House debates Questions without Notice
Social Services
Jenny Macklin Jagajaga, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Families and Payments
2:42 pm
My question again is to the Prime Minister. Given that the government is planning to defer its harsh cuts to pensions, families and young job seekers for now, will the Prime Minister now guarantee that he will not reintroduce these harsh cuts in the future?
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
2:43 pm
I really find it hard to understand exactly what point the shadow minister is trying to make here. We put forward a series of measures in the budget. It is very important that we bring the budget back under control. This was one of the fundamental commitments that we made time and time again to the Australian people during the election.
Ms Macklin interjecting—
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
Remember them? We will scrap the carbon tax, we will stop the boats, we will build the roads and we will bring the budget back under control.
Ms King interjecting—
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
This was a fundamental commitment made again and again and again to the Australian people prior to the election—that we would bring the budget back under control. Unlike members opposite, when we make a commitment to the Australian people, we keep it. So we stand by all the measures in the budget, but we absolutely accept that budget measures do need to go through the parliament. That is why we are prepared to talk to all constructive people in this parliament to do what is necessary to get Labor's debt and deficit disaster back under control.