Tim Wilson (Goldstein, Liberal Party, Shadow Treasurer) Share this | Hansard source

Shortly after question time, the Treasurer scurried out from the chamber. I can understand why, because, while he feels shame, Australians desperately need hope. They need hope for the future. They need ambition for our country. And they need economic leadership that is, sadly, missing right now.

You just need to look at the Treasurer and what his legacy has been. Do you remember when George Bush went onto the USS Abraham Lincoln and declared 'mission accomplished'? That's what the Treasurer did in saying that Australia had turned the inflation corner. That would certainly be news to millions of Australians who are living with the consequences of him continuing to pour debt petrol on the inflation fire.

If you listen to the government during question time, what you will hear is that Australians have never had it so good—'Australians are doing great; Australia is doing great.' Well, to be fair, some people are doing well. Organised crime is doing well. We have them using illegal tobacco as a pathway to profiteer, to undermine tax revenue and to finance terrorism. Organised crime is doing really well. Organised crime, through cartel kickbacks and public money given through the CFMEU Labor cartel, are doing really well.

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