What a difference a year makes. What changes a leader can wreak. A decade ago an articulate, progressive and diplomatic Barack Obama led the United States. The country’s first – and thus far, only – black president could be direct without being rude and charming at the same time as being gracious. A hugely popular President, he was the embodiment of Luther King’s dream. How quickly that dream has faded.
Today, the United States is led by an inarticulate, conservative, bully, promoted by his very own deputy as “the new sheriff”. And whilst that deputy argues the virtues of democracy and allowing every voice to be heard, the new leadership bullies and belittles its allies and neighbours. Worse yet, it undermined the judiciary in the exoneration or pardon of the January 6 rioters. The ACT Government is no better. In failing to investigate those responsible for the fit-up and subsequent prosecution of Bakchos in 2017, The ACT Government has placed them above the law.
A core premise of democracy is the rule of law, which includes that every person is subject to the law, regardless of position or affiliation. To subvert the rule of law by placing a person above the law is to effectively make them sovereign, a concept entirely at odds with a democracy.
In watching the actions of Trump in the past month we see the same behaviours, yet by comparison the ACT has received very little if any condemnation for its maltreatment of Bakchos and his family. Yes, it is the same behaviour and maltreatment that we are watching in America right now. These are the behaviours of a fascist state, one that enables abuses, accepts violations of supposedly inviolable sources of information and turns a blind eye to true justice. It is a state that lies blatantly (Zelensky never campaigned with Harris and the amount invested by the USA to Ukraine has been wildly inflated; similarly, as proved in court, Bakchos never submitted the affidavit on which he was charged).
This is what so many people do not appreciate – once a government interferes with the recordkeeping – tribunal findings, legal files, hansard – it becomes part of the corruption. And like all lies, those that are subsequently told to cover-up the original lies are bigger, bolder and far more damaging. There’s a reason that the spiders web is used to describe lies – the sticky fibres spun to contain the fly in the ointment bulge and fester for all to see.
Angel Marina and Tu Pham each had substantial motive to see the former Commissioner for ACT Revenue dismissed. Angel Marina was facing discipline for multiple breaches of privacy, bullying and harassment, and investigation of missing money from his section within the public service. Pham faced breach of human rights for failing to support or protect the former Commissioner from Marina’s actions.
There is no doubt about these claims, as they were proved in Bakchos’ ACT Supreme Court case in 2017 – yet both remain untouchable. The ACT Government refuses to refer either them or anyone else to the police for investigation, let alone prosecution and the Australian Federal Police who led the investigation into the claims against Bakchos after his ACAT hearing refuse to examine the alternative perspective. We know they that there were considering that someone else may have been responsible for forging the affidavit on which Bakchos was charged; having won his case conclusively 16-0, why has that avenue not been pursued? It was a binary argument put forward by the ACT to the jury – which means that having been found not guilty, someone fitted-up Bakchos.
Tu Pham was recalled to the stand due to her inconsistent testimony and Marina’s assertions were proved baseless. If it is considered that the testimony of neither can be held as reliable, why have they not been investigated or charged? Because just like the American January 6 rioters, they are above the law.
We all worry about the Commonwealth and its corruption, but there is a steady flow of public servants between the ACT and the Commonwealth. Marina is one such public servant who has moved from one to the other. Finance Minister Katy Gallagher has made the move from Territory to Commonwealth as well and warrants the most determined scrutiny, for it was she who interfered in the former Commissioner’s matters whilst Industrial Relations Minister, was Chief Minster when Bakchos went to ACAT and would have had to approve the referral to ACT Policing.
If you are not concerned about the corruption in the ACT Government (or any other Australian state for that matter), you are not serious about addressing corruption in Australia. Until everyone is subject to the laws as they are legislated, regardless of position, sporting prowess, gender or colour, no state can call itself democratic or progressive. Bear that in mind when you go the polls in the near future.
