John Hogg (Queensland, Deputy-President) Share this | Hansard source

This might sound a strange way for me to open this part of the debate, but I empathise with Senator Watson and those on the other side because it is very difficult discussing the first budget of a government. I came here in July 1996 as a fresh new senator and of course in August that year, unlike now with the budget being presented in May, I had the displeasure of listening to the first Howard budget. It is very difficult for oppositions first time round to find legs to criticise the budget. It becomes very difficult, having just experienced government—