On the pages of our blog, and in the media people have been asking for our local members to come forward to voice their support for or against the actions of the Newman Government. In that time the only person to stand and be counted publicly has been Clive Palmer. Our local members have kept a very low public profile.
Off the public record, all has not been quiet.
Ewen Jones was recently contacted by a public servant with concerns about job losses in health, and the lack of process the Government seemed to be employing in finding those redundancies. They were concerned that the number of job losses was pre-determined, was not based on ensuring good operational outcomes and had occurred without any consultation with workers within our health service. They contacted Ewen in the hope that he may lend his voice to a more considered approach to restructuring.
Ewen's response was dismissive. He was not interested in ‘State issues’. And what he did say just opens up more questions.
To quote Ewen (in bold):
‘I am in line with Tony Abbott and the coalition, as I am part of the coalition and stood for smaller government at the last election.’
This begs the question, does Tony Abbott have the same small Government plan as Campbell Newman? And Barry O'Farrell? And the SA opposition leader Isobel Redmond? And does Ewen support such an approach?
‘Campbell Newman went to the election with a plan and his victory could be called a lot of things, but indecisive is not one of them.’
This plan that Campbell Newman has enacted does not seem to be the same plan he told voters about prior to the election. Was Ewen aware of how deep Campbell Newman had planned to cut public sector jobs prior to the election? And is he in support of the level of these cuts now that they have happened?
‘If it is action you want, give me the positions in the hospital which need the shake up and I will get them to the State health minister so he can do something proactive.’
Is Ewen seeking to assist the State Government in making even deeper cuts to jobs than have already been announced? And why would he support more cuts, if (as he has stated) he is interested in supporting local jobs and the local economy?
We would encourage Ewen to go on the public record and tell us all exactly where he stands.
And we would encourage all our readers to encourage Ewen to be open and honest about these unanswered questions.