Sunday 24 August 2014

Shorter Tony Abbott: Liberal Party fraud & corruption all Labor Party's fault


It is becoming harder and harder to tolerate the arrant folly on display when Prime Minister Tony Abbott and his ministers trot forth their justifications for unlawful behaviour, bad policy, foreign relations gaffes or garden variety political fibs. 

This assertion quoted in The Guardian on 18 August 2014 has to be the most brazen example so far of their blame Labor mantra:

In the wake of the resignation of two NSW Liberal MPs over corruption allegations, the prime minister has said the “problem” was the former Labor NSW government banning property developer donations in the first place…..
“Who exactly is a developer? That can sometimes be a difficult question. [They] also introduced legislation to limit the total amount of donations and political parties need to raise money,” he told 2GB on Monday morning…..

As with many of Abbott's utterances, this was a distortion of fact which a look at Hansard records quickly dispelled.

The NSW Legislative Assembly Hansard of 1 December 2009 gives a clear definition of property developer:

Meaning of "property developer"
The Bill defines a property developer to be:
(a) a corporation engaged in a business that regularly involves the making of relevant planning applications by all on behalf of the corporation in connection with the residential or commercial development of land, with the ultimate purpose of the sale or lease of the land for profit, or
(b) close associates of such a corporation.
Any activity engaged in by a Corporation for the dominant purpose of providing commercial premises at which the corporation or a related body corporate will carry on business is to be disregarded for the purpose of determining whether the corporation is a property developer.
A close associate of a corporation includes:
(a) directors and officers of the corporation and their spouses, and
(b) a related body corporate of the corporation (within the meaning of the Corporations Act 2001 of the Commonwealth),
and
(c) persons whose voting power in the corporation or a related body corporate is greater than 20% and their spouses.

That same day Hansard records the bill being passed in the Lower House and the current Coalition Premier of New South Wales (then Shadow Treasurer), along with the rest of the Opposition, supporting this election funding reform:

Mr MIKE BAIRD (Manly) [6.31 p.m.]: The Opposition does not oppose the Election Funding and Disclosures Amendment (Property Development Prohibition Bill) 2009 as we strongly support the need for comprehensive campaign finance reform. From day one the Leader of the Opposition said that transparency, honesty and accountability should be returned to government in this State…..
However, I acknowledge that both sides of politics have received donations from areas and industries that have caused concern within the community and potentially removes objective assessment of legislation or reforms. The community has the perception that when particular groups or individuals fund a party it is difficult
for politicians to make objective assessments. That perception problem must be addressed. The problem is across both sides of the political divide. I accept that there are many in this place who do not have a potential conflict; nevertheless, the perception remains and it is difficult to determine whether people are being influenced
by donations. In my inaugural speech 2½ years ago I noted that donations were at a corrosive level in this State and that significant donation limits, combined with stronger public funding, can ensure that electors are properly informed and have confidence in the integrity of the electoral process.....

That property developers appearing before ICAC are well aware of the fact that they are property developers within the meaning of relevant legislation is nowhere better illustrated than by former Newcastle mayor Jeff McCloy’s High Court writ which reportedly states:

‘‘Each of the first plaintiff (Cr McCloy) and third plaintiff (North Lakes Pty Ltd) is therefore a property developer within the meaning of section 96GB(1) of the Elections Funding, Expenditure and Disclosures Act.’’

By March 2014 NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption investigations Credo and Spicer were exposing the the degree to which politicians, political parties, lobby groups and individuals were flouting state election funding and donation disclosure laws.

 On 27 May 2014 NSW Premier Baird announced the formation of an expert committee which would investigate and recommend to government further reforms to NSW election funding laws.

A background paper produced by this committee gives an Overview of Australian Election Funding and Disclosure Regimes.

Excerpt:

New South Wales

In 2008, in-kind campaign contributions (including the provision of offices, computer equipment and vehicles to candidates for little or no payment) were capped at $1,000. In 2009, political donations from property developers were banned in response to public concerns about corruption and undue influence in the NSW planning system. This ban was later extended to prohibit donations from the tobacco, liquor and gambling industries.

In 2010, the Election Funding, Expenditure and Disclosures Act 1981 (NSW) (the NSW Act) was further amended to impose caps on the value of political donations to parties, groups, candidates, elected members and third-party campaigners. As a result of these reforms, the largest donation a single donor can make in a financial year is $5,000 to a political party or group, and $2,000 to a candidate, elected member or third-party campaigner (adjusted for increases in the CPI). The applicable NSW donations caps for the 2014-15 financial year are $5,700 for donations to parties and groups and $2,400 for donations to candidates, elected members and third-party campaigners.

The shift in New South Wales toward caps and bans on donations culminated in the O’Farrell Government’s 2012 amendments banning political donations from corporations and other entities. This ban was recently declared invalid by the High Court on the grounds that it impermissibly burdened the implied freedom of political communication under the Commonwealth Constitution. The result of the High Court’s decision is that section 96D of the NSW Act applies as it did before the 2012 amendments.

On the basis of this outline it would appear that the majority of witnesses giving evidence at Operation Spicer hearings are either in breach of state electoral funding and donation laws or have knowledge of these breaches and, fraud and corruption are systemic within the NSW political system.

A system which has been advantageous to Prime Minister Abbott through donations received from the Warringah Club and Warringah Forum. 

It would appear that Abbott's statement of 18 August this year is merely a reworking of an excuse he found successful in the past, when his political fund-raising arm was found to have breached electoral laws and one of his principal donors (a property developer) failed to make required disclosures.

Unfortunately for Tony Abbott the Australian electorate now has a better understanding of how political donations are solicited and his tired old 'ignorance of the law' excuse will no longer be tolerated by a great many voters.

Saturday 23 August 2014

Elite Energy's Triathlon Festival at Yamba NSW, 5-6 September 2014



Elite Energy website:

YAMBA is becoming NSW's own North Coast early season festival with a difference. This year an Olympic Distance Triathlon will be the main event, and the festival will become the first event in our 2014-2015 triseries season.

With stylish village charm, pristine beaches, national parks and award winning restaurants, Yamba is a unique holiday or lifestyle experience for the family. Explore the myriad of waterways, stroll the uncrowded beaches, go swimming, fishing or surfing but most of all discover Yamba's friendly hospitality all year round.

Yamba is situated at the mouth of the Clarence River in Northern NSW, the biggest river on the east coast of Australia. Yamba has a relaxed lifestyle with access to all services and is within easy reach of Ballina, Lismore and Grafton. Yamba is only 3 hours from Brisbane, 2 hours from the Gold Coast and only a 2 hour flight from Sydney.

Looking for accommodation? Check out our local partners here »


The Disgraced Former Young Liberals Club












































Audio of The Disgraced Former Young Liberals Club (including anthem) click here.

* First Dog On The Moon's shop here.

Quote of the Week


This weekend Abbott will be on the Pollie Pedal, a familiar and comforting excursion. He gives the impression of a leader for whom the core task of governing and delivering has become very hard. [The Conversation 15 August 2014]

Meme of the Week




Friday 22 August 2014

Mid North Coast Greens: NSW Minister for Primary Industries admits to being industry mouthpiece on coal seam gas


Mid North Coast Greens Media Release Tuesday 19 August 2014:

Minister Hodgkinson admits to being industry mouthpiece on coal seam gas

The Greens NSW mining spokesperson Jeremy Buckingham was astounded to hear the Minister for Primary Industries, Katrina Hodgkinson read an AGL press release to answer a question about the ability of coal seam gas to coexist with the dairy industry.

Mr Buckingham asked Minister Hodgkinson whether she had read the report of the parliamentary inquiry into coal seam gas, and particularly the evidence given by North Coast dairy co-operative NORCO that they could not coexist with coal seam gas.  NORCO recently reported on their rapid expansion of its dairy exports to China.  Minister Hodgkinson answered by reading verbatim from this AGL press release

“It’s appalling that the Minister for Primary Industries resorts to literally being an industry mouthpiece by reading our an AGL press release to answer a serious question,” said Greens MP Jeremy Buckingham.

“Except for an official tour of AGL’s coal seam gas facilities at Camden, Ms Hodgkinson seems to have put no thought into the subject and is happy to just read from an industry press release.

“She admits she has not visited the gas area near Narrabri, nor been to Queensland where the coal seam gas industry has rapidly expanded in agricultural areas, nor could she remember whether she’d read the parliamentary report into coal seam gas.

“If I were Agricultural Minister, I would have quickly visited to the United States to find out for myself how fracking for gas affects agriculture.  Instead we have an ignorant minister reliant on industry spin.

“Farmers are up in arms around the state, worried about the impact of gas and mining on their ability to farm and to source clean water, yet the minister is asleep to the issue.  

“Farmers would be disappointed that Minister Hodgkinson seems disinterested in her portfolio.  Agriculture is a vibrant and innovative sector of the economy and needs a passionate advocate, but instead we have an ineffective minister.”

A Lesson For Japan: Southern Ocean Research Partnership proves non-lethal whale research both possible and productive


A satellite-tagged minke whale in the Antarctic. 
Picture: ARI FRIEDLAENDER/AUSTRALIAN ANTARCTIC DIVISION
The Herald Sun 16 August 2014


Department of the Environment Australian Antarctic Division 13 August 2014:

The extraordinary feeding behaviour of Antarctic minke whales has been recorded for the first time, showing the mammals lunge feeding up to 100 times per hour under the sea ice, gorging on Antarctic krill.

Scientists from the United States and Australia attached multi-sensor suction cup satellite tags to minke whales off the west Antarctic Peninsula last year to study their foraging patterns.

Australian Antarctic Division Chief Scientist, Dr Nick Gales, said the tags measured the whales’ orientation, depth and acceleration.
“Prior to this work the movements and diving behaviour of these whales was something of a mystery as no tags had been deployed on the species,” Dr Gales said.

“We found that the minkes were swimming just beneath the sea ice, feeding at incredibly high rates, taking mouthfuls of krill every 30 seconds.

“This is very different from other whale behaviour, for example the gigantic blue whales lunge up to four times during a dive and smaller humpbacks lunge up to 12 times.”

The study also found the minkes’ size and manoeuvrability allows them to take advantage of the sea ice habitat.
“The minke’s preferred prey, Antarctic krill, aggregate under the sea ice and attract the whales to the area, leading to these feeding frenzies,” Dr Gales said.

“But any future change in sea ice has the potential to impact on the minke whales’ foraging habits.”

The study is part of the Australian-led Southern Ocean Research Partnership, which is focused on non-lethal research and is endorsed by the International Whaling Commission.

“It’s clear from the insight we have gained into the whales’ behaviour through this work, that you simply don’t have to kill the whales to study them,” Dr Gales said.

The study was published in the Journal of Experimental Biology.

Background

The Southern Ocean Research Partnership was established in 2009 to enhance cetacean conservation and the delivery of non-lethal whale research to the International Whaling Commission (IWC). SORP partners include Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, France, Italy, Mexico, New Zealand, South Africa and the United States. The Partnership research focus is on post-exploitation whale population structure, health and status; and changing atmosphere and oceans: Southern Ocean whales and their ecosystems.