Brett Mason (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Universities and Research) Share this | Hansard source

As we come to the fag end of the 43rd Parliament, it is a good time to assess the government's failures. Many of my colleagues have mentioned some of the failures. None of us are sure whether it is Mr Rudd or Ms Gillard—the Rudd or Gillard government—but it does not make a lot of difference: same policies, same failures; same horse, different jockey.

Over the last few weeks my colleagues have spoken a lot about the mining tax—a tax that very strangely raises no money. Imagine the Labor Party doing that. They actually have a tax that raises no money, the mining tax—one of the gross policy failures. Another great policy failure is the world's largest carbon tax, which will have no impact on the climate. What an appalling policy failure—another one.

Another appalling policy failure has been the asylum seekers—the boat people. We had a policy under the coalition government, under John Howard, that worked. Mr Rudd, the new Prime Minister—Rudd redux—is back—

An honourable senator: Restoration!

Restoration Rudd—he is back.