PM fudging green jobs numbers: Turnbull

Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull has accused Prime Minister Kevin Rudd of
misrepresenting his green jobs initiative.

Mr Rudd on Thursday announced a $94 million program to create 30,000 training places
in "green skilled" trades and 20,000 "green" jobs aimed at the young.
But a day later, Mr Rudd has admitted that only 6,000 guaranteed jobs would be
created, acknowledging they would be funded from a program that already existed
before his announcement.
Nor does the program actually fund the creation of 30,000 training places.
Instead it funds the provision of "green-skill competencies" for apprentices during
the next two years.
"These are phantom jobs from a phony prime minister," Mr Turnbull told a news
conference following the Australian Lebanese Chamber of Commerce's annual dinner in
Sydney.
"This is a great example of spin. It's about time Mr Rudd got real and focuses on
reality."
After Thursday's announcement, Employment Participation Minister Mark Arbib was
forced to admit he did not know if the green jobs would result in paid employment
for workers or simply work experience.
After Senator Arbib attempted to clarify the announcement, Mr Rudd told Fairfax
Radio: "Mark would admit himself, he didn't have the best of days."
Mr Turnbull told reporters Senator Arbib had been made a scapegoat and told Mr Rudd
to take responsibility for the apparent confusion.
"They are all trying to blame this on Arbib but Mr Rudd said 50,000 new jobs would
be created and that is simply not true," he said.
Speaking during the chamber of commerce dinner, Mr Turnbull told 600 delegates the
Australian economy is recovering but warned of tax rises and higher interest rates
in the future because of high levels of government debt.
"There are a lot of green shoots emerging. Most people are more optimistic now than
a few months ago.
"But nonetheless there are big challenges remaining," Mr Turnbull said during his
speech.
He cited government debt, which he estimates to be $315 billion, as the major
barrier to economic recovery.
"We remain in a strong economic position, nonetheless Mr Rudd reminds me of someone
who buys a business cheaply, mismanages it but still manages to sell it for a profit
somehow.
"He started off with the most pristine balance sheet in any country. That was left
to him by the coalition," Mr Turnbull said.