A fired-up Jacqui Lambie has unleashed on her political rival during a passionate rant following Labor’s handing down of the federal budget.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers delivered his fourth budget on Tuesday night with the promise of $17billion tax cuts as part of Anthony Albanese’s bid to win back voters struggling through a cost of living crisis weeks out from an election.
The Tasmanian independent senator clashed with Shadow Finance Minister Jane Hume after she slammed Labor’s tax cuts as an ‘election bribe’.
’73c a day in 15 months’ time is nothing. It’s not even going to touch the sides for most Australians. That’s why we won’t be supporting what is clearly a cruel hoax and an election bribe,’ Ms Hume told Channel Seven’s Sunrise program on Wednesday.
Ms Lambie’s voice began to shake as she interrogated Ms Hume over many public servants would be cut under a Coalition government.
‘Oh, my goodness I cannot wait to see their Budget reply on Thursday night. Have they become the Grinch have they? Let’s be honest, the Opposition treasurer Angus Taylor has been an absolute trainwreck the last three days,’ she hit back.
‘Jane, I want to know this morning, are you going to go in and cut Veterans Affairs again? Are you going to put that out to consultants? Because you took a lot of my mates out over that nine years and you spent $20billion of taxpayers’ money to consultancy firms. Are we going back to those days Jane?
‘Veterans want to know that this morning. Are you going back and moving the public servants who are finally finding their seat over complex medical issues? Are you going to contract that out again?’
Political rivals Jacquie Lambie (right) and Shadow Finance Minister Jane Hume (left) hurled insults at each other during a fiery debate following Labor’s handing down of the budget
But Ms Hume appeared unmoved, telling her rival: ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about’.
Ms Lambie then turned her attention to the Liberal Party.
‘Australians are starting to laugh at you. You are becoming a joke,’ she said.
‘The Liberal Party is a joke because there is nothing on paper that is positive in what you are going to do for the nation.’
She was then asked what Australia would look like in the hands of the Independents.
‘Heaven help us,’ Ms Hume muttered before Ms Lambie could reply.
‘That’s really rude Jane. Those Independents, the Teals down there, have performed since they have been in. Give them a go,’ Senator Lambie hit back.
‘You people don’t like them. You know, there’s just no need for that. They performed well. Let’s be honest, you don’t want them in there.
Jim Chalmers (left) handed down his fourth budget on Tuesday night with the promise of $17billion tax cuts as part of Anthony Albanese’s bid to win back voters struggling through a cost of living crisis weeks out from an election
‘There is a place for every ordinary Australian in this Parliament and every move you make when you are doing electoral reform you are taking every chance off them. That’s the truth of the matter.’
More to come.
