Labor Senator Chris Ketter appears to have told lies on oath to the Royal Commission

Here is the link to Senior Counsel Assisting's submission regarding the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association.

These paragraphs refer to the entirely unsatisfactory (read bullshit) evidence given by now Senator Ketter.

D1 Circumstances of Mr Swetman’s dismissal

77. It is clear on the facts that Mr Swetman had his employment terminated because he was threatening to challenge Senator Ketter for the position of Secretary-Treasurer.  There is no other plausible explanation.  At the time of his dismissal, Mr Swetman:

(a) had almost 18 years’ service; 
(b) had not be subject to any meaningful performance counselling; 
(c) was away from the workplace for medical reasons; and
(d) had provided a medical certificate to his employer. 

78. In these circumstances, Mr Swetman’s immediate dismissal one day prior to the close of the nominations for Secretary-Treasurer was a cynical manoeuvre by Senator Ketter designed to protect his position in that role.  The suggestion that either: 

(a)  Mr Swetman’s performance; or  

(b) the alleged inappropriate use of his SDA Queensland issued mobile telephone,  provided the justification for Mr Swetman’s dismissal and expulsion from the SDA Queensland should not be accepted. 

79. Senator Ketter’s insistence that the timing of Mr Swetman’s dismissal was a ‘coincidence’ should not be accepted and is a mark against his credibility as a witness.  

80. Senator Ketter stood to benefit significantly from the removal of Mr Swetman.  He must have known that termination of Mr Swetman would cause or likely cause cause damage to Mr Swetman’s credibility and credentials as a candidate standing against Senator Ketter.  Furthermore, once dismissed from his employment Mr Swetman would be without an income making it significantly more difficult to service the expenses associated with a contested election campaign. 

These considerations, coupled with the swift manner in which Mr Swetman was removed in circumstances where there was no urgency to terminate Mr Swetman (other than the impermissible consideration of removing a rival candidate from an upcoming election), count strongly against Senator Ketter’s contention that the timing of the removal was a coincidence. 

This relates to a current Senator, newly elected this last election for a 6 year post, rather than a past politician. Have you picked up that Senator Chris Ketter, the number one ticket-holder in the Senate of the ALP in Queensland has in effect been found dishonest in the evidence he gave the Commission? See paras 77-80 of Part 18 of Counsel's submissions. While Counsel hasn't asserted Ketter perjured himself, what other possible conclusion can be drawn?

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Blanchett and Whitlam fans are living in a land of make-believe

Piers Akerman

ACTRESS Cate Blanchett epitomised her role as the poster girl for the age of self-delusional entitlement when she eulogised Gough Whitlam on Wednesday.  “I am the beneficiary of free, tertiary education,” she trilled
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Whoops. I was paying taxes when Blanchett was born and I was a contributor to the cost of her education.  If I, and millions of other Australians were paying for her degree, it was not free. Similarly with the “good, free healthcare” she benefited from.   That healthcare cost a mozza – and it’s costing more now.

Hyperbole and extravagance of speech and gesture are the stock in trade of actors, the gestures have to be large so those in the back row can see and hear and perhaps Blanchett had this in mind as she played to her audience at the Sydney Town Hall.

“I am a product of the Australia Council,” she gushed.

That may be, but the Australian Council for the Arts, the Australian Film Development Corporation and the National Film and Television Training School were established during Liberal Prime Minister John Gorton’s term, according to the National Archives.

The so-called “free” education and healthcare she benefited from enabled her to put the “little I earned after tax and rent … towards seeing shows, bands, and living inside my generation’s expression”.

Among the examples she offered of her generation’s expression was a 2004 film called Little Fish: ‘‘A story like Little Fish would not have been told without the massive changes to the Australian cultural conversation initiated, and shaped, by Gough Whitlam’s legacy.”

I was one of the unfortunate few viewers who, having contributed to the production of the film through my taxes, ­actually paid an admission fee to see what they were creating with my money. In truth I found it to be one of a number of bleak movies made with taxpayers’ money which depicted sleazy drug addicts doing what most drug addicts do – lie and cheat and destroy lives.

As Blanchett acknowledged to swoons and applause, she was “but three” when the Whitlam government came into office and has many reasons to “be grateful ‘til the day I die”, but in reality she has many more reasons to be grateful to the taxpayers who bankrolled the great man’s many excesses.

Of course Blanchett was merely supporting the myriad of myths that now enshrine Whitlam’s legacy. The legends have grown since he was sacked in 1975 and flowed ­freely since his death on October 21, almost all of them untrue.

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The ALP couldn't even organize a funeral properly

Devotees of former prime minister Gough Whitlam struggle for tickets and seats outside his memorial service at Sydney's Town Hall

Mourners turning up to pay their respects to former prime minister Gough Whitlam say they have been turned away from the memorial service at the Sydney Town Hall despite having registered for the event.

Some people had travelled from as far away as Perth, Melbourne and Townsville to attend the state memorial service, which is shaping up as the biggest in living memory.

But some people were close to tears on Wednesday morning when told they would not be admitted to the service, despite having phoned to register for the event.

Penelope Robinson and Omid Namdar had flown from Perth on the red-eye flight on Wednesday morning, only to be told they could not get in despite receiving an email confirming their registration.

"This is so unfair. I got through university because of Gough and I named my third son because of him. Mr Whitlam even signed his birth certificate," Ms Robinson said.

Rodney Ranners came from Seven Hills by train in his wheelchair.  "I came all the way in because my carer received an email, I haven't got the email, I don't have a mobile phone. They won't let me in," he said, close to tears.

Ron Miles, from Leichhardt, said he had phoned to register to attend the memorial service on the day registration opened.

"The woman I spoke to took my name, and I said 'What happens now?' She said nothing, it was first in, best dressed. That was how she phrased it," he said.

Mr Miles arrived at the town hall about 8am on Wednesday and joined a line of people on George Street, who were told by an official that if they did not have an email they would not be allowed to enter.

"We weren't asked for our email addresses," he said. "The people around me were just absolutely fuming. I live in Leichhardt, but the person in front of me was from Melbourne, and two other people were from Townsville. It's just so absolutely bloody frustrating.

"There was another couple of people there who I felt really sorry for. They were saying how much Gough meant to them and how this was a travesty for his memory.

"I was 24 when Gough was elected and he just changed the world, as far as I was concerned. I didn't benefit from the free university education, I'd been through university by then, however he embodied all the things that I think governments should do for people. He meant a lot to me. I'm really upset that I couldn't get in."

Mr Miles went home and had plans to watch the service on television.

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Anti-car nonsense destroys convenience and hurts small business in an Australian country town

Toowoomba: HAIRDRESSER Leanne White has chipped in to pay for her customers' parking fines because she feels the parking situation in the area is unfair.

Ms White owns Lush Hair and Beauty on Ruthven St, a strip which recently lost its angle parking to make way for the addition of a bike lane.

The parallel parks outside her business are two-hour paid meters.

"The council has taken away half the parks to put in the bike lane. I'm not against the idea of having a bike lane but I never see anyone use it; cyclists use the footpaths instead," she said.

"We've lost valuable parking for clients and the lack of parking is turning people away.

"We chose this location to be in the CBD and there was ample parking at the time but now I'm considering relocating the business."

Ms White has bought private parking for her workers because she did not want them walking from the nearest long-term parking spots available, at the PCYC.  "That's costing me $1600 a year," she said.  "It's not just about business but also a safety issue for us."

She said business owners in the area were running out of patience with the lack of parking in Ruthven St.  "People are screaming for it but nothing is being done," she said.  "I'm planning on organising a petition because there are so many people concerned."

The owner of La Taste Takeaway Paul Worrall said business in the whole area had dropped off.  "I'm not aware of anyone who thought the bike lane was a good idea," Mr Worrall said.

He also had major concerns for the lack of accessibility to the library, particularly for elderly and disabled customers.

"I watched one old lady with her child who had Down Syndrome driving around trying to find a carpark and they were getting visibly upset," he said.

"The council has made the wrong decision when what you need is more car parks."

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