Corruption in the Liberal Party

New South Wales Opposition Leader John Robertson has effectively admitted he should have reported a $3 million bribe offered to him when he was secretary of Unions NSW.

Mr Robertson told Lateline if he had his time over again he would have reported the offer - made to him by murdered businessman Michael McGurk - to authorities.

"If I found myself in those circumstance now obviously I would do something completely different. Hindsight is a wonderful thing," he told Lateline host Tony Jones

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http://www.news.net/article/1210594?utm_source=outbrain&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=outbrainamplify

I believe that there is a lot more pus to be squeezed out of this boil

trainspotter said:

http://www.news.net/article/1210594?utm_source=outbrain&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=outbrainamplify

I believe that there is a lot more pus to be squeezed out of this boil

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Ayy oh...c'mon....what a few million among Union buddies hey? Its not different than a bottle of plonk really?

CanOz said:

Ayy oh...c'mon....what a few million among Union buddies hey? Its not different than a bottle of plonk really?

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Similar to price fixing or cartel like behaviour of companies.

Corruption is corruption no matter who's doing it.

Liberal fundraiser with links to PM and Mike Baird called before Icac

John Caputo one of 30 witnesses to appear next week as concerns grow of further fallout from the corruption inquiry

The former shire president and mayor of Warringah is an active party fundraiser and is well known to both the prime minister and the premier, sitting on the committee of the prime minister’s electorate conference in Warringah, and also Baird’s state electoral conference.

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Also on the witness list for next week is the new federal Liberal member for Dobell, Karen McNamara, and prominent mining magnate Nathan Tinkler.




http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/apr/25/liberal-fundraiser-links-to-pm-and-mike-baird-icac

IFocus said:

Also on the witness list for next week is the new federal Liberal member for Dobell, Karen McNamara, and prominent mining magnate Nathan Tinkler.




http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/apr/25/liberal-fundraiser-links-to-pm-and-mike-baird-icac

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Interesting that they actually found Tinkler, I thought he had fled to country and gone underground in Singapore.

New ICAC enquiry to probe Liberal Part Donations


It's getting dirtier:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-04-28/new-icac-hearing-begins-liberal-party-nsw-eightbyfive/5414892

Another NSW Liberal Minister bites the dust


New South Wales Police Minister Mike Gallacher will step aside from his position after being named in the latest Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) inquiry.

The ICAC has heard allegations that Mr Gallacher was involved in a plot to hide a developer's involvement in payments to an alleged Liberal Party slush fund.

The inquiry heard claims Mr Gallacher and former energy minister Chris Hartcher hatched a plan to hide donations from a development company controlled by mining magnate Nathan Tinkler to a business called Eightbyfive.

Eightbyfive was allegedly set up as a slush fund for prohibited political donors to secretly funnel money to MPs.

The inquiry has previously heard the alleged slush fund was set up by Mr Hartcher's staffer Tim Koelma.

The ICAC is probing allegations Mr Hartcher and two other state Liberal MPs, Chris Spence and Darren Webber, "corruptly solicited, received and concealed payments from various sources" in return for favours.

Today, the co-founder of development group Buildev, Darren Williams, stepped into the witness box where he was grilled about his role in payments made by Mr Tinkler's Hunter Valley horse stud Patinack Farm to Eightbyfive.

Counsel assisting Geoffrey Watson SC suggested to Mr Williams that Buildev wanted to influence Mr Hartcher, but used Patinack Farm to hide any attempts to do so.

"The idea was that if you could use a name like Patinack Farm it would hide the fact that Buildev was involved," Mr Watson said.

"I want to suggest this was a plan you worked up with two politicians."

He then suggested those politicians were Mr Hartcher and Mr Gallacher.

When Mr Williams replied "No", Mr Watson told him: "By the end of this... you are going to regret having given that answer."

The inquiry was then shown phone records showing extensive contact between Mr Hartcher and Mr Williams.

Mr Williams was unable to explain why they were speaking so often.

Test messages between Mr Gallacher, Mr Hartcher and Mr Williams have also been tendered to the ICAC, referring to a meeting with Mr Tinkler.

Mr Hartcher said he'd organised it in a private room so "it couldn't be overheard".

Mr Gallacher's barrister Arthur Moses SC objected to the allegations being sprung on him without notice.

The inquiry was told Mr Gallacher would have wanted to inform Premier Mike Baird if he was going to be accused of wrongdoing.

Mr Watson said new evidence had come to light in the past 24 hours that may require the public hearing to be adjourned so further investigations could be carried out.

ICAC has been told Mr Gallacher has given a sworn testimony to investigators.

The inquiry continues.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-05-...-mike-gallagher-dragged-in-to-scandal/5425726

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Every day , in every way, it's getting worse and worse for NSW Libs

Really can't understand how this IPAC commission has been allowed to continue.

Clearly they just don't understand exactly what is meant by corruption and who they are supposed to be chasing.


______________________________________________________
Definition of an honest politician. Someone who when they are bought stays bought.

basilio said:

Really can't understand how this IPAC commission has been allowed to continue.

Clearly they just don't understand exactly what is meant by corruption and who they are supposed to be chasing.


______________________________________________________
Definition of an honest politician. Someone who when they are bought stays bought.

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Why don't you tell us ?

basilio said:

Really can't understand how this IPAC commission has been allowed to continue.

Clearly they just don't understand exactly what is meant by corruption and who they are supposed to be chasing.


______________________________________________________
Definition of an honest politician. Someone who when they are bought stays bought.

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What does a financial advisory firm have to do with this?

SirRumpole said:

Why don't you tell us ?

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On this Forum why does it need to be spelled out ? Only Labour and the unions are corrupt - or at least they are the only ones who should be chased and prosecuted.

basilio said:

On this Forum why does it need to be spelled out ? Only Labour and the unions are corrupt - or at least they are the only ones who should be chased and prosecuted.

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<slaps forehead>

Of course, how could I have been so blind !

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-05-02/police-minister-mike-gallagher-resigns-over-icac-probe/5425726

New South Wales Police Minister Mike Gallacher has resigned after being named in the latest Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) inquiry.

NSW Premier Mike Baird accepted Mr Gallacher's resignation on Friday afternoon, saying it would constitute an "unacceptable distraction" for the Government.

The Premier is now facing the possibility of reshuffling his front bench less than two weeks after it was sworn in.

Mr Baird has appointed Attorney-General Brad Hazzard as acting Police and Emergency Services Minister and says further ministerial announcements will be made in due course.

The ICAC heard allegations Mr Gallacher was involved in a plot to hide a developer's involvement in payments to an alleged Liberal Party slush fund.

The inquiry also heard claims Mr Gallacher and former energy minister Chris Hartcher hatched a plan to hide donations from a development company controlled by mining magnate Nathan Tinkler to a business called Eightbyfive.

Mr Gallacher, a former police officer who has been in the NSW Parliament since 1996, says he has spent his "entire life fighting corruption and crime" but he would stand aside for the well-being of the NSW Government.

Mr Gallacher says he was first made aware of the allegation on Friday morning, and he is "disappointed" in the way it came to light.

"My understanding is that normally witnesses are afforded an opportunity to be appraised of the allegation ... the first I heard of it was [Friday morning]," he said.

"I don't even know what the allegation is - all I've heard this morning is that I have had a corrupt, long-standing relationship.

"I'm yet to see what the allegation is but I do not intend to have the Premier and the Parliamentary Party to be diverted by this."

Mr Gallacher would not answer questions regarding what what he knew about Eightbyfive because the matter is before the ICAC.

He would not speculate whether he would return to the ministry if he is exonerated.

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I especially liked how he resigned without even having to be accused of anything. For the good of the party!

The ABC have done a terrific job of providing a map of the relationships of those being investigated (Just click on the link above and scroll down towards the end). It's interesting to see how intertwined the ALP and LNP really are.

Money and Liberal politics..........how to buy your own treasurer

Treasurer Joe Hockey is offering privileged access to a select group including business people and industry lobbyists in return for tens of thousands of dollars in donations to the Liberal Party via a secretive fund-raising body whose activities are not fully disclosed to election funding authorities.

The Independent Commission Against Corruption is probing Liberal fund-raising bodies such as the Millennium Forum and questioning their influence on political favours in NSW.

Mr Hockey offers access to one of the country's highest political offices in return for annual payments.

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http://www.smh.com.au/federal-polit...-offers-privileged-access-20140504-zr06v.html

IFocus said:

Money and Liberal politics..........how to buy your own treasurer

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-polit...-offers-privileged-access-20140504-zr06v.html

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It disgusted me when Labor did this, and disgusts me when the L+NP do it too.

It should be outright illegal to host these kinds of soirres. I don't think anyone believes that those attending and paying hundreds or thousands of dollars are doing it because they support the party. They do it for access and the ability to influence key decision makers as much as they can. That's not democracy but the beginnings of a plutocracy.

sydboy007 said:

It disgusted me when Labor did this, and disgusts me when the L+NP do it too.

It should be outright illegal to host these kinds of soirres. I don't think anyone believes that those attending and paying hundreds or thousands of dollars are doing it because they support the party. They do it for access and the ability to influence key decision makers as much as they can. That's not democracy but the beginnings of a plutocracy.

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Beginnings of a plutocracy ? We have had one of those for years under various Liberal governments.

Why was Hockey so keen to suck up to the mining industry and say no changes will be made to the diesel fuel rebate?

Can't have Gina upset now can we ?

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-05-...ves-to-assure-miners-over-fuel-rebate/5429482

sydboy007 said:

It disgusted me when Labor did this, and disgusts me when the L+NP do it too.

It should be outright illegal to host these kinds of soirres. I don't think anyone believes that those attending and paying hundreds or thousands of dollars are doing it because they support the party. They do it for access and the ability to influence key decision makers as much as they can. That's not democracy but the beginnings of a plutocracy.

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+1 agree completely.
It is becoming obvious that not only do politicians feel they are above the law(eg their superannuation rules), they also must feel, they are above the laws of common decency.IMO
It starts at local council level and just pyramids up.
It appears to be a bit of a cess pit on all sides, the density increases the closer to the top.
When those in a position of enacting laws, are found to willfully break them, the book should be thrown at them.

sptrawler said:

+1 agree completely.
It is becoming obvious that not only do politicians feel they are above the law(eg their superannuation rules), they also must feel, they are above the laws of common decency.IMO
It starts at local council level and just pyramids up.
It appears to be a bit of a cess pit on all sides, the density increases the closer to the top.
When those in a position of enacting laws, are found to willfully break them, the book should be thrown at them.

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it's infected the business world too.

Don Nguyen, one of eight CBA financial planners banned by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission from providing financial advice until 2018, claims nobody at the bank ever said to him: “Don, this is too much, don’t do this.”

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/business/bank...ing-scandal-20140504-zr4dp.html#ixzz30ncIlmKQ

I mean claiming you need to be told not to forge signatures or not to encourage elderly people to gear up in risky investments. It's this attitude that's permeated through all levels of our society.

We should have ethics classes from Kindergarten all the way through to year 12. Certainly serve a better purpose than religious studies.

Every TAFE / Uni degree should also have mandatory ethic components. It wont get rid of the bad behaviour, but hopefully that niggling voice that quietly protests against certain actions might be a bit louder for the future generations.

It's about at the point where anything goes as long as you don't get caught, and then with soem good lawyers you probably wont serve any jail time.

Maybe our politicians should be sent to some ethic classes, then have to sign an annual ethics compliance statement to show they've behaved with integrity over the last 12 months. Any breach to be met with serious fines, loss of all entitlements, and mandatory minimum jail sentences. I think jail time will help to kep their thoughts on compliance.

IFocus said:

Money and Liberal politics..........how to buy your own treasurer

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So where does legitimate fund raising end and corruption begin?

Political parties have always carried out fund raising via social events. If it's all transparent and "membership fees"/donations are recorded on some register it seems reasonable enough, doesn't it?

The alternative would be to ban all donations to political parties and have their publicity etc funded by the taxpayer. I'm damned if I want to be any part of that.
Surely the problem lies in the undisclosed buying of influence rather than the publicly advertised events.

Julia said:

So where does legitimate fund raising end and corruption begin?

Political parties have always carried out fund raising via social events. If it's all transparent and "membership fees"/donations are recorded on some register it seems reasonable enough, doesn't it?

The alternative would be to ban all donations to political parties and have their publicity etc funded by the taxpayer. I'm damned if I want to be any part of that.
Surely the problem lies in the undisclosed buying of influence rather than the publicly advertised events.

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If it was say $20 and you could get to one of these functions and rub shoulders witht he pwer brokers, then fine.

But when the cost is out of reach for 80+% of the population, then is it really about democracy or influence peddling?

The fact is that we don't have equal access when there's a cost component to it.

Possibly increasing public funding to remove all political donations over $100 might work out cheaper than the current system where the rentier class have the access to corrupt the decision making process. You don't get to over $120B in tax expenditures each year without some distorting policies being enacted.