Senate estimates also revealed the money was spent after the government went into caretaker mode before the election.
That is, when it should not have been making any more major decisions, so as to prevent lame duck decision making.
Such as these.
I mean.... that's actually factually illegal, right?
Apparently.
But as we've seen in the US and the UK, if you can be brazen enough, and the institutions/checks/balances don't interdict, and the public show no signs of punishing you for it, does it really matter if it's illegal, if you can get away with it?
I mean.... that's actually factually illegal, right?
No.
It's code of conduct like stuff, that's spelled out in the "Guidance on Caretaker Provisions" issued by the department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
But it is not law.
What is law is the Public Service Act and the need for departments to be apolitical and impartial.
It is not apolitical and impartial to contravene the Caretaker Provisions, as they are put in place to preserve that nature of the APS during an election campaign.
But that likely just gets public servants fired, and no consequences placed on the government.
If the decisions to spend the money happened before the caretaker period was appointed, then it's not even in contravention of the guidelines. Doing a bit of pork barelling before the caretaker is pretty much a tradition, these days.
Speaking of the coronavirus - looks like there is mild panic starting to set in here and there. Anecdotally, I've seen/been told of people buying up non-perishables well in advance of any new cases even being reported here. God help us if cases do start appearing in the general population as a community-transition. We'll be cracking open each other's skulls to feast on the goo inside within a week.
The list of projects to fund was only sent back to the department after the government entered caretaker mode (that day).
It should have been discussed with the opposition as to whether the funding should then proceed, as far as I can see.
Basically, "chicken scratchings" is a valid excuse for not preserving records, as such a record would likely be deemed facilitative, and only meant to aid discussion on the meeting.
But I also imagine that records that document the meeting should also have been created, as the meeting falls within the given interest categories.
So barring any other documentation, I imagine the chicken scratchings would be taken as the formal record of the meeting.
I saw a news article and at first didn't realise that it was a COMPLETELY different meeting that overturned advice to give a huge grant to a liberal donor they destroyed notes of.
The only physical trace of Shine Energy, which wants to build a $2bn coal-fired power station in north Queensland, is a small post office box next to an Asian grocer at a suburban Brisbane shopping complex. The same mailbox is shared by more than a dozen online businesses, including the maker of a metal card that spuriously claims to improve the quality of wine.
Company documents show Shine Energy is worth a nominal $1,000 on paper. It has no registered financial obligations, and no physical office at its listed address.
At least Paladin had a shack on Kangaroo Island...
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Donovan PuppyfuckerA dagger in the dark isworth a thousand swords in the morningRegistered Userregular
The only physical trace of Shine Energy, which wants to build a $2bn coal-fired power station in north Queensland, is a small post office box next to an Asian grocer at a suburban Brisbane shopping complex. The same mailbox is shared by more than a dozen online businesses, including the maker of a metal card that spuriously claims to improve the quality of wine.
Company documents show Shine Energy is worth a nominal $1,000 on paper. It has no registered financial obligations, and no physical office at its listed address.
At least Paladin had a shack on Kangaroo Island...
Sometimes I wish I lacked a conscience enough so that I could be a grifter on this level.
Sometimes.
At least I'd use the billions for good! I'd build homeless LGBTQIA+ youth shelters, and parks and playgrounds in working class areas, and build and donate houses for people on government housing waiting lists.
I'd also pay off my mortgage and buy myself a Lambo but c'mon, who wouldn't in that situation?
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FishmanPut your goddamned hand in the goddamned Box of Pain.Registered Userregular
Dude, come on. I would never do that.
The Lambo luxury exotic EV offering is too far away.
Yeah my father was asking me if he should move to an EV next year and I'm like, only if NSW gets it's act together in the near future. ACT power generation is I think now at 100% renewables, and we run off solar at home, but he spends too much time in Wollongong/Sydney/ south coast to not factor that in.
Plus I can't find any plans to roll out charging stations in rural areas.
In Australia, you actually produce more CO2 driving an electric car than a petrol car because there's so many nonrenewable energy power plants.
What are you burning down there? Last I did the math it's still slightly lower even if you're on 100% coal. (Mostly because large generating stations are more efficient than tiny engines, even after transmission losses)
Nothing about our energy sector makes any sense. We're the largest exporter in the world of LNG, recently overtaking Qatar, but we're looking to IMPORT LNG to meet local demand...
Mining giant Fortescue Metals, retail giant Wesfarmers, two NRL clubs, and Catholic and Anglican welfare organisations were awarded millions of dollars from a fund for alleviating Indigenous disadvantage.
I'm now convinced that this Government's weak handed and sluggish response to the Covid-19 crisis will lead us to being the Italy of the Pacific. To have the PM, in the midst of multiple events being cancelled and while announcing encouragements to cancel (not enforced bans) on mass gatherings, to encourage people to go to the footy on the weekend is insane. As with everything else Scotty is following Trump's poisonous lead. By the time this lot actually takes the action needed to stop or slow the spread of the virus it will be far too late.
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-Loki-Don't pee in my mouth and tell me it's raining.Registered Userregular
VivixenneRemember your training, and we'll get through this just fine.Registered Userregular
edited March 2020
I’d love it if the AFL actually made the call to play but not to have spectators, just to have the matches televised or streamed. You know, not have to wait for the dipshit government to make it mandatory.
I know it messes with the atmosphere of a competitive setting, but it seems like a reasonable enough compromise?
I’d love it if the AFL actually made the call to play but not to have spectators, just to have the matches televised or streamed. You know, not have to wait for the dipshit government to make it mandatory.
I know it messes with the atmosphere of a competitive setting, but it seems like a reasonable enough compromise?
I think they are going to, but starting next week.
AegeriTiny wee bacteriumsPlateau of LengRegistered Userregular
There is no point worrying about this now - just assume it's where you are and act accordingly. Wash hands, stay home if you feel suitably ill and hopefully employers show mercy to casual workers etc in paying them during this time.
I mean, as darkly ironic as I find the news, doesn't this mean that effectively all of Australias cabinet have been exposed, and in the case of the PM, publicly committed to attending large sporting events in the next day or so?
Isn't that a massive number, then, of leadership of ministries, etc that you really, really, don't want to have their decision making dead ending right now?
Posts
That is, when it should not have been making any more major decisions, so as to prevent lame duck decision making.
Such as these.
Apparently.
But as we've seen in the US and the UK, if you can be brazen enough, and the institutions/checks/balances don't interdict, and the public show no signs of punishing you for it, does it really matter if it's illegal, if you can get away with it?
Origin: KafkaAU B-Net: Kafka#1778
No.
It's code of conduct like stuff, that's spelled out in the "Guidance on Caretaker Provisions" issued by the department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
But it is not law.
What is law is the Public Service Act and the need for departments to be apolitical and impartial.
It is not apolitical and impartial to contravene the Caretaker Provisions, as they are put in place to preserve that nature of the APS during an election campaign.
But that likely just gets public servants fired, and no consequences placed on the government.
Speaking of the coronavirus - looks like there is mild panic starting to set in here and there. Anecdotally, I've seen/been told of people buying up non-perishables well in advance of any new cases even being reported here. God help us if cases do start appearing in the general population as a community-transition. We'll be cracking open each other's skulls to feast on the goo inside within a week.
It should have been discussed with the opposition as to whether the funding should then proceed, as far as I can see.
This would have me so fired
Somebody please put these criminals in prison already
Steam / Origin & Wii U: Heatwave111 / FC: 4227-1965-3206 / Battle.net: Heatwave#11356
It looks like the penalty is 20 penalty units though.
Or about $3k.
https://www.naa.gov.au/information-management/records-authorities/types-records-authorities/general-records-authority-28
Basically, "chicken scratchings" is a valid excuse for not preserving records, as such a record would likely be deemed facilitative, and only meant to aid discussion on the meeting.
But I also imagine that records that document the meeting should also have been created, as the meeting falls within the given interest categories.
So barring any other documentation, I imagine the chicken scratchings would be taken as the formal record of the meeting.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/feb/28/coalition-ministers-kept-no-records-of-meeting-overturning-advice-and-awarding-5m-to-party-donor
At least Paladin had a shack on Kangaroo Island...
Sometimes I wish I lacked a conscience enough so that I could be a grifter on this level.
Sometimes.
At least I'd use the billions for good! I'd build homeless LGBTQIA+ youth shelters, and parks and playgrounds in working class areas, and build and donate houses for people on government housing waiting lists.
I'd also pay off my mortgage and buy myself a Lambo but c'mon, who wouldn't in that situation?
The Lambo luxury exotic EV offering is too far away.
Plus I can't find any plans to roll out charging stations in rural areas.
What are you burning down there? Last I did the math it's still slightly lower even if you're on 100% coal. (Mostly because large generating stations are more efficient than tiny engines, even after transmission losses)
... yeah, pretty much
Origin: KafkaAU B-Net: Kafka#1778
Holy shit, one of his best.
Seems legit...
I know it messes with the atmosphere of a competitive setting, but it seems like a reasonable enough compromise?
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better
bit.ly/2XQM1ke
What a shame.
Old PA forum lookalike style for the new forums | My ko-fi donation thing.
I think they are going to, but starting next week.
Origin: KafkaAU B-Net: Kafka#1778
I await the discovery they have all self-isolated themselves in Hawaii or something.
Isn't that a massive number, then, of leadership of ministries, etc that you really, really, don't want to have their decision making dead ending right now?