Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Hansard source

As we know from the infrastructure review, the economic mismanagement we saw around infrastructure from the Liberals and Nationals was astounding. They oversaw cost blowout after cost blowout and failed to act. Our response to the review provides a forward plan of projects that are properly planned, properly targeted and properly funded. They will actually happen. That means investment that will grow the economy, improve productivity and take pressure off inflation.

Earlier in the week I pointed out the disagreement that seems to exist between the Liberals and the Nationals about whether we should spend more money or less. We've had Senator Bragg and Senator Hume and others out there saying, 'We need a contractionary budget. Spend less', while we have Senator McKenzie saying, 'Spend, spend; more, more.' But what I've learned is that Senator McKenzie can't even agree with herself about her position on this, because at the same time that she's been out there calling for more infrastructure funding, just this week she actually called on the government to rein in our spending. What do you want us to cut? What do you want? Do you want more spending or less?