The Honourables

Of the NSW politicians, both Labor and Liberal, who saw fit to smear the BDS movement in the infamous NSW Legislative Council 'debate' of September 15, 2011, two have so far fallen foul of evidence emerging from ongoing Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) hearings. I thought it might be instructive to follow the latest press reportage concerning them with a soundbite from their 15/9/11 BDS-bashing rants in the NSW upper house. Draw your own conclusions:

Here's the latest mention of former (Labor) treasurer Eric Roozendaal, now thankfully out of politics and in the pay of a Chinese company:

"The damaging evidence of cash for favours and money laundering by former Liberal energy minister Chris Hartcher and his associates was interrupted briefly, but sensationally, by [former Labor MP Jodi] McKay. She revealed she knocked back [property developer Nathan] Tinkler's attempt in 2011 to subvert the ban on developer donations by getting hundreds of his employees to donate to her campaign. Tinkler's attempted bribe was bad enough. But MacKay soon discovered her colleague, then treasurer Eric Roozendaal, not only knew of Tinkler's offer but was doing his utmost to grant the millionaire coalminer's plans to build a billion-dollar coal loader in a residential area." News gets worse for NSW Libs at ICAC, Kate McClymont & Michaela Whitbourn, Sydney Morning Herald, 3/5/14)

And here's Roozendaal playing the Nazi card in the Legislative Council on September 15, 2011:

"Why do people feel uncomfortable about this BDS campaign? I feel uncomfortable to see Jewish shops, Israeli shops, being targeted because that brings back images very similar to those seen pre-war in Nazi Germany..." (See my 14/11/11 post Witches Brew 7.)

Finally, here's the drum on hard right Liberal MLC, Marie Ficarra (described by Bob Carr as being like Bronwyn Bishop but without the delicacy):

"The Premier said while it would be 'irresponsible' to provide a 'running commentary' while the matter was still before ICAC, he confirmed upper house MP Marie Ficarra had withdrawn from the parliamentary Liberal Party. The ICAC inquiry has heard that Ms Ficarra solicited an illegal $5,000 donation from property developer Tony Merhi. The announcement means she will still sit as an independent in the Parliament." (ICAC hears Chris Hartcher corruption claims as Liberal MP Marie Ficarra steps aside, Michaela Whitbourn, Kate McClymont, Sean Nicholls, Sydney Morning Herald, 28/4/14)

Ficarra vomited up (there is no other way of putting it) the following bizarre statement (curse?) on the BDS movement in the Legislative Council on September 15, 2011:

"Evil will continue to flourish if good men and women do and say nothing. We are elected to speak out on behalf of the many silent citizens who find this thing abominable. I make a prediction now that BDS will become one of the most evil acronyms we know. It is already tainted with evil." (See my 3/10/11 post Witches Brew 4.)