Chris Bowen (McMahon, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Treasurer. I refer the Treasurer to recent comments by respected market journalist Michael Pascoe:

… the evidence keeps mounting that his—

the Treasurer's—

… (midyear economic and fiscal outlook) forecasts were rubbery.

Does the Treasurer stand by the economic assumptions in the midyear economic forecast which contributed to a $68 billion deterioration in the budget since the election?

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

Michael Pascoe is so respected that a few days before I put $8.8 billion into the Reserve Bank he wrote that I was going to rip money out of the Reserve Bank. That is how good Michael Pascoe is. So, if you are taking economics lessons from Michael Pascoe, I would suggest you go back to Swanny.

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.