Swan admits he was wrong

 Wayne Swan’s statement today regarding the Australian Government’s Stronger Families and Communities Strategy is yet another example of Labor flip flop politics.

At the start of this year, Mr Swan told The Age that he would scrap the successful Stronger Families and Communities Strategy and replace it with a “couple of strong national programs”.

He said:

If the money had been all been put into a couple of strong national programs, we would have got a better bang for our buck.

“Yet today he welcomes the Prime Minister’s announcement of $1.5 million for grassroots projects that will make a real impact on helping communities find local solutions to their local problems.

“He then asks the Government to confirm the Stronger Families and Communities Strategy to continue beyond the end of this financial year – clear recognition of the benefits of our approach to helping communities around Australia.

“In January he thought our approach was rubbish and that the Strategy should be abandoned for ‘a couple of strong national programs.’

“Now in March, he agrees that the Australian Government’s approach has been right all along.

“For Mr Swan’s information, I will repeat what I have already said publicly. I will be going forward in the next Budget to have the highly successful Stronger Families and Communities Strategy continue beyond the end of this financial year.

“Wayne Swan is a cynical opportunist whose position on social policy has been all over the shop since Mark Latham’s election as Labor leader. I wait with great interest to see what other long held views he changes over the coming months,” Mr Anthony said.