They say, that if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and quacks....well then, it's "a duck".
Veil of secrecy surrounds Stephen Conroy and Kerry Stokes meeting
* Ellen Whinnett * From: Sunday Herald Sun * February 21, 2010 12:00AM
Kerry Stokes
TV deal: Channel 7 boss Kerry Stokes in Sydney. Picture: Alan Pryke Source: Herald Sun
EXCLUSIVE: COMMUNICATIONS Minister Stephen Conroy and the billionaire boss of the Seven Network, Kerry Stokes, went skiing together in Vail, Colorado - a month before the Senator handed a $250 million gift to the television industry.
The Sunday Herald Sun can reveal that Senator Conroy - a skiing and snowboarding fanatic - met Mr Stokes in Vail, Colorado, in January, while the Government was considering pleas from the free-to-air industry to cut their licence fees.
Mr Stokes has purchased several properties in Vail's Beaver Creek, including a luxury $15.5 million penthouse.
The meeting came a month before the Victorian-based Senator Conroy cut licence fees paid by Seven, Ten and Nine for the next two years, depriving the Government of about $250 million in revenue.
The decision was controversial because Senator Conroy said it was to protect Australian content - but it included no binding requirement for the networks to spend the money on Australian content.
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Instead, it went directly to their bottom line.
Both Mr Stokes and Senator Conroy refused to say what was discussed.
Mr Stokes, through a spokesman, said he had "thoroughly enjoyed" skiing with Senator Conroy. (END)
Seems a bit fishy to me. What is it we were all debating about cozy deals between media outlets and politicians. Feathering one's own nests, I think was mentioned.
And Senator Conroy??? Wasn't he the fellow who appointed one Mike Kaiser, well known Labor party "mate", to a very highly paid public service position with the NBN.
You know how it goes. Position not advertised. No short listing done. Just Mike Kaiser appointed to the position. The public service that I know, certainly does not work in that fashion. Unless of course, we are talking, "Labor mates".
Oh, yes, it's all above board, isn't it????
The foul stench of rotting prawn shells is descending upon the Labor government.
