Mr Abbott’s witch hunt
Tony Abbott has promised to do many things if the LNP win the 2013 election. This promise, now a couple of months old, has been stuck in my craw: Driven by populism, not policy, he has promised to hold a judicial inquiry into Julia Gillard’s actions as a lawyer should the Coalition win the 2013 election. And have no doubts about it; he will hammer this issue religiously during the campaign. Not content to simply ‘ditch the witch’ he wants to conduct a witch hunt into irrelevant matters that were played out almost twenty years ago; matters that will mean absolutely zero to the country should Julia Gillard lose the 2013 election. Some of us would argue that those matters mean absolutely zero in this present day, but that’s another story. Twenty years later, on this irrelevant issue:
Mr Abbott insisted again that Ms Gillard had committed a crime in her role of providing legal advice to incorporate an association for her then boyfriend and Australian Workers Union Victoria state secretary Bruce Wilson.
Abbott has no doubt been buoyed by poll after poll showing that voters question Ms Gillard’s explanation of the matter, hence his further drift towards tacky populism.
It is my guess that he’ll do absolutely nothing. He runs the risk of being exposed as an utter fraud if the judicial inquiry turns up nothing to support his current exercise in fear and smear. And he knows it, but it doesn’t deter him from practicing current day populism.
Given that Mr Abbott wants to exert his “future government’s” time and money on judicial inquiries – witch hunts – I have a handful of instances from where he might want to hold witch hunts on whose episodes are more recent than the Prime Minister’s alleged criminal behaviour 20 years ago and whose outcomes are more in the national interest.
Here are some of the witch hunts Mr Abbott might want to pursue.
Our illegal war
Mr Abbott, please take a look at John Howard’s lie that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. We entered into an illegal war based on that lie. We ordinary Australians are more interested in the lie that cost this country billions of dollars and which tarnished our national pride. We, as a country, are still associated with that war, whereas Ms Gillard’s alleged actions were almost 20 years ago. Let’s have some priority.
AWB
The AWB Oil-for-Wheat Scandal refers to the payment of kickbacks to the regime of Saddam Hussein in contravention of the United Nations Oil-for-Food Humanitarian Program. AWB Limited is a major grain marketing organisation based in Australia. For much of the twentieth and early 21st century, it was an Australian Government entity operating a single desk regime over Australian wheat, meaning it alone could export Australian wheat, which it paid a single price for. In the mid-2000s, it was found to have been, through middlemen, paying kickbacks to the regime of Saddam Hussein, in exchange for lucrative wheat contracts. This was in direct contradiction of United Nations Sanctions, and of Australian law. Mr Abbott, please take a look into how the Howard Government – of which you were a member – were entangled in this reprehensible act. Please also ask your former Foreign Minister, who knew ‘nothing’ of the affair, if it is true that his staff removed 11 wheelie bins filled with shredded documents from his office the morning after losing the 2007 election. Perhaps you could put an end to the rumour that circulated Canberra about the contents of those mysterious bins.
Dodgy deals – Malcolm Turnbull
Mr Abbott, do you remember this?
In a speech that Mr Turnbull gave in Perth it was reported he “ . . . decried the state of political discourse in Australia, saying it had deteriorated to such an extent that the nation suffered “a deficit of trust” and there was an urgent need for honesty in politics.”
Before Malcolm starts preaching he needs to have a good look at himself . . . having refused to answer a number of questions in relation to a grant he gave when he was Environment Minister in the Howard government to his friend Matt Handbury. Mr Hanbury, co-founder of the Australian Rain Corporation and nephew of the News Corporation chief, Rupert Murdoch, you might recall, contributed to Mr Turnbull’s electorate fund-raising machine (which was set up in 2007).
Mr Abbott, do you remember Mr Handbury’s company receiving a $10 million grant from Mr Turnbull when he was Environment Minister not long before the 2007 election? $10 million of tax payer’s money.
A witch hunt may jog your memory.
Dodgy deals – John Howard
Mr Abbott, in 2000 your old boss decided to help the retrenched workers of National Textiles to recover their entitlements after the company, of which Mr Howard’s brother Stan was Chairman, was placed in the hands of an administrator.
It was reported at the time that it was Prime Minister Howard:
. . . who proudly announced that the cash-strapped National Textiles’ workers would receive their full entitlements. It was the Prime Minister who said they would be the first to recover wages, leave and a redundancy payout under a new National scheme and it was the Prime Minister who urged the creditors to accept a Deed of Arrangement so that the $6 million in State and Federal funds would flow.
. . . the Australian newspaper claimed that acceptance of the scheme would prevent an inquiry into National Textiles’ management and Directors, of which Mr Howard’s brother, Stan, is one. The editorial was scathing, raising questions about the government’s probity and calling the taxpayer funded bail-out improper, and policy on the run.
The Opposition called for an inquiry but it went nowhere. Mr Abbott, given your promise of a witch hunt to dig up Julia Gillard’s past perhaps you’d be moral enough to do a bit of digging dig into this shady deal as well.
Or perhaps the current Government could do their own digging. Ouch, won’t that hurt?
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Return to home pageSome good examples here, Miglo. I would like to read fresh perspectives on each case you list.
I am intrigued by this concept of ‘promise’. When I was young (admittedly a while ago), a promise was different from either a statement or an assertion simply because the statement or assertion was followed by ‘I promise’. If this was not tagged on, then the statement or assertion was someone one simply ‘said’, and held no future obligation.
Now, no matter what a politician of any persuasion says, it instantly becomes a promise. Except for me …
I’d like to see the government go on the front foot and look into the LNP frauds and shady deals which happen regularly.
We also have Mr Abbott’s dealings in regard to the wrongful jailing of Pauline Hanson & the fact that the AEC still have not done anything with that, pretty sure that Margo Kingston up until a few months ago was still trying to get FOI on that one…
Mr Abbott also has his support, in writing of that paedophile priest?
Pretty sure there are others too, but hard to think at 4.30am 🙂
Migs, I’d like to see enquiries into much more recent events, like the threat to our democracy, Ashbygate, as well as utegate, Australians for “honest” politics- Abbotts slush fund, the media, the ABC in particular as well as the ones you mentioned.
But I would like to see the first ones announced before the election!
Cheers 😀
Yes, Ashbygate should be first and foremost. It is a disgrace that nothing is happening after judge Rares’ comments. Truth in politics, blah PMSL.
mmm, my comment didn’t post either? try again.
Yes, Ashbygate should be first and foremost in light of Judge Rares’ comments, it is more recent and IMO was a COUP attempt.
Truth in politics, blah PMSL.
Migs Mt last comment on this thread disappeared, so I’ll try again.
Lets have enquiries into Ashbygate, utegate, Abbotts slush fund, and media bias and dishonesty first and then the older ones that you mentioned.
Good post BTW
Cheers 😀
Well said Miglo, well said.
Reblogged this on iheariseeilearn and commented:
Mr Abbott’s Witch Hunt-(Miglo)
Perhaps now is a good time to highlight that it has been two months since MP Graham Perrett wrote to the AFP …to determine whether Mr Brough, Ms Bishop, Mr Pyne, Mr McArdle, Mr Ashby, Ms Doane and/or any others, have committed any criminal offences’..
Apparently, the AFP are too busy looking into $337 to waste time with a little thing like that.
http://www.independentaustralia.net/2013/politics/the-perrett-complaint/
Oh how right you all are. Just what has to happen for the exposure of all of TA and his cohorts misdemeanors (Ashbygate ect) to take place especially in the MSM.
Who has the guts to get the whole of stuff out in the open. The IA does, so do sites like The AIMN. The whole of the MSM are owned by Murdoch & Reinhart with the ABC following on closely.
I noted somewhere recently that perhaps it would take a journalist revolution to bring the owners to heel. We, the people could also revolt by not supporting these media outlets, by not subscribing and buying Murdoch or Fairfax outlets of any sort. News, magazines, TV and Radio would be the first place that would clearly hit them in their hip pockets.
We, the people have the power to exercise this right by vetoing and boycotting their products. It would feel strange at first to do without their products but my goodness it might mean that we have to talk about why we are taking such drastic action.
We (in my house at least), are very, very selective as to what we watch on TV.
We no longer buy papers or magazines, we are actually saving money this way.
I would encourage others to do the same, because like the snowball it will gather size very quickly and become an avalanche.
What about it folks, are you up for a little discomfort initially, but then the great feeling that will follow to know that you are one, but we are all many and we are not powerless.
Mr. Abbott is out and about in North Queensland. Announcing another demolition job he intends to undertake.
He has set his sights on our newly declared national marine parks.
Mr. Abbott is amazing how he has messages for every audience he comes across.
Does not seem to matter if the messages conflict with what he told the previous audience.
We should not forget the treatment of Mr. Haneef, and the interference of the Howard government in the judicial system.
They have continued with there interference in the police system into opposition.
How can one explain the actions and words of Mr. Brandis.
The apparent cozy relationship of the opposition, with the police and their minister, in two states, could be seen as a worry.
Nor should we forget the $35 Billion wasted on the F35’s with NO due process.
Nor should we forget the $35 BILLION wasted on the failed F35’s with NO due process and despite advice to the contrary.
Brand XBrandis is a good example of the sort of vindictive interfering legal incompetent who would politicise the AG role to wield the Liberal retribution 🙄The more people remember the more disgraceful behaviour & cover ups come to light re the LNP. They keep on trying to deflect attention from their many examples of malfeasance by making outrageous allegations about our PM. The more outrageous the better as far as they are concerned.
Stopped buying newspapers (SMH & local rag) ages ago. Have saved much money & haven’t missed them one iota. Only watch commercial TV (with much scepticism) for the evening news.
//We, the people could also revolt by not supporting these media outlets, by not subscribing and buying Murdoch or Fairfax outlets of any sort. News, magazines, TV and Radio would be the first place that would clearly hit them in their hip pockets.
We, the people have the power to exercise this right by vetoing and boycotting their products. It would feel strange at first to do without their products but my goodness it might mean that we have to talk about why we are taking such drastic action.
We (in my house at least), are very, very selective as to what we watch on TV.
We no longer buy papers or magazines, we are actually saving money this way.
I would encourage others to do the same, because like the snowball it will gather size very quickly and become an avalanche.//—–Precisely my action for many many months now. They do not deserve my money nor business, and instead I have been reading up the likes of bloggers and individual, independent sources, and also George Lakoff’s for a greater understanding of the crux of what is happening: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/george-lakoff/disaster-messaging_b_639040.html
Can’t believe this bloke has any credentials! This diatribe has the hall-marks of a blindly obedient peasant to comrade Julia. Loyalty to one side or the other is applaud able, but to think each individual can’t make their own minds up makes you all a laughing stock. Every one in my opinion should be a swinging voter and select whose policies actually suit them personally. But, for ALP supporters, your lies, deceit and wonton waste of money puts the job of trying to fix it all the more difficult. Miglo, your appear to be a paid conduit for the ALP along with other paid imposters like the CSRIO and Tim (never be water in Brisbane again) Flannery. Pfft!!!
@Moot Warrior says “Every one in my opinion should be a swinging voter and select whose policies actually suit them personally.”
Yeah that would be great, any idea when we might see some from the opposition ???
Apologies for the delay in some comments arriving..all are being processed as quickly as possible.
Moot Warrior I know people like you who stand for nothing, complain about everything and offer no solutions other than the hollow rhetoric of empty dissent with no basis in fact. The CSIRO? Paid Labor conduit? Lies? So it would seem you political ideals are shaped by your own personal greed; for sale to the highest bidder. The oldest profession in world, no wonder your so jaded and bitter 🙄