House debates

Wednesday, 24 October 2018

Statements by Members

Prime Minister

1:54 pm

Photo of Stephen JonesStephen Jones (Whitlam, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Regional Services, Territories and Local Government) Share this | | Hansard source

Over the last few weeks, our Prime Minister has been very keen to promote himself as some dopey Joe from the 'burbs, with a cap for every occasion, who had absolutely nothing to do with the knifing of the former Prime Minister. If you were to believe this bloke, some time on 24 August he got a random call from the member for Mitchell, who said, 'Hey, ScoMo, what are you doing this afternoon?' and ScoMo said—

Photo of Kevin HoganKevin Hogan (Page, National Party) Share this | | Hansard source

The member will refer to people by their correct titles.

Photo of Stephen JonesStephen Jones (Whitlam, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Regional Services, Territories and Local Government) Share this | | Hansard source

'Not much, mate.' 'Do you want to be Prime Minister?' I mean, fair dinkum! Give me a break. This is the bloke who dumped his big corporate tax cuts despite being their No. 1 fan. This is the bloke who only weeks ago dumped a very sensible energy policy despite saying that it was essential for the future of our country. This is the bloke who dumped a sensible Middle East policy because he thought it was worth a few votes in the seat of Wentworth. This is the bloke who was doing the numbers to outfox the minister for border protection at the same time as he had his arms around the former Prime Minister, devoted to him, and saying he's 100 per cent loyal. We now know all of this because David Speers has written a new book which has revealed that the Prime Minister was the man who pulled the crucial five votes over the line to get rid of the former Prime Minister. Every day, we ask the Prime Minister, 'Why is Malcolm Turnbull no longer the Prime Minister?' We know the answer. He got— (Time expired)