43 public officials took $98k worth of freebies to attend a mining industry event. I understand the need to engage with stakeholders but this seems excessive. It raises serious questions about undue vested interest influence on our policy makers. www.canberratimes.com.au/story/893307... - ThreadSky

davidpocock.bsky.social • 43 days ago

43 public officials took $98k worth of freebies to attend a mining industry event.

I understand the need to engage with stakeholders but this seems excessive.

It raises serious questions about undue vested interest influence on our policy makers.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/8933074/industry-dept-accepted-98k-worth-of-mining-conference-tickets/

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timmythebloke.bsky.social•42 days ago

Spot on David. This is a very poor look.

alisonwardrop.bsky.social•42 days ago

The failure of judgement and leadership here is breathtaking. It’s particularly worrying given the Government’s acceleration of favourable treatment of mining and energy companies. Only four people attended in 2022, no one in 2023. Was there senior departmental encouragement to attend in 2024?

yellekau.bsky.social•42 days ago

It isn't right but anyone even thinking about taking on the mining industry is going to face a torrent of money against them. We need to make renewables absurdly profitable.

rotplanet.bsky.social•42 days ago

i'm sure donald dutton was happy the public servants went to 'MINEFEST' ! did they have pills testing? strip searching?

rikki-lea.bsky.social•42 days ago

In no way does this justify Peter Dutton's threats to cut the jobs of hard working public servants. They aren't the ones going to these events or even remotely benefiting from them.

We need to be careful not to conflate these two issues.

loresey.bsky.social•42 days ago

That doesn't diminish the power of the political spin unfortunately. Dutton & his ilk can make the unfair accusations about public servants sound more credible when these kinds of activities grubby the reputation of the public service. Better to be above reproach

rikki-lea.bsky.social•42 days ago

But we need to be careful how we communicate it in this moment. Be clear about where the problem lies.

There are people out there waiting for an excuse to vote the LNP back in, against their better judgement. And yet, there's a good chance the LNP would have done the exact same thing in this case.

loresey.bsky.social•42 days ago

Oh for sure, LNP people frankly *more* likely to be jump in with both feet on any kind of perk or grift 😣

allenmarkv.bsky.social•42 days ago

“Ain’t no such thing as a free lunch”. As the saying goes.

raphmikey.bsky.social•42 days ago

What do the politicians getvin return for all the free resources we give away. For instance Inpex ... They get our gas for free then on sell it... Contribute very little in taxes.

ms-lj.bsky.social•41 days ago

They’re learning from US politicians how to accept legal bribes.

sienna-smiles.bsky.social•42 days ago

I bet they were the same officials that told us we could not accept anything more than $20 value.

twistedhermit.bsky.social•42 days ago

Firstly, thank you for your advocacy & voice in Parliament for so many things I care about deeply.
I'm hoping your repeated requests for #Accessibility for the #AustralianDeafCommunity could be extended to those with low or no vision. Thank you!

#AltText for the quoted image of a paywalled article:

fitzroy777.bsky.social•42 days ago

They should work from home

phillaird1.bsky.social•42 days ago

The miners would have got great value

carlamuse.bsky.social•42 days ago

It's why the APS need permanent heads of departments. Not the current system of politically hand-picked contracted departmental secretaries who are beholden to a governing political party to keep their job in exchange for carrying out illegal and damaging political will ie robodebt

kimberstowe.bsky.social•42 days ago

What were the freebies

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