When political image and actions clash

Images from Crikey

Kevin Rudd has worked hard to portray himself as one of the people. However, there are disturbing signs emerging that the Prime Minister is a bit of a bully boy.

Why else would he be condoning such incredibly intrusive security checks on Labor staffers.

There are 334 ministerial staffers - men and women - working for the Rudd Government. That is, 30 ministers and 12 parliamentary secretaries share 334 personal staff. These 42 politicians, from the Prime Minister down, each employ another four staff in his or her electorate office. In all, 502 ministerial and electorate staff. All are paid from the public purse. However, no matter how senior or junior their position, most of these staffers must first "obtain and maintain" a "Top Secret" security clearance.
And to be cleared by security can - and does - involve staffers having to answer hugely intrusive questions about the most intimate details of their private lives concerning their family background, their assets, their partners' assets, their bank accounts, mortgages, discretionary spending, overseas travel, drinking habits, drug use and, most odiously, his or her sexual preference and the names of their sexual partners, past and present.
Know, at the outset, that MPs are not subject to security clearance. Neither ministers nor backbenchers have to undergo such a process, no matter how lecherous, libertine, homosexual, drugged, debauched or alcoholic he or she might be. Only staffers of members of the government executive of the day. Politicians are immune.