Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Finance and Deregulation) Share this | Hansard source

You only have to listen to the interjections—people here might not be able to hear them—to hear nasty personal jibes from the other side. That is all you are up for. When has anyone ever heard Senator Abetz or Senator Brandis espouse anything that made you feel uplifted? When have you ever heard the Abbott opposition, Tony Abbott, Mr Abbott—when have you ever heard him lift the country up? He only runs the country down and runs the economy down if he thinks it is in his political interests. The same is on display today with Senator Abetz and Senator Brandis because, ultimately, this is an opposition who can only do one thing, and that is attack. That is the only thing this opposition is able to do, and it is still doing it today. All it can do is engage in the politics of personal negativity and personal attack. This opposition will never uplift the nation. This opposition will never bring fairness. And this opposition will never ensure a strong economy today and in the future.