Address to Parliament - Matters of Public Importance - Budget
The member for Canberra asks: what did we achieve in nearly 10 years of government? The final two years were very difficult, Member for Canberra. I can remember being in those top-level meetings when we were being told by the Chief Medical Officer that we could expect tens of thousands of Australians to die from COVID-19 within weeks, if not months. And I can well remember when James Kwan passed away, having contracted COVID-19 on the Diamond Princess cruise ship. That was 1 March 2020. We were headed towards a budget surplus, the first budget surplus for a dozen years, and that paled into insignificance compared to what we needed to do as a government and as an executive of government to keep Australians alive, to keep Australians safe and to keep businesses' doors open. Keeping people's livelihoods was the first priority, because the first priority of a government is keeping its nation's people safe. And that's what we did.
Yes, we racked up a considerable debt. It wasn't a trillion dollars, as those opposite would claim. It isn't anywhere near a trillion dollars, but, yes, it is a massive debt, and yes, the Albanese government has inherited a large debt. But that debt kept Australians alive. That debt kept Australians in jobs. That debt kept businesses open. Whether it was in regional Australia or in metropolitan Australia, it did not matter. It was almost a war footing. They were almost warlike conditions that we were confronted with, because it was almost like a war; it was a war on Australia's health. I am very proud that, in my time as Deputy Prime Minister, with Scott Morrison as Prime Minister and with great people—
An honourable member interjecting—
MICHAEL McCORMACK
Yes, there were a few others. There was Josh Frydenberg. There was Greg Hunt. They are no longer in the parliament. Greg retired. Josh, unfortunately, was beaten in Kooyong, and I acknowledge that that's democracy. I acknowledge that, yes, Australians voted for change on 21 May; I acknowledge that. Australians were very frustrated. They were frustrated by state premiers who closed borders and closed people down for too long, but that was also something that the Commonwealth tried to work with the states on. We tried to put Australians above politics, and I think we did that. I think the fact that we're now not wearing masks, the fact that we're now moving freely around our country and the fact that the Hopkins research centre index had Australia rated No. 2 in the world for our response to COVID-19 is something we should be very proud of as a nation. I know I am. And I know that, long after I've finished in this place, that will be one of the legacies—that I was in on those meetings.
I know those opposite come in here and talk, with their political strategy of: 'Let's talk about a trillion dollars of debt!' Well, it is a big debt—I acknowledge that. But the fact remains: it's not anywhere near a trillion dollars. And the fact remains: we kept Australians alive and we kept Australians in jobs.
We're talking here about broken promises, and there are many. I am very disappointed, for my own electorate, and I know the member for Cowper is also earnestly and honestly disappointed, that our areas, our regions, have lost out on veterans wellbeing centres. There are thousands upon thousands of veterans, in Cowper and in Riverina, who deserve nothing less than a wellness centre in their electorate. But they've been taken away because of a broken commitment by Labor; we offered $5 million to each area, and they have been taken away and put in Labor electorates.
The Building Better Regions Fund has been rebadged, and there's less money in it. That is a shame. That is a broken promise to regional Australia.
An opposition member: A shame.
MICHAEL McCORMACK
It is. Real wages are coming down. I know those opposite talk about the fact that the Fair Work Commission has increased the lowest rate of wages. We have the highest minimum wage in the world. That's something we should also, as a nation, be very proud of. I don't hear those opposite talking that up. We should be very proud of what we have as a nation, and we should be positive about our future—not always blaming others for something that has been done in the past, which is what the government does all too often. We should be positive. We should be talking up the economic fortunes of our nation, because they will be strong and I hope they are.