Guy Barnett (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

It is a pleasure to stand to oppose the motion moved by Senator Sherry and the Labor Party. I say at the outset that I have a croaky voice and apologise to the Senate for that. I feel extremely healthy and well, but the voice is a little croaky. Nevertheless, the crocodile tears from Senator Conroy on the other side, with respect to our government’s foresight and policies on the communications system in this country, are for naught. In responding to the motion by Senator Sherry I want to address, firstly, the issue of Australia’s productivity and, secondly, the aspect of Senator Sherry’s motion which says that the federal budget ‘focuses on a short-term election fix rather than long-term nation building’. I would like to draw the attention of the Senate back to 1995 when the Labor Party put forward its last budget in office. I remind those on the other side and those who are listening that in 1995 the Labor government of the day expended more money on interest payments than education. That is a shameful record.