FORMER MP Andrew Broad believes Member for Mallee Anne Webster can still achieve for the electorate in opposition with a “level-headed approach”, and has taken a swipe at the Coalition’s “overreaction” to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The worse day in government is still better than the best day in opposition,” he said.
“I think it will be a harsh reality when you write a letter to a minister and not get a response for six months.
“What I have admired is the consistent approach from all past Mallee members in that none have been head-kickers, never yelled abuse.
“Ultimately, that rewards the electorate in opposition because Anne can have quiet words with the health minister, ag minister, water minister and say, ‘These are things you need to be mindful of or go get funded’.
“People are just there to fight, which is fine in government, but when it swings the other way, you really miss out.”
Mr Broad served as The Nationals, Mallee MP from 2013 until his retirement at the 2019 polls after a “dumb mistake” when he used a “seeking arrangement” website to meet a younger woman.
Mr Broad said he wasn’t surprised the Coalition lost at the polls, saying its handling of the pandemic played a role in the convincing defeat.
“(Scott) Morrison was all over the shop and frankly it cost him the election … he lost me over it all,” he said.
“He initially came out and spoke on business confidence and flattening the curve but National Cabinet was an unmitigated disaster – no one worked together, premiers collectively responded to a global health concern, Aussies cheered them on and proved nowhere near the task.
“Morrison should have held his ground and challenged the states for shutting state borders. People lost contact with loved ones and died, for what? Here we are three jabs later and getting COVID anyway, what a balls-up.”
Mr Broad said Labor’s biggest challenge for the next three years was navigating through almost $1 trillion of national debt.
“The very basic is that when Labor has previously come into government they come in with money sitting in the cupboard,” he said.
“When they came in after John Howard finished, Australia had no national debt, in fact, surplus funds.
“This time they come in with close to a trillion dollars of national debt.
“That’s a complete failing of the Coalition. An overreacted stimulus to do with COVID.
“We have never had debt in our history like today and we have nothing to show for it – our roads are still crap.”
Mr Broad said he wasn’t surprised Anthony Albanese’s Labor returned to government, given the Coalition had held office for close to a decade.
“Governments, once they have had three terms, are very lucky to have a fourth,” he said.
Mr Broad said he had ruled out a return to government.
“Nah, not coming back,” he said.
“I’m reasonably comfortable with what I achieved for six years in the job and four years before that in the Victorian Farmers Federation.
“I have other aspirations with my life, moved to Queensland, renovating, and don’t have to stress.”
