Kevin Rudd (Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

Again, what the government is doing is harnessing fiscal policy with monetary policy and seeking to make a difference when it comes to the impact of the global economic recession. We are engaged in a positive strategy to build the economy up, to lift Australia out of the global recession as soon as we can. This is in contrast to those opposite who always embark upon a strategy to talk the economy down—a negative strategy; always negatively criticising any positive economic news which may emerge. Our approach is to prosecute this strategy for the future. It is the right approach.

I draw the attention of those opposite to the release of RBA board minutes this morning because they have raised questions of public finance and public debt. Let me read them to you. The minutes flag concerns around public finances globally, noting:

Containing the build-up of public debt over the years ahead was likely to be a significant challenge for some countries …

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