Mark Arbib (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Yes, Senator, you supported it. That is right—you never mention it, though. I have not once heard any coalition senator stand in this chamber and show any support for what the Keating-Hawke government did: the micro-economic reforms, the macro-economic reforms, deregulating the banking system, floating the dollar and lowering tariffs. And that is why we had the boom. The coalition managed record royalties through a once-in-a-lifetime mining boom. I think you should go back and pay some praise and offer some thanks to the work of former prime ministers Paul Keating and Bob Hawke.

I know I do not have much time but I want to raise two things with you very quickly, Senator. Just remember that your legacy, economically, is going to be interest rates—10 straight rises in interest rates—the second-highest inflation rate in the OECD and—the piece de resistance, the thing you will be remembered for forever—Work Choices. Just remember that one: Work Choices. I know you are running a million miles an hour away from Work Choices now, but we will never forget it. I guarantee you that we will never forget it and the Australian people will never forget it. If you want to look at one reason you were thrown out, that was the reason. (Time expired)