Boongs & Politics Just Don't Bloody Work!

[Br.IanVonTurpie]

http://www.ntnews.com.au/news/northern-territory/mills-hits-back-at-giles-for-sacking/story-fnk0b1zt-1227225976582


Recently deposed NT Commissioner to Indonesia and ASEAN Terry Mills has come out swinging against Adam Giles, who he says undermined him at every turn and had him sacked again as political revenge. 
 
Mr Mills was fired from his position on Friday and says he knew Mr Giles would come gunning for him after the recent cabinet shuffle saw the Chief Minister hand over the Asian Engagement portfolio.

"It was clear 24 hours later with him losing the portfolio that he's now free to have me terminated," Mr Mills said from Jakarta. "Of course he knew (about it). It beggars belief that he would not know."

Mr Giles' office directed calls to the Department for Asian Engagement and Trade yesterday. On Monday, he told reporters he only learned of Mr Mills' second sacking through media reports.

The department did not agree to interview requests.

No real reason was offered for the termination of the contract position, only that it "is an opportune time to review the costs and benefits of other models", according to a statement. Mr Mills was awarded the contract for the job last April.

"(The position) was to keep me out of sight and as out of mind as possible," Mr Mills said. "It became increasingly clear that my role was one that was not valued by the Chief Minister with whom I had the agreement with."

It is understood he was fired over retweeting a photo of himself laughing while Mr Giles went through a leadership challenge. Mr Mills said he regretted it, but that it was not a "hanging offence".

Labor leader Delia Lawrie said Mr Giles should explain to Territorians why taxpayers are on the hook for this failed experiment, which earlier reports indicated may have cost around $750,000 a year for salaries, office rentals and other expenses.

"You've got to ask why significant amounts of taxpayers' money went into that position," she said. "Appoint mates to jobs then go on some retribution when you have a falling out with your mates; that's not the way to run the Territory."

Mr Giles did not answer questions around the termination in Parliament.

All this from a cunning coon , that plays in the shadows and has no ethics at all!

[Br.IanVonTurpie]

http://www.ntnews.com.au/news/national/child-rape-prompts-alice-camp-talks/story-fnjbnvyj-1227276145901


THE Northern Territory's chief minister has lashed out at media coverage of the alleged rape of a seven-year-old Aboriginal girl, saying if she had been white the story would have been reported very differently. 
 
IT was reported by the ABC on March 8 that an Aboriginal girl at a town camp outside of Alice Springs had been raped.
In a two-sentence media release the following day, NT Police media wrote: "Alice Springs Police have arrested and charged a 29-year-old man following the sexual assault of a minor."
"He was refused bail overnight, to appear in Alice Springs Magistrates Court today (Tuesday)."
No further information was released.
But in parliament on Tuesday, Chief Minister Adam Giles attacked the media coverage.
"The saddest part is it was a little blip on the media radar. It raised a few column inches and it disappeared," he said.
"One can only think that if it was a blonde-haired blue-eyed little girl it would have made the front page of media around the country.
"But a little Aboriginal kid in the Hidden Valley town camp ... it's just not been noticed and I think it's quite disgusting."


When asked by reporters to explain his comments, Mr Giles said in an email: "I wasn't having a crack at the media, more the lack of outrage by the community and organisations in central Australia."
Opposition Leader Delia Lawrie said the allegations of racist reporting were "heinous".
"Don't blame people who weren't provided information from the very government that is now seeking to blame them," she said.
"I wouldn't be surprised if there's a lot of pressure on police in terms of what goes out in the media domain, that fits with the culture of cover-up in the (Country Liberal Party)."
Police Minister Peter Chandler denied the government was leaning on police not to release information on crime if it was politically uncomfortable.
"Absolutely not," he said.

"If anybody thinks things are being held back or hidden, that's good for nobody."

Acting Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw stood by the timing of the sparse media release.

He said police took great care in making sure that when action was taken it was correct and would not prejudice any case before the courts.
He would not comment on the chief minister using such a sensitive issue as a "political football".

Earlier Mr Giles announced the alleged rape had sparked crisis talks on town camps.

All government agencies involved in delivering services and law enforcement at town camps across Alice Springs and Tennant Creek will meet at a closed forum on Friday to discuss safety and living conditions and the performance of government and private organisations providing services.


It is always the 1/2 breed boongs that make the most trouble. Giles is no exception to that.

[Br.IanVonTurpie]

http://www.ntnews.com.au/news/northern-territory/clp-pass-legislation-to-introduce-tribunal-to-approve-their-pay-rises/story-fnk0b1zt-1227281485115


POLLIES' wallets could soon be getting a boost after the CLP passed legislation on Thursday to stop their pay rises being tied to public servants' wages. 
 
Northern Territory politicians, who currently sit the least amount of days out of any parliament in Australia, will now have a tribunal approve their pay rises.

Labor opposed the decision, calling it a "cynical move".

"I think it's disgraceful," opposition leader Delia Lawrie said.

"Little wonder people are losing faith in politicians if they're getting greedy in the way the CLP is displaying today.

"It comes at a time when Territorians are struggling under cost of living (issues)."

Treasurer Dave Tollner said the remuneration tribunal was a fair way to gauge future pay rises for politicians and to attract suitable candidates in the future.

"I think politicians should be paid fairly," he said, adding that he was content with his current pay.

"I think there is a balance there that needs to be struck and an independent tribunal is not a bad way to go in that regard."

Recent changes mean our politicians sit for just 34 days this year.

An NT politician can expect a base salary of $142,000, while ministers can make much more. The Chief Minister is our highest paid pollie, earning about $280,000 a year.




Typical Abbo! always wanting more for doing bugger all!This boong clown gets $280K/yr for making a mess of the place!

[Br.IanVonTurpie]

http://www.ntnews.com.au/news/northern-territory/sacked-aboriginal-corporation-boss-found-guilty-of-fraud-in-the-nt-supreme-court/story-fnk0b1zt-1227317399751


A SACKED Aboriginal corporation boss has been found guilty of fraud in the NT Supreme Court. 
 
Veronica Anne Cubillo, 56, fought 11 charges of faking expenses and receipts and misappropriating almost $10,000 for personal gain in 2010-11.

A jury has returned unanimous guilty verdicts on each charge against the ex-North Australian Aboriginal Family Violence Legal Service CEO, who was investigated when a sharp finance officer became suspicious about dodgy reimbursement claims for catering and "incidentals" at board meetings, two tables at a Menzies School of Health Research fundraiser, a falsified emergency flight, the "registration fee" to a family reunion and a Darwin Sailing Club event.

Commonwealth prosecutor Troy Anderson said: "The fraud was not complex ... it was a relatively small amount of money.

"But this is about the breach of trust."

Cubillo was also found guilty of using part of a $10,000 gift from Imparja TV to fund her travel to a family reunion — in the Philippines — where she told staff she had been invited to give a presentation.

Corporation founder Patricia Raymond told the jury the board did not authorise Cubillo's use of the Imparja money.

But the court heard former chairman Samuel Bush-Blanasi did.

Mr Anderson said the cash was intended for a violence and substance abuse program on Groote Eylandt.

Defence lawyer Mark Johnson said a performance appraisal carried out before the scandal broke in 2011 found his client — who had been hastily appointed when the previous chief resigned — was "up to scratch".

Justice Jenny Blokland has ordered home detention and supervision reports from Correctional Services to assess potential options for Cubillo's punishment.

She will hear sentencing submissions from Commonwealth prosecutors and defence counsel Mark Johnson next week.

[Br.IanVonTurpie]

http://www.ntnews.com.au/news/northern-territory/michael-gunner-criticises-bess-price-travel-expenses-gets-called-racist/story-fnk0b1zt-1227323648481


CLP Minister Dave Tollner has called Opposition leader Michael Gunner "repugnant, disgusting and somewhat racist" for daring to question Bess Price's $50,000 taxpayer funded trip to New York City.
 
Mr Tollner, the NT's Treasurer, said Ms Price's trip — which included seven nights at the Waldorf Astoria — was "money well spent".

"All Australians should be celebrating the fact that we have an indigenous woman like Bess Price who is more than capable of attending these high level meetings overseas," Mr Tollner said, adding it was an "incredibly important trip".

Ms Price and adviser Paul Mossman were invited by members of the Federal Government to attend the United Nations conference on the status of women in March 2014. The pair charged Territory taxpayers $40,000 in flights — including $5800 for a 43 minute trip to Washington and back — over $6000 for the hotel rooms and another $3000 to hire a driver for a daily six minute commute from the hotel to the UN.

"For Michael Gunner to now come out and say this is highly inappropriate, I think is just a rejection of indigenous women across Australia. It's totally wrong," Mr Tollner said. He added the $3000 driver was needed to gain access to the UN and that the hotel was a UN selected accommodation.

"This was an honour for the Northern Territory," he said.

"For (Mr Gunner) to come out and say that this was a junket of the highest order, well, I have absolute contempt for (that)."

On Sunday, Mr Gunner addressed Ms Price's and other CLP ministers' recently disclosed high travel costs by pledging to reveal his Labor shadow ministers' itineraries and costs prior to travel as part of his "restoring integrity in government" plan.

He did not respond directly to Mr Tollner's accusations yesterday.

"I do not intend to respond to name calling; it's not what people expect," he said.

"I will debate the policy issues as they affect Territorians. Bess Price is a Minister of the Crown, therefore she must be held accountable."






I mean what can you say here we have a ,Boong, woman pollie who clocks up a massive debt ( as they all do).. and I mean people are surprised that she is corrupt? The minister criticising said Nothing "racist" just one of those scapegoats to hang on Gunner!

Oh! it was such an honour to have this boong, bitch celebrity at the UN! probably because they all think she is a movie star that played the sourcere in "the dark crystal".

[Br.IanVonTurpie]

http://www.ntnews.com.au/news/northern-territory/aboriginal-family-violence-corporation-boss-veronica-cubillo-remanded-in-custody/story-fnk0b1zt-1227328332479


A SACKED Aboriginal family violence corporation boss has been remanded in custody while awaiting sentence in the NT Supreme Court. 
 
Veronica Cubillo, 55, calmly embraced her family in the dock after Justice Jenny Blokland made the order when sentencing submissions were completed on Thursday.

She has shown a "shocking" lack of remorse for the damage caused by her white-collar crime and is portrayed in references from her daughters as "the only victim in the case", Commonwealth prosecutor Troy Anderson told the court.

A jury found Cubillo guilty of 11 fraud charges regarding faked receipts and the misappropriation of about $10,000 from the North Australia Aboriginal Family Violence Legal Service.

Her current position as a senior alcohol management officer in the NT Department of Business will be jeopardised if she is sentenced to prison time or home detention, defence lawyer Mark Johnson has said.

Mr Anderson said Cubillo "has shown zero remorse".

"Her references describe her in glowing terms which makes the offending more inexplicable - no gambling, alcohol or drug problem, no explanation other than she thought she could get away with it.

"She saw the opportunity and she took it again and again and again.

"The conduct was out of the blue with no justification."

In a character reference tendered to the court, Cubillo's daughter Natalie White claimed that her mother had been "slandered in the media" and had lost job opportunities because of what had been "published in the news".

Her other daughter Nicole Butler said her mother was "completely despondent in acknowledging the detrimental impact a criminal conviction would have on her career".

Mr Anderson said there is a sense that Ms Cubillo is the only victim.

"These offer no insight into the damage done to NAAFVLS and the reputation of similar agencies," Mr Anderson said.

"This case has the accused as the centre of attention but it represents a bigger problem.

"It's not about her - it's about community perception of people who abuse the system for their own benefit."

Correctional Services reported that Cubillo was suitable for supervision and home detention, and that she told them the "trial was based on circumstantial evidence and she was surprised the jury returned a verdict after deliberating for an hour and a half".

"If nothing else this demonstrates how powerful the Crown case was," Mr Anderson said.

He said while the offending involved a significantly lower amount of stolen money than other white collar crime cases, Cubillo's position of authority elevated the seriousness.

"The court needs to demonstrate people who abuse positions of trust in a vulnerable organisation must be punished," he said.

Mr Johnson, for Cubillo, said his client was a "strong" and well-educated woman who was a star athlete in her youth, has battled cancer and worked at a high level in NT Government departments.

He said Cubillo had been diagnosed with kidney disease and emphysema in recent years.

Mr Johnson said the relevance of authorities that stated people who committed white collar crime were unlikely to reoffend once discovered and punished were still relevant despite his client's continued denial of wrongdoing.

Justice Blokland said she was leaning toward a partly suspended sentence and ordered Cubillo be remanded in custody until sentencing on May 12.