Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

God love Senator Cameron; he is one of our greatest electoral assets! But I too rise to speak to the motion of Senator Joyce in relation to answers from Senator Wong. We did ask Senator Wong questions today about tax treatment of superannuation income, the fiscal impact of abandoning the carbon tax floor price and Gonski and how it will be funded. We did not get any answers—no surprise there—but the reason we asked these questions is to point out the fact that this government's fiscal strategy is in tatters. That is nothing new; it always has been since almost day one.

You will know, Madam Acting Deputy President Moore, that this government have not delivered a single budget surplus—not one; not a single one. Listening to Senator Cameron, you would have thought they were paragons of economic and fiscal virtue, but this is not the case. What we hear, and Senator Cameron alluded to it, is that this government have had a lot of bad luck. Bad luck after bad luck; it is always circumstances beyond their control. They are the unluckiest outfit you have ever come across. And what we hear them say time and again is that the reason the budget is in deficit is because of revenue write-downs: 'It's not our fault. The world's a hairy place. Economic growth comes off in the region and around the world, and now revenues fall and that's just the way it is.' That is absolute rubbish. If you look at the budget papers, the overwhelming reason why the budget has been in deficit year after year, each and every year of this government, is due to policy decision. And by policy decisions, I mean decisions to spend money. Yes, there may have been some revenue write-downs, but that is not the reason why this budget is in deficit and every previous Labor budget has been in deficit.

This government has not leant its lessons, which leads me to the $120 billion black hole that this government has from things like the dental program, Gonski, NDIS, border protection. We are seeing a pattern here where the government will have a grand announcement, there will be a little bit of detail—I will not say no detail, but a little bit of detail—there will often be a small amount of money and then there will be an attempt to demonise the states. It will pick a fight with the states to say that they are the ones in the way of reform. It then follows all of that up with a symbolic piece of legislation. In the case of Gonski, as far as we can tell, the legislation will essentially say it is a good thing if kids get a good education. As far as we know that is all that the legislation being introduced will say in relation to Gonski.

The whole purpose is to give the illusion of activity, just enough money and just enough detail to try to convince people of the government's bona fides. But the reality is that this government does not have the intention to follow through. For me, it is particularly disappointing in the case of the National Disability Insurance Scheme. I have to say I had actually believed that the government was genuine about introducing and fully funding the National Disability Insurance Scheme. I had believed that, and I have worked harder than just about anyone to look for the positives in relation to this government and a National Disability Insurance Scheme. There was only one-quarter of the funding in the last budget that the Productivity Commission said was necessary over the forward estimates to complete the first phase of the NDIS, which caused me concern. The Prime Minister picking a fight with the states rather than having a cooperative attitude caused me concern. But for me the cock crowed a third time when the Prime Minister completely failed to accept our offer of a joint parliamentary committee to oversight the implementation of the NDIS. That is when I decided that this government was not serious. And now, confirming that view that I have, is Gonski and dental. I fear the NDIS may come a distant second or third to Gonski or dental. I expected better, and I do hope that the government will change its stance.