Peter Costello (Higgins, Liberal Party, Treasurer) Share this | Hansard source

I am in the process of explaining threats to the Australian economy. There could be no greater threat to the Australian economy than the Leader of the Opposition being in a position of influence. As the journalist recorded in the Australian on Friday:

Beazley is the leaf blower of Australian politics—lots of noise but all that comes out is hot air.

He is not just a normal leaf blower. He is not an economic four-cylinder leaf blower; he is a V8 turbocharged double-exhaust leaf blower. There is no end to the leaf blowing and the hot air that comes out as a consequence.

All around the world countries are now trying to move to improved industrial relations systems and Australia, amongst them, is making its labour market more flexible.

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