Conservative Party Convention, October 2015

Mr. Chairman, friends, colleagues, fellow Conservatives.

When the dust settled on the first ever federal general election just a few short months ago, the people of South America had made a choice. They had chosen to task the Conservatives with the monumental duty of building a foundation for this nation.

Where do we stand, ten weeks on? Well, as I stand before you, not merely as your leader but as South America's first Prime Minister, I can say that, because of the hard work of the government I lead, we now have that foundation.

And it's a strong foundation. A Constitution established, not bloated and legalistic but functional and clear. A common market, bringing the continent together, tearing down barriers and liberating business. The power of the big unions curbed and the rights of workers respected. Our environment protected, and our natural resources secured. And when violent fanatics attempted to hold the government to ransom, we did not hesitate in protecting South America - we acted, and Daniel Rojas is back where he belongs, safe with his family and working harder than ever in the free press we hold dear.

But a foundation is just that. The question we now face is what we will build upon it.

If the Conservative government is returned, we will give South America a progressive, fair and business-friendly tax code, harmonised across the continent. As the party of business, we will keep the federal business tax low, flat and competitive, allowing business to thrive and flourish. As the true party of working people, we will giving hard-working families a much needed $1,000 tax exemption. As the party that respects religious faith and conscience and recognises the invaluable role that our volunteer and charitable organisations play in our society, we will exempt charitable, religious, and educational institutions from the tax burden, allowing them to concentrate on building a stronger, fairer and more cohesive South America.

If the Conservative government is returned, we will build a comprehensive social protection system across our land, funded by a modest but crucial Social Protection contribution, ensuring that those who need society’s help the most can receive it. Workers will be guaranteed half a ear of unemployment benefits to help them find their feet in the event they lose their employment. Those unable, through no fault of their own, to work will be granted disability benefits to preserve their dignity and recognise their worth as citizens. As the party of good, affordable healthcare we will fund the construction of nonprofit hospitals to treat the sick and needy across South America. As the party of the workers, the Conservative government will provide all South American workers with a wage subsidy to close the gap between the lowest-paid workers in our society and the federal average wage. And, as the party of good government, will ring-fence the Social Protection fund in our budget in an iron-clad lockbox so politicians can’t raid the funds dedicated to our most vulnerable for political stunts and short-term gains.

If the Conservative government is returned, we will continue to keep South America safe, stable and secure from threats, whether internal or external. The Conservative government will form, train and maintain a federal military, co-ordinated across South America and consisting of forces from all our constituent nations, keeping South America safe and bringing our nation closer together. And we will commit ourselves to the important task of thawing relations with our troubled Northern neighbour, appointing an Ambassador to Atlasia, directly accountable to Parliament, to be our nation’s voice in that country’s capital.

My friends, no government's perfect. There will always be times when I wish we could have gone further, faster. But, with our courageous partners in the Social Liberals, who bucked enormous pressure from the left and joined the only government that could bring stability and clarity to South America at its most vulnerable hour, we governed not for petty sectional interest or for personal political point-scoring, but for the national interest.

Next week, the people of our country will again face that solemn democratic choice.

The terms are simple, but the stakes are deadly serious.

Do they want a strong and stable government that keeps our people safe, grows our economy and builds upon the new foundation, continuing the progress that we have made, or a shambolic government of extremists and zealots, ruled by the union bosses on one side, a pawn to communists and revolutionaries on the other.

Build on the new foundation or put it in mortal jeopardy?

Progress or anarchy?

Stability or chaos?

A Conservative government, or a Socialist nightmare.

My friends, when you go to the polls on the fifth of November, that is your choice.

...now in the interests of transparency I should note, Mr. Chairman, that the Socialists aren't all bad. After all, they expelled Comrade Murica from the party. Maybe there's hope yet!

But, my friends, isn't that the problem? The Socialists expel their extremists, and rightly so, but at the same time we know the only way they’ll get into government is by bowing to their demands. You might not agree with everything this government’s done. You might dislike this or that coalition policy - or, let’s face it, this or that government minister - but you know where you stand with the Conservatives.

Look, let me close on this - if you think of anything when you’re voting next week, let it be this -- Murica, MP, Chancellor of the Exchequer.

So, where do we stand, ten weeks on?

A lot done. More to do.

The foundation is laid. Time to build.

Let's get to work.

Thank you.

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