Linda Burney (Barton, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Families and Social Services) Share this | Hansard source

I want every single person on the other side of this House to listen to what I've got to say, because this is your parting message to the people of this country—the people who have lost their jobs and the people who are unemployed. The Prime Minister's decision to oppose this amendment is a rotten Christmas present for 1.8 million Australians. It's cruel and it's an insight into the true nature of the government. By opposing this amendment, the government is telling Australians that the rate of unemployment payments will go back to the old Newstart rate in March—no ifs, no buts. In the other place, the government told Labor that you would support this amendment when it came back to the House, but you've reneged. That's what you've done: you've reneged. What does that say about this government? What does it say about this Prime Minister? Let's reflect on what this amendment will actually do.

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