Goodbye Bronwyn

[Rod]

Nobody makes a mention of Chris Bowen

 

[Rod]

let he is innocent caste the first stone

 

[TheWiggman]

The main issue here is that she has been 'out of touch' for far too long. She's a long-term politician, of course she would think she's entitled to these things. In the early days it would be a taxi to and from venues, occasional private group vehicle for organised events and tea and scones during lunch meetings. Further down the line the scones because main courses, the tea becomes wine and the line between what's fair and reasonable broadens to one's own perspective on their input to their party. After spending >25 years in office getting paid for by the taxpayer the corporate card would simply be considered part of the salary in her eyes. Nay, the eyes of most of those in office and particularly those lining the front benches. From my media-driven perspective on all this BB hasn't managed to recognise that she is in fact 'out of touch' with the commoners and how much some people in this country value a dollar. She's not working for a private company making huge profits, she's working for the Australian Government for a country in deficit. While ever there are people out there who want to work but can't, some discretion is in order.
If she can't recognise that there needs to be discretion then this has nothing to do with 'the system'. Time to go. You would have to question general attitude towards spending across the board, not just on personal business.

Barnaby Joyce made a fair comment - "In this game you start throwing rocks and there won't be a person left in the Parliament because everyone will have some issue somewhere in the past that is difficult to explain."
Hopefully there aren't too many chopper bookings. I can imagine there have been a lot of nervous politicians covering tracks over the past few weeks.

 

[technobabble66]

@Tropico:
Then you would question it??

Have you read her achievements in parliament? - almost all are highlights of embarrassment. There's not really anything that would be deemed a benefit to the people she was voted to represent:

She advocated cigarette advertising while Shadow Minister for Health - on her first day in office! Was removed from office shortly afterwards.
Was the Minister for Aged Care from 1998-2001. During 2000 it was revealed residents in a NSW facility were bathed in kerosene to treat scabies. This led to an outcry over the standards of care maintained by her department. Was removed from office shortly afterwards.
Became Speaker of the House of Representatives in Nov, 2013. Unlike previous Speakers, openly advocated for government policy and showed substantial bias in her management of the House. During her term she ejected 393 Labor MPs from the House, but only 7 LNP MPs. Found to have made dubious claims of expenses. Was removed from office shortly afterwards.
A pattern??

Other highlights:
2005 - called for headscarves to be banned in schools, saying "in most cases the headscarf is being worn as a sign of defiance and difference between non-Muslim and Muslim students" whereas "does not believe that a ban on the Jewish skull cap is necessary, because people of the Jewish faith have not used the skull cap as a way of campaigning against the Australian culture, laws and way of life." Even John Howard didn't back this one. (though Sophie Mirabella did - another great MP of the community!).
2006 - headed a Standing Committee on Family and Human Services whose report that advocated the mandatory adoption of children under 5 years old of parents known to use drugs. Heavily criticised by a range of organisations. Report recommendations were not adopted.
2006 - sought to make burning or mutilation of the aussie flag a criminal offence. Read once in Parliament then quietly ignored.

I honestly couldn't find anything positive on record to offset all the stuff mentioned above. Longest serving female MP (28yrs), and what the hell has she done for the betterment of the Australian people??
Happy to be corrected, but it's a pretty poor record.
Glad to be rid of her.

Now, they/we just need to fix the system that allows MPs to make these dubious claims. Why isn't it treated just like the ATO does to tax? - a team of accountants filter all claims and simply say what is appropriate and what isn't.
Clearly a system based on the moral & ethical standards of MPs is/has/will be abused by some unscrupulous MPs who lack a sufficient code of ethics.


I love the entry some scallywag put into the opening paragraph on Bronwyn Bishop in Wikipedia, which i assume will soon be edited out for obvious reasons:
"Bron Perignon finally "fell on her rotor blade" and resigned after weeks of turbulence."

 

[technobabble66]

Nobody makes a mention of Chris Bowen

That he's atheist and doesn't believe in God or Tony Abbott?

h34r: :lol:

 

[Ducatiboy stu]

Maybe if the pollies had to pay the expense up front out of their own pocket, ( like happens in private business) then claim it back latter it might stop the roting

 

[Weizguy]

My concern is how will we make her accountable for, and make her repay, when she's unemployed?

Let's get ALL that money back!

Happy for her to continue in the job, just not doing a job on the taxpayer.

 

[sponge]

My concern is how will we make her accountable for, and make her repay, when she's unemployed?

Let's get ALL that money back!

Happy for her to continue in the job, just not doing a job on the taxpayer.

I'm sure the polly-pension would sufficiently cover those costs.. and still be able to live a life of luxury.

 

[madpierre06]

Her greatest achievement - Tony Abbott's mentor. What a legacy!

 

[Tropico]

I honestly couldn't find anything positive on record to offset all the stuff mentioned above. Longest serving female MP (28yrs), and what the hell has she done for the betterment of the Australian people??

Totally agree.

Apparently she is very good at raising funds for the Liberal party, and without her vote and the votes of 2 of her cronies she controls, Tony Abbott would probably not be the leader of the Party or PM.

 

[Ducatiboy stu]

My concern is how will we make her accountable for, and make her repay, when she's unemployed?

I wonder if they will make her wait 6 months without payments like what they have in mind for the "lower" class

 

[Dave70]

Never mind.
I'm sure Bronnie will console herself with her commonwealth Gold card and 100k + pension.

 

[mwd]

She is at least six years over the retirement age anyways now time to go out to grass and use up all those frequent flyer points.

My guess would be Philip Ruddock for next speaker another old codger with nothing to do.

 

[Dave70]

I bet she could get some nice luggage or a four burner BBQ with those points.

 

[Ducatiboy stu]

She might buy a WW

 

[Rod]

That he's atheist and doesn't believe in God or Tony Abbott?

h34r: :lol:

not that , he too was found to be in the entitlement allowance and paid back the money for a family trip

 

[wobbly]

She might buy a WW

Hmmm

Decisions, decisions to bite or not that's the question

Wobbly

 

[Ducatiboy stu]

Hmmm

Decisions, decisions to bite or not that's the question

Wobbly

Will trow in free delivery by helicopter B)

 

[GrumpyPaul]

My guess would be Philip Ruddock for next speaker another old codger with nothing to do.

Arrogant miserable old Cnut.

Was involved a few years back in launching some centres that he was "ribbon cutting" we did 4 in one day.

Met him at the first, was introduced by name "here's Paul - he's coordinating our launches today" shook my hand and all. Chatted briefly for a bit.

An hour and a half later at the next opening - he had no idea who I was. Asked me who I was and where from - I politely remind him we met this morning.

This happened all four times - prick will shake your hand look you in the eye and still pay you know attention. It's like talking into a vacuum.

 

[sponge]

I often find vacuums to have a better personality.