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Politics is about persuading voters about priorities.
To do so, facts are important, but they can also be misused in an attempt to win the debate.
Here the facts fight back. This site presents the facts to help keep the debate clean and to persuade politicians and others to stick to the facts.
Home   /   Joe Hockey
Are Hockey's job numbers correct? > Check the facts

Are Hockey’s job numbers correct? > Check the facts

August 17, 2015
Economy

The claim Mr Hockey said; Over the last couple of months we have had some very pleasing economic information. Importantly, since the beginning of this…

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Emissions by OECD countries > Check the facts

Emissions by OECD countries > Check the facts

October 14, 2014
Environment, Government

The Treasurer Joe Hockey has described as “absolutely ridiculous” the idea that Australia is the highest greenhouse gas emitter in the OECD per capita. Amongst…

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Petrol tax: progressive or regressive> Check the facts

Petrol tax: progressive or regressive> Check the facts

August 14, 2014
Economy, Government, Society, Transport

Treasurer Joe Hockey has said “the poorest people either don’t have cars or actually don’t drive very far in many cases.” The Treasure also said…

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Is Australia living beyond its means? > Check the facts

Is Australia living beyond its means? > Check the facts

August 22, 2013
Economy

Who: “It [a budget surplus] matters because Australia doesn’t fund itself as a nation. We are running a current account deficit of around $50 billion…

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How much has the carbon tax increased manufacturing energy costs? > Check the facts

How much has the carbon tax increased manufacturing energy costs? > Check the facts

August 20, 2013
Economy

Who: “I was speaking to a major manufacturer in NSW the other day… [the energy bill for his NSW plant was] 52 million dollars a…

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Will the Coalition's company tax cut cost $5 billion? > Check the facts

Will the Coalition’s company tax cut cost $5 billion? > Check the facts

August 9, 2013
Economy

Who: “The Coalition’s cut to the company tax rate will cost $5 billion over the forward estimates. This reflects the direct costs to revenue from…

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Are Treasury’s numbers wrong? > Check the facts

Are Treasury’s numbers wrong? > Check the facts

July 26, 2013
Economy, Government

Who: “The government is trying to bully the public service into a set of the numbers that clearly do not properly represent the state of…

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Why

Between elections governments are held to account through debate. This debate takes place in the parliament, media, in workplaces, at BBQs and parties, around the kitchen table and online.
Politicians, pundits and interest groups attempt to influence the debate and persuade us which side of the debate to take.

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Should the Australian government encourage renewable forms of energy or do we need to support fossil fuels? Is returning the budget back to surplus the number one priority and if so should be decrease spending or increase revenue? Should we focus on industrial relations or indigenous recognition?

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There are, of course, no right answers to such questions. But to use the complexity of a policy issue to cloud debate with half-truths and misrepresentation of the facts to win the debate undermines the democratic accountability of government.

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The media plays an important role in presenting an even handed account of the debate and ensuring a range of voices are heard. In turn politicians are keen to influence the debate through the media's reporting. Undue influence risks silencing some voices from the debate.
As the political debates continue Facts Fight Back will provide a timely and accessible source of information to help keep the debate clean and and ensure the public, journalists and the politicians themselves keep track of who is sticking to the facts.

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