Julie Collins (Franklin, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Ageing and Seniors) Share this | Hansard source

I seek leave to move the following motion:

That the House:

(1) notes:

(a) comments from Tony Abbott reported today that suggest the families of older Australians with COVID-19 should just "let nature take its course";

(b) the Prime Minister has previously said comments like this are "amoral" and "hideous";

(c) the Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians was willing to condemn Mr Abbott's comments, but given the opportunity, the Prime Minister refused;

(d) the Prime Minister's moral standards do not seem to extend to former Liberal Prime Ministers; and

(e) comments like Mr Abbott's must be condemned in the strongest possible terms; and

(2) invites the Prime Minister to make a statement in this House on this matter immediately.

Leave not granted.

I move:

That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent the Member for Franklin from moving the following motion immediately—That the House:

(1) notes:

(a) comments from Tony Abbott reported today that suggest the families of older Australians with COVID-19 should just "let nature take its course";

(b) the Prime Minister has previously said comments like this are "amoral" and "hideous";

(c) the Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians was willing to condemn Mr Abbott's comments, but given the opportunity, the Prime Minister refused;

(d) the Prime Minister's moral standards do not seem to extend to former Liberal Prime Ministers; and

(e) comments like Mr Abbott's must be condemned in the strongest possible terms; and

(2) invites the Prime Minister to make a statement in this House on this matter immediately.

We have 450 families that have loved ones that are deceased, who are pleading with the Prime Minister—

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