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

which was set out in the 2013 PEFO—payments by the government—were $424.9 billion. That was the estimate for the 2015-16 year. The actual amount of payments in the 2016 PEFO was $425 billion. So this is a government that has ensured that we have controlled expenditure. Indeed, the budget that I handed down in May, based on the final budget outcome figures, will see expenditure as a share of the economy fall from 25.7 per cent to 25.2 per cent.

Those opposite are calling for higher taxes on the Australian people. There is a reason why they will not support the government's budget measures—it is because the government's budget measures—some $25 billion of measures—are overwhelmingly in the area of cutting and ensuring that government expenditure is brought under control. Those opposite will not show the discipline they need to get government spending under control as they allowed government spending to blow out to record levels on their watch, and they saw the deficit blowout and the debt blowout. They refuse to engage with the government on the serious job—

Ms Plibersek interjecting—

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