Joanne Ryan (Lalor, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Today I rise to congratulate the government on the work to date on the COVID-19 pandemic, and I particularly congratulate them on the increase to jobseeker and the introduction of JobKeeper. Both these decisions demonstrated, I thought, an understanding that the federal government needed to do two things: provide support for people; and provide economic stimulus. Imagine my disappointment then to find yesterday that that spirit was not shown by some Liberal MPs—some perhaps in the chamber now—when they announced they wanted to cut back these programs quietly and silently to journalists on a telephone. They weren't brave enough to put their name to it.

The member for Mackellar, however, was brave enough at least to put his name to it. But he must understand he's championing cruelty and removal of stimulus when Australians are struggling and the economy is spiralling. This is lunacy in the face of the economic downturn that will have ramifications beyond the virus. While industries like building and construction will slow over the coming months, in home building, we're told, the pipeline will dry up. Workers in these industries will need support weeks and months from now when their work stops. And, without the dual levers of support and stimulus, the economic pain will extend and deepen. This is incredibly important in electorates like mine where we need our tradies to have money in their pockets when our shops reopen. I call on the government members not to drink the snapback Kool Aid. (Time expired)