Michael Johnson (Ryan, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I am sure that they are delighted that their federal representative is a hardworking, dedicated and very committed Liberal member, but I will be modest enough to say that it is because of the confidence that the government of Australia has been able to create by its strong national leadership in all affairs of state—from the economic management of this country to protecting our borders through strong national security legislation. I am delighted that the Attorney-General is in the House this evening. I am honoured that he is here as I make my presentation on the appropriation bills.

As the federal member for Ryan, I have the privilege of representing the constituents of Ryan. I find it very important to remind them what Labor did when it was in office. Were Labor ever to get back into office, there would be no sympathy whatsoever for the deep pockets that would have to be found amongst the people of Ryan because of what would follow—a skyrocketing of interest rates, something that the overwhelming majority of Australians and Australian families had to face very significantly previously.

We know that the net government debt that the Howard government had to deal with was quite substantial as a result of the Labor legacy. There was an average government debt across the OECD nations of approximately 50 per cent of GDP. This has now been almost eliminated. Total household disposable income has grown in real terms by more than a third over the last decade. Over the same period, real private sector wealth per capita has more than doubled.

Due to the combination of the relatively low levels of taxes paid by the poor and Australia’s very progressive policies, OECD research has shown that Australia redistributes more to the poorest 20 per cent of its population than virtually any other developed country. We can be very proud that we give enormous emphasis to those Australians who are less fortunate than ourselves and who need as much assistance as possible.

I want to say to the people of Ryan that it is a great pleasure—a great honour—to represent them in the Australian parliament. The Howard government will not forget the faith that they have placed in the coalition government. I am sure that all my colleagues on this side of the parliament will fully acknowledge that we have a great honour in representing the people of Australia as their government. In this new year of 2006 it is incumbent upon us to rededicate ourselves to the hard work that lies ahead in keeping on track the economic progress and economic successes acquired in the last decade.

We do not want to have a recession. We do not want to have ‘the recession we had to have’ that was the handiwork of the Labor Party and former Prime Minister Keating. I am delighted to be able to say that the Howard government will continue to focus on reform. Reform fatigue is not part of this government’s vocabulary. Reform fatigue, quite remarkably, is something that belongs to the federal Labor Party. One would think that in opposition your focus would be entirely on coming up with policies and ideas and rejuvenation. Yet all we have is the opposite. All we have is federal Labor members at each other’s throats, with former leaders of the Labor Party criticising current leaders and indeed a former federal Labor leader fighting for his political skin.

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