Campaign Speech by the Honourable Minister for Progress, Priorities and Posturing*

When ideas fail, words come in very handy. Goethe, Faust

My fellow citizens,

Let me start by saying this: we live in challenging times. But with every challenge comes an opportunity — and this government will not die wondering. We are hitting the ground running, leaning in, and showing up every single day to do the hard yards because at the end of the day, that’s what you expect of us.

Now, I want to be crystal clear. We are laser-focused on delivering real outcomes. Not just outputs, but genuine, tangible outcomes — the kind you can see, touch, and post about on social media. We are not here to play politics. This isn’t about point-scoring or the blame game. This is about being on the right side of history.

I make no apologies for that.

What we’re doing — what we have been doing and will continue to do — is taking the bold steps necessary to move the dial. We’re taking a holistic approach because we know that when you change the narrative, you change the lived experience. And we are absolutely committed to listening to the lived experiences of everyday citizens — the mums and dads, the battlers, the silent majority, the front-line heroes, the backbone of this country.

Let me say that again for those up the back: we’re listening. Are we perfect? No. But are we listening? Yes. And that, in and of itself, is a step in the right direction.

We understand that people are doing it tough. Cost-of-living pressures are real. But rest assured, we’ve been clear from day one: no one will be left behind and no one will be held back. We are leaving no stone unturned. The can has been kicked down the road long enough, and it stops here.

Now, I don’t want to pre-empt the findings of the review into the independent inquiry on the outcomes of the commission’s white paper. But I will say this: the time for consultation is now. We must take a measured, evidence-based approach — guided by the science, informed by the data, and shaped by the voices of community stakeholders across the full diversity spectrum.

And let’s be honest: it’s about time.

This is not a silver bullet. There are no quick fixes. But we are not in the business of Band-Aid solutions. We are taking a whole-of-government, future-facing, cross-portfolio, place-based, citizen-centric approach to policy delivery. Because at the end of the day — and let me be clear — we’re not just tinkering at the edges. We’re going big or going home.

And we’re not going home.

We’re doing the heavy lifting so that future generations can stand on our shoulders. We’re charting a course, laying the foundations, setting the table — and yes, turning the ship around, even if it takes time to change direction when you're steering a vessel of this size. But we’re steering it. Steadily. Incrementally. Courageously.

Let me say this as plainly as I can: we’re taking the community with us on this journey. It’s not about ideology. It’s not about left or right. It’s about common sense, real change, and building a better tomorrow — starting today.

Because we know that what unites us is stronger than what divides us. We are all in this together. And while the road ahead won’t always be smooth sailing, we’re not here to tiptoe through the tulips. We are here to make the tough calls. To take the hits. To put runs on the board.

I say to our critics: get out of the cheap seats. Stop throwing stones from the sidelines. We’ve moved on from the blame game. The people are sick of the “gotcha” questions, the partisan sniping, the political footballs. They want grown-ups in the room — and that’s exactly what this government is delivering.

We’re rolling up our sleeves. We’re boots on the ground. We’re eyes on the prize. And we will stay the course because we are building something bigger than all of us. Not just business as usual — but a new paradigm. A game changer. A turning point.

We are, quite simply, delivering on our vision for a fairer, stronger, greener, smarter, safer, cleaner, leaner, meaner country.

Because failure is not an option. Doing nothing is not an option. Inaction is not an option. And frankly, going back to the past is not an option. The only way forward — is forward.

And we will continue to boldly step up, lean in, and circle back to deliver for every one of you.

Thank you. Any questions?

*Any similarity to politicians living or dead is probably not a coincidence.