Carol Brown (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. In light of the World Bank data the Assistant Treasurer has pointed to today, along with the dangerous alternative approaches to managing the current economic risks, is it important that the Australian government play a role in the international economic and regulatory measures to address the global financial crisis? What such actions have the Rudd government been taking? Is the alternative approach—to sit back, wait and do nothing—able to be reconciled with the need for international action? Can the Assistant Treasurer point to any other credible political parties in the world who have adopted this dangerous do-nothing strategy?