PM warns of conservative government

16 Sep 2012, 1:34 pm   -   Source: AAP

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has returned to work after her father's death, urging Queenslanders to speak out on conservative government.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has used her first day back on the job since her father's death as a call to arms, asking Queenslanders to spread the word on what a conservative government would look like.

Ms Gillard gave a fighting speech to the party faithful at the Queensland ALP's state conference in Brisbane on Sunday.

She condemned the Liberal National Party (LNP) state government for its purge of 14,000 jobs in last Tuesday's budget and warned that if the conservatives were elected federally, there will be a nationwide repeat.

"Understand this: (federal Opposition Leader) Tony Abbott and (Queensland Premier) Campbell Newman are following the same game plan, every hour, every day," she told the conference.

Ms Gillard said the conservatives were enjoying delivering the cuts. They were licking their lips, cracking jokes and crowing about it, she said.

Queenslanders have a special responsibility next year to spread the word on how the cuts have affected the state, the prime minister said.

"You are the sentries who can tell Australians what's at risk, what could be coming," she said.

"You've seen it. Tell your story. Make sure they know."

Ms Gillard said even billionaire mining magnate Clive Palmer, a major donor to the LNP, was "starting to have his doubts" about the Newman government's actions.

"You know the ship is going down fast when a bloke who is building a replica of the Titanic wants out," she said.

An Abbott-led government had an agenda of cuts so a vote for Labor would be a vote for the National Disability Insurance Scheme and investment in schools, she said.

Ms Gillard looked confident and strong in her first public appearance since her father's death.

After a week off politics to mourn, she was warmly welcomed back to the circuit with a kiss on the cheek by federal Treasurer Wayne Swan.

Mr Swan introduced Ms Gillard to the stage with a big vote of support, describing her as "magnificent in the face of adversity".

"(She has weathered attacks from) the grubs and freak shows associated with the Liberal Party," he said.

The hundreds of ALP members in the room also showed their support with a prolonged ovation as the prime minister took the stage.

"It is good to be amongst friends at the end of what has been a long and sad week," Ms Gillard said.

She paid tribute to her father John, "a great Labor man", for instilling the value of public service in her, from his work in the coalmines in Wales to his time as a psychiatric nurse.

  • Follow us: 
  • Follow us on Facebook
  • Follow us on Twitter
  • Follow us on Youtube