Dean Smith (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

That was a very refreshing contribution from Senator Urquhart. Thank you, Senator Urquhart, because it is refreshing not to hear Senator Urquhart constantly complain about the issue of GST distribution and how bad it would be for Tasmania, not recognising of course that GST distribution is not just in Western Australia's interest, but it is in the national interest, and could in fact set free a state like Tasmania. It could allow the new Liberal government in Tasmania to prosper. GST distribution reform is a great thing. It is disappointing that Labor senators from Tasmania are slow to appreciate that point. But that is not what I am here to talk about.

I feel sorry for Bob Hawke. Once upon a time the Labor Party in this country had a tradition. It was rich in its economic reformist zeal. It took to the challenge of governing this country and it took to the challenge well. I do not mind admitting that, under Bob Hawke and Paul Keating, Labor led economic reform in this country—and on many issues with the bipartisan support of the coalition we were able to drive ourselves to new reform and to new levels of economic prosperity.

Of course, that is now lost. Labor no longer has the will to govern. It no longer has the will to drive economic reform. We have heard a lot from Labor over the last 12 months or so and much of it can be categorised as a scare campaign. Let me give you two powerful examples of that: one of them is current to the debate we are having at the moment, but indulge me while I talk about the first one. The first one is the terrible, terrible idea of a Medicare co-payment in our country. The idea that people might have to pay $7—what a terrible idea it is!

But what they do not talk to you about is that it was Labor's idea—it was Bob Hawke's idea, back in 1991. You do not hear them talking about that. Let me quote—

Senator Lines interjecting—

No, I am on a path to talk about indexation. Senator Lines, hold your talk!