Mark Furner (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. I thank the minister for that concise answer. Given that we are in the midst of the most challenging global economic downturn for three-quarters of a century, with virtually every advanced economy in the world expected to be in deep recession this year and that, in Australia, government revenue has taken a massive hit with the write-down of around $210 billion across the forward estimates since the 2008-09 budget as a result of the worsening global condition, can the minister explain why the Rudd government is investing so heavily in infrastructure projects at a time when the world’s economy is in free fall? Why is it necessary to spend so heavily on infrastructure projects rather than save money in the face of the global recession?