Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research) Share this | Hansard source

Again, this is a nonsensical proposition that is being put to the government. What you saw is that the previous government committed only $13.89 million on other discretionary research and development programs in the period 2007-08. The Rudd government has committed $30 million in 2008-09 and $41.6 million in 2009-10. What we have on the other side of the chamber is the view that is expressed by Mr Abbott: playing politics on important issues is the order of the day. What he says is, ‘Our job is to ferociously criticise and, where necessary, oppose the government, and if in doubt our job is to oppose.’ That is the policy position of the previous government, the current opposition.