These are the numbers for the Super 7 Oz Lotto draw, Tuesday 30 June 2009 - 2 Winners from Queensland and South Australia
3, 12, 21, 23, 29, 38, 40 - Supplementary - 22, 43
While a jackpot of $90 million was guaranteed, the massive interest in the draw has led to a first division prize of $106 million.
Tattersalls have announced that there are two winning tickets. That's a cool 53 million dollars a piece.
The two winners were from South Australia and Queensland. I guess that saves me from having to check my ticket. Anyway, good luck to them - i hope they get to retain their anonymity.
Yeah, kids and animals sometimes do the funniest things. Hey, it looks sort of like a bone doesn't it? I'm just curious about the look on this dog's face. Is it feeling guilty or just a little bit protective.
You just have to hope that the dog doesn't bring this out during a dinner party. Yes, Parenthood is a great movie by the way.
Joke of the Day
Yes, i do miss the stupid people from Family Feud. Who doesn't love families snatching defeat from the jaws of victory?
Q. Name an instrument you can play while walking in the street
A. A cello
Q. Name a type of oil
A. Sewing-machine oil
Q. A word beginning with Z
A. Xylophone
Q. Name an animal with horn
A. A bee
Q. Name a medieval weapon
A. Hand-grenade
Q. Name something made of wool:
A. A sheep
Q. Name something a bridegroom might wear
A. A dress
Q. Name an animal with a long tail
A A rabbit
Q. Name something a train-spotter would have in his pocket
A. A magnifying glass
Q. Something you put out for the birds
A. Worms
Q. Name a way to prevent snoring
A. Put a pillow over his face
Q. Name a song from 'The Sound Of Music'
A. Dancing Queen
Q. Name someone who works early hours
A. A burglar
Q. Something made to be wheeled around:
A. A hammer
Q. Name a wild animal that's native to Britain
A. A bear
Q. Name a reason for kneeling
A. To be beheaded
Q. Name a measurement of liquid
A. Paint
Advertising Standards Bureau Ban BMW Z4 Commercial - Hoon Driving
Those tossers over at the Advertising Standards Bureau are at it again. This time they have banned the BMW Z4 paint commercial because they think it will encourage hoon driving. I'm a big supporter of road safety and greater penalties for hoon drivers.
But seriously, a BMW driving around painting a white surface in controlled conditions will lead to hoon driving? What about that ad from a few years back where the car was supposedly driving at speed on the roof of a building? What did that lead to? Kids driving off buildings? I dont think so.
This is what they said about the BMW ad "The board noted that the advertisement does depict in a number of places the driver intentionally allowing the wheels of the car to lose traction and perform ... a four-wheel drift"
This Advertising Standards Bureau have just a little bit too much power i think. They recently banned the AMI Bedroom Police ad featuring Sgt Gilroy. Prior to that they stopped Nandos showing an ad because it was deemed sexist.
And yet, turn on your TV after 11pm and women prance about half naked offering their bodies to you in a most disgusting way. Yes, they allow these ads on the air.
Lodge a complaint about any ad you want - if you want it off the air, all it takes is a written submission to the ASB. Online Complaint Form.
This is the video of an overseas cut of the ad - the banned one is basically the same.
Ricky Gervais - The Invention of Lying Video Trailer
Who doesn't think Ricky Gervais is a comic legend? Now there is a guy who should be doing some writing for Rove. He knows funny.
His latest movie, one which he co wrote, directed and stars is The Invention of Lying. Its set to hit cinemas later this year. It also features Jennifer Garner and Jonah Hill, with appearances by Rob Lowe, Jason Bateman, Patrick Stewart and Tina Fey to name just a few of the big name celebrities.
The plot? "A comedy set in a world where no one has ever lied, until a writer seizes the opportunity for personal gain." Yep, sounds like it could be some fun.
Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard Life in Danger Thanks to Fairfax
Its an example of how far the Fairfax News organisation has fallen. Their chief Middle East Correspondent Jason Koutsoukis has endangered the life of the Deputy Prime Minister of Australia by writing about her secret impromptu visit to Iraq - prior to her arrival.
You may remember Jason Koutsoukis as one of The Age's parliamentary journalists. Kotsoukis specialised more in scuttlebutt and printing leaks from select politicians rather than any fair minded reporting of real Canberra news. Now he's off in the Middle East - that's some promotion.
I gave up reading anything Fairfax had to offer on the Middle East some time ago. Because balanced it aint. And sending a hack like Jason Koutsoukis just sums up what Fairfax is all about.
So what did Jason Koutsoukis do? He tried to secure a seat on the plane carrying Julia Gillard to meet Australian troops in Iraq. It was an impromptu visit, and one that was under a strict embargo. The story couldn't be printed due to serious security concerns for the lives of VIPs. Not a safe place is Iraq.
But Koutsoukis couldn't get a seat on the plane. There was but one remaining, and that went to journalist John Lyons from the only national daily paper, The Australian. So slighted was Koutsoukis that he penned his article which was submitted online to Fairfax websites across the country.
It broke the embargo because the story appeared before Gillard's actual trip to Iraq. Yes, Jason, Iraqis and Al Qaeda can read Fairfax websites too. Gillard's office complained and the story was pulled from the websites hours after it was posted. All to late though.
You have to wonder why Fairfax would send such a hack to cover a region like the Middle East. This is an area which should be the domain of serious news journalists. I get the fact that they just cant be impartial, that's a Fairfax staple. But someone who has a writing style and temperament which wouldn't see him out of place at a university publication?
Please - even Fairfax should be better than that.
Bruno Live on Rove Video
Nice to see someone with comedic ability on Rove. Sacha Baron Cohen aka Bruno will be taking Australia by storm over coming days. Stay tuned for his appearance at the Premiere to the movie this week.
This is the first part of the video of Bruno's appearance. Unfortunately, it appears that Bruno didn't cross paths with Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. Damn Rudd minders.
Given that that this article has turned into a forum for hate and violence by certain people, it has been removed. Id much prefer people concentrated on the issue of road safety, rather than venting their anger through ill considered and negative commentary.
Photos of the accident in Lynbrook remain as a reminder of the dangers on our roads.
Please note - comments on this post have been deleted. Any further comments will be removed.
For further road safety issues click on the Safety Tab above.
Could someone please let me know when Rove decides to be funny?
Is it called Rove Live anymore, or is it just Rove? I'm talking of course about the TV show on Sunday evenings, not so much about Rove McManus. I'm sure he is a nice guy, and in person might well be a truly funny character. Its just the show which will receive my opinion today because honestly, it really sucks.
I'll admit that i rarely watch Rove, only tuning in to watch a special guest, like Bruno or K Rudd. There is a reason why i don't - its because i choose to watch comedy where there is an outside chance that i might actually laugh. Call me weird or something, but humor needs to be funny.
I know there are people out there who laugh at Rove, and think the comedy is brilliant. The ratings obviously indicate that Australians tune in by the hundreds of thousands every week.
I suppose thats an extra few hundred thousand people i dont have to choose friends from. Not that im selective or anything, i just prefer to make friends with people who have more than an occassional pulse. Im just saying.
Ive said previously that I'm unsure if anyone who watches The Chaser also tunes in to Rove every week. The humor is just so different. One is clever, relevant and pushes the boundaries. The other is Rove.
Does anyone know who the hell does the writing for Rove? Did they previously contribute to some of Australia's great sit coms like Hey Dad and Acropolis Now? Weren't those shows challenging and laugh a minute ventures? And god forbid that Nick Giannopoulos is doing yet another Wog movie, but that's a whole other tosser inspired story.
Id suggest that the writers need a workover at Rove. But if the ratings keep up, then i guess this kind of non humor has some appeal. It says a lot about some Australians. I have no statistical analysis, but id suggest that this show is targetted directly to the easily amused suburban white trash. I guess they were never going to be my friends anyway.
And yes, these people have the same value vote as me. Go figure.
Media Punk'd - Kauri Cliffs Celebrity Deaths New Zealand
Seems those Kauri Cliffs in New Zealand are a danger to celebrities, even when they aren't actually on location there.
Back in 2006, Oscar Winner Tom Hanks apparently died at Kauri Cliffs while filming on location in New Zealand. Not so long ago, Tom Cruise also fell to his death. And the latest celebrity to meet an untimely end after stepping off the edge is the very talented Jeff Goldblum.
All hoaxes of course - all actors are all very much alive and well. But the media do get sucked in to the rumors, all of which are exactly the same - that a famous actor is filming in New Zealand and dies after a fall at the Kauri Cliffs Golf Course.
As you can see, it is beautiful - so maybe its an elaborate hoax to spread the message about this place. Or perhaps its some kids having a laugh. Either way, its yet another example of punking the media, who just don't do enough checking before putting these claims on air.
Check out Australia's Today morning program - they reported the story of Goldblum's "death" complete with backing footage. Goldblum was actually in Los Angeles at the time. They had the time to compile footage but not to check the accuracy of the story. Go figure.
Rumors Flying that Michael Jackson Faked his Own Death
It didn't take long for the rumors to start about Michael Jackson's death. In fact celebrity blogger, Perez Hilton was the first cab off the rank, claiming that Jackson was pulling a stunt and it wasn't in fact a heart attack.
Hilton said that he was dubious of the heart attack, suggesting that Jackson pulled a similar stunt in 1995 in rehearsal for a HBO special. He quickly removed those statements from his blog when it became apparent that it was for real.
But its not just Hilton. Less than a day after his death, there are numerous websites suggesting that the whole thing is an elaborate hoax.
The rumors about Elvis Presley faking his death still persist. We've also heard about John F Kennedy wanting an exit from the Presidency. And there was the speculation that Princess Diana wanted to escape from the media and faked her death in Paris.
The rumors about Jackson faking his death will continue. But in the world of mass media communications, it must be almost impossible for a celebrity to fake a death. Sadly, i think Jackson actually did die.
But stay tuned for the sightings of him around the world. Its bound to happen.
Comment: Where were you when Michael Jackson Died?
Parents of a Boy who fell from a Bunk Bed while staying at friends house successfully sue for over $800,000 in damages
Whatever happened to Accidents? Not so many years ago, accidents were just that, unpredictable and unfortunate events. Now, every accident that occurs must have some blame attached.
We have the latest example of white trash parenting and the blame game gone mad. And we have a justice system that panders to them both. 10 year old Cameron Brock Thomas was staying at a friends house in Bilambil Heights, NSW in 2004 when he fell from a Bunk Bed.
According to the news reports, Thomas experienced "immediate and significant changes in his behaviour following the fall, could no longer stand noise, was impulsive and unpredictable and later became depressed and suicidal."
So he sued. It was claimed that the parents of Thomas' friend Joel, William and Susan Shaw failed to provide a safe environment for him, by removing the bed's guard rail and ladder.
As a defence, Joel said that his friend Cameron had been mucking around, and was actually jumping down from a nearby chest of drawers shouting Geronimo. But the judge believed Cameron Thomas' version of events, where he was using the chest of drawers as a foothold to get down.
The Judge, Justice David Kirby has allowed the Shaw family to be ruined. Not only did he award over $800,000 to the Thomas family, he ordered the Shaw family pay the Thomas' legal costs. Kirby, you are a tosser.
Why does every accident have to have blame attached? This seriously wouldn't have happened just 20 years ago. People would accept the fact that bad things just happen. If i had sued for every accident i had at school or at a friends place, id be very wealthy today. Hell, i have some mental health issues, maybe it was because i grazed my knee in Grade 2.
When i was in primary school, a girl in my class fell from the monkey bars and badly broke both of her arms. It was awful to see. Did she sue the school? Of course not. She was a kid, and these things happen.
I wonder how many Shit Happens T Shirts the Thomas fanily could buy with $853,396?
Where were you and what were you doing when you heard the news that Michael Jackson had died?
I guess this is one of those moments when people will ask in the coming years where you were and what you were doing when Michael Jackson died. And of course, how you heard the news.
Ive heard people remember where they were when Elvis Presley died, or when JFK and John Lennon were shot. Some people still talk about the first landing on the Moon. And of course, one of the biggest, that car crash in Paris which killed Princess Diana (and a couple of other guys).
But there are actually few of these moments in history. Let us know where you were and what you were doing when you found out about Michael Jackson's death. Comment below.
Jackson 5 Star - Michael Joseph Jackson - 29 August 1958 to 25 June 2009 - Dead from Cardiac Arrest in Los Angeles, California
Yes, Michael Jackson is dead. Is this one of those moments, where you need to remember where you were when someone really famous dies? Well i was sitting at my computer - hardly the most inspiring memory. Im too young for JFK or Elvis, so this one will have to do.
Jackson collapsed at his rented home in Los Angeles, paramedics were called and he was rushed to hospital. Michael Joseph Jackson was pronounced dead at UCLA Medical Center at 2.26pm.
Was Jackson's death a train wreck waiting to happen much like the final years of Elvis Presley? Jackson really didn't look well for the last 20 years.
Michael Jackson was a little odd - there isn't much doubt about that. But he was incredibly talented. 13 Grammy awards, 13 number 1 singles and record sales of over 750 million. You cant deny success like that.
Of course, i am a child of the 1980's, so i grew up listening to Jackson - this is my favorite clip, and song, Smooth Criminal from the Movie Moonwalker.
Michael Jackson Video Smooth Criminal Remix
PM Kevin Rudd on Rove Live with Austrian Fashion Guru Bruno
This could be a recipe for disaster, and not one of Masterchef Matt Preston's making. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd will be a guest on Rove Live at the same time as Austrian Fashion Guru Bruno aka Sacha Baron Cohen. Preston will also be a guest, lets hope he can save the PM from some embarrassment.
This is Kevin Rudd's third appearance on Rove. Surprisingly, the show still rates very well - which is amazing given that it still fails to make me laugh. I often wonder how many people watch both The Chaser and Rove - probably very few. I have this wild idea that there are two groups of people out there in Australia with different priorities for comedy.
Anyway, i will tune in to watch just this once - I'm looking forward to Bruno the Movie -"Delicious Journeys Through America for the Purpose of Making Heterosexual Males Visibly Uncomfortable in the Presence of a Gay Foreigner in a Mesh T Shirt." Great title.
I'm keen to see how Rudd performs too - its been a tough week in Parliament - and i think K Rudd has a bit of a spring in his step after Malcolm Turnbull's blunders.
Bruno Gives Rove a Makeover Video
New Victoria Law will Ban Smoking in Cars Carrying Children Under Age 18
I still see parents smoking in cars with kids. It just strikes me as one of the most irresponsible things a person could do - and its representative of the lack of parental responsibility in Australia today.
Thankfully, the Brumby Government in Victoria are doing something about it. New laws will mean that smoking will be banned in cars where there are passengers under the age of 18.
Health Minister in Victoria Daniel Andrews said the following:
"There is no risk-free level of second-hand smoke in confined areas such as cars. Banning smoking in cars carrying children under the age of 18 years will reduce children's exposure to second-hand smoke."
Magistrate Discharges Rape Charge Against 16 Year Old Boy Calling it Technical
No Means No. But not to Magistrate Rowan McIndoe who found that although the case of rape against a 16 year old boy was proved, he was discharged for the crime being an adolescent error. WTF is that?
This was the official ruling: "Defendant discharged. Other reasons: A technical rape more an adolescent error." The ruling was appealed to the Supreme Court which found that there is no such thing as "Technical Rape".
The boy apparently forced himself on top of his ex girlfriend after they were in bed together. When she said no and asked him to stop, he continued. The boy's initial defence was that she only said no very quietly and she didn't attempt to push him off.
While the judge found the victim's to be a "most persuasive witness" and agreed there was an absence of consent, he still allowed the boy to escape without conviction.
I just don't get it. Rape is Rape - there is no middle ground. We seriously need to do something about Judges and sentencing in this country, it really is getting out of control.
Where to Send Copy of Tax Return to Australian Taxation Office
The exact postal address of where to send your completed Tax Return is not the easiest detail to find on the ATO website.
This is the information for those that still want to lodge a physical paper copy of their Tax Return:
Australian Taxation Office
GPO Box 9845
IN YOUR CAPITAL CITY
The address must appear on your envelope as shown. Do not replace the words ‘IN YOUR CAPITAL CITY’ with the name of your capital city (unless you are lodging from outside Australia). Because of a special agreement with Australia Post, there is no need for you to include the name of your capital city or a postcode.
If you are lodging from outside Australia, replace ‘IN YOUR CAPITAL CITY’ with:
SYDNEY NSW 2001
AUSTRALIA
Farrah Fawcett Dies in Los Angeles Aged 62
Maybe I'm not so young after all - i remember watching Charlie's Angels as a kid. And there was no doubt about it, Farrah Fawcett was the star of the show. She was so damned cute, and yes, she was talented.
Fawcett was suffering from anal cancer. To be honest, this is not a cancer you hear much about. Maybe the word anal renders it one of those unspoken things - much like AIDS was 20 years ago. I'm glad that Fawcett was able to make a documentary about her struggle - its a noble thing to do to raise awareness.
It is unclear if Fawcett was able to marry her long time on again, off again partner, Ryan O'Neal before she died.
Car Parking at Melbourne Airport Tiger Airways Terminal 4 Costs and Location
I had the opportunity to visit the Tiger Airways Terminal at Melbourne Airport recently. For those that don't know, Tiger doesn't fly from the main terminal - they depart and arrive at Terminal 4 or T4. If you are facing the main terminal building, its off to the left. (Technically south of the main terminal building)
If you are arriving by car approaching from Melbourne, instead of heading up the ramp to the departures of the main building, turn off to the left at the lights. You will need to turn right again and come back around, but signs will direct you to the T4 building. Basically, you will need to pass the Taxi holding area.
The Melbourne Airport Express Car Park is located right next to the Tiger terminal - literally metres away. You will be able to turn into the left just as you pass the building. And they have conveniently priced parking for short stays, just $3 for 20 minutes. Just watch out for the big price jump from $6 for 20-40 minutes to $12 for a 40-60 minute stay.
These are the prices of Parking at Terminal 4 for Budget Airlines
0-20 mins $3
20-40 mins $6
40-60 mins $12
1-2 hrs $18
2-3 hrs $20
3-4 hrs $35
4-10 hrs $49
10-24 hrs $49
2 Days $98
3 Days $127
4 Days $162
5 Days $197
6 Days $232
7 Days $267
Per day there after $35
Mike Bowers wrote an interesting story over at The Punch recently about real and faked photos. I came across this picture and thought it was worthy of a post.
It looks real enough, but how on earth did this car come to rest in this position? And if it was being driven, how did the driver and or passengers get out of the car? Reminds me of that great final scene from the original Italian Job with Michael Caine. "Hang on, lads...I've got a great idea..ummm"
Joke of the Day - Tourism Australia Responds to Stupid Questions
I cant say for sure that these are real responses to tourist questions, but they are amusing.
Q: Does it ever get windy in Australia? I have never seen it rain on TV, so how do the plants grow?
A: We import all plants fully grown and then just sit around watching them die.
Q: Will I be able to see kangaroos in the street?
A: Depends how much you've been drinking.
Q: I want to walk from Perth to Sydney - can I follow the railroad tracks?
A: Sure, it's only three thousand miles, but take lots of water...
Q: Are there any ATMs in Australia? Can you send me a list of them in Brisbane, Cairns, Townsville and Hervey Bay?
A: No. What did your last slave die of?
Q: Can you give me some information about hippo racing in Australia?
A: Africa is the big triangle shaped continent south of Europe. Australia is that big island in the middle of the Pacific which does not... oh forget it. Sure, the hippo racing is every Tuesday night in Kings Cross. Come naked.
Q: Which direction is north in Australia?
A: Face south and then turn 180 degrees. Contact us when you get here and we'll send the rest of the directions.
Q: Can I bring cutlery into Australia?
A: Why? Just use your fingers like we do.
Q: Can you send me the Vienna Boys' Choir schedule?
A: Austria is that quaint little country bordering Germany, which is...oh forget it. Sure, the Vienna Boys Choir plays every Tuesday night in Kings Cross, straight after the hippo races. Come naked.
Q: Do you have perfume in Australia?
A: No, we don't stink.
Q: I have developed a new product that is the fountain of youth. Can you tell me where I can sell it in Australia?
A: Anywhere significant numbers of Americans gather.
Q: Can I wear high heels in Australia?
A: You are a British politician, right?
Q: Can you tell me the regions in Tasmania where the female population is smaller than the male population?
A: Yes, gay nightclubs.
Q: Do you celebrate Christmas in Australia?
A: Only at Christmas.
Q: Are there killer bees in Australia?
A: Not yet, but for you, we'll import them.
Q: Are there supermarkets in Sydney and is milk available all year round?
A: No, we are a peaceful civilisation of vegan hunter gatherers. Milk is illegal.
Q: Please send a list of all doctors in Australia who can dispense rattlesnake serum.
A: Rattlesnakes live in America which is where YOU come from. All Australian snakes are perfectly harmless, can be safely handled and make good pets.
Q: I have a question about a famous animal in Australia, but I forget its name. It's a kind of bear and lives in trees.
A: It's called a Drop Bear. They are so called because they drop out of gum trees and eat the brains of anyone walking underneath them. You can scare them off by spraying yourself with human urine before you go out walking.
Q: I was in Australia in 1969 on R+R, and I want to contact the girl I dated while I was staying in Kings Cross. Can you help?
A: Yes, and you will still have to pay her by the hour.
Q: Will I be able to speek English most places I go?
A: Yes, but you'll have to learn it first.
Ratings Win for Chaser - Take That Tabloid Press
Big Minds - Small Talk Video - Putting Idle Polite Chit Chat Front and Centre
Latest reports indicate that The Chaser hasn't suffered any ratings drop after their controversial Make a Realistic Wish skit. Over 1.1 million people tuned in after their first show back from a 2 week suspension. Its a fantastic result for them, particularly given that they were up against the NRL State of Origin decider.
It shows that many Australians just don't buy into the tabloid filth that ran hard against these guys a couple of weeks back. Yes, some people still do have a sense of humor in Australia - and that gives me a warm feeling inside, if only for a moment.
I'm staggered that these guys could get Tim Flannery, Bill Henson, Ray Martin and the evil Philip Ruddock in the same room for a comedy skit. But it seems they did. And its perfect. I hate small talk, but id watch this show. Classic.
Connex Loses Train Contract to Metro Trains Melbourne
Keolis Downer EDI Replaces Yarra Trams
The Brumby Government has replaced Connex as the train operator of its metropolitan rail system, replacing it with a Hong Kong Company, Metro Trains Melbourne (MTM). Connex have been plagued with consistently late trains and mass cancellations. MTM successfully run the London Overground and Hong Kong Mass Transit system.
Yarra Trams have also had their contract cancelled, being replaced with Keolis Downer EDI. The company is a consortium of Keolis, a subsidiary to the SNCF train system in France and local company Downer EDI.
Now our trains and trams will run on time...wont they? We have Pokies, so of course they will. Well that was The Whitlams take on it. Cool Song.
Whitlams Blow up the Pokies Video
Senator Eric Abetz will be under pressure to resign if it is revealed that he lied to a Senate Committee Hearing regarding the Ozcar affair. Abetz clearly stated that he heard about the fake email from a journalist. It has been revealed that Abetz may have heard about the email directly from Godwin Grech at a meeting that both Abetz and Malcom Turnbull attended.
Key Hansard Transcript of Senate Committee Hearing Featuring Senator Eric Abetz and Godwin Grech on Ozcar - Utegate Affair (Condensed)
Senator ABETZ—A person, a journalist in fact, has suggested to me—
Senator CAMERON—Do not stare at me.
Senator ABETZ—That there may be—
CHAIR—Senator Cameron!
Senator CAMERON—Do not try to stare at me, or bully me, either. Okay?
Senator ABETZ—That there may be—
CHAIR—Senator Cameron!
Senator CAMERON—It does not work.
CHAIR—Senator Abetz is asking a question.
Senator ABETZ—That there may have been a communication from the Prime Minister’s office.
Senator FIFIELD—Extraordinary.
CHAIR—I think this might be—
Senator ABETZ—Allow me. It was along these lines and I want to know whether it is familiar to Mr Grech: ‘The Prime Minister has asked if the car dealer financing vehicle is available to assist a Queensland dealership, John Grant Motors, who seems to have trouble getting finance. If you could follow up on this as soon as possible, that would be very useful.’ This is what has been suggested to me by somebody, and there is of course the suggestion in today’s media that such a document exists.
Senator CAMERON—A suggestion! A suggestion!
Senator ABETZ—Mr Grech, do those words sound familiar to you? Were they part of a document that emanated from the Prime Minister’s office?
Senator ABETZ—All right. The most appropriate official to answer this question: Mr Grech, to your personal knowledge, have you personally sighted any correspondence—email, note, memorandum or any type of documentation emanating from the Prime Minister’s office to Treasury—concerning Mr John Grant and the OzCar facility?
Mr Grech—You referred to some journalist before, so I do not like the connotation, what that means— press articles and so on—because frankly I was very distressed this morning when I woke up and read that article. With your indulgence, if I may—and I know time is flitting away from us; I will answer your question; I will get to it—but I am a public servant, and I am basically in a situation in which no public servant should find him or her self in. I have worked very hard over a long time to build up trust within the department and within my relationships—
CHAIR—Sorry, Mr Grech—
Mr Grech—No, I want to continue. My bottom line is that when articles like the one from Mr Lewis appear in the morning papers and when the circle for a lot of these things is relatively small, I do not know who has talked to whom. I do not know who Ford Credit had talked to. I do not know who Capital Finance or whatever other third party has spoken to.
I know that when I go to a meeting and I sit down with three or four or five strangers and try to have a professional discussion, I work on the assumption that what I put on the table is not going to end up on the front pages of the tabloids the next day.
But my point is that, you know, it was very hard this morning going into work and looking my colleagues in the eye when I know that their instinctive response would have been to point the finger at someone like me, given that frankly there are not that many people working on this stuff within government.
That is just a general point. In terms of your specific question, believe me, I appreciate the sensitivity of it and its import, and it was certainly my belief—and noting that it was only me in Treasury with all this OzCar turbulence and who had been putting together the cabinet papers, dealing with the banks and the other financiers—it all came down on my shoulders. But it was my understanding that the initial contact I had with respect to John Grant was from the Prime Minister’s office.
As David has said, we have, and our IT people have, undertaken in the last 24 hours as diligent a search as possible to trace, locate through our backups and emails, which may or may not have
existed, and we just cannot find it. But, and I do not hide from this, it was certainly my understanding that the original representation with respect to Mr Grant came from the Prime Minister’s office.
But what did I do with that representation? I did nothing with it because the Treasurer’s office got onto me, and you have seen the email exchanges that emanated from that intervention. That is all I can say.
Senator ABETZ—So did you see a document? To the best of your recollection, have you seen a document that reflects what you have just told us?
Mr Grech—I am—
Mr Martine—Senator, as I have said—
Senator ABETZ—The only person who knows whether he has seen it or not, Mr Martine, would be Mr Grech. Mr Grech?
Mr Martine—Senator, as Mr Grech has outlined, and as I indicated in my earlier answer, we have searched for any documents. As I have said, nothing exists.
Senator ABETZ—That is fine. I accept that. But has Mr Grech seen a document of the nature that I previously described—yes, or no?
Mr Grech—My recollection may well be totally false or faulty, but my recollection—and it is a big qualification—but my recollection is that there was a short email from the PMO to me which very simply alerted me to the case of John Grant, but I do not have the email.
Senator ABETZ—Yes. Was it similar to the terms that I have suggested?
Explosive Revelations in the Herald Sun - Turnbull and Abetz should be forced to resign over Fake Leaked Email Secret Meeting with Godwin Grech
Incredible evidence has emerged that could soon lead to the resignation of Malcolm Turnbull and the Deputy Liberal Leader in the Senate, Eric Abetz.
It has been revealed by a highly placed source that Malcolm Turnbull and Eric Abetz both met with Treasury Official Godwin Grech prior to the Senate committee hearing on Friday.
At that meeting, the email was shown to both Turnbull and Abetz. They apparently did not take a physical copy of the email, but did write down its contents.
If ever there was a smoking gun condemning Malcolm Turnbull's leadership, surely this is it. Not only has he met with someone who had a copy of a fake email, he has surely been involved in discussing Grech's testimony before the Senate committee. Did he prep Grech for that appearance? And did Turnbull suggest to Grech that the email should be leaked to Steve Lewis?
Turnbull has claimed that he didn't have a copy of the email. But this is just semantics - he had seen it, and copied it word for word. And if he had suggested to Grech to leak it to Steve Lewis, Turnbull is complicit in the dissemination of the forgery - something he has already denied.
In addition, Senator Abetz will be accused of misleading or indeed lying to a Senate Committee hearing. At that hearing where Godwin Grech was grilled by Senators, Abetz stated that he had heard about the purported email from a journalist. If it is proved that Abetz met with Grech to discuss the email, his lies could see him forced from the Senate.
This is what Abetz said to the Senate Committee:
"Senator ABETZ— A person, a journalist in fact, has suggested to me....That there may be...That there may have been a communication from the Prime Minister’s office...It was along these lines and I want to know whether it is familiar to Mr Grech: ‘The Prime Minister has asked if the car dealer financing vehicle is available to assist a Queensland dealership, John Grant Motors, who seems to have trouble getting finance. If you could follow up on this as soon as possible, that would be very useful.’ This is what has been suggested to me by somebody, and there is of course the suggestion in today’s media that such a document exists."
I would be surprised if Turnbull and Abetz can survive this latest crisis. As has been stated by the Rudd Government - when you are already in a hole - stop digging. Turnbull and Abetz have both lied, and they must both resign.
Amazing Video Footage of 4 Year Old Turkish Boy hit by Car, and Getting Straight Up
Yes, sometimes kids do bounce. What an amazing incident. If this boy called Muhammet Dirlik was a little older, he might actually realise how lucky he is. A car which apparently swerved to avoid a puppy dog, hit Muhammet throwing him several metres.
But as this security footage shows, he gets straight up - no real bother to him - and no real injuries. If it were the movies, you would have to declare this kid Unbreakable.
Franco Cozzo Furniture TV Ad Video
If you watched any commercial TV in the 1980's in Victoria, you will remember Franco Cozzo. Grand Sale, Grand Sale, Grand Sale...Il Modernissimo Only from Franco Vozzo.
The Franco Cozzo ads were proof that you dont need a celebrity or an expensive production process to make a good TV ad. Just grab a genuine guy, have him speak in English, Italian and Greek, then throw in some catchy background music. Voila, you have an ad.
Id go as far to say that this very basic TV ad would be one of the most memorable of the 20th century. Some advertising companies should take note of this.
Will the winner of the $90 Million Super7's Oz Lotto be Identified?
Update - 2 winners of $106 million, from South Australia and Queensland
The 90 plus million dollars that is on offer for Super 7's Oz lotto is the biggest jackpot in Australia's history. If won by one person, it will exceed the biggest single prize won by an Australian by 32 million dollars.
And wont it generate a massive amount of media interest? So much so that if identified the winner will never be able to live it down. While in Australia, winners can choose to remain anonymous, it wont take long for the media to be on the trail of the lucky ticket holder. They might claim that its in the public interest. It isn't.
If you happen to be reading this page, and win the jackpot - keep it to yourself. Have a look at what has happened to many of the winners of the Euro Millions jackpots. Every thing they do in their lives is covered by the media. Its like a soap opera. You don't need that.
Nor would you like to receive literally thousands of begging letters from people. I read that one winner of over 100 million euros received more than 15,000 requests for assistance in the first year.
$90 million would be a decent amount of money - and god knows how you could ever spend it. But that is just the headline figure - it could be a whole lot more. The most recent draw was advertised as a $50 million jackpot. Due to the overwhelming ticket sales, the jackpot actually hit $59 million. There were around 80 million tickets sold for that draw.
You can expect an even greater interest in this latest draw, meaning that the jackpot could well be over $100 million. If one person wins, they would be well on the way to hitting the BRW 200 rich list next year.
The odds of winning? Over 45 million to one. Not good at all. You are more than 5 times more likely to win Saturday Tattslotto which has odds of just over 8 million to one.
Interestingly, even though there are 45 million possibilities, 80 million number combinations were purchased in the last draw. Statistically, it should have gone off. The next draw will see well over 100 million combinations purchased. Which means that if you do win, you may just have to share it with someone else. Wouldn't that be tough?
Chaser Impersonate The Stig for Free Car Rides
A decent mask and you can do anything, you can even go to France. After a forced two week absence, the Chaser team are back. The latest episode featured the team in England, impersonating The Stig from popular motoring show Top Gear.
Of course this skit was filmed prior to The Stig being unmasked as former Formula 1 drover, Michael Schumacher. Would you give up your car to anyone wearing a mask accompanied by a film crew? Some people certainly did.
Fight Between MP's in Ankara, Turkey
You see, as rowdy as the Australian Parliament gets, it has yet to descend into a full on punch up. These scenes were played out in the Turkish Parliament in Ankara a couple of years back.
Could you see Malcolm Turnbull leaping over the dispatch box to take a swing at Kevin Rudd? Unlikely, although that would be even more interesting than the Godwin Grech fake email affair.
Apart from noted brawlers Alby Shutlz and Tony Abbott from the Liberals, as a whole, id have my money on the Labor Frontbench.
Joke of the Day - Economists Take Note...
Einstein dies and goes to heaven only to be informed that his room is not yet ready. "I hope you will not mind waiting in a dormitory. We are very sorry, but it's the best we can do and you will have to share the room with others" he is told by St Peter.
Einstein says that this is no problem at all and that there is no need to make such a great fuss. So St Peter leads him to the dorm. They enter and Albert is introduced to all of the present inhabitants.
"See, Here is your first room mate. He has an IQ of 180!"
"That's wonderful!" says Albert. "We can discuss mathematics!"
"And here is your second room mate. His IQ is 150!"
"That's wonderful!" says Albert. "We can discuss physics!"
"And here is your third room mate. His IQ is 100!"
"That's wonderful! We can discuss the latest plays at the theater!"
Just then another man moves out to capture Albert's hand and shake it. "I'm your last room mate and I'm sorry, but my IQ is only 50."
Albert smiles back at him and says, "So, where do you think interest rates are headed?"
Police Raid Camberwell Computer Swap Meet Seize almost 7000 Pirated Games
It has been hailed as great police work, the seizure of nearly 7000 pirate computer games and DVD's at the Camberwell computer swap meet. The raid was followed by searches of two homes in Clayton South and Preston.
But seriously, great police work? The pirate games at the Camberwell meet, or any other swap meet for that matter are the biggest open secret in Australia. Further, head to any market, trash and treasure or otherwise and you can pick up the very same.
These are not games which are held under the table. Not even close, they are displayed for all to see just as you might witness in Asia. But don't worry, whoever the individuals were that were raided will be held up for all to see as examples. And that's about as far as this will all go.
I was at Camberwell Swap meet about 6 months ago. Pirated games, software, DVDs, you name it - all there. In fact, this was the sole business of many of the traders. So what have the police been doing since then?
Hundreds, if not thousands of people go through this swap meet when it is held. And not one person tipped off the Police? I find that hard to believe.
And where is the Camberwell swap meet located? At the Town Hall, which just happens to be right across the road from the Camberwell Police station.
I'm not going to make commentary about whether pirate games are right or wrong. I don't particularly care - except to say that these are incredibly expensive at full retail price. Maybe the solution to stop piracy would be for the makers to reduce the price. I'm just thinking out loud here.
Chaser's Best of Open Mic Video
After a forced 2 week absence, The Chaser's War on Everything is back. It is also being reported that despite the controversy over the Make A Realistic Wish Foundation skit, the BBC will be airing episodes from the 2006 and 2007 seasons of the show. Maybe the British have a better sense of humor than Australians.
Have a look at the Open Mic skits from many of those shows. Yes, these are some of their less controversial scenes...
It was a classic response from Wayne Swan in Parliament. Ive been impressed with how Wayne Swan has handled the whole John Grant, Fake email Utegate affair. In fact, after a nervous start as Treasurer, Wayne Swan's performance has improved considerably.
Have a look at Swan's response to a question from Rowan Ramsey, the Liberal Member for Grey. Hey, it made me laugh anyway...Seemed to put a smile on the faces of the opposition too. God knows they need it. I think moron should be acceptable parliamentary language, especially when delivered in such a stinging way.
No First Division Winner for Ozlotto - Jackpot to $60 Million
If you thought that the media blitz was huge about the $50 million jackpot for Ozlotto, you ain't seen nothing yet. Nearly every network and newspaper covered the story, complete with "tips" from numerologists, astrologers and the most drawn numbers, as if thats the solution.
Dammit, even after all that advice, nobody won. Do you people listen to these tips? Anyway, its up to $60 million.
Not forgetting of course that the odds of winning Ozlotto are actually over 45 million to one. I compared it recently to the likelihood of dying in a major plane crash. But the best comparison i heard was that you were more likely to be beatified by the Vatican than winning Ozlotto.
I don't really want to be a Saint - and i haven't created any miracles lately. I will say that its a miracle that Malcolm Turnbull is still the Opposition Leader but that's another story. Or is it? Maybe you are as likely to win Ozlotto as Turnbull is of leading the Liberals to the next election. Yeah, some pretty big odds, i know.
I bought a ticket - i didn't win. But you have to be in it. I wonder how many fake emails i could buy for $60 million?
Bolivian TV News Periodistas Asociados de Televisión Show Photos of Lost TV Series as Air France A330 Rio to Paris Crash
Just as Clare Werbeloff showed us recently, it really isn't that hard to punk the media. A TV Station in Bolivia has been caught out using photographs said to be from Air France flight AF447 from Rio to Paris which crashed into the ocean.
Unfortunately for the network, the photos were actually of the plane crash in the Lost TV Series. Oops. They said that the photos were taken from a Casio Z750 which was apparently recovered from the ocean. The camera was said to belong to a Paulo G Muller.
Pity the news network didn't bother to look outside the breaking up aircraft - its daylight. The Air France crash happened at night. The news network apologised for the mistake.
Malcolm Turnbull Must Resign Over Godwin Grech Fake Email Leak
It is not a small thing to call for the resignation of the Prime Minister. But that is exactly what Malcolm Turnbull did after hearing the testimony of Godwin Grech at Senate Estimates. To have called for the PM to resign based on a falsehood is a serious problem for Turnbull.
Turnbull had prior knowledge of the email at the centre of this utegate affair. As Kevin Rudd has said, Turnbull had been shopping it around to journalists well before the Senate hearing. If anyone needed conformation of his possession of the email, it was his little chat to Rudd Adviser Andrew Charlton at the Midwinter ball.
Turnbull threatened Charlton, and urged him to tell the truth. We all know why Turnbull confronted him - it was because he was relying on the email said to be from Charlton to Grech. A fake of course.
But on the weekend, Turnbull fronted a press conference and swore blindly that he was not in possession of the email, nor had he seen it. It may be hard to confirm the lie - but a lie that surely is.
Reports are now suggesting that Godwin Grech had form on leaking to the Liberal Party from the Treasury, going back to the Howard Government days. In other words, not only was he leaking against the Rudd Government, he provided in house information against his own Department to Howard Ministers. These are just reports at this stage, with a full AFP investigation continuing.
But disturbingly for Turnbull is his apparent links directly to Grech. It is also being suggested that Turnbull has regular contact with Godwin Grech. While im sure the Opposition Leader maintains contact with many public servants, its a stretch to suggest that he needs to be in regular contact with a mid ranking official from the Treasury.
Turnbull hasnt denied his contact with Grech. But Turnbull hasn't been absolutely honest about his recent dealings with him. Did he speak directly to Grech about the email? And who was the source of the leak to Steve Lewis at News Limited?
Further evidence emerged that Grech had worked previously for Shadow Treasuer Joe Hockey a number of years ago. Interestingly, Joe Hockey admits that he made a phone call to Grech on the weekend, after the Treasury official's testimony at Senate Estimates.
Reports suggest that Godwin Grech may have produced the email himself. For what purpose is unclear and just a little strange. Did Turnbull know it was a fake? No, that's highly unlikely. But because Godwin is said to have form in leaking genuine material, Turnbull has likely taken the email at face value.
That was a serious mistake, and it calls into question his judgement, something his Liberal MPs have already raised with the media.
At the very least, Turnbull has lied about having the email, and potentially about distributing it to the press, albeit indirectly. By lying and using such a forgery to call for the resignation of the Prime Minister indicates that Turnbull is not the person that should be leading the country.
The Opposition Leader is the alternative Prime Minister. Unfortunately for him, Turnbull does not have the qualities to hold that high office. He has to resign.
Lady Gaga live the The Chapel Acoustic Version Paparazzi Video
Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, otherwise known as Lady Gaga was recently in Australia performing as support act to the Pussy Cat dolls.
After seeing her live at The Chapel, it strikes me that she should have been the lead performance. If I'm not mistaken, as opposed to Lady Gaga, the Pussy Cat dolls don't actually sing live. I'm happy to be corrected on that point.
I'm trying to work out what point there is paying 100 odd dollars to listen to a recording. Maybe I'm just really old school. Yeah, i remember the Milli Vanilli days.
Lady Gaga can sing, she plays a mean piano and yes, she is a performance artist. Check out her live version of Paparazzi.
Chuck Norris - Helikopter Kapitan
Chuck Norris, Delta Force warrior, Walker Texas Ranger, Helicopter Captain..huh, what? Helicopter Captain?
Hey, this guy doesn't even look like Chuck Norris. And who would believe that he has been serving in the German Armed Forces?
Perhaps this Kapitan has changed his name to earn more respect. Chuck Norris is not a name to be messed with.
Joke of the Day (Tempting as it is to just put up a picture of Malcolm Turnbull, Ive stuck to something more traditional)
Some True Statements about Cats and Dogs
Buy a dog a toy and it will play with it forever. Buy a cat a present and it will play with the wrapper for 10 minutes.
Although cats are rather delicate creatures, and they are subject to a good many ailments, I never heard of one who suffered from insomnia.
Dogs and cats instinctively know the exact moment their owners will wake up. Then they wake them 10 minutes sooner.
Dog's have owners. Cat's have staff.
Dogs shed, cats shred.
I wonder if other dogs think poodles are members of a weird religious cult?
No one appreciates the very special genius of your conversation as the dog does.
Outside of a dog, a book is probably man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read.
I hope to be the kind of person my dog thinks I am.
Don't accept your dog's admiration as conclusive evidence that you are wonderful.
People that hate cats will come back as dogs in their next life.
We wonder why the dogs always drink out of our toilets, but look at it from their point of view: Why do humans keep peeing into their water bowls?
Women and cats will do as they please... men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea.
When a man's best friend is his dog, that dog has a problem.
In order to keep a true perspective of one's importance, everyone should have a dog that will worship him and a cat that will ignore him.
The Punch reports that Ex Turnbull and Costello Staffer Paul Lindwall to be questioned over Fake Treasury Email
Its yet another blow by The Punch. Where is their Fairfax online opinion counterpart? Still a couple of months away from launch. They are sometimes slow creatures over at Fairfax.
The Punch reports that a former staffer to Malcolm Turnbull, Paul Lindwall is to be investigated by the AFP over links to the fraudulent email at the centre of the Utegate or Ozcar affair. The email purported to be from Rudd staffer Andrew Charlton to Treasury Official Godwin Grech.
Lindwall was apparently a member of Peter Costello's staff when he was Treasurer. He then moved to Malcolm Turnbull's office but apparently departed just weeks ago. The circumstances of his departure have yet to be disclosed.
The Punch is not yet suggesting that Lindwall had anything to do with the creation of the false email, but that he is a person of interest to the police.
It has been reported that Paul Lindwall is a former official at the Treasury Department and may have links to Godwin Grech. Grech has reportedly already been questioned by police and his home searched after a raid.
Police Investigate Turnbull Staffer over links to the Fake Email
After an Australian Federal Police raid on the home of Treasury official Godwin Grech, further reports are emerging that Police are investigating a staff member from Malcolm Turnbull's office.
The email at the centre of the debate was apparently discovered on the home computer of Godwin Grech.
The staff member in question is said to be a former employee of the Treasury Department and is also alleged to have a relationship with Godwin Grech. The staff member left Turnbull's staff a few weeks ago.
This explosive new information, if correct, could sound the death knell for Turnbull's leadership. Turnbull has previously advised that he had not seen a copy of the email, nor was it produced or distributed to the media by anyone in the Liberal Party.
This is the text of the fake email, purported to be sent by Rudd Staffer Andrew Charlton to Grech in February:
"Hi Godwin, The PM has asked if the car dealer financing vehicle is available to assist a Queensland dealership, John Grant Motors, who seems to be having trouble getting finance. If you can follow up on this asap that would be very useful."
Who Deceived Steve Lewis on the Fake Email from Andrew Charlton to Godwin Grech
You may think that Malcolm Turnbull is under some significant pressure over the email that has been declared a fake by the AFP. You would be right.
But News Limited journalist Steve Lewis will also be under pressure to explain himself. Lewis writes for the Daily Telegraph and other News publications like the Herald Sun.
On Thursday, Lewis questioned Godwin Grech four times regarding the email. And on Saturday, Lewis published the full text of the email which was as follows:
"Hi Godwin, The PM has asked if the car dealer financing vehicle is available to assist a Queensland dealership, John Grant Motors, who seems to be having trouble getting finance. If you can follow up on this asap that would be very useful."
So who played Steve Lewis? Because as poor as some journalists are at checking their facts, Steve Lewis usually isn't one of them. He tends to be one of the better political journalists in Canberra.
For Lewis to have been deceived to such an extent suggests a very highly placed source of the email. Was it a senior member of the Liberal opposition? They seemed to have advance notice of the so called email at least on the Wednesday before the publication by Lewis. Or was it a treasury official who leaked the fake email to both Lewis and the Turnbull opposition?
Lewis is unlikely to divulge his source, as is usually the journalistic right and one that i respect. But the AFP will no doubt be giving him a very serious grilling. Id hate to be in his shoes right now.
Reports that Utegate Ozcar Email is a Fake
The Australian Federal Police have raided the home of Treasury Official Godwin Grech. Reports are emerging that the email has been declared to be fake.
The ABC are reporting that it is believed that the fake email was created within the Treasury Department. It is understood that the email in question was sent from the Treasury Department to Grech's home email.
Update: AFP Police Statement - "Preliminary results of those forensic examinations indicate that the e-mail referred to at the centre of this investigation has been created by a person or persons other than the purported author of the e-mail"
Police issued a search warrant on Grech's Canberra home and it is believed that he has been questioned.
Police were called in by the Attorney General on the weekend to investigate the email which was said to be sent from Rudd Adviser Andrew Charlton to Treasury's Godwin Grech.
Malcolm Turnbull will now be under serious pressure over his role in distributing the email. Turnbull singled out Andrew Charlton for a chat at the Parliamentary Midwinter Ball.
Journalist Steve Lewis who printed the text of the email in News Limited papers on the weekend will also come under scrutiny.
Media Should Stop Harassing Godwin Grech
The Treasury Official at the centre of the Utegate email affair, Godwin Grech is not a well man. So the News Limited press tell us.
How do they know that? Because they have been camped out at his Canberra home, harassing his neighbours looking for comments. Yes, News Limited are doing their best to track him down, despite the fact that they themselves claim that his health is "fragile" and people are worried what further scrutiny will do to him.
Maybe he is with family, or holed up in a hotel they tell us. Ironic that the same reports exposing his poor health will hardly help him. Godwin Grech is just fodder to them, and that's a shame.
Here's what some of his neighbours had to say about him, according to News Limited:
"You couldn't find a more honest and kind-hearted individual. Godwin is a very quiet, very shy, very private kind of person. He's very honest and loyal."
"Often I see him and I hope he's all right. He once had septicaemia and nearly died. He told us, 'I've got my bags in case something happens again'."
If you have any doubt about the intense media scrutiny applied to Grech, you need look no further than his exit from Senate Estimates. A pack of media cameras and journalists followed him down the corridors of parliament. As he stepped into the elevator to get him away from the drooling media, the cameras followed, being stuck directly into his face.
Its time for the media to get some perspective on Godwin Grech. Here is a Treasury official just doing his job. By all reports, he is an extremely diligent hard worker. But he is not a publicly elected official. Grech appeared before Senate Estimates - the cameras were there to capture his testimony. That should be the end of that.
I'm not going to suggest that public servants are above scrutiny. But there are processes to deal with that - as Senate Estimates showed. Grech will no doubt have to deal with the Auditor General who is officially investigating. Following Godwin Grech to seek further comment is not going to lead to any more information on the email issue.
All attention from the media should now turn to the politicians - they are after all the ones who should expect scrutiny from the media. If the media want to camp out like paparazzi on the doorstep of a public servant, they shouldn't be surprised if one day the same thing happens to them.
I cant say that ive seen this ad before, nor have i noticed this product on Australian shelves. But as one commenter suggested about me, maybe i need to be spoon fed...
This ad was produced by the makers of the Tide to Go stain remover product. Now this is a good ad. Catchy with an obvious message. Of course, the makers of this ad also have a clever little web based campaign that allows you to add a photo and become the stain. Head to the Tide to Go Website to give it a try.
Check out the ad below - hold on a second? Don't we know that stain? After his fake email claims, he may just be about silenced himself. If you listen closely, the stain does appear to say something that resembles..."Kevin Rudd"
Wayne Swan didn't mislead Parliament over Ozcar John Grant Issue
Its a strange set of events - how the Turnbull opposition are trying to turn their attention to Wayne Swan. Having tried to target Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on the fake email between his office and treasury, Turnbull and his team are now focusing on Wayne Swan, claiming he misled Parliament.
In a brazen attempt to deny their involvement in the creation of a false email, they have now said that the email issue is a Rudd Government inspired distraction. As Laurie Oakes said, funny that they are claiming the distraction line only after the email was exposed as a probable fake.
So what exactly did Wayne Swan do? He spoke to car dealer John Grant who was having some trouble getting finance. He passed that concern to one of his staff to follow up. That's what MP's and ministers do. You have a problem, you contact your Member of Parliament in the hope that they can help.
The Swan staff member contacted Godwin Grech in Treasury about this issue to see whether Grant could be eligible for some help from the Government Ozcar finance scheme. He told Grech that Swan was being kept informed of the matter. And this is a big crime why exactly? Given that Swan seems to have spoken personally to Grant, its not a surprise that he was kept informed.
Swan told Parliament that Grant got exactly the same treatment as any other car dealer. In fact Wayne Swan's office made representations to Grech about several other car dealers too.
So what help did John Grant actually receive? What special deals did he get from Wayne Swan and the Rudd Government? Nothing. That's right - John Grant got no special treatment here. Grant was not given any help from the Ozcar scheme.
The Motor Trades Assocation has agreed that Grant got no special favors. "The treatment that Mr Grant, a member of mine, got was no different from the treatment all my other members got," Association head Michael Delaney said.
This is a pretty big try on by the Turnbull opposition. John Grant himself has said that this whole issue is a storm in a tea cup. I'm inclined to agree.
What it means is that any approach made by a member of the public to a Minister or MP will now have to be treated with caution. You can bet that in future, Ministers and their staff will be reluctant to put anything in writing when acting on behalf of the public, lest they be accused of offering special treatment. That's not good for effective representation.
And to think of all the special favours John Howard and his Government gave to their mates. Cash for Visas, special board appointments, even a bail out for Howard's brother. Yet Wayne Swan gets targeted for acting unsuccessfully on behalf of a member of the public. Very strange indeed.
Harry Dent Forecaster - The Next Great Depression Prediction.
Economic Forecasters - there's another one born every minute. American economic forecaster is on his latest book sale, sorry, lecture tour, where he predicts the next great depression is just around the corner.
While many think that the worst of this "recession" is behind us, Dent believes that this is just the calm before the storm. Yes, Dent is predicting that in Australia housing prices will fall 40% and unemployment will hit 10%.
Not good news for those investing in the stock market either. Dent thinks that the All Ords will recover to between 4500 and 5000 points by the end of 2009, before crashing to 2000 points in the year 2011.
It really is hard to take anything that Dent says seriously. Yes, Dent predicted the Japanese recession in the 1990's. But his other forecasts have been well off the money.
Just a few years back, Dent predicted that the Dow Jones would hit 40,000 points in the near future. He was only about 26,000 points off that one. He also suggested that the Nasdaq would go as high as 20,000 points. Again only about 16000 points off the mark.
But its all for book sales really. Dent has learnt the art of selling in today's media. Say something much more outrageous than the last guy, and someone will cover your story.
But doesn't he pump out the books? These are some of his classics - if it were me, id put them in the fiction category.
The Next Great Bubble Boom (2004)
The Roaring 2000s Investor (1999)
The Roaring 2000s (1998)
The Great Jobs Ahead (1995)
The Great Boom Ahead (1993)
Formula 1 - Downfall New Subtitles Video
Right, this video isn't going to work for those of you out there who speak German. For the rest of you, i think its a crack up.
After Adolf Hitler receives news that there will be a breakaway Formula 1 competition for the 2010 season, he gets slightly upset. Just love the references to Max Mosley.
This is an amended subtitled version of the excellent movie Downfall about the last days of Adolf Hitler and the Third Reich.
Beware of Scam Emails regarding ATO Refunds
The Australian Taxation Office has issued the following warning regarding a scam offering refunds to taxpayers. The email contains a link which will take you to a site where you will be asked to input personal and credit card details.
See this press release from the ATO:
The Tax Office is warning people to be wary of a fraudulent email being circulated that claims to offer a refund from the Tax Office.
The email uses the Tax Office logo and the words ‘Tax refund online!’ in the subject heading and the following text:
Tax refund online!
After the last annual calculation of your fiscal activity we have determined that you are eligible to receive a tax refund of AUD 452.
Please submit the tax refund and allow us 2-5 business days in order to process it.
There may be more variations to this subject heading and text.
The email asks people to click on a link which directs them to a bogus Tax Office website and asks for credit card and personal details.
Tax Commissioner Michael D’Ascenzo said anyone who receives the email should delete it immediately.
“The Tax Office never sends emails asking people to provide personal information including credit card details.
“People should always be wary of unsolicited emails claiming to be from the Tax Office.
“As an extra precaution we recommend you type internet addresses directly into your internet browser rather than clicking on links embedded in emails,” Mr D’Ascenzo said.
These websites are often set up in multiple jurisdictions making them difficult to trace and to effectively shut them down.
If people have entered their credit card information on the website, they should immediately report it to their credit card provider.
Victorian Police Commissioner Simon Overland Sings with The Boys?
I have to say that Victoria is incredibly lucky to have Simon Overland as Police Commissioner. Not only does he have great integrity, if you were in a tight corner, this is the guy you would want on your side. Its a pity we cant have him as AFP head too. But does he have other talents we weren't aware of?
Youtube has some amazing videos that you find by pure accident. They say everyone has a double. This may be a long stretch to suggest that this is an exact match, but hey, take off the glasses and its not bad.
Malcolm Turnbull should Resign if he Doesn't Produce Fake Ozcar Email - Kevin Rudd
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is calling on Malcolm Turnbull to resign if he doesn't produce a copy of the email supposedly from adviser Andrew Charlton to Treasury Official Godwin Grech.
Malcolm Turnbull has previously relied on the text of the supposed email to prosecute his case against Kevin Rudd and Wayne Swan. But a thorough search of government and Treasury computers has failed to find the email.
Turnbull has backtracked on the issue, suggesting that he hasn't actually seen nor does he have a copy the email. This is despite the Opposition Leader deliberately seeking out Andrew Charlton at the Midwinter Ball prior to the email being released by News Limited.
Turnbull has further suggested that the Liberal Party did not produce the document which Rudd has called a fake.
Kevin Rudd has issued the following ultimatum to Turnbull:
"Mr Turnbull and the Liberals have been boasting for a long time now that they are in possession of this information. Well the time has come to produce this information to the parliament for authentication. If when parliament resumes in 24 hours, Mr Turnbull fails to produce this email, this email upon which his entire case against the government is based, for authentication he has no alternative but to stand in the parliament, apologise, and to resign."
Joke of the Day - Its an oldie..I'll let you determine if its any good.
A little boy goes to his dad and asks, "Dad, what is politics?"
Dad says, "Well son, let me try to explain it this way: I'm the breadwinner of the family, so let's call me capitalism. Your Mom, she's the administrator of the money, so we'll call her the Government. We're here to take care of your needs, so we'll call you the people. The nanny, we'll consider her the Working Class. And your baby brother, we'll call him the Future. Now, think about that and see if that makes sense."
So the little boy goes off to bed thinking about what dad had said.
Later that night, he hears his baby brother crying, so he gets up to check on him. He finds that the baby has severely soiled his diaper.
So the little boy goes to his parents' room and finds his mother sound asleep. Not wanting to wake her, he goes to the nanny's room. Finding the door locked, he peeks in the keyhole and sees his father in bed with the nanny. He gives up and goes back to bed.
The next morning, the little boy says to his father, "Dad, I think I understand the concept of politics now."
His father says, "Good. Tell me in your own words what you think politics is all about."
The little boy answers, "Well, while Capitalism is screwing the Working Class, the Government is sound asleep, the People are being ignored and the Future is in deep shit."
Do you think editors like to have fun with the public when they come up with questionable headlines? Or are they just a little bit stupid? Id like to think it was the former but mostly I'm afraid the latter is the case.
But these news headlines do provide ongoing amusement for people like us. I just adore the photo that accompanies this news story. I cant say for sure that this story is real, but its damned funny. Top Job.
Australian Federal Police called in to investigate fake email between Kevin Rudd Staffer Andrew Charlton and Treasury Official Godwin Grech
The Federal Attorney General Robert McLelland has called in the AFP to investigate the possibility that the email exchange between PM staffer Andrew Charlton and Treasury official Godwin Grech as reported by News Limited's Steve Lewis was a fake. After exhaustive searches on Treasury and the Prime Minister's office computers, no email has turned up.
Experts have said that if an email was actually sent, there would be a trace of it somewhere. Perhaps that is why Kevin Rudd has called for an Auditor General inquiry into the matter - he seems confident that the email doesn't exist at all.
Now Malcolm Turnbull is changing his story. While he previously argued his case very heavily on the existence of the email, he has now suggested that he has not actually seen a copy of it. The Opposition Leader also suggests that nobody in the Liberal Party created the email, nor leaked it to Steve Lewis.
But on Wednesday night, prior to the story of the email breaking, Turnbull deliberately sought out Rudd adviser Andrew Charlton to threaten him. See photo below. This from the Daily Telegraph: "The Daily Telegraph has been told Mr Turnbull had asked others at his table where Mr Charlton was sitting, and found he was almost directly behind him."
What the confrontation shows is that Turnbull himself was at the very least aware of the email, and who it was purported to be from. Who told Turnbull of the exact details of the email? Was it Lewis? Or did someone in his own office, or from the opposition actually show him a copy?
Id argue that there is a real possibility that Turnbull has seen at least the text of the email if not the physical copy itself. This is despite now denying that he has. If he is found to be lying on this matter, it will be a quick but painful resignation.
And by denying that the email was leaked to the media by "anyone in the opposition", Turnbull has made a blanket statement which might well be disproved. Again, if its a lie or a false assertion, Turnbull's job will be on the line.
If it is proven that the email is a fake, there will be serious questions as to who created it. If the source is from within the Liberal Party, which would be likely, Malcolm Turnbull will have to go. But further, everyone who has been out prosecuting this argument - people like Joe Hockey and Tony Abbott - will have seriously tarnished reputations.
There could be some big losers from the Opposition for this whole Ozcar affair. A week is a long time in politics. How very apt. And the week started so very well for Turnbull.
Is Malcolm Turnbull Lying over Godwin Grech Email?
Things are certainly heating up in wintry Canberra. I earlier questioned whether journalist Steve Lewis from News Limited planted a false memory with Godwin Grech after repeated questioning on the supposed email from PM Rudd's office.
Malcolm Turnbull has been pushing very hard on this issue, calling for both Rudd and Wayne Swan to resign. In his latest news conference, Turnbull has made a very interesting claim. He has said that he does not have a copy of the purported email between Rudd adviser Andrew Charlton and Treasury official Godwin Grech. But Turnbull went further, suggesting that neither he nor the opposition gave the email to Steve Lewis.
Godwin Grech suggested in an email to his superiors on Friday that he had been contacted by Steve Lewis four times on Thursday in relation to the email. But on Wednesday night, Malcolm Turnbull had a direct one on one chat with Andrew Charlton at the Parliamentary Midwinter Ball. Turnbull was giving Charlton a piece of advice, namely that he should tell the truth. Charlton in response stated quite strongly that he had already been completely honest.
This exchange begs the question. Why did Malcolm Turnbull single out Andrew Charlton for a chat PRIOR to Steve Lewis directly questioning Godwin Grech? The only answer can be that Turnbull himself knew of the existence of the purported email. He is denying that the opposition created the email, and also that they gave it to the media.
So if Steve Lewis knew of the existence of the email on Wednesday, would he not have tried to contact Grech that same day? Its likely that Lewis didn't get the text of the email until after business hours on Wednesday, or early Thursday, at which point he followed up with Grech.
So who knew what when, and who told them? I can think of three explanations.
- Turnbull is lying and gave the text of the email to Steve Lewis late on Wednesday, or early Thursday, after Turnbull's chat with Charlton.
- Steve Lewis tipped off Malcolm Turnbull to the existence of the email, and who it was supposedly from.
- The same person who leaked to Lewis also leaked directly to Turnbull. (But if this is the case, why would they leak to two people, and why would Turnbull claim to not have a copy of the email?)
If its either of the first two, Malcolm Turnbull could find himself in some serious trouble. It doesn't take long for the tables to turn in Canberra. And if Steve Lewis tipped off the Opposition with full details of the issue, his credibility will be seriously questioned too.
Further, if it turns out that this email is fake, Turnbull will have to go. And Steve Lewis might soon find himself writing for the Cairns Post instead.
False Memory Syndrome?
Was Godwin Grech led into admitting the possibility of an email due to repeated questioning by Steve Lewis?
Godwin Grech is not the most capable public performer. But nor should he be. He is a treasury official, whose daily life should not be plastered over the front pages of newspapers. You have to feel for what this will do for his career.
At the heart of this matter is a supposed email sent from the Prime Minister's office to Godwin Grech asking for some advice on the matter of finance for a Queensland car dealership, John Grant Motors. John Grant happens to be a friend of Kevin Rudd.
After repeated questioning, Grech indicated to a Senate Estimates hearing that he had a recollection of an email from the PM's office on this matter. However, he did qualify his statement by suggesting that his "...recollection may be totally false."
So how accurate is his memory? Despite searches of the computers and hard drives at both the PM's office and Treasury, no email has been found. I find it hard to believe that if it existed, it couldnt be located. From the PM's office, one could be cynical in thinking that email records could get lost, misplaced or hidden.
But from a Department? That's harder to believe. Government departments and public servants are fastidious hoarders of information, particularly documentary evidence of any dealings that they have with a Minister's office. Not only should they have copies of all physical communications, Departmental officials often keep file notes of any phone conversations or physical meetings. Everything gets attached to a file.
Even further to that would be a hard drive backup. While searches of both the PM's and Treasury's individual computers turned up nothing, what about the backup? Surely every email ever sent and received is backed up on a departmental hard drive? An individual can always delete an email from their own computer - but deleting a hard drive backup held by a department would be next to impossible.
It has emerged that Grech was contacted by News Limited journo Steve Lewis no less than 4 times in the 24 hours preceding Grech's appearance before Senate Estimates. On each of those occasions, Lewis would have been asking Grech about the existence of an email from Rudd Adviser Andrew Charlton.
On each of those phone calls, Grech apparently denied the existence of any email communication. "When Lewis called the fourth time at around 8pm, he again asked about the PMO communication; I again denied it," Grech wrote in an email to his superiors.
So what changed between the Lewis phone calls and Gretch's appearance before Senate Estimates?
Did Lewis' persistence with Grech lead to a false memory from the Treasury official? You can bet that on every phone call to Gretch, Lewis was hammering the message of the existence of an email. After all, that was Lewis' primary piece of evidence. Grech doesn't appear to be the most confident of officials. So was he led to believe that an email existed solely due to the questioning and apparent conviction of Lewis?
Lewis subsequently published the purported email from Charlton to Grech:
"Hi Godwin, The PM has asked if the car dealer financing vehicle is available to assist a Queensland dealership, John Grant Motors, who seems to be having trouble getting finance. If you can follow up on this asap that would be very useful."
From where did Lewis get a copy of the email? From the Opposition Leader. On Wednesday night, Malcolm Turnbull threatened Andrew Charlton at the Parliamentary Midwinter Ball. Turnbull apparently urged Charlton to tell the truth on this matter. But Charlton was steadfast in his denials - he had told the truth he said.
Turnbull's singling out of Charlton at the Ball suggests that the Opposition Leader already had a copy of the purported email. Maybe he was fishing, or perhaps he was giving some friendly advice to Charlton.
But where did the Opposition Leader get a copy of the so called email? It was obviously given to Turnbull in some capacity, either as a form of words or a copy of a document. Whatever it was, it subsequently found its way to Lewis.
If it were real, there would have to be a highly placed leak at Treasury or the Prime Minster's office. But if so, where is the original copy of the email now? And surely if it was a leak, there would be some other documentary evidence?
And if it is real, why are the Prime Minister and Charlton steadfastly denying that any contact took place? It would seem to me to be an even greater offence to continue the denial.
I don't believe that Turnbull would create such an email - it would be a pointless and career ending decision. So if it is fake, it probably didn't come from his office. But that doesn't rule out others in the Liberal party creating a fake document.
At this point, all we have seen is the text of the email - not the email itself. I'm keen to see what emerges in the coming days. All we have are words and not an electronic copy of the document. The onus should now be on Turnbull to come clean with what physical proof he has.
And I'm sure the public would welcome Steve Lewis shedding some light on what conversations he had with Godwin Grech. How hard did he question on the alleged email, and what exactly did Grech say?
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