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) (14:30): I thank Senator Dowling for that supplementary. We are committed to responsible economic management. And, looking at how we provide cost-of-living relief for Australians, we've taken a stable, consistent, responsible approach to budget management, and that will continue in every budget and every MYEFO.

We do know that, whilst we're finding savings, repairing the budget over time and looking at every part of government, how we provide services and whether we can find savings—and we're doing that in the lead-up to MYEFO—we face obstructions and barriers, including in this chamber. And I note this afternoon the Senate will vote on whether to discharge a bill that seeks to provide additional funding into aged care from the private health insurance rebate.

And so, when those opposite call for savings and call for reductions in government expenditure, they need to look at the decisions that they are taking, including in this place, which are to spend more, to promise to spend more and to complain at the same time. (Time expired)