Trouble in Aus State Politics

Clearly there is more to it than a $3k bottle of wine.

Barry is resigning now that he knows that all the other trouble is going to catch up with him in the next 12 months before the election.

Sir Positry isn't happy:

Question: Do you trust this Government, the State Government, which is proving to be corrupt, to deliver your major infrastructure?


Abbott: That, if I may say so, is an entirely unjustified smear. Let me not mince my words, an entirely unjustified smear and frankly, I think you should withdraw that and apologise. There is no evidence whatsoever for that. Can you please tell me what your evidence for that is?


Question: He specifically said yesterday if he was delivered a bottle of that nature, he would remember it. Today a thank you note has uncovered and he resigned. I think voters would be sceptical about the way this has unfolded.


Abbott: Without wanting to get into an argument with the media, what you have just said is very different from the accusation, the statement that you earlier made and we need to have decent standards in this country. We need to have decent standards from the media, if I may say so, as well as decent standards from politicians.


Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/barry-ofarrell-resigns-after-being-caught-out-over-bottle-of-wine-20140416-36qpg.html#ixzz2z0dVsPsE

Looks like Di Girolamo did BOF in:


9.17am. That's what time ICAC learned of the existence of a handwritten note from Barry O'Farrell thanking Nick Di Girolamo for the 1959 wine.
An irate counsel assisting the inquiry, Geoffrey Watson, SC, has this morning defended ICAC against the suggestion that it was "sitting on" the thank you card from O'Farrell.
The smoking gun, instead, came from Mr Di Girolamo.
"I just want to correct something. I've been informed while I've been sitting here that there is some suggestion being made that ICAC had access to that information relating to Mr O'Farrell, the card, and sat on it, held it back until Mr O'Farrell gave his evidence," Watson said.
"If it is being said, it's false, it shouldn't be said and quite frankly - and I think I probably speak on behalf of everybody at ICAC - I resent it if it is being said.
"I can tell whoever wants to know in the world ICAC acquired the information at 9.17am this morning."

Di Girolamo then adds: "I would resent that too, commissioner."
Commissioner Megan Latham says: "I can also verify that the email to ICAC came onto my desk at 9.20am this morning and that it was sent through partly I think from Mr Alexis [Mr Di Girolamo's barrister, Todd Alexis, SC] to Mr Watson as I understand it at that time and prior to that time no one had any knowledge that that document even existed."


Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/barry-ofarrell-resigns-after-being-caught-out-over-bottle-of-wine-20140416-36qpg.html#ixzz2z0iAGGHR

Aussies seems to vote in people with the worst memories in the land.

This is a pretty bad outcome for NSW on a practical level.

O'Farrell has been a surprisingly good premier. God knows who the Liberal party room will throw up now.

I don't think there needs to be more skeletons in O'Farrell's closet. Once he emphatically denied receiving the bottle of wine on the stand yesterday he was digging himself a hole. Any concrete evidence to the contrary (which was produced today) made his position close to untenable.

O'Farrell could easily have gone to ICAC yesterday and said "Yes, I received the bottle. It should have been declared, but in the rush of putting a new government in place it slipped through the cracks".

That still would have looked a little grubby, but he'd have gotten away with it. For someone as skilled as O'Farrell I find it hard to believe he'd make an unnecessary all-or-nothing denial unless he believed it.

Also, ICAC has said there is no suggestion O'Farrell acted corruptly or gave an advantage to Australian Water Holdings.

If there really is nothing else then it seems that BOF could have weathered the storm.

Similar comments were made about Greiner 20 years ago.

Perhaps you don't want to win an election when NSW votes:

Election	Winner	Served full term?
2003 NSW	Bob Carr	No
2004 Federal	John Howard	Lost seat
2007 NSW	Morris Iemma	No
2007 Federal	Kevin Rudd	No
2010 Federal	Julia Gillard	No
2011 NSW	Barry O'Farrell	No
2013 Federal	Tony Abbott	???

Hass wrote:This is a pretty bad outcome for NSW on a practical level.

O'Farrell has been a surprisingly good premier. God knows who the Liberal party room will throw up now.

I don't think there needs to be more skeletons in O'Farrell's closet. Once he emphatically denied receiving the bottle of wine on the stand yesterday he was digging himself a hole. Any concrete evidence to the contrary (which was produced today) made his position close to untenable.

O'Farrell could easily have gone to ICAC yesterday and said "Yes, I received the bottle. It should have been declared, but in the rush of putting a new government in place it slipped through the cracks".

That still would have looked a little grubby, but he'd have gotten away with it. For someone as skilled as O'Farrell I find it hard to believe he'd make an unnecessary all-or-nothing denial unless he believed it.

agree Hass re Boofa being a good premier....far and above the best Oz has seen since Bracks...his sense may have eluded him on this issue but in general his calls have been good esp on Comm/State issues...a loss for the spivs and arguably the country..

...btw Boofas resignation over a bottle of plonk (admittedly an expensive one) puts a lot of pressure on Sinodinis and the Lib Party machine in NSW

Good article by Paul Sheehan:

http://www.smh.com.au/comment/barry-ofarrells-lapse-not-a-reason-for-the-guillotine-20140416-zqvhw.html

What was Greiner's sin. Admitting he made a political appointment for political reasons or something? When he just could've trotted out the "uniquely qualified...years of long service...blah,blah" crap they usually do.

Dare I say it. Something in the water in NSW.

Bit unfair ....More pollies go to gaol in chipville

Bradman wrote:What was Greiner's sin.  Admitting he made a political appointment for political reasons or something?  When he just could've trotted out the "uniquely qualified...years of long service...blah,blah" crap they usually do.

Dare I say it.  Something in the water in NSW.

Greiner was leading a minority govt and the independents at the time said he had to go. 

The appointment was the son of one of the Independents so the "he's uniquely qualified" line might have been a little hollow. 

He was eventually found not to be corrupt by the Supreme Court.

horace wrote:Bit unfair ....More pollies go to gaol in chipville

Well I was trying on a pun, but don't mistake found out and not found out.

Got a text from lardy about Fatty O'Barrell this morning. Couldn't believe it. Very careless not to declare a $3000 bottle of Grange. Has cost a good pollie his job.

And PMSL at Shifty Robbo saying it shows how corrupt the Libs are. This from a man who rubbed shoulders with Eddie Obeid for years.  

Aye.  I'm amazed Robbo said anything at all today other than "10 scratchies thanks love".

Well I guess the Libs can't claim to have the moral high ground in the Ethics stakes.

Blackadder wrote:Well I guess the Libs can't claim to have the moral high ground in the Ethics stakes.

Sadly

they probably still do

Serious question, as I don't know ... whose handwriting is it on the thank you note? Is it BOF's or his wife's?

I read that BOF admitted it is his handwriting

It does not add up.

A man who is as intelligent as BOF and a man who spent 20 years of his life trying to become premier decides in 10 mins that his career is over.

Clearly there is more to it that may come out.

Resigning over a bottle of wine because you are an honourable man? I love to believe it but somehow don't.

don't know...but had the same thought...could be it was the Boofette and not the Boofa...

I really believe Boofa is an honest bloke as well as being a smart and decent pollie...still think most pollies from both sides are honest and very hard working - even if I rarely agree with them...

sadly it is grubs like Obeid, Thompson, the filth in the water industry in both Vic and NSW and Downer who let the rest down

Paul Keating wrote:It does not add up.

A man who is as intelligent as BOF and a man who spent 20 years of his life trying to become premier decides in 10 mins that his career is over.

Clearly there is more to it that may come out.

Resigning over a bottle of wine because you are an honourable man? I love to believe it but somehow don't.

"Believe me, if I had received a $3000 bottle of wine, I would have remembered it."- O'Farrell on Monday.

If he HONESTLY had forgotten, you'd think he would have asked his wife to jolt his memory before he said something like that publicly.

He's either had a very, very stupid moment, he's been lying through his teeth since Monday, or he's been stitched up. I can't believe he would have genuinely forgotten receiving the wine.

horace wrote:don't know...but had the same thought...could be it was the Boofette and not the Boofa...

I really believe Boofa is an honest bloke as well as being a smart and decent pollie...still think most pollies from both sides are honest and very hard working - even if I rarely agree with them...

sadly it is grubs like Obeid, Thompson, the filth in the water industry in both Vic and NSW and Downer who let the rest down

Senility