The Art of Politics

You can hear the political "art of compromise" all over this one.

Why were these suburbs granted Relationship Centers?
Because there are wealthy, educated people there who were ready to apply for the money. They figured: "It's government money. It's there for the taking."
The money is going to the people who apply for it.
I raised the issue of applying for funding on this group and there was just the passing of wind over it.

This is also the national Labor Party, who had Simon Crean on the television night after night destroying his credibility and personal leadership by mouthing the most inane stupidity I've ever heard.
Labor has looked stupid and desperate for years. They're trying to manufacture a scandal anyway they can. It seems like they figure if they throw enough fecal matter at the wall, something is bound to stick, instead of coming up with real policies and goals as leaders.
And then produced a thud-headed Mark Latham to lead the party in the last election. -- A man whose main claim to fame was breaking a cabbie's arm?

On the other hand, this is the land of corruption.
Ruddock probably gave a heads up to the people in these suburbs telling them what to do to get the money. This is Philip Ruddock remember, who wants to make a "female friendly Australia", even if it destroys every family and ruins the lives of every child in the country.
Ruddock didn't get where he is without knowing how to dip into the public chest to pass out political favours.
This is the same Philip Ruddock who wrote me a letter essentially saying that limiting perjury in the courts is "not in the public interest."
His letter condones all the other crimes of (my ex) and her family because he is unwilling to live up to his oath of office and duty of care if it means even breathing against the prevailing political winds.
You can almost hear Mr Ruddock's jokes about pissing into the wind from here.

Is this really a scandal? Pffawwh!!
This is just corruption with plausible deniability -- the essence of politics. (If they made that a cologne, it'd really reduce the birth rate...)

--Paul

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NICOLA ROXON MEDIA RELEASE - RUDDOCK'S FAMILY FAVOURS SCANDAL EXPOSED 23 May
Nicola Roxon MP
Shadow Attorney-General

MEDIA RELEASE
Tuesday 23 May 2006
Ruddock's family favours scandal exposed

Philip Ruddock has been caught out using Family Relationship Centres to play favourites with his Coalition mates. Tony Abbott, Peter Dutton, Sharman Stone and even the Prime Minister were favoured when the Government ignored departmental data to make sure the centres were distributed on political grounds, not on the basis of need.

Documents obtained through Questions on Notice show major discrepancies between the list of locations Mr Ruddock announced and the list of suitable locations compiled by the Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FACSIA).
Some of the wealthiest blue-ribbon Liberal electorates picked up Family Relationship Centres despite ranking very low on all the indicators of demand. For example, Bennelong and Warringah, held by Mr Howard and Mr Abbott, rank very low on the numbers of child support customers, single parent families and parenting payment recipients. It was no wonder FACSIA didn't find FRCs were needed in those locations.
Meanwhile, the Government ignored data showing FRCs would be needed in other areas, like Bendigo or Alice Springs.

The changes made by the Government clearly reflect partisan favouritism. For example, FACSIA data indicates there should be two centres in Melbourne's west, and only one for Sydney's inner north.

When Mr Ruddock meddled with the list we ended up with the opposite. Mr Ruddock has arrogantly turned a $250 m program into a personal gift for his Liberal Party colleagues. He is more interested in pleasing his mates than providing services for Australian families.

---For more information call Jacob Varghese: 0417 108 362 or 02 6277 4767

Oh well, this is Australia. What do you expect?