Kim Beazley Brand, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition
3:13 pm
Mr Speaker, I seek leave to make a personal explanation while there is still an opposition member left in this place.
David Hawker Speaker
Does the Leader of the Opposition claim to have been misrepresented?
Kim Beazley Brand, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition
Yes, I certainly have been.
Kim Beazley Brand, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition
The Treasurer, in his answer to a question in parliament, asked where I got the notion that they had benefited from $160 billion of extra revenue as a result of the resources boom. I will now cite the sources which are identified as budget papers 2002-03 to 2006-07, as compounded by initial assessment of the 2006-07 federal budget by Saul Eslake.
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Government Members:
Government members interjecting—
Kim Beazley Brand, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition
Dear me! Saul Eslake says:
The resources boom has put over $160 billion of extra revenue into Canberra’s coffers on successive budget estimates of total tax revenues.
David Hawker Speaker
The Leader of the Opposition has made his personal explanation.
Kim Beazley Brand, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition
And then he cites the various parts of your budget papers—
David Hawker Speaker
The Leader of the Opposition will resume his seat; the leader has made his point.
Peter Costello Higgins, Liberal Party, Treasurer
3:14 pm
Mr Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.
David Hawker Speaker
Does the honourable member claim to have been misrepresented?
Peter Costello Higgins, Liberal Party, Treasurer
Yes, I do, by that personal explanation.
Peter Costello Higgins, Liberal Party, Treasurer
What the Leader of the Opposition said is entirely false. I stand by the budget figures. It is quite clear his claim is false—
Kim Beazley Brand, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition
Mr Beazley interjecting
David Hawker Speaker
Order! The Treasurer will resume his seat and the Leader of the Opposition will resume his seat. That was not a personal explanation.