Should the AFP investigate Abbott

Slippery Pete is now being investigated for defrauding the Commonwealth of $900 in cab charges in 2010.
Should Tony Abbott be investigated for possibly defrauding the Commonwealth of at least $6651 in 2009 whilst advertising his book Battlelines.
From The Independent.

Quote:

Tony Abbott released Battlelines in 2009. It was a book designed to set the tone for his leadership and outline his vision for Australia. From his Sydney seat of Warringah, Abbott flew to Canberra to discuss the book at the National Press Club on 28 July. While it can probably be argued that the Press Club visit was legitimate business – even if it was to discuss and sign copies of his book – how would he explain his trip to Melbourne on 3 August for a dinner event at a Dymocks bookstore? Abbott returned to Melbourne as well as visiting Brisbane and Perth to promote his book. In all, he charged $5,689.36 to the Commonwealth for business that seems personal not parliamentary. That was only the air fares. Including drivers to and from his book events, the taxpayer has put $6,651.96 towards the promotion of his book.

Any comments on this. Do you all feel it is necessary to investigate Abbott?

What's happening to Pete "Slippery" Slipper

I have been following this "Slippery Pete" imbroglio for a while now and the more that comes out the more I realise he is probably innocent. Or, at least, is acting exactly like other politicians currently do.
Justice Rares threw out the sexual harassment claims by Ashby and said it was a conspiracy to set up Slipper for a fall.
Then there was the cab charge imbroglio brought on by Ashby that he later dropped after it soundly put a lot of negative publicity on Slipper. Obviously nothing there.
But finally the AFP found a $900 cab charge misdemeanor in 2010.
But wait, what about all of the other finance misdemeanors by other politicians?

There is of course the Peter Reith phone card imbroglio from 2000.
Here is an exert from the ABC show PM.

LINDSAY TANNER: On what basis and on what authority did you provide your son with your tele-card and pin number? Since becoming aware of the fact that your card was being misused, what inquiries have you made to determine how the tele-card and pin number came to be more widely abused?

PETER REITH: I did give the card to my son and it was . I should not have done so. There is a Remuneration Tribunal determination which says that you must only use the card personally and I was in breach of that.

PHILIP WILLIAMS: A straight breach of the rules. So, what was the penalty?

The Prime Minister.

JOHN HOWARD: It's not something that I would encourage people to do and it's not something I've done but if you're asking me would I regard it as a hanging offence in relation to the position he now holds the answer is no, I don't.
This was a $50,000 phone card debt that Reith's phone had on it. His son "rakked" up illegally, $950.
What penalty??
A slap on the wrist.

All below from the Independent Australian.
There is the Finance Department Protocol followed when an Allegation is Received of Alleged Misuse of Entitlement by a Member or Senator (the so-called Minchin Protocol, because the then Howard Government finance minister Nick Minchin decreed it) which says that when a politician claims too much for minor expenses (such as cab fares) then they just quietly repay the excess and all is forgiven.

From the Protocol:

Internal Audit

• When an allegation of or other event which suggests misuse of entitlement occurs, the Department undertakes an internal investigation to ascertain whether the allegations are credible (rather than being only malicious or vexatious).

• If the matter is relatively minor, the Member or Senator will be invited to provide an explanation to the Department.

A rort from March 2011.
A LIBERAL staffer who splurged $906 on a cab ride from Wodonga to Melbourne boasted on Facebook: “I don’t do buses.”
Adam Wyldeck, who works for Victorian Liberal MP Sophie Mirabella, provided taxi fare updates on Facebook as he travelled to the airport on Sunday.
“Not even in Melbourne yet and the cab fare is sitting at $756,” he wrote.
After a Facebook friend asked whether he could have caught a bus, Mr Wyldeck replied: “I don’t do buses.”

Sources have revealed exclusively to Independent Australia that, in accordance with this Protocol, when the 2010 overpayment (a mere $900 or so) was discovered several months ago, Peter Slipper immediately offered to repay the excess.
But sources say Finance refused to allow him to do this. Instead, they said that — because the AFP was interested, they would not follow the protocol.

So it seems that "Slippery Pete" has been hung out to dry by the conservatives. All the media and opposition outrage over Slipper is as far as I can see a total over exaggeration and conspiracy to undermine Slipper and ultimately the Labor Government.
This is the real story, this is the scandal, not Slipper himself.
The media have a lot to answer for for being a part in this deception and vilification of a man. A man that has been denigrated and dragged through the gutter for sheer political gain so that Tony Abbott can become Prime Minister.
A disgrace.
I just hope Slipper does not do what a lot may do after all of the mud that has been thrown, that is commit suicide. This is a possibility after his name has been dragged through the mud for sheer political gain by the opposition.
See my other posts on this subject.
http://wombatsramblings.blogspot.com.au/2012/12/justice-rares-judgement.html
http://wombatsramblings.blogspot.com.au/2012/12/ashbygate-referred-to-federal-police.html
http://wombatsramblings.blogspot.com.au/2012/12/ashbygate.html
http://wombatsramblings.blogspot.com.au/2012/12/the-liberal-mire-is-getting-murkier-aka.html