Labor - The Bad, The Ugly and the occasional Good.

[stui magpie]

^
Absolutely it's hypocrisy, the thing is they all do it to degrees and they're all in love with their "Entitlements".

I've read of several pollies over the years, on all sides, when called out on spending or claiming expenses, their defence is that "they're entitled to it".

Just because policy allows you to claim something, and your claim might be within the policy, doesn't make it right. They're all a bunch of self entitled wankers and Albo is rapidly becoming the king. If I hear him bust out his growing up in a housing commission flat with a disabled single mum spiel one more time he deserves to be put on one of those C17's and dropped in Bass Strait.

[Culprit]

Entitlements are part of many jobs. As long as you declare it and be upfront it's legitimate. Albo declared everything and everyone's pissed because he got the upgrades. He buys a house and everyone's pissed because he can. He earns $600k and buys a 5 million dollar house and everyone is up in arms. If I was earning that much I would be doing the same. I am going to buy a new car cause I can but heaven forbid people find out as there's a so-called "cost of living" crisis. We have a lot of lazy people who are simply jealous of anyone who earns and has more than they do. I get it; the media lap it up, which is their bread and butter. One only has to switch to MSM to listen to or watch the rubbish they put up. As far as I am concerned the PM is paid unders if you compare what the CEO's of Major banks are earning and the benefits they receive. Will this rubbish make people vote for Dutton? I doubt it very much.

I know what will happen. The Liberals will be exposed for doing the same thing, and we will go to "Nothing to see here," and the media will switch to something else. The same happened with his house purchase. That's moved on, as many Liberals have even larger portfolios in houses and shares. It's laughable and very predictable.

What are the chances of a Fed Labor Government and all the States being Liberal Governments? I have been around long enough to see that play out.

[Durka]

Entitlements are part of many jobs. As long as you declare it and be upfront it's legitimate. Albo declared everything and everyone's pissed because he got the upgrades. He buys a house and everyone's pissed because he can. He earns $600k and buys a 5 million dollar house and everyone is up in arms. If I was earning that much I would be doing the same. I am going to buy a new car cause I can but heaven forbid people find out as there's a so-called "cost of living" crisis. We have a lot of lazy people who are simply jealous of anyone who earns and has more than they do. I get it; the media lap it up, which is their bread and butter. One only has to switch to MSM to listen to or watch the rubbish they put up. As far as I am concerned the PM is paid unders if you compare what the CEO's of Major banks are earning and the benefits they receive. Will this rubbish make people vote for Dutton? I doubt it very much.

I know what will happen. The Liberals will be exposed for doing the same thing, and we will go to "Nothing to see here," and the media will switch to something else. The same happened with his house purchase. That's moved on, as many Liberals have even larger portfolios in houses and shares. It's laughable and very predictable.

What are the chances of a Fed Labor Government and all the States being Liberal Governments? I have been around long enough to see that play out.

I don't care about the house he bought, that's no one else's business but his.I agree with your comments about that. But, I think that you have missed the point of the whole discussion about what Albanese did with Qantas.
He was Transport Minister.
Then he was PM.
During that time he rang Joyce at Qantas on many occasions and asked (demanded?) for upgrades to first class.This was for private travel, not official business. He was given those upgrades, valued at tens of thousands of dollars.
His partner was also given those upgrades.
His son was also made a member of the Qantas Club, free of charge.
These things weren't entitlements.
They were requested/demanded.
If we were in a third world country, the word extorted may be used.
What makes it even worse is that when a rival carrier sought permission to add 25 trips per week to Australia (I think that was the number), it was rejected by Albo and the new Transport Minister, without even going to cabinet, as it was in the "national interest" to reject it. This was despite it being government policy to promote competition in trade and commerce, and the extra flights would have led to lower prices for passengers.
A cynical person may think that Albo was repaying the tens of thousands of dollars that he squeezed out of Qantas.
Or that Qantas was calling in a debt that he owed.
Quid pro quo.
There's a very good reason why Tony Abbott did not engage in this type of conduct.
Albo's just another pig with his snout in the trough and its become public.
He's in trouble.

[Culprit]

Will it change the way people vote? I say no, you vote Liberal and this adds to your agenda. That's politics and nothing ever changes.

And surprise surprise we have the hypocrisy exposed. Even Murdoch jumps on it https://www.news.com.au/national/politi ... 241bf292f0

Who accepted upgrades https://www.theage.com.au/politics/fede ... 5kmlh.html
Get ready for this to go quiet, glass house and stones.

[SLORT]

Albo's just another pig with his snout in the trough and its become public.
He's in trouble.

Maybe he would be...except the other side wants us to vote for a Sontaran...

The biggest threat for us then will be when Trump opens the files on UFO's and a picture of Dutton in full battle armor hits the interwebs. They may end up having to nuke us, just in case.

[David]

He was Transport Minister.
Then he was PM.
During that time he rang Joyce at Qantas on many occasions and asked (demanded?) for upgrades to first class.This was for private travel, not official business. He was given those upgrades, valued at tens of thousands of dollars.
His partner was also given those upgrades.
His son was also made a member of the Qantas Club, free of charge.
These things weren't entitlements.
They were requested/demanded.
If we were in a third world country, the word extorted may be used.
What makes it even worse is that when a rival carrier sought permission to add 25 trips per week to Australia (I think that was the number), it was rejected by Albo and the new Transport Minister, without even going to cabinet, as it was in the "national interest" to reject it. This was despite it being government policy to promote competition in trade and commerce, and the extra flights would have led to lower prices for passengers.
A cynical person may think that Albo was repaying the tens of thousands of dollars that he squeezed out of Qantas.
Or that Qantas was calling in a debt that he owed.
Quid pro quo.

Agreed. It's why political donations and gifts are inherently corrupting to democracy. The potential conflict of interest is significant, and the link you've identified absolutely needs to be investigated further:

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-n ... ic-support

Al Baker’s criticism comes days before a Senate committee holds public hearings to investigate why Qatar’s request for extra flights was blocked, given the lack of competition in the aviation industry.

Qantas former chief executive, Alan Joyce, has claimed that allowing Qatar the extra capacity would “distort” the local aviation market.

The chair of the inquiry, Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie, has criticised the transport minister, Catherine King, for refusing to provide it with documents related to the Qatar decision.

“There is a public interest in not disclosing such discussions so the government’s negotiations over air services agreements with a range of countries can continue unimpeded,” King said last week.

McKenzie has accused the federal government of having a “cosy, personal and political relationship” with Qantas.

[Durka]

Will it change the way people vote? I say no, you vote Liberal and this adds to your agenda. That's politics and nothing ever changes.

And surprise surprise we have the hypocrisy exposed. Even Murdoch jumps on it https://www.news.com.au/national/politi ... 241bf292f0

Who accepted upgrades https://www.theage.com.au/politics/fede ... 5kmlh.html
Get ready for this to go quiet, glass house and stones.

No politician should be trusted, but that game is about perception.
I think that Albo is done on that score, and that his party will see him us being untenable and be worried about what will occur at the next election.
There will be those within that fancy replacing him anyway but will use this to their own advantage.
Let's just see whether he is permanently living in his retirement beach house before the next election is held.

It was Barry O'Farrell that was forced to resign as NSW Premier for not declaring the receipt of a $3k bottle of wine. How much was Albo's son's undeclared Qantas Chairman's Club inclusion worth?

[Culprit]

As I predicted (it's not that hard), the "Do as I say, not as I Do" LNP is backtracking at a rate of knots. Bridget McKenzie now openly states, " Gifts don't automatically mean you have to give something in return." That's code for "Nothing to see here."
The focus now goes to Penny Wong for buying a million-dollar property. There is no need to make this shit up, it's very predictable. All those who threw stones in their glass houses are also covered in glass. Hey Gina can we use your million-dollar plane?, it's all above board as the tax payers save money. WTAF? lmao

[stui magpie]

^
All politicians should fly economy on official business and should be banned from accepting upgrades on both official and personal flights unless they pay for it themselves using cash or points.

The whole culture that taking freebies is fine as long as you declare it, is rotten and bullshit.

I don't care about what kind of house they buy, they're actually paying for that.

[Culprit]

I feel it should be business class. I get to fly it for work as should Politicians. There should be no upgrade that's the standard. I wouldn't wish cattle class on anyone, not even Peter Dutton. I will fly cattle class from Sydney or Canberra to Melb or Tasmania but that's tolerable.

[stui magpie]

^
Nah, I used to have to fly a lot when I worked for Telstra, always economy and I'm a fair bit taller than you.

I could live with ministers and shadow ministers getting business class on flights longer than an hour if on official business, but no upgrades unless they pay themselves, especially on personal flights.

[Culprit]

Yep, personal flights should be out of their own pockets. All MPs should have to undergo vetting like all APS, ADF, and Defence Contractors have to undergo. The reason they don't as many simply wouldn't pass.

[What'sinaname]

^
Nah, I used to have to fly a lot when I worked for Telstra, always economy and I'm a fair bit taller than you.

I could live with ministers and shadow ministers getting business class on flights longer than an hour if on official business, but no upgrades unless they pay themselves, especially on personal flights.

I thought the idea was no-one was paying for the upgrade. If they are offered an upgrade, there is no cost.

[stui magpie]

^
Being offered an upgrade is being offered a gift, of influence, to the value of thousands of dollars. That is clearly a potential conflict of interest and should not be able to be accepted.

[David]

I'd love to know Albanese's (and other politicans') thinking when these upgrades are offered: is it something like "Ooh, it's my lucky day! Well, would be a shame to say no and let it go to waste", or "Yes, this is what I'm entitled to and deserve"?

I suspect most of them must really think they have a right to it.