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”.

[i-need-a-martini]

And given the massive cuts to tertiary education by the Abbott government then I suggest that this makes the issues grossly more appalling.

[catsnknots]

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@i-need-a-martini wrote:

This from the Federal Public Service Code of Conduct manual:

When deciding whether to accept a gift or benefit, the reputation of the APS is paramount. A useful test is for employees to consider how they might answer questions from a parliamentary committee. If it would be embarrassing, then perhaps the gift or benefit should not be accepted.

And:

A gift or benefit may include:

• offers of cash or shares
• gifts, such as bottles of wine, manufacturer's samples or personal items
• promotional materials, including clothing, books, compact discs or DVDs
• sponsored travel
• benefits under loyalty schemes, such as frequent flyer schemes
• airline competition prizes
• meals or other hospitality
• accommodation and hire car discounts
• entertainment, such as meals, seats at sporting or theatre events or golf days
• discounts on commercial items
• free or discounted places on training and development courses (other than contra-deals associated with the presentation of papers).

Note the last line above.

And:

Employees should be aware of agency-specific policies about accepting gifts and benefits; such policies should apply to members of an employee's family, where acceptance may impact on the employee's official duties.

I think that this makes it pretty clear that the acceptance of a $60,000 scholarship by the PMs family that falls in the category of "free or discounted training and development courses" should not have been accepted. And at the very least, should have been declared.

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Actually they have already looked into it and it was a non declareable item.... 

[catsnknots]

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@freddie*rooster wrote:

Just another Tax payer funded expense, and he didn't even need to ride his bike.

 

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Apparently the money comes directly from Leanne Whitehouse and is of no cost to the taxpayer.... 

[catsnknots]

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@*elizabeths-mum* wrote:
While I think she has every right to a scholarship if it is earned, I think it would have been wiser for Abbott to to offer to pay her fees so she could refuse it.

That's working on the assumption that he isn't paying her fees for whatever reason.

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Why can't she stand on her own two feet??? 

Don't we want our children to be self sufficient and not take take take from their parents? 

[catsnknots]

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@am*3 wrote:

"Les Taylor, the chairman of the Whitehouse Institute of Design who recommended Frances Abbott to be only the second recipient of the 'chairman's scholarship', has made donations of more than $20,000 to the Liberal party"

The institute’s website includes a page on which Abbott praises its work.

From April 2007 to May 2010 Taylor donated $20,050 to the New South Wales Liberal party and disclosed the donations with the NSW Electoral Funding Authority.

Taylor told Guardian Australia he had known the Abbott family for 30 years and had known Frances since she was a child.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/21/liberal-donor-frances-abbott-degree-scholarship-tony-ab...

One of only 2 recipients so far.

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who cares??? 

this is an independent institution... they can do what they want.... 

with the attitude here I hope that no ALP MP family member gets a grant from any union or business connected with a union... 

[catsnknots]

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@debra9275 wrote:
It's only natural that any perks for politicians and their families will come under close scrutiny as they as they slash and burn and expect the general population to do " the heavy lifting"

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What about those slush funds from the Unions that gives tons of cash to ALP nominees and cash given to their families to help them along?? Credit cards that they get to use?? that money comes from the less fortunate Union members and not wealthy business owners. 

[catsnknots]

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@*elizabeths-mum* wrote:
I can't imagine anything worse than being the PMs daughter (any PM). Poor kid will never know whether she was considered particularly talented or if it was to suck up to Daddy.

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Don't worry.. it has already been deemed by the left and the media that it was a suck up .... but she is a strong woman and will be long in the industry, her father will be long retired and she will be still working... I doubt this will harm her long term as much as the media will try to make it harmful. 

[catsnknots]

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@am*3 wrote:
Yes. Why should a PM'sughter get a $60 000 schloarship that is rarely given ( chairman of college friend of the family).

Lots more deserving (on merit) students would like a chance to get one.

Apart from that there are registers where they must declare gifts etc.

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Leanne Whitehouse can give the cash to whomever she wants..... who cares??? 

yes life is at times who you know.... 

[debra9275]

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@catsnknots wrote:

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@debra9275 wrote:
It's only natural that any perks for politicians and their families will come under close scrutiny as they as they slash and burn and expect the general population to do " the heavy lifting"

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What about those slush funds from the Unions that gives tons of cash to ALP nominees and cash given to their families to help them along?? Credit cards that they get to use?? that money comes from the less fortunate Union members and not wealthy business owners. 

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and then we could mention the LNP slush funds and all the shonky donations that have come to lght in NSW

it's really about abbotts poor judgement doing this when his intention was to slash and burni the uni's here.

How  are students going to sign up for uni next year having no idea what it's going to cost them??

[freakiness]

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@catsnknots wrote:

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@*elizabeths-mum* wrote:
I can't imagine anything worse than being the PMs daughter (any PM). Poor kid will never know whether she was considered particularly talented or if it was to suck up to Daddy.

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Don't worry.. it has already been deemed by the left and the media that it was a suck up .... but she is a strong woman and will be long in the industry, her father will be long retired and she will be still working... I doubt this will harm her long term as much as the media will try to make it harmful. 

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Nobody is trying to hurt her. The complaint is that her father should have declared the favour.

Yes, should should grow up an stand on her own feet but students are counted as dependents while they're studying.  Most students struggle to survive during their course and most end up with debts for their course.  Abbott should have paid or let her go where she had planned to go.

The way this appears to be is we give your family a scholaeship worth $20,000 per year then we'll changes the funding arrangements for your college/students.