I find the attacks on Tim Mathieson to be way over-the-top and lacking some balance. Here we will concentrate on Tim’s positives (and please keep comments about Mr Mathieson on this thread positive – use the other thread if you wish to criticise him).
Kevin Rudd might describe the Lodge under Gillard and Mathieson as
bogan-ville
but the former first partner, Thérèse Rein, managed to extract vastly more from the taxpayer than Tim. All Tim wants is a free tickets to the footie and cricket. He doesn’t want to be poncing around opera halls and the like. When you think of the cost of the Governor-General’s wardrobe (paid by the grateful taxpayer), isn’t it nice that we just need to buy Tim a pair of shorts and a t-shirt? Rudd and Rein, by contrast, managed to extract a large fortune from the taxpayer.
Second, think of Tim’s Men’s Sheds. If the school halls had been built by Tim instead of DEEWR it would have saved the taxpayer a large fortune.
Third, people might criticise Julia’s glasses, clothing, speech, thinking etc. But everyone is complimentary about her hairdo. Tim is responsible for the only redeeming feature of this prime minister.
Fourth, Tim brings a bit of class to the Lodge. Imagine how painful it would be for the prime minister’s interlocutors if Tim wasn’t there to show them around the pool room at the Lodge. He has the hairdresser’s sense of when a person is about to crack when being spoken to by the prime minister and Tim just quietly pulls off the besieged visitor to the pool room.
Fifth, and you can’t blame Tim for failing, he has tried to show Julia and Wayne what they should do – cut, cut, cut. Tim cuts hair, and this was his way of showing Julia and Wayne what they should have done with the Federal Budget. Bad luck for us that they ignored Tim’s advice.
Sixth, I can even excuse Tim’s concern about seeing members of the Liberal party at the footie. When he became first bloke he asked “what is my most important job” and was told “you must hate Tony Abbott”. He is operating according to his duty statement.
Finally, when Julia Gillard leaves the Lodge, Tim will return to his previous occupation, without a large public pension and without the expectations of former first ladies.
SJ Are you sure about that last para? Are you really, really sure?
Dexter Rous
9 Mar 13 at 7:21 pm
You are taking the piss, right?
Tell me you are please!
Leigh Lowe
9 Mar 13 at 7:28 pm
Pretty sure Dexter. First, I don’t think the relationship will last.
Samuel J
9 Mar 13 at 7:29 pm
No he’s not taking the piss. There’s nothing much wrong with Tim – he’s a Richmond supporter. Carn the tiges!
whyisitso
9 Mar 13 at 7:30 pm
According to ABC TV News, there is no comment from the PM’s office, although it was reported that they thought the major issue was who leaked Timbo’s e-mail.
Standby for the ret hot poker to be shoved up the arse of junior woodchucks in the PMO on Monday, with no doubt the left leaning Mr Gale conducting a similar inquisition at Richmond FC.
If you start a race riot from within the PMO you get a juicy posting to the UK, but leak Timbo’s e-mail to the Oz ……..
Make no mistake.
This vicious grub would have no qualms getting someone fired on mere suspicion. He has revealed today that he is prone to Russell Crowe type tantrums and will do anything to mis-use the office of PM to access privilege for himself and his bogan mates.
No sympathy for Timbo …. he is a leech pure and simple.
Leigh Lowe
9 Mar 13 at 7:37 pm
Hopefully he returns to Shepparton and repays his outstanding debts ,with some of jooLIARs Guvmint payout ,leaving her short of money to pay the lawyers to keep her out of jail on the awu business ,and anything else we can find on the adultress SLUT .
Borisgodunov
9 Mar 13 at 7:39 pm
.
There …. fixed.
Tigers supporters are renowned ferals who are very quick to turn on their own.
They eat their young.
Leigh Lowe
9 Mar 13 at 7:41 pm
” “.
Rabz
9 Mar 13 at 7:44 pm
A bit unfair on Therese.
Sure she made shitloads of cash out of employment programmes for the unemployable (people like Tim actually), but this was a bi-partisan rort.
My understanding is she sold the Australian dole bludgers assistance business when Kevvy was elected.
Leigh Lowe
9 Mar 13 at 7:45 pm
OK …. I’m positive that Timbo is a free-loading dickhead
Leigh Lowe
9 Mar 13 at 7:48 pm
I wonder if Rudd’s indirect costs included any of the wheel greasing for the contracts leading up to the £727m contracts for Ingeus . I doubt if Tim Matheson has any ideas of that kind on the backburner.
MT Isa Miner
9 Mar 13 at 7:56 pm
Righto.
I suspect he’ll prove to be exceptionally well informed on defacto partner rights to superannuation splitting, when the relationship goes pear-shaped in the latter half of September.
lotocoti
9 Mar 13 at 7:59 pm
Something about faint praise, here. Very, very faint..
James of the Glens
9 Mar 13 at 8:01 pm
Sure, she did Leigh, because “somehow”the UK market opened up for her about the same time and now they call her the $1.4bn queen of British welfare“” and I don’t think it’s its because she’s on the dole.
MT Isa Miner
9 Mar 13 at 8:02 pm
You are right, JAmes of the the Glen, it’s a bit like a left wing femme pile on and I am ashamed of myself for my discussions.
He sounds like an ordinary bloke. Not to say he is my type – but how many ex hair-dressers or ANY of my trades mates could cope with his situation?
Exactly NONE.
If he stays sane, and helps another person in his humanity ( even if well, you know…) Job well done.
I’m going to back off the personal stuff.
MT Isa Miner
9 Mar 13 at 8:09 pm
Yep. I started to think about this today. When all the free stuff stops and old Julia is the pariah for years for taking Labor to the worst electoral defeat in its Federal history I reckon Tim will be off like a shot. No point in hanging around.
Mark
9 Mar 13 at 8:10 pm
Mmmm, my feeling is gillard will give Tim the boot. Don’t think she’s going to put up with him mooching off her taxpayer funded goodies.
Gab
9 Mar 13 at 8:13 pm
Mathison profile in Weekend Australian ( behind paywall). “Don’t you know who I am” is a refrain that has punctuated several Mathieson sightings when he’s been stopped in his tracks or stuck in officialdom’s hoops. But also: has made a splash in men’s health through his robust advocacy for men’s sheds and prostate cancer. He has toured regional towns visiting workshops where men hammer and talk; he’s hosted events at Kirribilli and The Lodge to promote Blue September and World Diabetes Day; he’s had his face painted blue; he’s grown a Movember moustache.
Keen on sports like many :
“Money can’t buy this kind of access,” says one football official. “Joe Blow does not get to shake [Richmond player] Jack Riewoldt’s hand. Tim has not been backward in seeking these privileges.” Male visitors to The Lodge say Mathieson often marches them straight up the stairs to the “pool room” where an “entire wall” is covered in sporting memorabilia. Gifts include a signed bat from Cricket Australia, a Richmond footy jumper, a Wallabies tracksuit top and windbreaker, and two New York Giants jerseys. At the Prime Minister’s XI in January he took home a signed hat and a cricket shirt presented to the first couple with their names emblazoned on the back.
MT Isa Miner
9 Mar 13 at 8:16 pm
What does it matter what Tim does? Janet didnt do much either and neither did a whole lot of partners. Like Anita Keating or how about Blanche whatever her name was and did anyone hear who Costello’s wife was or perhaps Downers?
Petty petty petty
Aliice
9 Mar 13 at 8:18 pm
Fixed your link Mt Isa Miner.
Cold-Hands
9 Mar 13 at 8:22 pm
Oh god – Sam J has written this post and again he has stuffed up
looking miserly by damning pm partners…
Look Sam have you every thought of giving up political blog posting for something more suited to you and more useful (because I am beginning to think Sam J is a newbie at political journalism)?
Id like to know how old Sam is because he has a lot to learn.
Maybe engineering or something else might suit him better.
Aliice
9 Mar 13 at 8:22 pm
I could ask you the same question about your comments on Gina and Rupert Malice.
What does it matter that Gina is fat?
What does it matter that Rupert is rich?
BTW How much is a “little bit more tax” that Gina should pay?
Splatacrobat
9 Mar 13 at 8:25 pm
Listen Splat
I am tempted so tempted to splatter you across this blog. I left the other thread to get away from your weekend bad mood but oh no you trail me here…
What is it you want exactly? (Oh I see – still smarting over the fact I wouldnt answer your last question like a week ago on how much tax Gina should pay???)
Nothing like extending the torture is there Splat. Still no answer – because I dont have to. Simple.
Learn some manners and I might engage but till then I wont.
Aliice
9 Mar 13 at 8:31 pm
Tim will return to his previous occupation?
Hahaha
When the ex-PM gets onto “boards and stuff”, Tim will be around, he hopes. He won’t be on his feet all day in a hairdressing salon.
Giffy
9 Mar 13 at 8:37 pm
Aliice …. this is not about what Tim does (which, for the record, is bugger all).
It is about how he behaves, including using the office of the PM to garner favours and freebies for him and his mates. After all, when he wrote his little rant about Aboot (sic) he copied the PMO and asked them to intervene.
I suspect something more sinister here. I think Gillard and McTurdman wanted to plant a seed with Richmond FC that a snide remark about Tony would be most welcome. Remember, this was the Dreamtime indigenous heritage game.
Given what happened on Australia Day 2012, is it too much of a stretch to
think that they might want to set up, say, an Aboriginal elder to complain that they felt “intimidated” by Abbott’s presence? But they would have to get someone else to throw the hand-grenades. They obviously thought Brendon Gale would be the useful idiot.
Leigh Lowe
9 Mar 13 at 8:39 pm
Timbo’s behaviour, with his over-active entitlement gland and public tantrums, gives us some insight into what might result if Russell Crowe and Naomi Campbell had a child.
Leigh Lowe
9 Mar 13 at 8:42 pm
I dont know and havent heard anything about this Leigh
examples?
“using the office of the PM to garner favours and freebies for him and his mates.”
who or what is Riochmond FC?. The politiking doesnt surprise me. They all do it and I am over it …the snide side olf politics as are many where it has become a media game.
A set up etc.
None of that surprises me and it stinks, the media games.
Aliice
9 Mar 13 at 8:47 pm
Leigh
I will give you this much. The problem I have with Labor is it is like an extended family. Probe a little deeper and you find their partners, siblings, cousins and second cousins in lucrative public sector jobs.
IT happened with Obeid – if they arent on the public sector teat for a job, they are in on public sector contracts.
That is a major problem with Labor. Its an incestuous party.
Aliice
9 Mar 13 at 8:55 pm
Read the article in the today’s Oz, Aliice.
It documents Timbo’s foibles in detail, the basis of which has not been disputed by Bollard’s office. In fact, they effectively confirm it by saying that they are concerned about who leaked the e-mail.
This, and Timbo’s unfortunate “little lady Asian doctor” remark, has scuttled McTurdman’s plan of putting Timbo into the campaign.
Lesson from Timbo’s misadventure here Aliice.
When you unscrew the cap off the second bottle of Chardy, put the computer keyboard in the tack.
Leigh Lowe
9 Mar 13 at 8:56 pm
“I suspect he’ll prove to be exceptionally well informed on defacto partner rights to superannuation splitting, when the relationship goes pear-shaped in the latter half of September.”
I think you are referring to when the contract ends.
Paul
9 Mar 13 at 9:06 pm
Well I thought his hissy fit at the Richmond match was totally understandable. Here he was at the locker room of his favourite team when this masculine and manly bloke from *Sydney*, who had been giving the missus a hard time arrived with two righteous babes in tow. And who did he have for company in comparison? Barry Cassidy, that’s who. No wonder he was upset.
Entropy
9 Mar 13 at 9:50 pm
I wonder if he is in it for Jules in any sense – or merely for himself. If the former, then points for trying at least. If the latter- and time will tell – then it is a pretty cynical manipulation of circumstance.
Elizabeth (Lizzie) B.
9 Mar 13 at 9:55 pm
First you deep six the Ted Thread and now we have to be civil about this Barbers Pole Worm?
How’s Get Fucked sound?
Pickles
9 Mar 13 at 9:57 pm
I will give you this much. The problem I have with Labor is it is like an extended family. Probe a little deeper and you find their partners, siblings, cousins and second cousins in lucrative public sector jobs.
IT happened with Obeid – if they arent on the public sector teat for a job, they are in on public sector contracts.
That is a major problem with Labor. Its an incestuous party.
Valid criticism. Most of the public don’t know how valid it is.
John Mc
9 Mar 13 at 10:04 pm
mummybloggers seem to be all aboard today.
mareeS
9 Mar 13 at 10:11 pm
Yet still 1st Himbo is seen as a bottom feeder, quelle suprise
Carpe Jugulum
9 Mar 13 at 11:26 pm
There is something kind of unfair here, seriously.
Bolt is evidently loving the Stedman sports scandal. He says he’ll be pursuing it on his show today. But he won’t go in hard against McTernan because he’s a mate.
Priorities?
C.L.
10 Mar 13 at 1:59 am
Never thought about it like that. Tim is definitely responsible for the PM only redeeming feature – her hair
helgab
10 Mar 13 at 2:10 am
Are you sure Tim is a hairdresser? I thought he was previously a sales rep for a hair products company rather than an actual hair stylist.
St Hubbins
10 Mar 13 at 7:04 am
I’m not a hairdresser but I would have thought even a 1st year apprentice would identify covering up her enormous earlobes was the main objective.
jumpnmcar
10 Mar 13 at 7:22 am
Well he sure aint smart. After his silly but understandable comment about his preference for small Asian females to do the old prostrate check, I defended him at a bbq chat with some unimpressed lady friends. But the blokes sure thought he had a point.
But this email to the football club was almost nasty, as well as stupid. Why on earth woud he think he was entitled to hobnob with the players, but the leader of the opposition has no such privilege?
The stupdity of the Labor camp would be a joke were it not for the fact that they are actually holding the reins of power, and the frggin purse strings.
Jannie
10 Mar 13 at 8:39 am
Sam J,you “don’t think the relationship will last”,so what? Timmee will still be on the taxpayers tit by way of having been shacked up with TLS for way past the qualifying period of 2 years. Whatever TLS has got and will continue to get from the taxpayer once she’s given the arse ,half will go to Timmee and don’t think he won’t claim it and rightly so.(is that positive enough?)
Lew
10 Mar 13 at 9:39 am
Why are there any posts here by cats?
Eyrie
10 Mar 13 at 10:02 am
Interesting that the name: “TIM RAY MATHIESON”, is an anagram for: “A MATRIMONY HEIST”, or “A MEATY MINOR SHIT”!
The name: “JULIA EILEEN GILLARD” is an anagram for “ILL GUILE EARNED JAIL”, or (in the wake of her Goebbels McTurnip-orchestrated distraction last month in which the A.L.P. labelled all Australian athletes as a bunch of druggies and cheats) “JAILED – ILLEGAL URINE”!
Up The Workers!
10 Mar 13 at 11:38 am
I have been a critic, still am but you showed me another view. Not sure I can be good but appreciate your effort.
Maggie
10 Mar 13 at 1:15 pm
All right then, here’s a good Tim story:
Years ago I was lined up under the Mclean stand at Ballymore. The whistle had blown and there was a rush to scull the rum cups and get to seats.
Tim was standing in front of me in the line. “Sorry, you can’t come through this gate, you’ll have to go around the back and up the other stairs” said the security girl. Tim didn’t whinge, argue the toss or come any of that “don’t you know who I am” rubbish. He just smiled, turned and walked away.
No, not this Tim. The Real Tim. Tim Horan.
Pickles
10 Mar 13 at 2:46 pm