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

That is a question based on a false premise. It is entirely incorrect in the assumptions that underpin it. Let me be very clear. We are being driven into the budget deficit position that Senator Troeth asked about—of minus $22 billion, minus $35 billion, minus $35 billion and minus $25 billion—by international circumstances, and we have responded in both the economic security package before Christmas and the new stimulus package announced in the last few days. Let us be clear. You have a very simple choice: are you going to stick with Mr Turnbull and his position and cost jobs and put Australian families on the unemployment queue? That is what you are faced with. You are going to have a very long weekend to think about this. Australians will lose their jobs because of the irresponsible, short-term politicking that those opposite are engaged in. (Time expired)