Doug Cameron (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I think that the noise that we hear from the other side is simply them trying to deny again all of the facts that are before us today on their economic incompetence over their period in government, an economic incompetence that has left this country ill-prepared for the challenges that we face. And the economic incompetence continues when we see them in action in this chamber trying to deny ordinary Australians access to tax relief through the Medicare levy surcharge, when we see them supporting their mates in the big end of town by trying to stop decent taxation initiatives on the offshore oil industry that are long overdue, and when we see them—when they have stopped fighting among themselves about who is going to leave what where—coming here and simply denying that there is any problem.

Senator Fifield’s speech is a speech of absolutely unbelievable proportions: ‘This is how good we were. This is what we did.’ And what did we find? The Australian public said: ‘We do not believe you. You are going to opposition.’ And Senator Fifield, you are out of your hammock. You are up in the back bench. That is where you deserve to be. You have done nothing for 11½ years. You have done nothing for this country. The Labor Party is the party that will deliver for this country. (Time expired).