The man who infamously said he just wants to fight Tories has accused the Morrison government of having no ideas other than fighting Labor.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese says the government seems to be only looking for wedge politics.
"On each occasion they're putting forward legislation they're not saying, 'We're putting this forward because it's in the national interest', they're saying, 'We're putting this forward because it's a test for Labor'," he told Sky News on Tuesday.
"That's a bizarre way for a government that was elected just two months ago into its third term to be behaving."
A series of ministers, including Prime Minister Scott Morrison, have been using the line "whose side are you on?" in media appearances over the past week, talking on a range of issues including the drought future fund and new laws banning foreign fighters from returning to Australia until agencies are ready for them.
"The leader of the opposition is opposition with a capital O," Mr Morrison told parliament on Monday.
"I'm yet to find something that he doesn't oppose. He opposed us on tax relief for Australians, he opposed us on security measures, and now they oppose us on the drought fund."
In fact, Labor voted for the tax cuts and the drought fund after its amendments failed, and says it's inclined to support the foreign fighters laws but it wants the government to adopt all the safeguards recommended by a cross-party parliamentary committee.
Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack told Sky News that Labor had to be dragged, kicking and screaming before agreeing to the drought fund, which passed the lower house late on Monday night.
Mr Albanese said the government should be focusing on the national interest, particularly in the face of a flatlining economy.
"This government doesn't have a plan for economic growth, they don't have a plan in terms of social policy on things like Newstart ... they certainly don't have a plan for the environment - climate change is never mentioned," he told ABC's Radio National.
"This is a government in its third term that doesn't have a reason for existence other than fighting Labor."
Australian Associated Press