Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the honourable member for her question. I refer her to my answers yesterday relating to discussions and negotiations with the crossbench. We're always filled with optimism, I'd say to the honourable member, not beset with the gloom that so attends her. We are committed to a positive and respectful approach to the crossbench to do all we can to ensure that our budget and other measures are passed through the parliament. It raises the issue of tax and it raises the issue of economic management.

I noticed the member for McMahon has proposed a matter of public importance today which is headed 'The failure of the government's economic plan'. It begs the question: has the government's economic plan failed to produce jobs? No, it actually produced record jobs growth—the greatest in any calendar year in our history. What would be the best test of whether an economic plan was delivering? I think it would be if people were getting jobs, businesses were getting started, people were having a go and investing, and new markets were being opened up by free trade agreements.

I have to say that I'm sure the MPI will be interesting and exciting, because we'll see if the member for McMahon can come up with anything to justify his rather parallel-universe MPI. But, of course, he's used to parallel universes—he really is. Last year, when asked—on my birthday, in fact, 24 October—

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