House debates Questions without Notice
Budget Surplus
Peter Dutton Dickson, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Finance, Competition Policy and Deregulation
3:04 pm
My question is to the Prime Minister. Prime Minister, is the surplus for spending or saving?
Kevin Rudd Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister
The purpose of a surplus is to ensure that we on this side of the House, through a responsible budget, are doing our part through fiscal policy to bring about downward pressure on inflation and downward pressure on interest rates. That might be a difficult concept for those opposite. It is a very clear-cut concept for those on this side of the House.
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Opposition Members:
Opposition members interjecting—
Harry Jenkins Speaker
Order! The member for Dickson has asked the question.
Kevin Rudd Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister
Secondly, when you saw the explosion in public demand which occurred on the back of five per cent real expenditure growth through the government sector by those opposite in the previous year, you began to see the array of challenges faced by the Reserve Bank in bringing interest rates down. What you had was public demand effectively roaring along at great guns and no investment in terms of supply-side constraints in the economy as well. What does that lead to? An interest rate challenge—
Peter Dutton Dickson, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Finance, Competition Policy and Deregulation
Harry Jenkins Speaker
The Prime Minister will resume his seat. Has the Prime Minister concluded?
Mr Dutton interjecting—
Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House
Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I would ask the member for Dickson to withdraw that remark.
Harry Jenkins Speaker
I did not hear the actual comment, but there was a comment that got a reaction; therefore, I would ask the honourable member for Dickson to withdraw the remark.
Peter Dutton Dickson, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Finance, Competition Policy and Deregulation
We are sick of this spin and rubbish. If it helps the House, I withdraw.
Harry Jenkins Speaker
I am asking the member to withdraw a remark which has caused offence. The member for Dickson is obliged to do so without additions.
Peter Dutton Dickson, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Finance, Competition Policy and Deregulation
I withdraw.