Quote of the Week

"Bronwyn’s self-importance and vanity was, even by political standards, off the charts and so initially everyone doubled up laughing at the absurdity of Madame Speaker descending out of the sky like a Valkyrie to entertain a gaggle of Liberal Party supporters at a Geelong golf course." [Then Australian Minister for Education and Training & Liberal MP for Sturt Christopher Pyne speaking about his colleague  Bronwyn Bishop, 15 July 2015, in "A Bigger Picture", April 2020]

Will Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull explain to voters why it has only been Mal Brough who has stood aside from his ministerial position during this Australian Federal Police investigation?

Liberal-National Party MP for Longman Wyatt Roy has been federal Assistant Minister for Innovation since 21 September 2015.

It has been alleged that he is a parliamentarian who sometime in 2012 (along with Mal Brough) requested a member of the Speaker’s staff, James Ashby, to make a copy of sections of then Independent MP for Fisher and Speaker of the House of Representatives Peter Slipper’s official diary for a political purpose.

In 2013 Peter Slipper lost his seat and Mal Brough was elected to federal parliament as the Member for Fisher.

In September 2015 Mal Brough (along with Liberal MP for Stuart and now Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science  Christopher Pyne & Wyatt Roy) supported the sacking of Tony Abbott as prime minister and the installation of Malcolm Turnbull in his place

In December 2015 it was reported that Wyatt Roy was under investigation in relation to longstanding allegations against Special Minister of State and Minister for Defence Materiel and Science Mal Brough and, on 1 February 2016 it was further reported that he (along with Christopher Pyne) is 'assisting police with inquiries’ in relation to associated allegations.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull needs to explain to voters why it has only been Mal Brough who has stood aside from his ministerial positions during this Australian Federal Police investigation.

Because as it now stands it can be suspected that it is purely the prime minister’s naked self-interest which is protecting Roy and Pyne from temporary demotion until the police investigation resolves the matter one way or another, as he can ill-afford to alienate more of those parliamentary supporters who gained him his present high office.

Captains Catholic strike again! OR Are Abbott & Pyne yearning for papal knighthoods after they retire?

In a move bound to incense many of the 22 per cent of all Australians (4,796,791 people) who declared they had no religion in the 2011 national census and one confirming a disturbing pattern of behaviour, Messrs Abbott and Pyne have decided that taxpayers will now help fund the religious training of clergy in this country.

The Age 5 December 2014:

Taxpayers would subsidise the training of priests and other religious workers at private colleges for the first time under the Abbott government's proposed higher education reforms.  

As well as deregulating university fees and cutting university funding by 20 per cent, the government's proposed higher education package extends federal funding to students at private universities, TAFES and associate degree programs.

Religious teaching, training and vocational institutes would be eligible for a share of $820 million in new Commonwealth funding over three years.

Labor and the Greens attacked the policy, saying it breaches the separation of Church and State. Earlier this year the government controversially announced it would provide $244 million for a new school chaplaincy scheme but would remove the option for schools to hire secular welfare workers……

Eleven theological colleges are currently accredited by the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) to provide courses designed to prepare students to enter religious ministries.

Institutes such as the Sydney College of Divinity, Brisbane's Christian Heritage College and the Perth Bible College, which currently charge students full fees, would be eligible for an estimated $4214 funding a year each student under the reforms.

The John Paul II Institute for Marriage and Family in Melbourne, which offers course units including "Theology and Practice of Natural Family Planning" and "Marriage in the Catholic Tradition", would also be eligible for federal support….

The government's reforms were voted down by the Senate this week but will return to Parliament, with some amendments, next year. 

The Abbott Government reaches its apogee of absurdity with Christopher Pyne *WARNING: Offensive Language*

When the Australian Minister for Education Christopher Pyne attempted to start his very own ‘grass roots’ response to the anticipated programming cuts forced on the Australian Broadcasting Commission by his own government’s budget cuts, he chose to create a change.org petition on 18 November 2014.

The response from his fellow Australians has been predictable, hilarious, graphic and sometimes obscene.

Thus far his petition has attracted almost 2,000 supporters who have used the reasons for signing section to support their ABC and attack the Abbott Government and Pyne himself.

Here are a few examples of the overall response before this petition page mysteriously disappears forever from the Internet:

Paul Chetwynd-Jones EAST BALLINA, AUSTRALIA

Pyne thinks we're so stupid he'll get re-elected. The ultimate smarmy politician, trying to ride both sides of the fence. Sure I'll sign, like it would make a difference to this Government what anyone would think if they don't have money to donate. Never mind, Christopher, Murdoch will tell Tony, & Tony will tell you

Bruce Howlett GUYRA, AUSTRALIA

I have written to my own local member who is Barnaby Joyce, and recieved a reply full of justifications. The easiest way to stop this happening Mr Pyne, is for you to lobby your own part to make sure that the proposed cuts to ABC funding do not happen.

Brad Wirth WERRIBEE, AUSTRALIA

The people of Sturt owe a duty to their fellow Australians to get rid of Pyne at the next election.

Harold Holt AUSTRALIA

You're a hypocrite Chris. Grow a backbone and tell your colleagues to keep their promises.

Ty Burns NEW YORK, NY

It's people like you - that makes me glad I moved from Australia. It's people like you - that makes me sad that my country is getting raped in the arse. It's people like you - that has that kind of face that needs to be punched.

Timothy Anderson FORT LAUDERDALE, FL

As an ex-pat Australian living abroad, the ABC and SBS remain two of the only authoritative and largely unbiased sources of news from home that I have access to. From Newscorp, Fairfax, Guardian and commercial TV news, bias and paid comment runs rife.

Jo Bourke CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA

The Abbott government, including the dishonourable Christopher Pyne, are a bunch of parochial, narrow minded, nasty twits, hell bent on destroying everything that is good about Australia. The ABC is a vital source of independent information by way of contrast to the Murdoch Empire that is holding the LNP in its big, sweaty hands. The ABC also performs a crucial role in allowing new, Australian content to be brought to audiences who don't want to be subjected to mindless commercial media. Shame on you Christopher Pyne and all that you stand for - I hope that the ABC is still around when you're ejected from government in 3 years' time.

Phil Phillips AUSTRALIA

Chris Pyne is a c&#nt

Scott Large ALICE SPRINGS, AUSTRALIA

Surely you, as part of Cabinet would have more access than anyone to intervene? You, sir, are a peanut.

Brigid Marasco BRUNSWICK WEST, AUSTRALIA

I'm signing merely to tell you that your cynicism is stunning and your lack of empathy monumental. I hope that you will reap what you sow, but I won't hold my breath. Your lot (Tories intent on punishing the vulnerable because you believe they deserve their fate) needs to read the research about why you think the way you do - if you claim any intelligence at all, you will soon see that your fundamental blindness to distress until you experience it directly yourself makes you ignore the well being of society as a whole. Bloody solipsistic tyrants! Your "Government" has been a massive clusterfuck for Australia - but I do thank you for giving me the opportunity to use my favourite swear word.

Joe Hockey AUSTRALIA

Christopher, get a backbone. We are going to shut down every effe9ring public institution in this country or die in the attempt. What are you doing to wreck my government now you skinny biatch?

Lachie A'Vard AUSTRALIA

You cannot make this up!

Minister for ignorance starts online petition against his own party's destructive policy. Probably wondering why people think he is stupid.

How's the Dinning Kruger effect going for you Chris?

Kathryn Bottrell ELTHAM, AUSTRALIA

Well look, we can't be too hard on Christopher for being confused. The man did think getting stuck in traffic on Greenhill road that day was somehow because 'Labor Govt wins with 47% of the vote' at some point in the prior term. He's not exactly known for his grasp of cause and effect now, is he.

Re-fund the ABC, idiots, and start returning the commons assets to the people you're stealing them from.

I can think of any number of your fraudulent actions you could unwind to return the cash...

David Smith AUSTRALIA

I have a better way of saving those ABC production jobs in Adelaide Chris. Keep your election promise and don't cut the funding of the ABC. What a hypocrite you are Christopher Pyne. The gall you have to create this petition.

Margie Abbott AUSTRALIA

Dear Christopher,

When you've finished speaking to Peta Credlin about your behaviour can you let her know that she can keep Tony. I've done my time, she can take over for real.

Regards

Margie

Alan Jones AUSTRALIA

Careful guys, Pyne's friend Brandis is recording all our meta data and this freedom loving government might put a black mark on our ASIO files !

Doug Bateman AUSTRALIA

In a play or novel, this petition would be dramatic irony. In reality, it is a terrifying insight into the stupidity of the man.

jack Amala BYRON BAY, AUSTRALIA

o whiney pyney, why did your boofhead leader lie to us about ABC cuts? How do any of you sleep at night, knowing that millions of people loathe you for your psychopathic hypocrisy and slimy dishonesty?

bren Okeefe PARKWILLE, AUSTRALIA

because I love the ABC and don't want any cuts to Aunty. I hope C.Pyne is voted out for voting to destroy the ABC. I hope he shares the same fate as J.Howard - the PM who was defeated in his own electorate -the result of his own arrogance, pride and pursuit of extremist ideology. So.. Adelaide voters - bite back.

Damian Smedley PARADISE, AUSTRALIA

you are a front bencher of a fraudulent government that does not have a mandate. ROT IN HELL YOU MONGRELS

Joseph Goebbels BERLIN, AUSTRIA

Love your work Pyne, I fully support State owned media. You got my vote buddy!

Michael Smith MORPHETTVILLE, AUSTRALIA

It's a shame that, during that free university education you had, that you didn't learn how government works in Australia. That, as a cabinet minister in the government that has cut funding to the ABC, you share the responsibility for the very thing that you have set up an on-line petition against. In the words of Senator Ludlam - srsly?

James Pinnell AUSTRALIA

Pine is an utterly breathtaking hypocrite inside one of the most disfunctional governments in living memory.

It Tolls For Thee AUSTRALIA

Time to spruce up that resume, dipshit.

corinna jane VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA

Feeling peckish? Help yourself to a nice big slice of this deliciously dense and moist stupidity cake, served up by our very own sociopath, C.P. Gotta love politicians and their inept use of social media!!!

Robert Menzies AUSTRALIA

What a sleazy troll. You love market forces when it selectively culls out the voice of people whose opinion you don't agree with, then dislike it when it makes you appear impotent and sidelined. The point of the ABC and SBS and the points of view they espouse is that they have some form of conscience for this country. Not the bellicose xenophobia of Alan Jones and the commercial networks that use dog-whistle issues to drum up support from the plebiscite.

And now you pathetically try to protect local issues. Either this is a calculated insult to South Australian fans of the ABC, or you are truly delusional.

Steve Hunt AUSTRALIA

What a joke. You take we, the people, as clowns. You are cloistered in life, you show you have no understanding of our world and everyday life. You are crude and simple - minded with your approach to issues. Your approach to policy is without ethical standing. You stoop and probe hoping you can get away with injustice. Fob them off! They have no memory of pre-election statements!! Thank you for taking government to a dead end. Quite frankly you are a waste of time. The ABC is not to be touched. You are untrustworthy and your government is beset by lies. You made your bed - lie in it!

Cheerio

Edward Massey AUSTRALIA

Mr Pyne, do you and the rest of the Abottoir government honestly believe that your lying and duplicitous behaviour goes unnoticed? This petition is nothing more than appalling hypocrisy from the lowest form of grub.

Phil Ryles SINGAPORE, SINGAPORE

I'm already on the receiving end of a pathetic governments cuts to the ABC via channel 447 which before the current govt got their hands on it was worth watching !

Linda Barraclough TRARALGON, AUSTRALIA

ABC should not be closing anything, anywhere. You are responsible Christopher Pyne - you imbecile.

Ben Gray MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA

Yeah, it looks like people are signing this only in order to abuse this petition system, just like you are doing by posting this hypocritical and hollow petition.

Abbott Out Now AUSTRALIA

The government cuts the funding and then a government minister complains. They are all twats

Hugh Cunningham AUSTRALIA

I'm fed up with the constant haranguing of the ABC by conservative forces who simply want to shut down a voice for the common good!

mark carr NOWRA, AUSTRALIA

if you think this will save u votes you turd, i suggest you think again, you pyne in the arse

Elizabeth Winsor AUSTRALIA

We are not amused

shaquille ray SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA

I'm signing this to express my support for the ABC.

And to show Mr Pyne who put them into this position in the first place, that even the smallest budget cuts can make big changes in quality. And how many people may face the axe because of his actions.

Mark Hansen AUSTRALIA

Here's a hint, you smirking piece of shit. Get the Government that you are a part of to keep its election promise of not cutting funding to the ABC. While we're on the subject, weren't there other areas that weren't going to be cut, such as education???

Valerie Kay AUSTRALIA

I can't believe this is for real? Is Christopher Pyne, a front bencher in the government that's cutting ABC funding, really running this petition? Can this be? Have we moved beyond joke to surrealist nightmare?

Gerri Donaldson ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA

All of the reasons that those that have signed before me have addressed! I agree with them all!

ABC TV show Clarke & Dawe reviews the Abbott Government's performance

https://www.facebook.com/ClarkeAndDawe

A cry for help from the north Queensland coast

Members of the coalition government joining the queue outside the office of Christopher Pyne, Education Minister and Leader of the House, to seek remedial lessons are advised to take a ticket to ensure they maintain their place in the queue.

Another MP joining the queue is George Christensen (Liberal National), the Member for Dawson.






Other government MPs in the queue include Teresa Gambaro, Kelly O'Dwyer and Mal Brough.

Evidence of Mr Christensen's need for help is provided in his entry, dated 19 November 2013, in the register of members'  interests.

A cry for help from Queensland's Sunshine Coast

Mal Brough (Liberal), the Member for Fisher, is another member of the coalition government who's in need of remedial lessons. Brough will have to get in the queue outside the office of his colleague Christopher Pyne, Education Minister and Leader of the House, and seek  help.

Others in the queue include Kelly O'Dwyer, the Member for Higgins, and Teresa Gambaro, the Member for Brisbane.

Evidence of Mr Brough's need for help is provided in his entry, dated 26 November 2013,  in the register of members' interests.

A cry for help from Melbourne suburbia

Kelly O'Dwyer (Liberal), the Member for Higgins, like her colleague Teresa Gambaro, desperately needs remedial lessons. Her colleague Christopher Pyne, Education Minister and Leader of the House, should provide her with the lessons.

Evidence of Ms O'Dwyer's need for help is provided in her entry in the register of members' interests dated 12 December 2013.

Is the former member for Higgins,'the world's greatest treasurer', tutoring Ms O'Dwyer?

A cry for help from Brisbane suburbia

The Federal Liberal Member for Brisbane, Teresa Gambaro, is desperately in need of remedial lessons. Perhaps her colleague Christopher Pyne, Education Minister and Leader of the House, will provide her with the lessons she so desperately needs.

Evidence of Ms Gambaro's need for help is provided in her register of members' interests dated 9 December 2013.

1. For a while Ms Gambaro forgot her spouse has shares in Australian Pacific Coal Limited (AQC)

2. Ms Gambaro doesn't know a real lot about "residential" property or "jewellery".

 

Coalition members have nothing to crow about

The next time Coalition members go sounding off about education standards in Australia they might do well to stop and have a good close look at themselves.

An examination of Members' interest statements is quite enlightening.

Here are some samples of the work of Coalition members Christopher Pyne, Julie Bishop, Greg Hunt, Ian Macfarlane, Teresa Gambaro, Warren Entsch and Alex Hawke.

 Spot the school boy/girl howlers.