Steve Georganas (Hindmarsh, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I too rise to speak about the need for this government to address rising inequality in our society, in our community, and division in Australia. I do so by giving a couple of quick examples. We just heard the other side claiming that this side is the divisive side. I want to say one thing to this House. It is that side that speaks about 'lifters and leaners'. It is that side that wants to give $50 billion to the richest people in Australia as a tax cut, and yet at the same time, last week, over 300,000 pensioners across this country received a letter telling them that they will have their pensions cut because of the changes in the assets test and the deeming rates. We are giving $50 billion to the richest people of Australia and punishing pensioners who have worked all their lives, who have saved their meagre savings to not be a burden on the taxpayers and on this nation, and we are punishing them. This is what the divisiveness is all about.

The flow-on effects of inequality can be disastrous for a nation. It stifles economic growth, crime can increase, people's health outcomes worsen, there can be political unrest and poorer education levels in society. I do not need to tell you all that has very dire and long-lasting consequences for Australian society. The Abbott-Turnbull Liberal government in recent years has undertaken policy decisions that will undoubtedly adversely affect our nation's equality. But what can you expect, as I said earlier, when you have a government that divides people into two groups, lifters and leaners? You can see examples of this inequity in virtually every single portfolio, and it is very disturbing. Medicare is the perfect example. We heard the member opposite talk about some furphy or lie about Medicare during the election campaign. People were scared of this government when it comes to Medicare. In the last three years they tried to bring in a co-payment. When they failed through the parliament to bring in a co-payment—because we voted against it and others in the Senate voted against—they then decided to go through the backdoor way. What was the backdoor way? Putting a freeze on the payments to doctors.

Mr Hawke interjecting —

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