Is Labor web savvy?
The papers report that Beazley gave a headline speech to the NSW state Labor Conference at Sydney’s Town Hall on (it would appear) 11 June 2005. Among the text were these widely reported words …
“Our country is at a crossroads; every day we sink further and further into unsustainable debt,” Beazley told the conference. “On average, foreign debt has gone up by more than $2.5 billion in every single month of the Howard-Costello Government.
“My deep worry for Australia is this: I believe John Howard and Peter Costello are taking us to the edge of the debt cliff. I fear Australia’s credit card is nearly maxed out.”
Beazley argues the foreign debt issue comes into play because of the slowing economy, that it was less an issue when annual growth was 4 per cent. “Over the long term no economy can sustain a mix of spiralling debt and slowing growth,” he argues. “And our country cannot sustain this while Government drives us down the low-skills road.”
This is an important economic and political development. However, I did not want to comment until the full transcript had been published. Today, three days after the speech, the transcript still has not made it to the ALP website, (which is stuck on 9 June as its last day of action). I know Labor takes the Queen’s birthday seriously, but three days is a joke.
Update: The speech appeared on the ALP website sometime between my post of 12:40pm and 6pm. Clarification: the speech was given on 12 June.