FED:Nats' Joyce slams independent MPs

AAP General News (Australia)
08-28-2011
FED:Nats' Joyce slams independent MPs

CANBERRA, Aug 28 AAP - The National Party's Senate leader Barnaby Joyce has taken a
swipe at rural independent MPs Rob Oakeshott and Tony Windsor, arguing they no longer
speak on behalf of regional Australia.

Senator Joyce addressed the party's federal council in Canberra on Sunday, telling
those gathered that the independents - both of whom had been aligned with the Nationals
- had put their own interests ahead of their constituents.

"The reality is now clear that the independents are independent in name only," Senator
Joyce said, noting they voted with the government about three times out of four.

"They are now the Labor Party's most loyal lieutenants.

"The independents have proven that they will put their own interests above those of
their electorate."

The independents had left it to the Nationals to speak out for regional Australia on
issues such as live exports, recreational fishing and coal seam gas (CSG) exploration,
Senator Joyce said.

"Our influence in all of these debates is why the Nationals remain relevant to regional
Australia," he said.

"The fact is there is only one party in the parliament that represents regional Australia."

Senator Joyce claimed the Nationals achieved a bigger primary vote swing than the Australian
Greens at last year's federal election and won 38.6 per cent of the primary vote in the
seats they ran in.

"(That is) a higher vote than the Labor Party - although a higher vote than the Labor
Party is not exactly a benchmark of strength at the moment," Senator Joyce said.

He said he expected dams, food security and foreign investment to be some of the key
battlegrounds on which the Nationals would fight in future.

Senator Joyce said foreign investment laws in particular needed to be strengthened.

"Investments by state-owned companies must seek approval by the Foreign Investment
Review Board (FIRB)," he said.

"However, these review processes seem to work as effectively as the Venus de Milo would
as wicketkeeper for Australia - looks nice, but catches nothing."

AAP cj/mp/hn

KEYWORD: NATIONALS

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