Scott Buchholz (Wright, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Shame! So do not shake your head, because you get energy bills as well!

Mr Shorten interjecting—

Mate, I love your work! So there are cost-of-living pressures—energy prices, gas prices—and these are all inhibitors on the Australian economy at the moment. Our fuel prices have gone through the roof.

And while we talk about economic vandalism and listen to some of the comments we have heard in the House with reference to the superannuation debate, I bring the attention to the flippancy with which this government refers to the 7.2 per cent of our GDP debt ratio as being relatively small in comparison with other nations. I suggest that the argument that it is relatively small compared to other nations begs the question: why is it that we cannot pay that back? Why is it that we are having so much trouble servicing—

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