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NSW: more to do, but pulling in the wrong direction

David Penberthy

by David Penberthy

01 Sep 03:13pm

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Filed under: Kristina Keneally, Nsw Government, Nsw Labor, Paul Mcleay

62 comments

Yet another member of the NSW Government has hit the wall over dodgy behaviour. Ports Minister Paul McLeay, son of the factional hack Leo, has been sacked for whiling away time in his ministerial office looking at pornographic websites.

McLeay talks to some police. And no this isn't a caption contest.

You can’t really blame the bloke. If you were sitting on a primary vote of 25 per cent and facing imminent electoral death, you’ve got to pass the hours somehow. His appetites didn’t stop at nudie sites, he also had a bit of a thing for online gambling. But the punter has now been punted with Premier Kristina Keneally telling the freakshow also known as the NSW Parliament just now that she had sought and received his resignation.

There’s a great text message doing the rounds in Labor circles this afternoon which reads as follows. “This behaviour is not the stand I expect of a minister,” Ms Keneally said. Why??!!

Aside from inviting an unsavoury reworking of former Premier Morris Iemma’s inspired 2007 slogan “More to do but heading in the right direction”, McLeay’s departure suggests that it really is the last days of Rome on Macquarie Street, and probably confirms that there is no way this government can be saved ahead of the poll next May.

Almost exactly a year ago, we ran this piece on The Punch predicting the remaining 521 days of the NSW Government. It was intended as a joke but in hindsight maybe we should have toughened it up a bit.

As for slogans for 2011, the one platform Kristina Keneally can credibly run on is pity. “You think you’ve got problems” could make a handy catchcry for the deeply besieged premier. If you can think of any others, let it rip here.

Most commented

431Australia, you have nothing to fear but fear itself
390There's no one Thomson won't burn to save his skin
336Animal experiments won't cure me from cancer
313Thomson didn't answer the question everyone is asking
266Who murdered the Arts degree?
246A big day for Thomson, who thus far is guilty of nothing...
231South Australia. It's the middle bottom bit.
231Craig Thomson speaks. Meanwhile, in Australia...

62 comments

Show oldest | newest first

    • OODH says:

      03:57pm | 01/09/10

      is it okay to look at porn if you’ve already put in 12 hours for the mighty state of NSW? i mean, noone else is waiting to use the computer.

      Reply

    • Gerard says:

      08:51pm | 01/09/10

      Yes, it is…the problem is that this guy HASN’T put in 12 hours’ work for the public since he was elected three and a half years ago.

    • Phil says:

      11:33am | 02/09/10

      Wonder if they checked out all the sites for the past 10 years. I would imagine many of the NSW left side would have checked out Kens Karate Club web site.

      So we know if he was looking at straight or gay porn?

    • MarK says:

      04:07pm | 01/09/10

      Sigh…....

      Even when they are bludging our Labor guys are so stupid they get caught. Why can’t they use the back door to the gay sauna (no pun intended) or their own lappie on a wireless connection?

      Serious question and I can’t find the link but this will be something like the 193rd odd ministerial change in the Labor administration. It is something like that.

      Can anyone enlighten me with an actual figure?

      Hmmm 25% primary. Perhaps that is the upper end of the spectrum. We need Mr Green to tell us how many seats Labor will win with that vote state wide.

      Good to know Bitar who brought NSW this charming lot is now in charge federally. You have been warned.

      Reply

    • Steve says:

      10:12pm | 01/09/10

      As for the Tony (Howard mugs) I mean Battlers posts on here… they are all well and truly graduates of the Dumbing Down Of The Nation Programme. True to form the sensational journo to press the button the Pavlov’s dog syndrome comes straight into effect. Party songbook of quotes in hand and off we go no clue and no idea just keep pumping it out all that disinformation like true little graduates. Maybe if you look at the situation from another angle it may be said that premier Kristina Keneally showed the leadership required in this situation and something we have all wanted to see! As for the bigger picture on a federal level which is what everyone is trying to turn this state focus on to… very amusing really as you’re stuck in the misdirection of Tony and his boss man big Clive and indirectly yours now…. This was never about Tony and Julia and not so much about the new BIG TAX either graduate… the ETS holds much more at stake for these guys and their buddies over in the US of A. Three pieces of silver for Tony and his BIG NEW mortgage… Dumbing Down Of The Nation Programme congratulations folks you all passed and graduated. Remember 72% of the nation said yes Tony said NO then stabbed Malcolm in the back Julie kicked him in the head on the way past to get a latte and the rest was classic Dumbing Down Of The Nation Programme stuff well done anyway we could have been leaders ourselves and the world would have had to follow.

    • MarK says:

      07:55am | 02/09/10

      Awesome stuff Steve.

      So I perused the OP by Penbo again and here is what I found

      Mentions of Tony Abbott - nil
      Mentions of federal politics - nil
      Mentions of state federal comparisons - nil
      Mentions of Clive, shovels, mining, taxes, holes in the ground, ETS or anything relayed to WA or Qld - nil

      I fail to see your point.

      I do note, again with a huge sense of satisfaction, that John Howard continues to “scare” you some years after hi departure.

      There is probably a pill you could take for your condition. See you doctor if tangential arguments persist.

    • iansand says:

      04:09pm | 01/09/10

      They must be running out of people fit to be in Cabinet by now.

      Sorry.  Let me rephrase that.  None of them are fit to be in Cabinet.  Not otherwise disqualified from being in Cabinet, perhaps?

      Reply

    • TimB says:

      04:17pm | 01/09/10

      NSW Labor. More useless than a hung parliament.

      Reply

    • Nicole says:

      04:25pm | 01/09/10

      Geez Penbo, what else is the bloke supposed to do? What do you want him to do, work? Honestly, people expect far too much from our pollies. He’s got every right to sit on his ass, peruse a bit of porn, have a punt and collect his big, fat pay cheque. I just hope he can still get his big fat pension too!

      Reply

    • Seano says:

      04:28pm | 01/09/10

      If I did those things at work I’d not just lose my position I’d lose my job. Perhaps the same should apply to pollies?

      Looking forward to voting them out in NSW. That desire is somewhat tinged with concern that the replacements will not be of a high standard either. Still if Barry has some sensible policy and doesn’t have anything as outrageously stupid as Debnam’s “Try ten year olds as adults” then I’ll vote for the Libs. Otherwise I’ll look to the Dems or Greens.

      Reply

    • rRichard the Sane says:

      04:29pm | 01/09/10

      Call to the Premier’s cell phone ” Hi, I’t's Mark Arbib, I’m here to help”....

      Reply

    • Macca says:

      04:36pm | 01/09/10

      Only New slogan I can think of is “It can only get better”.

      Or, actually “10 years ago, NSW Labor brought you the Sydney Olympics, and unlike Jane Saville and Sally Robbins, we promise to finish this race”

      Reply

    • Diamantina Dick says:

      06:30pm | 01/09/10

      Actually Greiner/Fahey secured the Olympics..

    • Gerard says:

      09:36pm | 01/09/10

      During the Penrith by-election there were ALP signs with a picture of the puppet and the slogan “A new direction for NSW”. Presumably this means they are no longer heading in ‘the right direction’. Don’t know if they’re planning to use it in March- probably not, planning ahead isn’t really their thing.

      Maybe they could try the Sideshow Bob approach- something like “Barry O’Farrell has done nothing to stop Labor Party corruption. Would you risk him as premier? Vote ALP”.

    • Macca says:

      11:13am | 02/09/10

      Also Penbo, I would have preferred “NSW, more to do but Tugging in the right direction”...

      Also, @DD, that might be the case, but I guarantee we will see the NSW ALP celebrating the 10 year anniversary in the next few days

    • McCleays days are numbered says:

      04:39pm | 01/09/10

      McLeay out of cabinet… Hooray, now let’s get him out of the electorate. He is a complete dud, a gimp a non entity.The people of the heathcote electorate deserve a lot better than him. Roll on next election.

      Reply

    • BobM says:

      08:16pm | 01/09/10

      Someone must have voted for him…...

    • Gerard says:

      09:03pm | 01/09/10

      No, the people of Heathcote don’t deserve better. They were the ones who put him into power. They had twelve years to witness the limitless corruption and incompetence of the Labor Party, and voted for them anyway. The electorate as a whole is complicit in the destruction of this formerly-great state.

    • Mayday says:

      04:47pm | 01/09/10

      The ALP have already played out some of the final act of Julius Caesar with the knifing of Rudd by the faceless men, will we ever find out who played Brutus?
      Who will play Nero as Rome burns? 
      The results should be known by the 15th of March, 2011.

      Reply

    • dalma says:

      04:49pm | 01/09/10

      What a scoop - congrads. It isn’t the first time, nor the last that a Minister has been caught red handed. Recall the Minister who was filmed coming out of a male brothel ? The US born Premier should be used to this type of shenanigans.Imagine naked pole dancing on every street corner ? Hoe’s soliciting near schools for business ?
      Premier Kenally actually apologized for sacking her Minister because apparently he performed well in Parliament, and his after hours escapades was his own Business ? This time, her Minister took liberties to improve his eyesight, broaden his introspective outlook, and educate himself of the porn industry -all, mind you at taxpayers expense.

      Reply

    • m0nty says:

      05:48pm | 01/09/10

      @ dalma IIRC it was ACA, or The Daily Tele who were completely out of line in their stalking of that minister. If the Labor NSW Government are a low point in Australian politics, then that was the equally low point in Australian media. The public rebuttle against them was totally justified.

    • Gerard says:

      09:12pm | 01/09/10

      Monty, Campbell was an absolute waste of space. It was the puppet’s responsibility to get rid of him, and Campbell’s responsibilty to resign from cabinet. Neither acted in the public interest. Someone had to force their hand. If they had done the right thing in the first place, the whole thing would never have happened.

    • Galoot says:

      04:56pm | 01/09/10

      NSW Labor: “We fully support the NBN” (Faster broadband = faster porn!)

      Reply

    • Bob H says:

      05:17pm | 01/09/10

      I don’t think he needed to be caught watching porn to be outed as a prize w@nker, being part of NSW labor was sufficient.

      Reply

    • Against the Man says:

      05:23pm | 01/09/10

      Well at we have a Labor dude doing something rather than the usual nothing. State/Federal ALP motto: Wastage and pointlessness keep getting us elected!

      Reply

    • Carl Palmer says:

      05:38pm | 01/09/10

      I think the picture says it all. Is the police officer addressing the female or male officers?

      Reply

    • TheRealDave says:

      10:30am | 02/09/10

      I think the picture does say it all. Remember when all coppers in uniform were built like the bloke in the white shirt? And now we have the pantheon of whimps like all those in uniform in the picture who look like they couldn’t throw a punch if their life depended on it. Its no wonder police are loosing control of the streets to thugs when PC crap has lowered the standards of those in uniform so any 5’4 inch shiela or bloke built like a racing whippet are out there on the streets.

      Bring back the ‘Force’ and less emphasis on ‘Service’.

    • Matt says:

      06:06pm | 01/09/10

      For a party opposed to the hereditary principle, the ALP are big supporters of it when it comes to placing their own offspring in positions of power!

      I am sure the likes of McLeay see a place in a safe ALP seat as their birthright - no wonder they have little respect for the position.

      Reply

    • Zeta says:

      06:17pm | 01/09/10

      I’m the first person to smash the NSW ALP when they cock up, which they do every other day - but you know what? This is bulls***. The guy looked up porn on his work computer. He used gambling websites. WhoTF cares?

      Did it make him a worse Minister? We’ll never know. They’re all so bad it’s imposible to establish just what the catalyst for their incompetence really is.

      What about all the MPs and staff who use Centrebet to place bets on the election or just check some of the nation’s best polling data? Why aren’t they walking? Because last time I checked online gambling isn’t illegal, in fact, the ALP takes large sums of money from companies like BetFair because they made it legal.

      And so long as it isn’t child pornography, bestiality, violently non-consensual or depicting urine or feces, then he isn’t breaking any laws looking at porn either.

      And don’t give the tired old line about ‘oh, he used a taxpayer’s resource’ in your shrill, holier than though tone. What about the countless hours public servants waste on Facebook, Twitter and Youtube? How is that any different? My Twitter account is clogged with politicians using what is basically a social entertainment medium - why aren’t they resigning?

      Porn is a legitimate form of entertainment. If people don’t like it, they don’t need to look at it.

      McLeay is a coward. He should have stood his ground and said, ‘yeah, I look at porn. Porn is awesome. It depicts attractive men and women in sexual situations I do not personally participate in and allows me to live vicariously through their sexual adventures.’ He should have said ‘Gambling is an exciting and legal activity that reaps millions of dollars of tax revenue in this state and I find it quite exhilarating to lose my money from the comfort of my home / office, instead of having to travel to a dodgy RSL or Leagues Club.’ 

      Because it’s none of our buisness. Even if he is a Minister. Because in NSW, Ministers are just idiots who warm chairs waiting for the March election. It’s not like he has any real power to change anything. Those guys can’t even build a train track with free money from the Federal Government.

      Reply

    • iansand says:

      07:46pm | 01/09/10

      It is the idea that a NSW Labor minister could be “worse” that makes my head hurt.  Worse than what?  A financially compromised blowfly?

    • A Don says:

      07:49pm | 01/09/10

      The issue is that he used work resources. I would not dream of accessing porn or gambling at work. I have maybe half a dozen bets a year online and I do those from the safety of my own home on my own computer. A work computer can be forensically analysed. I worked for a company where a senior executive was stood down. The company analysed his computer looking for evidence of the work offence which they did indeed find. At the same time, they also found he was cheating on his (now ex) wife. Not that I can prove it but I think one of the management leaked the private information to his ex as retribution.

      Mark Hurd at HP was not sacked because he was chasing a girlfriend but because he lied on his expense claims. It’s the same reasoning why Macleay has to go.

    • imoverhubris says:

      12:07am | 02/09/10

      you are right…they’re all basically idiots…too true

    • Eric says:

      06:22pm | 01/09/10

      “Ports Minister Paul McLeay, son of the factional hack Leo”

      Anyone else notice the rampant nepotism in the Labor ranks?

      “Born to rule”, indeed.

      Reply

    • Northern Steve says:

      07:54pm | 01/09/10

      Unfortunately happens on both sides.  Even Katter is a 2nd generation polly for his seat.

    • Seano says:

      08:27pm | 01/09/10

      So dad was able to elect his son? Neat trick, I wonder why Paul’s constituents bother.

      Surely “Born to rule” applies to those would would claim not losing an election is somehow a win.

    • Yogi Bear says:

      06:28pm | 01/09/10

      How did the Tele find out he was looking at porn and gambling sites?

      Reply

    • Sam Chowder says:

      06:41pm | 01/09/10

      The tie seems extraordinarily long for some reason ...

      Reply

    • Louisa says:

      06:47pm | 01/09/10

      So many of the Labor men have sexual problems. There wives probably reject them….

      Reply

    • Bilbo says:

      06:59pm | 01/09/10

      One has to seriously wonder if all these individuals that are posting in here that they will never vote Labor, have ever voted for Labor in the first place. After all a News Ltd readers are not known for their progressive left of centre views are they?

      Reply

    • Bob H says:

      07:36pm | 01/09/10

      @Bilbo - sitting squinty eyed in front of a government PC with a box of tissues is now progressive left of centre politics?  Julia hasn’t mentioned that one.

    • TimB says:

      07:48pm | 01/09/10

      Got news for you Bilbo. Voted Labor in 2003 as a naive 18-year old.
      Have felt dirty ever since.

    • iansand says:

      08:33pm | 01/09/10

      “Voting Labor” (at least in NSW) and “rational response” are creatures of different universes.

      The sad thing is that the alternative are the least worse, which is their only advantage.

    • HappyCynic says:

      09:14am | 02/09/10

      You don’t live in NSW do you Bilbo?  smile

      I take no sides, neither left nor right because they’re all a bunch of corrupt f**kheads and wankers (and that’s being kind) but the NSW Labor Party makes Mugabe’s regime seem competent, virtuous, honest and sane in comparison.  Pol Pot could run against Kennealy with Hitler, Kim Jong Il, Mao, Bush and Stalin in his party and still win in a landslide, that’s how incompetent these clowns are smile

    • TheRealDave says:

      10:17pm | 02/09/10

      So what you’re saying TimB is that you’ve never backed a winner then ??

      wink

    • Gregg says:

      07:00pm | 01/09/10

      ” As for slogans for 2011, the one platform Kristina Keneally can credibly run on is pity. “You think you’ve got problems” could make a handy catchcry for the deeply besieged premier. If you can think of any others, let it rip here. “

      ” I am a bike rider like Tony but I’ll not put up with any budgie smuggler smut ”

      Reply

    • Martin says:

      07:11pm | 01/09/10

      This guy also hired a mechanic mate to a six figure salary role in his office…WITHOUT even interviewing any other person!!!!

      NSW Labor aren’t incompetent, or stupid…no…they are worse…they are corrupt.

      Reply

    • Against the Man says:

      08:14pm | 01/09/10

      Martin lets face up to reality. Labor is corrupt, incompetent and stupid. But what is worse is that there are so many Australians that keep voting for these Bozos. Australians deserve the crap government they get until they wake up and make that choice to reject all bad government aka the bloody ALP!

    • Nathan says:

      07:48pm | 01/09/10

      This happened because we don’t have Comrade Conroy’s internet portal protector…

      Reply

    • tony says:

      08:38pm | 01/09/10

      Anyone stupid enough to visit “adult” web sites at work deserves dismissal (just for being stupid, not for any particular “moral” reason). Most things you do online can easily be traced…

      Reply

    • Delhic Oracle. says:

      08:56pm | 01/09/10

      It Is a very Rum Corp - does nothing change?

      Reply

    • Zapper says:

      09:46pm | 01/09/10

      Porn and gambling sites are no big deal. A man that likes sex - what a criminal . I like porn, i must be a terrible person. I also like to gamble I am going straight to hell..

      Reply

    • marley says:

      09:54am | 02/09/10

      If you want to watch porn and gamble on-line, go ahead and do it - but if you do it at work, on office time and equipment, you might just find your career taking a turn for the worse.  That’s life.  This guy was obviously too dumb or too self-entitled to even think about the consequences.  He certainly doesn’t belong in Cabinet if he’s that obtuse.

    • Joolz says:

      09:48pm | 01/09/10

      At least Colston’s kid did his uni stuff on the company computer.

      Reply

    • jed says:

      09:53pm | 01/09/10

      high pressure job, mate. you gotta have a release sometime.

      Reply

    • Jolanda says:

      07:31am | 02/09/10

      For years our public employees have been getting away with pretty much anything and everything so it comes as no surprise to me that they do things that most would consider inappropriate at work and they do it in a manner that is brazen.  When you believe you are protected you get cocky. 

      Until our Government returns supervision, integrity and accountability into it’s public service then we will continue in the direction that we are headed now , ie the gutter.

      Education – Keeping them Honest
      http://jolandachallita.typepad.com/

      Reply

    • Macca says:

      07:55am | 02/09/10

      NSW Labor is so much Moving Forward as they are Moving Up and Down. Repeatedly. In a Jerking Motion…..

      Reply

    • Daniel says:

      08:06am | 02/09/10

      The sooner we are rid of Labor and we get more Greens the better NSW will be. I cant wait to get campaigning for Greens.

      Reply

    • TimB says:

      08:37am | 02/09/10

      This is sarcasm right? Please let it be sarcasm.

    • marley says:

      09:55am | 02/09/10

      Sure, Rhiannon has been such a model of propriety and accomplishment.  (That IS sarcasm.)

    • C1 says:

      09:47am | 02/09/10

      Sorry TimB,

      I do not think it is.

      That just makes it all the more scary

      Reply

    • Andrew says:

      05:14pm | 02/09/10

      Shame he didn’t use Fred Nile’s excuse: “Research”, it may have saved his bacon!!

      Reply
 
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