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

I did want to continue, yes. Thank you very much. In this data today we have seen the strongest economic growth across the economy, broad based growth, as explained by the ABS, in three years.

I am surprised by Senator Chandler, who seems to be adopting the shadow Treasurer's hysterical language that he seems to want to use all the time. I am surprised that those opposite want to come in here and argue against defence spending, because that is essentially at the heart of the question that Senator Chandler has asked today—that those opposite, who supposedly want to spend more on defence, would come in here and criticise the public investment that we are making not only in defence infrastructure but also in consumption through the recruitment of additional staff to the Defence portfolio. It is clear—if you had read the national accounts—that defence and the state and territory governments' spending, primarily on health infrastructure, contributes to public demand in this national account. I am surprised, because I thought the opposition supported investment in defence— (Time expired)