Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment) Share this | Hansard source

Unlike those on the other side, I can show my hands and they are clean. Can I also indicate that at all times I have supported the parliamentary leader as elected by my colleagues. As colleagues would know, my motto is: when you win you don't gloat, when you lose you don't moan and you get on with the task of delivering good government for the people of Australia. That is what all my colleagues are devoted to doing irrespective of the way they may have voted yesterday, because we see the overriding imperative of fixing up the economic vandalism that was bequeathed to us by the worst finance minister this country has ever had—the CFMEU operative, Senator Penny Wong.

We want to get rid of union corruption. We want to get rid of the thuggery. We want to ensure that our borders remain protected. We want to make sure that the free trade agreements are locked into place to ensure that we can get the growth that this country so desperately needs if we are to grow jobs in this country. We are absolutely united in getting rid of the red and green tape that has so strangled this country for so long. To make the assertion that I refused to endorse the new Prime Minister is simply false. He has my support as the elected Liberal leader as always has.