Don’t ask me, I’m only the Prime Minister
15th October, 2008
The failure of the Prime Minister today to answer any questions in Parliament about the state of the Australian economy - at a time of great global upheaval - is highly concerning, said the Leader of The Nationals, Warren Truss.“Today Mr Rudd was asked a serious of sensible and straightforward questions in Parliament about the state of the Australian economy, now and into the future,” Mr Truss said.
“He was asked twice by the Opposition Leader to provide detail on when he was first advised that Australia needed a $10.4 billion emergency economic package. Despite this package cutting the expected 2008-09 Budget surplus in half, Mr Rudd treated these important questions with disdain.
“Mr Rudd was asked by the Shadow Treasurer to release the economic advice that underpinned the $10.4 billion package, and whether it would put inflation and interest rates up or down. Again, he rudely refused to give anything approaching an answer.
“I asked the Prime Minister if he could guarantee that his Government would not introduce any new or increased taxes over the next 12 months. There was again a contemptuous non-answer. It is impossible to come to any conclusion other than we are about to be slugged again with higher taxes.
“Now, I know Question Time in Parliament is not a courtroom. But it is a serious place, for serious answers. And there is no more serious matter at this time than the economic crisis gripping Australia and the rest of the world.
“An evasive, arrogant Prime Minister who refuses to answer basic economic questions does not produce confidence.
“The Prime Minister either does not know the true state of the Australian economy or he will not level with the Australian people. His evasiveness makes the stimulus package look more like a blind leap of faith,” Mr Truss said.
