Premier faces friend and foe
PREMIER Campbell Newman might be among friends when he addresses a business breakfast in Toowoomba this morning. However, outside the venue his reception could be a little more hostile.
Unions are expected to hold protests during the visit with at least one group organising a soup kitchen, serving “Campbell’s Soup” of course.
PUBLIC sector workers have used their imagination to get across their message to Premier Campbell Newman today.
While the Premier dines at the Toowoomba Chamber of Commerce and Industry breakfast at Picnic Point, protesters will get their fill outside at a makeshift “Campbell’s Soup” kitchen.
But Together Union lead organiser Dennis Mullins said not to expect the classic Campbell’s favourites on the menu.
“We will have two or three soups on offer,” he said. “The first of which will be cream of public servant soup. It’s a thin gruel which has been pushed through a frontline filter. But we can assure you, no minister’s children were harmed making this product.
“We are also going with nickels and dimes budget broth – nobody knows what’s in it but we’re sure you won’t like the taste.”
Mr Mullins said the soup kitchen was a way of peacefully showing what he believed was a growing divide in the community.
“It is not so much a protest, but more of a counterpoint to demonstrate the clear divide that the LNP policies are causing in our communities and that we’re going to become a community of them and us,” he said.
“My perception of the battle ahead is not about wildcat industrial action, but about focusing the attention of our community on the impact to them and engaging with our community so that they are fully informed about the damage that has been done.”
Premier Newman said he was tired of union “game playing”.
“The Government has consistently asked unions to work with it to find savings and protect jobs, but all we’ve seen so far is political stunts and game playing,” he said.
“This is a difficult period, I understand that and I am really sorry about the public servants who are losing their jobs, but we’re making the tough decisions to fix the financial mess left by Labor as quickly as we can so we have more money in the future to spend on frontline services.”