Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

I was asked a very broadly phrased question, so I am saying on accountability: why doesn't the member for Menzies—or indeed, the Leader of the Opposition—stand at a school gate and tell every working mum and dad he does not want them to have the schoolkids bonus? Why doesn't he go to a car factory and say, 'I do not support money to support your jobs'? Why doesn't he go to a steel mill and in front of those steelworkers say, 'I did not support money to support your jobs'? Why doesn't he walk to a hospital and say, 'I took $1 billion out of you last time and now I've got $70 billion worth of cuts to make'? Why doesn't he go and talk to school teachers about the planned cuts that he has for education?

When it comes to accountability I am certainly there for real accountability. It is the opposition that does not want to be held accountable for its reckless negativity.

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