QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Senator GALLAGHER (Australian Capital Territory—Minister for the Public Service, Minister for Finance, Minister for Women, Manager of Government Business in the Senate and Vice-President of the Executive Council) (14:11): Thank you, Senator Stewart. Senator Stewart is right: inflation was going up, living standards were going backwards, wages had stagnated and workers hadn't seen a real wage increase for a long time.

And let's contrast that with what's happening now: low inflation, wages growing and more jobs. That's what we have delivered with our economic plan. Compare that with the Leader of the Opposition with his $350 billion in secret cuts that he won't tell anyone about until after the election—how convenient is that?—$600 billion for the nuclear fantasy and a $10 billion policy for long lunches, paid for by every working Australian.

That is the contrast and that is the contest. I know those opposite don't like hearing about it. They're ashamed when it's put up like that.

They don't like the fact that we've managed the economy in a much better and fairer way than they ever will. (Time expired)