Andrew Leigh

TURNBULL DISCOVERS ‘FAIRNESS’, TWO YEARS TOO LATE

Malcolm Turnbull’s hypocrisy was writ large today when he talked about making changes to the tax system that are ‘fair’.

Australians know what Mr Turnbull’s definition of ‘fair’ is: he ‘unreservedly and wholeheartedly’ backed every measure in the Liberals’ 2014 Budget. 

Supporting a GP tax on the vulnerable, making students pay $100,000 for their degrees and taking over $6,000 from the pockets of families: was this ‘fair’ Mr Turnbull?

MALCOLM TURNBULL: I support unreservedly and wholeheartedly every element in the Budget. Every single one.

ALAN JONES: So you’re totally supportive of the Medicare co-payment?

MALCOLM TURNBULL: I support every element, of course, including the Medicare co-payment. Do you want to go through the whole list?

ALAN JONES: You’re totally supportive of the increase in the fuel excise?

MALCOLM TURNBULL: I support the re-prioritised funding of official development assistance. I support introducing co-payments for general practitioner pathology and diagnostic imaging services in the Medicare Benefits Schedule. I support the reforms to higher education. I support the changes to family payment reform. Do you want me to read through the whole Budget?

2GB – 5 June 2014

Australians recognised the unfairness at the heart of the 2014 Budget from the moment it was released. Malcolm Turnbull couldn’t see it because he has no idea what life is like for the low and middle-income Australians who were hit hardest.

Fairness isn’t a fancy dress costume you can trot out for set-piece speeches like today’s.

Fairness is a value that leads you to stand up against inequality and injustice when you see it, like Labor did in blocking the worst measures from that Budget.

When Malcolm Turnbull didn’t stand up for fairness in 2014, why would any Australian believe he’ll do so in the future? 

THURSDAY, 5 NOVEMBER 2015

MEDIA CONTACT: JENNIFER RAYNER 0428 214 856