Holmes quoted advice from the Clerk of the Senate (or one of the Assistant Clerks) that only the Privileges Committee can require evidence to be given under oath.

So, if the inquiry goes ahead, we may see Abetz sworn in, as well as at.

When it comes to Turnbull, I think people are confusing tenacity with guts. Turnbull has revealed himself as a blame shifter. The thing a political leader desperately needs for survival is loyalty from his team. Blame shifters do not attract loyalty.

Yep, Malcolm Turnbull was relaxed and seemed to be enjoying himself. Did you notice the way his eyes were constantly flicking over everyone. Sure sign of a desperate man. I have to admit I didn’t pick up on your first point but I was almost cringing at the way he avoided the opportunity to apologize to Kevin Rudd, AND Wayne Swan was ignored altogether. He said words to the effect that he had withdrawn his resignation comment to the Prime Minister but he didn’t include the Treasurer.

Some people have commented the man has guts, but what if one doesn’t even recognize the fact they have made a stuff up in the first place? That ain’t guts that’s something far more sinister.

Regards to the celestial folks up there. Once again give my regards to Himself. And have another crack at the Celestial Casino.
Sincerely

Venise

grech, turnbull, and abetz have been involved in the commission of a crime. i repeat. a crime.

Yes, I watched Malcolm on Q&A tonight and, among other things, he told the audience with great authority that Grech gave evidence to the Senate under oath. I have been known to swear a few oaths myself, but I don’t believe that those appearing before the Senate Estimates Committee are required to take an oath. I was surprised that neither Julia Gillard nor Tony Jones picked him up on that further inaccuracy.

When pressed by a viewer question, Turnbull steadfastly avoided uttering an apology to Rudd. Again, a great opportunity was missed by the panel to ask him under what circumstances he would consider apologizing to anybody. I would have liked to see the lawyer in him attempt to conjure up an answer that would not leave himself wide open to the obvious follow-up question.

MT is due to turn up on Q&A tonight. Does your spirit form enable you to slither down someones chimney to have a peek? Regards to Himself! And tell St. Peter to close the bloody door for a bit. Someone we know is due to check in.

I agree that it’s a bizarre scenario on a number of levels, but it seems that on this occasion their combined rabid zeal to throw a grenade at Rudd and Swan overrode any of their supposed legal instincts.

Also, as for Turnbull, I think the Australian Sob Story episode revealed what a hopeless bunch of political minders he has surrounded himself with, so no wonder there was no brake on him.

Further, the way that Eric Aids & Abets so hastily ate a shit sandwich (to borrow a phrase from Mungo MacCallum) following the AG’s findings makes me think he is as guilty as hell and wants it all to go away as quickly as possible.

… so it’s fair to assume that he prepared a script for Abetz, too.

Those were Gretch’s own words as quoted in Paul Maley’s “exclusive” interview with him:

“… the ailing official said he wrote down a series of questions for the Opposition Leader to ask in parliament which concerned Mr Rudd’s statements that he had not sought special favours for Mr Grant.” - Paul Maley, Australian, August 4.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25877855-601,00.html

I can give a real life example not nearly so dramatic. A public servant working at the council where I was elected came to me and said his section were meeting to divide up the Local Govt Area and define areas to upsize zonings for increased density of development. Given Waverley is already about the densest in Australia this was explosive information. He said it was systemic corruption in favour of developers.

Only he was a little shaky in terms of raging temper and I decided to play it cool - give me documentary evidence, or officially report it yourself. He duly told me I was a dickhead and nothing was heard of the ‘scandal’ again.

When one comes through genuinely grassroots politics one has to develop a radar regarding fertile imaginations, unsupported allegations, and yes getting blindsided on a Tuesday afternoon. That’s the thing about one on one political communication as distinct from moving PR assets around a war game table. You have to understand people in their amazing diversity. Probably an endless lesson really given the variety of DNA.

In the specific example for instance who is to say the planning staff were not simply following the State Govt Planning Regional Plan to avoid planning powers being ripped off the council altogether. Always an issue at Waverley - friendly fire from the ALP Right to their brothers and sisters on the Left. Nice bunch.

And Claret, couldn’t agree with your more about Steve Fielding. The guy is a total embarrassment. What an intolerable situation when a thickheaded nitwit wields the power he does in the Senate. Bring on the double dissolution…

Well, who takes the wrap when governments ‘stuff up’? The elected representative or the unelected public servant? Hands up who knows what the politicians answer will be?

But in this case, the Government didn’t stuff up. Rudd and Swan were exonerated

And Treasury was not accused of trying to “discredit” the Minister.

Not Treasury, Grech.

if GG had concerns as to the propriety of the ozcars fund, or its use or misuse, or the way its processes and procedures were being applied, he should have gone immediately to his superior, and to his secretary, if necessary.

if he remained disatisfied after that, he should have gone to the federal police.

the last thing to do is to go running to a politician, of whatever persuasion, or to a newspaper (especially one without a shred of morality like the australian).

the fact that he did none of these things show what a complete political set-up it was, involving GG, Grech and Turnbull, and newscrap.

and while on the media, isn’t it strange that not one question has been asked about newscrap’s central role in this, not even by Crikey.

not one old-fashioned column inch has appeared in the press and the electronic media has remained silent.

Even the abc, to its eternal shame, shame, shame.

That’s right, John, but I think highly enough of the valet at an expensive restaurant to let him park my car in the car park. I don’t expect him to go and fcuk it up by re-enacting a chase scene from The Matrix and returning me the keys to a charred shell.

So the doo-doo washes off, right? Nobody’s going to remember it in 12 months huh? So why exactly was using Mark Latham’s past an effective tactic, or 12 years of Rodentus and Captain Smirk reminding us of Hawke and Keating. Even now your lot love to compare Rudd to Whitlam.

Labor won’t use this in advertising in the leadup to the election because “it won’t be a big issue?” Mate, this is the country where 4 million people watched an Asian artist and a Gosford housewife bake a chocolate cake, for God’s sake. You’re overestimating the intelligence of the people whose votes hold the keys to The Lodge.

So let me declare, that Anna Bligh will be the first Queensland leader ever that I will be happy to vote for — if given the chance next time. (I was o/s during the Goss period and in fact Bjelke-P was a big part of the reason for quitting this state/country.) She is probably not too popular amongst her party apparatchiks because it seems like she is actually trying to drag these neanderthal old-boys into the modern age after another decade of flimflam from Beattie. She put fluoride in water (there are still bumper stickers claiming it is all a communist plot — and they are not joking), removed the utterly absurd fuel subsidy, and proposed (earlier this year before the current stoush) restricting the ability of ex-politicians to monetize their influence and I believe, in time, would create much better governance in this state with banana republic tendencies.