Lin Thorp (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I can just imagine the scenario this morning at whatever hour the strategy committee—I presume it is called the 'strategy committee' over the other side—got together and decided: 'We've got question time. We've got taking note. We've got MPIs and we've got all these opportunities to really, hammer the government. We are going to really knuckle them. We are going to get them every way, coming and going. What will we start with? Will we start with getting them on the economy? Yes, let's do that. Hang on; we can't do that. This is the country that has got one of the best economies in the world; this is the country that has survived the GST; and this is the country that has got the highest ratings through Standard & Poor'sand other ratings agencies throughout the world. We are doing very, very well; so we better not hammer them on that, because that will make us look foolish.'

'I know. We'll have a go about education. That's a really important issue. Let's have a go at education. No, we can't do that, because this is the government that is introducing some of the biggest revolutionary reforms into education that this country has seen.'

This is a government that is recognising that, for our future to be secure, we need to make sure that every child in our community has a decent start in life. One of the surest ways you can do that is to make sure that you have equity when it comes to receiving an education. Everybody with half a brain knows that there are groups in the community who are disadvantaged—whether it is because they come from a family that has a language other than English spoken at home; whether it is because they have a child living with a disability; whether it is because they are Aboriginal, which can have an effect; whether it is because socioeconomic status; or whether it is because they live in a remote area. What do the Gonski reforms brought in by this government do? They address that. 'So we better not have a go at the government about that.'

'What else could we have a go at? I know: disability funding. Hang on a minute; we can't do that either, because this is the government that is introducing that National Disability Insurance Scheme—DisabilityCare—and this is the country that, through its government, is finally going to have one of the best systems available to make sure that all of our citizens, regardless of the disability that they have, have a good shake at life.'

Having been a teacher of teenagers, particularly those who have some difficulties, I know how invaluable the launch in Tasmania will be for 15- to 25-year-olds. This is going to make a difference to lives that is beyond our comprehension, unless we have personally been there. NDIS will mean that when a young man is hurt—