The prime minister’s warning that independent parliamentarians are a threat to Australia’s security is a “shameful slur”, Tasmanian independent MP Andrew Wilkie says.
Scott Morrison on Thursday warned independent candidates elected to parliament would inhibit the strong leadership Australia requires to face economic and security challenges.
But Mr Wilkie said the prime minister’s comments proved the coalition was threatened by the many independents challenging Liberal-held seats.
“The allegation by the prime minister … that independent parliamentarians and candidates are a threat to Australia’s security is a shameful slur on decent people exercising their democratic right to stand for election,” he said in a statement.
“It’s also symptomatic of a government becoming increasingly hysterical at the realisation it’s out of step with a great many Australians.”
Mr Wilkie pointed out some crossbenchers, such as himself, had served in the defence and intelligence services and it was “outrageous” for the prime minister to criticise them.
Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese says he’ll take a different approach to independents, vowing to respect both the cross bench and a Liberal-Nationals opposition even if Labor wins a majority at the May 21 election.
Mr Morrison says the coalition does not support the policies of many of the independents including stronger action on climate change.
“A vote for independents is a vote for chaos, it’s a vote for instability,” he told reporters in Parramatta on Thursday.
“(With) a cavalcade of independents, you are inviting chaos and weakness, a strong economy versus a weak economy.”
Mr Morrison has been accused of avoiding inner-city seats such as Wentworth and North Sydney where sitting Liberal MPs are being challenged by independents, due to his unpopularity with voters.
“(The coalition has) been proven and tested in one of the most difficult times Australia face,” he said.
“We haven’t gotten everything right, we’re honest about that and not every decision that we have made Australians would agree with and the times have been difficult, but there is a choice.”
Meanwhile, Mr Albanese said Labor did not have the same policies on climate change as the independents and the Greens.
“Our policy is for 43 per cent (emissions reduction) by 2030 and what I’m interested in as the implementation of our policy,” he told reporters in Sydney.
He remains open to the possibility of working with independent MPs, spruiking his past experience in the Gillard and Rudd governments when Labor worked with the cross bench.
“My aim is to get people to vote Labor to elect at least 76 members of the House of Representatives … and if that occurs, I will give respect not just to the crossbenchers, but to the other side as well,” he told ABC radio.
“That’s the way that I operated as leader of the government in the House of Representatives during the Gillard government, treating people with respect.”
