Paul Fletcher (Bradfield, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Government Services and the Digital Economy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Many Australians are struggling with one of the highest rates of inflation in 30 years, with higher energy costs and with rising interest rates. But I say to those Australians: 'Do not be troubled because the man charged with solving these problems, the Treasurer, is a big Labor thinker.' He was kind enough to point this out to us when writing his dazzling essay in the Monthly. He gently reminded us that other big Labor thinkers have done the same thing—Kevin Rudd in February 2009 and Wayne Swan in March 2012. He cited the timeless wisdom of a Greek philosopher: 'No man ever steps in the same river twice.' If he'd told us that no man or woman ever gets an interest rate increase twice, that would have been a lot more comforting, but he couldn't actually say that, because they've had 11 of them in a row under this government.

But do not worry about these minor details, I say to Australians. Read the Treasurer's essay. Print it out and carry it around with you. Memorise it. Repeat it. It will comfort you. I say to Australians: be awed and amazed by the limitless power and ambition of this remarkable man, a man with big plans. His to-do list includes 'redefining and reforming our economy and institutions' and 'reimagining and redesigning markets', but my favourite is the one he promises to get done this year: 'building a better capitalism, uniquely Australian'. So be of good heart, Australians. In less than five months, this mighty task will be complete. If your house is repossessed or your electricity is cut off, take comfort that we have a big Labor thinker.