Catryna Bilyk (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

No, but I am not the Leader of the Opposition. I have never laid claim to doing the things he has. Even Peter Costello would not have Tony Abbott as his deputy because he knew that Tony Abbott did not take economics seriously. Tony Abbott opposed and voted against the stimulus package during the economic downturn and he said he would stop the school building program which is supporting tens of thousands of jobs and tradies and small business people. And here are we, helping every school in Australia.

Let us look at what those in opposition in Tasmania think about education. We all know how important education is. It transforms lives. Maybe that is the fear of those on the other side. Maybe they do not want an educated Australia. Maybe they are a little bit paranoid that people might learn things. They seem to have an anti-education program going on. Let me see what is happening in Tasmania. Mr Hodgman there was talking the other day about levies in schools. Let us think about what they are doing there. Under a Bartlett Labor government in Tasmania, 40 per cent of families do not pay school levies. But Mr Hodgman has made great claims about what will happen with levies. Less than 50 per cent of families stand to receive immediate benefit from the Liberal promise and the rest will have to either pay more or see kids and their schools go without. That is how much the Liberal Party in Tasmania—