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

I'm surprised the Labor Party would go back there, because this is very embarrassing to the shadow finance minister and the shadow assistant minister. The question that I was asked in an interview was whether this was a blowout that cost the economy too much. The point I made was: no, it doesn't cost the economy too much at all because the money stays in the economy. Leaving the money with the people doesn't take it out of the economy; it leaves it with people that are better able to spend the money more efficiently on their own needs than the Labor Party in government would ever be.

Clearly the Labor Party doesn't understand the difference between the budget and the economy. If you refund money to people that belongs to the people, does that have an impact on your budget bottom line? Yes, it means that your revenue is lower than it would be if you stole people's money, or if you stole more people's money. But it stays in the economy. I would challenge you to explain to me how that money does not stay in the economy by leaving it with the Australian people.