Deceit

by Richard Evans

  ‘I will not withdraw, Madam Speaker, I have the call and I am moving a motion.’

  ‘It’s a pity you ignore the ruling of the speaker. Under Standing Order 94A, I suspend the leader of the opposition from the chamber for one hour.’

  The opposition benches erupted with many members bouncing to their feet shouting at the speaker, pointing to her and Stanley, trying to make the point that the decision was out of order. The cacophony drowned out the speaker’s attempts to bring order and she stood, seeking silence in the house, but getting none. It wasn’t until Stanley turned to face his colleagues, gesturing with his hands to quieten them, that members resumed their seats and stopped shouting. Stanley then plonked himself into his chair.

  ‘The house will come to order. The leader of the opposition will withdraw himself from the chamber for one hour.’

  Stanley had no choice. If he did not leave the chamber as directed, he would have been escorted out by the serjeant-at-arms. Being forcibly removed from the chamber would not have been a good look for him or his party on any news broadcast; and his first day as leader would have been irretrievably tarnished. As he left, the opposition benches erupted again with a cacophony of noise as voices shouted to be heard.

  ‘Order, order.’ The speaker tried in vain to quieten the baying members on her left.

  Messenger sprang to the despatch box waiting for the call, but the noise behind him did not subside. To gain control the speaker again stood at her place, but it had little impact. The house seemed out of control. Bagshaw then switched tactics and stormed from the chamber, immediately suspending further parliamentary proceedings, and automatically adjourning the house until a time she chose to reopen.

  Gordon was astonished at what had just happened in the chamber, but very concerned the Appropriation Bill had been read a third time, and was now available for a vote without debate. It could be decided only on voices at any time the speaker chose, clearly a distinct advantage for Gerrard and his suspect scheme. He abandoned his lunch and strode quickly to his desk to call Hopetoun to make sure the prime minister could not have his way, worried about the possible motives behind Bagshaw closing the parliament within minutes of it opening.

  ‘Ben, it’s Gordon. The parliament has suddenly been closed by the speaker after the third reading to accept the amendments of the contentious Appropriation Bill. I expect this might be government tactic to stop any further action by the opposition to force a vote.’

  ‘I should have a legal opinion to you within the hour, but you will need solid evidence for this dismissal to be valid.’

  ‘I only have wild guesses at the moment, but I expect some hard evidence of collusion to be with me shortly.’

  ‘Like what?’

  ‘Photographs of clandestine meetings.’

  ‘That could be enough, but her actions in the house should also be enough to support intended action.’

  ‘I look forward to receiving it, as quickly as you can.’

  As the noise quickly subsided, members began drifting out of the chamber to discuss what to do next. Messenger walked across the chamber and confronted Bruce.

  ‘What was all that about?’

  ‘I have no idea. I’ll go and see her and find out when she is planning to reopen the parliament.’

  ‘Are you shafting us, Meredith?’ Messenger asked.

  ‘Come on, you know me better than that. I have no idea what that was all about.’

  ‘We were not planning on asking for a vote, just a debate on the propriety of the senate amending a money bill.’

  Bruce raised her hands in frustration and shook her head. ‘Maybe you should have squared it away with me first.’

  ‘Let me know when the speaker plans to reopen the chamber, will you please?’

  ‘I thought Wilson was the manager of opposition business and now my go-to man? You swapped roles, didn’t you?’

  ‘He is, but on this matter, I would prefer you to continue to deal with me.’

  ‘No worries, comrade.’ Bruce smiled.

  Messenger walked off looking for Chief Whip Charlton, wanting to call an immediate meeting of members to discuss tactics and process for what looked like being an extremely long day.

  Anita Devlin was sitting at Aussies with a latte, scrolling through media reports on her iPad, nibbling a sesame-seed bar, oblivious to the start of the parliament. She normally paid little attention to the early procedures in the house, but the sudden eruption of noise disturbed her research and she looked up to check one of the three televisions broadcasting the house. She watched as Stanley was ejected, and then saw the speaker withdraw from the chamber, adjourning the parliament. Anita quickly phoned her editor.

  ‘Cleaver, did you just see what happened in the house?’

  ‘Yeah, animals behaving like animals, so what?’

  ‘I suspect it might be more than that. I think our idea about the additional money in the legislation being a secret commission could have weight. My theory about a plan to misappropriate money from the government may still be on, and I think the speaker may be colluding with the prime minister in the scheme.’

  ‘Evidence? Where is your evidence?’

  ‘I bet you she’ll prevent the opposition taking a vote today, and she’ll ram the bill through.’

  ‘That’s crazy stuff, Anita.’

  ‘What?’ Anita stood, preparing to leave. ‘You don’t think the amendments made by the senate aren’t provocative enough?’

  ‘Look, it could be adding weight to your speculation, but I can’t see where the connection is, you have nothing other than gossip and parliamentary chatter – I need more.’

  ‘I am going to write the story, and if you print it, you print it.’ Anita was ready to leave for her office. ‘Either way, I am going to write it.’

  ‘If I print it, Hancock will have my balls. Your retirement piece yesterday didn’t go down well with him.’

  ‘Nice to hear you have some. Why don’t you use them, Cleave.’ ‘Listen here sweetheart, you need confirmed facts linking all these ideas together, not gossip!’ Cleaver yelled, forcing Anita to move the phone away from her ear. ‘I will print facts, not fanciful chatter from a creepy clerk on his last day in the parliament, and conspiracy theories from some loser lover from the opposition.’

  ‘If I am wrong then sack me, but I know there is something going on.’

  ‘I am not saying I will print it, but get me a story with a bit more grunt and a lot more evidence. If you give me more facts then I may be more open to your literary charms, but I want facts.’

  ‘How long have I got?’

  ‘Two hours.’

  ‘Not much time, but I’m on it.’

  As Anita pushed cancel, a text message buzzed her phone.

  YOU MUST FOLLOW THE MONEY. CHECK THE NEW AMOUNT – WHY DIFFERENT?

  Who is this?

  ASK QUESTIONS. STOP THIS FRAUD.

  Anita didn’t recognise the number and quickly scrolled through her favourites list and tapped a number.

  ‘Hi Bart, listen, last night you mentioned Senator Anthony had said there was a question about the funding and the exact amount being added. What was it?’

  Messenger, distracted and focused on the game of politics said, ‘He mentioned the final figure put into the legislation was only slightly different from the original budgeted amount.’

  ‘By how much?’

  ‘Forty million dollars more than the budget announcements.’

  ‘Did he say why?’

  ‘Additional administration costs, extra site costs – apparently the Indonesians have incurred further costs.’

  ‘Thanks, and good luck today. You look as if you might need it.’

  ‘Yeah thanks, and thanks for last night as well.’

  ‘No worries, what about dinner tonight?’ Anita offered. ‘Serious?’

  ‘Yeah, why not. You’ve slept with me once, so why not dinner?’

  ‘Cheeky.’ Messenger smiled. ‘Okay, it’s
a date, but no expectations.’

  ‘You’re on, good luck today.’

  Anita rang off, now focusing on the research she needed to do, and where to begin. She already had a number of clues and considered going to the prime minister’s office to get a statement from an adviser about why the additional funds were being added to the legislation, but surmised this would be pointless as they would tell her nothing she could use, so why give them the idea she was tracking them. She decided to visit the parliamentary library, the place to go for all quality research and the repository of all knowledge, if you were assisted by the right librarian. She collected her things, shoving them into her tattered shoulder bag, and began the trek to the library to research the budget papers and try to piece together a money trail.

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  THURSDAY 12.37 PM

  ‘Hi Gobby, what’s going on?’ Nigel Nelson burst into the office and collapsed onto the lounge, picking up the uneaten half sandwich. ‘Do you mind?’

  ‘We have a situation, Nige, that requires your Machiavellian mind.’ Gordon walked over to the lounge and joined his colleague.

  Nelson, mouth full of bread and salad, mumbled, ‘Anything for you, my friend.’

  ‘The speaker is going to ram this appropriation legislation through the house. She has ejected the leader of the opposition for an hour and closed the parliament, but only after ensuring the third reading was introduced in the chamber so it can now be moved by the government at any time for approval.’

  ‘Seems like she may be trying to even up the numbers before a vote, and started by throwing out Stanley.’ Nelson popped the last piece of sandwich into his mouth as he spoke. ‘The easiest way for the government to resist a potential vote is to get the numbers in the house to favour the government. How many does she need to toss out?’

  ‘Three.’

  ‘There you go, she’ll either toss out two more opposition members or try not to have a vote.’

  ‘So what do you think I should do?’

  ‘Nothing.’

  ‘I can’t,’ Gordon hesitated. ‘I know this legislation is wrong and I have to stop it.’

  ‘What can you do? You are only the clerk, you cannot dismiss the speaker, only the parliament can do that, and that will never happen.’

  ‘But it’s wrong, and if it passes, Gerrard wins again.’

  ‘You mean the people of Australia will win, Gobby, surely.’ Nelson sat forward on the lounge and placed his hand on Gordon’s shoulder. ‘Mate, listen, you have to let it go. If you keep trying to stop this money going through today you will be pilloried for it.’

  ‘Gerrard has already threatened me.’

  ‘What? How? When?’

  ‘He called me earlier and told me to keep out of the chamber and not cause a fuss.’

  ‘Then heed his advice. He’s not the type of man you want to upset today.’ Nelson squeezed Gordon’s shoulder. ‘Mate, this is your last day in the house after a fine career, you deserve to be praised. Don’t do anything that could destroy your legacy.’

  Gordon brushed him off and stood, beginning to pace. ‘I can’t allow this money to go through unscrutinised, I just can’t.’

  ‘The opposition have approved it for heaven’s sake, there is nothing wrong with it, let it go, Gordon, let it go.’

  ‘What would you do if you were me?’

  ‘Well, I’d be out to a boozy lunch,’ Nelson cackled. ‘But if I were you, I reckon the only folks who can take action are the opposition, and they have to remove the speaker.’

  ‘That’s what I was thinking.’

  ‘Promise me this, Gordon,’ Nelson stood to leave. ‘If they do not take action, then you have to let it go.’

  ‘I can’t do that, Nigel, I love this place too much to see its conventions trashed like they were in the senate last night.’

  ‘I understand that, my friend. Give me a hug will you, I think you need it,’ Nelson stepped around the marble table and walked into Gordon’s open arms. The friends grabbed each other and slapped each other’s backs. ‘You take care, and let’s catch up tomorrow at the club for lunch.’

  Gordon stepped back, head bowed, and a forced smile. ‘Thanks, Nige, I appreciate your support. If you think of anything else, let me know.’

  ‘No worries mate, and thanks for the sandwich. More mayo next time, eh?’

  As Nelson left, Gordon walked to his desk and opened his second drawer.

  Messenger’s phone buzzed as he sat waiting for his colleagues to assemble in the party room.

  YOU WILL NEED TO REMOVE THE SPEAKER.

  Too difficult.

  IT’S THE ONLY WAY TO DEFER LEGISLATION UNTIL NEXT YEAR.

  How?

  BIAS TOWARD THE GOVERNMENT. CHECK 1955 CAMERON CASE.

  She won’t let us move a motion of dissent.

  SHE IS EVENING UP THE NUMBERS. BE CAREFUL.

  Peter Stanley called the meeting to order. ‘Colleagues, we are now in a parliament that, for the first time in history, seems to be at the beck and call of the prime minister, and his speaker.’ The party room was full, all seats taken, with a few members choosing to stand at the back, checking their phones, texting and swiping though messages. ‘I am very concerned parliamentary process has been trashed today within the first few moments of the session opening, before the house even had its full complement of members, and for no obvious reason other than to stop process. The question then becomes, what are we to do?’

  Tilley bounded to his feet first with an opinion, as he almost always did. ‘Leader, I think we should go on strike, and not attend the chamber for the remainder of the day.’ There were a few titters of disbelief toward the back of the room.

  ‘Thanks, junior, but I suspect the government would welcome our non-appearance in parliament, as it would allow them to pass the appropriation legislation without dissent. They run the house. They are responsible for a quorum. They don’t need us in the house to have it operate. Anyone else with a suggestion?’

  ‘I think we should gain control of the chamber.’ Charlie Edmunds was on his feet two rows back from the front. ‘If we are serious about stopping this legislation, then we have to bring down the government – and that will take some backbone; and it will take cooperation from all of us.’

  ‘How do you mean, Charlie?’ Stanley quizzed.

  ‘Look, the speaker will act to get rid of any one of us for any reason.’ ‘She wants to even up the numbers,’ interjected Messenger. ‘Exactly, she has already shown what her tactics will be by expelling the leader for nothing more than moving a motion. I reckon she wants to even up the numbers in the house before she puts the appropriation legislation to a vote. So if we stay mute, then she has no reason to expel anyone and the only option is to bring on the legislation. When she puts it to a vote, we dissent, and force a formal vote.’

  ‘Terrific idea, Charlie, thank you.’ Stanley smiled. ‘I suspect you are right about the speaker ejecting anyone from the house who plays up, so let’s not give her any reason to eject us. We will need to be on our best behaviour. Any other comments?’

  ‘I agree with Charlie.’ Wilson Campbell said, surprisingly supportive, given his colleagues had sacked him just ten hours earlier. ‘I don’t think Bagshaw will allow a vote. I think she will ram the bill through on voices, and not call a division if she has that opportunity. From her actions this morning, I suspect she is under instructions from the government.’

  ‘You mean Gerrard don’t you?’ shouted Tilley.

  ‘Then how are we to get what we want? If we are to stop this Indonesian funding going through, what can we do?’ Stanley asked.

  ‘We get rid of the speaker,’ Messenger said firmly.

  ‘How? We can’t call a vote of dissent against her, she won’t allow it,’ Stanley said.

  ‘We formally ask her to resign in her chambers, right now.’ An immediate buzz of conversation burst out among the politicians at this audacious suggestion, some wondering aloud if the idea had me
rit, should even be considered.

  ‘That’s a fairly drastic step,’ Christopher Hughes said.

  Messenger moved to the front of the room, allowing all his colleagues to see him. ‘If we write a formal letter setting out our concerns, quoting the unprecedented action against the leader, pointing out that she walked out of the house, deliberately shutting it down, thus intentionally denying the opposition the right to move a motion, then she needs to consider her position as the parliament’s highest officer. If she retains any respect at all for the parliament, she may just agree and then resign. It seems to me that we have a case, and if we ask her to resign, who knows, she may be persuaded. If we are serious about stopping the legislation, it might just work.’

  ‘Not if no-one knows about it and she doesn’t feel any pressure,’ Hughes added.

  ‘Then we brief the media. We send a copy to the governor-general, and we advise the clerk,’ Messenger said.

  ‘Bagshaw won’t do it, and even if she does, what happens then?’ Stanley said, slowly shaking his head, looking around the room for a contrary view.

  ‘If she does comply with our request, we are then required to elect another speaker. We have the numbers in the house, and we can put one of ours in the chair.’

  ‘With the media in a sudden panic and the pressure that would generate, and if the governor-general gets involved, it might just work,’ Hughes said.

  ‘She won’t do it,’ Stanley repeated. ‘And how can we bring pressure to bear quickly enough?’

  ‘Let’s try; we’ve got nothing to lose.’ James Harper added his support.

  Peter Stanley sat silently for a moment, tapping his fingertips in front of his face at the leader’s table. ‘Okay, let’s do it. Chris, use your legal language in a nicely worded letter for us. Hayden, formally request a meeting with the speaker before the house reopens for business.’ Stanley distributed tasks to his leadership group. ‘Everyone else, make sure you remain so quiet in the house that we can hear a pin drop. I know it will be hard, but no matter the provocation from the speaker or the government, we need to remain quiet. Do not, under any circumstances, do anything that will get you ejected for any reason. Especially if Gerrard says anything outrageous; stay silent. We need the numbers.’