Senator O’Brien, with the six Labor state governments enjoying the revenues from the goods and services tax, it would be a bold Labor federal member of parliament to oppose changes in that area. History shows, Senator Murray, that you were broadly correct and that Senator O’Brien and his colleagues were dreadfully wrong. That is what history shows. I have given you a half tick there, Senator Murray. Let me now give you a half cross.

It is not true that the government has not concentrated on areas of social reform. We do hold our chest out—and you are dead right to say that—as good managers of the economy. I think statistics demonstrate that amply in terms of the growth of the Australian economy compared with other industrialised economies around the world.