George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Attorney-General) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Treasurer, Senator Wong. Is the minister aware that last year's budget projected a deficit for this financial year of $22.6 billion? Can the minister confirm that yesterday's budget estimated that the deficit will in fact be $44.4 billion? Since, by the government's own figures, its estimate of the deficit for this financial year was wrong by at least $22 billion, how can the public have any confidence that this year's budget projections will be any more accurate? Isn't it still the case that this government has never delivered a surplus budget and never will?