Nicholas (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} wzdd) wrote,@ 2008-10-23 09:12:00 |
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Parliamentary question time yesterday was full of grandstanding disguised as "questions" about the Government's decision to guarantee bank deposits. A lot of the focus was on Treasury secretary Ken Henry, who (it is claimed) misrepresented the opinion of the Reserve Bank governor to Kevin Rudd (more info).
I'd just like to share with you this part of a hilarious speech by Mr. Gray, Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Development and Northern Australia, who weighs in with his own opinion on Liberal Party trashing of public servants:
Mr GRAY- [...] The Leader of the Opposition and shadow Treasurer are lawyers. They are used to mastering a brief without engaging in morality, ethics or propriety. They are lawyers; they prosecute their brief. They turned up in this place on the first day, I have no doubt, thinking they had all the integrity of Atticus Finch. No, they do not. They are just grubby politicians seeking a vote under whatever rock they can find it under by creating whatever nervousness and instability they can create in our
banking system.
Mr Robert—A Labor politician talks about grubby politicians? You guys are the ultimate grubs!
The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Hon. AR Bevis)— Order! The parliamentary secretary will be heard in silence. As much as it would pain me, I will remove you if you keep it up.
Mr GRAY—I notice those opposite reserve for this parliament the same lack of courtesy that they do for senior public servants—the same lack of regard that they reserved for our significant prudential institutions like the Reserve Bank when they lined up to appoint their own donors as members. It is why they turn around and attack the Secretary to the Treasury this week. It is why they turn around and attack the Reserve Bank itself. It is why those opposite impugn the integrity of public servants and prudential regulators, most of whom they appointed. It is why they feel no twinge of conscience as they set about doing damage, because the damage to our banking system will, those members opposite hope, deliver a vote dividend. It will lift their profile. Damage the banks, win votes is the equation. Who cares about the damage? Damage to whom? To the very people those opposite would seek to represent. They also seek to damage the very character of the Secretary to the Treasury. We have seen the Leader of the Opposition call upon the government to sack the Secretary to the Treasury for doing his job. This is the very same Secretary to the Treasury who has served multiple federal governments. He served the Hawke government and the Keating government. He served the Howard government with great distinction. One might wonder why they so hate the Secretary to the Treasury. I wondered that myself. Could it be his work ethic—he has one; they don’t? Could it be his ethics— he has them; they don’t? Could it be his character—he has one; they don’t? Could it be that he understands that they do not understand the issues that they drag around our parliament and community like a dead rat?
For the thrilling conclusion consult Wednesday's Hansard (1.8MB PDF) and search for "dead rat".
I'd just like to share with you this part of a hilarious speech by Mr. Gray, Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Development and Northern Australia, who weighs in with his own opinion on Liberal Party trashing of public servants:
Mr GRAY- [...] The Leader of the Opposition and shadow Treasurer are lawyers. They are used to mastering a brief without engaging in morality, ethics or propriety. They are lawyers; they prosecute their brief. They turned up in this place on the first day, I have no doubt, thinking they had all the integrity of Atticus Finch. No, they do not. They are just grubby politicians seeking a vote under whatever rock they can find it under by creating whatever nervousness and instability they can create in our
banking system.
Mr Robert—A Labor politician talks about grubby politicians? You guys are the ultimate grubs!
The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Hon. AR Bevis)— Order! The parliamentary secretary will be heard in silence. As much as it would pain me, I will remove you if you keep it up.
Mr GRAY—I notice those opposite reserve for this parliament the same lack of courtesy that they do for senior public servants—the same lack of regard that they reserved for our significant prudential institutions like the Reserve Bank when they lined up to appoint their own donors as members. It is why they turn around and attack the Secretary to the Treasury this week. It is why they turn around and attack the Reserve Bank itself. It is why those opposite impugn the integrity of public servants and prudential regulators, most of whom they appointed. It is why they feel no twinge of conscience as they set about doing damage, because the damage to our banking system will, those members opposite hope, deliver a vote dividend. It will lift their profile. Damage the banks, win votes is the equation. Who cares about the damage? Damage to whom? To the very people those opposite would seek to represent. They also seek to damage the very character of the Secretary to the Treasury. We have seen the Leader of the Opposition call upon the government to sack the Secretary to the Treasury for doing his job. This is the very same Secretary to the Treasury who has served multiple federal governments. He served the Hawke government and the Keating government. He served the Howard government with great distinction. One might wonder why they so hate the Secretary to the Treasury. I wondered that myself. Could it be his work ethic—he has one; they don’t? Could it be his ethics— he has them; they don’t? Could it be his character—he has one; they don’t? Could it be that he understands that they do not understand the issues that they drag around our parliament and community like a dead rat?
For the thrilling conclusion consult Wednesday's Hansard (1.8MB PDF) and search for "dead rat".
