Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | Hansard source

The thing about the budget is that all of the lines of expenditure are there and transparent for the opposition to see. Yes, we have taken decisions to reverse out some decisions taken but not yet announced and to realise some of those decisions to announce them, to publish them in the budget papers to make them transparent.

Those opposite seem to think that, of course, government shouldn't put away for potentially foreseen expenditure. We think it's prudent to put away for that. It's a bit like what those opposite used to do on commodity prices. Does anybody remember when Mr Swan, who of course is the mentor of Mr Chalmers, the now shadow Treasurer, used to take high commodity prices and assume they'd continue into the future? It is little wonder his budgets blew out. We assume commodity prices will come down—another act of careful, cautious, conservative budgeting. (Time expired)