Opposition attack on Foodbank politically motivated

15/2/95

The Opposition's scurrilous attack on the Foodbank today was a classic demonstration of the Labor Party's practice of peddling gossip and rumours, Community Development Minister Roger Nicholls said today.

"A simple phone call would have informed Opposition spokesman Clive Brown that his media release was a dreadful slander, but he did not have the decency to make the call," Mr Nicholls said.

"This disgraceful attack demonstrates once again that the Labor Party is more interested in using people's misfortune for political gain than in dealing with the real needs of people.

"Every time they are caught out in their irresponsible behaviour the Opposition plead that they are only doing their job.

"The community is getting heartily sick of this pathetic excuse because most people know full well that it is not the Opposition's job to be spreading lies and innuendo.

"Their responsibility is to check their facts before they attack individuals or community organisations.

"Foodbank is a community organisation which supports 75 other community organisations which in turn support people in need.

"The organisation could be seriously affected, although I believe that suppliers will be too intelligent to be taken in by the Opposition's tactics.

"Foodbank and the organisations and individuals who depend on it deserve better than the disgraceful treatment that has been dished out today by an Opposition which, under Mr McGinty's leadership, has clearly committed itself to a policy of generating confusion  in the community in the hope of benefiting from it.

"Both Mr Brown and Mr McGinty owe the community an unreserved apology for this disgrace," Mr Nicholls said.

Media contact: Hugh Ryan   221 5468