Mr REPACHOLI (Hunter) (13:56)
There is a frustrating pattern in Australian politics at the moment, and it's coming from those opposite. They are a group so committed to saying no they should be rebranded as the blockers. If progress was a freeway, this lot would be the never-ending roadworks. They would be the workers in hi-vis holding the 'slow' sign, except they wouldn't let any traffic through.
When this government moves to cut the cost of medicines, what do those opposite say?
No.
We say fee-free TAFE. What do they say?
No.
We say pay rises for aged-care and childcare workers. What do they say?
No.
We build Medicare urgent care clinics. Funnily enough, what do they say to this?
No.
They claim to stand for economic responsibility. Blocking cheaper medicines and better health care doesn't just hurt people, it costs more in the long run. The only thing the blockers are constantly in favour of is taxpayer funded lunches for the corporate bosses. They say no to pay rises for minimum wage workers but yes to another round of oysters and champagne for their CEO mates—because nothing says economic responsibility like a three-course meal off the back of the taxpayer dollar.
Australians deserve better leadership that works for them, not an opposition stuck in the past blocking ideas just because they didn't come up with them. It's time to stop playing political jenga and start standing up for an Australia with a better future.
