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

and I know Senator Bernardi needs a pay increase desperately—to the rest of the community, the business community, the trade union movement and the workers of this country. But, have we seen those high-flyers freeze their wages? Have we seen that, Senator Watson? I put to you: no. But given that you are now facing opposition—and I understand the difficulties—someone has come up with a very creative motion this afternoon. Obviously, one of the things that is occupying our friends opposite is creative writing. That is the only thing I can determine, having read the motion that was put forward by Senator Parry this afternoon. I will just read the motion for the record; I do not think it has been read. It says:

That the Senate acknowledges that the first Rudd-Gillard Government budget is a high taxing, high spending, old fashioned Labor budget that is not inflation fighting.

Nothing in that is real at all, Senator Watson. So I was glad to hear your contribution on this. Creative writing is rampant and running riot on your side of the fence. What would you expect? You would come into this chamber and criticise any budget that was put down by the Rudd government. That is your job as the opposition. That is your job—