Wayne Swan (Lilley, Australian Labor Party, Treasurer) Share this | Hansard source

This government is absolutely committed to putting in place a responsible fiscal policy. In doing that, we will bring our budget back to surplus on time and as promised. Over four budgets we have put in place $100 billion in savings to fund our priorities, including, in our last budget, $33 billion worth of savings—and we will continue to do that. We have done that in the face of massive revenue write-downs caused by the problems in the global economy. We have done all that and we will do it again—because we understand the importance of good fiscal policy. We do that in very stark contrast to those who sit opposite.

We had a revelation the other day from the shadow Treasurer. On 21 August, he said:

We have found all our savings and we have got our policies, we are ready to roll if an election is called tomorrow.

From this government you will see the midyear budget update, due by the end of the year, and you will see our budget next year. But we do not have any commitment from those opposite to transparency or to the Charter of Budget Honesty.

I say this to the shadow Treasurer: if you have your policies ready to roll, you can take a walk around to the Parliamentary Budget Office—it is not even as far as Aussies. I reckon he can get around there pretty quick and he can give them all of these costed policies he told us about on 21 August. Then we will see the $70 billion crater in their budget bottom line. Then the truth will be out there for all to see: the hidden agenda of the Liberal Party, the one unfolding in Queensland—the hidden agenda to slash health and education.

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