Damning HSU report claims scalp of Union Boss
The damning report which details widespread rorting within the East branch of the Health Services Union has been forwarded to New South Wales Police.
The report, by lawyer Ian Temby and accountant Dennis Robertson, outlines allegations of multi-million dollar instances of nepotism, maladministration and cronyism.
Although the authors could not make any firm conclusions, they allege the conduct ranges from innappropriate to apparent criminal misconduct.
Craig Thomson is mentioned throughout the report and is described as the protege of Michael Williamsson.
Fraud Squad detectives with Strike Force Carnarvon, which was set up to investigate allegations of inappropriate practices within the union, are now considering the contents of the report.
Many of the allegations involve the branch’s former national president Michael Williamson, who quit via text message this week.
Mr Williamson stood aside last September when investigations into allegations of misuse of funds began, though he still formally held the position.You can read the report here:
theguttertrash.com 
“Labor running ‘protection racket’ to shield Craig Thomson”
“A NSW police source yesterday confirmed to The Australian that key evidence had been obtained concerning Mr Thomson’s activities when he was at HSU East, and said commanders were considering whether it was sufficient to lay charges.”
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/industrial-relations/labor-running-protection-racket-to-shield-craig-thomson/story-fn59noo3-1226434257567
More from the link above…
“Mr Temby said in his report only that he and his fellow investigator, accountant Dennis Robertson, did not have the powers to gather evidence about whether Mr Williamson and Mr Thomson took secret commissions from a supplier, and he was therefore not in a position to make a finding.”
“A police source yesterday told The Australian that Strike Force Carnarvon had obtained American Express records that show Mr Thomson and Mr Williamson were given, and used, cards on the Gilleland account. The source said an assessment was being made as to whether Mr Thomson and Mr Williamson could be charged with taking secret commissions, or another offence.”
Hanging is too good for them.
I was going to say it should be interesting watching the usual suspects deciding ahead of the police who is guilty or not. Most interesting after their ‘arrguments’ on the other thread.
Thanks yomm (the Linkinator)
Clearly Gillard thinks Thomson is guilty of something. “A line has been crossed”.
Whereas Skyhooks Emerson is calling on the Opposition to drop its vendetta against Thomson.
It would be nice if Labor could at least try to be consistent.
Wicks is right. There is nothing to implicate Thomson or Williamson. 10 x the rate for printing newsletters is neither here nor there.
Jackson and Lawler, however, string ’em up. Tar ‘n’ feather ’em. Ride ’em out on a rail!!!
Part 4A of the NSW Crimes Act 1900 prohibits the following conduct:
1. Receiving or soliciting, as an agent, an inducement or reward for doing or not doing something in relation to the affairs of their principal.
2. Corruptly giving or offering an agent an inducement or reward for doing or not doing something in relation to the affairs of the agent’s principal.
3. Use of misleading documents or statements by agents with the intent of defrauding their principals.
4. Corrupt inducements to a person for giving advice to a third party which induces them to enter into a contract or appoint the person who gives the inducement to any office.
Penalties for infringement include fines as well as imprisonment for up to 7 years for individuals that are involved.
“A line has been crossed”.
You understand she said that after the allegations about Slipper were made, and the media had reached a crescendo on their public declarations of guilt or otherwise between the two?
It should be interesting to come back later today and find out just what else Thom(p)son has been declared guilty of by you lot.
I myself might wait and see if anything arises from the police. How many ‘investigations’ is this now into Thom(p)son? How many charges to date?
“you lot”
LOL!
“the media had reached a crescendo”
Yes, it must be the media’s fault.
“It should be interesting watching the usual suspects” cover their eyes to this stinking cesspit and run interference for Thomson and Williamson.
The ALP has already shelled out hundreds of thousands of dollars on Thomson’s legals to keep him in parliament and them in power. The party hacks will do everything possible to protect this investment. The dissembling trolls have been well briefed and their incessant boorish bluster is flooding public discourse. We are lucky here to be treated to a masterclass in this sick art. Every blog needs its Joseph Goebbels.
For far too long the Unionland code of silence has prevailed, and while Thomson and Williamson may represent Unionland best practice, this time around the filth is not going to just disappear out of sight like some discarded tawdry Town Mode frock spotted with the semen stains of a corrupt union official.
“I myself might wait and see if anything arises from the police. “
Of course you will. It might be a tad inconvenient if you believed anything in the FWA report.
Waiting for charges worked a treat in the Wilson/Gillard/AWU case – there weren’t any! The money went missing, it wasn’t recovered – cash was withdrawn, houses were purchased and dresses bought but no one was charged. And no subsequent AWU boss, like Shorten or Howes, has been able to recover the money or explain exactly what happened. But according to the Unionland stooges the public is not entitled to an opinion because no one has been charged or convicted. Just beautiful down in Unionland, ain’t it?
As I see it.
If the ALP wasn’t hanging onto government by the barest of margins then they’d have distanced themselves from Thomson a couple of years back. Guilty or not.
Basically, they can’t afford to not support him…even though in doing so they are probably irreparably soiling their brand.
It’s hard to see it as a principled defense of innocence until guilt is proven…rather than desperate, last ditch real politik.
In doing so, I believe that they’re doing themselves more longterm damage than if they’d just bitten the bullet & forfeited government or called an early election or whatever.
This shits me because they’ll end up so decimated as to be a nonviable opposition & thereby gift the Abbott-fucktard free hand to subjugate the country in his backwardsarsed vision.
Noone ever wins, noone finally loses, except the dead, under the sun they rot together in absolute biological equality… (hat tip to The Beserker)
“In doing so, I believe that they’re doing themselves more longterm damage than if they’d just bitten the bullet & forfeited government or called an early election or whatever.”
Exactly. Once you start looking beyond the next spin cycle you have to ask was it worth it? Today’s politicians, of both sides, are incapable of that.
It should be interesting to come back later today and find out just what else Thom(p)son has been declared guilty of by you lot.
Guilty of becoming an MP when his prior indiscretions and reputation were already in the public domain and guilty of not resigning when the Libs brought it all up again to force a quickie re-election.
And worse of all, guilty of not giving them a new election before the Carbon Tax came into effect 😆
Watching news now, the headline is how can to cope with the stench from the decomposing corpse of a whale!
Public health concern of people being exposed to a bad smell!
How does this nation cope?
“How does this nation cope?”
Excuse me but I’m located not too far North of Newport.
In fact I need to go in the direction of Newport this afternoon. And although its really sunny today I might actually need to keep the roof down on the convertible.
Bloody inconvenient
“how to cope with the stench from the decomposing corpse of a whale!”
Express complete confidence that the whale is alive – say I don’t smell a thing!
Then add a molecule to another molecule, declare it stinky and say a line has been crossed.
Then put the whale a small distance away on the cross benches where it can still vote for you (which you know it will do because you have lent it hundreds of thousands of dollars).
Then say that the stench is isolated to this particular whale and would never happen anywhere else, like say the AWU.
Splatter…….post of the year!!
I concur!
It was a “rogue whale..”
I am delighted to be seeing tomR again, welcome back tomR!
Wicks is right. There is nothing to implicate Thomson or Williamson. 10 x the rate for printing newsletters is neither here nor there.
Not that there hasn’t been a precedent set in that area, different story when it’s the Cons though and as usual, no adverse findings from the AFP.
http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2007/s1865190.htm
…Mr Howard would not support Andrew Lamming, but nor is he saying anything that would add to the pressure on him to resign.
Instead he’s saying Mr Lamming and the two other Federal MPs, Ross Vasta and Gary Hardgrave, are entitled to the presumption of innocence.
JOHN HOWARD: It’s a police investigation and the appropriate thing for me to do is to let the police investigation run its course, and then, if it is appropriate, I will have something to say. But it’s not appropriate when a police investigation is going on for the prime minister to be expressing a view on that investigation.
It is a long-held principle of the way that we administer the law in this country that while a police investigation is going on, people should not comment, should not make, draw conclusions about guilt or innocence, but simply should allow the investigation…
Liberal Party – hypocrites of the first order.
‘..welcome back tomR!’
Ditto
Interesting the view Kittylitter held back in the day, even when it became clear that it had been an political stitch up.
http://blogs.news.com.au/news/blogocracy/index.php/news/comments/two_out_of_three_mps_cleared/
Guilty as sin, they were. CORRUPT!!
Interesting on that Laming thing…..
It was Beattie (whilst he was respecting the “presumption of innocence” stuff, who, under parliamentary privilege, labelled it “Printgate”.
It is instructive to listen to this report and in particular note the response of the then Coalition leader, Flugg, and compare it to the responses to similar and far more serious and substantive allegations made by the current PM.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2007-03-07/labor-attacks-qld-liberals-over-printing-scandal/2211530
Like the shrillness of Climate Change advocates … we all have opinions … only the future, and the legal authorities of the land, will tell if your’s was right …
Calling a person guilty, doesn’t mean under any particular system that they are (the, Gallic process, being the exception of course) … but eventually the perpetrators come unstuck and go under …
Methinks the shrillness here, relates to personal political proclivities rather than a desire to assist the HSU members’ money, membership and maintenance needs …
A certain sefishness that actually mirrors the ramiifications (often) reiterated by readers and speculators posting here …
None of us here LIKE thieves but the system is the system and plyed and played by BOTH sides of politics … posters here fall into two categories … those who attack the government and anything they believe throws a bad light on them … and those who criticise BOTH the government and the opposition for doing fkn stupid things …
What’s astounds me still is that the former always take the high moral ground … ignoring the similar actions by the alternative government …
My city has a radio station 4BC that is simply a daily LibNat elecioneering talk-back station
“Methinks the shrillness here, relates to personal political proclivities rather than a desire to assist the HSU members’ money, membership and maintenance needs … ”
Indeed!
“Like the shrillness of Climate Change advocates … we all have opinions … only the future, and the legal authorities of the land, will tell if your’s was right …”
This is where you are wrong. We know enough now to say that Thomson is a grub who should not be in Federal parliament and that the PM and the Labor party are badly tarnished because they chose to cling on to power by defending this grub. That much doesn’t depend on criminal charges or a criminal conviction.
I read the FWA report. I read the affidavit in the Thomson case attaching the brothel receipt and the mobile phone records and the bank account withdrawals. I am entitled to form an opinion on the basis of that evidence. It is the people who ignore it or downplay it that have questions to answer about their bona fides.
The reason I am so absolutely outraged by this is that I hate being governed by rotten people. And over the last year or so I have come to believe that Gillard, Swan, Albanese, Conroy and co are truly rotten people.
“Methinks the shrillness here, relates to personal political proclivities rather than a desire to assist the HSU members’ money, membership and maintenance needs …”
While you may question the motives of some who are attacking Labor on this, you
wouldn’t really know. What is absolutely clear, though, is that those who are running interference for Thomson, telling us we have no basis to form any judgment at all, are motivated only by their political prejudices. There is no rational basis for going softly, softly when something as rotten as the Thomson affair comes along. Only blind political loyalty. Pot, kettle black.
I’m as shrill as it gets precisely because I am outraged at this government’s behaviour and the depths they have sunk to to cling on to power. I am just fucking angry about it.
I was shrill and angry about Howard bailing out his brother’s company with government money as well, but I shouldn’t have to explain this. The ones with the explaining to do are those who aren’t outraged and angry at this rotten affair and keep silent or play it down. The issue here and now is the behaviour of Thomson and of the ALP. Of course ALP hardliners will tell us to wait for a conviction or, even if they can be shamed into some grudging acceptance that something might be wrong in Unionland, qualify any criticism by saying that the other guys are just as bad.
Even worse is “None of us here LIKE thieves but the system is the system”. That is absolutely no excuse for silence, or for telling everyone to hush up and wait for a conviction or for making excuses for a government who has decided to govern at the pleasure of this grub.
People should be very fucking angry that this is “the system” and screaming the house down about the shameful bastards who would rather the “business as usual, don’t make a fuss, let’s hang on to power” approach than calling this bastardry for what it is and actually changing things to make the system better.
“Methinks the shrillness here, relates to personal political proclivities rather than a desire to assist the HSU members’ money, membership and maintenance needs … ”
Certainly not as far as I’m concerned…
I think the whole thing stinks…
Here’s what we know about Thomson:
– His credit card was used on several occasions to pay for escort services
– His drivers licence was used as id at the point of sale of those credit card transactions
– He personally approved those transactions as work related expenses
– Lavish lunches and dinners were charged to his HSU credit card
– Some $100,000 in cash withdrawals were made using his HSU credit card with no explanation or level of detail forthcoming.
We also know that Thomson enjoyed Gillard’s complete confidence and she refused to do anything until the unpalatable stench threatened to destroy any last shred of her already tarnished credibility.
We also know that hundreds of thousands of our taxpayers dollars were spent on Thomson’s legal fees.
To date, Thomson hasn’t offered any form of explanation that passes the believability test other than “it wasn’t me, it was someone else.”
Although I recall he did hint at some sort of X-Files type explanation at his teary-eyed speech in Parliament when he made reference to “phone cloning” of his mobile phone..
The question of whether their is sufficient evidence to initiate a successful prosecution remains to be seen. Whether Thomson is innocent of any wrongdoing is another matter altogether.
That’s the point that the Gillard/Thomson apologists can quite comprehend.
I agree 110% with what splatterbottom said…!
This isn’t about taking political sides, it’s about the absolute disgrace this government has become and the way it clings to power propping up the likes of Thomson.
And the condescending lies and bullshit we have to put up with coming from “one molecule plus one molecule Gillard.”
I had high hopes for Australia when Kev swept to power in 2007.
By comparison, the state of politics in Australia today is a fkn disgrace.
Both sides of politics consist of ugly, deceitful grubs who will say and do anything to cling to power. And in the middle we have the sanctimonious Greens who couldn’t (unlike Thomson) organise a shag in a brothel.
Unions (and employer organisations) now days have a range of training and superannuation funds that provide “overseas study tours”. I wonder whether a review of expenditure during these “study tours” would reveal similar patterns of personal expenditure on escorts and prostitutes.
I don’t think Thomson’s behaviour is particularly isolated, but he’s the one in parliament, the vote that props up the government, the one who has had 180 findings against him.
…and no matter what the mindless say, HE’S THE C**T WITH A CASE TO ANSWER
‘the sanctimonious Greens who couldn’t (unlike Thomson) organise a shag in a brothel’
🙂
Craig is a pathological liar.
My outrage at the issue has to do with a lot more than political leanings.
I have said for years that I believe in the necessity of a strong trade union movement. I have said for years that I believe there is a strength in the cyclical nature of government in this country. I’d be pretty disappointed if after 5 years of opinionating on pretty well anything and everything that there’d be those who hold a view that I am not sympathetic to HSU members.
I guess where it gets shrill is that for those of us who believe that “freedom” is the most important ingredient in a happy and just society, we have absolutely copped it over the years from moralistic bolshies who, to be kind, may regard “fairness” as that most important ingredient. “Their side” are for the poor downtrodden workers. “Our side” were for big business. And were probably just Cathlicks. And what fckwit doesn’t believe that adding a couple of hundred parts per million doesn’t increase temperature.
Now there are a precious few who have stuck it out here, and it’s interesting that it’s those who have been well prepared to more or less respectfully fight issues out that are still here.
But those moralistic bolshies have all fcked off somewhere else, enabling, condoning, justifying, but most of all BANNING those who have proven to be right about a few issues.
TB, Toilet, sorry, but we did try to take the fight elsewhere. We were banned. We can only make our points here, knowing that they’ll be read, if not responded to
“Unions (and employer organisations) now days have a range of training and superannuation funds that provide “overseas study tours”.. “
The Thomson case and the involvement of the Unions has already become a very good reason to transfer your money to a Corporate or even better set up your own Self Managed Super Fund (before you find it too hard to get insurance on your own) rather than let that scum anywhere near your money if that’s where its parked.
…and no matter what the mindless say, HE’S THE C**T WITH A CASE TO ANSWER
I agree … it stinks … I agree the report is damning … I agree the system is shonky … just as it was when Howard was in power and they “assisted” Patricks in their fight against the wharfies … both a bunch of arseholes … just as a certain doctor on the Gold Coast found out … and the ……… the list goes on … but screaming loudly, day after day on a blog like TDT, won’t get you voice heard … zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz …
And no I’m not defending, Thomson… its all been said here … OVER & FKN OVER!
There is a mind set by many people, and quite a few here, that if you keep screeching the same shit it will make the police, courts, investigations and those in power reach the right conclusion sooner … it won’t — the buggers all work at a snails pace … the simplest decisions are ponderous to the legal fraternity … and take time that would not be tolerated in business …
… as for the HSU, ALP, Gillard, Abbott etc etc FFS move on or tell me something I haven’t heard before … zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
“Their side” are for the poor downtrodden workers. “Our side” were for big business. And were probably just Cathlicks. ”
Why, oh why, do you have to keep dragging religion into everything…?
Just sayin’
😉
“……..but most of all BANNING those who have proven to be right about a few issues. ”
Yep
Censorship is deeply ingrained into the DNA of the Left
TB’s right! “You people” are like broken records. Why can’t you talk about something else? Like recipes. Or write a poem or two.
There is a mind set by many people, and quite a few here, that if you keep screeching the same shit it will make the police, courts, investigations and those in power reach the right conclusion sooner … it won’t — the buggers all work at a snails pace … the simplest decisions are ponderous to the legal fraternity … and take time that would not be tolerated in business …
… as for the HSU, ALP, Gillard, Abbott etc etc FFS move on or tell me something I haven’t heard before … zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Actually my mindset is that it needs to be continually talked about. Day after day. Until it is properly sorted. I’ve noticed more than once that once the hype dies down on an issue it seems to quietly go away until you wake up and one of the main perps is a Prime Minister shoving a futile Carbon Tax down your throat not months after she promised she wouldn’t.
TB, I don’t think anyone here comments with the objective of changing public opinion, or even the opinion of others that read/contribute.
This is a site for vigorous exchange, lively debate and clever humour. I don’t think anyone takes it all very seriously.
That’s why those that do take blogging so very seriously (and ban alternative opinion) find themselves on the receiving end of plenty of sharp commentary.
“Censorship is deeply ingrained into the DNA of the Left”
Well I’m not sure I necessarily agree with that.
I think what’s happened is that in some circles they’ve just become a bit overly sensitive to any criticism of Julia Gillard. So much so, that they now resort to blanket bans of those who seek to question the apparent undying loyalty to Gillard despite her many failures.
Many people (myself included) have become completely disillusioned with the Gillard government; the way in which she knifed Rudd, walking away from the commitment she did or didn’t make about a carbon tax, welching on the deal with Wilkie, her uber-conservative opposition to marriage equality, the shambles over asylum seekers, and so the list goes on.
The odd thing is that the Gillard apologists insist that they’re still of “the left” when Gillard has taken the party towards a dramatic shift to the right.
Labor is really just “Coalition lite” these days…
“the list goes on … but screaming loudly, day after day on a blog like TDT, won’t get you voice heard … zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz …”
Perhaps you’re right TB.
Maybe we should post at the Political Sword instead.
I just took a stroll past and shock horror Ad Astra has written another essay in support of Julia Gillard.
It does go on for a bit, as one has come to expect from Ad Astra, so I’ve condensed it a bit for the time-poor…
Shorter Ad Astra:
“The opinion polls are crap and can’t be trusted. Julia Gillard is actually a really nice person. I’ve seen her on TV, and she’s always polite and nice. Why does Australia hate her so, when she is so nice? It’s Tony Abbotts fault.”
The end.
TB’s right! Dicklewit!® 😉 You KNOW I am!
Maybe we should post at the Political Sword instead.
It may interest you to know that some of us … can’t post at the PS …
… the “heartbeat” mob here think that they are the only ones who have ever been “banned” from a fkn blog … I was locked out of Bolt’s blog in 2006 … and on the heels of that the Fuckwit™ Ackermann’s blog (in them days I was nieeeve) … but I did manage to post a few times under a different name … he (or his admin) didn’t have the sense to know that, “The End Is Nigh”, was from the same computer …
… when the ALP was swept to power … I took great delight in telling, The Toad (I was a big fan of, Wind in The Willows, as a kid) … “The End Is Here”, possum !
Then the ALP let it all dribble away like a bunch of
incontinentsincompetents …… sp, maybe that’s why I get pissed off with your posts sometimes,mate … no apologies but an understanding, OK?
And while we are on “bannings” I posted a comment a few days ago … about deliberately not being “invited” to post on Cafe Whispers because of a big fairy bear … it still pisses me off … but I was banned before any of you dicks … before it even got up (excuse the Gallic)!!
I post at CW occasionally … when I see something that is silly – like my post about the WWI “analogy” … just nonsense …
I like to post here … I’ve said before (and for the reasons that Toillette, called … ie blunt etc … – can’t remember the post and details, mate …)
Quite frankly I’m fkd at the mo’ !
The Minister, after almost 29 years in the same house decided we should have flyscreens … after fighting a rearguard action against them, when we first moved in, against a whole army of friends and rellies, me included!
So, after two days of setting up a jig, measuring, hacksawing, juggling, jiggling, planning, figuring, strategising (we have two types of window frame and 10mm bars on the outside downstairs) … we have seven screens in place and six to go! (The harder ones I’ve left till last!)
This Bowler’s Run SSB is slowly taking it’s toll … “clink” … 🙂
“Toilet, sorry, but we did try to take the fight elsewhere. We were banned. We can only make our points here, knowing that they’ll be read, if not responded to.”
I accept that. I know it to be so & I think it’s as pathetic as you do.
I don’t know for sure if Thomson is guilty, neither does anyone else here. By all accounts I imagine that he very probably is. This is complicated by the fact that the ALP stands to lose & the Coalition stands to gain, but doesn’t lessen his probable guilt. Also, those who have certain proclivities to support one side at the expense of the other have an obvious vested interest in seeing their side of the argument prevail.
Let me just say that I don’t trust either angle.
This is why I said ” Indeed!“…in relation to TB’s comment…”Methinks the shrillness here, relates to personal political proclivities rather than a desire to assist the HSU members’ money, membership and maintenance needs … ”
It was a general “Indeed”, not a personal one.
So, no need to include me in that horrific personal attack, snacty. You should be ashamed of yourself & your unhygienic nether regions too. Now get back to piling on TB, he’s short & intolerant of helpful flyscreens.
Ad Nauseam is nothing if not boring & predictable.
The Political Mire is hilarious for all of the wrong reasons.
I loathe censorship, btw.
It is definitely not the exclusive domain of the left. That’s just hyperbolic crap.
On another tangent, was a I just dreaming, or was there a discussion on Q&A about people taking back the word “vagina” and using it comfortably in public?
Why stop there?
Shouldn’t they have opted for CUNT?
VAGINA just seems like a faux nouveau PC bit of middle-class sensationalism.
Vagina is to civil unions, wot cunt is to marriage equality…
(I think, anyway, I think…)
That’s Q&A being edgy. 🙄
I want to be free to use penis in public, publicly.
This new found freedom must have come in the wake of 50 shades of grey.
And I know some of you have children!
It’s all about ME! ME! ME! with your lot!
Like “social networking” what a load of twat its people talking to a fkn mchine … ie Anti-Social Networking©
If I’m doing my morning walk and someone walks towards me under 40 yo they suddenly get out their swipe machine and pretend to look at something … it’s hilarious avoidance of human contact … social networking my arse …
Or
**I want to be free to use my pubilicly protruding penile penis in public, publicly … and ponce — pretendingly and purposefully … being prone to projectiling, passively and therfore promoting people with particularly powerful pertudas. **
😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆
Ya gotta laugh, hey!
‘swipe machine’
😯
swipe machine’ … fkn translation … ipod, iphone, galaxy, nokia … even if its not a touch screen they “pretend” … you must get out more ToSY …
The ALP has released a “no change” report on IR. It’s all about perfect, apparently.
The ALP has released a “no change” report on IR. It’s all about perfect, apparently.
Expectation level …? 😯
“If I’m doing my morning walk and someone walks towards me under 40 yo they suddenly get out their swipe machine and pretend to look at something … it’s hilarious avoidance of human contact … social networking my arse …”
So true!
I’ve made the same observation.
We HAVE discussed your dress sense, TB. And Toilet, heavily bearded surfies are oft mistaken for beggars.
…Interesting the view Kittylitter held back in the day, even when it became clear that it had been an political stitch up.
Wonder how they fixed that up, I’ve heard that money was quietly paid back. How come pollies get to avoid criminal proceedings by belatedly doing the right thing, after they’ve benefited from the crime. The rest of us have our day in court…
And I still think the same james. It wasn’t a political stitch up at all, it is an example of our lawmakers being unaccountable. They make and break the rules that any other citizen would be gaoled for, both sides of politics look after themselves when it comes to taxpayer funded rorting. They give themselves complete protection from scrutiny and punishment and I think it is a sickening contempt of the people.
…People should be very fucking angry that this is “the system” and screaming the house down about the shameful bastards who would rather the “business as usual, don’t make a fuss, let’s hang on to power” approach than calling this bastardry for what it is and actually changing things to make the system better…
I totally agree, but a change of government won’t change the ‘system’ it is the shit sandwich we’ve been dealt by the political parties in their own interests.
If you want to change the system, you wouldn’t support either party, neither of them behave with any decency.
Many people (myself included) have become completely disillusioned with the Gillard government; the way in which she knifed Rudd, walking away from the commitment she did or didn’t make about a carbon tax, welching on the deal with Wilkie, her uber-conservative opposition to marriage equality, the shambles over asylum seekers, and so the list goes on.
Many people (myself included) have become completely disillusioned with the Gillard government;…
I feel disillusioned too and have been dismayed by Gillard’s failure to respond to the wishes of the public on pokies reform, asylum seekers, same sex marriage etc. The only reason I am happy for events to play out to the end is that I don’t feel a need to rush off to an election, the only thing worse than Gillard IMO, is Tony Abbott. I know that Abbott would have done exactly the same as Gillard to remain in power if he was the PM.
What does continuous outrage do to fix things. IIRC, every time there was a Howard era scandal, we were told pretty smartly to ‘move on’ and get over it, this is the government of the day, they make the rules now – gloat, gloat. There was no tolerance for 2+ years of red-faced, spittle flecked, head exploding apoplexy. No capital striking with the squillionaires on a mission of self interest to overthrow an elected govt, no hysterical, shrieking media attacks and no displays of national sexism encouraged by an Opposition leader.
VAGINA just seems like a faux nouveau PC bit of middle-class sensationalism.
Vagina is to civil unions, wot cunt is to marriage equality…
It is misogyny, the word is sexist and demeaning to women. Males use the slang term for female genitalia as the worst insult they can think of to call another man.
just sayin’
Good point KL, I hadn’t considered that aspect.
I see the Australian is leading this morning with a page 1 story about a young and naive lawyer from Slater and Gordon.
I suspect ToM will be dropping by with some bullet points shortly
It’s not mysogyny. It is a word with two meanings.
“Males use the slang term for female genitalia as the worst insult they can think of to call another man.”
Actually, both men and women use the term to describe people of either gender.
Form the Australian article (as corrected):
In any other circumstances, people would be saying that Gillard was sacked by Slater & Gordon for-
• Clear conflict of interest
• Receiving an undisclosed benefit from a client/lover
• Assisting a client/lover to misappropriate funds
• Incompetence
Gillard has tried to bury this story, it might bury her.
It is hilarious though, Gillard has sought to duck and weave, stonewall. She wants her silence and intimidation of the media to make it go away. Fortunately, the media appears resistant, so the full story might come out, probably in time for the election.
Business Spectator also running with the story…
http://www.businessspectator.com.au/bs.nsf/Article/Key-figure-in-AWU-scandal-offers-to-break-his-sile-pd20120802-WSQJE?OpenDocument&src=hp7
It is misogyny, the word is sexist and demeaning to women. Males use the slang term for female genitalia as the worst insult they can think of to call another man.
I dunno……
I’ve been called a cnt, a cckhead, a dckhead, a nobache, a ccksmoker, a w@nker, a tool, a poojabber, a turdtapper, a donutpuncher, a pillowbiter, an asslicker, and a fckstick. Only one is accurate, and all are as insulting as the others.
Mrs Sancty has got you sussed out then
Actually, both men and women use the term to describe people of either gender.
While that can be true … and often the circumstances and tone of voice/inflection can make a difference … but not in the real world company I keep these days … (in my past it was regularly used in some workplaces) … it might be a regularly used word in your real world … I don’t know … but I would be angry were it used in front of my little ones …
Forgot the LOL
Oh no, Jaws, she calls me far worse than that.
It’s not the nouns so much that hurt with her, but the adjectives……
Lazy, good for nothing, drunk, smelly, insensitive, irresponsible, self centred, unkempt…….it goes on.
The worst is unfunny. She used to think I was funny.
“The worst is unfunny.”
I agree
Dont you just hate it when a woman throws that back.
Its just bloody awful
“I would be angry were it used in front of my little ones …”
Relax. It won’t hurt them. Just walk on by and explain to the kids that some people are very crude, and they should be better than that. They will have heard it all by the time they get to first class anyway.
I don’t allow swearing in my house. But outside I don’t have the right to impose my own standards on everybody else, and there is no point getting hot and bothered about it.
” Only one is accurate”
w@nker? 😆
“I don’t allow swearing in my house. But outside I don’t have the right to impose my own standards on everybody else, and there is no point getting hot and bothered about it.”
100% agree! Sticks & Stones.
Balanced kids know the time & place & don’t adopt colourful language just because it may pass their ears.
Toilet……yes.
😉
‘Balanced kids know the time & place’
That’s a given, but there are so many influences on their tiny brains that it’s hard to maintain a semblance of order in a chaotic world.
And that’s before we even get to talk about the genetic determinant.
Actually, both men and women use the term to describe people of either gender.
Much like the african american activists did with the n—er word, women are reclaiming the word to disempower it from it’s derogatory origins.
The feminist mistake
…It’s not the v-word that needs reclaiming, it’s the c-word – the rudest one in the English language
…The mistake feminists make, when they object to the c-word but never approach it, and never use it, is to think that it will slip discreetly out of the language. Of course it won’t! It’s the rudest word we’ve got, in the entire language.
…But the Vagina Warriors claim to be up to a certain job, claim to be iconoclasts, then go home at 4.30. They’re the plumbers of the warrior world. Bring on the Cunt Warriors
yeah!
LOL! I’m glad you said it Kitty, and not me…..! 🙂
To be semi_serious for a sec.
Sometimes the word is used as a term of endearment, as strange as that may sound. I’m quite used to being called a cunt. In which case I place a fair bit of gravity on the tone of voice, intent & context. I commonly call workmates & friends cunts. It is a part of our vernacular; as sad as that may be seen to be. There is no malice or offense intended.
Having said that, I do recognise that there are other connotations to for the word & it’s not one I’d ever use to address a female.
It’s a funny old world we infect.
Swearing in our house was absolutely taboo. As a kid I used the c bomb (without knowing its meaning, I was just parrotting someone else) and got the hiding of my life.
Then one day Dad had bought himself a new convertible and his first mobile phone on the same day. About 2 days later, he came storming through the front door, slammed it, then went into his study, slammed that door, threw some stuff about, then finally came out to a deathly silent family room.
“What’s up, Dad” I squeaked.
“Some fkn cnt ripped a fkn hole in my car and stole my fkn phone. If I ever catch the fkn cnt that did it I’ll rip the fkn cnt’s throat out” he thundered.
Not a word from anyone for a long time until we sat down for dinner.
Smart arse little brother “Hey Sancty, ya fkn cnt, pass the fkn salt!!”
Poor Mum, the look on her face as she realised that the dam wall that had survived for so many years had failed and the floodgates had opened. The rest of us, including Dad, just fell about the place.
I like to be shown some respect and expect to be addressed at all times as………….
Mr Cnut
Your little brother sounds nice.
I have two of them, Tony. Both complete and utter smart arses. And both just got clean away with it right throughout.
I was in my 20s that night and I still reckon if I’d said it Mum would have dragged me off by my ear, with a boot to go on with from Dad. But there’s something about comic timing.
It’s not the nouns so much that hurt with her, but the adjectives……
Lazy, good for nothing, drunk, smelly, insensitive, irresponsible, self centred, unkempt…….it goes on.
The worst is unfunny. She used to think I was funny.
I’m not averse to giving similar performance feedback or a motivational pep talk myself 🙂
When a total re-think or reform is required, I find that having a short holiday or relaxing escape is helpful and “no, I don’t need to hear from any of you thanks!”
Funny story Sancty, I’ll pass it on.
Steven Milne, the footballer who most accurately models the ethics of St Kilda Football Club, has been fined $3000 for a homophobic comment.
Milne is an ‘alleged rapist’, in much the same way that Craig Thomson has allegedly spent the hard earned money of union members on prostitutes.
Milne hasn’t been convicted of any thing, so I suppose all his behaviour is acceptable to the ALP barrackers at Cafe Whispers.
On the other hand, Wicks (if his standards were applied to Milne)would trawl through the background of Milne’s (alleged) victims/complainants and see what dirt he could find. He’d then attack Harry O’Brien, the subject of Milnes homophobic rant.
Finally Wicks would ban all discussion of the subject, but start emailing the victim’s supporters to tell them they’re wrong.
Alan Jones ran with the whole Gillard/Wilson story this morning.
The former shock jock Michael Smith is also going to give a presentation on the entire affair at a City Theatre in a week’s time organised by the Tax Payers Alliance.
$15 per ticket and I understand almost sold out
“The Cat is about to be let out of the bag” or should I say “Gag”……………?
And here I had an Essendon ruckman in the office sweep.
Those dudes at St Kilda are so feral they even make the news in Sydney
…Alan Jones ran with the whole Gillard/Wilson story this morning.
“The Cat is about to be let out of the bag” or should I say “Gag”……………?
and what will be proved? that the dirt unit [and jones admits to being funded as one] has finally managed to get a 15 yo story out as a targeted personal smear, muckraking again, will it be worth it?
there will come a time [if it isn’t already here] when the voters will turn, they will say enough is enough of this rubbish, what about the political issues that we think are important? personal mudslinging seems to be the preferred method of the opposition for highlighting voter choice. do they not want people to focus on their abilities as a political party? is that what they are afraid of? how many more of these must we sit through? no wonder people have turned off, politics could not get any lower and politicians have only themselves [and their media allies/leaks] to blame for the lack of respect that they are given.
it is a fraud upon the people. i simply don’t care.
“………..and politicians have only themselves [and their media allies/leaks] to blame for the lack of respect that they are given.”
You mean “Young and Naive” just doesn’t cut it anymore ?
The former shock jock Michael Smith is also going to give a presentation on the entire affair at a City Theatre in a week’s time organised by the Tax Payers Alliance.
The emphasis is on FORMER … didn’t he lose his job at 2UE over this crap a couple of years ago?
A nd who WTF are the Taxpayers Alliance (I think you’ll find Taxpayer is one word not two ..)
Another right whingers club and gossip forum …
I see the private schools are now suffering the dreaded CC in Brisbane …
A nd who WTF are the Taxpayers Alliance (I think you’ll find Taxpayer is one word not two..)
I recall seething something about them before TB, it is another [of many] conservative/tea party front groups.
so we know where the funding for all of this is coming from anyway – the opposition [as usual]. there’s a lot of money being thrown around to get tony in as pm isn’t there?
say no more:
http://www.menzieshouse.com.au/2012/04/announcing-the-australian-taxpayers-alliance-.html
menzies house bio:
Tim Andrews Co-Founder & Managing Editor
Tim Andrews is the Executive Director of the Australian Taxpayers’ Alliance. He graduated from the University of Sydney with degrees in Economics (Social Sciences), Law (Hons.), and a Masters in Public Policy. He served as President of the Australian Liberal Students’ Federation and Vice President (Policy) of the NSW Young Liberals from 2006-2008.
He is the current Treasurer of the Australian Libertarian Society, and serves on the Board of Management for the HR Nicholls Society. Andrews is currently based in Washington DC as a political consultant, and has had experience working for Americans for Tax Reform, the Cato Insitute, and as a Koch Associate.
and behind the whole lot is usually cory bernardi, he’s the very busy senator for importing US tea bagger policy and politics to oz. He’s likely to be the one that is continually dirt digging and muckraking. they all have one thing in common – the liberal party.
http://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/senator-spins-tangled-web-on-tax-20111015-1lqfl.html
How not surprisement… 🙄
You know what you’re dealing with when you click the link to Squirters’ House & see such quaint things as ‘SupportBolt.com’ above ‘StopTheTentEmbassy.com’ in the sidebar.
Knickerpissing central, is what we have there.
The emphasis is on FORMER … didn’t he lose his job at 2UE over this crap a couple of years ago?
It was a few months ago, and it remains to be seen whether he should have. He was supported by a sworn affidavit, which gives the allegations some semblance of substance.
Click to access Affidavit2.pdf
The Affidavit is sworn by Ian Cambridge, who is now an FWA Commissioner (which means he works somewhere near Michael Lawler who is shagging Kathy Jackson and therefore must have influenced Terry Nassios into making adverse finadings against Craig Thomson so says a bloke who was preselected to represent and electorate somewhere quite close to, yet nowhere near, the electorate of Dobell, Craig Thomson’s electorate, but yet who he never met until quite recently……or something).
It seems to me the embedded-media have stuffed the Thom`p`son/HSU thing, from the start to now, along with Joolya`s mob and Mr-Rabbit and his bunnies. All are `distrusted-sources`.
I`m following this via wixxy, who seems to be the most sensible on this. Wixxy starts here.
http://wixxy.wordpress.com/2012/05/16/i-think-i-smell-a-rat/
And continues in HSU-SAGA category. #Jacksonville
Aww Geezus……
Mr Land, I’m flying solo at home tonight. Once the bundle of trouble is in bed, I might respond to what appears to be an embedding of another sort. In the meantime, I’ll leave you with Tom. He’ll give you the dot point summary.
Whilst you’re waiting, you might ask Mr “Sensible” Wicks just where Hawkesbury is and whether it is anywhere near Dobell.
It was a few months ago, and it remains to be seen whether he should have. He was supported by a sworn affidavit, which gives the allegations some semblance of substance.
Click to access Affidavit2.pdf
The Affidavit is sworn by Ian Cambridge, who is now an FWA Commissioner
hahaha, credibility gap again, more of a problem with FWA, seems it is not fair or balanced at all. is FWA a liberal party front?
do they never stop? more liberal parasites in taxpayer funded positions prepared to sell out all self respect and principle when called upon by the liberal party. just how far is our democracy tainted and corrupted, how far do the tentacles reach, i won’t be happy til they are wrapped around the neck of tony abbott.
I think wixxxy is smelling himself.
He’s just the last straw for tragic ALP limpets to hang onto as they go down with the ship…while the captain & crew flee in the lifeboats.
Is anyone else desperate to hear something about how the LibNits will run the country if they ever get into power …
Rumours, gossip, BS, innuendo, faceless men, backroom strategies, infiltrations, vilification, inquisitional processes … its like watching a docudrama of a private boys school in the 1950’s … that’s the LibNits playing politics …
The moral high ground is very shaky in Queensland for the LibNits (not that we talk about state issues according to the surrogate admin officer) …
I guess what pisses me off is that the ALP never refute any claims … never attack Abbott & The Monks … the ALP just sit around and get on with governing the country … how stupid …
Who is this so-called “wixxy” and why does he want to ruin our way of life…?
We have a “way of life”?
He gets a kick out of exciting the choir.
“We have a “way of life”?”
Yes TB, indeed we do, indeed we do. And you can read all about “my exciting life” in this week’s new Rostrum!!
“………….do they never stop? more liberal parasites in taxpayer funded positions prepared to sell out all self respect and principle when called upon by the liberal party. just how far is our democracy tainted and corrupted, how far do the tentacles reach,”
So let me get this straight Kitty.
Julia Gillard creates FWA, draws up the legislation for FWA, then proceeds to implant the joint wholesale with Liberal Party “sleepers” who are brought in to examine the HSU and Thomson .
ROFLMAO
And whether the Taxpayers Alliance is a Liberal Party arm or not was not my point. All I was pointing out is that the entire Gillard/Wilson Affair (specifically the extortion in Perth and the purchase of houses in Melbourne) is getting more and more traction in Sydney.
How is it that she can set up this quasi association seemingly affiliated to a Union without any specific authority to do so except that of a bloke she shares a bed with ?
I think that beats “sharing an office” any day
Hi 7.30 reportland, did you know-
• Wicks makes stuff up
• Has no evidence for a range of his smears
• Bans people when they demonstrate his lack of facts and his misrepresentations
• Seeks to continue the discussion via email that he bans on his site
• Agrees that he’s “throwing mud” at Jackson
• Would not even be interested in Jackson, except that she’s inconvenient to Thomson and the ALP
• and etc
I’m not sure what he’s an authority on, but certainly he doesn’t enjoy discussing it with anyone who is actually informed.
(I’m off for a nice meal and red shortly)
“Is anyone else desperate to hear something about how the LibNits will run the country if they ever get into power … ”
You don’t have to use your imnagination much to work that out, TB. It will be back to 1950…with a side dish of teabagging to sweeten the assfuck.
There will be fun to be had, pointing out the strange behaviour of those who’ve squirted over most every action of the current government, when they turn into LibNat apologists overnight & keep referring back to the ALP as the worst government ever (ok, so they already do that).
When the ALP gets decimated, the Abbott Satan will become engorged with an overbalance of power & quickly remind right thinking people that his side are even more fucked up, just in a different, senseless conservative way.
Toilet
Why do I constantly have an image of you sitting in front of a computer typing with one hand whilst dressed like the Grim Reaper with the other hand clutching a long handled sickle.
I type with one finger on each hand, usually the middle one, funnily enough.
I think you mean scythe, I don’t have one of those. But I need only drive out to the farm to weaponize.
However, I am a pacifist. 😯
And you can read all about “my exciting life” in this week’s new Rostrum!!
ANOTHER Rostrum! What exactly is a rostrum anyway? It sounds quite painful will hemorrhoid cream help … or should you have an operation? 😆
… with the other hand clutching a long handled sickle.
I know what I see him clutching … and it isn’t a fkn sickle! Boom! Boom! 😆
I’d need four of your hands to clutch that, teebee.
Gawd, perish the thought! BTW, how did you know I had four hands? I haven’t been to Taswegia yet!
Hi Tom and James,
I only dropped wixxys Link as a FYI. I think I have only followed his HSU posts via email, so I am not knowledgeable on the comments threads on wixxys blog. I am more interested in his HSU posts from the citizen/blogger reporting side of things, in comparison with the embedded media, which more often than not bugger up facts to feed their own narrative or ideals. See my blog.
On the political side, I`m not a fan of the `duopoly` system we have.
I find both Mr-Rabbit and Joolya quite under-whelming.
‘Mr-Rabbit and Joolya quite under-whelming.’
Most Australians accept that …me too.
See my blog Ha .. ha!
I find both Mr-Rabbit and Joolya quite under-whelming.
So do a few here too, 730, but as you’ve discovered The Howard Legacy has infected a lot of
strange unusual oddpeople who crave for the 1950’s … as the peak of LibNits power! Me … that was the era my old man used to belt the shit out of me … ’cause he could! … and he wasn’t even a LibNit! It’s a funny old world … onwards and upwards I say not backwards and downwards … I bet we’ll land a spaceship on Mars soon … with a Democrat (= Labor) President in the Whitehouse …“:how did you know I had four hands?”
I was doing a mental calculation based upon a handspan V height ratio…& decided that your hands are probably a bit like wizened pixie claws. Not big enough to properly grasp gigantic truncheons…therefore, you’d need to use the equivalent of four to reasonably steady the monument.
I was doing a mental calculation based upon a handspan V height ratio
I have only one thing to say to you, HD …
‘The Howard Legacy has infected’ only Noddy, who has gone absent, the rest of us are not stuck in the past.