Utegate: Is Turnbull telling the truth?
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Malcolm Turnbull is running hard from the faked email. He can run, as they say in the classics, but he can’t hide. Let’s put aside his claim that the faked email is Wayne Swan’s responsibility. What did Keating used to say? “More front than Mark Foy’s”. Is he telling the truth? This is Turnbull this morning on AM.
This directly contradicts what happened on 4 June in Senate Estimates when Eric Abetz first grilled Godwin Grech. At around 1.45 that afternoon, Eric Abetz said this in the Economics Committee to Nick Sherry:
Abetz is then interrupted, but the exchange continues:
Abetz was immediately asked to withdraw that allegation by the chair but refuses because the fact that Rudd has a private car is “undisputed”. He goes on to say:
Abetz then withdraws the allegation to enable the hearings to continue. Abetz’s office said today “if, by the time the Senate Economics Committee next sits for (Supplementary) Estimates from 19th-22nd October, and all relevant inquires have concluded that there were no representations whatsoever by the PMO to Treasury regarding Mr John Grant, then of course, as indicated, Senator Abetz will willingly correct the record and apologise.” What was the context for the allegation made by Abetz that day? What had Grech said to provide a basis for it? Abetz clearly had the email, or the contents of it, on 4 June. Prior to the exchange above, Abetz had an extended discussion about the OzCar policy and its details with Grech, before changing tack and leading the discussion on to the issue of MPs’ representations re OzCar. Abetz — whose work on this issue, incidentally, has been very, very good — then leads to the questioning on to contact from the Treasurer’s and PM’s offices, and then onto emails until, having elicited from Grech that he received one contact from the Prime Minister’s office, asks whether it related to John Grant. But the critical issue is that Grech declines to answer because he can’t remember and doesn’t want to identify specific dealers. Abetz nevertheless goes on to allege, as per above, that the Prime Minister has made representations on behalf of John Grant Motors. Because he has prior knowledge of the email, Turnbull has become confused over at what point the Opposition should have known about the Grant-Rudd link if they were relying solely on Grech’s evidence. But Abetz goes ahead and makes the allegation anyway without Grech even identifying Grant. So it appears Turnbull has made another “mistake” about the timing of his use of the email, similar to the one he made yesterday, and admitted last night to Kerry O’Brien, about Abetz’s use of the email in Friday’s inquiry hearing. The mistakes are starting to pile up. Now Joe Hockey has stated that, after downplaying his relationship with Grech, who was a putative Chief of Staff to him a decade ago, he called him on the weekend. It is testament to the good feeling with which Hockey is known in this place that his claim that he merely wanted to wish an old acquaintance well has been accepted at face value. Other sources indicate Grech’s Liberal sympathies were well-known and Grech didn’t disguise them. “He’s a bit weird but at least he’s one of us,” was one quip from the conservative side about him before the OzCar matter blew up. But if indeed, as the AFP statement yesterday suggested, Grech was somehow involved in the crafting or dissemination of the email — and that hasn’t even been formally alleged against the man at this point — his motivation would be unclear. However, he is known as a workaholic, and he has been working on a high-profile, difficult issue involving frequent contacts with senior ministers and their staff for months. Remorseless workplace pressure can be a source of massive, even life-threatening stress. The connections between Grech and the Coalition are a matter of speculation and innuendo at this point. Should they harden into something more substantial than the half-baked rumours, however, there’ll be a new Opposition leadership, and so there should be. |
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36 Comments
After reading your article Bernard, I hope there are members of the Federal Police who are aware of the speculation and innuendo outlightned by yourself regarding Mr Grech and where his political sympathies lie. This could have far reaching consequences for certain members of the Coalition. I will leave it there.
The australian reported that Mr Grech worked for Mr Hockey in the 90s.
Senator Abetz’s office correctly pointed out just on deadline that as the Senator specifically withdrew the allegation during Estimates, in fact he didn’t have a requirement to withdraw and apologise should the PM’s involvement turn out to not be the case.
I said to my mate when this whole thing hit the news, that both Kevin Rudd and Wayne Swan would be damned stupid to leave themselves open to such a stupid allegation - that ‘someone’ set it up, and the first place to look was at those who work in Treasury, all the emails, and who sent them etc. It smelt very nasty from the outset.(call me cynical - not without good cause I may add). I also was furious at the media’s disgraceful reporting, and in particular the Daily Telegraph. They don’t allow truth to get in the way of a ‘good’ story. Wouldn’t you think they’d have enough pride in their work to at least do some independent investigation of the bona fides of the allegations, and the basic assertions made. Once you tell lies, you have to tell more to cover up the first lie/s. I used to tell my kids that! It’s better to be straight from the beginning - much simpler and causes less grief!
I don’t recall the Daily Telegraph, or anyone else for that matter, carrying on in the same manner over AWB and the $300 million that Saddam had of our money to spend on who knows what? The alleged ‘lies’ of senior ministers and Howard was worse than a joke. Over 65 emails, faxes, notes etc and twice as many “can’t recall” “I don’t remember” etc. The washup of that disgrace is still awaiting resolution.
I also remember the ‘document’ that just happened to arrive at the desk of one so-called journalist at The Australian, alleging some serious breach by Andrew Wilke, who blew the whistle on Howard’s decision to invade Iraq? It must’ve come from Foreign Affairs? I also recall Alexander Downer’s ‘screech’ as he was ‘outraged’ by even a hint of a suggestion of any impropriety on his part. He got off without even a hint of response/s that the media is making over this lot. Incidently, to date, not one dollar has gone to any car dealership or car dealer in any state or territory ! Just an unnecessary detail hardly mentioned thus far. You’d think that the whole $500 million had been allocated, and that Kevin Rudd’s mate got a hefty sum - NOT ONE CENT TO ANYONE. It’s in the preliminary stages only! I had to hear that from Kevin Rudd yesterday morning on AM.
These are just a couple of incidents, very serious ones I hasten to add, that nobody in the media felt the need to follow up. It begs belief, that as this story unfolds, that the said person in Treasury (Gretch)who was allegedly in control of said email, instigated it on his own behalf. Why would he do that? Unless he was really dirty on the two said govt Ministers, (PM and Treasurer)or perhaps he was(allegedly) ‘encouraged’ to do it??If so, I want to know, by whom and why?
Further more, if, as the other incidents I mentioned ‘went to water’, I suggest that if the finger is pointed to any conservatives, the media will back right off. After all, they are most journalist’s ‘masters’! No wonder the Australian media rates in the 60’s re independent reporting, without political interference! Shameful! Very grubby indeed!
Turnbull discovers Hitler diaries in drawer. Opposition leader Malcom Turnbull confirms he is in discussion with German publishers.
What tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive………
Personally I don’t buy that Grech created the fraudulent email. And I don’t buy that the Government is off the hook about sending it to him covertly to his home address.
Whether that was Doogie Howser or some other aparatchik is anyone’s guess.
I mean how credible is the AFP statement in an ongoing investigation/operational matter to simply say so far “preliminary” evidence is “indicative”…. that not sent by the “purported author”.
How probative is it really either way that the AFP find it say either hidden away or in the deleted section of the hard drive of Grech’s home computer? I sure as hell know if I deleted a hot email I didn’t want to receive (and from the recycle bin also), I wouldn’t have a clue how to find it on the hard drive. Same for Grech?
There is something very smelly about smearing Grech with innuendo to sanitise the role of loyal govt staffers in treasury or higher up allegedly doing the Rudd/Swan Govt’s party work for them.
For instance when journalists are raided with a search warrant over documents indicating criminal activity, since when do the journalists become tainted with the original crime? Why therefore smear Grech similarly for actioning of a search warrant.
It’s conceivable he cooked it up, but all the character evidence is quite contrary. Profoundly contrary actually. And it beggars belief observers can be so naive as to think the ALP don’t look after their donors. We just had Rose Corporation and Hardy Corporation developers on the front page of the SMH for coincidentally getting special development deeds of approval ‘outside the planning system’.
Get it? It’s in the culture.
As they say on The Bill, they have form. Is this not a sort of non -violent attempted assasination of our PM and Treasurer. If they had got away with this, wouldn’t we be replacing them. Act of treason would have been Ltd News headline if Rudd and Swan was stitched up and found guilty by media. Turnball has to Quit, labor will drag this up more often than the $96Billion dollars the liberals had to pay back . Wait till Julia gets back from the butt kissing tour. She will have a field day with Mal and Joe and who ever else gets flushed out. Online ABC question Time must have had a large amount of d/loads. Iam on 1500 speed ADSL and was having trouble with the feed, like on dial up? only 1 km from telephone exchange and not much in between me and the exchange.
Presumably the circle of suspects for authorship of ‘the email’ would have be those in on the Oz Car file to know the template of A Charlton style of writing - refer Sid Maher article in Oz today.
Bernard says: The connections between Grech and the Coalition are a matter of speculation and innuendo at this point.
Well not any more. Did anyone else see the lead story on the 7pm news? Grech is in the Liberals pockets and has apparently been leaking stuff to them (and Mr Turnbull directly) for a number of years…
Holy sh*t! Malcolm in in one dirty big hole now.
is in one, sorry, typo.
Now that we’re advised Grech has been supplying the Howard and subsequent Coalition governments with Treasury information Australian democracy appears in crisis. The bottom line is which dill do you support?
Christine Johnson wrote: The bottom line is which dill do you support?
That only applies if someone is a Liberal/Nat supporter Christine. Our PM is obviously no dill, but the choice on offer for the Opposition Leader after Malcolm is skewered on this issue is surely going to be a choice between dills and no-hopers.
Malcolm should have joined the Labor Party. He may have had a chance at being PM if he could have been patient and learned how to behave like a statesman, not a brawling litigation lawyer.
Pedro we’re not looking after individual careers here with the PM and his deputy all part of a passing political parade. I’m simply pointing out governments and parties aren’t focussed on people outcomes, rather their own. Which is why I raised the wisdom of supporting weak links. Whilever political agendas dominate parties there’s little hope for a nation.
Just saw Lateline with Joe Hockey being interviewed. I would suggest Utegate is the least of Malcolm Turnbull’s concerns.
This will all be but a dream in seven days and things will be back to paranormal.
As for the email..could it be a play by the govt spinners to lure the unsuspecting novice to take a live bait? Turnbull was on safer ground chasing down the Fitzgibbon antics..that is not over by a long shot. Rudd’s greatest weakness in my view is his inability to hide a damn good gloat.
Of course not. Why would he tell the truth when a lie is much more convenient? Malcolm comes from a world where complaints about tactics are only for whingers and losers.
Oh, and Richard Wilson, your little effort deserves Wayne Swan’s favourite insult.
Well we know Kevin Rude is not telling the truth…..
Perhaps Turnbull has some friends in the AFP as well as the treasury?
“It is testament to the good feeling with which Hockey is known in this place that his claim that he merely wanted to wish an old acquaintance well has been accepted at face value.” -from above story.
Yeah Bernard, that sort of good feeling would be worth it’s weight in gold in Canberra. Maybe Hockey has decided to cash in on it?
There is a school of thought that this email was disseminated through specific channels of treasury to expose a mole within that department that had been leaking treasury stuff pretty much since the Rudd government took office.
Apart from this being overly paranoid/conspiracy driven (though not implausible) I can’t see it from the same government that has managed to pay stimulus payments to dead people and give money to schools that are closed.
If only the politicians were that smart ..
watch the floodgates open on Malcolm, eg1 the current chief justice of the supreme court of W.A Mr Martin when in his previous guise as the senior counsel to the H.I.H royal commission urging the commissioner to find that Mr Turnbull had acted illegally and deserved to have an adverse finding made against him in relation to his role in the sale of F.A.I
Quite ironic that Malcolm now looks addled
if it was a card game it looks like a pair of nambours trumps a double bay north sydney flush
how embarassing
Shaun Carney of the Age has the most incisive understanding of Turnbull’ predicament and points the way to what is now inevitable: Turnbull will have to go.
http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/a-flimsy-foundation-brings-turnbulls-audacious-case-undone-20090623-cv9x.html?page=-1
I’ll just add one point that is not in Carney’s article. The government will say, with much plausibility and/or accuracy, that Turnbull conspired with a Treasury official over a long period to systematically steal confidential Treasury documents in order to bring down the government. Turnbull will not be able to recover from this allegation and the sooner his party sees that the sooner he will go.
He has a temper as I see on Sky news right now. When he does not want to answer a question he says “I do not want to be distracted by this” READ… the reason I am here on TV is to try and distract everyone else. Mal sweetheart, no need for yelling on TV as we have volume control.
Anyways Malcolm does not want to be distracted by this. We should leave him alone, it is annoying the poor old sook.
The Missus
Shaun Carney of the Age has the most incisive understanding of Turnbull’ predicament and points the way to what is now inevitable: Turnbull will have to go.
I’ll just add one point that is not in Carney’s article. The government will say, with much plausibility and/or accuracy, that Turnbull conspired with a Treasury official over a long period to systematically steal confidential Treasury documents in order to bring down the government. Turnbull will not be able to recover from this allegation and the sooner his party sees that the sooner he will go.
Tony Jones interview of Joe Hockey last night is well worth watching on the ABC site. Jones goes in very hard and Hockey barely keeps his head above water.
Warlock good attempt trying the good old Liberal trick of diversion as Hockey and Turnbull have failed miserably at all week. You know damn well any money in the stimulus packages that inadvertantly was sent to deceased persons, immediately went to next of kin. Any of the schools money that was earmarked for a school that subsequently closed was diverted to either the new school or the school where the pupils of the old school went. You shouldn’t believe all you read in the Australian or most News Ltd outlets, they have an agenda that has been discredited many times. Julia Gillard made it very clear last week about the Australians misinformed failed assault on her and the schools programme. Try sticking to the facts not your informant. You know what happens to them.
I wonder if Turnbull will continue to offer unwanted career advice to talented young men? If he does then he may get some very unkind responses. The kind that start and finish with the letter ‘f’.
There is no alternative leader. Please, no-one don’t say Hockey, although i do sort off hope that Julie will put her hand up - purely for entertainment reasons. MT will stay for this reason. Where is the next Lib PM going to come from. Without MT, and now that Costello has gone, where is the next lib leader?
Meanwhile back at the press gallery The world is still waiting for Daily Telegraph to get past stupid stories about Godwin’s front garden and get Steve Lewis out of the box to write WORLD EXCLUSIVE: How I fucked up and got snowed by the Libs…Maybe I should have asked to see the emails but Breeny ran the Hanson pics sight unseen so what’s the problem?
And Carney’ column in the Age today shows how trivial the Swan allegations are and we all wondering why the journalists try to keep that narrative going.
Whenever a ‘crime’ is committed, the first thing to do is work out who will benefit. Why would Rudd or Swan ‘plant’ an email that could point to some at best silly practice of favouritism? Doesn’t make any sense to me. Those who were HOPING to benefit were the Libs/Coalition. Stitch up the senior players, take the media’s attention away from Turnbull’s lack of control etc over his members. Force at least one resignation - Wayne Swan or Rudd? That’s exactly what’s happened! Hardly a mention of climate change legislation, alco pops or anything else for that matter. Except they didn’t bank on Kevin bringing in AFP or asking for a parliamentary inquiry. Damned stupid of Turnbull et al. Should’ve thought it through! The Telegraph shouldn’t get off scot free either! Typical of the garbage in that rag! After the photos etc re Kids Overboard; the Jackie Kelly & Co’s fiasco, you’d think they’d work out, that in this time of technology etc and the IT bright sparks, it’s pretty stupid to try these sorts of stunts. Dumb!
Then there’s the more serious crime of using untrue assertions to ruin a person’s reputation. I’d be spitting chips if someone tried that on me. I think, all jokes and quips aside, that it’s a pretty serious situation. Can you imagine the ‘shrieking’ and ‘screaming’ if the position was reversed. At this moment, Abbott is trying to put the blame back on the govt, accusing it of revealing the results of the AFP investigations. Didn’t hear them complain when both Howard, Andrews and Ruddick leaked the lies and gave a daily commentary on the disgraceful injustices against Dr Haneef - again for political gain. I think on balance, the conservatives have proven that they are more into this type of dirt raking than Labor. The Murdoch press were happy to go along then too! If it hadn’t been for Dr Haneef’s brave legal team, he’d probably still be in solitary confinement in Goulburn Jail - thanks to these bastards and let’s not forget Mick Keelty!
Abbott and Hockey are only making a bad situation much worse. They’d be better off shutting up! I’ll watch the Lateline interview now - sounds good!
This afternoon on Sky News Agenda Hockey let the cat out of the bag regarding the discredited email, Mr Grech and himself by refusing to answer a simple straight forward question. David Spiers asked him, did you have previous knowledge about the email, had you seen it before the Senate enquiry? Mr Hockey refused to answer. he side tracked, huffed and puffed, threw his arms in the air, but would he give a yes or no? He would not. Sometimes a refusal answers the question. Incidently Turnbulls quick temper and agro was on full view in question time, so much so he is now copping the name, the Liberals mark Latham. Again another poor performance from Turnbull and Hockey, who was booted out again. Abbott jumps up and down on points of order more often than the petulant Pyne, that’s saying something. The Rev must still have eyes on a top job.
DJPL … dude, my tongue was firmly in cheek … I am wise enough to not believe the “Curious” Mail and the Foxnews view of the world.
My point was that the people who have these conpiracy theories give the government far too much credit for brains that they don’t collectively possess.
I will have to proof my future posts so that I don’t accidentally look like an apologist for the neo-cons