Ted O'Brien (Fairfax, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Using economic policy to try to create greater equality requires a threshold strategic question to be answered. Either a political party chooses to tear people down to the lowest common denominator or they lift people up so they can realise their full potential. What we see in this parliament is the distinction between the Labor Party and the coalition on that threshold question. The Labor Party is determined to ensure it tears people down to the lowest common denominator. The coalition, on the other hand, is determined to ensure that it provides people with the freedom to achieve their greatest potential.

Now, this would be bad enough in any context. However, there is a historical dimension to this because never before, in at least the last three decades, have we had a Leader of the Opposition or leader of the Labor Party so determined to tear people down with the trick of excessive income redistribution. We spent most of the 20th century with an argument between socialism and liberalism, and liberalism won out. Liberalism won out.

See this speech in context