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Penny Wong: SA premier 'strong leader' for outmanoevring ALP powerbroker Penny Wong: SA premier 'strong leader' for outmanoevring ALP powerbroker
(7 months later)
Labor's leader in the Senate, Penny Wong, has weighed into the row over Labor powerbroker Don Farrell’s bid for the South Australian parliament.Labor's leader in the Senate, Penny Wong, has weighed into the row over Labor powerbroker Don Farrell’s bid for the South Australian parliament.
Wong, to whom Farrell gave his No. 1 position on Labor’s South Australia senate ticket last year, called premier Jay Weatherill a “strong leader” for staring Farrell down.Wong, to whom Farrell gave his No. 1 position on Labor’s South Australia senate ticket last year, called premier Jay Weatherill a “strong leader” for staring Farrell down.
On Friday Weatherill threatened to resign as premier if Farrell ran in the seat of Napier.On Friday Weatherill threatened to resign as premier if Farrell ran in the seat of Napier.
Farrell now will end his term in July after failing to be re-elected.Farrell now will end his term in July after failing to be re-elected.
Wong told Sky News on Sunday: “I Wong told Sky News on Sunday: “I think this demonstrated first that Jay is a strong leader and a leader who is resolute when it comes to doing what he thinks is in the best interest of the party, the government and the state.
think this demonstrated first that Jay is a strong leader and a leader
who is resolute when it comes to doing what he thinks is in the best
interest of the party, the government and the state.
“I’d also say about Don ... he’s a man who always sought to act in the best interests of the party.”“I’d also say about Don ... he’s a man who always sought to act in the best interests of the party.”
She added: “He’s been an extraordinary contributor to the Labor movement.”She added: “He’s been an extraordinary contributor to the Labor movement.”
Wong also accused the Abbott government of commissioning a review of ABC funding Wong also accused the Abbott government of commissioning a review of ABC funding on ideological rather than practical grounds and said if the government wanted to make cuts to the public broadcaster it should have taken the plan to the election.
on ideological rather than practical grounds and said if the “I think the agenda for the review is to seek to find a reason to reduce funding to the ABC because the government doesn’t like what the ABC does and says,” she said.
government wanted to make cuts to the public broadcaster it should
have taken the plan to the election.
“I
think the agenda for the review is to seek to find a reason to reduce
funding to the ABC because the government doesn’t like what the ABC does
and says,” she said.
“ ... This is all about a government that doesn’t like scrutiny and will attack all and anybody it regards a criticising it.”“ ... This is all about a government that doesn’t like scrutiny and will attack all and anybody it regards a criticising it.”
Wong Wong said that when she was finance minister the ABC and SBS always wanted more money than the government was prepared to give but overall she thought it had done a good job on increasing its output.
said that when she was finance minister the ABC and SBS always wanted more When asked if it should be exempt from spending cuts that are happening across the board, she said: “I think that if a government says before an election there will be no cuts to an organisation then yes they should be exempt because that was the commitment made to the Australian people.”
money than the government was prepared to give but overall she
thought it had done a good job on increasing its output.
When
asked if it should be exempt from spending cuts that are happening
across the board, she said: “I think that if a government says before
an election there will be no cuts to an organisation then yes they
should be exempt because that was the commitment made to the Australian
people.”
Wong supports the existence of the Australia Network saying it is an “important” soft diplomatic arm of the ABC.Wong supports the existence of the Australia Network saying it is an “important” soft diplomatic arm of the ABC.
She was also questioned about the potential royal commission into unions and said that although she condemned the corruption allegations in the construction industry revealed by Fairfax and the ABC earlier in the week, she was not convinced of the need for a royal commission.She was also questioned about the potential royal commission into unions and said that although she condemned the corruption allegations in the construction industry revealed by Fairfax and the ABC earlier in the week, she was not convinced of the need for a royal commission.
“I “I think what you are seeing is an attempt by the prime minister to attack and smear the entire labour movement with the allegations of criminal conduct of some rotten apples who need to be fully investigated to the fullest extent of the law,” she said.
think what you are seeing is an attempt by the prime minister to attack When asked if Labor would oppose a royal commission she said: “Well I’m not going to respond to an idea about an inquiry which has not at all been outlined to the Australian people. What would be included? What would the terms of reference be? What I’m talking about is intentions here.”
and smear the entire labour movement with the allegations of criminal
conduct of some rotten apples who need to be fully investigated to the
fullest extent of the law,” she said.
When
asked if Labor would oppose a royal commission she said: “Well I’m
not going to respond to an idea about an inquiry which has not at all
been outlined to the Australian people. What would be included? What
would the terms of reference be? What I’m talking about is intentions
here.”