[Peetwo]

ScoMo/Mick Mack Govt pork barrels & rorts - cont/-



A podcast from 'New Politics' well worth the 2 coffees to listen to: https://soundcloud.com/newpoliticsaustra...-political 

The New Year Of Political Corruption And Solutions For Parliamentary Reform

February 12, 2020 NPA News Podcasts



Listen to our latest podcast! The contents:

Another year, another round of political corruption to deal with. Scott Morrison claimed “a miracle” caused him to win the 2019 election but, as with most claims of divine intervention, that old human frailty of vice and corruption proved to be the real answer. The Liberal–National Government had a cash splash fund of almost $500 million dollars to throw at marginal and Coalition-held seats – funding programs that had no guidelines, no application forms, little oversight, and a rorting scheme that Vladimir Putin could be proud of.

And if that wasn’t enough, the Australian Federal Police dropped the forgery case against Angus Taylor: nothing to see here, please move along. It’s obvious the Liberal–National Government is too close to the AFP – the AFP investigates the issues that are favourable to the government, but ignores the issues that are unfavourable to the government. It’s not the way an open and democratic system should operate, and trust in government is plummeting even further.

So what can be done about this? We commence our series on solutions to a sick democracy, and make suggestions for how to improve accountability in the parliament: an independent speaker and ditching the Dorothy Dix questions. That would be a good start.

Ref: https://auntypru.com/sbg-27-10-19-the-bu...bull-dust/

Ref: Wikipedia - Pork Barrel.

Senator CORMANN: Thank you very much, Mr Acting Deputy President. As I have indicated, this is a document that was prepared for the consideration of the public governance committee of the cabinet, which is part of the deliberative processes of cabinet. As is well recognised in the Westminster system, it is in the public interest to preserve the confidentiality of cabinet deliberations to ensure the best possible decisions are made following thorough consideration and discussion of relevant proposals within cabinet. Disclosure of the document subject to the motion is not in the public interest, as it would reveal, and therefore harm, cabinet deliberations.

However, as I did also note in my letter, the report was the subject of a press conference from the Prime Minister on 2 February 2020, which is on the public record. Further, Mr Gaetjens has advised the Prime Minister that he intends to make a public statement in due course; in fact, I understand that he will have the opportunity to appear in front of the select committee established by the Senate to inquire into these matters.

(P2 comment: From OBS of the whole debate the whole body language and demeanour when Senator Cormann issued this bollocks statement and then scurries off speaks volumes IMO..  )

From Parlview  (via Youtube) Sen Jacqui Lambie in reply...  

 

...I find it very shameful. What a sorry, sorry affair this is, and what a poor show from our government. Australians deserve an explanation. You can tell us whatever rot you want to in here. This is why there is no trust from the Australian people. Senator McKenzie stepped down because she had not declared her membership of a shooting club that received $36,000 under the Community Sport Infrastructure Grants Program to pay for new toilets. The government still maintains that she didn't do anything wrong in targeting the sports funding to marginal electorates that the coalition wanted to win in the 2019 election.

It was the right thing for Senator McKenzie to resign—well, better late than never! I said within 12 hours she had to go, and I had no problem in texting her and telling her that either. Her behaviour was disgraceful. But, by pinning her resignation on a conflict of interest, the government are trying to pretend that using taxpayers' money to bolster their re-election campaign is acceptable behaviour. They're saying that pork barrelling is acceptable behaviour. They're saying that using a supposedly independent $100 million grant scheme as a slush fund is, once again, acceptable political behaviour. They're telling us that they don't see a problem with using a spreadsheet colour-coded by electorate to overrule the independent advice of Sport Australia. They don't see any issue with the fact that worthy projects missed out on funding because they weren't in electorates that the coalition needed to win and knew they did haven't the numbers to win...

Also from Sic'em'Rex:

...To inform us in relation to that fact, we have to go to some of the statements made by the Prime Minister when he announced that this document was being formed. He basically stated that he had asked the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet for advice in relation to any action in the application of the statement of ministerial standards. The Prime Minister is awaiting the secretary's advice and will continue to follow due process. That's what the Prime Minister indicated. There is nothing in there that says this was for cabinet. I will read from section 109 of the latest version of the Cabinet Handbook to give a feel of how important this dominant purpose is. It says:

If an attachment or supporting document has been brought into existence for the dominant purpose of submission for consideration by the Cabinet, then the attachment or supporting document must clearly state this. This ensures each document is appropriately identified as a Cabinet document and handled in line with the security requirements for Cabinet material.

I would like the government to return to this chamber some evidence—because we're dealing with a question of fact—that this document was intended at birth to be a cabinet submission. That should be very easy. If, indeed, there is no evidence of that then they must table the document.

I've FOIed this. I've been through the FOI process before and I have managed to have released to me documents that were purportedly cabinet documents. I know this space really well. As I said, I have FOIed this document. Won't it be a shame, when I get to the end of the two-years the process is likely to take me, if it's revealed to me that Mr Rex Patrick can get it, under FOI, but the Senate couldn't? We'll see how that pans out...

Here is a link for the Hansard: Report on Ministerial Standards and Sports Grants

While on barrels of Pork and political rorting; I note the following extensive PDF document from RRAT Supp Estimates and provided by Mick Mack's Dept in regards to questioning from Sen Sterle: 

Ms Pip Spence PSM, Secretary, Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Cities and Regional Development 

Responses to questions from Senator Glenn Sterle 21/10/19 (PDF 13.7MB)

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There follows 61 tabled pages of absolutely staggering amounts (billions of dollars) of government expenditure into regional grants and community funding which I'm sure is mostly above board and genuine. However after the ongoing ScoMo Govt sports rorts imbroglio you do wonder??? 

Ref: #SBG 19/01/20 – As the man with a wooden leg said;



MTF...P2