My independence from political associations or persuasions is important to me. I am generally critical of the incumbent government, whichever, whenever. They invariably fail to carry out their promises, display loyalty only to themselves instead of the people, (e.g. currently increasing their salaries while cutting costs affecting the public – a blatant hypocrisy and insult to the voters), and the list goes on.

Given that, I am sufficiently impressed by this extract from the weekly e-Bulletin (2nd December), of Senator Michael Ronaldson, Senator for Victoria, to copy it because I happen to agree with it, strongly!

“Spotlight of scrutiny scares Prime Minister

Tax and borrow, borrow and tax – the appalling mismanagement of the Australian economy under the Labor-Green Government has been exposed once more with hapless Treasurer Wayne Swan’s crisis-driven mid-term budget statement.

Swan’s economic statement this week only confirms that this dysfunctional government is addicted to new taxes, reckless spending and increasing debt.

The Treasurer confirmed the Labor-Green Government would keep on borrowing, artificially fudging the figures to create the impression of a budget heading towards surplus.

But further discrediting Mr Swan’s appalling economic credentials has been a $26 billion blowout in debt.

Missing from the mid-term economic announcement, however, was Prime Minister Gillard.

Under siege within the Labor Party ahead of a confronting national conference when disgruntled and disappointed union heavies and rank and file members will raise the border protection debacle, the Prime Minister’s absence was of no surprise.

Julia Gillard has not held a press conference since November 23, she has not done a radio interview since November 14 or a TV interview since November 12.

It is not the first time the Prime Minister has been missing from the action since the political assassination of Kevin Rudd. The Prime Minister, at the insistence of the Greens, walked away from the solemn vow that were would be “no carbon tax under the government I lead” and then backed away from a national tour to sell the toxic tax of betrayal.

The Labor-Green Government would rather embark of another round of reckless spending to promote a carbon tax that Australians do not want and one that will deliver no benefits to the environment.

Here are three examples this week from Treasurer Swan, totalling more than $100 million

􀁺Clean Energy Future – Implementation: $32.6 million over two years The mid-term budget paper says: “This funding includes the establishment of a Clean Energy Future Program Office within the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, to review, assess and support the implementation of the plan and funding to provide information to Australian households, businesses and communities about the plan.”

􀁺Clean Energy Future – Improving Energy Efficiency – household advice: $5.8 million over four years. “The Government will provide $5.8 million over four years to deliver information to households on the impact of the carbon price on electricity bills…”

􀁺Clean Energy Future – Supporting Jobs – Energy Efficiency Information Grants: $40 million over four years. “The Government will provide $40 million over four years to assist industry associations and non-government organisations to deliver information about the implications of a carbon price . . . ”

Since coming to office Labor has lifted the government’s borrowing cap from $75 billion to an unprecedented $250 billion in order to fund its reckless spending and waste. (My emphasis).

Any budget surplus touted by Mr Swan will be an artificial representation of the economic picture he seeks to paint.

As I have said before, if Julia Gillard thought the Rudd Government had lost its way, this current alliance dominated by the zealous will and dangerous ideology of Bob Brown and the Greens, has simply never found its way.

The Prime Minister goes missing whenever the spotlight of scrutiny glares down on a government already judged as the worst government in Australian history.

But the most probing act of scrutiny for Ms Gillard will come at the next election. The Prime Minister will not be able to avoid that.

The election could come at any time.

Let’s be ready.

This assessment is exactly correct, in my opinion. It deserves to be in bold emphasis. The debacle of the Carbon Tax is a disgrace and an embarassment. The above expenditures on promotion and propaganda highlight the unbelievably ludicrous policies of the Labour Government.

Only trouble is, what can we expect from the Coalition???? This question takes nothing away from the Senator’s words and my agreement with them.

I don’t have a source reference but the Senator’s email is per chris.earl@aph.gov.au