OPINION | Why Australia Needs Labor

^{BY DYLJAM, LEADER OF THE AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY}

​

Fifteen days ago today, we saw the denouement of the Liberal and National-led experiment on our nation. Their long-anticipated budget, their economic and social blueprint for Australia's future, demonstrated just what a malignant and uncomprehending bunch they really are. A schematic and impetuous-minded document which guarantees worsened hardship for Australian families through savage cuts, reckless tax increases and a complete lack of vision.

The Australian Right has previously endured a long political hiatus. The last time that the Liberals were in government was as part of a coalition with the then newly-established United Democratic Party, in late 2018. And the most recent Liberal Prime Minister, excluding the incumbent, was u/PineappleCrusher_ in mid-2018. But during both of these terms, the Liberals were in government with a moderate coalition partner. It has since become clear, if it was not already, that these moderate partners played a significant role in abating any underlying extreme economic recklessness that the Libs so deeply wished to bring to fruition.

After nine months away from the treasury benches, the Libs and Nats enjoyed a rebirth. Under the skillful political leadership of u/porriidge, the Right once again seized power, albeit by misleading the President through falsely claiming that they had more support in the House than they in fact did. But a vote of no confidence failed due to low turnout, and Prime Minister porriidge reigned supreme. What did become evident, however, was that during those long, miserable days in the Purgatory that is the opposition and crossbenches, the Right had forgotten how to govern.

When the Liberals and Nationals did finally reclaim power, it was not a happy marriage. The National Party, lead by u/riley5853 stormed out of the governing coalition in a spectacular show of resentment and rage, accusing the government of 'lies and deception' and incompetency, and claiming that the Prime Minister was 'unfit for office'. Those comments were made in debate over a motion of no confidence against the government on 3 November. When the motion came to a vote on 11 November, u/riley8583 voted against the motion and in support of the government.

It should have been no surprise to anyone when this dysfunctional government produced a dysfunctional budget. Only dysfunctional is all to subtle a word to describe the cruel and grievous piece of legislation that was Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2019-2020. Coupled with its precipitous bedfellow Treasury Laws Amendment (Reforming Goods & Services Tax) Bill - a bill to increase the GST to an unthinkable 15% - it provided a magnificent insight into the debauched state of mind of the Liberal Government (now with National confidence and supply).

The entire budget document makes for distressing reading. It becomes quite clear that the Treasurer u/PineappleCrusher_ is driven purely by ideology with a total disregard for the practical effects of such infelicitous idealised nonsense. It is also here where his blatant elitism shines through. Take for instance his $15billion funding of private schools - in which 33% of Australian students are enrolled - vs his $9billion funding for government schools - of which 66% of Australian students are enrolled. Why the government is providing such exorbitant funding to private schools is one question, but as to why they are providing $6billion more to 33% of Aussie kids stinks of rank hypocrisy.

Further to this, 'Pay more Pineapple', as he has been commonly called on online platforms, ripped $3billion from the heart of our national healthcare system, and $9billion from social services. Under this Liberal government, egalitarian Australia is fading right before our very eyes. The Treasurer's approach is no longer one which rewards aspiration and allows any ordinary Australian to get ahead in life, it is now one which entrenches elitism and ensures that those who are outside the circles of power remain outside the circles of power.

The 15% GST is the jewel in the crown of the great Pineapple experiment - also (quite ironically) dubbed 'Crushernomics'. This is where the Liberals depart from their low-taxing past. They become so immersed in their pursuit of that 's' word that they lose all principle. Let's make it clear - the 15% GST will increase the cost of living and make it more difficult for hard-working Aussies to get by. Labor has produced basic modelling which shows that the average cost of groceries for Australian families will increase by $873.60, to bring the total annual grocery bill to $18 345.60. Australian families will also see their energy bills increase by $144 per year.

So what is the point of this reckless experiment? Why are the Liberals slugging hard-working Australians with a 15% GST, whilst pursuing a very measly budget surplus? There is simply no logic behind it. The Libs will pursue their ideological fantasy of producing some sort of surplus at the expense of ordinary Australians. And then, they will promote their budget surplus, concealing all the pain and destruction littering the path that has taken them there. They will sing this ad nauseam, ad infinitum. Logic is irrelevant when you can repeat lies over and over until you begin to believe them yourself. Not only have the Libs deluded ordinary Australians, but they have begun to delude themselves. And tomorrow, they will be back singing themselves praises. I cannot help but be reminded of George Orwell's famous dystopian novel, 1984. "Partly it was a sort of hymn to the wisdom and majesty of Big Brother, but still more it was an act of self-hypnosis, a deliberate drowning of consciousness by means of rhythmic noise."

But here is the unfortunate truth. When the Liberals are back in the black, Australians are back in the red. Savage cuts and reckless tax increases are not worth the pursuit of a measly $4billion surplus. Ironically, only $1billion more than the government's crippling assault on the nation's healthcare system. But still less than half of the funding slashed to social services, and one-fifth of the funding ripped from education. So how can we fight to ensure that the 15% GST does not go ahead, and that economy and society-ravaging Crushernomics is stopped in its tracks?

This is where Labor comes in. We have re-formed the Australian Labor Party as a strong opposition to the Libs' and Nats' destructive policies. We will restore the deeply-ingrained principles of social liberalism and social democracy in Australian society, and we will start with the Liberals' 15% GST. Not only one of their most destructive policies, it also perfectly encapsulates the arrogance and the out-of-touch thinking by the Liberals. Its effects are simple. It will increase the cost of living. It will make grocery and energy bills much more expensive. And it will force hard-working Australian families, who are already doing it tough, to forfeit more of their money to the government.

This election could not present Australians with a more distinct choice. Only Labor can stand for the interests of hard-working Australians, Only Labor can look after Australian families. It's time to put an end to the incredible failure that is the Liberal experiment. It's time to fight the savage cuts to education, social services and health. It's time to fight the unjust 15% GST.

It's time to vote Labor.

​

u/dyljam is the Leader of the Australian Labor Party and a guest columnist for the National Review.