Helen Polley (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I refer to the opposition leader as the orchestrator of an incredibly destructive political strategy that places a premium on obstructing positive policy outcomes so that he can attain the ultimate prize—achieving leadership of this country at any cost. The Treasurer was exactly right when he noted that Australians face a similar choice at the coming election to that faced by United States voters at the 2012 presidential election. The United States electorate gave President Obama a second term and, in the process, rejected the policies and the politics of fear, negativity and alarmism perpetrated by a republican party that many believe has been commandeered by the Tea Party movement. They chose responsible economic management, not policies that only improved prospects for the wealthy elite. They chose informed public debate over the denigration of political decision. They chose vision over cynicism, elitism and self-interest. I believe the Australian people will see the opposition for who they really are: the opposition of opposition for opposition sake.