Australian Atheists Forum

Irrev-Black wrote: ↑Tue Nov 14, 2023 11:06 am Sound FX: Noise of dummy ricocheting off wall.

It might be an old, lifelong backbencher chucking a wobbly because he wasn't preselected to do more of the same stuff he does, as his voting record will show.

The important thing about this is not Broadbent or his feelings: it's that the coalition are now down another seat.

Keep yer weather eye open for a Lib spill, and watch out for Hands-Off Hastie, a potential christofascist lurking in the wings.

FYI

Liberal Mary Aldred has just been pre-selected for the seat of Monash (sitting MP & Lib Russell Broadbent has quit & moved to the x-bench)

Aldred is Alan Tudge's step-sister according to The Age

Small world 'eh?

Home Affairs secretary Mike Pezzullo has been fired after revelations he inappropriately attempted to influence decisions made by the former Coalition government.

Pezzullo stood aside in September after the Nine newspapers reported a cache of text messages, in which he suggested to a Liberal powerbroker that Peter Dutton be reappointed to his department and lobbied for tougher censoring of media reporting on national security laws.

In a statement on Monday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese revealed Pezzullo had been sacked from his post after an inquiry found he had breached the Australian Public Service code.

Irrev-Black wrote: ↑Mon Nov 27, 2023 10:39 am And here's a just-ejected super-department head who was very clearly aligned with the LNP. How many more rotten mandarins are there?

The inquiry found he used his position for personal advantage, gossiped disrespectfully about ministers, broke confidentiality, failed to act apolitically, and didn’t disclose a conflict of interest.

In September, Nine Entertainment revealed a trove of texts Pezzullo sent to a Liberal insider, Scott Briggs, who was close to prime ministers Scott Morrison and Malcolm Turnbull. In the texts Pezzullo inserted himself into the political process, lobbying for his bureaucratic interests and his views.

A long-time public servant who served both sides of politics, Pezzullo also worked in the office of Kim Beazley when he was opposition leader.

A hawk on China policy and hard-line on national security issues, especially border protection, Pezzullo was a divisive figure in the bureaucracy.

While he was known for always being willing to express his views forthrightly, current and former senior colleagues were amazed at the overreach his texts represented, including his criticism of a then minister, Marise Payne, and of Julie Bishop when she put up her hand for leadership in 2018.

As soon as the texts were revealed, it was generally recognised in government and public service circles that Pezzullo would not survive.