Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

tor WONG (—) (): Thank you, Senator Grogan. The fact is, in a time of extreme global volatility and uncertainty, in a time of rising inflation, one of the best defences the nation can deploy is a responsible budget, and that is what you will see tonight from Treasurer Chalmers and Finance Minister Gallagher.

Our response to revenue upgrades will mean that debt will be lower than previously forecast. There will be less debt than under the Liberals but more to show for it. Despite what those opposite might say, they did not leave the budget in a 'strong or improving position'. They did not. So tonight's budget—the government has had to work to find room for billions of dollars of pressures left in the budget and legacy spending that you failed to provision for. We have engaged in responsible decision-making, required to make room for the things that matter. (Time expired)