Smyth appointment a bombshell for Libs

It’s not often that I agree with John Hargreaves, but on this issue we share the view that the Canberra community is being exploited. Barr, Smyth and all who condone this fail to see that it is wrong (on many levels) for the political party in office to use public funds to buy off an elected political opponent with a contrived, noncompeditive, lucrative and unnecessary appointment simply to enhance its own prospects for remaining in office.
Taken to its extreme the political party in office with access to enough funds could buy off all its elected opponents ensuring perpetual control over government and subverting the whole democratic process. Roll on the Democratic People’s Republic of Canberra with President for Life Barr.
If anyone hasn’t seen it and particularly for the benefit of those who would laugh off this shabby deal and don’t comprehend or care about a cynical at best, corrupt at worst, use of our funds:

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/former-labor-minister-john-hargreaves-blasts-brendan-smyth-appointment-20160720-gq9m4j.html

Charlotte Harper said :

Everyone is up in arms about Labor under-cutting the Libs with this appointment, which is probably the end result, but no one is faulting Smyth for applying for or accepting the appointment.

Surely, if this was bad for the Liberals and therefore, in their opinion, bad for the ACT because it reduces the Liberal’s chance of winning, then it is incumbent on Smyth not to apply for or accept the position because doing so is putting his own self-interest ahead of the ACT’s?

It’s made it rather awkward for the Liberal party to argue that the position is completely surplus to requirements (probable) and just a paid-junket position, when one of their core representatives has decided it is a worthy enough position to take up…

Effective politics by Labor, but only enabled by Smyths acceptance

That would be ex representative.

I’m sure someone raising a family would have an obligation to that family first when the money on the table is substantial.

Key difference between Labor and Liberal plans is that Liberals are usually selling the idea, e.g, better public transport. Where Labor is selling the thing. This person, that person, light rail.

It really shouldn’t matter who is in your party if the ideas in the party remain the same.
Switching from Gillard to Rudd and Tony to Malcolm didn’t change a damn thing really.

Everyone is up in arms about Labor under-cutting the Libs with this appointment, which is probably the end result, but no one is faulting Smyth for applying for or accepting the appointment.

Surely, if this was bad for the Liberals and therefore, in their opinion, bad for the ACT because it reduces the Liberal’s chance of winning, then it is incumbent on Smyth not to apply for or accept the position because doing so is putting his own self-interest ahead of the ACT’s?

It’s made it rather awkward for the Liberal party to argue that the position is completely surplus to requirements (probable) and just a paid-junket position, when one of their core representatives has decided it is a worthy enough position to take up…

Effective politics by Labor, but only enabled by Smyths acceptance

Charlotte Harper said :

Certainly, and strangely, a smart political move by Barr. And if the Lib’s Smyth is replaced by a Labor or Greens candidate on a count back for 2 weeks or so until the election in October, then an interesting period ahead – until that new Labor/Greens person is probably turfed out at the election.

However, the loss of the personal vote that goes to Smyth (as a long standing Liberal MLA) will weaken further the Lib’s chances (as slim as they were already in my view) of forming Government in the ACT LA election.

So, this action of, in haste, creating this position to entice Smyth out of the Legislative Assembly (which is a deal that would have been set up before that position was created !) and which Smyth, accepted) actually undermines or perverts the democratic process.

Just goes to show that this ACT Labor/Greens Govt, and Barr in particular are so arrogant and comfortable that they will not lose power here now, that they think they can do anything…….

Might as well just declare that ACT Labor wins the next 5 Legislative Assembly elections right now and save Ratepayers the $ of paying the political parties $8 (or is it $6 ?) for every vote they get. Maybe that saving can go to the tram debt or to pay Mr Smyth’s salary, expenses and staff cost.

And what will ACT voters and ratepayers do about all this and the ACT Labor/Greens appalling track record of poor Governance and fiscal priority setting ? Nothing – except reward ACT Labor/Greens with another term.

The lib’s Val Jeffery will apparently replace Smyth in the ACT Legislative Assembly, so the vacancy for about 2 weeks will not now be filled by a Labor or Greens candidate.

TuggLife said :

I’m curious to know why you’d say Smyth is well qualified for this role. I’m also curious why the ALP would have any great interest in getting him out of politics where he’s been pretty ineffective for years. Why replace a known mediocrity with maybe someone actually useful (I know with the Liberals this is unlikely, but it is a small possibility)?

I’d also like to think a job like this would be paid a modest base salary with incentives based on the value of business brought in to Canberra … but being public sector I can’t imagine that happening.

If the ACT Government ever applied productivity metrics to their employees, we’d probably see the cost of running said government at least halve.
In other words, not going to happen.

“Commissioner for International Engagement”. Politician speak for junkets to New Zealand every few weeks and holidays in South East Asia during Canberra winters. Still, it makes a change from that pastime we had in the 1980s of seeing government Z cars at beaches on the south coast and dobbing them in to the Murdoch newspapers.

Certainly, and strangely, a smart political move by Barr. And if the Lib’s Smyth is replaced by a Labor or Greens candidate on a count back for 2 weeks or so until the election in October, then an interesting period ahead – until that new Labor/Greens person is probably turfed out at the election.

However, the loss of the personal vote that goes to Smyth (as a long standing Liberal MLA) will weaken further the Lib’s chances (as slim as they were already in my view) of forming Government in the ACT LA election.

So, this action of, in haste, creating this position to entice Smyth out of the Legislative Assembly (which is a deal that would have been set up before that position was created !) and which Smyth, accepted) actually undermines or perverts the democratic process.

Just goes to show that this ACT Labor/Greens Govt, and Barr in particular are so arrogant and comfortable that they will not lose power here now, that they think they can do anything…….

Might as well just declare that ACT Labor wins the next 5 Legislative Assembly elections right now and save Ratepayers the $ of paying the political parties $8 (or is it $6 ?) for every vote they get. Maybe that saving can go to the tram debt or to pay Mr Smyth’s salary, expenses and staff cost.

And what will ACT voters and ratepayers do about all this and the ACT Labor/Greens appalling track record of poor Governance and fiscal priority setting ? Nothing – except reward ACT Labor/Greens with another term.

I’m curious to know why you’d say Smyth is well qualified for this role. I’m also curious why the ALP would have any great interest in getting him out of politics where he’s been pretty ineffective for years. Why replace a known mediocrity with maybe someone actually useful (I know with the Liberals this is unlikely, but it is a small possibility)?

I’d also like to think a job like this would be paid a modest base salary with incentives based on the value of business brought in to Canberra … but being public sector I can’t imagine that happening.

This is the funniest thing for ages. I laughed when I heard the announcement and then laughed again when I read the slightly hysterical responses on other threads (this one is quite genteel), I am reminded of the song I sang my kids.

‘And the dogs are barking
woof woof woof
and the cat’s meowing,
meow meow meow,
and everybody’s shouting,
Stop that Noise!
as they wheel round and round’

Thank you to the reliable few, you have made my day.

A conversation that may have taken place:
AB: What will it take to get you to defect?
BS: A cushy job with lots of travel. I’ve always wanted to be an ambassador.
AB: Hmm. Well we’re only a local government council so can’t make you an ambassador. But how about we create a cushy job with lots of travel, call it something ambassadorial like ‘Commissioner For International Engagement’, and only make it available to you with no other applicants to be considered for the job.
BS: OK but I want it in three days.
AB: Done.