The La Trobe Canberra Trip for 2022 Federal Budget
“Call the election, call it now, and let the people of Australia decide!”
- Anthony Albanese
It was this message at the Budget Reply which led to the whole public viewing gallery, including myself, to erupt in applause, rushing us to our feet. It was this address that would resonate with us. It was the reason why La Trobe Labor Left had made a journey to Canberra. We are on the edge of an election.
Our Canberra trip started early in the day, stopping only when needed, such as the Dog on the Tuckerbox, which was disappointingly an appropriate size, before arriving in Canberra at dusk. For the budget, we headed to the Pub, which had set up a TV for us. Although the channel selected was Sky News bringing brilliant commentary on the budget such as "helps the people quick", "helps the right people", and "makes more job" [sic]. However, we know what this budget was about.
This budget was about winning the election. It threw money at the economy and not for the future of Australia all to secure re-election for the Liberals. It was a confetti and glitter budget, which had all sorts of cuts and increases serving to only disadvantage Australia by wasting the opportunity for real growth. Moreover, this budget was inflationary, meaning it didn’t expand supply in relation to the increased spending. Because of this, the economy is likely to see inflationary pressures occur. The spending in this budget was dumb and pointless, an absolute waste.
As people woke to Morrisons' botched 2022 budget, we were trekking up to the pillars of Parliament House. Gliding down the parliamentary hallways, characters such as Peter Dutton, Bill Shorten and Andrew Giles walked past with nothing more than a quick glance as if they were another everyday person. Following a cheeky scoff from Barnaby Joyce, we made our way to the office of Tanya Plibersek, the Minister for Education.
Tanya spoke of her time in Student Unionism and being a part of the Labor Left herself, as well as the sexism she experienced in politics and how she overcame it. She went on to talk about how politics is often a "demoralising game" and how you've got to focus on the wins, the fact that change can be achieved, and how it does help people. For her, that was building housing for vulnerable individuals, people who hadn't slept with a roof over their head in 15 years. A smile grew across her face when she recalled it, she told us how proud of that she was, but she didn't need to.
Peta Murphy, the Member for Dunkley, was the next person we met. She spoke of her time living in residential accommodation at university, how she wished she got more involved in university life rather than just her college. She also told us of her time in criminal law and fighting for what's right. Moreover, she spoke of the importance of having a career outside of politics, before entering politics. The perspective it gives and the ability to relate to the public in a genuine way.
After Peta Murphy, we met with Sharon Clayton before heading to Question Time, which (for those who don’t know) is a parliamentary sitting period whereby the members can ask impromptu questions to any other members of parliament. The questions ripped in the government and its failings; hecklers were called out on both sides. Ged Kearney called out “Are you happy now? Do you feel good?” to one of the other members who flipped a policy question into a personal attack against the asking MP. Scott Morrison, the Prime Minister, had his arithmetic questioned, and Josh Frydenberg heckled for his stutter when responding to a confronting question. We all enjoyed the circus that was Question Time, a lot.
La Trobe Labor Left at Question Time
Following the day in parliament, we headed with our Monash University and Australian National University comrades to the Kingston Hotel.
It was here where we heard Ged Kearney, our local member for La Trobe University. A former President of the Australian Council of Trades Union and former leader in the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation. We also heard from Patrick Gorman, Graham Perrett and Fiona Phillips. They talked about the budget, the rorts inside of it and the inflationary consequences of the budget.
We stayed until late in the night, ending up at Monash’s Airbnb for kick-ons.
Anthony Albanese, being the Opposition Leader, gave the budget reply speech, In which he outlined the Labor party’s alternative to the budget, what Labor would have done and will do if in power. He talked about how a COVID-19 recovery could be achieved while tackling Climate Change and that investment into a sustainable economy, such as the renewable energy industry, could stimulate a recovery in the economy while combating climate change. This would make Australia a renewable energy superpower in the global market. Moreover, this would further be tied into the rebuilding of Australian manufacturing, with the capital and resources needed for this shift, into a sustainable economy, being sourced from within Australia. Rebuilding industry that has been lost for years. Making Australia stronger and more competitive globally. Albanese then went on to talk about childcare, healthcare, and most importantly aged care, talking on the failures of this government in caring for the people of Australia. He outlined the lack of action on the aged care royal commission’s findings, which highlighted the conditions as being neglectful. He succinctly put forward Labor’s position.
“Childcare. Medicare. Aged Care. Because Labor cares.”
- Anthony Albanese
La Trobe Labor Left at the Budget Reply 2022
Albanese illustrated an Australia which was developing industry for the future and that didn’t leave people behind. A government that would create a high productivity economy that doesn't come at the sacrifice of the people but instead holds them at its centre. A government that saw its people not as a burden in the pursuit of productivity but as the key to productivity for which they should see the rewards. It was these reasons which saw the words of “Call the election, call it now, and let the people of Australia decide!” resonated so deeply. For we knew, very well, that we have a prime opportunity to elect a great leader, one which will undoubtedly go down in history as a truly great reformer of Australia.
A country that has been sleepwalking since the 1990s. A country which has watched idly as industry dies and withers away to international market forces, only to be replaced by stagnant wages and insecure work. A country that hasn’t got the guts to face the fact that the world is dying, and we’re going to die with it. We know what’s on the line. We all do. It’s time.
After Albanese finished it caused the whole public view gallery, including myself, to erupt in applause and rush to our feet. This was the reason why La Trobe Labor Left had made the journey to Canberra. We have an election to win.
If you’re keen on getting involved in trips like this and want to help make Labor and La Trobe University a progressive campus. Join the La Trobe Labor Left at https://tinyurl.com/LaTrobeLaborLeft.