Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I think Senator Mason is right.

I cannot imagine what it would be like to be Mr Swan. The result of the next election is in the hands of the Australian people, but for the sake of argument let's say that there is a change of government. Imagine being Mr Swan going to job interviews where they ask him, 'What was your role?' and he responds, 'Well, I was responsible for running the finances of Australia.' Then they ask, 'How did you fare?' and he responds, 'Well, I actually didn't get the show into black in a single year that I was the Treasurer.' That is not a proud record; that is a disappointing record—being the Treasurer who never delivered a single budget surplus.

There does need to be a change of government. Only this side of the chamber has the discipline and the character to bring the budget back into balance and to pay down Labor's debt so that we do not squander future opportunities for the nation.