Tony Smith (Casey, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Treasurer) Share this | Hansard source

Like all members of the opposition, I rise to speak in support of the Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Economic Security Strategy) Bill 2008 and other bills. I reiterate to the former speaker, the member for Canberra, who again called on the opposition to pass these bills without delay. Let me repeat, just as the Leader of the Opposition did just about 15 minutes ago, that we have said that we are supporting this package and supporting these bills and will do so in both houses. Those opposite complain whenever questions are asked. We have seen that on display today. They complain when the slightest question is asked on any topic. When they demand us to state our position and we state it, as we are doing here in this debate and as we will do when we vote on these bills, they are deaf to the issue.

As we debate these bills, it is worth reflecting on the wider economic issues that are confronting Australia and the world. It is the role of the opposition, as the Leader of the Opposition has made clear and as the shadow Treasurer and shadow minister for finance have made clear, to ask questions. For a government to be so sensitive to any question, that it complains that somehow the mere questioning of any issue means that there is not support for these measures or that somehow the opposition is being disruptive, is absurd and ridiculous. The demeanour of the Prime Minister and the Treasurer and the complaints we have seen from government members almost suggest that question time itself perhaps should not take place. That is almost the suggestion. Certainly we saw today that while, on the one hand, the government repeat the importance of these issues, and we affirm their importance, on the other hand they have no hesitation whatsoever in preventing this side of the House—namely the Leader of the Opposition—from moving a matter of public importance. And what we have seen today is the government using their numbers to prevent a matter of public importance debate on the biggest economic issues confronting Australia and the world for several decades. That is what the government do.

It was interesting today: we had a ministerial statement prior to what should have been the commencement of the matter of public importance. In fact, in the two weeks prior to today there have been seven ministerial statements, which was pointed out in the press on the weekend by News Ltd journalist Glenn Milne. Today, on my count, makes it eight. Those ministerial statements have dealt with a range of issues, but not one of them has been on the topic of the government’s response to the global financial crisis. Part of that response is this fiscal stimulus package. There have been eight ministerial statements but not one ministerial statement from the Prime Minister. And then, when given an opportunity to debate a matter of public importance, the government’s first response, automatic response and knee-jerk response is to prevent debate occurring. Having had the opportunity for the Prime Minister to come into the parliament and make a ministerial statement, and having given up that opportunity, when presented with a fresh opportunity by the opposition their automatic reaction is to shut down debate.

As I have said, those opposite are sensitive to criticism. Our criticism has been of the government’s management of the economy throughout this year and the effect it has had on consumer confidence. As previous speakers in this debate have pointed out, and as the Leader of the Opposition and shadow Treasurer have pointed out, at the start of this year the government did not have an economic objective; they had a political objective. Their political objective was to try to undermine the economic legacy of the previous government. In trying to undermine the economic legacy of the previous government, they undermined the economic legacy of Australia. As the Leader of the Opposition said, ‘Who could forget that infamous statement from the Treasurer that the genie had been let out of the inflation bottle?’ There was a similar statement from the Prime Minister. That had a detrimental effect; that had an inflationary effect in terms of expectations.

And then we move through to the announcement of the mid-year economic forecasts just last week. As we have seen so often with this government, the day chosen was the day of the US presidential election. When that press conference began, we began to see why. The Treasurer began his press conference and moved through some of the detail. I was here in Canberra watching it on the internal television. He was asked what his inflation forecasts and projections were. For a second I thought I had hit the mute button. I thought I had knocked it with my elbow. In fact, I am told the telecast was momentarily cut off because it was assumed the press conference was over. Eighty long seconds; 80 now infamous seconds.

It reminded me of an old movie, a great movie called The Right Stuff. For those who have not seen that old classic—I know my friend and colleague, the member for Dunkley has—it is a movie about the birth and success of the American space program. It is a great movie for those opposite to watch over Christmas. If they want to try to forget about Wayne’s performance, don’t watch The Right Stuff.

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