DEMISE OF TONY ABBOTT No.108

FAT CAT & FRIENDS

SirThomasWynne:

* JOE HOCKEY * 

TONY ABBOTT HATES THAT APP THAT REPLACES HIM WITH CATS... 

#CORRUPTlibs

mm_ssssshh: @SirThomasWynne oh dear. This doesn't look good for him. I'm looking forward to his appearance at ICAC.

JonJohnson_1: @SirThomasWynne C'mon, they are offended. And, we truly care the shit. Fat and corrupt. Face the facts, you 'adult' morons.

mm_ssssshh: @SirThomasWynne can the app functionality be expanded to include Pyne, the Bishops & the whole LNP frontbench?

TerenceBright: @SirThomasWynne @call_me_tomasso @mrsslocombe1 you may wish to comment

call_me_tomasso: For Joe, the world is his clam. @TerenceBright @SirThomasWynne @mrsslocombe1 you may wish to comment pic.twitter.com/UNFJSQQRCV

SirThomasWynne: @call_me_tomasso @TerenceBright @mrsslocombe1 no Joe is always CLAMMY - sweats at every news conference #true

pascalg15: @SirThomasWynne @call_me_tomasso @TerenceBright  Joe didn't get far in Howard govt because he's lazy & doesn't do homework...prob sweats so much cause he's ill prepared, doesnt know what he's talking abt

randlight: @SirThomasWynne as usual great

SirThomasWynne: @randlight ta, more updates being added this morning....axe is falling

randlight: @SirThomasWynne plus the hangman's noose?

geoffrey_payne: Appreciate your work Sir Tom @SirThomasWynne

ShirlzShirley: @SirThomasWynne Yeh as they hasten to'sell off the farm'to their rich mates bfr they get their arses kicked out of office

PurAndTell: @SirThomasWynne @mm_ssssshh Q: Is it ethical for public servants (MPs) to sell services (govt IP) 4 personal gain?

mm_ssssshh: @PurAndTell @SirThomasWynne  I would say not as it would be similar to Commonwealth property.

PurAndTell: @mm_ssssshh @SirThomasWynne  Imag a senior public servant charging 4 dinners with big business & pocketing proceeds?

cheryl_zette: @SirThomasWynne Esteemed member of Fat Cats R Us!

call_me_tomasso: Truth is is so freakin' stranger than fiction. Cats take over the world. @SirThomasWynne

GoTheGrey: @SirThomasWynne I'd pay for the cat. The cat knows more about economics than Sloppy Joe.

Bubbbyboo: @SirThomasWynne  That cat looks like it could do a better job than sloppy Joe.

ShaughanA: @SirThomasWynne What a CATAPPtrocy

Eschertology: @SirThomasWynne The cat app finally worked on my PC - and it makes articles about Tony much less vomitous

Gary150iq: @SirThomasWynne Not normal everyday cats tho' Only Fat Cats need apply.......

*EVERYBODY SING*

SirThomasWynne:

* TONY ABBOTT * 

*everybody sing now* DOWN, DOWN THE POLLS ARE DOWN... 

#worstGOVever

randlight: @SirThomasWynne hopefully the punters are finally waking up

JonJohnson_1: @SirThomasWynne Ooh. Tempting. Yes, I'll do it - Enlarge that bit of Toxic Tone, and put it on my dartboard for practice. Heh heh heh.

xskinn: @SirThomasWynne @randlight clever & gets the msg across

GarryZimmerman1: @SirThomasWynne  with apologies to Status Quo. Time to shake the branch some more.

prlloyd63: @SirThomasWynne @randlight #abbott has no regard for keeping of the #statusquo. Time for him to "roll over and lay down" #onetermtony

SirThomasWynne: @prlloyd63 @randlight * whatever you want *

randlight: @SirThomasWynne @prlloyd63 don't say that grin

runawaybudgie: @SirThomasWynne DEEPER DOWN DOWN

ShaughanA: @SirThomasWynne @philYoung17 Down down, the polls are going down down for Abbott n Pyne! Down Down.

cheryl_zette: @SirThomasWynne Time for Australia to Put Abbott down :)

ALTERNATE HEADLINE

SirThomasWynne:

* ABBOTT GOV IN CRISIS * 

THE ALTERNATE HEADLINE 

#worstGOVever

GoTheGrey: @SirThomasWynne Rent boy... Bwahahaha!!!

afalkingham: @SirThomasWynne Hockey as a 'Rentboy' - I am getting an AWFUL vision thanks heaps!

Gatorau: @SirThomasWynne Oh dear. Loud jolliness coming from behind my screen in the office here.

SirThomasWynne: @Gatorau @MinhKular it's what I live for making others laugh at the ABBOTT hoodlums erm I mean government

MinhKular: @SirThomasWynne @Gatorau doing a fine job of it too : D

Gatorau: @SirThomasWynne @MinhKular Yeah makes a change from the usual homicidal response I have. Abbott's lucky I'm not a psychopath.

ginevra83: @SirThomasWynne So now it shall be Joe Hockey aka 'rentboy'.... sounds about right. #auspol #coa

ShaughanA: @SirThomasWynne The Truth is out, Hockey is Abbott's Man-date.  Pick him up on any street corner and for just $22,000 he'll bend ova for ya, Backwards or Frontwards. ;-)

MinhKular: @SirThomasWynne you are very naughty lol

call_me_tomasso: Joe is innocent. In the Jesuit Education sense of innocent. @SirThomasWynne #auspol

iDGiam: @SirThomasWynne he's just a slush fund crook

THE TRUST IS GONE 
[AND I DON'T MEAN WARREN!]

SirThomasWynne:

* TONY ABBOTT *

...he can't be TRUSTED! 

#OZpublicWAKESup

JonJohnson_1: @SirThomasWynne Even his god, is having a lot of trouble trusting him. I wonder why. LOL

cheryl_zette: @SirThomasWynne The worm is squirming :)

JonJohnson_1: @SirThomasWynne Ooops. Toxic Tony, the worm has hit dirt. SO SHOULD YOU.

gobbledeegook: @SirThomasWynne still can't believe anyone trusts him with his appalling record

randlight: @SirThomasWynne They are waking up hope Newspoll tonight? follows rest of polls

ShaughanA: @SirThomasWynne Tony, not even the members of your own party trust you any more, so how can we. You're facing a ministerial revolt; FACT!

AngeloRistevski: @SirThomasWynne @randlight He couldn't be trusted at any time,, wasn't him who said" Bad Boss, Bad Luck" ????

prlloyd63: @SirThomasWynne #abbott had opened up a can of them, and they all agree, he can't be trusted

RichHazelton: @SirThomasWynne Bit of a shame the public didn't wake up before the election.

AllanG49: @SirThomasWynne  my worms stay buried in the garden with all the compost. Seems to be where Abbo is heading.

knobbyclubrush: @SirThomasWynne @randlight I'm a sociopath, a compulsive liar with zero empathy

FAT CAT FOR SALE

SirThomasWynne:

* FAT CAT POLLIES *

LIBERALS CAUGHT OUT, AGAIN! 

#worstGOVever

ShaughanA: @SirThomasWynne @vincentwight Yo Joey, so ya got caught wid ya paws in da cash tin huh! Looks like ya gonna do a stretch dis time kid.

SirThomasWynne: @ShaughanA @vincentwight noice x

ShaughanA: @SirThomasWynne @vincentwight fanks ;-)

TerenceBright: @ShaughanA @SirThomasWynne @vincentwight

ShaughanA: @TerenceBright @SirThomasWynne @vincentwight So glad to see you hear paying your respects. Now that you're here time to settle ur accounts.

SophiaMcGrane: @SirThomasWynne gotta say, poor chubby cats being likened to Hockey ;)

LynndeLoopy: @SirThomasWynne Man! That is one FAT CAT!

call_me_tomasso: As an old Irishmen I knew used to say: "There's more ways to kill a cat than choking it with cream". @SirThomasWynne

SirThomasWynne: @call_me_tomasso skinning a fat one is also lucrative sooooo many violins strings

DeeEmmEss: @SirThomasWynne @call_me_tomasso Didn't understand a word of that.

call_me_tomasso: I think TOM IN OZ had cat fingers... @DeeEmmEss @SirThomasWynne

SirThomasWynne: @call_me_tomasso @DeeEmmEss erm - more than one way to skin a cat - and violins strings are made of cat gut HENCE fat cat worth more $$$

Nanso44: @SirThomasWynne @krONik Is that Joe Hockey in a "onesy"?

Norminaus: @Nanso44 @SirThomasWynne @krONik Please. I don't know what you are talking about but I've just eaten my dinner. #FeelsSick

krONik: Right-oh Sunshine we gets the picture @Norminaus @Nanso44 @SirThomasWynne

ADDITIONALS

SirThomasWynne: polls say ABBOTT is on the nose with Aussies.


observationpt: @SirThomasWynne That's the prettiest thing I'll see today and I'm holidaying in Tuscany and the sun's shining. But Abbott going down? Sweet!

j4gypsy: @observationpt @SirThomasWynne Seriously. Tuscany??! Sod :-) :-)

SirThomasWynne: @observationpt have a nice time...keep an eye out for the gum trees

SirThomasWynne: 
Gonski gone.
Medicare malaise.
Universities undone.
Worker woes.
Pensioners pissed.
PROMISES, HA!
I'M ALL THROUGH WITH PROMISES TONY ABBOTT

Owzatmate: @SirThomasWynne .# Richo said it. "tony we will not forget"!.

SirThomasWynne: Tony ABBOTT has sent Warren Truss out to tell us the bad news about missing flight MH-370 ... Obv there is no GLORY to be gained for TONY!

DeeEmmEss: @SirThomasWynne Fair-weather PMthing. So predictable. Or is he busy concocting his story for ICAC?

pceebee23: @SirThomasWynne  and he is afraid of questions he doesn't want to answer on.. #ICAC #Hockey #debttax

SirThomasWynne: Watching TV with @kochie_online who just said LIB BUDGET EMERGENCY IS A FURPHY. Also said ppl are not stupid. But hey they voted 4 LIBS!!!

MURDOCH FREE NEWS

gobbledeegook: hi @SirThomasWynne oh, the scorn :) #auspol #worstPMever #PMThing


newscomauHQ: BREAKING: James Packer, Nine CEO Gyngell reportedly in beach punch-up http://bit.ly/1nh6Ig6

MyFirstCousin: Packer, Gyngell in street brawl in Bondi. These are the type of people Abbott takes to ASIA on trade missions.

SwannyQLD: Oz Triple A Credit Rating indicates debt levels are low - Hockey fabricating budget emergency to break election promises #thatswhatlibsdo

GeorgeBludger: Another Lib crook @JoeHockey #auspol

bevanshields85: Exclusive: 'Treasurer for sale'. Joe Hockey's secretive fund-raising body exposed.

thewetmale: This is one hell of an opening paragraph.


woolkebb: If an entire @JoeHockey is for sale, surely the comment @TonyHWindsor made about Abbott must be true!

Leroy_Lynch: Treasurer for sale: Joe Hockey offers privileged access http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/treasurer-for-sale-joe-hockey-offers-privileged-access-20140504-zr06v.html … by @seannic #nswpol #auspol
ISSUE 5-5-2014 

Treasurer for sale: 

Joe Hockey offers privileged access

Sean Nicholls

http://m.smh.com.au/

Political donations and Joe Hockey

Treasurer Joe Hockey is offering privileged access to a select group including business people and industry lobbyists in return for tens of thousands of dollars in donations to the Liberal Party via a secretive fund-raising body whose activities are not fully disclosed to election funding authorities. 

The Independent Commission Against Corruption is probing Liberal fund-raising bodies such as the Millennium Forum and questioning their influence on political favours in NSW. 

Mr Hockey offers access to one of the country's highest political offices in return for annual payments. 

The donors are members of the North Sydney Forum, a campaign fundraising body run by Mr Hockey's North Sydney Federal Electoral Conference (FEC). In return for annual fees of up to $22,000, members are rewarded with "VIP" meetings with Mr Hockey, often in private boardrooms. 

The North Sydney FEC officials who run the forum – which is an incorporated entity of the Liberal Party – say its membership lists and therefore the identities of its donors are "confidential". Mr Hockey also says details of who he is meeting and what is discussed are confidential. 

What little public information is available reveals members of the forum include National Australia Bank as well as the influential Financial Services Council, whose chief executive is former NSW Liberal leader John Brogden. 

The FSC's members, including financial advice and funds management firms, stand to benefit from the changes to the Future of Financial Advice (FOFA) laws being considered by the federal government, which would involve a winding back of consumer protections introduced by Labor. 

The National Australia Bank would also benefit from the changes. 

The chairman of the North Sydney Forum is John Hart, who is also the chief executive of Restaurant and Catering Australia – a hospitality industry lobby group whose members stand to benefit from a government-ordered Productivity Commission review of the Fair Work Act that is expected to examine the issue of penalty rates. 

Mr Hart also sits on Prime Minister Tony Abbott's Business Advisory Council. 

In March, it was revealed a former member of the North Sydney Forum was controversial infrastructure company Australian Water Holdings (AWH), which has been linked to the family of corrupt former Labor powerbroker Eddie Obeid and is under investigation by the ICAC over its attempts to win lucrative government contracts. 

When AWH's links to the Obeid family were revealed last year, the North Sydney FEC returned an $11,000 forum membership fee and AWH's membership of the forum was ended. In March, the North Sydney FEC revealed it had returned another $22,000 in membership fees from AWH, whose former chairman is Liberal Party senator and former assistant treasurer Arthur Sinodinos. 

Senator Sinodinos stood aside as assistant treasurer in March, after giving evidence at the ICAC about AWH's attempts to win a billion-dollar contract with the NSW government. Before that, he was responsible for implementing the government's FOFA reforms. 

During the three years AWH was a member of the forum, the company's chief executive was Liberal fund-raiser and former lobbyist Nick Di Girolamo, whose gift of a $3000 bottle of Penfolds Grange Hermitage to Barry O'Farrell shortly after his March 2011 election win led to his resignation as premier last month, after he gave false evidence to the ICAC. 

North Sydney Forum deputy chairman Robert Orrell said he was "sure" Mr Di Girolamo – a close friend of Eddie Obeid jnr, who was employed by AWH – had attended private boardroom meetings with Mr Hockey. 

However he was adamant Mr Obeid jnr did not attend any meetings. 

The North Sydney Forum was established in May 2009, shortly after Mr Hockey became shadow treasurer in February, by Joseph Carrozzi, managing partner at professional services firm PriceWaterhouseCoopers. 

Mr Carrozzi is also chairman of the Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Australia and was a board member of the organisation when Mr Di Girolamo was its chairman. 

He said he could not recall how AWH became a member of the North Sydney Forum but denied it was through this link. He said the chamber was not a forum member. 

Mr Carrozzi, who said he had known Mr Hockey for 20 years, said he was "honoured to be asked" to establish the forum, which was "essentially there to provide a network and insight for small businesses". 

"Members get an opportunity to sit down and chat with Joe. We've had other ministers, state and federal, participate as well." 

Mr Carrozzi said NSW Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian and Premier Mike Baird – until recently treasurer – had participated in the forum's functions for members. 

Past forum members include wholesale distribution and marketing firm Metcash and business services group Servcorp, founded by long-time Liberal Party supporter Alf Moufarrige. 

In 2008, it emerged Mr Moufarrige had given former treasurer Peter Costello six bottles of Penfolds Grange – reportedly worth about $3000 in total – as a thank you gift for opening a Melbourne building. 

Mr Carrozzi said Mr Hockey "sits down regularly" with members of the forum. Mr Di Girolamo "may have attended one or two" meetings with Mr Hockey but Mr Carrozzi stressed "he was certainly not a regular attendee". 

He said Mr Obeid jnr was "certainly not at any meetings I attended with Mr Hockey". 

Mr Orrell said the forum had had about 12 lunches each year, "typically in a members' boardroom". 

"It's genuinely an exchange of information," he said. "Joe just goes around the table and talks about issues." 

The North Sydney Forum membership structure offers "full membership" for an annual fee of $5500 for which members are entitled to five boardroom events. 

The fee for corporate and business members is $11,000 which offers an extra "VIP boardroom function" while private patrons paying $22,000 enjoy the additional benefit of "10 boardroom events". 

Mr Orrell said money raised by the forum was often distributed to Liberal Party marginal seats. 

However, the forum does not lodge its own disclosures to the NSW Election Funding Authority. 

In its disclosures, the NSW division of the Liberal Party declares membership fees – regarded as donations for the purposes of the election funding act – but does not state they are for the North Sydney Forum. This practice masks who is donating directly to the North Sydney Forum and the identity of its members. 

A spokesman for the NSW Election Funding Authority said: "There is no record of the North Sydney Forum in the EFA system." 

Occasionally members name the North Sydney Forum in their disclosures to the Election Funding Authority but there is no requirement to do so. 

The structure of the North Sydney Forum is based on that of similar vehicles established by other Liberal MPs, such as the Wentworth Forum which was set up for Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull in August 2007. 

The Wentworth Forum was established by former federal Liberal Party treasurer Michael Yabsley to raise funds for Mr Turnbull's re-election to the eastern suburbs seat of Wentworth following a redistribution in 2004 which made it a less safe Liberal seat. 

It operated between August 2007 and late 2009 – for six months when Mr Turnbull was environment minister but primarily while he was shadow treasurer and then opposition leader – and gave members access to exclusive functions he attended. It also had a sliding scale of membership fees from $5500 to $55,000. 

The Wentworth Forum was based on the Millennium Forum, the Liberal Party's main fund-raising body, which was established by Mr Yabsley in the late 1990s to replicate corporate fundraising practices. 

Millennium Forum members are regularly invited to events hosted by NSW and federal ministers. 

Last week the chairman of the Millennium Forum, Paul Nicolaou, resigned after ICAC heard allegations it and another entity, the Free Enterprise Foundation, were used to disguise payments from prohibited donors including property donors to bankroll the Liberal Party's campaign to win the 2011 NSW election. 

Detailed questions were sent to the NSW Liberal party about the North Sydney Forum, how it operates and why its membership is not disclosed to authorities. A spokeswoman responded that the North Sydney Forum was "covered by the Australian Electoral Act with donations disclosed to the AEC in accordance with the law by the NSW division of the party and funds are used for the work of the party". 

Questions were also sent to Mr Hockey inviting him to disclose details of his meetings with members. A spokeswoman responded: "Questions about the function and administration of the North Sydney Forum should be addressed to them. The Treasurer's diary is confidential."

P4217: There were rumours about something huge dropped on #ICAC on Friday afternoon that would be felt far and wide. Now we start to know.

geeksrulz: Abbott/Hockey bought by secret donations from Big Biz. No wonder they are running such a hard rightwing Big Biz agenda. #auspol #fascism

smurray38: The Australian's story on NSW Resources Minister Anthony Roberts and MP Tim Own in #ICAC firing line now up http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/state-politics/mike-bairds-government-looking-shaky-as-yet-another-minister-to-be-focus-of-icac-inquiry/story-e6frgczx-1226905212288#mm-premium …

Jo_Tovey: Abbott government faces another conflict of interest scandal, this time in Indigenous Affairs Minister's office http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/abbott-government-faces-another-conflict-of-interest-scandal-20140503-zr2t2.html …

SirThomasWynne:

DEAR WARRINGAH CONSTITUENTS, 

PLEASE PHONE TONY 

& TELL HIM HE NO LONGER HAS YOUR BACKING.

ON BEHALF OF ALL AUSTRALIANS, 

A 

CONCERNED CITIZEN

SirThomasWynne: * ♛ * Abbott and Hockey more Prince John than Robin Hood http://www.eurekastreet.com.au/article.aspx?aeid=40350#.U2Y4x4GSyp0

call_me_tomasso: And guess which paper is on The Right. Whistlin' Dags. [Clearly not an Operational Matter]. Typo on last version...

Qldaah: #qldpol #icac witness list for this wk.Newman's nemesis Paul Nicolaou on Thurs. Sinodinos Fri: http://www.icac.nsw.gov.au/images/Spicer%20PI/AA%20Witness%20Lists/Witness%20List%20Week%205%20May.pdf … 

chrismurphys: Tony Abbott MP testified priest on charges was a friend & a 'beacon of humanity'.Ruined altar boy's life.Vatican dismissed him.#auspol

9NewsAUS: WATCH: Opinion poll reveals @TonyAbbottMHR would be voted out if an election was held tomorrow.  http://on-msn.com/1s5QuIM #9News

dodona777: Galaxy Deciphered: Labor To Win With Forty-Eight Seat Majority http://www.ellistabletalk.com/2014/05/05/galaxy-deciphered-labor-to-win-with-forty-eight-seat-majority/

GCobber99: Things look really bad for Abbott every poll has him is deep trouble what the Murdoch propaganda start we wanted these cuts budget emergency

geeksrulz: So many hitherto faceless powerful LNP men having their face and name exposed. #auspol #ICAC


geoffrey_payne: Climate scientists in audit commission's crosshairs http://www.theage.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/climate-scientists-in-audit-commissions-crosshairs-20140504-zr46q.html … via @theage #ClimateChange #Climate #Budget #COA #Auspol

krONik: #AUSpol "@SimonBanksHB: LNP want young Australians to "earn or learn" but cut funding to schools, uni's and TAFEs: http://www.theage.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/abbott-to-crack-down-on-dole-but-will-avoid-harshest-recommendation-20140503-zr3t8.html …"

geeksrulz: Now we know what the Libs really meant with their Open For Business: Australia For Sale. #ICAC #HockeysArse #auspol

KevCorduroy: Not a tax. Pretty funny. From @theage

keribear55: You know there's a problem when even the Courier Mail disagrees with Hockey #auspoI

levwr: Someone please tell @kochie_online 2 stop using facts, it's an emergency we are in a budget crises! #auspol

martiontwit: $900 million paid to corrupt NewsCorp was this the single biggest factor in deterioration of federal budget #auspol


Knightcartoons: "Working in my 70s" The new Skyhooks album remastered by Joe Hockey! Check out the full toon in 2dys Snday Herald Sun


gobbledeegook: hi @SirThomasWynne very religious are our pollies #auspol #ICAC #nswpol #qldpol #corruption


AvJoe_RealDeal: “@lapuntadelfin: Resolute. Unqualified. Unequivocal. And dead in the water - as a Prime Minister”  #AusPol #Murdocracy

margokingston1: NSW Lib crooks got nothing on Qld LNP - washing big donations through lottery to avoid disclosure - today's Oz #ICAC