Stephen Jones (Whitlam, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Treasurer) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the member opposite and you, Deputy Speaker, for your guidance. It would be a gross injustice if I were to blame you, or anyone on this side of the House, for the indolence and economic mismanagement of this mob over nine long years. Never has there been a party that has talked so much about economic management but done so little of it. Never has there been a party that has talked much about the importance of business but understood so little about the needs of business. So whether it is addressing the cost of child care, fixing the skills gap, ensuring we have one energy policy for the term of this government and not 22 that don't make it through the caucus room, ensuring we are dealing with TAFE or ensuring we are putting in place policies that have real wages rising again—we are focused on cost-of-living issues. Never have you seen a more miserable, out-of-touch opposition that are stewing in irrelevance, not because they have to be but because they choose to be.

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