Nick Champion (Wakefield, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

It is hard to argue with silence. Maybe they should extend this right across the government: give no interviews; not show up for any of the debates.

Opposition members interjecting—

The PMO does not let the minister out of the box. It must be galling for a former state treasurer to be struck into silence. The backbenchers, as you can see, are roaring in here to your defence. They are really keen to defend you!

An opposition member interjecting—They are scheming.

Yes, they are scheming. We know that this government is terribly divided. We saw that in the schools debate this week. We will see that later on. After the first wave of good headlines that for some reason the media in this country insist on giving the coalition—I do not know whether it is the lock-up that captures them—it will all wear off within a week or two and the bad things in this budget, the sterile, poisonous ideology that the people opposite pursue, the economic uncertainty that is riddled throughout the economy will all catch up with them, and then the auditions will begin again. The member for Dickson will be in here auditioning at the dispatch box. Maybe we will have the colt from Kooyong. We will have others. The member for Warringah is ever present in their minds, plotting a pathway back to the prime ministership via opposition. That is what this government has to give the people of Australia. (Time expired)

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