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

I can confirm that debts continued to increase because of the spending growth trajectory that Labor had locked into legislation when we came into government. The debts were less as a result of the work that we did. I can also confirm that the Labor Party have been living under a rock, because they clearly don't understand why we've been forced to spend as much as we have in recent times. Let me ask the Labor Party: which program do you think we should scrap? JobKeeper or jobseeker? Should we cut the jobseeker payment in half? Is that what you are suggesting? The implication of your question is that you don't want us to spend the money we're spending in supporting business, supporting jobs and supporting the economy. You are completely out of touch, and the Australian people know it.