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It couldnÕt get any easier
The Prime Minister, Mr Keating, has silenced influential
critics in the business community by practising the politics
of hate and victimising those who disagree with him,
according to a prominent member of the Business Council
and chairman of Du Pont, Mr Dick Warburton.
In an interview with
The Australian Financial Review
,
Mr Warburton, who is also a member of the board of
the Reserve Bank, says the vitriolic attacks by the
Prime Minister on his corporate critics have resulted in
a “Cold War” since the last Federal election that has only
recently begun to thaw, with senior businessmen still
recoiling from serious debate with the Government over
public policy issues.
“We have been getting in much closer to the politics
of hate,” Mr Warbuton said. “In other words: If you don’t
agree with me, I’ll not only hate you, but destroy you.
“So one of the problems business has is that while
an individual is prepared to stand up and say what he
means, you have to run a business. And you can’t afford to
have your business destroyed. So you have got to be
very circumspect.”
The president of the BCA, Mr Ian Salmon, said yesterday
that the organisation had refused to buckle to attacks from
the Government: “At the end of the day, if Paul Keating
can’t have a relationship with business which is based on
reasoned argument, then the country will be poorer for it.”
Mr Warburton said the tactics had stifled debate because
of the concerns of corporate leaders that the Government
could target their own business for retaliation.
Mr Warburton’s comments will come as a shock to the
Government, because he is widely regarded as a moderate
and supportive business leader and has been appointed to
a string of government boards and advisory bodies.
The
Financial Review’s
editorial of that same date
commented as follows:
If this is true, then the Prime Minister may be his own
worst enemy. If he has indeed moved against his real and
imagined opponents outside Parliament, he is following the
example of Richard Nixon, rather than Thomas Jefferson.
Why are so many
of Australia’s resource
industry and business
leaders often
disengaged from any
of the political and
economic issues that
threaten our industry?
Little wonder that
our very ‘portable’
exploration funds are
driven overseas, along
with our most precious
wealth-generating asset
– our productive people.
An enemies list has no place in Australia.
Such a concept is based on a fundamental disrespect for
dissent – a trait that in earlier times was the hallmark of
Mr Keating’s party. The best parts of Labor’s heritage are
firmly based on free and informed debate. If that heritage
has been subsumed by a fixation on revenge, then Labor’s
friends should move fast to put things right – for the sake
of their party and their country.
How could Australia credibly preach to its neighbours
about respect for fundamental rights and freedom if its
own behaviour were deserving of censure?
Only a suitable response from strong business leaders will
serve to repel rapacious and vitriolic federal governments.
Right now, in 2011, without a strong business response,
Australia will continue to wallow in political mediocrity while
we export our exploration dollars and personnel to countries
where these contributions are appreciated.