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

On this side of politics, we don't believe it's the job of the government to run private-sector businesses. It's not up to us to tell private-sector businesses what to do. Senator Carr thinks it's the job of government to run private-sector businesses and sort of nationalise them. We know that that leads to inferior outcomes for people around Australia. We happen to believe that encouraging individuals to work hard, stretch themselves and be the best they can be, and that supporting the free market, free enterprise, reward for effort and risk taking are actually the key to making sure that we can maximise our living standards in a sustainable fashion. And don't take my word for it. There is evidence around the world that that is, in fact, the truth.

Senator Cameron interjecting—