60 Minutes: Julie Bishop Speaking out About Politics

I have sat in the Australian Federal Parliament and I haven’t been impressed.  I am a trainer in anti-bullying and I was concerned at the bullying I saw that hides behind Parliamentary Privilege.  I remember looking around the room and wondering what the children thought of the performance.  What struck me was that the people engaged in bullying behaviour believe the public like their performance.  I do not think they do.

I have concern about corruption in the Australian Parliament.  I am concerned about foreign influences quietly influencing politicians or providing donations through alternative channels.  I am concerned about the revolving door of lobbyists into Parliament and then jobs in industry again.  I would like to know why no investigation has happened via ASIO or the Australian Federal Police into Peter Dutton and the cash for access issue and the former MP who organised the lunch.  There has to be a consequence.

I am concerned that the mass of Australians do not have a voice in their Parliament.  It appears those with money and funds to influence can buy access, a lunch as has been highlighted recently in respect of Peter Dutton whilst an Immigration Minister with the Chinese businessman Huang Xiangmo who was seeking Australian citizenship. He spent over 10,000 to have lunch with Peter Dutton.  The core issue is that Peter Dutton considered that fine rather than refuse a bribe.  This has been called a cash for access. I note there is no police action in this and given he is an ex-policeman he is very clear on the law.  Thus he intentionally flouts the law.  How appropriate is he in the Home Affairs portfolio as a quasi internal secret police outside of the police force.

I reflect on refugees with no money who desperately need to find a secure home, are valued less contrasted with those who spend thousands to try and gain residency or can buy their way in? Money talks.

Refer:  https://www.9news.com.au/national/malcolm-turnbull-peter-dutton-huang-xiangmo-chinese-billionaire-lunch-donor-politics-news/e9f6966d-9b88-413c-a88e-1c4f0c3ca2c5

Clearly Malcolm Turnbull is seeking revenge.  I would have questions about his past in Goldman Sachs and their reputation for ruthless business tactics and selecting Prime Ministers.  I would like an inquiry into all politicians.

Julie Bishop speaks out on 60 Minutes about Australian Politics and the fact that 4 Prime Ministers have been removed, the lack of women in Parliament and the aggressive bullying.  Are they fit for office is my question?

The videos below showcase both issues in the Australian media.

The first is Australian 60 Minutes.

Peter Dutton 9 News story.

https://www.9news.com.au/national/malcolm-turnbull-peter-dutton-huang-xiangmo-chinese-billionaire-lunch-donor-politics-news/e9f6966d-9b88-413c-a88e-1c4f0c3ca2c5

Malcolm Turnbull criticises Peter Dutton over Chinese billionaire lunch

Click for video footage.

Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has taken a serious swipe at Peter Dutton, the frontbencher who challenged him for the Liberal Party leadership.

Mr Turnbull called for answers after it was revealed the Home Affairs Minister had a lunch meeting with a Chinese billionaire with ties to the Communist Party.

Mr Dutton met with Huang Xiangmo when the businessman was seeking Australian citizenship in 2016 and Mr Dutton was Immigration Minister.

Peter Dutton lead an intra-party coup against Malcolm Turnbull last year.
Peter Dutton lead an intra-party coup against Malcolm Turnbull last year. (AAP)

The meeting was set up at the behest of former Liberal senator Santo Santoro, now a lobbyist to whom Mr Huang paid thousands of dollars.

Mr Turnbull told reporters today that Mr Santoro was a “close factional ally of Mr Dutton’s”.

“Peter Dutton has got a lot to explain about this,” he said.

“He is supposed to be the minister responsible for the domestic security of Australia, he is supposed to be the minister responsible for ensuring our politics is not influenced by foreign donors.”

Malcolm Turnbull has demanded an explanation from Peter Dutton over his lunch with a Chinese billionaire.
Malcolm Turnbull has demanded an explanation from Peter Dutton over his lunch with a Chinese billionaire. (AAP)

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Mr Turnbull called on Prime Minister Scott Morrison to take action.

“This is the national security of Australia. Remember the fury that arose against Sam Dastyari?”

“This has to be addressed at the highest level of security, priority, urgency by the Prime Minister.

“The buck stops with him. I know what it is like to be Prime Minister and, ultimately, you are responsible and so Scott Morrison has to deal with this Peter Dutton issue.”

Bill Shorten holds a photograph of Julie Bishop and Chinese businessman Huang Xiangmo.
Bill Shorten holds a photograph of Julie Bishop and Chinese businessman Huang Xiangmo. (AAP)

Speaking in Rockhampton today, Mr Dutton said Mr Huang was denied citizenship in a decision made by his department.

“As I turns out, this individual is now offshore because an agency within my department took a decision to take certain action in relation to his visa so that person wouldn’t be able to return to Australia,” Mr Dutton said.

“So the suggestion that somehow I’ve provided anything to this individual is just a nonsense.”

Santo Santoro is sworn in as a minister in the Howard Government in 2006.
Santo Santoro is sworn in as a minister in the Howard Government in 2006. (AAP)

News of the meeting was first reported by Nine Newspapers and the ABC.

Mr Dutton challenged journalists to “strip it back to the facts” and tell him what the allegation is.

“I have never received a dollar from this individual,” he said.

“I had that one meeting with him over lunch. I have never seen him since.”

Mr Dutton said he met with Mr Huang in his capacity as a “significant leader within the Chinese community”.

Mr Huang’s family was granted Australian citizenship in 2015, and former Labor Senator Sam Dastyari attended their private ceremony.

Sam Dastyari has resigned from Labor's frontbench. (AAP)
Sam Dastyari. (AAP) ()

Mr Morrison took care to highlight that connection when speaking to reporters in Gosford this morning.

“I think when it comes to our government’s acting on foreign interference, we’ve got a pretty strong track record,” Mr Morrison said.

“I think that compares very significantly to that of the Labor Party, where Senator Sam Dastyari had to resign in disgrace because he not only compromised himself in standing in front of an Australian government insignia, standing there with the very individual you’re referring to.”

Senator Dastyari resigned from the frontbench, and then from Parliament, facing scrutiny over his ties to Mr Huang and other influential Chinese figures.

© Nine Digital Pty Ltd 2019

Mohandas Gandhi

“My life is my message.”

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