Shadow Minister For Agriculture and Federal Member for Calare John Cobb writes:
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John Cobb
The Rudd Government plan asks the Parliament’s permission to take the nation $200 billion into deficit – $9,500 debt for every man, woman and child in my Federal Seat of Calare.
The Coalition will oppose the Rudd Government’s latest $42 billion expenditure package because it is not a responsible or sustainable way to run the national economy.
I know this decision will not be popular, but it is the right decision.
The objective of any package must be to protect and create jobs, support small business and strengthen our economy. This package will not achieve this.
There is no evidence the Government’s $10.4 billion spending package before Christmas created the 75,000 jobs Mr Rudd promised.
What we need is investment in infrastructure that will be able to pay off the deficit in the future.
Almost all economists agree that the recession has a long way to go. And yet the Rudd Labour Government is panicking, firing all its bullets at the first engagement.
It is inexcusable that health of regional Australian’s has been ignored in Rudd Government’s $42 billion economic stimulus.
The health crisis in regional Australia has been ignored, despite the very real need for additional funding for hospitals and health services in western NSW.
It is a National scandal that water and infrastructure spending has been ignored in the $42 billion stimulus package.
In my electorate of Calare there are over 1000 miners who have been laid off in the last four months. They are highly skilled and many of them could be employed to immediately start laying pipes and improving irrigation systems both on and off farm, particularly in the Macquarie Valley where we could save up to 60,000 megalitres, increase production and opportunities by modernising irrigations systems.
Similarly towns and cities in regional Australia need water and sewerage infrastructure upgrades. Prior to the election the Labor Party promised to spend over $400 million on the Menindee Lakes and $12 million piping the Albert Priest Channel between Nyngan and Cobar. Both these projects have disappeared, yet they would provide jobs, improve productivity and have environmental benefits.
I am also concerned that up to 20 percent of the $14.7 billion earmarked for eduction infrastructure will be taken by the State Government’s in ‘administration and management fees’. This will result in almost $3 billion never making it into bricks and mortar and disappearing into incompetent State Labor Government coffers.
I find it inconceivable that the Government can claim it is spending $88 billion to stimulate the Australian economy, yet it can not find any money to replace the $63 million it cut from the CSRIO agriculture research budget that has led to the closure or CSRIO laboratory and research stations. As a general rule of thumb research takes roughly 15 years to go from conception to being workable.
The Rudd Government’s cuts to agriculture research and development come at a time when farmers will be forced to do more with less. Improving research and development is vital to guarantee jobs both now and into the future.
Where is the national broadband network? The Government cut over $2.7 billion from the Coalition Government’s telecommunications fund and scrapped the $2 billion OPEL broadband roll out. The Government made much of the need for a fast modern broadband network to improve productivity and increase jobs prior to the election.
The OPEL plan would have been already rolling out on the ground and providing jobs and productivity increases, however all we have is vague promises of a broadband network that will exclude almost all regional Australia.
It is my duty to hold the government to account because it is taxpayer’s money that they are spending, putting not just us but our children into $200 billion in debt which will have to be repaid.
If we have to have a deficit then it is vital that we the money being spent is spent on projects that give us the maximum benefit, not just a short term jump in the polls.
END
Have Your Say!
February 6, 2009 at 5:56 am
That's ok Steve – not having a shot at you. I saw your link this morning and was referring Jeff (any anyone else) to it. Should have mentioned the "interesting stuff" but it's all good.
February 6, 2009 at 6:09 am
G'day John,
Mate no drama – I didn't think you were having a shot just thought you'd not seen it.
i was just apologizing for not replying. its so much easier (quicker) for me to talk to you all here than respond emails
When you see stuff like that just post it under the daily forum with the link., At least that way everybody gets a look at it. That is if you think others in the community would be interested.
Have a great article coming shortly from John Cobb on the Stimulus package that i think you will all find extremely interesting.
Cheers mate
February 6, 2009 at 5:11 am
Yep, incidentally did you see the link to the article by Pete Costello in The Age, "You Spin us Right Round Kevin".
Who knows where the Ruddmania will end and what we'll have to show for it at the end of the day, or will people wake up to what's going on before it's too late? Lollies will only keep kids happy for so long.
February 6, 2009 at 5:17 am
G'day John,
Sorry I did not get back to you – just flat – the link to that article is in the interesting stuff in today's community news. Also a very good piece by Allan Jones – Click through to the video.
Cheers mate
February 6, 2009 at 4:53 am
Yes John,
When you look at the last $10bn handout, that was supposed to be converted into jobs, part of it turned out to be jobs for overseas manufacturers (plasma/LCD TV's made in China). And overseas pensioners (returned from Australia) that would spend it in overseas markets, not in Aus.
I heard Barnaby Joyce commenting on the budget blowout this morning – a statement such as "where do we stop Prime Minister ? – $1.3trillion dollars AU?", which made me remember the legend of the Pied Piper of Hamlyn and the consequences of not paying the Piper (watched a documentary on TV recently – not reverting back to childhood).
Also brings back the spectre of Gough, Rex Connor and an Arab money lender Khemlani(?).
If the monies where put into schemes such as a flood mitigation water diverting system, it would reduce the requirements for rescue assistance, provide much needed jobs, eventually increase production of the rural sector, reduce the dependence on unemployment benefits – all positives.
February 6, 2009 at 4:26 am
Hi Jeff, we're thinking along the same lines but successive governments have ignored the concept of diverting northern floodwaters to the south by pipeline or across into western river systems. Why raid the too hard basket when you can just dole out cash like lollies and make a lot of people happy?
February 5, 2009 at 1:26 pm
Hi Agmate Steve,
Doesn't this all boil down to the subject of the recent "Isn't Australia the Stupidist Nation on Earth, Who cares if we can't feed ourselves" series?
With the distressing loss of stock and produce such as bananas in N. Queensland due to flooding, and the loss of fruit and vegetables in the south and central areas due to drought and excessive heat, may make some of the general public aware that their weekly groceries, meat, milk and bread supply comes from Australia, and from industries that need help now.
But if consumers listen to the words of the Agriculture Minister Burke, who will, unless he does an about face, put price increases and availability of produce squarely on the farmer.
Of course the "Big Two" can now legitimately look overseas for supplies as produce become less available from local suppliers.
The Rudd Government will continue down the path of the Pork Barrel, with things which look good to the urban electorates – for an election which is coming up fast
February 6, 2009 at 1:28 am
Yeh, spot on Jeff.
I mean, everyone supports the idea of a healthy environment. Noone I know wants to rape & pillage the countryside, which is why when some of these green groups say the things they do, it gets my back up.
But there is plenty of evidence that productivity can be maintained & even improved as well as achieving a truly healthy environment. It takes some changes in management by a few people, but it can be done. Whats more, it can be done cheaply !!
The way they are taking us now, will erode productivity & cost us profitability in the short & long terms.
February 5, 2009 at 12:22 pm
Great Comment Tim,
Now that you are a registered commentator on here I have given you my vote. See the thumbs up and thumbs down.
Sadly what you have said is exactly right.
That is one of the things that the Agmates community is working to achieve. To educate those that live in the cities and those that govern us that unless we change the way we think about, legislate and treat our food and fibre producers, we will end up, in the not distant future, not being able to feed ourselves.
Australia's abundant ability to produce food and fibre has been taken for granted and abused by this nation for the last 3-4 decades.
Unless we start to value and reward those producers who have been resourceful enough to survive that period of rampant 'free trade' (that virtually only we & NZ adhere to), over regulation and environmental madness, we will end up reliant on other nations food production to feed ourselves.
There is nothing that I can see in this stimulus package that shows me the Rudd Labor government has realized that yet.
February 6, 2009 at 1:09 am
Thanks Steve, I agree with what you say wholeheartedly.
February 5, 2009 at 12:05 pm
The sad truth is why the hell would they spend any money in the regions? Political reality, driven by Australia's urbanised population, demands that nearly all of this money will be spent within an hours drive of the coast. That is where the votes are.
It won't be until the cities begin to become short of food that their attention will move in our direction. Then they will demand that agriculture must get a 'Rescue Plan' in order to make their food cheaper & to reduce overseas imports of food.
Unfortunately, there are more votes in putting a plasma TV in every city home than there are in specifically ensuring the future of rural people & the food & fibre they produce through their labour.
February 5, 2009 at 5:11 am
Many valid points made, including: "It is a National scandal that water and infrastructure spending has been ignored in the $42 billion stimulus package."
How true, and how sad/ scandalous to see all that water in NQ wasted in flood run-off. How far would $50+ billion go in diverting and saving some of that, and how many jobs would it create?
February 6, 2009 at 4:26 am
Hi John Mikkelsen,
Having seen the Baslink Project written up in Silicon Chip and then when in Tasmania having seen the actual power switching station near Georgetown, convinces me that Australia can handle larger projects.
Baslink is a extremely Hi voltage link from power stations in Victoria to the Northern end of Tasmania. Extremely hi-voltage – 400,000 volts and DC as well, over 1 conductor with return. All this and the hi-voltage conductor is on the floor of Bass Straight.
The concept is Tasmania's hydro to supply the mainland load when it is excessive, or if under low water conditions in Tasmania's hydro, power will be supplied from the brown coal stations in Victoria, across the link to Tasmania.
Another project that made history, is the Snowy Mountains Hydro Scheme, where they literally moved mountains and bored through others. I am amazed at what was achieved there, every time I visit or pass through that area.
These projects provided jobs for thousands of workers. The Snowy Scheme lifted us out of fairly austere times. Various schemes have been proposed for water collection, delivery and distribution over a long time, as excess water in North Queensland and drought further to the south is a re-occurring situation.
One such scheme was the Bradfield Scheme, whilst looking up the facts on the Bradfield Scheme, I found the website of Selwyn Johnston, Independent.
I don't know whether Mr Selwyn Johnston is still there, but his website lists some valid information.
Edit:( Selwyn Johnston is not the sitting member, the seat of Leichhardt is held by Mr Jim Turner A.L.P. )
All we need is a government with some guts to move on a project such as was proposed by Bradfield, suitably adjusted to meet today's and tomorrow's needs, with today's technology, and to stop pandering to vocal minorities who do not want any progress beyond moving back into caves.
Ah, now I feel better! J.