Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Coonan for that question. As is evidenced by simply picking up the newspapers today, you can make yourself aware of which projects are in danger because those opposite have decided to irresponsibly behave like economic vandals. There are actual businesses who have identified themselves as needing refinancing in the morning papers, Senator Coonan—through you, Mr President. So let us be clear: the Rudd government have said from day one that we are not going to wait till after the train wreck; we are going to put in place a safety net. We are not prepared to gamble with the lives and futures of Australian families and workers while we sit on our hands and do nothing. Those opposite advocate the ‘sit on our hands’ policy approach. It is consistent with their entire approach since this irresponsible and politically expedient Leader of the Opposition took over, and that is reflected right across the front bench opposite: cynical, short-term politics at the expense of Australian families. You can get up tomorrow and explain to those families why their breadwinner is coming home without a job—because those opposite are only interested in their own jobs. The Leader of the Opposition particularly is only interested in one job. He is being stalked by the member for Higgins and 28 other members of the front—