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

It's good to see how the Australian Labor Party is asking the great questions about the future of our nation. I know that the senator is concerned, so let me reassure him that the Liberal-National coalition remains strong and united and continues to deliver for the Australian people. Having taken over a government from the Labor-Green coalition that preceded us, we turned around that disastrous situation that we inherited. Under that government there was a weakening economy, rising unemployment, a rapidly deteriorating budget position, chaos at our borders and people forced to pay more for their electricity in order to send higher emissions overseas. The last Labor-Green period in government was a complete failure. The Liberal and National parties in government continue to deliver for the Australian people, continue to deliver a stronger economy with better opportunities for Australian families to get ahead and, indeed, continue to keep our borders safe and secure. I put our record against the Labor-Green record any day.

They can come in here and ask juvenile university politics questions. Senator Sheldon, given that you used to be a national secretary of a great union, the Transport Workers Union, I think you should be embarrassed that you have accepted that sort of question from your tactics committee.