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

In addition to its endorsement of the Australian economy, the IMF also praises the government's fiscal strategy, saying that the planned return to surplus is welcome and commenting on the fact that we will deliver the fastest fiscal consolidation since the 1960s. I would remind those opposite that this government is doing that while keeping tax, as a proportion of GDP, well below that which we inherited, well below that which Peter Costello bequeathed to us.

In addition to the IMF's endorsement, senators will no doubt be aware of the endorsement—