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

The budget repair levy on high-income earners has passed the Senate. We have successfully abolished the failed mining tax package, including associated spending, which will save $10 billion over the forward estimates, and around $50 billion over the next decade. And today, the House of Representatives has passed, I am pleased to say—thank you, Opposition, for, for once, being a little bit responsible—one of our bills to implement responsible social services measures. This bill alone will deliver $2.7 billion in budget savings. We will take the savings we can get today, and we will go for the rest of the savings tomorrow.

Our budget strategy stands. Australia needs it. We must get back to a surplus as soon as possible. The Leader of the Opposition was right back in 2012 when he said 'a budget surplus for a strong economy'. I just wish he was as responsible today.

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