And a special blog for Bruce!

Perth, Western Australia is a long way from anywhere, even in Australia. Even distance and relative isolation does not preclude ethical breaches in this ‘wild west’ town.
The very latest, fresh off the presses is that the State’s Sports and Seniors Minister Bob Kucera has resigned from cabinet over a shares scandal.It seems Mr Kucera's wife Susan held nearly 3,000 shares in Alinta Gas, worth more than $20,000, when he did not withdraw from a Cabinet decision to award a consortium, headed by Alinta, a financial assistance package to expand the Dampier-to-Bunbury gas pipeline.
This little affair, in a State well known for its self serving politicians and business leaders, is styled; a breach of the ministerial code of conduct or conflict of interest. You have to wonder how much money must be involved before it becomes outright theft.
However things might have been put in to perspective by Mr Kucera’s statement to Parliament saying he had no alternative but to resign.

"My personal integrity will not allow me to do anything else other than admit that I was at fault," Mr Kucera said. "Integrity has always been the hallmark of my career, but also underpins my belief in the Westminster system and the values this Government operates under. "I believe there is only one option left for me, and that has been to ask the premier to accept my resignation as a minister of the Crown in WA - the premier has accepted that. "

Meanwhile Western Australia's Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) says criminal charges against the former acting commissioner of WA's Corruption and Crime Commission, Moira Rayner, have arisen from her continued conduct during a period in August.That’s right, the former top anti corruption fighter cops it in the head for playing fast and loose.
The sad part about all of this is that like many Australian’s I have grown to admire Rayner as a stalwart fighter for justice and equity.
So what did she do?
The charge is official corruption and attempting to pervert the course of justice.
Rayner allegedly tipped off the then Clerk of the Legislative Council, Laurie Marquet. She went to visit him in a Perth hospice and warned him not to use his phone because it may be bugged.
Marquet was under investigation and later charged with more than 50 counts of corruption and theft during his exalted term as Clerk.
This has been a long running, on again off again saga, perhaps reflecting the respect in which Rayner was held.
So there you have it Bruce, a little more political BS from place far flung.