Message to the VPT Left on behalf of Craig Thomson ...

[nomadjack]

What I do know is the VPT Left have been vociferous defenders of him.

Put up or shut up dickhead. Where's the posts supporting him?

[swoop42]

I'd prefer to spend my money on prostitutes.

[Bruno]

I'm all for a code of professional conduct for politicians. The only trouble is that Thomson, as you conveniently forget, was not a sitting MP when these incidents are alleged to have occurred. I obviously don't believe that professional codes of conduct should cover acts committed in other jobs or outside the workplace.

Nonetheless, if he's found guilty he'll probably be asked to stand down. Why are you unwilling to wait for that process to run its course?

No. You are going to have to do better then that.

To take on certain senior roles in these industries, people are required to be of certain character. This is all I am asking of our politicians.

Oh, and if you think every point of order re. something like this requires a court case, get ready for justice to be a very very very slow process. (Don't forget the old cliche ... justice delayed is justice denied). The reality is Industry Codes of Conduct explicitly exist to overcome situations like what we have seen with Craig Thomson. They exist to set standards / a culture so problems don't occur in the first place.

[nomadjack]

BTW there already are numerous codes of conduct governing the behaviour of politicians. There are also good reasons why it is more important in politics than in any other field I can think of for due process to be observed.

Still waiting for evidence of this vociferous support for Thompson.

[Bruno]

When (and if) there finally is a "VPT Left", I look forward to being introduced to it.

Reds under the bed much, Bruno? Your repeated party-political drivel is boring. Generally speaking, if you have nothing to say, it's better to say nothing. In recent times, you have been driving almost all room for intelligent thought out of the threads in which you post. It's a shame, really and does you little credit.

So demanding certain standards from our Politicians is now "party political" is it? I only care about standards because Craig Thomson happens to be Labor?

FWIW ... as far as I am concerned that Geoff Shaw creep who props up the Victorian Liberal Government should be out on his arse too.

Look, I spent most of the last decade in the UK and I saw first hand what happens when there are no behavioral standards. Labour, Conservative, Liberal Democrats MP's all on the take with their expenses. Too many got a way with too much because "well, everybody was doing it".

NOT GOOD ENOUGH.

[HAL]

BTW there already are numerous codes of conduct governing the behaviour of politicians. There are also good reasons why it is more important in politics than in any other field I can think of for due process to be observed.

Still waiting for evidence of this vociferous support for Thompson.

Still how long? Do you think it will take a long time?

[think positive]

BTW there already are numerous codes of conduct governing the behaviour of politicians. There are also good reasons why it is more important in politics than in any other field I can think of for due process to be observed.

Still waiting for evidence of this vociferous support for Thompson.

Still how long? Do you think it will take a long time?

Well said Hal!!

Enough about me, let's talk about the pies

[nomadjack]

What I do know is the VPT Left have been vociferous defenders of him.

Put up or shut up dickhead. Where's the posts supporting him?

Still nothing? What a surprise

[Bruno]

What I do know is the VPT Left have been vociferous defenders of him.

Put up or shut up dickhead. Where's the posts supporting him?

Still nothing? What a surprise

Nope. Still not good enough. I have said I don't need to trawl through past threads. The fact nobody in this current thread has had a bad word to say is enough.

I wonder if you would show alleged pedophile priests the same benefit of the doubt. I mean, taking Labor's argument, surely the Catholic Church was right to leave Priests where they were given accused Priests had not yet been tried let alone found guilty in a court of law. Surely, as David argues, until the long slow drawn out legal process takes it's course Priests indeed should have been allowed to remain in charge of and alone with children.

Well this actually begs a good question ... how serious does an alleged crime need to be before a politician should be expected to stand down (even if temporarily).

So, overwhelming evidence showing an MP "allegedly" repeatedly ripped off union members money for use on prostitutes doesn't warrant that MP standing down. What if there was overwhelming evidence the MP fleeced money from a company like Skase or Bond? Or forget white collar criminality for a second what if there was overwhelming evidence that an MP allegedly imported millions of dollars worth of amphetamines into the country? Would that be grounds for expecting the the MP to stand down (even if temporarily)? If so, why?

[Pies4shaw]

I see. You identify your own view about a subject, assert the existence of some stupid straw-person opposition to your view and then our collective disinterest in posting in response to such arrant nonsense is somehow taken to be proof that we all hold the stupid straw-person opposition opinion?

I'm really pleased you've got the vote.

[Bruno]

I see. You identify your own view about a subject, assert the existence of some stupid straw-person opposition to your view and then our collective disinterest in posting in response to such arrant nonsense is somehow taken to be proof that we all hold the stupid straw-person opposition opinion?

I'm really pleased you've got the vote.

The current "collective disinterest" (as you put it) is very telling ... and shameful.

[David]

[stui magpie]

I wonder if you would show alleged pedophile priests the same benefit of the doubt. I mean, taking Labor's argument, surely the Catholic Church was right to leave Priests where they were given accused Priests had not yet been tried let alone found guilty in a court of law. Surely, as David argues, until the long slow drawn out legal process takes it's course Priests indeed should have been allowed to remain in charge of and alone with children.

Key point of difference is that the Catholic Church never, in the main, referred situations they were aware of to the Police to investigate, nor did they conduct any internal investigations that can be scrutinised.

The presumption of innocence is standard, however so is in employment lay the principle of suspension from duty while an investigation is being conducted if it's considered that to have the person continue to fulfil their duties during the investigation would be inappropriate.

That not judging, that's saying it's a serious allegation and while we work out if it's true or not, you shouldn't be there.

[Bruno]

I wonder if you would show alleged pedophile priests the same benefit of the doubt. I mean, taking Labor's argument, surely the Catholic Church was right to leave Priests where they were given accused Priests had not yet been tried let alone found guilty in a court of law. Surely, as David argues, until the long slow drawn out legal process takes it's course Priests indeed should have been allowed to remain in charge of and alone with children.

Key point of difference is that the Catholic Church never, in the main, referred situations they were aware of to the Police to investigate, nor did they conduct any internal investigations that can be scrutinised.

The presumption of innocence is standard, however so is in employment lay the principle of suspension from duty while an investigation is being conducted if it's considered that to have the person continue to fulfil their duties during the investigation would be inappropriate.

That not judging, that's saying it's a serious allegation and while we work out if it's true or not, you shouldn't be there.

Sorry Stui, could you please just re-write your second paragraph? I don't quite understand what you are saying.

[David]

The point is that, if actually necessary, a suspension pending investigations is a neutral method of allowing the defendant to retain the right to be presumed innocent, whereas sacking presumes guilt.