15-June-2011
Portfolio Media Releases
Assistant Treasurer Bill Shorten tonight shut down debate about the Gillard government’s plan to lift the Commonwealth debt limit to a record $250 billion.
“The government has buried the debt proposal in a cognate budget debate which denies the parliament the chance to specifically amend it, support it or oppose it,” Shadow Finance Minister Andrew Robb said.
“Mr Shorten was of course the minister who snuck into the parliament on budget night to introduce the bill containing the controversial proposal.
“When asked tonight in the parliament who was responsible for setting the terms of the debate in order to avoid proper scrutiny he refused to answer, instead hiding behind standing orders.
“He was then left red faced when he admitted he had either not seen a letter I sent to both he and the Minister for Government Business Anthony Albanese back on 2 June, or hadn’t bothered to read it.
“In it I urged the government to vary the terms of the budget debate so the parliament could consider the plan to raise the debt as a standalone proposal as has always been the case previously.
“I am still waiting for the government to formally reply to my letter,” Mr Robb said.
“The arrogance of Mr Shorten tonight during the consideration in detail stage of the budget was certainly on full show.
“Surrounded by a bunch of union sycophants we got no answers, no substance, just the type smart alec quips Bill is renowned for.
“This is a minister who has a lot to learn and who should take a leaf out of the book of former Finance Minister Lindsay Tanner, who treated such occasions with respect and endeavoured to provide thoughtful answers to questions put by the Opposition,” Mr Robb said.