82 comments

1. JaquixJanuary 13, 2017 at 1:14 pm

   Thanks Kaye, I remember Ms Bishop’s attack on Julia Gillard very well. She has of course now reinvented herself, one step at a time. The face gets regular work done, the teeth are dazzlingly white, the eyelashes are fake. As for the designer outfits – I would love to know whether she actually pays for them, or they are gifts from designers? (which should be declared, I would think. She is clearly in love with herself, and “living the dream”. As for attending Melbourne Cup and the Polo as a guest in her capacity as Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party and Minister for Foreign Affairs, its great to see all this being brought to light so we can see what money-grubbing little leaners they are. Meanwhile, over at Centrelink …..

2. Steve Laing - makeourvoiceheard.comJanuary 13, 2017 at 1:45 pm

   Kaye – two things really irk me about this. Firstly, the blatant hypocrisy of Julie Bishop. She was more than happy to stick the boot in to Gillard, but her antics have been a hundred times worse.

   But secondly, and more importantly, the statement from Ciobo trying to justify going to sports events on the public purse “specifically so businesses and organisations can showcase themselves there”. Is it just me, or is this somewhat odd? Surely it is the role of the public service to assess the capability of external businesses and organisations, not ministers. This stinks of favours, of cronyism, of buying influence. Do these organisations do presentations at such events? Show off their products and services? Of course not. But I’ll bet my last dollar that many of such organisations donate to the Coalition.

   And the fact that Ciobo actually thinks that is a reasonable thing for a government minister to do shows just how far they have sunk into the swamp, and even worse, that we have let them get away with it.

   We need to be demanding jail terms for this.

3. Jennifer Meyer-SmithJanuary 13, 2017 at 1:47 pm

   Julie Bishop strikes me as someone, who in later life realises, she missed her calling as ‘sexy babe model type’.

   But she’s making up for it big time now with her toyboy boyfriend as her handbag.

   Steve, your second and fourth paragraphs are particularly spot on.

4. SamJanuary 13, 2017 at 1:48 pm

   Does anyone remember that fluffiest of fluff pieces in the back of the telegraph when Angela Mollard declared she had a ‘girl crush’ on Julie Bishop?

   The thought of that blatant political shilling dressed up as light entertainment still makes me sick.

5. Ill fares the landJanuary 13, 2017 at 1:53 pm

   As would be expected, for all political “worms”, it is always a matter of “if I do it, it’s fine and if anyone else does it, I am entitled to criticise the heck out of them”.

   In Bishop’s case, it may also be that while she is probably the Coalition’s best performer, she is also a bit of a prima donna (in Australia we might say a “bit of a glamour puss”).

   Perversely, who could actually express it better – she is 100% correct. They have a job to do and they are not rock stars.

   I am especially annoyed that she and her partner were being sucked up to by an airline and an alcohol company. Of course, neither company was expecting anything in return were they?

   Ignore the fact that any other non-politician guests of the airline or the alcohol company were being rewarded for their patronage of those companies, or were being sucked up to in the hope that they would deliver future business – that is the way businesses network. They don’t ring you and me and invite us to the Cup or the Grand Prix or the AFL/NRL Grand Finals because we offer no commercial benefit.

   Bishop and her similarly faux-celebrity partner were there because of the expectation they would assist their “sponsor’s” commercial interests.

   How else do the wealthy and powerful corporates ensure that their wishes are given appropriate recognition in government policy? This is how the rich and powerful get regulations they want (these are good regulations) and get governments to remove regulation that the rich and powerful don’t want (these are “red tape” and are unacceptable). That is never more evident that in “free trade agreements” – what matters to the person in the street is irrelevant – the FTA’s and the TPP (an FTA by another name) reflect only those with sufficient influence over government to dictate what they want in those “agreements”. For Australia, the benefits of FTA’s are determined by and enjoyed by the rich and the costs are paid by those who lose their jobs to cheaper (exploited) labour in Asia, India, Pakistan or India and schmoozing with politicians at elaborate sporting and other functions is part and parcel of that influence. Mind you, even if we put a stop to that, the “influence industry” has plenty of other avenues it typically uses to gain influence over politicians.

   Now, that is the way business works so to that extent, we don’t get a lot of say. But where we can express outrage is that we pay for Bishop and her pig-trough swilling mates to be courted by powerful corporate interests at these public events. Utterly contemptible and the rules should be simple – as I have suggested in more than one column – if the attendance at a function is “entertainment” as defined in the tax law, the costs of attendance are paid by the politician out of their own pocket or paid for by the corporate.

6. Kaye LeeJanuary 13, 2017 at 1:54 pm

   “I don’t think it’s necessary to get dressed up in designer clothing and borrow clothing and make-up to grace the cover of magazines,” Ms Bishop told The Sunday Times.

   “Why would you go along and do a fashion shoot as Julia Gillard did the other day, with clothes by Carla Zampatti, jewellery by . . . hair by . . .?” Ms Bishop said. “That’s not what it’s all about.”

   ………….

   FOREIGN Minister Julie Bishop has appeared in her most glamorous photograph yet, and she looks absolutely stunning.

   Ms Bishop wore a Giorgio Armani dress and heels for the shoot.

7. Matters NotJanuary 13, 2017 at 1:59 pm

   Politics is a lot like Chess. In Chess we have Defences, Openings and Forks to name but three commonly used terms. With Ciobo we have a master of the Sicilian Defense and that sort of fits, but with the Bishop there are many attack options as well. Because the Bishop is restricted in its movements by its own pieces (it cannot ‘jump’) – it has to wait for the opportune moment(s). But they do come. Dangerous as they are.

   See here.

   https://www.chess.com/blog/paolodm/simple-dangerous-openings-the-bishops-opening

   http://www.chesstactics.org/index.php?Type=page&Action=none&From=2,3,1,1

8. Steve Laing - makeourvoiceheard.comJanuary 13, 2017 at 2:12 pm

   Matters Not – true dat. But our Queen is poorly, our Knights are owned by the other side. So we are basically rooked, and off to Cash Converters to pawn our last belongings…

9. Kaye LeeJanuary 13, 2017 at 2:19 pm

   Turnbull to give a media conference at 2:45

10. KronomexJanuary 13, 2017 at 2:25 pm

    Judgemental Bishop was in the opposition when she made those comments but now she’s, gamer term, ‘leet her earlier comments no longer apply. Typical LNP pedestal dwelling “gods”.

11. Steve Laing - makeourvoiceheard.comJanuary 13, 2017 at 2:28 pm

    Kaye – could be an interesting one. I bet he just weasels it, and the media let him…

12. Matters NotJanuary 13, 2017 at 2:29 pm

    Steve in Chess, a Bishop is only half a Queen. Or to put it another way a Pyne is worth two Bishops.

    Turnbull will ‘promise’ to fix it while pointing out again that the confusion is understandable. A fresh start is required. Welcome back Sussan. All is forgiven. (Till next time.) Dyson will be called in again.

13. PhilJanuary 13, 2017 at 2:33 pm

    Unless and until both major parties clean out their disgusting snout-in-trough mentality and both put an end to the rank hypocrisy that falls from virtually every utterance, then they can kiss goodbye to my vote. The LNP has most definitely lost my respect and trust. The ALP has the chance now to differentiate – so just do it ALP while the window remains ajar but closing fast.

    And don’t smack your mealy red lips in anticipation of a protest vote your way Pauline Hanson – you and your party rank even further down the contempt scale and won’t ever see a vote from me.

14. RoswellJanuary 13, 2017 at 2:33 pm

    Now let me guess what the theme of the press conference will be.

    Too easy.

    The terrorists are coming.

15. RoswellJanuary 13, 2017 at 2:38 pm

    Second guess, Sussan Ley has been sacked, forcing a reshuffle.

16. Steve Laing - makeourvoiceheard.comJanuary 13, 2017 at 2:39 pm

    The terrorists are coming? I could swear they are already here and running the country.

17. Steve Laing - makeourvoiceheard.comJanuary 13, 2017 at 2:41 pm

    Sacked? Don’t you mean she is being temporarily stood down for a more extended period… Then in a few months time she will either announce her retiral (if it looks like there might be legal implications), or she will be brought back into the fold again like Seenodonors. Truffles can’t afford to sack her.

18. Matters NotJanuary 13, 2017 at 3:01 pm

    Ley is gone. Hard landing. One flight too many.

    Perhaps Tony will ne the new Health Minister? I hope so.

    Monthly reports. (But probably not Diaries.)

    The polling must be terrible.

19. Ella MillerJanuary 13, 2017 at 3:03 pm

    Steve, she has resigned..one down….

20. Steve Laing - makeourvoiceheard.comJanuary 13, 2017 at 3:08 pm

    Ella – 🙂 Woohoo!! Now how about all those people who didn’t think she’d done anything wrong.. what are their views now I wonder?

21. Miriam EnglishJanuary 13, 2017 at 3:09 pm

    They are repellent, the lot of them. I can almost see why the lunatic Icke thinks they are alien reptiles, except they are much worse than that. They are humans who can behave honestly, but choose instead to be crooks, sculling down public money as if they are royalty.

    Have they no shame at all?

22. Arthur TarryJanuary 13, 2017 at 3:11 pm

    I totally disagree with Ciobo’s claim that he, and others, are justified in using parliamentary expenses to attend sporting events and other social activities. They are paid expenses for the pursuit of formal government business, not to have a drink at the footy with some new mate, or to swan around being pleasant to people ie: socialising. This is not work. If they want to go then pay for it themselves.These episodes demonstrate, and confirm, that there is a rotten culture entrenched in our current batch of politicians, no wonder they are now despised by a large section of the electorate. If they took there job seriously and were concerned about the absolute lack of respect and trust now so prevalent in the community then they might start behaving with some decency and humility. They are, after all, not irreplaceable.

23. Miriam EnglishJanuary 13, 2017 at 3:19 pm

    Steve, those who said she had done no wrong will now fall into two camps: those who turn 180 degrees and savage the now injured dog, and those who will think it’s their right to have a rock-star lifestyle at the public’s expense and that it’s unfair that people have decried her for it.

    It’s not enough that she be fired. She should be imprisoned and lose all her future benefits except any superannuation she paid herself. There needs to be real consequences. Clearly we can’t rely upon politicians’ morals to do the right thing. It needs to be seen as not worth the risk to indulge in crooked activities.

    They don’t flutter an eyelid at the thought of the poorest in society possibly ending up in prison for the “crime” of having worked part of the year and being on the dole part of the year. They can’t have it both ways.

    Arthur C Clarke said something along the lines that politicians should be chosen for competency, dragged kicking and screaming into the job and get time off for good behavior.

24. babyjewels10January 13, 2017 at 3:23 pm

    Hypocrite, much?

25. urbanwronskiJanuary 13, 2017 at 3:26 pm

    The Princess Mesothelioma could spend less time dressing up to go to races and more on explaining what the legal advice was for going into Syria. We still haven’t been told. We can guess why.

    Forget the glad rags and give us your plan for dealing with Trump. Explain to voters how you let Foreign Aid be raided by Hockey and Abbott – a record of $1 billion in 2015 -so it’s now down to the lowest levels ever.

    Foreign aid is a far better investment than submarines.

    BTW for followers of form, Toy Boy is former Mornington 24 hour chemist David Panton who has morphed into a property developer to make the cut.

26. Miriam EnglishJanuary 13, 2017 at 3:27 pm

    If they think the poor should be attacked mercilessly, then there should be no mercy for politicians.

27. Jennifer Meyer-SmithJanuary 13, 2017 at 3:29 pm

    Spot on Miriam @ 3.27pm.

28. urbanwronskiJanuary 13, 2017 at 3:33 pm

    We could also expect a coherent explanation from Ms Bishop as to whether we will continue to go backwards in Foreign Aid. Commitments over the four-year forward estimates period will peak at $4.1 billion, meaning Australia will spend less on foreign aid in 2020 than it did in 2010-11, when the budget reached $4.3 billion.

29. Miriam EnglishJanuary 13, 2017 at 3:35 pm

    Julie Bishop is a real prize. She’s the one who thought it was unreasonable to expedite an asbestosis court case just because the person was dying of asbestos-inflicted mesothelioma. She thinks the fluckers should just hurry up and die. No humanity.

    She deserves to “live the life.” Different rules apply to other people. I’m sure she feels this would be a much better place if all the poor and most of the middle class would just die off and leave all the good rich people be.

    I never believed in the term “class war”, but it really is starting to apply, isn’t it.

30. longwhitekidJanuary 13, 2017 at 3:47 pm

    Jaquix, Bishop doesn’t pay for her Armani wardrobe or her Paspaley. As relayed to me by someone in between “she has them in her back pocket.” I’ve always loathed this hatchet-faced whore, because she really is a whore…but what a massive hypocrite she is, devoid of all moral scruple.

31. Jennifer Meyer-SmithJanuary 13, 2017 at 3:56 pm

    What happens to Julie Bishop’s extensive, expensive outfits once she’s been seen in them once?

32. JonJanuary 13, 2017 at 3:57 pm

    I remember having a beer at the pub on a friday after work, and we would talk about work. Does that mean all of those beers were in fact tax deductible? If we apply the same standards our esteemed pollies do, it would appear that they were!

33. KlausJanuary 13, 2017 at 4:01 pm

    Hi Steve Laing,

    I agree with you on how far Ciobo and all others in the LNP have sunk. How dare he to state that I expect him to attend any sporting event to his liking. I DO EXPECT PRECISELY THE REVERSE. I expect him to look after matters in his electorate.

    Also, he is openly stating, that he loves being invited by lobbyists. NO STEVE CIOBO. I do not expect that. What are you offering in return????

    This behavior reminds my of the days of Marie Antoinette. What an obnoxious prick this bloke is.

    NO, THE TAX PAYER DOES NOT EXPECT YOU TO TURN UP WITH A LIMO AT THE LOCAL FOOTY GAME. Shame on him.

    Makes me angryt

34. Fancy NancyJanuary 13, 2017 at 4:04 pm

    Just to refresh your memories on Asbestos Julie’s comments on Julia Gillard’s photo shoot. What a hypocritical piece she is. In 2013, Federal Education Minister Julie Bishop accused Deputy Opposition Leader Julia Gillard of behaving like a “fashion model or TV star” rather than a politician.

    “I don’t think it’s necessary to get dressed up in designer clothing and borrow clothing and make-up to grace the cover of magazines,” Ms Bishop told The Sunday Times.

    “You’re not a celebrity, you’re an elected representative, you’re a member of parliament. You’re not Hollywood and I think that when people overstep that line they miss the whole point of that public role.”

    Ms Bishop said The Australian Weekend Magazine shoot, in which Ms Gillard posed in designer clothes and pearls, was “her Cheryl Kernot moment”.

    “Why would you go along and do a fashion shoot as Julia Gillard did the other day, with clothes by Carla Zampatti, jewellery by . . . hair by . . .?” Ms Bishop said. “That’s not what it’s all about.”

    Ms Bishop said posing for magazine covers was “not my style”.

    “Of course, people want to know more about you, but I don’t think you should be courting that celebrity status as if you’re a fashion model or a TV star, because you’re not,” she said.

    How do they say things like this and then do the same and more and keep a straight face. Sigh. It’s becoming a little Marie Antoinette-ish now isn’t it?

35. Graeme HenchelJanuary 13, 2017 at 4:07 pm

    When one’s party is bleeding
    as one’s excesses turn to farce
    One’s snout gets taken from the trough
    to save one’s leader’s arse

36. SuseJanuary 13, 2017 at 4:10 pm

    The veil is great…we can’t see her face. Wonder who paid for the make-up person to attend. Guess we all paid for that as well.

37. Matters NotJanuary 13, 2017 at 4:18 pm

    never believed in the term “class war”,

    What a curious comment. I find ‘class war’ a very useful ‘concept’ that helps me understand and explain so many government policies from ‘education’ to ‘health’ and all activities in between. And that’s not the end of its usefulness. ‘Class war’ or ‘class conflict’, as it is sometimes called, has enormous explanatory power.

    One wonders where Sociology would be without it. What, no ‘Conflict’ perspectives – just ‘Functionalism’ and its many offshoots?

38. kerriJanuary 13, 2017 at 4:29 pm

    Jon you are poor! That means nothing is tax deductible!
    I am so happy to see so many dislike Bishop as much as me!
    So self absorbed! So narcissistic. And yes longwhitekid she is a whore! A media whore! A political whore! And a legal whore! She will do whatever the highest bidder decrees! The essence of a whore!
    Not a sex worker! Most of those women have some principles.
    Her hypocrisy over Gillard was even more clear when Gillard beat her to first female PM.
    She will never forgive Julia for that which is why all Australians should seize every opportunity to remind her that first female foreign minister doesn’t hold a candle to first female PM!
    Grrrrr!
    I wish she’d get a decent bra! Sorry for being sexist but it just really annoys me!
    And let us not forget Ley’s reiterated point when she stepped aside?
    “I have done nothing wrong! I have done nothing wrong!”

39. Kaye LeeJanuary 13, 2017 at 4:34 pm

    Marx said that class warfare is crucial to capitlaism. The owners of the capital must keep the workers poor, uneducated and in debt in order to provide a malleable workforce who is too scared of losing their job to insist on fair workplace conditions.

40. Miriam EnglishJanuary 13, 2017 at 4:41 pm

    testing… Weird… I’ve been unable to post for about an hour.

41. Miriam EnglishJanuary 13, 2017 at 4:43 pm

    I found the Arthur C Clarke quote. It comes from Imperial Earth, written in 1975:

    For the last century, almost all top political appointments on Terra had been made by random computer selection from the pool of individuals who had the necessary qualifications. It had taken the human race several thousand years to realise that there were some jobs that should never be given to the people who volunteered for them, especially if they showed too much enthusiasm. As one shrewd political commentator had remarked: “We want a President who has to be carried screaming and kicking into the White House — but then will do the best job he can, so that he’ll get time off for good behaviour.”

42. Matters NotJanuary 13, 2017 at 4:48 pm

    Back to the Buffet for another bite:

    QUESTIONER: Are you happy seeing your suggestion, this new Buffett Rule, becoming more of a basis of a political battle that really has turned into class warfare?

    BUFFETT: Actually, there’s been class warfare going on for the last 20 years, and my class has won. We’re the ones that have gotten our tax rates reduced dramatically.

    If you look at the 400 highest taxpayers in the United States in 1992, the first year for figures, they averaged about $40 million of [income] per person. In the most recent year, they were $227 million per person — five for one. During that period, their taxes went down from 29 percent to 21 percent of income. So, if there’s class warfare, the rich class has won.

    E.J. Dionne wrote the other day that conservatives despise Buffett because he’s telling the truth about the lower tax rates the rich pay on their investments — and worse, he’s insisting that this is fundamentally unfair. As Buffett did above yet again, he’s giving away the game.

    Indeed, what the cries of “class warfare” really show is that Buffett has succeeded in forcing a national conversation about the regressive aspects of our tax system. This latest claim — that the real class warfare has actually been waged downwards, to great success — is another welcome addition to this debate.

    By the way, Buffet is wrong about the 20 year time span. It’s been going on for centuries. But he can’t be right about everything.

43. Carol TaylorJanuary 13, 2017 at 4:53 pm

    Matters Not, I really hope that Abbott is not made Health Minister and not for the obvious reason, that he was a lousy one first time around, but that this would mean WAR!!! Imagine Tony overlooked for the Health portfolio..what would be his revenge? Can’t wait to see it.

    As far as Bishop being one of the Lib’s best performers. Apart from being hauled up by the Indonesian Ambassador for a “please explain” after a series of antagonistic statements and having her photo taken in various hats, what precisely has Ms Wriggle Bottom Armani Suit actually done as part of her portfolio?

44. Michael TaylorJanuary 13, 2017 at 4:58 pm

    Miriam, that’s more than likely a little WordPress glitch that pops up from time to time where the ‘Leave a Reply’ box fails to load.

45. Matters NotJanuary 13, 2017 at 5:07 pm

    Carol Taylor, the war between Abbott and Turnbull has been underway for some time and will continue for much longer. I want Turnbull to reveal his hubris and believe that he (and he alone) can make peace with Abbott – lower the Cabinet drawbridge, give him safe passage across the political moat and let Tony undermine, leak or whatever from the inside.

    Much more fun when he of the saurian visage again pokes his head over the ramparts and as always looks down upon us.

46. Wayne TurnerJanuary 13, 2017 at 5:25 pm

    She’s another “projecting” hypocrite from these mob.

    Also,who’s funeral is she at in

47. RhondaJanuary 13, 2017 at 5:52 pm

    Can’t wait for Graeme Henchel to pen some wonderfully astute poetry with all this fodder

48. Matters NotJanuary 13, 2017 at 5:59 pm

    So Turnbull and presumably Bishop will meet with the Japanese Prime Minister Shinzō Abe in the morrow. Probably have lunch and all that. Perhaps ‘seppuku’ will be on the table as it were. They could compare cultural notes, and whether Ms Ley or her partner is entitled to a Medicare Rebate.

49. Terry2January 13, 2017 at 6:11 pm

    If Abbott is allowed back into Cabinet it will be a big backdown by Turnbull and no matter how he plays it he will be seen as weak and the far right nut jobs as the winners.

50. Judith WJanuary 13, 2017 at 6:12 pm

    Maybe this question has already been asked but…
    Why should the taxpayer foot the bill for a minister attending an event where a business or organisation is showcasing itself. Surely the businesses and organisations should be chipping in.

51. Kaye LeeJanuary 13, 2017 at 6:13 pm

    I am nervous about the talk of a super security portfolio. Wouldn’t Tony love that.

    

52. kerriJanuary 13, 2017 at 6:17 pm

    “Marx said that class warfare is crucial to capitlaism. The owners of the capital must keep the workers poor, uneducated and in debt in order to provide a malleable workforce who is too scared of losing their job to insist on fair workplace conditions.”
    Kaye Lee thank you!
    I have been looking for that quote for years!!! I saw it once on the wall of a politics classroom whilst Invigilating at Carey Melbourne.
    Judith W. I would hope that government ministers would be doing more due diligence and careful reading of paperwork to make decisions rather than being wined and dined or beered and cheered. Surely in these times “where we all have to tighten our belts” finance is more important than shazam?

53. Kaye LeeJanuary 13, 2017 at 6:29 pm

    kerri,

    Several years ago, US blogger Conceptual Guerilla coined a three word slogan that explains right wing ideology very succinctly – “cheap-labour conservatives”.

    He agrees with Karl Marx that the fortunes of the corporate/capitalist elite depend on keeping the workers “over a barrel”.

    Marx saw the conflict between those that own the means of production and those who sell their labour as crucial to the maintenance of capitalism. Its function is to create an obedient, docile, uncritical workforce who will work to support the upper-class’s lifestyle and the economy.

    Keeping wages low, or debt pressure high, means workers will be less likely to complain or make demands. As workers struggle to provide their families with all the temptations that a capitalist society offers, they become far less likely to risk their employment, and less able to improve their situation.

    At bottom, conservatives believe in a social hierarchy of “haves” and “have nots” that Conceptual Guerilla calls “corporate feudalism”. They have taken this corrosive social vision and dressed it up with a “respectable” sounding ideology which all boils down to the cheap labour they depend on to make their fortunes.

    Cheap-labour conservatives

    Hence their hatred of unions

54. kerriJanuary 13, 2017 at 6:39 pm

    Kaye Lee it’s the political version of barefoot and pregnant!
    It also compares to the US prison system and Walmart where workers are kept so in debt and so preoccupied with their need to repay debt that they don’t notice their conditions. Mmmm sounds a bit like Centrelink?

55. Kaye LeeJanuary 13, 2017 at 6:42 pm

    Yup

56. FCBJanuary 13, 2017 at 8:02 pm

    Okay, so all the comments seem to resonate a similar disdain towards our politicians excessive use of public funds for personal gain. There is no doubt that this disdain is justified, however, what concerns me after reading all the other comments is that no one has made the fundamental distinction of what politicians are. Essentially, they are public servants, fairly and democratically elected members, they are our representatives in parliament who should innately act with our interests at heart at all times. In modern society our politicians represent the stark contrast; they act with audacity and impunity as they have cultivated a culture of exploitation and hypocrisy towards their ‘public image’ to mask their counterintuitive conduct towards achieving any sort of valuable contribution or genuinely poignant representations of their communities. Why do people keep voting for the same fat pigs in the same slosh pit of scum…? They are beyond reform…they would be better served entering into some intensive psychotherapy to try and save what shreds of decency, integrity and dignity may remain.

57. Alan BairdJanuary 13, 2017 at 8:07 pm

    Ciobo does NOT have a point about sports events being okay. He’s simply getting in first before they start eyeing what he’s been trying on. Bishop has been, also, and incidentally the only people saying she’s glamorous are sycophants from the right. Black eyes is the stuff of nightmares and in the morning, worse (just calling it the way I see it). All of this is wonderful of course, a perfect mini cluster fcuk, vigorously tackling the minor stuff with the poor and studiously avoiding tackling the tall poppies WHILE only JUST missing pushing the old Corporate Tax Cuts simultaneously. The CEOs were on about this (again, yawn) the other day, saying that unless they extend their fiscal advantage over Everybody Else by a higher number of multiples of 100, Australia will be fiscally disadvantaged for some extremely obscure reason which only the cognoscenti (the CEOs) can discern. What a shame they didn’t keep hammering the corporate tax cuts WHILE running the Centrelink debacle and only THEN tripping over sus Sussan and the rest of the swine. That would have been a quite delicious hat-trick. Schadenfreude is a pleasant thing. Enjoy.

58. Jennifer Meyer-SmithJanuary 13, 2017 at 8:32 pm

    Alan Baird,

    you’ve got the right attitude. The LNP swine are coming undone before our eyes and don’t quite realise that they are becoming more obvious in their antics every day.

    I am also beginning to enjoy watching their self-destruction but I am also impatient for it to finish so that good government can begin before it’s too late for the environment and our precious people-based institutions.

    It’s Time for the Greens and Labor to fly the white flags to each other, so that they together can be ready to take over good, responsible and representative government for us and against Neoliberalism.

59. ZathrasJanuary 13, 2017 at 11:26 pm

    Miriam English,

    The original form of Greek democracy was for representatives to be involuntarily appointed.

    As for Bishop, one satirical site suggests she was on official business at that polo match.

    The business was to show the public that she was officially stinking rich.

60. Gary MichaelJanuary 14, 2017 at 5:57 am

    Just remember what Bishop did as a solicitor in the Hardy case against Bernie.

61. Deanna JonesJanuary 14, 2017 at 7:39 am

    Longwhitekid, whore? Really? Can you stick to calling these people out for what they actually are and leave the hateful sexist slurs out of it?

62. mckaylaknoxg5XJanuary 14, 2017 at 8:12 am

    @ Deanna

    Whore:
    “Compromise oneself for money or other gains” – a factual description.

63. 245179January 14, 2017 at 8:40 am

    Ol jules, now is this one smug,slimey, 2 faced piece of. ( ping pong, comes to mind…she’ll bounce to whoever ) I’ll bet she’s a right prima donna getting about town. ” Look at me, look at me “

64. Arthur TarryJanuary 14, 2017 at 8:43 am

    Now that our reformist PM has acted on the expenses rort perhaps he can have a go at politicians superannuation scheme, donations to political parties, and developing some progressive policies. He could also table a regulation prohibiting the use of the term ‘honourable’ when referring to his parliamentary colleagues.

65. Deanna JonesJanuary 14, 2017 at 9:00 am

    Mckaylaknox, that’s not how it’s used, it’s a gendered slur that has no place in the discourse of progressive-minded people. It should not even need to be said.

66. 245179January 14, 2017 at 9:17 am

    “Reformist PM”………what PM are we talking about here. The canberra “foxes” guided the “guidelines,perks,super etc” and they did a damn fine job at that, so well in fact, that egomaniacs and the like seek careers as canberra leeches. Thankfully i don’t hear of “the facts” about the use of entitlements, the tip of this iceberg is alarming enough. The full monty would endanger my mental well being.

67. Terry2January 14, 2017 at 9:28 am

    Kaye Lee

    Tony in his bomber-jacket : very scary.

    Does anybody know what the insignia are ?

68. Kaye LeeJanuary 14, 2017 at 9:36 am

    For Mr Tony Abbott’s visit to the USS Blue Ridge, the Australian Prime Minister wore a Royal Australian Air Force Flying jacket, with RAAF insignia. The PM is not a member of the military and not commander in chief, so it would be preferable for him not to wear a military uniform. The PM should be issued with a flying jacket for military visits, but with civilian insignia.

    The US President is commander in chief of US armed forces, but even so does not wear military insignia. Instead the POTUS flying jacket has the US Presidential Seal.

    http://blog.tomw.net.au/2015/07/flying-jacket-for-australian-prime.html

    He had no right to wear a jacket with an ADF insignia

69. SamJanuary 14, 2017 at 9:43 am

    KL I am nervous about the talk of a super security portfolio. Wouldn’t Tony love that.

    “Tony Abbott is such a scary man”

70. SamJanuary 14, 2017 at 9:55 am

    Most of these politicians should go into show business> because this what their EGO seems to desire.Because it’s definitely not in the need to give service and assistance to the people who need it the most. Unfortunately these types are from the aspirational-class and choose to live it up on the Tax payers dollar.The Liberals stink to high heaven and the morons who voted them in. Well” start to get a life

71. Kaye LeeJanuary 14, 2017 at 9:56 am

    Sam, I said the exact same thing in my previous article. It’s a worry alright.

    Groundhog day…but who’s the hog this time

72. mckaylaknoxg5XJanuary 14, 2017 at 10:15 am

    @ Deanna
    “I’ve always loathed this hatchet-faced whore, because she really is a whore…”

    She really is a whore because she really does compromise herself for money and or other gains.
    perfect use of the world regardless of gender. Our politicians, they are all whores. And that is being polite.

73. Denise ThompsonJanuary 14, 2017 at 10:31 am

    Thank you, Deanna Jones.

74. helvityniJanuary 14, 2017 at 10:58 am

    Abbott’s girls used to pose for us in virginal white, the preferred colour of formal weddings.

    In the picture above Ms Julie is decked in all black, that makes me think of sadder occasions….

    The politics Black and White.

75. Ricardo29January 14, 2017 at 12:23 pm

    I agree with you too Deanna. And can we leave out references to her toy boy, handbag, whatevrr. Like him or not he is her partner. Didnt like the cheap shit about Julia’s partner, dont like this. Agree wholeheartedly with all of the other stuff about Julie Bishop’s hypocrisy.

76. Peter FJanuary 14, 2017 at 12:55 pm

    I understand that, as late as yesterday, Ms Bishop informed her hosts that she would not be attending the Polo this year. Apparently she just found out that the Japanese Leader is in Australia, and she has decided to meet him instead. I dare say that someone will pay for travel to that meeting ( and you know who that is!), which might explain a lot.

77. Kaye LeeJanuary 14, 2017 at 2:00 pm

    According to sources, her office notified organisers on Friday night to inform them she would not be attending, citing the visit of Shinzo Abe as the reason. Organisers were notified hours after Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced that Health Minister Sussan Ley had resigned from the front bench in the wake of travel entitlements scandal.

    “Earlier in the week it had been her intention to attend the event,” they told Fairfax Media. “She was attending as a guest of one of the key sponsors.”

    The sponsor was Alfa-Romeo. I would love to hear Julie’s explanation of the “official business” she was to carry out at the polo today.

    And, as Peter points out….didn’t she know the Japanese PM was coming to town or did the mingling with celebrities take precedence (until the shit hit the fan)?

    http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/foreign-minister-julie-bishop-cancels-appearance-at-portsea-polo-in-the-wake-of-expenses-scandal-20170113-gtre4h.html

78. Jennifer Meyer-SmithJanuary 14, 2017 at 7:17 pm

    Ricardo,

    I have thought long and hard how I could answer your accusation of sexism and I cannot find within myself enough remorse to say sorry to all my learned male peers who might take offence, even my sons, my father, my brother and my uncles, who I quite like.

    Women and girls are exposed to such inappropriate comments on a far larger scale ev-er-yyyy day, so please don’t pretend to be offended unless you have been deluded all your life.

    Whatever-his-name has no shame in supporting a nasty, spiteful woman for personal gain. I feel like vomiting.

79. OPPOSE THE MAJOUR PARTIESOctober 16, 2017 at 4:39 pm

    bishop is lying about north korea. north koreas testing of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles is not illegal as she consistently repeats. further aust is not a target for north korea. it is thought their nuclear loaded missiles can only reach darwin. so why would north korea blow up darwin when darwins port is owned by north koreas only alli…china? der. she thinks she is so clever. she is the horror of all horrors. bishop has a history.of lies and corrupt conduct eg the firepower affair. bishops mind soul and spirit is manifest in her hideous appearance. she is like a grotesque character from a dickensian novel or victorian melodrama. she is the
    embodiment of abomination .

80. OPPOSE THE MAJOUR PARTIESOctober 16, 2017 at 4:45 pm

    bishop is lying about north korea. north koreas testing of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles is not illegal as she consistently repeats. further aust is not a target for north korea. it is thought their nuclear loaded missiles can only reach darwin. so why would north korea blow up darwin when darwins port is owned by north koreas only alli…china? der. she thinks she is so clever. she is the horror of all horrors. bishop has a history.of lies and corrupt conduct eg the firepower affair. bishops mind soul and spirit is manifest in her hideous appearance. she is like a grotesque character from a dickensian novel or victorian melodrama. she is an abomination .

81. Glenn BarryNovember 6, 2017 at 11:39 pm

    @urbanwronski – The Princess Mesothelioma – I am in awe – you just won the internet

82. Cool PeteJanuary 24, 2018 at 6:03 am

    Bishop is an arrogant, lying hypocrite. She would rather be photographed in a ridiculous hat resembling a satellite dish than apologising for her offensive remarks to Jacinda Adern. She has also made grotesque impersonations of a cross between The Grim Reaper and a washed up 80s pop star on a visit to Iran. The sooner she is out and someone intelligent is in, the better.