Vaile says sorry to auditor

from the SMH November 18, 2007

Deputy Prime Minister Mark Vaile has apologised for "casting aspersions" on the public servant responsible for auditing government administration and finances.

But the Nationals leader would not withdraw specific comments he made last week about the timing of a scathing audit report of the federal government's controversial regional partnerships program.

Mr Vaile made the apology as he refused to reveal the funding source of a $3.67 million regional project he announced for the far north coast of NSW.

Mr Vaile had cast doubt on the independence of commonwealth Auditor-General Ian McPhee by questioning the release of the 1,200 page audit report nine days out from election day.

Business didn't back WorkChoices enough: Vaile

Federal Nationals leader Mark Vaile says he would have liked the business community to have done more to support the Coalition's industrial relations laws during the election campaign.

Mr Vaile will this afternoon join Prime Minister John Howard at a fundraising function in Sydney, where they will address hundreds of business and corporate representatives.

He says the unions have easily outspent the business community with their advertising campaign against WorkChoices.

"We would have liked to have seen them match the union movement," he said.

"But I don't think they were ever going to spend the amount of money that the union movement was prepared to put into this.
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Gus: is it that "business" knows it's a lost cause and it cleverly decided not to spend money for no good return, or that "business" is embarrassed at the way the government has "forced" business to treat its workers? 

Truss to contend Nationals leadership

Outgoing federal trade minister Warren Truss has thrown his hat in the ring for the Nationals' leadership after Mark Vaile stepped down from the top job on Monday.

The move comes after Peter McGauran this morning ruled out joining the leadership race.

Mr McGauran says he will turn his attention to supporting parliamentary colleagues from the backbench.

Mr Truss is currently deputy leader of the Nationals.

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Gus: There will be a lot of online sites refurbishing at parliament house this week. Some sites are still locked in pre-election mode....:

On wednesday 28 November, four days after the sky fell down on the Liberal/Nationals Truss is still Minister for trade...

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Electoral Division of Wide Bay (Qld)
The Hon Warren Truss MP

Polls have not been declared in this electoral division
Title: Deputy Leader of the Nationals; Minister for Trade.

Vaile accused of being 'part-time politician'

The Government has seized on reports that Nationals backbencher Mark Vaile has taken personal leave to go on an overseas business trip.

News Limited newspapers say Mr Vaile has taken leave this week to lobby in the Middle East on behalf of a Sydney business he used to liaise with when he was trade minister.

He is now being accused, along with Alexander Downer and Peter Costello, of preparing for an early exit from politics.

Agriculture Minister Tony Burke has told AM there is a pattern of Coalition MPs being part-time politicians.

"This is the same bloke who was skipping Parliament to play golf with Alexander Downer, in the same week that Alexander Downer was skipping Parliament to have lunch," he said.

"There's a group of people in the Coalition who don't seem to have decided whether or not they want to do any of the work that taxpayers are paying them to do.

"In this case, out of touch, out of the country and out of control.

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Gus: sorry, cartoon at top is misleading... Pork barrelling is in full flight, at all times in some political circles...