Oh good ...

[blamebrampton]

A political crisis closer to home that is also incomprehensible. Yippee!

Australia, like much of the Western world, has seen the easy availability of finance curtailed as a result of the Global Financial Crisis. Given that some industries, like car dealerships, rely on credit to function, the government has stepped in to arrange financing to help (which is reasonable enough given that the scheme should end up costing little by its very nature, and certainly saving the money spent in terms of jobs and keeping the economy going.) The financing scheme is known as Ozcar.

One of the recipients of aid under the Ozcar scheme is a man named John Grant, who is an old friend of the Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd. Grant loaned Rudd a ute (a car with a tray on the back) for his electoral campaigning, and is also connected with Wayne Swan, the Treasurer.

The Opposition has been attempting to make the case that Grant's inclusion in the scheme was blatant favouritism. The PM and Treasurer have held to the line that Grant is a businessman whose company meets the criteria for finance and so had been selected purely on merit.

Today, the remarkably named Godwin Grech, a senior Treasury official, spoke to a Senate Committee and told them it was his understanding that the Prime Minister's Office had contacted him regarding Grant at the beginning of the process and he believed that favourable treatment had been encouraged.

If this is true, it is very bad news for the government, because Rudd and Swan have both denied being involved in response to questions in parliament. Should it turn out that they have lied, they will be guilty of misleading parliament, which is an offence that generally sees a person quickly removed from office.

However, the testimony given by Mr Grech was frankly bizarre. Grech was nervous and stuttering and did not give a clear account. In fact, his testimony included the phrase 'My recollection might be totally false'. There is no paper trail, no record of the alleged email can be found in the computer systems involved (which are archived and include deleted emails) and the auditor general has now been called in to conduct an inquiry.

So, in the next week, we could have a new PM, or it could all turn out to be another of those mad incidents that happen when you overwork public servants for too long and they finally snap. (NB, for my American friends: in the UK , Australia and New Zealand, that involves either running naked through a public space or developing complex theories that may or may not involve a degree of paranoia, however –happily – no guns.)

I swear, if Malcolm Turnbull ends up PM, I am going back to England. The man's a weasel.

Comments

[vaysh11.livejournal.com]

Seriously, if it wasn't for your posts and fic, I would not understand British and Australian politics at all :). *shakes head at politics* This reminds me strangely of the huge political desastre debate when our then Cancellor Schröder just could not admit a 1. woman from 2. the former East and 3. the CDU had clearly defeated him. I am still concinved he was on coke. There is no other explanation.

"Godwin Grech", though? You're sure this is not from some HP fanfic??

[old-enough.livejournal.com]

You forgot the situation in which the MP/Goevernmental official clearly and suddenly looses their mind and has a completely bizarre and very public affair that seems to always involve suspenders--regardless of the combination of genders involved in said affair.

(NB Again for the Americans--suspenders are called garters/garter belts over in your part of the world.)

[autumn-veela.livejournal.com]

Oh good, I'm glad you've posted this. I keep hearing the headlines then think "just another political scandal, can I even be bothered?". I didn't realise it was this important.

Malcolm Turnbull is a terrifying prospect. If he ends up PM, I'll come with you. Surely Gordon Brown will be gone soon, anyway...

[thisgirl-is.livejournal.com]

Do we think someone with a vested interest in making Messrs Rudd and Swan look bad might have found out that Mr Grech has been a Very Bad Man?

[drgaellon]

Alternate theory: someone from Mr. Rudd's opposition has pressured Mr. Grech into perjuring himself. Hence the nerves and the lack of supporting documentation.

[treacle-tartlet.livejournal.com]

*bursts into tears* take me with you!

[shu-shu-sleeps.livejournal.com]

I was watching some coverage of Mr Ginch's 'grilling' by Senate Estimates last night was struck by his complete incoherency and the constant use of the term ït was my understanding'..... he seems a very strange little man. But if we get stuck with Turnbull, I'll meet you at the airport!

[jamie2109.livejournal.com]

I'm with you. How is Grech a credible witness when he even claims that his memories might be false...has Voldie been getting in there and planting spurious memories?

And also with you on the Turnbull thing and the Gillard thing. I think I trust her because she doesn't bow to the makeover demands. She has crap hair, she dresses badly, she speaks oddly, but I like her. I get that honesty from her that I rarely get from a pollie.

[pir8fancier.livejournal.com]

Having survived eight years of George Bush et al., I am now basically immune/blase about political shenigans. Whether it's the opposition trying to make hay out of nothing or the granting of political favors on the sly. Compared to what went on in this country for eight years, it's chicken feed. NOTHING surprises me anymore.

[dharawal.livejournal.com]

In my dim dim dim distant past when I was another person, I was 'involved' with the aforementioned Mr Turnball in ways I shall not elucidate, back when he was a nice man, oh my how you have changed Malcolm, and people called Keating a lizard.

[pushdragon.livejournal.com]

... and Grech's evidence always begins with "it was my impression that ...". He can't repeat what exactly was said to him, all he remembers is his "impression" of what the PM and/or the treasurer's office encouraged him to do. So yes, his recollection ain't worth much.

If only he were being examined by a barrister instead of Liberal parliamentarians - any lawyer (and any idiot of any profession) knows the difference between having an "impression" and having an actual memory of a conversation.

I like Turnbull. You might say he doesn't believe in anything, but at least that makes him a pragmatist who has no right wing religious agenda to impose, and Not Being Tony Abbott is a shining virtue.

Also, I'm coming to your neck of the woods again soon, 3 July to 7 or 8 July. Details still hazy but I hope there will be time for a drink or dinner.

[not-an-elf.livejournal.com]

Did you see the extended footage they had this morning on insiders?
Grech got overridden about 20 times by the senator who accompanied him (sorry, can't remember the name). They were really reasonable questions too.
Grech even makes a comment about the terrible situation he's being put in. For mine, his stuttering and inconsistency is stress, not strangeness.

Poor bugger.