Abbott/Liberal Govt Watch

[Magellan]

Barnaby "sanctity of marriage" Joyce knocks up a junior staffer and his buddy Mal creates her a $200K p.a. job and nobody bats an eyelid.

His speech in Parliament last year about marriage being between a man and woman for the purposes of procreating really makes him look completely daft now.

I agree with Nikki Savva's views on Insiders this morning that his career's pretty much rooted - a catholic man with conservative values representing conservative voters with a knocked-up girlfriend on one hand and a pissed off wife and kids on the other is pretty much unsustainable. Especially if some travel rort stuff comes to light.

Shorten and Burke are very quiet

I'd say standing back and watching the destruction is a good play to pull from the play book, unless you're insinuating they too have something to hide.

I agree. The odds are someone in Labor is or has knocked boots with someone intra-officially, and so it's best not to fan the flames. Anyway, if there is 'shenanigans afoot' (that's the official term, as I understand it) on Labor's side then you can bet it'll come out eventually and land with a thud - probably a bit like Barnaby's expectant child.

[am Bays]

Shorten and Burke are very quiet

I'd say standing back and watching the destruction is a good play to pull from the play book, unless you're insinuating they too have something to hide.

I agree. The odds are someone in Labor is or has knocked boots with someone intra-officially, and so it's best not to fan the flames. Anyway, if there is 'shenanigans afoot' (that's the official term, as I understand it) on Labor's side then you can bet it'll come out eventually and land with a thud - probably a bit like Barnaby's expectant child.

Nah it's already out re Burke:

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/expenses-burkes-world-tour-with-staffer-who-became-his-partner/news-story/63c362dc4a0ebe95a625f2f9b5fd47c7

The Labor caucus is very aware of the term "people in glass houses...."

This is a situation where there are no winners, not the individuals, the families or our political institutions

[Q.]

The list is long re. pollies who have had or are having affairs, and TBH, it's probably none of our business.

The unadvertised $200K job is news though, and heads will roll for it.

[Q.]

His daughters took to the streets shouting the news from a megaphone

wow. so it was the media leaving it alone then? that is honestly surprising. they usually love a "bad news" story...

on that note, i do always find it amusing how both sides claim bias in the media against them. guess this is a prime example of the media being firmly in the liberals camp, on this story at least.

The bigger question is, why is Murdoch going hard at Joyce & Turnbull now. Think you'll find it's about positioning Dutton as king.

[Booney]

The list is long re. pollies who have had or are having affairs, and TBH, it's probably none of our business.

The unadvertised $200K job is news though, and heads will roll for it.

Agreed, but not entirely.

As a public servant if you're spending your day lusting over* the secretary and not doing your job as it should then it is our business, if it's resulted in the object of that lusting gaining employment advantages through the relationship then it most certainly is our business.

If it's a proponent of the sanctity of marriage who is knobbing someone other than his wife into a period of gestation then it's as comical as it is sad for his family.

We're all missing the point though, how the **** is Barnaby pulling anything?

[tigerpie]

Anointing Dutton as king? That's hysterical!

[Q.]

Anointing Dutton as king? That's hysterical!

watch this space

[Magellan]

His daughters took to the streets shouting the news from a megaphone

wow. so it was the media leaving it alone then? that is honestly surprising. they usually love a "bad news" story...

on that note, i do always find it amusing how both sides claim bias in the media against them. guess this is a prime example of the media being firmly in the liberals camp, on this story at least.

The bigger question is, why is Murdoch going hard at Joyce & Turnbull now. Think you'll find it's about positioning Dutton as king.

Whilst I don't doubt Murdoch's power to get what he wants, what's in it for him to have Dutton as PM?

[tigerpie]

Murdoch's hand would be a snug fit.

[Magellan]

Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce charged taxpayers to spend 50 nights in Canberra when Parliament was not sitting in the first nine months of 2017 - more than any other Turnbull government cabinet minister. Coincidentally, Canberra is also where his new lady friend lived.

[bulldogproud]

Nah it's already out re Burke:

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/expenses-burkes-world-tour-with-staffer-who-became-his-partner/news-story/63c362dc4a0ebe95a625f2f9b5fd47c7

The Labor caucus is very aware of the term "people in glass houses...."

This is a situation where there are no winners, not the individuals, the families or our political institutions

However, the Australian and New Corp had to later apologise to Tony Burke and retract that article:

'News.com.au acknowledges that any such allegation is false and apologises to Mr Burke and Ms Laris for the hurt and embarrassment caused by the article.'

[morell]

The list is long re. pollies who have had or are having affairs, and TBH, it's probably none of our business.

The unadvertised $200K job is news though, and heads will roll for it.

For me its the abject hypocrisy. You can't claim on one hand some sort of moral high ground and be a protector of the sanctity of marriage, and then bang your subordinate behind your wife's back.

If he was a slightly more, shall we say a laissez faire type operator, it would be forgivable.

But nah, "you you and you can't do that, but oh, *i* can"

[Magellan]

The list is long re. pollies who have had or are having affairs, and TBH, it's probably none of our business.

The unadvertised $200K job is news though, and heads will roll for it.

For me its the abject hypocrisy. You can't claim on one hand some sort of moral high ground and be a protector of the sanctity of marriage, and then bang your subordinate behind your wife's back.

If he was a slightly more, shall we say a laissez faire type operator, it would be forgivable.

But nah, "you you and you can't do that, but oh, *i* can"

Correct, it's a matter for those Nationals voters who support him and adopt the same moral code that he (supposedly) does. Lying in terms of policy positions is one thing, but lying in terms of what you believe in and your moral standards is another which goes to character. It might not matter for some small time backbencher, but it becomes a lot more significant when the guy's about the step into the prime ministership next week.

Plus any travel and slush fund rules that may or may not have been broken.

[tipper]

lol

http://www.betootaadvocate.com/headline ... -marriage/

"“I mean, why isn’t anyone considering the children they’ve brought into this world who are now going to have to grow up without a mum or dad… because one of them had to move out because they couldn’t go without rooting a staffer”

“This kind of attitude towards marriage carries drastic consequences beneath the surface. Soon they’ll be teaching them to have extra-marital affairs in school!”

[Dogwatcher]

Did Barnaby buy Vikki a Valentine's Day present?

[bulldogproud]

Did Barnaby buy Vikki a Valentine's Day present?

He did last year... although apparently no one (including themselves) knew they were a couple!!!

[bulldogproud]

I find it interesting that Matt Canavan denies having known that Barnaby and Ms Campion were in a relationship until recently... despite them both being present (as a couple) at Matt's child's baptism in January 2017.

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/imag ... nALedjJj2q

[Magellan]

Did Barnaby buy Vikki a Valentine's Day present?

He did last year... although apparently no one (including themselves) knew they were a couple!!!

There's a very grey series of lines that separate office affairs, **** buddies, partners, and parents-to-be. Sounds like Barnaby and Vikki have managed to tick all four boxes.

[Psyber]

Joyce's affair itself is relevant outside his immediate family only in how it affects his constituents support for him in his electorate.
The members of that electorate will decide that at the next election or during pre-selection - otherwise it is a private matter.

Whether he fiddled government funds to stay with his girlfriend in Canberra or did a deal to get her a highly paid government job without due process is relevant to all of us and is a public issue...

[bulldogproud]

Joyce's affair itself is relevant outside his immediate family only in how it affects his constituents support for him in his electorate.
The members of that electorate will decide that at the next election or during pre-selection - otherwise it is a private matter.

Whether he fiddled government funds to stay with his girlfriend in Canberra or did a deal to get her a highly paid government job without due process is relevant to all of us and is a public issue...

Very much so, and if Matt Canavan appointed her to a position in his office despite knowing she was Barnaby Joyce's partner, then Matt Canavan has broken Ministerial Guidelines and should also be made to relinquish his position. I can't see how, when Mr Joyce came to his baby's christening with M Campion rather than Mrs Joyce, Mr Canavan can claim ignorance of the affair.
Cheers