Joel Fitzgibbon (Hunter, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Agriculture) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister and I refer to the Prime Minister's decision to ambush Australian motorists with a $2.2 billion petrol tax without a mandate from the Australian people and without the approval of the parliament. Prime Minister, did the National Party support your increased petrol tax, or did you ambush the National Party just like you ambushed the Australian people—particularly those living in rural and regional Australia?

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The members of the coalition all understand that we were elected with a clear mandate to fix the budget. There is no easy way to address the debt and deficit disaster which we inherited.

Mr Dreyfus interjecting—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Isaacs will desist.

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There is no easy way to undo the $667 billion of projected debt and the $123 billion of projected deficits that we inherited from members opposite. There is no easy way to do this, yet we must, lest every single Australian man, woman and child be saddled with $25,000 each in debt—Labor debt.

Joel Fitzgibbon (Hunter, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Agriculture) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker—

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I have explained exactly why we are doing it and I think I am concluded.

Mr Perrett interjecting—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Moreton will join his other colleagues under 94(a), the ones who left earlier.

The member for Moreton then left the chamber.