Blame game of the century

While Labor has declared this the Asian century, domestically they have deliberately reignited the blame game, clearly intending to blame the states for their failure to implement policies.

“Former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd promised an end to the blame game in 2007, but under Julia Gillard this cynical and dishonest political manoeuvre has been taken to a new level,” said the Shadow Minister for Education, Christopher Pyne.

“Today Trade Minister Craig Emerson suggested the states will be expected to implement the federal government’s Asian languages policy and fund it from ‘Gonski money’,” Mr Pyne said.

“There was no indication as to whether this will be part of the $6.5 billion a year needed to implement the changes or whether additional funding will be needed on top of the $6.5 billion.

“Dr Emerson also indicated that the Gillard Government will withhold Gonski money from states that don’t do what the Government asks.

“School Minister Peter Garrett has already hinted that there will be a raft of new bureaucratic requirements and red tape for schools tied to any new funding.

“The joke is that Julia Gillard and her Government are warning the states that they will withhold an undisclosed sum of money they haven’t even committed to fund themselves,” Mr Pyne said.

October 29, 2012