Nick Sherry (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Treasurer) Share this | Hansard source

It is interesting to reflect. When we look back at when the budget was delivered, those opposite were criticising Treasury and the government for delivering a budget that was too optimistic, arguing that unemployment should have been forecast to be higher and that we were being too conservative in terms of the economic downturn. Here we are, four months later, and they do a total U-turn and start criticising us because we should have been more optimistic. You cannot win with the Liberal opposition. This is typical of their flip-flopping and lack of any particular policy. What we do know about the criticisms coming from the Liberal opposition and their claims that the stimulus should be wound down is that it is a bit like them heading off to the post-game drinks session at half-time. That is the sort of position that the opposition are adopting. There is still a significant degree of uncertainty in the world economy. (Time expired)