Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children's Services) Share this | Hansard source

Yet John Howard was neither a Liberal federalist, in the member for Sturt’s mould, nor a leader in the Alfred Deakin liberal tradition. His industrial relations experiment relied upon a contemporary and questionable interpretation of the community’s mandate. Mr Howard was perhaps less the ideologue that he is portrayed as by some of his critics and more of the opportunist. Unquestionably, we saw the Howard decade end any remaining strand of liberalism in the Liberal Party—that is, what has not been ended by the right wing of the New South Wales Liberal Party. It is certainly far from clear what, if anything, the new leader—or new leaders—of the Liberals will add. The modern Labor Party is a party of hope and innovation, which has been proved by the federal budget introduced into this place by the Treasurer. To repeat the Treasurer’s words:

It is a Labor Budget for the nation. For Australia’s future. For all Australians.

I commend the bill to this House.

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