Mr ANTHONY SMITH (4:29 PM) —What we have seen in the course of this matter of public importance is a government in denial. We have seen it through this debate and we have seen it right through this week: denial about their debt and deficit, denial about the impact of their mining tax, denial about the impact of their planned carbon tax on the cost of living of Australians. We have seen it right through the course of this MPI. But Australians know the price of Labor. The price of Labor—of debt and deficit and higher taxes—is always borne by the Australian community. As the shadow Treasurer rightly pointed out, three years ago the Labor Party, in opposition, promised to ease the burden on the cost of living. All that has happened in their period of government has been increases right across the board in cost-of-living pressures.

Debate interrupted.