Transcripts

DOORSTOP INTERVIEW, SYDNEY, 12.30PM, WEDNESDAY 2 SEPTEMBER, 2009

2nd September 2009

DOORSTOP INTERVIEW

SYDNEY

12.30PM WEDNESDAY 2 SEPTEMBER, 2009

Topics: National accounts, NSW Labor party

E&OE…………………………………………………………………………………………...

JOE HOCKEY:

The Coalition welcomes the good news on the Australian economy today. We welcome the national account news and this is further evidence that Australia has been able to survive the economic downturn and we have gone into this downturn in far better shape than any other country, and we’ve come out in better shape because we have had the solid foundations of a strong government budget, of low unemployment and of a flexible economy that has helped to deliver the outcome.  And of course if you throw enough money at a problem, some of it will stick, and it’s good.  It’s good for Australia. It is fantastic for Australia that we are showing good economic growth today.

We welcome the news but now Mr Rudd has to pull back on the spending. Now’s the time to pull back on government spending because it’ll be political spending, not economic spending. The proof today in the accounts is that the money being spent over the next four years by the Rudd government will be about politics and not about economics. The outcome today is proof positive that Australia is resilient and capable, and if we continue to spend money the way the Rudd government is, we will have higher taxes and higher interest rates.

Today’s a warning bell for Mr Rudd – stop spending so much money, otherwise we are going to end up with higher interest rates and higher taxes. 

JOURNALIST:

Where should they pull back on their spending?

JOE HOCKEY:

Well the government last week pulled back $1.3 billion in social housing and pink batts and they did that in the blink of an eye. I would say to the government, you can pull back on the spending.

The national accounts today reveal the fact that a lot of government spending hasn’t even kicked in yet, and that is the most interesting outcome in today’s national accounts. A lot of the money, direct government expenditure on schools and pink batts hasn’t even kicked in yet, which says that there is going to be a danger to the economy going forward that massive government spending - motivated by politics and not economics - is going to be a ball and chain around the recovery. This is a problem for the government.

The Coalition has been entirely consistent, we’ve always said the government’s been spending too much money, more than necessary, and if you want any proof, today it came in the national accounts.

Today is the proof that the government has to pull back on its massive spending program, otherwise we’ll end up with higher interest rates and higher taxes.

JOURNALIST:

What do you make of the state of the political scene in New South Wales?

JOE HOCKEY:

I thought that might come. Look, you know, it’s amazing the Australian economy is resilient enough to withstand the pain of a painful government in New South Wales.

The fact of the matter is, gee whiz, if New South Wales had a different political complexion, we’d be doing a lot better as a nation. I would say it’s time for Nathan Rees to call on the people of New South Wales to have an election.

If Nathan Rees had any courage left in his body, he would call on a general election in New South Wales and save New South Wales from this soap opera called the Labor Party.

JOURNALIST:

Is Barry O’Farrell doing enough to capitalise on the situation as it stands now?

JOE HOCKEY:

Well, let me tell you, Barry O’Farrell is ready to govern. Barry O’Farrell is ready to govern New South Wales. Surely if there was a time to have an election, it is now in New South Wales.  New South Wales is desperate for an election.

People have gone from despair to anger about the state of New South Wales. There’s clear evidence, everywhere you go, that people want to get on, get on with the job of good government. 

Make sure that problems are fixed in the health system. I mean, for crying out loud, how many Health Ministers have we had in New South Wales in the last five years? Four Health Ministers? I mean, how can the system survive, let alone operate on a daily basis with a rotation of Health Ministers by an incompetent Labor government?

And Barry O’Farrell and his team, I know, are ready to govern. They’re ready to step in to fix the place. Nathan Rees could best be described as a coward for not going to the people of New South Wales and putting all of us out of the misery.

JOURNALIST:

What about the reporting John Della Bosca’s personal life, what do you think of this trend in media reporting?

JOE HOCKEY:

Look, you know I think people’s personal lives are matters for them. I really, I really… I think there’s a lot of innocent victims I’m sure involved in every way, and I think the personal lives in these sorts of situations are what we should be careful of.

You know, I’m sure there are children involved, and quite frankly, I don’t think it’s of great interest to the people of New South Wales to see matters of infidelity dealt with, the issue is whether he’s doing his job or not, and anyone who’s used a hospital recently in New South Wales would know that clearly John Della Bosca hasn’t been doing his job as a Health Minister, otherwise the hospitals would be in better shape. I would just caution about social issues being canvassed openly in the media when there are innocent victims.

JOURNALIST:

[inaudible]

JOE HOCKEY:

Well, that’s a matter for her and others. I’m really reluctant to get into it. Again I’d just emphasise I think that John Della Bosca has children, and he’s obviously got a wife, and I don’t see any point in dragging them through the pain that they didn’t expect and probably don’t deserve.

Thanks everyone.

[ENDS]