Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull addresses the Coalition Campaign launch in Sydney on June 26, 2016.
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Former prime ministers John Howard and Tony Abbott were in the front row for the launch and were acknowledged by Mr Turnbull as he began.
“When he’s not trying to frighten older Australians, Mr Shorten is prosecuting an anti-business, anti-growth agenda more toxic and backward-looking than any Labor leader in a generation”, he said.
“Tony you brought to an end the chaos and dysfunction of the Rudd-Gillard-Rudd years and you remain a dedicated advocate for our cause”.
In an appeal to voters, Mr Shorten said Labor had a comprehensive policy agenda that would enable it to “hit the ground running”, whereas Mr Turnbull’s agenda was painfully thin.
“The shockwaves in the past 48 hours from Britain’s vote to exit the European Union are a sharp reminder of the volatility in the global economy”. Always expect the unexpected.
“If you only really know the leader of a minor party, but don’t know their candidates, if you don’t really know their policies, then don’t vote for them”, Mr Turnbull said.
“The gathering push of extreme right-wing populism round the globe are a warning to all of us, not to leave people behind… we must give every citizen a sense of being an active participant in transition, in control of what’s happening to them, not a passive observer of change, left behind on the scrap heap”, he said.
He launched a stinging attack on the Federal Opposition.
Polls have shown strong support for parties like the Greens and a new party formed by popular independent MP Nick Xenophon and prominent independents such as Tasmanian MP Jacqui Lambie. The Prime Minister’s comment was, in fact, a reference to Labor’s sudden decision to dump its opposition to the axing of the School Kids’ Bonus during the election campaign.
The poll had voters split 50-50 between Liberal and Labor on a two-party preferred basis.
“It seems that there’s no lie too outrageous, no issue too sensitive, no person too vulnerable that Bill Shorten won’t exploit”, she said. It showed that 50% thought it was likely a re-elected Liberal government would attempt to privatise Medicare, with only 34% saying it was unlikely.
“We have to make Australians partners in the national project”. 5 billion in savings over the next decade.
Shorten said what Australia needed most of all was the political capacity to build and invest in the economy, without giving away the returns.
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“Those Liberals in that party are sharpening their weapons of revenge for the impending civil war”, he said.
