topic Re: Abbott unsure if Corbett is a Lib member in Community Spirit

Abbott unsure if Corbett is a Lib member

izabsmiling — Thu, 05 Sep 2013 05:46:00 GMT

OPPOSITION Leader Tony Abbott claims he doesn't know if Reserve Bank board member and Kevin Rudd critic Roger Corbett is a member of the Liberal Party.

Mr Corbett caused a storm in the final week of the election campaign when he criticised the prime minister for doing "enormous damage" to the ALP after he was deposed in 2010.

There were calls from Labor on Wednesday for Mr Corbett to resign from the RBA amid reports he is a Liberal Party member.

Mr Abbott says he's not sure if Mr Corbett is a member of his party.

"I'm not aware that I've ever seen him at any branch meeting," he told ABC radio on Thursday.

"But look, he's a very distinguished businessman."

The opposition leader was reminded that Mr Corbett was a guest at a $550-a-head Liberal fundraising dinner in Sydney on Wednesday night.

"He was indeed," Mr Abbott admitted.

"So were lots and lots of people who aren't members of the Liberal Party but who desperately want a change of government."

Mr Corbett, who is also chairman of Fairfax Media, should be entitled to say that the Labor government had been a "comprehensive shemozzle", Mr Abbott said.

"I remember (former trade unionist) Bill Kelty who was a Reserve Bank board member being very involved in election campaigns," Mr Abbott said.

"If Bill Kelty could be on the Reserve Bank board and campaign for the political party of his choice, why can't Roger Corbett?"

Mr Abbott quickly sought to clarify his comment, saying Mr Corbett was providing "commentary" and not campaigning for the Liberals.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/abbott-unsure-if-corbett-is-a-lib-member/story-fni0xqi4-1226711168684?from=herald+sun_rss

Re: Abbott unsure if Corbett is a Lib member

***super_nova*** — Thu, 05 Sep 2013 05:52:27 GMT

@izabsmiling wrote:

"If Bill Kelty could be on the Reserve Bank board and campaign for the political party of his choice, why can't Roger Corbett?"
Mr Abbott quickly sought to clarify his comment, saying Mr Corbett was providing "commentary" and not campaigning for the Liberals.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/abbott-unsure-if-corbett-is-a-lib-member/story-fni0xqi4-1226711168684?from=herald+sun_rss

The problem is that he did not disclose his membership, and he was invited to speak as a board member of the Reserve Bank.

Re: Abbott unsure if Corbett is a Lib member

silverfaun — Thu, 05 Sep 2013 06:10:12 GMT

He was not required to disclose anything. He was invited to comment on a range of topics. If belonging to any party at all disqualifies a person from participating in the politic of the day then there would be a lot of labor commentators out of a job like most of the ABC staff.

Doogie as usual spouted his "absolutely appalling" overegged rhetoric, where there's a mic ther'es Doogie.

It's so funny watching the Labor party scrambling to discredit all & everything Conservative, getting in the practice I suppose for their long long long wait in opposition.

Re: Abbott unsure if Corbett is a Lib member

izabsmiling — Thu, 05 Sep 2013 06:49:25 GMT

@***super_nova*** wrote:
@izabsmiling wrote:

"If Bill Kelty could be on the Reserve Bank board and campaign for the political party of his choice, why can't Roger Corbett?"
Mr Abbott quickly sought to clarify his comment, saying Mr Corbett was providing "commentary" and not campaigning for the Liberals.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/abbott-unsure-if-corbett-is-a-lib-member/story-fni0xqi4-1226711168684?from=herald+sun_rss

The problem is that he did not disclose his membership, and he was invited to speak as a board member of the Reserve Bank.

Mr Corbett himiself knew what he may have vested interests in didn't he ?

Monetary Policy (RBA) .Media (Fairfax) , Liberal Party

Re: Abbott unsure if Corbett is a Lib member

not_an_eloi — Thu, 05 Sep 2013 06:59:34 GMT

doesn't know, reckons that, does 'e.

both corbett and speak-with-forked-lizard-tongue abbrot attended a liberal party fundraisin' dinner, last night

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/federal-election-2013/rba-board-member-roger-corbett-attends-liberal-fundraiser-stands-by-antirudd-comments-20130904-2t5ps.html