Barnaby Joyce (Queensland, National Party) Share this | Hansard source

If you have a commercial premise of a loan, people look for between an eight- and a 15-year run-down of that facility. Do you, as representing the view of the government, have any belief about what is a diligent time over which this should be repaid? Is there any view? If there is a view, can you please tell us over what time frame it should be?

I want to go back to the question of debt. Dr Henry said that he believed a trillion dollars was excessive debt and that Australia could not go to that extent. Do you hold the same view? My third question is: after we have a debt of $200 billion and we then go into the infrastructure package, which seems to be in the vicinity of another $70 billion or so, are we going to be issuing more bonds for that? We will be amortising the interest so we will be up to about $300 billion. We are a third of the way to a trillion dollars, and that is why it is extremely important that the Australian people understand exactly where you are taking our nation and the absolute seriousness of where we are off to with this. What is your path and progression to start removing us from that position? Do you have any assets in mind that you want to sell? Do you have in mind any major restructuring of the Public Service whereby you can make cuts? Is it a belief of having a P&I out of the operating revenue or a taxation proposition of the Australian people? Do you intend to keep the same tax treatment regime that we currently have, or do you envisage a change to it so as to fit your debt requirements? These are the questions that this bush accountant wants to know about.