Jim Chalmers (Rankin, Australian Labor Party, Treasurer) Share this | Hansard source

compared to zero savings in their last budget. And our responsible management is leading the first surplus in 15 years and smaller deficits over the forwards as well. That means that the Australian people save on debt interest costs in the budget.

If those opposite didn't like the first time I quoted the member for Hume, let me try again. On 2 May he said this:

… we need to see a surplus this year … we need to see the government focussing on balancing the budget because that will help Australian businesses and households to balance their budgets, taking pressure off inflation, taking pressure off interest rates.

I couldn't have said it better myself. And the final budget outcome will make that very clear.

Those opposite—they had the slogans, they had the photo ops, they were flogging those dodgy mugs on the Liberal Party website. They did everything associated with delivering a surplus except to actually deliver a surplus. The contrast couldn't be clearer. This government's responsible economic management is providing cost-of-living relief, taking pressure off inflation and investing in a better future while we clean up the mess that they left behind. (Time expired)

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