Barry keeps Labor in his sites opening Diggers

DIGGERS AND DEALERS 2012: Like Christmas the Kalgoorlie-based mining conference, Diggers and Dealers rolls around on an annual basis with forum chairman Barry Eldridge greeting delegates and opening the week’s festivities.

However, unlike Christmas, Eldridge never disappoints.

This year he again loaded up his slingshot full of rocks representing all commodities mined in the region to let fly at the Federal Government, albeit using a more subdued approach.

“In previous years I have taken the opportunity during this opening to make some observations about the attacks and negative approach that our Federal government has taken towards the Australian resources’ sector,” Eldridge said.

“This year I propose to take a more positive approach and I will not make specific comment on the incompetent, inconsistent, dishonest and frankly delusional approach that our Federal Government continues to take when presenting the resources’ sector as almost Ogres to our economy.

Eldridge fired his annual salvo across the bow of the SS Labor gunship with the gold braided caps of Prime Minister Julia Gillard and her faithful deputy Wayne Swan firmly in his sights.

 

Barry Eldridge opens the 2012 Diggers & Dealers conference

 

He predicted electoral doom and gloom for the government that he expects will come as a result of what he described to be, “narrow minded approach to the resources’ sector” the government has adopted.

“I believe it is far more effective for Julia, Wayne and the other participants to present their own style of management, economic approach and general credibility which has resulted in a distinctive outcome of incompetence,” he said.

“I believe an election will present them with an appropriate scorecard as to how they have performed as an effective government.”

Eldridge took particular umbrage to – what he alluded to as the double standards – of the government’s recent attacks on the more well-heeled members of the mining aristocracy.

“The bullying approach that the Gillard government take to anyone who disagrees with them is excessive, emotive and frankly divisive in a manner I cannot recall in any previous government,” he complained.

“Constant bashing of the “Resources’ Sector Billionaires” is not acceptable and in my opinion not consistent with the Australian way of recognising leadership and reward for driving success.

“It goes far further than the culture of “cutting the tall poppies” that sometimes does happen.

“The attacks on Andrew Forrest, Gina Rinehart and Clive Palmer, who are those who get specifically named, are vitriolic and not the Australian spirit I am so proud of.”

Eldridge decried the recent spate of politicians taking advantage of their positions of influence as a podium to express opinion on policy and on the opinions of the mining magnates saying leaders from all industries have done this for decades using it as a valid form of communication with government.

“Apparently if you disagree with this current Government you are a rogue and a public enemy,” he said.

“I am no billionaire but I am happy to stand alongside people when they take on a useful public debate.

“Wayne, Julia and that little possie of imposters from Canberra are happy to use the privilege of their position, media influence and public funds to espouse their policies without accountability except in an election that we badly need.

“Why then is it so bad when people use private funds to enter the discussion.

“Can you spot the difference?”