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

Senator Watt, interjecting as he does, having got 22 per cent of the primary vote in his home state of Queensland, looked extremely glum, and with good reason. And what was the reason? Most sensible commentators said of the leadership of Mr Morrison that he had pulled the government through by standing firm, by not listening to all the commentariat, all the Labor brickbats that were thrown at him—by simply holding a course knowing that what he was saying and what he was doing was the right formula for the benefit of the Australian people.

That is what we are now continuing to deliver: good, sound economic management; decisive action in relation to the coronavirus; decisive action in retaining strong borders; decisive action in maintaining a good budget position. You can go through the list: committing to the reduction of power prices; reducing welfare dependency; modernising our Defence Force; a record level of infrastructure investment; further investment in our schools and hospitals; standing up for our interests and sovereignty on the world stage. The list literally goes on: opposing union business; establishing a task force to protect against foreign interference. This is a list of actual achievements, of actual leadership, of the sort of leadership that the Australian people voted for, wanted and are benefiting from as a result of that which Mr Morrison is delivering for the Australian people.

I simply say to the Australian Labor Party that throwing rocks is not a substitute for a sound policy formula which might actually excite the interests of the Australian people. If you want to be a fair dinkum player on the Australian political stage, you can't just throw rocks and engage in vitriol. You've got to engage in genuine public policy development and ensure that the Australian people support you. That is what Mr Morrison achieved on 18 May. (Time expired)