Qld Labor inherits corruption mantle from Nats’ dark past

pete says:

09:22am | 22/07/09

Oh, I’m confused, where do you fit in the two federal liberal pollies who were being investigated by the AFP just prior to the last election for misappropriation of public funds involving printing?  How about all the other little sins both sides of politics are guilty of?

Pollies really dont get it do they ?  Utegate blew up n your faces and the clear signal to from the public to pollies was, stop crapping about and get on with it

a lesson not learned obviously.  We really should have selection criteria and performance management agreements for political candidates should’nt we.

Paul says:

09:28am | 22/07/09

How about some fairness, balance and perspective when it comes to climate chnage Warren?

john mc kay says:

09:36am | 22/07/09

continual bleating about fairness from a politician is becoming annoying,stop bickering and get on with your job whatever that is.

iansand says:

10:11am | 22/07/09

While you try to make corruption a party political issue you, and all politicians, will be treated with the contempt you deserve.  Where are the words condemning corruption of any kind, from any party?  That attitude might get you some respect.  We believe Bjelke-Petersen was corrupt.  We believe Nuttall was corrupt.  In fact we suspect that you are all corrupt, at some level of corruption.

You do appreciate that, when each side accuses the other of dark deeds, including corruption, we believe you all.  The way politics is fought at the moment ensures that the species politician descends lower and lower in the estimation of the public.

Pete Chapm says:

10:28am | 22/07/09

This is an important debate. If we expect a degree of honesty and integrity from our politicians (I’m not naive, I said a degree of honest…) then we need to have scrutiny. And we need journos who are focused on it. Truss made a good point - the same standards need to be applied to Rudd as to Howard. And if Rudd bleats about it, then just tell him it’s a fair shake of the sauce bottle.

Clive newton says:

10:30am | 22/07/09

I watched the truss interview and was stunned to hear his bare-faced cheek in denying Joh was charged with corruption_yes, it was perjury but over a little matter of denying on oath that he’ d received money (literally) in a brown bag. And acquitted?The trial was notorious for the jury utterly failing to reach a verdict with one juror a Young National member, a fact known to the defence at the time. And few journos seem aware of Nuttall’s backhistory:  his political rise was based on the widely held(but never able to be proven )belief that as a bank officer it was he who fingered Joh’s financial details that led to the criminal charges against Joh. Do some in the Qld legal world have longer memories? Truss should know all this as he was actually Joh’s local Shire Chairman. The Bjelke clan were notorious in the years after the trial for rattling a donations tin (I"m not making this up)  at busloads of pensioners who visited the family property to pay for the legal fees from the trial.

Peter Langhorne says:

10:59am | 22/07/09

Truss makes a very good point in that the Nationals have learnt from their past mistakes, whereas Labor has not. In order to present a balanced view the jorno’s need to do a lot more work on the period when Goss and Rudd ran Qld if they wish to continue to rake up the past.
Peter.

Rob Ridings says:

11:09am | 22/07/09

Thanks Clive for confirming that aspect of the Truss article.

And Iansand, I think he did condemn corruption from both sides - look at the line about the Nats learning the lessons of Fitzgerald but not Labor. And you “believe” Joh was corrupt? Well good on you but he was never charged and never convicted, which says something about what you want to believe rather than what actually happened.

And for the confused Pete, those two Liberals investigated before the election were never charged. I think this is another exampel of what Truss says about “wish fulfilment”.

I think what Truss is saying is that he expects a level of balance and fairness in political commentary. what’s wrong with that? I’m with Pete Chapm, its an important debate

Pete Chapm says:

11:25am | 22/07/09

Clive, why do I get the feeling that you are feeling a little defensive.

The crux of Trusss’ argument remains - what happened 20 years ago, happened 20 years ago, it has little relevance to today’s personnel as they have generally changed the guard.

If the ALP are engaging in corrupt behaviour now, it is a very long bow to draw to still be pointing the bone back 20 years at your opponent. And it is disgraceful to say ‘but they did it so therefore so can we as well’. Well they did do it and some of them went to jail. Just as importantly, the Nationals were bashed in the media for more than 10 years for doing it. And rightly so.

So I guess Truss was just wondering if the media were going to do the same to the ALP - as they would be only fair.

What is interesting is that today’s QLD ALP state ministers are falling over themselves in the race to get to prison. That should be another the focus of the debate here. How bad will it get and how far the corruption has spread – these are questions that need to be answered.

One final note of interest, I have no doubt of the political corruption back in the joh days (I still think there were a few people who were not charged who should have been - perhaps R Hinze?). But what was interesting were the crimes that the 4 ministers who were jailed were convicted of. Those four ministers were convicted of misusing their allowance (between $4000 and $8000 from memory). At the time their actions were not illegal - but they were charged respectively after laws were rushed through the parliament.

These actions are now legal (the laws were amended after being rushed through parliament) - that is you can use your expense allowance however you see fit - including for your own personnel expenses.

If you ask me – it is just one big mess!

Joe Hockey says:

11:53am | 22/07/09

Well said Warren.

Peter says:

12:39pm | 22/07/09

The reason the National Party hasn’t been involved in corruption in Qld over the last twenty years is because, fortunately, they haven’t been in Government. The LNP was rejected at the last election because City voters feared a return to the past ways of the National Party under the hillbilly Springborg. The figure of Clive Palmer loomed large in the lead up to the campaign, signalling a return to the days of carpetbaggers, shady deals and outright corruption.

The big difference with the Nuttall case is he was prosecuted. Labor made no attempt to hide his activities when he was found out. He was prosecuted to the full extent of the law. There is absolutely no evidence the current Qld Government has the systemic corruption of the Bjelke Peterson era, where the Government was rotten from the top down. Systems are in place now in Qld to investigate and deal with corrupt activity. The Nuttall case illustrates the system works.

That Mr Truss is the big difference between today and the era you seem so keen to whitewash.

Zoe says:

12:42pm | 22/07/09

Very good points Warren. 
The ongoing and ingrained behaviour of the Queensland Labor Party continues to avoid proper scrutiny due to the perception by the chattering classes that corruption must come from the conservative side of politics, not those who claim to be “for the people” but often act quite differently.
Unfortunately in Australia there is a tradition for history to be written by those with left leanings and huge blind spots regarding the wrong-doings of Labor.
No side of politics is perfect, but if only one side is scrutinised such corrupt practices will continue, particularly in such an administration as the current Queensland Government which is run on a diet of spin and perception.

Angry of Wembley says:

01:50pm | 22/07/09

A long-gone, particularly ascerbic Federal MP Dick Klugman (ALP, but determinedly individual) once noted “why is it that I always see Pauline Hanson described in the media as a former fish’n'chips shop owner, but I never see Christopher Skase described as a former journalist?”

Mitch says:

02:16pm | 22/07/09

Pete, you must be an idiot. The three MPs were cleared of any wrongdoing. Unless we now live in a country where being investigated is as good as being guilty, then maybe you should just stick to the facts.

David Anthony says:

03:16pm | 22/07/09

What Warren Truss forgets is that corruption was rife at the highest levels of the National Party and the Coalition Government. What he also forgets is that the Labor Party introduced mechanisms to ensure that if this kind of corruption occurred again, the offending politicians like Gordon Nuttall would be caught out.
Furthermore, in reference to the Labor MPs who went to jail, the Labor Party has in no way supported any of them when their crimes became known.

Adrian says:

04:48pm | 22/07/09

It was all the journalists/media fault when you were in government for apparently not being acquiescent enough, even though you had one of the most onside MSM of any government in history.

Now it’s all the MSM fault when you are in opposition for apparently yet again not being acquiescent enough to your wishes and being too kind to Labor governments, when even a casual glance would show recently they have been far harsher on Labor governments, Federal and State, than they had been on conservative ones.

You finished with this; “I’m a big boy and I’m in politics”.

But reading your piece and seeing you being interviewed it seems more to me you are a wishy washy whinging whining woman than a big boy.

When you and your Coalition become fair and balanced in government making the same demands on yourself as you do of Labor governments then you might have a leg to stand on. As it stands you come across as nothing but sore losers with lots of sour grapes to spill making demands you would never make on yourself and asking for a standard you never set for yourself and wouldn’t if in government.

Simon says:

05:27pm | 22/07/09

It was a Nationals Premier who promised to implement the findings of the Fitzgerald Inquiry ‘lock stock and barrell’. 

It is ironic that former Labor Premier Peter Beattie, who appointed Nuttall, actually did his Masters thesis on the Fitzgerald Inquiry and what it meant for Queensland and the importance of the Criminal Justice Commission, now Crime and Misconduct Commission. 

However, having become Premier,  over the years Beattie seemed to distance himself from some of the assertions he made in his thesis, so it doesn’t really come as any surprise to see so many of his Ministers end up in the courts - and being found guilty.

Of course, Warren doesn’t go into the Shepherdson Inquiry into electoral fraud which cost Queensland Labor a Deputy Premier and two other MPs, one of which is now Anna Bligh’s Chief of Staff.  Perhaps that’s a story to come.

Barry says:

06:42pm | 22/07/09

Another soft acticle for labor ? In qld , we only get ruperts slant of the world, if you still ? buy a newspaper . Online for me and i can get a rounded view of the world for free. Read that the Australian rag has NEVER made a single dollar EVER ? wonder why he still runs it for ? Like pox news, dumbing down the population in USA. Truss thinks labor gets a free run from Ltd News, tell he he’s dreaming Fake email   ute gate ??  They tripped over themselves to print that one. What about sad sack Piers ???? Bolt ??All Rudd lovers ????

Baffled BY Bulldust says:

07:00pm | 22/07/09

Let’s just give Joh and his cronies a miss for a moment - as Truss says, does Rudd have to cover-off people from the Hawke days? No. But let’s have a closer look at the nexus of National and Liberal and the interests of rural voters more recently and in better context. Is there ANY doubt in anyone’s mind any more that Alexander Downer, John Howard and John Anderson and Mr Truss etc - ALL developed severe amnesia when it came to answering any questions about the AWB scandal that should really have been labelled what it really was - treason. Is that a better National one looking for a good home, Mr Truss?

Alan says:

10:41pm | 22/07/09

If you want to talk about Labor Party stupidity, criminal acts and jobs for the boys, here is a few to chew on
1 The Australian; January 03, 2007
IN December 1989 the first act of Kevin Rudd, the new chief of staff to Queensland’s incoming Labor premier, was to cancel plans for the Wolfdene dam. This was despite expert advice that such a dam would be needed for southeast Queensland in the early 21st century.
What a goose and he claims to be a man of vision. The Wolfdene dam would have most certainly drought proofed the towns and cities in South Eastern, Qld
2 The Brisbane times; May 19, 2008
Queensland’s former Premier and self-confessed “media-tart” Peter Beattie won’t be as free to talk to journalists in his new job as Queensland’s US trade commissioner.
While stopping short of saying she had gagged Mr Beattie, his successor Anna Bligh yesterday said he would have to follow “protocol” when speaking to the press
Another job for the boys. A joke when he said he would not be looking for a cushy job
3 The Australian; October 19, 2007
THE husband of Queensland Premier Anna Bligh has been appointed to head a new government office that she created.
Greg Withers, a senior Queensland public servant with more than 15 years experience, took leave from his role in the Department of Premier and Cabinet when Ms Bligh became premier last month. Good old Anna just keeping it in the family.
4. Then there is the Heiner Affair in Queensland
National unease was sparked in August by an extraordinary letter written by several of Australia’s most respected judicial figures to then Queensland Labor premier Peter Beattie in which they expressed their deep distress that the former Goss Labor Cabinet and senior civil servants destroyed material in 1990 knowing it would be needed as evidence.
Kevin Rudd, who was chief of staff to former premier Wayne Goss at the time, has since been named in the Tasmanian Parliament as one of those against whom a prima facie criminal case is alleged by leading Sydney silk David Rofe, QC.
“This is a disgraceful attempt to discredit and dismiss two very important issues: the unresolved case of horrible pack rape and general abuse at John Oxley Youth Centre and the appalling decision to shred the documents.
“This destruction of evidence is a shameful part of Queensland’s history.
“As for the legalities of what has taken place, and the claim that there have been six inquiries, the reality is that there has not been a single inquiry yet properly constituted to deal with the issues and that’s why this is still alive and relevant.’’
So much for Labor, Goss, Beattie, Rudd and other Labor Party people and transparency.

5 WHAT does perjurer Marcus Einfeld, blackmailer Merri Rose and child molesters Keith Wright and Bill D’Arcy have in common?
The obvious answer is that they all went to jail for their crimes.

Surely makes the Conservative side of Politics look very honest and normal in comparison with the Labor Party.

Martin Luther says:

11:58pm | 22/07/09

Adrian takes the award for the most bizarre allegation, that MSM supported the Howard government. It is just so far off the mark as to rate even beyond the standard leftist propoganda bible.

Well done Warren, spot on about a media who seem to have decided they can ignore their inmportant role as even handed communicators in a representational democracy.

Jeremy Hearn says:

12:17am | 23/07/09

Warren, Bravo!
Beyond the substance of your article with which I largely agree, I am enormously pleased to see your name under it. Please get some more published putting your thoughts on current policy issues. I know it is hard breaking in to the pre-established media train of thought, but it is essential that all our politicians put their thoughts to the public. Unlike the media, I think the Nationals are a very important part of our political life and represent some of the best aspects of Australia. I suggest you set yourself a target of one article in a major newspaper every month.

Best regards,

Jeremy Hearn

barra says:

12:43am | 23/07/09

the Labor party isnt the problem——- they will get away with anything———-the problem is with their legion of fans who will keep voting for them, even if it meant the labor pollies bending over, and their “true believers” kissing that par of the body, where the sun don’t shine.