16 October 2008

Witchhunts, accusations and open warfare - ACT Liberals in chaos

| Runningman
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[ED – While this story was posted by a new commenter, readers should note that our sources within the Liberal Party are not denying it]

Despite last minute desperate attempts by Zed and Doyle to keep a lid on things, open warfare has now developed in the Liberal ranks.

It all started when two certain Liberal candidates, bitter that Giulia Jones has been receiving the lion’s share of both money and assistance from both the Party Office and the Leader’s Office became aware that Giulia Jones has had tens of thousands of dollars worth of materials printed in the office of Queensland Liberal Senator Ian Macdonald and then shipped down to Canberra, both at taxpayer expense.

It is no secret that Giulia and Senator MacDonald are very close – they first met when Giulia’s husband was posted to Townsville’s Lavarack Barracks and Giulia started volunteering at the Senator’s electoral office. The two’s relationship, described as ‘very close’ to a group of people that included this poster some months ago by Giulia, was cemented when the Senator first succesfully lobbied to give the unknown Giulia a shot at a Tasmanian Senate seat, and then when that failed managed to secure her a job at the Women’s Forum Australia – a Liberal run anti-abortion lobby group.

After learning of this through a REMOVED BY POSTER FOR LEGAL REASONS, two factional rivals of Giulia have been desperately peddling the story around town in an attempt to smear her out of a potential election victory this Saturday.

Both Zed and his Chief of Staff Doyle have been desperately trying to hush this up, telling local journos that it is ‘total fiction’.

Unfortunately for Zed concrete evidence has now emerged proving these electoral shenanigans – the same type that sunk the career of Qld Lib Andrew Laming – did actually take place.

The word buzzing around Liberal offices this afternoon is that this ‘concrete evidence’ has this afternoon been handed to the Canberra Times.

Meanwhile, Zed has launched a ‘witchhunt’ over the last 48 hours in an attempt to find out how this information leaked out. All suspected Liberal candidates have either been called or hauled in front of Andrew Heath for a grilling.

It is understood Heath has narrowed down the suspects to 3 – a Liberal MLA, a Liberal Candidate’s campaign manager and another Liberal heavyweight who shall remain nameless.

This poster has seen this ‘concrete evidence’, and it is either a very convincing fraud or illegal behaviour of the stupidest kind.

With the latest internal polling showing that the Liberals have virtually no shot at winning government, Zed’s attempts to maintain a facade of party unity are crumbling by the second.

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Love the concrete evidence supplied in this vapour-post. Being very involved in the liberals, I know of several party members whom received calls from the Canberra Times looking for anything they could use to create a farce about infighting the day before the election. They all just unhooked their phones and laughed about it. The following day’s front-page story (with a labor sticker too might I add!) was quite amusing though. The only witchhunt that was going on was that of anti-liberals trying to find something to cause controversy.

“Unfortunately for Zed concrete evidence has now emerged proving these electoral shenanigans – the same type that sunk the career of Qld Lib Andrew Laming – did actually take place.

The word buzzing around Liberal offices this afternoon is that this ‘concrete evidence’ has this afternoon been handed to the Canberra Times.

Meanwhile, Zed has launched a ‘witchhunt’ over the last 48 hours in an attempt to find out how this information leaked out. All suspected Liberal candidates have either been called or hauled in front of Andrew Heath for a grilling.”

What a load of crap. And Andrew Heath certainly didn’t go through the candidates looking for a suspect offloading smear material about Giulia. Epic Fail

John Faulkner! That was the name 🙂 And yep Special Minister Of State it was/is – was basically too lazy to write the whole thing.

D-Man said :

From Watts’ ‘silly’ website (http://www.geocities.com/matthew_watts/about.htm)

Political philosophy: Libertarian

Philosophical mentor: D.M. Jacobs

Although, I admit, I haven’t been much of one of late; I’ve been too busy stamping out grass fires down here in Sydney.

I don’t want to turn this into a political ad, but young Matty’s not your typical, bland, conservative Liberal candidate — far from it. Canberra could do much worse than having someone of Watts’ character and calibre in the LA.

SMOS?

As in Special Minister of State, John Faulkner, specifically with capacity of being in charge of Commonwealth Integrity, and ANAO?
Hotdamn.

I find it amusing that Mulcahy isn’t trying to shut down a story on RiotACT for once, and is instead running with it, when he realises he can wield it offensively.

Prime news is also carrying a similar story in their news updates, again credited to “a local Canberra website”..

SMOS – sounds sinister…perhaps its the Suspicious Ministerial Office Supplies bureau?

Win News update has this story picked up by Richard Mulcahy, and passed on to a SMOS (sorry, didn’t listen that attentively) for further investigation.

RiotACT almost got a mention (“local website”…as much as they are willing to do?)

Deadmandrinking1:36 pm 17 Oct 08

Woody Mann-Caruso said :

I wouldn’t vote on the liberals on policy

Did they find one? >:)

The flower-show. It needs a home. 🙁

Woody Mann-Caruso1:35 pm 17 Oct 08

I wouldn’t vote on the liberals on policy

Did they find one? >:)

Deadmandrinking1:14 pm 17 Oct 08

jakez said :

Wouldn’t you like to know Deadman, wouldn’t you like to know! ;P

I guess most of the policies have anal origins.

Wouldn’t you like to know Deadman, wouldn’t you like to know! ;P

Deadmandrinking12:56 pm 17 Oct 08

jakez said :

BarryF said :

Hey Jakez – can you feel that hot breath on the back of your neck, it’s going to be Steven Doyle (Zed’s Chief of Staff) about to punch your lights out. He was apparantly overheard in campaign head quarters saying, when this election is over I’ll crack open jakez head.

Nothing to worry about, cause you probably won’t see it coming.

So is it a three post nutbag if you post the exact same thing in three different threads?

I’m just wondering how the hot breath on the back of the neck comes about. What do you liberal guys get up to that leaves you open to such vicious sneak attacks from behind? 😛

Not surprising that something like this comes out a few days before the election, when it’ll take more than a few days to substantiate or dismiss and will just strike the swinging-brain-swinging-voter demographic. Personally, I wouldn’t vote on the liberals on policy, not rumor. This type of sh-t is only going to be around as long as people vote accordingly. Take a stand now; don’t listen to the BS, listen to what the party is saying.

So, have we heard anything more about whether this is true or?

tylersmayhem12:08 pm 17 Oct 08

Oh my goodness the chips!

Haha, this quote was not lost on me! Cheers for the grin!

Oops – Get on my nerves!

LG said :

maryhow said :

Obviously the Senate will have to investigate.

Keep grinding that axe mary…

There is nothing ‘obvious’ about it. To date there has been nothing except and anonymous post on an internet site. Hardly concrete…

I agree. Maryhow is starting to get my nerves.

maryhow said :

Obviously the Senate will have to investigate.

Keep grinding that axe mary…

There is nothing ‘obvious’ about it. To date there has been nothing except and anonymous post on an internet site. Hardly concrete…

BarryF said :

Hey Jakez – can you feel that hot breath on the back of your neck, it’s going to be Steven Doyle (Zed’s Chief of Staff) about to punch your lights out. He was apparantly overheard in campaign head quarters saying, when this election is over I’ll crack open jakez head.

Nothing to worry about, cause you probably won’t see it coming.

So is it a three post nutbag if you post the exact same thing in three different threads?

jakez said :

maryhow said :

This just proves my point after Giulia was inside the 100m zone. She will do anything to get elected. I wonder when the Liberals will come out and say they will do an investigation into this. Obviously the Senate will have to investigate.

Must I suffer this madness in three separate threads?

Hey Jakez – can you feel that hot breath on the back of your neck, it’s going to be Steven Doyle (Zed’s Chief of Staff) about to punch your lights out. He was apparantly overheard in campaign head quarters saying, when this election is over I’ll crack open jakez head.

Nothing to worry about, cause you probably won’t see it coming.

maryhow said :

This just proves my point after Giulia was inside the 100m zone. She will do anything to get elected. I wonder when the Liberals will come out and say they will do an investigation into this. Obviously the Senate will have to investigate.

Must I suffer this madness in three separate threads?

This just proves my point after Giulia was inside the 100m zone. She will do anything to get elected. I wonder when the Liberals will come out and say they will do an investigation into this. Obviously the Senate will have to investigate.

WFA does not represent women’s interests, they represent their own interests.

Thank you for the link election08 http:/unbelief.org/articles/melinda-tankard-reist/

This explains alot about Giulia. Right wing nutters.

Why do you think he is the Liberal candidate I have been volunteering for? I found that website and found out he was a libertarian.

jakez said :

I did hear it because I went ‘OH MY GOD MATTHEW WATTS, OH MY GOD LDP’.

I think it was a Sam and he said he was voting for Mattew Watts because there wasn’t an LDP candidate in Ginninderra.

From Watts’ ‘silly’ website (http://www.geocities.com/matthew_watts/about.htm)

Political philosophy: Libertarian

Philosophical mentor: D.M. Jacobs

Political party: Liberal Party of Australia

Political wishlist: Liberal Democratic Party

I did hear it because I went ‘OH MY GOD MATTHEW WATTS, OH MY GOD LDP’.

I think it was a Sam and he said he was voting for Mattew Watts because there wasn’t an LDP candidate in Ginninderra.

Jakez: I think I briefly heard Ros Solly reading a listner comment re some connection between LDP and Matthew Watts, but I don’t think I heard it properly – did you hear that one?

johnboy said :

We also have an ad for a Liberal candidate.

That’s right you do, namely Matthew Watts, Liberal candidate for Ginninderra http://www.wattstherightchoice.com

Don’t forget the ads for the Liberal Democratic Party. http://www.ldp.org.au

…well I’ve done my shameless hack duties for the day

D-Man said :

On an unrelated matter, Ross Solly just busted the Libs for stacking out their phone poll this morning. From the sound of things Lib HQ put out the order to stack it, with a huger wave of Lib votes coming in in the space of 10 minutes. 10 Belinda Barnier votes were from the same mobile number. Hello ‘Swingingvoter’? 🙂

I heard that and lol’d. SUBTLETY PEOPLE!

BerraBoy68 said :

At least he could wear a suit and tie on his adds rather than a jumper. Shows the level of respect he has for the electorate.

So are you a public servant or are you just generally a wanker?

Woody Mann-Caruso8:54 am 17 Oct 08

You did the right thing JB – whether this turns out to be infighting or slander (from either party), it’s important that it was reported.

Crikey said :

Hmmmm, jail with a G

C’mon….’Gaol with a G’ at least!!

On an unrelated matter, Ross Solly just busted the Libs for stacking out their phone poll this morning. From the sound of things Lib HQ put out the order to stack it, with a huger wave of Lib votes coming in in the space of 10 minutes. 10 Belinda Barnier votes were from the same mobile number. Hello ‘Swingingvoter’? 🙂

Is it odd that Runningman posted all this stuff and hasn’t returned to the thread? I imagine we’ll never see him/her again.

Canberra Times is empty it seems. I wonder what happened to this ‘concrete evidence’.

All seems very suss at this point.

Goanna said :

Finally, am I the only one that’s noticed that every single day, the CT runs the most horrible picture of Stanhopeless they can find? Not that I’m complaining.

Very odd as they source stories from us all the time and even acknowledge them from time to time.

I am enjoying the bulldust and misdirection coming from the Liberal borg.

And I guess we’ll all see where this goes.

Goanna said :

And for what it’s worth, apparently some months ago CT ed Peter Fray issued an order that no story, regardless of the content, was to be picked up off riot act. The writer that told me this was unclear whether there was any reason beyond professional jealousy.

That’s very odd. I was contacted by a CT Journo in the past few months who was interested in a few issues I’d posted on in RA. We all know Journo’s from print and electronic media access this site and some even seem to have taken advice on occasion (you’re reading this right now, aren’t you Jessica!).

Hmmmm, jail with a G

I have no idea whether this is true or not, but it seems to me that the information provided is of the sort that could only come from a Liberal source, not a Labor one. Sad, but there are just too many details. Someone google-ing wouldn’t be able to find out that Giulia Jones worked for (or even knew) Senator MacDonald – she doesn’t even have a CV on her website – so I have to conclude that, true or false, this comes from within the Liberal Party… or it’s a *very* elaborate lie (in which case why would Labor target such small fry?).

Either Giulia rorted taxpayer funds or she didn’t. Until it’s proven one way or the other how about reserving judgment?

And for what it’s worth, apparently some months ago CT ed Peter Fray issued an order that no story, regardless of the content, was to be picked up off riot act. The writer that told me this was unclear whether there was any reason beyond professional jealousy.

Finally, am I the only one that’s noticed that every single day, the CT runs the most horrible picture of Stanhopeless they can find? Not that I’m complaining.

JB – I’m disppointed that you would publish this post, from a new contributor, just two days before an election. I can’t find anything in the CT today – so perhaps this is complete bullshit. I also noticed the completely biased WIN news coverage last night and the front page of today’s CT – yep, Mr Stanhope sure has the media in this town stitched up.

no reporting of this on local ABC this morning so maybe it was all fibs. Anyone see anything in the CT?

Eyeball In A Quart Jar Of Snot6:57 am 17 Oct 08

The Canberra Liberals have fuelled a lot of money into WIN to produce their commercials.

There are a few WIN journalists who would stain their knees for Zed, instead.

agreed whistle… and Ed, who are your so called Liberal sources that refused to deny these claims – can you describe exactly what a “refusal to deny” a claim sounds like? If Zed says it’s fiction – and that’s now twice this week he has had to label outlandish claims as fiction (the first was when labor told rather brazen yet blatant lies about the libs policy costings – treasury later contradicted the govt) – then it again sounds like fiction. The old maxim is ne’er so relevant as in this instance: If it looks like bullshit and smells like bullshit, well then it must be bullshit.

Obviously no other party except labor are allowed to govern in this town judging by the media treatment received by the libs (and even the minor parties in this election), no matter what injustices are perpertrated or how little regard this govt actually gives to the interests of the community at large. If the Canberra Times actually do publish these claims in full and name these sources then that’s a different story, but IF it is something resembling this post (unsubstantiated gossip and by a newbie too??? what the?), then this is nothing less than a disingenuous and gutless attempt to smear a likely alternative govt and swing public opinion ahead of the polls on Saturday. But then with the CT’s history of bias and investigating every time a lib farts, I suppose we shouldn’t expect anything less…

Maybe a greens coalition would be an improvement (I friggin hope so anyway…), but moving beyond that, are the people of Canberra not entitled to a bias free mainstream media? Even on an issue by issue basis, this Govt has gotten of lightly by the press and its just not kosher!!! Is this all attributable simply to pokies dollars democracy or is there some kind of boys club thing going on with labor, the unions, ABC, CT and WIN?

After reading this thread, this place looks as though its heading in the same direction 🙁

One of the Labor candidates (or staffers?) has found a novel new way to campaign – publish a load of fiction on RiotAct with a newbie name. I am hoping johnboy doesn’t lose a house over this one, or at least that Julia/G has a christian sense of foregiveness!

Labor cannot campiagn on their record (500 ACTPA jobs cut, 24 schools closed, suing coroner, etc), so they might as well try anonymous slander. What the hey.

Then again, I was ashamed when I went to see Good News Week and Kate Carnell was booed.
She was representing the local canberra.

Personally, the continual references here to “Stanhopeless” leave me cold.
shinyfd: you think that’s a positive endorsement? That endorses my opinion of liberal supporters.

We also have an ad for a Liberal candidate.

I don’t think its fair to say we’re all Labor supporting, anti-Libs here just because there’s a Labor ad on the site.

United, Experienced, Energetic…
That’s a quote from one of your sponsors. Ditto Canb Times and (ex) Win TV. Pity. I cme to this thread from a link and thought, hmmm a bit of goss.
But ya-de-ya, here we go again. on the eve of a vote we are assailed by maybe truth, real truth that may mean stuff all, or just paid partisan crapola for a few more votes.
Personally, I don’t care for the B.S. mob, even tho Zed, personally, is straight up.
But the portrait of Sonic on this website, the blinking Labor sponsored ads and the softly-softly attitude to him in the dead tree media gives me the creeps re objectivity.
Have a nice vote – hopefully with conscience, not just prejudice and expedience.
Greens don’t do it

Looking forward to reading the crimes tomorrow! Wonder what the headline will be?

Oh my goodness the chips!

Those autodial messages tell voters that the idiot is Rich and Annoying and Clueless. I got several from Mr Howard in the last federal election. I hung up of course (and sent his flapping fridge magnets back) but what was he thinking? Seriously. People are happy to get such calls and stand there listening while the chips set fire to the kitchen?

Zed had a lovely conversation with my answering machine. Seriously, has no one at Liberal HQ ever watched The Simpsons? Autodiallers and pre-recorded messages PISS PEOPLE OFF.

I got the Z-robot phone call tonight, took many hang ups for it to take.
Now, its Libs after the AMP. Hey, it worked – changed my vote.

You would think that any MLA, three days before an election, regardless of how much infighting there is, not spread this kind of stuff around.

Why. I mean, seriously. Why? They can’t be that stupid…

At least wait until after the election, people.

Let’s see whether it’s actually true or not before we think the Libs really are “self-destructing”.

Sure, fair point. I’m just so used to them doing it by now, I kind of automatically assume that any report of it is true(ish) 🙂

BerraBoy68 said :

“a Liberal MLA”… I’m guessing a certain munchkin with the initails BS? After all, he does have a history of such antics.

bullsht? closely followed by WGAF?

desperation of the political opponents *yawn*

Hmmm – WFA NO, I’m glad you didn’t try to deny that your group is anti-abortion given your website states:

“One in three Australian women will have an abortion in her lifetime – an abortion that is presented as a safe, simple solution.

But rather than a solution, abortion is the problem: it destroys human life and carries significant physical, psychological and emotional risks for women. Abortion perpetuates the structural factors that work against genuine choice: financial and relationship pressures, social disadvantage, domestic violence, unsupportive work places.”

You’re terrible, Giulia.

I just had a quick scan of your website.

anti-abortion, anti-cloning, anti-ru486, anti-sam newman

Now I’m definitely not voting for this Guilia

WFANationalOffice9:43 pm 16 Oct 08

Senator Ian MacDonald did not secure a job for Giulia Jones with Women’s Forum Australia.

Women’s Forum Australia does not know Ian MacDonald and has no connection with him.

Women’s Forum Australia did employ Giulia Jones for four months last year in an administrative capacity.

Women’s Forum Australia is not “Liberal run”. WFA is an independent women’s think tank that conducts research, education, advocacy and public policy on a range of issues of concern to women.

Our Board and Members come from a range of political persuasions and none. A number of active members have political backgrounds with the ALP.

WFA National Office

So let me get this straight – I’ve been back in Canberra 3 days, in which time the Liberals have:

A) doorknocked me twice
B) interrupted my dinner tonight with a idiotic recorded phone call message from ‘Zed’
C) apparently stolen labour’s health policy
D) used my taxpayer dollars to fund ACT liberal propaganda from a woman that worked for an ‘anti-abortion lobby group’ and loves canberra so much she ran for the victorian senate?

How much do i get fined if i don’t vote?

This topic just highlights the fact that everybody is just waiting for the Libs to implode again. Win or lose, I think Zed’s time at the top can be counted in months as his colleagues will be lining up to depose him whether they win or lose.

Totally off-topic I know but personally I think Val Jeffrey is a walking scandle. What a grump old bugger he is and the stereotypical ‘grandad’ of the worst type to boot.

At least he could wear a suit and tie on his adds rather than a jumper. Shows the level of respect he has for the electorate. He’s also had nothing positive to say publically ever from what I can remember. All we seem to get from him is whinge, moan, groan, etc.

Oh, now that’s off my chest I feel much better!

There’s two Lib MLAs with those initials….

grammatically, it would be ‘there are two…’ – ‘there’s’ being a contraction of ‘there is’ can’t be followed by ‘two’. ‘there is one’, or ‘there are more than one…’

sorry, this site is too important…

…more on topic, will anyone in the electorate really care? is there much on the local election getting to the masses over the noise of the global financial crisis and the US election? and even if it did, will it really matter? as rosebud notes, will it sink in even if it gets out?

apart from the riot, where else are people getting their local election fixes?

It’s all landfill to me. I barely notice the individual how to vote card in the avalanche of cards that have smothered my letterbox in the last week. Apart from one because it was so laughable.

Woody Mann-Caruso8:55 pm 16 Oct 08

She’s being accused of profiting from the use of the taxpayer-funded printing facilities of a federal Liberal Senator.

This all sounds very technical – what is she actually being accused of? It isn’t very clear to a layman like me.

I wonder how long this has been sat on. Typical strategy – keep this thing up your sleeve until a few days before election day and then unleash it on the electorate and see what damage you can cause.

I don’t even know this Giulia person and don’t really care about the rubbish that she has allegedly been up to. If any of this is true (and I’m still taking it with a very large grain of salt) then it is just another feather in the cap of the shambles that the ACT Liberal party is becoming – but on their worst day they’re better than a Labor majority government, and a Labor/Greens minority coalition.

Just in case anyone else had to Google it
“In 2007, Laming and fellow Queensland Liberal MHRs, Gary Hardgrave and Ross Vasta, were investigated and subsequently cleared of breaches relating to parliamentary entitlements. This included AUD$67,000 for printing campaign material and Laming’s five-day employment of a staff member who worked in the office of Gary Hardgrave. There was speculation in the media and the Queensland Parliament that funds had been diverted to the Liberals’ 2006 state election campaign.”

OliverCromwell7:02 pm 16 Oct 08

Don’t be silly.
While Mr BS is probably the MLA suspect, I really doubt someone up for reelection, not to mention someone who would certainly be in line for a ministry in any possible liberal government would shoot himself in the foot like this.

I’m betting on the “party heavyweight” and I have a pretty good guess as to who it is.

All I can say is that it’s funny to see the right wingers get attacked so viciously. Oh it’ll be all “wah what about the good of the party?” now, but it’s a totally different story when they’re on the offensive.

What’s funny is that they were open enough about this that people who they’ve seriously screwed over could find out about it. Oh so clever… illegal? you’re smarter then the law right?
Not so clever guys, do you you really think you’re the only ones “cunning” enough to leak to the media? do you really think you’re the only ones willing to damage that party if it means you get what you want?

There’s been so many nasty little plots pulled off against people within the ACT liberals that many, many of the ‘players’ have very personal reasons to want other members of the party to fail horribly, regardless of the ‘good of the party’.
The ACT liberal party is damaged beyond repair and totally unfit to govern.

The only real way to begin to fix things in Canberra is to vote for Labor candidates along factional lines and hope to knock off Stanhope that way.

There’s two Lib MLAs with those initials….

Okay then, let’s call him “B Smyth” … no, wait, that’s too obvious. Let’s call him “Brendan S”.

Can’t the Liberals go one week without self-destructing? I’m not exactly a Liberal voter myself, but a strong (or at least vaguely coherent) opposition is vital to keep any governing party in check. I really wish we had one.

Woody Mann-Caruso6:48 pm 16 Oct 08

It’s like an episode of Desperate Housewives. Can’t wait to see the paper tomorrow.

D-Man said :

BerraBoy68 said :

“a Liberal MLA”… I’m guessing a certain munchkin with the initails BS? After all, he does have a history of such antics.

There’s two Lib MLAs with those initials….

Whoops, didn’t see the word ‘munchkin’. Say no more.

BerraBoy68 said :

“a Liberal MLA”… I’m guessing a certain munchkin with the initails BS? After all, he does have a history of such antics.

There’s two Lib MLAs with those initials….

*initials

“a Liberal MLA”… I’m guessing a certain munchkin with the initails BS? After all, he does have a history of such antics.

And the mud-slinging hots up. I can’t wait to read this site on Saturday morning.

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