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

I will tell you what: there is no way on God's earth the member for Mackellar would do anything other than act responsibly when it comes to debt, handling debt and paying down debt, because the member for Mackellar knows, like every other member who is mature about this sort of debate, that you do not play Russian roulette with a loaded gun when it comes to debt. The Labor Party has been playing Russian roulette with a loaded gun and it has gone bang in their face, because they have been dealt out of the equation by, of all people, the Greens. Now the Greens are proving to be more middle-of-the-road, more responsible, than the Australian Labor Party who have consigned themselves to somewhere way past the Democrats at the bottom of the garden; they have buried themselves along with their lack of credibility when it comes to handling the economy. I would say to the Labor Party: one day, for just one day, have some integrity, have consistency, have some principles—actually, do us a favour and stick to your election promises, especially when it comes to paying down your debt.

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