Wed, 14th May 2008
Labor leaves exporters out in the cold
The Hon Ian Macfarlane MP
Shadow Minister for Trade
The Rudd Labor Government has not lifted a finger in the budget to dispel fears over its erratic approach to trade, Shadow Minister for Trade Ian Macfarlane said today.
“Once again the Rudd Labor Government has perpetuated an environment of uncertainty for Australian exporters, because of its patchy commitment to the Export Market Development Grants (EMDG) scheme.
“The Rudd Labor Government is playing a cruel hoax on Australian exporters by claiming to extend the EMDG scheme, all the while subjecting exporting businesses to significant shortfalls for this financial year.
“Labor’s one-off allocation of $50 million for grants in 2009-10, which will relate to expenses incurred by exporting businesses in 2008-09, is leaving exporters who’ve incurred expenses in this financial year out in the cold.
“Labor has acknowledged the popularity of the program under the Coalition Government, but has refused to allocate additional funding to the EMDG program for 2007-08 or 2008-09, all the while conceding exporters will face a funding shortfall for expenses occurred this financial year.
“Of even greater concern is Labor’s attempted deception of exporters, by failing to allocate extra money for the EMDG scheme in the forward estimates for 2010-11 or 2011-12.
“Despite the Rudd Labor spin, the long term future of the program remains uncertain.
“It’s simply not enough for Trade Minister Simon Crean to throw a one-off cash injection at exporters in two year’s time and claim he’s provided them with a sound policy footing.
“The truth is this budget is just more evidence of the Rudd Labor Government’s inconsistent and confused approach to trade.
“Furthermore, the Rudd Labor Government has also compromised Australian export market opportunities, by merging the functions of Invest Australia into Austrade – expecting Austrade officers to do more with far less funds, while throwing a cloud of confusion over the jobs at Invest Australia.
“It all adds up to extra uncertainty for Australian exporters and investors, who’ve already been subjected to more than six months of inconsistency from a Rudd Labor Government more interested in reports and reviews.
“And the uncertainty will continue for at least another three months while Australian businesses wait for Labor to complete its protracted review process.
“It’s about time Mr Crean stood up to his Cabinet colleagues and prosecuted the case for Australian exporters, who create one in five jobs in the Australian economy.
“He’s failed to do so in the budget and exporting firms can’t be subjected to any more floundering – lip service is cold comfort.”