Marrickville mauler hits back at bogan Nationals

John Cobb says:

08:58am | 04/06/09

The Marrickville Mauler? Mr Albanese may think he is a heavy hitter but he is more like the Grayndler Greyhound – he runs away from his responsibilities faster than Mrs Hardbottle will in the first race at tonight’s Dapto Dogs.

Mr Albanese has proven two things as the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government: he made a great Shadow Minister for the Environment and Heritage and he never lets the truth get in the way of a good yarn.

For a MP whose inner Sydney seat based is based around Newtown, Leichhardt and Enmore (or Greens Central), his decision to not speak on the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme legislation is pretty puzzling.

Mr Albanese is either too embarrassed to speak or he is not interested in representing his constituents on the floor of Parliament. Today he deserted the people of the electorate of Grayndler, who expect more from their MP (and probably expected legislation that would close down the coal industry overnight).

The reason I didn’t accompany the General Manager of Bogan Shire to the Minister’s office on Wednesday was not because I was worried about being photographed by Albo’s staffers for use in the propaganda campaign being waged by Labor against Coalition MPs working for their electorates.

I made a conscious decision not to accompany Mike Brady on his mission to secure funding for Nyngan’s leaky swimming pool, which is past its use by date, because I don’t think he would have been given a good hearing if I had been there. Today’s column by Albo in The Punch proves my case.

Not all Government ministers are political animals. I did meet with Health Minister, Nicola Roxon, this morning on behalf of the Bourke Shire to discuss the changes to Medicare payments for cataract operations, which is a major issue in Calare electorate.

I also know that Mr Albanese is being very loose with the truth when he claims he delayed the meeting for 10 minutes while waiting for me. The real reason the meeting was delayed was because a departmental staffer with expertise in the area was running late.

Finally a challenge for the Grayndler Greyhound.  I know how much the mob at The Punch loves nothing more than a tasty scoop.

The Nationals have tried repeatedly to have the Mr Albanese table a full electorate by electorate and funding breakdown of his $176 million Better Regions program. From the scant stats we have seen, this program looks like an epic rort with more than 90 percent of money going into Labor seats.

Minister, show some ticker and publish the list on The Punch..

denny says:

12:35pm | 04/06/09

Albanese is being very deceptive here. Cobb did not represent Calare before the 2007 election, he was the MP for Parkes which had very different boundaries. Calare was held by an independent, Peter Andren.

bob says:

12:54pm | 04/06/09

Why does albanese object so strongly to liberal/National members working for the voters of their electorates?

John says:

01:22pm | 04/06/09

@denny: Albanese being deceptive - how unusual!

Michael says:

12:50am | 05/06/09

If you look carefully as you leave Bogan Shire Council there is a sign on the side of the road reading, “You are now leaving the Bogan Catchment Area”. Sensational