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

The social problems that the Leader of the Opposition has discerned are problems that were created by his own government. That is the problem. This Leader of the Opposition has no plan for the future; he simply has a complaint.

This government does have a plan. We have a plan for a stronger economy and the way to get a stronger economy is to get a stronger budget. This is a fundamentally fair budget. It is a budget where everyone is playing his or her part. Yes, the top three per cent of taxpayers will face a deficit levy. They will pay, as they should. Members of parliament will pay because there will be a pay freeze. Motorists will pay through fuel indexation excise. Everyone is doing his or her bit. This is a budget for our country. This is a budget for the long-term benefit of our country. This is the kind of budget that only a strong and committed government could deliver, but this is the budget that the Australian people elected us to bring down. We said we would fix Labor's debt and deficit disaster—

Honourable members interjecting—

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