Pollies caught out not declaring free Foxtel

Some of Australia's most senior politicians have been caught out not declaring a free pay television subscription worth up to $1600 a year.

Treasurer Scott Morrison and Industry Minister Arthur Sinodinos have rushed to update their register of interests after the ABC began contacting federal MPs.

Labor MPs Anthony Albanese and Tim Watts, crossbench senator Derryn Hinch, and Greens MP Adam Bandt have also added the Foxtel or Austar subscriptions to their register.

The pay TV lobby group ASTRA offers the freebie to all federal parliamentarians for their electorate offices.

Many politicians have accepted and disclosed the subscription, while others, like Communications Minister Mitch Fifield, declined and paid for it themselves to avoid any potential conflict of interest.

Foxtel was granted $30 million in the last Federal Budget with the Government hesitant to release any details relating to the grant.

Read more at abc.net.au

9 comments

Really Ben do you really think this is a serious topic for a seniors site . 

This is so trivial when there are more urgent matters than could be interesting for seniors to debate . 

I understnd that it is your job to initiate discussion but really.

So you think that a 30 Million gov. GRANT to a company is trivial, when that company gives pollies free pay TVl access.

This is another example of why pollies cannot be trusted. Surely they get way overpaid and can afford to pay for this service if they need it.

A lot a people would probably like to have pay TV etc but can't afford it,but our hugely overpaid pollies get it for free.

And what favours do they give this company in return? Can anyone say media ownership law changes?

We really need a cleanout in our parliaments and install some people with some integrity!

 

The pool of people with integrity seems to be very small.

I think the 1 5 billion given to Government owned Media to be not trivial and should cease. 

I am all for our politicians to be fully informed and they should receive the Fox News et. Which is superior to the ABC 

They should also receive international news magazines such as The Economist .

We don't have Foxtel and can’t see any great advantage to it even less now as we see the government giving away taxpayer money to one of its biggest donors and supporters.

I don't want any of my taxes going to the ABC either which I think should be privatised.

Leave the abc alone!  It's intelligent viewing and many of it's pilots are picked up by the other free to air. I love not having ads and certainly would prefer the $30 mil to go there than bloody Murdoch!

There are adverts on the ABC..and it's only going to increase...I don't want it to be privatised either...but I can see that happening in the not too distant future ..

I enjoy the ABC and SBS at the moment....

i agree KAZ,   i watch mainly the ABC,      and SBS,     like the mini series they put on,    

Cats the ABC ( All British Content) does have some excellent programs.

But these could equally be bought by any of the other channels .Until recently the ABC had an agreement with the BBC to have first choice of any programmes . 

The BBC has rescinded this agreement . So the ABC will now have to compete on a commercial basis with other channels for this content.

Localy produced programmes on the ABC are not as popular as localy produced programmes on the other free to air networks

.The local commentary programs on the ABC by civil servants are boringly PC .

Why the Taxpayer is paying for Viceland , a cooking channel , plus Two Kids channels which is included in the 1.5 billion that Government owned Media cost I don't understand   

The govt only has so much funds let's spend that money on our pensioners to pay for their electricity bills that Labor/Greens have doubled.

Lay OFF the ABC and SBS -- they are the only chanels where they tell it as it is ON BOTH SIDES  there is NO way they are biased and they do not have those crazy "reality shows" what absolute crap they are --  yes I am sure they would like to tell much more and are told what to say as all of them are but they are more out there than the others.

FGS let us open people's minds and stop this other mind numbing crab

The granting of money to Foxtel, a commercial enterprise, goes against everything the LNP have stood for, or so they say, in the past. The car companies have gone to the wall and we still have to see the cost to the community of that. They were refused funding on the basis that companies that were not self sustainable should close.

Why the exception with Foxtel? Could it be someting to do with favours to be granted?

God forbid that the ABC or SBS are privatised. They both provide an essential and balanced news service. Anyone who thinks otherwise have been too busy listening or watching commercial news services which are all biased and cater for those who advertise with them. 

I agree with you that we should not have corporate welfare of anykind . The International car companies milked the Australian taxpayers for generations . The latest obscenity was the Labor Government paying billions to GM and Toyota to produce green cars . 

I do not agree that the ABC or SBS are not biased or needed.

 

I would not want either the ABC or SBS privatised. Commercial media is influenced by both its advertisers and it's owners, Rupert Murdock being a prime example in years gone by.

All have bias to a certain degree IMO but I feel the ABC and SBS cover many interesting stories that would not be seen as 'newsworthy' or 'headline material' by commercial media and some controversial ones like some of the 4 Corners investigations over the years.

Shorten given the normal ABC easy ride on Q&A

It has eventuates that Bill Shorten held British Citizenship but refuses to release details of his renunciation its just trust me ..No questioning 

 

 

On gay marriage and concerns about religious freedom, Mr Shorten had a similar “trust me” approach. “It’s a core value to have religious freedom; we will work through these issues.” 

 

He was no more detailed or specific on the National Broadband Network, a poorly costed and badly designed Labor legacy that the Coalition is trying to deliver in a timely and cheaper fashion. “I think people are a bit over politicians just promising whatever you want to hear,” he said. “You can’t unscramble the egg but a simple summary of our approach if we were to form a government is more fibre and less copper.” 

 

No costs, no specifics and no accountability for this mess — just a line.

 

When discussing economic issues and company tax cuts, Mr Shorten said it was time to “move beyond just sound bites” yet in literally the next breath went on: “Imagine taking $65 billion out of the nation’s ATM.” 

 

On energy policy and electricity pricing Mr Shorten was just as glib. “If we could set a clean energy target, that’ll create the incentive for new investment and power generation,” he said. “Once we’ve got new investment and power generation, that forces downward pressure on prices.” So simple. 

 

He was not pressed on who would pay for the new investment or on how it must be funded by consumers. Nor was he asked to explain why this investment should help drive out cheap baseload power, as has happened in South Australia and Victoria. 

 

Such shallow answers on crucial questions might satisfy the Q&A set but they do not bode well for our economic future.

 

Even on border protection the Labor leader was allowed to promise a tough approach with compassion; just like Kevin Rudd before him (leading to chaos, trauma and tragedy). 

 

Voters had cause to regret how Mr Rudd was allowed to skate into government. They might want the journalists to do a little more kicking of Mr Shorten’s tyres.

Australian Today

What planet are you on Brocky?  The one that gives the coalition a free ride but kicks the crap out of everyone else. Check your facts and do your research - particularly for policies put up by labor at the election and supported figures - with unbiased experts supporting them and even businesses telling the coal-ition to get their act together on climate (but thanks for the big tax cut) 

Who is talking about the last election?

I have yet to watch the Shorten Q&A -- I can only imagine what BS was put over, we need a good leader in Labour

Is BS short for Bill Shorten the Pom 

GREG BROWN

greg_brown.png


Journalist
Canberra

@gregbrown_TheOz


b03917560e368ef234cddf538a6729b0.png

The Australian revealed this morning The Australia USSR Friendship Association gave GetUp! at least $10,000 in 2006 to help pay for newspaper ads that backed the then fledgling activist group’s “Bring David Hicks Home” campaign.

 

 

Soviet-link cash got GetUp! going

“Despite constantly calling for greater political transparency, GetUp has been notorious at refusing to reveal its own establishment funding which has now been exposed to include soviet links, funding authorised by Bill Shorten and shady funding linked to George Soros.

 

“As a founding director of GetUp it is fairly assumed Mr Shorten was aware of these disreputable funding sources and either sought the funding or turned a blind eye. Mr Shorten must explain himself in detail. GetUp’s shady electoral practices appear to be rooted in their shady beginnings and funding sources.”

 

The Weekend Australian reported earlier this month that Bill Shorten was a big union donor to GetUp! when it started in 2005, providing about $100,000 and possibly more to the activist group when he led the Australian Workers Union.

 

Two words, storm-teacup. I can't see where a politician is actually getting much personally out of the Foxtel deal. As I read it, Foxtel is available in the electorate offices, not in the homes of the members. That means that constituents who need to wait to be interviewed by their local member or a member of staff has something interesting to watch while they are waiting. Surely that's a benefit for the constituent, not the MP?

I agree OM another Media beat up to divert us from real issues .

maybe o.m can explain why our doctors have to pay for the foxtel deal, after all it is only the patients who wait to be seen by their doctors who has something interesting to watch while they are waiting, may be o.m you can explain the difference of importance between the two? surely that's a benefit for the patient, not the doctor?

GPs these days are mainly large clinics of large corporations .

No matter how wealthy you are the service is paid for by the taxpayer . With nearly 90 per cent bulk billing . 

It is very competitive so they attempt to attract customers the same as s pub will provide Foxtel to watch sports . 

Thank you heemskerk99 for intimating that I have the authority to explain Foxtel's policy. You may be surprised to know that I have no connection whatsoever with Foxtel or any other pay TV provider. You have strayed off topic to make a point although what that point is I am unable to say. The topic was purely about Foxtel and Members of Parliament, no other group was mentioned.

It's so sad that many of the comments here at YLC, on subjects like this are moulded to suit a particular personal political bias - generally aimed at the negatives rather than the positives. Until we, as voters, can look sensibly at both sides of a debate and be prepared to support the side we think is best for Australia, then we will keep getting "leaders" like the two disasters we now have as heads of the biggest political parties in Australia.....and the minor party leaders are (mainly) worse still. 

We really need, NOW, leaders who will be prepared to make decisions in the interest of Australia....not just decisions to appease some backers. We all need to think "big picture" ....a little pain for long term gain, so put your political biases aside on this forum please. Think of the Australia you want for your grandchildren.

who else is there besides these idiots.

so one ends up choosing the least evil of the lot - and that's generally the Libs

I Agee Zicky oh for a Hawke.

Or even a Howard ..

The problem as I see it Zicky is that we want from our leaders an overriding philosophy . Where are you leading us ? What is your end nirvana ? 

Today we have wishy washy leaders who want power for power sake ..

Older leaders whether I agree with their philosophy or not on both sides had a vision.

Your obviously a thinker Zicky . 

There are four leaders that I believe who were in the wrong party and could have achieved more if they were in the right party . 

They are Hawke , Keating , Abott, and Turnbull 

zicky I agree a hundred % with your comments, however you are up against party members who have taken over these columns, may be they are liberal, labor or greens, you are wasting your time, just do as me, make them look like the clowns they realy are, just see the comments following this post, another comical and enjoyable read ahead

I doubt whether there are many party members on here party membership is quite low , Although I belong to LDP and just joined the Conservatives . 

The Libs less evil!?

You have to be joking they have proved to be the most heartless cruel lying lot ever and all they care about is lining their own pockets,   --- and most being really good catholics --

i lost all trust in the integrity of MSM years ago.  thank goodness for the internet where we can choose what to read - until the powers that be censor this information.

i know there are many false stories, but if you follow well known and independent journalists with a long record of fine writing, you will have much more accurate and up to date information.

here is one of the australian sites on current affairs who have some great writers .....

Independent Australia

9 comments



To make a comment, please register or login

Preview your comment