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

Thank you, Senator Hume, for the question. We always take responsibility. We take responsibility for making sure we work to deliver higher wages. We take responsibility for making sure we work to deliver more bulk-billing and more urgent care clinics. We take responsibility for making sure we get our housing support through the parliament. We take responsibility for making sure we properly fund infrastructure, we properly fund aged care and we properly fund health. These are all the things this government takes responsibility for.

I'd make this point. Obviously, these are not the government's numbers. These are numbers that will be updated in the usual way, in the upcoming mid-year budget, but I would say that the Treasurer and the finance minister have been saying for some time that pressures on the budget are building, not easing. We've been upfront about that. Senator Gallagher has made that clear. The report that you have referenced shows that global economic uncertainty, like the slowdown in China, is a key factor weighing heavily on the budget right now.

Senator Hume, you are one of the people I referenced in response to the last answer. It wasn't that long ago that you talked about the fact that real wage increases would be the worst thing for Australians.

I'll repeat that, Senator Jane Hume claimed real wage increases would be the worst thing for Australians. What I would say to you, Senator Hume is that we don't agree with your economic prescription.

They're your words. You take responsibility for your words, Senator. You asked me if we take responsibility for our decisions, and we do. Will you take responsibility for your words and your policies?