Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council) Share this | Hansard source

That is just a bit of student political rhetoric that I completely reject. This Liberal-National government is a government that is focused on the best interests of all Australians. We are focused on making sure that all Australians have the best possible opportunity to get ahead. We want to ensure all Australians have the best possible opportunity to lift their living standards. We understand that the way to do this is through a stronger economy, and that is why we continue to pursue our national economic plan, which has been successful in delivering a stronger economy. What is the alternative? The alternative is the high-taxing, antibusiness, class warfare agenda of the Leader of the Opposition which will make the economy weaker, which will make the country weaker and which will make all Australians poorer.

Do you know what? Socialism has been tried in other places around the world before. And do you know what it does? It makes everyone poor, including and in particular low-income earners. If you want to help lift low-income earners, if you want to give the opportunity for low-income earners to become high-income earners, we need a stronger economy. (Time expired)