Prime Minister John Howard has denied breaking electoral laws by allowing Kirribilli House in Sydney to be used for a Liberal Party cocktail party.

About 225 delegates and business observers were fed prawns, oysters and gourmet soup in shot glasses and treated to a selection of fine wines as they took in the view over Sydney Harbour on June 1 - all for a cost to the Liberal Party of less than $5,200 or just over $20 a head.

The function was the official welcome reception for the Liberal Party federal council, which business observers paid $8250 to attend.

The $5200 repaid by the Liberal Party included food, wine and casual staff costs - but not venue hire.

A sweet deal for the Liberal Party, no venue hire fee.

People should not have to pay for access (or be allowed to pay for special access) to their representatives.

My oath! That’s one of the many reasons I chuckle every time I hear a pompous political wallah, business crook or distinguished commentator look down his/her nose at all the corruption in “other countries” ….. and our neighbours in Asia get a good laugh out of it too.

Phil:
I got things a bit mixed up before: it’s the bachelors/blokes who’ll be doing the seance: it’s the spinsters/sheilas who’ll be doing the racing …. and it’s the cane-toads who’ll be guzzling the rum.

That won’t affect the booking will it?

“Guests were advised a bus would depart the Westin at 5.15pm for a welcome reception “hosted by the Prime Minister, the Hon John Howard MP”.

A bus returned the guests to the Westin at 7pm in time for another Liberal Party dinner.”

Was the Liberal Party dinner included or was it extra? If it was extra were the guests warned that there would be an extra charge? Knowing the Liberal party I suspect the latter. A rip off anyway. (And I bet the poor old taxpayer would have picked up the tab if they could have kept it quiet.)

Joe2:
Do you have a current Tent Erectors and Dysmantlers Licence valid for domestic properties? Hate to see you get fined for an illegal temporary structure in your garden

He suggested, according to the report below , it might be a good idea to counter Sydney influence. (Not to be paid for by the taxpayer, though. Who?) Not too long ago the Libs were similarly talking about this idea, with a Cossie PM in mind. Though naturally at public expense.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200706/s1947179.htm

Personally, I would like to see Kirrabilli House sold off. It is a federation, after all. The PM’s job description should specify ‘Canberra’, as home base, and if you don’t like it, take that high paying job at Mac Bank. Coz you are not needed, big boy.

In a statement, he says his office received advice from the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet that the use of the residence for the function was appropriate.

And another favourite get out of jail free card used by dodgy pollies everywhere, the taxpayers didn’t pay,

But of course they did and do, the building, infrastructure and staff is supported by them, and of course his statement fails to address the precedent set. In any event are the Liberals now going to pay the kind of market rates that a location and building like this would command? Or are they getting a discount rate?

OK, It’s a small thing in the grand political scheme, but big in out of touch significance. Yet another example how this so called conservative shows contempt for our institutions, institutional conventions and memories.

Today, even Piers Akerman was unable to mount any kind of defense to this, he was weak in the face of Cassidys argument of precedent. That pretty well says it all; when even a court appointed stenographer collapses so easily in the face of an obvious truth.

Too bad it’s the long weekend, a time where useful political capital dies a quick death.

However, with good luck, low inflation and and early bird bookings, we may be able to pitch the tent in the ‘garden section without power’, for two days around April,20,2015. It’s something to work towards, on 15 dollars an hour, with zilch conditions.

Are you organising the bookings?