Mr BEAZLEY (Leader of the Opposition) (2:02 PM) —My question is to the Prime Minister. Prime Minister, given the government’s record tax take—$100 billion more than in 1996—and today’s reports of a $10 billion surplus this year, why has the government, after nine long years, failed to invest in skills and incentives in the tax system—more than nine long years of failure now pushing up interest rates for Australian families?

Mr HOWARD (Prime Minister) —I thank the Leader of the Opposition for that entirely surprising and completely unpredictable question. Mr Speaker, can I say through you to the Leader of the Opposition that it is no surprise that the tax take this year should be higher than it was in 1996, because obviously we have more people; they are paid higher wages; and they pay more tax. That is the first remark I would make. The second observation I would make is that I reject entirely the proposition that this government has not invested in skills. That is an issue that will be developed further, no doubt, as question time unfolds. Finally, I would remind the Leader of the Opposition that he is the last person in this chamber to give anybody else lectures on fiscal rectitude.