Chris Bowen (McMahon, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Treasurer) Share this | Hansard source

I said $30 billion, if you were listening, which is not $48 billion. There is a big difference. The Treasurer should stop undermining the Charter of Budget Honesty. The Charter of Budget Honesty is a proud achievement of his Liberal predecessor. I have freely given credit to Peter Costello for introducing the Charter of Budget Honesty. It is a good reform. It was continued by Labor in office. But when they Treasurer goes around questioning the veracity of the then secretaries of the Treasury and Finance—and I acknowledge that the Treasurer did not want the Secretary of Treasury sacked; that was done by the Prime Minister, against his wishes—I am sure the Treasurer argued, as he should, that the secretary should not have been sacked. Incoming governments should not sack Treasury secretaries. It is the first time it has happened in 114 years. I acknowledge that was not his decision, but he should not go around questioning the veracity of two very fine Australian public servants.

See this speech in context