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

I thank the member for Dunkley for his question. He knows that the budget is a plan for a stronger economy and an economy that has, under this government, delivered over a million jobs now around Australia. That was something that was a solemn pledge that the member for McMahon didn't believe could happen but it is one that we believed could happen, and we went to work and set about achieving it together with businesses, and Australians all around the country got out there and got those jobs. But we know that a stronger economy is essential to deliver on the essential services that Australians rely on. That's the guarantee for Medicare; that's guarantee for the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme; that's the guarantee for the pension. They are not guaranteed by the empty promises of the Leader of the Opposition. They are guaranteed by the strong economic management of a Turnbull government that has a plan for a strong economy that can deliver those essential services that Australians rely on.

I was pleased to join the member for Dunkley at Frankston Hospital with the Minister for Health, where we could meet with Ally and Georgia—her mum—who will benefit from the listing of SPINRAZA, which provides real hope for young Australians who suffer from spinal muscular atrophy. But it is not just Ally and Georgie who we are supporting; it is also the support we've given to Georgie Fyfe-Jamieson. Georgie is on a trial for Kisqali, a breast cancer drug being provided under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme at a cost of just over $700 million. That is what you can do with a stronger economy; you can guarantee the essential services that Australians rely on.

But a strong economy is also about delivering necessary infrastructure. As the member for Dunkley knows, the electrification of the Baxter to Frankston line is going to be a big game changer for people who live in his electorate. It will mean that commuters can get to jobs. It will mean that patients can get to that hospital at Frankston on public transport, on the electrification of that line. I want to commend the member for Dunkley for his tireless advocacy in ensuring that this critical, congestion-busting infrastructure in Melbourne is being delivered by the Turnbull government. Also, we were there with the Seaford Senior Citizens Club when we were down at John Paul College. We were talking about the commitments we're making for ageing Australians on the in-home aged-care places, 20,000, and the like. I'll tell you what they reminded us of when we there: just how much they resent the Labor Party for coming after their retirement savings. The Leader of the Opposition is looking to swipe the tax refunds of hardworking Australians. He's got his hands in their pockets and he'll never take them out of them.

See this speech in context