Christian Porter (Pearce, Liberal Party, Minister for Social Services) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the member for his question. It has been a very busy 12 months with respect to savings that we have managed to both identify and deliver in the portfolio. In the last 12 months we have already delivered $4 billion worth of savings: $2 billion in legislation, $2 billion administratively. We are on the cusp—and I do thank the Treasurer and the shadow Treasurer for their cooperation on the omnibus savings bill—of delivering an additional $3.9 billion, and there is a further $5 billion that we have identified and are pursuing. Under the stewardship of the Prime Minister, in one portfolio we have either achieved or are in pursuit of $12.9 billion worth of savings in 12 months—$12.9 billion that will not have to be paid back by the next generation to fund our spending today, and that is a very significant achievement.

I was asked whether there was an alternative approach and, whilst I note the cooperation on the omnibus bill, the alternative approach might be generously defined as 'inconsistent'. As you stroll around the parliament today, still in the windows of members opposite is the poster complaining about the measures that they agreed to today in the omnibus bill. It is on the Facebook page. The same poster that complains about the FTB supplement being cut is in the windows of the members opposite today. In fact, the same poster complains about the ending of the schoolkids bonus they agreed to 16 weeks ago. I hate to be the one to break it to members opposite, but it is bad enough complaining about something you agreed to yesterday, let alone complaining about something you agreed to 16 weeks ago.

In fact, while I think of it, the member for Jagajaga on 16 May, when they agreed to the pension asset changes and agreed to ending the schoolkids bonus, was still collecting signatures opposing the thing they had agreed to, which raises the question: who do you provide the petition to? Do you give it to yourself in a little mini ceremony? And, if so, who takes the selfie to maintain the rage on Facebook? Who does that? I mean, come on! The member for Greenway described a measure they have now agreed to in the omnibus bill as 'a cruel ripping of support', but today it is a fair and reasonable savings measure. How does that work, members opposite?

The reality is that for three years we have made savings that we have said are reasonable and fair. The Labor definition of fairness is whatever they agree to on the particular day that they are considering the question. It is all very Lord of the Rings: 'We hates the ending of the schoolkids bonus, don't we, Precious? No, we loves the ending of the schoolkids bonus, don't we, Precious? It is our budget repair friend, isn't it, Precious? (Time expired)

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