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

I thank the senator for the question. As perplexing as the question is, it again demonstrates that those opposite simply have lost their grasp of basic economics. What you have here is the impact caused by the rest of the world contracting and the dramatic effect of that on the Australian economy. We have made it abundantly clear. We have been honest and upfront with the Australian public that, while we are better placed to resist these pressures, we will be impacted. It includes the small business sector and it includes working families. They are going to be buffeted by this. But what you have with this government is a commitment to act decisively and fast.

To argue that the economic stimulus package prior to Christmas has not had any positive impact in slowing the decline is to defy the statistics as they exist. It is just tragic that the retail sales figures came out two days after the idiotic decision taken by those opposite to oppose the stimulus package that we put in place. Let me be clear: if only they had waited another couple of days they would have realised that the line that they have taken is completely and utterly disproved by the figures that were released. It is just embarrassing. They climbed a long way out on a limb, making a guess, and they have been left high and dry. The Australian public have seen right through them. They recognise a government that is taking decisive and swift action to protect the economy as best it can—(Time expired)