Wayne Swan (Lilley, Australian Labor Party, Treasurer) Share this | Hansard source

I am delighted to receive that question because, as the Prime Minister and the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency have said, a carbon price is the cheapest and most efficient way of dealing with carbon pollution. That is economics 101, which is not understood by anybody across the chamber. It is understood by the member for Wentworth, who nods his head at the irresponsible behaviour of all of those people over there. The member for Wentworth understood this when he agreed with the government on that fundamental proposition in this House just over one year ago. Just over one year ago the Liberal Party were in this House and they believed in the proposition that I just put to the parliament. That was suspended and all economic rationality went out the door when this Leader of the Opposition took the job. He has now suspended the fundamental rules of economics. We have seen it in here, whether in the debate on the carbon price, their lack of understanding of the need to get rid of unfair mortgage exit fees or their failure to understand debt and deficit in the economy. We see it time and time again. Not only are they economically irresponsible but they have become economically irrational.

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