Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I simply say that it is false and wrong for the minister to suggest that we on this side do not have a plan, that we do not have a package. Indeed, Mr Turnbull has already outlined the parameters. We believe something more modest would be appropriate. To assert that our policies do nothing is simply false. The classic example of that is the policy we actually had for investing in our schools. The Labor Party axed that program on coming to government because it was ‘reckless spending’. What are they now doing? Reintroducing it under another name and spending even more. If our policies were adopted, the economy in Australia would have been hit, but we were seeking to take preventive measures, which for short-term political reasons the Labor Party deliberately opposed. They talked down the economy and made ludicrous allegations about the economy overheating and are now struggling to pick it up again.

Minister, can you tell us where the savings in these measures will be spent? Why don’t we need the immediate economic stimulus that we allegedly needed just a few days ago? Will this delay the implementation of the package?