Nick Sherry (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Treasurer) Share this | Hansard source

I have just run through the government’s practical measures assisting Australians who are in mortgage distress, but unfortunately the Liberal-National party opposite have no positive policy ideas in this area. They have not outlined anything. Their approach has been throughout this financial and economic crisis to sit back, sit on their hands and do nothing. They believe that the full impact of the world’s financial and economic crisis should be allowed to crash down on the Australian economy without any of the decisive actions needed to cushion the Australian economy. It is even worse: even in areas where they have some policy, they are badly split. There is a split on climate change. They have deferred the legislation because they cannot agree. The only thing they can agree on is to defer the legislation. They are split on alcopops; they have done a backflip. They are now supporting the alcopops tax, but at the same time four or five of them have crossed the floor in the House of Representatives. They have nothing to offer. (Time expired)