EDITORIAL: Liberal focus on policy a positive step forward
While the new-look Opposition was looking forward and moving to address some of the real problems facing the nation, the Government was still looking backwards.
Hold the phone. A battle of ideas is trying to break out in Canberra.
Yes, that’s right. In the heart of our democracy, the occupants of Parliament House are set to debate policy.
Well most of them. On Monday the Government seemed stuck on politicking and the past, but the Opposition was finally moving forward.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.It felt like normality was re-emerging — if there is actually such a thing in Canberra.
It was entirely proper that since December 14 the tragedy of the Bondi massacre had dominated proceedings.
The legislative responses, resulting Coalition split and subsequent leadership wrangling in the Liberal Party had sucked up much of the remaining political oxygen.
But on Friday the Liberals sought to make a new start, replacing Sussan Ley as leader with Angus Taylor, and Jane Hume ousted Ted O’Brien to become deputy leader.
Importantly for their credibility — and to pre-empt Labor’s attacks — the pair immediately admitted they had made errors in the lead-up to the last election wipeout, including opposing Labor’s personal income tax cuts and proposing to scrap work-from-home arrangements for public servants.
Mr Taylor then set out his stall by zeroing in on living standards, a crack down on immigration and lowering taxes.
Over the weekend and on Monday he outlined further his focus on immigration and added a call for a bipartisan task force on cutting government spending — which is seen by economists and the Reserve Bank of Australia as a major driver of inflation, and therefore interest rate increases.
Mr Taylor argued that immigration numbers had been too high and the nation had failed to shut the door on people who did not believe in Australia’s way of life and core values.
On Monday an immigration policy developed under Ms Ley was leaked.
While it was prepared before Mr Taylor took over, it is likely to offer insights into the get-tough approach he is advocating in its proposal that migrants who breach an Australian values statement would face deportation.
The document is said to include plans to block people from “declared terrorist areas” from travelling to Australia on a valid visa.
Meanwhile Treasurer Jim Chalmers chose to go on the attack over Mr Taylor’s proposal for a government spending task force, again berating the Opposition Leader over policies he took to the last election.
It was significant in its illustration that while the new-look Opposition was looking forward and moving to address some of the real problems facing the nation, the Government was still looking backwards.
Dr Chalmers must not get away with looking in that rear-vision mirror. The nation needs him to concentrate on the way ahead.
Like the fact that Federal Government spending is forecast to make up 26.9 per cent of gross domestic product this financial year, which outside the COVID era would be the highest since 1986. Or the re-emergence of inflation. Or energy. Or productivity.
To name but a few.
