Thursday, January 31, 2013

VIC POLICE CLOSE IN ON GILLARD































Information out of Melbourne is that more than a dozen detectives on an unlimited budget are on the brink of laying charges in the AWU Wilson/Gillard fraud case. 


One reliable source has said two major law firms should expect raids within days and explanations will be demanded regarding instances of missing documents.

More than 50 people have been, or are yet to be, interviewed including Bill the Greek Bullshit Artist Telikostoglou, (as Julia Gillard affectionately refers to him as). He missed his flight from Athens but is now expected in Melbourne next week.

Another reliable source has said to me, “We expect to have this all wrapped up in a few weeks, hopefully no later than March, and there will be people charged.

"We are treating this matter extremely seriously and no stone will be unturned in ensuring the alleged culprits face justice.”

There was no indication given as to who would be charged but the level of urgency and thoroughness indicated to me (and I say indicated) there is little doubt Julia Gillard is viewed as a major player and very much a person of interest.

Ralph Blewitt, Bob Kernohan and others, including Nick Styant-Browne, have been busy giving statements and disclosing further information to police in a veritable revolving door of witnesses coming and going at StKilda headquarters.

In a future article (Part X of the Gillard files) I will give what I believe are the four main areas where Gillard is in serious trouble and will need to explain herself.

But in the meantime, as cricket commentator Bill Lawrie says, “It’s all happening!”

THE ABC has apologised for a "lapse in standards" following complaints about 774 presenter Jon Faine and on-air interviews he conducted involving the AWU slush fund allegations.


Jon Faine.
774 presenter Jon Faine
THE ABC has apologised for a "lapse in standards" following complaints about 774 presenter Jon Faine and on-air interviews he conducted involving the AWU slush fund allegations.
The interviews, conducted on November 23 with former 2UE presenter Michael Smith and The Age's editor-at-large Mark Baker, led to at least one formal complaint to the ABC's complaints department.
The interview in question was characterised by Faine's hectoring of Smith and his assertion that he "give it his best shot".
The ABC has now responded to that complaint.
"We have assessed the interviews against the ABC's editorial requirement for impartiality, specifically standard 4.1 of the ABC Code of Practice which states: 'Gather and present news and information with due impartiality', the broadcaster's corporate affairs representative has written to the complainant, which has been published on Smith's website.
"Audience and Consumer Affairs have concluded that the interviews were not conducted in keeping with ABC impartiality requirements. The argumentative style of the interviews by Mr Faine, combined with a pattern of strongly stated personal opinions that at times oversimplified the issues at hand, was not in keeping with the ABC's rigorous impartiality standards for current affairs content.
"ABC Radio apologise for this lapse in standards. This matter has been brought to the attention of ABC Radio management and Jon Faine has been reminded of his obligation to gather and present news and information content with due impartiality."
Smith lost his job over his pursuit of the allegations concerning the prime minister Julia Gillard and her knowledge of the AWU allegations last year.

Police arrest MP Craig Thomson on 150 fraud charges.....




FIVE years after questions were first raised about Craig Thomson's alleged misuse of Health Services Union funds, the MP was today arrested and will face multiple fraud charges.
NSW Fraud Squad officers arrested Mr Thomson at his electorate office at Tuggerah on the NSW Central Coast this afternoon. They were acting for Victorian police, who have been investigating allegations that as Health Services Union national secretary he misused hundreds of thousands of dollars of members' money.
The former Labor MP, who was edged out of the party by Julia Gillard and now sits as an independent in his marginal seat of Dobell, has consistently denied allegations against him, which are also the subject of a civil case by Fair Work Australia.
Mr Thomson was taken to Wyong police station this afternoon where he was charged with one count, while police served him with papers relating to 149 other fraud-related charges.
He later appeared briefly in Wyong Local Court and was released on bail, with some conditions, ahead of an appearance in a Melbourne court on February 6.
Emerging to face journalists, Mr Thomson said he would go to Melbourne next week and would be "vigorously" defending the charges against him.
"I have done no wrongdoing and that is what will be found in these matters," he said.
His lawyer, Chris McArdle, also said Mr Thomson would plead not guilty to all charges.
Representing himself, and showing little emotion, Mr Thomson was asked by the Wyong magistrate if he objected to the validity of the warrant against him. He responded, “No, your worship.”
Mr Thomson was ordered to advise police within 24 hours of a change of address or plans to travel interstate or overseas, unless travelling as part of his parliamentary duties.
One of the conditions of Mr Thomson's bail prohibits him from contacting any person, directly or through a third party, whom he allegedly engaged for sexual services.
NSW Fraud Squad head Detective Superintendent Col Dyson earlier told reporters that Victorian police had invited Mr Thomson to travel to Victoria before Christmas to face charges but he had refused, so the warrant was issued today.
But Mr McArdle said the police version of events was "completely untrue''. The request for his client to travel to Victoria was to attend an interview, not surrender to police, he said.
"If we had been given that invitation we would have done so and we wouldn't have needed this reality TV show that's going on," he said.
Mr McArdle said his client would protest his innocence, and complained about the fact that television stations were apparently tipped off well ahead of the arrest.
"He will plead not guilty to all of the charges," Mr McArdle told Sky News, describing journalists and some politicians as "circus performers".
Mr Thomson has previously strenuously denied allegations he misused union funds to pay for prostitutes, air travel, entertainment and cash withdrawals when he was the Health Services Union national secretary from 2002 to 2007.
Mr McArdle told Sky News that detectives had taken his client "completely by surprise" when they arrested him this afternoon.
"He has been charged with 149 offences along the lines of 'use credit card to obtain $300', that sort of thing," he said.
"This fellow is innocent and will maintain that innocence throughout."
Mr McArdle disputed that extradition would occur, saying that the MP would appear of his own accord in court in Melbourne next week.
"This is something out of the Roman Colosseum; this man's been thrown to the lions," he said.
"Five policemen arrested a man for minor misappropriation charges, which we deny. You don't need five policemen to do that. You only need five policemen if there's a risk of violence."
Superintendent Dyson said up to 10 officers arrived at Mr Thomson's electorate office, including two officers from Victorian police.
"He's been co-operative," the policeman said. "He's been very calm. He's accepted what's been said to him. He hasn't argued."
Victorian police task force Vespine has been investigating allegations against Mr Thomson following an official complaint from the new leadership of the HSU, national secretary Kathy Jackson and then deputy national president Chris Brown.
Ms Jackson and Mr Brown gave information to the police following a report commissioned by the union and carried out by law firm Slater and Gordon and forensic accountants BDO Kendall.
The charging of Mr Thomson comes only a day after Julia Gillard took the bold step of fixing the date of the federal election eight months out.
The Coalition has for the past 18 months been pressing the government over Mr Thomson in a bid to associate Labor with allegations against the MP.
The arrest of Mr Thomson will not of its own force him to resign under the law - an MP must only step down if they are convicted of an offence carrying a potential jail sentence of more than one year.
Touring the flood-hit Bundaberg area in Queensland, Julia Gillard said she had no prior knowledge of Mr Thomson's arrest and would not comment further.
"I have been briefed on the media reports but it's something for the police,'' she said. "I have been focused on what's been happening in these communities''
Tony Abbott said the Coalition would respect the judicial process, but added that "the Thomson matter is not just about what Craig Thomson may or may not have done".
"It's always been about the judgment of the Prime Minister," he said.
A longtime personal supporter of Mr Thomson, Labor frontbencher Craig Emerson, told Sky News that the Thomson matter should now be left to the courts.
"He is entitled, like all everyday Australians, to the presumption of innocence," Dr Emerson said.
Additional reporting: Ben Packham and AAP



Craig Thomson bailed after court appearance, to face multiple fraud charges

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Julian Assange to run for Australian Senate seat




JULIAN Assange will run for a Senate seat in the 2013 federal election and his mum reckons he'll be awesome.
Christine Assange has confirmed her son's candidacy, after WikiLeaks tweeted the news.
"He will be awesome," she said.
"In the House of Representatives we get to choose between US lackey party number one and US lackey party number two - between the major parties.
"So it will be great to `Assange' the Senate for some Aussie oversight."
Queensland-born Assange, who founded the secret-leaking website WikiLeaks, announced his Senate ambition last December from Ecuador's London embassy.
He sought refuge there last June in a bid to avoid extradition to Sweden.
Mr Assange fears if he goes to Sweden to be questioned over rape allegations, authorities will allow him to be extradited to the US to be questioned over WikiLeaks' release of thousands of US diplomatic cables.

He said last year he would run as a Senate candidate under a yet-to-be-formed WikiLeaks party banner and was recruiting others to stand with him.
The election will be held on September 14.


Julian Assange to run for Australian Senate seat

Grace Collier in the Australian Financial Review - Claims about PM refuse to die down

Claims about PM refuse to die down
Despite allegations about her time at law firm Slater & Gordon, Prime Minister Julia Gillard has denied any wrongdoing. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen

GRACE COLLIER
The Prime Minister could be caught up in a criminal investigation. Victoria Police appear to be taking seriously an allegation made by serial campaigner Michael Smith. The allegation is extremely grave and if proved, it attracts a penalty of imprisonment (10 years maximum) as outlined in Section 83A of the Victorian Crimes Act.
Last October, Smith sent police a written complaint alleging Julia Gillard created a “false” document, a power of attorney, that enabled a house in Fitzroy to be purchased in 1993 with money from a union “slush” fund .
Smith, a one time policeman turned broadcaster, was sacked by radio station 2UE after his employer objected to his plan to air an interview related to the matter. Since his sacking he has continued his campaign through a political blog.
According to Smith, in mid November he heard from a fraud squad detective sergeant who identified himself as “in charge of the investigation”. Smith says the response by Victoria Police to his complaint has exceeded his expectations.
Last November, Ralph Blewitt, a signatory to the power of attorney, attended the Victoria Police Fraud Squad “at the invitation of detectives”, his lawyers say.
But in a significant development, this month a Victorian detective travelled to Queensland and spent days interviewing another witness relating to the document, Olivia Palmer, who worked with Gillard at law firm Slater & Gordon.
Palmer handled the power of attorney when she undertook conveyancing tasks related to the house in Fitzroy.
It is important to note that on November 26 in a press conference in Canberra, the Prime Minister vehemently rejected the allegations about the document saying, “I did nothing wrong in the witnessing of this power of attorney”.
The Prime Minister also said, “Mr Blewitt, according to people who know him, has been described as a complete imbecile, an idiot, a stooge, a sexist pig, a liar, and his sister has said he’s a crook and rotten to the core. His word against mine, make your mind up.”
She has also dismissed Smith as “the man sacked for wanting to defame me”.
Victoria Police confirmed its fraud and extortion squad is investigating a complaint regarding the alleged misappropriation of funds from a union and, quite properly, would not confirm who may or may not be under investigation.
Those waiting for police to confirm that the Prime Minister is a person “under investigation” before they ask questions may wait too long.
However, in the bewildering array of rumour and innuendo in the AWU scandal, there is one formal allegation on the public record and that allegation makes an accusation only against the Prime Minister.
We are all familiar with the Prime Minister’s strenuous denials. She has said there has been no wrongdoing and she has done nothing wrong. This may well be true. She is innocent until guilt is established by a court.
But next time the ALP use the word “smear”, someone could say police don’t investigate smears.
Next time the ALP say no allegations have been made, someone could say an allegation was made last October and the authorities seem to be attending to it.
Next time the Prime Minister says “there is not one substantiated allegation”, someone could say that only the finding of a court can substantiate an allegation so that statement is irrelevant. Wrongdoing doesn’t have to be proven before people can ask questions.
At some stage, Victoria Police will conclude their investigation.
For now, it seems the ALP caucus thinks people will ignore all this and those inclined to support the ALP will vote for Gillard anyway.
The progress of the police investigation will dictate how long this view can prevail.
Grace Collier is chief executive of Australian Dismissal Services.
This column appeared in today's AFR.


Grace Collier in the Australian Financial Review

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

And the finger goes up as blokey Tim bowls Julia a googly




The Prime Minister's face performed a remarkable transition - jolly, carefree smile to impenetrable stone on the turn of a phrase.
Tim, Julia Gillard's merry prankster sidekick, had struck again.
Tim Mathieson, known for want of a traditional definition as the First Bloke, had been out of the spotlight for quite a while. Some around parliament house had speculated this was a deliberate strategy by Ms Gillard's hard-nosed advisers, who are deeply averse to tempting fate. Tim, a boy from the bush, just looks like a fate-tempter.

Why, this was a fellow who, on meeting the Queen for just the second time in Buckingham Palace, had greeted her with the immortal words ''You again!'' Worse, he'd happily told the tale to this reporter, who'd recounted it across the pages of Fairfax newspapers.
But on Tuesday evening at The Lodge, it seemed the perfect time for Tim to take the microphone. The West Indies cricket team was being feted on the evening of the annual contest with the Prime Minister's XI.
Tim likes his sport and he's something of a blokey bloke, even if he'd been a hairdresser. Plus, he's been a hit as patron of the Men's Shed movement and he's been one of the government's Men's Health Ambassadors.
What could go wrong?
A misjudged joke concerning digital penetration and small Asian women; that's what.
All in a good cause, of course. But.
This is the era of correctness. Ms Gillard's own government wants to introduce legislation outlawing dialogue that could not only be judged discriminatory to just about any minority, but which could prove illegal (and expensive) if someone decided to take offence or feel injured.
Here's what Tim said, while urging the men in the audience to take care of their health and to have their prostates checked: ''We can get a blood test for it, but the digital examination is the only true way to get a correct reading on your prostate, so make sure you go and do that, and perhaps look for a small female Asian doctor is probably the best way.''
Uh oh. In three words, he'd contravened an expansive sweep of the proposed anti-discrimination decrees. Small (sizeist, you might think); female (sexist), Asian (racist). We won't even go near digital penetration.
It was at this precise point that Ms Gillard lost her happy smile. Good Lord, the television cameras were rolling and Tim had turned a serious discussion about men's health into a joke worthy of a prawn night!
You can take the bloke out of the bush, but you can't take the bush out of the bloke, apparently.
Unsurprisingly, with social media in a frothy uproar, a statement appeared on Wednesday morning under Tim's name, declaring it was all supposed to be a joke but ''on reflection I accept it was in poor taste. I apologise for any offence caused''.
It seems a fair bet the unfortunate fellow is unlikely to be undertaking many public microphone duties at the Prime Minister's side for some time. Or, for that matter, sitting down without a cushion.


Tim Mathieson Apologises For Bad Taste Joke

Julia Gillard's pension is $2000 a week

Julia Gillard
Try walking in our shoes, PM ... how Julia
Gillard might look in a few years.


PRIME Minister Julia Gillard might have questioned a tiny rise for pensioners but she will walk away from Parliament with a pension of more than $2000 a week.
If she wins the election and serves at least a year in the nation's top job, her weekly pension would be even higher.
She would get a gold air pass permitting 40 business class flights a year, a car, staff and an office.
Angry pensioners forced to exist on a maximum single aged weekly rate of $350.55 yesterday asked Ms Gillard to spend a day in their slippers as they battle rising rates, electricity and grocery bills.
Pensioner groups were also alarmed, fearing they would have to start their struggle again after last year convincing former prime minister Kevin Rudd and Treasurer Wayne Swan they could not survive on the pension.
"Rudd got asked, Swan got asked, could you live on $273 a week, which was the amount of the pension at the time," Michael O'Neill, CEO of advocacy group National Seniors Australia, said.
"They couldn't. I hope we don't have to remind them that pensioners have meagre existences."
Antione Mangion from the Combined Pensioners and Superannuants Association said of pensioners: "Certainly they shouldn't be underestimated as a group. We'd still like to see more being done, we haven't heard anything in this election campaign. It has been very disappointing for people on the pension."
The Prime Minister yesterday denied telling cabinet colleagues "old people never vote for us" but her admission that she questioned the pension rise drew criticism from struggling seniors, including from other Gillards.
Beryl Gillard, 83, from Pretty Beach on the Central Coast gets a part aged pension of $250 a week and a small "stipend" from her late husband's superannuation.
She was angry the PM was against increasing the aged pension by $30.
"She's a liar and a communist and we don't want communists in power," she said.
With rates of more than $2000, electricity, water, car registration and other household bills totalling about $20,000 a year - not factoring in groceries - Mrs Gillard said the PM should "come down and be a normal person and not throw herself around like she's too important".
Other pensioners were grateful Mr Rudd granted them a rise. Dawn Baker, 72 took out a reverse mortgage on her house but said the increase had taken her payment to $701 a fortnight.
"I don't have to think twice now if I want a couple of lamb chops," she said yesterday.
Kevin Preston, 76 said he was running out of money.
"I am part of Probus group. Today there was a trip to Berry for Christmas in July. It was too expensive, you do miss out," he said.
Ms Gillard said her questioning of the pension increase and maternity leave payments showed she was cautious of making sure the $50 billion policies were affordable.
"I understand some might say that if you don't sign on the bottom line as soon as a proposal is put in front of your nose, somehow you lack passion or enthusiasm for it. Frankly, I believe that analysis is completely ridiculous and absurd," she said.


Julia Gillard's pension is $2000 a week

GILLARD CAUGHT OUT AGAIN TELLING UNTRUTHS.




GILLARD CAUGHT OUT AGAIN TELLING UNTRUTHS. When will this woman learn that lies always come back to haunt you? Has she learnt nothing from her 'young and naive' days? Considering she was in her 30's and a partner at S&G, 'young and naive' doesn't appear to me to be a truthful representation of the facts. Approaching middle-age and cunning as a shit-house rat is a far better description.

SHE'S AT IT AGAIN.

A transcript of the Prime Minister's national security speech has been amended on her official website because of an incorrect claim she made about the level of Australia's defence spending.

On Wednesday, Julia Gillard compared Australia's level of defence expenditure with other countries, declaring it was within the top 15 in the world in absolute terms and "second only to the United States in PER CAPITA SPENDING” (i.e dollars spend per head of population)

But the official transcript of her speech was later altered and now reads that Australia's defence spending is "second only to the United States on a per capita basis among the G7 countries plus China".

Either way, its all deception.

Firstly, according to former Army officer James Brown, “there are at least seven countries that spend more on defence on a PER CAPITA basis than Australia”.

Secondly, the gold standard on measuring defence spending is NOT per capita, but as PERCENTAGE of GDP.

And a percentage of GDP Australia's current spending level puts us a best A LOWLY 50th IN THE WORLD according to the latest SIPRI data, just behind military giants like Senegal and Croatia, and barely in front of New Zealand.

The bottom line is that at the last election Labor promised to increase Defence spending, but they did the opposite and slashed it. They misled the Australian public.

And now Ms Gillard has been caught red handed (again) making misleading statements on Australia’s Defense spending

Just another example that you can’t trust Labor as far as you far as you could throw them.

McClelland to quit at next election

Robert McClelland
Robert McClelland Photo: John Veage JVE


Former federal Attorney-General and prominent Kevin Rudd supporter Robert McClelland is set to resign from federal politics.
Mr McClelland will retire at the next federal election. His seat of Barton covers Kogarah in southern Sydney, a seat he has held since 1996.
Mr McClelland served as Attorney-General under Mr Rudd's government from 2007 and continued in the role in the early days of Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s leadership.
However, Ms Gillard moved Mr McClelland into emergency management in 2011.

Mr McClelland backed former prime minister Rudd in the February 2012 leadership ballot against Ms Gillard. Soon afterwards, Ms Gillard dumped him from the Cabinet.
At the time, Mr McClelland said when Ms Gillard phoned to advise him of his removal from cabinet she indicated he had gone ''further in public statements than others in my advocacy for Kevin Rudd''.
In March 2012, Mr McClelland announced he would remain in politics despite being demoted and his emergency management role given to Attorney-General Nicola Roxon.
Fairfax Media reported at the time that Labor party figures were concerned Mr McClelland was preparing to announce his immediate resignation and force a by-election, a dire situation for the minority Gillard government.
Last year he insisted he intended to continue as a backbencher and seek pre-selection for his seat of Barton in the 2013 election. But today Mr McClelland confirmed he would not seek pre-selection.
"After almost 17 years in Federal Parliament my decision has not been taken lightly and follows discussions over the Christmas recess with my family and friends," he said in a statement on Tuesday.
Mr McClelland said it had been a "tremendous honour and privilege" to represent his constituents and he was grateful for their support.
"I would also like to thank my family, staff, friends and supporters for their constancy over the past 17 years. They have provided the foundation and support for all that I have been able to achieve as the federal member for Barton and as a minister of the crown."
Mr McClelland did not spell out what he planned to do after leaving federal politics but said he looked forward to "continuing to make a contribution to the Australian community in the next stage of my professional career".
Mr McClelland is the son of Whitlam minister and NSW senator Doug McClelland.
As a backbencher last June, Mr McClelland referred to Ms Gillard's involvement in providing advice on the establishment of a contentious AWU fund in Parliament.
While speaking on a bill to crack down on fraud by union officials, he said:  "I never want to see a dollar that a worker gives a union used for any purpose other than the proper purposes of representing that union member's best interests.

"Indeed, I know the Prime Minister is quite familiar with this area of the law; as lawyers in the mid-1990s, we were involved in a matter representing opposing clients."
Subsequently, the Opposition raised questions about the Prime Minister's role in advising on the fund's establishment and her conduct as a lawyer at the time. 
Victorian MP Steve Gibbons tweeted that he was "not surprised" to hear of Mr McClelland's decision on Tuesday.

Mr Gibbons said that the Member for Barton: "served the party and his community with great distinction despite what some media commentators have said. Will be missed in Caucus.''
Shadow Treasurer Joe Hockey also tweeted his support for Mr McClelland.
"Rob McClelland - a very decent guy treated poorly by Julia Gillard. I genuinely wish him and his wonderful family all the very best."
Rudd supporter and Hunter region MP Joel Fitzgibbon also had kind words to say about his Labor colleague.
"Rob McClelland; great MP, great Attorney, great bloke and great mate. A great servant of the Labor Movement. History will treat him well," Mr Fitzgibbon posted.


McClelland to quit at next election

Monday, January 28, 2013

Slater & Gordon secretary quizzed as police step up AWU inquiries

Olivia Palmer
Olivia Palmer leaves Kawana Waters police station yesterday. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen Source: The Australian






A HIGHLY sensitive investigation by Victoria Police into the union scandal that has dogged Julia Gillard for 17 years has been stepped up, with a detective travelling to Queensland's Sunshine Coast to take a detailed statement from a key witness.
The witness, Olivia Palmer, is a highly regarded former legal secretary who worked with Ms Gillard at Melbourne-based firm Slater & Gordon lawyers when the fraud involving the Australian Workers Union unfolded.
A Victorian detective who arrived in Queensland on Monday spent most of Tuesday and yesterday interviewing Ms Palmer at Kawana police station near her Caloundra home. Ms Palmer - formerly Olivia Brosnahan - also provided evidence to detectives in Melbourne last week about her recollection of the firm's role in the funding and conveyancing of a $230,000 terrace house in Fitzroy, in the city's inner northeast.
The Kerr Street property was bought with cash from the AWU Workplace Reform Association by Ms Gillard's then boyfriend, Bruce Wilson, in 1993.
Ms Gillard, who had provided legal advice to Mr Wilson to set up the association, attended the auction.
The Prime Minister has repeatedly and vehemently denied wrongdoing, saying she knew nothing about the workings of the association. The association, which Ms Gillard later described as a "slush fund" for the re-election of union officials, was used by Mr Wilson and his union colleague Ralph Blewitt to defraud hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Ms Palmer, a retiree, told The Australian yesterday: "I am unable to comment to the media about this." Her husband, Garth Palmer, said police had asked his wife not to discuss her evidence or the probe in public.
Victoria Police's fraud squad has examined hundreds of documents including the Slater & Gordon conveyancing file for the Fitzroy property.
The file shows that Ms Gillard signed and witnessed a power of attorney that enabled Mr Wilson to buy the terrace house on behalf of Mr Blewitt, a confessed fraudster and union bagman.
Ms Palmer's role at Slater & Gordon at the time is outlined in conveyancing documents that show she made file notes, particularly about the power of attorney document signed by Ms Gillard.
It is understood that one key element of the police investigation concerns whether stolen union funds were dishonestly used to buy the Melbourne property. The establishment of the AWU Workplace Reform Association following Ms Gillard's legal advice, which was at the heart of heated exchanges between the Prime Minister and Tony Abbott in the last week of parliament last year, forms part of the renewed police probe.
Mr Blewitt, who admitted to The Australian last year that he was part of a fraud designed by Mr Wilson, faces possible criminal charges after telling Victoria Police of his role with the slush fund. He has alleged that the power of attorney was a false document.
Ms Gillard, who left Slater & Gordon abruptly in 1995, fronted a media conference on November 26 and angrily denounced Mr Blewitt as "a complete imbecile, an idiot, a stooge, a sexist pig".
Asked about the power of attorney document and whether it was done lawfully, Ms Gillard said: "I've said publicly on more than one occasion that I did nothing wrong, and I did nothing wrong in the witnessing of this power of attorney. So it's going to come down to Mr Blewitt's word against me.
"You can work out who you believe: the person who is standing here, Prime Minister of Australia, who has done nothing wrong; or the man who says he's guilty of fraud and is looking for an immunity."
She also referred to file notes made at the time by Ms Palmer.
Victoria Police said last month in response to a Freedom of Information application that the documents held by detectives would not be released as investigations were ongoing. A spokesman reiterated this week that "the investigation is ongoing and we will not be providing a running commentary".
West Australian police said they were liaising with Victoria Police and "ready to assist our Victorian counterparts".
A source close to the Victoria Police investigation has confirmed that several detectives are actively pursuing a number of leads and speaking to witnesses.
It is understood that Victoria Police have also visited the builder, now retired, who renovated Ms Gillard's Melbourne cottage.
Ms Gillard says she paid for the renovations herself.
Another witness, an AWU official involved in the renovation, Bill Telikostoglou, is expected to return to Melbourne from his home in Athens this month to assist police.


Slater & Gordon secretary quizzed as police step up AWU inquiries

Single mums turn to brothels and stripping : Editor: …and the award for feminist propaganda of the year goes to…



Editor: …and the award for feminist propaganda of the year goes to…
Anyone reading this pitiful excuse for journalism should start to hear a loud ringing noise in your ears, being the sound of your bullshit meter.
This bizarre piece about single mothers who refuse to engage in conventional employment when their child turns eight, but somehow find the time to become strippers and prostitutes, just defies common sense. It sounds like the typical feminist hysteria one would expect, in an attempt to conceal the true objection to these changes, that being that some people simply don’t want to work, but clever propaganda has made this into an attack on innocent and poverty stricken women.
Odds on that the Gillard government will now be bending over backwards to appease the single-mothers who feel betrayed by an otherwise sensible policy.
===============
Some single mothers hit by recent welfare cuts to parenting payments have turned to prostitution and strip clubs in order to keep a roof over their family’s head.
The payment cuts came in at the start of 2013 and affect 84,000 single parents, mostly mothers who received parenting payments.
The majority have been shifted onto the Newstart unemployment allowance when their youngest child turns eight.
More than 60,000 single parents now receive between $60 to $100 a week less under entitlement changes.
While the budget will look $728 million better over four years and make the system more sustainable, welfare groups have been concerned families will fall into poverty.
A spokeswoman from a Brisbane brothel told AAP there had been “influx” in applications from single mothers looking for work since the welfare changes came through.
She said there had been about 20 applications.
“They’re looking for extra cash to help cope following the cuts and Christmas and back to school,” said the spokeswoman, who did not want to be identified.
Women working at this brothel could make up to $1000 during an eight hour shift, seeing three to five clients, she said.
A spokeswoman from an inner-city Melbourne brothel said she knew of some single mothers, affected by the cuts, applying for jobs in strip clubs.
“They find pole dancing is a bit more palatable,” she said.
“It’s an easier step compared to going all the way with sex work.”
A woman from a St Kilda brothel said she had also noticed a huge increase in single mothers seeking sex work.
“It’s sad. They’re doing it to pay their rent,” she said, but also declined to give her name.
Single Parents Action Group spokeswoman Katrina Rae said she was not surprised women in her position were turning to sex work and stripping to pay the bills.
“I wouldn’t personally, but you would do anything to feed your family,” she said.
“The cuts have made people desperate.”
Ms Rae, a Sydney mother of four teenagers, said she had done her family budget on Sunday morning and was $287 behind for the next fortnight.
“I don’t have breakfast or lunch. If there’s not enough food for dinner I’ll have toast so the kids can eat,” she said.
“We look at our budgets and we cry ourselves to sleep.”
She said the federal government was “clueless” about how hard single mothers work to care for their families and pay the rent.
“We’re not sitting at home watching daytime television,” Ms Rae said.
“We run around like headless chooks.”
She said as a victim of domestic violence she didn’t choose to be a single parent.
“Society sees us as a bunch of teenagers who can’t close their legs,” Ms Rae said.
“For me the choice was continue to be a punching bag or get out.”
Ms Rae works a full time job in insurance, commutes 22 hours a week for work, and only manages to stay $25 above the poverty line each week.
“I’ve considered moving our family into a garage and living in the car,” she said.
“At the moment I sleep on a lounge so the kids can sleep in a bed.”
Comment is being sought from the federal government departments concerned.


Single mums turn to brothels and stripping

Is the Prime Minister a person of interest in the Victoria Police investigation into The AWU Scandal @mpsmithnews



I've been asked by a number of journalists whether the Prime Minister is being investigated by police for her conduct in relation to The AWU Scandal in the mid 1990s.
On 22 January Victoria Police released this statement from a spokesperson Leone Johnson:
"Victoria Police Fraud and Extortion Squad is currently investigating a complaint regarding the alleged misappropriation of funds from a union.
"As the matter is under investigation, it would be inappropriate to comment further."
A journalist colleague wrote to Victoria Police on 23 January, 2013 and asked who was under investigation and who had made statements.   This is the on the record response from Victoria Police.
Victoria Police does not confirm who may or may not be under investigation or providing statements.
 Adam West |   Police Media Unit | Victoria Police 
I lodged a report with the Chief Commissioner of Police on 17 October, 2012 naming Julia Gillard as the person who had apparently created a false document in the Power of Attorney used in the purchase of the Kerr Street property.
I am told that my report is still being investigated.   Victoria Police itself has confirmed that its investigations now encompass "the alleged misappropriation of funds", an investigation that is broader now than the original report regarding the Power of Attorney document.
You will have seen reports of Victoria Police attending on Olivia Palmer in Queensland apparently for the purpose of taking detailed statements from Ms Palmer (nee Brosnahan).   Ms Palmer was involved in the conveyance and mortgage of 1/85 Kerr Street Fitzroy and observed Ms Gillard's conduct first hand.   Ms Brosnahan may have had direct dealings with Bruce Wilson or Ralph Blewitt, but the documents in the conveyance file show a much greater interaction between Ms Brosnahan and Ms Gillard.
It is difficult to see how detectives could gather a complete picture of what went on in The AWU Scandal without speaking to the Prime Minister.   At present Mr Blewitt's version of how the Power of Attorney came to be created is the only public statement about the document.  Ms Gillard has refused to answer questions from journalists, other than to say that she witnessed thousands of signatures/documents and she always did it properly.
Ms Gillard helped to create the documents that set up the AWU-WRA.   She apparently helped to create the Power of Attorney document used in the house purchase and in the mortgage for 1/85 Kerr Street Fitzroy.   She continued to act for Wilson right up to the time of his investigation by the union for alleged embezzlement of funds in some Victorian accounts.  She did not disclose to the union or to police the existence of the WA based AWU-WRA, an entity that she could note "rule out" as the source of funds for her own home renovations.
I think that common sense would lead any reasonable person to say that the fresh investigation by Victoria Police into The AWU Scandal would be incomplete without hearing from Ms Gillard


Is the Prime Minister a person of interest in the Victoria Police investigation into The AWU Scandal

It's hard to believe that an Australian Government could try this on - Nicola Roxon's speech laws



It's shocking to think that this proposed legislation even made it to the drafting stage.   Who could possibly put their name to this abomination?  As usual, the Gillard Government proposes to exclude itself from the effects of its rabid laws, but as Victoria's Attorney General Robert Clark points out, everyone else will be subject to what amounts to thought control.  And thanks to The Australian newspaper for its vigourous pursuit of this issue and our right to free speech.  

Labor's dangerous discrimination draft should be shown the door

julia-gillard-a-nazi-by-another-nameLAST last year, the Gillard Labor government released a draft anti-discrimination law for public comment that was supposed simply to consolidate a few existing commonwealth laws.
Instead, the proposed law would impose sweeping restrictions on freedom of speech and on people's conduct in their workplaces, shops, schools and clubs. It would also impede the ability of state police and state governments to protect the community.
The draft law proposes dramatically to extend the definition of discrimination to include conduct that "offends" or "insults" another person, based on 18 specified attributes including age, gender, political opinion and "social origin".
If this becomes law, merely expressing a view that others find objectionable because they (or their friends) have such an attribute could constitute an act of "discrimination" for which the person expressing the view may be liable to pay compensation.
The prohibition would not even be based on what a reasonable person might consider insulting, but on whether the person complaining felt offended or insulted.
The prohibition would apply not only to statements made in public debate, but to private conversations in places such as workplaces, schools and clubs.
Not only does this threaten long-standing freedoms under Australian law, it is also contrary to the right of freedom of expression set out in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which is one of the key international treaties on which the Gillard government claims its new law is based.
The draft law also proposes sweeping extensions to where discrimination is prohibited. Current law regulates specific groups that might discriminate, such as providers of employment, education, goods and services, clubs, and sporting associations.
However, the draft new law covers the conduct of any person "connected with any area of public life". This means the law will regulate the conduct of any employee of a business, any student at a school, any customer in a shop, any volunteer in a community organisation, any blogger - and so forth.
The draft law could also dramatically affect the ability of state governments to serve and protect their communities.
It appears to apply, for example, to responsibilities of police and other law enforcement authorities such as the pursuit, arrest, transport and detention of suspects, transport and accommodation of prisoners and exercise of discretion by prosecutors.
If the Gillard government's proposal becomes law, police and prison authorities could be hamstrung in their work of protecting the community by a barrage of anti-discrimination claims brought by suspects, offenders and prisoners.
The Gillard government proposes to exempt all its own activities authorised under commonwealth law from the application of its new law.
However, it proposes no such general exemption for activities authorised under state laws, even though a vast range of state government roles affected by the new law are crucial for safeguarding the community.
The draft law will also create a greatly expanded layer of regulation in addition to the existing state anti-discrimination laws, with different rules and exemptions for the same types of conduct, producing uncertainty both for those who have been discriminated against and for those who are trying to comply with the law.
In addition, the proposed law gives the Australian Human Rights Commission a power to issue "compliance codes" that could exceed the standards in the draft law and would operate to override state anti-discrimination law.
All of this involves a massive increase in red tape, not only for businesses but for voluntary community organisations, with directors and office-holders facing liability for these sweeping new forms of "discrimination" by their employees and volunteers, and also facing a reverse onus requiring them to prove that they or their staff or volunteers did not act for a discriminatory reason.
The hardest hit will be small and medium-sized businesses and small volunteer-run community organisations.
To add to the uncertainties, there are also doubts about the constitutional validity of the proposed new law itself.
The government relies on its power to implement international treaties to justify much of the proposed law. However, as former NSW chief justice James Spigelman has said "none of Australia's international treaty obligations require us to protect any person or group from being offended".
The law's attempt to restrict state governments in areas such as law enforcement and management of prisoners also seems to be beyond the commonwealth's powers.
This flawed and dangerous proposal needs a lot more scrutiny and debate before it gets anywhere near the statute book.
Robert Clark is Attorney-General of Victoria.

Thursday, January 24, 2013

A very big chapter in the nation's history is brewing - @mpsmithnews




Michael SmithI have been dealing with The AWU Scandal for more than 12 months and every day I learn something new about it.

I am so grateful to Steve J and Spin Baby Spin for their analyses of the law and what we have all seen of the Power of Attorney.  It is taking time, but more and more of us are starting to realise that there is a big, stinky issue that will soon engulf people who are trying to hide it. 
Here's to lifelong learning!