Barnaby and his cruiser

[Disco44]

I'll just put it up,you can comment .Last updated: February 15, 2011




Senator Barnaby Joyce has written off a government-funded four-wheel drive

TRASHED: Senator Barnaby Joyce has written off a government-funded four-wheel drive. Picture: Robyne Cuerel. Source: The Courier-Mail

OUTSPOKEN Nationals' Senator Barnaby Joyce is in hot water after writing-off a $95,000 taxpayer-funded 4WD as he tried to drive through a flooded NSW creek.

The Queensland Senator touted as a future Nationals' leader had a lucky escape just before Christmas after his luxury Toyota Landcruiser became bogged in the flooded Burren Creek, in far north NSW.

The Coalition's spokesman on water himself became a victim of summer's above-average rainfalls and was forced to scramble to safety by wriggling through the driver's window.

News of the unfortunate accident appears to have been hushed up and calls to Walgett Shire Council did not fully explain the incident.

A staff member said he believed roads around the creek were closed at the time "as far as I know". But this could not be confirmed.

A sheepish Senator Joyce is adamant he broke no laws.
"Definitely not. The road was not closed. I got to the creek at Burren Junction and the signs said 'drive slowly'," he said.

"Yeah, I got stuck in the floodwaters but I got the car out."

At the time there was no flood indicator sign for Senator Joyce to gauge depth. He claims other drivers trapped by the floodwaters could back up his story.

Senator Joyce was on holidays at the time at the end of a taxing political year and driving the Toyota 4WD from his Queensland home in St George to a family property at Baradine, about 300km from the Queensland/NSW border.

All Federal MPs and Senators are able to drive electorate vehicles for private use, provided they pay a "peppercorn" fee of around $750 to the Finance Department.

The Landcruiser 200 has a drive-away price of $95,000 according to Toyota's website.

But it was no match for the flooded creek and its electronics and computer system was damaged so badly that it was declared a write-off by the insurance company which manages the Commonwealth fleet.

"I got the car out but the insurance company said it was a write off," a sheepish Senator Joyce said.

Senator Joyce said he was the third driver to become bogged in Burren Creek at the time and was only able to drag his vehicle out with the help of another 4WD.

But he said he didn't feel threatened by the flooded creek which was "more like a lagoon than a raging torrent"

[87County]

Ah... much scuttlebutt around about this incident (as would be expected)

If it had been anyone else community reactions may well have been different, even sympathetic

But unfortunately, most of the derogatory comments about Barnaby Goose seem to be true -

The poor man (other appropriate descriptive word/s have been used around here) probably would not have had any choice as to the car he was given -

but you expect a reasonable person to use common sense and not to feel they have to attempt the impossible just for publicity purposes...

Reliable info in this case suggests that the type car was not the problem

As Police/SES keep saying - don't play in floodwaters Barnaby

[pop058]

What was the "other 4WD" that rescued the toymotor ?

[MickS]

I trust Barnabass' peppercorn lease fee will increase in line with this event...hmmm somewhere in the vicinity of $95K...but I doubt it. Looks like $95K of flood relief will get diverted to Toyota.

What colour would you like this time Mr. Joyce?

[TerryO]

Ah... much scuttlebutt around about this incident (as would be expected)

If it had been anyone else community reactions may well have been different, even sympathetic

But unfortunately, most of the derogatory comments about Barnaby Goose seem to be true -

The poor man (other appropriate descriptive word/s have been used around here) probably would not have had any choice as to the car he was given -

but you expect a reasonable person to use common sense and not to feel they have to attempt the impossible just for publicity purposes...

What makes you think he tried 'the impossible for publiity purposes'? Maybe he was just trying to get some where and made a bad decision.

If he is a goose because be stuffed up then there are plenty of members on here that are also gooses as well for doing similar things. I don't remember to many being derided though for driving through water that killed their Disco's.

Is it a case of what is acceptable for Aulro members is not also acceptable for Barnaby?

cheers,
Terry

[Tote]

I trust Barnabass' peppercorn lease fee will increase in line with this event...hmmm somewhere in the vicinity of $95K...but I doubt it. Looks like $95K of flood relief will get diverted to Toyota.

What colour would you like this time Mr. Joyce?

Actually It says in the article that the insurance company wrote it off so presumably the excess will be paid and the Govt will get a new car to allocate to Barnaby. Probably not at a cost of $95000.
Regards,
Tote

[one_iota]

Well as someone on that side of the house said recently: "s**t happens"

[PAT303]

Kinda like drink driving,doesn't matter how many times people are told not to drive through floodwaters,and for very good reason idiots still do it. Pat

[MickS]

Actually It says in the article that the insurance company wrote it off so presumably the excess will be paid and the Govt will get a new car to allocate to Barnaby. Probably not at a cost of $95000.
Regards,
Tote

Governments, at least state, are self-insured. So we still foot the bill.

[Hamish71]

And dont think the government paid anywhere near 95,000.00 retail for it.
Probably half....or less.