Vic: New cabinet has PM in its sights

AAP General News (Australia)
08-06-2007
Vic: New cabinet has PM in its sights

MELBOURNE, Aug 6 AAP - Victorian government ministers will discuss how to combat the
prime minister's attack on states in their first cabinet meeting today, Education Minister
Bronwyn Pike says.

Ministers have arrived for the first meeting under Premier John Brumby, who reshuffled
portfolios last week.

Ms Pike, who has been moved from health, said federal-state relations would be high
on the agenda, in light of several recent attacks on state governments by Prime Minister
John Howard.

"I think today we'll be talking about some of the strategies that the Howard government
is trying to put in place to shift some of the responsibility that they need to bear on
to the states in a whole range of areas," Ms Pike told reporters before the meeting.

Mr Howard has blamed state governments for putting upward pressure on interest rates
by using debt to finance their spending.

Last week, he intervened in Tasmania's health system by announcing funding to underwrite
a hospital in the marginal seat of Braddon.

Ms Pike said she did not think voters would fall for the prime minister's "tactics",
and she would argue against them.

"Where you have some sort of ludicrous steps to either take over in an inappropriate
way or to shift the burden of responsibility in an inappropriate way, then I'll be very,
very vocal in defending our record here in Victoria," Ms Pike said.

Meanwhile, speculation is mounting over who will replace former premier Steve Bracks
in his safe Labor seat of Williamstown, with a report today (Eds: News Ltd) suggesting
Planning Minister Justin Madden could move from the upper house to the lower house seat.

On Friday, Mr Brumby told reporters he did not know of any plans to move an upper house
member to the lower house.

Ministers entering today's cabinet meeting told reporters that the decision was a party matter.

AAP kl/gfr/maur/de

KEYWORD: CABINET VIC (PIX AVAILABLE)

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