Alan Ferguson (SA, Deputy-President) Share this | Hansard source

There are some self-funded retirees who will receive nothing, and they are suffering the most from the drop in the return on their investments, both interest and otherwise.

So can I say that the coalition is opposing this package purely because of the priorities that it contains and the magnitude of the package, which we believe is far larger than is necessary to provide some stimulus to our economy. We look forward with interest to see just what sort of negotiations might take place with the Greens and the minor players in this chamber in order to see what sort of package might eventuate for the Australian people. But I want to place on record my support for our opposition to this package as it stands, because I believe its priorities are wrong and it is condemning my grandchildren—of which I have nearly six—and my children to having to pay off a debt over the next number of years. Who knows how long it will be before this debt is ever paid off?