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

What we inherited from our predecessor was debt and deficit, as far as the eye can see. We inherited a debt-and-deficit disaster and we are taking the necessary decisions—the tough decisions; the very difficult decisions—to address the debt-and-deficit disaster we were left with.

No-one likes doing what is necessary to ensure that our country can live within its means. No-one likes doing what is necessary to ensure that our children and grandchildren are not loaded up with unsustainable debt. But it has to be done, and if it were not done now it would be even harder in a few years time.

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