Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

The whole premise of the question, the initial quote from the question, was completely inaccurate. If the member for Hughes wants to quote Treasury officials, she should actually quote them, not just read things that are given to her by those at the front.

What we're seeing here is once again consistent with the denigration of public officials. What we have done is lift up the Public Service. I have said, as I spoke about on 7.30, and as I spoke about in other interviews on multiple occasions, that I want a Public Service that comes up with ideas. I want a Public Service that uses the fullness of its capacity, that's valued and respected and that makes a contribution to public life in this country. That is what the Treasury official indicated in the evidence that she gave on Monday. We value the Public Service; those opposite denigrate it.

What we have done is have a change of position. We put it through our cabinet. I announced it at the National Press Club. Those opposite are yet to explain why it is, if that change of position is so bad, that they have changed their position in order to vote for it. If they're fair dinkum, they will have to not just vote against this plan but roll it back as well, because we know that that is really what they want to do.

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