House of Representatives
Thursday 29 October 2020
Dodgy land deals, sports rorts back again, luxury jets for Clive, Australia Post largesse on steroids, Cartier watches, mates' rates for the Liberal Party, government not delivering an ICAC—and it is just Thursday! We know that there are some big numbers from this budget. A $213 billion deficit this financial year and $480 billion of cumulative debts over the forward estimates. The budget will be in deficit every year for the next decade. So much for being back in black. Budgets are about much more than just raw numbers. They're about priorities, a vision for Australia and, most importantly, a future for all Australians. That's where this budget falls over.
We know that the budget will rack up $1 trillion worth of debt but fails to create jobs in the country that needs it. It ignores the urgent need to plan and leaves too many Australians behind. Contrast that to the Leader of the Opposition, Anthony Albanese, who's delivered a plan for child care, a plan for aged care—with extra home-care places in this year's budget that should have been delivered—and a plan for energy. He wants to look after JobKeeper recipients to make sure that the million Australians are brought forward, not left behind. For all of its job 'something fixed' announcements, the government expects another 160,000 Australians to be added to the jobless queues by Christmas. That is a government that is not focused on the interests of Australians.
This week we uncover that Australia Post—a national icon—is delivering $20,000 worth of luxury watches, a Liberal-stacked board and LNP election posters in shop windows in the post offices in my home state in the electorate of Moncrieff. The government has an Australia Post board that is a Liberal swamp of failed Liberal politicians and Liberal-connected people. We started off this year with cuts to Australia Post, with mail not being delivered and deliveries only once every few days. As pensioners in my electorate tell me, 'You pay more, but it takes longer to arrive in the mailbox.' You're absolutely disgraceful—through you, Mr Deputy Speaker, to the minister—for not holding the Australia Post board to account.
In my home state of Queensland—and I refer to the member for Griffith's comments—when it comes to the LNP at a state level, they're just as bad. We know that today the state LNP released their costings for the next election—the big, bold policy plans of the New Bradfield Scheme and the duplication of the Pacific Highway!
Mr Howarth: Hear, hear!
Mr DICK: The member for Petrie says, 'Hear, hear!' Do you know how much money was committed in the costings? Zero! Zero dollars—because, as the leader said, in the next 10 to 15 years, it won't be funded. What on earth is going on with the LNP in Queensland? The Moreton Young LNP posted on social media last night:
There comes a time when one must put their country before party. The Moreton Young LNP stands resolutely opposed to Peter Zhuang's candidacy—
the state candidate—
in Stretton. We call on the voters of Stretton to place the LNP last …
That is what the LNP is doing! Last week, in the member for Petrie's own electorate, we saw the Queensland Leader of the Opposition condemned after a young Liberal was busted helping Kerri-Anne Dooley, the failed candidate for Redcliffe. Jake Scott rose to national notoriety last year when he was filmed in a Facebook video sharing offensive opinions about Indigenous cultures. 'We've got to stop celebrating a culture'—
The DEPUTY SPEAKER ( Mr Llew O'Brien ): The member for Oxley!
Mr DICK: 'That couldn't even invent'—
The DEPUTY SPEAKER: The member for Oxley will pause.
Mr DICK: 'The bloody'—
The DEPUTY SPEAKER: The member for Oxley will withdraw that. Just because you're quoting it doesn't mean you can quote unparliamentary words.
Mr DICK: I will withdraw that offensive comment that the Young LNP member made—
The DEPUTY SPEAKER: The member for Oxley will resume his seat. The minister.
Mr Howarth: I was going to raise a point of order about language but also the fact that he's talking about a 17-year-old. You want to talk about a minor? You've never made a mistake? Go ahead.
The DEPUTY SPEAKER: The minister will resume his seat. The member for Oxley will continue.
Mr DICK: I will take the interjection from the member for Petrie. That LNP member is a disgrace, and he should stand in this place and condemn the racism from the Young LNP.
