Fed: Outspoken senator learns moderation

AAP General News (Australia)
12-14-2009
Fed: Outspoken senator learns moderation

CANBERRA, Dec 14 AAP - Barnaby Joyce is learning to hold his tongue and moderate his
sometimes outspoken views after a talking to by Opposition Leader Tony Abbott.

Senator Joyce, the opposition's new finance spokesman, was not commenting on his favorite
topic - climate change - when quizzed on Monday about developments at the UN summit in
Copenhagen.

"That is a very good question for (opposition climate action spokesman) Greg Hunt," he said.

When pushed further to comment, Senator Joyce said: "I'm a very responsible person
and I'm not going to go into Greg Hunt's portfolio."

Mr Abbott used the first meeting of his shadow ministry last week to remind his frontbench
of the need for discipline.

Senator Joyce, an outspoken opponent of Labor's emissions trading scheme, also backed
away from his earlier comments about banning Chinese sovereign investment in the Australian
resources sector, and a warning of a global economic meltdown if the United States failed
to meet its debt obligations.

Asked whether he needed to curb his commentary on such issues, he said: "Well, of course I do."

AAP rl/it

KEYWORD: JOYCE

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