Lindsay Tanner (Melbourne, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Finance and Deregulation) Share this | Hansard source

I am not going to comment on deliberations leading up to either last year’s budget or this year’s budget. The decision that has been taken is a matter of public record and the government stands by that decision. Prior to last year’s budget there was a degree of speculation in the media about this issue along with a pretty wide variety of other issues. Sometimes the speculation can be less than well informed. The government’s position is of course that we stand by the reforms that have been put in place. I cannot comment further on what goes on within cabinet processes and deliberations other than the public decision.

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