I met a fellow at the pub the other night who said he was working on a pilot kids show for television, set in the farmyard about a pig called Conroy.

I asked him to write to this forum every now and then with an update.

The show is tentatively called Conroy the branch stacking pig and it follows Conroy through his day in the farmyard. He's always rolling around in the pigshit and when anybody asks "where's Conroy?" the answer is that he's out the back stacking up branches. Not that unusual, for Conroy is a very special kind of pig.

At the moment they are working on a theme tune for the show but they can't get past the skippy song

Conroy, Conroy,
Conroy, the branch stacking pig
Conroy, Conroy
The piglet who wants to be big.

Looks like a winner for the kids.

What's the branch stacking fool up to now?

http://www.theage.com.au/technology/biz-tech/conroy-blunder-could-damage-telstra-20091027-hhqh.html

Communications Minister Stephen Conroy has accidentally released a confidential report containing potentially damaging and embarrassing details about Telstra.

And in a further gaffe, the most sensitive information in the 252-page document is highlighted in yellow.

Furthermore, many of the pages in the report, tabled in the Senate yesterday, are labelled "confidential" and are meant only for individuals with "National Broadband Network probity clearance".

Detailed appendix information about providing broadband services to commercially unviable areas would allow critics to test Telstra's public claims with the reality.

Conroy the Fool wrote:
What's the branch stacking fool up to now?

http://www.theage.com.au/technology/biz-tech/conroy-blunder-could-damage-telstra-20091027-hhqh.html

Communications Minister Stephen Conroy has accidentally released a confidential report containing potentially damaging and embarrassing details about Telstra.

And in a further gaffe, the most sensitive information in the 252-page document is highlighted in yellow.

Furthermore, many of the pages in the report, tabled in the Senate yesterday, are labelled "confidential" and are meant only for individuals with "National Broadband Network probity clearance".

Detailed appendix information about providing broadband services to commercially unviable areas would allow critics to test Telstra's public claims with the reality.




Well, if it was a councillor he would be sacked. Or better still the whole council would be sacked. Unless of course he was protected by conroy. One rule for them, one rule for others, huh!

Here's another branch stacking fool brought to you by the ALP.

http://www.theage.com.au/national/minister-ignored-broadband-warnings-20100203-ndlf.html

Communications Minister Stephen Conroy ignored repeated warnings from the public service that his initial broadband network proposal was doomed to fail, costing taxpayers $17 million by the time the plan was aborted.

The idea of a privately built fibre-to-the-node broadband network was finally abandoned by the government last April after it found none of the private-sector proposals met its specifications.

Shadow communications minister Tony Smith said: ''The only certainty with Rudd government policy implementation is recklessness, incompetence and a failure to deliver."

No wonder with a branch stacking fool like Stephen Conroy at the hlem.

Stephen Conroy is the best minister we ever have.Keep going Comrade, you doing a good job.

BEST BY FAR wrote:
Stephen Conroy is the best minister we ever have.Keep going Comrade, you doing a good job.

Wanker!!

F##** OFF wrote:
BEST BY FAR wrote:
Stephen Conroy is the best minister we ever have.Keep going Comrade, you doing a good job.

Wanker!! Who's the idiot calling Conroy comrade? This SL salutation is something he eliminated from his branches which were not filled with salt of the earth Labor folk... Which is why he so often fails to marshal people for those booths he promises to cover when there's an election... Leaving it to other Labor members to arrange at the last moment. Such a nice, united political party, dontcha no.

http://www.theage.com.au/technology/technology-news/net-piracy-fight-takes-body-blow-20100204-nge0.html

HOLLYWOOD studios and record labels are being forced to go back to the drawing board to come up with a new way of combating online piracy after the Federal Court ruled that internet service providers are not required to police copyright infringement on their networks.

Justice Cowdroy said "… the law recognises no positive obligation on any person to protect the copyright of another."

Senator Conroy had appeared to be on the side of the studios, saying at a conference in April last year that iiNet's defence in the case "belongs in a Yes Minister episode".

===

I think the facts speak for themselves. It's Stephen Conroy who belongs in a Yes Minister episode.

He branch stacking.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/industry-sectors/oecd-queries-cost-of-new-broadband-network/story-e6frg9hx-1225826908447

THE OECD has questioned Labor's $43 billion national broadband network as the Communications Minister Stephen Conroy fends off an Auditor-General's report that shows $30 million was lost after he ignored public service advice that his original scheme risked failure.

Mr Giorno said "questions need to be answered" about Labor's broadband network because of the amount of spending involved and the apparent lack of any cost-benefit analysis.

(ie Branch stacking)

Opposition communications spokesman Tony Smith said taxpayers should be worried as Senator Conroy embarked on the new NBN proposal.

"Taxpayers have every reason to be worried that the same master of this disaster is presiding over even more taxpayers' funds on the reckless NBN II proposal, which was announced without a cost-benefit analysis or a business plan."

What a filthy swine is Conroy.
http://www.theage.com.au/national/conroy-helped-exmp-get-job-20100208-nnak.html

A FORMER Labor politician caught up in electoral fraud allegations was appointed to a key job with the new broadband network following a recommendation by Communications Minister Stephen Conroy.

Queenslander Mike Kaiser was appointed in late November to the $450,000-a-year role as head of government relations and external affairs for NBN Co, the government-owned company set up to build the $43 billion broadband network.

The company's chief executive, Mike Quigley, yesterday told a Senate estimates hearing that Mr Kaiser was personally recommended to him by Senator Conroy, and was appointed without any other candidates being considered.

Branch stacking bastard wrote:
What a filthy swine is Conroy.
http://www.theage.com.au/national/conroy-helped-exmp-get-job-20100208-nnak.html



You would think that with Kevin Rudd's leadership under scrutiny, that he would regret putting a branch stacking pig like Conroy in charge of anything important.

Even John Brumby knows better how to deal with the branch stacking pigs in his party, like Telmo Languiller - give them titles but nothing of any consequence to do.

Stephen Conroy was a regular at Brimbank Council in the bad old days interfering in the business and getting mates deals done.

Looks like he has taken those practices all the way to Canberra and tainted the administrative practices there as well with his own brand of nepotism, jobs for the boys and corruption of process.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/labor-mp-hired-on-merit-not-mates/story-e6frg6nf-1225828496957

Labor MP hired `on merit, not mates'

* Sid Maher
* From: The Australian
* February 10, 2010 12:00AM

THE opposition has seized on the appointment of former Queensland MP Mike Kaiser to a $450,000 a year job with the national broadband network as "jobs for Labor mates" after confirmation that Communications Minister Stephen Conroy recommended the Labor operative to the fledgling company.

But evin Rudd yesterday stood by the appointment, while NBN, the company charged with delivering the government's $43 billion broadband network, said Mr Kaiser's hiring was based on "merit, not mates".

The company confirmed yesterday that its monthly payroll bill for 46 staff at 31 October, 2009, was $1.5 million, GST-exclusive. More than 100 staff have now been appointed.

In a parliamentary attack on the appointment, opposition communications spokesman Tony Smith said Senator Conroy's recommendation of Mr Kaiser for the job showed the Prime Minister's "much-vaunted promises of a new era of integrity were just words".

He also called on Senator Conroy to detail his conversations with Mr Kaiser about the appointment and to say whether he was a friend of Mr Kaiser.

Describing Mr Kaiser as "infamous", Mr Smith said Senator Conroy's suggestion of Mr Kaiser showed that "integrity and the minister's actions are miles apart". Mr Kaiser left Queensland parliament in 2000 after he was alleged to have been involved in electoral registration irregularities in 1986. No charges were ever laid.

The opposition attack came after Senator Conroy told a Senate estimates hearing on Monday that he had recommended Mr Kaiser -- who has previously been chief of staff to Queensland Premier Anna Bligh and former NSW premier Morris Iemma -- to NBN "as a possible person with the relevant experience".

NBN chief executive Mike Quigley told the hearing the role was not advertised and no other candidates were considered. Mr Rudd yesterday said the decision to appoint Mr Kaiser had been taken independently by NBN.

"We have full confidence in the minister and in NBN Co's handling of this matter," he said.

Brimbank Revisited wrote:
Stephen Conroy was a regular at Brimbank Council in the bad old days interfering in the business and getting mates deals done.

Looks like he has taken those practices all the way to Canberra and tainted the administrative practices there as well with his own brand of nepotism, jobs for the boys and corruption of process.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/labor-mp-hired-on-merit-not-mates/story-e6frg6nf-1225828496957

Labor MP hired `on merit, not mates'

* Sid Maher
* From: The Australian
* February 10, 2010 12:00AM

THE opposition has seized on the appointment of former Queensland MP Mike Kaiser to a $450,000 a year job with the national broadband network as "jobs for Labor mates" after confirmation that Communications Minister Stephen Conroy recommended the Labor operative to the fledgling company.

But evin Rudd yesterday stood by the appointment, while NBN, the company charged with delivering the government's $43 billion broadband network, said Mr Kaiser's hiring was based on "merit, not mates".

The company confirmed yesterday that its monthly payroll bill for 46 staff at 31 October, 2009, was $1.5 million, GST-exclusive. More than 100 staff have now been appointed.

In a parliamentary attack on the appointment, opposition communications spokesman Tony Smith said Senator Conroy's recommendation of Mr Kaiser for the job showed the Prime Minister's "much-vaunted promises of a new era of integrity were just words".

He also called on Senator Conroy to detail his conversations with Mr Kaiser about the appointment and to say whether he was a friend of Mr Kaiser.

Describing Mr Kaiser as "infamous", Mr Smith said Senator Conroy's suggestion of Mr Kaiser showed that "integrity and the minister's actions are miles apart". Mr Kaiser left Queensland parliament in 2000 after he was alleged to have been involved in electoral registration irregularities in 1986. No charges were ever laid.

The opposition attack came after Senator Conroy told a Senate estimates hearing on Monday that he had recommended Mr Kaiser -- who has previously been chief of staff to Queensland Premier Anna Bligh and former NSW premier Morris Iemma -- to NBN "as a possible person with the relevant experience".

NBN chief executive Mike Quigley told the hearing the role was not advertised and no other candidates were considered. Mr Rudd yesterday said the decision to appoint Mr Kaiser had been taken independently by NBN.

"We have full confidence in the minister and in NBN Co's handling of this matter," he said.

Rudd is so beholden to the likes of Conroy and the NSW Right, the cancer is now spreading rapidly through Canberra. This mob will be the ALP's undoing nationally just as they have been in NSW. Just waiting for the disease to really get hold.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/lets-pop-that-450k-question/story-e6frg6nf-1225828951229

STEPHEN Conroy has one big question about the National Broadband Network's $450,000-a-year government relations man and former Labor MP Mike Kaiser that he hasn't answered.

Why does a 100 per cent government-owned entity such as the NBN need a government relations person in the first place?

Stephen's $450,000 man wrote:
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/lets-pop-that-450k-question/story-e6frg6nf-1225828951229

STEPHEN Conroy has one big question about the National Broadband Network's $450,000-a-year government relations man and former Labor MP Mike Kaiser that he hasn't answered.

Why does a 100 per cent government-owned entity such as the NBN need a government relations person in the first place?

is the simple answer.

corrupt to the core

power drunk conroy

He's a f*ckwit.

http://www.theage.com.au/technology/technology-news/google-baulks-at-conroys-call-to-censor-youtube-20100211-ntm0.html

Google says it will not "voluntarily" comply with the government's request that it censor YouTube videos in accordance with broad "refused classification" (RC) content rules.

Communications Minister Stephen Conroy referred to Google's censorship on behalf of the Chinese and Thai governments in making his case for the company to impose censorship locally.

"They [Google] don't control the access in Australia - all their equipment that would do this is hosted overseas ... and I would find it very hard to believe that the Australian government can in any way force an American company to follow Australian law in America," University of Sydney associate professor Bjorn Landfeldt said.

CORE (Computer Research and Education Association) said the blacklist could be used by current and future governments to restrict freedom of speech, while those determined to get around the filters and access nasty content could do so with ease.

Stephen Conroy was scrutineer for Mike Kaiser
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,1,26710734-952,00.html

By Steven Wardill

February 12, 2010 12:00am

BROADBAND Minister Stephen Conroy's claims not to be a close friend of Mike Kaiser, the man he recommended for a plum $450,000 role, have taken a blow after revelations he flew to Queensland to scrutinise for the former MP when he was elected to the Queensland Parliament.

Senior Labor sources yesterday revealed Senator Conroy was personally appointed by Mr Kaiser to scrutinise for him during vote counting at his by-election in 2000 and gave a speech lauding the new Woodridge MP at the victory celebrations.

It comes after Senator Conroy admitted this week that he put forward Mr Kaiser's name for the role of government relations manager for the National Broadband Network.

Mr Kaiser was later appointed to the role which was never advertised.

Senator Conroy, who also dismissed Mr Kaiser's vote rorting as a "youthful indiscretion", has insisted the pair are not close friends and that their personal contact was limited.

"In the 20 years prior to Mr Kaiser's appointment, I have seen or spoken with him about a dozen times," Senator Conroy said.

His office yesterday confirmed he flew to Queensland to scrutinise for Mr Kaiser but maintained the pair were not close friends.

The controversy came as Premier Anna Bligh attempted to fend off claims she had circumvented her own post-political separation rules to allow her former chief of staff to lobby the State Government on behalf of the NBN.

"Mr Kaiser and the NBN are not coming and knocking on the door of the Queensland Government to lobby us," she said. "It's the other way around, we are knocking on the NBN's door to make sure Queenslanders get a good deal."

Government guidelines ban for set periods meetings with former ministers, ministerial staff and senior public servants who have had "official dealings" on issues.

Official dealings are considered to be "specific policies, procedures, transactions and negotiations" they have acted on.

Ms Bligh said Mr Kaiser's only action on the NBN was to set up a meeting between her and chief Mike Quigley.

"I think you will see from the documentation that Mr Kaiser set up a meeting, that is hardly an official dealing," she said.

However, documents released to the Opposition under Right to Information laws showed Mr Kaiser directly sought a meeting between Ms Bligh and Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on the issue of the NBN.

Every commentator on this matter is at pains to explain that the Labor party is 'protecting' Kaiser. Question is, how many people is Labor 'protecting' at the taxpayers expense EVERY time it gets one of its people into the political trough? How protected are the main players contributing to the Brimbank Council incompetence - people I understand Sen Conroy promoted? No wonder that nobody will provide hard evidence - the kind actionable in a court of law - if they know that the party culture is to protect them at all cost. This would just be a messy one-off except that for those watching public affairs in Australia can see it as a key operating principle.

Libs are no better, recall Costello's mate who hadn't paid his taxes appointed to a high level, highly paid position.

Why should ordinary Australians have any faith in politicians and political processes.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/politics/stephen-conroy-cold-on-kerry-stokes-talk/story-e6frgczf-1225830260479

COMMUNICATIONS Minister Stephen Conroy has refused to say if a decision to gift the commercial television networks more than $250 million was discussed when he went skiing with Seven Network deputy chairman Kerry Stokes in Colorado last month.

It has emerged that Senator Conroy took time out of a US holiday in January to meet with Mr Stokes in the skiing resort of Vail just a month before the government announced it would cut rebates paid by the free-to-air networks by 33 per cent this year and 50 per cent next year.

It has also set a precedent, with the radio industry now also calling for similar treatment.

Conroy the branch stacking pig knows all the tricks
http://www.theage.com.au/national/tv-fees-cut-dodgy-abbott-20100216-o90s.html

THE government appears to have given the commercial free-to-air TV stations a $250 million "bribe" to buy favourable coverage in an election year, Tony Abbott has alleged.

Senator Conroy yesterday flatly refused to say whether he had discussed the licence fees when he and Seven mogul Kerry Stokes went skiing together in Colorado, where Mr Stokes has a luxury property, in January.

The government says the rebate - 33 per cent in 2010 and 50 per cent in 2011 - is designed to encourage local content. But there were no such conditions attached to it.