Steve Hutchins (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

As Senator Marshall interjects, ‘Sloppy Joe.’ But do remember, even better, the unedifying presence of Mr Robb in this building having to conduct a press conference to at least try to explain the funny money opportunities that were being put forward by the coalition. Who could ever forget Andrew Robb diligently, valiantly, trying to explain the unexplainable? And who could forget that poor staffer down the back of the room, when Andrew Robb continued to soldier on, trying to argue the inarguable? The young staffer was down the back of the room with his finger across his throat, going, ‘Andrew! Andrew! Cut, cut, cut! Do not let them know any more!’ This was the farce of the coalition in that period, and it continued right up to and after the election.

We know now that there was an $11 billion hole in the coalition’s budget plans. This is how good they were, and I would have to say you would have to think they were trying to sabotage their campaign. Mr Hockey said at the National Press Club on 9 August, ‘The Australian economy is the envy of the developed world.’ Mr Robb said: ‘Well, untrue. That’s true, I’m sure. I’m sorry; I agree that it is the rest of the world.’

These men knew, and know now, that our economy is in that state. But I now go to the post-election period. Do you remember the farce of that period where the coalition would not present their budgets to the Treasury so that they could be costed? Do you remember the almost two weeks of farce that this country and its people had to go through because he refused to provide information that could have made sure that the coalition was in government? Do you remember that? I remember it very well, and so do the Australian people. And that is why the coalition is on that side of the chamber and we are on this side—because everybody can see through them.

When the opposition finally came up with their funny figures from Sloppy Joe we found that there was an $11 billion hole in them. That is what tipped the balance and gave us the Treasury benches—because people like those opposite were not prepared to be honest with the Australian people, let alone be honest with their parliamentary colleagues. It is an interesting paradox that we have now. I have suggested that Senator Ryan is a disappointed leftie who was denied possible membership of the Socialist Left in Victoria, but now we have a situation where Sloppy Joe, the shadow Treasurer—I probably should not call him ‘Sloppy Joe’—