Andrew Giles (Scullin, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I have a question for government members: what do they understand good government means? I expect some good answers, because you have had plenty of opportunity to reflect on this question over the past six months—six months which have seen a continuation of division and dishonesty, of a commitment to undermining public faith in politics as well as faith in this failed government. It is a commitment exemplified by breaking just about every significant promise solemnly made by the Prime Minister to the Australian people and by fundamentally treating lives, human beings, as if they are deposable, as exemplified by the employment minister's shameful comments around the sacking by SMS and email of dock workers in Brisbane and Sydney.

Six months ago 39 of you voted for a blank space in place of the Prime Minister. So I say to those 39 and all the others: how is that working out for you? But, more fundamentally: how is that working out for the people you are supposed to be representing in this place? How is it working out for them? One thing is clear to me, to the people whom I am fortunate to represent, the voters of Scullin, and to voters right around Australia: we know that good government in Australia means one thing—it means electing a Labor government.