Millionaire Philanthropist, Dick Smith, has released a podcast urging multi-billionaire, ‘Highrise’ Harry Triguboff, to give some of his fortune to charity. Below is the transcript:
Hi, it’s Dick Smith here, for Dick Smith Fair Go, and this is a podcast that I am doing particularly for Harry Triguboff.
Harry, I have to concede defeat. You’ll probably remember two years ago I requested a meeting with you to discuss population growth. Your very capable PA wrote back to my PA, and said:
“Mr Smith’s views on population growth are the opposite to Mr Triguboff’s. He does not want to waste each other’s time discussing the topic…”
Harry, that’s your decision. I wasn’t able to explain to you the concerns I have that young Australian families can no longer afford a house with a back yard to have free range kids.
Most Aussies I talk to are concerned about the endless growth. Remember Kevin Rudd when he said he wanted a big Australia of 36 million and nearly everyone disagreed, even most politicians. You’ve stated a number of times in the media that you want Australia to go to 150 million. At our present population growth we’re now going to 100 million at the end of this century and eight out of ten Aussies are concerned about that. We’re worried about where the extra jobs will come from, especially with automation and robotics.
Harry, I have benefited from growth, and you certainly have. The Australian Financial Review now lists you as being worth $11.4 billion – you’re the wealthiest bloke in Australia, up from $4.8 billion just 5 years ago. Business articles say that you have built over 65,000 apartments, and now own 6,500 apartments personally, that you rent out to people – most of course who can’t afford to buy one. Yep, you’re incredibly successful.
Harry, I meet hard working Australian families all the time who can’t even afford one apartment, let alone a house on a ¼ acre block. The prices have just driven them out. The latest figures on population growth show Australia at 1.7% – the highest in the developed world.
And it’s pretty clear that high demand from population growth is one of the reasons for increasing the prices in the marketplace of housing. Most of our growth comes from record high immigration levels. It used to be 70,000 per year under Mr Keating, it’s now about 200,000 per year, and here’s what you said to The Australian Financial Review when there was going to be a problem with house prices. You said:
“I’ll simply bring in more migrants.”
Harry, I believe you – you have extraordinary political influence.
Some people laugh if anyone quotes the Robert Menzies ‘forgotten peoples’ speech when he said:
“One of the best instincts in us is that which induces us to have one little piece of earth with a house and a garden which is ours.”
Now it’s you Harry, who claimed to have changed this. Here’s a quote from the Sydney Morning Herald, November the 24th, 2010:
“In 1963 Harry Triguboff decided to challenge the great Australian dream of owning a house on a ¼ acre block. ‘I looked around and saw cottages everywhere. I thought it was time they lived in apartments.’”
Harry, I thought you actually lived in an apartment. I often see you interviewed in your magnificent penthouse overlooking the city with the harbour in the background.
However, as Channel 7’s Today Tonight showed, you don’t live in high rise at all. In the words of Today Tonight:
“But Harry does, and Harry can. He lives in this beautiful mansion with two landscapers, and when the next door property was up for sale, he snapped it up too.”
Harry, during the tour of your magnificent property shown on TV it showed the beautiful trees and gardens and you explained why others shouldn’t live in houses.
This is what it said:
Harry: “I saw that that’s where the movement was and I saw it fifty years ago, not today and I had lots of fights, ʼcause they were telling me how Australians have to have a ¼ acre block and I told them that’s not true, some do, some don’t.”
Laura: “That was the dream, wasn’t it?”
Harry: “That used to be the dream, so what?”
Laura: “Not now.”
Harry: “They can’t do it.”
“So what?” You say Harry, but surely that’s a tragedy that only the wealthy can afford their own house and a back yard. When Pip and I bought our first house it cost about $30,000. We could easily pay it off on the small wages we were getting at the time. Now, primarily because of dramatic increase in population growth, it’s no longer possible.
Harry, I noticed you also bought the block of land next door at Vaucluse. Some told me that it was so you could prevent high rise being built next door, blocking out the sun and having others looking down on you. That’s ridiculous of course, there is no way high rise is going to be allowed in Vaucluse in that area. It’s just not going to happen – is it?
However Harry, the reason I’m doing this podcast is not to discuss endless population growth – so far you have won that one, and I, and eight out of ten Aussies who support me, have failed. It’s to ask you about giving a dollar away. I must admit I’m not much good at doing this, but I’m going to try.
Let me tell you about one of the most amazing Australians I’ve ever met. He’s now passed away. His name was Dr Tony Kidman. He was the father of our famous actress, Nicole Kidman.
For most of his life Tony was involved in the most extraordinary research – to muscular dystrophy disease, to young people’s mental health problems. Amazingly, he funded the research – not from government grants – but primarily from calling around and asking for donations. He contacted me back then in the early days and asked for money.
Imagine that, he was a top research scientist but he was raising the money himself so he could continue the work without relying on taxpayers. By the way, as Nicole became famous she became his largest donor – absolutely fantastic.
Harry, you’ve gone from being worth $4.8 billion to $11.4 billion in five years, in that time typical Aussies have actually gone backwards. The front page of The Australian gave a graph showing how typical Australians were worse off in the last five years, it’s really sad.
So Harry, I’ve got an ‘ask’ and it is a big ask. First, would you be prepared to sign the Bill Gates Giving Pledge?
That’s the one where billionaires agree to give away the majority of their wealth, either before or when they die. So far only one of our Aussie 50 billionaires – Twiggy Forrest – has signed the Giving Pledge. It would be great if you would do it.
By the way, if you key “Giving Pledge” into Google, you can read the letters from the wealthy billionaires on why they’re giving half their fortune away, incredibly inspiring. If not signing the Giving Pledge, how about giving a smaller amount away? So far you’re not really known as a philanthropist. Your Wikipedia entry under philanthropy makes one mention of you funding a project in the Shorashim Centre. It says:
“To assist immigrant applicants to Israel in proving their Jewishness.”
Harry that’s good – your entry goes on to state:
“As a major provider of affordable housing, he donates heavily to political parties and uses his influence to seek policy changes.”
Well, Harry, that’s certainly complying with the law, but it’s not quite philanthropy. So Harry, how about setting up a billion dollar Charitable Foundation and doing it openly?
You’ll hardly notice the difference to your living style. You’re 84 years of age and you’ll never be able to spend $11 billion in the rest of your life, and your kids and grandkids – they’ll have enough forever. They’ll all be immensely wealthy as we don’t have inheritance taxes in Australia.
When Tony Kidman would phone me and ask for a donation, he would motivate me with all the good things he was going to do with the money. Harry, let me try and do that. Before I go on I’d like to enthuse you to do the giving openly. You must have thousands of workers who either work for you directly, or work for contractors – doing cleaning and manual work. Many would probably be on the minimum wage, yet, I bet they give openly.
That is, over 90% of Aussies volunteer, that’s how they do their giving and they can’t do that secretly. If they are in the mothers’ club, or the sports association, or the church, they all do it openly – they can’t wear a disguise.
Some of my wealthy friends think they are so superior they can do their giving secretly. I don’t think that’s fair.
Also, giving’s an obligation, so surely it should be done openly.
Now let’s look at some of the examples of what fantastic goodness can come from such a $1 billion Foundation.
It makes me feel really fantastic when I drive through the Eastern suburbs and see a huge building with a prominent sign, the “Lowy Cancer Research Centre.”
Here’s a family that’s come to Australia and done well for themselves but have put a lot back in – and are proud to put their name to the giving.
And then, what about the building in North Sydney, titled “The Poche Centre”?
Greg Poche and his wife, not even billionaires, have given tens of millions of dollars away to other people.
And what about back in the old days when all the wealthy were known as philanthropists? Look at the Mac.Robertson Girls’ High School in Melbourne. Macpherson Robertson of the Mac.Robertson chocolate fame donated millions to fund the school. What a fantastic philanthropist. It makes you feel good.
Or Sir Sidney Myer – since 1934 the fund has given away over $200 million.
Harry, what could be done with $1 billion? You could set up a complete research hospital and pay nurse trainees a decent wage. Or you could help Police Legacy – yes, the families of the police who have been killed or injured in service while making sure that people like you and I can be secure in this incredible country. Or fund those many Australians who are in desperate circumstances, and are assisted by St Vincent de Paul or The Salvos.
Harry, just as the late Dr Tony Kidman got others to dig deep and it made them feel really good, with a lot of self-satisfaction, please set up a $1 billion Foundation in Australia. I ask you to copy Twiggy Forrest and not claim the tax on setting up your Foundation. That’s what Twiggy Forrest did with his $400 million. What a fantastic example.
It’s called mateship. It’ll generate karma and good things will happen and Harry, it’s going to inspire others.
Please think of it and thanks for listening to me.
Leith van Onselen is Chief Economist at the MB Fund and MB Super. He is also a co-founder of MacroBusiness. Leith has previously worked at the Australian Treasury, Victorian Treasury and Goldman Sachs.
Latest posts by Unconventional Economist (see all)
It is criminal that he went to apra to try and water down restrictions…what gives him more say?
As an immigrant he has less attachment to australia than those born here, so no wonder he appears to owe bugger all allegiance to the poor people here and gives nothing away to local charities with his statements
RedErik
Harry Triguboff comes from a line of rather cut-throat businessmen. His father, Moshe Triguboff, was repeatedly denied entrance into Australia for complicity in Japanese war crimes against the Chinese.[1]
[In Morbo’s voice] Harry gives to charity! … gives them the finger! HA! HA! HA! HA!
AlbyMangles
You’re a legend Dick, but I think harry is a special kinda evil, no chance. I am convinced he’ll be remembered as the man who built the slums in mascot Alexandria parramatta etc
Wiley Wolf
Hi Dick this is harry of Meriton Money Box fame,
Piss off.
Harry the billionaire who wants to demolish national parks to house even more apartments who gives back to his adopted home with donations as he knows he cant take it with him at 84…cmon harry give up your billions and help a charity in australia.
Joel
Meriton is the biggest sponsor of the Jewish Fund who is the primary financer of Israel illegal settlement expansion in occupied Palestine.
He profits from slumificarion of Australia and sponsors dislocation abroad.
SupernovaMEMBER
+1
Revert2Mean
Lowy vs Triguboff, good vs bad?
Joel
They are both bad, but at least Lowy seems to be showing some compunction in his later years.
RedErik
His father, Moshe Triguboff, was reportedly denied entrance into Australia for complicity in Japanese genocide against the Chinese during World War II
Japanese. Indeed, if the Immigration Department had its way, Harry Triguboff would never have become an Australian, let alone one of its richest men. They tried to stop him, when he was 14 years old, from fleeing here from China in 1948 and considered deporting him and his brother after the pair slipped past border authorities.
Revert2Mean
Like father, like son
Michael
Never trust a property developer!
Calvin27
Even his donations are for construction. geezus.
Joel
And the ‘demolitions’ preceding such construction, which incidentally involve bulldozing the indigenous population’s houses, schools, crops, and the occasion protester.
Wing Nut
Now if Harry was a Muslim…..
Joel
He wouldn’t get way with bragging that he has the power to shape immigration policy, as he wouldn’t have the media, legal and finance establishment covering for him.
He would have been called a terrorist, Pauline Hanson would have camped on his lawn and Alan Jones would badger him out of the country.
haroldusMEMBER
Like Ahmed Fahour?
Dominic
Yup, he’s making donations alright — just not in this country.
More cheek than a thousand ar$eholes, but then, you’d expect nothing less.
Harry’s high cost low quality housing programme should be embraced by all unsuspecting Australians who can sleep well knowing they’ve purchased a financial black hole.
Stephen Morris
Elitists love to talk in honeyed terms about the “end of borders”, but they don’t really intend to abolish borders. What they are really doing is replacing “national borders” (over which the mass of ordinary citizens might have had some control) with “private borders”: elite private property.
The Elite do not intend to rub shoulders with the plebs. They retreat to their private mansions, their private country estates, their private campuses, their private gated communities, all surrounded by private borders marked with “KEEP OUT. Trespassers Will Be Prosecuted!” signs.
The Elite do not intend to stand, crushed cheek-to-sweaty-cheek with the prols on inadequate and overcrowded public transport. They whizz from their private mansions to their private offices in private cars (often along private roads which have been tolled or “road-priced” out of the reach of the masses.)
And from behind their private borders they peer out and sermonise piously on the supposed intolerance of the “bogans” and “deplorables” outside!
On all fronts the trend is the same: the end of the 20th Century ideal of public rights – over which the citizens used to have some say – and their alienation to elite private interests.
flawse
You make very good observations
TailorTrashMEMBER
I’m sure Dick might be a reader here ….
…….so mate rip it into him …..a disgusting old man grasping his dollars on the way to the grave ……he should be embarrassed by this ….but doubt it …probably will just
compensate himself with another billion at the expense of Australian kids .
Big Macca
If he is – Run Dick – We’re ready to vote for you!
azxylon
+1
SupernovaMEMBER
Why does “giving-back” to the country where he produced his wealth scare him soooo much?
Joel
His loyalty is to Zion
Higgins
Is he Jewish? That would explain it … They want to rule the world and make the rest slaves…
cowpongMEMBER
Triguboff is pure evil
stagmal
he sounds like count dracula
LSWCHPMEMBER
The original Vlad Drac used to kill his enemies by impaling them on sharpened stakes shoved up their arses.
He was a genuinely nice bloke compared to Harry Triguboff.
ColinMEMBER
Probably news to you & your rapacious ilk, but Greed is Gauche Harry.
Rip it up him Dick!
Dan121
Not only do these people run their companies by exploiting their staff, it is never enough so they put their fingers in the govt to massage things their way even further at the expense of every other citizen of this country. They made their money by screwing everyone else so I’m sure they’d rather rot in their grave before they donated 5c to their employees let alone a charity (unless 100% tax deductible that is).
jimboMEMBER
Amazing work from Dick. For someone who transcended into that elite wealth bracket it’s good to see he still gets it. Not many do. I’d imagine it’s the tip of the iceberg for his foundation, but the distributions from the sale of his private jet were impressive to say the least.
Perhaps the most charitable thing Triguboff can do is to simply stop the scourge that mass developments like his have become on society. Pricing families out of shelter through land bubbles aided by political interference (immigration, NG, CGT etc etc), then telling them they have to live in apartments rather than on a block with a garden, because ‘they can’t do it’ is evil. Society doesn’t need or want his money, just retire FFS.
haroldusMEMBER
Harry must be getting sick of the sight of Dick.
Relevant StakeholderMEMBER
Where’s Tom?
fitzroyMEMBER
LOL
Know IdeaMEMBER
Don’t be ridiculous.
haroldusMEMBER
tbh sometimes I find the sight of Dick a little hard to stomach.
Know IdeaMEMBER
You must be taking Dick the wrong way.
Djenka
^^^
or taking it the wrong side of the stomach?
😉
Timmeh
About as much chance of Murdoch giving money to a good cause. They probably talk to each other daily on how to screw the Australian people for their personal benefit.
billygoat
I think the names are a joke – all performers playing a role. Every man – every Tom, Dick & Harry.
Dick plays with the big boys.
Dr Fixit
It is like asking Dracula to donate to the blood bank, when that blood was taken using dubious means.
You need to look at the root cause of why someone accumulates so much blood in the first place, not ask them for a donation when some are running low.
It’s a band-aid solution only Dick, you have enough money to know better and where the real problem is located. Look harder Dick!
Big Macca
Pretty sure its was a backhanded message to the Australian public, not an actual letter to Harry asking for help
Djenka
You need to look at the root cause of why someone accumulates so much blood in the first place,…
Good, I may not be the only loonie here to see that.
CharlieChaplin
This just made me feel sad. The corrosion of living standards and the extinction of free range children. Not just this, but the fall of our individual voices. There was an article here recently about how Malcolm could win the election by splitting labour and the greens via lowering immigration. The problem is, is that he would split his own party and the money from developers and big business would flow elsewhere. Wealth builds a certain myopia and self-delusion. Harry genuinely believes he has done great things for Australia, that he is entitled to his wealth and spacious lawns through the influence he has wielded in taking it from other people. He sees no irony. He does not even see his own mortality as he goes on making more and more money. A beautiful, simple and effective piece by Mr Smith. How do we jar people into political action from their bovine apathy or helplessness? Keep it up Mr Smith and thank you…it does feel like the battle has been lost.
J BauerMEMBER
“Harry, what could be done with $1 billion? You could set up a complete research hospital and pay nurse trainees a decent wage.”
Maybe ask the NSW Premier the same question, apparently you cant do much with $1bn, can’t even rebuild new stadiums for that..
kodiakMEMBER
Triguboff is a pig who should be stuck like a pig.
Daniel
None of Dick’s business really. This attempt at some kind of public shaming says more about Dick, than Harry.
Big Macca
Yeah, it says he gives a shit about Australians
DarkMatter
That is not correct. Anyone who has children has a stake in the future of their country. If one man is being allowed to do enormous damage to future generations for personal gain, we all have the right to object. That is how society works – it is supposed to be a mutual contract for the benefit of all.
Just in case you want to raise the issue of free markets and the sanctity of capitalism, the Harry situation has been allowed by corrupt meddling and blind eye tinkering with the rules. No free markets were involved. Eventually we have to crush the Mob, same deal here.
Djenka
If one man is being allowed to do enormous damage to future generations for personal gain, we all have the right to object.
Once you look into influence market it may become a bit interesting that what Harry can do but Tom and Dick cannot is because Harry bought the political influence.
Now, if something is not for sale (e.g. influience), Harry becomes a plain Dick and Tom.
Problem is not with cesspool of humanity (HT) but within parliamentarian parties and their “influence for sale” banners before each and every election cycle. The anxiety of maintaining the power at any cost created a self competing influence market and HT is just a black jack dealer whom see desperate gamblers.
My view though, I do not sell gospel truth.
hareeba
Such a comment says more about you actually.. Dickhead.
Djenka
whatever he said, your arguments are massive and infallible.
“…He [Highrise Harry] also said that Sydney’s population will hit 5 million by 2020 and 10 million by 2030. He said it will become unliveable and he will have built his last block of flats way before then….”
CharlieChaplin
All we need now is a Tom…you know, so we can talk about ever Tom,, Dick and Harry…..I’ll get my coat and show myself out!
Djenka
LOL, Dick is becoming desperate for airtime.
If Triguboff *stopped* giving (or was prevented from giving), there would be much more public benefit than if he gives a few pennies here and there to those on the bottom of the scale.
That is to stop giving to politicians and parliamentary parties.
Money only goes into the circle and never comes out. That’s how they get rich. That’s why people hate them.
Barry
Harry pays the polys. The polys do as he asks – increase immigration – more housing demand. More profits for Harry. Harry then able to persuade the polys with even more ‘support’. Aaarrgh, we are doomed.
It is criminal that he went to apra to try and water down restrictions…what gives him more say?
As an immigrant he has less attachment to australia than those born here, so no wonder he appears to owe bugger all allegiance to the poor people here and gives nothing away to local charities with his statements
Harry Triguboff comes from a line of rather cut-throat businessmen. His father, Moshe Triguboff, was repeatedly denied entrance into Australia for complicity in Japanese war crimes against the Chinese.[1]
[1] http://www.afr.com/brand/afr-magazine/harry-triguboffs-dark-secret-the-19year-struggle-that-split-his-family-20171102-gzdgy8
Has anyone alerted the Chinese about this?
[In Morbo’s voice] Harry gives to charity! … gives them the finger! HA! HA! HA! HA!
You’re a legend Dick, but I think harry is a special kinda evil, no chance. I am convinced he’ll be remembered as the man who built the slums in mascot Alexandria parramatta etc
Hi Dick this is harry of Meriton Money Box fame,
Piss off.
The Simpsons’ episode with the Monty Burns portrait was quite apt for this bloke too…
Harry the billionaire who wants to demolish national parks to house even more apartments who gives back to his adopted home with donations as he knows he cant take it with him at 84…cmon harry give up your billions and help a charity in australia.
Meriton is the biggest sponsor of the Jewish Fund who is the primary financer of Israel illegal settlement expansion in occupied Palestine.
He profits from slumificarion of Australia and sponsors dislocation abroad.
+1
Lowy vs Triguboff, good vs bad?
They are both bad, but at least Lowy seems to be showing some compunction in his later years.
His father, Moshe Triguboff, was reportedly denied entrance into Australia for complicity in Japanese genocide against the Chinese during World War II
see the recent AFR article http://www.afr.com/brand/afr-magazine/harry-triguboffs-dark-secret-the-19year-struggle-that-split-his-family-20171102-gzdgy8
Harry got in illegally, too:
Like father, like son
Never trust a property developer!
Even his donations are for construction. geezus.
And the ‘demolitions’ preceding such construction, which incidentally involve bulldozing the indigenous population’s houses, schools, crops, and the occasion protester.
Now if Harry was a Muslim…..
He wouldn’t get way with bragging that he has the power to shape immigration policy, as he wouldn’t have the media, legal and finance establishment covering for him.
He would have been called a terrorist, Pauline Hanson would have camped on his lawn and Alan Jones would badger him out of the country.
Like Ahmed Fahour?
Yup, he’s making donations alright — just not in this country.
More cheek than a thousand ar$eholes, but then, you’d expect nothing less.
Looks like old Harry won’t have that much to throw around for ever and ever, judging by this property spruiker:
http://www.switzer.com.au/video/steve-smith20171912/
Harry’s high cost low quality housing programme should be embraced by all unsuspecting Australians who can sleep well knowing they’ve purchased a financial black hole.
Elitists love to talk in honeyed terms about the “end of borders”, but they don’t really intend to abolish borders. What they are really doing is replacing “national borders” (over which the mass of ordinary citizens might have had some control) with “private borders”: elite private property.
The Elite do not intend to rub shoulders with the plebs. They retreat to their private mansions, their private country estates, their private campuses, their private gated communities, all surrounded by private borders marked with “KEEP OUT. Trespassers Will Be Prosecuted!” signs.
The Elite do not intend to stand, crushed cheek-to-sweaty-cheek with the prols on inadequate and overcrowded public transport. They whizz from their private mansions to their private offices in private cars (often along private roads which have been tolled or “road-priced” out of the reach of the masses.)
And from behind their private borders they peer out and sermonise piously on the supposed intolerance of the “bogans” and “deplorables” outside!
On all fronts the trend is the same: the end of the 20th Century ideal of public rights – over which the citizens used to have some say – and their alienation to elite private interests.
You make very good observations
I’m sure Dick might be a reader here ….
…….so mate rip it into him …..a disgusting old man grasping his dollars on the way to the grave ……he should be embarrassed by this ….but doubt it …probably will just
compensate himself with another billion at the expense of Australian kids .
If he is – Run Dick – We’re ready to vote for you!
+1
Why does “giving-back” to the country where he produced his wealth scare him soooo much?
His loyalty is to Zion
Is he Jewish? That would explain it … They want to rule the world and make the rest slaves…
Triguboff is pure evil
he sounds like count dracula
The original Vlad Drac used to kill his enemies by impaling them on sharpened stakes shoved up their arses.
He was a genuinely nice bloke compared to Harry Triguboff.
Probably news to you & your rapacious ilk, but Greed is Gauche Harry.
Rip it up him Dick!
Not only do these people run their companies by exploiting their staff, it is never enough so they put their fingers in the govt to massage things their way even further at the expense of every other citizen of this country. They made their money by screwing everyone else so I’m sure they’d rather rot in their grave before they donated 5c to their employees let alone a charity (unless 100% tax deductible that is).
Amazing work from Dick. For someone who transcended into that elite wealth bracket it’s good to see he still gets it. Not many do. I’d imagine it’s the tip of the iceberg for his foundation, but the distributions from the sale of his private jet were impressive to say the least.
http://yaffa-cdn.s3.amazonaws.com/yaffadsp/files/dmfile/Citation-Donations-v233.pdf
Perhaps the most charitable thing Triguboff can do is to simply stop the scourge that mass developments like his have become on society. Pricing families out of shelter through land bubbles aided by political interference (immigration, NG, CGT etc etc), then telling them they have to live in apartments rather than on a block with a garden, because ‘they can’t do it’ is evil. Society doesn’t need or want his money, just retire FFS.
Harry must be getting sick of the sight of Dick.
Where’s Tom?
LOL
Don’t be ridiculous.
tbh sometimes I find the sight of Dick a little hard to stomach.
You must be taking Dick the wrong way.
^^^
or taking it the wrong side of the stomach?
😉
About as much chance of Murdoch giving money to a good cause. They probably talk to each other daily on how to screw the Australian people for their personal benefit.
I think the names are a joke – all performers playing a role. Every man – every Tom, Dick & Harry.
Dick plays with the big boys.
It is like asking Dracula to donate to the blood bank, when that blood was taken using dubious means.
You need to look at the root cause of why someone accumulates so much blood in the first place, not ask them for a donation when some are running low.
It’s a band-aid solution only Dick, you have enough money to know better and where the real problem is located. Look harder Dick!
Pretty sure its was a backhanded message to the Australian public, not an actual letter to Harry asking for help
You need to look at the root cause of why someone accumulates so much blood in the first place,…
Good, I may not be the only loonie here to see that.
This just made me feel sad. The corrosion of living standards and the extinction of free range children. Not just this, but the fall of our individual voices. There was an article here recently about how Malcolm could win the election by splitting labour and the greens via lowering immigration. The problem is, is that he would split his own party and the money from developers and big business would flow elsewhere. Wealth builds a certain myopia and self-delusion. Harry genuinely believes he has done great things for Australia, that he is entitled to his wealth and spacious lawns through the influence he has wielded in taking it from other people. He sees no irony. He does not even see his own mortality as he goes on making more and more money. A beautiful, simple and effective piece by Mr Smith. How do we jar people into political action from their bovine apathy or helplessness? Keep it up Mr Smith and thank you…it does feel like the battle has been lost.
“Harry, what could be done with $1 billion? You could set up a complete research hospital and pay nurse trainees a decent wage.”
Maybe ask the NSW Premier the same question, apparently you cant do much with $1bn, can’t even rebuild new stadiums for that..
Triguboff is a pig who should be stuck like a pig.
None of Dick’s business really. This attempt at some kind of public shaming says more about Dick, than Harry.
Yeah, it says he gives a shit about Australians
That is not correct. Anyone who has children has a stake in the future of their country. If one man is being allowed to do enormous damage to future generations for personal gain, we all have the right to object. That is how society works – it is supposed to be a mutual contract for the benefit of all.
Just in case you want to raise the issue of free markets and the sanctity of capitalism, the Harry situation has been allowed by corrupt meddling and blind eye tinkering with the rules. No free markets were involved. Eventually we have to crush the Mob, same deal here.
If one man is being allowed to do enormous damage to future generations for personal gain, we all have the right to object.
Once you look into influence market it may become a bit interesting that what Harry can do but Tom and Dick cannot is because Harry bought the political influence.
Now, if something is not for sale (e.g. influience), Harry becomes a plain Dick and Tom.
Problem is not with cesspool of humanity (HT) but within parliamentarian parties and their “influence for sale” banners before each and every election cycle. The anxiety of maintaining the power at any cost created a self competing influence market and HT is just a black jack dealer whom see desperate gamblers.
My view though, I do not sell gospel truth.
Such a comment says more about you actually.. Dickhead.
whatever he said, your arguments are massive and infallible.
They are also 100% correct.
Don’t know how true this is but it wouldn’t surprise. First comment from story about one of Highrise Harry’s relatives: http://www.smh.com.au/technology/smartphone-apps/my-parents-haven-t-given-me-a-single-cent-grandson-of-australia-s-second-richest-person-out-to-prove-himself-20171217-p4yxsl.html
“…He [Highrise Harry] also said that Sydney’s population will hit 5 million by 2020 and 10 million by 2030. He said it will become unliveable and he will have built his last block of flats way before then….”
All we need now is a Tom…you know, so we can talk about ever Tom,, Dick and Harry…..I’ll get my coat and show myself out!
LOL, Dick is becoming desperate for airtime.
If Triguboff *stopped* giving (or was prevented from giving), there would be much more public benefit than if he gives a few pennies here and there to those on the bottom of the scale.
That is to stop giving to politicians and parliamentary parties.
http://www.news.com.au/finance/economy/australian-economy/it-will-destroy-australia-as-we-know-it-dick-smiths-warning-as-population-surges-towards-25-million/news-story/feb3ccbc6257ac21314e703ce0828b5b
Got a mention there for MB.
Money only goes into the circle and never comes out. That’s how they get rich. That’s why people hate them.
Harry pays the polys. The polys do as he asks – increase immigration – more housing demand. More profits for Harry. Harry then able to persuade the polys with even more ‘support’. Aaarrgh, we are doomed.