From senator to saw mill owner, the rise and rise of Ricky Muir

[Express]

From senator to saw mill owner, the rise and rise of Ricky Muir



Latika Bourke
20 November, 2016



After a short-lived, accidental but not insignificant stint in the Senate, Ricky Muir has learnt two lessons.

"The one thing you can guarantee in politics is everybody lies," he says good-humouredly.


See link below for video


The other? "So many people offer to do you a favour in politics but it comes with strings attached."

The "trickery" and intrigue of his white-collar job in Canberra was a far cry from the altruistic approach of his most recent employer John Mavros who ran a small sawmill in Heyfield, near Denison in Gippsland – the area where Muir grew up.

Despite being a reported "unemployed bum", Muir had been working casually at Canningvale Timbers in the time between his shock election; in September 2013 to when he formally took up the position in July 2014.

"John was really flexible," says Ricky's wife, chief adviser and mother-of-five Kerrie-Anne.

"If Rick had to travel up to Canberra or anywhere else for party business he'd give Rick work when he needed it and at the drop of a hat he'd let Rick not come in. He worked around Rick to help our family."

When Mavros was diagnosed with emphysema the mill fell into disrepair. Ricky had just lost his seat in the double dissolution election and was having a hard time letting go of the 24/7 high-pressure life that had catapulted him into the national spotlight as a kingmaker with the power to sanction or sink the government's legislation.



Former senator Ricky Muir at his newly purchased sawmill, which he affectionately calls ''George''. Photo: Joe Armao


"I thought it would be a case of – let's go and live it up, relax a little, but what I found was that I was checking the media at 5.30 in the morning, getting prepared to make a statement on whatever issue was controversial that day."

But his phone, which used to buzz incessantly with texts, calls and emails, many from the media went mostly untroubled.



Ricky Muir and his wife Kerrie-Anne at their newly purchased mill. Photo: Joe Armao


In April he was reported to have ruled out a return to the sawmill but his wife says owning a timber business was always part of the plan before politics dealt its wild card.

Now, battling boredom and keen get back working heavy machinery, he did decided to help out his mate.



Ricky Muir delivers his first speech to the Senate in March 2015. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen


"I thought, John helped me out in a time of need so I'm going to go over there and help him clean the mill and I didn't know where life was going to take us."

Life would come full circle.

When Ricky returned to the mill yard it would not be for a clean up but a full takeover. In just a few weeks the former casual labourer between jobs before his Senate gig would become first-time business owner.

"Retail just went through the roof immediately," he says as his phone rings and talks of his hope to soon being taking on some staff.

Unlike MPs elected before 2007 like the former Speaker Bronwyn Bishop, Ricky Muir does not receive a parliamentary pension – a system he says needs reforming. "It should have been retrospective," he says.

"It's a privilege to be elected into the parliament. Like any other job once you're out you shouldn't receive any more remuneration," he says.

But Muir did receive what he describes as a "little boost" – a generous $49,760 "resettlement allowance" granted to departing senators.

That combined with careful savings during the time he earned $200,000 as a senator meant the high-school dropout, one-time "jobless bogan," and unashamed rev-head was able to buy the mill and install a Lucas sawmill, worth tens of thousands of dollars, which he affectionately calls "George."

Suddenly the 24/7 days were back but the white-collar and trimmed facial hair were gone, replaced by high-vis and a heavy bushranger beard.

"If there's a deep end I'm guaranteed to be dropped in it," he laughs.

"No, you're not dropped in it, you jump into it," Kerrie-Anne corrects.

It wasn't so much the deep end but the deep blue Muir jumped into when he was elected to Parliament on the back of an exotic preference swap deal with is Motoring Enthusiasts party recording a puny 0.51 per cent of the primary vote.

He was one of the senators in Malcolm Turnbull's sights when the Prime Minister introduced changes to eliminate the preference harvesting that got Muir elected and called on the double dissolution. But the tactic backfired with the crossbench growing from eight to 12 instead. "It was not a success," observes Muir.

While the changes did see Muir ousted, neither major party would pick up his spot. It went instead to another independent – former radio broadcaster Derryn Hinch.

"I think the popularity for the minor parties and independents absolutely is growing every single day," says Muir. But he warns the crossbenchers that they need to "play their cards right to ensure that that stays the mood of the public."

This, the Muirs say involves genuinely listening to and representing the electorate, something he believes the major parties have abandoned, to their peril and fuelled the rise of the political outsider, seen most sensationally with the election of Donald Trump, a result which he says came as no surprise to him.

"I think that's how I got elected, I think that's how Pauline got elected, I think that's how the Shooters & Fishers are likely to get elected in Orange byelection ," Muir says.

The self-described "outdoors enthusiast" and former CFMEU steward has flirted with the idea of running for the Labor party but now rules it out completely. "I have thought and thought and thought about this one now that I've had a little bit of time to let go. The answer's no."

"If it was the traditional Labor party maybe not the modern one," Kerrie-Anne adds.

"Exactly," says Ricky. "I'm sitting here looking at a picture of John Curtin up on my wall right now. If that was the Labor party we were talking about – probably. But we're not. We're speaking about an extension of the Greens party because they're too afraid of losing the city vote."

What's more, his two years as an independent turned him off the entire party system for good.

"I sat there and watched so many elected representatives sit there and say that they believed I was doing the right thing but go sit where the party told them to sit."

"I found it absolutely repulsive, I couldn't stand it and I'd be disendorsed the moment I was elected if I was to do it anyway."

Muir says the recent controversy around the Adler shotgun betrayed the impotence of the Nationals party – the Coalition's junior partner in government. He says the Nationals would be better off quitting and joining the crossbench. "They already are in a powerful position, if they chose to use it but they just don't seem to use it to their potential.

"I think we're about to see a whole heap of National votes, go to the likes of the Shooters & Fishers, The Country Party, One Nation because they are just little 'l' Liberals."

The minor party vote rose to its highest in July with nearly a quarter of voters boycotting the Labor and Liberal parties.

The Muirs have a stake in this trend, which began in the 2007 election, continuing its trajectory with Ricky hoping for a comeback in either state or federal politics.

Muir Timbers is part of that plan. "Once we've got the business running the way we want it, that may well open up further political aspirations, should we say."

That would get the tick of approval from at least one other member of the household – three-year old Tristan, who has accompanied Ricky and Kerrie-Anne to Canberra since he was 10 months old and is having readjustment issues.

"'Mummy, I have I an idea why can't Daddy be a senator and sawmill worker?' he said to me just the other day on his way to day-care," smiles Kerrie-Anne. " And I said 'it doesn't work like that mate'."

But for Ricky Muir, whose resume has never read like a career politician's, it just might.



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http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politi...15-gsq55w.html

[Stefan]

Correct me if I'm wrong but he did nothing for motoring enthusiasts....just managed to line his own pocket at our expense.

What a pathetic political system we have....and he keeps getting money...WTF?

[bungarra]

Originally Posted by Stefan

Correct me if I'm wrong but he did nothing for motoring enthusiasts....just managed to line his own pocket at our expense.

What a pathetic political system we have....and he keeps getting money...WTF?

And you did?? I spent a day looking through Hansard, he did bring up many things in the Motorists interest. Sadly, most other politicians don't like enthusiasts and blocked his initiatives.

If enthusiasts were truly behind the party, like many said they were, AMEP should have got more seats and more say. Instead, like the good sheep people are, they have to vote along the line of what the parents did or the union tells me too, once the party had a representative, most on here whinged and moaned about his experience to represent them.

How many who whinged and moaned actually put their hand up to represent AMEP? Bugger all I bet.

[LoudPipes]

Originally Posted by bungarra

I spent a day looking through Hansard, he did bring up many things in the Motorists interest. Sadly, most other politicians don't like enthusiasts and blocked his initiatives.

Given you've already done the research why not make us all the wiser and list his failed motorist initiatives.

[cheap]

A flawed voting system got him accidentally thrust into the senate where he was well and truly out of his depth. It shouldn't be a surprise that he's gone back to working in the timer yard.

As for his politics, as I recall a previous thread Ricky seemed very interested in cows and milk. FWIW, Senator Ricky is removed from facebook along with other websites. Whatever Ricky's contribution may have been, this is rapidly being erased. Hope he enjoyed the +$200,000 p.a.

[Bill M]

Originally Posted by cheap

As for his politics, as I recall a previous thread Ricky seemed very interested in cows and milk.

What do you expect from a senator in a rural seat??

[Bill M]

Originally Posted by LoudPipes

Given you've already done the research why not make us all the wiser and list his failed motorist initiatives.

Use google, it is not that difficult.

[bungarra]

Originally Posted by LoudPipes

Given you've already done the research why not make us all the wiser and list his failed motorist initiatives.

Typical of those who can not research, "you do it for me". Parallel imports was one of the things that Ricky negotiated with Abbott when could see the end of car manufacturing in Australia.

Now, get off your bum and do some research in Hansard for yourself.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by Stefan

Correct me if I'm wrong but he did nothing for motoring enthusiasts....just managed to line his own pocket at our expense.

What a pathetic political system we have....and he keeps getting money...WTF?

He actually stood up for people like myself who own small automotive repair businesses, unfortunately manufacturers don't have to provide any information what so ever to us small third party repairers on servicing specifications, diagnostics or even the ability to buy special tools.

Had a similar issue with some excavators, due to safety regulations in another state, we had to install some sensors that bring on a warning light when some particular equipment is down on the ground.

We couldn't do it via our normal way with sensors and wires - wires would snap if the excavator turns around too many times.

We could do it via hydraulic sensors, teamed up with a hydraulics bloke, all he needed was a circuit diagram of one particular hydraulic circuit, we contact the manufacturer of this equipment.

They turn around and say we're not providing that information, its our intellectual property, book it in with us and we'll sort it out.

3 month wait to book in, excavator going out interstate at end of week, oh well out it goes without this safety system.

He was trying to introduce a bill to parliament about manufacturers providing access to information for diagnostics, servicing to us third party repairers, but then the double dissolution happened and he got turfed out.

http://www.motoring.com.au/aaaa-and-fcai-showdown-46880

http://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news...xclusive-42274

I take my hat off to Ricky Muir, he got my vote at this last election, unfortunately it wasn't enough.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

He actually stood up for people like myself who own small automotive repair businesses, unfortunately manufacturers don't have to provide any information what so ever to us small third party repairers on servicing specifications, diagnostics or even the ability to buy special tools.

Had a similar issue with some excavators, due to safety regulations in another state, we had to install some sensors that bring on a warning light when some particular equipment is down on the ground.

We couldn't do it via our normal way with sensors and wires - wires would snap if the excavator turns around too many times.

We could do it via hydraulic sensors, teamed up with a hydraulics bloke, all he needed was a circuit diagram of one particular hydraulic circuit, we contact the manufacturer of this equipment.

They turn around and say we're not providing that information, its our intellectual property, book it in with us and we'll sort it out.

3 month wait to book in, excavator going out interstate at end of week, oh well out it goes without this safety system.

He was trying to introduce a bill to parliament about manufacturers providing access to information for diagnostics, servicing to us third party repairers, but then the double dissolution happened and he got turfed out.

http://www.motoring.com.au/aaaa-and-fcai-showdown-46880

http://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news...xclusive-42274

I take my hat off to Ricky Muir, he got my vote at this last election, unfortunately it wasn't enough.

A bit more information on what he was attempting to introduce:

http://goautomedia.cdn.on.net/gan_pr...letter_013.pdf

Click on the article in the PDF.

[Stefan]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

He actually stood up for people like myself who own small automotive repair businesses, unfortunately manufacturers don't have to provide any information what so ever to us small third party repairers on servicing specifications, diagnostics or even the ability to buy special tools.

Had a similar issue with some excavators, due to safety regulations in another state, we had to install some sensors that bring on a warning light when some particular equipment is down on the ground.

We couldn't do it via our normal way with sensors and wires - wires would snap if the excavator turns around too many times.

We could do it via hydraulic sensors, teamed up with a hydraulics bloke, all he needed was a circuit diagram of one particular hydraulic circuit, we contact the manufacturer of this equipment.

They turn around and say we're not providing that information, its our intellectual property, book it in with us and we'll sort it out.

3 month wait to book in, excavator going out interstate at end of week, oh well out it goes without this safety system.

He was trying to introduce a bill to parliament about manufacturers providing access to information for diagnostics, servicing to us third party repairers, but then the double dissolution happened and he got turfed out.

http://www.motoring.com.au/aaaa-and-fcai-showdown-46880

http://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news...xclusive-42274

I take my hat off to Ricky Muir, he got my vote at this last election, unfortunately it wasn't enough.

I remember the "after market industry" interview. The only problem was he did not know what the "aftermarket industry" was.

He was completely out of his depth and if an industry is relying on him to save it, good luck, you'll need it.

On intellectual property i certainly see merit on both sides of the arguement. Some company invests millions in engineering only to be forced to hand over details to anyone who asks. That will stiffle innovation.

[Stefan]

What does it actually cost tax payers to have a knuckle head like this sitting in the senate?

He gets 4 or 5 staff and an office, his salary and travel and accom etc. 3 or 4 mill a year? Wasted tax payers dollars...

And now we are stil, paying him 50K a year.

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by Stefan

And now we are stil, paying him 50K a year.

Where does it say that?

[olfella]

Originally Posted by Stefan

What does it actually cost tax payers to have a knuckle head like this sitting in the senate?

He gets 4 or 5 staff and an office, his salary and travel and accom etc. 3 or 4 mill a year? Wasted tax payers dollars...

And now we are stil, paying him 50K a year.

How many other knuckle heads are there that ARE VOTED IN BY PEOPLE LIKE YOU, assuming you do vote of course.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by Stefan

I remember the "after market industry" interview. The only problem was he did not know what the "aftermarket industry" was.

He was completely out of his depth and if an industry is relying on him to save it, good luck, you'll need it.

On intellectual property i certainly see merit on both sides of the arguement. Some company invests millions in engineering only to be forced to hand over details to anyone who asks. That will stiffle innovation.

For sure, I can understand that, but its also your car or piece of equipment.

I'm not asking for it for free, I'll be the first to throw down money to become certified by manufacturers to be able to work on their vehicles, Ferrari and Lamborghini do something along these lines, a workshop the next street along has accreditations from Ferrari and Lamborghini to maintain and work on their vehicles.

If Ford for example ran an accreditation scheme where I could go off and do some training with Ford on certain products, and have my business accredited by Ford for maintenence and repairs on their cars, I'd throw down money for that.

[383hq]

Good on him for having a go.
Like Peter Garrett, one man against many stands a snow balls chance in hell of coming up with a better Australia with the current system.

(as an aside, re Garrett) How a bloke from parliament gets fingered for some dude doing dodgy electrical work in an attic is beyond me.

He's had a go, and he's discovered that you allegedly voted for lying devious, morally bankrupt politicians that have wasted billions, yet you worried about him lining his own pockets? He had to deal for these other politicians. About 150 of them

not to mention the millions spent on support staff?
Should I throw your question back at you? How many letters have you written about the issues you are worried about? Apathetic much ?

The article states political pensions were only for people elected prior to 2007, and that's something he says should have changed, it should have been retrospective, no one should get political pensions once their job is done and they are no longer elected regardless of start date.

How is that bad for the few remaining taxpayers left?

[LoudPipes]

Originally Posted by 383hq

The article states political pensions were only for people elected prior to 2007, and that's something he says should have changed, it should have been retrospective, no one should get political pensions once their job is done and they are no longer elected regardless of start date.

How is that bad for the few remaining taxpayers left?

Well he would say that given he got nothing, he wouldn't win much support if he argued everyone who enters parliament deserves a full pension.

That rewards the one off mistakes.

Originally Posted by 383hq

Good on him for having a go.
Like Peter Garrett, one man against many stands a snow balls chance in hell of coming up with a better Australia with the current system.

Garrett lost a lot of his core support by siding with Labor and turning away from his long term activist views on the environment and his stance on the U.S. interference In world politics.

His election in a strong labor seat didn't push any of those issues to the forefront as he toed the party line.

[XR6_power]

Originally Posted by 383hq

Good on him for having a go.
Like Peter Garrett, one man against many stands a snow balls chance in hell of coming up with a better Australia with the current system.

(as an aside, re Garrett) How a bloke from parliament gets fingered for some dude doing dodgy electrical work in an attic is beyond me.

He's had a go, and he's discovered that you allegedly voted for lying devious, morally bankrupt politicians that have wasted billions, yet you worried about him lining his own pockets? He had to deal for these other politicians. About 150 of them

not to mention the millions spent on support staff?
Should I throw your question back at you? How many letters have you written about the issues you are worried about? Apathetic much ?

The article states political pensions were only for people elected prior to 2007, and that's something he says should have changed, it should have been retyirospective, no one should get political pensions once their job is done and they are no longer elected regardless of start date.

How is that bad for the few remaining taxpayers left?

+1 excellent comment. The only way to make positive change is for people to get up and do something about it. Sitting around whinging gets you no where. After gaining some experience, I witnesssed Ricky Muir make some good speeches in regard to all sorts of issues. He also had a hand in blocking some nasty legislation the Libs tried to get through the senate. And he did all this with a young family in toe, good on him for having a go!

[Itsme]

I thought Ricky Muir was ok, you got to admire him giving it a go, a little man going up against the might of two big political parties & the rat bag greens.

[olfella]

I gave the guy a bit of credit. He stood up for what he believed in, managed to get over the line and got in amongst the big boys - putting him on a huge learning curve on how the system worked and how to play to win. I think he was just hitting his straps when he got undercut by Hinch. I think he may be back, and a lot wiser.

[Brazen]

Agree with his assessment of party politics.

Still think someone like Pauline Hanson will be PM within 10 years - probably through a coalition of minor parties and independents.

[Express]

Originally Posted by Brazen

Agree with his assessment of party politics.

Still think someone like Pauline Hanson will be PM within 10 years - probably through a coalition of minor parties and independents.

Not while there is compulsory voting it won't.

[simon varley]

Originally Posted by Brazen

Still think someone like Pauline Hanson will be PM within 10 years

Originally Posted by Express

Not while there is compulsory voting it won't.

ha! compulsory voting is exactly why she'll get in. As long as people are forced to turn up on polling day they will keep on just ticking the boxes at random or voting for people who promise them bread and circuses, or who feed their prejudices by fearmongering. A democratic system of government is great as long as people seriously consider who they are putting their vote in for, but as soon as you make it compulsory for bogans you are stuffed.

[olfella]

Originally Posted by simon varley

ha! compulsory voting is exactly why she'll get in. As long as people are forced to turn up on polling day they will keep on just ticking the boxes at random or voting for people who promise them bread and circuses, or who feed their prejudices by fearmongering. A democratic system of government is great as long as people seriously consider who they are putting their vote in for, but as soon as you make it compulsory for bogans you are stuffed.

I think you are wrong and a big call. To do that she would need around 70+ members in the HoR. How many does she have now?

[Express]

Originally Posted by simon varley

ha! compulsory voting is exactly why she'll get in. As long as people are forced to turn up on polling day they will keep on just ticking the boxes at random or voting for people who promise them bread and circuses, or who feed their prejudices by fearmongering. A democratic system of government is great as long as people seriously consider who they are putting their vote in for, but as soon as you make it compulsory for bogans you are stuffed.

You seriously think that's possible in a 10 year timeframe?

Too many people are not stupid enough to fall for scaremongering no matter what angle is comes from.

Compulsory voting also means many people have formed years of allegiances to parties and it would take a seismic shift to give a new party the numbers required to gain power.

If it were ever to happen it wouldn't come from someone as polarising as Hanson it would most likely be someone more towards the middle like Xenophon and even he couldn't achieve that in a couple of terms.

[cheap]

Originally Posted by Express

You seriously think that's possible in a 10 year timeframe?

Too many people are not stupid enough to fall for scaremongering no matter what angle is comes from.

Compulsory voting also means many people have formed years of allegiances to parties and it would take a seismic shift to give a new party the numbers required to gain power.

If it were ever to happen it wouldn't come from someone as polarising as Hanson it would most likely be someone more towards the middle like Xenophon and even he couldn't achieve that in a couple of terms.

Your memory must be failing you, because One Nation were a major force in Qld politics a few elections ago, such was the threat One Nation presented to the conservative vote that the Liberals hatched a plan to put Pauline in jail. One Nation will phoenix at the next Qld state election simply because Qld is a semi-basket case and One Nation policies run well with those people doing it tough. Finally Qld currently has an idiot masquerading and a premier, and a dysfunctional opposition, so Pauline is well positioned.

[Mercury Bullet]

Originally Posted by Express

Too many people are not stupid enough to fall for scaremongering no matter what angle is comes from.

I wish I could share your confidence.

Recent elections make me think otherwise.

[FormulaFG]

Originally Posted by Express

Too many people are not stupid enough to fall for scaremongering no matter what angle is comes from.

Sadly not true, look at our last election. Labor Medi-scare campaign.

[commodorenutt]

And don't forget the power of social media, where targeted propaganda manifests across hundreds of thousands of gullible fools.

That's how mediscare got its legs. There should have been criminal charges over that.

[coo]

Unlike MPs elected before 2007 like the former Speaker Bronwyn Bishop, Ricky Muir does not receive a parliamentary pension – a system he says needs reforming. "It should have been retrospective," he says.

"It's a privilege to be elected into the parliament. Like any other job once you're out you shouldn't receive any more remuneration," he says.

But Muir did receive what he describes as a "little boost" – a generous $49,760 "resettlement allowance" granted to departing senators.

The article says he got a single payment of $50k to relocate and no pension.