QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Senator GALLAGHER (Australian Capital Territory—Minister for Finance, Minister for the Public Service, Minister for Women, Minister for Government Services and Manager of Government Business in the Senate) (14:26): I thank Senator Smith for the question. When those opposite complain about the spending that occurs in the Commonwealth budget—and I hear it repeatedly—they are criticising: increases to the age pension; cheaper childcare for families, which we know they are against; the pay rise for early childhood educators; our cheaper medicines, which we saw them vote against in this place; record investment in public hospitals; funding for new medicines on the PBS; expanding PPL and paying super on PPL; expanding access to training, including free TAFE; prac payments for nursing, teaching and social work students; and wiping billions of dollars from student debts.

They're opposed to our housing agenda. Those opposite see all of this as wasteful; we see it as funding essential services. The PRESIDENT: Senator Smith, second supplementary?