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

The answer to the Leader of the Opposition's question is: of course not. But what I say to the Leader of the Opposition is that this is a government which is determined to address the debt-and-deficit disaster which we inherited from members opposite. We are determined to address the debt-and-deficit disaster that we inherited from members opposite.

We have not brought in a new tax. We have simply resumed indexation of an old tax. We have simply done what Bob Hawke did. And I say again to the Leader of the Opposition: Bob Hawke was a real Labor leader. Bob Hawke was someone who was prepared to put the national interest ahead of short-term politicking. And I say to the Leader of the Opposition: just for once, he should think about the country and not about politicking. And he ought to be prepared to engage with the government on the vital national task of solving the debt-and-deficit disaster which this government has inherited.

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