Kim Beazley (Brand, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I seek leave to make a personal explanation while there is still an opposition member left in this place.

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Does the Leader of the Opposition claim to have been misrepresented?

Kim Beazley (Brand, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes, I certainly have been.

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Please proceed.

Kim Beazley (Brand, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Treasurer, in his answer to a question in parliament, asked where I got the notion that they had benefited from $160 billion of extra revenue as a result of the resources boom. I will now cite the sources which are identified as budget papers 2002-03 to 2006-07, as compounded by initial assessment of the 2006-07 federal budget by Saul Eslake.

Government Members:

Government members interjecting—

Kim Beazley (Brand, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Dear me! Saul Eslake says:

The resources boom has put over $160 billion of extra revenue into Canberra’s coffers on successive budget estimates of total tax revenues.

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Leader of the Opposition has made his personal explanation.

Kim Beazley (Brand, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

And then he cites the various parts of your budget papers—

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Leader of the Opposition will resume his seat; the leader has made his point.

Peter Costello (Higgins, Liberal Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Does the honourable member claim to have been misrepresented?

Peter Costello (Higgins, Liberal Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes, I do, by that personal explanation.

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Please proceed.

Peter Costello (Higgins, Liberal Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What the Leader of the Opposition said is entirely false. I stand by the budget figures. It is quite clear his claim is false—

Kim Beazley (Brand, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Beazley interjecting

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The Treasurer will resume his seat and the Leader of the Opposition will resume his seat. That was not a personal explanation.