Electoral Commission Clears Most Of Thomson’s Election Spending

May 16, 2012

The Australian Electoral Commission says less than one tenth of $260,000 of Health Services Union funds used by Craig Thomson in his Dobell campaign remains in question.

A report issued by the AEC says most of the funds spent by Thomson’s campaign were within the reporting guidelines laid down in the Electoral Act.

The AEC report stemmed from Fair Work Australia’s report that said Thomson used more than $260,000 of union funds in Dobell.

The AEC is seeking further information on items totalling $17,014.88.

Media release from the Australian Electoral Commission.

The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) today released its analysis of the information contained in the Report of the Delegate to the General Manager of Fair Work Australia – “Investigation into the National Office of the Health Services Union under section 331 of the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Act 2009” (the FWA Report) dated 28 March 2012 against the reporting obligations contained in the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 (Electoral Act). [Read more...]

Whatever It Is, I’m Against It

May 15, 2012

Gillard Addresses ACTU Congress: “I Fight For Australia”

May 15, 2012

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has addressed the triennial ACTU Congress in Sydney.

Julia Gillard

  • Listen to Ged Kearney introduce Julia Gillard:

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  • Listen to Gillard’s speech:

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Obama Campaign Launches Anti-Romney Bain Capital TV Ad

May 15, 2012

The Obama campaign has released a new television advertisement targeting Mitt Romney over his record at Bain Capital.

The two-minute ad will run in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Colorado and Virginia. It features a Kansas City steel plant purchased by Bain Capital which shut it down after making a large profit. “They came in and sucked the life out of us,” one of the plant’s former workers says in the ad.

“If he’s going to run the country the way he ran his business, I wouldn’t want him there,” says another.

The ad signals a concerted attempt by the Obama campaign to define its Republican opponent.

The presidential election takes place on November 4, in just under six months time.

UPDATE – May 16 – The Romney campaign has released this video in response.

Q&A: Wong And Hockey On Gay Marriage

May 14, 2012

The final question on tonight’s Q&A produced an interesting contrast between Shadow Treasurer Joe Hockey and Finance Minister Penny Wong.

  • Listen to the question and responses:

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Carbon Tax Ads Without The Carbon Tax

May 14, 2012

The Gillard government’s campaign to promote the “Household Assistance Package” has begun with the airing of television advertisements.

The ads focus on the compensation payments which formed part of the Clean Energy Future legislation but they make no mention of the carbon price.

The Critical Decade: NSW Climate Change Report Released

May 14, 2012

The Climate Commission has released a report on New South Wales climate impacts and opportunities.

Climate commissioners Tim Flannery, Will Steffen and Lesley Hughes spoke to the media about their report.

  • Listen to the media conference:

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  • Download ‘The Critical Decade’ report (PDF)

This is the Climate Commission’s summary of its report, ‘The Critical Decade’.

New South Wales (NSW) is home to over a third of Australians, 31% of the national economy and is highly vulnerable to climate change. Scientists are concerned that climate change is increasing the risk of hot weather, heatwaves, and bushfires, and changing the patterns of drought and heavy rainfall. A changing climate is costly, putting pressure on human health, agriculture, infrastructure and the natural environment.

NSW is becoming hotter and drier. Record-breaking hot days have more than doubled across Australia since 1960 and heatwaves in the greater Sydney region, especially in the western suburbs, have increased in duration and intensity. [Read more...]

Craig Thomson Says He Was Set Up

May 12, 2012

Craig Thomson has defended himself against allegations of misuse of union funds in an extraordinary interview with Laurie Oakes on Channel 9.

Thomson claims threats were made against him in 2004 that he would be set up with “hookers” to “ruin my potential political career”.

He argues that other members of the Health Services Union had knowledge of his credit card and driver’s licence numbers. He says “proof of a phone call is not proof of who is on the end of the phone…cutting right through it, Laurie, it was not me.”

  • Listen to Thomson’s interview with Oakes (18m)

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Peter Costello Responds To Michael Kroger

May 11, 2012

This is the text of a statement released today by Peter Costello.

STATEMENT – 11 May 2012

I did not hear Michael Kroger’s Radio Interviews this morning as I was Chairing a Post-Budget function for the Liberal Party where over 800 guests attended to hear Joe Hockey respond to the Budget. That excellent speech should have been the story of the day.

Since I have been deluged with media requests for a reply I will go to the factual matters. I will not reply to the attacks on my character, other than to say they are false. I have been elected to Parliament seven times and every aspect of my career and life has been scrutinized for decades. People can form their own judgements.

Since I voluntarily retired from Parliament I have not sought to return to Parliament. I have not sought Mr Kroger’s assistance to do so. I think the events of this morning indicate why I would not repose a confidence in him. And most importantly of all Mr Kroger holds no position in the Kooyong Electorate. What possible influence would he have? The Liberal Party is run by a membership not by factional bosses. I was the longest Deputy Leader in its history. I know how it works. I do not need to go to Mr Kroger for assistance in relation to its affairs. [Read more...]

Michael Kroger Unloads On Peter Costello

May 11, 2012

Michael Kroger has unleashed an extraordinary attack on Peter Costello in radio interviews this morning.

Kroger appeared first on Jon Faine’s program on ABC 774 in Melbourne, and then spoke to Neil Mitchell on 3AW.

Michael Kroger

  • Listen to Kroger’s interview with ABC’s Jon Faine:

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  • Listen to Kroger’s interview with 3AW’s Neil Mitchell:

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