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

One thing we are not going to do is take the prescription of those opposite. These are the people who would prefer Australia to be in recession. That is what they are effectively saying. Looking at the last national accounts, we have, as the Treasurer and the finance minister have gone through in great detail, made the calls to ensure that we deal with cost of living relief in a responsible way while at the same time recognising where the economy is. The prescription those opposite are calling for would mean Australia is in recession. How is that going to help working families? That has always been your only prescription, hasn't it—that people have to do it tough. That's why you voted against energy price relief. That's why you voted against cheaper medicines. That's why you voted against the Medicare reforms. And that's why you've always opposed higher wages for Australians.