There are already rumours circulating that if BJ leaves the cabinet, that QT in parliament might well have questions for Shorten on the rape case against him, for Burke, and I believe for one of the greens.

After several months of banning their reporters from writing the story, Murdoch has finally let the Joyce story loose.
There's probably a wider agenda at work - like an Abbott revival - and while the story is in this form they can maintain some control over it.

That's the way they've always worked - like the Kathy Jackson corruption they kept under wraps for well over a year while they were chasing Craig Thomson.

So far there's been no mention of Joyces's other staffer mistress or the drunken groping of teenagers at a Rural Womens' Fair or his hypocritical allegations of Tony Windsor's alleged infidelity during an election campaign (while he was having a bit on the side himself).

Then there's the "potential conflict of interest" landholding he said he was going to sell but five years later, it's still his.

A proven liar as well as a hypocrite.

This gives him the chance of making a reasonably quiet exit well before the next election because if the rest of the stories came out the Government would be flat out explaining why they kept it quiet for so long.

Funny, if it's a TV celebrity or sports star, they are fair game for the media and the public but if it's a certain politician (whose salary we pay) it's suddenly a question of "our right to know".

"There are already rumours circulating" from SM, "might well have questions for Shorten on the rape case against him, for Burke" all from SM, I SM "believe for one of the greens." (as well) Could SM be clutching at straws!
Keep bailing Shadow, but alas down goes the SS Coalition, Captain Turnballs, first mate Barnyard and the rest of the motley crew. All hands lost overboard without a trace.

I also don't think this affair will open up a round of "tit-for-tat" allegations.

The last things the Government needs is another "Australian Citizenship" style distraction from trying to sell us their list of (so-called) achievements, or yet another reason to distrust and abhor politicians.

Saying "he murdered ten people but I only murdered nine, therefore I'm a better person" rarely works when you're trying to act important.

The ABC has revealed that Joyce's military was wrong, too. He served 3 years less than was on record. Trivial, maybe, but the little things add up.

Well the abc spent weeks talking about Abbott punching the air 40 years ago. At least the focus can now turn to Barnaby who seemed to copy Bill Shorten minus the rape allegation.