It’s amazing how quickly the misinformation emanating daily from talk-back radio, and sections of the print media, clouds the memories of those who consider this to be intelligent discourse.
For example take Don Campbell’s letter (“List of complaints”, Independent May 3). I have heard Ray Hadley repeat all of the criticisms of the Gillard government contained in it at least ten times.
Don has apparently forgotten that expenditure under six of the programs he listed, not only saved Australia’s economy from the same crisis suffered by just about every other developed country under the GFC, but also resulted in Australia receiving its first ever triple A rating for financial management and Wayne Swann being recognised as the best of all the world’s current Treasurers.
Don Campbell says that “they haven’t added a single cent to the nation’s future fund” as though it’s some sort of sacred fund which should be continually added to, like the hoi polloi’s annual contribution to a Nizam of Hyderabad’s jewellery hoard. Many of us have forgotten how the Futures Fund came into being. It came about because of the fact that the Howard/Costello made a hell of a mess of Australia’s finances from 1996 to 2000. John Howard was forced to do a double back-flip with pike and bring in the GST. Yes that’s right; it was every Australian’s contribution of GST on just about everything we bought that saved the Howard government from extreme embarrassment and annihilation.
The overkill that the 10 per cent GST represented brought an embarrassing inflow of cash amounting to over $30 billion per annum. But did Howard and Costello put any of it to good use? Sadly, no. No infrastructure (remember the hopelessly inadequate $60 million for the Pacific Highway compared to the Gillard government’s present contribution of $500 million). The Futures Fund was Costello’s idea. Its purpose? A pool of money amounting to many tens of billions to pay the bureaucracy’s superannuation.
As for Tony Windsor’s and Rob Oakeshott’s continuing support for the Gillard government, they have no choice. Back in 2010 Tony Abbott offered the independents absolutely nothing either for Australia or the electorates of New England and Lyne. Australia will be forever indebted to him for failing to make any concessions. Just think, if he had, and the Coalition had come to power, what a hopeless mess Australia would be in today.
What can the Coalition Leader offer today if an early election is held? Tony has a team? (Hockey, Robb, Bishop and Turnbull) who are in constant disagreement and often back-flip and/or change their story. But this situation pales into insignificance alongside Tony Abbott’s latest crisis. Clive Palmer is standing for federal parliament at the next election and if he and the Coalition win he wants the Treasurer’s job. Tony says that candidates will be chosen by the rank and file but everyone knows that if Clive Palmer wants to stand and wants the Treasury job he will get it. That is the price that Tony Abbott and the Coalition have to pay for accepting millions of dollars’ free advertising from the big three miners.
How could Tony Windsor and Rob Oakeshott consider, even for a second, supporting the replacement of the Gillard government with the present totally disorganised Coalition crew. They have no policies ready for a snap election or any plans for raising the necessary funds to finance any policies they may eventually come up with. It will be a very interesting exercise for Tony Abbott to come up with enough material to fill the half hour of his budget reply speech.
Mike Dibbs
Port Macquarie
