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

I am very pleased to say that last night the Senate did finally pass a measure that members opposite embraced while in government. They banked it, but that they did not legislate it. Then they opposed it when we came into government. They opposed it tooth and nail. They opposed it up hill and down dale, but, as a sign of the careful, painstaking, courteous and collegial approach that this government takes with the Senate, we got it through last night.

I am pleased to say that there were some 400 budget measures last year. Well over 300 have been implemented. As of yesterday, there were some $16 billion worth of budget improvements to the bottom line. I am pleased that that has now been supplemented by $1.3 billion because, while members opposite do nothing but obstruct, nothing but complain, nothing but wreck, there is at least some sense of responsibility on the crossbench, and we are always prepared to work with responsible people in the Senate.

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