Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | Hansard source

As well as delivering our plan for stronger growth and more jobs, this government are guaranteeing the essential services Australians rely on in health, education, disability support and national security. Of course, one of the challenges that we faced on coming to government was the fact that the National Disability Insurance Scheme, which enjoys broad bipartisan support, was not fully funded. We were facing a $56 billion funding gap over the next decade—a $56 billion funding gap. Of course, those opposite appear to be in the know in relation to this.

In this budget we have made decisions to guarantee funding for the NDIS. In this budget we have made decisions to guarantee increased funding for schools across Australia—$18.6 billion in additional funding. Of course, in this budget we will be able to deliver by 2021 the target for Defence funding of two per cent of the share of GDP—the promise from three years ago in the lead-up to the 2013 election. (Time expired)