‘Ripped off’: Shorten’s farewell jab

Bill Shorten has taken one last jab at the Coalition and dropped some advice to his Labor colleagues in his final address to the House of Representatives.

The federal minister and former Labor leader led the party to two narrow election defeats in 2016 and 2019 and served as the Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme of Australia under the Albanese-led government.

On Thursday, Mr Shorten delivered his final address to parliament and said the Labor party was “best when we know who and what we are fighting for.”

“When those of us who were here after 2013 look back after that defeat, we had been reduced to 54 seats, and I recall, to borrow a phrase from Tony Abbott, ‘The battle lines were true.’” he told the chamber.

“They united us, defined us, rebuilt us. Labor is always at its best when we know who and what we are fighting for.”

Mr Shorten reminisced about standing against the Coalition and what he called the “cuts and austerity” in 2014, the abolition of the Australian Renewable Energy Agency and “entrenched inequality and everyday Australians being ripped off”.

Mr Shorten went on to say he knew Labor “did not win every battle” and acknowledged that “perhaps some of my ideas were ahead of their time”.

“But some, such as new incentives for electric vehicles, more Australian manufacturing, new investments in TAFE and childcare worker wages, they are becoming a reality under this government and others I hope can be picked up in the future, in particular the 2019 policy to ensure all forms of cancer treatment are fully covered by Medicare,” he said.

Mr Shorten sparked laughter from all in the House of Representatives as he wove in humorous anecdotes from his 17 years in the country’s parliament.

He thanked those who put and kept him in politics, including his wife Chloe, his British bulldog Walter, his electorate and his neighbours, whom he said had “put up with the giant buses, stalkers, staffers, journalists and other undesirables.”

But the House fell silent when Mr Shorten spoke of his time leading the Australian Workers Union (AWU) during the deadly Beaconsfield mine collapse.

“I was a witness outside the superintendent’s office when a salt of the earth AAW minor from Rocky Cape looked at everyone, the police, coroner, and he said: ‘This is not a recovery operation, it is a rescue mission. Until we know different, there are men down there still alive,’” Mr Shorten recalled.

“And so a group of modest heroes dug through hard rock and saved their mates.

“When Todd Russell and Brant Webb emerged from the mineshaft, I certainly made sure they got paid for every day they were trapped down there.”

He served as AWU national secretary from 2001 until 2005.

Finishing up, Mr Shorten gave some advice to all those sitting and seeking to sit in parliament.

“My final advice to future parliamentarians, all of our time here is finite,” he said.

“Fill every unforgiving minute with 60 seconds of distance run.

“And I, and the Australian people, will be urging you on and wishing you well, and for the last time I think the house.”

With his final words, the House erupted into applause and he was swiftly encircled by hugging cabinet ministers and handshaking opposition MPs.

Mr Shorten recently succeeded in getting major legislation to overhaul the NDIS through parliament during his time as NDIS minister.

He is leaving politics to take up the vice-chancellorship at the University of Canberra, relocating to the capital for the new role.