They got off scott-free
In 2009, allegations were made that Kayrn Paluzzano MP, had illegally used public money to fund her re-election campaign.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
At first, she denied the accusation at an Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) hearing on 16 April 2010.
At a subsequent meeting, Paluzzano admitted to falsely signing employee pay forms and using her electoral mail allowance for political purposes.
At the completion of the enquiry in July 2010, Judge Anthony Blackmore said he accepted Paluzzano did not benefit financially from her crime, but it was vital those in power understood the need to be "scrupulously honest".
The court heard Paluzzano did not benefit from signing the false statements, which amounted to $4200 in payments.
In 2012 Paluzzano pleaded guilty to four charges relating to falsely claiming parliamentary payments between 2006 and 2007, as well as giving misleading evidence to the corruption watchdog in a 2010 inquiry. Paluzzano was sentenced to a minimum of twelve months home detention.
The above is an example of sic political justice. Take a step forward to the current banking royal commission, and the exposure of multiple lying under oath to the corporate watchdog.
We are talking about lives ruined and the theft of hundreds of millions, if not billions over a ten year period (5 under conservative governments).
The worst part is, Abbott and Turnbull have encouraged the exploitation, and l what is worse, Scott Morrison, has intimated the perpetrators of injustice will get off “Scott-free” (no pun intended).
John Macleod, Berry
Want to halve electricity bills?
Here is how to do it: eliminate the federal government ’s control on the price we pay for electricity and gas.
Abolish the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO), the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC), the Australian Energy Regulator (AER), the Energy Security Board (ESB) the National Energy Guarantee (NEG) and the Council of Australian Governments Energy Council (COAG Energy Council).
The abolition of the agencies will see 50 or so board directors and CEO’s banished from the public purse.
The remaining workforce (in excess 1,000) can be re-absorbed (depending on recruitment) into federal or state government departments.
The regulation of the pricing of gas and electricity handed back to the states.
While most importantly the Federal Minister for Resources and Energy, Josh Frydenberg, with the help of business, formulate an effective strategy to reduce the amount of carbon emissions over the coming years.
John Macleod, Berry
Banks bordering on orgsanised crime?
The Oxford Dictionary's definition of “Organised Crime”; Criminal activities that are planned and controlled by powerful groups and carried out on a large scale.
The Banking Royal Commission, although part the way through, has already shown this definition applies to our major banks and financial institutions.
Taking peoples money for services not supplied,even from the dead, that’s theft!
Manipulation of regulators, the list go’s on. It's time we treat these institutions like other criminal organisation and follow Iceland’s example, imprison the leaders, take their assets and nationalised them.
You may argue that this will hurt the investors, who may be innocent, but they have been living off the proceeds of crime.
No, the only way to stop this financial criminal activity is to nationalise these organisations.
Dave Schmidt, Towradgi