Meryl Swanson told a closed-door meeting of colleagues on Tuesday “we sound like we are whingeing and people don’t like it” in reference to Labor’s push for major businesses such as Harvey Norman to hand back the pandemic lifeline after the company’s profits soared during 2020.
Labor MP Meryl Swanson raised concerns over her party’s stance against Harvey Norman’s JobKeeper subsidies.But according to her parliamentary register of interests, Ms Swanson, who holds the Hunter Valley seat of Paterson, is a shareholder in the furniture and appliances retailer. Her husband Nick Swanson is also the franchisee of Harvey Norman’s Maitland store, which is also contained on the parliamentary register.The Paterson MP’s comments follow shadow assistant minister for treasury Andrew Leigh calls for the company’s founder to repay the subsidies after the retailer’s profits more than doubled in the first half of last year.
“Australian taxpayers gave Harvey Norman and franchisees $22 million in JobKeeper. They don’t need a cent of it. Firms with far smaller profits have already paid back their JobKeeper funds,” Mr Leigh said earlier this year. “At a time in which one million Aussies are out of work, taxpayers shouldn’t be supporting a billionaire. Time to pay it back, Gerry.”Comment has been sought from Ms Swanson’s office.Our Morning Edition newsletter is a curated guide to the most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up to
AngusGthompson So she is actually being critical of a company that she benefits from, rather than protecting them from criticism!
AngusGthompson This year's winner of the Martin Ferguson award for Labor phoney
AngusGthompson When will the entertaining tabloid SMH focus on the elected government? Next week?
AngusGthompson I point blank will not enter a Harvey Norman store. Stopped going in even to browse as soon as I realised their job keeper scam. And I’m sure many many others are doing the same.
AngusGthompson Is there any politician in the country who doesn't have monetary interests that compromise their work?
AngusGthompson That is why they can't win. Too many people with too much dough. And self interest. At least Joel Fitzgibbon represents the people of his electorate honestly, not cloaked in self interest inside the Party.
AngusGthompson QED.
AngusGthompson Show me a politician who isn’t a hypocrite and I’ll show you a rainbow coloured unicorn.
AndrewHayen AngusGthompson Doesn’t mean that Harvey Norman is above valid criticism! I hope she goes to the Harvey Norman AGM and asks the obvious questions!