05-December-2008
Portfolio Media Releases, Infrastructure
PRESENTER: As we heard there the Government leader in the Senate, Chris Evans, describes the Opposition’s split as a mass revolt against its leadership. To respond to that and other issues from the extraordinary vote is the Opposition’s infrastructure spokesman, Andrew Robb. He is speaking to Sabra Lane in Canberra.
ANDREW ROBB: No it was not, it was not at all. Look, the bottom line is we gave the Government three opportunities to accept our amendments, the Government voted against them every time. They wouldn’t even enter into discussions privately, this total arrogance and dismissal about it. If we had insisted on the amendments for the fourth time it would have blocked the spending of tens of billions of dollars of infrastructure moneys and the Government would have run the mother of all scare campaigns. They wanted to shift the blame for their dithering and mismanagement onto the Coalition and we’re not going to give them that opportunity.
SABRA LANE: But this is a major back down for the Coalition and as the Nationals said last night you’ve broken trust with voters.
ANDREW ROBB: The bill was wide ranging. We had moved major amendments to try and give greater transparency. We acted in good faith, we tried to improve the bill because we are concerned that the moneys could be used as a slush fund to bail out failed Labor states - billions of dollars.
SABRA LANE: But Andrew Robb we saw a major split happen last night with the Coalition. We saw the Nats cross the floor, we saw two of your senators cross the floor and we saw what was described as 20 or 30 Coalition senators abstaining from the vote. Was this wilful disobedience or was it bad management because the new position wasn’t relayed to your senators?
ANDREW ROBB: The position of the Coalition on this was in the end a decision taken very late after we had failed to get the cooperation of the Government on any aspect of our amendments and that didn’t happen until nearly 11 o’clock at night. But the decision was then taken that we would not insist on these amendments going through and taking effect. Now Malcolm Turnbull and all the members of the shadow cabinet share the concern of all of our colleagues about this issue and the fact that some members were not present…there is no requirement for Opposition members to be present on a Mickey Mouse vote, a vote which is a foregone conclusion. And there were quite a few Labor members who didn’t turn up.
SABRA LANE: But aren’t you, by saying it’s a Mickey Mouse vote aren’t you treating parliament and voters with contempt?
ANDREW ROBB: That is the term given to a vote which is a foregone conclusion and the bill was going through, we had taken that decision not to insist on the amendments for the fourth time and that was a position, that’s what transpired and we were not going to play political games with the Government and allow them to run the mother of all scare campaigns and to shift responsibility for their dithering and mismanagement in the months ahead onto the Coalition. We weren’t allowing that to happen.
SABRA LANE: Andrew Robb by siding with the Government now, have you voided your right to criticise any of the Government’s policies in relation to the infrastructure funds? You said those amendments were necessary fort transparency, have you annulled your right?
ANDREW ROBB: No we have not. It is the Government’s legislation. In the end they’re the government.
Media Contact: Stuart Eaton, 0433 298 620