DOCSLIB.ORG

Brutal Crime a Daughter's Courageous Stand Myth

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Brutal Crime a Daughter's Courageous Stand Myth PAULINE’S JUNE 26-27, 2021 HOME TRUTHS The One Nation leader on her jail time with a murderer, what she really thinks of the PM and Covid rules LEISA SCOTT BRUTAL CRIME A DAUGHTER’S COURAGEOUS STAND MYTH BUSTER THE 5 HEALTH TIPS YOU NEED TO KNOW FEEDBACK back in and worked her way back to the top. And in that time she’s left a slew of disloyal or disgraced party members in her wake. At 67, she remains committed to 17 representing her state and intends to do so beyond the next election. Musician Also this week we have an extract from William Barton the heart-wrenching memoir Mother Wound by Amani Haydar. The lawyer, artist and writer grapples with the grief THIS ISSUE and anger of her mother’s brutal murder at the hands of her father. This is a gripping and eloquent portrait of sorrow and trauma and domestic violence and is Pauline Hanson is a polarising figure. As an important book at a time when as a writer Leisa Scott puts it in today’s cover society we are grappling with the issues of story, the right-wing Queensland Senator violence against women. “has been dog whistling her way through And if you find the avalanche of health Australia’s public discourse for 25 years”. advice overwhelming, Dr Norman Swan She speaks to her base and is unapologetic has the answers and he shares his five best about her views on topics such as climate tips with Jill Poulsen. change, Covid rules and immigration. Enjoy your weekend. But Hanson is also a survivor. She’s been jailed and released on appeal, kicked out of the party she founded and then let MOVE ON EMILY Cover Pauline Hanson Photography Mark Cranitch Editor Natalie Gregg Deputy With reference to the article in Qweekend Editor Alison Walsh Arts Editor Phil Brown Design Sean Thomas (“Her gospel truth”, June 12-13), about the Advertising/ Sales [email protected] Qweekend Magazine Mayne Upfront demise of Emily Jade O’Keeffe’s marriage, Rd & Campbell St, Bowen Hills, Brisbane 4006 You and Me 4 the reason stated was her husband felt he was losing himself to her career. How many wives over the years have lost Features themselves to their husband’s careers and were expected to just accept it. History and Last Woman Standing 6 divorce rates show that it takes a strong UNTIL 10 JUL | BILLE BROWN THEATRE Health Habits 10 man to take the back seat in a marriage Grief Runs Deeps 14 that for so long was always occupied by the woman. Move on Emily and find a partner Life+Style who will support you and is secure enough to not feel intimidated by your success. Culture Club 18 Maree Park, Carindale. White Pearl Cafe 19 SPEAKING UP Recipe 20 Excellent to read Drew Pavlou is back at uni BY ANCHULI FELICIA KING Dining 21 after his very courageous stand against DIRECTED BY PRISCILLA JACKMAN Ordinary People 22 China and UQ’s administration in 2019, (“Drew fire”, June 12-13). The fact that no Fashion 23 one was held accountable for his roughing Weddings 24 up at that protest speaks volumes. Mr Pavlou’s hope that he can “wake people Travel 26 up across the Left-Right divide” and also Books 28 help keep democracy alive and thriving, Big Quiz 30 should auger well when he comes to choose his career. He has already made a difference. My Life 31 Claire Jolliffe, Buderim This article should inspire people who do not agree with the direction those in power Contact us take. In this case it was of monumental proportion with Drew facing an uphill Write to the editor, Qweekend, and battle. Along came Tony Morris QC, who include full contact details so we can has often provided pro bono legal support establish bona fides. Please keep to the underdog and without his assistance letters to 100 words or fewer. Letters Drew’s life and career would have been in may be edited for brevity and clarity. tatters. Keep up fighting for people like EMAIL [email protected] Drew, Tony. A SYDNEY THEATRE COMPANY PRODUCTION PARTNERS Neil Raward, Surfers Paradise AND RIVERSIDE’S NATIONAL THEATRE OF PARRAMATTA PRODUCTION instagram@qweekend Drew Pavlou needs to be applauded for his stance on freedom of speech. He appears to QUEENSLAND THEATRE IS ASSISTED BY THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT THROUGH THE AUSTRALIA COUNCIL, ITS ARTS FUNDING AND ADVISORY BODY. facebook.com/qweekend want all Australians to feel they have the QUEENSLAND THEATRE IS SUPPORTED BY THE QUEENSLAND GOVERNMENT THROUGH ARTS QUEENSLAND. right to speak their own mind. qweekend.com.au Les Morisset, Labrador MEL WILLIAM BUTTLE McINNES “Avo on toast Financial year is often the ends in frenzy most affordable, The Taxman Cometh. Apologies to Eugene O’Neill for riffing on the title of his play The Iceman Cometh but it’s yet still a that time of the year. And if you don’t know who Eugene O’Neill is then the bit fun” riffing doesn’t matter, it’s still that time of the year. Tax Time! Everyone’s email boxes, post boxes, Facebook pages, newspapers and TVs are being flooded with the seasonal cry reakfast has been called of “End of Financial Year Sale!”. People the most important meal of will be encouraged to pick up crazy the day. Mum used to say that bargains because it’s tax time! Spare me. to get me to eat something People get feverish around this time of before school. I’ve never been the year and think that by splashing out, Bbig on breakfast, I chug a coffee and wait they’ll save with tax deductions. until my stomach starts eating itself I had a pal who bought a leaf blower around 1pm. However, going out for at a Bunnings end of financial year sale breakfast is very on trend, so here’s my and thought he could claim it. Why did guide to what your breakfast choice says he buy it? “It was on sale,” he said as if about you. talking to an idiot. “Why are you trying ● Granola: You’re either vegan and to claim it?” “Because it’s tax time!” that’s your only option at the place your He had a crack, suggesting the leaf friend chose for breakfast, or you’ve just blower was a piece of health equipment. come from F45 and don’t want to blow all Eventually his accountant, who was also your good work. his partner, talked him out of it. But ● Eggs Benedict: You’re having a good on him. The things people try to blowout, or you’re hungover, this is a claim as deductions. My parents one breakfast that starts the day on a no- year claimed a congenial Blue Heeler nonsense note. You’re a practical person, called Sam as a guard dog, but only who just wants something good with no once. “Felt too guilty,” said my Dad, frills. Eggs Benedict with bacon is the training for the Noosa triathlon, but for savour the fact they’re eating ice cream “Sam was more of a snooze dog.” breakfast of someone who tied one on last once in your life cut loose. If this is how for breakfast. I know people have tried to claim night. Eggs Benedict with mushroom is a you’re starting the day, how’s it going to ● Gnocchi: Those who order this are cosmetic surgery and once asked my vegetarian who tied one on last night. end? It better be some amazing next-level my heroes. I reckon you’re probably only accountant if that was possible. He Either that or you’ve found yourself at a cooked oats you’re paying $15 for. going to eat one meal out this week and nodded and admitted that an way-too-cool cafe and this is the only dish ● Breakfast burrito: You’re going for it why blow it on bacon and eggs? You can accountant friend had once successfully you recognise that doesn’t have ancient today aren’t you? Go hard or go home, the make that yourself any old time, but claimed a breast augmentation as a fermented grains or kim chi. breakfast burrito is the breakfast of the house-made gnocchi is a very special work/investment deduction. I stared. ● Avo on toast: The breakfast of people brave, it’s a bold person who starts the day treat. I get the logic, it’s just potatoes He shrugged and said in a cryptic who are trying to kickstart a diet, trying to at this level. Go you, I’m all for it, life is bacon and mushroom anyway isn’t it? accountant’s manner, “Joys of a diverse save for a house, trying to make a healthy short, get as much cheese in your Does it go with a flat white? Not really, and tiered economy.” choice. It’s not the avo on toast that chews breakfast as you can. I tip my hat to you, but it’s nearly lunch time you tell yourself. I’m not immune at tax time and go up your house deposit, I think it’s adding a you’re probably going jet skiing after this. ● Nourish bowl: Yep that will offset it mad at stationery shops. Pens. Paper. side of haloumi, bacon and an Audi A3 ● Pancakes: You’ve earned these, all won’t it? The Tim Tams you ate You name it. I buy it and try to claim it.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • A History of Misconduct: the Case for a Federal Icac
    MISCONDUCT IN POLITICS A HISTORY OF MISCONDUCT: THE CASE FOR A FEDERAL ICAC INDEPENDENT JO URNALISTS MICH AEL WES T A ND CALLUM F OOTE, COMMISSIONED B Y G ETUP 1 MISCONDUCT IN POLITICS MISCONDUCT IN RESOURCES, WATER AND LAND MANAGEMENT Page 5 MISCONDUCT RELATED TO UNDISCLOSED CONFLICTS OF INTEREST Page 8 POTENTIAL MISCONDUCT IN LOBBYING MISCONDUCT ACTIVITIES RELATED TO Page 11 INAPPROPRIATE USE OF TRANSPORT Page 13 POLITICAL DONATION SCANDALS Page 14 FOREIGN INFLUENCE ON THE POLITICAL PROCESS Page 16 ALLEGEDLY FRAUDULENT PRACTICES Page 17 CURRENT CORRUPTION WATCHDOG PROPOSALS Page 20 2 MISCONDUCT IN POLITICS FOREWORD: Trust in government has never been so low. This crisis in public confidence is driven by the widespread perception that politics is corrupt and politicians and public servants have failed to be held accountable. This report identifies the political scandals of the and other misuse of public money involving last six years and the failure of our elected leaders government grants. At the direction of a minister, to properly investigate this misconduct. public money was targeted at voters in marginal electorates just before a Federal Election, In 1984, customs officers discovered a teddy bear potentially affecting the course of government in in the luggage of Federal Government minister Australia. Mick Young and his wife. It had not been declared on the Minister’s customs declaration. Young This cheating on an industrial scale reflects a stepped aside as a minister while an investigation political culture which is evolving dangerously. into the “Paddington Bear Affair” took place. The weapons of the state are deployed against journalists reporting on politics, and whistleblowers That was during the prime ministership of Bob in the public service - while at the same time we Hawke.
    [Show full text]
  • Western Australia State Election 2017
    RESEARCH PAPER SERIES, 2017–18 18 SEPTEMBER 2017 Western Australia state election 2017 Rob Lundie Politics and Public Administration Section Contents Introduction ................................................................................................ 2 Background ................................................................................................. 2 Electoral changes ................................................................................................ 2 2013 election ...................................................................................................... 2 Party leaders ....................................................................................................... 3 Aftermath for the WA Liberal Party ................................................................... 5 The campaign .............................................................................................. 5 Economic issues .................................................................................................. 5 Liberal/Nationals differences ............................................................................. 6 Transport ............................................................................................................ 7 Federal issues ..................................................................................................... 7 Party campaign launches .................................................................................... 7 Leaders debate ..................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Malcolm Turnbull's Plotters Find Political Success Elusive
    Malcolm Turnbull's plotters find political success elusive AFR, Aaron Patrick, 22 Aug 2017 Mal Brough vanished. Wyatt Roy sells call centre technology. Peter Hendy wants a Senate seat. James McGrath is in ministerial limbo land. Arthur Sinodinos stays quiet. Scott Ryan is struck out sick. Simon Birmingham is at war with the Catholic Church. Mitch Fifield tried to buy media peace from One Nation. They have been dubbed the G8: the eight Liberals most intimately involved in the successful plot to remove Tony Abbott as prime minister. When they installed Malcolm Turnbull party leader on September 14, 2015, all might have seen their political careers flourishing under what many people expected at the time to be a unifying, inspiring and competent prime minister. Instead, their stories in some ways personify the broader story of the Liberal government: starting with such promise, they have mostly either proved to be disappointments or failed to live up to their early promise. An opinion poll published Monday shows the Labor Party would easily win power based on current voting preferences. Fateful decision When they gathered on the evening of September 13, 2015, at Hendy's home in Queanbeyan, on the outskirts of Canberra, the atmosphere was thick with anticipation. The group, excluding Birmingham, who was flying up from Adelaide, took the fateful decision to remove a first-term leader who had ended six years of Labor power. The next day, Roy, Hendy, Brough, Ryan, Sinodinos and Fifield walked briskly alongside Turnbull to the meeting in Parliament House where they brought down Abbott, triggering open conflict between the two main wings of the party that persists today.
    [Show full text]
  • The Most Vitriolic Parliament
    THE MOST VITRIOLIC PARLIAMENT EVIDENCE OF THE VITRIOLIC NATURE OF THE 43 RD PARLIAMENT AND POTENTIAL CAUSES Nicolas Adams, 321 382 For Master of Arts (Research), June 2016 The University of Melbourne, School of Social and Political Sciences Supervisors: Prof. John Murphy, Dr. Scott Brenton i Abstract It has been suggested that the period of the Gillard government was the most vitriolic in recent political history. This impression has been formed by many commentators and actors, however very little quantitative data exists which either confirms or disproves this theory. Utilising an analysis of standing orders within the House of Representatives it was found that a relatively fair case can be made that the 43rd parliament was more vitriolic than any in the preceding two decades. This period in the data, however, was trumped by the first year of the Abbott government. Along with this conclusion the data showed that the cause of the vitriol during this period could not be narrowed to one specific driver. It can be seen that issues such as the minority government, style of opposition, gender and even to a certain extent the speakership would have all contributed to any mutation of the tone of debate. ii Declaration I declare that this thesis contains only my original work towards my Masters of Arts (Research) except where due acknowledgement has been made in the text to other material used. Equally this thesis is fewer than the maximum word limit as approved by the Research Higher Degrees Committee. iii Acknowledgements I wish to acknowledge my two supervisors, Prof.
    [Show full text]
  • Papers Index
    PROOF As at 24 August 2012 Sittings from 5 November 2008 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY FOR THE AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY SEVENTH ASSEMBLY 2008–2009–2010–2011–2012 INDEX TO PAPERS Index to Papers Paper MOP Page 2 2003 Canberra Bushfires—McLeod Report and Doogan Coronial Inquiry—Government agreed recommendations—Implementation report, prepared by ACT Bushfire Council, dated June 2009 293 2009-10 Budget surplus—Medial release—ACT Labor, dated 19 September 2008 103 2010 National Multicultural Festival 561 2013 Canberra Centenary—Funding and Tourism—Letter from Tony Windsor MP, Federal Member for New England, dated 24 April 2012 concerning the resolution of the Assembly of 28 March 2012 1900 2013 Canberra Centenary—Funding and Tourism—Letter to the Speaker from Hon Warren Truss MP, Leader of the Nationals, dated 28 May 2012, concerning the resolution of the Assembly of 28 March 2012 2033 2013 Canberra Centenary—Funding and Tourism—Letter to the Speaker from Senator the Hon Jan McLucas, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister, dated 1 May 2012, concerning the resolution of the Assembly of 28 March 2012 1996 2013 Canberra Centenary—Funding and Tourism—Letter to the Speaker from the Federal Member for Lyne, dated 16 April 2012, relating to the resolution of the Assembly of 28 March 2012 1892 2013 Canberra Centenary—Funding and Tourism—Letter to the Speaker from the Hon Peter Slipper MP, Speaker of the House of Representatives, dated 10 May 2012, concerning the resolution of the Assembly of 28 March 2012 1996 i Index to Papers Paper MOP Page A
    [Show full text]
  • From the Tables *
    Robyn Smith is Executive Officer, Office of the Clerk, Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory From the Tables * Robyn Smith Australian Parliament Former Speaker Peter Slipper tendered his resignation to the Governor-General on 9 October 2012 after months of controversy during which he remained the Speaker but did not preside over proceedings in the House of Representatives. That job fell to Deputy Speaker Anna Burke who was elected to the position on the same evening. Slipper was the second Speaker to resign in 11 months, the first being Harry Jenkins, and the fifth time in the history of the House of Representatives that a sitting Speaker has resigned. The more usual course is for a Speaker to retire once the parliament has been prorogued for a General Election. The House Committee of Privileges and Members’ Interests continues to grapple with a proposed Code of Conduct for Members. This innovation arose from various agreements entered into by the Prime Minister with the Independents during the course of negotiations to form minority government following the 2010 August General Election. The Joint Committee on the Broadcasting of Parliamentary Proceedings spent 12 months in consultation with media representatives, senators, members and parliamentary officers to revise rules governing media coverage of proceedings. This resulted in new media rules being tabled in the Senate and the House of Representatives on 28 November. The rules were last reviewed in 2008. The Usher of the Black Rod and Serjeant-at-Arms have responsibility for administering the rules which seek to balance the media’s right to report parliamentary proceedings whilst respecting the privacy of senators and members and allowing them, other building occupants and visitors to Parliament House to go about their business.
    [Show full text]
  • Additional Materials to the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade
    Additional materials to the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Australia-Hong Kong Link Victoria HongKongers Association (Australia) Inc. Perth-HK Students’ Anti-ELAB Concern Group Brisbane Internal Student Solidarity with Hong Kong Canberra Hong Kong Concern Adelaide – Stand with Hong Kong Once again, Australia Hong Kong Link would like to thank the committee for providing such a valuable opportunity for us to contribute to the inquiry and we thank the committee for working hard to consider this important piece of legislation during these challenging times. Here are some questions we have taken on notice and additional information that we have included in this additional submission. 1. What sort of threshold do you think would constitute human rights abuses? There has been a fair bit of outrage about the recent arrest of Martin Lee, Jimmy Lai and others in Hong Kong. Where would you suggest the line be drawn in terms of human rights abuses there that would trigger action under something like a global Magnitsky act? 2. Are there any Hong Kong Australian business people who receive benefit or who are benefited by their links to the Chinese Communist Party and mainland officials? And is there an understanding that, for their business interests to continue to be supported, they must remain silent about the erosion of democracy in Hong Kong? Further to that, does it go further, whereby these individuals actually contribute to the suppression of activists and/or the democracy movement in Hong Kong? If so, could those individuals be captured by potential Magnitsky style laws in Australia? 3.
    [Show full text]
  • Theparliamentarian
    TheParliamentarian Journal of the Parliaments of the Commonwealth 2015 | Issue Three XCVI | Price £13 Elections and Voting Reform PLUS Commonwealth Combatting Looking ahead to Millenium Development Electoral Networks by Terrorism in Nigeria CHOGM 2015 in Malta Goals Update: The fight the Commonwealth against TB Secretary-General PAGE 150 PAGE 200 PAGE 204 PAGE 206 The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Shop CPA business card holders CPA ties CPA souvenirs are available for sale to Members and officials of CPA cufflinks Commonwealth Parliaments and Legislatures by CPA silver-plated contacting the photoframe CPA Secretariat by email: [email protected] or by post: CPA Secretariat, Suite 700, 7 Millbank, London SW1P 3JA, United Kingdom. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) exists to connect, develop, promote and support Parliamentarians and their staff to identify benchmarks of good governance and implement the enduring values of the Commonwealth. Calendar of Forthcoming Events Confirmed at 24 August 2015 2015 September 2-5 September CPA and State University of New York (SUNY) Workshop for Constituency Development Funds – London, UK 9-12 September Asia Regional Association of Public Accounts Committees (ARAPAC) Annual Meeting - Kathmandu, Nepal 14-16 September Annual Forum of the CTO/ICTs and The Parliamentarian - Nairobi, Kenya 28 Sept to 3 October West Africa Association of Public Accounts Committees (WAAPAC) Annual Meeting and Community of Clerks Training - Lomé, Togo 30 Sept to 5 October CPA International
    [Show full text]
  • Ap2 Final 16.2.17
    PALASZCZUK’S SECOND YEAR AN OVERVIEW OF 2016 ANN SCOTT HOWARD GUILLE ROGER SCOTT with cartoons by SEAN LEAHY Foreword This publication1 is the fifth in a series of Queensland political chronicles published by the TJRyan Foundation since 2012. The first two focussed on Parliament.2 They were written after the Liberal National Party had won a landslide victory and the Australian Labor Party was left with a tiny minority, led by Annastacia Palaszczuk. The third, Queensland 2014: Political Battleground,3 published in January 2015, was completed shortly before the LNP lost office in January 2015. In it we used military metaphors and the language which typified the final year of the Newman Government. The fourth, Palaszczuk’s First Year: a Political Juggling Act,4 covered the first year of the ALP minority government. The book had a cartoon by Sean Leahy on its cover which used circus metaphors to portray 2015 as a year of political balancing acts. It focussed on a single year, starting with the accession to power of the Palaszczuk Government in mid-February 2015. Given the parochial focus of our books we draw on a limited range of sources. The TJRyan Foundation website provides a repository for online sources including our own Research Reports on a range of Queensland policy areas, and papers catalogued by policy topic, as well as Queensland political history.5 A number of these reports give the historical background to the current study, particularly the anthology of contributions The Newman Years: Rise, Decline and Fall.6 Electronic links have been provided to open online sources, notably the ABC News, Brisbane Times, The Guardian, and The Conversation.
    [Show full text]
  • Faculty of Law
    FACULTY OF LAW GEORGE WILLIAMS AO DEAN ANTHONY MASON PROFESSOR SCIENTIA PROFESSOR 4 April 2017 Committee Secretary Select Committee on a National Integrity Commission PO Box 6100 Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600 Dear Secretary Thank you for the opportunity to make a submission to this inquiry into the Establishment of a National Integrity Commission. We do so in a personal capacity. Australia’s anti-corruption system needs reform. The diffusion of responsibilities across multiple agencies risks underreporting of corrupt conduct, while gaps in the regime mean that the system fails to hold people accountable. As a result, community and public confidence in Australia’s institutions is eroded. The solution is a national whole- of-government anti-corruption body encompassing the public sector with the power to apply a uniform standard of corrupt conduct. The existing system: the multi-agency approach Australia’s existing anti-corruption and integrity system divides responsibilities across several Commonwealth agencies. Characterised as the ‘multi-agency’ approach, this framework empowers different institutions with ‘specific responsibilities for tackling corruption in different levels of government, and in relation to specific types of corruption’.1 It is premised on the fact that ‘the risks of corruption in the Australian Public Service vary according to each agency’s operating environment’, and that anti- corruption efforts will be best realised when each agency ‘consider[s] their own risk profile[] and take[s] reasonable measures to mitigate risks’.2 1 Attorney-General's Department, The Commonwealth's Approach to Anti-Corruption (Discussion Paper, 2012) 4. 2 Australian Public Service Commission, State of the Service Report 2012–2013 (2013) 71.
    [Show full text]
  • Submission to the Senate Select Committee Into the Political Influence of Donations
    Submission to the Senate Select Committee into the Political Influence of Donations Dr Charles Livingstone & Ms Maggie Johnson Gambling and Social Determinants Unit School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine Monash University 9 October 2017 1 Introduction Gambling in Australia is a prime cause of avoidable harm, with the harms of gambling estimated to be of the same order of magnitude as alcohol, and far higher than that associated with illicit drug consumption. (Browne et al, 2016; 2017). The gambling industry is a major donor to Australian political parties and politicians and appears to hold considerable cachet with many political actors, at both federal and state level. In this, it appears to be similar to other industries that produce harmful products, such as alcohol and tobacco. Its purpose in donating to political parties and politicians is similar; it seeks to deny the harmful effects of its products, delay or wind back reform, avoid effective regulation, and continue to extract profits for as long as possible. a) The level of influence that political donations exert over the public policy decisions of political parties, Members of Parliament and Government administration; The Australian gambling industry has utilised political donations as a mechanism to exert considerable influence over relevant public policy. This has been facilitated by the current donations regime, which has numerous flaws from the perspective of transparency and support for policy that acts in the genuine interest of the public. The industry is both significantly resourced and politically organised, and has actively sought opportunities for political engagement via donations to politicians and political parties.
    [Show full text]
  • (2012) the Slipper Conspiracy – Sedition Or Contempt?
    Owen Walsh (2012) The Slipper conspiracy – sedition or contempt? This paper was prompted by community reactions to the alleged political conspiracy against the Speaker of House of Representatives, with some in the community raising the prospect of treason or sedition being committed. The paper details the background to and nature of the conspiracy claims, considers the applicability of sedition and treason offences and alternative legal responses, including exercise of parliamentary powers to punish contempt. It concludes that, in the circumstances, recourse to parliamentary contempt power is as equally problematic and dangerous as the suggested recourse to sedition laws.1 Background and political context In April 2012, Mr James Ashby, a staff member of the Speaker of the House of Representatives commenced civil proceedings against the Speaker and the Commonwealth of Australia, alleging sexual harassment by the Speaker and claiming damages for breach of his employment contract with the Commonwealth.2 The claims made included allegations that the Speaker, the Hon Peter Slipper MP, had fraudulently misused travel vouchers. Slipper subsequently announced his intention to step aside from the Speakership. That is, that he would not take the Speaker's Chair and not enter the chamber of the House, pending the outcome of an investigation into allegations of travel-related fraud. The Deputy Speaker, Labor MP Anna Burke, assumed the duties of Speaker in the Chamber. The prevailing political climate and the circumstances of the Speaker’s appointment, together with the salacious nature of the sexual harassment allegations, fuelled the controversy. Slipper, a Liberal National Party [LNP] member for the Queensland electorate of Fisher, had been elected Speaker in November 2011 on the nomination and votes of the Labor Commonwealth Government and despite opposition from his coalition colleagues.
    [Show full text]