5 years ago
CORMANN DOESN’T DESERVE FINANCE PORTFOLIO BACK
JIM CHALMERS MP
Scott Morrison should not reward his partner in crime Mathias Cormann for his years of Budget mismanagement and wasteful spending by returning him to the Finance portfolio.
Just as Morrison was complicit in driving up debt and smashing the Budget as Treasurer, Senator Cormann’s own record speaks for itself. As Finance Minister, he:
- Was a key architect behind the country’s net debt doubling over the past five years and gross debt crashing through half-a-trillion dollars for the first time ever;
- Hollowed out the public service and presided over a huge blowout in spending on contractors, consultants and labour hire;
- Signed off on the $80 million that was wasted on the harmful and divisive marriage equality plebiscite; and
- Had a hand in almost half-a-billion dollars going to the Great Barrier Reef Foundation without a proper tender process.
Mathias Cormann has demonstrated over the past week he’s more interested in playing politics than fixing the mess he’s made of the Budget and reining in his wasteful spending.
On Wednesday he supported Malcolm Turnbull, on Thursday he knifed Turnbull by backing Peter Dutton, and by Friday afternoon he fell in behind Scott Morrison – his Plan C.
Not only is Cormann not up to the task of Budget repair, but he’s shown he doesn’t deserve a second attempt at it.
Labor is united and ready to serve.
A Shorten Labor Government will fix the Liberals’ Budget mess and provide the responsible fiscal and economic management our country needs and deserves.