Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

We are asking for some sacrifices, and everyone is making a contribution. As I said before, high-income earners are paying the deficit levy, members of parliament are forgoing a pay rise, motorists are bearing fuel excise indexation. This is a budget where all of us need to make a contribution so that all of us can be better off in the medium and long term.

The sad truth is that every single Australian was a loser because of the incompetence of the former government. We did not cause the debt and deficit disaster that members opposite gave us.

Mr Albanese interjecting—

Mr Brendan O'Connor interjecting—

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