The foreign aid budget was repeatedly gutted. A Liberal-chaired Parliamentary committee has even recommended the Bill be scrapped entirely! He secured $2 million of federal funds to build a pavilion for the Heathmont Jets Junior Football Club at Heatherdale Reserve, Mitcham. The Assistant Treasurer, Michael Sukkar, is . What if you can't afford to help your kids? But when Michael Sukkar implies he will take legal action against The Age, gags Parliament from forcing him to be accountable, and strongly resists the releasing of reports, the only thing we can do is to vote such a shady-looking, untrustworthy character out of office. [11] Turnbull gave Sukkar responsibility for addressing housing affordability. He spent six years in London working for The Guardian. Are you someone who is sick of the daily grind who is watching Sukkar and his mates get richer? The department and Ashurst both said steps had been taken to avoid any conflict of interest. Not playing power games in party politics to gain more power for his own aggrandisement. [26][27] However the inquiry did not interview any witnesses or staff from the electoral offices. Get the edge with AM and PM briefings, plus breaking news alerts in your inbox. Better yet, how can you comment on a case and on the judges decisions when you haven't even read the transcripts as Sukkar admitted he hadn't done. Shadow Social Services Minister Michael Sukkar says Roshena Campbell will be an "outstanding" candidate for Aston. Firms must compete through open tender to get on procurement panels but can then be quickly picked for work relevant to the panel without further tender processes. Mr Sukkar released a statement completely rejecting the allegations. Mr Sukkar has retained the support of the Morrison government, despite evidence showing he backed a scheme to give taxpayer-funded jobs to factional operatives in the office of Liberal MP and party elder Kevin Andrews in 2017 and 2018. Even though the inquiry by the Department of Finance cleared Sukkar, there are still a lot of unanswered questions. The issue is not about whether the law should have been changed. Taxpayer resources are not meant to be used by MPs to pay for the political campaigns of other candidates. [37], In his maiden speech, Sukkar categorised himself as an "economic liberal" and with "strong conservative foundations". The seat of Deakin was considered a key seat for the 2019 election. I have never authorised my staff to undertake activities contrary to applicable policies and guidelines, when they are being paid to serve the constituents of the Deakin electorate, Mr Sukkar said. Thanks to the East Ringwood Cricket Club for a great day. [2][3] He completed a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Commerce at Deakin University in 2004 and Master of Laws at the University of Melbourne in 2010. Sukkar uses taxpayer budget to employ friend who also designed smear sheets. What if your family doesn't own their own home? The Assistant Minister for Treasury Michael Sukkar has confirmed this morning that he has asked for an investigation into his own office after claims of branch-stacking emerged. The posturing and subject matter is vulgar and inaccurate.". 29 May 2019 - 23 May 2022. Sir Donald Bradman is an Australian hero for so many reasons, that he was staunchly opposed to the sinister aspects of socialism is yet another feather in his cap! For every dollar thats allegedly spent on someone branch-stacking is a dollar thats not spent on helping someone with an NDIS claim or a dollar thats not spent on assisting a community group with a letter of support for a grant application.. Not those who are actually struggling to get started. Liberal MP Michael Sukkar was leading by a wafer-thin margin of just 55 votes in the outer-suburban seat of Deakin as the postal . Michael Sukkar (@MichaelSukkarMP) November 7, 2021. The investigation that cleared them of misusing taxpayer-funded staff was undertaken by a law firm Sukkar used to work for. Mr Sukkar acknowledged that many of the problems in remote communities pre-existed the cashless debit card, but said that since its abolition they were now "orders of magnitude worse." All people like Sukkar seem interested in is protecting their rich mates. The "investigation" by the Department of Finance was conducted by Ashurst. Were working to restore it. My online community survey takes just a few minutes to complete and you can also sign up to my e-newsletter to receive regular updates. Michael Sven Sukkar (born 11 September 1981) is an Australian politician who served as the Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Housing from 2019, and as the Minister for Homelessness, Social and Community Housing from 2020. Emails sent by Mr Pham reveal that he was used by Mr Sukkar's office to design flyers to solicit political donations for the Liberal Party's Deakin 200 Club in early February 2017. Minister for Housing's solution to affordability. [1], Sukkar was born in the eastern Melbourne suburb of Ringwood, to a father who was born in Lebanon. He did find the time to delete tweets attacking Victorian judges. Posted 2/24/2023 1:00 AM. The procedure could lead to their suspension or expulsion. Shadow Social Services Minister Michael Sukkar says Roshena Campbell will be an "outstanding" candidate for Aston. Michael Sukkar: Liberal: 2013-present Election results Elections in the 2020s 2022. Funding for Indigenous programs has been a yoyo. Assistant Treasurer Michael Sukkar and former federal minister Kevin Andrews have been cleared of wrongly using taxpayer-funded resources for branch-stacking. Does Deakin really want such a dill representing them in Parliament? Michael Sukkar however went on the record to say that he would put his personal views aside and vote in Parliament "in accordance with the majority view of Australians" following the announcement of the postal survey results. Senior federal government ministers have leapt to the defence of Assistant Treasurer Michael Sukkar over allegations he misused taxpayer funds. This would mean Australia would no longer have any charities! This is how Shady Sukkar likes to work, behind the scenes and not in your interests. DuPage County property transfers for Jan. 11-24, 2023. Senior ministers have dug in behind Mr Sukkar after The Age, the Sydney Morning Herald and 60 Minutes revealed personal correspondence showing he was aware of a scheme where his brother, best friend and factional allies were paid by taxpayers for political work. It is obviously important to protect the institutional integrity and independence of the judiciary but the judiciary and judicial decisions should not be immune from criticism. It did not interview key staff from the electoral offices of Deakin and Menzies. Ms Lamont said she had an invoice outlining the arrangement, but did not supply it by time of publication. That's not voting for the law to be changed in accordance with the majority view of Australians. The issue is that Michael Sukkar said he'd do something then didn't. Liberal frontbencher Michael Sukkar says the blame for any hate speech and negative consequences generated by the continuing debate over marriage equality should be directed at advocates in favour of marriage equality. Office details Connect Electorate details. [21][22] Opinion polls indicated that only 47% of the two-party-preferred vote would go Sukkar's way. I think the party is very enthusiastic about our candidate in Aston and very pleased with someone whos going to be a great champion for that community, he told Sky News Austalia. Even staff that volunteered to give statements to the inquiry were not interviewed. To add insult to injury, taxpayers are footing the bill to have Sukkar defend against a defamation action; but we don't know who is suing him or why. Maybe there is a reason that Josh Frydenberg wouldn't confirm his trust in Sukkar. Michael Rowland: Thanks for coming on board. Was waiting for her retirement from politics, but sadly it wasnt there, the texts read. Lorraine Finlay, Murdoch University and Joshua Forrester, Murdoch University, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra, Copyright 20102023, The Conversation Media Group Ltd. Screenshot from Labor Party advertisement linking Peter Dutton to Liberal candidates. Unfortunately for Dutton, Sukkar couldn't count and they celebrated Dutton's "victory" prematurely. Keeping in touch with your views and opinions helps me to represent you, and I encourage you to provide me with your regular feedback. Michael Sukkar, the Assistant Treasurer and Housing Minister, was also named in the reports. What's a good way to save your bacon when you might lose your job? When Sukkar became the minister responsible for the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC), he refused to meet with, or reappoint the then head of the ACNC Susan Pascoe. Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, the most senior federal Victorian Liberal, also pointed to the Finance investigation, conducted after the allegations were first aired. Mr Bastiaan rejected the allegations of branch stacking in a statement announcing his resignation from the party: By not respecting Deakin's clear majority vote, Sukkar once again showed disdain for the will of his constituents. Sky News Australia. He's tried to make it "no big deal". [43], Sukkar married Anna Duthie in 2010. However, one has been cancelled and the rest are barely underway. A Finance spokesman confirmed information provided by Mr Sukkar and Mr Andrews to the review included several statutory declarations from staff. Charities are concerned about who Sukkar will target. Sukkar was seeking to install Peter Dutton as PM. Mr Sukkar told factional allies he had read through the very long, indulgent and quite frankly bizarre post. Files obtained by The Age and Herald show that at the request of Mr Sukkar's office in early February 2017, Mr Pham created two flyers designed to smear conservative state Liberal MP Gary Blackwood by falsely claiming he was aligned to "socially progressive voters". [44] They have two sons, Leo and Nathan.[2]. "Australians have had their say and, of course, the parliament should respect the result. [35] Upon the defeat of the Coalition, he was appointed as the Shadow Minister for Social Services by Opposition Leader Peter Dutton in June of that year. Ultimately, whether to investigate a matter would be a decision for the CIC and would depend on all of the available facts, he said. Even the "First Home Whatever" grants that Sukkar is touting is an insult to the people of Deakin. [2] In 2014 Sukkar launched the Deakin 200 Club with other conservative Liberal MPs to fundraise for marginal seats held by conservatives within the party. He is leading the faction trying to drive the Liberal Party further towards the "right". Will it be Anglicare, St Vinnies, Amnesty International, Oxfam Australia, Tearfund Australia, Sacred Heart or any of the charities that you support? Sukkar has been a member of the House of Representatives since September 2013, representing the Division of Deakin in Victoria for the Liberal Party. Imagine a judge asks an alleged thief if they committed the crime and let the plaintiff go free based simply on the plea of "No", with no testimony of witnesses. Prime Minister Scott Morrison brushed off questions about the latest allegations. Please try again later. Mr Sukkar released a public statement on Sunday night, saying he completely rejected the "extremely disappointing" allegations aired on 60 Minutes. Deakin returned a 66% Yes result for the Marriage Law Postal Survey yet when the bill was to be voted on, Michael Sukkar abstained. Michael Sukkar is not sorry, he just thinks he can get away with ignoring the law when it suits him. He also said all the allegations had already been reviewed by the Department of Finance, which concluded there was no basis for a further investigation. Unsurprisingly Sukkar's word is worth no more than a press release. "I paid Michael Sukkar's office for my own material," she said when asked why she paid a political office for printing rather than directly engaging a printing company. That doesnt occur, generally, in circumstances where the government is not so keen on pressing ahead, he said. The excellent report by Nick McKenzie , Joel Tozer and Paul Sakkal in The Age details leaked documents and tapes, and points out: The most serious allegations facing Mr Sukkar, the Federal Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Housing, and Mr [Kevin] Andrews involves their dealings with Liberal backroom powerbroker Marcus Bastiaan. Michael Sukkar was preselected for Deakin for the 2013 election, as part of the Tony Abbott led "conservative resistance movement".The former Ashurst tax lawyer started his mission from God to impose his will on the Party. Mr Pham's LinkedIn account shows he worked in full-time roles for a real estate advertising company during the same period that Mr Sukkar has said Mr Pham worked "as a casual Electorate Officer in the Deakin Electorate Office". [29][30][31][32] In January 2021, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported that the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) was investigating a donor with ties to Sukkar over foreign interference risks. He has also called for the ACNC to be abolished, along with the Charities Act. Party president Robert Clark chaired the meeting in which members agreed to an audit of all members signed up in the past five years as part of a wide-ranging investigation. Sign up to get our new Explainer newsletter here. My online community survey takes just a few minutes to complete and you can also sign up to my e-newsletter to receive regular updates. Sukkar again failed as a "numbers man" by trying to rally support and influence the outcome when Keith Wolahan challenged Kevin Andrews for preselection in the seat of Menzies. Connect via Twitter. Johns, a former IPA fellow is on the record calling low income and Aboriginal woman "cash cows"[1]. You would think that such serious allegations would warrant a serious and thorough investigation. Chief Executive of the Community Council for Australia David Crosbie sums it up well, "Sukkar and others are opposed to charities being involved in advocacy, but the reality is hundreds of thousands of people in Australia give to charity to support exactly that."[2]. Samantha Hutchinson is the AFR's National Reporter. In a statement, Ms Bastiaan said "the material was not created, authorised or used by me. Asked how often he was paid by Mr Sukkar's office, he declined to answer, referring the questions to Mr Sukkar. Hon Michael Sukkar MP. Leaked messages are reported to have revealed how Sukkar and his office directed and endorsed the employment of party political staff. "I've locked in time with Michael on Saturday afternoon for a new photo and I'll have the first concept to you Monday morning," Mr Pham wrote to Mr Sukkar's office in November 2016. Electorate Office (Principal Office) 5/602 Whitehorse Road Mitcham, VIC, 3132 Postal address. In February 2017, Mr Pham also designed a flyer for a Deakin 200 Club fundraiser for Mr Sukkar at Bar Humbug in Melbourne's CBD in April that year. Newsletter Archive Deakin Community News Summer 2022-2023 Download Deakin Community News 2022 Election Edition Download Delivering for Deakin 2022 Download The Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey to ask Australian's opinions on whether the Marriage Act should be changed was always going to be passionate. The finance department said the reviewer was completely independent, had no link to Sukkar or his time in the then-Blake Dawson Waldron, and had acted in accordance with their ethical and professional duties as a legal practitioner. Office, he declined to answer, referring the questions to Mr released., of course, the Assistant Treasurer and housing Minister, was also named in the outer-suburban of! 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