O’Farrell resigns

A thread for discussion of today’s shock resignation of New South Wales Premier Barry O’Farrell.

New South Wales will shortly have its fifth Premier in seven years following the bombshell resignation of Barry O’Farrell, who was today embarrassed by the emergence of a card in which he thanked Australian Water Holdings boss Nick Di Girolamo for a $3000 bottle of wine he yesterday denied having received. O’Farrell is the state’s second Liberal Premier to have been brought down by the exertions of the Independent Commission Against Corruption, Nick Greiner having fallen foul of an adverse ruling in 1992 involving a job offer to Liberal-turned-independent MP Terry Metherell. It now falls to the Liberal Party to find a replacement: without being too aware of the daily machinations of New South Wales politics, my immediate presumption was that the Treasurer, Mike Baird, would be the front-runner. However, I am seeing Gladys Berejiklian, Andrew Constance, Brad Hazzard and Jillian Skinner mentioned around the place.

Author: William Bowe

William Bowe is a Perth-based election analyst and occasional teacher of political science. His blog, The Poll Bludger, has existed in one form or another since 2004, and is one of the most heavily trafficked websites on Australian politics.

721 comments on “O’Farrell resigns”

Comments Page 8 of 15
1 … 7 8 9 … 15

  1. This seems to be the relevant code for NSW MPs.
    3. Gifts
    (a) Members must declare all gifts and benefits received in connection with their official duties, in accordance with the requirements for the disclosure of pecuniary interests. (ie at least each year)
    (b) Members must not accept gifts that may pose a conflict of interest or which might give the appearance of an attempt to improperly influence the Member in the exercise of his or her duties.

    So O’Farrell is surely also in trouble for (b) – how can there not be a perception of attempting to influence O’Farrell with a $3000 private gift.

    O’Farrell seems to have panicked when he realised he had no-where to go with answering the questions?

  2. I don’t know how many times PB has counted Abbott as “gone” – about as many as PMJG by thousands who got it wrong.

    However, there is no doubt that BoF will be gone.

    What happened to the leaders of LNP in the NT and the Libs in Victoria? Going, going……

    Newman next?

  3. Compare and contrast.

    How the taxpayer helped Tony Abbott flog Battlelines

    The total for all Abbott’s travel that coincided with promotional events for the book comes to $5,689.36. That’s a sizeable chunk of Abbott’s total air travel costs of $29,633.85 for the same period.

    Then of course there’s the cost of the Commonwealth cars and drivers that he also billed to taxpayers on the days he was promoting Battlelines. That final tally: $962.60.
    All in all the taxpayer coughed up $6,651.96 in Battlelines-related travel.

    At the very least these expenses are politically awkward. Was he also doing government business in the places where he promoted his book? Even if he was, is it appropriate to plug your book while you’re there when taxpayers are paying the travel bill?

    Remember the savage gusto with which the Opposition, Abbott included, went after Kevin Rudd and former defence minister Joel Fitzgibbon over claims they had not properly declared privately sponsored air fares to China.

    A spokesman for Tony Abbott dismissed the allegations as a smear campaign.

    “All travel undertaken by Mr Abbott has been within the entitlement. This is a blatant attempt by Labor to smear and mislead.”

    But this time, Tony, it’s your turn to provide some answers.
    Glenn Milne has been covering Canberra politics for more than two decades.
    http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/35544.html

  4. [If you genuinely can’t recall receiving a Grange worth $3K, ringing to thank someone for it and sending a thank you note, you have no place being in a position of responsibility.]

    Yes

  5. [182
    Patrick Bateman

    Christ, Abbott really is terrible when he doesn’t have a script.

    And when challenged by a woman, he goes into bully/humiliate mode instantly. Singles her out and demands ‘evidence’ on live TV, obviously intended to force a backdown through psychological pressure.]

    A tactic the media would do well to throw back at him. Forcefully demand evidence next time he makes another fraudulent claim or outrageous lie, which is pretty much every time he opens his mouth.

    One thing is obvious about Abbott is that he does not like being challenged, especially by somebody he considers his inferior, like, say, a female. And just about everybody else too.

  6. They are just talking about “factional forces” working in the Liberal party on the ABC.

    Haven’t they assured us they do not have “factions” and faceless men? Just another Liberal myth I guess.

  7. [I believe this would be the 765th time since December 2009 that PB has declared Tony Abbott “gone”. I await the 766th.]

    To be contrasted with zero “Barry gorn” predictions. That is some inverse relationship.

  8. Tricot,
    If Abbott was gorn, which LNP peanut would I have to learn to despise next? No, keep him in power, I prefer the ugly face of the Liebral Party to be front and centre.

  13. If you genuinely can’t recall receiving a Grange worth $3K, ringing to thank someone for it and sending a thank you note, you have no place being in a position of responsibility.

    Dio,
    You nailed it!

    Add to that forgetting to reveal receipt of the wine on the Parliament’s gift register, in the first place.

  14. All due respects,Puff, but surely to goodness there are, among the Liberals, somebody more acceptable as PM than Abbott?

    For instance, I thought BoF seemed to get on okay with PMJG but Abbott was a pig of a man to same woman.

    In WA, I can stomach Barnett as a person, but that does not mean I agree with much of what he stands for.

    I despise Abbott as he is not a good leader and we deserve better as a nation.

  15. Boerwar @ 324

    ‘to make a mistake’

    When the subject is a Liberal luminary, this phrase means that the subject has been caught in fraud, perjury, lying, rorting, bribery, stealing and/or conspiracy to damage democracy in some way, shape or form.

    When the subject is a Liberal luminary, ‘integrity’ means that, when you are caught while making a ‘mistake’, you jump before you are pushed.

    😆

  17. Ignoring people who use the term “Ju-liar”
    July 8, 2013 ·

    @bkjabour
    “Can’t believe Abbott told me to calm down! RT @jonathanvswan: Who is this reporter? She’s tenacious.”

    Tony Abbott avoided questions about this Battelines expenses by telling a Bridie Jabour to “calm down”. His dismissive sexist tone was not missed by social media.

    Tony Abbott has questions to answer and he will do everything to avoid them.

    https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?id=106343732778611&story_fbid=488883741191273

  18. ruawake@329

    In ICAC’s own words. They will next be looking directly at AWH bribing NSW Liberal Ministers.

    Operation Spicer will examine whether, between April 2009 and April 2012, certain members of parliament including Christopher Hartcher, Darren Webber and Christopher Spence, along with others including Timothy Koelma and Raymond Carter, corruptly solicited, received, and concealed payments from various sources in return for certain members of parliament favouring the interests of those responsible for the payments.

    Didn’t Billy Joel have a (Vietnam era) song with words which went along the lines –

    “…and We will all go down together”

  19. Tricot

    [For instance, I thought BoF seemed to get on okay with PMJG but Abbott was a pig of a man to same woman.]

    I don’t recall BoF being disrespectful to PMJG.

    Perhaps mistaken but BoF I thought put aside Rabbott’s political aspirations to secure the best deal for his state.

  20. [If you genuinely can’t recall receiving a Grange worth $3K, ringing to thank someone for it and sending a thank you note, you have no place being in a position of responsibility.]

    As I said earlier, assuming that BOF was telling the truth yesterday when he said he’d called his wife who said the wine hadn’t been received, what are the odds of both husband and wife failing to recall such a personalised gift?

  21. Perhaps BoF is Australia’s staunchest Republican and in a supreme act resigned so as to avoid greeting the royals who arrived a hour or so later ?

  23. [In WA, I can stomach Barnett as a person, but that does not mean I agree with much of what he stands for.]

    I used to be largely indifferent to Barnett as a Premier. He seemed reasonable, nothing like the highly strung partisan fools you find on the east coast. But he really turned me off when he told that talkback caller to get a life just because he copped a bit of genuine criticism. That’s not leadership IMO.

  24. confessions

    [ …..what are the odds of both husband and wife failing to recall such a personalised gift?]

    Over the road This Little Black Duck had a wonderful putative conversation between them.

    [“Darling, remember that wine that I didn’t receive ?”

    “So do I” ]

  25. Dee@367

    Tricot

    For instance, I thought BoF seemed to get on okay with PMJG but Abbott was a pig of a man to same woman.


    I don’t recall BoF being disrespectful to PMJG.

    BOF came the smartarse with Gillard just after accepting the bottle of plonk coming to office and did so publicly on a least a couple of occasions.

    After the Federal Government then shut him and the NSW Government out of most things he suddenly became much more polite and even co-operative. Decent even on some things.

    My regret is that it wasn’t abbott who was sprung in ICAC.

    Never mind, when abbott comes a gutsa I suspect his own hand will be heavily involved.

  26. @Confessions/371

    I could go back to referencing Tories, over and over again about how Liberals and Tories are no different from each other, their attitude towards others is a pathetic excuse to continue their charade over Bigots, Knights and who can say what and when.

  34. I thought Barnett fairly harmless and probably someone who could be an ok premier. I was wrong. His administration is incompetent and pretty much you can be sure he is lying if his lips are moving. He has also been incredibly partisan prepared to sacrifice the good of WA for any minor advantage to liberal party. The very worst kind of premier imaginable.

  35. Robertson pushing tougher probity requirements that are currently conducted by Obama and Cameron. Even though BOF would not accept Robertson’s suggestions, the Labor front bench has been operating with them for the past year.

    It sounds like K. Keneally will be on the panel of “The Drum” tonight.

  36. There is another rather famous Girolamo, BTW.

    There was another mad monk called Savonarola who had Girolamo as his, ahem, christian name.

  38. And let us not forget the $5000 allegedly donated to see Newman. Surely that can’t be casually forgotten in light of today’s events.

  39. [He has also been incredibly partisan prepared to sacrifice the good of WA for any minor advantage to liberal party.]

    I don’t think he’s been as bad as that. Yes some of his tanties have been a tad cringeworthy, but it seems to be par for the course that WA Premiers of whatever party will pick fights eastern staters.

  42. Dave

    [Never mind, when abbott comes a gutsa I suspect his own hand will be heavily involved.]

    I dream of the day when Rabbott comes a gutsa.

  44. [I don’t think he’s been as bad as that. Yes some of his tanties have been a tad cringeworthy, but it seems to be par for the course that WA Premiers of whatever party will pick fights eastern staters.
    ]

    Has be continued to complain loudly about GST distributions recently or did that stop about the day Abbott was elected.

  45. victoria@380

    KKeaneally will be on the Drum at 6pm

    I wonder if she will remind people BOF refused her the use of a government car to attend a charity function as had been granted to previous former premiers?

    In fact BOF abolished many of the perks KKeaneally would have received as per others.

    It looked nasty and petty at the time because it was.

  50. [Has be continued to complain loudly about GST distributions recently or did that stop about the day Abbott was elected.]

    He was still moaning about it the other day. I linked to it here.

Comments Page 8 of 15
1 … 7 8 9 … 15

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *