Minister for Defence Materiel and Science, and Minister Assisting the Minister for Climate Change, Greg Combet, tells SBS Julia Gillard emerged the winner from the Leaders' Debate.
Last night's Leaders' Debate can be marked up as a win for Julia Gillard.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard presented a real plan for taking Australia forward and making our country a better place to live.
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When faced with the tough questions, Julia Gillard had the answers. Working Australians sitting at home watching the Leaders' Debate would have heard the Prime Minister's plans for tackling the big issues:
• Fairer workplace laws. Working people can be confident that a Gillard Labor Government would stand by fair workplace laws that guarantee workers' basic rights and entitlements.
• Building a stronger economy. Labor steered Australia through the global recession and Julia Gillard pledged to keep the economy strong by bringing the budget back to surplus in three years time. A Gillard Labor Government will also deliver increased super, infrastructure and a tax cut for business, through the agreement with the mining industry.
• Delivering services. Unlike Mr Abbott, Julia Gillard was able to point to her clear record on investing in services. She delivered a record investment in education and she pledged to continue to improve education and health services for all Australians.
• Supporting a sustainable population. Julia Gillard was up-front with Australians when she said that there was no quick fix when comes to these issues. She outlined a regional approach to addressing people smuggling and put quality of life front and centre on the broader question of population.
• Taking action on climate change. Unlike the Coalition, Julia Gillard believes in climate change and believes in building support within the community for putting a price on carbon pollution. The Gillard Labor Government is also making a record investment in renewable energy sources.
Meanwhile, Tony Abbott spent the hour-long debate avoiding the big issues that concern Australians.
Mr Abbott failed to deliver answers on important issues such as:
• WorkChoices. Why didn't Tony Abbott just come clean with working Australians? They know he believes in extreme Industrial Relations laws. Why couldn't he just say that he would bring back the worse aspects of those laws?
• The economy. Mr Abbott had a bunch of slogans on the important question of the economy. But where were the details? We know he stands against the economic benefits that would flow from the mining tax – but that's it.
• Cost of living. Mr Abbott failed to explain to Australians why he wants to increase tax on companies like Coles and Woolies which will put pressure on the price of groceries.
• Services. Mr Abbott has made it clear he will be making major cuts to health and education services. Where was the former Health Minister's plan for delivering important services like health?
• Climate change. Many people would be disappointed but not surprised that Mr Abbott failed to put forward a plan for reducing carbon pollution and tackling climate change. But that's what we get from a man who thinks it's 'absolute crap'.
• A sustainable population. Sadly, Mr Abbott could do little more than repeat a glib one liner about stopping boats when his line on cutting migration numbers fell to pieces in the face of the facts.
If last night's Leaders' Debate is anything to go by, then working Australians will have a crystal clear choice at this federal election. It's either Julia Gillard, a leader with a plan for tackling the big issues head on. Or Tony Abbott, a man who would rather avoid answering the big questions than being honest with the community.
Greg Combet has had his say on the Leaders' Debate, but what do you think? Who performed better in the debate?
