ID :
212399
Wed, 10/12/2011 - 12:52
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/212399
The shortlink copeid
Newman calls for truce on dirt digging
SYDNEY (AAP) - Oct 12 - Queensland's would-be premier Campbell Newman has called for a truce after his team was caught digging for dirt on Labor MPs in a tit-for-tat political war.
Mr Newman has apologised to Premier Anna Bligh, her MPs and Queenslanders after it was revealed the Liberal National Party (LNP) paid $3000 to a former government staffer for "sleazy" dirt files.
Excerpts from the dossier, containing information about MPs' sexual leanings and activities, family breakdowns and MPs' strengths and weaknesses have been published in The Courier-Mail.
The revelations came a week after Mr Newman launched a scathing attack on the government, calling Ms Bligh a "sleaze bucket" who was in charge of a Labor "dirt unit" out to sully him and his family.
Mr Newman apologised to Labor MPs on Wednesday for the breach of their privacy and said he would call the newspaper to urge that no more reputations be muddied on Thursday by further publication of the files.
But despite the embarrassment, he's maintaining his outrage over Labor's personal attacks.
"I say this to Premier Bligh: I'm sorry that my party has done this; I'm sorry to the people of Queensland," Mr Newman told reporters on Wednesday.
"But I point out that it's about time that the Labor Party also declared a ceasefire on this sort of stuff.
"Let us have a campaign on the real issues."
Mr Newman tried not to delve too deeply into comparisons between the LNP's dirty dossier and Labor's month-long campaign on his family's finances.
"I'm not going to get into the things that have been thrown at me over the last six months," he said.
"But, yes, all sorts of stuff and innuendo has been thrown at me as well by the Labor Party."
Deputy Premier Andrew Fraser said there was a "galaxy of difference" between questioning the financial interests of politicians and the "filth ... innuendo and rumour mongering that's being traded by the LNP in this cash-for-dirt scandal".
He labelled Mr Newman a weak leader for refusing to sack campaign director James McGrath and state director Michael O'Dwyer, who both knew of the tasteless research.
A "naughty-naughty talking-to" wouldn't cut it when there was a "cancer" in Mr Newman's election team, Mr Fraser said.
"People (might) ask why Campbell Newman won't sack his hand-picked campaign director James McGrath," he told state parliament.
"Because if he cuts him loose ... then loose lips might sink the ship .. because (it) beggars belief that Campbell Newman didn't know about that (dossier)."
Earlier, Mr Newman said the pair had been "severely reprimanded" and suggested the shame of the scandal was punishment in itself.
LNP president Bruce McIver said the bulk of the report was above board and related to the political performances of Labor MPs and ministers.
A small part of the analyses contained "comments and observations of a nature that are the personal view of the author and were deemed inappropriate", he said.
"These comments are being removed from the report and will not be retained," he said in a statement.
"We have tightened up our procedures to ensure any material of a salacious nature will never be accepted by the LNP."
Mr Newman has apologised to Premier Anna Bligh, her MPs and Queenslanders after it was revealed the Liberal National Party (LNP) paid $3000 to a former government staffer for "sleazy" dirt files.
Excerpts from the dossier, containing information about MPs' sexual leanings and activities, family breakdowns and MPs' strengths and weaknesses have been published in The Courier-Mail.
The revelations came a week after Mr Newman launched a scathing attack on the government, calling Ms Bligh a "sleaze bucket" who was in charge of a Labor "dirt unit" out to sully him and his family.
Mr Newman apologised to Labor MPs on Wednesday for the breach of their privacy and said he would call the newspaper to urge that no more reputations be muddied on Thursday by further publication of the files.
But despite the embarrassment, he's maintaining his outrage over Labor's personal attacks.
"I say this to Premier Bligh: I'm sorry that my party has done this; I'm sorry to the people of Queensland," Mr Newman told reporters on Wednesday.
"But I point out that it's about time that the Labor Party also declared a ceasefire on this sort of stuff.
"Let us have a campaign on the real issues."
Mr Newman tried not to delve too deeply into comparisons between the LNP's dirty dossier and Labor's month-long campaign on his family's finances.
"I'm not going to get into the things that have been thrown at me over the last six months," he said.
"But, yes, all sorts of stuff and innuendo has been thrown at me as well by the Labor Party."
Deputy Premier Andrew Fraser said there was a "galaxy of difference" between questioning the financial interests of politicians and the "filth ... innuendo and rumour mongering that's being traded by the LNP in this cash-for-dirt scandal".
He labelled Mr Newman a weak leader for refusing to sack campaign director James McGrath and state director Michael O'Dwyer, who both knew of the tasteless research.
A "naughty-naughty talking-to" wouldn't cut it when there was a "cancer" in Mr Newman's election team, Mr Fraser said.
"People (might) ask why Campbell Newman won't sack his hand-picked campaign director James McGrath," he told state parliament.
"Because if he cuts him loose ... then loose lips might sink the ship .. because (it) beggars belief that Campbell Newman didn't know about that (dossier)."
Earlier, Mr Newman said the pair had been "severely reprimanded" and suggested the shame of the scandal was punishment in itself.
LNP president Bruce McIver said the bulk of the report was above board and related to the political performances of Labor MPs and ministers.
A small part of the analyses contained "comments and observations of a nature that are the personal view of the author and were deemed inappropriate", he said.
"These comments are being removed from the report and will not be retained," he said in a statement.
"We have tightened up our procedures to ensure any material of a salacious nature will never be accepted by the LNP."
