Scott Morrison defines election as ‘choice between enterprise and envy’

Scott Morrison has used a keynote speech to define the election as a “choice between enterprise and envy”.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison this morning.

Scott Morrison has used a keynote speech to define the election as a “choice between enterprise and envy” as Labor frontbencher Tanya Plibersek says it is “great” her party is being framed as anti-big business.

The Prime Minister’s speech at an Australian Financial Review business summit in Sydney laid out his economic attack on Labor ahead of the May federal election, with a warning that Labor needed only one term to “stuff up” the economy.

“Just one term of a Labor government can change the economic course and the economy every Australian lives in,” he said.

“Labor can do a lot of damage in three years. They only need one term, only one term to really stuff it up.

“The Coalition does have a strong record, a clear set of beliefs, and a comprehensive plan ... it’s a choice between enterprise and envy.”

Ms Plibersek said she welcomed Mr Morrison’s speech this morning as it gave Labor the chance to define itself as the party of workers, rather than chief executives.

“In his world, it’s envy if an ordinary working person wants a pay rise, and it’s enterprise if a CEO gives themselves a pay rise,” she told ABC News.

“When the CEO can afford a pay rise for themselves, then perhaps they need to share that a bit with the workforce.”

When asked if this gave the Coalition an opportunity to paint Labor as “against big business and for the workers”, Ms Plibersek replied “Great, honestly.”

“We are unashamedly the party of ordinary working Australians, trying to get a fair deal,” she said.