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

I thank the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate for that question. I have to say that what it demonstrates again is the tendency that Senator Abetz and a number of his colleagues have to personalise debate in this chamber. Regarding the decisions that individuals elected to this parliament make, all of us in this chamber on all sides of politics, with the exception perhaps of Senator Xenophon, at times have had to make decisions about who leads our party. They are decisions all of us weigh up. I put my reasons on the public record.

When it comes to issues of policy, however, I remind the Senate that the policy I am asked about is important. I would like to debate policy. I would like us to talk about how it is we can continue to create jobs in this country—having a Labor government that has delivered 960,000 jobs since it was elected. Policy is important when it comes to economic management and, of course, this government has delivered growth in the economy such that we are 14 per cent bigger as an economy than we were in 2007.

And, of course, there are other policies for a fairer Australia: the delivery through both houses of parliament of DisabilityCare. Only a Labor government would ever have delivered it. It would never have been delivered by the coalition. They had the opportunity, as Australians know.

So I am very happy, as are all in the Labor Party, to talk about policy and our plans for a stronger and brighter future for Australians—an Australia that is fairer and more— (Time expired)