Comments on: Nathan Rees carries baggage from the Orkopolous scandal http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/09/09/nathan-rees-carries-baggage-from-the-orkopolous-scandal/ now with extra source Sun, 12 Feb 2012 11:02:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: cate morris http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/09/09/nathan-rees-carries-baggage-from-the-orkopolous-scandal/#comment-9882 cate morris Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-9882 Tom and Kevin...don't you think for one moment Gillian Sneddon hasn't desperately tried and failed to have the facts of who knew what and when brought to public attention? Who do you guys think is blocking her calls for a full inquiry....do you think a string of past and current MPs, parliamentary and ministerial staff want reputations and jobs trashed, or the nerds sitting in ALP head office already looking like detention centre candidates to look worse? And no, O'Farrell doesn't want the whole fiasco spotlighted because it makes his lot look like bunch of keystone cops who similarly would fall foul of an inquiry that would well make certain recommendations all bound to curb that lots behaviours too. Simply ask yourself why Milton's other victims have been given relative justice, why his wife is now employed with the local federal ALP member who fundraised on her behalf and why no one is lifting a finger to give Gillian encouragement or support. The ignominy of the state ALP descending into a mire at the hands of its own stupid leaders is just too much for the party to bear. Tom and Kevin…don’t you think for one moment Gillian Sneddon hasn’t desperately tried and failed to have the facts of who knew what and when brought to public attention? Who do you guys think is blocking her calls for a full inquiry….do you think a string of past and current MPs, parliamentary and ministerial staff want reputations and jobs trashed, or the nerds sitting in ALP head office already looking like detention centre candidates to look worse? And no, O’Farrell doesn’t want the whole fiasco spotlighted because it makes his lot look like bunch of keystone cops who similarly would fall foul of an inquiry that would well make certain recommendations all bound to curb that lots behaviours too. Simply ask yourself why Milton’s other victims have been given relative justice, why his wife is now employed with the local federal ALP member who fundraised on her behalf and why no one is lifting a finger to give Gillian encouragement or support. The ignominy of the state ALP descending into a mire at the hands of its own stupid leaders is just too much for the party to bear.

]]> By: Bernard Keane http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/09/09/nathan-rees-carries-baggage-from-the-orkopolous-scandal/#comment-9883 Bernard Keane Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-9883 Tom and Kevin - agree about "put up or shut up". And Sneddon has put up - she has shown that Parliamentary staff leaked the confidential police investigation directly to Orkopoulos. This has never been investigated. She has shown that a number of MPs knew about allegations, in addition to herself and other staff. The Iemma Government prevented a proper investigation of these issues. A full inquiry may well show that Orkopoulos kept his criminality secret from Rees just like he kept it secret from his family. I've no reason to suspect otherwise of Rees since I know nothing about him. But in the absence of a proper inquiry, I think the question about his involvement needs to be asked - obviously, since I wrote the article. "Put up or shut up" shouldn't be a reason not to ask such questions. Tom and Kevin - agree about “put up or shut up”. And Sneddon has put up - she has shown that Parliamentary staff leaked the confidential police investigation directly to Orkopoulos. This has never been investigated. She has shown that a number of MPs knew about allegations, in addition to herself and other staff. The Iemma Government prevented a proper investigation of these issues. A full inquiry may well show that Orkopoulos kept his criminality secret from Rees just like he kept it secret from his family. I’ve no reason to suspect otherwise of Rees since I know nothing about him. But in the absence of a proper inquiry, I think the question about his involvement needs to be asked - obviously, since I wrote the article. “Put up or shut up” shouldn’t be a reason not to ask such questions.

]]> By: cate morris http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/09/09/nathan-rees-carries-baggage-from-the-orkopolous-scandal/#comment-9884 cate morris Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-9884 Tom and Kevin...don't you think for one moment Gillian Sneddon hasn't desperately tried and failed to have the facts of who knew what and when brought to public attention? Who do you guys think is blocking her calls for a full inquiry....do you think a string of past and current MPs, parliamentary and ministerial staff want reputations and jobs trashed, or the nerds sitting in ALP head office already looking like detention centre candidates to look worse? And no, O'Farrell doesn't want the whole fiasco spotlighted because it makes his lot look like bunch of keystone cops who similarly would fall foul of an inquiry that would well make certain recommendations all bound to curb that lots behaviours too. Simply ask yourself why Milton's other victims have been given relative justice, why his wife is now employed with the local federal ALP member who fundraised on her behalf and why no one is lifting a finger to give Gillian encouragement or support. The ignominy of the state ALP descending into a mire at the hands of its own stupid leaders is just too much for the party to bear. Tom and Kevin…don’t you think for one moment Gillian Sneddon hasn’t desperately tried and failed to have the facts of who knew what and when brought to public attention? Who do you guys think is blocking her calls for a full inquiry….do you think a string of past and current MPs, parliamentary and ministerial staff want reputations and jobs trashed, or the nerds sitting in ALP head office already looking like detention centre candidates to look worse? And no, O’Farrell doesn’t want the whole fiasco spotlighted because it makes his lot look like bunch of keystone cops who similarly would fall foul of an inquiry that would well make certain recommendations all bound to curb that lots behaviours too. Simply ask yourself why Milton’s other victims have been given relative justice, why his wife is now employed with the local federal ALP member who fundraised on her behalf and why no one is lifting a finger to give Gillian encouragement or support. The ignominy of the state ALP descending into a mire at the hands of its own stupid leaders is just too much for the party to bear.

]]> By: Kevin Charles Herbert http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/09/09/nathan-rees-carries-baggage-from-the-orkopolous-scandal/#comment-9885 Kevin Charles Herbert Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-9885 Tom McLoughlin has saved me the need to arrive at exactly his final deduction...end the cheap talk & put up or shut up...thanx Tom. Tom McLoughlin has saved me the need to arrive at exactly his final deduction…end the cheap talk & put up or shut up…thanx Tom.

]]> By: Cate Morris http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/09/09/nathan-rees-carries-baggage-from-the-orkopolous-scandal/#comment-9886 Cate Morris Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-9886 Oh dear...apologies for the multiple comments...the submit button didn't work so I just kept pressing! Oh dear…apologies for the multiple comments…the submit button didn’t work so I just kept pressing!

]]> By: Dave Liberts http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/09/09/nathan-rees-carries-baggage-from-the-orkopolous-scandal/#comment-9887 Dave Liberts Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-9887 The more I hear about the fallout from the Orkopoulos scandal, the more incredulous I am that there hasn't been a high-level inquiry into the treatment of his electorate officer by those 'loyal' to that creep or a review of some of his more questionable decisions in office. That the Liberals haven't fought tooth and nail to highlight this must indicate they've got some similar skeletons in closets somewhere. Honestly, why would a political party NOT seek to portray their opponents as trying to cover up for a paedophile when the facts are clearly with them? The more I hear about the fallout from the Orkopoulos scandal, the more incredulous I am that there hasn’t been a high-level inquiry into the treatment of his electorate officer by those ‘loyal’ to that creep or a review of some of his more questionable decisions in office. That the Liberals haven’t fought tooth and nail to highlight this must indicate they’ve got some similar skeletons in closets somewhere. Honestly, why would a political party NOT seek to portray their opponents as trying to cover up for a paedophile when the facts are clearly with them?

]]> By: cate morris http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/09/09/nathan-rees-carries-baggage-from-the-orkopolous-scandal/#comment-9888 cate morris Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-9888 Tom and Kevin...don't you think for one moment Gillian Sneddon hasn't desperately tried and failed to have the facts of who knew what and when brought to public attention? Who do you guys think is blocking her calls for a full inquiry....do you think a string of past and current MPs, parliamentary and ministerial staff want reputations and jobs trashed, or the nerds sitting in ALP head office already looking like detention centre candidates to look worse? And no, O'Farrell doesn't want the whole fiasco spotlighted because it makes his lot look like bunch of keystone cops who similarly would fall foul of an inquiry that would well make certain recommendations all bound to curb that lots behaviours too. Simply ask yourself why Milton's other victims have been given relative justice, why his wife is now employed with the local federal ALP member who fundraised on her behalf and why no one is lifting a finger to give Gillian encouragement or support. The ignominy of the state ALP descending into a mire at the hands of its own stupid leaders is just too much for the party to bear. Tom and Kevin…don’t you think for one moment Gillian Sneddon hasn’t desperately tried and failed to have the facts of who knew what and when brought to public attention? Who do you guys think is blocking her calls for a full inquiry….do you think a string of past and current MPs, parliamentary and ministerial staff want reputations and jobs trashed, or the nerds sitting in ALP head office already looking like detention centre candidates to look worse? And no, O’Farrell doesn’t want the whole fiasco spotlighted because it makes his lot look like bunch of keystone cops who similarly would fall foul of an inquiry that would well make certain recommendations all bound to curb that lots behaviours too. Simply ask yourself why Milton’s other victims have been given relative justice, why his wife is now employed with the local federal ALP member who fundraised on her behalf and why no one is lifting a finger to give Gillian encouragement or support. The ignominy of the state ALP descending into a mire at the hands of its own stupid leaders is just too much for the party to bear.

]]> By: Tom McLoughlin http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/09/09/nathan-rees-carries-baggage-from-the-orkopolous-scandal/#comment-9889 Tom McLoughlin Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-9889 Mmm. The allegation when you boil it down is that big Nathan was/is too smart and industrious not to have known or suspected. It is surprising to me (admittedly with a melodramatic streak) that he didn't know UNLESS perhaps Ork was the proverbial absentee Minister while Rees actually was too busy keeping the show on the road, ironically making too much spare time for his boss to do his crimes. <br /><br />But like any whisper or attempted smear it really does come down to put up or shut up. It's a pretty good rule of public life. If anyone can prove anything I don't doubt there is a big fat cheque book journalist ready to pay for it. Personally I don't want to play in a political community where innuendo replaces evidence when it comes to knowledge of criminality. Otherwise we just live in a jungle of the most expensive PR operatives and the big blaring front page shout. <br /><br />Questions might remain but arguably plenty of time has elapsed to reveal anything adverse too. Which just leaves cheap talk I guess. Mmm. The allegation when you boil it down is that big Nathan was/is too smart and industrious not to have known or suspected. It is surprising to me (admittedly with a melodramatic streak) that he didn’t know UNLESS perhaps Ork was the proverbial absentee Minister while Rees actually was too busy keeping the show on the road, ironically making too much spare time for his boss to do his crimes.

But like any whisper or attempted smear it really does come down to put up or shut up. It’s a pretty good rule of public life. If anyone can prove anything I don’t doubt there is a big fat cheque book journalist ready to pay for it. Personally I don’t want to play in a political community where innuendo replaces evidence when it comes to knowledge of criminality. Otherwise we just live in a jungle of the most expensive PR operatives and the big blaring front page shout.

Questions might remain but arguably plenty of time has elapsed to reveal anything adverse too. Which just leaves cheap talk I guess.

]]> By: Malcolm http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/09/09/nathan-rees-carries-baggage-from-the-orkopolous-scandal/#comment-9890 Malcolm Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-9890 The NSW Labor Government would appear to have no shortage of skeletons in their collective closets. The Orkopoulos matter, the numerous NSW Crime Commission issues which are repeatedly swept under the Kent St carpet, the acknowledged but ignored wrongdoings of the PIC, the sham of the "Iguanagate" incident, not to mention the failing health and teaching programs as well as the overall lack of any punishment being dished out for a crime, which would actually reflect the community's expectations. Good luck Nathan. The ship is beyond repair. The NSW Labor Government would appear to have no shortage of skeletons in their collective closets. The Orkopoulos matter, the numerous NSW Crime Commission issues which are repeatedly swept under the Kent St carpet, the acknowledged but ignored wrongdoings of the PIC, the sham of the “Iguanagate” incident, not to mention the failing health and teaching programs as well as the overall lack of any punishment being dished out for a crime, which would actually reflect the community’s expectations. Good luck Nathan. The ship is beyond repair.

]]> By: davo http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/09/09/nathan-rees-carries-baggage-from-the-orkopolous-scandal/#comment-9891 davo Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-9891 also, isn't one of the things of pa*dophiles is that they ARE sneaky? They ARE discreet? I don't have any problem believing Rees when he says he didn't know. I don't think he did. Rees may become the biggest dud in NSW history (but then, I don't believe the Daily Telegraph either) but I think in this case, he's innocent. also, isn’t one of the things of pa*dophiles is that they ARE sneaky? They ARE discreet? I don’t have any problem believing Rees when he says he didn’t know. I don’t think he did. Rees may become the biggest dud in NSW history (but then, I don’t believe the Daily Telegraph either) but I think in this case, he’s innocent.

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