Paul Scarr (Queensland, Liberal Party) | Hansard source

In rising to speak this afternoon, I am very, very comfortable about defending the track record of the coalition government and the plan that we are successfully implementing to provide a basis for economic growth in this country. Before I go into some of the details of that, I would just like to respond to some of the comments by those opposite. Senator Ayres did a good job of giving an address to a Labor Party branch meeting, demonising the Leader of the Government in the Senate. But, unfortunately for Senator Ayres, his characterisation of the government leader is not borne out by the facts of the situation. I ask, through you, Mr Acting Deputy President: is it cruel that the percentage of people of working age on welfare is at its lowest level for 30 years? Is that cruel? I don't think so.