Leaders trade barbs as parliamentary year nears end
Posted
The nation's political leaders have resorted to insults as they approach the end of the parliamentary year.
It is the final sitting week of the year and Opposition leader Malcolm Turnbull has taken it as an opportunity to issue a report card on the Rudd Government's first year.
"All spin right through this dismal year," he said.
"Spin over substance, politics over economics."
Mr Turnbull used the speech in Parliament to revisit the big political issues of the year and highlight his criticisms of the Government's approach.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd assessed the Opposition as inconsistent.
"Bonkers one day, berserk the next," he said.
"What is dismal is that the alternative government has no single position on industrial relations.
"That's dismal with a capital D."
Parliament's summer break is due to start next week.
Search for news
ABC News Online takes a look at the big stories from 2008.
