Joe Hockey (North Sydney, Liberal Party, Treasurer) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the honourable member for Robertson for her question and recognise that, despite some of the challenges we have had in the budget, we have been able to set up an Australian Taxation Office in Gosford with up to 600 employees. That is hugely important for the Central Coast of New South Wales, which has very high unemployment. It is important that we actually focus on dealing with the legacy of debt and deficit left behind by Labor—$667 billion of debt, without any action, in 10 years time. As I said before, that equates to $25,000 for every man, woman and child in 10 years time.

It is only the coalition that has a plan to fix the mess that has been left behind by Labor. As Chris Richardson from Deloitte Access Economics said this morning:

Yet May’s Budget is the only roadmap to structural fiscal repair Australia has—the Opposition and minor parties washed their hands of setting out detailed alternatives, preferring populist posturing.

Preferring populist posturing—that is the Labor Party way. We know that. In fact, for some odd reason, I had a grand choice on the TV just before question time of Clive Palmer or Bill Shorten. I was channel surfing, looking for some sport or anything else, but I could not help but listen to the Leader of the Opposition, who said before question time words to the effect, 'If you want to fix the budget, get rid of the savings that are in the budget.' I thought: 'Hang on; how does that work?' He says, 'Dump the Medicare co-payment, dump the fuel excise and dump all the things that actually save money.' And do you know what? He reckons the budget would actually be in better shape. I have heard that before—when the Leader of the Opposition was out there, saying, 'Great news, Australia; we've delivered a budget surplus,' or when our old mate, up there in the back stall, the member for Lilley—you can look up now, Swanny, thank you—said at this dispatch box, 'The four surpluses I announce tonight'—

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