North Coast Nationals MPs seen as a joke

Letter to the Editor in The Daily Examiner on 20 May 2014:

MPs a joke

I was almost speechless after reading a joint press release by North Coast National MPs, attempting to take credit for the suspension of Metgasco's exploration licence.

Their representation of their respective electorates, particularly Thomas George and Chris Gulaptis, over the entire life of this parliament and before has, in my opinion, been absolutely appalling.

They have brushed off concerns brought to them by thousands of people within their electorates, ignored petitions, referendums and polls, and twice presided over police action to break up peaceful protest action, and as late as a week ago were sitting idly by while plans were being made to bring in 800 riot police, complete with water cannon, mounted police and the dog squad to break up the Bentley blockade.

Clearly, the only reason for their about-face was the expression of community outrage against the proposed police action and overwhelming support for the protesters that would undoubtedly have seen them both thrown from office at the next election had this latest police action gone ahead.

Their claim that they approached "NSW Energy Minister Anthony Roberts and told him they believed the company had failed to engage in sufficient genuine and effective consultation with the community", is an absolute joke: The fact that it took them the best part of a decade to work that out, despite countless deputations by concerned citizens telling them exactly that, says it all.

I can only hope that the ICAC is not the only investigation that will now occur. In particular there needs to be a real inquiry into the potential impacts of fracking on ground water quality and supply, along with investigating methane leaks from fractured underground rock formations, and the associated health implications for those living in the vicinity.

John Edwards

South Grafton

The question Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott was careful not to answer on the ABC program "Insiders"

Reporter Fran Kelly to Tony Abbott: You get to make the choices about what you do. And you talk about everybody bearing the load. But if you drill in the numbers, there was an example of a single mother on $45,000 a year with one child. This budget was going to cost her…around $2,690. You said, as we heard there, this will cost you your contribution, around $6,500.

You earn 11 times more than this woman but you pay 2.5 times the contribution. How is that fair? [ABC Insiders, 18 May 2014]

Abbott Government ends week as it began - badly

The Sydney Morning Herald 23 May 2014:

The suspected Mafia godfather of Melbourne helped bankroll a Liberal Party marginal federal seat campaign in the 2013 election, raising the prospect that the proceeds of crime have flowed into Liberal coffers.

The alleged crime figure's fundraising occurred despite Liberal politicians knowing of his suspected involvement in organised crime and in a previous political donation scandal investigated by federal police.

A Fairfax Media investigation can reveal the alleged Mafia boss helped host the "Bruce Campaign Fundraising Dinner", which a Liberal Party memo later described as a "very successful" event, at his Docklands reception centre on March 1 last year.

Federal Liberal MP Russell Broadbent, who has known about the donor's alleged crime ties for several years having been implicated in the 2009 donations scandal, was at the Docklands event with the suspected Mafia boss. The guest speaker at the event was Victorian Planning Minister Matthew Guy.

Also at the fund-raiser was Liberal candidate for Bruce Emanuele Cicchiello, long-time Liberal operative and former Bass Coast mayor Neville Goodwin and state Liberal MP for Hastings Neale Burgess…..

Liberal sources confirmed that hire of Waterfront Venues Melbourne was donated by the alleged Mafia boss for the $250-a-head dinner. Food and drink was also heavily subsidised. Expensive items were also auctioned off at the event, including a helicopter ride for two and a dinner.

No specific records of the fund-raiser have been lodged with the Australian Electoral Commission, with Liberal sources saying the individual donations made as part of the event were under the $12,100 disclosure threshold.

Despite being the subject of numerous organised crime probes, the alleged mob boss has never been charged with a criminal offence and denies any involvement in organised crime or political bribery. The federal police bribery probe was closed after gathering insufficient evidence.

The revelations come as the Independent Commission Against Corruption probes donations by colourful business identities to Liberal politicians in NSW…..

The suspected Mafia boss has a business empire spanning Victoria, including stalls at the wholesale fruit and vegetable market, property developments, supermarkets and involvement in the nationwide La Porchetta pizza chain. He has also had dealings with NSW Liberal Party donors, including real estate agent Pat Sergi. Mr Sergi, named in a 1979 royal commission as a money launderer for the Mafia, was recently called as a witness at the NSW ICAC hearings into Liberal Party fund-raising.

Read the rest of the article here.

The West Australian 23 May 2914:

Tony Abbott has failed to declare a set of high-tech cycling gears worth about $3000 given to him by the Japanese Prime Minister.

When in Japan last month, Mr Abbott - a well-known cycling fanatic - was given Shimano Dura-Ace electric gears by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

The gears are used by the world's elite road racers, including Tour de France winner Cadel Evans.

Under parliamentary rules, MPs must declare within 28 days all gifts from "official sources" valued at more than $750. Should they keep the gift, they must pay the difference....

UPDATE Saturday 24 May 2014

The Daily Telegraph 24 May 2014:

SENATOR Arthur Sinodinos’s knowledge of Australian Water Holdings’ donations to the Liberal Party has been called into question after a tendered email showed he knocked back a seat at an AWH table to a Malcolm Turnbull fundraising event.

The Liberal senator has stood aside as federal assistant treasurer pending ICAC inquiries into his role as deputy chair and chair of AWH, which is accused of using Sydney Water bill money improperly on political donations, limousines and a corporate box at the football.

When it came to his knowledge of the political donations, ICAC Commissioner Megan Latham asked Mr Sinodinos on the stand in April: “Were you aware donations were being made?”

Mr Sinodinos replied: “No, no, no ... it wasn’t a matter ... discussed at board level.”

Counsel Assisting Geoffrey Watson, SC, later asked: “Did you know at the Liberal Party in your capacity as treasurer that Australian Water Holdings was making donations to the Liberal Party?”

Mr Sinodinos replied: “Not that I can recollect.”

But documents tendered by Mr Sinodinos’s own counsel to ICAC as Operation Spicer rose on Tuesday show Mr Sinodinos was told about one financial contribution AWH made to the Liberal Party.

Tendered emails show Mr Sinodinos was invited to a fundraiser booked by AWH in May 2009, when he was deputy chair of the company.

“Dear Arthur …” says the email to Mr Sinodinos from Mr Di Girolamo’s assistant, “… AWH has taken a table at the 2009 Federal Budget Reply Luncheon and Nick would be delighted if you could attend as his guest.”

The function was on Friday May 15, 2009 for pre-lunch drinks and lunch.

Mr Sinodinos’s PA responded: “Arthur is already attending the event as MC and at this stage is committed elsewhere. Apologies.”.....

Quote of the Month

Worse, after July 1 this year those on concession cards which are available to pensioners could lose as much as $2000 a year, says Louise Biti, head of technical services at Strategy Steps, which advises financial planners. [The Age, 16 May 2014]

Political Cartoon of the Week

http://www.glenlelievre.net/

So you think gas exploration in the NSW Northern Rivers region is conducted in a safe and environmentally sustainable way?

The CSG industry uses international standards and is highly regulated

CSG operations will not threaten water supplies

Metgasco is committed to conducting all of its activities in an environmentally sustainable way

All activities will be planned and managed to ensure minimum environmental impact

[Metgasco Limited 2013]

Think again……..

Metgasco Limited Drilling Incidents*

Some of the descriptive terms used in relation to incidents: severe water losses, gas bubbling was observed in hole, well caving, major problems, water inflow, 380m drill string and 33m bore hole assembly abandoned in the well, fault intercepted, “returns gained but big water losses”, leaking, hole collapsed from 16m, gas metre went into alarm mode “off scale”; hole spurting air and water; volumes of gas, cemented but would not hold pressure, well failed to clean up properly, caving clay & sand well collapsed, “gas detector not functioning but hydrocarbons can be smelled in the shaker area”, gas entering the mud column, presence of methane in mud returns, mud pits collapsing and losing mud, fracture stimulation, drilled into old river bed, “explosive cutters” required to remove casing.

Note

NSW Greens MLC Jeremy Buckingham has lodged a notice of motion in the Legislative Council and posted a YouTube video here.

The document above appears to be one on which he may have based some of the details contained in his motion.

* Author unknown

A hard choice for low income families and welfare recipients?

So which would you rather see happen – the Abbott Government continue with policies dismantling Australia’s ‘safety net’ welfare system (including Medicare) budget cut by budget cut or this federal government reduce superannuation tax concessions for the wealthy and very comfortably well-off?

I suspect Australians on Aged and Veterans Affairs pensions, the sick, those with disabilities, the unemployed and low income households generally would not find this choice a hard one to make.

A tax expenditure arises where a provision of the tax law causes a deviation from the standard tax treatment that would apply to an activity or class of taxpayer: that is, from the benchmark tax treatment [Australian Government, 2014-14 Budget Papers, STATEMENT 5: REVENUE]

According to an Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) paper presented at the National Tax Forum 2011:

* low income earner are penalised by the tax system for employer superannuation contributions, with zero tax support for these contributions, compared with a tax 
break of 32 cents per dollar contributed on behalf of a high income earner;

* almost 20% of superannuation tax concessions go to the top 2% of income earners (those over $150,000) almost 50% go to the top 12% of income earners;

* income over $180,000 per year attracts a flat tax rate of 15% (or 30 cents per dollar less than the marginal tax rate) on employer superannuation contributions;

* income attracting the top marginal tax rate of 45% results in tax concessions on superannuation of up to 30%; and

* Treasury research estimates that on average, high income earners receive a public subsidy for their retirement incomes (through tax breaks) over their lifetimes that exceeds the cost of paying them the age pension.

www.budget.gov.au/2014-15/content/bp1/download/BP1_BS5.pf

By the time the full raft of Abbott Government budget measures have come into effect, total superannuation tax concessions over the next four financial years will be in excess of $171 billion.

The next time someone tries to publicly argue that the Abbott Government, from Prime Minister through to lowly backbenchers, is not conducting class warfare I am going to (metaphorically speaking) spit in their eye if I see them in the street.