Huge bribery corruption exposed in the oil industry including an Australian company. Liberals money-laundering Free Enterprise Foundation caught out and $4m withheld from NSW Libs – Arfa (I saw nuffink) Sinodinos remains coalition senior minister. Banks routinely defrauding their customers but no royal commission – pink batts far more important. Developers buying politicians at all levels. Mining lobby ‘running’ Baird government. Tax cheats ignored by Turnbull, etc.
Why? Because the electorate keeps voting for the fully purchased major parties, not noticing the blinkers kindly provided.
Congratulations to The Echo editor’s fine effort last issue in exposing the chicanery that passes for governance at our state level, including the mealy-mouthed rationalisations of Ben (I may vote the party line but you should have heard me in the cabinet) Franklin MLC.
On senate voting reforms. Certainly the system is bent but not as much as in the lower house where it entrenches the Lib/Lab duopoly. Elect both houses proportionally and you won’t need a senate (see NZ).
Jumping on the Greens for voting for a policy they have had for ten years does not wash. The ALP supported the changes until their number-crunchers calculated they would get no advantage. They offered no alternative; many would call this hypocrisy.
And for those hoping for some holiday-let relief, Glenn Brookes, the chair of the parliamentary investigation, has stood aside owing to alleged naughtiness in his election campaign. His replacement is the holiday-let whisperer J Coure (mentioned in an earlier letter) – some hope for respite.
We have two elections before Christmas – bon chance.
Tom Tabart, Bangalow
