Christopher Pyne (Sturt, Liberal Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, because of the government's excellent economic management of the budget and the economy, we have been able to make sure we can invest in our defence industry and our national security in this country. Because of the management of the budget and economic management, we can invest in 12 submarines, nine Future Frigates, 12 offshore patrol vessels and 21 Pacific patrol boats for our Pacific neighbours. Labor was never able to invest in any. We are able to invest in Poseidons and Tridents for our reconnaissance and surveillance. We are able to improve and upgrade every single Army, Navy and Air Force base in Australia and build combat reconnaissance vehicles here in this country, driving $200 billion of investment in our military capability that Labor could never have afforded.

The Labor Party have announced today that they will vote against income tax cuts for all Australians. This privileged elite who want to ensure for themselves—

Opposition members interjecting—

I was a cleaner in my first job. But I'm glad I wasn't represented by the Leader of the Opposition, 'old Mr Cleanevent' over here. I would have lost all my resources as a university student. This privileged elite want to deny people $70 billion worth of tax cuts. We want to deliver $140 billion of tax cuts. They say it is $70 billion or zero. It is like offering people crispy roast pork with apple sauce and then just serving them the apple sauce. That's what Labor wants to do—half a hamburger, not all of it.

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