Nick Sherry (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Superannuation and Corporate Law) Share this | Hansard source

‘Let’s wait and see’—these were the words. I watched the shadow Treasurer, Ms Bishop, deliver those and, frankly, I could not believe it when she said it. ‘Wait and see’—they were the words. Go back and look at what she said and the other comments she made. This is a time to act decisively. It is a time to support our economy and employment as almost every other comparable country has done to date by passing significant fiscal stimulus packages.

As I said, we would be the only country in the world whose parliament has been debating this approach to reject such an approach. I would say to the Liberal-National Party opposition: is that the role of a responsible opposition? Worldwide, in all parliaments and political systems where fiscal stimulus packages have been debated, they have been passed. Is Australia to be the first country where it will not pass? I would argue that that will lead to further levels of uncertainty, uncertainty that we do not need in the current climate. So I would appeal to the Senate to support these amendments and then, when we move to the third reading on the package of bills, to support the package. Again, I would appeal to the crossbench parties and to the Independent to support the amendments and ultimately support the package.