Peter Whish-Wilson (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to Senator Cormann, the Minister for Finance, representing the Treasurer. Minister, projections in last year's MYEFO show the budget returning to surplus in 2020 and 2021 and remaining in surplus for the out years. However, Parliamentary Library modelling done for my office, based on MYEFO projections, shows that the budget will now fall back into deficit by 2024 as a result of the extra $30 billion announced in the defence white paper. Minister, do you confirm these numbers, and where has the government's credible path to surplus gone?