Helen Polley (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Treasurer, Senator Wong. Can the minister outline the approach the government has taken to getting stakeholder input into the 2013-14 budget? Is the minister aware of any alternative approaches to consultation on budget matters?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Finance and Deregulation) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Treasurer invited in December last year Australians—businesses, community groups, individuals—to submit their ideas and priorities for this year's budget. However, the government has been very clear about our priorities, and they are to ensure jobs and growth are put first. Those are the values that Labor brings to the economic task.

Let us compare our values to those of those opposite. We got a taste on the weekend of what the coalition have been doing whilst bunkered down with their mates from the IPA working on some secret plans for draconian, deep and savage cuts. Let us remind ourselves of some of the things which the IPA are proposing—and I note that none of these have been ruled out by the coalition. They are proposing cancelling the first stage of the NDIS, abolishing the decision implementing the National Disability Insurance Scheme, abolishing Fair Work Australia—it goes even further than Work Choices—halving the staff of the CSIRO, cutting the general research budget by 40 per cent, cutting all Commonwealth housing programs, cutting all foreign aid excluding emergency, privatising the ABC—

Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

More spending, more taxes!

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Finance and Deregulation) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Here we go: this is an old coalition dream, to privatise the ABC—and abolishing the agriculture, forestry and fisheries programs. These are the sorts of ideologically driven saving they are poring over as they are bunkered down with their mates at the IPA. I notice that no-one on that side is ruling these out. (Time expired)

Helen Polley (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. What are the principles that underpin this government's approach to consultation on the budget, and can the minister outline any alternative approaches?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Finance and Deregulation) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Of course, this government will always make decisions that are about growing the economy and creating jobs. We will take an open and transparent process to considering the submissions on the budget. What we have not done is sit down with a right-wing think tank and come up with a whole bunch of ideologically driven cuts. Let us remember who the IPA are, and what they say about the coalition. This is a quote from Alan Moran:

Some items have been discussed with Coalition politicians, many of whom are in agreement with the principles against which the list has been developed.

If you look at the IPA board it is no secret how close they are to the coalition—no matter the interjections from the other side. We see Michael Kroger and former senator Rod Kemp amongst the many who are involved in the IPA and whom we know have links.

Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Very good people.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Finance and Deregulation) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'll take the interjection—(Time expired)

Helen Polley (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a second supplementary question. Will the government be taking on board all the ideas put into the public domain as part of the consultations for the preparation of the budget 2013-14? If not, what priorities will the government be pursuing?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Finance and Deregulation) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Our priorities are very clear: jobs and growth—jobs for Australians and economic growth to lock in the prosperity for future generations. What we will not be doing is following the IPA and coalition approach. I raise this point: I was very interested to see on twitter today the IPA tweeting that sadly Senator Wong is not a fan of their suggested savings for the federal government. That is right. I do not believe in abolishing all housing programs, abolishing the NDIS, and hacking into the CSIRO.

Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Nor do we.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Finance and Deregulation) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Well, when are you going to rule them out? Because there has been absolute silence.

Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I just did.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Finance and Deregulation) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am sorry, Senator, you are not the one making the decisions. Where is Mr Robb, where is Mr Abbott, where is Mr Hockey saying these cuts are not on the agenda? There has been absolute silence from the coalition economic team. They are the ones sitting down with the IPA. When are they going to come clean with the Australian people about what their plans really are?