Senator the Hon Penny Wong
Minister for Finance and Deregulation
PW 255/11
29 November 2011
Only 24 hours after saying the situation in Europe would have no impact on Government revenue write-downs, Tony Abbott has changed his position.
Today he talked about the need to protect Australia against the “developing global economic storm”.
If there is a crisis, it will impact on Australia.
ABBOTT – PRESS CONFERENCE – 29 NOVEMBER 2011
This is in contrast to his statement yesterday: “It is not Europe's fault that Wayne Swan has a problem”.
Tony Abbott and Joe Hockey also today strongly backed the Government’s commitment to return to surplus.
I think it’s very important for confidence in this country that the Government does actually deliver a surplus.
ABBOTT – PRESS CONFERENCE – 29 NOVEMBER 2011We will get the budget back to surplus as a priority.
HOCKEY – SKY NEWS – 29 NOVEMBER 2011
This Government has taken the difficult decisions to return the budget to surplus, and we have been upfront with the Australian people about where these savings will be made.
If the Opposition agrees the return to surplus is a priority, they should tell Australians how they will deliver it.
The only solution Mr Abbott could offer today was to scrap the mining tax, the carbon price and the NBN - economic reforms that will ensure our long-term growth and prosperity.
The Opposition is instead promising more unfunded spending - tax cuts without the carbon price revenue and a rise in superannuation without the mining tax revenue.
Add to that the $70 billion in cuts the Opposition has to make, on their own calculations, to get to the starting line. This simply does not add up.
The Opposition has also indicated they will not support the $357 million save for the Baby Bonus – a savings measure requiring legislative change.
We look forward to Mr Abbott backing down and supporting this save - as he did at Budget after sledging difficult saves for a headline - or putting forward alternative savings.
