House debates

Thursday, 22 June 2023

Statements by Members

Member for Dickson, Member for Melbourne

1:58 pm

Photo of Josh BurnsJosh Burns (Macnamara, Australian Labor Party) Share this | | Hansard source

Last night at the midwinter ball there were a couple of good mates dining together. There were a couple of good mates sitting at the same table talking about politics, talking about how they can work together to defeat government policy and defeat government legislation. Of course, the two mates sitting at the same table were the Leader of the Opposition and the Leader of the Greens. They were sitting together, talking about how they can block housing not just once, not just twice but three times. They want to block the Labor Party's housing bill to build 30,000 affordable rental properties, including 4,000 homes for people who are escaping domestic violence and want a safe place to live. Not only that, they were also working together to vote for Senator Canavan's motion to have an inquiry into the ACT Greens. I'll be very interested to hear what the ACT Greens think of that.

Then they also voted together to block the Labor Party's Nature Repair Market Bill 2023, which puts an intrinsic value in protecting our environment and protecting the very precious things that we need to pass on to future generations. Well, we're not going to work together with the Leader of the Opposition. We want to deliver for the Australian people. We don't want to play political games. We want proper policy for the people that we are privileged to represent. We're not going to be sidetracked by this new chummy friendship between the Leader of the Opposition and the Greens. We've got real work to do to deliver for the people who put us here. (Time expired)

Photo of Milton DickMilton Dick (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

In accordance with standing order 43, the time for members' statements has concluded.