I have been a fully paid up union member for about 45 years, and proud of it, still hold union membership, been an activist and "paid my dues", many times over. I even maintained my membership over a number of years when I ran my own successful small consulting and design business in engineering, employing several people, nothing altruistic about that, it was valuable and necessary, so I have seen it from both sides of the fence so to speak. I am well satisfied every penny I have contributed has been used for the betterment of myself and others, including you Beach, yes including you! I am sure you have availed yourself of a decent pay packet, better working conditions and partaken of the benefits achieved by others through the work of unionism, over many years, I don't need to list them, you know what they are. Can you say the same, I think not, or have you been one of those non contributors incessantly sniping from the sidelines, whilst taking everything you can get. My word for such a person is PARASITE! I hope I am wrong about you, but I don't see any evidence posted here which makes me think to the contrary.

Lol!,

Otb gets called out - and surprise, surprise he immediately yodels:

"BTT"

Right on cue.

(and this thread is about Bronwyn Bishop, not Shorten, so he can't even get his BTT's right)

More irrelevant slurs and all avoiding the obvious disingenuousness and contributory culpability of Labor Leader Shorten and his crew, who were advised by the government's own auditor, the ANAO, when they were in office of the wide open gate that is the 'rules' concerning politicians entitlements and not just the travel, but Labor DID NOTHING about it.

As can be seen from the ANAO report, the administering department and the ANAO had previously flagged the same concerns, but NIL, NADA, NOTHING was done about by Shorten and Labor who are now assuming a high moral platform. They are shameless.

The ANAO report has already been linked to by me. Its findings were very plain indeed, the so-called 'rules' that apply are a vague and complex, there is no definition of the words that matter and it is an invitation for for politicians to stretch the envelope with complete impunity.

While I appreciate the need for politicians to do their job and under awkward circumstances at times, as a taxpayer I cannot accept that the same politicians - specifically the members of the Labor and Greens governments who were presented with the ANAO report - could be so petty and restrictive where (say) nurses' tax claims for travel to work outside public transport times are concerned, BUT where politicians concerned, it is make your own rules!

So much for greedy, elitist Shorten and Labor caring about politicians' travel and costs, let alone the conditions of workers.

It takes tremendous bare-faced gall and hypocrisy for Shorten et al to be attacking Bishop, when they themselves refused to amend the 'rules' that advantaged them as well and especially when they were in office.

This says it all:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BuqIxzVCEAExNj4.jpg

I pity all the union members that have paid a chunk of their salaries to sleazy union reps that spent the money on themselves and their political ambitions. Bullshiten is the epitamy of sleazy back stabbers that were happy to sell union members down the road for a few bucks.

I reckon that the reason that foxy, paul and parrot defend the unions is avoid having to admit that they have been mugs for decades.

BTT - otb,

What would you like to discuss....?

Bronwyn Bishop's taxpayer-funded chopper ride to the LNP fundraiser?

Bronwyn Bishop's $ 88,000 taxpayer-funded job-seeking jaunt around Europe?

Bronwyn Bishop's tax-payer-funded limousines to the opera?

Bronwyn Bishop's taxpayer-funded largesse to herself in general over many years?

Bronwyn Bishop's 94A 400-7 bias fest in the chamber during question time?

You see, there's loads of aspects to Bronnie - no need to skew the convo...

(BTT)

I do know this, Foxy one, the people smuggling industry does not pay salaries.

As I have previously said, Hon Bronwyn Bishop applied integrity and courage to find if warmth in ocean algae has been included in AGW science, but what did contributors with relevant insight on OLO do? Nothing, just silence.
Where are the professional volunteers to overcome worsening maternal mortality among Australia's neighbouring Pacific Islands people impacted by algae devastated seafood food-web nurseries?

Some of the virtual speakers of the OLO house of commentators could do more before being so unfairly critical.
In Parliament it's apparent BB is endeavouring to develop respect and national business of the day instead of having to put up with school yard noise, bullying, abuse and disrespect.

I think BB should be provided with a helicopter of her own and so should an equivalent hard working opposition member. Why not if it's good for the nation and the helicopter industry?

Think beyond the petty or imagined problems and inspire innovation and new productivity, instead of whinging
Be nice to others and put up reasoning instead of ad hom abuse.

Who knows if BB was delayed with government business and could not get to Geelong in time by car or scheduled flight. Who knows if similar did not happen to Shorten at their fundraiser?
And where would politics be without fundraiser's?
Should fundraising be banned and just let dictators pay election bribes.

Better to give BB a helicopter to help the nation make billions.
Maybe all hard working MP's should have one.
Years ago they would have been provided a horse and now it's a limousine.
Why not a helicopter at least when they need it in this vast country.