Having failed to walk the walk Nationals MP & Australian Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources is belatedly trying to talk the talk

Well the Nationals are out there trying to ‘spin’ their party as reasonable and balanced in the hope of repairing political damage caused by the recent Ministerial Code of Conduct-Use of Parliamentary Entitlements scandal.

This was former National Australia Bank rural financial adviser, Nationals MP for Maranoa since July 2016 & Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources since December 2017, David Kelly Littleproud.

The Sydney Morning Herald, 2 March 2018:

The heir to Barnaby Joyce's portfolio has declared he has nothing against renewables, believes climate change is fundamentally reshaping agriculture, and called on city dwellers to wake up to the economic heavy lifting being done by Australia's farmers.

David Littleproud, the banker who came within a couple of votes of snatching the Nationals leadership last week, has no intention of emulating the former deputy prime minister.

"I am in favour of renewables, make no mistake," he said. "It will mean we will have cleaner air to breathe, there is nothing to fear in that."

The Agriculture Minister, who party leaders hope will appeal to a new generation of voters, said renewables needed to be brought in a way that "doesn't impact someone being able to put a light on or a farmer being able to put a pump on".

"The stark reality," he said, is farmers had been trying to deal with the effects of climate change since they were "putting till in the ground".

The 41-year-old rejected calls from environmentalists for an agricultural climate change adaptation plan, but says that's only because farmers will need to do it themselves or risk losing their crop.

His comments mark a relatively climate-friendly shift from Mr Joyce, who promoted Mr Littleproud into cabinet before Christmas....

What David Littleproud does not say is that he has never voted against the Liberal-Nationals party line in the House of Representatives to date.

Which means he is on record as voting against:

A Royal Commission into Violence and Abuse against People with Disability

Implementing refugee and protection conventions

Increasing Aboriginal land rights

Increasing funding for university education

Increasing investment in renewable energy

Increasing restrictions on gambling

Increasing the diversity of media ownership

Increasing trade unions' powers in the workplace

Protecting citizens' privacy

Protecting the Great Barrier Reef

Requiring every native title claimant to sign land use agreements

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA)

And voting for:

A same-sex marriage plebiscite

An Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC)

Decreasing availability of welfare payments

Drug testing welfare recipients

Getting rid of Sunday and public holiday penalty rates

Increasing scrutiny of unions

Increasing the initial tax rate for working holiday makers to 19%

Increasing the Medicare Levy to pay for the National Disability Insurance Scheme

Privatising government assets

Reducing the corporate tax rate

Speeding things along in Parliament (procedural)

Stopping people who arrive by boat from ever coming to Australia

Strengthening gun control laws

The Coalition's new schools funding policy ("Gonski 2.0")

Tighter means testing of family payments

Then there is the question of a potential for conflict of interest as the minister responsible for water resouces. Given his father-in-law owns one of those farming operations which allegedly have largescale unapproved earthworks which effectively dam floodwaters for unmetered water harvesting.

Somehow I don’t see Littleproud making much headway with what he calls “a new generation of voters”.

The political fish rots from the head down.....

The Hoopla on 18 February 2014 revealed what many have suspected – the Abbott Government only makes a thin pretense of listening to the general public:

A person has died in an Australian prison camp on Manus Island, scores are injured. They were allegedly set upon by PNG police and locals wielding knives, machetes and stones.  

I called Scott Morrison’s office a minute ago.  I said, “I wish to convey my concerns about Manus Island please.”

The receptionist made that nasal noise we women make when our lips are pressed and sucked very tightly together in annoyance, “mmm.”

“Right,” she said.

“Well would you mind taking my name and number?” I asked.

“Fine,” she said.

I gave her my details and she made that “mmm” sound between every word and digit.  When I was done I said, “would you mind reading my number back to me please?”

Silence.  Not even a bitchy noise.  Then, “aherm, I’m sorry, I must have missed it.”

Not really making notes of concerns then, I take it.

Fred Nile's mob speak with forked tongues

Late yesterday (perhaps after dark) an assortment of junk mail was placed in letter boxes in the Lower Clarence area by persons working on behalf of Reverend Fred's lot. There was enough combustible material to start a bushfire.

However, two things about the junk (which was obviously left as a complete parcel of goodies) stirred things up.

1. The front of one piece of the junk advised voters to Vote 1 for Fred's candidate and then vote for your preferred prime minister. Turning the page over revealed what a pack of hypocrites the CDP are. There, the instructions for voters in the electorate of Page were to Vote 1 for one of Fred's flock and then vote 2 for the National Party candidate.

2. Accompanying Fred's junk was a flyer authorised by B Franklin of Level 8, 130 Elizabeth St, Sydney 2000 which North Coast Voices yesterday described as the work of political cowards. What was that flyer from the State Director of the NSW National Party doing with the other junk Fred left? No prizes for guessing that one!

The fine print on the CDP rubbish says it's authorised by Ian Smith of 9 Exeter Rd Homebush West 2140. Clarrie will be forwarding the entire package to Mr Smith (via Australia Post) without stamps. 

Stick that up your jumper, Mr Smith!