Sharon Claydon (Newcastle, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Like many members in this chamber, I have had reason over recent times to reflect on the performance of the now Treasurer. I remembered his appearance on ABC TV's Kitchen Cabinet program just weeks before the Turnbull leadership coup. We all remember it well. He was adamant: he was not interested in the job of Treasurer. Anybody who suggested otherwise was just wrong. He emphatically said: 'They're wrong. I don't know how many times I have to say this: I am not interested.' None of us believed him at the time but I am starting to think that maybe we should have. Based on his performance over the last 5½ months, he clearly was not ready for that task. Perhaps it was thrust upon him and he was, after all, an unwilling recipient.

Last week the Treasurer was given the platform at the National Press Club to articulate his economic vision for the nation. What happened? We got a 46-minute waffle which even some of his besties have been criticising. We know about the infamous breakup of the relationship with Ray Hadley; clearly the honeymoon is over there. (Time expired)