Malcolm Turnbull has clashed with host Tony Jones during his first Q&A appearance since becoming prime minister, accusing Jones of acting as a “spokesman” for the Labor Party.
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Australian opposition Labor Party leader Bill Shorten, center, holds the hands of deputy leader Tanya Plibersek, left, and shadow treasurer Chris Bowen in Sydney Sunday, June 19, 2016.
Labor is continuing with its scare campaign over Medicare, despite coming under fire from doctors and the Greens for over-reaching on claims the coalition has a secret plan to privatise the system.
Turnbull, who will officially launch his conservative Liberal Party’s campaign next weekend, announced on Saturday that his government had scrapped plans to outsource the Medicare payments system to private enterprise. “It will never ever be sold”.
Mr Hawke was visibly moved when Mr Shorten talked about Medicare – the former PM’s legacy policy.
The just over $3 billion in spending included about $1.3 billion in new money and heavily reflected Labor’s commitment to healthcare.
The “anti-gay” Islamic leader was invited by Turnbull for a fast-breaking Ramadan dinner.
Another economic boost would come from Labor’s plan to give a A$20,000 tax break for a small business – with a turnover under A$2 million – that hires a parent going back to work, a carer or an Australian under 25 or over 55, which would help create around 30,000 new jobs each year.
“We will speak up in particular for the long-term young unemployed and for older Australians”.
When, after the dead-heat election of 2010 that saw Julia Gillard form minority government with the support of the Greens and two independents, a questioner lamented the refusal of either Gillard or Abbott to take risks in that campaign, the response from Turnbull was emphatic.
The country is going for elections on July 2, reported AFP.
Mr Shorten also promised not to go ahead with Mr Turnbull’s planned cuts to bonus payments for pathologists and radiologists who bulk-bill. Mr Shorten sought to project a confident position, repeatedly saying: “We can win and we must win”.
“How did you lose the argument in your own party?”
“Let me be very clear about this, and this was the theme of my address at the iftar – we are the most successful multicultural society in the world”, he said.
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When asked why his government planned to cut tax rates for big businesses, including foreign companies, Mr Turnbull stressed that this would not kick in for eight years.
