The NEXT coming Oz election thread!

The Kyoto boys.

Pollies in the poo #1:

Pollies in the poo #2:

Silly buggers. They breached their own IR law! :

Govt fined $30,000 over anti-WorkChoices rally ban
Posted 10 hours 9 minutes ago
Updated 10 hours 8 minutes ago/ABC news online

A Sydney court has ordered the Commonwealth Government to pay $30,000 for breaching its own industrial law.

Last month, the Federal Court found the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations had advised other government departments not to grant leave to public servants who wanted to attend a protest.

The union-organised rally in November 2005 was against changes to the Workplace Relations Act.

Today, the court ordered the Commonwealth to pay the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) close to the maximum penalty of $33,000, for what it described as a serious contravention of the law.

Justice Catherine Branson said despite evidence some senior departmental officers knew it was wrong to issue such advice, no steps were taken to review it.

The court had also found two decisions to refuse leave requests were in breach of certified agreements, but it did not impose a separate penalty.

The CPSU says it is delighted with the court's decision.

The union's national secretary Stephen Jones says the decision confirms that workers in the public sector are entitled to freedom of expression in their own time.

Mr Jones says employers have no right to tell workers what they can or can not do on their day off.

Workplace Relations Department spokesman David De Silva says the judge's findings will be reviewed.

"We're disappointed that the court awarded a penalty and made a finding against the Commonwealth and we're considering our options," he said.

http://www.abc.com.au/news/stories/2007/10/30/2075233.htm

Just as an aside. I know someone who's working on the fairness testing. It's window dressing. Semi-quote 'I used to work for the Australian public - now I work for Joe Hockey.'

JH admires the mad monk's ability to say sorry - unlike some despicable people in the past. Talk about irony-challenged. He's spent to much time in Dubya's bed.

On Tony's 'bullsh1t' comment - who gives a f***? Nicola went hard at him (with reason goodonher) - and to Tony's credit he'd had a sh1t day and went hard back - it wasn't cruel or demeaning it was just two pollies up for the fight. One of the few times he's exposed his humanity. No doubt Nicola scored points with the press gallery as she engaged them while they waited for Tony.

To have journo's up in arms about it is hypocrisy on a grand scale (at least as far as the journo's I've met in my life - scoundrels to a [wo] man!)

Can't wait for what Olga's mines from cartoon world!

Nicholson of "The Australian" newspaper: www.nicholsoncartoons.com.au

... or for any of the rest of these Liberal ministers, including the PM, who "weren't told", weren't properly briefed, etc, etc, etc ....

Whatever happened to ministerial responsibility?

The public service in Canberra must be heaps of fun!

I think he was late for the debate because he was caught up with JH, probably arguing against apologizing to that dying, long-term asbestosis campaigner. Fancy declaring the man's request for a meeting (to lobby for affordable drugs) as a "publicity stunt"! So much for the Mad Monk's so-called Christian principles!

... & the star performer (so far)..."

Me, I'm starting to hope that both parties reneg on all these rash, expensive promises. Whichever one ends up in power. Are they trying to ruin the country? What a way to work out spending priorities for the next 3 years! Stop it, it's obscene!:

Crikey! Looks what's received huge prominence on today's (Melbourne) Herald Sun online( aka "the Hun")! This is from (Murdoch's) News Limited press! :


Manners, etiquette and spirituality - 'Health Minister Tony Abbott' prides himself on being a guardian of all three. Click here for help with your problems in our new satirical feature. Leave your questions here | Howard defends 'sorry' Abbott

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/

Yet another pollie in the poo. Keeping the cartoonists busy, this lot.

Next!:

I've suddenly realized I have stopped paying attention to all the electionering and political guff..... from both sides.

Need to remember that they are all as bad as each other.

Didn't take too long to identify the next pollie in the poo, did it? Sigh.
But this is considerably more serious.
Andrews has a lot to answer for. Already he is denying any knowledge of this. Surpris, surprise!
He should resign now.:

'Secret plan' to keep Haneef in jail
Dylan Welch
November 2, 2007 - 8:57AM/SMH

His office has denied ever receiving any information or putting anything in place, but there's clearly communication between the AFP and the ... Immigration Department."

The Australian Federal Police have admitted they had a secret "contingency" plan to keep then terrorist suspect Mohamed Haneef behind bars if he was bailed by a Brisbane magistrate.

The details of the plan came to light when details of emails, obtained by Mr Haneef's lawyers under freedom of information laws, were published in The Australian today.

This morning a spokeswoman for the federal police confirmed the existence of emails and the plan.

"The emails relate to normal operational contingency planning," the spokeswoman said.

No further comment from the AFP would be forthcoming, she said.

The emails reveal the AFP had a plan on the weekend of July 14 and 15 to ensure the Indian-born Brisbane doctor remained behind bars by having Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews cancel his visa under the Migration Act, if Brisbane magistrate Jacqui Payne bailed him on the following Monday.

The revelation directly contradicts comments by Mr Andrews, who has always maintained the revocation of Mr Haneef's visa had nothing to do with the AFP case being pursued in the Queensland courts.

The first email, sent between AFP officers at 5.22pm on Saturday, July 14 and forwarded to a senior public servant in the Immigration Department at 8.10am on Monday, July 16, states: "Contingencies for containing Mr HANEEF and detaining him under the Migration Act, if it is the case he is granted bail on Monday, are in place as per arrangements today".

The public servant the email was forwarded to is Peter White, the department's assistant secretary for character assessment and war crimes screening. He reportedly gave Mr Andrews advice on his authority to cancel Mr Haneef's visa under the Migration Act.

Last night the spokeswoman for Mr Andrews said there was "absolutely no deal or arrangement or contingency instigated, approved, or discussed by the minister or any of his staff at all, ever".

Dr Haneef's solicitor Peter Russo, who provided the original email to smh.com.au early today, said while Mr Andrew's office had denied being involved in the so-called contingency plan, the emails seemed to suggest otherwise.

"It's difficult to exactly say what it means, but the only person who is responsible for the visas is the minister, so. ...

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/secret-plan-to-keep-haneef-in-jail/2007/11/02/1193619094358.html

What? You're not fascinated by details of the latest bribe from either side, dadpad? Why just today, Labor made it's pitch for "the grey vote", following JH's yesterday! This is rivetting stuff! (And it's our taxes they're playing with. Surely that makes you cry or grit your teeth a bit? :wink: )

I confess that the cartoonists' offerings have become my biggest focus of interest in this endless campaign. And discovering the latest pollie in the poo, on almost a daily basis. Apart from that, it's just bribes, counter-bribes, followed by more bribes .... plus a new allegation or three ....

Someone should tell them we've all stopped paying attention, while we've still got a few $$$ left in the kitty.

Hang on, there is one thing that still holds great interest for me!: Wondering what outrageous clanger the Libs will drop in the last few days. What will it be & will it get them over the line? It'll have to be a biggie to do the trick! :wink:

That & wondering about where the hell Ruddock could be. Is he still in the country? Perhaps he's off somewhere quietly planning the clanger?