Boss-inspired Swan renews attack on moguls

1 Aug 2012, 7:54 pm   -   Source: AAP
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Wayne Swan has used YouTube and an online forum to air his views on mining magnates and Bruce Springsteen ahead of a speech in Melbourne.

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If Australians learned nothing else about Treasurer Wayne Swan this week, they now know he loves US rock legend Bruce Springsteen and isn't impressed by mining billionaires.

The acting prime minister posted a video on YouTube on Wednesday explaining how "The Boss" had inspired him politically.

He also told Sydney Morning Herald online readers a handful of rich individuals were trying to exert undue influence on the national political debate.

The remark echoed Mr Swan's attack earlier this year on mining magnates Clive Palmer, Andrew Forrest and Gina Rinehart, when he accused the trio of using their financial muscle to drive policy.

"The policies they're putting forward are now ones which are being adopted by Tony Abbott," he told ABC radio on Wednesday.

"I'm critical of them because they're using their wealth to have a disproportionate say."

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott says the treasurer should get on with governing the country in the absence of Prime Minister Julia Gillard, who's on leave, rather than attacking billionaires.

"Wayne Swan talks about dividing up the cake. The problem is this government has devoured the cake," he told reporters in Melbourne.

Shadow treasurer Joe Hockey described Mr Swan's comments as "ridiculous", saying he was having another "look at me" moment.

"As if (people) weren't having a brief moment of sunshine with Julia Gillard's absence, you've got the clown trying to run the circus," Mr Hockey told reporters in Sydney.

He also scoffed at Mr Swan seeking political inspiration from a rock singer.

"If that's the right benchmark, you might as well have Glenn A Baker and Molly Meldrum running the country and they'd do a far better job than the current mob."

Mr Palmer rejected Mr Swan's suggestion that he and other wealthy miners were treating the courts, parliament and the media as personal playthings.

"I maybe am wrong more than I am right, but at least that's a right all Australians have," he told ABC radio.

He said without people like him and Mr Forrest, thousands of Australians wouldn't have jobs.

He also took a swipe at Mr Swan's musical taste, saying he preferred the Australian band Redgum.

Quizzed on his preference, Labor Senator Chris Evans said he was more a Bob Dylan man.

"And the answer to your next question is Blowin' in the Wind," he told reporters in Sydney.

Assistant Treasurer David Bradbury was asked whether Mr Swan was targeting the right demographic with his choice of music.

"Heaven forbid if he was to draw upon Justin Bieber as inspiration for developing policy for the future of this nation," he told reporters in Sydney.

Mr Swan will deliver the annual John Button Lecture in Melbourne later on Wednesday.

Watch Wayne's Swan video on YouTube:

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Your Comments

Labor really have lost it.

Benson kane - from Melbourne, 11 months ago

Whene one seems to thinks that the labor comedy have reached it's peak ,out comes Wayne swan and yells "wait there is more".I hope that Wayne swan doesn't change his inspiration to midnight oil , because china has beaten the ingineouse people to it.

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