Glenn Sterle (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Having walked away from the parliamentary reform agreements, Mr Abbott has shown that he stands for nothing except the acquisition of power. When the opportunity to form a government was on the table, we saw an opposition and an opposition leader who were ready to bend over backwards to be seen as constructive and inclusive of the ideas of others. With that prospect taken away, however, we see the opposition once again slide back into its normal state of being.

This is an opposition that has a sense of entitlement when it comes to government, and having been denied this we know the recriminations will be swift and brutal. We saw in the last parliament the manner in which the Liberal Party gave in to a tendency for infighting once in opposition, and I am sure the member for Wentworth is biding his time, waiting for an opportunity to pounce on those who were the undoing of his first incarnation as opposition leader.

While acknowledging Mr Turnbull, it would be remiss of me not to mention the other elephant in the room. The Nationals are locked together with the Liberals in an ill-fitting coalition of convenience. At this stage what we have witnessed—and it is only Thursday of the first week—is that they are still in bed together but their pyjamas are firmly bolted up.