Those On My Left posted:

Thanks for pointing that out. For credit cards, the only thing I want to make sure of is that there are no annual fees. I never carry a balance on my credit card and so am not worried about interest.

norp posted:

Most no annual fee cards charge interest immediately, so if you actually use it on a regular basis them getting one with a reward scheme (to earn the annual fee back) and an interest free period can be a better option if you always pay down the full balance.
Bonus points if you have an interest bearing transaction account or mortgage offset account.

quote:

ICAC hears that Liberal party boss Brian Loughnane knew of developer donations going through federal channels

Federal Liberal Party director Brian Loughnane has been drawn into a corruption scandal embroiling the party after an inquiry heard allegations he rubberstamped the use of federal channels to subvert the NSW ban on donations from property developers.

The Independent Commission Against Corruption resumed public hearings on Wednesday in Operation Spicer, its inquiry in to Liberal Party fundraising.

The allegations aired during a two-hour opening address, delivered by counsel assisting the commission, Geoffrey Watson, SC, resulted in Liberal MPs Tim Owen and Andrew Cornwell stepping aside from the party and joining the crossbench.

An email shown at the inquiry suggests Mr Loughnane agreed for donations from property developers - which were banned in NSW in 2009 - to be made to the federal party to subvert the laws.

“Brian Loughnane has agreed that for the time being the Fed Sec will operate on the policy…in effect, there is no benefit for a NSW donor to donate to via the Fed Sec, unless they are a property developer,” said Federal Liberal executive Colin Gracie in an email to Simon McInnes, the finance director of the NSW Liberal party.

The email was sent in July 2010.

The inquiry heard members of the Liberal Party subverted the donation laws by diverting money through the Canberra-based Free Enterprise foundation, before sending it back to the NSW branch to use in the 2011 State election.

Mr Watson said that “there is evidence that the use of the Free Enterprise Foundation in this fashion was known at high levels of the Liberal Party''.

Mr Loughnane is not only the federal head of the party, his wife Peta Credlin is Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s chief of staff.

Mr Watson told the hearing that the NSW branch of the Liberal Party used the Free Enterprise Foundation “as a means of washing and re-channelling donations made by prohibited donors”.

The inquiry has heard that Mr McInnes has been very “helpful” to the ICAC.

Earlier, Mr Watson said investigations during the adjournment had "proved fruitful" and there was evidence of "serious irregularities" in the campaign for Mr Owen's seat of Newcastle and Mr Cornwall's neighbouring seat of Charlestown.

Premier Mike Baird said in a statement on Wednesday that he had accepted the MPs' decisions to "stand aside from the parliamentary Liberal Party and relinquish any parliamentary positions they currently hold".

He said he made "no judgement" regarding the outcome of Operation Spicer, the Independent Commission Against Corruption's inquiry into Liberal Party fundraising.

"However, it will take time for the allegations to be resolved, and I am not prepared to allow this to become a distraction for the party or the government," Mr Baird said.

Property developer and Newcastle mayor Jeff McCloy and prominent developer Hilton Grugeon face allegations they made illegal donations to the Liberals during the 2011 election campaign and disguised the donations using "sham" invoices.

Property developers have been banned from making political donations in NSW since 2009.

In a sensational twist on Wednesday, Mr Owen's campaign manager Hugh Thomson has rolled over and is assisting the commission in return for an indemnity against prosecution.

The commission heard Mr Cornwell has given evidence Mr McCloy summoned him to a meeting in his Bentley before the last election and handed over a "large wad of bills".

He took the cash totalling $10,000 home and it was later given to the Liberal Party. Mr McCloy denies the claims.

Counsel assisting the inquiry Geoffrey Watson, SC, said Mr Cornwell has been "helpful" to the commission and while his actions "may have been unwise, it would seem to us that those actions may have been the product of a degree of inexperience in the face of high pressure tactics from some determined characters".

He added there was "no evidence" Mr Cornwell favoured the interests of Mr McCloy or Mr Grugeon.

Mr Watson said investigations since the inquiry last held public hearings had "proved fruitful" and there was evidence of "serious irregularities in the way those campaigns" for the Hunter Valley seats were conducted.

"There will be a lot of evidence," Mr Watson said. "Much will depend on who is believed and who is not believed."

Mr Watson said there was evidence that former police minister Mike Gallacher was aware of the funding arrangements and "suggested some of them".

He added that embattled coal mogul Nathan Tinkler's property development group Buildev would get "quite a mention in this inquiry".

The inquiry has previously heard allegations that Mr Gallacher was involved in a "corrupt scheme" with Buildev to channel illegal donations to Mr Owen's campaign.

Mr Owen announced in May that he would not recontest the next election because it appeared "highly likely" prohibited donors "did contribute in some way to my election campaign" without his knowledge.

Mr Watson said there would be evidence the campaign for Mr Owen's seat was "partly funded" by illegal sources.

The campaign for Mr Cornwell's adjoining seat was also under scrutiny over allegations of "seriousl electoral funding irregularities".

Mr Owen will be investigated over his involvement in the scheme to take illegal donations.

The ICAC will also examine whether former Labor treasurer Eric Roozendaal and his corrupt former colleague Joe Tripodi "improperly took steps" to benefit Nathan Tinkler's property development group while in government.

Also rolling over is Mr Tripodi's former friend, Vince Fedele, who has given evidence about Mr Tripodi's involvement in a campaign to undermine former Labor minister Jodi McKay, who opposed Buildev's plans for a coal loader.

Mr Watson has foreshadowed potential problems for Mr Tripodi, saying that "attempting to influence a person to give false evidence is a serious offence".

Ragingsheep posted:

Err what? Most major cards issuers in Australia offer around 55 days interest free regardless of whether they have a fee or not.

Murodese posted:

If Loughnane goes down over this I will literally loving die laughing

Murodese posted:

If Loughnane goes down over this I will literally loving die laughing

Kate McClymont posted:

Andrew Cornwell's dad Brien said Libs funded "attractive young ladies" from Cornwell family's backpacker hostel 2 hold up Lib placards

Those On My Left posted:

I will give $75 to anyone who can explain to me what happened to him.

that was a joke

But seriously, I'm not reading that whole thread, what happened?

Haters Objector posted:

Why does he melt down so hard over a forum game?

SBS posted:

This map reveals the top three birthplaces for immigrants in suburbs and towns across Australia. You can also access a map revealing birthplaces excluding English and New Zealand immigrants.

Rollover suburbs with your mouse for detailed info. Zoom and drag for a view of other cities and the nation as a whole, or click on the following links:

Amethyst posted:

Contra Duck posted:

Sometimes they will have lower fees or better interest rates on some products. It depends on your situation though. As an example, Teacher's Mutual Bank are about even with CUA on most things but their low rate credit card deal is excellent, no annual fees and 11.5% interest. If credit cards mattered to you then it might be a good idea to go with them instead but otherwise it doesn't matter. You can check out the credit unions that apply to you to see if they can do anything that is way better.

e: hadn't heard of bankmecu before that but they look pretty drat good.

Doctor Spaceman posted:

Ahahahaha.

Also the IPA is trying to run ads against Abbott now.

Amethyst posted:

Jumpingmanjim posted:

here's a question, what the gently caress does the herald sun put on their front cover tomorrow? I predict they will blame labor some how.

Lid posted:

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/prime-minister-tony-abbott-unveils-antijihadist-laws/story-fni0fiyv-1227014705177

Amethyst posted:

Lid posted:

Called it.

Lid posted:

Congratulations Tony Abbott you shelved the repeal of 18C (yay, but no one thinks you did it for noble reasons so that won you no votes) pissing off the IPA in the process (yay) but undermined that by announcing the reason to shelve 18C was for sweeping privacy invading anti-terror laws (boo) that no one likes and actually attack the IPA again as they are all about individual freedoms (for white people) leaving you now with the backflip having only managed to lose the IPA and right wing libertarians for the gain of no one.

HOW ARE YOU THIS BAD AT POLITICS?!

Amethyst posted:

Josie posted:

http://www.sbs.com.au/news/map/where-australias-immigrants-were-born-sydney

Both of these maps are absolutely fascinating. I knew I lived in a Macedonian dominated area, but wow!

adamantium|wang posted:

Tory shitlord can't solve social problem with private money, melts down

Nibbles! posted:

Aren't we about 10 years late for the overreaching laws to protect us from TERRORISM?

Nibbles! posted:

Aren't we about 10 years late for the overreaching laws to protect us from TERRORISM?

Gough Suppressant posted:

I find the Melbourne one intensely amusing. Caulfield is basically the Jewish hub of Australia, but apparently it has really heavy South African population too. I guess something about it really attracts apartheidists of various stripes?

Gough Suppressant posted:

I find the Melbourne one intensely amusing. Caulfield is basically the Jewish hub of Australia, but apparently it has really heavy South African population too. I guess something about it really attracts apartheidists of various stripes?

Amethyst posted:

Will you shut the gently caress up you complete dimwit?

Splode posted:

Amethyst why do you fly off the handles so often? You make muyb look relaxed in comparison.

Amethyst posted:

lol sorry, I should chill and laugh at the epic jokes about how Jews are a race of apartheidists.