Craig Kelly (Hughes, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

That is right. I am a believer in the old saying that if it is a choice between a conspiracy and a stuff-up, always go for the stuff-up. But on this government's record I would put my bottom dollar on it—I would put my last dollar on it—that this legislation is a stuff-up and that they have not done this deliberately.

I trust that the parliamentary secretary is here in good faith and that he actually might stand up and answer some questions rather than just sitting there in the chair like a scarecrow. If you have been silenced, Parliamentary Secretary, I really feel sorry for you, because you will need to think about what will happen when you guys might be in opposition, which might be sooner rather than later. There are a few members in the chamber here who just might hang on. I see the member for Chifley over there and the member for Throsby. I know you guys have big margins, but you never know—you might just hang on and be here in opposition very shortly. And you would want the most effective parliamentary budget office that this government could possibly have.

These amendments will not only strengthen the parliament but also strengthen the decision-making processes of this entire parliament for the betterment of the nation. And do we not need it at this time? We have to look at the fiscal position this government is leaving us in. In just four short years you guys have had the skill and ability to run up combined deficits of $150 billion. Congratulations—a brilliant effort. Going forward, in years ahead we have to work out how we are going to pay this back. We are going to have scarce and limited resources, and they will always be—something you guys simply do not understand. Therefore, we have got to make sure that the decisions made by this parliament and the policies that are put in place by the opposition and the government are the best and most effective they can be.

Just think of that $150 billion. The Treasurer is probably looking in the mirror now, practising his speech for the award of the World's Greatest Treasurer. He is talking about cracking it for a surplus of $3 billion. Let us just say that all the planets align and you guys do get that $3 billion, you will all stand up and applaud him. I would like you to remember that you have done $150 billion in four years, so if you can do $3 billion in one year you are going to take 50 years to bring that back. You have not cracked it for a single budget surplus in 20 years and to undo the damage that you guys have done in the last four years you will have to repeat this effort for the next 50 years going forward. That is the damage that you guys have done and that is the reason we need a truly independent and efficient parliamentary budget office.

Opposition members interjecting—

That's right, there is poor old Wyatt here—21 years of age—maybe for his next birthday!

The coalition's model of a parliamentary budget office has been developed over many years, unlike the one that you guys are putting forward which has simply been rushed through. We have actually sat down and thought about it. We have thought about the fact that you do need confidentiality provisions. They are most important and that is what this amendment will bring. Also, you cannot have the powers restrained, like your proposal does, and that is another reason that this amendment is desperately important.

In the remaining time we have left, as we are getting close to 9:30 pm, we hope that the parliamentary secretary will get to his feet—he has got 20 seconds to go—and at least answer some of these questions and not just sit there in silence as we have seen in the last hour. We know he wants to say something. We know that he has been nobbled. Come on, mate, get up, have a go; just don't sit there. I will give you the opportunity.

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