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

The Turnbull government cares very much about the opportunity for all Australians to be the most successful they can be and to have the best possible living standards that they possibly can. But let me tell you: the Shorten prescription, when it comes to economic policy, would lead to worse outcomes for people across Australia. It would lead to less opportunity. It would lead to fewer jobs and lower wages. The evidence is there.

I thought that the argument between the free market, with an appropriate social safety net, on one side and socialism on the other had long been won, but clearly Bill Shorten believes that the Australian people have forgotten the historical failure of socialism. He believes that people have forgotten that imposing more and more burdens on business will actually lead to worse outcomes for people across Australia. It will lead to mediocre outcomes. If you make it harder for successful people to be successful, there will be less success and it will be bad for everyone. (Time expired)