Glenn Sterle (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I look forward to making my contribution here, but, for the poor devils who may have just tuned in or been sitting through this painful last hour and 10 minutes, you could quite rightfully ask, 'Are we on the same planet?' We are; we're on the same planet. That mob over there—I don't know what planet you mob are on. I really have no idea.

I won't apologise—I actually come with dirt under the fingernails. I actually worked blue-collar. I actually had my own business. For those over there who've just come through university, joined the Young Liberals, latched onto a senator or a member and then got themselves a good seat, I apologise. It's not your fault; you know no better. But, seriously, through my whole working life, there has been nothing more powerful, whether you are in your worksite or with your workmates, whether there be two, three, four or five of you or hundreds, than when you actually have the ability to engage, talk to your employer and talk with your workmates in front of the employer to put forth ideas about how you improve your workplace, how you improve the boss's profitability—there's no problem with that—how you make it a far safer workplace and how you all share in the spoils of profitability.

The Albanese government needs to be commended. As I was reminded earlier on in question time, there were nine long years, three prime ministers and a rabble where the tail wagged the mangy dog. The tail, the Nats, were wagging to get the mangy dog, the Libs, moving. They prided themselves on secrecy and behind-doors dealings, always behind doors, and then they'd lob it on us. The Albanese government comes up under the brilliant stewardship of the Treasurer, Dr Chalmers, to say to the Australian public: 'What can we do, and how can we do better? What are your ideas? Everything's on the table—it's not a problem. Come and share them. Come to Canberra not for one minute, not for 10 minutes, not for half an hour and not for an hour but for three days. Chuck out all the ideas you've got.' Fantastic; I applaud that.

What they don't tell you is that there wasn't just one productivity roundtable for three days; there were many. There were dozens going on around the nation. All the ministers, as well as the other government members of parliament, were engaging with their communities in productivity roundtables to get ideas to bring back to the government, because we on the Labor side don't sit there like the master-servant side over there, who say, 'We've got all the great ideas, and everyone else is dumb.' We actually want to share and get feedback. And what did we get? It makes me want to vomit—'Sky after dark'. I can't believe I've actually used those words! I must say there are a number on that side over there. I've heard that the Nats' and the Libs' members, the actual grassroots members, tune into 'Sky after dark' so they can work out what the hell their party is on about, because they don't know because they don't get engaged and they don't get included. We want to include.

I applaud the government. I applaud the Prime Minister and Dr Chalmers for having that ability to say, 'Let's get some ideas.' There were all these ideas flagged around. I heard Senator Roberts. I've got the greatest of respect for Senator Roberts. I don't agree with anything that he does politically, but I think he's a very nice, decent human being—I really do. Senator Antic is a real good guy, but we're not on the same page, mate. But you're a decent man, and I know you've got to play up to your constituents at 'Sky after dark'. I get that. But you heard Senator Roberts ask Minister Gallagher three times about something that he's heard or read in 'Sky after dark' or the Murdoch media about how your bedroom's going to get taxed if it's spare. The minister could not have been more clear—not once, not twice but three times—that there's no such tax. Then we hear the regurgitation coming because this lot have read stuff in the Murdoch media, that trash, or 'Sky after dark' that keep wanting to tell lies. It's not happening.

I feel so sorry for the Australian public. I note up in the galleries are school children. Please—we're not all like this. There are actually some decent people here that are absolutely concerned about your best interests and where we go for your future. After all these years, I think I need to take a pill. I need to have a lie down, because this is just getting worse and worse, and it's not just me. I'm actually embarrassed of the standards of the questions that come from the most inept opposition that we've seen in many, many decades. (Time expired)