Michael Keenan (Stirling, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Treasurer. I refer the Treasurer to the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government’s comments in the Daily Telegraph on 12 June where he criticised the coalition for scrutinising the government’s budget tax increases by saying:

The Government has a clear mandate to deliver our promises.

Can the Treasurer advise the House which tax increases he promised at the last election?

Wayne Swan (Lilley, Australian Labor Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I welcome the question. What we promised to be was responsible, disciplined economic managers and we have been. We have been responsible, we have been disciplined and we have been cleaning up the mess left by those over there, most particularly the member for Higgins and all of those that sat around the cabinet table, who went on an irresponsible spending spree. It has fallen to us on this side of the House to put some responsibility back into the budget. It is one that is recognised by the business community; it is one that is recognised by the Australian people. It is not recognised by those opposite because they have become utterly irresponsible.