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GEOFF
CLARK
A news report this morning brought back memories from my old newspaper
days.
The managing director sacked a senior executive. He asked if he
could keep his company car until 5p.m. so that he could clear out
his office and take his files home.
The MD's response? "Is there no end to your impertinence,
Mr Chester"?
That response came to mind when I read that the chairman of ATSIC
Geoff Clark had asked the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Commission to pay his legal costs over charges resulting from a
pub brawl. Talk about impertinence!
And to make matters worse the ATSIC board agreed to spend up to
$45,000 for Clark and four other men allegedly involved in the drunken
fracas.
This would be a sick joke if it weren't about taxpayers' money.
If it wasn't yet another example of money being wasted. Billions
of dollars earmarked to improve the quality of life for Aboriginal
people being squandered.
With all the billions of dollars that have been budgeted for Aboriginal
affairs and causes in recent years there should not be one Aboriginal
kid suffering from trachoma and other diseases.
There should not be one indigenous person in this country without
access to clean water and a roof over their head.
This is Noddyland and the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Philip
Ruddock, claims he is powerless to do anything about it.
So I guess if the ATSIC board decided to buy a BMW for every board
member Mr Ruddock would plead innocence and impotence.
Geoff Clark is an alleged serial rapist. He is due to appear in
Warrnambool court tomorrow on 19 charges including assaulting police
before he was subdued with capsicum spray.
He did not get into this situation in his official capacity as
ATSIC chairman. He should not get one dollar of taxpayers' money.
And I agree with the former head of ATSIC Lowitja O' Donoghue who
said Clark got himself into this trouble. He should pay for it.
In my opinion the man is a shameless disgrace to his people.
Monday, February 24, 2003
©Copyright
Derryn Hinch 2002
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