Christopher Pyne compares himself to Brian Harradine …

… THE GREATEST PORK BARRELLER HE HAS EVER SEEN

Minister Pyne yesterday defended his misguided duplication of the world respected AMC’s teaching and training facilities and AMC’s ability to administer the training of Australia’s ship builders and labourers by comparing South Australia’s windfall to negotiations made by Tasmanian Senator Brian Harradine more than 20 years ago.

Mr Hart said “it is highly upsetting to hear the Minister for Defence and Industry, in charge of a multi-billion dollar portfolio, using the former Senator Harradine’s successes on behalf of Tasmania to defend the present Government’s poor decision making processes surrounding the unnecessary duplication of Maritime Training in South Australia.

“I question Minister Pyne’s political motivation in relegating the AMC’s involvement in South Australia’s Maritime Training College. This is a waste of taxpayer resources through duplication, in particular of the many back office functions of a technical college.

“It is inappropriate to relegate Australia’s leading maritime training and research institution to one of many training organisations who might be delivering training in conjunction with this new training college.

“Mr Pyne had forgotten the commitment that his government made to Tasmania prior to the election. The Minister for Defence had promised to host a defence industry roundtable to discuss Tasmania’s role in the billions of dollars of defence contracts.

This would have been a perfect opportunity to bring together industries from around the State, in order to address many of the problems seen and the belated unhelpful advice now offered by Mr Pyne.
ROSS HART MP MEMBER FOR BASS