Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Babet for the supplementary question. I would say to Senator Babet that the October budget banked 99 per cent of the revenue upgrades that we received through that budget update—99 per cent. It's unprecedented. It goes to show the approach that the Treasurer, Dr Chalmers, and I take in terms of budget management. And it's not just how much is spent; it's the quality of the spend: are the investments you're making driving an economic or social outcome? Our childcare investments, our investments in cleaner and cheaper energy and our investments in medicines are all about the quality of the scheme. We don't want to pork-barrel our way around the country like those opposite did. We need to make sure every dollar that's spent is invested in the productive capacity of our country and improves the living standards of Australians.