I ask you "what is the common denominator ?" The answer is Religion. Think about that!
The subject of the Manifesto today pales in comparison to the horrific events in Sri Lanka but it goes to the heart of our working democracy.
The latest scandal engulfing our political masters is the use of $80 million of taxpayers money to purchase environmental water for the Murray Darling Basin in 2017.
https://www.michaelwest.com.au/barnaby-joyce-angus-taylor-australia-and-the-caribbean/
The profit from this transaction (Apparently $50 million or so) was paid to a company called Eastern Australian Irrigation (EAI) who are registered in the Cayman Islands- Notoriously known as a Tax Haven with opaque transparency rules.
What is even more concerning is that this company was set up by the minister for (dirty and expensive) Energy, Angus Taylor before he entered parliament.
Add to this the revelation that Eastern Australian Irrigation donated $55,000 to the Liberal Party before the 2013 election and I don't know about you, but I smell a rat.
I have some questions that need answering.
- How can a person who sets up a company in the Caymans (to avoid tax), become a minister in a government that trumpets its record in chasing down companies that avoid tax?
- Why were the documents regarding these water buybacks (examined in a senate investigation a couple of years ago), heavily redacted? Has someone got something to hide?
- Who are the beneficiaries of the Cayman Island company EAI?
- How does water that falls on our land (our water), end up in the hands of an overseas company and subsequently is sold back to us?
- Did the taxpayer pay way above full price for this water deal which was signed off by Barnaby Joyce who is on record as saying "the responsibility resides with me"?
- Why doesn't the available water in the Murray Darling catchment get allocated to environmental requirements FIRST (to keep the environment healthy), THEN, and only then, allot any excess to farming and other agricultural enterprises? (if we destroy the environment we have no farming or communities!).
- Why did the Murray Darling Plan NOT consider the available scientific evidence foreshadowing lower rainfall in the basin when allocating these water resources? Remember, paddle steamers used to ply the Darling at Wilcannia .
- Why can political parties hide the identity of their donors for 18 months before disclosure?
I believe Australia urgently needs
- A Federal Anti Corruption Commission.
- Real time disclosure of political donations or better still -a complete ban on Businesses donating to political parties.
The implementation of the above two points would go a long way to restoring public trust in our Politicians and our precious democracy.
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