Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you, Mr President. In recent times we have heard comments about dumping, we have heard comments about free trade agreements, we have heard comments about the IMF. What we have seen is the Liberal Party trying, in a very cynical manner, to run a very populist line on economic policy. We know that they are a party of nostalgia, a party that looks back to the old days. However, I would never, ever have thought they would adopt the policies of Georges Marchais, who was the French Communist Party leader in 1974—but that is exactly the position they are adopting. They are opposed to international engagement. They are opposed to assisting working people. They are opposed to actually doing anything to sustain jobs in this country. What they want to do is claim a commitment to working people, but they leave that commitment—

Honourable senators interjecting—