In the tradition of New South Wales Liberal Premiers Greiner and O'Farrell, Gladys Berejiklian has resigned the state's leadership as she is being investigated by the NSW Crime and Corruption Commission. Last year the ICAC questioned Berejiklian about conduct while in a personal relationship with disgraced Liberal MP Daryl Maguire. The ICAC has issued a statement that it will conduct further inquiries into Berejiklian's behaviour in regards to grants involving her, and a possible conflict of interest resulting from the affair with Maguire. The ICAC has lots to look at when it comes to perceived corruption and Gladys Berejiklian.

In recent months Berejiklian has been under pressure for her inadequate handling of the Delta outbreak in NSW, which has resulted in long lockdowns, with hundreds dead and thousands infected.

I'm rather curious about the impartiality of ICAC & its much trumpeted integrity !
Shades of the Judiciary ?

Dear Paul,

I can't help wondering why the ICAC inquiry right now
in the middle of a pandemic? The Premier surely had
enough on her plate to deal with without having this
thrust upon her. She's popular in her state and has
done her best for her people. Surely the inquiry
could have waited for a later time - and allowed her
to continue to do her job with the pandemic.

To me it makes no sense as to why they're going after
her now.

Hi Foxy,

Why pick on Al Capone in the middle of a depression? The wheels of justice must always be turning. Like Gladys, Al was popular in his state, and had done his best for his people. Good can never be used as a counter for bad. Berejiklian is an example of a good politician who allowed herself to be led into a bad situation, her relationship with the disgraced Maguire was that bad situation. Gladys is a big girl and I have no sympathy for her.

Again this highlights the desperate need for a Federal ICAC. However I suppose when you have the likes of Porter, McKenzie and Joyce on your team, a Federal ICAC is the last thing a PM would want.

p/s We should have known Gladys was in for the high jump, about a week ago shadowminister was singing her praises on the forum as the most popular Premier in Australia. Its the kiss of death if SM gives you the thumbs up.

We need more women in politics, say the woke. But only if they have the right opinions.

"In the tradition of New South Wales Liberal Premiers Greiner "

Well the Greiner precedent is that he was ultimately found to be innocent of all claims against him. I suspect that tradition will continue as well.

Good riddance.

Dear Paul,

I don't think that comparing the NSW Premier to Al Capone
is fair. I believe that there was a previous investigation
on her involvement with the disgraced McGuire - and nothing
came of it. Now ICAC has decided to further pursue the matter
and I can't help wonder - Why? Especially in the middle of
a pandemic when the Premier is beginning to make some headway.
What will it achieve to get rid of her now?

I know that politics is a blood sport - but does it need to be?

Dear Paul,

It's interesting that as a NSW Premier resigns over
her investigation by ICAC, South Australia guts its
anti-corruption commission passing sweeping amendments
narrowing the scope of its operations and reducing its
transparency.

What is going on?

Hi Foxy,

No Gladys is not Al, and Al is not Gladys, I was being somewhat flippant on that score. My point there was, even if a person/politician has a worthy track record in unrelated areas of public life that does not excuse unacceptable behaviour in other aspects of public or private life.

The ICAC investigation into Maguire did establish a prima facie case against Berejiklian, and it would be amiss of the ICAC not to conduct an investigation into her dealings with grants etc.

In South Australia we have had a conga line of Liberals with their snouts in the trough, concerning lucrative financial allowances, they are being investigated by that states ICAC. The fact is both Labor and the Coalition are nothing more then lukewarm at best, at times stone cold when it comes to Investigative Commissions which could uncover less than honest behaviour by members of their own party.

Dear Paul,

I watched the Insiders this morning and learned much
more about ICAC's continued investigation of the
NSW Premier. It will be interesting to see how it all
pans out. An independent commission into corruption
that was promised ages ago by the Prime Minster has
been put on hold. It would be good to see this happen
before the next election.

I agree with you if there was any wrong-doing by any
politician - it should be investigated. Politicians
should not be above the law.

cont'd ...

I have to admit that I do like the NSW Premier.
And can't help wondering whether she really knew much
about the monetary deals of her former partner.
Approving funding for a Conservatorium of Music in
Wagga Wagga is one thing, but knowing about any of
her partner's personal financial gains is quite
another. Still we'll have to wait and see what ICAC
brings out. They must have knowledge to continue
pursuing this matter.

Foxy,
You forgot to mention the grant to the clay pidgeon mob in Wagga Wagga, and this from a Premier who wanted nothing to do with shooters.

Is Mise,

I don't know anything about that.
You'll have to fill me in on that grant.

Hi Foxy and Issy,

Issy and I did discuss the grant of $5.5 million by Berejiklian to the Wagga Wagga Clay Pigeon Club last year. The WWPC is about as big as an outhouse at the back of Bourke, well it was until Gladys and Daryl got together and now its the size of the Taj Mahal. At the time of discussion Issy did say it was a bit rich on Gladys part to make such a grant. Forget the chickens, it looks like the pigeons have come home to roost. Issy, do clay pigeons roost? I don't think so, they just fall on Gladys head, although on Friday the NSW Libs were running around like headless chooks after the top job.

Hi Paul,

I've read a bit more about this clay pigeon business.
It will be interesting to see what ICAC comes up with
and how really involved the Premier was.

I’d say she was as close as two people can get.

Hi Foxy and Issy,

Foxy, I think Issy might agree with me, it would appear a difficult task for a country clay pigeon club to snag a grant of even $5.50c let alone $5.50 million from the government unless you know someone who knows someone, like the State Premier. Now that's corruption, Al would never had done that! Nah! Al would get the $5.5 million grant, and put it in his own pocket. Al was a good bloke, known to send flowers to funerals of associates who suffered an untimely end, generally caused by a loss of blood on a street corner, inflicted by unknown persons. Al was into shooting as well, but not clay pigeons, just pigeons who got in his way. They say Al had about 500 pigeons knocked off during his career as a tax dodger.

Dear Paul,

Perhaps the NSW Premier might have more in common with
Al Capone than I thought. After all Capone did say:

"A smile can get you far, but a smile with a gun can get
you further."

I've read a bit more about this clay pigeon business.
Foxy,
Not good is it ? Just as the vote-buying by Labor via recruiting thousands of Public servants who don't even know what they're supposed to be doing apart from voting Labor of course to keep their jobs !

Indy, you are such a Wally, Labor has not been in office in NSW or Federally for almost 10 years. What are you banging on about?

Paul1405,
You're the Wally here, unless you can show us a conservative Public Service Union ! And, in Qld there has been a Labor Govt for some time recruiting voters.

BS Indy, this is a discussion about Berejiklian in NSW and the corruption she is tared with. The problem you have with the Palaszczuk government in Queensland is its not racists or corrupt enough for you. You bang on about the PS as a deflection from your own welfare acquisitiveness. If you were five cents short in your fortnightly welfare handout you would be down at Centrelink quick smart, brow beating some poor public servant for "YOUR" money.

And now Baralaro has resigned and will leave parliament. The stench keeps growing.

Paul1405,
there's only one deflector in this debate & that's you ! How come you only ever ask questions but never answer any ? Lost for words that don't make up sarcasm & or made up accusations.
Look up the word integrity & you'll get a shock how far off the mark you really are. Actually, can you hear or read anything at all that doesn't conjure up racism in your sad little jealous mind ?

Steele tell me its not true, 'Pork' Baralaro is going? Such an asset to New South Wales. Constance did the numbers and it seems he was in for one vote, his own, spat the dummy, how disloyal, and resigned. The one who should resign is the Unhealthy Minister The Hazzard, his incomperdence has seen hundreds of deaths and thousands of infections from the Delta Virus. We can't forget "Mr Limo Driver" and The Hazzard's part in that shambles.

Dear Steele,

And yet on this forum we still have a small minority
raving on against democracy and wanting to kill and imprison
those who disagree with them - then making out that it's all
our fault. Go figure.

I must say that I am disappointed by the fuss being made made by some conservatives about the removal of the NSW premier for no apparent reason other than she is 'one of theirs'. She had to go.

In SA, the Liberal government, with the help of Labor, have voted to cripple ICAC. Politicians, irrespective of brand, think that they should be beyond scrutiny. ICAC has exposed several government politicians in SA as shonks recently. The nobbling of ICAC is just one more move towards dictatorship; and there is no distinction between Left and Right when it comes to the thirst for unfettered power.

The NSW premier was never a conservative, anyway. Those still with a claim to conservatism should be glad that they now could be getting a man who is.

yep, good riddance. another supposed hero who speaks well caught out for being dodgy

Talking about being dodgy...

Dominic Perrottet's past may come out to haunt him.
Apparently an investigation by The Age, Sydney
Morning Herald, and Four Corners, revealed that
Perrottet's Department mismanaged the state's
worker's compensation scheme by under paying 52,000
workers by up to $80 million dollars. The icare
controversy is still around and just may bite him
in the future.

Interesting times ahead.

Dominic Perrottet is going to be an interesting
Premier of NSW.

He is a devout Catholic. Six children.
Is linked to the Opus Dei prelature. He voted against
de-criminalising abortion. Praised the election of
Donald Trump, is against same-sex marriage, against
euthanasia, believes in tight financial control -
- which means there's going to be massive cuts to services.

It will be quite a revelation to watch how this man will do in
a supposedly progressive state like NSW. Still you never
know - he just may come as a good surprise.

Foxy is Mise is a troll, without credibility and fact. Glady has been judged guilty without a trial, No premier in NSW has worked harder for this State than Gladys. Those that want to place guilt are without evidence. It is just that those that are being investigated by ICAC must stand down while investigations are carried out. The thing is it has become public without an undecover investigation.

Josephus,

Lets wait and see what the end result is of the ICAC
investigation regarding the former NSW Premier.
They obviously know more than we do.

The NSW pandemic response has always been a balancing act
between a Coalition government desperate to keep the
country's economic powerhouse open and a health department
desperate to save lives. Berejiklian's popularity soared
through the pandemic, in part because many voters saw her
as a moderate technocrat and a safe pair of hands during
difficult times who managed to strike a balance more
often than not.

We're in for interesting times - because on lockdowns,
COVID and all things, Dominic Perrottet is far more of an
ideologue. The big question is whether he governs as one.
We have to wait and see what type of government NSW will
now have and how the voters will react.

Josephus,

If I am a troll blame it on my Nordic ancestors, who murdered, raped and pillaged in Ireland, Wales, Scotland and England before settling down to be good citizens.
No N SW politician has to stand down whilst being investigated, to do so they would need to know that they were the subject of an investigation.
Gladys has resigned from Parliament as well as Premier and as I said “ Good riddance” that her deputy has also suddenly followed suite is also to be applauded.

Glad once said that she’d have nothing to do with shooters, she should have stuck to her guns, so to speak!!

Dear Josephus,

You write: "Glady has been judged guilty without a trial"

No she hasn't. She left because it was her requirement that any politician from her government who was under investigation stand aside for the duration. As we can see with that discredited lot in Federal politics the standard is not universal but she could hardly stay as Premier of NSW having brought in that rule herself.

I having been involved in a club that Gladys gave funds too in a costal town, i can say that funds given to develop a home for music skills in wagga Wagga or toward a Clubhouse for clay pidgeon shooting, all of which are community projects that were run and managed well to benifit members is not strange or new or out of character. It did not benifit her one bit as she was not the member in the area.

Dear Josephus,

Didn't benefit her one bit?

Surely you can't be that thick mate.

“The ICAC is a body tasked to investigate alleged corrupt conduct in the NSW public sector, including members of Parliament.

In this instance, the watchdog will examine whether there was a conflict between Ms Berejiklian's public duties and private interests when she was in a relationship with former Liberal MP, Daryl Maguire.

Specifically, the ICAC will scrutinise grant funding awarded or promised to the Australian Clay Target Association and the Riverina Conservatorium of Music in Wagga Wagga, when Mr Maguire was the local member. 

It will also investigate whether Ms Berejiklian engaged in conduct that "involved the dishonest or partial exercise of any of her official functions" or if she refused to "exercise her duty to report any matter she suspected may concern corrupt conduct" concerning the activities of Mr Maguire.“

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-10-01/nsw-premier-gladys-berejiklian-resignation-icac-explained/100507412

Issy,

That about the gun was that a pun.

Those relos doing the pillaging and burning, was that their full time occupation, or did they just do it as a hobby on weekends to earn extra income. AND of course you must answer THE question; Were they naked at the time, as I understand the family tradition dictates?

Your Shooters and Hooters Party could win the seat of Monaro with preferences from Labor and the Greens.

I watched the new NSW Premier's Press Conference
this morning and I have to confess I was impressed.
It seems that he is quite fair and will try to govern for
all the people in his state. On challenging issues he said
he will be happy to leave it up to a "conscience vote" which
is fair enough. He also said that he will not re-shuffle
his cabinet at present. It's not the appropriate time.
And he made it quite clear that he intends to work as a member
of a team - which shows - lack of an ego. As I said - I am
impressed.

We can only hope that people in all our states around
the country will be sensible, do the right thing for
themselves, their families, their neighbours, their
communities and that we can all look forward to the
upcoming holidays in a safe environment. Breaking
the laws and being selfish only makes things worse
and it will take longer to recover.

As for ICAC? It should be allowed to do its job.

As for ICAC? It should be allowed to do its job.
Foxy,
more to the point, it should be doing its job !

individual,

It is doing its job but not all states allow it to
do so - as can be seen from South Australia's Parliament
which has brought in certain restrictions.

I see that Dan Andrews is under investigation for corruption by IBAC.

However, he doesn't have the decency to resign.

shadow minister,

Do you really want to start comparing corruption
accusations and scandals of politicians and which
side is the worst? Surely you have better things
to do? In any case if there's something there I'm
sure that we'll find out about it - otherwise it
may all be just an election ploy against the Premier.

Foxy,

Your buddies are busy piling onto GB where there is as of yet no evidence of wrongdoing. GB and BoF resigned because it is difficult to govern when there is a whiff of impropriety.

If Andrews had a shred of decency he would at the very least stand aside until he was cleared as so far the UFU scandal stinks.

shadow minister,

The former NSW Premier case is totally different to
the case of the fire-fighters in Victoria where
the Premier united the two warring factions of
fire-fighters under one umbrella. This is not a
case of "corruption." as in NSW.

Foxy,

The two cases are different, there is no evidence that GB has done anything wrong other than date a weasel.

The case again Andrews is far more serious.

The two fire organisations were not warring, the UFU that supports Labor financially wanted to force the volunteer-based CFA to join the UFU and to expand the UFU at taxpayers' expense. If true this is genuine corruption.

Great that Andrews deal with union to stuff CFA is now happening.

https://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=21358

Pretty obvious what happened

http://onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=2138

Thanks for the article Chris.

We shall have to wait and see as to whether
the investigation thinks it has a case. The Victorian
Premier thinks he behaved appropriately and did what
he considered best for the state.

Sorry I left out a number. Here's the link again:

http://onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=21358

Hi Chris,

Since this is a discussion about Berejiklian, is that not also, "Pretty obvious what happened". To be fair to you, your did say in your only other post on this; "yep, good riddance. another supposed hero who speaks well caught out for being dodgy" I assume that was in reference to Berejiklian.

This is simply deflection on the part of SM. "there is no evidence that GB has done anything wrong other than date a weasel." Berejiklian was presented with the damaging evidence against her, and she chose to cut and run, resignation was her only option. If Berejiklian is proven to be corrupt, she is only continuing the tradition stared by 'Brown Paper Bag' Askin, where Liberal Premier Robert Askin was paid off with bags full of cash every Friday afternoon delivered to him in his Premiers Office by the operators of Sydney's illegal casinos. Pay offs were also made to corrupt Liberal Premiers Lewis and Willis. Not that Labor was any better.

Wrongdoing on both sides for sure Paul.

I only ever worked for two politicians, and both were found to be guilty of wrongdoing. Both Labor.

I am sure Andrews will get off.

I had the Federal Circuit Court state that my former university employer lied to the Fair Work Commission, but OAIC ruled there was no wrongdoing which is now before the Ombudsman which I expect to do nothing.

Hi Paul,

From what I can gather Daniel Andrews merged the
Metropolitan Fire Brigade members and career
Country Fire Authority firefighters into the
New Fire Rescue Victoria. The volunteer firefighters
and the Victorian Opposition opposed this while
the Union championed the move.

Premier Andrews is proud of the fire services and
the reform made. I'm not sure how all this amounts
to "corruption."

So Foxy, just because you get off can mean nothing. So I wont be accepting any decision as gospel. I will leave that to you.

Good thing about investigations, at least in theory, is that all goes on public record and media and public attention will see what is going on.

Mud can stick even if one gets off, as people will make their own minds up.

I wont mention Pell, but most knew OJ Simpson was guilty, even though he got off

Foxy, I know you think polies are rock stars, but did ever dawn on you that Andrews and the union might also be proud of screwing the CFA, and the people that have devote their lives to the cause.

Hate to shock you, but there are a lot of scumbags in position of power.

Not saying Andrews is one, but pretty obvious there was a deal

Hi Chris,

I don't think that politicians are rock stars.
Look at Tony Abbott. Or rather - don't. I
simply am happy with our Victorian Premier.
To me he seems like a decent man. And as for
deals? Lets wait and see. Aren't deals a part
and parcel of getting things accomplished.

I read somewhere that the Premier wanted the
volunteers to be properly trained which they
apparently was not always the case. Hence the
reforms that were put into place.

Anyway, it's always healthy to ask questions.

Paul,
There were also the more minor dodgy perks of office and position.
One notable one in the past was the use of the Royal National Park as a private hunting reserve (the Rusa deer had to be kept in check).
MP’s, senior Judges, senior public servants as well as senior officers in the military etc., all got a chance to hunt there and once a year their respective gunsmiths and armourers got an invite.
A couple of well known eateries at the Cross offered such dishes as “Filet Mignon 5” those in the know knew that the ‘5’ stood for the Roman numeral ‘V’ signifing venison.

cont'd ...

Chris, my brother belongs to the CFA -
And I'm very proud of him.

Foxy, sorry, but every CFA member I spoke to said the same thing, that the deal all went one way.

And I spoke too many.

Why does Andrews strike you as a good man? Would you really know what he is like, or any other premier.

Hang on, who actually gave out the contract for the hotel quarantine? we still do not know because they are full of bs

what did your brother say about deal.

CFA members i spoke to were not against reform, but all said deal was all one way.

Chris I haven't asked him.
He's now bought an apartment and moved
to Port Macquarie.

Don't tell me issy corrupt? Who was the NSW Police Commissioner, who famously said; "I don't know the address of the 33 Club in Oxford Street, if I did I would raid the joint. He would have had to time the raid, because he was often to be found inside!

Turning to Queensland, remember Russ Hinze, who without as much as a beg your pardon public said; "From now on all Queensland Local Councils must buy their blue metal from The Russ Hinze Blue Metal Company. As Minister for Local Government I so order it." Could that be seen as corruption. Then there was the 30 miles of tar sealed road, paid for by the taxpayer, that led to only one house, that being the house of Old Joh's son.

Foxy,

There were zero benefits to the members of the CFA only to the UFU which supported Dan Andrews financially. As a result, many volunteer firefighters left.

Bubonic Dan had nothing to be proud of.

He should do the decent thing and stand down.

shadow minister,

Unless there is concrete proof that an underhanded
deal was done with the union - all you have is conjecture
(sound familiar?). My understanding is that the Premier
wanted the volunteers to be properly trained - hence
the reforms were put in to achieve this goal.

We need to wait and see what the investigation will
find. It's too early to judge.

hey saint dan got fined today for being a hypocrite

who can forget him telling Victorians to do the right thing and wear a mask.

funny as.

Foxy, your understanding? You have a brother in the CFA and you dont even ask him for his view?

I dont think your understanding means much.

The faccts of ICAC,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRSROyBSrdE

Paul,
I got my share of invites but I’ve always steered clear of being even slightly involved in illegal activities, one never knows when questions might be asked under oath.

I did take advantage of the venison dishes though, but I paid for them.

‘’Twas a different world 50 years ago; we went to the movies one night at the Cross.and one of the blokes had his pistol in his back pocket, during the film it fell out and landed with a clunk in the row behind, a woman tapped him on the shoulder and handed it back,
“The bloody thing nearly hit me on the foot!!” sayith she.
Today things would probably be different.

questions might be asked under oath.
Is Mise,
Defense lawyers have made an oath an utter waste of Court time !

Good Morning Chris,

My brother has had a lot on his plate family wise
to deal with and politics was not something I
discussed with him. There were more important issues
that needed our attention. You are in no position to
really judge my "understanding" of anything. The
same as I'm in no position to judge yours. But I can
see that you have nor respect for an opinion that does not
agree with yours - so I'll leave you to talk to people
who have the "wisdom" to agree with you. For you they
will obviously have more meaning.

Ok Foxy, if that is what you reckon. You stick to the committee findings and your love affair with elites.

individual,
50 years ago perjury could get one into big trouble, but it was not only that possibility that I steered clear of; when I was promoted to a position of ‘low man on the graft totem pole’ I resigned from the Public Service and went into private industry.

I’ve always put self before money!

I heard one so-called expert discussion that suggested that many who rise to the top have some serious human shortcomings, including a lack of empathy and a tendency to do what it takes to get there.

My experience with mps and academics is that there are indeed many scumbags that get there.

I think some of the best people I have ever met, much better than I could ever be, are the ordinary people that devote to their lives for a cause for nothing, whether it be the CFA or sporting clubs.

Chris Lewis,

My love of elites?

My heart is bigger than that.

I think you meant to say - my love of honesty, kindness,
co-operation, social cohesion, and decent human beings.
I take people as I find them. I don't categorize them.

There are many people who devote their lives to
helping others in all walks of life. It all depends
on one's personal values and what things are
important to us in life - so it should be natural
to live by them. And yet, many of us don't live by
our values.

Foxy, I don't see your claims in your posts. I could be wrong though.

Chris Lewis,

I have no control over what you see or don't see in
someone's posts.

many who rise to the top have some serious human shortcomings,
Chris lewis,
That's my experience also ! One just has to look at any Govt. Academic/Lawyer background the lot ! Common sense & logic- None !

I see that not only is bubonic Dan personally under IBAC investigation for corruption but also the Vic Labor is under investigation for corruption wrt the branch stacking with plastic bags of cash.

The opening today of the ICAC investigation into Berejiklian corruption, sees an outline that shows dear old Gladys will have plenty to answer for. I think the council assisting has lots of ammunition, and will be coming at Gladys from all sides. She could prove to be a clay pigeon, or sitting duck, time will tell.

Dear Chris Lewis,

Struth mate you talk out of your backside.

You espouse conservative ethics which for the most part serves the elites, and then somehow you now have unionised firefighters as the elites in your eyes?

What rubbish.

The reforms to the sector were both necessary and well over due. While there remains questions about the method the end result was most certainly worth it. Those reforms now mean a safer work environment for members and notably better response times in quite a number of communities.

End of story.

The only people to benefit from the absorption of the CFA by the UFU was the UFU union and the Labor party. The losers were the CFA volunteers and the taxpayers. Another Labor rort.

As the Labor branch stacking, I understand that Pandemic Dan and his lieutenants are up to their eyeballs in the use of taxpayer money for personal promotion.

This makes what's happening in NSW look trivial.

shadow minister,

Do you have any evidence for your claims.
Please present it for us - otherwise it's
only conjecture right!

Foxy,

Here is the google news link to dozens of articles on the IBAC investigations. I would suggest that you read up on them.

https://news.google.com/search?q=IBAC&hl=en-AU&gl=AU&ceid=AU%3Aen

shadow minister,

I'll have to get back to you. I'm about to go into
hospital to have a "holter monitor" fitted in a
couple of hours and I've got lots to do until then.

Take care. Stay safe.

Former NSW Premier Mike Baird who also left office in a rush, gave evidence at the ICAC inquiry today into Berejiklian corruption. Seems the Liberal way in NSW is to sell off public assets eg poles and wires and then pork barrel the dosh into Liberal and marginal electorates. Mike tried to throw Gladys a life line in the form of a lead anchor as she goes down for the third time.

"The Local Government Inspectorate has made an application to VCAT to stand down greens Cr Anab Mohamud until proceedings in respect of the councillor’s charges are finally determined,” Chief Municipal Inspector Michael Stefanovic said, ahead of a hearing this week.

Cr Mohamud, who intends to clear her name by fighting the charges in court, is already taking medical leave until later in the year. She made the announcement on Wednesday, five days after informing mayor Gabrielle de Vietri, having just survived a vote of no confidence against her."

SM,

A bit of a come down there, from a billion dollar corruption conspiracy headed by NSW Liberal politicians. Sell the peoples assets and then pork barrel the dosh into your re-election campaign. I've watched some of the ICAC enquiry and it don't look good for your gal Gladys. Are you still confident Gladys has nothing to worry about?

As for the deflection to something rather minor in the scheme of things. There's no $5.5 million and the rest for the Mayors "lover boy" in all that was there. I think someone got a punch on the nose, nothing more.

Paul,

When you post these silly conspiracy theories you sound either crazy or stoned.

SM,

Have you watched any of the ICAC enquiry? I'm not promoting "conspiracy theories". If you take in the evidence presented by Baird and bureaucrats its clear that if "privatisation" of public assets was an economic goal, it got lost in the sleazy world of political pork barrelling. I'm not saying this is exclusively a Liberal disease, its a disease of government. The Coalition came to power in NSW with a promise to clean up corruption, which had been rife under the Obeid administration, it failed that noble ambition by engaging in bad practices, just like Labor. Corruption is no small thing in Australian politics, from the local government level to the Feds, corruption is systemic in our political society. Given the performance of the Morrison Government, a Federal ICAC would be working overtime to get to the bottom of some of the obvious rorting and corrupt conduct that has been going on.

Paul,

This like many other conspiracy theories is based on linking things that in reality are completely unrelated. Labor during its term in office happily pork barrelled away without selling any assets simply by borrowing money clearly showing that there is no link between selling assets and pork barrelling.

Governments have no business running companies that would function better being privatised.

SM,

I'm not basing my judgment on any "conspiracy theory", but rather on the direct evidence given before the Commission. The sale of public assets, paid into a Future Fund, then despite expert reservations, despite not having a sound business plan, Baird admitted projects were being approved simply on political considerations, "pork barrelling". In the case of the $5.5 million for the Wagga Wagga Clay Shooters, despite the experts branding it a "lemon", all the advice being negative, Daryl wanted it, and for reasons known only to herself, Gladys championed the project, and ultimately got it through . Baird as Premier had no knowledge of the Maguire/Berejiklian relationship, so he said. According to Baird, had he had such knowledge he would have acted differently, of course trying to present himself as a clean skin. Its clear many projects got approval from the Expenditure Review Committee, not based on economics, but on political considerations only, Gladys as Treasurer was chair of that committee, but Baird as Premier had veto powers on the ERC, but failed to exercise them, when obviously as Primer he should have, claiming he preferred the committee to veto such projects. BTW before each ERC meeting members were given the opportunity to declare a conflict of interest, but Gladys failed to do so, Baird said when he learnt only recently about the Maguire/Berejiklian relationship his reaction was, "Incredulous".

Political corruption is not simply a function of the Coalition, its a function of government regardless of who is in power, that is why a broad ranging ICAC with adequate powers of investigation is required in every state and territory, and at the Commonwealth level.

SM,

"Governments have no business running companies that would function better being privatised."

As a Liberal Conservative that is a philosophical view of yours. As a Progressive Socialist I don't necessarily agree. I don't expect, or wish for the Government to open a fast food chain, 'Scotty Burgers' in competition with 'McDonalds', although the quality of the burgers from Maccas should be the subject of a RC, given what I had last week!

A quote from the Old Man; "The Tories will sell off all the juicy plums, cheap to their mates, and leave us mob (the ordinary citizens) with all the rotten fruit!", I see truth in that. At one time the government owned 'Commonwealth Bank' was Australia's leading bank, out performing the private banks. That gives the lie to "private is better" so sell that juicy plum. Lots of competitive government run enterprises besides CBA, example GIO insurance, Rural Bank, Telecom (Telstra), Medibank health fund, to name but few, have more than matched it with their private competitors, to the point where the competitors have demanded ownership from government, at a very attractive price. In the case of Telstra its clear privatisation has not improved its performance, if anything its got worse, being consistently outperformed on service by its competitors, not that they are anything special.

It has been shown in many cases of privatisation, private enterprise has failed to deliver for the taxpayer, take the private Sydney Airport Line (train) paid for by NSW taxpayers, a $900 million debt after years of operation is still yet to be repaid by the private operator. The NSW privatisation of bus and ferry, 'State Transit', the government owned operator was excluded from bidding for the contract. The ones that have been privatised have seen no changes in efficiency, in fact operations have got worse, all at taxpayer expense. Privatized prisons have to be propped up by government, otherwise they would collapse. Private operators can not run prisons to an acceptable standard and still make a profit, the people have to pay.

Paul,

It's not a philosophical viewpoint it is basic economics that defines which enterprises should be publicly owned and which should not. Private businesses are motivated to be efficient public enterprises are not. Thatcher sparked the movement by privatising the large loss-making industries leading to decades of record economic growth and prosperity taking the UK from 4th or 5th ranked in the EU to 2nd only behind Germany.

Labor started the privatisation of assets that were being inefficiently run such as the CW bank which now pays taxes and provides employment, far more than it did when it was publicly owned.

That Labor and the greens are proposing failed policies from the 1950s is a joke.

SM,

I did agree that there are certain businesses best left in private hands, the Burger Business as an example. Profits are not always a reliable indicator of efficiency. Large organisations, be they private or public, by their nature tend to have bureaucratic inefficiencies built in. Small business and sole traders can run poor businesses and still be profitable, but they tend to be less so. In the case of the CBA, I was correct in saying when it was in government hands it was Australia's leading savings and trading bank. I would expect with years of economic growth, today it would return substantially more than it did in yesteryear. Australia Post is a good example of a profit driven autonomous government enterprise. Although in AP's case government insists it operate a huge loss making letter business. Who is barking to keep Australia Post in government hands not Labor or the Greens so much, but the Nationals. QANTAS operated as well as any private airline when government owned, yet recently as a private company billions of taxpayer dollars have been poured in to keep it afloat. When Australia operated the two airline domestic policy, it was in place not to protect the public airline TAA, but the privately owned Ansett. and it was Ansett that finally crashed and burned in the free market, not the other way around.

You call out Labor and the Greens as proposing "failed policies of the 1950's", yet leave out the party that puts the biggest demands on the public purse the National Party. In its early days the Country Party (todays Nationals) was very much a quasi-socialist party, closer to the ALP than the Nationals (todays Liberals). As you can see from "negotiations" between the Nats and Liberals on CC policy, the Nats are not adverse to having billions spent on public enterprise when it suits them, so called infrastructure for the bush, little more than pork barrelling. Take Barnyard Joys and the announcements he has been making about inland rail, totally unapproved and out of order.

In the words of the Old Man; "The Country Party politics is not driven by philosophy, but by the weather. In a bad season they are Communist, in a good season they are Capitalists." True.

I know Margie Thatcher is a pin up gal of the conservative right, but there is more to the story of post war Britain than meets the eye. Britain was very much an economic loser from WWII. Pre war it had done very nicely from its Empire, post war the empire was gone and Britain was suffering from huge international debt, the war virtually bankrupted the country. The money people of America, which had done oh so nicely out of the war seen better investment opportunities elsewhere. Coupled with the economic situation Britain still suffered from a pre war class division of "them and us" from both sides. Industrially Britain was inefficient and run down, totally lacking in investment. The arbitration system was based on conflict between employers and employees, which perpetuated long and economically harmful strikes. There were socialist radicals on the workers side, as well as radical Capitalists on the employers side, conflict was the norm.

Britain needed economic reform, and industrial reform was part of that. Thatcher was right in what she done, but she was wrong in placing all the blame for the economic situation on the workers. Instead of approaching reform in a balanced way, she simply attempted to smash the workers and bludgeon them into submission. Thatcher was successful, but many Britain's paid a heavy price for her belligerent approach.

SM,

You accused Andrews of murdering people with Covid. Anything to say about 500 dead in NSW thanks to the GLADYS VIRUS? Remember the failure of the Berejiklian Government and "Mr Limo Driver", the shambles of a response from NSW Un-Healthy Minister The Hazzard! Why is that clown still in an overpaid job, and not in jail?

Back on topic, Pork Barilaro appeared before the ICAC yesterday, and tipped his pork barrel all over poor Gladys. More to come.

Paul,

As far as I recall, you used the term murdered first.

Victoria still has 60% of all the fatalities in Australia. NSW is still far better than Victoria.

Dan's virus has killed more than 1400.

P.s. JB essentially said that there was no corruption.

SM,

"As far as I recall, you used the term murdered first." No, I believe you did as I was a little circumspect about the use of the word "murder", but after no ramifications from anyone on here, I now attribute "murder" to the Berejiklian mob. Lets move on from there.

Pork Barilaro did say while giving evidence that Gladys should have disclosed her relationship with Darling Daryl to him and others. Porky went on to say such knowledge would have given rise to possible different outcomes had he and other known of the relationship. The noose is tightening around poor Gladys neck, what some will do for love, even if its from some balled headed git.

In the Dan Andrews total, are you including all those who died due to the SCOTTY VIRUS in private aged care, and those who died due to Morrison failures in quarantine? Are you also including recent deaths due to the exporting of the GLADYS VIRUS into Victoria. I think you are.

You make no comment on the GLADYS VIRUS, are you happy to see one million deaths in NSW, provided one million and one die in Victoria, providing you are not one of either lot. The logic of a First World War general.

I see you didn't respond to what I said about your philosophical view that "private good, public bad line". did I wipe the floor with you one that one, me thinks so.

Paul,

You have never been circumspect as the rest of your post clearly shows.

You are also confused as to what is corruption. Failure to declare a relationship is not a crime and thus not corruption of itself otherwise half the pollies would be in jail. As is pork barrelling which the labor-green government of Juliar did spectacularly.

Nope, I meant the 1400+ killed by the DAN Virus but left out those infected by the Dan Virus in NSW. Considering the ration of those Killed by Dan's incompetence are nearly 3x that of NSW your comparison is specious.

Finally, I left to soak in your ignorance. Basic economics and experience show that government-run organisations that directly compete with privately run companies almost always perform worse.

SM,

"experience show that government-run organisations that directly compete with privately run companies ALMOST ALWAYS perform worse."(My Capitals),

Can you give examples of both, in an Australian context. I contend that the Commonwealth Bank, QUANTAS, GIO insurance, ANL and Telstra, performed no worse, and often better than their private competitors. Today the parcel delivery business performance of Australia Post is on a par or exceeds that of its private competitors, despite being hamstrung by operating the unprofitable letter business at government insistence. I gave the example of Ansett and TAA, where government interference was designed to support the private operator and not the public.

Yes, a private love life is not corruption, nor is pork barrelling, necessarily. In Gladys case, was her lover boy Daryl MP, able to use his horizontal position with his sweetie to influence her to act corruptly. Did Gladys conceal that relationship so she could influence others for Daryl's benefit, ie $5.5 million for clay shooters in Wagga Wagga, that is corruption, and it looks highly likely.

Will you comment on the sorry state of affairs due to government incomperdence caused by the unleashing of the GLADYS VIRUS in NSW, 500 deaths with no action taken against those responsible. In Victoria the Health Minister resigned, in NSW the Un-Heathy Minister The Hazzard, has kept his job, despite his mass failures with the 'Ruby Princess' and now 'Mr Limo Driver'.

Paul,

Your comparisons are not accurate. Qantas was privatised in 1997 and created Jetstar to bypass the heavily unionised Qantas. This competition from the private Qantas along with bad management bankrupted Ansett.

Auspost's loss-making letter business and "free" government assets enable lower-cost parcel delivery. Not a fair comparison.

Similarly, CBA's performance improved significantly after privatisation and cost-cutting.

Secondly, Unless Daryl personally profited from the grant, it is still not corruption.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/222962416_Intra-industry_effects_of_bank_privatization_A_clinical_analysis_of_the_privatization_of_the_Commonwealth_Bank_of_Australia

Finally,

You still haven't commented on the nearly 1500 people killed by Dan's virus.

Berejiklian fronted the ICAC today, and with the oft used criminal defence of "I can't recall, I don't remember." she tried to avoid incriminating herself, without a great deal of success. Phone taps makes one question who was Premier, was it Gladys or was it Premier Daryl. Pork Barrelling was the order of the day for the Berejiklian government. A scolding from Maguire, seen Gladys quick smart on the blower to pick up a lazy $170 million from Dom (Treasurer then, Premier now) for a Daryl project. Maybe the ICAC needs to take a long hard look at dear old Catholic Dom as well.

"It is almost 20 months since Daniel Andrews declared a state of emergency by invoking hitherto untouched powers in the Public Health and Wellbeing Act, a piece of sloppy legislation passed by the Victorian parliament in 2008.

The Premier’s Department press release on March 16, 2020 declared a state of emergency would be in place for four weeks “to assist with measures designed to ‘flatten the curve’ of Covid-19 and give our health system the best chance of managing the virus”. Twenty-four weeks later, Andrews persuaded parliament to allow him to extend the state of emergency for another 15 months.

The Victorian government’s command-and-control approach to the pandemic follows a familiar pattern of policy failure identified by economist Thomas Sowell. A crisis is declared over some harm that the government claims it can eliminate. Critics of the solution are dismissed as absurd, simplistic or downright dishonest.

They would point to factors other than government ineptitude to explain why more than half of Covid-19 infections and two-thirds of fatalities occurred in Victoria, the state that locked down hardest and longest. Yet the correlation between centralised, coercive government and incompetence is too close to ignore."

All thoughts of Gladys contesting the federal seat of Warringah for the Liberal Party at the next election have evaporated. Gladys now has about as much chance of pre-selection as Jack the Ripper. Besides it might be difficult to run an election campaign from a jail cell in Long Bay. The voters in Warringah were smart enough to turf out that reprobate Abbott, and vote in a decent independent in Zali Steggall. There are enough corrupt Coalition members in the Federal parliament, there is no need to add any more.

Paul,

You haven't learnt anything have you! Most of what you post are deliberate lies.

So Far ICAC has a long way to go and has failed to demonstrate “anything anywhere near corruption” after 10 days.

I can also remind you of the conviction of two prominent Greens and the upcoming trial of a greens councillor for homophobic based assault and theft.

All good and well Shadow, Greens this Greens that, failed council candidates are hardly prominent. But that's your deflection.

The so called economic gurus! What a joke, Gladys has Dom pull a cool $170 million out of his arse for Loverboy Daryl, was that just a lazy $170 mill, or did others more deserving miss out. Begs the question, was Dom nothing more than Gladys "Do For" boy, seems so.

Paul,

Crooked greens this crooked greens that.

You have zero proof that $170m was spent, all you have is a single tapped phone call. But that doesn't stop you from lying through your teeth.

SM

The proof, you want the proof, the proof is in the words of Berejiklian herself telling Loverboy Daryl on tapped phone conversations played before the ICAC. Words of "I've got you the $140 million in five minutes" Loverboy castigated Gladys with "Its $170 million", she came back with "What ever it is, I got it from Dom".

Today seen the final nail in Gladys coffin as she tried to avid probing questions with "I don't recall", "I don't remember"

The conga line of corrupt NSW Liberal Premiers.

Paul,

There is more compelling evidence that SHY is corrupt having used taxpayer money for a jaunt with her daughter.

There is a conga line of corrupt green politicians.

SM,

Again with the attempts at deflection, name one Greens MP that has been brought before the ICAC on corruption charges. There are none, not one you can name. Unlike the NSW Liberals with three, yes three, Premiers resigning after trips to the ICAC, Greiner, O'Farrell and now Berejiklian. I'll throw you a bone on this, Neville Wran was as CORRUPT as any Liberal Premier, with the exception of Robin Askin the Sydney underworlds political fix-it man.

Once a federal ICAC is established, one with teeth that is, something Morrison hates, there will be a conga line of Coalition MP's going through the door. Barnyard Joy, Cry Baby Porter and Sports Rorts Bridget for starters.

Paul,

The only reason that no greens MPs have been hauled in front of ICAC is that no one has ever trusted them in a position where they can spend money.

However, there is a conga line of greens appearing in criminal court.

SM,

Did you catch that drunken Liberal criminal in Victoria? The out of control Tim Smith crashed his car while paralytic drunk! Fortunately the drunken bum didn't kill any children or innocent people. Smith needs to spent time at an AA session before he kills someone with his drunken driving! This grub should be in jail! Any comment?

Paul,

It is posts like this that make you look like a clown. 0.1% is midrange, not paralytic and the fine and license suspension is the typical penalty, not jail.

What would you suggest for the 2 convicted Green paedophiles? Hanging?

As for the Green Cnr whose trial for a homophobic assault and theft whose trial is coming soon would you suggest a life sentence?

Perhaps SHY should be flogged for squandering taxpayers money on a private jaunt?

SM,
None of the people you allude to had aspirations of becoming PRIEMER OF VICTORIA. The over the top, out of control, paralytic drunk, car crashing, Tim Smith had such aspirations. Are not the people of Victoria so blessed to have a sober man like Dan Andrews at the wheel, rather than some out of control Liberal bum! Fortunately this fool has been taken off the road, before someone was killed.

P,

From what I heard Dan's injuries a while ago were due to being pissed as a fart and falling down some stairs.

Either way, considering Dan's incompetence a monkey could do better than him.

SM,

"From what I heard" did you hear that from a drunken Liberal. Remember paralytic Abbott the night he got rolled. Couldn't stand up, fell over a very expensive taxpayer owned coffee table, did he ever foot the bill for that. Me thinks not.

SM

What about beetroot face, Deputy Dog Barnyard Joy. He looks like he hits the turps regularly, with his alco blush.

What about shyster Shorten texting while driving which is just as dangerous as drunk driving.

What about the piss cat Bob Hawke or the tub of lard SHY?

SM

Another untruth on your part! "0.1% is midrange, not paralytic and the fine and license suspension is the typical penalty, not jail."

The drunken bum Smith had a HIGH RANGE reading of 0.131%. The penalty in Victoria can include;

HIGH RANGE 0.10 - 0.149
*Fine
*Minimum 10-14 months disqualification (dependant on reading)
*Alcohol interlock device installed for 6 months minimum

A little higher and the paralytic Smith was in for jail time

P,

Thanks for admitting your untruth that TS was due jail time.

No comment on the paedophile/racist/homophobic green criminals

SM,

Senior LIBERAL staffer and alleged rapist Bruce Lehrmann has been committed to stand trial in the ACT Supreme Court. Will Lehrmann use the Smith defence, I was too pissed to know what I was doing. Will Lehrmann run a slush fund like that other alleged LIBERAL rapist 'Cry Baby Porter?

SM, how close was Lehrmann to Morrison? Only meters away. If Smith thought that one day he should be Vic Premier, like Porter did Lehrmann have aspirations to be a future Liberal Party Prime Minister, we'll never know.

These guys make any alledged crime by a Greens local councillor in Melbourne look like small beer.

So a liberal party employee is accused of rape. I think that this will be another show trial.

BL's defence is based on the claim that sexual intercourse never happened ergo he could not have raped BH.

As BH refused to report this to the police or submit to the gathering of evidence, BH has no proof that sexual intercourse, consensual or otherwise occurred. This is back to the whole he said she said scenario, which as the high court showed leads to not guilty.

Unless the police have more corroborating evidence this trial is a non-starter.

I wonder if BH will apologise if she loses.

SM,

Rape carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment in the ACT. Judging by his age Lehrmann could spend the next 60 years behind bars. BTW at the time of the alleged rape Lehrmann was a financial member of the LIBERAL PARTY. The Porter defence of his alleged rape of a 16 year old child might work for Lehrmann..."I DON'T REMEMBER! cry cry cry boo hoo!"

Paul,

Considering the Convicted crimes of the two paedophile Greens the imaginary crimes you profess are small potatoes.

Secondly, who has alleged these crimes? The ABC clearly came out to say that they never intended to imply that Porter had committed anything.

If I said that I believed that Adam Bandt was a child molester, then AB would be an alleged child molester. No evidence whatsoever is required.

Finally, the case against BL is very weak. As BH refused to go to the police, there is no evidence that sex even occurred.

SM

More dodgy criminal activity alleged, this time it involves Assistant Federal Treasurer Michael Sukkar. Seems good old Mick is up to his eyeballs with branch stacking in Victoria. Nothing wrong with a bit of good old fashioned branch stacking you might say, Labor does it all the time. In Sukker's case it is alleged he fraudulently used taxpayer employed people to carry out LIBERAL PARTY work in electoral offices, that is organise party branch stacking for his faction the Liberal right. If found guilty a bit of jail time for Sukkar would be in order, would you not agree?

Paul,

Once again you are lying. According to the ABC "There is no suggestion that Michael Sukkar, his brother Paul Sukkar, Marcus Bastiaan, Josh Bonney or Kevin Andrews acted illegally."

So it cannot be criminal unlike the rorts committed by the ALP.