Opinion Piece: Federal Labor is back flipping

By Anne Webster
Federal Member for Mallee

THE Paris Olympics are just over a month away and if Team Albanese keep practising their backflips, I think they are a real medal chance in the gymnastics.

Immigration minister Giles would star with his Direction 99 double-backflip.

When the then New Zealand Labour Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern wanted to stop Australia deporting sex offenders and murderers across the ditch, the Albanese Government created Direction 99 requiring an immigration detainee’s connection to Australia to be a key consideration.

As a result, 153 detainees have been released, and a further 2600 more could be released yet 20 per cent of those already released have re-offended, including the horrific home invasion and attack on a Perth grandmother.

Minister Giles’ backflip has been to promise to amend Direction 99 to put community safety first, but the second backflip has been the minister’s now-discredited claim that drones were being used to monitor released detainees.

The veterans affairs minister did an assisted backflip, saying the military will recruit citizens from any nation, then the defence minister clarified it only be New Zealand first, then the US, UK and Canada.

The transport minister Catherine King backflipped on draconian National Vehicle Efficiency Standards, softening her landing to reduce the impact on car buyers and Aussie car dealers alike.

The energy minister Chris Bowen backflipped and now accepts the long-term role of gas.

If only he would backflip on the reckless and radical roll-out of renewables and their huge transmission towers across Mallee’s prime agricultural land and bushland as well!

Communications Minister Michelle Rowland backflipped on requiring social media to verify the age of young users, thankfully!

Labor backflipped on their 30 hours a week requirement from 1 July for Pacific Island workers.

Farmers will be relieved at Labor’s temporary sensible landing point of 120 hours averaged over four weeks, allowing for seasonal surges and quiet periods.

Agriculture Minister Murray Watt also backflipped on the need for an inquiry into the live sheep export phase-out.

Backflips happen thanks to a strong and vocal Opposition.

Australia needs a winning team with real skill and commitment, not to backflip, but to provide strong leadership.

A change of government cannot come quick enough.

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