Treasurer Wayne Swan is responsible for the integrity of our financial system. One only has to look at the budget papers to appreciate the enormity of his task. Banks, building societies, superannuation funds, big business, small business, foreign affairs, defence, social security, health, transport, etc are part of the complex business of running a national economy.
So why would the financial situation of a used car dealer be so important as to warrant the Treasurer’s personal attention by having updates sent to his home fax? It’s a question that goes to the heart of the issue that dominated our Federal Parliament last week.
It’s a question that has not yet been answered. It begs the question as to whether the plight of the used car salesman was vital to the national economy, or was he a mate?
Malcolm Turnbull’s decision to rope Kevin Rudd into the affair was a tactical error. His focus should have been on Wayne Swan and his personal interest in helping John Grant, a used car salesman who just happened to be a neighbour of the Prime Minister. It wasn’t about ‘utegate’ – it was about ‘mategate’!
The relationship between Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, his next door neighbour and electoral supporter, John Grant, and Treasurer Wayne Swan has not been examined in the froth and bubble surrounding the affair. Labor would like us to believe the John Grant did not discuss the financial plight of his business with his neighbour, Kevin Rudd.
They also want us to believe that he did not get ‘special treatment’ from the Treasurer by having updates on his issue faxed to his private home. Sure.
Wayne Swan has to explain how many other car dealers received this kind of personal attention from the Treasury – and how many cases were referred to the Treasurer’s home fax machine? It shouldn’t be too difficult to answer – all they have to do is count them!
If Kevin Rudd’s neighbour, John Grant, was the only one being referred directly to the Treasurer then why was he singled out for special treatment. Was it a wink and a nod from the Prime Minister or just one of those wild political coincidences?
Turnbull’s strategy in pursuing the Prime Minister instead of the Treasurer might well have provided Labor with the distraction they needed to take the heat off Wayne Swan but the questions remain unanswered.
If it normal practice for people in financial difficulty to have access to the Treasurer’s home fax number then it should be advertised on his website.
Tags: Mategate
