Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Finance and Deregulation) Share this | Hansard source

As I think I have indicated on a number of occasions in the context of this answer, the government has made its position in relation to the design of the MRRT clear. I appreciate that Senator Brown has a different view, but the govern­ment has made its view clear. I would like to add one thing, though: at least Senator Brown and his party are focused on one of the key policy challenges the economy faces, which is how to manage the transition the economy is undertaking, how to manage the effects of the mining boom. It is quite extraordinary that those on the other side on this issue have no policy. The Greens are prepared to acknowledge and deal with this issue. The Greens are prepared to look at this economic issue. Those on the other side are not. The only policy position they have is the capacity to say no and a $70 billion black hole in the federal budget.