WHAT'S with all the chest-beating by coalition government members over the "halt" to Essential energy job cuts?
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It was a case of duelling press releases on Tuesday afternoon as NSW Coalition partners the Nationals and the Liberals sought to take credit for halting Essential Energy's proposed job cuts.
First, we had National Party local member Dugald Saunders, then Nationals leader and Deputy Premier John Barilaro, then Energy Minister and Liberal Matt Kean, all taking credit for carrying through government policy, a job they are paid handsomely to do.
"I'm pleased to announce that the proposed job cuts by Essential Energy, which included some in the Dubbo electorate, will not be going ahead thanks to the NSW Nationals in Government," Mr Saunders said.
If that wasn't enough, we then had the hypocrisy of this statement.
"Labor and other minor parties have used this issue as nothing more than a political football.
"No doubt they will try to take credit for this success, without having done anything, but it was the NSW Nationals in Government who saved these jobs."
So, on the one hand, they are criticising the opposition for politicising the issue while they do exactly the same thing with the flurry of press releases and "look how good we are" statements.
How's this from John Barilaro?
"I'm pleased to announce, after weeks of calling on Essential Energy to abandon proposed job cuts, the state-owned corporation will halt this decision, thanks to the NSW Nationals in government," Mr Barilaro's press release said.
"We worked with stakeholders, we listened to communities, we stayed firm on our position, and we've now achieved a major victory for regional NSW."
Not a word of acknowledgement on how the constant pressure from the Electrical Trades Union might have played a part in the decision, or on how the continued uncertainty of job security for regional workers must impact negatively upon their mental health.
This whole debacle has exposed why so many people are turning off major political parties.
All they want to do is talk about themselves and the electorate has had a gutful.
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