i get the message says rudd

Same old spiel....nothings changed


June 29, 2008
PRIME Minister Kevin Rudd has admitted there was a clear message for his government in the Gippsland by-election result.

Nationals candidate Darren Chester triumphed with 63 per cent of the two party preferred vote in yesterday's poll, against Labor candidate Darren McCubbin's 37 per cent.

"The people of Gippsland have said loud and clear their concerns about impacts on household budgets," Mr Rudd said.

"The government has taken tough decisions including cutting government expenditure but that's been necessary to put downward pressure on inflation and downward pressure on interest rates (which have) hit family budgets, household budgets hard."

Mr Rudd said the government was committed to long-term decision making rather than politically convenient short-term policies.

"The government remains determined to take tough decisions for the future because that's necessary to deal with Australia's future challenges and not avoid them.

"If we avoid them, that puts further upward pressure on interest rates into the future."

Mr Rudd said political setbacks would not deter the government.

"If it means that on the way through, that there will be political setbacks I understand that.

"But our resolve to take tough decisions in the national interest and in the interest of families for the long-term remains."