Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I do not know whether Senator Abetz is operating in a parallel universe to everybody else, but, as I reiterate, the key direction of the budget was an attempt to reduce the deficit as quickly as possible. We set out to do that, and we achieved that three years early. Three years earlier than expected last budget, the budget will be back in the black. So that has been the focus. I do not know what Senator Abetz has missed, but that is the clear focus. We have kept fiscal constraint on the budget, we have matched all new spending with savings and we have focused the return to economic growth on reducing the debt. The budget delivers on that, everyone has recognised that and I think it is a hallmark of a very good budget.