Lisa Singh (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

With surpluses? Another good reason why you did not get on with it. We are following through and getting on with ensuring that launch sites are funded and, eventually, we will then roll out a national disability insurance scheme in this country, something that no Australian would think a bad thing.

On top of that, we have supported Australians in a number of ways. We have supported women in the workforce through recognising the value of workforces that are predominantly comprised of women through the SACS equal pay case. We have supported mums and dads to further their careers and get back into the workforce with paid parental leave. We have also legislated a carbon price, something that is being followed and has been followed for some time across the globe. That will build jobs for the future and a clean energy economy—another thing that is under threat of being wiped out if a coalition government were to get their hands on it. On top of that, we have planned a strong Australian manufacturing industry, including delivering a $1 billion plan to encourage big projects to use locally produced materials. It is a really important thing for states like the one that I and a number of other senators in this place represent to use locally produced materials first and foremost.

On top of that the Prime Minister yesterday highlighted the need for ensuring that literacy education is the top priority in our schools. I know that she is very passionate about this area, being a former minister for education. The Gonski reforms, delivered through A National Plan for School Improvement, are designed to help all students achieve. Again, we are governing for all Australians. This plan is designed so that all students can achieve—not just a select few in certain schools but all students in all schools. Direct funding, therefore, will be provided on a per capita basis with a loading based on need.

There is nothing going on among senators opposite. They are not lobbying Liberal states to ensure that these national school improvements get through and that we have a national curriculum. Look at New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland. Those coalition states are neglecting and ripping money out of education when at this point in time we need to be skilling up our workforce and educating our students for the transition into our new economy. More than ever, we need the support of all the states, whether they are Liberal or Labor. We need them to come on board and be part of A National Plan for School Improvement.

If the coalition senators really cared about governing for all Australians—if they really had some interest beyond the politics—then they would do something about this. They would pick up the phone to the states with Liberal premiers and say: 'This is about our future, our children and our children's children and ensuring that they get the best education, the education that they need as we move into a new and transformed economy—a new economy with jobs that we have not even thought of yet.' But of course they say no. They are the 'no' party. They have been the 'no' party from day one and they will continue to be the 'no' party right up until election day and beyond. They do not really know what they stand for. They stand for no—we all know that much. Other than that, I do not think that there is anything there. (Time expired)