Steve Hutchins (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

From what I have read in reports. In fact, probably one of the most capable ministers in the previous government, the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, Senator Minchin, the then Minister for Finance and Administration, did not have a conversation with the then Prime Minister for over 12 months. Why wouldn’t people say, ‘Let’s get rid of this mob’? Let me again tell you why that was, just to remind you—and, as I said, Senator Coonan and some of the others might need some therapy to get over the fact that they are no longer on this side of the House because the Australian people did not want them anymore.

Let me remind you of some of the figures that we had in 1996 compared to in 2007. After 11 years of economic vandalism and neglect, Australians were not saving as much, their wages and salaries were not going as far as they used to and mortgage repayments were rising. When Howard was elected, Australians were saving $6.50 for every $100 they earned. When Howard left office—