Arthur Sinodinos (NSW, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary Assisting the Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Treasurer, Senator Wong. Congratulations on your appointment as Deputy Leader in the Senate. I refer the minister to legislation that passed the US Congress last week in which the US government debt ceiling was suspended until 18 May 2013. Given that the Treasurer stated on budget night last year:

The surplus years are here.

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Surpluses that provide a buffer against global uncertainty and continue to give the Reserve Bank room to cut interest rates …

can the minister explain why, given the government's own logic, the government will not take active steps to meet the surplus commitment, given the ongoing uncertainty in the global economy?