Michael Johnson (Ryan, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I am very pleased to speak in the parliament today on the Export Market Development Grants Legislation Amendment Bill 2006. It is a bill which I wholeheartedly support and which I am pleased to hear the federal Labor opposition is also going to support. That said, I am quite surprised that their support seems to come with much qualification and with very little enthusiasm. Indeed, having previously heard the shadow spokesman for foreign affairs and then the shadow minister for resources speak, I am terribly disappointed that they could not support this bill with greater enthusiasm and greater willingness. They have completely misrepresented the true position on exports and on debt. In terms of debt, what they are talking about is private sector debt. There is no government debt. They keep trying to mislead the Australian public—

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