19 April 2016

Reith Still Raging

| John Hargreaves
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I wish I could count the times I have been accused of having a left wing bias. Something I wear as a badge of honour.

This is gunna surprise you but there are people out there who are far greater haters than Labor will ever spawn. Such a person is Peter Reith, former Howard government minister and columnist for Fairfax.

I read his diatribe in the Canberra Crimes and thought there is a lesson here.

Let me be fair though. I do enjoy Amanda Vanstone’s column from time to time. She bags the Labor Party but also does so with some degree of balance and with some courteous writing. She too is a former Howard minister and a Fairfax columnist. I served with Amanda on a ministerial council to do with multicultural affairs. She has my respect. Not so Mr Reith.

His use of language shows the depth of his everlasting hatred for unions and anything Labor. Why he doesn’t just get over it, I don’t know. Some examples.

[Talking about the Victorian Labor Party and why they should not be in power in Victoria], “the first [reason] is the CFMEU’s control over Victorian Labor and its record of intimidation, thuggery and links to unsavoury individuals”. Really? Proof?

[Talking about the Liberals] “There have been no scandals” Really? A dumped preselected candidate because he wanted to use a porn star in his campaign!

[Again about the Labor Party] “Andrews is the most left wing leader Labor has ever put up in Victoria. [He] was anointed by the hard line CFMEU and he now turns a blind eye to the ongoing thuggery and intimidation which is the well-known trademark of his CFMEU sponsors”. Again, proof? None! Why the hatred of the CFMEU?

“The Melbourne Herald Sun reported that “underworld figure Mick Gatto has told Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews not to break links with controversial CFMEU John Setka”. …Labor has a big problem with its choice of mates”. If it is in the newspaper, it has to be true. Where is the proof such a conversation ever took place?

What is interesting is the holier than thou attitude. He must lose sleep with the depth of anger in his soul. He obviously has not moved on at all after leaving politics. And even then his departure left many questions unanswered.

Why the high moral ground from the man who lied to the people of Australia over the children overboard scandal? The man who brought the balaclava wearing shock troops onto the wharves to counter that horrid union, the MUA! The man who brought snarling police dogs to the same wharves! Who can forget those images?

Who remembers his time as Industrial Relations Minister? I do and I shudder. I thought he had retired to a life of peaceful retirement, to enjoy the fruits of his generous pension, to hope that people would forget what he did when a minister.

I was wrong. But I do acknowledge that in the “hating” stakes, he is the best. Labor can’t hold a candle to his preoccupation with anything left wing. He is overwhelmed by his own hatred. Sad. He could learn from Amanda Vanstone.

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This article should not have been titled “Reith still raging” rather “Hargreaves still aging”. The classic grumpy old man. Best of of all the classic line “What is interesting is the holier than thou attitude. He must lose sleep with the depth of anger in his soul. He obviously has not moved on at all after leaving politics”

Isn’t it ironic.

John Hargreaves said :

Masquara said :

John Hargreaves, your dumps are quite tiresome when they have no actual content and are just a tirade. YOu had the floor as a minister – please don’t think you have the right to our ear when you have nothing substantial to say. And hey, who are you to sledge Reith over his government pension? Yours is just as overly generous! Plus, Reith is out and about doing pretty interesting work, including humanitarian and pro-democracy work, on his pension. What are you doing? Sitting at your keyboard feeling sorry for yourself. And doing zip for humanity.

My dear Masquara, would you be kind enough to tell me, and the world about my bountiful pension from the Assembly? I don’t actually recall getting one. For the information of those who believe what you say, I was part of a cohort for whom a pension was not an option.

as for sitting at the screen all day, nuh! I have a couple of NGOs which are about looking after people a lot less fortunate than we are. My advocacy work is all pro bono and I have received not a cent from the Government in the ACT (or any other government for that matter) since leaving in 2012.

if you are going to slag me, get it right. Making up stuff because it sounds good does you no credit.

To say you don’t get a pension from the Assembly may be correct but you would have received a retirement entitlement which could have been handled in many ways, all being of benefit to you.
Probably you paid of your mortgage and went on the age pension. Alternatively, you could have transferred the money to another fund or bought an annuity.
The inference is that you didn’t receive or you not receiving any retirement benefit from the Assembly which is of course, misleading.

John Hargreaves said :

Masquara said :

John Hargreaves, your dumps are quite tiresome when they have no actual content and are just a tirade. YOu had the floor as a minister – please don’t think you have the right to our ear when you have nothing substantial to say. And hey, who are you to sledge Reith over his government pension? Yours is just as overly generous! Plus, Reith is out and about doing pretty interesting work, including humanitarian and pro-democracy work, on his pension. What are you doing? Sitting at your keyboard feeling sorry for yourself. And doing zip for humanity.

My dear Masquara, would you be kind enough to tell me, and the world about my bountiful pension from the Assembly? I don’t actually recall getting one. For the information of those who believe what you say, I was part of a cohort for whom a pension was not an option.

as for sitting at the screen all day, nuh! I have a couple of NGOs which are about looking after people a lot less fortunate than we are. My advocacy work is all pro bono and I have received not a cent from the Government in the ACT (or any other government for that matter) since leaving in 2012.

if you are going to slag me, get it right. Making up stuff because it sounds good does you no credit.

You took a lump sum then?

John Hargreaves9:31 am 07 Dec 14

Masquara said :

John Hargreaves, your dumps are quite tiresome when they have no actual content and are just a tirade. YOu had the floor as a minister – please don’t think you have the right to our ear when you have nothing substantial to say. And hey, who are you to sledge Reith over his government pension? Yours is just as overly generous! Plus, Reith is out and about doing pretty interesting work, including humanitarian and pro-democracy work, on his pension. What are you doing? Sitting at your keyboard feeling sorry for yourself. And doing zip for humanity.

My dear Masquara, would you be kind enough to tell me, and the world about my bountiful pension from the Assembly? I don’t actually recall getting one. For the information of those who believe what you say, I was part of a cohort for whom a pension was not an option.

as for sitting at the screen all day, nuh! I have a couple of NGOs which are about looking after people a lot less fortunate than we are. My advocacy work is all pro bono and I have received not a cent from the Government in the ACT (or any other government for that matter) since leaving in 2012.

if you are going to slag me, get it right. Making up stuff because it sounds good does you no credit.

Peter Reith, the man recycled by the Libs after being rejected by the people. In late 1982 he won the Flinders by-election in Vic at a time when the Fraser government was deeply unpopular. At the end of January 1983 Fraser called an early election believing Flinders signalled a revival in his fortunes. On the same day Labor dumped Bill Hayden as leader and installed Bob Hawke. A month later Hawke was PM and Reith lost his seat without ever sitting in parliament. At the end of 1984 Hawke called an early election, there was a swing to the Libs and Reith was elected again.

Masquara said :

John Hargreaves, your dumps are quite tiresome when they have no actual content and are just a tirade. YOu had the floor as a minister – please don’t think you have the right to our ear when you have nothing substantial to say. And hey, who are you to sledge Reith over his government pension? Yours is just as overly generous! Plus, Reith is out and about doing pretty interesting work, including humanitarian and pro-democracy work, on his pension. What are you doing? Sitting at your keyboard feeling sorry for yourself. And doing zip for humanity.

That was a bit harsh,Masquara.
Which means I’ll have to top it so stand-bye!

HiddenDragon6:44 pm 01 Dec 14

I thought PR had been involved in one of those walk a mile in my shoes programs produced by ABC or SBS and had, presumably, mellowed a little (as some politicians do) after retiring from elected office. Perhaps it’s just the occasional urge of an old dog to bark at the moon, and dream of battles past.

John Hargreaves, your dumps are quite tiresome when they have no actual content and are just a tirade. YOu had the floor as a minister – please don’t think you have the right to our ear when you have nothing substantial to say. And hey, who are you to sledge Reith over his government pension? Yours is just as overly generous! Plus, Reith is out and about doing pretty interesting work, including humanitarian and pro-democracy work, on his pension. What are you doing? Sitting at your keyboard feeling sorry for yourself. And doing zip for humanity.

MERC600 said :

Geez John.. you actually fess up to reading the crimes ! This is where your trouble is son. Too much crimes can send anyone around the twist.
Do yourself a favour mate and buy the Victorian Herald Sun. It’s not only Australias highest selling newspaper, but in the winter it can have up to 18 pages devoted to Ozzie Rules.

“………..18 pages devoted to Ozzie Rules.”
Also some great articles by someone called Andrew Bolt.

Oh the irony, it burns, it burns.

Geez John.. you actually fess up to reading the crimes ! This is where your trouble is son. Too much crimes can send anyone around the twist.
Do yourself a favour mate and buy the Victorian Herald Sun. It’s not only Australias highest selling newspaper, but in the winter it can have up to 18 pages devoted to Ozzie Rules.

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