Another week has passed but still no Agriculture White Paper.
This week Barnaby Joyce has been publicly fighting with his own senior colleagues who have said that the white paper is filled with "every crackpot idea" from the past 25 years.
However, this most recent display of disunity just adds to the list of weekly excuses the Barnaby uses to justify the Abbott’s Government’s inability to deliver the white paper.
We have seen Minister say the hold-up was the Government’s tight Budget situation.
“Because of the financial condition of the Nation, it is a tougher game.”
Barnaby Joyce - PVO Newshour, Sky News - 18 March 2015
Over three weeks ago he promised that the “release of the Agricultural Competitiveness White Paper was imminent”.
Back in February Barnaby Joyce told a Fairfax reporter that the White Paper is scheduled for an “upcoming” Cabinet meeting and the final document to be out in “about” a month and a half.
And we can turn the clock back to 2013 when Tony Abbott promised that his government would deliver the White Paper within 12 months of coming to office.
“The White Paper will be conducted by the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet and will report within 12 months. Our White Paper will also provide a clear, well-defined and transparent strategic approach to ensure the agriculture sector remains a significant contributor to the Australian economy and local communities”.
The Coalition’s policy for a competitive Agriculture sector - August 2013
Tony Abbott and Barnaby Joyce cannot continue to promise farmers they’ll have answers to their questions when the white paper is released. For many of them, it will be too late.
FRIDAY, 3 APRIL 2015
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