Member for Tangney Ben Morton takes aim at people on welfare in maiden speech to Parliament

FEDERAL Member for Tangney Ben Morton has delivered his maiden speech in Federal Parliament, touching on his personal history, and offering opinions on welfare and methamphetamine within the community.

Mr Morton, born in Wyong NSW moved to Western Australia to take up the role of State Liberal Party director in 2008 before resigning in 2015, and was later endorsed as the Liberal candidate in the seat of Tangney.

Since becoming a Member of Parliament, Mr Morton has spoken against welfare dependence and used his maiden speech to warn against the “safety net becoming a hammock”.

“Dame Dorothy Tangney said in her maiden speech, ‘social security is the right of every Australian,’ and I could not disagree more. Taxpayer funded social security is not a right; it is a privilege,” he said.

Mr Morton referred to Australia’s use of methamphetamine as a “war being waged on communities” and cited his families’ involvement of caring for an addict’s children.

Mr Morton went on to thank his supporters and promised constituents from all walks of life that he was there for them.