Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Finance and Deregulation) Share this | Hansard source

I invite those in the chamber to consider the hypocrisy of what I have just been asked. The opposition, which opposes certain savings measures, is now criticising the government for having to deal with the reality that the opposition and the Greens may combine to stop a savings measure. That is what is occurring. The opposition is saying they will vote with the Greens in order to stop this government budget measure going through. For all of the complaints by Senator Cormann and all of the criticisms about how the Greens are the arch enemy of economic growth, Senator Cormann is coming in here and advocating a position that is the same as the position of Senator Christine Milne. I am not critical of Senator Milne on this issue—she is not in a party of government; you are, Senator Cormann, and you are an economic spokesperson. You are lining up with the Greens to stop a budget savings measure and that says volumes for your lack of economic credibility.