So what has Tim Fischer been up to at the Vatican?

Jaspar says:

07:32am | 27/10/09

I was at the airport hangar as the PM farewelled the Pope last year. That’s where he announced that Tim Fischer would become our dedicated Amabassador to the Holy See. Given that Australia was glowing in the euphoria of an international goodwill event, the good-natured and bipartisan announcement was warmly greeted. It seemed like an easy win for Rudd at that very moment.

I’m not sure what influence Vatican Ambassadors have on the makeup of the UN Security Council, but what an expensive indulgence this appointment has become.

Shane From Melbourne says:

08:15am | 27/10/09

A job for one of the boys, a perk. Nudge, nudge, wink, wink, say no more

mid says:

09:18am | 27/10/09

I think it’s a masterstroke, what better way to plant the seeds of retirement in the opposition than to let them know that the incumbent is willing to give them plum jobs o/s when they quit being so pesky.

Jennifer says:

09:19am | 27/10/09

I agree with you Barry, Tim Fischer’s “appointment to the Vatican is a disgrace.  And an expensive one at that”!  It is a typical case of jobs for the boys and reward for long loyalty to the political elite.

The waste of money is all too apparent.  Senator Ferguson said ‘‘I’m just concerned that we have a diplomatic representative in a place the size of the Holy See … How can he find enough to even keep himself occupied?’‘

I am also not at all surprised that none of the Government’s senators on the estimates committee asked one question about Tim given the nature of the Australian parliament and senate. 

Another problem contributing to these endless indulgences and the lack of required debate is the lack of press freedom. 

Freedom of speech, a free press, true democracy, which gives people the right to veto any government decision via citizen initiated referenda and a high standard of living, fairness and justice are closely linked issues, and it is no coincidence that the Scandinavian countries are consistent leaders in both.

Last night I saw a very poignant interview with former political reporter Alan Ramsey and I would strongly urge anyone concerned about the general state of affairs, lack of ethics in parliament and lack of press freedom to see the interview or read the transcript of his interview with Kerry O’Brien on the 7.30 Report “Alan Ramsey joins ‘The 7.30 Report”
http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/  or just read the transcript:  http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2009/s2724788.htm

I would also like to highly recommend the following two articles to anyone wanting to better understand Australian politics today, compared to what it was once, when politicians still represented the people’s best interests and not just their careers and their deep hip pockets:

Voters pay to keep pollies
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,21938189-27197,00.html

Kevin Rudd eyes MP ethics watchdog http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23749178-601,00.html

stephen says:

10:55am | 27/10/09

Paul Keating once made a derogatory comment about Mr Fischer, to the effect that he - Mr Fischer - couldn’t put a sentence together. I agree with that comment, and if we see the Pope on telly scratchin’ his head, he ain’t playin’ with his toup’.