Xenophon, Turnbull block $42bn rescue package

A SHOCKED business community is urging the Senate to immediately reverse its defeat of the Government's $42 billion stimulus package, which sank when independent Nick Xenophon voted with the Coalition.
Senator Xenophon opposed the package because the Government refused to bring forward $5 billion of spending on the Murray-Darling basin, offering only a $400 million bring-forward.
The Government immediately put the package back into the House of Representatives — it will go to the Senate today for another vote.

In a significant compromise, the Government cut $50 from the $950 tax bonus, and from the payment to single-income families. The more than $400 million saved went to meeting a number of demands from the crossbenchers, including $200 million for jobs creation, a relaxation of the liquid assets test for the dole and $40 million for bikeways.
But Senator Xenophon said no stimulus package could ignore the parlous condition of the Murray-Darling Basin.
"I didn't come here to make friends, I came here to make a difference", he told the Senate."The Government has said no, so I must say no."

Senator Xenophon last night held out an olive branch, signalling he would compromise if there was a revised river offer.
"I'm prepared to sit down and negotiate in good faith," he told The 7.30 Report.
Senator Xenophon said the Murray-Darling system had reached a tipping point, and the basin disintegrating into a dust bowl would be catastrophic for employment.
Earlier, he said he would vote no again if he didn't get adequate concessions. Talks were scheduled with Climate Change Minister Penny Wong and Treasurer Wayne Swan last night.
Senator Xenophon is now under huge pressure, as is the Opposition.

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