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

I do not know where to start other than to say that, clearly, the tactics committee of the opposition has been in recess this week, because we have had a very odd week. For the benefit of the senator, I remind him that if he reads the OECD reports, the IMF reports, the World Bank reports, they constantly provide advice that our economy is among the best performing in the world, that our unemployment is among the lowest, that our growth is among the strongest, that our economy is, I think, 11 per cent larger than it was when Labor came into office. So the sort of nonsense contained in the question has no relevance to the reality of Australia. We have a strong domestic economy but one that is in transition, that is undergoing structural change, that is buffeted by world conditions and the appreciation of the dollar. Many countries in the world would absolutely give up a lot to be in the same economic position we are. (Time expired)