Claire Chandler (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

First of all, in taking note of relevant responses today, may I say that we've had a clear statement in this place from Minister Birmingham regarding Minister Taylor's requirements within the statement of ministerial standards, and I thank the honourable senator for his contribution. But let me be clear: what we have here today is just another parliamentary tactic by the Labor Party to distract from the fact that this government is delivering on our agenda. And why do they want to distract us? Because the Labor Party is in absolute disarray because they lost the election and almost two months later can't work out where it all went wrong.

And why did Australians reject Labor's policy platform on 18 May? Was it option A—their pledge to wage class warfare? Was it option B—their plan to introduce higher taxes on hardworking Australians? Was it option C—a reckless spending agenda? Or was it in fact option D—all of the above? Certainly during the election campaign and since then, through my conversations with hardworking Tasmanians in my own state, it has been abundantly clear to me that Labor's policy platform—a platform to tax, a platform to punish, a platform to curb the ways in which everyday Australians live their lives—is not one that appeals. Australians didn't like what they saw from Labor on 18 May, and they still don't like what they see, although at least in the lead-up to election day it looked like Labor actually stood for something—something that was resoundingly rejected by voters, but still something. Now they stand for nothing except for playing political games in this parliament, continually asking the same questions, even though they know the answer, and petulantly opposing our government's mandate. Today's question regarding Minister Taylor is just one of these examples.

One thing is for certain, and that is that until Labor manages to form some sort of agenda I have very low expectations of that occurring. This Labor opposition will continue to play games in parliament. In contrast, the Morrison coalition government is focused on getting on with the job and doing what's right by the Australian people, keeping our promises and getting on with our job of governing. We don't need to revert to parliamentary tactics and time-wasting exercises—