on โ09-03-2013 11:59 AM
Really how dare he behave the way he does... do you think he has a right to use the Prime Ministers staff to complain about these sort of trivial matters? Is he that ignorant that he cannot see that sporting groups are bipartisan and treat all sides of politics with respect? How dare he demand that any sporting group exclude one side of politics....
Tim Mathieson pressured Richmond to snub Tony Abbott
AN email obtained exclusively by The Weekend Australian reveals Julia Gillard's partner, Tim Mathieson, sought to involve her office in pressuring a major sporting club to freeze out Tony Abbott.
After attending an AFL clash at the MCG as a guest of the Richmond Football Club, Mr Mathieson emailed its chief executive, Brendon Gale, copying in the Prime Minister's office, to complain about the Opposition Leader's access to the team's inner sanctum and his prominent seating at a pre-game function.
Mr Mathieson demanded that Mr Gale raise the matter with the Prime Minister's chief of staff, Ben Hubbard.
His fiery outburst occurred on a Sunday evening after the Dreamtime AFL match between Essendon and Richmond on May 19 last year. The Dreamtime game is one of the highlights of the AFL calendar for its social and cultural significance in promoting reconciliation.
"Mate u need to speak with Ben Hubbard on why abboott was taken down to the rooms ... " Mr Mathieson fumed. " ... it's just not on Who authorised it < it was a shocker it was a Don's function and he should not have gone down there
That same weekend Ms Gillard was travelling to Chicago for top-level security talks with Barack Obama and other NATO leaders to plan the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan.
Ms Gillard's office declined to respond to questions about Mr Mathieson's complaint.
Mr Mathieson is a fanatical supporter of the Richmond "Tigers" while the PM barracks for the Western Bulldogs. They are often seen at games together in their respective club colours.
Richmond has accommodated Mr Mathieson's requests for tickets, hospitality and memorabilia since his move into The Lodge.
At the Dreamtime game in Melbourne, the first bloke invited ABC Insiders host Barrie Cassidy to join him on the Richmond table. Both men visited the Richmond room before the contest, where they crossed paths with Mr Abbott, who was a guest of Essendon's chairman David Evans.
Essendon was hosting the pre-game function for the Dreamtime game and in charge of protocol. The Opposition Leader was accompanied to the event by two of his three daughters and his chief of staff, Peta Credlin.
The rooms for rival teams at the MCG are not far apart and after visiting Essendon players, Mr Abbott was escorted across to the Richmond bunker.
Clubs embrace politicians from all sides of politics and dignitaries who are invited to pre-game functions usually get taken to visit players in the room before the match.
The Weekend Australian understands that Mr Gale responded politely to Mr Mathieson's email protest, explaining that Richmond was staunchly bipartisan and happy to accord Mr Abbott the very same privileges that the Prime Minister's partner enjoyed on a regular basis. He signed off by confirming Mr Mathieson's attendance at an upcoming pre-game cocktail, party in Sydney.
Mr Gale would not comment on the email exchange. "He will not discuss private communications," his spokesman said.
Government sources say Mr Mathieson has a habit of firing off emails and texts to Ms Gillard's personal staff when he senses a perceived injustice. His email to Mr Gale was copied to a senior public servant working in Ms Gillard's office at the time.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/tim-mathieson-pressured-richmond-to-snub-tony-abbott/story-fn59niix-1226593598167
on โ09-03-2013 12:27 PM
FREE tickets to Richmond games apparently aren't enough for Julia Gillard's partner, Tim Mathieson.
The Opposition Leader was accompanied to the event by two of his three daughters and his chief of staff, Peta Credlin.
Did Tony's daughters get FREE tickets ?
That would be up to the club wouldn't it ? IF and who they 'chose' to give tickets to ?
As far as anyone suggesting anyone else not be there (if that happened)...that would be wrong..though of course everyone is free to ignore the requests aren't they?.If my OH did something like that (or anything else for that matter) it would be HIM (my OH) who is responsible NOT me personally.
Getting free tickets is not a problem.... the problem is that this man is trying to use the PM's office to make it so that the opposition is not allowed to partake in events like this...
He is a representative of the Prime Minister.... he is not invited because they like the man, he is offered tickets because he is the PM's partner.. no other reason. He should act appropriately and be polite and respectful and not put the CEO of the sporting club on the spot and ask him to ban anyone from any political party (yes even the Greens should be allowed to attend these event :-p)...
on โ09-03-2013 12:33 PM
on โ09-03-2013 01:16 PM
#10 Cats you took the words - all of them - right out of my mouth. . He
is not doing his partner any favours by this pathetic behaviour
on โ09-03-2013 01:42 PM
and for the record I would be very disappointed if any Coalition MP's partners did the same thing...
on โ09-03-2013 01:43 PM
Gee, they're getting desperate at the Oz.
Almost a year it took them to invent or dig up this one :^O
on โ09-03-2013 02:11 PM
The real reason for the dirt
Tim Mathieson is about to climb into the saddle to raise $100,000 to fight child slavery in Cambodia.
The Prime Minister's partner plans to ride in a pack of about 50 bikers from Kirribilli House in Sydney to The Lodge in Canberra, via Wollongong, Kangaroo Valley and the Hume Highway, astride a brand new machine on loan from BMW.
Each of his riding partners, most of whom will come from the business community, will pay a minimum of $2000 to undertake the ride. He is inviting some of Australia's best-known motorcycle racers and enthusiasts, including world champion Mick Doohan and V8 Supercars driver Will Davison, as well as ''old mate", Glenn McGrath, who rides a Ducati Multistrada 1200.
The event, on Sunday, April 14, has been dubbed the ''First Bloke's Ride Against Slavery''. It is being organised by Hagar Australia, a charity that supports children who have been victims of human rights abuses.
Money raised will support the organisation's Catch-Up School in Cambodia, which aims to help children who have been subjected to severe trauma and missed years of schooling.
Mr Mathieson said he was happy to offer his name to Hagar's cause.
''I was very taken with Cambodia when I visited the country last year with the Prime Minister, and I'm going to visit again in a couple of weeks, this time alone, when I'll see the school and study the work the Hagar organisation is undertaking,'' he said.
As to Julia Gillard's view of his return to motorcycling, Mr Mathieson said that when she became Prime Minister, she had told him ''I don't think you'll be getting on a motorbike for a while''.
''But she doesn't mind me riding bikes every now and then, particularly for charity,'' he said.
Fairfax will accompany Mr Mathieson on his ride.
on โ09-03-2013 02:34 PM
lol.. Gillard told him he was not allowed to ride his motorbike.... under the thumb muchly I think
This is what he should be doing... charity events and fundraising... but even then he can't get it right with a very inappropriate dialogue telling men to find an Asian female doctor....
he is such a bogan...
on โ09-03-2013 02:54 PM
i knew the time would come when making up rot about gillard wasn't enough :^O
no policy talk.. no explaination for teds knifing ,just more attempted character assasination. nobody cared enough about mctiernan to bother taking any notice of that rot either.
on โ09-03-2013 03:39 PM
lol.. Gillard told him he was not allowed to ride his motorbike.... under the thumb muchly I think
This is what he should be doing... charity events and fundraising... but even then he can't get it right with a very inappropriate dialogue telling men to find an Asian female doctor....
he is such a bogan...
well, that is not quite right is it?
on โ09-03-2013 03:46 PM
Mr Mathieson is a men's health ambassador and was encouraging men to have their prostates checked during the event.
"We can get a blood test for it but the digital examination is the only true way to get a correct reading on your prostate," he said.
"So make sure you go and do that, and perhaps look for a small, Asian, female doctor is probably the best way."
In a statement issued this morning, Mr Mathieson apologised for his remarks, Nine News reported.
"My comments last night were trying to raise awareness about prostate cancer, the need for men to have regular checks and the importance of early detection," he said.
"It was meant as a joke and on reflection I accept it was in poor taste. I apologise for any offence caused."