Now it’s time to get on and govern
MALCOLM Turnbull returned to Canberra today, claiming a mandate to implement sweeping tax cuts for business and superannuation reforms after finally winning the longest election campaign in history.
NSW
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MALCOLM Turnbull has claimed a mandate to implement sweeping tax cuts for business, the rebirth of the construction watchdog and superannuation reforms after he finally won the longest election campaign in history yesterday.
The Prime Minister also reached out to battling Australians, pledging to secure the future of Medicare, public health and education systems in the wake of a damaging scare campaign by the Labor Party.
An emotional Mr Turnbull was nursing his one-year-old granddaughter Isla when Opposition Leader Bill Shorten phoned to concede defeat and end the nation’s painful nine-week wait to determine who would hold the keys to The Lodge.
The Prime Minister will form a new coalition agreement with Nationals Leader Barnaby Joyce, make minor reshuffles to his frontbench before holding a party room meeting next Monday ahead of visiting the Governor-General to form the 45th parliament.
Despite losing at least a dozen colleagues, the coalition will almost certainly form a majority government and have the in principle support of the bulk of the crossbench in a parliament that looks far more stable today than it did last weekend.
Mr Turnbull declared the public had given the coalition a mandate to implement his economic plan which was released in the May budget.
But it is likely the PM will be forced to water down tax cuts and superannuation changes if they are to pass the parliament and his own party room.
“We have won considerably more first preference votes than Labor, about 800,000 more first preference votes,’’ he said.
“According to the AEC’s latest two party preferred tally we are ahead of the Labor Party. Most importantly, of course, we have secured the largest number of seats in the parliament and we are a parliamentary system of government.”
In a clear sign Mr Turnbull will be hamstrung by the conservative wing of his party and limited numbers on the floor, the Prime Minister waffled through his 18-minute victory media conference where he spoke more about side issues than the economic plan he faces a battle to implement.
In fact, he repeated “thank yous” multiple times and even thanked extreme candidates from minor parties.
Mr Turnbull warned MPs, from both sides of parliament, that the nation needed a stable parliament which could implement reforms to secure the country’s future.
“It is vital that this parliament works,’’ he said.
“It is vital that we work together and as far as we can find ways upon which we can all agree, consistent with our policies that we have taken to the election, consistent with our political principles, that meet the great challenges Australia faces.”
He pledged to ensure that there would be no widespread cuts to vital public services.
“We need to ensure that Medicare, our education, our health services and all those vital government services are provided for and Australians feel secure, that they are provided for.
“At the same time we have to ensure that we bring our budget back into balance.”
Mr Turnbull conceded it would not be easy and there was “no simple solution” to bringing the budget back into the black.
He confirmed he would reintroduce the Australian Building and Construction Commission Bill, which would see the Howard era watchdog re-established to stamp out union corruption, into the House of Representatives before attempting to pass the bill in the new senate.
Both Mr Turnbull and Mr Shorten said they would work together to look at introducing electronic voting to ensure election results are determined far faster.
Reaching out to the crossbench, Mr Turnbull said he would provide extra resources to the independents given their significant role in this parliament.
It is likely the government will win the country Queensland seats for Flynn and Capricornia to hold 76 seats, and outright majority in the parliament, with a reasonable chance of winning the Townsville seat of Herbert to give the government a two seat majority.
‘Victory speech had it all, and nothing’
MALCOLM Turnbull thanked people he had never met, praised candidates from micro parties, waffled about how great democracy is and was almost brought to tears talking about his granddaughter.
As far as victory speeches go, this one had it all — and nothing — at the same time.
For 18 minutes the Prime Minister spoke about almost every topic you could imagine — but failed to provide a succinct explanation of what he will do with his majority.
However, those who watched him couldn’t help but be touched by the sight of a PM who really is a regular, doting grandad. “I was deeply touched by the fact that when Bill rang I literally had my granddaughter on my hip and my phone rang and I picked it up and oh, it was Bill, I wonder what he’s calling about?” he gushed.
Hopefully, he’ll make it easier for us to understand what he’s talking about in Parliament.
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