The perk of being related to the AFL boss. What an oh-pair:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-08-28/dutton-released-au-pair-after-lobbying-from-afl-boss-mclachlan/10172788

Edited September 5, 20187 yr by Grapeviney

Sounds about right for him. How do we get rid of this numpty?

Introducing the Zooper immigration criteria checklist:

Nine bonus points if you're French. Nine for being a girl. And automatic repechage if you work for the big end of town. 

10 minutes ago, Skuit said:

Introducing the Zooper immigration criteria checklist:

Nine bonus points if you're French. Nine for being a girl. And automatic repechage if you work for the big end of town. 

you forgot points for being blonde, but I suspect the big end of town is the trump card with 'upright' politicians.

A bit awful that the article names and shares a photo of the au pair.

But gee, isn't it nice to know the right people. Although I'm quite sure that everyone involved is totally blamesless and had no idea about the intricacies of actually having a right to work in Australia before recruiting someone to work in Australia.

Not like those dastardly evil international students working more than the 20hr-week limit in order to make ends meet on their $13/hr.

Some part of me just keeps noticing this whole 'two laws' thing going on.

McLachlan family in Sth Australia reported to have made sizable donations ($150,000) to Liberal Party. How convenient. Any wonder we are rising on the corrupt countries ladder.

Edited August 28, 20187 yr by Moonshadow

10 minutes ago, Moonshadow said:

McLachlan family in Sth Australia reported to have made sizable donations ($150,000) to Liberal Party. How convenient. Any wonder we are rising on the corrupt countries ladder.

yep, those compulsory union dues being funneled to the labor party are not a good look. moonie

[censored] off with your politics.

 

9 minutes ago, daisycutter said:

yep, those compulsory union dues being funneled to the labor party are not a good look. moonie

umm, I think the issue is possible corrupt behaviour, not on whose 'side' the money originates.   It doesn't excuse anyone to say 'but the other guy does it too'.  

1 minute ago, sue said:

umm, I think the issue is possible corrupt behaviour, not on whose 'side' the money originates.   It doesn't excuse anyone to say 'but the other guy does it too'.  

i quite agree sue, which is why i gave a counterpoint to moonies attempt at partisanship

29 minutes ago, daisycutter said:

yep, those compulsory union dues being funneled to the labor party are not a good look. moonie

Possibly, but in this specific case it is clearly favouritism by the immigration minister, albeit he was probably advised poorly by his staff.

Union affiliation fees to the Labor party are publicly declared party membership fees and as such, they are obliged to support the party's rules and policies. Political donations have no such restrictions, but I guess you knew that. Small point of difference, but notable.

Fortunately I'm a member of the Baathist party dc, where it's a proud traditon to bribe and corrupt.

14 minutes ago, daisycutter said:

i quite agree sue, which is why i gave a counterpoint to moonies attempt at partisanship

Actually, I was aiming at corruption in general, and using this thread topic as an example. You know... the McLaughlins and the immigration minister's intervention. I care not for the Coca cola or the Pepsi cola parties.

Edited August 28, 20187 yr by Moonshadow

Friends in high places 

I believe as part of the final arrangements the au pair was required to organise the Adelaide Crow's pre-season camp, making use of existing Departmental facilities on Nauru.

Bruce Gibbs was quoted today saying "It is still better than playing for Carlton".

59 minutes ago, daisycutter said:

i quite agree sue, which is why i gave a counterpoint to moonies attempt at partisanship

Sorry, I'd like to believe that but Moonie just stated the reported facts.  While he may or may not be an opponent of the LNP or just an independent observer, it was you who made it a partisan issue.   

As a rabid lefty two comments, 1) an au pair got her Visa wrong, happens all the time, she was straight up with the immigration officers who interviewed her, just because Border Control are a complete pack of pajero's most of the time doesn't mean she deserved to have merde dumped on her.  That many deserving people get unfair, unjust, and cruel treatment is not up for debate/dispute and is the reason to think about how you vote, and what you want from society, but I'd leave this individual out of it. If we hadn't rooted our immigration system there could be alot more discretion and less hysterics about people just getting on with life.

2) As much as we might dislike Gill for various reasons, there is nothing more to see here than someone vouching for a mate, which is not illegal, he didn't twist Duttons arm, and to suggest this was over a political donation is a stretch. I'm all for critiquing Gill for some goose stuff like with rule changes and the doping saga, but this, nah, move along. I loathe Dutton, think he's a racist pr1ck, but evidence for this actually being wrong is not there.

 

BTW: This belongs on the other board.

4 minutes ago, DaisyDeeciple said:

As a rabid lefty two comments, 1) an au pair got her Visa wrong, happens all the time, she was straight up with the immigration officers who interviewed her, just because Border Control are a complete pack of pajero's most of the time doesn't mean she deserved to have merde dumped on her.  That many deserving people get unfair, unjust, and cruel treatment is not up for debate/dispute and is the reason to think about how you vote, and what you want from society, but I'd leave this individual out of it. If we hadn't rooted our immigration system there could be alot more discretion and less hysterics about people just getting on with life.

2) As much as we might dislike Gill for various reasons, there is nothing more to see here than someone vouching for a mate, which is not illegal, he didn't twist Duttons arm, and to suggest this was over a political donation is a stretch. I'm all for critiquing Gill for some goose stuff like with rule changes and the doping saga, but this, nah, move along. I loathe Dutton, think he's a racist pr1ck, but evidence for this actually being wrong is not there.

 

BTW: This belongs on the other board.

Yes, the system is stuffed and their is a bit of a stirring going on in the political scene...but if it were you or I we would have no chance of approaching Dutton and getting the matter sorted.

Mates in high places, advantage etc...I'm sure the political donation doesn't hurt when you need to get the ear of someone with influence.

 Getting special treatment,

for what was clearly a knowing breach of the law,

because you have a personal connection to a minister,

is corruption.

I'm irritated that this kind of thing is now so embedded in political culture that there is nobody left to kick up a stink, which just sinks it in even more until son enough it'll just be normal and we'll see what can be pushed to next.

But aside from 'Gil's a regulation bog-standard establishment creep with no credentials to lead the AFL', which we all knew already, I agree this should be tucked over in the politics/other/whatever forum and ideally allowed to die.

1 hour ago, DaisyDeeciple said:

As a rabid lefty two comments, 1) an au pair got her Visa wrong, happens all the time, she was straight up with the immigration officers who interviewed her, just because Border Control are a complete pack of pajero's most of the time doesn't mean she deserved to have merde dumped on her.  That many deserving people get unfair, unjust, and cruel treatment is not up for debate/dispute and is the reason to think about how you vote, and what you want from society, but I'd leave this individual out of it. If we hadn't rooted our immigration system there could be alot more discretion and less hysterics about people just getting on with life.

2) As much as we might dislike Gill for various reasons, there is nothing more to see here than someone vouching for a mate, which is not illegal, he didn't twist Duttons arm, and to suggest this was over a political donation is a stretch. I'm all for critiquing Gill for some goose stuff like with rule changes and the doping saga, but this, nah, move along. I loathe Dutton, think he's a racist pr1ck, but evidence for this actually being wrong is not there.

 

BTW: This belongs on the other board.

Nah mate, using your position of influence to change due process knowing your family is a large political donor is simply wrong. Even I can see that and I'm not a rabid lefty.

Actually the broad in the article looks quite tidy, I approve of all of this.

12 minutes ago, Moonshadow said:

Nah mate, using your position of influence to change due process knowing your family is a large political donor is simply wrong. Even I can see that and I'm not a rabid lefty.

What I would be keen to see is how many exceptions are made across the board by the Minister, if this was a one off (or only happened where there was a mate or a donor involved - then I'd say gut him like a fish, I just have a feeling that there are probably dozens and dozens of these cases where some grace is shown. I personally know of cases where the local MP was approached by a family to make representations to the Minister of Immigration because there has been some sort of error and eventually something good has happened. 

12 minutes ago, DaisyDeeciple said:

What I would be keen to see is how many exceptions are made across the board by the Minister

Yep, pretty average article to provide so little context.

1 hour ago, Moonshadow said:

Nah mate, using your position of influence to change due process knowing your family is a large political donor is simply wrong. Even I can see that and I'm not a rabid lefty.

To be clear, I don't disagree with this, I just don't think that case has quite been made as fact (a real fact, not a trump fact). Lets see what the senate inquiry comes up with.

8 hours ago, Brownie said:

Sounds about right for him. How do we get rid of this numpty?

Who ?  pDutton.

8 hours ago, Big Demon said:

Actually the broad in the article looks quite tidy, I approve of all of this.

Is she Gills' "special friend"

Haha keeps getting better for him, a second call to the gov for help.

 

https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/afl-boss-gillon-mclachlan-sought-government-help-on-visa-for-argentinian-polo-player-20180905-p501ya.html?crpt=homepage