Fed: McGauran says he has no job other than MP

AAP General News (Australia)
04-01-2008
Fed: McGauran says he has no job other than MP

CANBERRA, April 1 AAP - Former Howard government minister Peter McGauran has played
down reports he will quit politics within weeks for a job in the thoroughbred industry.

Mr McGauran, the former agriculture minister, is expected to leave parliament before
the May budget to take up a position with the Thoroughbred Breeders Association, representing
some of the nation's top racehorse studs.

Speculation has been fuelled by a speech the Nationals backbencher gave to parliament
last month in which he thanked his wife and parents and expressed gratitude to the voters
who had supported him.

But Mr McGauran today said he had no employment or position other than as the member
for Gippsland.

"I am working in the electorate as my constituents rightly expect," Mr McGauran said
through a spokeswoman.

"I have strong links with horse industries but no position."

Mr McGauran is one of several former ministers expected to retire this year.

Peter Costello, Alexander Downer and Mark Vaile have all been considering their futures
since last November's election loss.

Opposition Leader Brendan Nelson wants any retiring MPs to coordinate their departures
so that the ensuing by-elections - expected to cost taxpayers $500,000 each - can be held
on one "super Saturday".

Coalition strategists want the by-elections delayed until after the May budget in the
hope that Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's electoral honeymoon will have begun to wane.

Dr Nelson today urged the MPs to pick up their performance or move on.

"Every one of us who was elected in November last year, our responsibility is to work
our tails off to our constituents," he told Fairfax Radio Network.

"People who don't want to do that, whichever side of politics they're on, they just
need to have a think about where they are going."

AAP mfh/rl/maur/de

KEYWORD: BACKBENCH MCGAURAN

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