Australian Politics General...

[IFocus]

Are you saying The Voice is a culture war ?

Heaven forbid ?

 

[Sean K]

How much of a wet lettuce is David Pocock? Did he really play rugby?

 

[sptrawler]

Yet another example of the great job corruption watchdogs do, in holding the Government to account.

Daniel Andrews labels scathing IBAC report 'educational'

Senior staff in Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews's government interfered and pressured public servants to ensure lucrative contracts were awarded to a key Labor Party ally without competitive tender, the state's anti-corruption watchdog finds.

www.abc.net.au

Senior staff in Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews's government interfered and pressured public servants to ensure lucrative contracts were awarded to a key Labor Party ally without competitive tender, the state's anti-corruption watchdog has found.

The report found ministerial advisors bypassed normal protocols in dealing with the public service to ensure the contract was awarded and then upheld.
There was also constant communication between union secretary Diana Asmar and ministerial advisors about the project, with pressure put on the department to ensure it occurred.
To tackle this, IBAC has made 17 recommendations to ensure staff and ministerial codes of conduct are less opaque, and to crack down on advisors pressuring public servants.
IBAC also suggests allowing parliamentary committees to call advisers to ministers, which is currently not allowed.
The report is also critical of some public servants for not providing frank and fearless advice.

Mr Andrews addressed the media:
"We thank them for that report, there are 17 recommendations made in that important educational report. I will lead, as the chair of the cabinet, a cabinet process to consider those issues and we will respond in due course," he said.

Million-dollar contract awarded with no competitive tender process​

In 2018, the HWU made an unsolicited proposal to the Andrews government to develop a training program to addresses occupational violence and harassment.

The government awarded a $1.2-million contract to the union to provide the training to 575 frontline health workers just hours before it went into caretaker mode ahead of the November 2018 state election.

The training program was delivered by a new entity called the Health Education Federation (HEF), which was set up by the HWU.

It had no experience and there was no competitive tender process.

A week earlier, the premier made an election promise for another $2.2 million to train 1,000 frontline health workers in partnership with the HWU.

It followed a meeting between Ms Asmar and the premier just weeks before.
Mr Andrews was interviewed in secret as part of Operation Daintree, as IBAC went to court to try and stop The Age newspaper from disclosing details of the probe during last year's state election.

IBAC said the premier "had no recollection of what he discussed with Ms Asmar, no recollection of any discussion with his advisors that led to this announcement [election promise] and no awareness that they and the Minister for Health's advisor had discussed a detailed proposal".

"After the Premier realised that his recollection of what he announced was faulty he left open the possibility that he may have made a commitment to Ms Asmar but remained quite uncertain that what he announced amounted to a commitment,'' the report said.

IBAC found that a ministerial advisor in Ms Hennessy's office "exerted pressure" on the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to award the contract.

It also found the decision by DHHS to contract the HEF "without undertaking a competitive procurement process was driven by a belief of senior staff in that department that that was the minister's and government's preference, and by ongoing pressure from the ministerial advisor and secretary of the union".

 

[SirRumpole]

Yet another example of the great job corruption watchdogs do, in holding the Government to account.

Daniel Andrews labels scathing IBAC report 'educational'

Senior staff in Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews's government interfered and pressured public servants to ensure lucrative contracts were awarded to a key Labor Party ally without competitive tender, the state's anti-corruption watchdog finds.

www.abc.net.au

Senior staff in Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews's government interfered and pressured public servants to ensure lucrative contracts were awarded to a key Labor Party ally without competitive tender, the state's anti-corruption watchdog has found.

The report found ministerial advisors bypassed normal protocols in dealing with the public service to ensure the contract was awarded and then upheld.
There was also constant communication between union secretary Diana Asmar and ministerial advisors about the project, with pressure put on the department to ensure it occurred.
To tackle this, IBAC has made 17 recommendations to ensure staff and ministerial codes of conduct are less opaque, and to crack down on advisors pressuring public servants.
IBAC also suggests allowing parliamentary committees to call advisers to ministers, which is currently not allowed.
The report is also critical of some public servants for not providing frank and fearless advice.

Mr Andrews addressed the media:
"We thank them for that report, there are 17 recommendations made in that important educational report. I will lead, as the chair of the cabinet, a cabinet process to consider those issues and we will respond in due course," he said.

Million-dollar contract awarded with no competitive tender process​

In 2018, the HWU made an unsolicited proposal to the Andrews government to develop a training program to addresses occupational violence and harassment.

The government awarded a $1.2-million contract to the union to provide the training to 575 frontline health workers just hours before it went into caretaker mode ahead of the November 2018 state election.

The training program was delivered by a new entity called the Health Education Federation (HEF), which was set up by the HWU.

It had no experience and there was no competitive tender process.

A week earlier, the premier made an election promise for another $2.2 million to train 1,000 frontline health workers in partnership with the HWU.

It followed a meeting between Ms Asmar and the premier just weeks before.
Mr Andrews was interviewed in secret as part of Operation Daintree, as IBAC went to court to try and stop The Age newspaper from disclosing details of the probe during last year's state election.

IBAC said the premier "had no recollection of what he discussed with Ms Asmar, no recollection of any discussion with his advisors that led to this announcement [election promise] and no awareness that they and the Minister for Health's advisor had discussed a detailed proposal".

"After the Premier realised that his recollection of what he announced was faulty he left open the possibility that he may have made a commitment to Ms Asmar but remained quite uncertain that what he announced amounted to a commitment,'' the report said.

IBAC found that a ministerial advisor in Ms Hennessy's office "exerted pressure" on the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to award the contract.

It also found the decision by DHHS to contract the HEF "without undertaking a competitive procurement process was driven by a belief of senior staff in that department that that was the minister's and government's preference, and by ongoing pressure from the ministerial advisor and secretary of the union".

Andrew's press conference afterwards was pure arrogance I thought.

He brushed it off as if nothing happened, nothing was wrong and if there was something shady it was the fault of others no longer in government.

Rubbish. He pulled the strings but made sure his backside was covered.

 

[sptrawler]

Andrew's press conference afterwards was pure arrogance I thought.

He brushed it off as if nothing happened, nothing was wrong and if there was something shady it was the fault of others no longer in government.

Rubbish. He pulled the strings but made sure his backside was covered.

As I've said all along, IMO these corruption commissions are just a passenger on the gravy train, that the taxpayer has to fund.
If the Governments were serious about eradicating government corruption, they would give the corruption commissions some teeth, where people can be at least sacked.

 

[mullokintyre]

Andrew's press conference afterwards was pure arrogance I thought.

He brushed it off as if nothing happened, nothing was wrong and if there was something shady it was the fault of others no longer in government.

Rubbish. He pulled the strings but made sure his backside was covered.

So what happened to the Federal ICAC we were all promised that was going to clean up everything??
Around 12 months ago, Albanese promised "a federal ICAC by Christmas" (source ABC News ).

The bill called National Anti-Corruption Commission Bill 2022 [and] National Anti-Corruption Commission (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2022​

was passed on December 1st, around 4 months ago, but nothing has been done to actually set anything up yet.
Talk the talk is easy, walking the walk takes a little more effort.
Mick

 

[moXJO]

So what happened to the Federal ICAC we were all promised that was going to clean up everything??
Around 12 months ago, Albanese promised "a federal ICAC by Christmas" (source ABC News ).

The bill called National Anti-Corruption Commission Bill 2022 [and] National Anti-Corruption Commission (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2022​

was passed on December 1st, around 4 months ago, but nothing has been done to actually set anything up yet.
Talk the talk is easy, walking the walk takes a little more effort.
Mick

Labor happened.
Same sht as always.

 

[sptrawler]

Labor happened.
Same sht as always.

How does it go? Same sht different day, nothing changes no matter who is in.
You just hope the lesser of two evils triumphs on the day.
It isn't as though the private sector can get away corruption, so why should politicians?

ARM hit with $1m in fines over bid rigging​

The competition regulator cracked down after the firm’s former managing director tried to rig bids for a $250m building project at Charles Darwin University.

 

[moXJO]

How does it go? Same sht different day, nothing changes no matter who is in.
You just hope the lesser of two evils triumphs on the day.

The libs can't even get it together to be in the running. Let's hope we keep it centred.

 

[sptrawler]

The libs can't even get it together to be in the running. Let's hope we keep it centred.

The way Labor are going trying to placate everyone, there will be a huge implosion if they aren't careful, cost of living and inflation isn't far from being out of control IMO.
The power costs, labour costs and statutory charges, which can't be avoided, will be astronomical on the current trajectory by the next election IMO.
We are having a garbo strike over here at the moment, I can't remember the last time they downed tools and refused to pick up bins.
The wages explosion is set to take off, so with it interest rates take off and the spiral begins.
Hopefully I'm wrong, but people hate to see their standard of living being eroded.
Having said that, we were just on a cruise and I was talking to a pensioner who was travelling with his ex, saying $50k+ things have never been better. It is obviously much better to be a two single pensioners than a married couple.
Another couple who are working age on welfare, are on $2,500 per fortnight, but can't find a rental so everyone has their problems and Labor seem to keep promising more money, it can't end well IMO.
The May budget and the RBA changes should be interesting, maybe another 1970's period is about to start, or a 1990's recession we had to have, but IMO somethings got to give.
Let's see if the mass influx of workers can keep a lid on wages, the middle class are getting squeezed badly.

 

[Sean K]

So what happened to the Federal ICAC we were all promised that was going to clean up everything??
Around 12 months ago, Albanese promised "a federal ICAC by Christmas" (source ABC News ).

The bill called National Anti-Corruption Commission Bill 2022 [and] National Anti-Corruption Commission (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2022​

was passed on December 1st, around 4 months ago, but nothing has been done to actually set anything up yet.
Talk the talk is easy, walking the walk takes a little more effort.
Mick

Perhaps they realised they were going to dig their own grave.

 

[IFocus]

So what happened to the Federal ICAC we were all promised that was going to clean up everything??
Around 12 months ago, Albanese promised "a federal ICAC by Christmas" (source ABC News ).

The bill called National Anti-Corruption Commission Bill 2022 [and] National Anti-Corruption Commission (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2022​

was passed on December 1st, around 4 months ago, but nothing has been done to actually set anything up yet.
Talk the talk is easy, walking the walk takes a little more effort.
Mick

The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) will be an independent Commonwealth agency that will detect, investigate and report on serious or systemic corrupt conduct in the Commonwealth public sector. The NACC will also educate the public service, and the public, about corruption risks and prevention.

The government expects the NACC to begin operations in mid-2023.

https://www.ag.gov.au/integrity/national-anti-corruption-commission

 

[sptrawler]

The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) will be an independent Commonwealth agency that will detect, investigate and report on serious or systemic corrupt conduct in the Commonwealth public sector. The NACC will also educate the public service, and the public, about corruption risks and prevention.

The government expects the NACC to begin operations in mid-2023.

https://www.ag.gov.au/integrity/national-anti-corruption-commission

Pretty well nails it, another gravy train of toothless tigers, that middle class Australia has to fund, go the grunts yeh.

Jobs for mates, people you owe a favour to, or want them to owe you one, when you finally hang up the parliamentary booze card.

Why the fck not make it a body that can sack or fine politicians who are guilty of corruption? That might actually achieve something.

No way says the pollies, Oh fck me I could be one of the ones charged, what a joke, more "money for nothing and your chicks are free" as a song said. ?
Typical Govt throw money and achieve sod all, the more things change the more they stay the same, but cost you more.

Investigate and report, I can see it now, thanks for the investigation, now fck off and investigate the opposition.

Didn't Daniel Andrews just nail it with, "thanks for the investigation, I'll get back to you", from what I read.

 

[sptrawler]

The way Labor are going trying to placate everyone, there will be a huge implosion if they aren't careful, cost of living and inflation isn't far from being out of control IMO.
The power costs, labour costs and statutory charges, which can't be avoided, will be astronomical on the current trajectory by the next election IMO.
We are having a garbo strike over here at the moment, I can't remember the last time they downed tools and refused to pick up bins.
The wages explosion is set to take off, so with it interest rates take off and the spiral begins.
Hopefully I'm wrong, but people hate to see their standard of living being eroded.
Having said that, we were just on a cruise and I was talking to a pensioner who was travelling with his ex, saying $50k+ things have never been better. It is obviously much better to be a two single pensioners than a married couple.
Another couple who are working age on welfare, are on $2,500 per fortnight, but can't find a rental so everyone has their problems and Labor seem to keep promising more money, it can't end well IMO.
The May budget and the RBA changes should be interesting, maybe another 1970's period is about to start, or a 1990's recession we had to have, but IMO somethings got to give.
Let's see if the mass influx of workers can keep a lid on wages, the middle class are getting squeezed badly.

Well that didn't take long, now the cheer squad is starting to eek out the options, welllll it isn't rocket science. Just saw this on the SMH site.

More deficits, higher taxes, or less welfare.

Let's see how it pans out, hit the middle class more, so that they save to support more people, hit the rich where the politicians want to end up, or hit the welfare recipients to try and get them to work?

Chalmers’ choice – more deficit or higher taxes

The government has received two substantial reports aimed at helping the poor and women. But they will have to fit into one already under pressure.

www.smh.com.au

 

[wayneL]

ROTFLMAO!

You ain't gonna like this:

 

[Sean K]

ROTFLMAO!

You ain't gonna like this:

How good is the Pocock zombie. I thought it was actually him.

 

[Sean K]

So, Kiwis only have to come over for a few days now and they'll get citizenship. This is dumb on two levels.

1. We have enough bikies in OMGs.
2. These New Zealanders will be a brain drain on NZ and will be a welfare drain on Australia.

So, it's a lose, lose, lose scenario.

 

[wayneL]

So, Kiwis only have to come over for a few days now and they'll get citizenship. This is dumb on two levels.

1. We have enough bikies in OMGs.
2. These New Zealanders will be a brain drain on NZ and will be a welfare drain on Australia.

So, it's a lose, lose, lose scenario.

...and 350,000 more votes for the Labor Party

 

[sptrawler]

...and 350,000 more votes for the Labor Party

Which with the belt tightening, they will probably need, if you consider how close the primary vote was last time.

 

[farmerge]

Yet another example of the great job corruption watchdogs do, in holding the Government to account.

Daniel Andrews labels scathing IBAC report 'educational'

Senior staff in Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews's government interfered and pressured public servants to ensure lucrative contracts were awarded to a key Labor Party ally without competitive tender, the state's anti-corruption watchdog finds.

www.abc.net.au

Senior staff in Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews's government interfered and pressured public servants to ensure lucrative contracts were awarded to a key Labor Party ally without competitive tender, the state's anti-corruption watchdog has found.

The report found ministerial advisors bypassed normal protocols in dealing with the public service to ensure the contract was awarded and then upheld.
There was also constant communication between union secretary Diana Asmar and ministerial advisors about the project, with pressure put on the department to ensure it occurred.
To tackle this, IBAC has made 17 recommendations to ensure staff and ministerial codes of conduct are less opaque, and to crack down on advisors pressuring public servants.
IBAC also suggests allowing parliamentary committees to call advisers to ministers, which is currently not allowed.
The report is also critical of some public servants for not providing frank and fearless advice.

Mr Andrews addressed the media:
"We thank them for that report, there are 17 recommendations made in that important educational report. I will lead, as the chair of the cabinet, a cabinet process to consider those issues and we will respond in due course," he said.

Million-dollar contract awarded with no competitive tender process​

In 2018, the HWU made an unsolicited proposal to the Andrews government to develop a training program to addresses occupational violence and harassment.

The government awarded a $1.2-million contract to the union to provide the training to 575 frontline health workers just hours before it went into caretaker mode ahead of the November 2018 state election.

The training program was delivered by a new entity called the Health Education Federation (HEF), which was set up by the HWU.

It had no experience and there was no competitive tender process.

A week earlier, the premier made an election promise for another $2.2 million to train 1,000 frontline health workers in partnership with the HWU.

It followed a meeting between Ms Asmar and the premier just weeks before.
Mr Andrews was interviewed in secret as part of Operation Daintree, as IBAC went to court to try and stop The Age newspaper from disclosing details of the probe during last year's state election.

IBAC said the premier "had no recollection of what he discussed with Ms Asmar, no recollection of any discussion with his advisors that led to this announcement [election promise] and no awareness that they and the Minister for Health's advisor had discussed a detailed proposal".

"After the Premier realised that his recollection of what he announced was faulty he left open the possibility that he may have made a commitment to Ms Asmar but remained quite uncertain that what he announced amounted to a commitment,'' the report said.

IBAC found that a ministerial advisor in Ms Hennessy's office "exerted pressure" on the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to award the contract.

It also found the decision by DHHS to contract the HEF "without undertaking a competitive procurement process was driven by a belief of senior staff in that department that that was the minister's and government's preference, and by ongoing pressure from the ministerial advisor and secretary of the union".

Surely not. Snouts ina dar trough again and again.