Craig Emerson (Rankin, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Service Economy, Small Business and Independent Contractors) Share this | Hansard source

That’s right, Chairman McCrann—as if he were from the left wing of the political spectrum around here. Mr McCrann described our policy as really quite sensible. He said it poses no threat to the integrity and purpose of the Future Fund.

It is National Water Day. The government talks about Labor spending money from the Future Fund. On National Water Day, let us remember that, in January, the Prime Minister committed $10 billion with no cabinet consideration and no Treasury costings. We did not oppose that. We asked to see the costings and we agreed with the principles that were outlined. We took a constructive approach. It is a bit rich for the government to say Labor should not be investing $2.7 billion, when the government is quite happy and free to invest $10 billion in a water plan.

Time and time again, we see this Prime Minister being very tricky. He is a very clever politician. The government announce 17 programs and they never get around to spending the money. That is why the Prime Minister had to say today, in response to a question from the member for Grayndler, that $46 million of the $50 million for the metropolitan Broadband Connect program has been carried over—and they spent $1.3 million on administration, so what on earth are they doing? There is a real choice at this election, between a forward-looking, visionary Rudd Labor government and a reform-lazy, slothful coalition government. That choice is going to be made, and it will result in the election of a Rudd Labor government because that is essential to Australia’s future. (Time expired)

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