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

I do recall saying what I said. If members opposite want to vindicate the work of NATSEM, release it. Just release it. Why is it that this work of NATSEM needs to be hidden? Why do they want to hide the NATSEM analysis upon which they rely?

Again, I say to the member who asked the question that this is a government which understands that the best form of welfare is work. This is a government that understands that the best and most generous thing you can do for the people of Australia who are currently doing it tough is to maximise their chances to have a go—to go out and get a job, to go out and get a better job, to work more and to do the right thing by themselves and their family. I cannot understand why members opposite do not get it. Why is it that they seem to prefer people who are trapped in welfare than people who are liberated by work, to do the right thing by themselves, their families and their communities? But when I ponder this question I think the answer does become clearer. Members opposite quite like it when people are trapped in welfare because, if they are trapped in welfare, they are dependent on government. We certainly want government to be there to help. But governments should be there to help; governments should never be the master of the people.

Ms King interjecting—

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