Labor
TWO-FACED TWIT: Victorian minister publicly disagrees with his own policy… on Twitter
A Brumby government minister has used Twitter to make clear his opposition to a Cabinet endorsed government policy on forestry he personally announced last week.
VEXNEWS understands from government sources the policy had been formally approved by the Brumby Cabinet some time ago but was not what the minister had pushed for originally.
On this occasion, the browns, including an exalted alumni of Forestry union cadres operating under deep cover in adviser circles, prevailed over the government greens faction in order to protect Victorian jobs from the navel-gazing avarice of inner-city Greens and doctors’ wives who all use timber products but don’t want logging.
In the Westminster tradition, a minister strongly disagreeing with a Cabinet decision would have no choice but to tender her/his resignation. Instead, Victorian Environment and Climate Change Minister Gavin Jennings – a Socialist Left faction member and inner-city MP dutifully made the announcement.
The minister announced last Friday that an area in Brown Mountain Creek would continue to be available for logging:
Mr Jennings said an area containing a number of contentious timber harvesting coupes around Brown Mountain Creek, to the east of Brown Mountain, would remain available to harvesting as they did not meet the standard of old growth warranting inclusion in the reserve.
He said VicForests would be allowed to recommence timber harvesting at Brown Mountain under modified conditions designed to provide greater protection to the area.
Mr Jennings said the significant additional habitat protection measures, including extra wide 100 metre streamside buffers and the protection of hollow-baring habitat trees identified by biodiversity officers, would be put in place at Brown Mountain Creek area even though no threatened species were found during fauna surveys of the area.
Later in the day, perhaps after a liquid lunch, Minister Jennings tweeted to over a thousand of his followers, making clear his personal opposition to the policy:
Announced link between Snowy River & Errinundra NPs, part of new old growth parks system. But couldnt (sic) get over the line on Brown Mt Creek.
Sources close to the Minister thought it was unlikely he would be tendering his resignation on this issue of principle or, they were quick to add, “any issue of principle.” They noted while it was “highly unusual” for a minister to announce “he’d been rolled” but that he was “probably trying to keep faith with his imaginary friends in the environment movement.”
Discussion
6 comments for “TWO-FACED TWIT: Victorian minister publicly disagrees with his own policy… on Twitter”
Post a comment
Jennings should do something about the EPA Stasi, where innocent people receive infringement notices after a community revenge dob-in. Complain to Jennings and you get a letter or email from EPA Stasi boss Mick Bourke, and a condescending one at that.
A Cabinet Minister leaking, that’s a sackable offence!!!! JB needs to exercise a bit of AFL tribunal style justice when dealing with leaky Ministers (or worse, stupid leaky Minister that would do something in this fashion). What’s worse he has no excuse about being on the piss because he does not drink; and has a beard!!! More resons to get rid of him.
Ministers leaking should be a serious offence, especially if the Minister cannot support government policy.
Will the Opposition do anything?
Jennings always was a twat and to now be known as a twit must be even more embarassing for the twittwot or is that twattwit. Poor bloke should resign.
If he feels strongly about it then he should resign. Otherwise he should just shut up.
Gavin Jennings – me myself I/me myself I/me myself I – what a dickhead!