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

The Greens do not say in this motion what Senator McGrath just said—that this is about 'balancing the budget'. This is actually about listening to the experts, both in this country and internationally, that now is a record low-interest rate period and a significant opportunity for the Australian government to take out debt for productive infrastructure, get money moving in this country to create jobs and invest in infrastructure in the places where it is most needed. It is not just the Greens that are saying this; it is the outgoing Governor of the Reserve Bank saying a very similar thing. Nearly every economist working for the major banks is saying the same thing. The International Monetary Fund is saying the same thing. The OECD is saying the same thing. This government is not spending money on infrastructure. Now is the time to be doing it. We are very disappointed that the government is not supporting our motion today.