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

Thank you, Mr President. If the decision by the former Prime Minister, Mr Howard, on 13 July last year was reckless and unsustainable, why was it supported by the federal Labor senators and state Labor members of parliament at the time? Is the minister aware of the statement yesterday by Mr Lennon, the Premier of Tasmania, when he said that the decision was especially harsh given that federal Labor gave every appearance of supporting the Centrelink jobs when announced by John Howard in July, well before caretaker conventions were triggered? Further, is the minister aware of a media release of his own colleague the Minister for Finance and Deregulation, Lindsay Tanner, which refers to the savings that would be made and a reversal of— (Time expired)