Australia over the concurrent terms of the LNP has dropped markedly in the Corruption Index dropping from 7th to 18th.

http://www.transparency.org/en/cpi/2021/index/aus

Alan Austin at Michael West spoke to the issue recently:

"Over the last ten years, the deterioration in Australia’s standing is the deepest of all advanced nations. From a 2011 score of 88, Australia tumbled 15 points to just 73 in 2021.

No other developed member of the Organisation for Economic Development and Cooperation (OECD) has fallen that far in that period."

http://michaelwest.com.au/australia-hits-new-low-on-transparency-international-corruption-index/

Friendly Jordies also covered it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUg9CAbFH3o

What should we be asking of our politicians to turn this around? Will an ICAC be enough to halt the decline or will it take something else?

What should we be asking of our politicians to turn this around?
SteeleRedux,
In order to please voters, politicians have to stoop to the voters' level ! Voters have the power to install responsible Govt but with 49% of voters hell-bent to destabilise a Govt the changes for good, effective governing are out the window !
It's a mentality thing !

Dear individual,

This has occurred over the period of successive LNP governments. Why isn't the obvious solution voting them out? As to the notion that 'the voters made them do it' that is just buck passing.

Politicians should be better versions of ourselves. That is not always going to be the case but we have the right to expect it from the majority.

That growing corrupt practices are a feature of governments which have been in power too long probably has some element of truth as well.

Still it is hoped that the voters only put up with it up to a point.

Well, there you go. Corruption down in the last 10 years - under a Coalition government.

Dear individual,

Here is a well reference list from the Chasers. Funny how it takes a comedy company to illustrate the LNP's failings better than a compliant mainstream media but there you go.

http://chaser.com.au/national/an-exhaustive-list-of-the-liberal-partys-corruption-over-the-last-7-years/

A couple which stuck in my craw were:

"Broke a promise to scrap free lifetime travel for former ministers. The excuse is that the government is to busy to pass legislation through parliament, despite that being the job of the government and of parliament."

"Changed the ministerial code of conduct so ministers no longer have to sell shares which create a conflict of interest."

And now we learn:

"Health Minister Greg Hunt wrote and signed a glowing letter of commendation for a politically connected healthcare company while it was in the midst of negotiations with his department for lucrative multi-million-dollar PPE deals.

Canberra-based Aspen Medical would go on to win taxpayer-funded contracts — without a public tender — worth more than $1.1 billion.

After combined losses of $7 million over 2018 and 2019, these deals have seen the company's pre-tax profits soar to more than $420 million during the pandemic.

While Aspen Medical had no prior experience in such large-scale procurement, its PPE deals with the Department of Health were worth $500 million more than any other government supplier, including those with a background in the industry."

Of course their lobbyist was none other than former Liberal health minister Michael Wooldridge who is a close associate and former board member for Aspen Medical.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-05-02/aspen-medical-greg-hunt-four-corners/101022086

When are you going to give up on this lot?

Oops. I got that back to front. Not good news - if correct; but, given SR's pathological hatred of any government right of the CCP, and given that haters and extremists can find something that fits their views on good old Google if they try hard enough and are fanatical enough, I will take it with a grain of salt.

As for this Friendly Jordies that SR is deeply in love with, and can't help chuntering on about, I believe he was recently in trouble with the law for something he broadcast.

If we get a Labor government, SR will be struck dumb. There is no point in constantly rubbishing the Opposition, and he won't have a word to say against a Green/Teal Labor government.

Mean Girl Wong has decreed that Australia should have a government "as decent as its people" . Work that one out. Should that government have her and her two 'meany' colleagues in it

It's an interesting index, but one to view skeptically. It is not an index of actual corruption, but perceptions of corruption. http://www.transparency.org/en/news/how-cpi-scores-are-calculated. If a significant proportion of the population runs around saying a country has become more corrupt, then most likely this will be reflected in the index. Take a bow Steele, and Jordies.

It's also not a measure of anything the federal government has necessarily done, or not done. Why blame the feds when most of the government corruption happens in the states? And a lot of corruption doesn't even happen in the government sector. But this has been the standard ALP mantra for the term of this government - whether the government is responsible or not, anything that happens in Australia is its fault.

Then you should also look at the international comparisons. Our perceived level of corruption is similar to Canada, Japan, Belgium, Iceland, Ireland, France. Then take a look at the graph for Canada which records a similar fall in the same period of time. Obviously Trudeau's fault on Steele's logic.

If indeed there has been an increase in corruption perhaps we should look at social factors, like the postmodern idea that there is no such thing as objective truth, just power relationships between individuals. That is a recipe ripe for dishonesty and corruption.

Spot on, Graham.

Not that the average voter will know or care about 'corruption' when they vote. When they see or hear the word, they think of some South American banana republic. And, if there is some version of corruption in Australia, has it touched them? Very unlikely.

Real voters are much like Green substitute, "independent" Monique Ryan's mother-in-law, who is not going to vote for her son's wife, but for Josh Freydenberg, because she thinks that he is "a nice person" and he "knows what he is doing".

Cop that, Monny.

SteeleRedux,
Any form of corruption involving "hon. Minister" is utterly deplorable. However, on the other side of that coin, could you really believe that you & Paul1405 & Foxy et al could run a chook raffle let alone a company with only people such as yourself to chose from ?
I'm simply implying that we really shouldn't expect that much more from others than we can manage or are willing to do ourselves !
I wholeheartedly support a salary reduction for bureaucrats because as we all know they simply don't earn what they get !
The only method to bring corruption down somewhat is vehemently opposed by people who perpetually bleat transparency & equality etc. I'm talking about a National Service !

Let's dissect Graham's post.

- The figures aren't real but based on people's perceptions.

- If there is any veracity to them then how can it be pinned on the Federal government when the States are worse.

- Regardless most corruption isn't done by government, it's the private sector.

- And anyway our levels are pretty normal compared to other countries.

- Further it appears societal factors are mostly to blame.

- In fact if you look closely you will see it is actually the power imbalance between individuals where the real problem of corruption lies.

So in a couple of sentences the political party Graham has close ties to is deftly placed at least 6 measures away from the problem.

Therefore it somehow follows there is nothing to see here.

This is despite a Federal Corruption Commission being placed very high on the list of voter concerns.

This type of deflection has become pretty standard fare from the LNP and its supporters. A slightly more expansive version of “I don't hold a hose mate”.

I'm not sure it will wash this election though.

Dear Steele,

The facts are that:

Transparency International released its annual
Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) A highly regarded
global measure of anti-corruption efforts and Australia
has recorded its worst ever score. It is above the
global average and sits high in the global rankings
at 18th but is behind New Zealand, Singapore, and
Hong Kong in the Asia-Pacific region.

We're told that the recent drop is due largely
to Australia's
failure to establish a federal anti-corruption
commission. A promise made prior to the last election.

The failure to reform Australia's foreign bribery laws
and take greater action to regulate lobbying, donations,
and the revolving door between big business and politics
were also cited by Transparency International as were
tax financial regulations which allowed Australia
to be used as a launching pad for corruption in the
region.

People do want a federal ICAC. It is one of the top
priorities in this election, alongside action on climate
change. Corruption is a bread and butter issue and it does
impact on people's lives - when taxpayer money that should
be prioritised for things such as health-care, aged-care,
education, welfare, disability support, jobs, and
building a climate resilient country is either cut or
redirected into the coffers of fossil fuel companies or
used for highly questionable projects in marginal
electorates the voters are aware they are missing out.

Voters were promised an integrity commission and they want
one - yesterday. It should definitely be an election
matter. It affects us all.

Dan Andrews and senior members of the Labor Party are involved in corruption.

http://7news.com.au/politics/daniel-andrews/daniel-andrews-reportedly-secretly-questioned-by-victorias-anti-corruption-watchdog-ibac-c-6603194

Josephus,

You're jumping the gun here. Lets wait and see if
anything eventuates.
__________________________________________________________________

For his part the Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese has
pledged to establish a federal watchdog "with teeth"
by the end of this year if Labor wins the election.

But when questioned about the Coalition's broken promise
the PM had nothing new to say. First he tried to blame
Labor - but when that didn't work - he changed the subject.

http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/daniel-andrews-refuses-to-comment-on-leaked-anti-corruption-watchdog-findings/n52rycylt

Branch stacking involves recruiting, and usually paying for, new members to a political party and is done to boost a faction's influence and ensure its preferred candidates are preselected.

Former Victorian government minister Adem Somyurek quit the ALP in 2020 before he could be booted, following revelations he enlisted electoral and ministerial staff to run a branch-stacking operation.

The practice is not illegal but it is against Labor party rules to pay for others' memberships.

The interim IBAC report is said to have found "unethical practices" extended further than Mr Somyurek's moderate Labor faction, with it being "highly likely" the misuse of publicly funded staff and employment of family members and factional allies was more widespread across the party.

The inquiry was set up to investigate whether taxpayer funds and money intended for community associations were used for branch stacking.

Branch stacking involves recruiting, and usually paying for, new members to a political party and is done to boost a faction’s influence and ensure its preferred candidates are preselected.

You can employ all the various corruption watchdogs (ICACs) in the world. But it always boils down to the one thing...Who exactly police the police?

Josephus,

Victorian Liberal Party branch stacking investigation
found 170 memberships were paid by someone else.
Former Liberal Premier Ted Baillieu said all steps
to stamp put branch stacking must be supported.

Hear, hear.
http://abc.net.au/news/2020-12-18/victorian-liberal-party-branch-stacking-reviews-handed-down/12996900

Isn't this fun?

Dear Josephus,

Given the investigation of the Victorian Labor Party is being conducted by exactly the type of corruption body the Australian people want for the Federal Government why aren't you supportive of one with real teeth being put in place?

And yes I am fully supportive of the Victorian Labor Party facing the music.

SR nowhere have I stated I do not support the establishment of a federal ICAC.
I just wanted to show there is corruption across all parties.

Dear Foxy,

Our score in the well respected The Economist Democracy Index has also dropped going from 8.96 in 2020 to 8.90 in 2021. At the same time NZ went from 9.25 to 9.37.

http://www.eiu.com/n/campaigns/democracy-index-2021/

While not a huge drop it is further proof of a disturbing trend and one that should be recognised.

People do want a federal ICAC.
Foxy,
Only those who can make money from it ! The decent people just want corruption to decline as quickly as possible. Shaming corrupt bureaucrats is more effective via forums & much, much cheaper !

Dear Steele,

I agree that the drop should be recognised.

However, I don't hold much hope that it will be.

In any case we'll see who wins the next election
and if it's Labor - whether they will establish
a federal watchdog "with teeth "by the end of this
year as promised.

Graham,
> If a significant proportion of the population runs around saying a country has
> become more corrupt, then most likely this will be reflected in the index.
Maybe, but do you doubt they're right?

The Sports Rorts of the 1990s were an example of lack of due process, yet they still forced a minster's resignation. Yet ScoMo's Sports Rorts were a blatant attempt to bribe voters into voting of the Libs. Obvious corruption by 1990s standards, yet the PM denies doing anything wrong!

Then there was the government's persecution of whilstleblowers. Sunlight is the best disinfectant, yet the government wants people to be kept in the dark, and treats the heroes who try to change that as villains. So they're not on corrupt themselves, but encourage corruption!

There are suspicious this is just the tip of the iceberg - why else would the government promise a Federal ICAC with teeth and then abandon the idea completely when Labor refused to back their toothless version that specifically excluded politicians?

Tonight's 4 Corners is set to show even more evidence of corruption. But how much will it take to convince you the problem is real and serious?

As for "the postmodern idea that there is no such thing as objective truth, just power relationships between individuals", it would be a recipe for dishonesty and corruption if it had caught on. But it hasn't, and I can't think of anyone who believes it. Are you perhaps conflating it with the superficially similar idea that it's difficult (if not impossible) to discover the whole truth, and what appears to be objective truth can turn out to be nothing of the sort?

(apologies for the typo: "not on..." should be "not only...")

Steelereflux,

It's almost certainly due to the systemic corruption in Queensland and Victoria Labor.

There's not a single example of corruption in your post Aidan. While it might be regrettable it is not illegal for parties to favour particular constituencies.

And "persecution of whistleblowers" is not corruption either. Look at Queensland where some senior public servants - the Integrity Commissioner and the Auditor General have alleged that they were persecuted, but no one has suggested that is corruption.

That doesn't make either thing right, but if you characterise everything that doesn't meet the purest of standards as corruption, then everything is going to be corrupt.

I think that our handling of COVID was disastrous, but I wouldn't suggest that it was corrupt.

Shadowminister,

So the State in which the premier was forced to resign due to shady deals and relationships revealed by their corruption watchdog doesn't get a mention from you? One myopic little chap aren't you.

Dear Graham,

If whistle blowers are hounded for revealing corrupt practices then those engaged in the hounding are acting corruptly.

Parties who sell access to ministers are in my opinion, and the court of public opinion, acting corruptly.

Pork barrelling in order to secure a continuation of employment is acting corruptly even if the political classes don't see it that way.

The stench of corruption around the LNP is pretty evident and 4 corners is about to add another instance to a very long list. The failure of political operatives to recognise this behaviour as corrupt is a huge part of the problem. For those of us who fondly remember Howard's robust ministerial codes of conduct it is depressing how far the standards have fallen.

The LNP really needs a term in opposition to get its house in order. Given Murdoch and Palmer's wallet it will be a big ask but for the sake of your party it really needs to happen.

Graham,
Corruption is not the same as illegality.

My first example was something that was regarded as corrupt in the 1990s. That the government, and indeed you, don't regard it that way now is part of the problem.

Persecution of whistleblowers allows corruption to flourish, and we should have passed whistleblower protection legislation like some other countries have done. Instead after misdeeds had been committed n the name of Australia, there were Federal Police raids on journalists and even lawyers. Worse still, secret trials have occurred. We should be condemning, not emulating, the corruption of the CCP!

We have a choice: truth or coverups. And unless we choose truth, corruption is inevitable - it really is that simple. Denying corruption is corruption certainly won't reduce its occurrence.

As for whether there's been corruption in the government's handling of Covid, I think it would be better to watch the 4 Corners episode before commenting further.

The formula for CORRUPTION

ASPEN MEDICAL + LIBERAL PARTY = CORRUPTION.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-05-02/aspen-medical-political-access-pandemic-profits-four-corners/101022230

Four Corners was trying too hard to find corruption in a situation where there was insufficient knowledge, logistical difficulties, incompetent bureaucrats & corrupt private individuals. That is a long way from being a corrupt LNP.

Hunt was writing a glowing reference for this shonky operator, and friend of the LIBERAL PARTY while his dept was giving AM massive gov contracts. Was there backhanders involved? Hunt can now retire in comfort.

Paul1405,
Don't discount the highly likely sabotage in such matters by opposition supporting bureaudroids to try & give Govt a bad name ! Never mind the cost & unwanted outcome to the Govt & people of Australia.

Graham has already covered some of this, but to add some nuance....

Although SR calls it the "Corruption Index" its actually the Corruption Perception Index". I'm sure SR's leaving the word 'perception' out was a mere oversight. Its not like he's ever tried to fudge data like that before </sarc>.

Despite calling themselves 'transparency.org', the data they use is remarkably untransparent. Indeed its positively opaque. But it seems to be based on a range of assertions from groups within a country about how they FEEL about corruption. So no objective data to speak of, just perceptions of corruption -see above.

When your claims are based on the feelz of others, its becomes vital to know who those others are. But again their transparency is completely untransparent.

Finally, as best I can work out, they run their data (such as it is) through various algorithms to standardise it. Inevitably that means the results have margins of error. But we're never told what those margins of error are. For all we know, the changes in results and therefore positions are merely movements within the error bars.

So all in all, even though the gullible will love these things where highly complex issues are resolved to one number, inappropriate as that may be, the whole concept is fraught and can be safely ignored.

Not corruption mind you, just the notion that it can be resolved to single value

mhaze,

Yes. That single word 'perception' makes a big difference. As for these organisations set up by who-knows-who, for who-knows-what-motives, it is evident that people use the exactly the same information to come up with opposite findings. There is a psychiatric explanation for that.

It is also true that people lacking proof of what they want to say will exaggerate. SteeleRedux, being the highly 'unusual' character that he is, has understated - or left out - information that doesn't back what he wants to believe and wants others to believe.

Dear mhaze,

Well that was a few hundred words of nothing from you wasn't it except the usual shoot the messenger tripe.

People's perceptions and what you so dismissively call feelz are what decide elections so if they are invalid so is every popular vote.

The organisation gives a good explanation of why they use this methodology because of the difficulty of gathering quantifiable data.

As the drop in the rankings is reflective of the growing uncovering of corrupt dealings by the LNP there is little reason to think they have got it wrong.

However for someone like yourself who is so keen to keep the sins of the Coalition hidden this would be concerning and something you would want others to dismiss.

Sorry but the Australian people aren't buying it in the numbers they did last time.

Many Australians can see that Australian politics
is broken. This Liberal-National Government has
had more than a decade to act and implement even basic
measures to clean up corruption. They have chosen not
to do so and simply blame Labor. The same as they are
blaming Labor for everything else. It smacks of desperation.
We have the Treasurer Josh Frydenberg telling people on
his billboards "Keep Australia Secure. Keep Josh."
He's the Treasurer for heavens sake. Is he that scared of
losing his seat? Obviously he is!

I wonder if SR would agree with conservative Gary Hardgrave that the Queensland Labor government is the most corrupt government he has ever known.

There's an old joke that did the rounds that visitors
to Queensland needed to not only turn their clocks back
an hour but their calendars back 30 years. This was due
to indications that then state premier Campbell Newman
wanted to take Queensland back to the time before the
Fitzgerald Inquiry blew the lid off political and
police corruption in the state.

Still, the leader of the "not corrupt" LNP - Campbell
Newman did eventually get a pretty good shellacking
from the Queensland voters in which he got ejected from
his own seat and lost government.

If anyone of you good people need any evidence that both sides of politics are irretrievably corrupt, just ask any member of 'Special Branch' of any State or Territory police force. It is they alone who have the wherewithal and experience to shine a beacon on political corruption.

In my humble opinion there was only ever one politician who served his constituents purely for altruistic reasons - And that gentleman's name was Mr Ted (Edward) MACK (Ind) of North Sydney. I could relay several amazing stories about the moral fortitude of this bloke but I'd end-up running out of space.

Dear O Sung Wu,

Thank You for that.

A few other politicians come to mind also.
Dr Kerryn Phelps - the Independent who
won the seat of Wentworth - was determined to
make a difference. She did not last long
unfortunately. I always admired Julie Bishop
and thought she'd make a great PM. I also
liked Peter Costello - believe it or not.

Of today's bunch - I like - David Sharma.
James Paterson and Dr Monique Ryan - the
Independent who's running opposite Josh Frydenberg.
I hope she's in with a chance. We need more
politicians who will provide a real alternative
a fresh voice - truly dedicated to their community.

From the pen of SR: "However for someone like yourself who is so keen to keep the sins of the Coalition hidden"

Couldn't give a damn about hiding these alleged sins. But I do rather care about truth and a valid understanding of the state of the nation. When decisions are made based on iffy data or concocted league tables, those decisions are almost invariably wrong.

Thankfully the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party is not only free of corruption but their enemies can’t even get a hint of any.

Dear mhaze,

God strewth you do prattle on quite baselessly.

You sniffle: “When decisions are made based on iffy data or concocted league tables, those decisions are almost invariably wrong.” and bemoan: “Finally, as best I can work out, they run their data (such as it is) through various algorithms to standardise it. Inevitably that means the results have margins of error. But we're never told what those margins of error are. For all we know, the changes in results and therefore positions are merely movements within the error bars.”

Yet even a cursory look at the data would show they list the margins of error you claimed wasn't there.

Australia in 2021 scored 73 out of a possible 100, was ranked 18th with a standard error figure of 1.63.

In 2020 we scored 77, were ranked 11th with a standard error figure of 1.05.

New Zealand on the other hand in 2021 scored 88 out of a possible 100, was ranked equal first with a standard error figure of 1.43.

You do get caught out not doing your homework a lot don't you.

Look, just face it, a well respected organisation has show Australia sliding to its worse figures ever in the well regarded Corruption Perception Index and yet you are working overtime to make erroneous claims about their methods and their data. Why are you protecting the obviously corrupt?

Get off the grass Issy, what about all that "scummy" the Shooters and Hooters get from the Septic Tanks, aka NRA, through the back door. Robin Askin would be proud of ya.

Ps, I forgot, "brown paper bag man" Askin was Australia's most corrupt poly ever, and both a SHOOTER and a HOOTER, he liked to say; "Shoot the bastards, run over the bastards", see a SHOOTER AND HOOTER, You do remember Issy? The Shooters and Hooters keep a picture of Old Robin Askin, on the wall of their 'Marty Bryant' memorial clubhouse, down Killer Lane. Come clean Issy and don't put up ridiculous posts like your last one.

SR,

I know this is gunna get too complicated for you. Standard error isn't the same as margin of error. Standard error is, usually, the value of one standard deviation from the mean, although sometimes it can be more than one standard deviation if that seems valid. We don't know what the standard error here means because the PERCEPTION is that those who fall for this rubbish don't understand or care.

We also don't know what group perceptions make up the number and more importantly what the weighting is or if the weighting changes over time.

Let's face it SR. You like all those who are likely to fall for this stuff, just want a number that looks vaguely 'scientific'.

Frankly, we don't even know what they mean by corruption in regards to Australia and which of the multitude of possible forms of corruption they list, have increased or decreased in Australia or elsewhere.

But it gives you the answer you want, and in the end that's all that matters. Truth...not so much.

Dear mhaze,

I do enjoy these when you try and bluster your way out of an obvious stuff-up.

The margin of error can be derived from the standard error times the critical value which is useful when looking at a single data set. The CPI looks at multiple data sources so the standard error is the appropriate figure to use.

You claim: “We also don't know what group perceptions make up the number”.

Of course we do.

The Australian figures use 9 out of these 13 data sets.

1. African Development Bank Country Policy and Institutional Assessment 2020
2. Bertelsmann Stiftung Sustainable Governance Indicators 2020
3. Bertelsmann Stiftung Transformation Index 2022
4. Economist Intelligence Unit Country Risk Service 2021
5. Freedom House Nations in Transit 2021
6. Global Insight Country Risk Ratings 2020
7. IMD World Competitiveness Center World Competitiveness Yearbook Executive Opinion Survey 2021
8. Political and Economic Risk Consultancy Asian Intelligence 2021
9. The PRS Group International Country Risk Guide 2021
10. World Bank Country Policy and Institutional Assessment 2020
11. World Economic Forum Executive Opinion Survey 2020
12. World Justice Project Rule of Law Index Expert Survey 2020
13. Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem v. 11) 2021

Take number 11 for example:

"World Bank Country Policy and Institutional Assessment 2020
Type of assessment: Expert assessment

Corruption question(s) Experts are asked to assess: Transparency, accountability and corruption in the public sector. “This criterion assesses the extent to which the executive can be held accountable for its use of funds and the results of its actions by the electorate and by the legislature and judiciary, and the extent to which public employees within the executive are required to account for the use of resources, administrative decisions, and results obtained.

Each of three dimensions should be rated separately: (a) accountability of the executive to oversight institutions and of public employees for their performance; (b) access of civil society to information on public affairs; and (c) state capture by narrow vested interests.” For the overall rating, these three dimensions receive equal weighting."

Sources explain, weighting explained. What's your next whinge?

Which also addresses Graham's contentions that:

"If a significant proportion of the population runs around saying a country has become more corrupt, then most likely this will be reflected in the index. ... It's also not a measure of anything the federal government has necessarily done, or not done. Why blame the feds when most of the government corruption happens in the states? And a lot of corruption doesn't even happen in the government sector."

The World Bank assessment goes directly to government performance as do many of the other data sets.

Again this isn't a "significant proportion of the population" but experts.

"Experts are asked to assess: Transparency, accountability and corruption in the public sector. “This criterion assesses the extent to which the executive can be held accountable for its use of funds and the results of its actions by the electorate and by the legislature and judiciary, and the extent to which public employees within the executive are required to account for the use of resources, administrative decisions, and results obtained."

Paul,
Got you!1
You can’t fault my statement, and can’t offer one wit of evidence for your allegations of NRA involvement.
Recourse to your brand of wit shews desperation.

"They got Al Capone but they never got Robert Askin" was a saying many years ago but the current governments (NSW State and Federal) are far more blatant in their handouts to mates. He said "We're in the lolly shop boys" and made the most of the opportunity.

Morrison recently gave a Tasmanian distillery $4.5million. The company was already very profitable and didn't "need" the money and apart from the owner being a prominent Liberal donor and a personal friend of Barnaby Joyce I can't see any significant value in it for the taxpayer. It's obviously pork-barreling for the seat of Bass but a strange but convenient choice.

Likewise $40million handout to Murdoch to "promote women's sport on FOXTEL" seemed a bit odd, considering taxpayers would then need to pay for the privilege of watching the outcome (if any) and it's not as if Murdoch would ever repay it via his non-existent taxes. Maybe it was a political investment.

The so-called NSW ICAC "kangaroo court" revealed that ex-Premier Gladys Berejiklian was well aware of corruption within her own government but did nothing about it.

The list is very long and getting longer and it's no surprise that politicians are looked down upon.

Hi Issy,

With a policy that allows for loaded guns for five years olds, we are fortunate that the SHOOTERS and HOOTERS Party has zero say in Federal politics. We already have their sidekicks from ONE NATION rabbiting on with Nazi ideology, we don't need a second.

BTW; We're you ever a "bagman" for the SHOOTERS and HOOTERS? Bring in under $10k at a time from the NRA into Australia. Money channelled through the Aussie chapter the SSAA.

Paul,
If your wit was excreta you couldn’t furnish a starter kit for a lone tomato seed.

Hi Issy,

I recognise that above as a quote from Arsethrottle. The Kudos Kid will be along shortly to give you some KRUMPET.

Can't deny what I say, how's your mate Steve 'Dicko' Dickson these days. In jail with Fat Bob, Two Bob and Elephant Bob? What's your tip for the May 21st Erection? ScumO' is a 100/1, oh so is Albo.

Paul
Don’t you wish that the Greens were as squeaky clean as the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party?

Could you, please, backup your allegations with some facts; facts, also known as verifiable truths.

The most corrupt governments are the Vic Labor and QSL Labor. Both are accused of endemic corruption.

shadowminister,

Yet it was the NSW premier and deputy premier who both fell on their swords after fronting ICAC.

Well, when the Insipid, Callous, Academic, Cartel, gangs up on those who pose a threat to their antics then even the not so bad get pushed onto swords !

Those who fall on their swords usually have good reason to; and the two mentioned took the easy way out.

SR,

So Dan Andrews facing IBAC for the 3rd time Where IBAC finds endemic corruption in Vic Labor and not one person resigning, and pretty much the same happening in QSL shows that Labor has zero integrity.

The same was with Juliar and Thompson/Slipper.