Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | Hansard source

I can. There is not an alternative strategy. What we have from those opposite is opportunistic pot shots. Last time we were in government, after 1996, the Australian Labor Party opposed every single measure that was put forward to bring the budget back into balance. They are repeating that pattern yet again. Mr President, I know I do not need to remind you but, thanks to those opposite, $1 billion is being paid in interest every month. On this side of the chamber we know that deficit budgeting is nothing more than intergenerational theft. We do not think that is fair. We do not think that is reasonable. Government needs to live within its means. We are taking these steps so we can get the budget back on a path to balance, and also so that we have the capacity to do what the Australian public wants—government core business.