Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | Hansard source

Firstly, what I would say, as I have indicated in response to the primary question, is that the agreement in the main and overwhelmingly was a formal reconfirmation of existing policies and existing budget commitments. Governments make decisions all the time about reprioritising expenditure, and, as we have said all the way through, whenever there is new spending on identified higher priorities, they will be offset by reductions in expenditure in comparatively lower priority areas to ensure that the impact on the budget bottom line is neutral. That is the approach that the government will continue to take because we are very focused on repairing the damage that was done by the worst finance minister in the history of the Commonwealth, who left the budget in very bad shape—because we continue to work to repair the budget mess that you left behind. That is what the Turnbull government will be doing, to the best of its ability, in the months and years ahead. (Time expired)

Senator Kim Carr interjecting—