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

I always welcome questions from those opposite about deficits, because on that side of the House they have written the book on deficits. They have written the book on deficits. And the final budget outcome showed, for that year, that the actual deficit was less than was anticipated at the time of the budget this year.

But it was those opposite who went to the Australian people at the last election and said what Australia needs is an even bigger deficit. They said that the deficit over the budget and forward estimates should be $16½ billion higher than what we announced in May of this year. They also think that the way to try and drive investment in this country is to increase taxes—so higher taxes to fund higher spending, and they want bigger deficits over the budget and forward estimates. Now that is not a plan to drive jobs and growth.

Ms Plibersek interjecting—

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