Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

Those opposite should have thought about this before they took the grossly irresponsible position of defeating this bill. Those opposite are now trying to find a way to crawl out from the irresponsible position that they dragged themselves into. Well, a stunt like this will not help. The Australian public knows that this economic crisis requires swift and decisive action. It needs a stimulus package. It needs the budget to have been in surplus to allow us to go down the path of the ESS and the new jobs package that we have just announced. Those opposite who are now trying to pretend that they care, trying to pretend that they are interested in supporting measures that will remediate this economic crisis, should just have a good look in the mirror. The Australian public have worked you out. You are frauds. You are economic vandals and frauds, and they have worked you out.