Kevin Rudd

somesortoftrader · 25 May 2007

Should Rudd's wife have to sell her company?

I think it is quite unfair that, in order to be a politician ( ~ PM) the community would expect everyone around you (family, friends...) has to be not only super clean, but without self determination.

If the labor party lean on Rudd and therefore his wife to sell her company, I think that would be a sad day. It would certainly prove that Rudd has no spine when standing up for what he believes in. The only variable is, and if it is true - the majority of the work conducted by Therese Rein's company is to the Governamnt.

The real question here is.... if the Rudd's are truly Labor heart & soul - why does Therese Rein use agreements and not the Award system?

http://canberra.yourguide.com.au/de...lass=general&story_id=588659&category=General

This is not intended as a political post, but for the record I'm not a Rudd fan .

Kimosabi · 25 May 2007

Re: Rudd's wifes company - Should it be sold?

somesortoftrader said:
Should Rudd's wife have to sell her company?

I think it is quite unfair that, in order to be a politician ( ~ PM) the community would expect everyone around you (family, friends...) has to be not only super clean, but without self determination.

If the labor party lean on Rudd and therefore his wife to sell her company, I think that would be a sad day. It would certainly prove that Rudd has no spine when standing up for what he believes in. The only variable is, and if it is true - the majority of the work conducted by Therese Rein's company is to the Governamnt.

The real question here is.... if the Rudd's are truly Labor heart & soul - why does Therese Rein use agreements and not the Award system?

http://canberra.yourguide.com.au/de...lass=general&story_id=588659&category=General

This is not intended as a political post, but for the record I'm not a Rudd fan .

I think it's good she runs a business, if Rudd has any questions about business, he can ask his missus.

Considering she's a business owner, I wouldn't be surprised if she votes Liberal as well...

insider · 25 May 2007

Re: Rudd's wifes company - Should it be sold?

Well I'm sure John Howards brother is loving the IR laws as rumor has it that he owns a factory of a sort... Why should Rudd's wife sell up?

The Mint Man · 25 May 2007

Re: Rudd's wifes company - Should it be sold?

I dont thnk she should sell it but I can see where there is a conflict of interest if he is to become PM, she gets money from the government for finding people jobs. It would be seen as Rudd paying his missus, in effect paying himself. A good little side earner.

The fact that she uses contracts also speaks volumes, if its good enough for her then whats Rudds/Labors problem?

Cheers

tech/a · 25 May 2007

Re: Rudd's wifes company - Should it be sold?

Just shows to me the transapency in political policy.

Tell the people what they want to hear.
As a business owner myself currently re doing all WPA's and going through the "fair" agreement ajudication,there isnt a single employee worse off here.

Mind you I want to keep all mine!

ideaforlife · 25 May 2007

Re: Rudd's wifes company - Should it be sold?

The point is that Rudd's wife's business directly benefits from deeds with federal government. It's pretty common sense if Rudd wants to be clean of a People PM, he has to come off clean of any "conflict of interest".

To be honest, I have more trust in Howard than Rudd. Time will prove I'm right on this.

Lucky · 25 May 2007

Re: Rudd's wifes company - Should it be sold?

The Mint Man said:
I dont thnk she should sell it but I can see where there is a conflict of interest if he is to become PM, she gets money from the government for finding people jobs. It would be seen as Rudd paying his missus, in effect paying himself. A good little side earner.
The fact that she uses contracts also speaks volumes, if its good enough for her then whats Rudds/Labors problem?

Cheers

Maybe Ingeus is the Australian version of the Carlyle Group in the making?

Mousie · 25 May 2007

Re: Rudd's wifes company - Should it be sold?

Having a business is a very personal thing. Good on her for having the cajones of owning one. If you think that's gonna affect Rudd's decision-making then don't vote for him. But I find telling someone she should sell her interest in the business because of something the relative is (about to be) doing to be very unfair.

The tall poppy syndrome is rearing its ugly head again - if you wanna stop someone from being in a position where potential conflicts of interest exist (or set conditions for that someone) then try getting there yourself in the 1st place. And if and when you finally get there we'll see how you think about conflict-of-interest issues being thrown in your face.

Mousie · 25 May 2007

Re: Rudd's wifes company - Should it be sold?

And BTW, I'm not rooting for any party (yet).

megla · 25 May 2007

Re: Rudd's wifes company - Should it be sold?

my curiousity is who dug deep enough to find this out, and why aren't they doing the libs too!?

if we go looking for anti-hypocritical politicians, I want to put my money on them, cause they will be RARE AS

and memories are short, remember the libs with their code of ethics for ministers that they keep breaching lol

Smurf1976 · 25 May 2007

Re: Rudd's wifes company - Should it be sold?

What someone's family members do is their own business IMO.

If you work for, say, Coles then there's nothing to say that your wife can't work for another retailer.

If you're a real estate agent then there's nothing to say that your wife can't work for a rival agent.

I know a community radio station manager whose wife works on-air for a rival station. The only restriction is that his wife can not volunteer on-air at the community station run by her husband (though she can (and does) do work for them off-air).

So what's wrong with a politician's wife running a business? It's nothing to do with anyone but her, the employees and customers.

I'm truly fed up with all this dirty politics. Stick to the real issues - an individual small business isn't one of them. :2twocents

YELNATS · 25 May 2007

Re: Rudd's wifes company - Should it be sold?

somesortoftrader said:
Should Rudd's wife have to sell her company?

I shouldn't think so. It's her business not his. He has no equity or commercial interest in that business as far as I have been made aware.

If we can't trust a politician to keep his/her decison-making at an arms length from the commercial dealings of a family member, then that person should not be elected to parliament, let alone be represented as a prospective prime minister.

If there is a question of a conflict of interest, at this stage at least, it is only that, a perceived, rather than an actual conflict of interest. No actual conflict of interset has been proven or even alleged. I can't see that one should have to divest assets based purely on perceptions or possibilities.

If this were not to be the case, where should the line on the acceptable holding of assets be drawn, at spouses, siblings, parents, children, cousins, etc. etc.? Regards YN.

The Mint Man · 25 May 2007

Re: Rudd's wifes company - Should it be sold?

Smurf1976 said:
What someone's family members do is their own business IMO.

If you work for, say, Coles then there's nothing to say that your wife can't work for another retailer.

If you're a real estate agent then there's nothing to say that your wife can't work for a rival agent.

I know a community radio station manager whose wife works on-air for a rival station. The only restriction is that his wife can not volunteer on-air at the community station run by her husband (though she can (and does) do work for them off-air).

So what's wrong with a politician's wife running a business? It's nothing to do with anyone but her, the employees and customers.

I'm truly fed up with all this dirty politics. Stick to the real issues - an individual small business isn't one of them.

Smurf,
I dont think anyone is complaining about his missus owning a business, not me anyway. Its the type of business she owns. I think people are wondering 'what happens if rudd becomes PM' because that would mean his government is paying his wife.
I have also heared alot of peoples coments about how Labor/Rudd is ment to be on the 'battlers' side yet his missus is filthy rich and owns companys which use contracts to employ people.

Nifty · 25 May 2007

Re: Rudd's wifes company - Should it be sold?

If Rudd behaves like Howard,he will commit to his wife selling her business,then if he becomes P.M. will renege,saying that it wasn't a core promise.

Smurf1976 · 25 May 2007

Re: Rudd's wifes company - Should it be sold?

The Mint Man said:
Smurf,
I dont think anyone is complaining about his missus owning a business, not me anyway. Its the type of business she owns. I think people are wondering 'what happens if rudd becomes PM' because that would mean his government is paying his wife.

But surely it is still her right to run a business and seek government work no matter what her husband does for a job?

Or does the government (under either Howard or Rudd) not have proper processes in place to remove any conflict of interest. Surely the PM can't personally award a contract to a specific company? It's possible but I certainly hope not.

IMO it would be cheaper for the government to just do the job itself but that doesn't seem to suit current political thinking. The contracts for various things I've seen are 3 to 5 times higher than the cost of doing the work in-house. That is the real issue IMO - wasting my taxes on ridiculously expensive outsourcing when it was cheaper to just keep paying the public servants to do the work even if they are a tad inefficient at times. :2twocents

hongwong · 25 May 2007

Re: Rudd's wifes company - Should it be sold?

none of our bussiness. What he going to do for australia because I dont think his wife going to recruit the whole of the australia.

brutus · 25 May 2007

Re: Rudd's wifes company - Should it be sold?

What is lost in the discussion of Rudds Wifes business is the style of business where outsourcing of employment whether Govt or private sector had one big motivational force. If you dont employ directly you dont have to sack staff when change is needed. Mind you if Rudd gets to power his wifes business should boom. Go Mrs Rudd!!!
Brutus

Julia · 25 May 2007

Re: Rudd's wifes company - Should it be sold?

The Mint Man said:
Smurf,
I dont think anyone is complaining about his missus owning a business, not me anyway. Its the type of business she owns. I think people are wondering 'what happens if rudd becomes PM' because that would mean his government is paying his wife.
I have also heared alot of peoples coments about how Labor/Rudd is ment to be on the 'battlers' side yet his missus is filthy rich and owns companys which use contracts to employ people.

Exactly right. Both these points differentiate Ms Rein's business from the supermarket or travel agency .

It's the same principle as that which declares MP's are very silly to own any shares which could benefit from decisions they may make.

Tough on her, but I can't see any alternative to her divesting herself of the business. However, probably some clever lawyer will find a way to make it appear to be gone whilst allowing her to retain some interest, however many times removed.

chicken · 25 May 2007

Re: Rudd's wifes company - Should it be sold?

If Rudds wife had a business which did not involve Goverment work I would say for her to keep it...but as it involves Goverment work....then its CONFLICT OF INTREST and that would cause a problem for Mr Rudd....I am afraid its one or the other...so, Mr Rudd may either give up to be elected or his wife has to dispose of her intrest as its simple a CONFLICT OF INTREST...and there is no other way as it will bite Mr Rudd sooner or later :2twocents

rederob · 26 May 2007

Re: Rudd's wifes company - Should it be sold?

chicken said:
If Rudd's wife had a business which did not involve Goverment work I would say for her to keep it...but as it involves Goverment work....then its CONFLICT OF INTREST and that would cause a problem for Mr Rudd....I am afraid its one or the other...so, Mr Rudd may either give up to be elected or his wife has to dispose of her intrest as its simple a CONFLICT OF INTREST...and there is no other way as it will bite Mr Rudd sooner or later

What a narrow minded bunch there are, indicative of this post.
There is absolutely no conflict of interest in Rein's case as neither she nor her husband can have any input into the process that determines winning tenders for government work.
There is a perception of conflict of interest because most people don't have a clue what a true conflict of interest involves.
While a cynical few might see Rein receiving favours should Rudd become PM, the reality is very much the opposite.
Tender selection committees seeing Rein's name on a service proposal will scrutinise it more thoroughly than any other, knowing full well that unsuccessful bidders will be jumping at every opportunity to rip into her on grounds of favouritism.
Unfortunately for Rein, the clever thing to now do to assist her company is remove herself from it so as not to attract the forensic scrutiny that has already began to occur.
Either way, it's a lose - lose situation.
More of a loss to the growing number of women that have worked relentlessly over tens of years to build a business, only to have to give it away because men still wear the pants: What a shame.

Kevin Rudd

somesortoftrader

Kimosabi

insider

The Mint Man

tech/a

No Ordinary Duck

ideaforlife

Lucky

Mousie

Mousie

megla

Smurf1976

YELNATS

Non illegitimus carborundum

The Mint Man

Nifty

Smurf1976

hongwong

brutus

Julia

In Memoriam

chicken

rederob

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