http://www.andrewrobb.com.au RSS feeds for Andrew Robb MP - Federal Member for Goldstein 60 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1507/Clean-Energy-Bank-Has-No-Coalition-Investment-Mandate.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1507 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1507&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1507/Clean-Energy-Bank-Has-No-Coalition-Investment-Mandate.aspx CLEAN ENERGY BANK HAS NO COALITION INVESTMENT MANDATE The Coalition today registers its strong opposition to the formal investment mandate issued by the Gillard government for the spending of $10 billion of borrowed money by the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC).   “The CEFC is yet another example of poor public policy from this government which has the very real potential of resulting in the waste of billions of taxpayers’ dollars, all borrowed money,” Shadow Finance Minister Andrew Robb said.   “We will abolish this entity through whatever means should we be fortunate enough to form government as this is a total indulgence, a sop to the Greens that will come at taxpayers’ expense.   “The fact that the purpose of the CEFC is to provide a substantial funding lifeline for clean energy projects that cannot secure finance elsewhere highlights the level of risk involved in these so-called investments,” Mr Robb said.   What’s more the “benchmark return” set by the government, for a portfolio of high- risk ventures, is the meagre average of the government bond rate.   Mr Robb said Labor was “lining up the ducks” so money could be shovelled out the door between 1 July and the federal election.   “This is a very desperate government which will use any means to throw money at preferred constituencies before the election. It will be all borrowed money and will add to Labor’s already record net debt levels of $165 billion.   “The most responsible thing for the CEFC board to do would be to desist from entering into any formal financing agreements or releasing funds prior to the election, given the Coalition’s clear intent to abolish the entity,” Mr Robb said.    Andrew Robb Wed, 24 Apr 2013 06:02:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1507 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1505/Joint-Media-Release--Coalition-commitment-on-surplus-and-AAA-rating-clear.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1505 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1505&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1505/Joint-Media-Release--Coalition-commitment-on-surplus-and-AAA-rating-clear.aspx THE HON JOE HOCKEY MP Shadow Treasurer THE HON ANDREW ROBB AO MP Shadow Minister for Finance, Deregulation and Debt Reduction           COALITION COMMITMENT ON SURPLUS AND AAA RATING CLEAR Standard & Poor's has warned in today’s Australian newspaper that Australia's AAA credit rating will come under threat if Labor does not show a commitment to eliminating the budget deficit. The Coalition’s commitment to returning the Budget to a real surplus in a timely fashion and retaining Australia’s AAA rating is paramount.   The difference between the Labor Party and the Coalition on this issue could not be more profound.   The current position of the Labor Party, as articulated by both Wayne Swan and Penny Wong in recent days, is to deliver deficits as far as the eye can see. This is despite Julia Gillard, Wayne Swan and Penny Wong promising on over 650 occasions that they would deliver a Budget surplus this financial year.   Labor has put Australia's AAA credit rating at risk by not showing a clear commitment to eliminating the budget deficit and paying down debt. Under the previous Labor government, Australia’s credit rating was downgraded by Moody’s and S&P in 1986 and 1989. The downgrade came at a time when federal government net debt as a share of GDP was around or lower than its current level. In contrast, the Coalition won back the AAA rating from these major rating agencies with its fiscal discipline, consecutive surpluses and paying off of $96 billion of Labor debt. The Howard Government delivered ten surpluses in our last eleven budgets. By contrast you have to go back to 1989 to find a Labor surplus.  Only a Coalition Government will institute the policies necessary to return the Budget to a real surplus, and to start paying down Labor’s over $260 billion of gross debt. Any other policy is simply fiscally reckless and would further compromise Australia’s national interest.  Andrew Robb Tue, 23 Apr 2013 23:47:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1505 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1503/Labors-Deficit-Grows-Despite-Rising-Revenue.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1503 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1503&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1503/Labors-Deficit-Grows-Despite-Rising-Revenue.aspx The latest government financial statements again confirm that Labor has a spending and forecasting problem not the revenue problem it constantly bemoans. The monthly statements dropped out at 4.20pm on Friday show that for the year to February Labor has actually raised $15.8 billion more in revenue compared to the same period last year – an increase of 7.2 per cent. Despite this, the financial statements show, a deterioration in the underlying cash balance of $5.7 billion compared to the Mid Year Economic Fiscal Outlook released just five months ago. The budget to February is currently in deficit to the tune of $23.6 billion compared to the $17.9 billion deficit estimate in MYEFO. This confirms Wayne Swan is on track to deliver his fifth consecutive budget deficit despite growing revenue, and terms of trade still about 15 per cent higher than what he inherited, after growing to 150-year highs. Labor’s record net debt also now stands at $165.3 billion, compared to the 2012-13 forecast just two years ago of $93.6 billion – a blow out of more than 75 per cent. These figures confirm the serious structural problems in the budget which have been caused by Labor’s years of excessive and wasteful spending. To have any credibility the May budget must provide a detailed analysis of the budget’s structural deficit, which was recently estimated by the firm Macroeconomics, which includes former Treasury officials, at $66 billion. Andrew Robb Fri, 12 Apr 2013 07:41:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1503 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1498/Record-Debt-is-Labors-Achilles-Heel.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1498 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1498&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1498/Record-Debt-is-Labors-Achilles-Heel.aspx RECORD DEBT IS LABOR’S ACHILLES HEEL   Claims by the Gillard government that Labor saved Australia from the global financial crisis (GFC) and that the resulting record debt levels are nothing to worry about are myths.   "I would assert that both the government's profligate and wasteful response to the GFC, and its failure to take seriously its rapidly accelerating public debt levels, are creating very real vulnerabilities which will have long-term negative consequences for jobs and growth," Shadow Minister for Finance and Debt Reduction, Andrew Robb, will tell a Committee for Economic Development Event of Australia (CEDA) event in Melbourne today.   Mr Robb says for too long Labor has used the GFC almost half a decade ago, with its principal impact on the northern hemisphere, as an excuse to justify taking net debt from zero with $70 billion in net assets, to the current record level of $168 billion, with its $7 billion plus annual interest payment bill.   "Labor splurged $87 billion on stimulus in response to the events of September and October of 2008 with some 40 per cent still being spent as late as 2010-11 and 2011-12. Australia had come out the other side by the time much of the money was wasted," Mr Robb said.   "In Australia we started in a very strong position and the automatic stabilisers kicked in, the exchange rate dropped from 90c to 60c US which resulted in Australia's largest ever trade surplus. In addition the RBA acted swiftly with interest rates falling 4.25 per cent which put money straight into people's pockets."   Mr Robb said beyond the first $10 billion tranche of stimulus, which the Coalition supported, the government grossly overreacted and should have moderated its approach.   "Now we have a situation where Labor avoids talking about the resulting debt hangover at all costs other than to make deceptive and largely meaningless comparisons to the world's cot case economies. The fact our debt levels are where they are despite the mining boom and the highest terms of trade in 150 years highlights the extent of Labor's economic mismanagement.   "The size and growth of public debt is Labor's Achilles heel and perhaps Australia's greatest vulnerability. This debt brings enormous opportunity cost, limits our options and leaves us increasingly exposed to further unforseen events," Mr Robb said.  Andrew Robb Wed, 03 Apr 2013 03:56:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1498 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1494/Spotlight-on-Labors-Spending-Crisis.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1494 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1494&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1494/Spotlight-on-Labors-Spending-Crisis.aspx SPOTLIGHT ON LABOR’S SPENDING CRISIS Labor’s serious and undeniable spending crisis has been further exposed by a fresh round of budget analysis by some of Australia’s most respected business groups.   Today in a damning assessment the Business Council of Australia (BCA) said the budget is in “urgent need of repair” because “the government’s fiscal strategy is not working and needs a major rethink”, Shadow Minister for Finance, Andrew Robb observed.   “Analysis by Deloitte Access Economics shows that Labor has added almost $50 billion to the budget in new spending programs just as its massive stimulus splurge was being unwound. It must be remembered that this is on top of a total stimulus spend amounting to a staggering $87 billion as confirmed by Treasury,” Mr Robb said.   The Gillard government is now spending over $90 billion more per year – about 35 per cent – compared to the last year of the Howard government, despite inflation of just 14 per cent over the entire period.   Over the past four budgets the government has effectively spent $172 billion more than it has earned in revenue and despite the government spin about spending restraint, real expenditure is set to grow again next year at 4.4 per cent, while the terms of trade decline.   The BCA also warns of a $60 billion budget black hole over the forward estimates alone, while beyond this period the Australian Financial Review estimates a Labor black hole of $120 billion as a result of unfunded spending promises.   The BCA analysis also found that around $15 billion in so-called government savings were in fact “timing shifts”, money shuffles in other words.   “This comes after Macroeconomics analysis for the Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) put the budget’s structural deficit at an alarming $66 billion in 2011-12, with the problem enduring ‘as far as the eye can see’, until at least 2025-26,” Mr Robb said.   “We have been sounding the alarm about the structural deficit for several years now, which is the key indicator of a government living beyond its means. These are spending commitments made during boom times that cannot be sustained when things taper off.”   Both the BCA and the MCA back the Coalition’s commitment to a major commission of audit, a root and branch review of Commonwealth expenditure, the first since 1996.   “The evidence continues to mount; this government has a spending crisis, not the ‘woe is me’ revenue problem it bemoans. Revenue continues to grow steadily, just not in-line with Labor’s Pollyanna forecasts and wanton spending,” Mr Robb said. Media Contact:          Cameron Hill on 0408 239 521.   Andrew Robb Wed, 06 Mar 2013 02:54:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1494 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1480/Appropriation-Bill-Debate-2013.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1480 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1480&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1480/Appropriation-Bill-Debate-2013.aspx TRANSCRIPT Mr ROBB» (Goldstein) (16:36): I rise to speak on Appropriation Bill (No. 3) 2012-13 and Appropriation Bill (No. 4) 2012-13. The two additional estimates bills seek to appropriate funds from the Consolidated Revenue Fund for additional expenditure requirements which have arisen since the May budget was brought down. In effect, they give effect to the announcements in the Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook, which was brought down around October. The irony is that these things are probably just another mere introduction to endless other blowouts since that time. Since October we have had the Treasurer walk away from a surplus, given up on a surplus. There are no financial accounts which would inform us and the rest of the community, the finance sector, the people trying to do business out there, anyone trying to assess the state of the nation's books, trying to make investment decisions with some confidence, trying to make multi-million or multibillion-dollar investments when no-one has the foggiest idea about what the state of the books is. The government has walked away from it. This appropriation bill is probably a foretaste, a forerunner of more that might be introduced into this place to overcome further reckless spending of this government to further fill black holes. We know of $120 billion in unfunded promises: what else is there? We have got a raft of things here, many of which just happen in the course of normal government, and I accept that, but they are a symbol, if you like, another $1.27 billion symbol of a government that really has become quite inept at in any way managing the books. So much so that here we stand today several months after the Treasurer has stepped away from a surplus with absolutely no idea what the state of the books is. Yet every day we hear in the main chamber in particular, and I presume here and in the other place, cries of 'Where are your costings?' Of course the costings have been done. What no-one knows, including us, is how any of these things can be funded. What money is there to fund them? Are the government telling us how they are going to fund dental schemes, an NDIS or the Gonski recommendations in education? Are they telling us anything about the funding? Not on your nelly! That is not going to occur. Yet they want some anodyne discussion on the cost of things. We have put out the cost of things, if you had not noticed—so many things. What we are still waiting for, and what the community is waiting for—what everyone is waiting for—is what money is going to be there. What is in the piggy bank? What will be in there? The government do not know themselves. The Treasurer does not know. Dr Leigh interjecting— Mr «ROBB»: There is embarrassment on the other side, and feigned smiles and all the rest. Well, you had better go away and sort out your Treasurer. Get him to release what the books are and what is in the books so that we can have a sensible discussion not only about «appropriations» but about the general finances of this nation. This is serious business. No wonder no-one is investing out there. No wonder no-one is taking risks. No wonder there is an investment strike in the business community. No wonder people are not buying houses. It is because there is no confidence. How could there be when they look at a Treasurer who is growing whiter by the day, who stumbles through question time and who one day says on the basis of some shonky legal advice that he cannot tell us what revenue they are going to get from a certain tax and the next day releases it after pressure from the Greens and us? It is government by mistake, day in, day out, and the community absorb it. They feel it, they see it and they are shaken by it—so much so that many of the problems in the retail sector are because no-one is spending. They are paying back the mortgage and paying back the plastic because they are fearful of spending money and of making any commitments. They are not buying houses as they normally would. The general run of business—the turnover of business—has just stopped in its tracks in many cases in many parts of the country. There is a crisis of confidence, and there need not be. There should not be if there were prudent, sensible management. The thing is that they have seen the wanton waste in so much of what has been done. People understand that governments spend money. They vote a government in, and they will accept that government will make decisions about expenditure on their behalf. They might not understand it and they might not even like it, but in many cases they will accept that that is the responsibility of government. What they will not accept is wanton waste, and that is what they have seen now for five years. So much of the reckless spending by this government that has taken place has led to irresponsible, pathetic, wanton waste, with no attention to detail and no attempt to implement policies in a considered, rational and prudent fashion. People get fed up to the back teeth with it. They cannot understand it, they are angry about it, they are confused about it and they feel deeply let down by this process. Through all of this, all we hear as a reason for it—and, again, this is an insult for people; it is adding to that crisis of confidence and it is designed, almost, to undermine people's confidence in the government—is endless crying wolf. 'It was somebody else's fault.' 'The dog ate my homework.' Month after month, parading in through this chamber, the main chamber and other chambers, the Treasurer and his colleagues on that side of the House are saying that it is somebody else's fault. As the Treasurer said, we have here a huge revenue whack, if you like, out of the blue, which has made it very hard to get to a surplus in 2012-13. Instead of crying wolf endlessly, why not take responsibility for their own mistakes? Why not take responsibility for the problems that this government has created? Of course, the truth is that over the first four months of this financial year revenues were 9.2 per cent higher than in the previous year. This is at the same time that the Treasurer was on his feet saying, 'We've taken a whack out of the blue.' There had been a nine per cent increase in revenue since the budget. There are a lot of families who would do quite well and be quite satisfied with a 9.2 per cent increase in revenue. But what did we see accompanying that revenue increase? A further four per cent increase in spending—in four months. The record level of spending of this government just continues to go on, year in, year out, despite the sort of spin that we hear. People understand that. They see the waste. They know that four per cent is on top of what was already bloated and unnecessary spending of a massive order, so much so that the government have spent $172 billion, would you believe, more than they have received in revenue. It does not stop. No bells are ringing. No-one in the government is saying: 'Hang on. We'd better pull our heads in here.' Even if you just stopped new programs, over time it would reduce the proportion of government spending in the budget and take the pressure off, but, no, there are no programs of any order being cut. It is all new program after new program. They say, 'Don't worry about gross debt.' Well, that is what we pay interest on. We are paying $7 billion-plus a year of interest that was not being paid five years ago. We were not paying one cent five years ago. Now it is $7 billion a year. That could pay for seven first-class, world-centre-of-excellence hospitals, if you wanted them, but in one year it is just being given away in interest payments. It is money that could go to fund the NDIS. We would not have all the double backflips and machinations and—I can see it coming down the track—tricky accounting to try and get through how the government are going to fund the NDIS. Future governments will have to fund it, not this government. That is for certain. So we have got revenue steadily growing, but the government cannot catch up with their spending increases. Why not? What happens—and you can see it over every budget of this Treasurer—is that they deliberately assume unachievable levels of future revenue. I have seen it in business. I have seen CEOs with start-up businesses tell their boards they are going to make millions of dollars in revenue, and they get the boards and investors to commit to a lot of funding. They go and spend it, and then the revenue does not turn up. They do not get the contracts. They make it up. They deliberately assume unachievable levels of revenue. I look across the chamber each day and see the Treasurer, and I am looking at things I have seen before in another world, in the business world. This Treasurer is no different to some of these CEOs who make it up for their boards and their investors, get commitments of large lumps of money, either borrowed or invested, and then the revenue does not arrive. That is exactly what has happened here. In the budget, the Treasurer makes these politically inspired, deliberately unachievable assumptions of future revenue, and spends the money. Then, when the revenue does not come in, and there is a more realistic revenue stream—which is still increasing; revenue has increased every year—he cries wolf. 'Woe is me,' we hear all the time. Well, take some responsibility for the wanton and gross miscalculation on revenue forecast, the unachievable assumptions that have been made. We have been saying this for years, at every budget: 'These revenue forecasts are not achievable.' Lo and behold, that is what happens, and yet we hear: 'Woe is me. We've got some write-downs.' They are writing down their own forecasts. It is a joke, but it is just part of the usual spin and management that we see from this government—the media management rather than the housekeeping management, which is really what they were charged to do when they were voted in, or when they assumed a minority government with others, Independents and Greens. We have a situation which has been created by the government unnecessarily, and they say: 'The world is a difficult place. We've had a global financial crisis.' I accept that. The government took funding decisions which I think were grossly excessive. If they had not wasted and billions and billions of it, it would have been somewhat better. The fact of the matter is that an inherited strong balance sheet, monetary policy, 3¼ per cent reduction in interest rates, the devaluation of the Australian dollar—it went to 60c in the first quarter of 2009; we had the highest trade result in our history the quarter after the global financial crisis and it brought billions of dollars into our economy and into the pockets of households. In addition to that, we have had the heavy lifting by China—demand. Those were the four things—an inherited economy in great shape, monetary policy, the automatic stabiliser of a devaluation, and China—that got Australia a 150-year high in our terms of trade. We have been so blessed compared with other parts of the world. They were the things that got us through. The government then came along—six, eight or nine months later—with a massive injection of spending on school halls, which was wasted in many cases. They could have done most of that work for half the price. Lots of school in my area were saying that the buildings could have gone up for half or less than what they did. Then we had the pink batts debacle, cheques to dead people—for goodness sake! This is the sort of thing that leaves people just scratching their heads. It is why there is a crisis of confidence. There we are with a situation created, and yet they say to us: 'But it's such a difficult climate out there. How could we get to surplus with Europe going so badly? Europe has pulled us down into the mire. Europe is still hurting us.' Well let me tell you, there are seven other countries—including five in Europe—who are in surplus already. If European countries can be back in surplus, then there cannot be any excuse for Australia, which is at 150-year highs in their terms of trade. We are still 20 per cent higher in terms of trade today than when the Howard government lost office. They keep telling us that the Howard government benefited from the 'rivers of gold'; well the terms of trade are still 20 per cent higher. They are coming back, but they are still 20 per cent higher! Yet the Treasurer is saying he has got a whack out of the blue. How could that be a whack out of the blue when we still have record levels of terms of trade compared with over the past few years? What is going to happen when the terms of trade come back to more normal levels? I will tell you what is going to happen: we are going to find ourselves in the out years—next year, the year after, the year after that—with growing and increasing structural deficits, all of which have been assumed away by unbelievable forecasts of revenue or are being funded by taxes that turn out not to return any income. Can you believe it? So we have either got unbelievable and unachievable assumptions about revenue, which never materialise, or we have got taxes that have been introduced—27 new or increased taxes—and we even get a tax that does not produce any money. But not only does it not produce any money of any consequence and leaves a further black hole, which further undermines confidence and worries people deeply, but also people are waking up at 2.30 in the morning all over this country worried about whether they are going to keep their jobs. Why? Because they see a government in total disarray. They see a Treasurer who fumbles and mumbles through question time looking ashen and standing next to a Prime Minister who does no better, who keeps telling us things which you cannot trust, who signed a document and said, 'We won't change the mining tax,'—in black and white—and now, today, virtually admits that they are going to change the mining tax. How can business operate like this? How can people make decisions and feel comfortable that this country is in good hands when they keep seeing this charade of mistake, dissembling and incompetence. It is serious, people! Why is there anxiety at a time when we are so blessed with the resources we have got and the demand out there? It should not be this way. It should not be this way, but it is, and it is because of the government's incompetence and inability to focus on the job that they have to do: to tell people as it is, to make truthful statements about what they think is going to happen with the books and to stop playing politics endlessly. Stop worrying about your own jobs and worry about other people's jobs out there. That is the responsibility of governments. It is just not acceptable that this would happen. I should raise my voice! People are cross about it. I am cross about it. But it is not about us here; it is about the people out there. That is what it should be about, and yet here we are. We are going to go through this charade, I know, for months. There will be more dissembling. There will be more suggestions of other people's faults. There will be more misrepresentation of the accounts. There will be more clever accounting tricks, and there will be increases in taxes. We can see it coming. Some way or other, the super is going to happen. Already there has been so much speculation that people are frightened to invest or spend, go to the movies or do whatever. They are putting the money aside. They are not sure whether they can afford it or not or what is going to happen. We have had another month of speculation. Clearly the government are going to do something on super. They are going to get money from somewhere. They are going to try and tax people who have worked their tail off for years to put money aside. Now they are going to see it taxed. Now they are going to see a threat, a doubt, over their security in their later years. We will see a change to the mining tax. The government will say: 'How clever are we? We have just raised some more revenue.' But, of course, what they have done at the same time is cause a major problem with sovereign risk. That is forgotten. Forget about business! Don't put yourself in the shoes of people looking to risk billions of dollars! I went into Asia for a few days before Christmas to talk to business leaders, government leaders and others—investors. I wanted to see: what were the opportunities coming down the pipeline? What was our standing? What was going on? I sat in a meeting with the head of one of the region's major banks, an Asian bank. He said to me: 'Mr «Robb», could you explain something to me? Over the last four years, we have backed investments to the tune of billions of dollars into Australia. What has happened since is that there have been lots of rule changes. There have been new taxes which have affected these investments.' And he said: 'The ROI, the return on investment, in nearly all these projects has now been deeply undermined. Could you explain what is going on? Australia historically has been associated with being able to invest with some certainty, in that a deal is a deal. Once things are signed, once contracts are done, once we have reached some accommodation and understanding with the government, Australia historically has stuck with it.' Here I was not being lectured to, but in a way I was, and it is so galling. He was really saying that Australia and sovereign risk are now in the one sentence. That has never been the case. This is what is happening with this mining tax. This is what is happening when you change things. This is what happens when you change super rules having said you never will, you won't do it, of course you won't, not one dot, not one whatever—no, you will not do any of that! Government members interjecting— The DEPUTY SPEAKER ( Ms K Livermore ): Order! Mr «ROBB»: You are just undermining the ability and the confidence not only of investors in this country but of investors outside this country, people who have already put big money in here and are confused themselves. You are confusing the world with the way in which you are managing the shop. Government members interjecting— Mr «ROBB»: You can try and shout me down. The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Excuse me. No. Mr «ROBB»: You can try and shout me down. You will have your turn. You get up and explain. The DEPUTY SPEAKER: And the member for Goldstein will stop using the word 'you', please. Mr «ROBB»: Okay. Those opposite will. The DEPUTY SPEAKER: And they will cease interjecting. Let me deal with that. You will continue, in silence. Mr «ROBB»: Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. That would be nice, thank you. So here we are with a bill which has become almost a symbol of the uncertainty and lack of knowledge that anyone, including ourselves, has on what the state of the books really is. It is just another chapter of many chapters of overspending. Sitting suspended from 16:59 to 17:12 Mr «ROBB»: I should bring my comments to a conclusion, given the list of speakers who are following and given that I have made the principal point, which is that, as normal practice, we will not oppose or seek to amend this Appropriation Bill, although it does again demonstrate—and it has become a symbol of—the overspending, unexplained spending and confusion. So much of it could be clarified if the government were to show some transparency. Tell us the numbers and tell us really what the circumstance is, and it is not just 'us' the opposition, but us the community. That is why in this important election year we have again chosen what has been the normal practice: not to rely on the Treasurer and on what have been inflated or misleading forecasts or numbers or dissembling and all of the rest. This budget this year will be the first budget in the history of the parliament which will fall in the middle of an election campaign. We could not trust the last four budgets over the last four years, and so what hope would anyone have to trust what will come out in May this year? In many ways it will be a fiction. That is my expectation. That is why we have to wait and do what the head of the new Parliamentary Budget Office suggested: wait for the real numbers. The real numbers will help us understand the ability we and others have to fund policies that we would like to introduce. Those numbers will best come when Treasury and Finance, independent of the government of the day, come down with their forecasts and state of the books within 10 days of the writs being issued. When that happens, we will look at the capacity to fund on the real numbers, not on the fictional numbers, and we will put to the people a program which will return this country to prudent, stable, sensible, adult management. We will remove the waste. We will seek to restore the certainty and stability that people need to make decisions and get on with their lives. We will seek to remove the crisis of confidence which so envelops this country at the moment and which is not and should not be necessary given the blessings that this country has. What we need is good government, and the opportunity will present itself this year. Andrew Robb Tue, 12 Feb 2013 06:40:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1480 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1479/Opinion-Piece--Daily-Telegraph--Typical-moans-about-topical-tropical-development.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1479 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1479&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1479/Opinion-Piece--Daily-Telegraph--Typical-moans-about-topical-tropical-development.aspx Typical moans about topical tropical development by:Andrew Robb From:The Daily Telegraph February 12, 201312:00AM FREE speech and debate is at the heart of policy making and good government. Yet last week we saw the bizarre spectacle of federal ministers falling over one another to shut down debate on the Coalition's early draft discussion paper, Developing Northern Australia - A 2030 Vision. The parade of 11 ministers giving statements by 10am in response to a leaked part of the draft discussion paper was both embarrassing for the government, and a bad sign of things to come in this soap opera election campaign. It was regrettable that an early rather than later draft of the Opposition's plans to populate, invest in and develop northern Australia found its way into the press. Nevertheless the public response was largely positive. A Daily Telegraph poll posted with the story showed 62 per cent support from 5500 votes and encouraging media reports and editorials followed across the country. Debate and consideration of initiatives that could deliver a northern food bowl, treble mineral exports, see major energy developments, a bigger high value northern tourism industry, world centres of excellence for tropical medicine and health research, together with major education and defence facilities and a larger population, must not be choked off. Nor must this debate be closed down for crass political purposes. The government's recent Asian Century white paper clearly suffered from being secretly prepared within the bowels of the bureaucracy and ministerial offices, without the benefit of wide community consultation. It resulted in a bland document which sank like a stone. What a missed opportunity. The government should be concerned the 200,000-strong Cairns area has consistently had the highest level of unemployment in Australia for some years and it remains around 10 per cent today. As the mining boom has shown, growth and development in all parts of Australia feeds back into jobs and opportunity in Sydney and in all of our major capital cities. And suggesting the Coalition will in some way take our eye off the rest of Australia by seeking informed feedback about the development of the north, before taking final decisions ahead of the election, is an insult. The Coalition is working hard on a wide range of policy initiatives to create jobs across the country, with a high priority on places like western Sydney, Tasmania, Victoria and other such areas where unemployment is already above 6 per cent and growing. A Coalition government will address today's problems while mapping out a pathway for future national growth, prosperity and stability. And in the process we won't be bullied out of publicly testing new ideas about developing our nation's full growth potential. Andrew Robb is Opposition spokesman for finance, deregulation and debt reduction   Andrew Robb Mon, 11 Feb 2013 22:40:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1479 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1473/Question-to-the-Treasurer-on-Labors-failed-surplus-6-February-2012.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1473 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1473&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1473/Question-to-the-Treasurer-on-Labors-failed-surplus-6-February-2012.aspx Question to the Treasurer on Labor's failed surplus 6 February 2012   Andrew Robb Wed, 06 Feb 2013 02:11:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1473 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1478/Transcript--Interview-with-Ross-Greenwood--2GB.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1478 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1478&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1478/Transcript--Interview-with-Ross-Greenwood--2GB.aspx TRANSCRIPT INTERVIEW WITH ROSS GREENWOOD 2GB SYDNEY Topics: RBA governor’s tenure, Labor’s broken surplus promise, savings, Medibank Private E&OE…………………………………………………………………………………….   ROSS GREENWOOD: Andrew Robb is the Shadow Finance Minister, he joins me now. Many thanks for your time, Andrew. ANDREW ROBB: My pleasure, Ross. ROSS GREENWOOD: OK, so first up, in an election period, do you believe it is actually fit and proper for the Treasurer of the day to appoint a new Reserve Bank Governor? ANDREW ROBB: Well he has certainly got the prerogative, but even now I feel that we are really in a position where they have announced the election, and in many ways, these sorts of major decisions, especially when you do get very close to the election they should properly be held over. I think his term actually does finish after the election. Now the Treasurer might make an appointment before, but we have got a great respect for Glenn Stevens, he is not the issue, it is the principle of the matter. It is the same principle that we have been arguing about today with this so called Clean Energy Finance Corporation that the government brought in as a sop to the Greens when they brought in the carbon tax. It is $10 billion, every dollar being borrowed, and yet the first decisions to be made on projects will be after July 1, really in the caretaker period, and it is quite improper in our view to be giving money to projects which the private sector wouldn’t touch with a 40-foot barge pole in the run down to an election, things that we might have to review the contracts [of]. Now the same principle applies here. The caretaker period, it is really a caretaker period now, and decisions like that of the Reserve Bank Governor should be, I think the Treasurer should respect the fact that we are in a caretaker period and perhaps hold that over to establish who is going to be the government after the election, and they properly make the decision and go forward. ROSS GREENWOOD: OK because one of the things that has been argued, the toss has been argued as to a) whether the government should have really been able to stick to its pledge to bring the budget back into balance, of course on your side we have had the Shadow Treasurer, Joe Hockey, say that really, based on the numbers that are in front of you right now he believes that you can actually bring the budget back in your first term of government were you elected. I mean, you’re the Finance Minister, you are the one that is going to have to make the hard calls on many of the spending initiatives in Australia right now, do you really think there is capacity within our Australian economy right now to make those sorts of cuts without plunging the economy back into recession or into a serious downturn? ANDREW ROBB: Well, two things, firstly  what Joe Hockey is saying is that the only numbers that are out there at the moment in the public arena for us to make an assessment on are those that were in the mid- year fiscal outlook (MYEFO), which was brought down in October. Now since then, the Treasurer has said the surplus which was predicted in the mid-year outlook no longer is doable, possible, dropped it. But he hasn’t put any numbers out with it. So Joe is saying based on the MYEFO forecast, we would deliver a surplus. But the fact of the matter is everyone is in a state of limbo because the government has not released any data whatsoever to show why they will not get to a surplus, how big a deficit we are going to expect in this next May Budget so that’s a very important qualifier that Joe put on that. And we can only go on what is out there, and we will look at the numbers whenever the Treasurer decides that the finance market and everyone else should be able to have access to them. It is just a government in chaos, I have got to say, on this front. On the second thing Ross, which is very important, we have got to move, and move quickly away from what is a high taxing high borrowing nanny state government with initiatives to drive growth through the private sector, the millions of small and large businesses. That’s how we will overcome the sort of growth gap with this government deficit and the government’s problems with the fiscal side of things. We have got to physically have another way of running this economy. ROSS GREENWOOD: Alright, let’s go through some of those ways. Let’s go number one, now the things that are probably pretty much known. The Clean Energy Finance Corporation, you mentioned it earlier. Under your scheme, that would pretty much go. Much of that Clean Energy Corporation would disappear. ANDREW ROBB: All of it. ROSS GREENWOOD: And therefore as a result, you would take that $10 billion back in to your revenues. The National Broadband Network would be a second thing that you have actually already said, we will change the nature of that, we will look at the contracts, we will see what we can do try and downscale the size of the NBN. ANDREW ROBB: Well not downscale the size of it. We will have a National Broadband Network, but it won’t be fibre to every home, it will be fibre to the node. ROSS GREENWOOD: Which will have massive savings in terms of getting the fibre from the node at the end of your neighbourhood in to your house, OK, so that’s another one we know about. ANDREW ROBB: Different technology, but much cheaper and quicker delivery. ROSS GREENWOOD: That’s right. So we also know that there are plans, and that this has been suggested, for public servant cuts of 12,000. We saw also the damage that was done to Campbell Newman and his Queensland government after he cut 14,000 public servants. By cutting the best part of let’s say, 4.8 – 5% of the public servants in Australia, do you think that that could be delivered and not have your government go down the same that Campbell Newman’s has? ANDREW ROBB: Well what we have said is that in the first two years we will not be replacing those public servants that retire or leave for other reasons. So it’s not retrenchments, it is just not renewing or replacing people who leave. And the bottom line is that the public service is now 20,000 more than there were in the Howard years. So it’s just exploding like topsy so we have just got to rein in spending on every front, and that’s one of the fronts we have got to scale back programs and as a consequence, we can absorb that, but like I say, it is not just… you have got to replace that with activity in the private sector. At this moment, no one in the private sector is investing. There is a crisis of confidence, they don’t feel any stability, no direction. If we come in and provide sensible, mature stable government, with a focus on reducing cost to business and regulations, they will start to invest, fire up the economy, growth will come from that area and it will replace the growth that is currently coming from government spending. ROSS GREENWOOD: OK but in those public servants, you have got 27,000 in Centrelink, you have got 23,000 in the tax office, you have got Defence, 21,000, you have already made strong views about the cuts that the government is proposing in the defence sector and whether that leaves Australia exposed, and also then you have got more coming down the line. But they are the three big ones, aren’t they? ANDREW ROBB: Well they are the big ones, but what we are saying is across the public service, and we are not cutting defence, we reserve the right to better spend money within defence, so to move programs around, but we cannot put the defence of the nation at further risk. We are now at the lowest level of spending as a proportion of GDP since 1938. And the government is just going in to every possible pot of gold around the place, every resource of funds, they are cutting and slashing where they don’t think there will be a political consequence for them, irrespective of what it means for the defence of the nation. ROSS GREENWOOD: OK, final one for you, Medibank Private, will you sell that? ANDREW ROBB: Medibank Private is something that we have long advocated that we would sell, yes. ROSS GREENWOOD: And so what would that bring you $3 billion or around that? ANDREW ROBB: Probably more than that, but we will need to be able to assess the market and that can only really be done from government, but previous recent assessments by private investment banks and others, put it somewhere around the $4 billion mark. ROSS GREENWOOD: Andrew Robb, Shadow Finance Minister, I’ll talk to you in the coming months no doubt about all of this, there is plenty more to talk about. We appreciate your time tonight. ANDREW ROBB: My pleasure, Ross. Andrew Robb Tue, 05 Feb 2013 09:39:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1478 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1477/Media-Statement--Coalition-puts-Labor-on-notice-over-clean-energy-fund.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1477 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1477&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1477/Media-Statement--Coalition-puts-Labor-on-notice-over-clean-energy-fund.aspx COALITION PUTS LABOR ON NOTICE OVER CLEAN ENERGY FUND The Coalition has written to the board of the $10 billion Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) urging it to desist from entering into contracts or releasing funds prior to the announced election date of 14 September.   “We have been vehemently opposed to this fund from day one which was introduced at the eleventh hour at the behest of the Greens in exchange for their support for the carbon tax,” Shadow Minister for Finance, Deregulation and Debt Andrew Robb said.   “This $10 billion fund is effectively a slush fund which will be devoted to risky clean energy projects that the private sector wouldn’t touch with a barge pole.   “It will be all borrowed money on top of the $262 billion in gross debt Labor has already racked up. This fund will be a honey pot to the white shoe salesmen and it will inevitably result in yet more waste; it will be pink batts revisited.”   Mr Robb said with the election date announced the government was effectively in caretaker mode and the meting out of major discretionary funding in advance of the election would be entirely inappropriate.   “Everything this government does between now and September 14 will be politically inspired and in an election context and the CEFC should not be cynically used by the government to try and buy support,” he said.   “Even the upcoming May budget will be the first budget in history released during the middle of an election campaign and will be a political document not an economic document.   “We are being totally upfront about the CEFC, we will abolish this fund because there has been enough waste, there has been enough borrowing and it has to stop,” Mr Robb said.   Andrew Robb Mon, 04 Feb 2013 22:38:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1477 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1476/Transcript--Interview-with-Zeb-Eckert--Bloomberg-Television.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1476 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1476&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1476/Transcript--Interview-with-Zeb-Eckert--Bloomberg-Television.aspx TRANSCRIPT INTERVIEW WITH ZEB ECKERT BLOOMBERG TELEVISION Topics: Eight month election campaign, Labor’s poor economic management, Glenn Stevens’ tenure, Tony Abbott. E&OE…………………………………………………………………………………….   ZEB ECKERT: Welcome back; I’m Zeb Eckert in Hong Kong. Australia’s beginning an eight-month election marathon. Prime Minister Julia Gillard has called a vote on September 14th. It’ll be Australia’s longest election campaign in history; and some say this is to focus voter attention on the Opposition Leader Tony Abbott. His Liberal Party is ahead in the polls but he personally lags behind Julia Gillard; as voters prefer the Prime Minister.   Well if the Opposition wins then my next guest will become Australia’s next Finance Minister. Andrew Robb is Australia’s Shadow Finance Minister; and he also chairs the Coalition Policy Development Committee which coordinates all policy planning across 49 departments ahead of the election. Mr Robb, welcome to the program. I want to start by asking you about this unprecedented move by Ms Gillard, the Prime Minister, calling this election with the most advanced notice in 60 years. What do you think this means for the race in general?   ANDREW ROBB: Well it clearly was a politically inspired move by the Prime Minister. She’s still under a lot of internal pressure from the previous Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, who was deposed a couple of years ago by the backroom boys within her party. If their position doesn’t improve in the polls, there may have been internal pressure for a reversion back to him; so I think the Prime Minister has acted to try and create a sense of a campaign, and it would be unwise to have the instability of moving against her in her own party. So it is a politically-inspired move. Sadly though, it is going to create a fair bit of uncertainty for eight months. In some way it will put many business decisions on hold – that always happens within a campaign – but now we’ve got one that is going to stretch over 200 days.   ZEB ECKERT:   Sir you are charged with devising the Coalition’s policies. Although the Opposition has been critical of the government’s economic policies, you have the chance to change that of course if you win on September 14, so what would a Tony Abbott-led government bring or change in Australia? What would you deliver?   ANDREW ROBB: Well Zeb what we’ve seen is what was a very healthy position fiscally in this country deteriorate. We’ve had the four biggest deficits in our history despite the highest terms of trade in 150 years, and a huge build-up of debt, and there’s no obvious plan by the government to reduce that – to fix that problem.   Fundamentally, the government has relied very heavily on government spending, government taxing, government borrowing and a welter of regulations and new approvals. And I suppose our intent is to get the government back to living within its means; and replace if you like, or displace that heavy emphasis on government driving much of the growth, and try and shift it to the private sector. So to do lots of things that would fire up the private sector. The millions of small and large businesses that in many cases, at the moment, are sitting on large cash balances, and haven’t got the confidence to make investment decisions even though they’ve got the money there to do it, but they’re not responding. So we will have a very strong shift from a government, and a country being directed by government to one which relies far more heavily on the private sector; and including a lot of investment and hopefully a lot of investment from the region.   ZEB ECKERT:   One of the issues that has come from this early call of election by the Prime Minister is the future of the Central Bank Governor, Glenn Stevens. His term expires three days after the election. I’m curious how you would grade his job performance.   ANDREW ROBB: We’ve felt that the Reserve Bank and the Governor has in fact performed quite admirably. In many ways it was a former government of ours that gave a lot more independence – in fact gave independence to the Reserve Bank. I think we’ve been privileged in Australia to have had a series of heads of the bank that have performed very well; and Glenn Stevens again fits into that category.   In many ways because of the excessive spending as we see it, by the government, the Reserve Bank over the last few years has been forced to do a lot of what we call the heavy lifting with monetary policy and I think Glenn Stevens and his colleagues have been very adroit in the way in which they have managed that; and it’s been to the benefit of the country.   ZEB ECKERT:   Sir we have about a minute left. I’m curious whether you think Governor Stevens should be replaced before this election, or is that something the new government should handle?   ANDREW ROBB: Well I think it would normally be the situation which is dealt by the government of the day; so if his term does expire given that in many respects there has already been an announcement about an election date, so much of what happens between now and then really means that the government is almost in a caretaker mode in lots of respects, and a lot of these sorts of decisions – we’re in unchartered waters and I think that we need to work through some of these issues.   But normally these sorts of things in an election campaign would be put off until there is clarity about who is going to form the next government, and I think that should apply in this case as well.   ZEB ECKERT:   Sir, before we go, I need to ask you about Tony Abbott, because he trails Julia Gillard in terms of personal ratings. He has been portrayed as relentlessly negative. So as you lay out your strategy over the next eight months, how do you turn that around, and can he bear the level of scrutiny over the next eight months?   ANDREW ROBB: Well, firstly, to be honest, there isn’t a great deal of difference between the approval ratings of the two of them. But Australia is not a popularity contest in the way that the political process works here.   It’s not like the presidential campaigns in the United States, for instance. There’s a much stronger emphasis on the party, and who people can trust both with the leader and with his or her party. And in that regard, I think Tony Abbott is a long way ahead in terms of who people feel they can trust to do what they say they will do. In that regard, I think Tony is in a very strong position within our party. He will take us to the election very clearly; and I think he is well placed to become the next prime minister.   ZEB ECKERT:   Mr Robb, we thank you for joining us. The man who could become Australia’s next Finance Minister if in fact the opposition wins in September. Andrew Robb, Australia’s Shadow Finance Minister joining us live on the program. Andrew Robb Thu, 31 Jan 2013 09:37:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1476 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1475/Transcript--Interview-with-Marius-Benson--ABC-News-Radio.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1475 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1475&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1475/Transcript--Interview-with-Marius-Benson--ABC-News-Radio.aspx TRANSCRIPT INTERVIEW WITH MARIUS BENSON ABC NEWS RADIO Topics: Coalition policies, economic management. E&OE…………………………………………………………………………………….   ANNOUNCER:   Andrew Robb, the Shadow Finance Minister, has been a key figure in drawing up the Coalition’s policies, and he is speaking here to Marius Benson   MARIUS BENSON:   Andrew Robb, good morning.   ANDREW ROBB:   Good morning Marius   MARIUS BENSON:   I think for some time you have said the policies are ready to go, they’re ready to go.   ANDREW ROBB:   We are better prepared than I have seen any Opposition in my thirty years in and around politics, so we have done an enormous amount of work, we are ready to take responsibility for this economy.   We have said for a long time now that we will follow our own timetable, not Labor’s timetable about releasing them, because we cannot, in any responsible way, on our budget or our policy formulation, until we know the real state of the economy that we might take over if we are successful at the election.   MARIUS BENSON:   I saw a couple of Labor leaders saying yesterday that things will be known after the Budget in May. Will you be releasing your policies then, because that is still four months short of the election?   ANDREW ROBB:   Well again… the government still has got eight months to go, even after the Budget they will still have another four months to go. Now for this government, that is a serious amount of time to compound the financial mess that they have already created. We will need to know the reality of the nation’s finances before closing the books.   Now, we will see the pre-election fiscal outlook which is released early in the campaign. It is the honest numbers prepared by Treasury and Finance, not the political numbers which will belong to the Treasurer in the Budget. This Budget, in a sense, will be the first Budget in history, really, that is in the middle of an election campaign. So how can we possibly trust what the Treasurer puts before us in May?   We need to see what Treasury and Finance put before us in the pre-election fiscal outlook and then we can close the books, put out all the detail and costings, and we will most assuredly, in the weeks before, give people a sense of what we are going to do in an election.   MARIUS BENSON:   Aren’t these costings just a fiction anyway? Because if you get it, can’t you just say, heck it is much more than we thought, we will have to change our plans.   ANDREW ROBB:   No, they are not a fiction. They do frame the task that we have got ahead of us, and people need to know in the run down to an election what the two alternatives are between the two parties. But to be lectured by the Labor Party, who still have $120 billion of unfunded promises sitting out there on the table, by the Labor Party who six weeks ago said it couldn’t deliver a surplus, yet they are still unable to reveal any Treasury estimates that led to that announcement.   This is a government that is in financial and political chaos, and yesterday’s announcement, which in effect will really put Australia on hold for nine months, purely for political purposes demonstrated the political and financial mess this government is in.   MARIUS BENSON:   Looking at the polls, particularly those marginal polls, you are very very well placed, you look like not far short of a certainty to win in September, the big negative for you is Tony Abbott. Now Australian voters know Tony Abbott very well, they have known him for a long time, why do they dislike him so much?   ANDREW ROBB:   Tony is not the big negative for us.   MARIUS BENSON:   Sorry, what is a bigger negative?   ANDREW ROBB:   The fact of the matter is, we are in a strong position. We need to sustain that strong position. We need to take nothing for granted. We need to complete the work and convince people and demonstrate to people over these eight months that we are ready for government, that we are ready to be the adults in the room to take over.   MARIUS BENSON:   Sure, can I just press that point? Why is Tony Abbott so personally unpopular with voters.   ANDREW ROBB:   I’m not getting into personality politics. The government has spent all of last year demonising Tony Abbott. They have had experts from the U.S. out here giving them tutorials on how to run the sort of smear campaign that they so effectively ran against Romney in the U.S., but this is a different country.   This is not an election based on popularity, it is an election based on who people can trust to reduce cost of living, to run the economy in a sensible way, to live within their means. Who can they trust to boost small business and jobs? Who can they trust to secure our borders?   That is how people will make a judgement. That’s how Tony Abbott and his party are, at the moment, people are attracted to see a change, in my view. We need to lock that in, we need to demonstrate now over the months ahead that we truly are ready and that we can take over government, and we can do what people want, and that is deliver sensible and responsible government.   MARIUS BENSON:   The government says you’re just promising good news, a sort of magic pudding of finance as you will deliver a budget surplus, you will lower debt, there will be new spending with paid parental leave, and quite expensive initiatives like that, but there has to be pain.   Can you nominate areas that will feel pain under a Coalition government, where there will be cuts?   ANDREW ROBB:   Penny Wong said it was all about philosophy last night, I heard her on the television. And she is absolutely right. This is a government that has spent and spent and spent. This is a government that has assumed that government knows best.   MARIUS BENSON:   But I was just asking you narrowly where will the pain be felt? Where will the cuts be?   ANDREW ROBB:   It is not just a function of costings, Marius. We have seen the greatest growth of government and regulation in our history. These are the sorts of things that are stopping investments, these are the sorts of things that are making business sit on their hands and not invest the cash that they have got on their balance sheets. This government believes that they should run the show.   The thing is, our philosophy, we are not about the growth of government. That has got to be displaced by fostering robust growth of our millions of small and large businesses, and restoring confidence and we will do that. We will give certainty back to the community in terms of the management of this economy. We will live within our means in the books, and that will involve some difficult decisions.   The school kids allowance, we have taken that on the chin because we have just got to look and take some hard decisions in terms of balancing the books, living within our means, and making sure that people aren’t waking up at 2.30 in the morning worrying about if they are going to keep their job.   This is what is happening at the present time, this is why no one is spending because there is such anxiety and concern throughout the community, both in the business community and amongst every day Australians.   MARIUS BENSON:   Andrew Robb, thank you very much.   ANDREW ROBB:   Thanks very much, Marius. Andrew Robb Thu, 31 Jan 2013 05:36:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1475 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1474/Opinion-Piece--Australian-Financial-Review--Labor-has-a-spending-problem.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1474 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1474&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1474/Opinion-Piece--Australian-Financial-Review--Labor-has-a-spending-problem.aspx Andrew Robb It is time Julia Gillard and Wayne Swan stopped crying wolf about the economy and started taking responsibility for the problems they themselves have created. The Treasurer says delivering a surplus is all too hard and has given up, blaming a shortfall in tax revenue. He claims: “What we have here is a huge revenue whack if you like, out of the blue, which has made it very hard to get to a surplus in 2012-13”. Well this is nonsense. The truth is, over the first four months of this financial year, revenues were 9.2 per cent higher than the previous year. I suspect many households could cope with incomes rising at 9 per cent. Revenues are steadily growing, but can’t catch up with the government’s spending increases which, for that same four months, were 4 per cent ahead of last year, coming off an already hugely bloated spending base; the result of years of excessive spending. Labor doesn’t have a revenue problem, it has a spending and forecasting problem. It has constantly and deliberately assumed unachievable levels of future revenue, spent at those levels and then cried “woe is me” when the politically inspired, inflated forecasts are not realised. This government has wasted the mining boom, and the great economic strengths inherited from John Howard and Peter Costello, by continuing with years of over-spending long after the $87 billion stimulus package had run its course on pink batts, cheques to dead people and school halls. This year alone Swan is spending $90 billion, or 35 per cent, more than was spent in the budget just five years ago – $3 billion more than the total stimulus spend – despite inflation of just 14 per cent over that entire period. For too long this government has used the global financial crisis as an excuse for its wasteful spending, new and increased taxes, massive debt build-up and nanny state re-regulation. Australia should be in a far better position given the circumstances we have been blessed with, notwithstanding the GFC. Let’s remember, it is now nearly half a decade since the peak of the financial crisis, and even then its principal impact was on the northern hemisphere. Since then Europe has continued to struggle, though Germany and at least five other European countries are back in surplus, while the United States is now responding to massive discoveries of cheap gas and oil, and a low US dollar. During this period Australia has been blessed with the highest terms of trade in 150 years, leading to massive resource projects, the envy of the world. Today Australia’s terms of trade remain around 30 per cent higher than in the final year of the Howard government, but you wouldn’t know it. We have continued to be the beneficiaries of 7-9 per cent growth of the Chinese economy. China is now by far our largest export market with the value of those exports growing from $8.8 billion in 2001-02 to $82.5 billion in 2011-12. Yet the government has posted the four biggest budget deficits in our nation’s history, with a fifth set to follow. Federal government debt has gone from zero, with $70 billion in the bank, to net debt of $147 billion and gross debt of $263 billion with annual interest payments exceeding $7 billion. If spending levels had returned to the pre-stimulus trend Australia’s budget could, and should, have been back in surplus last year, much less this and subsequent years. If several European countries can get back to surplus, there is absolutely no excuse for Australia. You wouldn’t know it from the clever and unrelenting Labor spin, but the government has spent $172 billion more than it has received in revenue over the last four years. This is despite a growing economy, levying 27 new and increased taxes and the virtual doubling of mining revenues to government $36 billion (2004-08) to $72 billion (2008-12). Now Swan is promising more deficit spending, more taxes and more debt. In other words ,just more of the same. The white flag has gone up – the government has no economic plan other than to promise a further $120 billion of unfunded spending on Gonski, dental, disabilities, NBN and the like. Australia is being drawn into unsustainable debt. Confidence has collapsed. There is another way. The government must stop taxing, borrowing, spending and regulating, and start living within its means. This growth of government must be displaced by fostering robust growth of our millions of small and large businesses, and by restoring consumer confidence to spend. Andrew Robb is the opposition finance spokesman and co-ordinator of Coalition policy development.   Andrew Robb Tue, 22 Jan 2013 22:33:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1474 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1472/Opinion--Business-Spectator--Let-everyone-in-on-retail-corporate-bonds.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1472 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1472&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1472/Opinion--Business-Spectator--Let-everyone-in-on-retail-corporate-bonds.aspx    http://www.businessspectator.com.au/bs.nsf/Article/Andrew-Robb-corporate-bond-market-super-funds-pd20130115-3Y7DY?opendocument&src=rss   Let everyone in on retail corporate bonds Andrew Robb Published 6:44 AM, 16 Jan 2013 Business Spectator There is no doubt that an active and well developed market in retail corporate bonds is the missing link in our country’s otherwise sophisticated financial system. It is something that has been much talked about by government yet progress has been glacial despite widespread consensus for its need. In December of 2011, Stephen Bartholomeusz wrote that if we were still just talking about the issue in twelve months (December 2012) it would represent a failure to create some insurance against the risk posed to our domestic system by the disturbing developments in off-shore debt markets (High time for corporate bond action, December 13, 2011). We are still talking about it but it is pleasing to see the government finally release draft legislation designed to go some way towards making the buying and selling of retail corporate bonds an easier proposition. This comes after I outlined in detail last November the actions a Coalition government would take to stimulate the development of a deep and liquid market. It followed extensive consultation with likely market participants and our approach was broadly endorsed. This was perhaps the rocket Wayne Swan needed to replace words with a bit of action. The development of a smarter and simpler regulatory framework is fundamental; so the trading of retail corporate bonds is comparable with other asset classes, particularly equities. The proposals put forward by the government in regard to streamlining the disclosure regime for simple corporate bond offers; reform of civil liability provisions regarding corporate bonds issued to investors and the clarifying of defences related to misleading and deceptive statements and omissions in disclosure documents, are on the right track and reflect areas I outlined. But the issue of accessibility is something I also strongly highlighted and is one area the government does not seem to fully grasp. Just as issuing retail corporate bonds should be easier, the purchase should be simpler, and much effort must be made to help educate the market because understandably there is a real knowledge gap among possible market participants. National Australia Bank's Rick Sawers hit it on the head when he said if you arrived from outer space in the morning you could probably be buying shares online by 5pm, but buying a bond is a completely different story. It makes no sense to have very simple access to one type of investment, an equity, yet have almost no access to lower risk corporate bonds. A transparent system in which the two types of asset can be compared and assessed side by side is needed. For investors, creating a market that is easily accessible in the same way the share market is must be the goal. This would include access through online trading platforms that can be used on laptops, tablets and mobile phones. This is important given the premium investors are now placing on more stable and reliable returns over longer periods as a result of the volatility they have witnessed and losses they have suffered in equities in the wake of the GFC. This includes the ever expanding pool of self-managed superannuants, whose numbers have almost doubled since 2004 to more than 913,000 with investments exceeding $478 billion. Simpler access to a domestic retail corporate bond market will support investment diversification for superannuants. At present about 50 per cent of our super investments are in shares; the highest in the world. For issuers a well functioning local market should mean, particularly over time as scale develops, cheaper and easier to access funding. This should make this new source of domestic funds more competitive with offshore raising options, such as the USD (144a) market. For banks this opportunity for diversification could assist Australian institutions seeking to comply with Basel III requirements that have direct implications for funding and liquidity and reduce reliance on international wholesale financial markets to fund economic growth. And both banks and businesses could benefit from the space potentially freed up on bank balance sheets to support small and medium sized businesses by providing increased access to funds. Developing a more efficient regulatory framework with adequate consumer safeguards is a role for government however the market must be allowed to naturally evolve; to set relative pricing, fees, tenor and volume. Only then will we be able to determine how it develops in the broader context of the Australian financial system. The role of government must be to facilitate a stronger overall financial system, and then to let the system function without undue interference. There will still be barriers, such as low participation, execution risk for issuers and onerous conditions, and at present there are advantages in issuing offshore. And with a coupon at around 3 per cent government bonds can’t compete with government-backed bank term deposits at around 5 per cent. But better regulation, not more regulation, can help remove barriers and create a competitive low-cost market that is a genuine and viable alternative to issuing overseas. As the market develops additional issues that will require further consideration by government will doubtless emerge. For example, the scope and merit of facilitating existing “seasoned” wholesale bonds being moved to the listed debt platform, so they can be traded by retail and wholesale investors interchangeably – similar to the approach being taken for Commonwealth Government Securities – should be considered. This may be an efficient way of consolidating the market and, by allowing a large number of wholesale bonds to be available to retail investors, creating better price transparency, more liquidity and a good foundation for future primary issuance, rather than trying to build the market one new issue at a time. The government’s draft legislation is merely the beginning, but at least the intent to develop the market remains on the agenda, which could be left for the Coalition to finish the job. Andrew Robb is the shadow minister for Finance, Deregulation and Debt Reduction. Andrew Robb Tue, 15 Jan 2013 22:22:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1472 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1471/Opinion-piece--Coalition-has-its-policies-in-place-ready-to-govern.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1471 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1471&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1471/Opinion-piece--Coalition-has-its-policies-in-place-ready-to-govern.aspx  http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/opinion/coalition-has-its-policies-in-place-ready-to-govern/story-e6frg9if-1226549828344 Coalition has its policies in place ready to govern The Australian January 09, 2013 12:00AM AS this year's federal election draws closer, Labor's predictable haranguing and denigration of the Coalition over policy will only intensify, but there is much irony in this political strategy. First, in my 30 years in and around politics I have never seen an opposition in such strong shape on the policy front. It is true that the government's tenuous hold on office since the 2010 election motivated us to greatly accelerate our policy review and development process so as to be prepared for an early poll. As a result, we have long possessed a comprehensive suite of policies in 49 areas, but much to the government's chagrin we are following our own timetable in releasing them, not Labor's. Extra time allows us to review, refine and enhance our menu of options, which includes several hundred individual policy initiatives. As well, it would be totally irresponsible for us to close the books on our budget and policy formulation with the election still a likely 10 months away. Yet since the last election we have made some 55 policy announcements, including the outlining of substantive plans for a strong and prosperous economy, to drive productivity and to support the creation of one million jobs over five years. Tax reform will begin with the removal of the carbon and mining taxes, which are undermining growth and investment, damaging our reputation, making us less competitive and driving up cost of living. Treasury's own modelling shows the carbon tax will erode GDP with a cumulative loss of output of $32 billion by 2020 rising to a staggering $1 trillion by 2050 in 2010 dollars. We have also unveiled the most ambitious deregulation agenda seen in this country, including the streamlining of environmental approval processes to provide greater investment certainty as well as a commitment to restore the Australian Building and Construction Commission to tackle productivity sapping union abuses in the building industry. Already there have also been substantive commitments on critical infrastructure spending and reform, including the development of a rolling 15-year national infrastructure plan. The full-scale commission of audit we will conduct, the first since 1996, will identify areas of waste and other poor quality government spending and will be fundamental to restoring the structural integrity of the budget. The government is constantly on the lookout for material it can misrepresent and distort to distract from its very real policy calamities; such as a mining tax that raises no money, its failures on border protection, carbon tax betrayal and over-reliance on debt. This explains the obsession with trying to goad us into the premature release of our entire policy program, including ridiculous calls for us to produce our full costings and savings measures, which started two years before the next election was even due. If they can't get any traction misrepresenting our policies they have no qualms pinching them, as we have seen in the small business space, including elevating representation to cabinet level or the belated and humiliating embrace of offshore processing of boat arrivals, while other policies that resonate they pretend don't exist to starve them of oxygen. We have seen this with the $9.6bn in major road projects we have committed to and our determination to cut $1bn of red tape each year. In addition to the substantive policy announcements, such as measures to regain control of our borders, Tony Abbott has also outlined a range of other initiatives, including a new Colombo plan, an ambitious Asian languages program, which will see language studies for all pre-schoolers and a concerted effort to increase the numbers of Year 12 students studying a second language from 12 per cent to at least 40 per cent within a decade. This is fundamental if we are to fully capitalise on the opportunities that are emerging in the Asia-Pacific. The overarching objective of the Coalition is to promote growth as opposed to redistribution, and restoring confidence is a big part of that. The four guiding principles we are using in our policy development ensures our program both reflects Coalition values and presents a clear alternative to Labor. Andrew Robb is chairman of the Coalition's policy development committee   Andrew Robb Tue, 08 Jan 2013 22:02:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1471 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1470/Opinion-piece--Desperate-Labor-descending-into-the-gutter.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1470 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1470&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1470/Opinion-piece--Desperate-Labor-descending-into-the-gutter.aspx  Desperate Labor descending into the gutter   The Daily Telegraph 7 January 2013    Secret Labor meetings over summer mark a new ugly step towards importing America’s toxic politics of personal character assassination. Not content with the combative ‘‘whatever it takes’’ style of British Labour’s political gutter dweller John McTernan, Labor is now turning to the dirt units of the US Democrats in search of inspiration and ‘‘talent’’ in its quest to tear Tony Abbott down. ‘‘I don’t like it when I get a sense of a kind of Americanisation of our debate. It’s not in us generally to use very harsh words,’’ Prime Minister Julia Gillard told a Sydney public forum 17 months ago. That has obviously all gone out the window, as the series of shadowy Sydney meetings involving global Labor-aligned operatives reveal. Among those enlisted was the new doyen of online character assassination and smear from Barack Obama’s successful campaign. Matthew McGregor was apparently instrumental in the ‘‘destruction’’ of Mitt Romney, by depicting him as a ‘‘Mr Negativity’’, only interested in giving tax breaks to the rich, and as having a problem with women. It echoes Labor’s divisive misogyny and class wars it is trying to wage here to sully Abbott. McTernan played the gender card against David Cameron in the UK without success. Religion is another popular tool of division for the left, whether it is being a Catholic or in Romney’s case, a Mormon. Labor’s main objective is to drag the Coalition into the mud with it in order to make it appear less worse by comparison. It’s just a cynical and desperate ‘‘devil you know’’ rather than ‘‘devil you don’t’’ political strategy. People are not stupid, however. They see through it. But for some reason Gillard thinks levelling accusations of ‘‘smear and sleaze’’ ad nauseam at her opponents will absolve her of sliming anyone else. Andrew Robb is Opposition finance spokesman and a former Liberal Party federal director   Andrew Robb Mon, 07 Jan 2013 00:40:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1470 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1469/Letter-to-the-Editor--Living-within-our-means.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1469 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1469&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1469/Letter-to-the-Editor--Living-within-our-means.aspx  Living within our means   Australian Financial Review, 07 January 2013   Reserve Bank governor Glenn Stevens says present and future governments need to commit to a medium-term strategy for budget sustainability ("RBA's Stevens warns of growth gap", AFR, December 19).   He is saying that government has to get back to living within its means after the reckless fiscal policy we have seen over the past four years.   The big problem is the Gillard government has no meaningful budget strategy beyond its surplus promise which it is now crabwalking away from.   One only has to look at Labor's performance against its own supposed medium-term fiscal strategy.   They've never delivered a surplus and probably never will, tax takes are lower than they would like them to be because many parts of the economy are struggling, net financial worth has markedly deteriorated and gross debt has gone above $260 billion.   The government claims net debt will be paid off by 2020-21, yet it has no actual plan to achieve this.   The Coalition's commission of audit will be an important part of restoring the budget's sustainability.   Andrew Robb Shadow finance minister, Canberra   Andrew Robb Mon, 07 Jan 2013 00:36:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1469 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1468/Transcript--2GB-Sydney-with-Andrew-Moore.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1468 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1468&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1468/Transcript--2GB-Sydney-with-Andrew-Moore.aspx  TRANSCRIPT INTERVIEW WITH ANDREW MOORE 2GB SYDNEY   Topics: Wayne Swan’s budget surplus back-flip, Government overspending on the NBN   E&OE…………………………………………………………………………………….   ANDREW MOORE: We were inundated yesterday afternoon, after 2 o’clock with callers, emailers, telling us in no uncertain terms what they thought of Wayne Swan and his predictable back-flip over the government’s promise to return the budget to surplus. People were furious; everyone had been saying that this was impossible but yet Wayne Swan, Julia Gillard et al, kept saying, as recently as a week ago, that yes, we’ll be sweet, don’t worry about it, we’ll get to surplus, rubbish! And again, it’s a hand pass in many ways to the Opposition to again point to the government’s reputation of following through and telling the truth. Andrew Robb is the Shadow Minister for Finance, Deregulation and Debt Reduction, he is on the line. Andrew, nice to talk to you again, how are you? ANDREW ROBB: Very good thanks Andrew, how are you? ANDREW MOORE: Yeah, excellent. And again, we took this live yesterday until we grew sick of the rhetoric, but this is something that, as we said yesterday, you don’t need to be an economic expert. You need to listen to, I mean, forget about listening to the Opposition on this when they announce where we will be in a Budget surplus, every economic commentator, everyone involved in finance said rubbish, it can’t happen. ANDREW ROBB: Everyone knew. Everyone knew, well, I think the Government knew. The Government was saying, they didn’t just promise a surplus, in the last few months they actually said they had delivered it. Coming out of the last Budget, they said we have now delivered a surplus. Well of course, it was nonsense, everyone knew it was. It just goes again as you said in your opening comments, it is all about breach of trust and integrity. If you can’t trust the government to tell you what is really happening then how can you make business decisions? That is why there is no investment going on, that’s why people are not spending, there is so much uncertainty. ANDREW MOORE: But that was the first reaction everybody had yesterday was, here they go again, they have promised something and it won’t happen. Now a lot of people are saying look, the fact that we are going to stay in deficit for a while isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but why the hell have we been lied to for the last however long? ANDREW ROBB: Well even that, you see, they are even spinning this issue of staying with a deficit. The fact of the matter is, Andrew, that taxing and borrowing and spending and debt and deficit – that got the world in to this malaise. More of the same is not going to fix it, and there is another way. We don’t have to rely on government spending, endless government intervention, more taxes, more debt to carry the economy if they shift the focus to firing up the private sector. If they took away the uncertainty, if they removed all of the rule changes that they keep making, if they stop putting new taxes on, 27 new taxes on business, you would lower the cost, fire up confidence, see investment, and we wouldn’t need government to be spending money. ANDREW MOORE: Well what was your reaction when Wayne Swan was vehemently denying the fact or suggestions that the government had been overspending? ANDREW ROBB: Well firstly, they have spent an extraordinary $172 billion over the last four years more than they have received in revenue. Now if a household did that sort of thing they would be out backwards, they would be in rented accommodation. They are just telling lies, they are misrepresenting the facts. Even now, what Wayne Swan is not admitting to people is that revenues are up this year 6 percent more than last year, yet he is claiming that the deficit problem is because revenues are falling. They just live a life of spin and misrepresentation to go from one day until the next. They are not looking at outcomes for people in 12 months time and two years time, and now it is catching up with them. People are seeing, and they have seen for some time, that you just cannot trust this mob and it then leads to real outcomes for real people in terms of jobs and quality of life and opportunity. They are all being hampered and squashed and frustrated because of a government that has just been in to endless wasteful spending. ANDREW MOORE: Well, my word. But the figures that Wayne Swan was releasing yesterday, were you in dispute with those? ANDREW ROBB: Well he didn’t even release figures. You see what happened was he came on said, well, we will have a deficit again, the fifth in a row, after the four biggest in our history, and we will have another one the year after that, and then they said to him, well tell us the figures, and he said, I am not going to get in to the detail. So here we are with a total collapse of their fiscal strategy, their budget strategy, and yet the treasurer of the country is unwilling and unable to tell us now what the numbers are, everyone is in the dark. ANDREW MOORE: Well not just the treasurer of the country, yesterday in the role of acting Prime Minister. ANDREW ROBB: Exactly! I mean, Julia Gillard said some time ago, you can’t run this country if you can’t manage its budget. Well I think she is absolutely right. ANDREW MOORE: That grab is going to be played a few times between now and the election next year. Were you surprised in any way, shape or form of the timing of Wayne Swan’s comments yesterday? ANDREW ROBB: What, three minutes before Christmas? No, that was pretty predictable as well. ANDREW MOORE: I mentioned yesterday, the only thing that surprised us was that we thought it might come on Christmas eve. ANDREW ROBB: And with the Prime Minister with her feet up somewhere. The timing is exquisite Labor timing. They are past masters at the politics and the spin, but in the end, good politics is all about good policy, and that is the big missing link for this government. They are being found out, and I cannot wait until next year. We have got a program to put together to the people which will show we will start to address the real issues, we will live within our means as a government. ANDREW MOORE: But that’s the question though, and that is what a lot of people are already thinking. Assuming the Coalition wins government back next year, assuming all this financial waste that we have seen since 2007 really, how much are you guys going to have to pull in the reigns? ANDREW ROBB: We will give a cast iron commitment, as a government, we will live within our means. There are tens of billions of dollars of wasteful spending still occurring, you just take the NBN for instance, Australia must have a National Broadband Network, we will deliver it. It is happening in every country in the world, of course it will be delivered. But this is the rolled gold, most inefficient, most costly version anywhere in the world that is going on. After four years, 33,000 houses are connected out of seven and a half million houses, would you believe? And it is costing $55 billion! If we come in, that project alone, we will deliver more quickly, more cheaply and at less cost to the community. ANDREW MOORE: Well you couldn’t possibly do it in a more expensive manner. ANDREW ROBB: We couldn’t but we will engage the private sector. This is my point, there is an alternative. They have gone back to a massive bureaucracy for the most dynamic area of the country, the telecommunications, instead of engaging the private sector and a multitude of different technologies. That is why we will get there quicker, faster and more affordably. That is just one project where we will save tens of billions of dollars. Now we can do that in so many fronts if we place confidence in the private sector, unlock the mountains of money sitting on balance sheets around this country which is not being invested at the moment because business is so spooked by this government, and its indecision and lack of direction, everyone is sitting on their hands, waiting for an election. Consumers are not spending. They might come and buy a meal but they are not going and buying a $4,000 sofa or a new car or a house. Everyone is sitting on their hands. That is why the economy is struggling and we have got to shift from this emphasis on government and more debt, more taxes, more spending, and get our private sector fired up. Then we will see the real opportunities that are out there and the jobs being created. ANDREW MOORE: Andrew, nice to talk to us, I know you are busy today and have a feeling we will be hearing a lot from you in 2013. Merry Christmas to you, I appreciate your time. ANDREW ROBB: You too, Andrew. ANDREW MOORE: Andrew Robb, the Shadow Minister for Finance. Andrew Robb Fri, 21 Dec 2012 07:20:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1468 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1466/Transcript--Interview-with-John-Stanley--2UE-Sydney.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1466 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1466&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1466/Transcript--Interview-with-John-Stanley--2UE-Sydney.aspx  TRANSCRIPT INTERVIEW WITH JOHN STANLEY 2UE SYDNEY   Topics: Labor’s budget surplus back flip   E&OE………………………………………………………………………………………   JOHN STANLEY: To the story that politically ends the year – the government dropping its promise of a budget surplus. It was no real surprise; they may even produce a budget deficit of something like $10 billion. It would surprise absolutely no one, including the Shadow Finance Minister Andrew Robb who joins us now. Mr Robb, good morning. ANDREW ROBB: Good morning, John. JOHN STANLEY: You would be not surprised by this? ANDREW ROBB: I don’t think anyone is surprised. Everyone has been saying it has been coming for two years. Blind Freddie could see if they kept spending wastefully as they have, tens of billions of dollars, there was only one sad outcome, and that was that they would totally undermine and destroy any fiscal strategy, budget strategy. Julia Gillard said a little while ago, ‘if you can’t manage the budget, you can’t run the country’, and we have finished the year with that sour note. JOHN STANLEY: It would have been a dumb thing to do to try and pull government spending back even further, because that would have damaged the economy, wouldn’t it? ANDREW ROBB: This is the furphy, John. There is a chorus out there today saying well they are doing the right thing, that they have got to spend more money. The thing is, taxing and borrowing and spending and debt and deficit got the world in to its malaise. More of the same is not going to fix it, but there is an alternative that they never talk about, and that is to fire up the private sector. There is no investment taking place; people are not spending, there is no confidence. And it is because there is no direction coming out of government, because the government is clearly not managing its own shop properly. If the government got out of the way of business, gave the incentive and the opportunity and the confidence and stability that will fire up the private sector, that will fill the gap. That will create the jobs. JOHN STANLEY: That will start getting the tax receipts coming back again, will it? ANDREW ROBB: It is not just government knows best, government does everything, this got us in to the problem all around the world. JOHN STANLEY: So I am assuming that what you’re saying is by removing the carbon tax and the mining tax, that would be a start? ANDREW ROBB: This is the thing – you lower costs of business, you stop introducing endless changes and confusing and frustrating, and destroying investments, and confidence will build. There is a lot of money, actually a serious amount of money sitting on balance sheets all around the country, but business are saying we have got no confidence to make decisions. They are sitting on their hands; in fact, the same thing is affecting consumers.   People aren’t spending. They might go and have a meal, but they are not going to buy $4,000 worth of new sofa, or a car or a house, because they are saying we have got uncertainty. JOHN STANLEY: Isn’t it also that because we have been involved in a debt binge we have had this massive surge in personal credit and personal debt, and people have been listening for the last few years to the likes of Paul Clitheroe and others who have been educating them about money, saying save, don’t spend, and people haven’t been spending. ANDREW ROBB: They haven’t. People are, as you say, responding correctly to the difficulties around the world, they are living within their means. People are paying down the mortgage, paying off the credit card, living within their means, but the problem is, the government has not been.   The government at the same time has been regulating business to hell. It has been increasing 27 new taxes. And when you do all these things you increase costs, you increase uncertainty for business, you reduce stability in business and decision making. It makes risk taking a lot more difficult and therefore, business has closed up shop.   The alternative, and if we get the privilege of government, we will make sure that government lives within its means. We have got to rein in this reckless borrowing but we have got to fire up the private sector. JOHN STANLEY: Isn’t there also an argument though that when we have this election which now you would think would be almost certainly August or September next year, but once we get to that election they are going to be saying, well look, we are keeping everything in place, the other side wants to remove the mining tax, remove the carbon tax, they will have a fight with the Senate – that voting for Tony Abbott will be guaranteeing another couple of years of uncertainty. ANDREW ROBB: No, no ,no, no. What they really will be saying, what the underlying message is, if you vote Labor at the next election, you will be voting for more taxes, more borrowing, more spending, more debt, and then as confirmed yesterday, many more deficits. And that is exactly the formula that got us in to the malaise we have got, you will be voting for more of the same.   If you vote for Tony Abbott at the next election, you will be voting for getting government out of the road, lowering taxes, removing costs, restoring some stability, not endless change, so someone can take an investment and know over the next five years they can try and get a return on that investment without all the rules changing.   We will restore confidence, and we will get this economy going off the back of the private sector, not off the back of big government. JOHN STANLEY: Alright, are you taking a break over summer? ANDREW ROBB: Yes, looking forward to a couple of weeks actually John, our kids have got cafes and things up on the Northern Beaches so we will go up there and watch them work I think. JOHN STANLEY: Wait a minute, you should be helping them out, shouldn’t you? Isn’t that the idea? Shouldn’t we be seeing you behind the counter? The late Wal Murray, he used to be Deputy Premier in New South Wales, he used to go work in the fish and chip shop up in Moree. ANDREW ROBB: Well I would like to, but they say, dad you’re not getting anywhere near the barista, our reputation is based on our good coffee, you go and sit over there and talk to the customers.  JOHN STANLEY: You’ve got out of that like a politician, well done! Alright, you have a good Christmas and a good New Year. I’m sure we will talk next year. ANDREW ROBB: Thanks John, all the best. JOHN STANLEY: Andrew Robb, who is the Shadow Finance Minister.   Andrew Robb Fri, 21 Dec 2012 01:52:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1466 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1465/Transcript--Interview-with-Nick-McCallum--3AW-Melbourne.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1465 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1465&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1465/Transcript--Interview-with-Nick-McCallum--3AW-Melbourne.aspx  TRANSCRIPT INTERVIEW WITH NICK MCCALLUM 3AW MELBOURNE    Topics: Labor’s deeply personal campaign against Tony Abbott, A.W.U. scandal.   E&OE…………………………………………………………………………………….   Interview with Nick McCallum - 3AW Melbourne - 17 December 2012   Install latest flash player if this video gallery doesn't work. var fObj = new FlashObject('/DesktopModules/UltraVideoGallery/mp3.swf', 'UVG', '400', '150', "9.0.115", ''); fObj.flashvars = 'portalId=0&baseUrl=/DesktopModules/UltraVideoGallery/&vId=107'; fObj.addParam('wmode', 'transparent'); fObj.addParam('allowFullScreen', 'true'); fObj.addParam('allowScriptAccess', 'always'); //fObj.addParam('wmode', 'transparent'); //When enable transparent background, users may not be able to enter full screen mode if their flash version is less than 9.0.115. //fObj.addParam('bgcolor', '#ffffff'); fObj.write('UVGContainer'); var UVGContainer; UVGContainer = document.getElementById('UVGContainer');   Andrew Robb is the Shadow Minister for Finance. Mr Robb; thanks for your time. Are you surprised that Mr Abbott is so unpopular in the polls?   ANDREW ROBB:   Nice to talk to you; Nick. What I would say to you is, I have been in and around politics for 30 years and over the last nine months we have witnessed, as a community, the worst campaign of deep personal vilification ever seen waged against an Australian political leader.   It is a strategy which, conducted by political experts, they are political experts, they have got no idea on policy but they are good at this sort of thing; they have turned to the dirt units of the United States Democrats now. They have imported a strategy and, in my view, the campaign against Tony and the image is being totally manufactured, effectively, but I also feel that as people see Tony rolling out what is a welter of policy stuff that we have been doing over the next few months as we lead in to an election, I am sure that the campaign of vilification will wear off and people will really come to understand that he is a really decent man.   NICK MCCALLUM:   Mr Robb though, it works both ways doesn’t it? I mean, the Coalition has been engaging in what the Labor party says has been a smear campaign of the prime minister as well. You are not exactly clean skins on either side.   ANDREW ROBB:   Hang on, I just make the point here Nick, and I think it is a fair point; we have been, I think, very vigorous in opposing policy positions, now we have for two years. This whole program, so called of negativity, was not built on personal abuse; it was built on Tony Abbott’s very effective opposition to the carbon tax, to the failed boat people policies and all of those things, which, as an opposition, that is our job to keep them accountable.   We have also got a job to put up a program of change to the next election, which we will, but we have been for two years keeping them accountable. Now this attempt by them to say that what we have been doing, they’ve been classifying as smear; it’s not smear it is saying what they are doing wrong in our view from a policy sense.   NICK MCCALLUM:   But I am talking specifically about your attacks on the prime minister and the A.W.U. and yes, I think in many cases that has been justified, but it also has been relentless to the stage where, in a country where there are a lot of other issues going, an entire question time was taken up about it. Do you now concede you went too hard with too little on that?   ANDREW ROBB:   No not at all, not at all. In the end, there are two things important about politicians and political parties. One, have they got a policy program that is going to improve the lot of people out there? And secondly, have they got integrity; can you trust them?   Now, it is very legitimate for us, given what came out with the A.W.U., we didn’t start that, it was in fact the Labor McClelland, the former attorney general from the Labor party stood up and gave a speech several months ago which triggered all of this A.W.U. investigation publicly. The Labor party did this, the Labor former attorney general of all people who had been involved, back in those days when it happened.   It goes to the integrity, we have asked questions, and we were really late to the issue because we didn’t want to jump the gun on something if there was no concern in the community about it, but we have asked questions about what was her role.   Now, the thing is, instead of answering those questions, she just said ‘you are smearing me’, we are not, we are asking legitimate questions about her integrity, if she has no fear, she should answer those questions.   NICK MCCALLUM:   And I agree, but the thing, Mr Robb, is that people standing back, members of the public are standing back seeing both sides going at each other personally. As you say, there have been personal attacks on Mr Abbott, and there have been personal attacks on the Prime Minister on her integrity as you point out, and they see it as the same.    ANDREW ROBB:   Well they might, but I am just saying that the Labor party, as I said, are clever at politics, and they have clearly decided a year ago that they are not going to win on their record so they are going to go for a strategy of the devil you know rather than the devil you don’t.   And that means they have got to bring us down to their size, and the best way to do that is to demonise our leader so they say anything we say which looks negative or opposing them is a smear or a cover. We haven’t been saying that the prime minister is a man-hater or a bully or a thug or a religious zealot, we have asked questions about what was her role in what is known to be a deeply fraudulent exercise with the A.W.U. Now that is quite a big difference.   We are not making any allegations, we are asking her to answer questions so that everyone can know and attest to her integrity. Now that is quite a legitimate thing in a political sense. She is the Prime Minister of our country, she is responsible for the livelihoods of 22 million people and it is very important that the issue of trust is fair square and established.   NICK MCCALLUM:   OK, and one final question Mr Robb, on that issue of integrity, as your understanding, when did Mr Abbott know about James Ashby’s move, in sexual discrimination terms, against Mr Slipper? Are you 100 per cent confident that that is all clear?   ANDREW ROBB:   Absolutely; Tony found out when I did, which was when it appeared, when it started to hit the air waves that morning. As I understand it – we were all like ‘what the hell is going on here’ – it surprised everyone and I saw his body language, he was as surprised as anyone else.   NICK MCCALLUM:   OK, well thank you for clarifying that. Andrew Robb, Shadow Minister for Finance. NICK MCCALLUM:   Andrew Robb Mon, 17 Dec 2012 07:18:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1465 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1462/Interview--Bloomberg-TV-Hong-Kong.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1462 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1462&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1462/Interview--Bloomberg-TV-Hong-Kong.aspx TRANSCRIPT INTERVIEW WITH SUSAN LI BLOOMBERG TV, HONG KONG     Topics: Australian economy, interest rates, debt levels, policy priorities.   E&OE…………………………………………………………………………………….    SUSAN LI: Australia’s Shadow Finance Minister, Andrew Robb, joins us. He chairs the Coalition Policy Development Committee which coordinates all policy planning across the Liberal Party just ahead of the next year’s election, hopefully in November, is that right Andrew? ANDREW ROBB:    The sooner the better, I hope.   SUSAN LI:   That’s right. Now that it looks like the Liberal Party is set to take on the leadership in Australia, are you concerned about the slowing economy right now?   ANDREW ROBB:   I think everyone is concerned about the softer economy. There is a lot of opportunity in Australia, it is just reeking with opportunity, but there is enormous uncertainty, and business uncertainty, and that is feeding in to consumers.   The average person is not buying the homes they would, not spending like they would, there is a lot of money sitting on balance sheets around the country but no confidence to invest. All of that is now starting to feed in to, with the softer resources market, lower growth.   SUSAN LI:   Some people are extrapolating that maybe Wayne Swan is pushing the RBA to do more, cut more interest rates, cut borrowing costs once again.   ANDREW ROBB:   We are already at levels that Wayne Swan said after the GFC were emergency levels of interest rates, so we are down to there and it has not prompted renewed spending. I think they can come a lot further. They would have been lower, in fact, but the government has grossly overspent in response to the global financial crisis and that has kept upward pressure on interest rates for some time.   SUSAN LI:   So what do you think interest rates should be? Should they be 2.5 per cent or something like that?   ANDREW ROBB:   All I can say is at the moment they are now down at around three, the cash rate, and that is not prompting any response, so if nothing else happens on the government policy front, a lot of pressure is being put on the RBA to do all the heavy lifting.   SUSAN LI:   Well they have had to do all the heavy lifting.   ANDREW ROBB:   They have.   SUSAN LI:   So what is that the government hasn’t been doing? What more do they need to do?   ANDREW ROBB:   The thing that is really eating away at confidence is this minority government. It has led to a real growth in regulation, a lot of red tape, a lot of jumping around on policy. The carbon tax has really knocked a lot of confidence because it has made us a lot less competitive on a lot of markets.   These sorts of things have eaten away at confidence so there is money there, but it is just not being spent. Balance sheets are quite healthy in many cases, but no investment or much lower investment than there should be. So it is a crisis of confidence in many cases about the minority government.   What we need going in to the next election is a clear agenda on business certainty, business stability, and growth in jobs. Growth in jobs has been anaemic for the last couple of years.   SUSAN LI:   Is it really the government’s fault? Aren’t we going through some pretty tough times in China, in Europe and even arguably in the U.S.?   ANDREW ROBB:   All these things are contributing but we have been blessed with wonderful resources.   SUSAN LI:   But isn’t the resources boom over?   ANDREW ROBB:   The high prices are over but the quantities are going to keep going. It is a softer resources market; it was always going to get softer. So we had to really position for when things got softer. But our debt has been growing; we have put vulnerabilities – this government has put vulnerabilities – in place which is eating away at confidence.   Too much regulation, too much focus on redistribution of income and not growth, and all of that has to be addressed if we are to take advantage of what are some enormous opportunities in the region.   SUSAN LI:   Now you’re also saying that the Government – which produces a budget in the last fiscal year – you’re saying that they’re accumulating debt right now to the tune of $257 billion; but then how did they put the budget back into surplus if that was the case?   Andrew Robb:   Well, they’ve just kept on accumulating debt. Surplus – on the balance sheet, they haven’t got a surplus yet anyway – but they’re promising one, they’re promising one but they’re doing all sorts of tricky things to try and....   SUSAN LI:   Manipulative accounting?   Andrew Robb:   Yeah bringing money forward; spending forward into the previous year, taking money out into the later years; all sorts of tricks. But look they’re trying to match revenue with expenditure; but at the same time debt has been growing massively; and that’s overhanging the economy. Now we’ve got lower debt relative to other developed countries, but we’re a small open economy so we are vulnerable if commodity prices move – and they’re getting softer.   SUSAN LI:   Ok, but currently the administration in office would argue that it’s not their fault – the Australia dollar is so high as well, which is also hampering their efforts.   Andrew Robb:   Well again; that’s true - the terms of trade took the dollar high. But also, the pressure on interest rates. Because we did spend perhaps far too much coming out of the global financial crisis, it kept interest rates up; it kept the dollar high; and to some extent, we have become a safe haven in that regard.   SUSAN LI:   Ok another question for you Andrew; let me talk to you about Gina Rinehart   Andrew Robb:   Yes   SUSAN LI:   The richest person in your country, she said Australia is at risk of becoming the next Greece or Portugal. What do you think?   Andrew Robb:   Well I do think that Australia has enormous opportunities. We have; it’s all just sitting there waiting for us – because mainly of linkages in the region. But it’s not going to fall into our lap. We have to do a lot of things; we have to get a lot of simplification of regulation; we have to cut taxes; get rid of this carbon tax; rein in public spending; get some confidence back into the economy.   If we get the confidence back, and innovation and opportunity.....   SUSAN LI:   Alright Andrew good seeing you here in Hong Kong   Andrew Robb:   Great to see you   SUSAN LI:   Enjoy your trip around the city. Andrew Robb there, Shadow Finance Minister of Australia.  Andrew Robb Tue, 04 Dec 2012 03:27:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1462 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1458/The-Conversation--In-Conversation-Andrew-Robb-full-transcript.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1458 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1458&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1458/The-Conversation--In-Conversation-Andrew-Robb-full-transcript.aspx  26 November 2012, 6.09am AEST In Conversation Andrew Robb: full transcript Doug Hilton: Welcome Andrew to the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute. This conversation between me, Doug Hilton, and Andrew Robb is part of The Conversation. So Andrew, it’s been really exciting in the last few weeks and months to have research policy having a profile in the media. Tell us why you’re interested in that area? Andrew Robb: I’ve particularly started to focus on research because I have a responsibility – not only as shadow finance minister – but also I am coordinating all our policy development across 49 areas of policy in preparation for the next election. Now there have been four principles which have driven that policy development process: first, that we’re going to live within our means as a government, if we get the privilege of government. Second, we’re going to seek to reverse the nanny state, the proliferation of regulations. Third, restore a culture of personal responsibility and finally, and very importantly, look to back our strengths. And I don’t mean a hundred strengths – I mean what are the four or five things that as a country we do as well as anyone, or better than most. In that category medical research is very significant. So that has led me to look at the quality of spending – not just medical research but across the aboard. If we are going to live within our means, we haven’t got a lot of new money, that’s our expectation, if we do get to government we won’t have a lot of new money in the first few years. So how do we make the most out of what we’ve got? So the quality of the spend, the efficiency of processes which lead to the spending of government money, the priorities on which that money is spent, to me are all front and square. Doug Hilton: You mentioned medical research as one area of priority – and clearly we’re delighted about that – but there are other areas of research, development and technology where Australia also excels. Give us an idea of where you think those other areas of excellence lie? Andrew Robb: The things that we do as well as anyone and better than most and have done are, historically: resources and energy, agriculture, education and medical research. Probably there are a few things that follow-on from those but they are the four key areas. Now within that you’ve got multi-disciplinary issues. You’ve got physics and chemistry and mathematics and all these things, my argument is that just like a company or like an individual you back your strengths. So again with the limited dollars we’ve got, we should be seeking to make sure that in mathematics, and physics and chemistry and biotechnology and all the rest, that we keep an eye on those strengths. We don’t exclude everything else but a lot of the money… Douglas Hilton: It’s a prioritisation… Andrew Robb: Yes, it’s a prioritisation. I was on the board of Sinclair Knight Merz – Australia’s biggest consulting engineering group – for several years, 7,000 consulting engineers. The work I saw they were doing in resources and energy was just world-leading, spectacular innovation. The work in agriculture, especially groundwater, was world-leading. And we are known around the world, and yet not recognised often within Australia, for the great strengths that we’ve got. And all these other disciplines cluster around these strengths. Doug Hilton: So it seems strange, if you went to the US, there are different tertiary institutions that choose to focus on particular areas. If you went to Caltech or MIT, the major focus is on engineering as it crosses into biosciences and agriculture. You can go to other schools and it will all be biosciences or it’ll be the arts. Do you think we’re well served by having multiple universities that while they’re improving their rankings are still trying to be all things to all people? Andrew Robb: No, I have, for a long time been concerned about the “all things, to all people” notion which Dawkins introduced in 1990 and I think it has served the country very badly. Because again, if you go with your strengths certain universities have got great areas of expertise for all sorts of historical reasons and geographical reasons and all the rest. They should be free to maximise their contribution and their focus and not have their funding threatened and all that. And others, James Cook with tropical medicine and tropical agriculture, why should they feel a pressure to contribute to every discipline when in fact they’ve got a particular focus and expertise that they really should be focusing on. Doug Hilton: So you mentioned James Cook and I think that’s really interesting in terms of the current government’s focus on the Asian Century. You know we have a couple of institutions that are north of Brisbane, in the tropics, but only a couple. Is there an opportunity of building, whether its agriculture or a focus on tropical health, that includes those centres that are closest to Asia, that are in our tropical part of Australia? Andrew Robb: The fact is that that region in Australia from the Tropic of Capricorn up, 40% of the world’s population lives in that same zone. And yet we’ve got a million people out of 22, but an enormous opportunity, both in terms of agriculture and resources but also from a tropical medicine perspective for instance, and from an education perspective. I do feel that with the emergence now of literally billions more people – billions not millions – billions more people in the region around us with the wherewithal of a middle class. And those people are going into the middle class with disposable income, the opportunity for the first time really to pay the high cost for services and product out of Australia. We’re a high cost country, we always will be. So you need high-quality, high margins so that we can get a return on investment. That opportunity has arrived. And I do think there’s an enormous capacity across the north to capitalise on that with medical research, with education, with agriculture, with tourism, with resources. Doug Hilton: So how is that funded, obviously that sort of perspective is of particular interest to countries in our region, countries that we have a natural affinity with, countries like PNG, Indonesia the Pacific Islands. So are there areas of current spend that you see could be re-deployed to get a bigger bang for our buck if you like? Andrew Robb: I do feel that when I look, again, we have a desire to live within our means so part of that is – can we make better use of the existing resources? Foreign aid spend is, for instance, deployed all over the world in all sorts of regions. I do think a greater priority needs to be given to the islands, to PNG, to Indonesia. We have a responsibility to increase our contribution in that area and not only that, but it will help us in the longer term. Because as a country, we will then build critical mass and an expertise in that region which will become very sought after, in my view, by all parts of Asia. So I think we could be using some of that foreign aid money immediately to start to build a capability, well, enhance a capability. Doug Hilton: And a collaboration… Andrew Robb: And a collaboration. So at the pre-eminent medical research precinct in the southern hemisphere that you’re at the centre of, have you been focusing in any way at those sorts of opportunities? Doug Hilton: We see PNG a natural partner. As you know we’re celebrating the opening of our new building and we have three of the leading researchers from PNG down here to be part of that. For exactly the same reason, we see PNG as being a real area of collaboration and it sounds very paternalistic, but responsibility as well. So the idea that we can help build medical research infrastructure and develop what they already have there is really exciting and if we want to help cure diseases like malaria we need the researchers in PNG as partners. So I really like the idea that while participating in aid in places like Africa and South America is important and we have to carry our international responsibility there. If we’re not helping in the Pacific and PNG, then people are going to look at us and think we’ve been derelict. Andrew Robb: In this context, I’d like to get back to an area that I’d really like some guidance on. And that is this current situation where something between 30 and 50% of the time of our researchers, both medical and others is taken up applying for grants or peer reviewing. What can we do to reduce that because clearly there’s a lot of money being wasted requiring that huge resource to be tied up in that sort of thing. Doug Hilton: It is a huge amount of money and I was really heartened by Brian Schmidt, the Nobel Prize winner’s comments in the press recently where he said exactly the same thing that we’re experiencing in health and medical research is also being felt by the physicists and other researchers that are being funded by the ARC. So there was a really nice piece of research done out of Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane by Nick Graves and his colleagues, which basically calculated the cost to the sector in simply applying for and reviewing grants for funding. Simply accruing the resources that you need before you can even start being creative and doing experiments. And his answer was really staggering, it was, as you said about 30 to 40% of a researcher’s time but also the cost to the sector is hundreds of millions of dollars. And given the entire NHMRC budget is $750 million a year, give or take, that’s a big burden. I think part of the problem is, we’ve become very, very risk averse as a sector. We’re only funding the research that is the safest. It will seem silly to the community, but in order to get a National Health and Medical Research Council project grant funded, you really have to have done more than half of the research you say you’re going to do. So in many ways it’s a bit of a sham, you do most of the research, you understand what the answer is going to be – and that almost defeats the idea of doing research in the first place – you get the grant, then you finish it off, you get the publication then you move to the next state. So what it discourages is first, young investigators because they are in a catch 22 situation. You need grant funding to get the preliminary data in order to be compelling to get grant funding. So if you haven’t got grant funding at the start then there’s no way you can be competitive in the grant system. You know, that really hamstrings people and also is what it does, is it makes people safe. They’re going to be looking at incremental questions that will develop little gains in knowledge but safe gains in knowledge. The sort of research that we would want to try and do here is, we want to try and do research that really changes the way people think about the world and have that revolutionary impacts on disease, prevention and diagnosis. We know they’re not all going to be revolutionary but at least you want that starting point. Yes, some of them are going to be published in second and third rate journals because that’s life and research is unpredictable – they’re not all going to be blockbusters. But at least when we start out, we want it to be exciting. And I think the current funding system is encouraging people to submit multiple grants to support their groups. We calculate that to support a modest sized lab with six or eight researchers, requires each of them to put in multiple grants each year. What we should be thinking about, in my mind, is funding people for longer. Perhaps you give your young investigators five years' worth of funding to make a mark. You know people that we know are highly educated, that have served their research apprenticeship, who are passionate and articulate about what they do. Give them five years to get going. And then after five years ask them, have they come up with the goods, assess them absolutely rigorously, make them responsible for their own destiny and having reviewed them and put the flame to their bellies, then give them perhaps five or seven years in the next funding cycle. And have an agreement with them that they come up once, so they get enough research money to sustain their group and do it once rather than reviewing the same people multiple times for small ideas. I think there would be a lot of excitement about that sort of possibility and also a lot of efficiency within the money we’re already spending. Andrew Robb: And I suppose, that sort of model would also mean that a lot of researchers, even more senior ones would think if I do the job, I’ve got 12 years, that’s a career. Doug Hilton: That’s exactly right, so if you’re thinking five and then seven and the person is still doing it at the end of seven and has their fire in their belly, I’m happy to give them another seven. And I think that is what we’ve got to get to, we’ve got to get to the point where we’re not nickle and diming people in terms of review at every possible, every few months or every year. We understand that people require time to make big discoveries and make a big impact and that’s certainly our philosophy here. We want lab techs to be working together for five, ten, fifteen, twenty years that are really going to change the nation. Andrew Robb: Brian Schmidt, the Nobel Laureate, who you mentioned he talked about some of those sorts of approaches. He also raised something that I had been aware of and that is, that in the UK they’ve got rolling grants – five year contracts – that are aggregated on the basis of the collective track record of a group over the previous five years. And so it’s more of a collective and then as I understand it, allocate money within that group to where they think they can get the best bang for their buck. Doug Hilton: So it’s a devolving the responsibility to more local groups to make strategic decisions about where funding goes. I like that model as well, and what that model does also is encourage people to collaborate because with that sort of model as a biologist I realise that I now need a mathematician to wade through and make sense of all of the new data we’re generating it’s not easier for me to prioritise that sort of recruitment So I think anything that can stimulate long term collaboration where decisions are made at a local level. I think Brian is on the right track there. Andrew Robb: One other thing that I’ve observed as I go around some of the universities and other research precincts, there’s much greater involvement now in inter-disciplinary collaborative work. And you can see that turbocharging in lots of areas of research. Could you give me a sense of how quickly that’s accelerating, what’s holding it back, what we could do if we got government? Doug Hilton: So I can give you a really tangible example. So we have a mathematics department here at the Walter and Eliza Institute, Suzanne Cory set that up 15 years ago and it seemed a bit out there. At the time, it was a brave sort of an appointment. Now we have somewhere around 10-15% of our staff with a mathematics and computational science background – we think that’s underdone. You know, I sit on the scientific advisory committees of a lot of medical research institutes in Australia and the people they most want to recruit, the people the directors of other medical research institutes most want to recruit are mathematicians and computational scientists. And that’s a really interesting challenge, and I’ve been talking to people that are part of the mathematics teachers' association in Australia, that are trying to encourage kids to go into maths. I think part of the problem is describing to kids who are good at maths in high schools and at universities that there are jobs in a lot of areas for kids that are good at maths. I think that kids probably think that the only thing you can do is become an actuary or an accountant. We would love to have a conga line of kids stretching out onto Royal Parade in Melbourne knocking on the door wanting to take their maths skills and use them in biology. So I think a lot of it is talking about the options but it’s also having the right incentives, whether in secondary school or university to get the right teachers in and then to encourage the kids to stay with maths through university. So a bit of better communication by the users of those skills but also a recognition that there has to be some carrots there as well. Andrew Robb: On the issue of priorities, I like the idea very much of giving a greater opportunity, at a local level, for groups of scientists or researchers to make decisions amongst themselves about priorities. At a national level, I think we do have to support all sorts of research – basic research and applied research but also the humanities and all the rest. But what’s bothered me is at a time when we’re coming out of the global financial crisis, we’ve got a real productivity problem in the country, we’ve got a structural deficit which means there’s going to be a lot more pressure in our budget as our terms of trade come back to a more normal levels. We need desperately to see productivity jump dramatically. And yet, my public comments were really predicated on the fact that in the national priorities area we’ve seen $30 million less than we spent five years ago. So there’s been a reduction in research but also a shifting of moneys out of the national priority areas. And I would have thought productivity in the sort of areas you’re talking about, we need that discretion at a time in the country’s history. We need that time, five or ten years I assume, to shift priorities and give a focus and then when we’ve got more money, we broaden it. Doug Hilton: Juggling those competing interests is really tough and it must be great to be in government when there’s rivers of money around and there can be lots of things done, you don’t necessarily have to think as hard. I think that you’re right, you need the core groups that are performing absolutely at the pinnacle internationally, whether it’s in the humanities or the fine arts, or physics or astronomy or in medical research you need those core groups funded properly. But then in terms of where you then apply more resources, do that in a more strategic way. And I think that allows you to keep the expertise in some of these esoteric areas, but also use a greater share of the funding that is available for things that are going to be strategic priorities because they’re areas of strength that we want to develop. So I think it’s getting that mix right – that’s no easy task but I think there are ways of doing it. And there’s a lot of, even among the areas you’ve outlined, there’s a lot of areas of overlap. And in my own area, genomics is the big hot technology that we want to use, clearly the same is true in agriculture, the same is true of environment. So I think there’s a way of funding areas that are not just within our priority areas that you’ve identified, but across those areas. And I think that’s really exciting. Andrew, you mentioned that the attractiveness of devolving some of the responsibility for funding decisions, more locally, away from Canberra if you like. And that is something that certainly would be exciting, as I go around the country I can see 8 or 10 areas, 8 or 10 geographic locations that are clearly doing, collectively, fabulous research. In Victoria, we probably have three, Parkville campus, around the main campus at Melbourne Uni, south of the river down at Monash including the Alfred Hospital Campus, and then up at La Trobe around the biosciences and the agricultural area. IF you got to NSW, there’s probably the same sort of thing, there’s some great campuses around the University of Sydney but also UNSW. Perth is developing campuses and then we have the tropical campuses if you like, the tropical precincts around James Cook, Cairns, some in Darwin. I think it’s really exciting to be able to recognise that there are these foci where science and technology is really being done at an international level and support those and make it easier for people in those campuses to make strategic decisions. And to link with each other. Andrew Robb: So just to finish up perhaps, I think you’re right. I think the cluster approach is exciting and holds potential for enormous advantages for us. But what, if anything, is holding it back? Doug Hilton: So I think there’s one or two structural things. So the first structural thing is around indirect costs and infrastructure. So there are multiple schemes that poorly support the indirect costs of research and cross-subsidies. It’s Byzantine in its complexity. The universities thought that they’d tick the box with government’s Strategic Research Excellence funding (SRE) which would have taken universities to 60 cents in the dollar of funding to cover indirect costs and infrastructure. But that was put on the back burner as part of the Mid-Year Economic Forecast (MYEFO). For medical research institutes we’re probably 30 to 40 cents short in every dollar of direct research funding that we get. And what that drives is people looking over their shoulder when they want to do a collaboration. Do I want to collaborate with the guys at the university because that’s going to cost me 40 cents in the dollar, I’m going to have to find another 40 cents for every dollar I get federally from the National Health and Medical Research Council. If we could have a simple transparent system where are researcher got a dollar, and the institution got 60 cents, audit the fact that it’s 60 cents, do it rigorously. It seems to be 60 cents almost every where you go in the world. You could have a system that funded the indirect costs of research in a transparent manner, you would drive a collaborative culture. It would enable us also to grow the pie because the philanthropy that we try to get as a medical research institute, I can tell you what, the little old ladies living in Baldwin are much more excited about funding cancer research than they are an accountant in our finance department. So you know, I would guarantee if the government can find a way of funding the indirect costs, as they of in the US for the national institutes, I can grow the pie more. Andrew Robb: Let’s see if we can have a go at it. Doug Hilton: Sounds like a great idea Andrew. Thanks very much. Andrew Robb: Thanks Doug.   Andrew Robb Tue, 27 Nov 2012 00:37:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1458 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1457/WONGS-SPIN-CANT-HIDE-LABORS-BIG-SPENDING-TRUTH.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1457 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1457&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1457/WONGS-SPIN-CANT-HIDE-LABORS-BIG-SPENDING-TRUTH.aspx Since coming to office the Rudd/Gillard government has spent an incredible $172 billion more than it has raised in revenue. This is what taxpayers must remember whenever they hear Penny Wong and co make absurd claims about Labor’s supposed spending restraint, Shadow Finance Minister Andrew Robb said. Penny Wong has been spinning like a top since The Australian exposed the extent of Labor’s ongoing profligacy at the weekend. It found that Labor had pumped $32.6 billion in net spending into the economy over the past three years. Most damning the analysis found that over eight successive economic statements Labor had improved the fiscal balance “by a mere $2.8 billion, adding weight to the view the Gillard government is a ‘tax and spend’ administration’.” “Penny Wong boasts about how the government has offset all new spending decisions with savings since mid-2009, yet ignores the bit about having delivered the three biggest budget deficits in history over that same period,” Mr Robb said. “It is like a household paying cash for the new television, but having to put thousands of dollars on the credit card to make its mortgage repayment and buy the weekly groceries.” Mr Robb said in addition the government has committed to $120 billion in future spending commitments that are unfunded. Macroeconomics recently concluded that “the budget should already be in surplus by $15 billion or around one per cent of GDP”, while leading economist Warwick McKibbin said at the weekend that Labor’s stimulus splurge was “twice as large as required”. Mr Robb labelled the government’s spending restraint as a myth and said even its supposed fiscal improvements were illusory, based on money shuffles and dodgy accounting tricks. “While the truth hurts, the fact is this Labor government has proven incapable of living within its means and no amount of Penny Wong spin will change its track record,” Mr Robb said.   Andrew Robb Mon, 26 Nov 2012 01:31:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1457 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1456/Transcript--Interview-with-Peter-Switzer--Sky-News-Business.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1456 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1456&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1456/Transcript--Interview-with-Peter-Switzer--Sky-News-Business.aspx   TRANSCRIPT INTERVIEW WITH PETER SWITZER SKY NEWS BUSINESS   Topics: Labor’s poor economic record, including record debt.   E&OE…………………………………………………………………………………….       PETER SWITZER:   One of the government’s current economic embarrassments might be their failure to produce a budget surplus and the Coalition’s Shadow Finance Minister, Andrew Robb, has pondered what excuse Finance Minister Penny Wong will have to dream up to explain it. Mr Robb joins us to evaluate the future of the government’s budget surplus. Andrew, thanks for joining us. ANDREW ROBB:   My pleasure, Peter. PETER SWITZER:   Now, I know you would love the government to be creating a budget surplus because you are a man who loves economic responsibility, but you don’t think it is going to happen, do you?     ANDREW ROBB:   I don’t for one second. I see, to be honest, no viable plan to do anything about their current situation. Just look what at what has happened. They have spent now $173 billion more than they have raised in revenue. They have had the four biggest deficits in our history.   They have a debt now of over a quarter of a trillion dollars in gross terms, and they have got $120 billion of promises that are unfunded, how can anyone believe that anything is going to change?   In fact, some of the independent commentators, many of whom are former Treasury officials, are now starting to bell the cat and say that there are in-built government structural deficits of the order of $20 to $25 billion for the next four or five years.   There is no joy on the horizon. If we do get the privilege of government, I think we have got some hard times ahead.   PETER SWITZER:   So what is the excuse you think Penny Wong is going to come up with? Do you think she is going to say this is all happening because the economy is not growing fast enough, and could she blame the Reserve Bank for that?   ANDREW ROBB:   All that they are really interested in is getting through the next election. So, I think they will continue what I believe to be a calculated deception.   If you go back two years before the last election they put out forecasts for revenue which were just beyond the pale, ridiculous. Everyone knew they were too ambitious but it enabled them to say they would be in a surplus by 2012/13, enable them to say we won’t have a net debt getting above $94 billion.   Of course, it is only two years since. Since then, we have had two of the biggest deficits in our history and we have got a situation where the net debt is at $150 billion and some sources saying it will go to $214 billion within the next three or four years.   PETER SWITZER:   But really, Andrew, the most important thing for them is, do they actually crack the surplus for this year, because as you and I know, they have talked about this being a test, in a sense, for their economic credibility.   Do you think that they might go to an early election to avoid the embarrassment of having to fess up to not actually cracking a surplus?   ANDREW ROBB:   Firstly, they won’t go to an election unless they felt that they were in a position to win the election. If things don’t change dramatically, they won’t be going before the next budget in that sense; that is a big issue you have got to consider.   Secondly, they have started to walk away from the surplus in the Parliament. They have started to say they are confident about the forecast but they will no longer guarantee a surplus. They are playing with words again as they are very good at. That is their forte really.   What they will do is say that ‘unforseen circumstances outside of their control’ have meant that they won’t get to the surplus despite all the money shuffling that they have done. They have literally pushed nearly $12 billion out of the 2012/13 year which should be in there.   So really, there is a deficit of some $12 billion to start with. But secondly, they will make forecasts again that suggest that the next year will be achievable, or the year after.   Now this has been their technique endlessly, to predict rosy forecasts and prudent spending, and when that does not occur, they explain it away by events overseas. And they will try that trick again, but I think that is wearing thin with the population.   PETER SWITZER:   Andrew, do you argue that what they did when the GFC hit, in increasing spending, and effectively keeping unemployment under 6%, which was a shock to a lot of economists in this country, do you think that was wrong?   ANDREW ROBB:   I do. I think what has been greatly underestimated was the power at the time, not only of inheriting an economy which was in much better shape than all of the other developed world, and with no debt, in fact $70 billion of net assets. Not only did they have that as a sort of bulwark, but also the automatic stabilisers.   You might recall, Peter, that the first quarter of 2009 we had the biggest trade surplus in our history because the dollar dropped to 60 cents. At the same time, interest rates came off 3.5%. Those two factors alone really restored enormous liquidity in to our market, put a lot of money in people’s pockets, and a lot of the spending came in the year or two after that, it was too much after the event, and the quality of that spending was appalling.   I think they grossly overspent – something in the order of $60 billion over spent. That has put pressure on interest rates ever since. It has kept the dollar up, that is why manufacturing is struggling. The government has made a big contribution to a lot of the problems outside of the resource sector because of that wanton spending and the continued deficits.   Macroeconomics, headed by a former Treasury forecaster, said that if they had not spent like they were drunken sailors, we would be in surplus last year by $15 billion. I do think that a lot of the problems that we have faced, and the challenges, have been of the fact that they have spent like there is no tomorrow.   As I said at the outset, they have still spent, today, $172 billion more than they have raised in the five years that they have been in office. Talk about fiscal discipline – it’s a joke!   PETER SWITZER:   If you were given the privilege to control the reins of finance in this country, would you cut back spending pretty substantially? And if so, by how much? And what would be the key targeted areas?   ANDREW ROBB:   Firstly, we have still got the books open, because we are still potentially nearly 12 months from an election. For a government like this, given some of the disasters that they have perpetrated, 12 months is a long time.   And I will just make one observation – in the last month we have had 2,100 people arrive by boat. Now every boat is another $13 million. If that is repeated for the next eleven months, that means an extra 25,000 boat people. Now that will blow the budget out, without anything else, by several billion dollars over and above what they have forecast will be spent in that area alone.   So, we cannot close our books until much closer to the election when we really know the situation. Once that happens we have got to make the assessment. We will live within our means. We have set ourselves a principle, a cast iron principle, that we will as a government, live within our means.   That will mean cuts in programs. What the size is we are not sure yet, but I will just make the point, it is not just cutting government expenditure, it is as much what else you do. It is the quality of the spend that is also very important. The pink batts issue – that cost billions of dollars, overran by billions of dollars, but it actually cost a lot of very legitimate businesses their business, because of the way that they mismanaged that spend. Now that has happened in so many different cases.   That is why the commission of audit that we talk about, the first thing we will do, a commission of audit, along with removing the carbon tax and the mining tax, that commission of audit will help us identify a lot of areas where the quality of spend, adding up to tens of billions of dollars in many cases, can possibly be tackled by ourselves.   PETER SWITZER:   The thing that worries me, Andrew, is the carbon tax, which has numerous impacts on particularly small businesses around the country – you don’t know what kind of cost will be involved in unravelling the carbon tax. So you might actually end up with a surprise big bill that could actually stifle some of the cut backs that you make in other areas.   ANDREW ROBB:   We have done a lot of work on this. The carbon tax was introduced with a piece of legislation and it can be removed with a piece of legislation. They haven’t moved to a trading situation – that is not for another couple of years, so there isn’t the issue of those long term liabilities and any potential compensation.   It is simply a new tax that has been bought in and we can remove a new tax. It will remove costs immediately across the board, and very significantly. They said a ten per cent increase in costs from the carbon tax; we should see a comparable downward pressure on prices as a consequence of removing that carbon tax.   What sort of good start would that be to confidence? There is a crisis of confidence in this country at the moment. Not just because they have introduced or increased 27 taxes, but because they keep changing the rules. If some adults can take over and start to make decisions in a measured, stable way, and when we do take decisions insist and ensure that they last for five years or so, that people can get a return on that risk, investment without the prospect of rules changing mid-stream.   The sovereign risk issue is just killing this country, killing investment. There is a lot of money on balance sheets as you would well know Peter, but companies are saying to me time and time again, we are not going to invest until we have got some certainty that the rules are not going to change, and that means until an election occurs.   PETER SWITZER:   You mentioned debt earlier. It is about ten percent of GDP right now. What was it when they took over? And, how serious do you think 10 per cent of GDP is?   ANDREW ROBB: I   t was much lower. Wayne Swan was saying six or seven percent. Well, there was no debt when they took over. We had $70 billion of net assets when they took over. We were a country free of debt.   Can you believe – now we are back at a quarter of a trillion dollars in gross debt, and that is 10 percent, but if you add the state debt on top of it, of course, we had a whole lot of Labor administrations - $85 billion alone in Queensland; you add the state debt and we are up around 20 per cent of GDP. I know, when I ran a business, the first 20 or 30 per cent you can control the level of debt. After that, the debt starts to control you.   It took someone like Macroeconomics, one of the independent forecasters – they are saying that gross debt could go well over their $300 billion ceiling, and as a consequence we are starting to get into more dangerous and vulnerable territory with the level of our debt.   It is prudent, as any family will tell you, as any company will tell you, you have got to keep debt at a manageable level. The way this government is spending and growing that debt – Swan was just two years ago saying six per cent was a good figure. Now he is saying ten percent is a good figure. Where is it going to finish with this fellow?   PETER SWITZER:   Andrew, thanks for joining us on the program.   ANDREW ROBB:   My pleasure, thanks Peter.     Andrew Robb Tue, 20 Nov 2012 22:31:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1456 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1453/Transcript--Interview-with-Ross-Greenwood--2GB-Sydney.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1453 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1453&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1453/Transcript--Interview-with-Ross-Greenwood--2GB-Sydney.aspx  TRANSCRIPT INTERVIEW WITH ROSS GREENWOOD 2GB SYDNEY   Topics: Labor’s debt burden   E&OE…………………………………………………………………………………….   ROSS GREENWOOD:   Let’s go now to the Shadow Finance Minister, Andrew Robb, is on the line. Many thanks for your time Andrew.   ANDREW ROBB:   My pleasure, Ross.   ROSS GREENWOOD:   This report from Macroeconomics – should we put credibility in this? Is this done by people who have got a track record?   ANDREW ROBB:   They have indeed. In fact, the team at Macroeconomics is led by a former Treasury and Finance official, very highly credentialed; they have now been out there doing this sort of thing for a long time. Their clientele are largely private companies, well public companies but the work is private.   So they have got a long list of very reputable companies that are looking for an independent point of view, and this 85 page report is the sort of report they give on a regular basis, as I understand, to their clients.   ROSS GREENWOOD:   The interesting point about this is that after the mid-year economic and fiscal outlook (MYEFO), the Treasurer, here on this program, indicated that he is absolutely and utterly committed to his forecast out in 2020/21, that the federal government’s debt of around right now $145billion will be paid off.   Now, according to this particular piece of work from Macroeconomics, they believe that rather than running down; in fact, that the deficits are going to continue to rise and the federal government’s debt will continue to rise, they claim, by 2015/16, to more than $215 billion. Again, is this something we should be concerned about?   ANDREW ROBB:   It just beggars belief that there could be such a discrepancy but let’s put the $214 billion aside for one second, Ross. Even if you take the promise, the commitment that the Treasurer made on your program about the forecast of reducing debt to zero that was in the recent half-yearly report, they said debt would be zero by 2020/21, but they said it would be at $138 billion five years before.   Now that means in the last five years up until 2020/21, to reduce that debt to zero would mean surpluses of around $28 billion a year for each one of those five years. Now the highest surplus in our country’s history was under the Howard/Costello government of $19.6 billion.   So what they are saying is, having delivered the four biggest deficits in our history over the last four years, still yet to deliver any surplus, they are saying that the last five years of this decade, they will produce the five biggest surpluses in our history. And not just the biggest, but the biggest by a country mile.   So, this is a treasurer who has consistently given rosy forecasts of revenue levels and good forecasts of prudent spending outcomes, and yet you find subsequently they’re way out of whack. When reality comes around, they have missed the mark monumentally. And how can we believe even forecasts out 12 months now?   It’s a political tactic in my view that they have consistently now for several years, overstated massively the revenue forecasts, and understated how much they are going to spend, just to get by in the political moment. Then later on, when things don’t turn out as they predicted, they seek forgiveness, rather than asking permission up-front, and saying woe is me, the rest of the world has caused these problems.   ROSS GREENWOOD:   The interesting point about this Andrew Robb, is that all things going according to the polls as they currently stand, you will be the finance minister by this time next year. You will now confront these holes without trying to send the economy into a tail spin, in to a recession by cutting it back savagely to achieve surpluses that you believe are sustainable. It is going to be very difficult to do terribly much about this.   ANDREW ROBB:   First and foremost you have got to set an objective of living within our means. Firstly you should put out in the public arena what is the true state of the books. We have been asking this government to get Treasury to release what they think is the structural deficit. In other words, what are the spending commitments that we have got which go on and on for years and years, against which declining revenue will be required to meet the cost of.   That’s why Microeconomics have belled the cat really, they are saying that revenue is going to be nothing like what Swan is forecasting, therefore debt is going to continue to rise, not fall, and rise quite dramatically.   ROSS GREENWOOD:   Where do we end up with things such as the National Disability Insurance Scheme? Where would we end up with many of the reforms that had been suggested to education by that Gonski review? These are after all unfunded spending promises the government has made. They ultimately would hit they budget and you would have to make a decision as to whether they could be afforded or not.   ANDREW ROBB:   That’s the problem. They are promising all sorts of things out in the never-never. What you have just talked about adds up to $120billion worth of unfunded promises and they are big commitments year in year out. That’s why we need this commission of audit.   If we do get the privilege of government, the first thing we will do is not only look at how much is being spent, and how much is really being received in revenue, but also the quality of much of that spending. So much waste is going on. Then we have got to look at the merit of a lot of the programs. Some things will have to go – whole programs will have to go in some cases.   If we do discover that what Macroeconomics is saying is in fact true, and Macroeconomics are people who were not so long ago in Treasury doing these calculations, so they know where all the holes are and they know all the procedures. What they said in the report, and I think you read it out, was that the government has consistently taken the most advantageous forecasts, and they haven’t taken conservative forecasts.   If you just take conservative forecasts about revenue, you end up with debt escalating over $200 billion, which would really start to put us in a dangerous zone in terms of debt levels.    ROSS GREENWOOD:  Andrew Robb, the Shadow Finance Minister, appreciate your time.   ANDREW ROBB: Thanks Ross.   Andrew Robb Tue, 13 Nov 2012 04:30:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1453 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1452/LABORS-DEBT-TIME-BOMB-EXPOSED.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1452 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1452&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1452/LABORS-DEBT-TIME-BOMB-EXPOSED.aspx   M  E  D  I  A     R  E  L  E  A  S  E   Sunday, 11 November 2012   LABOR'S DEBT TIME BOMB EXPOSED The Gillard government has lost control of its record debt, and Labor's calculated deception of Australians about its ability to pay it off has been exposed. Based on explosive new independent budget analysis, led by a former Treasury and Finance official at Macroeconomics and obtained by the Coalition, Labor's net debt will hit an extraordinary $214.2 billion in 2015-16. Yet according to the government's latest budget update (MYEFO), net debt will be reduced to $138 billion in 2015-16, before "returning to zero in 2020-21", which is totally unbelievable.  Shadow Minister for Finance and Debt Reduction, Andrew Robb, said: "Just two years ago in the lead up to the 2010 federal election Labor claimed net debt would peak at just $94.4 billion or 6.4 per cent of GDP. This analysis shows that net debt will be in fact 12.4 per cent of GDP in just three years time.   "Time and again this government has forecast rosy revenue levels and prudent spending outcomes, only to be subsequently found to be way out. This forecasting deception is a very deliberate political tactic. "It explains the calculated nonsense from the likes of Penny Wong about Labor's so-called ‘fiscal discipline’ as government spending continues to far outweigh revenue and undermine the budget’s underlying structural health. In fact over the last five years Labor has spent $172 billion more than revenue raised."    Under Labor's current settings Macroeconomics found that the budget will be in deficit each and every year through to 2021-22, including this year (2012-13) by $7 billion, followed by deficits of $17 billion (13-14) and $23 billion (14-15).   Mr Robb said under this scenario Labor’s net debt will just keep rising leaving us increasingly vulnerable in an uncertain global economic environment. "Labor's debt time bomb is the dead cat on the table and confirms the unacceptable risk a re-elected Gillard government presents to Australia's economy," he said.   Andrew Robb Sat, 10 Nov 2012 22:38:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1452 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1450/LEAK-FROM-SWANS-OFFICE-PART-OF-DUBIOUS-PATTERN-OF-BEHAVIOUR.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1450 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1450&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1450/LEAK-FROM-SWANS-OFFICE-PART-OF-DUBIOUS-PATTERN-OF-BEHAVIOUR.aspx     LEAK FROM SWAN’S OFFICE PART OF DUBIOUS PATTERN OF BEHAVIOUR Wednesday, 7 November 2012   The leak of grossly misleading Treasury analysis of Coalition policies from Wayne Swan’s office is part of a dubious pattern of behaviour.   The Treasurer’s office came clean after Trade Minister Craig Emerson pointed the finger at Treasury saying it was responsible, further highlighting the level of disarray within the government.   Former Treasury secretary Ted Evans, who also served under the Coalition, said today: “certainly I cannot recall an occasion of them (Treasury costings) ever being misused, which seems to have happened on this occasion”.   Shadow Finance Minister Andrew Robb, who headed the Coalition’s policy unit during the 2010 federal election campaign, said this was part of a “dubious pattern of behaviour” from a desperate Treasurer. “At the height of the last election campaign we were left with no alternative but to call in the Australian Federal Police to investigate the leak of a confidential Treasury note about our costings,” Mr Robb said.   That investigation all but confirmed that the leak had the finger prints of the Treasurer and his office all over it.   “This is part of the modus operandi of a Treasurer which includes abusing his office and compromising the Treasury to score cheap political points” Mr Robb said.   “It is a smoke screen to divert attention away from Mr Swan’s mining tax debacle and his crab walk away from Labor’s ‘not negotiable’ surplus promise.   “These episodes show why you cannot trust any process which involves Wayne Swan or his office,” Mr Robb said.     Media Contact:        Cameron Hill on 0408 239 521.      Andrew Robb Wed, 07 Nov 2012 23:39:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1450 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1449/TRANSCRIPT-OF-THE-HON-ANDREW-ROBB-MP-INTERVIEW-WITH-MARIUS-BENSON-ABC-NEWS-RADIO.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1449 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1449&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1449/TRANSCRIPT-OF-THE-HON-ANDREW-ROBB-MP-INTERVIEW-WITH-MARIUS-BENSON-ABC-NEWS-RADIO.aspx Topics: Access Economics forecast of a $4.2 billion Labor deficit for 2012-13,Gillard government’s loose spending and debt, Galaxy poll.   E&OE………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. MARIUS BENSON: The Opposition has been dismissing the government’s promise to bring the budget into surplus this year. Andrew Robb is the Shadow Finance Minister and he joins me now. Andrew Robb, good morning.   ANDREW ROBB: Good morning Marius. BENSON: I suppose you are fighting an urge to say “I told you so” in regards to surpluses and deficits? ROBB: The fact is, not just us Marius, for two to three years now, so many commentators and business people have said what goes up will come down. Not collapse necessarily, but people knew that iron ore prices wouldn’t stay at a 350 per cent increase forever. They only had to come back to where they were at the end of the Howard era five years ago; prices come back for those major commodities to what they were when John Howard was beaten then the economy and the deficit will be very vulnerable and deficit will be significant, very large. And this is what they haven’t told us, and they’ve just been avoiding the hard decisions, making predictions about income which now are not going to happen and people knew they weren’t and the hard decisions now have to start.   BENSON: You just heard Chris Richardson there from Deloitte Access Economics with that forecast of a deficit of $4.2 billion, he says in purely economic terms it doesn’t matter if you are a bit in deficit, over time you’ve got to balance the budget. But you don’t have to balance it this year to meet any economic needs, it’s just a political line drawn in the sand. ROBB: The point is, to get to a balanced budget over time you have to have a pattern of behaviour of spending and revenue which will deliver that. Now the fact of the matter is Labor has spent or spending by Labor has outstripped revenue over the last five years by $173 billion, it’s almost inconceivable and yet they talk about fiscal discipline, it’s a total joke.   If the government can’t cover a $173 billion gap in the last five years, how’s it going to do it in the years ahead? That’s why people need to see, people were sort of hopeful that a surplus in 2012-13 would demonstrate that they might have learnt something. Now the surplus promise which has been on the table, cast iron, promised again and again and again they are now walking away from it. You saw Penny Wong yesterday looked very rattled on Insiders when she could not guarantee that they would return to surplus. They have not got an economic plan this is their problem they are making it up every day.      BENSON: Well they have an economic plan that involves the mining tax and the mining tax delivered nothing in the first three months, but the assessment from Access itself is that in time the mining tax will be a revenue stream.   ROBB: But they’ve already spent the money, they’ve spent the money and the revenue stream is being predicted as Chris Richardson said to me much, much, much smaller in time than what the government had predicted. Already on that one measure alone they have shown gross incompetence and it’s mirrored in every other, most other steps that they take. They say one thing and then they are unable to deliver.   BENSON: But the extent of alarm that you express about deficit and debt levels is shared by nobody seemingly amongst economic analysts it is not shared by the world which looks at Australia’s numbers with envy as the government often points out. And in fact John Howard was saying our debt-GDP ratio is fine just recently.   ROBB: Hang on, hang on we are now 10 per cent of GDP, Wayne Swan was saying a couple of years ago that we’d be fine at seven. Before the last election which is just two years ago they promised that debt would get to $94 billion would peak out at $94 billion, it’s now going to peak out at close to $150 billion, who knows where it will end up if they do not get on top of spending and they have been spending like wounded bulls for the last five years. If you don’t get on top of spending debt can get away from you and one thing I’ve learned from running businesses and from other business people around the country, is once you get debt to certain levels it starts to take control of you. And this government has to show responsibility and do what every household is doing and live within its means.   BENSON: Just quickly Mr Robb there’s a Galaxy poll out today which shows you in a good position in party terms well ahead of Labor but the poll also shows that double the number of people who want Tony Abbott as your leader would prefer Malcolm Turnbull, 60 per cent want Malcolm Turnbull are you worried you are so far out of step with public opinion in terms of the choice of leaders?   ROBB: Not one iota, the fact of the matter is if you look at that same poll today the vote is 57-43, which is a massive ....   BENSON: 53-47, 53-47   ROBB: Hang on 53-47, it’s an extraordinarily, effective result by Tony Abbott to get us into the position we are in and the trust deficit if you look at the numbers today, the trust deficit that Julia Gillard faces is a direct result of the effectiveness of Tony Abbott exposing the fact that you cannot believe what the prime will say on major issues.   Further information: Cameron Hill on 0408 239 521  Andrew Robb Mon, 05 Nov 2012 03:22:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1449 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1448/WHAT-HAPPENED-TO-PENNY-WONGS-NOT-NEGOTIABLE-SURPLUS.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1448 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1448&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1448/WHAT-HAPPENED-TO-PENNY-WONGS-NOT-NEGOTIABLE-SURPLUS.aspx A clearly rattled Penny Wong has this morning joined Treasurer Wayne Swan in failing to guarantee the budget will return to surplus this year despite prior iron clad promises. Shadow Finance Minister Andrew Robb said that in her first speech as Finance Minister an unequivocal Senator Wong said “the return to surplus is not negotiable”. Yet, today on ABC’s Insiders program she refused to guarantee that Labor would honour this promise which is the central tenet of the government’s dubious economic strategy. Wayne Swan alone has declared on at least 150 occasions that the government will deliver a surplus in 2012-13, “come hell or high water” he said, while Julia Gillard said of honouring the commitment that “failure is not an option”. “If Labor walks away from this commitment it would sit alongside Julia Gillard’s infamous ‘there will be no carbon tax under a government I lead’ broken promise,” Mr Robb said. Mr Robb also said it was embarrassing hearing Penny Wong today spruik the government’s supposed “fiscal discipline”. She said since the GFC the government had off-set all new spending and had improved the budget’s structural settings. “If Labor was serious about off-setting spending why has its spending outstripped revenue by $173 billion since coming to office? Why did it deliver a $43 billion deficit in 2011-12 off the back of a mining boom and the strongest terms of trade in 150 years?” “Off-setting new spending with supposed ‘savings’, which include new and increased taxes, is meaningless if you are unable to fund your existing commitments,” Mr Robb said. In terms of the budget’s structural state, Labor has $120 billion worth of unfunded future budget liabilities, including the NDIS, Gonski reforms and major defence procurements. Penny Wong today promised to explain how Labor planned to plug its $120 billion black hole “before the budget” Finally, she claimed that without Labor’s supposed savings net debt would be $250 billion in 2020-2021, while the MYEFO papers claim net debt in that year will be zero. Net debt is forecast to be $138 billion just five years prior. “The biggest surplus on record is the Coalition’s $19.7 billion; to pay off debt by 2021 Labor would have to consecutively deliver by far the five biggest surpluses in history. For a government that is yet to deliver a single surplus this claim is simply unbelievable,” Mr Robb said.   Andrew Robb Sun, 04 Nov 2012 06:14:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1448 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1447/Transcript--Sky-News-Showdown-with-Mark-Latham-and-Michael-Kroger.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1447 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1447&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1447/Transcript--Sky-News-Showdown-with-Mark-Latham-and-Michael-Kroger.aspx TRANSCRIPT INTERVIEW WITH MARK LATHAM AND MICHAEL KROGER SKY NEWS SHOWDOWN   Topics: Maxine McKew’s book, Budget deficit, Coalition policies   E&OE…………………………………………………………………………………….     MICHAEL KROGER: I’m here with my co-host and former Labor leader, Mark Latham and joining us in the Canberra studio now is the Shadow Minister for Finance and Member for Goldstein, Andrew Robb. Andrew Robb, welcome.   ANDREW ROBB: Thanks very much Michael.   MARK LATHAM: Andrew, there is nothing scholarly in the Maxine McKew book, and I am absolutely stunned that scarce public resources in our university systems are being used to fund a straightforward political memoir with a political agenda of trying to assist Kevin Rudd in the Labor leadership struggle. Now you’re the custodian of the public finances for the Opposition. How do you view this outrageous use of public money?   ANDREW ROBB: Well I’m not sure of the detail. I did hear what you said earlier on about what was in the book. I did hear about this a few days ago and happened to run into Glyn Davis at a function a few nights ago and said, ‘what’s the story?’, and his version to me was that Maxine was given a part time fellowship and I just assumed from what she had written in the book that it gave her the time to go and do other things such as finish the book.   Now, whether that’s true or not, of course I would expect the universities, any university for that matter, to have the common sense not to get involved in political exercises. And I’m just not sure what really is behind all of this and I’d like to know the facts before I shoot my mouth off.   MICHAEL KROGER: Well presumably Andrew we will see a statement tomorrow from Glyn Davis and the University of Melbourne disputing Maxine McKew’s comments and making very clear that none of the funding from the Melbourne University went towards giving her an amount of money to allow her to write this book. That’s what she says in the book but surely public university funds can’t be used in that manner. That would be a very disappointing use of university monies, but look we’ll know the truth tomorrow no doubt Glyn Davis will come out with a full statement.   ANDREW ROBB: I don’t disagree with you I am just saying I am not going to shoot my mouth off before I know the details.   MARK LATHAM: Well I was trying to help you with your list of cost savings, that you could immediately axe the fellowship program at Melbourne University and redirect it in to some better purpose or even build up your surplus.   ANDREW ROBB: Well I have got a couple of former colleagues who I’ve got enormous respect for who I think are making good use of part-time fellowships.   MARK LATHAM: There’s not going to be much hope for you as Finance Minister if you’re influenced by former colleagues. You’ve got to be tougher than that.   ANDREW ROBB: Thanks Mark.   MARK LATHAM: You’ve got to reduce the ‘age of entitlement’ as Joe Hockey called it. Do you believe we’ve got an age of entitlement and if so, what are you going to do about it?   ANDREW ROBB: I do think that increasingly people feel that they deserve a lot from the public purse, much of which they could do without frankly. It is our intent, and we will live within our means, that’s a good start so we are not going to be presiding over a quarter of a trillion dollar debt. Our aim is to progressively get in to surplus and get that debt down.   And that means cutting expenses. It means not spending what you haven’t got frankly Mark. At the moment we’ve got a Government that has been on a spending binge for several years now, and they just spend and spend, and borrow and borrow, and today with them walking away from the surplus they’ve lost the last shred of any sort of economic credibility.   They clearly have got no plan for this country and they’re making it up daily. We have done a lot of work already. We will get on top of this mess that they’ve made if we get the privilege of Government.   MARK LATHAM: Well 12 months from now you could be, most likely you will be, the Finance Minister. What are the entitlements that people could do without?   ANDREW ROBB: I can’t sit here and nominate all sorts of programs Mark. The fact of the matter is there are lots of things that this Government has spent money on which should never have qualified for spending.   They just haven’t got it. You would like to do all sorts of things for people but if you have got to borrow to pay for those programs then you can’t do them. We’re seeing it again now with this government promising to do the National Disability Insurance Scheme, they’re promising to do $6 billion of Gonski education spending; they’re inferring now all sorts of programs to do with this Asian wish list they have put out over the weekend.   None of this money is there. They haven’t got this money. And they don’t pretend where they will find it. There is $120 billion already of a black hole and this government has just not lived within its means. We will do so. We have done the work.   If there is an election called tomorrow we would go with a fully funded program and we would start from day one to rein in the reckless spending that we have been witness to.   MICHAEL KROGER: Andrew you have been in the Parliament the last couple of days, obviously strongly participating in the questioning by the Opposition of the Government both in the Senate and the Reps, where the Opposition has asked the Government to use the word ‘guarantee’ in relation to delivery of a surplus, the much promised delivery of a surplus, for the financial year 2012/13.   And the Government are refusing to use that word ‘guarantee’ so let’s assume that they know they have got no hope of delivering a surplus. I think most people know that. The question we discussed on this program one month ago was: what does that mean in terms of the election timing?   Does it mean they are likely to run to an election before the Budget in the first week of May next year, knowing that if they go to the election with a Budget deficit they are going to be in one hell of a trouble. Or, do you think they come to the Budget in May next year and say look, we couldn’t deliver a Budget surplus, sorry it was a stuff up. We were completely wrong, we misled you, that they have still got a chance of being elected.   So, where do you see election terms of election timing in terms of a forthcoming rather large Budget deficit which everyone in the financial markets thinks is going to be well more than $20 billion?   ANDREW ROBB: You’re absolutely right, no one does believe, in fact, there is a poll out today showing 75% of Australians don’t believe they will get a surplus, and I hear on the grapevine that Wayne Swan is one of them. It is clear from the body language that they don’t believe they are going to get there. They never were going to get there.   I think that the whole strategy of walking away from this surplus promise, and bear in mind this has been a non-negotiable promise from this mob for the last two years, which they are now walking away from, I think the inspiration is to give them the wriggle room to try and get through a Budget next year where they will blame the rest of the world on the fact that they are $20 billion again out of pocket.   It gives them a chance to go as late as they can. That’s what they want. They want to hold on to the reins of power as late as they can, and hope in the meantime that they can try and tear us down by personal abuse.   MARK LATHAM: Andrew can you guarantee a Budget surplus for every year of the first term of an Abbott government?   ANDREW ROBB: I can say absolutely that if the forecasts that the Treasury have provided in MYEFO and the Budget before that are true and accurate, we will deliver in our first term each year.   We have done the work to show that we can do that. We are confident about doing it if the Treasury forecasts are in fact accurate.   MARK LATHAM: And when are you planning to announce your cost saving measures? You mention the election campaign. Surely you won’t leave it that late. The Australian people would have the right to know what plans you have got in mind well in advance of the formal campaign.   ANDREW ROBB: The thing is Mark, we have done the work, but we can’t close the books now. In all prospect, we are nearly 12 months still away from an election. Think of the mess that they could make between now and then.   MARK LATHAM: I am asking about your plans. You have been around a long while and you would know full well when you are going to roll out your cost saving measures and announce them.   ANDREW ROBB: Are you going to keep interrupting or are you going to give me a chance to answer?   MARK LATHAM: I do want you to answer, please answer.   ANDREW ROBB: I’m just demonstrating why it is nonsense to tell us to close our books now and release all the detail of what we should do and can do because the fact of the matter is daily we are seeing the mess they are making.   Their tax that they introduced, the mining tax, it didn’t produce one cent. This is the first tax in history which has never delivered any money. Now they assumed in a Budget which we took in good faith that it would deliver $2 billion, and now we see it is not going to deliver a cent.   They have had in the last month, 2,100 people have arrived via the people smugglers. At that rate, we will have an extra 25,000 over the next 12 months. That is billions of dollars blow out in the books. We cannot close the books now and reveal what we can do until we see the numbers from Treasury independently assessed four weeks out from the election we cannot close the books and reveal all of that financial detail.   MICHAEL KROGER: Andrew, no doubt we are going to have an opportunity early in 2013 to take the question of the Budget deficit up with you again, but for tonight I want to thank you very much indeed for joining up from the Canberra studio.   ANDREW ROBB: My pleasure, thanks Michael, thanks Mark. Andrew Robb Tue, 30 Oct 2012 11:41:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1447 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1444/Cuts-undermine-economic-credibility.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1444 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1444&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1444/Cuts-undermine-economic-credibility.aspx Andrew Robb Thu, 25 Oct 2012 04:30:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1444 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1441/MYEFO-TIME-FOR-LABOR-TO-STOP.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1441 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1441&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1441/MYEFO-TIME-FOR-LABOR-TO-STOP.aspx MYEFO: TIME FOR LABOR TO STOP ‘COOKING THE BOOKS’   When budget honesty is required, speculation persists that Labor will rush out its Mid Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO) weeks earlier than normal to avoid factoring in additional economic data about declining revenues.   “This would be the latest cynical move by a government that has used every smoke and mirror trick imaginable to create an illusory $1.5 billion surplus for this year, despite having delivered the four biggest budget deficits on record totalling $173 billion,” Shadow Finance Minister Andrew Robb said.   It should be remembered that in the 2011-12 budget Labor estimated a deficit of $22.6 billion for that year, but the recent final budget outcome revealed a $43.7 billion deficit – a blow-out of more than $20 billion in just 15 months.   “Labor is desperate to keep its surplus pipedream alive for as long as possible and looks set to release its supposed mid-year budget update before a flood of potential new revenue data becomes available in late October.   “A release next week would for instance allow the government to continue to book the full proceeds of its shambolic mining tax - $13.4 billion over the forward estimates – before the truth is revealed that mining companies will pay only a small fraction of that figure,” Mr Robb said.   “The budget factored in a fall in the terms of trade of 5.75 per cent in 2012-13, yet many private economists are estimating a fall of 10-15 per cent, which would cost the budget billions. In MYEFO the onus is on the government to provide the most up-to-date and believable estimates in regard to the terms of trade and commodity prices.   “Given Labor’s recent track record, MYEFO will no doubt contain further money shuffles and other budget fiddles. As of the May budget the Coalition had already identified at least $8 billion in money shifts to artificially inflate the 2012-13 budget bottom line.   “In addition $5.8 billion in borrowing for the loss making NBN Co is being hidden from the budget’s bottom line.   “While Labor claims to be tightening the belt and returning to surplus debt is continuing to increase. In the 2011-12 budget Labor said net debt would reach $106.6 billion yet the actual figure is now $147.3 billion – a $40 billion blow-out,” Mr Robb said.   “The biggest MYEFO test for Labor will be to outline how it intends to fund $120 billion black hole of unfunded promises without imposing new taxes and further amping up debt.    “It was revealed during Senate Estimates, for example, that the government has not committed to funding the NDIS beyond $1 billion for the initial trials, whereas the full program is likely to cost around $10.5 billion per year.   “At a time when the government continues to make big unfunded promises despite the mining boom having peaked against a backdrop of global uncertainty, we need some budget honesty not another cynical political document,” Mr Robb said.   Andrew Robb Thu, 18 Oct 2012 04:10:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1441 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1439/LABOR-CRASHES-THROUGH-PREVIOUS-DEBT-LIMIT-TOPPING-QUARTER-OF-A-TRILLION-DOLLARS.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1439 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1439&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1439/LABOR-CRASHES-THROUGH-PREVIOUS-DEBT-LIMIT-TOPPING-QUARTER-OF-A-TRILLION-DOLLARS.aspx Joint Media Statement: Andrew Robb and Joe Hockey The Gillard Government has driven up Australia’s credit card to a record $256.4 billion according to latest Australian Office of Financial Management (AOFM) figures. The previous debt ceiling of $250 billion was raised by Labor to $300 billion in the May budget further confirming its inability to curb its debt addiction. According to PIMCO, the world’s largest bond investor, Australia’s second largest export in 2011-12 was not coal, but Australian Commonwealth Government Bonds –  Labor’s record debt. You never hear this shameful statistic from Wayne Swan or Penny Wong because it’s at complete odds with their nonsense about belt tightening and returning the budget to surplus. Funding Labor’s record debt is “a capital tidal wave” according to PIMCO and has contributed to the persistently high Australian dollar. Wayne Swan previously said of increasing the debt ceiling to $300 billion, “very simply, this is no big deal”. (ABC Radio National 9 May 2012) Mr Swan’s attitude and ignorance are breathtaking considering interest payments alone on Labor’s gross debt is $12 billion this year – the cost of 12 world class hospitals. Given its track record there is no doubt debt will continue to rise while the Gillard government remains in office with its $120 billion budget black hole of unfunded promises. Media Contacts: Tony Ritchie (Mr Hockey) on 0407 002 704 or Cameron Hill (Mr Robb) on 0408 239 521.           Andrew Robb Fri, 12 Oct 2012 04:49:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1439 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1435/LABORS-GROSS-DEBT-TOPS-250-BILLION.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1435 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1435&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1435/LABORS-GROSS-DEBT-TOPS-250-BILLION.aspx THE HON ANDREW ROBB AO MP Shadow Minister for Finance, Deregulation and Debt Reduction Chairman of the Coalition Policy Development Committee Federal Member for Goldstein   MEDIA RELEASE     Friday, 28 September 2012   LABOR’S GROSS DEBT TOPS $250 BILLION   The Gillard government has today surpassed $250 billion of gross debt as confirmed by the Australian Office of Financial Management.   “For the first time in Australia’s history Commonwealth gross debt has exceeded quarter-of-a-trillion dollars,” said Andrew Robb, Shadow Minister for Finance and Debt Reduction.   Mr Robb said it was no wonder the government is on a ‘new taxes hunt’ of epic proportions.   “They are so far out of touch they claim the carbon tax isn’t hurting anyone. If they think they can get away with that we know what that means. More tax slugs are on the way, with hits on superannuation and the like.   “The record debt figure confirms the Gillard government’s addiction to borrowing and refusal to live within its means.   “Labor’s growth in debt is extraordinary given that we have been blessed with a mining boom which has delivered the best terms of trade in more than 150 years.   “This government has wasted the mining boom,” Mr Robb said.   The annual interest payments alone on Labor’s gross borrowings are a staggering $12 billion.   “Labor’s debt and continued reckless spending leaves our economy extremely vulnerable to the storm clouds which are gathering over commodity prices.   “Labor’s debt burden is set to continue to rise given its $120 billion black hole of unfunded promises against future budgets,” Mr Robb said.   AOFM web site: http://www.aofm.gov.au/ Andrew Robb Fri, 28 Sep 2012 05:21:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1435 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1434/Joint-Media-Release-with-Joe-Hockey--Labor-busted-fudging-the-numbers.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1434 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1434&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1434/Joint-Media-Release-with-Joe-Hockey--Labor-busted-fudging-the-numbers.aspx LABOR BUSTED FUDGING THE NUMBERS   The Final Budget Outcome released today shows Labor has been busted fudging the numbers.   The Australian National Audit Office has belled the cat on Labor’s cook the books game played in the 2011-12 MYEFO and the 2012-13 Budget.   The Government has been forced to move a $500 million special dividend from the Reserve Bank of Australia to 2011-12 from 2012-13.   Labor was also ordered to change the timing of the Australian Reinsurance Pool Corporation dividend to be counted in 2011-12 as opposed to being apportioned over the forward estimates.   Today’s release shows the Government’s fiscal position continues to deteriorate – confirming this Government is the most addicted to deficit and debt in our history.   The Budget position has been further undermined by Labor’s $120 billion Budget black hole of unfunded promises.   The underlying cash deficit for 2011-12 was $43.7 billion – a number Wayne Swan was too embarrassed to mention in his press conference.  This is Australia’s 3rd biggest Budget deficit on record.   Over just four years this Government has run cumulative deficits exceeding $173 billion.   This Government in five short years has converted $70 billion of money in the bank to $147 billion in net debt.   Net debt has blown out by another $5 billion in just seven weeks, which is an extra $90 million a day on the nation’s credit card.   Wayne Swan described this as a “small increase” – but $5 billion is the equivalent of five world class hospitals or half the annual cost of the National Disability Insurance Scheme.   Furthermore, this deterioration is even before the Government takes into account its $120 billion great big Budget black hole – arrived at through Labor’s reckless and unfunded promises in defence, disability services, education and border protection.   Underlying Cash Balance forecasts for the 2011-12 Financial Year have blown out. In the 2011-12 Budget Papers Labor estimated a deficit of $22.6 billion for 2011-12. The Final Budget Outcome saw this deficit for 2011-12 blowout to $43.7 billion. This is a total deficit blowout of over $21 billion in just 15 months.     Underlying Cash Balance Year Budget Year Estimate ($m) Final Budget Outcome ($m) 2008-09 21,703 (27,079) 2009-10 (57,593) (54,750) 2010-11 (40,756) (47,746) 2011-12 (22,618) (43,740) 2012-13 1,536 ?   In the 2011-12 Budget Papers, Labor estimated a net debt of $106.6 billion in 2011-12. The Final Budget Outcome saw this debt blowout to $147.3 billion – a blowout of over $40 billion. This blowout increased Australia’s yearly interest payment in 2011-12 by $1.1 billion to $6.6 billion.     Net Debt Year Budget Year Estimate ($m) Final Budget Outcome ($m) 2008-09 (44,987) (16,148) 2009-10 53,700 42,283 2010-11 78,520 84,551 2011-12 106,646 147,334 2012-13 143,345 ?                           Net Interest Year Budget Year Estimate ($m) Final Budget Outcome ($m) 2008-09 (2,166) (1,196) 2009-10 1,464 2,386 2010-11 4,633 4,608 2011-12 5,536 6,609 2012-13 7,001 ?                             Spending as a percentage of GDP in 2011-12 was higher than at any point under the Howard Government, coming in at 25.3%. Labor is still spending $100 billion a year more than the last year of the Howard Government.     Payments Year Budget Year Estimate ($m) Final Budget Outcome ($m) 2008-09 287,764 316,046 2009-10 336,644 336,900 2010-11 352,253 346,102 2011-12 362,078 371,032 2012-13 364,209 ?                           Today’s results cast significant doubt on the 2012-13 promise of a surplus that the Prime Minister claims has already been delivered.   This year the Government expects to collect an extra $39 billion in revenue – taking them from a $43.7 billion deficit in 2011-12 to a $1.5 billion surplus in 2012-13. This is even before a further deterioration of Government revenue is factored in, as foreshadowed by Wayne Swan’s own Treasury Secretary Dr Martin Parkinson and the former Treasury Secretary Dr Ken Henry. This Government is fiscally incompetent – not only do they have a $120 billion great big Budget black hole, but today is further confirmation that you cannot even trust the Government’s numbers contained in the Budget papers.   This is a Government without a plan, fudging the numbers as they go along.  They cannot be trusted with managing the nation’s finances.   [ENDS] Andrew Robb Mon, 24 Sep 2012 05:16:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1434 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1433/Op-Ed--Labor-has-ruined-good-government.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1433 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1433&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1433/Op-Ed--Labor-has-ruined-good-government.aspx Labor has ruined good government   PUBLICATION: Australian Financial Review PUBLISHED: 24 Sep 2012 PRINT EDITION: 24 Sep 2012   Andrew Robb   Failure of leadership, not ministerial staff numbers, is the root cause of legitimate business concerns over “major policies unravelling before our eyes” and “short-term thinking”.   Debate over the collapse of good governance, prompted by the Business Council’s chief executive, Jennifer Westacott, is long overdue and warrants major discussion.   However, in doing so let’s be very careful to focus on the root causes, not the symptoms. The fact is governments get the advisers they deserve. Leaders in any sphere of business or community organisations or government determine the culture of their organisations, and those who work within them.   The federal Labor Government has been chaotic from the outset because their politicians have no respect for the institutional processes that have evolved over 110 years of Federation.   Time and again the Rudd/Gillard governments have demonstrated total disdain for due process –bypassing or paying lip service to cabinet process, to meaningful consultation, to the importance of experienced advice. Australia is being run by a bunch of political cowboys who refuse to accept the disciplines of a sound, robust decision-making process, or the inconvenience and attention to detail that effective policy implementation demands.   Every area of policy is approached by this government as a political “deal” designed to achieve a political advantage, not a process designed to identify the best policy outcome. This reflects the 90 per cent union background of Labor’s parliamentary team. It explains the “culture of intimidation” and absence of civility that so marks this government’s policy and political approach.   There is no respect for or understanding of the traditional role of the public service, as evidenced by Labor’s extensive politicisation this century of the public services at both federal and state levels.   Is it any wonder that many of the government’s political advisers show no respect or regard for public servants, treat industry and community stakeholders with arrogance, disdain and ignorance, and scoff at proper processes?   Such ministerial advisers are simply following the lead and example of their political masters.   The Business Council’s suggestion of a return of permanent tenure for departmental secretaries has some merit. But first a means of depoliticising various key departmental appointments must be resolved or else an incoming government may face the frustration of having to gain co-operation of some politicised appointments.   Furthermore, in expressing legitimate concern about the short-term focus of modern politicians, the changing nature of the public service and the frustrating role of political gatekeepers, big business should also examine its own contributions to this phenomenon.   Over the last 20 years the growth of internal corporate public affairs resources and lobbyists have been exponential. In many cases the numbers involved within major companies would dwarf the numbers within a ministerial or even prime ministerial office.   Certainly the professional and public affairs resources of corporates would often greatly exceed the number of bureaucrats dealing with their issues.   The wave of corporate representations, invariably with a short-term focus, and the sophistication to influence media coverage and public opinion, have had a huge impact on the role of the public service and the focus of decision makers.   Finally, I strongly disagree with the Business Council proposition that only the public service could “tackle the 50-year agenda to restructure the Federation, build infrastructure or improve planning for big cities”.   A non-party-political public service has a vital role to play in effective implementation of any such vision, but it can only happen with strong parliamentary leadership. The stultifying arm wrestle that the Council of Australian Governments has become is sad evidence of what will happen with critical reforms if left largely to huge teams of unaccountable state and federal bureaucrats. In fact, bureaucrats have proven to be more motivated and effective at protecting their turf than their political masters.   The absence of consistently strong parliamentary leadership has meant that the COAG experiment has largely been a failure. Australia desperately needs direction, not short-term politics masquerading as reform.   Andrew Robb is shadow finance minister and chairman of the Coalition’s policy development committee. Andrew Robb Sun, 23 Sep 2012 23:57:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1433 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1429/Letter-to-the-Financial-Review--Swan-was-warned.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1429 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1429&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1429/Letter-to-the-Financial-Review--Swan-was-warned.aspx Andrew Robb Wed, 05 Sep 2012 02:44:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1429 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1428/Op-Ed--LABORS-NANNY-STATE-HAS-FAILED.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1428 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1428&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1428/Op-Ed--LABORS-NANNY-STATE-HAS-FAILED.aspx Andrew Robb Mon, 03 Sep 2012 01:11:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1428 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1427/WONGS-CREDIBILITY-THROUGH-THE-FLOOR.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1427 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1427&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1427/WONGS-CREDIBILITY-THROUGH-THE-FLOOR.aspx     WONG’S CREDIBILITY THROUGH THE ‘FLOOR’   Wednesday, 29 August 2012   Penny Wong's credibility on managing the budget has taken a further dive after she last night dismissed her own previous warnings about the dangers to the budget associated with scrapping the carbon tax floor price.   Shadow Finance Minister Andrew Robb said that in February Senator Wong warned, that  abolishing the $15 floor price, which was to apply from 2015-16, would be fraught with danger.   "You'd have to be very careful that that didn't have a very negative effect on the budget because if you move to a floating price obviously household compensation quite rightly is fixed, there’s obviously budget risks there." (Penny Wong - Sky Agenda 26/2/12)   Then it was put to her last night on ABC's Lateline after Labor’s latest chaotic policy back down: "By removing the floor price you've shot a hole in the budget forecasts, haven't you?"   Senator Wong responded: "I don't accept that at all ... This is a great announcement."   She says she has faith in Treasury modelling which predicts revenue flows based on an international carbon price of $29 in 2015-16, even though the current EU carbon price is less than $10.   Remember this is a government that told us just two years ago that net debt would peak at $94.4 billion and now they tell us $145 billion, a blow out of $50 billion.   Frontier Economics managing director Danny Price, who would know as much about the carbon tax as anyone in the country said linking the scheme to the fortunes of Europe was "like strapping yourself to the Titanic". He said Labor's back-flip could end up costing the budget about $5 billion a year.   Mr Robb said the big problem for the budget is that Labor has already spent the money, billions of dollars that won’t exist.   "This government has now reached a very dangerous stage where they will do absolutely anything to try and fix political problems which are all of their own making regardless of the immense future cost to taxpayers and the budget.   "Penny Wong clearly has no influence over the management of the budget or she just doesn't care because she won't be around to have to clean up Labor's train wreck," Mr Robb said.     Media Contact:        Cameron Hill on 0408 239 521.        Andrew Robb Wed, 29 Aug 2012 02:23:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1427 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1426/PENNY-WONG-FAILS-TO-LOCK-IN-PROSPERITY.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1426 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1426&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1426/PENNY-WONG-FAILS-TO-LOCK-IN-PROSPERITY.aspx    MEDIA RELEASE PENNY WONG FAILS TO LOCK IN PROSPERITY   Thursday, 23 August 2012   Penny Wong is in denial about the fact that her government through its carbon tax and mining tax combined with a raft of other bad decisions has seriously undermined Australia’s investment climate and increased our sovereign risk profile.   “For months BHP and many other major companies have been warning that the actions of this government have eroded Australia’s competitive advantage as an investment location,” Shadow Finance Minister Andrew Robb said.   “What this government fails to understand is that companies like BHP and others have investment options around the world.   “Consequently factors like the carbon tax, mining tax, regulatory burden, repressive industrial relations regime and the unpredictable nature of the Gillard government weigh heavily in decision making about which projects to advance.   “If Penny Wong had been doing her job as both a Finance Minister and South Australian Senator she would have done everything in her power to ensure the Olympic Dam expansion was realised. This project could have locked in 50 years of prosperity for her state,” Mr Robb said.   The uncertainty that prevails within the Gillard government was further highlighted when Senator Wong this morning totally contradicted the Resources Minister Martin Ferguson on the status of the mining boom.   Martin Ferguson: "You've got to understand, the resources boom is over. We've done well." Penny Wong: "No, I think the mining boom has still got a long way to run." “For all of Labor’s talk of ‘sharing the benefits of the mining boom’ – it has effectively conceded that under its watch, Australia has become a less attractive place to do business,” Mr Robb said.     Media Contact:          Cameron Hill on 0408 239 521       Andrew Robb Thu, 23 Aug 2012 01:01:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1426 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1425/New-Taxes-and-More-Debt-will-Fund-Labors-Desperate-Promises.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1425 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1425&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1425/New-Taxes-and-More-Debt-will-Fund-Labors-Desperate-Promises.aspx   NEW TAXES AND MORE DEBT WILL FUND LABOR’S DESPERATE PROMISES   Another big new tax and more debt are all but guaranteed under a re-elected Gillard government given the massive unfunded commitments Labor continues to roll out.   Today the prime minister is out making new multi-billion-dollar funding commitments to schools while yesterday she promised to provide billions of dollars for the National Disability Insurance Scheme.   “Labor has reached the desperate point where they are promising the world to everybody without any idea how they will pay for their growing list of ongoing funding commitments,” Shadow Finance Minister Andrew Robb said.   In regard to funding massive new commitments Julia Gillard laughably told Sky News Australian Agenda yesterday: “This is a government that has been off-setting spending, new spending with savings as a routine part of our approach … you’ve got to be prudent with every dollar and we are.”   The prime minister needs to be reminded that:   o   Net debt is now set to peak at $145 billion when just two years ago the government said it would peak at $94.4 billion, a $50 billion blow-out.   o   The government is now spending $100 billion more per year – around 35 per cent more – compared to the last Coalition budget.   o   The government has delivered the four biggest budget deficits in history totalling $174 billion.   Mr Robb said the record shows that the Gillard government is simply not capable of finding real savings or reining in spending to pay for new initiatives.   “If this government happens to be re-elected it is patently obvious that the NDIS will be funded with another big new tax and other big commitments on education will be funded from continued borrowing and debt,” Mr Robb said. Andrew Robb Mon, 20 Aug 2012 05:37:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1425 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1424/MORE-LABOR-ACCOUNTING-TRICKS-WITH-SURPLUS-UNDER-THREAT.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1424 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1424&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1424/MORE-LABOR-ACCOUNTING-TRICKS-WITH-SURPLUS-UNDER-THREAT.aspx     MORE LABOR ACCOUNTING TRICKS WITH ‘SURPLUS’ UNDER THREAT   Thursday, 16 August 2012   The Gillard government continues to rely on dodgy money shuffles and accounting tricks to manufacture a budget surplus rather than delivering a real surplus through spending restraint and fiscal discipline.   In the latest instalment of Labor’s ‘cooking the books’ exercise the government is looking to change the budget accounting treatment of Future Fund costs to improve the budget bottom line by $417 million for 2012-13 and by almost $2 billion over the forward estimates.   “Labor wants to book these improvements without the Future Fund’s actual costs having changed by a single dollar,” Shadow Finance Minister Andrew Robb said.   “The annual operating costs associated with Future Fund investments, which are being made to meet the government’s future superannuation liabilities, have been factored into the underlying cash balance since the Fund’s inception.”   The government is becoming increasingly desperate to deliver the appearance of its promised $1.5 billion surplus this year and it is prepared to do anything to get there.   “This latest move comes on top of all the subterfuge we have already seen to artificially improve the 2012-13 budget bottom line including more than $8 billion in tricky money shuffles. The government is also hiding $5.8 billion in projected NBN spending from this year’s bottom line,” Mr Robb said.   “If it wasn’t for all the tricks, the smoke and mirrors, Labor would be heading for another big budget deficit this year on top of the four record deficits it has already delivered totalling $174 billion.   “It is clear the government is now in panic mode on a number of fiscal fronts. For example, there are huge doubts over the levels of revenue that will be raised from the mining tax, money which Labor has already spent.    Labor is now spending around $100 billion more per year, around 35 per cent more compared to the last Howard budget.   “Instead of further loosening budget discipline to suit its cynical political agenda Labor should have spent the past three years tightening its belt, reducing spending and debt and living within its means,” Mr Robb said.   Media Contact:          Cameron Hill on 0408 239 521.   Andrew Robb Thu, 16 Aug 2012 03:41:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1424 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1423/Business-Spectator-Interview--Coalition-on-carbon-tax-Repeal-or-resign.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1423 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1423&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1423/Business-Spectator-Interview--Coalition-on-carbon-tax-Repeal-or-resign.aspx Business Spectator - Coalition on carbon tax: Repeal or resign 14 Aug 2012     Andrew Robb Wed, 15 Aug 2012 00:24:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1423 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1422/Transcript--Interview-Bolt-Report-Channel-10.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1422 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1422&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1422/Transcript--Interview-Bolt-Report-Channel-10.aspx 30 July 2012 Topics: NDIS, economic management, AWU scandal. E&OE………………………………………………………………… ANDREW BOLT: Joining me is opposition finance spokesman, Andrew Robb. Andrew, we are actually talking about two things here. One is this trial scheme that will cover just 20,000 people and cost $1 billion. Second is the full scheme, which will cost $8 billion a year. Should this trial start when no one has agreed on how the pay for the full scheme? ANDREW ROBB: These are one of many questions I think that are pertinent to this issue. The fact of the matter is that from the outset, every Australian government and opposition, state and federal, endorsed what the Productivity Commission proposed. It takes special skill for a Prime Minister to turn this into a political bun fight given that level of endorsement. And yet she seemed to vary from Productivity Commission. The question that needs to be asked are, is this government still prepared to fund the gap between the $5 billion spent by the states and what the Productivity Commission said would be the ultimate cost. BOLT: But is said, $8billion a year extra - where is the money coming from? We are going to be setting up a trial at a huge cost. And no one knows if we can afford the fandango.ROBB: Exactly right. Where is the money going to come from? Will it still start at 2018/19 as proposed by the Productivity Commission? Will the Commonwealth fill the gap? These are legitimate questions for any state government given the mess many of those have inherited from Labor. Will there to be 3,000 public servants as is already being mooted out of Canberra to administer this whole exercise? BOLT: So a trial that hires 3,000 public servants when there is no surety we can move to the full scheme? ROBB: To me, we have the prime minister rushing to grab the glory for this thing before the first sod is turned, and before we know what is in the mind of the prime minister and the government, they have changed the amount of money to be spent on the trials massively; instead of $4 billion, $1 billion. Where is the money coming from for any of that to start with? BOLT: Do you think any government can find a full $8 billion a year extra by 2018? ROBB: Well, any government could, but it probably will require stopping or removing other programs BOLT: But do you think you could? ROBB: If we stopped other programs we could. BOLT: But are you committing to finding that $8 billion a year by 2018? ROBB: We have said that we support the Productivity Commission proposal. BOLT: But 2018? You will have that money by 2018? ROBB: Well, the Government said this as well. BOLT: I am just trying to check, is that a yes? That you will, would have that money by 2018? ROBB: We will introduce that program according to the Productivity Commission proposal. BOLT: By 2018? ROBB: Which means we will allocate resources to this project to enable it to start in full by 2018. BOLT: Because Joe Hockey said he could not commit to it, the Shadow Treasurer said he could not commit to it. ROBB: We have said that we do support the Productivity Commission proposal. For the states to support and cooperate with the federal government, questions such as, will the Commonwealth fund it, as the Productivity Commission said it would, how will it be administered? BOLT: I’m just wondering because Joe Hockey said he could not fund, he couldn’t promise to it. It is a lot of money. You say you can by 2018? ROBB: What I'm saying is any government, our government, the federal government, can ensure that 2018-19 is a start date. It is a question of priorities. It probably, as I said, would require the removal, or the scaling-back, of other programs to make this a priority. Bear in mind if government has got a legitimate role in spending taxpayer money, it must first and foremost look after people who have got no capacity to look after themselves.BOLT: In fact though, isn't it the case that the budget forecast of future surpluses thanks to the mining boom are already like shot and that the budget forecast a lot of growth in China, for example, of 8%, we now know it is 7.5%, and it projected only a gradual decline from the record commodity prices, we now see Deloitte Access Economics saying the mining boom could be over in two years. Are we in fact looking at a big budget black hole that makes all sorts of talk about big spending programs useless? ROBB: We have all along thought that this government has taken the most optimistic forecasts. Again, the budget was predicated on everything going well around the world; the mining boom, and our terms trade, our record terms of trade, holding up. The fact is that even the budget papers indicated that for every 4 per cent change in the terms of trade, you are talking about $7 billion increase in the budget deficit. The terms of trade are currently about 50 per cent higher than the average over the '80s and '90s so you are seeing prices coming down far more than we thought. The other thing is that BHP, the Olympic Dam proposal, is in doubt. Shell announced yesterday $17 billion worth of projects in doubt. Half the pipeline that Swan brags about is in fact, has not reached FID or final investment decision and probably will not. BOLT: It’s a big worry. We have to go. Quickly, before we go, I mentioned in my editorial the Bruce Wilson case involving the former boyfriend and client of Julia Gillard, what is the biggest question you would like to ask her about the scandal? ROBB: There are a lot of questions that have not been answered. It has all been brushed away. Just first and foremost, did the prime minister when she was acting as lawyer for the AWU, was she responsible for developing, for putting in place the AWU reform association? These are the sorts of questions that are at the heart of the problem. BOLT: I think we need to ask her that. Andrew Robb, thank you for joining me.   Andrew Robb Mon, 30 Jul 2012 03:34:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1422 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1421/Op-ed-Bringing-black-dog-to-heel-in-the-workplace.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1421 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1421&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1421/Op-ed-Bringing-black-dog-to-heel-in-the-workplace.aspx       Bringing black dog to heel in the workplace by: Andrew Robb From: The Australian July 05, 2012 12:00AM ANY serious consideration of ways to enhance workplace productivity cannot ignore the dampening effect of mental illness on our economy. A landmark study by Medibank Private estimates "presenteeism", where employees present for work but cannot function properly because of their condition, costs the Australian economy a staggering $34 billion each year and the figure has been rising steadily. Mental illness is the single biggest contributor to this figure and costs Australia an estimated $5.9bn in lost productivity a year. The ongoing challenge this presents is profound considering only one-third of sufferers seek professional help and 65 per cent battle their condition alone or with the support of just family. Many, of course, suffer in silence or have undiagnosed illnesses. Mental illness in its various manifestations, whether depressive conditions, bipolar disorders or anxiety and stress, can be profoundly debilitating, particularly if untreated or not properly treated or managed. In regard to the workplace the major effects are twofold. First, the reduced capacity to function erodes the volume and quality of a worker's output, detracting from the productivity of their workplace, to the detriment of their employer. At a second level, an ongoing battle with mental illness or an undiagnosed condition presents an enormous barrier to someone, regardless how bright, talented or educated, from realising their full potential and taking advantage of their opportunities. This is a real tragedy. Sadly, my friend and colleague Mary Jo Fisher has been forced to resign from the Senate because of her ongoing battle with the "black dog", a battle those in her corner are hopeful and confident she will win. Mary Jo is very bright; she has a big intellect, but without doubt her potential in the Senate was nowhere near fulfilled because of the burden she bears. I was belatedly diagnosed with depression, after 43 years of a worsening condition, but successful treatment has led to a marked increase in my own enjoyment of work and productive capacity. However, the period when I was trying to find the right type and dose of medication for my condition was incredibly debilitating and my ability to work was enormously reduced. When you take the individual case studies and multiply them by the hundreds of thousands you get some idea of the adverse impact of mental illness on our flat-lining productivity. There is the absenteeism and the presenteeism. The importance of early diagnosis cannot be underestimated considering about 75 per cent of all mental health conditions first manifest before the age of 25. An Ernst & Young study, done in partnership with the Inspire Foundation, finds mental illness in young men costs the economy $3.27bn a year or $387,000 an hour in lost productivity. It also finds young people with mental illness have lower levels of education and tend to obtain lower skilled, poorly paid roles. Mortality rates are also higher among young people with mental illness, and loss of lifetime earnings in the male cohort alone due to mental illness related mortality, including suicide, amounts to $1.057bn a year. These findings are sobering, but they serve a very important purpose in highlighting the reach of the problem and the benefits of proactively dealing with them. "Failure to act presents a threat to Australia's future productivity and individual prosperity," Inspire Foundation chief executive Jonathan Nicholas says. There needs to be a commitment to ongoing research so industry-specific, evidence-based responses can be developed to deal with the problem. The mining industry, for example, is taking a lead role in gaining a better understanding of the effects of its challenging work environments on the mental health of its workers. Fly-in, fly-out workforces have to deal with family separation and isolation, which are known triggers of mental illness in those vulnerable. Promoting heightened awareness among employers about the pervasive adverse effects of mental illness on their enterprises is essential. To understand the extent of the problem is to realise the important upside in addressing it. The costs of new investment in enhanced employee support structures across the economy, including things such as early intervention, counselling and mentoring strategies, would likely be dwarfed by both the productivity gains and the social dividend. Andrew Robb is chairman of the federal Coalition's policy development committee.     Andrew Robb Thu, 05 Jul 2012 00:23:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1421 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1416/Media-Statement-Mary-Jo-Fisher.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1416 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1416&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1416/Media-Statement-Mary-Jo-Fisher.aspx   THE HON ANDREW ROBB AO MP Shadow Minister for Finance, Deregulation and Debt Reduction Chairman of the Coalition Policy Development Committee Federal Member for Goldstein   MEDIA STATEMENT Friday, 22 June 2012 Mary Jo Fisher I wish my friend and colleague Senator Mary Jo Fisher the very best in her ongoing personal battle with depression. Mary Jo knows she is not alone as there are many people in her corner offering their ongoing support. Senator Fisher is a person with a great intellect whose potential in the Senate has been nowhere near realised because of the ‘black dog’ she has been fighting. The contribution she has made given the burden she is shouldering warrants enormous respect. Sadly, this burden has been exacerbated enormously in my view by the effective persecution she endured for more than 12 months at the hands of South Australian police authorities.   Media inquiries: Cameron Hill on 0408 239 521 Andrew Robb Fri, 22 Jun 2012 04:47:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1416 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1408/The-Coalitions-positive-vision-for-Australia.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1408 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1408&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1408/The-Coalitions-positive-vision-for-Australia.aspx   Andrew Robb Fri, 15 Jun 2012 05:44:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1408 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1407/Interview-with-Marius-Benson-ABC-News-Radio-14-June-2012.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1407 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1407&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1407/Interview-with-Marius-Benson-ABC-News-Radio-14-June-2012.aspx   Topics: Company tax cuts, Labor’s economic forum, productivity, economic data   E&OE…   PRESENTER:   The Federal Government is promising to revive its plans to cut the company tax rate, in the wake of yesterday’s National Economic Forum. But the Opposition is dismissing the Forum as a “talk fest”, and says the new company tax promise is “shameless” and “unbelievable”. Andrew Robb is the Opposition’s spokesman on Finance, and he’s giving his views to Marius Benson.   MARIUS BENSON:   Andrew Robb, you say the Government’s revival of its commitment to a company tax [cut] is “shameless”, is your criticism equally shameless, given that you, with the Greens, prevented those cuts to the company tax quite recently?   ANDREW ROBB:   Well the fact of the matter is, we have always supported company tax cuts that are funded from savings, not from new taxes.   The whole objective, from a productivity point of view, is to reduce the overall tax burden. But of course, the Government has never put the legislation for a tax cut to the Parliament, nor has it had any intention of funding it from savings, but rather, by increasing other taxes. You saw that again yesterday; the Prime Minister dropped a two-year promise four weeks ago, and yesterday claimed it’s an absolute priority, but she has absolutely no idea how to pay for it.   BENSON:   You’re also talking about reducing the overall tax burden, can you say by how much? What percentage of the GDP you would take in tax, compared to the current rate of 22 point something?   ROBB:   Well we’re not in a position – we’re still 12 or 18 months, probably 16 or 17 months, in reality, from the next election. There’s another budget to go – who knows what the Government will spend and borrow in the meantime.   BENSON:   Now you say the economic forum that concluded yesterday, the whole thing was a “stunt”, that makes the business leaders who took part look fairly gullible, doesn’t it?   ROBB:   No, it means that they’ve been leant upon to go. You saw the cynicism of people leaving the conference, the comments that have been made subsequently, the comments in the paper – no one believes the Prime Minister, that she’s got the capacity to deliver company tax cuts.   The Prime Minister now has just broken promise after promise, and has the gall a few weeks later to come up and say it’s one of her top priorities. It is a shameless performance, and the business sector knows it; everyone’s going through a charade, this is was first and foremost an exercise to try and prop up the Prime Minister against internal challenges.   BENSON:   Glenn Stevens, the Governor of the Reserve Bank, repeated a message that he’s been giving lately which is that we’re too gloomy about the economy, we’re talking too much about the glass being half-full. Do you think he’s pointing his finger at you, amongst others in the Opposition, on that issue?   ROBB:   No I don’t. The fact of the matter is, we have to celebrate the blessings that we’ve got with the demand for our resources from China – and it is a great thing for the country – but at the same time, we have to be clear-eyed about any vulnerabilities that we might have as a country if the rest of the world, particularly Europe, goes into a spiral of economic problems.   BENSON:   Can you respond to a call that was apparently put by Dave Oliver, the Secretary of the ACTU, to business leaders in a private session yesterday when he said, “when you talk about productivity, can you give a declaration that you’re not simply speaking in code that you want to cut wages and conditions”. When you talk about productivity, is that what you have in mind?   ROBB:   Well a tax cut is productivity. A tax cut is the most significant way in which we can deliver productivity across the economy.   BENSON:   So, directly to Dave Oliver, can you say the Opposition, if in Government, does not intend to cut wages and conditions?   ROBB:   It’s never been our intent to cut wages and conditions. It was the Howard Government that, through its term of office, saw an increase in real wages of 22 per cent, compared with a cut in real wages of the 13 years before, under Hawke and Keating, of 1.2 per cent.   BENSON:   You attack the Government for its economic management, but last week the Government lined up figures that seemed to impress everyone, interest rates went down, jobs were growing, and the economy was powering along at a growth rate of 4.3 per cent annually.   ROBB:   Well the point that needs to be made here is that it’s a great result for Australia, all the credit has got to go to the mining and resources industry for driving that result. The Prime Minister and Wayne Swan have done nothing to promote the investment and development of these resources.   BENSON:   Andrew Robb, thanks you very much.   ROBB:   Thanks very much Marius.   ENDS Andrew Robb Thu, 14 Jun 2012 02:22:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1407 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1406/Three-plans-for-a-great-northern-land--Australian-Financial-Review-7-June-2012.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1406 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1406&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1406/Three-plans-for-a-great-northern-land--Australian-Financial-Review-7-June-2012.aspx Andrew Robb Thu, 07 Jun 2012 02:04:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1406 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1420/INTERVIEW-WITH-GLEN-BARTHOLOMEW-ABC-NEWS-RADIO-Monday-2-July-2012.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1420 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1420&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1420/INTERVIEW-WITH-GLEN-BARTHOLOMEW-ABC-NEWS-RADIO-Monday-2-July-2012.aspx   Monday, 2 July 2012   TRANSCRIPT INTERVIEW WITH GLEN BARTHOLOMEW ABC NEWS RADIO   Topics: Carbon tax   CLICK HERE TO LISTEN   E&OE…………………………………………………………………………………….     GLEN BARTHOLOMEW:   Power prices in the news here as well; it’s the first business day with the carbon price in our lives. Both sides of politics are hitting the pavement to spruik and shoot down the tax. Government front benchers are on a two week blitz, but Tony Abbott and his front benchers will also criss-cross the country for a couple of weeks in a high-profile campaign against the tax.   The Coalition’s already unveiled anti-carbon tax billboards and television ads, and joining me now is the Coalition’s Finance Spokesman Andrew Robb. Andrew Robb, good morning.   ANDREW ROBB:   Good morning Glen.   BARTHOLOMEW:   The Government ministers say the Opposition will get mugged by the truth, because very little is changing since the carbon tax has started yesterday.   ROBB:   Well the Government’s own modelling tells you that millions and millions of Australian families will be worse off, and no one will dispute the fact that there are hundreds of thousands of Australian companies, either those trying to compete on export markets, or those trying to compete on imported product, who will face competition from companies that don’t have this tax applying to them, don’t have an increase in electricity prices.   BARTHOLOMEW:   But depending on their emission intensity, exporters will initially receive either 94.5 or 66 percent of their carbon permits free. The exporters are getting a free ride.   ROBB:   But of course, that degrades very quickly – it’s not a free ride to start with, for those that have significant emissions, it still amounts to tens of millions of dollars. So you’ve got a tax of tens of millions, certainly against some big companies, but secondly, that protection, or assistance – so-called – falls away very quickly each year. That’s why we’ve said that this is a tax that is going to progressively squeeze the competitive edge out of Australia.   BARTHOLOMEW:   It’ll decrease by 1.3 percent a year I think, is that right?   ROBB:   Well that’s significant, and it’s depends on the sectors, and the industries. This is the thing, there is a massive Government bureaucracy which will go into every one of those hundreds of firms that will be taxed with the carbon tax directly. It will go in every one of those, and they define what part of that firm’s business is eligible for assistance and what is not. In many cases, it sounds a lot better than it really is. Some parts of their business are getting ninety-odd percent assistance, and other parts are getting nothing.   BARTHOLOMEW:   Today you’re (inaudible) the argument a little, “the price of everything will go up”, that “Australia could enter a permanent depression”, Barnaby Joyce claiming that the lamb roast would cost more than one hundred dollars under this tax, do you seriously think that’s going to happen, you’ll see a lamb roast at a hundred dollars, will Weet Bix double in price, and if so, when?   ROBB:   No, look, the fact of the matter is, this is a tax which will do nothing for the environment. On the Government’s own modelling, they said, after all of this, we’ll still have eight percent more emissions than we started with. This is a tax that is supposed to reduce emissions and affect the environment. There is no measurable way in which the Government has suggested that they will show that this tax is going to reduce the warming of the planet.   BARTHOLOMEW:   Isn’t the question, as many people have been pondering, that this is a waythat Australia can play a proportionate part in a larger global effort to limit climate change at, ideally, the lowest possible cost, that if we’re responsible for 1.4 percent of global emissions, then we have a small role to play here.   ROBB:   Well, the problem is that when other people don’t have an economy-wide carbon tax, it means that we will, effectively, make our industries less competitive, which will mean that those sorts of industries will grow more quickly in other countries and not here. All you’re doing is transferring –   BARTHOLOMEW:   So don’t lead the way?   ROBB:   – the release of emissions to other countries. There is no net improvement in the world’s CO₂ emissions because we’re just shifting our emissions to some other country, and that is at the cost of jobs here, and at a higher cost of living within Australia. It is a totally misguided policy. This is why we’ve opposed it so strongly all along; the Government lectured us for many years about the fact that, unless you had an economy-wide system, then it was useless, because we would just shift jobs offshore. Now they’ve brought in an economy-wide system, when nowhere else in the world has got it, to save their political skin, to keep getting the votes of the Greens.   BARTHOLOMEW:   And when you get in you will repeal the tax, and all the compensation, and the tax schedule changes that went along with it; pensioners will lose $510 a year, you will do all of those things in the first week or two?   ROBB:   No, what we have said is that while the carbon tax remains, compensation remains. We will repeal legislation to repeal the carbon tax, but people will get tax cuts without a carbon tax, the company tax cut will come without the mining tax, and the benefits for pensioners will remain without the carbon tax.   BARTHOLOMEW:   But the industry assistance? $800 million to manufacturers for seven years for cleaner equipment, $200 million for food process, $5.5 billion for generators to shut down coal production, it’s going to be hard to unwind.   ROBB:   It’s not easy, but it’s very doable. We’ve been through it. We’ve had high-level advice from people who are involved with this sort of legislation and all the mechanics; what government can bring in, government can take away.   BATHOLOMEW:   Alright.   ROBB:   It’s just another great big tax. There’s nothing magical about it.   BATHOLOMEW:   Andrew Robb, we’ll have to leave it there. Thanks for your time   ROBB:   Thanks very much Glen.   ENDS     Andrew Robb Sun, 03 Jun 2012 04:05:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1420 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1403/SKY-NEWS-AUSTRALIAN-AGENDA-27-MAY-2012.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1403 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1403&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1403/SKY-NEWS-AUSTRALIAN-AGENDA-27-MAY-2012.aspx   E&OE…   Topics: Migrant workers, Budget, Coalition policies, European Economic Crisis   DAVID SPEERS:   Welcome back and welcome to our next guest joining us from Melbourne, the Shadow Finance Minister Andrew Robb.   Welcome to you, thank you for joining us. Can I just start on the issue that is causing more grief for Labor at the moment, that is, the decision to allow 1,700 foreign workers in to work on the new Roy Hill iron ore project in the Pilbara, Gina Rinehart’s new iron ore project there.   This issue of allowing foreign workers in of mining projects, what is the Coalition’s position on this? Do you support this policy?   ANDREW ROBB:   Well firstly David, we haven’t yet seen any detail, not one line of the detail of what they propose, but we do support these enterprise migrant agreements in principle, but the critical thing is that they’ve got to be administered in an effective way, as we had administered the 457 Visa.   The important point is, in the 457s – as should be the case in these agreements – Australians who are capable of filling these jobs must be given every opportunity. Now I don’t think that Australians will have confidence in this Government effectively administering this program in that way, given the way in which they’ve botched so many other programs over the last five years.   ANNABEL HEPWORTH:   Andrew, how would a Coalition Government handle these enterprise migration agreements differently to how a Labor Government would do so, and the message you’re putting out that you would handle these agreements differently, isn’t that going to raise a red flag among the business community that you’re going to be tying them up in red tape on this?   ANDREW ROBB:   No, I said that we would handle them effectively. The trouble with the Government is that that they have been ineffective in so many areas. The pink batts debacle, the billions that were wasted with the school halls, and so many other programs that they have bungled over a period of five years, and they haven’t been able to correct that ineffectiveness in so many of these programs. We will, as we did with the 457 program, which had wise business support, and yet gave every opportunity for Australians who were capable of filling those jobs the first opportunity. We will return to that level of effectiveness.   ANNABEL HEPWORTH:   Who are the Australians going to give the first opportunity to though? Are you proposing that you'll go to the east coast and get people who have been axed from mining jobs ‑ from manufacturing jobs to go out west and work in the Pilbara? Is that the suggestion or –   ANDREW ROBB:   Well, in past years when we had the 457 program we did widely advertise in advance of indications by business that they were looking for a workforce, and it was a system which did work effectively, was well understood and we were able to bring in skilled workers from overseas who did fill jobs and in many ways helped create jobs for other Australians. But the first opportunity was provided, was well understood, training was put in place and we will do that again.   The point is that what this exercise has shown is that Julia Gillard has not only lost control of our borders, she's lost control of her Government and these are the reasons why Australians could not be confident that this thing will be administered effectively. Already Julia Gillard has said yesterday that she will introduce new initiatives to make sure that every Australian has an opportunity to access some of these jobs. Well, this was not announced by Bowen on Friday or Thursday.   So already they've started to back and fill. Already the Prime Minister is saying some things that are potentially at conflict with what her Minister is saying.   DAVID SPEERS:   But just to be clear Andrew Robb, just to be clear on this –   ANDREW ROBB:   You know, it's sort of every man for himself at the moment within the Government. Sorry?   DAVID SPEERS:   Just on this decision though with Gina Rinehart, just to be clear on your position, you're not saying that you're going to support allowing Gina Rinehart to bring in these 1700 workers because you haven't seen enough information.   ANDREW ROBB:   Well, we'll have to see the information first. We'd have to see what is the nature of the deal. And I would have thought a Government that, you know, has now created so much division again within its own ranks ‑ I mean, this is a Government that's so hopeless that they –   PAUL KELLY:   But if we can just focus on your position, Mr Robb –   ANDREW ROBB:   – they can't even wage a class war –   PAUL KELLY:   Sure.   ANDREW ROBB:   – much less carry out this program. So the uncertainty that has been already engendered into this issue with the Prime Minister's subsequent comments and about some sort of electronic board where – I mean, it just looks like policy on the run –   DAVID SPEERS:   Your position's pretty uncertain too at the moment.   ANDREW ROBB:   No, it's not. No, our position is that we, in principle, support EMA. So if we can be confident that this deal has got the support of the businesses, that they have a genuine need for these workers, that the processes that we had put in place years ago with the 457s which gave Australian workers who wanted these and could do these jobs the opportunity, then we will support it. But we're not going to take a blank cheque –   PAUL KELLY:   Well, just on the Gina Rinehart issue –   ANDREW ROBB:    – just on this – to this Government.   PAUL KELLY:   If we can just focus on the Gina Rinehart issue then, from what you've said I assume the disposition of the Coalition is to support this arrangement, given that you support the idea in principle.   ANDREW ROBB:   Like I said Paul, we in principle support EMAs. I mean, we were the architect of 457s and they've been a very important part of helping develop so much of Australia's resource opportunities, notwithstanding the way in which this Government has in many ways complicated that process.   But with the EMAs we support them in principle, but we've seen no detail and we have to be confident that this Government will, in fact, administer this thing in an effective way. So with those important and obvious provisos we would support this arrangement.   PAUL KELLY:   Well, can I just ask: given that we have a projected investment pipeline of about $500 billion in the resources sector, is the Coalition of the view that we will need a significant injection of foreign workers in coming years to get these projects going?   ANDREW ROBB:   Well firstly, we have got a pipeline – a projected pipeline – I've got to say to you Paul that under this Government I would have my doubts –   PAUL KELLY:   Sure.    ANDREW ROBB:   – about very significant parts of that pipeline. But secondly, if we were to realise all of these opportunities there will be I think a continuing need to supplement the Australian workforce with some foreign migrant workforce on a temporary contract basis. So you know, that is a fact but the thing is under this Government we have now got 300 Australian companies now working in Africa, and when I go to Perth to visit senior people their attention is now moving in many cases outside of Australia.   The world is awash with resources. We've got no God‑given right to get the market share that's in that $500 billion pipeline and this Government is putting at serious jeopardy much of that with the uncertainty on so many fronts that they are creating towards investment in Australia.   SIMON BENSON:   Mr Robb, could I bring you back to a document that we may have all forgotten about even those it's not that old, and that's the budget. All the polling suggested in the aftermath of that that it didn't go down very well with the Australian public, it wasn't well received. However, there was a significant majority of people that didn't believe the Coalition could have produced a better budget. What does this say about the Coalition's economic credibility and is it the case that under Tony Abbott and the influence of the Nationals in the party room that one crucible of Coalition politics, economic credibility is being destroyed?   ANDREW ROBB:   Well, the fact is that if you look at any of the major polls in terms of who's better to manage the economy, we are now a long way ahead. But who's the preferable Treasurer? Joe Hockey is well ahead of Wayne Swan. I've got every confidence that people will – they do expect us to perform in a far more credible and prudent manner.   They do see us, I do feel, as a potential Government that will provide stable and accountable Government and in many respects to restore the confidence – there is a crisis of confidence within households and in businesses now, and I do feel that people expect and we certainly will deliver the sort of management of the economy that they experienced during the Howard years.   SIMON BENSON:   You say – you use the word "expect" and I believe that to be true, people do expect the Coalition to be sound economic managers but I'll take you back to those polls and they were across the board and consistent, that no‑one believed the Coalition could have produced a better document than Labor in that budget environment. Now, does that – what does that say about the Coalition's mixed messages that are coming out of the party room on a broad range of economic policies?   ANDREW ROBB:   Firstly, there were millions of Australians who expected that we would do a better job, and all I can say to you is that for 12 months now we can't go anywhere, we can't go an airport, to a shopping centre, to the bank, you name it, we can't move anywhere without people coming up to us and saying "For God's sake, can you get rid of this mob", you know, "they are grinding Australia to a halt in so many areas".   There is a recession in quite a number of sectors within our economy now and they're pleading with us to do everything we can to get to office because they believe we will be able to manage money far more effectively and far more prudently than this Labor Government. This Labor Government is seen to be worse than Whitlam by so many Australians.   DAVID SPEERS:   But Andrew Robb, do you accept you're asking voters to trust you a lot on this? You're not giving them a lot of detail to go on here because you're not going to have the revenue of the carbon tax or the mining tax. You still want to deliver income tax cuts, a company tax cut and all sorts of other goodies including a fairly generous parental leave scheme without telling us yet where the money's going to come from.   ANDREW ROBB:   Well, we have David – we have completed now the 49 areas of policy that cover the full spectrum of policy that we would seek to introduce in Government. We have done costings on all of that, but it would be quite irresponsible of us to seek to put out a lot of those costings in advance, nearly, you know, not much more than halfway through this term of office, to put that out before we see the next budget in 12 months' time before we see –   DAVID SPEERS:   I appreciate that. Can you give us some markers then at least: the paid parental leave scheme, will that remain as promised by Tony Abbott at the last election and are you a wholehearted supporter of it?   ANDREW ROBB:   Yes on both counts.   DAVID SPEERS:   All right, and what about one area that some believe you could raise a fair bit of money and that is through changes to the GST, perhaps not the rate but what about the base of it? Would you consider increasing the base of the GST, which many economists argue would make it a far simpler tax, to things like food or even financial services?   ANDREW ROBB:   We've given no consideration to that. What we have said on the tax front is that we will produce a white paper in our first term which is the result of a very wide‑ranging review of taxation arrangements and we will put that to a subsequent election.   DAVID SPEERS:   Okay, so you will have a tax white paper that does include some key reforms.   ANDREW ROBB:   We will produce a tax white paper. If we get the privilege of Government in our first term we will produce a very comprehensive tax white paper. We will put it out for wide‑ranging discussion and consideration and we'll seek a mandate for that at the subsequent election.   PAUL KELLY:   Mr Robb, in a recent speech you talked about the possibility of between three to eight million foreign students coming to this country. Do you think that was a misjudgement? Do you stand by that statement? And if so, what are the consequences?   ANDREW ROBB:   It certainly wasn't – well, let me start. That's not accurate with what I said. What I said was that we had a potential in the next 10 to 15 years to educate up to 10 million of Asian and Pacific and Asian students, and I think that's a totally doable prospect. But what I did say was this would be done on all sorts of platforms. A lot of this would be very much online education.   Despite the scepticism in some of our areas, dinosaur areas, in some areas of education, they've had a number of senior people who are at the moment actively, especially in India, actively involved in designing certificate threes and certificate twos and other courses online, not just lectures online but designing courses which can properly take account of the circumstances of millions of Indians and they're looking themselves at 3 million students per organisation, and the opportunities that are there are enormous.   We are going to see something in the order of 2 billion people entering the middle class in the next 20 to 30 years. If we get our act together, not just on education but across the economy, these next 30 years can be spectacular. But at the moment all of these opportunities are being cut off, people cannot have a wide and sensible and significant vision because they're so consumed with the cost pressures that they're facing and the uncertainties that have been generated by a totally incompetent Government which is now at war with itself.   DAVID SPEERS:   Can I ask you about your policy on climate change do you still feel the need to spend as much as you have promised on Direct Action? What's your current thinking on the science of climate change? Are you still committed to the sort of action on this is that the Coalition has been talking about since the last election?   ANDREW ROBB:   We certainly are committed to our Direct Action program. And the second thing I'd make about that David is that every part of the – every one of those initiatives that will be funded at a much lower cost than this Government's $9 billion a year tax which will grow and grow and grow. This tax will go up endlessly.   We will be doing this over the forward estimates at a cost – over four years at a cost of 3.9 billion. But every one of those initiatives will produce a positive outcome. If we put carbon into soil – our soils once had carbon levels of around 6%. It's now down at 1 to 1.5.   We can materially improve the quality of our soils and the productivity of agriculture in a century where food security will be a huge issue, we can do that with this – with our Direct Action carbon approach. We'll increase the efficiency of businesses and properties, all of this irrespective of the climate change issue, all of the initiatives that will be encouraged with our Direct Action program will be a positive for this economy in any event.   SIMON BENSON:   Mr Robb, you've talked about your costings and how you're going to balance the books and you've said that it would not be responsible for you to talk about how you're going to do that at the moment. But by all indications Tony Abbott at the moment is pushing, pushing, pushing for an early election and he may well get one. It could come within a couple of months. Surely the responsible thing for you to do is talk about how you're going to deliver on these promises, particularly things like the repealing of the carbon tax, repealing of the mining tax.   You're keeping the superannuation rises; how are you going to pay for all this? And isn't it time, if you're setting up the environment for an election soon or to get rid of this Government, surely the time is now for you to start talking about how you're going to pay for all these things?   ANDREW ROBB:   Firstly we have been, I think, endlessly talking about how we would differ quite materially from this Government. We will have a total focus on growth, not redistribution. This Government is just consumed with taking the current pie and redistributing it, rather than looking at encouraging investment.   There is no – outside of resources there's a lot of money on balance sheets, that nothing is being invested. People are not spending. Small businesses in my electorate are back 30 or 40% on normal turnover and it's killing them. And it's confidence that's gone.   We will restore the confidence. We will focus on growth. We'll reduce costs very dramatically. We'll remove the carbon tax, number one, the mining tax, number two, make our industries more and more competitive. We will attack the regulation in a very aggressive way. We will deregulate so many areas of the economy.   SIMON BENSON:   All right –   ANDREW ROBB:   These are all –   SIMON BENSON:   With respect Mr Robb, I'm talking about hard numbers here. So for instance how many public servants would go under a Coalition Government?   ANDREW ROBB:   Well, we have announced that we will not replace public servants in the first two years. There's 12,000 public servants. Bear in mind Kevin Rudd said five years ago he'd take a meat axe to the public service we now have over 20,000 more federal public servants than we had five years ago. So this is the problem. What are they all doing? Invariably they're involved in more and more regulation which is costing business. So we have to – we can make a material difference without spending, spending, spending, like this Government and borrowing.   If we take – remove Government spending we will take pressure off interest rates, it will promote growth, it will promote investment. But the detail of all these programs, we need to wait to see just what the state of the nation's books are. This Government, it has produced a budget which is not believable because –   PAUL KELLY:   Just on that point Mr Robb –   ANDREW ROBB:    –it assumes these record prices. What's that?   PAUL KELLY:   Just on that point, you talked about the state of the books; to what extent do you think that the crisis in Europe, which seems to be deeper than what the budget anticipated, means that the Coalition will have to revise its own thinking about a surplus? To what extent is your fiscal policy going to be modified according to what happens in Europe?   ANDREW ROBB:   Well, both the Government and ourselves would be affected by significant developments in Europe. This is one of the problems with the budget and why it was so unbelievable.   It is that this Government has assumed in all of its forecasts that the rivers of gold are going to continue at their current levels. There will be no supply response around the world, that Europe will go on and will not affect China's growth, that it won't affect us. Now, this is why business thinks it's so unbelievable.   It's why even, you know, mums and dads, they know enough to know that there's some dark clouds out there and that you would at least sort of look at, you know, what would you do if things – if –   PAUL KELLY: Well, what would you do?   ANDREW ROBB:    – if the prices of commodities dropped 20%. So we've got to in 12 months' time when they do their next budget assess what has happened out of Europe and for us we don't control the nation's books now, we don't – we haven't got access to safely advise the numbers.   DAVID SPEERS:   So your pledge to deliver surpluses throughout the first term of the Coalition Government that would be more ‑ have more flexibility built into it pending what happens in Europe?   ANDREW ROBB:   Well, what I'm saying is that based – all we can do is take the numbers that the Government is using and Treasury forecasts.   We have said quite clearly and we know now from the work we've done internally that we can deliver surpluses throughout our first term and far better surpluses than this Government.   DAVID SPEERS:   Regardless of what happens around the world?    ANDREW ROBB:   If those forecasts are accurate and that's all we can take at this point in time.   DAVID SPEERS:   All right, we are going to have to leave it there. The Shadow Finance Minister, Andrew Robb, thank you for joining us today.   ANDREW ROBB:   Thanks very much David.  Andrew Robb Sun, 27 May 2012 01:41:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1403 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1401/INTERVIEW-WITH-CHRIS-JEREMY--ABC-BROKEN-HILL.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1401 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1401&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1401/INTERVIEW-WITH-CHRIS-JEREMY--ABC-BROKEN-HILL.aspx   TRANSCRIPT INTERVIEW WITH CHRIS JEREMY ABC BROKEN HILL   Friday, 11 May 2012 Topics: Budget, Tony Abbott’s Budget reply, Peter Costello   CLICK HERE TO PLAY AUDIO   E&OE…………………………………………………………………………………….   CHRIS JEREMY: Well you would have heard a little bit about a thing called a budget over the last few days.  First of all we had Wayne Swan delivering the Budget and last night we had the Budget Reply from the Leader of the Opposition.  So what is the Opposition’s point of view, to find out a bit more about what they are putting forward, the Opposition spokesperson on Finance, Andrew Robb joins us, good morning. ANDREW ROBB: Good morning Chris, how are you? JEREMY: I’m good. As far as the actual presentation that was made by Tony Abbott last night, I watched some of it and I must admit it sounded more like an election manifesto that talking about dollars and cents.  Are there real dollars and cents behind the rhetoric? ROBB: Most certainly, Chris, look in many respects, the Budget itself should each year be one of the principal ways in which the community gets to understand the broad direction that a government’s going to take the country, what the priorities are, where they’re heading, how they’re going to tackle big problems. In that sense it was critically important I think for Tony Abbott to seek to lay out where his priorities lie, because the Budget on Tuesday night was, to be honest, a totally confused document, and in many ways a deceitful one. I think very few Australians, if you ask them, what are the priorities and what are the directions for the Government, as a consequence of the Budget, would be very hard pressed to explain.  And Tony Abbott took that opportunity to say that we will be focused on growing the economy, not redistributing income, I mean if you get a much bigger pie, you are in a much better position then to redistribute income and to pay for the things that could and should be paid for in a wealthy economy.  JEREMY: Given that they’re two totally different sorts of speeches, given that the Treasurer has a detailed project in front of him with the assistance of Treasury and the Opposition is just working from its own figures I guess, how detailed can the Opposition be at this stage about what it plans to do? ROBB: Well, the thing is, there’s still 18 months, or 16 months, before the election is programmed, there’s still another budget for that matter next year.  Now ultimately, what we do is detail, in terms of identifying the sums and exactly where the money is coming from, and what priorities we are going to set and what we think we can do with the money that’s available.  It’s all very much a matter of will this Budget that was brought down on Tuesday, will it end up as they said.  I mean last year they said there would be a $22 billion deficit, well it turned out to be $44 billion deficit.  It’s a huge difference and they said there’ll be a surplus, well you know it could well end up a $20 billion deficit.  That’s next year, then we’ve got another budget from next year, so we need, if we are going to do a responsible job of explaining to people where we’re taking things, then we need from the point of view of hard numbers, we need to be aware of this Budget, how it performs, next year’s Budget, in the mean time though it is very important for us to paint the direction we’ll seek to take the country.  Tony Abbott announced last night that we now only have 12 per cent of students who are doing any sort of foreign language.  Now this is the century of Asia.  In 1960’s we had forty per cent of the Year 12 students doing languages.  We’ve said if we get government, we will aim over the next decade to return to 40 per cent of Year 12 students so that he was saying that we understand the importance of the Asian Century for Australia, and languages as part of that, how we will engage and make the most of what is an extraordinary opportunity emerging around us within the Asia Pacific. JEREMY: But getting down to more of dollars and cents matters, certainly when the Liberal Government came into the state here, we heard once again the familiar line “there’s a big black hole”. Well there has been a lot of discussion about the black hole that the Liberal Coalition is putting forward federally – something like $50 billion. Have you worked out where that money is coming from? ROBB:   Again, that’s just politics Chris. Honestly. I mean you have a black hole if the policies that you ultimately take to an election are not funded – there is no money that you can identify that will fund those policies. As I said, we’re still 18 months from an election; we’ve done a lot of policy work. But we will announce that as we get a bit closer and when we know what money is available. The thing is, last election, we found $50 billion of savings. That far more than matched all the promises and the commitments that we made. We will do it again – and bear in mind that five years ago, we came out of 11 years in government. And all bar one year – and that was when we were paying off Paul Keating’s $96 billion of debt – all bar one year we actually delivered surpluses; and we met our commitments every year. So 16 of the people that are in Tony Abbott’s shadow cabinet were in the Howard Government, including myself. We do understand what’s needed. We did, at the last election in 2010, identify more savings and more income than the commitments we made and we will do it again. The $70 billion so-called black hole is just a Labor Party invention and it is intended to distract. I can give you a commitment now – the range of policies and commitments that we will put to the next election will be fully funded and there will be no black hole. JEREMY: Speaking of the people that were involved in the Howard Government, there’s a bit of a chat going on about a former minister, Peter Costello. Is there anything to that? ROBB: Actually I’ve just been at a function this morning and Peter chaired it. He said to me privately and he said publicly that this is just nonsense. It’s been made up and he said he’s got no intention. And in fact the cast of young people – many of whom he helped put in place over the past two elections that have come into the parliament federally – he’s very proud of the young people who have emerged and who have gone into the parliament from Victoria and he’s actively assisting them with their careers so Peter’s acting as an elder statesman in Victoria these days and I think he’s very comfortable in that role. JEREMY: So you don’t agree with Michael Kroger who’s currently on ABC television saying the opposite? ROBB: No I don’t. Well I’ve just spoken with Peter who said it’s a figment of his imagination. So whether Michael wanted that to happen and put it to Peter I don’t know but Peter certainly has not entertained the thought and has certainly made no approaches to anybody and as I say, he’s very comfortable doing what he’s doing and making a few dollars. JEREMY:  Andrew Robb thanks for joining us this morning. ROBB: My pleasure, thanks Chris. Bye       Andrew Robb Fri, 11 May 2012 02:31:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1401 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1400/Another-budget-later-and-were-deeper-in-debt.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1400 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1400&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1400/Another-budget-later-and-were-deeper-in-debt.aspx   Given this government’s form on spending and borrowing, we simply cannot afford to give it another blank cheque when it comes to debt.   While Australian households and businesses are making concerted efforts to pay off debt and build savings, the Gillard government wants to lift the limit on the national credit card from $250 billion to $300 billion.   The plan was buried in the fine print of the budget papers and not surprisingly it didn’t rate a mention in Treasurer Wayne Swan’s speech. It was deception by omission.   Shining a light on this proposal is to expose the emptiness of the government’s claim of a return to surplus next financial year. The forecast $1.5 billion surplus is little more than a rounding error, achieved by “cooking the books”.   It is all the more unbelievable when you consider the botched estimates for this year’s deficit.   First we were told it would be a $12 billion deficit, then it went to $23 billion, to $37 billion and on budget night $44 billion and the financial year still has a way to go.   The government forever talks about surpluses, but is yet to deliver one. Instead, we have seen the four largest deficits on record with a cumulative value of $174 billion.   If you truly believed you were delivering a real budget surplus, why on earth would you need to lift the Commonwealth debt ceiling by another $50 billion? It defies logic.   The government first raised the ceiling from $75 billion to $200 billion in 2009. When it did so, it included a “special circumstance” clause in the legislation, which meant it at least had to detail some justification. Then finance minister Lindsay Tanner cited the global financial crisis as “clearly a special circumstance”. Most tellingly, he said the decision was necessary to fund a “temporary deficit”. We have learned that Labor deficits are hardly temporary.   Fifteen months later, the government moved again to raise the ceiling to its current level of $250 billion when it brought down the 2011-12 budget. It did this by stealth through burying the proposal in the standard budget bills, thereby denying Parliament the opportunity to debate and vote on it. It also meant the government did not have to argue a case as to why it was required.   The government also removed the “special circumstances” clause, in effect giving itself a blank cheque. To oppose the lifting of the debt ceiling would have been to vote against supply.   The government tries to dismiss debt as a problem, in fact when asked this week why he needed to lift the limit if he were truly coming back to surplus Swan replied: “Well, very simply, this is no big deal.” But he just doesn’t get it; it is a big deal.   Labor’s debt will be costing us $8 billion a year in interest alone.   If this $8 billion were applied to the introduction of the National Disability Insurance Scheme, it could be introduced for all 400,000 people with a disability rather than the 10,000 people (partially) provided for in this budget.   When anyone comments on the growth of debt, the Treasurer and Finance Minister Penny Wong say “oh, but compared to the basket cases of Europe, it is nothing”.   But let’s for once compare us to Australian standards. As a small, open economy reliant on commodity prices, Australia has typically been a low government debt economy. Unlike the United States and the big economies of Europe, Australia does not have a large domestic market to fall back on.   When Labor came to office in 2007, it inherited no net debt and net assets of $70 billion. The countries that now have stratospheric debt levels went into the financial crisis in a far worse position than we did.   The fact is the debt that has been built up over the past four years has made Australia vulnerable in the event of a moderate downturn in historically high commodity prices. Instead of facing it from a position of strength with some powder dry, we are in a position of weakness.   Instead of paying off debt, the government plans to keep borrowing.   To put this into perspective, former Prime Minister Paul Keating left behind net debt of $96 billion, a record at the time.   It took a disciplined Coalition government eight years to pay it off. The amount has now been dwarfed by a government that has borrowed, on average, more than $100 million a day.   The government needs the courage to put the debt issue to the Parliament as a stand-alone item, argue its case and let a proper judgment be made.   This budget shows Labor has no coherent strategy to repay the debt, to deliver stronger growth, to achieve higher productivity and to deal with the crisis of confidence plaguing households and business.   Andrew Robb is the opposition spokesman for finance.   Andrew Robb Fri, 11 May 2012 01:44:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1400 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1397/INTERVIEW-WITH-GRANT-GOLDMAN-2SM-SYDNEY-9-MAY-2012.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1397 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1397&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1397/INTERVIEW-WITH-GRANT-GOLDMAN-2SM-SYDNEY-9-MAY-2012.aspx   Topics: Federal budget, debt ceiling, carbon tax   E&OE…     GRANT GOLDMAN:   Many pollies on both sides of the spectrum, selling the Budget, tearing it apart, looking at it, the good side of it, the winners, the losers, the ones that have been forgotten altogether.   The farming community don’t seem to get much of a mention there. We do have the Shadow Minister for Finance on the line right now, Andrew Robb. We thank him for his time because we know he’s quite busy. Andrew Robb. Good morning Andrew.   ANDREW ROBB:   Good morning Grant, how are you?   GOLDMAN:   Very good, winners, losers and the farming sector; I put them in a “forgotten” list.   ROBB:   Very much forgotten, the farmers. I don’t see anything which is going to help them.   Look, there’s a crisis of confidence across the economy.   That’s why people aren’t spending, businesses aren’t investing, and the budget last night provided absolutely no strategy to repay the debt, and grow the economy, and create jobs.   People will find, after all the handouts – which are paid for by borrowed money again, as usual – that they’ve really got no plan to take the country in any direction frankly.   GOLDMAN:   Just on that, you are the Shadow Minister for Finance, but also Debt Reduction. Let’s talk about that. Why is it that the foreign debt, which I am led to believe is around $250 billion, why is that not included or mentioned in a budget? Why is that separate?   ROBB:   Well it was deliberately left out of the speech. It should be, I mean, it’s in the papers, if you’ve burrowed – you have to get to about page 482 –   GOLDMAN:   Section B.   ROBB:   – and in fact they’re increasing the debt ceiling from a quarter of a trillion dollars to $300 billion. Again, no mention of it in the budget, they brought it in, in the dark of night, after the budget, last night, buried in legislation.   Buried in the Appropriation Bills, which are the money bills, which you can’t vote against the money bills, so they’ve attached it to that, but here they are saying that they’re in the black, that they’re going to create surpluses, and yet, they’re increasing the borrowing ceiling.   Why would you need to borrow more if you claim that you’re making surpluses?   GOLDMAN:   Are you aware of whom we are actually borrowing all this money from, at the rate of millions per day, apparently, and when do we pay it back, and what kind of interest are we paying?   ROBB:   Well that’s the trouble it’s about $100 million every day –   GOLDMAN:   Sorry, can you say that again? I’ve gone to say that on the air a couple of times and said, ‘that can’t be right, $100 million a day?’   ROBB:   $100 million –   GOLDMAN:   We’re borrowing? That’s in repayments, is it?   ROBB:   That is the money that we’ve been borrowing each and every day for the last two and a half years.   GOLDMAN:   Okay, when the Coalition was in power, did we borrow that kind of money?   ROBB:   Well, when we were in power, we paid off a $96 billion debt over 10 years, and in fact, when we left office, we had $70 billion in the bank.   Now we’ve got a debt – gross debt – heading towards a quarter of a trillion, and they want to increase the debt ceiling. Now again, why would you – this is the third time they’ve increased the debt ceiling, and yet, they claim that they’ve got a plan.   There is no plan. There’s no plan to pay any of that money off.   GOLDMAN:   It’s a little bit like a bloke who’s got an average job earning a bit of money, and he can’t quite pay off his credit cards, so he increases the limit, and gets himself into serious trouble. Is that a good way of trying to put it across?   ROBB:   That’s exactly right. Wayne Swan introduced legislation after the Budget last night, not mentioning it in the Budget, which sought to increase his credit card limit to $300 billion.   GOLDMAN:   Wow. Just on to the carbon tax then. That wasn’t mentioned at all last night either. The carbon tax. And they keep talking about an exact amount coming from the carbon tax. Well I got a call from a miner this morning in middle management.  He said well, we’re already talking to our lawyers about getting to court from time to time on a regular basis to argue the amount that we’re supposed to pay.   ROBB:   Well, this is the interesting thing, you’ve got, what is it, some 350 companies that will have to pay the tax and of course they will then pass it on, especially in electricity prices, already some of the electricity companies are quoting other users, big companies that need to set contracts from June this year for 12 months, they’re quoting a 20 per cent increase in electricity prices.   That will flow down to everybody, so that the handouts that were in the budget last night, overwhelming paid for by more debt, are really just bribes to try and distract people from the introduction of the carbon tax but of course the carbon tax will bring in about $40 billion of tax over the next four years.    All of that is going to flow back to consumers and people will be a lot worse off, as well as a lot of the companies in the area that you broadcast to, a lot of the big mining companies and all the rest, they’ll be far less competitive with overseas and a lot of small businesses. It beggars belief really. I don’t think they know what they are doing.   It’s a very confused budget, it’s got promises, makes promises while breaking promises, it increases the debt ceiling, it’s got no clear direction, it’s more debt, more tax, record spending, and predicts higher unemployment, so not something to get excited about.   GOLDMAN:   Not at all. Good to talk to you this morning. Thank you for your time.   ROBB:   Thanks Grant.   GOLDMAN:   The Shadow Minister for Finance and Debt Reduction. If he finds government, he’s got a bit of a job to do then. We’re borrowing $100 million dollars a day.   You can’t even contemplate that amount, $100 million dollars a day we’re borrowing, so in other words from overseas right now there’s $100 million coming in to the country that we have just borrowed. And we’re already $250 billion dollars in debt, foreign debt. Just continues on. I’d be thinking, I don’t want the job if I got to clear that up. Andrew Robb Wed, 09 May 2012 06:45:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1397 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1399/INTERVIEW-WITH-ROSS-GREENWOOD-2GB-SYDNEY-9-MAY-2012.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1399 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1399&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1399/INTERVIEW-WITH-ROSS-GREENWOOD-2GB-SYDNEY-9-MAY-2012.aspx   Topics: Federal budget, superannuation, tax increases, Labor’s record debt.   E&OE…     ROSS GREENWOOD:   A man who might know a little bit more about this is our next guest Andrew Robb, the Shadow Finance Minister, who joins me now, many thanks for your time Andrew.   ANDREW ROBB:   My pleasure, Ross.   GREENWOOD:   You’re a long-time politician, you’ve been uphill and down dale with these types of things. It is pretty hard to try and increase tax on superannuation on a certain group in our community, and in defined benefits, superannuation funds in particular, to try and levy it, given that they are not making any contributions?   ROBB:   I think it’s extremely difficult I am not on the defined benefits scheme, so I haven’t taken particular personal interest in it.   I suspect others have; but I do know quite a bit about super, and it’s going to be a nightmare to try and find ways to impose this, and people will be complaining forever, I think, about it.   I certainly think the person you’ve got coming up next is a very competent person, who will hopefully shed some light on it –     GREENWOOD:   Yeah, Pauline Vamos from the Association of Super Funds in Australia will be a very good person to talk about that.   Andrew, go to the Budget now, the Government, surely, needs to be commended for finding $33 billion worth of cost savings out of its budget over the next four years. Does that make your job harder, or easier, if and when you do become the Finance Minister of Australia?   ROBB:   Well, again, this is a very confused budget, in many ways a deceitful budget. The “cost savings” – so called – many, if not most of those, are in fact tax increases.   They said it would be a tough budget, but it’s basically a budget which has given a cash splash to a certain group in the community, it’s paraded as ‘great discipline’ in bringing about these savings, but it’s not difficult to increase taxes, as we’ve just talked about, on the super front.   The hard part is to live within your means, and not spend what you haven’t got, and yet this budget, what it does demonstrate is that, in this year, and next year, there’ll be $100 billion more spent, by this Government, than what they spent four years ago in their first budget. Now that $100 billion is a 40 percent increase.   What household or business is going to increase their spending by $100 billion, and maintain it? That’s what they’re doing, and they’re desperately trying to pay for it with these higher taxes, and unfortunately, with higher borrowings.   GREENWOOD:   One part about this, also, the Treasurer today, repeatedly indicated that he believes that, by bringing the budget back into surplus, it will give the Reserve Bank room to cut interest rates.   Now, just thinking about this logic, because if the debt is still there, and not paid off, in fact, not paid down particularly highly, where does that leave the Reserve Bank room to cut interest rates? Because clearly with money coming out of the economy, in order to achieve those growth forecasts the Government’s got in the budget, three and a quarter per cent next year, then you’ve got to have something start to move, something frees up in the economy.   The thing they’re hoping for is interest rates. Well, they’re trying to jawbone the Reserve Bank into continuing to cut interest rates, and I can’t quite see why that should be the case.   ROBB:   Well I agree, that’s in a way, why I call it a deceitful budget on a number of fronts. One, as you say, how do they free up room for the Reserve Bank, which I agree, if you do cut your spending, in fact we’ve been saying it for two years, if they cut their spending, the Reserve Bank would not need to do all the heavy lifting to, you know, control excess demand out of mining and all the rest but the Reserve Bank could keep interest rates lower, interest rates would have been lower in the last two years if the Government had pulled in their spending much, much earlier.   Well it still hasn’t I’m afraid, but on the other hand, as you say, the debt’s still going up and this is the confusing thing. They’re saying they’re now going to predict surpluses, albeit it tiny ones, for the next four years, but they’re saying we need a $50 billion dollar increase in the debt ceiling on borrowings, government borrowings.   They’re going to take it up to $300 billion, so it doesn’t make any sense if you’re making surpluses, if creating surpluses, delivering surpluses, surely you are not going to be in the market borrowing more money, but they will be and the budget papers show they will.  Partly because of the NBN, which is many billions of dollars of expenditure, all that still has to be borrowed, but they’ve put that off the bottom line of the budget, so that’s why they’re again deceitful.   If you brought that on to the budget’s bottom line, we’d have deficits for the next four years, not surpluses.  So it’s a lot of smoke and mirrors this thing and it’s really, you know, a lot of deception and a lot of playing with creative accounting, so as always with this mob, I think, you’ve got to not listen to the spin, but look at the facts.    GREENWOOD:   They continue to talk about the $70 billion black hole in the unfunded promises that the Coalition has made. At what time, and I mean you know, it’s obviously still 15 months until we really get into a decent election style campaign, at what point will we see the full costings of the Coalition and its promises? And I mean, you know, this is something that they continue to level at you in the public domain and it’s something you continually have to fight off, but until something concrete comes out, you will have to live with it.   ROBB:   Again, it’s quite frustrating because it is a meaningless figure this $70 billion, and I mean it’s something they’ve just kept repeating until the point a lot of the journalists up in the gallery there, think it must have some substance.   You’ve got a black hole if you’ve got funding commitments that you can’t match with revenue, right, so if we get to the election and we’ve got a whole lot of funding commitments where we didn’t identify the funding we would then have a black hole, but I can assure you whatever we do announce in the lead up to the election, on spending we will match it with funding.   We did last election, we did to the dollar, well more, we had $10 billion dollars over last time, so we have in fact delivered in the last election, and of course John Howard and Peter Costello delivered every year, more or less, for their term. So we haven’t got a black hole and we will deliver our costings, but we’ve got another budget to go Ross, remember, next year.     GREENWOOD:   And that’s going to be the one to test indeed –   ROBB:   Yes that will tell us –   GREENWOOD:   – whether this government gets back into this surplus that they have promised. Andrew Robb –   ROBB:   They’ll tell us what to spend. So we’ll then deliver the numbers, we’ll deliver the policies, we’ve done a lot of work, there’s enormous opportunity to turn this country around and we’re not going to do it without some very good policies which we’ve got in the can now but we’ll release them at our timetable, not the Government’s.   GREENWOOD:   Andrew Robb, Shadow Finance Minister. Appreciate your time.   ROBB:   Thanks Ross. Andrew Robb Wed, 09 May 2012 05:53:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1399 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1396/INTERVIEW-WITH-EMMA-ALBERICI-LATELINE-ABC-8-MAY-2012.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1396 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1396&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1396/INTERVIEW-WITH-EMMA-ALBERICI-LATELINE-ABC-8-MAY-2012.aspx   Topics: Federal budget, Labor cooking the books, debt ceiling   E&OE...       EMMA ALBERICI:   What does the Opposition make of the budget? We're joined now by Finance spokesman Andrew Robb. A $1.5 billion surplus. Andrew Robb, have they cut deep enough? ANDREW ROBB:   Emma, this whole budget, from the surplus to so many other parts of it, is based on trust. It's built on trust. And I put to you: who now is going to trust Julia Gillard and Wayne Swan? This is a budget that has involved cooking the books, it's involved resorting to bribes, it's involved increasing debt, massively increasing debt.   They want to take the ceiling up to $300 billion. Now they claim they got surpluses. Now if you've got a surplus, why do you need to increase debt and what are you predicting? EMMA ALBERICI:   But our debt is so miniscule compared to the rest of the world it doesn't even bear mentioning. I mean, it's about a quarter or the fifth the size of anywhere in the US or Europe and when it comes to Japan it's ten times less. Is it really such a big issue? ANDREW ROBB:   It is. We've got high debt because – EMMA ALBERICI:   High debt relative to who? ANDREW ROBB:   No, no, we've got high debt – we've got debt which is high for our purposes. We've always been a country which needs smaller debt than these bigger developed countries because we're a small open economy and when commodity prices move up and down we are highly vulnerable to those movements. Whereas you get a big country like the US or many of the countries in Europe, they've got a big domestic economy so they're not exposed to commodity price movements. That's why we've always had low debt relative to the rest of the world. But why should we measure ourselves against a whole lot of basket cases in Europe?   Why shouldn't we measure it against Australian standards and you only have to go back four years and this government inherited $70 billion in net assets. EMMA ALBERICI:   Yes, but as they also say, you seem to neglect the fact that we've had the biggest economic crisis since, you know, in some measures the depression and we’ve had also natural disasters and so on. You can't neglect the effects of those on our economy. But let's just move on for a second. Your side is eager to take the reins of government, so what kind of surplus target would you be looking for? ANDREW ROBB:   Well, we would look to run strong surpluses – EMMA ALBERICI:   Well how big? Is $1.5 billion enough for 2013? ANDREW ROBB:   No, we will aim to get this economy and get this budget, this very dysfunctional budget, this budget which is unbelievable, unbelievable – EMMA ALBERICI:   Where would you get it to? What sort of a surplus figure would you be looking for? ANDREW ROBB:   You cannot believe what's in this budget. We'll be looking at one per cent of GDP as a target surplus that we could and should deliver. EMMA ALBERICI:   So about ten times the size of this one then? ANDREW ROBB:   We were able to do it – yeah, this is not a surplus; this is a deficit. They have created this; this is manufactured.   They've cooked the books on this. EMMA ALBERICI:   So you would be looking for a surplus of around $15 billion? ANDREW ROBB:   One per cent of whatever GDP is at the time, that is the target that we would – we were able to deliver it during the Howard years and more. EMMA ALBERICI:   How quickly would you be able to deliver that? If there was an election in the next couple of months, how quickly would you be able to deliver such a target? ANDREW ROBB:   Well we will aim to get the budget into a real surplus to start with and then to build it. But we have got a situation with this government which has increased spending.   You just heard Penny Wong trying to make the case that they've been prudent and they've shown discipline, and yet the spending this year, in this year's budget, is $100 billion more than four years ago. Now that's a 40 per cent increase at a time when inflation has increased by 13 per cent. This is a massive increase in spending, the biggest increase in spending in the country's history over four years and they're trying to present this as prudent management of a budget. It's so deceitful you've really got to look beyond the spin and look at the facts, and when you do strip it apart, this Government, on so many counts, is misleading, is untrustworthy and that's why people – that’s why there's a crisis of confidence, because people don't believe what they're doing, they won't believe this budget. They'd like to. EMMA ALBERICI:   What's not to believe about the figures? I mean, assuming you'll need to follow through at least some of Labor's planned spending cuts to deliver a huge surplus that you want to be able to achieve, what parts of this budget does the Coalition support? What measures? I mean, do you support the family tax benefit increases? ANDREW ROBB:   We would – we are certainly inclined to support the family tax benefit because the carbon tax, which is just a couple of months away, is going to so demonstrably monster a lot of families' budgets. EMMA ALBERICI:   What about the school kids' bonus? ANDREW ROBB:   The school kids' bonus, we're not inclined to support that. We'll take it to the party room. But the school kids' bonus is basically a bribe to overcome the fear and the panic that's now in the Labor camp about the carbon tax. If it was to be spent on education, that's another matter. What they did was take an education package which people applied for as they spent money on education and they've now converted it into a bribe which they will mail into people's bank accounts just like the cheques they mailed out three years ago and it is not targeted at education in any way. Now we would have a different view if it was structured, as it used to be and as it was and still is until tonight, an education program, but they've re-jigged it to give this bribe and to get a big figure up on the TVs and the papers tomorrow when in actual fact it'll probably be paid with borrowed money, it'll add to the debt and at the same time it will contribute further to a deficit. Now you say, what's to believe about this budget? Just tonight looking at those programs, there's $8 billion which was to be spent next year, this – next financial year; it's now going to be spent this financial year, and the $6 billion in the NBN which has been taken off the books. So there's $14 billion that I can give you without looking through the hundreds of pages. There's $14 billion which should have been against spending next year which is actually against this year. The deficit really is a starting point of about $12 billion. EMMA ALBERICI:   Andrew Robb, we have to leave it there. I thank you so much for coming in. ANDREW ROBB:   It's my pleasure. Thanks, Emma. Andrew Robb Wed, 09 May 2012 01:27:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1396 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1395/You-cant-trust-this-Budget-Its-full-of-deceit.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1395 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1395&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1395/You-cant-trust-this-Budget-Its-full-of-deceit.aspx   Andrew Robb Wed, 09 May 2012 00:57:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1395 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1394/TRANSCRIPT-INTERVIEW-WITH-MARIUS-BENSON-ABC-NEWSRADIO--8-MAY-2012.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1394 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1394&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1394/TRANSCRIPT-INTERVIEW-WITH-MARIUS-BENSON-ABC-NEWSRADIO--8-MAY-2012.aspx   Topic: Federal Budget, Labor cooking the books   E&OE…     MARIUS BENSON:   Andrew Robb, the Treasurer says this is a “fair-go” budget, with a bit of Robin Hood, lots of fiscal responsibility. A good mix?   ANDREW ROBB:   Look, I don’t think the Treasurer knows if he’s Father Christmas or Uncle Scrooge.   As usual, his messages are all over the place; I don’t think people have any trust in so much of what is presented in the Budget tonight.   They’ve cooked the books clearly to deliver a pretend surplus, and all of this will again reinforce the confusion and the crisis of confidence throughout the community.   BENSON:   But aren’t all Treasurers in all budgets sometimes Father Christmas and sometimes Scrooge, depending on whether you’re one of the winners or one of the losers?   ROBB:   Well people won’t have a sense of what the problem is. It will give them no sense that this Government has a plan to repay the debt, to build a strong economy, protect their jobs.   There’s nothing out of this – it just seems like a grab bag of bits and pieces. On the one hand, he says it’s a tough budget, they’ve all been saying that, now we hear an endless stream in the last few days, of poorly disguised attempts to provide more compensation for the dead cat on the table, which is the carbon tax.   The carbon tax won’t be mentioned tonight, but all of these giveaways, and all the rest, is an attempt to take the heat out of that carbon tax, which is going to so demonstrably damage our economy.   BENSON:   Well what about some of the tough measures? Do you approve of the specifics there? Say $5 billion cut from Defence?   ROBB:   Let’s see what the specifics are tonight, a lot of this has just been leaked out. We will make a judgement about the Budget in its totality, not by press release, and we will look and wait tonight and see what is presented.   BENSON:   That is the disadvantage in talking ahead of the Budget, but there are some things that have been made clear; they’re promising – Labor is promising – the largest cuts in public spending in decades.   That’s pretty much in line with what you’re talking about and Joe Hockey’s talking about.   ROBB:   Look, they’ve had two years, there needn’t be any problem with the surplus this year, there wouldn’t have been.   They should’ve had a surplus last year if they had in fact reined in their waste over the last two or three years, we wouldn’t have the four biggest budget deficits.   And remember again, all the talk about a surplus which won’t be confirmed for another 15 months from tonight, but tonight they will confirm that we will have had, this year, one of the four biggest budget deficits in our history, that’s the performance.   Tonight is an attempt to, or an exercise, in confirming how good their economic management has been over the last 12 months and we’ve had yet again one of the four biggest budget deficits in our history.   It again underscores the fact that this Government has no plan. They’re in disarray, we’ve got the Thomson affair which is just a complete failure of public morality, it shreds the Government’s legitimacy and now we’ve got a budget on top of it which simply is a scatter gun approach, mixed messages, no plan, no plan to get us back in good shape.   BENSON:   Andrew Robb, thank you very much.   ROBB:   Thanks Marius.      ENDS Andrew Robb Tue, 08 May 2012 02:29:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1394 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1393/INTERVIEW-WITH-TICKY-FULLERTON--LATELINE-BUSINESS-ABC-Monday-7-May-2012.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1393 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1393&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1393/INTERVIEW-WITH-TICKY-FULLERTON--LATELINE-BUSINESS-ABC-Monday-7-May-2012.aspx     TRANSCRIPT INTERVIEW WITH TICKY FULLERTON LATELINE BUSINESS ABC   Monday, 7 May 2012 Topics: Federal budget, business confidence, Opposition policies       E&OE…………………………………………………………………………………….     TICKY FULLERTON:   Here is a strong voice from the other side of politics: Opposition spokesman for Finance Andrew Robb joins me from our Canberra studio. Andrew Robb, welcome to the program.   ANDREW ROBB:   Thanks very much, Ticky.   TICKY FULLERTON:   Business needs certainty and confidence – we hear this so much. Brendan O'Connor reckons Labor will get their budget through unless the Coalition seeks to wreck the surplus. Are you indeed going to be as constructive as possible in this bizarre Parliament?   ANDREW ROBB:   Well we're always constructive. We have assisted a very large part of legislation to go through. But the bottom line is, the Government is the one with the numbers and they need to put these things to the Parliament.   This is just rhetoric to cover up the concern that there is already in many quarters about how much of this budget they can trust.   And of course, confidence, as you mentioned, is all-important and the trouble is there is a crisis of confidence and it's not to do with little spending measures of the Government; it's to do with the wanton waste over three years now and the reckless spending and the $100 billion more that's now being spent each year compared with just four years ago.   TICKY FULLERTON:   Well, a budget surplus it will be. Clearly, though, there has been some shifting of costs out of the 2012-13 year. Just how much do you calculate that to be?   ANDREW ROBB:   I'd call it more a pretend surplus because of the fact that at least $10 billion has either been moved forward or moved backwards out of '12-'13, or conversely, they have taken it off the balance sheet altogether, so things to do with the NBN and the ‘Bob Brown slush fund’, all of these things have been taken off the budget bottom line.   There's $10 billion there that we know about and of course a lot more that we'll probably discover tomorrow night and the weeks beyond.   TICKY FULLERTON:   Getting back to surplus of course, if you were in the chair, you've got a much bigger job because you've got no carbon tax revenue, you've got no mining tax revenue more importantly.   You're still committed to funding things like disability. How would you do it?   ANDREW ROBB:   The thing is with the carbon tax and with the mining tax and with some other measures, we – in large part – will not be supporting the programs that those taxes are designed to fund.   For instance, the massive assistance being given to areas of business as partial compensation for the carbon tax, we won't need that because we will have scrapped the tax. On the mining side, they've made out that they're funding a whole raft of initiatives. Of course they're putting a little bit into a whole lot of these things.   We won't be introducing those initiatives or we'll be rescinding them because the money's not there.   The thing is, we've got to live within our means. This government has not understood that and it's why we now have got such a massive debt, getting close in gross terms to quarter of a trillion dollars and we've got a spending level which is unbelievably huge and we don't see any sign of any serious cuts.   TICKY FULLERTON:   Nevertheless, you call this structural deficit at the moment Labor's burgeoning debt over, as you say, $220 billion, ‘the elephant in the room’. That is the big problem: having to pay off debt beyond getting to a surplus. But I ask you again – I mean, you're going to have to cut into presumably middle class welfare and yet you're against anything like Labor's move on means testing private health insurance.   How are you going to do this?   ANDREW ROBB:   Well, we put up $50 billion worth of savings last time and $40 [billion] of that was replacing other programs. We had a $10 billion amount over and above Labor's savings. We have demonstrated a capacity to fund and to make cuts, and we'll do it again.   On top of that, there is this confidence factor and the issue of growth. At the moment with the crisis of confidence, people are not spending, businesses are not investing. People are starting to worry about clothes shops in shopping centres and all the rest.   People are waking up in the middle of the night worried about their jobs. They're hearing every second or third day some large business has either wound up or put off 1,000 people. All of these things have created a mindset which is meaning that no-one's spending, no-one's investing.   Now we aim to change that mindset. If we start to live within our means, if we start to remove lots of the red tape, if we start to back our strengths, we will start to see confidence emerge and we'll get a growth factor as well as the cuts that we'll need to make.   TICKY FULLERTON:   But Labor is still going to demand, I'm sure, some sort of spending numbers on your policies.   They'll be quick to jump on your $70 billion black hole in your costings last time around. Aren't you going to have to do more than criticise their policies or is it the God-given right of the Opposition not to have to do that?   ANDREW ROBB:   No, no – well, one policy that we will introduce is to remove the carbon tax. Now, that will do more for confidence and more for families and business starting to think that there is a government that at least empathises with them.   These are the sorts of – we've got a raft of policies already out there. We will, as we did last time, we did present all of our costings ahead of the election, and even if you take into account the areas which were in dispute with Treasury, even if you took that off, we still had a bigger savings mix than the Labor Party.   I think we've got good form on that front and we'll certainly manage the shop better.     TICKY FULLERTON:   Alright. We'll leave you with your good form, Andrew Robb, and we'll see you back on Lateline I believe with Finance Minister Penny Wong with a few more figures tomorrow.   ANDREW ROBB:   Indeed. Thank you.   TICKY FULLERTON:   Thank you, sir.     Andrew Robb Tue, 08 May 2012 01:43:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1393 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1390/INTERVIEW-WITH-MARIUS-BENSON-ABC-NEWS-RADIO-2-MAY-2012.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1390 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1390&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1390/INTERVIEW-WITH-MARIUS-BENSON-ABC-NEWS-RADIO-2-MAY-2012.aspx   Topics: Interest rates, Labor leadership, Peter Slipper   E&OE   MARIUS BENSON: Andrew Robb, the Treasurer Wayne Swan says the banks are very profitable, and their costs of funds have come down in recent times, they should pass on the half of one percentage point cut from the Reserve Bank in full. Do you agree with Wayne Swan?   ANDREW ROBB: We do believe, as a Coalition, that the banks should pass on this half a percent. The economy is in such a weakened state, confidence is so low, we think it’s in the banks own interest to pass on the full half percent.   BENSON: You’ve been critical of the Government in the past when the banks have not passed on the full amount saying the banks are dismissing the Government’s pressure on them, do you believe you would get a different result, were you in power, in terms of getting the full reserve, the full official rate passed on?   ROBB: Look, the situation will be fundamentally different; we will be aiming for growth as a Government. If we get the privilege of government, we will be aiming for growth, rather than redistribution and more taxes.   BENSON: Turning to politics, John Howard says he thinks Kevin Rudd will be back as Labor leader. Who do you think you’ll be facing as Prime Minister at the next election?   ROBB: Look, I think it’s hard to predict. The bottom line is, the Prime Minister has not only lost the confidence of the Australian people, but increasingly of Labor members, and I see this morning that Kristina Kenneally has got a very clear message for the Labor Party, and that is, scrap this madness of the carbon tax, this tax which is going to put such an extraordinary burden on households and business, and is fundamental in what we’re seeing today with the interest rate drop, because confidence has just drained out of this economy.   BENSON: Another aspect of politics, the Peter Slipper scandal has been very damaging to the Government, but there are questions today directed at the Opposition, with the revelation that Christopher Pyne met James Ashby, that man who brought the claims against Peter Slipper, three times before those claims were made public. Does the Opposition have some questions to answer there?   ROBB: None whatsoever. Look, this is a Government just desperately trying to spin its way out of its own sleaze, and its own lack of judgement. Christopher Pyne is the Leader of Opposition Business, like Anthony Albanese, the Government’s Leader of Business in the House. They would have extensive contact with the Speaker and his office. So it’s no surprise that Christopher Pyne would have contact with the Speaker’s office on many, many occasions in the months leading up to the demise of Peter Slipper.   BENSON: But the specifics of this were that Christopher Pyne went to the Speaker’s office to see the Speaker, he wasn’t there, he stayed for two hours having beer with James Ashby, and he says the claims against the Speaker were not discussed at that, or any other meetings. Is it embarrassing for the Opposition?   ROBB: No it’s not. The fact that Christopher Pyne had regular contact with the Speaker’s office is not uncommon. In fact, he would be criticised if he wasn’t having regular contact with the Speaker’s office because the Parliament has to work; he’s the Manager of Opposition Business, and the Speaker is the person responsible for maintaining order in the House and making sure business is conducted. This is just an act of desperation by the Government to try and distract attention from the extraordinary lack of judgement, which has now meant, all Australians are shaking their head, it is contributing to the stopping of activity across Australia with this dashing of confidence, and we need an election as soon as we can, because we’ve got to get Australia going again.    BENSON: Andrew Robb, thanks very much.   ROBB: Thanks Marius, all the best.     ENDS Andrew Robb Wed, 02 May 2012 03:09:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1390 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1388/INTERVIEW-WITH-GLEN-BARTHOLOMEW-ABC-NEWS-RADIO-DRIVE.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1388 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1388&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1388/INTERVIEW-WITH-GLEN-BARTHOLOMEW-ABC-NEWS-RADIO-DRIVE.aspx     INTERVIEW WITH GLEN BARTHOLOMEW ABC NEWS RADIO DRIVE   Thursday, 19 April 2012 Topics: Government spending, interest rates.  CLICK HERE TO PLAY INTERVIEW E&OE……………………………………………………………………………………… Bartholomew: Andrew Robb is the Acting Shadow Treasurer and he’s been listening to the Prime Minister’s remarks.  He joins us now.  Andrew Robb, good afternoon. ROBB: Good afternoon Glen. Bartholomew: Has the Prime Minister successfully argued the case for a line between a budget surplus and a likely cut in the cash rate by the Reserve Bank? ROBB: Well, somehow or other I think the Prime Minister is in some sort of parallel universe.  This is the argument that so many people have put to the Prime Minister, the Treasurer and Government for over two years now, that if they had cut their reckless spending then there would be less pressure on interest rates, and now it’s just as though they have woken up one morning and they’re trying to put the same argument.  Now the problem is we won’t know whether there is a surplus or not for another 16 months probably.  So here we are a month or two, a month before the budget, when what we are going to see then is another $40 billion dollar deficit, and here we are today, when the government would have been in the money market today, borrowing another $100 million dollars, as they’ve done every day, and the Prime Minister is talking about a surplus sometime in the future, which probably no one will know about before the next election. Bartholomew: The Government says our net debt is forecast to peak at less than one tenth of other major advanced economies, they don’t buy that argument, that their borrowing is having that much effect on the money market. ROBB: Well this is ridiculous.  If they are saying that a surplus, which means if they did get to a surplus, no matter how small it was and how manufactured, if they got to a surplus, it means that they are not increasing their borrowings, now that’s what they mean when they say they’ll give more room to the bank to lower interest rates and the Reserve Bank has said if fiscal policy was a lot tighter, then it would not be competing, the Government wouldn’t be competing everyday in the money market for another $100 million dollars, therefore there would be less pressure to push up interest rates.  So the Government has almost admitted itself that if they get to a surplus, if they do, then it will take them out of the market for more borrowings and that will allow the Reserve Bank to lower interest rates.  So I can’t make sense, she’s having it each way, and it just doesn’t make sense. Bartholomew: But when she says that targeting thoughtful savings that assist the return to surplus and protecting frontline services will be a feature of the budget, it sounds like you’d support that? ROBB: Well, if they do, this is what we hear all the time. I mean last year they said they’d be a, this is less than 12 months ago, they said they’d be a budget deficit this year of 12 billion dollars, was the first one, and they said this is because we are on the fastest fiscal reduction in all time and all this sort of nonsense… Bartholomew: Well the GFC has cost Government revenue of about $140 billion dollars.  ROBB: Well it was an $87 billion dollar, $87 billion dollar stimulus package. The Government this year, I’ll just tell you, in nominal terms the Government this year is spending $100 billion dollars in the budget, that’s the year we’re in now, $100 billion dollars more than they spent four years ago, when they took over government.  Now that’s a 40 percent increase in the size of the spending of this government, over a four year period when inflation was 13 percent. Now that doesn’t take into account all the stimulus money and that of the years before.  So here we’ve got a Government that has actually increased spending year on year by amounts of up to $100 billion each year, and then they’re saying that they’re fiscally responsible. At the same time, they’re taken debt up to nearly a quarter of a trillion dollars – gross debt. On all counts, this Government has been profligate, and it is why there is a crisis of confidence amongst households and business. Bartholomew: Alright let’s look at households. Is it fair to say that the Coalition has positioned itself as the party that would cut spending deeper than Labor; your usual Treasurer Joe Hockey has raised the prospect of some severe welfare cuts. What’s he talking about? Pensions here? ROBB:  No, no Joe has not announced any new Coalition policy review of welfare payments. He was talking at an international forum and he was talking about globally, the way in which in some cases, welfare has got out of control. Bartholomew: A culture of entitlement I think is the thrust of it ROBB:  Well he was talking particularly about the European countries which have clearly spent too much for too long. Bartholomew: Which Tony Abbott, we heard just a few moments ago on the program, has suggested hasn’t happened here. ROBB:  The point is Joe was talking about what has happened in regions all around the world to an international audience. So he wasn’t making – certainly he wasn’t announcing any new Coalition policy. We will certainly – as we have in the past – try and seek to make sure that welfare money goes to those who need it and not to those who don’t need it. And also, we’ve got a situation where we will, when we say we will be more prudent, we won’t be seeking to waste billions and billions of dollars on things like the schools program, or the pink batts program, or borrow $10 billion to put into a Bob Brown slush fund, or borrow tens of billions of dollars to build a National Broadband Network. These are the things – this is a Government that does not understand how to manage money in our view. And that’s the sort of thing – we’ve got to go portfolio by portfolio and look where the waste is, where the excesses in expenditure is, and do something about it. Bartholomew: Now we heard earlier on today Fortescue Metals is launching its challenge to the mining tax in the next few weeks. If they’re successful, will this undermine the budget strategy for the years ahead no matter who’s in government? ROBB:  Well, what they’re talking about is $10 billion from the mining tax over four years. Almost every economic commentator, the mining industry itself and everyone apart from the Government are saying that they’ll get nowhere near that revenue. But let’s put this into perspective. They make out that the mining tax is going to pay for endless programs. The fact of the matter is that in the next four years – from corporate tax and from the royalties that are paid – the mining industry will contribute $100 billion to the coffers. On top of that, they’ll do about another $12-$14 billion from the carbon tax, and then on top of that six or seven maximum, according to the Government from the mining tax. So the mining tax can meet some commitments, but when you look across the totality of what the mining sector will do, in the next four years, that six or seven billion is just a very small part of the contribution which will be there come what may. Bartholomew: Come what may indeed. Andrew Robb thank you. ROBB:  Good on you         Andrew Robb Fri, 20 Apr 2012 06:30:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1388 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1387/INTERVIEW-WITH-MARIUS-BENSON-ABC-NEWS-RADIO-20-APRIL-2012.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1387 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1387&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1387/INTERVIEW-WITH-MARIUS-BENSON-ABC-NEWS-RADIO-20-APRIL-2012.aspx   Topics: Aged care, superannuation, welfare.   E&OE    PRESENTER:   Well as we’ve heard the Government is setting out more of its economic plans today with the release of a blueprint for aged care, which could see wealthier Australians pay more for care. And the Government is also reportedly looking for budget savings, by cutting tax breaks for superannuation savings. For an opposition view on those issues, Marius Benson is speaking to the Shadow Finance Minister, Andrew Robb.   MARIUS BENSON:   Andrew Robb, the Federal Government has issued just part of its Aged Care plan, but some general points are clear. One is that the wealthier will pay more for nursing home care. Is that a sensible move? ANDREW ROBB:   Well without seeing the details it’s a bit hard to make major comments, but the fact is, the Coalition welcomed the Productivity Commission report on aged care last year, and we committed to working in a bipartisan way with the Government to take that report’s recommendations forward.   BENSON:   There are reports in the paper this morning on another aspect of the budget preparations from the Government, which is that they are moving to close superannuation taxation breaks that now favour the rich. Is that a sensible move?   ROBB:   Well again, who do they define as the rich? Again, we’re seeing the potential for endless changes when they said that they would bring stability to superannuation. Taxing super contributions at a higher rate would be a breach of faith with working Australians and would amount to billions of dollars of further redistribution of income from working people to fund Labor’s reckless spending.   BENSON:   The Shadow Treasurer gave a speech in London two days ago in which he talked about the “end of the era of entitlement”. He said that government benefits should “all be means tested”, government pensions and benefits must all be means tested as a way of ending that sense of entitlement. That’s been seen by some as a blunder. Was it, in your view?   ROBB:   No, Joe was certainly not announcing any new Coalition policy review of welfare payments –   BENSON:   Well what exactly was he doing? Because the alternative is that it was a Hockey thought bubble.   ROBB:   Well as I understand it, Joe was speaking to an international audience, in London, and he was highlighting in a global sense where you can have problems if you spend too much, for too long, on welfare.   BENSON:   But Mr Hockey wasn’t just speaking in general terms, he specifically said, ‘all government-pended benefits must be means-tested’. Is that your view? Is it the Opposition view?   ROBB:   Well, we have said, and Joe has also been very much an active participant in this debate and supportive, that there are measures such as non-means-tested private health insurance rebates which actually deliver good public policy outcomes. So there are a raft of measures which, not being means-tested, means that you get good public policy outcomes.   BENSON:   But let me go back to what Joe Hockey actually said, he said, “all government pensions, and other government-funded provisions, must be means tested”. Are you saying he didn’t mean it, when he said “all must be means tested”?   ROBB:   Well what I’m saying is that Joe Hockey has been a very strong advocate for non-means-tested private health insurance for one, but also other areas.   BENSON:   So he’s contradicting himself there?   ROBB:   I think Joe, in that speech, was taking a sort of global view, and looking at a principle.   BENSON:   Could I ask you a general question off that speech of Joe Hockey’s because he was putting forward a very radical formula, means test everything, look to the Asian models, look for filial loyalty rather than a welfare safety net to support people in need in a society.   If the Coalition is elected next year as is almost universally expected, will you take government in a radically different direction or will it just be tinkering at the edges?   ROBB:   No, certainly in the welfare area, no, on the productivity front, yes.   We will look to introduce changes which lead to significant productivity improvements, which allow us to grow this economy.   BENSON:   But just to clarify what you just said, on the welfare front, no radical change if you’re elected next year?   ROBB:   No we’re not. We feel that the Australian model, which strides a middle ground between welfare state [ie Europe] and say the Asian model which is one of much less of a safety net. We’ve struck a fairly good balance in Australia, and the Coalition has made a major contribution to that over many years.   BENSON:   Andrew Robb, thank you very much.   ROBB:   Thanks Marius. Andrew Robb Fri, 20 Apr 2012 04:16:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1387 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1385/GILLARD-FINALLY-ADMITS-THAT-LABOR-HAS-FORCED-UP-INTEREST-RATES.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1385 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1385&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1385/GILLARD-FINALLY-ADMITS-THAT-LABOR-HAS-FORCED-UP-INTEREST-RATES.aspx Julia Gillard has finally admitted that Labor's record levels of spending and borrowing has forced up interest rates.   “In saying that returning the budget to surplus will create room for the RBA to lower rates, Julia Gillard has finally thrown the dead cat on the table,” Acting Shadow Treasurer Andrew Robb said.   “This is an admission that Labor's cumulative record deficits of $167 billion and sustained borrowing of $100 million a day has resulted in Australians paying higher interest rates than they otherwise would be. It is an admission of failure.   “And while Ms Gillard and Wayne Swan talk about future surpluses it must be remembered that on budget night what Labor will actually be delivering is another deficit of $40 billion or more.   “In fact we will have to wait another 16 months before we know the final budget outcome for 2012-13.   “Labor is now spending almost $100 billion more annually compared to when they first came to office. Spending has increased by nearly 40 per cent while inflation has risen by 13.2 per cent over the same period,” Mr Robb said.   “Until Labor actually delivers a real surplus and stops its borrowing it will continue to place upward pressure on both interest rates and the exchange rate.     “The pressure Ms Gillard is now exerting on the RBA to reduce rates is the height of hypocrisy given Labor’s previous sanctimonious lectures about respecting the independence of the Reserve.    “It shows Julia Gillard is becoming increasingly desperate. If Labor had followed the advice of the Coalition and others over the past two years and reined in spending and borrowing interest rates and the exchange rate today would be lower. It could also be actually delivering a surplus rather than another record deficit,” Mr Robb said.   Andrew Robb Thu, 19 Apr 2012 02:05:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1385 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1384/CLAIMS-OF-CLEAN-ENERGY-PANEL-SNUB-COMPLETELY-UNTRUE.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1384 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1384&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1384/CLAIMS-OF-CLEAN-ENERGY-PANEL-SNUB-COMPLETELY-UNTRUE.aspx   Claims that members of the Coalition have not responded to offers by the head of the review panel for Labor’s Clean Energy Finance Corporation for a briefing on its work are completely false.   Acting Shadow Treasurer Andrew Robb said the offer of a 17 April Canberra briefing from panel head Jillian Broadbent was only made on 11 April.   On Monday 16 April Ms Broadbent was advised Mr Robb would not be in Canberra on that day “but would be happy to meet with you at a mutually agreeable time in Sydney”.   Ms Broadbent is yet to respond, so the ball is in her court and the offer of a meeting with both Mr Robb and Joe Hockey stands. Mr Hockey is currently out of the country.   “To claim I did not bother to respond is plain wrong and should be retracted. For the record I have read the panel’s report and there is nothing in it that changes the Coalition’s view that this ‘Bob Brown Bank’ will result in huge sums of borrowed money being wasted.   “The panel concedes the high level of risk that will be involved and a far less stringent assessment of proposals would be required. In other words these are the types of ventures that banks and the like would not touch with a barge pole.   “We’ve called this for what it is, a $10 billion slush fund, which was the price the government was prepared to pay to the Greens for supporting the carbon tax.   “We will scrap the Clean Energy Finance Corporation and of course scrap the carbon tax, and stop taxpayers’ money being wasted through these politically motivated and destructive ventures,” Mr Robb said. Andrew Robb Wed, 18 Apr 2012 05:11:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1384 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1383/LABOR-RESORTS-TO-BUDGET-TRICKS-DESPITE-IMF-WARNINGS.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1383 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1383&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1383/LABOR-RESORTS-TO-BUDGET-TRICKS-DESPITE-IMF-WARNINGS.aspx   A desperate and deceitful Labor is set to use more accounting tricks in its bid to manufacture a budget surplus for 2012-13 despite the International Monetary Fund (IMF) warning governments against using creative accounting to artificially improve budget positions.   “The Coalition has exposed billions of dollars worth of Labor money shuffles which are blatant attempts to improve the budget bottom line in 2012-13. This is despite reports today of the IMF urging governments to resist the temptation of replacing genuine spending cuts with tricks to ‘give the illusion of change without substance’,” Shadow Finance Minister Andrew Robb said.   “One egregious example sees Labor spending over $1 billion this year to support energy markets against the carbon tax, yet magically the carbon tax poses no threat in 2012-13, when spending drops a thousand times to less than $1 million. The following two years sees spending return to over $1 billion.”   Some other examples of Labor’s dodgy money shuffles include:  Labor’s “coal sector jobs package” will see $222 million spent in 2011-12, $247 million in 2013-14 and $257 million in 2014-15, yet only $10 million in 2012-13. Labor also announced the bring-forward into 2011-12 of $1.4 billion of infrastructure funding for NSW, Queensland, Victoria, with $1.22 billion of this funding shifted out of 2012-13. By pre-paying its Clean Energy Advance household assistance payments in May and June 2012 rather than in July (as the carbon tax begins), Labor is shifting $1.51 billion of spending from 2012-13 into 2011-12 so as to artificially boost its 2012-13 budget position. The government has accelerated some disaster relief payments to the states and territories, involving an advance payment to Queensland of $1.4 billion brought forward into 2011-12.   On top of the money shuffles there are also $100 billion of liabilities against the budget which are either hidden from the bottom line or unfunded, including borrowings for both the NBN and the ‘Bob Brown Bank’ and Labor’s $30+ billion commitment to buy 12 new submarines.   “Labor’s claims to be delivering a wafer‑thin surplus in 2012‑13 should be taken with a very large grain of salt – it is essential to look at the facts not the spin,” Mr Robb said. Andrew Robb Thu, 29 Mar 2012 23:34:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1383 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1382/ANTI-BUSINESS-SWAN-KIDDING-HIMSELF.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1382 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1382&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1382/ANTI-BUSINESS-SWAN-KIDDING-HIMSELF.aspx   Wayne Swan is kidding himself if he believes his anti-business rant in The Monthly is resonating.   The Treasurer was out claiming today that more and more people are agreeing with his recent attacks on the business community.   “You can count on two hands those who have read it and his continued prattle just reconfirms if anything why he is such a figure of ridicule in boardrooms across the country,” Shadow Finance Minister Andrew Robb said.   “When have you ever heard a Treasurer, who is supposedly the government’s key conduit to business, attack those who are trying to build national prosperity and who employ thousands of Australians? The reality is I have been in 77 boardrooms in the last 18 months and I can tell you Swan is invariably regarded as a total lightweight.   “Of all people in government, he should be the architect of economic growth, not the person most obsessed with redistribution. The raft of what Labor euphemistically calls ‘reform’ is pricing Australia out of world markets, as confirmed by new KPMG competitive analysis, which shows we have suffered the most dramatic increase in business costs of countries surveyed.   “Only Swan could devise a mining industry tax which results in the biggest three players not paying a cent,” Mr Robb said. Andrew Robb Fri, 23 Mar 2012 05:31:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1382 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1379/Andrew-asks-Wayne-Swan-about-more-Labor-waste.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1379 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1379&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1379/Andrew-asks-Wayne-Swan-about-more-Labor-waste.aspx   Andrew Robb Fri, 23 Mar 2012 00:26:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1379 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1375/INTERVIEW-WITH-RAY-HADLEY-2GB-SYDNEY-21-MARCH-2012.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1375 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1375&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1375/INTERVIEW-WITH-RAY-HADLEY-2GB-SYDNEY-21-MARCH-2012.aspx   Topics: Wayne Swan, mining tax, small business tax breaks, superannuation   CLICK HERE TO PLAY INTERVIEW   E&OE…   RAY HADLEY:   Well, it all started in Parliament yesterday, and it was most un-Parliamentary, the performance by the Treasurer and Deputy Prime Minister, becoming the first Deputy Prime Minister and Treasurer to be ejected from Parliament, after this:   [Recording from Parliament]   SPEAKER:   The Honourable – the Treasurer has been given the call.   WAYNE SWAN:   I’m always shocked by Curly over there, I can tell you that!   [MPs heckling]   TONY ABBOTT:   Mr Speaker, we’ve got –   SPEAKER:   Order!   HADLEY:   Well, a reference to the Three Stooges. Apparently he refers to the Deputy – I should say, to the Opposition Leader as Moe, Joe Hockey, the Shadow Treasurer, as Larry, and the third of the triumvirate is Curly, Shadow Finance Minister Andrew Robb. Mr Robb, good morning.   ANDREW ROBB:   Good morning Ray.   HADLEY:   You’d expect a little better, I mean, it’s not even an exciting repartee.   ROBB:   It was – it’s embarrassing really. I mean, he is the Deputy Prime Minister, as well as the Treasurer of the country, and to go on with this nonsense, and then he got out of the chamber and got on to his Twitter – he’s tweeting away, you know, “I apologise to Curly from the Three Stooges for any offence caused by comparing him to Andrew Robb, I’m sure Curly wouldn’t be opposing tax cuts”.   If he’s got – you can’t believe the Deputy Prime Minister would be engaging in such juvenile activity; he’s supposed to be a role model, as much as anything else, and I just thought it was embarrassing for the whole Parliament, and it explains – it really does give you a sense of why they’re in the mess they are, this Government.   HADLEY:   Is he trying to be some sort of hip, cool dude, with a Twitter account and tweeting, as he comes out to his ardent followers, or those who aren’t quite – I don’t understand it. I mean, yes I know it’s a new form of communication, and it’s good for catching up with news, and things get put there that are of some significance, but for the Deputy Prime Minister to tweet that sort of nonsense – I mean it’s almost beyond belief.   ROBB:   Well, I think it is. I mean, it can be a very useful form of communication, but some of them like him, you know, they’re obsessed. You find out what he had for breakfast and all this. Who cares, really? –   HADLEY:   Oh thank god someone else is saying it! I said the same thing yesterday! I could care less if his wife’s wearing a blue frock, or he used a roll of Sorbent this morning when he’s taking his ablutions. I don’t care.   ROBB:   Well, you can use it to say, “I’ve just given a speech, and if you click here, you’ll get a copy of it”, or a radio interview, you can get the audio file, now that’s communication, but to go on with this nonsense about, you know, what movie he’s just seen, and how he feels, as I say, who cares? The thing is, if people are going to take politics seriously, bear in mind, what they’re doing has an enormous impact on people’s lives there’s a lot of people waking up at two-thirty in the morning worried about their job, and it’s because of Government activity.   Here we are, blessed with all the Chinese investment, and purchasing of all of our resources, and yet we’ve got people worried sick about whether they’re going to keep their job. I mean, it makes no sense.   Here’s a guy who took a balance sheet of $70 billion in the black and in four years has turned it into the biggest lot of red on the balance sheet, $136 billion debt, and he’s tweeting about Curly and the Three Stooges.   HADLEY:   Does he understand – do any of them understand – that if you move about the place, as I do on a regular basis, that people in manufacturing, people in retail, are scared for their very existence?   ROBB:   Well I don’t think they do, I mean, he is a product of the Labor machine. He is the typical apparatchik, that’s all he’s known, and he’s the Treasurer – I’ve been, Ray, in this job, as Finance, for two years, and I’ve been to now 77 board rooms in two years.   It’s my job to go and touch base with business and see what’s going on. Now, invariably I ask them, “How’s Swan going? Have you seen him?” – one, they never see him, and secondly, when they do, they say that he’s got the patter, and that’s alright, but as soon as they get into any questions, or they raise an opportunity or a problem, he doesn’t know where to take the conversation because he’s suspicious of business.   He hasn’t got a feel for it, he’s a wholly-owned subsidiary of Treasury – what they say, he does – and it is unacceptable.   It’s why they’re making so many mistakes, why they’re such a dysfunctional Government, and why this fellow – they call him a total lightweight. That’s the word I hear from business.   HADLEY:   Well I often refer to the fact that he needs to have the windows shut when they get Caucus together in case he gets blown out!   ROBB:   He’s out of his depth, in my view, and all he does is parrot lines all the time, you hear the same nonsense day in, day out, it doesn’t matter what question you ask, or what you say, he just parrots the same lines.   You know, we’ve got wonderful opportunities in Asia in the next twenty years, unbelievable, and yet we are not positioning this economy in a way to take advantage of it.   We’re wasting the mining boom, because of their actions, he’s botching things, even like the mining tax, and then he’s on to Twitter, doing all this –   HADLEY:   Just bear with me, I want to play to you – and you’ve already heard this – but I just want comments on what he had to say over the last 48 hours:   [Wayne Swan recording]   SWAN: It certainly gives us the opportunity to spread the benefits of the mining boom more fairly, right around our country. Tax breaks, for example, to 2.7 million small businesses, right around the country. A big boost to super, for something like eight million Australian workers   HADLEY:   Okay, you can help me here. There aren’t 2.7 small businesses – 2.7 million who will benefit from tax breaks, there’s closer to 740,000 who are proprietary companies, the others would be, I guess, sole-traders, or businesses that won’t benefit by that tax break, they may benefit from some other plan he has for them, but then, can you explain to me how the Government, raking in over $10 billion from the mining industry, is going to defray the cost for business when they pay between nine and twelve percent for superannuation for their employees which is paid by the business, not by the Government?   He can’t get away with saying this. I heard him with Ross Greenwood last night saying, “Oh, it’s only going up by .35 of one percent the first year, you don’t understand, and it’ll be done by negotiation”.    The simple reality is, if the superannuation contribution goes up, it’s paid by employers.   ROBB:   This is, Ray, this is enough of it, this mob, this government, the spin, they are all about spin, you have got to look at the facts, not the spin, because on this one, this is a classic, business will pay, as you rightly say, $20 billion a year. Now the mining tax will get, he says, $10 billion, I talk to all the major miners, they’re not going to be paying any major mining tax, they’ll pay an increase in royalties but because of the way it is structure they won’t.   I think he has got big problems coming down the line.   The $10 billion is over four years, $10 billion over four years, the business will pay $20 billion a year, so over four years business will $80 billion for this super, so it is a tax, an $80 billion tax, and on top of that, the mining sector will pay $10 billion over four years if they are lucky and only a miniscule amount of that will go back to business.   So it is a total furphy, it is a con, it is a total con, and yet you hear them talk and you think they are filling the pockets of business and superannuants and uncle Tom Cobbley, everyone is going to get an enormous amount of out this six or seven or eight billion over four years.   It is just nonsense and it is all the spin to make out that everything’s rosy, when it’s not.    HADLEY:   Let me see if I can just find what he said to Ross Greenwood on his program on our station last night.   [Recording]   GREENWOOD:   So I get an email today because one thing that’s also been said fairly consistently is that these are, this increase in the mining tax, the mining resource rent tax will also help to pay for the increase in superannuation guarantee levy, would you agree with that?   SWAN:   That’s right.   GREENWOOD:   Help or will pay for?   SWAN:   No it helps, you see what we’ve got here is two things. The super guarantee is going from nine to twelve and that’s something that’s negotiated between employees and employers but that has an impact on the budget, that’s the point. So first of all that has an impact.   In addition to that we’re chucking $500 into the savings each year of the lowest paid workers as well to build up their super account balances. So there is a financial impact in going from nine to twelve and also that additional financial impact and that is all factored in.   GREENWOOD:   Okay, because I get my email from Matt, who says to me, “I was listening to Wayne Swan on the radio and indicated the superannuation guarantee increase would be paid by business. Do you know how this would impact someone like me?” And he has a labour hire business, he’s got $500,000 a year in profits, so they’re going okay, a $3 million payroll but what he says, “It looks like to me the increase in superannuation will be 10 times what tax cut we receive”, in other words –   SWAN:   I don’t think those figures add up at all. But the fact is it is very gradual over time. It’s being introduced first of all with a small increase of 0.5, so it comes in over a long period of time. These are matters which are negotiated in the workforce in terms of a collective agreement. In addition and on top of that, we’re making additional contributions to the lowest paid workers who’ve got very low superannuation balances.    GREENWOOD:   But you wouldn’t expect any employer to be able to negotiate away the workers right to be able to raise their superannuation to twelve percent by 2020, would you?   SWAN:   Well, the fact is many employers, may well be paying more right now. So, it’s not uniform across the workplace but in the past and it will be in the future that these things will form part and parcel of the negotiations between employers and employees, it’s always been thus and always will.   HADLEY:   Wayne Swan with Ross Greenwood.   Shadow Finance Minister, Andrew Robb, he didn’t answer the question from the emailer who has a labour hire company which pays three million in wages and makes $500,000, now the way I’ve done the math is that he’ll be up for an extra $90,000 a year in costs on that $3 million wage bill in terms of super. And his return the other way, the tax cut on his profits will be around $45,000 dollars or $50,000 so he will in fact be far worse off under this regime.   ROBB:   Look there is no doubt about this Ray, hundreds of thousands of small businesses, as I said, will be $80 billion of tax over four years that the mining tax if it raises what he says, which no one thinks it will, is $10 billion over four years and they’re spending it on about five different programs, so you know it is ludicrous.   The suggestion, there’s no contribution to the employers to cover superannuation –   HADLEY:   No of course not.   ROBB:   – what he is talking about is some of the bills the Commonwealth will have to pay for its own staff … [interrupted] right, that’s where that … [interrupted]   HADLEY:   Yeah, the bureaucrats.   But I just have to correct one thing that I said there, I said 45 or 50, in fact the rebate on, or the tax cut to this company, the hire company on a profit of $500,000 will in fact be, it will be $5,000 not $50,000 and so he gets a benefit of $5,000 –   ROBB:   Yes.   HADLEY:   But his increased cost for super is ninety grand, so he is eighty-five grand worse off.   ROBB:   Well, this is the point, I mean I’ve got a 28 year old daughter and her and her partner they employ 55 people. They are working 14 hours days, seven days a week, and honestly when that announcement came out that they have got to now meet another three per cent increase in wage costs, it just knocked the stuffing out of them.    And you can see they would be typical of hundreds of thousands of small businesses who are doing their best, there’s 55, there’s a 28 year old looking after the families of 55 people and working so hard, to get this announcement from the government, which Swan just waves away.   They think there is just some sort of endless pot out there because they have had no experience these people, they’re all these former union executives, they’ve never had a job where they’ve had to take responsibility for people, they sit in the Caucus and reinforce their own prejudice, and they think there is a money tree somewhere and they can just keep milking it while all these hundreds of thousands of Australians are out there risking their own money often, mortgaging their own homes to run their businesses and they are going to put an $80 billion tax over four years on these businesses.   It’s just totally unacceptable, its unrealistic and it’s just knocking the stuffing out of innovation, people wanting to take a risk, aiming for some blue sky out there, people who are prepared to work and, you know, I think people have had a gut full of it.   RAY HADLEY:    Let me just leave you with this: yesterday a listener – a lawyer – phoned me about an exchange with Rob Oakeshott. He described Mr Oakeshott as a “fluffy waffler”. Now I think, having listened to Ross Greenwood try and get something out of the Treasurer, Rob Oakeshott is a fluffy waffler, it’d be great to label the two of them as fluffy wafflers – both the Treasurer and the Member for Lyon.   ANDREW ROBB:   They are twins, these two. Separated from birth.   RAY HADLEY:    Thanks for your time.   ANDREW ROBB:   Thanks Ray. Andrew Robb Wed, 21 Mar 2012 01:43:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1375 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1380/Does-Australia-Need-More-Dams--ABC-Rural-Interview.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1380 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1380&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1380/Does-Australia-Need-More-Dams--ABC-Rural-Interview.aspx   Recordings   Bush Telegraph 19 3 2012 - Does Australia Need More Dams?   Install latest flash player if this video gallery doesn't work. var fObj = new FlashObject('/DesktopModules/UltraVideoGallery/mp3.swf', 'UVG', '400', '150', "9.0.115", ''); fObj.flashvars = 'portalId=0&baseUrl=/DesktopModules/UltraVideoGallery/&vId=101'; fObj.addParam('wmode', 'transparent'); fObj.addParam('allowFullScreen', 'true'); fObj.addParam('allowScriptAccess', 'always'); //fObj.addParam('wmode', 'transparent'); //When enable transparent background, users may not be able to enter full screen mode if their flash version is less than 9.0.115. //fObj.addParam('bgcolor', '#ffffff'); fObj.write('UVGContainer'); var UVGContainer; UVGContainer = document.getElementById('UVGContainer'); var playingVideoId; function UVG_onVideoLoad(id) { if (id Andrew Robb Mon, 19 Mar 2012 01:32:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1380 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1373/MORE-WONG-LIES-TO-HIDE-LABORS-100-BILLION-BLACK-HOLE.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1373 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1373&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1373/MORE-WONG-LIES-TO-HIDE-LABORS-100-BILLION-BLACK-HOLE.aspx   About 18 hours before the 2007 federal election the then Labor Opposition released the costings of its election policies.   “Yet today, Labor’s Finance Minister Penny Wong is stamping her foot, 18 months before the next scheduled election, demanding that the Coalition responds to some shonky and fictional analysis of her version of some of our policies,” Shadow Finance Minister Andrew Robb said.   “What pathetic hypocrisy; more lies and relentless Labor negativity.   “This is clearly an attempt by Labor to divert attention away from their spending promises that are either unfunded or hidden ‘off-budget’ which amount to around $100 billion. Labor’s $100 billion black hole.   “Instead of wasting departmental resources producing works of fiction, Penny Wong should be spending all of her time tackling Labor’s cumulative record deficits of $167 billion and record net debt which already exceeds $130 billion,” Mr Robb said.   “Before the last election the Coalition identified $50 billion of savings for an $11 billion improvement in the budget bottom line and a $30 billion reduction in Labor’s debt.   “Under any assessment we produced a superior budget bottom line to Labor with all of our spending commitments fully funded.   “We did so then and we will do so again before the next election,” Mr Robb said.   Andrew Robb Sun, 18 Mar 2012 23:19:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1373 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1371/Interview-with-Naomi-Woodley-ABC-Radio-National-AM-16-March-2012.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1371 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1371&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1371/Interview-with-Naomi-Woodley-ABC-Radio-National-AM-16-March-2012.aspx   E&OE   Topics: David Gonski appointed Future Fund Chairman, Andrew’s speech to VECCI     NAOMI WOODLEY: The Opposition's finance spokesman Andrew Robb won't go quite as far as Mr Costello but does agree that the process has been flawed.   ANDREW ROBB: They've slighted the new chairman, they've given him a lead weight to carry into the job, and also at the same time I think have reduced confidence perhaps in the fund itself.   NAOMI WOODLEY: You're giving a major economics speech today following up from Tony Abbott and Joe Hockey last week and you'll be arguing why the Australian economy is vulnerable. But how can you sustain that case when it's rated as one of the strongest in the world by the three top ratings agencies?   ANDREW ROBB: Despite the rose-coloured glasses and the really fortuitous economic benefits of the mining boom, which are a great blessing for Australia, if something comes off, if China starts to go backwards in terms of its growth - they've revised their growth estimate now, just last week, from 8.5, 9, to 7.5. If that happens, commodity prices come off, we're highly vulnerable and we'll be chasing our tail and increasing debt further and further.   NAOMI WOODLEY: Andrew Robb argues the Government has $100 billion of unfunded promises through the National Broadband Network, the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, the promise of new submarines and structural problems with the carbon and mining taxes.   ANDREW ROBB: If you add all those together there's $100 billion that should be in the Budget, should be accounted for, should be identified how they fund it.   NAOMI WOODLEY: The Opposition's clearly trying to counter the Government's repeated references to a $70 billion black hole in the Coalition's plans.   ANDREW ROBB: What they talk about is fictional. At the last election, notwithstanding some disagreement over some items, even if you put those aside, we were still left with more money than what was required to fund all of our promises. We fully funded our promises and we'll do that again.   NAOMI WOODLEY: He will accuse the Government of practising "shameless accounting trickery" to meet its surplus deadline. Andrew Robb Thu, 15 Mar 2012 23:15:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1371 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1369/LABORS-ATTACKS-ON-PETER-COSTELLO-A-DISGRACE.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1369 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1369&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1369/LABORS-ATTACKS-ON-PETER-COSTELLO-A-DISGRACE.aspx Labor's attacks on Peter Costello are a disgrace and also represent a slight on David Gonski.   "Peter Costello is a great Australian who not only had the vision and foresight to set up the Future Fund, but also restored the resilience in our economy after inheriting a Labor train wreck,” Shadow Finance Minister Andrew Robb said.   "Stephen Conroy has again showed his true colours with his nonsensical attack on Mr Costello, while Penny Wong is responsible for yet another botched Labor process.   "Their attacks on Peter Costello are also an insult to respected David Gonski who in fact recommended Mr Costello for the job of chairman of the Future Fund as acknowledged by Penny Wong.   “It is clear that spiteful Labor politics is what stopped Peter Costello from being appointed to a role for which he is eminently qualified. When exposed the likes of Conroy revert to type and attack the man when they can’t defend the issue.   “Peter Costello is a man who walks tall on the world financial stage, not only is he a director of the Future Fund he is also a member of the independent advisory board to the World Bank in Washington,” Mr Robb said.   Andrew Robb Thu, 15 Mar 2012 04:19:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1369 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1370/TRANSCRIPT-FIGHT-CLUB-WITH-RAFAEL-EPSTEIN-AND-CRAIG-EMERSON-ABC-DRIVE-14-MARCH-2012.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1370 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1370&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1370/TRANSCRIPT-FIGHT-CLUB-WITH-RAFAEL-EPSTEIN-AND-CRAIG-EMERSON-ABC-DRIVE-14-MARCH-2012.aspx E&OE Topics: Company tax cuts, Mining tax, taxation, Defence Skype incident   (Intro sequence)   RAFAEL EPSTEIN: Yes, welcome to ‘Fight Club’ with Andrew Robb, the Shadow Finance Minister as Brad Pitt. And in the starring role as, gosh, what's his name, the other bloke in that film – Ed Norton! – Craig Emerson, the Trade Minister. Both Ministers have been in the gym; they are shirtless; they are in the Canberra studio; they are ready to fight. Gentlemen, good afternoon.   ANDREW ROBB: Good afternoon.   CRAIG EMERSON: Good afternoon.   EMERSON: I've got the baby oil on as well.   EPSTEIN: (Laughter) Too much information!   ROBB: My theory is that both those fellows in the Fight Club got badly beaten about.   EPSTEIN: They did, they did, but that's the joy. That's what you go into it for, Andrew.   ROBB: Yeah, thanks very much.   EPSTEIN: Look, I want to ask you: one of the things that I like to do before we get into the hurley burley, and while we struggle to provide more light and less heat – that's our intention – I want to give you both a quick quiz. I've got some simple choices for you to make. What I will do is I will ask Craig Emerson to go first and then Andrew Robb. I'm going to give you some quick choices – very simple, not political. Here we go: Craig Emerson first: Star Trek or Star Wars, which do you prefer?   EMERSON: I like the Star Wars series, the trilogy.   EPSTEIN: Andrew Robb: Star Trek or Star Wars?   ROBB: Yeah, Star Wars for me.   EPSTEIN: Okay.   EMERSON: Go Obi-Wan Kenobi!   EPSTEIN: Craig Emerson: Rolling Stones or the Beatles?   EMERSON: Definitely the Beatles. I wasn't a big Rolling Stones fan, though I've got a signed Rolling Stones guitar. So if any one of your listeners –   EPSTEIN: Signed?   EMERSON: – would like to bid on eBay for that.   EPSTEIN: Wow, that is currently out there. Okay. Andrew Robb: Rolling Stones or the Beatles?   ROBB: It was Beatles in my younger years. I don't know whether it's a function of age, but I've been to two Rolling Stones concerts now in the last 15 years and they're winning for me at the moment.   EMERSON: Andrew is an old rocker.   EPSTEIN: There you go. Craig Emerson: David Jones or Myers? Do they have David Jones in Brissy?   EMERSON: Yes, they do. I bought a very narrow tie at David Jones in Sydney just the other day, and I reckon it's about in the old measure; it wouldn't be two inches wide. So that's the new trend. Andrew’s is a little wider.   EPSTEIN: Okay, so David Jones then. Andrew Robb, David Jones or Myer?   ROBB: I'm a Myer man now. They've done a stunning job with the refurbishment.   EPSTEIN: Oh, the new building in Melbourne.   ROBB: I think it's won an international award for design. And, you know, even if you're not shopping, which I don't like particularly, I still find I quite enjoy myself joining my wife – or following around behind my wife – when I'm in that store.   EPSTEIN: And Myers haven't given any money to the Liberal Party recently, I'm assuming? We just enjoy going to the store?   ROBB: No, nor the ABC either I don't think, has it?   EPSTEIN: We'll take money from anyone, that's okay.   EMERSON: That's well known!   EPSTEIN: Craig: latte or cappuccino?   EMERSON: Look I'm a latte guy, but a flat white, large flat white early in the morning so I'm ready for people like Andrew and Greg Hunt and Christopher Pyne and George Brandis.   EPSTEIN: All the people you enjoy. Andrew Robb: latte or cappuccino?   ROBB: Well, I'm a strong flat white man. See, it’s strong. I have to get something even stronger than Craig here.   EMERSON: Someone's from Melbourne.   ROBB: Dealing with the other side's even more difficult.   EPSTEIN: And look, this is a very Melbourne question but I'm going to throw it at you anyway, Craig Emerson.   EMERSON: I'll be struggling here.   EPSTEIN: The Age or the Herald Sun?   EMERSON: I like The Age; I like reading Michelle Grattan's columns. Yeah, so pretty much more The Age I think, yeah.   EPSTEIN: Andrew Robb: The Age or The Herald Sun?   ROBB: I’m a Herald Sun man actually.   EMERSON: Because he reads it from the back first, don't you? The Aussie rules –   ROBB: This – no, no, that's a [inaudible] insult. I've got to say when I was, years ago when I was the federal director, campaign director, and had to read every paper in the country, I'd read ten a day, and the first two I'd go to were The Herald Sun and The Daily Telegraph because –   EMERSON: Exactly. That’s true.   ROBB: – you really cover, one, our audience in a way, but, two, in usually about four paragraphs they covered what the broadsheets cover in about forty-four.   EMERSON: And 500,000 people can't be wrong. I think that's the circulation of The Herald Sun.   EPSTEIN: Is that a politician, Andrew Robb, is that a politician accusing a journalist of being verbose and prolix? I think it is.   (Laughter)   ROBB: Not totally, I'm not being totally critical, because often with the longer articles there's obviously more detail and consideration, but increasingly now a lot more of the journalist's own point of view, which you know, I know and Craig would know, often when they see the by-line exactly what sort of point of view that person's going to put anyway. So you're not necessarily learning something new.   EPSTEIN: Yeah, that's because we've watching – journalists have been watching politicians for so long we've decided to start expressing some of our own opinions. There you go, there's my little bit of editorialising for the day. Look, let's go company tax first. There's a big stoush on. The Federal Government, as many people will know, are going to introduce a mining tax; they're going to use it to provide a corporate tax cut. Andrew Robb, this time last year Tony Abbott said the Coalition will support company tax cuts. Today you're not going to support a corporate tax cut. Why?   ROBB: Because a tax cut which is a tax increase, or paid for by a tax increase, is not a tax cut; it's a con. And we will make our own decisions about what we take to an election, but we are not going to, in a de facto way, endorse either the minerals tax or the carbon tax by endorsing those programs which they're going to pay for with these taxes.   EPSTEIN: But last year you were –   ROBB: It’s in one hand, out the other.   EPSTEIN: But last year you were for the corporate tax cut; this year you're not. Why should people believe what you say?   ROBB: Well, they'll have to wait until the election. Last time we took to the election a proposal for a tax cut which was funded out of savings, not out of the mining tax or the carbon tax. We're being totally consistent with the way in which we approached both those issues at the last election, and that's the way we'll do it again. We will have modest tax cuts and they will be funded from savings.   EPSTEIN: Something tells me Craig Emerson won't be convinced. Craig before you have a go, 1300 222 774 if callers, if people want to call in and say hello and ask – I guess we'll let them throw any question at the two of you, 1300 222 774. Craig Emerson, you'd have more money to spend on a company tax cut if you hadn't botched the introduction of mining tax Mach One, wouldn't you?   EMERSON: This is a profits-based tax. It's similar to the Petroleum Resource Rent Tax that I helped design back in the mid-1980s, that stood the test of time in collecting for the general public a share of the proceeds of developing our mineral resources. That's what it's all about: sharing the benefits of the mining boom. The legislation for the mining tax is before the Senate; the legislation for a corporate tax cut reduction – reductions, sorry, is separate. And it would be open to the Coalition to press ahead with their view that the mining tax should not go ahead but still apply common sense and reduce corporate tax. They're not doing that.   EPSTEIN: But still, you're giving companies a tax cut of one per cent. You could have given them your initial proposal, which was a two percent tax cut if you hadn't stuffed up the introduction of the mining tax the first time around.   EMERSON: Well, we are applying the mining tax to the large mineral companies and we're applying it to iron ore and coal and gas. Now, some people suggest we should apply it to gold and nickel and uranium. They're all mixed in as minerals and it's virtually impossible to separate them out, and so what we're doing is applying a practical tax. But we do have the party that presents itself as a party of business, including of small business, which is saying that they will not support what Tony Abbott said he would support, as you pointed out, a year ago, and that is a reduction in the company tax. Indeed, it’s Coalition policy to increase the company tax rate for larger companies to pay for the “Rolls-Royce” paid parental leave scheme. It's not my quote, my description, “Rolls-Royce”. That's come from Coalition backbenchers in an argument, in fact a Fight Club argument in the Party Room. So we've got this completely confused situation –   EPSTEIN: Okay, Craig, I just want to put that to Andrew Robb.   EMERSON: Well, they want to increase tax and reduce –   EPSTEIN: One moment, Craig Emerson. Andrew Robb, you've actually won the argument, haven't you? Because a year ago you were saying you shouldn't support a company tax cut if it is funded by the mining tax. You finally won that argument; you've gone over the heads of others in your party, haven't you? So it's a success for you?   ROBB: Well, I wouldn't put it that way. I'm just saying it's totally consistent with what we took to the last election. As I said before, a tax cut based on a tax increase is not a tax cut; it's a con. And a real tax cut should be funded out of expenditure.   EPSTEIN: Well it's a redistribution of the boom, isn’t it? It’s a redistribution of wealth.   ROBB: Well, this is the other issue, I think. There's a lot of smoke and mirrors that goes on in this business. The fact of the matter is that the mining industry in total, in the four years before the boom started, paid a total of $14 billion tax to state and federal governments – corporate tax and royalties. Now, in the next four years, Craig and his colleagues are going to get into their coffers over $100 billion corporate tax from the mining industry, plus another $30 billion of carbon tax. So they have increased massively – massively – the contribution which is going straight back out to the community. So to suggest that the mining companies, one, are not paying any tax or any significant tax at all is just a total furphy. It's nearly a third of the budget, by the way, of total revenue –   EPSTEIN: Sorry, that figure you’re giving, that's part of the mining tax or just what they're already paying?   ROBB: No, that's the corporate tax –   EPSTEIN: Right, okay.   ROBB: When they weren't making any money – Craig says this new tax is profits based.   EMERSON: It is.   ROBB: When they weren't making any money they didn't pay a lot of tax; they paid $14 billion. Now that they're making a lot of money they're paying $100 billion over the next four years. It is profit based; it is forty per cent; most companies pay thirty per cent. But it's forty per cent, as it should be because they're taking resources out of the ground.   EPSTEIN: Okay, look, Craig. You'll both get a chance to interject and to respond to some of those points. I just want to give the callers a bit of a go. Chris has called in from Sorrento. Chris, good afternoon.   CALLER CHRIS: Oh, good afternoon, yeah. Yes, I have a question for Andrew, and I'd like as a caveat to say, sometimes bulk figures, financial figures, can be misleading because they're not in reference to the total the mining companies earn. That's another issue.   EPSTEIN: Okay, so what's your question?   CALLER: The question is, does he think it's fair for Australian mining companies, or overseas mining companies who operate in Australia, to pay the Australian people for the raw mineral ore that they take out of the ground, as in that's sort of Australia's land, as you'd pay a farmer for the corn before it's processed?   EPSTEIN: So does Andrew Robb think it's fair?   ROBB: Well, yes, no I agree with you. I think I agree with your listener and that's why the mining companies pay the royalties.   EPSTEIN: Just quickly –   ROBB: That’s why they pay the royalties now, which is – that's why they pay royalties now which means our mining industry pays thirty per cent corporate tax, which as the mining income goes up that goes up dramatically – and it has – and they also pay royalties to the states for infrastructure. Now that's meant to be because these resources are the community's resource. So they pay forty per cent of all of their revenue roughly in taxes. Now that is about the highest in the world of mining companies, and, you know, where the community does, I think, share in this.   EPSTEIN: Okay, Chris, happy with that answer?   CALLER: Not really, because if they're paying for infrastructure, that's not really a tax. They're getting infrastructure to –   EMERSON: Good point.   ROBB: No, I'm sorry, I've misled you. They're paying royalties to state governments who, in the main – they can use it for what they like – but in the main they tend to use it for infrastructure. But the mining companies pay a royalty which is a straight tax into government coffers.   EPSTEIN: Okay, Chris. Thank you.   EMERSON: In fact, some of those royalties pay states to build mining infrastructure.   EPSTEIN: Craig, are you convinced by Andrew's answer.   EMERSON: The Liberal Party – Tony Abbott and the Liberals – are the only people in Australia who believe the mining industry already pays too much tax. Tony Abbott has said the mining industry pays more than its fair share of tax. He does not accept the argument that the people who are owners of these resources should get benefits in terms of an increase in superannuation for the working men and women of Australia, which is to be financed out of the mining tax; a small business tax break, an accelerated write-off of assets valued up to six and a half thousand dollars and a company tax rate reduction for all of those companies who are not in the mining industry fast lane. This would boost the competitiveness of Australian industries. It's being wisely spent, but the Coalition again is saying that they are the party of business, including small business, and they are opposing what we're seeking to do here.   EPSTEIN: Look, there's another question from George in North Balwyn, also on the mining tax. George, good afternoon. What's your question?   CALLER GEORGE: Good afternoon guys. For better or for worse, I've been a follower of Ross Gittins since my two and three unit economics days in school days. And I think even then he was advocating that we needed to hugely expand our tax base and broaden it from just income – not just income and company tax sources, and now I think we’re sort of, playing catch up and we're creating a politically divisive and explosive means to generate the shortfall which should have been done over the last fifteen, sixteen years.   EPSTEIN: So what's your question to them? Whether or not the mining tax is too broad, too narrow?   CALLER: No, whether or not we should have, in hindsight – and it's easy with the benefit of hindsight – whether we should have broadened the tax base before this current time in the last decade, rather than just rely on things to broaden it when things are in shortfall?   EPSTEIN: Okay, George, thank you. Craig Emerson, you're in Government: should you in the last five years have done more to broaden the tax base?   EMERSON: Well the Coalition in Government broadened the tax base by the introduction of the goods and services tax –   EPSTEIN: They did.   EMERSON: The ten per cent GST in 2001 – that was a very big broadening exercise. It was supposed to change the tax mix overall so there'd be less reliance on company tax. That was the argument at the time. But what actually happened is that from the period 2001 through to 2007, tax as a share of GDP was the highest it had ever been and the highest it has ever been since. In other words, the Coalition is the highest-taxing Government in Australia's history. So that base-broadening did occur, but it was supposed to then mean less reliance on personal income tax. That hasn't been the case. But the overall point remains that the Coalition would actually increase the company tax rate to pay for the paid parental leave scheme. That's their policy.   EPSTEIN: Andrew Robb, is Craig Emerson right? As a share of the economy, tax was much bigger under the Coalition Government than it is under Labor.   ROBB: Well this is one of the great lies –   EMERSON: It's in the budget papers!   ROBB: Sorry, I’ll explain –   EPSTEIN: Let him finish.   ROBB: The point is, since that year – the last year of the Howard Government or the years before – when we had zero debt, we've now got a $136 billion – the biggest debt in our –   EMERSON: What's that got to do with the tax take?   ROBB: Well, the trouble is, Craig, someone has to pay for it. And it is virtually deferred taxation. You can either pay for money by taxing, or you can tax and borrow. Now, this Government has taxed as best it can, in fact it's introducing a whole raft of new taxes. The mining tax is a cash grab because they've got no more money to rip out of the system, and they put it in the context of sharing money around. But the fact of the matter is someone's got to pay for it in the future. It is deferred taxation. If you put that equivalent of deferred taxation on top of their tax rate it actually – Labor's got the biggest level of tax.   EMERSON: And if you add your uncle’s name to your auntie’s you get –   ROBB: No, you’re an economist Craig. You understand this.   EPSTEIN: I'm going to stop the discussion there. I'm going to pause the discussion there; hit the pause button. Love to hear your questions; 1300 222 774. Also your texts on 0437 774 774 after this.   [News and traffic report]   EPSTEIN: Thank you very much Andrew, look, I want to ask the both of you: Andrew Robb, you are the Minister for Finance, and Craig Emerson, you're the Trade Minister. But I am going to ask you a Defence question. Stephen Smith is getting hammered from former Army people, some very senior Army people. One of the key criticisms is that he was very upset with the Australian Defence Academy when there was this woman who suffered under the Skype scandal, I don't want to go through all the details, but the day after the revelation of this Skype incident she was hauled before a disciplinary hearing. Stephen Smith was very upset about it and stood down the man who runs the Australian Defence Academy. I want to know, Craig Emerson, do you think that Stephen Smith did the right thing, because there's an awful lot of people inside, particularly the Army, who are furious with his intervention?   EMERSON: Well, I think he did need to intervene. Cadet Kate, as she has become known, was to appear before a disciplinary hearing on unrelated matters, but unavoidably and totally predictably, she would then have been the subject of an enormous amount of media attention because of this Skyping incident. And what Stephen argued is that that inquiry, that hearing, should have been held over so that she wasn't humiliated, embarrassed, the way that she was, over the Skyping matter. Now, I think that's a matter of common decency and commonsense.   EPSTEIN: But it's an interference in the chain of command, isn't it? I mean the Minister's not supposed to appoint and not appoint people further down the chain, and that's what he was doing by asking him to stand down.   EMERSON: Well, I think that the Minister does have the authority to do that. He was shocked by the insensitivity. Now, you know, there's been a long time since then and a lot of water has gone under the bridge. But let me say this: Stephen Smith is totally committed to our defence forces, to our armed forces, but he thought that this was an unjust treatment of an 18-year-old girl who had just been humiliated.   EPSTEIN: Andrew Robb, what do you think?   ROBB: Well, I think that the issue is not so much the handling of that – it's one of the issues – and there is a perception, rightly or wrongly, in many circles, and especially across the military, that he used that issue somewhat for political purposes, and I don't know the essence of that, but that is the perception being run around. But the other thing is what we've had is the five most senior, most senior, immediately retired generals and leaders of the armed forces, including Peter Cosgrove, who have all come out and expressed great concern, not only about that issue, but about the fact that there seems to be a totally dysfunctional relationship between Stephen Smith and the defence personnel, and even to the point of personnel on the ground in combat and the way in which meetings occurred and the atmospherics and the body language and all the rest. Now I think it's a matter of fact that there is a deeply dysfunctional relationship, and unless Stephen Smith can really correct that, I think the Prime Minister has to move him in to some other responsibility, because you cannot have a situation, especially when we're in theatres of war around the world, where the Defence Minister has not – or is not seen to be, or not seen by his troops – to have his heart and soul in their cause.   EPSTEIN: Okay, look, a lot of people are wanting to call up and ask questions about the tax, small company and big company tax situation. Dominic's calling from somewhere in Melbourne. Dominic, what was your question?   CALLER DOMINIC: Yeah, what I wanted to bring up is that it just surprises me that there seems to be a lot said about this company tax helping small businesses, when it really should be made clear that only thirty per cent of small business are in fact companies, and a great majority of those are unlikely to make a profit this year, so therefore, it really isn't helping a lot of small businesses. There's seventy per cent there totally ignored, and the $6,500 tax benefit is only available if you're prepared to spend money [inaudible] –   EPSTEIN: Okay, look Dominic, I want to give them both a chance to answer your question, so thank you for calling. He doesn't really think you're doing much for small business particularly when most of them aren't companies.   EMERSON: It is true that the majority of small businesses are unincorporated - that is that they're not companies, and we're not pretending or suggesting that those businesses would benefit from a company tax rate reduction. What we are saying is that any and all assets valued up to $6,500 would be able to be written off immediately. It is also true, as your listener points out, that is of value when small businesses buy assets, but we provided a similar incentive during the global recession and, in fact, it was taken up enthusiastically while the Coalition was saying it wouldn't be. It was taken up very, very keenly by small businesses who thought it was extremely valuable.   EPSTEIN: Okay. Andrew Robb, just very quickly because I need to do a few things before we get to the news headlines, ah, to the news itself.   ROBB: Well, again your caller's correct. I mean, you'd think listening to the Government that they're giving a small fortune to the 2.4 million small businesses, when only about 250,000 will actually qualify, and many of those, including many I know, won't make money so they can't get anything from the corporate tax. And the other one is that it will benefit some but they have to spend $22,000 to get to six and a half. There's a lot of those 2.4 million...   EMERSON: No, they don't, they only need to spend up to six and a half thousand dollars.   EPSTEIN: Gentlemen, I need to call time there. I thank you very much. Craig Emerson is the Trade Minister; Andrew Robb is the Shadow Finance Minister, also for Deregulation and Debt Reduction. Thanks to you both.   EMERSON: Okay, thanks a lot.   EPSTEIN: See you later.   ENDS Andrew Robb Wed, 14 Mar 2012 07:23:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1370 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1368/Transcript-of-Interview-with-Chris-Smith-2GB-Sydney-12-March-2012.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1368 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1368&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1368/Transcript-of-Interview-with-Chris-Smith-2GB-Sydney-12-March-2012.aspx   Topic: Coalition Dams Taskforce, northern food bowl.   E&OE    CHRIS SMITH:   As I’ve been mentioning, I’m heartened to see the issue of dams back on the agenda, and with all of this rain, there’s really no better time to talk about it.   Last week, Graham Richardson wrote about this in the Australian, a move that was followed up the next morning by Tony Abbott. Mr Abbott said the Coalition has a “pro-dams” policy, which is good to hear. Now it’s revealed that under a Coalition plan, mining companies could be asked to bankroll a host of new dams across the nation, in some cases.   The Coalition plan is aimed at rural areas, with a water rights pre-purchase plan being considered for irrigators and miners. Under this proposal, seventy percent of the water would need to be committed to before dam construction begins – which would make business sense. In other cases, some reservoirs would revert to public ownership. But it’s an aim designed to double our food production. This is within our reach as Australians. Within our reach as any political party should be.   They should have thought about this long ago. Even after the Snowy Mountains Scheme, this is where we should have headed into. The big plans. The big vision. And all we need now is a little bit of impetus. Well it seems like one party at least is finally taking a serious look at the issue.   I thought we’d find out more, and with me on the line is Andrew Robb, the Coalition’s Dams Taskforce Chairman. Andrew Robb, good afternoon.   ANDREW ROBB:   Good afternoon Chris.     SMITH:   Did you volunteer to become the Chairman of the Dams Taskforce?   ROBB:   I did indeed –   SMITH:   Good.   ROBB: We set this up about twelves months ago now, in February last year, and there’s a series of colleagues. Barnaby Joyce is my Deputy –   SMITH:   Good.   ROBB:   And there’s a series of others like Greg Hunt and Simon Birmingham and others with relevant responsibilities, but Barnaby and I mainly, and with some of the others – Ian McDonald, a Senator from North Queensland, and who’s had a great interest in this area.   We’ve spent all of last year, off and on with a day here, two days there, and we’ve visited every state now, and we’ve gone out and looked at dozens of potential dam sites and things, because there’s been a veto over this sort of thing for thirty years, nothing of consequence built in thirty years –   SMITH:   Well let’s not forget what occurred with the Welcome Reef site near Braidwood. All of a sudden we had an idea to build a dam there, and the new Senator, Bob Carr, decided to turn it into a national park, and they claimed “oh, it was in a rain shadow”, etcetera, well, if you ask most of the experts, so was Warragamba Dam.   ROBB:   Exactly, everyone’s had every reason possible to stop it, well there has been – and I must say, everywhere we go now, there’s so many projects – a lot of them aren’t that big. I mean, they’re just people who know their local area, they’ve got a plan for a dam which might irrigate two valleys, produce a bit of hydro, it will provide some recreational fishing, some local tourism, and sometimes these sorts of projects have been held up for decades, and you say to the people, “This is fantastic”, you know, you’ve got – [they’ve] often spent thousands of dollars, the local council and interested parties – and it’s all sitting there, and you say, “Well, why aren’t you pursuing it?”. And they just put their heads down and just say “The Greens”.   The Greens, you know, the people there that just use every possible process to frustrate, and it can become very expensive, as you know –   SMITH:   Well, they’ll argue that the Red-Speckled Green Tree Frog is endangered in some of these sites, and yet what dams do, it creates its own biosphere of flora and fauna.   ROBB:   Exactly. Well, there’s many opportunities, we’re seeing the way, and I’ve had a look in parts of the US where they’ve put serious dams in areas, where they’ve needed to, a bit like Australia in parts of the United States, but the spin-off for tourism and recreational uses is also something which is never considered here, but has got enormous potential, and if you look at some of the sites for many of these dams, you know, you can turn them into areas of great social benefit too.   There’s lots you can do with it, and markedly enhance many areas, as well as, obviously increase our productivity of agriculture, and –   SMITH:   Well surely we could move water, or capture water and then move it medium distances to ensure that semi-arid regions are able to harvest food, and therefore we could become a great food bowl for the rest of the world?   ROBB:   Well the thing is Chris, what I’ve discovered more than anything else, is that if we use the water where it falls, I think will not only double our output, but at the moment we feed 60 million people in Australia each year, in Australia and beyond.   We could easily feed 120 million, and I think go much higher, because there’s been enormous advancement in the last 30 years in both the efficiency in the use of water, the irrigation techniques and all the rest, huge advances, and then of course all of the way in which different breeds of plants and things.   I think there was something on the front of the Australian today, where the genetics have just come ahead light years, like every other form of that research, and the potential is enormous. And if you look at the north of Australia, which has never been developed, because it’s – the thing is, it costs a lot of money for the initial development up at the north – when I talk the north, I mean right up, right across from Townsville and up, and right across to Broome.   There’s about 11 million hectares of arable soil, and seventy percent of all the water that falls in Australia falls up there. Now, everyone’s always talked about bring it thousands of kilometres down, but you could use it, you could satisfactorily dam many areas up there too, and use it for agriculture –   SMITH:   Use it where it falls.   ROBB:   Use it where it falls. And the thing is, what has happened, what has made all these things really exciting, but also really possible, is that, to our north, you know, 20 years ago, 30 years ago, when I was running the National Farmers Federation, and the Cattle Council, and got to know a lot of that area, there was no market north.   There was no market. They couldn’t afford expensive food. Well now, I’ve got friends selling mangoes individually at $30 into Shanghai. I mean, the growth in the middle class in Asia is enormous. And the OECD say that at the moment, twenty-three per cent of the world’s middle class is in the Asia-Pacific, that’s from India through to China.   SMITH:   China in particular, some of those cities now have turned into middle class dominated, not necessarily upper crust families but certainly families that have a great deal of affordable income and they are in all those trendy apartments and they are looking around the world for items and products that they are prepared to buy.    ROBB:    Exactly, and the OECD are saying that there’s 23 percent of the world’s middle class now from India through to China and in 2030, only 20 years away, there’ll be 66 percent, it is just an explosion.    SMITH:   And we can supply all of this if we think beyond the next three years which unfortunately has always hampered modern era governments, Andrew, where we have a situation where everyone thinks about what we can do in the three years of our present regime of government, when we’ve got to think 25 years ahead.    ROBB:   That’s right. Well Tony Abbott will be releasing shortly the draft report of our work and investigations over the last 12 months. It does identify in excess of 100 opportunities in every state, with a strong emphasis on the north but like Warragamba Dam that desperately needs extension for flood mitigation.    They came over the top for the first time in 14 years just recently so there are different reasons for different dams and whatever, but, and there are opportunities in every state and we will put that out for public debate for six or nine months and I hope it does generate a lot of debate and then we’ll put something final which we’ll take to the election.   SMITH:   Well that’s terrific and it’s good to hear that there’s some momentum and impetus behind this. Just on a very small side bar issue, the NSW premier Barry O’Farrell said that dam safety won’t be compromised despite opposition claims that more than $100 million dollars will be cut from dam safety funding.    The opposition said a state water corporation report shows the bulk water delivery business which operates 21 rural N.S.W. based collection services is struggling to meet N.S.W. dam safety committee benchmarks.    The corporation also says it must find savings of $46 million dollars to $110 million dollars during the coming decade as part of a state government dividend policy.    They seem to be going in the opposite direction to you guys.   ROBB:   What’s that – the opposition in N.S.W.?   SMITH:   No, I mean Barry O’Farrell, he’s suggesting that 100 million dollars will be cut from dam safety funding.   ROBB:   Right, ok, well I’ll have to have a talk to Barry about that – I’m not sure what–   SMITH: because we’ve got to embrace –   ROBB:  I don’t know what the reason for that is.    SMITH:   Because you know, the green movement has all the time been telling us that we have got to be sustainable.    What better sustainable product, or sorry project could there be than building more dams and what better way to increase productivity as most business leaders are screaming for at the moment.   ROBB:   Exactly, like I say, in fact we are blessed with enormous amounts of wonderful soil types around this country and you know a lot of water, it’s just that we don’t capture most of it that about 70 percent that falls above Townsville and Broome, that line above those two areas, I think we capture about one percent of it at the moment.    We have really got a moral responsibility to make the most of the wonderful resources that we’ve been given and at the moment we are just not doing that.   SMITH:   Yeah, exactly. Thank you very much for your time this afternoon and we look forward to the release of that full report. Thank you.   ROBB:   Thanks Chris.     SMITH:   Shadow Minister for Finance, Deregulation and Debt Reduction, Chairman of the Coalition Policy Development Committee and as I mentioned, the Coalition’s Dams taskforce chairman, Andrew Robb. We’ve just got to use what we have in a smarter and better way.    ENDS Andrew Robb Mon, 12 Mar 2012 05:50:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1368 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1366/BIG-SPENDING-WONG-AFRAID-OF-WHAT-AUDIT-WILL-REVEAL.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1366 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1366&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1366/BIG-SPENDING-WONG-AFRAID-OF-WHAT-AUDIT-WILL-REVEAL.aspx   If Penny Wong was serious about stopping Labor’s profligacy she would back the commission of audit announced today by Tony Abbott to review government expenditure.   “Instead of supporting this responsible measure, we get more negative carping from Penny Wong, who is ultimately responsible for Labor’s reckless spending and record levels of debt,” Shadow Finance Minister Andrew Robb said.   “Penny Wong is undoubtedly afraid that an audit of this nature would lift the lid on the extent of Labor waste under her watch hence her knee-jerk resistance.”   The head of the Business Council of Australia Jennifer Westacott described the Coalition’s announcement as “an important and welcome initiative”.    “It is critical that action be taken to address structural issues with the scope and size of government, and the only way of doing that is to undertake a comprehensive audit along the lines of what the Opposition Leader has outlined,” Ms Westacott said.   Mr Robb mocked Penny Wong’s claims that the government already kept a close eye on spending.   “This is laughable when you consider that annual spending has grown from $272 billion in 2007-08 to an estimated $370 billion this year.   “Labor is spending almost $100 billion more per year, an increase of almost 40 per cent, when inflation totalled just 13 per cent over the same period.   “If Penny Wong was keeping an eye on spending would she be prepared to borrow $10 billion to fund a ‘Bob Brown Bank’? Labor is still borrowing $100 million a day during a mining boom. It’s madness,” Mr Robb said. Andrew Robb Fri, 09 Mar 2012 06:14:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1366 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1365/TRANSCRIPT-OF-THE-HON-ANDREW-ROBB-MP-ABC-NEWS-RADIO-WITH-MARIUS-BENSON.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1365 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1365&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1365/TRANSCRIPT-OF-THE-HON-ANDREW-ROBB-MP-ABC-NEWS-RADIO-WITH-MARIUS-BENSON.aspx   Topics: Paid Parental Leave, business perceptions of Hon Wayne Swan MP   E&OE     MARIUS BENSON: Andrew Robb, can you clarify, there is some confusion, is the Coalition committed to Tony Abbott’s paid parental leave scheme or not?   ANDREW ROBB: The Coalition is totally committed. We made an announcement now some two years ago, when it was announced, we also announced a modest levy which would fully fund the initiative. The policy has been re-announced on a number of occasions since the last election so there is a full commitment. The point that was being made yesterday was about other future policies, and was not a reference to the paid parental leave policy.   MARIUS BENSON: There may be a full commitment but there are also misgivings that have been widely publicised within Opposition ranks about the paid parental leave scheme because you say its going to involve a modest levy but that’s, what, 3 billion dollars?   ANDREW ROBB: It is a levy on companies that in many cases, already had their own paid parental leave scheme not dissimilar to the one that we will introduce so for many companies it is simply a replacement cost.   MARIUS BENSON: But isn’t this scheme that you’re backing almost the dictionary definition of the big tax, big government approach that you criticise Labor for?   ANDREW ROBB: No, it’s a workplace entitlement which quite a number of large companies already have introduced, and this initiative of ours will introduce this scheme to companies in a far more extensive way and be an important component of the skills initiative that we will seek to take to meet the skills shortage that has arisen, largely out of the mining boom.   MARIUS BENSON: Can I ask you about a business perspective on your side of politics and the Governments? Because there is criticism from both carried in the Australian Financial Review this morning. Some business people are critical of Wayne Swan’s attacks on big miners, big resource figures, and the criticism from one is that Wayne Swan is a political animal but a policy light-weight, which you’d probably welcome that assessment, but an assessment from another business person is of Joe Hockey, which is, Hockey’s reputation amongst the business community is poor. Would you accept that Joe Hockey’s reputation amongst the business community is poor?   ANDREW ROBB: I certainly don’t. It is a matter of fact that Wayne Swan is seen as a policy light-weight, as someone who has got no feel really for the drivers of a modern economy and in 77 boardroom meetings that I’ve had over the last two years since I’ve had this policy, finance responsibility, overwhelmingly, that is the feedback I get from boardrooms, that, their disappointment, their frustration and even anger at the inability of Wayne Swan to identify and empathise and then respond to the sorts of economic policy problems and difficulties faced by business. The sovereign risk issues introduced by this government and including Wayne Swan with the mining tax, the way in which he ambushed industry, ambushed the finance sector, ambushed State Governments, was an absolute disgrace. And now he’s out lying about it. On the contrary, Joe Hockey has had a strong history as a Government Minister within the Howard Government and his record as a minister stands.   MARIUS BENSON: Andrew Robb, thank you very much   ANDREW ROBB: Thanks Marius Andrew Robb Tue, 06 Mar 2012 00:28:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1365 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1363/10-BILLION-CLEAN-ENERGY-SLUSH-FUND-EXPOSED-AS-A-COMPLETE-WASTE-OF-MONEY.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1363 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1363&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1363/10-BILLION-CLEAN-ENERGY-SLUSH-FUND-EXPOSED-AS-A-COMPLETE-WASTE-OF-MONEY.aspx     The $10 billion Clean Energy Finance Corporation has been further exposed as “inherently wasteful” and will achieve “precisely zero” in terms of real CO2 savings under a carbon tax.   These are the damning conclusions of Centre for Independent Research Studies Research Fellow Dr Oliver Marc Hartwich who has today released a report A Waste of Energy – Why the Clean Energy Finance Corporation is redundant.   Dr Hartwich said: “The physical effect of energy subsidies is precisely zero in an environment where the total emissions are pre-determined by a trading scheme. Not a single gram of carbon dioxide is saved by pumping money into renewables.”     Shadow Finance Minister Andrew Robb said Dr Hartwich has exposed the ‘Bob Brown Bank’ for what it is, a totally futile waste of taxpayers’ money.   “It is criminal that the Gillard government could bow to Greens’ demands to borrow $10 billion to pump into what is nothing more than a giant slush fund.   “This is one of the greatest abuses of public policy this country has seen particularly considering the vulnerable state of the budget which is already burdened with record levels of debt and deficit,” Mr Robb said.   Mr Robb said this borrowed money will be inevitably spent on high risk projects favoured by the Greens and will be nothing more than grants.   “These will not be viable investments as the government spuriously claims and it is therefore deception of the highest order in not factoring this spending into the budget bottom line.   “This is part of the government’s budget surplus con job. The real state of the books is far worse than what Penny Wong and Wayne Swan want everyone to believe,” Mr Robb said. Andrew Robb Thu, 01 Mar 2012 03:22:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1363 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1364/ABC-DRIVE-MELBOURNE--FIGHT-CLUB--WITH-RAFAEL-EPSTEIN.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1364 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1364&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1364/ABC-DRIVE-MELBOURNE--FIGHT-CLUB--WITH-RAFAEL-EPSTEIN.aspx                                           CLICK HERE TO PLAY INTERVIEW Andrew Robb Tue, 28 Feb 2012 23:32:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1364 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1362/Letter-to-the-editor--LaTrobe-Valley-Express.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1362 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1362&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1362/Letter-to-the-editor--LaTrobe-Valley-Express.aspx Andrew Robb Tue, 28 Feb 2012 06:13:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1362 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1360/GREENS-SOVEREIGN-WEALTH-FUND-NONSENSE.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1360 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1360&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1360/GREENS-SOVEREIGN-WEALTH-FUND-NONSENSE.aspx   The Greens must take us all for fools with their hypocritical attempts to claim the economic moral high-ground in calling for the establishment of a new sovereign wealth fund.   “This from the party that demanded the establishment of a $10 billion clean energy slush fund, a ‘Bob Brown Bank’ to be financed with borrowed money,” Shadow Finance Minister Andrew Robb said.   “Adam Bandt’s call for a new sovereign wealth fund is laughable quite frankly, given the record debt and deficit that we are facing on account of Labor’s reckless spending which has been aided and abetted by the Greens.   “How do the Greens expect to boost national savings on the back of cumulative deficits of $167 billion and with net debt approaching $136 billion? The interest bills alone are about $7 billion a year. It’s an academic argument.   “Our number one priority must be to get the budget back on track, to cut wasteful spending and debt so that we can restore the resilience that this government inherited, but squandered.   “Furthermore, for the Greens’ information, Australia already has a sovereign wealth fund, the $73 billion Future Fund, established by the Coalition and it played a crucial role at the onset of the global financial crisis,” Mr Robb said.   “It provided an extremely critical source of liquidity to banks during the initial fortnight of panic on world capital markets following the Lehman Brothers collapse.   “The Future Fund’s mandate and role could easily be extended at any time in the future when the nation’s finances are restored to such a position where significant reserves are available to save.   “This will sadly never happen as long as Labor and Bob Brown are controlling the nation’s purse strings because they are incapable of living within their means,” Mr Robb said.    Andrew Robb Tue, 28 Feb 2012 04:43:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1360 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1357/BOWEN-EYES-SWANS-JOB-AS-MORE-BOATS-ARRIVE.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1357 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1357&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1357/BOWEN-EYES-SWANS-JOB-AS-MORE-BOATS-ARRIVE.aspx   An opinion piece in The Australian today by hapless Immigration Minister Chris Bowen on the economy shows Julia Gillard has lost all control.   Bowen has proved incapable of resolving Labor’s rolling border protection crisis, yet he finds time to make a pathetic pitch for Wayne Swan’s job as more boats arrive.   The fact the likes of Bowen are out so publicly jostling for other positions further demonstrates the level of dysfunction within this government.   Julia Gillard has no authority, commands no respect and has no control over her ministers.   Bowen meanwhile has been a dismal failure in Immigration, apparently offering to resign at one stage.   All of his attention should be focused on fixing the myriad problems in his own backyard, including continuing cost blow-outs. Andrew Robb Wed, 15 Feb 2012 23:13:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1357 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1359/Transcript-Interview-with-Rafael-Epstein-ABC-774.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1359 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1359&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1359/Transcript-Interview-with-Rafael-Epstein-ABC-774.aspx   Transcript: Interview with Rafael Epstein, ABC 774 15 February 2012 CLICK HERE TO PLAY INTERVIEW RAFAEL EPSTEIN: Welcome to Fight Club.  Bill Shorten is the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, he’s also the Minister for Financial Services and Superannuation, and Andrew Robb is the Shadow Minister for Finance, Superannuation and Debt Reduction.  They’re both joining us from the Canberra studio. Good afternoon. BILL SHORTEN: Good afternoon. ANDREW ROBB: Good afternoon. RAFAEL EPSTEIN: Good to have you both there.  I think we’ve got a little bit of a mic problem there.  I’m going to charge on, hopefully you’ll be in front of the microphones so that we can hear you crystal clearly.  I did get some good feedback when I asked Andrew Robb and Nicola Roxon a few weeks ago on their day to day lives.  Can I just start with both of you a simple question, and just try and keep it short. I just want to know what time did you wake up today, what you had for breakfast and what time you think you might be knocking off tonight, when you’ll be stopping work.  If I could start with you Andrew Robb, what time you woke up? ANDREW ROBB:    Six o’clock, had a swim, two boiled eggs and I’d say about 10:30 tonight. RAFAEL EPSTEIN: So you’ll stop work at 10:30? ANDREW ROBB:    Yes. RAFAEL EPSTEIN: Two boiled eggs, does that keep you going, is that enough to keep you going through the day? ANDREW ROBB:    Well it’s that protein diet you see, I’m off the carbs and starting with the eggs and have a decent meal at night. RAFAEL EPSTEIN: Okay good luck, fuelled by coffee too no doubt.  Bill Shorten, what time did you get up? BILL SHORTEN:      6:30. RAFAEL EPSTEIN: Breakfast? BILL SHORTEN:      I missed breakfast. RAFAEL EPSTEIN: You missed breakfast?  That’s not a very good example for you… [Over speaking] RAFAEL EPSTEIN: That’s not and I have to say that it’s a shame this is not being televised. ANDREW ROBB:    That explains a lot BILL SHORTEN:      I was about to say that Andrew’s looking good but I don’t know if his eggs made him any happier.  And I went for a seven kilometre run. RAFAEL EPSTEIN: Right and what time will you knock off tonight? BILL SHORTEN:      Ten o’clock, 9:30. ANDREW ROBB:    After lobbying for the leadership. RAFAEL EPSTEIN: Yeah, yeah okay.  Look we are going to get to leadership, but I do want to go through a few policy things as well.  I’m going to ask you… BILL SHORTEN:      I make it clear, I would probably, if I was a Liberal I would vote for Andrew. RAFAEL EPSTEIN: Yeah okay, look I’ll give you… ANDREW ROBB: I’d vote for you too, Bill  [Over speaking] RAFAEL EPSTEIN: Whoa, whoa, whoa gentlemen.  And people need to understand I can’t shut these guys up because they’re in the studio in Canberra.  So I will charge on.  I’m going to try and keep your answers to thirty or forty seconds each, we will see how we go.  I promise you’ll both get a chance to have a jab at each other. Firstly, the Government has secured passage of the changes to private health insurance and the rebate.  I’ll start with Andrew Robb, Andrew tell me your answer to this, there is no reason for taxpayers to give extra money, so a family on two-hundred-and-forty-thousand dollars can pay less for their private health insurance.  Can you think of any reason why taxpayers should fund that? ANDREW ROBB:    Most certainly I can.  The rebate applying to all families – and don’t tell me that a family on one-hundred-and-fifty or one-hundred-and-ten is wealthy, it’s offensive – but no family – every family that buys this health insurance means there’s a bigger pool and the overall cost of premiums is then lower for low income people.  All of those people on twenty-five and thirty-thousand; and it takes pressure off the private hospitals so that people who can’t afford insurance can actually get good access to a public hospital. RAFAEL EPSTEIN: But people on two-hundred-and-forty-thousand – a family on two-hundred-and-forty-thousand dollars don’t need help, do they? ANDREW ROBB:    They need the encouragement – there’s a lot of families – I’ve had lots of correspondence, I might add, from families who, you know, you’ve got two teachers on one-hundred-and-thirty-thousand gross, three kids and they’re going to now face sixteen-hundred dollars increase, plus the cost of the carbon tax and the increase in their fuel – in their energy bills. So here’s a family that is now looking at an extra, you know, several thousand dollars a year and will get very little, if any, compensation from the carbon tax because that’s all going to low income groups… RAFAEL EPSTEIN: Okay. ANDREW ROBB:    …therefore families – hard working families – people are out there doing it tough, working hard, trying to raise kids, educate them properly, they’re to be done in the eye. RAFAEL EPSTEIN: Okay, Bill Shorten, all this will do is anger families on a decent income and increase the premiums for the rest of us. BILL SHORTEN:      I agree with the point you made that a family on two-hundred-and-forty-thousand dollars probably shouldn’t be getting a tax break, and I think that we can use that money better to support our health system.  I mean why should my secretary be paying for my private health insurance? RAFAEL EPSTEIN: Okay look, I want to move on to indigenous… ANDRREW ROBB: Just on that… RAFAEL EPSTEIN: No look, Andrew I’ll give you a chance, let’s just try and rattle through some of the policy topics and we’ll get a chance – you’ll get a chance later on to pick up anything, just let me try and charge on, forgive me. ANDREW ROBB:    Okay, I will. RAFAEL EPSTEIN: Indigenous stuff.  The Prime Minister made her annual Closing the Gap speech, it’s something that the Labor Government had committed to.  She mentioned things like indigenous mortality rates falling, literacy and numeracy improving since 2008.  I want to ask you both, I’ll start with Bill Shorten, do you think partisan politics is stopping Australia and its ability to help our indigenous people? BILL SHORTEN:      I’m not going to go totally after the Liberal Party on this issue, I think what we need to do is elevate this beyond partisan politics.  I think the big challenge is helping people find jobs.  I think there has been some progress there.  The Closing the Gap statement’s important because it just makes sure that what’s happening with Indigenous Australians isn’t out of mind, out of sight. RAFAEL EPSTEIN: Andrew Robb, do you think partisan politics is stopping us helping Aboriginal Australians? ANDREW ROBB:    No I don’t.  I think there’s been a lot of misguided policy but a lot of goodwill on both sides of the house over many decades.  We have really poisoned many of their minds and their bodies with unfettered welfare and there needs to be a change in both sides of politics.  I think we’ve sought to do that in recent years and I thought that was reflected in the speeches this morning by both the Prime Minister and Tony Abbott, where there really was a bipartisan objective.  And a real determination, I think, within that chamber to eliminate the gap. RAFAEL EPSTEIN: And just to ask you both briefly, are the problems – particularly in remote indigenous communities – are those problems solvable?  Andrew Robb first. ANDREW ROBB:    I’ve got no doubt.  You look around the world at indigenous communities, or deeply disadvantaged communities.  Look at China, they’ve got two-hundred-and-fifty-million people out of deep poverty and ignorance in the last fifteen years.  And a lot of it is related to education, first and foremost it’s got to be education.  The trouble is with the indigenous communities, much of our programs over the last several decades have led to a great disfunctionality amongst so many communities which makes education a really difficult thing to effectively put in place.  We’ve got to remove the disfunctionality so they can be educated then I think they can very successfully, as many indigenous community people have, integrate into the rest of the community. RAFAEL EPSTEIN: Okay and Bill Shorten, just quickly, do you think these problems have a solution? BILL SHORTEN:      Yes I do.  I’ve got no doubt that if we can give greater control to local communities and – we can do better, so the answer is yes and we should never give up and we won’t. RAFAEL EPSTEIN: Okay a question for you, Mr Shorten, before Kevin Rudd was deposed were you shown – the months leading up to him being deposed – were you shown Labor Party polling, comparing his leadership to Julia Gillard’s? BILL SHORTEN:      No. RAFAEL EPSTEIN: Did you hear anybody talking about that polling? BILL SHORTEN:      No. RAFAEL EPSTEIN: Do you think – well, no, let me rephrase the question – would the leadership speculation stop if Kevin Rudd came out and said I will not challenge Julia Gillard until the next election? BILL SHORTEN:      I think that the best thing that members of this Government can do is not talk about ourselves but talk about the issues in front of the country and I’m going to lead by example. RAFAEL EPSTEIN: But the Gallery aren’t going to leave you be, would it make a difference to the coverage – well I mean you’ve got to deal with the world as it is not the way you’d like it to be – would it make a difference if Kevin Rudd ruled out a challenge? BILL SHORTEN:      I think when you come to talking about the world as it is and the world we’d like it to be, what we want us to do is to make sure we’ve got strategies to help keep jobs, to promote jobs growth, to make sure the young ones and the not so young ones have got skills.  I know that some want to talk about leadership, I’m just not one of them, and I’m not going to. RAFAEL EPSTEIN: Andrew Robb, a quick reply? ANDREW ROBB:    Well the leadership issue, it should be talked about because it is really at the root of a lot of the crisis of confidence amongst the community.  People aren’t spending money, companies aren’t investing because the Government is directionless, the Leader has no authority left.  She is devoid of judgement, we’ve seen that endlessly, and she can’t be trusted. So this is a Prime Minister who is finished, it’s just a matter of where and when and I think the Government members should be talking about this – and I know they are, endlessly – about the dire situation we’ve got ourselves into.  There is no-one in charge and the country is the worst for it. BILL SHORTEN:      Raf, I’ve… RAFAEL EPSTEIN: Briefly. BILL SHORTEN:      Well I’ve been adhering to your thirty second rule and I think I’m at least two minutes in credit. RAFAEL EPSTEIN: Okay. BILL SHORTEN:      I will just say about Mr Robb’s comments, they remind me of when asked about the conduct of the Bishop, the actress – when the Bishop was talking about the actress, the actress said well he would say that wouldn’t he?  Mr Robb has obviously got an interest in causing chaos in the Labor ranks.  The truth of the matter is the Government does have a Prime Minister, we are focused on the big issues, the problem is that the opposition don’t have an economic policy. This idea that he crisis of confidence in Australia has nothing to do with what’s happening in Europe, it has nothing to do with the high dollar – like when will those guys open an economic text book and read it. ANDREW ROBB:    That’s never been suggested by the way, it’s got nothing to do… RAFAEL EPSTEIN: Andrew a quick question for you.  Andrew a quick question for you, would you rule out wanting to become Shadow Treasurer before the next election? ANDREW ROBB:    I will. RAFAEL EPSTEIN: So you’re not interested in the job before the next election? ANDREW ROBB:    Tony Abbott has said categorically that he will take the current team to the next election and I’m perfectly happy with that.  I’ve got not only finance; I’ve got responsibility for coordinating all of our policy development.  It’s enormously stimulating and a great opportunity and I’m very happy doing what I’m doing. RAFAEL EPSTEIN: Bill Shorten, do you believe him? BILL SHORTEN:      Yep RAFAEL EPSTEIN: You do, okay good.  Look you might have a question yourself for Bill Shorten or Andrew Robb, one-three-hundred-triple-two-seven-seven-four, I’d love to know if you have a question that you would like to fire to them.  We’re getting a lot of your text message questions as well so please keep sending them through. I just want to read out a few of your texts and then we’ll get a question from a caller.  “Andrew Robb, I, a single parent of three children on forty-five-thousand a year, why should I be contributing to your private health insurance when I can’t afford the dentist for my kids and myself?  You people have absolutely no idea” Got quite a few of them Andrew, I thought I’d read them out but I will – I want to move on to a separate question, a separate text: “What short, medium and long term plans do you both have to pay off the escalating Government and national debt?”  I’ll put that to you first Bill Shorten, have we got a debt problem? BILL SHORTEN:      Our national commonwealth debt, compared to most other westernised nations is the envy of most western nations.  The Canadians are at thirty per cent plus, the Japanese at one-hundred-and-thirty per cent of GDP.  Australia will top out at about eight-point-two per cent.  So we’re doing better than a lot of other parts of the rest of the world.  But we’re not complacent about that, that is why we’re engaging in returning to surplus in the quickest time possible.  That’s one of the reasons why we’re not going to subsidise millionaire health insurance and use that two-point-nine-billion dollars to help pay off our net debt. That’s the first step. The other thing we’re doing to secure the future of Australia is that the mining boom won’t last forever.  We know that it’s a good thing, albeit it it’s forcing the dollar to a pretty high level, that puts pressure on a lot of other sectors of the economy, tourism, education, manufacturing.  What we’re seeking to do with the mining tax on the richest companies in the world is to help share the prosperity of the mining boom, by providing a tax cut for small business. By helping fund the increase in compulsory superannuation from nine to twelve per cent… RAFAEL EPSTEIN: Okay, okay. BILL SHORTEN:      …so we’re spreading the prosperity, we’re going after some of the expensive programs such as millionaire health care, and we are doing relatively better than the rest of the world. RAFAEL EPSTEIN: Okay, Andrew Robb do we have a debt problem, do you believe what Bill Shorten says? ANDREW ROBB:    No I don’t.  The Government conveniently tries to compare us with basket cases overseas, mismanagement overseas.  The fact of the matter is we’ve got the highest debt ever of – commonwealth debt in our history.  We’ve got the four highest deficits ever in the last four years.  We’ve got monumental waste, more waste than we’ve ever seen and we’ve got a raft of new taxes, nineteen new taxes since this Government came in.  And of course the carbon tax being the bete noire of them all, coming down the line. RAFAEL EPSTEIN: But if the dollars up and bond yields are down, that’s a verdict from the markets that our economy’s doing much better than everyone else’s isn’t it? ANDREW ROBB:    No, it’s a verdict that our interest rates are higher than the rest of the world.  And in fact they’ll talk about interest rate but the gap between our cash rate and the cash rate of all our major competitors has actually widened since the global financial crisis.  So that when there’s money looking for a quick buck and it comes out of the US, they go for the highest interest rates and that’s why you see the dollar move from ninety-eight one week before Christmas to a hundred-and-eight now, and it’ll go up and down because of all this opportunistic money. And the interest rates are high in part because the Government is spending – is borrowing one-hundred-million dollars, each and every day and have done for years… RAFAEL EPSTEIN: Okay Andrew, I want to give… ANDREW ROBB:    …but this is… RAFAEL EPSTEIN: …I want to give one of the callers a try thank you, Alan in Footscray has called in.  Alan what’s your questions? CALLER ALAN:       Look, I just filled my gas tank up.  In the last week, my gas fuel running costs to running around has gone up fifty per cent… RAFAEL EPSTEIN: Sorry in the last few weeks you said? CALLER ALAN:       In the last week it’s gone up from fifty-four to seventy-five-point-nine cents a litre. RAFAEL EPSTEIN: Oh this is LPG? CALLER ALAN:       LPG.  Okay so I’ve got double – I’ve virtually gone up – thirty-two bucks to fill the tank to forty-six bucks.  My Westpac mortgage has gone up, despite the fact the Reserve Bank has kept interest rates stable. Because what they’re saying is while there’s so much disarray, caused by the – I’ve got to blame you Liberals – distracting the attention from the actual issues, they can get away with murder.  And that’s the thing, you’re distracting the attention from the issues… RAFAEL EPSTEIN: Okay Alan, I think – you think they’re taking attention away from what we need to discuss and you’ve got a problem with LPG prices and your mortgage.  Andrew I’ll give that one to you first. ANDREW ROBB:    Thank you very much, it sounded like a Labor voter to me, but… BILL SHORTEN:      So they’re not entitled to an opinion? ANDREW ROBB:    They’re entitled to but… BILL SHORTEN:      Oh that’s good of you. ANDREW ROBB:    The fact of the matter is, petrol prices are a function of – and the management of the economy and interest rates – the Government is – the people in the power for the last four years, the people spending one-hundred-million – one-hundred-billion dollars a year more than they did four years ago.  A forty per cent increase in government spending when inflation’s gone up thirteen per cent, that’s this government.  And… RAFAEL EPSTEIN: Well the LPG increase is a John Howard thing isn’t it?  Doesn’t that date back to the Coalition Government, the LPG rises? BILL SHORTEN:      Yeah, 2004. ANDREW ROBB:    The gas and petroleum prices are largely determined on the international market and Bill will confirm that and the fact of the matter is if prices are going up like this.  And if interest rates are going up and if power bills are going up, all the more reason why the very last thing a government would do is implement the greatest carbon tax in the world when no-one else is doing it. This is just madness, to lumber on people who are now suffering huge cost of living increases and a lot of doubt about their jobs.  Dick Warburton said four-hundred-thousand jobs at risk this year, four-hundred-thousand jobs… RAFAEL EPSTEIN: I don’t think he’d be Bill Shorten’s favourite economist but I do want to put that to you, Bill Shorten.  You hear a lot of people saying… BILL SHORTEN:      He’s also the chair of – he’s helping you with the policy advisor at the moment… [Over speaking] RAFAEL EPSTEIN: Can I ask Bill Shorten – two big issues for you, can you actually do anything about manufacturing, because a lot of those factors are out of your control?  You had zero net jobs growth last year, yet we’re one of the few countries putting a price on carbon, on every aspect of our economy. BILL SHORTEN:      Alright well let’s go to that, but Andrew did have a bit of a free crack at the Government.  What I would say though is if we want to reduce debt then we should vote against millionaire health tax rebates.  The courtesy of what the Labor Government did, supported by the cross benchers, is we’re now on track to return three-billion dollars back to the budget and force down debt. And I think that’s appropriate, we’re not getting rid of health care and all of the scare stuff that the Lib’s put up, but at a certain point you’ve got to say who do you – what do you use tax payer money for?  The second point though, going to your manufacturing and answering your question is manufacturing has got a future in Australia, but there has been a downward decline but that’s been going on for the last fifty years. In 1960, thirty in every hundred Aussies was working in manufacturing, now it’s eight or nine in every hundred.  We are seeing some job losses there due to the high dollar and the pressure of that.  What we’re putting in place to help manufacture is we’re going to back up the local car industry, which the Opposition are walking away from.  We are also training a lot more apprentices – remember in the ’80s and the ’90s… RAFAEL EPSTEIN: Can I take you to the carbon tax, is there another nation putting a carbon price into every party of their economy?  Another nation? BILL SHORTEN:      Lots of countries are moving towards putting a price on carbon… ANDREW ROBB: Nonsense! RAFAEL EPSTEIN: But they haven’t done it have they, we’re the first? ANDREW ROBB:    They haven’t done it. BILL SHORTEN:      Well no, other countries have already got trading schemes and other strategies to deal with carbon.  If you have a look at what the Liberal’s plan is, their direct action plan’s just a tax and we’re moving in a sensible, staged way.  The scare campaign over the – putting a price on carbon is just that, a scare campaign and we’ll no doubt see that on 1 July this year the sun will still come up. But when Mr Robb says that Australia’s some sort of basket case… ANDREW ROBB:    I said I was comparing. BILL SHORTEN:      When he said earlier that – when I was being positive about Australia – he said oh no, I’m comparing us to the basket cases of the world.  I’m actually comparing our net debt of the Commonwealth Government to Canada, to Italy, to the United States.  Like, I’m glad Mr Robb’s decided to create - they’re all basket cases. [Over speaking] RAFAEL EPSTEIN: I just want to try and wind that up, I just want to try and wind that up if I can gentlemen. BILL SHORTEN:      Wait until the American’s wake up and say Andrew Robb said you’re just a basket case. ANDREW ROBB:    Well in terms of fiscal management… RAFAEL EPSTEIN: Okay I don’t want to keep going down that path, I’ve had a lot of text messages saying they don’t care about the leadership issue, but someone – Scott called in and wanted know, Bill Shorten, did you back the wrong horse with Julia Gillard? BILL SHORTEN:      I support the Prime Minister, she is the best person for the job and I also and pleased that you reported the text messages of all those other people. RAFAEL EPSTEIN: Certainly willing to do that BILL SHORTEN:      Andrew wants to make it an issue and we want to get on with business. RAFAEL EPSTEIN: Andrew Robb, you’ve got fifteen seconds to respond and then I need to get on with the finance and the weather. ANDREW ROBB:    Leadership, whether it’s a company, an organisation or the country, the leader is first and foremost the determinant of how that organisation works, the culture, the direction.  At the moment Julia Gillard is directionless, she is lacking judgment, she’s got no authority and must resolve this matter quickly. RAFAEL EPSTEIN: Okay Andrew, the last question from both of you, I need two words, Bill Shorten, two nice things, two words, nice words, to describe Andrew Robb. Compliments. BILL SHORTEN:      Two words is not enough, he’s a country boy, and whenever he speaks even if I don’t agree with him I don’t doubt his sincerity. RAFAEL EPSTEIN: Okay thank you Bill Shorten.  Andrew Robb, two nice things about Bill Shorten. ANDREW ROBB:    Charming smile. RAFAEL EPSTEIN: Charming smile, fair enough, thank you very much. ANDREW ROBB:    I said two words, I can go on if you like? RAFAEL EPSTEIN: No that’s okay.  Look I appreciate it gentlemen, thank you for letting me try to break you up from the distance.  Andrew Robb and Bill Shorten thank you very much for joining us.  Have a nice afternoon, thank you.    Andrew Robb Wed, 15 Feb 2012 04:05:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1359 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1352/MORE-WONG-DECEPTION.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1352 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1352&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1352/MORE-WONG-DECEPTION.aspx   Penny Wong is gaining an unenviable reputation for her dishonest verballing, distortions and use of half quotes in misrepresenting the Coalition.   “Penny Wong was caught out last week half-quoting Tony Abbott and yesterday at the press club she was out verballing me about our high exchange rate,” Shadow Finance Minister Andrew Robb said.   Senator Wong said: “When you have the person who would like my job saying that the government is responsible for the high dollar, we really are in a ridiculous place.”   “At no point have I claimed that Labor, despite its profligacy and record levels of debt and deficit, is solely responsible for the high dollar,” Mr Robb said.        “I have observed, however, that Labor’s $167 billion of budget deficits in four years and net debt of $133 billion means interest rates are higher than they need to be. And while a number of factors influence the dollar it is hardly a controversial proposition that a major fiscal expansion also leads to a higher exchange rate.   “Under this government we have seen one of the most rapid fiscal expansions in history as evidenced by the fact Labor is now spending almost $100 billion more per year compared to when it came to office in 2007-08 and it is still spending stimulus four years after the GFC,” Mr Robb said. Andrew Robb Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:43:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1352 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1349/TRANSCRIPT-OF-THE-HON-ANDREW-ROBB-MP-INTERVIEW-WITH-LYNDAL-CURTIS-ABC24.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1349 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1349&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1349/TRANSCRIPT-OF-THE-HON-ANDREW-ROBB-MP-INTERVIEW-WITH-LYNDAL-CURTIS-ABC24.aspx   Topics: Budget surplus, tax cuts, Labor’s debt, dams and water management.   E&OE     LYNDAL CURTIS:   Tony Abbott gave a speech last week outlining the sorts of things he’d like to do in government. A lot of it was predicated on the Coalition returning the budget to surplus. Assuming you’re right, and Labor doesn’t manage to get the budget back to surplus, when would a Coalition government get the budget back to surplus, assuming you are elected in the second half of next year?   ANDREW ROBB: Well, bear in mind that if we have an October election in 2013, we’re still two budgets away and who knows what the state of the books will be at that stage. The Government just in the last budget predicted the deficit which has now grown by $15 billion in the space of six months. They predicted net debt of I think $96 billion and it’s now, they’re now talking of something up around $130 billion. So the numbers are collapsing on the balance sheet, badly, in the space of the last six months. We’ve seen the four biggest budget deficits in the country’s history.   LYNDAL CURTIS:   With all that then, could you see a Coalition government in a first term delivering a surplus?   ANDREW ROBB:   Well it just depends. As I say, there’s so much uncertainty around the numbers. Treasury and the Government have been so demonstrably wrong, and always in the wrong direction, making things worse, and I think we’re starting to see unemployment, I really fear this year will be the year of unemployment. The only way in which companies are now left to maintain profits, they’re saying to me, is to shed the labour face, so we’ve got all these things coming at us. It’s very hard to predict. That’s my point because this government has got no idea, so two budgets out, it’s very hard to predict. LYNDAL CURTIS:   Is the promise to deliver tax cuts contingent on there being a surplus first?   ANDREW ROBB: No, we will deliver tax cuts in the first term because we’ve got to do a combination of trying to kick start consumer spending. We’ve got to try and unlock what is a very huge pool of cash that is sitting in most companies around Australia but they are not investing because they can’t, they don’t have the confidence. There is a crisis of confidence. They see no direction from the Government. They’ve got no idea, really, where are they taking the country. What will Australia look like in two years’ time? How weather proofed or fire-walled are we against a collapse in Europe? They do feel a great vulnerability because the Government has not given anyone confidence that they know what they’re doing. So all of these things, we have to restore confidence and part of that is on the revenue side, you know, and part of it is on the cost side but we have to certainly restore the confidence of people to spend money or to invest money.   LYNDAL CURTIS:   So are those tax cuts going to be aimed at being delivered early in the third term or are looking to later – earlier in the first term, or are you looking into later in the three year term?   ANDREW ROBB: The timing, again, will be a function of what’s possible, the state of the books, I don’t want to be prescriptive because as I say, we’re still two budgets away to make any sort of really considered position on that but we will have tax cuts in the first term. But we’ll also, we will be winding back the amount of government in our lives and that’s not just spending, it’s also regulation. That’s one of the things which is not properly appreciated, that one of the things about this government is it has seen such an acceleration of regulation.   I think we’ve got the greatest growth of government in our lives, including the spending, but very muchregulations than we’ve seen in our lifetime.   LYNDAL CURTIS:   With a commitment – some questions over achieving the surplus target with what you think you might be left with, with Labor, with spending money on tax cuts and any tax cuts, even small ones, cost billions of dollars over the forward estimates. Can you see yourself paying off debt during that time, too?   ANDREW ROBB: Well, we’ve got to get into surplus and again, you know, if you took the Government’s projections even last May, you would be a lot more optimistic about what could be done if we took office after 12-13 but in the space of six, seven, eight months, all of that’s gone out the window. I mean, the books are in demonstrably worse shape.   The Government is now spending nearly $100 million more each year in the budget than was being spent in the budget when they took over, $272 now’s gone to $362 and rising. There’s been no, despite the stimulus, they didn’t bring it back. They stayed at that level and they’re now adding to it. So this is the most profligate spending government. It’s pushed up interest rates it’s had no direction…   LYNDAL CURTIS:   You say it’s pushed up interest rates but interest rates haven’t gone up for more than 12 months. The last time they were 4.25 per cent now, the last time they were that low was in 2001. That’s nearly 11 years ago. Tony Abbott spoke last week a lot about taking the pressure off interest rates. Isn’t the pressure off interest rates already?   ANDREW ROBB:   No, no. They’re not. The fact of the matter is that capital moves around the world, as you know and we all know, attracted to where the highest interest rates are in many cases, the fact of the matter is that our rates are much higher than most of the other venues that capital would flow into, mostly other big countries, developed countries.   LYNDAL CURTIS:   So where would interest rates ideally be on that basis?   ANDREW ROBB:   Well all I’m saying is if the Government hadn’t been, and is still in the market, for $100 million a day, they’re then competing every day, have done for years now, $100 million a day, against small business, medium business, large business, they have put pressure, upward pressure on interest rates. Interest rates are probably at least one per cent higher because of the way in which this government has managed the budget deficits.   The budget deficits, the four biggest in our history, all in a row, have contributed to interest rates being higher than they should be and therefore if we had one per cent off, they’re forcing the Reserve Bank to do all the heavy lifting and we’ll probably see it tomorrow, the Reserve Bank will be again forced to perhaps bring down rates when if the Government took pressure off their spending then interest rates would come down and…   LYNDAL CURTIS:   But either way, in that case, isn’t the Reserve Bank cutting interest rates, whether it’s the Government spending less and interest rates falling or the Reserve Bank thinking now that it should push down interests…I mean, either way, interest rates are falling and they have been falling under this government.   ANDREW ROBB:   But it’s not only the interest rates, but it is also the access to finance. You know, I could take you to hundreds of thousands of small businesses, but notwithstanding the interest rates which haven’t been coming off in small business. The cuts have not been passed on to hundreds of thousands of small businesses. It might have been passed on in mortgage rates and our interest rates are still, for the main part, many percentage points higher than our major competitors and part of that, part of that is because the Government here has been spending like drunken sailors.   If they’d got out of the market, finance would be cheaper for business, business would keep employing people, keep investing, have more confidence and householders would have more money to spend.   LYNDAL CURTIS:   If I could take you to a couple of other policies which haven’t yet been fleshed out, you’re looking at expanding the number of dams, particularly in northern Australia. Tony Abbott also talked in his speech last week about spending money saved on the NBN to reduce traffic congestion. They’re both promises, aren’t they, that will, that could, cost billions of dollars?   ANDREW ROBB:   Well again, it depends on how you approach these things. By the way, we’ll be looking at sensible water catchment all around the country, with a particular focus on the north, I agree, there are enormous opportunities up there. But we have been looking around the country and there are many things we can do to increase the production capability of agriculture in a century which will be the century of food security and the century of Asia.   So strategically, it makes enormous sense for us to set up Australia for this century, in terms of rural production, but secondly, in terms of how you do that, I mean, this government only thinks about government spending and yet, there are billions of dollars locked up in companies’ balance sheets, invested in bonds or whatever, because they haven’t got the confidence to make investments. They’re sitting on money. Now, we’ve got to look at ways where we can unlock that money, including in the public infrastructure.   LYNDAL CURTIS:   And on the question of spending NBN savings on easing traffic congestions, that’s a saving you then couldn’t book as a saving if you accept, which the Government doesn’t, that the NBN is effectively on the books. Is that promise, spending some of the money that you were counting on to save?   ANDREW ROBB:   No, it is again, the NBN is borrowing money, $50 billion they’re going to borrow in the end, $37 billion we know for sure but it looks like another $50 billion. That’s got to come from somewhere. That’s money that could have been invested somewhere else, in a more productive outcome and whether it’s government money or private money, it is money that could be spent on things that would have far greater productivity improvement and we could be having an NBN at much lower cost.   We could get the best of both worlds but the bottom line is that that money, it’s a combination of private and public. It’s money that is being very inefficiently invested. That money could be going to other purposes and government policy can help that happen but not necessarily always with government putting taxpayers’ money into the mix. Andrew Robb Tue, 07 Feb 2012 04:06:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1349 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1348/WONG-MUST-COME-OUT-OF-HIDING-ON-NBN.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1348 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1348&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1348/WONG-MUST-COME-OUT-OF-HIDING-ON-NBN.aspx   It is time for Finance Minister Penny Wong to stop distancing herself from the NBN and take a far more active oversight role on a project that threatens to be a massive drain on government finances.   Shadow Finance Minister Andrew Robb has written to Senator Wong in her capacity as shareholder minister for N.B.N. Co, which is both wholly government-owned and responsible for delivering the largest infrastructure project in Australian history in terms of cost.   “It must be remembered that the billions being pumped into the NBN, which will cost about $50 billion, in the name of taxpayers is all borrowed money which heightens the need for vigilance and accountability,” he said.   Mr Robb has called on Senator Wong to release monthly financial statements for N.B.N. Co in her name, in the same way Australian Government statements are released.   “In addition to updates regarding key financial activities, including equity injections, these statements should also provide updates in relation to contracts awarded, other acquisitions and expenses as well as staffing levels,” Mr Robb said.   It has been reported that N.B.N. Co has already awarded contracts worth more than $7 billion, but we have heard nothing from the Finance Minister about whether these decisions will present value for money to taxpayers.   “What ‘red flag’ mechanisms are in place to alert Penny Wong to potential N.B.N. Co activities that may not present best value outcomes and what veto authority does the shareholder minister have over decisions that are at odds with the interests of taxpayers?” Mr Robb asked.   “Penny Wong has tried to distance herself from the N.B.N. which could prove to be the nation’s biggest white elephant, when she should be all over it. She has an obligation to become more actively involved and sharpen her clear oversight role,” he said. Andrew Robb Tue, 07 Feb 2012 01:13:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1348 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1346/WONGS-ABBOTT-ATTACK-PATHETIC-AND-DECEITFUL.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1346 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1346&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1346/WONGS-ABBOTT-ATTACK-PATHETIC-AND-DECEITFUL.aspx   It’s time for Penny Wong to stop trying to deflect attention from Labor’s rolling leadership crisis and start acting like a minister.   “Today we see more nonsense, distortions and lies from Penny Wong in her desperate attempts to discredit Tony Abbott,” Shadow Finance Minister Andrew Robb said.   Her claims that Mr Abbott ‘changed his position again’ over tax cuts on the Today Show are just pathetic and the quotes she produces rely on grubby omissions.   When asked if he would deliver tax cuts should he become prime minister, Mr Abbott definitively replied:     “Personal income tax will be lower under a Coalition government in its first term than it is now, only without a carbon tax.   Mr Abbott then went on to say the only thing Penny Wong bothered to quote in her silly statement:   “We were then saying, by the end of the first term of a Coalition government, further tax cuts would be in prospect. That's what I said at the Press Club.”   “So much for changing positions, the only position change that is truly in prospect is that of the prime minister,” Mr Robb said.    “We know Penny Wong is frustrated at being overlooked for the role of Attorney General in order to escape criticism for her part in Labor’s four record deficits totalling $167 billion and Australian record levels of debt. But this is going too far.   “Instead of acting as a mouth piece for Labor’s amateurish ‘dirty tricks’ unit, Penny Wong should stop wasting everyone’s time and start acting honestly,” Mr Robb said. Andrew Robb Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:04:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1346 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1345/WONG-JUST-DOESNT-GET-IT.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1345 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1345&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1345/WONG-JUST-DOESNT-GET-IT.aspx   Penny Wong’s feeble attacks today on the Coalition over the RBA’s official cash rate highlight a complete lack of understanding about the real borrowing costs confronting everyday Australians.   “While Penny Wong is naively fixated on the RBA’s cash rate, everyday Australian households with mortgages and small business with overdrafts are more concerned with the real costs of borrowing,” Shadow Finance Minister Andrew Robb said.   There is no doubt that interest rates and our exchange rate in Australia today are higher than they should be due to the $87 billion in overblown stimulus the government has pumped into the economy.   “This is reflected by the four largest budget deficits in Australian history that Labor owns as well as well as its record debt levels; both very touchy subjects for Penny Wong.   “Labor’s rather pathetic claim that interest rates are lower “under our watch” ignores the fact that average standard variable mortgage rates under the Coalition were 24 basis points lower than under Labor, 7.26 per cent compared to 7.50 per cent.”   In addition the small business unsecured overdraft rate was on average 134 basis points lower under the Coalition, 8.89 per cent compared to 10.23 per cent.   However, even the flailing Finance Minister’s comments regarding the cash rate tell only half the story.   The RBA’s own figures show that Australia’s cash rate is not only one of the highest in the developed world, but that the cash rate gap between us and other key countries has grown dramatically since Labor came to office in 2007.   For example since November 2007 our cash rate has fallen 250 basis points, while in the UK it has fallen by 525 basis points, in the U.S. by 437 basis points, while Canada’s rate has fallen by 350 basis points.   “Considering her love of comparing us with overseas Penny Wong should take note. If she ‘had any understanding of basic economics’ she wouldn’t be out gloating over a 250 basis point fall when international comparisons do her no favours.   “The higher gap in cash rates has been a major attraction to foreign capital, in turn pushing up Australia’s exchange rate.   “Penny Wong shows a complete lack of empathy for households and businesses struggling against increasing cost of living pressures. It also shows Labor is desperate to divert attention away from its dreadful economic track record and rolling leadership crisis,” Mr Robb said. Andrew Robb Thu, 02 Feb 2012 04:45:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1345 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1344/TRANSCRIPT-OF-THE-HON-ANDREW-ROBB-MP-INTERVIEW-WITH-MARIUS-BENSON-ABC-NEWS-RADIO.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1344 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1344&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1344/TRANSCRIPT-OF-THE-HON-ANDREW-ROBB-MP-INTERVIEW-WITH-MARIUS-BENSON-ABC-NEWS-RADIO.aspx   Topics: manufacturing industry policy, carbon tax, Labor’s record budget deficits, exchange rate.   E&OE   MARIUS BENSON:   Andrew Robb the Shadow Ministry is looking at industry policy today and today also Holden is expected to be announcing hundreds of job losses, does that make you review your decision to stand by the policy which will cut half a billion dollars in assistance to the car industry?   ANDREW ROBB:   No it doesn’t, I mean our decision has been to maintain total consistency. We are going to contribute something in the order of $1 billion which is a very serious amount of support and we will I think focus on many of the other areas that will assist manufacturing and the car industry in particular to stay competitive.   It’s of course Labor who’s cut $1.4 billion after all the talk they’re the ones who have cut the money and any ad-hoc assistance that Labor will give if it does give any more will be whipped out of course by the carbon tax.   MARIUS BENSON:   Are you saying that Labor has cut assistance to manufacturing industry that you believe is a mistake?   ANDREW ROBB:   Labor cut last year $1.4 billion from the car industry, not just manufacturing specifically from the car industry …   MARIUS BENSON:   And is that $1.4 billion the intention of the Opposition to restore that assistance?   ANDREW ROBB:   No, our commitment was to stay true to the agreement which the Howard government reached with the car industry, much of which has already been spent, but there is still a remaining $1 billion through to 2015, now that is a huge amount of assistance and it is a serious and necessary commitment.   MARIUS BENSON:   The Opposition stresses the impact of the carbon tax but the industry itself, the motor industry itself says it is the high Australian dollar which is causing these job losses now not the carbon tax.   ANDREW ROBB:   Well the carbon tax is not in yet but what the government is foreshadowing is that in the middle of this year it is going to add another $400 per car to the cost of every car.   MARIUS BENSON:   You stressed the carbon tax but I was just speaking to Ian Chalmers the chief executive of the car industry body and he agrees with your figure that it will add $400 per vehicle but he says that’s not going to put the industry our of business, it’s not going to make a dramatic difference, the real issue is the high Australian dollar.   ANDREW ROBB:   What I am saying to you is the government can impact on the high Australian dollar, if the government started to reduce its spending, bear in mind that we are in the middle of this year the fourth largest deficit in the country’s history, budget deficit, after three other years, in four consecutive years are the four largest deficits in our history.   If the government was serious about reducing expenditure that would put a lot less pressure on interest rates, they wouldn’t be in the market every day for $100 million and that would in turn reduce the exchange rate, lower interest rates, less attraction for money to come into Australia, lower exchange rates.   Therefore the government can do something about the exchange rate but at the same time $400 per vehicle is a serious hit to the competitive position of our car industry.   That will save or that will cost, this carbon tax is going to cost thousands of jobs, tens of thousands of jobs across manufacturing and for Labor it’s incomprehensible, incomprehensible that Labor would at this point in time with all of this pressure coming to bear on manufacturing would seek to introduce a carbon tax which is not introduced anywhere else in the world, it’s madness.   MARIUS BENSON:   How much blame do you put on the government for the higher Australian dollar, how many cents in that more than parity dollar do you blame the government for?   ANDREW ROBB:   It’s difficult to assess, Access Economics made a calculation last year that for every $14 billion in excess of budget parity that it could affect interest rates by up to a per cent, now that in turn would affect the exchange rate quite significantly.   So the government having run up now $167 billion of budget deficits in four years and a debt of $136 billion clearly has put Australia’s interest rates amongst the highest in the world and must take some blame for the level of the exchange rate at this point in time.   MARIUS BENSON:   Andrew Robb, thank you very much.      Andrew Robb Wed, 01 Feb 2012 23:16:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1344 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1347/TRANSCRIPT-ANDREW-ROBB-AND-NICOLA-ROXON-ABC-DRIVE-MELBOURNE-WITH-RAFAEL-EPSTEIN.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1347 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1347&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1347/TRANSCRIPT-ANDREW-ROBB-AND-NICOLA-ROXON-ABC-DRIVE-MELBOURNE-WITH-RAFAEL-EPSTEIN.aspx   Topics: Labor’s leadership crisis, the economy, political donations   E&OE...   RAFAEL EPSTEIN:   Can I welcome Andrew Robb in Canberra, good afternoon.   ANDREW ROBB:   Good afternoon, Rafael, and congratulations on your new job.   RAFAEL EPSTEIN:   Thank you, I’m having fun so far. Nicola Roxon is in the studio with us in Melbourne.   NICOLA ROXON:   Hello, Hi Andrew   ANDREW ROBB:   Hi Nicola   RAFAEL EPSTEIN:   Look Andrew, can I ask you before I sort of ask you to take strips off the Government, can you tell people, firstly, what suburbs your seat covers in Melbourne so they have some idea of where you’re coming from, and I want to ask both of you too, give us a bit of an indication what your days have been like this week.   I’m not sort of, I don’t want this to be a competitive thing, but I do really just want to give people a bit of an idea of what your days’ are actually like; what you spend your days doing. So Andrew, first, if you just tell us the seat you represent and what your average day is like.   ANDREW ROBB:   Ok, well my seat’s on the bay, a very great part of Melbourne, a beautiful part of Melbourne, from Gardenvale down to Beaumaris, and on the other side of the Highway, from Bentleigh, South Caulfield, those suburbs around there, about 17 suburbs, some full suburbs, some half suburbs, so there’s about 140,000 people, 50 schools, 25 primary, 25 secondary, and a typical community. 908 community organisations, and on my reckoning, about 35 to 40,000 volunteers amongst those 140,000 who make our community function.   RAFAEL EPSTEIN:   And tell us about your day.   ANDREW ROBB:   Your days, well you’ve really got three jobs as a politician. One is to try and represent the local communities, so weekends in particular you’ve got a lot of local events where you’re going along and sometimes presenting something, a lot of times just being there and talking to people, representing their interests on problems.   Another part of your job is Parliament so we’ve got about 20 weeks of the year where we sit in Canberra and that involves, I get here at 6 and leave at 10.30 usually at night   RAFAEL EPSTEIN:   So, 6 til 10.30, how many days a week is that normally, seven?   ANDREW ROBB:   That’s four days in Canberra, we come up here for 20 weeks. We usually arrive on a Sunday night and we sit through til Thursday night   RAFAEL EPSTEIN:   And when you’re in Melbourne is it still sort of 6 til 10.30 kind of work?   ANDREW ROBB:   Well, I get up and swim in the bay in the mornings   RAFAEL EPSTEIN:   Right, which beach do you swim at?   ANDREW ROBB:   At Brighton, at the baths there, in the bay, and with the ‘Icebergers’, and usually, the thing is, with a lot of our jobs if we’re not in Canberra and debating things in the parliament, and it rises about 10 o’clock at night, many of us, especially the senior ones who are out addressing different organisations, you get endless invitations to make speeches, and the third area of course is if you’ve got a ministry or a shadow ministry.   RAFAEL EPSTEIN:   And I want to get on to one of your jobs is collating all the policies for the Coalition, so we’ll get onto that in a moment. I just wanted to give Nicola Roxon an opportunity, tell us the suburbs you represent and your day is like as a Federal Minister.    NICOLA ROXON:   Interestingly, I’m on the other side of the bay, so the inner west suburbs is the area that I represent, sort of from the south in Williamstown to the north up in Maribyrnong. My office is up in Maribyrnong up near Highpoint shopping centre. Then I go west out towards Altona, and parts of, all of the communities in between Spotswood, Newport, Yarraville, I won’t try to list them all.    It’s a very, now a growing, changing residential area but it still has a very big industrial heart. A little bit of a different mix of communities, a very strong ethic mix compared maybe to the communities that Andrew’s representing, although the mix is everywhere in Melbourne and something that is good about Melbourne.   RAFAEL EPSTEIN:   But you are a much more traditional Labor heartland seat whereas Andrew might be a bit more –   NICOLA ROXON:   Yes, we sort of look at each other across the bay, we give each other a bit of fright every now and again in Parliament because we both swim in the mornings. I don’t reckon I’m as good a swimmer as he is but its doing me good and I certainly wouldn’t swim in the bay in the mornings – it’d be way too cold for me, I’m a bit more comfortable than that.   RAFAEL EPSTEIN:   No, no it’s good for you. What are you hours like as a Federal Minister?   NICOLA ROXON:   They’re pretty similar to what Andrew was talking about I’ve for example spent all of Monday in Canberra. We had a lot of cabinet meetings, a lot catching up with new ministers, because I’m in a new portfolio, its now working out how my job overlaps with other people because you do so much together, had a big dinner at the High Court because all the new silks were being announced, met with a lot of judges and other people. Yesterday I was in Sydney, we were opening some new court buildings, again a lot of lawyers and Judges, which is part of my new role.   RAFAEL EPSTEIN:   Can I ask, when you are doing things like that, not that those things aren’t important, but you’re a political animal do you often find yourself doing the, I don’t know, the more ceremonial aspects of your job and you’re thinking, ‘oh god’, I need to get back and get across this policy brief because I really need to ram home a political point tomorrow. Do you… are those things a distraction or are they the political bits?   NICOLA ROXON:   Well… no I reckon politics is really good for people who like to do more than one thing at a time, I think it would be a nightmare if you always wanted to be focused on one thing because you just don’t have that luxury and it’s a pretty big deal when you get to open new facilities that are going to really change the way courts can operate and that’s part of my job. But most of my days do mix with other things as well but in a new portfolio you are always meeting a whole lot of people in the first period.   Today I’ve been in the electorate and I’ve been doing a lot of briefs and I’ve been stuck in some Melbourne traffic and thank you to your traffic presenter for letting me avoid some of that. Nearly missed you Andrew, and that would have been a bad start. So they can be pretty long days. On the other no one is making us do this, I love the job and what I’m doing.    RAFAEL EPSTEIN:   Oh no, just want to give people an idea about what you do.   NICOLA ROXON:   We worked last Sunday because the New Zealand Justice Minister and the New Zealand Premier were here. I’m working this Sunday because we are doing some things with our backbenchers that Julia has organised.    So it does cut into a lot of time. I’m coming back on Sunday night, taking my daughter to school for her first day of school for Grade 2, and then flying back to Canberra again, so you do end up doing that because you want to not miss those big occasions and that’s a challenge that we all face.   RAFAEL EPTSTEIN:   OK, let’s get down to it, I suppose Andrew Robb you are being asked if you swim with Ted Baillieu, I’ll let you answer that question later because I think you do. But I want to get down to an obvious elephant in the room question for a Federal Labor minister, if your poll numbers continue at 30 per cent isn’t it inevitable there’s going to be a leadership stoush?   NICOLA ROXON:   Well I don’t think so, I think obviously want our polling numbers to improve, I don’t think that at this stage the community and you know I’m not blaming the community, I think this is a problem for us, has fully understood the rage of things the government has done. I think the Opposition has been very effected in highlighting some problems but I think it’s got way out of proportion to actually the good work and you know the case today, the equal pay case would never have happened if we hadn’t been elected if we hadn’t changed the laws and if we hadn’t allowed such a case to be brought and I think ultimately…   RAFAEL EPSTEIN:   You got rid of Kevin Rudd though with higher numbers and he won an election ..   NICOLA ROXON:   But, sure -   RAFAEL EPSTEIN:   Isn’t the leadership battle within your party room inevitable?   NICOLA ROXON:   Well I don’t it’s inevitable because I don’t it’s what will change the situation, what I think will change the situation is when we can get enough focus in the community on the things we are actually working hard to deliver and that are starting to provide benefits to the community. I personally think Julia is the best person to do that, she’s had a pretty rough trot and I know obviously people can make all sorts of comments about whether she can effectively lead us. I don’t think focussing on the leadership fixes that challenge.   RAFAEL EPSTEIN:   Has Kevin Rudd done enough to kill off any speculation of leadership?   NICOLA ROXON:   Look, I think it is unfortunate that this just keeps being an issue. I don’t think it’s good for the party, I think it would be great if Kevin ruled out that he ever wants to be prime minister again, but I don’t think that he’s likely to do that.   RAFAEL EPSTEIN:   Do you think he should? It would make a huge difference because every time you do an interview or any minister you get asked about it.   NICOLA ROXON:   Of course I think he should. I think he’s being a good foreign minister, I think that he should focus on that. I think we’ve all got a role to play within the team, but as I say I don’t think that is going to happen it’s just something that we have to live with. Obviously it’s an unusual situation to have a former prime minister in such an important role within the government. I think it would be best if he put all of his skills to that -   RAFAEL EPSTEIN:   So you are saying he’s not putting all his skills to that?   NICOLA ROXON:   Well, I think this debate and your question is implying he should do more to rule out any leadership challenge, I think the Labor Party needs to focus on what we are delivering in government. We don’t want to keep talking about leadership, I know you want to and Andrew and others want to and maybe people in the community want to, but that is actually not what is going to help the government deliver things and it’s frustrating to us when we know so many good things are happening.   RAFAEL EPSTEIN:   Andrew Robb, Nicola Roxon could reel off any number of policy achievements, the verdict on the economy from the markets are pretty good, the Aussie dollar is high, bond yields for government borrowing the cost for the government to borrow money are at near record lows, they’re doing a pretty good job aren’t they?   ANDREW ROBB:   Well, you just have to talk to people, part of what Nicola talked about, getting out and mixing with the community, which, unless you like that sort of work, don’t enter politics, but you do get a keen sense of the mood.   I must say, I think there’s no dispute that there’s some sort of crisis of confidence that is really permeating so much of the community. It is the reason people aren’t spending dollars.   It is the reason that in the last twelve months, the Australian community has been saving about up to thirteen percent of their disposable income, when normally we save about one percent, so –   RAFAEL EPSTEIN:   But it’s a confected crisis, isn’t it? I mean, you can reel off any number of great statistics about the economy, including the fact that the tax take is smaller under this government than it was under the Howard Government, you’re –   ANDREW ROBB:   Well, but that’s an illusion in the sense that, if you’re going to spend money, you can do it either by increasing taxes, or borrowing, and this Government has got the highest debt that we’ve ever had in our lifetime, by any government, and yet they took over four years ago with zero debt, so it’s really –   RAFAEL EPSTEIN:   We’ve also got some of the best unemployment figures –   ANDREW ROBB:    –it’s deferred taxation.   RAFAEL EPSTEIN:   We’ve got some of the best unemployment figures, and some of the best debt cost figures after a downturn that Australia’s ever had. I mean, there’s two sides to that coin, isn’t there? Look, the issue is –   ANDREW ROBB:   We went in also –   RAFAEL EPSTEIN:   – whether or not you’re focussing too much on, or the media is focussing too much on the issue, and we don’t hear enough about genuine economic outcomes.   ANDREW ROBB:   Well again, we’re driven by the community sentiment, in many respects. In politics you are trying to address things that are of concern to people. There’s been a dramatic increase in electricity prices, in water prices, in rates, and on top of that, overlaying all that, I think there is a very keen sense that people don’t feel that, they don’t see the economy going anywhere, they don’t see the government going anywhere, they don’t understand or get any sense of where the economy is being taken by Julia Gillard, and in many respects, the issue you just dealt with, with Nicola, is a reflection of that, and Kevin Rudd today, while the prime minister’s trying to make her first major speech for the year, coincidentally he calls a press conference in Queensland –   RAFAEL EPSTEIN:   Yeah, I was watching that –   ANDREW ROBB:   – and coincidentally Sky News is there, and they’re cutting to Kevin –   RAFAEL EPSTEIN:   – and they stuffed that up on the box. Look, we will get back to this after the news.   (News break)   RAFAEL EPSTEIN:   Andrew Robb was mentioning before the news that Kevin Rudd conveniently managed to announce, to hold a press conference just as Julia Gillard was finishing which allowed both the 24-hour news channels to juxtapose his press conference with the Prime Minister’s speech – her first big set speech of the year. We will just have a quick listen at what Kevin Rudd had to say after Nicola Roxon’s been telling us that maybe he needs to dampen down this leadership speculation a little bit more.   KEVIN RUDD (RECORDING):   We’re all members of a ministerial team and it’s a pretty hard working team. I work with these women and men every day, every week, every month, and I have done for the last 18 months or so, and it’s a solid, strong team which Simon himself is a very strong, positive contributor, and where I seek to play my own part as well, and intend to continue to do so.   RAFAEL EPSTEIN:   That’s a reference obviously to Simon Crean, the other senior minister who is asking Kevin Rudd to back off a little. I’m sure that will come up again but I do want to raise with both Andrew Robb, the Shadow Minister for Finance, who’s joined us from Canberra and Nicola Roxon, the Attorney General, the Australian Electoral Commission put out their returns today, on donations to political parties.   The Liberal/National Party is a little bit ahead on $121 million, the ALP receiving $93 million. The significant thing about the AEC returns is we find out a little bit about who is funding our political parties. I can tell you that when I was at The Age for a couple of years, trying to track down the finances, who gives what money to which political party is incredibly difficult. I spent hours and hours on phones trying to track that down, and I have to say it was almost a spectacular failure some of the time. I would like to know from both of you though, do we have enough transparency, Nicola Roxon, in our donation laws to political parties.   NICOLA ROXON:   Well look I think when you look at what happens in Australia compared to around the world we have a lot of transparency, the problem is we don’t have it in a very timely way.   RAFAEL EPSTEIN:   Yes   NICOLA ROXON:   So we’re finding out now about the expenditure during the election campaign and we’re finding out, as I’ve been talking about for a long period of time, that again, hundreds of thousands of dollars came from big tobacco companies to the Liberal Party, of course the Labor Party stopped doing that in 2004.   One of the surprises for us, though, that you also find out is you find out who has spent money directly themselves in trying to influence the political process, and we’ve uncovered the staggering figures of now nearly $14 million being spent by tobacco companies, hundreds of thousands of that to the Liberal Party but the rest directly campaigning against our government’s plain packaging laws. A huge amount, in fact we put a release out saying nearly $5 million, it was only hours later that again, sifting through that material, that we found the amount that was spent for some of the other advertising campaigns.   RAFAEL EPSTEIN:   But, I mean, it’s a free country. If people have money, and the mining companies want to run an advertising campaign against you, there is nothing wrong with them doing that. Isn’t the real issue, and I hate to keep going back to this, is that your former prime minister, Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard now, don’t seem that adept at battling back against those big advertising campaigns?   NICOLA ROXON:   Well I think there is a broader question, of course, in the public arena, we can fight it out in the media and others, and we use paid media during the campaign, but I think people are very uncomfortable with what big, wealthy companies can afford to do in our political system. Because we have public financing its not as obvious as you might see in America.   I mean, you’ve heard Newt Gingrich today talking about wanting people power instead of money power, you know the same thing from the opposite could be said here, and I just think that people are uncomfortable with the scale of money that is being put in by these companies, particularly when there are no redeeming features for tobacco companies, mining companies bring a lot of wealth and a lot of benefit and a lot of employment, and without any of the health damages.   RAFAEL EPSTEIN:   Andrew Robb, is it OK for the Coalition to accept donations from tobacco companies?   ANDREW ROBB:   Well our view is that there are companies that are legally established in our country, it is a free country, and once you start to discriminate against all sorts of groups that you mightn’t agree with their product –   RAFAEL EPSTEIN:   Is it discrimination to not take money from a tobacco company, would you class that as discrimination?   ANDREW ROBB:   Well once you start to exclude legal organisations within our community from participating in the democratic process – you see that plain packaging, despite all the money they spent, it went through, and went through without support.   RAFAEL EPSTEIN:   Despite all the money the tobacco companies spent?   ANDREW ROBB:   Yeah, so, we’re capable of making a decision, so is the Labor Party, and it’s a funny thing to talk about people being concerned by big companies, but one, they actually employ hundreds of thousands of people, in the case of miners and others, and the other thing is that the union movement continues to contribute millions of dollars, not only to the Labor Party, but separately in their own campaigns. They are a monolith –   RAFAEL EPSTEIN:   So you’re saying it’s a free fight, people give money to either side that they support, and –   ANDREW ROBB:   Well they do, and – NICOLA ROXON:   And I think that would be a fair argument to make, I do think that there are some exceptional circumstances, and many of Andrew Robb’s Liberal colleagues in State Government have already refused to accept donations from companies, so this is not just a split straight down Labor/Liberal lines – it is federally – but you’ve seen other Liberal leaders prepared to say, look, tobacco kills thousands of Australians every year, we can make an exception here, there’s nothing good about tobacco, and in those circumstances where they’re trying to buy political influence, it would be better for us to be able to be really clear to the world that our decisions are just based on our own views, and are not influenced by that money, and I think that’s something that Mr Abbott and Mr Robb will have to really focus on when parliament returns.   RAFAEL EPSTEIN:    I’ll give you both –   ANDREW ROBB:   Well I think how we vote is a pretty good indicator of that, so –   RAFAEL EPSTEIN:   Okay, Andrew and Nicola, I want to give you both thirty seconds. Both of your leaders have given big speeches yesterday and today, Andrew Robb, thirty seconds on what you thought of Tony Abbott’s speech yesterday.   ANDREW ROBB:   Well his job is to map out what the government is doing wrong, which I think he did very well, and also, give people a sense of where our priorities are, which is to have a smaller government, live within our means, reverse the nanny state, and I thought he did that extremely well, and he has been congratulated and applauded by all sorts of commentators, including Laurie Oakes.   RAFAEL EPSTEIN:   Nicola Roxon, Julia Gillard in Melbourne today giving her first set speech for the year?   NICOLA ROXON:   Well look, in stark contrast, there was a big new idea, a proposal that those who are going to TAFE college, want to get their apprenticeships and others, shouldn’t have to pay upfront fees, and a proposal to introduce a scheme where they can get that money paid, and then pay it back over time when they’re employed, like our HECS scheme, this is a big idea, it’s important for education and for the economy, and was in a very big contrast to Mr Abbott not having any ideas that he’s put forward for debate.   ANDREW ROBB:   Okay, we’ll see if we can bring you more of Nicola Roxon and Andrew Robb over the next few weeks and months. I want to thank them both for coming along and joining ‘Fight Club’, thank you.   NICOLA ROXON:   Thank you. ANDREW ROBB:   Good on you, thanks Rafael.      ENDS Andrew Robb Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:59:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1347 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1343/Gillard-Sugar-Coating-Cant-Hide-Shameful-Record.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1343 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1343&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1343/Gillard-Sugar-Coating-Cant-Hide-Shameful-Record.aspx   No amount of sugar coating by Julia Gillard today can mask how truly dreadful Labor's economic management has been against the most important benchmark - Australian standards.   "Our hapless prime minister will be out today ‘gilding the lily’, telling us how much better off we are than the basket case economies of Europe, that we are the envy of the world," Shadow Finance Minister Andrew Robb said.   “Unlike Europe we are blessed with a mining boom, which is clearly being wasted and the economic resilience inherited by this government has been squandered.   "What we won't hear are the damning numbers in Labor’s own budget papers that reveal the shameful Australian records that Labor owns in debt and deficit. Nor will Ms Gillard talk about the blow outs in government spending since 2007 that expose the nonsense about fiscal consolidation,” Mr Robb said.   Labor has delivered the four biggest budget deficits in Australian history with a cumulative total of $167 billion. Labor’s structural budget deficit is double that of Germany’s on a percentage of GDP basis and 30 per cent worse than Italy’s. Labor has racked up the highest levels of net debt in Australian history at $133 billion, dwarfing Keating's previous record of $96 billion. Labor has increased total government borrowing by more than 250 per cent since 2007-08. Labor's annual interest bill alone on its debt is around $7 billion, the equivalent of seven world class hospitals. Labor has blown out total government annual spending by $90 billion or 30 per cent since 2007-08. “By Australian standards this government is without peer when it comes to spending, borrowing and waste, but you won't hear the prime minister admit to that today,” Mr Robb said. Andrew Robb Tue, 31 Jan 2012 22:13:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1343 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1341/AUDITOR-GENERAL-EXPOSES-LABORS-SENSE-OF-ENTITLEMENT.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1341 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1341&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1341/AUDITOR-GENERAL-EXPOSES-LABORS-SENSE-OF-ENTITLEMENT.aspx   The Auditor General has today exposed the Gillard government’s sense of entitlement when it comes to ministers meting out grants in their own electorates.    In its audit of the Administration of Government Grants the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) revealed that of 110 grants approved by government ministers in their own electorates 33 had not even been reported to the Finance Minister as required.   “This indicates an underreporting of own electorate grants in the relevant period of at least 38 per cent,” the report states. In addition 11 grants which had been reported, were approved by ministers for projects that were “recommended be rejected”.   “In none of the 11 instances where Ministers had reported the approval of grants in such circumstances did the reporting … result in Finance recommending to its Minister that any further action be taken, or the Finance Minister otherwise initiating any action...”   Shadow Finance Minister Andrew Robb said the report exposed the government for what it is. “It highlights the waste, the indulgence, the self interest and the sense of entitlement that is so typical of this government. There is no proper accountability,” he said.   Mr Robb said it was a state of mind that is entrenched across a government that is beyond redemption.   “Where has Penny Wong been on all of this? This is core business for a Finance Minister, but she has clearly been asleep at the wheel. Government ministers are just thumbing their nose at her and she is either oblivious or doesn’t care.”   Mr Robb also noted the rank hypocrisy from a government which moralised about proper process and transparency when in opposition. Andrew Robb Tue, 24 Jan 2012 05:57:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1341 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1340/LABOR-IN-DAMAGE-CONTROL-OVER-DEBT-GROWTH.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1340 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1340&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1340/LABOR-IN-DAMAGE-CONTROL-OVER-DEBT-GROWTH.aspx   Whenever Julia Gillard and her ministers are in damage control and unable to refute the facts they resort to abuse and playing the man.   This is what we have seen today after the The Australian highlighted the embarrassing fact that the actual growth in gross debt since Labor came to office is third only behind Iceland and Ireland as revealed by the Centre for Economic Policy Research.   Shadow Finance Minister Andrew Robb said the AOFM web site shows that total Commonwealth government securities on issue stands at $223.4 billion, an increase of more than 250 per cent since Labor came to office in 2007.   “The fact is federal gross debt is hurtling towards quarter-of-a-trillion-dollars which leaves us highly vulnerable if our terms of trade come off as a consequence of events in Europe and moderating growth that we are now seeing in China.   “Our budget structural deficit is such, that if there is some notable comeback in our record high terms of trade we will find ourselves facing continued budget deficits of $50 billion year in, year out,” Mr Robb said.   “The prime minister and the likes of Bill Shorten are in a state of denial and amid their attacks on me they failed to produce single fact to refute the escalation in debt we have seen since they came to office or explain how they plan to reduce it.   “To get a sense of why debt has increased so alarmingly under this government consider that government spending totalled $272 billion when Labor came to office, yet this year that figure stands at $362 billion, another $90 billion, a 30 per cent increase in spending in just four years,” Mr Robb said.   “This shows how all of Labor’s talk about fiscal consolidation is a con.   “And if anybody dares to raise the truth or valid criticism the government spin doctors have their ministers wheel out the old ‘they’re recklessly talking down the economy’ line.   “It is time this government finally faced reality and took some serious steps to pay off debt and restore the economic resilience it inherited. It’s time this government lived within its means,” Mr Robb said. Andrew Robb Tue, 17 Jan 2012 02:37:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1340 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1467/Transcript--2GB-Sydney-with-Andrew-Moore--21-December-2012.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1467 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1467&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1467/Transcript--2GB-Sydney-with-Andrew-Moore--21-December-2012.aspx TRANSCRIPT INTERVIEW WITH ANDREW MOORE 2GB SYDNEY   Topics: Wayne Swan’s budget surplus back-flip, Government overspending on the NBN   E&OE…………………………………………………………………………………….   ANDREW MOORE:   We were inundated yesterday afternoon, after 2 o’clock with callers, emailers, telling us in no uncertain terms what they thought of Wayne Swan and his predictable back-flip over the government’s promise to return the budget to surplus. People were furious; everyone had been saying that this was impossible but yet Wayne Swan, Julia Gillard et al, kept saying, as recently as a week ago, that yes, we’ll be sweet, don’t worry about it, we’ll get to surplus, rubbish!   And again, it’s a hand pass in many ways to the Opposition to again point to the government’s reputation of following through and telling the truth. Andrew Robb is the Shadow Minister for Finance, Deregulation and Debt Reduction, he is on the line. Andrew, nice to talk to you again, how are you?   ANDREW ROBB:   Very good thanks Andrew, how are you?   ANDREW MOORE:   Yeah, excellent. And again, we took this live yesterday until we grew sick of the rhetoric, but this is something that, as we said yesterday, you don’t need to be an economic expert. You need to listen to, I mean, forget about listening to the Opposition on this when they announce where we will be in a Budget surplus, every economic commentator, everyone involved in finance said rubbish, it can’t happen.   ANDREW ROBB:   Everyone knew. Everyone knew, well, I think the Government knew. The Government was saying, they didn’t just promise a surplus, in the last few months they actually said they had delivered it. Coming out of the last Budget, they said we have now delivered a surplus.   Well of course, it was nonsense, everyone knew it was. It just goes again as you said in your opening comments, it is all about breach of trust and integrity. If you can’t trust the government to tell you what is really happening then how can you make business decisions?   That is why there is no investment going on, that’s why people are not spending, there is so much uncertainty.   ANDREW MOORE:   But that was the first reaction everybody had yesterday was, here they go again, they have promised something and it won’t happen. Now a lot of people are saying look, the fact that we are going to stay in deficit for a while isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but why the hell have we been lied to for the last however long?   ANDREW ROBB:   Well even that, you see, they are even spinning this issue of staying with a deficit. The fact of the matter is, Andrew, that taxing and borrowing and spending and debt and deficit – that got the world in to this malaise.   More of the same is not going to fix it, and there is another way. We don’t have to rely on government spending, endless government intervention, more taxes, more debt to carry the economy if they shift the focus to firing up the private sector.   If they took away the uncertainty, if they removed all of the rule changes that they keep making, if they stop putting new taxes on, 27 new taxes on business, you would lower the cost, fire up confidence, see investment, and we wouldn’t need government to be spending money.   ANDREW MOORE:   Well what was your reaction when Wayne Swan was vehemently denying the fact or suggestions that the government had been overspending? ANDREW ROBB:   Well firstly, they have spent an extraordinary $172 billion over the last four years more than they have received in revenue. Now if a household did that sort of thing they would be out backwards, they would be in rented accommodation.   They are just telling lies, they are misrepresenting the facts. Even now, what Wayne Swan is not admitting to people is that revenues are up this year 6 percent more than last year, yet he is claiming that the deficit problem is because revenues are falling. They just live a life of spin and misrepresentation to go from one day until the next. They are not looking at outcomes for people in 12 months time and two years time, and now it is catching up with them.   People are seeing, and they have seen for some time, that you just cannot trust this mob and it then leads to real outcomes for real people in terms of jobs and quality of life and opportunity. They are all being hampered and squashed and frustrated because of a government that has just been in to endless wasteful spending.   ANDREW MOORE:   Well, my word. But the figures that Wayne Swan was releasing yesterday, were you in dispute with those?   ANDREW ROBB:   Well he didn’t even release figures. You see what happened was he came on said, well, we will have a deficit again, the fifth in a row, after the four biggest in our history, and we will have another one the year after that, and then they said to him, well tell us the figures, and he said, I am not going to get in to the detail.   So here we are with a total collapse of their fiscal strategy, their budget strategy, and yet the treasurer of the country is unwilling and unable to tell us now what the numbers are, everyone is in the dark.   ANDREW MOORE:   Well not just the treasurer of the country, yesterday in the role of acting Prime Minister.   ANDREW ROBB:   Exactly! I mean, Julia Gillard said some time ago, you can’t run this country if you can’t manage its budget. Well I think she is absolutely right.   ANDREW MOORE:   That grab is going to be played a few times between now and the election next year. Were you surprised in any way, shape or form of the timing of Wayne Swan’s comments yesterday?   ANDREW ROBB:   What, three minutes before Christmas? No, that was pretty predictable as well.   ANDREW MOORE:   I mentioned yesterday, the only thing that surprised us was that we thought it might come on Christmas eve.   ANDREW ROBB:   And with the Prime Minister with her feet up somewhere. The timing is exquisite Labor timing. They are past masters at the politics and the spin, but in the end, good politics is all about good policy, and that is the big missing link for this government. They are being found out, and I cannot wait until next year.   We have got a program to put together to the people which will show we will start to address the real issues, we will live within our means as a government.   ANDREW MOORE:   But that’s the question though, and that is what a lot of people are already thinking. Assuming the Coalition wins government back next year, assuming all this financial waste that we have seen since 2007 really, how much are you guys going to have to pull in the reigns?   ANDREW ROBB:   We will give a cast iron commitment, as a government, we will live within our means. There are tens of billions of dollars of wasteful spending still occurring, you just take the NBN for instance, Australia must have a National Broadband Network, we will deliver it. It is happening in every country in the world, of course it will be delivered.   But this is the rolled gold, most inefficient, most costly version anywhere in the world that is going on. After four years, 33,000 houses are connected out of seven and a half million houses, would you believe? And it is costing $55 billion! If we come in, that project alone, we will deliver more quickly, more cheaply and at less cost to the community.   ANDREW MOORE:   Well you couldn’t possibly do it in a more expensive manner.   ANDREW ROBB:   We couldn’t but we will engage the private sector. This is my point, there is an alternative. They have gone back to a massive bureaucracy for the most dynamic area of the country, the telecommunications, instead of engaging the private sector and a multitude of different technologies. That is why we will get there quicker, faster and more affordably. That is just one project where we will save tens of billions of dollars.   Now we can do that in so many fronts if we place confidence in the private sector, unlock the mountains of money sitting on balance sheets around this country which is not being invested at the moment because business is so spooked by this government, and its indecision and lack of direction, everyone is sitting on their hands, waiting for an election. Consumers are not spending. They might come and buy a meal but they are not going and buying a $4,000 sofa or a new car or a house. Everyone is sitting on their hands.   That is why the economy is struggling and we have got to shift from this emphasis on government and more debt, more taxes, more spending, and get our private sector fired up. Then we will see the real opportunities that are out there and the jobs being created.   ANDREW MOORE:   Andrew, nice to talk to us, I know you are busy today and have a feeling we will be hearing a lot from you in 2013. Merry Christmas to you, I appreciate your time.     ANDREW ROBB:   You too, Andrew.   ANDREW MOORE:   Andrew Robb, the Shadow Minister for Finance. Andrew Robb Wed, 21 Dec 2011 07:17:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1467 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1338/FOUR-POLICY-PILLARS-AT-THE-HEART-OF-THE-COALITION.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1338 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1338&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1338/FOUR-POLICY-PILLARS-AT-THE-HEART-OF-THE-COALITION.aspx  This article originally appeared in The Australian on 19 December 2011 EVER since the fall of the Berlin Wall it has been deeply annoying to hear anyone say there is no longer any serious philosophical difference between the two main sides of politics. The Gillard government has helped greatly to dispel this notion.   The differences between it and the Coalition under Tony Abbott could not be starker.   The Coalition's opposition to the carbon and mining taxes sends a clear message that it offers an unambiguous alternative to Labor's big taxing and spending approach to government. We oppose Labor's regressive attempts at wealth redistribution, which undermine Australia's strengths and comparative advantage. As chairman of the Coalition's policy development committee I have put priority on guiding policy development within a framework that reflects our priorities, philosophical values and approach to government.   Fundamental to this are four principles to which a Coalition government will adhere: live with- in our means: back our nation's strengths; reverse the nanny state; and restore a culture of personal responsibility.   Combined and applied these principles form a roadmap of the direction in which the Coalition will take the nation.   Living within your means involves cutting expenditure and waste and using the dividends from the resources boom to pay down debt, build reserves and fire-proof the economy to things that are outside government control, such as moderating commodity prices, easing Chinese growth and reduced global liquidity.   Living within your means is knowing what you can afford and thinking laterally to implement policies that bring benefits but don't involve throwing borrowed money at things such as the National Broadband Network.   In business or running any organisation, the first thing you do is identify your top three or four strengths: things you do better than most.   Minerals and resources comprise our obvious key strength. Agriculture is next, with enormous potential for further growth, but that will never be realised under this government, which is so beholden to the Greens and their anti-development policies.   If mining really was accepted as our No 1 strength by the government, it would not do everything it could to make mining less competitive with the double whammy of a mining and carbon tax.   We need a positive vision backed by a plan that can be implemented, for example, to build new dams to enhance water security, to support mining and to spark new agricultural opportunities. This extends to a determination to help develop the north, to create a new food bowl across northern Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia. At present we feed 60 million people, but in the coming decades our aim is to double that figure. The north has a large role to play in achieving that objective.   Investment in the north will also equip us to meet demand from the rapidly growing economies of Asia. It will enable the development of interconnected areas: infrastructure, health, research and education.   Reversing the nanny state requires a philosophical shift from "government knows best" to one where government involvement in business and people's lives is minimised. Getting rid of productivity-sapping reporting requirements across sectors, adding flexibility to the labour market and providing greater autonomy are all powerful ways of reversing government's reach.   Restoring a culture of personal responsibility instills faith in an individual, business or enterprise to make decisions in their own interests, not in the interests of bureaucrats and politicians. This produces the best outcomes and fosters a spirit of enterprise and self-sufficiency, reducing reliance on government.   By staying true to our values, we offer an unambiguous alternative to a Labor government that has lost its way.   Andrew Robb is chairman of the Coalition's policy development committee. Andrew Robb Sun, 18 Dec 2011 22:29:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1338 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1335/Unemployment-Shows-Labors-Tax-Madness.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1335 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1335&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1335/Unemployment-Shows-Labors-Tax-Madness.aspx Today's employment figures showing a softening in demand for labour underline the enormous risks posed by Labor's job destroying new taxes. "The fact the employment figures for November are weaker is a further sign that our economy is vulnerable to a major downturn in Europe and any reduction in demand for our commodities," Acting Shadow Treasurer Andrew Robb said. "Again, rather than do everything it possibly can to fireproof our economy, to protect jobs and support job growth, the Gillard government is hitting employers with its job killing carbon and mining taxes. "Instead of protecting our strengths, everything this government does deliberately undermines them. It's madness. "The vulnerable state of our economy, because of this government's bad decisions and lack of empathy for everyday Australians, has emboldened our resolve to scrap Labor's job destroying new taxes," Mr Robb said.   Andrew Robb Thu, 08 Dec 2011 03:45:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1335 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1336/Solid-Growth-Exposes-Labors-Failures.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1336 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1336&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1336/Solid-Growth-Exposes-Labors-Failures.aspx   At a time when the National Accounts show the economy is growing strongly it beggars belief that Wayne Swan has just delivered a $26 billion blow-out in debt and a $15 billion blow-out in the deficit in just six months.   "The welcomed solid levels of growth we have seen for consecutive quarters following the floods show that there is simply no excuse for Labor driving the budget deeper and deeper into the red," Acting Shadow Treasurer Andrew Robb said.   "The Gillard government has demonstrably failed in making the most of the current opportunities we are blessed with to help fire-proof the economy by paying off debt and getting the budget back to surplus.   "As a consequence we are extremely vulnerable to any contraction resulting from a major recession in Europe and any reductions in commodity prices stemming from moderating growth in China," Mr Robb said.   "The Gillard government has proved incapable of restoring the budget resilience it inherited. We need a government that understands the vital importance of living within its means, by making the most of its current Chinese opportunities, not one that talks about surpluses but continues delivering record debt and deficits," Mr Robb said.   "The national accounts also show that productivity growth remains weak. GDP per hour worked rose by just ¼ per cent in the quarter and remained below the level of two years earlier.   "With productivity the key to long-run economic performance, this shows that the government’s productivity agenda has been a joke, and that a real strategy for lifting Australia’s productivity like the Coalition’s six-point productivity plan is urgently needed," Mr Robb said. Andrew Robb Wed, 07 Dec 2011 03:47:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1336 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1334/RBA-Decision-Welcomed.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1334 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1334&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1334/RBA-Decision-Welcomed.aspx Today's decision by the RBA to cut the cash rate by one quarter of a percentage point will offer some welcome relief to households and businesses in the lead-up to Christmas. "Given the growing recession in Europe there was certainly a case for it, despite the Gillard government making the RBA's job more difficult on account of its continued spending and borrowing. "We saw the evidence of this in the mid year budget update which showed that Labor's debt had blown out by $26 billion in the space of just six months. This is an insult to households and businesses who are making every effort to tighten their belts. "This government, despite countless warnings has proven incapable of getting its fiscal house in order and therefore all the heavy lifting is being left to the Reserve. "Australians are aware that interest rates are higher than they should be due to the Gillard government's excessive spending, borrowing and waste," Mr Robb said. "The banks should quickly ensure relief is passed through to their customers."   Andrew Robb Tue, 06 Dec 2011 03:43:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1334 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1333/INTERVIEW-WITH-PAUL-MURRAY-6PR-PERTH-5-DECEMBER-2011.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1333 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1333&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1333/INTERVIEW-WITH-PAUL-MURRAY-6PR-PERTH-5-DECEMBER-2011.aspx   E&OE    Topic: Election costings, Parliamentary Budget Office, WA Dams trip     PAUL MURRAY:   Good morning Andrew.   ANDREW ROBB:   Morning Paul.   PAUL MURRAY:   Andrew, do you still think the costings released by the Coalition on the eve of 2010 election were valid?   ANDREW ROBB:   I’ve got absolute confidence in the work, we did months and months of work, and then it was looked at thoroughly by an accounting firm, and then I had several hours with the head of Treasury, we had some disagreements, but I still felt our position was totally valid and that I knew more about it than he did.   PAUL MURRAY:   Why did the Coalition present them as being audited when they weren’t?   ANDREW ROBB:   Well, Joe, I think, used that in a colloquial term. I mean, he’s on radio and he used audit as a sort of colloquial term, not as a, as it would be interpreted by – as strictly – by an accounting association. So that’s, in a sense, it was a technical issue that we’ve heard about in the last week, but Joe was just trying to demonstrate that it’s been very thoroughly looked at.   PAUL MURRAY:   But he’s the Treasury spokesman. When he says, “this is an audited statement”, that means something.   ANDREW ROBB:   Well it does, but he was using it, if you go back and have a look at when he first talked about it, he just used it in a colloquial sense, and I think he was just trying to demonstrate the thoroughness in which the accounting firm, and they were in our offices, or nearby, for weeks and weeks and weeks, as we sent the material up to them as we finished more and more costings and it was an exhaustive exercise, and I think that’s where the misunderstanding has been reached. Then a person who’s close to Labor went to the association and said – who’s an auditor – and challenged the fact that it was not an audit. Now, the association, the accounting association, have rapped the company over the knuckles, because they said in their final letter to us that they didn’t specify exactly, or spell out exactly they type of assessment they’d made.   PAUL MURRAY:   Well they’ve said that it was neither an audit nor a review.   ANDREW ROBB:   That’s right, yes, that they hadn’t classified – see, the thing is, the only difference is, between an audit and what they really did was that they accepted our assumptions. Where there were policies, such as, we made an education rebate more attractive, and instead of sixty-one percent take up, we’d assumed eighty percent take up. Well, in the end Treasury assumed eighty-four percent. That was a – that four percent difference – was a billion-dollar hole, but it was just an assumption, and they accepted those assumptions –   PAUL MURRAY:   Yeah, an audit –   ANDREW ROBB:   And they weren’t in a position to look at those things, but in every other respect, I mean, most other policies are a question of straight mathematics, arithmetic, and they went through all of those.   PAUL MURRAY:   It was a one-page document, it hardly looked comprehensive.   ANDREW ROBB:   Well I can tell you Paul, they spent weeks and weeks and weeks after we’d spend months and months and months going through each of these. We had 305 policies, as it turned out, Treasury ticked off, Treasury went through and said that 296 of them were valid, and that they had disagreements with the other nine. So they said that this organisation had satisfactorily assessed 295 of them, so it’s not exactly a situation where there’s massive differences, and in every case, when we got into those other nine, they were differences of assumptions. Like we assumed a different take up, Treasury another one, we were probably both wrong in the end. That’s where the differences lay.   PAUL MURRAY:   Well Treasury found that it was out by $11 billion.   ANDREW ROBB:   Well I know because they picked three or four programs in particular which they disagreed with assumptions that we made, and in fact one program they said they disagreed that it should be Government policy, this conservative bias which I won’t bore you with the detail of it, and they wouldn’t accept it, it was two and a half billion dollars, and then three months later, in the half-yearly economic forecasts, the Government itself used what we had done. So there was a lot of politics being played in all of this, I can tell you Paul.   PAUL MURRAY: Well sure, it was an election campaign.   ANDREW ROBB:   No, politics by public servants as well, and I spent hours and hours and hours with Ken Henry, I mean, I spent two years on the investment team with the Gorgan Gas Project, I’m an economist by training, I did modelling for many years commercially, and I do know something about it. I’d spent a lot more time than he ever had on the number of these projects, and I can tell you we did argue for three and a half hours. On some issues I fundamentally had him cornered, and all he could say was, “we’ve made a decision, we’ve made a decision”, so I said to him then, “the politics in this thing is reeking, Ken, and you’re going to hang around my neck these black holes, when all you can say to me in defence is that you’ve made a decision”. That was the nature of the sort of discussion at the end, and that’s why I felt so strongly ever since that we were set up. I very strongly defend those costings and we will do an exhaustive job again.   PAUL MURRAY:   Well do you concede that this finding by the Institute of Chartered Accountants against the two accountants who did them, that it’s actually damaged the Coalition’s economic credibility?   ANDREW ROBB   No, not one skerrick. This has got nothing, this is really just the association rapping this company over the knuckles for not specifying in their covering note at the end of months of work, exactly the nature of the assessment that they had undertaken. It doesn’t reflect in any sense on the actual work that was done, it reflects on the fact that they did not, as a company, as a registered accounting firm, in fact the fifth biggest in the country, they hadn’t in their letter specified the nature of the work accurately; they just did a broad note, and now that is what they have been rapped over the knuckles for. It is a very technical issue which has got nothing to do with our assessment of all of these items. Yet, I mean, of course, the Government is going to use it. People are not going to understand all of this stuff we are just talking about, and the Government will say this shows we can’t add up.   PAUL MURRAY   Well I think they will understand one thing, I suppose, the bottom line is this, that voters have got a right to be able to trust what the Coalition says it’s election promise costings are. I mean, these ones don’t look as though they were trustworthy because they were portrayed as being audited and they weren’t audited. What are you going to do going up to the next election?   ANDREW ROBB   Well I tell you the other thing is voters have got the right to trust that the Treasury will be totally independent, and not be swayed by the Government of the day. I just say to you on several of those items, there was a fundamental disagreement, they couldn’t answer it, all they could say was we’ve made a decision, and as a consequence, the whole process has been politicised. Next time, we have argued strongly, and we went to the election for a Parliamentary Budget Office.   Now the Government in the end was forced by the Greens to adopt that policy, but they’ve made a budget allocation, brought the legislation in, but here we are, you know nearly half way through the term, and there’s nothing being done about it, they’re trying to force us in to a corner on this Parliamentary Budget Office, they’re calling it, you know, something that sounds impressive. They’re going to put it in the corner of the library of the Parliament and probably put three or four treasury people in it.   PAUL MURRAY   So you won’t be able to rely on them leading up to the election?   ANDREW ROBB   Well we will submit, before the election is announced, whatever policies we’ve got finalised, because we have been assured that that office will not pass it on to anybody else. We will submit them before the election, but the Government has said, and again in the legislation, that once the election is announced, that anything we give to the Parliamentary Budget Office automatically goes up on the website. Well we might want to announce it three weeks later, we might want an independent assessment from the Budget Office, to make sure that we’ve made the right assumptions, and we’re not looking to, there is absolutely no mileage in us, for one second, trying to come up with a number which has got a wrong assumption in it.   I mean, we will work with whatever the figures are in the end, in the same way the Government does. It doesn’t question what Treasury says, but of course, Treasury forecast, just last May, that there would be a budget deficit of $22billion this year, and now its $37billion, so Treasury, a few months later, Treasury, they’ve got form about not getting forecasts absolutely right, I mean, they’re billions and billions out in the budget deficit in the space of five months. But we will do our very best to get this Parliamentary Budget Office up, and independent, and submit it there so there can be no argument.     PAUL MURRAY   Andrew, look I know you’re heading up with some of your Coalition colleagues to look at water issues and the Kimberley, but you’re also in Perth today talking about your book on depression, “Black Dog”.   ANDREW ROBB   Yes, “Black Dog Daze” – I’ve got the Western Australian launch at lunchtime at the Travelodge today, and it’s just my account of not tackling a depressive condition I had in the mornings for 43 years, and I decided to write a book about it, because finally confronting it after months of experimentation and other things, I’ve been able to successfully now manage it for 18 months, I’ve had mornings like I’ve never had since I was twelve years of age, and it’s just, it’s magical really, and I’m just really keen to spread the word that all of those people, and there is probably hundreds of thousands out there who’ve got some sort of condition or they think they might have.   Forget about the stigma, you don’t have to tell the world, just go along, get some professional help, talk about it to your family and those you love, but you don’t have to tell the world, and there are now many solutions for many people, and their life can be transformed.   PAUL MURRAY   Great stuff, thanks for talking to us today, Andrew. Appreciate it.   ANDREW ROBB   Good, thanks. Good on you, Paul. Bye.   ENDS Andrew Robb Mon, 05 Dec 2011 05:41:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1333 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1331/ALP-National-Conference-2011-no-leadership-wrong-priorities.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1331 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1331&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1331/ALP-National-Conference-2011-no-leadership-wrong-priorities.aspx   This weekend’s ALP National Conference will fail unless it develops tangible solutions to address the real concerns of Australians. The key tests for Julia Gillard at the 2011 ALP National Conference will be whether she can: 1.    Develop a plan to strengthen our economy, boost productivity, improve job security, and reduce cost of living pressures on Australian families. 2.    Demonstrate how the Australian Government will repay Labor’s debt, which is now set to peak at a record $136 billion. 3.    Outline how they will secure Australia’s borders, end onshore processing and stop the boats. If the Conference does not develop clear and tangible plans to secure Australia’s future and make life easier for Australian families it will be nothing more than a 3-day talkfest. It will also demonstrate that the Government has the wrong priorities for Australia and that the faceless men of the ALP are still dominating the agenda of this Prime Minister. Andrew Robb Thu, 01 Dec 2011 05:21:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1331 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1329/ALP-CONFERENCE-NEEDS-TO-ADDRESS-LABORS-DEBT-PROBLEM.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1329 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1329&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1329/ALP-CONFERENCE-NEEDS-TO-ADDRESS-LABORS-DEBT-PROBLEM.aspx   Agreeing on a policy to bring the Gillard government’s spiralling record levels of debt under control should have top billing at the ALP National Conference rather than the likes of same sex marriage.   “The fact that Labor’s net debt has blown out by $26 billion in just six months amply demonstrates that under Wayne Swan and Penny Wong Labor has lost control of Australia’s finances,” Shadow Finance Minister Andrew Robb said.   Today the Australian Financial Review has also revealed that more Labor budget fiddles are being used in a desperate bid to avoid the government crashing through its unprecedented $250 billion borrowing limit.   “Labor is borrowing about $73 million more per day over this year than it said it would just six months ago at the time of the Budget,” Mr Robb said.    Since coming to office Labor has lifted the government’s borrowing cap from $75 billion to an unprecedented $250 billion in order to fund its reckless spending and waste.   Mr Robb said Labor last lifted the debt limit in May and refused to let the parliament vote on what amounted to an arbitrary decision despite strong protestations from the Opposition.   “Labor now runs the very real risk of exceeding this quarter-of-a-billion-dollar limit, yet has the temerity to point to an imaginary $1.5 billion surplus next year as a sign of fiscal rectitude. It will be a ‘borrowed surplus’,” Mr Robb said.   “To be this close to the wind so soon after the debt ceiling was last raised beggars belief. It would be a company board’s worst nightmare having a chief executive and chief financial officer running amok like this while making outlandish predictions that are never realised.   “The fact we have a Labor government again on the verge of running out of money on account of the borrowing ceiling means this should be front and centre at the ALP Conference.   “Penny Wong and Wayne clearly have no credible plan which would see the borrowing stop and debt repaid. This is a serious policy problem that needs to be front and centre at the ALP Conference instead of peripheral issues that are well down the list of national priorities,” Mr Robb said. Andrew Robb Thu, 01 Dec 2011 02:39:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1329 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1328/TRANSCRIPT-THE-HON-ANDREW-ROBB-INTERVIEW-WITH-ALI-MOORE-LATELINE-ABC-29-NOVEMBER-2011.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1328 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1328&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1328/TRANSCRIPT-THE-HON-ANDREW-ROBB-INTERVIEW-WITH-ALI-MOORE-LATELINE-ABC-29-NOVEMBER-2011.aspx   Topics: Mid Year Economic Fiscal Outlook, Industrial Relations     E&OE   ALI MOORE, PRESENSTER:   Now back to our top story: the federal budget deficit and the Government's determination to achieve a surplus by 2012-13. I was joined from our Melbourne studio a short time ago by the Opposition's finance spokesman Andrew Robb. Andrew Robb, many thanks for talking to Lateline tonight. ANDREW ROBB:   My pleasure, Ali. ALI MOORE:   The Government has found that savings that it said will deliver surplus - a small surplus, but a surplus nonetheless. They're introducing bigger cuts to the public service as one way to get there. They're to be commended, aren't they, for trying to rein in public spending? ANDREW ROBB:   They've got a blow-out of $26 billion in debt. We heard tonight Wayne Swan on the 7:30 Report for about 15 minutes, I don't think the word "debt" passed his lips. But I'm sure he'd say that, unfortunately, I think the dog ate the Government's home work yet again this year.   There seems to be excuses every year. I suppose our concern is that we feel they have left the economy in a far more vulnerable position than it need be and, you know, there is $87 billion of stimulus money, and much of that was not necessary - and in fact it has put us in really quite a precarious position if there is any sort of serious rundown in commodity prices. ALI MOORE:   And yet the country's top 100 CEOs - those represented by the Business Council, those we imagine to be your natural allies - they say this is the right economic policy for the times, quote: "It will send a strong signal to households, business and investors that Australia can keep its house in order." ANDREW ROBB:   That would be good if it were true. You see... ALI MOORE:   So all those CEOs, the Business Council, they're all wrong? ANDREW ROBB:   Well I don't think they have properly studied the detail in this budget. We have seen, again, a debt blowout by $26 billion in the last five months and it's not accounted for. We have seen some shameless financial or fiscal trickery. This is a hoax. The deficit is a hoax.    I mean they are billions of dollars really short of what is the reality in this budget, and they've done this year in, year out. They're now complaining that they're not getting as such revenue as they thought. You look back the last budget and the budget before. Every time we have said, and others, that the forecasts are Pollyanna-like, that they are the top end, the most optimistic forecasts, given that the world knew Europe was still to make a major adjustment.   The world knew that the US was going to stumble along for some time, and yet they have been assuming that the 140 year highs in terms of trade will continue. ALI MOORE:   At the same time though, against that back drop of a very difficult international environment, for the first time now Australia has been given top marks by all three major ratings agencies for the first time ever. Do we take that with a grain of salt? ANDREW ROBB:   No, we don't, no, we don't. But look, it's not a point of comparing us necessarily with a number of basket cases around the world - and that's really what's happening at the moment. I mean, Europe is on the cusp of certainly a major recession, if not a lot worse than that. ALI MOORE:   Yes, but those ratings agencies are not just rating the "basket cases of the world". They are rating every major economy. ANDREW ROBB:   We're talking about major economies. You know, we're talking about the European community which is a basket of major, you know, established seasoned economies, and some of those are looking to look like they will default, and others going down with them. I mean the whole Euro looks like, I think, it's likely to spin apart. I can't see how they will patch that up and pull themselves out of the problems they're in. It might take two or three years but it's coming.   So, you've got a situation where a number of major economies are basket cases, they've lived beyond their means. Now we're blessed with China, right. If you took away China our underlying structural deficit is actually worse than Italy's. ALI MOORE:   But we've still got a AAA rating - all three ratings agencies first time ever in Australia's history. ANDREW ROBB:   We have, but much of that, if, you know, the Business Council and others read the reasons for that, they would see that the ratings agency said firstly that they've given that to Australia compared with the other major economies because of structural features which have served Australia well over the last two decades. Not the last two years, the last two decades.   So, the reason they have re-rated us is because of the earlier strong financial management. And the second thing they did say - and they really qualified this - they said that our... that we are very suspect to any sort of decline in commodity prices, that will affect our public finances severely, and they said from a finance point of view that we have got a major risk. We're not really AAA rating quality in terms of that external financial exposure that we've got. ALI MOORE:   Let's move on and look at the cuts to the public service. A one-off increase in the efficiency dividend. Penny Wong says the cuts will come through reductions in travel, consultants, advertising and hospitality. They're exactly the sort of areas that should be targeted, aren't they? And how much better in terms of cutting into the public service could the Coalition do? ANDREW ROBB:   We had committed to maintaining public service numbers of real cut but not removing anyone... forcing any redundancies. We said we would not replace any people for two years... ALI MOORE:   Joe Hockey said 12,000 public servants redundant in the first two years. ANDREW ROBB:   That's the first two years, if you don't replace anybody. This is a much higher efficiency dividend than we were looking at, and yet they were criticising our efficiency dividend and said that it would and must imply public service cuts.   Well, of course now Penny Wong and Wayne Swan say that no, that's not necessary, even though two thirds or three quarters of the bills in all of these departments are in fact wages. ALI MOORE:   But how does your policy of 12,000 public servants to be made redundant voluntarily - you're saying no forced redundancy in the first two years - yet you've also got a policy that says you will scrap the Department of Climate Change. I understand that includes something like 15,000 people? ANDREW ROBB:   We're yet to detail all of this. We will show what our cuts will be. The 12,000 was from last time, we said we will repeat that. But in the main we will wait to see... we've still got possibly two budgets, and if you base it on this MYEFO. I mean, this MYEFO has blown out in the space of five months by $15 billion. The debt has gone up $26 billion. ALI MOORE:   Can you confirm the decision to scrap the Department of Climate Change. Are you saying on top of your 12,000 you will now be adding more? ANDREW ROBB:   We have said we will get rid of the Department of Climate Change, and those functions will be, in a modified version, part of the Department of Environment. So that is a decision we have announced. But how that would work, what numbers are involved... we're not going to make final decisions until we get through, as I say, possibly two budgets.   We think this is a house of cards. There are all sorts of trickery. They have brought not just infrastructure forward, which I don't think will be spent anyway because joint spending with the states, so Wayne Swan said, "Who would oppose any bringing forward of any infrastructure?" Well, the states who haven't got the money may well oppose it. The other thing is, on top of that there's about $5 billion or $6 billion of money either brought forward or delayed to create what I think will be a very artificial a surplus or something near a surplus. ALI MOORE:   But even with what we know now about your policy, disregarding what might happen in the next two years, you've got a major challenge, haven't you, to find the spending cuts? You agree that you will keep the increase in compulsory super, but you will scrap the mining tax which the Government says will pay for it.   You agreed you will keep the compensation for a carbon tax, but you will scrap the carbon tax itself. Is the $70 billion you've said in the past you've got to find, is that $70 billion now looking like something substantially higher? ANDREW ROBB:   We haven't said that our task is $70 billion. We don't know yet what the task is until we see... ALI MOORE:   But that's your best guess, isn't it? I mean, at 16th of August you said "it's the estimate of the sort of challenge we will have". September 4th, "it's not a furphy, we came out with the figure." ANDREW ROBB:   That was put forward as the order of magnitude. Start to strip that away. If you take off $31 billion of carbon tax and then you take off $9 or $11 billion, whatever it is, of mining tax, and you don't replace most of that spending, already you've cut that figure well over half. I mean, so, it is assumed, you know, a place in the debate which is meaningless in fact. ALI MOORE:   But with respect, Andrew Robb, it's the place in the debate that you've actually given it. I mean I'm only giving you two examples. You've said it's your estimate of the sort of challenge that you face, $70 billion. How else are we meant to read that but as being your best guess at this point of the challenge you face? ANDREW ROBB:   What I'm saying is. It is a meaningless debate, because firstly it takes no account of the fact that we are going to remove taxes worth tens of billions of dollars against which there is expenditure by this Government which we won't incur. So there is straight away... you've got a situation which is quite different.   Secondly, there's another two budgets to go before we go to an election. We've got the situation in Europe, we've got China likely to come back. ALI MOORE:   You say you're removing some of those taxes and the expenditure that goes with it, but in fact isn't part of your issue that you're removing the taxes but not the expenditure that goes with it? You're keeping the compensation for the carbon tax, as I said, and indeed you're keeping the super changes? ANDREW ROBB:   We don't need to forever keep the compensation for the carbon tax. Certainly the compensation to industry, why would we pay that if we've removed the carbon tax? ALI MOORE:   And what about the personal tax cuts, why pay them if you remove the carbon tax? ANDREW ROBB:   Well, we're going to make personal income tax cuts, that's something that we have consistently done through government. It's not just something related to a carbon tax. We're not committing to giving exactly the types of cuts that the Government is intending to give related to the carbon tax. We will announce a body of carbon, of... sorry, a body of personal tax cuts in due course before the election. So, what I'm saying: the discussion is meaningless, we know we've got a substantial task.   This Government, in our view, has spent and spent and taxed and taxed. It is why we've got the third fastest growth of public debt in the developed world. That's behind Iceland and Ireland. So, you know, we are catching up very rapidly, and if commodity prices came off for whatever reason, Europe, China or a combination of both, our structural deficit is such that we could be facing next year another $50 billion, $50 billion deficit year on year. ALI MOORE:   Andrew Robb, we talked earlier about the support of the business community for the Government surplus. Big business is also increasingly unhappy with the state of industrial relations in this country. David Murray told Lateline last night he sees no programs to improve productivity in Australia. Business is constantly telling you that they're not happy, they want more flexibility in the workplace. Do you share the disappointment of business that the Opposition is not responding? ANDREW ROBB:   It's not a question, we're not in government, Ali, we're not in government, right. We are becoming... ALI MOORE:   But you are the alternative government, aren't you, and in theory with the Parliament we've got almost at any point with there could be an election. ANDREW ROBB:   Almost, but with all likelihood with the tricks and the... ALI MOORE:   But isn't it your job to engage in the debate, to provide an alternative policy? ANDREW ROBB:    ...lack of principle that's going on out there with the Speaker. It could go two years, so we've got to be ready for something now or ready for something in two years time. ALI MOORE:   So what industrial relations - what are you ready for now? ANDREW ROBB:   We have done a lot of work but we have said to... we have said to business - and they are responding - we've said, "You tell us what is going wrong with workplace relations, you tell us what's wrong with the Fair Work Act", and we are now being presented with endless examples where there are massive rigidities being reintroduced into the systems. Unions have now got a swagger back - the intimidation, in some cases the criminality. ALI MOORE:   But, already policy has been made in one small area but I guess a very significant area: Tony Abbot ruling out statutory individual contracts. ANDREW ROBB:   Well, our view is we can restore significant flexibility into the system, but we need to wait until we have had it clearly identified where are the hot spots in industrial relations that we must deal with - and I can assure you we will deal with them, and in advance of an election people will know what steps we're going to take. ALI MOORE:   Do you support that decision though to rule out statutory individual contracts? ANDREW ROBB:   Well, it's a policy decision of the party, so I support all the policy decisions of the party. ALI MOORE:   Andrew Robb, many thanks for taking the time to talk to Lateline tonight. ANDREW ROBB:   My pleasure, thanks, Ali.     ENDS Andrew Robb Tue, 29 Nov 2011 23:06:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1328 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1327/INTERVIEW-WITH-MARIUS-BENSON-ABC-NEWS-RADIO-29-NOVEMBER-2011.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1327 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1327&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1327/INTERVIEW-WITH-MARIUS-BENSON-ABC-NEWS-RADIO-29-NOVEMBER-2011.aspx   Topics: MYEFO, Budget surpluses, OECD growth forecasts   E&OE     MARIUS BENSON:   The Federal Government will today reveal the magnitude of the blow out in this year’s budget, but it remains committed to delivering a surplus next financial year. The Government will this morning release the figures in its mid-year financial forecast and it’s expected to include, as we’ve been saying, $20 billion in write downs for the Government revenue over the forward estimates, but is still promising to return the budget to surplus next year. For an Opposition view on the economic outlook I’m joined by the Shadow Finance Minister, Andrew Robb. Andrew Robb, good morning.   ANDREW ROBB:   Good morning Marius.   MARIUS BENSON:   The Government says it will cut, it will return to surplus next year, pretty much come hell or high water. You want to see a return to surplus?   ANDREW ROBB:   Look, this is so predictable. We’ve heard now for three years this endless focus on some future surplus, while, in the meantime, the budget just keeps blowing out. We’ve had now, this will be the fourth largest budget deficit in our history, well the other three that this Government brought down were the three largest, so it’s just a track record, the way in which they continue to focus on some future event, which I suspect we’ll never get to.   MARIUS BENSON:   There was a global financial crisis.   ANDREW ROBB:   There was a global financial crisis, but the Government never focuses on what is happening in the here and now. The problem is that this Government has spent recklessly, and wasted money. You think of the pink batts, and the school programs and all the rest, the National Broadband, in fact, it was just said yesterday that it will blow out by $15 billion. And yet it’s all so – it’s inconsequential.   This is the Government that has got no sense of how to manage money. And we’re going to get this whole episode again, talking about some future surplus. That this future surplus, of course, will be – the evidence of it – will be after the next election. So all they’re trying to do is manufacture a story and a prospect of a – it’s like that sign you see on a country pub, you know, “Free beer tomorrow” –   MARIUS BENSON:   (Laughing)   ANDREW ROBB:   – And you come back tomorrow and the sign’s still there, “Free beer tomorrow”, this is what’s going on.   MARIUS BENSON:   But the Government does seem to be getting some pats on the back for its economic achievements, the OECD growth forecasts that are out, it shows that the United States next year maybe two percent growth, Great Britain, half of one percent, the Euro zone, point two percent growth, and Australia four percent. It’s way ahead of the pack.   ANDREW ROBB:   Well again, this is all the future. You go back to last –    MARIUS BENSON:   That’s the OECD’s view.   ANDREW ROBB:   Yeah well, the OECD’s view last year was that we’d be three and a half, four percent, and that’s not going to be achieved. And of course, the OECD numbers, who are they informed principally by? By the Federal Government and the Treasury, the Federal Treasury, so it’s not a surprise that you’re getting again, some fairly heroic assumptions.   This will be, this year – you know, they’re trying to manufacture a number that gets close to, or at a surplus. They’re bringing forward expenditure into this year, they’re going to make it much harder for the Reserve Bank to manage interest rates, because they’re going to bring forward billions of dollars of expenditure, to try and manufacture some sort of number close to a surplus for next year. They’re pushing back expenditure into the following year.   This is just politics, this is the Government’s writ large, it is playing with Australia’s future, by the way in which it is dealing with this budget. It’s done it again and again, it’s wasted money, it’s recklessly spent, they are not a responsible Government when it comes to dealing with the financial circumstances.   MARIUS BENSON:   What about taking the politics out of it, and getting a view from someone like David Murray, who is in the news today, he seems to be giving the Government plans a pat on the back again, he thinks the cuts ahead are the right thing to do.   ANDREW ROBB:   Well I’m not sure what David said, but David is certainly one of the strongest critics over the last twelve months, and someone who is not political, and they’re saying that the Government has clearly spent far too much, and that – you know, the fact is Marius, if there’s no indication in this budget of how vulnerable our fiscal circumstance is if there’s a major recession in Europe, you won’t be able to believe one figure in this document today.   They are just all about smoke and mirrors. Nothing that they’ve predicted in the past has come to be. It’s just a few months ago in May that the Treasury and the Government predicted a $20 billion deficit for this year. Now just a few months later, we hear there’s going to be something in the order of a $20 billion blow out over the forward estimates. Who is making decisions here? They say how effective the Treasury is with forecasting, they’re $20 billion out in the space of about five months. It can give people no confidence.   MARIUS BENSON:   Andrew Robb, thank you very much.   ANDREW ROBB:   My pleasure, thanks Marius.   ENDS Andrew Robb Tue, 29 Nov 2011 03:48:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1327 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1326/WONG-IN-DENIAL-WITH-EUROPE-ON-THE-CUSP.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1326 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1326&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1326/WONG-IN-DENIAL-WITH-EUROPE-ON-THE-CUSP.aspx Sunday, 27 November 2011   WONG IN DENIAL WITH EUROPE ON THE CUSP   As Europe sits on the cusp of a major recession Penny Wong remains in denial about Labor’s record debt and how vulnerable that leaves our economy.   Shadow Finance Minister Andrew Robb said if Penny Wong was serious about “charting the right course” as mentioned on Meet the Press this morning, the government’s actions and words would acknowledge Australia’s vulnerability to the unfolding major European recession and the coming slowdown in China.   “Australia’s structural deficit on a per centage of GDP basis is already 30 per cent worse than Italy’s. Labor’s $217 billion black hole of debt is the unmentionable issue by Senator Wong and her colleagues.   “Labor has no plan to pay off our massive debt and fix our huge structural deficit.   “Government debt has ballooned to unprecedented levels under Penny Wong. We have gross debt at more than $217 billion and net debt of $106 billion and growing. Interest on this alone is costing taxpayers in the order of $6 billion a year,” Mr Robb said.   So bad is the situation in Europe that German bonds are not being taken up at auction and if ever there was a warning to government to make some tough decisions in the Mid Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO) this week then this is it.   “Instead we hear more lecturing from Penny Wong about the need for Europe to get its house in order, well the time has come for Labor to get its own house in order,” Mr Robb said.   “Instead I suspect we will just see more smoke and mirrors in MYEFO, with billions of dollars in spending brought forward or pushed out in a cynical attempt to again manufacture something close to a surplus in 2012-13.   “Australians are fed up with political trickery from the Gillard government. It’s time for Labor to pull its head out of the sand and shoulder its responsibilities,” Mr Robb said.   Media Contact:        Cameron Hill on 0408 239 521.      Andrew Robb Sun, 27 Nov 2011 23:33:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1326 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1325/INTERVIEW-WITH-MARIUS-BENSON-ABC-NEWS-RADIO-23-NOVEMBER-2011.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1325 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1325&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1325/INTERVIEW-WITH-MARIUS-BENSON-ABC-NEWS-RADIO-23-NOVEMBER-2011.aspx   Topics: Mining tax, need for a mini-budget, Coalition party room.   E&OE   PRESENTER:   The Coalition remains staunchly opposed. One of the Opposition members who was in the House of Reps for the vote early this morning was the Shadow Finance Minister, speaking here with Marius Benson.   MARIUS BENSON:   Andrew Robb that was a long, long night for parliamentarians. You voted at just before three Canberra time, but the deal is now done on the mining tax, it will clearly go through the Senate early next year, is the Opposition still maintaining it will be rescinded, if you win government?   ANDREW ROBB:   There is absolutely no doubt that we will rescind this tax. It’s a bad tax, just like the carbon tax, and if we win government, it will be one of the first things that we seek to do is rescind this tax.   MARIUS BENSON:   Unlike the carbon tax though, it has public support according to all the polls, and the big miners themselves say, “Okay, we’ll cop it”.   ANDREW ROBB:   Well yes, but the big miners, I would say, have done all that with a gun at their head, plus I think they’ve struck a fairly sweet deal, and it’s a bit odd really, it is supposedly the party of the worker, and yes, they’ve done a deal with the three big miners, as I say, with a gun at their head, and yet, all the smaller miners are going to be severely affected.   MARIUS BENSON:   The parliamentary year is almost at an end, but there is more business still to be done, the mid-year economic figures will be released by the Treasurer next week. You say you want that moment to be used as a mini-budget, because you argue the economic settings in Australia are not as healthy as people claim.   ANDREW ROBB:   Well clearly, the government has already foreshadowed that it will need to, in this mid-year outlook it will need to introduce more savings initiatives, so there is need for a crisis mini-budget in a sense, and we think that mini-budget should be presented before the parliament.   MARIUS BENSON:   A point the Finance Minister Penny Wong was making yesterday was if the Opposition believes the economy is in such bad shape, it needs a crisis mini-budget, why was Tony Abbott telling international politicians just a few days ago in London that, on the face of this comparative performance, Australia had “serious bragging rights” compared to most developed countries, our economic circumstances are “enviable”, he said.   ANDREW ROBB:   We are the envy of the world because of the opportunity that China has presented. But the bottom line is, Marius, Australia’s structural deficit is, on a percentage of GDP, it is twice as bad as Germany’s, and it is thirty percent worse than Italy’s, would you believe. We are vulnerable.    MARIUS BENSON:   The parties had their, perhaps, final meeting for the year yesterday, the Labor Party, the Liberal Party, and the joint Coalitions all had meetings, and there were briefings afterwards, as there always are, and there were reports from the joint party meeting in particular that Tony Abbott was challenged about making leadership calls, that Mr Abbott became angry and testy with challenges to his decisions as leader without consulting the party room. Is that accurate?   ANDREW ROBB:   No, it’s not accurate. He was asked some straightforward questions about the decisions. He’s answered the question about the decisions that have been taken in regard, in particular, to superannuation; he gave the rationale, and that was it.   MARIUS BENSON:   But is there concern in Liberal ranks about the leaders making decisions without consulting the party room?   ANDREW ROBB:   No, I don’t think, there was a request for an explanation on decisions, but in the end, there are a lot of decisions, they do reside with the leadership group, but of course, as Tony Abbott pointed out, it is always the prerogative of the party room to, in the end, have the final say, if they wish, on any decision.   MARIUS BENSON:   Did Tony Abbott close down debate on that point, and was he angry and testy, as was reported in the Sydney Morning Herald?   ANDREW ROBB:   No, he did suggest that he would prefer to move on to other business, but in that instance, anyone would still have the opportunity, as one or two did take the opportunity, to make another point or two, so it was a normal meeting as far as I was concerned, the way in which it was conducted, and everyone is honest, at the end of the year where the Government has been on its knees and exposed for what it is. The party room finished in a very strong frame of mind for this year.   MARIUS BENSON:   Andrew Robb, thanks very much.   ANDREW ROBB:   Thanks Marius.   ENDS Andrew Robb Wed, 23 Nov 2011 00:48:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1325 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1324/Gillard-Government-Killing-Business-Confidence.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1324 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1324&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1324/Gillard-Government-Killing-Business-Confidence.aspx   A new survey of company directors has confirmed that the dreadful performance of the minority Gillard government and its complete lack of understanding of business is killing confidence.   "This is totally consistent with the feedback of disillusionment I have been receiving from boardrooms right across the country over the past 12 months," Shadow Finance Minister Andrew Robb said today.   The Directors Sentiment Index prepared for AICD (Australian Institute of Company Directors) found that nearly 70 per cent of over 500 directors surveyed believed the poor performance of the Gillard government was having a negative impact on their business and nearly 90 per cent believed it was hurting consumer confidence.   Most damning was the finding that more than 80 per cent of directors surveyed said the Gillard government “lacks an understanding of business”. On top of this 62 per cent believe the carbon tax will have a negative impact on their business.   “These findings confirm that the dysfunction and incompetence of the Gillard government is having a major detrimental impact on the state of the economy,” Mr Robb said.   “When this is combined with Labor’s complete lack of understanding and empathy for business and its acute failure to consult, it makes for a very dangerous combination.   “At a time when our economy is already vulnerable to events in Europe we need strong leadership, rational decision making and to back our nation’s strengths. At the moment with the Gillard government the complete opposite is sadly the case,” Mr Robb said. Andrew Robb Tue, 15 Nov 2011 23:49:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1324 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1322/Interview-with-Marius-Benson-ABC-News-Radio-10-November-2011.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1322 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1322&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1322/Interview-with-Marius-Benson-ABC-News-Radio-10-November-2011.aspx   Interview with Marius Benson, ABC News Radio, 10 November 2011   Topics: European Debt Crisis, Mining Tax, Compulsory Superannuation Increase   CLICK HERE TO PLAY INTERVIEW   E&OE …………………………     MARIUS BENSON:   Andrew Robb, the Federal Government says, “Look at the European debt mess, and you realise just how lucky Australia is at one level, and how well-managed the economy is”, would you agree with that?   ANDREW ROBB:   Well we are, relative to the Europeans, of course, with the great blessings we’ve got out of China, and the enormous income that we’re receiving which others are not. It makes it all the more unfortunate that in many respects, the proceeds of that mining are being wasted, the boom is being wasted in many ways, so we can’t take anything for granted; we are in an economically vulnerable position if Europe brings down the world in terms of its economic activity.   MARIUS BENSON:   Nonetheless, Australian consumers do look pretty happy on the basis of the local figures with the Westpac Melbourne Institute Consumer Confidence Survey – it’s just come out – a six percent bounce. Is that optimism justified?   ANDREW ROBB:   Well you know, people have been saving, I think something in the order of $70 billion more over the last year, than they would normally save, because Australian households do have an appreciation of the vulnerability, they’ve got a sixth sense that things could turn sour on us, and if the commodity prices don’t hold up, that’s very true.   In the meantime, we are blessed with the situation we’ve got, but we’ve got to look forward, not just at the present, and make sure that we weatherproof our economy against any further turbulence, and that’s been our concern all along, that instead of being prudent, the Government has lived beyond its means, and is not looking to weatherproof our economy.   MARIUS BENSON:   Can I turn to the mining tax, you oppose the mining tax proposed by the Government, you’re in agreement with the mining lobby on that, can I get your response to a statement by the Minerals Council CEO Mitch Hooke, who told a Parliamentary Inquiry yesterday, “If I had my druthers, I’d be arguing that it wasn’t necessary for Australians to be sharing in the mining boom”. What do you make of that view?   ANDREW ROBB:   Well I read that, and I wasn’t certain of the context or what he’d said before. I find it an odd statement to make, because I know Mitch, and I know how proud he is of the fact that the mining boom has made – is making – such a huge contribution.   MARIUS BENSON:   Staying with the mining tax, the revenue being used by that is proposed by the Government to pay, in part, for the cost of the increase in compulsory superannuation, from nine percent to twelve percent, the Opposition is against the tax, and has been, until last Friday, against that superannuation increase. But on Friday Tony Abbott announced you’d be still scrapping the tax, but you’d be keeping the superannuation benefit. Do you support that change?   ANDREW ROBB:   I support everything that we’ve announced.   MARIUS BENSON:   Is it a bit irresponsible though to announce all the goodies, the spending goodies, and then say, “We’ll tell you how we’ll pay for it later”?   ANDREW ROBB:   Well it’s not as though we’re announcing all the goodies –   MARIUS BENSON:   Well there’s been the superannuation, there’s been the paid parental leave, there’s been several instances.   ANDREW ROBB:   Well we’ve told people how we’ll fund the paid parental leave –   MARIUS BENSON:   An increase in company tax?   ANDREW ROBB:    There’ll be a tax on the top 3000 companies to pay for that, so we have paid – so you’re asking is it irresponsible not to identify how we’ll pay for it, well we have identified in that instance, and there’s so much of what we will do and not do that we haven’t yet announced, and we won’t announce, until we’ve got a better feel for where Australia is at. We’re still two years, potentially, away from an election, we’re still two budgets away from an election.   MARIUS BENSON:   Were you, as it was reported, left out of the leadership phone hook up that took the decision to stay with the compulsory super, to drop the Opposition to it?   ANDREW ROBB:   I wasn’t on the call, but I know there was no intent in that, it was just one of those things.   MARIUS BENSON:   Were you, as again reported, “ropeable” about the decision?   ANDREW ROBB:   I’m not going to get into internal decisions, just like the Government, and their Cabinet discussions, I don’t intend to discuss that issue or any other issue in terms of who thought what, where and when. The fact of the matter is, we’ve reached a decision, and I strongly support it. In many cases, there’s robust discussion, but we’re part of a team, and if we didn’t have debate on issues, then it would be a fairly odd sort of situation.   MARIUS BENSON:   Andrew Robb, thank you very much.   ANDREW ROBB:   Thanks Marius.     ENDS       Andrew Robb Thu, 10 Nov 2011 05:35:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1322 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1320/INTERVIEW-WITH-MARIUS-BENSON-ABC-NEWS-RADIO-2-NOVEMBER-2011.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1320 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1320&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1320/INTERVIEW-WITH-MARIUS-BENSON-ABC-NEWS-RADIO-2-NOVEMBER-2011.aspx   E&OE   Issues: Interest Rates, Qantas Dispute, Mining Tax   CLICK HERE TO PLAY     GLEN BARTHOLOMEW:   Qantas services are back to normal after the weekend grounding of flights, but the political battle over the dispute is continuing. The Opposition’s been accusing the Government of failing to act when it learned of Qantas’ plans to ground its operations worldwide. Now the Government says Tony Abbott and other leading Opposition figures have revealed that they were told of the airline’s plans in advance.   And as the air battle goes on, the Government today introduces another key piece of legislation that is the mining tax. For a view on those issues, Marius Benson is speaking here to the Shadow Finance Minister, that’s Andrew Robb.   MARIUS BENSON:   Andrew Robb, can I begin by asking you today about the interest rate decision yesterday by the Reserve Bank? Two of the large banks, two of the Big Four, have said they will cut their rates in line with that, Westpac and Commonwealth, the other two, no announcement yet, you’d obviously like to see them do the same?   ANDREW ROBB:   Well it’s quite clear that there’s been a massive increase in deposits locally over the last few months, so the banks are well placed to pass on the full amount of the interest rate cut, because they are less stressed in trying to get dearer wholesale monies off the international markets, so there is no argument for this not to be passed on. And bear in mind that the $50 a month for families with an average mortgage I think will be an important assistance to many families, and the irony is that it’s born out of a crisis of confidence, because of the incompetence of this Government.   MARIUS BENSON:   Okay, can I leave the banks issue there and interest rates and go on to the Qantas circumstance because it was claimed and counter-claimed yesterday about who knew what when. When did you personally learn that Qantas intended to ground its fleet worldwide?   ANDREW ROBB:   About 5:30 or 5:15 on Saturday.     MARIUS BENSON:   There was talk around, according to Joe Hockey and others, there was talk around Federal Parliament were you informally advised that Qantas was considering it?   ANDREW ROBB:   No I wasn’t. Look, I just feel, Marius, that this is a desperate attempt by the Government to try and re-focus this issue, because of the fact that they spent three hours on Saturday talking amongst themselves rather than picking up the phone to the CEO, who was waiting for a call, who would have responded to a call.   MARIUS BENSON:   Again can I move on, Andrew Robb, and ask you about the mining tax, that’s in Parliament today, you’re against it?   ANDREW ROBB:   We are against it. The fact of the matter is you don’t penalise your great strengths. I mean, what team would put a lead weight around their best player running on to the football field? That’s effectively what we’re doing.   MARIUS BENSON:   Well can I ask you then, because the public seems to think something should be done there, the polls indicate an overwhelming public support for more being paid by the resources sector in a two-speed economy.   ANDREW ROBB:   Well, firstly, it’s a Labor poll, I think, so I’d be a little bit jaundiced about –   MARIUS BENSON:    – One is, there are others.   ANDREW ROBB:    – reading too much into it, but secondly, the fact of the matter is that the level of corporate revenue, from corporate tax, is largely underpinned and has grown very significantly because of the mining operations. Now people aren’t aware of that. We would be having deficits much, much bigger than what we are at the present time if it wasn’t for the mining tax, and of course you’ve got extraordinary levels of activity, and it is filtering through many parts of the economy, so I believe that the polls don’t reflect the reality.   MARIUS BENSON:   Andrew Robb, thank you very much.   ANDREW ROBB:   Thanks Marius.   ENDS Andrew Robb Wed, 02 Nov 2011 03:18:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1320 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1319/GOVERNMENT-ADVISER-CONFIRMS-BOB-BROWN-BANK-WILL-BRING-OUT-THE-SHONKS.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1319 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1319&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1319/GOVERNMENT-ADVISER-CONFIRMS-BOB-BROWN-BANK-WILL-BRING-OUT-THE-SHONKS.aspx   A key adviser to the Gillard government on the $10 billion Clean Energy Finance Corporation aka ‘Bob Brown Bank’ has conceded that the fund will attract “dodgy people” and “shonky operators”. “We now have the government’s own adviser confirming the inherent risks associated with this $10 billion slush fund which is what the Coalition has been warning of from day one,” Shadow Minister for Finance Andrew Robb said. The admission to Fairfax by David Paradice follows fresh reports that another U.S. government backed alternative energy company – Beacon Power – has filed for bankruptcy. This comes on the back of the collapse of solar company Solyndra which was guaranteed by the U.S government to the tune of $535 million. “This is what happens when governments foolishly throw money at high-risk ventures that the banks wouldn’t touch and renewable energy would be one of the most fraught areas of all,” Mr Robb said. Mr Robb said legitimate renewable energy companies had as much to fear from the mismanagement of Labor’s slush fund as anybody. “The ‘Bob Brown Bank’ will attract all sorts of fly-by-nighters looking to make a quick buck at the expense of taxpayers and credible operators. That’s exactly what we saw with the pink batts disaster when good insulation businesses were sent to the wall by the actions of the shonks.    “After the obscene levels of waste and mismanagement we have seen from this government there is no way known Julia Gillard could guarantee that billions won’t also be wasted on this scheme,” Mr Robb said. Andrew Robb Wed, 02 Nov 2011 00:51:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1319 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1318/Inflation-Figures-Carbon-Tax-and-Interest-Rates.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1318 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1318&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1318/Inflation-Figures-Carbon-Tax-and-Interest-Rates.aspx   The sharp decline in underlying inflation and the impending carbon tax highlight the softness in our economy at a time when many households and businesses are doing it tough.   The softening inflation data gives the RBA something to seriously consider when it meets on Melbourne Cup Day.   The Gillard government by failing to get its own fiscal house in order with its continued spending and borrowing has made the RBA’s job so much more difficult.   Any reduction in interest rates next week would give some welcome relief to households feeling the strain of mortgage stress and the many businesses struggling in a two-speed economy.   The inflation figures show that the biggest cost of living increases came in the daily essentials, including water and sewerage (8.6 per cent) electricity which spiked 7.8 per cent as well as property rates and charges (5.2 per cent).   Electricity prices have increased 60 per cent since Labor came to power.   This highlights the Gillard government’s lack of empathy and disconnect with everyday Australians by imposing a carbon tax which will drive power prices even higher.   While Julia Gillard and Wayne Swan lecture the Europeans about living within their means they are set this year to spend $22 billion more than the revenue they raise.   During a mining boom they will preside over the three biggest budget deficits in our history.   Andrew Robb Wed, 26 Oct 2011 04:03:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1318 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1316/INTERVIEW-WITH-KIERAN-GILBERT-SKY-NEWS.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1316 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1316&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1316/INTERVIEW-WITH-KIERAN-GILBERT-SKY-NEWS.aspx     INTERVIEW WITH KIERAN GILBERT SKY NEWS   Wednesday, 26 October 2011   Topics: Pokies mandatory pre-commitment, European debt crisis, free trade, interest rates   E&OE……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….   KIERAN GILBERT: Mr Robb thanks for your time. Before we go into the area of your responsibility, specifically, I want to ask you about this hardening position from the Coalition. If the Coalition does take this stance as Mr Abbott predicts, it would preclude any possibility of Andrew Wilkie changing sides wouldn’t it? ANDREW ROBB: Well it’s up to him what he decides to do. He has said quite emphatically that if the Government does not get this measure up in the form that he wanted, that he would change sides. But that’s his call. We’ve got to deal with issues as they arise, and this is bad policy. This is just more of the nanny state – and we’ve seen just mountains of that over the last three or four years; and I think what Tony Abbott said yesterday is quite consistent with what I’m hearing in the party room. The problem really is with all this is that it is just a political stunt. The Prime Minister only ever agreed to this because it guaranteed Wilkie’s vote and the opportunity to form Government. And the problem really is that not only will it cost tens of millions of dollars for the clubs and the pubs and the RSLs, but it will not do anything about problem gambling. KIERAN GILBERT: What about the argument though that’s been put – for example Western Australia doesn’t have poker machines in clubs, pubs, yet their sporting clubs look to be quite healthy; their civic services look to be quite healthy; it doesn’t impact adversely on that state. ANDREW ROBB: Well first and foremost this is not a question of whether we have pokies or not; they are an established feature in so many pubs and club throughout eastern states. The problem is that is this measure going to do anything constructively to reduce problem gambling. And if you look where it was applied in Norway – the only country in the world where they have mandatory pre-commitment – there was a massive movement in gambling to online gambling, and gambling got worse under this measure.  Now that’s the only case in the world where we have seen this thing trialled; and it failed abysmally. So it will mean tens of millions of dollars being spent purely to keep Julia Gillard in office. That’s really the nub of this issue; it is a token measure which is going to do nothing for problem gambling; it will significantly increase the nanny state; it will cost tens of millions of dollars; all for no good reason. KIERAN GILBERT:   Let’s move on. We can get bogged down in that debate though. The Productivity Commission and others have put it forward, but let’s look at other issues of enormous importance at the moment - The Euro meeting in Brussels. This has so much significance not just for Europe, but for the rest of the global economy doesn’t it? And there’s not much optimism around the place that they’re going to get their act together. Really the concern here is about Italy isn’t it? It’s not really about Greece, but about the third-biggest economy following Greece’s lead here with this debt crisis.   ANDREW ROBB:   Well, yes, I agree with that. It looks as though we’ve got not only Greece, but you’ve got Spain, Portugal - of course Ireland is a cot case now – but Italy – which is one of the biggest economies in the world – it does seem to be carrying an extraordinary amount of debt.   The bottom line is that Europe and the United States have been living beyond their means for a long time, and the inevitable adjustment seems to be coming. And I think we have to put the seat belt on.   KIERAN GILBERT:   What about the prospect of China and Asia being a buffer this time around? China, 20% of its exports go to Europe, so obviously it is going to take a decent hit if this does all fall over as many are predicting.   Therefore it is unlikely to be the buffer that it was for Australia again this time around if there was another global recession. Would you agree with that?   ANDREW ROBB:   Well that’s been our concern for twelve months or more. It’s the reason why we have been arguing that the Government, our Government, should be also looking to live within its means. Yet this year alone, the one we’re currently in, we look like at best this Government spending $22 billion more than we will receive in taxation. Now that’s in the middle of a mining boom, and it just beggars belief that the profligacy that has gone on with this government. And the failure to rein in their spending - that will be the third biggest budget deficit in our history.   The previous two of course have been in the last two years, so the Prime Minister to be out there lecturing the Europeans on living within their means it is embarrassing almost to see this sort of nonsense that she has gone on with in the last few days.   The message is true, but to come from her and from a government that has been demonstrably spending far more than we have been raising, despite the mining boom, just undermines the whole strength of that case.   KIERAN GILBERT:   The prime minister on free trade at the Commonwealth business forum last night said that Australia will open imports, access to imports from 50 of the poorest developing nations without tariffs, without quotas designed to give the free trade agenda a bit of a kick-start that sounds like a good idea doesn’t it?   ANDREW ROBB:   It’s an excellent idea in my view that is why it was introduced in 2003 by the Howard government and this government quite correctly, properly has continued that we already have access to the 50 poorest countries and it has been in place now for some time and it is certainly something that should be followed through by other countries.   But again Kieran we need to make sure that we follow through, that we do actually be consistent with interventions in the economy and protection and you would have to say that the multi-billion-dollar subsidy and the monopoly, the telecom monopoly that is being created by this government the NBN, that is precluding all sorts of possible access by other countries.   It is a form of protection and to create another government monopoly, we are the only country that I know in the world which is renationalising its telecommunications, so again we need to be consistent if the prime minister is going to stand up there in an international forum with some credibility and lecture other countries.   KIERAN GILBERT:   Just quickly, one last question on the prospect of a rate cut on Melbourne Cup Day, you’d welcome that wouldn’t you?   ANDREW ROBB:   We most assuredly would and we’ve been saying for some time now that some of our economy really is in recession. There are parts of our economy despite the fact that we have got this great blessing of a boom in the resources sector, we have got very much a two-speed economy and there are many millions of households in fact who are suffering from mortgage stress and there are many, many businesses in fact hundreds of thousands who are also doing it very tough so any sort of cut on Wednesday would be most acceptable.   KIERAN GILBERT:   Andrew Robb, appreciate your time, thanks for that.           Media Contact:          Cameron Hill on 0408 239 521.     Andrew Robb Wed, 26 Oct 2011 00:58:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1316 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1317/INTERVIEW-WITH-KIERAN-GILBERT-SKY-NEWS.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1317 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1317&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1317/INTERVIEW-WITH-KIERAN-GILBERT-SKY-NEWS.aspx     INTERVIEW WITH KIERAN GILBERT SKY NEWS   Wednesday, 26 October 2011   Topics: Pokies mandatory pre-commitment, European debt crisis, free trade, interest rates   E&OE……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….   KIERAN GILBERT: Mr Robb thanks for your time. Before we go into the area of your responsibility, specifically, I want to ask you about this hardening position from the Coalition. If the Coalition does take this stance as Mr Abbott predicts, it would preclude any possibility of Andrew Wilkie changing sides wouldn’t it? ANDREW ROBB: Well it’s up to him what he decides to do. He has said quite emphatically that if the Government does not get this measure up in the form that he wanted, that he would change sides. But that’s his call. We’ve got to deal with issues as they arise, and this is bad policy. This is just more of the nanny state – and we’ve seen just mountains of that over the last three or four years; and I think what Tony Abbott said yesterday is quite consistent with what I’m hearing in the party room. The problem really is with all this is that it is just a political stunt. The Prime Minister only ever agreed to this because it guaranteed Wilkie’s vote and the opportunity to form Government. And the problem really is that not only will it cost tens of millions of dollars for the clubs and the pubs and the RSLs, but it will not do anything about problem gambling. KIERAN GILBERT: What about the argument though that’s been put – for example Western Australia doesn’t have poker machines in clubs, pubs, yet their sporting clubs look to be quite healthy; their civic services look to be quite healthy; it doesn’t impact adversely on that state. ANDREW ROBB: Well first and foremost this is not a question of whether we have pokies or not; they are an established feature in so many pubs and club throughout eastern states. The problem is that is this measure going to do anything constructively to reduce problem gambling. And if you look where it was applied in Norway – the only country in the world where they have mandatory pre-commitment – there was a massive movement in gambling to online gambling, and gambling got worse under this measure.  Now that’s the only case in the world where we have seen this thing trialled; and it failed abysmally. So it will mean tens of millions of dollars being spent purely to keep Julia Gillard in office. That’s really the nub of this issue; it is a token measure which is going to do nothing for problem gambling; it will significantly increase the nanny state; it will cost tens of millions of dollars; all for no good reason. KIERAN GILBERT:   Let’s move on. We can get bogged down in that debate though. The Productivity Commission and others have put it forward, but let’s look at other issues of enormous importance at the moment - The Euro meeting in Brussels. This has so much significance not just for Europe, but for the rest of the global economy doesn’t it? And there’s not much optimism around the place that they’re going to get their act together. Really the concern here is about Italy isn’t it? It’s not really about Greece, but about the third-biggest economy following Greece’s lead here with this debt crisis.   ANDREW ROBB:   Well, yes, I agree with that. It looks as though we’ve got not only Greece, but you’ve got Spain, Portugal - of course Ireland is a cot case now – but Italy – which is one of the biggest economies in the world – it does seem to be carrying an extraordinary amount of debt.   The bottom line is that Europe and the United States have been living beyond their means for a long time, and the inevitable adjustment seems to be coming. And I think we have to put the seat belt on.   KIERAN GILBERT:   What about the prospect of China and Asia being a buffer this time around? China, 20% of its exports go to Europe, so obviously it is going to take a decent hit if this does all fall over as many are predicting.   Therefore it is unlikely to be the buffer that it was for Australia again this time around if there was another global recession. Would you agree with that?   ANDREW ROBB:   Well that’s been our concern for twelve months or more. It’s the reason why we have been arguing that the Government, our Government, should be also looking to live within its means. Yet this year alone, the one we’re currently in, we look like at best this Government spending $22 billion more than we will receive in taxation. Now that’s in the middle of a mining boom, and it just beggars belief that the profligacy that has gone on with this government. And the failure to rein in their spending - that will be the third biggest budget deficit in our history.   The previous two of course have been in the last two years, so the Prime Minister to be out there lecturing the Europeans on living within their means it is embarrassing almost to see this sort of nonsense that she has gone on with in the last few days.   The message is true, but to come from her and from a government that has been demonstrably spending far more than we have been raising, despite the mining boom, just undermines the whole strength of that case.   KIERAN GILBERT:   The prime minister on free trade at the Commonwealth business forum last night said that Australia will open imports, access to imports from 50 of the poorest developing nations without tariffs, without quotas designed to give the free trade agenda a bit of a kick-start that sounds like a good idea doesn’t it?   ANDREW ROBB:   It’s an excellent idea in my view that is why it was introduced in 2003 by the Howard government and this government quite correctly, properly has continued that we already have access to the 50 poorest countries and it has been in place now for some time and it is certainly something that should be followed through by other countries.   But again Kieran we need to make sure that we follow through, that we do actually be consistent with interventions in the economy and protection and you would have to say that the multi-billion-dollar subsidy and the monopoly, the telecom monopoly that is being created by this government the NBN, that is precluding all sorts of possible access by other countries.   It is a form of protection and to create another government monopoly, we are the only country that I know in the world which is renationalising its telecommunications, so again we need to be consistent if the prime minister is going to stand up there in an international forum with some credibility and lecture other countries.   KIERAN GILBERT:   Just quickly, one last question on the prospect of a rate cut on Melbourne Cup Day, you’d welcome that wouldn’t you?   ANDREW ROBB:   We most assuredly would and we’ve been saying for some time now that some of our economy really is in recession. There are parts of our economy despite the fact that we have got this great blessing of a boom in the resources sector, we have got very much a two-speed economy and there are many millions of households in fact who are suffering from mortgage stress and there are many, many businesses in fact hundreds of thousands who are also doing it very tough so any sort of cut on Wednesday would be most acceptable.   KIERAN GILBERT:   Andrew Robb, appreciate your time, thanks for that.           Media Contact:          Cameron Hill on 0408 239 521.     Andrew Robb Wed, 26 Oct 2011 00:58:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1317 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1315/Interview-with-Marius-Benson-ABC-AM-26-October-2011.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1315 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1315&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1315/Interview-with-Marius-Benson-ABC-AM-26-October-2011.aspx   Topics: Global economy, pokies mandatory pre-commitment.     E&OE     GLEN BARTHOLOMEW:   Concerns over the Global economy are rising, as European leaders hold talks to head off a full-blown debt crisis. At the same time, Prime Minister Julia Gillard has warned against a move to a new protectionism, and pledged that Australia will continue its commitment to free trade.   The Prime Minister has also urged Europe to act on debt, but that call has brought some criticism from the Opposition’s Finance Spokesman Andrew Robb, who says Australia doesn’t have the credibility to comment on world economic issues. Andrew Robb speaking to Marius Benson:   MARIUS BENSON:   Andrew Robb, you’ve been critical of Julia Gillard for lecturing Europe, but isn’t it fair that she’s talking on international issues, she is addressing a forum at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, she’s about to head to Europe for the G20?   ANDREW ROBB:   Well it’s certainly appropriate to talk about international issues, but much of what she said over the recent few days is somewhat hypocritical, to lecture Europe on living within your means, when this Government this year, will, at best, spend $22 billion more than they raise in the middle of a mining boom, smacks of gross hypocrisy.   MARIUS BENSON:   Do you agree with the general sentiments expressed by Julia Gillard when she talks in favour of free trade, against protection, and says that Australia will allow the fifty least developed nations free access to Australian markets without any protective barriers?   ANDREW ROBB:   The Prime Minister is correct that we must be aware of any sort of lurch back into protectionism; that will really slow the world down, every economy, but at the same time, the Prime Minister again needs to be consistent, they are presiding over the growth, or the development, of one of the biggest telecommunications monopolies around the world.   We’re the only country in the world that’s re-nationalising telecommunications, and that is precluding all sorts of other companies and other parts of that business from investing in that sort of activity. That is, again, another form of major protection and this is something the Prime Minister never wants to talk about.   MARIUS BENSON:   Can I go from international issues to a local issue which is poker machine controls; Tony Abbott was speaking in western Sydney at an RSL last night and he predicted the Opposition would rescind the Government’s planned pokies recommitment legislation. Is that firm Opposition policy? You’re in charge of developing Opposition Policy. Is that Opposition policy?   ANDREW ROBB:   The Opposition hasn’t yet adopted a firm position, but there clearly has been a lot of discussion and concern amongst my colleagues that this smacks of just further nanny state, knee-jerk reaction.   Of course the Coalition would like to deal with problem gamblers and assist that case, but all analysis that we’ve had so far of this mandatory pre-commitment shows that it will do nothing.   It will do nothing, but add a huge cost on clubs and pubs and RSLs and all the rest, without doing anything about problem gambling and it smacks of just pure politics to help the Government maintain one vote from Tasmania, to stay in office.   MARIUS BENSON:   Can I clarify that policy position, because Tony Abbott last night said that he predicted, the Opposition would oppose the legislation, and if it were elected to Government, would rescind it. That’s not Opposition policy?   ANDREW ROBB:   It’s not a confirmed policy, but I would agree with Tony Abbott that that is likely to be our position. It’s a political stunt, and we would, I expect, then rescind such legislation, and do things that are constructive towards problem gambling.   MARIUS BENSON:   But the party room hasn’t voted on that yet?   ANDREW ROBB:   Well we haven’t seen any legislation yet.   MARIUS BENSON:   Is it appropriate for the leader to be getting out ahead of the formal process of the Opposition developing policy?   ANDREW ROBB:   Well the Leader, on many occasions, will reflect on public debate that’s going on without setting policy for the Opposition. It’s quite appropriate for him to have said what he said.   MARIUS BENSON:   But it looks like this will be the policy of the Opposition when the time comes.   ANDREW ROBB:   Well I think that reflects the mood of the party room and we’ve seen nothing in the party room and in our analysis of this initiative by the Government which suggests it’s anything other than just a nanny state move inspired by politics which will do nothing to assist problem gambling.   MARIUS BENSON:   Andrew Robb, thank you very much.   ANDREW ROBB:   Thanks Marius.   ENDS Andrew Robb Wed, 26 Oct 2011 00:31:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1315 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1314/The-Hon-Andrew-Robb-Acting-Shadow-Treasurer-Doorstop-Wodonga-25-October-2011.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1314 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1314&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1314/The-Hon-Andrew-Robb-Acting-Shadow-Treasurer-Doorstop-Wodonga-25-October-2011.aspx   E&OE   Subject: Gillard government lecturing Europe   QUESTION: Do you think that Julia Gillard should be doing more to pressure the EU to solve the financial crisis?   MR ROBB: I think it’s starting to get a little bit embarrassing that we’ve got a Prime Minister and a Treasurer lecturing Europe over not living within their means, when at the same time our Federal Government, Julia Gillard, will preside over $22 billion greater spending this year than we will get in tax revenue. This Government has recorded the three largest deficits in our history; has got the fastest growth in debt of any country except Iceland and Ireland, and yet the Prime Minister is lecturing Europe, I mean, give me a break.   QUESTION: So, what do you think that she needs to be doing then?   MR ROBB: Well it is embarrassing. What this Government should be doing, instead of trying to lay a case for an excuse 12 months down the track if they don’t deliver a surplus, instead of what is plainly obvious, this ploy to create an excuse, they should be attending to their own excesses. They should be seeking to live within their means. They should be looking after our own economic back yard, not lecturing the Europeans over which they’ve got absolutely no influence. They haven’t got the credibility to put forward a point of view internationally, and they’ve got every reason to try and look after their own back yard, and do what they should have been doing over the last two or three, four years, living within their means.   QUESTION: Isn’t it important that we do have some say over there? I mean obviously it’s going to impact on us.   MR ROBB: I would think that anything that the Gillard Government might think to say to the Europeans will be totally ignored. They have not got the credibility here. They have not been living within their means here in Australia. We are now more vulnerable than we should be in the face of some of these external shocks. This government, instead of looking for a diversion, they should be focussing on getting their own house in order.   ENDS   Andrew Robb Tue, 25 Oct 2011 04:35:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1314 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1312/COALITION-HITS-RAW-NERVE-OVER-GREENS-SLUSH-FUND.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1312 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1312&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1312/COALITION-HITS-RAW-NERVE-OVER-GREENS-SLUSH-FUND.aspx   Christine Milne’s shrill defence of the $10 billion ‘Bob Brown Bank’ clearly shows that the Coalition has hit a raw nerve by calling it for what it is.   “This is a $10 billion slush fund, it is the Greens’ baby, and it is their price for propping up the Gillard Government,” Shadow Finance Minister Andrew Robb said.   “This will be all borrowed money, and many of the projects it will support would be like someone borrowing $10,000 from the bank and putting it on the horses and doing it again, and again, and again.   “What makes it worse is the underhand way in which Labor is trying to use creative accounting so this $10 billion of borrowed money doesn’t hit the budget bottom line.   “Extensive levels of taxpayer support are already being provided for renewable energy, and this slush fund will be used to back high-risk proposals that the banks would not touch with a 40-foot barge pole.   “The Government and the Greens need to come clean about the approaches they have had from individuals or groups seeking access to the $10 billion and what nods and winks have already been given,” Mr Robb said. Andrew Robb Fri, 21 Oct 2011 03:34:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1312 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1311/Transcript-of-the-Hon-Joe-Hockey-and-the-Hon-Andrew-Robb-Doorstop-Sydney-19-October-2011.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1311 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1311&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1311/Transcript-of-the-Hon-Joe-Hockey-and-the-Hon-Andrew-Robb-Doorstop-Sydney-19-October-2011.aspx E&OE JOE HOCKEY:   I am here with Andrew Robb. Today the Coalition calls on the government to come clean about its own Clean Energy Finance Corporation. After revelations in Senate Estimates yesterday it is now perfectly apparent that there is now a $14 billion hole announced in the carbon tax package announced by this government.   The $14 billion hole includes the government’s own forecast of a deficit of over $4 billion in relation to the carbon tax collections versus expenditure. On top of that we have the $10 billion Finance Corporation that the government is going to try to treat off Budget.   I will say to you that we are writing to the Chief Statistician of the Australian Bureau of Statistics and we are copying the letter into the Auditor-General because, quite clearly, there are distinct similarities between this fund, which they are going to try and treat off Budget, and a number of other AusIndustry funds and Clean Energy Funds that the government is allocating through direct payments.   The bottom line is this, if the projects are going to get a commercial rate of return then financial institutions will back them. What is the purpose of this fund if it is not to compete directly with the private sector and it ends up handing out another $10 billion to projects.   This is a very significant issue; the government has to find the $14 billion somewhere. If it doesn’t find the $14 billion in higher taxes – and they are not telling the Australian people about it – then they are going to have to find the $14 billion in additional borrowings. Ultimately you have to pay the interest on that and therefore the government is going to run short as well. I’ll ask Andrew Robb to say a bit more about this.   ANDREW ROBB: The Deputy Secretary of Finance yesterday exposed the fiscal gymnastics this government is using to try and fabricate a surplus next year and to try and fund the significant funding commitments going out four, five, six or seven years. This government is incompetent in terms of its financial management. It is seeking to mislead the public. The Deputy Secretary of Finance yesterday said quite clearly and unambiguously that: “I would think it” (the ten billion slush fund) “would be in the Budget.” That was what he said, quite plainly, it is on record. He did bell the cat about what the government is up to. Ever since there has been a mad scramble from the government.   They have to come clean on this thing. How are they going to fund that $10 billion? It is the price that Julia Gillard had to pay to get Green support. This is a $10 billion Bob Brown bank, Bob Brown slush fund and is going to cost taxpayers. It is deferred taxation and will mean more wasted money, like this government has done with the Building the Education Revolution, the pink batts and so many other things.   JOURNALIST: The IMF has called on the government to reconsider having a surplus by 2012-13, in account of the world facing economic uncertainty. Why shouldn’t the government delay it?   JOE HOCKEY: The government should not delay any surplus because the government is enjoying the best terms of trade in 140 years and the government also has an economy with an unemployment rate of 5.2%. If you are not running surpluses when you have an unemployment rate of 5.2% and the best terms of trade in 140 years then you are not doing the hard work. The challenge is, as Andrew knows, and we all know, this government is a big tax and big spend government. The best way to get to surplus, the easiest way to get to surplus is to stop wasting money. For example, they announced a carbon tax that Wayne Swan claimed was going to be broadly Budget neutral. It now is apparent that he will have to find $14 billion on top of the carbon tax collection to make up for that broadly Budget neutral claim. Similarly they have a mining tax that they are spending against and it is leaving them with an estimated $4-5 billion hole over the next four years. Whatever the government claims, the bottom line is this, if they pull back on their wasteful spending they can get to surplus, no excuses. ANDREW ROBB: It is because the government is engaging in all this borrowing and wasteful spending, as Joe has said, their funny money, that millions of Australian households and many businesses are not investing and saving. They are making households and businesses nervous, there is a crisis of confidence because this government is seen to be incompetent. The reverse is if they did save, if they did live within their means then households and businesses would think that we did see some sensible economic management for a change. JOURNALIST: So, Mr Hockey, you are saying you disagree with the IMF’s call? JOE HOCKEY: I think when it comes to Australian politics and managing the Australian economy then it is quite clear. There are a number of mechanisms that can be used to stimulate the Australian economy. One of them is, obviously, an easing of cash rates by the Reserve Bank. What we saw before was that the Reserve Bank stopped at 3% cash rate during the Financial Crisis because the government was spending so much money. It is a combination of monetary and fiscal policy that should be available as a stimulus. The bottom line is this government is still spending money as a percentage of GDP that is well above that of the last year of the Howard Government. Quite frankly I will not give the government a get out of jail free card, at all, on a Budget surplus. The interest rate burden of the debt they have already accrued is about $7 billion to the Budget. That is $7 billion a year just on interest that Labor has accrued. This could be used on schools, hospitals, or any number of things. The bottom line is that is coming straight out of the Budget paying interest. JOURNALIST: A Federal Court Judge has ordered News Ltd to publish a correction to an Andrew Bolt column. Do you have an opinion about the Andrew Bolt column? JOE HOCKEY: I don’t. JOURNALIST: Why not?   JOE HOCKEY: Because I am not spending a lot of time looking at it I might say.It is something of great interest to the media.   JOURNALIST: With the Queen’s visit do you think it is time to not push for a republic? Or to reopen the issue?   ANDREW ROBB: We have got major issues that this country has to focus on. The government would love a diversion. It is trying to find one at every turn. We have had another boat arrive today. That is out of control. They have lost control of our borders. They have lost control of our economy. There is a crisis of confidence because of the government’s incompetence and the dysfunctional nature of this government. Ministers are making their own decisions outside of cabinet. The whole normal functioning of government, the discipline of government has collapsed. We need not more distractions like a debate on the republic but we need a government that will try, for once, to live within its means. JOURNALIST: Are you saying the Queen’s visit is only a distraction? ANDREW ROBB: A debate on the republic would be a distraction. JOURNALIST: But is the Queen’s visit only there to distract the public from other things? ANDREW ROBB: No, I didn’t say that. You asked me about a republic, and I answered that question. There is no case – whether it is a republic or some other issue that might be of interest to the population. What needs to happen now is for the government to focus on the major vulnerabilities that it has created within our economy and to give some confidences back to people and to businesses so that we can see ourselves not dragged into the potential mess that is happening around the world in terms of the economy.  [ENDS] Andrew Robb Wed, 19 Oct 2011 04:51:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1311 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1310/Interview-with-Alexandra-Kirk-ABC-AM-18-October-2011.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1310 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1310&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1310/Interview-with-Alexandra-Kirk-ABC-AM-18-October-2011.aspx   Topics: Future of Labor’s Clean Energy Finance Corporation     E&OE   Presenter:   The Federal Opposition is ramping up its campaign against the carbon tax. Having already warned business against investing in carbon permits it’s now cautioning investors in renewable energy targets not to expect any money from the proposed $10 billion Clean Energy Finance Corporation.   The Coalition says if it wins the next election it will disband the corporation and wherever possible undo any funding commitments entered into.   The Opposition’s finance spokesman Andrew Robb is speaking to Alexandra Kirk.   Alexandra Kirk:   Mr Robb, good morning.   Andrew Robb:   Good morning Alexandra.   Alexandra Kirk:   Firstly, how do you think a Coalition government could back out of clean energy funding commitments?   Andrew Robb:   Well, as usual this decision was made by the Government as a grand announcement but no detail. So again policy on the run and we’ll need to see in time exactly how this thing is structured to make definitive decisions about how we will unwind it. But the fact is it’ll be legislated and we will bring in legislation which will reverse and remove this Bob Brown bank or Bob Brown slush fund that has been set up, or proposed to be set up, by the Government.   Alexandra Kirk:   First things first, though, how do you plan to repeal the carbon tax and everything else that hangs off it when the Greens hold the balance of power in the Senate for the next six years? You’re talking about plans for 2017?   Andrew Robb:   Look, the bottom line is that all of this, all of this is based on a lie, a lie that the Government would never go ahead with a carbon tax.   Now we’ve got a proposition which was a surprise to everyone, it had never been mentioned this Bob Brown slush fund, there’s no mandate for it, it was simply another price that Julia Gillard has paid to cling on to power and it’s got Tricontinental written all over it and, you know, it is an act of irresponsibility.   Wayne Swan is overseas lecturing the Europeans about reducing debt while at the same time at home he’s recklessly adding another $10 billion to debt.   So these sorts of things will be front and square in the election. We will, if we win office we will have a mandate to move both on the carbon tax, this will be a referendum, the next election, on the carbon tax and all of the associated reckless actions that this Government has put in place including this $10 billion slush fund which will fund projects that the private sector won’t touch with a barge pole.   Alexandra Kirk:   Now, as you acknowledge the structure of the Clean Energy Finance Corporation isn’t known yet, the Government’s only just appointed somebody to advise it on the actual design.   Haven’t you jumped the gun assuming that you could reverse any funding commitments entered into before the election?   Andrew Robb:   Well, we haven’t jumped the gun, we’re just foreshadowing to people who get involved or are intending to try and line up for monies from this fund that we will be scrapping the fund as quickly and as effectively as we can.   Of course we wouldn’t break contracts that have been established but this thing is so ill-conceived, is so much policy on the run that the Government has no idea at the present time, it’ll be another 12 months possibly before this thing is properly constructed and at that stage we shouldn’t be far from an election.   So this thing can be dismantled, it must be dismantled, it is going to fund projects that the private sector would not consider in a fit and it again has excluded things like carbon capture and storage.   It is a sop to the Greens. Bob Brown is running this Government and is running it recklessly.   Alexandra Kirk:   Andrew Robb thanks for joining AM.   Andrew Robb: Thanks Alex.   Presenter:   The Opposition’s finance spokesman Andrew Robb on the line speaking to Alexandra Kirk in Canberra. Andrew Robb Mon, 17 Oct 2011 23:23:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1310 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1308/Transcript-of-the-Hon-Andrew-Robb-MP-Doorstop-Interview-11-October-2011.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1308 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1308&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1308/Transcript-of-the-Hon-Andrew-Robb-MP-Doorstop-Interview-11-October-2011.aspx   Topics: Carbon tax vote, Newspoll, Graham Perrett.   E&OE   ANDREW ROBB:   You could not conceive of a worse time to bring in a tax that’s going to affect the price of virtually everything in our economy. You’ve got Europe staggering under the weight of debt, you’ve got the United States struggling to fight off recession and it’s doubtful they will and we’ve got a situation where our comparative advantage will be seriously undermined.   It is going to cost jobs, it’s going to cost industries it’s going to cost so many families their quality of life. It’s going to increase cost of living, it is just madness and it is just political opportunism for this government for this prime minister to continue to go ahead.   It is a time for Labor MPs to get on the right side of history, to show some spine, to show some leadership, to stand up for their electorates, to stay true to the promises and the commitments they made at the last election.   They promised not to introduce a carbon tax and here they are on the cusp of introducing a tax which no one wants, which will cost jobs and which will undermine our economy at a time when the rest of the world or the major developed world is on its knees as far as their economises are concerned.   So we’ve got all of these Labor MPs who purport to support workers, we’ve got leaders in the Labor Party Simon Crean, Martin Ferguson, Bill Shorten all of these people who had a career supporting the workers.   Many of them have been silent, they’ve been silent for months in defence of this tax. It is a bad tax, it is a tax that no one wants, it is a tax that his borne out of deceit, it is a tax that has now become part of defending the leadership of someone whose leadership is dead.   There is a leadership battle on this is a dysfunctional government this is really a most unfortunate period of time for Australia. There is enormous anxiety, this is a dysfunctional government.   People are saving because they are so uncertain about the future they’re concerned not only about their jobs but the jobs of their children and they should be, this tax will hang like a millstone around the neck of the Australian economy.   It will progressively undermine our industries, undermine our jobs undermine our great strengths in this economy which are mining and resources and will see so many jobs go off shore. And MPs have a chance this week to get on the right side of history, Labor MPs and cross the floor and vote against this deadly tax which is going to do so much damage to our economy and to the Australian people.   JOURNALIST:   Will your rejection of the steel package cost jobs?    ANDREW ROBB:   If there is no tax there is no need for a steel package. If we are given the privilege of governing after the next election we will rescind the tax and there will be no need for any steel package.   JOURNALIST:   The steel package does go beyond though, according to the modelling the impact of the tax it does overcompensate.   ANDREW ROBB:   The steel package is there to compensate for the effect of the carbon tax and there will be no need for steel compensation if there is no tax.   In fact there will be no need for compensation to industry across the board.    JOURNALIST:   Are the Coalition giving themselves a bit of pat on the back today considering the latest News Poll figures show that you are selling your message on climate change and asylum seekers?   ANDREW ROBB:   Well, it’s not a source of joy I mean you go to your electorates and the level of uncertainty, the level of anxiety that now pervades the whole community. The sense you get form all of this is that you’ve got a great responsibility to dig in and to do something about it.   And it is such a shame to see that the wonderful opportunities that we are presented with, with China and India are just being wasted. We have wasted the mining boom we are still again this year looking in the middle of a mining boom, we are still looking under this government to spend over $20 billion more than we raise; now how can that be? How can it be that in the middle of the biggest mining boom in our history where we’ve got prices for our exports at 140 year highs and yet this government is still spending $22 billion more than it will raise?   It is this incompetence you just see the games that are being played, the use by the prime minister and the foreign minister of a 14-year-old boy as a political play thing in their contest for the leadership it’s a disgrace.   This government has floundered so many times on so many issues, it’s dysfunctional. How can they go and offend the Indonesians so grossly just a matter of months ago on the live cattle job and now turn around and offend again by the way in which they are playing politics with the prospects of a 14-year-old boy in Indonesia it is a disgrace an absolute disgrace.   They do not deserve to be in government, we need to go to an election, but certainly this carbon tax vote must go to an election, must go to the vote of the people so that they can deliver their verdict.   That is why we are seeing our strengths in the polls, it’s not juts on carbon tax it’s not juts on boat people it’s across every area because this government is a dysfunctional government.   JOUNALIST:        What do you think about Labor MP Graham Perrett’s comment that he’ll bring down the government if Julia Gillard is replaced?   ANDREW ROBB:   It smacks of a Labor MP looking for an excuse to run away from the total mess that this government is in. You get the smell of MPs starting to think at least about how they can leave a sinking ship and I suspect there are many others are thinking what Graham Perrett has said.   JOURNALIST:   They’re not coming out and saying that this morning.   ANDREW ROBB:   You only have to look at the body language week in week out of the Labor politicians sitting behind the prime minister in Question Time the despondency the sense of no direction the despair in many respects.   You can tell that they know that they are breaking the commitments they made at the last election. They are deeply embarrassed about the way in which this government has governed. They are deeply embarrassed about the promises and commitments that have been broken.   They are deeply embarrassed about the deceit that sits behind this carbon tax and it is affecting their psyche day in and day out and many of them I suspect have spent months thinking ‘what am I doing here, what am I doing in this government?’   They are just embarrassed, embarrassed to go back to their electorates and many of them would be thinking what Graham Perrett has articulated and that is he is starting to look for a way out of this sinking ship.   JOURNALIST:   What are your plans today for the carbon tax debate is there any way you can out off the vote?   ANDREW ROBB:   Well we are going to give the government and some of these Labor MPs the opportunity to amend this legislation so that it does not take effect until there is a vote at an election, now that would seem to be a eminently reasonable position given the international uncertainty is so profound given that no one in Australia wants this thing given that major business including the steel industry are coming out this week an insisting that this carbon tax no go through.   So on all of those grounds we will give the parliament the opportunity to guarantee that whatever happens with this tax it won’t be introduced until people have had an opportunity at an election.   JOURNALIST:   Will Malcolm Turnbull be speaking in the debate today?   ANDREW ROBB:   I don’t know.   JOURNALIST:   Would you encourage him to?   ANDREW ROBB:    Well indeed he is very well informed on this subject and he knows full well, he’s just been to Europe for two weeks and has reported to us about how fragile Europe is. He was deeply concerned coming back from Europe about the propensity for major economic collapse in some of the countries in Europe.   Now in that circumstance, to introduce a carbon tax when no one else is around the world, when our one great comparative advantage is still going strongly in the terms of resources and energy, to introduce a tax which is going to be a millstone around the neck of our competitive position is just madness and I think Malcolm was giving us a strong sense of the stupidity of the timing of this tax that we are no voting on this week.   Andrew Robb Tue, 11 Oct 2011 01:11:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1308 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1306/ANOTHER-RECORD-LABOR-DEFICIT.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1306 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1306&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1306/ANOTHER-RECORD-LABOR-DEFICIT.aspx   Friday, 30 September 2011   ANOTHER RECORD LABOR DEFICIT   The final budget outcome for 2010-11 casts further doubts over the Gillard government’s promise to return the budget to surplus in 2012-13.   “The figures released today confirm that over the past two years this government has presided over the two biggest budget deficits in our nation’s history totalling $102.5 billion,” Acting Shadow Treasurer Andrew Robb said.   “Yet you have a bizarre situation in which Wayne Swan and Penny Wong are patting each other on the back for bringing down a budget deficit of $47.7 billion for 2010-11.”   The fact that tax revenue was $1.7 billion lower than the government estimated just four months ago demonstrates the shakiness of Labor’s promise to deliver a modest $3.5 billion surplus in 2012-13.   “This is a government that has never delivered a budget surplus and is increasingly unlikely to do so in 2012-13,” Mr Robb said.   “Wayne Swan and Penny Wong are largely to blame for the crisis of confidence we are now seeing across the economy because of their failure – despite constant warnings from the Opposition – to restore the budget resilience they inherited.   “The government’s addiction to borrowing was also highlighted by the fact that net debt has blown out by more than $2.2 billion since the May budget to $84.6 billion.   “This figure exposes the myth that the government is committed to rapid fiscal consolidation. In this financial year interest payments alone on Labor’s debt will be $5.5 billion, the cost of five world-class hospitals.   “The vulnerable state of the budget is a direct product of the unprecedented levels of spending, borrowing and waste we have seen under the Rudd-Gillard government,” Mr Robb said.     Media Contact:        Cameron Hill on 0408 239 521.      Andrew Robb Fri, 30 Sep 2011 04:04:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1306 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1307/Interview-ABC-World-Today.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1307 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1307&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1307/Interview-ABC-World-Today.aspx   Friday, 30 September 2011  Interview ABC World Today   Topics: Labor’s record deficits and debt.   CLICK HERE TO PLAY   E&OE………………………………………………………     STEPHEN DZIEDZIC: The Opposition's finance spokesman, Andrew Robb, says the Government will never deliver a surplus.   ANDREW ROBB: What I have been observing is you know every accounting trick in the book is starting to be applied plus if you look at the way in which they're spreading expenditure it's all this side of '12/'13 and the other side of '12/'13. So they're doing everything possible to manufacture the surplus but despite that I can't see it. I can't see, despite all the spinning and the manufacturing of the sort of mock surplus, I don't think it's going to happen. We never thought it would. The forecasts have always been Pollyanna forecasts. STEPHEN DZIEDZIC: If the Government does deliver its proposed surplus and if it does meet its commitment will you then concede its record of economic management has not been as disastrous as the Opposition's been asserting? ANDREW ROBB: Well I'm not going to get into speculation. The bottom line is that we've got a debt level, an unprecedented debt level that we're heading towards. It's now $207 billion as of today, gross debt. It will take us many, many, many years, possibly 10 to 15 years to pay off that debt and that is a legacy and that is something they never talk about. The thing is that today's budget figures confirm that the Labor Government has brought down the two worst budget deficits by a country mile in Australia's history and is it any wonder that Wayne Swan and Penny Wong have released these numbers on the eve of the Grand Finals? If I was him I'd be deeply embarrassed also and I'd be trying to bury these numbers amongst a weekend of football finals. PETER CAVE: The first of what may be several references to football finals in today's program. The Opposition finance spokesman Andrew Robb ending that report by Stephen Dziedzic.     Further information: Cameron Hill on 03 9557 4644   Andrew Robb Fri, 30 Sep 2011 00:02:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1307 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1304/Interview-with-Ross-Greenwood-2GB-26-September-2011.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1304 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1304&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1304/Interview-with-Ross-Greenwood-2GB-26-September-2011.aspx   Monday, 26 September 2011 Transcript: Interview with Ross Greenwood 2GB Topics: Interest rates, economic vulnerability E&OE………………………………………………………  CLICK HERE TO PLAY ROSS GREENWOOD: Many thanks for your time Andrew. ANDREW ROBB: My pleasure Ross. ROSS GREENWOOD: Here’s the point about it though, the Reserve Bank has given fairly strong guidance so far that it would prefer to keep interest rates on hold. Why do you believe it is the time to start thinking about cutting interest rates? ANDREW ROBB: We’ve had 90,000 job losses in the last three months, the Westpac survey on Friday, the Westpac-ACCI survey, showed that inflationary pressures were coming off and that of course unemployment was rising. They felt that there should be a consideration and I just feel that what is coming down the pipeline from the rest of the world is potentially of such an order that anything we can do to fireproof this economy we should do. ROSS GREENWOOD: And you think that interest rates being lower would effectively fireproof some parts or some sections of the economy? ANDREW ROBB: Well what can we do when we face this sort of uncertainty and potential threat from overseas? We’ve got no capacity to control what happens outside our shores and I do feel that the government has been found seriously wanting in the sense that they have not set us up or fireproofed us for a situation like that that we are confronting. We are far more vulnerable than we were four years ago in terms of weathering some sort of economic storm and the government I think needs to start to live within its means. I think it also needs to scrap the carbon tax, those two things would give confidence and in combination with interest rates coming off I think that we would start to see costs reduced across the economy; that’s about the best thing that can happen in the months ahead, so that we are in some sort of position and business is in some sort of position to hold on and to hold people in jobs. ROSS GREENWOOD: Of course the Treasurer Wayne Swan has been feted by Euromoney as the best finance minister in the world in the past 12 months because of number one the stimulus and then taking away the stimulus program. He spoke after he received his award in the last day or so, let’s have a listen to what he had to say: “It is no doubt that the recent events that we have just been discussing impact on global growth that flows through to domestic growth, that flows through the budget revenues and that does have an impact so it means that that objective that we have set, that determination to come back to surplus in 2012-13 just gets harder.”  Harder, or impossible Andrew Robb? ANDREW ROBB: I don’t think they’ve got any prospect myself, I felt all along that they’ve been making Pollyanna assumptions about revenue next year which are not achievable or unlikely to be achieved and it’s been to me a political ploy. While they’ve been talking about a surplus in 2012-13 they’ve been presiding over the four largest deficits in our history and none of those deficits have been paid off, we’ve got a gross debt, national debt now heading towards a quarter of a trillion dollars. So we’ve got all that hanging around our head we are in a demonstrably worse position to weather the storm than we were four years ago. We are certainly better off than most of the other developed countries, I don’t deny that, but we should be much better off seeing that four years ago we had no debt, between $50 and $70 billion worth of assets and four and a half per cent unemployment. ROSS GREENWOOD:  Given the fact that at the last election your own party also said that it could forecast a return to the budget surplus sooner rather than later, do you believe now given the circumstances around the world that you could make such a claim even today? ANDREW ROBB: The fact is the government has spent too much, that’s been the problem. If it hadn’t spent the last two tranches, we supported the first $10 billion because the economy was really tanking and confidence was shot back in 2008 and that was an important part of dealing with that immediate outbreak of financial problems around the world, along with the buffer that this country had and the ability to reduce interest rates at that time et cetera and we still had China coming down the pipeline. We would have cut off spending a lot earlier than this and we wouldn’t have been spending anywhere near the amount, $40 or $50 billion overspent, now that happens to be the size of the deficit at the moment. So if they had shown economic prudence, financial prudence, had not increased taxes and had taken pressure off interest rates by not increasing spending then I think we would be in a much stronger position than we are now to weather any storm that might be coming. ROSS GREENWOOD:  Well of course you talk about that storm and one of the issues of the storm is Greece and exactly what Europe does about Greece. Alistair Darling is a former Chancellor of the Exchequer in the United Kingdom, he’s also been speaking in the last day or so and it really is quite a concerning prospect that he’s come out with: “Governments now realise that it’s only a matter of time before Greece defaults and that’s why it is imperative that the Eurozone countries take action now to try and resolve this problem and not let it drag on for the next few weeks because the risk is it will bring other countries down with it.”  Yes, well given the fact that you or Joe Hockey could have been at Washington this weekend at that meeting of the International Monetary Fund you would also be alarmed and concerned about what you were seeing or hearing at that meeting no doubt. ANDREW ROBB: Well the thing that bothers me Ross is the contacts I’ve got in the business community which would have to be exceeded by the government surely, but the senior contacts I have who are in touch daily with world markets have been telling me since at least January, February this year that it was well known that Greece would ultimately default and that what was going on overseas was they were trying to work out how to manage that. Now, if that is true and if our government has known about it for all these months, the fact that they keep saying everything is ok to me means that they haven’t been giving some straight talking to the population. It’s a failure of the government to call it as it is and I think because of that, people aren’t silly, they are saving at record levels now, households around the country, for a good reason that is they’ve felt anxious now for 12 months and yet the government keeps saying everything’s ok, everything’s ok. I think that sort of front that they keep putting on which is there for political reasons is unnerving Australians. You add the carbon tax and you find confidence is being undermined, so the government if it decided to talk in a mature way, treat Australians as adults, told them as it was, I think they’d accept it. They’re not going to blame the world events on this government. What they will blame on this government is if this government doesn’t do everything possible to ensure that when something and if something does occur that we are in best shape to fireproof ourselves against some sort of economic downturn around the rest of the world.        Andrew Robb Tue, 27 Sep 2011 06:25:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1304 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1303/ABC-News-Radio-with-Marius-Benson.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1303 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1303&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1303/ABC-News-Radio-with-Marius-Benson.aspx   Monday, 26 September 2011  Transcript: ABC News Radio with Marius Benson   Topic: Australia’s economic vulnerability   E&OE………………………………………………………   CLICK TO LISTEN   MARIUS BENSON: Andrew Robb, there does seem to be some area of agreement between you and the Treasurer, Wayne Swan. You both think the world is a dangerous place financially, economically, now; and heading for deeper danger. ANDREW ROBB: Yes, there is certainly in our view, the world has not solved its problem of borrowing too much; the world has been living beyond its means in many respects for too long, and we expect the adjustment to continue. MARIUS BENSON: There is one specific thing you are calling for; you want the Reserve Bank to cut rates. ANDREW ROBB: Well, there’s two or three things that should happen: the Government should start to live within its means; it should certainly scrap the carbon tax, which is in many respects killing confidence across the economy and would materially add to costs, we’ve got to get on top of costs when we face the prospect of further weakening of the world economy. And as part of that: there can be a very strong case now made for the Reserve Bank to start to lower interest rates because we are seeing a significant softening of the economy outside of the mining area; in a very material way, there is a softening of jobs, a softening in inflation; and these things suggest that the bank could and should start to think about reducing interest rates. MARIUS BENSON: Let me go to another topic, which is rugby league and Aussie rules leaders are meeting today to work on ways of supporting clubs in their fight against Andrew Wilkie and the Government’s Pokies Machine Restrictions Legislation that they plan. Eddie McGuire, the Collingwood President, calls the restrictions, those pre-commitment requirements; he’s calling it a ‘footy tax’. Is that a fair description? ANDREW ROBB: Yes, yes it is. It is a footy tax; it’s a club tax; it’s going to, in a very material and serious way undermine the revenue of so many community organisations. MARIUS BENSON: Andrew Wilkie says it’ll only cut revenue that now comes from problem gamblers. ANDREW ROBB: No no that’s not true. That it is not true. In many cases, this pre-commitment card will discourage casual gamblers. This card will not work; it will be hugely expensive; it will be a massive cost on these clubs as well as a revenue loss. MARIUS BENSON: Let me go to a story on News Limited papers this morning, Mr Robb. There are reports of a showdown between Tony Abbott and senior colleagues Julie Bishop and Joe Hockey criticising Tony Abbott for his declaration last week that the Coalition would not reintroduce individual workplace contracts. Have there been confrontations like that? ANDREW ROBB: Nothing to my knowledge. Tony Abbott was saying, and quite clearly, what we’ve all been saying is that with the re-regulation of the labour market – which has been a very significant and costly move by the Government – that we need to see where that is impacting; and we will spend time waiting for business to start to articulate where the hotspots are in this re-regulation of the labour market. What needs to be changed so that when we do make decisions about industrial relations, ultimately and well before the election, it will be based on solving real problems, not just based on ideology. MARIUS BENSON: You have been saying that industrial relations policy would only be detailed at the election, but Tony Abbott did declare last week “no return to individual contracts”; was that an agreed position in the Opposition, or was that as in Tony Abbott’s phrase “a leader’s call”? ANDREW ROBB: No, it was consistent with the analysis that we have undertaken. We are making … [interruption] MARIUS BENSON: But was it a joint decision in the Opposition or was it Tony Abbott’s call? ANDREW ROBB: No, it has been our joint decision; we will over the next year or so, we will gather the problems that are inherit in the Fair Work Act and that we will attack and deal with the Fair Work Act. We will make the amendments within that act that solves the real problems that might be emerging in the economy. MARIUS BENSON: Andrew Robb, thanks again. ANDREW ROBB: Good on you, thanks Marius.         Andrew Robb Mon, 26 Sep 2011 06:56:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1303 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1302/ABC-AM-Programme-26-September-2011.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1302 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1302&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1302/ABC-AM-Programme-26-September-2011.aspx   Monday, 26 September 2011  Transcript: ABC AM Programme   Topic: Australia’s economic vulnerability   E&OE………………………………………………………   CLICK HERE TO PLAY   Ashley Hall: Here the Acting Shadow Treasurer is calling on the Federal Government to fireproof the economy to protect Australia from another global downturn. Andrew Robb says some parts of the economy have tanked already. He says the Government should stop spending and the Reserve Bank should cut interest rates in response. Mr Robb claims Australia is highly vulnerable because the Government spent too much in its stimulus response to the last global financial crisis. Mr Robb is speaking with our chief political correspondent Sabra Lane. Andrew Robb: The borrowing and the spending and the borrowing and the spending has materially weakened our position in the face of another downturn and the Government should acknowledge that and then help with the community to deal with the problems that need to fireproof us for the future and I think it’s coming. Sabra Lane: Wasn’t that spending though used to steer Australia through the global financial crisis last time and Australia was one of the few OECD nations to actually avoid going into a recession? Andrew Robb: This is one of the great myths, I think, of the global financial crisis. The reason we got through the crisis and got through it really within about nine months was certainly the first stimulus, the $10 billion which we strongly supported was very necessary because there was just an absolute collapse of confidence and that worked. But the fact of the matter is the economy, our economy, was totally different to other economies around the world in such good shape, no debt, you know $50 billion or more of assets built up, as well we had China buying our minerals. Now they’re the reasons we got through the global financial crisis. In fact, the second and third tranches of spending actually have made us vulnerable. They’ve increased interest rates, they’ve increased borrowings, they’ve choked off finance for small and medium business and all of that has left us highly vulnerable in the face of any further serious downturn worldwide and I think it’s coming. I think there is going to be a further greater weakness in the world market. Sabra Lane: How bad do you think things are going to get? Andrew Robb: I’m not sure. Sabra Lane: You say Mr Swan should fireproof the economy. How can he do that? Andrew Robb: For starters the Government has got to seriously start to cut spending. Sabra Lane: Well, most of the stimulus spending has completely tapered off, there’s not much of it left to go. Aren’t most of these problems beyond Australia’s control? Australia can’t be responsible for what’s happening in Greece or the political lack of will in the eurozone countries. Andrew Robb: Well, I’m not saying they are. I mean, we cannot control things outside of our country but that’s all the more reason to live within our means. We are not living within our means. How can the Government stand there and say it is being fiscally responsible when in the middle, we’re almost two thirds of the way through the biggest mining boom in our history they’re still going to spend tens of billions of dollars more than they raise. We need to pull our heads in, get rid of this carbon tax which is killing confidence and will add to costs, we need to stop government spending and I think there is a case for the Reserve Bank to now start to cut interest rates because the economy is already starting to tank in various areas. Some of our sectors are technically in recession now, the Government’s got to recognise it and I think the Reserve Bank should recognise it. Ashley Hall: The Acting Shadow Treasurer Andrew Robb speaking there with Sabra Lane.   Andrew Robb Mon, 26 Sep 2011 03:33:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1302 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1300/Interview-with-George-Negus-630-with-George-Negus-21-September-2011.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1300 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1300&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1300/Interview-with-George-Negus-630-with-George-Negus-21-September-2011.aspx   Interview with George Negus, 6:30 with George Negus, 21 September 2011   Topic: Wayne Swan   E&OE         GEORGE NEGUS: Depending on what side of the political fence you’re on Wayne Swan being gonged International Treasurer of the Year is being met with either humble acceptance or snide giggles. Oddly enough, along the way, the Opposition is taking the credit. Earlier, I spoke with the Liberals' Andrew Robb. You're the Opposition's Finance Minister, I understand?   ANDREW ROBB: That’s right. That's correct, George.   NEGUS: You're the alternate Finance Minister of the country.   ROBB: I am indeed.   NEGUS: Right so if you got a gong like this one, that Wayne Swan got, you'd be pretty chuffed, I imagine?   ROBB: Well, I would be, certainly if I'd felt I deserved it, yes, I would be. In fact, any time I see an Australian get an award, you know, I feel pretty good about it. But honestly on this one, I'm still trying to work it out.   NEGUS: Well I was going to say, I'd put money on the fact that you don't think he deserves it or that he's earned it. Am I right?   ROBB: Well, it's not just whether I do or not, George. I think if you ask the average person in the street who average person in the street who keeps stopping me wherever I go, that'd be the answer too.   NEGUS: Let me quote you exactly what the people who gave me this award said. They said that Mr Swan has been awarded this for his "careful stewardship of Australia's finances and economic performance, both during and since the global financial crisis. Throughout that time, Australia has not only avoided falling into recession, it has been the – quote-unquote – best-performing of the world's developed market economies”. That's hardly equivocal. That's a very serious suggestion to make, if it's wrong, from an international perspective.   ROBB: Well the facts about the economy are correct. But it's a question of why, I suppose. You know, I think if I was Wayne Swan four years ago - just four years ago - and I took over an economy with $45 billion of assets and $30 billion surplus…   NEGUS: He has more or less acknowledged the performance of previous treasurers and governments, actually.   ROBB: Well, I don’t care. What I'm saying to you is, if I took over all of that, I do think - and a pipeline full of business which really kept us going through the worst of the global financial crisis - I mean, the fact of the matter is, George, that we've seen waste at a level we've never seen before. Billions and billions and billions of dollars. We've got a debt now approaching a quarter of a trillion dollars gross debt.   NEGUS: What you seem to be saying though is that they're useless economically in the handling of the economy, so somehow or another they've managed to con this international magazine, which gives this gong out every year, into thinking that they're miles better than they really are.   ROBB: Well this is a Euro zone magazine. Compared to Europe, you know, we're miles ahead. The rest of the world is a basket case at the moment - all of the major, developed economies from the US right through Europe. We've been blessed with the China phenomena, and this Government took over the best economy in the world by a long shot. The fact is, despite all that, we now are in a very vulnerable position. If we weren't, he'd deserve it. We are now in a very vulnerable position if commodity prices come off.   NEGUS: Good to talk to you.   ROBB: Thanks George, all the best.   ENDS   Andrew Robb Wed, 21 Sep 2011 03:51:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1300 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1299/WONG-FAILS-TAXPAYERS-OVER-NBN.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1299 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1299&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1299/WONG-FAILS-TAXPAYERS-OVER-NBN.aspx   Finance Minister Penny Wong needs to explain why she is allowing billions of dollars to be burnt up on the NBN project despite having failed to finalise key performance indicators to benchmark the $50 billion project against.   “The fact the government was unable to provide this information to the Joint Committee on the National Broadband Network last night despite in July undertaking to do so, highlights its level of dysfunction,” Shadow Finance Minister Andrew Robb said.   “This committee was established back at the beginning of March and I can see absolutely no reason why this information couldn’t have been finalised at least six months ago.   “Given this government’s dreadful track record of wasting taxpayers’ money, it beggars belief that Senator Wong has allowed the NBN to get to the stage it is at without having the system in place to progressively measure its success or failure.   “We know NBN Co has been locking in billion dollar contracts right, left and centre over the past 12 months, but now we learn that the government has no idea if these transactions are likely to represent value for money,” Mr Robb said.   “The appalling lack of due diligence surrounding this project began with the government’s stupidity in refusing to subject the NBN to a proper cost-benefit analysis despite the Coalition’s insistence from the very beginning.   “Senator Wong as a shareholder minister of the NBN is clearly failing in her fiduciary duty to taxpayers and needs to provide a full and frank explanation as to why even the most rudimentary checks and balances have not been put in place.   “It is little wonder that so many Australians fear this project will represent the biggest white elephant in this country’s history,” Mr Robb said. Andrew Robb Wed, 21 Sep 2011 02:44:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1299 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1291/Interview-with-Michael-Smith-2UE-23-August-2011.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1291 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1291&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1291/Interview-with-Michael-Smith-2UE-23-August-2011.aspx   Topics: Craig Thomson, HSU Finances   E&EO     Michael Smith: … We know more about Craig Thomson. Last night he was mentioned in the Parliament, Andrew Robb is a Member of the Parliament, have a listen to the way Andrew Robb spoke last night and you tell me if you agree with him or not.   [Excerpt from Parliament]   Smith: Oh, geez they shut him up! This Government is causing a crisis of confidence in this community. I totally agree with that bloke, Andrew Robb, the Member of Parliament who said that. I feel it too! Because what do you say to your kids, "oh no kids, it’s alright, if you’re in the know, if you’re one of the Labor mates, you’re sweet". Andrew Robb’s on the phone, Andrew g’day.   Andrew Robb: G’day Michael.   Smith: Thanks for saying what we all feel.   Robb: Well, I was cross last night; we’d just spent a day in the Parliament hearing all sorts of excuses; throwing the blame around for not just this issue, there’s many more things out there that are causing great heartburn and anxiety for lots of people and I’d had enough of it and we were at the time talking about the carbon tax and I just felt we were offering the Government the opportunity to have a vote – have a plebiscite – which would mean they don’t have to risk losing Government, there’ll just be a decision whether people liked it or not, and I said you’ve lost all this integrity through the carbon tax and lying before the election and doing something different later on, and now we’ve got things like this Thomson affair, all of these are tearing at the heart of people’s confidence in Government.   Smith: And yet, you said sickening, it’s sickening – geez, when I heard that word I thought, “that’s how I feel too”, that they support him, go out of their way to support this bloke we lose jobs, we lose – people in the meat trade lose jobs, the live export thingo stuff spirals down, but nobody goes running in to the defence of that, but the amount of (inaudible) energy and firepower that’s being used to defend a grub…   Robb: Yes   Smith: … it’s sickening!   Robb: Well, that’s how I felt, and so I said it.   Smith: Mate, you’re also from a business background, and you, like me, understand the requirements that the Securities and Investment Commission places on businesses to file their returns and stuff, now the union is yet to file – or I’m yet to see on their website – from 2007, the last year Thomson had responsibility, there’s still no return filed!   Robb: No there’s not, and it was clear from an article in The Australian today, where they’ve said that according to the financial records and official auditors have refused to verify the books…   Smith: This is the last year in which Thomson was withdrawing, as we know now…   Robb: Yes   Smith: …$100,000, $20,000, in cash from the hole in the wall ATM, and in which he was using that credit card for things like hookers and all sorts of things.   Robb: Yes, that’s right, and the thing is, what was reported this morning is that the union is broke. If you look at the records for 2009 they are broke, and it confirms again the inadequacy of relying on the Fair Work Commission…   Smith: Stacked by Labor, by union people…   Robb: …indeed; it has now been well over two years they’ve had this issue in front of them. They’ve got quite extraordinary powers to enter premises, inspect any work and material and…   Smith: …and they’ve used it against bosses…   Robb: …well they use it all the time and with great speed.   Smith: So why aren’t they using it against a union that represents 70,000 people who pay their bills, 70,000 members, doctors, cleaners, storemen, kitchen hands, you’re telling me, and it’s reported in The Australian that the union is essentially broke.   It’s spent money, hand over fist, because it was led by people like Craig Thomson, the money’s gone on all sorts of spurious activities not in the interests of their members, and it’s broke.   Robb: That’s right, and if ASIC – which is the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, it oversees all corporations – now if ASIC had responsibility for overseeing the finances of unions, which are responsible for multi-million dollar funds of members, now if ASIC had responsibility, they would have been all over this issue, and it would have been resolved in 2007.   Smith: Exactly. And if a Chief Executive Officer of a listed corporation had a self-approving credit card, used it for the withdrawal of in excess of $100,000 from ATMs in a matter that’s not acquitted and not accounted for, used it, presented it at brothels and stuff like that, that CEO would be in the dock [clicks] like that!   Robb: Like that, and quite properly…   Smith: Too true!   Robb: … and it makes me wonder, now, why the new secretary herself has not lodged a request to the police…   Smith: I agree with that   Robb: …to investigate these matters, because clearly she’s coming into this – there’s no suggestion that she’s involved – but she’s come into, seen major mismanagement and impropriety and seen books that have not been – well, the 2007 have just been submitted, as I understand it.   Smith: Can I tell you this, Andrew Robb, that as a result of the pressure that we have kept up day in and day out, I have written to Commissioner Scipione myself and my own hand. Simon M has gone down to the police station at Wyong, I won’t give his surname but I speak to him from time to time, he’s a member of the Health Services Union.   Yesterday and over the weekend Senator Brandis and I sat down and went through, what effectively is a brief of evidence including the record of my interview with Craig Thomson, and last night that was forwarded to Commissioner Scipione. This afternoon Commissioner Scipione’s police force has released an advice to the media that says they are now examining the evidence contained in Senator Brandis’ brief of evidence.   They are – well their word – investigating it to ascertain whether or not in their opinion prima facie – a criminal offence has occurred in New South Wales, and that they will announce further as that – their word is investigation, as that progresses. I think that is a step forward this afternoon Andrew.   Robb: Oh, I think it’s a most encouraging response. The Commissioner is, from my judgement, a man of integrity…   Smith: …I agree wholeheartedly with that.   Robb: … and I do think the position that you’ve shown is leading to a great community contribution, I’ve got to say, and all credit to you Michael for the way in which you’ve persisted with this thing under a lot of pressure I think…   Smith: Thank you   Robb: … and a lot of jaundiced responses in the early weeks, so hopefully it will come to pass that this thing will be properly investigated, and justice fully done.   Smith: All the best Andrew, good to talk to you.   Robb: Thanks Michael.   Smith: Andrew Robb MP   ENDS           Andrew Robb Tue, 23 Aug 2011 05:41:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1291 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1290/THOMSON-AFFAIR-RAISES-UNION-ASIC-QUESTION.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1290 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1290&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1290/THOMSON-AFFAIR-RAISES-UNION-ASIC-QUESTION.aspx   Serious consideration needs to be given to subjecting the financial running of unions to ASIC (Australian Securities and Investment Commission) oversight.   This has been brought into focus by the pedestrian response by Fair Work Australia (FWA) in investigating the clear evidence of financial impropriety within the Health Services Union under Craig Thomson as national secretary.   It is undisputed that Thomson’s union credit card was used to purchase the services of prostitutes and he admits to having authorised the card’s statements. Could you imagine the head of a listed company approving his own expenses?   And it is clear that whoever made at least one brothel purchase had Thomson’s credit card, driver’s licence, his mobile phone and had a signature that matched his as confirmed by a handwriting expert.   Reports that Thomson’s credit card was also used for ATM cash withdrawals to the tune of more than $100,000 also beggar belief.    These issues emerged more than two years ago, yet FWA looks to be seriously flat-footed, giving the impression that it lacks the resources, expertise and independence to perform the role of union watchdog when it comes to finances and governance.   At Senate Estimates in February FWA was gagged by the government when asked about the progress it had made with its investigation. Even today if you look at the HSU web site the financial statements for 2007, Mr Thomson’s last year as union head, are missing. The link is there, but the documents are not.   And just last month the national Committee of Management passed a resolution in relation to the 2009 financial statements which included:   “They cannot be satisfied that the financial statements and notes give a true and fair view of the financial performance, financial position and cash flows of the reporting unit …” and   “They cannot be satisfied that the financial records of the reporting unit have been kept, as far as practicable, in a consistent manner to each of the other reporting units of the organisation.”   If companies were run this way their solvency would be under question and administrators would probably be called in.   The unions are multi-million-dollar enterprises entrusted with members’ funds but as the Craig Thomson affair demonstrates they are not subjected to the same standards and level of oversight as registered corporations.   Perhaps it is time for the unions to come under the remit of ASIC a watchdog with some teeth. Andrew Robb Mon, 22 Aug 2011 00:31:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1290 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1289/Interview-with-Marius-Benson-ABC-News-Radio-16-August-2011.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1289 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1289&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1289/Interview-with-Marius-Benson-ABC-News-Radio-16-August-2011.aspx   Topics: the state of the economy, savings measures, Fair Work Act.   E&OE     MARIUS BENSON:   Andrew Robb the Treasurer is going to be addressing the parliament on the state of the global economy the assessment of the world and of Australia, it’s been a pretty rough ride on global markets, the outlook is grim we are going to be told is going to be the message from the Treasurer that the United and Europe that you can’t look to them to contribute to growth over the next several years. Would you argue with that fairly pessimistic assessment?   ANDREW ROBB:   No I wouldn’t, I suspect the way we have seen Australian households for the last 12 months with unprecedented levels of savings paying off their mortgage and paying down the plastic and putting deposits in the banks has been a sign that most people in Australia have had a sense that we are vulnerable and that something else could happen again on world markets.   The only group that hasn’t had that sense I think is the federal government for that matter.   MARIUS BENSON:   The government accuses you of talking down the economy it is a fine line for an opposition between rubbishing the government and rubbishing the economy isn’t it?   ANDREW ROBB: Well we have been warning for 12 months now that if there is another double-dip or downturn in the world economy that we are vulnerable and that we should be living within our means now despite that, that is what the government has called talking down the economy.   What we have been doing I think quite sensibly is waring that things aren’t in good shape around the world that the debt levels around the world are just astronomical and there’s likely to be a further adjustment, well we are now starting to see it and the chickens are coming home to roost for the government.   They have spent for political purposes they have been reckless unlike households around the country that are living within their means and they are the ones who have been irresponsible in their management of the economy and I think all Australians are going to pay for it.    MARIUS BENSON:   It’s likely the Treasury will also have a swing at your plans announced by Joe Hockey to cut $70 billion from public spending and to cut 12,000 positions from the public service can you clarify is that opposition policy now?       ANDREW ROBB:   Well it is opposition policy to put a freeze on public servants appointments now that will mean over a period of two years that by not reinstating those that leave the public service there will be 12,000 less positions that’s correct.   Secondly, the $70 billion is an estimate of the sort of challenge that we will have if we are to get this government position back to living within its means. This government, the $70 billion just highlights how wantonly this government has been living beyond its means.   That’s the sort of order of magnitude which over four years which is quite achievable when you consider that this government has spent $150 billion more than it has raised over the last four years. And we are saying that we need to identify up to $70 billion over the next four years if we are to get this economy back in some sort of shape that we can be, so that we can weather any economic storm that might come at us from other parts of the world.   MARIUS BENSON:   Mr Robb you are chairing a general review of opposition policies at the moment there is a lot of talk about the need to cut penalty rates, John Alexander the N.S.W. backbencher the latest contributor to that debate. Is that part of opposition policy review at the moment or can you rule out any moves to cut penalty rates?   ANDREW ROBB:   We are waiting to see what industry says are the failings of the Fair Work Act.   MARIUS BENSON:   So if industry says as it often does that penalty rates are costing jobs, will you review penalty rates?   ANDREW ROBB:   We are reviewing the Act so we will wait and see where the problems are, we will assess if they are legitimate and damaging actions within that Fair Work Act and when we’ve made that assessment we’ll look for practical solutions to it.   MARIUS BENSON:   Andrew Robb, thank you very much. Andrew Robb Tue, 16 Aug 2011 05:45:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1289 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1287/Transcript-of-the-Hon-Andrew-Robb-Doorstop-Interview-Parliament-House-16-August-2011.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1287 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1287&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1287/Transcript-of-the-Hon-Andrew-Robb-Doorstop-Interview-Parliament-House-16-August-2011.aspx   Topics: Government’s poor procurement standards, budget surplus, the economy.     E&OE   ANDREW ROBB:   It’s been revealed that Penny Wong, supposedly the watchdog and her department, that a staggering 70 per cent of all the procurements made by the Department of Finance have been non-compliant with the guidelines that the department itself laid down for proper purchase of government items.   This has gone from 55 per cent three years ago, 58 per cent and now 70 per cent of procurements.   This is the watchdog Penny Wong is supposed to be the watchdog after years of wanton waste with pink batts and school building halls, with $1000 cheques. Here is a department which is now non-compliant in 70 per cent of its own procurements.   If you put it across the government sector we are talking about around $33 billion a year so over the four year cycle about $130 billion worth of procurements, you could expect this same incompetence and lack of attention and lack of value for money to apply right across this government sector.   No wonder we’ve got a problem with budget deficits, no wonder we are vulnerable to another meltdown around the world in terms of finances. This government is incompetent and untrustworthy and even the watchdog Penny Wong and her department have failed the basic test of giving value for money for taxpayers’ money.   QUESTION:   Do you think Andrew that the government should still stick by its promise for a budget surplus given the uncertainty in world market?   ANDREW ROBB:   The government certainly should be looking to give value for money that means driving for budget surpluses. We have said all along that this government’s budget is a house of cards. Now we are seeing they are already stepping away from that cast iron commitment to give a budget surplus net year. We’ve never assumed that they would get it. It’s been a fiction since day one, but their economic management credentials will hang on whether they get that surplus.   QUESTION:   But is it prudent for the government to stick to the surplus given the economic conditions?   ANDREW ROBB:   Well as it has been reported today, 70 per cent of government procurements are non-compliant with the guidelines for achieving value for money. Now if they can get their house in order you take that with an improvement in the order of 10 per cent, you’ve got $10 billion over the cycle, you’ve got $13 billion over the cycle.   There is a lot of money there to be saved if you are prudent about it. If they use this excuse of a global financial crisis to allow another $50 billion of deficit then they are culpable.   This is an untrustworthy government they’ve promised they’ve given cast iron commitments, in many ways they got through the last election on a bunch of lies about the carbon tax for starters and about their economic management, how they would get to a surplus. Now the chickens are coming home to roost and they deserve to be politically punished for it.   QUESTION:   Mr Robb, having the Coalition warning of a meltdown in the economy, that’s not exactly [inaudible] much confidence?   ANDREW ROBB:   We have been saying now for over 12 months that the priority of this government must be to restore the economic resilience that they inherited and yet they’ve gone ahead endlessly with $50 billion deficits this year, $49 billion deficit, the coming year looks like something over $20 billion.   We have been warning that if you don’t get your house in order, do what households are doing around the country and that is living within their means that we will as an economy be vulnerable in the face of a meltdown.   We haven’t caused the meltdown we’ve been trying to ring the bell and let the government know that they should have been changing the way in which they’ve gone about managing this economy.   QUESTION:   So you think our economy is facing a meltdown or do you think our economy is facing a meltdown?   ANDREW ROBB:   No, there is a real prospect though I mean all of the commentators are of the view that there’s what I saw yesterday a 50-50 chance of there being another serious financial problem around the world.   This government has made Australia very vulnerable to another meltdown.   QUESTION:   So would you be in favour of another stimulus package just in case there is another meltdown or would you rather return to surplus?   ANDREW ROBB:   The best thing this government can do is to live within its means. That will give business confidence to invest, that will give households confidence to spend money.   The trouble is people have got no confidence in the incompetence of this government. If you look at things from the live cattle job, the way in which they grossly mismanaged that, the whole pink batts exercise of school building halls.   Everything they touch has turned to custard with this government, they are weak and untrustworthy when it comes to spending money and this incompetence has undermined business confidence so if they got their house in order, started living within their means we would then see far more investment in this economy and we would see things start to lift.   QUESTION:   So if turns down would you rather just the Reserve Bank stimulate the economy and not the government?   ANDREW ROBB:   We’ve got lots of automatic stabilisers, we’ve got interest rates that can be lowered significantly we’ve got an exchange rate that would respond to lower commodity prices. This is what got us last time with a very healthy economy and with interest rates dropping over three per cent, with the exchange rate dropping down from 90 to 60 in the dollar, these were the things that got us back on track, it was after we were coming out of it really that the government spent most of the money.   That’s added to interest rates, that’s added to deficits, that’s added to our debt and it’s made us again very vulnerable if there is a further meltdown around the world.          Andrew Robb Tue, 16 Aug 2011 02:16:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1287 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1288/Transcript-of-the-Hon-Andrew-Robb-Doorstop-Interview-Parliament-House-16-August-2011.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1288 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1288&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1288/Transcript-of-the-Hon-Andrew-Robb-Doorstop-Interview-Parliament-House-16-August-2011.aspx   Topics: Government’s poor procurement standards, budget surplus, the economy.     E&OE   ANDREW ROBB:   It’s been revealed that Penny Wong, supposedly the watchdog and her department, that a staggering 70 per cent of all the procurements made by the Department of Finance have been non-compliant with the guidelines that the department itself laid down for proper purchase of government items.   This has gone from 55 per cent three years ago, 58 per cent and now 70 per cent of procurements.   This is the watchdog Penny Wong is supposed to be the watchdog after years of wanton waste with pink batts and school building halls, with $1000 cheques. Here is a department which is now non-compliant in 70 per cent of its own procurements.   If you put it across the government sector we are talking about around $33 billion a year so over the four year cycle about $130 billion worth of procurements, you could expect this same incompetence and lack of attention and lack of value for money to apply right across this government sector.   No wonder we’ve got a problem with budget deficits, no wonder we are vulnerable to another meltdown around the world in terms of finances. This government is incompetent and untrustworthy and even the watchdog Penny Wong and her department have failed the basic test of giving value for money for taxpayers’ money.   QUESTION:   Do you think Andrew that the government should still stick by its promise for a budget surplus given the uncertainty in world market?   ANDREW ROBB:   The government certainly should be looking to give value for money that means driving for budget surpluses. We have said all along that this government’s budget is a house of cards. Now we are seeing they are already stepping away from that cast iron commitment to give a budget surplus net year. We’ve never assumed that they would get it. It’s been a fiction since day one, but their economic management credentials will hang on whether they get that surplus.   QUESTION:   But is it prudent for the government to stick to the surplus given the economic conditions?   ANDREW ROBB:   Well as it has been reported today, 70 per cent of government procurements are non-compliant with the guidelines for achieving value for money. Now if they can get their house in order you take that with an improvement in the order of 10 per cent, you’ve got $10 billion over the cycle, you’ve got $13 billion over the cycle.   There is a lot of money there to be saved if you are prudent about it. If they use this excuse of a global financial crisis to allow another $50 billion of deficit then they are culpable.   This is an untrustworthy government they’ve promised they’ve given cast iron commitments, in many ways they got through the last election on a bunch of lies about the carbon tax for starters and about their economic management, how they would get to a surplus. Now the chickens are coming home to roost and they deserve to be politically punished for it.   QUESTION:   Mr Robb, having the Coalition warning of a meltdown in the economy, that’s not exactly [inaudible] much confidence?   ANDREW ROBB:   We have been saying now for over 12 months that the priority of this government must be to restore the economic resilience that they inherited and yet they’ve gone ahead endlessly with $50 billion deficits this year, $49 billion deficit, the coming year looks like something over $20 billion.   We have been warning that if you don’t get your house in order, do what households are doing around the country and that is living within their means that we will as an economy be vulnerable in the face of a meltdown.   We haven’t caused the meltdown we’ve been trying to ring the bell and let the government know that they should have been changing the way in which they’ve gone about managing this economy.   QUESTION:   So you think our economy is facing a meltdown or do you think our economy is facing a meltdown?   ANDREW ROBB:   No, there is a real prospect though I mean all of the commentators are of the view that there’s what I saw yesterday a 50-50 chance of there being another serious financial problem around the world.   This government has made Australia very vulnerable to another meltdown.   QUESTION:   So would you be in favour of another stimulus package just in case there is another meltdown or would you rather return to surplus?   ANDREW ROBB:   The best thing this government can do is to live within its means. That will give business confidence to invest, that will give households confidence to spend money.   The trouble is people have got no confidence in the incompetence of this government. If you look at things from the live cattle job, the way in which they grossly mismanaged that, the whole pink batts exercise of school building halls.   Everything they touch has turned to custard with this government, they are weak and untrustworthy when it comes to spending money and this incompetence has undermined business confidence so if they got their house in order, started living within their means we would then see far more investment in this economy and we would see things start to lift.   QUESTION:   So if turns down would you rather just the Reserve Bank stimulate the economy and not the government?   ANDREW ROBB:   We’ve got lots of automatic stabilisers, we’ve got interest rates that can be lowered significantly we’ve got an exchange rate that would respond to lower commodity prices. This is what got us last time with a very healthy economy and with interest rates dropping over three per cent, with the exchange rate dropping down from 90 to 60 in the dollar, these were the things that got us back on track, it was after we were coming out of it really that the government spent most of the money.   That’s added to interest rates, that’s added to deficits, that’s added to our debt and it’s made us again very vulnerable if there is a further meltdown around the world.          Andrew Robb Tue, 16 Aug 2011 02:16:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1288 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1286/GILLARD-MUST-AXE-10-BILLION-BOB-BROWN-BANK.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1286 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1286&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1286/GILLARD-MUST-AXE-10-BILLION-BOB-BROWN-BANK.aspx   Australia’s vulnerability to current global economic threats highlights the madness of Labor’s plan to borrow another $10 billion to establish a ‘Bob Brown Bank’.   “To put this into perspective, $10 billion was the size of the first stimulus package which was brought down to combat the global financial crisis in 2008,” Shadow Minister for Finance and Debt Reduction Andrew Robb said.   “At a time of low confidence across our economy, if Labor abandoned its plan to establish the so-called Clean Energy Finance Corporation it would send a positive signal to households and businesses that it understands the importance of prudent economic management.   “This corporation will be merely a slush fund to appease Bob Brown and the Greens and it will see billions of borrowed dollars pumped into risky renewable energy projects that the conventional banks wouldn’t touch,” Mr Robb said.   The decision to set up the ‘Bob Brown Bank’ was made after the government lifted the Commonwealth debt ceiling to an unprecedented quarter of a trillion dollars – $250 billion.   “Government debt is extremely high by Australian standards and analysis shows that our growth in debt since Labor came to office in 2007 is third only behind Iceland and Ireland,” Mr Robb said.   “It simply defies logic that the Gillard government would be prepared to borrow $10 billion on top of its existing debt simply to keep the Greens happy.” Andrew Robb Tue, 09 Aug 2011 02:20:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1286 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1284/INTERVIEW-WITH-MARIUS-BENSON-ABC-NEWS-RADIO.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1284 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1284&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1284/INTERVIEW-WITH-MARIUS-BENSON-ABC-NEWS-RADIO.aspx   INTERVIEW WITH MARIUS BENSON ABC NEWS RADIO Thursday, 4 August 2011 CLICK HERE TO PLAY INTERVIEW Topics: Economic uncertainty, crisis of confidence, Labor’s debt.   E&OE………………………………………………………………………    MARIUS BENSON:   Andrew Robb it looks like a shaky old financial world out there between the international markets and the retail figures locally, but the Treasurer says the fundamentals are strong, you disagree?   ANDREW ROBB:   The trouble with the economy is there is no leadership, there’s no direction, in fact I would say there is a crisis of confidence that’s what’s killing retail. That’s what’s worrying the business sector, that’s what’s creating a real problem for manufacturing. There is no investment there is no spending and it is because people do not see that the country has got any leadership.   MARIUS BENSON:   When you say there is no investment I heard a report yesterday saying investment in Australia is running at a 50-year high.   ANDREW ROBB:   The investment in the mining sector is, but really we’ve got the retail sector is now in recession and you’ve got many parts of the manufacturing sector under enormous pressure.   MARIUS BENSON:   But investment is firing.   ANDREW ROBB:   Investment is driven by the resources sector, so you have got a boom in the resources sector, but the trouble is we’ve got other parts of the economy almost or literally in recession. Now if there is a double-dip recession around the world then of course the first thing that will come off is commodity prices as it did in the GFC and we are left as an economy highly exposed.   MARIUS BENSON:   Do you think part of the crisis of confidence is because you are making remarks like that saying that the future is uncertain and very threatening?   ANDREW ROBB:   No, not at all, Wayne Swan is making this accusation, but of course Wayne Swan if you listen to him finds an excuse for everything that goes wrong in the economy …   MARIUS BENSON:   But can I just ask you about the opposition’s point of view, ordinarily an opposition, certainly in the first half of a new government can rely on being ignored, but it’s different this time, the opposition’s voice is much louder because of the minority government set up.   ANDREW ROBB:   The opposition’s concern and probably it’s being listened to far more because Australia has got an enormous opportunity with China and India, but in many respects is wasting the mining boom.   The government should be taking strong measures to ensure that we do restore our economic resilience, we reduce our debt, we get ourselves back into shape to weather any other unforseen economic circumstances ahead.   MARIUS BENSON:   Could I ask you about debt because you are critical of the level of debt that the Labor government has at the moment, but Australia’s debt as a per centage of GDP 22 per cent compares to the United States 97 per cent, a global average of 59 per cent, it is a figure that visitors like Tony Blair and John Keys say, all our figures are the envy of the world and that includes debt.   ANDREW ROBB:   It’s not a question of resting on our laurels, the reason we got through the last global financial crisis much better than all those other economies is because we had no debt in fact we had tens and tens of billions of dollars of surplus and reserves and no debt.   MARIUS BENSON:   Andrew Robb, the Shadow Treasurer Joe Hockey says the department of Climate Change is producing unreliable figures. He says it would be disbanded under a Coalition government is that opposition policy to disband the climate change department?   ANDREW ROBB:   We haven’t made any final decisions, but certainly the expenditure that’s going into literally hundreds and hundreds of bureaucrats in that area, if we remove the carbon tax we will remove the need for six new regulatory bodies that are being created; the hundreds of millions of dollars of new expenditure that is being incurred. And there is every reason why that department should be folded back in as part of the Department of Environment. And all of the excessive expenditure with new buildings and all of the rest is then avoided.   MARIUS BENSON:   So every reason to get rid of it, but you haven’t decided to do so yet is that what you are saying?   ANDREW ROBB:   We are making a range of decisions and options as we go forward, but that’s certainly one we are seriously considering.   MARIUS BENSON:   Andrew Robb, thank you very much.         Media Contact:        Cameron Hill on 0408 239 521.   Andrew Robb Thu, 04 Aug 2011 01:25:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1284 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1283/AUSTRALIA-VULNERABLE-GILLARD-OBLIVIOUS.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1283 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1283&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1283/AUSTRALIA-VULNERABLE-GILLARD-OBLIVIOUS.aspx   Monday, 1 August 2011   AUSTRALIA VULNERABLE – GILLARD OBLIVIOUS   As debate rages in the United States about government debt Julia Gillard remains in a state of denial about how vulnerable her government has left the Australian economy.   Today the prime minister made the extraordinary claim that “all government finances are very strong”.   “This comment demonstrates how disconnected Julia Gillard has become from Australian families and businesses,” Shadow Minister for Finance and Debt Reduction Andrew Robb said.   “We have a prime minister who thinks raising our debt ceiling to an unprecedented $250 billion – a quarter of a trillion dollars – after inheriting zero debt and $70 billion in reserves translates to a ‘very strong position’. It’s just bizarre.   “At a time when Australians understand the importance of tightening the belt, paying off debt and living within their means, you have a government continuing to borrow billions, blissfully ignorant to the external threats our economy faces.   “On top of this it is going to go it alone on a carbon tax which will further weaken our economic resilience,” Mr Robb said.   Ms Gillard also had no answer when asked how the government could afford further stimulus in the event of another global financial shock from a position of deficit.   “Well, I’m not going to speculate in those kinds of terms,” Ms Gillard said.   Mr Robb said it was little wonder there was a real crisis of confidence across the Australian economy.   “Not only is Julia Gillard oblivious to how vulnerable her government has left us, but she has no idea how she would combat any further threats.   “The Coalition has been urging the government for the best part of two years to rein in its spending and borrowing in a bid to restore the economic resilience it inherited, but it just refuses to heed the warnings,” Mr Robb said.   Media Contact:        Cameron Hill on 0408 239 521.    Andrew Robb Mon, 01 Aug 2011 05:39:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1283 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1282/INTERVIEW-WITH-MARTIN-KING-MTR-28-July-2011.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1282 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1282&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1282/INTERVIEW-WITH-MARTIN-KING-MTR-28-July-2011.aspx     INTERVIEW WITH MARTIN KING MTR Thursday, 28 July 2011   Topics: Rising inflation, debt, Labor’s mismanagement.    CLICK HERE TO PLAY INTERVIEW   E&OE................................................      MARTIN KING:   Shadow Minister for Finance and the member for Goldstein here in Melbourne, Andrew Robb is with me, good afternoon Andrew.   ANDREW ROBB:   Good to speak to you Martin.   MARTIN KING:   Now inflation higher than expected Andrew what’s your take?   ANDREW ROBB:   I suspect it has been coming. Everyone from my contact with households and other people around the country is that they are finding it very difficult to make ends meet, with electricity prices and water prices and you name it all going up. So I don’t think it’s a big surprise, but what it does say to you is now is certainly not the time to bring in another tax to add to every item that we purchase.   MARTIN KING:   Yes and the Aussie dollar is basically out of control. It’s a worry.   ANDREW ROBB:   You’ve got with the U.S. in dire straits, it’s pushing our dollar higher and higher which is adding to inflationary pressures in the country and I do think the uncertainty that is coming from around the world with Greece and Portugal and the United States, who knows where it is going to head and we’ve got no control over any of that. It just means that more and more attention should be given at home to make sure we are not in a vulnerable position.   And what I have observed and what you can see in the statistics, households around the country, we’ve got seven million households people are saving a lot more than they normally would. They are paying off the mortgage and paying down the plastic and putting some money in the bank where they can because I think people are feeling a sort of a crisis of confidence or a great uncertainty about what’s going on out there.   And I think the next thing is for the government to live within its means to match what households are doing, but certainly to bring in a carbon tax at this stage which is going to do absolutely nothing for the environment and to be ahead of the world and to add to the price of everything that we touch is madness in my view.   MARTIN KING:   It’s a bit hard for people to get a handle on this isn’t it Andrew, the government is painting a very rosy picture of our economy, what’s your take on that?   ANDREW ROBB:   Well the fact is we are blessed with what is happening in China and India if we weren’t getting our resources developed and sold as we are we’d be in the same situation as Greece or Portugal that’s the fact of the matter.   Our debt, which is now heading towards a quarter of a trillion dollars, that’s just the federal government and there will be a similar amount almost amongst the states, it’s all got to be paid off, there we are talking about something heading towards half a trillion dollars in public debt that’s being built at a time when we are making all this money from China.   Unfortunately a lot of that Chinese money it’s going into the taxation they’re making huge corporate contributions through corporate tax, but the average person is not seeing it because a lot of the industries, it’s not trickling down to them and with a high dollar there’s a lot of pressure out there, so many people finding it very difficult to make ends meet.   We’ve got to pull our horns in here, we shouldn’t be spending a lot of money on all sorts of government projects and programs we’ve got to live within our means.    We should be sort of gathering the acorns in case something does happen in the U.S. or Europe, so that we can again, like we did last time with a strong economy, get through any sort of upheaval world-wide over which we’ve got no control.   It’s pretty much common sense I think people are doing the common sense thing around the country, they are trying to save what they can pay off the mortgage, the only trouble is, my sense is that this government is still spending well beyond its means building a debt to a quarter of a trillion dollars and putting us in a very vulnerable position which will threaten jobs and threaten prosperity.   MARTIN KING:   Andrew you know what Julia Gillard and Wayne Swan are going to say to that? They are going to say you are scaring people unnecessarily.   ANDREW ROBB:   Well you asked me what I am reading and I’ve given you, I’m spending all my time on the road, the last two days in northern Tasmania just talking to people who are trying to make a quid, they’ve just closed up down there another half a million hectares of forestry so that there are now more mills closing down.   You go to a place like Scottsdale the price of houses has dropped from nearly $300,000 down to $100,000 because mills are closing.   This is happening all over the country, the welter of regulation and government programs and all of the rest, it’s just killing prosperity, killing jobs, killing people’s incentives and I really fear that what I’m saying, all I’m doing is reflecting what I’m hearing and what I’m seeing.   It would really suit Julia to get out there, she talks about wearing out the shoe leather, what has she done in the last three weeks to go around and really see what’s really going on with people?   It’s all orchestrated situations, the country really is vulnerable, people are anxious they are finding it difficult and the government just has to start to use some common sense and pull in their horns and live within their means so that we are not exposed to the sorts of things that are happening around the world.   MARTIN KING:   Well Andrew, the government is putting a brave face on today’s inflation figures. Wayne Swan today blamed higher fruit prices, including bananas, natural disasters and higher global oil prices. Why the chuckle?   ANDREW ROBB:   What they are is masters of spin. They will find something to try and suggest there is nothing they could do about it well there is plenty they could do about it.   I’ve just been in Tasmania where all the fruit, where the biggest vegetable growers in the country are in northern Tasmania. They can’t get water for the summer, they can’t get approvals for dams because of the way the government is managing all of the regulations and so as a consequence prices go up. It is a function of what this government does day in day out, it’s not just something magical where the prices of fruit and veg go up all of a sudden.   The reason behind many of those movements in the inflation which often go back to what government is doing and unless you have a feel for business and what’s going to create jobs and what’s going to give people an incentive to invest then you just keep going backwards and that’s the sense.   People I find are deeply despondent that the government is not giving any direction, does not look like it is up to the job.   The way in which they handled the live cattle export is just an absolute disgrace.   Thousands and thousands of families in the whole of northern Australia have now been thrown into great uncertainty and they are poorer just of the way the government has handled that situation.   MARTIN KING:   Alright Andrew, we have to leave it there we are running short of time, but we’ll put that to the listeners 131 873, Andrew thanks for your time.                Media Contact:        Cameron Hill on 0408 239 521.     Andrew Robb Thu, 28 Jul 2011 01:55:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1282 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1281/INTERVIEW-WITH-MARIUS-BENSON-ABC-NEWS-RADIO-Friday-22-July-2011.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1281 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1281&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1281/INTERVIEW-WITH-MARIUS-BENSON-ABC-NEWS-RADIO-Friday-22-July-2011.aspx   Interview with Marius Benson ABC News Radio   Friday 22 July 2011    CLICK HERE TO PLAY THE INTERVIEW     Topics: emissions trading scheme property rights, carbon capture and storage.     E&OE………………………………………………………………………………………   MARIUS BENSON:   Andrew Robb you say there may be difficulties in unwinding a carbon tax because you say it creates a property right which may be hard to challenge.   ANDREW ROBB:   Yes, my point is in the modelling the Treasury have done they have assumed that all of our competitors will at the same time introduce a carbon tax or an emissions trading scheme in the same way Australia is proposed to introduce it.   Of course, that is patently wrong. It will be a highly costly and damaging scheme to have in place if we go it alone. Now in that case there will be a property right there will be millions of people trading it, holding it. It will be in super funds and we will face a situation as a country that it will be extraordinarily costly to dismantle such an albatross and there will be a need for massive compensation to wind such a scheme up.   It just shows the folly of again going ahead of the rest of the world, going alone when we are not sure which way the rest of the world will tackle this issue.   MARIUS BENSON:   When you say extremely costly, do you have a figure in mind or at least an order of magnitude?       ANDREW ROBB:   We are talking tens of billions of dollars for either side of politics in the future to wind this scheme up.   MARIUS BENSON:   So, can I just clarify, Tony Abbott has said that he will wind the scheme up if elected, will it go ahead despite that cost?   ANDREW ROBB:   No, if we are elected at the next election it won’t have by that stage become an emissions trading scheme, it will still just be a tax and at that stage it will not be a property right and it will be not costly to wind it up.   MARIUS BENSON:   Can I ask you about some remarks by Malcolm Turnbull last night who says a war is being waged on scientists by people who are fighting climate change action for narrow vested interest, narrow financial interests.   ANDREW ROBB:   Well that is an observation or a commentary by Malcolm I don’t necessarily have a strong view on what’s ….   MARIUS BENSON:   Is he right?   ANDREW ROBB:   Well I don’t know there are people with certainly, many people with different views.   ANDREW ROBB:   What about the idea of comparing the lobbyists who are fighting the carbon tax as Malcolm Turnbull has to the cigarette companies who fought action to curtail smoking?   ANDREW ROBB:   I didn’t hear the speech, but from what I’ve read Malcolm was making the very valid point that it is not sensible to withdraw funding from carbon capture and storage.   I think he might have made the point that because coal is such a cheap source of energy that China and India will be using it for many, many, many decades to come and though I think the rest of the world will be using it as well for that matter.   Therefore it is stupidity really for the Australian government led by the Greens to bring in a $10 billion slush fund as is proposed under their new package which will exclude any expense on carbon capture and storage.   MARIUS BENSON:   Andrew Robb, thank you very much.           Media Contact:        Cameron Hill on 0408 239 521.     Andrew Robb Fri, 22 Jul 2011 02:02:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1281 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1279/BOB-BROWN-BANK-RAISES-SPECTRE-OF-PAST-DEBACLES.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1279 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1279&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1279/BOB-BROWN-BANK-RAISES-SPECTRE-OF-PAST-DEBACLES.aspx   Wednesday, 20 July 2011   ‘BOB BROWN BANK’ RAISES SPECTRE OF PAST DEBACLES   Confirmation that the Gillard Government plans to raise billions of dollars in debt to fund the $10 billion ‘Bob Brown Bank’ shows Labor has learnt nothing from the Tricontinental, W.A Inc. and State Bank of S.A. debacles of the past.   “The fact this government is prepared to borrow billions of dollars more, in the name of taxpayers, to invest in speculative, high-risk clean energy proposals demonstrates how dangerous it has become,” Shadow Minister for Finance and Debt Reduction Andrew Robb said.   “After inheriting a debt-free budget this incompetent government has been forced to raise the Commonwealth debt ceiling to a staggering $250 billion, and that was before it cooked up the $10 billion Clean Energy Finance Corporation aka ‘Bob Brown Bank’.   “Labor plans to use dubious accounting practices to keep the money ‘off-budget’, this is a deceptive sleight-of-hand trick, to artificially protect the budget bottom line.   “The ‘Bob Brown’ Bank is a slush fund which will pump billions of dollars into pet projects which conventional financiers would not touch with a barge pole.   “It is another Labor financial disaster in the making and a price Julia Gillard has to pay to cling to power,” Mr Robb said.   “A Coalition government will not guarantee debt raised by this entity nor will we be raising even more government debt through bond sales to finance this outfit.   “Penny Wong absurdly says that by rejecting the ‘funny money’ financing arrangements of this corporation the Coalition is ‘wrecking’ the policy.   “The truth is that we are standing up for taxpayers who are sick and tired of this government’s reckless spending and borrowing and the irresponsible behaviour of the likes of the Finance Minister.   “We are saying enough is enough,” Mr Robb said.   Media Contact:        Cameron Hill on 0408 239 521.      Andrew Robb Wed, 20 Jul 2011 02:40:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1279 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1277/Interview-with-ABC-WA-North-West.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1277 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1277&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1277/Interview-with-ABC-WA-North-West.aspx     INTERVIEW WITH ABC W.A. NORTH WEST   Thursday, 14 July 2011   Topics: Need for Auditor General to examine Labor’s dubious accounting practices, carbon tax.    CLICK HERE TO LISTEN   E&OE……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….   CRISTY-LEE MACQUEEN:   We do have shadow finance minister Andrew Robb on mornings and he believes the accounting practices of the Gillard government must be investigated by the Auditor General. Good morning to you minister, shadow minister rather.   ANDREW ROBB:   Good morning Cristy-Lee how are you?   HOST:   Very well thank you. Why does there need to be an investigation?   ANDREW ROBB:   What we are seeing, it’s not just this carbon tax I mean we’ve had now I think so many decisions which have been incompetent in the sense of the live cattle job for instance I mean it’s really now done very long term damage to that industry.   HOST:   This is the last straw you are saying?   ANDREW ROBB:   In through all of this they have built the debt up massively and they’ve kept saying they are going to bring the budget to surplus well in my view that’s a political objective it’s not really their economic objective and they are starting to shift so much money outside the budget so that it doesn’t appear on the bottom line.   And what they are doing for instance, you take the National Broadband Network, that’s going to cost $50 billion and it will be money that has to be borrowed and it’s got to be paid back, but it doesn’t appear in the budget papers.   Now they’ve done the same thing again with this carbon tax they’ve got a $10 billion slush fund really because it’s money that is going to be provided by nominees of the Greens and the government to businesses, green businesses to help them develop their businesses.   But a lot of it will be very high risk, the banks won’t do it, this fund will do it again that fund is not on the budget papers, but it’s still the money has to be found. It will be borrowed so it’s really all smoke and mirrors and it’s misleading people.   And all it’s doing is they’re getting deeper and deeper into hock and that’s our money, we are all the taxpayers and they are misleading people and we are saying that it’s reached a point where we really need the Auditor General to come in and have a look at the way in which they are accounting for all these tens-of-billions-of-dollars that don’t end up in the budget bottom line.   We need, it’s almost, fraudulently really the way in which they are accounting for these things and it’s making people feel comfortable about what’s happening when if they really knew the cost of it they’d be horrified.   HOST:   We just heard from one local who was for the carbon tax.   Now she’s mentioned that the carbon tax is a positive thing because of that hit on people’s pockets and people won’t really start to take note of their carbon emissions or how much industry is letting off these carbon emissions until there is an impact on their pockets.   Would you agree with that statement?   ANDREW ROBB:   No, I don’t because the rest of the world is not doing it. The trouble is that, sure, if all the science stacks up, and the world wants to make a change and reduce the amount of carbon dioxide, well you need all the countries in the world to put that price on, and then people would respond to that; and it would be fair.   The trouble is at the moment, you think about it this way, if Western Australia put a tax on and none of the other states in Australia put the tax on, what would happen over the next five to ten years?   There’d be a whole lot of businesses and jobs all move out of Western Australia, move to other parts of the country.   And that’s in a sense what is happening. Australia is putting a tax on, but no other countries around the world are putting a tax on.   So over time, all our high tax will do is make us less competitive, therefore industries that otherwise would have occurred here, in Western Australia and other parts of the country, will move to China, they’ll move to Indonesia, they’ll move to the United States, et cetera.   All we’re doing is shooting ourselves in the foot because this is largely a political decision to keep the Greens on side, to keep the Labor Party in Government and to keep the prime minister in her job.   This is not a tax, in my view, that’s designed to, won’t achieve what they say it will. It won’t do anything for the environment.   HOST:   Shadow Minister we’re just about to run up to the news but thanks for joining us on North-West Morning with us today.   ANDREW ROBB:   My pleasure all the best.   Media Contact:        Cameron Hill on 0408 239 521.   Andrew Robb Thu, 14 Jul 2011 07:26:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1277 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1276/AUDITOR-GENERAL-MUST-EXAMINE-LABORS-FRAUDULENT-ACCOUNTING.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1276 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1276&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1276/AUDITOR-GENERAL-MUST-EXAMINE-LABORS-FRAUDULENT-ACCOUNTING.aspx     AUDITOR GENERAL MUST EXAMINE LABOR’S FRAUDULENT ACCOUNTING Thursday, 14 July 2011   The fraudulent accounting practices of the Gillard Government must be investigated by the Auditor General.   “The fact this government plans to treat funds for the $10 billion ‘Brown-Gillard Bank’ outside the budget and therefore off the bottom line beggars belief,” Shadow Finance Minister Andrew Robb said today.   “The Clean Energy Finance Corporation is a giant slush fund that will see taxpayers’ money funnelled into speculative, high risk ventures. This bank will be used to fund pet projects of the Greens as confirmed by the ban on the corporation from investing in Carbon Capture and Storage.”   The deception of this government is highlighted by the fact that there are two programs in the 2011-12 budget designed to deliver virtually the same outcomes as the ‘Brown-Gillard Bank’.   These include the Renewable Energy Venture Capital Fund and the Emerging Renewables program which both hit the budget bottom line as they should.    “This will be $10 billion of borrowed money kept away from the budget bottom line. This is in addition to the $18.2 billion of borrowed money the government will pump in to the NBN, also off-budget,” Mr Robb said.   “We now have an unprecedented $28.2 billion that will be kept off-budget. This is based on the dubious assumption that these projects, that the private sector doesn’t want a bar of, will generate commercial returns to taxpayers.   “If these funds were treated on-budget Labor’s claims to future surpluses would be blown apart. This government changes the budget rules to suit its own political ends and highlights its preparedness to resort to the use of ‘funny money’ to fund its profligacy,” Mr Robb said.     “The Gillard government has become dangerous and the Auditor General needs to look into its increasingly dodgy budget practices because they are out of control,” Mr Robb said.   Media Contact:        Cameron Hill on 0408 239 521.        Andrew Robb Thu, 14 Jul 2011 03:24:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1276 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1275/Sky-News-AM-Agenda-with-Kieran-Gilbert-13-July-2011.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1275 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1275&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1275/Sky-News-AM-Agenda-with-Kieran-Gilbert-13-July-2011.aspx     Sky News AM Agenda with Kieran Gilbert     Wednesday, 13 July 2011 Topics: Labor’s carbon tax, Direct Action, Labor’s ‘funny money’   CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE INTERVIEW   E&OE……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….   KIERAN GILBERT:   Mr Robb thank you very much for your time, the Opposition has been critical of the way the government is funding this carbon pricing plan, but wouldn’t the Coalition have more credibility if you provided your own costings for how you would fund your Direct Action plan $3.2 billion worth over the forward estimates?   ANDREW ROBB:   Well we’ve done that once already in a most comprehensive way. We released a policy, February last year and the cost of that was the $3.2 billion against the forward estimates, we then released $50 billion worth of savings to show how we could quite easily manage within the budget the funding of our program.   We’ve got nothing to hide, it’s all out there, it’s been out there in fact for 15-16 months and it never got criticised in the run down to the election, no one said that we weren’t able to fund our Direct Action programs.    So the pressure’s right back on the government, the fact of the matter is that Wayne Swan dismissed the overrun in this package as “broadly budget neutral”, it’s just a total furphy.   You are seeing a $4.3 (billion) which they’ve admitted to and then there’s $3 billion to retire 2,000 megawatts of brown coal generation capacity, which they’re all saying contradictory things, but clearly it must come out of the budget.   Then you’ve got the $10 billion slush fund, the ‘Bob Brown Bank’, which in other ways has been treated on the budget, in this last budget, this particular program which is very similar to things that are within the budget, is now going to be funded from borrowings, you really should say something closer to $17 billion, but there’s certainly a $7 billion black hole without a doubt.   KIERAN GILBERT:   OK, well I want to ask you about that fund in a moment, that $10 billion Clean Energy Finance Corporation, but back to your costings, you said they weren’t criticised, they were criticised extensively, the Treasury and Finance found an $11 billion black hole in the costings and then beyond that Mr Robb, you’ve committed to providing your own tax cuts on top of this other commitment for the Direct Action, so you’ve made a number of other commitments surely there needs to be a revised set of costings doesn’t there?   ANDREW ROBB:   Well there will be. By the time we lead into the election as we’ve made the commitments there will be a very clear set of costings and policy programs laid out for everyone to examine. What I’m saying to you is …..   KIERAN GILBERT:   You’re calling for an election now. The Opposition’s calling for an election now. Should there not be the costings now?   ANDREW ROBB:   If there was an election now the government would be required through the commitments on both sides, the government would be required to lay down the state of the budget and then we would be able to immediately respond with our own costings, but what I’m saying to you is it’s just less than 12 months since we demonstrated that we did have a capacity.   Even if you withdraw those items that were in contention between ourselves and Treasury and bear in mind the difference on that was differences in assumptions in all of those programs, so we don’t concede any of those programs to the Treasury, but even if you put those aside, we still had a surplus budget in the other savings that we had identified.   So we had clearly funded our commitment to a Direct Action program last year which demonstrates our capacity to find savings and to fund programs that we are going to advance.   We will do it again, we will do it again responsibly, we won’t play the sorts of tricks that we are starting to see, the sleight of hand, the smoke and mirrors that’s going on.   They are covering up billions and billions and billions of dollars. They have lost control, the economics of this package are unravelling by the day and they are just making it up as they are going along.   Julia Gillard said yesterday that the money would come for the $3 billion to retire that 2,000 megawatts of generating power, that that would come out of the Contingency Reserve, well the recent budget said that there is no provision in the Contingency Reserve for anything to do with the climate change package, so it’s funny money starting to enter into the government’s funding of their programs.   KIERAN GILBERT:   The Opposition leader has said that you will have your own tax cuts. Can I ask you specifically about this reform that a lot of economists have praised and industry groups, this was the one out of, based out the Henry Review recommendations, lifting the tax-free threshold to upwards of $20,000 from its current position of about $6,000, do you welcome that removing about one million people out of the tax system and would the Coalition keep it or wind that back?   ANDREW ROBB:   Well we have said since the Henry Review was released that we were attracted to raising the tax-free threshold, but what we wouldn’t do is increase the marginal tax rates as the government has in this package.   This is not tax reform, on the one hand they do something that’s got some merit, but they’ve paid for it by taking us back to the 1980s, by being the first increase in marginal tax rates, the 15 goes to 19 and the 30 I think goes to 33 or 35, that is the first increase we’ve seen.    That is a discouragement for people to work longer hours and to make an extra quid to pay for the cost of the carbon tax to pay off their family bills. That’s a discouragement so this government on the one hand does something which is sensible, but pays for it with something that is quite retrograde.   KIERAN GILBERT:   But how would you fund all of these promises? You are promising tax cuts, tax-free threshold increase which would go right up the scale according to what you are saying there. That would cost billions and billions and billions of dollars as well as that the Coalition is saying you would not purchase the least cost abatement from overseas when there is certified abatement done overseas, Greg Hunt says no we are not going to purchase that, how do you make all of the numbers stack up?   ANDREW ROBB:   Well it’s called living within your means Kieran. This government has got no concept of that. We are seeing at the moment eight million families around this country whose savings rate has gone from minus one to plus eleven-and-a-half per cent over the last 12 months.   These are people who because they can’t pay for the twelve and a half per cent increase in electricity prices even since Julia Gillard came to power, because they can’t pay these utility bills and their mortgage rates and all the rest, they are cutting back on spending, they are not spending on things they otherwise would do, they’re deferring expenditure, they are going without, they are living within their means.   This government though continues to ratchet up their rate of spending; they’ll spend a lot more than they will get even in this financial year. They’re borrowing massively still, extra $107 billion that will go up now another $10 billion with this slush fund that we were talking about, therefore we’ve got to as a country live within our means, that’s first and foremost.   KIERAN GILBERT:   On that, why wouldn’t you argue with your colleagues as Finance Minister then let’s look at purchasing abatement from overseas if there is least cost abatement overseas rather than what looks like a cumbersome way of just spending all taxpayer money on funding the polluting industries?   ANDREW ROBB:   Well you think about it Kieran …   KIERAN GILBERT:   If there’s least cost abatement overseas why not use it?   ANDREW ROBB:   Well, we don’t need to use it. What we will do is encourage organisations, companies, to introduce changes to the way in which they are doing things to either store more carbon such as in soil or to reduce the amount of emissions such as in the built environment, the city, the buildings and in factories and others. Now we will fund that, we’ve already established how we would fund it, this government’s going to raise $24 billion across the period of the forward estimates in higher taxes from the tax, this carbon tax.   Our whole program will cost $3.2 billion, when you take out the tax that is going to go to lower income groups and for all the compensation, when you remove that the actual cost, the cost of reducing the amount of emissions is relatively small against the total tax take of this government.    If you take out of the government’s total tax take all of the compensation and all of the churn and the hundreds and hundreds and thousands of new bureaucrats you will find the actual cost of mitigation is probably about 10 per cent of the total tax take.   Now that’s all we have to face is that 10 per cent cost we don’t have to have all that other money.   KIERAN GILBERT:   What about that promise to increase, just one last question, I know you’ve got a busy day ahead, I just want to ask you about the pension increases, there’s going to be an increase to pensioners, self-funded retirees a couple of hundred dollars above their costs.   They are going to get it eight months before the tax comes into play. Will the Coalition keep that magnitude of increase if you are elected at the next election, that you would implement that sort of pension rise?   ANDREW ROBB:   The first thing is Kieran the best compensation is no tax and we will rescind this tax … [interruption]   KIERAN GILBERT:   So you wouldn’t raise the pension by that magnitude?   ANDREW ROBB:   No, no, no what decisions we take in regards to the benefits that will accrue to different sections of the community, we will announce in advance, we have already … [interruption]   KIERAN GILBERT:   So no guarantee then, no guarantee [inaudible] of that magnitude?   ANDREW ROBB:   What I do guarantee is we will lay out well ahead of the election, the tax cuts and other benefits that will accrue to other parts of the community, but we will first and foremost live within our means, not this government which is putting Australia in great jeopardy and vulnerability to any sort of downturn around the world by profligate spending and this madness of a tax.      KIERAN GILBERT:   Shadow Finance Minister Andrew Robb, great to chat, thanks a lot for that.     Media Contact:        Cameron Hill on 0408 239 521.   Andrew Robb Wed, 13 Jul 2011 05:41:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1275 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1273/IF-WONG-DOESNT-UNDERSTAND-IT-HOW-WILL-ANYONE-ELSE.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1273 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1273&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1273/IF-WONG-DOESNT-UNDERSTAND-IT-HOW-WILL-ANYONE-ELSE.aspx   Finance Minister Penny Wong demonstrated today that she does not understand how Labor’s carbon tax works, so how are Australians expected to understand it?   During an interview on ABC in Adelaide Senator Wong was asked if the federal government was included in the scheme.   Wong: “Uh, well, uh I am not sure that we are one of the top 500 polluters.”   The Minister was then told that according to the Institute of Public Affairs the federal government was ranked somewhere between 10th and 30th on the list of the nation’s largest emitters.   Wong: “Uh, well, uh if we are within the scheme, we are within the scheme.  But I don’t think - I don’t believe, that we are.”    Shadow Minister for Finance Andrew Robb said it was unbelievable that Senator Wong as Finance Minister and former Climate Change Minister did not know.   “If Penny Wong, who was the architect of the original scheme doesn’t understand it, how can anyone else be expected to understand it?” Mr Robb asked.   “All year the government has been thundering about the 1,000 big polluters, now that list is supposedly down to 500, yet the Finance Minister doesn’t seem to know who is on it.   “As Paul Keating once said: ‘If you don’t understand it, don’t vote for it. If you do understand it, you’d never vote for it’.   “The government must publicly release its 500 company hit list to end the uncertainty about which companies and other entities will be directly taxed,” Mr Robb said. Andrew Robb Mon, 11 Jul 2011 07:27:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1273 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1274/MTR--Andrew-Robb-MP-interview-with-Steve-Price-Andrew-Bolt.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1274 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1274&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1274/MTR--Andrew-Robb-MP-interview-with-Steve-Price-Andrew-Bolt.aspx   MTR - Andrew Robb MP interview with Steve Price & Andrew Bolt    Monday, 11 July 2011   Topic: Labor’s futile Carbon Tax   CLICK HERE TO PLAY THE INTERVIEW E&OE……………………………………………………………………………………………     Steve Price:   Andrew Robb is the Shadow Finance Spokesman and he’s on the line. Andrew, good to talk to you again.   Andrew Robb:   Yeah good morning gentlemen.   Steve Price:   Have they made it harder for you to unpick it?   Andrew Robb:   No, no they haven’t.   We will bring in our own tax cuts. It’ll be conditioned by some of the things they’ve done, but basically this is I think such a disaster in terms of what’s laid out.   It is all smoke and mirrors. It’ll be unpicked very quickly, and I think for the demand for this being dumped will be overwhelming.   Andrew Bolt:   How do you see that playing out Andrew? I mean, the independents are absolutely welded to this Government, the Greens likewise. I don’t know, how do you see it playing out?       Andrew Robb:   Well, it still could be two years before we go to an election. Or it could be two months. ….   Andrew Bolt:   Do you think they could rush to a poll?   Andrew Robb:   No, no.     Steve Price:   Do you think somebody in caucus is going to be so upset or some…?   Andrew Robb:   No, no there’d have to be some unexpected thing happen to have any effect on Julia.   As you say, the independents are having such a lovely time, they’re just, you know, pigs in mud. They won’t give this up for a second.   But there may be a temptation if they bring all this assistance or these giveaways in July next year. They may rush off to an election in that circumstance because it is only going to get worse thereafter.   But I think this will be, I think there is already a level of cynicism.   I just saw a piece in the paper this morning, of a Sydney household on $120 000 two daughters, $400 a year worse off. I mean, it’s falling apart already!   They gave the impression this wouldn’t hurt people, but the fact of the matter is there’s literally hundreds of thousands of small businesses.   I’m down here on the bay, near Beaumaris, Brighton and Bentleigh, is my electorate; right next door is the highest concentration of mid-tier manufacturing in the country in Moorabbin.   Thousands of my constituents work there. Not one of those factories will get $1 of assistance. And many many of them are either competing against imported products or trying to sell a product on world markets. The effect on jobs….   Steve Price:   So their energy costs will go through the roof?   Andrew Robb:   Yes, some of those are paying $120, 000 energy costs.   Steve Price:   I had a small dairy farmer ring me this morning saying well, we employ six, now it is going to be four.   Andrew Robb:   That’s right.   Well you know I can see a real employment effect in my seat, and most people, you know, wouldn’t have imagined that, and yet thousands of my constituents drive 5 km to Moorabbin and work there and none of this, there has been not one mention of small business, or medium-sized companies.   We’ve got hundreds and thousands of them. And they’re all now not going to be able to pass any of that on, and they’ll face a competitive disadvantage. This is just redistribution of wealth….   Andrew Bolt:   Absolutely   Andrew Robb:   …Saving their political skin.   Andrew Bolt:   Andrew, can I ask though, one thing that makes me dirty on the opposition and this is one of the corrupting influences on this debate, is that the opposition does not dare say what it really thinks or what should be said because the complicit and the deceit.   There is no way that Australia can do anything to change the world’s climate. We’re just too small. The sacrifice would be just too massive anyway. It’s all a fiction.   Why do you not say it’s all a fiction? This pain will be no gain?   Andrew Robb:   Well, in terms of what they’ve put forward.   Andrew Bolt:   No no no…   Andrew Robb:   Let me finish and I’ll get to that stuff in a second.   In terms of what they’ve put forward, it is all a fiction.   This will not change the world’s climate. In fact, in all likelihood, it will make it worse because it will send businesses, especially energy intensive businesses, the things that we’re good at, the reason we’re so wealthy in Australia is because we’ve had the advantage for over 100 years of being good at energy and resources, it will send them offshore where they’re done less efficiently, so there’ll be more emissions going into the atmosphere. So if the science is right…   Andrew Bolt:   That’s called the carbon leakage problem and you’re absolutely right. But I want to ask about your program.   Andrew Robb:   Yeah, alright, I’ll move onto ours.   The thing that we’ve done with the Direct Action proposals; every one of those issues are good; you get a good outcome irrespective of whether the rest of the world does anything, irrespective of what the science says because if we encourage more effective reduction of….more improvement in energy efficiency in buildings and elsewhere, that goes to the bottom line…..   Andrew Bolt:   That’s right, and that is the argument that you’ve been finessing for about….   Andrew Robb:   18 months…   Andrew Bolt:   2 months, no no the specific thing “it’ll be good anyway”   Andrew Robb: That’s right. It’s a no regrets policy   Andrew Bolt:   Exactly. I want to ask you one really specific question, and I hope that I can get an answer more direct than anything Labor will do.   Will your package cut the world’s temperature by a flicker?   Andrew Robb:   Well, not by itself, it won’t.   Andrew Bolt:   So…   Andrew Robb:   It won’t affect it, we will reduce those emissions but at the same time, China’s going up 500%.   Andrew Bolt:   No, no, forget that. A specific contribution from Australia does have an impact over the temperatures won’t rise as much or whatever.   The thing is, will your cuts affect the world’s temperature at all?   Andrew Robb:   Well, the bottom line is I don’t know, Andrew, because…..   Andrew Bolt:   No, the fact is the answer, let me tell you what the answer is. Hear it from probably one of the world’s, one of the world’s, probably the world’s greatest climate scientist yesterday, this is a bloke that even on this show, we were told was credible by climate commissioner Tim Flannery, hear from Professor Richard Lindzen: “I don’t think anyone could possibly detect it even with future technology. It would be nothing for all practical purposes. It would be nothing if the whole world did the same”.   So nothing we do would change the world’s temperature. I think the Opposition should be very frank about this. It’s all about nothing.   Andrew Robb:   Well the bottom line is, Andrew, that I have studied the science for years, and I still think that, well I don’t know the relative merit of the science.    I mean, it still to me, it’s not convincing either way.   And I find all of these competing statements, the next five years will put a lot more clarity into I think the public opinion.   But at the moment, we are wanting to be a government, and that means that we need to seek to reach a balance between all the competing interests in the community.   Andrew Bolt:   So you don’t actually know, you’re package will cut the world’s temperature at all?   Andrew Robb:   What I do know is our package, whether the science, whether that fellow you put on was right or not, we will have a policy which will reduce emissions, but also every one of those initiatives, for instance, every percentage increase of carbon in the soil, monstrously improves the productivity of that soil.   We have degraded hundreds of millions of hectares of soil over this country for a long time. If we can restore carbon in the soil, we will have a major impact on food security and our capacity.   So all of these things that we’re saying is a no regrets policy.   Steve Price:   It’s far from me to put words in Andrew’s mouth, but I think he thinks that you’re fearful of being painted as a climate change sceptic. Whether you believe that that will affect you when you go to an election.   Andrew Robb:   Well, as I say, we’ve got.   Steve Price:   How are you going to keep Malcolm Turnbull from speaking the next two years?   Andrew Robb:   Well, look, we’ll put our case on it’s merits, and you know, I think Malcolm will get behind our policy, but the bottom line is that we have put in place something which will give Australia breathing space without costing Australia, without doing any material damage to Australia.   In fact improvements, a no regrets policy and by 2020 we will find what the rest of the world is doing, we’ll find much greater clarity on the science, and in the meantime, we haven’t, like the Labor Party is proposing, reshaped the economy in such a major way, put ourselves at such an enormous competitive disadvantage, sent thousands of jobs overseas and shot ourselves in the foot big time.   I mean it is just ludicrous that the greatest strength we’ve got in this country, we’re putting a lead weight around it and bringing ourselves back to the field. It’s our greatest strength, and we should be encouraging, fostering and nurturing that strength.   Steve Price:   Good to talk to you, thanks a lot.   Andrew Robb:   Thanks.             Media Contact:        Cameron Hill on 0408 239 521. Andrew Robb Mon, 11 Jul 2011 07:15:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1274 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1272/GILLARD-BANK-A-10-BILLION-SLUSH-FUND.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1272 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1272&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1272/GILLARD-BANK-A-10-BILLION-SLUSH-FUND.aspx   The Gillard Government’s new Clean Energy Finance Corporation risks wasting billions of taxpayer dollars on bad investments in speculative, high-risk renewable energy projects.   “Under the ‘Gillard Bank’ $10 billion of taxpayers money will be pumped in to renewable energy projects that are clearly too risky for commercial lenders to finance,” Shadow Minister for Finance Andrew Robb said today.   “It has to be remembered that this is a government that couldn’t even give away free pink batts without making a $2 billion mess of it.   “Make no mistake the ‘Gillard Bank’ amounts to a giant slush fund to support favoured constituencies of the Greens and Labor. It is a recipe for monumental waste with the corporation free to ‘pick winners’ under pressure from the government and the Greens.   “The fact that this fund will be banned from investing in carbon capture and storage highlights how this is a cynical political exercise with Bob Brown’s finger prints all over it.   “Taxpayers will be the financiers and part-owners of renewable energy projects selected by a supposedly ‘independent board’ which will be dictated to by the Greens and Labor.   “This giant fund is being set up despite the Productivity Commission warning that this is an extremely high-cost and inefficient way to reduce emissions. This fund is the brainchild of a government that has already wasted billions-of-dollars on inefficient and unnecessary schemes and dreamt up the likes of ‘Cash for Clunkers.   “Like the NBN Labor is playing accounting tricks by keeping this slush fund off-budget claiming the money will be invested in projects that will generate a commercial return.   “This government simply cannot be trusted and the ‘Gillard Bank’ will no doubt go down as yet another example of this government’s inability to responsibly manage taxpayers’ money,” Mr Robb said. Andrew Robb Mon, 11 Jul 2011 02:44:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1272 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1271/SOVEREIGN-RISK-ADDS-TO-A-CRISIS-OF-CONFIDENCE.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1271 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1271&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1271/SOVEREIGN-RISK-ADDS-TO-A-CRISIS-OF-CONFIDENCE.aspx   Under the Gillard Government Australia now has a very real sovereign risk problem, with international investors switching off due to a host of unresolved issues and bad decisions headlined by a carbon tax.   “Evidence on the ground confirms that international investors are taking an increasingly dim view of Australia as an investment destination as Labor undermines our comparative advantages,” Shadow Minister for Finance Andrew Robb said.   “I have been advised that one of the world’s top four investment houses, with trillions-of-dollars under management, has stopped investing in Australia instead looking to more stable jurisdictions.   “Equally disturbing are reports from China that Chinese investors were increasingly ‘switching off’ in relation to Australia and instead turning to opportunities in the likes of Siberia, Mongolia and Africa,” Mr Robb said.   There is a long list of things that have for the first time put Australia and sovereign risk in the same sentence in a range of areas. These include:   carbon tax, mining tax, dumped plan to nationalise 40 per cent of the mining industry,  re-nationalisation of telecommunications, snap ban on live cattle exports, reneging on deals under the PBS, Murray Darling Basin mismanagement, breakdown in foreign relations, Changing the goal posts on the Australia Network tender, ban on uranium sales to India, mandatory internet filter, tacit support for Wild Rivers laws, failure to deliver an energy white paper, health and hospital reform uncertainty, mandatory limits on pokies, increasing regulatory burden,   failure to deliver tax reform - and the list goes on.   “On top of all this we have a prime minister in Julia Gillard who lacks authority and considered out of her depth. Everywhere I go across the country there is a real ‘crisis-of-confidence,” Mr Robb said.   “Labor’s desperate formal coalition with the Greens is compounding the problems. Bob Brown is a walking sovereign risk, as demonstrated by his determination to shut down the coal industry and attacks on foreign investors.   “The Gillard government has already done untold damage to Australia’s reputation which will take years to rebuild. We have now reached the point where the only way we can get Australia back on track is to change the government,” Mr Robb said. Andrew Robb Wed, 06 Jul 2011 04:42:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1271 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1270/Labor-a-risk-we-cant-afford-as-investors-head-for-the-hills.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1270 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1270&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1270/Labor-a-risk-we-cant-afford-as-investors-head-for-the-hills.aspx WHEN one of the world's biggest investment companies stops investing in Australia because of sovereign risk concerns you know there is a real problem. Sadly, international investors are taking an increasingly dim view of Australia because of a host of unresolved issues and the growing list of bad decisions taken by the Rudd-Gillard governments. A top Australian chief executive was advised recently by one of the top four investment houses in the world, entrusted with trillions of investor dollars, that it had stopped investing in Australia and was instead focusing on more "stable and predictable" jurisdictions. Another prominent Australian businessman, who specialises in introducing foreign investors to mining, property and construction opportunities, said the Chinese were increasingly "switching off" in relation to Australia, to the point of "paying out" initial contracts. Factors such as the looming carbon tax, the mining tax, the high dollar, excessive red tape and our complex tax system have China increasingly turning to opportunities in such places as Mongolia, Siberia, Africa, Indonesia and even the US. "Canberra seems to have very little concern about the potential of sovereign risk emerging as a major issue," ANZ chairman John Morschel ominously said earlier this year. Under the Howard government, putting Australia and sovereign risk in the same sentence would have been inconceivable. In fact, international investors were lining up to share in a prosperous economy presided over by an experienced, competent and pro-investment government; a government that fully understood how policy decisions taken in Canberra would impact on business and be perceived by investors in New York, London, Hong Kong and Beijing. Now we have a situation where alarm bells are sounding, yet the Gillard government is oblivious. The undue influence the Greens have over this government on issues such as the carbon tax, combined with the fact Bob Brown now holds the balance of power in the Senate, is in itself enough to spook investors. Brown is a walking sovereign risk as he rages against foreign investment in the mining sector, in water licences and land ownership. The Greens, of course, want the coal industry wiped off the map, they want the mining tax toughened and for Australia to join a world government just for good measure. Going it alone on a carbon tax is widely viewed as madness. It will strip the balance sheets of our major companies and eliminate the comparative advantage we have long enjoyed. Our major competitors must be loving it. Following Julia Gillard's carbon tax U-turn, RBA board member Graham Kraehe said: "It's done an enormous amount of damage to our credibility." Would you invest in trade-exposed industries in a country with a carbon tax and which taxes our iron ore and coal at the highest rates in the world, or in a country with no carbon tax and lower effective tax rate on minerals? The answer is obvious. When Andrew Forrest asked Wayne Swan recently how much the big three miners would pay under the mining tax, he reportedly replied: "If you don't like the tax, secede" -- an extraordinary response from our Treasurer. It's no wonder confidence is so low. And it should be remembered that under the failed so-called "super-profits" mining tax, the government wanted to nationalise 40 per cent of the mining industry. Beyond the carbon tax and mining tax are myriad other reckless decisions taken by this government that further heighten our risk profile. The snap ban on live cattle exports to Indonesia shows this government's preparedness to shut down a billion-dollar industry overnight, without consultation, due to internal political pressure and 800 emails from GetUp! The decision has led Sara Henderson's daughter, Marlee Ranacher, to sell the iconic Bullo River Station which has been in the family for three generations. Ranacher said Gillard had "destroyed my life" and she vowed to find ways to make the Prime Minister realise the damage she had done. Australians are crying out for leadership, for a government that supports business, encourages investment, creates opportunities and restores hope. This Labor government is clearly out of its depth. We need a government that will live within its means, makes a concerted effort to reverse government's reach, a government that backs the nation's strengths in areas of comparative advantage and seeks to restore a culture of personal responsibility. Labor's botched handling of its National Broadband Network policy has resulted in the re-nationalisation of our telecommunications sector and has stifled investment since 2007. The government has also reneged on deals under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme before the ink was dry, changing the approval process for listing new drugs. Under Labor, a deal is no longer a deal. There is also the mindless refusal to sell uranium to India, serious industrial relations problems emerging, the preparedness to set mandatory betting limits on pokie machines to appease a single independent, tacit support for opportunity stifling wild rivers laws, and failure to outline an energy policy. The list goes on. The Gillard government is doing untold damage to Australia's reputation. It has reached the point where the only way we can get the country back on track is to change the government. Andrew Robb is opposition spokesman for finance, deregulation and debt reduction   Andrew Robb Tue, 05 Jul 2011 23:42:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1270 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1269/Interview-with-David-Speers-Sky-News-27-June-2011.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1269 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1269&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1269/Interview-with-David-Speers-Sky-News-27-June-2011.aspx     Interview with David Speers, Sky News   Topics: Coalition Tax Cuts E&OE…………………………   Watch the interview here   27 June 2011   DAVID SPEERS:   The man who has the job of making sure the Coalition's policy do add up is the Shadow Finance Minister, Andrew Robb.  Andrew Robb, thanks for your time.   I know the Coalition hasn't finalised the details of the tax cuts Tony Abbott promised at the weekend, but in principle will you aim to match the Government's tax cuts or are we talking about smaller tax cuts from the Coalition?   ANDREW ROBB:   We need to see what they're going to present, how they'll present it, what sort of compensation; at the moment Bob Brown was saying just yesterday that there they're still quite a way of finalising any of the details.   I don't know what the Government is up to, I suspect they're trying to create another diversion from all the many unresolved problems they're trying to deal with to the at moment   DAVID SPEERS:   Either way the Government is talking about several billions dollars worth of tax cuts Is that what you have in mind?   If it's going to be something meaningful it will involve several billion dollars worth of tax cuts won’t it?   ANDREW ROBB:   Several billion worth of tax cuts, David.   The thing is what's not being considered at any stage is the fact that there's hundreds of thousands of small and medium-sized businesses, especially the manufacturing ones, who will not be able to pass on one cent of the tax because they're competing against the imported product or trying to compete on export markets.   They won't get a cent of compensation either, so there are a lot of jobs, a lot of businesses that will suffer and compensation won't go anywhere near those people.   DAVID SPEERS:   With your tax cuts the money will have to come from some where. The Government is saying you will be having to rip money out of either health, education or defence. Can you guarantee that those areas won't be targeted?   ANDREW ROBB:   Well, that's a nonsense, I mean they're areas that need strong support in this economy. It's the Government that is ripping money out of defence. They're pulling billions of dollars out of defence at the present time. Another hypocritical reflection from the Government, but the fact of the matter is, we will be running a far more prudent financial system in Australia, with a smaller government, a lot to those small and medium-sized businesses, hundreds and thousands who will face great pressure under a new carbon tax they can't pass on.   All of that will generate greater economic activity under a Coalition Government, there will be many ways in which we will be generate the income that will enable us to pay for tax cuts.   It is a great discipline on us as well if we have got the tax cut as a centrepiece of our economic management under our economic program in our first term of office if we get there, then it does mean that we will need be very prudent in the way in which we deal with other government expenditure, unlike this government which is spent like wounded bulls.   DAVID SPEERS:   But what does smaller government mean, Andrew Robb, it means cutting somewhere, doesn't it?   ANDREW ROBB:   Smaller government has a couple of dimensions, David.   It means one, we don't keep spending at the sort of rate that this government is doing, even this year, supposedly a tough budget, this government will be spending several billion dollars more than they will get in revenue. They'll be borrowing an extra $10 or $12 billion more than they even anticipated six months ago. The place in fiscal terms is just a joke. I mean, you can't rely on estimates from one month to the next. The other part of it is, with deregulation, that's a very important part of smaller government.   This government has over seen the greatest growth of government in our lives in terms of the explosion of regulation and the explosion of federal bureaucrats in terms of management of so much, an over sight of so many businesses.   We need to really tackle that in a very serious way. That will produce productivity gains, and it will reduce the level of government in all our lives, especially in the lives of business people who are trying to make their business work effectively and cost effectively.   DAVID SPEERS:   But when we look at the record of what we know the Coalition proposes to do you're also going to be spending $10.5 billion on your direct action climate change policy, that comes from the budget bottom line.   You won't have the $11 billion estimated revenue from the carbon tax, you won’t have the $7.5 billion from the mining tax, you’re also opposed to the means test on the private health insurance, $3 billion, your parental leave scheme will cost $3 billion, can you understand the scepticism of how you make all of this add up?   ANDREW ROBB:   No, I can't, the direct action is not 10.5 billion, it's in the order of 3 to 4 billion. It will be 10 billion or so over the live of the forward program through to 2020, as distinct from the Government's $140 billion, so the fundamental difference there, but secondly the absence a carbon tax, David, the absence of a carbon tax will in fact be an enormous help to many, many businesses growing their business again and starting to get out of the malaise that is currently hanging over so many parts of business across Australia.   DAVID SPEERS:   One of the other measures were you critical of in the budget process was the capping of the family benefits at the top end, the freeze on the increase in family benefits.   Tony Abbott said it was class warfare from the government. Yet last week in parliament Coalition waved the measures through, it didn't oppose it, Kevin Andrews said you couldn't find equivalent savings measures, that was why you had to pass it.   If you couldn't find it last week, how can you now find them for the tax cuts?   ANDREW ROBB:   We're dealing with the here and now, we reluctantly passed that legislation. We made our point. We sought to seek amendments, but in the end we can't fight on a thousand fronts, David.   It's not our job to govern the country at the moment; it's the Government's job. Our job is to, one, keep them accountable, to point to the great weaknesses in so much of what they're doing, the second thing over the next two years to progressively develop a body of policy that will get Australia back on track.   That's what we're doing at the centre of that will be a tax cut which is not paid for by a carbon tax, we won't have a carbon tax, we will have a range of policies that we will release over the next two years which will breathe the life back into this economy, not just the mining area but the rest of the economy.   We will be able to demonstrate very clearly, well ahead of time, what we will do, how will we fund it, how we will get this economy back on track.   DAVID SPEERS:   The Government, as you know, Andrew Robb, has offered the assistance of treasury to help the Coalition cost its tax cuts. Wayne Swan this afternoon has written to Joe hockey released the letter publicly, in it he says if you fail to take up this offer Australians will be entitled to view this announcement as a stunt that will inflict serious budget damage or both.   What do you say to that?   ANDREW ROBB:   Look this is a nonsense, the fact is that what the Government does in mismanaging the economy over the next two years, is in itself very material to the sort of, you know, program that we will need to put together to fund these cuts, and to fund other measures that we will put to the next election, so you can't take a point in time now and look at each policy in isolation.   There is a whole complex mix of policies. We have started and done extensive work already, we can see that we can manage a tax cut and also do many of the other things that need to be done, but we fundamentally need to improve productivity in this economy, bring in a great big new tax which the rest of the world is not doing, we heard over night that senior people from both sides of politics in the US said that the carbon tax is dead in the United States.   Here we are going alone unilaterally. It will cost thousand of jobs, the effect on morale in this country alone will be enormous, and it will create even more sovereign risk and lack of investment.   All of these issues are going to eat away at our economy over the next two years, we need to factor all of those things in, in terms of the final package that we put to people well ahead of the next election.   We will do that, but we won't be - won't play the Government's tune.   The only reason we have come up with this pathetic stunt toss divert attention from the really major issues, not just the carbon tax, the mining tax, the live cattle exports, the Malaysian issue, they're drowning in unresolved issues at the present time.   This would have to be certainly the worst government in my life time, I expect for many of the last century.   DAVID SPEERS:   Well, alright, if this offer to have treasury cost your policies is a stunt would you submit the tax cuts and also the Direct Action climate policy to a parliamentary budget office, an independent body that the Government as part of its deal with the independents to form government promise today set up, in fact in the recent budget last month committed funds to set this up, $26 million.   Would you take up that sort of body?   ANDREW ROBB:   It was our initiative, you might recall David in the first place, really the Government got forced into it by the Greens, despite as you say allocating $26 million to run it, we have seen no action to date.   In fact Joe Hockey wrote to Wayne Swan two weeks ago said if you're not going to act we will put a bill up ourselves, shortly, to get things moving.   We want to see both sides of politics having some independent assessment of not only our campaign policies, but other budgetary items that the Government - the Government's record on forecasting is just abysmal.   We have got to stop the situation where the Government continues to politicise the public service, and use them as a political arm of government.   That is what has been happening. That has to stop so we can have a genuine and sensible debate on the relative policies being put forward by both parties at the next election.   DAVID SPEERS:   Okay, if they set up this independent parliamentary budget office, will you use it; will you submit your tax cuts and your direct action policy to it?   ANDREW ROBB:   That was our intention the whole way through, bear in mind the Government will have to put its policies up to that same office.   That's the reason, if you look back two years ago when Malcolm Turnbull announced the need for such an office, one that's worked very effectively in the United States, and for the first time wheel start to see some transparency.   Wayne Swan said this morning he will release all the modelling leaving the impression he will release all the assumptions and the detail.   I bet in a few weeks time they will give a few outcomes but we won’t see the detail. This will keep them honest rather than the nonsense that goes on, the lack of transparency, the politicisation of the process.     This Government knows a lot about playing politics, but it doesn’t know about running an economy.   DAVID SPEERS:   Alright Andrew Robb, we will have to leave it there, thanks for joining us.   ANDREW ROBB:   Thanks David.       Media Contact:        Cameron Hill on 03 9557 4644   Andrew Robb Tue, 28 Jun 2011 05:53:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1269 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1268/Interview-with-Marius-Benson-ABC-News-Radio-27-June-2011.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1268 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1268&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1268/Interview-with-Marius-Benson-ABC-News-Radio-27-June-2011.aspx   Interview with Marius Benson ABC News Radio 27 June 2011   Topics: Coalition tax cuts without a carbon tax   E&OE…………………………   Marius Benson:   Andrew Robb the opposition is promising tax cuts, they’re always very attractive, the hard part is paying for them or explaining where the savings are going to be made, Julia Gillard says why don’t you have them costed by Treasury. What’s wrong with that idea?   Andrew Robb:   Well there’s a large measure of hypocrisy to start with. As far as the carbon tax is concerned one: there’s still no detail out there of any consequence, two: Bob Brown says they’re still weeks away with major hurdles remaining; but more particularly the computer modelling which is a very essential part of their case; the government refuses to release that modelling with details, so….   Marius Benson: Yeah but I wasn’t asking about their case, not the Government’s case, but your own proposed tax cuts from Tony Abbott, are you prepared to have them modelled by Treasury? Tony Abbott says no.   Andrew Robb:   No, well ,again, when the Government puts out its information in some detail so that the people can make their own assessments, and we can in fact see the outcome of the carbon tax and what the revenues are, they haven’t got the mining tax details out, they haven’t got the carbon tax details out.   Marius Benson:   Sorry, but they’re all Government proposals, I was asking you about specifically the Tony Abbott tax cut proposals set out at the weekend, are you prepared to detail them and have them costed by Treasury?   Andrew Robb:   Long before the next election, we will have put out to all of the population the full package of fiscal measures that we will take to the next election and all of the policies, fully costed, so that all can see what we propose and how we will do it.   We will put those out in good time, but we will not be subject to the Government playing politics. Julia Gillard should focus on fixing the mess that she’s created and finalise the details of this tax which has been mooted now for months, and yet there is not one detail out there. All of these things will ultimately affect the rest of the savings that we will announce, and how we will achieve smaller government   Marius Benson:   Let me just ask you in particular on that point of smaller government Mr Robb; can I just ask you about smaller government because Tony Abbott has said he’s promising a permanent reduction in the size of government.    History suggests that the opposition is not to be believed because you were part of the Howard Government. John Howard in twelve years did not reduce the size of government as a proportion of GDP, did not reduce the tax cut as a proportion of GDP in fully twelve years.   Andrew Robb:   Well the Howard Government did accumulate massive surpluses; and did accumulate a large balance of funds in the black that really got us through the Global Financial Crisis.   What the Government has done in increasing debt massively, that has just deferred taxation.   Marius Benson:   But on your specific promise on reducing the size of government, John Howard never delivered.   Andrew Robb:   No, that’s not true because John Howard accumulated nearly a hundred billion dollars in surpluses and money in the future fund and other means, money which was not spent on increasing the size of government it was money that accumulated and did help us through the Global Financial Crisis; and on top of that, we had tax cuts for most years within the Howard Government once we got on top of Labor’s debt in the early years.   Marius Benson:     Let me pick up the point of tax. Taxation in the last budget was 21.8% of GDP. That was lower than in any year of the Howard government.   Andrew Robb:    But at the same time,this Government has spent a $30b surplus and accumulated $107b debt. Now that is deferred taxation. It will have to be increased by taxes at some stage. If you as a family borrowed $1m, then at some stage you have to pay this back. It becomes a liability.   This Government has really sought to confuse people and mislead people about its taxation situation. They’re leaving Australia with an extraordinary taxation burden into the future as well as making us highly vulnerable as an economy are the front pages in the paper’s today about a new Global Financial Crisis alert if the worse comes to pass.   Marius Benson:   I’ll have to leave it there. Andrew Robb, thank you very much   Andrew Robb:   Thanks Marius. All the best Andrew Robb Mon, 27 Jun 2011 03:35:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1268 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1267/Interview-with-Fran-Kelly-Radio-National-27-June-2011.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1267 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1267&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1267/Interview-with-Fran-Kelly-Radio-National-27-June-2011.aspx   Topics: Coalition tax cuts without a carbon tax,   E&OE   FRAN KELLY:   Andrew Robb welcome back to Breakfast.   ANDREW ROBB:   Thanks very much Fran.   FRANK KELLY:   Andrew, the Gillard government is promising to over compensate lower income earners three million families will be fully imbursed and given a 20 per cent buffer on top of that. Do you accept that’s a pretty good safety net for those less well off?   ANDREW ROBB:   Well it sounds like just an assertion at the moment, I mean Bob Brown was on at about the same time on Sunday as the prime minister was announcing these things and Bob Brown is saying there are still two or three major hurdles before they even finalise a package.   We’ve heard no price, no tax level announced yet, there’s nothing really been announced except all of these so-called give-aways and yet no one knows what level the tax will be. I don’t think the government has even finalised it, so it’s just like the mining tax, they’re spending all the money before they even get it and I don’t think people can place much confidence in what’s going on.   The government has a got a welter of unresolved problems and I think all of these things are just stunts to try and divert attention.   FRAN KELLY:   Talking about assertions, the Coalition’s now promising its own round of tax cuts which cost somewhere in the vicinity of $6 billion even without a carbon tax, how will you pay for that?   ANDREW ROBB:   We will pay for that through a smaller government and more efficient use of the funds. We won’t be wasting tens-of-billions-of-dollars as we’ve seen under this government which continues today.   FRAN KELLY:   That’s a lot of efficiency though, $6 billion already, you are counting on efficiencies to pay for some of your other promises aren’t you?   ANDREW ROBB:   Well firstly we haven’t put a number on it, but secondly we are determined to reduce the size of government.   Under this government, I think we’ve seen the biggest growth of government in our lives, not only in terms of the financial spending, which has been monstrous, but in terms of the welter of regulation that has been imposed on so much of business and families for that matter.   And there needs to be a fundamental change of direction of the country and it’s in that context that we will look to lower taxation and it will be paid for out of some prudent financial management.   FRAN KELLY:   Well, in order to give this a bit of credibility, a bit more backing, the prime minister has offered the opposition the services of Treasury to help you come up with costings, will you accept that?   ANDREW ROBB:   It’s just a pathetic stunt. There was a proposal by, in the end, the government was dragged yelling and screaming to introduce a Parliamentary Budget Office which was designed to do all these sorts of things.   Now it’s been decided between both parties how it will occur, there’s a $26 million allocation in the budget to fund it, but simply no action on it.   The government’s not serious about these things. It’s just another attempt to use the public service to politicise politics and to politicise this whole exercise that the government’s going through.   At the moment they are frantically casting around for diversions because of the mess with live cattle exports, with the carbon tax, which 75 per cent of Australians think is badly handled.   You’ve got a U.S congressman overnight saying that the carbon tax for Australia will amount to ‘unilateral economic disarmament’ for Australia.   FRAN KELLY:   Sure, but in the meantime we’ve got as you say a carbon tax we don’t know how much it’s going to cost and promises of compensation from the government, we have a tax cut promise from the Opposition we don’t know how big it is.   If the government releases its carbon tax and Treasury modelling will you release your tax cut and get it modelled, so Australians can actually know what both sides are actually talking about in real dollar terms?   ANDREW ROBB:   Most certainly in good time, in very good time before the election, we undertake to reveal all of the policies that we will take to the next election, as well as the tax cuts, as well as how we will fund them, there will be significant detail.   What happens with the government over the next two years if they continue the sorts of economic mess we’ve witnessed for the last three-and-a-half years, then that will be material to how we end up funding these tax cuts.   You can’t just act now in the absence of knowing what this government continues to do.   I mean even the livestock, the live cattle exports you are talking there about billions-of-dollars potentially lost and that will again be material in terms of how we fund all of these things. All of these things add up at the end of the day and they’ve still got another two years to make a total mess of the place.   FRAN KELLY:   They do add up, I’m sorry to interrupt you we’ve only got a minute to the news just to let you know, but is it a bit like L-A-W law tax cuts though, you are promising a tax cut and yet you are not going to have the $11 billion revenue stream from the carbon tax or the $7.4 billion from the mining tax.   ANDREW ROBB:   Well again, the mining tax, all this sort of stuff there’s lots of assertions, the mining tax is unlikely to fund even the things the government said it would fund out of the mining tax and the carbon tax will dramatically, significantly reduce revenues because of the damage it is going to do to hundreds-of-thousands of small manufacturing companies that are trade exposed.   This government is creating a real revenue problem with this tax. If we don’t have that tax we will have a much healthier economy in the years ahead. So we need to put that story to the people and show how we will fund this with prudent economic management.   FRAN KELLY:   Andrew Robb thanks very much for joining us.  Andrew Robb Mon, 27 Jun 2011 01:14:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1267 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1264/SHORTENS-DEBT-SHAME.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1264 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1264&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1264/SHORTENS-DEBT-SHAME.aspx   Assistant Treasurer Bill Shorten tonight shut down debate about the Gillard government’s plan to lift the Commonwealth debt limit to a record $250 billion.   “The government has buried the debt proposal in a cognate budget debate which denies the parliament the chance to specifically amend it, support it or oppose it,” Shadow Finance Minister Andrew Robb said.   “Mr Shorten was of course the minister who snuck into the parliament on budget night to introduce the bill containing the controversial proposal.   “When asked tonight in the parliament who was responsible for setting the terms of the debate in order to avoid proper scrutiny he refused to answer, instead hiding behind standing orders.   “He was then left red faced when he admitted he had either not seen a letter I sent to both he and the Minister for Government Business Anthony Albanese back on 2 June, or hadn’t bothered to read it.   “In it I urged the government to vary the terms of the budget debate so the parliament could consider the plan to raise the debt as a standalone proposal as has always been the case previously.   “I am still waiting for the government to formally reply to my letter,” Mr Robb said.   “The arrogance of Mr Shorten tonight during the consideration in detail stage of the budget was certainly on full show.   “Surrounded by a bunch of union sycophants we got no answers, no substance, just the type smart alec quips Bill is renowned for.   “This is a minister who has a lot to learn and who should take a leaf out of the book of former Finance Minister Lindsay Tanner, who treated such occasions with respect and endeavoured to provide thoughtful answers to questions put by the Opposition,” Mr Robb said. Andrew Robb Tue, 14 Jun 2011 23:12:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1264 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1263/Interview-with-Alan-Jones-2GB-Sydney-6-June-2011.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1263 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1263&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1263/Interview-with-Alan-Jones-2GB-Sydney-6-June-2011.aspx   TRANSCRIPT OF THE HON. ANDREW ROBB MP INTERVIEW WITH ALAN JONES 2GB   Topics: Cigarette plain packaging, NSW Magistrate Brian Maloney.   E&OE     ALAN JONES:   Andrew Robb is on the line, Andrew good morning.   ANDREW ROBB:   Good morning Alan.   ALAN JONES:   Thank you for your time. Can I just ask you before I get onto this in relation to your cap as finance minister, this business about cigarette plain packaging, has the Shadow Cabinet considered the liability that could be imposed on taxpayers if this matter is taken to court and we are in breach of a whole stack of international trade agreements which could result in compensation of billions-of-dollars paid by the taxpayer?   ANDREW ROBB:   Well Alan, we are still to see despite 18 months of the government trailing its coat on this issue, we still haven’t seen any legislation and they’re the sorts of things obviously that we will have a very keen eye to because there is a lot of politics in this as well. They are looking to create a problem for us on our side of politics I think it’s their main motivation to be honest.    But we haven’t seen any legislation yet. When we do, of course, that’s where our attention will go.   ALAN JONES:   And you would be aware this was raised under the Keating Government, the Trade Minister then was Simon Crean and Simon Crean asked a whole range of questions in 1995. Have we got supporting evidence that plain packaging reduces the health risk etcetera, etcetera and all the responses that Simon Crean got in 1995 were to the negative citing the reasons why the UK didn’t pass the legislation and so on, I mean surely to god the poor taxpayer is not going to be bled another several-billions-of dollars simply because the government can’t get its legislation right?   ANDREW ROBB:   Well I think one of the key things before the parliament will be that the government will need to satisfy people that we are not being exposed, the community is not being exposed to massive litigation.   So at the moment it’s just been a tirade of offensive remarks across the chamber mainly directed at Tony Abbott, of course Tony got smoking from 22 per cent of the population down to 17 per cent, but that’s overlooked.   And they are on this mission which is as you say, they keep saying it’s a world-first, well it is because there is no evidence that it will achieve what they claim. We’ve said to them show us the legislation and we’ll have a decent look at the legislation.   ALAN JONES:   So there is no legislation, but I just spoke to a world authority on this who said the potential for massive compensation would be very significant indeed, that no government could strip trademark from any entity, forget the product and get away with it.   ANDREW ROBB:   Yes, as I said, once we’ve seen the black letter law we can then put it in front of some noted legal authorities.   ALAN JONES:   You wouldn’t know from all of the publicity about all of this that there was no legislation would you?   ANDREW ROBB:   You wouldn’t no. It’s been out there for 18 months. As I say they are just trying to, what’s said in politics, wedge us. They are looking for issues which will distract the population from the carbon tax and the debacle with boat people and all the issues some of which you have just raised in the last few minutes.   They are doing anything to distract people from issues that are really material to their cost of living and all the rest of it.   ALAN JONES:   Absolutely, just well done by the way on Brian Maloney and congratulations for showing the guts to tackle this, you use to have a battle just getting out of bed didn’t you?   ANDREW ROBB:   Well I had a morning problem yes for 43 years it took me 43 years to confront it because of the stigma that’s attached to depressive and mental health issues.   What bothers me so really greatly Alan about this, is you put the case very clearly, this is a man who has confronted a condition, has found an answer to it and is on medication and has had no problems at all since he confronted it.   Now they are saying just because one psychiatrist said people, bi-polar sufferers can often go off their medication, they’ve said there is a risk this man may go off his medication and therefore he will be not suited to the job he is doing. It’s just ridiculous.   ALAN JONES:   None of his decisions, none of his decisions have been wrong at law.   ANDREW ROBB:   Well he’s been there what you said …   ALAN JONES:   15 years.   ANDREW ROBB:   He’s done 5,000 cases a year you are talking about 75,000 cases at law, as you say, none of them have been challenged. The incidents, some of them may have been a little inappropriate, but they weren’t hanging offences.       Also they had found that he had a condition, now he has dealt with it. The thing is the implications are much wider than the legal profession and Brian Maloney.   If the New South Wales government sacks Brian Maloney it will send a signal to hundreds-of-thousands of people who are currently not confronting a mental condition, who could get treatment, who could lead a much better life and a normal life, who will think I am not going to say anything because this could mean I will lose my job [inaudible] … we are going to set this whole thing back 20 years.   ALAN JONES:   Absolutely, but Andrew, here are you and I now talking about a good man the humiliation of this man his reputation being raked across the public place, the likelihood that he’s got to stand in the parliament and defend himself against what?   ANDREW ROBB:   That’s right. I’ve looked at this, someone brought it to my attention because my parliamentary seat is in Victoria, so I hadn’t seen much publicity, somebody brought it to my attention and said to me this doesn’t look fair and it’s got really wide and damaging implications.   Anyway I had a look at it and thought there’s got to be something else other than what’s in the press, there’s just got to be this is ridiculous.   I’ve spoken now at great lengths to the lawyer and others, there is nothing else there is nothing else.   ALAN JONES:   No poor legal decisions and the bi-polar is not of a severe kind and the bloke had the honesty to say that he suffered and now he’s got to stand in the public place and be treated as a person who is likely to provide a disservice in his profession to the community. I think it is an absolute disgrace.   ANDREW ROBB:   Well look if people do confront their condition and he has, I mean I hadn’t confronted it for 43 years I used to pop out of it mid-morning or later but it was a real hindrance to me in the mornings and for several hours and it got worse as I got older.   But Alan I’ve had 12 months now, once we found the right solution, I’ve had 12 months with mornings I’ve never had in my life and my productivity is greater, but it’s just, but I still stand in the bathroom every morning at a quarter to six and think how good is this?   My head’s clear I am not feeling negative or lacking in confidence, I’m like I am usually in the second half of the day and it’s just been a miraculous turn around and I keep thinking why, if only I’d confronted it years before and admitted I had a condition.   Now this is what we are fighting this stigma that’s out there this will set it back so far, it’s just an absurd situation that we find ourselves in with this man.      ALAN JONES:   Absolutely, well I’m going to talk to the Attorney General about all of this, I mean you just can’t allow, this man cannot be left on his own to fight this ridiculous battle.   ANDREW ROBB:   Not at all, and people should, it is a vote of the whole parliament and I think where people feel inclined they should contact their local member.   It’s not a partisan decision this one, this is a common sense matter before the broader public.   ALAN JONES:   The first question you’d say wouldn’t you, if you stood in the parliament, what are we doing here? What are we doing here? It’s just beyond belief.   Good on you Andrew and well done. Thank you for talking to me. Andrew Robb Mon, 06 Jun 2011 05:33:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1263 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1262/Interview-with-Michael-Smith-2UE-3-June-2011.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1262 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1262&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1262/Interview-with-Michael-Smith-2UE-3-June-2011.aspx   Topics: Labor’s plan to increase Commonwealth debt limit to $250 billion without proper parliamentary scrutiny.   E&OE     MICHAEL SMITH:   Andrew Robb g’day.   ANDREW ROBB:   G’day Mike how are you?   MICHAEL SMITH:   I’m very well, far too long since we’ve had a chat.   ANDREW ROBB:   It certainly is, yes.   MICHAEL SMITH:   Could you just let the people in Sydney now about your job in the Opposition, what you do?   ANDREW ROBB:   I’m currently the Shadow Minister for Finance, Deregulation and Debt Reduction, which is a mouthful, but a lot of the financial area. I’ve also got responsibility to coordinate all of our policy development across all my colleagues so that we go to the next election with a real agenda. So if we win government we’ve got something to do immediately.   MICHAEL SMITH:   I’m speaking with Andrew Robb AO, who is with the Opposition and he is the federal member for a seat in Melbourne Goldstein. Andrew, can you also let us know about your business background, what you did for a quid before you got into the parliament?   ANDREW ROBB:   It’s been many and varied, but I started as an animal health officer and then I was an agricultural economist working on lots of wool marketing plans and issues to do worth the wheat industry and cattle and all sorts of agriculture. I ran the National Farmers Federation, ran the Liberal Party and was the campaign director for John Howard’s ’96 campaign.   Then I went and worked with the Packers, Kerry and James and did a lot of work in Asia with lots of business deals. I also set up a national company an IT company with data and for marketing purposes, a bit complicated. I then got involved with the universities and a lot of the resource companies. I was on the investment team for the big Gorgon gas project off the north-west shelf.   MICHAEL SMITH:   When you say an investment team, you looked at the financial metrics and the business case all that sort of thing?   ANDREW ROBB:   Yes, to see what they made best use of that gas for and whether the whole project was viable, was the best use of their money.   MICHAEL SMITH:   Andrew I asked you that question because I wanted our listeners to understand the sort of business background and the acumen you bring into the job that you have as finance spokesman for the Opposition.   Today you have written a letter to the leader of House in Canberra, Anthony Albanese, about what the government is trying to do. Tell us what the government is trying to do.   ANDREW ROBB:   We discovered in the budget legislation, that none of this was in the budget papers I might add, that night, after the budget the Assistant Treasurer Bill Shorten crept into the House if you like, to introduce the bills which give authority to supply the money, so the parliament approves the money that sits behind all the proposals in the budget.   But buried in those bills was the proposal to increase the amount of debt that the government could assume, the amount of debt that they could run up, the amount of money they can borrow from $200 billion, which is the current ceiling, to $250 billion.   MICHAEL SMITH:   Is it usual Andrew for a piece of legislation that would allow the government to borrow $250 billion to be just shoved away inside other bills, is that usual?   ANDREW ROBB:   Well not at all, this is the first time in fact that it has happened. There have been increases before, but in a standalone bill, to be debated and you could move amendments.   The trickiness that has gone on here and the deception is that the Appropriation Bills which are these bills to authorise supply of the money, those bills can’t really be amended, you can debate it and express your concerns and all the rest, but you either accept supply as they call it, or reject it.   MICHAEL SMITH:   And you’ve written to Anthony Albanese today and said we would like to see you take out of this other legislation this approval that the government is seeking to borrow up to $250 billion and have it as a separate bill so that it can be debated?   ANDREW ROBB:   Exactly, because if you are going to increase the amount of borrowing from $200 billion to $250 billion, I would have thought that the parliament, it should be put before the parliament; the government should be put in a situation to justify why they need to massively increase debt.   MICHAEL SMITH:   Can I ask you a question about that? When they first sought an increase in the debt limit from $75 billion they said this was in the quote “special circumstances” of the global financial crisis. The special circumstances clause is quite important. The government is now looking to remove that and say that they should be able to borrow up to $250 billion just in the ordinary course of events.   ANDREW ROBB:   Exactly, they said the GFC meant that they had to have special circumstances, that’s gone now, we’re now back to in to a situation where the Chinese money is pouring in ….   MICHAEL SMITH:   And they want to increase their debt, in these circumstances up to $250 billion.    ANDREW ROBB:   Well we just heard the night the budget was brought down that it was a tough budget. It was going to set Australia up to get back in to the back and yet the next night they tell us that they had to increase the debt.   Now you’ve got families all over the country who I think for 12 months have been desperately trying to live within their means, we’ve seen the savings rate go up massively for Australia, yet the government is now increasing its debt ….   MICHAEL SMITH:   And sticking the approval away in a bill at a time when we were told in this new parliament we were going to have much more scrutiny, much more transparency in this so-called new paradigm.   ANDREW ROBB:   Exactly, they’ve made a big thing about transparency and being accountable and yet this is a highly deceptive move and also I think that debt is a word that the government never wants to talk about because it just keeps going up and the interest on the debt alone is about $26 billion over the next four years.   MICHAEL SMITH:   It’s just such an unimaginable, huge amount of money 250-thousand-milion-dollars, $250 billion they want to borrow up to. Will you let us know how you get on with your letter to Anthony Albanese?   ANDREW ROBB:   I most certainly will. Andrew Robb Fri, 03 Jun 2011 05:37:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1262 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1261/LABOR-DODGES-SCRUTINY-TO-LIFT-DEBT-TO-250-BILLION.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1261 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1261&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1261/LABOR-DODGES-SCRUTINY-TO-LIFT-DEBT-TO-250-BILLION.aspx The Gillard Government is pressing ahead with its plan to ramp up the Commonwealth debt limit to $250 billion while avoiding proper parliamentary scrutiny. “Today Labor arrogantly opposed an amendment I moved to give the parliament the opportunity to consider separately and vote on the proposed increase in the borrowing limit,” Shadow Minister for Finance Andrew Robb said. “Just two years ago the government raised the debt limit from $75 billion to $200 billion citing ‘special circumstances’ post GFC. They did this through a standalone proposal which was rightly considered by the parliament. “This time they want to lift the debt ceiling to $250 billion and have buried the proposal – which includes the repeal of the ‘special circumstances’ clause – under the primary budget bill in a secondary Appropriation Bill. “This tricky move denies the parliament the opportunity to debate the proposal in detail, to amend it, support it or oppose it,” Mr Robb said. “The Gillard government should be embarrassed, that despite all their talk about fiscal consolidation, they clearly have no control over the nation’s finances hence the need to borrow yet another $50 billion. “They are trying to slip this through on the sly to fund their extraordinary $135 million-day-borrowing habit. The budget papers show that the face value of government debt is expected to be $192 billion at 30 June, so they are on the verge of running out of money under the current limit. “When the Rudd-Gillard government came to office it inherited a budget which was not only debt free, but had $70 billion in reserves. To go from this situation to approaching $250 billion in debt in less than four years is simply extraordinary and highlights the true extent of Labor’s reckless and wasteful spending. “Considering the vulnerability of the economy, to external shocks, as demonstrated by the first quarter of negative growth in more than two years, I would urge the government to split its budget bills before a final vote and allow proper scrutiny of its plan to saddle taxpayers with yet another $50 billion in debt,” Mr Robb said.   Andrew Robb Wed, 01 Jun 2011 07:03:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1261 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1257/Interview-with-Fran-Kelly-ABC-Radio-National-Breakfast-13-May-2011.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1257 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1257&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1257/Interview-with-Fran-Kelly-ABC-Radio-National-Breakfast-13-May-2011.aspx FRAN KELLY: Andrew Robb is the Shadow Finance Minister. He joins us from Melbourne this morning. Andrew Robb welcome back to Breakfast.   ANDREW ROBB: Thank you Fran.   FRAN KELLY: Andrew Robb, Tony Abbott didn't detail any spending cuts last night. Instead he called for a new election. Is the Opposition so short of ideas that all you can use a budget reply for is to call for an election?   ANDREW ROBB: Well that's a gross misrepresentation, I think Fran, of last night's effort. I thought Tony Abbott was lethal last night. He wasn't there to detail an alternative budget. He was there to detail an alternative vision. And I thought he very clearly spelt that out. In doing that, of course, I think he announced 27 policy positions we've put on the table since the election. Of course the election was only seven months ago, and we're in a new term...   FRAN KELLY: Since the election, I thought most of them were the ones we heard of prior to the election, in the election campaign.   ANDREW ROBB: They're all commitments that we have made since the election and some of them we did take to the last election, and there will be others things that we took to the last election which are still highly relevant. But the principle focus, of course, was to take pressure off cost of living and that was really the direction. And he made a very clear and substantial contribution last night in laying out how we would govern differently.   This government is dysfunctional. It is relevant to talk about the illegitimacy of this government. They're introducing, you know, a carbon tax that will affect every person in Australia. It is something that they said they wouldn't do. It's unconscionable that this government would introduce it without going to an election with that proposition.   These are issues that are front and square with the population and I thought he hit every touchstone last night. And the focus on families was highly relevant because the government, despite all its rhetoric, is ignoring and putting further and further pressure - and in fact the tax take in the next three years, just take the mining tax and the carbon tax, you're talking about $42 billion worth of extra taxes on Australians that we wouldn't introduce. Now...   FRAN KELLY: But just on that point, if you're not going to introduce those new taxes, and you're going to take the pressure off families, I mean is it fair for the Opposition to accuse the government high debt and deficits if it's not willing to show how the Coalition is going to push the budget back into the black?   ANDREW ROBB: Again, this is just the government line, Fran. I mean the...   FRAN KELLY: Well, where are the details of how you're going to save the money?   ANDREW ROBB: We took $50 billions worth of savings to the last election, just seven months ago. $50 billion.   FRAN KELLY: And Treasury found since the election that $11 billion of those were illegitimate.   ANDREW ROBB: Well, the government has picked up some of the ones that the Treasury said were illegitimate. That was a political exercise. I can tell you, as a political exercise...   FRAN KELLY: By Treasury?   ANDREW ROBB: Absolutely. Of the 305 policies, they chose nine they said were, they had a disagreement with , there were 296 that they approved of the policies that we had fully costed and of the other nine, we disagreed and, in fact, one of those amounted which amounted to a quarter of the so-called black hole, the government picked up. So, you know, the hypocrisy is massive. They've picked up about thirteen other measure.   FRAN KELLY: But without the detail, Andrew Robb, it's all words. Joe Hockey said last week, the Coalition government could delivery a surplus before 2012, 2013. Where's the plan for that?   ANDREW ROBB: We spelt out $50 billion. We showed how you could make savings. Fran, we have, we said again last night that we would not go ahead with the grotesque misuse of public monies with the NBN. The fact that they've got no benefit cost analysis, that we're the only country in the world that I know that's renationalising its communications sector. Now, the government in the budget spelt out $18 billion over the next four years of public monies that they would be borrowing. They'll be borrowing that money to help to build the NBN. There's $18 million. That's part of plan, that's $18 billion we would not be borrowing, which we would be paying off the debt which they've said on Tuesday is going to grow, a debt that's going to grow from what was $95 up to $107. Everything, on every front...   FRAN KELLY: With respect though, Andrew Robb, I'm sorry to interrupt you, but with respect, in the election, the NB was there. The voters voted for an election. So on what basis does Tony Abbott demand an early election and do you say that this government is illegitimate?   ANDREW ROBB: Because the carbon tax, this Government, this Prime Minister, would she be Prime Minister today, Julia Gillard, if six days before the election she had said, we are going to bring in a carbon tax, and not what she did say, which, no government that I lead will bring in a carbon tax. Literally three weeks later, she had reversed that position. It's a total betrayal of the faith people put in the Prime Minister. She would not be Prime Minister today. This is an illegitimate government. They have betrayed people. And if they're going to bring in something of so draconian effect, when people are suffering such massive cost of living pressures, they should put it, like we did with the GST, it must go to an election.   FRAN KELLY: Couldn't the same have been said for John Howard introducing work choices without going to the election with it in 2004?   ANDREW ROBB: He suffered accordingly.   FRAN KELLY: Three years later when the government ran its full term.   ANDREW ROBB: He suffered accordingly. The thing is that the Prime Minister has no mandate for that. When the biggest issue confronting Australians at the moment is their ability to meet the fundamental costs, the essential costs of everyday living - electricity's gone up 51% since this government came into power, water's gone up 46%, rates have gone up nearly 20% - it just goes on and on and on. People are finding it extraordinarily difficult. And in the middle of all that, they're going to bring in a carbon tax ahead of the rest of the world. No one else is doing this. No one's bringing in a carbon tax in the comprehensive way that we are doing or proposing to do in Australia. That was a point, that presentation last night...   FRAN KELLY: Yes, but we have three terms in this country. We have three terms. The voters go to the poll every three years and they get to chuck out the government if they don't like it. Why should it be any different this time?   ANDREW ROBB: Well, look, they have to call the election. We can't bring it about. What we're saying is, this is a dysfunctional government. Look, on every front, on every front - you look at that boat people, this is just going from, you know, bad to worse to the ridiculous. You look at the body language, last night, even on Tuesday when they presented this budget, this is a government which is directionless, it has totally lost any confidence in itself, it is weak. The Prime Minister has no authority.   There's no relevance between their rhetoric and the reality. People, the thing that people say to me and all my colleagues, they're all reporting it, you cannot go anywhere in Australia, you can't walk down a street without people stopping you and saying, can't you bring on an election? Well, we can't. No, we can't. But, but this is, people are so anxious in the community, why have savings gone from -1 to +10% in the community over the last nine months? People are anxious about the way in which this country is not being led. There is no sense of where, of certainty and people are, people are, as a consequence, deeply concerned and finding it very difficult to make ends meet.   FRAN KELLY: And, just very briefly, you don't like the freeze on family benefits, we're talking about a freeze on families where the primary earner salary tops $150,000. Less than 5% of the population earn above $150,000. Are we saying that in this country, you have to be rich before you no longer get a handout?   ANDREW ROBB: Well, the thing is, Fran, that they've frozen both Family Tax A and B. Family Tax A, the supplement, they've frozen the indexation. That affects every family, by the way, all the way down the line.   FRAN KELLY: We're talking about benefits where...   ANDREW ROBB: Family Tax B, they've frozen the indexation, which means that every year people who move into a salary, a family salary of $150, 000 - and, you know, many cases a nurse and a teacher married could get that amount of money, or a policeman and a teacher, you name it.   FRAN KELLY: So we leave it uncapped for every more, do we?   ANDREW ROBB: No, no. They have frozen the indexation, which means in real terms every year people who previously received the benefit will not get it, even if their circumstances in real terms have not changed. So this is, this is reducing the value of income at which you achieve that benefit. So, and it is directly an attempt in this budget to redistribute income. And it's true of carbon tax as well. This government is blinded by ideology and is not looking at governing for all the people.   FRAN KELLY: Andrew Robb, thank you very much for joining us.   ANDREW ROBB: Thanks very much, Fran.   FRAN KELLY: Andrew Robb is the Shadow Finance Minister. Andrew Robb Fri, 13 May 2011 01:20:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1257 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1258/Interview-with-Tony-Jones-ABC-Lateline-12-May-2011.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1258 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1258&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1258/Interview-with-Tony-Jones-ABC-Lateline-12-May-2011.aspx   Topics: Tony Abbott’s Budget reply     E&OE      ANDREW ROBB:   Pleasure, Tony. TONY JONES:   Now there was more detail in Tony Abbott's speech about what the Coalition government - what a Coalition government will undo, rather than what it will do. Are you worried about the overall negative impression that might give? ANDREW ROBB:   Not at all. I thought his speech was lethal, Tony, tonight. He did quite clearly point out an alternative vision, an alternative direction. I'm interested in what you say about initiatives as well. I mean, much of what must be done is turning around the mess that is being created and the long-term problems that this government has initiated and their incompetence has meant that they have been further exacerbated, like the boat-people issue. But, on my reckoning, I think there were about 27 initiatives that he spelt out tonight, all of which go to helping ease the cost-of-living pressures that so many families are facing, helping to get people back in work who at the current time are being disenfranchised on long-term unemployment and initiatives that will basically give people hope, not the sort of despair and uncertainty that currently, I think, characterises so much of our community. TONY JONES:   OK. Well let's go to the negatives, if you like. You'll repeal the carbon tax, you'll repeal the mining tax, you'll scrap the NBN. So let's start with the carbon tax. Why did Mr Abbott spend so much time talking about a carbon tax, a measure which is not even in the budget? ANDREW ROBB:   Well it should be in the Budget. I mean, this is absurd. We've got ... TONY JONES:   You can't put it in the budget before you work out the details, can you? ANDREW ROBB:   Well why is the mining tax in the budget? The mining tax is just as far away from conclusion in terms of detail as the carbon tax. It comes in on exactly the same day as the carbon tax and its details are included in this budget. There's no reason, like the Government had done previously with the ETS proposal, put it in the Budget. If they'd done that of course, they would've blown some of the rules that they had created for themselves about fiscal prudence. Again, it's smoke and mirrors, it's trickery by this government. TONY JONES:   But the problem is, I mean, you're reduced, when talking about the carbon tax, to making up your own figures, so that you can justify your argument. I mean, Tony Abbott's hypothetical carbon tax was $26 per tonne, he claims it'll result in 16 coal mine closures, 68,000 lost jobs, but it's all speculation. ANDREW ROBB:   Well it's not speculation. There was a mountain of work done with the creation of the emissions trading scheme, and what Tony said tonight was, "If it is $26 a tonne, anything less than that is certainly going to have absolutely zero impact on people's behaviour." And if it is $26 a tonne, the Government itself has commissioned work some 18 months ago which showed that it would lead to a 25 per cent increase in the electricity price paid by every household in the country, that it would increase fuel tax by 6.5 cents a litre. This is the Government's own work, Tony, this is not our speculation or of the top of our head ... TONY JONES:   I don't think the Government talks about 68,000 lost jobs. And in actual fact, Wayne Swan is talking about the mining boom creating 200,000 new jobs over the next two years. I mean, do you say that's simply not going to happen? ANDREW ROBB:   Well, no, what I'm saying to you is that work that was commissioned by the same organisations that did a lot of the Government work, the modelling, using the same model that the Government used, they said there'd be 16 mines closed, coalmines, they said there'd be 30,000 jobs lost in the mining. It's not our numbering, it's that of professional organisations using the same modelling as the Government, 45,000 jobs lost across aluminium, glass, cement and you name it, a lot of manufacturing industry. These are all real jobs, these are real towns, this is Port Pirie, this is Whyalla. Now, there will be developments in many areas of the country on mining, but if you go to the towns in Newcastle and the Hunter, and Port Pirie and Whyalla - a lot of these places are one-industry towns. The mining tax - sorry, the carbon tax will invariably - and they've anticipated and forecast that a lot of these industries will close down, which just decimates a whole town. TONY JONES:   OK. But do you disagree with the assessment of Skills Australia, who claim that the booming resource economy is going to require an extra 2.4 million workers over the next four years? 2.4 million required new workers. ANDREW ROBB:   Well, I'm not in a position to confirm or deny that. Clearly, the opportunity that we've been given by the demand out of China is enormous and the development that is in prospect is enormous and the pressure on jobs will be very significant. It will provide significant job opportunities, but they'll be in many different parts of the country. But we're saying that the carbon tax, one, will discourage some of that potential investment. Two, will put a tax on so many areas of the economy outside of mining which is required to be competitive against countries all over the world who don't have a carbon tax. This is going to lead to losses of jobs, not just in mining areas, but across the country in manufacturing. TONY JONES:   But I'll make the point again: you were talking about a carbon tax for which we have no detail at the moment, and yet there's nothing that I saw specifically in Tony Abbott's speech addressing this massive skills shortage, this massive number of jobs, apparently up to 5.2 million by 2025, according to Skills Australia. And just over the past week we've spoken to two of the most influential business lobby groups in Australia, the Business Council and the Industry Group. In both cases their biggest fear seems to be there's not going to be enough people to fill all the jobs. ANDREW ROBB:   Tony, we've got half a million people still on unemployment benefits, we've got hundreds of thousands still on long-term unemployment benefits. Tony Abbott's speech tonight very directly - some of those initiatives, the 27 positive initiatives that I referred to, some of those went directly to ensuring that a lot of those long-term unemployed would end up back in the workforce, that a lot of those who have got a problem with health or instability in their health arrangements, a lot of those would end up back in the workforce; that a lot of the older generation, who are being denied jobs now, would have opportunities to go back into the workforce. There were a whole series of initiatives, which I can spell out if you wish me to, but they were things which were a commitment to major programs, unlike the Government in this budget, who announced a whole raft of initiatives designed to encourage people back into the workforce. Overwhelmingly, they were pilot schemes, they're pilot schemes, that will do nothing. Now they are going to increase marginally the number of people ... TONY JONES:   They do have a skills worker initiative which supposedly will create 130,000 new skilled workers. ANDREW ROBB:   Well, we announced at the last election a whole range of skilled-worker initiatives as well. But on top of that, the Government did scrape the trade training schools, right? The thing they made such a song and dance about. The reason they have basically neutered or shut down most of the technical colleges that we had instigated which would now be pouring out thousands and thousands of potentially well-trained workers. They were scrapped by the government. In four years ... TONY JONES:   So presumably - well, to get to some detail, presumably you'd open all them up again, would you? You'd find the money to do that? ANDREW ROBB:   Well, we will announce what we will do. Tonight Tony Abbott announced 27 new initiatives, he gave a clear direction which was all about prudent government, living within our means, keeping pressure down on interest rates, ensuring that people were able, to be able to afford the essentials of life by taking tax off. The carbon tax is not just a job issue, Tony - that's very important, it's critical across all sectors of the economy, but at the moment that carbon tax will make the cost of living of essentials more expensive. We will take away taxes, we will take the pressure off interest rates, we will give prudent economic management, we will stop the waste, the absolute horrific waste that's going on. TONY JONES:   Alright, let's get to some more detail, if you don't mind, because the mining super-profits tax is in the budget, as you said. It's another tax you're planning to repeal. Now revenue from that tax is set to fund, among other things, a one per cent company tax cut and a boost in the superannuation guarantee from nine to 12 per cent. So when you repeal it, will you also put the company tax back up and will you also drop the superannuation guarantee back to nine per cent? ANDREW ROBB:   Well you may recall at the last election we said that if we did scrap the mining tax, which we most certainly will, then we would not be in a position to automatically fund the things that the Government were looking to fund, but quite separately, we laid out $50 billion worth of savings. Now these were real savings, these weren't savings which included taxes, which the Government calls savings. So the mining tax of whatever, $7 or $8 billion a year, they call a saving. It's actually tax. TONY JONES:   OK, but my point is: will you keep or in fact increase the company tax cut, just to start with? ANDREW ROBB:   Well we announced at the last election that we would reduce company tax. TONY JONES:   By how much? ANDREW ROBB:   By 1.5 per cent. That we would - that we had other initiatives that were designed to look at the superannuation scheme. We now will - we will re-announce ... TONY JONES:   Well let's say the tax is in place and you repeal it. They've already raised the superannuation guarantee from nine to 12 per cent. Will you drop it back to nine? Will you keep it at 12 ? ANDREW ROBB:   Tony, we will announce in the run-down to the election just what we will do as a government on all of these fronts. We have made a series of announcements tonight, 27 firm commitments, as well as our commitment to scrap a carbon tax, as well as our commitment to scrap the mining tax. As we did last time, we will do again: we will announce well ahead of the election how we will pay for the initiatives that we will take. But one thing Tony did spell out clearly and said people can rely not just on our promises, but on our record. There are 16 members of Tony Abbott's shadow cabinet who were former government ministers in a successful government, who delivered surpluses, who delivered no debt, who delivered a situation where people saw a 22 per cent real increase in their wages, who delivered a massive extra fund of monies, including the Future Fund and other reserves that had been put aside out of the mining boom, and we paid off $96 billion of government debt. So, we have a record that we can stand on, not just promises which this government has got. We will deliver those things in government. We've got the experience, we've got the direction, we've got the prudence and we've got the integrity. We are not going to go into an election promising things which we then, some three or four weeks later, break. That's why Tony Abbott said tonight ... TONY JONES:   Well we didn't get a lot of response to the actual budget tonight in Tony Abbott's speech. So, he did talk about "forgotten families", and the Coalition's been very critical about changes to family benefits in the Swan budget. There are 1.9 million families who receive Family Tax Benefit A. Do you know how many of them Treasury estimates will lose their benefit after the changes? ANDREW ROBB:   Well as I understand it with Tamily Tax A, that almost all of those families will be affected by the decision of the Government to freeze the indexation. TONY JONES:   Well, according to Treasury, only 31,000 families will be affected by the changes. ANDREW ROBB:   Well, as I understand, even families down at $45,000 will be affected by Family Tax A. Family Tax B is a separate matter; that's a freezing again of indexation, but the indexation of the upper threshold that will apply to those that receive the benefit. TONY JONES:   Well in that case, do you know how many are affected by the changes, according to Treasury, in Family Tax Benefit B? ANDREW ROBB:   Well as I understand, some 44,000 families will be affected. TONY JONES:   No, it's 9,000. Apparently out of 1.6 million, 9,000 are going to be affected by the changes to family Tax Benefit B. Yes, 31,000 are going to be affected by changes to the other Tax Benefit A, and if you add them together, you get the figure you just mentioned. ANDREW ROBB:   Right. OK. Well, these are all real people, Tony, by the way. These are real people. TONY JONES:   I know, but - well ... ANDREW ROBB:   These are real families, these are people who - the Government said that they support working families. These are working families. This is a redistribution of income that's taken place in this budget, without taking regard to the impact it has on the psychology of people out there who are doing it tough, who are trying to raise a family, who are trying to meet the commitments, and they're going to dump a carbon tax on top of this and further taxes. TONY JONES:   Well you can add the carbon tax into this analysis if you like, but just leave that aside for one ... ANDREW ROBB:   Well it should be. Yes, it should be. TONY JONES:   Well - but we're actually talking about these changes that happened in the Budget right now. And if it is indeed ... ANDREW ROBB:   Well that should - the carbon tax should be in the Budget, Tony. TONY JONES:   But if it is a relatively small number of families in percentage terms that are affected, do you think you might be on the wrong side of the argument? ANDREW ROBB:   No, not at all. These are real families, I'm sorry, Tony. These are people who - you know, policemen with a wife who may be a nurse. These are people who are going to lose their benefits. They got one or two kids and they're trying to make ends meet, get on, give those kids a future and, you know, improve their lives. These are the people that have been told that they're going to be affected. As well, Tony, remember that the way in which this government has structured this budget, we're going to see an increase in the debt to $107 billion, we're seeing the spending continue. The governments before this budget were in the market raising $100 million a day to pay for the debt. After the Budget, they're going to be raising now $135 million a day. That's going to put pressure on interest rates for the next four years. That's going to affect every family that's got a mortgage. Now we're starting to talk millions of families affected by this budget through all the range of measures that the Government identified and the one it didn't identify, the carbon tax, which is going to affect every family, every business, every retiree in this country. TONY JONES:   OK, Andrew Robb, we thank you very much for coming in to talk to us tonight. A lot more to talk about; hopefully we'll get a chance to do that in the future. Thank you very much. ANDREW ROBB:   Thanks, Tony. Andrew Robb Thu, 12 May 2011 22:00:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1258 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1256/LABORS-250-BILLION-DEBT-SHAME.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1256 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1256&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1256/LABORS-250-BILLION-DEBT-SHAME.aspx   Penny Wong has today gone to extraordinary lengths to divert attention away from Labor’s shame at having to increase the ceiling on government debt to a staggering $250 billion.   “Senator Wong called a hasty press conference at 9.20am to release a sad and sorry little pamphlet based on crystal ball predictions about what a Coalition budget might look like,” Shadow Minister for Finance Andrew Robb said.   “What a coincidence that this occurred at the very moment the Coalition was moving in the parliament for Wayne Swan to explain why, if the government is reigning in its spending and borrowing, he needs to increase the ceiling on government debt from $200 billion to $250 billion.   “The painful reality for Penny Wong and Wayne Swan is had they adopted the more prudent approach the Coalition has long advocated in relation to stimulus and many other wasteful, inefficient and unnecessary programs, they could have been actually delivering a surplus instead of continuing to fantasise about one,” Mr Robb said.   “Just two years ago the government increased the debt ceiling from $75 billion to $200 billion to fund its reckless and wasteful spending. Now it needs to lift the cap to $250 billion because it clearly doesn’t even believe its own rhetoric about tightening the belt.   “If ever there was a symbol of this government’s addiction to spending and borrowing than surely this must be it,” Mr Robb said. Andrew Robb Thu, 12 May 2011 06:24:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1256 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1255/COALITION-DAMS-TASK-GROUP-VISITS-NORTH-QUEENSLAND.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1255 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1255&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1255/COALITION-DAMS-TASK-GROUP-VISITS-NORTH-QUEENSLAND.aspx   The Coalition's Dams and Water Management Task Group is this week visiting North Queensland to examine existing water assets and to assess possible enhancements.   The Group, chaired by Andrew Robb will visit Hughenden, Richmond and Georgetown on Tuesday and Wednesday for site inspections and talks with local government officials, graziers and community representatives.   "The catchments and river systems of northern Australia are critical to our water management both now and in to the future and it is important that the Task Group gains a full understanding of not only its current role, but also its further potential," Mr Robb said.    The visit will include fly-overs of the Burdekin Dam and the site earmarked for a Mount Beckford Dam near Hughenden.   The group will also include Senator Barnaby Joyce (Deputy chairman), Senator Ian Macdonald and Senator Simon Birmingham. The Task Group also comprises Greg Hunt and Senator Bill Heffernan.   Opposition Leader Tony Abbott formed the Task Group to end our nation's 'dam phobia', which has been largely driven by political correctness.   The group is tasked with identifying potential future dam sites and related areas of improved water management.   "Dams and other water management techniques play a vital role in water storage, irrigation and food security, but also in flood mitigation and can play a role in the generation of zero emissions hydro-electricity," Mr Robb said. Andrew Robb Mon, 02 May 2011 01:37:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1255 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1253/Labor-has-wasted-this-mining-boom.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1253 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1253&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1253/Labor-has-wasted-this-mining-boom.aspx In many ways Wayne Swan is blessed as a treasurer with the best terms of trade in 140 years. But you wouldn't know it as he tries to claim that the mining boom is somehow a curse. In fact, the way he is using all sorts of lame excuses for the budget pressures the government is now facing makes him a subject of ridicule. Poor Wayne. Sure, the Queensland floods and the Japanese disaster will have some short-term impact on government revenue, namely due to disruptions in the supply and demand of our coal. However, it is very marginal. New figures showing that China's insatiable demand for our coal and iron ore has delivered a $60 billion boost to our economy in the past 12 months underlines the degree of spin in the Treasurer's "woe is me" routine. Deloitte Access Economics director Chris Richardson saw through it when he said that with the world throwing money at us, the government had "the perfect backdrop for a budget". While the government should be running big surpluses and building up our resilience to any future shocks, everybody knows that the real reasons Labor is facing budgetary pressures are all of the government's own making. While Swan is out whingeing that mining boom Mark II will not deliver the "rivers of gold" that Mark I delivered - which is nonsense - his real problem is the rivers of waste his government is drowning in. What the government doesn't like to talk about is how it will have splurged a staggering $85bn on fiscal stimulus by the end of 2012, billions of it wasted on the likes of pink batts, overpriced school halls and green programs. If they had not spent all this money, as the Coalition certainly would not have, the budget would be in surplus now. Instead, we are facing another record deficit, which is likely to be considerably higher than the mid-year estimate of $41.5bn. As a consequence, the meagre, and highly manufactured, paper surplus of $3.1bn that the government has pencilled in for 2012-13 is also now likely to be wafer thin and short-lived because of the real structural problems hidden in the budget. These problems are growing as the government is increasingly getting locked into spending all the revenue from a temporary mining boom on long-term recurrent spending programs. Swan has since said "that you have to be wary of some of the (Treasury) estimates of the structural deficit". If that's the case, the government needs to come clean in the budget about the current underlying structural health of the budget. Also at odds with Minister for Finance Penny Wong and Swan's talk about rapid fiscal consolidation is net debt. For Labor, "debt" is a dirty word. It never passes their lips. Net debt is spiralling towards $100bn, which brings annual interest repayments of $6bn. That is the equivalent of six world-class hospitals. For all the wrong reasons, this is some achievement in a little over three years, particularly considering the set of books Labor inherited in 2007. No debt, a $20bn surplus and reserves of about $60bn. This mining boom is being wasted. Every dollar is being spent on recurrent spending. Not one mining dollar has gone to pay down debt. This budget must outline a clear strategy for repaying debt. Labor is lazily relying on the terms of trade to help reduce debt, even though Swan says the government is not expecting any great revenue windfall from commodity exports. Without a coherent debt reduction plan, Labor's claim that debt will be paid off by 2019 is not believable. In fact, the Treasury is predicting a return to $50bn deficits by 2019 because of the structural problems in the budget. The budget will have the equivalent of many blank pages. The government has made it clear it will provide no details regarding its toxic carbon tax. This means revenue and expenditure in the order of $34.5bn will be missing from the budget out years. The budget will not be worth the paper it is printed on. If these numbers were to be included, Labor's supposedly strict fiscal rules of keeping real spending growth at or below 2 per cent and taxation as a percentage of GDP below 2007-08 levels would be out the window. The mining tax is yet to be properly bedded down and the budgeted revenue of $7.5bn over its first two years of operation is expected to be considerably less. But Labor has already spent the money. So the moment the Treasurer brings down the budget he will be under pressure to bring down a virtual second budget soon after.   Andrew Robb Wed, 27 Apr 2011 01:10:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1253 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1252/Interview-with-Steve-Cannane-ABC-Lateline-20-April-2011.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1252 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1252&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1252/Interview-with-Steve-Cannane-ABC-Lateline-20-April-2011.aspx STEVE CANNANE, PRESENTER: The Treasurer appears to be softening up voters for a tough budget, saying revenues will be down due to natural disasters and the benefits of the mining boom not flowing through to the rest of the economy. For the Opposition's response, I spoke to acting shadow treasurer Andrew Robb a short time ago. Andrew Robb, welcome to Lateline. ANDREW ROBB, ACTING SHADOW TREASURER: My pleasure. Thanks, Steve. STEVE CANNANE: The Treasurer says tax revenue will be down at least by $4.5 billion this year and that natural disasters have had a real impact on the budget bottom line. What's your response to that? ANDREW ROBB: I felt it was almost embarrassing today. We just saw another litany of excuses, new excuses, today. Not only were the floods the major reason, and Japan, but in an extraordinary way, he rolled out the mining boom as a reason for revenues being down. This is a Treasurer who, in a sense, is blessed with the best terms of trade in 140 years, and yet still can't deliver a surplus and is looking again at excuses for not being able to balance the books. STEVE CANNANE: On the issue of the mining boom, he says this time it is different, this time round. He says that there's a higher dollar and that's squeezing companies and that's affecting company tax. He says there's different issues with the property market, the share market, that's affecting capital gains. Economists have backed that today. You don't agree with that? ANDREW ROBB: No - well, all of these factors have an impact on revenues. I don't disagree with that. But some of those are problems of their own making. Like the mining boom has pushed up the Australian dollar, along with what's happening in the US. It's a relative business. But the Government has been in the market for $100 million a day borrowings, is still there for another 12 months, has been for 12 months. They're every day there competing for Australian dollars with small business and other businesses. As a consequence, they've put pressure themselves on interest rates, and that has made some contribution to the exchange rate. So, most of these issues he talked about today, if the Government had lived within its means, he'd be balancing his books today. But they have wasted money like no government ever has before. STEVE CANNANE: So you're arguing that the Government's fiscally reckless, but why does the Coalition continue to block measures that would help bring the budget back to surplus quicker - things like the private health insurance rebate that would bring in $2.1 billion over four years? ANDREW ROBB: Well, the private health sector - I mean, it's now doing 56 per cent of all operations. It's a fundamental complement to our public health sector. Private health insurance is something the Government wants to get rid of, ultimately. That's their real agenda. This is an anti- ... STEVE CANNANE: But aren't they just trying to means test it? ANDREW ROBB: No, it's an anti-productivity measure. We want as many Australians as possible to take responsibility for their health costs and their health expenses, and by means testing it, you are discouraging Australians from doing that and the fact of the matter is that most of the things we have blocked are things that, you know, should not be stopped by the Government. We need to stop the measures they're taking. Yet at the same time they have - they have wasted tens of billions of dollars on the Building the Education Revolution, on the pink batts, on a lot of the green programs, on endless programs. And if they hadn't have wasted all that money, if they hadn't have spent the amount of stimulus money, wrote out cheques when they weren't needed, if they hadn't done all that, they would actually now be close to surplus. STEVE CANNANE: Well Labor also wants to scrap the chronic disease dental plan, which would save $3.1 billion over four years, but the Coalition opposes that cut. Are you trying to have it both ways here? ANDREW ROBB: No, no - no, we're not. We're saying that this government has borrowed and borrowed and borrowed and spent and spent and spent. We're not talking about a million here and a million there. We're talking about tens of billions of dollars. And if they had lived within their means, like millions of Australian households are forced to do, then none of these problems they would confront, and they would be making the most of the mining boom. There's not one dollar of the mining boom that's been used to pay off the debt. We've still got $100 billion debt, $6 billion interest repayments each year, that's six new international level hospitals each year. And it's only because they have wantonly wasted money hand over fist. STEVE CANNANE: Penny Wong put out some figures over the weekend where she said if the Coalition was in government you'd be delivering a deficit every year of the forward estimates. And she says not only have you blocked more than $5 billion worth of saving in the Senate, but also you've voted against $8 billion of savings in the Parliament that have already gone through. ANDREW ROBB: If we'd been in the Government, we wouldn't have spent $85 billion in stimulus money. STEVE CANNANE: How much would you have spent in stimulus money? ANDREW ROBB: Well we sought to block a large part of it. The first $10 billion - first $10 billion, we supported. It was important for confidence. By the time they even passed the second tranche of stimulus money, Australia was coming out of it because of the monetary policy had worked and the floating exchange rate had worked, had done its job. And yet they came in and they've spent it in a most irresponsible fashion. We would never have got anywhere near the debt they've got, we would never have built the deficits they have. So for Penny Wong to suggest, you know, that we wouldn't be in surplus for many years, it's just nonsense. It's absolute nonsense. And she knows it. They are out of their depth. Wayne Swan today was an embarrassing performance. This man, in my view, is not up to the job. I've now been to 42 boardrooms since I've had my responsibility some 10 months ago. Most of them have never seen him, never, and he's the Treasurer of the country. And those that have said to me that this fellow is out of his depth, that he's a wholly-owned subsidiary of Treasury, he does not understand the problems of business and you're seeing it every day with the way in which they are misspending taxpayers' dollars and the way in which they're borrowing and taxing. STEVE CANNANE: Okay. I want to move on to the carbon tax, and you've said that carbon tax will lead to hundreds of thousands of job losses. What's your evidence of that? ANDREW ROBB: Well, last time, when we had the Emissions Trading Scheme, Access Economics did a major regional study. They identified 126,000 jobs that would be lost in regional areas alone, and bear in mind this tax will affect ... STEVE CANNANE: But that study was done before the negotiations were done with the Coalition to bring in more compensation, weren't they? ANDREW ROBB: It was done, but there was still massive compensation. We don't know what the compensation will be. And even if it's ... STEVE CANNANE: But isn't it out of date if it was done before the negotiations for compensation? ANDREW ROBB: Yeah, but the compensation didn't make that much difference. I mean, ... STEVE CANNANE: And it's 126,000 jobs projected over 12 years, wasn't it? ANDREW ROBB: Yeah, but it's tens of thousands of jobs. STEVE CANNANE: So that's about $10,000 - sorry, 10,000 jobs a year over 12 years projected into the future out of 1.5 million jobs growth? ANDREW ROBB: That was in regional areas alone, right? Bear in mind that this tax will impact on hundreds of thousands of manufacturing companies, mid-tier manufacturing companies, who at the moment are either competing against imported products or are trying to export. Now, if all of those - some of those have electricity bills $20,000, $30,000 a year. If you materially add to the cost of their electricity and their water and so many other areas of their business, they're not competitive, right? So, we are talking about hundreds of thousands of jobs across the economy, and yet Julia Gillard and Wayne Swan ... STEVE CANNANE: In one year, two years? ANDREW ROBB: Well, over a period of time, but they're still real jobs and they're still real businesses. And they're talking about new jobs. We've seen in Spain and we've seen in Germany and we've seen in Portugal that they have now done comprehensive studies about the money they have spent in green areas and for every job that's created in a green job, they have lost two or three jobs in traditional areas. So, this is misleading the public writ large, and it will take many years, many years for these so-called "green jobs" to materialise, and all the while, the things we do best as a country, resources and energy - we're built on an effective and very successful resources and energy sector. The things that we do best, we're going to tax the hell out of and get rid of and see lots of those industries disappear. STEVE CANNANE: Wayne Swan today said that there is hysterical scare-mongering coming from vested interests who don't really care about the long term. What do you say to that? ANDREW ROBB: I just say he's absolutely wrong. This man unfortunately does have no sense of business. There is a view in the Labor Party and in other areas of Canberra that anyone who's making a quid, anyone who's in business, are ripping off the system. It's sort of an ingrained attitude of mine that I have witnessed over a long period of time. This is the attitude they are bringing to the table, that if anyone says, "You're doing our business a damage, you are making it more difficult in a highly competitive world market. We're going it alone with this tax, none of our competitors are, and for you - and for us to say that's going to hurt us, that, you know, we're misleading, we're looking to line our own pockets, all the rest of it," this is a fundamental misunderstanding. It is the reason we are in such a mess. Labor does not know - understand how to manage money. And that is - they're bringing that same attitude to bear when they run this carbon - this carbon tax was a political decision; it was not an economic or environmental decision. STEVE CANNANE: Last week you attended the Menzies Research Centre for their productivity roundtable. What do you think needs to be done to increase Australia's productivity? ANDREW ROBB: Well, we need very clearly to introduce a lot more flexibility into the system. We need to encourage innovation. We need so much more autonomy, for instance, for universities. And a lot of those activities which are now drowning in reporting requirements and regulations, even down to childcare centres and aged care homes - all of these areas of the economy, they all make up, you know, the profitability and the economic strength of an economy. We're seeing across the board this choking effect of mountains of reporting requirements. And, really since ... STEVE CANNANE: If I can pick up one theme that came up at that conference, and that's former Leighton's boss Wal King, he gave a speech and he said, "Under the Fair Work Act unions have the legal backing to insert clauses into enterprise agreements that place restrictions on the use of contract labour," and he's worried that's going to lead to a wage blowout in the construction and mining industries. Do you agree with him? ANDREW ROBB: Well, if that does in fact occur - I mean, these are the things that Julia Gillard and Wayne Swan and others said would not occur under the Fair Work Act. Now they made this Fair Work Act. They made a whole lot of commitments about flexibility in the workplace, about the opportunities for businesses to run their own concerns without the interference of unions. STEVE CANNANE: So if Wal King's saying that, is it time to dismantle the Fair Work Act for the sake of Australia's productivity? ANDREW ROBB: No, no; he said the way in which it's heading, there will be this major constraint on those in the construction industry, which will in turn add enormous costs to the construction business. STEVE CANNANE: And he said that and lots of other people said to you that they had criticisms of the Fair Work Act. So, are you going to dismantle it? ANDREW ROBB: Well, what we've said very clearly is if we're in government, we would have not have made any changes for the term, but we would spend the three years looking at how it's working. Is the Fair Work Act working the way in which they said it would? Now, we're not in government, so we can't make any changes in any event, but we are certainly spending the three years - these sorts of warnings are starting to increase in many areas of the economy. We're listening to this. STEVE CANNANE: But what if it's in the national interest to act earlier than that three years? ANDREW ROBB: Well we - it's not in our capability. We're not the Government. We weren't elected. So, we will - and we've said very clearly in all of those areas, if there are serious areas of concern about the way in which the Fair Work Act is now starting to seriously compromise the profitability of businesses and jobs, then we will act and we'll take that to the people at the election. They'll know upfront what it is we would seek to change within the Fair Work Act. STEVE CANNANE: Just finally, Barnaby Joyce this week flagged running against Tony Windsor. What did you make of that? ANDREW ROBB: Oh, well, I think - I've got an enormous amount of time for Barnaby, to be honest. I do think he would in any Lower House seat make an enormous contribution, and I think in that seat in particular he, having come from that area, I think he would far more closely represent the interests of that electorate than the current incumbent. STEVE CANNANE: What if he wins, takes over the National Party leadership and wants his old Finance portfolio back? ANDREW ROBB: All of this - if he takes over the leadership, he's entitled to whatever he wants. But all of these things are hypothetical. I mean, Warren Truss I know is firmly ensconced. I see them working together. Barnaby's got enormous respect for Warren. I think Barnaby is just looking to make the best use of his skills. This would be a sensible move and it will be another further advantage to the Coalition if Barnaby gets in and wins that seat. STEVE CANNANE: Andrew Robb, thanks very much for coming in to Lateline tonight. ANDREW ROBB: My pleasure.   Andrew Robb Wed, 20 Apr 2011 23:18:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1252 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1251/SWAN-DROWNING-IN-RIVERS-OF-WASTE.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1251 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1251&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1251/SWAN-DROWNING-IN-RIVERS-OF-WASTE.aspx Wayne Swan has no problems with 'rivers of gold', the real budget problem for Labor is they are drowning in 'rivers of waste'.   "While Wayne Swan is using all types of excuses for the major structural problems he is facing with the budget, including the Queensland floods and the Japanese earthquake, everyone knows the problems are all of Labor's own making," Acting Shadow Treasurer Andrew Robb said today.   "The government will have splurged a staggering $85 billion on fiscal stimulus by the end of 2012, billions of it wasted on the likes of pink batts and overpriced school halls.   "As a consequence we are facing another record deficit, likely to be considerably higher than the $41.5 billion estimate," Mr Robb said.   "On top of this Labor's net debt is spiralling towards $100 billion, with annual interest payments alone in the order of $6 billion, the equivalent of six world-class hospitals.   "The big problem for the nation is the Gillard government simply does not know how to manage money.   "Instead of learning to live within its means it continually looks at taxpayers to bail them out.   "They resort to a flood tax, a multi-billion-dollar mining tax and now a toxic carbon tax.   "It is time for Wayne Swan and his government to stop using lame excuses, to get their hands out of taxpayers' pockets and to start living within their means, like millions of Australian households are doing every day," Mr Robb said.    Andrew Robb Wed, 20 Apr 2011 01:10:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1251 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1249/Interview-with-Kieran-Gilbert-Sky-News-AM-Agenda-18-April-2011.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1249 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1249&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1249/Interview-with-Kieran-Gilbert-Sky-News-AM-Agenda-18-April-2011.aspx   Topics: Revolt against Labor’s carbon tax, Nielsen Poll, budget     E&OE    KIERAN GILBERT:        Mr Robb thanks for your time, the Coalition’s primary vote 47 per cent to Labor’s 31, do you agree with John Sturton that there would be some drag that remains here from the NSW election result?   ANDREW ROBB:          Well, the NSW election result focussed critically I think on the incompetence and the lack of leadership and the lack of any direction by the Labor government there, and I do think that is starting to be mirrored in a way.   The carbon tax in some respects is a lightning rod as I see it for the incompetence and for the lack of direction, the lack of authority of the prime minister and the way in which the Greens have now got a strangle-hold over the Labor government.   So all of those factors were symbolised by Labor in NSW, but they are a reality in the federal scene.   KIERAN GILBERT:   Malcolm Turnbull is well in front as the preferred opposition leader from this poll. Will he be considered down the track if Tony Abbott struggles to win that middle ground, the soft Labor vote?   ANDREW ROBB:   Well look, this is not a popularity contest. The fact of the matter is the Coalition is now on what 49 per cent primary vote, 47 or 49 primary vote with the Labor Party on historically low levels at 31.   A lot of that is off the back of the exposure of the problems with the carbon tax and the exposure of so many other problems with this government, the incompetence over the mining tax, the huge debt and deficit and who’s driven all of that? Tony Abbott has.    So Tony is in a very strong position and I’ve got no doubt will continue to be.   KIERAN GILBERT:   Let’s look at the carbon tax that you mentioned. The campaign against it continues. Today we have seen the food and grocery producers join mining and energy companies. That letter to the prime minister that was sent apparently last Friday, we’ve heard about it today, urging that industry not be harmed under the carbon tax, but Andrew Robb isn’t this just part and parcel of any difficult reform. That industries will lobby to get the best result that they can?       ANDREW ROBB:   Kieran, what you are seeing now is almost unprecedented. You have got a coalition of, or a consensus, across all the key unions, you’ve got construction, transport, energy and resource unions, you’ve now got the food sector, you’ve got agriculture generally, you’ve got manufacturing, represented by the Australian Industry Group and also by the chamber of commerce, you’ve got households generally up in arms.   It is a revolt if you like against the carbon tax. People have come to realise that a carbon tax is a job-destroying tax, the carbon tax ahead of the rest of the world is going to do nothing for the environment.   This is a political move by the government, not an economic move and industry, unions, households, everyone has come to realise that and we are seeing a widespread consensus and revolt against this tax.     KIERAN GILBERT:   We are seeing ACOSS again, the welfare sector are out today, food producers as we mentioned, the unions as well. The government argues that any reform is difficult and as we heard there from the pollster in this period of electoral cycles that governments are doing things. In all of the terms of the Howard government at this time John Howard trailed. Isn’t it just a reflection, that everyone wants a piece, the best result for them and that reform introducing these sorts of reforms is difficult, always difficult for government?   ANDREW ROBB:   John Howard’s initiatives, one it was off the back of the tech wreck you might recall, but secondly the reforms he introduced, the GST actually led to significant improvement in the economy.   The trouble with the government’s actions or inactions is that on every front that it has moved on, the mining tax, the flood tax, attempts to deal with the budget, the waste and mismanagement of this government which is almost unprecedented and then you’ve got the carbon tax on top of it.   On every one of these fronts, what you are seeing is the Greens leading the Labor Party. The Labor Party is now hostage to the Greens and the Independents.   The prime minister has got no authority. They are making a mess of just about everything they touch and on the carbon tax they haven’t really sold it. All they keep talking about is reform is tough, all these sort of euphemisms, but they have not got out there and explained to people how it is in the economy’s interests, how it is going to help the environment. They haven’t really sat down and sought to explain …   KIERAN GILBERT:   But they are providing more detail gradually Andrew Robb aren’t they? We saw that last week with Greg Combet’s speech and today a contribution to that argument for the carbon tax from the Australia Institute and they’ve released research which claims that industries are crying wolf. In fact industries like the steel industry, there’s a much bigger impact from recent movements in the dollar and that the carbon tax would be quote: “trivially small” after compensation.   ANDREW ROBB:   Well Kieran, the industry groups are widely and well represented on the government’s committee that has been meeting now for most of this year and yet on Friday they delivered a note to the prime minister with 39 signatures across many industry groups, all of them saying that they’ve been treated like mushrooms basically. That the process is a joke, the government hasn’t any clear idea of how this tax will work.   It’s a half-baked tax, a half-baked policy proposal. It’s been conceived out of political necessity, not out of economic necessity. This is a political measure, make no bones about it. The prime minister said she wouldn’t have a tax before the election and within three weeks had broken that promise because Bob Brown twisted her arm and said “you must”.   This is a political initiative it’s been perceived and understood as such now by industry and the unions and households, they are now seeing that hundreds-of-thousands of jobs are going to be lost as a consequence and the opinion is now, you are seeing it in the polls today, there is a revolt against this tax and there should be.   KIERAN GILBERT:   Let’s look at the budget preparations, the suggestion, reports that medical research are going to be cut and so on, you’ve been campaigning vigorously against those cuts, but Penny Wong yesterday, your opposite number, made the point that the Coalition’s numbers, the government says the Coalition’s numbers don’t stack. And that according to the Treasury analysis of your costings, the Coalition would be in deficit each year of the forward estimates.   How can you have credibility in attacking the government on its budget cuts and so on when the Treasury numbers themselves say that you would be in deficit on each of the four years of the estimates?   ANDREW ROBB:   Well firstly, what the Treasury numbers showed, what their determination showed was that even after allowing for the areas that we were in dispute with Treasury, that we would still deliver a larger surplus than the government. So that’s a nonsense that is a misrepresentation by Penny Wong.   KIERAN GILBERT:   But you are blocking $5 billion now in savings in the Senate. The Coalition is blocking $5 billion worth of savings.   ANDREW ROBB:   No, but if we’d been in government, if we’d been in government it would have been fundamentally different. We would have delivered $50 billion worth of cuts and the other factor is, I sat there with Ken Henry who said these measures are not acceptable and yet two months later in MYEFO, the half-yearly economic statement, the government actually picked up the conservative bias worth $2.5 billion that had been rejected by Treasury.   So I think you can treat a lot of the analysis and the goings on after the election as very much politics, because the government itself adopted some of the measures that the Treasury said were not genuine savings.   So it’s a situation now where Penny Wong instead of spending time trying to pan us to undermine out economic credibility she ought to get on a do a budget, it’s her first budget.   They’ve got perhaps close to the biggest deficit and a further blow-out than what they expected, they’ve got debt at nearly $100 billion and she’s spending her time trying to play political nonsense with us.   She should get on and make sure she focuses on the economy, one people’s jobs and the cost of living blow-out that’s occurring across this country.  Andrew Robb Mon, 18 Apr 2011 03:39:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1249 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1248/Interview-with-Alexandra-Kirk-ABC-AM-18-April-2011.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1248 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1248&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1248/Interview-with-Alexandra-Kirk-ABC-AM-18-April-2011.aspx   ALEXANDRA KIRK: And since the last poll, support for putting a price on carbon remains relatively unchanged but opposition has grown three points to 59 per cent. Andrew Robb, the Opposition's finance spokesman, puts that down to Tony Abbott. ANDREW ROBB: We've now got, I think, a widespread community revolt against the carbon tax. You've seen today groups from across industry, all of these have now combined to provide a consensus, community consensus against this tax. You add in households and there is really now a community revolt against this carbon tax. ALEXANDRA KIRK: But the downside for the Opposition, isn't it that Tony Abbott is not as popular as Malcolm Turnbull? ANDREW ROBB: Look, this is not a sort of popularity contest. It is a question of leadership and competence and on that question, the Coalition is now demonstrably ahead of the Labor Party and who's been responsible for that? Tony Abbott. Andrew Robb Mon, 18 Apr 2011 03:22:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1248 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1247/Labor-Attack-On-Medical-Research-Is-Anti-Reform.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1247 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1247&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1247/Labor-Attack-On-Medical-Research-Is-Anti-Reform.aspx Labor’s plan to slash $400 million in medical research funding in the upcoming budget is both anti-reform and at complete odds with Julia Gillard’s rhetoric about boosting productivity and workforce participation. "The fact Labor ministers, including Finance Minister Penny Wong, are refusing to rule out a $400 million funding cut to the National Health and Medical Research Council, confirm this is a live option," Shadow Minister for Finance Andrew Robb said today. "Understandably, this is creating a great deal of stress and uncertainty within the research community, where important projects along with the jobs of highly-trained, talented and dedicated researchers are being threatened." Access Economics has found that government funding for health and medical research delivers immeasurable rewards by improving health outcomes and reducing healthcare costs, which in turn deliver significant economic benefits. "If you are a government which is serious about increasing productivity and helping people live longer and more productive lives, this is the last area in the budget you would be targeting," Mr Robb said. "This is truly an anti-reform measure and comes at a time when Julia Gillard is both warning about managing our ageing population and uttering motherhood statements about increasing workforce participation. "The Coalition has demonstrated that $50 billion in savings can be found in the budget without having to resort to penny-pinching in areas like medical research. This further demonstrates that the government has no clear plan for where it wants to take the nation. "If this government had not wasted billions and billions of dollars on things like pink batts and overpriced school halls, they would not even have to contemplate cuts in these areas. "Australia has a proud reputation in the area of medical research and innovation and it defies logic that this government would put that at risk. I call on Julia Gillard to have a serious re-think and immediately rule out the funding cuts," Mr Robb said. Andrew Robb Sun, 17 Apr 2011 00:05:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1247 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1245/Labors-carbon-tax-plan-will-destroy-our-advantage--Andrew-Robb-The-Australian-5-April-2011.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1245 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1245&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1245/Labors-carbon-tax-plan-will-destroy-our-advantage--Andrew-Robb-The-Australian-5-April-2011.aspx THE Gillard government's climate commissioner, Tim Flannery, has blown the whistle on both the futility and stupidity of Australia unilaterally introducing a carbon tax.   He has conceded that if the whole world shuts down all emissions tomorrow, we may not see any reduction in average global temperature for 1000 years.   Labor's determination to impose a carbon tax before any global agreement is economically irrational as it will destroy the comparative advantage we enjoy.   If you want to reduce global emissions in the most economically responsible manner, you need a global agreement.   It is basic economics, but you wouldn't know it from the gobbledegook about the markets we are hearing from Julia Gillard and her colleagues.   The key flaw in the Gillard government's decision to impose a $11.5 billion tax a year on Australians is the failure of the rest of the world, and in particular our major competitors, to come with us, to act in unison.   The Australian economy has been underpinned by affordable power from our abundance of coal. Imposing a carbon tax in the absence of international action removes this advantage.   If we waited for a global agreement, Australia's comparative advantage could be maintained for decades to come.   Under a global scheme, basic economics would dictate that those countries with higher-cost emissions than Australia would phase out their less efficient and uneconomic power plants years before ours. With our cheap coal, we could be one of the last countries to shift from coal-fired electricity generation, instead of the first under Labor's carbon tax.   This would occur because if a global emissions trading scheme or carbon tax was in place, the world's emissions would be cut fastest and at least cost by the likes of Australia buying emissions permits from the big emitters.   Our comparative advantage of more affordable electricity could be maintained for 30-40 years.   Instead, the Gillard government will force the scrapping of our coal-fired power generation perhaps decades before time, driving up electricity prices in the process, which will cascade through the entire economy in the form of higher prices for consumers.   It will result in our industries being shut down or sent overseas -- our lead smelters, our zinc smelters, our steelworks, our aluminium smelters, our cement works, on many of which whole towns and communities rely.   It will cost tens of thousands of jobs and the relocation of our emissions to countries with less efficient industrial practices.   It would be like putting a carbon or some other big tax on Victoria and no other state and then all standing around scratching our heads wondering why hundreds of jobs and lots of industries are moving into NSW, South Australia and Queensland.   The same thing will happen on a much bigger and more damaging scale with a carbon tax. Instead of jobs and industries moving interstate, they will be going to China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and India as our competitors around the world get a free run.   The Europeans have learnt this the hard way with their flirtations with emissions trading. Since 1990, the Europeans' emissions from manufacturing have been flat. Some are running around patting themselves on the back.   But Europe's consumption of carbon has gone up by 44 per cent. What we have seen is a hollowing out of manufacturing in Europe, and it has all gone to China, along with the production emissions.   This carbon tax will see a hollowing out of manufacturing in this country, too.   It will also represent a capital tariff on Australia, a massive disincentive for international investment, increasing sovereign risk, which has risen under the Rudd-Gillard government.   The worst part is this carbon tax is not being driven by any economic rationale, but cynical, self-serving politics. It is the price Julia Gillard is prepared to pay for a single Green vote in Parliament to cling to power.   Labor's unilateral action ignores the fact that the market it endlessly parrots on about is a global market, not one confined to Australian borders.   Andrew Robb Mon, 04 Apr 2011 23:58:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1245 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1244/Interview-with-Elizabeth-Jackson-ABC-AM-2-April-2011.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1244 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1244&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1244/Interview-with-Elizabeth-Jackson-ABC-AM-2-April-2011.aspx The Federal Opposition says the Government has clearly set a figure of $30 a tonne carbon tax and it's deceived the public over the costs. Andrew Robb says Government's been sitting on its research and the way it's handling its policy is a disgrace. He also says many families and small business won't receive compensation. --> Topic: Carbon tax compensation   ELIZABETH JACKSON: The Federal Government's carbon tax now has a price tag attached - $863 per year. The figure comes from a Treasury minute released under Freedom of Information laws. The document was prepared for the Climate Change Minister, Greg Combet just last month. It estimates that under a $30 a tonne carbon tax, over one year households would spend an extra $608 on power, gas and food. That cost would increase to $863 if petrol prices were allowed to rise. The Government says middle and low income families would be fully compensated for any price rises due to the carbon price. I spoke to the shadow minister for finance Andrew Robb earlier this morning and asked him how accurate the $863 figure is given that details about the compensation package are still unknown. ANDREW ROBB: Well it's clearly based on $30 a tonne of carbon, price of carbon, you would assume that if Mr Combet had commissioned this work, it means that that is the price, that is in the range of prices that the Government thinks will apply. So what we've seen is, in my view, another huge deception by this government. They've had this work since February, we've now had weeks of debate, the Prime Minister's saying there's no point in speculating about the impact of a tax on families, yet all the while the Prime Minister was sitting on Treasury analysis which showed this nearly $1,000 a year increase in prices. ELIZABETH JACKSON: But the annual household cost in fully dependant on the fixed price start and we don't know what that is yet. ANDREW ROBB: No, but the Government clearly has a view that something in the order of $30 would be a minimum to have any impact on people's behaviour. Why would they commission work at the outset, after they've decided to break the promise from before the election, the first thing Combet has done is commission work at around $30 a tonne. Clearly that is the order of magnitude they think is a minimum, therefore this work has great significance, but most importantly, we're just seeing policy by deception with this government. We've had weeks of debate now, we've had people concerned, confused, uncertain about what all this means for them, the Government's been sitting on this material. It's a total disgrace the way they're handling this policy and they're trying to sneak something in under the banner of trying to change this carbon behaviour. ELIZABETH JACKSON: But Mr Robb, is it fair, do you think, to bandy around this figure of $863 when the Government has said that it will fully compensate families and we don't have details yet of that compensation? ANDREW ROBB: The Government has said it will compensate some low income families. There'll be literally millions of families who I guarantee will get no compensation. Low income families will get compensation, for how long though… What about the hundreds of thousands of small businesses, and the literally tens of thousands of small and medium sized businesses that face competition from overseas? There'll be no compensation there. They don't want any of these issues debated. They want to bring out the information when the Greens control the Senate so that they can then rush this thing through without any community debate and proper reaction. This is a government that is born out of a lie and continues to deceive the community and treat the community, you know, as mushrooms and this sort of behaviour will cost this government dearly I think in terms of public support. ELIZABETH JACKSON: That's the shadow minister for finance Andrew Robb speaking a little earlier this morning. Andrew Robb Sun, 03 Apr 2011 23:21:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1244 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1243/DEPARTING-RBA-BOARD-MEMBERS-OFFERED-FRANK-AND-FEARLESS-ADVICE.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1243 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1243&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1243/DEPARTING-RBA-BOARD-MEMBERS-OFFERED-FRANK-AND-FEARLESS-ADVICE.aspx   Outgoing RBA board members Donald McGauchie and Warwick McKibbin are to be congratulated for their major contributions to economic policy during challenging times.   “They brought rare experience and insight to the RBA board and more broadly have made invaluable contributions to the economic debate in this country and I am sure will continue to do so,” Shadow Minister for Finance, Deregulation and Debt Reduction Andrew Robb said today.   “Don and Warwick are held in the highest esteem in the corporate world and their frank and fearless insights meant they were certainly not yes men of the government of the day, much to the chagrin of the Rudd-Gillard governments.   “Unfortunately, the Gillard government remains extremely precious when it comes to being told home truths about their overblown response to the global financial crisis and the pressure their panicked and reckless spending and borrowing has placed on monetary policy.   “Also, Don should always be recognised for the significant role he played in achieving major waterfront reform in this country which helped deliver hard-fought productivity gains.   “Warwick is respected internationally at a government, industry and academic level for his intellectual courage and very high quality economic contribution.   “I wish them both well in the next chapter of their lives,” Mr Robb said.   Andrew Robb Tue, 29 Mar 2011 01:18:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1243 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1242/Interview-with-Alex-Kirk-ABC-AM-29-March-2011.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1242 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1242&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1242/Interview-with-Alex-Kirk-ABC-AM-29-March-2011.aspx Topics: Greens oppose company tax cuts from mining tax revenue   E&OE   ALEX KIRK:   As we heard earlier the Greens leader Bob Brown doesn’t fancy the idea of giving mining firms a company tax cut to soften the impost of the resources rent tax.   He says the Greens will oppose the measure. While the Government says it’s determined to push ahead with a tax cut, the Opposition says that the Greens are in cahoots with the Government to scuttle the mining resource rent tax.   ANDREW ROBB:   It’s got all the look of the Greens in cahoots with Labor to give them a get out of jail free card to cover the gross mismanagement of the budget and the mess they’ve made of the mining tax.   ALEX KIRK:   Why would the Government welcome it?   ANDREW ROBB:   Well, there is speculation that the Government has severely overestimated the mining tax revenue and secondly they are looking for every avenue to minimise promises that they’ve made or to remove promises, to be forced into removing promises by the Greens, on this occasion, you’d have to be cynical about the cooperation that’s going on between Labor and the Greens to minimise the commitments that they’ve made to the budget.   ALEX KIRK:   The Greens say that they won’t support the tax cuts for big business associated with the proposed mining resource rent tax. Would the Coalition step into the breach to support a one per cent cut to the company tax rate?   ANDREW ROBB:   Well, we would have delivered corporate tax cuts, fully funded out of the budget but we haven’t and we don’t support the mining tax.   ALEX KIRK:   But given the opportunity to support a one per cent cut to the company tax rate, as a separate piece of legislation, would you support it?   ANDREW ROBB:   We went to the election supporting a tax cut for all of business. We don’t support the mining tax and we will not support initiatives out of the mining tax. Andrew Robb Mon, 28 Mar 2011 22:16:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1242 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1240/Interview-with-Marius-Benson-ABC-News-Radio-21-March-2011.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1240 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1240&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1240/Interview-with-Marius-Benson-ABC-News-Radio-21-March-2011.aspx Topics: Carbon tax and tax summit.   E&OE   MARIUS BENSON:   Andrew Robb the government has begun filling out its plans on a carbon tax. It says there will be a carbon tax to encourage a cut in emissions, but households and pensioners will get tax cuts and welfare benefits; the prime minister talking about the tax cuts in particular being a live option.   ANDREW ROBB:          They are spraying around with all sorts of thought bubbles in a way. Nothing is confirmed only that it won’t be part of the tax summit that was announced yesterday, which seems quite extraordinary, we have one of the biggest if not the biggest tax changes in Australia’s history in terms of its long-term impact on the structure of Australia and it’s not going to be part of the tax summit.   It just beggars belief, it’s just ridiculous that we can have a tax summit and the mining tax and the carbon tax will not feature.     MARIUS BENSON:   Well the tax summit has been pushed back, it was to be held on June 30th or by June 30th and now it has been pushed back until October. Originally that was negotiated with the independents, the two independents Rob Oakeshott and Tony Windsor say they are quite happy with the delay, in fact business seems happy with the delay as well, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, often critical of the government, says no problem with an October summit.   ANDREW ROBB:   It’s not so much the timing of the summit; it’s what will be discussed at the summit. It just seems quite absurd that the government would make final decisions about what amounts to over $20 billion worth of new taxes and a lot of the detail, but not include those two taxes in a summit which is really just a matter of months away. They won’t include it in the tax summit; it just does not make any sense.   MARIUS BENSON:   Can I just ask you about the tax proposals to the extent that they have been outlined by the government. The opposition has been campaigning very hard against a new tax, against a carbon tax are you equally comfortable campaigning against tax cuts, which go with that carbon tax?    ANDREW ROBB:   Well of course we are in favour of tax cuts, up until the last election and in many respects nearly won that last election because of our opposition to great big new taxes and we are opposed to new taxes, but we are in favour of tax cuts, but not if they are funded by a bad tax based on a lie.   MARIUS BENSON:   The opposition has said unequivocally that it will abolish a carbon tax if it is elected at the next election are you also promising to abolish any tax cuts that go with that carbon tax, will you rescind them as well?   ANDREW ROBB:   What I have stated is a statement of principle that we are not supportive of tax cuts based on a bad tax, but it is at the moment hypothetical. The government at the moment is floating all sorts of propositions.   They do seem to be very much in chaos on this matter. Here was the prime minister yesterday morning discussing a carbon tax and at the same time the Treasurer of the country is announcing a tax forum via Twitter.   I mean this just seems to be a government which is all over the place. Who knows what final form any compensation will take, what we do know is that the compensation that will be given will diminish over time. Certainly it will not hit small businesses, will not hit independent retirees, it will not hit many, many taxpayers in this economy and it will be inadequate in terms of protecting our export sector.   MARIUS BENSON:   Andrew Robb, thanks again.    Andrew Robb Mon, 21 Mar 2011 03:30:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1240 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1239/Interview-with-Jon-Faine-ABC-Melbourne-774-11-March-2011.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1239 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1239&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1239/Interview-with-Jon-Faine-ABC-Melbourne-774-11-March-2011.aspx Click here to listen to the interview Topics: Mental health, Gillard and Rudd at odds over Libyan no-fly zone.   E&OE   JON FAINE   Andrew Robb is a Liberal Party frontbencher, Shadow Minister for Finance and has also very publicly declared his battles with mental illness and depression in the past as well.    Andrew Robb, good morning.   ANDREW ROBB   Good morning Jon.   JON FAINE   We do want to talk to you about politics but first of all the whole issue of publicly going through what you went through and now what Brendan Fevola and so many others are going through.   ANDREW ROBB   Yes, in my case, I can’t really speak for others, in my case I know that the condition I had that affected me particularly in the mornings for most of my life was what I found to be depression in the end.    But I never wanted to admit it. The stigma that was there in spadefuls is still there to be honest, but is changing I think. The stigma attached made me and I suspect many others reluctant to disclose even to your closest friends.   There is a sense that if you’ve got some sort of mental illness or depression that it’s a sign of a character weakness and it means that you are very reluctant to even admit it to yourself and it took along time, until two years ago for that matter, to confront it I think and acknowledge it yourself and not necessarily to the world but certainly to those around you, those you love, your friends and even those you work with.    But the second thing is you have to have some personal resolve to fix it. Professionals can help you enormously but it is a thing which requires a lot of patience and trial and error.   JON FAINE   In your case, was it better once people knew publicly what you were going through?   ANDREW ROBB   Well, I felt because I was in public life and I got to a point where I sought professional advice and in fact I thought then to go under the radar. I tried to get to test different treatment and the side effects of some of these medications until you find the right one, the side effects can be more debilitating than the underlying condition and that was the case for me.    I just found it extraordinarily difficult to try and keep up the facade while trying different treatments. So I got to the point where I thought I need some space and I need to step back a little bit and I didn’t want to go telling porkies or make up other reasons and I thought about it long and hard and thought what the heck, I don’t care, I feel like I can now get on top of it.  I’ve had professional advice, they say I’ve got every chance of being better than I’ve even been in my life which has turned out to be the case and I satisfied myself and didn’t care what others thought.    So I would explain publicly what I was doing so I could step back. Now a lot of people don’t have to tell the world, but you’ve got to tell a few others around you so they can help you.   JON FAINE   And if you are an emotionally vulnerable and dare I suggest perhaps an emotionally immature 29-30 year old, or someone who has been thrown into the spot light through your prowess of football, I suspect it’s even harder.   ANDREW ROBB   Even harder, because again it is a sign and has been seen as a sign of character weakness.    So if you’ve got a young fellow who’s striding the world as an athlete and getting all of that homage to admit they’ve got some mental illness or depression, I think would make them feel they’re not as strong as everyone perceives and it would be a great threat to their sense of self worth and all the rest of it. So it makes it doubly hard often for those sorts of people.   JON FAINE:   Let’s move on, but I do have huge reservations about publicity and the role of the media, but moving on, our time is not unlimited. Andrew Robb, Julia Gillard is in the US saying one thing about Libya and fly-over bans and zones, Kevin Rudd on the other hand is zipping around the Middle East saying another. Does it matter?   ANDREW ROBB:   It matters enormously. It’s an extraordinary situation. It’s like we have two prime ministers wandering around the world independently making announcements on the same issue.   JON FAINE:   They are not that far apart from each other. Kevin Rudd is a little more impatient about doing something. Julia Gillard is saying well we just have to do what we can. He’s saying no, we must do this now.   ANDREW ROBB:   I’ve followed it fairly closely because I had foreign affairs for 12 months and I’m very keenly interested in it. Kevin has been very actively seeking a no fly option and he has been, as he has put it, trying to be instrumental in bringing that about, whereas Julia Gillard one: had no position for some time and has now adopted a view that the UN should look at all sorts of options, including that option.   I understand that the Americans rang Canberra yesterday to try and establish just what is Australia’s position and what resources we would put behind a no-fly operation if that was the decision.    That is an extraordinary thing. I mean our own prime minister is in the United States at the moment, they ring Canberra to find out an answer and can’t get it. It’s just an unworkable situation.   Stephen Smith once said there should never be a crack of light between the PM and foreign minister, well there’s a chasm at the moment. And she admitted herself last night that they haven’t even spoken. This is the number one diplomatic issue in the world at the moment. The whole issue of oil security and so much else, Middle East security all of that is at stake and we’ve got Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard not even talking to one another, it just beggars belief.   JON FAINE:   Thank you for your time this morning, Andrew Robb, Shadow Finance Minister, talking about a number of issue that I will take up with you on talk back.        Andrew Robb Fri, 11 Mar 2011 01:09:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1239 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1238/WILL-GILLARD-SCRAP-CARBON-TAX-IF-GLOBAL-AGREEMENT-NOT-REACHED.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=71&ModuleID=389&ArticleID=1238 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1238&PortalID=0&TabID=71 http://www.andrewrobb.com.au/Portfolio/PortfolioMediaReleases/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1238/WILL-GILLARD-SCRAP-CARBON-TAX-IF-GLOBAL-AGREEMENT-NOT-REACHED.aspx   Julia Gillard must explain what will happen with her carbon tax in three to five years if there is no global agreement in relation to emissions trading.   “The p