Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Hansard source

The former government, at the time when they designed the policy to be a six-month exemption, noted the significant cost to the budget—$3 billion over a six-month period. I've heard Senator Hume talking about the need to be fiscally responsible, while on the other side, depending on who you're talking to in the coalition, it's all about spending more and adding more to the budget problems that we have inherited. The petrol excise changes were for six months. The budget cannot afford to continue these concessions at a time when we are dealing with the increasing cost of— (Time expired)