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

If the Manager of Opposition Business had listened to my earlier answer concerning the impact of the economic stimulus strategy on jobs in the retail sector, including the quotes from those who lead in the retail sector, he would understand its impact on jobs, which was the question I was asked.

Then, on family payments, the Leader of the Opposition was asked again—last October—about this, and he said:

I think there are certainly people that have won a lot more than others, but again our position, Charles—

this is Charles Wooley—

was, in the spirit of the times, we give the Government our support on this.

That was an eternity ago; that was three months ago. Now we have the Leader of the Opposition saying that his position is entirely the reverse of that. Is it any wonder that here we are at 10 minutes past two, on this day—when industrial relations legislation is about to pass through the Senate—and nobody knows where the Liberal Party stand on industrial relations and the future of Work Choices, because nobody knows where they stand on the economic stimulus strategy, because they make it up as they go along. I would ask the Leader of the Opposition to come clean with the Australian people and tell them whether he supports or opposes these payments—depending on which day of the week it is.

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