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

and they are always changing their story. Whether it is support for the carbon tax or opposition to the carbon tax, they are always out there changing their story.

I thought that what I would do today would be to quote an authoritative source on the economy and how competitive we are. Who said: 'When the Prime Minister and the Treasurer say that the economy is doing better than most, they are right. I agree with them'? John Howard said that. So John Howard does not share that particular view. He went on to say:

There's no doubt that the Australian economy is doing better than most.

Our unemployment is remarkably low; our debt-to-GDP is converged very favourably; and by all the measurements, our inflation is low.

That is the former Prime Minister of Australia and his characterisation of our economy.

See this speech in context