Fed: Deputy PM defends Liberal attack

AAP General News (Australia)
12-15-1999
Fed: Deputy PM defends Liberal attack

The cracks are widening in the HOWARD government over regional and rural policies.

National Party leader JOHN ANDERSON has slammed a Liberal backbencher's call for the
prime minister to take direct control of regional affairs, calling it a load of rubbish.

Mr ANDERSON, the deputy prime minister and regional affairs minister, says no-one has
done more than he has, to bring the plight of people in rural and regional Australia to
the government's attention.

And he says Liberal Treasurer PETER COSTELLO'S suggestion of lower wages in the bush
is ridiculous.

His angry outburst highlights the divisions growing between the coalition partners
since Mr COSTELLO'S comments at the weekend.

Liberal MP and former National Farmers' Federation president IAN MACFARLANE this morning
criticised the government for relying too much on the Nationals' view of the needs of
the bush when it should instead deal directly with regional affairs.

But Mr ANDERSON says Mr MACFARLANE'S comments are typical of his grumbling and a load of rubbish.

AAP RTV lm/mfh/wz/jn

KEYWORD: JOBS (CANBERRA)

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