Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | Hansard source

There is a lot of politics from the Labor Party, but there is no alternative plan, Senator Bernardi. The Labor Party in government created the mess that this government now has to deal with. We are taking responsibility to deal with the debt and deficit disaster that we have inherited. At least Wayne Swan believed in a surplus. At least he wanted to get there. But now, under Mr Shorten and Mr Bowen, the Labor Party has given up on the national interest. They have given up on the important decisions that need to be made in order to strengthen our country for the future, in order to make sure that we stop borrowing from our children and grandchildren to fund our lifestyle today. I would ask you: would any of you expect your children to pay off your credit card? Would you continue to run a big chunk of your grocery bills on your credit card, take a second credit card to pay the interest and then ask your children and grandchildren to pay your bill? I suspect you will not, and neither should the Australian government.