Matt Williams (Hindmarsh, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Before commencing my contribution to the debate on the Treasury Legislation Amendment (Repeal Day) Bill 2014 I will address a couple of comments made by the member for Griffith about this being the ordinary work of the parliament. She reiterated that at the end, saying that this is the everyday job of government. Let us go back into the history of her predecessor, former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, and have a look at how he did with the ordinary work of government.

Those opposite promised one-in one-out. What was the result? Let us have a look at their performance: 21,000 extra regulations. One-in one-out? No, 21,000 extra. How did you perform? How did you do in your ordinary work of government, I ask the member for Griffith. How many out? There were 21,000 in, so there were not many out. It is no wonder that last September the Australian people said, 'You have failed in your performance. You have not done the ordinary work of government that you are supposed to do, far from it.' We know the history. We will not go into the detail too much.

What have we done? Let us compare and contrast. In only a year we have added a huge amount of legislation which is repealing a huge amount of regulations—10,000 on our first repeal day. More recently, we have had another thousand, adding up to around $2 billion worth of regulations being removed. These are tangible outcomes that have significant results, which the member for Griffith decides is the ordinary work of government. That may be, but you have to perform in this world. You have to get results, whether they be ordinary or not.

Let us look at the public gallery after the speech of the member for Moreton. The member for Deakin in his speech reflected on the public gallery and its opinion of the speech of the member for Moreton. The member for Moreton does say some good things from time to time. I do enjoy his company. Those in the public gallery departed very quickly after his speech. As the member for Deakin said, his speech could have been far more constructive. He could have recognised that, yes, the coalition has done some good work and Labor acknowledges you for that. The member for Fraser, too, talked about substance. He did not want to mention the free trade agreements that have been signed. He mentioned fairness but he did not talk about the interest bill of over $30 million that we are forced to pay back every day on the former Labor government's debt. Speaking of fairness, the money we pay on that interest bill could go to social infrastructure, to so many things that our community needs, but, no, we are paying it on debt. That is the clincher. That is where debt does matter and how it has an impact on the community, which members opposite fail to acknowledge.

I mentioned recently in the House when speaking about another of these fine bills through which we are getting great results in eliminating compliance and red tape. A recent study is Shaping the Future of South Australia, by KPMG, Bank of South Australia, CEDA, Flinders University and the government of South Australia. One of the top 10 actions in the study was 'Reduce the burden of regulation to drive economic growth.' I congratulate the government of South Australia on this initiative. I looked through the actions to see what they proposed. Let us remember that after 12 years in power in South Australia the Labor Party have finally realised that they need to do something on so many fronts, and need to take some action on regulation and red tape. They are establishing industry and government roundtables. After 12 years they are establishing things. What have they been doing? They have been asleep at the wheel, like some others we have seen.

What have we done in one year? We have had significant outcomes: over $2 billion and 12,000 regulations removed. They are doing consultation. Congratulations! In a year we have done significant consultation, whether it be with the Logistics Council, Medicines Australia and so many other industry groups around Australia that my colleagues in the deregulation task force have reached out to and obtained input and suggestions from. When I speak to some of these national bodies, they say, 'Yes, we're talking to Josh Frydenberg. He's onto it and he's looking at ways to address our concerns about the overburdensome compliance of red tape.' I congratulate the member for Kooyong on his excellent leadership on this, which is being driven by the Prime Minister.

When those opposite talk about consultation they might like to take a leaf out of our book too. We have requested that ministers work with departments and create to regulation units within every portfolio. That is the template, South Australian Labor, go and do it. Do not just mess around for another four years.

Another of South Australia Labor's action items is the one-in one-out rule. Well done! We have heard that before haven't we? The one-in one-out rule was tried by the previous federal Labor government, and look where that got them. Do not follow the previous federal Labor government, South Australia, follow the coalition government. Jay Weatherill and the Treasurer, do something for the state, get some results, get some action and stop talking.

In closing, I will go through some points on the bill. Whether it be superannuation, the consolidation and repair of tax provisions, or rewriting the definition of Australia, they are not headline grabbers but they are important. They are significant. They add to better government. They are good policy. We are getting good outcomes and we need to be acknowledged for that.

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