George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Hansard source

Good heavens! We are hearing a Labor senator lecture this government about debt! May I remind you that when you were last elected to government there was no public debt. There was no public debt. When you were thrown out unceremoniously six years later, we inherited the worst set of public accounts in Australia's history. The debt position today would be immeasurably worse, Senator Urquhart, if your side of politics were in power. So, Senator Urquhart, rather than coming here into the Senate and bleating about government debt, why don't you get out of the way and stop blocking the savings measures that this government is taking to try and repair Labor's debt?

Senator Urquhart, the fact is you referenced the Australia Institute, a well-known left-wing think tank. I do not take at face value anything that the Australia Institute may have to contribute on this subject or others.