nsw politics
11 Jun 2008
Get Some Spines!
John Della Bosca, sans car licence
If the NSW Opposition can't land a few punches with the Iguanas affair they don't even deserve to be in government
The iguana is a strange looking creature. Half of this lizard's length is taken up by a whip-like tail. It's a highly adaptable animal, and iguanas can be found in a range of environments, from cold oceans to rainforests to hot desert environments. (Apparently iguana soup also makes men more virile.)This iguana-like adaptability and tenacity is exactly what a successful Opposition needs to knock off one of the longest serving NSW State governments. A Queen's Birthday long weekend is a long time in State politics, and staff at the Iguanas Waterfront Bar on the NSW Central Coast have provided the NSW Liberal Opposition and their Federal counterparts with an excellent opportunity to land some fatal blows to the Iemma Government.
Whichever way you look at it, the incident on Friday night involving Education Minister (and NSW ALP Right heavy) John Della Bosca and his wife Federal Labor MP for the Central Coast seat of Robertson, Belinda Neal doesn't look pretty for the Labor Party in NSW.
Thanks to Fiona Katauskas
In addition to assisting the Minister for Finance, Della Bosca is also supposed to be Minister for Industrial Relations and for the Central Coast. If media reports and statutory declarations prepared by Iguanas' employees are correct, Della Bosca's drunken disrespect (and subsequent bullying) of staff shows little regard to Central Coast workers.
Della Bosca's friend, a co-owner of the bar, has apparently withdrawn the Iguanas Bar complaint against him. On that basis, Premier Iemma is standing by his Minister. Why would an employer contradict the sworn statements of so many employees? Especially when their statements are corroborated by at least one patron?
One could argue that Iemma is effectively suggesting that the Iguanas Bar employees have committed an offence under the Oaths Act 1900 (NSW) by providing false stat decs.
Belinda Neal doesn't look much better. In her maiden speech, delivered in February this year, Neal speaks of her pride in the Australian voters who "rejected the exploitation of workers and embraced a fairer relationship between employees and employers". Her alleged threatening of the establishment's liquor licence shows plenty of the "self-seeking opportunism" she claims Aussie voters rejected.
(In a further round of stat decs, Neal's friend has now signed one swearing that the Federal MP doesn't swear.)
In Neal's defence, hubby Della Bosca remarks that claims she threatened the club's liquor licence represent jurisdictional confusion: "That is a ridiculous argument. She is a Federal member of Parliament ... She said nothing of the sort". With respect, that's a ridiculous defence.
The NSW Liberal and National Parties need to be screaming about this from the rooftops. They need to hammer home the message that the Iemma Government has become arrogant and out-of-touch with ordinary voters, its ministers behaving more like mafia bosses.
Back in 1995, in the months leading up to the demise of the Fahey Liberal government, stuff far less sordid and scandalous was used effectively by then opposition leader Bob Carr and his campaign director (ironically John Della Bosca). They provided plenty of running commentary to journos when a Liberal police minister was forced to resign after allegations of sexual harassment were made by his staff.
These were allegations. I can't recall if they were ever proven or if the minister was convicted in the manner in which a former minister of the Iemma Government was convicted for far more serious offences. (Ironically, he too was from the NSW Central Coast.)
But are the Liberals scoring any punches? All we've heard thus far is Opposition leader Barry O'Farrell (or "Fatty O'Barrell" as he used to be known before his weight loss strategies showed more success than mine) cautiously calling for Della Bosca to be sacked for driving without a licence on the night of the incident. He also wants some kind of inquiry.
Federal Opposition Leader Brendan Nelson is showing slightly more muscle: "Belinda Neal as the member for Robertson actually sought to use her parliamentary position to intimidate workers at the night club, and further to that, we understand that to threaten the licensing and other arrangements at the club ... Now, this is an abuse of power, it's the ugliest form of abuse of power by a parliamentarian. Belinda Neal is meeting the description of an ugly bully."
But O'Farrell can't rely on Nelson to be fighting his battles for him. Why he is treading so cautiously thus far is beyond me. This whole incident is an absolute political gift, and O'Farrell seems to be prevaricating and hesitating. He should be going in for the kill.
And what about his shadow ministers? Why haven't we heard a peep from them?
What should be a nervous moment for Morris Iemma's Government has suddenly turned into a test of Barry O'Farrell's leadership. Quite frankly, if the NSW State Opposition doesn't grab this opportunity, if they drop even this simple catch, they simply don't deserve to be in government.
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‘Don’t you know who I am?’ Is there a possible positive response to this most revealing of questions.
The implication of course is that Ms Neal thinks people should be treated differently if they are an MP. If I were in her electorate I would be around her office as soon as possible to ask if she considers herself better than me and why, given that she appears to be nothing more than a shrill pisshead.
Unfortunately Ms Neal’s question is just another example of the born to rule mentality that pervades both sides of parliament. I am willing to bet that the reason fat Barry isn’t having a go is because he wants to be able to pull strings, get people fired and have liscences revoked when his time comes. Not that it will but he must live in hope.
I would like to instigate a standing order for all right thinking Australians. If asked ‘Don’t you know who I am?’ I am going to reply by simply saying ‘Go fuck yourself.’ Its not clever or educational but it does give the response they deserve.
On the matter of stautory declarations the one from Belinda’s friend is not worth the paper they have wiped it on. I could get a stat dec saying I am rich and handsome but I would still be poor. And handsome.
I’ve always thought the best response is something along the, accurate and constitutionally guaranteed (as much as our constitution guarantees owt, "Yeh, you’re my employee, as a taxpayer and MY representative, whether or not I live in your electorate by virtue of Common Law in the this Commonwealth.".
A bit verbose and reeking of esprit d’escalier but we need to assert our true positions.
These meretricious mediocrities are our creatures, employed to do the dirty day-to-day stuff like making sure the sewers work and the trains run on time …..
Our Betters & Lords 7 Masters they are NOT.
Let’s just take a reality check here - a simple reading of the Constitution PROHIBITS MPs from giving ear to any but their constituents. Politicial parties have no constitutional worth, they are no more or less than private clubs like a butterfly appreciation society.
I want to play devils advocate a bit here:
If you are running a restaurant and a very senior NSW Minister and the local federal MP turn up in your place …. let’s be realistic here:
1. They genuinely are VIPs. It’s not big noting or unrealistic or even kowtowing to take extra care with service or even give respect. If being a people’s representative means anything then a parliamentarian does deserve due regard if only for the majority who voted for them.
I say this as once 4 years a local councillor and you can quibble all you like about egalitarianism in Australia or so called class less society but the fact is people do give you extra space and regard even as a humble local government rep. So much more in the big houses. Except for the odd nutter who just wants to make strife, anyway.
2. "Don’t you know who I am" might actually be an incredulous statement to a snot nose jumped up Young Lib who is deliberately provocative and snide.
But were they such staff? One wonders. Liberal staffer quick to witness the stat dec is suggestive. Maybe they were just average Joes and Marys doing their job.
3. I don’t trust the Daily Telegraph - did they report Della was drinking when he was on mineral water. That’s an inconvenient reality check on their reliability.
4. Now we have Belinda Neal suspension from the soccer game. How bad was it really. Don’t trust a front page in the Telegraph - read point 3 again. It could be true, it could be rubbish. Or it could HRT. Who the hell would know?
In summary the real sin here is that Big Kev’s air time is being squeezed when his visit to Hiroshima was really very profound and deserved front pages all over, not least NSW. That’s the fire in Julia Gillard’s - ‘there will be another statement later today’ edge in her voice. Belind Neal you are in big trouble.
Meanwhile female Aussie Rules is taking off in Sydney as a real contact sport.
If the Opposition are not taking strips of flesh off, the News Corp media certainly are and it’s hurting just for press acreage stealing oxygen. Agree the Opposition should be careful - bigger coverup ‘than Watergate’ says Barry - err I don’t think so! I did laugh Barry, but for the wrong reason. You are just being silly, expecting better after that long track up Kokoda.
Quite right Tom, I don’t rely on the Telegraph for anything except to identify dickheads on the train.
You are also right I think to say that the proper stories were kept off the front page by what is just an overblown small town scandal. This sort of stuff does belong in the Local Government section of the Wentworth Courier, but that’s partly the point. If Belinda Neal can’t control herself in public (and there appears to be mounting evidence that this is the case) she should be relegated to the minor league.
I also agree that people are developing a class awareness that allows them to bow and scrape to even minor dignitaries. I just think that’s a bad idea that should be discouraged where possible. Egalitarianism is still a valued goal from my perspective. Certainly the Labor Party flog the concept when it suits them.
As to the possibility that this is all a set up by NSW Libs I have seen no evidence that the Liberals have the gumption, cleverness or even gross motor skills to pull it off. They might try in their inept way to benifit but lets face it, bringing up Watergate is like bringing up the Nazis, an immediate argument loser.
Are’nt we off the topic again?
Who is that fatty on the bike?
Anyway, yes, there are people who are famous for just being famous, too many and unimportant to mention.
Yes there is a healthy Ozzie contempt for anyone "better" than they.
Yes the site of Labor aristocracy makes me want to puke into my mineral water too.
However, I cheer up, and can look my fellow commuters in the face when I read headlines like this on "their" Tele’s "Rudd drops bombshell in Hiroshima".
Speaking of Iguanas:
I have to share this with you: Def’n: Juxtaposition: Going from the Cor blimey to the Rud(d)iculous.
Anymore Kevinisms or Ruddisms anyone?
Please share…
Tzvika
Alexkturvey
Whilst it is true that people do give respect to people who hold elected office, it is highly arrogant and presumptious of elected people to expect, nay demand, respect and special treatment as if it were a right and entitlement - particularly if they have only just been elected and are virtual unknowns in the electorate they represent.
However, one thing Belinda Neal has achieved out of the whole sorry episode, is that she has increased her recognition factor 10 fold, something a bucket load of paid advertising or "good news" stories would never have achieved.
She has a lot to be thankful to the Daily Telegraph for.
I was raised in NSW, around Bankstown, but as a current South Australian, I have to report that over here, if they were asked about the Iguana affair, most South Australians, even the most genteel and sweet-tempered and those used to N.S.Welshpeople, would reply ‘who gives a flying fcuk?’ And I’m sure that most non-NSW readers would agree. Get over yourselves. It’s a repugnant misuse of power and neither deserve to be in parliament, but not quite a Mugabe-level offence.
Joe