She must be some might fine designer

[freakiness]

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/21/tony-abbotts-daughter-did-not-have-to-pay-for-60000-des...

Tony Abbott’s daughter Frances received a “chairman’s scholarship” for a degree costing more than $60,000 from the Whitehouse Institute of Design where an Abbott donor sits as chairman on the board of governors, Guardian Australia can reveal.

The revelation raises questions for the prime minister over whether the scholarship should have been declared on his interests register.

The Coalition government is also under pressure over changes to higher education funding announced in the budget.

Frances Abbott undertook a bachelor of design at the Whitehouse Institute of Design in Sydney from 2011 to 2013. Guardian Australia has confirmed that she received a scholarship during her time at the institute.

“Frances definitely was a student with us and received a chairman’s scholarship,” Leanne Whitehouse, director of the Institute told Guardian Australia. She declined to detail how many times the “chairman’s scholarship” has been awarded previously, but the institute’s website makes no references to the scholarship and states the institute “does not currently offer scholarships to gain a place into the Bachelor of Design”.

[*elizabeths-mum*]

Everything I've read said that Frances graduated with Distinction?

[freakiness]

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@icyfroth wrote:

From all I've heard and read there is nothing untoward with this scholarship.

It was not a gift, it was earned on merit and did not need declaring. Frances graduated with high honours and is now working for Whitehouse as a teacher's aide while working toward her Masters, so it's value back for them.

Gifts that were given by Mr Taylor to Mr Abbott were duly declared.

It just being beat up now as another Abbott-bashing exercise.

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How does one earn something on merit before their work has been evaluated, before their portfolio has been presented?

[i-need-a-martini]

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@*elizabeths-mum* wrote:
Everything I've read said that Frances graduated with Distinction?

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Pretty much everyone at Whitehouse graduates with a distinction or high distinction. If you fail the first year, they throw you out.

It is also worth noting that she has never worked in the industry she trained for at the school. Instead she now works as a teachers aide. At Whitehouse.

A nice little bit of credibility for Whitehouse when they can say that the daughter of the PM is on the faculty.

[cherry*135]

From what you read in the media.

How can it be earned on merit when the Chairman ( LNP Donor, friend of the Abbott family) recommended her because she is a nice girl with a good family, and will work hard? Plus that college doesn't as a rule offer ANY scholarships ( see martinis post above for further details on that).

His daughter is the only one in the 25 yr history of that college to get a scholarship there.

[cherry*135]

Other students would graduate with distinction as well, ones who paid $60 000 to attend.

[*elizabeths-mum*]

Haha, I was replying to the comment that she graduated with High honours not lauding her for gaining a distinction.

[cherry*135]

Leaks from Whitehouse staff?

"Documents obtained by New Matilda also challenge claims by the Prime Minister that his daughter’s scholarship was won on merit.

Rather than an exhaustive application process, Ms Abbott, aged 22, was offered the ‘Managing Director’s Scholarship’ at her first and only meeting with the owner of the Institute, Leanne Whitehouse.

The Institute declined to nominate any other occasion when the scholarship has been awarded, and did not address a lengthy list of questions submitted by New Matilda early this morning.

Whitehouse insiders have claimed the scholarship was kept secret, even from many senior staff."

More in the link
https://newmatilda.com/2014/05/21/leaked-documents-cast-doubt-abbotts-60k-scholarship-claims

[cherry*135]

"Frances graduated with high honours"

I see now, em, lol.

[alexander*beetle]

Seems her classmates are now furious and commenting to the media that they had no idea she was on a scholarship. They're  saying that there were many in the class who had a lot of talent and struggled working 2 or more jobs to be able to afford the class. They had also approached the college about a scholarship but were advised that the college didn't offer scholarships. Mr Abbotts comments that she got the scholarship on merit appear to be misleading. Interesting times ahead.

"I've always said families should be kept out of the front line. That's the way I've always tried to run my political operation – that we play hard but fair. Families should be [left] out of it." said Mr Abbott. Except perhaps when being accused of being a misogynist and Margie giving a press conference, and electioneering, bringing out Margie and the girls at every opportunity.

[monman12]

"Yes, it would. Apparently he doesn't have to declare that on the pecuniary interests register because a scholarship is based on merit" 

"It just gets better and better with this over indulged cretinous minister for women." 

I understand portfolios are handled by those that would have empathy with those involved !

nɥºɾ