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

I have laid out the methodology, which is transparent in the budget papers. I remind those opposite that this budget was so responsible that they are backing it in. They come in here and complain about the budget but they are backing it in—including the savings measures we put in place. Even Senator Brandis, I understand, is now supporting the court costs he railed against.

Everybody in this place knows that this debate has been driven entirely by the opposition's attempts to politicise it. We know that those opposite do not have any solution or any response to what is a difficult public policy problem. We know they have segued from 'turn the boats back' to 'maybe they will diminish over the first few years.' We know what a joke Ms Bishop is when she is being flatly contradicted by the Indonesian ambassador, who clearly demonstrated that their plan is entirely a farce. (Time expired)