Michael McCormack (Riverina, National Party, Shadow Minister for International Development and the Pacific) Share this | Hansard source

Yes, there were a few others. There was Josh Frydenberg. There was Greg Hunt. They are no longer in the parliament. Greg retired. Josh, unfortunately, was beaten in Kooyong, and I acknowledge that that's democracy. I acknowledge that, yes, Australians voted for change on 21 May; I acknowledge that. Australians were very frustrated. They were frustrated by state premiers who closed borders and closed people down for too long, but that was also something that the Commonwealth tried to work with the states on. We tried to put Australians above politics, and I think we did that. I think the fact that we're now not wearing masks, the fact that we're now moving freely around our country and the fact that the Hopkins research centre index had Australia rated No. 2 in the world for our response to COVID-19 is something we should be very proud of as a nation. I know I am. And I know that, long after I've finished in this place, that will be one of the legacies—that I was in on those meetings.

I know those opposite come in here and talk, with their political strategy of: 'Let's talk about a trillion dollars of debt!' Well, it is a big debt—I acknowledge that. But the fact remains: it's not anywhere near a trillion dollars. And the fact remains: we kept Australians alive and we kept Australians in jobs.

We're talking here about broken promises, and there are many. I am very disappointed, for my own electorate, and I know the member for Cowper is also earnestly and honestly disappointed, that our areas, our regions, have lost out on veterans wellbeing centres. There are thousands upon thousands of veterans, in Cowper and in Riverina, who deserve nothing less than a wellness centre in their electorate. But they've been taken away because of a broken commitment by Labor; we offered $5 million to each area, and they have been taken away and put in Labor electorates.

The Building Better Regions Fund has been rebadged, and there's less money in it. That is a shame. That is a broken promise to regional Australia.

An opposition member: A shame.

It is. Real wages are coming down. I know those opposite talk about the fact that the Fair Work Commission has increased the lowest rate of wages. We have the highest minimum wage in the world. That's something we should also, as a nation, be very proud of. I don't hear those opposite talking that up. We should be very proud of what we have as a nation, and we should be positive about our future—not always blaming others for something that has been done in the past, which is what the government does all too often. We should be positive. We should be talking up the economic fortunes of our nation, because they will be strong and I hope they are.

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