Helen Polley (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Aged Care) Share this | Hansard source

You know you are hitting the mark when you start getting interjections from those opposite. I am really surprised that the good senator would want to defend Mr Pyne's assertions by undermining a Defence Force facility, being an ex-military person himself.

In this instance, what is so critical is that the $25 million would be better placed—better served to the Defence Force and the economy, particularly in northern Tasmania—and better invested in an already established college, such as the AMC, that is recognised not only nationally but also internationally. Why would you want to support a government that is undermining that? It really disappoints me.

When we go back to this debate about taxation let us be very clear and put the facts on the table. This government is hell-bent on giving big businesses more—at this time, when our AAA rating is under threat, when we have the highest underemployment rate and when there is low wage growth for ordinary workers, they are bringing in and supporting penalty rates cuts to the lowest paid workers in this country.

We know that Mr Turnbull and his government do not believe in fairness. What they believe in is giving $50 billion to the big end of town; at the same time they are slashing family tax benefits and they are cutting health. We know they are underfunding our schools. They are attacking Medicare. And we know there are going to be 700,000 Australians who will be directly affected by this government's support for cutting penalty rates.

Yesterday, we had those on the other side trying to defend their position on penalty rates cuts, saying, 'Well, we support the independent umpire'. Quite frankly, they know that that is not true. They know they did it for trucking companies; they interfered then. But it is in their DNA not to stand up and support everyday Australians. They do not support pensioners. They accuse new mothers of rorting the system and double-dipping. We know that they have underfunded the education system. We know that they have undermined child care in this country, particularly in rural and regional Australia—and remote Australia and our Aboriginal brothers and sisters. Attacking pensioners is all right for those on the other side, but they will be very quick to get up and support Mr Pyne's and Mr Turnbull's attempts to undermine the Australian Maritime College and to waste $25 million when that money should be spent in northern Tasmania—not in South Australia trying to save their own seats.

I do not believe that this type of legislation will do anything at all. It does not matter what Mr Pyne tries to do to try and buy a seat—like Mr Turnbull tried to buy government. This legislation will not be supported, because we on this side—and there will be enough on the opposition side—know that this is bad policy. This is bad policy and bad timing. I urge everyone in this chamber to stand up against this government.