Scott Morrison takes aim at Bill Shorten over call for Royal Commission into banking sector
TREASURER Scott Morrison has come out swinging against Opposition Leader Bill Shorten over calls for a Royal Commission into the banking sector — labelling him “reckless” and taking a shot at his “ill-fitting suit”.
In a robust interview with Radio National presenter Fran Kelly today, Mr Morrison accused Mr Shorten of playing politics by suggesting Australia’s banks were motivated by a culture of greed.
He claimed the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) was “doing its job” policing the finance sector and Labor’s suggestion it might undertake a Royal Commission should it win this year’s Federal Election was putting confidence at risk.
“He voted against it a year ago Fran, but apparently (on) the eve of an election after a few reports about banks, Bill Shorten is up there in his ill-fitting suit puffing his chest up and saying we need to thump the table,” he said.
Mr Shorten formally announced the Opposition would call on the Government to hold a Royal Commission in Melbourne today.
“Today I say enough is enough,” he said.
“We wouldn’t be making this decision today if we weren’t convinced that it was absolutely necessary to hold this Royal Commission.
“It’s an important decision, it’s most certainly not made lightly.”
He said Labor was “prepared to work on this in a bipartisan way”.
“There are MPs, members of parliament, from both sides of the political divide who have had enough of hard working members of their communities being ripped off and losing their money,” he said.
Shadow Treasurer Chris Bowen said the Royal Commission would “look at how widespread instances of illegal and unethical behaviour are in the financial services industry”.
Mr Shorten’s announcement came after Karen Skinner, head of Change.org Australia, said Mr Morrison “snootily sneering” at Mr Shorten’s suit “was a new love for Australian political debate”.
“It echoes David Cameron recently telling Jeremy Corbyn to ‘put on a proper suit.’ It’s a distraction that debases robust debate. I think the remarks reflect a desperation because men in blue ties and suits - however they’re fitted - are feeling their power erode,” Ms Skinner said.
“Technology is redistributing power away from Canberra elites and into the hands of real people. All you now need to create change is a laptop and fighting spirit. And you can do that in your tracky dacks, without being judged.”
However, Mr Shorten has previously been criticised for his attire. Fashion website D’Marge described Mr Shorten as a “serial offender” of poor tailoring and fit back in 2015.
“Opposition Leader Bill Shorten is a serial offender when it comes to wearing jackets that are too large across the shoulders or too full in the body, making him look like someone who just borrowed their favourite uncles only suit,” they wrote.
“Which is okay when you’re 16 but not when you’re Leader of the Opposition.”
But it seems Mr Shorten is not the only politician who is guilty of wearing ill-fitting clothes. Mr Morrison himself has been photographed wearing loose pants and jackets.
Mr Morrison said Mr Shorten was attempting to create a “political distraction” to undermine the government’s Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC) legislation.
“There needs to be a tough cop on the beat in the construction sector,” he said.
“Bill Shorten has gone out there and he has tried to engage in a massive distraction for political purposes to detract attention from his defence of corrupt practises in the building and construction industry.
“Now he needs to face up to that.
“We have a cop on the beat when it comes to banks and we need to address that.
“No one in the government is suggesting we shouldn’t, but that does not excuse Bill Shorten in his reckless distraction.”
But Mr Shorten denied the call for a Royal Commission in retaliation to the Government’s ABCC Bill.
“No, this is a much bigger issue than some of those matters in terms of industrial relations,” he said.
“Labor sadly hasn’t invented tens of thousands of financial victims.”
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has recalled Parliament on April 18 over the legislation, which would create a watchdog for the building and construction sector.
If the legalisation once again fails to pass the Senate, the Prime Minister has said he would call a double dissolution election on July 2.
Liberal MP Warren Enstch and Nationals Senator John Williams yesterday expressed support for a wideranging inquiry into Australia’s banking sector, along with the Australian Greens.
