Mark Furner (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise today to speak about the motion moved by Senator Fifield regarding the apparent ‘reckless management of the Australian economy in a time of global economic challenge’. The claims made in the motion include the government’s alleged ‘irresponsibility in talking down the Australian economy’. May I quickly remind the opposition that the government had not only a decrease in inflation but a strong surplus after taking over from a reckless previous government. The motion condemns:

(b)

the massive collapse in consumer and business confidence since the election of the Rudd Government;

(c)

the delivery of a budget that forecasts an increase in unemployment;

(d)

the Government’s raising of inflationary expectations and failure to honour its promise to address cost of living pressures; and

(e)

the absence of a coherent economic strategy and a focus on presentation rather than policy.

These claims in Senator Fifield’s motion are unfounded. I would be extremely interested—and I am sure other senators would be interested—to see the statistics that prove these ridiculous statements, which, frankly, are wasting the Senate’s time.

I also remind the opposition that the government has passed legislation that does look to the future and does provide for the Australian people. Unfortunately, those opposite abuse their power in the Senate by blocking each and every fiscal bill that is being presented to the chamber.

I was privileged to have the opportunity in the second week of my term as senator to be on the Senate Standing Committee on Economics. That is a committee, I am sure you would understand, that deals with key fiscal objectives of this government—objectives like Fuelwatch, grocery unit pricing, the luxury car tax and the Medicare levy surcharge. I have had the privilege to attend a number of the inquiries into those bills. It would be fair enough to argue that during those inquiries the committee heard of measures and objectives to secure fiscal opportunities for this government and also for this nation. But on the opposite side of the chamber you have those that wish to tear it down. They are reckless when it comes to fiscal management.

I would like to remind the opposition of what the Rudd Labor government has achieved in responsible economic management. The world economy is changing at an astounding rate and Labor’s economic platform is changing with it. This year’s budget ushered in a new era of economic responsibility, delivering a strong budget surplus and reciprocating spending to sustain growth in the long term to ensure that the fiscal policy plays its part in putting downward pressure on inflation and to ensure a strong economy at a time of international economic uncertainty.