Vince Connelly (Stirling, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Until this year, the phrase '2020' was heavily used but normally with respect to one's eyesight, sometimes referred to as perfect vision. Sometimes we even say that hindsight has 20/20 vision. The Morrison government's plans have been developed not by looking backwards but by looking forwards, and in some ways they have also been quite visionary. We've looked forward and predicted, as far as one can, what some of the key impacts of coronavirus may be and how we should mitigate them with targeted and time framed measures—measures which not only help to cushion the blow that coronavirus has and is continuing to deliver but also help us through the recovery phase to a better future. Indeed, leadership is not about looking into the rear-view mirror but about looking forward.

In 2020, through the coronavirus pandemic, we have seen forward-looking leadership from our Prime Minister, our Treasurer and our health minister in particular. It's quite disappointing that, by comparison, the Leader of the Opposition has acted and spoken at times in an immature manner during this health and economic crisis. This is a crisis where the world has been hit with a once-in-a-hundred-years pandemic. There have been 40 million cases worldwide, and climbing, 1.1 million dead, and 600 million jobs have been lost around the world, and the opposition leader's only substantive contribution is to attempt to name the recession after our Prime Minister—an objectively ridiculous accusation. If the Leader of the Opposition had been paying attention, he would have realised that the cause of the recession has, in fact, been something called COVID-19—an aggressive and quite terrible pandemic. That's where our focus has been: on dealing with the pandemic. If the Leader of the Opposition hasn't understood what has caused this pandemic, then I fear for his ability to constructively contribute to navigating our best future as we move through the recovery phase.

In stark and deep contrast, the Morrison government has taken things one step at a time, using the best of health advice and crisis management decision-making. Having some expertise in the latter field—and I can attest to the government's employment of sound crisis management principles—let me outline a few. Firstly, it's important to always identify and contain the threat. We saw this. Our government called the pandemic two weeks before the World Health Organization, getting us on the front foot. We then banned international travel from China, again buying us precious time and space. We also then progressively placed international travel bans from countries where they demonstrated a severe rise in cases. Secondly, it's important to establish clear leadership and effective communications. The PM, working with each of the state and territory leaders, established the national cabinet. This was an effective crisis management leadership taskforce. It helped achieve information sharing, decision-making and a coordinated response in many areas. Was it perfect? Of course it was not. I don't think any construct is, but, certainly the feedback in my community was one of great appreciation for that collaborative effort at the national and the state and territory level.

Next we saw the formulation and delivery of a response plan. The response plan included the $101 billion JobKeeper program. This was an economic lifeline to businesses right across the country, including 7,300 businesses in my electorate of Stirling. There was also a doubling of the social safety net, ensuring that, again in the case of Stirling, 10,000 people were supported through some of the most difficult times that we've faced recently. There was also an option provided for those who were eligible to have early access to their superannuation, if it suited their personal financial circumstances. Emergency income support payments were made to the most vulnerable, including 15,000 age pensioners, again in my electorate of Stirling, who were at the highest health risk in terms of COVID-19. Temporary cashflow payments of up to $100,000 were made available to around 4,700 small businesses in Stirling and others around the country to help pay the bills and keep connected with staff. Direct wage subsidies were provided to apprentices and trainees, who were just at the beginning of their career, to stop them effectively being kneecapped just as they were getting started in the workforce. And there were sector-specific and regional support packages to support more deeply impacted areas.

Now we have entered the recovery phase and our economic recovery plan includes measures such as the $25,000 grant to build a new or substantially renovate an existing home, under the HomeBuilder program, and JobTrainer, a partnership with state governments to provide additional training places at low or no cost in identified skills area. Significantly, the plan also includes JobMaker. This is a $74 billion plan for the future to restore Australia to its pre-pandemic success and build an even better and safer future, including through a JobMaker hiring credit, which is deliberately targeted to support young people, who were hardest hit by closures and lockdowns; temporary loss carry-backs to support business cash flow; and personal income tax cuts for 11 million Australians, including 101,900 people in my electorate of Stirling.

A $1.5 billion modernisation of Australian manufacturing is also underway. This will help us be competitive in a changed world. There are great success stories here already, like Alcolizer Technology in Balcatta, in my electorate of Stirling, who received a grant of $181,000 to contribute to a 22-fold increase in their production of units which are used for alcohol and drug testing and now for COVID testing. There is also a $1.9 billion plan to build new energy sources, reduce emissions and improve access to reliable energy, which we know is important in terms of being affordable for families and also, of course, for businesses. An expanded pipeline of major nation-building infrastructure now totals some $110 billion. This sees $45 million for the new Stirling Cedric Street bus interchange; $17.5 million on top of an original $65 million to complete the Stephenson Avenue extension project; and $10 million in local roads and projects to fund within the city of Stirling.

We have been able to respond with these targeted and time framed measures because, from the beginning, we had returned the budget to surplus for the first time in 11 years. By comparison, the plan that Labor took to the last election was to increase taxes. By how much? By $387 billion. So, as a comparative starting point, we can be thankful that the books were balanced. In Stirling and right around the country, across the nation, thankfully, people put their trust in the Morrison government, and we work hard every day to repay that trust—no more so than during coronavirus.

We're also keeping election promises, many of which contribute to economic stimulus throughout our electorates. For example, in my electorate, some of the election commitments included $4 million towards a new Surfing WA headquarters; $500,000 for a lighting tower project for the Coolbinia Bombers; upgrades to the Carine Cats Baseball Club, to the tune of $300,000—and the list really does go on. We've also looked at what new community based projects are also the right fit, one of which is a $6.3 million commitment to the Jewish Community Centre and the Perth Holocaust Museum. I congratulate also the state government, who have matched that funding, and the community who will raise another $2 million to provide a really world-class facility, which will help keep alive the understanding and the memory of what happened during that terrible period in our history, but also to support the vibrant Jewish community over there in Western Australia. There's also $1.3 million for the Carmel school, $132,000 for the Dianella school and $450,000 for St Andrews Grammar for some important security upgrades. The reason that I have been able to achieve some of these outcomes is because of the support of the Morrison government and the associated ministers. When I have knocked, the doors have been opened and their advisers have been helpful—and, ultimately, the people in Stirling are the ones who will benefit.

None of us in the government claim to have 20:20 vision. A few of us on this side and across the other side even wear glasses. So we certainly don't have perfection vision. But we have to deal with the circumstances as they present. It has been challenging during coronavirus. It will remain a challenging set of circumstances into the future through what will be, I'm sure, a lengthy recovery. But I can say that this government is absolutely committed to making the best decisions and the best investments we can to secure the future for all Australians.

See this speech in context