STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS

Mr McCORMACK (Riverina) (13:57): Last night on level two in the parliament, there were two vastly different events. One was held in the Channel 9 studios, and it was a celebration of the Sydney Morning Herald's 195 years of publication. The Prime Minister gave a very good speech—he did.

The Leader of the Opposition gave a far better one. Indeed, about a few hundred metres along the corridors, something vastly different took place. It was the consideration in detail.

As long as I've been here, ministers have turned up to the Federation Chamber to answer questions from both the government and the opposition. These are questions that people across Australia need to know the answers to: questions about the budget. And it's no wonder that ministers were absent from those discussions.

Mr Burke: Have you ever had someone rep you? Mr McCORMACK: No, never. I always turned up.

I always did. But I'll take that, interjection, because you had ministers missing in action—from Defence and the National Disability Insurance Scheme. They were not there to prepare to defend their own budget.

They were not there to answer the questions that Australians are asking about the budget. Why are there $77 billion worth of tax hikes in this budget? Why is this budget hurting so many ordinary, everyday Australians?

What have we got? ministers missing in action.