Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

We on this side of the chamber have no difficulty whatsoever in looking into the eyes of young Australians and telling them that we voted to save them from a debt that will cripple the nation in years to come. In 10 years time, when young Australians ask, ‘Why don’t we have the money for hospitals or for education or other matters?’ there will be parliamentarians who will have to tell them: ‘Unfortunately, we have a recurring interest bill of $7-plus billion per annum to service a debt incurred by a previous generation.’ We on this side are willing to take the debate into the community and say that we were on the side of looking after future generations. We believe in economic intergenerational responsibility. That is what we are on about and that is the position that we have put very, very strongly.

With great respect to the contributions of Senator Fielding and others, we have in fact put an alternative before the people. Mr Turnbull has made it quite clear. It is a package of smaller dimensions. It is a package that would include tax cuts, a package that would support the superannuation payments of small businesses to their employees as a way of supporting jobs. In relation to infrastructure, we are very supportive of that aspect of the package that supports schools. Indeed, it was those on the other side who opposed it.

I say to the Leader of the Government in the Senate that the difficulty that he faces has been brought about by the arrogant, high-handed approach of both him and the Prime Minister. Can I suggest to the Prime Minister that, if his one-seater bulldozer that he has been driving for the last week stalls as a result of the vote of the Senate, his vehicle of choice should not be, as Senator Evans is suggesting, another one-seater bulldozer but a passenger bus that can in fact include other people in getting a package together.

I remind senators—and correct Senator Evans—that, when there was opposition in the United States to a package of this nature, President Obama, with a huge election victory under his belt, considered it appropriate to sit down with the Republicans and get a deal that was satisfactory. Mr Rudd has not been able to bring himself to do that. From day one he said, ‘Get out of our way! It’s my way or the highway.’ That shows the arrogance of this government. Might I add that the tactic of the leader of the government in this place, Senator Evans, has been to, time and time again, tell us and the Australian people that this package had to be passed by Friday of last week, without any Senate inquiry.