tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434369190746987531.post7513605923934311113..comments2023-11-05T23:07:01.842+11:00Comments on Grog's Gamut: OzCar...For want of a nail?Greg Jerichohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04956402439870441083noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434369190746987531.post-81760993007997364712009-06-22T16:47:16.536+10:002009-06-22T16:47:16.536+10:00I agree with you Grog - even if the email had been...I agree with you Grog - even if the email had been real, I don't see a problem with it. <br /><br />Last week I sent my state MP an email, asking him to raise an issue with the Minister for Transport about government-provided rail services in my area. So he did. That makes him a good representative (or the representative for a marginally held electorate :). Now I've never given the man a ute (seems like the kind of guy who'd drive an E class Mercedes anyway) but if I had, and he'd declared it etc., should he then have ignored my email?Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15107287643428321138noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434369190746987531.post-18401710956813344382009-06-19T21:04:13.141+10:002009-06-19T21:04:13.141+10:00The problem Matt C is that would mean the PM or Tr...The problem Matt C is that would mean the PM or Treasurer would not be able to refer anyone's conerns to the public service if they knew that person.<br /><br />The fact is Ministers referring to the appropriate department the requests of a constituent, or in fact anyone who contacts them, is standard practice. <br /><br />The "sniff of corruption" is all well and good. But I prefer to hold Ministers and PMs accountable against real corruption. <br /><br />Rudd is currently accountable to the proper standards - and if there was any pressure to give Grant special favours, then he has breached them. But what is the case here? At worst (and even this isn't proved yet) a member of Rudd's office has emailed the proper Treasury offical to ask that he get in contact with a person who wants some information on OzCar because his finance has dried up. (the whole reason for OzCar being set up).<br /><br />Here's the text of the alleged email:<br />http://twitpic.com/7sfux<br /><br />Grant hasn't received any money or any credit through OzCar. And nothing in the alleged email suggests anything improper was being asked - the only issue would be if Rudd lied to Parliament (a big issue in itself).Greg Jerichohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04956402439870441083noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434369190746987531.post-90900340086400167192009-06-19T20:48:05.697+10:002009-06-19T20:48:05.697+10:00"Because while the Treasurer's office (an..."Because while the Treasurer's office (and perhaps the PMs office) may have asked Treasury to advise Grant on what he could do with OzCar, and while Grech knew Grant was a friend of the PM there isn't any suggestion that Grant has been given preferential treatment, or any access to credit, or any money. So where's the corruption?"<br /><br />You gotta be kidding. It's ok for the PM's office to request for someone to receive assistance? Think about that for a second. The PM office 'requesting' action by a civil servant. It is completely inappropriate and a serious breach of public service probity. <br /><br />I don't want a country where even a sniff of corruption is allowed. If we have to literally prove corruption before action is taken, corruption will occur. That's why we have standards, Rudd should be accountable to them.Matt Cnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434369190746987531.post-90991045675229766062009-06-19T20:01:08.372+10:002009-06-19T20:01:08.372+10:00Well done. Agree with everything above.Well done. Agree with everything above.Todd Wintherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10646110217332282277noreply@blogger.com