Milton Dick (Oxley, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I can hear the Leader of the House asking: 'What's all this about? Why are they talking about all these cuts? Can't we do something about this?' No—through you, Mr Deputy Speaker—you cannot, because the Australian community are onto you. They are awake. Just as they rallied in my community, they will continue to rally against what you are proposing for Australia.

Earlier last week, before the rally, I was able to meet with a large group of seniors and pensioners, who the shadow minister addressed. It might be a lesson for the minister to actually go out and listen to the community. He is in a bit of a witness protection scheme! I cannot go through all of the issues those seniors had. There were a couple of hundred seniors who gathered together with the shadow minister and me at the Jindalee Bowls Club, and the feedback was very clear: hands off the pension and hands off on the cuts to seniors.

Time and time again, when this government needs to go somewhere they do not go to the top end of town. They do not go after them at all. We know that because their approach is to give the top end of town tax cuts, to give them a helping hand. We get that. We know on this side of the chamber and in my community that that is this government's agenda. The Australian community can see that. But, time and time again, when it comes to attacking those who can least afford it, that is the go-to. That is the alternative place where this government always goes first.

Just once, wouldn't it be nice if you had a government minister or a member of the government get up and apologise for the uncertainty, the fear, the issues that they have created. No, they are not interested in that at all. They are never interested in apologising or saying sorry or simply saying, 'We got it wrong'. Well, you have got it wrong. And you got it wrong in this budget as well. We will continue to fight what you are trying to do; you are trying to remove the social safety net in this country. Time and time again, cruel, conservative governments have gone down this path. When will you learn? When will you hear the message across Australia? Hands off our services. Hands off pensioners and making sure that they get a fair go.

Government members interjecting—

You can hear them bleating now. They do not like it when the truth is exposed—through their electorates, right across Australia—that the cuts have now been exposed. But it is not finished. It is not over. We know that they are still coming after pensioners. We know they are still coming after families who need support. Time and time again, this opposition led by Bill Shorten and shadow minister Jenny Macklin will continue to fight you every step of the way. We will stand beside the Australian community while you try to tear them apart.

See this speech in context