For over a decade, the Liberal-National Party (LNP) has been a fixture in Australian politics. But behind the headlines of policy announcements and election victories, a pattern of controversies and scandals has emerged, raising serious questions about the integrity of the government and its key figures. This blog post delves into the heart of these issues, drawing on documented allegations to reveal a pattern of behaviour that should concern every Australian.
At the centre of many of these allegations is Peter Dutton, a prominent figure in the LNP. His political career has been dogged by a series of controversies and questionable decisions. He has been criticised for making offensive and misogynistic remarks, uttering falsehoods, and engaging in hypocritical behavior. His actions, which have been described as racist, include making comments about "African gang violence" and suggesting that white South African farmers should be given fast-tracked humanitarian visas. He also made comments about "Muslim candidates". Dutton's behaviour extends to a lack of respect for parliamentary process, where he has been accused of "appearance shaming" and using parliamentary privilege to attack individuals.
One of the most telling examples of a potential conflict of interest is the "au pair affair". As Minister for Home Affairs in 2015, Dutton intervened to grant tourist visas to two foreign au pairs who were in breach of their work conditions. This intervention occurred within an hour of receiving a phone call and was facilitated by his connections to a former police colleague and the CEO of the AFL, Gillon McLachlan. The au pairs were employed by McLachlan's cousin, and a $50,000 donation to the Liberal Party followed six months later, raising serious questions about a potential exchange of favors. Dutton's personal intervention to stop the deportation of these and other au pairs further highlights a pattern of ministerial intervention.
But the issues are not limited to Peter Dutton. The sources detail numerous other examples of alleged corruption and misuse of power within the LNP. Angus Taylor is implicated in the illegal poisoning of native grasslands on a property in which he had an interest, and then personally intervened in the investigation. There was also the $80 million water buy-back scheme from a company with links to Taylor, which resulted in a $52 million profit for the company which was registered in the Cayman Islands. These instances raise serious questions about accountability and transparency.
The misuse of public funds appears to be a recurring theme. A $423 million contract was awarded to Paladin, a security company with connections to the Liberal Party, with limited transparency on how the money was spent. The Great Barrier Reef Foundation received $444 million after a "clandestine meeting" with the former Prime Minister, with no clear process for allocation of the funds. There was also a $30 million grant to Foxtel, ostensibly to promote women's sport, yet there is no public record of how this money was spent. In addition, Stuart Robert charged taxpayers over $37,000 for his home internet. These cases underscore a lack of proper process and accountability in the allocation of public funds.
There are also allegations of ministerial interventions in other programs. Bridget McKenzie was criticised for the way she allocated funds in the Community Sports Infrastructure program, where 66% of funds were allocated to Liberal-National Party held seats. Additionally, ministers overruled public service recommendations in the allocation of a $220 million regional jobs and investment packages, and a Liberal Party donor received a $5.5 million jobs and investment grant, despite being ineligible. The Female Facilities and Water Safety Stream program saw $120 million allocated to the construction of pools in marginal coalition seats, with no clear guidelines and some recipients not even wanting the funding.
Beyond the alleged misuse of funds, there are allegations of electoral fraud. In the seat of Dickson, the Liberal Party distributed fake how-to-vote cards designed to mislead Greens voters. Similarly, in the seats of Chisholm and Kooyong, the Liberal Party put up misleading signage in Mandarin to confuse voters of Chinese background. There are also allegations that a Chinese-born Australian was offered money to run as a Liberal candidate and act as a spy for the Chinese government.
The LNP has also been accused of demonstrating a disregard for due process and legal standards. Dutton's department fought a court injunction for a child needing medical treatment, and he proposed changes to citizenship laws that could violate international law.
The sources also allege that a right-wing media deflects attention away from LNP corruption stories towards non-relevant stories. This is a serious allegation, as it suggests that the media is not acting as a check on government power, and is instead actively working to protect the LNP.
These examples paint a picture of a party that has allegedly prioritised personal and political gain over the public interest. They raise questions about the integrity of the government and its key figures, and suggest a need for greater scrutiny, accountability, and anti-corruption measures. It's also notable that despite these allegations, the LNP continues to win elections. It's a question of whether the electorate is aware of the full extent of these issues, or whether there is a media bias that is preventing the truth from getting out to the public.
Podcast: Dutton's Dodgy Deals and Dirty Politics: Unpacking the LNP's Controversies
A relevant image that needs updating:
Sources:
https://newpolitics.com.au/2020/02/20/a-short-history-of-corruption/
