Brett Mason (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Universities and Research) Share this | Hansard source

This is Australia’s 43rd Parliament in our federal history, but some things never change. What has not changed since Federation is this: Labor governments always get Australia further into debt. Every Labor government spends more money than it brings in, every one of them since 1901.

I note that my friend and colleague Senator Fifield’s matter of public importance relates to the Gillard government’s failed budget strategy of debt and deficit, or should I say today the Gillard-Bob Brown government, the red-green coalition. This MPI would have been as relevant in 1995 under Mr Keating. This MPI would have been just as relevant in 1975 under Mr Whitlam. This MPI would have been just as relevant in 1945 under Mr Curtin or Mr Chifley. This MPI would have been just as relevant in 1905 in the aftermath of the first Labor government of John Christian Watson. The one thing that remains the same is debt. Remember this, there is an iron law of Australian politics and it is this: when Labor leaves office, Australia is further in debt. In good times, in bad times, in peace or in war, Labor sends Australia further into debt. It never, ever, ever changes.