Kevin Rudd (Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Hansard source

I move:

That all words after “That” be omitted with a view to substituting the following words: “this House repudiates the consistent, negative, year-long campaign by the Government against the Opposition, rather than advancing its own positive plans for Australia’s future”

Just now we have been witness to arrogance unleashed by the Treasurer, the would-be Prime Minister of this country, who has lacked courage year in and year out—month in, month out—and the ticker to do anything about his heartfelt aspirations and ambition to eliminate this man.

It does not take a lot of courage to wander around each restaurant in this town and badmouth the Prime Minister. It does not take a lot of courage to wander around the press gallery and badmouth the Prime Minister. It does not take a lot of courage in Melbourne, Treasurer, to wander around your favourite eating haunts and badmouth the Prime Minister. But it does take courage, conviction and commitment to stand up for your principles and stand for something. It takes courage and conviction to summon forth the courage and conviction to put your hand up and challenge this man for the leadership of the Liberal Party—courage and conviction which you have lacked all year. Now you have to be defended by—

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