Longman by-election: ‘lies’ a character clue, says Turnbull

Longman voters should take Bill Shorten’s ‘lies’ about hospital funding as a sign of his character, Malcolm Turnbull says.

Malcolm Turnbull with LNP Longman candidate Trevor Ruthenberg at a seniors forum north of Brisbane yesterday. Picture: AAP

Voters in the Longman by-­election should take Bill Shorten’s “extraordinary lies” about hospital funding as a sign of his character, Malcolm Turnbull said yesterday, as he tried to turn Labor’s potent “Mediscare 2.0” campaign to his advantage.

The Prime Minister’s assault on the Opposition Leader’s credibility came as the government was accused of stoking fear with its own “lies” about Labor’s “retirement tax” on pensioners.

Addressing seniors at Sandstone Point, north of Brisbane, Mr Turnbull took aim at Labor’s billboard campaign accusing him of “cutting millions from Caboolture Hospital”, saying federal funding for local hospitals increased 38 per cent in the two years to July 2017.

Labor’s claim that Mr Turnbull has cut $2.9m from Caboolture Hospital over 2017-20 is based on the Coalition’s decision to fund 45 per cent of growth in activity-based funding rather than the 50 per cent it signalled in 2013.

Standing with Liberal candidate for Longman Trevor Ruthenberg, Mr Turnbull said: “What does it say about a man who wants to be prime minister who will lie to you and say we are cutting funding to hospitals in Queensland when we are increasing it?

“You can’t let them get away with it. You are entitled to the truth, you’re entitled to honest, competent government; that’s what we’re delivering.”

He also accused Mr Shorten of backing dual-­national Labor MPs such as Longman’s Susan Lamb. Ms Lamb has resolved her nationality and is recontesting the seat.

A pamphlet distributed at the event said Labor planned a “retirement tax” under which pensioners and retirees “pay tax twice on what they earn from their savings”.

Labor Treasury spokesman Chris Bowen denounced the pamphlet’s “lies” about his policy to abolish cash refunds for excess imputation credits used by shareholders who pay little or no tax.

“They’re not ‘paying tax twice’ — they’re just not receiving a ­refund when paying little or no income tax,” he said, adding pensioners were “protected” and could still receive excess credits.

Labor deputy leader Tanya Plibersek, campaigning with Ms Lamb at Dakabin State School, accused the Coalition of imposing $460,000 of cuts over two years.

“Malcolm Turnbull, of course, will always prioritise giving banks a tax cut — once a banker, always a banker — over properly funding our schools,” Ms Plibersek said.

Education Minister Simon Birmingham said the school’s funding would increase from $1.7m to $2.6m over a decade.

Ms Plibersek’s office said the federal government was providing $460,000 less than former prime minister Kevin Rudd had promised before losing office in 2013.

The Liberals pledged in 2013 to “match Labor’s school funding dollar for dollar”.