BILL, CAN YOU CLEAR A FEW THINGS UP?
A FEW questions you should ask Bill Shorten before you vote.
It’s been a long election and I’m sure most people are over it. But now it’s time to decide.
The polls, pundits and bookies say Labor is going to win. Just like they said Hillary was 99% sure to become US president and Brexit would never happen. But forget all that, you get to have the final say. Nothing is ‘inevitable’ and it’s time Bill Shorten gave us some straight answers to some questions he shouldn’t be allowed to dodge.
1) Who will be the person in charge of our borders?
Shorten has refused to say who will be the Home Affairs Minister if he’s elected Prime Minister. This is the job where the tough calls on boats will be made. We need to know if that person has got the guts to make the hard calls.
2) What will happen to detainees on Nauru?
If they won’t go to the US and NZ can’t take any more, what happens? Do they stay there or, despite failing every test for the past six years, get to come to Australia anyway?
3) Where will the 32,000 refugees you plan to allow into the country every year live?
The government wants to bring in 18,000 refugees every year. Labor wants to bring 32,000. Will they all end up in the outer suburbs already struggling with population pressures or will there be a real effort to settle these refugees around the country?
4) Who will decide the difference between Free Speech and Hate Speech?
Labor has promised to toughen hate speech laws to win over the Twitter crowd, but where will it draw the line? I don’t trust the internet lynch mob to pick and choose.
5) How much will the pay rise be for minimum wage workers?
Despite saying this election was a referendum on wages, Shorten won’t say how much the minimum wage would rise by if he wins next Saturday. He won’t make it a new law, but he will argue strongly to the umpire. So what? Even if he got a pay rise for the lowest paid, what’s his plan for the more than nine million people who earn more the minimum wage? Nothing.
6) Who will pay to build the technology needed for 50/50 renewable?
We all agree wind and solar are great. But who is going to pay the almost $60b to build them? Customers, because the energy supplies have to build them, or the taxpayer who will build it for them?
7) How much cheaper will houses be when you stop negative gearing?
The whole point of cutting back on negative gearing is apparently to make houses more affordable. Great if you are buying, but that means you get less if you are selling. Anyone who owns or is paying off their home would like to know what’s going to happen before you get their vote.
8) What are you willing to give up to get something through the senate with the Greens?
No matter what happens in the Lower House, Labor needs the support in the Senate. They will need the Greens. Will Shorten cave like Gillard and break promises just to get the parliament to work? Where is his line in the sand?
If Shorten can’t or won’t answer questions that will change the lives of millions, including yours, what’s the point of voting for him?
One week to go ...