Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

The budget will return to surplus three years ahead of schedule in 2012-13, well before any of the other major advanced economies. Senator Joyce seems to forget that we had a global financial crisis that severely impacted on all countries around the world and their financial positions. But what we now have as a result of this budget is that our debt position will be one which will see us return to surplus well before the other major advanced economies.