Warren Truss (Wide Bay, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Treasurer. I refer the Treasurer to comments by Deloitte Access Economics director, Chris Richardson, in relation to the government's $120 billion black hole: 'Our budget doesn't add up anymore.' Will the Treasurer guarantee that the Future Fund will not be raided to pay for the government's unfunded spending commitments?

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

I thank the shadow minister for his question, because I made the point before that we will go about, in the preparation of our mid-year update—as we do through the normal budget process—putting in place the savings that are required to fund our priorities, and, in particular, putting in place economic settings which will ensure growth and making sure we do the most we possibly can to generate growth and to support jobs in our economy. That is all the more important because of the savage cuts that are going on across the eastern seaboard by conservative governments, who are hacking into jobs. That is not good for many families and the peace of mind of regional communities in this country.

Christopher Pyne (Sturt, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Education, Apprenticeships and Training) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What about the Future Fund?

Ms Anna Burke (Chisholm, Deputy-Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Treasurer will return to the question before the chair.

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

So, as we go through the preparation of MYEFO, we will do the normal thing that we always do, which is to find savings. We will do that in a responsible way. That will contrast, I think, quite markedly with those opposite, because what we will do, as we go about that, is adhere to the Charter of Budget Honesty. We will do that in the mid-year update as we will do it in the budget next year. And there will be a very clear contrast—

Warren Truss (Wide Bay, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Deputy Speaker, I rise on a point of order. The question was about the raiding of the Future Fund. He has not mentioned the Future Fund in his answer. It is all irrelevant.

Ms Anna Burke (Chisholm, Deputy-Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Leader of the Nationals will resume his seat. The Treasurer has the call.

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

As I said, I think, in the House yesterday—and I will say it again today—as we go through the preparation of the mid-year update, we will find the savings that are required to make sure there is room for our priorities. As we go through that, we do not provide a commentary on any allegation made by anybody, wherever they come from—least of all from those opposite. This was the practice of the previous government as well, so there is absolutely nothing unusual about that. But we do know a bit more about budget craters. As we can see here, we had the shadow Treasurer, on breakfast television with the minister for the environment, admit a $70 billion crater.

Ms Anna Burke (Chisholm, Deputy-Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Treasurer will no longer use props.

Warren Truss (Wide Bay, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Deputy Speaker—

Ms Anna Burke (Chisholm, Deputy-Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Leader of the Nationals will resume his seat. Props are not tolerated. The Treasurer should return to the question before the chair.

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

There was a repeat performance this morning on breakfast television. There is a $70 billion crater. So they can huff and they can puff but they are not going to blow their crater away.