House of Representatives on Wednesday 27th June 2018

Check against delivery

I must confess a personal interest in the member for Grayndler's recent rise. It's like watching the outgassing of a beautiful comet. I first met the honourable member in 2001, at the Ashfield shopping mall at a polling booth. He was my local MP. He was mortified, when asking who I would be voting for, when I held up a picture of John Howard. Nonetheless, I have a soft spot for the member for Grayndler. I thought I would publically note my admiration for his recent Whitlam Oration:

Labor must empower our membership by giving them more direct say—

the honourable member said on Friday. He continued:

Labor must also maintain our internal processes that emphasise policy making from the bottom up.

…   …   …

We respect and celebrate the importance of individual enterprise and the efforts and importance of the business community.

Wise words from a veteran Labor member.

But, like many Australians, I'm confused. Does Labor really emphasise policymaking from the bottom up, or is the Leader of the Opposition making captain's calls on the run? Does Labor really respect and celebrate the efforts and importance of the business community, or are they going to hit 20,000 small- and medium-businesses with higher taxes? Does Labor even care about the 1.5 million workers threatened by the opposition leader's latest foray into the class war? We hope that the member for Grayndler can set the opposition leader straight.