I've been rather enjoying the tale of the misfortunes of our former Federal MP, Michael Johnson, member for Ryan. Johnson has just been kicked out of the LNP and disendorsed for apparently being as audacious as he was ambitious, with emails leaked a while back appearing to suggest he sought a $12 million commission as he attempted to broker a deal between coal interests in China and Queensland. His re-election fund also seemed to be the subject of a lot of expenses that had little to do with re-election. For a political party to think that one of their own has gone too far in using their position for financial benefit and their re-election account as a personal slush fund it must have been pretty bad indeed.
What really gave me a laugh, though, was Johnson's claim that he would, like, totally, win a legal challenge to his disendorsement but... he isn't going to make such a challenge because, um, he can't afford a lawyer.
Yep, we're expected to believe that a man on a salary of over $130 000, not including all the pollies' perks and electoral allowances, can't cough up the cash for a legal challenge that would preserve his cushy job.
Johnson has said he will run as an independent in Ryan, but he must know it's futile and both the bluebloods and nouveau riche inhabiting his leafy safe seat will continue to mindlessly place a '1' in the box next to 'Liberal'. Why bother, then, seeing as the move will hardly salvage the little guy's dignity? Apparently running will guarantee him the pollies' comfortable superannuation of $65k when he turns 55. It's not quite $12 million, but hey...
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