Malcolm Turnbull blasts Labor’s ‘lies’ at annual LNP convention in Queensland
MALCOLM Turnbull has issued a call to arms for Liberal Party members to call out “Labor Party lies”, as he ramps up his own attack on Bill Shorten ahead of the upcoming by-elections.
National
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PRIME Minister Malcolm Turnbull has issued a call to arms for grassroots LNP members to call out “Labor Party lies” on social media as the Government ramps up their attack on Bill Shorten ahead of the upcoming by-elections.
Addressing the Queensland LNP party faithful at the State Convention this morning, Mr Turnbull spruiked his government’s contribution to Queensland before the attack which lasted for over 30 minutes.
“We are seeing it again in Longman, the lies they are telling there are so shocking, there are trucks going around saying we have cut funding from the Caboolture … Completely and utterly untrue,” Mr Turnbull said.
“We are responding, we are rebutting, we are nailing it, not letting them get away with it, people are starting to recognise that Bill Shorten is a liar, he cannot tell the truth.”
Mr Turnbull told the party faithful that “everybody has got influence” when it comes to having a voice and urged members to rally together to neutralise Labor’s “scare campaign.”
“When you see on your own social media accounts, when you see a post or a video, make sure you get it out. Everybody has got influence and all of us, all of our members and friends have got to get that message across, Labor is lying about health, they are lying about schools,” he said.
In strong language, Mr Turnbull accused Mr Shorten of being “weak” while pushing his own government’s ability to lead the nation.
“We are the party of aspiration, of enterprise. Labor has become a party of envy, negativity, pessimism and grievance,” Mr Turnbull said.
“It is so against that fighting Australian spirit, no wonder people are turning away from Bill Shorten, and saying we don’t want your lies.”
Mr Turnbull’s strong address followed party president Gary Spence firing. Shot across the bows of the state Labor Party by referring its developer donation laws to the High Court.
The laws were introduced by the Palaszczuk Labor government earlier this year in the wake of a corruption watchdog review of corruption at a local council level. The LNP argued the laws should apply to union donations as well, and Mr Spence announced on Saturday that documents were lodged on Friday afternoon to challenge the laws.
“This is legislation that should never have been introduced and should never have passed the House,” Mr Spence told the convention.
“It is a shocking abuse of power by Labor and we simply must fight it.” Mr Spence said the laws did not just affect donations from multinational companies, but also small local businesses.
The LNP president has a personal stake in the issue, as he owns a small development company, and could be forced to resign his position with the party if the laws are upheld.
The party later passed a resolution calling on the LNP opposition in State parliament to continue to fight for the right of individuals and organisations to donate to their preferred political party.
Both Mr Spence and Mr Turnbull marked the 10th anniversary in 2018 of the joined Queensland wing of the Liberal and National parties.
Other resolutions passed on Saturday included a call for the federal government to own and operate the rail line servicing Adani’s Carmichael Coal mine, as well as a border resolution for the federal coalition to support building more coal- fired power stations in Queensland.
The annual convention is a chance for the rank-and-file members of the party to make their views heard, although the parliamentary wing is not bound by any resolutions considered.
- with AAP
Originally published as Malcolm Turnbull blasts Labor’s ‘lies’ at annual LNP convention in Queensland