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The Secret Diary of Brendan Nelson: Goulburn

Sunday 20 April 2008, 6:11 pm

The Editor

Categories: Politics

Tags: BrendanNelson, Goulburn, LiberalParty, ListeningTour

Will somebody please just turn off this man’s life support so I don’t have to read this crap anymore?

Goulburn is one of Australia’s great inland cities with a proud history dating back to the 19th Century. Sadly this great city has suffered more than most from the worst drought in one hundred years.

The drought has had a devastating impact not just on the farming community but also on the small businesses that support it in towns and cities throughout Australia just like Goulburn. I visited one such small business, Ranger Geale Construction and Agriculture Specialists, which has had its turnover cut by 60 per cent as a result of the drought.

Terrible stuff. But you and your ilk had eleven long years to do something if you think that something needs to be (and can be) done.

Small businesses throughout Australia must be protected from unfair dismissal laws which would severely discourage them from taking on new staff when conditions improve. This is a real concern I have picked up from small business owners around Australia and it is a core principle for me and my team.

This man is beyond amazing! One minute WorkChoices is dead, then it’s alive again. Keep on bringing the debate around to IR, Brendan, because as long as you’re banging on about it there’s even less chance you and your team will ever get near the other side of the chamber again.

Another issue that is raised with me wherever I go is obviously the cost of fuel.

DRINK!

Mr Rudd created the expectation last year that he would reduce the price of petrol yet since November the price of petrol has gone up.

Naughty, naughty Kevin. He’s singlehandedly depleting world reserves of oil, raising demand around the globe, and controlling OPEC’s price setting policy.

The Coalition will obviously support responsible policies that reduce the cost of petrol for Australian motorists.

The same policies you failed to come up with in eleven long years.

But the Government must demonstrate that no motorists will be a cent worse off as a result of new policies.

Because that’s exactly what the government wants to happen.

I have particular concern that Mr Rudd’s FuelWatch scheme will get rid of the heavy weekly discounting of fuel which currently takes place and which millions of Australians rely on.

But you’ll still support it, Brendan. That’s the kind of fence-sitting guy you are.

6 Comments

Rx (Sunday 20 April 2008, 7:31 pm) #

When the Lieberals said “WorkChoices is dead”, you have to weigh each word individually. The policy formerly known as “WorkChoices” is dead. But radical IR “reform” remains fundamental to the Liberal cause, as indicated by quotes from Liberals before the election, and since.

These bastards’ plan is cut to the Labor Party’s finances off at the knees by legislating workers’ unions into impotence.

In one stroke they cripple the Labor Party AND bugger workers with a broomstick AND leave workers without the protection of effective union bodies.

IR extremism will be back with a vengeance if they ever get their cold hands on government again. There will be a lot of lost time in the wilderness for them to make up for. Only next time their radical crap will not go by the name “WorkChoices”, but something different and no doubt as oxymoronic as last time.

They could be honest - it would make a bloody change for them - and call it SerfChoices, WorkFarces, TurdChoices - or something…
Austin (Sunday 20 April 2008, 9:02 pm) #

It is amazing how they (Coalition mob) think the public forgets so quickly how they actually were and what they chose to spin their way out of. Maybe in 3 years, but 6 months?!?!
steve (Sunday 20 April 2008, 10:04 pm) #

This is Nelson’s poorest effort yet, looks like he is running out of steam, ideas and enthusiasm. Just waiting to get the budget reply speech out of the way and go and have a rest on the backbench for a couple of years by the looks of this effort.
brokenleftleg (Sunday 20 April 2008, 10:27 pm) #

“Will somebody please just turn off this man’s life support so I don’t have to read this crap anymore?”

No no no The Editor, We must ensure that Brendan is as healthy as possible so he keeps spouting this garbage. The Libs will be unelectable for the next decade.

The good news is, did you know Brendan’s a doctor? He won’t be getting sick in a hurry, unless of course his medical skills are as good as his political skills.

Better call for a second opinion and a finger up the clacker just in case.
Mikey (Sunday 20 April 2008, 10:55 pm) #

I don’t get it. Businesses under the new model will have up to 12 months to sack someone without recourse to Unfair Dismissal no matter how many people they employ. 12 months is enough time to spot the slackers and the none. After that time if you’re sacking its for restructure purposes or negligance. If it’s the former they get a pay out, if it’s the latter they don’t. That simple. If small business feel they need more than that they can line up and suck my fatty.
Almost Always Wrong (Monday 21 April 2008, 12:27 am) #

You’re a masochist Ed, you’d find some way to supplement doctor dud’s drivel.