House debates Questions without Notice
International Monetary Fund
Joe Hockey North Sydney, Liberal Party, Shadow Treasurer
2:12 pm
My question is to the acting Prime Minister. I refer him to the words of George Osborne, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in the House of Commons last week, when he said:
I confirm today that Britain will not put its resources in either. We do not have a surplus; we have a large deficit … An active member of the IMF? Yes. Helping the IMF with advice and technical support? Yes. But the IMF contributing money to the eurozone bail-out fund? No. And Britain contributing money to the eurozone bail-out fund? No. That is Britain’s clear position.
Acting Prime Minister, is that Australia's clear position as well?
Wayne Swan Lilley, Australian Labor Party, Treasurer
2:13 pm
Australia's position is that we will support an expansion of IMF funds under the principles and guidelines used by the IMF, but the IMF will not be contributing to a European rescue fund in the way in which the shadow Treasurer has indicated today.