Labor programmes go belly up
15/08/10
Labor’s Industry Minister Kim Carr can simply not be believed or trusted.
Mr Carr chose to begin the last week of the election campaign with two more of his trademark backflips – this time through his decision to follow the Coalition’s lead in reducing funding to the Green Car Innovation Fund, and the Retooling for Climate Change programs.
In a piece of breathtaking hypocrisy, Mr Carr has overnight slashed $237.6 million from these two programmes.
For months, Mr Carr has been stalking marginal electorates slamming the Coalition’s responsible decision to make savings from these two poorly-targeted initiatives.*
Julia Gillard even said on Mr Carr’s behalf last week that the two programmes were “hugely successful Labor initiatives” and that “Coalition … cuts to the Green Car Innovation Fund would put investments by Holden, Ford and Toyota at risk”.(Labor Innovation Policy 2010 election campaign, pages 11 and 12)
This is a Minister who not only has no shame but clearly has no principle and no backbone.
In making these cuts, Labor demonstrates it will say and do anything to stay in power, even if it means abandoning any semblance of consistency.
It also continues Mr Carr’s dismal track record as Minister in repeatedly flip-flopping on policy and clearly showing he has absolutely plan or vision for Australia’s innovation and industry future.
The reality is that it’s only the Coalition that has an honest and transparent approach and actually knows how to deliver government programmes.
Labor meanwhile lies about our policies – and then, in the dead of night when it thinks nobody is watching, tries to adopt them anyway.
*For some of Mr Carr’s quotes, please see following pages.
Some of Kim Carr’s past statements about the Coalition’s proposed reductions to the Green Car Innovation Fund, and Retooling for Climate Change programs:
“(These are) successful Labor programs that are putting Australian industry on a more sustainable footing.”
“(These cuts mean) Tony Abbott does not have the judgment to invest in the regional economy, including the manufacturing sector, let alone manage the national economy.”
(Reference: K.Carr & S.Sidebottom, 'Securing Jobs for North Western Tasmania', 12 August 2010, http://www.alp.org.au/federal-government/news/securing-jobs-for-north-western-tasmania/)
“(Cuts to these programs would mean) crippling the ability of many manufacturers to invest in greener processes. This is just a further demonstration that Tony Abbott doesn’t have the judgement to be Prime Minister.”
(Reference: K.Carr & D.McIntyre, 'Queensland Business to Lead the Way with Rainwater', 11 August 2010, http://www.alp.org.au/federal-government/news/queensland-business-to-lead-the-way-with-rainwater/)
“Tony Abbott has promised to cut or abolish many of Federal Labor’s successful programs promoting innovation in industry. (He) just doesn’t have the judgement to understand the need for these important investments.”
(Reference: K.Carr, 'Innovation to move Australia forward', 11 August 2010, http://www.alp.org.au/federal-government/news/innovation-to-move-australia-forward/)
“The Liberals have promised to cut or close successful Federal Labor programs to support creative companies … this is a recipe for making Australia less productive and less competitive in a world increasingly demanding new technologies and ideas.”
(Reference: K.Carr, ‘Coalition blocks Australian innovators’, 10 August 2010, http://www.alp.org.au/federal-government/news/coalition-blocks-australian-innovators/)
“All we’ve heard from our opponents is how they want to cut back support for the automotive industry. That’s the contrast.”
(Reference: T.Martin, ‘Coalition will 'kill' Carr-led plans - An Abbott Government would 'kill or cripple' Labor's innovation policies: Carr’, goauto.com.au, 10 August 2010, http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mellor.nsf/story2/376C7C3897EB17DACA25777B000CC832)
“Labor will continue to support the industry’s efforts to become greener and more innovative through … Retooling for Climate Change and the Green Car Innovation Fund – all of which our opponents have said they will cut or abolish … this is the future of Australian manufacturing.”
(Reference: K.Carr, Address to Australian Industry Group, 29 July 2010, http://www.alp.org.au/federal-government/news/speech--kim-carr,--address-to-australian-industry-/)
“This is one of the most reckless cuts you could make to the Geelong economy.”
“If you hurt Ford, you hurt Geelong.”
(Reference: J.Whalley, ‘Liberals will cut car fund: Minister’, Geelong Advertiser, 1 July 2010, p.6.)
“(The Green Car Innovation Fund) will provide a further $790 million in grant funding over the next nine years and I expect that to produce very, very big results for the Australian automotive industry.”
(Reference: Senate, Economics Legislation Committee, Budget Estimates (Hansard), 31 May 2010, p.E116.)