Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. Earlier today the Minister for Communications said about the budget and the government: 'I don't want to comment on my colleagues in that manner, but some of these measures are complex and often they may be difficult to explain.' Will the Prime Minister endorse the Minister for Communications' statement that his colleagues are making mistakes in trying to explain this budget?

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Leader of the Opposition should not verbal the Minister for Communications, who said no such thing. He said no such thing. The truth is that there is no easy way to sort out the debt and deficit disaster that members opposite left us. There is no easy way, but this government has explained to the Australian people how we will fix Labor's debt and deficit disaster. This is a good budget, an honest budget and it is the right budget for this time. Now that this government has explained how we would deal with Labor's debt and deficit disaster, the Leader of the Opposition should explain how he will deal with Labor's debt and deficit disaster.

Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to table the document I was referring to. It has not been published yet.

Leave not granted.