Barry O’Farrell Resigns After Handwritten Thank-You Note For Wine Is Tendered At ICAC

The Liberal Premier of New South Wales, Barry O’Farrell has resigned, after a handwritten thank-you note for a 1959 bottle of Grange was tendered at ICAC.

The thank-you note was handed to ICAC this morning by Nick Di Girolamo, the chief executive of Australian Water Holdings. Yesterday, O’Farrell denied receiving the gift or phoning Di Girolamo to thank him.

O'Farrell

Thank-you note

O’Farrell described his behaviour as a “massive failure of memory”. [Read more…]


Abbott Government To Build Second Sydney Airport At Badgerys Creek

The federal government has announced that a second Sydney airport will be built at Badgerys Creek.

Abbott

Planning for the new airport is to start immediately, with construction beginning in 2016. The government says most of the cost will be met by a private sector operator.

The Prime Minister, Tony Abbott, and the Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development, Warren Truss, made the announcement at a press conference in Canberra this afternoon. [Read more…]


Paul Keating’s Letter To John Robertson

Keating's letter to Robertson