Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

I understand the shadow minister's frustration because her leader has dealt the Labor Party into complete irrelevance—complete, absolute and utter irrelevance. We went to the election with a very clear policy to abolish the mining tax because it was a bad and destructive tax that damaged jobs, damaged investment and it did not raise any real revenue. What it did do was harm jobs and investment. Not only did we say we would abolish the mining tax but also we were absolutely upfront and absolutely straight with the Australian people that we would also abolish the unsustainable spending that the mining tax was supposed to fund. We were absolutely upfront about this with the Australian people and we were attacked up hill and down dale by members opposite for doing precisely what we have done now. We are prepared to wear the political pain of this because we want to be straight and open with the Australian people.

Labor is in denial about the election result. Labor has dealt itself out of political relevance because of its intransigence. We will work with any members of this parliament who are prepared to work with us to bring about good policy. Even now if members opposite want to work with us, we will work with them, but I tell you what—

Ms Macklin interjecting—

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