While we are all at the beach and otherwise distracted, Malcolm Turnbull has been doing some house cleaning.
Liberal MP Mal Brough will stand aside, pending a police investigation of the Peter Slipper matter, while Jamie Briggs has tendered his resignation as Minister for Cities and the Built Environment following a late-night incident involving a female public servant in a Hong Kong bar during an official overseas visit last month.
Both, I think, were pushed.
(Image from Simon Letch at the SMH.)
Meanwhile Royal Commissioner Dyson Heydon investigating trade unions has delivered his report referring to “widespread and deep-seated” misconduct by union officials.
- More than 40 individuals and organisations have been referred to various authorities, including police, directors of public prosecutions, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission and the Fair Work Commission.
There was also a recommendation for an independent body with greater powers to investigate union records and finances.
The Guardian makes it:
- A total of 93 people have been referred as a result of the inquiry: 48 for criminal charges and 45 for civil charges.
Here’s the link to the full report.
It is said that National Party leader Warren Truss is also considering his future.
Terry Barnes in commenting on the ministerial dumpings thinks a March election may well be on the cards. He could be right, for three reasons.
Firstly, the polls are brilliant and are unlikely to get any better.
Secondly, a double dissolution would allow him to bypass the pesky independents in the senate, albeit at the risk of electing even more of them.
Third, best to get in before the budget, which is bound to be unpleasant.
On Brough, if Turnbull has half a brain, and he certainly does, he’ll shed Brough entirely.
The Guardian article quotes Turnbull as saying that he’s willing to fight an election on industrial relations, and goes into the nature and timing of the relevant legislation.
On Briggs, the ABC has been reluctant to go into detail. For what it’s worth the presenter on ABC local radio last night said he complimented the staffer on her piercing eyes, threw his arm around her (one arm only, I think) and planted a kiss. She obviously was unimpressed enough to make a complaint. That’s from memory.
There’s more at the SMH.
A reshuffle in February, an election in March, a budget in May sounds a bit rushed. I tend to think they will toughen up the registered organisation legislation before reintroducing it, and work up a program on tax reform before thinking of elections. That will take time.
One way or another, though, I think Turnbull would be quite pleased with the last couple of days. He has more options.
Matthew Knott looks at other politicians who got into trouble while out on the town.
I’ve added a link to the full trade union report.
“”ABC NewsRadio’s Marius Benson speaks to CEO of the Master Builders Wilhelm Harnisch.””
( note that union blackmail is at the end of the project, very important point )
Good listen, under 6 mins.
( also note the poll on right of screen, half of ABC respondents experienced union skulduggery. )
Oh, what the hell. Why don’t we look at all of the corruption at the same time. If only we could, but at least we have information from one Australian state.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-05-02/political-scalps-of-nsw-icac/5427260
Imagine what ooze a full study of all states, the federal executive, and our business leaders too, would flow forth.
I’ve been “bashed” by unions but not severely, they were just being a bit ambitious about entitlements.
But I reckon I have been screwed mindless by unethical “corpricity” (my new word) over my entire life. That the unions have been found wanting is hardly a surprise. Surely though, shouldn’t we now examine corporate misconduct in its many forms? I am quite certain there is plenty to uncover.
Quiggin reckons it’s mostly a beat up, with most of the rorts “for small amounts, some as minor as using the union credit card to get a tattoo.” Most will fall over in court if they make it that far.
Could we, rather than split down the left/right divide, use this as a launching point to clean up the corruption by both unions and business.
Both were identified by Heydon.
He uncovered corruption of the principles of competition and free trade. We all know who pays for that, the consumer, us all.