Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Treasurer) Share this | Hansard source

Those opposite want to take the spending but they do not want to support the saving. That is a recipe for fiscal disaster. We on this side of the House understand the need to keep things in balance. Those opposite have a big problem. They have said they want to reverse $30 billion in savings that we have already been able to move through this parliament, they do not support some $13 billion more in savings which is part of government policy, most of which is being blocked by those opposite, and they have committed to an extra $14 billion just since the last budget—they are racking up some $57 billion in commitments. What do they have to pay for them? They have identified $1.2 billion in savings over the next four years—just $1.2 billion—to pay for $57 billion worth of expenditure commitments. And they have $7.6 billion in higher taxes. The contrast is clear—the plan of those opposite is to tax and spend and borrow. Our plan is to ensure that we back Australians in who are working, saving and investing.

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