(Miscellaneous debris)

[Sojourner]

All political parties do that after a second or third term psyber, when they are in oppostion they generally come crawling back to the branch members looking for support, the same people once there elected they no longer care less about except to throw them the odd bone occassionally if the party room is in agreement over the issue.

[fish]

No comments on the topic Psybes - don't think there will be many on this story either

http://www.news.com.au/national/labors- ... 6116381753

Yeah this bloke needs to keep his head down - the last thing Labor needs is a by-election!

[Gozu]

No comments on the topic Psybes - don't think there will be many on this story either

http://www.news.com.au/national/labors- ... 6116381753

Yeah this bloke needs to keep his head down - the last thing Labor needs is a by-election!

If he had have used taxpayers money to buy the hookers, sure. As I understand it wasn't so therefore a massive beat up by the Libs and their media shills.

[The Sleeping Giant]

Oh dear. It's nice to have friends in high places.

[scoob]

No comments on the topic Psybes - don't think there will be many on this story either

http://www.news.com.au/national/labors- ... 6116381753

Yeah this bloke needs to keep his head down - the last thing Labor needs is a by-election!

If he had have used taxpayers money to buy the hookers, sure. As I understand it wasn't so therefore a massive beat up by the Libs and their media shills.

So it's acceptable to use workers union fees on hookers? I'm sure the hard working members of the union would disagree - certainly not the type of character I would like to be representing my electorate. That doesn't take into account that the Labor party had to bail him to prevent him from bankrupancy. Yeah a massive beat up.

[The Sleeping Giant]

Amazing that this issue isn't being discussed. Could bring down a government. More allegations today. Phone calls from Thompson's hotel room. Big cash withdrawals on business credit card.

[Bat Pad]

No comments on the topic Psybes - don't think there will be many on this story either

http://www.news.com.au/national/labors- ... 6116381753

Yeah this bloke needs to keep his head down - the last thing Labor needs is a by-election!

If he had have used taxpayers money to buy the hookers, sure. As I understand it wasn't so therefore a massive beat up by the Libs and their media shills.

Just union members fees, so yeah that's OK.

[redandblack]

The union hasn't lost any money. They owed him $190,000 in entitlements and it was all settled.

For him to lose his seat, he would have to be charged, found guilty and sentenced to at least 12 months prison.

It isn't going to happen.

I think it should, but since John Howard stopped sacking his Ministers for similar acts (remember Peter Reith's $50,000 phone bill he had to pay back when his son handed out his governemnt phone?), that standard of responsibility was trashed.

The only MP facing charges at the moment is a Liberal Senator for shoplifting and assault.

[scoob]

The union hasn't lost any money. They owed him $190,000 in entitlements and it was all settled.

For him to lose his seat, he would have to be charged, found guilty and sentenced to at least 12 months prison.

It isn't going to happen.

I think it should, but since John Howard stopped sacking his Ministers for similar acts (remember Peter Reith's $50,000 phone bill he had to pay back when his son handed out his governemnt phone?), that standard of responsibility was trashed.

The only MP facing charges at the moment is a Liberal Senator for shoplifting and assault.

Just because there is a precedent doesn't make it acceptable - just because OJ simpson got off doesn't make it acceptable to kill someone

[redandblack]

scoob, if you read my post, I said I agreed that he should face action if it's proven he's broken the law.

The rest of my post merely stated a political precedent as to why it won't happen.

[The Sleeping Giant]

I think I understand redandblack. Labor should do the right thing, if they can remain in government.

[am Bays]

Agree with R&B, he ain't going anywhere. Despite the ethical notion that he should political expediency will take precedence. Would happen the same if the other side of the political spectrum was holding a 1 seat majority.

[scoob]

So the Labor government approves of him using union credit card to pay prostitutes - here is a question - would the Labor party take action and force him to resign if they had clear majority and were in no danger to lose government?

[The Sleeping Giant]

Once again, it proves one party is no better or worse than the other.

[redandblack]

Probably, but for all the holier than thou pronouncements, under the same circumstances Tony Abbott might lose several (shall we say, colourful) members also.

As I also said, were any of you outraged when the Liberal Senator was charged with shoplifting and assault. I wasn't, I posted that I wasn't and my position is the same here.

[Sojourner]

So the Labor government approves of him using union credit card to pay prostitutes - here is a question - would the Labor party take action and force him to resign if they had clear majority and were in no danger to lose government?

Were the hookers from South Australia? If so then yes it would be illegal, yet if it happened in NSW then I am fairly certain its all been legalised, so there is no real legal issue for them to approve of or not?

[The Sleeping Giant]

I think it's more bizarre than anything. Although the senator does seem 2cents short of a dollar.

[scoob]

Probably, but for all the holier than thou pronouncements, under the same circumstances Tony Abbott might lose several (shall we say, colourful) members also.

As I also said, were any of you outraged when the Liberal Senator was charged with shoplifting and assault. I wasn't, I posted that I wasn't and my position is the same here.

So the government has a moral issue there then, do they take action and punish him for misusing fund on prositutes or do they take no action and not risk losing power... will be interesting to see how they play it.

Very fair point regarding both parties, but personally - I don't think any of these people should be representing the people of Australia - how can they be trusted with the concerns of their electorates when in some cases they can't even be trusted with a credit card?

[scoob]

So the Labor government approves of him using union credit card to pay prostitutes - here is a question - would the Labor party take action and force him to resign if they had clear majority and were in no danger to lose government?

Were the hookers from South Australia? If so then yes it would be illegal, yet if it happened in NSW then I am fairly certain its all been legalised, so there is no real legal issue for them to approve of or not?

Not a legal issue to be proved regarding the hookers - I'm sure there are many colourful stories to be told in the corridors of parliment - but an issue of misusing a union credit card to pay for them and maybe a moral issue and if they see him fit to represent the party and his electorate.

[redandblack]

It's already been sorted betwen him and the Union, so there's no issue there.

The police aren't interested and the Union haven't lost any money as he was owed entitlements.

I think the ALP should investiaget and discipline him if necessary, but as am Bays said, political expediency will prevail, as it has particularly since John Howard trashed the previous standards.