just announced an ex politician to replace pervious ex politician to the plum position in the United States, I always thought we had professional diplomats to do these jobs. What makes me most annoyed is that these political hacks get double pay and over the top perks with these jobs and have no training or experience to warrant their doing these jobs.
we are probably going to see massive change in our diplomatic posts as there are potentially up to 60 politicians retiring at the next election so they can maximise their pension because the rules change shortly after, thinking of pensions I may be able to afford another trip in the van next year if I save hard and cut down on food purchases.
maybe if I ask Joe he might let me have his Aussie pension while he is in the USA being paid more than the prime minister and tax free cause he really won't need it for the next five years.
exa41 said
04:19 PM Dec 8, 2015
now is the chance to revoke his passport.
PeterD said
05:28 PM Dec 8, 2015
aussietraveller wrote:
just announced an ex politician to replace pervious ex politician to the plum position in the United States, I always thought we had professional diplomats to do these jobs.
No, we have had a mixture of career diplomats and a few VIP appointments (not necessary pollies.)
What makes me most annoyed is that these political hacks get double pay and over the top perks with these jobs and have no training or experience to warrant their doing these jobs.
This instant will be a minor incident in the long line of double dippers. Double dippers come in many forms, most of them are in private enterprise as contractors, employees and company directors. Very few military officers go into retirement when they commence drawing their DFRB pensions, I had several of them in the public service as my boss. Police officers get their retirement much earlier than most other public servants, many of them double dip. If you get upset about one diplomat double dipping you should be equally indignant about the rest of government superannuates on full benefits. You have little credibility if you don't (about as much credibility ad the shock jocks.)
Desert Dweller said
07:27 PM Dec 8, 2015
He's wants to be closer to Cuba, they make high quality Havana Cigars. Our guess is he'll be smoking plenty of them along with many glasses of Grange Hermitage. Nothing but the best for ''leaner'' Joe. Meanwhile back in Oz we'll be doing the ''heavy lifting'' in our retirement. Have you ever had a ''real job'' Joe, we think not!
iana said
07:34 PM Dec 8, 2015
These people have so much money, that unless they keep spending, the interest income on their money will just keep growing out of control. How on earth do these people understand how Joe Brown etc. live. And now we have one as Prime Minister.
dorian said
06:07 AM Dec 9, 2015
Imagine what would happen if Labor were to win government at the next election. Would Shorten (or Plibersek) be completely honest with Hockey, a despised member of the Liberal Party? In general, would an incumbent government keep state secrets from their own ambassador to stop them from getting back to their opposition? How much would Abbott have told Beazley?
AISI, these are very good reasons why an ex-pollie should never be given an ambassadorship.
PeterD said
10:20 AM Dec 9, 2015
dorian wrote:
In general, would an incumbent government keep state secrets from their own ambassador to stop them from getting back to their opposition? How much would Abbott have told Beazley?
I think you will find that no party reveals its party secrets to ex-parliamentarians. Ambassadors are only fed the parliaments position that needs to be discussed with the country they are in. It has worked fairly well in the past, I am confident that this will continue to work well in the future. If these arrangements fall down then an ambassador is easily removed.
Santa said
07:39 PM Dec 9, 2015
Why do people feel the need to indulge in this form of vilification, certainly gives us a glimpse into the thought processes of the posters.
aussie_paul said
08:52 PM Dec 9, 2015
Santa wrote:
Why do people feel the need to indulge in this form of vilification, certainly gives us a glimpse into the thought processes of the posters.
I find it a bit strange and worrying Santa.. If you can't say anything nice say nothing.
Aussie Paul.
Santa said
09:10 PM Dec 9, 2015
aussie_paul wrote:
Santa wrote:
Why do people feel the need to indulge in this form of vilification, certainly gives us a glimpse into the thought processes of the posters.
I find it a bit strange and worrying Santa.. If you can't say anything nice say nothing.
Aussie Paul.
Read through the thread Paul, not much nice going on here.
just announced an ex politician to replace pervious ex politician to the plum position in the United States, I always thought we had professional diplomats to do these jobs. What makes me most annoyed is that these political hacks get double pay and over the top perks with these jobs and have no training or experience to warrant their doing these jobs.
we are probably going to see massive change in our diplomatic posts as there are potentially up to 60 politicians retiring at the next election so they can maximise their pension because the rules change shortly after, thinking of pensions I may be able to afford another trip in the van next year if I save hard and cut down on food purchases.
maybe if I ask Joe he might let me have his Aussie pension while he is in the USA being paid more than the prime minister and tax free cause he really won't need it for the next five years.
No, we have had a mixture of career diplomats and a few VIP appointments (not necessary pollies.)
This instant will be a minor incident in the long line of double dippers. Double dippers come in many forms, most of them are in private enterprise as contractors, employees and company directors. Very few military officers go into retirement when they commence drawing their DFRB pensions, I had several of them in the public service as my boss. Police officers get their retirement much earlier than most other public servants, many of them double dip. If you get upset about one diplomat double dipping you should be equally indignant about the rest of government superannuates on full benefits. You have little credibility if you don't (about as much credibility ad the shock jocks.)
AISI, these are very good reasons why an ex-pollie should never be given an ambassadorship.
I think you will find that no party reveals its party secrets to ex-parliamentarians. Ambassadors are only fed the parliaments position that needs to be discussed with the country they are in. It has worked fairly well in the past, I am confident that this will continue to work well in the future. If these arrangements fall down then an ambassador is easily removed.
Why do people feel the need to indulge in this form of vilification, certainly gives us a glimpse into the thought processes of the posters.
I find it a bit strange and worrying Santa..
If you can't say anything nice say nothing. 
Aussie Paul.
Read through the thread Paul, not much nice going on here.