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

The Leader of the Opposition knows full well that we have 349 pages of legislation and $150 million committed to this measure. All it would take is for the Labor Party to support it, which they don't. They have a two-page policy. We have a 349-page set of legislation. If they wished to support it, we would welcome that.

But I'm asked also about the parliamentary calendar, which I know is a topic that the Leader of the Opposition has been taking a keen interest in. The Leader of the Opposition may not be aware that, in order to prepare a budget next year, the normal practice is to ensure there are a set number of weeks for the preparation of that budget before the budget is delivered. As the Leader of the Opposition may not be aware, in order to prepare a budget next year the normal practice is to ensure there are a set number of weeks before the preparation of that budget and before the budget is delivered. I have personally delivered three budgets as Treasurer and three budgets as Prime Minister, and I have served seven years on the Expenditure Review Committee. I can understand why the Leader of the Opposition would be unfamiliar with the time taken to prepare a budget, because he's never delivered one. There are people who have been serving refreshments in the Expenditure Review Committee longer than this person, the Leader of the Opposition, spent in that chamber.

Our government knows how important the economic recovery for this country is as we emerge from the pandemic. We have the economic management experience to ensure that we secure that recovery. Last year's budget set out once again the further iteration of that economic recovery plan—the economic recovery plan that has already seen 217,000 Australians currently in trade apprenticeships and training right now, which is the highest level on record since 1963.

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