Federal scandals have nothing on Tasmanian politics

The whole thing with Kevin Rudd and Wayne Swan allegedly helping one of Kevin's mates through a process to get Government funding? So boring. If it had happened in Tasmania, it would just be one of the seemingly hundreds of political scandals that come out every odd week in the local media (even weeks are reserved for stories about a Tasmanian AFL team).

Just today it was announced that yet another Government minister had resigned (that makes five just three years), this time due to a "whispering campaign" against her. She employed her mother, two sisters and a brother-in-law at her electorate office. Hey! Maybe they were the best people for the job, alright! And they just happened to all be related to her.

I think Uncle Kevin will be fine, and so will Turnbull. Swanny tried to muddy the waters by claiming one of his staffers was threatened by Turnbull at a party the other night. As a smokescreen, it hasn't been too effective yet. But Swan has to know he's in trouble. Because if it is proven that he misled Parliament, he has to resign. No doubt.

If you misled Parliament, clap your hands...

It looks as if someone in the Department has sent a (probably fake) email to the media, which seems to confirm that Kevin's mate was being given preferential treatment. This came after Wayne Swan told Parliament that John Grant, the PM's friend, was treated just like every other applicant.

That happened in the Tasmanian Parliament recently, and our Deputy Premier had to resign. He told Parliament one thing, an email emerged to prove the opposite, and that was that.

Whether or not the email is fake is beside the point. If the fact is established that Swan misled Parliament, then he has to go.

More info:
Peter van Onselen with some analysis, Swan hits back, Turnbull says Rudd is focusing on the veracity of the email to distract from the fact his Treasurer misled Parliament.