NSW State Premier Forced To Resign
by smiley Wednesday, Apr 16 2014, 12:12am
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Barry O’Farrell, the newly elected conservative NSW State leader resigned today after misleading the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) over accepting a ‘gift' of a $3000 bottle of 1959 Penfold Grange wine.
Former NSW Premier, Barry O'Farrell
While the incident seems innocuous enough O’Farrell himself has encouraged speculation by his surprise resignation over a “memory lapse" -- failing to declare the acceptance of a gift from a known criminal operator and making a false declaration to the ICAC. The town is now abuzz with rumours that O’Farrell resigned in order to avoid a deeper, more compromising probe into his affairs, which would seem to be the obvious interpretation of today’s shocking events, however, another series of recent events could also be relevant.
O’Farrell recently passed new laws to close bottle shops two hours earlier than the established time. By so doing he saved thousands in extra staff wages for Hoteliers while affording them the opportunity to increase bottle shop liquor prices (which occurred immediately) to recoup losses from shortfalls in sales. In other words, Hotels and liquor shop chains have had a double-barrell-O’Farrell benefit and one could now wonder how many other ‘gifts’ from a very grateful industry O’Farrell could have or would have received!
The early closure of bottle shops was clearly an overkill gesture, by design or otherwise, to stem the outbreak of drunken youths resorting to the irresponsible and supremely cowardly practice of the “king hit,” which is clearly a criminal offence that should be prosecuted under attempted murder charges, it is indeed a lethal attack tactic.
Prosecuting ‘king hit’ offenders for attempted murder, which would have been entirely acceptable to the broader Oz community that deplores such tactics, would have severely reduced the incidence of these cowardly attacks, but O’Farrell being the politician that he was/is possibly sought to benefit from these attacks as outlined above, and indeed millions of dollars per annum have been ‘gifted’ to the industry by an inappropriate O’Farrell decision, which I would add has responsible adult drinkers vehemently protesting the MAJOR INCONVENIENCE of early closing bottle shops, which kids hardly patronised.
However, rather than speculate, O’Farrell should now be the focus of an intense investigation into all his activities as a NSW politician leading up to his election as State Premier -- a full and thorough investigation of his sordid affairs is now clearly warranted.
Transcript of court proceedings obtained from the SMH (below) is highly recommended reading:
Plutocrat-serving PM Tony Abbott says O'Farrell 'man of integrity' -- he should know!
Court Transcript
http://tinyurl.com/kws8ux6
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