The Independent Commission Against Corruption was supposed to expose corruption in the Labor Party. The biggest scalps have been two Liberals. Today came the biggest of all.
Three years ago, Premier Barry O’Farrell received a bottle of wine from party fundraiser (and ICAC star) Nick Di Girolamo. O’Farrell personally penned a thank you note. He didn’t remember that yesterday; he still doesn’t today. But now we have the letter. O’Farrell, foreseeing a scandal his government may never have freed itself from, fell on his sword.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott said this morning:
“We are seeing an act of integrity, an act of honour, the like of which we have rarely seen in Australian politics. I admire him tremendously for this …”
It’s hard not to agree. O’Farrell is at best forgetful, at worst inept. The sins of some who have taken the stand at ICAC are far worse.
But O’Farrell had no scapegoat and too much to lose. And so the fog descends on Macquarie Street once more.
ICAC was setup by the Liberals to rightfully expose spivs like Obeid et al and of course at the embarrass Labor as much as possible. Well as the saying goes: dig a hole to trap someone else and fall in it yourself in this instance has been poetic. So far ICAC has worked wonders for Labor, it has been instrumental in the downfall of two liberal party spivs Arthur (I know nuffing, and I cant recall) Sinodinos and now Barry (a memory fail moment) O’Farrel. What a catch! Yes Veronica, truth is stranger than fiction. The big question asked at an Abbott media conference is the current NSW government corrupt did to say the least get right up Mr Abbotts nose.
Listening to Abbott you would think Barry was Sydney Carlton.. Abbott needs to be very worried about his Union corruption inquiry jumping the fire break and becoming uncontrollable..
“at best forgetful, at worse inept”
Really? Surely at worst he has lied to ICAC to cover up corrupt actions. Perhaps it was just the acceptance of the gift, perhaps something more. I wonder what he was referring to in his note when he underlined “all” in “Thanks for all your support”
The PM obviously thinks that there must be one rule for members of his party and a totally differing rule for all others. “We must act with “decency” What is the ” decency” he is talking about?? Are childless female members of the NLP described as “barren” The Un Australian has showered innuendo,abuse and scorn on all members of opposing parties with no mention of “decency”,and Christian decent Mr Abbott has sat back and lapped it all up. Hipocrite and Humbug.
Love the Sydney Carlton! Perhaps the wine was corked? I am simply going to sit here with my knitting and enjoy the show. Hark I hear the tumbrels.