Joe Hockey (North Sydney, Liberal Party, Shadow Treasurer) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to the Treasurer. I refer the Treasurer to the fact that next year's budget deficit will blow out $10 billion despite a fall in unemployment and stronger economic growth. I also refer the Treasurer to the fact that next year the government is spending $2.2 billion more than it is saving which will make the deficit bigger not smaller. Why is the government making it more likely that the Reserve Bank will raise interest rates in the next 12 months by its own actions of running a bigger deficit and bigger spending in an economy that is growing faster?

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