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

It is quite humorous to see Labor playing politics with the Australian economy! They think it is quite humorous. This government, since its election in September 2013, has been working to strengthen growth and to create more jobs. That is why, since our election in 2013, we have focused on improving our international competitiveness, making our tax system more growth friendly and getting rid of Labor's disastrous carbon tax and their disastrous mining tax; that is why we delivered company tax cuts to small business in last year's budget; that is why we pursued an ambitious free-trade agenda; and that is why we pursued an ambitious infrastructure investment program—all focused on delivering stronger growth and more jobs.

It is a matter of public record that since September, when we had a change of leadership, a number of proposals, or a number of options, that previously had been taken off the table were back on the table for consideration. The way we are working through them— (Time expired)