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

Senator Minchin knows the truth. Even the former Liberal government left $58 billion in gross government debt. Through you, Mr President, the reason that Senator Minchin says, ‘How about net debt?’ is that the Liberal opposition does not use net government debt to illustrate the current level of debt. It uses gross government debt. Therefore, I think it is perfectly reasonable for me to highlight the fact that the Liberal party left us with $58 billion in gross debt.