Environment
RICH GET RICHER: Millionaire Senator Brown accepts cash gifts from the rich and powerful while faking poverty
Greens party leader Senator millionaire Bob Brown has made it clear he’s willing to accept personal gifts of cash of up to hundreds of thousands of dollars from some of Australia’s richest and most powerful men.
This comes despite his public statements opposing anything other than small gifts to MPs:
“We should have long ago put the lid on personal gifts at a couple of hundred dollars. But when it comes to gifts worth thousands, or tens of thousands of dollars, they should be unavailable to individual MPs, let alone MPs who then become prime ministers…It’s a terrible look.”
POOR FORM
The personal cash gifts frenzy followed the multi-millionaire Brown’s publicity drive to draw attention to a recent court judgment that he owed $240,000 in court costs after a failed nuisance lawsuit against Forestry Tasmania.
What would be deemed corruption in any other politician is acceptable because it’s the seemingly innocuous tree-hugger Bob Brown.
Equally ethically dubious is the rich Senator’s pretence that he is not a man of means. As we will see, he is a very high income earner who has amassed millions in savings. Legal experts say that raising money in these circumstances could be fraud if donors were deceived into thinking he was unable to pay his own bills using his own resources.
A BIT RICH
The multi-millionaire Senator Brown was first elected to the Australian Senate in 1983 and has amassed a parliamentary superannuation warchest that is conservatively valued at $2.5 million.
As the leader of the Greens political party in the Parliament, his current salary is $212,975 per annum including electorate allowance.
Bob Brown’s partner Paul Thomas owns a large sheep farm with those familiar with the matter telling VEXNEWS he is also a property millionaire.
They are quite possibly Australia’s richest gay couple, after the successful owners of the Lenard’s franchise operation in WA had a falling out that led to one strangling the other in their penthouse prompted by a spat over a “toy-boy”.
CONFLICTED
One donor Dick Smith – who has said he would pay the whole legal bill if necessary – has pushed a range of controversial views about public policy issues, including about air safety, of which he might expect a grateful gift recipient Senator Brown would now be supportive. Smith has been an astute retailer, property developer and oddly spoke up for convicted terror supporter David Hicks, referring to the anti-semite as a “fundamentally decent bloke.”
Another donor to the wealthy Senator includes colourful ETU union boss Dean Mighell, whose monster truck 4WD would almost certainly meet with a disapproving death-stare from the Greens party boss. Mighell’s man-crush on Bob Brown even extends to his Facebook page where he says he is a “fan” of the politician. Giving his rich friend Bob cash gifts from his union’s vast cash reserves is just a small token of his appreciation.
That union is also – quite legitimately – campaigning on issues that are considered and voted on in the Senate potentially causing serious conflict of interest issues for Brown.
ETHICS JUNKED
Brown’s campaign for personal cash gifts raises serious ethical issues for all Australian politicians.
What’s worse is that the millionaire Brown has been grossly irresponsible on the issue, presumably confident he could shake down his supporters for as much as he needed. Forestry Tasmania revealed that it had offered a commercial settlement with Brown on the costs issue that would have saved him $40,000. He knocked it back.
The personal fundraising operation could be just the beginning for Australian politicians who find themselves unable to pay their bills.
An MP unable to pay for his four cheese platter at Crossley Lane eatery Becco – and we stress this is a purely hypothetical example – and whose proferring of a couple of tightly folded fivers was deemed inadequate could launch – perhaps via Twitter – an online cash campaign requesting funds be paid to her/his Paypal account to ensure sufficient resources before departing.
Money can move quickly, but it seems not so quickly as a Greens party cult leader asking his followers to dig deep. Is a collection of 90 Rolls Royces in Bob Brown’s future?
Liberal MPs David Davis and potentially Robert Clark face potentially expensive defamation proceedings that could lead them to want to tap their supporters for cash gifts too.
EVEN OLD HARRY EVANS GETS INTO THE CASH STASH
Brown even deliberately drew the Clerk of the Senate Harry Evans himself into the cash grab including a copy of a letter Brown had requested explaining how he could lose his Senate seat to dramatise the situation and get the money flowing.
Government sources in Tasmania told VEXNEWS yesterday that taxpayers had spent “a great deal more than that” defending nuisance lawsuits from people like Senator Bob Brown. Despite that even Kevin Rudd was sounding off-messagedly sympathetic to the litigation maniac.
Such has been the flood of cash from people interested in giving money to a powerful balance-of-power Senator that it’s possible the highly enterprising and wealthy Brown could make a substantial profit on the cash rake.
The gifts that will be trousered by the rich Senator will not be campaign contributions but will be given to wealthy Bob Brown personally. Under Australian tax law, gifts are not subject to income tax, making it a very nice tax-efficient earn.
LIAR LIAR PANTS ON FIRE
Brown has said that he will need the money within the next three weeks to stave off bankruptcy which would cost him his place in the Australian Senate.
Financial advisers tell VEXNEWS that’s simply not true, that he could easily borrow against disclosed assets, including his vast superannuation warchest that is worth millions.
Brown has substantial assets of his own but claimed he didn’t have the cash to make the payment on time, raising significant ethical issues about public appeals for gifts by public figures.
“A loan of size, secured by his assets, could be arranged in three days, never mind three weeks” one financial adviser told VEXNEWS yesterday.
ZERO ACCOUNTABILITY
Peter Garrett, the federal Environment Minister, spoke for many when he said:
“But at the end of the day, if you are going into the business of taking court action to challenge decisions then you are bound by the decisions that the court makes,” Mr Garrett said.
For possibly the first time ever, Garrett and The Australian’s editorial position was in alignment with that patriotical journal speaking truth to Bob Brown cash rake of power:
But whatever his expectations, in ensuring the debate is all about him, Senator Brown avoids explaining what this matter actually involves -the way activists attempt to use the courts to impose their opinions on everybody else. Senator Brown took Forestry Tasmania to court to stop logging in Tasmania’s Wielangata Forest, which supposedly threatens the habitats of two endangered birds and one beetle. The case took four years to complete, ending last year when a panel of High Court judges denied Senator Brown permission to appeal to the full court. The decision meant he was stuck with Forestry Tasmania’s costs.
Tough. Every government agency and private business that has faced environmentalists whose MO is to use the courts when parliament will not give them what they want is familiar with this sort of strategy. It is a lot easier to go to court when your business is not at stake and when somebody else will ultimately pick up the bill.
Discussion
31 comments for “RICH GET RICHER: Millionaire Senator Brown accepts cash gifts from the rich and powerful while faking poverty”
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Check this out for Bob-a-job’s hypocrisy on gifts to MPs….and yes, he should have a lid of a couple of hundred dollars for all his rich mates too…
“Prime Minister Kevin Rudd would be wise to give his gifted car to charity and cap the value of personal gifts to MPs at a couple of hundred dollars, Australian Greens leader Bob Brown says.
Mr Rudd is under fire from the coalition for accepting a free ute from a Brisbane car dealership hoping to benefit from a government financing scheme.
“It’s a terrible look,” Senator Brown told AAP in Hobart on Friday.
“We should have long ago put the lid on personal gifts at a couple of hundred dollars.
“But when it comes to gifts worth thousands, or tens of thousands of dollars, they should be unavailable to individual MPs, let alone MPs who then become prime ministers.
“I think the prime minister would have been very wise to give that car to charity years ago.”
http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/latest/5631136
Well spotted Les, duly added in to yarn.
If you start telling untruths in the first line there’s not much hope for the rest of your story.
get the facts here:-
http://www.on-trial.info/#
Difficult to understand why Dick would stand shoulder to shoulder with Bob,they both have a deep interest in aviation but from diametrically opposite points of view .Dick owns a couple of turbine helicopters,a turbine powered Cessna Caravan and a Cessna Citation Jet and loves to fly them.Bob of course in keeping with his Green beliefs despises fossil fuel consuming toys of the kind enjoyed by wealthy playboys and when you really want to consume fossil fuel a jet turbine or a pure jet is the way to go.Maybe Dick is just suffering Media Attention Deprivation Syndrome to the extent that he’s prepared to get into bed with the likes of Bob.
Will he have to pay tax on this gift?
No, tax-free. Ka-ching. Equally though, a personal gift to Brown would not be tax deductible for the giver.
As for the $40000 reduction, yes the offered to reduced the amount owed to $200000, but when Bob Brown asked for a reduction to $140000, they withdrew their offer (http://www.smh.com.au/national/donors-rally-to-keep-brown-in-the-black-20090609-c2a3.html)
As for zero accountability, do you honestly think that if Bob Brown doesn’t donate the excess to conservation groups as promised on http://www.on-trial.info that the media won’t find out? Brown’s reputation would be in tatters.
This article smacks of so much bias it’s not just beyond a joke, it’s dangerous.
typical green – someone else must always pay
Let’s get back to basics. Bob Brown is a high profile leader of a political party.
Bob Brown – as a private citizen – sued some-one and, regardless of the outcome, had costs awarded against him. Any other shmuck that happens to has to deal with it. To use his parliamentary and political position to beg for money is disgracefull. I would sure love to be on $200k+ a year.
He made the choice – he needs to deal with the concequences.
He is no saint who needs rescuing, he is a politician committed to his cause. He is also a private citizen and needs to accept responsibility for his actions.
He has no right to use his high profile status as a Parliamentary Leader to solicit donations for a private matter.
If he retains his senate seat because his fine is paid off by begging for donations to cover his personal issue, and there-fore avoids due legal process, then he is no longer an elected Senator he is a Senator who bought his senate spot.
Bob fought the law & the law won. The fact is he lost & wants others to pay for his folly. Being a pollie means he sets a bad standard, one he would never defend if another pollie was involved. His double standards are on show now. He cannot have it both ways. The trappings of office & all that goes with it as well as using his office to solicit funds to save his office. That’s corruption in many countries.
In the us the media would crucify any pollie for this conduct but here, its treated as nothing. Amazing!
To think that Brown despises the source of the wealth he enjoys. Just another hyprocritical leftoid living off others.
***difficult to understand why Dick would stand shoulder to shoulder with Bob***
Not really. Dick Smith is an ego maniac and a media junkie who is currently suffering Relivancy Deprivation Syndrome. He’ll be whatever you want him to be as long as the phone keeps ringing.
Andy, That’s a fantastic story and to think that it has been researched and written by someone sitting in a lonely garret surrounded by empty Popcorn Chicken containers only impresses me more. The fascinating thing about the political correctness that is destroying the newspaper business is that at bottom,it’s boring. Self censorship produces dull reading. I raise my can of Mountain Dew (from Pennant Hills KFC) in a toast to you!
Dr Brown is worth a lot more than vile filthy corrupt ALP members.
he may be ‘worth a lot more than vile filthy corrupt ALP members’ but he is a vile, filthy, corrupt hypocrite
Bob Brown does not steal or extort his parlimentary salary, he earns it just like every other politician. What point were you trying to make exactly about his gross, NOT net income? That he earns a salary?….whoa what big news. The bigger news is at least one senior public servant who earns about the same amount and is known to have an IQ around room temp, yet the government doesnt see any need to review the merit of keeping on such people on in their jobs, despite tough economic times.
Bob Brown’s super which your story refers to… um how does he get his hands on that at this point in his life? Know anything about the rules relating to dipping into your super? Obviously not!
FACT: Bob Brown has in fact already spent a tens of thousands of his own money in this case. Dont know too many politicians dipping into their own pockets to save the environment for the community.
Why not pick on politicians, or even better still, very senior high earning public servants who are dodgey…god knows there are some whopping stories to be told on those fronts.
Your logic,reasoning aqnd philosophicalapproach tolife, is one for all politicians and human beings to keep in mind, when making life decisions.
Basically: if I may extrapolate from your arguments; never fight a cause which anyone else will benefit from but yourself. Fighting for something that others will also benefit from will never be recognised, acknowledged or thanked. It is every man for himself and stuff every helping anyone else.
Matthew, I hope you live what you preach, never do anything for anyone and, dont expect anyone to do anything for you.
I believe they call that the law of the jungle: every man for himself. Keeping swinging on that tree of yours and enjoy your banana and peanuts.
I hope you have never asked anyone for help and dont intend to do so in the future, but instead absorb any bad luck all by yourself, because if you dont, then that is just grand old fashioned HYPOCRISY on your part.
Dr Brown is scum. Bankrupt him. Bankrupt him now!
What a load of absolute tripe!
By the way in that one species of beetles’ DNA, there may lay clues to a cure for cancer or any disease. There may be a clue regarding resistance to radiation?
There are many incredible things to learn from nature for those with wise and inventive minds. To go around destroying it for wood (how very phallic and prehistoric), trampling and destroying it like an oafish idiot child, is rather silly.
Dig deep and donate to Bob.
Bob Brown should have some decency and grace and pay his own legal bills without selling his influence to rich bitches like Dick Smith and Dean She-Mighell who like buying Senate votes like collectibles.
It’s just wrong for politicians to take gifts like this. He should use his own money.
Soon the ALP will only be in power in Qld and the Commonwealth and I can’t wait. Go Bob you have more decency and credibility than any unclean corrupt ALP scum. The ALP is a party built on dirty deals, pocket lining swindles, corrupt unions and shonky factions.
Hear the Greens are going to rename themselves the Greenbacks.
When we were fighting the water project in Powelltown, about 50 emails were sent to Bob Brown.
Not one answer, not a pat on the head, no help from the greens.
So Bob you did not help us so we will not help you.
I have not voted green from that time.
Deany (aweet pants) make sure you put aside some of that yummy ETU members money aside for little old me.
The name of your website speaks volumes about the integrity or bias of this “reporting” Are you serious??
Of course he’s greedy. He’s a pollie. They are ALL greedy!!!!
Me will gives you the money. I haves plenty!
Is anyone honestly suprised by Pig Iron Bob? lol
The real issue is the forrest there raping. Who cares if he’s scamming people for donations, isnt that what fund raisers are ? As long as he saves a few tree’s i dont care who he scams.
Lets hope he scams you first then…