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Address to Australian Mines and Metals Association conference

Today, I will discuss the future of industrial relations in this country and some of the implications for your sector and the nation at large - given the change in the national government last November.

First, the politics.

At the outset, I must counter the new Government's outrageous claims over recent months that it has inherited massive economic challenges from the previous Government.

Let's just put the current economic climate into perspective.

When John Howard was elected Prime Minister in March 1996, the Consumer Price measure for inflation was 4% - when Mr Rudd was elected it was 3%.

The Reserve Bank cash rate for interest rates was 7.5% on the day John Howard took office and 6.75% when Kevin Rudd took office.

In March 1996, unemployment was 8.2%, coming off a 11% high - Kevin Rudd just had to manage a level half that at 4.1% - the lowest rate for 34 years.

John Howard was confronted with a $96 billion Government debt and a budget deficit of $10 billion - Kevin Rudd has zero government debt, a budget surplus forecast to be $20 billion and almost $70 billion in savings.

Some inheritance!

Full speech

Extract of speech on Indigenous reconciliation

Parliament House 13 February 2008

I have chosen to confine my remarks this evening in the address-in-reply debate to the apology to our Indigenous peoples moved in the House this morning and supported by the parliament. Last Saturday, a number of Indigenous people met with me in my electorate office in Perth.

On a number of occasions since the government announced the date for the formal apology, I have invited Indigenous people to my office, and they have all been willing to meet with me to discuss the apology and I thank them for that. On this most recent occasion, a proud Nyungar woman told me her story. I have sought, and been given permission from her, to relate to this House some of what she told me.

She is considered one of the stolen generations and, as she spoke, I was not thinking about whether the term ‘stolen generations’ was or was not the most appropriate way to describe her life circumstances. No—I was listening to what had been stolen from her: her childhood innocence, her trust in people, her sense of self, her sense of belonging, her culture, her heritage. Whether, as a young child, she was taken from her family because of race or because of welfare, she lost her childhood. Whether, as she grew older, she was separated, time and time again, from her brothers and sisters because of race or because of welfare, she lost her family. Whether, as a young woman, her first child was taken from her because of race or because of welfare, she lost the opportunity to nurture and love her baby.

As she told her story, in a voice so soft that I strained to hear her, and as she described her feelings of alienation and deprivation, it was palpable that she was hurting as much then as 40 or 50 years ago. She spoke of painful events in her childhood if they were yesterday, and as if her heart would break yet again. We are about the same age. As she spoke, I thought of my childhood, with my parents and sisters and brother, and grandparents and aunts and uncles and cousins, all living on the same farm in the Adelaide Hills and enveloping me with love and support, and I cried with her.

Full speech

Sir Charles Court

With the death of Sir Charles Court, Western Australia has lost its greatest visionary.

Throughout his life Sir Charles believed passionately that this state could be the economic powerhouse of the nation.

He pursued his vision with legendary energy and commitment - first as Minister for Industrial Development, the North West and Railways, and later as Premier.

The mining industry that now underpins the economy of Western Australia and the nation flourished under his stewardship.

He oversaw the development of the Ord River scheme and the North West shelf oil and gas reserves.

Sir Charles was a statesman, a scholar, a musician and a gentleman, deeply committed to his family and to the community.

His legacy ranks him as our greatest Western Australian and a great Australian.

I will miss his personal support, encouragement and advice.

Transcript media conference 29 November 2007

I congratulate Brendan Nelson on assuming this important role within the Liberal Party as our leader, and Nick Minchin and Eric Abetz in the Senate.

I am honoured that my colleagues in the Liberal Party have given me their support for the position of Deputy Leader.

I think it says a lot about the opportunities available in the Liberal Party that the daughter of a cherry grower from the Adelaide Hills, educated at a public school of 20 students can be appointed to this office in Australian public life.

I do look forward to taking on the role of Shadow in industrial relations.

It is important to our country and particularly to my state of Western Australia that there is a political force in this country that will stand up for small business, that will stand up for our mining sector and for the jobs that they create in this country.

And we will fight to maintain jobs and low unemployment across Australia.

I am looking forward to working with Brendan. He has many great qualities. He is a very talented person.

I will look forward to working with Malcolm and Nick and Eric as part of the leadership team that takes the Liberal Party forward.