Abbott, Lew on the same page
IT seemed scripted – a prominent businessman unleashes on the ineffectiveness of the government, following which, the alternative prime minister stands up to present a case that things would be different with him at the helm.
IT seemed scripted – a prominent businessman unleashes on the ineffectiveness of the government, following which, the alternative prime minister stands up to present a case that things would be different with him at the helm.
It wasn’t scripted, but this is what happened at Friday’s Australia-Israel Chamber of Commerce lunch in Melbourne addressed by Opposition Leader Tony Abbott.
In introducing Abbott, retailer Solomon Lew told guests he didn’t want to appear “politically partisan” because he didn’t want to give shoppers an excuse not to buy his brands.
But, he then proceeded to slam many of the Gillard Government’s economic policies, saying they had brought down consumer confidence.
“This is a time as a nation when we should be flying and investing in a productive future,” Lew said.
He criticised the national broadband network as “so deeply flawed it contains elements of sovereign risk” and accused the Government of engaging in protectionism on behalf of international retailers by allowing goods bought online to be imported GST-free. The only certainty for Australian businesses in the current environment was “that the cost of doing business will increase”.
Abbott responded with a speech that sought to position his party’s economic credentials, and focused on productivity.
“If economic growth is high enough through strong productivity growth, it’s possible to deliver simultaneously higher spending, lower taxes, a bigger surplus and higher wages without triggering inflation,” he said.
He outlined several Coalition strategies to increase productivity including providing incentives to move young people, older people and people with disabilities into work, extending welfare quarantining arrangements around Australia, reforming the paid parental leave scheme, reducing regulations for Australian businesses and investing in big infrastructure projects only after a cost-benefit analysis.
“Our objective is to restore hope, reward and opportunity for all,” he said.
Abbott also reaffirmed the Coalition’s opposition to Palestinian statehood at a UN declaration. “It is the Coalition’s firm view that Australia should support the United States in voting against any application to admit Palestine to the United Nations,” he said.
NAOMI LEVIN
Opposition Leader Tony Abbott.
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