Abbott is ‘making a meal’ of helping Europe

Wayne Swan on APEC

Treasurer Wayne Swan has accused Tony Abbott of changing his position on European loans. Picture: Courtesy of Sky News
Source: Supplied





THE Opposition is split and is making “an absolute meal” of its policy on helping European economies survive, Treasurer Wayne Swan said today.


Mr Swan said Opposition Leader Tony Abbott had changed his position last week of questioning whether Australia should “waste” contributing billions in loans to an International Monetary Fund rescue bid.

The loans would be repaid with interest and would not change the Australian Budget bottom line.

Mr Abbott and shadow treasurer Joe Hockey were criticised by business groups who fear the collapse of the Greek and Italian economies could severely damage growth in Australia.

“First Joe Hockey made an absolute meal of this issue, now it’s Tony Abbott’s turn to demonstrate his economic incompetence,” said Mr Swan in Honolulu where he is attending an APEC finance ministers meeting.

“Last week the Liberals were saying Australia should not consider contributing money to the IMF. Now Tony Abbott is saying we should. It’s taken a week and a trip to London for Tony Abbott to realise the stupidity of his position.”

Today Mr Abbott, in London for a meeting of the International Democratic Union of conservative leaders, said  it was important to “try to resolve the Eurozone crisis in ways which fix the problem, don’t simply fudge it so that we’re coming back to this again and again and again for years”.

Mr Abbott said if Australia chipped in there should be “adjustments that are going to bring about lasting change for the better”.

“I never said that Australia should fail in its duties of international citizenship. What I said was we need to be very careful about anything that involved throwing good money after bad,” he said after a meeting with British Chancellor George Osborne.

On Friday last week the Opposition Leader questioned “the merits of Australia being involved in what is effectively a European bailout”.

“At the moment, the risk is that the Australian taxpayer will end up contributing another $5 billion to the IMF so that Greeks can continue to retire at 50,” he said.

Mr Hockey had started the questioning the previous day, saying: “Australians will be asking what are the Prime Minister’s priorities when she is prepared to give Australian taxpayers’ money to the IMF to help the Eurozone when in fact there are much greater challenges here and greater challenges for the IMF around the world.”

Treasurer Swan said today it is in Australia’s best interests that the IMF has the resources to deal with “the vulnerabilities confronting the global economy  no matter where the source of those vulnerabilities”.

“Australian Governments – of both political persuasions – over many years have worked with the IMF to ensure global economic stability,” he said.

“Tony Abbott’s and Joe Hockey’s idea that Australia should just shirk this longstanding responsibility is absurd.

“John Howard and Peter Costello must be fuming listening to this tripe from Tony Abbott. Mr Howard and Mr Costello knew the benefits to Australia of supporting the IMF, its startling that the current crop of economic lightweights from the Liberal party don’t share this wisdom.

“Mr Hockey needs to come out today and admit he’s again made a complete mess of this serious economic issue before the last rites are delivered on the Liberals economic credibility.”

You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

Leave a Reply

Powered by WordPress | Designed by: Premium WordPress Themes | Thanks to Themes Gallery, Bromoney and Wordpress Themes