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 Whiteaker for that supplementary. Yesterday we saw that resurrection of the 'no-alition', the grouping of parties—the Greens and the coalition—working together, as they did previously when they blocked housing from progressing through this chamber, to continue to oppose sensible savings.

We hear the calls from those opposite about finding savings. But, when we do find them, they say no. They discharge the legislation and they attach it to their costings— Honourable senators interjecting— Senator GALLAGHER: in addition to all of the other spending that they have committed in the last 12 months.

Honourable senators interjecting— Senator GALLAGHER: I'm not sure those opposite understand what is going on here. But when you look at the commitments that those over there are making—reversing our tax changes, abolishing the save that we have on PHI—the invoice that they are going to have to manage when they go to the next election is extremely substantial.