Budget 2021: Anthony Albanese’s speech echoes Ronald Reagan in 1980

He once ripped off a Hollywood president, and last night Labor leader Anthony Albanese appeared to be channelling former US President Ronald Reagan when he delivered his budget reply.

He once ripped off a Hollywood president and now he has ripped off the real thing.

Labor leader Anthony Albanese was channelling former US President Ronald Reagan when he delivered his budget reply speech last night.

Labor leader Anthony Albanese says good government changed his life. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Gary Ramage

Posing a series of questions asking Australians if they felt “better off” than they were prior to the current government coming into power, his rhetoric echoed that of a famous speech by Mr Reagan in his 1980 presidential campaign.

In 1980, Mr Reagan said: “Are you better off than you were four years ago? Is it easier for you to go and buy things in the store than it was four years ago? Is there more or less unemployment in the country than their was four years ago? Is America as respected throughout the world as it was? Do you feel that our security is as safe, that we are as strong as we were four years ago?”

Last night, Mr Albanese asked: “Do you feel better off than you did eight years ago? Do you feel more secure at work? When did you last get a wage rise? Are you finding it easier to pay your bills? Are you more certain of your future? And importantly, that of your children? The past eight years have been very good to this Prime Minister – and his mates.

But has it been good for you?”

It is the second time Mr Albanese has been accused of lifting political prose, after it was claimed he plagiarised a speech made by Michael Douglas’ main character in 2012 movie The American President.

Reflecting on how growing up in a council house in Sydney’s inner west “changed my life”, Mr Albanese announced a Labor government would build 30,000 new affordable homes.

In what could be the Opposition Leader’s final budget reply speech before the next federal election, Mr Albanese unveiled a pitch to Australian voters centred on creating a $10 billion “Housing Australia Future Fund” to build community housing.

Former us President Ronald Reagan (left) and Anthony Albanese.

“I grew up in a council house in Camperdown, the only son of a single mum on the disability pension,” he said. “And I’m here tonight because good government changed my life.”

Mr Albanese said over the next five years the fund would construct 20,000 social housing properties, of which 4000 would be reserved for women and children fleeing domestic violence, and a further 10,000 “affordable” houses for frontline workers.

He also committed Labor to criminalising wage theft and requiring businesses to proactively stamp out sexual assault and harassment.

In the speech Mr Albanese announced $100 million to top up the wages of 10,000 apprentices who start a trade in “new energy” like solar, green hydrogen and renewable manufacturing.

Mr Albanese waves before delivering his budget reply speech, with Tony Burke (top to bottom), Richard Marles and Tanya Plibersek by his side. Picture: Sam Mooy/Getty Images

Tradies who sign up to these apprenticeships would get up to $10,000 in addition to their normal pay, with a $2000 signing bonus, and $2000 for every year of training.

“If you see this pandemic as a chance to build back stronger, Labor is on your side,” he said.

Mr Albanese also formally launched Labor’s “Start Up Year”, offering loans to university graduates to help them join start-up accelerators to get their new business ideas off the ground.

But Finance Minister Simon Birmingham, who also accused Mr Albanese of pinching the phrase “on your side” in his address from former UK Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, argued the Start Up Year and apprentice announcements were old policies from former Labor leader Bill Shorten. “There’s nothing really of substance in (Mr Albanese’s) address,” he said.

The slogan “on your side” was also used by Prime Minister Scott Morrison in 2018.

Mr Albanese also lashed out at the Morrison government, accusing it of “eight years of Liberal neglect” that has seen “eight years of wasting opportunities and running from responsibility”.