Speech to Australian Christian Lobby Senate Candidates Forum

16 August 2010

Firstly I would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land we are meeting on tonight and
acknowledge their elders past and present, and the ongoing contribution they make to our beautiful city.

Thank you to Nick and the Australian Christian Lobby for putting on tonight’s event. It is a privilege and an
honour to represent the Labor Party and to put forward our platform for the federal election on Saturday.

I am David Mathews, and along with Senator Kate Lundy, I am running as a Senate candidate for Labor in the
ACT. Senator Lundy sends her good wishes and apologies – she regrets that she was unable to be here tonight.

I have lived in Canberra for over 15 years, I live in Hughes with my family and I run a local business.

I am aware day to day, of the responsibility of employing people, of providing quality employment and
conditions.

 Of providing a flexible environment so that staff can achieve their objectives at work, while still actively
caring for their families and maintaining their personal lives.
 Of making sure we have enough business coming in the door to house, clothe and feed many people,
both directly and indirectly in the community.
 And to make sure our team members can build a future for themselves in our vibrant city.

Make no mistake, while some commentators have said that this is a boring and meaningless election, I believe
the decision we make on Saturday has very important implications for how we want to see Australia in the
future, the future we want for our children and grandchildren.

At the heart of the election is a set of fundamental values. Do we want to take Australia forwards with a vision
for a secure economic future? With better hospitals and schools? An Australia where there is no Workchoices?
An Australia where we can take care of people, and respect people’s views and the right to present those
views in an engaged democracy?

There is a stark choice in this election. On one hand you have Julia Gillard who has a better plan for a stronger
economy with the budget back into surplus by 2013, or no economic plan from Mr Abbott and the Coalition,
and who present a risk to our economic future.

There is a stark choice on health and education – we can have more nurses and better hospitals, or go
backwards with Mr Abbott’s cuts to health.

A stark choice on education – where they are more opportunities for our children, more apprentices to help
drive our skills needs, or go backwards with Mr Abbott’s cuts to education.

And there is a stark choice on jobs, and particularly in the Canberra region. Labor has a clear track record in
providing relatively stable staffing levels in the Australian Public Service, with an increase of 3.2% projected
over 3 years. We have ensured ongoing efficiency and effectiveness within the APS, better targeting programs
and ensuring the efficiency dividend for Agencies is kept in place. Labor is committed to maintaining service
levels, unlike Mr Abbott who is determined to cut services.

The Coalition have said they will cut 12,000 public sector jobs by “natural attrition”. And when you look at the
estimated cuts in a range of government agencies, you see the potential impact on the delivery of services and
Canberra’s economy:

 3,242 in the ATO

Copyright © David Mathews 2010

  881 in Human Services
 686 in Health & Ageing
 671 in the ABC
 420 in the Bureau of Statistics; and
 Veterans Affairs – 283

Now Mr Humphries will say that very few of these cuts will be made in Canberra. But we know the effect of
the Coalition’s slash and burn tactics. They have form. They have a track record. In 1996, John Howard said he
would cut 2,500 jobs by natural attrition. And yet a few years later, over 30,000 people had lost their jobs,
house prices in Canberra had plummeted and many businesses went broke. Our local economy is heavily
dependent on the federal public service. And it is those flow-on effects that seriously worry me, both in direct
terms and as a local business owner and employer.

Make no mistake, this is an important election for this region and for Australia. We have the opportunity to
elect a Labor government that will take our country forward, a government that will provide a strong and
secure economy and first-class services in health and education. A government that will create better
opportunities for the future.

Thank you once again for the opportunity to speak with you tonight. I look forward to your questions. As
Minister Simon Corbell said in his speech to a similar forum at the 2008 ACT Election:

“In the context of a strong and enduring Christian presence in Australian life it is not surprising that there exists
a “Christian lobby”, or that faith based organisations have political perspectives. This is an entirely healthy and
positive thing in a democracy.”

Thank you.

Copyright © David Mathews 2010