Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

Those opposite might want to try and play games about their intentions about various pieces of legislation, but they have one simple choice to make: are they going to assist Australians and help take pressure off interest rates and inflation by passing the government’s budget, or are they going to continue to play the role of spoilers? That is the choice that they have to make a decision on. I appreciate that this is caught up in a whole range of leadership debates on the other side. Who can take a shot—whether Mr Turnbull or Mr Nelson can win the battle, that is what this debate has turned into on their side. No thought for all of those Australians who have been struggling because of rising interest rates, rising petrol prices, rising grocery prices—all because of an electoral binge and a burst in government spending by those on the other side.

Let us be clear: those on the other side have caused this in no uncertain terms. Now they do not want to face up to some of the tough choices. This is a government that is prepared to face up to those tough choices, Mr President. It is not going to squib, it is not going to play cheap political games, it is not going to spend its time undermining—