Message to the Nation

Tonight, I want to talk to you about our economy, our future and our security.

You know, I often meet school groups visiting Parliament House and I always tell them that while we often have differences of opinion here, it is important to remember that every MP works hard to make Australia a better place for them to grow up in.

Tonight, I wonder if I can keep saying that.

The Prime Minister has unveiled a plan to borrow $70 billion over the next four years.
More than that, he is asking Parliament to allow him to increase our national debt to $200 billion - a level never seen before.

That is a $9,500 debt for every Australian, a debt our children will have to pay off years into the future.

In an unprecedented move, the Prime Minister has given the Parliament only 48 hours to consider and approve the expenditure of $42 billion.

That isnt sensible or prudent.

It is an insult to Australian taxpayers.

We in the Opposition will vote against this package.

We know this will not be popular with many people.

But we are determined to do the right thing for Australia and its future.

Somebody has to stand up for strong financial management.

Somebody has to stand up for taxpayers.

Somebody has to stand up for future generations.

We do not reject the need for a stimulus at this time.

But our judgement is that $42 billion is too much right now and $200 billion is too much debt.

This is not a time for panic.

It is the time for sound calm judgement.

There is no evidence that last years $10 billion cash hand out was an effective economic stimulus.

It did not create the jobs the Government said it would.

So we oppose rushing to another cash splash.

Rather, we propose bringing forward permanent tax cuts for Australians.

This will make many families more than $1700 dollars better off over the year.

It allows them to keep more of their own hard-earned cash into the future.

We support other areas of spending, including in schools, but our package will amount to less than half the amount the government is proposing - half the additional debt burden.

We will focus on areas that will stimulate the economy and generate jobs, the most important challenge at this time.

We have said again and again that we are prepared to sit down and discuss the package with the Prime Minister.

All of those offers have been rejected.

We believe this is the time to work together, because this is taxpayers money, and our childrens future.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Malcolm
• Turnbull

[kenneththorpe]

And don't take the U.Ss new face saving position either. That it was about Terrorisum. Rubbish it was about WMDs there were no Terrorists in Iraq till the U.S got there.

[kenneththorpe]

Well the other option was Howard who sent us to War on the back of Bush the Drunken Sailor, who showed us Pics of Ice Cream Factorys and empty Trucks to prove there were WMDs in Iraq. Who supported Human rights abuses in Guantanamo. And gave us Workchoices putting insecurity into average peoples lives. Howard was tought a real lesson the 2nd only PM to lose his own seat. The last one was a HumanRights abuser too who had striking Miners in the Hunter starved and Killed. Howard was just as Bad.

[wdgann111]

40% of Australian workers pay ZERO tax - family benefits, deductions etc. Don't make sweeping statements without knowing the facts. By the way, thanks for voting KRUDD in

[kenneththorpe]

Got any Van Goughs in the foyer of your Business? I am sure if you go get one you could write it off on Tax. Isn't that what the Fat Cats at HIH did?. They broke Thousands of Aussies and got off with fortunes intact, and minor Gaol sentances in Holiday camps. Then went home to the Million Dollar homes and Fat Wallets. If a worker has to trade a lousy $20 a week increase for productivity. Why aren't Bosses made to do the same for Bonuses. Run a Company into the ground and get a bonus its a Joke.

[kenneththorpe]

What a joke , its the little people that Pay Taxes. The big end of town gets huge concessions and spends its time avoiding Tax with near criminal intent. So its the little man or the 95% of Australians that are the real Tax Payers who constantly subsidise you and your filthy Tax Dodgeing Greed. Oh and thanks for pointing out my Dyslexia. Certainly a person like you would abuse a disabillity. You already abuse the 95% of honest Tax payers with Tax Dodgeing and Bonuses for nothing.

[wdgann111]

You can't even spell. Anywhere else in the world, people with your level of education and qualifications earn less than $5 per hour so you should FUKING feel fortunate that 5% of the Australian population pays ridiculously high taxes to keep you afloat and subsidise a standard of living you don't deserve

[kenneththorpe]

There was a case recently where three Barmen were sacked for not being as GOOD LOOKING as Female Bar Staff. Under Workchoices they would have had no right to complain and would have to wear it. Worse the Manager could have called them names and not payed them all entitlements and got away with it. Or put them on contracts tradeing away any shift Bonuses and other rights. Workchoices was on the nose thats why the Libs lost the Election, and Howard became the 2nd only PM to lose his seat.

[kenneththorpe]

You are Wrong Filty Greed is the cause of the Crisis. The Top end of town gets Greedier and Greedier. The Banks lent Money to people with an inabillity to Pay it Back. Its simple economics. I wouldn't lend $100 to someone who wont pay it back. Banks have a responsabillity to shareholders to lend resonsibily. But when they run the Bank int Bankruptcy and award themselves Mega Bonuses to do so it is nothing short of Filthy Greed. Workchoices stank and had to go. Malcolm doesn't even want it back.

[wdgann111]

I am sick of the populist people blaming the greedy banks for this crisis. THE CRISIS WAS CAUSED BY POOR PEOPLE BUYING HOMES THEY COULDN"T AFFORD AND DEMOCRACTIC/LABOUR GOVERNMENT ENCOURAGING THE SYSTEM TO DO SO

[wdgann111]

I have some advice for Malcolm Turnbull - the media clearly doesn't like you and doesn't even air your point of view - I often ask myself whether Laurie Oaks is receiving sexual favours from Rudd. Anyway, the ONLY way you are going to get your message across is to use more catchphrases e.g 'Recession Rudd' 'Rudd has just scraped workchoices and fired 300,000 Australians' 'Sinking swan' etc Simply going on youtube and in front of cameras calmly articulating your point of view will not work