Freak show? At least Barnaby didn’t blow the budget

anthony says:

05:18pm | 06/02/10

An excellent parody piece, kudos to the staff writer responsible!

Russ says:

05:33pm | 06/02/10

Barnaby, you really are a goose.  Compare the debt-to-GDP ratio of Australia with the countries you quoted.  The old scare tactic of “Labor can’t manage the economy”  is not going to play nearly as well for you in this election, especially if you remain Finance shadow.  Go back to what you’re good at - loony conspiracy theories.

Lorny says:

05:48pm | 06/02/10

If Rudd loses the election…...well he had it coming. If he wins he will continue to do a crap job and waste more money. Either way it isn’t a positive result for the poor pm.

Charles says:

07:04pm | 06/02/10

Stick with what you are doing Barnaby, most of the sensible public has worked out the nit-picking ALPoids and Canberra Press Gallery.  What the Left hasn’t quite worked out is that the debt we have is starting to drive interest rates up, and given the revert to the past reform desire of this government, this situation will only deteriorate further.

Stick with reality, it will triumph over the various delusions of the ALP ideologues in the end.

RobJ says:

09:02pm | 06/02/10

“Be yourself Barnaby.  “

Good advice, it will ensure stays out of govt. The way he whines about foreign aid makes me think he lacks compassion. I don’t want someone like that representing me.

C says:

12:55pm | 07/02/10

Foreign aid…oh that would be the millions of dollars Rudd is handing to Third World nations to secure their vote for a non-permanent seat on the UN “Security” Council?

The millions of dollars that generally end up in the pockets of men like Robert Mugabe, to spend on champagne and caviar, whilst people starve and there’s no money to pay doctors wages?

VinceOZ says:

09:22pm | 06/02/10

Think about Spain, and its GREEN economy, and its 22% unemployment. Hand that to Rudd..

Good onya. you did fine.

Foreign Aid says:

09:28pm | 06/02/10

He is being himself Walter, that’s the problem. I take it you’re not having a sexual relationship with Barnaby?

Mary Jane says:

10:29pm | 06/02/10

Barnaby - some people just would not give you the praise you deserve because you are not a leftist loonie.
Let’s get rid of Rudd and Wong before they sell us out totally.  They have already let Queensland be sold out.
  However, because the media are mainly leftist in their views, Barnaby will have a battle.  I’ll bet none of them have ever made a slip of the tongue - oh Nooooooooooo.

Shane From Melbourne says:

10:32pm | 06/02/10

Deficits and public debt is ok- as long as it is spent on infrastructure such as rail, roads, power, water etc. Handouts such as the Liberal Party and Labor Party gave out is unsustainable debt.  Another problem is that there are no more major assets to sell. The proceeds of Telstra went to the Future Fund to fund the superannuation liabilities of politicians and civil servants- the greatest act of theft (or wealth transfer) in the history of Australia.

Chase Stevens says:

10:34pm | 06/02/10

Bahaha you stuffed up, own it and move on.

steve says:

12:36pm | 07/02/10

he did and he has
Can you do the same?

Jonathan says:

10:48pm | 06/02/10

You are indeed a God-send Senator Joyce.  I like how you say, “We can not keep going overseas and borrowing money to balance up our stuff-up.”  It is great that you use the word “OUR”.  Even though the economic problems were not caused by you or by me, you clearly take ownership of the issue and look for solutions.  You know that we are all in this together as Australians, and you are looking to the future potential for recovery from Labor policies.

James Loring says:

11:06pm | 06/02/10

Ignore the critics Barnaby. Just say it how you see it. The only reason they scream is because you tell the truth and they can’t stand that!
Hey, If you become our next federal finance minister you can pick out all the useless and costly legislation and I’ll bring the shredder. We’ll have a ball!

The Watcher says:

11:38pm | 06/02/10

Clearly some people just love attacking persons instead of their ideas. Barnaby is a sound financial manager and i think it will be good if the coalition replaces the ideological slaves to Karl Marx that we are ashamed to even call a govt. Rudd is the one term nightmare that we had to have, so that we could know how left wing loons with their moral high horse, double standard policies that are only workable in a fairyland utopia (eg Abolition of nuclear weapons - HAHAHAHA- in your wildest dreams hippies). Until then, we need people who take decisions that deal with the real world.

David says:

12:19am | 07/02/10

This is Joke right.. every fact you point to is pure nonsense, it has to be a parady!! I wouldn’t let Barnaby do my tax return let alone be responsible for the finances of a country he is a walking talking joke, and I am not being overly mean.. have you ever heard him try and reason something out !! Tony is a fear based right wing nutter who has as much touch with reality as a fanatic religous evaneglist (hang on thats kinda what he is) .. and we all look forward to another year of fear mongering and scare tactics and one liners that have no basis in any reality from both of them.. I am not a Rudd supporter but damn we would be insane to vote in Tony and the half wit . (sarah palin for Aus anyone)

Bri says:

01:14am | 07/02/10

There is probably no point writing anything in response to your article Mr Joyce. It is my feeling that you are too pig-headed to take on any constructive criticism.
But just in case I’m wrong…..my suggestion would be to stand up and take responsibility for all the wonky things you said at the Press Club. Just be honest - you’re good at that.

Second, why don’t you take a bit of time out to learn your portfolio? That will serve you well for the future.

My third and final suggestion would be for you to do a bit of travelling around the world and see how the majority of the world live - particularly in the developing countries. Travel to a few of the smaller islands near Australia like Tuvalu and see the affects of climate change on real people with real families.

I don’t mind your honesty Barnaby, sometimes I think you’re funny, sometimes you make some accurate comments. But I worry that you lack humanity….

John A Neve says:

08:29am | 07/02/10

I love Barnaby, we love Barnaby, even Barnaby loves Barnaby.
Vote for him, not in a fit.

Rocket Surgeon says:

09:06am | 07/02/10

Superficially what you say makes a lot of sense, especially if you think governments need to balance their books like a business or a household. But that not how governments should operate. The coalition made a massive mistake in its last term when it continued to pump government spending into an overheating economy and its reversing the mistake now by thinking government spending should be scaled back in a contracting economy with weak private spending. Government spending needs to be counter-cyclical, but this is counter-intuitive if you think economic management is just about balancing the books.

Unfortunately, there are two scenarios to explain why you continue to peddle this opinion. Either you don’t know any better or you do and are willing to exploit the ignorance of others to get elected.

Rob Moore says:

10:23am | 07/02/10

Barnaby- don’t be fazed by the negative comments above and in the MSM.You and I know that this is way above two party politics and it is basic Grade 8 book keeping on a global level.

Our natural resources have given us a monetary advantage over many countries and we enjoy a very high standard of living due to this. All govts have been parasites on this model and have had a healthy free ride up until now!

If ten people end up with cancer in a hospital and only one speaks up and says-hey lets have the chemo and the operation now and there is a good chance with early intervention that there will be a reasonable result. If the other 9 who are feeling O K still howl him down -saying how dare you make my hair fall out and the cost of surgery and the scars. Who is right as we all know it is terminal left untreated.

The biggest challenge with politics is to share the pain equitably.Most Aussies can “dig in” and “one in all in” used to be the spirit. Trouble with the two party -3yr election cycle, it seems that one party will buy votes at the expense of the other parties voters and leaves a self preseving,selfish divided country.

I know Barnaby is genuine and simply just doesn’t want us to end up like Spain and others with 20% unemployment and no tax base to pay welfare.The next step then is rioting in the streets!

CJ Morgan says:

10:57am | 07/02/10

Great stuff.  I truly hope that Barnyard maintains his high profile as we head towards this year’s election.  Between the Mad Monk and Barnyard the Opposition hasn’t got a hope!

exzilerate says:

12:36pm | 07/02/10

As Shadow Finace Minister your performance was appalling Mr Joyce. Bumbling along as you went and even suggesting we cut off Foreign Aid to poorer countries ! I doubt strongly the good people of Australia will ever vote in an organisation like yours Mr Joyce that sounds more and more “Hillbilly” by the day !

Joe says:

12:51pm | 07/02/10

Keep up the good work Barnaby. We can’t let Rudd get away with racking up the debt like he used to get away with a free pass from the media on his Great Big New Tax - that is untill you helped shed light on what a con the ETS really is.

formersnag says:

01:55pm | 07/02/10

The loony, left, labour/green coalition will always attack the messenger and never the message, its all they have.

The real reason they have been spending like drunken sailors is not saving the economy, but buying votes. Their own research into the “John Howard Battlers” phenomenon has shown that they were principally working & middle class men, who realised that the loony, left, radical, extremist, feman-nazi, labour/green coalition regard them as enemies. Right now they are still reviewing the “Anti Family law act of 1975”, so that they can abuse even more children. Why do you think Kruddie keeps banging on about “tradies”?

Louis McLennan says:

02:38pm | 07/02/10

It’ll always be us vs them. Those of us who work hard, value education, health and respect others vs those who just have their hand-out and attack those who succeed.

Terry of Brisbae says:

03:14pm | 07/02/10

Barnaby you did stuff up but you just need to understand that the MSM and Labor supporters are going to jump on every single gaffe that anyone from the coalition makes and blow it out of all proportion. The same cannot be said for their treatment of Labor. Has everyone forgotten the press conference that Swan held when he kept everyone waiting for almost 3 minutes whilst he found his briefing notes to speak from? Everything the Labor side says and does is scripted and scrutinised by the spin doctors down to the last letter. Don’t ever expect anything remotely spontaneous from them.
As for their performance in Parliament with their childish, schoolyard bullying, puerile name calling - if Rudd had any semblance of leadership skills he would put a stop to this drivel.
Oh and by the way Ugh. You talk about Barbaby getting a good proof reader before putting out articles. Perhaps you should do the same thing yourself. You said at the start “Is this the best the Liberal Party has to offer?” For your enlightenment, Barnaby Joyce is a NATIONAL Senator!!!

Harquebus says:

03:41pm | 07/02/10

I like a man with common sense, thinks and speaks for himself,  has principles and sticks to his guns whether I agree with him or not. Stick to your principles and your guns Barnaby. We need more politicians like you.

Don Clark says:

03:41pm | 07/02/10

The relative modesty of our federal debt, and relative strength of our national economy, have been discussed on the public record for a good many months now, and a good many sound economic commentators are well aware of the facts: among them such independent commentators as Colebatch, Hartcher and Gittins.

Although lost on posturing politicians like Senator Joyce, and equally lost on trolls like Greg at 11:04, many a nugget is readily found by reading a touch more widely than the Telegraph, with a little curiosity,  enough patience to find and assess different sources, and a touch of impatience with self-serving nonsense.

Here’s just a quick sample:

“This article has shown that Australia has undergone several periods of debt accumulation, followed by periods of fiscal consolidation. Periods of strong economic growth following episodes of debt accumulation have helped support relatively quick improvements in the public sector’s net debt position. Australia has a low level of net debt both historically and when compared with G-7 economies.”
A history of public debt in Australia/ Katrina Di Marco, Mitchell Pirie and Wilson Au-Yeung. In full: Treasury Economic Roundup Issue 1, 2009
http://www.treasury.gov.au/documents/1496/PDF/01_Debt.pdf

And here’s Ross Gittins, writing in the SMH some time back:
“At the projected peak in the net debt of $203 billion in June 2014, it will be equivalent to just 14 per cent of the nation’s annual income (which is the gross domestic product).  Such a modest, manageable debt - a fraction of the relative size of the net public debts of all the major developed countries - will not take generations to pay off, not that it would matter.“

And for good measure, Tim Colebatch in January this year
“THE Reserve Bank is forecasting a more or less normal year for Australia. Treasury is more wary, but positive. And our panel, for the most part, is somewhere between the two.”
In full: http://www.smh.com.au/business/economic-recovery-more-a-simmer-than-a-boil-20100101-llw4.html

Rising interest rates? Pfft. Keeping interest rates too low for too long is to risk too much expansion. We are seeing a carefully gradual return to normal levels, as long, long foreshadowed, from emergency low levels, all while inflation is tracking at or near the target range as the budget stimulus is already washing out of the economy.

As I’ve said before, I’m just a private citizen expressing a point of view that I’ve thought through and can back up. And Greg’s personal baiting? Pffft. Look up flatus, Greg - you’re suffering from it.

John A Neve says:

04:56pm | 07/02/10

Louis McLennan @1438hrs,
Perhaps you could tell us who “them” really are?
Then maybe you could tell us who “those who succeed” are?

You have just given me the chance to use a term I hate, I’d suggest you post is un-Australian.

iansand says:

08:57pm | 07/02/10

Why are Barnaby’s supporters all semi-literate?

Bob says:

06:43pm | 07/02/10

120 b in debt and growing quicker and bigger than Rudd’s nose.It doesnt matter if you said billions,trillions or millions at the press club Barnaby.Under a labor govt it want be long till there wont be any of it left.Your doing a great job Mr Freak show,

Stefano says:

07:31pm | 07/02/10

When and if you have a “Let he who is without sin…....” moment, Joycey, just fire two words back at them - “John Kerin”.

Brett L says:

07:57pm | 07/02/10

I no longer wonder why it’s impossible to get a truly effective leader in politics.
Take at look at all the comments above and below. So many people with their own agenda for power and wealth. Why would anybody with the ability to intelligently lead a nation put up their personal life exposed to ridicule, and then also try to appease every ideological opinion. The Government and Opposition just play each other for the sake of the game. Is there really any goodwill towards the people of Australia?

Senexx says:

08:29pm | 07/02/10

The Reserve Bank debits (subtracts from) Non-Australian Country securities account at the Reserve. This is? how borrowing works operationally.

And they credit (add to) Non-Australian Country reserve (savings) account at the Reserve Bank to pay it back. That’s all borrowed debt paid.

We need to remember the Gold Standard and Bretton Woods Systems are dead.  We live in a Fiat Currency system.  And we should not confuse our federal spending with the revenue restrained expenditure of a State Government.

Senator Joyce is probably a decent accountant and certainly hasn’t had to deal with billions and trillions in an accountancy practice but as an economist, as a macroeconomist he needs work.  It may come with time.

Guy Beer says:

08:30pm | 07/02/10

Hey this great! I have found my spiritual home, a beautiful glade full of lovely fluffy Barnaby supporters. I just hope that nasty Elmer Rudd doesn’t happen upon us with his fearsome weapon. We are so defenseless and look at all the horrid press gallery people poking fun at us. Well let them laugh, we’ll be feasting on their entrails come the election, won’t we my fluffy brothers?

murray says:

08:36pm | 07/02/10

Am I the only one who is concerned that in one corner we have a Finance Minister who, despite the razor gang hype, hasn’t come across a spending proposal he didn’t like, and in the other we have an agrarian socialist who wants to redistribute the taxes on our earnings to the country?

Eno says:

08:59pm | 07/02/10

So you disagree that the rich, who by definition make their money from the poor should have to pay more for the good of society as a whole than the poor..

You’re even more further to the right than the mad monk and Barnaby “It’s a joke” Joyce.

Carl Palmer says:

09:34pm | 07/02/10

I believe the recommendations in Auditor General’s report were unanimously accepted – at least in the Senate. It mentioned something about $40mil of “waste”. 

Winding back debt, I think you mean winding back waste and then let’s talk about the debt.  As previously stated, 3 quotes when the insulation rebate was $1600 and all 3 came in @ $1600. How coincidental.  Now its $1200, another 3 different quotes (same house) came in with, yep you guessed it $1200 and let’s not mention the fly by nighters who lodge their claim but don’t install. I guess it’s making someone feel good.

You can’t be serious.

Oh, let’s not mention an additional $60mil (total now around $130mil) they are appropriating for a place called Xmas Island. 

Give me a break!!

vote kevin OUT says:

10:19pm | 07/02/10

Barnaby I don’t give two shits about your minor misspeak.
I care about you standing up and speaking the TRUTH.
I am not alone in feeling this way.

Rudd and his globalist AGW agenda is falling to pieces and you guys in the LNP are being relied upon to stop the bullshit and pull Australia out of this never ending carbon taxation scheme on everything.

As far as I’m concerned the AGW scam was an all governments initiated taxation scheme, via the IPCC – a specifically created UN agency, to rip off hundreds of billions from Western taxpayers. So far though, it is the scientists who are being criticised, though they are bit players in this scam.

“Scientists” whose jobs and promotion depended on getting grant money, could be easily bought off to provide the required answers. The money in grant allocations to scientists is worth less then peanut shells compared to what governments and big business planned to pocket from general taxation on energy, and further hidden levies on all energy usage - petrol, diesel, gas and electricity.

Politicians like RUDD have to be held accountable for this scam to defraud the public, financially and politically.

WA Aggie says:

12:10am | 08/02/10

We need more real people like Barnaby leading our country.  These fat cats like Rudd and Turnbull who only want to prance around on the world stage cost us beaucoup.  Check out this link for an example of how much the smooth cats in office care about our tax dollars:  http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/news/general/no-ets-but-150-staff-on-the-job/1744141.aspx?storypage=1

Flipflop says:

07:42am | 08/02/10

I am sure Barnaby belives the rubbish he spins, I think Tony Abbotts comment about Barnaby telling the truth should be a worry to all Public Servants, he probably has let the cat out of the bag. Hes a character, he reminds me of Joh Bjelke-Petersen, slighty bizzare , bordering on doddery and caught up his own spin. If your going to have a Finance Minister guys, find one that can count.. 
Godd Luck to Malcom Turnbull your honesty mate over the ETS is inspiring, its a shame other Liberals are not as honest. But thats nothing new for the Liberal Party. We were told lies about Iraq, lies about children overboard and the lies just continue

AFR says:

09:48am | 08/02/10

Putting Joyce in charge of the economy would be like letting Michael Jackson mind your kids.

Angela Booth says:

10:07am | 08/02/10

Barnaby, you’re a breath of fresh air. Keep up the GREAT work. You’re open, you’re honest, and you’re real… are you sure you’re a politician?

Ron Roberts says:

12:28pm | 08/02/10

I’m really surpirsed the media hasn’t picked up Anthony Albanese, the leader of the Govenrment in the House, saying on the very same day as Barnaby’s press club appearance that the Rudd Govt was spending “$7.8 MILLION” over four years on rail. If that was really the case then we’d hardly be bothering would we?

Francis Forbes says:

12:59pm | 08/02/10

The labor spend fest isnt a bad thing we have a strong economy and its seems to be ticking along well compared to the rest of the world. But typically they know when to stop.

I not exactly a fan of Joyce but rightly or wrongly he tends to speak his mind and I think he talks straight ( for a pollie). And he stands up for his constituants.

If you ever get back into government Barnaby will you remain the straight talking un muzzled pollie?

James says:

01:26pm | 08/02/10

Barneby didn’t blow the budget. Give it time B give it time.  Why do refer to yourself in the third person by the way?

Bob says:

04:12pm | 08/02/10

Barnaby, you are a joke. Its embarrassing for this country to have someone like you in parliament.

Dave says:

05:04pm | 08/02/10

Imagine letting Barnaby run the Treasury?
Imagine letting Barnaby run a listed company?
Imagine letting Barnaby run your own small business for you?

REALLY! Think about it..

It’s like giving Palin the launch codes. (Sarah or Eric, take your pick)

Personally, I’m all in favor of Barnaby in the shadow ministry. As long as he’s there, Labor will be able to get on with the job of governing and make the tough decisions as required. As soon as the Libs find a credible lineup, it’s back to the popularity contest.

Evan Findlay says:

07:28pm | 08/02/10

Barnaby, you are the delusional fool that checks that the fridge light is on! You say that Labor doesn’t want to cut costs. Interesting…. they have tried to reign in the unsustainable middle class welfare that your previous government set up. The 30% rebate for private health was not taken from a drop in defence spending or infrastructure spending, mainly because conservative’s don’t actually spend on infrastructure, but simply on tax revenue. The problem is that as tax revenue plummets as it has done in the past twelve months the money has to be found from other sources, which means other portfolio’s such as health and education miss out. If you are single and earn over $70,000 then you can afford your own health insurance. Stop kidding yourself, the country cannot afford to keep paying for all the middle class welfare. I don’t believe in dishing money out to dole bludgers and I don’t believe those on a good wicket should be getting a handout. You talk about productivity within the economy, yet Howard had one of the lowest figures since the end of the second world war. Your party whilst in power wasted hundreds of billions of dollars with nothing to show for it. Ships still sit off our coastline waiting to be loaded with our resources for weeks on end costing the economy hundreds of thousand dollars a day. And instead of investing in infrastructure, instead of investing in the future, instead of investing in productivity, instead of investing in the growth of the economy, your policy inert government gave us baby bonuses, first home owner grants and 30% rebates on private health insurance.  Like any person with any understanding of the economy or productivity would listen to the protector of the little light in the fridge. You will never cut the mustard with the electorate, your nothing but a hillbilly.

Brian says:

07:54pm | 08/02/10

On the NBN and Mike Kaiser - What “relevant experience” is Stephen Conroy referring to? This is a 450k a year job? Would it not be prudent to look in the open market for “talent”?

I give it to the ALP, when you are in their club, you certainly get looked after, regardless of ethics or legality…...it is something to behold.

Mikko says:

11:09am | 09/02/10

Hey WA Aggie,(12.10 am, 8/2) thanks for the link to the Canberra Times article about the 150 public servants set up to administer Rudd’s phony CPRS months before it was twice rejected. Add the cost of that to the 144 delegates to the Nopenhagen fiasco and even Lindsay Tanner would need his pocket calculator to count the waste. And the True Believers still believe the spin, smoke and mirrors that this mob can manage our economy.
CPRS = Can’t People Recognise Scams > Thankfully yes, most now can.

Venise Alstergren says:

01:49pm | 09/02/10

Stick at what you’re good at Barnaby sticking in the boondocks, making a clown of yourself, and holding Australia’s politicians up to the world as being the crass, religion sodden, hicksville and neanderthal lunatics they are.

The people who elected you should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves. But, they are National Party voters. What else?