The interest in Mr Andrew Nikolic MP’s cosseted past ( Who is Andrew Nikolic, Member of Parliament for Bass? ) is not as relevant as his performance in the present … and a pattern is emerging.
Mr Nikolic has launched an attack on tax deductibility for donations to environmental groups and intends taking this to a parliamentary vote.
It is a particular nerve he intends to tweek – a visceral hatred that exists electorally, in parts, against green politics.
But this is not about environmental politics. This is a finely targeted attack that masks its real intention – to shut down opinion Mr Nikolic dislikes.
Tax deductibility for what amounts to ‘political’ activity is extremely broad.
The Liberal’s Menzies House and Labor’s Chiffley House both attract tax deductibility for donations as does the Murdoch creation, the Institute of Public Affairs (IPA), a highly intrusive Liberal think tank.
All these are obviously politically active but Mr Nikolic singles out environmental organizations as they present such a crude political target.
The reason I stand resolutely against the machinations of Mr Nikolic is his highly personal attempt to silence my political opinion by leaning on my employer.
It was petty, malicious and pointless. He picked the wrong person.
Now he is attempting to muffle the voice of environmental groups. These are the methods of jackboot politics and have no place in our polity.
Let us be clear. This is not about green groups but about shutting down effective free speech and opinion that Mr Nikolic finds odious.
• Jack Jolly, in Comments: Has anyone asked Nikolic if he intends to extend the review to church NGOs as well? I have long been concerned by the illegal protests against abortion businesses. I’m sure that as a fair minded person that he will be prepared to come out supporting abortion clinics as well as reproductive rights for women. Tax dollars should not be used to support them either, if ENGO protest against businesses are illegal. I’m also sure that sex workers would like their local ‘member’ to support their business enterprises against church discrimination. Perhaps a letter needs to be written to ask and then be posted on TT?
• Chris Harries, in Comments: If Andrew Nikolic only knew it, environmental advocates these days spend the vast majority of time and effort engaging in government processes. Writing submissions to inquiries. Engaging in stakeholder meetings. Remediation programs. Part of me knows that it may be healthy for environmental groups to be disabled by starving them of essential funds, because this will throw environmentally concerned people out onto the streets and this, in turn, will encourage a more strident type of direct activism. This is an irony that I think Nikolic will not see, except maybe in hindsight. Or maybe this is what he wants to see happen, divisiveness being politically opportune?
• Carol Rea, in Comments: HERE … is the link to the 7.30 Report Garry. Nikolic started the process.
Empaphy
August 22, 2018 at 9:12 pm
The spa salon 4hands calls visit one of the options massage, is what we do. The amazing girls our the spa center will give you an unforgettable experience. The spa center is a place of rest and relaxation.
The center tantric massage in Louisville
considered much better way gain strength at the end of the strenuous working day is Adult massage.
Excellent reception safer understand in feelings and preferences of a loved one – a common Bodywork massage, revealing powerful stimulating effect. The skill Nuru massage in San Jose reveals space for experiments in building deep connections, besides this is excellent way express love and appreciation precious to man.
best nuru massage in San Antonio from Seductive the model the massage. Men coming to the erotic salon you can choose any kind of massage yourself and relax with an erotic massage and we will make an unforgettable massage.
Kayla from the spa center of the with body parts massage in San Jose turn out your own private masseuse at any day.
Our showroom works in Brooklyn. : grooming massage
Claire Gilmour
April 19, 2015 at 8:10 pm
Nikolic stands for … his war.drobe … obviously …
http://www.examiner.com.au/story/3020042/dressing-to-impress/
a fashionista apparently … a self-promoter
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39YUXIKrOFk
Fair dinkum … showing his boots, hats, is that his PJ’s!?
Basil Fitch
April 19, 2015 at 7:24 pm
#20 doesn’t that apply to all Liberals?
Please look back in history, the Greens have been used as a punching bag, especially at elections (divide and conquer!). Both State & Federal by the Lib/Labs in an effort to do ‘a Democrats’ and ‘Pauline Hanson’, for years.
It will always be imperative for these parties to take to an election a ‘bloody great blue up’ over environmental issues.
Quote- Tas. Peace Agreement – axed- Tourism in Tarkine, mining in Tarkine- Tax deductible gifts.
That’s enough to tell the voters what a ‘bunch of
morons’ the Greens are!
If the Greens said nothing Abetz, Hodgman, Gitwein and Libs in general, would be lost at election times. Basil
Bazabee
April 16, 2015 at 2:25 pm
Dr Powel asks the question “what does Andrew Nikolic MP for Bass, stand for”? From observing Nikolic closely both during his campaign and since his election my answer would be autocracy.
Clearly the MP for Bass isn’t a democrat; he is a retired soldier and believes in an unambiguous chain of command and control.
The current member for Bass represents that brand of Liberalism (right wing conservatism) that believes that they are not elected to govern but that they were born to control.
Claire Gilmour
April 14, 2015 at 5:00 pm
In addition Mr Nikolic could well be advised to learn some lessons from the following …
The democratic audit of Australia
Highlights
“Is the Australian Parliament really a platypus?
In an earlier paper, Stanley Bch (2003) used the objective view of an overseas visitor to describe the ‘accidental genius of Australian politics’. He likened the Australian system generally and its bicameral parliament to that unique animal, the duck-billed platypus. The analogy raises some interesting and some disturbing notions. While the hybrid nature of the political system can provide some vigour, the platypus is threatened by loss of habitat. Few Australians have seen one in the wild …
Tony Smith, New fangs for the platy-tiger? The senate and the Rudd Government in 2008, page 6.â€
“Is there really too much marketing and not enough policy?
In Marketing Government: The public service and the permanent campaign, Kathy MacDermott argues that the marketing of government has invaded the core business of policy development and the everyday work of public servants such that the public service has become part of the ‘permanent campaign’ and that this has put at risk the distinction between marketing and explaining.
In Sideshow: Dumbing Down Democracy, former ALP Government Minister for Finance and Deregulation, the Hon. Lindsay Tanner, argues that politics and governance have been degraded by the collusion of politics and the media, and this has trivialized the serious business of maintain democracy in Australia.â€
http://www.readings.com.au/review/sideshow-dumbing-down-democracy-by-lindsay-tanner
http://australianpolitics.com/2003/09/19/2003-calwell-lecture-lindsay-tanner.html
Claire Gilmour
April 14, 2015 at 4:58 pm
Perhaps Mr Nikolic needs to brush up on some ‘democratic values …
“The Australian democracy has at its heart, the following core defining values:
Freedom of election and being elected;
Freedom of assembly and political participation;
Freedom of speech, expression and religious belief;
Rule of law; and
Other basic human rights.â€
http://moadoph.gov.au/democracy/australian-democracy/
Ian M
April 14, 2015 at 1:05 pm
#3 Garry, Nikolic introduced the motion in June last year:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-06-29/andrew-nickolic-moves-to-strip-charity-status-from-some-environ/5557936
Chris B
April 12, 2015 at 3:01 pm
Does this explain, Harrass, Erica, Wee Willy, C.Hunt and Nikolic ?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5QMxDt_azw&spfreload=10
Chris B
April 12, 2015 at 1:23 pm
See the article on river monitoring
“The highest levels recorded for Simazine was 2.2ug/L at the South Esk River at Perth in October 2005. The South Esk River supplies a large portion of drinking water to the city of Launceston.”
Chris B
April 12, 2015 at 1:19 pm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEzVDDatibk
Trailer or true?
Chris B
April 12, 2015 at 1:05 pm
” Julie Bishop now seeks to negotiate with Teheran for Iranian asylum seekers to be forcibly sent back on the grounds that they have been found not to be refugees. This is a truly bold porkie, as the Gummint test is an automatic “F’ for everyone arriving by boat.”
Well who would have thought that the “policies of Pauline” as advocated by her way back then in her “maiden speech”? would now be exposed as liberal party policy, the Desiccated Coconut and the chief fundraiser Money bags Abbott actively pretended to expel her from the Liberal Party but probably set her up as a secret IPA advisor to the likes of Nikolic, because no human being with one brain cell would swallow the crap and regurgitate such bullshit like he does.
No wonder he is Abbott’s whip its the only thing he can crack or the only thing he can wreck—maybe PTS is kicking in along with the likes of the now cuddly and Born again Christian Morriscum.
Who would allow children to be in his orbit for political grandstanding in front of the media mobs who advertise such actions as though butter would not melt in his and his mate Nikolic’s petty mouth?
Simon Warriner
April 12, 2015 at 11:14 am
Welcome to the inanities of party politics, as so ably pointed out in the above posts.
Here we have an elected representative engaging in the selective pursuit of arguably illegal conduct.
Countless hours, dollars and effort will be spent on this pursuit while the flawed system, set up and overseen by partisan operators, will continue to be allowed to harbour illegal activity because it suits those currently in power.
Is this effective and efficient government in action?
Jack Jolly
April 12, 2015 at 3:26 am
#9 Yep, he must review all the groups who illegally use tax breaks to lobby against registered and legal businesses. Because we can use all the jobs we can get in Tasmania.
Which made me wonder about what he intends to do about one of the main business ruining organisations in Australia? I refer of course to the Anti Cancer Research Foundation.
http://www.probonoaustralia.com.au/directory/australian-cancer-research-foundation
That cabal of job destroyers has already cost many Australian jobs. They shamelessly lobby against one of the biggest and most profitable industries the world has ever seen and have prevented them from advertising their product.
I’d imagine that Nik would be very supportive of ‘fag’ industry in Tasmania.
Go Niko, go!
John Hawkins
April 12, 2015 at 1:53 am
This man Nikolic is a danger to his party and somewhat selective in his choice of target.
A Deductible gift recipient (DGR) is defined as an organisation entitled to receive income tax deductible gifts and tax deductible contributions
Charities can receive income tax deductible gifts providing the organisation is a DGR with an ABN number.
A register of DGR’s is published by the Tax Department.
It is list that Nikolic wishes to selectively attack.
Political parties are not DGR’s however membership fees, contributions and gifts may be claimed as income tax deductions up to $1500 per individual in any one financial year.
I hereby would like to start a campaign to remove the tax deductibility of all donations to the Liberal party on the basis that the likes of Abetz, Nikolic and Harris provide a great disservice to this State and its people should not be allowed to take a deduction to promote what is not in the general interest of the public.
That is the joy of being selective.
Prat.
Pete Godfrey
April 11, 2015 at 11:40 pm
#5 Jack completely agree.
Churches are known to harbour criminals in the guise of paedophiles. They are known to hide their activities, to move them away from jurisdictions that may prosecute them.
Maybe we should add the money laundering efforts carried out by political parties as well.
The ICAC in N.S.W exposed enough of that activity to show that it was widespread, then we also have our own examples of money laundering in the history of Gunns ltd, where they got massive subsidies and returned a percentage to their political mates.
We do need the government to go after tax havens as well especially as the government even use tax havens for the future fund.
How much more corrupt can that be that a government deliberately try to avoid paying tax to their own country.
Good one Nico, go for it.
Carol Rea
April 11, 2015 at 10:56 pm
Here is the link to the 7.30 Report Garry. Nikolic started the process. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-04-10/environmental-groups-face-tax-deductibility-loss/6385246
Chris Harries
April 11, 2015 at 9:50 pm
If Andrew Nikolic only knew it, environmental advocates these days spend the vast majority of time and effort engaging in government processes. Writing submissions to inquiries. Engaging in stakeholder meetings. Remediation programs.
Part of me knows that it may be healthy for environmental groups to be disabled by starving them of essential funds, because this will throw environmentally concerned people out onto the streets and this, in turn, will encourage a more strident type of direct activism.
This is an irony that I think Nikolic will not see, except maybe in hindsight. Or maybe this is what he wants to see happen, divisiveness being politically opportune?
John Powell
April 11, 2015 at 8:26 pm
This posted on Nikolic facebook page some 24 hours ago. Suprisingly still there.
“Brigadier, what about the Roman Catholic Church and the IPA? Oh and the tax dodging of Gina Rinehart, Twiggy Forrest, BHPBilliton, RioTinto and the BIG $ Banks? Suspect you will delete this message as you have NO courage to debate REAL issues like your mentor Mein Herr Abetz”
Jack Jolly
April 11, 2015 at 7:58 pm
Has anyone asked Nikolic if he intends to extend the review to church NGOs as well?
I have long been concerned by the illegal protests against abortion businesses. I’m sure that as a fair minded person that he will be prepared to come out supporting abortion clinics as well as reproductive rights for women. Tax dollars should not be used to support them either, if ENGO protest against businesses are illegal.
I’m also sure that sex workers would like their local ‘member’ to support their business enterprises against church discrimination.
Perhaps a letter needs to be written to ask and then be posted on TT?
john hayward
April 11, 2015 at 6:47 pm
What could be easier than discerning what Nikko stands for – government of the corporates, by the corporates, and for the corporates. He may not be everyone’s idea of the ubermensch, but then not everyone is in touch with his amygdala.
He seems to be inspiring the Cabinet to come out of the starboard closet as well. Julie Bishop now seeks to negotiate with Teheran for Iranian asylum seekers to be forcibly sent back on the grounds that they have been found not to be refugees. This is a truly bold porkie, as the Gummint test is an automatic “F’ for everyone arriving by boat.
John Hayward
Garry Stannus
April 11, 2015 at 1:22 pm
I wish there was a link provided to Nikolic’s reported attack on tax deductibility for environmental groups. This has been on the Liberal (Federal and Tasmanian State parties in concert) since before either of those parties were elected. Of concern too is (at the Federal level) a possible linking of this (via secondary boycott exemptions) with the rights of unionists to campaign in support of workers’ issues.
Carol Rea
April 11, 2015 at 1:20 pm
Nikolic, Abetz and Harriss. Aaah what fine representatives of our clean green home. The birthplace of the first Green party on the planet Tasmania led the way. No more.
Dr.John R.Wilson
April 11, 2015 at 11:45 am
I think Erica put him up to it, Michael …