Madonna Jarrett (Brisbane, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

For those opposite to raise a matter of public importance about national leadership is delusional, in my opinion. So what is delusional leadership? Dare I put those two words together? It's a dangerous style where leaders lose touch with reality, ignore the feedback and the evidence—some of which we just heard from the member for Goldstein—and it often leads to poor outcomes. For those opposite, the last 10 years have been an ongoing shambles of delusional leadership.

But let's define what a good leader is. I'll build on the previous speaker, the minister. A good leader inspires, empowers, guides and guides a team towards a shared vision while acting with integrity and empathy, and that's exactly what our prime minister does. We know Australians are doing it tough at the moment, and our government is leading and our prime minister is leading. We're listening to the Australian people and we're acting.

Our No. 1 priority at the moment is to address the cost of living. So let's go through it. We've delivered a tax cut for 14 million Australian taxpayers. That's leadership. We're making medicines cheaper. That's leadership. We're helping Australians see a GP for free and get health care closer to home. That's leadership. We're wiping 20 per cent off student debt. That's leadership. We're delivering energy bill relief for households and businesses. That's leadership. We've delivered more choice and lower cost and better health care for women. That's leadership. We've delivered the three-day childcare guarantee. That's leadership. We're delivering fee-free TAFE to students across the country. That's leadership. We expanded five per cent deposits to all first home buyers. That's leadership. We're implementing the biggest home build in Australia's history. That's leadership. We are investing in more crisis and transitional accommodation, ensuring vulnerable Australians have a roof over their heads. That's leadership. We've delivered pay rises for workers in the care sector and for millions of low-paid workers. That's leadership. We're rolling out cheaper home batteries to help lower power bills across the country. That's leadership. We're cracking down on supermarket price gouging, as well as petrol stations that are using the current war to rip people off. That's leadership.

We've seen global uncertainty really test leaders around the world, whether it's been the war in the Middle East or the war in Ukraine. Some of our traditional international agreements are really being challenged. So national leadership is not just about looking after people at home; it's about protecting our national interests abroad. Leadership is critical in these types of uncertain and turbulent times. Leaders need to be steady and reliable and be prepared to make tough decisions in the best interests of our community and our nation.

Since Labor came to power, Australia and our world more broadly have been rocked by climate events, the war in Ukraine, the rise of extremism, significant shifts in global security and trade, and, more recently, the war in the Middle East. It takes leadership to act quickly and decisively to ensure that the risks to Australians during these times are limited, and to lead with calmness in a way that unites, not divides, the cultures that are the strength of our country. In these circumstances, the Albanese government has stepped up: improved energy security through the relentless pursuit of renewable energy; implemented tougher hate laws, new trade deals and security agreements with the EU and Canada; developed stronger relationships with our Indo-Pacific neighbours; and implemented our Future Made in Australia program to protect our sovereignty.

The Albanese leadership is grand. It's in stark contrast to the leadership from the other side. Their history is indicative of a complete lack of a shared vision, empowerment, responsibility, integrity and empathy. Think Tony Abbott. Think of how he spoke about our first female prime minister. Think Peter Dutton, who almost destroyed our national healthcare system. Think Scott Morrison, who said, 'I don't hold a hose, mate.' And lucky you weren't met with bullets when he was speaking about a rally full of women—the man who hid his multiple ministries from the Australian people, the man who presided over robodebt, which caused harm to so many vulnerable Australians, and the man who failed to protect a young staffer from harm.

Those opposite used their first female leader in order to line up the next leader: the member for Hume. It's been a revolving door of failed leadership from those opposite. While those opposite continue to try to figure out what leadership is and who their leader should be, on this side of the House we've got steady leadership, and we will continue to deliver for all Australians. (Time expired)

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