Tag Archives: media release

Joyce: Gillard Set To Outspend Rudd

25 Jun

Media Release – Senator Barnaby Joyce, 25 June, 2010:

Rudd borrows $95 million a day, Julia set to break record

Senator Barnaby Joyce today said that the new Labor Government has a lot of work to do to get this country back on track.

“The new appointee of the faceless factional bosses, Prime Minster Gillard, has already stated that she wants to get the Government “back on track”, and it certainly is a long way off-track at the moment” said Senator Barnaby Joyce, Shadow Minister for Regional Development, Infrastructure and Water today.

When this Government came to power Australia’s gross debt was $59 billion. It is now $147 billion. This Government has spent $88 billion in 935 days. This is a new record for Australian Prime Ministers.

“This Government has been an unmitigated disaster for our country, and even the Labor party now agrees. They have been racking up debt on the national credit card at $95 million a day.

“Every day of the Rudd Government, that money could have built almost 500 km of sealed country roads or repaired and refurbished over 100 bridges in regional Australia. Instead, thanks to Julia Gillard and her team we have overpriced trinkets at the back of school yards. .

“If the new PM really wants to get this great country back on track, she needs to stop this reckless and wasteful spending. The budget that the Deputy Prime Minister handed down less than two months ago forecast borrowing of $150 million a day for the next financial year. Gillard is already on track to smash Rudd’s record and things look like getting worse before they get better.”

“Australia can’t afford another term of pandemonium from the Labor party.”

More Information – Matthew Canavan 0458 709 433

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Joyce: Rudd Expects Miners To Pay Off The Debt

20 May

Media Release – Senator Barnaby Joyce, 19 May 2010:

Senator Barnaby Joyce, whilst on his “Straight Talking Tour” in Deniliquin said, “It was interesting to read the answer given yesterday to a question I asked on notice at the Senate Standing Committee on Economics in February as to what our debt position is.”

In 2008, there were six countries in the OECD that had higher net foreign debt as a proportion of GDP than Australia. These countries are Iceland (355 per cent of GDP), Portugal (72 per cent of GDP), Hungary (72 per cent of GDP), Greece (68 per cent of GDP), Spain (66 per cent of GDP) and New Zealand (60 per cent of GDP). In the same year, Australia’s net foreign debt amounted to 56 per cent of GDP. Around 10 per cent of Australia’s net foreign debt is held by the public sector. In the US, around 64 per cent of its net foreign debt is held by the public sector while in Greece, the public sector holds more than 100 per cent of the stock of net foreign debt.

“I also note that our Commonwealth gross public debt has gone from $139.182 billion to $141.282 billion in the last week. In addition to this is the fact that the aggregate borrowing of the states’ non-financial public sectors is expected to be $164 billion in 2009-10. There is also the money owed by entities such as utility companies that have borrowed money to pay state so-called ‘dividends’. As these debts do not come under the government sector financial reporting, who knows how much they owe.

Are we to believe that this government with their current track record has the capacity to fix things up over the next three years?

The Labor government solution is to go to the only section of the community that is making good money and to impede them on the capacity to pay off the debt. Australia has to maintain the vibrant integrity of its mining sector especially if the global economy starts to peel off through the ructions that are currently being seen in Europe. A resource tax would have to be the most foolish decision that a government could make at this point of time in global economics.

The Labor Party members have to ask themselves one question. If the mining sector is not bringing in money to our nation, and the agricultural sector, which they have managed to tie up with green and red tape, is not bringing in the money, then where exactly are our export dollars going to come from? Export dollars underpin the service industry where the vast majority of Australians work. You may not work in an export industry, but your pay depends on them.

In simple terms, if no money turns up on the table from export dollars, there is no money to pass around the table to reflect our GDP and ultimately to pay the debt on what is one on the most indebted nations on earth.”

More Information- Jenny Swan 0746 251500 / 0438 578 402

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Rudd Ruins Businesses

7 May

Media Release – Senator Barnaby Joyce, 7 May 2010:

“I still have a distinct vision of Mr Rudd earnestly going to the front of Parliament House with a brand new note book and pen as props for the media grab at the one-on-one with the ceiling insulation industry representatives and the press gallery. He said something about fixing it all up himself, before zipping off. The news our office is getting is that this mess is far from being fixed,” says Senator Barnaby Joyce.

“Not happy with upsetting the resources sector in Australia and slashing millions of dollars off the share market, the Rudd Labor government has not just upset, but sent to the wall, hundreds of legitimate insulation companies. Yes, there needs to be recourse against shonky companies, who, let’s face it, took advantage of a sloppy government scheme, but where is the compassion for the “working Families” Mr Rudd likes to be seen to champion?”

“We have been contacted by many of these honest people who are beginning to have telephones disconnected, locked out of businesses premises, losing motor vehicles to finance companies and some have had mortgagee possession notices on their family homes, because the government will not pay them what is legitimately owed. Minister Combet’s media release on the 20th of April 2010 stated GST deferral was to be made available to insulation companies, yet the Australian Taxation office has sent debt collectors after these same debts. According to industry sources, you Mr Rudd, Mr Combet and Mr Garrett, have ruined a whole industry. So much for the stimulus package sent to save us.”

“Come on Mr Rudd. Where is the fair play you claim to have for “working families”? Why is this insulation program continuing to be such a debacle? Fix it now!”

More Information- Jenny Swan 0746 251500

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Rudd Deserts Another Principle

7 May

Media Release – Senator Barnaby Joyce, 6 May 2010:

“The release of the long-awaited NBN study today reveals that Prime Minister Rudd has deserted one more of his once closely-held principles,” Senator Barnaby Joyce, the Shadow Minister for Regional Development, Infrastructure and Water said today.

In the 2008-09 Budget the Government committed themselves to:

  • “Decision making based on rigorous cost-benefit analysis to ensure the highest economic and social benefits to the nation over the long term.”

But page two of the NBN implementation study explicitly states that it is not a “cost-benefit analysis of the macro-economic and social benefits.”

“The NBN study reveals another Labor broken promise,” Senator Joyce said today. “Two years ago Mr Rudd was talking up the benefits of establishing Infrastructure Australia and subjecting infrastructure investments to rigorous analysis. But on the biggest infrastructure project he has committed to he has deserted these principles, just as he has deserted the ETS.”

“Infrastructure Australia has been effectively gagged on the issue. Their public analysis has amounted to five paragraphs last year in ticking off on an investment of up to $4.7 billion from the Building Australia Fund. At almost $1 billion per paragraph, it wasn’t cheap advice. Minister Albanese, the Minister for Infrastructure, was missing in action.”

As Ken Henry, Secretary of the Treasury, stated last year:

  • “Government spending that does not pass an appropriately defined cost-benefit test necessarily detracts from Australia’s wellbeing. That is, when taxpayer funds are not put to their best use, Australia’s wellbeing is not as high as it otherwise could be.”

“Is it any wonder that this is a Government that has racked up $138 billion in debt and is continuing to borrow up to $2 billion a fortnight? Like much of this borrowing, the Government made its decision to spend $43 billion on the NBN in haste. In Senate Estimates last year it was revealed that NBN Mark II was conceived between Senator Conroy and the Prime Minister during two plane flights on Mr Rudd’s VIP jet” Senator Joyce said.

“The ‘back of the boarding pass’ approach to infrastructure selection must end. A Coalition Government will conduct and release cost-benefit analysis on infrastructure investments.”

More Information- Jenny Swan 07 46 251500

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Barnaby Ridicules Rudd’s New ETS

29 Apr

Media Release – Senator Barnaby Joyce, 29 April 2010:

ETS – the Extra Tax on Smoking – was it?

Well, this should allay our fears about the Prime Minister’s sincerity. He’s decided after 10 months of having the plans on hold to put a new tax on, wait for it – smoking. What a stroke of genius.  I suppose it’s a carbon abatement scheme of sorts, but I don’t think this is the one he took to the election. It is, though, a good reflection of the proportional relevance of his policy delivery. He talked about an emissions trading scheme to reduce billions of tonnes of carbon, but what he gave us was the removal of a few durries, with another moralistic sermon as a bandaid on his street cred which is more than a little bruised of late.

While in November last year, Mr Rudd said that any delay on climate change action would be “political cowardice … an absolute failure of leadership … and … an absolute failure of logic”, he has now managed to gather the courage to introduce what he called today “an unpopular” move to increase the cost of cigarettes by 25%.

This may be a good move in the interest of health, but it’s not going to cure Mr Rudd’s lack of credibility. It will be called for what it is – ‘a government desperate to do anything to avoid attention because the reality is that they’ve done nothing’ story.

Mr Rudd says this is not a diversion from the ETS, so why wasn’t it announced as part of his health reform package or the budget?  He doesn’t have the conviction to get the “Great Big Tax on Everything” up through a double dissolution, but he can put a tax on the individual emissions from the smokers of Australia. Maybe a tax on cigarettes is a more authentic exposé of the depths of his political complexity and belief.

More Information- Jenny Swan 0746 251500

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Cost of Living Pressures Increase

28 Apr

Media Release – Senator Barnaby Joyce, 28 April 2010:

Senator Barnaby Joyce noted today that the release of the latest consumer price index figures show that electricity prices have increased by 26%, in real terms, since the election of the Rudd Government. These results are partly due to their Minister for Infrastructure’s complete failure to build on the Howard Government’s legacy of successful National Competition Policy, as shown by reports in the Australian Financial Review today.

Senator Joyce said that “The Labor party are incapable of decisive outcomes because of their insatiable desire to put polls ahead of statesmanship. Even their own core issues, such as the ETS, are jettisoned as the need requires.

“This government has shown that they cannot deliver on bread and butter issues such as infrastructure. The implausible and pathetic episodes of spending on the home insulation program and the building the education revolution are part and parcel of Australia’s debt currently reaching almost $137 billion. But real investment to bring real outcomes in power, water, roads and rail has been left wanting.

“Minister Albanese’s claim yesterday that the infrastructure reform agenda was “as full as it ever was” simply reflects the Rudd Government’s inaction in this important area. The COAG Reform Council has reported that this government is failing to progress reform in 4 out of 8 competition areas, including energy and transport.”

Reports today in the Australian Financial Review today suggest the government is trying to reinvigorate National Competition Policy.

In response Senator Joyce commented, “What has taken them almost three years? This government has been busy announcing flashy projects and big spending but ignored the hard work necessary to get more out of our existing infrastructure stock. We have waited 12 months for the National Freight Strategy and where is the greater transparency and cost-benefit analysis that this government promised? Greater efficiency, not bigger spending, is what will help reduce electricity, gas and water prices.”

Electricity prices have increased 11 per cent a year on average, in real terms, since the election of the Rudd Government. In comparison, during the Howard Government, electricity prices increased by an average of 0.5 per cent year, in real terms.

More Information- Jenny Swan 0746 251500

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Rudd Destroys His Minister’s Beliefs

28 Apr

* This April 28, 2010 post has since been revised, updated, and expanded with new developments in the ongoing Turnbull saga, in the following articles –

“Compassion For Malcolm – He Just Wants His Balls Back“
“Malcolm’s Motive: His ETS Lie Unravelled“
“Doing God’s Work – Turnbull An Angel Of Death Derivatives“
““Turnbull Once Said To Me, ‘You Capitalise On Chaos'””
“Spread The Word – ‘Untouchable’ Turnbull Is A Goldman-plated Turd”
“Malcolm Turnbull – The Goldman-churian Candidate?”

********************

The following media release by Barnaby just goes to show that he isn’t always right.  There is plenty of evidence to strongly suggest the true reason why Malcolm Turnbull really “believed” in an emissions trading scheme.

Simply take the time to review the history of the HIH collapse.  Consider the highly questionable role that Goldman Sachs Australia – of whom Malcolm Turnbull was chairman at the time – had to play in this, the biggest corporate failure in Australian history.

Consider the subsequent $500 million lawsuit brought against the key players in the HIH collapse… including named defendant Malcolm Turnbull.

Consider that only a few years after the collapse of HIH, even as those legal proceedings were being prepared, Malcolm Turnbull’s (again, questionable) takeover from Peter King as the Liberal candidate for the seat of Wentworth gave him a ready made entrance into Parliament in 2004.  Consider his rapid elevation to the key role of … Environment Minister. Followed by the first suggestion that the Howard Government should adopt an ETS.

Consider the revelation only a short time later that then Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull was to be spared from appearing in court as a defendant in that $500 million lawsuit.  Why?

Because his former employer Goldman Sachs had made a “confidential” settlement on his behalf.

Finally, consider which massive international banking power has been behind all the great bubbles in modern history – and is again behind the global drive for a new derivatives-based trading bubble, the likes of which the world has never seen.

It hardly takes a rocket scientist to put two + two together.

Malcolm Turnbull, the former Goldman Sachs chairman, named co-defendant, and beneficiary of a “confidential” settlement by his former employer, “believed” so strongly in Australia having an emissions trading scheme for a very good reason indeed.

But I personally harbour the gravest of doubts that “saving the planet” had anything whatsoever to do with it…

Media Release – Senator Barnaby Joyce, 28 April 2010:

“My heart actually felt for Minister Wong being dragged through the public teeth pulling exercise on radio this morning explaining that the Labor Party no longer has a carbon reduction scheme of any sort,” said Senator Barnaby Joyce. “In fact, it is now apparent that the only scheme likely to get up at the next election is the Coalitions as the Labor Party does not have a CPRS policy. Mr Rudd has yet again destroyed another one of his colleagues by revealing his lack of a political soul and his mercenary ambivalence that puts polls over statesmanship.”

“How can he possibly hold any credibility when he publicly denies the fundamental tenant of his political faith so illustriously espoused at the previous election? Mr Rudd has jettisoned the ETS as one would put aside a paper plate at a picnic.”

“One can now see that at least Malcolm Turnbull, although he had a view I fervently disagreed with on the ETS, was willing to put his job on the line because he believed it was right*. Likewise, Brendan Nelson. I don’t believe Tony Abbott is going to change his view to be in favour of an ETS because the polls say so, or Ron Boswell for that matter.”

“Mr Rudd is a philosophical soldier of fortune who chameleon like uses faux earnestness as a key tool of deception. He has made Peter Garrett completely recant all his former beliefs, he has handed Combet his ceiling insulation problems in a modern version of the ‘loaded dog’, and now he is piece by piece dissembling the belief structure of Penny Wong. Why? Because the poll monster told him to do so. Mr Rudd is a political bric-a-brac shop of kitsch philosophies – overpriced, under planned and dispensed at will.”

More Information- Jenny Swan 0746 251500

UPDATE:

Post reorganised to lead with Turnbull/Goldman connection, followed by Barnaby’s media release.

UPDATE 2:

Interesting. Less than a month after announcing his intention to retire from politics, Turnbull changes his mind.

Or should that be, has it changed for him.

(There are numerous anecdotal reports that Turnbull’s “overseas” trip was for a meeting with Goldman Sachs in NY)

UPDATE 3 – 19 May 2011:

h/t Twitterer wakeup2thelies –

@BarnabyisRight Thats a fantastic write up Head of CSIRO also Fmr director of Aus arm of of Rothschild 2001-03 resume http://bit.ly/mqpJx9

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Wong Wastes Water Money

31 Mar

Media Release – Senator Barnaby Joyce, 30 March 2010:

Reports in the Australian Financial Review today confirm that Penny Wong is presiding over a water buy back scheme that is frittering away money. Senator Joyce said “reports suggesting that Penny Wong has overpaid to the tune of $40 million and that some water sellers are getting special deals fuel the confusion and uncertainty surrounding Senator Wong’s plan for the Basin. Who expects irrigators to invest in water-saving technology in this climate of confusion?”

Senator Joyce spoke yesterday to a number of irrigators and farmers. These initial discussions have confirmed reports in the media today. The Government is not providing sufficient feedback on the status of some farmer’s tenders. As the Productivity Commission reported last year, Senator Wong’s scheme has also failed to recognize the effects on local communities of farms closing down. Senator Joyce will be travelling along the Basin over the next few weeks to get first-hand experience of these impacts.

Senator Joyce reiterated that he has no problems with the buying of water, or moving towards to a nationally coordinated use of water from the Murray-Darling Basin. “We need a water policy that provides jobs in regional areas, guarantees food security for all Australians and protects the environment. Current policy appears to ignore this triple-bottom line approach,” Senator Joyce said.

More Information- Jenny Swan 0746 251500

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A Little Less Conversation

23 Mar

Media Release – Senator Barnaby Joyce, 23 March 2010

The Finance Minister, Lindsay Tanner, today expressed concern that Australia has too many of its export eggs “in one basket.” Senator Barnaby Joyce today responded by noting that this mock concern comes from the same government that continues to borrow $1.5 to $2 billion a fortnight.

“Export industries, other than the mining sector, are being “crowded out” by the government’s reckless and wasteful stimulus spending. This spending puts upward pressure on interest rates, making it harder for exporting firms to access finance. We have seen four interest rate rises in six months.” Senator Joyce said.

“But also when the government is borrowing at this pace, others have to go offshore. This increases our foreign debt and puts upward pressure on our exchange rate. Our exchange rate has increased 30 per cent over the last year. This hurts industries like the tourism sector. Unemployment is 12.4% in Far North Queensland at the moment, where the tourism hub of Cairns once generated a lot of jobs.”

“If Mr Tanner wants to encourage export diversification he needs to engage in less talk and more action.”

Mr Tanner tried to point to the government’s policies to invest in infrastructure and increase productivity as the ways it is helping export industries.

“This is a government that doesn’t do a business plan on a $43 billion broadband network. How does it even know that these investments will increase productivity? And, Mr Tanner is also the Minister for Deregulation, but the COAG Reform Council showed earlier this month that progress on four out of eight competition reforms is stalled. This includes national transport reforms, which are crucial if our export industries can get their products to ports cheaply and quickly.”

More information- Jenny Swan 0438 578402

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The BER: Blatant Enormous Rip-off

23 Mar

Media Release – Senator Barnaby Joyce, 23 March 2010:

The BER (Building Education Revolution) is quickly turning into the Blatant Enormous Rip-off.  They are talking to us in the shopping malls, they are writing to us, they are ringing us and emailing, the results are in. Australians do not like being financially “touched” and they feel the Labor Party has once more proven that economically it could not manage a chook raffle in a pub on a Friday night.

A civil engineer has told Senator Barnaby Joyce today that he is astounded that the public purse is being rorted to such a massive extent. He gives the example that at the Hendra State School in Brisbane, a proposed library is set to cost $628,000 for construction. This means that the library is costing the taxpayers of Australia over $4000 per square metre. On top of this is another $194,362 for consultant fees and design costs. Compare this to the average house. A private builder would be happy with $1500 per square metre and provide a better finished product.  The library will not be air-conditioned and is just a basic design. So how on earth does anyone get a cost at over twice the going rate?

How can Mr Tanner Mr Rudd and Mr Swan laud their economic management expertise and hold a straight face at the same time? You would have thought that after the ceiling insulation debacle and the ever escalating mountainous debt that prudence would have made them slightly more cautious in how they dealt with the money being borrowed to finance the school hall jaunt, as silly as the idea is. But the proof is in the pudding. No one seems to care. The curtains are open but no one’s financially home. They don’t care how the money is spent and they don’t know how the money will be repaid and they have no idea what money is actually worth. The mantra of go hard, go early, go household also must have included go into debt into your eyeballs and fall out of your financial tree.

More information- Jenny Swan 0438 578402

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