Barnett commits to broken promises
I wrote yesterday about the WA Opposition’s position statements/policy conundrum. They didn’t want to have policies, because “we don’t want to lock ourselves in,” so they had non-commital position statements instead. After Steve Pennells ably demonstrated the absurdity of this situation on the eve of an election campaign, Colin Barnett decided to lock his colleagues in — without consulting them.
Pennells again:
Speaking on radio 6PR, …
(Geoff Gallop was criticised last week for ceding this slot to the Opposition leader; now it looks like a stroke of tactical genius — the more Barnett talks, the deeper he digs his political grave.)
… Mr Barnett stunned his colleagues by elevating more than 60 Liberal discussion papers into coalition policy, putting him at odds with deputy coalition leader Max Trenorden and deputy Liberal leader Dan Sullivan.
Barnett emailed Liberal MPs late in the afternoon (presumably after fielding dozens of angry phone calls) to tell them the position statements “are the commitments we take into the election” and “are binding on coalition.”
This was a very stupid move. It’s one thing to refine a discussion paper into a binding policy, but it’s another to ditch parts of finalised, binding policies. And that’s what Barnett will have to do.
There are so many expensive commitments in those documents that the top 100 alone will cost more than $6 billion! Combined with a promise to cut taxes and maintain surplus budgets, is it any surprise that Colin Barnett is refusing to have his costings independently verified? “We will add them up for you,” he says. Comedian.
There is only one way to explain this: broken promises. Barnett’s colleagues know this; they’ve intended to break their promises all along. That’s why they’re furious at being “locked in” to their commitments. Ask yourself: can I trust a party that is angry at its leader for saying it will be bound by policy announcements?
Great post. I really hope the general public pick up on the importance of this issue. Barnett and his fellow Liberals have no credibility, whether it be in relation to fiscal management, strategic development, or just plain being an organised party.
Barnett has all the charisma of a blow-fish that’s been sunbaking for 2 weeks.
I am sick to the back teeth of the dodo editor of The West Australian, Paul Armstrong, who has obviously given all the journos the brief to lean right as much as possible, even Inside the Covers was doing a dutch oven on the Labor party today.
I can hardly wait for the day Armstrong gets the unceremonious flick like all his predecessors.
Give us our only daily paper back and go peddle your right wing propaganda somewhere else Paul Armstrong!!!
That’s my 2-bob’s worth, thanks Robert – I needed that…
ab — Surely you are joking. Some highlight’s from The West this week:
Tuesday: Barnett keeps policies off opposition agenda
Do-nothing coalition plans to win government by default as Barnett dithers with campaign agenda
In just over four weeks Colin Barnett could be WA’s next premier. Yet most people have no idea what he stands for.
The Opposition has not released a single costed policy, its MPs publicly contradict each other and it has managed to alienate traditional business allies over what is being perceived as a lack of direction.
There is an astounding amount of apathy within the Opposition … and arrogance …
[T]he Opposition Leader … is not well liked by the public …
MPs have flip-flopped …
Wednesday: Barnett is out of position
The coalition’s election campaign is in disarray before it starts, with senior members attacking leader Colin Barnett over his surprise deicision yesterday to commit them to a string of major policies.
Confusion reigned within the coalition camp …
Mr Barnett stunned his colleagues … putting him at odds with deputy coalition leader Max Trenorden and deputy Liberal leader Dan Sullivan.
Friday: ‘Serial privatiser’ rules out further asset sales
Mr Barnett refused to be interviewed on the issue, instead issuing a one line statement …
Deputy Premier Eric Ripper said Mr Barnett could not be believed …
“Mr Barnett can not be believed. He is a serial privatiser,” he said.
Artdul dodgers go for tax avoidance
But it is the coalition (Chamber of Commerce boss John) Langoulant is most concerned about.
Back in October 2003, Opposition Leader Colin Barnett vowed that a coalition government would reduce land tax and stamp duty rates on property purchases. But with the election a little more than a month away, it remains a mystery how the coalition intends to fund such fiscal largesse.
Of course, Mr Barnett is refusing to detail the coalition’s financial plan for the State until sometime after the election is called. Until then, it is difficult to give the coalition any credibility on its promise to cut taxes.
In Monty Python terms, Dr Gallop acknowledges he’s been a naughty boy on tax. But there is certainly no signpost pointing to Colin Barnett as the Messiah.
Clearly the Liberal Party is getting a dream run.