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

This is Mr Anybody-Can-Be-Somebody—the great political philosopher. Anybody can be somebody. The Irish political philosopher—

Opposition members interjecting—

I shouldn't have—I don’t want to get into any more trouble! I know not all Irishmen have a sense of humour these days! It is the Leader of the Opposition who says that when you don't know where you're going, any road will get you there.

An honourable member: Especially the low road!

Always the low road, from this Leader of the Opposition. But to put his mind at rest: school funding in New South Wales goes up by seven per cent, eight per cent, nine per cent and six per cent. That is a 33 per cent increase in funding for New South Wales schools over the next four years, and we can do that sustainably, because we want to get the budget under control. What we have already done is cut Labor's debt and deficit by half. We have stopped the boats, we have scrapped the carbon tax and we have cut Labor's debt and deficit by half going forward. That is why we can afford to provide more funding to New South Wales schools.

See this speech in context