Ron Boswell (Queensland, National Party) Share this | Hansard source

Let me open my address by saying that, if the people of rural Australia have to depend on Senator Hutchins and his colleagues, God help rural Australia. If there is any indication of that, let me just refer to the press release of Mr Tanner of 6 February. The writs for the candidates were hardly dry and the government had hardly been declared a government when a press release came out saying, ‘We’re going to cut $640 million in government spending, including $243 million in 2007 and 2008.’ Immediately, I smelt a rat—a big, fat rat.