Kevin Rudd (Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

I notice that certain Liberals were so bored last night that they did not bother showing up to vote, but that is a different matter altogether.

So we have, where the Liberals now stand on the question of the Medicare levy surcharge, a $1,200 tax hit on working families. We know where they now stand on the question of luxury car tax—that is, half a billion dollars for the Porsche drivers but not for those using public transport. We know where they now stand on RTDs—backing the big distillery companies. We know where they now stand on Fuelwatch—backing the big oil companies. We know where they now stand on GROCERYchoice—backing the big supermarket chains—and on the Medicare levy surcharge—backing the big private health insurance companies. It is about time that the Liberal Party stood up for working families instead.

We have a clear plan of action, a responsible course of action for the future. I would say to those opposite: why don’t you allow working families to get a decent outcome from the votes in the Senate—most particularly on what is happening with the Medicare levy surcharge—and a decent outcome for those who are crying out for action by the national government on urban transport? The leaderless Liberal Party of today has lost its way when it comes to providing any leadership for working families.

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