Wow. Change the names and numbers and this sounds very familiar. At least Australia has their Democrats pegged and publicly called out. Unlike the embarrassment of liberals cheerleaders that call themselves journalists here.
Turnbull defends decision to block stimulus
Federal Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull has defended his decision to vote against the Government’s $42 billion economic stimulus package.
The Government is planning a raft of cash payments, tax breaks and infrastructure spending to boost the economy.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has attacked the Opposition’s decision to vote against the measures.
In an address to the nation, Mr Turnbull says he knows it is not a popular move, but it is the right thing to do.
“The Prime Minister has given the Parliament only 48 hours to consider and approve the expenditure of $42 billion,” he said.
“That isn’t sensible, or prudent. It’s an insult to Australian taxpayers and we in the Opposition will vote against this package.
“We know this won’t be popular with many people but we are determined to do the right thing for Australia and its future.
“Somebody has to stand up for strong financial management. Somebody has to stand up for taxpayers. Somebody has to stand up for future generations.
“We don’t reject the need for a stimulus at this time but our judgment is that $42 billion is too much right now and $200 billion is too much debt. This is not a time for panic. It’s a time for sound, calm judgement.
“There’s no evidence that last year’s $10 billion cash handout was an effective economic stimulus. It did not create the jobs the Government said it would.
“So we oppose rushing to another cash splash. Rather, we propose bring forwarding permanent tax cuts for Australians. This will make many families more than $1,700 better off over the year. It allows them to keep more of their own hard earned cash into the future.
“He’s [Kevin Rudd] asking Parliament to increase our national debt to $200 billion – a level never seen before. That is $9,500 of debt for every Australian, a debt our children will have to pay off years into the future.”
Federal Parliament is sitting late into the night to debate the stimulus package.
The legislation is expected to pass the Lower House overnight, but will face more hurdles in the Senate.
Earlier today Mr Rudd branded Mr Turnbull’s decision to block the package as “rank political expediency”.
“What you have embarked upon today is to vote against the biggest building program in every primary school in the nation,” he said during Question Time.
Democrats are nearly everything that’s wrong with this country, as if I had to say it.