House debates

Wednesday, 20 October 2021

Statements by Members

Prime Minister

1:48 pm

Photo of Peta MurphyPeta Murphy (Dunkley, Australian Labor Party) Share this | | Hansard source

When every state and territory leader wrote to the Prime Minister to say, 'We need this federal government to commit to more funding for the public health system, for public hospitals, to get us out of COVID,' how did the Prime Minister react? He said: 'I won't be bullied. I won't engage in shakedown politics. I won't invest more in our health system.' When the National Party, led by the Deputy Prime Minister, said, 'We don't really want to believe in climate change and we don't really want to commit to net zero emissions by 2050,' how did this Prime Minister react? He said: 'I'll just sit and wait. You tell me your terms, and maybe I'll meet them.' In other words, he also does not want to act. We have two huge challenges facing us, one that is important right now and one that is important for the future of our country and the world, and the response of Australia's Prime Minister is to say: 'It's not my job. I'm not going to do it.' He's not going to commit right now to looking after Australia's health system in the future and he's certainly not going to commit right now to the bare minimum needed to commit to protecting the environment and the jobs and industries of the future, which is net zero emissions by 2050. What is the point of the Morrison government and everyone who's part of it? They're led by the— (Time expired)