just with one full page bROADSHEET].. that clearly out lines the new way

MY WAY IS VOTE
NONE OF THE ABouve
vote geen..or vote none of the abouve
thus those of me like me can vote 'green'/..yet not betray our concious[LETS TALK].

Ah, the Parrot's up early, did the rooster chase you ?

Why do you think Hockey has come out so illogically against wind turbines? Why has Abbott decided to cut the clean energy target? Obviously, to serve the interests of the private owners of the coal fired power stations, against the interests of the people and the country. There's a story being played out at private paid-for meetings between the politicians and their backers and it's not fair dinkum.

Careful there 579, I think your IQ is showing.

You had better cover it up, before you become embarrassed.

579, Spot on there, great come back Hassy, nothing like a sharp wit! derrr...No only do politicians need to be doing the right thing, they need to be SEEN to be doing the right thing. Its not good enough for Hockey to attend paid meetings with 'Big Business' and then be party to decisions which effect those BB's. often most favorably, and intern claim the meeting are "confidential' they are not cabinet meetings fella. So pack up and ship out! Australia doesn't need a politician like Hockey.

Mr Osborne said it was frustrating wind turbines, which achieved so much for the environment, had attracted opposition. He believed their divisiveness in small communities could be easily fixed.
"Neighbours [as well as farmers hosting the turbines] should share the benefits,'' he said.
Mr Osborne worked on a wind farm in Victoria where neighbours became shareholders, which avoided opposition.
"Our neighbours are supportive, even though some would prefer they [the turbines] were not here,'' he said.
He said more than 1500 tourists had called to see the wind farm since the 80 metre-high turbines were commissioned in 2008.
Mr Hockey's outburst surprised him.
''You normally don't get a senior government official saying things like that," Mr Osborne said. "We have been inundated with people sharing that [Facebook] site, a lot of emails and calls and notes on social media.''
Mr Osborne said he hoped the Renewable Energy Target was not amended.
"Since that policy was introduced, we have seen a lot of renewable plants built," he said. "We've got a Treasurer saying he wished he could tear up those contracts and tear the turbines down. It is a little concerning, but I hope that it's just an ill-thought-out, off-the-cuff remark.
"It is the responsibility of the government to govern for all Australians and indeed for the future generations.
"Last year, 870 megawatts of coal [generators] were closed. Are we proposing to reopen those power stations now .

The taxpayer funded Professor Ian Harper has pulled out of a Hockey money raiser for the Liberal Party, on budget day May 13th, as he is clearly being paid by us the taxpayer. Sorry Joe we should not be expected to pay the people who are your draw cards for a money making exercise for the Liberal Party!

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/competition-head-ian-harper-pulls-away-from-north-sydney-forum-20140508-zr6n4.html

Another Liberal Party crony has had to resign. William Johnstone an adviser to Indigenous Affairs Minister Nigel Scullion has had to 'chuck it in' after be exposed as associated with 2 businesses that operated within the minister's portfolio. Could be described as another Alastair Furnival case.

joe should hanfg HIS HEAD IN SHAME*
selling off the ..'royAL*MINT..for freaking/paper usa dollars?

ARE YOU NUTTS?

the PLANES ARE ABOUT TO FALL TO ONE THIRD THE COST IN Aussie dolars
except you freaking reasoners KEEP TAKING IT AS IS IN GOLD

but the gold is long gone
now your selling ours ?

your a coward joe
may that cigar choke you

LOOK UP Debasement..of the queens coin
they debased it/AND THE MINT IS OWED..IT

THE MINTS TRUE VALUE [AND POWERS]..IS WORTH MORE than a pissing bilion doLLARS..

*ITS NOT FOR SALE.

.ITS SALE IS HIGH TREASON...pal
to sell off the 'un-FUNDED.Oblation/franchise..DUE TO I

its name alone has a brand value measURED BY US ALL.
http://rss.infowars.com/20140508_Thu_Alex.mp3
i

any honest cop could Lock you up in jaIL
YOU TREASONER JOE

POWER JUST WENT OFF
AND mate god is angry

YOU SOlD US OUT..ya soddITE.
SHOVE YA CIGAR WHERE YA STOOOL SITS/

The whole Abbott Government should resign !