Twelve weeks ago today the Labor Party assassinated Kevin Rudd and installed Julia Gillard. Just under four weeks ago the Australian people returned a hung Parliament, and last week the rural independents decided to support Labor despite the fact that the Coalition received nearly three quarters of a million more votes than Labor.
It was hard to imagine twelve months ago that we would come this close to making history and forming government. Tony Abbott has done an incredible job building the Coalition’s standing, bringing down a first term Prime Minister and pushing a first term government into a hung Parliament.
But the minority Labor Government has been formed and our task is to continue to hold Labor accountable and present a strong alternative.
While the new Labor Ministry was announced over the weekend, up to ten changes were made before it was sworn in. Inexplicably, there was no Minister for Education – so much for the ‘education revolution’. Just like Labor’s first term, the hard detailed work is sacrificed in favour of political slogans.
Tony Abbott announced the Opposition frontbench on Tuesday.
I was honoured to be invited to serve as Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Small Business and Fair Competition. I will be working with my good friend Bruce Billson MP, the Shadow Minister for Small Business, to ensure that the interests of Australia’s 2.4 million small businesses are represented against a Government almost completely lacking in knowledge or understanding of this sector.
Only the Coalition understands the pressures faced by the small business sector and the importance of constant attention to the burdens of regulation and red tape. My portfolio area has already seen one stuff up from the Gillard Government – they forgot to give someone responsibility for competition policy.
Two years ago this month the Senators elected in 2007 were making their first speeches to the Senate. I made my maiden speech two years ago today. I said:
Over the last decade in particular, the Liberal agenda for Australia has delivered not abstract numbers or statistics but meaningful improvements in the lives of all Australians, particularly those most vulnerable. As Winston Churchill said, ‘I fight for my corner,’ and I look forward to working with my colleagues to bring us back to office and continue our work.
It is a privilege to serve in the Australian Parliament, representing the Liberal Party and Victoria. It is a particular privilege to be asked to serve on the Coalition frontbench and represent millions of Australians involved in small business. I look forward to working with you all to restore good Government to Australia.