Graham Perrett (Moreton, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I take that interjection—appropriately recognised. I am not making light of that service at all. Those opposite put out a press release because they attacked a couple of commas, because they mowed down some parentheses. Let us look at what a real, unified government does. Let us look at what happened under the Labor governments.

On my first day in this parliament there was an apology to the stolen generation. We brought in minor social reforms such as the National Disability Insurance Scheme! We had a safe, steady hand on the tiller such that we were able to survive the global financial crisis, the greatest set of headwinds to buffet this nation since the Great Depression. Things like the Fair Work Act are still serving Australian society well. Those Gonski education reforms provide for every kid, whatever their talent and whatever the name over the top of their school to be given an opportunity in life, whether they be rural and remote, Indigenous or have English as their second language. Putting a focus on education is a good thing to do because it makes economic sense and it brings the best and brightest from our greatest resource, which is our population.

The Omnibus Repeal Day (Autumn 2015) Bill 2015 is like all of the legislation it has repealed; it is not an achievement of the Abbott government that needs applause. It does not need a press release. It is the government doing what it should be doing. It is the everyday work of government. We need to see it in the context of what the Abbott government have achieved. They said there was a debt and deficit disaster, so that would have been their first focus. I think when Treasurer Hockey was in opposition he said that he would achieve a surplus in his first year. Well, let us have a look at that. The last time I looked at government debt, it was out to $114 billion—but that was last week. How is business investment going—a good guide for those who want an adrenalin surge in the economy? It is down 11 per cent. How about the everyday worker? Real wages are actually falling. Unemployment is at 6.2 per cent—it was 5.7 per cent when we left office. What does that translate to? It translates to 800,000 people out of work. Every person in Tasmania, every person in the Northern Territory and we could probably throw in Riverina as well—800,000 people out of work.

Obviously, this is not a government that is getting things right. We have seen that tonight. They are divided. They have no economic strategy. We had the Minister for Communications coming out and attacking the Prime Minister. And when there should not be a crack of daylight between the Prime Minister and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, we had the foreign minister coming out and destabilising the vision for this nation. We are two-thirds the way through the electoral cycle. So far, 418 bills have been introduced during this government's time in office. Only 50 per cent of these bills have been passed by both houses. Two years in and only 50 per cent of the bills they have introduced have been passed by both houses.

In contrast, if you look at the 43rd Parliament under a minority Labor government, we introduced 799 bills and more than 70 per cent of those bills were passed and became acts of parliament. In the second term, in the 42nd Parliament—remember the 42nd Parliament under former Prime Minister Rudd?—there was a big legislative agenda. Those opposite have no vision, no plan and no agenda. They are fighting amongst themselves rather having a vision for this nation. I think we understand why there is division taking place outside this chamber. It is because the member for Warringah is a professional opposition leader. He has no vision and no courage. He squandered the economic opportunities that were given to him by the Labor Party and he is now causing the nation damage.

This nation needs a statesman as a leader. The current Prime Minister does not have that ability, and Australia definitely deserves better.

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