Senator Steve Fielding - Leader of Family First
The $42 billion Stimulus Package
Posted by Senator Steve Fielding on February 12 2009 | 13 Comments
I spoke in the Senate today and got pretty impassioned about what was going on behind the scenes of parliament. As I say in the speech, I will never be remembered as the greatest political negotiator, but as a boy from Reservoir I know when someone is stuffing me around.
It seems that the Labour government have learnt nothing from watching the failures of the last government. I am deeply concerned about the way the government have forced this stimulus package through Parliament in such an adversarial way. With my vote on the $42 billion stimulus package I am trying to make the best decision for Aussie families and I hope that when everything is said and done, people know that I am always willing to go into bat for the Australian people.
Read our review of the stimulus package which we released on Tuesday 10th February. Review_of_Stimulus_Package_-_Family_First.pdf
Also watch the video and let me know your thoughts. I don’t mind criticism if you disagree with me. Just let me know what you think.
Cheers
Steve
Senator Fielding,
Beware of any government that promises to give you something for nothing. That’s how governments buy votes and dictators and political parties maintain power. Many people will rejoice at this news, but BEWARE MY FRIEND, because every time we allow government to take responsibility for something we should be taking responsibility for ourselves, we yield a little more power to government and lose a little bit more of our freedoms. SOCIALISM is where the government provides for and takes care of the people, rather than the people providing for and taking care of themselves. if people are not careful, government will take complete control of the people, and the people will find themselves under COMMUNISM, with their freedoms gone.
AUSTRALIA WAKE UP! Our current government has its foot on the accelerator and there is huge wall on the tracks only a few kilometres away, and if the citizens of this once great land do not soon awaken, stop that train, and take back control of their government, I shudder to think of the devastation that lies ahead. The Constitution of Australia is based on Biblical teaching, and it is being violated and trampled upon more and more with each passing day. Only God’s people can stop this runaway freight train!
“IF MY PEOPLE, WHICH ARE CALLED BY MY NAME, SHALL HUMBLE THEMSELVES, AND PRAY, AND SEEK MY FACE, AND TURN FROM THEIR WICKED WAYS: THEN WILL I HEAR FROM HEAVEN, AND WILL FORGIVE THEIR SIN, AND HEAL THEIR LAND.” (II Chronicles 7:14)
“BLESSED IS THE NATION WHOSE GOD IS THE LORD” (Psalm 33:12)
JB
Comment by Josephine Baluyot for Adrian Fischer on 17 February 2009 at 09:43:00 AM
Senator Fielding,
I would class myself as an arm chair economist at the best of times. As an individual that would benefit greatly from the proposed stimulus package that is currently on offer, I am still greatly concerned that we are about to dish out money hand over fist. I like most Australian’s will no doubt benefit from the cash hand outs, but like you I am concerned that through overzealous management, the economy could go into over drive and worst case scenario we end up with unemployment in double digits and have nothing to offer to stem unemployment further.
Political grand standing will get us nowhere. Australia is a blessed country, and at a time like this we need to rely on our leaders to ensure they protect the fundamental principles that everyone here values.
I do not have the answers, but as much as it hurts to say, I don’t think that giving us $950 is the way to go. The problem is that no political party has offered a suitable solution.
I believe you to be a man of conviction, so keep your faith and trust as I am sure you will make the right decision.
Comment by Adam on 12 February 2009 at 03:48:20 PM
Families First….not this afternoon obviously!
Comment by CRAM on 12 February 2009 at 03:15:51 PM
Steve,
I appreciate your heart for families.I believe you are genuine.At the moment there is far too much ram-road politics.
If a decision was not made for even a week or two that is not critical to any packages success.It,s better to be calmer about this and make the Govt.canvass viewpoints.A more reasonable approach is to negotiate.They should.
Wisdom is found in the counsel of many.
You and others represent all people big and small rich and poor.Let,s not be panicked.WE australia are all in this together and we must pull together.
We are all being asked to re-evaluate community and fairness.What really matters.Are we all going to be just rugged individuals or are we going to work together.
In this crisis at some time taxes for those with jobs may have to be raised to help those in need. Will we all just whinge,whinge whinge or support our brothers and sisters in their need.
I know already that Australian,s will take a deep breathe sigh deeply but then get on with with whatever needs to be done.
Taxes ,Soup kitchens ,Whatever is needed.
Every one will do their part .WE,re Australian.
Comment by bazbaz on 12 February 2009 at 02:12:55 PM
Neil, much as i hate to burst your bubble, the coalition wants to go in as much debt but instead give it to tax cuts that will only help the top end of town, after all while the worker gets a couple of bucks {enough for a coffee} those over $100,000 gets about a $3,000 cut.
Comment by jb on 12 February 2009 at 12:36:05 PM
Senator Fielding,
“Steve thinks not enough time is spent discussing how economic pressures are affecting families.”
I think too much time is being spent at the moment. My wife has to go back to work as we cant afford for her to stay home anymore with my 2 month old son. The $950 we would get would help SO much because we’ve had to scrimp on SO much to keep afloat. We could buy a vaccuum cleaner, car seat covers for our car as well as a new pram….thats what we would use it for. NOT flipping plasmas (which I think are more trouble than theyre worth anyway) or pokies.
Im sorry I just CANT help but think both you and Xenophon are grandstanding a bit at the moment. NO Government measure will please everyone. It just cant. Ive been lucky enough this time around for it to possibly help me out. Your extended speech also only lowered the opinion that the public have for politicians…..it at least made me wonder ‘Is that what being a senator involves?’
I would really like for you to give your constituents a clear honest answer when they ask you how blocking this package (if you do) SPECIFICALLY benefits us in the long term. Because if thats your thinking now….where was it before this economic crisis happened? Of course I dont want you to just agree with it for the sake of agreeing with it. But you cant stall it also for the sake of stalling it. There’ll be a lot of people with knots in their stomach tonight wondering if this blessed windfall will actually happen.
Comment by Jekyll on 12 February 2009 at 12:13:06 PM
i sent you an email about this package you didnt even bother to answer.
the coalition is only playing politics, Turnbull is a merchant banker using merchant bankers tools, they move in on weakened companies and finish ruining them and pick over the mess for what they can salvage, well Turnbull will be praying for the economy to go belly up {all the independant commentators have seen that} then he’ll move in and try to get the PM’s job over any ruins, YOU are helping him in that aim, you say your concerned about the unemployed and yet this package is aimed to save as many jobs as possible, it will be my family’s jobs and so many others, well now comes the crunch time, do you help the workers or do you play along with the coalition? you cant wriggle out of this,you cant dress it up in caring about the unemployed because you’ll be helping make so many more of them, you have to come face to face with us the ordinary people or hang on to your coalition extreme right wing ideology., so what way are you going to choose????
Comment by jb on 12 February 2009 at 11:56:18 AM
Wow! I feel for you - you are stuck between a rock and a hard place! A catch 22 situation for you. Rudd has played and the ratings show it, POPULARITY POLITICS. Most people know that it is fiscally irresponsible to go into such debt; but at the same time they have already spent the Ruddy money on debt reduction, school fees e.t.c. Push for ‘Get Communities Working’, it sounds like a winner! I pray that you make the right decision.
Comment by Neil on 12 February 2009 at 11:28:20 AM
STEVE STOP STUFFING AROUND AND GIVE US OUR $950!!!
Comment by Steve on 12 February 2009 at 11:13:44 AM
For some reason my friend Michael who joined your blog earlier is unable to log in… Here is a comment he wanted to share on this issue…
To Steve Fielding… When i was growing up in Melbourne at 14 yo like my brother before me i went and did my work experience at the preferred company i intended to start my apprenticeship with… Then the next year (1989/1990) with the recession there were no apprenticeships… All my friends and i had nothing… We lost an opportunity to “get a trade” something our working class parents had done and taught us to do… That working class dream was broken… It is no wonder many of us got into trouble later on…
By the end of Labours rain in government the programs in place to retrain and educate people helped most of us find work or as a new option - never dreamt by our parents - enter university… Once the liberal government got voted in most of those programs were abolished.. Before the Howard era you got more money through Aus study than you did on unemployment benefits… There was incentive to go back to school… once the liberals got rid of all those programs incentives, the already above mention broken working class had an even tougher time.. Then the world seemed to get better… Many attribute Australia’s economic boom to Howard and his policies. This is totally untrue… Of course taking money out of social welfare programs, which the liberals did fiercely, helped… But those savings are not what saw this country boom… Our boom worked in concert with every other around the world… Howard did not have anything to do with that growth… World economic factors did…
One thing Howard Costello did do is force mothers out to work… DISCUSTING… Working class Mothers… What did they think? That the economic boom was going to last… How Arrogant and Stupid… Now a Mother cant choose to raise her kids at home? What happens when there are no jobs? Not only are they unemployed but there isnt any money to help raise there kids…Fix the divorce rate, Fix the Family law mess before you penalise Mums…It is good for a mother to seek out work beyond there dream of Mother hood, but if they would prefer to be at home nurturing the home environment, lets encourage it… Howard/Costello have not yet seen the consequences of that policy but they will… When those kids grow up out of the Day care system, Watch out…
Steve when i hear you criticising Labour on Social Welfare issues, especially unemployment i hope you are aware that there are more within the labour ranks that agree with you than disagree… So lets give them a chance… They have an idea, lets see what happens…. To be perfectly honest Steve, i always thought you were aligned with the liberal party…. This outburst is no different… There seems to be so much hostility in your tone… I dont know what its like in Knox but from my point of view you are not an independant you are a conservative liberal… You will succeed and fail with them…
Comment by Lisa on 12 February 2009 at 10:22:48 AM
Dear Senator Fielding
Thankyou for your impassioned speech. The Government is most certainly treating the Senate and all other parties, who represent nearly 50% of Australians, with great disrespect.
The Liberal Party have managed the economy very well for many years now, and if they are recommending more conservative measures, then I respect their judgement on this. It is better to move prudently and spend more later if absolutely necessary. That is just good common sense.
Thank you for the hard work you are doing on behalf on all Australians.
Comment by acs on 12 February 2009 at 10:17:26 AM
As a boy from Dapto I know when someone is stuffing me around.
I’m concerned about how you’ve forced the political views of the Pentecostal Church through Parliament in such an underhanded way. Why can’t you just be upfront about your beliefs and the goals of your Party instead of hiding everything behind the word “family”?
Even though I’d still disagree with you, I’d at least respect you.
Comment by Scott on 12 February 2009 at 10:03:03 AM
I sent you an email earlier this week about my thoughts on this package and how in essence it will help families like mine. Speaking with many of my peers who find themselves in a smiliar situation I find they agree with my sentiments
I am unsure what you mean by this statement in your Blog
“With my vote on the $42 billion stimulus package I am trying to make the best decision for Aussie families and I hope that when everything is said and done, people know that I am always willing to go into bat for the Australian people.”
So are you going to support the package or vote against it? It’s time to declare your hand.
Comment by CRAM on 12 February 2009 at 08:54:06 AM