SHADOW Minister for Human Services Senator, Doug Cameron, condemned last week’s visit to the region by the Minister of Human Services, Marise Payne, by saying that the hypocrisy in the Minister’s trip was breathtaking.
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“Obviously she was having a nice time in the good amenities in Inverell, but she certainly didn’t visit any of the key issues that affect the Inverell population,” Senator Cameron said.
“She was promoting Australian Hearing, when she is supporting a proposition to look at the privatisation of Australian Hearing. This proposition is being opposed by hearing groups and deaf support groups all around the country.
“Visiting Centrelink offices is all well and fine, but at the same time she is trying to cut the wages and conditions of Centrelink workers, who are faced with even more pressure because of the cuts this government has made to social welfare groups around the country.”
Mr Cameron said there had been cutbacks in housing, legal support and areas of housing and homelessness.
“I just think this is a government in chaos, and it becomes more bizarre by the minute,” Mr Cameron said.
“We’ve got Senator John Williams out there congratulating Senator Payne when he actually should be standing her up and making sure the Liberal party provide decent support to regional and rural Australia.
“There’s nobody in the Nationals doing their job at the moment, they’re simply lapdogs for the Liberal Party. The Nationals don’t seem to be able to stand up for communities in regional and rural Australia.”
Senator Williams returned fire, saying he knew nothing about any proposition to privatise Australian Hearing.
“This is the first I have heard of it. Now wait a minute, this is Senator Doug Cameron from the former Labor government that was going to cut just short of 14,000 jobs in the public sector?” Senator Williams said.
“The same government was going to bring the budget into the black. The last time Labor had a budget surplus was 1989, and we’ve inherited their financial mess.
“We’re not in chaos. It hasn’t been a good week for the Prime Minister with his knighthood of Prince Philip, that’s for sure, and I’m sure you’re going to see more consultations by the Prime Minister with the Nationals in any future decisions.”
Senator Williams said the Nationals always looked after the bush and rattled off some examples.
“Barnaby Joyce and his building of exports for the beef industry, his drought packages, when the budget cuts came along the retention of the Roads to Recovery,” Senator Williams said.
“Very soon we’ll see the legislation to tighten up foreign ownership of our land, it’ll be very interesting to see where Labor stands on that, because Penny Wong certainly supports the sell-off of our farms.”
