The Rudd Family Government

We all know Therese Rein owns her own Company, and when Kevin Rudd won leadership of the Party in early 2007 we were advised she had sold her Australian interest in her Company to counter conflict of Interest issues.

However, Ms Rein’s Company Ingeus Pty Limited is now back under her control and truly operating in Australia again and has been at least since 2011. It is not difficult to see PM Kevin Rudd would have a Conflict of interest to say the least, but they are staying quiet on this issue.  But it goes further than just being his wife’s Company.

The Chairman on the Board of Ingeus is David Gonski AC. He started as a Board member in 2009 and was still on the board when, while still under Rudd’s leadership, Gillard commissioned the now infamous Gonski review.

David is currently also Chair of Investec Bank (Australia) Ltd, Coca-Cola Amatil, the Future Fund, and the Sydney Theatre Company. He is also the Chancellor of the University of New South Wales and Chair of the Board of Trustees for Sydney Grammar School. David holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Laws.   The findings and recommendations of the committee were presented to the government in November 2011

Of course David Gonski is highly respected in some circles, however, this is a little close to the bone when considering the well deserved criticism already aimed at the Rudd | Gillard | Rudd Governments.   I have to ask again, where were the media on this issue, this firm makes the vast majority of its income from Commonwealth Government Programs?

There is in fact a little too much of RUDD involvement in and around the Government, even for a PM, including his son Nicholas employed as a Political advisor, his son Marcus, employed to turn his dad’s mobile phone on, or something like that, and his daughter Jessica, travelling with him and trying to make him more appealing through her presence.  It was no surprise that when Mr Rudd was interviewed on the plane between Darwin and Kununurra, I saw a face next to him that looked remarkably like his daughter Jessica.  She has obviously been employed, maybe as an image advisor, for her dad,  I guess.

And where are the media on all this?  I guarantee Abbott wouldn’t be able to employ his family and his wife’s company Board Chairman without being lambasted, but when it is Labor it is not newsworthy.

Ms Rein runs Assure Programs, which is a Corporate Psychological Consultancy specialising in employee assistance programs, conflict management services and team development interventions.

The income earned by Ingeus and Assure would be almost entirely through Government funding of assistance Programs, ethically, this can’t be done especially while Caretaker Kev is in the top job, but ethics have not been a keyword with the ALP in the last 6 years, and they weren’t about to break a perfect record.

The sale of the Australian arm of Ingeus supposedly took place in May 2007 to ensure there was no perceived conflict of interest as her husband; Kevin Rudd was the Leader of the Opposition (and later the Prime Minister of Australia), The Australian businesses apparently sold in October and December 2007. However it is interesting that Ms Rein remained as a director of the companies.  Ingeus re-entered the Australian market with the acquisition of Assure Programs in October 2011.  Look deeply into this and you will see the old 3 shell trick. Or maybe in this case 3 shelf (company) trick.
I have yet to see where Ms Rein in fact  ‘sold’ her Australian interest in the company, or how she magically became the owner again, maybe it is there, however I don’t have access to those company records at this point.

Ingeus Limited:

Started 27 September 2002,

Work Directions Australia Limited

Started 9 August 2002

Work Directions Australia Pty Ltd

Started 12 February 1996

Therese Rein & Associates Pty Ltd

Started 2 August 1989

Lake Metcalfe Pty Ltd

Started 21 June 1989

One of the previous Directors is WAYNE KEITH , GOSS – Appointed Date: 30 Apr 2003, Ceased Date: 23 Apr 2007 During the time of the now infamous Heiner affair and shows the insidious ties he had with Kevin Rudd.

DIRECTORS

• THERESE VIRGINIA, REIN
  Born:                      17 Jul 1958 – ADELAIDE, SA          Appointed Date:      20 Jul 1989
• GREGORY KENNETH, ASHMEAD
  Born:                      01 Apr 1954 – ESSENDON, VIC    Appointed Date:      24 Feb 2005
• GARRY ARTHUR, HOUNSELL
  Born:                      21 Nov 1954 – JUNEE, NSW          Appointed Date:      24 Jun 2008
• DAVID MICHAEL, GONSKI
  Born:                      07 Oct 1953 – C/ T, S/AFRICA      Appointed Date:      15 Oct 2009
• ADREINNE, SHOWERING
  Born:                      18 Jul 1955 – U K                               Appointed Date:      29 Aug 2012

PREVIOUS DIRECTORS

An interesting point was a previous Director was Wayne Goss between 30 April 2003 and 23 April 2007.  Of course Kevin Rudd was Goss’s chief advisor during the now infamous period known as the Heiner Affair. http://www.heineraffair.info/