Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

For those who want to enter this debate, the message is the same: the federal government is committed to delivering its $22 billion surplus, because it is that surplus that is combined to add pressure in the fight against inflation—something that those on the other side ran up the white flag about. They gave up before the last election. They were engaged in nothing more than pork-barrelling at every opportunity. That is why they were the highest taxing, highest spending government in 30 years—with nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. They lost the economic plot. This government will continue to stand for sound and responsible financial economic management. We will not be diverted (Time expired)