Budget Reply: What the Opposition Leader should say.

“the Honourable…the Honourable, The Leader of the Opposition”

“Thank you Madame Speaker. I remind the Prime Minister of his promises – (emphasis) his solemn promises made to the Australian people during the last election. (pause) And I suggest, Madame Speaker that he lied. (Government benches erupt in protest). He DELIBERATELY lied to the Australian people for POLITICAL purposes, Madame Speaker. HE LIED TO EVERY AUSTRALIAN so that he could get his hands on the Government purse. He lied knowing that the promises he was making during the campaign, promises he made time and time and time again, would be broken at the EARLIEST opportunity, Madame Speaker.

“ORDER, ORDER”

“When a political leader lies, Madame Speaker, they give permission for others to lie. They give permission for their colleagues to lie, and for our business and community leaders to lie. Corruption is then allowed to thrive, Madame Speaker. Trust in leadership is eroded, Madame Speaker. And, in the end, our children are left with nothing but liars and criminals for role models. ANY lie, ANY deception, ANY fraudulent promise made for political purposes, Madame Speaker, is not just an act of corruption, it is treachery."

"So tonight I announce our policy. We will pass laws, if we are elected at the next election, Madame Speaker that will OUTLAW ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES from LYING to their constituents. (Government benches, again erupt in protest). We will make laws that value truth above all other things, and put the TRUTH and HONESTY at the heart of our political culture. (uproar) Because we have now come to the view, Madame Speaker that lying to the Australian people, by many in this place, has become established as a NORMAL practice, Madame Speaker, and we believe, that is unacceptable. We believe, on this side, that the practice of lying, of not telling the truth, of being prepared to DECEIVE THE AUSTRALIAN PEOPLE FOR POLITICAL PURPOSES should be seen as a heinous act, an act of betrayal against the citizens of this country. These laws, we now propose, will classify such elected representatives who knowingly engage in such behaviour, behaviour designed to deceive, mislead or trick constituents is not only shameful, an act of fraud, but will under our Government, be treated as an act of treason, (pause) punishable by prolonged imprisonment. (House dissolves into objections and shouting across the aisle).

“ORDER, ORDER”

treason

trick

constituents

Government

honesty

Parliamentary speech

Leader of the Opposition