HOWARD RUSE EXPOSED
Published Wednesday, 08 August, 2007 at 12:43 PM
JOINT STATEMENT
Premier and Minister for Trade
The Honourable Peter Beattie
Minister for Local Government, Planning and Sport
The Honourable Andrew Fraser
The Prime Minister’s smoke and mirrors trick to try hide the effects of another interest rate rise had failed, Premier Peter Beattie and Minister for Local Government Andrew Fraser said today.
“It was a diversion and not a very good one,” Mr Beattie said.
“Mr Howard knew his economic management was about to come under scrutiny and he was desperate for a distraction.
“He knew that his push for local government referenda was not legally valid and that has been confirmed by legal opinion this morning.
“The Australian Electoral Commission has no power to conduct referendums on this issue and even if they were held the results could not strike down valid State legislation.”
Mr Beattie said Mr Howard was engaging in a silly stunt that is giving false hope.
“His last minute buy-in smacks of desperation and is a slap in the face for all the Councils and Councillors who have worked with us on this process,” he said.
“The Minister for Local Government and I have met with approximately 68 Councils since the independent Commission brought down their report a little over a week ago.
“While there is no doubt that some are disappointed with the findings, the majority have accepted the decision and are ready to get on with the job of building stronger Councils for a growing Queensland.”
Mr Beattie said he believed the Prime Minister had only bought-in as a payback for the Queensland National Party ignoring their own members and pushing ahead with his plans for a joint Senate ticket.
“As a thank-you he has tried to intervene in a State based issue to help out a State based Opposition that has been absent and irrelevant,” he said.
“If the Prime Minister is so keen on referendums why didn’t he ask workers what they thought of Workchoices or why didn’t he ask Aboriginal people their opinion on his intervention into their communities.
“His hypocrisy is clear and it is obvious he is only doing this now as a sneaky stunt in the lead-up to the Federal election.”
Mr Fraser said John Howard’s own comments in Parliament indicated he knew he was on shaky ground.
“Twice Mr Howard made reference to the limit of their Constitutional power so it was clear that he knew it would be a stretch to make this silly stunt come to fruition,” Mr Fraser said.
8 August, 2007
Further inquiries: Premier’s Office: 3224 4500
“It was a diversion and not a very good one,” Mr Beattie said.
“Mr Howard knew his economic management was about to come under scrutiny and he was desperate for a distraction.
“He knew that his push for local government referenda was not legally valid and that has been confirmed by legal opinion this morning.
“The Australian Electoral Commission has no power to conduct referendums on this issue and even if they were held the results could not strike down valid State legislation.”
Mr Beattie said Mr Howard was engaging in a silly stunt that is giving false hope.
“His last minute buy-in smacks of desperation and is a slap in the face for all the Councils and Councillors who have worked with us on this process,” he said.
“The Minister for Local Government and I have met with approximately 68 Councils since the independent Commission brought down their report a little over a week ago.
“While there is no doubt that some are disappointed with the findings, the majority have accepted the decision and are ready to get on with the job of building stronger Councils for a growing Queensland.”
Mr Beattie said he believed the Prime Minister had only bought-in as a payback for the Queensland National Party ignoring their own members and pushing ahead with his plans for a joint Senate ticket.
“As a thank-you he has tried to intervene in a State based issue to help out a State based Opposition that has been absent and irrelevant,” he said.
“If the Prime Minister is so keen on referendums why didn’t he ask workers what they thought of Workchoices or why didn’t he ask Aboriginal people their opinion on his intervention into their communities.
“His hypocrisy is clear and it is obvious he is only doing this now as a sneaky stunt in the lead-up to the Federal election.”
Mr Fraser said John Howard’s own comments in Parliament indicated he knew he was on shaky ground.
“Twice Mr Howard made reference to the limit of their Constitutional power so it was clear that he knew it would be a stretch to make this silly stunt come to fruition,” Mr Fraser said.
8 August, 2007
Further inquiries: Premier’s Office: 3224 4500