Steve Irons (Swan, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

To be honest, I am a bit surprised the member for McMahon has put this motion forward given the economic mismanagement this country endured during his party's six long years of government. I can remember coming back into this place in 2007 and being on the other side of the chamber. I see the member for Moreton is here. You did not get thrown out today which is amazing. But as I said in a speech recently, and you agreed, 'You have been nobbled now because you are a whip.' Congratulations on your elevation.

When we came back to the parliament in 2007, just to remind the new members on the other side, we had GroceryWatch, we had Fuelwatch, we had pink batts and we had the mining tax and the carbon tax—all economic disasters and all visited upon the Australian economy by the Labor Party, who were on this side of the chamber at the time.

I need to remind the chamber that only three months ago during the election campaign, Labor also proposed adding $16 billion to the deficit. What sort of economic plan is that? What a great plan—adding $16 billion to the deficit; a massive budget black hole! They also put forward $100 billion in higher taxes and tried to con Australians by calling them saves. How do you call a tax a save?

Dr Leigh interjecting—

I see the member for Fenner here, who used to be the member for Fraser.

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