Phillip Thompson (Herbert, Liberal National Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Defence) Share this | Hansard source

By the time I finish this speech, the government will have spent $250,000 on interest. That's $50,000 every minute. When you look at what this Labor government spends its money on—actually, what it spends taxpayer dollars on—it is quite astonishing.

This Labor government sends $50 million to Afghanistan. The Taliban hate us, and they should be able to hate us for free. We shouldn't be wasting money sending taxpayer dollars to Afghanistan, where the terrorist organisation of the Taliban, who have been fighting Australians—soldiers have been killed in action—are sitting there counting their millions from the Australian taxpayer. Labor's priorities are all wrong. This is a kick in the guts to our Defence Force personnel, our veterans and their families.

Because the Labor government can't manage money, they come after yours or they cut projects. We hear a lot from the Labor government, talking about everything they're spending taxpayer dollars on, but, when you look at the numbers—Land 400, which is for infantry fighting vehicles that our Australian Defence Force members, our soldiers, will use not just in training but in combat, went from 450 vehicles down to 129. This wasn't at the recommendation of the Army; the Chief of Army actually came out at Land Forces and said that it should all be included and that we should have the full amount. But, because the government can't manage their budget, they slash where they find it easy, and it's sad to say that the Labor government find it easy to take funding away from the Australian Defence Force and the veterans.

The Salvation Army provides a service called the Sallyman. The Sallyman will go outfield on operations, travel around and offer not just a coffee, a cordial or something to eat but a listening ear. Soldiers have told me that, without the Sallyman, they wouldn't be here today. But, once again, because of the fiscal irresponsibility of the Labor government, they have decided to cut the funding for the Sallyman.

Look at another service that provides lifesaving, job-creating opportunities for our Defence Force members and their families: the Oasis Townsville, one of the first veteran hubs in the country. It has done great work. Yes, they need a sustainability model, but they should be working closely with government. But, once again, there's no support, and funding is not there.

This government spends a lot and goes into debt a lot but doesn't put funding where it should. Every Labor speaker who's stood up said, 'When you were in government, Opposition, you did blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, and you should have been better.' You have to take an inward vision of yourself and go, 'We are not an opposition in government,' which is the Labor Party. You are the government. You sit in the big office. You have many staff and departments. Your job is to serve the Australian people.

If we're paying $50,000 in interest every minute—it's not your money; it's taxpayer money. Those who work hard every day—it's their money, and the government is supposed to spend it responsibly. I don't think there's any way you can cut this as this government spending it responsibly.

There are people in this parliament who believe taxing unrealised gains is a good idea. We heard speeches from Labor government members saying it is a good idea, and now there has been a change. I have no problem when a government reflects and changes, but not owning up to the mistake of announcing this is something that I take issue with. Our farmers are already hurting. They put food on all our plates, so when the government announces something like this, it hurts them. Changing it is a good idea; owning up to it is a better one. But good ideas don't come from politicians; they come from the experts in the regions. We need the Treasurer and the Labor Party to get out of the Canberra bubble and go out and speak to those on the ground.

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