Debate resumed from 24 May, on motion by Mr Costello:

That this bill be now read a second time.

upon which Mr Tanner moved by way of amendment:

That all words after “That” be omitted with a view to substituting the following words: “whilst not declining to give the bill a second reading, the House is of the view that:

(1)

despite record high commodity prices from surging demand from India and China and rising levels of taxation, the Government has failed to secure Australia’s long term economic fundamentals and should be condemned for its failure to:

(a)

address Australia’s flagging productivity growth;

(b)

stem the widening current account deficit and trade deficits;

(c)

attend to the long term relative decline in education and training investment undercutting workplace productivity;

(d)

provide national leadership on infrastructure including a high speed national broadband network for the whole country;

(e)

expand and encourage research and development to move Australian industry and exports up the value-chain; and

(f)

reform our health system to equip it for a future focused on prevention, early intervention and an ageing population;

(2)

the Government’s failure to address the damaging consequences of climate change is endangering Australia’s future economic prosperity;

(3)

the Government’s extreme industrial relations laws will lower wages and conditions for many workers and do nothing to enhance productivity, participation or economic growth; and

(4)

the Government’s Budget documents fail the test of transparency and accountability”.

See this item in context