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

I am the junior here! I am getting bashed up! I thought you would be my saviour!

Do not just take my word for it when it comes to the management of the fiscal policy of this nation. You do not have to look any further than this morning's Australian Financial Review. We have the government saying how wonderful their fiscal responsibility is, how diligent their economic management is and what a wonderful state our nation is in. Well, one of the jewels in the crown of Australian retail, David Jones, is mentioned in headlines this morning on the front page of the Australian Financial Review. The headline reads 'DJs in fight for survival'. It says a lot when you get comments like that coming from David Jones, which is a true indicator of the real retail sector in this nation. Mr Paul Zahra, CEO, said:

These are the toughest retail conditions that I've even seen in my career and I've been in retailing for 30 years.

How is it that we have a Labor government insisting that things are just a bed of roses, but some of the biggest retailers are struggling to keep their heads above water. David Jones has forecast a downgrading of profits to the tune of 40 per cent.

This government's capacity to forecast is nothing short of outstanding when you have a look at their capacity back through MYEFO and the budget! Now the government will get up and continue to 'spin, spin, spin', but they have continually failed to forecast the stats— (Time expired)

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