Matt Burnell (Spence, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I sincerely thank the member for Lalor for some time ago moving this motion on the Labor government. It's my hope that a motion or two like this will speak to my better angels. At times we can be a bit negative. After living the last nine years of the previous government, either as a member of this place or, in my case, as a private citizen, there is a lot to vent about at times. Many on the other side of the chamber would have you believe they left a legacy worth defending on a number of policy issues that we in government are needing to fix as a matter of urgency. We need to unwind nine years of inaction, obfuscation and at times downright sabotage in some areas. However, we cannot lose sight of the need to speak on the reasons why Australia voted in an Albanese Labor government, not voted out a Morrison Liberal-National government.

The member for Moreton, the member for McEwen and my South Australian colleague the member for Boothby would definitely agree with me on this. We have all had some very positive messages to communicate with our electorates throughout this term in government. The main conversation starter of course has been the promises we made in opposition that are being fulfilled in government. Australia voted with Labor to enact visionary policy reforms. We have seen this throughout time. Only a Labor government can get these things right. Too often we have seen policies—like the NBN and the NDIS, for example—being ruined by the changing parties in government.

It isn't just in this place where Australians have entrusted Labor governments to make big decisions and to govern them through a number of trying circumstances. In fact, since the beginning of last year we have seen in my home state of South Australia Peter Malinauskas become the Premier after only a single term in opposition from 16 years in government. This is no mean feat by any standard. We have seen Daniel Andrews in Victoria deliver a performance that one might call statuesque. Whilst it remains to be seen whether he will take the bronze, the good people of Victoria have given him a gold tick of approval, along with his third term in office.

All of this was in the lead-up to Saturday night when we saw New South Wales give Chris Minns the honour of becoming the 47th Premier of their state. At first, the commentariat were giving post-COVID election wins to incumbent governments, such as the victory in Queensland which saw the re-election of the Palaszczuk government and, of course, the imperious win of the McGowan government in Western Australia.

The people of Australia didn't just vote for change. They voted for a policy agenda that only Labor governments are known to deliver at both state and national levels, which is one of the many reasons the Australian people elected an Albanese government to establish the National Anti-Corruption Commission, a bill I'm proud to have spoken on. It marked a historical turning point, one where we, as politicians, can return to our electorates with our heads held a little higher, knowing that we have a government in power that places great stock in ensuring that a degree of probity and honour is restored to our profession. This matters a lot to the people in Spence. I don't lay all of it at the feet of the former government, but some of their actions, coupled with their reluctance to establish a body that would police corruption within their ranks, have lingering consequences—consequences that diminished our standing in the eyes of the world and in the eyes of the average punter.

It isn't just the big picture issues. This government is helping at the hip pocket, making child care more affordable and making medicines more affordable. And, as of earlier today, this House just moved one step closer to bringing Australia toward having a proper climate policy after so many years of climate war. Australia, hopefully very soon, will see some light at the end of a very long tunnel of partisanship on climate, and we can get on with the job of making our country and planet liveable for generations in the future.

Labor governments don't just govern for those who vote for us; we govern for all. We don't just govern for the generation that goes to the ballot box; we govern to make things better for our grandchildren and for generations to come as well. It's how it has always been, and I'm proud to be part of the Albanese Labor government.

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